READER OF THE WEEK IS ROBIN HEPWORTH OF MASSAPEQUA
Tobay Salute to July 4th Page 5 Vol. 73, No. 27
WEDNESDAY, July 3, 2024
Obituary: Stephen Fugelsang Page 6
www.massapequapost.com
Pets, Pets, Pets Page 8 50 CENTS
Local runners score big in Massapequa Firecracker 5-K By Mike Polansky Long Island runners streamed to Brady Park on June 23rd for the 42nd annual running of the Massapequa Firecracker 5 Kilometer Run. For the second consecutive year, the male and female winners of the 5-K were Jonathan Schloth of Lynbrook and Elizabeth Caldwell of Glen Head. But runners from the local area were very much a winning bunch, led by Mario Ferone of Massapequa, who took top honors in the Men’s 30-34 age group, with a time of 18 minutes, 30 seconds. The first local woman to cross the finish line was Sarah Sohl of Farmingdale, whose finishing time of 21 minutes, 1 second earned her
the first-place award in the Women’s 15-19 age group. Norman Hershkowitz of North Massapequa was first man in the 85-89 age group. And Ryan Cordero of Massapequa Park led the youngsters in the 1/4 Mile Fun Run to the finish line. The event, the third run after a two-year COVID hiatus, was hosted by the Massapequa Road Runners Club, with veteran MRR runner Sam Buttigieg again serving as Race Director, while Mike McMillan headed up the volunteer effort. Massapequa Park Mayor Daniel Pearl started the runners on their way with the help of Deputy Mayor Tina Schiaffino and Village Trustee Todd Svec. Joe Meyer and the elitefeats crew were there to handle the timing and scor-
ing, and Tom Gillin served as the announcer. Dozens of volunteers from the Massapequa Road Runners were also on hand to ensure that all the details were managed well for the runners. There were 348 finishers in the 5-K Run, as participation in the event continues to rebound in the post-COVID era. An additional 30 young runners participated in the Kids 1/4-mile run, which preceded the main event. In addition to Ferone and Sohl, other locals winning awards in the 5-K included Victoria Williams of Massapequa (3rd female 9 and under), Jayce Leong of Massapequa Park
determined that they should appoint Canestro to the seat, in keeping with the voice of the public who voted her into office The result is, however, that Canestro, who won a seat that expired June 30, 2025, is now an appointed trustee instead of an elected official whose term runs until the next school board election on May 20, 2025, five weeks short of her original term of office. “I did not see the oath book on election night, nor did the school district clerk call me after the election to tell me I had
to go in and sign it,” said Canestro, who added she called the district last week to inquire about the requirement and was advised of the issue. She added that by law it is the responsibility of the district clerk to present the oath book to the newly elected officials, something that Canestro said she did not do. School Board President Lisa Johnson explained the issue to the public at the meeting last Friday night and advised how the district was handling it. On Monday, she said: “To me the important thing was to address the issue,” said Johnson. “What was most important was that she was elected to the seat and to get her back into that seat as soon as possible. I did not focus on how it happened, why it happened or who was at fault; to me she was elected by the public and I consider her still an elected official.” On Monday, she said: “To me the important thing was to address the issue,” said Johnson. “What was most important was that she was elected to the seat and to get her back into that seat as soon as possible. I did not focus on how it happened, why it happened or who was at fault; to me she was elected by the public and I consider her still an elected official.” In other business conducted at the June 30 meeting, the school board approved the appointment of Christopher Nehring, a third generation Amityville High School graduate, former business manager and now a Logistics Supervisor at Quest Diagnostics. Nehring said that throughout his career he has interviewed, hired and trained employees, assisted the human resources department with investigating and handling issues “while
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Canestro election voided after legal snafu; ASD board reinstates her as an appointee, and also appoints Christopher Nehring to vacant seat on board By Carolyn James Wendy Canestro, who was elected by a wide margin to fill the unexpired term of Dr. Terry Fulton on the Amityville School Board, and who as sworn in following the vote on May 19, was required to be sworn in again at a meeting Fri., June 29 after it was discovered that she never signed the register as required by law. School officials said she was advised to do so, a claim that Canestro denies, and that the result was that, by state law, her election was never certified and thus nullified. When the district became fully aware of the issue, officials
IN THE NEWS MPK Village annual Breakfast marks the beginning of Summer Massapequa Park Village held its annual Breakfast in the Park on Sun., June 23, an event that is always well attended and that marks the beginning of summer in the Village. Shown enjoying the event are the Bauer, Sullivan, Blake and Harbeck families of Massapequa Park. See inside for more photos of the event.
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