Jessica Parks
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Articles by Jessica Parks
Justice Dept. sues Port dietary supplement manufacturer
A Port Washington-based dietary supplement manufacturer and distributor was sued by the U.S. government for violations under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Confidence USA Inc. manufactures and distributed over 50 different dietary supplements, such as American Best, USA Natural and The Herbal Store.
Peter Forman signifies end of his battle with cancer with three rings of a bell at NYU Winthrop
Peter Forman wears many hats — as a trustee in Sands Point, the commissioner of Port Washington-Manhasset Office of Emergency Management, an entrepreneur, husband and father of three. And when he found out he was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia in September, he didn’t let it slow him down.
Marc Silbert, who wore many hats in Sands Point, dies at 68
Marc Silbert, a longtime public servant in Sands Point, died suddenly of a heart illness June 9 at the age of 68. He continued to serve the village despite his diagnosis and was running for re-election this spring. His name will remain on next week’s ballot as required by state law. The impact of Silbert’s numerous contributions to his home village of Sands Point is immeasurable.
6th Police Precinct likely to make a comeback: Nicolello
By Jessica Parks and Teri West Nassau County’s 6th Police Precinct is likely to make a partial return in 2019. Though Nassau County Executive Laura Curran did not include it in next year’s budget, both the Legislature’s Republican majority and Democratic minority have prepared amendments that would reintroduce the precinct.
Library candidate assailed at Great Neck street fair
By Janelle Clausen and Jessica Parks Two women who appeared to vehemently oppose transgender rights verbally harassed Mimi Hu, a Great Neck Library board candidate whose 6-year-old son was with her, at the Great Neck Autofest and Street Festival on Sunday.
Unsealed docs show Sater's extensive FBI cooperation
Felix Sater, a former resident of Sands Point and ex-associate of President Donald Trump, once said in an interview that his wife described living with him as “like reading next week’s newspaper today” and that just might have been true. The Russian-born businessman has had frequent appearances in the media over the past year due to his involvement in attempting to broker a Trump Tower Moscow while Trump was running for president.
Port Washington-Manhasset Kayak Run returns to Manhasset Bay for 15th year
The Port Washington-Manhasset Kayak Run is not a race but instead an opportunity for people to enjoy Manhasset Bay in a noncompetitive way. The idea for the event was conceived in 2004 by members of the community – Community Chest board member Joel Ziev, Twin Pines Co-op and Twin Pines Kayak Club founder Edna Turner and Atlantic Outfitters owner John Thompson – who wanted to help enhance the kayaking experience on the bay.
Keller Williams Realty Gold Coast pays it forward
Keller Williams Realty Gold Coast closed its doors last Thursday and spent the day giving back to the Port Washington community as part of its yearly pay-it-forward event. For the 11th annual RED Day, the Port Washington and Manhasset offices participated in the company’s worldwide initiative by beautifying the Port Washington Chamber of Commerce with an array of greenery supplied by Americana Mortgage Group.
Flower Hill adopts $4.15 million budget
The Village of Flower Hill Board of Trustees adopted a $4.15 million budget for 2019-20 on Monday. The budget represents a 7.68 percent increase over the current budget. Village property taxes will be raised by 0.75 percent. Suzanne Tangredi, the village treasurer and deputy clerk, said the increase includes a new truck for the Highway Department. She said if the truck, which will be paid for from the village reserve funds, is excluded from the budget the increase would only be 1.11 percent.
Taste of the Town showcases local flavor
More than a dozen local restaurants set up shop at Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Church in Port Washington Sunday to serve up their specialty foods to scores of hungry taste testers. The Kiwanis Club of Manhasset-Port Washington hosted the 3rd annual Taste of the Town with the help of a number of local sponsors.
North Shore hit hardest by reassessment
Nassau County Executive Laura Curran’s proposed reassessment has put county residents into two camps: those that will see their property taxes increase and those that will see a decrease. Many homeowners who will see increases in their property taxes are on the North Shore. Great Neck, Port Washington and Manhasset are three of the top five districts to be hit with the most property tax increases of $5,000 or more, according to a report by Newsday.
