Farmingdale School Budget Passes; Incumbents Re-elected

Neighboring school districts also pass

On Tuesday, May 15, Farmingdale School District residents took to the polls at Howitt Middle School, resulting in an approved 2012-13 school budget with the breakdown being 1,787—yes, and 896—no. This year’s budget offered to voters totaled  $150,567,160. The district’s budget-to-budget increase is 1.82 percent more than last year.

Celebration Kicks Off Play Space For All Children In ‘Heart’ Of County

All-Inclusive children’s playground opens in Eisenhower Park

The grand opening of the fully accessible park and playground in Eisenhower Park, Field 4, the Let All The Children Play (LATCP) project, was highly anticipated, and met with great praise from those in attendance at the Friday, May 4 ribbon cutting ceremony.

Some of the local officials included Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano, Adam Weingarten, Michael Alon, chairman and founder of LATCP; David Weingarten, vice chairman of LATCP; Assemblymen Harvey Weisenberg, Tom McKevitt and Ed Ra; Nassau County legislators Denise Ford, Rose Walker and Dave Denenberg. Also in attendance were representatives of the environmental bond act needed to move forward with the ground breaking of the playground project, and corporate sponsor, Astoria Federal Savings President/CEO Monte Redman.

Exclusive: Dozens More Veterans’ Names Released For Cremains Burial May 19

(Editor’s Note: This is an extended list of the cremains to be interred on Saturday, May 19 at the Long Island National Cemetery. The original exclusive article appeared in the Friday, April 27 edition of the Farmingdale Observer and online at www.antonnews.com.)

On Saturday, May 19, Long Island veteran organizations and funeral homes are set to give proper military burials to more than 50 unclaimed veterans’ cremated remains.

FHS Neighboring Residents Report Growing Nuisances

District prepares for final budget reading for May 15 vote

At the May 2 Farmingdale School Board of Trustees public board meeting at Howitt Middle School, Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Lorentz shared with the audience of about 34 people, the success that he and Superintendent of Business and Finance Paul Defendini have had over the last couple of weeks during their visits to many of the community groups. They gave comprehensive budget presentations to as many community groups as possible, delivering the details of this year’s proposed 2012-13 budget.

Lorentz thanked the three seniors groups that he had given budget presentations to within the past week, saying, “We’ve developed a relationship with them, such that they really understand our budget concerns and they are generally a supportive group.”

Justin Abrams To Climb Mount Kilimanjaro For Autism

Island Rock will host ‘Climb for a Cause’ for Spectrum Designs May 19

When Justin Abrams first visited Island Rock Indoor Rock Climbing in Plainview, it looked like his introduction to the sport was going to have to wait; it was 9 p.m., and the place was shut down tight. However, the 7-year-old from Dix Hills wasn’t in the mood to take no for an answer. He wanted to climb, and he wanted to climb now.

“As a little kid does, I ran up to the front door and started banging on the door, and the manager actually came out and saw that I was…literally in my pajamas,” remembered Abrams. Impressed by such enthusiasm, the manager put the pajama-clad Abrams in a harness and let the child climb, free of charge, all over the rock walls in the empty gym late into the night.

Nassau GOP Calls Dem’s ‘Quid Pro Quo’ Illegal

Republicans call on DA to investigate Democrat’s demand of independent redistricting for bond approval

Nassau County Attorney John Ciampoli revealed at a press conference on April 26 that he asked District Attorney Kathleen Rice to investigate if all nine Democratic county legislators engaged in criminal activity. He cited the Democrats threat of refusing to vote on bond approvals if a compromise on redistricting is not reached.

The county attorney read a Dec. 15, 2011 correspondence from Democratic Minority Leader Kevan Abrahams, which was also signed by the other eight minority legislators, advising County Executive Ed Mangano that, “we cannot in good conscience consider any borrowing requests for any purpose until we arrive at a satisfactory resolution of legislative redistricting.” The county is looking to borrow up to $140 million, which requires a super majority (13 of 19) vote from the legislature.

Proper Military Burial For More Than 50 Veterans

Long Island's largest unclaimed

veteran cremain burial service set for May 19

On Saturday, May 19, Long Island veteran organizations and funeral homes are set to give proper military burials to more than 50 unclaimed veterans’ cremated remains.

The funeral procession will assemble near exit 49 on the Long Island Expressway at 8 a.m. on Armed Forces Day and travel to Long Island National Cemetery at 2040 Wellwood Avenue in Farmingdale, led by Patriot Guard and Legion Riders for a 9 a.m. military honors burial service.

Environmental Art Contest For Water Wise Land Use

Anton, Fluhr, Gulotta invited as guest judges

Art entries are being sought for a first annual Art Contest and Wine for Water Wise Land Use Party on June 14 at Old Bethpage Village Restoration. The contest and party is being hosted by Nassau County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) as part of the celebration of their 35th year working to protect and improve local natural resources.

Board member Jaime Van Dyke Doran said, “The art contest and party is an innovative way to raise a little money and bring a ton of focus to local environmental activities. The money raised will help us build sustainable gardens and support educational programs. Artists from all parts of the county have been entering their work from photographs of local landscapes to paintings of local wildlife.”

‘Farmingdale Forward: 10 Goals For 10 Years’

Farmingdale State College (FSC) President W. Hubert Keen made a grand public announcement following one of many celebration events of its centennial, and just days before the campus would reach its 100th year mark. Keen presented “Farmingdale Forward: 10 Goals for 10 Years”—an impressive agenda for FSC’s future—which includes increasing enrollment by 1,000 students, expanding academic programs to include FSC’s first master’s degrees, the hiring of 70 new faculty members, and the next phases of renovation.

“Farmingdale is poised to enter a new phase of growth and development, an extension of the success we have enjoyed in recent years,” Dr. Keen said proudly. “We call this vision ‘Farmingdale Forward,’ because it represents the steps we must take to ensure an enduring excellence. Our ‘10 Goals for 10 Years’ will transform Farmingdale again. By 2022, the college will be very different, with growth and improvement apparent in every important measure.”

Bartone Plaza: Q&A With Developer Anthony Bartone

Redevelopment plan wins 2012 Smart Growth Award

Vision Long Island has named Bartone Properties and BWC Realty Partners the 2012 Smart Growth “Revitalizing Communities” award recipients for the redevelopment plan for Farmingdale.

One aspect of the expansive project, to become Bartone Plaza, involves redeveloping the property around the village’s train station where a warehouse now sits. A mixed-use building with ground level retail space and with residential units above is planned.