On Friday, July 4th, the LIRR will operate on a Saturday schedule.

For additional information, customers may contact the LIRR’s 24-hour Travel Information Center in Suffolk County at 631-231-LIRR, in Nassau County at 516-822-LIRR or in New York City at 718-217-LIRR.  The Travel Information Center’s TDD telephone number for the hearing impaired is 718-558-3022.

or

http://www.mta.info

The United States celebrates its Independence Day on July 4, a day of patriotic celebration and family events throughout the country.

In the words of Founding Father John Adams, the holiday would be “the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance. … It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.”

From America.gov

Tomorrow, July 3, the Town of Hempstead is hosting a free concert in Seaford at Seaman’s Neck Park.

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From the Town of Hempstead’s Website,

That 70’s Band

Date: 8 PM, Thursday, July 3
Location: 2700 S. Seamans Neck Road, Seaford
Price: Free

Playing the hits of the 70’s from disco and funk to the top pop hits.

In the event of inclement weather, call the park or the Cultural Arts Office at 292-9000, ext. 382 for all concert information. You may also check the toh.li home page for day-of-show announcements.

On Tuesday, July 1, police responded to a Levittown home after receiving a call that a 5-foot- long snake was wondering around their yard.

Yesterday morning, Nassau County Police arrived to a home in Levittown and found a 5 foot boa constrictor slithering around outside. Nassau County Police Emergency Services Unit were called in and captured the snake without incident.

Officials believe the boa is an escaped house pet. Police took the unharmed snake to a Seaford reptile store.

According to Wikipedia, Boa constrictors do well in captivity, usually becoming quite tame. They can live up to 20 to 30 years old in captivity and can grow up to 13 feet (4 meters) long. Boa’s kill their prey by wrapping around them tightly with their bodies to suffocate them.

Yesterday, July 1, the Nassau County Health Department announced that 3 county residents have been infected with Salmonella Saintpaul.

News Realease from the Nassau County Health Department,

July 1, 2008

Three Individuals with Salmonella Saintpaul Confirmed in Nassau County

The New York State Department of Health has reported three Nassau County residents with Salmonella Saintpaul. These confirmed cases are part of a multi-state outbreak which has been linked to raw tomatoes.  

The first is a 28-year old man who became ill on May 24th and went to an emergency room complaining of abdominal pain, fever, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. He was not hospitalized and is recovering. He works in New York City and had exposures to tomatoes in both the city and county.  The second is a 26-year old woman who became ill on May 30th with similar symptoms, and has fully recovered. She did not go to a hospital.  She also works in NYC and had exposures to tomatoes in both city and county. The third is a 37-year old woman who became ill on May 21st and who had been to California where she reported exposure to raw tomatoes. 

At this time, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is advising U.S. consumers to limit their tomato consumption to those that are not the likely source of this outbreak. These include cherry tomatoes; grape tomatoes; tomatoes sold with the vine still attached; tomatoes grown at home; and red plum, red Roma, and round red tomatoes from specific sources listed at:  www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/tomatoes.html. Consumers should be aware that raw tomatoes are often used in the preparation of fresh salsa, guacamole, and pico de gallo, as part of fillings for tortillas, and are used in many other dishes.   Consumers everywhere are advised to:

• Refrigerate within 2 hours or discard cut, peeled, or cooked tomatoes.
• Avoid purchasing bruised or damaged tomatoes and discard any that appear spoiled.
• Thoroughly wash all tomatoes under running water.
• Keep tomatoes that will be consumed raw separate from raw meats, raw seafood, and raw produce items.
• Wash cutting boards, dishes, utensils, and counter tops with hot water and soap when switching between types of food products.

Salmonella is a type of bacterium.  Most persons infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps 12-72 hours after infection.  The illness usually lasts 4-7 days.  Although most people recover without treatment, severe infections may occur.  Infants, elderly persons and those with impaired immune systems are more likely than others to develop severe illness.   

For information, call the Nassau County Department of Health Division of Disease Control at 516-227-9496.

For additional information about Salmonella Saintpaul, visit the FDA website at: www.fda.gov or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at:  www.cdc.gov/salmonella/saintpaul/.

The Annual Jones Beach State Park Fireworks Extravaganza is set to blast-off this Friday, July 4, in Wantagh.

