The chopper flown in was born in 1967 and has served in every conflict since Vietnam!

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Councilwoman Russell & Senator Gillibrand Meet with Hispanic/Black Caucus of Long Island

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North Hempstead, NY

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Councilwoman Russell meets with Napoleon Revels-Bey and his Westbury Community School Bucket Drummers before their performance

A 60,000 square foot, United States Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED Certified Platinum-rated “green energy” center is a two-storied, cutting-edge facility employing energy saving technologies, including:
• a closed-loop geothermal heating/cooling system
• a south-facing solar wall for preheated ventilation
• 13,000 square feet of photovoltaic panels
• a solar hot-water heat exchange system...... Advancing the New Cassel Community Vision
• daytime interior light dimming and occupancy sensors
• Energy Star equipment for all appliances
• hybrid/pure-electric vehicle recharging stations
• a grey water system (for secondary water re-use)
• light wells to most basement spaces to allow natural daylight to lower levels
• roof rainwater harvesting for on-site community gardening
• use of recycled building materials manufactured locally, and
• computerized energy performance management/monitoring.
Among the amenities that the facility will have, include: a gymnasium/auditorium with retractable bleacher seating, performance stage, sound and lighting features; upstairs multi-purpose spaces with warming kitchen/food serving area; computer training labs; cyber-café, canteen space, vending area, and pantry; administrative office spaces; seniors meeting space/lounge; television studio space and appurtenant technical/editing rooms; reading rooms; game room; downstairs workout area, cardiovascular training area, dance studio, locker rooms and showers; town-wide emergency management center; and code enforcement offices. The over-$20 million facility will be one of the highest-performance energy-efficient community center structures in the nation, and will be a focal point for community-based programs in New Cassel.

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Manhasset, NY – North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jon Kaiman, and Town Councilwoman Viviana Russell, in conjunction with Fundamental Sports Training and Elite Youth Camps, is proud to invite NBA star Nate Robinson to North Hempstead’s “Yes We Can” Community Center for a three hour clinic on Friday, August 2^nd. He will train children ages 9 to 12 from 9am to 12pm and ages 13-18 will be trained from 1pm to 4pm. Robinson, currently of the NBA’s Chicago Bulls, is a 3-time NBA Slam Dunk Champion.“This is a unique opportunity for young athletes to have a world-class athlete as their trainer,” Supervisor Kaiman said. “This would not have been possible without our partnership with Fundamental Sports Training who offers player development and skills training classes at many of our Town facilities.”Town Councilwoman Viviana Russell said, “It is so exciting for the children of our community to be able to learn from a star professional athlete so close to home.  I am proud to welcome Mr. Robinson into our Community Center.” Nassau County Legislator Robert Troiano, who also represents this district, and was instrumental in the creation of the ‘Yes We Can’ Center, said, “This is another example of the ‘Yes We Can’ Community Center affording opportunities to the children of this community that previously would not have been  available.” This is not the first-time an NBA player has visited the “Yes We Can” Center.  Former New York Knick Marcus Camby attended the grand opening of the facility last September. The brand new state-of-the-art 60,000 square foot “Yes We Can” Community Center is located at 141 Garden Street in Westbury. The facility has two NBA-sized basketball courts where the clinic will take place.

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 On Friday August 2, 2013 Councilwoman Viviana L. Russell had the pleasure to interview Frank Signorello, owner of Hollow Creamery, located at 538 Westbury Avenue in Carle Place as part of the town’s Taste of the Town show. Hollow Creamery is Carle Places only artisan ice cream parlor. Its name was created from Carle Places’ original name “Frog Hollow.” Establishing this business was Frank Signore...llo’s way of giving back to his community. Hollow Creamery serves 21 flavors of high-quality homemade ice cream, creating a thrilling amount of sweet and delicious choices. Not only does Hollow Creamery offer homemade ice cream, but it also provides other exciting desserts, espresso drinks, coffee, sandwiches, smoothies, and etc. This shop is a family orientated facility that provides a safe place that everyone can enjoy. This is a one of kind place that also has open mike, music, board games, and free Internet access. You will also find art from the schools and local artist adorning the vibrant walls. “I want people to stay, whether you going to have coffee or going to have a brownie sundae…” “I wanted to make it like the old sale coffee house, like the country kitchen, come and sit, relax for a little bit, unwind..,” stated Frank Signorello. They will do anything they can to meet their customers’ great expectations. “With summer still in full brew the Hollow Creamery is definitely a place to stop in to cool down. My favorite delectable treat are their grilled vegetable panini and dirty pistachio ice cream.” said Councilwoman Russell. Look for this and other Taste of the Town shows on North Hempstead TV channel 18 (Cable Vision) or channel 46 (Verizon).

