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Friday, May 12, 2023
Vol. 72, No. 19
SCHOOLS & EDUCATION
DeSENA, LURVEY SPAR OVER BUDGET
SANTOS INDICTED
PAGES 25-28
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PAGE 13
Election Day in Herricks 2 board seats, budget at stake BY B R A N D ON D U FF Y Residents in the Herricks School District will be voting on the district’s $134.7 million budget and two trustee seats in the May 16 election. Board of Education President Jim Gounaris is facing challenger Bhajan Ratra for a three-year term. Incumbent Trustee Henry Zanetti is running unopposed for a three-year term. Gounaris, a Manhasset Hills resident, was previously president of the board from 2013 to 2015. He is currently serving his fourth term on the board as a trustee after winning reelection in 2020. He was appointed board president last year, taking over for Zanetti. He currently works at Great Neck Public Schools as the director of food and nutrition services. Gounaris is also running for the North Hempstead Town Board on the Republican line this November. He faces Democrat Christine Liu for the 4th Councilmanic District seat, which is being vacated by Council Member Veronica Lurvey, who is running for receiver of taxes. The board of education president said he originally ran for the board in 2011 to increase transparency to residents and that if re-elected, he would continue focusing on school safety. Continued on Page 42
PHOTO BY CAMERYN OAKES
Funeral attendees mourn the death of Ethan Falkowitz. See related stories on pages 9, 10 and 11.
Nassau mourns 2 Roslyn teens Outpouring of grief, outrage for boys, 14, who died in wrong-way crash BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z Nassau County mourned the deaths of two young Roslyn tennis players after an accused drunk driver cut short their lives last week and snuffed out the dreams their families, school, friends and community had for the talented 14-year-olds. The Roslyn School District, in
a statement, reflected on the passing of Drew Hassenbein and Ethan Falkowitz, both middle school students, and two injured high school friends. “The tragic passing of two of our Roslyn Middle School students is a tremendous loss for their families, friends, and our school community,” the statement said. “The district ex-
tends our deepest condolences and asks that everyone respect the families’ right to grieve privately during this very difficult time…We wish a speedy and complete recovery to our two Roslyn High School students in the hospital. Our hearts are broken.” The district also said it will have psychologists, guidance counselors and other social workers set up at
each school to provide support for students, staff or families. Hassenbein and Falkowitz were killed after being hit by an allegedly drunk driver behind the wheel of a Dodge Ram traveling on the wrong side of the road in Jericho, according to the Nassau County Police Department. Continued on Page 12
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