The-Leader_2005-01-13

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Celebrating Dr. King
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69tli Year, No. 2 Freeport, N.Y. 11520
The Community Newspaper
Thursday, January 13, 2005
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THIRD GRADERS IN FRAN EPSTEIN'S CLASS
at Freeport's Bayview Avenue School partici­pated in a tsunami learning day. They studied wave patterns that resulted in a pool when they hit the table beneath with a mallet, making it vibrate in simulation of an earthquake. From left are David Lyons, IVIelvin Abreu, Isaac Rodriguez, Keana Bazemore and Arian iVIunoz. Below is a photograph of a real tsunami.
Touched by the tragic news of the dev­astation caused in South Asia by the recent tsunami, Freeport schools have mobilized to raise funds for disaster relief.
Bayview Avenue School, which has had a longstanding partnership with the American Red Cross in Nassau County, has started a schoolwide fundraising activity to raise funds for the Red Cross's tsunami relief efforts. Many classroom learning activities have also been taking place to teach students about the causes and effects of tsunamis.
At New Visions School, students and staff are holding bake sales twice a week, donating bottles and cans for recycUng, sponsoring a clothing drive, and making personal donations.
In their first week of fund-raising, they had already collected over $300. In one of the school's many museum displays, a wave simulation tank demonstrates the impact of tsunamis on coastal areas, and an educational display has been erected in the main lobby.
Students at Archer Street School have set up collection jars in all their class­rooms. They plan to donate all the funds they have raised to tsunami relief in a special ceremony as part of their celebra­tion of Acts of Kindness Day on February 14.
Leo F. Giblyn School will also be col­lecting
funds for tsunami relief. Among the projects students are considering is a penny drive, similar to the Pennies for Soldiers drive that they recently complet­ed to raise money for USO care packages for our troops in Iraq.
The Student Council at Carolyn G. Atkinson School has started a two-week fund-raiser. Faculty and students are making personal donations, and collect­ing from family and friends. All money will be donated to the American Red Cross, a frequent partner for the Student Council's past fund-raising activities.
The Student Council at J.W. Dodd Middle School will be spearheading col­lections in all classrooms. The money they collect will be donated to an inter­national relief organization.
Freeport High School has organized various activities. At the next four home basketball games, all proceeds from the $1 admission will be earmarked for tsunami relief. The social studies depart­ment, with the help of the Interact Club, has set up collection jars in all social studies classrooms.
Students are also taking jars around the cafeteria at lunchtime, and teachers and staff are making personal donations. The money they raise will be donated to the U.S. Committee for UNICEF The goal at FHS is to raise $2500 - $1 for every person in the school.
Village board approves budget
by Jim Golding
Village trustees approved a $51.8 mil­lion budget for fiscal year 2005-06 at Monday's board meeting. The agenda only included a hearing on the budget and on the contract with the Freeport Volunteer, Fire Department.
The budget is about $3.5 million high­er that the current fiscal year's total.
Taxpayers will face a 6.74 percent increase in property taxes or about $153 a year ($12.48 a month) for an average one-family residential property. The amount is based on a total assessed valu­ation of $76,143,341 and a tax rate of $42.48 per $100 valuation.
During the budget discussion with Budget Director Teresa Baldinucci and financial consultant Mike Greene, he said the increase covers a 1 percent reduction in the assessed valuation over last year, about $1 milUon less, and 4 percent for recent settlements with police and civil service unions.
About $32.3 million of budget revenue will be raised through property taxes. The remainder comes from fees, fines, non-property taxes, sales taxes, licenses and permits, property rental, state and
federal aid, and other sources.
The largest expenditures are for public safety ($14.7 million), employee benefits ($11.9 million), debt service ($6.75 mil­lion), sanitation ($3.9 million), culture and recreation ($3.1 million), special items ($2.5 miUion), staff ($2.25 mil­lion), transportation ($2.1 million), shared services ($1.9 million), and finance ($1.3 million).
In a 23-page report included with the budget. Mayor William F. Glacken dis­cussed the improvements made over the past eight years of his administration.
Most recently he noted the Woodcleft Canal project that has eliminated about 90 percent of the flooding in the village, the construction of Power Plant 2 that has replaced two aging diesel generators, the rebuilding of downtown, including the Mews project. Plaza West and exten­sive improvements to streets and upgrad­ing of village parks.
He also said in his report the village is "fully committed to rebuilding our water supply system, in particular by drilling four new water wells." Completion of three wells is slated for this spring.
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