LI briefs

BABYLON TOWN

Responses sought for disaster survey

Babylon Town officials are urging more residents to respond to a survey designed to help shape plans for natural disaster mitigation in Suffolk County.

The survey is intended to gather public input on possible protection projects so emergency management officials "aren't working in a vacuum," said Brian Zitani, Babylon's waterways management supervisor.

"This [survey responses] can help us gauge what projects we need to focus on first and which projects can wait a few years," he said.

As of Monday, 300 people out of the county's 1.5 million residents had responded to the survey, Zitani said, adding that he hoped at least 10,000 people would reply before a hazard mitigation draft plan is submitted to the Federal Emergency Management Agency in April.

The survey, which consists of 21 questions and takes about 15 minutes to finish, can be found by clicking a link on the town website, townofbabylon.com.

FRANKLIN SQUARE

STEM program for children gets $15G

The Child Care Council of Nassau Inc. has received $15,000 in grants for the launch of its "Making STEM Accessible" project that promotes Science, Technology, Engineering and Math literacy for young children.

"Many early childhood educators do not enter the field of early education well prepared in the STEM disciplines, suggesting that professional development in this area can lead to greater opportunity for both the child-care providers and children in their care," said Joy Connolly, the council's director of education program services.

Connolly said the push toward STEM learning is designed to introduce scientific language that children will hear later in middle school, which will increase the opportunity for students to become critical thinkers and innovators.

"We're all scientists," Connolly said in an interview. "We all enjoy counting."

The grant, funded by TD Charitable Foundation and Capital One Bank, will supply children with new resources such as books, magnifying glasses, scales and blocks, and mentors with appropriate STEM training. Connolly will oversee the project along with five early childhood specialists.

The Child Care Council of Nassau serves 18 child care providers and about 200 children in Freeport, Hempstead, Roosevelt, Uniondale and Westbury.

Project priority will be given to providers with a Department of Social Services contract to serve low-income families, according to the agency's website. The project will hold a launch session at its Franklin Square location on Saturday, where 24 family providers are scheduled to attend.

For more information, call 800-233-3020 or visit childcarenassau.org.

BROOKHAVEN TOWN

$57G in unclaimed tax refunds available

Brookhaven's top tax official said he has found more than $57,000 in unclaimed property tax refunds.

Receiver of Taxes Louis Marcoccia said in a statement that the unredeemed funds have accumulated in the past two years. He encouraged residents to check a list of the unclaimed funds on the town website, brookhaven.org.

"I will not allow the town to retain this money without first taking all available steps" to deliver the refunds to residents, Marcoccia said in a statement.

The refunds are owed to property owners who overpaid taxes, Marcoccia said. The statement did not disclose how many people are due payments.

Residents were asked to call the town receiver of taxes office at 631-451-9009 if they believe they are owed refunds.

UPTON

Lab, workers donate to typhoon victims

The Brookhaven Science Associates and its employees at Brookhaven National Laboratory donated tens of thousands of dollars to recovery efforts in the Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan struck three months ago.

"From superstorm Sandy to the tsunami in Japan and now this devastating typhoon in the Philippines, Brookhaven Science Associates and its employees have rallied to help people directly impacted by these natural disasters," Stony Brook University president Samuel L. Stanley Jr., said in a statement issued by the lab. Stanley serves as chairman of the Brookhaven Science Associates board.

Typhoon Haiyan killed thousands and left almost 4 million people homeless, according to media reports. Brookhaven's donation will provide these victims with fresh food and water, mosquito nets, tarps and hygiene kits through the American Red Cross.

Members of the Asian Pacific American Association hosted donation-collection tables during lunch breaks at the lab for two months after the typhoon. The lab, which has about 3,000 workers, contributed $10,000 to the Red Cross. Brookhaven Science Associates' partners -- Stony Brook University and Battelle -- matched that donation and contributed another $10,000, according to the statement.

"Our corporate philanthropy efforts are ongoing," the lab's community relations manager said in an interview. "It's a great sense of community we have at the lab."

The 15-year-old association also funded relief efforts after the Sept. 11 attacks and Hurricane Katrina.

BAY SHORE

Food drive looks to help pets this winter

The third annual Legislative Food Drive Challenge has begun, this time focusing on pets. Sponsored by Hauppauge-based Long Island Cares, the food drive will run through March 31.

