_________________ WANTAGH ________________
HERALD Carini decries l.I. as ‘sixth borough’
Body found at popular preserve
Hochul control, or local control?
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Vol. 71 No. 12
MARCH 16 - 22, 2023
$1.00
‘Our window remains open’ Looking forward after successful wrestling season at Wantagh High High, in Levittown (183.5). The Clem brothers, Vanorden and Bonasera were all standouts. Sometimes, when a team falls Bonasera defeated Lynbrook’s just short of its ultimate goal, Dylan Vanegas in the 138-pound fear can start to sink in that that division, Vanorden beat Bethits window of opportunity might page’s William McMullen in be closing. But with coaches overtime in the 145-pound final, Paul Gillespie and and Anthony and Ray Hanley at the Joe Clem captured helm, and with titles in their weight Anthony and Joe classes as well. C l e m a n d Je s s e “Team counties is Vanorden returning really exciting,” Joe next season, Wantsaid. “In the finals, agh High School’s we went up against wrestling team has Long Beach, and I no such concern. was the final match. The squad is comIt came down to the ing off one of the final match.” best seasons in the Clem dominated program’s history. his match, winning The Clem twins, RAY HANlEY by technical fall, the who are juniors, assistant wrestling equivalent emerged as stars of the mercy rule. wrestling coach this season, and “When you’re up by went far enough to 15 or more points,” be named Newsday’s Athletes of he explained, “they just stop the the Week on Feb. 17. Other key match.” members of the team included Clem ended up earning the Vanorden, a junior, and senior Gary Ventimiglia Outstanding Thomas Bonasera. Wrestler and the Ted Petersen “I was pretty happy with my Champion of Champion awards season,” Anthony Clem said. for his performance. “Wasn’t my favorite ending, but Gillespie and Hanley have full pretty good throughout the faith in the athletes who will whole season.” return next year. Gillespie, who Both Anthony and Joe lost in was a two-time All-American at the finals of the state champion- Pennsylvania’s Westchester ships, Anthony in the 118-pound State University, has coached at division and Joe at 126 pounds. Wantagh for 12 years. He previBut Wantagh racked up 253 ously coached at Long Beach. points at the Nassau Division I But Gillespie also knows that championships Feb. 11 and 12, Long Beach — and other Nassau far ahead of Long Beach High wrestling teams — will see WantSchool (208.5) and MacArthur Continued on page 2
By MICHAEl MAlASZCZYK mmalaszczyk@liherald.com
3URSHUW\ WD[ VDYLQJV IRU RXU Y QHLJKERUV DQG IULHQGV ‘Every day, I say God bless America’ Tim Baker/Herald
Those are words Michael Dunphy, owner of the Wantagh Inn and originally from Ireland, lives by. According to Dunphy, he has lived the American dream ever since he moved to Wantagh. This weekend, that will be part of the celebration when he leads Wantagh’s St. Patrick’s Day parade as its third grand marshal. Dunphy made sure to include those words in his speech at the Grand Marshal Dinner at the Crest Hollow Country Club on March 7. Story, more photos, Page 3.
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ou can tell right at the start, when they walk in, how good they’re going to be.
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Middle school students will stage Disney musical By KEPHERD DANIEl kdaniel@liherald.com
Seaford Middle School’s drama club will roll out the red carpet for its annual school play — with the much-anticipated performance of “The Little Mermaid Jr.” — on March 31 and April 1. This marks the second year in a row that students will be able to perform a play on stage since the disruptions caused by Covid. After last year’s performance of “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,” the cast has grown from 27 to more than 40, with another 20 working on the stage group. “It’s been fun because you get to hang out with a
lot of people,” seventh-grader Natalie Gonzalez said. Auditions began at the end of November and music rehearsals were first conducted in December, with the cast starting to dive into rehearsals for all the scenes in January. “A lot of the kids are back in the cast for a second year, so they have an idea of how I work and what to expect,” Barbara Sherwin, the play and drama club director, said. “We start to get into a groove, and they start to know what is expected and the responsibilities of following the schedule, knowing your lines, going over the music, and Continued on page 4