Bethpage-Tribune_1987-11-05

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Island Trees Plainedge
also serving
Seaford Old Bethpage Piainview
VOL. 32 NO. 27 November 5, 1987 to November 11,1987 20 cents per copy
Take Abandoned Cars
Off Z./. Higfiways
Assemblyman Lewis J. Ycvoli, (D-Old Bethpage) was
joined by the Chairman ol the Assembly Sub-Committee on
L.I. Highways, LW. Bianchi (D-Bellport) and Sultoik
Conty Assemblyman Patrick G. Halpin (D-Lindenhurst) in
announcing legislation they introduced to help rid the Long
Island's highways ol the growing number oi abandoned
vehicles left rusting on the roadside.
Assemblyman Yevoli said, "In recent years the number ol
abandoned vehicles left on many Long Island highways has
increased dramatically. The Long Island Lxpressway, the
Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway, Sunrise Highway, etc. are
rapidly becoming a dumping ground for junk cars, which is
not onlly an eye-sore but a serious hazard for motorists who
travel these roadways."
"The problem now is that the existing law is ambiguous
and some towns are refusing to tow away the cars, leaving
them abandoned on the side of highways like the LIE for
weeks or months at a time," Assemblyman Halpin said.
Assemblyman Bianchi explained this bill will amend the
Vehicle Traffic Law to make it specific that when a vehicle is
abandoned on a state highway, the New York State
Department of Transportation (DOT) will be responsible
for removing it. The legislation will-also increase fines to a
maximum of $500 for owners who abandon their vehihcles.
Currently, DOT has limited authority over abandoned
vehicles on 'Jtate parkways on Long Island. According to
Sergeant William McLaughlin, Traffic Supervisor for
Troop L of the State Police, on certain state parkways
within their jurisdiction abandoned cars are removed within
6 hours if they do not have license plates aind within 24 hours
if they have plates. However, on many state highways local
towns have an obligation to remove the vehicles.
Rather than continue this cross jurisdiction, the law must
be changed to give the state the authority to tow these cars
away as soon as possible, otherwise our parkways will look
just like the infamous Cross Bronx Expressweay," Yevoli
said.
Bianchi added, "The Sub-Committee will seek the start­up
funding in next years state budget that is needed to allow
the DOTto remove the vehicles from L.L roadways, but the
fines imposed on those who violate the law will utimately be
used to fund the program on an on-going basis."
"Our bill will make sure that abandoned vehicles will be
towed away in a timely fashion. It will put an end to the
hazard thai these vehicles present to drivers and make sure
that people traveling through Nassau and Suffolk Counties
do not see a highway littered by abandoned cars," the three
State lawmakers said.
This bill is expected to be acted upon once the New York
State Legislature reconvenes in January.
Deadline For
Academy Applications
Congressman Norman F.
Lent (R-4th CD) today
announced that applications
for a nomination to the
United States military
academies will be available
to all Fourth Congressional
District High School
Seniors until November 15,
1987.
until November 15,
1987. A request for nomi­nation
must be submitted
before the November 15th
deadline. Upon receipt of all
requested information, an
applicant will be scheduled
for a personal interview.
Candidates will be evaluated
on the basis of acaderhic per­formance,
leadership abil­ity,
and service to the com­munity.
Nominees will be
notified of their nomination
by early 1988, and if
appointed, will enter the
Class of 1992 at a United
States military academy.
This process is open to
individuals at least 17 but
not yet 22 years of age on
July 1st of the year of
entrance to the academy.
Individuals who are inter-
(Continued on Page 8)
Vietnam Veterans
Center Open House
On Veteran's Day, 1 1/11 /87, the Long island
Vet Center will open its doors lor those who want
to know about tlie Vietnam War and its after­math.
The L.l. Vet Center is one of 189 store-front
eenters in the nation providing free counseling to
Vietnam front centers in the nation providing free
counseling to Vietnam veterans and their families
still struggling with the human price of war.
There will be films to see and veterans to speak
with. Learn what it was like to serve in Vietnam
and to come home to a divided nation.
The Vet Center is located at 116 West Main St.,
Babylon, NY 11702, The Open House will be
from II AM - 7 PM. Drop in or call,
516-661-3930.
SXO.P. Program
Collection Day
Many common garden,
household and car mainte­nance
products are actually
materials which are hazard­ous
pollutants.
To assist residents in the
safe disposal of these pro­ducts,
the Town of Oyster
Bay, in cooperation with
local fire departments has
sponsored five special
S.T.O.P. (Stop Throwing
Out Pollutants) day will
take place on Saturday,
November I4th, between the
hours of 9 AM and 4 PM at
the Hicksville Firehouse, 20
East Marie Street.
Residents are urged to
bring their toxic household
materials, excluding aerosol
containers, unlabeled chem­icals
which cannot be classi­fied,
radioactive chemicals,
llammables, latex paint, Sil-vex
245T and explosives, to
the Hicksville Firehouse.
'^VETEEJANS
November 11
President International
Mim and Tony Kaiser
Tony Kaiser of Bethpage has achieved Kiwanis'
highest honor and accepted its lofty responsibili­ties:
Anton J. "Tony" Kaiser is International Pres­ident
and Mim is the organization's First Lady.
Together, they begin their yearlong journey into
ail regions of the world to lead and inspire Kiwan-ians
with a new challenge of community service—
"Our Quest: Their Best."
New Laws
Benefit Veterans
As Veteran's Day approachres-a time set aside for Ameri­cans
to show their appreciation to our Nation's veterans who
sacrificed to preserve our I'reedom, Senator Norman J. Levy
(R,C-Merrick) reported on a number of important new laws
enacted during the 1987 Session of the Legislature to further
assist and benefit New York State's Veterans.
Levy explainewd that, "Currently, many New York State
veterans are ineligible for additional credit on civil service
examinations because they were not New York State resi­dents
at the time of their entrance into the Armed Forces. It
is only equitable and fair that those veterans who have so
nobly served our Country and are now New York State
residents should be entitled to the same benefits and privi­leges
as a veteran who was a resident at the time of ent ranee
into the service.:
Among other recently enacted laws asre those which
would:
- Grant total exemption from ReaLProperty taxes to all
seriously disabled Veterans, not just those who served dur­ing
a time of war;
- Extend the application deadline for the Vietnam Vete­rans
Tuition Assistance Program from September 1, 1987 to
September I, 1990, and increase the Maximum award for
full time study of $1,000 and for part time study to $500. In
addition, an Inter-Agency Task Force will be created to
disseminate such information to Veterans;
- Create up to 300 exempt employment positions in New
York State government for disabled veterans who served in
the armed forces during World War H, Korea or the Viet­nam
Conflicts. Veterans who meet the disability require­ments
and job requirements can obtain civil service
employment without taking an examination;
- Extend, to June 16, 1988, the Statute of Limitations for
filing previously time-barred suits relating to exposure to
Agent Orange;
- Permit County Clerks to issue copies of a veteran's
honorable discharge certificate to the veteran's immediate
family members; and
- Authorize the issuance of a distinctive license plate for
disabled veterans.
"The Veterans of our State are deeply deserving of any
and all legislative measures which can help improve their
quality of life, in addition to extending to them and their
families, the recognition they deserve for their efforts on our
behalf," concluded Levy,