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Massapequa ___________
HERALD pOsT
Also serving Farmingdale, Massapequa, Massapequa Park and Plainedge
VOL. 73 NO. 49
Obituary: Blanche Keeney
Kitten cries; Choir rescues her
Page 8
Page 6
DECEMBER 18-24, 2024
$1.00
MPK Village hosts Holiday Open House Families gather for day of celebration By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com
Families and friends gathered at Massapequa Park Village Hall to enjoy the Village’s annual Holiday Open House. Visitors were welcomed to a beautifully decorated Village Hall as Massapequa Park Village Mayor Daniel Pearl and Village Trustees Tina Schiaffino and Dana Durso. A medly of music was provided by a number of groups from the Massapequa School District including the students of the Handbell Choir from East
Lake: Sean Connelly, Casey Currias, Christian Cuhna, Krista Fazio, Luca Giordano, Kataline Gribko, Emilia Guzzo, Connor Keeley, James LoRusso, Roman Micheli, Aaron Nunez, Antonia Purificato, Juliet Ramos, Giada Salamone, Zoe Tartaro, Emerson Taylor, Heidi Thomson, Madison Toomey and AJ Veltri. The were under the direction Gina Aspetti, EdD. In additon students for the Berner Flute and vocal points choral group performed. There was also a selection of CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
Family friends gather at tree in MPK Village: Courtney Jean, Teddy and Amelia Bart; Harry, Cindy, Jack Ethan, Joseph, London and Erin Turkewitz.
Oyster Bay Town sets date for Pickleball Tournament this spring By MIKE POLANSKY Correspondent The Oyster Bay Town Board took two key actions to address the growing demand for pickleball during its December 10 meeting. The Board authorized the Town’s Pickleball Tournament, set for May 17-18, 2025, with nine divisions and a total of 18 awards for local athletes. The entry fee is $40 per team of two for residents and $50 for non-residents. Winners will also receive a free Town pick-up pickleball session to be used during the 2025 season. Additionally, the Board approved an increase in funding for pickleball and yoga instructors in
response to rising enrollment in these programs. The amount allocated to pay instructors was raised from $42,200 to $47,856.25 for 2024, per Resolution 926-2024. Pickleball has become a fixture in the Town of Oyster Bay since the opening of its first courts in Bethpage in 2018. In 2020, the Town Parks Department launched co-ed recreational pickleball classes, expanding the offering with summer pickup games in 2024. In 2022, additional courts were constructed at H. Garrick Williams Park in Massapequa, followed by more courts at John Burns CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
Katalina Gribko of Massapequa Park selects a goodie bag following Massapequa Park Villge’s Holiday Open House on Dec. 8