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AMITYvIlle _____________
HERALD ReCORD
Also serving Amityville, North Amityville, Amity Harbor, Copiague, and East Massapequa
Obituary: LI Singer Deborah Lifton Page 8 VOL. 130 NO. 4
Town’s Train Show Organizer Is Remembered...Page 3
CRIME WATCH
JANUARY 22-28, 2025
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Amityville residents urge educators: don’t close Northeast Elementary By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com
Photo Credit/Herald
Salvation Army volunteer Larry Gardner, and his wife Christine, center, with Town Councilman DuWayne Gregory, NYS Assemblyman Kwani O’Farrow, Town Clerk Gerry Compitello, Councilman Terry McSweeney, Supervisor Rich Schaffer, Town Receiver of Taxes Jennifer Montiglio and Councilmen Anthony Manetta and Tony Martinez.
NB resident honored for four decades of ringing the Salvation Army bell By CHRISTIE LEIGH BABIRAD cbabirad@liherald.com
North Babylon resident Larry Gardner was recently honored by the Town of Babylon for his 40 years of service as a Salvation Army bell ringer at the West Babylon Stop and Shop. Gardner, now a “Bell Captain,” has raised more than $200,000 over the years for the organization, which provides vital assistance to individuals and families facing hardships, including food insecurity and homelessness. This year alone, Gardner helped raise $10,000 during four Saturdays of bell ringing. A significant portion of the total came from EXIT Corp. International’s “Spirit of Giving” program, which donated $2,500 on top of Gardner’s efforts. The program has been supporting Gardner’s fundraising for the past decade. His commitment to the cause began after
he became sober following years of battling alcoholism. What began as a suggestion from his 12-step recovery program sponsor evolved into what he now calls “historical.” His work culminated in a special recognition by the Town of Babylon, which declared Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, “Larry Gardner Day” in honor of his service. Gardner, who had once been homeless and at “rock bottom” in the very town that honored him, described the recognition as “extremely spectacular.” “The most meaningful part of the ceremony was all the people who came from so many different parts of my life,” Gardner said. “It was very neat.” Gardner had initially planned to retire from bell ringing after his final shift this year. However, a moment on that last day changed his mind. A woman approached him CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
About 100 residents gathered at a community forum last week to discuss the future of Northeast Elementary School, which the Amityville School District is considering closing. The meeting, led by School Superintendent Dr. Gina Talbert, gave attendees the chance to weigh in on the options for the school, with Talbert presenting a detailed analysis of the pros and cons, financial impacts, and broader challenges facing the district. Residents also participated in small focus groups to explore the district’s options and offer input. By the end of the evening, the consensus was clear: Northeast Elementary holds significant educational, social, and historical value to the community and should remain open. However, keeping the building open would come with financial challenges. The district has to replace a $2 million grant it received last year from NYS Assemblywoman Kimberly Jean Pierre after closing a $3.5 million budget gap from last year that led to significant staff cuts. In addition, the forum coincided with a letter sent by the Town of Babylon to all Amityville school district taxpayers over what it called “the sudden
and significant rise” in school property taxes for Amityville and Farmingdale residents who live in Suffolk County. According to the town, the increase was caused by the state freezing Nassau County’s equalization rate while lowering Babylon’s. The estimated impact for Suffolk is a $3 million increase, according to the town, which has initiated a lawsuit calling the disproportionate levy “entirely unacceptable” and saying the town is “aggressively challenging the state’s handling of the equalization rates and tax apportionment.” One potential cost-saving measure for the district that was discussed at the forum would be to limit the number of students accepted into the Universal Pre-K program housed at Northeast. The district will receive a $586,000 grant for the program, but 10 percent must be outsourced. The remaining funds would cover the cost of 85 students maximum. This year, the program accepted 126 students, adding pressure on the general budget. The district has not yet specified the savings from closing the building, but it has acknowledged additional expenses, including the cost of extra busing for Pre-K students who would be relocated to different schools in the district, CONTINUED ON PAGE 4