Serving Port Washington
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Friday, September 2, 2016
vol. 1, no. 27
Port WashingtonTimes
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HIGH SCHOOL MANORHAVEN DELAYS MARTINS, PIDOT, SPORTS PREVIEW DEJANA HEARING SUOZZI SQUARE OFF PAGes 31-58
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concerned Port parents call for football’s end
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D e D i c At i o n AwA R D
Cite risk of injuries; district asserts that player safety is a top priority By St e p h e n Romano Although the Paul D. Schreiber High School football team is playing an independent schedule this season to combat injuries and seek fairer competition, some parents said further steps need to be taken to deal with the football program. In a letter to the editor in the Port Washington Times, Joel Katz, a Port Washington resident and parent of former Schreiber students, said that the school district should eliminate the football program. “Minor injuries, serious injuries, brain concussions and even deaths, can occur during any football game, or football practice session,” Katz said in the letter. “Why would any caring parent, or right thinking school administrator, want to allow students to participate in such a dangerous sport?” In response, the school superintendent, Dr. Kathleen Mooney,
said that players’ safety was a top priority and the district sought to educate the whole child, supporting athletics as well as the arts. Stephanie Joannon, the district’s director of health, physical education and athletics, said she held meetings with parents to discuss the future of the football program after six players suffered concussions last season and there were 57 missed practices. As a result, Port Washington elected to leave the New York State Public High School Athletic Association and play an independent schedule against private schools on Long Island and in Westchester. Katz, however, said he and other parents aren’t satisfied with the district’s decision to switch to an independent schedule. “Ms. Joannon, Mr. Hovorka, Dr. Mooney and probably our school board, all think that this a positive accomplishment and that the likelihood of more student Continued on Page 76
PHOTO BY dEBBIE COHEN
Nassau County Legislator delia deRiggi-Whitton honoring kevin Greenstein for his push to extend the use of lever voting machines, so people with disabilities don’t have to struggle filling in bubbles.
Martins’ request to delay vote for Congress rejected By n o a h manSkaR
jected Republican Jack Martins’ request to delay it a month. Judge Frederick J. Scullin’s The 3rd Congressional Dis- ruling in Albany federal court trict’s general election will pro- means only a month will sepaceed as planned on Nov. 8 after rate the general election and a federal judge on Tuesday re- an Oct. 6 Republican primary
between Martins and Philip Pidot. The winner will face Democrat Tom Suozzi. Martins, an Old Westbury state senator, wanted the election moved to Dec. 6 because Continued on Page 86
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