Port Washington schools apply for alternative funding for network update
The total cost for the Port Washington school district to update its computer networks is projected to be $855,000. Ryan Meloni, the district’s director of technology, discussed two programs to help fund the project at Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting. The district has applied for a federal E-rate program that would cover 40 percent of the cost. For the remaining 60 percent, the district will submit an application for a SmartBond from the state.
Port Washington LIRR branch pioneers new safety technology
The 16-mile stretch of railroad tracks between the Port Washington LIRR station and Woodside are the first of the Long Island Rail Road to implement a new safety advancement system that began to take effect on Dec. 17.
Officials call for senior tax exemption parity between Nassau County and New York City
Elaine Licari, a resident of Floral Park living on the Nassau County side of the village, does not qualify for a senior tax exemption on her property taxes because her income is over the maximum allowable limit. Meanwhile, if she lived on the other side of her block, which is in New York City, she would be well within the range to receive the exemption.
North Hempstead town board urged to postpone zoning code vote for Port's waterfront business district
Port Washington residents urged the North Hempstead Town Board to postpone a vote on zoning code changes in Port Washington’s waterfront business district until October. Last month, the town council introduced changes to the zoning code that proposed eliminating residential use from the district, eliminating below-ground parking, implementing a 10-yard setback on the front and rear of properties and reducing building height from three stories to two.
Sands Point's Michael Epstein elected chair of Northwell Health Board of Trustees
Michael A. Epstein, a resident of Sands Point, was elected as the new chair of the Northwell Health Board of Trustees. He has served as a Northwell Health trustee for 14 years, and before that filled the role of an associate trustee on the board since December 2002. The 24-year resident of Sands Point has also been a board member of Northwell’s Feinstein Institute for Medical Research since 2002.
Port Washington school district cuts proposed budget by $180K
The proposed budget for the Port Washington school district was lowered by about $180,000 since the last meeting of the Board of Education, an assistant superintendent announced at the board’s Tuesday meeting. With the decrease, the current proposed budget amounts to about $160.5 million. The expected tax increase remains at 2.87 percent for Port Washington’s taxpayers and the proposed budget is about 2.95 percent higher than the current year.
Bettman: Construction to begin this summer at Belmont Park
Construction of the New York Islanders’ arena at Belmont Park is expected to begin “sometime in the next few months,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. Newsday reported that the commissioner said he expects to break ground sometime in May, June or July at an Associated Press Sports Editors meeting last Friday. “It’s still coming, I have no reason to believe it’s not,” he said.
North Hempstead Polar Plunge raises thousands to support Special Olympics
When waking up on a snowy Saturday morning, not many would consider it a beach day but that didn’t stop hundreds from plunging into the Long Island Sound to support Special Olympics New York. More than 200 plungers raised $50,000 for the Special Olympics athletes for the 15th Annual Town of North Hempstead Polar Plunge at Port Washington’s North Hempstead Beach Park last weekend.
Impending Plume? Groundwater contamination at Marcus Avenue continues to spread northwest
Russell Gardens residents flooded Village Hall in response to news that a groundwater plume is expected to reach their village within the next two years, as it continues on its path northwest to the Long Island Sound. The underground plume originates from 1111 Marcus Ave., the former location of Unisys, a manufacturing company. The facility was acquired by the global defense company Lockheed Martin when it purchased Unisys in 1996. Lockheed Martin sold the property in 2000.
North Hempstead to look at feasibility of including cats at town shelter
The Town of North Hempstead is to conduct a feasibility study on the inclusion of cats at the town shelter in Port Washington. Town Board members approved an agreement with Melville-based Nelson and Pope to perform the study at last Wednesday’s meeting. North Hempstead Supervisor Judi Bosworth said the project comes after several community groups have suggested that there is a lack of care for cats in North Hempstead.
