Long Island briefs

CHERRY GROVE

Senator joins call

for postal services

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has added her voice to the calls to keep Cherry Grove's seasonal post office open.

In a letter to Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe, Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) urged the U.S. Postal Service to keep the tiny post office -- open three days a week from May to October -- available to serve the summer community.

A spokeswoman for the Postal Service said the agency isn't going to close the contract post office, where the USPS works with an independent operator to provide postal services. "We are not closing the Cherry Grove post office," Christine Dugas said Thursday.

The retired postal employee who works at the post office, Betty Faraci, has said she was worried about the fate of the facility because her employment contract hasn't yet been renewed.

Gillibrand's letter said the Cherry Grove station "provides postal services for thousands of locals during peak season between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and also serves as a community center for residents. The potential closing of this office would have a serious impact on the residents of Cherry Grove. The new source for similar services would be the post office of Sayville, which is 29 miles away and only accessible by a $16 ferry ride, followed by a taxi ride," she wrote.

"The new need for additional transportation would create undue burdens for residents, considering many do not frequently travel back and forth to the mainland, or have the resources to do so," Gillibrand said in the letter. "The closing of this critical office would undermine the quality of life for residents of, and visitors to this small Fire Island neighborhood."OYSTER BAY

Parking, beaches free for Russian mission

The Russians are coming . . . to the beach. The Oyster Bay Town Board voted on May 20 to waive parking and beach permit fees for the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations.

"This is an annual request that we receive," town spokeswoman Marta Kane said. Russians love Oyster Bay's beaches, especially Tobay and Centre Island, Russian mission spokesman Alexey Zaytsev said in an email.

"Most of the Russian Mission to the UN staff enjoys the beaches," Zaytsev said. "In any beach facility we meet friendly and attentive people so we are really thankful to the Oyster Bay authorities and residents for their hospitality."

Zaytsev said Russians enjoy the open waters and high-wave beach at Tobay while Centre Island offers nice walks, bicycle rides and restaurants.

Oyster Bay's policy goes back to Cold War days.

"It's one of those things we've done for decades as a sign of goodwill," Kane said.

The Russian government owns a Gold Coast mansion on Dosoris Lane in Glen Cove, and Kane said that ambassadors and their families have been enjoying Oyster Bay beaches since at least the 1960s -- a time when the property was owned by the Soviet Union.

Annual beach stickers for cars, that are available only to Oyster Bay residents, have a base fee of $60.

ISLANDWIDE

LI beaches missing from top-10 list

The latest top-10 beaches list has been released just in time for summer and it includes none from Long Island.

Before anyone gets their boogie boards in a bunch, relax. The list's author, known as Dr. Beach, explains that once a beach reaches the top spot in the annual Dr. Beach ranking, it no longer qualifies for the list.

For 24 years running, Dr. Beach -- Stephen P. Leatherman, Florida International University professor and Laboratory for Coastal Research director -- has put forth his Top 10 Beach List. He ranks the best beaches of 2014 based on factors that include cleanliness, safety and amenities.

Coopers Beach in Southampton and Main Beach in East Hampton have already topped the list. Main Beach was ranked No. 1 in 2013.

The 2014 list has a decidedly southern and western flavor. Four beaches are in Florida, and another three are in Hawaii.

The closest location to Long Island on this year's list is Coast Guard Beach in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. For

the complete list, go to

newsday.com.

SYOSSET

Board OKs $1.6M improvement plan

The Oyster Bay Town Board has approved plans for a $1.6 million Syosset Streetscape and Walkability Improvements program.

The work, to be paid for by a state grant, will be done on the northern half of the business district on Jackson Avenue, north of the Long Island Rail Road tracks and along Cold Spring Harbor Road. It will provide improved sidewalks, curbing, crosswalks, lighting, landscaping, benches, new signs and center islands to aid pedestrians in safely crossing the street and "bumpouts" along the sidewalks to slow traffic.

Deputy Public Works Commissioner Linda Maccarone said the contract could probably be awarded by July and the project completed by January if the weather cooperates.

Laura Schultz, president of Citizens for a More Beautiful Syosset, told the board that the plan developed over five years "includes all the things that we had wished for, so we are ecstatic."

"Five years ago this looked like it would never happen," Supervisor John Venditto said.

"It will really transform that downtown," Schultz said.

