Massapequa Herald 05_14_2025

Also serving Farmingdale, Massapequa, Massapequa Park and Plainedge pOsT

Meet your school board candidates

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Massapequa BOE applauds student artists and musicians

By MIKE POLANSKY Senior Correspondent

Students in the Massapequa school district’s visual and performing arts programs were honored by the Massapequa Board of Education at its April 24 meeting

District Director of Fine and Performing Arts Vincent Green introduced the honorees and praised their contributions to the arts at the meeting.

“One of my goals is to make sure the world knows about the great artists we are growing here in Massapequa,” Green said. “Every time one of you goes out and does something special, it’s a tribute to everything we do as staff and students. Thank you for being our ambassadors in the arts world.”

Green presented certificates of recognition to students whose work was featured in the New York State School Boards Association virtual arts display: Maria Gumienak, Taylor Ewen, Adam Chan, Aaron Nunez, Tahlia Sanchez, Dominic Cronin, Summer Cohen, Debra Calamia, Sophia Moehring,

Alex Miller and Sophia Mignone.

Certificates were also awarded to students who created artwork for the Region 9 Kindred Spirits Art Show: Connor Buch, Madison Anselmin, Elizabeth Carroll and Grace Weidenbach. Of those, only Connor was there in person to accept his certificate.

Luis Moreno, who was selected as one of the top young artists by the Heckscher Museum, was also acknowledged but unable to attend.

In addition, the board honored its All-State music students: Austin Benedict, Tyler Benedict, Stephanie Guida, Giovanna Pizza, Emily Ogurick, Isabella Corigliano and Chloe Legate.

In other news:

• The board unanimously adopted the 2025–2026 school budget totaling $243,245,381 after a brief presentation by Assistant Superintendent for Business Operations Ryan Ruf,. Ruf noted the proposed tax levy increase of 2.90 percent remains below the state cap of 3.09 percent, translating to a projected $285 annual increase for the average homeowner.

Obituary: Dr. Edward Mohr

Proposition to extend busing on ballot in ASD

By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com

When Angela Florie’s 13-year-old son, Alec, decided to attend Chaminade High School in Mineola after graduating from Bridges Academy in West Islip this June, the Amityville resident enrolled him and submitted the required transportation paperwork to the Amityville Union Free School District on time.

But when Florie followed up about a month later, she was told that the district would no longer provide bus service to Chaminade starting in September. The reason: The school is approximately two miles beyond the 15-mile maximum busing limit allowed under New York state law.

Previously, the district had been able to transport students to Chaminade because at least one “anchor” student lived within the 15-mile radius. Under the law, other students outside that range were permitted to meet at a central location to ride the same bus. However, that student graduated several years ago, and the district continued to provide the service — a violation of state regulations, according to officials.

To comply with the law, the district would need voter approval to extend the maximum mileage limit, officials said.

That’s exactly what Florie and other local parents are asking their neighbors to support. Proposition 2 on next week’s school budget and trustee election ballot seeks voter approval to increase the mileage limit from 15 to 17 miles. If approved, the district could resume busing for Alec and approximately other Amityville students who attend private

schools like Chaminade.

Parents advocating for the measure launched a website, yesto17miles.com, to explain the issue and urge voters to approve Prop. # 2.

Also supporting the measure is Todd Brice, an Amityville High School graduate who has two boys going to Chaminade. Brice believes the decision by district officials to cut the service was driven more by the district’s goal to reduce a large budget gap than to come into compliance with the law. With the district facing a significant budget gap, eliminating private school busing would save the district approximately $400,000, plus an additional $75,000 in anticipated increases in charges from the bus company for the coming year, said Brice.

“Year after year, I have paid school district taxes without using the schools at all,” said Brice pointing out that the busing is the only service the district provides him and his family. “There are approximately 700 kids in Amityville who go to private school, which saves the district millions of dollars every year, yet they want to pull the rug out from under us and take away the one service they do provide— the busing.”

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Gina Talbert rejected that saying the focus in leaving the issue to voters was to bring the district in full compliance with the law.

“This budget item ensures transparency and full compliance with state law,” she said. “The decision to extend transportation services beyond the statutory 15-mile limit rests with the voters of the Amityville community.”

Courtesy/Massapequa School District The art students whose work was displayed by the New York State School Boards Association.

A bipartisan effort to protect IVF access

Gillen leads push for bill safeguarding fertility treatments, hoping for congressional momentum

By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com

U.S. Rep. Laura Gillen, a Democrat representing New York’s 4th Congressional District, and Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler, of the 17th District, have reintroduced a bipartisan bill aimed at protecting access to in vitro fertilization across the country.

The Access to Family Building Act, which Gillen is shepherding with support from Lawler and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, seeks to federally codify the right to access IVF services. The legislation is in response to growing concerns that reproductive technologies like IVF are being threatened by recent state-level legal developments and court rulings.

During a virtual press conference on May 7, Gillen emphasized the importance of ensuring legal certainty for families relying on reproductive technology. Infertility, she said, is a widespread issue affecting Americans of all backgrounds, and she called for Congress to act swiftly to protect the procedure.

“We believe, like most Americans do, that the right to start and grow family through IVF should be protected,” Gil-

len said. “The Access to Family Building Act will simply ensure that IVF remains accessible to families in every state.”

Lawler echoed Gillen’s sentiments, sharing his own family’s experience with fertility challenges. He reaffirmed his support for protecting IVF access, calling it a nonpartisan issue with widespread public backing. Lawler also referenced other related legislative efforts he supports, including tax credits and insurance mandates to reduce the financial burden of IVF treatments.

“Access to IVF should not be a partisan issue,” he said. “We want to help people through this journey and certainly make sure that their right to IVF is protected.”

The press event also featured Barbara Collura, president and CEO of Resolve: The National Infertility Association, who stressed the emotional and financial toll of infertility and the need for guaranteed nationwide access to IVF.

“There are so many challenges that our communities face in building their families,” Collura said. “Our goal is to reduce and eliminate those barriers. We know firsthand that our communities want to know that IVF is protected in all 50 states.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, IVF accounted for nearly 3 percent for U.S. births in 2022, with over 91,000 babies born through assisted reproductive technology.

Democrats that year introduced the Right to Build Families Act, to protect access to IVF and other fertility treatments amid concerns after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. The bill was blocked by Senate Republicans.

The lawmakers emphasized the bipartisan nature of the new legislation, with Gillen noting that Republican support like Lawler’s is vital to passing it in the current Congress.

When the Herald asked about the path forward, both lawmakers said they planned to advocate within their parties and with the congressional leadership to advance the bill through committee and onto the House floor.

The legislation comes amid renewed national attention to IVF following recent court rulings in states like Alabama, where embryos created through IVF were legally recognized as children, prompting clinics to suspend services due to the legal risks.

“I think it’s really important to dem-

onstrate that this is not a partisan issue,” Gillen said. “This is an easy one for us to agree on. We want to support couples and individuals who want to bring a child into the world. IVF may be the only way that they can do that.”

Herald file photo

U.S. Representatives Laura Gillen and Mike Lawler announced bipartisan legislation to protect nationwide access to in vitro fertilization at a virtual press conference on May 7.

Meet the candidates in your local school board races

On Tues., May 20 voters will head to the polls to vote on their local school budgets and other propositions. In addition, they will be asked to elect school board members.

Here are the responses from school board candidates to the five questions we asked them.

For more information on your local school elections, go to massapequapost. com.

AMITYVILLE

There are four candidates running for three seats on the school board.

JUAN LEON

How long have you lived in the district?

I have lived in the Amityville School District for 34 years. I am a proud product of the Amityville School district and now my two children attend Amityville public schools.

Why are you running for re-election?

I previously served on the Board of Education and successfully achieved a -0.21 percent (negative) tax levy increase in 2016-2017, essentially returning funds back to the taxpayers. In 20202021, I again held the line on taxes and delivered a 0 percent increase in the tax levy while simultaneously implementing Universal Pre-K and no cuts to staff. No other candidate can say that they’ve achieved anything like this for children or taxpayers of the Amityville School District.

What professional and personal experience do you bring to the board?

I’m an experienced board member with a track record of delivering results. As a veteran with service in Afghanistan, I have a strong sense of discipline and commitment. My academic background includes an associate degree in math and science, a bachelor’s degree in bio science, and a master’s degree in business administration. I want our students to achieve higher scores in math and science because these subjects are essential skills for many highpaying careers.

If elected, what will be your priority and why?

My priority would be to stabilize the budget and stabilize our district. A new administration was put in place two years ago and for the past two years, the school district has been operating in financial deficits. This is not acceptable. Financial deficits erode the faith of the taxpayers and put our students at a disadvantage. We need commonsense leaders who are willing to fight hard for our school district.

One thing you would change about the school district to make it better and/or improve student outcomes.

There is no silver bullet for achieving everything. It begins with implementing small, effective strategies and building upon them. It involves identifying students who need support in

specific areas and providing targeted assistance. It involves coaches ensuring that students who are struggling academically are not participating until their grades improve. It involves having adequate ENL/ESL services, especially since Latinos constitute most of our student population.

SYDNEY MARTIN

How long have you lived in the district?

35 years

Why are you running for election?

To improve the lives and education of our children; to be impactful in improving the lives and education of the Amityville and Massapequa community, and to improve and promote a culture of “we are all in this together.” It takes a village in this post-Covid era for all, including the superintendent, administrators, counselors, teachers, teacher aides, coaches, custodial staff and security personnel.

What professional and personal experience do you bring to the board?

I bring a wide range of gifts and professional talents. I am a retired New York City firefighter who served in both World Trade Center explosions. I am also a person who understands teamwork and working to a common goal. I served in the elite Hazardous Materials Rescue Unit. I have been head varsity track and field coach at Amityville High School; asst. varsity football coach at Amityville High School; security officer at Amityville High School; Nassau County basketball referee and head track & field coach at Saint Anthony’s High School. I also coached boys and girls Catholic High School State Championship Teams and was named U.S. High School Track & Field Coach of the Year 2001 and lead instructor of Inside/Out Dads program at Nassau County Men’s Correctional Facility. I am a leader of Symbis Marriage Counseling Ministry and a member of numerous civic organizations. If elected, what will be your priority and why?

To secure the future of Northeast Elementary School. This school has a longstanding history in our community of historic importance. It serves our most vulnerable young students.

One thing you would change about the school district to make it better and/or improve student outcomes.

To improve the culture of the community and to be in accord with the superintendent and the students and everybody in between. To promote the best learning experience and teaching experience possible by listening more than talking just to talk. To be respectful and lead our community to the best future possible for our children. Use my leadership skills to bring our community together and advocate for every member of our community and support early academic intervention, including Universal Pre-K.

CHRISTOPHER PAPILE

How long have you lived in the district?

My wife and I moved here four years ago.

Why are you running for election?

I am running because I started to get involved after volunteering for the CBAC (Citizens’ Budget Advisory Committee). I didn’t like much of what I saw. And one day I just decided to act on it. The board is beholding to students and taxpayers. No one else. Or at least it is supposed to be. As 67 percent of our property taxes goes toward education, full transparency should be demanded by every parent and taxpayer.

What professional and personal experience do you bring to the board?

I spent nearly 40 years as a software engineer. I have a MS and a BS in computer science and an AS in mathematics. I was a soccer coach for nine years, five at the travel level. I sat on the executive board of the Baymen Soccer Club for two years. I raised two successful children and am the proud grandfather of five. I’m married to a retired ESL/ENL teacher.

If elected, what will be your priority and why?

The first thing I would do is get more people to come to board meetings. If parents and taxpayers get involved, they will want to know more. They will want to do more. When that happens, it will drive the board to better represent the community. And if that happens, it puts pressure on the superintendent to do better. And when that happens, the students win.

One thing you would change about the school district to make it better and/or improve student outcomes.

I would demand transparency. We all should. The board has direct control over just one person, the superintendent. So many times the board asks for information, in many instances more than once. Streamlining the district would ensure more resources for children. I would do my best to make sure all competent teachers are retained. If we can hit all the marks, maybe the students can have a field trip this year.

CHRISTOPHER (CHRIS) NEHRING

How long have you lived in the district? 37 years.

Why are you running for reelection?

I am hoping to continue my service on the Amityville Board of Education working cohesively with administration, teachers, staff, and the board of education to move this district forward.

What professional and personal experience do you bring to the board?

Professionally, I have over 15 years of workforce leadership experience, building, training, and maintaining teams of 20 to 100 employees. During that time, I have managed budgets, handled staffing and personnel matters, facilities maintenance, supplies and merchandise order-

JUAN LEON - AMITYVILLE

SYDNEY MARTIN - AMITYVILLE

CHRISTOPHER NEHRING - AMITYVILLE

CHRISTOPHER PAPILE - AMITYVILLE

After 40 years of serving as your trusted financial advisor, I am excited to share an important update about my practice. I have joined Lebenthal Financial Services, Inc., an independent broker-dealer based in Jericho, NY, to better serve my clients with expanded resources and greater flexibility.

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Researching and recommending the best solutions

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Greater flexibility to select the most suitable solutions for you

A broader array of investment options to diversify and strengthen your portfolio

I look forward to this next chapter and continuing to help you achieve your financial goals.

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Meet some of our local scholars...

The following students were recently recognized for academic achievements and graduation at their respective colleges:

•The following members of the New York Army National Guard were recently promoted: Rosalba Rodrigues of N. Massapequa and assigned to the Operations Company, 42 nd Division Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, was promoted to the rank of master sergeant and Michael Singh of Massapequa and assigned to the Headquarters and the Headquarters Company, 204 th Engineer Battalion was promoted to the rank of sergeant.

The following students were recently recognized for academic achievements and graduation at their respective colleges:

•The following students were recently inducted into the Nursing Honor Society at the University of Scranton: Daniela Battista of Massapequa, senior pursuing a nursing degree and Emily Finck of North Massapequa, se -

nior pursuing a nursing degree.

•Cameron Stamm of Farmingdale, attending Palmer College of Chiropractic, was recently named to the Dean’s List.

•The following students participated in Hofstra University’s Annual Pride and Plant event, connecting students with local homeowners who need help with yard work and planting: Chloe Hoehman of Massapequa Park, studying Exercise Physiology; Melissa Contreras of Massapequa, studying Criminology; Juliana Cole of Massapequa Park, studying Psychology; Mia Santabarbara of Massapequa Park, studying Management; Kaylee Roche of Massapequa, studying Criminology; Caroline Arent of Massapequa Park, studying Marketing; Jenna Konsky of Massapequa, studying Nursing; Alexa Dalton of Massapequa Park, studying Nursing; Tyler McGivney of Farmingdale, studying Athletic Training; and Madison Burke of Massapequa, studying Athletic Training.

Attention Readers

Results from school budget votes and trustee elections will be posted on our website, massapequapost.com, shortly after the polls close on Tues., May 20. Detailed stories will be posted online the next day and will appear in print in the Massapequa Herald May 28 edition.

For more information call the editor us at 631-383-7165.

■ WEB SITE: www.massapequapost.com / www.liherald.com/Babylon ■ E-MAIl: Letters and other submissions: cjames@liherald.com

VALENTINA KESABIAN

Clarke Senior Lacrosse

IT’S BEEN AN IMPRESSIVE rise for Clarke’s girls’ lacrosse program since it endured a winless 2022 campaign, and Kesabian has been a major part of the turnaround. Last spring she helped lead the Rams to 10 wins, scoring 26 goals and earning All-Conference honors in the process. This season, both the third-year attack and the team continued to flourish. Kesabian finished with 39 goals and 13 assists, and Clarke won 12 of 15 games.

GAMES TO WATCH

Thursday, May 15

Softball playoffs: First round at higher seed ...................TBA

Boys Lacrosse: Freeport at Kennedy .........................5

Boys Lacrosse: Elmont at Lawrence ..........................5

Baseball: Elmont at West Hempstead .......................5

Baseball: Roosevelt at Uniondale .............................5 p.m.

Baseball: G.N. South at V.S. Central ..........................5 p.m.

Friday, May 16

Boys Lacrosse: Garden City at Carey....................4:30 p.m.

Boys Lacrosse: Oceanside at Farmingdale................5 p.m.

Boys Lacrosse: Plainedge at South Side ...................5 p.m.

Boys Lacrosse: Massapequa at Syosset ...................5 p.m.

Saturday, May 17

Softball: Nassau quarterfinals at higher seed ................TBA

Monday, May 19

Softball: Nassau semifinals GM1 at higher seed ...........TBA

Tuesday, May 20

Softball: Nassau semifinals GM2 at lower seed.............TBA

Baseball: Nassau Class A quarterfinals GM 3................TBA

Baseball: Nassau Class B semifinals GM 2 ...................TBA

Baseball: Nassau Class AAA play-in games ...................TBA

Nominate a “Spotlight Athlete”

High School athletes to be featured on the Herald sports page must compete in a spring sport and have earned an AllConference award or higher last season. Please send the following information: Name, School, Grade, Sport and accomplishments to Sports@liherald.com.

Plainedge earns share of top spot

By MARC BERMAN sports@liherald.com

Senior goalie Jill Mauersberger was the hero of Plainedge’s 13-12 victory May 5 over North Shore when she made a beautiful save with 10 seconds left to preserve the “W”.

It was the highlight of her surprisingly solid season and she gets to repel the Vikings of Sea Cliff again this Sunday at 1 p.m. in the first round of the Nassau Class C playoffs.

Plainedge entered the season with big hopes but one question mark was in goal with first-year starter Mauersberger.

Mauersberger was a backup her first three seasons in red. Her solid play in close games allowed the Red Devils to post another sterling record – 11-4, 10-2 in Conference 2, tying Lynbrook for the regular-season title. “She has shown tremendous progress this entire season’’ coach Kristin Susko said. “She has kept us in multiple one-goal games. We don’t even have a backup goalie. From beginning of the season to now, she’s stepped up tremendously.’’

Plainedge and North Shore will meet again with stakes higher.

“We have a good chance of beating them,’’ senior star sniper Madison Wade said. “We all have to be on our game, working together, having confidence in each other. We’re capable of beating them like we did before.’’

Added Susko: “It’s going to be a great game. I respect their coach and kids. I’m looking forward to preparing

Sophomore Peyton Wise netted 40 goals in the regular season for the Red Devils, who carry an 11-4 record into the playoffs.

and analyzing the previous game.’’

Wade will be relied upon heavily as the dangerous midfielder after scoring 48 goals, 8 assists. She’s committed to Pace University.

“She’s definitely progressed tremendously,’’ Susko said of Wade. “She’s seen everywhere on the field. She’s a big proponent in our draw. She’s on the best player on the other team. On the offensive side, she’s easily visible. Everyone sees her, knows her.’’

Wade scored 37 goals last season, so she’s added to her game.

“I’m confident keeping the ball, knowing my teammates are always open and creating space for me to be able to go to goal,’’ Wade said.

Wade mad a sensational tandem with fellow senior midfielder Lia Villari, also headed to Pace. Villari is the chief draw person while netting 29 goals, 6 assists. Like Wade, Villari is everywhere on the field, making an impact.

Then there is sophomore sniper Peyton Wise, who recorded 40 goals.11 assists, stationed mostly behind the

cage in an “X’’ role. The defense’s four returning starters excelled. They included three seniors, Mallory Auer, Alessia Giuffida and Giulia Giuffrida, and sophomore Giovanna Pannitti. “Our defense has really stepped, causing turnovers, picking up groundballs,’’ Susko said.

There is belief this could turn into a meaningful playoff run in North Massapequa. “We’re all very close on and off the field,’’ Wade said. “We connect with each other and know how to set each other up.’’

Derrick Dingle/Herald

TOBAY looking to hire lifeguards

Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino announced that lifeguard employment opportunities are available at Town of Oyster Bay beaches, including north shore ‘calm water’ beaches and at TOBAY Ocean Beach. Job opportunities begin at a competitive starting salary of up to $18 per hour for all lifeguards.

“From having the opportunity to work at one of our beautiful Town beaches and building confidence, self-esteem, and leadership skills, to making new friends and helping others, working as a lifeguard is one of the best summer jobs around,” said Supervisor Saladino. “Our lifeguards provide an invaluable service in protecting our residents and have helped save countless lives in both pool and ocean waters.”

Residents aged 16 and over with a Nassau County Grade II certification can seek

employment at one of the Town’s ‘calm water’ beaches on the north shore, including Theodore Roosevelt Beach in Oyster Bay, Centre Island Beach in Bayville, Tappen Beach in Glenwood Landing, and Ransom and Stehli Beaches in Bayville. Residents 17 and older with a Nassau County Grade III certification can seek employment at TOBAY Beach, as an ocean lifeguard. Applicants must also possess a current CPR/ AED for the Professional Rescuer certification. Lifeguards also have many future opportunities for advancement.

Town lifeguards are hired for the summer season, which runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day. For all inquiries about lifeguard employment, please call 516-797-4131 or email aquatics@oysterbayny.gov.

Assemblyman Durso to hold free senior medical ID card program

NYS Assemblyman Michael Durso, in partnership with the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, is holding a free Senior Medical ID Card program on Thurs., May 22 from 10:30 a.m. to 120 p.m. at the West Islip Public Library, 3 Higbie Lane in West Islip. The program is free and open to Suffolk County residents 50 years old and older.

The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office

Medical ID Cards assist seniors or those with medical needs to keep all required medical information available on a small card with them at all times in case of emergency. No registration is required. Walk-ins welcome.

