Serving Port Washington, Manorhaven, Flower Hill, Baxter Estates, Port Washington North and Sands Point
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Friday, April 23, 2021
Vol. 6, No. 17
Port WashingtonTimes LIVING 50 PLUS
RALLY IN MANHASSET OPTIMISM FOR AGAINST VIOLENCE ON ASIANS DOWNTOWNS
PAGES 25-32
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Four challenge incumbents in ed board race
PITCHING IN
Prez, VP, trustee opposed by Block, Smith, Renna, Melkonian BY R O S E WELDON AND ROBERT PELAEZ Three incumbents, a united challenging slate and an active district committee member will vie for three seats on the Port Washington school board on May 18. School board President Nora Johnson, Vice President Elizabeth Weisburd and Trustee Larry Greenstein are all seeking re-election, but are challenged by the united slate of Adam Smith, Adam Block and Justin Renna. Nanette Melkonian, unaffiliated with a slate, is also running as a challenger. Block, Smith and Renna organized an initiative last summer to advocate that the school district offer five-day in-person instruction to students. The district ultimately brought back full-time instruction for kindergarten through fifth grade in October after hearing pleas from a 1,000-person Facebook group, a petition with 1,200
signatures and a 250-person rally in August. “The success of the school year has validated our efforts, and we are proud of our role in making that happen,” a joint letter from the slate to Blank Slate Media said. “We represent parts of the community not represented on the current board, and have new ideas that will help revitalize the stagnant board’s impact on public education in Port Washington.” Smith runs strategic and financial planning, as well as dayto-day operations, of a New Yorkbased real estate investment and development firm. His expertise includes facility management, construction, financial analysis, budgeting and technology. He is also the emergency preparedness chair and serves on the board of trustees for a local religious institution and preschool. Smith and his wife, Jenny, live in Port Washington North with their Continued on Page 19
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK, COURTESY OF ASSEMBLYWOMAN GINA SILLITTI’S OFFICE
Assemblywoman Gina Sillitti (D-Manorhaven) throws out the first pitch at the first game of the year for the Port Washington Legends travel softball team against Albertson-Herricks last week.
Schreiber, Weber put pause on re-entry plan BY R O S E W E L D ON A plan to welcome all students back in person and full time to Schreiber High School and Carrie Palmer Weber Middle School has been put on
hold due to new federal health guidelines, Port Washington School Superintendent Michael Hynes said at a school board meeting on Tuesday night via Zoom. Schreiber students were
originally scheduled to return April 19, and Weber students on April 26. “I know for a fact there is nothing more that the Board of Education, the district office, Continued on Page 37
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