Newsday 12/10/15 - A proposed vineyard and wine-tasting venue in Northport is roughing the palate of some village residents, who say it would be inappropriate next to — about 350 feet from — Norwood Avenue Elementary School.
“We don’t need that next to our school, and we don’t want to see it in our neighborhood,” Northport resident Alice Abbate said during a public hearing of the Huntington Planning Board, which must decide whether to grant the project site plan approval. She told board members she has a problem with a business serving alcohol so close to the school.
Huntington attorney Fred Giachetti and his wife, Lisa, said establishing Del Vino Vineyard and a tasting room on the 10-acre property is a chance to preserve one of the dwindling open-spaces available for purchase in the region.
“I just thought this was a perfect opportunity,” Fred Giachetti said.
But the Giachettis plan has become a fight that includes the Northport-East Northport School District, a representative of which spoke against the project during the Dec. 2 planning board hearing.
“The district vehemently opposes this application,” Carrie-Anne Tondo, an attorney for Hauppauge-based Ingerman Smith, which represents the district, said at the meeting. “The school district is scared for the safety of its students, and to not address those concerns is ... a travesty,”
The Giachettis’ dream of making their own wine is linked to Lisa Giachetti’s ancestry. Her family has made wine and silks in Italy for more than 200-years. The couple wanted to build a small-scale vineyard where they would make their own blends, from pinot grigio, sauvignon blanc and Gewürztraminer grapes.
Before the couple purchased the land in 2012, it had languished for about 15 years, Fred Giachetti said. The couple secured approvals to build a 7-house development on the land, but he said they realized a vineyard would give them a chance to preserve the land and restore the original 90-year-old farmhouse as a tasting room.
But Abbate said she’s gathered 350 signatures in opposition to the project in the village of about 7,400 people.
She said a tasting room would attract large weddings and other parties, disrupt the neighborhood, clog traffic as vineyard customers look for parking, and potentially put drunk drivers on the road.
“We bought our homes in a residential neighborhood … It’s our own little kingdom,” Abbate said. “It’s quiet, it’s quaint.”
Fred Giachetti rejected that suggestion, saying the tasting room would have about 60 parking spaces and try to attract to smaller groups.
Tondo called for more public hearings and an environmental study before the planning board decides on the application. Tondo said the school district is concerned about pesticides that would be used on the grapes and the possibility that unhealthy particles from the soil could drift.
Giachetti said the town already performed an environmental review and found that there was no negative impact to the community. Giachetti said he would still use a pesticide machine that pulls airborne spray back into the device to recycle and contain it, thus minimizing exposure to surrounding areas.
The Giachetti’s have planning board approval to grow grapes, but they need site plan approval to be able to make wine or have a tasting room.
The couple has a state liquor authority winery license and farm winery license. And Suffolk County and the state Department of Agriculture and Markets has granted Del Vino a place in one of the county’s agricultural districts.
Fred Giachetti said the couple projects they could produce about 5,000 gallons of wine a year; and they want to grow pears, peaches, figs and herbs on the property. The fresh produce would be used to offer small plates to people who visit the tasting room in the restored farmhouse.

By Eden Laikin

Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano’s strong, taxpayer-minded leadership, in the midst of fiscal and other crises, was lauded by a bipartisan group of top state and federal government officials today, as the former County legislator was sworn in for a second term.

State Senator Chuck Schumer and Gov. Andrew Cuomo – both Democrats – joined Senators Dean Skelos and Alfonse D’Amato in praising the Republican Mangano’s tough and often unpopular decisions during his first four years in office – noting that his leadership before, during and after Superstorm Sandy resulted in no loss of life.

The nearly three-hour inaugural ceremony today at Mangano’s alma mater – Bethpage High School – drew a standing room only crowd and featured an Italian Aria and music from the Antioch Baptist Choir. Other dignitaries seated on stage in the auditorium included US Congressmen Peter King and Steve Israel, Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto, NIFA Chairman Jon Kaiman, State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, several County legislators, and Bishop William Murphy of the Diocese of Rockville Centre.

Those who spoke, commended Mangano for reducing the size of county government to save millions of dollars in duplicative services; implementing cost-saving and efficiency-producing public private partnerships to provide healthcare at the jail and public bus transportation throughout Nassau; and being the one to finally bring totally privately-financed redevelopment to the HUB – all without raising taxes.

"I have no doubt that when we look back four years from today, we will say Nassau is a better county, a stronger county, a safer county, a richer county because of the leadership of Ed Mangano," Cuomo said.

