________________ OYSTER BAY _______________
HERALD
Graduation Keepsake Edition
June 26, 2025
Meet the
GRADUATES 2025
VOL. 127 NO. 26
Learning about Japan and art
Honoring officers at Sagamore Hill
Page 7
Page 10
JUNE 26 - JULY 2, 2025
$1.00
O.B. fire chiefs offer advice on hurricane safety steps for homeowners to take, Barbera said, is to ensure that their generators are in working As the Atlantic hurricane order, and to use them safely. season approaches its peak, He warned never to run generators in garages or emergency officials near open windows, across Long Island because the are taking critical exhaust can lead to steps now to predeadly carbon monpare for potentially oxide poisoning. destructive storms. “Make sure that While first respondthey’re up and runers do everything ning and properly they can to prepare maintained,” he for the worst, there added. “Try to keep are numerous practhem far away from tical, potentially the house. We’ve lifesaving tips for had fires related to residents facing the refueling of generathreats of high tors that are gaswinds, flooding and powered, where power outages to they overheat and kee p in mind to FRANCESCO catch fire.” stay safe. BARBERA Generator safety Francesco Baris just one compob e r a , c h i e f o f Chief, nent of the much Atlantic Steamer Atlantic Steamer larger picture of Fire Co. in Oyster Fire Co. hurricane preBay, described the paredness that the days leading up to a forecast hurricane as filled with prepa- department hopes residents rations. His teams will be will take seriously as storms checking chainsaws, fueling form in the Atlantic. Barbera and Frank Ozol, the rescue trucks, setting up sleeping quarters for volunteer company’s second assistant responders, and reviewing chief, also stressed the dangers of wind, which many underesdeployment strategies. One of the most important CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
By WILL SHEELINE
wsheeline@liherald.com
W
Herald file photo
The Oyster Bay Music Festival comes to town Classical musicians like Teddy Siegel will perform at venues across the Gold Coast, from Oakcliff Sailing Center to the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception. Story, more photos, Page 3.
Locust Valley High is on board with state smartphone policy By WILL SHEELINE wsheeline@liherald.com
Locust Valley High School will fully implement a bell-to-bell ban on student smartphones and personal electronic devices during the school day starting this fall, aligning itself with a new statewide mandate from Albany. At the June 11 Board of Education meeting, Principal Patrick DiClemente outlined the school’s evolving approach to phone use on campus and praised the district’s proactive stance on the issue. The new policy, he said, reflects both state regulations and a local commitment to improving student focus and well-being.
“Locust Valley has been out front,” DiClemente said. “Our Board of Education and supervisors have said, ‘Hey, let’s get going with this. If this is in the best interest of students, we don’t need to wait for a mandate or a regulation.’” The new state policy prohibits the use and possession of phones and inter net-enabled devices, including smartwatches and laptops, for the entire school day. DiClemente explained that “from the beginning of first period to the end of ninth period, phones are not permitted.” Exceptions will be made for students with documented medical needs. DiClemente noted, for example, that one student he meets with is CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
e’re prepared to do what we need to do. But the more prepared you are, the safer everyone will be.