Serving The Willistons, Albertson, Herricks, Mineola, and Searingtown
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Friday, January 1, 2016
Vol. 65, No. 1
health, wellness & fitness guide
portuguese groups SUNY TO INVESTIGATE seek to merge MURRAY APPOINTMENT
PAGEs 25-28
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3rd Pct. sees rise in crime
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spirited singers
2.2% increase is first since merger By N o a h M a n s k a r Crime in the area Nassau County’s Third Police Precinct now covers has increased this year for the first time since 2012, the year of its merger with the Sixth Precinct. Police data shows the Third Precinct has seen a total of 7,965 crime reports as of Dec. 27, about 2.2 percent higher than 2014’s year-end total of 7,796. Crime rose more sharply in the first two years following its merger with the Sixth Precinct, statistics show. The total number of reported crimes dropped below pre-merger levels last year, and 2015’s total is still below that mark despite the increase. On the other hand, major crimes such as murder, felony assault and burglary have seen a slower decline. The Third and Sixth Precincts had a total of 8,972 crimes reported in 2010, according to the police department’s annual Strat-Com statistics reports. That number — which reflects major crimes as well as all other Continued on Page 39
Photo by Joel Harris
The Mineola Choral Society performs at the Mineola Chamber of Commerce’s annual holiday party at Piccola Bussola restaurant.
Restore 6th Pct.: town officials Bosworth, Wink call on county to undo merger with 3rd Pct. By M at t G r e c h Town of North Hempstead officials are calling on Nassau County to reinstate the Sixth Precinct in Manhasset as a fully operational precinct, echoing a letter sent to Nassau County
Executive Ed Mangano by the umbrella group representing Manhasset civic associations earlier in December. North Hempstead Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth called on county officials to undo the merger of the Third and Sixth precincts in 2012 in a letter to Mangano and other county officials on Dec. 24, citing increased threats to public safety and previous changes to county precinct plans.
“Knowing that the First and Seventh precinct merger never went through in the wake of Superstorm Sandy and that the Fourth and Fifth Precincts were separated after their merger, it makes sense to undo this illconceived merger as well,” Bosworth said in the letter. She said she was concerned about a reduced a police presence during an “era of increasing prescription drug use and related crimes, home invasions
and robberies.” “In February 2012, I expressed my grave concern… about the County Executive’s plan calling for the elimination of four out of the eight then-operating police precincts, including the Sixth Precinct in Manhasset,” Bosworth said. “As I listen to my constituents now, almost four years later, I hear that my concerns were well-founded.” Bosworth said “while the Continued on Page 39
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