CEMCO Notebook: Veteran's Clinic Complete at NUMC, Two Salisbury Break-Ins

Nassau County Legis. Norma Gonsalves, R-East Meadow, announced the completion of the much-anticipated Veteran’s Clinic at .

At Wednesday night’s Council of East Meadow Community Organizations (CEMCO) meeting, Gonsalves said construction on the clinic was completed at the end of January. Gonsalves said that the clinic still needs to be furnished and anticipates an opening by mid-March.

“It was astonishing, and has far exceeded my expectations, really and truly,” Gonsalves said of the clinic. “It is also about two-and-a-half times the size of the Plainview veteran’s establishment.”

Gonsalves initiated this project nearly 10 years ago, and she has been relentless about its completion. During those 10 years she said many of the legislators who began with her on this journey gave up, but she couldn’t give up on a project she initiated with the help of veteran groups in East Meadow.

“When you believe in something, you’ll make sure it happens,” Gonsalves said of the 10-year process. “I was so excited when I walked through the wing in December. It’s a dream come true.”

Gonsalves estimates that the clinic will be able to treat 5,000 veterans each month from all over the island, but especially from Queens and western Nassau County. There will be private parking available for veterans to make for an “easy in and out” when veterans’ seek the clinic’s services, said Gonsalves.

“It’s something I think East Meadow can be proud of,” Gonsalves said.

Other points discussed at the CEMCO meeting:

• In Salisbury, there were two reported break-ins this month. There were no reported incidents in East Meadow. No one was hurt or injured. Neither of the suspects in the two cases has been caught. In the first break-in, a teen wearing all black entered an unlocked home, and fled empty-handed when homeowners sighted him. In the second break-in, assailants rang the doorbell of a home where a woman was showering. When she did not answer the door, the robbers broke in through the back door with a crowbar and stole jewelry.

• Legis. Norma Gonsalves is coordinating a Public Safety Program for the community. The program is tentatively scheduled for March 23 at 7 p.m. in the .
• East Meadow’s Memorial Day Parade is scheduled for Monday, May 30.
• The 20th Anniversary of East Meadow Community Pride Day is this year. The celebration will take place on Saturday, June 11. Ideas for community participation and special ideas for this anniversary are welcomed by CEMCO.
• The next CEMCO meeting will take place on March 23.