Bethpage-Tribune_1992-10-23

              '£mmiSkm i
YOUR OFFICIAL HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER
Serving Bethpage, Island Trees, Plainedge, Seaford, Old Bethpage and Plainview
^ \ 5^
'-»it SI
VOL. 25 NO. 46 October 23-29, 1992 25 CENTS
Hannon Receives Award
from Firefighters
Sterling Center Hearing
Senator Kemp Hannon (R-Nassau) receives the Retired New Yoric City
Firefighters of Nassau County award for outstanding efforts put forth
on behalf of the l\/iembers and Families of the RNYCF-NC. The group
praised the Senator for his efforts to assist inthe struggle to provide
these firefighters and their families with a dignified retirement after
years of dedicated service.
Pictured are: James Bemonte, President of RNYCF-NC, and Senator
Kemp Hannon.
PTA Awards Jenlcins To Dennis IVIurpliy
The J.F.K. Middle School PTA
presented Dennis Murphy with the
organization's New york State
Honorary Life Membership. The
Jenkins Memorial Award is given
to an individual to recognize
ditinguished service which
benefits children. !t honors a
special person who, for years, has
supported PTA or advocated for
children. The citation expresses
appreciation for caring about our
youth.
Dennis Murphy exemplifies the
essence of the prestigious award.
For the last eleven years he has
been involved in various functions
sponsored by PTAs at the
elementary, middle and high
school levels and is currently Vice-
President at Bethpage High
School. He was the Muscular
Dystrophy Association
coordinator and helped to
organize the St. Martin of Tours
bazaar and Valentine's Day dance.
He is President of the Bethpage
Community Council, a 25 year
member of the Knights of
Columbus and has served on two
Dennis Murphy receives PTA
Jenkins Award from J.F.K. PTA
President Maureen Dame.
school district committees:
budget and buidings and grounds.
He has coached both soccer and
lacrosse. As Vice-President of the
Bethpage Soccer Club he has
raised more than $10,000 for the
organization.
He has always been around to
cook at school picnics, arrange
dances, help out at parties, assist
at games and lend a hand
whenever needed. His dedication
to children is endless.
On Thursday October 15th, a
public hearing was held at
bethpage High School
concerning Grumman's Draft
Generic Environmental Impact
Statement (available for review at
Bethpage Public Library).
Basically this was another chance
for public comments to be added
to the record. The nights
comments will be added to the
record which will ultimately be
reviewed and voted on by the town
Board of the Town of Oyster Bay.
Grumman's Sterling Center plan
calls for developing 200 acres of
it's Bethpage facility in three five
year phases resulting in one of
Long Island's largest business
centers incorporating a fifteen
story hotel and 100,000 square feet
of retail space. The parcel
primarily consists of the runway
which sits in both the Town of
Oyster Bay and Town of
Hempstead. Grumman's proposal
requires a special use permit from
the Town of Oyster Bay.
Grumman representatives
project that the 15 year project will
ultimately result in 15,000 jobs, 4.2
million dollars in town taxes and
twelve million dollars in school
taxes. This will be accomplished
through attracting companies to
build their own facilities on the
Grumman property. Grumman
spokesman stated that Grumman
must develop this land because it
is underutilized and as such not
good business. Eventually
orumman will look for tax,
decreases based on this
underutilization. Therefore this
project benefits Bethpage
because it will increase School tax
revenue rather than shrink it.
Grumman also cited the
immediate job creation as
architects, builders and bankers
begin the project.
The audience consisted of a mix
of Bethpage residents and Long
Islanders. Councilman Leonard
Kunzig attended to hear first hand
the concerns of the people as he
will ultimately cast a vote
concerning Sterling Center.
Most Non Bethpagians called
for unconditional approval of the
project, a Mr. Robert Lazzaro of
the L.I.A. supported the project.
Mr. John Kennedy of the Nassau/
vSuffolk building trades voiced his
organizations support for the
project citing a 60%
unemployment rate among his
members. Mr. Robert Stinson an
unemployed Massapeoua
electrician also voiced his
supported citing une?nployment
statistics.
However, most Bethpage
residents called for more scrutiny
of the project. Mr. Richard
Festante for the Bethpage
Community Council cited Traffic
and safety as Bethpage's greatest
concern. Mr. Harola Resnick a
member of the Board of Education
speaking as a resident reminded
the Commission that Sterling
Centers main entrance runs past
Bethpage High School. Mr.
Edward Norton a civil engineer
asked how can 15,000 jobs fit into
4,000 vehicles as was reported in
the DGEIS. He also inquired about
where the funds are coming from
to remediate Grummans ground
water contamination problem. Mr.
Dennis Brady for the Bethpage
Chamber of Commerce asKS
Grumman to consider utilizing
local business rat'ner than out ol
county and out of state business.
Linda Mangano of the Bethpage
Chamber of Commerce reminded
the Commission of the Chambers
concerns about duplicating local
business' within Sterling Center
request for 100,000 sq. ft, of retail
space. She also stated that if
Bethpage has to deal with the
additional traffic that our local
businesses should at least be
permitted to service the new-employees.
Residents welcoming Sterling
center included Margret Carvo
stating that delays in this project
could lead to economic disaster.
Two other residents voiced their
approval based on the promise of
jobs for Long Island.
The residents that have followed
this project from it's first
introduction to the public some
three years ago noticed the shift
both in Grumman's presentation
of the plan and the audience's
perception of the plan. In the initial
stages Grumman was going to be
the master developer "retaining a
partnership interest in each
project and now states it's not in
the development business and will
concentrate on what it does best
"Aerospace, Computers and
trucks. Likewise some changes
were detected in l\)e audience as
initial meetings voiced concerns
of ground water contamination,
dead ending streets and making
Cherry Ave a One way-- while
tonights concerns focused on
jobs! No doubt the economy has
taken a prominent role in this
project.
Written comments concerninq
Sterling Center will be accepted
by theTEQRC until November 16,
1992.