Beach Cleanup set for Sunday

Members of Brownie Troop 3669 at a previous beach cleanup.

If you’re interested in seeing cleaner beaches along the North Shore, Sunday is your day to pitch in.

Eva Browne, the head of the Asharoken Conservation Board, is organizing the local part of a state effort
to clean up the shoreline this month and document the kinds of trash found in the sand.

“We do the Centerport beaches,” Browne said, “in the Northport Harbor, around Eaton’s Neck and Asharoken, all the way around to Crabmeadow Beach on the Sound – all those beaches.”

Last year, Browne had 130 volunteers and is hoping for more this year because she has contacted more organizations such as Rotary groups and Scouts. Volunteers, who are urged to wear gloves, can obtain data recording cards and special trash bags from Browne by calling her at 516-769-5931. The work begins at 9 a.m. and ends by noon with a lunch that is being donated by Copenhagen bakery,The Ritz, Northport Harbor deli, Robke's, Cross Roads, 44 Bistro, Pumpernickels, Nocellos and Main Street.

In 2006, New York had more than 10,175 volunteers, one of the highest numbers in the nation, helping to document and clean 338 miles of shoreline. More than 272,000 pounds of trash were removed statewide, including 45,933 pounds of cigarettes and cigarette filters, the number one item on the beach trash list, according to Browne.

Most of the rest of the state had its cleanup on Sept. 15, but Browne scheduled the area for Sunday to stay out of the way of the Cow Harbor Weekend festivities. If rain prevents the cleanup, it will be rescheduled for Sept. 29. People who can’t make the cleanup this weekend are invited to contact Browne anyway for bags and data cards to participate any time in September.

Police beat: Dix Hills shoplifter used knife

By Joy Vestal

Commack

On Saturday, $734 was stolen from the cash register at the Shell gas station on Harned Road. The attendant told police a couple distracted him and went into the store and took the money and a couple of batteries.

An Algonquin Lane resident told police his car was keyed and the radio was damaged Sunday.

A family's cars was broken into Sunday on Seminole Drive and a wallet with credit cards in it and a DVD player and radio were stolen.

Dix Hills

On Sunday, a security guard at the Pathmark store on Old Country Road told police he was cut on the arm by a knife when he tired to stop a woman who was seen shoplifting in the store.

East Northport

A resident on Vine Lane told police the rear window of his car was broken by someone who threw a beer can at it on Sunday.

Huntington

Two jackets valued at $600 each were stolen Sunday from the Clothes Horse store on Route 110.

Huntington Station

A 10-speed bicycle was reported stolen Saturday on New York Avenue.

On Saturday, a woman was arrested and charged with a DWI on New York Avenue and Pulaski Road.

Melville

A man on Broadhollow Road told police Saturday that he had received messages threatening his life on his cell phone.

On Saturday, the owner of Check Point Autos on Broadhollow Road told police his cars were broken into and items including a radio were stolen.

The driver-side window was broken Sunday on a car on Jayne Avenue and the GPS unit was stolen.

Huntington Bay to expand exemption on property tax for senior citizens

By Michael R. Ebert
michael.ebert@newsday.com

The Village of Huntington Bay will hold a public hearing tonight to modify the real property exemption it offers to senior citizens.

As part of the amendment, seniors (age 65 and over) who earn less than $27,000 a year will be eligible for a 50% tax exemption of their property’s assessed valuation. Currently, the village code offers exemptions to seniors earning less than $7,500.

“A resident called when the tax bills came last spring and pointed out a reduction for residents in the Town of Huntington,” said Village Mayor Herbert Morrow, who said Chapter 80 of the village code was last updated in the 1970s. “It was written so long ago that it’s totally out of step with today.”

Morrow said that the amended village code would mirror the Town of Huntington’s tax exemption, which is the maximum allowed under state law. He was unsure how many senior citizens would qualify even with the amendment in place, but said it’s a fair change “even if it only affects one or two people.”