ExteNet sues Flower Hill for denying cell node application
ExteNet has filed a lawsuit against the Village of Flower Hill over its decision to deny all 18 of the wireless infrastructure provider’s cell node applications.
Weinstock files sexual harassment suit against ex-North Hempstead Democratic chief
A Great Neck lawyer contending for the Democratic nomination in U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi’s district has filed a discrimination complaint with the state attorney general against former North Hempstead Democratic Party Chairman Gerard Terry claiming the chairman propositioned him for sex when he was first getting into politics.
League gives Long Island Democrats high scores on environment
The New York League of Conservation Voters describes 2019 as a banner year for environmental legislation in the state, and the group’s report shows many Long Island politicians played a hand in that. State politicians representing Nassau’s North Shore were mostly given high marks from the environmental group, with state Sen. Anna Kaplan (D-Great Neck) and state Assemblyman Anthony D’Urso (D-Port Washington) receiving perfect scores.
North Hempstead proposes eliminating residential development from Port waterfront business district
North Hempstead’s proposed zoning code for Port Washington’s waterfront business district would eliminate the potential for residential development in the area. Town officials unveiled the modified code at a public hearing last Thursday. A moratorium on building at the waterfront has been in effect for the past 18 months.
Port water district to conduct 1,4-dioxane testing at Morley Park
The Port Washington Water District will run a pilot study to treat 1,4-dioxane in three drinking water wells in Christopher Morley Park in Roslyn. The contaminant 1,4-dioxane is a clear liquid that mixes easily in water. It is often used in the manufacturing of other chemicals and has been used as a stabilizer in solvents, paint strippers, greases and wax. The Environmental Protection Agency classifies the chemical as “likely to be carcinogenic to humans” through all routes of exposure.
Singas discusses common sense gun control measures
A pink-clad assault rifle, six pen guns and a TEC-9 were just a few of the firearms obtained by Nassau County officials in a gun buyback program this month that procured 366 weapons in total, Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas said. At a “Gun Sense” forum hosted by the League of Women Voters at the Port Washington Public Library last Thursday night, Singas provided attendees with a rundown on the state of the county in terms of gun legislation.
Sands Point residents threaten litigation against county over reassessment
Two residents from Sands Point discussed planned litigation against Nassau County over their assessed home values at Monday night’s reassessment hearing at Mineola Middle School. Eric Berliner, a resident of Sands Point who said his taxes were expected to increase by $40,000 at the December hearing, said he was planning to sue the county for what he believes were extensive defects in the assessments of high-end homes on the North Shore.
Sater, former Sands Point resident, strong presence in Mueller report
Felix Sater, a former resident of Sands Point, had an idea that he could secure not only a Trump Tower in Moscow but also the presidency for Donald Trump. Justice Department Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s highly anticipated report on Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, released last Thursday, illustrated a long-winded attempt by Sater and Trump’s personal attorney, Michael D.
D'Urso moves district office to Port Washington
Port Washington has a new tenant in town with a name that many might recognize. State Assemblyman Anthony D’Urso (D-Port Washington) moved his office to 20 Vanderventer Ave. last week from its former location in Great Neck. The district office for state Assembly District 16 has been in Great Neck for decades, D’Urso said, but it was time for a change. “Great Neck isn’t the same as it used to be,” D’Urso said, citing the heightened divisiveness in the area.
Port Restaurant Week kicks off Oct. 20 with $25 three-course meals
Port Washington Restaurant Week will kick off Sunday, Oct. 20, and run through the following Sunday. “Restaurant Week is an opportunity to show our community and the surrounding communities what we have to offer,” said Mariann Dalimonte, executive director of the Greater Port Washington Business Improvement District, who organized the weeklong event. More than 20 restaurants across Port Washington are participating in Restaurant Week and offering three-course prix-fixe menus for $25.
