Serving Roslyn, East Hills, Roslyn Estates, Roslyn Harbor, Roslyn Heights, Greenvale, Old Westbury and North Hills
$1.50
Friday, October 6, 2023
Vol. 11, No. 40
SCHOOLS & EDUCATION
ROSLYN HARBOR ROAD MORATORIUM
42 OF NASSAU’S TOP WOMEN HONORED
PAGES 21-32
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Cedarmere Mill wheel turning once again William Cullen Bryant’s former estate nears end in restoration process BY C A M E RY N O A K ES The Cedarmere Mill, a historic landmark in Roslyn Harbor built for notable poet and journalist William Cullen Bryant, added a new water wheel that signals the near end of its restoration project. The gothic-revival-style Cedarmere Mill was constructed in 1862, serving as a mill and summer cottage for Bryant. The mill worked to power the machinery used to maintain Bryant’s land. President of The Friends of Cedarmere Thomas Powell said Bryant was integral in “creating American culture,” and that his history in Roslyn should be preserved. “He was an important figure,” Powell said. The newly restored water wheel. (Photo courtesy of Thomas Powell) The water wheel is made from white oak, which is authentic to the original mill. Powell said the material is the most resistant to rot from being constantly wet. Powell said the original water wheel is “long gone,” which was replaced in the 1880s with a turbine. That turbine was recovered and will be on display. But before the wheel could be restored, the rest of the mill had to be finished to support it.
“So all this work on the structure had to be done before the wheel,” Powell said. The exterior of the mill was the first element restored for the mill, which features “intense ornamentation” akin to the gothic revival style of the original mill, Powell said. The restoration of the exterior was conducted between 2008-2012 and was aided by funding from the Gerry Charitable Trust. This first step in restoration was managed by the Roslyn Landmark Society. Powell said the Roslyn Landmark Society was instrumental in assisting to get the restoration nearly complete, helping to end a 10-year hiatus on the project. Howard Kroplick, co-president of the landmark society, said he considers the Friends of Cedarmere a sister organization. Powell said work was halted in 2013. Work resumed about seven years later in 2020, led by The Friends of Cedarmere. This phase began with restoring the stone foundation. “The mortar comes out of the bricks, it just turns to powder and sand,” Powell said. “Inside, that was very noticeable.” He said the pandemic slowed things down in 2020. “But we kept going,” Powell said. Continued on Page 46
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ROSLYN SCHOOL DISTRICT
The Roslyn High School football team runs the ball during its rainy homecoming game. The team ended its losing ways, stretching to 2016, with a victory on Saturday. See story on page 48.
DeSena submits $163.9M budget with 10% tax cut BY B R A N D ON D U FF Y North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena is proposing a $163.9 million budget for 2024 that includes a 10% property tax cut and maintains town services and programs. Allocated in DeSena’s second spending plan is $91.9 million to the town’s general fund, $41.8 million to the town’s outside village fund, which covers services for residents who live outside incorporated vil-
lages, and $30.1 million for the 20 town-operated special districts, which create their own budgets. In a statement, DeSena said her administration is projecting to end the year with a nearly $2 million surplus. “My administration is working hard every day to put money back in taxpayers’ wallets because prior administrations have overtaxed homeowners unnecessarily and exorbitantly,” DeSena said. “Now, as I submit my 2024 Tentative Budget,
I am proud to again cut taxes by record-setting amounts, putting millions of dollars back in the pockets of taxpayers.” The North Hempstead Town Board finalized the budget schedule during their Oct. 3 meeting. A work session on the tentative budget will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 17 at 10 a.m. A tentative budget hearing will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. and a preliminary budget hearing and final vote will be Continued on Page 47