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Friday, December 2, 2017
Vol. 77, No. 48
Syosset-Woodbury Chamber of Commerce celebrates the season
NATIONAL HONORS
BY RIKKI N. MASSAND
Syosset High School Principal Dr. Giovanni Durante and Coordinator of Fine and Performing Arts, K-12 Michael Salzman congratulate musicians Grace Mittleman, Eric Schess, and Hannah Son for their selection to the NAfME All-National Honors Ensembles. They are joined by band teacher Larry Ballereau. Missing from the photo is choral teacher Kristin Howell.
Photo courtesy of the Syosset School District
Three Syosset High School student-musicians will perform at the 2017 National Association for Music Education All-National Honor Ensembles concerts at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida from Nov. 28-29. Grace Mittleman and Eric Schess have been invited to perform with the NAfME All-National Honors Choir, while Hannah Son was selected to play the flute in the All-National Honors Symphony Orchestra. During the 2016-17 school year, talented music students across the United States and overseas in military-base schools practiced diligently to gain a chair or part in their local, district, and state music honor ensembles. Of those most elite high school musicians, 608 were considered to be the “best of the best” and were selected for the NAfME festival by audition. All-National Honor Ensembles consist of a concert band, symphony orchestra, mixed choir and jazz ensemble.
Selected students will be rehearsing a challenging repertoire in preparation for performing under some of the most prominent conductors in the United States. Grace and Eric will perform under the direction of Dr. Z. Randall Stroope, while Hannah will follow the lead of Dr. Margery Deutsch. “This is the highest recognition that a student-musician can receive for participating in a school music program,” said Syosset Coordinator of Fine and Performing Arts, K-12 Michael Salzman. “Having three students from one high school invited to perform on this national stage is a great honor. Congratulations to Grace, Eric, and Hannah, all of the music teachers they have had through the years, the parents who continue to support their pursuit of music education, and our Board of Education, administration and community for their ongoing commitment to the performing arts.”
This Sunday, December 3 at 3 p.m. the Syosset Woodbury Chamber of Commerce will present its annual Downtown Syosset and Jackson Avenue Holiday Tree Lighting Spectacular, located at the Sterling National Bank Plaza, 50 Jackson Avenue (the former Astoria Federal Bank) and just across the Syosset LIRR Station. The annual event and festivities are free and families can enjoy holiday music, children’s games and activities, and warm refreshments to ring in December’s holiday season. Refreshments and music begins at 3:30, while the event lineup is scheduled from 4 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The tree lighting is the last major 2017 celebration and showcase of the Chamber’s business members. Each sponsoring local business will have its name and information on the Tree Lighting programs, as over 200 programs will be handed out by the Chamber and its volunteers, and those businesses will be announced during the festivities. The Syosset Woodbury Chamber of Commerce is led by its president, Charo Ezdrin, an accomplished attorney with her firm’s offices (Ezdrin & Woods, P.C.) at 93 Jackson Avenue. She spoke with the Advance and News Journal, looking ahead to Sunday December 3. “This year’s holiday tree lighting will be bigger and more exciting than ever. What makes this year different is the involvement within the community. This is the first year that we have local business’ sponsoring the event. We will have more raffles and giveaways than ever before. Board member Frank S. Urso, along with community activists Jack and Jennifer Biondo, See page 8
Mercy League holiday gift wrapping fundraiser
TheGlenCove-Hicksville-Syosset League of Mercy Medical Center will be providing holiday gift wrapping at the Broadway Mall to raise funds for enrichment activities and equipment at Mercy Medical Center. From Wednesday, December 13 through Sunday, December 24th
from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Christmas Eve until 5 p.m.) have all of your gifts wrapped and have more time to shop. A large selection of gift paper, bags, ribbons and bows will be available. For questions or additional information, please call Pat at 516-6816690 or Anna at 516-390-0200.
Ladies Night Out with Berry Hill PTA PAGE 14 Thanksgiving at Faith Nursery School PAGE 18