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Hundreds Gather to Celebrate ‘National Night Out’ 2013 in North Hempstead
Tribute Paid to Town Supervisor Jon Kaiman 

New Cassel, NY –Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman was honored this week at the 30th Annual “National Night Out” Against Crime rally, which featured local residents, Westbury community leaders, and elected officials including representatives of County Executive Ed Mangano.

Hundreds of residents, along with members of the North Hempstead Town administration and County Legislator Judi Bosworth, attended the August 6th “National Night Out” event, highlighted by the tribute to Supervisor Kaiman for his contributions to the Westbury community.

“When so many of you show up to this event year after year, it sends the message that you care about your community and are committed to working with law enforcement and government to help preserve your community’s quality of life,” Supervisor Kaiman told the estimated crowd of thousand-strong cgathered at Martin “Bunky” Reid Park in Westbury. “I thank all who supported and stood with me and my administration in its efforts to serve this great community.”

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice, with support from a host of local businesses and institutions including North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center, “National Night Out” promotes neighborhood anti-crime efforts, crime and drug-prevention awareness and police-community partnerships.

The event, which featured music refreshments, arts & crafts, raffles, health screenings, giveaways and more, kicked off with a parade, which started at the Salvation Army headquarters on Prospect Avenue and finished up in the park. It marked 13 years since New Cassel first hosted the anti-crime gathering.

North Hempstead Town Councilwoman Viviana Russell, whose district encompasses New Cassel, thanked Supervisor Kaiman for being a “trailblazer and a great friend to the community.”

“On a night when we stand against violence with Sandy Hook still in our collective psyche,” said Russell, referring to Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut where twenty children and six adults were fatally shot December 14, 2012, “we need to make sure we do everything possible to support law enforcement in their efforts to protect our community.”

County Legislator Judi Bosworth first thanked Supervisor Kaiman for his unrelenting pursuit of community revitalization in New Cassel. She also addressed the crowd and said, “By attending this event, each and every one of you is showing your appreciation for the strides made and is making a statement about your commitment to help preserve New Cassel’s quality of life.”

Nassau County Legislator and former North Hempstead Town Councilman Robert Troiano also thanked Supervisor Kaiman for helping to transform Prospect Avenue, New Cassel’s main thoroughfare, into a walk-able Main Street with planters, benches, and mixed-use buildings with retail space and affordable rentals. “With your vision and leadership, this community is a much better place,” said Troiano, a lifelong New Cassel resident.

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Councilwoman Viviana Russell recognizes Supervisor Jon Kaiman with an award during the 2013 National Night Out celebration.

 
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Participants enjoy arts & craft activities during the National Night Out festivities.

Town of North Hempstead Holds Lottery for New Cassel Affordable Housing 

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From left, Assemblyman Charles Lavine, Kennetha Pettus of the UNCCRC, New York State Senator Jack Martins, Alan Handelman of Conifer Realty, Bishop Lionel Harvey of the UNCCRC, Marianne Garvin, President of CDC Long Island, Town Councilwoman Viviana Russell, Executive Director of the North Hempstead CDA Dermot Kelly, Serena Miller of Conifer Realty, Mark Busgang of the New York State Homes and Community Renewal, and John Sarcone, Director of the Nassau County Office of Community Development.

Westbury, NY – On September 17^th, Town of North Hempstead Councilwoman Viviana Russell joined a host of elected officials and community leaders at the Grand Opening of ‘The Space at Westbury,’ on Post Avenue.  ‘The Space’ opened as the Westbury Movie Theater in 1927 and is being re-born as a multi-purpose entertainment venue that can host concerts, movies, special events and more.  Councilwoman Russell said, “I thank Cyrus Hakakian for his vision of bringing back this gem to the community and Mayor Cavallero and the Westbury Village trustees for their diligence in seeing this project through to the end.  The Space embodies what ‘cool downtowns’ are all about.”

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North Hempstead, NY – In the continuing mission to keep North Hempstead green and encourage young residents to become stewards of the environment, Supervisor Jon Kaiman and North Hempstead’s chief sustainability officer, Frances Reid, last week launched an initiative aimed at installing recycling bins throughout the Town painted by student artists.The initiative, “The Art of Recycling,” kicked off September 18 with the installation of two painted recycled bins; one at the Great Neck Long Island Railroad Station and the other in Carle Place at the intersection of Cherry Lane and Westbury Avenue.  Supervisor Kaiman and Reid joined Town officials and administrators from Great Neck South High School and Carle Place High School at the installations. Acknowledging the efforts of the student artists, the art teachers involved and the school administrators who helped make the initiative possible, Supervisor Kaiman said: “We are sending a message that we care about our Town, our communities and our environment.” In addition to Supervisor Kaiman and Reid, Town officials attending the kick-off events included Town Councilwomen Lee Seeman and Viviana Russell, and Town Clerk Leslie Gross.

