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VOL. 112 NO. 22
JUNE 17- 23, 2026
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By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com
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Talent, teamwork and passion bring choirs together
Community mourns death of local high school senior The Massapequa community is mourning the death of a 17-year-old Massapequa High School senior who died by suicide Monday, June 8, at the Massapequa Long Island Rail Road station. Authorities have not publicly released the student’s identity and the Herald is withholding her name out of respect for her family. Other sources said, however, that the student expressed concerns at school about being bullied shortly before the incident. Following that disclosure, she immediately left the school. Apparently concerned, school officials attempted to locate her but were unsuccessful and filed a missing person’s report. Nassau County police and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority have released few details about the incident. In service advisories issued Monday, the Long Island Rail Road reported an “unauthorized person on the track,” a term commonly used when a non-employee is present on or near active railroad tracks. As news of the student’s death spread throughout the community and on social media, however, residents expressed grief and sympathy for her family, friends and
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By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com
Photos: Mike Polansky/Herald
AMVETS Post 88 had an enthusiastic presence.
Massapequa Street Fair draws record crowd By MIKE POLANSKY Senior Correspondent
A record 124 vendors lined Broadway in Massapequa on Sunday, June 7, as an estimated 15,000 people attended the annual Street Fair, hosted by the Chamber of Commerce of the Massapequas in partnership with the Town of Oyster Bay. The fair stretched along both sides of Broadway from Veterans Boulevard to Clark Avenue and featured local businesses, craft vendors, nonprofit organizations and a wide variety of food vendors. Fairgoers could choose from foods including calzones, zeppoles, empanadas, corn on the cob, cinnamonglazed nuts, pickles and ice cream. Tapville also served wine, beer and cider. Chamber President Robin Hepworth praised the event’s turnout and community spirit during the opening ceremony. “We are proud of our community spirit and dedication to supporting one another,”
Hepworth said. “Events like this highlight the importance of shopping locally, supporting local businesses, and coming together as friends and neighbors.” Past chamber president Keith Wilson chaired the event, assisted by incoming chamber president Sal Polito and Greg Massini. Chamber Treasurer Karen Gawrych served as grand marshal. “Massapequa is part of who I am,” Gawrych said. “I care deeply about this community, and want to help ensure that it remains the special place we all call home.” Gawrych noted that the fifth generation of her family was born in Massapequa in December, which she said reflects the community’s enduring values and spirit. Among the elected officials in attendance were Oyster Bay Town Councilmen Tom Hand and Andrew Monteleone, CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
When John Buckel, music director for St. Rose of Lim R.C. Church in Massapequa was asked if his choir would consider working in collaboration with other local church choirs for a special event, he and members of the choir immediately said yes. “It was an exciting idea; something we had never done before,” said Buckel. After months of practice, the group joined with 9 other local church choirs in an event recognizing the Our Lady of Grace Choir’s 50th anniversary. More than 100 choir members from local churches participated in the event. The community gathered to celebrate the occasion at the church on Albin Avenue, West Babylon on May 17. The choir has been led by Terence Purtell for the last 20 years who described the event as “an incredible feat of teamwork. “We had 11 different parish choirs involved with each guest choir preparing with its own music directors for the entire year,” said Purtell. “We had just one dress rehearsal together to make sure that we were in sync and we all did it,” he noted with pride. Approximately 150 people
attended. “It was absolutely beautiful and we all enjoyed the concert very much,” said Donna Deodato, a parishioner who attended with her family. “They did an outstanding job.” Erin Barrett, director of the choir from Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Lindenhurst which participated in the event, described the experience as delightful and uplifting. “We had never done anything like that before and it is amazing how everything came together so beautifully,” she said. “All of the members of the choir enjoyed in tremendously. Terence did a wonderful job.” Buckel said the groups practiced separately and only had the chance to practice together once. “It was absolutely beautiful the way it all came together,” he said. “We had never gotten to do anything like that.” In addition to the choirs from Our Lady of Grace, St. Rose of Lima and from Our Lady of Perpetual Help, other local choirs included those from Our Lady of Lourdes in Massapequa Park, and Saint Killian in Farmingdale. In addition to the adult members of the choir, it included young performers as well. The the music was provided by an orchestra, CONTINUED ON PAGE 9