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AMITYvIlle _____________
HERALD ReCORD
Also serving Amityville, North Amityville, Amity Harbor, Copiague, and East Massapequa
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VOL. 112 NO. 14
APRIL 15 - 21, 2026
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NA residents call for greater participation on school board By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com
Courtesy Town of Babylon
Employees of Babylon Town’s CLEAN program stand in front of some of the tons of debris they collected from local streets during the month of March.
Babylon CLEAN program targets litter, reports March progress By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com
In 2024, the Town of Babylon issued a challenge to residents: “Be classy, not trashy.” The slogan marked the launch of the town’s Babylon CLEAN program, an initiative aimed at reducing litter on roadways, parks and other public spaces. As part of the effort, the town established a litter enforcement team within its Public Safety Department. Those caught littering can face fines of up to $1,000 for a first offense. The program also includes crews dedicated to identifying and cleaning areas in need of attention, including removing litter, trimming vegetation and managing overgrowth.
Officials said the teams also provide regular updates on the program’s progress. According to the town, cleanup crews covered 104 miles in March and removed 25 tons of debris. Town officials said the program’s broader goal is to prevent littering before it occurs by encouraging behavioral change among residents. “We have to change mindsets,” Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer said. “This initiative is a comprehensive approach to enhance the beauty of our town while ensuring the health, well-being and safety of our community and environment.” For more information, visit townofbabylonny.gov/922/CLEAN-Program.
North Amityville residents gathered last week to discuss increasing community involvement in the Amityville school district, with a focus on boosting participation in school board elections and encouraging more local candidates to run. About 40 people attended the meeting, held at Prayer Tabernacle on Great Neck Road in Amityville and led by community organizer Madeline QuintyneMcConney, voicing concerns about the visibility and representation of the North Amityville community in the district. “We wanted to have this meeting to give you an update and remind you that as a community, when someone is running for the school board or as a candidate for any office, we have to all come out and vote,” Quintyne-McConney said. “If we stay home, nothing gets done, nothing changes.” Several attendees said representation and participation remain key concerns. “For me, it is all about the numbers,” said resident Patricia Hobson. “It is disheartening that at times there is a toxic environment (in the district and at school board meetings). We need an environment in which we are trusted, respected, heard and honored.”
Hobson added that many school board meetings run until 10:30 or 11 p.m., making attendance difficult for working residents. “We need an environment in which our voices are heard.” “We must go back to the old school practices where we groom people (to become candidates),” said Karla Bryant, who noted that it is sometimes difficult to get people from North Amityville to run for office since there are many who rent apartments and homes there and are not as interested in what is going on in the community. “We need more home ownership,” she said. “Things will not change unless people step up and become part of the change,” said school board president Lisa Johnson. Quintyne-McConney echoed that message. “We can talk until we are blue in the face but until the community shows up, we will not win,” she said. Wendy Canestro, a resident from south Amityville attended the meeting but did not speak publicly. Afterward, she said she was concerned about the ‘tone of the meeting,’ particularly because school board members Juan Leon and Megan Messman were not invited. Both candidates have often expressed views that differ from those of Johnson and fellow board members Leslie Kretz, Chris NeCONTINUED ON PAGE 2