Valley Stream bank robbed

 

 

 

Nassau police are searching for a man who robbed a Valley Stream bank on Friday afternoon, making off with a bag filled with cash.

The suspect walked into the JP Morgan Chase Bank, located at 270 North Central Ave., shortly after 4 p.m. carrying a yellow bag and demanded money from a teller, police said. After obtaining an undisclosed amount of cash, the suspect fled on foot.

 There were nine employees and one customer in the bank at the time of the robbery. None were injured. A police department spokeswoman said the suspect did not produce a weapon.

The suspect is described as between 24- and 28-years-old, roughly 5-foot-10, about 180 pounds, clean shaven with a medium build and dark complexion. He was last seen wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, gray pants and a white baseball cap.

Anyone with information about the robbery is encouraged to call Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.

Kidnapping/Robbery/Possession of a Weapon

At 11:00 p.m. on Oct. 4, a complainant reports that while standing outside of the Express Food Mart, located at 1710 Rockaway Ave., Hewlett, NY 11557, he allegedly observed Malik A. Crowl, 23, “aka Seymour”, of Inwood, with whom he had a prior altercation. The victim, who was in fear of Malik, asked one of his friends to call the police.

Malik Crowl allegedly approached the victim and while acting in concert with Randy U. Scott, 19, of Inwood,, Stamey Holland, 20, of Inwood, and Kortney Kahn, 19, of Long Beach, forced the victim into their car. During this incident, Scott reportedly produced a handgun and pointed it at the victim.

The victim was placed in the rear seat of a BMW, with N.C. registration BCV-8587, which left westbound on Rockaway into Valley Stream. Upon arrival of the Lynbrook Police, a radio notification was given to the Nassau County Police advising of the vehicle’s description and last known direction of travel.

While in the vehicle, the victim was allegedly assaulted and robbed by Scott, Holland and Kahn while Crowl drove the vehicle. The vehicle was then observed by Nassau County Police and stopped at Mill Road and Roosevelt Avenue in Valley Stream at which time the suspects were placed under arrest. A Colt 9MM handgun was recovered on Roosevelt Avenue, where it had been throw out of the passenger window of the BMW

Valley Stream finds new home for skate park

When plans for the Valley Stream Skate Park were announced in 2011, both the skateboarding community and village officials were happy with the new endeavor. Now, more than a year later, neither group is pleased with the current setup, and there are plans to move the park from the hockey rink in front of the Long Island Rail Road station to Hendrickson Park.

The equipment used at the skate park is portable, and will be moved to the concrete area in between the miniature golf course and the pool at Hendrickson Park — though village officials don’t yet know when.

Some complain that the concrete surface would be a little rougher than the hockey rink.

Valley Stream family homeless after fire

A family of five was displaced when a fire tore through their Viola Street home early Sunday morning. It took nearly 100 firefighters from eight departments about two hours to bring the blaze under control.

The fire broke out at about 5:45 a.m. on Oct. 7 in the basement and quickly spread through the house and beyond. James Ervolino, second assistant chief of the Valley Stream Fire Department who commanded the scene, said the flames appeard to have broken through a basement window and set a car on fire in the driveway. The flames then spread to the fence, then to the garage. “It was a fast moving fire, there’s no doubt about that,” said Ervolino, who was on scene within four minutes of the initial call.

The fire also spread to the first floor and attic of the house, and left a path of charred beams and possessions behind. Ervolino said part of the first floor collapsed into the basement. “I’m pretty sure the house is a total loss,” he said. “It was definitely a well-involved fire.”

There are no fire hydrants on the short dead-end street off Liberty Boulevard, Ervolino said, and firefighters had to stretch hoses about 800 feet from the nearest hydrant on Merrick Road.

Two robberies within minutes in Valley Stream

Nassau County Police are investigating a pair of robberies within six minutes of each other on Thursday evening in Valley Stream.

The first robbery occurred on Oct. 4 at 5:50 p.m. on Rose Avenue. A 15-year-old male was walking down the street when he was approached by an unknown man. The robber threatened to beat the victim if he did not hand over his iPod. The teen complied and the robber fled northbound on Mary Street.

The suspect is described as a black male, 6-foot-2. No injuries were reported.

The second robbery occurred at 5:56 p.m. on Boden Avenue. There, a 14-year-old male was walking down the street when an unknown man approached him from behind and grabbed his iPhone. The victim ran after being threatened by the robber.

The suspect is described as a black male, 6-foot-4. He fled southbound on Boden Avenue. The victim was not injured.

Anyone with information about either robbery is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 244-TIPS.

Man Robs Mail Carrier in Valley Stream

A Brooklyn man was arrested Thursday, charged with the robbery of a package being delivered by a mail carrier to a home in North Valley Stream, police said.

The robbery occurred just after noon on Aug. 31 on Custer Street, Nassau County police said.

The suspect, Don Joseph, 24, of 3420 Avenue H, was arrested at the Fourth Precinct and charged with third-degree robbery. He is scheduled for arraignment Friday in First District Court in Hempstead.

Police said a 59-year-old postal worker attempted to deliver the package to a home on Custer Street, found no one home, and was leaving the property when Joseph approached him and claimed to be the recipient.

The mail carrier told Joseph to return to the house and said he'd meet him there, police said, but when the postal worker asked for identification Joseph couldn't produce any -- and instead pushed the postal worker to the ground, grabbed the package and fled in a black car.

Vacant buildings on Gibson Boulevard up for sale.

Two vacant strip malls on Gibson Boulevard, which have been drawing the ire of neighbors for years, are finally for sale. A sign announcing their status now stands between the two empty buildings, which once housed about a dozen businesses.

 With the property now for sale, Valley Stream Mayor Ed Fare said he expects action. Village officials want to see the property developed, he noted, and are sympathetic toward residents who live near the abandoned buildings.

 

The property is being listed for $3 million by Massey Knakal Realty Services. Dominick Minerva Jr., the attorney representing the buildings’ owner, Dr. Leonard Bleicher, said the price is negotiable. “I believe he’ll consider offers in a range,” Minerva said.

 Bleicher has received approval from the village’s Board of Zoning Appeals to build a 47,500-square-foot, 39-unit housing complex on the property, though he most likely will not follow through on the project. Minerva said that the approval is good only through the end of the year, but he added that his client would seek an extension because the property is being marketed based on the approved development.

