LI schools, governments announce Wednesday cancellations

Most Long Island schools and organizations closed, canceled or postponed activities in anticipation of "near blizzard" conditions forecast for Wednesday.

Among others, Amityville, Baldwin, Bay Shore, Bellmore, Bethpage, Brentwood, East Meadow, Elmont, Franklin Square, Glen Cove, Hauppauge (modified day), Locust Valley, Long Beach, Malverne, Mineola, North Shore Central, Northport, Plainview-Old Bethpage, Wyandanch and Uniondale school officials have announced their districts will be closed Wednesday, in addition to many others.

MORE: Complete list of school and organization closings

The Connetquot district announced that they will run a reduced day schedule, although that could change depending on the forecast.

Below are some governmental closings that have been announced.

MORE: LI weather forecast calls for 8 to 13 inches of snow

Glen Cove cleanup plan hearing postponed

A public meeting about the Crown Dykman hazardous waste site in Glen Cove scheduled for Wednesday has been postponed because of the expected heavy snowstorm.

State environmental and health officials were to have discussed a proposed $1.7 million cleanup plan for the property, which is at 66 Herb Hill Rd. Dry-cleaning solvents and petroleum residue contaminate soil and groundwater there. The pollution came from laundries and an auto body shop that once occupied the site, officials said.

The meeting has been rescheduled for Wednesday, March 3, at 7 p.m. at Glen Cove City Hall. The public comment period on the land has been extended from March 1 to March 10. More information about the site is available at www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/8431.html. - JENNIFER SMITH

Hearing on Bellmore White Castle postponed

The Hempstead Board of Appeals has postponed a hearing on a 24-hour White Castle proposed for a Bellmore neighborhood because of Wednesday's expected storm.

The hearing is postponed to Wednesday, March 17, at 9:30 a.m., the town said.

Neighbors along St. Mark's Avenue in Bellmore are fighting the sale of four nearby properties -- a block of three houses and an auto body shop -- to White Castle, the 24-hour fast-food restaurant.

Months of mounting opposition were set to culminate at the zoning board of appeals.

Also postponed from Wednesday to March 17 is the Levittown Josato hearing. - GARY DYMSKI

Snow forecast forces postponement of rent hike hearing

The Nassau Rent Guidelines Board has postponed a hearing Wednesday night in to discuss caps on rent hikes for tenants of about 13,000 private housing units, state officials said.

The hearing has been rescheduled for Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. in Great Neck Plaza Village Hall, located at 2 Gussack Plaza.

The board sets annual limits on increases for rental housing under a state law designed to protect tenants from gouging in places with acute housing shortages.

The rent adjustments would apply to the 12 months starting last October, according to the state Division of Housing and Community Renewal, which enforces the caps. - LAURA RIVERA

Hempstead announces program, hearing closings

The Town of Hempstead has canceled all Parks and Recreation Department programs scheduled for Wednesday.

The town also announced there will be no activities for participants in the ANCHOR Program for persons with special needs. The Department of Senior Enrichment has curtailed planned activities and will not offer transportation to senior centers.

The Board of Appeals has also postponed all hearings scheduled for Thursday.

A statement issued by the town Tuesday afternoon said normal program schedules are expected to resume on Thursday. -STAFF

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