Hempstead Town Notebook: Murray Joins Push for New Coliseum, Seedy Hotel Demolished

Supervisor Murray Teams With Mangano for New Coliseum

The big news out of the Town of Hempstead this week was the announcement of a plan to build a sports-entertainment complex at the current site of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Town Supervisor Kate Murray joined with Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano and New York Islanders owner Charles Wang to announce the plans on Wednesday.

Murray's appearance at the press conference marked a huge shift in the dynamic between the Islanders and town officials.

Murray and other Hempstead pols never warmed to the original Lighthouse proposal, which at one point included the tallest building on Long Island, a hotel, offices, residential units and a conference center.

Citizens will have the opportunity to have their vote on the $400 million bond referendum on Aug. 1, 2011. Of the $400 million, $350 million is slated for the new arena, while the remaining $50 million will go toward the ballpark.

"I commend County Executive Mangano for putting forth an agenda that gives residents a strong voice in the future of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum and the surround site," Murray said. "I am eager to work with the county executive, Mr. Charles Wang, State Senators Dean Skelos and Jack Martins, as well as local resident, to revitalize communities, create jobs and stimulate the economy."

Demolition Begins on West Hempstead's Seedy "Courtesy Hotel"

Construction vehicles began ripping down the infamous Courtesy Hotel in West Hempstead Thursday afternoon, as residents and local leaders celebrated the end of their nightmares and the start of a new beginning.

For more than a decade, residents led by the West Hempstead Community Support and Civic Association rallied for the crime-ridden hotel to be removed from their neighborhood, working with and sometimes fighting with officials in the Town of Hempstead.

It will take two weeks for the hotel to completely come down and many months before the community will see construction completed on the 150-unit luxury apartment complex that will be erected in its place.

Town Photo Calendar Contest

The Town of Hempstead has announced its 14th Annual Calendar Photograph Contest. Each year the town produces a calendar, which is delivered to every resident.

Friends and neighbors are asked to submit their own original photographs that depict a seasonal Town of Hempstead event, park, neighborhood or other inspiring subject matter. The pictures must be taken within the township.

Judges will choose at least 12 winners (one photograph for each month of the year)
and others for the front and back covers as well as other portions of the calendar.

The following criteria will apply to contestants’ submissions:

• The contest is open to all Town of Hempstead residents, including town employees, and all photographs must be taken in the Town of Hempstead.
• The deadline for submitting up to five photographs (any size up to 8” by 10”) is Sept. 15, 2011. Entries can be mailed, e-mailed or hand delivered. No exceptions, the deadline and the five photo submissions will be strictly enforced.
• Slides, transparencies, copies or ink jet printouts of photographs may NOT be submitted. Only photographically developed photographs in black and white or color will be accepted. Digital photographs (saved as approximately 8”x10”, 300 dpi jpg images) e-mailed to jblenn@tohmail.org are preferred. All photographically printed photographs submitted will be returned upon completion of the printing of the calendar. If you have any questions regarding the formatting of e-mailed photos, please call Joni Blenn at 516-812-3300.
• All photographs must be accompanied by a descriptive sentence indicating the name of the photographer, his or her address and phone number, the approximate month/season in which the photo was taken, the location and/or event and the names of any individuals in the photograph. The photographer is responsible for the correct spelling of the names of the subjects in the photos as well as notifying subjects that their picture may appear in the Town of Hempstead 2011 calendar. The town will not print the names of those in the photograph, but they do need them.
• Please send photographs to: Town of Hempstead Photo Contest, Office of Communications & Public Affairs, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, NY 11550.

Remember, the deadline for submitting your photographs is Thursday,
Sept. 15, 2011.