By JUDY RATTNER
as their recently filed legal appeal to the New York State Commissioner of Education, asking for an injunction on the project, was denied. The neighbors were requesting a stay order and a hearing, citing environmental concerns they claim are not being properly addressed by the Rockville Centre school district and the board of education.
In its response to the petition, the school district said the injunction and hearing were not necessary as it intended to comply with all necessary filing requirements and that a state-appointed project manager would eventually oversee the project. It characterized the environmental concerns as "unfounded speculation" because past work on the property has turned up no evidence of contaminated soil, mentioned in the petition.
The project got a preliminary green light from the school board in a Jan. 16 vote. The Rockville Centre Athletic Council, the group behind the gift, is going ahead with its plans for the project, organizing fundraising events and soliciting contracts for the work.
"The Rockville Centre Athletic Council is not party to the legal proceeding, and would defer to the school district and the school board to comment on it," said Dave Howard, speaking on behalf of the group. "From our perspective we have the approval of the school board to continue moving forward on this project which is being met with alot of excitement and enthusiasm in the community. We have a number of events scheduled over the next couple of months to raise awareness and funds for the project," he said.
Also speaking for the group, Mark Ahern detailed a variety of planned fundraising events. He said the group will hold a kick off event, inviting SSHS alumni and members of the community to Madison Hall on Thursday, March 22 from 7-10 pm. This will be a social event as well as a fundraiser, he said. The group also plans several events to raise funds, including the drawing of a raffle for a leased Mercedes.
On Friday, April 20 into the wee hours of Saturday, April 21, at the Recreation Center, the group is planning to hold a dance-a-thon involving several of the dance studios in the village. Many celebrity guests will stop by, they said. Local artists will donate their work as part of this event, and will participate in an art auction.
And on Tuesday, May 29, the Athletic Council will hold a golf outing at the Rockville Links inviting members of the community to play in foursomes, with a dinner and auction to follow in the evening.
Al Meindl, of South Wood Road next to the high school football field said, "We have filed suit against the Rockville Centre School board and are trying to have an environmental survey done for the field they are proposing with the lights and the stadium bleachers. We feel that from an environmental standpoint you have to address the impact it will have on the traffic in the area, the lighting environmental issue, the noise issue and the whole disturbance to the immediate area involving approximately one hundred homes in immediate proximity to the high school.
"Remember," he said, "there is only one street into the high school and one street out. Right now even when there is any major event at the school, traffic is horrendous. Our attorneys will take appropriate action. "
Meindl also said a real estate agent he did not identify estimated that based on his information, the houses directly affected would lose approximately $60,000 in property value.
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