May 15, 2024 Wantagh

The Wantagh Chamber of Commerce welcomed Bel Posto to Wantagh with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 30th. Bel Posto located at 3453 Merrick Rd offers a variety of specialty pizzas and a diverse menu of Italian entrees. We wish owners Joe Tripodi and Danielle Rivard continued success! Pictured: Hempstead Town Clerk Kate Murray, Senator Steve Rhoads, Legislator Michael J. Giangregorio, Councilman Christopher Carini, owners Joe Tripodi and Danielle Rivard, Wantagh Chamber President Cathy McGrorey Powell, Trustee Connie Conway, and Kathy Trotta Long Island Media Group.

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT THE Kiwanis Club Of Wantagh

It’s Spring! Time For The Wantagh Fair

Saturday, June 1, 2024 From 10 AM to 5 PM

With the scent of hyacinths and lilac drifting from yards in the community through the warm spring air, the Kiwanis Club of Wantagh is putting their final finishes on this year’s Wantagh Fair. Last year was a huge success with an outpouring of families and friends enjoying a wonderful sunshine filled day. This year we hope to make the experience even better wrapping the tantalizing scents of food around a wide variety of vendors, activities, music, community organizations

and entertainment.

Last year was the first time the fair offered a “Community Corridor” for local not for profit organizations to set up booths at no cost to inform the community about the services they provide. It went over so well that we are expanding it in 2024. Participating this year will be the Wantagh Library, Girls Scouts of WantaghSeaford Council, Wantagh American Legion Post 1273, Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church, Christ Lutheran Church, St. Frances De Chantal

R.C. Church, the Knights of Columbus, our own NYS Senator Steve Rhoads, the Wantagh Volunteer Fire Department, and the Wantagh High School Kiwanis Key Club, to name a few.

The fun filled day will include a Fire Truck provided by our greatly appreciated Wantagh Volunteer Fire Department that always thrills children and adults alike. The Town’s Show Mobile will provide a stage for a DJ and the Show Stompin’ Irish Dance troupe. If you have never

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Bel Posto

RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY BEL POSTO - The Wantagh Chamber

seen Irish dancing before it almost appears that the dancer’s feet are moving independent of their bodies. It is so much fun to see! Members of the Wantagh High School Kiwanis Key Club will be reading to and with children throughout the day.

Food trucks will include the delicious empanada truck that was such a huge hit last year and no fair would be complete without wonderful sausage and peppers. In addition, there will be yummy roasted corn that

so many children love, a cone truck filled with an assortment of fillings and of course, the wafting smell of Zeppole’s will fill the air with the sweet scent of warm dough. The first 500 children under age 12 can get a ticket for a free ice cream at the Wantagh Kiwanis Club booth!

Enjoy some good food, shop, and visit with a wide variety of vendor booths and don’t miss the inflatables that are fun for all. What would a Wantagh Fair be without an immensely big and super

bright red vehicle that the Wantagh Volunteer Fire Department uses to keep our community safe. The firefighters will be on hand to explain how they use the equipment and maybe entice some residents to join the department. It is never too early for children to dream of how they can someday help their community too.

A week before the fair a mailer will be sent out to approximately 6000 Wantagh residents. Come and make some new memories in our own Wantagh!

9:30am-9:00pm

PAR For Progress: Swinging To End Homelessness

Dust off your clubs and golf shoes! Join New Ground and help struggling Veterans and families Break the Cycle of Homelessness by supporting their 28th Annual Golf Tournament & Dinner. Experience the exquisite Devereaux Emmet designed golf course at Cherry Valley Club in Garden City on Monday, May 20th while making a lasting impact on local Long Island Veterans and families. Help give a hand up to hard-working households striving for a brighter future!

This year, New Ground honors Long Island local, Michael Farrell. He boasts over three decades of dedicated service with LDI Connect where he spearheads innovative office technology solutions nationwide. At the heart of LDI Connect’s corporate mission lies a commitment to nurturing strong relationships and actively supporting local communities. Michael exemplifies this mission

SPONSOR THE HOMELESS

through his community involvement, support of New Ground Veterans and families as well as many others in need.

