________________ OYSTER BAY _______________ IS WORD ON THE STREET
HERALD
you’re paying too much on your street.
p, LLC Tax Reduction Grou Maidenbaum Property Hablamos Español Cedarhurst, NY 11516 483 Chestnut Street,
1285296
ly takes seconds. Sign up today. It on .com/heraldnote trg Apply online at mp 6 26 5.1 .71 516 l or cal
Honoring Italian culture, history
1281334
RD DEADLINE MARCH 3
Page 3 VOL. 127 NO. 7
FEB 14 - 20, 2025
$1.00
Potential cuts in funding worry schools for education refor m, and ensuring equal access to education. While the department does The Trump administration’s recent announcement that it is not directly interact with working on an executive order school districts on a day-to-day basis, and has little oversight to eliminate the Department of Education has caused ripples over the curriculums at schools through the acai n N e w Yo rk — demic world, with which are overseen very little clarity on by the State Educawhat the dissolution Department — tion of the federal It does provide a agency would look wide range of fundlike. ing that supports Local superinlow-income, specialtendents and school education and disleaders on the abled students North Shore have across the country. expressed varying At the North levels of concern at Shore School Disthe potential loss of trict, which federal aid, but say receives nearly $3.4 they are remaining CHRIS ZUBLIONIS million in federal focused on ensuring Superintendent, funding annually their students con- North Shore according to the tinue to receive the School District National Center for best education the Education Statisdistricts can offer. tics, SuperintenThe Department of Educa- dent Chris Zublionis explained tion was founded in 1979 during that while the district’s educathe Carter administration. It is tional standards wouldn’ t responsible for monitoring and change if the department was establishing policies on federal dissolved, it’s unclear how financial aid for education, col- much of their funding would be lecting and disseminating data lost or if that revenue would on America’s schools, focusing instead be funneled through national attention on the need CONTINUED ON PAGE 7
By WILL SHEELINE
wsheeline@liherald.com
I
Courtesy Locust Valley Central School District
Celebrating Chinese New Year James H. Vernon School students were treated to a presentation by author Maria Wen Adcock, whose new book, “It’s Chinese New Year, Curious George,” teaches children about the Lunar New Year’s importance in Chinese culture. Story, more photos, Page 10.
Local leaders honor Black history Town of O.B. hosts presentation on African-Americans By LUKE FEENEY lfeeney@liherald.com
Town of Oyster Bay residents and elected officials celebrated Black History Month on Tuesday, when the town hosted a celebration of extraordinary African Americans in Oyster Bay and Nassau County. Town Supervisor Joe Saladino welcomed other local elected leaders, educators, community leaders and residents. The event began with a performance by the Black Voices of Nassau County, who sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and “Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning.” Saladino said that supporting and remember-
ing Black history is integral to celebrating broader American history, describing it as part of the “mosaic” of the past. “We all want to remind everyone that black history is American history,” he said. “Democracy is something very important to us. Advocacy has one direction: forward.” Saladino shared the story of Edward Perkins, who shared a tent with Saladino’s father during his stint in the Marines, and went on to served as U.S. Ambassador to Liberia, South Africa, the United Nations and Australia, as well as director general of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Corps. Saladino described Perkins as a CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
t’s hard, because we’re dealing with the unprecedented and the unknown.