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Image provided by: Suffolk Cooperative Library System
SOUTH SHORE L.I'S LARGEST CIRCULATION WEEKLY NEWSPAPER S e r v i n g t h e c o m m u n i t y s i n c e 1966 P r i n t e d o n r e c y c l e d p a p e r W e b s i t e : w w w . b a b y l o n b e a c o n . c o m E -M A I L A D D R E S S : A C JN E W S @ R C N .C O M OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER Periodicals Postage Paid- Babylon Post Office, Babylon NY 11702 (USPS 03960-8000) FOR SUFFOLK COUNTY .TOWN OF BABYLON . VILLAGE OF BABYLON •BABYLON SCHOOL«:. nnrw — —- •WESTISLl iw 'N O “ •copiAGui c u l H : .NORTH BABY «Ci M 0 0 V 3 W J - published ev< r n / l l ! 65 E • ^ Fouru __ _ „ ,, uik , jane U. Wolfe Publishers, Carolyn and Alfred James N i c e| Weekly Inside this week: • A rou n d Town . . . Page 2 • O b itu a ries. . . Page 9C ava I See Inside' for wtô/jjjlSports news ' ic N o tices: Your R ight to K now : P a g es . . . 6, 7, 8C , 9 C & 1 0 C The Babylon Beacon is the hometown newspaper of E. Bonner of West Isip VOL. 4 4 NO. 13 In the News THURSDAY, April 1 ,2010 50 CENTS ] West Islip School Board looks at tough budget year; increased class sizes likely Rallying fo r State Parks More than 300 people rallied Feb. 21, in protest of the potential closing of Brentwood State Park, including many members of the Brentwood Soccer League. NYS Sen. Owen H. Johnson, and his colleagues in the Senate Minority, are working to keep Long Island’s New York State Parks, Beaches and Arboretums open. In photo, Sen. Johnson and Violet Smith, president of Brentwood Soccer League, are pictured with members of the league at the rally. by Tiffany Elliott As news about potential teacher cuts and increased class sizes circulated throughout the W est Islip community, parents and residents turned out in large numbers at the West Islip School Board meeting March 11. Most told the board that they did not want to see fewer teachers and more students in each class. \If my class is bigger next year, I won't be able to learn as well,\ said five-year-old Julianne Tamarec as her mom held her up to the microphone during the meeting. She is a kindergartner at the Kirdahy at Captree Elementary School. \I have heard of the possible elimination o f positions,\ continued her mom, Maryanne. \We know there's an economic crisis, but teaching and learning must come first and these positions must be saved. Increased class sizes causes decreased learning. There are many other things that can be cut first, like sports or clubs.\ The district confirmed that both scenarios are a possibility. \While nothing is final until the budget's adoption, we are anticipating that increased class size will become a reality,\ confirmed school district publicist, Nancy Lenz who added that any teachers who are let go will be notified by June first. \And if we are forced to adopt a contingency budget, we are looking at losing 16 teaching positions in our nine schools.\ One meeting speaker offered an alternative. Your administration has many people, and I know someone just got a raise,\ said Catherine Artusa. \That money could have been used to save programs and teachers.\ Although Dr. Magda Parvey, Superintendent for Elem entary Curriculum and Instruction did have her salary increased, it was not a raise; she took on a new, and higher paid position, according to school officials. \The board was impressed with her talent and (Continued on page 8) W.I. School and NYCB Match Funds for Haitian Survivors Babylon Village budget down 3.9 percent for coming year Loss o f revenues Push up tax rate by 44-cents by Carolyn James Faced with a loss o f more than $490,000 in revenue from last year as a result of the economic downturn, the Village o f Babylon is proposing a budget that calls for salary freezes and a reduction in spending oyer last year of $308,000 or 3.9 percent. A public hearing on the proposed spending plan will be held Mon., April (Continued on page 8) Local art groups receive state grants fo r programming Several local organizations are the recipients of local art grants from the 2010 Long Island Decentralization Grants for the Arts Regrant Program. The organization funds a wide variety of programs, including free summer and theater festivals and vocal and instrumental concerts. Receiving awards this year were the Amityville Public Library for its World Music Concert Series, the Babylon Choral for its 2010 Concert Series, the Babylon Village Arts Council for its Second Thursday Concert Series and the Airmid Theater Company of West Islip for its summer theater festival. Also receiving a grant for its Sexual Abuse Survivors Show was the Federation Employment and Guidance Service in Copiague. The New York State Council on the Arts issues the grants and decisions are made by a volunteer panel of Suffolk County artists, art professionals and community leaders. Students in Kirdahy Elementary School at Captree in West Islip raised $ 1 ,450 in a project titled Hands Full of Change for Haiti. Teacher Linda Smith took the loose change to Roslyn Bank where officials offered to match the funds. The bank's matching fund program provided a way for donations to be made easily and effectively. Roslyn Bank is a member of New York Community Bankcorp (NYCB), where up to $150,000 in matching grants are available for donations made to the NYCB Haiti Relief Fund. On March 3rd, NYCB bank officials visited the Kirdahy School. Joined by Assistant Superintendent Louis Zocchia and Principal John Mullins, a check from the bank for $1,450 was presented to match the school's donation. Pictured (in second photo) are Kirdahy Elementary School teacher Justin DeM aio and his fifth grade students, holding two checks, each fo r $ 1 ,4 5 0 . One check isfrom donations m ade by students and staff at the Kirdahy School and the other is from NYCB.