“Michael Farrell has been a long-time supporter and genuinely cares about those in need around him. He is always one of the first to step up and ask how he can help. But he often keeps his generosity under wraps, downplaying the positive impact he has on our community,” said Shannon Boyle, Executive Director of New Ground.

“For all of these reasons we are excited to celebrate his good works and successes at our upcoming golf tournament.”

The golf outing is CoChaired by Diane Caputi, West Islip resident as well as Steve DiMare, Rockville Centre resident and Owner of Unified Windows. Event features include prizes for all tournament winners, cigar station on the course, the brunch Bloody Mary station, 50/50 Raffle on the Putting Green Challenge, Par 3 Hole-in-

One prizes, Beat the Pro and more!

ABOUT NEW GROUND:

Founded in 1991, New Ground Inc. is a 501c3 organization working with homeless Long Island Veterans and families to successfully break the cycle of homelessness and poverty. Great emphasis is placed on parents returning to school to obtain a higher degree or certification, locating better paying employment and careers that can sustain the family, learning how to best manage their income and expenses and pay down debts to improve their credit score, and working with all children in the household to become academically successful and on track to graduate to higher education programs so they too can have a brighter future. For more information, please visit www.newground.org.

QUESTIONS?

Contact Diane Serenita at (516) 564-4764 or events@newground.org.

WAYS TO PARTICIPATE

JOIN US FOR DINNER

Gain exposure for your company while knowing you are helping Veterans and families in need.

Enjoy cocktails, dinner, raffles, auction prizes, and more with us in person on Monday, May 20th.

TAKE A TOURNAMENT BOOKLET AD

Share a congratulatory message or simply spread the word about your business!

It’s A Hole-In-One

For Wantagh’s

Wantagh Elementary School students have likely putted through 18 holes on family vacations, but this time they went behind the scenes as they designed a miniature golf course. The highly anticipated fifth grade project is a partnership between physical education and STEAM.

Students worked in teams in Kaitlin Humphrey’s STEAM classes to build the holes. They followed the engineering design process and had to formulate a plan before building. The supplies were mostly cardboard and duct tape, and communication and collaboration were essential for success.

Each fifth grade class had a theme for its holes – decades, stores, theme parks and Wantagh locations. Every team was tasked with building a structure that the ball could interact with, and students could add electronic components.

In physical education classes with James Brostowski, Kristen Brown and Christopher Wasson,

Mini-Golf Creators

THE ANNUAL WANTAGH OPEN - Students and their families played the completed course at the annual Wantagh Open

students learned the rules for mini golf and practiced putting techniques. Those skills were put into practice for the annual Wantagh Open on April 17. The gymnasium was transformed into a minigolf course, featuring all of the student-designed holes, and fifth graders and their family members came in to play a round.

MINI-GOLF HOLE THAT RESEMBLED THEIR SCHOOL - Wantagh Elementary School fifth graders, from left, Tristan Damian, Victoria D’Alessandro, Dylan Cespedes, Maggie Kimball and Anthony Ambrosio made a mini-golf hole that resembled their school.

What Families Can Do To Honor Fallen Veterans

The freedoms people living in the United States are afforded would not have been possible to provide if not for the brave efforts and undying commitment of the many individuals who have served in the nation’s armed forces. American military personnel have played vital roles in securing freedoms for their fellow citizens as well as individuals overseas. Each year on the final Monday in May, the United States commemorates military personnel who lost their lives while serving in the armed forces. Those individuals made the ultimate sacrifice, and Memorial Day is a way to honor them and thank their families for their selfless acts. This Memorial Day, families can embrace various measures to honor fallen veterans.

• Visit a local veterans cemetery. The United Service Organization (USO) notes that most states have national veterans cemeteries. Though some veterans cemeteries are open only to family members of service personnel, others are open to the general public. Visiting a veterans cemetery is a great way to honor fallen military members and ensure the memory of their service and sacrifice is not forgotten on Memorial Day.

