Serving Great Neck, G.N. Plaza, G.N. Estates, Kensington, Kings Point, Lake Success, Russell Gardens, Saddle Rock and Thomaston
$1
Friday, December 11, 2020
Vol. 95, No. 50
HOLIDAY DINING, GIFT GUIDE
NEW HEAD OF ELECTION RESULTS HOLOCAUST CENTER CERTIFIED
PAGES 23-32
PAGE 3
PAGE 8
Middle Neck construction draws ire Local merchants criticize water authority, government officials BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z Construction on Middle Neck Road in Great Neck to replace the 112-year-old water main, which began Oct. 19, has caused ire among people who say the project has hurt local businesses during the most profitable time of a difficult year. The project was rolled out by the Great Neck North Water Authority, which began planning for it “well over” a year before beginning construction, according to a representative. Water authority officials deemed the project “absolutely necessary” to complete as the water main is “well past” its life expectancy. The project will improve the water authority’s ability to provide residents throughout Great Neck with an “adequate supply of drinking water during peak demands,” according to officials. The project will also improve flows to fire hydrants during emergencies.
The coronavirus pandemic, officials said, delayed the start of the project. That, paired with a Nassau County project from the Department of Public Works to pave parts of Middle Neck Road, heightened the need to complete the project during this time frame, officials said. Other setbacks included locating Verizon and National Grid lines and pipelines, large trees in the way, and some uneven terrain to keep sidewalks accessible to foot traffic, officials said. “It made practical sense for us to replace the 112-year-old Middle Neck Road water main, which was well past its life expectancy, prior to Nassau County’s forthcoming paving project along the same roadway,” Great Neck North Water Authority officials said. “Otherwise, we would have been forced to wait until 2025 or later to initiate the work, which was out of the question.” Continued on Page 36
PHOTO BY ROBERT PELAEZ
Afshin and Miriam Tavakoly opened Advance Internal Medical Care on Middle Neck with Village of Great Neck Mayor Pedram Bral last week. See story on page 2.
G.N. schools continue to lead in virus cases BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z The number of students who have tested positive for the coronavirus in public schools across the North Shore has risen to nearly 350, according to state Health Department
figures. As of Tuesday, 340 students on the North Shore had tested positive since the beginning of the school year. The increase of 94 confirmed student cases is the most over a one-week period since schools began, ac-
cording to state data. Public school districts that were analyzed included the Port Washington school district, Roslyn school district, Sewanhaka Central High School District, Mineola school district, Continued on Page 35
Support local journalism and get real news Subscribe to the Blank Slate Media newspaper of your community https://theislandnow.com/subscription/