Nearby: Residents Want Beach Protection

Long Beach Residents Demand Beach Protection
While City of Long Beach officials focus on rebuilding a new boardwalk, possibly by early summer, many residents have called immediate short-term beach restoration the city’s top priority. John Bendo, president of West End Neighbors Civic Association, said as much at the final boardwalk input meeting at City Hall Feb. 20.   “And there are those that feel that this might be the opportunity to incorporate, at least in the short term, some form of protection, until a long-term plan, maybe through the Army Corps, could be instituted,” he said. That opportunity includes about $5 billion the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the nation’s public engineering agency, has to allocate to Sandy-ravaged municipalities looking to rebuild their devastated beach- and bay-fronts, including a long-term plan to build dunes in Long Beach, Sen. Charles Schumer, D-New York, announced at a press conference at National beach Monday.

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LIPA Warns Against Payment Scam

The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) is warning its customers of a new, nationwide utility bill scam. Over the past several days, numerous LIPA customers have received telephone calls from individuals claiming to work for LIPA, demanding payment through a pre-paid card on past-due balances.

Prostitution Arrests Continue at Spa

Two Flushing women were arrested for prostitution Wednesday at a West Hempstead day spa that has now had a total of eight women arrested over the course of the last two months. The arrests came at Lucy Day Spa, located at 300 Hempstead Turnpike, around 2:45 p.m. Wednesday. According to Nassau County detectives, an undercover operation determined that Xiuli Gao, 41, and Shu Wen Ai, 44, were practicing massage therapy without a license. Additionally, both defendants offered to engage in a sexual act for an undisclosed amount of money, police said. They were taken into custody without incident.

Smithtown to Act Against Concrete Business

Smithtown officials will take legal action to close down a Kings Park pre-cast concrete business, while residents begged town board members to go after other illegal businesses breaking town code. Smithtown Town Board voted to seek an injunction against KPE II in New York State Supreme Court to restrain them from carrying out illegal industrial activities.

The Port Washington School District and the Port Washington Teachers Association reached an agreement to extend the teacher’s contract that will save the district $1.3 million, according to School Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Mooney. The new agreement will help the district as it plans ahead and tries to spare programs.

Peter King Blasts Rubio's NY Visit

Rep. Peter King, whose district includes many South Shore communities battered by super storm Sandy, said Sen. Marco Rubio's fundraising in New York should be ignored by would-be donors. The Long Island Republican said "It’s bad enough that potential Republican presidential candidates voted against Hurricane Sandy aid, that’s inexcusable enough. But to have the balls to come in and say, ‘We screwed you now make us President?’ King has aggressively fought fellow Republicans who stood against Sandy-related funding for the New York area.

Garden City Contracts for Trees, Bushes

Garden City trustees awarded bids to local nurseries this month for the purchase of trees, shrubs, flowers and mulch for its annual spring spruce up. Though recreation director Kevin Ocker said he cut "way back"on the amount of mulch being purchased, Grove Street resident Bob Orosz questioned why the village is buying it at all. "With all the trees knocked down during Sandy why aren't we selling mulch? Why are we buying it?" he asked. Ocker said the village did chip and stockpile some wood from downed trees but most of the storm debris was carted away to a county disposal area.

Patchogue Approves Option to Override Tax Cap

The Patchogue Village Board of Trustees passed a motion by a 4-1 vote for the option to possibly override the state imposed two-percent tax cap at Monday's Village Board of Trustees meeting at Patchogue Village Hall. In April 2012, the Village Board also approved the option but ultimately stayed under the cap by passing a 1.13 percent increase on the tax levy. Village Treasurer Ronald Krawczyk said Monday that it ultimately came in around 1.76 percent based on the governor's formula. Krawczyk said that the passing of this motion does not mean the Village Board plans to pierce the cap.

Islanders Join Fight to Protect Children

The New York Islanders said they are partnering with The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children with the goal of raising money and awareness for the organization. The team said that $2 for each ticket sold for the March 7 game at the Nassau Coliseum against the rival New York Rangers would go directly to the NCMEC. The Isles also announced that owner Charles Wang would personally match the total from the ticket donation. Co-founder of NCMEC and host of America’s Most Wanted John Walsh will attend the game and drop the ceremonial puck.