After taking the oath of office, Mangano thanked residents for giving him the opportunity to serve as County Executive for another term; and he spoke about some of the significant accomplishments in his first four years – thanking his administration and department heads for working tirelessly for Nassau residents.

And Mangano praised the drug abuse prevention and education efforts of his staff, which include the life-saving, overdose prevention training of ordinary citizens to combat the current rash of drug overdose deaths.

Mineola, NY - To help homeowners deal with this week’s upcoming winter storms, Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano announced today that the deadline for submitting applications for all property tax exemptions for the 2014-15 school and general fund tax year has been extended to Wednesday, January 8, 2014.
 
“Knowing that hundreds of homeowners visit the County Assessment Office at the end of the exemptions filing period and that they may encounter hazardous driving conditions with the upcoming snow storms, in the interest of public safety I am extending the exemptions filing period to next Wednesday,”  stated County Executive Mangano.  “I urge all qualifying homeowners who have yet to file for a property tax exemption to take advantage of this extension and submit their application before the January 8 deadline.”
 
In addition to offering Veterans, Senior Citizen, Cold War Veterans, Volunteer Firefighters and Ambulance Workers, Limited Income Disability, and Home Improvement exemptions, Nassau County also administers New York State’s Basic and Enhanced School Tax Relief (STAR) property tax exemptions.  The Basic STAR program is for residents who own and live in their own home, condominium or cooperative apartment with an annual household income of $500,000 or less. The Enhanced STAR program is for senior citizens aged 65 years or older with annual incomes of $81,900 or less. 
 
There is no filing fee to process exemptions applications and Department of Assessment personnel are available to answer any questions regarding the filing procedures and forms.  To learn more about Nassau County's property tax relief programs or to obtain an exemption application, homeowners should contact the Department of Assessment at (516) 571-1500 or download forms and information from its website at www.mynassauproperty.com.
 

By Eden Laikin

A state of emergency has been declared in New York and both County Executive Edward P. Mangano and Gov. Andrew Cuomo urged residents to “stay off the roads” if they can.

Meanwhile, all county roadways remain open, Mangano said.

Mangano also activated the County’s Non-Emergency Hotline today, January 2, 2014 at 12:00 p.m. as a winter blizzard approaches the region.  Residents with non-life threatening emergencies should dial 1-888-684-4274 for assistance through the duration of the storm. All those with life threatening emergencies should call 911.

All County Park activities, and visiting hours at the Nassau County Correctional Center, have been cancelled for today and tomorrow.

And, with blizzard conditions approaching, County Executive Mangano reminded residents that WARMBED, Nassau County’s Emergency Shelter Relief Program for homeless individuals and families during the winter months, is active.  The Nassau County Winter Homeless Hotline operates 7 days a week and runs through March 31st, 2014.  If winter conditions persist beyond March 31st, the program will continue until warmer weather arrives.

Between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. Monday thru Thursday, and Friday from 6:00 p.m. thru Monday at 8:00 a.m., employees from WARMBED and the Department of Social Services (DSS) make appropriate referrals and provide shelter placement.  Once placed, the staff at DSS and the Office of Housing and Community Development contact those who are homeless in order to access resources for permanent housing.  County Executive Mangano also urges Nassau’s homeless veterans to take advantage of the WARMBED program, where they will be assisted by the Nassau County Veterans Services Agency.

NASSAU COUNTY EVENING HOMELESS HOTLINE (WARMBED):

1-866-927-6233 (1-866-WARMBED)

EMERGENCY NUMBERS:

Department of Social Services (516) 227-8519: After office hours (516) 573-8626

Long Island Crisis Counseling & Referral Center Hotline (516) 679-1111

Nassau County Coalition Against Domestic Violence Hotline (516) 542-0404

Nassau University Medical Center (516) 572-0123

The LIE overpass on New Hyde Park Road in North Hills was renamed Sunday for a Nassau County police officer killed in the line of duty on the highway in 2012.

More than 120 officers, family members and friends attended the dedication ceremony, held at Nassau County Police Headquarters in Mineola, for what will now be called the Joseph P. Olivieri Jr. Memorial Bridge. Later on, the unveiling of the actual sign took place on the Long Island Expressway in North Hills.

Video: James Carver, president of the Nassau County Police Benevolent Association

By Eden Laikin

More than 10,000 job seekers – including at least 300 veterans - attended the 6th and largest Job and Career Fair, sponsored in the past 3 years, by Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano.

