________ Franklin square/elmont _______
HERALD Vol. 28 No. 17
A race for the library board seat
Another way to explore science
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APRIl 23 - 29, 2026
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Annual military ball teaches young cadets By HAIlEY FUlMER hfulmer@liherald.com
Jason Thomas /Herald
The attendees included, clockwise from upper left, Pat Ryder, Debbie Hunt, Phoebe Ervin, Yvonne Brunner, Marie Marinaccio, Ashley Plaia, Jeri Charles, Marie Brignati, Dawn Samuel, of Lynbrook American Legion Auxiliary Unit 335, and Nailynn Higuiccta, 7.
Dozens of young cadets took part in a formal military-style ball at the Elmont American Legion Post last weekend, gaining hands-on experience in leadership, etiquette and naval tradition through the American Legion. The seventh annual military ball, hosted by the Elmont American Legion Riders on April 18, brought together students in the New York Naval Cadet Corps, a program for children in elementary through high school that teaches the customs and courtesies of the U.S. Navy. Cadets take part in leadership training and veterans ceremonies such as flagging graves and community memorial events throughout the year. Each spring, the Elmont American Legion Post hosts the military ball to give cadets a structured, real-world introduction to military customs in a formal dining setting, said Dawn Samuel, commander of CoNTiNUED oN PAgE 5
Big ideas, real change: Girl Scouts earn top honor By HAIlEY FUlMER hfulmer@liherald.com
For many Girl Scouts, earning the Gold Award represents the culmination of years of dedication, leadership and service. But for members of Franklin Square/West Hempstead Troop 1268, the honor reflects something even deeper: personal initiative, resilience and commitment to meaningful change. Three girls in the troop and four overall in the unit earned the prestigious award. Unlike typical group Scouting activities, the Gold Award, the most prestigious award Girl
Scouts can earn, is an individual endeavor. Each Girl Scout must independently identify a community issue, develop a sustainable solution and execute a project that creates lasting impact. Involvement and guidance from troop leaders, like Kim Gaudiosi, of Troop 1268, is intentionally limited, allowing the girls to seek their own personal initiative for the project. “As troop leaders, we step back,” Gaudiosi explained. “Once they complete the prerequisite journey, the rest is on them. We can support if they need volunteers, but we don’t guide the project.”
Instead, each Scout works with a Gold Award mentor, assigned through her local council, who reviews proposals, provides feedback and ultimately approves the completed project. The process is rigorous, requiring more than 80 hours of documented work — though many Scouts exceed that significantly. “They put in far more time than what’s required,” Gaudiosi said. “Every step has to be documented, from identifying the issue to proving the project is sustainable.” That emphasis on sustainability sets the Gold Award apart. Projects cannot be one-
time events; the Scouts must demonstrate how their projects’ impact will continue after they step away. For Gaudiosi’s daughter, Annie, a troop member and a senior at H. Frank Carey High School in Franklin Square, that meant tackling teen mental health — an issue that she’s witnessed firsthand affecting
her peers. “I’ve always been a really big advocate of mental health, and I noticed that I was seeing a lot of kids in my school around me struggling a lot mentally,” Annie said, describing the inspiration behind her project. She said she was excited to begin her Gold Award journey CoNTiNUED oN PAgE 10