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Also serving Amityville, North Amityville, Amity Harbor, Copiague, and East Massapequa
See Dellecave award winners Page 3 VOL. 75 NO. 29
Copiague students recognized Page 9
Celebrating young authors Page 8
JULY 9 - 15, 2025
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Amityville adopts new business laws By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com
Carolyn James/Herald
Rabbi Mitchell Nesenoff addresses the community at Congregation Beth Sholom’s 100th anniversary celebration.
Congregation Beth Sholom marks 100 years of tradition, faith and community By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com
Recognizing its long tradition of faith and community service, Congregation Beth Sholom in Babylon Village celebrated its 100th anniversary on June 22. The Conservative Jewish center has long served as a beacon for Jewish life on Long Island. Rabbi Mitchell Nesenoff, the congregation’s spiritual leader, praised the milestone as both a celebration of the past and a promise for the future. “We are here not only to celebrate the first hundred years, but I also believe we
are here to celebrate the next 100 years,” Nesenoff told the more than 100 attendees. “Our goal should be to leave this congregation in a better place than when we got it.” The congregation was founded in a small building on George and Cooper streets and later moved to its current location, at 441 Deer Park Ave. To commemorate its roots, the anniversary event began with a Torah procession from the original building to the current synagogue. “This procession symbolizes both our history and the vibrant future of our community,” said Farley Nachemin, the congreCONTINUED ON PAGE 5
The Amityville Village Board approved new laws at a recent meeting to increase oversight of massage parlors and waterfront construction, adding local requirements to existing state and federal regulations. The first law requires anyone opening a massage parlor or acupuncture business in the village to obtain a local license. Officials said the measure aims to ensure that these establishments are operated by licensed New York State practitioners and maintain clean, safe environments. The law also addresses concerns that some of these businesses may serve as fronts for prostitution. In recent months, Suffolk County police and Babylon Town officials have raided at least three such businesses in Amityville, arresting women on prostitution-related charges. Dozens of similar incidents have occurred throughout the county, according to police records. “We want to make sure that these owners and the landlords know that we are watching and that these establishments are exactly what they say they are,” said Mayor Michael O’Neill. O’Neill added that the new local oversight supplements the licensing process already managed by New York State. During the meeting, resident Diane Egglinger asked whether the law requires establishments
to post their state and villageissued licenses in a visible location for customers. Village Attorney Bruce Kennedy said that provision was not initially included, but after discussion, the board agreed to add it to the legislation. The second measure approved by the board requires village permits for the construction or alteration of bulkheads, docks, and piers within Amityville. This new requirement adds to permits already issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the state Department of Environmental Conservation. Kennedy said the village has seen several recent cases in which projects approved by state agencies were larger or more intrusive than what the village would have permitted. “This will give us an opportunity to be part of the process and work together with the property owners,” O’Neill said. The village now reserves the right to impose more restrictive conditions than other agencies, with the goal of protecting neighboring properties and maintaining local oversight of waterfront development. The next Village Board workshop meeting will be held Thurs., July 10, 8:15 a.m.; the regular Village Board meeting is Tues., July 14, 7 p.m. Both meetings take place in the Walter Saxton Court room, third floor, Village Hall, 21 Ireland Pl., Amityville.