Huge Tea Party Rally April 15

The 9-12 Project Suffolk County is expecting a huge showing at it's Tax Day Tea Party Rally to be held on the Riverhead waterfront starting at 6 PM.  Members and other interested citizens have been urged to show up with flags, banners and signs  to show their support.  Several speakers from the group will address the crowd including Gary Bernsten who was recently endorsed by the organization to be the CD-1 candidate for congress.

Tax Day Tea Parties are scheduled for many communities across the country.  Many well known conservative political personalities and tv/radio hosts are expected to attend including Sarah Palin, Sean Hannity, Neal Cavuto, Michelle Bachman.

Board of Ed Completes Budget

The Riverhead Board of Education has put the finishing touches on the 2010-2011 District budget and will present it to the public for voting on May 18.  Spending is expected to rise by 2% with taxes increasing to 2.5%.  Two Board seats will be contested and voting will include a request to approve spending part of the District reserve funds for repairs at the Roanoke School.

There have been unverified reports that School Superintendent Diane Scricca will retire.  The Board recently extended Dr. Scricca's contract for another year.

Meanwhile Newsday is reporting that the Central Islip School District will lay off 100 teachers, William Floyd - 65 teachers out of a total of 150 positions and that Sayville is considering elimination of the full time kindergarten class.

Christie Taking Hard Stance

Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey, in an attempt to check soaring expenses in the Garden State, has asked the teachers to contribute 1.5% of their annual salary toward medical insurance along with accepting a one year freeze on current pay.

Lazio Beats Levy and Paladino

A recent poll shows that Rick Lazio, former Congressman, would beat both Steve Levy and Carl Paladino for the Republican nomination for governor.  Levy, of course, recently changed his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican and Paladino is an upstate resident.  The poll also indicates that Andrew Cuomo, current Attorney General of NY, would beat Lazio in an election.