__________________ Merrick _________________
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Vol. 26 No. 37
long Island educators meet
Merrick author publishes book
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North Merrick library names new director ed to library science for a few reasons. “I’ve always been a reader,” The North Merrick Public she said. “But I also loved the Library recently named a new idea of working in the comd i re c t o r, Ja ck i e Pe re z , t o munity and working for the assume its leadership duties, public good, and serving them in that way. It’s really been following the departure of Susan Santa, the library’s pre- such a privilege to work in the v i o u s d i r e c t o r. S a n t a community and get to know people here.” announced she was Perez is no leaving the library stranger to the in April. Her last North Merrick month there was library. She still this May. lives in the comPerez, who lives in North Merrick, munity with her attended Sanford husband and two H. Calhoun High young sons, and School, just down has led the the road from the library’s chill i b r a r y. She dren’s department enrolled in the Colf o r a l m o s t f iv e lege of William & years. Mary in Williams- JAckIE PEREz “Not only have I burg, Va. for her Director grown up in this undergraduate community and I North Merrick Public studies, where she work in this comLibrary was an English m u n i t y, b u t m y major. Perez then kids are going to o b t a i n e d h e r m a s t e r ’s i n school in this community,” library science from the Pratt she said. “I’m the most investInstitute in New York City and ed you could be.” recently completed a certifiUpon Santa’s de par ture, cate in public library adminis- Perez was named acting directration from New York Univer- tor of the library, and was offisity. cially offered the role as its Perez said she was attract-
By JoRDAN VAlloNE
jvallone@liherald.com
I
Courtesy Izzy Herns
Welcome back to school! Zara Zytkowicz headed back to class at Park Avenue School in North Merrick on Sept. 5. More photos, Page 3.
Long Island Crisis Center to host 15th annual suicide prevention walk By JoRDAN VAlloNE jvallone@liherald.com
The Long Island Crisis Center is hosting its 15th annual suicide prevention walk on the Long Beach Boardwalk on Sunday, Oct. 1. The event, dubbed “Let’s Walk, Let’s Talk ... Stepping Together to Prevent Suicide,” unites those impacted by suicide, and raises funds so the crisis center can continue doing what it does best: remain a 24/7 center, that is there to help Long Islanders in times of need. About 15 years ago, a father of a teenager who had committed suicide reached out to the crisis center, according to Theresa Buhse, its
executive director since 2019. He was holding a walk in a park in Merrick, in honor of his daughter, and the crisis center became involved. “He reached out to us, and we were there,” Buhse said. “And I think that was the beginning. We were like, you know, this is something that is needed. You need a place for people to come together to know that they’re there to talk about suicide, but that everybody there is accepting and has either been touched by it or is comfortable talking about it.” Festivities will kick off at 10:30 a.m. on the boardwalk, at 1 Laurelton Blvd. Those who Continued on page 23
t’s really been such a privilege to work in the community and get to know people here.
Continued on page 4