Long Island briefs

ISLAND PARK

Developer to outline

rebuilding plan

The newly formed Island Park Business & Residential Chamber plans to host a meeting Wednesday about a developer's plan to build luxury apartments on Waterview Road.

Developer John Vitale, who wants to build 85 units at the former site of the Paddy McGee's and Coyote Grill restaurants, is expected to speak at the meeting, the chamber said in a statement.

Vitale's address is to be part of the regular February meeting of the chamber, which formed last month.

The chamber is also starting a "Spotlight On" series to give local business owners a chance to tout their establishments, the statement said. Business owners interested in the program are advised to contact the chamber at 516-330-6679.

The meeting is scheduled at 7 p.m. at the Island Park Library, 176 Long Beach Rd.

NASSAU COUNTY

Paying bus fares by smartphone

Nassau's County's bus operator has selected a London-based company to create a new mobile application that will let customers pay fares with their smartphones.

Nassau Inter-County Express, or NICE Bus, announced yesterday that it signed an agreement with Masabi to bring smartphone ticketing to Long Island. NICE will begin testing the system this spring, and roll it out for all riders in the summer.

The app will allow riders to purchase bus tickets in advance, then activate them as they board by displaying their smartphone screen to a bus operator. NICE officials said, in the future, they could install hardware on buses to allow riders to pay fares by scanning a bar code or holding their mobile device near a sensor.

NICE officials have said they expect the new fare system to be an attractive option for the about 70 percent of their riders who own smartphones.

"This project is one of several recent technology initiatives at NICE bus which will help transform the experience of riding transit in Nassau County," NICE Chief Executive Officer Michael Setzer said.

EAST MEADOW

Fire district gets high Moody's rating

Moody's Investors Service has confirmed the Aa3 rating on East Meadow Fire District's $900,000 in outstanding general obligation debt and removed the rating from review.

Moody's assigned the Aa3 rating -- considered high quality and very low credit risk -- after incorporating the district's sizable tax base, adequate reserve levels, and low debt burden. The bonds are secured by the district's tax pledge as limited by the state's property tax cap legislation.

The international credit rating agency placed the rating under review with direction uncertain on Dec. 27 due to the lack of audited fiscal 2012 financial information, which has since been received.

Moody's cited high revenue and expenditure predictability and low debt burden as strengths. The district's challenges include its history of delayed financial reporting.

The district's rating could go up because of a trend of steady growth in the district's tax base and significant increase and maintenance of total fund balance. The rating could go down due to large declines in the district's tax base and deterioration of general fund reserve levels.

GLEN COVE

Mayor hears first

set of 'I dos'

Mayor Reginald Spinello on Friday conducted his first wedding ceremony in City Hall since taking office at the beginning of the year.

The happy couple was Rinaldo and Viviana Iona.

"It was very nice," Spinello said. "It's one of the things about the job that you don't think about" before assuming office. "But this is one of them that makes you smile and say 'Boy, this is really a nice part of the job.' "

The new mayor said he wanted to get in some practice before the big day on Friday.

"On Valentine's Day, I have a few more," he said.

HICKSVILLE

Contaminated site cleanup completed

Contamination at the site of a former Hicksville lighting factory has been cleaned up, the New York State Department of Environmental announced last week. Alsy Manufacturing Inc. made electric lamps and lampshades on about 4 acres at 270 and 280 Duffy Ave. from 1975 through 1991.

"A significant threat to the public health and the environment no longer exists at the site," the DEC said in a public notice.

Investigations conducted between 1995 and 2003 found high levels of contaminants associated with the company's metal plating processes, including arsenic, chromium, nickel and solvents. A $1.3 million remediation plan, which included replacing contaminated soil with clean soil, was completed in 2010, though the site will still require monitoring.

State records show that Alsy Manufacturing became Emess Manufacturing, Inc. in 2001. The site is occupied by commercial buildings.

BABYLON

One-on-one with

local senator

A state senator is hosting a series of meet-and-greets with residents in Babylon and Islip towns.

State Sen. Phil Boyle (R-Bay Shore) is bringing his "One-on-One With Your Senator" program to Bohemia, West Islip, Brentwood and North Babylon.

As part of the program, local residents who need assistance with government services, have questions about government programs or would like to express concerns about issues can talk directly to Boyle. Boyle's staff will also be on hand to offer assistance to residents interested in searching the state comptroller's database for unclaimed funds.

The program will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. on these dates and at these locations: Feb. 13 at Connetquot Public Library, 760 Ocean Ave, Bohemia; Feb. 18 at West Islip Public Library, 3 Higbie Lane, West Islip; Feb. 19 at Brentwood Public Library, 34 Second Ave., Brentwood; and Feb. 20 at North Babylon Public Library, 815 Deer Park Ave., North Babylon.

