Bellmore
HERALD The Big Cheese stretches smiles
JFK alumni honor recent grad
Try ‘rehab in a box’ in Bellmore
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Vol. 23 No. 32
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AUGUST 6 - 12, 2020
Kennedy grad earns $80K Regeneron prize By ANDREW GARCIA agarcia@liherald.com
Katherine St George, John F. Kennedy High School’s 2020 valedictorian, was named one of 10 finalists in the Regeneron Science Talent Search competition on July 29, placing higher than any participant in Kennedy history. Her research on the relationship between epilepsy, diet and caffeine consumption earned her a sixth-place prize of $80,0000. The Society for Science & the Public runs the annual competition. St George was named a finalist alongside graduate Andrew Brinton, 18, of Merrick, who received $25,000. Kennedy’s previous top finisher was Adam Solomon, who took eighth place in 2006. “I was shocked. I was just speechless,” said St George, 18, of Merrick. “I was just happy to be a finalist, to interact with some of the most intelligent kids in the country.” For her project, “The Ketogenic Diet Ameliorates the Effects of Caffeine in Seizure Susceptible Drosophilia Melanogaster,” St George used female fruit flies to observe the impact that caffeine con-
sumption — which usually heightens convulsive symptoms — and a ketogenic diet have on seizures. She concluded that consuming more fat and fewer carbohydrates counteracts the negative effects of caffeine, adding that “keto is an affective, non-medicinal” treatment for epilepsy. St George’s project was the first investigation into the relationship between keto and caffeine, confirming the diet’s anti-convulsive properties. St George studied under Dr. Theodore Brummel, an LIU biology professor, and spent more than 400 hours on her project. She plans to use the prize money for her studies at Columbia University this fall, she said. The final stages of the Science Talent Search, which are usually held in Washington, D.C., were held virtually this year, and organizers worked to make it “just as special as any other year,” St George said. Finalists were sent microphones, webcams and lighting equipment to create a four-minute video for judges. They also received a variety of goodies, including Air Pods, iPads and personalized artwork, and enjoyed a series of fun virtual activities, including a “geocaching” search Continued on page 3
Courtesy Cassidy Nelson
Storm watch Tropical Storm Isaias rolled across Nassau County Tuesday afternoon with sustained winds in the 30- to 50-mph range and some gusts in excess of 70 mph. The strong winds caused a storm surge in south Bellmore. See liherald.com/ bellmore for more.
New track among Mepham H.S. upgrades By ToNY BEllISSIMo tbellissimo@liherald.com
Mepham High School is receiving a face-lift this summer as part of the district’s capital project referendum approved by residents in spring 2017. The improvements include a renovated parking lot, new artificial-turf tennis courts and a new track as well as interior ceiling, flooring and doors. Demolition began on July 6, according to Director of School Facilities Jon Simpkins, and all work except the track is expected to be completed by the end of August. “We’re fully renovating the parking lot because it was cracked and deteriorated beyond repair,” Simpkins said. “We’re not adding anything, just replacing old asphalt with new asphalt.” Kennedy and Calhoun high schools underwent similar projects in 2018 and 2019, respectively, except neither track at either location
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e’ve got our money’s worth out of all the tracks at the high schools and middle schools.
JoN SIMpKINS
Director of school facilities, Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District needed to be replaced like Mepham’s, Simpkins noted. The Kennedy track did not need repairs, and Calhoun’s was recoated. Simpkins said he expected Mepham’s track, which, like the others in the district, surrounds the football field, to be ready for use around the second week of September. Since it could no longer be repaired, all materials were removed down to the sub-base. The new asphalt has to be in place for about a month before additional
steps can be taken, Simpkins added. “We’ve got our money’s worth out of all the tracks at the high schools and middle schools,” he said. “Rubberized materials have a long life.” The same goes for the turf tennis courts, which Simpkins said should last a minimum of 12 years with little maintenance. There are five courts at Mepham. Before installing the turf, the existing court surface will have any cracks or uneven spots filled. “The turf for tennis is only about half an inch deep and filled with a fine granite, compared to the football turf, which is two and a half inches tall and filled with rubber crumbs,” Simpkins said. The Kennedy courts have been in place for two years and are a hit. “I love the courts,” Lady Cougars varsity tennis coach Brian DeGaetano said. “They’re great for [phys. ed.] classes, as well. It’s a different type of game, but once you get used to the bounces, it’s great. Long term, Continued on page 7