Gun Buy-Back Program, LIRR Digital Ticketing

Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano and District Attorney Kathleen Rice have announced that a Gun Buy-Back Program will be held on Feb. 16 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Grace Cathedral, located at 944 Jerusalem Ave. in Uniondale.

The Gun Buy-Back Program is strictly anonymous and individuals will be paid $100 cash for every turned in operable rifle, $200 cash for each turned in operable handgun and $400 cash for each turned in operable assault rifle. Not accepted are: licensed guns, BB Guns, air pistols, long guns and replicas. Guns transported by car must be transported in the trunk of the car and must be unloaded and put in a plastic/paper bag or in a shoe box.

Forfeiture funds from the Nassau County Police Department and the District Attorney’s Office are utilized to fund the Gun Buy Back Program.

Dogs in Fighting Ring Brought to North Hempstead Animal Shelter

A New Cassel woman was arrested on dog fighting charges after Nassau County Police say they discovered wounded pit bulls, a homemade dog fighting ring, syringes, penicillin and steroids in her home.

In total, 18 dogs were brought to the Town of North Hempstead Animal Shelter in Port Washington

 Nassau County detectives say they responded to a noise complaint at 721 Broadway in New Cassel at 11 p.m. Friday when they saw nearly 20 people running out of a garage behind the house. Inside the garage, police discovered the wooden dog fighting ring that contained two pit bulls in “wounded, bloody condition.”

Click here to find out how the dogs are doing.

Nickerson Beach Set to Open for Summer 2013

Hurricane Sandy's wrath is still being felt across the Island three months after its arrival, but there was some good news this week for Nassau County residents.

The county confirmed that Nickerson Beach would be "fully open" for the summer of 2013, despite sustaining damage during the October storm.

Nickerson Beach Park is a 155-acre facility with multiple pools, cabanas, sports fields and approximately one mile of beach.

MTA Railroads Seeking Company to Help Create Digital Ticketing

LIRR and Metro-North customers might soon be able to choose a new, more convenient way to buy train fares: instant digital tickets via smartphone or tablet. For those who choose to use them, it would mean an end to traveling to stations early to spend time buying tickets or waiting for tickets to arrive in the mail.

The two railroads are seeking proposals from companies that want to help make digital ticketing a reality. The railroads are asking companies to develop an app that will let customers buy tickets right on their mobile devices and display their tickets on screen for visual inspection by conductors and/or barcode verification. As an alternative, customers would be able to print tickets at home.

The request for proposals was issued on Jan. 22. Responses are due by March 15. The MTA expects to award a contract by July 2013. The winning firm would begin a pilot program customers could try by the spring of 2014, and full rollout would begin by the early fall of 2014.

Nassau Sewer Privatization Delayed

The plan to privatize Nassau County's sewage system was delayed this week after County Executive Mangano announced that the Long Beach and Bay Park plants would be undergoing repairs from Sandy.

"Right now, we are focused on working with the state on a regional plan to harden the Bay Park and Long Beach plants [against future storms]," Mangano told Newsday [paid link] earlier this week.

Mangano said in April that the plan would help eliminate $750 million, or 25 percent, of the county's $3 billion debt. The county executive also said that the plan would stabilize the county’s sewer authority, which is set to face bankruptcy in 2014, by saving $22 million annually.

NICE Bus Looking to Increase Fare, Improve Service

The Nassau County Bus Transit Committee will vote Feb. 13 to approve a proposed fare hike within the NICE Bus system.

According to Newsday [paid link]:

       The cost of a bus ride would climb to $2.50 from $2.25. Fares for unlimited-ride MetroCards, such as those valid for 30 days, also would increase.

       NICE officials have urged the committee to approve the plan, calling it necessary to avoid losing millions of dollars in "step-up" fees that Nassau bus riders would be charged for transferring to MTA buses or subways.

Mangano Stresses Need for Federal Hurricane Relief

The South Merrick Civic Association welcomed County Executive Ed Mangano as guest speaker at its monthly meeting Tuesday, where he spoke on procuring federal aid for those affected by Hurricane Sandy.

Mangano spoke about his recent work in Albany in regards to procuring funding to assist Nassau County residents whose homes, property and businesses have suffered damage or outright lost due to Hurricane Sandy.

Click here to see what Mangano had to say.

SBA Deadline for Physical Damage Extended

The U.S. Small Business Administration has extended the deadline for Hurricane Sandy survivors in New York to return their low-interest loan applications for physical damage to Feb. 27, 2013.

Residents may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela or visit one of the local recovery centers for one-on-one assistance.