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HERALD Snow can’t stop Santa breakfast
Singing across generations
Trustee voted in at lakeview library
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Vol. 37 No. 1
JANUARY 1 - 7, 2026
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From curiosity to discovery New science program strives at SSHS organisms ranging from duckweed to fruit flies. “Our Level I students right Science research has become now are currently working a cornerstone of modern edu- with live organisms,” Madeline cation, and South Side High Getty, the school’s science School is taking its program in research coordinator, said, “learning various a new direction. A lab skills that they new hands-on, lab can then take and skills-based proapply to summer g ram was introresearch opportuniduced in Septemties, working in ber, allowing stulabs at dif ferent dents to build foununiversities over dational research the summers, [and] skills and develop then, when they get independent t o t h e L e ve l I I research projects in course, which is a number of sciencurrently our tific disciplines. juniors and The prog ram’s seniors, those stuobjectives extend dents are working beyond technical to develop an inderesearch methods to pendent project in include transferable their STEM field of skills such as oral choice.” presentation and ChRISTIAN ChAN Level II students, scientific literacy. SSHS Senior juniors and seniors, The goal is for studevelop in-de pth dents to gain confidence and independence while research projects aligned with their specific interests. Buildbecoming well-rounded people. South Side has launched a ing on the knowledge and skills two-level program. Level I stu- gained in Level I, they are able dents, freshmen and sopho- to for mulate more complex mores, focus on developing lab research questions. Skills such as culturing live skills and designing a research project from the ground up. organisms, performing serial Throughout the year, they con- dilutions and conducting statisduct research on a number of Continued on page 16
By AlYSSA R. GRIFFIN
agriffin@liherald.com
Courtesy Assemblywoman Judy Griffin’s office
assemblywoman Judy griffin sponsored legislation known as the Lieutenant Joseph Banish Mental Health act, which gov. Kathy Hochul signed on dec. 18.
Hochul signs mental health legislation for law enforcement By AlYSSA R. GRIFFIN agriffin@liherald.com
Joined by police leaders and bill sponsors, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the Lieutenant Joseph Banish Mental Health Act into law on Dec. 18. Responding to an increase in suicides and post-traumatic stress disorder among police officers, the bill will establish new confidentiality requirements for law enforcement during peer-to-peer counseling sessions. Named in memory of State Police Lt. Joseph Banish, who died by suicide in 2008, the legislation is intended to reduce the stigma associated with mental health among first responders while ensuring that counseling communications are protected. “Protecting New York’s first responders and ensuring they are well-equipped with support to successfully fulfill their duties is an essential part of my public safety mission,” Hochul said in a statement. “Law
enforcement officers who protect our communities during times of crisis deserve counseling services that are tailored to their unique experiences and conducted with discretion. By strengthening these programs, we are ensuring safe settings for honest conversations to improve the mental health and well-being of our first responders.” Sponsored by Assemblywoman Judy Griffin, who represents the 21st Assembly District, and State Sen. James Skoufis, the bill passed both houses of the Legislature last June. “I was honored to carry this legislation to establish a formal peer-to-peer mental health program for our police,” Griffin said in a news release. “This bill is about supporting the men and women who protect us every day by ensuring that they have the mental health resources they need to effectively serve communities across the state.” Suicide rates for police officers are more than 50 percent higher than the public at Continued on page 12
I
’ve been a part of South Side’s science research program for four years. It has literally changed the course of my academic career.