fall 2015

EDITORIAL

OUR REP'S DISAPPOINTING PANDER TO PANIC, PREJUDICE, AND PARANOIA

November 23, 2015 -- Our U.S. Congressman Steve Israel’s support for the recent bill passed by the House of Representatives this past Thursday purportedly to strengthen the screening process for Syrian refugees, victims of terrorism themselves, was an ignoble nod to the xenophobic anti-Muslim outcry that has arisen in the aftermath of the Paris terrorist attacks of November 13. . . . Presented with an opportunity to lead when his House colleagues and his nation need it most, Mr. Israel has chosen to follow those who have cynically demagogued a tragedy and an important moral issue. . . READ MORE

SEA CLIFF VILLAGE SUES CITY OF GLEN COVE IN EFFORT TO BLOCK GARVIES POINT PROJECT

November 11, 2015 -- In an effort to stop the Glen Cove Creek redevelopment project known as Garvies Point from moving forward, the Village of Sea Cliff filed an article 78 lawsuit in the Supreme Court of the State of New York (Nassau County) late last week against the City of Glen Cove, the City’s Planning Board, the City Council, and the project’s developer Rexcorp-Glen Isle Partners LLC. . . .Among other allegations, the suit alleges breach of contract by the City for its failure to abide by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) it had agreed to with the Village 15 years ago that establishes procedures by which the Village would have a seat at the table in advising the City’s Industrial Development Agency (IDA) on Glen Cove Creek development proposals. READ MORE

SEA CLIFF VILLAGE RECEIVES $200,000 FEMA GRANT FOR FIREFIGHTER SCOTT PAKS

November 8, 2015 -- “When firefighters are saving lives, we have try to make sure their lives are safe,” said Congressman Steve Israel during a ceremony in front of the Sea Cliff Firehouse this past Friday morning, at which he was joined by members of the Fire Department and local government officials to unveil 25 new life-saving breathing apparatuses known commonly as Scott Paks that were awarded to the Village through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant program. READ MORE . . .

SEA CLIFF CELEBRATES HALLOWEEN

This past Halloween Eve, Sea Cliff celebrated All Hallow's Eve as it has in past years with the Sea Cliff School Parade and a separate parade for younger children sponsored by the Sea Cliff Children's Library. On Friday Night, the Sea Cliff Makeshop and the Sea Cliff Arts Council hosted the "Spooky Pumpkin Walk" at Spooky Park.

NS GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY WINS 100th STRAIGHT LEAGUE MEET
The North Shore Schools is proud to announce that the NS Girls Cross-Country Team won their 100th consecutive league competition without a loss. READ MORE

SEA CLIFF MINI MART 2015

With the spectacular early autumn sunshine streaming, the politicians schmoozing, the bands strumming, and the pumpkin draught spouting, several thousand from near and far turned out for this year's Sea Cliff Mini Mart. The street fair, held annually for 47 years, featured live music in front of the Fire House, Sherlock Homes Realty, The Oak Room Tavern, G&H Auto, and even in backyards, while local restaurants and bars offered fine food as well as autumn-themed thirst quenchers and other drinks. More than 200 hundred vendors sold their wares - from hand-crafted jewelry, and Sea Cliff T-shirts, to jars of honey and Halloween costumes. Candidates for county and town offices, both Democrat and Republican, in the dash to election day, only a month a way, were out in full force working the crowds, as election workers distributed bags emblazoned with bumper stickers and held signs in proud support.

SC CIVIC ASSOCIATION WELCOMES NEWCOMERS
September 22, 2015 -- The Sea Cliff Civic Association welcomed 54 new residents to the village at its annual Newcomers' Party this past Sunday afternoon. Hosted by Civic Association President Ann Dipietro and her husband Dan, the rookies were treated to a delectable array of hors d'oeuvres generously donated by Bill Long of the Metropolitan Bistro, a wide assortment of wines, and Sea Cliff Civic Association trivia - so challenging that even a Northwordnews reporter who covers SCCA events was stumped by a few. READ MORE

NS BOE TO OPEN DISTRICT AUDIT COMMITTEE TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS

September 15, 2015 -- The North Shore Board of Education decided at its regularly scheduled meeting this past Thursday to revise its bylaws so as to open up the District’s Audit Committee to community members. At its July 7 Annual Organization meeting, Trustee Sara Jones proposed that the Board look into making the change in the Committee’s composition. Currently the audit committee, which assists the Board of Education with matters related to both internal and external audits, is made up exclusively of the seven board members with most of its meetings being open to public under the New York State Open Meetings law. READ MORE