Real property is defined as land and any permanent structures that are attached to it, according to the New York State Office of Real Property Services. Examples include houses, gas stations, office buildings, vacant land, shopping centers and farms, among others.

The public hearing is slated for 7:30 tonight in Village Hall, 244 Vineyard Road.

Rebates going to 8,000 in Huntington

About 8,000 rebate checks have been mailed to Huntington homeowners who are 65 years old or older and who receive an Enhanced STAR exemption on their property tax bill.

The mailing went out last week, according to town officials, who said the senior citizens receive rebate checks automatically under the enhanced program. Other Huntington homeowners who receive the basic STAR property tax exemption must apply to receive their rebate check.

The amount of the rebate is on a sliding scale based on the homeowner's income, up to $250,000.

In the Half Hallow Hills school district, for example, a household making up to $125,000 a year would receive a $443.78 rebate, while one making us tp $175,000 would receive $332.83 and a household making up to $250,000 would get $221.89. A household receiving the enhanced exemption in that district would get $362.57. For information on the amounts in other school districts and details on the program, click here.

Applications for the basic STAR program will be mailed, starting next week, to 47,000 homeowners in the town of Huntington by the state’s Department of Tax and Finance. Residents can apply through the mail or online.

“The application will contain a letter that gives a code,” said Fran Evans of the town government, “and the code needs to be put in if you do it electronically. If not, it will be printed already on the paper application.”

Applications will be processed as received and rebate checks will be mailed to the address provided on the application. For more information, contact the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance by phone at 1-877-678-2769 or on their Web site.

The Lehmkuhles win Northport race

Wet weather didn't stop the 80th running of the Great Cow Harbor Race 10K on Saturday in Northport. Above, the race mascot encourages the runners at the starting line. At right, the winner, Jason Lehmkuhle, 29, of Minneapolis, completes the race in 29:06. The top female finisher, and number 16 overall, was Kristen Nicolini-Lehmkuhle, his wife, who finished in 34 minutes even.

The top local runner was Francis Corrigan, 23, of East Northport, who came in seventh at 32:02.2.

For race results, visit the Cow Harbor Race site.

Newsday Photos by Ana P. Gutierrez

Home improvements in Huntington

The town's zoning board of appeals meets Thursday night at 6 to consider the following applications:

Commack:

Angela Cipriani seeks front-yard variance to legalize front wood porch and legalize conversion of rear open porch to an enclosed heated porch, west side of Larry Drive, south of Rosalie Place.

Richard Punturo seeks to legalize a 12-foot by 10-foot storage shed, 8-foot by 7-foot gazebo, both in front of the main house, and legalize decks attached to rear of house, northwest corner of Galleine Street and Burton Lane.

Dix Hills:

Thomas Raneri seeks side-yard variance to build a second-story addition, new portico, two dormers and interior alteration and legalize conversion of detached two-car carport to attached two-car garage by an enclosed breezeway and legalize front porch, west side of Westminster Avenue, north of Ormonde Street.

All Island Permits seeks long-street side-yard variance to build a front roofed-over porch, southwest corner of Broadoak Lane and Woodsend Road.

East Northport:

Vincent Mercuries / All Island Permits seeks front- and long-street side yard variances to build first- and second-story additions with proposed front portico and masonry steps with planter in long-street side-yard and to replace expired permit for addition and garage conversion, southeast corner of Cedar Road.

Raffaele Petruzzellis seeks a side-yard variance to legalize a cellar entrance, west side of Larkfield Road, south of Cedar Road.

Huntington Station:

Huntington Indoor Tennis Inc. seeks to build an addition of 8,092-square-foot for additional tennis court requiring rear-yard relief, relaxation of buffers, interpretation from zoning board of appeals and parking relief, south side of Broadway across from Highview Avenue.

