HERALD
Celeste P. Gullo 516-671-0001
Going gothic at Raynham Hall
loop bus sees renewed interest
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Vol. 128 No. 1
JANUARY 2 - 8, 2026
60 Glen Head Rd. Glen Head NY CGULLO@allstate.co m
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Locust Valley begins budget review season sary resources for the district’s education. However, we must balance this with reality.” As of last month, the district The Locust Valley Central School District Board of Educa- has rolled over staff salaries, tion received its first formal rolling over referring to carryoverview of planning for the ing forward unused compensa2026-27 budget at its Dec. 22 tion benefits into a new fiscal meeting, as administrators out- year, and begun reviewing proposed spending lined early assumprequests with buildtions about spending administrators ing and the calendar to assess needs for that will guide the the coming school process in the year. Officials said months ahead. they were also in the Karen Horoszeprocess of securing wski, the district’s transportation conassistant superintracts, and currently tendent for busiaccepting proposals ness, emphasized that will help deterthat the work mine costs in that re m a i n s p re l i m icategory. nary, with staffing, The district has transportation and KAREN also started receivthe costs of benefits ing infor mation still under review, HoRoSzEWSKI related to health but the goal, she Assistant insurance rates for said, remains to pro- superintendent 2026, which adminisduce a spending trators said will proplan that continues to provide students with a qual- vide a baseline for projecting ity education while keeping benefit expenses. On the expense side, Horotaxpayers in mind. “Everything we do in the szewski identified personnel business office is designed to costs as the primary driver of support everyone,” Horoszews- the budget. New York state ki said. “Our objective is to con- mandates and special-educastruct a fiscally responsible tion placement, referring to the budget that provides the necesContinued on page 11
By WIll SHEElINE
wsheeline@liherald.com
Courtesy Locust Valley Central School District
Passing on alumni wisdom Abigail Maselli, right, was one of several alumni who returned to Locust Valley High School on Dec. 22 to give advice to former schoolmates like Grace Choi on the International Baccalaureate program and transitioning to college. Story, more photos, Page 3.
Former Hamas hostages share their story of months of captivity By WIll SHEElINE wsheeline@liherald.com
A capacity crowd at Vegan Rob’s in Sea Cliff heard first-hand accounts from Ohad and Raz Ben Ami of being abducted and imprisoned by Hamas during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel. The Israeli couple, who survived several months in captivity before being released, shared their story with community members and reflected on the ongoing conflict and its human toll. The Dec. 17 event was held as part of a series of communal gatherings organized by the Chabad of Sea Cliff and Glen Cove in the months following the attack. Rabbi Sholom Heber said
the program was intended to provide a space for testimony, solidarity and reflection as the war continues to reverberate across Israel and Jewish communities worldwide. At the start of the evening, Heber addressed the audience and reflected on the local response in the days following Oct. 7, describing the shock and grief that swept through the community as news emerged of the attack, the killings, and the abductions. He noted that the gathering represented a moment many in the community had prayed for, saying it marked a shift from uncertainty to presence and survival. “For me personally, to come here and make an Continued on page 12
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verything we do in the business office is designed to support everyone.