Local School District Budget And Election Results

Below are the results of the local school district budget and school board election votes:

Elmont School District

Yes: 1,226**
No: 937
Kevin Denehy (Incumbent): 1,134
Patrick Emeagwali (Incumbent): 1,067
Kleeve Simon: 421

Solages Holds Sewer Privatization Venting Session

Nassau County still in search for private financier for sewage treatment plants

In what can probably be called a venting session, Third District Nassau County Legislator Carrié Solages (D-Elmont) held a community meeting at the Elmont Memorial Library on the proposed sewer privatization of Nassau County’s sewer treatment plants on May 15.

Solages, along with fellow Democratic Legislator Dave Denenberg (D-Merrick), chastised the county for failing to disclose contract particulars with consultant Morgan Stanley and recently announced New Jersey-based United Water (UW) as the county’s pick for the operation and maintenance of its sewage system. The two feel transparency is needed, especially in the wake of the Nassau County Legislature’s decision to close four of the county’s eight police precincts.

3-on-3 Wheelchair Basketball Game Rosters Set

Elmont to square off against Henry Viscardi School

The starting squads for the Elmont Spartans vs. Henry Viscardi Cougars wheelchair basketball game rematch were announced Saturday, May 12 in the run-up to the Martins Classic 3-on-3 Tournament on July 14. The announcement was made during a special meeting of tournament organizers, volunteers and community members at the First Church of God in Elmont. More than 200 volunteers filled the church for the meeting with Senator Jack Martins and State Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos.

The annual basketball game is a crowd favorite each year at the Martins Classic held at the Dutch Broadway School in Elmont. This year the Viscardi-Elmont game will highlight the tournament, which will also include basketball games, 7-on-7 football, soccer games, lacrosse games, a slam dunk contest and three-point shoot out coinciding with special events.

Residents Go To Polls For Budget, School Boards May 15

Local districts face first voting year with 2 percent tax cap

Long Island residents will go to the polls on Tuesday, May 15 to vote on the proposed school budgets and school boards for the 2012-13 school year. This marks the first year district will need to get under a 2 percent tax cap.

The Elmont School District (ESD) is proposing a $78,560,346 budget for the 2012-13 school year. The budget calls for a 2.8 percent increase in spending over the 2011-12 budget. A 6.9 percent tax levy increase is reflected in the budget, which requires 60 percent voter approval to pass.

Ex-Sewanhaka Educator Appointed BSD Superintendent

Richard S. Rozakis starts July 1

When Garden City resident Richard S. Rozakis was recently approved to the appointment of superintendent of schools for the Babylon School District, it was the culmination of a 29-year climb up the ladder in the field of education. After starting out as a social studies teacher in the Sewanhaka Central school district, Rozakis’ career path took him through stops as an assistant principal at New Hyde Park Memorial High School, a principal at Glen Head’s North Shore High School and his current job as assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction in the Bellmore-Merrick Central High school district. It’s a journey he felt drawn to dating back to his time growing up in Elmont.

“I think I had wanted to be a teacher back when I was a kid helping my friends do their homework, teaching them how to tell time—doing things that I didn’t even know was teaching at the time,” he recollected. “I taught in my church when I was an older teenager. I was always like that and it always felt like it was a natural thing for me to do. Then I went through the whole ladder of education, [eventually] hitting every rung.”

SPECIAL REPORT: THE FIRST OF A THREE-PART SERIES: Just One Pill

Forget dealers—new generation of addicts goes straight for the medicine cabinets

The 10th-grader selected her favorite color. It was a very simple task that she and most young people have probably done countless times before. However, this time, the stakes were never higher. She was not choosing a color for a blouse, a cell phone case or curtains for her bedroom. Instead, she was selecting a pill from a menagerie of narcotics that her peers had brought to a “pharm party” – an alarming and frightening phenomenon that’s been making a comeback among teenagers throughout Long Island.

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.

Feisty Felines Served Eviction Notice From Hempstead

Town plans to move Newbridge Road Park cat colony starting May 1

Cats are known as reserved, independent, yet loving creatures. But when it comes to feral cats, special treatment is needed because they are difficult to control. The Town of Hempstead will attempt to handle a hairy situation concerning a group of felines in a town park. Are they up to the task?

Animal activists and cat rescuers berated the Hempstead Town Board on April 24 for its plan to move a feral cat colony from its location at Newbridge Road Park in Bellmore. The relocation process begins May 1, when the town would start to move feeding stations about a quarter-mile away from the current spot.

Martins Gives Keynote Speech At Model UN Conference

More than 300 students participate in debate

The Sewanhaka Central High School District “SIDMUN” Model UN conference was held last weekend from April 20-22. The annual conference is an eagerly awaited forum by students who debate world issues during a daylong conference moderated, developed and chaired by high school students.

Senator Jack Martins visited Model UN committees, listened to debates and helped open the “SIDMUN” Model UN conference at Floral Park Memorial High School (FPMHS). The conference hosts Floral Park Memorial, Sewanhaka, Carey, Elmont Memorial (EMHS) and New Hyde Park High Schools.

TVT Exclusive: Swastikas Found On Car, House In West Hempstead

Police would not confirm nor deny if recent Mineola incidents are linked

Friday the 13th is known for horror movies and bad luck. On Friday, April 13, it took on a new meaning…an unwarranted statement of hate.

Graffiti, specifically swastikas, have been an issue in Nassau County recently. Mineola was hit with a spree in February, with 11 incidents spread across the village and at least one symbol slapped on Chaminade High School. Last Friday, the markings reached West Hempstead.