Uniondale welcomes you!
"a very vibrant, energetic, and engaged town. (Uniondale is) very active in a positive way." - Delores Sedacca, County of Nassau



Here's what's happening in Uniondale:

On May 17th, Uniondale Community Council meets beginning at 6:30 at the Library. NuHealth President Arthur Gianelli will give an update on the proposed development at the A. Holly Patterson home.

5/15/10: We finally added meeting results from April 28th and the May Nostrand Gardens meeting on the News page.

5/9/10: We're in the process of creating a blog for 11553. More to come-and soon-when we get this up and running!

5/5/10: Meeting notes from the April Uniondale Community Council meeting is now available on the News Page (click "News" on your left).

Uniondale High School's Class of 2000 is going all out to make their 10th anniversary reunion a success. What makes their class reunion different from the rest? They've been putting on events which are welcome to the entire community! Recently they had a free car wash, and on Saturday, May 8th, they're having a Bowl-A-Rama at Garden City Bowl, and again YOU are invited! Find out more.

Save the date: Saturday, May 22nd. There's a Uniondale Community Fair being planned! It'll take place at Uniondale Avenue Park, and all the groups in town are being invited to take part. If your group would like to get a table, do call (516) 538-9487. And here's a flier with more details.

We've also put a flier up for next week's Knights of Columbus' Knight at the Races! This is fast becoming one of Powell Council's most popular events, so . . . save the date: Friday, May 14th!

There's a lot more going on, and we'll bring it all to you here-and soon! And watch for more changes to the look of 11553!

5/2/10: A few events of interest this week.

Monday, May 3rd: Nostrand Gardens monthly meeting, and the subject is the upcoming proposed school budget. 6:30pm, Uniondale Library

Tuesday, May 4th: Uniondale Chamber of Commerce, TD Waterhouse bank, Merrick Avenue and Hempstead Turnpike, East Meadow. It starts at 6, and should take about an hour.

Also on May 4th, the UFSD Board of Education is having a hearing on the school budget at the High School beginning at 7 pm. 

Thursday, May 6th: "Heroes in the Community" gala fundraiser. Contact David Greaves at www.byrnecenter.com

And on May 14th, It's another installment of the Knights of Columbus' Knight at the Races. All the details are on their website.

4/19/10:

Later this week I hope to get notes from Monday night's Uniondale Community Council meeting.

Save the date: Wednesday, April 28th. There'll be an update on what's going on at the Holly Patterson Home at their auditorium beginning at 6 pm.

Looks like the proposed Laundromat at Paff and Jerusalem Avenues is on again. The owner met with local residents and signed an agreement with lawyers to scale down development to build a single family house between the Laundromat and the adjoining house, put up a fence which will be locked shut at closing time, which will be 11pm.

 

Did you send back your Census form yet?

Save the date: April 24th! There are a couple of events in Uniondale.

This one's courtesy of Rasmia Zatar, Uniondale Community Council:

"Even though the deadline to mail back your census forms and avoid a visit from a census enumerator has past (April 16th), we are still
encouraging residents to continue mailing back their forms or calling in their information directly to the census bureau.  The Census bureau will be crossing names off their "To Visit" list as they get responses from households and it is still possible to avoid a visit and ensure that you are counted.

This is why we are going to be holding a rally on Saturday, April 24th at the Martin Luther King Peace park from 11am to 1pm.  We will be
having students from STRONG chapter programs and TASK students participating in this event.  They will be holding up signs and asking
the public to please send/call the census and get counted!

If you are available, it would be very nice to support our youth as they help us get Uniondale counted!"

Also, Alumni from Uniondale High School's class of 2000 are having a free car wash! Saturday April 24th from noon to 4 pm, they'll be washing cars in the St. Martha's parking lot, and they're doing it for donations. Whatever you want to pay (but it would be nice if you wanted to offer something towards their fundraising).

UCC is having a meeting on Monday 4/19 at 630pm at uniondale library. Come out and meet the uniondale school board candiates. Learn about your school tax dollars and how our school district compares to others.