BABYLON VILLAGE

Enroll for swimming, recreation programs

Registration is nearing for Babylon Village swimming and recreation programs. The village pool will open June 27 and remain open daily through Labor Day. Preregistration for swimming lessons and pool passes is underway at Village Hall. Swimming lessons are $35 per season for children and $40 for adults. Family pool memberships are $80. Individual memberships are $50 for adults, $30 for children and $10 for seniors age 62 and older.

Registration for children's basketball, gymnastics and tennis programs will be held June 23, 25 and 26 at Village Hall from 9 a.m. to noon.

The programs are free but open only to village residents. Some age restrictions apply.

NORTH BELLMORE

Get senior ID cards at library on June 5

The Town of Hempstead is bringing its Senior ID Card Program to the local public library from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 5.

The event will be hosted by Assemb. David McDonough (R-North Merrick), who asked Supervisor Kate Murray and Town Clerk Nasrin Ahmad to bring the program to the library at 1551 Newbridge Rd.

McDonough, in a news release, called the ID card "a valuable item that all seniors should carry in their wallet."

Murray said the card, which will have detailed medical information, could help medical technicians treat the person named on it. She also said that many seniors have expressed interest "in this nondriver ID card as a useful tool to secure senior discounts."

The card can be gained at the library event. It is free, and no records are kept by the town once the card has been created, Murray said.

BROOKHAVEN

Shoreham laboratory declared historic site

The Town of Brookhaven has designated the Shoreham laboratory of inventor Nikola Tesla as a historic site.

The designation, approved unanimously by the town board on Thursday, will help the site's owners build a museum and seek state and federal recognition, supporters said.

Tesla, a Serbian-American who died in 1943, is widely credited with developing wireless technologies and inventing the induction motor, which enabled development of modern electrical grids. He spent about 12 years working at the site off state Route 25A, known as Wardenclyffe, before losing it in 1915 due to financial difficulties.

"Tesla was the one who started it all," said Jane Alcorn, president of the nonprofit Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe, adding that the complex also is notable because it was designed by renowned architect Stanford White. "It is an important site in the history of science."

The nonprofit, which purchased the 16-acre property last year for $850,000, is raising up to $10 million to turn the complex into a museum honoring the scientist's work.

HEMPSTEAD VILLAGE

Mobile center to offer free legal aid

State Sen. Kemp Hannon (R-Garden City) plans to host a Mobile Legal Help Center to assist residents with free legal assistance on any number of issues.

The Mobile Legal Help Center is a partnership between the New York Legal Assistance Group and the New York State Courts' Access to Justice Program that provides free legal services to New Yorkers in need. The center is a vehicle with private meeting rooms and technology inside that enables it to function as a full-service office.

The vehicle will be stationed in the parking lot across the street from Our Lady of Loretto Church, on 115 Greenwich Ave. in Hempstead Village, tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Staffers will provide free legal assistance on issues related to foreclosure prevention, as well as family law involving domestic violence, orders of protection, contested/uncontested divorces, custody, visitation, and child/spousal support.

Everyone is eligible to receive the free services, and no reservations are required. For more information, call Hannon's office at 516-739-1700 or email hannon@nysenate.gov.

ROCKVILLE CENTRE

Farmers market opens June 2

The Farmers Market in Rockville Centre will open June 2 and run every Sunday until Nov. 23 from 7 a.m. until noon.

It will be held in municipal parking field 12, along the north side of Sunrise Highway between Long Beach Road and Forest Avenue.

Among the items sold are fruits, vegetables, baked goods, coffees, cheese and dairy products, seafood, soups, pastas, dog treats, flowers and plants.

HEMPSTEAD

Aviation student overcomes hurdles

Hempstead High School senior Travis Williams said he couldn't dance very well, but that wasn't going to stop him from hitting the floor at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury Thursday night.

He also admitted that he's not a fan of roller coasters, yet that won't stop him from pursuing his dream of becoming a pilot.

For the past two years, Williams, 18, has been studying aviation operations at Nassau BOCES' Joseph M. Barry Career and Technical Education Center in Westbury. He plans to continue his education after graduation next month at Nassau Community College, and then Farmingdale State College.

"Next year, I'll be flying," he said. "It's going to be a rush."

But his path to graduation hasn't been a smooth ride. About two years ago, Williams said, family issues caused him to be displaced from his home, and his grades started to drop.

"It was challenging, because you had distractions at home and in school, but you have to fight through it to keep your head straight and get the grades you need to graduate," he said.

Williams' guidance counselor, Latisa Graham, said he was able to pull his grades up while taking more challenging courses.

"He's just been so motivated," she said.