• Celebrate veterans over Memorial Day weekend. Memorial Day weekend is now synonymous with getaways and backyard barbecues. By taking time out during the weekend to honor fallen veterans, families can ensure the meaning behind the holiday is not lost in the midst of

celebrations with family and friends. Take time out during a family barbecue to discuss a family member who served or, if traveling, make an effort to visit a veterans memorial along your travel route.

• Help raise funds for veterans organizations. Fun runs or community Memorial Day walks may benefit local veterans organizations that help service members in need. Many service members may need help dealing with the deaths of friends or family members who died while serving in the armed forces, and veterans organizations may provide such help or direct funds to groups that do. That makes participation in events that benefit veterans organizations a great way to honor current

military personnel and those who have served in the past, including those who died in service of their country.

• Teach youngsters about the role of the armed forces. There’s a lot competing for the attention of today’s young people, and that can make it easy

to overlook the very freedoms that make the United States such a unique country throughout world history. Parents and guardians can emphasize the role the armed forces play in procuring and protecting freedoms in the United States and emphasize the significance of the

sacrifices of those who gave their lives to ensure a higher quality of life for all U.S. residents. Memorial Day commemorates military personnel who died while serving in the armed forces. There is much families can do to ensure those sacrifices are never forgotten or taken for granted.

How To Build A Better Burger May Is National Hamburger Month

Backyard barbecue season is starting to heat up. Although many people grill all year long, grilling season kicks into high gear in spring and summer. Burgers will always be a quintessential grilling fare. It should come as no surprise that the month of May is National Hamburger Month. That’s likely due to Memorial Day weekend — which many view as the unofficial start of summer — being one of the first times of the year people begin grilling burgers. Despite burgers’ popularity, it’s easy to make mistakes when preparing them. These

tips can help anyone build a better burger.

Use Freshly Ground Meat

Buying ready-made ground meat (of any variety) is taking a gamble because you don’t know when it was ground, how many animals it came from or how it was handled. By freshly grinding the meat at home you will have greater control over the cut of meat and the fat content. Personally ground meat will be fresher, especially when you get nice cuts of meat directly from your local butcher. Top chefs suggest dicing cold meat

into round, 1-inch thick, flat discs. To prevent the burgers from rounding in the middle during cooking, press a dimple with your thumb in the center of the patty to help it cook evenly. It’s a smart idea to weigh each patty to ensure uniformity of size and even cooking.

Don’t

Add Salt Early On

Salt added to the ground meat before it’s shaped can draw the liquid out of the meat, leaving a dry burger behind. Sprinkle salt sparingly while it is cooking for flavoring.

Avoid Overcooking

Most health authorities recommend not leaving any pink meat in a burger made from ground meat. According to BBC Good Food, burgers can be cooked for 5 to 6 minutes on each side for medium and 8 to 9 minutes per side for well done. For the best results, use a food

into chunks and freezing for about 10 minutes prior to grinding for the best results.

Fat Is Key

For the most juicy, flavorful burger, you’ll want a ratio of 80 percent meat to 20 percent fat. Some people like to eat lean, but with a burger, the fat will be necessary and it’s better to select leaner meats for other dishes.

Don’t Overwork The Meat

Handling the burger patties too much can lead to dense, tough burgers. Gently shape the burgers

thermometer to check internal temperature.

The USDA says ground meat, whether it’s pork, veal, beef, or lamb, should be cooked to 160 F

Flip As Desired

The cooking resource Serious Eats debunked the myth that burgers should only be flipped once. Flipping the burger repeatedly, as often as once every 15 seconds, encourages faster, more even internal cooking and can dramatically reduce cooking time.

Keep The Patties

Separate

Let everyone build their own burgers, as keeping the cooked meat away from the burger buns for as long as possible will reduce the chances of the juices making the buns soggy. Soft, squishy buns tend to make for good burger eating, as they will not overwhelm the meat with too much crusty bread. The smell of grilling burgers is in the air. Ensure that every burger is a masterpiece by utilizing some important cooking tips.

