__________________ Merrick _________________
HERALD $1.00 $1.00
Student goes far in competition
Pirates’ season continues
Home purchased for record amount
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Vol. 24 No. 42
october 14 - 20, 2021
‘Great Give Back’ returns to libraries dren’s department at the Bellmore Memorial Library, said. “This is something we look forBellmore’s and Merrick’s ward to doing every year.” In libraries will once again take past years, the library’s propart in the Great Give Back this grams have included pet food month, a community event cele- and toy drives, as well as food brating public service. Spear- drives for local pantries or chariheaded by the Suffolk County ties. Public Library Directors Associ“The past couple ation in 2017, the iniof years, we’ve done tiative expanded to food drives,” Nassau County Pagones said. Even libraries in 2018. though the Great “The purpose of Give Back is usually the Great Give Back only one day, she is to provide a day of added, “We said, opportunity for ‘Let’s dedicate a patrons of public whole month to this libraries in New and get as much food York state to particias we can.’” pate in meaningful The food from s e r v i c e - o r i e n t e d PAm PAGoNeS this year’s drive will experiences,” North Bellmore Memorial be donated to the B e l l m o r e P u b l i c Library Bellmore-Mer rick Library Director JesCentral High School sica Tymecki District’s Communiexplained. ty Cupboard, and will feed about This year, the Great Give 50 local families. Back is on Saturday, although “It’s student-run — nice and several libraries have created local,” Pagones said of the Cupservice-oriented initiatives and board. “We know it’s going to the programs that often span weeks, people who need it.” This was or even the entire month of the library’s second year workOctober. ing with the Cupboard. “We love the Great Give Back The drive is accepting non— we’re really excited,” Pamela Pagones, the head of the chilContinued on page 4
by JorDAN VAlloNe jvallone@liherald.com
Courtesy Dave Manara
bellmore-merrick roller Hockey alumni reunited to win a Long Island-wide tournament. Clockwise from top left were Chris Sharkey, Andrew Barone, Jon Olson, Mike Mascaro, Steve Sharkey, Jerry Gioia, Dave Manara and Mike Scardigno.
In Bellmore-Merrick, roller hockey is a legacy by ANDreW GArciA agarcia@liherald.com
The close friends who grew up together playing hockey at the Bellmore-Merrick Roller Hockey rink never grew far apart. Recently, they reunited — along with some younger players — to win the Long Island Alumni Series Hockey Tournament. “We grew up playing down at the rink,” said Dave Manara, 39, a member of the board of directors of the facil-
ity, which hosts an instructional league for those ages 6 and up and was founded by Ted Manara, Dave’s father. “It’s one of the oldest on Long Island,” Dave said. It was Manara who learned of the tournament and called some of his former teammates, who were all excited to gear up. “When Dave gave us a call, it was an honor,” said Steve Sharkey, 39, a former BMRH player whose parents were also active in the organization. Along with
Jerry Gioia, the friends started traveling together as a team at age 11 or so. At the tournament, Sept. 25 and 26 at a rink in Plainview, the competition was fierce, but none came more determined than the Bellmore-Merrick team. It went undefeated against teams from, Bayport, Levittown, Middle Country, PatchogueMedford, Rocky Point and Sachem, winning six games and outscoring its opponents Continued on page 18
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his is something we look forward to doing every year.