Serving Williston Park, East Williston, Mineola, Albertson and Searingtown
$1
Friday, June 18, 2021
Vol. 70, No. 25
GUIDE TO SUMMER
WHEATLEY TRACK COUNTY CHAMPS
COUNTY, POLICE AGREE ON CONTRACT, CAMERAS
PAGE 21-28
PAGE 2
PAGE 6
RUNNING THE SHOW
E.W. Zoning Board member to retire Parente touts Richard Raab’s expertise after 34 years BY S A M U E L E PETRUCCELLI Though a local Boy Scout’s Eagle project and anecdotes of commercial traffic on residential streets were key points on the agenda, the retirement of a 34year veteran from the East Williston Board of Zoning Appeals stole the show at Monday evening’s board of trustees meeting. After years of practicing as a registered auditor and professional engineer, Richard Raab announced he would depart from his position with the village of
East Williston. A graduate of engineering programs at Manhattan College and New York University, he also holds a juris doctor degree from St. John’s University and a license as a patent agent. Raab is also a husband, father and grandfather. Acknowledging the hard work that is done by every board and committee in the village, Mayor Bonnie Parente kicked off the trustees meeting with a statement on Raab’s departure. “If you plant a tree, someone’s going to thank you, and if you plant a tent, probably some-
one’s going to thank you,” Parente said. “You’re on the Board of Zoning Appeals – nobody’s thanking you.” Parente recognized how trustees on the Board of Zoning Appeals are “forced to listen to the cries of your neighbors,” seeking to build pools or home extensions, and how sometimes they have to say no. “You’re saying no to your friends, you’re saying no to your neighbors, you may even be saying no to your family sometimes,” Parente said. “But it’s an amazing Continued on Page 34
Herricks updates gifted program qualifications PHOTO COURTESY OF WHEATLEY TRACK
Wheatley’s Emma Keys broke her own school record and earned All-County honors for her cross country performance. See story on page 2.
New modifications change guidelines on acceptance BY S A M U E L E PETRUCCELLI Herricks administrators presented broad changes to the elementary and middle school’s gifted and talented program at a board of education meeting last week, aimed at moving away from a rigid structure towards one more embracing of
unrecognized students. To be rolled out over the next two years, the district’s Gemini program will include parent input as a criterion for child selection, opportunities for middle schoolers to be accepted and allowing children to engage in seminars once a week during their lunch period. “We feel this provides a
very nice seamless transition and creates a more cohesive program from K through eight,” said Elizabeth Guercin, assistant superintendent for instruction at Herricks Public Schools. “All this really aligns nicely – all K-8 – aligns very nicely with the Herricks portrait of a graduate.” Continued on Page 35
Support local journalism and get real news Subscribe to the Blank Slate Media newspaper of your community https://theislandnow.com/subscription/