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

The Worst Cookie Company

RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY THE WORST COOKIE COMPANY - The Wantagh Chamber of Commerce officially welcomed The Worst Cookie Company to Wantagh with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 30th. The Worst Cookie Company is located at 1896 Wantagh Ave in Wantagh, NY. They specialize in unique cookie creations and delicious smoothies. We wish Jen and Rob Trezza continued success! Pictured Senator Steve Rhoads, Legislator Michael J. Giangregorio, Councilman Christopher Carini, Hempstead Town Clerk Kate Murray, Wantagh Chamber President Cathy McGrorey Powell, owners Rob and Jen Trezza, and Kathy Trotta.

With flowers and trees blooming and temperatures on the upswing, it was the perfect time for second graders at Forest Lake Elementary School in the Wantagh School District to learn about gardening. The return of spring weather

Spring Sparks Gardening Talk At Forest Lake

signaled a visit from News 12 meteorologist and expert gardener Alex Calamia on May 1.

Mr. Calamia first spoke about his career as a meteorologist and explained the different types of weather he has

encountered in his career, throughout different parts of the country. He then moved on to talk about the fruits, vegetables and plants he grows.

He noted that plants are “nature’s thermometer” because of how they

WEATHER AND GARDENING - News 12 meteorologist Alex Calamia talked to second graders at Forest Lake Elementary School about weather and gardening on May 1. Photo courtesy of the Wantagh School District

respond to weather changes, and with everything blooming, that means warmer air is here. During a trivia game, Mr. Calamia taught students how different types of fruits grow, including bananas, pineapple and watermelon.

As second graders prepare to begin a new science unit on weather, plants and erosion, Mr. Calamia’s expertise was very beneficial. He closed out his visit with a question-and-answer session. Students asked him about the weather, his garden and what it’s like to be on television.

Dr. Thomas Recher

Dr. Andrea Russo

Dr. Jill Diamond

SECOND GRADERS WERE EXCITED - Second graders were excited to meet a local television personality. Photo courtesy of the Wantagh School District

Fifth Grade Mural A Collective Display Of Ambition

This year’s legacy mural at Wantagh Elementary School is complete, and every fifth grader contributed to the piece that will be admired for generations to come.

It’s a long-standing tradition at the school for the fifth grade class to leave its mark as they close out the first part of their Wantagh educational journey. This year’s mural, which was painted under the direction of art teacher Taylor Potish, features a large butterfly and the slogan, “Spread your wings and fly.” It is surrounded by several smaller butterflies.

Ms. Potish said that the piece symbolizes the fifth graders, who will soon be

spreading their wings as they head to middle school in September.

The mural also showcases how the students have grown as artists over the past six years. It combines warm and cool colors, features shading techniques and shows an attention to detail. The spots in the butterfly are shades of pink, red, orange and yellow, while the background uses green, blue and purple.

Every fifth grader got to paint a section of the mural, whether it was part of the background, a spot on the large butterfly or one of the smaller butterflies. It was created on a blank section of wall in a first floor hallway, near the main office.

Free Online Writing Workshop

(NAPSI)—Famed science fiction authors and judges of the L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future contest and professional instructors

Drama Students Explore Diversity In Theater

offer aspiring writers a free online writing workshop. Learn more at www. writersofthefuture.com/ register/online-workshop and bit.ly/WOTFWorkshop.

A two-month immersion into the PEACE Project was an eye-opening experience for theater students at Wantagh Middle School. Their study culminated with presentations on cultural representation in 21st Century musical theater.

Teacher Dr. Kimberly Davis was chosen as a PEACE educator last year, and she partnered this spring with musical theater lecturer Marc Courtade. Eighth graders in her Introduction to Drama elective class worked with Mr. Courtade to study American musical theater history.

Students then split into

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Let us know about your honors, awards, promotions and other announcements. They are always welcome. Photos can be emailed as well. Send them to editorial@ longislandmediagroup.com.

groups and researched 21st Century musicals such as “Hairspray” and “In The Heights.” They explored cultural identity and representation within these musicals, and connected to broader themes such as cultural expression, harmony and tolerance.

