|
News |
|
|
|
|
|
06/13/07:
BIRCHWOOD CIVIC ASSOCIATION INSTALLS NEW
OFFICERS AND HONORS BOARD MEMBERS
 On June 13th at
LaViola Restaurant in Syosset, the Birchwood Civic Association (“BCA”)and
special guests gathered to celebrate the installation of a new
Board of Directors and to honor the past President and retiring
Board members. The Birchwood Civic Association represents and
serves the East Birchwood and Jericho Manors Communities.
The event was
well-attended by association members as well as local community
and town elected officials including Town Supervisor John Venditto,
Nassau Legislative Chairperson Judy Jacobs, Town Councilwomen Rose
Marie Walker, Jericho School District Superintendent Henry
Grishman, and Jericho Board of Education Vice President Joe
Lorintz.
Retiring Birchwood
Civic Association board members Robert Henken, Jessica Smith and
Robert Goldsmith, were honored for their outstanding dedication
and service to the East Birchwood community over the years.
Outgoing President
Richard Turkisher was lauded for his three year term as BCA
President, which included such highlights as the continued fight
against the Cerro mall project, a marked expansion in membership
in the Association, and the creation of a new website for the BCA.
Incoming President
Craig Snyder, Vice President Lowell Citron, Financial Secretary
Marion Henken, Recording Secretary Roy Pam, and Treasurer Sandra
Gumerove were sworn into their new positions by Town Supervisor
John Venditto who spoke of the positive and successful partnership
of the BCA and the Town of Oyster Bay.
Newly installed
Birchwood Civic Association President Craig Snyder and the BCA
Board of Directors have ambitious plans for the Birchwood Civic
Association including commitment to the continued fight against
the Cerro Mall, the completion of the Association’s major capital
neighborhood entrance projects, the continued growth and expansion
of both the Board and the Association’s membership, increasing
member services and programming, as well as continuing to strongly
and effectively advocate on behalf of the interests of the
membership and community as a whole.
The next meeting of
the Birchwood Civic Association will be on August 14, 2007 at 8:30
at the Jericho Middle School Library. As always, all residents
are invited and enthusiastically encouraged to become a part of
our growing, reinvigorated, and dynamic organization. |
|
|
|
09/19/07: Cerro Wire Coalition Issues Fall Update About Proposed
Mall
The Cerro Wire Coalition has issued
an update to the community about recent developments concerning
Taubman's efforts to build a mega-mall on the Cerro Wire
Property. Both the Town of Oyster Bay and the civics have
appealed the June 2007 court ruling that asked the Town to revisit
Taubman's application for the original 860,000 square foot mall
and a slightly reduced sized 750,000 square foot mall. The Cerro
Wire Coaltion reminded the community that Supervisor Venditto has
publically repeated his opposition to the proposed mall on
numerous occasions.
The Coalition also circulated
additional photos of the Alternative Development Concept that it
unveiled this past May, including condo-styled housing, a Mariott
hotel, and a small component of office and retail space for the
site. Finally, the Coalition advised the community that the mall
will be a critical issue in the upcoming election for Town
Supervisor. Recently, a Democratic candidate has announced his
candidacy based on a pro-mall stance, in stark contrast to
Supervisor Venditto. |
09/14/07: BCA 2007/08 BOARD HITS THE GROUND RUNNING:
Following multiple planning meetings, the newly elected Board of
Directors of the Birchwood Civic Association held its first
official meeting on August 14, 2007, and the group certainly hit
the ground running.
The Civic Association, which represents the East Birchwood and
Manors communities, is one of the most influential and active
civic associations on Long Island, and prides itself on effective
advocacy and representation on behalf of its members.
Toward that end, the organization's recent meeting had a full
agenda. The board discussed plans and strategies for continuing
its long term fight against construction of a mall, and in favor
of a previously proposed mixed use development, on the Cerro Wire
Property.
The Board further discussed plans for completion of the
neighborhood entrance capital project for both Marian and Merry
Lanes as the Robbins Lane and 106/107 entrances near completion. A
grand ribbon cutting ceremony for the project is anticipated later
this season.
