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AMITYvIlle _____________
HERALD ReCORD
Also serving Amityville, North Amityville, Amity Harbor, Copiague, and East Massapequa
Richard Mayhew, veteran & artist Page 2 VOL. 75 NO. 32
LI outdoor art festival now open
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JULY 30 - AUGUST 5, 2025
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Huge turnout at Soldier Ride By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com
Carolyn James/Herald Photos
Wounded Warriors gather at the steps of Babylon Town Hall for opening ceremonies before the ride to Overlook Beach.
More than 1,200 bikers gathered at Babylon Town Hall on Friday, July 19, for the annual Soldier Ride, a 25-mile journey that raised more than $200,000 for the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP). The event, now in its 18th year, has generated more than $1.8 million to support wounded U.S. military veterans. The festivities also spotlights other veteran-support organizations, including Paws of War, which rescues and trains service dogs for veterans. CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
Amityville School Board rescinds two key personnel actions By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com The Amityville School Board rescinded two resolutions on key personnel matters during its July 8 meeting, after a change in trustees shifted the board’s majority on the issues. One of the resolutions required Superintendent Gina Talbert to provide the board with weekly written updates on her availability to perform her duties, along with documentation of her sick and vacation time. The second resolution eliminated the position of assistant superintendent for human resources. Both actions were passed in June, before Trustee Wendy Canestro’s term on the board ended. Her support, along with that of board
members Juan Leon, Megan Messmann and Carol Fanning, was sufficient to pass the measure 4-3 with Board President Lisa Johnson and Trustees Leslie Kretz, Carol Seehof, in opposition. However, following the swearing in of board member Chris Nehring July 8, the board’s voting balance shifted on these issues. Nehring ran for and won Canestro’s seat in May. She did not seek reelection. Voting to rescind the measure June 8 were Nehring, Johnson, Kretz and Seehof with opposition from Leon, Messman and Fanning. Talbert publicly criticized the original oversight resolution when it was introduced and passed in June, saying she has consistently informed Board President Lisa Johnson of her schedule and maintains detailed records. She called
the measure “insulting and offensive.” Supporters of the requirement disagreed when the measure was introduced in June and again July 8. “This is not personal,” Fanning said supporting the original resolution. “It is a common practice in business and is nothing out of the ordinary. No one should be offended by it.” The resolution did not initially outline why members of the board sought the change, nor were any accusations of wrongdoing on the part of the superintendent alleged. The emphasis was on providing the board with the information in a timely manner, something Fanning said was not happening. Leon noted that the district adopted a similar policy for former Superintendent Mary Kelly who
served as Amityville School Superintendent from 2014 to 2021. He added that additional oversight is especially important at this time as the board has given Dr. Talbert notice that her contract will not be renewed when it expires next year. “Currently, she tracks her own time and reports only to the school board president, Ms. Johnson,” Leon said. “It is imperative that we keep a close eye on her vacation days and leave days, because eventually the district will have to pay
her for any unused time.” Johnson, who voted to rescind the oversight resolution, said the measure was unnecessary, because she already gets the information directly from Talbert and shares it with the board. She added that the earlier directive passed while Kelly was superintendent (2014-21) was based on different circumstances, which she declined to elaborate on, citing personnel issues. CONTINUED ON PAGE 7