_______ Lynbrook/east rockaway ______
HERALD Also serving Bay Park
$1.00
Chamber’s night under the stars
Mental health awareness event
Poetic students earn praise
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VOL. 29 NO. 24
JUNE 9 - 15, 2022
E.R. schools name new superintendent maso at its May 24 meeting. He is currently the district’s assistant superintendent for curricuAfter serving in administra- lum and instruction. He graduattive roles in schools for nearly ed from Johns Hopkins Universithree decades, James DeTom- ty with a bachelor’s degree in maso is set to social sciences, become superinand earned a mastendent of the East ter’s in special eduRockaway School cation and a proDistrict on July 1, fessional diploma when cur rent in educational Superintendent administration Lisa Ruiz retires. from LIU Post. “It will be both DeTommaso bean honor and privigan his career at lege to lead the E a s t Ro ck aw ay E a s t Ro ck aw ay Junior-Senior High School District as School as a special the next superineducation teacher tendent of and coach of the schools,” DeTomvarsity football maso said in a and lacrosse statement. “After teams. He also JAMES serving the comserved as dean of munity in numer- DETOMMASO students and assisous roles for over incoming tant principal for 28 years, I returned 15 years. Before superintendent, East to my professional rejoining East home because I Rockaway schools Ro c k aw ay l a s t believe this is a year, he was the special place, with unlimited principal of West Hempstead potential. I want to give back all High School for three years. the life lessons and knowledge I In his year as assistant superhave gained from the communi- intendent, DeTommaso crafted ty as the leader of the district.” professional development opporThe Board of Education tunities for the faculty on Superunanimously appointed DeTomCONTINUED ON PAGE 12
By MIKE SMOLLINS msmollins@liherald.com
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Courtesy Lynbrook School District
Busting a move to learn about cultures Students at Lynbrook’s Marion Street Elementary School recently celebrated Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, taking part in lessons and dances that helped them learn about different cultures.
Huckleberry Frolic set to return
E.R. prepares for beloved event after two-year absence By KEPHERD DANIEL kdaniel@liherald.com
One of East Rockaway’s most anticipated annual village events, the Huckleberry Frolic, returns Saturday after a two-year pandemic hiatus. The Frolic will begin at 10 a.m. with a parade from Althouse Avenue and Main Street to Memorial Park, on Atlantic Avenue, where the festivities will continue until 4 p.m. After the parade, there will be an opening ceremony, with representatives of Bethany Congregational Church offering a prayer, followed by a performance of “The StarSpangled Banner,” by Glor Na nGael Pipe &
Drums. All of the money raised at the event will go to the Grist Mill Museum, on Woods Avenue, which was built in 1688 and is symbolic of East Rockaway’s rich history. The Grist Mill Committee created the inaugural Huckleberry Frolic in 1969 as a way for the community to have fun and raise money for repairs and maintenance of the museum. The event was so successful that it has lasted more than five decades, and has grown each year. Regina Cunningham, who serves on the Grist Mill Committee and is chairing the Frolic for the first time, said she was excited to see the effort and CONTINUED ON PAGE 11
t will be both an honor and privilege to lead the East Rockaway School District as the next superintendent of schools