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Vol. 25 No. 4
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Sands casino plan spurs eco debate development. The issues it highlighted included bird mortality from collisions with building, The proposed $6 billion light pollution affecting migraSands development on the t i o n p a t t e r n s a n d w a t e r 72-acre Nassau Coliseum site resource management. Sands, which has committed has sparked new discussions about balancing economic to building a LEED-certified development with environmen- resort, says environmental tal preservation, with the focus stewardship is central to its on one of Long Island’s last development approach. Leadership in Energy and remaining undisE nv i ro n m e n t a l turbed ecosystems. Design is a green Environmental building rating sysorganizations are tem used around working with counthe world. ty officials and “We have a long, Sands to address the well-documented project’s potential history of environimpacts on the m e n t a l a c h i eve Hempstead Plains, a ments and excel100-acre natural lence across our habitat adjacent to worldwide properthe Coliseum site StAtEMENt ties,” a Sands that houses diverse spokesperson told wildlife and plant fRoM SANDS the Herald. “We species. The Sands look forward to conproposal includes a 400,000-square-foot casino, tinuing to collaborate with Long hotels, restaurants, retail outlets Island’s environmental commuand a convention center, and is nity to create a world-class resort expected to create over 8,500 new that provides new entertainconstruction jobs and over 5,000 ment, jobs and opportunity in the most sustainable way.” more permanent jobs. A 28,000-page draft environThe South Shore Audubon Society held a virtual presenta- mental impact statement for the tion on Jan. 9 that outlined its project, submitted by Sands last concerns about the planned Continued on page 2
By KElSIE RADZISKI
kradziski@liherald.com
Holden Leeds/Herald
Sunday tunes at the library Sunday concerts are back this winter at the East Meadow Public Library. The Andrew Ahr Group, a jazz ensemble, kicked off the New Year with an eclectic arrangement that entertained all attendees. Story, more photos, Page 3.
E.M. school board votes to opt out of regionalization planning By JoRDAN VAlloNE jvallone@liherald.com
The East Meadow Board of Education has opted out of the planning process for the State Education Department’s regionalization plan, which seeks to standardize educational services in schools across New York. The board previously expressed opposition to the plan and its rollout at meetings in late-2024. Last year, the regionalization plan was pushed through in an emergency ruling by the education department, which many Long Island school districts felt bypassed input from stakeholders, like school boards and superintendents. According to the department, the plan aims to
enhance educational opportunities and operational efficiencies through increased collaboration among school districts. As initially described on the education department’s website, the initiative does not intend to enforce mergers or consolidations, but rather to foster “cross-district conversations” and encourage shared programs and resources among component districts in each of the state’s 37 Board of Cooperative Educational Services, or BOCES, regions. Nassau BOCES, Western Suffolk BOCES and Eastern Suffolk BOCES are the three regions on Long Island. School districts, including East Meadow, were Continued on page 4
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e have a long, well-documented history of environmental achievements.