Vol. 79, No. 16
Restrictions on vape sales, lounges The Town of Oyster Bay has announced plans to place restrictions on the sale of vaping products as well as the location of hookah lounges within the town. The new legislation, for which the Town Board will schedule a hearing this month as it requires an amendment to Town Code, restricts the location of a vape and/or hookah lounge and also places limitations on the sale of vape and hookah products. All locations, including existing establishments, will be required to place signage explaining the potential dangers of e-cigarette use. The Town Board is expected to vote on the new legislation at a May meeting. “Recent studies have indicated that vaping is on the rise in New York State, with the number of young people smoking e-cigarettes across New York increasing by a staggering 160 percent in the past five years,” Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino stated. “Oftentimes, there is a misconception that vaping is less dangerous than traditional cigarette smoking, however e-cigarettes pose as much risk to young people and its dangers are extensive.” “Any new hookah lounge, vape lounge, smoke shop or vape shop will be restricted from opening 1,000 feet from any residential zone, as well as from any school, library, church or park,” Supervisor Saladino added. Town Councilman Lou Imbroto, who sponsored the new legislation, said, “Many people, particularly teens, don’t understand that vaping and using hookah products can be just as dangerous as smoking traditional cigarettes. We want to make sure that consumers understand the potential dangers of electronic nicotine products.”
Friday, April 19, 2019
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High School show brings protests to Levittown
PRIZE SIZE CABBAGE
BY GARY SIMEONE
East Broadway Elementary School fourth-grader Maya Stavrinos was honored for growing an enormous cabbage in Bonnie Plants’ Third-Grade Cabbage Program contest. See page 12 Photo courtesy of the Levittown Public Schools
It is the end of the road for the popular Broadway musical “Thoroughly Modern Millie” in the Levittown school district. The musical, which debuted on Broadway in 2002, was deemed offensive by a group of protesters, who picketed outside Division High School on Saturday, April 6. That was the last day the play was performed at the school. “The students performance was never intended to offend any individual or group of people, and it apologizes if it did,” said Levittown School Superintendent Dr. Tonie McDonald in a statement. “Saturday’s last scheduled performance was the final showing and the district reiterates that Thoroughly Modern Millie will not be performed in the future.” According to Dr. McDonald, the play was performed three times in the district, on April 4, April 5 and April 6. “Thoroughly Modern Millie” is an American musical-romantic comedy that takes place in the roaring 1920s. It is based on a 1967 film of the same name, and tells the story of a girl who comes to New York City to marry for money instead of love. In the musical, the issues of oppression and racism come to the forefront, when the main character checks into a hotel, whose owner is the leader of a white slavery ring in China. A group of Asian Americans, one being the Nassau County Chinese American Association, picketed outside of the school on April 6 during the performance. Another group also picketed outside of Huntington High School, who was also holding a performance of the Broadway musical. Gordon Zhang, who is head of the County’s Chinese American Association, said the response from the superintendent is not enough to satisfy the outcry from protesters. “I was not happy with the if word in her statement response,” said Zhang of McDonald’s statement to the public. “They still do not realize they offended anyone and I’m not happy with that statement.” Zhang said that his group along with numerous other organizations around the Island plan to send letters of disapproval to both superintendents as well the Nassau and Suffolk County executives.
Students inducted during Night of Honor PAGE 18 Dodging for Autism Awareness at BHS PAGE 19