________________ LONG BEACH _______________
HERALD Also serving Point Lookout & East Atlantic Beach
Helping to keep teens safe
Police get grant to prevent DWIs
Students wow with photography
Page 2
Page 4
Page 10
Vol. 36 No. 22
MAY 29 - JUNE 4, 2025
$1.00
Their friendship began with a school bus ride She told her she had just put her daughter on the bus, and that she was hysterical. Weiss Nearly 20 years ago, 5-year- assured her that she’d be there old Sydney Caven was getting the second the young girl ready to hop on the school bus stepped off the bus to meet her and head to her first day of kin- and comfort her, and she’d call dergarten at East Elementary her back once Sydney was setSchool in Long Beach. But Syd- tled. “True to my word, I went ney wasn’t happy, hysterically and I took her off crying as she boardthe bus, brought her ed. to class, and I waitHer mother, Tina ed a little while to Posterli, was obvicall Mom back, ously heartbroken. because I wanted to E ve n t o d ay, s h e see that she was OK remembers that day in the classroom,” as if it were yesterWeiss said. “I called day. Tina back, and I “On her first day said to her, ‘Everyof kindergarten, thing’s OK. She’s she was just so litSYDNEY CAVEN doing great in class, tle, and I was chokI took her off the ing up at the bus Long Beach bus.’ She star ted stop as she went up the stairs of that big yellow laughing and goes, ‘I know. I folbus, because she looked so tiny lowed the bus to school, so I compared to the bus and every- watched you take her off the one around her,” Posterli bus.’” Posterli lived around the re c a l l e d . “ S h e w a s re a l ly scared. I assured her, ‘You are corner from the bus stop, so she going to love it. It’s going to be made a split decision to follow the bus that morning to make great,’ telling that to myself sure her daughter would be too.” Wor ried for Sydney, she fine. She got to the school and called her daughter’s soon-to-be parked around the corner so kindergarten teacher, Sharon she could see Sydney get off the Weiss, to explain the situation. Continued on page 9
By BRENDAN CARPENTER
bcarpenter@liherald.com
Bob Arkow/Herald
Marching in remembrance The City of Long Beach banded together on West Beech Street to celebrate Memorial Day, with numerous groups and organizations marching. Story, more photos, Page 3.
City Council advances plan for budget, hears residents’ opinions By ANGElINA ZINGARIEllo azingariello@liherald.com
The City of Long Beach is moving forward with its financial planning for fiscal year 2025-26 through public hearings and City Council deliberations focused on the $108 million proposed budget and capital improvement program. At the council meeting and public hearing on May 20, officials outlined plans for a modest tax levy increase of 2.5 percent, below the state-mandated cap. The adjustment comes with a $2.4 million funding loss, but the city intends to use reserve funds to help mitigate the impact on taxpayers.
“We are not going to have the residents balance the budget again,” Councilman Mike Reinhart said. “They have paid and paid and paid. We are not going to take away services or start taking people away.” An increase in property values is projected to generate an additional $1.4 million in revenue without raising the overall tax rate, as well. Significant capital projects planned over the next five years include a $6 million to $7 million West End parking garage with 72 to 132 intended to alleviate parking shortages, and a replacement of the artificial-turf field at the recreation center, at a cost estimated between $1.2 million Continued on page 16
I
wanted to be for these children what Sharon was to me.