An update report was provided regarding the Town's ongoing road
re-surfacing and drainage project in the "F" streets, as well as
the critical replacement of trees removed during the project. The
re-surfacing is ahead of schedule and nearing completion.
The board moved to advocate that the State conduct a comprehensive
traffic study of the intersection of Merry Lane and Jericho
Turnpike, which has been the site of numerous serious traffic
accidents.
In addition, a report was received and discussion conducted
regarding the present BCA/Meenan Oil contract, the benefits of the
comprehensive service contract to all Meenan customers who are BCA
members, and the ongoing negotiations for a favorable lock-in
price for all Birchwood Civic Association members for the upcoming
year. An email notification will be sent to all members on the
BCA email list as soon as a price is set.
Finally, plans were discussed for a drive to recruit new members
to fill two vacant board seats, as well as to reach out to new
residents in an effort to build the Civic Association ranks to
record numbers, with a goal in excess of 1200 members. The BCA
seeks and invites those with a strong sense of community, who want
to have a say in the direction and future of our neighborhood, to
contact the BCA via email, or simply attend the next meeting.
In sum, it was a productive meeting of your neighbors working on
behalf of your neighborhood. All East Birchwood and Manors
residents are encouraged to attend the next BCA meeting on
September 18, 2007, at 8:30 p.m., in the Jackson Elementary School
faculty room. Be informed and have a say regarding your
community. There will be further reports and discussion regarding
the status of the Cerro mall fight, the importance of this fall's
elections to our community and the BCA's plans regarding the
elections, the Meenan Oil contract, beautification and the
community's entrances, Syosset and Jericho school district
updates, and a variety of other pertinent issues regarding the
safety and security of our neighborhood.
The BCA meeting schedule for the 2007/08 school year is as
follows: September 18, October 16, November 20, December 18,
January 15, February 12, March 18, April 15, May 12, and June 17.
All meetings are held at 8:30 pm in the Jackson School faculty
room. For further information, or to confirm meeting dates,
residents are encouraged to visit www.EastBirchwood.org and to
contact BCA11753Jericho@aol.com to be added to the BCA email list. |
|
|
11/07/07: BCA BOARD OIL UPDATE
BCA lock in price with Meenan is 3.069 a gallon.
Accordingly you might want to consider:
1). Prices were driven by world circumstances clearly beyond our
control which defied prediction by everyone.
2). The present posted market price is now in excess of $3.70.
3). No Meenan competitor can or will meet the price we have
locked in when combined with the benefits we receive ie- service
contract and warranty.
4). The BCA is more than an oil contract - We have played an
exceptional role in preserving the quality of life for all
residents via our involvement and advocacy to combat the mall,
our substantial beautification of the entrances to the
neighborhood, our successful interaction with the Town for roadway
repair and street maintenance improvements, as well as our
involvement with the local school districts amongst others.
As always I am interested in your feedback and thoughts, and thank
you for your continued support.
Craig Snyder
President BCA |
Stalling
The Mall
(11/21/07):
Syosset’s 13-Year Development War Still Stalemated
By Tim Bolger
On
paper, it seems like a perfect fit: an upscale community with
funds to spare and a proposed high-end mall on one of the few
available vacant lots. The mall would be the first major shopping
complex to be built on Long Island in decades.
But
a drive past the former Cerro Wire factory at the corner of
Robbins Lane and the Long Island Expressway service road in
Syosset on a recent weekday afternoon reveals what residents here
know too well: Traffic along Jericho Turnpike at that intersection
starts bottlenecking by lunchtime, like the LIE at rush hour. Mall
opponents cringe at the thought of shoppers flocking to Neiman
Marcus, Barneys and Nordstrom on some future Black Friday here.
continued here... |
|
11/20/07: Jericho Educational Foundation to Hold
Adult Spelling Bee, Friday
November 30
The Jericho Educational Foundation
("JEF") will hold an Adult Spelling Bee on November 30, 2007 at
the Jericho High School Little Theater at 7:30 p.m. Come and cheer
on your friends and neighbors, including the BCA's team. Tickets
are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. Children 5 and under are
free. To order tickets or for more information, see the JEF's
website at
http://www.jerichoeducationalfoundation.org.
