________________ LONG BEACH _______________
HERALD
Congrats
TO THE CLASS OF 2026
OPENING DOORS TO BR
Proudly serving Long Bea ch, Island Park and Oceans ide for 35+ years.
Also serving Point Lookout & East Atlantic Beach
City Council votes to pierce tax cap
Time to restock l.B. Soup Kitchen
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Vol. 37 No. 23
JUNE 4 - 10, 2026
$1.00
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IGHT FUTURES
Joseph “Joe” Sinnona Associate Real Estate Br oker • 516-375-8162
Michael Berube Color Run brings hope to the beach By CHRIS ColUCCI ccolucci@liherald.com
Bob Arkow /Herald
The color in the Sunset Color Run came from nontoxic, eco-friendly dyed powder, with some participants covering up with bandanas or glasses. The event raised more than $16,000 for mental health advocacy.
Picture an average high school classroom full of students. According to recent data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 20 percent of those students have given suicide serious consideration. Almost 10 percent of them have attempted it. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in teens and young adults — more prevalent than any disease including cancer. Michael Berube wasn’t a statistic. He was a Long Beach lifeguard and a varsity wrestler at Long Beach High School, and was widely known by his family and friends to be one of the first to turn strangers into friends with his open, inviting charm. When Berube died by suicide in 2023, his memory and attitude inspired those who knew him to continue his legacy, to ensure that others feel included and safe. “After he passed,” his mother, Neila Berube, recalled, “a wrestling coach and a friend of mine from the school ConTinued on page 8
Young minds shine at LBHS Research Symposium By CHRIS ColUCCI ccolucci@liherald.com
“At its core, research is the process of turning curiosity into evidence,” Kristen Conklin-Kearney, the science research teacher at Long Beach High School, explained. The school hosted its annual Research Symposium on Monday, showcasing its research program. In the past, the event focused on student research, displayed on posterboards in the high school’s upper commons area. This year, 26 students in grades eight through 12 created poster displays of work that ranged
from global warming’s influence on hurricane landfall to potential improvements in administering intravenous lines in pediatric patients. For the past three years, under Conklin-Kearney’s guidance, the symposium has more closely resembled a professional conference. Guest speakers have been invited to share their expertise. This year, Barry Udelson, an aquaculture specialist, gave a comprehensive presentation on his work with New York Sea Grant, based at Stony Brook University, which focuses on regrowing seagrass and maintaining and replenishing the region’s shellfish and
finfish. Recent symposiums have also given selected students an opportunity to present their research. This year, junior Sophia Stevenson and sophomore Karina Rios presented their work in the auditorium. Rios discussed her work investigating how the ADHD medication atomoxetine affects the digestive system. Stevenson researched the effects of cellphone radiation on red blood cells — and surprised the audience with statistically significant findings and video demonstrations. Northwell Health presented a $2,500 check to Vaughn Brise-
no, Cassel Koss, Vanessa Maltez, Sydney Olivo, Victoria Simona and Aidan Tarsia, winners of the annual Northwell Health Youth Climate Challenge, which was open to schools on Staten Island and across Long Island. “Long Beach did extraordinary work,” Marina Pettinicchi, Northwell’s manager of out-
reach services, said. “They had six fabulous projects that really highlighted so many different topics that really impact climate change, and they proposed some great solutions.” The challenge, Pettinicchi noted, wasn’t merely theoretical: The students’ work may move forward to be implementConTinued on page 20