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Town Traces History at Sixth Annual North Hempstead Day Celebration

Manhasset, NY –Dressed in Colonial garb, North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman, members of the Town Board, the Town Clerk and the Receiver of Taxes last week transported elementary school students, teachers and scores of onlookers back to the Town’s formation when it seceded from the Town of Hempstead.

For Supervisor Kaiman, who posed as Philip J. Christ, the Town supervisor from 1907 to 1917, it was his last day on the job before embarking on his new assignment as Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s special Long Island advisor for Sandy recovery and as Chair of the Nassau Interim Finance Authority (NIFA).

North Hempstead has undergone dramatic changes since breaking off from the Town of Hempstead on Sept. 23, 1776, Supervisor Kaiman told the captivated audience, estimated at close to 300, mostly fifth graders from E.M. Baker School in Great Neck and Drexel Avenue School in Westbury.

“We’ve had our first female Supervisor in the late May Newburger, we have our first ever African American female in Councilwoman Viviana Russell, our first Iranian American Town Board member in Anna Kaplan and we had our first Latino board member in former Town Councilwoman Kitty Poons,” the Supervisor said, pointing to a period in the Town’s early history when women were not treated equally. “There are many things we can learn from our history but we look confidently to the future, because you youngsters are the future.”

Originally, North Hempstead was part of the Township of Hempstead. But with residents in northernmost Long Island growing increasingly dissatisfied with British rule in the mid-18th century, an ad hoc committee of Cow Neck (now Great Neck) militia submitted a resolution verbalizing what so many had on their minds: the wish to split from the township of Hempstead. It wasn’t until after World War I however, that the New York State legislature granted the request, creating the Town of North Hempstead in 1784. “It’s important that you learn history so that you, our leaders of tomorrow, can make better decisions in the future,” Councilwoman Kaplan, told the students who, following the morning’s event in the park, participated in mock Town Board sessions in Town Hall focusing on the workings of government. Kaplan portrayed Mercy Otis Warren, an ardent supporter of the Revolutionary cause.

Councilwoman Viviana Russell portrayed Alva Smith Vanderbilt Belmont, a fashion maven of the day and champion of the women’s suffrage movement in the early 1900’s. “When our leaders make decisions, they impact the lives of women and men alike,” she said, “so each of you should make it your duty to learn about government and the electoral process. Get involved.”

Portraying Elizabeth M. Baker, Town Clerk Leslie Gross was greeted with loud applause by E.M. Baker students when she reminded them that their school was named for her. “I thank you for listening so diligently to the history of the Town,” she said. “I encourage you all to work hard in school so you can continue to positively shape the history of North Hempstead.”

Town Board members, Angelo Ferrara, Dina M. De Giorgio and Lee Seeman, portraying Adrian Onderdonk, Florence Shloss Guggenheim and Margaret Cochran Corbin respectively, were also in attendance.

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Supervisor Jon Kaiman and the North Hempstead Town Board participate in the annual North Hempstead Day celebration.

North Hempstead, NY – With awareness being shed on the quality of Long Island’s aquifer drinking water and the plague of prescription drug abuse on Long Island, North Hempstead’s school pharmaceutical collection program was proud to conclude another successful year. This fall, the Town of North Hempstead, in cooperation with the Nassau County Police department and Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice, was able to safely dispose of 1,400 pounds of unwanted and unused prescription and over-the-counter drugs.  The process took approximately six weeks. Carle Place led the way by collecting a whopping 360 pounds at their October 5 event at Carle Place Middle/High School.  Other school district totals were Manhasset with 280 pounds; Herricks, 240 pounds; Port Washington, 200 pounds; Sewanhaka/New Hyde Park, 120 pounds; East Williston, 120 pounds; and Great Neck, 80 pounds.“Our pharmaceutical collection program allows residents to properly dispose of unwanted and expired prescription drugs,” said Supervisor John Riordan.  “Not only does this help to prevent drug abuse, but it allows us to reduce the amount of pharmaceutical contaminants that may seep into our ground water.” In 2009, the Town of North Hempstead was the first municipality in Nassau County to host a pharmaceutical collection program.  In the past five years, the success of the program has been astronomical, resulting in thousands of pounds of pharmaceuticals being properly disposed of each year.

For more information on the Town’s pharmaceutical collection program, please call 311.

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Town Helps Open First Ever Supermarket in New Cassel

New Cassel, NY – Marking another critical milestone in New Cassel’s ongoing revitalization, North Hempstead’s Community Development Agency (CDA) last week joined with elected officials, and community leaders to officially open the doors to a business the community has wanted but never had in its entire history: a full-service supermarket.

With the grand opening of the Ideal Food Basket Supermarket at 735 Prospect Ave. on October 4, residents now have access to a wide array of foods including dairy, prime cut meats, delicatessen products, and a wide selection of fresh produce. It also brought something else to the hamlet: jobs.