The project also connected to their study of “The Diary of Anne Frank” in English and social studies classes. Through the PEACE Project, students explored the contributions of JewishAmerican writers and their efforts to incorporate diverse characters and storylines into shows.

Dr. Davis said the overall goal of the PEACE Project was for students to understand the importance of having a variety of cultural perspectives represented in artistic and creative works. Through the final presentations, students highlighted the impact of diverse storytelling in musical theater.

FIFTH GRADE MURAL A COLLECTIVE DISPLAY OF AMBITION - Wantagh Elementary School fifth graders, from left, Victoria D’Allessandro, Warren Klein, Joseph Issa and Catherine Smolyaninova contributed to the Class of 2024’s legacy mural. Photo courtesy of the Wantagh School District

DRAMA STUDENTS EXPLORE DIVERSITY IN THEATER - Students from Wantagh Middle School’s Introduction to Drama class showed their PEACE Project cultural representation presentations, which were completed under the guidance of teacher Dr. Kimberly Davis and guest instructor Marc Courtade. Photo courtesy of the Wantagh School District

Chamber of Commerce

United States Navy Blue Angels, To Headline 20th Anniversary Bethpage Air Show

Bethpage Federal Credit Union and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, are pleased to announce the final performer line-up for the much-anticipated 20th Anniversary Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach, taking place on Saturday, May 25, 2024 and Sunday, May 26, 2024, from 10 AM – 3 PM.

The United States Navy Blue Angels, which headlined the very first Bethpage Air Show back in 2004, will return to Long Island to headline the 20th Anniversary show. This will be the Blue Angels’ 10th headliner performance for what has grown into one of the most respected air shows in the country.

Military performers joining the Blue Angels include the United States Army Golden Knights Parachute Team, the A-10C Thunderbolt II Demo Team, and the U.S. Navy F-35C Demo Team. Civilian performers Mike Goulian, North America’s most decorated aerobatic pilot; the world-famous Skytypers; Warbird Thunder Airshows; Farmingdale State College Flying Rams; Long Island’s own David Windmiller and the American Airpower Museum Warbirds.

To help celebrate the 20th anniversary show, organizers are giving away 30,000 commemorative U.S. Navy Blue Angels signed posters to fans attending the practice show on Friday, May 24th, and the weekend show on Saturday, May 25th and Sunday, May 26th.

The show will also feature other celebratory elements throughout the holiday weekend including a special, 15 ft x 20ft, anniversary cake weighing in at 1000 pounds, which fans will be able to enjoy on Friday, following an 11:00 am Jones Beach Press Conference.

Returning again for the 2024 show is the Bethpage Air Show Mobile App. Text ‘Airshow’ to 516-842-4400 to download the app for performer and sponsor information, a site map, helpful FAQs to help prepare you for the show, and more to come. Available now on the App Store and Google Play.

The Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach is one of the largest, most respected and most popular air shows in the country. Over 240,000 fans attended the Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach in 2022, when the Blue Angels last performed during a stormy weekend show. Last year, over 419,000 fans

attended.

The Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach is sponsored by Bethpage Federal Credit Union; New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation; Newsday, WABC-TV Channel 7; Natural Heritage Trust; Connoisseur Media Long Island; Catholic Health, Jones Beach Brewery; Rallye Motor Company; PSEG Long Island; News 12 Long Island; The Foundation for Long Island State Parks; Pinelawn Memorial Park and Arboretum; Stop & Shop; and New York Islanders. The show can be heard in its entirety on WHLI 1100 AM and 104.7 FM.

The show is free to the public, but the standard $10.00 vehicle use fee will be collected each day upon entry to the State Park. For 2024 NYS Empire Pass Card holders, there is no vehicle use fee charge.

For up-to-date information about this year’s show, please visit www.bethpageairshow.com or https://www.facebook. com/BethpageAirShow/, or contact the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, Regional Office, Recreation Department at 631-321-3510.

Actors Of All Ages Connect At Wantagh Theatre Day

The future actors in Wantagh High School’s drama and musical productions recently got some training from those familiar with the stage.

