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HERALD Lacrosse High School Preview
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VoL. 25 No. 16
An ‘egg’cellent Easter event
Bring out the Derby hats
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APRIL 13 - 19, 2023
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Military moms are showered with love By ANA BoRRUTo aborruto@liherald.com
Ana Borruto/Herald
LISA FARLEy, LEFT, her mother, Nancy Stirner, and her newborn son, Ryan, went home with a ton of necessary baby supplies thanks to Operation Shower. Story, more photos, page 20.
Military families know the stress and isolation of deployment — the separation from loved ones can be extremely challenging, especially with a baby on the way. Operation Shower, a nonprofit organization founded in St. Louis, minimizes the stress of de ployment by arranging baby showers for expecting military mothers and families. On April 4, the Operation Shower team hosted a hockeythemed baby shower with the
Islanders Children’s Foundation at UBS Arena in Elmont for 25 military moms-to-be — all of whom were either activeduty service members or the spouses or partners of deployed members on area military bases. “If it’s your first time, if it’s a second time or third time, just thinking about having a baby shower, it makes you feel a little sad because your family is gone,” said Allyssa Hailemaskel, an expectant mother whose husband is in the Air Force. “When you have an opportunity like this to share Continued on page 20
Elmont Memorial H.S. principal announces plans to leave By ANA BoRRUTo aborruto@liherald.com
Kevin Dougherty, the principal of Elmont Memorial High School, has informed the Elmont community that he is stepping down from his position at the end of the school year. Dougherty, who has served as principal since 2015, sent an email to parents, students and staff on April 5, announcing that he is leaving his post, effective June 30. “The Elmont community has been amazing to me and my family over the last eight years,” Dougherty wrote in an email. “I will cherish the memories that
we have — I look forward to staying in touch and hearing about the amazing things our outstanding scholars go on to achieve.” In a statement, the Sewanhaka Central High School District thanked Dougherty for his service to the community and the innovative programs he introduced at the high school during his time as principal. District officials said they would start looking to fill the position “as soon as possible” for the 2023-24 school year. Dougherty’s announcement comes on the heels of District Superintendent James Grossane’s decision to retire at the end of the school year.
“Word on the street is that today was a very emotional and disappointing day, with Principal Dougherty breaking down while announcing to his scholars that he would not be returning next year, which in turn caused the students to also emotionally break down,” Dwayne Palmer, an Elmont parent, said. In recent months, the Elmont principal has overcome some controversy. Dougherty was placed on an unexplained leave of absence right before the start of the school year, in what administration officials described as a “sabbatical.” The move sparked protests among parents and students,
who demanded answers about his sudden removal. Dougherty was reinstated to his position on Oct. 11. Many Elmont community members speculated that this incident — as well as remaining tension with some school board members — has spurred Dougherty to leave. Lynette Battle, president of
the Elmont Parent Teacher Student Association, said that losing Dougherty and Grossane at the same time is a “double whammy” for Elmont Memorial High School. “This wasn’t a broken system — the school board broke it,” Battle said. “This is for people’s egos and personal agendas — the Continued on page 10