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Event Details-

Date/ Time:

Friday, July 4; 9:30 PM.

Location:

On the Atlantic Ocean, front of Central Mall.

Jones Beach State Park, 1 Ocean Parkway, Wantagh (Long Island), NY, 11793.

Cost:

Free to enter. $8 per vehicle.

Phone:

631-321-3510. NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation; LI Region.

Main Sponsor:

New York Automotive Giant.

Wantagh News Tips:

GET THERE EARLY !!! Parking Lots will fill up to capacity. During the Airshow, State Police closed the parkways earlier than ever before, expect the same to happen for this event. AAA has announced that more people are staying close to home this July 4 so, get there early.

Bring a portable radio. WALK 97.5 FM will play choreographed music to the fireworks.

Bring your own beverages and food.

Bring a beach towel or blanket.

Check the weather, dress accordingly.

Today, July 1, the Wantagh School District Board of Education will have a meeting at 8PM in the High School Auditorium. For more information call the District Clerk at 679-6310.

The National Weather Service has issued a coastal hazard message due to strong rip currents at New York City and Long Island Atlantic Beaches.

From the National Weather Service,

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE UPTON NY
537 PM EDT MON JUN 30 2008

...HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS TUESDAY AT ATLANTIC BEACHES OF NEW
YORK CITY AND LONG ISLAND...

NYZ075>077-080-081-010545-
/O.NEW.KOKX.CF.S.0004.080701T1200Z-080702T0100Z/
KINGS (BROOKLYN)-QUEENS-NASSAU-SOUTHWESTERN SUFFOLK-
SOUTHEASTERN SUFFOLK-
537 PM EDT MON JUN 30 2008

...HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS TUESDAY AT ATLANTIC BEACHES OF NEW
YORK CITY AND LONG ISLAND...

AN ONSHORE FLOW OF 10 TO 15 MPH COUPLED WITH A LONG PERIOD ON
SHORE SWELL WILL PRODUCED A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS TUESDAY AT
AREA ATLANTIC BEACHES. STRONG SWELLS RIP CURRENTS WERE REPORTED AT
LONG ISLAND BEACHES ON MONDAY...AND WITH FAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR
RIP CURRENTS FORECAST FOR TOMORROW...THIS WARRANTS THE HIGH RISK.

A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS IMPLIES THAT WIND AND/OR WAVE
CONDITIONS SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF VERY STRONG RIP CURRENTS.
THESE RIP CURRENTS WILL BE LIFE THREATENING TO ANYONE WHO ENTERS
THE SURF.

$$

MALOIT

Assemblyman Dave McDonough  is hosting a “Women of Distinction” Event in August to honor the accomplishments of exemplary women in our neighborhoods.

A publication from NY Assemblyman David G. McDonough,

From the desk of Assemblyman Dave McDonough

Dear Friends: Throughout our community there are countless outstanding women whose contributions have helped make our area a better place to live. As your Assemblyman, I have had the pleasure to meet many of these women and partner with them to improve our quality of life. To honor the accomplishments of these exemplary women, I am hosting a “Women of Distinction” event. This prestigious award gives members of our community, like you, the opportunity to celebrate the contributions of these extraordinary women. I encourage all of you to nominate a woman you know who deserves to be recognized for her achievements in the fields of business, community and civic affairs, education, government, health services, humanitarian, and veteran or military service. The awards will be presented at a ceremony and reception on Saturday, August 23 at the Merrick Public Library. I hope you will join me in thanking the outstanding women in our community who have helped make our neighborhoods prosper by nominating a woman you know for this award. To nominate someone, please fill out the enclosed form and submit it to my district office by Friday, July 25. All nominees must be residents of the 19th Assembly District. Please send your completed nomination forms to me at 404 Bedford Avenue, Bellmore, NY 11710. If you have any questions about nominations or this event, please do not hesitate to call me at (516) 409-2070 or e-mail me at mcdonoughd1@assembly.state.ny.us. Sincerely, Dave McDonough Member of the Assembly 19th District

Click here to view and print the nomination form:

http://assembly.state.ny.us/member_files/019/20080620/

The Nassau County Department of Health is reminding county residents to leave the fireworks to the professionals. Consumer fireworks are illegal throughout New York State.