The JEF is an independent non-profit organization whose goal is to
support and enrich the school and community by identifying,
facilitating, and funding projects that will enhance the standard
of educational excellence in the Jericho School District. |
|
11/21/07: New York Islanders
Offer Discount on Town of Oyster Bay Night, Saturday December 1
All residents of the Town of Oyster
Bay will receive up to 40% off tickets for the Islanders home game
against Atlanta on December 1, at 7:00 p.m. Lower VIP Endzone
tickets, normally $75, are now available for $54, Center Mezzanine
tickets ordinarily $60, are only $39. Upper Mezzanine tickets are
available for only $16. By attending, you will also help a great
cause -- 5% of the ticket sales will go directly to the Town of
Oyster Bay's selected charity, The United Cerebral Palsy
Association. See full flyer
here.
To order tickets, call Adam Jacobs
at (516) 501-6867 or email adam.jacobs@newyorkislanders.com |
Cerro Property Update
The BCA wanted to clarify the recent Court decision concerning
Taubman’s proposed mall on the former Cerro property. In a
nutshell, the Court has told the town to revisit Taubman’s
application for the 860,000 square foot mall as well as a
slightly scaled down version of 750,000 square feet. The ruling
leaves a number of options for the town to consider.
While it’s too early to tell what the next steps will be, what
is very clear is that the town has no intentions of wavering in
its' anti-mall position. Just as importantly, this decision in
no way, shape, or form, means that the mall is any closer to
becoming a reality. Obviously, the Taubman PR machine is
putting it's own spin on this latest devevlopment, just as in
the past, to make it sound as if the mall project is imminent.
It is important for everyone to realize that nothing could be
further from the truth, and that you spread the word to that
effect in your travels going forward.
We all know how rumors and misinformation can spread like
wildfire so let’s do our best to keep that from happening. In
the meantime, we are stepping up our efforts to promote our
alternate development concept including a mixed use development
with a hotel and spa that was recently unveiled.
As always, we will do our best to keep you posted as issues
further develop, and rest assured we will vigorously continue
in our fight. Please do not hesitate to contact or write with
any questions you may have.
Thank you for your continued
support
Please continue to visit
www.NoMallHere.org and
www.EastBirchwood.org for updated information.
|
|
Let
Your Voice Be Heard About Alternative Development at Cerro Site
Newsday ran an article
recently about the fight over Taubman's plans to build a mega-mall
at the Cerro site and the unveiling of the alternative development
plans. Newsday is allowing people to comment on their views of
the issue. Let your voice be heard. Here's the website.
http://www.topix.net/forum/source/newsday/TPR420UBR6745DI8M
Scroll down to the bottom of that page to find the comment form.
There is no need to use your real name. You can put anything you
want in the Name space. Let's let Taubman and the larger
community know how we feel about alterantive development and our
concerns about Taubman's plans. |
BCA Endorses Jericho Schools Budget
The Birchwood
Civic Association takes an active role in local issues.
Whenever possible, BCA board members attend and participate
in meetings of local government entities. An active BCA
Jericho Education Committee has made a point of attending
both the regular monthly meetings and the budget workshops
held by the Jericho Board of Education. After participating
in these meetings, studying the proposed budget, and asking
questions, the committee accepted Superintendent of Schools
Hank Grishman's offer to discuss the budget at the March
20th BCA meeting. After the BCA members had an opportunity
to ask questions, the BCA board of directors voted to
endorse the proposed Jericho School District Budget for
2007/2008.
Any residents
who have questions about the proposed budget are encouraged
to phone or email Dr. Joan Colvin at the Jericho Schools
District Office: 516-203-3600 or
JColvin@jerichoschools.org.
