INCORPORATING THE WEST HEMPSTEAD BEACON VOL. 75 No. 44z
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Pearse African American Museum of Nassau County rededicated A vital reminder of a local legacy By REINE BETHANY Special to the Herald
Courtesy American Lung Association
team Zambelli was the first-place fundraising team with over $17,000 raised.
Lung Force Walk on edge of funding goal “She was battling stage four lung cancer, and she took the time and made it her mission to be involved and bring awareThe American Lung Association’s New ness to lung cancer and the need for York chapter hosted its 3rd annual Lung research and new drugs and programs, all Force Walk Long Island on Oct. 25 at while going through treatment herself. Eisenhower Park in East Meadow, uniting So, if she can do it, I’m going to continue hundreds of participants in the fight doing that.” According to the ALA, someone is against lung cancer and chronic diseases. The ALA is a nationwide charity that diagnosed with a lung disease about every focuses on preventing respiratory ail- two minutes. Lung cancer remains one of ments and supporting both patients and the leading causes of cancer deaths in the United States, even after the researchers during the ongon a t i o n a l s u r v iv a l r a t e ing battle against cancer. improved by more than 44 perThis year’s fundraiser colcent over the past decade. lected $142,000 to support lifeThis year’s walk was sponsaving lung cancer research, sored by Catholic Health as early detection programs, and well as radio partners 106.1 public awareness initiatives, BLI and WBAB 102.3. Two coming close to its $150,000 NIcOLE STuRIANO physicians from Catholic goal. Health’s Good Samaritan UniLungforce Walk Commit- Lung Force Walk versity Hospital, Dr. Ashish tee Chair Nicole Sturiano Chairperson, Sangal and Dr. Sharad Chanchampioned the event, moti- American Lung drika, were honored for their vated by how lung health Association work in the advancement of issues affected her family. In 2015, Sturiano’s sister, Jeanine Pucci, lung care during the ceremony. Sangal is a board-certified medical died after a long battle with lung cancer. Now, Sturiano and her family walk oncologist and hematologist, and active across multiple medical expertise groups every year under a team. “Me and my family, we keep the team across the country. “This is a great opportunity to raise going, and we’ve been involved ever since,” she said. “It’s keeping my sister’s awareness about lung cancer,” he said. spirit alive.
By JOSEPH D’ALESSANDRO
jdalessandro@liherald.com
Last Saturday, surrounded by local dignitaries, elected officials, and clergy, County Executive Bruce Blakeman rededicated the Joysetta and Julius Pearse African American Museum of Nassau County. “This is part of our history. This is part of our culture,” Blakeman said. “So I’m very, very honored to be here today.” Saturday’s rededication followed a sixweek refreshment of the museum’s windows, doors, and interior that cost $135,000. The rooms and doorways have been made compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. After Blakeman cut the blue ribbon, County Legislators Scott Davis and Olena Nicks presented the museum with a $1 million check, originally sponsored by Legislator (now State Senator) Siela Bynoe, and brought to fruition by Davis and Nicks. All the visitors then entered a rearranged museum lobby full of light, with a spacious plexiglass reception desk. Stepping into the largest gallery, the visitors saw walls newly hung with the colorful, bold paintings of Nigerian-
American artist Toluwalope Ayorinde —”Tolu” for short. The crowning point of the rededication ceremony was the unveiling of Tolu’s large portrait of both Pearses, evoking gasps and applause. Tolu, who moved into West Hempstead two years ago after a career teaching high school art and displaying his works in Brooklyn, had created the double portrait at the request of Dr. Regina Williams. “When Regina contacted me, she said, would you be willing to share your work here?” Tolu said, smiling at the portrait. “And I said, of course!” Williams is a trustee on the Roosevelt Board of Education, and has been appointed to oversee the African American Museum by Darcy Belyea, commissioner of the county Department of Parks, Recreation, and Museums. “We have a wall display dedicated to Joysetta,” Williams said, nodding toward a permanent mounting of photos and awards honoring Joysetta on the far wall of the gallery. “My vision for today was of doing something for the two of them together. I want to reeducate the public to remind them of the life of the Pearses.” COntinued On Page 5
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t’s keeping my sister’s spirit alive.
COntinued On Page 3
Courtesy Reine Bethany
County executive Bruce Blakeman, left, artist toluwalope ayorinde, center, and african american Museum director Regina Williams unveiled ayorinde’s portrait of Joysetta and Julius Pearse at the museum last Saturday.