From the Nassau County Health Department Website,

Stay Safe
During the Sparkle of Fourth of July Celebrations

On the Fourth of July, leave the fireworks to the professionals, sit back and enjoy the glitter and wonder of the show. Remember, consumer fireworks are illegal in New York.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 9,000 fireworks related injuries happen each year. Of these, nearly half are head related injuries, with nearly 30 percent of these injuries to the eye. One-fourth of fireworks-related eye injuries result in permanent vision loss or blindness. Children are the most common victims of fireworks abuse, with those 15 years old or younger accounting for 50 percent of fireworks-related eye injuries in the United States.

Even the apparently harmless sparklers account for one-third of all fireworks-related injuries for children under the age of five. Sparklers can burn at nearly 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

The following are recommendations from the Nassau County Department of Health and the American Academy of Ophthalmology to have a safe Fourth of July:

• Never let children play with fireworks of any type.
• View fireworks from a safe distance: at least 500 feet away, or up to a quarter of a mile for best viewing.
• Respect safety barriers set up to allow pyrotechnicians to do their jobs safely.
• Leave the lighting of fireworks to trained professionals.
• Follow directives given by event ushers or public safety personnel.
• Loud noises from fireworks can hurt the ears of pets, so leave pets at home.
• If you find unexploded fireworks remains, do not touch them; immediately contact local fire or police departments.
• If you get an eye injury from fireworks, seek medical help immediately.

Tomorrow, June 30, the Town of Hempstead will host a free concert by the “Wonderous Stories” at Newbridge Road Park in Bellmore.

From the Town of Hempstead Website,

Wonderous Stories

Date: Monday, June 30, 8 PM
Location: Newbridge Road Park, South Bellmore
Price: Free

Playing the great sounds of Yes, Genesis, and The Who.

Sponsored by: Ridgewood Savings Bank & Chamber of Commerce of The Bellmores

Nassau County Office of Parks, Recreation and Museums has announced that they will host 9 Drive-In movies over the Summer at Old Bethpage Village Restoration.

From the Nassau County Parks, Recreation and Museums Website,

Drive-In Movies Return to Nassau County at Old Bethpage Village

This summer, Nassau County is reviving a tradition that enjoyed particular favor in the mid-20th-century as Old Bethpage Village Restoration, the recreated 19th-century Long Island village, transforms into an open-air, old-fashioned drive-in movie theater, announced Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi.

Every Tuesday at dusk in July and August, Old Bethpage Village’s big screen will provide plenty of punch for families, with a mix of nine action and comedy blockbusters. The drive-in experience will include one concession to newer technology: rather than clipping a small speaker to the car window as in the old days, viewers will have the sound transmitted via their car FM radio. The screen will be located in the parking lot near the entrance of Old Bethpage Village and will accommodate approximately 500 cars.

The fee per car is $20, with summer passes available for all nine movies for $100.

The schedule and times of the movies are as follows:

• July 1, “Transformers” (8:45 p.m.)
• July 8, “Men in Black” (8:45 p.m.)
• July 15, “Disturbia” (8:45 p.m.)
• July 22, “Rocky Balboa” (8:45 p.m.)
• July 29, “Talladega Nights” (8:30 p.m.)
• Aug. 5, “The Mummy” (8:20 p.m.)
• Aug. 12, “Star Trek: Wrath of Khan” (8:15 p.m.)
• Aug. 19, “Hairspray” (8:10 p.m.)
• Aug. 26: “Terminator II” (8 p.m.).

Drive-in movies began operating in the U.S. in 1933, with the first one in New York opening on Long Island in Valley Stream in 1938, according to “driveinmovie.com.” The number of drive-ins peaked in the late 1950s at more than 4,000 before beginning a long decline. Long Island’s last drive-in movie theater, the Westbury Drive-In Theater on Brush Hollow Road, closed in 1998.

“Drive-in movies are a distinct part of Long Island’s entertainment history and for thousands of Long Islanders they evoke a very warm, nostalgic feeling,” says Suozzi. “This program at Old Bethpage will allow Long Islanders of all ages to relive that tradition and enjoy some terrific films.”