For more information, please contact Assemblyman Durso’s district office at (516) 541-4598.

Read the Massapequa Herald Post

TOBAY Art in the Park, May 17

Town of Oyster Bay officials are inviting local artists and artisans to participate in a special day of creativity and community at Art in the Park. This event will take place on Saturday, May 17, at Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park & Beach in Oyster Bay, offering a unique platform for talented individuals to display and sell their handcrafted creations. The deadline to apply is Friday, May 9.

“Art in the Park provides an incredible opportunity for local artists and artisans to showcase their best work, connect with the community, and gain recognition,” said Councilman Tom Hand. “Don’t miss this opportunity to showcase your creativity and be part of a vibrant community event, featuring live music, food trucks, and fun activities for kids.”

Artists and artisans must be 18

years or older and can only display and sell original, handcrafted pieces. Commercial or mass-produced items will not be permitted. Participants are responsible for supplying their own 10x10 canopy and any additional equipment needed for their space. Full details, including associated costs, are outlined in the application available online.

Organized by the Town’s Department of Community & Youth Services, Cultural and Performing Arts Division, Art in the Park celebrates a diverse range of handcrafted works, including ceramics, watercolors, glass, jewelry, wood, leather, sculptures, and more.

To apply, visit the Town’s website at www.oysterbaytown.com/capa or contact the Cultural and Performing Arts Division at (516) 797-7932 for more information.

Massapequa’s Annual Street Festival

The Massapequa Chamber of Commerce will be hosting their annual Anthony Ventiera and Patricia Orzano Memorial Street Festival on June 1 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Lower Broadway in Massapequa, between Veterans Blvd. and Clark Ave. A rain date is schedule

for June 8.

The event will feature food, music, prizes, vendors and lots of family activities.

If you are interested in being a vendor, please visit massapequachamber. org or call (516) 541-1443.

Chalk S. State crashes up to bad judgment

By AINSLEY MARTINEZ amartinez@liherald.com

Second story in a series on the Southern State Parkway.

Ana Marte, 67, said that a fatal car accident on the Southern State Parkway in January changed her life.

Her grandson Anthonie Marte, 23, was severely injured in a one-car crash shortly after 11 p.m. on Jan. 12, in the eastbound lanes not far from Exit 30, near Farmingdale and Massapequa, according to the New York State Police.

Investigators said that the car in which Marte was a passenger, a black 2016 Dodge Dart, was traveling at a high rate of speed and weaving between lanes before the driver lost control and crashed into a tree.

Two rear-seat passengers, ages 23 and 21, were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver, Jaden Dsouza, 19, of College Point, Queens, and Marte, of East Elmhurst, Queens, who was in the front passenger seat, were both extricated from the vehicle and transported to a nearby hospital in serious condition.

Marte’s grandmother said he suffered major head injuries, and she still takes care of him daily, feeding him and giving him pain medicine. He is slowly recovering, with doctors’ appointments and physical therapy. “He’s like a baby again,” she said. “He doesn’t want to go outside because he’s scared, and all he does is sleep.”

Marte does not remember the accident, his grandmother said.

Dsouza was later charged with one count of driving while ability impaired by drugs, second-degree manslaughter, first-degree vehicular manslaughter, second-degree assault and aggravated vehicular homicide, police said.

Crash data from the New York State Police shows a fluctuating, but persistent, pattern of accidents on the Southern State Parkway over the past six years, with the number of fatal crashes in a year reaching as high as six.

Crashes resulting in serious personal injury in Nassau have remained relatively low throughout the period, with no more than two reported in any given year.

While most incidents are non-fatal, serious crashes often involve an added risk: intoxication. Speed and distraction remain consistent contributing factors, but impairment by drugs or alcohol increases the potential for deadly outcomes.

“It’s on the driver for the most part,” State Police Capt. Mike Rhodes said. “If they’re inattentive, if they’re speeding, if they’re not following the vehicle and traffic law, they do not understand the severity of what could happen.”

Rhodes oversees 56 state troopers and eight sergeants, many of whom patrol the 25.3-mile long Southern State. Most accidents, he said, occur during peak congestion, at around 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Crash data from the state police show a fluctuating but persistent pattern of accidents on the parkway over the past six years, with fatal crashes increasing in 2024.

In 2019, there were 3,127 crashes on the Nassau County stretch of the parkway, including six fatalities. That number dropped to 2,331 in 2020, but rose again in subsequent years, reaching 2,716 in 2022 and 2,725 in 2023. In 2024, state police recorded 2,549 crashes and five fatalities. Thus far this year, there have been 328 crashes and one fatality.

“A lot of these things, they hit every single age category,” Rhodes said.

To combat the persistent problem, state police focus on enforcement and outreach. Not every traffic stop results in a citation; many serve as opportunities for education.

Personal injury attorney Stephen Cohen said that in his more than five decades of handling lawsuits, most of those that involve accidents on the Southern State involve intoxicated drivers.

Cohen, a partner at the law firm Cohen and Jaffe, in New Hyde Park, said that speed, intoxication and reckless driving continue to be the common factors in the region’s most serious accidents.

“I don’t believe road design is an issue at all,” Cohen said. “Posting more signs to slow down isn’t an answer, because when somebody is either speeding or just intoxicated, they don’t really care what the sign says.”

Many collisions during rush hour, he explained, stem from traffic congestion and insufficient braking distance. “People are gliding along, and they hit a certain spot, and all of a sudden they weren’t prepared, because they’re going 70 miles an hour,” Cohen said. “So you

see a lot of rear-end collisions, not necessarily death-related.”

Fatal crashes, he noted, often involve younger drivers, high speeds and intoxication or impairment.

“You don’t see fatalities at 11 o’clock in the morning,” Cohen said. “You just don’t. You may see them at 4 in the morning. When your ability to observe is not sharp because of either impairment or intoxication, the car is going to go airborne. And if there happens to be a tree there, that’s the next thing you’re going to hit.”

In his practice, Cohen said, the firm represents victims or passengers, but not intoxicated drivers.

Under state law, he noted, lawsuits require plaintiffs to meet the “serious injury” threshold defined in insurance law. In cases involving fatalities, death, families must petition a Surrogate’s Court to appoint a representative for the estate before filing a lawsuit. That process can take over a year, he said.

Insurance coverage limits often dictate how quickly a case can be resolved. “If somebody has — let’s say, the responsible party — has a $100,000 policy, that case is going to be over in two seconds,” Cohen said.

Efforts to reform wrongful death laws in New York have repeatedly stalled, despite advocacy from legal organizations.

Despite changes in laws and vehicle technology over the years, Cohen said, the root problems remain unchanged.

“It only seems to get worse because cars are faster than they were 20, 30 years ago,” he said. “There’s more people drinking or doing some sort of drugs. And that’s what you see in all horrific accidents.”

Additional reporting by Mohammad Rafiq.

Accident data from the New York State Police

2019 – Total: 3,987

(3,127 Nassau, 860 Suffolk)

Serious personal injury: 2 (Nassau)

Fatal: 8 (6 Nassau, 2 Suffolk)

2020 – Total: 2,977

(2,331 Nassau, 646 Suffolk)

Serious personal injury: 3 (2 Nassau, 1 Suffolk)

Fatal: 9 (6 Nassau, 3 Suffolk)

2021 – Total: 3,566

(2,782 Nassau, 784 Suffolk)

Serious personal injury: 1 (Nassau)

Fatal: 9 (6 Nassau, 3 Suffolk)

2022 – Total: 3,552

(2,716 Nassau, 836 Suffolk)

Serious personal injury:

5 (1 Nassau, 4 Suffolk)

Fatal: 13 (5 Nassau, 8 Suffolk)

2023 – Total: 3,500 (2,725-Nassau, 775-Suffolk)

Serious personal injury: 1 (Nassau)

Fatal: 6 (3 Nassau, 3 Suffolk)

2024 – Total: 3,405

(2,549 Nassau, 856 Suffolk)

Serious personal injury:

2 (1 Nassau, 1 Suffolk)

Fatal: 15 (5 Nassau, 10 Suffolk)

2025* – Total: 426 (328 Nassau, 98 Suffolk)

Serious personal injury: 0

Fatal: 3 (1 Nassau, 2 Suffolk)

* To date

Tim Baker/Herald

Dr. Edward J. Mohr, an ophthalmologist, dies at 78

By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com

Dr. Edward J. Mohr, a compassionate ophthalmologist whose skilled hands helped preserve the vision of thousands and whose heart helped preserve the legacy of his late daughter, died peacefully on March 27, 2025. He was 78 and had practices in West Islip and Amityville.

A beloved husband, father, grandfather and community figure, Dr. Mohr practiced medicine on Long Island for nearly 50 years, earning the deep respect of his patients and colleagues alike for his dedication, kindness and unwavering resolve.

Born Oct. 21, 1946, in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, he was the son of Mary and Allen Mohr. His family later moved to Massapequa, where he was raised alongside his siblings, Colleen, Denise and Allen. He graduated from Seton Hall High School in 1964, where he met his future wife and loving partner, Cabrini Cirillo. The two were married June 7, 1970 and would spend the next 54 years building a rich life together.

Dr. Mohr earned his undergraduate degree from St. Bonaventure University in 1968 and his medical degree from Creighton University in Omaha in 1972. He completed his internship and residency at Nassau County Medi-

cal Center, specializing in ophthalmology.

In 1976, he opened his first private practice in West Islip, later expanding to Amityville. Over the next four decades, he performed thousands of eye surgeries, restoring sight and offering hope to patients across the region. Even after semi-retiring in 2017, he continued seeing patients in West Islip until just weeks before his passing. He is remembered not only as a talented surgeon but as a generous community member who coached youth sports, supported church and school events, and cheered loudly for his be-

loved New York Mets. His family was the heart of his world. He and Cabrini welcomed three children: Jacqueline Mary, Michael Allen and Natalie Lillian. His devotion to his late daughter Jackie lives on through Jac’s Pack, a charitable effort supporting cancer research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Dr. Mohr proudly wore the group’s signature, rainbow T-shirts, at fundraising races and events, helping to turn grief into purpose.

“He’s the greatest father, role model, mentor and best friend that I

are important... Don’t settle.

If the funeral home you preplanned with is no longer what you had in mind,the prearrangements may be transferred to us. Please call us—we can help.

Dr. Edward Mohr

Teen champ and alumni star shine at heart of Plainedge 5k run

By MIKE POLANSKY

Senior Correspondent

Fourteen-year-old Luke Worzel, a Plainedge wrestling standout, outpaced teammate Jake Gerbasi to finish first overall in the 8th annual Heart of Plainedge 5K Run, held April 27.

Melissa Galeotafiore, a 2007 graduate of Plainedge High School, was the top female finisher, crossing the line at her alma mater. Lisa Treglia of Massapequa followed as the second woman overall.

The race, managed by the Plainedge PTA and directed for the third consecutive year by Vanessa Laverdiere, serves as a key fundraiser for scholarships awarded to graduating seniors.

“We keep this as an ongoing event because Plainedge is a running town, and this is an

amazing fundraiser that brings our community together,” Laverdiere said. The event helps fund 23 scholarships of $1,000 each year, she added.

In addition to Worzel, Gerbasi and Galeotafiore, several Massapequa runners earned age-group honors: Women’s 15–19: Santino Mastrangelo (1st), Kate Franks (2nd), Alexandra Perceval (3rd); Women’s 25–29: Shannon Bonora (1st); Women’s 35–39: Kaitlin Montella (1st), Melissa Ciccarello (2nd); Women’s 40–44: Jessica Rothman (2nd), Carly Collins (3rd); Women’s 45–49: Siobhan Hovorka (1st), Martha Jimenez (2nd), Kim Battista (3rd); Women’s 50–54: Janine Scarlatos (2nd) and Women’s 55–59: Dana Judge (3rd).

On the men’s side: Men’s 11–14: B. Perceval (1st), John DeSena (2nd), Christian Caldara (3rd); Men’s 15–19: Cory Perceval (1st), Thomas Franzino (2nd); Men’s 20–24: Harrison Boukas (1st), Daniel Kussman (3rd Men’s 30–34: John

Dennehy (1st), Jared Saperstein (2nd); Men’s 35–39: Chris Griffith (1st); Men’s 40–44: Seth Flaum (2nd), Donald Perceval (3rd); Men’s 45–49: Nicholas Montella (1st), Chris Boukas (2nd); Men’s 50–54: Louis Mastrangelo (2nd) and Men’s 60–64: John Stauber (1st).

Veteran runner John Stauber of North Massapequa praised the race for its community spirit.

“It’s a nice small race for a nice charity,” he said. Stauber also thanked Nassau County police for keeping the course clear of traffic and made a point to wave to drivers who were delayed. “I know there are people who do not like having roads blocked Sunday mornings,” he said.

Despite strong, unseasonably cold winds, runners and organizers alike embraced the day, celebrating what has become a signature event for the Plainedge community.

Mike Polansky/Herald

Shown left to right are: John Stauber, Luke Worzel crossing the finish line, Jake Gerbasi, run director Vanessa Laverdiere and N.C. Leg. James Kennedy

Massapequa BOE applauds student artists and musicians

“It’s a little bit on the high side for us,” Ruf said, attributing the increase to temporary financial factors including debt service, a delay in building aid, and the absence of rental income from the Hawthorn building. He predicted a return to more typical fiscal patterns in future years.

•Superintendent of Schools William Brennan announced that Massapequa has been selected to host the New York Special Olympics Regional Spring Games in both 2026 and 2027.

Woman’s Club of Massapequa installs two new members

Newly installed members Linda Gebbia and Grace McIssac with their sponsor

Schrimacher, and membership chair Monica Rea.

President Fran Cloud presided over the April general meeting of the Woman’s Club of Massapequa.

Membership Chair Monica Rea conducted the installation of two new members, Linda Gebbia and Grace McIssac, sponsored by Bernadette Schrimacher.

The Child Welfare Department hosted the second annual Lemon Auction, with Tammy Valenti and Stephanie Veltre serving as auctioneers. Mem-

bers donated gently used items including household goods, paintings, jewelry and more.

The club also finalized plans for its Installation Luncheon, scheduled for Wednesday, June 11, at Brasserie, 5590 Merrick Road, Massapequa. A new slate of executive officers will be installed for the 2025–27 term.

Oyster Bay Town looking to hire lifeguards

Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino announced that lifeguard employment opportunities are available at Town of Oyster Bay beaches, including north shore ‘calm water’ beaches and at TOBAY Ocean Beach. Job opportunities begin at a competitive starting salary of up to $18 per hour for all lifeguards.

“From having the opportunity to work at one of our beautiful town beaches and building confidence, self-esteem, and leadership skills, to making new friends and helping others, working as a lifeguard is one of the best summer jobs around,” said Saladino. “Our lifeguards provide an invaluable service in protecting our residents and have helped save countless lives in both pool and ocean waters.”

Residents aged 16 and over with a Nassau County Grade II certification

can seek employment at one of the Town’s “calm water” beaches on the north shore, including Theodore Roosevelt Beach in Oyster Bay, Centre Island Beach in Bayville, Tappen Beach in Glenwood Landing, and Ransom and Stehli Beaches in Bayville. Residents 17 and older with a Nassau County Grade III certification can seek employment at TOBAY Beach, as an ocean lifeguard. Applicants must also possess a current CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer certification. Lifeguards also have many future opportunities for advancement.

Town lifeguards are hired for the summer season, which runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day. For all inquiries about lifeguard employment, call 516-797-4131 or email aquatics@oysterbay-ny.gov

Right: Vincent Green, District Director of Fine and Performing Arts, introduces the students

Music students Giovanna Pizzo, Emily Ogurick and Isabella Corigliano with certificates

Board of Education members, Superintendent of Schools William Brennan and Director Green congratulate art student Connor Buch

Courtesy Massapequa Woman’s Club

,Bernadette

Dr. Edward J. Mohr, at 78

could have ever asked for, and I am forever honored, privileged, thankful, lucky, and proud to be his son,” said his son, Michael.

His grandson Brady Lessing will remember his grandfather as a strong, yet kind man. “He guided me toward a life of integrity and compassion,” he said.

“Most of us knew Dad as ‘The Big E’—not just for Ed, but because he was truly extraordinary” said his daughter Natalie Lessing. “ His remarkable spirit, filled with wisdom, love, laughter, and compassion, lives on as a powerful legacy in me, my children, and all those he touched.”

Dr. Mohr is survived by his wife, Cabrini; his children, Michael and Natalie; his son-in-law, Christopher Lessing; and three grandsons, Christopher Brady Jr., Edward Mohr and Nicholas Michael, all of East Islip. He was predeceased by his daughter Jackie.

He reposed at Fredrick J. Chapey & Sons Funeral Home, 200 E. Main St., East Islip April 1, 2025. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated the following day at St Mary’s R.C. Church, 20 Harrison Ave., East Islip

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Jac’s Pack at org or mailed to Jac’s Pack, Natalie Lessing, 26 Percy Williams Drive, East Islip, NY 11730.

ATTENTION FAMILIES AND FUNERAL DIRECTORS

Family members and funeral directors can submit obituary notices to us at: Massapequa Herald Post, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530 or call us at 516-569-4000 ext. 329. We will also consider publishing clear black and white or color photos with the articles.

Rhythm & Soul

music, bottomless mimosas and flights

THE BARNYARD

OR VISITWWW.THEBARNYARDSTATION.COM FOR RESERVATIONS

GRADUATE OPEN HOUSE

Saturday, June 7, 2025 10 a.m.

At Hofstra University, graduate students grow the seeds to advance in their career. Hear from representatives across 200 programs that include business, communications, education, engineering, health sciences, nursing, and psychology, and learn all the ways your success can sprout at Hofstra University. Your future awaits.

For event details and to RSVP, visit hofstra.edu/visit

Meet the candidates in your local school board races

ing. While working with many different personalities with varying strengths and weaknesses, I have developed an aptitude to work well in all types of environments.

Personally, I am an alumnus of the district and the father of two active students in the district, which affords me a better understanding of the history of the district as well as the current needs and environment of the district.

If elected, what will be your priority and why?

I want to restore the community’s trust in the district. I hope to accomplish this mainly by transparently rebuilding the district’s financial status while properly staffing the district to ensure students’ needs are met.

One thing you would change about the school district to make it better and/ or improve student outcomes.

I would like to change the availability of field trips and find a way to bring them back for students in all grades by finding further budget savings and finding outside funding through donations and grants. The fun and educational experiences will help improve morale while providing memorable events with their classmates.

PLAINEDGE

Incumbent Trustee Jennifer Maggio is opposed by Ken Auer; Incumbent Trustee Kathleen Versace is opposed by Dr. Farjana Khan; Trustee Michael Ponticello is running unopposed.

KEN AUER

How long have you lived in the district?

23 years.

Why are you running for election?

I want to advocate for policies and initiatives that promote academic excellence, produce well-rounded citizens, and access for all students. Serving on the board would give me the opportunity to contribute my skills and perspectives, as an educator, high school administrator and parent, to help shape the future of our schools and ensure they provide the best possible education and support for every learner.

What professional and personal experience do you bring to the board?

I have been an educator for close to 30 years. I have been at Archbishop Molloy High School since September of 1998. I started as a dean of Students and U.S. history and government teacher, then became a criminal justice teacher. In January of 2008, I became the assistant principal for student services. As a parent, of three children, in the district I believe my insight would be helpful to the current board with my complete background.

If elected, what will be your priority and why?

I would like to help improve with collaboration with administration and school board. This is essential to uphold and enhance our district’s standards of academic excellence and student wellbeing. Another goal is to support initia-

tives that foster diverse opportunities for student growth, encourage collaboration, and build skills that prepare students for success beyond the classroom. I am committed to empowering educators with the tools, time, and support they need to thrive.

One thing you would change about the school district to make it better and/or improve student outcomes.

My priority would be to be fiscally responsible. The management of our district’s financial resources is important to providing a quality education. I am dedicated to transparent budgeting, careful allocations of funds, and ongoing oversight to ensure every dollar is spent effectively and efficiently.

DR. FARJAN KHAN

How long have you lived in the district?

I have proudly called Plainedge home for over five years. In that time, I’ve come to deeply value the district’s strong sense of community and dedication to education.

Why are you running for election?

I am running because every child deserves an education that inspires curiosity, supports diverse learning needs, and builds confidence. I am passionate about elevating how we support students and families, particularly those who often go unheard. My goal is to strengthen school-family partnerships, champion inclusive practices (academically, socially, familial needs, emotionally), and help every student reach their full potential. I want to ensure all voices are part of shaping a district where learners, faculty and families feel supported, seen, and fully empowered.

What professional and personal experience do you bring to the board?

As an educator and psychologist, I bring extensive experience in curriculum design, small group instruction, data-driven teaching, and differentiated learning. I’ve mentored teachers, led training sessions, and developed strategies that improve student confidence and achievement. Personally, as a Plainedge parent and community member, I’m committed to inclusivity and strong family-school partnerships. My combined professional and personal experiences help me bridge classroom and community needs, ensuring that board decisions reflect real, student-centered needs.

If elected, what will be your priority and why?

My priority will be to enhance differentiated instruction and expand enrichment opportunities for all students. Every child deserves teaching that challenges and supports their individual needs. I bring 21+ years of proven success using data, curriculum design, and parent engagement to boost student growth. By equipping educators with tools for effective small group teaching, we can raise achievement. This studentcentered approach recognizes the value of personalized learning and builds a stronger, more inclusive academic foundation.

