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Village targets unsafe home By CHRISTIE LEIGH BABIRAD cbabirad@liherald.com
Courtesy Copiague school district
Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School freshman Isabella Rufrano earned first place at the New York State Science Congress in Syracuse.
Copiague student wins prestigious science award By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School freshman Isabella Rufrano earned first place at the New York State Science Congress in Syracuse, marking the first time a student from the Copiague School District has captured the top honor at the statewide competition. The achievement is especially notable because Rufrano, a freshman, competed against students in grades 9 through 12 from across New York. “I am very proud,” Isabella said. “This was definitely the hardest research I have had to do, so receiving this recognition is great.” Rufrano advanced to the state competition after placing first in the Medicine and Health category at the regional Long Island Science Congress. That performance qualified her for the statewide event. At the state level, she presented research titled “Parental Sex as a Determinant in Fluoxetine-Induced Effects on Reproductive and Developmental Outcomes in Drosophila melanogaster.” The project examined whether exposure
to fluoxetine, the antidepressant commonly known as Prozac, affected offspring differently depending on whether the mother or father was exposed. Rufrano used fruit flies, a common laboratory model, to study how parental exposure influenced development and reproductive outcomes in future generations. District officials said the win represents a milestone for the district, which has previously sent students to the competition but had never produced a first-place finisher. Science research teacher Kaitlyn Thompson said Rufrano’s work reflected both discipline and scientific curiosity. “Through her work, Isabella demonstrated the skills and determination needed to stand out among some of New York’s top young researchers,” Thompson said. District officials said Rufrano’s success was supported by members of the science department, including Kerri Hall, Renee Locker and Tracy Wenzler. The New York State Science Congress brings together top student researchers from across the state to present original scientific work in a variety of categories.
Aesthetics and safety were among the key topics discussed at the Village of Babylon Board of Trustees meeting on June 9, as village officials addressed a property occupied by squatters and outlined efforts to enhance the appearance of the downtown through a newly formed Façade Improvement Program. The board adopted a resolution addressing concerns at 89 Park Ave., where exterior inspections conducted by the village building inspector and village engineer determined that the residential property has “multiple violations” creating dangerous and unsafe conditions. According to the resolution, the conditions pose a hazard to the homeowner, occupants and neighboring properties and constitute a blight on the community. The resolution authorizes the village attorney to commence an action in Suffolk County Supreme Court seeking a court order requiring the property owners to immediately remediate the dangerous conditions. If the owners fail to do so, the village would be permitted to complete the remediation and “levy costs incurred thereby to the village tax roll and warrant for said property.” Mayor Mary Adams said the property has been occupied
by squatters and that each individual living there has filed for bankruptcy, delaying the court’s ability to issue an eviction warrant. “After 7 or 8 squatters, the judge decided to issue the warrant and hopefully have the sheriff go in and evict them,” Adams said. “We’re waiting on that process now to occur as the house is dangerous and it is unsafe.” She added that the situation is not one the village wants to tolerate. “I’m glad we’re moving forward on this,” Adams said. “Let’s get this cleaned up once and for all.” Village Attorney Charles J. Casolaro described the resolution as a necessary first step. “This is a first step — there are some things under our village code that we have to follow, and one of them is this resolution, but this will ensure that we get to the courts quickly and we remediate this property quickly because it’s in very bad condition,” Casolaro said. Trustee Jeffrey Szabo also discussed the village’s newly formed façade improvement board, which he said has been working to improve the appearance of the downtown business district. “We have been trying to be as creative as possible in working with the business owners CONTINUED ON PAGE 12