_________________
HERALD $1.00
Wantagh celebrates purim
Nature center unveils program
Page 4
Page 5
Vol. 70 No. 13
1167501
SEAFORD
10000*
$
discount
18/21 itc FG Demi Condensed
1111028
__________________
Page xx
MARCH 24 - 30, 2022
These scouts are on a roll Thanks to local troop, Seaford schools now have gluten-free menu By MARiA CesteRo mcestero@liherald.com
Karen Millindorf/Herald
seaford’s science team is ‘highly reactive’ The Seaford Middle School Science Olympiad team celebrated its three-medal win with science teacher Roseann Zeblisky, Julia Spellman and Assistant Principal Jennifer L. Bisulca after the New York State Science Olympiad Regional Tournament, Division B, at Kellenburg Memorial High School on March 13.
After years of packing glutenfree lunches for her daughter, who has celiac disease, Kristina Caratelli, of Seaford, is feeling relieved: Gluten-free meals have been added to the Seaford School District’s menu. Giuliana Caratelli, 10, a student at the Seaford Manor School, was diagnosed with celiac in April 2018. Due to her immune reaction to eating gluten, she was unable to buy school lunches in the cafeteria. Luckily, Junior Girl Scout Troop 3656 — of which Giuliana is a member — was eager to address the lack of dietary
options for her. The troop decided that for their Bronze Award, the first in a series of medals that move up the Girl Scout rankings, they would complete a project that directly affected their fellow scout. After presenting their idea to the principal and assistant principal of Seaford Manor last September, according to Kristina, Troop 3656 began working with the district’s food service director, Betty Ann Fiola, on a plan to add gluten-free options to the lunch menu. Their efforts were a success, and they made a presentation to the district Board of Education at a meeting on Continued on page 13
Sláinte! St. Patrick’s parade makes triumphant return By KAte NAlepiNsKi knalepinski@liherald.com
A sea of green –– made up of an estimated scores of thousands of visitors –– lined the sidewalks of Wantagh Avenue on Sunday as leprechaun-shaped balloons, gold-tinted cars and first responders paraded down the street. As the Wantagh and Seaford Fire Department’s pipe bands played traditional Celtic tunes, a parader in a leprechaun outfit tossed chocolates into the street and children scampered to grab them. School district parents cheered as the Wantagh High School marching band made its
way down the street, and a fellow in a faux neon orange beard smiled and took a sip of a brown malt liquor. The Wantagh Chamber of Commerce’s second annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade — originally set for March 2020 — was canceled two years in a row, thwarted by the pandemic. But Sunday’s event seemingly made up for it: a substantial crowd of residents from Wantagh, Seaford and beyond attended the parade at 2 p.m. and a block party that followed at 4. “It feels great to celebrate life!” Cathy McGrory Powell, Wantagh Chamber of Commerce president, exclaimed before the
parade. “That’s what we need to do. Be joyous and find the silver lining in all of this, and thank all the people who attend –– our scouts, our businesses, our police, our military –– we have an incredible community.” The parade was also an opportunity to thank first responders, Powell added, who have kept the community safe. “For two years in a row, Nassau County is the safest county, and I believe we’re coming up on the third year,” she noted, referring to a U.S. News & World Report ranking. Support for police was visible in the float operated by Project Thank A Cop. Colorful paper
handprints crafted by elementary-school students adorned the float. Project Thank A Cop President Maegan Fox said kids were asked to trace their handprints on paper and write, in one word, what police means to them. “These are all from the heart — they weren’t manufactured,” Fox, a resident of Wantagh, said. Sky High Balloon in Wantagh
brought plenty of pizzazz to the parade. Irish flags made of balloons, balloons shaped like pots of gold at the end of rainbows and plenty of little Irish gnomes followed Sky High owner Christine Masi, who wore a llama costume made of balloons. “This is absolutely amazing,” said Masi, who created most of Continued on page 3