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Also serving Babylon, Bay Shore, Copiague, Deer Park, Farmingdale, Lindenhurst, North Babylon, West Babylon, West Islip and Wyandanch
Three major fires erupt in Babylon
Governor speaks at LIA breakfast
FSD educator recognized
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VOL. 75, NO. 3
JANUARY 16-22, 2025
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Babylon students outperform state averages: report By ALENA BERENBLATT Correspondent
Photo courtesy /Village of Babylon
Recently the Village of Babylon and the Babylon Library coordinated to host a store window decorating contest to recognize local businesses who put time and effort into decorating their stores to help create a holiday spirit in the Village’s business district. First-place winner of the contest was Hitch LI, a boutique at 37 E. Main Street. Other winners were: 2nd Place: Argyle Toy Store, 10 Grove Place, and 3rd Place, Mary Carroll’s restaurant, 121 Deer Park Avenue. In photo Babylon Village Trustee Sean Goodwin, Mayor Mary Adams, Ass’t Library Director Ann Burke and Library Director Thomas Vitale stand in front of Hitch LI’s decorated store windows.
Lindenhurst Village presents budget proposal By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com Lindenhurst Village officials unveiled the village’s 2025 budget which calls for a raise in real property taxes primarily to meet the village’s anticipated increases in contractual salaries, insurance, New York State Retirement
fund and professional services. “We worked very hard on this budget and while we are not happy with the need to raise taxes, we have to be fiscally responsible and ensure we have the funds needed to continue to provide the high level of services for our residents deserve,” said Mayor Mike Lavorata. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
Babylon students consistently outperform state averages and make steady progress each year in academic achievements. That was the good news highlighted at the Dec. 9 Board of Education meeting by Jeffrey Haubrich, assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction and personnel, and Al Cirone, principal of the Junior Senior High School. Babylon’s Class of 2024 boasted a 100 percent graduation rate, with 32 percent earning a Regents diploma and 68 percent graduating with a Regents Advanced designation, according to the district’s profile on the New York State Report Card. “Our goal is for Babylon High School to be more than just test scores,” Cirone said. “We aim to nurture curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking, and I believe we’re doing that.” Since the disruptions of COVID-19, Babylon has seen significant gains in both the number of students taking Advanced Placement (AP)
courses and those scoring 3 or higher on AP exams. In 2024, 75 percent of students taking AP exams earned a score of at least 3. The district has also seen an increase in the number of students named AP Scholars—an honor given to students who score 3 or higher on at least three AP exams. In 2021, 21 students were recognized as AP Scholars, a number that grew to 52 the following year, and 78 in 2024. “These numbers are really impressive and continue to rise,” Haubrich said. “Our outcomes keep improving as more students take part in these exams. This reflects the hard work of our students, faculty, and staff.” While Babylon outperforms state averages on nearly every Regents exam, Haubrich noted that there are areas where the district’s performance is closer to the state average. “When that happens, we do a deep data analysis, looking at every question on the test, to see where students are struggling,” Haubrich explained. “We then use that data to adjust instruction the follow CONTINUED ON PAGE 2