INCORPORATING THE WEST HEMPSTEAD BEACON VOL. 75 No. 41
Second Class Postage paid at Post office at Hempstead, N.Y. 11550
October 9 - 15, 2025
2 Endo Blvd, Garden City NY 11530
$1 per copy
Subscription $50
Kellenberg H.S. welcomes four-legged friends Kellenberg’s canine companions supported by Marianist funds
Pope Leo XIV on Sept. 7. Other dogs that are part of the school include Assistant Principal of Activities The Kellenberg Phoenix, Kellenberg Bro. Roger Poletti’s Matthias, the Apostle, Memorial High School’s student newspa- an 8-year-old Yorkie, and Chaplain Fr. per, once joked that the “Kellenberg dogs” Thomas Cardone’s 9-year-old miniature might be one of the biggest reasons stu- golden doodle, Goretti, named after St. Maria Goretti. dents choose the Catholic school. “It is our firm belief that atmosphere Around its Uniondale campus, it’s perfectly normal for a dog to wander into a educates — the dogs only further that classroom with its handler — and many belief, serving as a calming presence and would say the dogs are really the ones in welcomed sight,” Tara O’Donoghue, Kelcharge. Currently there are five dogs and lenberg’s communications director, said. they have become a defining part of the “The new dogs joined our family right school’s everyday life. around the time our new students did,” After the deaths of two of them, Griffin said. “It’s definitely fun to witness 12-year-old Tobit, in 2019, and Beato, 7, in the personalities of both the pups and August, two new puppies joined the these young minds emerge simultaneousschool community this fall — Magnus, an ly.” 11-week-old Samoyed, and Frassati, a Hoagland and Griffin live on campus 24-week-old miniature Bernese mountain with their canine companions in the Mardog. ianist Residence — home to “Magnus and Frassati the Marianist brothers and are loving life at Kellenberg priests who live and work at Memorial, and we love that the school — and the anithey’re here,” Father Dan mals are rarely out of their Griffin, chaplain of Chapsight. Dogs have been part lain & Assistant Principal of the fabric of Kellenberg for Mission and Marianist since its founding in 1987. Identity and the owner of “They serve as companFrassati. ions to our brothers, the Brother Kenneth HoaMarianist leaders of our gland, Kellenberg’s princischool,” O’Donoghue pal, is Magnus’s handler. explained, “and over time The dogs are officially have become a fully inteowned by the Province of FATheR DAn GRIFFIn grated part of their day. Meribah and the Marianist Chaplain Magnus will be outside community, which also proBrother Ken’s office and will vides the funds for their care. have a line of students waiting to pet him, The Society of Mary, known as the because students don’t want to go home Marianists, is a 200-year-old Catholic reli- without saying goodbye.” gious congregation of brothers and Students are encouraged to interact priests. All of the dogs’ names have with the dogs, but always with caution. reflected the school’s Catholic identity. While the new pups are now acclimated to Magnus name comes from the Latin the school environment, O’Donoghue said “magnanimous,” meaning “great soul.” that it took a few weeks. Frassati was very Frassati is named after Pier Giorgio Fras- shy at first, but now he knows what it COntinued On Page 9 sati, who was canonized as a saint by
By STACY DRIKS
sdriks@liherald.com
Courtesy Uniondale school district
the uniondale High School Marching Knights opened the african american day Parade for the first time in the five years that they have taken part.
Knights lead African American Day Parade Uniondale High’s show-style band kicks off celebration with energy and pride By STACY DRIKS sdriks@liherald.com
The unmistakable sound of Uniondale High School’s Marching Knights led the 56th African American Day Parade in Harlem on Sept. 21, marking the district band’s first time at the front of the procession and its fifth year of participation in one of the most prominent celebrations of African American culture in the country. The parade, which began in 1968 and is held every third Sunday in September, was livestreamed on WABC-TV Channel 7. It featured R&B music, the waving of African flags and a large, enthusiastic crowd. Along with a variety of schools and organizations, the borough presidents of the Bronx and Manhattan, Vanessa Gibson and Mark Levine, Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark and members of the City Council were among the marchers. Amaya Grier, 17, a senior at Uniondale High and the Marching Knights’ drum major, said the parade flew by for the
musicians. “We were all pretty proud of our performance — it’s the first time we had such a big turnout,” Grier said. “Afterwards we were all like, this is going to be a great school year, especially because it’s the first parade of the season.” More than 100 Uniondale students — including musicians, members of the kickline and flag bearers — marched up Seventh Avenue — also known as Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard — from 111th to 137th street, and gave a performance that many in the crowd won’t soon forget. Spectators lined the parade route, cheering and filming on their phones as the band passed. The Uniondale band performs “show style” — a Southern-inspired, high-energy style of marching that enhances R&B hits with horn swings and other coordinated movements. For the incoming freshmen, the participation, energy and excitement of the crowd was something brand new. “I think a lot of them were amazed at the crowd participation and the energy,” COntinued On Page 3
M
agnus and Frassati are loving life at Kellenberg Memorial, and we love that they’re here.