One thing you would change about the

school district to make it better and/or improve student outcomes.

I would enhance school-family engagement through better communication, and inclusive opportunities. I propose clear communication tools, frequent family events during the school day, building more parent-teacher connections, and an onboarding process for new families.

KATHLEEN VERSACE

How long have you lived in the district?

My family and I have proudly lived in the Plainedge School District for 14 years.

Why are you running for re-election?

I’m running to advocate for all students and families, promote open communication, and ensure fiscally responsible decisions that prioritize student success.

What professional and personal experience do you bring to the board?

I’m a certified K-12 health and physical education teacher, personal trainer, and a long-time hands-on community volunteer. I’ve chaired multiple school events, coached youth sports, and stayed actively involved in our district for over a decade.

If elected, what will be your priority and why?

My priority is increasing parent and community involvement. Empowering families to be heard and involved strengthens outcomes for all students. An effective board is one that easily and openly collaborates with the community.

One thing you would change about the school district to make it better and/or improve student outcomes.

I’d enhance collaboration between families, educators, and the board—creating more inclusive dialogue to support academic achievement and student well-being all while maintaining fiscal responsibility.

Incumbent Trustee Jennifer Maggio did not respond to our request for information.

KEN AUER - PLAINEDGE

DR. FARJAN KHAN - PLAINEDGE

KATHLEEN VERSACE - PLAINEDGE

What’s in a name: it can be a dogged task

The dog is the most varied mammal on Earth, with over 400 breeds recognized worldwide. While the origin of each breed’s name may not rival the evolutionary importance of Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species, their etymologies remain fascinating.

Pets, Pets, Pets...

Etymology, the study of word origins, reveals that many dog breeds are named after geographic locations. Some are well known, like the Irish Setter, developed in Ireland, while others are more obscure, such as the Saluki, named for an ancient town in Arabia. Certain breeds are named after people, including the Doberman, named for German tax collector Louis Dobermann, and the Gordon Setter, named for the Duke of Gordon.

Other breed names describe their original jobs or characteristics. Pointers and Shepherds reflect working roles. “Borzoi” is Russian for “swift,” while “Shih Tzu” is Mandarin for “lion.” The Schnauzer takes its name from the German word “schnauz,” meaning “snout.” The French “barbichon frisé,” or “curly lap dog,” was shortened to Bichon Frise.

Starting with basics, both “dog” and “hound” come from Old English. “Dog” is derived from “docga,” meaning a powerful canine breed, while “hound” stems from “hund,” which by the 12th century referred specifically to a hunting dog. The Basset Hound’s name comes from the Old French word for “low,” while “Dachshund” combines the German words for “badger” (dasch) and “dog” (hund).

The word “Terrier” originates from the Latin “terra,” meaning “earth,” as these dogs hunt prey underground. “Spaniel” dates to the 13th century and denotes a dog from Spain. Despite their French flair, Poodles are German in origin, from “pudel,” meaning “to splash,” referencing their work as water retrievers. Their elaborate haircuts once served a functional purpose for swimming.

The Vizsla has dual meanings: “to seek” in Turkish and “to point” in Hungarian. “Schipperke,” a Dutch word, translates to “little boatman” or “skipper,” as these compact watchdogs patrolled barges.

Arctic sled dogs such as Huskies, Malamutes and Samoyeds are named for the Inuit or Siberian groups that bred them. Other breeds resemble geography lessons: Dalmatians are from a region in Croatia, Lhasa Apsos from Tibet’s capital, and Rottweilers trace back to the German town of Rottweil, where Roman legions once marched with Mastiffs. Airedales were developed near the River Aire in England.

French Poodles are not the only geographical misnomers. Great Danes originated in either Germany or Britain, but a French naturalist traveling in Denmark coined the mistaken name in the 1700s. Labrador Retrievers are from Newfoundland, though Labrador is

nearby.

Other breeds have multiple theories behind their names. The word “Collie” may stem from the AngloSaxon for “black like coal” or the Gaelic “cuilean,” meaning “puppy.” The Pug may have been named for its resemblance to marmoset monkeys—also called “pugs”—popular in the 1700s, or from the Latin “pugnus,” meaning “fist,” because of the dog’s head shape. Another theory links “Pug” to “Puck,” the fairy from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

The Chow Chow also has more than one possible origin. One version suggests “chow” was Chinese slang for “edible,” while another connects it to the phrase “chow chow,” used in the 1800s to describe miscellaneous cargo from the Far East.

Beagles have varied theories about the root of their name. Snoopy’s ancestors may be described by the French term “be’geule” which means “gape throat” because of their baying voice, or possibly by the Celtic word “beag” meaning “small”. Fittingly, Darwin’s famed ship, the HMS Beagle, carried a namesake of Snoopy’s ancestors as he recorded his revolutionary observations of the natural world. Sons of Snoopy everywhere bay with pride about their famous namesake ship.

Available for Adoption

At Last Hope Animal Rescue, 3300 Beltagh Ave., Wantagh: Monica is an 8-yearold Beagle surrendered to a local shelter when her family moved to Europe. Tristan is a playful young Goldendoodle. For more information, call 631-946-9528.

LAST HOPE POSTER PUPS:

JOANNE ANDERSON

“Borzoi” ( aka Russian Wolfhound) comes from the Russian word for “swift”.

STEPPING OUT

Young imaginations shine

Little Learners Art Lab at Long Island Children’s Museum is filled with year-round creativity

By Danielle Schwab

Long Island Children’s Museum transforms into a colorful hub of creativity for some of its smallet visitors, every Thursday at 11:30 a.m. Its Little Learners Art Lab welcomes young artists — and the grownups with them — for a handson art adventure designed to spark curiosity and imagination.

Whether it’s painting, planting or playing with textures, sessions offer an inviting space where toddlers and preschoolers can explore the world through art. This is more than about creating something beautiful — it’s about growing minds and nurturing self-expression.

“We try to infuse in all of the themes different mediums, exposure to different artists and different approaches to art,” says Ashley Niver, the museum’s director of education.

Each week, children are introduced to artists, techniques, and styles through engaging projects and materials, led by museum educators. Parents and grandparents are welcome to join in the fun, making it a bonding experience that’s as enriching for adults as it is for kids. Through these immersive projects, the tots explore their creativity and even make new friends.

“Around a third of our visitors are under the age of five. It’s important for early childhood development to have activities that are process-focused to give them that expressive freedom [to create],” Niver explains.

In each class, young learners are encouraged to ask questions, try new things and take the lead in their creative journey. The program mixes play with gentle guidance, helping children explore big concepts in age-appropriate ways.

The activities act as a gateway to talk about new concepts for young learners as they discover the world around them, combining inquisitive thinking with instructional supervision. On the schedule, May 22, families can explore the lifecycle of a plant while decorating terracotta pots during Art In Bloom. Kids will plant seeds in those pots and take their tiny gardens home to watch, water and nurture as litle sprouts grow into blooming plants.

That’s followed by Crystallized Creations on May 29. The salt-based art project allows kids experiment with textures and observe how salt and paint interact — adding a rocky twist to their creativity.

“Science isn’t just happening behind the scenes. It can

‘Murr’ goes solo

Get ready to laugh — and laugh you will. Prepare for an unforgettable night filled with comedy, chaos and wild antics as Impractical Jokers’ James “Murr” Murray hits the stage on The Errors Tour. Known for his outrageous pranks, laugh-out-loud moments and unpredictable humor, Murr brings the party to you with a show packed full of hilarious stories, ridiculous mishaps and plenty of jaw-dropping moments. With his signature style of comedy and a few unexpected surprises, Murr will have you in stitches from start to finish. It’s surely a non-stop ride of comedy, antics and pure fun you won’t want to miss. For more than a decade, Murr and his lifelong Friends — Sal, Joe and Q — have been making audiences laugh across the country, and now he’s bringing the laughs to you. Murr Live is hysterical — of course, interactive — stand-up comedy, in true Impractical Jokers style. Hangout with Murr as he tells funny stories, shows off his own personal never-before-seen videos from Impractical Jokers and plays Jokers “live” on stage with the audience.

• Weekly Thursdays, 11:30 a.m.-noon

• Admission: $18 adults and children over 1 year old, $16 for seniors, free to members and under one year; additional fees for theater and special programs may apply

• For more information, visit licm.org or call (516) 224-5800

happen when you’re mixing paint and looking at changes in color or how, for instance, the salt disperses the paint pigment,” Niver says.

Other sessions examine techniques like pointillism or even introduce self-portraits in a thoroughly kid-friendly approach.

“When the parents see these ‘sticky moments’ for younger kids where they’re ingrained in these memories and these experiences, they are right there for the ride,” Niver adds.“They’re going through it with their children, and seeing their children light up and experience joy and learning of these new concepts connects the parents to the activities.”

Of course, art doesn’t have to happen in a classroom or museum space, it can also be done right at home! Niver encourages families to use these classes as an accessible way to bring the creativity back to their households.

“We want to give the opportunity for parents to incorporate making art in easy forms at home that may be less daunting for them,” Niver says.

And often, the youngsters can try materials and methods they may not have access to elsewhere. The sessions offer an introduction to new media as well.

“We also try to balance with materials that maybe they wouldn’t be exposed to normally at home. We could bring in easels one day and have the kids do canvas painting,” she adds.

The fun doesn’t stop when class ends. The museum’s exhibits and upcoming events are often tied into the weekly themes. So, when the class concludes, there’s plenty more to explore!

For example, in celebration of National Zoo and Aquarium Month, in June, kids can make majestic underwater creatures using recycled materials and bubble wrap. This is a creative “sneak peek” teaser what’s to come as the museum prepares to open its newest permanent exhibit, “Saltwater Stories,” in October.

Accessibility is another important component of the museum’s approach to arts programming. Little Learners Art Lab provides families with high-quality early childhood education at a fraction of the cost of private art classes or specialized preschool programs, according to the leadership team. The program’s affordability ensures that all children in the community have access to enriching artistic experiences that contribute to cognitive, social, and emotional development.

“Our whole point is to bring people in, and celebrate and cater to the audience that is coming to us daily, and that is the early childhood audience,” Niver says.

“We hope that for years to come families will bring back other children in their family, as their family grows, and continue to value the museum.”

Photos courtesy LICM

Kids and their adult partners play and create together at the Art Lab. Artistic inspiration involves developing young motor skills as everyone fully engages in the moment.

Friday, May 16, 7 p.m. $65, $55, $45, $35. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny. com.

David Finckel, Wu Han and Chad Hoopes

Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Artistic Directors David Finckel (piano) and Wu Han (cello) have assembled a scintillating collection of works that reveal the joy and depth of the chamber music literature. Starting as frequent collaborators, Finckel and Han have been married since 1985. As a duo, they began to tour regularly while retaining residencies in New York. In this program, volin sonatas from the Baroque and Classical eras are performed by the young virtuoso Chad Hoopes, followed by Mendelssohn’s invigorating Second Sonata for cello and piano, a gem of the Romantic era. The art of romantic music hits a high point in the concluding work, in which all combine for a trio by the founder of Czech music, Bed�ich Smetana.

Sunday, May 18, 3 p.m. Tilles Center, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

Your Neighborhood CALENDAR

MAY

Garden Days

Garden lovers, green thumbs and spring seekers: Old Westbury Gardens’ beloved Garden Days return. Four vibrant days are filled with plants, programs, and purpose, highlighted by the muchanticipated Plant Sale Preview Party on Friday evening. On May 16 (6-8 p.m.), guests are invited to sip, shop and stroll through the gardens during this exclusive first-look event, featuring live music, sweet and savory treats, and early access to a lush array of rare perennials and signature plants grown right here on Long Island. The two-day plant sale runs May 17-18, (10 a.m.-4 p.m.), where shoppers can select from a curated selection of garden favorites with expert guidance from the Gardens’ horticulture staff. Addition highlights include a panel discussion, Guided walks and garden tours and spring celebration chamber concert.

•Where: 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury

•Time: Ongoing, May 15-18

•Contact: Visit oldwestburygardens.org/2025garden-days for full schedule and ticket details

Hug a happy tree

K&A Tree Service offers free tree inspections throughout Long Island. Tree professionals will visit in person to inspect tree and provide free advice to help treat your tree right and make it happy.

•Where: Ongoing

•Contact: (516) 208-3131

On Exhibit

Nassau County Museum of Art’s latest exhibition, the original “Deco at 100” coincides with the 100th anniversary of the 1925 Paris International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts (Exposition internationale des arts décoratifs et industriels modernes) that publicly launched the movement. The direct follow-up to the well-received 2023 exhibit, “Our Gilded Age,” it comparably links the period’s signature innovation in the decorative arts, Art Deco, to the fine arts. On view through June 15.

•Where: 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor

•Time: Ongoing

•Contact: (516) 484-9337 or nassaumuseum.org

‘Elephant & Piggie’s

We Are in a Play!’

The beloved musical adventure, ripped from the pages of Mo Willems’ beloved award-winning, best-selling children’s books, is

Jon Lovitz

Comedy legend Jon Lovitz brings his signature wit and unforgettable characters to the Paramount stage for a night of nonstop laughs. Best known for his Emmy-nominated run on SNL and roles in hit films like “A League of Their Own” and “The Wedding Singer,” Lovitz has been a staple of comedy for over 30 years. He got his start acting in high school productions, developing his skills at the University of California, Irvine where he earned a B.A. in Drama. He also studied acting with Tony Barr at the Film Actors Workshop. At the advice of Tony Barr, Jon decided to concentrate solely on comedy. From there his trajectory took off. He began taking classes with the famed improv comedy group The Groundlings in 1982. One year later, Jon got his first acting job on the television show “The Paper Chase: the Second Year.” Two years followed and then he was accepted into The Groundlings main company. In March 1985 The Groundlings appeared on “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson” where Jon premiered his character “Tommy Flanagan of Pathological Liars Anonymous. SNL and numerous other offers followed and Jon was on his, working non-stop since. Along with his comedy, Jon is well known for his distinctive voice. It has served him will in his varied TV and film career. He is one of the few performers to start as an actor and then become a stand-up comedian who successfully headlines venues nationwide. Jon’s humor is unique, which is attributable to his quirky personality, and he is sure to entertain. $59.50, $49.50, $39.50, $29.50.

back on stage at Long Island Children’s Museum. Willems’ classic characters Elephant and Piggie storm the stage in a rollicking musical romp filled with plenty of pachydermal peril and swiney suspense perfect for young audiences.

•Where: Museum Row, Garden City

•Time: Also May 17 and May 20-22, times vary

•Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800

LIMEHOF Summer Band Camp

High school vocalists and musicians can participate in the Summer Band Camp Program. Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, LIMEHOF, hosts its first All-Star Band Camp for high school students in grades 9-12. The week-long program runs from July 28 through Aug. 1, 9-11:30 a.m. each day and concludes with a final concert on Aug. 3 at 3 p.m. $350 fee. To apply, email student’s name, age, specific instrument or vocalist, and contact information to Tom Needham. Deadline is June 1.

•Contact: (631) 689-5888, info@limusichalloffame.org

Register now for Massapequa’s

Memorial Day Parade

Registration is now open for the Memorial Day Parade and Service of the Massapequas to take place on May 26. The parade will begin at Front Street in Massapequa Park and conclude at Klestinec Park for a Wreath Laying Ceremony. Chamber members are welcome to march with the Massapequa Chamber of Commerce.

•Where: Front St., Massapequa

•Time: 9:30 a.m.

•Contact: (516) 541-1443 or shorturl.at/cTnPR

MAY 16

Book Discussion

Join moderator Harriet Klein to discuss “Sylvia’s Second Act” by Hillary Yablon at Plainedge Public Library. For ages 18 and up. Registration required.

•Where: 1060 Hicksville Road, N. Massapequa

• Time: 2-3 p.m.

•Contact: (516) 735-4133 or plainedgelibrary.libcal.com/ event/13983019

hosted at Plainedge Public Library. This course is given in one 6-hour session, including a break for lunch Pay by check made out to the Empire Safety Council. An individual enrollment form and payment is required for each person. Bring a pen, your driver’s license, and a bagged lunch or snack. Cost is $33.

•Where: 1060 Hicksville Road, N. Massapequa

•Time: 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

•Contact: (516) 735-4133 or plainedgelibrary.libcal.com/ event/13949571

Art Explorations

Converse, collaborate and create at Nassau County Museum of Art. Kids and their adult partners can talk about and make art together. Enjoy reading and play in the Reading Room, and contribute to The Lobby Project, a collaborative art installation. Registration required.

•Where: 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor

•Time: noon-3 p.m.

•Contact: 516) 484-9337 or nassaumuseum.org

Concert of Contrasts

•Where: The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington.

• Time: 7 p.m.

•Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com

MAY

17

Art in the Park

The Town of Oyster Bay hosts their Art in the Park craft sale. Local artists and artisans will sell unique handcrafted goods, jewelry, ceramics, photography, books, greeting cards and more. A live musical performance will take place, featuring an Earth, Wind & Fire Tribute Band, along with familyfriendly activities and offerings from local food trucks. Admission is free.

•Where: Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park and Beach, 25 W. End Ave., Oyster Bay

• Time: Noon-4 p.m.

•Contact: (516) 797-7925 or oysterbay.com/capa

Animal Abuse Awareness Adoption

Nassau County SPCA hosts its annual Animal Abuse Awareness Adoption event. With pet-friendly vendors, giveaways, raffles and adoptable pets.

•Where: Village Green, 361 Main St., Farmingdale

•Time: 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

•Contact: (516) 576-2921

Empire Safety Council

Defensive Driving

Improve driving skills and obtain insurance discounts at the session

Join the Long Island Choral Society and Music Director Michael C. Haigler for their final concert of the season. “From the Sublime to the Ridiculous”, offers the beautiful melodies of Johannes Brahms’ Liebeslieder Waltzes as well as the ridiculous antics of P.D.Q. Bach’s Liebeslieder Polkas. Liebeslieder translates as Love Song and this concert will give two very different visions of musical expressions of love. Act I features Brahms lush waltzes, scored for 4-hand piano and sure to elicit emotions and romantic memories through its lush melodies and sublime poetry. Act II presents P.D.Q. Bach’s interpretation of love songs through energy driven polkas scored for 5-hand piano in such a manner as to create chaos, musical mayhem, visual hijinks and some seriously bad puns. $20, $10 youth. Tickets can be purchased in advance or at door.

•Where: Garden City Community Church, 245 Stewart Ave., Garden City

•Time: 7 p.m.

•Contact: lics.org or call (516) 652-6878

Having an event?

Items on the Calendar page are listed free of charge. The Herald welcomes listings of upcoming events, community meetings and items of public interest. All submissions should include date, time and location of the event, cost, and a contact name and phone number. Submissions can be emailed to kbloom@ liherald.com.

Water providers are tested in taste contest

By CHARLES SHAW cshaw@liherald.com

What’s the best-tasting tap water on Long Island?

That was the question posed to students at Farmingdale State College during the Long Island Water Conference’s 37th annual drinking water tasting contest, held during National Drinking Water Week.

The conference, also known as LIWC, is made up of members of public and private water suppliers across Long Island. According to LIWC Commissioner Robert McEvoy, the event has taken place at the Farmingdale campus for the past four years, sparking student interest in water quality.

“It draws in a lot of the students,” McEvoy said. “They’re interested in where the water comes from, and if there’s any variance in taste. We also try to promote tap water as being the most regulated and tested, even more so than bottled water.”

The finals, held on May 7, featured 16 Long Island water providers competing for the title of best-tasting drinking water in Nassau and Suffolk counties. Students, faculty and staff on campus participated in a blind taste test, sampling water from each provider and casting their votes.

The Oyster Bay Water District won the Nassau County competition, while

the Greenlawn Water District took the top spot in Suffolk. Both districts will advance to the New York State Regional Metro Tap Water Taste Contest in New York City in August, where they will compete for a spot in the statewide competition held later that month at the Great New York State Fair in Syracuse.

LIWC representatives at the event also took the opportunity to educate attendees about the water supplied to their homes, and assured them that Long Island’s drinking water remains of high quality.

McEvoy, who is also a commissioner

and the chairman of the Oyster Bay Water District, said that frequent testing is conducted by the state Department of Health to ensure the water’s quality.

“It’s safe, it’s highly regulated and it’s extremely affordable,” McEvoy said. “It’s something that should be utilized by the public, and it’s a far greater value than bottled water.”

Michael Rich, a commissioner and the secretary of the Oyster Bay district, has taken part in the competition for the past 10 years, educating the community about local water supplies.

“It’s great to come out to the commu-

nity and have everyone get involved with local water,” Rich said.

He noted that most people aren’t aware of where their water comes from. On Long Island, drinking water comes from an aquifer system, a naturally formed underground storage area.

In an aquifer system, unwanted chemicals are capable of seeping into the water supply. The LIWC urges residents to dispose of hazardous household waste properly at designated town drop-off sites and never pour it down drains, into storm sewers or on the ground.

“Anything that we put on the ground will ultimately find its way into the aquifer,” Rich stated.

Lawn irrigation, he said, accounts for much of Long Island’s water use. He urged residents to follow odd/even watering schedules, watering on days that match their house numbers. He also highlighted the importance of leak detection, noting that undetected leaks can waste hundreds of thousands of gallons each month, making it vital for both residents and water providers to monitor and address them.

Rich added that it doesn’t take much water to maintain a healthy lawn.