The district’s first Theatre Day was held on April 18, a three-hour afterschool program for students in grades 4-8.

Leading the workshops were students from the high school’s chapter of the International Thespian

Honor Society. Participants were split by grade level, and each group worked with a handful of high school drama students to put together a short play.

The theme for Theatre Day was “Happily Ever After,” and each group did a scene from a fairy tale, such as “Snow White,” “Sleeping Beauty” and “The Emperor’s New Hair.” The program began with warmup and improvisation

activities. After going into the groups, students read a few lines and were cast for the different parts by the high school students. The program culminated with a performance from each group.

“It’s great because we get to connect with the kids and welcome them into the theater family,” said senior Hunter Fasano, a veteran of 10 middle school and high school productions.

PRESENT AND FUTURE STUDENT ACTORS - Theatre day brought together present and future Wantagh High School student actors. Photos courtesy of the Wantagh School District

It’s

A game with origins dating back nearly 100 years was the focus in Bridget Montario’s fifth grade class at Mandalay Elementary School in the Wantagh School District on April 15. What might have seemed like a break for

“Eventually, they’re going to be doing the same thing as us, and we want to make them feel welcome.”

High school students worked with their younger counterparts on acting and voice techniques. Hunter added that the goal was to help them build confidence and combat any stage fright, as they will one day be the leaders of the Wantagh theater program.

Dr. Kim Davis, director

of Wantagh’s middle school and high school shows, said it was a great turnout for the first year, with 50 participants. They were instructed by 19 high school theater students. Also supporting them were the directors from Wantagh Elementary School’s fall “Lion King” musical, Rachel Iannuzzi, Beth Marinis and Christina Mealey. The Wantagh Performing Arts Booster

Club provided a pizza dinner.

Director of Fine and Performing Arts Kelly Jones said that Theatre Day was added this year to compliment the established band, chorus and orchestra days held every January. In June, the department will also host its inaugural Dance Day. The five days will offer Wantagh students a full performing arts experience.

Scrabble Mania At Mandalay

the students, was actually supporting language and math skills.

Ms. Montario and teacher Mackenzie Maloney organized an afternoon Scrabble activity that sparked learning through competition. They handed

out Scrabble boards and students split into groups for games. Youngsters were encouraged to play with a partner.

Before they played, Ms. Maloney presented a brief slideshow about the history and rules of Scrabble,

noting that the game was based on the creator’s love of language. In addition to the traditional board games, students could play a digital version of Scrabble, in which they were matched against a computer. There were also

Scrabble challenge cards with different prompts like finding the point values of their first and last names and making words that were worth a certain number of points.

Ms. Montario explained that the Scrabble activity

support language skills as it helped students work on their spelling and expand their vocabularies, and math as they had to total up points for the words that they played.

of the Wantagh School District

THE FIRST THEATER DAY - Anthony Lerro, president of Wantagh High School’s International Thespian Society, and his fellow student-actors led warm-up activities during the first Theater Day on April 18.

FIFTH GRADERS HAD PLAYED SCRABBLE - Mandalay Elementary School fifth graders had played games of Scrabble to strengthen their language and math skills. Photos courtesy

VALUES OF THEIR NAMES BASED ON SCRABBLE POINTS - Teacher Mackenzie Maloney and students Jack Humphrey, Tommy Garofalo and John Kearney determined the values of their names based on Scrabble points.

Levittown Public Library Adds Hydroponic Garden To Growing List Of Services

Levittown Public Library is introducing an indoor hydroponic garden to grow vegetables, herbs, and fruit. This new addition supports the library’s continuing sustainability mission.

The garden was launched on March 4 and currently resides in the Teen Room. It will move throughout the building, accompanied by signage to allow patrons of all ages to learn about

the farmstand firsthand. Hydroponic gardening, a popular development in the field of controlled environment agriculture, is a method of growing plants without soil. Instead, water, light, and nutrients are funneled through a self-contained unit that allows multiple plants to grow at once. This type of gardening can be done indoors, regardless of weather conditions, and with a significantly smaller footprint; Experts estimate that hydroponic farms use up to 90% less water than traditional farms.

