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ALEX ANDERSON
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Playing on the Porch returns Vol. 35 No. 38
HERALD
LIRR tests new program to prevent suicide where Ryan died, to announce that the LIRR will launch a sixmonth suicide prevention pilot It has been more than five program. ye a r s s i n c e Rya n Pat r i ck Assemblyman Brian Curran O’Shea, a South Side High highlighted the importance of School graduate and former timely intervention during the captain of the Cyclones basket- press event, noting that a ball team, tragicalrenowned New ly took his own life. York psychiatrist He died on Jan. 11, found that deci2019, after being sions to act on suistruck by a train at cidal thoughts typithe Long Island cally occur within Rail Road station in a 10-minute winRockville Centre, dow. leaving his family “Think about and community that,” Curran said. devastated. “There is a 10-minIn response, his ute window in parents, John and which any small M a r y O ’ S h e a , JohN o’ShEA intervention can e s t a b l i s h e d t h e President possibly prevent R y a n P a t r i c k and co-founder, someone from takO’Shea Foundation, Ryan Patrick O’Shea ing their own life.” dedicated to pro- Foundation Curran said that moting suicide the pilot program awareness and preincludes the instalvention. The foundation works lation of new signs that can be to prevent similar tragedies seen when boarding the escalathrough programs like Sources tor or accessing the stairwells, of Strength, which focuses on and four-foot by four-foot adhebuilding resilience in youth. sives placed around benches at After more than five years of either side of the platfor m, working with elected officials which read: “Your pain is real, and the Metropolitan Transpor- but so is hope … We’re here. We tation Authority, the foundation care. We’ll listen,” encouraging held a press conference on anyone to call the Suicide and Sept. 5, at the same station Continued on page 13
By DANIEl oFFNER
doffner@liherald.com
Daniel Offner/Herald
Welcome back to school Patrick, a returning third-grader, and his brother, Luke Schwartz, an incoming kindergartener, were excited for their first day of school at Jennie E. Hewitt Elementary School in Rockville Centre. Teachers Lisa Koluch and Jessica Cheliotes welcome second-grader Caden Barton back to William S. Covert Elementary School on Sept. 4. Story, more photos, Page 10.
Tim Baker/Herald
W
ith education, understanding and love we can end the threats of suicide.