“You don’t have to water your lawn for a half-hour a day,” Rich said. “You’ll get the same results 15 minutes a day, so we try to stress that.”

For more information on the local water supply, visit liwc.org.

Charles Shaw/Herald

Oyster Bay Water District Secretary Michael Rich, second from right, and Treasurer Nick Niznik offered samples to students during the Long Island Water Conference’s annual water tasting event at Farmingdale State College.

Photo by Richard Termine

How to prepare outdoor spaces for Memorial Day entertaining

Memorial Day weekend is a popular time to entertain. For many, the weekend marks the first outdoor entertaining opportunity of the year, which is certainly something to look forward to.

As outdoor entertaining season begins, homeowners can take these steps to prepare their outdoor living spaces for the first big backyard get-together of the year.

• Break out the power washer. Pressure washing is an important component of spring home cleanup. The warmer temperatures of spring allow water from power washing to dry more quickly, which can decrease the chances that mold and mildew will grow on surfaces like siding. A freshly power washed home also makes for a welcoming entertaining space. A power washer also can be used on outdoor entertaining spaces to remove dirt and debris that built up over the winter. Just make sure to read manufacturer instructions before using a power washer to clean paving stones, decks and outdoor furniture.

• Inspect outdoor furniture. Now is a good time to inspect outdoor furniture if the task was not performed in late fall or early winter before items were moved into the garage or placed in storage. Check to make sure furnishings are still safe to use, addressing any issues before guests come over for a Memorial Day weekend gathering.

Wash cushions for outdoor furniture and replace any that might be showing their age.

• Clean the grill. A thorough cleaning of the grill also is in order prior to summer entertaining season. Many homeowners do little or no grilling during winter, so now is the time to give grilling surfaces and the interior of the grill a deep cleaning. Check for leaks if using a gas grill, and scrub the interior of any grease that accumulated last season. Many grilling experts advise lighting a grill and letting it burn for roughly 20 minutes prior to putting any foods on the grates for the first time. Such a strategy allows residual fluids like soap, vinegar and de-greasing products used when cleaning the grill to burn off before food is placed on the grates.

• Inspect the landscaping, too. It’s not just seating areas like patios and decks that need some investigation prior to outdoor entertaining season. Take a walk around the landscape and make sure there’s no potentially dangerous spots where people could be injured when playing backyard games. Fill in any holes with soil and fresh grass seed, and inspect trees to see if any branches need to be pruned.

Summer entertaining season begins each Memorial Day weekend. Homeowners can take various steps to ensure their outdoor entertaining spaces are comfortable and safe.

Courtesy/Metro creative Connection

Power washing a deck prior to outdoor entertaining season can make it a more welcoming space for guests.

T:10.25"

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earlier than thirty (30) days before the election. Furthermore, such application must be received by the District Clerk at least seven days before the election if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the election if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter or his/her designated agent. Upon receiving a timely request for a mailed absentee ballot, the District Clerk will mail the ballot to the address set forth in the application by no later than six (6) days before the vote. No absentee voter's ballot will be canvassed unless it has been received in the office of the District Clerk not later than 5:00 P.M. (prevailing time) on the day of the election.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE

that military voters who are not currently registered may apply to register as a qualified voter of the school district. Military voters who are qualified voters of the school district may submit an application for a military ballot. Military voters may designate a preference to receive a military voter registration, military ballot application or military ballot by mail, facsimile transmission or electronic mail in their request for such registration, ballot application or ballot. Military voter registration forms and military ballot application forms must be received in the office of the District Clerk of the school district no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 24, 2025. No military ballot will be canvassed unless it is (1) received in the office of the District Clerk before the close of the polls on election day and showing

a cancellation mark of the United States postal service or a foreign country’s postal service, or showing a dated endorsement of receipt by another agency of the United States government; or (2) received by the office of the District Clerk by no later than 5:00 p.m. on election day and signed and dated by the military voter and one witness thereto, with a date which is associated to be not later than the day before the election.

Dated: March 26, 2025 BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF Massapequa, New York EDUCATION OF PLAINEDGE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT TOWN OF OYSTER BAY COUNTY OF NASSAU, NEW YORK MAUREEN RYAN DISTRICT CLERK 25-182. 4/2, 23, 5/7, 14

AVISO DE LA JUNTA ANUAL A LA REUNIÓN DEL DISTRITO ESCOLAR ELECCIÓN ANUAL DE MIEMBROS A LA JUNTA DE EDUCACIÓN Y AUDIENCIA PÚBLICA DEL DISTRITO ESCOLAR UNIÓN LIBRE DE PLAINEDGE, DE OYSTER BAY CONDADO DE NASSAU, NUEVA YORK

SE DA AVISO que la reunión anual de votantes calificados del Distrito Escolar Unión Libre de Plainedge, del Condado de Nassau, Nueva York, tendrá lugar el 21 de mayo del 2024, en la Escuela Superior de Plainedge, en la calle Wyngate y Peony Drive, Norte de Massapequa, Nueva York, para los siguientes propósitos:

• Para votar sobre el presupuesto escolar anual para el año 2024-2025 y para autorizar la

proposición de recaudación de impuesto sobre impuestos de propiedad del distrito para los siguientes propósitos.

b) Elegir un (1) miembro para la Junta de Educación para cubrir el saldo de un mandato no vencido, que comienza el 20 de mayo de 2025 y vence el 30 de junio de 2026, actualmente ocupado por Kathleen Versace.

c) Para elegir dos (2) miembros a la Junta de Educación por un término de tres (3) años, comenzando el 1 de julio, 2025 y que termina el 30 de junio, 2028, para llenar las posiciones ahora ocupadas por la Raymond Paris y Jennifer Maggio

• Para votar para la siguiente resolución:

ESTA RESUELTO, que el presupuesto propuesto para la biblioteca por la junta de Fideicomisarios de la biblioteca del distrito escolar y la recaudación de impuestos en conformidad con la sección 259 de la Ley de Educación deberá ser aprobada.

• Elegir a un (1) miembro para la Junta Directiva de la Biblioteca Pública del Distrito Escolar de Plainedge para cubrir el saldo de un mandato no vencido, que comienza el 20 de mayo de 2025 y vence el 30 de junio de 2027, actualmente ocupado por Tara Schneider.

• Para elegir un (1) miembro a la Junta de Fideicomisarios de la biblioteca pública del distrito escolar de Plainedge; para llenar una posición de cinco (5) años comenzando el 1 de julio, 2025 y que termina el 30 de junio, 2030, actualmente ocupado por Rick Fiumara. Para votar sobre algunas otras propuestas como adecuadamente se presenten

Public Notices

antes de la reunión.

• Para votar sobre la siguiente proposición:

SE RESUELVE que la Junta de Educación sea autorizada a gastar una suma que no exceda $1,700,000 de la Reserva de Capital III: Fondo de Iniciativa de Seguridad y Protección establecido el 15 de mayo de 2018, con el propósito de: mejoras de seguridad/comunicaciones incluyendo sistema de megafonía, relojes, pantallas de mensajería digital con relojes, altavoces, sistema de megafonía (con buscapersonas), intercomunicador bidireccional y luces estroboscópicas para notificaciones de emergencia que se instalarán en aulas, oficinas, pasillos y grandes espacios de reunión, instalación de un sistema de buscapersonas exterior con luces estroboscópicas exteriores para alertas visuales de emergencia y funcionalidad de puerta entreabierta con notificaciones. El sistema permite una futura integración con el sistema de gestión de video y seguridad (VMS) existente y la construcción de nuevos sistemas de alarma contra incendios para cumplir con los códigos de edificación actualizados en Plainedge High School, Plainedge Middle School, Eastplain Elementary School, John H. West Elementary School y Charles E. Schwarting Elementary School; actualización del sistema de gestión de tarjetas de identificación de empleados, estudiantes y visitantes incluyendo funcionalidad de asistencia, gestión de visitantes y notificaciones digitales. Este sistema permite la integración futura con sistemas existentes de alarmas antirrobo y control de

acceso; instalaciones y actualizaciones, incluyendo dispositivos de red, cableado, toda la mano de obra, materiales, equipos, aparatos y que los costos del proyecto especificados según lo establecido en el folleto puedan reasignarse entre los componentes del proyecto dentro del alcance de esta autorización.

• SE RESUELVE que la Junta de Educación esté autorizada a gastar una suma que no exceda los $2,575,000.00 del Fondo de Reserva de Capital - Mejoras de Instalaciones establecido el 21 de mayo de 2019, para el propósito del proyecto de renovación del nuevo patio de juegos y patio de la escuela primaria John H. West; proyecto de repavimentación del patio de juegos de la escuela primaria Charles E. Schwarting y estaciones de juegos inclusivas adicionales; proyecto de cercado de seguridad para el área del patio de juegos y patio de la escuela secundaria Plainedge; reemplazo de ventanas de la escuela secundaria Plainedge; vestuarios de niños y niñas de la escuela secundaria Plainedge - actualizaciones de HVAC, calefacción, aire acondicionado y reemplazo del sistema de aire fresco; baño de varios puestos del segundo piso de las niñas de la escuela secundaria Plainedge; baño de varios puestos del segundo piso de los niños de la escuela secundaria Plainedge, reparación/actualización del enfriador de HVAC de la escuela secundaria Plainedge; aceras, mejoras de estacionamientos, instalación de pizarrones inteligentes, configuraciones de aulas, reemplazo de ventanas, reemplazo de puertas y herrajes, reemplazo de iluminación, reemplazo de pisos, cercas,

mejoras de drenaje y plomería, mampostería, cemento y asfalto, seguridad, alarma contra incendios y actualizaciones del sistema de megafonía, calefacción, ventilación y aire acondicionado, actualizaciones eléctricas, renovación de paredes interiores incluyendo toda la mano de obra, materiales, equipos, aparatos y costos incidentales de los mismos e incluyendo otras mejoras del sitio en Plainedge High School, Plainedge Middle School, Eastplain Elementary School, John H. West Elementary School, Charles E. Schwarting Elementary School y el Brian Moore Athletic Center; y que los costos del proyecto especificados como se establecen en el folleto pueden reasignarse entre los componentes del proyecto dentro del alcance de esta autorización.

SE DA AVISO que la Junta de Educación tendrá una Audiencia Pública el 13 de mayo, 2025 a las 7:30 p.m. en la escuela superior de Plainedge situada en 241 Wyngate Drive, Massapequa, Nueva York, con el propósito de explicar los gastos de fondos y el presupuesto en relación con la apropiación de los fondos necesarios para cumplir con los gastos de dicho distrito para el año escolar 20252026.

SE DA AVISO que la Junta de la Biblioteca tendrá una audiencia pública el 12 de mayo, 2025 a las 7:00 p. m. en la biblioteca pública de Plainedge situada en la calle Hicksville Road, Massapequa, Nueva York, con el propósito de discutir los gastos de fondos y el presupuesto relacionado a la apropiación de los fondos necesarios para cumplir con los gastos de dicha biblioteca para el año escolar

2025-2026. En cuyo día y en este lugar todas las personas interesadas en este asunto tendrán la oportunidad de ser escuchadas.

TAMBIÉN SE DA AVISO que la reunión anual y la elección se llevarán a cabo para votar por las propuestas y los candidatos en máquinas de votación el 20 de mayo, 2025 empezando a las 6:00 a. m. y terminando a las 9:00 p. m.

TAMBIÉN SE DA AVISO que una copia de la declaración de la cantidad de dinero que se requiere para el consiguiente año de escuela (propuesto escolar) exclusivo de dinero público, y copias de las propuestas a ser votadas pueden ser obtenidas por cualquier contribuyente del distrito durante los catorce (14) días inmediatamente precedente de la reunión anual, excepto sábado, domingo o días festivos, en cada escuela que se mantenga abierta durante las horas de 8:00 a.m. a 4:00 p.m. La declaración de presupuesto antes mencionada contendrá la cantidad de dinero que será pagado a la biblioteca del Distrito Escolar de Plainedge por servicios bibliotecarios para el año empezando el 1 de julio, 2025. Un informe de exención de impuesto de propiedad preparado de acuerdo y en conformidad con la sección 495 de la ley de impuestos de propiedad será anexo a cualquier tentativa/ del presupuesto preliminar como también el presupuesto final adoptado del cual formará parte; y deberá ser publicado en los boletines del distrito que se usan para anuncios públicos y como también en el sitio de la red del distrito (web).

POR FAVOR

TOME NOTA que las

nominaciones para miembro de la oficina de la Junta de Educación y miembro de oficina de la Junta de Biblioteca debe ser hecha por petición suscrita por lo menos por treinta y ocho (38) votantes calificados del distrito, afirmando la residencia de cada persona que firmo, el nombre y residencia del candidato. La petición de nominación para miembro de la oficina de la Junta de Educación deberá también describir específicamente la posición vacante en la Junta de Educación para la cual el candidato es nominado, cuya descripción debe incluir por lo menos el término de la posición y el nombre del último poseedor del cargo si ha habido alguno. Ninguna persona puede ser nominada para otras oficinas por separado. La petición de nominación deber ser presentada a la oficina de la secretaria del distrito entre las horas de 9:00 a.m. a 5:00 p.m. no más tarde del 21 de abril, 2025.

TAMBIÉN SE DA AVISO que la Junta de Registro de este distrito escolar se reunirá en la oficina de la secretaria del distrito de Plainedge como se establece en este aviso, entre las 3:00 p.m. a 7:00 p.m. el 15 de mayo, 2025 para el propósito de preparar un registro de votantes calificados que tengan derecho a votar en la reunión de la escuela y la elección para la cual el registro se preparó de acuerdo con la sección 2014 de la Ley de Educación. En cual momento, cualquier persona tiene derecho a poner su nombre en tal registro provisto que en cuya reunión de la Junta de Registro él/ella es conocido, probado a

Continued on next page

Continued from previous page satisfacción de la Junta de Registro, para tener derecho a votar entonces o después en las elecciones anuales del distrito para el cual cuya registración ha sido preparada.

La registración de votantes para la reunión escolar y elección del año 20252026 también debe tener lugar en la oficina de la secretaria del distrito de Plainedge en el edificio administrativo de 9:00 a.m. a 3:30 p.m. en los días en que las escuelas están en sesión. Tal registración no se puede llevar a cabo a menos de cinco días precedente a la reunión escolar y elección. El registro así preparado será archivado en la oficina de la secretaria del distrito y tal registro será abierto para inspección en cada uno de los cinco (5) día antes del día indicado de votación del presupuesto y elección entre las horas de 9:00 a.m. a 5:00 p.m. excepto sábado cuando estará disponible por cita solamente, entre las horas de 10:00 a.m. a 12:00 p.m.

TAMBIÉN SE

DA AVISO que una persona tiene derecho de votar en la reunión anual y en la elección siempre y cuando sea ciudadano de los Estados Unidos, tenga dieciocho años de edad, sea residente del distrito escolar por un período de treinta días precedente a la elección, ha ofrecido a votar y se ha registrado a votar para dicha elección. La persona debe ser registrada a votar si él o ella tiene registración permanente con el Junta de Elecciones del condado de Nassau o con la de Junta del Distrito. Sólo las personas quiénes están registrados tienen derecho a votar.

ADEMÁS, SE DA AVISO que la Junta

de Registro se reunirá durante las horas de votación en la reunión anual del distrito y elección el 20 de mayo, 2025 en el lugar de las urnas del distrito de elecciones con el propósito de preparar un registro para reuniones del distrito o elecciones que se llevará a cabo posteriormente del 20 de mayo, 2025. Dicho registro deberá incluir (1) todos los votantes del distrito calificados quiénes se presenten personalmente para registrarse y (2) todos los votantes del distrito anteriormente calificados quiénes hayan sido anteriormente registrados por cualquier reunión especial o anual del distrito o por elección llevada a cabo o que tuvo lugar en cualquier fecha dentro del calendario de cuatro años 2021-2024 antes de la preparación de dicho registro.

POR FAVOR TENGA EN CUENTA

ADEMÁS que la elección debe tener lugar de acuerdo con la Ley de Educación y las normas de conducta de reuniones y elecciones adoptadas por la Junta de Educación.

POR FAVOR TEN-

GA EN CUENTA

ADEMÁS que cualquier proposición o pregunta sobre las máquinas de votación debe ser presentada por escrito por petición suscrita por lo menos por noventa y cinco (95) votantes calificados del distrito y ser presentado en la oficina de la secretaria del distrito entre las horas de 9:00 a.m. a 5:00 p.m. a no más tardar del 21 de abril, 2025. Esta regla no es aplicable para aquellas preguntas o propuestas, que son requeridas para ser publicadas o declaradas en los avisos públicos de la reunión o para aquellas propuestas o preguntas las cuales la

Junta de Educación

tiene la autoridad de presentarlas en cualquier reunión especial o anual del distrito.

POR FAVOR TEN-

GA EN CUENTA

ADEMÁS que aplicaciones para las boletas ausentes para la votación del presupuesto y elección de los miembros de la junta pueden ser mandada a la oficina de la secretaria escolar. Tal aplicación debe ser recibida en la secretaria del distrito no antes de treinta (30) días antes de las elecciones, Además, cuya aplicación debe ser recibida en la secretaria del distrito por lo menos siete días antes de las elecciones si la boleta va a ser enviada por correo al votante, o el día antes de las elecciones si la boleta va a ser entregada personalmente al votante o a su agente designado. Una vez recibida con tiempo la solicitud para una boleta de voto en ausencia por correo la secretaria del distrito le enviara la boleta a la dirección indicada en la solicitud a no más tardar de seis (6) días antes del voto. No boleta de votante ausente puede ser sondeada a menos que haya sido recibida en la oficina de la secretaria del distrito a no más tardar de las 5:00 p.m. (tiempo prevaleciente) del día de las elecciones.

POR FAVOR TENGA EN CUENTA ADEMÁS de que los votantes militares que actualmente no están inscritos pueden aplicar para registrarse como votantes calificados del distrito escolar. Votantes militares que son votantes calificados del distrito escolar pueden presentar una solicitud para una boleta militar, los votantes militares pueden designar una preferencia para recibir una registración de boleta

Public Notices

militar, aplicación de boletas militar o boleta militar por correo, transmisión por fax o correo electrónico en la solicitud de dicho registro, solicitud de boletas o boleta. Los formularios de registro de votantes militares deberán ser recibidos en la oficina de la secretaria a más tardar a las 5:00 p.m. del 24 de abril, 2025 No boleta militar será sondeada a menos que (1) se reciba en la oficina de la secretaria del distrito antes del cierre de las urnas en el día de las elecciones y que muestre una marca de cancelación del servicio postal de los Estados Unidos o servicio postal de un país extranjero, o que muestre endorso de recibo fechado por otra agencia del gobierno de los Estados Unidos; o (2) que haya sido recibida por la oficina de la secretaria del distrito a no más tardar de las 5:00 p.m. del día de las elecciones, firmado y fechado por el votante militar y un testigo del mismo, con una fecha que se no sea a más tardar del día anterior a la elección.

Fechado: 26 de marzo del 2025

POR ORDEN DE: LA JUNTA DE Massapequa, Nueva York

EDUCACIÓN DEL DISTRITO ESCOLAR

UNIÓN LIBRE DE PLAINEDGE

DEL PUEBLO DE OYSTER BAY

CONDADO DE NASSAU, NUEVA YORK

MAUREEN RYAN

SECRETARIA DEL DISTRITO

25-183. 4/2, 23 5/7, 14

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING, BUDGET VOTE AND ELECTION OF THE FARMINGDALE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT

TOWNS OF OYS-

TER BAY, NASSAU COUNTY AND BABYLON SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that a Public Hearing of the qualified voters of the Farmingdale Union Free School District of the Towns of Oyster Bay and Babylon, Nassau and Suffolk Counties, New York, will be held in the Auditorium of the Weldon E. Howitt Middle School, 50 Van Cott Avenue, Farmingdale, New York, in said District on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at 8:00 p.m., prevailing time, for the transaction of business as authorized by the Education Law, including the following items:      1.         To present to the voters a detailed statement (proposed budget) of the amount of money which will be required for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.      2.         To discuss all the items hereinafter set forth to be voted upon by voting machines at the Budget Vote and Election to be held on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.

.      3.         To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting pursuant to Education Law of the State of New York and acts amendatory thereto.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that said Budget Vote and Election will be held on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, in the Aquatic Center of the Weldon E. Howitt Middle School, 50 Van Cott Avenue, Farmingdale, New York, between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., prevailing time, at which time the polls will be opened to vote by

voting machine upon the following items:             1.         To adopt the annual budget of the School District for the fiscal year 2025-2026 and to authorize the requisite portion thereof to be raised by taxation on the taxable property of the District.

2. That the Farmingdale Youth Council Appropriation for fiscal year 2025-2026, as submitted, shall be approved and the requisite amount thereof to be raised by taxation on the taxable property of the District.

3. To elect two (2) members of the Board of Education for three-year terms commencing July 1, 2025, and expiring on June 30, 2028. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that a copy of the detailed statement in writing of the amount of money which will be required for the 2025-2026 school year for school purposes (the proposed budget) and the 2025-2026 Farmingdale Youth Council Appropriation budget will be made available, to any resident of the District between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. beginning May 6, 2025, except Saturday, Sunday or holidays, at the Office of the District Clerk, Weldon E. Howitt Middle School, 50 Van Cott Avenue, Farmingdale, New York upon request, at school district offices, at the Farmingdale Public Library, and on the District’s website at www.farmingdaleschools.org, and at each school house in the District.

