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DECEMBER 19 - 25, 2024
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Public opinion on Sands plan Environmental impact faces reactions improve its sustainability and upgrading energy infrastructure to meet growing demand. Beautification initiatives are The draft environmental impact statement for the pro- also planned to improve the posed Las Vegas Sands resort area’s public spaces, as part of and casino at the site of the Las Ve gas Sands’ ef fort to Nassau Coliseum was met with enhance both aesthetics and both resounding support and quality of life for residents and critical opposition at a public visitors. “We are grateful to the Nashearing at the Nassau County Legislature on sau County LegisDec. 9. lature for its thorLas Ve g a s ough review of the Sands of ficially completeness of submitted the our environmental DEIS to the Legisimpact statement,” lature last month, M i ch a e l L evo f f, after a unanimous the company’s vote by legislators senior vice presiconfir ming the dent of strategy document’s comand public affairs, pletion and availtated in the ADRIENNE ESpoSITo srelease. ability for public “This over Executive Director, review. 28,000-page docuThe DEIS out- Citizens Campaign for ment further demlines a range of the Environment onstrates Sands’ i nv e s t m e n t s — commitment to totaling more than comprehensively $150 million — aimed at mod- and holistically mitigate the er nizing Uniondale’s infra- potential impacts of our transstructure and revitalizing the formative project at the site of hamlet and surrounding com- the Nassau Coliseum.” munities, according to a Sands At the contentious hearing, news release. The projects both supporters and detractors include expanding the Meadow- shared their opinions on the brook Parkway to alleviate traf- DEIS. Adrienne Esposito, execfic congestion, enhancing the utive director of Citizens CamUniondale water district to
By KElSIE RADZISKI
kradziski@liherald.com
Maureen Lennon/Herald
Santa Claus, pancakes and fun Baldwin welcomed Santa Claus for St. Peter’s Lutheran Church’s annual Pancakes with Santa event on Dec. 7. Story, additional photos, Page 10.
Sensory gym opens in Baldwin
Ester Marcellin works with those with special needs By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com For Ester Marcellin, Baldwin was always the natural choice for opening what she describes as a sensory gym, a state-of-the-art facility that will focus on the development and enhancement of children’s sensory and motor skills. Located at 826 Merrick Road, Planet Sensory Occupational Therapy, which is opening this week will work with local children as well as those from surrounding communities, with and without special needs. It was an idea years in the making for Marcellin, 49, who has been an occupational therapist
for 16 years and has worked with many school districts on Long Island, including Baldwin. Over the years, she has recognized the growing need for additional services beyond what she can provide in a traditional school district setting because of a lack of designated space. Specifically, schools lacked facilities and equipment for helping children with autism developmental delays or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. “I quickly found that trying to provide occupational therapy to this population in a traditional setting, such as a school, was extremely limited in terms of space,” Marcellin said. “I Continued on page 16
I
t was a very comprehensive and a very complete draft EIS.
Continued on page 12