Friday, April 28, 2023
Vol. 83, No. 17
$1
SERVING BETHPAGE, OLD BETHPAGE, AND PLAINVIEW
Local hockey star honored by Town Town Board considers
restaurant application BY RIKKI MASSAND
At the Oyster Bay Town Board meeting held on Tuesday, April 18, an application for a special use permit requested by Platia Greek Kitchen at 4 Berry Hill Road in Syosset was presented. Following a detailed review of operations and activities of the restaurant, the Board closed the public portion of the hearing and the record will be kept open for 30 days, until the third week of May. The Town Board heard from
Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino and members of the Town Board presented an official Town Citation to Bernard “Buzz” Deschamps of the Town’s Ice Hockey Program who was recently recognized by the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden as this year’s recipient of the prestigious Emile Francis Award, named in honor of the Rangers’ longtime Coach and General Manager. BY GARY SIMEONE Bernard “Buzz” Deschamps has spent the majority of his life involved in the sport of hockey. Last week the seventy-eight old veteran hockey player was honored by the Town of Oyster Bay, for his contributions to the Towns youth hockey programs. “When it comes to advancing the great game of hockey with our local youth, few can match the enthusiasm and support provided by Bernard’Buzz’ Deschamps, who
has an incredibly long and distinguished track record of promoting and assisting youth hockey,” said Town Supervisor Joe Saladino. Deschamps, who was born in 1944, has spent a great portion of his life playing, teaching and coaching the game of hockey. He started playing in Ontario, Canada, where he was born and raised. He played in several minor-league hockey leagues in Canada and the United States. He played over a decade in the NHL, with
the New York Rangers hockey team. Deschamps spent several years with the Long Island Ducks, who were at onetime part of the professional Eastern Hockey League. He scored a franchise record of 59 goals and 98 points in the 1963-64 hockey season. He also coached hockey at the college level, serving as head coach of St. John’s University for over a decade, and most recently at Stony Brook University. See page 22
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attorney for the applicant Diana Prevete of Garden City-based law firm Albanese & Albanese, as she described the special use permit, including occupancy for over 75 people, and to maintain a 46-foothigh by 7.5-foot wide addition to the restaurant building off Berry Hill Road. She noted that the restaurant’s existing occupancy is for 94 occupants, and the application before the board also requested site plan approval of the related site improvements. See page 22
84-year-old scammed out of $9,800
An 84-year-old Bethpage woman was scammed out of $9,800 on Friday, April 14, when a caller claiming to be an attorney for her “grandson” asked her to bring money for “bail."” According to police, the victim received a phone call from an individual falsely claiming to be a lawyer for her grandson who was arrested. He informed the victim that her grandson needed $9,800 to be bailed out and instructed the victim to withdraw the money from her bank and return home. A short time later, the victim received another phone call instructing her to go outside her residence to a parked silver SUV.
A man described as Asian, in his mid-40s was waiting and took the victims money and fled the scene. The victim later realized it was a scam and contacted police. Investigation is ongoing. The Nassau County Police Department urges the community to be on alert and to remind vulnerable family members, friends and neighbors about potential scams or frauds. Detectives request anyone with information regarding the above incident to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS or call 911. All callers will remain anonymous.
Lions Club kicks off membership drive PAGE 14 Student clubs showcased at BOE PAGE 23