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JANUARY 23 - 29, 2025
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MLK Day brings unity and reflection ments for the 41st year, we are still guided by his lessons on kindness, justice, and equality,” For 41 consecutive years, Glen Cove Mayor Pamela PanGlen Cove has come together to zenbeck said. “This year’s honor the legacy of the Rev. Dr. theme, We Are Stronger TogethMartin Luther King Jr., hosting er, reminds us that unity and common purpose one of the few conare the pillars of tinuous, communiAmerica’s strength. ty-driven celebraAs we navigate the tions on Long complexities of Island. On Monday, 2025, let us find city officials, faith enduring inspiraleaders, first tion in King’s legaresponders and resicy to foster a comdents braved the munity of compascold to join a motorsion, lead with cade from the First integrity, and Baptist Church to uphold the princiFinley Middle ples that define our School, where a great nation.” c o m m e m o r a t i v e MARIA RIANNA Panzenbeck also program inspired Schools praised the younger reflections on unity, superintendent residents who took justice and service. part. “I’m so This year’s theme, We Are Stronger Togeth- impressed that today, on such a er, emphasized the importance cold, icy day, so many of our of collective action in address- students are here — marching, singing and contributing — ing societal challenges. The event began at 8:45 a.m., when others their age might after marchers gathered in still be at home in bed,” she front of the church. Then, at said. King’s enduring message of Finley’s Wunsch Auditorium, a commemorative program had a racial equality and nonviolent social change remains as reletone of inspiration and hope. “As our city commemorates vant today as it was during the Dr. King’s historic accomplishCONTINUED ON PAGE 8
By ROKSANA AMID
ramid@liherald.com
B
Courtesy Lela Watson
Michelle Yagudov and Larissa Perez-Hernandez helped collect clothing at Finley Middle School last Saturday morning.
A thrift store will help boost confidence among city youths By ROKSANA AMID ramid@liherald.com
To empower middle-school girls and foster a sense of community, a Glen Cove-based nonprofit called I Am My Sister has announced the launch of a thrift store in Finley Middle School. The initiative is about more than just clothing — it’s a sisterhood that supports young girls in need and helps them build confidence. Founded on the principles of health and wellness, positive self-image, leadership, advocacy and career exploration, I Am My Sister has championed the empowerment of girls and women since 2010. With this latest project, the organization is taking its mission a step further by addressing a critical
yet often overlooked issue: access to clothing that maintains dignity and builds selfesteem. The idea for the thrift store came during the group’s holiday efforts. “We adopted families as part of a Secret Santa initiative,” Lela Watson, founder and president of I Am My Sister, said. “Parents were asked to list three things their children needed, and we were heartbroken to see essentials like bras and socks on the list.” The realization that some students lacked necessities inspired Watson to think about how to address their needs without reinforcing low-income stigmas. The thrift store, dubbed My Big Sister’s Closet, gives middle-school girls the opportuCONTINUED ON PAGE 14
y listening and trying to understand, we move closer to making Dr. King’s dream a reality.