September 8, 2008

County Passes Cold War Veterans Tax Exemption

Upon authorization of New York State and the recommendation of County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi, the Nassau County Legislature has passed legislation implementing a property tax exemption for Cold War veterans. Each city, town, and village has the option of deciding whether to grant the Cold War exemption to their veterans.   The Cold War is defined as September 2, 1945 to December 26, 1991.  Veterans who served during the Korean or Vietnam Wars or who received an expeditionary medal for operations in Lebanon, Grenada or Panama during specified times of conflict are eligible for the Alternative Veterans Exemption. No veteran can receive both a Cold War and a war time tax exemption.  The Cold War exemption of 15% adopted by the Legislature applies to county  taxes but not school or special district taxes and is limited to 10 years.  Veterans with a service-connected disability can increase the value of the exemption by one half of their disability rating.

Applications are available from Veterans’ Exemption Division, Department of Assessment, 240 Old Country Road, 4th Floor, Mineola, NY 11501 (516) 571-1500.

POW/MIA Candle Light Vigil

The annual Nassau County POW/MIA Remembrance Day candle light vigil will be Saturday, September 27, 2008 at Veterans Plaza, in Eisenhower Park.  LtCol. Michael Boden, USA, military science professor at Hofstra University will be guest speaker.  Also performing will be the Pershing Rifles, Hofstra University’s ROTC drill team and the Nassau County Police Pipe and Drum Band.  The ceremony begins at 7:00pm.

Legislative Breakfasts

Holding their feet to the fire is one way to put it.  Having a friendly chat over eggs and coffee is another description of the same event.   The two largest veteran organizations in Nassau County have invited local elected officials to meet their members in October to discuss issues important to veterans.  The Veterans of Foreign Wars are meeting at 9:00 am on Sunday, October 26 at the Albertson Post, located at 155 Searingtown  Road.  Tickets ($10) can be purchased from Ken McDonough, (PCC) (561) 681-4406.  The American Legion Legislative chairman, Peter Holowecki (PDVC), says tickets to The American Legion legislative breakfast on October 19 are available if you mail a check made out to “NC American Legion”, earmarked "legislative breakfast”, to 70 Liberty Avenue, Mineola, NY 11501-3422.  The cost is $15 per person.

Honoring a Long Island Hero

New Island Hospital in Bethpage, NY is sponsoring a 5K Run and Walk that raises money for hospital improvements and honors  the memory of Medal of Honor recipient Lt. Michael P. Murphy on Sunday, September 21 at 9:00 am at the Bethpage State Park Polo Field.  To register please call (516) 520-2487.

Another great race will be held on November 9, 2008 at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow at 9:00 am.  The first annual “Long Island Run for the Warriors” is a 5K and 1 mile Fun Run sponsored by Hope for the Warriors.  For information, please go to:  www.hopeforthewarriors.org   or call Toni Aurilio at (910) 546-1120.

Air and Space Gala at Cradle of Aviation

James A. Lovell, Commander of Apollo 13, will be the guest of honor at the 6th Annual Air and Space Gala at the Cradle of Aviation Museum on Thursday, October 16, 2008 at 6:30 pm. Reservations can be made by telephone by calling (516) 572-4026, by fax at (516) 572-4079, or by mail to the Cradle of Aviation Museum, One Davis Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530.  Individual ticket price is $275. Dress is business attire.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008 The Cradle of Aviation is opening a new exhibit called, “Air Power at Sea”.  World War II Ace Admiral Whitey Feightner (USN, Ret.) will be special guest at 12:30pm.  Free  admission to veterans. Light refreshments will be served.

