1972-05-04

              FARMINGDALE "*" WER
i. AN OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE ^ V-.*^- 1 "*'....-••• DALE ^ ^
HOty
SERVING THE GREATER FARMINGDAL- MKEA, BETHPAGE, MELVILLE V W
A MEMBER OF THE OBSERVER/ TRIBUNE GROUP OF NEWSPAPERS*^/
VOL. 9 NO. 3 7 Second Class Postage has been paid at Farmingdale, N. Y 11735 • Published by THE OBSERVER, INC., Box 146, Farmingdale, N. Y. Thursday, May 4 1972
Loyalty Day Parade Strike Threat Seems Over
Last Sunday's Loyalty Day Parade by the Corp.
George Benkert VFW Post 516 was one of the finest
ever witnessed in Farmingdale. Brilliant sunshine
favored the parade which was reviewed by an im­pressive
array of dignitaries.
Assemblyman Marty Ginsberg, Stuart R. Levins,
Candidate for the Assembly, County Executive Ralph
Caso, Trustee Rocco Posillico and Councilman
Gregory Carman review the parade on Main Street.
The Color Guard of Post 516 VFW pass in review.
The massed colors of all the units from North
Massapequa, Seaford, Farmingdale and the Gold Star
Mothers of Farmingdale as the National Anthem is
played.
Photos: JackPokress
State Asked to Pay Salaries
Although the status of the negotiations with the teachers was not on the agenda
of Monday night's meeting of the Farmingdale Board of Education, and no
pertinent information was volunteered, the big news coming from the school
board is that the threat of a teachers strike seems to be over. Responding to a
question, school board president Campbell confirmed that a settlement has been
reached.
Because the settlement still
requires ratification by the board
as well as the teachers before it
becomes official and binding,
details were not made public.
From other sources the OB­SERVER
learned, however, that
the money package agreed upon
meets the teachers' demands of
an overall increase consistent
with the federal government's
guidelines, in this case 5
per cent. Based upon the latest
budget figures available, which
show a total salary cost for in­struction
of slightly over $ 10
million, this raise would cost
some $ 500,000
The matter of sabbaticals has
been taken out of the arena of
emotions, according to the same
sources. Both sides agreed to let
the courts decide who is right and
who is wrong. Until such time no
sabbaticals will be granted.
The date for ratification of the
contract has not yet been set by
the teachers since a possibility
exists that the contract may run
for two years instead of just one
year.
If a resolution proposed by
trustee Terry A. Weathers and
accepted unanimously by the
board were to become law, local
school boards would neither
conduct contract negotiations
anymore nor pay teachers
salaries. The state would take
over this responsibility. Trustee
Weathers advanced the
argument that since the state
requires the " maintenance and
support of a system of common
schools", it should also assume
the responsibility for the
collective bargaining and
financing of contracts covering
personnel costs in public schools.
The resolution passed by the
Farmingdale school board urges
the New York State School
Boards Association to sponsor
and support such legislation.
The statistics for the class of
1972, to be graduated shortly,
show that 766 students applied for
college, that 2 students received
ROTC scholarships, one a
National Merit scholarship, six
full tuition scholarships, and 30
partial scholarships. The number
of Regent scholarship winners
stands presently at 56, with
possibly some more if alternate
winners are announced.
Connoisseurs of cafeteria food
may be interested to know that
the school board voted to retain
the present purveyor of the
school lunches, ARA Food Ser­vices
Co. for the school year
1972 73 at a cost of no more than
$ 42,167.00 to the district.
MTA Bill Stages Comeback
Undaunted by previous failures, State Senator Ralph Marino and
Assemblyman Phil Healey have re- submitted their bill to re- imburse
the Farmingdale school district at least to some extent for tax losses
arising out of the take- over of Republic airfield by the MTA.
This year the Farmingdale MTA bill has a slightly better chance.
It is already on the floor of the Senate for a vote and then has only to
get approval by the Assembly.
The Legislature, however, is again set for adjournment and history
could repeat itself: The governor may wait until the Legislature is
back home and may again veto the bill without giving Senate and
Assembly a chance to override his veto.
r Community Responds Quickly
to Survivors of Deadly House Fire
A
In the wake of the tragic fire that killed Scott
Reis, 2, and Tracy Reis, 9, and left the Reis family
without a home and possessions, efforts to help the
victims of this tragedy are springing up spon­taneously
all over town.
The fire started at approximately 1: 30 a. m. last
Sunday on the second floor of the residence at 135
Division Street. When the Farmingdale Fire
Department arrived at the scene, flames were
already shooting through the roof and making
impossible all attempts to reach Scott and Tracy
Reis in their bedroom. They were pronounced
dead of smoke inhalation at the scene at 5 a. m. by
Dr. Mensing of Massapequa. The fact that Stephen
Reis. , 10, and his sister Debbie, 12, had disobeyed
the order of their parents to go to bed and instead
watched television most likely saved their lives,
according to their mother Joyce Ann Reis. Both
she and her husband Charles were at work at the
time, the father as truckdriver and the mother as
nurse at the Parkview Nursing Home in
Massapequa.
The origin of the blaze is as yet undetermined.
The Nassau County Fife Marshal's office is
continuing its investigation which, according to a
spokesman, is severely impeded due to the fact
that the destruction was complete and very little
physical evidence of the house remains.
Since the Reis family did not own the house but only
rented the apartment, no homeowner's insurance
policy is making up for the loss of all their
possessions. What the Reis' called their own after
the lire were the clothes they were wearing, in the
case of Stephen and Debbie only the pajamas in
which they fled to the street.
Practically immediately, and without prior
. consultation or formal decision-, friends.
acquaintances and total strangers started helping.
The Student Council of Northside school, which
was attended by Tracey Reis, decided to establish
a memorial fund in which the proceeds from this
week's pretzel sale will be deposited as well as the
receipts from a collection conducted throughout
the school.
Cub Scout Pack 606, of which Stephen is a
member, immediately made donation of $ 25.00 out
of its general fund and started a fund drive among
its five dens to add to this sum.
Approached by the OBSERVER, Irving
Lublin , owner of Mid- Island Department Store on
Main Street immediately donated 2 sets of
clothing, including sneakers, to every surviving
member of the Reis family.
The bowling league known as Farmingdale
Tuesday Night Ladies spontaneously collected
money at their bowling night and came up with
$ 20.00. Individual residents, such as the Greco
family of 25 Beverly Road and the Prato family of
5 Beverly Road donated clothes, in this case three *
boxes full, which were brought to the OBSERVER
at 24 Beverly Road. The Farmingdale Fire
Department also sent out word that it will accept
clothing or other items for the Reis family.
Some other residents offered furniture, which
would be highly welcome as soon as new living
quarters are found. This is at present the greatest
need and anyone knowing of an apartment for rent
( up to $ 200 per month) in'school district No. 22
may call the OBSERVER at 799- 1150.
For the time being the Reis' have found shelter
through the generosity of the Anci family at 20
Boblee Lane in Hicksville. They are back together
again after having been split up between relatives
in Babylon and Massapequa A