INCORPORATING THE WEST HEMPSTEAD BEACON VOL. 76 No. 22
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Uniondale PAL goes Double Dutch Double Dutch tournament sweeps county By STACY DRIKS sdriks@liherald.com
Courtesy ERASE Racism
Matthew daCosta, a Malverne High School senior, was chosen as the 2026 recipient of eRaSe Racism’s John Wenzel Scholarship for advancing Racial equity.
Students ERASE Racism
Matthew DaCosta earns equity scholarship By NOAH PERETZ nperetz@liherald.com
Malverne High School senior Matthew DaCosta was named winner of ERASE Racism’s 2026 John Wenzel Scholarship for Advancing Racial Equity, Elaine Gross, the g roup’s founder and president emerita, announced on May 19. DaCosta expressed great pride in earning the award, which he said will help him continue spreading his message of racial equity. “It’s not only a reflection of my hard work, but also a symbol to keep going,” he said. “This scholarship also greatly assists me with furthering my policy and racial justice efforts in college.” Established in 2001, ERASE Racism is a Long Island-based civil rights organization that exposes and addresses the impact of historical and ongoing structural racism, particularly in public school education and housing. The g roup promotes its mission
through research, policy advocacy, legal action, and educating and mobilizing the public. These education efforts help drive policy change at local, regional and statewide levels and through national coalitions. “We fill a really important niche,” Gross said. “There were not many people talking about ways to address structural racism in the ways that public policy, government policy, and institutional practices per petuate ongoing disparities between white and Black Long Islanders.” Since 2023, the Wenzel Scholarship has been awarded annually to a Long Island high school senior who exemplifies ERASE Racism’s commitment to racial justice. The winner receives a $1,500 scholarship, which will be presented at ERASE Racism’s annual benefit on June 3. “The Scholarship continues John Wenzel’s commitment to racial justice, and this year it recognizes Matthew’s COntinued On Page 2
For many children in the Uniondale Police Athletic League’s Double Dutch program, the ropes that once looked intimidating have become a source of confidence, competition and community pride. What started in 2024 with just eight participants has steadily evolved into a growing Uniondale tradition. This year, Uniondale will compete alongside Westbury, Elmont and Roosevelt during Saturday’s PAL Double Dutch competition, with nearly 20 jumpers representing Uniondale. “It’s really a great program that PAL brought on,” Dolores Fletcher, a Uniondale PAL Double Dutch coach and board member, said. “These kids never jumped Double Dutch before in their life. “Now they’re doing tricks, routines and performances,” she added. “Their parents are proud of them, and they’re proud of themselves.” The competition includes compulsory, doubles, speed and freestyle categories, with teams judged on timing, rhythm, synchronization and execution. “We'll start with the novice first, then we'll do with the advanced,” Fletcher said. “Each town participate doing the same identical category.” While trophies are awarded for first through four th place, every child receives a participation medal. Uniondale placed second during the first competition in 2024. Last year’s event served as a showcase rather than a formal competition, but returning jumpers are eager for another chance at the title. “I told my kids we’re all first-place
winners,” Fletcher said with a laugh. “But we still need that first-place trophy.” T he teams practice se parately throughout the year and do not see one another until competition day. Rather than becoming nervous, the children feed off the atmosphere. ““They don’t know the other teams, this is the first time they see everybody is that day.” Fletcher said. “They’re all hype and they can't wait — they're not nervous, little kids of today is built different,” The PAL program serves children between ages 7 and 14 and introduces many of them to Double Dutch for the first time. Fletcher begins with fundamentals — rhythm, timing and confidence — before advancing into more difficult routines and tricks. “When they first see two ropes, some of them are scared,” Fletcher said. “We tell them, ‘Don’t pay attention to the rope. Just listen to the sound — one, two, one, two.’” Once the children successfully jump into the ropes for the first time, Fletcher said their confidence changes immediately. Over time, the children progress into crisscrosses, jumping jacks, doubles routines and freestyle tricks. Some even invent tricks on their own. “They get so excited,” Fletcher said. “Once they’re in that rope they’re trying to do tricks, some will do tricks that we don’t even tell them to do. Practices begin around November and continue through May, often becoming more than training sessions. Fletcher checks in with students about school and daily life before transitioning into routines. “We make it fun,” Fletcher said. “We COntinued On Page 3