If you missed the April 5th Nostrand Gardens meeting, we now have a recap! Click on the "news" page. Notes from the April 6th Chamber of Commerce meeting are also there as well.

On May 6th, the John J. Byrne Neighborhood Center is having their annual celebration, "Heroes in the Community." You can find out more, and register to attend, at their website, www.byrnecenter.com

4/3/2010:

We're still in the process of working on the "new look." We've added the missing pages, and have updated the events calendar. If your event isn't listed, drop me a line and I'll be sure to add them. Keep checking back for updates!

3/30/2010:

We've finally begun making changes to the look of 11553.com (you'll see them quite soon). We're also slowly restoring the missing pages as well as bringing back the calendar page. If your organization has news and dates of events, please feel free to start sending them, and I'll add them as I get them.

2/5/10:

We've begun making changes here. We're now being hosted by GoDaddy. We've closed the Yahoo forums and will announce a new forum in the near future. There's also more news about Uniondale coming very soon, so please keep sending it to me! Remember if you run or belong to a group you belong on 11553.com!

Mike Dragonetti
Contact me: Towncrier@mindspring.com

1/30/10:

Big thanks to all who attended last night's Uniondale Community Council's Dinner Dance It was a night I won't soon, if ever, forget. A number of people asked for a copy of my acceptance speech, so here goes:

Worthy UCC officers,  fellow honorees,
dignitaries and VIPs

There are so many here who do and lead,
To be thought of in that category, it’s an honor indeed!

The volunteers here, they do plenty,
You’re not doing just one job, you’re doing 20!

And when you quit one job you get two more, 
But when you’re helping others, you’re never bored,

My niche out there for all to see,
The dot com home of 11553,

Posting on the web town events and news,
The cyber-place to share your views,

To some who haven’t volunteered as of yet,
Give it a whirl! Do what you do best!
That’s the secret of my success,

Doing what you like, and liking what you do,
Evidently you folks seem to like it too,
BIG thanks to each and every one of you! 

A big thanks to Finn Mauritzen for getting 11553.com off the ground. He's decided to "retire" from the website, and it was his vision of a "one-stop cyber home" for Uniondale news that I'll attempt to keep up. He'll check in from time to time, and like you, I hope he likes what he'll be seeing in the future here!

We'll make some long overdue changes here, and we'll also be making some changes with the way you can contact us. Those of us who go to the current forum agree changes are in order there, and they'll be made-soon. We're going to do away with the Yahoo forums, and in the meantime check out the "Uniondale, New York" page on Facebook.

Please feel free to contact me at towncrier@mindspring.com

Best regards,

Mike Dragonetti

9/30/09:
We've made a few changes here, and more are on the way. All the events can now be found on the Events page on the left. We're also going to re-design the front page, and possibly a new logo. More to come. And we're also bringing back the Chamber of Commerce! You can find all the information by clicking on the Chamber of Commerce button on the left.

There is SO much to do here in Uniondale, and there's surely something for you!

If you run an organization in Uniondale, YOU belong on 11553.com!

Best Regards,

Mike Dragonetti

Our e-mail address: towncrier@mindspring.com


Uniondale Foundation for Academic Excellence
Join the Uniondale Foundation for Educational Excellence, Inc. (UFEE) this SUNDAY, AUGUST 16TH at 3PM for a special gathering featuring refreshments, music and conversation to celebrate the UHS Class of 2009's recent accomplishment and wish them well in their future endeavors. This is a great opportunity for Uniondale alumni to come together around a worthwhile cause - to provide the recent high school graduates with advice before they start college, full-time jobs, military service and more.

This relaxed and informal gathering will take place at the Sherman Van Ness Fire House at 154 Uniondale Avenue. It is located across from Cornelius Court and between Front Street and Hempstead Turnpike.

The event is FREE for all! Donations of any amount are also greatly appreciated.

RSVP to info@ufee.org by Friday, August 14th at 11:59 PM to confirm your spot. Please note that space is limited.

