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HERALD
September 27 11 AM -2:30 PM
RECoRD AFA Barbara
Copiague girls soccer
AFD to host Town Parade
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VOL. 75 NO. 39
SEPTEMBER 17 - 23, 2025
Rabinowitz Education & Resource Center 149 Schleigel Blvd, Amityville, NY 11701
Registration Require d afalongisland.org
$100
Amity residents remember 9/11 By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com
Carolyn James/Herald
The Amityville Village Board with newly sworn in officers: Trustees Adam Ansanelli and Roger Smith, Mayor Michael O’Neill, Officers Luis Checo, Ryan Onderdonk, Chief Frank Caramanica, Lt. Mike Walters, Sgt. William End and Trustees Owen Brooks and Robert Russo.
Caramanica sworn in as new police chief By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com
Lt. Frank Caramanica was sworn in as the new chief of the Amityville Village Police Department during the Sept. 8 board meeting, officially stepping into the role vacated by Chief Bryan Burton, who retired in late July. Caramanica had been serving as acting chief since Burton’s departure, (shorturl.at/TQXsJ). His swearing-in was attended by family mem-
bers, fellow officers and community members at Village Hall. “Thank you to the mayor and the board for trusting me with this position,” Caramanica said during the ceremony. “It took a lot of hard work and dedication to get here — but I did not do it alone. I could not have done it without the support of everyone in this department sitting here today.” He praised the department’s professionalism and unity. CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
Amityville and Babylon held separate remembrance ceremonies on Sept. 11 to mark the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, each offering moments of reflection, tribute and unity. In Amityville, residents gathered at the village’s 9/11 Memorial Park on Broadway to honor the nearly 3,000 lives lost when hijacked planes struck the Twin Towers in Manhattan, the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and crashed in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. “We gather here today in solemn remembrance of September 11th, 2001 — a day etching forever in our history, our hearts and our souls,” Amityville Mayor Michael O’Neill said, addressing a crowd of police officers, firefighters, veterans and residents of all ages. Brothers Peter and Brendan Ledwell led the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by an opening prayer from Father Randolph Jon Geminder of St. Mary’s Church. Meghan Chimienti performed “Amazing Grace,” and Pastor Thomas Cusinelli, of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, delivered a prayer of reflection. The ceremony continued
with a playing of taps and a benediction by Pastor Calvin Collins, of the First Methodist Church. Moments of silence brought some attendees to tears, more than two decades after the tragedy. “We remember that day; we remember where we were, and we remember what we were doing,” said Village Trustee Adam Ansanelli. “We remember the fear, and we remember the uncertainty. We were attacked, and almost 3,000 Americans were killed that day. Thousands suffered horrific injuries, some visible and many invisible. We must never forget what happened that day.” The event concluded with the retirement of colors by the Amityville Fire Department and Amityville Police Department, followed by the singing of “God Bless America.” Earlier in the day, Babylon Town hosted a remembrance ceremony at its September 11th Hometown Memorial at Cedar Beach. The memorial was dedicated on Sept. 11, 2005, in memory of those who died and were affected by the 2001 attacks. Since its inception, the town has held an annual vigil at the site, joined by families of victims, local fire departments, community leaders and fellow residents. CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
Newly sworn in Amityville Police Officer Ryan Onderdonk, third from left, is shown with his mother Kristin, his brother Connor, his girlfriend Lauren, his brother Gavin and his father, Amityville Police Officer Eric Onderdonk.