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VOL. 124 NO. 3
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Reactions are swift to mask directive ents and children should be granted the constitutional right to reject mask mandates while in Nassau County Executive the classroom.” Bruce Blakeman signed execuBlakeman shared his dissatistive orders on Jan. 6 faction with Gov. directing local K a t hy H o c h u l ’ s boards of education mask mandate as to vote this month early as mid-Decemon whether their disber, before he was tricts should mansworn into office. He date mask use, while had said that also lifting mask because there was requirements for all not a Covid crisis in county agencies and Nassau County, he the state’s tempowould not require rary mask mandate businesses to adhere in public places. to the gover nor’s The orders read order. “What the govin part, “Given the ernor did was paint historical data on the whole state with Covid-19 and the a broad br ush,” ongoing debate over MICHAEL J. Blakeman said. whether masks are It was not surKELLY more harmful than prising to many beneficial to chil- President, Nassauthat, once inauguratdren and to school Suffolk School ed, Blakeman went environments in Boards Association one step further, general, we should focusing on schools. protect the freedoms Parents in some disand statutory rights of students tricts, including Locust Valley, and parents by resting with the had voiced their displeasure parents the decision whether with the mask mandate since their children should wear last summer, saying the decision masks in school.” on whether children wear masks According to the orders, to school should be made by parschool boards must vote “to determine whether or not parCONTINUED ON PAGE 12
BY LAURA LANE llane@liherald.com
C
Courtesy Jessica Baker
Some couldn’t get enough of the first snow After shoveling driveways and sidewalks for his Bayville neighbors, Jack Baker, 16, joined his dog, Archie, who was lounging in the snow. More photos, Page 15.
Charlie Rizzuto, OBHS phys. ed. teacher, receives regional honor BY STEVEN KEEHNER llane@liherald.com
W h e n C h a rl i e R i z z u t o received an email on Dec. 15, while teaching a phys. ed class at Oyster Bay High School, he waited for the bell to ring to find out what the headline “Congratulations” meant. It meant that he had been named the 2022 Eastern District Teacher of the Year for
High School Physical Education. The annual award is presented by the Society of Health and Physical Educators, or SHAPE America, which represents over 200,000 health and phys. ed. professionals, and Rizzuto was one of just four high school teachers across the country to earn it. “It was a unique mixture of emotions initially,” said Rizzu-
to, 40, a husband and father of two. “Between being surprised, thrilled and humbled, it took a little while for it to even set in that I was chosen.” Recognition, he said, isn’t why he does what he does. “Awards aren’t what we teach for,” he said. “But it’s also really nice to know that your colleagues near and far recognize what you’re trying to do for the CONTINUED ON PAGE 12
ounties have no more authority to direct school board matters than do schools to legislate county affairs.