Outlawing hourly hotel rates; annual East Hampton Food Pantry drive; toy gun in Hampton Bays, and... скачать в хорошем качестве

Outlawing hourly hotel rates; annual East Hampton Food Pantry drive; toy gun in Hampton Bays, and...

A large group of teachers walked into the gymnasium on Wednesday night at the Bridgehampton School during a Board of Education meeting, wearing matching black and yellow Bridgehampton Teachers Association shirts, in a show of solidarity, reminding those in the gym that they’ve been working without a new contract since the end of the last school term. Cailin Riley reports on 27east.com that contract negotiations began last spring, but thus far, the district and the union have not been able to work out a deal. After Wednesday's meeting, Bridgehampton School teachers Joseph Pluta and Caitlin Hansen, representatives for the union, spoke about what led to the situation. “Many of our members have expressed frustration with a toxic working environment,” Mr. Pluta said. When asked to expand on what exactly those frustrations were related to, Ms. Hansen chimed in. “Conversations between administration and staff, and the tone that some of those conversations take,” she said. “Some of our members have concerns about that.” Bridgehampton School Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly said yesterday that negotiations taking a few months is not an unusual circumstance, pointing out that the previous Bridgehampton Teachers Association contract took more than 14 months to settle. “With regard to this round of bargaining…We were prepared to negotiate beginning in January 2025.” She also pointed out that, under New York law, an expired contract remains fully in effect until a new one is reached, and that when the teachers returned to work this year after the summer break, they received raises under the existing salary schedule. Dr. Kelly pushed back against the assertion that there's a “toxic” work environment at the school. “Staff are always encouraged to come directly to administration with any concerns or needs, which are addressed promptly,” she said. “In addition, over the past several years, we have made significant progress working collaboratively as a district. We were removed from all state improvement lists and are now in ‘good standing.’” She added that, over the last few years, the district has doubled its AP offerings, launched the College Board Capstone Program, and expanded its CTE (career and technical education) pathways in several areas as well. “While negotiations can be difficult, we are committed to ensuring that this process does not disrupt the educational environment,” Dr. Kelly concluded. *** A Hampton Bays teenager who was seen carrying a toy gun near the Hampton Bays High School as part of a nationally popular game, “Senior Assassin,” sparked a call to police and a search for what was feared to be an armed individual. As reported on 27east.com, police were called at about 7:20 a.m. yesterday regarding a report of a male teen seen getting out of a car with a “long gun” – a common police term for shotgun or rifle – near the high school, then getting back into the car. Hampton Bays High School was placed on lockdown Thursday morning as a precaution, Southampton Town Police said, while officers searched for the vehicle described by the witness. After an extensive search the vehicle and teenager were located and the gun was determined to be a toy prop for the game that simulates “assassination” of a friend using a squirt gun. The school convened an assembly with Southampton Town Police officers to discuss the dangers of brandishing toy guns that could be mistaken for real weapons in public. “We encourage all parents and guardians to have a conversation with your children regarding the potential risks associated with this game,” Southampton Town Police Sergeant Gina LaFerrera stated in a release by the department. “Thank you to the Hampton Bays School District for assisting with this investigation and helping to keep our community safe.” *** The North Fork Action Center, which is working on issues including immigration, education, local government, housing and the environment, reproductive rights and arts and music, will hold its monthly meeting on Sunday, Nov. 23 at 4 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalists of Southold meeting house on the bend at 51900 Main Road in Southold, followed by a 5 p.m. Anti-Fascist Book Club meeting. On this Sunday they will be discussing Surviving Autocracy by Masha Gessen. More information is available at northforkaction.net where their website states: The North Fork Action Center / Protecting the U.S. Constitution, working toward justice, civic engagement, evidence-based science, diversity and a free press. *** A Long Island postal worker helped a U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement detainee temporarily escape custody and tore into agents in two languages, according to a criminal complaint unsealed yesterday. Brandon Cruz reports in THE NY POST that Tamara Mayorga-Wong, 57, allegedly opened the door of an official vehicle in front of the Westhampton Post Office and told a handcuffed detainee in the backseat to run for it before trying to drive away in her...