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Vol. 28 No. 47
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Making it shine in NYC Bellmore dad lifts iconic star a celebrity. It was on the news — it was so cool to watch!” The Gherlones have raised When millions tune in on their four children in the Bellmore community since moving Dec. 3 to watch the lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christ- there after their marriage, and mas Tree, one Bellmore family Mike has spent more than two will be watching with a special d e c a d e s o p e r at i n g c r a n e s across the city. His work has sense of pride. That’s because the 900-pound taken him to many of New York’s most recognizSwarovski star crowning the able landmarks, but iconic tree was helping bring the lifted into place Rockefeller Center by one of their Christmas tradition own — crane to life, he said, felt a o p e r a t o r M i ke little different. Gherlone, a long“It’s a regular day time Bay Crane at work for me,” he e m p l o ye e w h o said. “It’s just a little has lived in Belldifferent than doing more since 2011. steel erection or con“I got the call crete. You don’t have to go to Rockefell- MIkE GHERloNE cameras and the news er Center, and I Bellmore there every day.” took it,” Mike T h e Ro cke f e l l e r said. “I’ve put the Center Christmas Christmas tree Tree tradition began up a couple years ago, but this in 1931, when construction was the first time I ever did the workers building the complex star.” placed their own small tree on For Mike’s wife, Gina Gher- the site during the Great lone, the moment brought an Depression. The first formal unexpected thrill. When she tree lighting followed in 1933, learned her husband would be and the event has since grown the one installing the star — into one of New York City’s and saw the scene playing out most beloved holiday tradion TV — she could barely con- tions, drawing millions of visitain her excitement. tors each season and a global “I was freaking out,” she television audience. Each said with a laugh. “He was like COntinued On pAge 5
By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ
hgaldamez@liherald.com
I
Photos courtesy Lauren Klein
Matthew Klein, Alyssa Beznicki and Oriana Merzlyak are seniors at John F. Kennedy High School who turned their passion for cooking into a monthly fundraiser.
Top students approach milestone By JoSEPH D’AlESSANDRo jdalessandro@liherald.com
John F. Kennedy High School has produced three skillful chefs, brought together by a shared love for cooking and community service. Merrick residents Matthew Klein, Alyssa Beznicki and Oriana Merzlyak are seniors enrolled in JFK’s Culinary Hospitality and Applied Management Program, also known as CHAMP. The program teaches students about cooking and running businesses. They met in the program last year, and now share a vision of keeping the community well fed. “We really are appreciative of our CHAMP Program,” Klein said. The various instructors in the program have been “great inspirations in this process,” inspiring the
trio to give their best in the development of their skills and in the support they provide to the community. “We thank them for all they’ve done for us,” he added. The “MAO” team, named using each student’s first initial, comes together monthly to create a four-course tasting menu as a part of their “Cooking for a Cause” project. The meal is made from scratch, and highlights each chef ’s specialties, from dinners to desserts. They recently completed their ninth event. “We’ve had a lot of people that have been asking us to (cook) for them,” Klein said. “Obviously, we can’t attend to everyone because we are very busy, and it’s hard to continue doing it more than once a month, but it’s great to know that people trust us and they want to taste our food.” COntinued On pAge 13
’ve put the Christmas tree up a couple years ago, this time I did the star.