Deer Park High School juniors Kayla Cruz and Ava Sacarin were named first place winners in the Medicine/Health category at the American Chemical Society’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Chemagination Competition, held at Seton Hall University in New Jersey.
Chemagination challenges high school students to imagine that they are living 25 years in the future and have been invited to write an article describing a breakthrough or innovation in chemistry that has improved the quality of people’s lives from 2025 to the year 2050. Cruz and Sacarin had previously won the local Chemagination contest on March 7 at St. John’s University in Queens. Their project focused on contact lenses designed to detect glucose levels in tears and monitor the health of the wearers.
External Diploma Program
The National External Diploma Program offers adults 21 and over, the opportunity to receive credit for their life experiences, and earn a high school equivalency diploma without the challenge of taking lengthy timed examinations. NEDP, is a competency based program for students who are unable to attend classes or who prefer to work at home. Successful candidates for NEDP include former ESL students, students who have been out of school for prolonged periods of time, or students who fare better without the structure of tests. This program is an alternative to other programs.
Anyone interested should call Western Suffolk BOCES to meet with a counselor. Call 667-6000, Ext. 327 to register.
Deer Park High School juniors Kayla Cruz and Ava Sacarin were named first place winners in the Medicine/Health category at the American Chemical Society’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Chemagination Competition. Photo courtesy of Deer Park School District
Deer Park BOE Honors Retiring Trustee Anthony Henkel
The Deer Park School District Board of Education honored one of its own at the June 17 meeting, paying tribute to esteemed trustee Anthony Henkel, who is retiring from the board after two terms and relocating to Tampa, Florida. In a heartwarming ceremony attesting to his impact, the board and administrators recalled Henkel’s remarkable journey from student to board member with fondness and admiration, recounting his many contributions and successes as a trustee.
A lifelong Deer Park resident, Henkel graduated from Deer Park High School in 2017. During his high school career, he was inducted into the National Honor Society, participated in DECA, served as editorin-chief of the yearbook and explored his passion for theater by participating in many of the school’s plays and musicals. Through the early college program, which he started as a high
school junior, he graduated with honors a year later from Suffolk County Community College, and at age 19, earned his bachelor’s degree from SUNY New Paltz. In 2020, he successfully ran for the board of education and was handily reelected in 2022. During his tenure as trustee, Henkel also served as a board member of the Deer Park Arts Council and worked with the Long Island Coalition Against Bullying.
Board President Donna Marie Elliott read aloud a statement from Superintendent Jim Cummings, who was unable to attend in person.
“Anthony is completing his service on the board of education after two terms marked by genuine dedication, steady leadership and a clear passion for our schools,” Cummings said. “His commitment to our students has always been front and center, whether it’s advocating for academics, supporting mental health
initiatives or championing extracurricular opportunities. But if you know Anthony, you know that the arts hold a special place in his heart. He has been a true champion for the music, theater and visual arts programs that shape the creativity and confidence of our students. Because of his efforts, our arts programs
have not only endured but thrived, earning recognition across the region and giving students a place to express themselves and shine. Anthony brought a unique perspective as both a trustee and an alumnus. His love for Deer Park didn’t begin in the boardroom, it began in the classrooms and hallways of our schools, and
that perspective has been a powerful reminder to all of us of the long-lasting impact this district has on the lives it touches. Anthony, on behalf of the entire school community, thank you for your years of service, your steady presence and your belief in our students. We wish you nothing but the best in whatever comes next.”
Other heartfelt tributes came from Executive Director for Instructional Technology and Innovation Jay Murphy, Fine and Performing Arts Director Bradley Murphy and each member of the board.
“I want to thank the Deer Park community for trusting me to represent our town on the board,” Henkel said. “I hope I lived up to the high standards of this incredible community. For the people of Deer Park to put their trust in a 20-yearold kid, someone who didn’t have much real-world experience but knew that he wanted to give back, says a lot about the fabric of our community. It was truly my honor to serve you. Being a member of this board has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. The lessons I’ve learned and the people I met will stay with me forever. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.”
The Deer Park School District Board of Education honored retiring trustee Anthony Henkel at its June 17 meeting. Photo courtesy of Deer Park School District
grilling season, and people are on the lookout for delicious recipes they can easily cook outdoors. Many fall back on tried-and-true favorites because they may be apprehensive about grilling with new ingredients. But grilling is more than just burgers and steaks. In fact, seafood is a great option for the grill, and it cooks up in a snap.The following recipe for “Grilled Striper with Cactus and Black Beans” from “Jon Bonnell’s Texas Favorites” (Gibbs Smith) is a great seafood dish to grill up this summer.
