__________________ Merrick _________________
HERALD Vol. 27 No. 20
Narcan training is well received
Page 10
Page 13
MAY 9 - 15, 2024
$1.00
1111 125028 1174
Marking 100 years of learning
$1.00
Bicyclist to take on cross-country trip with fraternity Zuzzolo, a finance major at Baylor, will graduate this coming fall, a semester early. The Not everyone can say they’re philanthropic work he’s underplanning on driving across the taken with his fraternity has United States in a car — and far been a “big part” of his experiless can say they’re making the ence at Baylor, he said. “We’re the one frater nity journey on two wheels, instead nationwide that has its own of four. Nicholas Zuzzolo, 21, of Bell- specific philanthropy — it’s called the Ability more, is preparing E x p e r i e n c e, ” h e to do just that. A explained. “It ties 2021 g raduate of in children with We l l i n g t o n C . disabilities, just Mepham High making sure they School in the Bellhave a fair shot getmore-Merrick Central High School ting involved with District, he will be extracurriculars making a crossaround the counNIcholAs country trip on bike try.” next month, along- ZuZZolo Members of the side dozens of other Journey of Hope f r a t e r n i t y h av e young men his age, been taking part in while taking part in the Jour ney of a “Journey of Hope,” through Hope for the last three decades. the Ability Experience. Teams of riders, consisting of The Ability Experience is a around 20 to 30 people each, philanthropic initiative of Pi will embark on different crossKappa Phi, the fraternity that c o u n t r y ro u t e s, a n d b i ke Zuzzolo is a member of at Bay- around 4,000 miles over the lor University in Waco, Texas. course of 60 days. Riders will The philanthropy was founded average around 75 miles per in 1977, and strives to instill a day on a trip that tests their passion for lifelong service in limits, while also spreading its members, while helping awareness and celebrating the them empower people living abilities of everyone. with disabilities across the Zuzzolo learned about the United States. Continued on page 4
By JoRDAN VAlloNE
jvallone@liherald.com
Courtesy Tom Ferrante
Troop 123 says ‘No Dumping’ Stephen Ferrante, Nate Waldman, Bobby Clark and Austin Haffner affixed ‘no dumping’ medallions to storm drains throughout North Merrick, as part of Boy Scout Troop 123’s efforts to protect the environment and the bays. Story, more photos, Page 9.
Bellmore-Merrick district proposes $197M budget for next school year By JosEPh D’AlEssANDRo jdalessandro@liherald.com
Voters in the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District will head to the polls on May 21 to cast their ballots on a proposed nearly $197.5 million budget for the 2024-25 school year. Last month, a detailed presentation was given on the spending plan, which is $8,587,082, or 4.55 percent, more than the current budget. District administrators said the goal is to maintain cur rent programs and services, address an increasing need for student support services, maintain and upgrade infrastructure, while continuing to provide safety and security
for students and staff in the district’s five school buildings — John F. Kennedy, Sanford H. Calhoun and Wellington C. Mepham high schools, and Grand Avenue and Merrick Avenue middle schools. “It’s important to do what we always do when we make our budget, and that’s make sure the decisions we make now are sustainable for the future,” Mikaela Coni, the district’s assistant superintendent for business, said. The district’s aim is to be efficient, maintain fiscal stability and optimize performance to account for fluctuations in state aid, inflation and increased costs associated with health beneContinued on page 14
I
’ve done things that kind of push you past your limits.