_______ Lynbrook/east rockaway ______
HERALD Also serving Bay Park
Class of 2022 Graduation Inside $1.00
VOL. 29 NO. 26
Lynbrook F.D. chiefs sworn in
Longtime Legion commander honored Page 3
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JUNE 23 - 29, 2022
E.R. district bids farewell to superintendent dent,” McNally said. “I don’t know how many superintendents go from one school board, East Rockaway School Dis- five members, to five different trict administrators and staff members in such a short time, bade farewell to Superintendent and just seeing the different Lisa Ruiz, who was variously expectations, it’s not easy. Mrs. described as “bold” Ruiz has handled it and “brave,” at the with grace, and has June 14 Board of always put the stuEducation meeting. dents of East RockaAfter nine years way first.” at the helm, Ruiz Ruiz’s retirement announced her decicomes after she sion to retire last helped develop and November, and will carry the district be succeeded by through a five-year James DeTommaso, strate gic plan to the district’s current make improvements assistant superinto the schools. She tendent for curricualso helped generate lum and instruction, project ideas for a effective July 1. bond initiative that School board was approved by votP r e s i d e n t P e t e r PETER MCNALLY ers to upgrade faciliMcNally lauded Ruiz President, East ties, and helped see for her accomplish- Rockaway school the district through ments, and for being the coronavirus panable to work well board demic. with an evolving She came to East board, which has taken on five Rockaway nine years ago, after new trustees since she started. serving as the assistant superin“As I’m sitting here tonight, tendent for curriculum and I’m trying to put myself in Mrs. instruction in Merrick and as Ruiz’s shoes, because until I was the director of pupil personnel on the school board, I didn’t real- services in Levittown. She has ize the dynamic between a been in education for more than school board and the superintenCONTINUED ON PAGE 8
By MIKE SMOLLINS msmollins@liherald.com
M
Courtesy Anne Petraro
Giants on the diamond The Giants captured the Lynbrook/East Rockaway Little League championship on Monday night by defeating the Angels, 11-1, in the championship game. The team was led by manager Christian Maguire and coaches John Maguire, Kenny Kramme and Anne and Ozzie Petraro.
New trustee for Lynbrook schools Tara Aragona to replace David Yaker on July 5 By MIKE SMOLLINS msmollins@liherald.com
Tara Aragona will take her seat on the Lynbrook Board of Education on July 5, replacing David Yaker, who was hired as an English teacher and varsity football coach at Lynbrook High School. Yaker’s term was set to end in 2024, but he had to step down from the board after accepting the teaching position in Lynbrook. Aragona ran unsuccessfully for a school board seat as a late write-in candidate in last month’s election, but garnered substantial support.
Incumbent board President Bill Belmont and newcomer Andrew Lewner were elected to the two open seats. Belmont netted 1,110 votes, and Lewner received 795. Aragona made a strong run, receiving 718 votes, and Cathy Bien had 691. The board unanimously selected Aragona as Yaker’s successor because of the community support she received as a late candidate. “I’m so excited,” Aragona said. “I’ve been involved in the PTA for eight years, and it kind of feels like the natural progression — the next thing I’d do would be to be on the board. I’m excited for CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
rs. Ruiz has handled it with grace and has always put the students of East Rockaway first.