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HERALD RECoRD
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VOL. 112 NO. 16
APRIL 29 - MAY 5, 2026
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New turf, new era: Copiague SD wraps field upgrades By NIKO SCARLATOS Correspondent
Carolyn James/Herald
Babylon Town recently honored Monica Prino, program coordinator at Beacon Familly Wellness Center. She is shown with her fellow workers at the center holding her town proclamation.
Babylon Town honors Monica Prino By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com
The Town of Babylon recognized Monica Prino, program coordinator at the Beacon Family Wellness Center, during the April 15 Town Board meeting for her work supporting individuals and families receiving substance use treatment services. “Your work changes people’s lives for the better,” Babylon Town Supervisor Richard Schaffer said during the meeting. He added that staff at the center regularly support people in crisis. “We hear stories all the time about how you have to work with families and individuals in crisis and while that is difficult, the best part of it is that is when you see that glimmer of hope in their eyes; that is the biggest reward.” Prino thanked the supervisor and Town Board, crediting her colleagues for the center’s work. “Nothing would get accomplished at the center without the team that works beside me and
next to me,” she said. “I go in every day because they help make a difference; I go in every day because they are challenged and try their best to help.” Colleen Perrone, director of Beacon House, praised Prino’s leadership. “She is the most dedicated, hard-working leader I have ever known,” Perrone said. Beacon House operates under the town’s Division of Drug and Alcohol Services and provides outpatient treatment and support for residents affected by substance use. Services include counseling, education, referrals, and coordination with outside agencies, as well as support for families and recovery-focused programming. The program is staffed by licensed professionals and offers confidential outpatient services to Town of Babylon residents and their families. Beacon House is located at 281 Phelps Lane in North Babylon. For more information, call (631) 422-7676.
Amityville school district okays budget By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com
Amityville School District Board of Education has approved a $123.963 million budget for the 2026–27 school year, reflecting a 2.64 percent increase in spending and a 1.56 percent increase in the tax levy. Information on the current tax rate was not immediately provided. The tax levy represents the portion of the budget funded directly
through real property taxes. The budget was adopted in a split vote during a recent Board of Education meeting. Trustees Lisa Johnson, Carol Seehof, Chris Nehring, and Leslie Kretz voted in favor of the plan, while Trustees Juan Leon and Megan Messman opposed it, citing concerns over the level of taxation and the use of reserve funds. The approved spending plan was one of two proposals presented by Joseph Dragone, InCONTINUED ON PAGE 2
The Copiague School District has reached a major milestone in a two-year athletic complex overhaul, completing a full transformation of its sports fields and moving into the final phase of construction with new bleachers expected to be installed by fall. The fields are located between the Middle School on Great Neck Road and the High School off Dixon Avenue. The project has converted all major playing surfaces from natural grass to synthetic turf, creating a modern, multi-sport facility designed for year-round use and increased durability. District leaders say the upgrade reflects a long-term investment in both student athletics and community recreation. Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Bannon said the shift to turf was driven by both practicality and sustainability. “Maintaining grass fields would have been equally expensive over time and far more difficult to manage,” Bannon said, citing weather conditions and heavy field usage. “We wanted to make sure we did everything we needed to do to get it done.” All fields were designed for shared, multi-purpose use, allowing multiple sports to operate within the same complex more efficiently.
Beyond the turf installations, the renovation includes new dugouts, batting cages and sport-specific fencing. The complex also adds pickleball courts, expanding recreational access beyond school athletics. Students have already taken notice of the upgrades. “The fields are beautiful. I am very excited that I get to spend my next four years here playing in this complex,” said freshman Grace Mauro. “We have one of the nicest athletics complexes around.” Senior Steven Falco echoed that sentiment. “Our fields are beautiful; they are amazing to play on,” Falco said. “This was a wonderful upgrade for Copiague. These fields put Copiague on the map as we now have one of the nicest athletic fields on the Island.” The financial scope of the project underscores its scale. The middle school and high school turf installations each cost approximately $10 million. The planned grandstand and bleacher system is budgeted at $1.8 million, with an additional $2 million allocated for concessions, bathrooms and a training facility. Athletic Director William Bennett said the impact is already being felt across programs, noting increased student interest and participation. CONTINUED ON PAGE 5