Long Island briefs

SUFFOLK COUNTYWork on causeway

to close some lanes

To allow for overnight bridge maintenance work, single travel lanes and some entrance ramps of the Robert Moses Causeway will be closed from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. through May 1, weather permitting, state Department of Transportation officials said.

One northbound lane between Montauk Highway and Muncey Road and/or a southbound lane between the Southern State Parkway and Sunrise Highway will be closed overnight on Sundays through Thursdays, DOT officials said.

Entrance ramps from Sunrise Highway eastbound at Exit 41 to the northbound Robert Moses Causeway and from the Sunrise Highway westbound at Exit 41 to the southbound causeway will also be closed, DOT officials said.

The preventive maintenance work is being done on the causeway bridge over Sunrise Highway.

Drivers should find alternate routes or be prepared for delays, DOT officials said.

BAYVILLEWith new motor, bridge open for boats

The Bayville Bridge is again opening for boat traffic after one of the motors that holds up the span was replaced by Nassau County.

The motor was replaced last Tuesday, and the bridge was back in regular operation the next day, county public works department spokesman Michael Martino said.

A problem was detected in a brake-lock motor during the county's annual preseason maintenance check April 4, and the drawbridge remained down until the motor, one of four that hold the deck open to let boats pass, was replaced.

The closure and work did not affect motorists, officials said.

ISLANDWIDELocal communities

get Arbor Day grants

Three Long Island communities were among 34 statewide Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo named to receive Urban and Community Forestry grants on National Arbor Day on Friday.

The villages of Poquott and Asharoken were named in Suffolk, and a Lawrence High School student group was honored in Nassau.

"These grants which will help us protect trees in communities around New York are part of our State's commitment to that ideal," Cuomo said at a news event in Albany, according to a statement. "I congratulate the grant recipients . . . and look forward to seeing their work build a greener New York State."

In Lawrence, a $1,000 grant was awarded for the high school's Student Advocates for Improvement group for its post-superstorm Sandy rebuilding program.

Jennifer Lagnado, speaking for Lawrence schools Superintendent Gary Schall, said: "Based on the hardships our students endured after superstorm Sandy, and in particular the displacement of our high school, I am so glad that these young people have been acknowledged for their efforts."

Officials in Poquott, which received $19,500 for its tree inventory, could not be reached for comment. Officials in Asharoken, which received $1,000 for an Arbor Day event, did not return calls.

Assemb. Bob Sweeney (D-Lindenhurst), chairman of the Environmental Conservation Committee, said: "Trees clean and add oxygen to the air, they provide shade and use carbon dioxide, which helps to fight climate change. The grants . . . will help communities manage and enhance their trees . . . for the benefit of New York State residents."

BrookhavenMeetings to focus on Carmans zoning laws

The Brookhaven Town Board plans to hold more than a dozen public hearings Wednesday evening on proposed zoning changes related to the town's Carmans River conservation plan.

The board will host 14 hearings pertaining to proposals to change zoning designations on multiple sets of parcels in Brookhaven hamlet that are within the Carmans River watershed. Town officials propose to "upzone" those parcels to decrease the potential impact of development along the river.

The hearings are scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. The public is invited to attend.

The meeting is the latest step in implementing the Carmans River Conservation and Management Plan, which was adopted last year by the town board. Town officials have said the conservation plan is needed to reduce groundwater pollution along the environmentally sensitive river.

The plan calls for public purchase of various parcels along the 10-mile river, and new zoning restrictions for numerous other parcels.

Additional details of the zoning changes are available on the town website, brookhaven.org.

HEMPSTEAD VILLAGESchool candidates

to discuss platforms

The Hempstead Chamber of Commerce and the Hempstead Coordinating Council of Civic Associations Inc. plans to host a Hempstead school district board of education candidate forum on Wednesday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the African American Museum, 110 N. Franklin St. in Hempstead Village.

School board candidates have been invited to discuss their platform, organizers said.

There are two at-large seats up for election on May 20: one three-year term and a one-year term. The candidate with second-most votes gets one year to fill a vacancy created by last year's resignation of former board member Waylyn Hobbs.

The candidates include incumbent board president Betty J. Cross, trustee Leonard Myers, Ricky A. Cooke Sr., David B. Gates, Tina Hodge-Bowles, Randy Stith Jr. and Maribel C. Touré.

Myers was appointed in December to fill the vacant seat of Hobbs, now Hempstead Village deputy mayor, who resigned in July from the school board with almost two years remaining on his term.

For more information, contact the chamber at 516-292-3800 or email info@hempsteadchamber.com.

OYSTER BAYDog day care owner sues town in dispute

The owner of an Oyster Bay dog day care center has filed court papers notifying the town of her intention to sue for alleged violations of her civil rights and the loss of thousands of dollars because of officials' efforts to shut down her business.