ARCHITECT PRESENTS POSSIBLE PLANS FOR NEW GOLD COAST PUBLIC LIBRARY

September 14, 2015 -- This past Thursday, the Gold Coast Public Library hosted two public informational sessions that allowed community members to view and offer their thoughts regarding potential design concepts for a new library to be built at the Halms Industries site on Glen Head Road should the community, through a bond referendum to be held late this fall, direct the library board to obtain financing for the purchase of the property and construction of the new facility. Russell Davidson, president of KD&G Architects, the firm that has been hired by the library to develop the initial concepts, led the meeting presenting three designs that were based on feedback offered by dozens of residents who attended two community input sessions this past spring. Northwordnews attended this past Thursday's evening session. READ MORE

FACT CHECK
DO FACTS SUPPORT CLAIMS IN FLYER CIRCULATING COMMUNITY?

With six bullet points of claims, figures, and highlighted “power words,” a flyer, that for the past week has been circulated around the community and posted on social media groups and in public areas, charges that the “Gold Coast Library Budget is being mismanaged.” It encourages residents to reject the proposed 2016 budget, that represents a 0.74% increase over the current spending plan and a 27 cents a month increase in the average homeowner’s library taxes, that is being put up to a community vote on September 9, and to support two candidates seeking positions on the library’s board of trustees. . . . According to information obtained by Northwordnews this past week through interviews as well as through library records that are easily accessible through a visit to the library or on its website, the flyer contains significant inaccuracies, misrepresentations, and unsupported claims. READ MORE

LIBRARY'S NEW BUILDING INITIATIVE ENDS WITH SELLER'S TERMINATION OF CONTRACT

One of the designs that had been proposed for a new Gold Coast Libary building

November 13, 2015 -- In a posting on its website on Wednesday morning, the Gold Coast Library announced that it had been notified by the owner of the 5.4 acre Halm Industries property that he would be terminating the $5.7 million purchase contract that he had entered into with the library this past July. The sale was contingent upon community approval of a bond referendum allowing for financing of both the purchase of the property and the construction of a new library building. READ MORE

NS BOARD BEGINS DISCUSSING PROCESS FOR SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH

Schools Superintendent Dr. Edward Melnick

October 28, 2015 -- At its October 22 meeting, the North Shore School Board began discussing the process it will use to find a replacement for Schools Superintendent Dr. Edward Melnick who will be retiring at the end of the 2016-17 school year. The discussion focused on how the Board would go about obtaining a head hunting firm to conduct the search for candidates. READ MORE

OFFICIALS DELIVER GOOD NEWS REGARDING POWER PLANT TAX SHIFT; ADDRESS VARIETY OF ISSUES AT NS LAC LEGISLATIVE FORUM

October 19, 2015 -- The demolition of the Glenwood Landing power plant is very unlikely to have a significant impact on residents’ tax bills going forward said area legislators who spoke at a forum sponsored by the North Shore Legislative Action Committee (LAC) at the North Shore High School Theater last Tuesday evening. About 150 area residents turned out for LAC’s first ever Legislative Night with State Senator Carl Marcellino, Assemblymen Charles Lavine, Michael Montesano, and Edward Ra, as well as County Legislator Delia Deriggi Whitton answering questions posed by audience members and delivered by the moderator, School Board President Dr. Herman Berliner. READ MORE

GC PLANNING BOARD APPROVES DEVELOPER'S AMENDED GARVIES POINT PROPOSAL AS RESIDENTS PROTEST DECISION

October 6, 2015 -- Amidst calls of “no” from audience members in the packed city council meeting room as the roll call vote was taken, the City of Glen Cove Planning Board this past Tuesday evening, by a 6 to 1 count, agreed to approve a developer's application to amend a previously approved proposal to build a planned mixed use community known as Garvies Point on a 56 acre site and former brownfield along the northern waterfront of Glen Cove creek. READ MORE

VOLUNTEERS FOR WILDLIFE, WITH A MISSION TO RESCUE AND EDUCATE, VISITS SEA CLIFF FARMERS MARKET

With Duncan, an Eastern Screetch Owl, perched on his gloved hand for much of the time, Skip, a volunteer for Volunteers for Wildlife, the Locust Valley-based wildlife hospital and education center, spent several hours at the Sea Cliff Farmers Market this past Saturday morning, discussing the organization's efforts as well as giving extensive background on the three rescued animals he had brought with him. READ MORE