The hydroponic garden is made possible, in part, by a grant from the Pollination Project and additional funding through the Levittown Library Foundation. The grant was awarded to Christina Reed, a student at Stony Brook University studying Economics and

Sustainability. Ms. Reed is an intern and point person for the project, handling the garden’s startup and leading instructional sessions for Library staff and patrons.

Ms. Reed estimates most of the plants will grow in six week cycles. The garden’s first harvest of butter and romaine lettuce, cilantro, parsley, and spinach were donated to the food pantry at Saint Bernard’s Roman Catholic Church. Future crops will also be used for educational programs that will be open to the public, including cooking and baking programs and STEM events for children. The farmstand will make good on its name, as the Library also intends to open it up for the public to help themselves to the latest yield. Further donations will go to those in need.

Access to fresh food is a luxury for many Long

Islanders, as a recent report from the New York State Department of Health finds that more than 1 in 5 Long Islanders worry about having enough money to afford nutritious meals.

Nearly a quarter of Nassau County residents (21.1%) report food insecurity.

Levittown Public Library hopes their garden will help close this gap.

For additional information, visit the Levittown Public Library website at www. levittownpl.org.

Wisdom Lane Girls Basketball Team Achieves Undefeated Season

The seventh grade girls basketball team at Wisdom Lane Middle School in the Levittown Public School District made school history by playing an undefeated season.

The team put forth

fierce competition and tough teamwork to win their 11 games against rival schools. Their strong team spirit was clear to see on the court as the team’s 12 players showed close coordination and

camaraderie. Players Payton Maletta, Sophia Lovece and Hailey Vecchio expressed their pride in their successful season, while adding that it was not always an easy task. In their final game, they

were down in the fourth quarter before making a last-minute comeback.

“We made sure to keep each other in check,” Maletta said. “Consistency is key.”

Generals Nation Stands As One For Autism Acceptance Month

General Douglas MacArthur High School in the Levittown School District has long been a leader in the celebration of Autism Acceptance Month, and this year was no different. The month serves as an important reminder that every day, the Generals nation stands as one. Autism acceptance is celebrated daily in

MacArthur, as students in the ABA program regularly interact with their peers throughout the building. In the Coffee Club, students make their way to classrooms to deliver morning goodies including breakfast items – a program that has become popular throughout Levittown schools. MacArthur hosts the Challenger basketball game,

an annual success that brings together students in the ABA programs at MacArthur and the neighboring Jonas E. Salk Middle School. In the afterschool Social Club, students come together to enjoy relaxing games. ABA students also join regular classes such as digital media, home economics, business, art and chorus, working closely with their peers

and the classes’ respective teachers. Additionally, ABA students are heard during the morning announcements throughout April. A variety of experiences both inside and outside the school building help equip ABA students with life and vocational skills.

With teachers including Rachel Breslow, Cindy Kalb and Dianne Sciulla, students make their way to local stores and institutions for “consumer days,” including

Target, Five Below and the Levittown Public Library, where they excitedly step up to complete various tasks. Student Brandon Lane recalled having fun during a recent visit to his favorite location, CVS. The students also make regular visits to Levittown Memorial Education Center to practice custodial skills.

“Throughout the program, we focus on both academic and life skills

that help prepare students for adulthood,” special education teacher Desiree Mendoza said. “Every experience helps them acclimate to real-life skills.”

Speaking of MacArthur’s ABA teachers, principal Joseph Sheehan remarked, “They’re the best of the best.”

“They’re the reason this program is as successful as it is,” added special education chairperson Stephanie Addona.

THE ABA PROGRAM - Students in the ABA program acquire life skills through a variety of experiences. On April 18, Matthew Jerabek helped prepare banana pudding.

Photo courtesy Levittown Public Schools

CLOSELY CONNECTED WITH PEERS AND STAFF - ABA students are closely connected with their peers and staff, as seen by principal Joseph Sheehan’s interaction with student Aidan O’Hara. Photo courtesy Levittown Public Schools