Friday, June 17, 2022
Vol. 82, No. 24
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SERVING BETHPAGE, OLD BETHPAGE, AND PLAINVIEW
SUPERINTENDENT HONORED
Town renames street in honor of fallen officer
Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino and his colleagues on the Town Board, joined by Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder in a ceremonial street dedication to honor fallen Nassau County Police Department Lieutenant Michael P. Shea. Lieutenant Shea died in the line of duty as a result of cancer he developed after being exposed to toxins while working at Ground
At the June 8 board of education meeting, Dr. Tonie McDonald, superintendent of schools, was honored through the renaming of the Outdoor Learning Center in her name. Photo courtesy of Levittown
Public Schools
Students, staff and administrators from the Levittown Public School District collectively gave thanks to Superintendent Dr. Tonie McDonald in honor of her upcoming retirement following decades of service to the district. As she entered the board room at Levittown Memorial Education Center for the June 8 regular board of education meeting, Dr. McDonald was met with cheers and a rain of confetti tossed by students. During the meeting, the
board passed two resolutions renaming the Outdoor Learning Center at LMEC and the auditorium at Division Avenue High School for her. Students from multiple schools spoke, thanking her for attending their concerts, plays and sporting events, for her constant support and for being a prime example of leadership, kindness and determination. Senior members of the Division Avenue High School concert choir also performed “The Irish Blessing.”
On June 9, Dr. McDonald was met with another surprise — a visit from New York Mets mascot Mr. Met. After taking photos with staff and administrators, they gathered outside for a game of softball with Abbey Lane Elementary School students. Students on the field were excited to meet Mr. Met and they wished Dr. McDonald a happy retirement. Dr. McDonald will officially retire on July 5 after serving as superintendent since 2014.
The Bethpage Newsgram is published every Friday by Litmor Publishing Corp. Periodical Postage paid at Hicksville, N.Y. 11801 Telephone 931-0012 - USPS 3467-68. Postmaster: Send Address Change to: The Bethpage Newsgram, 821 Franklin Ave., Suite 208, Garden City, N.Y. 11530 • Meg Norris Publisher
Zero after the 9/11 attacks on America. A “Lieutenant Michael P. Shea Way” street sign was unveiled at the corner of School Street and Berry Hill Road in Oyster Bay which is situated near the home where Lieutenant Shea resided with his wife Ingrid. “Michael was assigned to securing Ground Zero as rescue workers searched for survivors in the days and weeks following See page 12
Jewish Center “adopts” Ukrainian family Manetto Hill Jewish Center (MHJC) in Plainview, has “adopted” the Kupriyan family of Makovyshche, Ukraine. Olha Kupriyan, a Ukrainian writer of children’s and adolescent literature, is in her early 30s and is a recent cancer survivor. She and her daughter Yasya are currently living in Krakow, Poland. Yasya is seven years old and recently suffered a broken arm while playing on a playground in Latvia, a previous location on their journey. Her husband Saskho
is a typesetter and has remained in Kyiv to continue working and earn an income when possible. According to Russ Blatt, president of Manetto Hill Jewish Center, the family “adoption” was an easy decision. “We all wonder, what can we do to help? We watch the news and the reports come in of the devastation and displacement of millions of people. This will help one family and hopefully motivate others to See page 12
TOB free summer concert series PAGE 4 Levittown's Top of the Class PAGE 6