NORTH SHORE ANGELO ANTINORI PERCUSSIONIST NAMED TO NAfME ENSEMBLE

By Shelly Newman

October 1, 2015 -- Congratulations to Angelo Antinori, a senior at North Shore High School, who was selected to perform at the 2015 All-National Honor Ensembles. This is a prestigious honor ensemble and program of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME). Angelo was chosen to perform as a percussionist in the Symphony Orchestra. "I'm honored to have been selected to play percussion in the All - National Symphony Orchestra," said Angelo, "I'd like to thank my band director David Soto and my private teacher, Steve Blutman for their help and guidance." READ MORE

26 STUDENTS FROM SISTER SCHOOL IN SPAIN VISIT NORTH SHORE

By Shelly Newman

September 29, 2015 -- North Shore High School students in the Spanish program had the privilege of hosting exchange students from our sister-school, IES Playa San Juan, near the city of Alicante on the Costa Blanca in Spain. Twenty-six students, accompanied by their teachers, lived with North Shore families and attended the high school from September 8-22. Additionally, North Shore students hosted the Alicante children by touring them around Long Island and Manhattan, and graciously gave them a taste of what New York is like! READ MORE

RXR artist's rendering of Garvies Point development

SC MAYOR EXPRESSES CONCERNS OVER GARVIES POINT PROJECT AT GC PLANNING BOARD MEETING

September 23, 2015 -- At a public hearing on Wednesday September 16, Sea Cliff Mayor Bruce Kennedy presented to the Glen Cove Planning Board the Village’s concerns regarding the proposed amendments to the Garvies Point redevelopment plans that had been presented by the real estate developer RXR at a Planning Board hearing this past July. READ MORE

A YEAR AND A HALF AFTER MUDSLIDE, RESIDENTS CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR ACTION

September 22, 2015 -- Several neighbors of 14 Bay Avenue, the house that is now precariously perched on a high precipice overlooking Hempstead Harbor after a mudslide took most of its backyard and much of its patio during a heavy rain in the spring of 2014, turned out at last Tuesday’s Sea Cliff Village Board meeting seeking an update from the Village regarding the homeowner’s efforts to remediate the property. For the past year and a half the residents have from time to time addressed the Board requesting information as well as the Village's support in pressing the property owner to address the issue. READ MORE

THE GLEN COVE MENORAH LIGHTING

The Glen Cove Menorah was kindled Sunday evening marking the beginning of the Chanukah festival. The lighting was well attended and with much celebration. Both children and adults had a great time decorating Chanukah arts & crafts and dancing to the tunes of lively Chanukah songs.
The children kept bouncing in the gigantic "Dreidle Inflatable" - bounce House and 2 Lucky children walked away with special prizes they won in the raffle. READ MORE

AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR OF THE ELEVENTH DAY OF THE ELEVENTH MONTH, SEA CLIFF HONORS ITS VETERANS

November 12, 2015 --At the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month 97 years to the minute after the armistice ending "the war to end war" was signed, Sea Cliff residents turned out at Clifton Park this past Wednesday morning to observe Veterans Day, paying tribute to those who have served this Country in the armed forces. Standing before more than two dozen veterans assembled next to the Clifton Park "Rock" that honors those Sea Cliff residents who fought in the First World War, Sea Cliff resident and Commander of James F. Brengel American Legion Post #456 Phil Como presided over the ceremony. READ MORE . . .

GOOD NEWS FOR RESIDENTIAL TAXPAYERS DESPITE ADJUSTMENT IN BASE PROPORTIONS

October 29, 2015 -- The removal of several LIPA properties within the North Shore School District from tax rolls and the resulting increase in the proportion of the school tax levy paid by class 1 homeowners may have complicated the revenue side of the school budget a bit, but will not negatively impact, and it appears will even benefit, residential taxpayers this year, according to figures obtained by Northwordnews from the School District. READ MORE

POTPOURRI OF PUPS AND PUPPETS PROUDLY PERAMBULATE AT PET PARADE

November 1, 2015 -- This past Saturday morning, a procession of pets, puppets, and pedestrians made its way along Sea Cliff Avenue from Memorial Park to Clifton Park in a proud pageant of color, costumes, and creativity. Organized by residents Karen Kessler and JoAnne Gray, and sponsored by the Sea Cliff Civic Association, it was the third time the Parade has been held in the past four years. Awards and gift certificates to Petco were given for "Most Original Costume", "Looks Most Like the Owner," "Most Creative Costume," "Largest Pet," and "Smallest Pet." (Headline Credit - Dan DiPietro)

A NS HS intern delivering food

GUARDIAN ANGEL HELPING WOMEN IN CRISIS

October 20, 2015 -- With a mission "to meet the needs of women who have lost control of their lives,who are struggling to raise their children, or who have been left shipwrecked by economic or marital hardship,” the Guardian Angel Family Crisis Center, located at 239 Glen Cove Avenue in Sea Cliff, since 2009 has provided a variety of services to women in crisis. It’s “women helping other women,” says founder and president Barbara Costello. READ MORE

