Serving Williston Park, East Williston, Mineola, Albertson and Searingtown
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Friday, November 15, 2019
Vol. 68, No. 46
SENIOR LIVING
MINEOLA BAND MARCHES TO STATE TITLE
REP. KING TO NOT SEEK RE-ELECTION
PAGES 27-32, 41-46
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Protest held over alleged animal abusers Mineola couple due in court Thursday BY TOM M CC A RT HY
PHOTO BY TOM MCCARTHY
Protestors gathered outside the county courthouse Sunday to protest a Mineola couple accused of killing two dogs and beating one.
A Mineola couple who were arrested for allegedly killing two dogs and beating a third is due back in criminal court Thursday, the District Attorney’s office said. Protestors from activist organization Puppy Mill Free Long Island gathered outside a Nassau County courthouse in Mineola on Sunday to protest Ellie and Jessica Knoller in advance of the court hearing and what they predict will be a light sentence if the couple is convicted. “I have to believe this is one of the most heinous animal cruelty acts
that I have heard,” animal activist Keri Michel said. “The overall mission is to send a message that we are not going anywhere.” She said “it’s our lawmakers that are responsible” for animal cruelty law reforms and how they can be reformed. Michel said the overall goal of the protest was to demand that animal cruelty charges be moved into the state penal code. The maximum jail time a person can get for animal abuse charges in the state is two years, which Michel said is not enough. Continued on Page 58
E.W. honors local veterans at ceremony BY TOM M CC A RT HY
11th month to celebrate the sacrifices made by local veterans, both Veterans, community leaders, living and dead for Veterans Day and residents gathered outside Monday. “Back in May, we stood here East Williston Village Hall on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the celebrating Memorial Day, a time
to remember those who gave their lives for our country,” East Williston Mayor Bonnie Parente said. “Veterans Day is different. Today we honor all of those who have served the country in war or peace, whether living or not.” Parente introduced East Williston resident and U.S. Air Force veteran Michael Baltzer who served in the armed forces from 1984 to
2006, leaving active duty by 1992. By the time he retired from service, he was a major, she said. “If you see a veteran, thank a veteran,” Baltzer said. While celebrating living World War II veterans as the “greatest generation,” Baltzer said that today’s youth in the military will “earn the distinction of another great generation” as they will be the ones to carry the torch of free-
dom and peace. Baltzer, who flew combat missions in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm, said that as a child he noticed that many military movies he saw always centered around the archetypal “Hollywood hero.” What was missing, Baltzer said, is the vast amount of untold stories of so many other veterans. Continued on Page 59
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