DAR AL HARB - U.S.A.- NEW YORK: ANOTHER "JIHAD CENTRAL" FOR THE STATE OF NEW YORK

New Castle neighbors speak on mosque plans
By ELIZABETH GANGA

NEW CASTLE - Neighbors of a proposed mosque and Islamic center on the west side of town detailed a series of concerns about noise, traffic and other changes to the neighborhood at a meeting last night. A handful called for the town to reject the mosque plans.

The residents spoke at the first major meeting to gather public opinion on the Upper Westchester Muslim Society's plans for a 24,690-square-foot building on more than 8 acres.
They talked about the narrow roads leading to the land at Pines Bridge at Hoag Cross roads, and concerns that the building will be lit at night and won't produce property-tax revenue.

"Those of us who moved there, moved there for a reason," Gary Ramuno, a direct neighbor of the property, told the Zoning Board of Appeals, which must grant a special permit if the mosque is going to be built. "It's a quiet, rural neighborhood that doesn't have a lot of traffic right now."
Several members of the Muslim Society also attended the meeting in New Castle Town Hall but didn't speak to the board. Before the meeting, Lamyaa Elzoghby said they came to support the application and show that they are normal and that not all Muslims are terrorists.

"I want to see how people react when they see us as families with children, normal," said Elzoghby, who lives in Yorktown Heights and whose husband, Hussein Elzoghby, is on the board of the Muslim Society.

The Muslim Society, which has about 35 member families, was formally organized in 1997 and now holds prayer services in rented office space in Thornwood. Anees Shaikh, who lives in Yorktown and is the vice president of the society's executive committee, said the location limits the things the society can do, including religious education for the children and weekly prayer services.

Shaikh said there isn't a large growth in the population of Muslims in northern Westchester, but the Islamic center building is needed because of a growing demand for the services it can provide, especially education for second-generation Muslim-Americans, and for outreach to neighbors. About 80 to 100 people attend Friday prayers.

"I don't think our needs are really that different than any other faith group in the area," he said.

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1) New Castle neighbors speak on mosque plans