 Minerva said that Bleicher, who has been unable to secure financing to build the development, is willing to consider a partnership, but his preference would be to sell the land. “I believe he’d like to find a buyer for the project,” Minerva said.

 Fare said that his preference would have been for Bleicher to build the housing complex and rid Gibson Boulevard of the vacant stores. However, realizing that that is no longer a viable option, Fare is hopeful that a suitable buyer can be found, and quickly. He said he doesn’t want to see the property just sitting there for sale for years.

What fell from the sky in Valley Stream?

Holes in two roofs remain a mystery; FAA denies damage is from planes

Two unexplained holes in their roofs and thousands of dollars worth of damage are frustrating residents of two Valley Stream homes. The Farella and Grace families have more questions than answers nearly two weeks after they woke up to the damage on Sept. 9, with no clue as to exactly what happened.

On Sept. 11, inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration conducted an investigation to see if the damage was caused by frozen leakage from airplane toilets, known rather euphemistically as blue ice, but found no evidence of it.

At this point, the FAA cannot say that the damage was caused by blue ice or anything else from an aircraft.

FEMA to meet with Nassau residents about flood maps

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will meet with residents in Valley Stream Monday to discuss changes to local flood maps.

The meeting will follow up on a law that passed Congress in June that requires FEMA to adopt new flood maps for Valley Stream, Lynbrook, Oceanside and other nearby Nassau County communities.


The measure corrects flood map changes in 2009 that added 25,000 property owners to the flood zone and led to higher insurance premiums.

Robbery at Domino’s Pizza in Valley Stream

Nassau County police are investigating an armed robbery that occurred at the Domino’s Pizza in Valley Stream early Saturday morning.

 

Detectives said an unknown black male described as about 5-foot-9 and wearing a black sweatshirt, black jeans and red shoes, entered the Domino's Pizza at 479 W. Merrick Rd. through the rear door at about 1:30 a.m., police said. Once inside, he took out a black handgun and ordered two male employees—ages 21 and 28—, to lie on the floor, police said.

 

The subject then removed an unknown amount of money from the register and fled in and unknown direction, police said. There were no injuries reported.

 

Detectives are asking anyone with information regarding this robbery to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All calls are anonymous.

Nassau Police Shooting at Green Acres Mall in Valley Stream

Nassau and NYPD officers were searching for at least one male suspect late Friday night following an officer-involved shooting at Green Acres Mall in Valley Stream, authorities said.

 

A Nassau officer fired least one shot at the suspect about 7:30 p.m., police said. A second suspect was taken into custody, police said.

 

Police said the officers were called to the shopping center by mall security who reported an incident involving the two suspects.

 

"We're trying to piece it all together," said Nassau Fourth Precinct Inspector Robert Psoinas.

 

Psoinas said there was a robbery at Walmart and officers confronted the robbers.

 

At least one suspect was in custody, one other fled and one was still being sought early Saturday, police said. An officer fired his weapon during the incident, police said, but no information was avilable as to whether any suspect was shot.

 

Late Friday, police had roped off about 10 parking spaces in the parking lot of the Walmart store adjacent to the mall. About a dozen officers, three police cars and a crime-scene van remained.

Nassau County Police Install Trailer at Fourth Precinct

A trailer was installed at the 4th Precinct station house in Hewlett on Tuesday evening to handle overflow of officers and prisoners when Nassau closes its busy 5th Precinct in Elmont as part of County Executive Edward Mangano’s precinct consolidation plan.

 

Not surprisingly, Democrats, who opposed the consolidation of the county’s eight precincts into four, differ with Republicans, who supported the plan as a way to save money, about the county's use of trailers for police operations.

 

Legis. David Denenberg (D-Merrick) said he had seen the new 4th Precinct trailer. “It’s one of the most ridiculous sights to behold: 21st century police precinct commanding officers are in 20th century trailer park. It would be funny if it wasn’t sad.”

 

But Legis. Howard Kopel (R-Lawrence), whose district includes the 4th Precinct, drove past the station house on Broadway on Wednesday and said, “It looks like a trailer. It looks exactly like I expected to look. It’s certainly not ideal. Ideally you want to have a larger precinct, but appearancewise its not as bad as I had feared. They put it behind the building.”

 

Kopel said he hopes the county would sell the Fourth and Fifth station houses “and build a brand new building. That’s what I would like to see if it can be done.”

 

Station houses in the four closed precincts will be turned into “community policing centers” under Mangano’s plan.

Nassau County Police Investigate Another Valley Stream Robbery

Nassau County police are looking for two men who robbed a teenager in Valley Stream Friday afternoon.

Detectives said a 17-year-old male was walking on Elmont Road near Oliver Avenue at 3:30 p.m. when two men approached him from behind. One of the men held the victim and demanded his property, police said. While restraining him, he reached into the victim’s pockets and took an iPod Touch.

The pair then fled the scene southbound on Oliver Avenue, police said. The victim wasn’t injured.

One of the subjects is described as a black male, 5-foot-11, wearing a dark shirt, khaki shorts and a black baseball cap, police said. No description was available for the second man.

Detectives ask anyone with information regarding this robbery to contact crime stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All calls are anonymous.

Man Mugged of iPhone Near Green Acres Best Buy

An 18-year-old man was jumped by two men and robbed of his iPhone on Thursday near the Best Buy store in Valley Stream, according to police.

At 11:50 p.m. on Sept. 13, the victim was walking on Circle Drive when he was attacked from behind by an unknown black man — described as about 17 to 19 years old, 6 foot 1 inches tall with a thin build, dark complexion and wearing a dark colored baseball style cap, police said.

The subject punched the victim in the face and a second unknown black man confronted the victim. The first subject then took the victim’s iPhone. Both subjects fled westbound on Circle Drive in an older model Toyota sedan that was being driven by a third unknown black male subject. The victim refused medical assistance at scene.

Weekly Rundown: Valley Stream Crimes

From the Nassau County Fifth Precinct Reports:

Two Valley Stream homes -- one on W. Wheeler Avenue and another on S. Montague Street -- were burglarized on Aug. 22 and Aug. 25, respectively.

Valley Van Conversions, located on W. Merrick Road in Valley Stream, was burglarized on Aug. 27.