A HOMECOMING WITH HORNED HELMETS

With the autumn sun streaming and the temperature refreshingly brisk, a deluge of maroon and white, dotted with the occasional horned helmet, made its way from Glenwood Elementary School along the one mile parade route to the High School this past Saturday morning, as the North Shore School District kicked off its annual Homecoming celebration. Vikings of all ages then drifted off to take in performances by student bands, or to navigate an obstacle course, play some pick up football, compete in the Middle School Color Games or race in a 100 yard dash. By 2 pm, the stands were packed, and with the cheerleaders, pulse team, pep band and the outstanding play of North Shore rousing the crowd, the varsity football Vikings capped a spectacular day with a 32 to 7 rout of Southside.

GLEN HEAD RESIDENT AMONG THOSE HONORED BY ASSEMBLYMAN ED RA AS A WOMAN OF DISTINCTION

On Saturday, September 26, Assemblyman Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square) hosted his 2015 Women of Distinction Ceremony. The event, which took place at the Albertson VFW Post 5253, honored women from across the 19th Assembly District for their unwavering commitment to improving their communities, families and careers. Among those recognized was Glen Head resident Gina Serreon, co-President of the American Legion Auxiliary, who has been a tireless advocate for Veterans - especially those who are homeless. READ MORE

SEA CLIFF'S SILLY SHAKESPEARE SOARS BY THE SEASIDE

Sea Cliff Beach was the site this past weekend of The Silly Shakespeare Company of Sea Cliff”s frolicking interpretation of Shakespeare’s The Tempest- a loose combination of the Bard’s original play, TV’s The Love Boat and the movie Castaway. Titled “The Tem-Pissed” it cleverly included ukulele duets, a rousing rendition of “ Day-0 Day-0” , a magnificent Hawaiian hula dance piece, ending with an over-the-top full cast Conga line. READ MORE

A resident addresses the board at the September 16 meeting

AFTER BUDGET DEFEAT, RESIDENTS URGE LIBRARY BOARD TO “GO BACK TO SQUARE ONE”; BOARD DECIDES TO SCALE DOWN SIZE OF PROJECT

September 23, 2015 -- The proposed purchase of the Halm Property on Glen Head Road and the building of a new library once again dominated the public comment period at the Gold Coast Public Library Board’s regularly scheduled meeting last Wednesday. About four of the ten or so residents who attended addressed the board and urged the trustees to not hold a community vote on the current proposal that is likely to cost between $17 and $19 million and that would be financed through a bond issue, should a majority of voters support the proposition in a referendum to be held later this fall, and to either scale down the current 20,000 square foot preliminary design concept that has been presented by the architect, reconsider other properties, or give up on a library expansion altogether. Much of the discussion, as it has at past meetings, turned to the definition of “library” and what functions a community library ought to perform. Later in the meeting, after the public comment period had ended, the board appeared to reach consensus that it would work with the architect to scale down the size of the project and, by extension, its cost. READ MORE

MAXWELL PARRISH EXHIBITION OPENS AT NASSAU MUSEUM; FEATURES WORKS OF GIANT OF ILLUSTRATION'S GOLDEN AGE

November 22, 2015 -- The Nassau County Museum of Art in Roslyn Harbor hosted an opening reception on Friday, November 20 for Maxfield Parrish: Paintings and Prints from the National Museum of American Illustration, an exhibition of works by one of the greats of the Golden Age of Illustration. On view through the end of February, the pieces are drawn from the National Museum of American Illustration, Newport, Rhode Island, and curated by its co-founders Judy and Laurence S. Cutler. The exhibition embodies the long career and extraordinary accomplishments of Mr. Parrish (1870-1966), displaying the artist’s lush coloristic effect with amazing detail and includes original artworks as well as a large collection of vintage prints. READ MORE

CELEBRATION OF CUBAN CULTURE KICKS OFF NSHS CUBA MUSIC TOUR

Party goers enjoy Cuban dance instruction at "Danza Cubana"

October 30, 2015 -- North Shore students, parents and grandparents celebrated Cuban culture last Saturday night at a party to kick off fundraising for the upcoming music performance tour of Cuba by high school band, orchestra and chorus students. The February tour will be one of the first by US students since the thaw in diplomatic relations with Cuba, according to Michael Kerschner, NSHS choral director who is coordinating the tour with his colleagues David Soto, band director, and Jason Domingo, orchestra director. READ MORE