Melville:

Anthony Branchinelli / Route 110 Associates, Llc, received parking relief (Zoning Board of Appeals 18947) to apply to Planning Board for site-plan approval to demolish existing 2800-square-foot restaurant and build 4,550-square-foot structure, as per Department of Transportation, applicant now requires relief for two additional parking spaces.

The week so far . . .

The diversity posters are coming.
The local museums are waiting.
The computer classes are filling.
The community center is moving.

Newlyweds in Huntington

Janeen Poska and Jeffrey Fink were married June 10 at the Bayview House at Captain Bill’s in Bay Shore. She is an accounting manager for Edge Electronics in Bohemia, and is the daughter of Christine and Robert Poska of Holtsville. The bridegroom is a quality manager for Edge Electronics in Bohemia and is the son of Marty Fink of Commack and the late Karen Fink.

The bride earned a business degree from Dowling College. The groom earned a bachelor of arts from the University of Buffalo.

They live in Huntington.

Police beat: 300 pounds of copper taken

By Joy Vestal

Commack

A store owner at the Mayfair Shopping Center on Route 25 reported yesterday that a youth took a cell phone and skateboard from his store but then left them on the ground at the center.

Graffiti was found today on the containers and trailers at the Mobil Storage Group on Jericho Turnpike.

East Northport

A man said 300 pounds of copper piping was stolen yesterday from his truck on Clay Pitts Road.

Police reported that the brake lines were cut on a landscaping truck on Cedar Road yesterday.

Greenlawn

A car radio was stolen yesterday on Lawrence Street.

Two men were arrested yesterday on Cuba Hill and Pulaski Roads and charged with possession of stolen property and burglary tools. The arrest report charged that the two were attempting to break into cars on the street and driveways.

A Park Avenue resident told police she saw a man break her car window with a rock today.

A resident on East Maple Road told police three youths threw bricks at his house and broke two of his bedroom windows today.

Huntington

A man told police his wallet was stolen yesterday at the Huntington Sports Club on Wall Street.

Huntington Honda on Route 25 reported that New York State inspection stickers were stolen Wednesday, and yesterday inspections stickers were reported stolen from an unnamed auto shop on Route 25.

A woman was seen stealing meat yesterday from the Waldbaum’s store on Wall Street. Store personnel chased her but even though they didn’t catch her she apparently dropped some form of identification before she left the store.

Huntington Station

A resident on Fenwood Road told police yesterday that a windshield on her car was broken.

Police reported that a man on West 10th Street was arrested yesterday and charged with criminal possession of a weapon. They said a knife, metal knuckles and drug paraphernalia were found on him.

Money was taken during a burglary today at the Dejana Truck Company on Park Avenue. Police said a side window was broken to gain entry and the cash register was stolen.

Macy’s reported today that a man stole seven irons that have a high individual retail value from the store at the Walt Whitman Mall.

Melville

A Hardwood Place resident found obscene words scratched on the side of her car yesterday.

Northport

A boat motor was reported stolen today at the Northport harbor.

West Hills

A woman on Sheep Pasture Lane said her pocketbook was taken during a burglary at her house yesterday.

Weekend reminder: Comedy fest in Dix Hills

The Long Island Comedy Festival hits the Dix Hills Center for the Performing Arts tomorrow night to support Long Island Cares/The Harry Chapin Food Bank.

The 90-minute stand-up performance will feature four comedians, according to Long Island Cares:

Ted Alexandro was named in Time Out NY magazine as one of the top comedians working today. Ted has appeared on David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel, and The View.

Stevie GB is known as "The World's Funniest Accountant", Stevie GB is refreshingly clean on stage. His approach to comedy involves how we deal with every day life.

Andy Vastola has appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman.

Paul Anthony , pictured above, is the comedic host of The Long Island Comedy Festival and can be found performing at comedy clubs in NYC and on Long Island.

Long Island Cares provides emergency food, sponsors programs to help families achieve self-sufficiency and educates the public about the causes and consequences of hunger on Long Island.

