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Regulations could tighten on pot smoke By BRANDON CRUZ bcruz@liherald.com
Courtesy Uniondale Public Schools
Uniondale High School scholars Emily Carangui, left, and Savanna Hope, center, earned the AP Capstone Seminar and Research Certificate. Irene Iraheta earned the AP Capstone Diploma.
Uniondale scholars honored for their AP Capstone efforts By REINE BETHANY rbethany@liherald.com
Forty-nine Uniondale High School scholars received recognition for their successful completion of Advanced Placement courses at a ceremony in the high school’s Little Theater last Friday. Twenty-six students who participated in the two-year AP Capstone Diploma Program were in attendance to receive their awards, which they earned during their junior and senior years. Another 23 scholars were named who graduated with AP honors in June, but they could not attend because they have gone on to college. “We proudly recognize the achievements of students who participated in the AP Capstone Diploma program,” district Superintendent Dr. Monique Darrisaw-Akil said. “Our AP Capstone students and teachers displayed exceptional dedication to this impactful, multi-academic-year program where they got to explore their passions through scholarly
research.” The Capstone program is administered by the College Board, a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing programs and tests — including the Advanced Placement courses and the PSAT and SAT exams — to prepare high school students for college. Students who take AP courses sit for a single exam for each course at the end of the school year. The AP courses can earn college credits for students who score 3 or higher on the program’s grading scale of 1 to 5. The Capstone program differs from AP courses. It has two components, each a year long: AP Seminar, which is taken during students’ sophomore or junior year, and allows them to explore topics in which they take a personal interest — for example, how air quality impacts daily life in a given neighborhood — and AP Research, which involves writing a scholarly research paper about a chosen topic, engaging in collaborative work, and delivering a presentation. ContInUED on PAgE 11
Since New York State legalized marijuana in 2021, users no longer feel the stress of having to smoke in secrecy. According to state law, they can light up anywhere that cigarettes are permitted. But many non-smokers are less than pleased about the new aroma of freedom. “I am constantly smelling weed,” said Wilma Ramos, a resident of Uniondale, adding that the pungent odor finds her whether she’s at home in her apartment, outside walking her dog or even running an errand at a store. “It’s everywhere.” “The smell sucks, but what are you going to do?” Ramos said. “I equate it to someone cooking fish near me. It’s a nasty smell, but there’s nothing I can do about it, unfortunately.” Ramos is not alone in her opinion of the smell of pot. Last month, Assemblyman Phillip Steck, a Democrat who represents the 110th District upstate, introduced a bill that would “prohibit the use of cannabis within thirty feet of a child or within thirty feet of any location in which children reside or attend for any recreational or
educational purpose — including areas separated by walls, closed doors or floors within a building.” The bill also includes provisions for increased penalties for repeat offenders if they are caught smoking in those areas more than once. The legislation would not apply to cigarette smoking. “I have steadfastly supported marijuana legalization since I was first elected, and continue to do so,” Steck said. “However, I am not a libertarian with respect to marijuana, or anything else, for that matter. Marijuana and alcohol need to be regulated in the best interest of the entire community.” Steck was moved to create the bill, he said, by the “concern over irresponsible behavior with marijuana that adversely affects the rights of others to raise their children as they feel is appropriate.” He noted marijuana’s powerful smell and the possible effects of secondhand smoke. “No, you do not have a Godgiven right to engage in any behavior you want, at any time, in any place, under any circumstances,” Steck said. He added that this is just the first version of the bill, and that he is open to ContInUED on PAgE 9