Serving Roslyn, East Hills, Roslyn Estates, Roslyn Harbor, Roslyn Heights, Greenvale, Old Westbury and North Hills
$1.50
Friday, March 15, 2024
Vol. 12, No. 11
GUIDE TO SCHOOLS, EDUCATION & CAMPS PAGES 23-30
JOANNE’S PIZZA CLOSING
GOP PICKS ASSEMBLYMAN TO OPPOSE SUOZZI
PAGE 4
PAGE 6
Herricks reaches tax cap Budget increases amidst lawsuits BY TAY L O R H E R Z L I C H Herricks School District board members continued to emphasize that the district faces budgetary challenges for next year due to costs from settling sexual abuse claims against the district. The district is facing a number of lawsuits filed under the Child Victims Act, which extended the statute of limitations for survivors of child sex abuse. There are currently two trials against Herricks being heard by a jury in Nassau County Supreme Court. The plaintiffs are seeking monetary damages for alleged abuse by a past school employee, Vincent Festa. The district has paid $1.1 million to settle four of 21 claims thus far. “In terms of general support, we are looking at a $4 million increase this year,” said Lisa Rutkoske, the district’s assistant superintendent for business. “That [increase] is really driven primarily by, as we have shared previously, the claims and legal fees associated with those claims.” General support includes costs associated with claims and legal support, cybersecurity, insurance, security and utilities. The proposed 2024-2025 budget Continued on Page 42
PHOTO COURTESY OF ROSLYN SCHOOL DISTRICT
East Hills Elementary students perform in a circus show. See story on page 11.
Roslyn villages head to the polls Four uncontested trustee, mayoral elections set for March 19 BY TAY L O R H E R Z L I C H The Village of East Hills, the Village of Roslyn, the Village of Roslyn Estates and the Village of Roslyn Harbor are all hosting elections on March 19. But none are contested. Village of East Hills The Village of East Hills will be hosting an election for two trustee positions. Both Manny Zuckerman and Clara
Pomerantz are running unopposed for their positions. Zuckerman has been living in East Hills since 1978 and has held an array of jobs, from a precious metal trader to a paint shop owner to running a court reporter agency. Zuckerman was first elected as a trustee in 2000 and was selected by Mayor Michael Koblenz to become deputy mayor in 2010. The trustee says he has always been civic-minded. Before joining the board of trustees, Zuckerman served as president of the town’s civic association. Since his election in 2000, Zuckerman has acted as the supervising trustee over security, working to alle-
viate East Hills crime. He says safety is his biggest concern for the village right now. “We seem to be living in a crazier and crazier world these days. We want to make sure that we keep the village safe and sound,” said Zuckerman. Zuckerman is also the supervising trustee over emergency preparedness measures. He works on emergency responses within the village, such as ensuring the installation of a generator in case of storms. Zuckerman works with the mayor to oversee and approve all village expenses as deputy mayor. “The mayor and I work together to make sure that the budget is reasonable and sound, that it’s not going to impact
the village,” said Zuckerman. “We’re fiscally responsible.” If re-elected, Zuckerman’s goals for the next term include working to improve and expand facilities, enforce village safety and hold taxes at their current rate. “We haven’t increased taxes [the town tax rate] in over 13 years,” said Zuckerman. “We want to continue that. You know, we don’t want to impact on families today because, you know, a lot of people are overburdened by expenses.” Clara Pomerantz has lived in East Hills for 20 years, initially drawn to the village with two young children because of the plans to build the village park. Continued on Page 43