Three cars were stolen while parked in Valley Stream -- on Wood Lane, N. Grove Street and W. Merrick Road -- between Aug. 18 and Aug. 26.

Tires and rims were also stolen from South Shore Honda on W. Merrick Road in Valley Stream between Aug. 22 and Aug. 23.

An unknown suspect removed a bicycle from the yard of a Valley Stream home on Carroll Avenue on Aug. 20.

One tire and one rim were reported missing from a car parked in the driveway of home on Ethel Street in Valley Stream on Aug. 22.

An iPod and USC was stolen from an unlocked vehicle parked in Valley Stream between Aug. 25 and 26.

An unknown suspect broke the windshield of a station wagon parked on the corner of Cochran Place and Debois Avenue in Valley Stream on Aug. 27 and stole a bicycle.

NYS Senator Charged In Valley Stream Charity Corruption Investigation

New York State Senator Shirley Huntley turned herself in at the Nassau County Courthouse today to face charges that she funneled taxpayer money to a phony charity and then tried to cover it up.

 

Four people, including the senator, her legislative aid and her niece were all charged with various felony counts today, for creating what Attorney General Eric Schneiderman calls a sham charity in 2006, the Parents Workshop in Valley Stream Long Island, run out of a house in a residential neighborhood, where he contends no charitable work was ever done, but nearly $30,000 of taxpayer money was used to line their pockets.

Street Robbery in Valley Stream Breaks Teen's Nose and Steals iPad.

According to Nassau County Police a robbery occurred on Sunday Aug. 26, 2012 at 12:08 a.m. on North Central Avenue in Valley Stream.  According to detectives, the male victim, 18 years of age, was walking on North Central Avenue when he was approached by a male black suspect, approximately 19 years old, 5’11’, wearing a black sweat shirt, jeans, and riding a bicycle.

The suspect stopped in front of the victim, blocked his victim's path and then punched him in the face, breaking his nose, police said. He took the victim's iPad and fled northbound on North Central Avenue. The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment of his injury.

Nassau PD Fifth Precinct Report

Two Valley Stream homes -- one on Nottingham Avenue, and one on Fir Street -- were burglarized between Aug. 15 and 16.

 

Gun Violence: Queens Leaders Call For Increased Patrols To Curb Surging Problem in Southeast Queens.

Amid a surge in shootings and murder this year, Queens leaders Friday called for more cops to bring peace to the borough's troubled Southeast.

"Right now the police department is down by about 7,000 police officers," state Assemblywoman Barbara Clark (D) said at a press conference Friday. "The precincts we have are understaffed and we need more police presence in our communities."

Queens District Attorney Richard Brown endorsed the call for more police to patrol Sutheast Queens -- an area where shootings have increased 22 percent in the last year, three times the rise seen by the city as a whole. Murders have also risen here, increasing 28 percent even as they fell almost 18 percent citywide.

Last week, a police officer was shot twice in the leg during a pursuit in Southeast Queens. Three men were killed by an AK-47 in Springfield Gardens a month earlier when someone fired more than 60 rounds in their Jeep.

According to Clark and other officials, increasing police presence in these areas could decrease the number of guns on the street and the inevitable shootings that follow. An additional precinct in the area could help too, Clark said.

"The 105th precinct is huge," she said. That precinct stretches roughly nine miles from the Glen Oaks section of Queens in the North to the edge of JFK airport. If there's an emergency at the Five Towns shopping center in the South, Clark said, police have to travel from the precinct in Queens Village -- almost a 20 minute car ride.

"The distance by itself is too much," she said.

Arrest on counterfeiting in Valley Stream

 Brooklyn man suspected of using counterfeit money to purchase an expensive camera was arrested Saturday evening in Valley Stream, Nassau County police said.

Police said Raymond Lewis, 46, is suspected of offered nine counterfeit $100 bills to purchase a Nikon digital camera and accessories for $864.58 about 7 p.m. at Sears in the Green Acres Mall.

Store authorities called police after suspecting the bills were forgeries.

After Lewis was arrested, officers found he had another $100 bill that is also suspected of being a forgery, police said.

Lewis was charged with 10 counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument. He was scheduled to be arraigned on Sunday at First District Court in Hempstead.

Cops: Man robs Valley Stream gold exchange

A woman working at a gold exchange in Valley Stream was robbed at gunpoint Wednesday afternoon by a man who police said took her pocketbook, as well as cash and debit cards.

The armed robbery took place at the Best Gold Exchange on North Central Avenue at about 4:20 p.m., Nassau County Police said.

Police said the robber carried a small, black handgun.

The stolen pocketbook contained jewelry, as well as cash and the debit cards. The victim, identified only as a 48-year-old woman, was not injured in the robbery.

Police said the robber fled the scene on foot.


According to Nassau County Police detectives, an unknown man entered Best Gold Exchange at 49 N. Central Ave. at 4:20 p.m. on Aug. 15 and confronted the employee, a 48-year-old woman. He pointed the gun at her and demanded her money.

The woman gave the robber her pocketbook, which contained jewelry, cash, debit cards and sunglasses. He then left the store and fled north on Central Avenue. The woman was not hurt.

The suspects is described as a black male with a thin build wearing a blue shirt and black pants. He was armed with a small black handgun. Anyone with information is asked to call Nassau County Crime Stoppers at (800) 244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.

Man Accused in Valley Stream Burger King Stabbing

The 26-year-old victim had stab wounds to his neck, hands and leg but is expected to survive

A Long Island man has been arrested on an attempted murder charge following a fight at a fast food restaurant.
    

Nassau County police say officers responded to a Burger King in Valley Stream on Sunday August 12, 2012 in response a fight there. They found a 26-year-old man nearby with stab wounds to his neck, hands and leg.

He was taken to a hospital in stable condition.

    

Police say 24-year-old Charles J. Miller Jr. was arrested after struggling with officers.

He was charged with second-degree attempted murder, possession of a dangerous weapon and resisting arrest.

Valley Stream Shooting Under Investigation

Nassau County police are looking for a gunman who shot at but missed a victim in Valley Stream late Tuesday night.

A witness reported a man armed with a handgun chased a second man through the back yard of the witness’ Montgomery Street home at 11:33 p.m., police said.