Serves 4
4 fillets wild striped bass, approximately 8 ounces each
1 teaspoon southwestern blend rub
1 tablespoon canola oil
4 cactus paddles (called nopales in Mexican markets)
3 cups Bacon-Laced Black Beans (see below)
1 lemon
DIRECTIONS:
Clean the fish well, removing any bones and scales, and pat dry. Dust each fillet with the rub, then brush each with canola oil just before grilling. Grill over high heat for 3 to 4 minutes on each side until the fish is cooked through. The time may vary, depending on your grill. Clean the cactus paddles well with a sharp knife, removing any small needles. Grill the cactus over high heat, just tossing it right onto the grill bars — no oil, no seasonings. Once the cactus begins to bubble slightly, turn over and season with a sprinkle of the rub. As soon as both sides are lightly charred and the cactus is bubbling inside, it’s ready to serve. Pull the cactus from the grill and cut into strips. Line a platter with a layer of the cactus and top with the black beans; then lay the
grilled striper on top. Finish with a squeeze of fresh lemon and serve.
BACON-LACED
Serves 8 to 10
BLACK BEANS
1 pound black turtle beans, rinsed under cold water
1 large yellow onion, diced and divided
4 strips bacon, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 1⁄2 teaspoons salt
1⁄2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
DIRECTIONS:
Place the beans and half of the chopped onion in a saucepot with just enough cold water to cover. Soak in the fridge overnight, then simmer for approximately 1 hour (do not drain), just until the beans become soft. Strain the liquid into a separate bowl and keep it for later. In a separate pot, render the bacon, then add the remaining onion and the garlic. Sauté until the onion has softened; then pour the beans and 1 cup of their cooking liquid into the pot. Puree the mix with a stick blender until smooth.
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JULY HAPPENINGS
THURSDAY, JULY 10th
6:15PM-8:00PM
WHY CHOOSE AMY?
Aggressive
EVENING GARDEN VOLUNTEER GROUP
Biweekly Thursday evening garden meet-up. Bring your garden gloves, snacks, and whatever else to our evening garden meetup. Recommended for adults and families with children 12y and up. No cost Meet at the gazabo in the volunteer garden. Bring water or a reusable cup/bottle. Sweetbriar Nature Center - ECSS, 62 Eckernkamp Drive in Smithtown. For more information, please call 631-979-6344
SATURDAY, JULY 12th & SUNDAY, JULY 13th
10:00AM-6:00PM LONG BEACH ARTS AND CRAFTS BOARDWALK FESTIVAL
The City of Long Beach Department of Parks and Recreation is pleased to announce that the 2025 Arts and Crafts Boardwalk Festival has returned. Vendor applications are available. All artisans are encouraged to apply! For more information, please call 516-705-7414
THROUGH JULY 13th
5-11PM WEEKDAYS AND NOON-11 PM SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS & JULY 4th
EMPIRE STATE FAIR
This family-fun annual event features a variety of live entertainment, four nights of spectacular Fireworks by Grucci, exciting rides and games for the whole family, and plenty of delicious fair food. For more information, please call 866-666-3247
HOLIDAYS
4th - INDEPENDENCE DAY
MAKE A SUBMISSION!
Events must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the event date and will run free of charge on a space available basis. For more info, call 631.226.2636 x275 or send events to editorial@longislandmediagroup.com
SATURDAY, JULY 19th
10:00AM-4:00PM
ANTIQUE CAR SHOW
Wantagh Preservation Society's 4th Annual Antique Car Show.(Rain date Sunday July 20th) Wantagh Preservation Society Museum, 1700 Wantagh Ave., Wantagh. Cars from 1960's & older. Entrance fee $1. Refreshments for sale, 50/50 raffle, music! Go inside Wantagh's 1885 Train Station, Wantagh's 1907 Post office & get your free ticket to board the 1912 Jamaica Parlor car, (Parlor car open from 12 - 2pm). emailWantaghmuseum@gmail.com (Matt)
6:30PM-10:30PM
HAWAIIAN LUAU
Grab your grass skirt & Hawaiian shirt. Brumidi Lodge, Deer Park is hosting a HAWAIIAN LUAU. Hawaiian Style Buffet Dinner, Slushies & soda included, Tiki Bar, Brumidi’s Famous Hawaiian Entertainment DJ Gene & Joanne Spinning in the Music Hut. Raffles & Much More Summer Fun For tickets and more information, please call Anita 631-422-6914. Sons & Daughters of Italy in America 2075 Deer Park Ave., Deer Park.
