________________ LONG BEACH _______________
HERALD Also serving Point Lookout & East Atlantic Beach
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Changes at city schools
Cuomo faces backlash
Recent lifeguard updates
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Vol. 32 No. 32
AUGUST 5 - 11, 2021
A tribute: ‘He was hip-hop’ Long Beach street is dedicated to the late rap artist M.F. Doom gathered for a ceremony to dedicate East Hudson Street, at Riverside Boulevard, to the rapper, Some three decades ago, the who was known by the tradequiet, young London-born boy mark mask he always wore on would sit in his room in a small stage, and the lyrics that came wooden house on Hudson Street from his heart. in Long Beach, studying, reading, “His music was about individlistening to music and dreaming: ualism,” said Frei Speech, a He would one day become a friend and music producer from famous musician. Brooklyn. “His mesDaniel Dumile sage was about being came to Long Beach authentic. It was from England as a about not having any fifth-grader, and he limits for yourself.” and his younger Dumile’s wife, brother decided that Jasmine, announced they would leave the on social media last hardscrabble section Dec. 31 that he had FRei SpeeCH of Long Beach, and died on October 31. the whole world Friend The cause was not would hear their announced. message. But it was his life Years later, Dumile would that was celebrated on a warm adopt the stage moniker M.F. Saturday afternoon. Doom, or just Doom, and his rap Patrick Graham, a former music would transcend race and executive director of the Martin musical tastes. Even those who Luther King Center in Long never listened to rap came, over Beach, said he had led a petition time, to listen. drive eight months ago to urge Dumile became one of Long the City Council to dedicate the Beach’s best-known entertainers street to Dumile, who was — right along with Billy Crystal referred to throughout the hour— and one of the country’s most long ceremony as Doom, or M.F. influential rappers. He died last Doom. October, at age 49. “This journey has not been Last Saturday, dozens of fans, friends and family members Continued on page 4
By JAmeS BeRNSTeiN jbernstein@liherald.com
Darwin Yanes/Herald
Building bonds Long Beach Police Commissioner Ron Walsh helped Aria, 2, with her hula-hoop at Kennedy Plaza on Aug. 3, National Night Out, when police across the country met with people in their communities in the interest of improving relations.
Sean McGowan becomes a lifeguard, despite the challenges By JAmeS BeRNSTeiN jbernstein@liherald.com
Sean McGowan dived into a pool at the Skudin Swim complex at Nickerson Beach in Lido earlier this week, and demonstrated how he would save someone who was drowning. Typical stuff for a lifeguard. But McGowan, 24, has had to overcome many challenges to become a Skudin lifeguard. He was born with Down syndrome,
and attends a special school in Plainview. But he always wanted to be a lifeguard. During two years of training, he never allowed his challenges to keep him from passing a difficult test during the past few weeks to become a Nassau County-certified Grade 1B lifeguard, which allows him to work at the Skudin Swim pool. To pass the test, McGowan had to swim 10 laps of a 25-yard pool nonstop, and dive 10 feet
down and bring up a 10-pound brick. He also had to demonstrate a rescue of a passive victim, a cross-chest carry of an active one, as well as escapes and releases (for when a panicked victim grabs a lifeguard), and pass a written multiple-choice exam. “I’m very proud of myself,” McGowan said as he sat near the Skudin pool on Tuesday. “I startContinued on page 12
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is music was about individualism.