Serving Manhasset
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Friday, December 22, 2017
Vol. 5, No. 51
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NEW YEARâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S DINING GUIDE
PHILLIPS PRESSED ON CHILD SEX ABUSE BILL
COUNTY LEGISLATURE OKs INDEPENDENT I.G.
PAGES 29-36, 45-52
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PAGE 60
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N.Y. Islanders score big with Belmont arena
S A N TA C O M E S T O T O W N
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. Continued on Page 69
PHOTO COURTESY OF JACLYN MARTINI
The Manhasset Mothersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Group hosted their annual breakfast with Santa on Dec. 9. See more on page 22.
Haber, synagogue seek to relocate 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 suďŹ&#x20AC;ering
in war-torn Syria â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a reminder of the not-so-distant past for him and his family â&#x20AC;&#x153;The country is in disarray, and it reminded me of the Holocaust,â&#x20AC;? the East Hills resident said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I lost a lot of family
in the Holocaust, and seeing what was happening in Syria, it touched a nerve.â&#x20AC;? 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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