Serving Roslyn, East Hills, Roslyn Estates, Roslyn Harbor, Roslyn Heights, Greenvale, Old Westbury and North Hills
$1.50
Friday, September 8, 2023
Vol. 11, No. 36
GUIDE TO FALL
MY FATHER’S PLACE RETURNS TO ROSLYN
CALL TO REMOVE POLS NAMES FROM COUNTY SIGNS
PAGES 23-38
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Tennis stars’ fathers invited to US Open Hassenbein, Falkowitz honor sons killed in crash at opening ceremony BY C A M E RY N O A K ES Drew Hassenbein and Ethan Falkowitz were teenage tennis stars whose deaths shook Roslyn Middle School and the surrounding community. But their impact transcended Long Island’s North Shore and was acknowledged at the US Open when their fathers were invited as guests of the United States Tennis Association Aug. 28. Both Mitchell Hassenbein and Gary Falkowitz were invited to the opening day of the US Open hosted at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. Gary Falkowitz told Newsday it was a “surreal” experience. The court held tender memories for both fathers. Just two years before, Drew was invited to the same court to help facilitate the coin toss between Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev at the men’s US Open Final at Arthur Ashe Stadium. “Drew and I would come every day,” Mitchell Hassenbein told Newsday. “Day One for qualifiers we were here, and I’ve been doing that because we would be here together. This is like a comfortable place for us. Great place.” Also in 2021, Gary Falkowitz played a match against his son Ethan
on the the Ashe court. “I remember playing with him and thinking he’s feeling bad because the points … they were going on forever,” Gary Falkowitz told Newsday. “So I just wanted to give him a point here and there. He said, ‘No, you’ve got to play fair. That was your point.’ And I said, ‘Fine, but this is a long video and someone’s taking the time to film this video.’ And he won. He fell to the ground. Arms out as if he’d just won the U.S. Open.” Roslyn Middle School’s Ethan Falkowitz, top, and Drew Hassenbein, bottom. (Photos courtesy of Sportime Roslyn and Long Island Tennis Magazine) Hassenbein’s and Falkowitz’s sons, both 14, were killed May 3 while being driven home from a tennis match celebration along with two of their high school teammates. Their car was hit by Roslyn resident Amandeep Singh, who prosecutors allege was under the influence of alcohol and cocaine and driving 95 mph on the wrong side of the road. Singh pleaded not guilty in June to the 15-count indictment he faces for his role in the wrong-way driving crash. Both Drew and Ethan were remembered as promising tennis players Continued on Page 49
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ROSLYN SCHOOL DISTRICT
Incoming kindergarteners learn how to ride the bus at Bus Orientation Day at Heights. See story on page 56.
Town shores up finance team for budget talks BY B R A N D ON D U FF Y North Hempstead Town Board Democrats approved a resolution along party lines to use Hilary Grossman, the former chief deputy comptroller of the town, for accounting services in the upcoming budget process. The board also unanimously appointed Finance Director Paul Wood as acting comptroller, temporarily filling a role in the comptroller’s office that has a vacancy in its top three positions. Council Member Veronica Lurvey,
a Democrat, presented an amendment to the other six members of the town board that authorized any member of the town board to use Grossman’s services. Lurvey’s amendment authorized town board members access to Grossman’s services which include reviewing the tentative budget, which must be submitted by North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jennifer Desena by the end of the month, preparing any changes or amendments to the tentative budget and reviewing the preliminary budget, among other things.
DeSena, a Republican, said the “substantial” changes allowing the six other members to use Grossman’s services encroached on her role in creating the budget. Lurvey said DeSena has the authority to submit her budget, but it then becomes the town board’s responsibility to approve the budget. “We are making it clear right off the bat that whoever is hired is not just your personal assistant,” Lurvey said. “Because once you prepare your budget, it becomes the town Continued on Page 50