With nearly 300 companies on hand - a record number - the Private Sector job fair was held this time in a larger than ever venue – the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

“We are extremely grateful to our business partners for participating in this Job Fair,” Mangano said. “My administration remains committed to helping our Nassau County residents find employment opportunities and improve their economic conditions, as well as helping our local businesses recruit qualified employees in a large variety of industries.”

Employers sought candidates for positions including entry and middle management level, licensed professionals, hospitality and food service industries, banking staffing, and individuals with technical and IT experience. Companies participating were looking to fill between three and – in the case of Bank of America - 200 positions.

Target representatives say they interviewed many people on-site today and Vonage officials, like last job fair, say they  offered employment to about 20 job seekers. High paying executive type positions were offered as well by Winthrop and South Nassau Hospitals, Citibank, MTA, LIRR and NYC TRANSIT.

County Executive Mangano welcomed attendees this morning and recognized various corporate sponsors of the event, with citations. He said successful job fairs such as this one today is a big part of why Nassau now has the lowest unemployment rate in the region.

By 11:30am, more than 6,500 people had already come through the Coliseum’s doors.

In addition to employers, there were representatives of various resource programs as well as several Veteran agencies to assist job seekers. To thank veterans for their service to our country, they were allowed into the fair one-hour earlier.

Dress for Success volunteers had people fitted for interview clothing on premises.
 
Financial supporters and sponsors of the Job Fair included:

o  Arizona Beverages USA

o  Bank of America-Merrill Lynch

o  Bethpage Federal Credit Union

o  Combined Insurance

o  Custom Computer Specialists, Inc.

o  H2M

o  Healthplex, Inc.

o  Home Depot

o  Hunter Business School

o  Jan Pro Cleaning System

o  Long Island Job Finder

o  New York Cosmos

o  Strathmore Who’s Who

o  Winthrop University Hospital

Mangano also reminded those seeking employment about the County’s launch of NassauWorks – a free job finding application for Smart phones that notifies job seekers of employment opportunities within their parameters.

“We are beginning to have an improved economic outlook for Nassau County,” Mangano told the crowd. “Sales tax revenues are up and all signs point to increased economic growth for our area.”

Other employers in attendance included Geico, Brookstone, Canon, Cablevision, Dowling College, LA Fitness, Marriott, New York Daily News, Resorts World Casino and Verizon FIOS.

By Eden Laikin


Ed Mangano told viewers at the third County Executive debate, that it will be easy this election to make an “informed decision” because it comes down to “looking at our records.”

“Tom Suozzi had 8 years in office and didn’t do any of the things he “visioned doing” Mangano said. “I had 4 years and many accomplishments… Tom had the lowest sales tax growth during his terms, I enjoy the greatest sales tax growth. Suozzi had the highest unemployment rate while in office, I have the lowest unemployment in the region. I brought in or retained more than 19,000 jobs in my four years in office, many jobs left during Tom’s term.”

The first televised debate between the two aired on CBS Channel 2 from 1pm to 2pm today.

 “As he was fighting for the 2% tax cap, Tom Suozzi raised County taxes double that – 4%...And he planned a 16.5 % tax increase his last month in office, which I stopped,” Mangano said in response to a moderator’s question.

Suozzi, who in 2009 said that as County Executive, he had no control over school districts or school taxes, now blames Mangano for recent school tax hikes.  

As in previous debates, Suozzi argued that NIFA took control of Nassau’s finances under Ed Mangano, while he “worked with” the control board when he was county executive.

Mangano quoted Newsday columnist Joye Brown, who twice wrote that NIFA changed accounting rules when he took office, and had cut Suozzi “a lot of slack.” She added that had the rules been the same, NIFA would have taken over long ago, under Suozzi.

Mangano later countered Suozzi’s assertions by saying Nassau actually has the 2nd highest credit rating and that it was achieved without a tax increase. And, that he submitted a 4- year plan, which was approved, to end the need for NIFA “without taking an extra dime from taxpayers.”

Regarding what he thought the County could do to help school districts save money, Mangano said he’s given every school, garbage, water and fire district the purchasing power of Nassau County, through a purchasing consortium and he mentioned two coordinating bids that have already saved all involved, money: paper and natural gas.

“Long Island is very school district-centric,” Mangano said. “We identify with our school district.”

At one point, Suozzi claimed that there were no actual savings from the police precinct consolidations. In response, Mangano pointed out that 300 administrative jobs were eliminated and that resulted in the County giving out 300 less paychecks, making 300 less pension contributions and 300 less employees were obligated to get health care for life through the County.