The gunman then pointed his gun at the witness and fired one round, hitting his house, police said.

A third man was then seen standing in the victim’s driveway. All three fled on foot in an unknown direction.

There were no shell casings recovered and there were no reported injuries.

The gunman was described as a black man, 20-25 years old, with a small build, wearing a white T-shirt and green pants. There was no description of the other two men.

Fifth Squad detectives request anyone with information on the above crime to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All calls will remain anonymous.

Valley Stream Teen Arrested for Grand Larceny

According to longislandpress.com a teenager was arrested after being caught stealing on April 21 in Valley Stream.

19-year-old Duke Obule had been working at a Macy’s in Green Acres Mall. From January 12 to April 20 he and two others used stole credit card numbers from customers and bought $14,000 worth of gift cards. Obule was discovered after Macy’s began investigating him.

The Valley Stream teen is charged with Grand Larceny 3^rd degree and Falsifying Business Records 1^st degree. He will be arraigned on Sunday, April 22^nd at First District Court in Hempstead

Driver Rammed 2 Police Cars in Valley Stream

Authorities are looking for the driver that rammed two Nassau County police cars and fled the scene in Valley Stream early Monday morning.

The driver of a gray BMW was seen speeding down Central Avenue before it hit two parked vehicles on Fenwood Drive without stopping shortly after 4 a.m.

The driver then intentionally struck a police car at the corner of Salem Road and Wells Road and another patrol car at the corner of Arkansas and Wellsboro Road.That’s when police said the suspect got out of the car and fled through the back yards of several nearby homes.

Two police officers in the second patrol car were treated for shoulder, back and knee injuries at a local hospital.

The suspect was described as a black man, approximately 180 lbs., 20 years old and wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt.

Fifth Squad detectives request anyone with information regarding this crime to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.

District 13's proposed budget will need 60 percent

District 13 homeowners will see an increase of more than $100 in the elementary portion of their school tax bill if the proposed budget is approved by voters in May.

The Board of Education adopted a $43.2 million budget for the 2012-13 school year which would raise spending by 1.6 percent. The tax levy would increase by 3.5 percent, just under the district’s allowable increase of 3.52 percent.

The average homeowner would see their tax bill rise by $114 next year, or “31 cents a day,” according to Meredith Brosnan, the district’s assistant superintendent for business.

Brosnan said there are a few reasons why the allowable increase is greater than 2 percent. First, she said, there is new property on the tax rolls with the construction of the Dutch Gate senior housing complex. Additionally, the district will increase its capital spending next year to complete some building repairs.

Although the tax levy increase is under the “tax cap,” the budget won’t pass unless 60 percent of voters approve it, because of a second proposition on the ballot. The voter requested referendum, to increase transportation eligibility for students, would add an additional $296,000 to the budget if it passes.

Crime Watch: Homes Burglarized, Cars Stolen

A home on Thompson Street in North Valley Stream and another on Stephen Place in Valley Stream were burglarized on March 27.

A car was stolen from the MACY'S parking lot at Green Acres Mall in Valley Stream on March 29.

A car was stolen on March 31 while parked on S. Jasper Street in North Valley Stream.

Tires and rims were stolen from a car parked on Elizabeth Street in North Valley Stream between March 30 and March 31.

Envision talks pros and cons of industry

Should Valley Stream’s industrial properties be enhanced, reduced or remain the same? This question was one of the many that residents discussed at the March 27 Envision Valley Stream meeting at Sip This on Rockaway Avenue.

Envision President David Sabatino cited a map of the village’s industrial zone that primarily follows the Long Island Rail Road line along Hawthorne Avenue. Of the dozens in attendance, some people were for expanding the industrial zone while others were against it. However, everyone in attendance agreed that there isn’t much undeveloped real estate left in Valley Stream, so to expand industry would be difficult.

Sabatino added that residents can also hear deliveries being made at odd times in the day or night, but for the village as a whole, industry is important. “This industry makes up a lot of our tax base,” he said, “and removing that or curtailing that would have a significant impact. You would see your taxes change.”

New Congressional districts split Valley Stream

A single member of Congress will no longer represent all 40,000-plus Valley Stream residents beginning next year. Effective Jan. 1, 2013, New York state’s Congressional districts will be shifting, splitting Valley Stream into both the new 5th and 4th districts.

A three-judge federal court panel decided on March 19 to reduce the number of Congressional districts in New York from 29 to 27 to reflect the 2010 census results.

U.S. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-Mineola) would continue to represent the east side of Valley Stream, but Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-St. Albans, Queens) would now represent the biggest portion of the community if both are re-elected. McCarthy has represented the 4th District for 14 years.

Man in Valley Stream crash tries to hide gun at Target

Nassau County police closed down a Valley Stream Target store on Sunday and arrested a Brooklyn man who they said stashed a bag containing a 9 mm handgun somewhere inside.

Fifth Squad detectives said George Sterling, 29, of 1273 Lincoln Place, was driving his girlfriend's car without permission on Sunrise Highway when he got in a five-car collision about 9:36 a.m. in Valley Stream.

Witnesses reported seeing him leave the car holding a black handgun and a bag and run toward the Target store, where he was seen placing the gun inside his satchel.

Police said Sterling hid the bag on a merchandise shelf and ran out of the store but was spotted by arriving officers, who went after him. Sterling resisted arrest but was eventually taken into custody, police said.

The Target store was closed briefly while police searched for the bag. Police did not say how long the store was closed.

Sterling was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, first-degree unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, resisting arrest and five other vehicle and traffic charges, including leaving the scene of an accident without reporting and first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle.

His arraignment is set for Monday in First District Court in Hempstead.

High school budget meets tax cap

The Valley Stream Central High School District Board of Education voted 8-1 to adopt a $103.24 million 2012-13 budget at its March 13 business meeting.

When Superintendent Dr. Bill Heidenreich and his staff outlined the budget plans to the board in February, he said that in order for the district to maintain all of its programs, the tax levy increase would need to be 3.4 percent, greater than the maximum allowable tax levy increase of 2.55 percent under the new state tax cap law. To make up the difference, the district had to cut $1.1 million.

Initially, district officials thought the tax levy increase would be capped at 2 percent. However, a variety of exemptions in the tax cap legislation allow the district to increase the levy to 2.55 percent.

