Franklin Square/Elmont
HERALD students design sneakers
Belmont stakes is rescheduled
liJ EMT shares his story
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Vol. 22 No. 22
MAY 28 - JUNE 3, 2020
At Sewanhaka, they’ll graduate one at a time Parents, students want more and have their pictures taken by p ro f e s s i o n a l p h o t o g r a phers. Rather than line up and Families will be given time cross the basketball arena at slots for the students’ ceremoHofstra University to receive nies, and two family members their high school diplomas in will be able to accompany front of friends and family, each one. g raduating seniors in the A more traditional ceremoSewanhaka Cenny, complete with tral High School speeches and the District will be prereading of the gradsented with those uates’ names, Grosdiplomas without sane wrote in his an audience this announcement on year, as social disthe district website, tancing regulawill be recorded tions remain in and broadcast on place, Superintenthe website . dent James Gros- gABi sTolz More details will sane announced on be sent to district Mother May 21. parents and guardT he district’s ians. traditional ceremonies are “While this year’s gradua“not possible this year,” Gros- tion ceremonies will look difs a n e s a i d , b e c a u s e G o v. ferent,” Grossane wrote, “we Andrew Cuomo’s executive have developed a plan, which orders prohibit large gather- honors traditions and celeings, even if people are six brates the achievements of feet apart. Instead, he said, on our students.” Ju n e 2 7 a n d 2 8 , d i s t r i c t But students and parents seniors will have the opportu- alike have expressed their disnity to go to their respective appointment with that plan. high schools in their caps and Members of the graduating gowns, cross the stage one at a class created an online petition time to receive their diplomas, Continued on page 8
By MElissA KoENig mkoenig@liherald.com Sue Grieco/Herald
Honoring the fallen Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, from left, Anthony Coscia, Commander John Conway, Pat Coviello and Angel Hinosproza, laid wreaths at the Veterans Memorial in Rath Park in Franklin Square on Monday. A ceremony was not held, but residents could drive up and place flags.
W
e were not even given a say in the matter.
Cub Scout Vincent Ammendolea, right, joined the rest of his pack in planting flags and flowers in the flower garden outside the VFW building in Franklin Square.
Elmont school taxes to edge down Library, Sewanhaka also present spending plans By MElissA KoENig mkoenig@liherald.com
Elmont residents would see a small decrease in their property taxes under the school district’s proposed 2020-21 budget, even though spending would increase. The $94.4 million proposal would include a tax levy of just under $56.7 million, 0.1 percent smaller than the current levy. As a result, Superintendent Al Harper said, the average home-
owner could expect slightly smaller property tax bills if the budget passes on June 9. “We’re just trying to do more with a little less,” Harper said, noting that the district has the 10th-smallest budget among Nassau County’s 56 public school districts, and its tax levy is 30 percent below the districts’ average. Nonetheless, the spending plan is 1.6 percent larger than the current budget. It would
fund the replacement of school buses and classroom furniture, maintain the district’s programs and class sizes, and finance new literacy and assessment programs for students. To offset these costs, and reduce the amount the district needs to collect in taxes, Harper said, of ficials shaved over $208,000 from the administrative and general support budgets, Continued on page 4