Lynbrook/East Rockaway
wiNNER oF
18
HERALD
AwARdS Page 8
Also serving Bay Park
initial findings in dolphin death
A message from the chamber
An East Rockaway love story
Page 7
Page 6
Page 4
Vol. 27 No. 35
AUGUST 27 - SEPTEMBER 2, 2020
$1.00
LHS alumni push for racism education table and inclusive curriculum; assembling a diverse teaching and professional staff; and In the months since George implementing anti-racist and Floyd’s death, a nationwide anti-bias professional developmovement has emerged to com- ment programs. bat systemic racism in law The letter includes several enforcement, busisources of data, ness and educaquotations from tion. A group of other alumni to Ly n b r o o k H i g h support the School alumni has group’s claims and united to further what they believe the cause in their are achievable community, specifigoals for the future cally the school of Lynbrook public d i s t r i c t , wh i c h schools. they said could “This proposal m a k e i m p r o ve is meant to take ments in teaching Lynbrook, someanti-racism princithing that we hold ples and incorpobeloved, and r a t i n g d i - ve r s e improve it in ways teaching methods we think would into the curricu- ViVEk ShAh benefit all,” said lum. Lynbrook Owls Fighting Viv e k S h a h , a T h e g r o u p , for Diversity, Equity and m e m b e r o f t h e called Lynbrook a l u m n i g ro u p ’s Inclusion Owls Fighting for Leadership Board. Diversity, Equity In retur n, the and Inclusion, group is asking for drafted a 28-page proposal four things from the administraaddressed to the school adminis- tion: a written response from tration and Board of Education Superintendent Dr. Melissa encompassing the changes it Burak and the school board hopes to see made in the schools. committing Lynbrook to becomIts three chief areas of discussion are creating a diverse, equiContinued on page 11
By JUliA SwERdiN lyneditor@liherald.com
w
Courtesy Steve Grogan
ThE ChRiSTodoUloU FAMily gathered to watch officers unveil a new honorary street sign at Central and Hodson avenues honoring the late NYPD Sgt. Christopher Christodoulou.
‘A place to remember’
Lynbrook street named for late NYPD officer By JUliA SwERdiN lyneditor@liherald.com
Family, friends and uniformed police officers gathered at the corner of Hodson and Central avenues on Aug. 21 as a new honorary street sign, “NYPD Sgt. Christopher Christodoulou,” was unveiled. Christodoulou died of a Sept. 11-related illness in 2017, at age 45. Nearly three years after his death, his legacy of kindness and affec-
tion lives on through his loved ones, who celebrate his life of valor in the police force. “Chris lived a life defined by quiet strength, courage, compassion and service,” family friend Joseph Tranor said at Christodoulou’s funeral in 2017. “It’s our turn now to keep the faith for Chris. Chris gave us an example of how to live, and it’s our job to emulate that.” Christodoulou joined the New York City Police Depart-
ment in 1997, and was promoted to sergeant in 2004. During his 20-year career, he was recognized five times for Excellent Police Duty and twice for Meritorious Police Duty. As chaos reigned at the World Trade Center after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Christodoulou and the NYPD counterterrorism unit responded quickly to the scene. Christodoulou’s heroism that day later resulted in Continued on page 3
e need to start working from the bottom up and give people the knowledge to confront these issues head-on.