________ Franklin square/elmont _______
HERALD Schumer pushes for clean water
An Elmont Winter Wonderland
Redistricting tensions persist
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Vol. 25 No. 3
JANUARY 12 - 18, 2023
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Three earn Eagle rank F.S. Boy Scout Troop 93 members receive highest honor By ANA BoRRUTo aborruto@liherald.com
Ana Borruto/Herald
RYAN NooNAN, lEfT, Joseph Barberesi and Nicholas Hernandez were celebrated for their Eagle achievement at a Court of Honor ceremony on Jan. 5.
Three members of Franklin Square Boy Scout Troop 93 recently achieved the rank of Eagle Scout — scouting’s highest and most coveted honor. Joseph Barberesi, Nicholas Hernandez and Ryan Noonan were recognized at a Court of Honor ceremony on Jan. 5, surrounded by their fellow Boy Scouts, family, friends and mentors. Robert Murawski, scoutmaster of Troop 93 and Iroquois District commissioner, said
that Barberesi, Hernandez and Noonan have demonstrated what it takes to become “life scouts,” which made them worthy of the Eagle Scout honor. “The life scout goals can be accomplished, but it takes real effort, and only those with true scout spirit will achieve it,” Murawski said. “(They) are to be congratulated for reaching this highest peak of the eagle trail — (their) diligence and hard work has paid off.” Eagle Scout is the highest rank in the Boy Scouts, and more than two million scouts Continued on page 16
Elmont girl, 10, gives back through her own nonprofit She discovered philanthropy through pageantry, and founded Meera Empowerment
By ANA BoRRUTo aborruto@liherald.com
At 10 years old, Selene Ferdinand of Elmont is already compiling quite the résumé. A student at Dutch Broadway Elementary School, Selene is giving back to her community through her own nonprofit organization, called Meera Empowerment, which she launched two years ago with the help of her mother, Savitre Ferdinand. “When I give back to all the kids and children in my community, it makes me so happy to see
a smile on their face,” Selene said. Selene first showed an interest in volunteerism and community service at age 4, when she began entering beauty pageants. She received a letter in the mail asking if she wanted to join the National American Miss pageant, and she decided she wanted to give it a shot. She was immediately bitten by the pageant bug, and is now in her seventh year of competing, Selene said. Through the competitions, she has learned about the importance of giving
back. This inspired her to create Meera Empowerment, to encourage others her age to get involved in volunteerism and philanthropy. “The reason we keep coming back to pageantry is because it’s all about community service and empowering the youth in your community,” her mother said. “She decided to create her own platform. I wasn’t surprised — I was already doing so much with her. I said, ‘Why not?’” Meera, which is Selene’s middle name, teaches kids in the Elmont community different life
skills and lessons, such as how to cook and sew, Selene said. The young entrepreneur added that she also organizes fashion shows and hosts tea parties to raise money for various causes, including ending hunger and finding a cure for cancer. The fashion show was one of
the first Meera Empowerment events she organized, and to this day, it is a favorite of hers, she said. “We did it in our backyard, and we made around $3,000 — I sold some of my pageant clothes that didn’t fit me anymore,” SeleContinued on page 4