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Vol. 23 No. 31
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JUlY 30 - AUGUST 5, 2020
Calhoun to get new assistant principal Background
By ViCToriA CArUSo
Hughes, 38, is an educator with deep roots in the BellmoreAfter an unprecedented Merrick community. He earned school year, former Merrick Ave- a bachelor’s in biology and a nue Middle School Science Chair master’s in cancer biology from Michael Hughes Adelphi University. began his term as After working as the new assistant an associate principal of Sanresearcher at the ford H. Calhoun Feinstein Institute High School on for Medical July 1, joining a Research for a year, team of adminishe enrolled in trators who are Queens College to working on plans study for a master’s to safely educate in a subject area he students in the age had always wanted of the coronavirus. to pursue — teach“I knew it ing. wasn’t going to be a In 2009, Hughes normal start to the was hired to teach job when I began,” Regents and HonHughes said. “We o r s c h e m i s t r y, face so many obstaadvanced science cles in education NiColE HolliNGS research and A.P. on a daily basis — Principal, psychology at Calthis is just another Calhoun High School houn, and over the o n e t h at we ’ re years he became going to have to interested in face together, and do what’s best administration. In 2011, he and safe for students and for returned to school for his fourth families.” degree, a certificate of advanced Calhoun takes in students graduate study in educational from throughout the Merricks leadership and administration and Bellmores through its mag- in education from the College of net On Tour Drama Company. Continued on page 5
aseidman@liherald.com
H
Tony Bellissimo/Herald Life
They’re back on the field Gabby Schlechter, one of 750 Merrick Bellmore Little Leaguers, put her windmill pitching skills on display last Saturday at Merrick Road Park. Story, more photos, Page 24.
Centenarian reflects on pandemics By AlYSSA SEiDmAN aseidman@liherald.com
It’s been a little more than 100 years since the Spanish flu ravaged the globe, infecting about a third of the world’s population. And while most people from that era are no longer here to share what life was like during that pandemic, Mae Volpe, of North Bellmore, said she heard little talk of the influenza growing up. “Nothing was ever mentioned
about it — you just knew that it happened,” said Volpe, who was born in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, in the early months of the Spanish flu pandemic in 1918. “Years ago, the adults never talked about anything serious with children. They kept everything light, like a fantasy.” On Aug. 1, Volpe will celebrate her 102nd birthday, and before her special day, she spoke with the Herald Life via FaceTime to discuss what it was like
to experience two global pandemics separated by a century. Volpe was one of 16 children, but only one of four to survive infancy. At the time, measles and whooping cough raged in tandem with the Spanish flu, but “you could put a band aid on them now,” she said. In 10th grade, when she was 16, Volpe dropped out of Eastern District High School to care for her mothContinued on page 3
is familiarity with BellmoreMerrick and his commitment to our families will serve our community very well.