Friday, January 5, 2018
THE PULSE OF THE PENINSULA
Vol. 93, No. 1
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HEALTH, WELLNESS AND BEAUTY GUIDE
TOWN TAXED BY RUSH TO PREPAY TAXES
THE RETURN OF THE MOOCH?
PAGES 27-31
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‘New era’ in Nassau County Curran sworn in as the county’s first female, third Dem executive on Monday BY JA N E LL E CL AUSEN
PHOTO BY JANELLE CLAUSEN
Laura Curran (D-Baldwin) was sworn into her new position as county executive on Monday, as she promised to fight the culture of corruption and improve the fiscal health of Nassau County. Gov. Andrew Cuomo administered the oath.
Laura Curran became Nassau County’s first woman and third Democratic executive on a frigid New Year’s Day, marking what she said would be the beginning of a “new era” for the county while outlining anti-corruption measures and the need for smart economic growth. “To those who would cling to yesterday, who would rather see government work for the political class and not our residents, I have a message for you: those days are over,” Curran said before the dozens gathered. “Of course we’ll have our disagreements, but I truly believe there is no conflict too great for us to resolve, no problem to which we cannot find a solution.” Curran, previously a two-term county legislator and journalist, had run on the idea of ending “a culture of corruption” in Nassau County. She has voiced the need to appoint an independent inspector gen-
eral, reform the property assessment process and tackle the contracting system. Edward Mangano, a Republican, decided not to run for re-election as county executive after he was indicted on bribery charges. He has pleaded not guilty. During her inauguration speech at the Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building in Mineola, Curran said the county must get its “financial house in order” and “break free of NIFA,” referring to the agency overseeing the financial affairs of Nassau County, fix the assessment system to make it “fair and transparent,” and face the challenge of restoring trust in government. Additionally, Curran emphasized the importance of economic development for Nassau County’s downtowns. She said the return of the Islanders “to where they belong” – to Belmont, within Nassau County – should mark the start of new smart Continued on Page 45
House fire claims home in Kings Point sula battled a large house fire in Kings Point amid frigid temperatures for several hours on Friday About 60 firefighters from night, fire company representaaround the Great Neck penin- tives said, with flames pouring
BY JA N E LL E CL AUSEN
out of the home. The occupants of the home, at 5 Catalina Drive, were not injured in what was deemed an accidential fire, but the house was heavily damaged. Great Neck Alert Fire Company Chief Steve Schwartz said that when firefighters arrived, the occupants were out of the
house – as were the flames. A 20-foot wall of fire burst out the front door. The flames also went through the roof, kitchen area and out of other parts of the house, he said. The company had requested mutual aid. Manhasset-Lakeville offered a ladder crew and firefighter assist and search team, the Nassau County fire mar-
shal came by, and Vigilant Fire Company had an ambulance on standby, Schwartz said. The firefighters also had a mini emergency response vehicle – or MERV – nearby so people battling the blaze, who had ice forming on them, could warm up before returning to battle the fire. Continued on Page 44
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