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Serving New Hyde Park, North New Hyde Park, Herricks, Garden City Park, Manhasset Hills, North Hills, Floral Park

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Friday, December 22, 2017

Vol. 66, No. 51

N E W H Y D E PA R K

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NEW YEAR’S DINING GUIDE

MTA AWARDS 3RD TRACK CONTRACT

COUNTY LEGISLATURE OKs INDEPENDENT I.G.

PAGES 29-36, 45-52

PAGE 6

PAGE 60

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N.Y. Islanders score big with Belmont arena

TOYING AROUND

Cuomo announces return of Long Island’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 the hockey team is coming home by building a new arena at Belmont Park. “When they left and went to Brooklyn, Long Island lost something,� Cuomo said at a press conference Wednesday. “Because it was so much part of the identity and the culture of Long Island.� 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 “today is a win win win.â€? It’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. It’s a win for the team, he said, because it will increase attendance and passion. And, he said, it’s a win for the community because the “big economic development initiative is going to utilize this great asset that has been underutilized for years now.â€? 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 oďŹƒcial anContinued on Page 77

PHOTO BY REBECCA KLAR

Johnny Boychuck, of the New York Islanders, opens a doll for seven-year-old Karina at the Islanders’ annual visit to Cohen Children’s Medical Center. See story on page 3.

Synagogue, Adam Haber relocating Syrian refugees BY LU K E TORRANCE Watching the evening news, Adam Haber said, he felt sick to his stomach by the reports of violence and suering

in war-torn Syria — a reminder of the not-so-distant past for him and his family “The country is in disarray, and it reminded me of the Holocaust,� the East Hills resident said. “I lost a lot of family

in the Holocaust, and seeing what was happening in Syria, it touched a nerve.â€? Haber, who is a principal for a commercial real estate ďŹ rm and a member of the RosContinued on Page 69

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