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Student members of the BOE sworn in By MIKE POLANSKY Senior Correspondent
Courtesy Town of Oyster Bay
Officials dedicate a historical marker at the site of Chin Chin Ranch in Massapequa. shown are Assemblyman Mike Durso, Massapequa Historical Society Vice President and Senior Historian William Culfer, Supervisor Saladino, Massapequa Historical Society President Charles Mackie and Town Councilman Tom Hand.
Massapequa’s stage legacy remembered By CHRISTIE LEIGH BABIRAD cbabirad@liherald.com
Fred Stone, a Broadway legend best known as the Scarecrow in the 1902 stage production of The Wizard of Oz, found a home in Massapequa more than a century ago. This month, town and local leaders honored that legacy with a new historical marker on Clocks Boulevard—commemorating the site of his former estate, Chin Chin Ranch. Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino and Councilman Tom Hand were joined by members of the Historical Society of the Massapequas and other officials at a dedication ceremony at 460 Clocks Blvd. “This historical marker highlights a fascinating chapter of Massapequa’s history,” Saladino said. “Though the ranch is gone, the stories it holds continue to inspire pride in our community.” Fred Stone purchased the property in 1913, building cottages, a polo field, riding track and stables, and naming it after one of
his hit shows—Chin Chin. The ranch soon became a retreat for entertainers and celebrities of the era, including Will Rogers, Annie Oakley, Douglas Fairbanks and the Duke of Windsor. The site was sold in 1925, and most of its original structures are gone—though one of the ranch’s original cottages was preserved and relocated nearby. Attending the ceremony were Historical Society President Charles Mackie; Vice President and Senior Historian William Colfer; and Lisa Bryson, daughter of the late Lillian Bryson, a trustee emeritus of the society. Lillian Bryson, who died earlier this year, conducted much of the original research and composed the text for the marker. “Today, we honor Fred Stone’s legacy and the enduring spirit of creativity that helped shape Massapequa,” Hand said. “This marker not only commemorates a legendary performer but also celebrates the history that continues to make the Town of Oyster Bay a special place to live.”
Newly appointed ex-officio student members James Benjamin and Tatum Brennan took the oath of office at the Massapequa School District Board of Education meeting on Oct. 21, formally introducing themselves to the community. Both seniors at Massapequa High School, Benjamin and Brennan are the first students to serve on the Board under a new state law requiring high school districts to include at least one student member. “We want to make sure that our ideas, achievements and concerns are heard by those who can make a difference,” Benjamin told the audience. Brennan said the duo hopes to represent student voices and build “a positive, involved and school-spirited community.” The oath was administered by school district attorney Greg Gillen. School Board President Kerry Wachter told the community that the board decided to have only one student board member but that following receipt of number applications from students who wanted to be considered for the position, it decided to appoint two. In other business, district officials also updated the Board on ongoing capital projects. Ryan Ruf, assistant superintendent for business and operations, reported that boiler replacements at Fairfield and Birch Lane elementary schools, roof replacements
at Massapequa High School, Berner Middle School, and East Lake and Hawthorn elementary schools had been completed. Roof work at Fairfield, Birch Lane, and Ames was partially finished, and air conditioning was installed in Ames’ cafeteria. Ruf said the main playground equipment had been replaced at 11 of the district’s 12 elementary schools, and abatement and removal of aging underground fuel tanks at East Lake, Unqua, Hawthorn, and Ames were completed. “Although there is still much work to be done, everything is progressing on time and currently $1 million under budget,” Ruf said. The meeting also featured public discussion of the district’s controversial new policy requiring students to use restrooms and locker rooms that align with their biological sex at birth rather than their gender identity. Board President Kerry Wachter said the district had filed a federal lawsuit seeking declaratory judgment and injunctive relief related to recent state actions regarding the policy. “We know that the law is on our side and want to be clear that we are not discriminating,” Wachter said. “We seek to address the needs of all our students and ensure that every child feels safe, supported and respected.” Several parents and students spoke in favor of the policy, citing privacy concerns. Others criticized the approach, calling CONTINUED ON PAGE 14