Friday, May 24, 2024
Vol. 101, No. 21
Your Realtor Next Door
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FOUNDED 1923 n LOCALLY OWNED AND EDITED
Tsui Ying (Ju Lic. Assoc. R.
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E. Brok
er O 516.307.940 6 | M 516.695.8 024 tsuiying.hsu@ elliman.com elliman.com Garden City Office 130 7th Street
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Rec Comm to diversify membership
Beach Boys PAGE 30 n Soccer Sisters PAGE 46
School budget approved, new trustee elected
MEMORIAL DAY
BY RIKKI MASSAND During its May 9th meeting, the Garden City Village Board approved a resolution amending the local law on the establishment of the municipality’s Board of Commissioners of Recreational and Cultural Affairs (the village Rec. Commission), addressing composition, powers, duties, and responsibilities. This item appeared on the May 9 meeting agenda under new business. The changes to the law are meant to encourage participation on the commission by residents from all sections of the village. Mayor Mary Carter Flanagan explained, “Notably, the change we are making is that while Rec. Commission positions are now (existing) at-large, we will aspire to fill them with representatives of the four sections of the village.” The village trustees unanimously approved the amendment which states, “Such Board (Rec. Commission) shall consist of a chairman and no less than five (5) and no more than eight (8) members who shall be appointed by the mayor and village, subject to approval of the Board of Trustees. While the members are at-large, the Board of Trustees will aspire to have one resident from each section of the village. The chairman may reside within the county in which the village is located or in a county within the state contiguous to the county in which the vilSee page 34
© 2024 DOUGLAS ELLIMAN REAL EST ATE. EQUAL HOUSING 110 WALT WHITMA OPPORT UNITY. N ROAD, HUNTING TON STATION, NY 11746. 631.549.740 1.
BY KASSARA MCELROY
The Cathedral of the Incarnation will be holding a Memorial Day service on Monday at 9 am to remember the fallen. The American Legion William Bradford Turner Post 265 will conduct its annual parade starting at 10 am. Marchers will assemble on the east corner of 10th Street and Franklin Avenue, and then march south on Franklin to Seventh Street, west on Seventh to the Veterans Memorial near the Library. Above, at a prior year’s service, Dean of the Cathedral Very Rev. Dr. Michael Sniffen, left, with members of the Cathedral’s BSA Pack 55. See page 20.
On Tuesday, May 21st, the Garden City Board of Education met at the high school to tally the results of the school budget and board election and discuss remaining district updates. Voters passed the $133,987,366 budget for the 2024-25 school year with 1,125 votes in favor and 311 votes against. School Board President Joseph Sileo, an incumbent who was running unopposed, was re-elected. Kristen Pappas beat Carl Oliveri for the second seat, replacing Tom Pinou after over 10 years of service. In other news, the District announced that it received preliminary notice of a $2.39 million UPK grant. If and once finalized, it would allow for expanded pre-kindergarten services, bumped up from a $5,000 cap per student last year to $10,000 cap per student this year. “This was a big issue last year,” said Sileo. “The cost per student we received was less than what the cost per student actually was, so there was a supplement off the general school budget.” Administrators are now confident that the expanded grant will provide enough to offer every child on the waiting list a seat. RFPs are now out to schools, prioritizing those within the community. No bus transportation will be provided. The Board president also spoke up in response to a letter to the editor in the Garden City News last week. The letter referred to unspoken troubles between special education students, parents and the District. “There were some insinuations that things being done in the administration were either improper or illegal. We reiterate the importance of bringing specific allegations or concerns directly to the board for investigation. We have talked to counsel and the administration and have not seen anything that backs up those allegations.” An action plan has been developed based on Special Education Advisory Committee recommendations from See page 40
Spring cleaning underway in Village PAGE 6 Day of Service: Rotary plants the seeds PAGE 28