State Sen. Phil Boyle (R-Bay Shore) has announced he plans to take part in the food challenge, saying pets are the "family members that are most vulnerable to hunger." In a news release, he said the additional costs of heating a home during winter, as well as the inability to purchase pet food using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funds means "some Long Island families have endured many difficulties in securing food for their pets."

Those looking to donate can bring pet food, pet toys or pet clothing to Boyle's district office, at 69 W. Main St., Suite B, in Bay Shore, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

WESTBURY

Zoning for proposed apartment hotel OKd

The Hempstead Town Board yesterday unanimously approved a zoning change that would make way for a $60 million, 195-unit apartment-hotel complex at the former Roosevelt Raceway in Westbury.

The board voted 7-0 to change the zoning from industrial to cluster residential housing, which will allow the construction of the development -- The Portofino -- near Zeckendorf Boulevard and Corporate Drive, near the Roosevelt Field mall.

"I am gratified that the Town of Hempstead has given me the opportunity to share my vision to further enhance the area and bring quality residential options for people in Nassau County who need it," Michael Dubb, principal of the Jericho-based Beechwood Organization, which is spearheading the development, said in a phone interview yesterday.

The proposed six-floor apartment hotel will sit on 51/2 acres and comprise 68 one- and two-bedroom hotel suites. It is also expected to have 127 long-term rental apartments, of which 71 would be one-bedroom and 56 two-bedrooms.

The Portofino will be accompanied by a 2,000-square-foot, 50-seat restaurant and 3,000-square-foot fitness center, as well as a soccer field dedicated to the town as parkland.

The project is expected to generate about $2.8 million a year in tax revenue for the town. Construction of the project could begin early next year, Dubb said.

ROCKVILLE CENTRE

Green competition features $15G prize

Students on Long Island and around the globe have a chance to rake in as much as $15,000 while also helping clean up the planet.

The Rockville Centre-based nonprofit Center for Science, Teaching and Learning is hosting an international competition that challenges teens to solve the world's pollution problems.

The center has helped administer the "Clean Tech Competition" for two years, but this is the first time students from throughout the world are invited to participate. Previously, the competition was only open to students in Singapore and a select area of California.

Contestants between ages 15 and 18 can register as individuals or in teams of up to three by March 7 at cleantechcompetition.org.

There is no fee to register. In fact, finalists will be given a $200 stipend to cover costs involved with turning their designs into prototypes. Finalists will present their prototypes at the Morrelly Homeland Security Center in Bethpage on May 30.

Students have to pinpoint and research a pollution problem and design a related clean energy solution.

"The scope is really open," said Zoe Koegel, administrator of special programs for the center.

Koegel said she has reached out to science teachers, school superintendents and coordinators of museums, as well as to after-school programs both locally and around the world. She said the contest is designed to encourage the use of science, technology, engineering and math education inside and outside of classrooms.

"We're looking for students to have a deeper understanding of science and technology, help them pursue their passions and prepare the next generation of globally competitive innovators."

BABYLON

Leases approved for community centers

The Babylon Town Board yesterday authorized lease agreements with the Family Life Center in Wyandanch and the United North Amityville Youth Organization in North Amityville.

Family Life Center will pay rent of just $1 a year for three years at the Wyandanch Youth Center and UNAYO will pay $22,000 a year for three years at the North Amityville Youth Center.

Family Life began running the Wyandanch Youth Center last year, after the Suffolk County Legislature defunded the nonprofit that had been running it, and gave more than $90,000 in funding to Family Life. Legis. DuWayne Gregory (D-Amityville) said at the time that the move was prompted by a decline in services and an increase in complaints.

Town spokesman Kevin Bonner said the Wyandanch rent is cheaper because New York State gifted the building to the town, while UNAYO is paying for a portion of the construction cost of the North Amityville building.

EAST HILLS

Appointee named for village trustee seat

The mayor of East Hills announced plans yesterday to appoint Brian Meyerson, a village prosecutor, to fill a vacant trustee seat.

The seat opened after Trustee Peter Zuckerman was appointed last week to the North Hempstead Town Board. The town's second council district seat became open when longtime Councilman Thomas K. Dwyer resigned in November.

Mayor Michael Koblenz said he expects to appoint Meyerson at the Feb. 26. village board meeting.

"He is someone who is very, very tenacious as a litigator," Koblenz said. "He knows the law; he is very, very well-liked among the residents."

Meyerson, 44, a partner in a Franklin Square law firm, said he is excited to tackle a "different aspect" of village government.

"This is the next step, going from prosecutor to this -- and really helping people."