The show starts at 8 p.m. and is preceded by a one-hour “Dessert Reception” featuring coffee, herbal teas and a variety of cheesecakes from MommaLou’s Cheesecake in Mastic Beach.

Tickets for the event are $50 for the reception and performance, $35 for the performance alone. Students and seniors get a $5 discount. To buy tickets, call the box office at 631-656-2148. For information or to sponsor the event, contact Robin Goldberg at 631-582-3663 ext. 104 or e-mail her at Rgoldberg@licares.org

The performing center is on the campus of Five Towns College, 305 North Service Road in Dix Hills.

Community garden in Greenlawn

Georgia Waring picks flowers with Reiko Matrisciano, 6, at the Kubecka Memorial Garden on Dunlop Road. Nearly 400 gardeners are harvesting a bumper crop this season at the 15-acre site, a former potato farm the town bought in 1972 as a community garden.

For a full story about the garden, see Sunday's LI Life section.

Newsday Photo by Ana P. Gutierrez

Race for Grace in South Huntington

Hours after runners have finished tomorrow’s Cow Harbor race, another group of runners will gather in South Huntington for a 5K run / walk on behalf of a 5-year-old girl with a rare genetic disease.

The “Grace for a Cure” event is named for a young girl named Grace, who has Sanfilippo Syndrome, which interferes with normal cell function in the body, leading to progressive and degenerative effects that usually result in death between the ages of 15 and 20. There is no cure, and tomorrow’s event is designed to raise funds for research.

Grace’s mother, Joan, who asked that the family name not be given, said the event raised $6,000 last year after drawing a crowd of about 150 people, including about 65 runners. This year, she said, they have 200 signed up to run so far.

Registration takes place tomorrow afternoon at 4, with the walk/run starting at 5, at the end of Pentagon Court, just west of the South Huntington Library. Registration is $24 today and $26 tomorrow, which gets you a T-shirt, refreshments and an after-party with a live Rock band, “No Choice.” A member of the band, which is donating its services, is a neighbor of the girl and her family. Outback Steak House is donating their food and time.

The party will also feature face painting, a cotton candy maker, bouncy castle and volley ball. There will also be raffles, as well as prizes for the first- and second-place finishers. The rain date is Sept. 22.

Donations can be made to "Grace for a Cure, Inc." P.O. Box 3011, Huntington Station, NY 11746. For directions and more information, click here or visit the family's Web site, graceforacure.org.

East Northport man hurt in crash

An East Northport man was seriously injured early this morning after he lost control of his car and hit a pole in Greenlawn, Suffolk police said.

Kyle Herman, 20, of 507 4th Ave., was driving a 1994 Saturn east on Wells Road in Greenlawn around 12:15 a.m. when he lost control of the vehicle. The car then struck a utility pole on the south side of the roadway, in front of 99 Wells Rd., police said.

Greenlawn firefighters removed Herman from the Saturn and he was taken by police helicopter to the Stony Brook University Medical Center, where he was admitted in critical condition with severe head injuries.

The car was impounded for a safety check and police are investigating the incident.

Police beat: Shoplifting team at Bloomingdale's

By Joy Vestal

Commack

Obscene graffiti was found today on a sign in front of Temple Beth-El on Hauppauge Road.

Huntington Station

A woman told police that vandals damaged her car yesterday in the Wendy's parking lot on West Jericho Turnpike.

Personnel at Bloomingdale's at the Walt Whitman Mall said they saw three shoplifters run out of the store and leave in a black Lexus yesterday. No license plate number was given for the car in the police report.

Melville

The owner of the All About Tile store on Route 110 told police he found graffiti on his building today. He said this has been an on-going problem for him.

Arrest roundup
The 2nd Precinct that covers the Town of Huntington reported that 39 arrests were made from Sept. 11-12. Charges included petit larceny, criminal possession of a controlled substance, burglary, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and criminal contempt.

