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IB artists explain their inspirations
Local church holds last service
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VOL. 127 NO. 3
JANUARY 17 - 23, 2025
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HERALD $1.00
More than 20 school districts sue NYSED referred to in the lawsuit as the Coalition of NY State School Board Members, issued a scathA coalition of 21 school dis- ing critique of the plan, hightricts, municipalities, unions lighting widespread local opposition. and individual peti“When 21 school tioners has filed a districts, 8 elected lawsuit against the officials, thousands New York State Eduof residents, and cation Department, unions unite in seeking to annul its opposition to a regucontroversial lation, it becomes Re gionalization clear that state offiPlan. The plan c i a l s h ave ove rrequires public stepped their bounds school districts to in using regulations submit and impleto undermine local ment regionalizaautonomy,” the statetion plans, a move ment read. “If such that critics claim measures were truly will under mine necessary or urgent, local control of they should go those districts — through the proper and that violates legislative process — statutory law. not be dictated by an The plaintiffs in LAUREN THEMIS unelected agency.” the lawsuit, which Board president, Lauren Themis, was filed on Jan. 9 in Locust Valley Central president of the the New York State Locust Valley CenS u p r e m e C o u r t , School District tral School District include school districts, municipal governments, Board of Education, echoed that state legislators, and advocacy sentiment. “We are proud to stand unitgroups representing thousands of residents and educators, ed with thousands of taxpayers, including the Oyster Bay-East elected officials, unions, and Norwich and Locust Valley Cen- municipalities in opposition to tral school districts. The group, CONTINUED ON PAGE 9
By WILL SHEELINE
wsheeline@liherald.com
W
Courtesy Oyster Bay-East Norwich Central School District
Promoting independent study James H. Vernon School students including Claire Monahan, left, displayed the results of their independent study projects at the Atlantis Project Symposium. Story, more photos, Page 3.
Collaborating to uncover the past Six libraries’ North Shore Genealogy Collective turns 4 By WILL SHEELINE wsheeline@liherald.com
The North Shore Genealogy Collective, a collaborative effort among six libraries on Long Island’s North Shore to provide genealogical resources and education to library patrons, marked its four-year anniversary on Tuesday. The group, formed with the goal of pooling resources and expertise, has become a go-to resource for residents passionate about tracing their family histories. The collective was born out of a simple idea: to provide better access to genealogical resources without each library bearing the full financial and logistical burden. According to Lydia Wen, a librarian and archivist at the Glen Cove Public Library, the collaboration began when she realized that
patrons were eager for genealogy programs, but that the budget for such programs was limited. “I thought, I’m not the only one interested in this; every small library around me would probably love to have access to more programs for the same amount of money,” Wen said. “So let’s just pool our resources together and offer our patrons more.” This initiative quickly expanded into a thriving collective that includes the Glen Cove, Oyster Bay-East Norwich, Gold Coast, Bayville, Locust Valley, and Manhasset libraries, with each contributing to a broader offering of workshops, guest speakers, and other resources. Each month, the group hosts an online meeting on the second Tuesday, attracting between 50 and 75 participants. The sessions feature guest CONTINUED ON PAGE 11
e are proud to stand united with thousands of taxpayers . . . and municipalities in opposition to the regionalization mandates.