Note: If you cannot attend the event but would still like to participate or support in some capacity, here's how you can help:

1. Send your biography to info@ufee.org by Saturday August 15th, which we will share with the recent grads for inspiration.*

2. Send helpful tips and advice to info@ufee.org by Saturday, August 15th that you wish you would have had access to upon graduating from high school.*

3. Make a donation to UFEE! Please make your check payable to "UFEE, Inc." and mail it to P.O. Box #306, Uniondale, NY, 11553.

*Please include your full contact information if it is OK for the grads to contact you with questions and/or request further advice.

The Uniondale Foundation for Educational Excellence, Inc. (UFEE) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization that supports educational initiatives in the Uniondale School District by distributing grants, leveraging resources and fostering partnerships. UFEE is currently comprised of 15 Uniondale alumni volunteers, ranging from the Class of 1989 to 2002. To learn more, please visit/join our Facebook fan page

Uniondale Legislative Forum


Legislative Forum at Uniondale High School
The Uniondale PTA hosted their Annual Legislative Forum at Uniondale
High School.  Town of Hempstead Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby,
Legislator Kevan Abrahams,  Senator Kemp Hannon and Assemblyman Tom
McKevitt were able to dialogue with participants from the community,
central administration and school board members on matters of concern.
A main topic of discussion was the 2009-2010 proposed Executive
Budget and the Youth Block Grant by the Association of NYS Youth
Bureaus.

Uniondale PTA Council:
Seated:
Roxanne Wheeler,
Sandretta Chaulk,
Adrienne Hawthorne,
Cynthia Van Brussel
Standing:
Tim Jinks,
Jill Williams,
Carol DelValle, 1st VP,
Assemblyman Tom McKevitt,
Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby,
James Sharpe, Pres.
Senator Kemp Hannon,
Leg. Kevan Abrahams,
Keith Little

Uniondale Community Council news:
In case you missed the January Uniondale Community Council meeting, we have a recaps. Find them, and more back issues. Click here.

The U.C.C. is offering free tax preparation at the Neighborhood Center. Call them for details, (516) 538-9487

Did you know you could help the U.C.C. just by using a search engine? Every time you search the Internet or shop online with GoodSearch, the U.C.C. gets $.01 With all the surfing on the web we all do, this could add up! Find out more.

Go Knights!
Uniondale High School
Our boys basketball team have advanced to the Long Island Regional Class AA Finals. If they win, they go to the State Championships! Save the date and support your Knights: Friday, March 13th, 7:30 p.m. at SUNY Old Westbury.

And did you know Uniondale High School has two "school spirit" songs? You can find them on the Alumni page.

Uniondale High is teaming up with Lockheed Martin for a Robotics competition, and is also hosting a Vocational Voyage Career day, which is open to all. Click on the following for more information, and to sign up.

We are Uniondale
Nostrand Gardens news
They have a website: www.weareuniondale.com, plus a new message forum which is open to all Uniondale residents. It only takes a minute to join, and it's free.

Do you have a Fortunoff's gift card?
You still have time to use it, courtesy of New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. Details on State Senator Kemp Hannon's page.

The proposed Covanta expansion
The Uniondale Community Council is arranging for a tour of the proposed Covanta incinerator. This is the incinerator you see when you drive on the Meadowbrook Parkway. Covanta has invited the community to tour the plant. The tour takes place Thursday, March 19th, from 6 pm - 7 pm.

Town of Hempstead dates to remember:
In addition to their Town Board meetings, which you can find on the Events calendar, the Town of Hempstead has some important dates:

E-Cycling, Sunday, March 8th, Town parking field L2, Division Avenue, Levittown

Stop Throwing Out Pollutants, Sunday, March 15th, Eisenhower Park (parking field 3) East Meadow

Water main flushing, April 13-24, for everyone in Uniondale.

For information on these and all Town of Hempstead matters, contact the Town at (516) 489-5000.

Salute our community heroes!

Heroes in the Community
Thursday, March 12th is the kick-off date for the Heroes in the community gala, a fundraiser which will pay tribute to dedicated Uniondalers and raise funds for the Rev. John J. Byrne Community Center. All the details can be found on the Events page.

