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Joe McDonald is named parade grand marshal By ROKSANA AMID ramid@liherald.com
Courtesy Roni Jenkins
St. Patrick’s Day Parade President Lisa Forgione, far left; Irene Abrams, aide to the grand marshal; Mary Moran; Grand Marshal Joe McDonald and Master of Ceremonies Robert Lynch celebrated their heritage at the annual Hooley, the grand Irish party, last Saturday.
The Glen Cove St. Patrick’s Day Parade, a longstanding tradition that brings the community together in a spirited celebration of Irish heritage, will take place on March 23. Joe McDonald, whose life and career have been deeply intertwined with both the Irish-American community and a diverse range of professional endeavors, has been named the parade’s grand marshal. McDonald, 54, who was born Eric Marc Barrett in Erie, Pennsylvania, was adopted as an infant by Joseph and Catherine McDonald of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. Though he spent his early years in Brooklyn, he has lived on Long Island for the past 15 years, in Massapequa, West Hempstead and now Deer Park. His professional career has been as varied as his personal journey — encompassing journalism, web development, finance, and real estate — but his dedication to Irish culture has CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
An inspiring celebration of Black history at GCHS By ROKSANA AMID ramid@liherald.com
Glen Cove High School came alive with music and celebration on Feb. 13 as students, faculty and community members gathered for a special Black History Month event. Organized by Angela Hall’s African Diaspora class, this year’s celebration embraced the theme “And Still I Rise,” inspired by Maya Angelou’s iconic poem about resilience and perseverance. The event was intended to honor the achievements and contributions of Black people throughout history, and to
encourage attendees to embrace diversity and inclusion. It featured musical performances, historical presentations and a keynote speech by Eyerusalem Tewoldeberhan, a native of Ethiopia. The program began with an introduction by members of the High School’s chapter of the Rho Kappa Honor Society, which offered an educational look at key figures and moments in Black history. Then the high school’s Select Chorale sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and “We Shall Overcome,” setting the tone for an evening of reflection and celebration. The highlight of the
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EYERUSALEM TEWOLDEBERHAN Keynote speaker night was the deeply personal address by Tewoldeberhan, who was born in Ethiopia during a time of war and famine. She shared the gripping story of her family’s escape from hardship and their journey to a new life in the United States. Tewoldeberhan recounted their harrowing experience
traveling for months through the African desert before arriving at a refugee camp. Thanks to her uncle’s sponsorship, she was able to emigrate to California, where she encountered civil rights leaders, including members of the Black Panther Party. The experience shaped her understanding of justice and perseverance.
“The fight for liberation is not just a local battle; it’s a global one,” Tewoldeberhan said. “The best advice I ever received was to combine the best of my culture and the best of American culture to create something entirely new.” She was encouraged to honor her heritage while CONTINUED ON PAGE 8