Town breaks ground on Hempstead Harbor Shoreline Trail mile-long extension
The Hempstead Harbor Trail is one step closer to becoming one mile longer after town officials broke ground on an extension project last Wednesday . With the addition, the trail that begins at North Hempstead Beach Park and runs south along West Shore Road will continue south of the beach park, southeast along the Hempstead Harbor shoreline and end just south of Harbor Park Drive S.
Port North unveils informational sign to commemorate Capt. Robert Dayton
Port Washington North Mayor Bob Weitzner presented at Wednesday’s Board of Trustees meeting the finalized informational sign that will be installed at Robert H. Dayton Park. The sign commemorates the life of Capt. Robert H. Dayton and the history of the Port Washington Fire Department. Dayton was a volunteer firefighter with the Flower Hill Hose Co. 1 who was killed when leading a search and rescue team during a fire at 165 Main St. in Port Washington on Nov. 26, 1988.
Former Port Washington resident, Felix Sater, tied up in Russia scandal
A former resident of Sands Point, Felix Sater, has surfaced as a major figure in the Trump-Russia investigations due to his involvement in negotiations to build a Trump Tower in Moscow during the 2016 election cycle. Sater is known locally for the time he served on the board of the Chabad of Port Washington and for having been the recipient of its “Man of the Year” award in 2010 and 2014.
Flower Hill acquires Middle Neck Road, considers marijuana ban
The Village of Flower Hill Board of Trustees formally approved their acquisition of Middle Neck Road from Nassau County for $1 at Monday night’s meeting. Several mayors have attempted to acquire the road in the past, which is fully within the confines of Flower Hill, but failed to reach an agreement because of the road’s poor conditions. Past officials wanted Nassau County to repair the road and relinquish ownership to the village, but the county did not have the funds for road repair at the time.
Nassau Democrats announce local candidates
Many familiar faces will return as Democratic candidates in the county and town elections on the North Shore this year, Nassau County Democratic Chairman Jay Jacobs announced last Wednesday at the Cradle of Aviation. One new face, however, is Mariann Dalimonte, who will be running as the Democratic candidate for councilwoman of the Town of North Hempstead’s 6th District. The seat is currently held by two-term Councilwoman Dina De Giorgio.
Port Ed board elects new leadership
The Port Washington Board of Education selected board members Nora Johnson and Elizabeth Weisburd to serve as its new leadership on Monday. Johnson will serve as the board’s president and her former position of vice president will be filled by Weisburd. Both decisions were made in unanimous votes by fellow board members. Johnson served as vice president under former board President Karen Sloan since 2014.
North Hempstead to undertake $9.5M bluff stabilization project
North Hempstead will soon start a project to stabilize the Beacon Hill bluffs, a vegetation-covered hill situated at the western end of Hempstead Harbor Woods and behind Summit Road in Port Washington. The area, which is adjacent to Harbor Links Golf Course, was formerly owned by the former Colonial Sand and Stone company. Many years of sand mining contributed to the heavy erosion in the area, which town officials fear is encroaching on the rear property lines of homes on Summit Road.
House panel blasts Sater for 'failing to cooperate'
Felix Sater, a former Sands Point resident and ex-associate of Donald Trump, testified before the House intelligence committee last week after several postponements. After his closed-door testimony, however, the committee issued a rare statement saying that Sater did not fully comply as he had told multiple news outlets. Patrick Boland, the committee spokesman, said Sater did not fully cooperate with the committee and is to remain under subpoena until he does so.
Beer Witch, woman-owned beer bar opened during pandemic, celebrates 2 years in business in Park Slope
In fall 2020, in the midst of the worst of the pandemic, a new bar and beer shop opened in Park Slope. Named for the historical “witches” who brewed and sold beer in medieval England, Beer Witch is stocked with craft beer taps and bottles for customers to enjoy at the bar or at home. Last month, having survived a tumultuous two years that saw hundreds of businesses close, Beer Witch celebrated its two-year anniversary.