Albany Avenue Elementary School Northside Elementary School Saltzman East Me-

morial Elementary School

Woodwood Parkway Elementary School

Weldon E. Howitt Middle School Farmingdale High School AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that pursuant to Section 495 of the Real Property Tax Law, the School District is required to attach to its proposed budget an exemption report.  Said exemption report, which will also become part of the final budget, will show how much of  the total assessed value on the final assessment roll used in the budgetary process is exempt from taxation, list every type of exemption granted, identified by statutory authority, and show: (a) the cumulative impact of each type of exemption expressed either as a dollar amount of assessed value or as a percentage of the total assessed value on the roll; (b) the cumulative amount expected to be received from recipients of each type of exemption as payments in lieu of taxes or other payments for municipal services; and (c) the cumulative impact of all exemptions granted.  The exemption report shall be posted on any bulletin board maintained by the District for public notices and on any website maintained by the District.  AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that petitions nominating candidates for the office of member of the Board of Education shall be filed with the Clerk of said School District at her office in the Administration Building, 50 Van Cott Avenue, Farmingdale, New York, not

later than April 21, 2025, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., prevailing time. Vacancies on the Board of Education are not considered separate, specific offices; candidates run at large. Nominating petitions for the Board of Education shall not describe any specific vacancy upon the Board for which the candidate is nominated; must be directed to the Clerk of the District; must state the name and residence of each signer, and, must state the name and residence of the candidate. Nominating petitions for the Board of Education must be signed by at least 50 qualified voters of the District (representing the greater of 25 qualified voters or 2% of the number of voters who voted in the 2024 annual election).

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that personal registration of voters is required either pursuant to §2014 of the Education Law or pursuant to Article 5 of the Election Law.  If a voter has heretofore registered pursuant to §2014 of the Education Law and has voted at an annual or special district meeting within the last four (4) calendar years, he or she is eligible to vote at this election.  If a voter is registered and eligible to vote under Article 5 of the Election Law, he or she is also eligible to vote at this election.  All other persons who wish to vote must register. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that military voters who are not currently

Continued on next page

Continued from previous page registered may apply to register as a qualified voter of the Farmingdale Union Free School District by requesting and returning a registration application to the District Clerk in person, by mail to the Office of the District Clerk, 50 Van Cott Avenue, Farmingdale, New York 11735, by email to districtclerk@ farmingdaleschools. org or fax sent to (516) 756-6893. The request for the registration application may include the military voter’s preference for receipt of the registration application by either mail, fax or email. Military voter registration application forms must be received in the office of the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 24, 2025. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that military voters who are qualified voters of the Farmingdale Union Free School District, may request an application for a military ballot from the District Clerk in person, by mail to the Office of the District Clerk, 50 Van Cott Avenue, Farmingdale, New York 11735, by email to districtclerk@ farmingdaleschools. org or fax sent to (516) 756-6893. In such request, the military voter may indicate their preference for receiving the application by mail, fax or email. A military voter must return the original military ballot application by mail or in person to the Office of the District Clerk, 50 Van Cott Avenue, Farmingdale, New York 11735. In order for a military

voter to be issued a military ballot, a valid military ballot application must be received in the office of the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m., on April 24, 2025. Military ballot applications received in accordance with the foregoing will be processed in the same manner as a non-military ballot application under Section 2018-a of the Education Law. The application for a military ballot may include the military voter’s preference for receipt of the military ballot by mail, fax, or email.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, a military voter’s original military ballot must be returned by mail or in person to the Office of the District Clerk, 50 Van Cott Avenue, Farmingdale, New York 11735. Military ballots shall be canvassed if they are received by the District Clerk before the close of polls on May 20, 2025 showing a cancellation mark of the United States Postal Service or a foreign country’s postal service, or showing a dated endorsement of receipt by another agency of the United States Government; or received not later than 5:00 p.m. on May 20, 2025 and signed and dated by the military voter and one witness thereto, with a date which is ascertained to be not later than the day before the election. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that pursuant to §2014 of the Education Law of the State of New York, the Board of Registration will meet on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., pre-

vailing time, at the Weldon E. Howitt Middle School, 50 Van Cott Avenue, Farmingdale, New York to prepare the Register of the School District to be used at the Budget Vote and Election to be held in 2026, and any special district meetings that may be held after the preparation of said Register, at which time any person will be entitled to have his or her name placed on such Register provided that at such meeting of said Board of Registration he or she is known or proven to the satisfaction of such Board of Registration to be then or thereafter entitled to vote at the school election for which said Register is prepared, or any special district meeting held after May 20, 2025. Registration shall be conducted for the purpose of registering all qualified voters of the District pursuant to §2014 of the Education Law through May 15, 2025, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., prevailing time, on all regular days during which the office of the District Clerk is in operation, located in the Weldon E. Howitt Middle School, 50 Van Cott Avenue, Farmingdale, New York, and on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., at which time any person will be entitled to have his or her name placed on such register, provided that at such time he or she is known or proven to the satisfaction of said District Clerk to be then or thereafter entitled to vote at such election for which the register is prepared.  The register so prepared pur-

Public Notices

suant to §2014 of the Education Law will be filed in the Office of the District Clerk, Weldon E. Howitt Middle School, 50 Van Cott Avenue, Farmingdale, New York, and will be open for inspection by any qualified voter of the District beginning on Thursday, May 15, 2025, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., prevailing time, on weekdays, and each day prior to the day set for the election, except Sunday, and on Saturday, May 17, 2025, by appointment, and at the polling place on the day of the vote. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that applications for absentee and early mail ballots will be obtainable during school business hours from the District Clerk beginning March 21, 2025. Completed applications may not be received by the District Clerk earlier than April 21, 2025, and must be received by the District Clerk at least seven (7) days before the election if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the election, if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter or to the agent named in the absentee or early mail ballot application.  Absentee and early mail ballots must be received by the District Clerk not later than 5:00 p.m., prevailing time, on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.

A list of persons to whom absentee ballots shall have been issued, and a list of all persons to whom early mail voter’s ballots shall have been issued, will be available for inspection to qualified voters

of the District in the office of the District Clerk on and after Thursday, May 15, 2025, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on weekdays prior to the day set for the annual election and on May 20, 2025, the day set for the election. Any qualified voter may, upon examination of such lists, file a written challenge of the qualifications as a voter of any person whose name appears on such lists, stating the reasons for such challenge. A challenge to an early mail ballot may not be made on the basis that the voter should have applied for an absentee ballot. Any such written challenge shall be transmitted by the District Clerk or a designee of the Board of Education to the inspectors of election on election day.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that qualified voters with disabilities who seek information about acc ess to polling places may, in advance of the day of the vote, contract the District Clerk at 516-434-5023 for information about accessibility.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that pursuant to Board Policy, any referenda or propositions to change the number of Board of Education members, or any other petition required by law to be stated in the Notice of Annual Meeting and Election, must be filed with the District Clerk of the Board of Education at the District Office, Weldon E. Howitt Middle School, 50 Van Cott Avenue, Farmingdale, New York, no later than

5:00 p.m., prevailing time, on March 21, 2025. Any other petition, except those petitions required by law to be stated in the Notice of Annual Meeting and Election, must be filed with the District Clerk of the Board of Education at the District Office, Weldon E. Howitt Middle School, 50 Van Cott Avenue, Farmingdale, New York, no later than 5:00 p.m., prevailing time, on April 21, 2025; all petitions must be typed or printed in the English language; must be directed to the Clerk of the School District; must be signed by at least 123 qualified voters of the District (representing 5% of the number of voters who voted in the previous annual election); and must legibly state the name of each signer.  However, the School Board will not entertain any petition to place before the voters any proposition the purpose of which is not within the powers of the voters to determine, which is unlawful or any proposition which fails to include a specific appropriation where the expenditure of monies is required by the proposition, or where other valid reason exists for excluding the proposition from the ballot. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that those voters seeking information regarding this Budget Vote and Election in Spanish should contact the Office of the District Clerk at 516-434-5023.

Dated:  Farmingdale, New York March 26, 2025 By Order of the BOARD OF EDU-

CATION OF THE FARMINGDALE UNION FREE  SCHOOL DISTRICT          Nassau & Suffolk Counties Farmingdale, New York

AVISO DE AUDIENCIA PÚBLICA, VOTACIÓN PRESUPUESTARIA Y ELECCIÓN DEL DISTRITO ESCOLAR LIBRE DE LA UNIÓN DE FARMINGDALE CIUDADES DE OYSTER BAY, CONDADO DE NASSAU Y BABILONIA CONDADO DE SUFFOLK, NUEVA YORK

POR LA PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA que una Audiencia Pública de los votantes calificados del Distrito Escolar Libre de la Unión de Farmingdale de las Ciudades de Oyster Bay y los Condados de Babylon, Nassau y Suffolk, Nueva York, se llevará a cabo en el Auditorio de la Escuela Secundaria Weldon E. Howitt, 50 Van Cott Avenue, Farmingdale, Nueva York, en dicho Distrito el martes, 13 de mayo de 2025 a las 8:00 p.m., hora vigente, para la transacción de negocios según lo autorizado por la Ley de Educación, incluyendo los siguientes artículos:

1. Presentar a los votantes una declaración detallada (presupuesto propuesto) de la cantidad de dinero que se requerirá para el año fiscal 2025-2026.

Rosemarie Fullam, District Clerk 25-175. 4/2, 16, 30, 5/14 Continued

Y POR LA PRESENTE SE DA AVISO ADICIONAL, de que dicha Votación y Elección del Presupuesto se llevará a cabo el martes 20 de mayo de 2025, en el Centro Acuático de la Escuela Secundaria Weldon E. Howitt, 50 Van Cott Avenue, Farmingdale, Nueva York, entre las 6:00 a.m. y las 9:00 p.m., hora prevaleciente, momento en el cual las urnas se abrirán para votar por máquina de votación en los siguientes elementos:

1. Adoptar el presupuesto anual del Distrito Escolar para el año fiscal 20252026 y autorizar que la porción requerida del mismo se aumente mediante impuestos sobre la propiedad imponible del Distrito.

2. Que se apruebe la Asignación del Consejo Juvenil de Farmingdale para el año fiscal 2025-2026, tal como se presentó, y se recaudará la cantidad requerida de la misma mediante impuestos sobre la propiedad imponible del Distrito.

3. Elegir a dos (2) miembros de la Junta de Educación por períodos de tres años que comienzan el 1 de julio de 2025 y expiran el 30 de junio de 2028.

Y SE DA AVISO ADICIONAL, que

2. Discutir todos los puntos que a continuación se exponen para ser votados por las máquinas de votación en la Votación y Elección de Presupuesto que se llevará a cabo el martes 20 de mayo de 2025. 3. Para llevar a cabo cualquier otro asunto que pueda presentarse adecuadamente ante la reunión de conformidad con la Ley de Educación del Estado de Nueva York y las leyes que la modifiquen.

May 14, 2025

Continued from previous page una copia de la declaración detallada por escrito de la cantidad de dinero que se requerirá para el año escolar 20252026 para fines escolares (el presupuesto propuesto) y el presupuesto de Asignación del Consejo Juvenil de Farmingdale 2025-2026 estará disponible para cualquier residente del Distrito entre las 8:00 a.m. y las 4:00 p.m. a partir del 6 de mayo, 2025, excepto sábados, domingos o días festivos, en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito,

Escuela Secundaria

Weldon E. Howitt, 50 Van Cott Avenue, Farmingdale, Nueva York a pedido, en las oficinas del distrito escolar, en la Biblioteca Pública de Farmingdale, y en el sitio web del Distrito en www. farmingdaleschools. org, y en cada escuela del Distrito.

Escuela Primaria de la Avenida Albany

Escuela Primaria

Northside

Escuela Primaria

Saltzman East Memorial

Escuela Primaria

Woodwood Parkway

Escuela Intermedia

Weldon E. Howitt

Escuela Secundaria

Farmingdale Y POR LA PRESENTE SE DA AVISO

ADICIONAL, que de conformidad con la Sección 495 de la Ley del Impuesto sobre la Propiedad Inmobiliaria, se requiere que el Distrito Escolar adjunte a su presupuesto propuesto un informe de exención.  Dicho informe de exención, que también formará parte del presupuesto final, mostrará qué parte del valor total de la tasación en la lista de liquidación final utilizada en el proceso

presupuestario está exenta de impuestos, enumerará cada tipo de exención otorgada, identificada por la autoridad legal, y mostrará: (a) el impacto acumulativo de cada tipo de exención expresado como un monto en dólares del valor tasado o como un porcentaje del valor tasado total en el rollo; (b) el monto acumulado que se espera recibir de los beneficiarios de cada tipo de exención como pagos en lugar de impuestos u otros pagos por servicios municipales; y c) el efecto acumulativo de todas las exenciones concedidas.  El informe de exención se publicará en cualquier tablón de anuncios mantenido por el Distrito para avisos públicos y en cualquier sitio web mantenido por el Distrito.

Y POR LA PRESENTE SE DA AVISO ADICIONAL, que las peticiones de nominación de candidatos para el cargo de miembro de la Junta de Educación se presentarán ante la Secretaria de dicho Distrito Escolar en su oficina en el Edificio de Administración, 50 Van Cott Avenue, Farmingdale, Nueva York, a más tardar el 21 de abril de 2025, entre las 8:00 a.m. y las 5:00 p.m., tiempo prevaleciente. Las vacantes en la Junta de Educación no se consideran oficinas separadas y específicas; Los candidatos se postulan en general. Las peticiones de nominación para la Junta de Educación no describirán ninguna vacante específica en la Junta para la cual se nomina al candidato; debe dirigirse al Secretario del Distrito; debe indicar el nombre y la residencia de cada fir-

mante, y debe indicar el nombre y la residencia del candidato. Las peticiones de nominación para la Junta de Educación deben estar firmadas por al menos 50 votantes calificados del Distrito (que representen el mayor de 25 votantes calificados o el 2% del número de votantes que votaron en las elecciones anuales de 2024).

Y POR LA PRESENTE SE DA AVISO

ADICIONAL, que se requiere el registro personal de los votantes ya sea de conformidad con la Sección 2014 de la Ley de Educación o de conformidad con el Artículo 5 de la Ley Electoral.  Si un votante se ha registrado hasta ahora de conformidad con §2014 de la Ley de Educación y ha votado en una reunión anual o especial del distrito dentro de los últimos cuatro (4) años calendario, él o ella es elegible para votar en esta elección.  Si un votante está registrado y es elegible para votar bajo el Artículo 5 de la Ley Electoral, él o ella también es elegible para votar en esta elección.  Todas las demás personas que deseen votar deben registrarse.

Y POR LA PRESENTE SE DA AVISO

ADICIONAL de que los votantes militares que no están registrados actualmente pueden solicitar registrarse como votantes calificados del Distrito Escolar Libre de la Unión de Farmingdale solicitando y devolviendo una solicitud de registro al Secretario del Distrito en persona, por correo a la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito, 50 Van Cott Avenue, Farmingdale, Nueva York 11735, por correo electrónico

Public Notices

a districtclerk@ farmingdaleschools. org o fax enviado al (516) 756-6893. La solicitud de la solicitud de registro puede incluir la preferencia del votante militar para recibir la solicitud de registro por correo, fax o correo electrónico. Los formularios de solicitud de registro de votantes militares deben recibirse en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito a más tardar a las 5:00 p.m. del 24 de abril de 2025.

Y POR LA PRESENTE SE DA AVISO

ADICIONAL, que los votantes militares que son votantes calificados del Distrito Escolar Libre de la Unión de Farmingdale, pueden solicitar una solicitud para una boleta militar del Secretario del Distrito en persona, por correo a la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito, 50 Van Cott Avenue, Farmingdale, Nueva York 11735, por correo electrónico a districtclerk@ farmingdaleschools. org o fax enviado al (516) 756-6893. En dicha solicitud, el votante militar puede indicar su preferencia por recibir la solicitud por correo, fax o correo electrónico. Un votante militar debe devolver la solicitud original de boleta militar por correo o en persona a la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito, 50 Van Cott Avenue, Farmingdale, Nueva York 11735. Para que a un votante militar se le emita una boleta militar, se debe recibir una solicitud de boleta militar válida en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito a más tardar a las 5:00 p.m., el 24 de abril de 2025. Las solicitudes de boletas militares recibidas de acuerdo con lo ante-

rior se procesarán de la misma manera que una solicitud de boleta no militar bajo la Sección 2018-a de la Ley de Educación. La solicitud de una boleta militar puede incluir la preferencia del votante militar para recibir la boleta militar por correo, fax o correo electrónico.

Y POR LA PRESENTE SE DA AVISO ADICIONAL, la boleta militar original de un votante militar debe devolverse por correo o en persona a la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito, 50 Van Cott Avenue, Farmingdale, Nueva York 11735. Las boletas militares serán escrutadas si son recibidas por el Secretario del Distrito antes del cierre de las votaciones el 20 de mayo de 2025 mostrando una marca de cancelación del Servicio Postal de los Estados Unidos o del servicio postal de un país extranjero, o mostrando un endoso fechado de recepción por otra agencia del Gobierno de los Estados Unidos; o recibida a más tardar a las 5:00 p.m. del 20 de mayo de 2025 y firmada y fechada por el votante militar y un testigo de la misma, con una fecha que se determina que no es posterior al día anterior a la elección.

Y POR LA PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA que, de conformidad con §2014 de la Ley de Educación del Estado de Nueva York, la Junta de Registro se reunirá el martes 20 de mayo de 2025, entre las 6:00 a.m. y las 9:00 p.m., hora prevaleciente, en la Escuela Secundaria Weldon E. Howitt, 50 Van Cott Avenue, Farmingdale, Nueva York para preparar el Registro del Distrito Escolar que se uti-

lizará en la Votación y Elección del Presupuesto que se llevará a cabo. celebradas en 2026, y cualquier reunión especial de distrito que pueda celebrarse después de la preparación de dicho Registro, momento en el cual cualquier persona tendrá derecho a que su nombre se coloque en dicho Registro siempre que en dicha reunión de dicha Junta de Registro se sepa o se demuestre a satisfacción de dicha Junta de Registro que tiene derecho a votar en ese momento o en lo sucesivo en la elección escolar para la cual se prepare dicho Registro, o cualquier reunión especial de distrito que se celebre después del 20 de mayo de 2025. El registro se llevará a cabo con el propósito de registrar a todos los votantes calificados del Distrito de conformidad con §2014 de la Ley de Educación hasta el 15 de mayo de 2025, entre las 8:00 a.m. y las 4:00 p.m., hora prevaleciente, en todos los días regulares durante los cuales la oficina del Secretario del Distrito está en funcionamiento, ubicada en la Escuela Secundaria Weldon E. Howitt, 50 Van Cott Avenue, Farmingdale, Nueva York, y el martes 13 de mayo de 2025, entre las 4:00 p.m. y las 8:00 p.m., momento en el cual cualquier persona tendrá derecho a que su nombre se coloque en dicho registro, siempre que en ese momento se sepa o se demuestre a satisfacción de dicho Secretario de Distrito que tiene derecho a votar en dicha elección para la cual se establece el registro. preparado.  El registro así preparado de conformidad con

§2014 de la Ley de Educación se presentará en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito, Escuela Secundaria Weldon E. Howitt, 50 Van Cott Avenue, Farmingdale, Nueva York, y estará abierto para inspección por cualquier votante calificado del Distrito a partir del jueves 15 de mayo de 2025, entre las 8:00 a.m. y las 4:00 p.m., hora prevaleciente, en días laborables, y todos los días anteriores al día fijado para la elección, excepto el domingo, y el sábado 17 de mayo de 2025, con cita previa, y en el lugar de votación el día de la votación. Y POR LA PRESENTE SE DA AVISO ADICIONAL, que las solicitudes de boletas de voto en ausencia y por correo anticipado se podrán obtener durante el horario escolar del Secretario del Distrito a partir del 21 de marzo de 2025. Las solicitudes completadas no pueden ser recibidas por el Secretario del Distrito antes del 21 de abril de 2025, y deben ser recibidas por el Secretario del Distrito al menos siete (7) días antes de la elección si la boleta se va a enviar por correo al votante, o el día antes de la elección, si la boleta se va a entregar personalmente al votante o al agente nombrado en la solicitud de boleta de voto en ausencia o por correo anticipado.  Las boletas de voto en ausencia y por correo anticipado deben ser recibidas por el Secretario del Distrito a más tardar a las 5:00 p.m., hora prevaleciente, el martes 20 de mayo de 2025. Una lista de las personas a las que se les habrán emitido boletas de voto en aus-

encia, y una lista de todas las personas a las que se les habrán emitido boletas de votante anticipado por correo, estará disponible para inspección para los votantes calificados del Distrito en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito a partir del jueves 15 de mayo de 2025, entre las 8:00 a.m. y las 4:00 p.m. en días laborables anteriores al día establecido para la elección anual y el día 20 de mayo de 2025, día fijado para las elecciones. Cualquier votante calificado puede, después de examinar dichas listas, presentar una impugnación por escrito de las calificaciones como votante de cualquier persona cuyo nombre aparezca en dichas listas, exponiendo las razones de dicha impugnación. No se puede hacer una impugnación a una boleta de voto por correo anticipado sobre la base de que el votante debería haber solicitado una boleta de voto en ausencia. Cualquier impugnación por escrito será transmitida por el Secretario del Distrito o una persona designada por la Junta de Educación a los inspectores electorales el día de las elecciones. Y POR LA PRESENTE SE DA AVISO ADICIONAL de que los votantes calificados con discapacidades que buscan información sobre el acceso a los lugares de votación pueden, antes del día de la votación, comunicarse con el Secretario del Distrito al 516-4345023 para obtener Continued on next page

Continued from previous page información sobre la accesibilidad.