Much ado at the Library:
The Friends of the Library have a theatre seat campaign. You can purchase an engraved plate which becomes part of Uniondale history, and you'll be supporting your library!

The Friends of the Library also have a membership campaign going on, and they're hosting a Membership Welcome Reception on Wednesday, March 23rd. More library events can be found on the Events page.

Updates on Mitchel Field
Keep informed on the proposed Lighthouse project for Mitchel Field by visiting here.

On Tuesday, February 24 the Town of Hempstead voted to adopt the scope of the environmental studies for the Lighthouse project.

National Council of Negro Women

Making a difference
The National Council of Negro Women held its 11th Annual Black History Luncheon at the Long Island Marriott in Uniondale whose theme was "Young, Gifted and Black: Making a Difference". Town of Hempstead Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby presented Certificates of Recognition to this year scholarship awardees and congratulated Chairwoman, Johnnie Walker, and President Karen McCready.

Johnnie Walker, Chair,
Karen McCready, Pres
Tarina Bradshaw, scholarship awardee, Hempstead,
Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby,
Steven Watson, scholarship awardee, Uniondale,
Candace Crawford, scholarship awardee, Brentwood,
Brenda Smith, Ph.D., keynote speaker

The Uniondale PAL needs your help!
The issues of Nassau County's budget affects everyone, but what the proposed budget cuts have in store for our youth really can't be ignored. Find out how you can help by clicking on this page.

Uniondale PAL football's awards dinner

Uniondale PAL football
The Uniondale PAL hosted their 2008 Football Season Awards Banquet at
the Coral House in Baldwin.  Town of Hempstead Councilwoman Dorothy
Goosby congratulated all of the Uniondale Knights Football players,
coaches and members of the Executive Board and Banquet Committee.

Coach Deshawn Brown,
Coach Ron Davis,
8 Year Old Team,
Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby,
Debra Oden, Chair
Gina Segura, Treasurer

Did you see Sherry Boucarut in the January 14th edition of Newsday?
She's one of Uniondale's hardest-working, most civically involved residents.

Read about she worked to get out the vote for President-elect Obama,

and when she goes to his Inauguration.

Sherry wants everyone to know about the Jack and Jill event (details on the Event Page in the March calendar), the Dr. Martin Luther King Scholarship dinner dance (details on the Event page on the January calendar), and the Grassroots for Change, which is having an ongoing collection of canned foods for needy families. E-mail for more details.

The Uniondale Chamber of Commerce is back!
And click on the Chamber of Commerce button on the left for all the contact information!

The O.L.G.W. ministry
The O.L.G.W. ministry is now offering inexpensive voice lessons. Contact Tracie Brown for more details.

Book authors who are UHS Alumni
Did you know a few former Uniondalers are authors? Ken Myler, UHS class of '79, is selling his current book, and is in the process of writing his second one. Check out his website, www.kenmyler.com

Karole Maidhof Svitak, UHS class of '77, has fiction and children's books to her credit. You can see her website here.

UCC and Nostrand Gardens needs you!
If you're looking to get involved in Uniondale, keep the first and third Mondays of the month open. That's when the Nostrand Gardens Civic Association and Uniondale Community Council meet. Good people like you working hard to make a positive difference in our town, and they're both in need of members. If you attend, you'll be in the know on what's happening in Uniondale. Stop by the Library on the dates listed below (and in the Events page). Do what I do-go to both!

Nostrand Gardens is now having a membership drive. Download this form for all the details.

Be a part of the People's Campaign!

There's a lot happening with Nostrand Gardens. Click here for the latest news.

UCC's cyber-home
Add the following URL to your list of Uniondale web sites. It's the cyber-home for the Uniondale Community Council.

This flyer describes the UCC Youth Project

Growing up Uniondale
Former Uniondaler Pat Murphy checked in with a story and a song about his growing up in Uniondale. For any current Uniondalers who wondered what it was like growing up here in the '60s, listen to the words of this song:

The lyrics

His Uniondale song.

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This page was last updated on 08/13/09 .

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