The notice of an impending federal lawsuit was filed Tuesday on behalf of Two by Four New York owner Melanie Nardiello. It follows the filing of a state suit in January accusing the town of failing to act on a building permit application from Nardiello in 2012 and then attempting to shut down the facility after its construction.

The new court papers state that the federal suit would accuse town planning Commissioner Frederick Ippolito of "abuse of power."

The notice charges that Ippolito retaliated against Nardiello over previous interactions between the two in 2005, when Nardiello was a wine vendor for Southern Wines and Spirits and visited a Syosset Italian restaurant he owned, Christiano's, according to Nardiello's attorney Richard Hutchinson.

Town attorney Leonard Genova said, "This is not a case about abuse of power. It's about Miss Nardiello's refusal to comply with the town building codes to ensure the public's safety after having been given countless opportunities to comply. She constructed a two-story barn without the requisite building permits or inspections and began to run her business illegally."

Genova said Nardiello needs to have the strength of the foundation certified, replace residential-caliber wiring with commercial wiring and replace some plumbing that does not meet building code standards to obtain the necessary town approvals.

KINGS PARK'I Love My Park Day' at Nissequogue River

Nature lovers will have a chance to show their appreciation for the Nissequogue River State Park in Kings Park this weekend.

The third "I Love My Park Day" at Nissequogue River State Park is planned for Saturday. Attendees will be able to clean up areas of the park, go on a nature walk and participate in a community quilting project. The event is free and open to the public.

"It's a chance for individuals to give back something to their parks, and we hope that it will also introduce some folks to the Nissequogue River State Park," said John McQuaid, president of the not-for-profit Nissequogue River State Park Foundation, which is presenting the event in conjunction with Parks & Trails New York, a statewide advocacy group.

I Love My Park Day is a statewide event created to improve and enhance New York's parks and historic sites, as well as bring visibility to needs of the park system. More than 70 parks and historic sites are expected to participate -- nearly double the number from last year -- said McQuaid.

At Nissequogue, the day starts at 9 a.m. when volunteers plan to meet at the park's administration building. Volunteers plan to add wood chips to the playground and remove debris along the Nissequogue River and marina through noon.

From 12:30 to 1:15 p.m. attendees can take part in a tree trail nature hike, led by a guide who will identify unique specimen trees in the park.

A community workshop will conclude the day from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Participants will decorate quilt squares that will be sewn together to form a quilt that will be hung in the park's administration building for public view through mid-June.

Prizes will be awarded to students for first-, second- and third-place entries, but all ages can participate in the project, said McQuaid.

Registration is encouraged at ptny.org. For more information go to ourstatepark.com.

WANTAGHTown animal shelter celebrates mothers

The Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter plans to hold a Spring Fling to celebrate mothers -- both human and animal. Adoption fees -- $85 for dogs and $75 for cats -- will be waived from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, May 10.

Residents can enjoy fun raffles and giveaways in this Mother's Day celebration.

"The Animal Shelter is proud to get in the swing of things during the 'Spring Fling' to celebrate Mother's Day," said shelter director Cindy Iacopella.

All Spring Fling adoptions come with free spaying/neutering, rabies vaccinations and microchipping. All cats will be tested for feline AIDS/leukemia. Adopted pets will also go home with goody bags.

Residents can join in raffles and receive pet food samples.

The Animal Shelter is at 3320 Beltagh Ave. in Wantagh. For more information, call the shelter at 516-785-5220 or visit toh.li/animal-shelter.

HEMPSTEADCitizenship program to aid legal residents

A new Pathway to Citizenship program will be launched in Hempstead tomorrow by the State Office of New Americans, in partnership with the village and other organizations.

The event, set for 11 a.m. at the village's Kennedy Memorial Park auditorium, will assist Long Island's legal permanent residents to fully participate in New York State's civic and economic life by helping them apply for naturalization, get degrees and certifications granted by foreign institutions recognized in the U.S., and increase their financial literacy.

The program will target low- to moderate-income individuals in the Long Island community.

It is led by several state agencies, including the departments of Labor and State, and Citi Community Development, in partnership with Bethpage Federal Credit Union, the Central American Refugee Center, and the United Way of Long Island.

LEVITTOWNCPA society plans

financial literacy fair

The Nassau County Chapter of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants plans to conduct a family financial literacy fair next weekend to educate children in kindergarten through fifth grades on the importance of saving money.

The fair will be held at the YES Community Counseling Center at 152 Center Lane in Levittown on Saturday from 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Through various money-related activities, tax professionals will teach kids and their families the skills to help prevent financial burdens.

The animated character Walter the Vault will make an appearance and teach children to save and invest.

"It is extremely important to educate children in money management as early as possible," according to Karen Tenenbaum, the fair's lead organizer, member of NYSSCPA Nassau and partner at Tenenbaum Law PC, in a statement.

"At the fair, kids will learn how to spend responsibly, give appropriately, and budget regularly."

To RSVP to attend the fair, email your name, address, email address, phone number, number of child attendees, and number of adult attendees to financialliteracyfair@yahoo.com.