LATEST SEA CLIFF MUSEUM EXHIBIT PORTRAYS INNOCENCE AND TURMOIL OF THE SIXTIES

October 10, 2015 -- With some of the guests getting into the spirit donning tie dyes and others garb a bit more formal associated with that decade of lost innocence and social upheaval, the Sea Cliff Village Museum hosted an opening reception for its exhibit Sea Cliff in the 1960s this past Friday evening. Collages and sculpture by Sea Cliff artist Katie Seiden, who was on hand to speak with visitors about her work throughout the evening, and photographs by former resident Bertram W. Scholes are the central pieces of the showcase, with various artifacts and memorbilia - some specific to Sea Cliff and others more general to the time period - complementing them perfectly. READ MORE

Junior Nick Liotta blocks a punt setting up North Shore's first score

VIKINGS CELEBRATE HOMECOMING WITH ROUT OF SOUTHSIDE

October 20, 2015 --With a strong defensive performance and an offensive onslaught led by Quarterback Ryan Aughavin and running back Antonio Evangelista, the North Shore Football Vikings lived up to Homecoming expectations this past Saturday afternoon with a rout of the South Side Cyclones. The home team established control early in the game, when after stopping the Cyclones on its first three downs, junior Nick Liotta rushed through the right side of the defensive line, and with a fully outstretched dive, blocked the Southside punt, giving North Shore great field position for its first possessions. READ MORE

RECENTLY ADOPTED TEACHER EVALUATION REGULATIONS UNDERMINE LOCAL CONTROL SAY DISTRICT OFFICIALS September 15, 2015 -- At the North Shore Board of Education meeting this past Tuesday evening, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Robert Chlebicki presented to the Board the new teacher evaluation regulations that were recently adopted by the State Education Department (SED). The new rules, said Schools Superintendent Dr. Edward Melnick undermine local control over the evaluation process, potentially hampering the district’s ability to hold onto it’s best new teachers. READ MORE

HEALING HEADBANDS - EMPOWERING PEOPLE TO BE WELL WITH A HEALTHY DOSE OF LAUGHTER AND CREATIVITY
September 13, 2015 -- Combining the therapeutic power of laughter with that of creating something beautiful and useful, Healing Headbands, a not-for-profit project founded by Sea Cliff residents Barbara Grapstein and Joan Accolla, seeks to offer individuals with illness and their families and friends a means to help themselves heal from within. Launched about a year and a half ago, the program has been welcomed into children’s hospitals, senior centers, businesses, and schools to offer lessons that encourage people to “LAUGH, CREATE, HEAL." READ MORE

CYCLING WITHOUT AGE VISITS SEA CLIFF; RICKSHAWS THAT LIBERATE AND CONNECT

September 4, 2015 -- The founders of the Danish not for profit organization Cycling Without Age paid a visit to Sea Cliff last last Friday morning, and with a bicycle rickshaw that was made available to resident “pilots” and passengers for test runs, discussed the benefits of bringing the program to this community.

The brainchild of Ole Kassow, the rickhaw service enables volunteer “pilots” to give rides to senior citizen passengers who are often limited in their ability to get out and about. The experience is liberating for the seniors both physically and emotionally, and equally satisfying for volunteers who not only derive satisfaction from helping others, but also in making connections with the past and developing friendships. READ MORE

WEARING RED FOR PUBLIC ED

September 24, 2015 -- Seeing red over the top-down reforms that have greatly undermined local control over public schools over the last few years, dozens of community members and North Shore faculty rallied at the four corners in Glen Head last Thursday afternoon. Similar demonstrations took place in communities across the Island. "Celebrate Teachers!" "OPT OUT - We are more than just a test score!" "Honk for kids and teachers!" their signs declared, and many of the passersby, supporting the message, enthusiastically obliged. READ MORE

AFTER TWO MONTH DEADLOCK, NORTH SHORE BOE DESIGNATES OFFICIAL NEWSPAPERS

September 4, 2015 -- At its regularly scheduled meeting this past August 28, the North Shore Board of Education voted 4 to 2 to designate the Glen Cove Record Pilot and the Gold Coast Gazette the “official” school district newspapers for the 2015-16 school year - two months after a 3-3 split vote at the Board’s annual organizational meeting in July left the district temporarily without an official broadsheet. Trustee Sara Jones who had voted “no” in July, was not present last Thursday, and Board President Herman Berliner, who voted “yes” last Thursday, was not present for the July vote. . . . At the more recent meeting, Trustees Gonzalez and Commander once again expressed their concerns about the practice of publishing anonymous ads that make unsubstantiated claims against individuals. READ MORE