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MPK Village Board weighing 2 new community events By MIKE POLANSKI Correspondent

Carolyn James/Herald

Amityville School Superintendent Dr. Gina Talbert outlines options for Northeast School at community forum.

Residents urge Amityville educators to keep Northeast Elementary open By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com

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 the school’s 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: North-

east 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, both of which serve residents in both Nassau and Suffolk. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

At its public work session on Monday evening, Jan. 13, the Massapequa Park Village Board discussed the possibility of hosting two new community events: a New Year’s Eve Ball Drop and a Groundhog Day celebration. The board explored the idea of holding these events in front of Village Hall, noting that both could be staged without the need to close streets or disrupt local businesses along Park Boulevard. After the meeting, Mayor Dan Pearl confirmed that the village was considering hosting these events but emphasized that further research on required resources and logistics would be necessary. “We are still discussing the possibility of doing these events in 2026,” Pearl said. “However, we need to look into the items needed and the logistics before moving forward.” Trustee Christine Wiss expressed her support for both events as communitybuilding activities but pointed out that no final decision had been made for 2026.

“We have not committed to 2026 yet; strategic planning is always key to a successful event,” Wiss said. “But I’m in favor of both events as ways to bring the community together.” Deputy Mayor Tina Schiaffino agreed with Pearl and Wiss on the importance of thorough planning but added that discussions like the one on Jan. 13 are crucial for getting the process started. “These types of conversations are how things get started,” Schiaffino said. “It’s a step in the right direction.” In recent years, the village has expanded its public events, including the introduction of “Park After Dark” in 2021. This seasonal event, held on select summer evenings, offers residents the chance to walk, shop, dine, visit food trucks, and enjoy live music in the heart of the village. Other Village Business The Village Administrator was authorized to advertise for Grievance Day, during which residents can voice concerns about property CONTINUED ON PAGE 2