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Vol. 27 No. 31
JUlY 30 - AUGUST 5, 2020
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Teen lends hand during pandemic the first few weeks after school closed because of the pandemic, he said, he was sad and bored As the coronavirus pandem- because he and his friends had ic hit Long Island hard, Lyn- plans for the rest of the school brook High School student Ben- year that they couldn’t follow jamin Svartz couldn’t stand idly through on. However, he said, by. when he heard what was hapThe East Rockaway resident, p e n i n g a ro u n d t h e wo rl d 15, decided to give because of the back by purchasc o r o n av i r u s, i t ing and donating spur red him to masks and hand help others who sanitizer to more were less fortuthan 300 people in nate. His efforts need in Lynbrook, included cooking E a s t Ro ck aw ay, for many older Va l l e y S t r e a m , adults and helping Oceanside and his neighbors with other local areas. housework, and “I love helping then purchasing others, and I masks and sanitizbelieve that when er to donate. you help others, “I want to make you will eventually a difference in the r e c e i v e g o o d BeNJAMiN SVArTz world and impact things in return,” Lynbrook High School others, and I have Svartz said. “My student helped people who mission in life is to didn’t have or who help people, and I c o u l d n ’ t l e av e like seeing the smiles on peo- their homes,” he said. “I’m forple’s faces when I help them.” tunate that I’m healthy, so I Svartz, who will start his want to help those who aren’t.” sophomore year at LHS in SepSvartz said he also hoped tember, added that ever since he that by helping others, he would was in sixth grade, he has been inspire other teens around his passionate about helping others and serving his community. In Continued on page 9
By Nicole AlciNdor nalcindor@liherald.com
M
Rhonda Glickman/Herald
The lYNBrook clASS of 2020 celebrated a socially distant graduation on July 23. For the first time in 50 years, the ceremony was held at Point Lookout Park rather than the Marion Street football field.
‘We are more than a virus’ LHS class of 2020 celebrates graduation By JUliA SWerdiN lyneditor@liherald.com
The Lynbrook High School class of 2020 has experienced many firsts, marking history in a time of immense change and unpredictability. For one, it’s the first class to graduate at Point Lookout Park, breaking with a 50-year tradition of collecting diplomas on the Marion Street Elementary School field. The decision to organize a ceremony at the park was
made jointly by Vice Principals Salvatore Brescia and Matthew Sarosy, Principal Joseph Rainis and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Melissa Burak as a way to keep the ceremony while adhering to social-distancing protocols. “The seniors had made it clear to us in April and May that they wanted to be together at graduation, if at all possible,” Rainis said. “Our goal all along was to try to make this happen for the graduates.”
Allowing adequate space for guests to congregate, the ceremony took place in a Point Lookout parking lot on July 23. Only graduates and one vehicle per family were permitted in the lot. Graduates were asked to provide a beach or folding chair to place in front of their family’s vehicle, and all family members were asked to remain with their cars throughout the program, follow Town of Hempstead Continued on page 3
y mission in life is to help people, and I like seeing the smiles on people’s faces when I help them.