________ Franklin square/elmont _______
HERALD Preparing youth for the future
Could be another shark summer
A park for people with Alzheimer’s
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Vol. 25 No. 23
JUNE 1 - 7, 2023
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Sewanhaka to eliminate ‘Indian’ mascot By ANA BoRRUTo aborruto@liherald.com
Billy Harrison/Herald
Remembering our fallen heroes Several veterans — including Anthony Coscia, left in the wheelchair, and Pat Coviello — paid tribute to service members who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Franklin Square Memorial Day Parade on May 29. Pick up the June 8 edition of the Franklin Square/Elmont Herald for more coverage.
With the threat of possibly losing $72 million in state aid — as well as the removal of school officers — the Sewanhaka Central High School District Board of Education voted on May 23 to discard Sewanhaka High School’s Indian mascot. The board’s decision comes on the heels of the New York State Education Department’s unanimous verdict on April 18 to end the use of Native American mascots in schools. The state regulations went into full effect at the beginning of the month, and the ban on indigenous mascots will impact
a total of 11 Long Island school districts. The school board in each district must commit to removing its mascot by June 30, officials said. After July 1, the Sewanhaka board said, using or promoting the Indian mascot would be prohibited, and the goal is to introduce a new mascot by the fall. Sewanhaka Superintendent James Grossane said the school board plans to form a committee of volunteers to aid in the mascot transition. “I know that this is not news that will make everyone happy, but it is something that we are required to comply with,” Grossane said. Continued on page 2
More than 1,000 expected for Elmont/Belmont parade By REI WolFSoHN Intern
The Elmont community is preparing for its 15th annual Paul Sapienza Elmont/Belmont parade, set for Saturday, June 3 at 10 a.m. This year, there will be three grand marshals — all of whom are prominent figures leaving their positions in Elmont. Leading the parade will be Kevin Dougherty, Kenneth Rosner and Michael Scott Cushing. Dougherty is stepping down as principal of Elmont Memorial High School. Rosner will leave his position as superintendent of the Elmont elementary school
district and is moving on to East Meadow. Cushing, a longtime resident of Elmont assigned to the Special Legislative Task Force to Combat Antisemitism in Nassau, is relocating. Claudine Hall, one of the parade founders, said the three men were chosen to serve as grand marshals because of their dedication to and love for the Elmont community. “We found no better way of honoring their contributions to the community,” Hall said. Whether it’s organizing food collections to support local veterans or remaining active in the neighborhood schools, Ralph Esposito, chairman of the parade
planning committee, said, the three grand marshals have gone “above and beyond” for Elmont, and should be celebrated. Sponsored by Home Depot, Fidelis and Northwell Health, the parade will make its way roughly a mile and a quarter from the Alva T. Stanforth Sports Complex to the Belmont Park racetrack. Home Depot will decorate the path down Hempstead Turnpike. More than 20 organizations and community groups will participate with their own banners. The planning committee expects over a thousand marchers. Each grand marshal will receive a ceremonial key to
Elmont designed by Frank Hrbek, who customized the keys to sport each marshal’s favorite color, with a horse stamped with their favorite number. The New York Racing Association will dedicate one of the Belmont Park races that day to the parade participants. If the horse’s temperament is amenable, the planning committee and
grand marshals plan to take a photo with the winner of that race. “I just love what happens here — remember, we’re very diversified, and we’re a solid community,” Esposito said. “We work with each other, that’s the way it’s always been.” The late Pat Nicolosi, the late Continued on page 10