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HERALD RECoRD
Students honored at Adventureland
Lessons from your pets
Alzheimer’s walk scheduled
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VOL. 75 NO. 41
OCTOBER 1 - 7, 2025
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Babylon Town to host annual St. Pat’s Parade By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com
Courtesy Copiague Fire Department
New Copiague firehouse blessed The Copiague Fire Department recently held an unveiling of its new firehouse at 130 Parkside Court on Sept. 14. Fire Department members, public officials and the community were on hand as a blessing of the building was conducted. In attendance were Copiague’s Board of Fire Commissioners Richard Sica, Frank Giarrusso, Julian Wellington and Dominick Nuzzi; District Manager Bobby Annan; Legal Counsel Salvatore Sapienza; Copiague Fire Chiefs Daniel Broyles and Frank Guella; Town of Babylon Officials Deputy Supervisor Antonio Martinez, Town Clerk Geraldine Compitello, and State Officials, NYS Senator Alexis Weik who was represented by Sue Giarrusso and NYS Assemblyman Kwani O’Pharro. Also attending was Donna Farina, president of the Copiague Chamber of Commerce. It took the department approximately two years to construct the new building for the department.
ASD signs new Administrator’s contract By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com The Amityville School Board approved a contract with the Amityville Administrators’ Association (AAA), ending a three-year impasse dating back to 2022. Under the new agreement, the district’s 14 administrators — including principals, assistant principals, directors and assistant directors — will receive a 2 percent salary increase annually, effective July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2029. “We are very grateful to the district which came and met us to the point where we are happy
and looking forward,” said Evan Farkas, president of the AAA and the district’s health and athletic director. “This has been a lot of work, but it gives us a foundation to work upon.” The new contract sets annual base salaries at $170,000 for principals and directors, $143,000 for assistant directors, and $134,000 for assistant principals. These figures do not include longevity pay. Union officials confirmed that the agreement includes no employee concessions. “The district recognized the importance of equalizing salaries and the need to provide equity among the positions regarding salaries,” CONTINUED ON PAGE 18
Sal Mangano still remembers his mother’s words, spoken softly but with conviction: “You have to think of others and always give back.” Those words, he said, shaped not only his outlook, but the path of his life. This fall, that lifelong commitment to service will be recognized when Mangano is honored as one of the grand marshals of the 2025 Long Island Columbus Day Parade — returning to Babylon for the first time in decades. The parade steps off on Saturday, Oct. 11, in Deer Park. Mangano, whose family owns and operates Mangano Family Funeral Homes, will be recognized alongside several local leaders, including Babylon Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer, former News 12 anchor Danielle Campbell, State Sen. Mario Mattera, Assemblyman Steve Stern, and Enzo Bifulco, a 52-year member of the Cellini Lodge, Order of Sons and Daughters of Italy in America. Babylon Town Councilman Anthony Manetta is serving as parade chairman. “It’s going to be a wonderful event, and we are very ex-
cited,” Manetta said. “Everyone should make a point of getting out for the parade.” The celebration begins at the Deer Park Lake Avenue Firehouse, at 94 Lake Ave., with opening remarks at noon. The parade will officially step off at 1 p.m., highlighting the richness of Italian-American heritage and culture. Floats, banners, marching bands, live music and community groups will fill the route, offering festivities for all ages. The parade will conclude at the Constantino Brumidi Lodge No. 2211, at 2075 Deer Park Ave., where an Italian Food Festival will take place. Attendees can enjoy food trucks, live entertainment and an indoor craft fair. Community groups are welcome to march in the parade, and families, friends and neighbors are encouraged to attend. Parking is available at JFK Middle School, across from the firehouse, with free shuttle bus service provided. For more information, call 516 633-1435. “It’s a privilege to celebrate Italian heritage, history and culture with such respected individuals and the event hosts,” Mangano said. CONTINUED ON PAGE 18