READER OF THE WEEK IS WILLIAM COLFER
Farmingdale HS grad wins seat on board: Page 3
Vol. 73, No. 22
WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2024
IN THE NEWS Nick Capizzi
Your weekly calendar Post 8
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Amityville residents okay school budget; Canestro, Fanning and Messman elected to Board of Trustees
Massapequa Park Remembers...Massapequa Park held its annual Memorial Day Parade on Monday remembering those who lost their lives in service of the country. Watch next week’s edition for more on this event. Photo by Mike Polansky
Farmingdale HS grad wins seat on the school district’s board of trustees; other local results By Carolyn James Gavin Rogers got down to the polls in Farmingdale at 4:30 a.m. on election day, May 21. He wanted to get a good parking spot so he could hand out his palm cards and speak to voters, he said. That was that kind of personal approach he took during his campaign as he knocked on more than 200 doors asking people to consider him in his run for a seat on the Farmingdale School Board. The effort paid off. Rogers, a 21-year-old graduate of Farmingdale High School, was one of four candidates who ran for three seats on the board. And he got the highest number of votes: 1,510. Voters also reelected Anthony Giordano and Kathy Lively, who got 1,506 votes and 1,450 votes respectively. Challenger Sheree Jones got 1,192 votes. “I went to the polls early to get a good parking sport and to meet voters,” said Rogers who added that while he was happy to win, he was prepared for a loss. “It’s not easy
to win your first campaign,” he said. “But I had a lot of support and spoke to a lot of people, reaching out and providing the personal touch and believe that made the difference.” In addition, Farmingdale voters approved their school budget, 1,532 to 922, as well as a capital project, 1,749 to 709. The Farmingdale Youth Council budget also passed, 1,726 to 727. For many Farmingdale voters at the polls last week, other issues were on their mind. “I live here and taught here and we have a son and grandchildren in the district,” said one woman who asked that her name not be used. Her husband noted that one of the candidates, Rogers, was 21. “Good for him in running,” he said. “But I would say come back in 10 years and we can talk.” “This has been a tough year for the Farmingdale community,” said another voter, referring to the Daler marching band bus accident that killed the band director and
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Caroline Fanning, Wendy Canestro and Megan Messman are all smiles as they learned they had been elected to the Amtyville School Board. By Carolyn James In a decisive move, voters in Amityville ousted two longtime school board members, Jeannette Santos and Juan Leon, and elected first-time candidates Wendy Canestro, Megan Messman and Caroline Fanning. Messman won Santos’ seat, Fanning won Leon’s seat and Canestro won the open seat of Dr. Terry Fulton. The trio had been vocal critics of the board as it wrestled to overcome a 3.6 million budget deficit from the 2022-23 school year and, was forced to reduce programs, extra-curricular activities, teachers and staff address a proposed deficit this year of more than $4 million. “We are really excited to work hard, effect positive change for students, staff and
taxpayers,” said Canestro moments after the results were announced. “We are looking forward to work with fellow board members to restore the Amityville School District…to bring back public confidence; great things are on the horizon.” As the numbers were announced close to 1 a.m., Wed., May 22, gasps and shouts could be heard from the approximately 75 people who maintained vigilance at Northeast School where the votes were tallied
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