The Journal News from White Plains, New York • Page 23

www.thejournalnews.com Rockland The Journal News Wednesday, December 27, 2000 3B ROCKLAND WWII vets to get their high school diplomas "It's one of the things I said I'd do the draft board gave him -his choice of military "JIe chose the Navy, and was assigned a ship the USS Marblehead. He saw action in France 3nd spent months "doing convoy duty and chasing submarines," the76-year-old veteran said. He served from 1943 to 1946, when he was sent to New London, to help mothball U.S. submarines. After the service, he worked'for the city of New York before getting a job in the New York City subway system repairing subway cars.

He retired as a superintendent from the New York City Transit Authority in 1987 after 37 years. "We were talking about (high school diplomas) in the American Legion hall and I found out about (Operation Recognition)," Lombardo said. "I always had that in my mind, that I wanted to get my high school diploma." Local World War II veterans who did not get their high school diplomas and want to apply for it can call 356-6070. State program lets veterans who left school graduate Randi Weiner The Journal News Anthony Lombardo dropped out of high school about six months before his 1943 graduation to take a job at the Brooklyn Navy Yard because he was bored with school and his family needed the money. But he always regretted never getting his high school diploma, he said yesterday.

Now, 57 years later, the World War II and Korean War veteran will get that important piece of paper courtesy of the state of New York. "I always wanted to get my high school diploma," Lombardo said. ernment for several years before he married and went to work for the family plumbing and heating supply store. He eventually owned the business, and retired in 1982 after more than 25 years still without a high school diploma. When he found out about the new legislation, he said he thought it was something he ought to get as a way to complete unfinished business.

"I went to night school and got some credits, but they wouldn't count them until I got my high school diploma," he said. Lombardo, of Bardonia, left Brooklyn High School for Automotive Trades in 1943 with enough experience to get a job as a tool and die maker at the Navy yards. He spent nearly four of his 10-month stint at the yard helping repair the USS Marblehead before Guard for Merchant Marines. For Lombardo and Monsey resident Harry Leopold, 83, who also dropped out of high school to work, that means they can get a second chance to fix an old ache. "I had to make a living," said Leopold, who served with the Army Air Corps in 1942 and 1943.

"I think I had about another year, year-and-a-half to go for it This (new legislation) sounded like a good idea." Both men were New York City teens who gave up a high school diploma to put food on the table. Leopold went to work nights as a typist in Brooklyn before he was drafted into the Army Air Corps and assigned to transport command headquarters in Africa handling gasoline and other commodities. He was released in 1943 on a medical discharge, and worked for Gimbel's and the federal gov WEST HAVERSTRAW $87M ramp could ease traffic Bowline fire extinguished promptly Morris J. Kennedy The Journal News Anthony Lombardo who did not graduate from high school for any reason can get his or her diploma simply by showing proof of war service: Defense Department discharge form DD214, an honorable discharge certificate or a special discharge from the Coast at night, Philmus added, when there will be little impact on commuters. Motorists have their doubts about the the new ramp.

"I don't know how much of a difference the new ramp will actually make in moving traffic faster," said Gary Hochman of New City, a teacher who commutes across the bridge to his classroom in the Bronx. "I can see both ramps getting mobbed, as fewer people leave the parkway to take alternate routes, giving us an even bigger backup on the Palisades." New toll booths are not expected to be included in the construction plans, Philmus said. With increasing E-ZPass technology, toll booths will actually be scaled back. Eventually, once technology such as increased license plate recognition is improved, the Port Authority hopes to switch to freeflow tolls with an overhang entry and only one or two cash toll booths. Philmus said that this change may take place in time for the completion of the ramp.

WENKE LIMITED Kitchen Remodeling RefaceRefinish 356-5434 The plant's fire brigade, which includes workers who have been trained at the county Fire Training Center, immediately began efforts to extinguish the blaze, while also calling 911. Southern also immediately shut down the fuel source to the generator, taking Bowline 2 out of service. TheThiells Fire Department responded. Fire Chief Ray Redmond said he called in the county Hazardous Materials team as a precaution. The Haverstraw Ambulance Corps and Community Medical Transportation which provides paramedic services, were also on standby, he said.

"The fire brigade was larger than usual and pretty much had it knocked down by the time we got there," Redmond said. County Coordinator of Emergency Services Gordon Wren who also responded to the fire, said the brigade's training paid off. "It was potentially very serious," Wren said. "They had a fire with a lot of oil." Wren said the brigade's training came after two serious fires at the plant during the years it was owned by Orange Rockland Utilities. Southern purchased the plant from about 18 months ago.