Suozzi once gain brought up what he himself called a “rumor” about Mangano’s “secret” plans to put VLTs at the HUB site and, once again Mangano said he has no such plans.

Suozzi said he would have brought in a more ambitious redevelopment of the HUB, making no mention of the Lighthouse project he championed when he was in office, which failed because it was too dense.

Mangano told viewers that the lease he has with Bruce Ratner would redevelop the Coliseum with100% private financing that would generate millions of dollars for Nassau County and was just the beginning of major economic growth and development for the area.

Mangano also said that while he has taken the annual salary that Suozzi raised during his tenure, he has turned down $52,000 in automatic raises that Suozzi built in to the pay structure.

At one point, Mangano asked Suozzi why he “sold out County employees, by hiring out of county people while running for state office during his second term.

Responding to a question about efforts to combat the prescription drug abuse crisis, Suozzi said he would work with the DA and the police to “educate people about the dangers” and about emptying your medicine cabinets of unused or unwanted painkillers.

Mangano said his law enforcement officials have and continue to teach pharmacists to better protect themselves and their customers; and that his administration had launched Narcan training for parents, which is a lifesaving, free drug for those who might be  overdosing on Opioids. He said “we’ve already saved lives. And there were so many success stories about then getting those with drug addiction into treatment.”

On another subject, Mangano said that while Sandy brought the worst of times, it also ‘gives us the opportunity to build smarter, stronger and better. It’s time to reinvent and make improvements.

In closing, Mangano said that his opponent’s tax increases killed jobs and sent young people to live elsewhere. He pointed to several companies he and the Nassau IDA convinced to come to Nassau or expand here.

He asked that residents focus on the issues and accomplishments, and not on Suozzi’s “lies, distortions and campaign rhetoric.”

“He raised property taxes 23% and even with a $100 million state bailout, left $385 million in debt,” Mangano said. “I cut taxes by repealing his home energy tax, didn’t raise taxes for four years, lowered the unemployment rate, saw the highest increase in sales tax growth … jobs and people are retuning to Nassau. We must continue this progress so we can continue to make this County a better place to live, work and raise a family.”

After 8 years in office, a loss in the governor and county executive races and 4 years in the private sector, Suozzi now says he has a plan to fix the assessment system and expand the tax base.

The nearly two-dozen individuals and groups endorsing Ed Mangano for County Executive this year may be varied and diverse, but the reasons for the endorsements remain the same:

Mangano did not raise property taxes for four consecutive years; he retained and created over 19,000 private sector jobs and eliminated wasteful government spending by implementing efficiencies and cutting the workforce by about 20 percent.

For these reasons, and in recognition of County Executive Mangano's leadership in emergency preparedness that has helped lead Nassau County through some of the worst weather events including Hurricane Sandy and Irene, the list of endorsements includes former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.

"I am a great admirer of how Ed Mangano has turned this county around," said Giuliani, who grew up in Nassau. "He has kept property taxes low and he hasn't done it on the backs of taxpayers. He's done it by reducing the size of government."

“When he took over four years ago, this county was in pretty darn bad shape,” Giuliani added. “Ed has moved it absolutely, in every respect, in the opposite direction.”

Governor Andrew Cuomo has praised Mangano for “standing up for the taxpayer” and advocating with him, in a bi-partisan way, for the 2% tax cap. 

Mangano supporter, State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, said: “In government, the easiest thing to do and the most cowardly thing to do is to raise taxes, and I know that Ed Mangano has taken that to heart. It’s about leadership, it’s about understanding that taxpayers cannot pay more in taxes, that government must be more efficient.”

Members of the Fire Marshal Benevolent Association and local firefighters also endorse County Executive Mangano for decreasing unemployment, lowering crime and taking illegal guns off the streets.  

Members of the orthodox Jewish community recently lauded Ed Mangano for urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency to assist houses of worship damaged by Hurricane Sandy and for his understanding of issues of importance to the Jewish community, including cutting the deficit, job creation, expanded housing options, and other ways Nassau County residents can alleviate the damage incurred by Hurricane Sandy.

Nassau County’s largest community newspaper group, The Herald,  endorsed Mangano for having “a better shot (than his opponent) at getting Nassau moving forward again.”

