Long Islanders are preparing for local primary elections on September 14, 2010.  In the race for 21st Assembly District the Democratic Party nominee, Mimi Pierre faces a primary challenge from Elmont resident Patrick Nicolosi.  Republican Edward Ra has been tapped to replace retiring Assemblyman, Tom Alfano.

Today in front of the South Entrance to the New York State Supreme Court building in Mineola NY, primary candidate Patrick Nicolosi outlined a pattern of fraud uncovered as Democratic Party nominee Mimi Pierre, Senator Craig Johnson, and other slate member signatures were examined for legitimacy.  It is customary for candidates to examine the signatures collected and in so doing the Nicolosi team “have so far uncovered … hundreds of invalid, forged” and  otherwise illegal signatures and illegal behaviors by witnesses some of whom “are also state delegate candidates on the ballot”.  Nicolosi said “I am outraged by the outright fraud uncovered”.

When we first saw the heavily edited Shirley Sherrod video on FOX News, most of us experienced several emotions.  First there was shock which caused many of us to rush to judgment, just as Agriculture Secretary, Tom Vilsack, and the Obama administration did.

Then as the story began to unfold and change right before our eyes, we began to realize that this was not just the story of a woman victimized by right-wing conservatives, but it was the introduction on the world stage of a woman who was so severely impacted by discrimination in all forms (race, status, etc.) that she decided to devote the rest of her life to its eradication.  The video introduced us to a woman who has been fighting for a cause for her entire life; a woman whose calling became bigger than the woman herself.

July 9th 3-on-3 Basketball Tourney Announces Great Additions to the Day in Football and Soccer Clinics!

The July 9th 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament, powered up with POWERADE, being held at Dutch Broadway School in Elmont is getting closer, and tournament organizers are working overtime to make this year’s installment bigger and better than the past!  The tournament, now in its 6th year, hosts young people for outstanding 3-on-3 basketball games.  This year, the tournament is being held in memory of former community resident, activist and 9-11 NYC Firefighter David Dangerfield who passed away suddenly last Summer.

“So far tournament forms are flowing in and the teams are already on the courts practicing shots and getting ready for the big day,” said Scott Cushing tournament chairman adding, “registration goes on right until a half hour before game time on July 9th.”