Bethpage-Tribune_1976-11-18

              I f i r Mi * !• Is' • \ u ? F fl Im Pn m
BETHPAGE
ST RS
I | | f # * ^ I LIS
1 BEf«i>a« * * H f l4
OLD BETHPAGE
also serving ISLAND TREES
PLAINVIEW # PLAINEDGE SEAFORD
VOL. 10 NO. 52 Thursday, November 18,1976 10 cents per copy
Rotary In Action S||CCess Reported | n M , $ B(|rea(|S
Pictured left to right are, Marvin Croes, President of the Bethpage
Rotary Club, Deputy Bill Wise, Nassau County Jail, and Charles
Mitchell, Vice-President of the Rotary.
At the regular luncheon
meeting of the Rotary'Club three
weeks ago, the program
presented was not only unique
because of its principals, but
when it was over there were
many wet-eyed gentlemen in the
room and snifflers,..a phenomon
brought about because of the
tales the visitors told of their
recent experiences. They spoke
in gratitude and with enthusiasm.
It made for a very human
document and profound moment.
Deputy Sheriff Bill Wise of the
Nassau County Jail is a dedicated
public servant and a com­passionate
man. About three
years ago, he instituted a work
program at the jail in Garden
City, for the purpose of giving law
violators and repeaters a better
chance in the outside world. His
efforts came to the attention of
the Bethpage Rotary Club and he
was invited to present a program.
This was the first of several. He
told of his efforts toward
rehabilitation for inmates and his
need for equipment to carry on
his task. We learned that those
beneficiaries of the program who
had been released ceased to be
repeaters and were in fact doing
quite well on the outside. Deputy
Wise makes it a practice to follow
up his- former charges (on his
own time) to follow their
progress. Truly, a dedicated
man. The main purpose of
Rotary, along with its other
functions, is Service. So they
moved into the picture and
purchased a printing press and
copying machine which was
donated to Deputy Wise's project
(this appeared as a Tribune
story). At this point, three years
later former inmates
(graduates), who have taken
instruction during their stay, and
had been discharged, are not only
gainfully employed but not one
repeater has appeared on the
scene. There is at this date no
sueh thing as a repeater among
those who have benefited from
the projected printing courses.
Many Thanks to the Deputy's
efforts as well as those citizens
who came in and voluntarily
offered their teaching skills. This
program has proven a plus for
the people of Nassau County and
the families of the former young
offenders. Here is positive action
by interested County employees
and Community minded
businessmen. This is the true
meaning of SERVICE.
Immunization Continues
This Sunday "will mark the mid­point
in the swine flu im­munization
program for
residents of Nassau County.
The flu vaccine will be ad­ministered
by volunteers for the
Nassau County Department of
Health free of charge for both
high-risk and the remainder of
the population at the Bethpage
High School, Cherry and Stewart
Aves., Bethpage and the Island
Trees High School, Straight
Lane, Levittown.
Because of an anticipated
demand, the bivalent vaccine - a
combination of swiue and Vic­toria
— will continue to be given
for people who'are 85 years ot age
or older and those who are
chronically ill.
swine flu vaccine alone also will
be administered to the remainder
of the population this Sunday, on
Nov. 21 and on Dec. 5 between 10
a.m. and4 p.m.
Flu shots also may be obtained
from a private physician, who
cannot charge for the vaccine but
who may require a fee for its
administration.
People allergic to eggs were
advised by Dr. John J. Dowling,
Commissioner of the" Nassau
County Department of Health, to
avoid vaccination. He suggested
that anyone who has had a cold or
fever within 24 hours before the
time of hmocuiatjon should not
participate in the program,
For further information,
telephone the Department at >•'••
3410.
Denis Dillon, District Attorney
of Nassau County, recently an­nounced
that due to the ef­fectiveness
of the District At­torney's
Major Offense and
Felony Screening Bureaus there
has been a dramatic reduction in
the number of felony cases
awaiting trial. There are
presently only 886 felony cases
awaiting trial as compared to a
backlog of 1860 at the time Dillon
took office.
Quarterly reports by the two
bureaus conclude that in serious
violent crimes the defendant is
indicted one month earlier; the
case is disposed of five months
sooner, and if convicted even by
plea, it will be to a more serious
offense.
There is a 97 per cent con­viction
rate in Major Offense
Bureau cases and the average
maximum sentence is 10.54
years, which is four and three
quarters years longer than non-
Major Offense Bureau cases.
In less serious felonies that are
screened by the Felony Screening
Bureau disposition is now 39 days
after District Court arraignment,
as compared to 233 days prior to
the inception of screening. Dillon
noted that this is a saving of 194
days or approximately 6.5
months.
In addition, 504 cases disposed
of in felony screening in a three
month period that would have
been presented to grand jury
saved the appearance time of 539
police witnesses, and 751 civilian
witnesses. As a result since the
average time required by each
police witness to testify before a
grand jury is 2.92 hours, there is a
saving of 1574 police man hours.
Police man hours that the officer
can be on patrol, or assignment.
Dillon said "the prime goal in
instituting these two bureaus was
to assure swifter and more
certain punishment for those who
commit crimes of violence
thereby deterring those who
might be intending to commit
these crimes. A second goal was
to achieve this strong deterrent
at less cost to the taxpayer."
Ys Finalize Plans To Replace
School With New Facility
The United Jewish Ys of Long
Island, in cooperation with the
Mid-Island YM and YWHA, is
now finalizing plans to replace an
old vacant school building, the
former Fern Place Elementary
School in Plainview, with a
modern three-million dollar
educational, health and
recreational facility.
The United Jewish Ys of Long
Island was organized in 1976 to
provide overall leadership in
building, planning, developing,
coordinating and expanding YM
and YW services in Nassau and
Suffolk Counties. United Jewish
Y's raises capital funds for the
construction of major buildings
in regional areas which will
provide additional services
through satellite programs
(Continued on Page 3)
The 21-year-old Fern Place Elementary School stands hoarded up,
vacant and an open invitation to juvenile vandals.
An artist's conception of the multi-million dollar Mid-Island YM and YWHA complex planned for
completion in 19W. The location §elected Is the site of the now vacant Fern'Place Elementary School