Serving Roslyn, East Hills, Roslyn Estates, Roslyn Harbor, Roslyn Heights, Greenvale, Old Westbury and North Hills
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Friday, October 30, 2020
Vol. 8, No. 44
ELECTION GUIDE 2020
CUMIA PUTS HEIGHTS HOME ON MARKET
BUDGET CHANGES SUBMITTED BY GOP
PAGES 19-24
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PAGE 10
ALE ABOUT IT
N. Hempstead votes to take ExteNet deal Board implores federal reps for help against cell nodes BY R O S E W E L D ON The North Hempstead Town Board unanimously voted to accept a settlement from ExteNet Systems to construct 13 cell nodes in its unincorporated areas at a virtual meeting last Thursday night. Members said they were only doing so because they had no choice, but residents said they could have done more to fight the nodes, which are intended to improve 5G cellphone service. Councilwoman Mariann Dalimonte, whose district
would be directly affected by the nodes, said: “I don’t want to approve any wireless facilities being installed right outside of people’s homes. But I believe this is an acceptable compromise under the circumstances. “The federal law has us backed into a corner. My choices are either to approve the 13, or reject the 13 and clear the way for 16. So, I will be voting to approve the settlement, because it’s better than the alternative. And that’s what’s sad here. If we as the board deny it, they’re going to put 16 in.
If we accept it, they’re gonna put 13 in ... We are in a no-win situation. And we can’t use health as a reason. We can’t.” Under FCC rules, municipalities can only cite aesthetics and node locations as valid reasons to reject applications, with other factors like health not allowed to be considered. The rules have not stopped residents on the North Shore from bringing up their concerns over health as a result of the nodes at public meetings and forums for villages that received applications. Continued on Page 41
Preserve Mackay III House: state agency Plans still call for 91-year-old building to be torn down PHOTO COURTESY OF GARI HOCHMAN
Benny, a mini bernedoodle, relaxes with a pumpkin ale plushie in his Roslyn home.
BY R O S E W E L D ON A newly accepted environmental impact statement for a project to demolish and subdivide property housing a 91-year-old historical building in East Hills includes a report from a state agency recommending that the structure, the John Mackay III House, be
preserved. In September 2019 correspondence to the property’s representatives, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation stated: “... the John W. and Gwen R. Mackay (aka Happy House) at 2A Melby Lane is eligible for listing in the State and National Registers of Historic
Places. The house is significant for its association with John William Mackay III and as a representative example of residential Tudor Revival Architecture designed by John Cross. Since the building is historic, we have reviewed the alternatives described in the submission. We note that demolition Continued on Page 52
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