The-Leader_2009-05-21

              FreeportBaldwinLeader.com
74th Year, No. 21 Freeport, N.Y. 11520
The Community Newspaper
Thursday, May 21, 2009
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-.^ Eyerypne is encouraged to attend and
,shpw support for those who sacrificed . their lives and also the returning veterT: ans ••'•''•••
This year we will be hononng our mil­itary chaplains who performed, so*. valiantly comforting those away .frpnis'. home with their spiritual guidance and
'tending to those wounded and dying on •.
^the battlefield Some 420 chaplains-have ;
died in action arid seven have received the Medal of Honor." ,.
We are • proiid to have Reverend Sweeney as our Grand Marshal. A Freepbrt High School graduate and for­mer chaplain, of the National Ainerican Legion, Father Sweeney has been chap-lairi;!for tihe Anierican Legion, State of. New.Yprk, for 10 years. ; • - ^ .-'-He has given much of this-time in
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helping veterans throughout the many
years that he has served. Presently, he is
pastor of .the Holy Rosary Church in
• preenwood Lake; New York and serves
'as. chaplain for his Legion Post in
JEastchester and. for the^ Goshen , Fire
Department. We are proud to honor
Father Bob for his dedication towards
: our veterans and firefighters..
For more parade information, see page 6.
', 'by Stephen Niccolino..
The- Freeport Memorial Day Parade has been scheduled for Monday, May-25 The 'Parade.-will commence on Bropkside-Avenue ;(ih frpiit;^pf;Freepprt - High School)^ At'10 a.m. he will proceed' ' down Merrick Road-and. end in front of the Freeport Memorial Library. • ^At approximately J0:45 a.m., service s will take place with comments frorh^oui',; Grand, marshal, the Reverend Robert. Sweeney, and Mayor Andrew Hardwick. Freeport's fifth and sixth graders will entertain us with patriotic songs, fol­lowed by "Taps," tlie placing of the wreaiths, and the folding of the American •flag, • .
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Former Baldwin school administrator awarded $B
Cheryl Farb, a former Baldwin School District administrator, was awarded $5 million in federal court iii Central Islip. -The jury found that Ms. Farb suffered emotional distress after she made com­plaints about, sexual harassment, by^ Baldwin Middle School Principal James' Brown in 2003. The Baldvvin School District said in a prepjired statement that although the jury awarded Ms. Farb money, "the jury rejected all claims of sexiial, racial or gender discrimination."
A press conference was held by Ms. Farb and her attorney Rick Ostrove on Thursday, May 7 to announce the settle­ment.
The court has ordered the Baldwin School District to pay out $4 million to Ms. Farb and the remaining $1 million is to be paid out by Principal Brown, who .continues to remain in his position at the -Baldwin Middle .School..; .... . -, -• ".Ms, Farb-took legal action, after she' wias placed on administrative leave, in .2004 after claiming sexual harassment by Mr. Brown. Ms. Farb first notified the New York States Division :of Human Rights in April of 2004 claiming she was defamed and forced to work in' a hostile environment. She was terminated from . herposition in June of 2004. •
The Baldwin School District added that the district's insurance coverage is in excess of the preliminary judgment.-"Through the district's insurance compa­ny's-counsel we are actively working to setasidethe verdict and/or reduce the damage award," said,the district's pre--pared statement.
At the May 13, Board.of Education meeting, residents voiced concerns on this matter. In aNewsday blbg, residents wrote about concerns about . insurance premiums that would be passed on to tax­payers as well as the district's judgement in keeping Mr. Brown in his position as
middle school principal.
.'The. Board, of Education sincerely thanks the community for sharing its con­cerns at the board meeting. Please be assured that the board is taking these cpm-rnents yeiy seriously. The restrictions placed on the boaixl due to the active and continu­ing litigation is frustrating for all of us.
"As residents of this community, we care deeply about the children and staff in ~ the Baldwin School District. We ask for ypur understanding and support as we work to resolve the remaining issues," the statement concludes.
•Laura Schofer
Nevysday writer
visits Athena Club
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Fire on Sunrise High
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Election results
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