_________________ bellmore ________________
HERALD
Your Home is Your Sanctua ry.
Don’t Let High Ta Chase You Away!xes
DEADLINE MARCH 31ST
Broadcasting program wins big
Robotics team partake in states
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Vol. 29 No. 12
MARCH 19 - 25, 2026
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Mepham’s Macko captures two state titles Both marks met the national standard for All-American consideration, which recognizes the For years, Johnny Macko top high school swimmers in the tried nearly every sport he could. country. Even with strong times enterBasketball, baseball, soccer and hockey all came and went. ing the meet, Macko said the victory still caught him by surprise. Swimming, however, stuck. N ow t h e We l l i n g t o n C . “It was surreal,” he said. “I Mepham High School junior is a wasn’t seeded that high, and I two-time New York State cham- never really thought I was going pion. to win. When I Macko delivered touched the wall and a historic perforsaw that I won, it mance for the Bellwas amazing, more-Merrick because I didn’t even Sharks at the know I could do NYSPHSAA Boys that.” Varsity Swimming After claiming and Diving Champithe 200 freestyle, onships at Ithaca Macko returned to College on March 8, JoHNNy MACko the pool later in the winning state titles Junior, meet to compete in in both the 200-yard Mepham High School the 500 freestyle — freestyle and the 500an event he considyard freestyle. ers his specialty as a “I’ve lived in Bellmore pretty distance swimmer. much my whole life,” Macko “There was definitely a lot of said. “I started swimming when I pressure,” he said. “But all the was about eight. My mom Section VIII coaches were there pushed me to try it, and I started cheering me on, and my team swimming with my cousin and was supporting me. I just tried to made some friends. I’ve just been have fun with it, and it worked swimming ever since.” out.” The junior captain posted perMacko’s performance highsonal best times in both champi- lighted a strong showing for the onship races. He won the 200 Sharks. Junior captain Ethan freestyle in 1:39.47 and later cap- Cintron also competed in two tured the 500 freestyle in 4:28.31.
By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ
hgaldamez@liherald.com
I
just tried to have fun with it, and it worked out.
Courtesy Denise Cruz
Bellmore’s Denise Cruz operates a mobile bookstore, The Wandering Page, traveling to festivals, book clubs and community events.
Bellmore resident rolls books on wheels
The Wandering Page trailer brings literature to readers By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com
When Spanish teacher Denise Cruz, of Bellmore, first brought her book-themed crafts to local fairs and markets, she never imagined it would evolve into a mobile bookstore drawing hundreds of visitors from across Long Island. Cruz, a teacher at H. Frank Carey High School in the Sewanhaka Central High School District, said her lifelong love of reading began after she moved to the United States from the Dominican Republic and learned English through books. Over the years, she crafted bookmarks, key chains, journals, and other literarythemed items for local markets, but unpre-
dictable weather often ruined her merchandise and forced her to rethink her approach. “It blew my tent away at a fair,” Cruz, a Bellmore resident since 2009, said. “I had to figure out a way to protect my merchandise and still share books with the community.” Inspired by a mobile bookstore she saw on Instagram, Cruz invested in a custom trailer designed to feel like a traditional bookstore on wheels. Taller than standard trailers to accommodate adults, with floor space for children to sit and read, the mobile bookstore debuted with a grand opening on Sept. 13, 2025. The mobile bookstore, dubbed The Wandering Page, now travels to festivals, book clubs, and community events, often collaboConTinueD on Page 5
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