Valley Stream
HERALD
High schools hold commencements
liJ V.S. earns surgery accolades
reps discuss child care aid
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Vol. 31 No. 32
AUGUST 6 - 12, 2020
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V.S. home sales rebound Demand for real estate is high after a difficult spring manelli said, “which was a good month for a January.” She attributed the phenomeLong lines at house showings, non to a number of factors, chiefmultiple offers and the highest ly low interest rates on mortgagsale prices in two es, supply and years. demand, and famiThose are indicalies leaving New tors that Valley York City for the subStreamer and urbs in higher numlicensed real estate bers. saleswoman Maria “The people I’ve Ottomanelli said sigtalked to, their thing nal a strong housing is they need more market after a spring space,” Ottomanelli in which the coronasaid of city families. virus pandemic In addition to Valley brought nearly all Stream, she deals aspects of life to a with buyers and sellhalt. ers in Brooklyn, House showings Queens and Suffolk have resumed, and counties. “They’re the local real estate MAriA feeling the city’s not industry is reboundcutting it,” she said, oTToMANelli ing after a disastrous “especially if they April and May, Otto- Licensed real estate have kids.” manelli said. The saleswoman Valley Stream median sale price for isn’t the only coma home in Valley munity seeing Stream, including North Valley increased demand. In neighborStream, was nearly $553,000 in ing Lynbrook, the median sale July — a 10.5 percent increase price for a home in July was from the same period last year, $553,000, a 15 percent increase and the highest it’s been since over the previous year, according 2018, according to One-Key, a real to Redfin, another real estate listestate listing service. ing service. “Growth is basically at preCovid levels in January,” OttoContinued on page 2
By PeTer Belfiore pbelfiore@Liherald.com
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Peter Belfiore/Herald
isaias slams Valley Stream Dozens of residents were left without power on Tuesday after Tropical Storm Isaias blew through the neighborhood, downing a number of trees in its wake. For more, go to liherald.com.
In revote, Elementary District 13 passes 2020-21 spending plan By PeTer Belfiore pbelfiore@liherald.com
Voters passed Valley Stream Elementary School District 13’s revised 2020-21 spending plan on July 28, after narrowly rejecting its original budget in June. The vote was 949-783. The revised budget will make roughly $880,000 in cuts, including more than $400,000 in teacher and employee retirement and health insurance spending,
$108,000 in the summer recreation program and $105,000 in pre-kindergarten. It also holds off on equipment, textbook and classroom furniture purchases as well as the hiring of two parttime instructors. Voting was done in person, and while turnout was higher than in previous years — last year, the district spending plan passed narrowly, 584-532 — it was down from the original vote, which was carried out chiefly
through mail-in ballots and saw a record count of 1,353 votes for and 1,522 against the budget. It was one of three school spending plans on Long Island that were rejected this year. Board of Education trustee challengers Anthony Bonelli and Bill Freda had made district spending a centerpiece in their unsuccessful bids for seats on the board, arguing that the yearContinued on page 4
rowth is basically at pre-Covid levels in January, which was a good month for a January.