2011-07-21

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144 f MERRICK RD
FREEPORT NY U52Q
76th Year, No. 29 Freeport, N.Y. 11520 The Community Newspaper Thursday, July 21, 2011 750
Ex-Baldwinite wins big at film fest
by Naomi Volk
Local filmmakers won big once more at the Long Island
International Film Expo in Bellmore amid high spirits last
week as Long Island's finest filmmakers gathered to celebrate
independent film and praise each other's achievements.
Fred Carpenter, who grew up in Baldwin, won the Audience
Award for "Jesse." Mr. Carpenter said his award felt "amazing."
He especially appreciated that the acceptance of the film was
happening on Long Island. His next two projects, "Jesse 2" and
"High School Reunion," will both be shot on Long Island.
"Jesse," filmed in Bellmore, was the opening night film and
was completely sold out.
"Jesse" has some well-known actors in the film such as
William Forsythe, Eric Roberts, Armand Assante and Michael
Wright.
Mr. Carpenter said of taping in Bellmore, "Great locations,
we filmed at the Bellmore train station, a couple of bars and
the Hanson house."
Mr. Carpenter happened to be filming a robbery scene at the
Cool Stop convenience store on Bellmore Avenue and
Merrick Road last year when a passerby witnessed the scene
and called police. Police responded, closing the road until they
learned it was a filming.
On what to expect from the movie Mr. Carpenter said:
"There are more twists and turns in 'Jesse' than in your lower
intestine." BALDWIN'S Fred Carpenter won a Best Audience Award for "Jesse," starring Armand Assante.
NIFA raises doubts about Coliseum project
by Laura Schofer
The Nassau County Interim Finance
Authority (NIFA) released a fact sheet
last week that casts doubt on County
Executive Edward Mangano's
Economic Development and Job
Creation Plan for the Nassau County
Hub area, including the Nassau
Coliseum and Mitchel Field.
The Economic Development and Job
Creation Plan will use $400 million of
taxpayer money to rebuild the Nassau
Coliseum, as well as create a new tax line
that will cost approximately $58 a year per
household.
A report issued by Camoin Associates, a
firm that looks at private and public sector
economic development, said the project
will generate $1.2 billion for Nassau
County, including revenue of $350 mil-lion
used for construction costs, $433 mil-lion
in debt service payments and an addi-tional
$403 million for the county to hold
the line on property taxes.
For Islander fans, the creation of a new
arena will keep the ice hockey team on
Long Island through 2045.
New tax increases
But NIFA issued a strong warning about
the plan, stating that it will cost the coun-ty
in excess of $800 million. This includes
not only the repayment of $400 million in
new county debt for the new arena and
ballpark, but also interest payments for 30
years.
The entire cost would be paid through a
property tax increase of 3.5 to. 4%, and
this new tax would remain in effect to pay
debt service for the next 30 years, regard-less
of revenues from the project.
Additionally, the construction of the
new arena and parking lot will cost $350
to $375 million. At best, only $25 to $50
million will be left to redevelop the rest of.
the Hub, including the ballpark and other
amenities. Completing the proposed rede-velopment
may require more borrowing,
said the report.
NIFA also raised the issue about the
identity of "tenant," stating that the lease-signing
tenant for the new arena is not the
Islanders, but rather "Arenaco SPE LLC,"
a limited liability company that "appears
to have little or no assets," the fact sheet
stated. "After two hockey seasons, the
tenant may assign the lease to a new
owner of the Islanders."
In NIFA's multiyear financial plan
update fiscal 2011-2014, the report calls
the revenue sources from the securitiza-tion
of the Mitchel Field leases "tenuous"
and "too optimistic."
Chambers of Commerce support it
Meanwhile, the Nassau Council of
Chambers of Commerce, acting on behalf
of 40 Chambers of Commerce throughout
Nassau County, voiced support for a new
sports-entertainment arena. They also
voiced concern about the loss of jobs if
the project is not approved by residents at
a special referendum vote on August 1.
The Long Island Restaurant
Association and the Long Island Music
Association, who Jso support the project,
believe business will be hurt if the
Coliseum were to close and the Islanders
leave in 2015.
County Executive Mangano pointed to
Camoin Associates' economic impact
analysis that states there will be a nega-tive
financial impact if the county does
nothing about the Coliseum and loses the
New York Islanders in 2015.
Camoin Associates specifically points
to a loss of jobs, revenue and earnings
including $243.4 million in lost sales,
2,660 fewer jobs, $104 million in lost
earnings and $7.8 million in lost sales tax.
"Every dollar is critical," said County
Executive Mangano. "For far too long,
residents have received property tax
increases with no end in sight. This plan
presents an opportunity to invest in our
community, create jobs and build a
world-class sports entertainment destina-tion
that would hold the line on property
taxes."
Water merger
mulled
page 2
Buffalo Avenue
project
page 6
Freeport and Baseball:
A pitcher named Jumbo)
page 7
To Your Health
pages 8 and 11