Y POR LA PRESENTE SE DA AVISO

ADICIONAL, que de conformidad con la Política de la Junta, cualquier referéndum o proposición para cambiar el número de miembros de la Junta de Educación, o cualquier otra petición que la ley requiera que se indique en el Aviso de Reunión

Anual y Elección, debe presentarse ante el Secretario de Distrito de la Junta de Educación en la Oficina del Distrito, Escuela Secundaria

Weldon E. Howitt, 50 Van Cott Avenue, Farmingdale, Nueva York, a más tardar a las 5:00 p.m., hora prevaleciente, el 21 de marzo de 2025. Cualquier otra petición, excepto aquellas peticiones requeridas por la ley para ser declaradas en el Aviso de Reunión

Anual y Elección, debe ser presentada ante el Secretario del Distrito de la Junta de Educación en la Oficina del Distrito, Escuela Secundaria

Weldon E. Howitt, 50 Van Cott Avenue, Farmingdale, Nueva York, a más tardar a las 5:00 p.m., hora prevaleciente, el 21 de abril. 2025; todas las peticiones deben ser mecanografiadas o impresas en el idioma inglés; debe dirigirse al Secretario del Distrito Escolar; debe estar firmada por al menos 123 votantes calificados del Distrito (que representan el 5% del número de votantes que votaron en la elección anual anterior); y debe indicar de manera legible el nombre de cada firmante.  Sin embargo, la Junta Escolar no considerará ninguna

petición para presentar a los votantes cualquier proposición cuyo propósito no esté dentro de los poderes de los votantes para determinar, que sea ilegal o cualquier proposición que no incluya una asignación específica donde el gasto de dinero sea requerido por la proposición, o donde exista otra razón válida para excluir la proposición de la boleta.

Y POR LA PRESENTE SE DA AVISO

ADICIONAL de que aquellos votantes que buscan información sobre este Presupuesto, Votación y Elección en español deben comunicarse con la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito al 516-434-5023.

Fecha: Farmingdale, Nueva York

26 de marzo de 2025

Por orden de la JUNTA DE EDUCACIÓN DE LA SINDICATO DE FARMINGDALE

GRATIS

DISTRITO ESCOLAR

Condados de Nassau y Suffolk Farmingdale, Nueva York

Rosemarie Fullam, Secretaria de Distrito 25-176. 4/2,16, 30, 5/14

The pride is strong for college-bound Massapequa seniors

It was a proud moment for the 19 athletes who took the stage of Massapequa High School’s little theater for the spring college letter of intent signing ceremony recently. The pride was equal in the audience, where parents, siblings and coaches enthusiastically celebrated.

The seniors represented nine of Massapequa’s varsity teams and will be playing for colleges locally and throughout New York State and the country.

“Everyone in this room has a tremendous amount to be proud of,” said Brian Rath, the high school’s physical education and athletics chairperson.

There were also congratulatory

remarks from Superintendent William Brennan, Ed.D., Principal Barbara Lowell and Interim Director of Physical Education, Health, Athletics and Recreation Martin Voigt. They wished the athletes much success in their next endeavors and said their time as Chiefs has prepared them to succeed at a higher level. “You are on the precipice of the best time of your lives,” Lowell said.

The college-bound athletes are: Baseball: Tom Connelly, Ithaca College; Cheerleading: Sophia Kareglis, Sacred Heart University; Field Hockey: Kaitlyn Ogurick, Molloy University; Football: Kenny Gein, Maritime College; Tyler Villalta, Saint Anselm College; Golf:

We all scream for Ice Cream

Few treats are more popular on a warm day than ice cream. With its rich flavor and cooling nature, ice cream is perfect in a cone, cup, cake, or even as a sidekick to a brownie or piece of pie. Summer may be the season when ice cream is enjoyed the most — and many people have fond memories of chasing down the neighborhood ice cream truck on summer afternoons — but ice cream is a favorite all year long.

The number of ice cream flavors is only limited by the imaginations of ice cream shop owners. New small-batch offerings come out each week at privately owned shops. However, despite the infinite number of flavor combinations, certain ice cream flavors are more popular than others. According to the International Dairy Foods Association 2022 Ice Cream & Frozen Novelty Trends Survey, these flavors are tops in the

eyes of Americans.

1. Chocolate

2. Cookies N’ Cream

3. Vanilla

4. Strawberry

5. Chocolate Chip

6. Cookie Dough

7. Butter Pecan

8. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

9. Caramel

10. Salted Caramel

According to a 2022 survey of 1,239 Canadians conducted by Narrative Research, these are the favored flavors among Canadian ice cream afficionados.

1. Chocolate

2. Vanilla

3. Mint chocolate (with no chip)

4. Maple walnut

5. Butterscotch

Carissa Dargenio, Stevenson University; Boys Soccer: Giuseppe Benenati, St. Joseph’s University; Leandro DeCuba, Arcadia University; Jack Egan, SUNY Plattsburgh; Michael Hilas, Mount St. Mary College; Girls Soccer: Samantha Donovan, William Patterson University; and Roxie Gunning, Eastern Connecticut State University; Swimming and Diving: Lukas Christon, SUNY Delhi; Track and Field: Christopher Cordero, SUNY Oneonta; Thomas Galante, Farmingdale State College; Riahanna Kuhns, Pratt Institute of Technology; Ryan Lepre, Molloy University; Shea Santiago, Adelphi University; and Larsen Sullivan, St. Thomas Aquinas College.

6. Cookie Dough

7. Cookies N’ Cream

8. Strawberry

9. Moose Tracks

10. Neapolitan

Vanilla stands as the global ice cream favorite, but some key flavors also stand out in countries around the world. In Japan, Green Tea is a popular flavor, Venezuelans prefer Banana, and in Thailand Coconut reigns supreme.

Ice cream preferences vary across the globe. However, ice cream in all flavors and forms is a beloved dessert few can resist

Courtesy/Massapequa School District

Notice of formation of Golden Road Residences LLC.

Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York SSNY on April 3, 2025. Office located in Nassau County. SSNY has been designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail copy of any process served against the LLC 364 E. Olive St Long Beach, NY 11561. Purpose: any lawful purpose.

25-207 - 5/7, 14, 21, 28, 6/4, 11

Notice of formation of Hancock Hangout LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York SSNY on April 6, 2025. Office located in Nassau County. SSNY has been designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail copy of any process served against the LLC 364 E. Olive St Long Beach, NY 11561. Purpose: any lawful purpose.

25-206. 5/7, 14, 21, 28, 6/4, 11

NOTICE TO BIDDERS MASSAPEQUA UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT

Bids will be received, publicly opened and read aloud forFire Inspector, Emergency Light Inspections And Training at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at the office of the Purchasing Agent, District Offices, Massapequa Public Schools, 4925 Merrick Road, Massapequa, NY 11758. Specifications are available at – www. msd.k12.ny.us/bids beginning Wednesday, May 14, 2025. 25-208. 5/14

Notice is hereby given that a license, Application ID: NA0340-25-106380 for liquor, beer, wine, and cider has been applied for by the undersigned to sell liquor, beer, wine, and cider at retail in a Restaurant under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at 61 Audrey Ave, Oyster Bay, NY 11771, County of Nassau, for on premises consumption at OB Dining LLC. 25-203 5/7, 14

Notice of Formation of Windswept Bay, LLC Art. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 03/16/25. Office: Nassau County, SSNY designated service of process. SSNY shall mail copy of any process to the LLC, 12 Shorewood Dr., Bayville, NY, 11709. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

25-191. 4/9, 16, 23, 30, 5/7, 14

Notice of formation of ICE AGE VISUALS, LLC

Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 04/23/2025 Office location, County of Suffolk.

SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail a process served to: ICE AGE VISUALS, 2886 Rosebud ave., Merrick, NY 11566

Purpose: any lawful act.

25-200. 4/30, 5/7, 14, 21, 28, 6/4

Read

the Legals and Keep Informed

Safety tips ahead of your Memorial Day barbecue

Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer for millions of people across the country. Backyard barbecues are a staple of Memorial Day weekend, and such informal gatherings contribute much to the laid back vibe of this beloved three-day weekend.

Backyard barbecues may be all about food and fun, but it’s important that hosts take measures to ensure such soirees are safe as well. By employing the following measures, hosts can ensure their Memorial Day barbecues are safe for all in attendance.

• Place the grill in a safe location. The National Fire Protection Association urges hosts to place their grills a safe distance away from the home, deck railings and out from under eaves or overhanging branches. The NFPA also notes no grill should be placed within 10 feet of any structure, including a home.

• Check propane tanks for leaks prior to using the grill. Memorial Day may be the first time many people use their grill since the previous summer or fall. The NFPA recommends propane grill users check their tanks for leaks prior to using the grill for the first time. This inspection is simple. Apply a light solution of soap and water to the hose. The NFPA notes a propane leak will release bubbles. The smell test also can reveal a leak, as a strong odor of gas can indicate a leak. In such instances, close the tank valve and turn off the grill. If the leak stops, have the grill serviced by a professional. If the leak persists, call the fire department. The NFPA urges hosts who detect an odor of gas while cooking to get away from the grill immediately and call the fire department. Do not move the grill in such instances.

• Man the grill at all times. An unattended grill poses a significant safety hazard. Whether you’re using a propane grill, a charcoal grill, a smoker, or a hybrid, make sure an adult is keeping an eye on the grill at all times.

• Purchase long-handled cooking tools.

The American Red Cross notes that longhandled cooking tools are designed to keep chefs safe. Such tools ensure cooks’ hands and arms do not have to be directly over flames, which can periodically flare up and pose a safety hazard.

• Ensure children are supervised when swimming. The grill is not the only safety threat that may be present at Memo-

rial Day barbecues. Hosts who will open their pools or provide inflatable pools for children should make sure kids are supervised when in or around the water at all times. Before allowing kids in a pool, hosts should confirm their swimming abilities and insist kids who cannot swim or only recently learned to swim wear inflatables or life jackets to reduce drowning risk.

Memorial Day weekend is a festive time at many households. By emphasizing backyard barbecue safety strategies, hosts can ensure everyone has a great time and gets home safe this Memorial Day weekend.

Hot new games for game nights

Family game nights are a great way to get everyone off their devices and around the table. The Canadian educational toys and play firm Scholar’s Choice reports that games are good for developing motor skills; building specific skills that boost grades; and facilitating problem solving. Games also may strengthen family bonds.

Many people already have a closet full of games, but new ones are released each year to expand the possibilities of play on game nights. Here are some of the latest offerings that adults and children may enjoy.

• You’re Getting Old: This game is ideal for people between the ages of 18 and 45. Players move their pieces up and down a “Path to Getting Old” based on prompts. The player who stays closest to the start wins.

• The Chameleon: The object of this game is for one person to be the chameleon and blend into game play. The others are trying to figure which player is the chameleon. Blending in and not getting caught is the name of the game for those ages 14 and up.

• Starview Valley: The Board Game: This

game is based on a video game of the same name. Players work together to restore the Valley, which is accomplished by growing crops, raising animals, expanding the farm, and collecting resources. The game is designed for one to four players ages 13 and above.

• Charcuterie: The Board Game: In this game, two to six players take turns drafting delectable food tiles to their boards in an effort to create the most delicious charcuterie board. Points are scored for the arrangement and when certain criteria are met. The game is ideal for players 14 and up.

• Moose Master™: This entertaining game for players ages eight and up sets up in seconds. It involves certain Moose Rules cards that players must follow during play, as well as additional cards that feature an action or instructions that must be followed. Players must pay attention and perform each action correctly or incur penalties.

These are just a few of the newer games that can be part of family game nights or parties to enhance fun and excitement.

Courtesy/Metro Creative Connection

BOARD OF EDUCATION

AMITYVILLE

UFSD REGULAR

MONTHLY BUSINESS MEETING –MARCH 26, 2025

ACTION

AGENDA ITEM

2C-1

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING, BUDGET VOTE AND ELECTION

AMITYVILLE

UNION FREE

SCHOOL DISTRICT

TOWNS OF BABYLON, SUFFOLK COUNTY AND, OYSTER BAY, NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that a budget hearing before the qualified voters of the Amityville Union Free School District, Town of Babylon, Suffolk County, and Town of Oyster Bay, Nassau County, New York will be held at the Amityville Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School, 140 Park Avenue, Amityville, New York, in said District on May 7, 2025 at 7:30 p.m., for the transaction of business as authorized by the Education Law, including the following items:

1. To present to the voters a detailed statement (proposed budget) of the amount of money which will be required for the 20252026 fiscal year.

2. To discuss all the items hereinafter set forth to be voted upon by voting machines at the vote and election to be held on Tuesday, May 20. 2025

3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting pursuant to Education Law of the State of New York and acts

amendatory thereto.

A copy of the proposed budget shall be made available, upon request, to residents of the school district beginning May 5, 2025 through and including May 20, 2025 during regular business hours at the Office of the District Clerk, Park North Administration Building, 150 Park Avenue, Amityville, New York.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that pursuant to Chapter 258 of the Laws of 2008, Section 495 was added to the Real Property Tax Law, and requires the School District to attach to its proposed budget an exemption report.  Said exemption report, which will also become part of the final budget, will show how much of  the total assessed value on the final assessment roll used in the budgetary process is exempt from taxation, list every type of exemption granted, identified by statutory authority, and show: (a) the cumulative impact of each type of exemption expressed either as a dollar amount of assessed value or as a percentage of the total assessed value on the roll; (b) the cumulative amount expected to be received from recipients of each type of exemption as payments in lieu of taxes or other payments for municipal services; and (c) the cumulative impact of all exemptions granted.  The exemption report shall be posted on any bulletin board maintained by the District for public notices and on any website maintained by the District.  AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HERE-

BY GIVEN, that the annual vote and election will be held on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., in the two election districts, namely Northeast Elementary School, 420 Albany Avenue, Amityville, New York, and Amityville Memorial High School, 250 Merrick Road, Amityville, New York, at which time the polls will be opened to vote by voting machine upon the following items:

• To adopt the annual budget of the School District for the fiscal year 2025-2026 and to authorize the requisite portion thereof to be raised by taxation on the taxable property of the District.

• To elect two members of the Board of Education as follows:

• One member of the Board of Education for a three (3) year term to succeed Christopher Nehring, whose term expires on May 20, 2025.

• One member of the Board of Education for a three (3) year term to succeed Wendy Canestro, whose term expires on June 30, 2025;

• To approve Proposition No. 2Transportation: Shall the District expand its school bus service for resident students in grades 7-12 attending secondary schools offering education through 12th grade, effective at the beginning of the 20252026 school year, by increasing the maximum distance limit for transportation of up to 15 miles to a new maximum distance limit of up to 17 miles from home to the school they

Public Notices

legally attend, appropriate funds in the amount of $400,000 for such transportation, and levy the necessary tax therefor?

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that a copy of the statement of the amount of money which will be required to fund the School District’s budget for 20252026, exclusive of public monies, may be obtained by any resident of the District during business hours beginning May 5, 2025 through and including May 20, 2025, except Saturday, Sunday or holidays, at the Park North Administration Building, 150 Park Avenue, Amityville, New York, and at each of the following schoolhouses: Amityville Memorial High School

Edmund W. Miles Middle School Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School Northwest Elementary School Northeast Elementary School AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that petitions nominating candidates for the office of member of the Board of Education shall be filed with the Clerk of said School District at her office in the Park North Administration Building, 150 Park Avenue, Amityville, New York, not later than April 21, 2025 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Vacancies on the Board of Education are not considered separate, specific offices; candidates run at large. Nominating petitions shall not describe any specific vacancy upon the

Board for which the candidate is nominated; must be directed to the Clerk of the District; must be signed by at least 35 qualified voters of the District (representing the greater of 25 qualified voters or 2% of the number of voters who voted in the previous annual election); must state the name and residence of each signer, and, must state the name and residence of the candidate. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that applications for absentee ballots will be obtainable during school business hours at the office of the District Clerk beginning April 21, 2025; completed applications must be received by the District Clerk at least seven days before the election if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the election, if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter or to the agent named in the absentee ballot application. Absentee ballots must be received by the District Clerk not later than 5:00 p.m., on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. Absentee Ballot applications will not be accepted by the District more than 30 days prior to the election.

A list of persons to whom absentee ballots are issued will be available for inspection to qualified voters of the District in the office of the District Clerk, 150 Park Avenue, Amityville, New York, on and after Thursday, May 15, 2025 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on weekdays prior to the day set for the annual election and on May 20, 2025 the day set for

the election. Any qualified voter may, upon examination of such list, file a written challenge of the qualifications as a voter of any person whose name appears on such list, stating the reasons for such challenge. Any such written challenge shall be transmitted by the District Clerk or a designee of the Board of Education to the inspectors of election on election day.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that personal registration of voters is required either pursuant to §2014 of the Education Law or pursuant to Article 5 of the Election Law. If a voter has heretofore registered pursuant to §2014 of the Education Law in the Amityville Union Free School District and has voted at an annual or special district meeting in such district within the last four calendar years, he or she is eligible to vote at this election. If a voter is registered and eligible to vote under Article 5 of the Election Law, he or she is also eligible to vote at this election. All other persons who wish to vote must register.

Voters may register to vote on any school day up to and including May 15, 2025 at the District Office, 150 Park Avenue, Amityville, New York, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. at which time any person will be entitled to have his or her name placed on such registers, provided that he or she is known or proven to the satisfaction of the Board of Registration to be then or thereafter entitled to

vote at such election for which the register is prepared. The register so prepared pursuant to §2014 of the Education Law will be filed in the Office of the Clerk of the School District in the Park North Administration Building, 150 Park Avenue, Amityville, New York, and will be open for inspection by any qualified voter of the District beginning on May 15, 2025, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., on weekdays, and each day prior to the day set for the election, except Sunday, by advance appointment on Saturday and at the polling place(s) on the day of the vote. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that military voters who are not currently registered may apply to register as a qualified voter of the Amityville Union Free School District by requesting and returning a registration application to the District Clerk in person, by mail to District Clerk, Amityville Union Free School District, 150 Park Avenue, Amityville, New York, 11701 by email to llarson@amityvilleufsd.org or fax sent to (631) 598-6586. The request for the registration application may include the military voter’s preference for receipt of the registration application, by either mail, fax or email. Military voter registration application forms must be received in the office of the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 24, 2025. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that military voters who are qualified voters of the Amityville Union Free School District, may request an application for a military ballot from the District Clerk in person, by mail to District Clerk, Amityville Union Free School District, 150 Park Avenue, Amityville, New York, by email to llarson@ amityvilleufsd.org or fax sent to (631) 598-6586. In such request, the military voter may indicate their preference for receiving the application by mail, fax or email. A military voter must return the original military ballot application by mail or in person to the office of the District Clerk at 150 Park Avenue, Amityville, New York. In order for a military voter to be issued a military ballot, a valid military ballot application must be received in the office of the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m., on April 24, 2025. Military ballot applications received in accordance with the foregoing will be processed in the same manner as a non-military ballot application under Section 2018-a of the Education Law. The application for military ballot may include the military voter’s preference for receipt of the military ballot by mail, fax, or email. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, a military voter’s original military ballot must be returned by mail or in person to the Office of the District Clerk at 150 Park Avenue, Amityville, New York. Military ballots shall be canvassed if they are received by the

Continued from previous page

District Clerk before the close of polls on May 20, 2025 showing a cancellation mark of the United States Postal Service or a foreign country’s postal service, or showing a dated endorsement of receipt by another agency of the United States Government; or received not later than 5:00 p.m. on May 20, 2025 and signed and dated by the military voter and one witness thereto, with a date which is ascertained to be not later than the day before the election.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that pursuant to §2014 of the Education Law of the State of New York, the Board of Registration will meet on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., at the Northeast Elementary School and the Amityville High School, to prepare the Register of the School District to be used at the election to be held in 2026, and any special district meetings that may be held after the preparation of said Register, at which time any person will be entitled to have his or her name placed on such Register provided that at such meeting of said Board of Registration he or she is known or proven to the satisfaction of such Board of Registration to be then or thereafter entitled to vote at the school election for which said Register is prepared, or any special district meeting held after May 20, 2025. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that pursuant to a rule

adopted by the Board of Education in accordance with §2035 of the Education Law, any referenda or propositions to amend the budget, or otherwise to be submitted for voting at said election, must be filed with the District Clerk of the Board of Education at the Park North Administration Building, located at 150 Park Avenue, Amityville, New York, on or before March 21, 2025, at 5:00 p.m., prevailing time, except for petitions relating to a proposition which must be included in the notice of the annual meeting which must be filed with the District Clerk of the Board of Education at the Park North Administration Building on or before April 21, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.; must be typed or printed in the English language; must be directed to the Clerk of the School District; must be signed by at least 35 qualified voters of the District (representing 2% of the number of voters who voted in the previous annual election); and must legibly state the name of each signer. However, the School Board will not entertain any petition to place before the voters any proposition the purpose of which is not within the powers of the voters to determine, which is unlawful or any proposition which fails to include a specific appropriation where the expenditure of monies is required by the proposition, or where other valid reason exists for excluding the proposition from the ballot. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that elec-

tion districts have been established in the School District.

