________ Franklin square/elmont _______
HERALD local sings in Staten Isalnd
Cruisin’ through with toys, spirit
Honorees with the Board of Ed.
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Vol. 27 No. 51
DECEMBER 18 - 24, 2025
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Islanders spread holiday cheer at UBS Arena sen said. “Bob’s Discount Furniture has been supporting us throughout the years with The holiday spirit was in full donations; it was nice.” swing outside UBS Arena as Islanders fans attending the fans, nonprofits, and Islanders team’s 5-2 victory over the Analegends came together to col- heim Ducks were encouraged lect toys for children in local to bring new, unwrapped toys hospitals — and to celebrate a as part of the franchise’s annucharitable gift to a Wantagh- al holiday toy drive. Those who based foundation. d o n at e d fo u r o r Bob’s Discount more toys received Furniture donated a voucher for tick$2,500 to the John ets to a future Theissen ChilIslanders game. dren’s Foundation “This year, we’re on Dec. 11 during a looking to partner joint holiday event with the Little with the New York Saint Nick FoundaIslanders and the tion just to give Little Saint Nick BRYaN TRoTTIER back toys to the Foundation. Four-time Stanley kids,” said Justin The John Theis- Cup winner Rodriguez, a Staten sen Children’s Island store managFoundation, founder for Bob’s Dised by Wantagh resident John count Furniture, who was at Theissen, supports sick and the event. “Community is one u n d e r p r iv i l e g e d c h i l d r e n of our core values at Bob’s. We across Long Island through toy felt that it was the right cause drives, financial assistance, for us to do and try to give back medical support, back-to-school to people.” programs, and recreational The $2,500 check was preevents. Theissen started the sented to the Theissen Foundaorganization after surviving a tion as part of Bob’s ongoing brain tumor as a child and see- charitable outreach program, ing the loneliness and difficulty which suppor ts do zens of that young patients face in hos- regional nonprofits throughout pitals. the year. The donation will go “I was honored by it,” TheisContinued on page 5
By lUKE FEENEY
lfeeney@liherald.com
Tim Baker/Herald photos
Hoops n’ heart for a great cause Players from Sewanhaka High School competed in the 20th annual Hoops for Hope Basketball Fundraiser for SIBSPlace at Molloy University on Dec. 6. Hoops for Hope started as a high school fundraiser created by Bill Dubin, an assistant coach at Sewanhaka. Above, Jared Weir and Jason Allen, the coaches of Hempstead and Sewanhaka, respectively, before the game. At right, Sewanhaka’s captain, No. 23, Dante Anderson. Story, more photos, Page 3. 2025-26 HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS PREVIEW December 18, 2025
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hilanthropic work is part of the hockey identity.