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Merrick nonprofit to benefit from Sept. 7 fundraiser aware of anyone on the spectrum,” Costanza said. Proceeds from the concert The Long Island band Diffus- will benefit two Long Island er is set to rock out at Mulca- charities, including Families hy’s Pub and Concert Hall next for Inclusion, a nonprofit based month at a show that will help in Merrick whose mission is to raise money and awareness for teach young children in elementhe local autistic community. tary schools about autism, so The event, which they can better will take place on understand chilSept. 7, will reunite dren with developthe band’s four origmental disabilities. inal members for a The organization’s show celebrating f o u n d e r, G i n a the 25th anniversaDeGre gorio-Sonry of their debut bert, said the conalbum, “Injury c e r t wo u l d h e l p Loves Melody.” Difinfor m people fuser was formed in about autism. 1994 on Long Island “ We ’ r e ve r y by sing er Tomas excited for the Costanza, guitarist event,” DeGregorioAnthony Cangelosi, Sonber t said. “I bassist Lawrence think it’s going to Sullivan, and drum- GiNA DEGREGoRio- be a great way to m e r B i l l y raise some more SoNBERT Alemaghides. aw a re n e s s a n d Founder According to acceptance for Costanza, the hard Families for Inclusion autism.” rock group’s origiDeGregorio-Sonnal members haven’t played bert founded the organization together in almost 23 years, and in 2021 after her 8-year-old son, he hopes the event will raise a Teddy, was diagnosed with lot of money to help increase autism, which includes being awareness in the autism com- non-verbal and requiring conmunity. stant adult supervision. After “We all want people to know her son’s diagnosis DeGregoriothat it’s very important to be Continued on page 6

By CHARlES SHAW

cshaw@liherald.com

Courtesy Vonn Brickmeier

the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School district’s extended School Year, which serves special needs students during the summer, has supported a drama program for a decade. thanks to the efforts of Kathy Brickmeier, a paraprofessional in the district, and her son, Vonn, the student-production is turned into a movie.

Extended School Year students shine on stage during annual production By JoRDAN VAlloNE jvallone@liherald.com

Every summer, students in the Extended School Year program in the Bellmore-Merrick Central School District, put on “play” — but with a unique twist. For a decade, the production chosen by the district’s summer school program, has been recorded and made into a movie, thanks to Kathy Brickmeier, a paraprofessional at Sanford H. Calhoun High School, and her son, Vonn. The annual production is shown to audiences during the last week of the program. The ESY program is for students with Individualized Education Programs, who have been deemed in need of schooling during the

summer to ensure they do not regress educationally, socially, or emotionally. This past summer, ESY was operated out of Grand Avenue Middle School in Bellmore, for district students ranging from seventh grade through age 21. Kathy Brickmeier, who has worked for the summer program for nine years, said that while ESY focuses on academics, the program also strives to incorporate fun events into students’ schedules that promote socialization and enrichment. The program lasts six-weeks and concluded on Aug. 16. Brickmeier said at first, ESY decided initially to produce a play featuring the program’s students about 10 years ago. “That’s when we realized that the kids loved to act, but Continued on page 14

e’re all different, and it’s upsetting when people with autism have to hide who they are.