North Hempstead Transportation Initiative

by Cristina Callegari Kanellopoulos

The Town of North Hempstead and local licensed taxi services are offering senior residents a fantastic opportunity! The town has implemented a 4 month pilot program made possible by a grant from the United States Administration on Aging, and is part of Project Independence - which is North Hempstead's aging-in-place initiative. This pilot program will offer FREE taxi service to it's older residents to local Supermarkets. Here's how it works:

If you are age 60 or over, are a resident of North Hempstead, and live with the pilot area, you are eligible for free, round-trip taxi service 1x per week to a local, designated food shopping destination. This program will run until February 15, 2010.

The program is being offered in the following locations and times:

1. Great Neck, Great Neck Village, Great Neck Manor and the Manhasset Valley Residences. Mondays from 11 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Residents will be taken to Waldbaum's Shopping Center on Great Neck Road.
2. Port Washington, Port Washington North, Baxter Estates and Manorhaven. Wednesdays from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Residents will be taken to King Kullen or Stop & Shop Centers on Shore Road.
3. Westbury, within the town of North Hempstead and New Cassel. You must live East of Post Avenue, South of the Northern State Parkway, and West of the Wantagh State Parkway. Wednesdays from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Residents will be taken to Stop & Shop on Old Country Road.
4. New Hyde Park. Thursdays from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Residents to be taken to Stop & Shop on Hillside Avenue.

Here's answers to commonly asked questions:

How can I get the Free taxi service?

Call 311 or 516-869-6311 and indicate your interest in the Project Independence Senior Shopping Service pilot program. Call-takers will ask for your name, address, date of birth and telephone number. You will then be enrolled, and mailed a Project Independence membership card. You will sign and show the taxi driver your member card.

How to schedule a ride?

Call 311 at least one day before the day your area is scheduled for the shopping service. Call-takers are on duty M-F from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Will the cab take my walker/wheelchair, can my Aide come along?

Yes, to both questions as long as you schedule your ride at least 24 hours in advance.

How will the trip home be handled?

The taxis will be spending 3 hours going between neighborhood and store. Your driver will show you the meeting place and tell you the approximate pick-up times, and the time of the last trip back home. You will be limited to no more than 3 grocery bags, as their may be more than one passenger in your car.

Call 311 if you have any questions.

This pilot program is a welcome addition to the services for our senior residents in the Town of North Hempstead, and I truly hope that the pilot is successful, and the locations are expanded.

East Meadow School District is a Contender: Watch Out North Shore!

By Cristina Callegari Kanellopoulos

Good news for residents in East Meadow Union Free School District #3 on Long Island arrived as the results of the 2008-2009 ELA (English Language Arts) and Math Assessments came in markedly higher than last year.

The School District has much to be proud of as the new scores indicate that programs and procedures implemented over the last several years are beginning to pay off. Some of the specifics are district programs that have been designed to improve instruction, and a series of professional development workshops with an emphasis on analyzing past test data to determine areas in which students need additional help.

The results are astounding! On the ELA Assessments, every grade level from 3 to 8 exceeded the county average, and in most cases, realized an increase in the number of students meeting proficiency. For example, in the 2007-2008 school year the percentage of students who passed the exam was 86%. However, in the 2008-2009 school year the percentage of students who passed the exam was 96%. Please see below for the full exam Results.

2008-2009 ELA Assessment Results:

Grade 3: 88%
Grade 4: 93%
Grade 5: 94%
Grade 6: 96%
Grade 7: 95%
Grade 8: 91%

2008-2009 Math Assessment Results:

Grade 3: 98%
Grade 4: 96%
Grade 5: 98%
Grade 6: 97%
Grade 7: 98%
Grade 8: 96%

These results put the East Meadow School District in line with, and in some cases ahead of, the high-performing Long Island School Districts of Roslyn, North Shore, Great Neck, Herricks and Port Washington. These districts are among the highest performing, most competitive school districts in the region, and the East Meadow results show that the school district means business.

This can only mean great things for the local Real Estate Market of East Meadow, and Salisbury (Salisbury is a Hamlet of Hempstead that is part of the East Meadow School District). Only time will tell, but I expect to see a boost in home prices if the school can keep this level of excellence up.

Kudos to you East Meadow Union Free School District!

Finding a New York Apartment that Allows Dogs

by Cristina Callegari Kanellopoulos

I am often asked by fellow dog owners why it is so difficult to find a rental apartment in New York that will allow dogs. The truth of the matter is simple - Money.

Facts:

• Homeowners insurance premiums increase if the landlord allows dogs, especially large-breed dogs, or breeds deemed "dangerous" by the Insurance underwriters. Their thinking is these breeds are more likely to bite someone, and force a lawsuit on the homeowner, thus resulting in a homeowners claim.
• Co-ops and Condos can not afford to allow pets as a general policy, not only because of the increased overall insurance costs, but because it will increase property maintenance costs as well. They claim that their experience has shown them that not all pet owners are responsible at properly curbing their dogs. Additionally, the Co-op and Condo boards fear that if a badly-trained dog lives in the building the barking will disturb the neighbors. Therefore, decreasing the overall property value. As such Co-op and Condo boards generally have blanket policies of No Dogs Allowed.
• Also Landlords and Co-op/Condo Boards alike fear that poorly trained dogs will wreck the apartment, by urinating in the apartment, and public halls, and by chewing on baseboard moldings, etc.

There is hope in sight though. As small breed dogs have become more and more fashionable, landlords and Co-op/Condo Boards recognize that they need to cater to us in the dog loving community. And, many buildings that were previously not dog-friendly, have changed their rules to allow dogs below 20 pounds with board approval.

Unfortunately, for those with large breed dogs, or, more than one dog - it will be extremely difficult to find an apartment that will accomodate you and your pets.

If you need help finding an apartment in Northeastern Queens, or Western Nassau that allows dogs call me at 917.921.5397.