For more dates and locations, or other information, contact Boyle's office at 631-665-2311.

FARMINGDALE

Vigil for homeless rescheduled

An annual candlelight vigil to raise awareness about homeless issues has been rescheduled due to the threat of snow on Thursday.

The Long Island Coalition for the Homeless announced yesterday its "Have a Heart for the Homeless" vigil will now be held 6 to 8 p.m. on April 8. The event will still be held at Farmingdale State College.

Each year the Garden City nonprofit provides winter clothing and other supplies donated by local groups to homeless residents at the event. Coalition Executive Director Greta Guarton said the group will still work to distribute coats, hats and other winter clothing items in the following weeks.

"We are greatly disappointed to have to do this," Guarton said. "However, it appears the anticipated storm will be significant [and] we do not wish to risk anyone's safety."

LOCUST VALLEY

Fire district's bond rating reinstated

Moody's Investors Service has resumed rating the Locust Valley Fire District's bonds after suspending its ratings last month because it had not received requested information.

The district said last month it would supply the information that had been delayed inadvertently, and last week Moody's assigned an Aa2 rating to the district's $1.1 million in outstanding debt.

"The Aa2 rating reflects the district's moderately sized tax base with a strong demographic profile, stable financial position with ample reserves, and affordable debt burden with rapid payout," Moody's said.

Codge Whitting, chairman of the board of fire commissioners, said last month that providing the information was delayed by a medical problem experienced by its auditor.

Locust Valley was one of eight fire districts or municipalities, including four in New York State, the rating agency removed from ratings for failing to provide sufficient financial information.

"I'm happy that we were able to resolve the discrepancy and that Moody's has reinstated our bond rating," Whitting said. "They were very accommodating."

ROOSEVELT

Globetrotter helps fight bullying

Washington Rose Elementary sixth-grader Lanyah Ford has witnessed bullying firsthand.

"They were messing with her for no reason, and I told them to stop," Lanyah, 11, said. "People shouldn't do it because you can hurt someone."

Fighting bullying was the message at the Roosevelt elementary school Tuesday afternoon as Jonathan "Hawk" Thomas of the Harlem Globetrotters presented the ABCs of bullying prevention -- action, bravery and compassion.

The life lesson wasn't lost on the kids, said Rosa Dluginsky, a sixth-grade special education teacher who said she expects students to practice what they heard at the assembly. "This was very hands-on and real for them," Dluginsky said.

Thomas dazzled the crowd with some ball-handling skills and elicited screeching cheers from students when he asked them which teacher they'd like to see attempt some tricks.

Thomas, 26, also shared other life lessons, including perseverance. As a college basketball player at North Carolina State, Thomas blew out his knee in his freshman year. While rehabilitating, he renewed his focus on academics and later graduated with a sports management degree from Marshall University.

"I was not going to let that injury define me," the 6-foot-5 forward said.

Washington Rose Principal Clyde Braswell said Thomas was a good choice to speak at the school, because many students there aspire to be professional ballers.

English as a Second Language teacher Mirla Mercado said the policy prevents most bullying, as students usually "keep each other in line."

It was a lesson learned for Kris Pierre, 10, who said it's important "not to judge other kids because they don't look or talk like you."

GREAT NECK

Villages will share salt-storing

The villages of Great Neck and Russell Gardens have entered into an agreement to allow Russell Gardens to store its salt in Great Neck's facility.

The agreement, which both village boards approved at their meetings last week, allows Russell Gardens, which doesn't have its own salt shed, the option of storing its salt at Great Neck. Russell Gardens stores its salt in Nassau County's Manhasset facility, but receives a less expensive mixture of sand and salt in return.

The village would give Russell Gardens back salt only, and would split the savings with Russell Gardens, said Great Neck Mayor Ralph Kreitzman.

"This is a win-win scenario," Russell Gardens Mayor Steven Kirschner said. "We think it's advantageous for us."

Kreitzman said his village also stores salt for the Great Neck Park District, and that the arrangement wouldn't cost the village extra money.

"If we have the capability, we're happy to help anybody," Kreitzman said. "If it saves them money and it doesn't cost us anything, we're delighted."

ATLANTIC BEACH

Public meeting on storm reconstruction

Community and government leaders are to meet with the public tonight at the Sands of Atlantic Beach to discuss their recommendations to reconstruct the Atlantic Beach and East Atlantic Beach areas after storm damage over the past few years.

The meeting is at 7:30 p.m. at the Sands at 1395 Beech St. Coordinating the reconstruction are local representatives of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's New York Rising Reconstruction Program.

At the meeting, the public can comment on proposed local and regional projects and give suggestions that could be included in the final New York Rising Community Reconstruction Plan, said Jonathan Kohan, of Atlantic Beach, co-chair of the local committee.

The areas will split $9.6 million in federal funding, he said.