Veterans Day Recognizes Korean War Veterans

The United Veterans Organization (UVO) of Nassau County is sponsoring a ceremony on November 9, 2008 at Veterans Plaza in Eisenhower Park, East Meadow at 10:30am. All veteran organizations are welcome to attend and encouraged to bring a color guard (assembly is at 10:00am).  Special recognition this year will be made to the Korean War veterans present.   County Executive Suozzi will present a certificate of recognition to each Korean War Veteran who has submitted his or her name by October 27 to the Veterans Service Agency.  Send a letter or email to the Nassau County Veterans Service Agency, 1425 Old Country Road, Building H, Plainview, NY 11803 or eaulman@nassaucountyny.gov stating that you will be attending the UVO Veterans Day ceremony on November 9, 2008 at Eisenhower Park and that you served on active duty anytime between  June 27, 1950 and January 31, 1955. Also state your rank and branch of service if you would like this information to appear on your certificate.

Job Opportunities for Veterans

Asplundh Tree Expert Co. trucks are seen all over Long Island and the metropolitan area.  They have contacted me again to say that they want to hire veterans. They have positions available now for Flaggers and entry-level Ground persons. To apply, please contact Greg Hallstein at (516) 790-8809 or (631) 205-9323. Other employers are listed on our Veterans Service Agency Web site:  www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/veterans.

FedEx, UPS, NYC Fire Department, MTA, North Shore Health System and other employers will be at the Cradle of Aviation on Saturday September 20, 2008 for a Veteran's Jobs and Benefit Fair from 10:0am to 2:00pm.  Call the Veterans Service Agency 516-572-8452 for a free ticket.

The military-to-civilian recruiting firm, RecruitMilitary, will hold a career fair 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sept. 24, 2008 at Madison Square Garden. This free event is open to veterans with a wide variety of work experience, as well as transitioning active-duty, Reserve and National Guard service members, and military spouses.

Interested jobseekers may visit www.recruitmilitary.com to register. They should come to the fair with at least two dozen copies of their resume.

College Fair for Veterans

The Borough of Manhattan Community College will host a College Fair for Veterans 4-7 p.m. on Oct. 16, 2008. Workshops, panels and discussions include the admissions process, financial aid and VA benefits, and student life. The fair will be located at Richard Harris Terrace, 199 Chambers Street, Manhattan.

To RSVP, call (212) 290-5674 or visit www.cuny.edu/veterans

Military Appreciation Day at Coliseum

Active duty and reserve members of the military can buy tickets for a NY Islanders vs. Philadelphia Flyers hockey game on Veterans Day, November 11, 2008 for almost half price.  A $30 ticket is $16; $50 End Zone Mezzanine ticket is $25; $60 Center Mezzanine tickets are $34; and the Lower VIP End Zone $75 tickets are $49.  Members of the military should call Rick McCarthy at (516) 501-6804 or rick.mccarthy@newyorkislanders.com for tickets.

Larry Sklar of the Jewish War Veterans is selling the $30 tickets as part of a fundraiser for the Hungry Heroes program administered by the VA Medical Center in Northport.  Larry hopes every veteran’s organization will buy at least two tickets even if no member goes to the game so patients at the VA facility can be taken to the game for free.  Contact Larry at (646) 641-8460.

Business Opportunities

Do you know a veteran with a construction business?  The Clark Construction company is offering many subcontracting opportunities in the Washington D.C. area for veteran-owned and service disabled veteran-owned businesses.   The Department of the Treasury is also looking for the same kind of veteran-owned businesses.  A local landscape contractor with a federal contract is also looking for a disabled veteran owned business that he can award a subcontract. For information contact: John Narciso, New York State Program Coordinator, Veterans Business Outreach Center,1-800-732-SBDC, veterans@nyssbdc.org,www.nyssbdc.org/vboc, NYS Small Business Development Center – Farmingdale, (631) 370-8891.

“Veterans News” New Time and Date

The United Veterans Organization of Nassau County public access television show “Veterans News” is back on prime time and on a prime channel.  Beginning October 2008 and running through March 2009 “Veterans News” will be broadcast every Monday at 7:00pm on Cablevision  channel 20.  The show will continue to be shown on government channel 18 in North Hempstead, Malvern, Lynbrook, and Floral Park areas at various times. The show is running until the end of this month on cable channel 115 at 7:30pm on Thursdays.