News Nearby: St. James Parents Want Right to Choose Middle School

Miller Place-Rocky Point:

Zero Cuts in Miller Place Superintendent's Proposed Budget

After a handful of tumultuous budget seasons that included teacher and staff layoffs and cuts to curriculum, sports and activities, Miller Place Superintendent Marianne Higuera's proposed 2013-'14 budget includes no cuts.

The budget, which Higuera presented to the Board of Education and those in attendance at Miller Place High School Wednesday night, would not exceed the expected tax levy cap of 4.31 percent. The proposed budget of $67,757,777 not only had zero cuts, but also included multiple instructional program and co-curricular initiatives along with another major proposal of full-day kindergarten.

Smithtown

St. James Parents Ask District for the Right to Choose Middle School

Parents from southeast St. James spoke Tuesday during the Board of Education meeting urging the Smithtown Central School District to allow their kids to follow a transition pattern that would let them attend Nesaquake Middle School.

With the closing of Nesconset Elementary prior to the 2012-13 school year, the transition pattern to the middle schools changed, and now some students that graduate from Mills Pond Elementary will be sent to Great Hollow Middle School in Nesconset, not Nesaquake Middle School.

Some St. James parents feel this is unfair and want their kids to attend Nesaquake, a school within their own community.

Kings Park

Town Takes First Steps in Shutting Down Kings Park Concrete Biz

Smithtown officials will take legal action to close down a Kings Park pre-cast concrete business on Friday, while residents begged town board members to go after other illegal businesses breaking town code.

Smithtown Town Board voted to seek an injunction against KPE II in New York State Supreme Court to restrain them from carrying out illegal industrial activities at 110 Old Northport Road. Town attorney John Zollo will file action in court on Friday.

Port Jefferson

Mt. Sinai Mosque Debate Continues; Written Comment Extension Given

The first public discussion in almost two months regarding the proposed Mount Sinai mosque was thorough and at times heated during Monday's Town of Brookhaven Planning Board meeting.

Mohammed Sameen's proposal to convert an existing 74' x 142.4' barn to a place of worship at 515 Mt. Sinai-Coram Road has led to much discussion over concerns residents have. Many worry about traffic that the mosque would bring, while other issues about the controversial topic were brought up as well.

Commack

Another Commack Student Approached by Stranger

A second Commack Middle School student was recently approached by an unknown man while on her way to school last week, district officials announced.