READER OF THE WEEK IS SANDRA SANTORA OF MASSAPEQUA PARK
Local family gets a little help from their friends Page 3
Vol. 73, No. 32
WEDNESDAY, August 7, 2024
LIMEHOF presents rock band event Page 2
www.massapequapost.com
Pets, Pets, Pets Page 11
50 CENTS
MPK Village approves 4-way stop signs at critical intersection Homeowners urged change for Roosevelt Avenue and Cypress Street to address safety concerns By Mike Polansky The Board of Trustees of the Village of Massapequa Park has approved the installation of four-way stop signs at the intersection of Roosevelt Avenue and Cypress Street. The intersection was the site in June of a highspeed accident, the fourth over the past two years, and local residents had shown up at the board’s June 24 meeting to plead for the addition of north/south stop signs on Roosevelt Avenue to complement the east/west stop signs already installed on Cypress Street. Kelly Pettalino, who lives at 359 Roosevelt Avenue, was one of many local residents to urge the board to install the extra stop signs. “It needs to be done; it’s a really dangerous intersection,” she said. She reminded the board that the Cypress intersection is in the midst of an eight-block stretch along busy Roosevelt Avenue with no north/south stop signs, and that there are plenty of youngsters who walk down Roosevelt to the McKenna Elementary School. “It’s scary, the horns go off constantly, my heart drops, and it’s no way to live,” she said. The approval for the additional stop signs, announced at the July 15 board meeting, was the result of two factors, according to Village Deputy Mayor Tina Schiaffino. “There was another accident on that corner, and the parents presented a strong case about the safety concerns on the corner. The residents on all four corners of the area agreed in their request for additional stop signs and so the board reviewed the request again and happily approved it,” she said. The new signs were installed within four days of the board’s approval. At the work session that preceded the July 15 meeting, the trustees also heard a presentation by Rich Carozza of Woodhollow Energy Group on installing Electric Vehicle charging stations at various locations in Village parking lots.
“It’s scary, the horns go off constantly, my heart drops, and it’s no way to live.” -resident Kelly Pettalino Carozza noted the forecast that 53 percent of new passenger vehicles sold will be electric by the year 2030, and recommended that “Level 3” DC char-
gers be installed, which would allow vehicles to be fully charged within a half hour. The charging stations could be used by all makes of electric vehicles. According to Carozza, EV charging stations had already been installed by Woodhollow in many Nassau County Villages, including Farmingdale, Lynbrook and Malverne. Carozza said Woodhollow would install the chargers at no cost to the Village, and would take care of all maintenance under a 10- year lease, which would provide the Village with $225 per month for each charging station installed plus 3 percent of the gross revenues. “Basically, the Village would be renting us parking spots,” Carozza said. The board took no action of the proposal. The board also heard a request by Mark Appleton of 219 Harbor Lane, and endorsed by 30 homeowners, to hold a Block Party on Saturday, Sept. 14 that would encompass all of Harbor Lane between the intersections of Harbor Drive and Knell Drive. The board took no action on the request pending further discussion with Appleton. The next Massapequa Park Village Board meeting is Mon., Aug. 12. A preboard meeting begins at 7 p.m., and a public meeting starts at 8 p.m., 151 Front St., Massapequa Park. For information, call the Village at 516-798-0244.
Two Massapequa High School track stars honored By Mike Polansky Capping a very successful year for the Massapequa High School track and field team, stalwart athletes Noah St. George and Andrey Podskrebkin were presented with two of the top awards at the recent annual Nassau County Track Coaches Association Awards Dinner. Podskrebkin earned the Dick Ferziger Memorial Award, which was presented by the Nassau Officials Association at the June 10th dinner at the Crest Hollow Country Club. The award is given annually to the track & field athlete who most combines athletic accomplishment, academic success, community service and leadership skills. St. George was presented with the Nassau Coaches Award for Athletic and Academic Excellence, and followed up on June 11 being presented with the Massapequa Superintendent’s Award as the top student athlete at Massapequa High School for the 2023-2024
school year. St. George is a versatile athlete, scoring as All County and All Long Island in the High Jump, where he holds the Massapequa Indoor School record, All County and All State in the Long Jump, and he won the Division Meet in both the 100 Meters and 200 Meters. He also excels at volleyball, where he was the Massapequa High School team captain. St. George was named to the National Honor Society. (Continued on Page 7)