________________ OYSTER BAY _______________
HERALD
Your Home is Your Sanctua ry.
Don’t Let High Ta Chase You Away!xes
DEADLINE MARCH 31ST
Celebrating Purim with song, dance
learning about a former president
Page 10
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Vol. 128 No. 12
MARCH 20 - 26, 2026
THE LEADER IN PROP ERTY TAX REDUCT ION
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O.B. schools continue to work on budget tinue to rise. Under New York state law, the tax levy growth factor is The Oyster Bay-East Nor- capped at the lower level of wich Central School District is i n f l a t i o n , o r 2 p e r c e n t . continuing work on its pro- Although the consumer price posed 2026-27 budindex is 2.64 perget, with district cent for the coming leaders outlining year, the district’s revenue limits, risl ev y i n c re a s e i s ing costs and longcapped at 2 percent. term planning dur“The challenge ing presentations at is that that costs t h e Fe b. 2 5 a n d compound,” Raynor March 10 Board of said, “they do not E d u c at i o n m e e t decline when the ings. i n fl at i o n m o d e rDeputy Superinates.” tendent Maureen The proposed tax Raynor presented levy for 2026-27 is the financial frame$61.4 million, an work of the budget increase of about in February, empha$1.5 million. Local sizing that the disrevenue continues trict is operating to make up the vast within tight conmajority of district straints despite funding, totaling ongoing cost pres- MAuREEN RAyNoR roughly 90 percent sures. according to the Deputy T h e p r o p o s e d superintendent presentation. budget totals roughState aid increasly $69.4 million, an es remain limited. increase of just under $1.6 mil- The district’s foundation aid, lion from the current year. which is the primary flexible Raynor said the district was aid source, is expected to rise by able to remain within the only 1 percent, or about $19,600. allowable tax levy limit Including expense-driven through “discipline resource aid, the total increase to the alignment,” even as costs conContinued on page 7
By WIll SHEElINE
wsheeline@liherald.com
C
Courtesy Gaitley Stevenson-Mathews
Honoring history through music Musicians from the Long Island Concert Orchestra and Long Island Choral Society performed during the Symphony of Hope concert at Molloy University’s Madison Theatre on March 12, featuring restored instruments from the Violins of Hope collection. Story, more photos, Page 3.
Leonard Lehrman, local librarian, takes on Rooseveltian church post By ANGElINA ZINGARIEllo azingariello@liherald.com
Valley Stream composer Leonard J. Lehrman has been appointed interim music director at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Hyde Park for the first half of 2026. St. James’, founded in 1811, is widely known for its long association with President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt. Sometimes referred to locally as the “Roosevelt Church,” the parish maintains an active congregational life and hosts annual historic graveyard tours that highlight prominent figures and longtime community members.
Lehrman was the first president of the Long Island Composers Alliance and has worked as a reference librarian at the Oyster Bay–East Norwich Public Library since 1995, where he has helped catalogue materials related to Theodore Roosevelt. Lehrman, a Valley Stream resident and coowner of Court Street Music since 1999, began serving the Hyde Park parish on Christmas Eve after responding to a national vacancy notice distributed through the American Guild of Organists. He was initially engaged to provide music for Christmas Eve and several Sundays following a sudden opening in the church’s Continued on page 11
apital reserves provide a structured way to plan ahead for large products ... and helping protect taxpayers from unnecessary interest costs.