The boundaries of the election districts, as adopted by resolution of the Board of Education, and the polling place in each election district shall be as follows:

Election District No. 1 – Northeast Elementary School

• North by school district boundary line (Southern State Parkway)

• East by school district boundary line (Great Neck Road, Albany Avenue and Bayview Avenue)

• South by Long Island Rail Road

• West by School district boundary line (Carman Road)

• Being that part of the School District North of the Long Island Railroad Election District No. 2 – Amityville Memorial High School

• North by Long Island Rail Road

• East by school district boundary line (Amityville Village line)

• South by school district boundary line (Great South Bay)

• West by school district boundary line (Carman River and Carman Road)

• Being that part of the School District South of the Long Island Railroad

Dated: Amityville, New York

March 26, 2025

By Order of the Board of Education of the Amityville Union Free School District

Towns of Babylon, Suffolk County and Town of Oyster Bay, Nassau County, New York

Lynn Larson, District Clerk 25-209. 5/14

Public Notices

AVISO DE JUNTA ANUAL, VOTACIÓN DE PRESUPUESTO Y ELECCIÓN EN EL DISTRITO

ESCOLAR DE AMITYVILLE (AMITYVILLE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT) MUNICIPIO DE BABYLON, MUNICIPIO DE OYSTER BAY, CONDADO DE SUFFOLK Y, CONDADO DE NASSAU, NUEVA YORK

POR LA PRESENTE SE DA AVISO, de que va a llevar a cabo una audiencia presupuestaria ante los votantes calificados del Distrito Escolar de Amityville (Amityville Union Free School District), Municipio de Babylon, Municipio de Oyster Bay, Condado de Suffolk y Condado de Nassau, Nueva York en Amityville Park Avenue Memorial Elementary, 140 Park Avenue, Amityville, Nueva York, en dicho distrito el 7 de mayo de 2025 a las 7:30 pm, para la gestión de los siguientes asuntos tal y como faculta la Ley de Educación, incluidos los siguientes elementos:

• Presentar a los votantes una declaración detallada (propuesta de presupuesto) de la cantidad de dinero que se requerirá para el año fiscal 2025-2026.

• Discutir todos los puntos que se establecen a continuación para ser sometidos a plebiscito mediante máquinas de sufragio para la votación y elección que se realizará el martes 20 de mayo de 2025.• Tratar cualquier otro asunto debidamente presentado antes de la reunión de conformidad con la Ley de Educación del Estado de Nueva York y cualquier enmienda a ella.

Se pondrá a disposición de los residentes del distrito escolar una copia del presupuesto propuesto, previa solicitud, a partir del 5 de mayo de 2025 hasta el 20 de mayo de 2025 inclusive durante el horario de atencion al publico habitual en la Oficina de la Secretaria del Distrito, Edificio de Administración Park North, 150 Park Avenue, Amityville, Nueva York.

Y POR LA PRESENTE SE DA AVISO ADICIONAL, que de conformidad con el Capítulo 258 de las Leyes de 2008, fue incorporada la Sección 495 a la Ley del Impuesto sobre la Propiedad Inmobiliaria, por la que se requiere que el Distrito Escolar adjunte a su propuesta de presupuesto, un informe de exención. Dicho informe de exención, que también pasará a formar parte del presupuesto final, mostrará qué parte del valor tasado total en el registro tributario final usado en el proceso presupuestario está exento de impuestos, se enumeran todos los tipos de exenciones otorgadas, identificadas por la autoridad legal, mostrando: (a) el impacto acumulado de cada tipo de exención expresado bien como una cantidad en dólares del valor tasado o como un porcentaje del valor tasado total en el registro; (b) el monto acumulado que se espera recibir de los beneficiarios de cada tipo de exención como pagos en lugar de impuestos u otros pagos por servicios municipales; y (c) el impacto acumulado de todas las exenciones otorgadas. El informe de exención se publicará en alguno de los

tablones de anuncios que tiene el Distrito para avisos públicos y en cualquier sitio web administrado por el Distrito. Y POR LA PRESENTE SE DA AVISO ADICIONAL, de que la votación y elecciones anuales se llevarán a cabo el martes 20 de mayo de 2025, entre las 7:00 am y las 9:00 pm, en los dos distritos electorales, a saber, Northeast Elementary School, 420 Albany Avenue, Amityville, Nueva York, y Amityville Memorial High School, 250 Merrick Road, Amityville, Nueva York, cuando estarán abiertas las urnas para votar mediante máquinas de votación sobre los siguientes asuntos

• Adoptar el presupuesto anual del Distrito Escolar para el año fiscal 2025-2026 y autorizar que la cuota requerida del mismo se recaude mediante los impuestos sobre las propiedades sujetas a tributación en el distrito.

• Elegir dos miembros de la Junta de Educación de la siguiente manera:

• Un miembro de la Junta de Educación por un plazo de tres (3) años para suceder a Christopher Nehring, cuyo mandato expira el 20 de mayo de 2025

• Un miembro de la Junta de Educación por un plazo de tres (3) años para suceder a Wendy Canestro, cuyo mandato expira el 30 de junio de 2025.

• Aprobar Propuesta Núm. 2 –Transporte

¿ Debería el Distrito expandir su servicio de bus escolar para los alumnos residentes que estén en-

tre los grado 7-12 y asistan a escuelas secundarias que ofrezcan educación hasta el grado 12,efectivo a partir del curso escolar 2025-2026. incrementando el límite máximo de distancia para el transporte de hasta 15 millas a una nuevo límite máximo de distancia de hasta 17 millas desde la casa a la escuela a las que asisten legalmente, asignando fondos por un montante de $400,000 para dicho transporte, recaudando los impuestos necesarios para ello?

Y POR LA PRESENTE SE DA AVISO ADICIONAL, de que cualquier residente del Distrito puede obtener una copia del estado de cuenta con el importe necesario para financiar el presupuesto del Distrito Escolar durante 2025-2026, excluyendo el dinero público, durante las horas de atención al público, a partir del 5 de mayo de 2025 hasta el 20 de mayo de 2025 inclusive, excepto sábados, domingos o festivos, en el Edificio de Administración de Park Avenue, 150 Park Avenue, Amityville, Nueva York, y en cada una de las siguientes escuelas: Amityville Memorial High School

Edmund W. Miles Middle School Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School

Northwest Elementary School Northeast Elementary School

Y POR LA PRESENTE SE DA AVISO ADICIONAL, de que las solicitudes para nominar a los candidatos para los cargos en la Junta de Educación deberán presentarse ante la Secretaria de dicho Distrito Escolar en su oficina en el Edificio de Administración de Park North,150 Park Avenue, Amityville, New York no más tarde del 21 de abril de 2025 entre el 9:00 am y 5:00 pm. Los puestos vacantes en la Junta de Educación no se consideran cargos independientes específicos, los candidatos se presentan en general. Las solicitudes de nominación no deberán indicar ninguna vacante especifica en la Junta para la que el candidato está nominado, deben estar dirigidas a la Secretaria del Distrito, deberán estar firmadas al menos por 35 votantes calificados del Distrito (representando a más de 25 votantes calificados o el 2% del total de votantes que participaron en la elección anual previa); deberá indicar el nombre y domicilio de cada firmante y deberán indicar el nombre y el domicilio del candidato.

Y POR LA PRESENTE SE DA AVISO ADICIONAL, de que las solicitudes para las papeletas de voto en ausencia se podrán obtener durante el horario de atencion al publico en la oficina de la Secretaria del Distrito a partir del 21 de abril de 2025; Las solicitudes completas deben ser recibidas en la Secretaría del distrito al menos siete días antes de la elección si la papeleta se va a enviar por correo al votante, o el día antes de la elección, si la papeleta se va a entregar personalmente al votante o al agente designado en la solicitud de voto en ausencia . La Secretaria del Distrito debe recibir las papeletas de

Continued on next page

Continued from previous page voto en ausencia no más tarde de las 5:00 p.m. del martes 20 de mayo de 2025. El distrito no aceptará solicitudes para papeletas de voto en ausencia más de 30 días antes de la elección.

La lista con las personas a las que se les ha emitido las papeletas de voto en ausencia estará disponible para ser inspeccionada por los votantes calificados del Distrito en la Oficina de la Secretaria del Distrito, 150 Park Avenue, Amityville, Nueva York a partir y después del 15 de mayo de 2025 entre las 9:00 a.m. y las 4:00 p.m. los días laborables anteriores al día establecido para la elección anual y el mismo día 20 de mayo de 2025, día establecido para la elección. Cualquier votante cualificado puede, al examinar dicha lista, presentar una impugnación por escrito sobre la habilitación como votante de cualquier persona cuyo nombre aparezca en dicha lista, indicando las razones de dicha impugnación. Cualquier impugnación por escrito será transmitida a los inspectores electorales por la Secretaria del Distrito o una persona designada por la Junta de Educación el día de la elección.

Y POR LA PRESENTE SE DA AVISO

ADICIONAL, de que es necesario el registro en persona de los votantes conforme a la sección §2014 de la Ley de Educación o conforme al Artículo 5 de la Ley Electoral. Si un votante está registrado con anterioridad conforme a § 2014 de la Ley de Educación en el Distrito Escolar de Ami-

tyville (Amityville Union Free School District) y ha votado en alguna reunión anual o especial en dicho distrito dentro de los últimos cuatro años naturales, será elegible para votar en esta elección. Si un votante está registrado y es elegible para votar bajo el Artículo 5 de la Ley Electoral,será también apto para votar en esta elección. Todas las demás personas que deseen votar deben registrarse. Los votantes pueden registrarse para votar cualquier día lectivo antes de o el mismo día 15 de mayo de 2025 en las Oficinas del Distrito,150 Park Avenue, Amityville, Nueva York, entre las 8:30 a.m. y las 4:00 p.m., momento en el que cualquier persona tendrá derecho a que su nombre se incluya en dichos registros, siempre y cuando él o ella cumplan con los requisitos de la Junta de Registro para tener el derecho de votar a partir de ese momento o en el futuro en las elecciones para las que se establece el registro. El registro así establecido de conformidad con §2014 de la Ley de Educación se archivará en la Oficina de la Secretaria del Distrito Escolar en el Edificio Administrativo de Park North, y se abrirá para poder ser inspeccionado por cualquier votante cualificado del Distrito a partir del 15 de mayo. 2025, entre las 9:00 A.M. Y las 4:00 P.M., de lunes a viernes, los días previos al día fijado para la elección, excepto el domingo, con cita previa el sábado y en los centros de votación el mismo día de la votación.

Y POR LA PRESENTE SE DA AVISO

ADICIONAL, de que los votantes militares que no están registrados actualmente pueden solicitar registrarse como votantes calificados del Distrito Escolar de Amityville (Amityville Union Free School District) solicitando y devolviendo una solicitud de registro a la Secretaria del Distrito en persona, por correo a la Secretaria del Distrito, Distrito Escolar de Amityville (Amityville Union Free School District), 150 Park Avenue, Amityville, Nueva York, 11701 por correo electrónico a llarson@amityvilleufsd. org o por fax al (631) 598-6586. La solicitud de registro puede incluir la preferencia del votante militar para recibir la solicitud de registro, ya sea por correo, fax o correo electrónico. La solicitud de inscripción en el registro de los votantes militares debe recibirse en la oficina de la Secretaria del Distrito no más tarde de las 5:00 p.m. el 24 de abril de 2025.

Y POR LA PRESENTE SE DA AVISO ADICIONAL, de que los votantes militares que sean votantes calificados del Distrito Escolar de Amityville (Amityville Union Free School District), pueden solicitar papeletas de voto para militares en la Secretaria del Distrito en persona, por correo a la Secretaria del Distrito, Distrito Escolar de Amityville (Amityville Union Free School District), 150 Park Avenue, Amityville, Nueva York, por correo electrónico a llarson@ amityvilleufsd.org o por fax al (631)5986586. En dicha solicitud, el votante militar puede indicar su preferencia para

Public Notices

recibir la solicitud por correo postal, fax o correo electrónico. Los militares que voten deben devolver la solicitud original de papeletas de voto para militares por correo o en persona a la oficina de la Secretaria del Distrito 150 Park Avenue, Amityville, Nueva York. Para que un votante militar reciba una papeleta de voto para militares, se debe recibir una solicitud de papeleta de voto para militares válida en la oficina de la Secretaria del Distrito no más tarde de las 5:00 p.m., el 24 de abril de 2025. Las solicitudes de papeleta de voto para militares recibidas de acuerdo con lo anterior se procesarán de la misma manera que una solicitud de papeleta de voto no militar bajo la Sección 2018-a de la Ley de Educación. La solicitud de papeleta de voto para militares puede incluir la preferencia del votante militar de recibir la papeleta de voto por correo, fax o correo electrónico.

Y POR LA PRESENTE SE DA AVISO ADICIONAL, de que el original de la papeleta de voto de un votante militar debe devolverse por correo o en persona a la Oficina de la Secretaria del Distrito en 150 Park Avenue, Amityville, Nueva York. Las papeletas de votos de militares serán escrutadas si son recibidas por la Secretaria del Distrito antes del cierre de las urnas el 20 de mayo de 2025 mostrando un matasellos del Servicio Postal de los Estados Unidos o del servicio postal de un país extranjero, o mostrando el acuso de recibo de otra agencia del Gobierno de los Estados

Unidos; o recibido a más tardar a las 5:00 p.m. el 20 de mayo de 2025 y firmado y fechado por el elector militar y un testigo del mismo, con una fecha que se verifica no posterior al día anterior a la elección.

Y POR LA PRESENTE SE DA AVISO ADICIONAL, de que de conformidad con la §2014 de la Ley de Educación del Estado de Nueva York, la Junta de Registro se reunirá el martes 20 de mayo de 2025, entre las 7:00 A.M. Y las 9:00 P.M., en Northeast Elementary School y Amityville Memorial Hig h School, para preparar el Registro del Distrito Escolar que se utilizará en la elección que se llevará a cabo en 2026, y cualquier reunión especial del distrito que pueda realizarse después de la preparación de dicho Registro, momento en el que, cualquier persona tendrá derecho de inscribir su nombre en dicho Registro, siempre que en dicha reunión de la Junta de Registro se demuestre que el o ella cumplen con los requisitos de dicha Junta de Registro otorgándole el derecho a votar en ese momento o en el futuro, en las elecciones de la escuela para las que se establece dicho Registro, o cualquier reunión especial del distrito que se lleve a cabo después del 20 de mayo de 2025.

Y POR LA PRESENTE SE DA AVISO ADICIONAL, que de conformidad con una regla adoptada por la Junta de Educación de acuerdo con la sección §2035 de la Ley de Educación, cualquier referéndum o propuesta para

modificar el presupuesto, o cualquier otro asunto que sea sometido a votación en dicha elecciones, deberá presentarse ante la Secretaria del Distrito de la Junta de Educación en el Edificio de Administración de Park North, el mismo dia o antes del 21 de marzo a las 5:00 pm, hora vigente, excepto las peticiones relacionadas con una proposición que deba ser incluida en el avviso de la reunión anual que debe ser registrado en la Secretaria del Distrito de la Junta de Educación el mismo dia o antes del 21 de abril de 2025 a las 5:00 pm deberá estar mecanografiado o impreso en el idioma inglés; deberá estar dirigido a la Secretaria del Distrito Escolar; deberá estar firmado por al menos 35 votantes calificados del Distrito (que representan el 2% del número total de votantes en la elección anual anterior); y deberá indicar de manera legible el nombre de cada firmante. Sin embargo, la Junta Escolar no aceptará ninguna proposición para presentar a los votantes cuyo propósito no esté dentro de las atribuciones de los votantes, ya que sería ilegal, o cualquier proposición que no incluya una asignación específica de los gastos incurridos mediante dicha propuesta, o cuando exista cualquier otra razón válida para excluir la propuesta de las papeletas de votación Y POR LA PRESENTE SE DA AVISO ADICIONAL, de que se han establecido distritos electorales en el Distrito Escolar. Los límites de los distritos electorales, adoptados por reso-

lución de la Junta de Educación, y el lugar de votación en cada distrito electoral serán los siguientes: Distrito Electoral No. 1-Northeast Elementary School

• Al l Norte por la línea fronteriza del distrito escolar (Southern State Parkway)

• Al este por la línea fronteriza del distrito escolar (Great Neck Road, Albany Avenue y Bayview Avenue)

• Al Sur por Long Island Rail Road (Ferrocarril de LI)

• Al Oeste por la línea fronteriza del distrito escolar (Carman Road)

• Siendo esa parte del distrito escolar al norte del Long Island Rail Road Distrito Electoral No. 2-Amityville Memorial High School

• Al Este por la línea fronteriza del distrito escolar (línea de Amityville Village)

• Al Sur por la línea fronteriza del distrito escolar (Great South Bay)

• Al oeste por la línea fronteriza del distrito escolar (Carman River y Carman Road)

• Siendo esa parte del distrito escolar al sur del Long Island Rail Road Fecha: Amityville, Nueva York 26 de marzo de 2025 Por orden de la Junta de Educación de la Amityville UFSD

Ciudad de Oyster Bay, Ciudad de Babylon, Condado de Nassau y Condado de Suffolk, Nueva York

Lynn Larson, Secretaria del Distrito 25-210. 5/14

• Al Norte por el Long Island Rail Road

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Q. We bought our home three years ago, and are finally ready to finish our basement to make a family room, guest bedroom and a bathroom while enclosing our laundry. Right now it’s just a big open space with a lot of columns. The ceiling is low, and we’ve had estimates to cut down the basement floor. It seems like a lot of money to do all these things at once, but we understand that we need to do it before the prices for materials, as we’ve been warned, go a lot higher. We want to know what needs to be done if we want to lower the floor, take out two columns so our recreation room is bigger, and put in a bathroom. Is there any way to save money?

A. This third column ties together the previous two to state that, basically, you get what you pay for, and sometimes less. I explained that basement bathrooms may not be allowed to have a bathing fixture, tub or shower, depending on the municipal requirements, and that many communities also won’t allow a bedroom in a basement, for safety reasons. I also outlined the process for figuring out beams so that columns can be removed, and that while “guessers” may save you some money up front, repairs can erase the savings.

Now we’re up to lowering the basement floor. “Saving money” and “lowering a basement floor” should rarely be in the same sentence, except for when writing an answer as to why. In general, you want more living space, structurally sound and waterproof. Both of those needs are hard to achieve if any part of the process is left out.

It’s always best to gain the most amount of interior space, and I can often tell when either saving money was the focus or amateur work was done when I see a foundation wall projecting into the basement like a concrete bench. To avoid this look and to get the most use out of the space, you have to start with knowing where the underground water table is. Unless you dig a hole or order a soil-boring test from a professional company, you may soon find out why the floor wasn’t lower to begin with. This test could save you great expense.

The process of correctly supporting the exterior concrete foundation walls is called “underpinning.” The excavation can be done from the interior side of the foundation wall if the exterior isn’t accessible. Either way, the underpinning process must be done in sections, not all at once. There would be complete collapses of walls and floors above if entire foundations were removed at one time. When this is done, it usually causes tremendous damage, possible death and news coverage.

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Local voices matter, and the RAPID Act listens

Last month, a handful of Nassau County town supervisors stood in front of a firehouse on Barnum Island and took the low road, whipping up fear, distorting facts and conflating fallacy and fantasy with reality to try to block progress. Their target was the Renewable Action through Project Interconnection and Deployment, or RAPID, Act, a new state law designed to streamline the approval process for large-scale renewable energy and electric transmission projects.

The RAPID Act creates a more efficient and transparent process for reviewing the major infrastructure projects we desperately need. If we’re serious about clean energy, grid reliability and energy security, this is our path toward resiliency and sustainability. It’s good for consumers and developers because the streamlined process reduces costs, making investments in the grid more affordable. Unfortunately these days, facts don’t seem to matter much to some. But here are the facts.

Before the RAPID Act became law in April 2024, New York state had a patchwork of laws that made siting energy

projects difficult, confusing and expensive. Today there is a clear, easy-to-follow, streamlined system under the Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Electric Transmission. The new system saves time and money, increases consistency, and gives communities a meaningful voice from the very beginning.

Here’s how it works. Before even submitting an application, developers are required to consult with local officials. Throughout the process, the public is invited to comment. Each project must have meaningful community outreach in which residents are invited to participate, along with ORES.

Tfor clean, reliable energy.

The reality is that most projects comply with local laws almost entirely, and the few disputes thus far have largely been resolved through mutual agreement. Waivers aren’t done casually. They must be fully justified. And towns can challenge them. As of last month, only five towns in the entire state had appealed such rulings, and all five rulings were upheld.

here have been over 50 energy project siting hearings across the state.

To date, there have been over 50 hearings across the state. That’s not secrecy. That’s real public engagement. Your comments have been heard, as have developers — who often modify projects in response to public feedback.

Another fallacy is how the RAPID Act treats local laws. It did not create new authority for the state to waive local laws — that ability has been part of the siting process in New York for decades. The act was designed to make those waivers less likely by addressing points of conflict early. And the law allows ORES to waive those laws only when they are unreasonably burdensome and conflict with the state’s goals

If that sounds like a heavy-handed state bulldozing towns, you might want to check the script the town supervisors are reading from, because it’s fiction. What we saw last month was not thoughtful concern for our future infrastructure needs. It was a political strategy that assumes that every environmental policy from Albany is a threat, every clean-energy initiative a conspiracy and every step forward something to block. Lumping everything together and crying foul to whip up outrage doesn’t benefit the New Yorkers that we public servants are here to serve. Meanwhile, our infrastructure is aging, and doing nothing is no longer an option. The RAPID Act moves us forward. It helps make sure our homes have power during extreme storms. It helps reduce pollution. It helps create good-paying jobs in clean energy. That

should be something we can all get behind.

