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Vol. 23 No. 30
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JUlY 23 - 29, 2020
Anti-police graffiti found in N. Bellmore ism occurred between 2 and 3 a.m. on Tuesday. A spokesman for NCPD’s pubA North Bellmore School Dis- lic information office said detectrict employee discovered a tives were investigating. It was series of red graffiti tags — one unclear whether one or more of which read, “Kill all cops” — vandals were involved in the on a district-owned garage in graffiti spree. Nor th Bellmore “We’ve had very e a rly T u e s d ay little vandalism morning, Superinover the last few tendent Marie years, but when Testa said. Two something like this more tags were does happen, we found on a fence have absolutely near the district’s prosecuted [the facilities office on individuals] . . . to Bellmore Avenue, the fullest extent of and on a blacktop the law,” Testa said. area behind New“This act of hatred bridge Road targeting police School. of ficers is comThe employee, pletely heinous, who is a secretary disg raceful and in the facilities unacceptable, and de par tment, redoes not reflect the MARiE TESTA ported the markcore values of our i n g s f o u n d o n Superintendent, district.” school grounds to North Bellmore Testa said the the Nassau County School District district was workPolice Department ing “in full cooperaround 5:30 a.m. ation” with NCPD, Upon further investigation, including providing video surdetectives discovered similar veillance to identify the vandal graffiti markings at six other or vandals. She added that the locations near the school, includ- district would paint over the ing on buildings, vehicles and fences. Officials said the vandalContinued on page 5
By AlYSSA SEidMAN aseidman@liherald.com
T
Courtesy William Leacock
MEpHAM HigH ScHool physics teacher William Leacock, who once led a lecture on Halloween wearing a beekeeper’s suit, retired at the end of the 2019-20 school year.
Retiring amid a pandemic
Looking back after 30 years as a physics teacher By JUSTiN dYNiA aseidman@liherald.com
The unusual end of the 2019-20 school year also marked the final chapter of a storied 30-year career in the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District for Mepham physics teacher William Leacock, who is newly retired. A luminary among educators, Leacock taught Advanced Placement Physics I and II and Regents Physics at
Mepham High School beginning in 1989. He will be remembered for his gregariousness and the energy he brought to any room he entered. Leacock, 59, has long known that 2020 would be his final year of teaching — his long commute from Blue Point was a major factor in his decision to retire. He did not expect, however, that a global pandemic would interrupt his curtain call.
“When I left school on March 18, I knew it would be the last time I ever left the classroom,” Leacock said. Just days later, the district shifted to remote learning to comply with Covid-19 restrictions, and last month he taught his final class via Edmodo, an education platform. He found teaching from home “far less stressful,” he said, and adapted by keeping lessons familiar and using Continued on page 3
o target our officers who place their lives in jeopardy and stand by us is personally and professionally disturbing to me.