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Connecting trails from Manhattan to Montauk John Cameron, Long Island Regional Planning Council chair, said in a release. “The Long Stretching some 175 miles, the Island Greenway will connect Long Island Greenway is intend- our communities and enable ed to serve walkers and cyclists Long Islanders to better enjoy an alike on a trail active lifestyle.” beginning in ManC a r t e r S t r i ckhattan and terminatland, the Trust for ing on the east end Public Land state of Montauk. director, presented The brainchild of details about the the nonprofit Trust project’s progress to for Public Land, the the planning council trail would connect l a s t we e k . T h a t p a rk s, t r a i l a n d includes a trail linkother public land ing 26 parks, 46 train within communistations and 60 bus ties, allowing people routes through a to bike, jog or walk combination of offfor leisure. And, in road and on-road many cases, could connections among even become a green more than two-dozmeans to commute en communities. It’s to work. estimated to draw Construction is roughly 34 million set to begin next JoHN CAMERoN visitors annually. year, focusing on a chair, “Some of the ben2 5 - m i l e s t r e t c h Long Island efits of ending in between Eisenhower these existing parks Park in East Mead- Regional Planning — or beginning — is ow and Brentwood Council that they have bathState Park. rooms, they have “The abundance parking areas, we of beautiful parklands, trails and can minimize that need to build natural open spaces are one of anything new,” Strickland said. the aspects that make our island “Along the themes of making the such a desirable place to live,” Continued on page 10
By MAlloRY WIlSoN mwilson@liherald.com
T
Tim Baker/Herald
BRAD SHAFRAN, AN autograph dealer specializing in presidential items, visited Barnum Woods Elementary School on Feb. 16 in honor of Presidents Day. He showed the fifth-grade students autographs and taught them fun presidential facts.
At Barnum Woods, presidents’ handwritten history on display By MAlloRY WIlSoN mwilson@liherald.com
Not many people would know which president served the longest or shortest term but East Meadow resident Brad Shafran would — and he might even have their signature. Shafran, 46, owns his own autograph dealing company buying and selling historical, sports, and entertainment autographs. He specializes in presidents, so for Presidents Day, fifth-graders at Barnum Woods Elementary School got a special lesson. He brought in some autographs and students from the five classes got to hold them while Shafran told them some presidential
facts. “The classes were really attentive,” Shafran said. “I think the teacher probably got them ready for it, but they asked a lot of questions, and they asked good questions, too.” Shafran’s son, Brody, 10, was in one of the classes he visited on Feb. 16, but this wasn’t the first time that Shafran had given this presentation. His other son, Maxton, 13, got to experience the same presentation when he was in fifth grade. Shafran’s first presentation to students happened 15 years ago at a school his wife, Allison, taught at in Queens. “I give them fun facts, and I kind of jump around the presidents,” Shafran said. “I give Continued on page 16
he Long Island Greenway will connect our communities and enable Long Islanders to better enjoy an active lifestyle.