_______ mALVerNe/West HemPsteAD ______ your HEALTH body / mind / fitness
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Vol. 30 No. 27
looK INsIdE YoUR HEAlTH
Men’s Health
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Fighting fentanyl on long Island
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JUNE 29 - JUlY 5, 2023
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W.H. schools take part in Empire Games than 40. “Just to see the amount of students that we had participatStudents from the West ing versus where we started a Hempstead School District few short years ago was just enjoyed a day of fun and sports- absolutely amazing,” Bridget manship at the Nassau County Karis, the district’s director of Empire State pupil personnel serGames, an annual vices, said. event for the physiMikaela Velez, a cally challenged that sixth-grader in makes sports accesByrne’s class, first sible to all. took part in the “They look forgames in 2021, and ward to it,” Kelly has been coming Byrne, a sixth-grade back ever since. special education Mikaela, who excels teacher at George at basketball and her Washington school, f avo r i t e, t h e 4 0 said. “We all wear meter dash, said she the same T-shirts, likes having fun outwe’re all rooting for side and geteach other. Everyone BRIdgET KARIs ting stickers as prizhas a smile on their director, es for competing. face. It’s so positive pupil personnel “For me, the best and wonderful.” thing is to see the Students took a services, West students out there field trip to the Hempstead school participating and Mitchel Athletic district having that opportuComplex in Unionnity,” Karis said. dale for the June 2 “It’s a nice, fun activevent. The West Hempstead dis- ity for them to do.” trict began participating in the The games, organized by Nasgames in 2019, when six students sau County Games for the Physiin Byrne’s class were the only cally Challenged, are open to athparticipants from the district. letes ages 5 to 21 and include Now, only a few years later, that track and field, table tennis, footnumber has jumped to more Continued on page 24
By NIColE FoRMIsANo nformisano@liherald.com
B
ecause to hear any student say, ‘This is my best day ever’ . . . That’s really why we do it.
A soldier’s return for his son U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Christopher Oyales made a surprise trip from his service in Kuwait to celebrate his son, Mateo’s, kindergarten moving-up ceremony at Chestnut Street School in the West Hempstead school district on June 16. Graduation stories, photos, Pages 4, 10.
Photos courtesy West Hempstead school district