District Attorney: Gravesend man allegedly drove Tesla at 100 mph in deadly Mill Basin crash
The Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office has charged a 23-year-old Gravesend man with second-degree manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, and reckless driving for killing an 18-year-old passenger and injuring three others in a crash as he allegedly drove his Tesla at 100 mph through residential streets. “This defendant’s alleged reckless driving caused the death of a young man whose entire life was ahead of him, and left others injured,” said Kings County District Attorney Eric Gonzalez.
Making history in Bay Ridge: Doctors’ Row finally sees landmarking signage
Bay Ridge’s sole historic district, nicknamed Doctors’ Row, finally saw the installation of signage late last month — more than three years after the block’s 54 homes were approved for landmarking in June 2019. The Doctor’s Row Historic District, situated on Bay Ridge Parkway between Fourth and Fifth avenues, includes mostly intact rowhouses built between 1906-1913, largely purchased by medical professionals who would often use the basement space for their practices.
Man found dead in freezer of Canarsie bagel shop
Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams Cops say a man was found dead in the freezer room of a Canarsie bagel shop Thursday morning. The victim was an employee of Beigel’s Bagels near E. 56th Street and Avenue D, where police suspect the 33-year-old worker locked himself in the freezer overnight, according to a New York Daily News report. Officers from the 67th Precinct responded to the call around 8 a.m., cops said.
‘We’re about community’: Locally-owned cycle gym BYKlyn reopens in new Boerum Hill location
Cycle gyms — offering cardio-heavy classes featuring stationary bikes, loud music, and enthusiastic instructors, have become a common sight on the streets of New York City in the last decade. But BYKlyn, a Brooklyn-based studio that first opened in 2014, isn’t your typical cycle studio. It’s rooted in community and innovation, and champions other small businesses in the borough.
Crown Heights man indicted for alleged rape of 81-year-old neighbor
A 50-year-old Crown Heights man has been indicted by the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office for the alleged rape and strangulation of his 81-year-old neighbor. “The violent and brutal assault of an elderly woman allegedly perpetrated by this defendant shocks the conscience and our prosecutors are committed to seeking justice and accountability,” said Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez in a Nov. 1 statement.
Trick-or-Streets!: DOT to close dozens of streets for Halloween festivities tonight
File photo by Derrick Watterson Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams Over 100 streets across the Big Apple will be closed to vehicular traffic today for Halloween events and trick-or-treaters, with over 28 closures in Brooklyn alone.
Warbasse Houses residents speak out against proposed city council maps that would tear complex in two
Residents of Coney Island’s Warbasse Houses are blasting the most recent City Council maps, claiming the current redistricting plans will tear the Mitchell-Lama affordable cooperative housing development in two. The new maps, approved Oct. 6 by the New York City Districting Commission, will see the Warbasse Houses — a nearly two-block housing development bordered by West 5th and West 6th streets and Mitchell Wesson Place and Sidney Jonas Walk — split between council districts 47 and 48.
Malliotakis, Rose lambast each other for missing local debates
The race for NY-11 is heating up, with incumbent U.S. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis and her opponent, former congressmember Max Rose, pointing fingers at one another for dodging local debates for the city’s only swing seat. Rose most recently came under fire for declining to attend an Oct.
Sheepshead Bay Protected Bike Lane to Fill Gap in Waterfront Greenway
Construction on the long-awaited Emmons Avenue bike lane is officially underway in Sheepshead Bay, where it will connect a gap in the planned 26.2-mile Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway — and it’s slated for completion as soon as this fall. “I am happy about it, our group is happy about it,” said John Tomac, president of Bike South Brooklyn, which advocates for expanded bike lane access in the borough’s southern neighborhoods.
Bushwick performing arts teacher selected for $25,000 award from Cheetos, Bad Bunny
A Bushwick performing arts teacher was awarded $25,000 for her work supporting the Hispanic community as part of Chester Cheetah and Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny’s “Deja tu Huella” (Leave Your Mark) campaign. “It feels so amazing, I can’t begin to say how much. It’s like a dream really,” said Brizzo Torres, the Brooklyn teacher who received the prize money.
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