Oceanside/Island Park
HERALD Saluting local sanitation hero
Schools prepare for clean return
JCC Wellness Center reopens
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Vol. 55 No. 36
SEPTEMBER 3 - 9, 2020
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Worry grows over 7-Eleven driveway added that there is a second driveway at the 7-Eleven, which leads to Austin Boulevard and A much-debated proposal for would not cause as many proba 7-Eleven driveway that Island lems. Park residents defeated in 2019 In January 2019, the Board of may not be banished after all. Zoning Appeals voted against Town of Hempstead officials the curb cut after more than a are nearing a deal with owners dozen residents expressed conof a 7-Eleven that is cern. The Nassau built but yet to County De par t open, at 4535 Ausment of Public tin Blvd., to permit Works had initially a curb cut that approved the site could, residents plan and the drivecontend, snarl trafway, but after resific and exacerbate dents complained, safety issues on county of ficials what they say is a wrote a letter to the dangerous road. Town of HempThe driveway, stead Building which would direct Department. That cars onto the heaviled to a hearing of ly trafficked Calithe Board of Zonfornia Place South, ing Appeals, which could increase trafruled against the fic from California PaTTi aMBRoSia curb cut. Place South onto T h e 7 - E l eve n Island Park resident Austin Boulevard, owners sued the because one of the town and county in driveways of a Starbucks at 4507 appellate court in Brooklyn, Austin Blvd. is across from the arguing that the time limit for planned 7-Eleven driveway. bringing the case to the Board of “It’s not someone saying they Zoning Appeals had lapsed. With don’t want a 7-Eleven,” resident the case pending, Town Attorney Patti Ambrosia said. “They’re Charles Kovit said that Hempsaying this driveway is dangerous for this community.” She Continued on page 3
By MikE SMolliNS msmollins@liherald.com
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Eric Dunetz/Herald
oCEaNSidE HigH SCHool varsity dance team members expressed disappointment about the postponement of school sports in Nassau County.
O’side fall sports postponed By BRiaNa BoNfiglio and ToNy BElliSSiMo bbonfiglio@liherald.com
Oceanside High School students will have to wait until January 2021 to play school sports, after a committee of Nassau County school superintendents voted unanimously on Aug. 26 to postpone the fall season. The decision was met with disappointment from studentathletes in Oceanside, including varsity dance team mem-
bers Emme Ortiz, Felice Bloom and Erin Sulivan. “It’s upsetting to know that we don’t have that to look forward to,” Ortiz, a junior, said, “and we really hope that it can change.” Ortiz noted that she has resumed dance classes with safety precautions outside of school, at Dance Innovations in Oceanside, so she believes it can be done safely at school, too. “A lot of students get really motivated when they have their sports and their commit-
ments,” she said. “It’s such a special thing to be a part of, and it’s really important for the school’s morale and for the students.” At an emergency meeting on Aug. 26, seven superintendents voted to postpone all high school sports until Jan. 4, making Nassau the first of the state’s 11 sections to move its fall season. “I believe other sections will follow and pull the plug, but I can’t speak for anyone Continued on page 3
t’s not someone saying they don’t want a 7-Eleven. They’re saying this driveway is dangerous for this community.