Valley Stream Bank Robbed

A man, who was carrying a purple bouquet of flowers, robbed a Valley Stream bank Friday afternoon, Nassau County police said.

Nassau’s robbery squad is looking for the man that they described as a black male, approximately between 35 and 40 years old, wearing a blue warm up style jacket and glasses on top of his head.

According to police, the man walked into a Chase bank on Central Avenue around 2:05 p.m. and handed a teller a note demanding money. He left the bank with an unknown amount of cash and was last seen walking on Raisig Avenue, police said.

There were 10 people—eight employees and two customers—inside the bank at the time of the robbery, police said.

A surveillance camera behind the teller captured the robber standing at the counter holding the bouquet of flowers.

Detectives are asking anyone with information regarding the robbery to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS.

Cops probe Valley Stream burglary

Police are investigating a Friday afternoon Valley Stream break-in during which the burglar kicked the back door, shattering the glass, police said.

The 43-year-old victim was in her Oliver Avenue home when the suspect banged on her front door at 12:40 p.m., Nassau County police said in a news release.

The suspect then went to the back of the house and kicked the door, breaking the glass, police said. The victim yelled for help, and the suspect ran off, police said.

No injuries were reported.

The suspect was about 20 to 25 years old and 6 feet tall. He wore a navy jogging suit with a white stripe and had an earring in his lip, police said.

Anyone with information about the burglary is urged to anonymously call Crime Stoppers at 800-244-TIPS.

Valley Stream nixes new pool entrance

What was supposed to be a guaranteed project for the spring has now been scrapped, after bids for a new pool entrance came in well above the projected cost.

Village officials were planning to turn the unused outdoor men’s changing room, in the center of the Hendrickson Park pool complex building, into a new, handicapped-accessible entrance along with two new bathrooms. The architectural firm that drew up the plans estimated the project at $896,000. But when the village received bids for the project, one came in at about $1.3 million and the other two around $1.8 million.

The village board rejected the three bids at its March 5 work session. Now, they are moving on to the plan B.

The board did approve an emergency resolution to spend $142,750 to replace the roof of the building, which will be completed by More Contracting of Port Jefferson. According to Village Clerk Bob Barra, the roof is in bad condition and water is actually leaking into the electrical panels. “We’ve got to replace it,” he said. “It’s now a danger.”

Work on the new roof has already begun.

The proposed tent-like entrance to the pool complex is off the table, and the board will keep the entrance where it is, toward the west side of the building. On Monday night, the board approved spending $14,000 to install a new awnings over the main entrance and children’s pool entrance. The work will be done by Tower Sign and Awning of Astoria.

Additionally, the board will look to spend about $35,000 for a new façade on the building. Barra said they are exploring a stucco facing that would cover the white cinder block wall.

The village will also spend money for landscaping enhancements around the front of the building. Barra said most of these improvements, with the exception of the roof, can be done by village workers. “I think we’re going to do it faster and cheaper,” he said, “and it’s going to look good.”

The proposal for a new entrance also included two new bathrooms that would be handicapped accessible. Barra said that project is still being planned, but not until after the 2012 pool season. It is likely that two pre-fabricated bathrooms would be installed in the men’s outdoor changing room, he said.

New Assembly district for Valley Stream

As it stands now, Valley Stream has three representatives in the State Assembly. Brian Curran represents the village; Ed Ra, North Valley Stream; and Harvey Weisenberg, South Valley Stream.

Under the new maps released by a redistricting task force, all of Valley Stream would be unified in a single Assembly district. And the new district would not be represented by any of those three men.

The entire Valley Stream community would be part of the new 22nd Assembly District, which would have no incumbent in November’s election. The district would run from Bellerose south to North Woodmere along the city line, and include Elmont as well as parts of Floral Park and Franklin Square.

The new maps, released by the New York State Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment, are mandated every 10 years after the release of census results, to address population shifts. Across the state, each new district would have about 129,000 residents.

The new maps still need Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s approval, which is expected because the Legislature has agreed to put forward a constitutional amendment to reform the redistricting process.

Valley Stream trustees re-elected

There were no surprises in the Valley Stream village election, as unopposed trustee candidates John Tufarelli and Virginia Clavin-Higgins won re-election.

Tufarelli, who was first elected to the village board in 2007, received 753 votes. Clavin-Higgins, appointed to fill a vacancy in October, won her first full term with 746 votes.

The pair will begin their new four-year terms at the village's reoganization meeting on April 2. The board will remain intact for at least the next three years, when the mayor and other two trustee seats are up.

Village Clerk Bob Barra said there were a handful of write-in votes on Tuesday.

Valley Stream Man Arrested in Port Washington

A Valley Stream man faces charges after a Port Washington resident reported a suspicious male exiting her home, according to Port Washington Police.

On March 8, the woman observed a man run down the walkway of her home and enter a waiting taxi cab that then left the scene. Police say they checked the area but were unable to locate the man or the vehicle. A follow-up investigation conducted by Det. Raymond Ryan enabled police to identify the man and determine that he had stolen a cell phone and cash from the woman's home.

On Thursday, Port Washington Police detectives arrested Ivan Vigil-Ortiz, age 26, of 74 Cumberland Place in Valley Stream. He was charged with one count of burglary in the second degree, and one count of larceny. 

Assistant Chief James Salerno said the taxi cab in question was not affiliated with any Port Washington company.

Vigil-Ortiz was arraigned Friday in First District Court in Hempstead.

Valley Stream Target closing to renovate

Target Brands Inc. plans to close its store in Valley Stream on April 29 for renovations.

A spokeswoman said employees of the store, which was the site of a failed effort to create what would have been Target's first unionized shop, would be offered work at nearby Target stores. When the renovated store reopens later this year, the workers "will have the option to transfer back to the Valley Stream store.

The Valley Stream, L.I., Target that has been fighting a union drive will shut for a six-month remodeling. The union will seek to block the closure.

Target plans to temporarily close the Valley Stream, L.I., store where it has been fighting a union drive. In response, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1500, which has been organizing the workers for the past year, filed a request Friday for a federal injunction to prevent the closure.

The union argues that Target is shutting the Long Island store to stifle the organizing campaign.


