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Rinky Dinks win drill competition
ESY students shine in film
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Vol. 28 No. 34
1296063
HERALD $1.00 $1.00
AUGUST 21 - 27, 2025
A local man’s plea for help Mogel needs life-saving liver transplant donate. Mogel said he first suspected something was wrong about David Mogel is turning to five years ago. He saw his prithe Bellmore-Merrick commu- mary physician, who suggested nity for help — and he needs it that he see a specialist — advice that Mogel said “effecfast. The 67-year-old Merrick resi- tively saved my life.” dent urgently needs a liver “We went through a couple transplant after being diag- of specialists until one said, nosed with autoimmune hepati- ‘Look, you definitely have tis five years ago. His best AIH,’” he recalled. “It’s relachance for survival is through a tively rare. It’s only about one humanitarian in 100,000 in the donor — a living general population, person who chooses and it mostly to donate a portion affects women. So of their liver to a that’s one of the recipient. reasons most docT he liver is tors weren’t alert unique in its ability for it in terms of a to re generate, diagnosis.” meaning both the Since then, AmY moGEl donor’s and recipiMogel has been take n t ’s l ive r s c a n ing immunosupgrow back to full size after the pressants that stabilized his procedure. condition until July, when a To ensure safety, potential routine visit turned into an donors undergo a rigorous eval- immediate recommendation for uation process and must meet a transplant after his platelet specific criteria, including count dipped to 40,000. A norbeing between 18 and 60 years mal platelet count is typically old, in good physical and men- between 150,000 and 450,000 per tal health, having a healthy microliter of blood. liver, and possessing a compatiMogel, who has type O blood, ble blood type. Insurance would is not on a regular donor list cover the cost of the transplant, yet because he must complete and the Mogels have offered to one more medical evaluation, pay for transportation and lodging for whomever chooses to ConTinueD on page 15
By BRIAN KACHARABA
bkacharaba@liherald.com
I
Courtesy Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District
The Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District is rolling out a revamped science curriculum starting in the 2025-26 school year.
New school year, new science
District to debut NGSS-aligned curriculum this fall By BRIAN KACHARABA bkacharaba@liherald.com
The Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District is set to roll out a revamped science curriculum this fall, introducing new NGSS-aligned courses in Earth and Space Science and Life Science: Biology. The update aims to enhance student engagement and deepen scientific understanding through hands-on, inquiry-based learning that reflects the latest national standards in science education. This shift is the result of years of planning by the state and the district and marks a significant transformation in the way science education will be delivered and experienced throughout the district’s classrooms.
The new courses follow the New York State Science Learning Standards, based on the widely adopted Next Generation Science Standards. These standards focus on “threedimensional lear ning,” where students investigate real-world problems, ask questions and apply evidence to explain scientific ideas. Instead of memorizing facts, students will take a hands-on approach that combines science practices, core ideas and big-picture concepts. “While hands-on experiments have always been a part of science classes, what’s different now is who drives the investigation,” said Heather Bizewski, the district’s science chairperson. “Under the new standards, students won’t just follow step-by-step ConTinueD on page 11
’m constantly worrying about finding a donor.