DECEMBER 15, 2016 • TIMES HUNTINGTON & NORTHPORTS • PAGE A9
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Photo from Harborfields school district
Students showed off their 50th anniversary T-shirts.
Photo from Northport-East Northport school district
Bellerose Avenue celebrates 50 years The Bellerose Avenue Elementary School community joined together for a special celebration to honor the school’s 50th birthday Nov. 18. The schoolwide event was held in the auditorium, where special guests included former faculty members and administrators. Principal Lori Beekman hosted the celebration and the PTA provided the decorations and cake. Fifth-graders and former Bellerose students kicked off the event with a performance of the “Star Spangled Banner.” Beekman spoke to the crowd about what she imagined the building was like 50 years ago and how proud she was to be a part of the school. “It’s such a good feeling to belong to a place that has such a rich and proud history.” In honor of the special anniversary, the school recently opened a time capsule that was placed inside the cornerstone of the building 50 years ago by Bellerose’s first principal Dan Frumerin. Through a slideshow presentation, Beekman shared photos from the day they removed the time
capsule and played old audio clips that were found inside. In the clips, former Bellerose students from 50 years ago spoke about the new school, what was happening in the world and what their lives were like. Students recently wrote their own essays and cards to put in a new time capsule for future generations to read. Some of the stories will be recorded and included in audio clips as well. Art teacher Shannon Murray discussed the schoolwide art project that the students worked on to commemorate the special occasion. They created a big 5-0 plaque that will be placed in the main stairwell. The crowd also viewed a slideshow of photos of Bellerose throughout the years, which was presented by senior teacher Jon Meyers. Students cheered when they recognized faculty members and students. To end the big event, Bellerose graduates, which included students and teachers who returned for the special event, led the room in a rendition of “Happy Birthday” and the Bellerose school song as the cake was presented.
obituaries Linda Marinelli
dustries for more than 20 years and helped launch and then managed The Whales Tale. Linda is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Joan M. and Derek J. Benham; loving cousins in New York, Florida and California; and her dog Tallulah. Linda will be remembered by all who knew and loved her as spontaneous, energetic, funny, irreverent and full of love. She made each person she met feel they were the most important person in the world. A memorial celebration to honor Linda will be held at The Whales Tale in Northport in the spring of 2017, where the culture and atmosphere best represents Linda’s infectious personality and to ensure that her legacy will live on.
Middle School student makes her mark through community service Eighth-grade student Lauren Pisano from Oldfield Middle School has recently been selected as the school’s annual Prudential Spirit of Community Award winner. The Prudential Spirit of Community Award program is the largest youth recognition program based primarily on community service. It honors middle and high school students for outstanding service at the local, state and national level. To apply, Pisano completed an application process and submitted a 750-word essay detailing her volunteer work. The school reviewed her application and selected her as an honoree to continue on for state-level judging. Pisano will find out in February if she qualifies to be a finalist, as only one middle school and high school student from New York can be deemed a state honoree. Those students who continue on have the chance to receive cash rewards, a trip to Washington, D.C. for national recognition events and a $5,000 grant from the Prudential Foundation for a nonprofit charitable organization of their choice.
Pisano decided to apply to the program after hearing about it from a friend. As an active member of her church, she’s dedicated more than 500 hours to helping others. Pisano volunteers daily at the church food pantry, which helps feed 75 families, and recently took part in coordinating the church’s holiday giving tree, which provides items to less fortunate families during the holiday season. She also participates in Project Hope, making sandwiches to feed the homeless every month and is involved in Respite, a club that works with those with special needs. “I really enjoy giving back,” said Pisano. “I get excited when I get to help others.” In addition to volunteering, Pisano is highly involved in the school community. She is an active member of the soccer and track teams and is a chorus and orchestra student. Pisano is also a member of the Student Recognition Club, which spotlights students that are doing the right thing and are excellent examples of the school’s character trait of the month.
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Linda Marinelli, a longtime resident of Northport, died Nov. 18 at Hospice House of East Northport after a two-year battle with breast cancer. Linda was born in Queens and moved with her family to Northport when she was 8 years old. She attended Ocean Avenue and Norwood Avenue Elementary Schools, East Northport Junior High School and Northport High School. She graduated in 1966. Linda had lived in Northport on and off over the years and returned to make Northport her permanent home in 2012. She worked in the restaurant and catering in-
Guidance counselors Dahlia Roemer, left, Jennifer McCaffrey, middle right, and Mary Fagan, right, with Prudential Spirit of Community Award winner at Oldfield Middle School, Lauren Pisano, middle left.
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