TOBAY Notebook: Park to be Re-dedicated For Fallen Massapequa Vet

Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto's boyhood friend, who died in fighting during the Vietnam war, will have his name memorialized in a Massapequa park on April 16.

Corp. Albert F. Klestinec, Jr., United States Marines Corps, was killed in the line of duty in 1966 during the Vietnam War. A small park will be re-dedicated to his memory on Saturday, April 16 at 9:30 a.m. The park is located in a triangular parcel in Massapequa between Broadway, Ohio Avenue and Franklin Avenue.

Corporal Klestinec (A Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st MARDIV, III MAF) was mortally wounded in heavy fighting in the Quang Nam province of South Vietnam on July 10, 1966. He was an anti-tank assault man and was highly regarded by the men with whom he served, said Venditto.

Klenstinec was 20 when he was killed. Venditto, who grew up and was friends with Klestinec, will preside over the re-dedication ceremony.

"Albert embodied the highest ideals of America," Venditto said. "He paid the ultimate price serving his country. This parklet, in the community where he lived for many years, serves as a reminder to all residents of his sacrifice."

The Massapequa and a host of other local veterans and civic organizations, will take part in the ceremony.

Second Half of School Taxes are Due

April brings spring, flowers, leaf blowers and tax bills.

Although the second half of the 2010-11 school taxes are were due on April 1, residents can pay without penalty through May 10. Make sure you sign your check and make it payable to James J. Stefanich, Receiver of Taxes. Include your property’s school district code, section, block, lot and phone number on the check.

"By law, a taxpayer has a from the date the tax is due during which payment may be made without penalty," Stefanich said. "After the 40 days, a 1-percent penalty is added for each month the tax remains unpaid, retroactive to April 1."

Residents can pay in person, by either cash or check, at the Tax Office, Oyster Bay Town Hall West, 74 Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay, or by check only at the Receiver of Taxes counter located in the Town Clerk’s Office, Town Hall South, 977 Hicksville Road, Massapequa.

When paying a tax bill in person, taxpayers should bring the entire tax bill with their payments. Payments made by mail should include the second half stub. Residents should not write on, fold, staple or otherwise deface the tax stub as it can cause the computer system to reject payment.

For more information about your tax bills, go to the Town of Oyster Bay's website.

Leaf Blowers Restricted Under Noise Ordinance

Along with the taxes comes spring cleaning and the roar of small engines. The Town of Oyster Bay restricts the hours that residents can use leaf blowers.

The town's noise ordinance addresses everything from radios and home audio systems to loudspeakers and signaling devices such as horns and sirens. It also addresses leaf blowers."

Town Clerk Steve Labriola stated said the hours of operation for leaf blowers are from 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. weekdays and between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekends and national holidays. The restriction apply to landscapers as well as individual homeowners.

To report violations, he said residents should contact their local police precinct or the Town’s Department of Public Safety at (516) 677-5350, any time of the day or night, including weekends and holidays. The ordinance does not apply to incorporated villages.