Friday, June 21, 2019
Vol. 79, No. 25
$1
“Shootout for Soldiers” lacrosse benefits veterans
CELEBRATING THEIR HEROES
Summit Lane fourth-graders performed a variety of songs for their heroes at Summit Lane Elementary School on Photo courtesy Levittown Public Schools June 6th during a special hero celebration. See page 6
Pet shop owner: New legislation hurts BY GARY SIMEONE
Joe Sollicito, owner of the Love My Puppies NY pet store in Levittown, has been in the animal business since 2006. A recent state legislation, which would ban the sale of puppies, kittens and rabbits at pet stores, would be devastating to businesses like his. “This type of legislation would eliminate a family’s choice for a pet and I don’t think that is right,
or fair” said Sollicito. “I feel that adopting is a beautiful thing, but the truth of the matter is that 90% of the dogs that are in shelters are Pit Bulls, and those types of dogs are not for everyone including small children.” The new legislation, which was proposed by State Senator Michael Gianaris (Astoria) and State Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal (Manhattan), aims to stop the flow of animals from so-called ‘puppy mills,’
which are essentially inhumane high-volume dog breeding facilities. Sollicito said that since he has been in business, he’s only dealt with USDA licensed breeders and has never had a single animal shipped to his store. “What sets me apart is that I go directly to the breeders myself, handpick the animals I want and do the transporting all on my own. Other places might have their aniSee page 18
The Town of Oyster Bay’s 6th annual “Shootout for Soldiers” 24-Hour Lacrosse Benefit Game will take place at the Town’s Field of Dreams, located on Old Sunrise Highway in Massapequa on July 18 at 9:00 am. It will continue non-stop for 24 hours until July 19 at 9:00 am. The event benefits veterans and active duty military personnel. The Long Island Air Force Association will conduct a special ceremony on July 18 at 5:00 pm to honor Vietnam veterans and present them with medals that commemorate their service in the conflict. Adding to the spectacle, will be a parachute landing on the field conducted by the “All Veterans Group,” which will deliver the official ball. Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino stated, “Shootout for Soldiers is a terrific game that provides local lacrosse players a chance to enjoy a sport they love in a unique way while also raising charitable funds to support the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces. Whether you enjoy lacrosse or are just looking for a fun-family event, I invite residents to be a part of the festivities.” The charitable funds raised at Shootout for Soldiers will benefit the Semper Fi Fund, the Ranger Lead the Way Fund, the Gary Sinise Foundation, the Long Island Air Force Association, Team RWB and the Joseph J. Theinert Memorial Fund. Last year, more than $178,000 was raised in support of organizations that benefit our troops, bringing the total raised for the first five years of the event to more than $500,000. The event features 24 continuous 1-hour sessions. The score is cumulative, resulting in unique scores for a lacrosse game with totals reaching into the hundreds. Participants include children, adults, seniors, youth, high school and college players. Teams that accommodate players with special needs are also scheduled to play. Among the highlighted matchups is a contest of teams of U.S. veterans beginning at 6 pm, and at 7 pm, players from the Plainedge community will take the field in a session that honors fallen NYPD DetecSee page 18
Awards abound for Class of 2019 PAGE 4 Dutch Lane students are victorious PAGE 8