Honoree Retha Fernandez at the Premier Business Women Event

Scarlett Liriano Cepin/Herald file photo Black-owned businesses rise. Sagine Pierre-Charles,the owner of Sage & Angie Boutique in West Hempstead, said she has seen a significant increase in community members’ focus on shopping at Black-owned businesses over the last five years.

Jordan Vallone/Herald

Students learn about ocean oil spills. John Street School second graders in Jeanmarie Derby’s class during a simulated oil spill. The students were challenged with removing oil from a pan of water with sponges, coffee filters and dish soap. Robotics club wins big at qualifying tournament. The Sewanhaka Central High School District’s Senior Robotics Club earned multiple awards in the First Tech Challenge regional qualifying tournament.

Courtesy Northwell Health/Lee Weissman

Nurse wins prestigious award. Jyothis Joy, a nurse at LIJ Valley Stream Hospital, received the Daisy Award, a prestigious nursing distinction. She moved from India in 2007. Hockey skills of Elmont students honed by Islanders. Town officials honored artists on Earth Day at the Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve in Merrick, who drew recycling-themed artwork for a contest ran annually by Covanta Energy.

Courtesy Floral Park-Bellerose Union Free School District Students at Floral Park-Bellerose School hold ‘Souper Bowl’ event. Floral Park Bellerose student council members, from left, Mickey Cherney, Kayla Bowley, Emma Vlassis, Molly Murphy, Juliet Oelkers and Emma Croon show off their soup cans they collected to give to people in need.