Last Updated: January 27, 2010

Donation of New Wrestling Mat to Locust Valley High School

The Locust Valley High School wrestling team is surrounded by Locust Valley Central School District Administrators, Board of Education members, coaches and Friends of Locust Valley Wrestling fundraising committee members

 

•Dan Brennan

The Locust Valley Friends of Wrestling and the Falcon Pride Booster Club donated a new state-of-the-art wrestling mat to the Locust Valley High School’s athletic department at the beginning of this year’s wrestling season. Fundraising efforts by these community groups, including dinners, donations, and proceeds from concession stands, helped pay for the $12,000 mat.
“We are so grateful to Friends of Wrestling and Falcon Pride for their generosity,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Anna F. Hunderfund. “This community is always supportive of our programs and this gift was a much needed one.”
A dedication ceremony was held before a recent wrestling match on Friday, January 15, and those involved were thanked for their continued dedication and support of the school district. Al DeStefanis presented the mat to the Board of Education and Administration on behalf of Friends of Locust Valley Wrestling. “We are proud of the wrestling program in Locust Valley and we are happy to support the coaches and the students,” Mr. DeStefanis said.
Other members of the fundraising committee include Pat and Ed Minicozzi, Nancy and Al Staab, Sue and Aaron Cloninger, Tom Pillari, Ed Pidgeon, Jane and Rick Alfano, Allison and Pat Guerriero, Denise and Terry Walsh, Michael Berkowitz and Michael Briody.
Committee members Michael Berkowitz and Michael Briody lead the Oak Neck Falcons youth wrestling program, which feeds into our high school program. They work together with Locust Valley High School Varsity wrestling coaches Joe Enea and Phil Soman, as well as the Junior Varsity coaches Jim Rogan and Bill Calandra.
The Reslite wrestling mat contains Microban, which is a built-in antimicrobial protection that provides an added level of protection against most common bacteria. Mark Dantuono, Locust Valley’s Director of Physical Education, Health, and Athletics said the mat will be used for competitions only and is expected to last from 15 to 20 years.
“This will help our other mat last longer as well, saving us additional money since we will only be using the older mat for practicing,” he explained. “The Locust Valley community is incredibly supportive of our athletic program and we couldn’t be more grateful.”

 

Kelly Talcott, age 50, an attorney from Sea Cliff, has been charged with Criminal Tax Fraud in the Third Degree and Repeated Failure to File Personal Income Taxes. Talcott allegedly failed to file state tax returns from 2002 to 2005 and again in 2008. During that time, he allegedly earned more than $2.68 million and failed to pay more than $111,000 in taxes. He faces up to seven years in prison if convicted and was arraigned in First District Court, Hempstead. He is represented by Edward Lieberman, Esq.
Four other Nassau County residents, including two attorneys, an accountant, and a doctor, were also arrested in a statewide sweep targeting residents who have refused to file their state income taxes. The five defendants arrested have allegedly cost the State of New York more than $365,000 in tax revenue.
The arrests came as part of a statewide sweep effort by the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance (NYSDTF) and local district attorneys.
“The five defendants arrested today have gotten rich by stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from honest taxpayers across this state,” District Attorney Kathleen Rice said. “In addition to prosecuting them for their crimes, my office will work to ensure that every dime is repaid. I want to thank the State Department of Taxation and Finance for their tireless efforts in bringing these thefts to light.”
The others arrested were:
David Mollon, 47, of Great Neck. Mollon, an attorney, has been charged with Criminal Tax Fraud in the Third Degree and Failure to File a Personal Income Tax Return for 2008.
Gerald Gartner, 53, of Lawrence. Gartner, a certified public accountant and chief financial officer for the AHRC-NYC Foundation, a fundraising and grant entity, has been charged with Criminal Tax Fraud in the Third Degree and Repeated Failure to File Personal Income Taxes.
Avelino Rosales, 62, of Cedarhurst. Rosales, a physician, has been charged with Repeated Failure to File Personal Income Taxes. Rosales failed to file state tax returns from 2002 to 2006.
Dennis O’Leary, 57, of Westbury. O’Leary, an attorney, has been charged with Repeated Failure to File Personal Income Taxes and Criminal Tax Fraud in the Fifth Degree. O’Leary failed to file state tax returns from 2004 to 2008.
“Those who do not file their tax returns will be punished to the fullest extent of the law,” said NYSDTF Acting Commissioner Jamie Woodward. “We are arresting increasing numbers of tax cheats who simply do not file returns. We have many of these kinds of cases in the works, and that will result in more arrests in the coming weeks. People who ignore filing obligations should not expect to evade detection.”
Assistant District Attorney Jeremy Glicksman of the Economic Crimes Bureau is handling the cases for the District Attorney's Office.

 

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