Old Bethpage Village Restoration provides visitors with a unique and wonderful opportunity to step back in time and experience life in a recreated mid-19th-century American village set on more than 200 acres. Regular hours are Wed. - Fri., 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. During regular hours, entrance fees are $7 for children 5 - 12 (those under 5 are free), seniors and volunteer firefighters; and $10 for adults. OBVR is located on Round Swamp Road in Old Bethpage; for more information, call 516-572-8400.

On Thursday, June 27, Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY04) released a statement on the United States Supreme Court’s ruling on Washington D.C. Gun Ban; the decision will have ripple effects all over the nation. In Congress, Rep. McCarthy is one of the strongest advocates for gun control.

The following is a statement from Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy in reaction to the United State Supreme Court’s Ruling on the District of Columbia v. Heller:

“Although I am disappointed in today’s decision to strike down the Washington D.C. gun ban, I am heartened by the Court’s acknowledgement of the right of legislative bodies to create sensible gun laws. This ruling now paves the way for Congress to move forward on passing the kind of laws that will protect our communities.

“Today’s Supreme Court decision is the first major ruling on gun ownership by the Supreme Court since 1939. The Court has set an important precedent with its ruling today that will no doubt allow for the creation of future laws intended to stem gun violence. I signed a brief in support of the law and I know how much communities throughout the country are struggling to reduce gun violence.

“In the District of Columbia v. Heller, the court examined whether Washington D.C.’s 1976 ban on handgun possession at home, and requirement that all guns—including rifles and shotguns—be kept disassembled, was constitutional.

“It should be noted that the Washington D.C. gun ban was among the toughest in the nation. But, I strongly believe that lawmakers need to have the freedom to create legislation that protects communities, without violating people’s individual rights.

“In their decision, the Justices said that the 2^nd amendment gives individuals the right to own guns, but that communities have the right to make laws that create reasonable gun laws.

“Specifically, the court ruled that the Second Amendment right is ‘Not a right to keep and carry any weapon whatsoever in any manner whatsoever and for whatever purpose.’

“Also, signaling that this ruling is not a move in the direction of disavowing all limitations on gun ownership, the Court also said that the Second Amendment right is ‘not unlimited.’

“Of note, the Court maintained that this ruling is not intended to overturn any significant precedents set by previous decisions when it said, ‘[the Court’s] opinion should not be taken to cast doubt on longstanding prohibitions on the possession of firearms by felons and the mentally ill, or laws forbidding the carrying of firearms in sensitive places such as schools and government buildings, or laws imposing conditions and qualifications on the commercial sale of arms.’

“That is why I have been working so hard to keep guns out of the hands of those people who could potentially do the most harm, such as when Congress passed my bill the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007. That law makes it harder for criminals and the mentally ill to gain access to guns.

“The NICS Improvement Amendment Act of 2007 needs to be fully funded in order to keep our communities safe. We also need to put more cops on the streets and increase funding for the Community Oriented Policing Programs Services (COPS) program.

“While I have consistently supported the right of gun ownership, it is crucial that government has the ability to create common sense gun laws. We have an obligation to keep our communities safer from gun violence.

“Since the Court’s decision today leans toward an individual right to gun ownership and does not suggest that the Second Amendment is strictly intended for the establishment of militia, as lawmakers, this interpretation allows us to create common sense gun laws that do not hinder the right to gun ownership, but keep guns out of the wrong hands and keep communities and individuals safe from gun violence.

“As the Justices said, ‘the Constitution leaves the District of Columbia a variety of tools for combating that problem; including some measures regulating handguns.’

“With that in mind I will continue to work toward pushing laws that stem gun violence and keep guns from those individuals who are likely to cause harm, as I have for the past 15 years.

“We can never stop all gun violence, but there is a lot that we can do to keep our communities safer. Now is the time to roll up our sleeves and get to work on passing sensible gun laws that protect Americans, but not threaten the ability of law-abiding citizens to own guns.”

Yesterday, June 27, two workers found the remains of a human in a suitcase near the Southern State Parkway Newbridge Road Exit in North Bellmore.

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On Friday morning, two NYS Department of Transportation employees were searching for garbage prior to cutting the grass. The two workers found a small suitcase off the side of the entrance ramp to the parkway. The suitcase, which had a strong odor, caused the workers to call the police.

State Police say that the remains are human and have been sitting there for about a week.