If the supervisors want to sit down and talk seriously about how to improve the process, our door is always open. But yelling about non-existent dangers doesn’t help anyone. It misleads the public. It slows progress. And it makes it harder to build the kind of energy future Long Island deserves and desperately needs.

We believe in transparency, community input and in building a future in which Long Island is stronger, safer and cleaner. The RAPID Act is a big step in that direction.

It’s time to stop the political games. Time to stop pretending that doing nothing is somehow safer. I know firsthand that Long Islanders care about their communities, and the environment. They’re smart enough to see through rhetoric designed to instill fear, and they deserve better: They deserve leadership that tells the truth about the very real needs and demands of our infrastructure and its impacts on growing our economy. As I’ve said in countless hearings and committee meetings, the RAPID Act isn’t about taking power away from towns. It’s about keeping the lights on, making sure everyone has a seat at the table, and making sure we’re ready for the future.

Let’s move forward together.

Rory Christian is chairman of the New York State Public Service Commission.

Companies that produce packing waste must recycle it

Consumers have changed our shopping habits across New York state. The transition to online shopping has significantly increased plastic, paper and cardboard packaging waste. Those materials go to Reworld, which takes our trash, and are turned into ash. The ash needs to go somewhere, but where?

On Long Island, most of the ash goes to Brookhaven Landfill, but that clock is ticking. The Brookhaven facility will soon reach its capacity for ash, and that means it will close in the next few years, leaving towns such as Hempstead and North Hempstead with no ash-disposal options on Long Island. As packaging waste increases, recycling rates remain lackluster, which adds to our solid-waste burden. The good news is that we can reduce packaging waste and increase recycling rates to help address this challenge. Citizens Campaign for the Environment

chairs a statewide coalition of environmental leaders, local governments, stakeholders and elected officials who have joined to back state legislation called the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act. This important bill is urgently needed.

New York is experiencing a solid-waste crisis, with skyrocketing costs to municipalities, abysmal recycling rates, and plastic pollution littering our communities and waterways. Our state generates more than 17 million tons of municipal solid waste annually. Long Island is responsible for 1.6 million tons per year, 205,000 tons of which go to landfills off Long Island, and 1.4 million tons are sent to waste-toenergy facilities, resulting in 400,000 tons of ash that must be landfilled. There is currently no plan to manage this ash once the Brookhaven landfill is closed. The one wise choice everyone agrees on is to reduce our waste stream, and this legislation would do just that. The financial burden of managing recyclable waste falls on local taxpayers. Municipalities are struggling with

p ass the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act!

recycling costs and outdated infrastructure that significantly limits the volume of materials that are recycled. It is estimated that local governments statewide spend more than $200 million each year to keep local recycling programs going. That is not sustainable.

The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act would revolutionize New York’s approach to solid waste by shifting the responsibility of managing plastic, paper and packaging waste to corporations, not taxpayers and local governments. Those that put packaging into the waste stream are best positioned to reduce the amount of packaging that’s created in the first place.

The measure would require large corporations to reduce consumer packaging by 30 percent in 12 years, increase post-consumer recycled content in packaging and invest in new reuse/ refill infrastructure. The bill includes strong oversight and enforcement provisions to ensure that corporations comply.

Other states, including California,

Colorado, Maine and Oregon, have passed such laws, and similar policies have been in effect in parts of Europe and Canada for over 30 years. Where fully implemented, recycling rates exceed 70 percent, and the cost of consumer goods has not increased one penny.

It is time for corporations take out their own trash! Each year, companies ship billions of products with excess packaging, exacerbating the solid-waste crisis, yet they bear no responsibility for managing the waste they create. This sensible legislation promises to save money for municipalities and taxpayers, remove toxic substances from packaging, increase recycling and require producers to reduce waste.

We need to modernize New York’s recycling system and make producers take responsibility for managing their packaging waste. We need the governor, the State Senate and the Assembly to support this critical bill and get it signed into law this year. Every year we do nothing is another year we waste money, and allow our solid-waste management problem to grow.

We can do this!

Adrienne Esposito is executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment.

We must restore Musk’s cuts of the 9/11 health fund

it is essential that Congress do all it can to fully restore the World Trade Center Health Program. I commend Long Island Congressmen Andrew Garbarino and Nick LaLota for leading a bipartisan effort to undo the damage, intentional or not, to this program by Elon Musk’s chainsaw cuts of government health programs.

During my years in Congress, no issue was more vital or intensely personal to me than ensuring that all of the surviving victims of the attacks of Sept. 11 — police officers, firefighters, emergency responders, construction workers and civilians — receive the care they require and deserve for the illnesses caused by the toxins they breathed in at ground zero in the days, weeks and months afterward.

It wasn’t until several years after 9/11 that evidence emerged of a growing number of blood cancers and lung and breathing disorders suffered by 9/11 first responders and nearby residents and students. The concern was bipartisan. Democratic Representatives Jerry Nadler and Carolyn Maloney and

ARepublicans Vito Fossella and I were the original prime advocates. We introduced legislation in 2005 and again in 2007 to establish and fund a 9/11 illness detection and treatment program.

ed a rare and fatal blood cancer after working together at ground zero. The chances of this being a coincidence were infinitesimal. And there were countless similar situations.

session, our efforts paid off: Zadroga passed both the House and Senate.

TToday we know that more people have died from 9/11 illnesses than from the attacks, but in those early years, the numbers of victims weren’t yet especially high, and there was no proof of direct linkage to 9/11, which made it difficult to generate strong interest or support outside the New York and New Jersey congressional delegations.

hey’re causing many of the 9/11 doctors and experts to be terminated.

Soon enough, however, there was too much evidence to ignore. Anecdotally, I would see FDNY and NYPD neighbors who had worked at ground zero wearing oxygen masks as they watched their kids’ Little League games or stopped by 7-Eleven for coffee.

Those scenes were repeated across Long Island and the entire downstate region, and there would eventually be victims among rescue workers who had come to New York from almost all 50 states. To make our case, we asked 9/11 heroes to visit Congress to make direct appeals to individual members. I particularly recall NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly sitting in my Washington office telling me about two cops who contract-

The enormity of what was becoming a 9/11 health crisis could no longer be denied. In 2008, we thought our legislation — named the Zadroga Bill, after James Zadroga, who was believed to be the first NYPD officer to die from a 9/11 illness — would be included in a large year-end package of legislation agreed on by Congress and the White House. Unfortunately the combined tumult of a Presidential election and a stock market collapse prevented it from coming to a vote, and there was no opportunity to salvage it.

After close but disappointing nearmisses over the next two years, primarily because of opposition from Republicans in Southern and Western states, I and others fought furiously to get Zadroga passed. I had no tolerance for opposition from the crowd who primarily represented states and districts that received disproportionate levels of federal assistance at the expense of donor states like New York, which effectively subsidized them. Finally, on Dec. 22, 2010, the last day of the congressional

Unfortunately the bill had a five-year limit, so we had to wage the fight again in 2015. This time the struggle wasn’t as difficult, and Zadroga was extended. But then, in 2019, we learned there were many more victims than expected, and the fund was running short. With the bipartisan support of Democrats like then House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, and House Republicans like then Whip Steve Scalise and Representatives Doug Collins and Mike Johnson, Zadroga was extended to the end of the century. I was proud to be with President Trump when he signed this legislation at a ceremony on the White House lawn.

Now the fund is seriously threatened by Musk’s misplaced cuts, which, probably made unknowingly, are causing many of the 9/11 doctors and experts to be terminated, including program Director Dr. John Howard.

Though the White House has promised to fully reinstate the program, so far it has not been done. Victims are being denied necessary testing. This insanity must end. Our nation’s commitment to the victims of 9/11 must be honored!

Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.

The new state budget is a victory for Hochul

merica is fixated on picking winners and losers. We use that term every day, applying it to sports, the stock market and every other field of endeavor. I heard it during the trial of O.J. Simpson, and I remember hearing it as far back as the 1960s, when, following a massive snowstorm, some parts of Queens were the last neighborhoods in New York City to see snowplows. Winners and losers are proclaimed extensively in politics, because politicians are tested on an almost daily basis.

Which leads to a discussion of the long-delayed New York state budget. Over the years, when there was an agreement between the three leaders — the governor, the leader of the State Senate and the Assembly speaker — they would all show up at a much-heralded news conference, at which each would take credit for some portion of the budget bill. For the past few years, that practice has changed, because the only person who has been taking the

media spotlight is Gov. Kathy Hochul. Before talking about winners and losers, it’s worth looking at this year’s budget process. The new spending plan budget is the latest to be finalized since 2010. Since the April 1 deadline, there have been 11 legislative extensions, which assures state employees that they can collect their paychecks.

LCould the governor have refused to delay the passage of an agreed-on budget and submitted her own spending plan on a take-itor-leave-it basis? The answer is yes. During the administration of Gov. David Paterson, the courts decided that if the Legislature can’t agree on a budget by March 31, the governor can force a vote on his or her own plan with no further delays. But in the spirit of harmony, succeeding governors have chosen to go through the arduous process of countless meetings and formal extensions until all of the parties sign on to a final accord. This year, Hochul made it clear that she had a long list of priorities, and had no plans to give in on them. She presented the Assembly and Senate with a long list of programs covering criminal law, edu-

cation, housing, mental hygiene and tax reform. When the dust settled, the two leaders got their asks, but the governor got the lion’s share of what she proposed back in January.

ooking to next year’s election, she set aside money for every region of the state.

With an eye on next year’s election, Hochul set aside money for every region of the state. She addressed subway crime, and sided with the state’s district attorneys on their demand for reforms that will allow them to prevent the dismissal of pending cases. Taxpayers can anticipate expansion of childcare tax credits and many other goodies, including $400 checks for families on limited incomes. School districts will get a hefty increase in education aid, and students won’t be unable use their cellphones from the first school bell to the last.

During a typical give-and-take that is part of the negotiating process, each of the parties shows some willingness to bend on their key issues. But this time, the governor stuck to her guns and yielded on very few issues. Facing what could be a very tough re-election campaign next year, Hochul dug in on almost every proposal she made and

gave little ground, which added to the delays. Albany insiders were surprised at her insistence on winning on so many issues, but she has powers, and used them.

An outsider might wonder why budgets take so long these days, compared with the process 20 and 30 years ago, when spending plans were adopted days and weeks before the deadline. Once upon a time, the state budget was strictly a numbers game. The leaders would promote their pet programs, and possibly sneak in a new program or two. But in the late 1980s, the leaders began to introduce items that were controversial and had little to do with the budget. Wrapped up in one big bill, these nonfiscal items would pass, because the members would have no choice but to swallow the whole document.

Is there a chance that state budgets will once again become just a numbers package? That’s highly unlikely, because all of the leaders have developed an appetite for inserting proposals in the budget that would have no chance of passing as stand-alone bills.

Jerry Kremer was a state assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. Comments about this column? jkremer@ liherald.com.

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aWelcoming home your freshman

s college dorm rooms empty across the nation, millions of parents are preparing for a significant homecoming. Your freshman is returning — perhaps changed, certainly tired, and undoubtedly with more laundry than you thought humanly possible. This transition marks the beginning of a new chapter in your family story, one that requires delicate navigation, open communication, and occasional deep breaths as you adjust to your evolving relationship.

The transformation that occurs during college’s freshman year is nothing short of remarkable. The timid student who needed reminders about deadlines may return with strong opinions about political systems you’ve never discussed. The picky eater might come home raving about kimchi or curry. The once-shy teenager might stride through your door with newfound confidence and independence. Your child has spent months making independent decisions, forming new social circles, and discovering aspects of themselves that may surprise you — and them.

What parents sometimes fail to acknowledge is that we’ve changed, too. We’ve adjusted to quieter evenings, reclaimed bathroom counter space, and perhaps discovered new routines or even aspects of our identities that had been subsumed by active parenting. Your student’s return disrupts not just their new normal, but yours as well.

The first summer home represents uncharted territory for both generations. Your student has grown accustomed to complete autonomy — deciding when to eat, sleep, study and socialize without consultation or explanation. Meanwhile, you’ve maintained a household with certain rhythms and expectations. Within the first few days of your college student’s homecoming, have a detailed conversation with them about expectations to prevent misunderstandings.

letters

We have to be cautious while supporting sustainability

To the Editor:

What routines did they develop at college? What do they need to feel comfortable at home? How will household responsibilities be shared? This opens the door to compromise rather than confrontation.

For many freshmen, college is their first opportunity to define themselves beyond their family context or high school reputation. They’ve experimented with new identities, beliefs and social circles. Coming home can feel like stepping backward, especially if you still see them as the person they were before they left.

This identity navigation works both ways. Your student may struggle to integrate their college self with their home self. They might seem different with college friends than with family. They might challenge family traditions or political views that once went unquestioned. These explorations, while sometimes uncomfortable, represent healthy development and should be met with curiosity rather than defensiveness.

Don’t be surprised if your student spends the first week home sleeping extraordinary hours, eating everything in sight, or displaying emotional volatility. Freshman year is physically and emotionally exhausting — particularly its conclusion, with final exams, packing and goodbyes to new friends. The transition home often reveals the school year’s toll. Students maintain a frantic pace during the semester, running on adrenaline and caffeine. When they finally reach the safety of home, their bodies and minds demand recovery time. Parents should view excessive sleeping or emotional sensitivity as necessary healing, not regression or laziness.

The social landscape for your adult child has likely shifted dramatically as well. High school friendships that once seemed permanent may have drifted. New romantic relationships may have formed. Your student might spend little

As communities across New York and the nation explore ways to transition to cleaner energy, there is growing momentum behind battery energy storage systems, particularly those using lithium-ion technology. However, we must not let the promise of sustainability blind us to the inconvenient truths of our present reality.

The concept of a circular battery economy — in which batteries are reused, repurposed, and ultimately recycled to recover key materials — is a commendable goal. Yet we are far from achieving it. Our current

time at home as they reconnect with local friends or process the changes in these relationships. Alternatively, they might seem isolated if their primary social connections now exist at school. Both scenarios require your patience and understanding.

And while your instinct might be to recreate family traditions exactly as they were before, this summer presents an opportunity to develop new ways of connecting that honor your student’s developing adulthood. Ask them to teach you about their newfound passions. Take them to places that were once offlimits — a sophisticated restaurant, an art exhibit — that signal your recognition of their maturation. When they share stories about college experiences, practice active listening without immediately offering advice. Questions like, “How did you handle that?” communicate respect for their problem-solving abilities and invite deeper conversation. There’s a poignant truth most parents discover during this first post-college summer: Each homecoming from now on will be temporary. Your child’s primary residence increasingly exists elsewhere — in dorms, apartments and, eventually, their own home. The full nest you’ll experience this summer will empty again, with each cycle of departure becoming more permanent.

This realization, while sometimes painful, also brings opportunity. The time-limited nature of these summers encourages making the most of the moments you share. Rather than focusing on the inevitable goodbye at summer’s end, embrace the gift of time together, even if it seems fleeting.

What awaits in these summer months is a delicate dance of holding close and letting go — a choreography that, when performed with grace, becomes the foundation for a relationship that will sustain you both long after the last box is packed for sophomore year.

Wnal, someone and deserves is far more during have a sonal experience of the behind My arrived hope and

HerNesto GaldaMeZ

opinions

Not all immigrants are criminals

when we hear the term “illegal immigrant,” it’s easy to jump to the conclusion that the individual is a criminal, someone who has broken the law, and deserves punishment. But the truth is far more nuanced. For many immigrants, coming to the United States without legal documentation isn’t an act of criminality, but an act of survival — an effort to escape violence, political persecution or a situation so dire that the only option is to flee.

As the child of immigrants who fled El Salvador during its civil war in the late 1980s, I have a perspective that is shaped by personal experience and an understanding of the deeper human motivations behind these decisions.

My parents, both from El Salvador, arrived in the U.S. with nothing but hope and fear for their lives. They

understood the risks they were taking by entering this country without legal documentation, but the alternative was staying in a country where the government was killing its own people.

El Salvador’s civil war, which began in 1979, was marked by brutal violence, corruption and ruthless repression. The Salvadoran government, heavily supported by U.S. military aid, waged war against leftist insurgents and civilians it accused of being sympathetic to them. Throughout the conflict, military and paramilitary forces committed countless atrocities — massacres, forced disappearances and the destruction of entire villages. Thousands of innocent civilians were murdered or disappeared simply for being suspected of opposing the government.

wasn’t just about seeking a better life; it was about survival. It was about fleeing a government that viewed its citizens as expendable.

F or my parents, staying in El Salvador meant living in constant fear.

This is not to say that I support illegal immigration or that breaking the law should be excused. But I believe it’s essential to understand the perspective of those who make the difficult decision to flee their homeland. My parents did not come here to exploit the system or cause harm. They came to escape unimaginable violence, and to find a place where they could live without the constant threat of death.

the mechanic, my father was the only one in his family to leave, and he never got the chance to see his parents again. A few years ago, he and I stood at their graves for the first time — a painful reminder that the cost of leaving isn’t just physical, but deeply emotional and enduring. His journey wasn’t about breaking the law; it was about survival.

It’s easy to forget that behind every “illegal immigrant” label is someone with a story, and usually with pain, sacrifice and hope for a better future. These people don’t come here to break the law. They come to escape the laws and systems that were oppressing them. And for every immigrant like my father or that mechanic, there are countless others who face the same impossible decision every day.

For my parents, like many others, staying in El Salvador meant living in constant fear — fear of being killed, of losing loved ones, or of being caught in the crossfire of a war they had no part in starting. Their decision to leave

Letters

infrastructure for battery recycling is still in its infancy, and the environmental and economic costs of lithium extraction remain extraordinarily high.

Lithium mining is not benign — it consumes vast amounts of water, devastates ecosystems, and often occurs in regions with poor labor and environmental protections. Meanwhile, the lack of cost-effective and widely available recycling facilities means that today’s lithium-based storage systems could become tomorrow’s toxic waste problem.

Until we have robust recycling infrastructure, updated fire and safety codes, and enforceable end-oflife regulations for BESS, policymakers must exercise caution. Approving large-scale lithiumbased projects now, without these safeguards, risks trading one environmental crisis for another.

Sustainability must be more than a buzzword. It requires fullcycle accountability — from cradle to grave and, ideally, cradle to cradle. Let’s not build the clean-energy future on the unstable foundation of unresolved waste and extraction.

These are my beliefs as a private citizen, and do not reflect the official stance or opinion of the Village of Sea Cliff.

BrUCE KEnnEdy Glen Cove Sea Cliff village administrator

We must urge Israel to cease its military campaign

To the Editor:

I am not a Jew, but I am a Zionist, in that I support Israel’s right to exist as a sovereign state.

I regard Hamas as a terrorist organization guilty of a barbaric attack on Israeli civilians in October 2023 as well as vicious repression of the people it purports to represent. Hamas must free all hostages immediately and unconditionally.

But the time has come for American Jews and gentiles alike who share these views to publicly urge the Israeli government to cease its military campaign in Gaza. Our voices can be powerful — if we exercise our moral duty to speak out.

Even if Hamas has inflated the death count, it is incontestable that many thousands of non-combatant Palestinians, including children and aid workers, have been killed in Israeli strikes. It is likewise certain that civilian suffering, already acute, is intensifying as a result of Israel’s two-month-long blockade of food and medicine deliveries to Gaza. And any escalation of the war is sure to further endanger the lives of the remaining hostages, according to the Israeli forum of families of the hostages.

There’s nothing antisemitic

My father eventually found work managing an apartment complex in roslyn, contributing to society, paying taxes, and respecting the country that took him in, belying the false narrative that immigrants don’t pay taxes or contribute to the economy.

My parents’ story is far from unique. not long ago, I met a mechanic who had fled Venezuela to escape violence — just as my father had decades earlier. Like

Framework by Tim Baker

So, I ask: If you were living in a country where your government was killing its own people, where staying meant a likely death, would you remain and accept your fate, or would you flee in search of safety? Would you risk breaking the law for a chance at survival?

Hernesto Galdamez is editor of the Baldwin Herald.

about opposing Israel’s disproportionate response to Hamas’s atrocities. Indeed, this stance should rest firmly upon the core Jewish values of rachamim (mercy and

Alex Candon and her momentarily airborne daughter, Lilli, at the L.I. Marathon — East Meadow

KEVIn J. KELLEy Atlantic Beach

Hernesto GaLDameZ

Mount Sinai South Nassau is Improving Health Care on the South Shore

The new Fennessy Family Emergency Department at Mount Sinai South Nassau doubles the size of our previous emergency department, o ering 54 private exam rooms with clear lines of sight for physicians, nurses, and support sta . Our new emergency department also o ers a separate triage area, dedicated areas for children and behavioral health patients, and has been designed to reduce wait times and improve patient outcomes.

The Fennessy Family Emergency Department is located within the new Feil Family Pavilion, opening later this year, which will have 40 new critical care suites and nine new operating rooms, designed to support the most complex surgeries on the South Shore.

To learn more visit www.mountsinai.org/feilpavilion