Serving New Hyde Park, Floral Park, Garden City Park, North Hills, Manhasset Hills and North New Hyde Park
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Friday, August 26, 2022
Vol. 71, No. 34
N E W H Y D E PA R K
SCHOOLS & EDUCATION
COVID REQUIREMENTS DROPPED IN SCHOOLS
KAPLAN WINS STATE SENATE PRIMARY
PAGES 25-32
PAGE 2
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Gillen cruises to CD4 win Ex Hempstead supervisor declares victory in Democratic primary; to face Anthony D’Esposito BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z
PHOTO BY ROBERT PELAEZ
Former Hempstead Supervisor Laura Gillen declared victory in the 4th Congressional District’s Democratic Primary late Tuesday night.
Former Town of Hempstead Supervisor Laura Gillen declared victory in the 4th Congressional District’s Democratic Primary election last night. Gillen, who was endorsed by incumbent U.S. Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-Garden City), received more than 12,400 votes, 63%, with approximately 95% of the ballots reported as of Wednesday morning. She led Nassau County Legislator Carrie Solages who had 4,811 votes, Malverne Mayor Keith Corbett who received 2,169 votes and Muzibul Huq who received 297 votes. Gillen, who served as supervisor for the largest township in the United States from 2018 to 2019, was the first Democrat elected to the position in a century in an upset over incumbent Anthony Santino. “I have been known as the first Democratic supervisor in the Town of Hempstead in over 100 years, but tonight I want you to remember me as your next congresswoman in the 4th Congressional District,” Gillen said. Prior to serving as supervisor,
Gillen worked at the law firm of Westerman Ball Ederer Miller Zucker & Sharfstein. Some of the issues facing the district that Gillen believes are the most pressing include the economy, crime, gun safety, women’s reproductive rights and voting rights. Gillen said working to repeal the cap on state and local taxes and providing financial relief for middle-class families are some of her top priorities if elected. Getting illegal weapons off the street, she said, will aid in diminishing the growing crime rates throughout the district, along with sensible gun legislation and universal background checks. Removing hindrances for women to access the necessary health programs and family planning resources, she said, are also of vital importance to her. “Our campaign and our country is one step closer to ensuring that women have access to the care that they need and that they have autonomy over their own medical decisions,” she said. “We are one step closer to Continued on Page 46
Ruiz appointed interim superintendent BY B R A N D ON D U FF Y The Floral Park-Bellerose Board of Education appointed Lisa Ruiz as interim superintendent of the district Monday night. Ruiz takes over from acting superintendent Juli Mulcahy, who was in
her position for July and August following the retirement of Superintendent Kathleen Sottile. Ruiz’s term as interim superintendent will run from Aug. 23 through June 30, 2023. She was most recently the East Rockaway School District superintendent, a position she held for
nine years. Prior to East Rockaway, Ruiz served seven years as the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction in Merrick and as the director of pupil personnel services in Levittown. Accomplishments in her prior post
include increasing the percentage of students attending college, expanding Advanced Placement and dual enrollment course offerings and managing the district through the COVID-19 pandemic, among others. The board will conduct a superintendent search to replace Ruiz and the
successful candidate will begin working in the summer of 2023. Sottile had one more year on her contract before retiring this summer. “The superintendent and board have mutually agreed to permit the superintendent to retire prior to the Continued on Page 47
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