No One Wants to Go to Contingency

WHSD Warns What a Contingency Budget Would Bring

With one week to go before the 10 school districts on Long Island revote on their respective school budgets, questions still surmount as to what the West Hempstead School District budget will bring, whether it passes or fails and forces a contingency budget. Why so many cuts? Where are the kids in this? Who’s to blame if students opt for charter schools or drop out?

George Maragos Announces U.S. Senate Candidacy

On May 27, Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos announced his candidacy for the US Senate seat currently held by Senator Charles Schumer. Maragos, a Republican, has been in office as Nassau County comptroller since January, having been elected in November 2009. Maragos and his family are longtime Great Neck residents.

Western Nassau Water Authority to Install Two Iron Removal Plants

Plants to Be Installed in Elmont and Franklin Square

The Western Nassau Water Authority adopted its Operating Plan and Capital Plan for the 2010-2011 fiscal year at its most recent Board of Directors Meeting. Among the contents of the Capital plan included the construction of two iron removal plants in Elmont and Franklin Square.

Northeast Equine Expo to Kick Off Belmont Stakes Race

Event Expected to Draw Thousands to Local Communities

Get ready to horse around as the first annual Northeast Equine Expo comes to town. Expected to draw nearly 30,000 people to the Long Island communities of Elmont and Floral Park, the expo will be the kick-off event for the final leg of the Triple Crown Belmont Stakes Race on Memorial Day weekend, May 29-30.

Expo president and founder Jessica Walsh, a Massachusetts native, first visited the majestic Belmont Park with her grandfather when she was a young child. An avid horse enthusiast, she came up with the idea of creating an equine expo after realizing that New York had yet to host one that incorporated all equestrian disciplines. Through a lot of perseverance and determination, Walsh enlisted a passionate team of staff members to go about the daunting task of organizing the big event. “It’s turned from a dream into a reality and I want to share it with everyone and inspire them,” she said.

WH School District Adopts New Budget

District Looking to Get It Right Second Time Around

The West Hempstead School District presented and adopted its second proposed budget on May 25, which will be put out for a revote on June 15. West Hempstead is one of 10 school districts on Long Island to have its budget fail after the May 18 vote.

The new plan proposes a budget of $52,891,477 for the 2010-2011 school year, a .54 percent budget-to-budget increase from 2009-2010. The tax levy, which has been said to be the main reason for the May 18 vote down, has dropped to 4.91 percent.

Water Issues Raise the Concerns of Elmont Residents

Senator Johnson Wants More Answers From Water Authority of Western Nassau

There have been reports from Elmont residents to Senator Craig Johnson’s office recently of dark, colored water coming from their pipes and concerns of contamination have become prevalent. Recently, Johnson ordered representatives of the Water Authority of Western Nassau County to participate in a local water quality hearing to gauge the effect that water contamination has had on the community. Johnson’s goal is to map out what steps should be taken to resolve the issue. On May 17, Johnson, members of both the Elmont community and the Water Authority were in attendance at the Elmont Public Library to discuss the issue.

WH Budget Fails, Three School Boards Welcome New Trustees

West Hempstead School District Budget Fails

The West Hempstead School District Budget was voted down on May 18. With a looming teacher’s contract still an issue, a failed budget adds more fuel to the fire. The budget failed by 658 votes. West Hempstead residents flocked to the polls with 2,818 people voting. The transportation budget failed in a landslide of 2,180 against with 601 voting for. The school district proposed its 2010-2011 budget at $54,547,423. The proposed increase in the tax levy was 9.4 percent.

Community Newspapers Are a Growing and Vital Industry

Did you think the local newspaper industry was dead or dying? According to a recent study and New York Press Association (NYPA) campaign, your community weekly newspaper actually remains a primary way for people to get information that is important to them.

WHEA Submits Contract Proposal to School Board

Budget Vote May Play Role in Coming to a Solution

Representatives from the West Hempstead Education Association (WHEA) and the West Hempstead Board of Education met on May 10 with a partial mediator from the Public Employees Review Board (PERB) at an arbitration hearing. The hearing analyzed the ongoing contract negotiation between the teachers union and the school district.

Six Arrested in Robbery in FS

Police have reported the arrest of six individuals for a robbery that occurred on April 30 at 12:24 a.m. in Franklin Square. According to authorities, a 33-year-old male was walking in the vicinity of Hempstead Tpke. and New Hyde Park Road and was approached by six men who demanded his money.