INCORPORATING THE WEST HEMPSTEAD BEACON VOL. 75 No. 31
Second Class Postage paid at Post office at Hempstead, N.Y. 11550
July 31 - August 6, 2025
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Retirement celebration for Freeport coach Charles Gilreath spent 40 years training high school athletes
Nicks expressed hope that young athletes would learn the value of hard work, dedication, and having supportive menCharles Gilreath, who coached track tors from his legacy. During his illustrious career, Gilreath for 28 years from 1997 to 2025 at Freeport High School, was given a well-deserved has amassed an impressive record of 340 sendoff during his retirement celebration wins, 110 losses and two ties, and has coached squads to numerous county at Eisenhower Park on July 12. Known as Coach G, Gilreath also championships, eight state and seven Allcoached track for 10 years at Roosevelt American titles. High School and wrestling for two years Additionally, he’s the only coach in the in Hempstead schools. state to have won league or county titles Gilreath expressed pride witnessing in classes A, B and C, which are classificastudents grow and achieve success, both tions in track based on the number of stuacademically and athletically, during his dents enrolled in a particular school. overall 40-year coaching career. Freeport High School was listed “I’ve had student-athletes come out under an A classification because it has that have progressed from ninth grade to one of the largest student populations in being champions by the Nassau County. Roosevelt t i m e t h e y we r e l i ke High School was initially seniors,” Gilreath, 62, a listed under a B and later, longtime Freeport resii n s u b s e q u e n t ye a r s, dent, said. “I say, one of the under a C. biggest things was we’ve At age 23, growing up in been very successful over Roosevelt, Gilreath started the last 40 years of coachhis coaching career as an ing.” assistant coach under his Nassau County Legislahigh school mentor, Basil tor Olena Nicks joined the Bar nes, at Hempstead New Greater Hempstead High School. Chamber of Commerce Gilreath ear ned his and dozens of well-wishers CHARleS GIlReATH bachelor’s degree from at Eisenhower Park to Retiring after 40 years of Hofstra University in 2004 honor Gilreath upon his coaching and master’s from Queens retirement. College in 2010. He also Nicks admired Gilreath’s role as a earned New York State certification as a community leader and inspiration to physical education teacher in 2000 and today’s youth. taught until 2025. “I would say he had a tremendous He started his teaching career in physiimpact,” Nicks said, “because while I was cal education at Bayview Elementary there, there were a couple of students, School in Freeport in 2005. and it was so amazing to see, because he Gilreath emphasized the importance spoke to me about several students who of developing a good relationship with his he coached, who naturally, weren’t run- students, mentioning that many of them ning track initially, but he was able to pull received academic and athletic scholarmotivation out of them and inspire them ships to college. to continue to keep going.” COntinued On Page 4
By MASHIAT AZMI
Intern
Tim Baker/Herald
Lisa Rudin, playing dr. Osiris, tried to discover the mysterious dinosaur in the crate.
Museum debuts dinosaur theater experience ‘Unbox a Saurus For Us!’ mixes laughs and learning in Uniondale By STACY DRIKS sdriks@liherald.com
The Long Island Children’s Museum in Uniondale has hosted plenty of summer performances inside its 150-seat black box theater — but one of its newest productions, “Unbox a Saurus for Us!,” breaks from tradition. Co-written by Austin Costello and Lisa Rudin, the show begins not on stage, but inside the museum’s “Dinosaurs: Fossils Exposed” exhibit, blurring the line between museum learning and immersive theater. “I’ve done shows in the museum before, but this is the first time we’re using the exhibit space and doing any kind of performance or show element out there,” Costello, who’s also the theater’s technical director, said. “It’s an extension of the show.” With shows running from July 23 to Aug. 27, with seven shows remaining, the 30-minute interactive adventure opens in the gallery, where museum actor Yashaun
Harris, who plays an educator, wheels in a mysterious crate with something, or someone, trapped inside. The exhibit itself features full-size replicas of dinosaur bones and fossils, complete with hands-on activities designed for curious young minds. “We were inspired by the dinosaur exhibit and wanted to do something tied in,” Rudin said. “Austin had the concept of, ‘What if we have a dinosaur in a box that can’t get out and the audience needs to help us?’” So, Costello, performing as a life-sized dinosaur, was the one locked in a crate about 6 feet tall. “You can’t be claustrophobic, but it’s kind of comfortable too, believe it or not — it’s a giant plush costume,” Costello said. “But I designed the crate based on how large I am and how large the costume is going to be.” Children then gathered around, laughing and trying to ask the dinosaur questions. COntinued On Page 3
I
hope my students remember that coach was there for them to help them grow socially and emotionally.