________ Franklin square/elmont _______
HERALD
your HEALTH body / mind / fitness
and NOVEMBER 30, 2023
with a focus on:
healthy holidays
Vol. 25 No. 49
Gobble gobble turkey trotters
Plattduetsche holiday market
Page 10
Page 16
NoVEMBER 30 - DECEMBER 6, 2023
$1.00
Speaking up for selective mutism locally Erica and Joe Pormigiano, Jessica’s father, help out at events and with projects for “Just because you can’t Rescuing Families — a nonprofspeak doesn’t mean you don’t it organization based in Frankhave a voice,” Jessica Pormi- lin Square — and thought it giano, a 19-year-old with selec- would be a good way for Jessica tive mutism wrote. She commu- to get involved in the communinicates using a white board, ty. Gina Centauro, founder of because her condiRescuing Families, tion prevents her came up with the from speaking in name “Silent social settings. Stitches” for JessiSelective mutism ca’s potholders. is an anxiety disorIf people have der in which a perquestions about the son is unable to products she’s sellspeak in situations ing, either of Jessisuch as at school, in ca’s parents will sit public or at work. with her, and act as Most cases are idenher verbal compantified at a young ion. age, usually “T hey usually between 3 and 8 f i n d t h e m ve r y years old, according good — they like t o t h e S e l e c t ive the colors,” Joe Mutism, Anxiety, said of customers and Related Disor- JEssICA wh o b row s e t h e d e r s T r e a t m e n t PoRMIGIANo selection of potCenter. holders at Jessica’s Silent Stitches T h i s s u m m e r, table. Jessica started In addition to hand-crocheting potholders. having one of her parents with Her mother, Erica Pormigiano, her, Jessica has flyers explainsuggested that she sell them at ing her anxiety disorder to local events such as local non- explain why she doesn’t speak profit Rescuing Families’ com- to customers. Her mother says munity marketplaces.
By NIColE WAGNER
nwagner@liherald.com
Keith Rossein/ Herald
lighting up for the holidays Neighbors gathered around at the Lidl shopping center to celebrate the first tree lighting celebration of the 2023 holiday season on Nov. 25. Story, additional photos, Page 3.
SAT goes digital starting in March By NIColE WAGNER nwagner@liherald.com
There’s no longer a need for a No. 2 pencil and filling in ovals when taking the SAT as the optional test used to measure a student’s reading, writing and math comprehension when applying to college moves to a fully-digital format in March 2024. The decision to switch to administer the test digitally was made based on trends in education, where students learn using technology more frequently, according to College Board. The exam will still be administered in proctored test centers.
Students will be able to use personal or school-issued devices to take the test. For weekend SAT administrations moving forward, H. Frank Carey testing coordinator and school counselor Rachel Tufano said that Sewanhaka school district students will use school-issued devices to take the exam. Students outside of the district will use their own devices and students who can’t provide a device because of financial concerns, can contact the College Board to provide a device. Students are expected to have the Bluebook, the exam application, downloaded beforehand and have their device charged, ready to take the Continued on page 7
T
he community seems understanding about my issue, and a lot of people like the quality of the project.
Continued on page 8