Local 1500 began organizing the Valley Stream workers early last year after receiving calls from employees who were upset over wages and distribution of hours, among other issues. But workers voted in June against unionization by a count of 137 to 85. The union cried foul, filing objections that alleged the company illegally intimidated workers. The Valley Stream store would have been the first Target in the country to unionize.

Local 1500 is seeking to overturn the results of last year’s election and conduct a new vote. A hearing was held earlier this month, and a decision is pending. Meanwhile, union organizers have continued to meet with employees of the Long Island store and other Target locations in the metropolitan area.

Valley Stream to borrow for roads, equipment

Valley Stream will borrow about $3.4 million this year for a variety of projects and purchases. The village board recently approved bonding for the 2011-12 capital program, which will address street repairs, safety upgrades for Fire Department and renovations to the pool complex, among other items.

The big-ticket item is $1.95 million for road repairs. According to Tom McAleer, the superintendent of buildings, that money will be used to resurface 1.7 miles of village roads. Among the streets to be repaved are portions of Cochran Place, Foster Avenue and Hendrickson Avenue.

McAleer said that roads are rated on a scale of 1 to 100, with 100 being the highest. Roads with the lowest rating were chosen for this year’s repaving project. Preliminary work has already begun on Cochran Place, he said. Foster Avenue is next and then crews will go road-by-road through the summer until this year’s list is complete.

The village will be borrowing $175,000 to upgrade the heating and air conditioning system at the Henry Waldinger Memorial Library. Village Treasurer Michael Fox said this work, which includes the replacement of duct work, is more than halfway complete.

Four new vehicles will be purchased at an estimated cost of $153,000. This will include four Ford Fusion cars for the Public Safety and Code Enforcement departments, and four Ford pick-up trucks for the Parks and Highway departments.

A new state regulation requires the village to purchase new breathing packs for the Valley Stream Fire Department. The village will be borrowing $350,000 to meet this mandate. The equipment includes air packs, regulator hoses and electronic locators. Fox said the village will purchase 86 packs.

The village was able to save $90,000 for the new breathing apparatus by trading in its old equipment.

An additional $750,000 will be borrowed for repairs to the Hendrickson Park pool complex. The last projects are $60,000 for new fencing at the Firemen’s Field athletic complex, and $47,000 for miscellaneous equipment for the Highway Department, including two truck lifts, a concrete saw and two plows.

Fox said that the village is retiring $2.9 million in past debt this year. Although officials are borrowing more money than they are paying back, Fox said it won’t impact village financing. He noted that the village did not borrow any money in the 2009-10 fiscal year, and in the past five years Valley Stream has paid off more than it is has borrowed for its capital plans.

He also said it is possible that the village might not need to borrow the full $3.4 million — that number is a maximum amount. “Hopefully, we don’t have to go up to that amount when all the bids come in,” Fox said.
Road repairs
The following village streets will be repaved in 2012:

-Cochran Place — Roosevelt Avenue to Birch Lane
-Foster Avenue — Cornwell Avenue to the village line
-Dover Street — Grove Street to Emerson Place
-Chester Street — Grove Street to Albermarle Avenue
-Felton Avenue — Central Avenue to East Avenue
-Williams Street — Guenther Avenue to Shaw Avenue
-Louise Place — Clear Stream Avenue to Midwood Street
-Hendrickson Avenue — Grant Drive West to Fletcher Avenue
-Newbold Avenue — Mineola Avenue to Hawthorne Avenue

Valley Stream election is Tuesday

Tuesday’s ballot for village trustee contains only two names, incumbents John Tufarelli and Virginia Clavin-Higgins. The pair are seeking re-election to serve on the village board for the next four years.

Tufarelli, 50, was first elected in 2007. He said that the last four years have been difficult, with the deaths of Mayor Ed Cahill and Deputy Mayor Guido Cirenza, but the village board has been able to keep its focus on delivering services to residents while keeping taxes down. “Through all of the ups and downs, our mindset stayed the same,” Tufarelli said.

Clavin-Higgins, 49, is the newest member of the village board. She was appointed to fill a vacancy in October, created when Ed Fare was elected mayor. Her mother, Rosanna Clavin, served as the village’s first female trustee. Clavin-Higgins said she has enjoyed the opportunity to follow in her mother’s footsteps.
She said that her primary issue in this campaign is taxes. Valley Stream is a blue-collar community where many people live on fixed incomes or work several jobs to make ends meets, she said, and for that reason, the village board must avoid raising taxes. “It’s about being responsible,” she said.

Clavin-Higgins also supports efforts to increase the village’s revenue without raising taxes. She said she likes an idea being considered by the village board to repurpose underutilized municipal parking lots and rent spaces to commercial vehicle owners.

Tufarelli said he wants to make sure that the services the village offers remain intact. It’s important, he said, that the streets are in good condition, the garbage gets picked up, the trees are trimmed and the parks are kept clean. Additionally, he wants a responsive village government that immediately addresses problems brought to its attention. “We want to do the right thing by the residents,” he said.

Valley Stream considering commercial vehicle lot

Valley Stream officials want to go forward with a plan to open up at least one parking lot for commercial vehicles, and hope to do so within the next few months.

The plan would give owners of commercial vehicles, such as landscaping trucks and contractor vans, a place to park their trucks overnight. Village code prohibits these vehicles from being parked in residential neighborhoods, even if it’s in a home’s driveway.

Deputy Village Clerk Bob Fumagalli presented the village board with a plan on Monday night that would turn Municipal Lot 24, located between Pflug Place and Hancock Place just north of Merrick Road, into a commercial vehicle lot. There would be 22 spots available, and Fumagalli said he already has a list of more than 30 landscapers who live in the village who might be interested.

Village officials debated how much money they would want to charge per spot. Rental fees of $100 to $200 a month were thrown out by the board. Mayor Ed Fare said that landscapers would probably need to rent two spaces — one for their truck and one for their trailer — so a total of $400 a month would probably be a little steep.

Fare said that village officials will do some research to see how much other municipalities charge, as well as private landowners, before setting a price. He noted that there are several gas station owners in Valley Stream which rent spots to commercial vehicle owners in need of a place to park.
Fumagalli said the only other village he could find that does this is Mount Vernon in Westchester County, which charges slightly less than $1,200 for a full year.

