________ Franklin square/elmont _______
HERALD Islanders hand out holiday meals
Culture, dance at Sewanhaka High
School board accepts donation
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Vol. 27 No. 49
DECEMBER 4 - 10, 2025
$1.00
Watercolorists excite local art fans in Elmont from Claude Monet, a French painter during the Impressionist movement whose depiction Elmont Memorial Library’s of nature “inspired her.” She also explained that her month-long exhibition of watercolorists Veronica Piselli artwork reflects a “translation” and Phyllis Cox has taken its of Monet’s environment and final bow. The exhibit was cele- vision, from his famous paintbrated at a Nov. 16 dual-artist ing titled “Monet’s Garden,” to his paintings of reception that lily gardens and highlighted more murals. than 30 of their “I feel a closevibrant paintings. hen I ness and kinship And while this rediscovered with Monet,” Piselshow has closed, li said. “It feels t h e l i b r a r y h a s art, I relearned more opportunities calmness. There’s relaxing.” Piselli follows a for residents to consistent process, experience local tranquility, and starting with drawart in the months that relaxation is ing a subject in ahead. pencil. She proPiselli, of South important to me. ceeds with her Hempstead, had an watercolor paintinterest in art dat- VERoNICA PISEllI ing, and sometimes ing back to her Watercolorist, artist acrylics when she days in elementary thinks something school in Brooklyn, where her placement in an “needs more definition.” “It’s the mood and the colaccelerated enrichment program allowed her to visit muse- ors,” she said. Piselli’s commitment to her ums and galleries. Several years later, she work was temporarily derailed began teaching in the New York in 2023 following a stroke, City school system — using her which impacted her balance love for art in an interdisciplin- and communication skills. Piselli tried picking up other ary approach to help her stuhobbies like memoir writing, dents. Piselli draws her inspiration Continued on page 8
By AIDAN WARSHAVSKY
Correspondent
W
Melissa Baptiste/Herald photos
Happy holidays with the Morton Civic Association The Morton Civic Association rung in the holiday season with its annual Holiday Spectacular on Nov. 29. The event featured live music performances, holiday characters, inflatable bounce houses for kids to enjoy, and of course, a tree lighting. Families and neighbors gathered, rejoicing in the happiness of the season. Above, Franklin Square residents attended the spectacular and met the Grinch. Right, Ashley and Michael Francois, with their kids, Madison, 8, and Ava, 3, enjoyed musical performances. Story, more photos, Page 16.