_______ Lynbrook/east rockaway ______
HERALD Also serving Bay Park
lynbrook helps its veterans
Advocates rally for gun laws
Hope Day helps those in need
Page 3
Page 6
Page 8
Vol. 30 No. 24
JUNE 8 - 14, 2023
$1.00
Detailing E.R. school budget propositions “We want them to walk into a classroom, or into a job, or into the military, and they’re not tryThe East Rockaway School ing to play catch up just because District budget passed with an of the technology.” impressive 69 perProposition 3 will cent of the vote. Two support the district’s additional proposilong-term planning tions passed — so for the quality and what are they, and safety of its buildhow will they benefit ings. It will allow East Rockaway stu$313,000 in district dents? reserves to be used Proposition 2 for two projects. The allows the district to first is updating the spend up to $70,000 entryway and floorof its reserves to ing of the Centre address technology Avenue Elementary needs in the district School in order to — updating netcreate an environworks, computer ment that is “welhardware, and smart coming and conduclassrooms. It will cive to learning” — also provide cyberjust in time for the security for the disschool’s 100th annit r i c t , p ro t e c t i n g versary celebration. schools from digital JAMES The second largescams and attacks. scale project is the DEtoMMASo The funding will restoration of the also support tech Superintendent, deteriorated cupola education initiatives East Rockaway at the Junior/Senior like 1:1 device pro- School District High School. grams for students. “The cupola is “We want our basically the symbol kids to be prepared for 21st cen- of our school district, and one of tury learning, which is incredi- the strong symbols of our combly important,” district Superintendent James DeTommaso said. Continued on page 20
By NiColE forMiSANo nformisano@liherald.com
W
Karina Kovac/Herald
StUDENtS fEAtUrED iN the District Art Show with U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, who hosted the show at the Island Park Public Library.
Natalie Hayes wins art contest for second consecutive year By NiColE forMiSANo nformisano@liherald.com
For the second year in a row, East Rockaway High School senior Natalie Hayes won the annual 4th Congressional District art competition, as her piece “Hideout” beat 80 other submissions. Hayes’ entry impressed a panel of judges and U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito with its attention to detail and threedimensional quality. “Natalie as an artist is not
afraid to challenge herself or to try something different,” Kristie Galante, Hayes’ art teacher for the past six years, said. “Just the bravery to challenge herself and to try different things.” Hayes’ depiction of a person touching a teddy bear incor porates everything from paint to toilet paper, creating a textural element that draws its audience in. The judges chose her piece as the winner on-site at the May 3 exhibit and competi-
tion at the Island Park Library. “Hideout” will be hung in the Cannon Tunnel in Washington, D.C., which connects the Cannon House Office Building to the Capitol building. Hayes also won the Schol a s t i c A r t a n d Wr i t i n g Award, and is the first East Rockaway student to take two AP Art Portfolio classes in one year. She will attend the Rhode Island School of Continued on page 18
e’re going to do our very best to make sure that, in every way, we can provide the highest quality of education we can for our students.