SUNDAY, JULY 20th
11:00AM-4:00PM
SPIRIT OF SUMMER ART FESTIVAL
Spirit of Huntington Art Center, 2 Melville Rd. N. Huntington Station. A day of celebrating inclusion and diversity in the arts, hand-made goods, community, food trucks, raffles, games, music performances, fun crafts and activities for the whole family! Hosted by the Spirit of Huntington, a non-profit community art center that
teaches creative expression classes to all ages and all abilities. Connected with over 500 participants and dozens of local organizations across Long Island. For more information, please call 631-470-9620
MONDAY, JULY 21st
9:00AM-12:00PM
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
Saint John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 36 E. John Street in Lindenhurst. July 21st through July 25th. Bible lessons, Music, Games, Crafts, Snacks, and more! FREE!! Grades K-6th. Register at https:// saintjohnsvbs.myanswers.com
SATURDAY, JULY 26th
6:30PM
NIGHT AT THE RACES
Will be held at Wade-Burns VFW 7279, 560 N. Delaware Avenue, Lindenhurst, Doors open 6:30 p.m. Admission $1. For more information, please call 631888-9854
SUNDAY, JULY 27th
11:00AM-12:30PM
CARING FOR WILDLIFE PROGRAM AND WALK
At Sweetbriar Nature Center, 62 Eckernkamp Drive in Smithtown, they offer wildlife rehabilitation at their nature center and take care of injured, sick, and orphaned animals. In this presentation participants will meet some of the resident non-releasable animals, find out their stories, and learn what you can do to help wildlife in our area. If you’re interested in becoming a rehabber this a good first step. For more information, please call 631-979-6344
Road To Safety
(NAPSI)—The next time you’re commuting to work, taking the family on a road trip, or even just learning to drive, chances are you’ll be sharing the road with large trucks; fortunately, there are safe ways to do so. Sharing the road means also sharing the responsibility to drive in a way that keeps everyone safe. Poor driving habits or driving while distracted puts everyday drivers, truckers and others such as highway maintenance workers at risk. So how to coexist safely? Try These Tips
Tip 1: If you can’t see the truck driver, they can’t see you. Can’t spot the truck driver in their side mirror? This means you’re following too closely in the truck’s blindspot and need much more space. Keep a safe distance (the length of half a football field) between your car and a truck.
Tip 2: Be patient. Many trucks have a speed limiter that prevents them from traveling more than 65 miles per hour. Tailgating won’t make a truck driver go any
Continued On 18
Classifieds
Deer Park Celebrates A Strong Music Program At Music Awards Night
The Deer Park School District held its annual Music Awards Night on June 2, celebrating the talent and dedication of its student musicians.
The evening included recognition of Long Island String Festival, NYSCAME All-State, NYSSMA AllCounty and SCMEA AllCounty awards. There were performances by Deer Park High School’s
jazz ensemble, orchestra and Phoenix Club vocal ensemble and Robert Frost Middle School’s chamber orchestra and chamber choir, as well as a solo piano performance by
student Nicholas Nappo. “Tonight was a powerful reminder of what music can do,” Director of Fine and Performing Arts Bradley Murphy said. “It brings people together, it inspires
and it gives our students a voice. The level of talent and heart on that stage was incredible. I am so proud of our young musicians and deeply thankful for the teachers who nurture their
creativity every day. This celebration truly shows how strong and vibrant music education is here in Deer Park.”
The Robert Frost Middle School chamber choir performed at the Deer Park School District’s Music Awards Night. Photo courtesy of Deer Park School District
The Deer Park High School orchestra performed at the Deer Park School District’s Music Awards Night Photo courtesy of Deer Park School District
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Continued From 15
faster and instead puts you both in dangerous positions. This tip also applies to trucks making turns or backing up. Many cars try to squeeze past or around a truck when the truck driver needs only a few seconds to complete a maneuver. The truck isn’t leaving a lane or space open for other drivers—it’s leaving room for the back trailer to follow. Why risk injury or damage to your vehicle when it only takes a few seconds for a truck to clear the intersection or
enter a loading dock?
“I’ve had incidents where I was backing into a loading dock and a car drove down into the dock and out again just to get around me,” says Tom Blad, hardware technician at Trimble and former truck driver. “Simply because I was going to block their path for three or four seconds.”
Tip 3: Spend as little time driving beside a truck as possible. Traveling alongside or pacing a truck can be very dangerous due to the risk of a tire blowout—either the truck’s tire or your own. In
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Road To Safety
fact, the NHTSA tracked more than 550 fatalities in 2022 from tire-related accidents. A single semi-truck tire weighs 500 pounds—certainly not an object you’d want hitting your car. If your own tire blows out, your vehicle may end up under the truck next to you.
“Lingering next to a truck creates a dangerous situation where you may be sideswiped by the truck if it swerves or attempts to change lanes,” explains Gary Falldin, senior director of industry solutions at Trimble and the Minnesota Trucking Association’s 2016
Safety Professional of the Year. “Move at a safe and steady speed until you’re far enough past the truck to change lanes.”
Tip 4: Stay out of the “no zones.” Due to their large size and height, trucks have four significant blind spots around the truck: in front, behind, and along both sides. When passing a truck, don’t immediately return into the lane in front of a truck. Make sure you can see the full truck—from its tires on the road to the tip of its roof—in your rear-view mirror first.
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Many drivers don’t know that the right side of a truck is more dangerous than the left. With the steering wheel positioned on the left, the truck driver has less visibility over the hood and into the right lane. Remember to always pass trucks on the left (as long as it’s safe to do so).
Learn More
For additional tips, check out the Sharing the Road Program from Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. For information on Trimble, visit https://transportation. trimble.com.
