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VOL. 73 NO. 30
JULY 24 - 30, 2025
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Schools prepare for statewide cellphone ban lunch and study halls. Schools will be required to develop plans for how devices are As the new school year stored during the day, with nears, school districts across input from students, teachers New York state are preparing and parents. The state will provide $13.5 for a statewide smartphone ban million in funding in classrooms. to help schools purThe ban — prochase storage soluposed by Gov. Kathy tions, and the Hochul in January schools must ensure as part of her fiscal that parents can year 2026 executive contact their chilbudget, which was dren when necesapproved in May — sary. will be implementAccording to ed in Se ptember, Wantagh Superinand will apply to tendent John McNastudents in all pubmara, the district’s lic school districts, elementary and as well as charter middle schools are schools and Boards already in compliof Cooperative Eduance with the regucational Services, lation. Elementary of BOCES. While students are not the measure manper mitted to use dates restrictions, it smartphones in gives local districts school, and must the flexibility to cre- KATHY HOCHUL keep them in their a t e t h e i r o w n Governor backpacks if they enforcement plans. Under the policy, students in bring them. Middle school stukindergarten through high dents are required to store school will be prohibited from their phones in lockers for the using smartphones and inter- entire school day. “Students at the elementary net-enabled personal devices on school grounds for the entire school don’t bring their phones school day — including classes, Continued on page 11
By CHARLES SHAW
cshaw@liherald.com
I
Steve Sachs/Herald
Cruisin’ with the classics Nicole and Billy Cascio, of Wantagh, with their sons William, 3, and Theo, were among the many families who came out to enjoy the Antique Car Show at the Wantagh Museum on July 19. Story, more photos, Page 10.
Isabella Simon takes the crown Miss Wantagh 2025 displays commitment to community By NICOLE TOBIA Intern
Isabella Simon, a 15-year-old Wantagh resident, has been crowned Miss Wantagh 2025 for displaying leadership skills, academic excellence and a strong commitment to community service. The coronation, held in front of Wantagh Elementary School after the community’s annual Independence Day parade on July 4, continued a beloved tradition dating back nearly seven decades. The Miss Wantagh program was created in 1956 to empower and honor young women who
have demonstrated strong leadership skills and possess a strong drive for serving their community. “This is such an honor,” Isabella, a rising sophomore at Kellenberg Memorial High School in Uniondale, said. “To me, it means that I can be a role model to people in the community. I want to be someone who people can look up to, and be a mentor and help out wherever and whenever.” Isabella’s involvement with the Miss Wantagh program began at Wantagh Middle School when she joined the Junior Miss Wantagh Club. “I found out about it in seventh grade,” she Continued on page 9
believe that as a result of this cellphone ban, we will have young people who are finally liberated from the addictive qualities of social media.