All They Need Is Love

Local couples renew vows on Valentine’s Day

County Executive Edward P. Mangano and his wife, Linda, hosted a special Valentine’s Day luncheon at the Coral House in Baldwin for Nassau County couples, especially those with significant anniversaries.

At this event, the couples socialized with other couples, enjoyed a free lunch and renewed their wedding vows. Among the happy couples were East Meadow residents, Ed and Anne Paley, and Westbury residents, Arnie and Sherry Scher.

Ed and Anne Paley have been married for 32 years. They first met in March 1980 at a fundraiser dance for special needs children in SoHo. They grew very fond of each other, and three weeks later, they went on their first date.  They got engaged just a few months later in August 1980, and on April 12, 1981, they were married in a temple in Brooklyn.  

Ronnie ‘Good News’ Cameron

The Westbury community is familiar with football star Ronnie Cameron, who attended Holy Trinity High School and is now a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. 

What residents may not know is that between practices, meetings and training, Cameron – an imposing physical specimen at 6 feet, 2 inches and nearly 300 pounds – recently founded Bonfire Impact, a social awareness website that highlights the good deeds of professional athletes and other prominent figures in the public spotlight.  

According to bonfireimpact.com, the website aims to “deliver news and media that promotes charitable organizations, nonprofits, social awareness, human rights, social issues, education advocacy, health and under-covered stories.” 

Meet Miss Long Island

Westbury’s Jessica Ricco represents LI in Miss New York USA Pageant 

Jessica Ricco knows a thing or two about perseverance. 

After three tries, Ricco earned her crown as Miss Long Island 2013, and following recent lung surgery, the W.T. Clarke grad is back at it again, representing Westbury and Long Island in the Miss New York USA Pageant last month. 

The Westbury Times caught up with the lovely and eloquent Ricco, an elementary teacher, who shared her story of success and strength. 

The Westbury Times: What does it take to be Miss Long Island? 

CP Water Gets $14.8 Mil Bond

Town-issued bond to be used for facility upgrades

The Town of North Hempstead recently issued a $14.8 million bond to the Carle Place Water District to meet demands of a rising population and address future contamination issues. 

“After careful consideration and conferring at great length with the district’s consulting engineers, the Carle Place Water District Board of Water Commissioners has concluded that the proposed improvements and bond issue request are necessary for the district to continue to meet all current regulatory requirements for potable drinking water and fire flow demands,” said Water Commissioner and Chairman Timothy E. Stellato. 

A Cuban Cuisine Revolution

Havana Central brings authentic Latin food and flavors to Roosevelt Field

Is it the combo in the corner playing the kind of music that wouldn’t be out of place on the soundtrack to the Buena Vista Social Club as a scantily-clad lass and her sharply-dressed partner dance a mean merengue? Or maybe it’s the older gentleman in a crisp white shirt and fedora effortlessly rolling cigars while waitstaff shuttle mojitos to the assorted guests? Perhaps it’s the décor of high archways and ceilings, where fans lazily rotate, and the room features mossy green wallpaper adorned with lush palm fronds? Or it may even be the black and white portrait of the late Desi Arnez and Lucille Ball that shows the daffy redhead holding a banner that reads Havana. And while you may be wondering if you’re still in Garden City, in truth, you’ve entered Havana Central, a restaurant that evokes pre-Castro Cuba in its décor, cuisine and ambience. 

Gay Boy Scouts: Local Reaction

Change would give local sponsors authority to adopt new policy 

Though Westbury and Carle Place Boy Scouts officials declined to comment on whether they’ll allow openly homosexual Scouts and leaders to join, the choice may not belong to them in the near future. 

Boy Scouts of America is considering altering its longstanding policy of disallowing openly homosexual Scouts and leaders, though local Boy Scout sponsors would have the final say whether to adopt the change.

Catalytic Converter Thefts In LIRR Parking Lots

Platinum worth $1,400-plus

 Following a series catalytic converter burglaries at several Nassau County LIRR stations, car thieves may be targeting not only what’s inside your car but also what’s underneath it. 

On Jan. 11, the catalytic converter was stolen from a 2005 Toyota Sequoia that was parked at the Long Island Rail Road Massapequa Train Station, the fourth instance at the station since June and the second over a three-day interval. 

According to Westbury Village Mayor Peter Cavallaro, a similar incident was reported at the Westbury LIRR station a few weeks ago. 

“We had a conversation with our precinct. You can just crawl underneath the rear of the car and wrench it off. It’s not like you have to open up the hood or anything like that,” said Cavallaro. 

Gov: More Aid For Westbury, Carle Place

Less possible for neighboring schools Hicksville, East Meadow

Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposed school aid package could result in increases in state aid for the Westbury and Carle Place school districts, but possibly less for Hicksville and East Meadow, Westbury Schools could see an increase of 7.75 percent, or $2.3 million. The district received $30.3 million in state aid this year.

But the governor’s state aid package has a long way to go. It must be approved by the state legislature, which will be considering the school aid package in the coming months.  

Carle Place Schools will receive $52,833 in additional aid next year if Cuomo’s plan goes through. 

Arts Council Created For New Theater

Mayor aims to make Westbury ‘most arts-friendly community in Nassau County’ 

In anticipation of the opening in the coming months of The Space at Westbury (http://www.thespaceat­westbury.com/), the newly redeveloped performing arts center at the old Post Avenue movie theater, Mayor Peter Cavallaro announced the creation of the Greater Westbury Council for the Arts on Jan. 7. 

“Westbury has a long history of supporting the arts, and is blessed with people of many talents, so we are going to undertake a mission of making Westbury the most arts-friendly community in Nassau County.  

“Is that an ambitious goal? Yes, but with the coming opening of The Space at Westbury, we believe that a critical mass of arts, culture and entertainment will develop here, and we want to take advantage of the creative energy that the theatre will generate,” said Village Mayor Peter Cavallaro. 

Purple Heart Recipient Chosen For Free Wedding

Marine Sgt. Ryan Donnelly, fiancée Tina McGrory, a U.S. Army vet, will exchange vows at Viana Hotel and Spa

Following two tours of duty in Iraq and one in Afghanistan, Marine Sgt. Ryan Donnelly, a Purple Heart recipient, was chosen as the winner of the free wedding contest at the Viana Hotel and Spa in Westbury. 

Donnelly, who attended Newfield High School in Selden and was the school’s top male athlete in 2002, will exchange vows with fiancée Tina McGrory, a U.S. Army veteran, on March 16.