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HERALD Higher Education
Empowering a brighter future
Vol. 26 No. 15
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HERALD CoMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS WINNER of
Inside APRIl 6 - 12, 2023
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AWARDS $1.00
Taking a new look at teens’ mental health
Kessel steps down from Nassau IDA By JoRDAN VAlloNE jvallone@liherald.com
At the Nassau County Industrial Development Agency’s March 30 meeting, Chairman Richard Ke s s e l a n n o u n c e d h e would be stepping down. Kessel, 73, of Merrick, was a longtime chairman of the Long Island Power Authority, chairman of the state Power Authority, executive director of the state Consumer Protection Board and director of the state’s Public Service Commission. A Democrat, he was appointed to the IDA five years ago by former County Executive Laura Curran. He continued to serve the agency u n d e r h e r s u c c e s s o r, Bruce Blakeman. The IDA g rants tax breaks to expanding businesses and housing projects, and with Kessel’s departure, the board now has to fill two seats. Current board members include John Coumatos, Victor LaGreca, William Rockensies and Reginald Spinello. Blakeman is responsible for appointing board members, who then elect IDA officers. A t l a s t T h u r s d ay ’s meeting, Kessel thanked Curran and Blakeman for their support during his time as chair man, and added that despite his departure from the IDA, he hoped to remain active in government. “I want to thank all the board members here tonight,” he said. “I am Continued on page 19
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cult time in high school, struggling with anxiety and depression. Through a colleague of In today’s society, teachers, her father’s, Brief and her famischool administrators, social ly were connected to SPTS, and workers and mental health began volunteering and workadvocates agree that, more than ing with the organization. Seeever, teens need outing the success of reach and support wellness summits when they battle in New Jersey, she negative thoughts decided to bring and actions. one to Nassau At last week’s County. Nassau County Mike HarringYo u t h We l l n e s s ton, superintendent Summit, hosted by of schools in Bellthe New Jerseymore-Merrick and a based Society for former principal at the Prevention of Mepham, has Teen Suicide Last known Brief and week, Long Island her family since she teens were encourwas a student. aged to focus on “Stacy was one conquering their DAwN DoHERty of my standouts at toughest mental Executive director, M e p h a m , ” H a rhealth challenges. rington said. “A treSince 2019, the Bell- SPTS mendous, tremenmore-Merrick Cendous young lady. tral High School District has After graduating, I knew right offered the Brookside School, away that she wanted to get into its district offices, as the venue mental health and pursue a for the mental health event. social work career. Stacy Brief, 25 of Bellmore, “Once I got to the central is a 2016 graduate of Mepham office,” he added, “her mother High School and a licensed and Stacy reached out, expresssocial worker at Calhoun High. ing their interest to host a Brief previously told the Herald that she went through a diffiContinued on page 12
By JoRDAN VAlloNE jvallone@liherald.com
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Courtesy Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District
A tEAm of students at Kennedy High School was named a winner in the 2022 REACH Challenge for creating an adaptive desk that greatly improved the life of a young boy, Andrew, who has spinal muscular atrophy. With him, from left, were students Preston Bowman, Cole Wasserman and Maxwell Frank.
Students earn national titles in 2022 REACH Challenge By JoRDAN VAlloNE jvallone@liherald.com
From creating an adaptive desk for a young boy with a disability to inventing a coin calculator for a man with Down syndrome, two teams of students at John F. Kennedy High School have earned national recognition for their inventions. The two teams participated in the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association’s REACH Challenge,
with the goal of creating a project that greatly enhances the lives of someone in their community facing daily adversities due to a disability. One of the teams in the school’s Advanced Science Research, or ASR, program earned first place in the national 2022 REACH Challenge, while the other was named a semifinalist. T h e R E AC H C h a l l e n g e requires students in STEM proContinued on page 4
f you’re struggling, that’s OK, because there are others who are struggling or have struggled.