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UNIONDALE _____________
HERALD BEACON
Eagle Scouts recognized
Collecting food for those in need
Honoring veterans
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NOVEMBER 14 - 20, 2024
SNUG hosts Day of Peace in Hempstead Village pointed out, “around half a million taxpayer dollars come out of our pockets” — for EMT and Last Saturday’s Day of Peace police work, court costs, and in Hempstead Village focused therapy for victims and their on effective, realistic approach- families. “So when somebody es to youth violence and addic- gets shot … it affects the whole community, directly and indition. Matthew Harris, program rectly.” “We engage with our particimanager for Should Never Use pants by meeting G u n s, o r S N U G, with them six times hosted the event. a month,” said Under the aegis of Jer ry Mollette, the Family & ChilHempstead SNUG dren’s Association s u p e r v i s o r. “ We of Nassau County, help them find jobs SNUG partners and address their with residents, education needs.” businesses and R i ch a rd Pa u l , community-based the lead interveno r g a n i z at i o n s t o tion counselor for reduce violence. Its the Uniondaleoutreach workers MATTHEW HARRIS b a s e d S T R O N G are trained to interYouth, works with vene in conflicts Program manager, SNUG and heads and promote alter- SNUG his own violencenatives to violence. “This is where my heart is,” prevention program, So Rich in Harris said, referring to Hemp- Community. He referred to the stead Village. “The work we do devastation that families suffer every day is really about seeing when a loved one — especially these kids, giving them the sup- someone young — is victimized by violence or incarcerated for port that they need.” violent crime. Harris organized the Day of “We feel isolated,” Paul said. Peace in response to three recent homicides in the village. “Nobody wants to tell you their When the SNUG team can- son is locked up for murder. vassed the community to deter- Nobody wants to tell you that mine the impact of the mur- they never got to meet their ders, they discovered that few father because he was killed.” Dedicated support is needed people even knew about them. “When a body drops,” Harris ConTinued on page 5
By REINE BETHANY
Special to the Herald
W
Kelsie Radziski/Herald
Turtle Hook’s ribbon-cutting ceremony last Saturday showcased the building’s new additions and renovations.
Uniondale middle schools unveil new additions By KELSIE RADZISKI kradziski@liherald.com
Lawrence Road and Turtle Hook Middle Schools unveiled their new additions on Saturday, part of the extensive construction work in the Uniondale school district. “We know that the environment does matter,” district Superintendent Monique Darrisaw-Akil said, “(so) when they see the bright lights and the phenomenal fields and the wonderful classrooms that are built and designed for innovative learning, they know that the community is behind them every step of the way.” Both buildings were the focus of a series of construction projects that involved both new infrastructure and the expansion and renovation of existing facilities. Lawrence Road’s general-purpose room — where students eat lunch, study and watch
performances on the stage — was expanded and remodeled. The walls are now a bright white, with a colorful mural of shapes and fruits painted on the cafeteria wall, and the new flooring is white with red and blue squares throughout. Booths line two of the walls, and the middle of the room has both long and round tables where students can gather. The new south wing of the building houses new classrooms with new fur niture, including trapezoid-shaped desks that make it easy for students to work collaboratively. The new wing contains all of the music rooms, including a new chorus room for students who have until now practiced in the general-purpose room. Lawrence Road Principal Mark McCaw said that the upgrades would help the staff in “turning up the rigor and turning up the ConTinued on page 4
e are asking for a day of peace, a day at a time. It should never stop.