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VOL. 74 NO. 7
FEBRUARY 12-18, 2025
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Middle school ban on backpacks faces parental backlash By CHRISITE LEIGH BABIRAD
and remain up and away throughout the school day,” the letter said. It noted that A new school policy barring students could access their the use of backpacks between lockers during homeroom, classes at Edmund W. Miles before lunch, and before 9th Middle School in Amityville is period. drawing criticism from some In a statement to the public parents who say the change Hutcherson said the change negatively impacts their chil- was made after “careful condren’s academic experience. sideration” and is in line with One parent of best practices for an honor student, maintaining a safe who wished to reand secure learnmain anonymous, ing environment. expressed frustraHowever, antion over the rule. other parent voiced The parent said concern that the their child now rule sets students has to visit their up for failure by locker three times forcing them to go a day to retrieve back and forth to books and materi- ROSE HUTCHERSON their lockers, inals for each class. Edmund W. Miles stead of allowing If this results in them to carry evtardiness in get- Principal erything they need ting to class on for the day. “It’s time, the parent making them late receives repeated text mes- to class, and they’re being sages from teachers about punished for forgetting,” the their child’s lateness. parent said. “I don’t understand why Other parents said they this is happening here when also receive multiple text mesnone of the other schools are sages each day from teachers doing it,” the parent said. about their child’s tardiness In a letter sent January 14 due to the new policy. They to parents, Principal Rose also criticized the lack of input Hutcherson outlined the new from parents before the rule policy. “To maintain a produc- was im-plemented. The only tive and focused learning en- communication they received vironment, backpacks, coats, , they said, was the letter from hats, earbuds, cellphones, and Hutcherson announcing the headphones must be stored cbabirad@liherald.com
Photo Credit/Town of Oyster Bay
Oyster Bay Town Receiver of Taxes Jeff Pravato, Councilwoman Vicki Walsh, Supervisor Joseph Saladino and Councilman Louis Imbroto look over the work at TOBAY beach.
Army Corps restoration shoring up Oyster Bay’s prized town beach By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com
TOBAY Beach, a critical access point on Long Island’s south shore, has faced significant erosion since being pounded by Superstorm Sandy in 2012. For years, Oyster Bay Town officials have invested millions to rebuild the beach and stabilize the dunes. Now, thanks to the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers and the town, the beach is getting an additional 100-120 feet of sand making it more accessible and protective of the shoreline. Recently, town officials met with state and federal representatives to oversee the ongoing work by the Army Corps, which is replenishing the shoreline with sand dredged from the Fire Island Inlet. Contractors are working around the clock to CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
Massapequa Park Village Board considers emergency hospital access By MIKE POLANSKI Correspondent
At the January 27 meeting of the Massapequa Park Village Board, longtime resident and former Village Trustee John O’Brien raised concerns about the lack of quick access to emergency hospital care for Massapequans. He proposed that a portion of the nearly de-
funct Sunrise Mall be repurposed into a hospital or that other nearby vacant land be utilized for emergency medical services. “We don’t need a big hospital,” O’Brien said. “But at least an emergency room and a few beds to hold you over until they stabilize you sufficiently to send you someplace else.” Massapequa General Hospital closed in 2000 CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
T
he safety and security of our students and staff are our top priority.
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