Don’t Miss Your HERALD — it’s insiDe! _______ Malverne/West HeMpstead ______
HERALD Also serving Lakeview
Drug danger highlighted
outstanding teachers awarded
Students display their art
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Vol. 33 No. 22
MAY 28 - JUNE 3, 2026
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Malverne H.S. senior wins scholarship and housing. The group promotes its mission through research, policy M a l ve r n e H i g h S c h o o l advocacy, legal action, and edusenior Matthew DaCosta was cating and mobilizing the pubnamed winner of ERASE Rac- lic. These education efforts ism’s 2026 John Wenzel Schol- help drive policy change at arship for Advancing Racial local, regional and statewide levels and through E q u i t y, E l a i n e national coalitions. Gross, the group’s “We fill a really founder and presiimportant niche,” dent emerita, Gross said. “There announced on May were not many peo19. ple talking about D a C o s t a w ay s t o a d d re s s expressed g reat structural racism pride in earning the in the ways that award, which he public policy, govsaid will help him ernment policy, and continue spreading institutional prachis message of racial equity. MATTHEw DaCoSTA t i c e s p e r p e t u at e ongoing disparities “It’s not only a recipient, between white and reflection of my 2026 John Wenzel Black Long Islandhard work, but also Scholarship ers.” a symbol to keep Since 2023, the going,” he said. “This scholarship also greatly Wenzel Scholarship has been assists me with furthering my awarded annually to a Long policy and racial justice efforts Island high school senior who exemplifies ERASE Racism’s in college.” Established in 2001, ERASE commitment to racial justice. Racism is a Long Island-based The winner receives a $1,500 civil rights organization that scholarship, which will be preexposes and addresses the sented at ERASE Racism’s impact of historical and ongo- annual benefit on June 3. “The Scholarship continues ing structural racism, particularly in public school education Continued on page 9
By NoAH PERETZ
nperetz@liherald.com
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Sue Grieco/Herald
State Senator and lifelong oLL parishioner, patricia Canzoneri Fitzpatrick offers a Citation to pastor, Fr. Jim Stachacz.
Our Lady of Lourdes church commemorates centennial By NoAH PERETZ nperetz@liherald.com
Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church, in Malverne, celebrated its 100th anniversary on May 21 with a centennial gala at Sand Castle in Franklin Square. The ceremony was followed by a midnight Mass led by the Rev. Jim Stachacz. Parishioners, current and former clergy, and village officials gathered for a cocktail hour before the ceremony. A slideshow of parishioners at a variety of outreach events held by the church was projected on a wall of the ballroom, celebrating its community involvement.
Stachacz expressed his gratitude for the support of the congregation and the community, and led the gathering in an anniversary prayer, honoring members of the clergy and parishioners who came before him and their commitment to the church. “This is truly a quintessential moment, being here for our centennial,” Stachacz said. “I am deeply honored to be a part of this historic celebration.” He thanked former Our Lady of Lourdes spiritual leaders including the Rev. Chux Okochi, who was in residence from 2003 to 2017. “It was great to be a part of the parish and to be here celebrating 100 years,” Okochi Continued on page 6
t’s not only a reflection of my hard work, but also a symbol to keep going.