Syosset Holds 2012 Memorial Day Parade

The morning of Monday, May 28 featured brilliant sunshine, perfect weather for Syosset’s annual Memorial Day Parade. Members of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Syosset Fire Department, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, school marching bands and numerous civic organizations took to the newly repaved Jackson Avenue on the beautiful late spring day to honor the memories of those who fight to keep America free.

While many of the residents who cheered at the parade would later go on to enjoy festive barbecues and a relaxing day off from work, parade organizers and several speakers reminded the crowd not to forget the holiday’s true meaning.

Legislators Jacobs And DeRiggi-Whitton Host Informational Meeting On Proposed Sewer Privatization Deal

When NIFA rejected the contract between Nassau County and Morgan Stanley that would have allowed for sewer privatization, many people thought that the controversial plan to sell sewage system operation and maintenance to New Jersey-based United Water (UW) was dead in the water. Not so fast, said Legislators Judy Jacobs and Delia DeRiggi-Whitton: not only is the deal not dead, they expect the Mangano administration to present a second draft of the deal for NIFA approval shortly.

At an informational meeting held on Monday, May 21, at the Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library, Jacobs and DeRiggi-Whitton, along with fellow Democratic Legislator Dave Denenberg, attempted to explain what they perceive to be the many failings of the Mangano administration’s proposed sewer privatization plan. So far, NIFA agrees with them.

Final Resting For 62 Unclaimed Cremains At LINC

Spanish-American War veteran among those honored

On Saturday, May 19 the Long Island National Cemetery (LINC) became the final resting place for the ashes of 62 unclaimed veterans, along with some of the cremains of family members. Dozens of Patriot Riders, police escorts, the Shields Pipe Band, and the Joint Color Guard of Fort Hamilton escorted the hearses containing the remains from their respective funeral homes, to an assembly location off the expressway, and finally to the cemetery.

The procession passed through nearly a dozen “arches of honor,” where American flags fly high between two fire engines with ladders extended, along Wellwood Avenue in East Farmingdale, performed by many of the local fire departments.

Temple Beth Torah Celebrates 50 Years With Cantor Fliegelman

On Sunday, May 6, a golden wedding anniversary was celebrated at Temple Beth Torah (TBT) and more than 400 guests were in attendance. This was not a traditional wedding anniversary between a man and a woman, but between a temple and its beloved cantor, Kalman Fliegelman. The “marriage” contract was signed 50 years ago when the temple was a fledgling synagogue in the area. The legacy of that contract still flourishes today.

The fruits of the contract are demonstrated by more than 1,000 children who have been coached for their Bar/Bat Mitzvah by the cantor, many of whom are second- and third-generation. In addition, there have been numerous Aufrufs (ceremonies before a bride and groom get married), marriages and baby namings performed, many of which were intergenerational. The cantor was also instrumental in training 72 women to read from the Torah in preparation for a B’not Mitzvah (adult Bat Mitzvah) and in preparing women of the congregation to lead a Sabbath service.

Election Results

Syosset

Budget

Yes: 3,530
No: 2,271

School Board Trustees

Joshua Lafazan: 4,739
Christopher DiFilippo: 2,531
Alan Resnick: 2,474
John Moore: 2,365
Sonia Rutigliano: 2,115

Residents Irate After Syosset CSD Uses School Emergency Information Network In Alleged Smear Campaign

Newcomers DiFilippo, Lafazan elected to the school board in the wake of robocalling scandal

After an eventful and often contentious spring campaign, newcomers Chris DiFilippo and 18-year-old SHS senior class president Josh Lafazan were elected to the Syosset School Board, while incumbent Alan Resnick was re-elected. The arrival of some new faces on the board is newsworthy here, especially since both of the newly-elected trustees have been critical of many district policies. However, a bizarre event the day before the May 15 election threatened to overshadow the results: an accusation of theft levied by the district at Lafazan’s father, Jeffrey Lafazan, the use of the school’s emergency information network to broadcast that accusation, and the counter-accusation by the Lafazan family that the entire thing was a fabricated crime designed in an attempt to discredit Lafazan’s candidacy with a last-minute smear campaign.

Cottage Pharmacy To Open Spa Treatment Room

Independently-owned Woodbury pharmacy offers new services as customer needs change

Cottage Pharmacy in Woodbury is a rarity. Independently owned and operated for 37 years, it’s a pharmacy that lacks any chain affiliation, proudly going its own way in an era when a CVS seems to crop up on every other corner. Furthermore, Cottage is not only surviving but thriving; last fall, the business saw a move to a new location in Woodbury Common that is 50 percent larger than their old store on Jericho Turnpike, leading to the expansion of several departments and the opportunity to carry many new product lines. How has the business remained so vibrant, in light of all the competition?

Syosset School District Allegedly Attempts Smear Campaign Against Josh Lafazan

Syosset School District has posted a notice on its website that Mr. Jeffrey Lafazan, father of school board candidate Josh Lafazan, removed district election original records. According to the notice, Lafazan removed the records without permission and ran away, and a chase with security ensued. However, according to Mr. Lafazan, he was manipulated to take the records out of the building, with no knowledge that they were the originals, so that the district could allege that he knowingly stole them.

Five Vie For Three Seats On Syosset School Board

(Editor’s Note: The school board election and budget vote will take place on Tuesday, May 15. The statements by the following four candidates were submitted by the candidates themselves: the fifth candidate, Chris DiFillipo, did not submit a statement or photo in time for this article.)

Joshua Lafazan

Joshua Lafazan, a candidate seeking a position on the Syosset School Board has been a student in the Syosset School District for the past 13 years. During this time he has played an active role in school government and is currently the senior class president at Syosset High School.

Jericho School District Holds Annual Budget Hearing

Unlike other hearings at several neighboring districts, the budget hearing at the Jericho High School Little Theater on Tuesday, May 8, was a quick and quiet affair. After several budget workshops earlier in the season, it appeared that residents had already asked the majority of their budget questions, allowing for a quick hearing that barely lasted 10 minutes.

The adopted 2012-13 budget is $114,468,464, a 2.24 percent increase and a tax levy increase not to exceed 2.20 percent. In order to keep within state-mandated limits, the board approved many reductions, such as reducing three literacy aides, reducing one elementary science teacher, reducing Arts in Education assemblies, and reducing field trips.