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AMITYvIlle _____________
HERALD ReCORD
Also serving Amityville, North Amityville, Amity Harbor, Copiague, and East Massapequa
Dan Kiernan advances in “The Voice” Page 10 VOL. 130 NO. 8
Leg. Richberg named S.C. Minority Leader Page 9
Kevin Catalina sworn in as SCPD Commissioner Page 2 FEBRUARY 19-25, 2025
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New bill proposes heart checks as part of school physicals By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com
Carolyn James/Herald
Babylon Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer addresses crowd of supporters at his election kickoff event.
Hundreds attend Schaffer Team’s reelection campaign kick-off By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com
Several hundred supporters attended the kickoff for the Schaffer Team’s reelection campaign on Sat. Feb. 8. Babylon Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer is running for reelection in November, joined on the ballot by Councilmen Anthony Manetta and Tony Martinez and Town Clerk Gerry Compitello. Fireman’s Pavilion, 555 Heling Blvd., Lindenhurst, the same location where Schaffer
announced his first run for public office 38 years ago. Throughout the lively event, supporters were asked, “Are you on the team?” They enthusiastically responded, many raising their arms, shouting, “I’m on the team.” The party’s slogan, “Safe, Strong, Resilient Babylon,” also echoed through the crowd. Rev. Keith Hayward, senior pastor of Bethel AME Church in Copiague, delivered the invocation, asking that Schaffer, his team, and their supporters be granted “wisCONTINUED ON PAGE 6
Amityville Village taps Dorothy Garvin as Distinguished Resident of the Year The Village of Amityville has named longtime resident and retired educator Dorothy “Dottie” Garvin as the recipient of this year’s Distinguished Resident award. The award honors individuals for their exceptional community service. Garvin will be recognized at the annual Mayor’s Spring Social on Sunday, March 2, which will be
held at the Unqua Corinthian Yacht Club Neighbor Patty Doht, who, along with her husband, Rob, nominated Garvin for the award, described her as “not just a friend, but part of the family,” always ready to engage and encourage their children. Their daughter Caitlin remembered how Garvin CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
A new bill introduced by Assemblyman Michael Durso and Senator Alexis Weik would require New York schools to include an EKG as part of regular sports physicals. An EKG is a non-invasive procedure that uses ultrasound to assess the heart’s structure and function. If abnormalities are detected, doctors typically recommend a more invasive test, an electrocardiogram. The bill, known as Connor’s Law, is named in memory of Connor Kasin, a 17-year-old athlete from the Massapequa School District who died during a charity hockey game in Bethpage. Connor collapsed on the ice during an intermission at the Town of Oyster Bay Ice Skating Center. Bystanders performed CPR until paramedics arrived and transported him to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Connor, a senior, was an avid hockey player. At the time of his death, he was participating in a memorial game for Sabrina Navaretta, a 19-year-old Syosset graduate who died in a car crash in 2023. “It turned out that Connor had a heart irregularity that might have been detected by an EKG,” Durso said. “Adding an EKG to a student’s physi-
A state bill in memory of Connor Kasin of Massapequa High School has been proposed. cal—especially for studentathletes—could uncover these issues sooner and possibly save lives.” Durso noted that most of the costs for these procedures are covered by insurance. He also said the bill would increase awareness and evaluation of student health, particularly for athletes. He added that Assembly Bill A2718 has been well received in Albany and has several cosponsors in both the Senate and Assembly.