Trustee Virginia Clavin-Higgins said that she wanted to make these spots available first to village residents. Fare agreed. “We want to get their commercial vehicles out of their driveways,” he said.
Fare said that there would be a weight limit on vehicles, and no hazardous materials would be allowed. The village would also have to issue two parking stickers, one for the commercial vehicle and one for the owner’s car which could be parked in the lot while the truck is being used.
Village officials say that if there is high demand for these spots, they could build new lots for commercial vehicles or repurpose existing, underutilized lots. Fumagalli said that the lot being considered now off Hancock Place is lightly used.

Valley Stream 1924

Beach and Lake, South Valley Stream State Park,1940

Beach and Lake, South Valley Stream State Park, circa 1940. Courtesy of the Queens Borough Public Library, Long Island Division, Post Card Collection.

Man convicted in driveway attack on couple

A Brooklyn man faces up to 15 years in prison, after a jury convicted him Wednesday of attacking and robbing a Valley Stream couple in their driveway.

Sadiq Abdul Wahhab, 47, was convicted of two counts of second-degree robbery after the jury deliberated for about two hours, prosecutors said. He was acquitted of first-degree robbery, which was the top count against him.

Nassau County Judge John Kase is set to sentence him April 18.
Wahhab's lawyer, Arshad Majid, of Westbury, could not immediately be reached for comment.
"Mr. Wahhab learned the inevitable lesson that you can run from the law, but you can't hide," said Nassau District Attorney Kathleen Rice in a statement.

Prosecutors said Wahhab and an accomplice, hiding in the bushes of a Marc Drive home in Valley Stream on July 3, 2009, attacked a married couple after they pulled into their driveway.

Wahhab punched the male victim multiple times before he and his accomplice were able to get away with the woman's bracelet, worth $9,000, prosecutors said.

A tip, received after Wahhab was featured on "America's Most Wanted," led to his arrest in Brooklyn by U.S. marshals on Dec. 15, 2010. Prosecutors were also able to tie him to the crime using DNA found on his New York Yankees hat, which came off during the robbery.

Long Island pharmacies step up security in wake of fatal shootings

The deaths of six people in two Long Island pharmacy robberies over the past year have forced many pharmacy owners to rethink security in their stores.

 Some pharmacies are making it clear to the public that they do not carry any oxycodone products which have been the target of the robberies.

Other pharmacies, such as Linden Care in Syosset, have installed new security features.

 “I have an armed security guard; I have video surveillance; I have buzzers,” said Jordan Fogel, supervisor of Linden Care. “You can’t just walk right in; you have to be buzzed in and buzzed in again.”

 Fogel said that when customers walk into the pharmacy, their driver’s licenses and insurance cards are inspected. Linden Care will also install bulletproof glass.

The moves come after six people were shot dead in two separate robbery incidents in Medford and Seaford over the past year.

Officials in both Nassau and Suffolk County held summits in early February to discuss pharmacy safety in the wake of increasing attacks on pharmacies.

Local officials are hoping that by working together they can put an end to the pharmacy related crimes.

Nassau police investigate credit card skimming devices

Beware the next time you swipe your card.

 In February alone, Long Island residents discovered four devices attached to ATMs and gas pumps intended to obtain credit and debit card information. Detective Vincent Garcia from the Nassau County Police Department’s Public Information Office said there are currently no suspects for any of the incidents; the investigation is ongoing.

The most recent devices were discovered on Feb. 11 at the Gulf Gas Station on Northern Boulevard in Roslyn and the Mobile Gas Station approximately two miles down the road in Greenvale. A service company technician found credit card skimming devices at the two local stations after a card owner reported fraudulent charges to a credit card that he only uses at that station.

After finding a skimming device attached to a pump, the technician searched other stations and found a second device at the Mobile Gas Station approximately two miles down the road in Greenvale.

The same day, an employee at the Apple Bank for Savings in Carle Place found a skimming device attached to the ATM during a routine inspection.

Belwinder Singh, owner of the Greenvale Mobile station, said he was shocked when the technician found the skimming device.

 “We were all so stunned,” Singh said. “We’ve never seen something like that. It’s really so scary.”

Singh now takes extra precautions at his gas station to keep his customers cards safe. He has placed round-the-clock cameras attached to each pump, Singh has asked his employees to stay alert.

“During the daytime, we have three to four employees on the station premises,” Singh said. “We asked the night guys and the day cashiers to be extra vigilant.”

The Nassau County Police Department recommends that customers who frequent these affected businesses check their card statements and report any fraudulent charges.

Blanch Zelez, a 63-year-old resident of Valley Stream, said she uses her cards as little as possible.

“It’s safer to just pay with cash,” she said.

Skimming devices can be attached to ATMs or other machines with credit card scanners. The devices pick up information that makes the victim susceptible to credit fraud or identity theft.

“When [the criminal] places the skimming device over the slot, it supersedes the bank’s device and gets the card information before the bank does,” Garcia said.

 Garcia suggests covering the keypad on ATMs when entering a PIN number. Sometimes very tiny and hard-to-detect pinhole cameras are placed near the keypad, allowing criminals to steal PIN numbers and card information.

He also recommends tugging at the card reader slot before entering a card. Garcia said many criminals attach skimming devices with two-sided tape, so the device should come off the front of the machine fairly easily.

On Jan. 29, a skimming device at a Capitol One Bank in Valley Stream fell off into the hands of a customer who was trying to use the ATM.

Police are asking the public to inspect ATMs before inserting a card and to report any suspicious findings.

“If you see something that just doesn’t look right, don’t use it,” Garcia said.

To report information, call the Crimes Against Property Squad at (516) 735–5275 or, to remain anonymous, call 1-800-244-TIPS.

Gas prices rising, people’s funds not

Lately, it seems when drivers in Valley Stream choose to fill their car tanks with gasoline it isn’t long before their wallets are on “E.”


Gas prices have steadily risen since the start of 2012; in New York state the average price of a gallon of regular gasoline was $3.98 on Monday, nearly 30 cents more than the national average. The surge in fuel costs has left some local businesses to foot a bigger bill with less people requiring their services to help offset the mounting costs.


