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INCORPORATING THE WEST HEMPSTEAD BEACON VOL. 76 No. 05
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Winter storm drops 10 inches of snow Storm shutters businesses, classes By STACY DRIKS sdriks@liherald.com
Luke Feeney/Herald
the residents, staff and administration of three school districts voiced strong opposition to a revised diamond Charter School proposal during a public meeting at alverta B. gray Schultz Middle School.
Charter school faces public backlash from residents Hempstead, West Hempstead communities are strongly opposed
By MADISON GUSLER & LUKE FEENEY of the Herald
Residents, students, school staff as well as district and elected officials shared their opposition to a revised charter school application during meetings on at the West Hempstead Secondary School on Jan. 20 and at Alverta B. Gray Schultz Middle School in Hempstead a day later. The proposal comes from Diamond Charter School, which received approval from the SUNY Charter Schools Institute nearly two years ago to open in Hempstead. Despite widespread opposition at the time from Hempstead and surrounding communities, the charter was approved. The school is scheduled to open this September. The charter school submitted a revision to its application requesting temporary approval to operate in West Hempstead for no more than two years while completing construction of its
permanent location in Hempstead. The plan is to open and operate at 12 Westminster Road, in the former religious school building at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, this September, according to DCS’s website. The planned permanent location at 131 Fulton Ave., Hempstead is undergoing renovations. “The Diamond School was given two years to get prepared, incubate, and open up in the Hempstead school district,” Hempstead Superintendent Gary Rush said, “but after two years DCS isn’t prepared to serve Hempstead students and is coming into the West Hempstead school district instead.” He formally stated his opposition to this proposal. Numerous objections were raised to the application including: the financial costs of another charter school in the area, the impact it could have on the neighboring school districts, how another charter school could increase COntinued On Page 3
As Uniondale and other parts of Hempstead were blanketed with up to 10 inches of snow over the weekend, safety concerns mounted Monday as snow piled high — including over fire hydrants. With limited space to shovel snow, some residents resorted to clearing their driveways by tossing snow onto curbs or sidewalks — in some cases, burying hydrants completely. Fire prevention officer Chris Stafford, of the Uniondale Fire Department, warned the practice could be dangerous. “It can cost a life,” he said in a message. “Just today alone (Monday) I came across residents and had to inform and educate, costing a few minutes to shovel and unfreeze it.” After encountering several blocked hydrants, Stafford took to social media with winter tips to reduce hazards: clear three feet around the hydrant, shovel a path from the street to the hydrant, keep the caps and outlets fully visible and don’t pile snow on top or in front of hydrants. In Uniondale, residents expressed frustration over delayed plowing, especially on smaller or dead-end streets. Pearl Jacobs, president of the Nostrand Gardens Civic Association, said she contacted the Town of Hempstead on Monday morning to request plowing on the dead-end stretch of Decatur Street. “I was informed that a plow would be dispatched to my location, two hours have passed and we are still waiting for the plow,” she said Monday. Kathleen
Gallagher, also of Uniondale, said the issue extended beyond her community. “I’m retired so it’s really not a problem for me now, the main roads are fine but the side streets, not so much,” she said. Residents shared concerns with Nassau County Legislator Olena Nicks, who represents communities such as Baldwin, Roosevelt, South Hempstead and parts of Uniondale. Nicks acknowledged the delays but also asked for understanding about the work required to clear snow. “I believe that the county is working hard to make sure that we’re cleaning our areas as best as possible. And really, just want to thank all of the county workers that are out there doing their jobs,” she said. Nicks described the snowfall as one of the heaviest in nearly a decade and urged residents to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary. On Sunday, she was stationed at the Uniondale Fire Department as a volunteer firefighter, helping crews prepare for emergencies. Firefighters were on standby starting around 8 a.m. Sunday, according to Anthony Lebron, the Uniondale Fire District’s commissioner. “A fire is always possible,” he said on Sunday. “Especially when it comes to space heaters where residents are trying to stay warm.” The National Weather Service’s winter storm warning for the area ended Monday morning. The storm was a mix of snow and sleet, which made for slick and icy roads. Winds and blowing snow reduced visibility throughout the storm, and sub-freezing temperatures COntinued On Page 5