 “We’d love to live in the future Nassau County envisioned by Tom Suozzi, full of cool downtowns, a redeveloped Hub (the area surrounding the Nassau Coliseum) and lots of affordable housing for young singles as well as for our seniors,” the Herald newspapers said. But, they added, they don’t feel Suozzi is “capable of delivering on his grand vision.”

“Suozzi’s record of accomplishment when it comes to completing or even beginning these grand projects is poor. He had two terms as county executive, and the only bricks-and-mortar accomplishment he can point to is the redevelopment of the Theodore Roosevelt Court House in Mineola.

 During those eight years, Suozzi invested lots of time, effort and political capital in an attempt to bring Charles Wang’s Lighthouse proposal for the Hub to fruition. But without benefit of a consensus of Republicans in the Legislature and on the Hempstead town board, the project went nowhere, which is where we fear many of Suozzi’s current plans would end up as well.”

In contrast, the Herald’s editors said, Mangano’s deal to redevelop the Hub “seems likely to actually get built.”

They called Suozzi, the “grand visionary, long on ideas but short on execution.”

Tom Suozzi has been endorsed by newspapers, including his one time employer and largest campaign contributor. Ed Mangano is endorsed by the people.

Mangano has been endorsed by:

Herald Community Newspapers

Nassau County Republican Party

Nassau County Independence Party

Nassau County Conservative Party

America’s Mayor Rudy Giuliani

Local 7 Carpenters

Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters

Plumbers Local Union 200

Italian American Political Action Committee

New York Veteran Police Association

International Union of Journeymen & Allied Trades

Nassau County Fire Marshals Benevolent Association

International Union of Operating Engineers Local 138, 138A, 138B & 138C

Local 15 – International Union Of Operating Engineers

Local 30 – International Union of Operating Engineers

City Carpenters

Ironworkers

Court Officers Benevolent Association of Nassau County

Supported by:

State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos

Local firefighters

   Orthodox Jewish community

   Asian American community

Latino/Hispanic communities

By Eden Laikin

More than 100 of Nassau’s South Shore residents, still displaced after superstorm Sandy destroyed their homes, rallied in Mineola today to let the state and federal government know they want the rebuilding money they’re due - today.

Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano stood with the crowd, more than one year after the storm, vowing to continue the fight for their homeowners’  reimbursement from FEMA and NY Rising – a program the crowd says has completely failed them.

Beating on conga drums and chanting “Show Us the Money,” the residents who came from Island Park, Long Beach and Freeport, demanded the government release the millions of dollars in disaster recovery funds it has for them, so they can repair their houses and get back home.

Tearful victims, who continue to pay mortgages on homes they cant live in, as well as rent on places in which they’re staying, told emotional stories about losing their personal possessions and missing holiday celebrations in their own homes.

“We marched on Washington before to get the necessary money approved, and we’ll do it again if we have to, to get that money to you – the homeowners,” Mangano said. “We can’t rest until every resident is back in their homes.”

In August, Mangano gathered with the same grassroots group of impacted residents, to demand that FEMA eliminate the Earth Movement exclusion in the National Flood Insurance Plan – which was clearly contradictory to its mission. He said it was ridiculous to claim that the damage to homes was something other than storm water “moving earth.”

Governor Andrew Cuomo heard the call and immediately amended the NY Rising Program to help cover homeowners who FEMA excluded. But the money has yet to materialize. Since NY Rising sent financial award letters to 4,300 residents last month, no actual checks have followed.

Standing on the steps of the Theodore Roosevelt Executive & Legislative Building in Mineola, County Executive Mangano also called on FEMA and the state to adjust the price per square foot they pay in assistance to recognize the high costs of rebuilding in our region.

“The realities are that $160 per square foot is not enough when it costs $200 per square foot to rebuild in Nassau County,” Mangano told the crowd. “So today we stand strong…We stand united…We stand with one voice.”

Lastly, Mangano and the group called on NY Rising to stop denying rebuilding grants to storm victims who took out SBA loans, which were taken upon the government’s urging, soon after the storm.

Mangano said “immediate, emergency (federal) legislation is needed” to remedy the problem, as “laws are standing between you and your home.”

Federal Disaster Recovery Funds are being allocated through the state’s NY Rising program. Mangano said he had reached out to both Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and “they were well aware of this situation.” State Assemblyman Brian Curran and County Legislator Denise Ford who represent the area, joined the rally as well.

But members of the group – created by Freeport resident Michelle Mittleman – say they’re tired of the “rhetoric” and just want their claims paid. They carried signs that read: “NY Not Rising,” “Homeless With A Mortgage,” and “Homeless for 369 days.”