Huntington exhibit to “embrace differences”

Billboards of the kind planned for the village green

By Michael R. Ebert
michael.ebert@newsday.com

If you visit the Town of Huntington’s Village Green later this month, you’ll be in for a “big” surprise: 39 billboards. In a way, it’s a new form of advertising for the town.

“We’re promoting the message of diversity,” explained Steven Schrier, executive director at the Suffolk Center for the Holocaust, Diversity & Human Understanding, which is organizing the large-scale project. “Our hope is that this central attraction will provoke public discussion and encourage acceptance of difference.”

Entitled “Embracing Our Differences,” the outdoor exhibit will feature 39 pieces enlarged to 16-foot by 12-foot panels intended to demonstrate that diversity enriches our lives. In total, the center received more than 180 submissions, which were whittled down to 39 winners ranging from preteens to professional artists.

One winner was Maya Gouw, 10, a sixth grader at W.S. Mount Elementary School in Stony Brook. Her unique piece, which featured the slogan “Together We Can Do It,” was created with colored pencils and showed the Earth encircled by smiling kids and animals.

“A teacher asked her to join the diversity exhibit, but she didn’t expect to beat out so many competitors,” admitted her mother, Pin, who calls her daughter a “perfectionist.” “This exhibit’s message is very important. We need to increase tolerance in our society.”

Work by Maya Gouw will be among those enlarged for billboards.

In addition to the exhibit, the project also includes programs and activities offered throughout Long Island during the month of October by the center’s community partners, such as Ballet Long Island, the Long Island Philharmonic and the Cinema Arts Centre. Public and private schools are also invited to visit the exhibit and teachers will be provided with sample educational activities.

“It’s unfortunate, but undeniable, that Long Island needs to do more to address the prejudice that persists in our society,” said Huntington Town Supervisor Frank Petrone. “We’re proud to be affiliated with the project and the hope that it holds for the future.”

The center’s panel of judges consisted of Erik Neil, executive director of the Heckscher Museum of Art, Bob Carter, professor of art at Nassau Community College, and Sunita Mukhi, executive director of the Wang Center at Stony Brook University.

“Embracing Our Differences” will be on display at Huntington’s Village Green from Sept. 26-Oct. 8, and at the Heckscher Park from Oct. 8-24. A calendar will also be created from the chosen entries, Schrier said.

Still time to enter Cow Harbor race

Despite what you may have heard, it’s not too late to sign up for the 30th Great Cow Harbor 10K Run, which takes place on the streets of Northport on Saturday morning.

Race organizers, who set a 5,000 limit on the number of runners and closed off on-line registration last night, had announced they would not be taking any in-person registrations tomorrow night. They have changed their mind because they are close to, but not quite at, the 5,000 limit, according to Rich Boziwick, one of the organizers.

Registration takes place at Northport’s Laurel Avenue School, 158 Laurel Ave., where runners already registered can pick up their race packs from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Race packs are also available on Saturday morning from 6:45 to 7:45. The race begins at 8:30 at the school and finishes on Main Street.

The race packet will include an ankle bracelet with a timing chip attached. As runners cross the finish line their times will be automatically recorded in a database.

Beyond the main race, which is sanctioned by the Road Runners Club of America and has been selected as a Championship Race for the eighth year in a row, the event also includes a 2K fun run / walk. Proceeds from the race are contributed to the Long Island Special Olympics.

For more information, visit their Web site.

Harborfield grad commissioned by Army

Defense Department announcement

James P. Lazak Jr. has graduated from the Army ROTC (Reserve Officers' Training Corps) Leader Development and Assessment Course, also known as "Operation Warrior Forge," at Fort Lewis, Tacoma, Wash. The ROTC cadet has been commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army, the Defense Department announced today.

Lazak is the son of James P. Lazak of Goodrich Ave., North Babylon, and Deborah A. Brandsema of Stratford Ave., Greenlawn. He is a 2004 graduate of Harborfields High School, Greenlawn.

