Friday, December 22, 2017
THE PULSE OF THE PENINSULA
Vol. 92, No. 51
$1
&
1(: <($5Ĺ&#x2018;6 ',1,1*
B CMBOL TMB UF NFEJB
MJUNPS QVC MJDBUJPOT TQ
FDJBM TFDUJP O ĹŚ EFDFNC
NEW YEARâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S DINING GUIDE
HABER HELPS SYRIANS COUNTY LEGISLATURE FIND REFUGE IN CANADA OKs INDEPENDENT I.G.
PAGES 29-36, 45-52
PAGE 6
PAGE 60
FS
N.Y. Islanders score big with Belmont arena
LE T YOUR LIGHT SHINE
Cuomo announces return of Long Islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hockey team from Brooklyn BY R E B ECC A K L A R When the New York Islanders left Nassau County, they left a hole in the heart of Long Island, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday. Cuomo then announced that the hole in the heart of Long Island was being ďŹ xed â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the hockey team would be coming home by building a new arena at Belmont Park. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When they left and went to Brooklyn, Long Island lost something,â&#x20AC;? Cuomo said at a press conference Wednesday. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Because it was so much part of the identity and the culture of Long Island.â&#x20AC;? The Islanders, partnered with Sterling Development and Oak View Group, plan to create a 18,000-seat arena, a multipurpose event center, a retail center and a hotel. The Islanders beat out the New York City Football Club, partnered with The Related Companies, to build on the Belmont land. The proposals were in response to an Empire State Development Corp. request for proposal to build
on 43-acres of state owned land currently used for parking spaces at Belmont Park. Cuomo said â&#x20AC;&#x153;today is a win win win.â&#x20AC;? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a win for the fans, because Belmont is easier to get to than Barclays center, he said. It was also announced that the LIRR will have service to Belmont all year round when the arena opens. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a win for the team, he said, because it will increase attendance and passion. And, he said, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a win for the community because the â&#x20AC;&#x153;big economic development initiative is going to utilize this great asset that has been underutilized for years now.â&#x20AC;? But not all residents agree. While many Islanders fans are happy to see the team return to Nassau, other residents are not pleased with the chosen project. During the Tuesday night Floral Park board meeting, when it was anticipated the oďŹ&#x192;cial announcement would follow the next mornContinued on Page 77
PHOTO BY REBECCA KLAR
North Hemptstead Supervisor Judi Bosworth and Rabbi Shalom Paltiel light the menorah on the third night of Hanukkah for the townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s menorah lighting ceremony. See story on page 19.
LED light install expected to be complete this week Village Clerk-Treasurer Joe Gill said on Tuesday. As of Tuesday morning, Gill The Village of Great Neck said Ankers Electric, who they will likely complete the ďŹ rst contracted to install the lights, phase of its LED light instal- has installed 780 out of 833 lation by the end of the week, lights â&#x20AC;&#x201D; or 94 percent.
BY JA N E LL E CL AUSEN
Barring any weather issues, Gill said, the village could be done as early as Wednesday because the company has been doing between 50 and 70 lights a day. Continued on Page 69
For the latest news visit us at www.theislandnow.com D onâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to follow us on Twitter @Theislandnow and Facebook at facebook.com/theislandnow