The BCA
recommends that you join us in voting "YES" for the Jericho
School District 2007/2008 budget. Voting will take place in
the Jericho High School gym on Route 106, north of Jericho
Turnpike, from 6am to 9pm on Tuesday, May 15th, 2007.
Joseph Lorintz, incumbent, is running unopposed for the one
open seat on the Board of Education.
|
|
Jericho Educational Foundation Presents Gift to Jericho
High Schoool
The Jericho Educational Foundation, an independent
non-profit foundation, has donated funds sufficient to
refurbish the High School Little Threater. The restoration
project will include addinng new curtains, carpeting, and
painting. The work is scheduled to take place during April
and May. This project was made possible by donations from
community members. The JEF will host a dinner fundraiser on
May 11 at The Metropolitan in Glen Cove, honoring two retiring
Jericho school principals Jeffrey Ratner and Martin Weissman.
Anyone who is interested in purchasing tickets, may pay $90
per person, either through the group's website,
www.JerichoEducationalFoundation.org, or checks payable
to:
Jericho Educational Foundation
99 Cedar Swamp Road
Jericho, NY 11753
|
|
Fire at Home in East Birchwood - On March
21, 2007, a serious fire destroyed more than half of the residence at
5 Holly Lane in East Birchwood. Fortunately, no one was hurt.
|
|
East
Birchwood Entrances to Get Face Lift - In recognition of
the fiftieth anniversary of the East Birchwood neighborhood, and
in response to the input of the Birchwood Civic Association
membership, the BCA board of directors has decided that it is
time to update, renovate, and freshen up the entrances to our
community.
A committee has been formed and each entrance has been carefully
surveyed. Following multiple meetings with landscapers and
masonry contractors, the BCA committee is now in the process of
finalizing plans for entrances to our community including: Route
106/107, Merry Lane, Market Street, Marian Drive, and Robbins
Lane/Birchwood Park Drive.
The renovations will include new landscaping, as well as new
wood signs or masonry walls with high visibility lettering. It
is anticipated that the project will be completed during the
spring of 2007. Watch the BCA website (www.EastBirchwood.org) or
come to a BCA meeting to see sketches and more information as
they become available. If you are interested in participating in this, or any of the
other exciting projects of your Birchwood Civic Association,
please email the BCA at
BCA11753Jericho@aol.com or come to the next BCA meeting.
Meeting dates are noted on the BCA homepage,
www.EastBirchwood.org. Meetings are open to
all residents of the East Birchwood and Manors communities.
|
|
Daytime Break-ins in Jericho, Syosset and Woodbury There has been an ongoing
pattern of daytime residential break-ins in Jericho, Syosset and
Woodbury. The police has advised us that they are committed by
a combination of individuals, one of which is usually a dark
skinned female. They appear to be watching their intended target
area from a vehicle and approach a house after the occupant(s)
are observed leaving. It is quite likely that they ring
the doorbell and upon no answer, they will force entry into the
residence from the rear. A white 2002 Ford Taurus with
Pennsylvania plates has been observed at a prior incident.
The police are urging residents to take note of their block as
they leave their homes during the day with special attention to
unfamiliar parked autos with multiple occupants. Should
you encounter these circumstances, call “911” for a prompt
police response to that location.
.
Jericho Couple Dies
of Suspected Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
On August 5, Morton and
Muriel Licht were found dead in their home on Bounty Lane in East
Birchwood. Nassau County police have stated that the cause of
death is believed to be carbon monoxide poisoning. Police reported
that a car was left running in the garage. The police investigated
after a neighbor called 911 and asked police to check on the
couple.Investigators believed that the couple died on the evening
of Thursday, August 3. The couple are survived by two sons,
Daniel, who is a Westchester resident, and Charles, a
Massachusetts resident.
Medical Emergencies ... DID
YOU KNOW?
The Jericho Fire Department has a
paramedic available from 6 am to 6 pm every day. If someone
requires immediate medical attention, calling the Fire
Department's emergency number -- 931-0898 -- may result in a
faster response than merely calling 911. Calls to 911 are
processed through a county-wide system based in Mineola.
Sometimes, a matter of minutes can save a life.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