The 33 days of training provide the best possible professional training and evaluation for all cadets in the aspects of military life, administration and logistical support. Although continued military training and leadership development is included in the curriculum, the primary focus of the course is to develop and evaluate each cadet's officer potential as a leader by exercising the cadet's intelligence, common sense, ingenuity and physical stamina. The cadet command assesses each cadet's performance and progress in officer traits, qualities and professionalism while attending the course.

Cadets in their junior and senior year of college must complete the leadership development course. Upon successful completion of the course, the ROTC program, and graduation from college, cadets are commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army, National Guard, or Reserve.

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Click here for a gallery of stories about Long Islanders and spouses in the military.

Open House at computer learning center

SeniorNet, a non-profit organization founded in 1986 that teaches those over the age of 49 how to use computers and the Internet, will hold a Fall Open House tomorrow and Monday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Don Weidman Computer Learning Center, 790 Park Ave., Huntington, which is just north of Pulaski Road.

Registration also will be held on those days for the center’s Fall semester, which begins on Oct. 1 and lasts for eight weeks. Visitors are welcome to tour the computer lab, review courses and meet the faculty and computer coaches.

SeniorNet has 200 locally run Learning Centers in the U.S. and abroad. An annual membership at the Huntington center costs $40, and the courses range from $25 to $60 each, depending on the complexity and need for materials.

Courses include introductions to typing, basic computer processes and applications, word processing and the digital camera. There are other courses in graphics, Windows XP/Vista, Internet and e-mail, music and the computer, genealogy and making home movies.

The center was named for its founder, according to Mike Earley, a volunteer.
“Don is revered by the old-time volunteers who remember how primitive the laboratory and the whole set-up was when he inaugurated the thing,” Early said. “And he just worked the crowd to get more volunteers and get more money to make things better.”

The Weidman center, which has served more than 4,000 students since it opened in 1999, according to Earley, won the national organization’s first “Chairman’s Award” in July for “superior performance in bringing technology access and education to older adults, and innovation in the use of technology to further adult education.”

Light refreshments will be served at the open house. For details, call 631-427-3700, extension 268. To get a registration form online, click here.

State singles out town's maritime director

Harry Acker, Huntington’s maritime services director, has been chosen as New York’s Marine Law Enforcement Officer of the Year by the state’s Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

Acker, the town’s former harbormaster, was on hand at the Aug. 28th town board meeting when Councilwoman Glenda A. Jackson announced he had won the award. Larry Migliozzi of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, presented the award. Migliozzi, a longtime colleague and friend, spoke of Acker’s many achievements, including aiding in multiple rescues, championing boating safety and being a scholar of vessel management.

The letter nominating Acker for the award read in part, “His inspired leadership and unwavering devotion have contributed immensely to the safe boating cause in New York. His actions reflect tremendous credit upon himself, the Town of Huntington, and the entire marine law enforcement community.”

Acker began working as a bay constable for the town in 1974 and became harbormaster in 1986 and senior harbormaster in 1987. This year he became the director of the town’s Maritime Services Department.

Police beat: Diesel fuel stolen in Commack

By Joy Vestal

Commack

A report was made yesterday that 225 gallons of diesel fuel was stolen from vehicles at the SA Logistics Inc., company on Modular Avenue.

Police reported that a man was arrested and charged with 15 counts of petit larceny yesterday. The charges were for thefts that started back in July up to the present and were mostly for items that police said he took from the Target store on Veterans Memorial Highway. Items stolen included a microwave, vacuum cleaner, air conditioner and a 12-pack of soda.

South Huntington

Store employees gave police a description of a man who stole a watch yesterday from Bloomingdale's at the Walt Whitman Mall.

Arrest roundup
The 2nd Precinct, which covers the Town of Huntington, reported that 39 arrests were made yesterday and today. Charges included petit larceny, criminal possession of a controlled substance, burglary, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and criminal contempt.