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Vol. 37 No. 6
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Athletes turn snow day into a giving day to his restaurant at no extra cost. The athletes were eager to help. After nearly 10 inches of “It does not surprise me one snow fell across Rockville Centre, two dozen or so South Side bit,” Condon said. “I know a H i g h S ch o o l fo o t b a l l a n d great deal of these kids just lacrosse players spent the fol- through the games that I’ve lowing day shoveling driveways gone to and being a player myself, and just and walkways for knowing them and neighbors instead seeing them of sleeping in and through training lazing around. camp. So it’s not The effort, sur prising at all dubbed South Side that they’re willing Shovels, was orgato go out in condiniz ed by for mer tions like this.” South Side player The players Griffin Condon, a worked from 7 a.m. 2015 graduate who until about 7 p.m. owns Centre Staand raised just over tion Bar & Grill in $7,000 by day’s end, t h e v i l l a g e a n d RYAN MAddEN employs several of football and lacrosse which they divided among themselves. the athletes. Con- player, “It showed me don posted the offer SSHS how much the comon the RVC Netmunity comes wo rk Fa c e b o o k page on Jan. 21, four days together when people are in before the storm, asking resi- need,” said South Side junior dents to text his phone number Ryan Madden, who plays football and lacrosse. “The commufor service. H e e x p e c t e d a m o d e s t nity really bonded through response, but instead received these hard times, like that roughly 120 calls and messages snowstorm. I thought everyone requesting help. Residents were was super grateful.” Madden and his teammates charged a flat rate of $60, and Condon included $20 gift cards Continued on page 14
By BRIAN KACHARABA
bkacharaba@liherald.com
Skye Margies/Herald
Chamber night mixes business and buzz The Rockville Centre Chamber of Commerce held its annual installation dinner at MacArthur Park on Jan. 28, marking the start of the organization’s new year and the swearing-in of the chamber’s board, including President Ed Asip, First Vice President Donna O’Reilly Einemann, new Secretary Catie Seward, and Treasurer Tom Bogue, administered by Rockville Centre Mayor Francis X. Murray. The event featured the reinstallation of officers and board members and highlighted themes of inclusion and cooperation within the village. There was also a fundraising raffle benefiting the Rockville Centre Beautification Council. Story and more photos, Page 3.
District faces $3.78M deficit amid growing budget pressures By BRIAN KACHARABA bkacharaba@liherald.com
The Rockville Centre School District is facing a projected $3.78 million budget deficit in 2026-27, district officials said at a Jan. 29 Board of Education work session, citing rising costs, declining enrollment and state-imposed limits on how much revenue the district can raise through property taxes. Jacqueline Rehak, assistant superintendent for finance and operations, presented an overview of the district’s finances, beginning with the fund balance — the amount left at the end of
the fiscal year, figuring in revenues and expenses. While the balance has been stable, Rehak said, it is trending downward. “It was projected to decline, and it was purposeful,” she said, “but it’s also a signal that we need to be mindful moving forward.” Rehak explained that the fund balance includes appropriated and unappropriated funds, reserves and restricted funds. The largest portion of reserves is the Employee Benefit Liability Reserve, which covers payouts for retiring district employees. Other reserves cover the state and teacher Continued on page 20
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t showed me how much the community comes together when people are in need.