The 9,300 square foot full service grocery store, part of the America’s Food Basket chain with 30 locations in the Northeast, began operation Sept. 23. So far 15 residents from the community have landed jobs at the newly-opened market, company representatives said.

“This has been a long journey,” said longtime resident, North Hempstead Town Councilwoman Viviana Russell, whose district includes New Cassel. “For too long, New Cassel has lacked some basic necessities. Now thanks to our residents, the leadership of former Town Supervisor Jon Kaiman’s administration and the support of partners in the federal, State and County governments, we are now well on our way to getting retail services many communities take for granted.”

Russell pointed to a list of must-haves the community prioritized during visioning sessions close to a decade ago that have now become a reality. They include the one-year-old Town of North Hempstead “Yes We Can” Community Center, a pharmacy and family dentistry, dozens of units of affordable housing, and a total reconstruction of Prospect Avenue, making it into a walkable Main Street retail corridor.

County Legislator Robert Troiano, a New Cassel native and former North Hempstead Town Councilman, said the market was a long time coming but it was worth the wait.

“So many residents in this community had difficulty getting to supermarkets on the outskirts of the community,” he said. “Now they have access to high quality food products within walking distance.”

The CDA, North Hempstead’s community development and revitalization arm, which played an integral role in the massive ongoing New Cassel’s redevelopment initiative, is working to bring in a bank, another amenity the community has been without for decades. The agency provided grants and loans to help acquire the property for the construction of the new supermarket.

Lamont Bailey, the CDA’s chair, called the occasion “a great day. Not only does the community finally have access to a full service grocery store on their door steps but they also have in this store a business which has created jobs—15 all told so far—to residents.”

Molly Yearty, a single mother of three who has lived in New Cassel for more than 30 years, said the opening of the new supermarket has been a blessing for her and her family and the community at large.

“It’s a wonderful thing to have a grocery store in the heart of the community,” said Yearty, who works as a cashier at the new supermarket and had been unemployed for two years. “It’s fantastic. Not only am I happy to be working again but I can walk to work.”

Bishop Lionel Harvey, president of the United New Cassel Community Revitalization Corporation, (UNCCRC), was instrumental in establishing the partnerships with the Town and the County to help make the $80 million New Cassel revitalization possible.

“This vision couldn’t have happened without the community pulling together,” Harvey said. “Seeing the transformation of this community, we have to continue to keep hope alive.”

Other officials attending the event include State Assemblyman Chuck Lavine, and County Legislators Judi Bosworth and Wayne Wink.

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From left, County Legislator Judi Bosworth, Town Councilwoman Viviana Russell, Chairman of the UNCCRC Bishop Lionel Harvey, County Legislator Robert Troiano, CDA Board Member Howard Weitzman, and Ideal Food Basket owners Amable Paulino and Roman Batista.

North Hempstead, NY – North Hempstead Town Councilwoman Viviana Russell announced that Carle Place is among several communities across the Town that received full-scale roadway resurfacing projects as part of the Highway Department 2013 season, during which nearly 40,000 linear feet of Town roads were repaved.

Councilwoman Russell reports that more than 7,000 feet of roadway was repaved in Carle Place this past paving season. A long awaited drainage project was also completed in the Appletree Lane area.

“By collaborating with residents and the community we were able to identify roads that needed resurfacing and drainage improvements,” Councilwoman Russell said. “We were able to mitigate years of flooding and drainage issues for residents through bipartisan efforts with state, county and village of Mineola officials. After appropriating funding and working closely with Highway and Public Works, we were able to get the job done. Thank you to past Carle Place Civic President Peter McDonnell for facilitating the meetings with all parties involved.”

In addition to Carle Place, some of the other large-scale roadway repaving projects took place in Manhasset, Port Washington, Albertson, Great Neck, and Greenvale.

The Town’s normal paving workload for a season has ranged between 30,000 and 40,000 feet each year since 2010.  According to Town’s Highway Department there are several different ways that particular roads are chosen for resurfacing each year. One way is through a list generated annually by the area foreman prioritizing roadways that require resurfacing. Another means of generating a to-do list is through feedback from 311 service requests and through the Town Council via constituent requests.

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Town of North Hempstead & Gold Coast Arts Center Honors Celebrities at Film Festival Gala

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Nassau County Legislator Wayne Wink, Town Councilwoman Anna Kaplan, Town Councilwoman Viviana Russell, Special Events Director of the Gold Coast Arts Center Aviva Miller, Nassau County Legislator Judi Bosworth, Former North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jon Kaiman, Executive Director of the Gold Coast Arts Center Regina Gil, Town Councilwoman Lee Seeman, State Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel, and Town Receiver of Taxes Charles Berman.