Jackie and Joe Haslbauer own Central Auto Collision on Rockaway Avenue and said business has significantly dropped in recent weeks. “I would say February was definitely a slow month,” Jackie said. “It hasn’t been this slow in quite a while. And I would say confidently that it has affected a lot of the other shops too because when the people who deliver the parts come, they’ll say it’s slow everywhere.”


Another business that has experienced a recent reduction in its clientele is Valley Stream Taxi. “We’re probably down about 25 percent because people aren’t traveling as much as they used to because the prices that we have to charge are astronomical,” one Valley Stream Taxi official said.


In order for the taxi service to raise its prices, the Valley Stream Village Board must approve the increase. The taxi official said there was one raise in recent months and there may be another one soon.


The taxi official also said that the number of employees has been reduced as well to combat the increased costs. This week, Valley Stream Taxi implemented a new practice where the company helps pay for fuel costs. In the past, drivers paid for the total amount of gas they used, but since fuel prices have soared the company is now picking up a portion of the tab as well.


At Central Auto Collision, the staff is made up of four people and no one has lost their job, but the Haslbauers said the rise in fuel costs has a trickle down effect on a lot of businesses.


“It goes, ‘I’m not busy, then the guy selling me parts isn’t busy, and then the guy selling me materials isn’t busy,’” Joe said. “If all of the repair shops aren’t busy, then in turn all of the suppliers aren’t going to be busy.”

Valley Stream resident Michael LoCascio said he did not drive his car for three days in response to the gas prices. “That is not me,” LoCascio said of his recent driving habits. “I am usually out doing things and going places. Prices are not going to go down soon enough for me.”

State must OK Valley Stream streetlight

Because Sunrise is a state road and the repair is major -- new wiring and light poles -- state approval is necessary. The village submitted the plan to the state in 2006.

"This is bureaucratic red tape at its thickest and longest," Village Clerk Bob Barra, a former assemblyman, said last week.

The darkness is acute near Green Acres Mall, leaving the impression that more lights are out than on. "It's just overwhelming how many are missing," Chris Csuti told Watchdog. From his commute on the train, which runs along the road, Csuti said he could identify 37 spots where lights should be shining but aren't.

Csuti echoed a common refrain: Who's responsible for streetlights?
The answer dates to the 1980s, Fare said, when the village got a letter from LILCO, LIPA's predecessor, saying the utility was handing street lighting over to local governments.

"And for a while the lights worked because wiring underneath was OK," he said, but over time both wiring and poles have rotted. The village hasn't been allowed to rewire the existing structures in the interim, he said.

Fare said he is hopeful that, after cycles of "notes and critiques" from the state, approval is near. It could be as close as a matter of weeks, state Department of Transportation spokeswoman Eileen Peters said last week. Once the state receives one more round of revisions to accommodate safety improvements planned for ramps at Hicks Street and South Central Avenue, final approval should take about eight more weeks, she said.

Nassau Police to Restructure Precincts

In an effort to cut back on spending, Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano and Police Commissioner Thomas Dale announced Monday that four of the county's eight police precincts will be restructured.

Four precincts will remain intact while the remaining four will be transformed into new Community Policing Centers, Mangano said.

According to a release from the county, the Seventh Precinct in Seaford, Second Precinct in Woodbury, Third Precinct in Williston Park and Fourth Precinct in Hewlett will continue to operate as regular precincts, while the First Precinct in Baldwin, Fifth Precinct in Elmont, Sixth Precinct in Manhasset and Eighth Precinct in Levittown will become community policing centers.

Vote to close precincts passes, 10-9

In a contentious meeting on Monday, the Nassau County Legislature voted 10 to 9 along party lines to implement a new Community Policing Plan, in which four of the county’s eight police precincts will be closed over the next seven months and replaced with “community policing centers.”

According to County Police Commissioner Thomas Dale, whose appointment was approved at the meeting, the first precinct to close will be the 8th Precinct, a month from now. One precinct will be turned into community policing centers every two months following the first closure.

Under the plan, which is also known as the Police Precinct Efficiency Initiative, the new centers would not handle any administrative paperwork or criminal processing, and would see a reduction in the number of police operating out of them from an average of 39 officers to just two.

 Mangano has said that the plan will move 48 officers from desk jobs into Problem Oriented Police units and special patrols, allowing for more officers on the streets.

The plan will likely merge the 8th Precinct in Wantagh with the 2nd in Woodbury, the 6th in Manhasset with the 3rd in Williston Park, the 5th in Elmont with the 4th in Hewlett and the 1st in Baldwin with the 7th in Seaford.

The vote had originally been scheduled for Feb. 27, but was postponed while County Executive Mangano negotiated with the police unions in an effort to make the plan more acceptable. The negotiations continued even as the legislators voted on the plan, and though the Democratic minority leader, Kevan Abrahams, who represents the 1st District, made a motion to table the vote in order to allow the negotiations to continue, the motion failed.

All 10 of the Republicans in the Legislature’s majority voted for the plan, and all nine Democrats voted against it.

The Democrats made it clear that one of the main reasons they opposed it is because the details of the plan have not yet been finalized.

More than 100 concerned residents, police officers and political officials attended the meeting to make their opinions on the plan known.

Both Milagros Vicente, a resident of Valley Stream, and Sue Auriemma, a resident of Manhasset, presented petitions to stop the plan, with 2,500 signatures and 5,244 signatures, respectively.

“The residents are saying, ‘Do not pass this.’ Don’t vote by party lines,” Vicente said. “Don’t do a disservice to the residents… that voted for you.”

While many community members were given a chance to speak, many called out in frustration when it became clear that the plan would pass, with some shouting out, “shame,” and others, “just vote no.” While Legislator Francis Becker, Jr., representing the 6th district, explained his vote, a member of the audience said “Time’s up,” repeatedly while he rang a bell, which earlier in the meeting was used to signal a resident was out of time to speak.

According to Jim Carver, president of the Nassau County Police Benevolent Association, the plan will drastically cut the number of officers in the precincts being closed — the 1st, 5th, 6th and 8th — and will result in unacceptable delays in the time it takes to respond to and investigate crimes. Carver asked the legislators to allow more time for the negotiations to work.

“We’ve had talks with the county executive to try to alleviate the concerns for public safety,” Carver said. “We’ve talked for a week and we made a lot of strides. We’re almost there, and to take a vote now is premature, in my opinion.”