After a 1994 fire at Bowline, Wren said agreed to have its fire brigade receive special u-aining. Southern also agreed to the training after taking over ownership, Holtman said Southern had hired a private company to clean up the mess. He said the company hoped to get Bowline 2 baqk jn service by late last night. However, the plant's shutdown cost the company financially. Holtman said Southern is responsible for providing electricity to the power grid that serves New York state.

Once Bowline 2 went offline, the New York Independent System operator, which oversees all power in the state, immediately replaced Southern on the grid by buying power from another source. Southern will have to, reimburse the NYIS for the expense. (PANCO) Fuel leak sparks the morning blaze at its No. 2 power plant Laura Incalcaterra The Journal News Thorough planning and training were credited for keeping a fire at Bowline Power Plant from becoming a major problem. The fire at Bowline 2 broke out about 10 a.m.

yesterday, shortly after a worker at the plant noticed a fuel leak, Southern Energy New York spokesman Joe Holtman said. The plant is owned and operated by Southern Energy New York and contains two generators that use fuel oil and natural gas to produce electricity. Between 30 and 80 gallons of fuel oil leaked, and some of it caught fire after being ignited by a spark or a heated fuel line, said Holtman. Sean's ti i-ioor banning 634-3479 ft Plan would allow access to GW Bridge via the PIP Liza Khan Special to The Journal News Getting onto the George Washington Bridge could be easier for rush-hour commuters using the Palisades Interstate Parkway, under the Port Authority's plan to build an $86.5 million ramp allowing access to the bridge's lower level by 2004. Currently, drivers using the PIP have no choice but to use the two-lane ramp that connects to the bridge's upper level once they pass the toll plaza.

Ken Philmus, director of tunnels, bridges, and terminals for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, said the acquisition of the two and a half acres needed for construction of the new ramp "is very likely to go through." Construction of the ramp itself is not scheduled to take place until the beginning of 2003 and is slated to be finished by 2004. "This is an alternative onto the George Washington Bridge from the Palisades Interstate Parkway. Commuters now have no choice. If there is an incident on the upper level of the Bridge, they're stuck," said Philmus. The new ramp, continued Philmus, could also reduce the number of vehicles traveling through Fort Lee on the New Jersey side of the bridge.

About 3,000 New York City-bound PIP mo "Annie endures as a model of musical with Joy." ITT I Rockland's Co. Now the only fuel supplier based in Rockland County with locations In Valley Cottage and Stony Point. HOME HEATING OIL DIESEL CALL TODAY TO ESTABLISH SERVICE C29-9120 if I accomplished anything." New York's state legislature has created Operation Recognition, a belated thank you for World War II veterans whose time in high school was cut short because of wartime duty. An estimated 200,000 New York veterans are eligible for the service, according to the state Education Department, which is coordinating the program through the veterans administration. There are no courses to take, no tests to pass.

The person need only have served in World War II. "It just makes sense," said Assemblyman Alex Gromack, D-Congers. "These are individuals that answered the call when their nation needed them It's the least we can do." Under the provisions of the legislation, any World War A veteran torists leave the parkway before they reach the toll plaza, opting to take route 9W or use Exit 1 to travel through local roads in New Jersey where they will later have access to either the lower or upper level of the bridge. With the new ramp, commuters may be persuaded to remain on the PIP, reducing traffic through local areas such as Fort Lee. The Intelligent Transportation System, or ITS, will accompany the new ramp.

With this system, electronic traffic control signs will be installed above inbound lanes of the parkway to give commuters information on the length of time it will take to travel on either the upper or lower level. Such signs are already in place on other highways leading to the bridge, such as Route 95. But will commuters have to pay a price for the new ramp during the almost two years of construction? Philmus said, "The construction will be almost invisible in terms of problems. The new ramp runs parallel to the existing ramp so there will be very little impact to PIP travelers." Any construction that might potentially disturb traffic will be done NEW YORK'S LARGEST UPSCALE EXOTIC SUPERSTORE DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM THE PALISADES CENTER MALL ON ROUTE 59 EAST IN WEST NYACK Tel. (845) 353-0180 Open everyday 10am 1 2 midnight comedy savvy!" Tbi Nm Yort Times The Journal News HN 1 Lt Vincent M.TafrurLD.C.

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