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Massapequa ___________
HERALD pOsT
Also serving Farmingdale, Massapequa, Massapequa Park and Plainedge
Scouting America merges Page 3 VOL. 112 NO. 26
MSD holds summer recreation program
Long Island music scholarship winner Page 5
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JULY 22-28, 20026
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Students take their seats at the table By MIKE POLANSKY
Senior correspondent
Courtesy International Little League
Massapequa International LL: NYS champions
Moments after completing an improbable comeback last week, members of the Massapequa International Little League Junior League team celebrate their 14-13 victory over Throgs Neck Little League to clinch the 2026 New York State championship. Massapequa erased a five-run deficit in the seventh inning, scoring six runs with two outs as its final seven batters reached safely. The team went on to complete the championship sweep with a 4-2 victory behind strong pitching from Dillon Dunbar and JoJo Mulligan. Eric Steiger was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. Pictured are manager Joe Pinto; coaches Ronnie Scrimenti and Chris Blumenstetter; and players Carter Blumenstetter, Gennaro Cremonese, Dillon Dunbar, Nicky Fiore, Henry Liebman, Ryan Mifsud, JoJo Mulligan, Jayson Mena, Mike Pistillo, Jake Salgine, Ronald Scrimenti and Eric Steiger. The team will face the Pennsylvania State Champions in the Regionals this week weekend. —Carolyn James
North Massapequa woman seeks kidney donor By MIKE POLANSKY Senior Correspondent
North Massapequa resident Caryn Berge is searching for a living kidney donor who could give her a second chance after years of battling kidney disease. Berge, 59, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 5 and later developed kidney disease when she was in her 20s. After her kidneys failed in 2018, she received a transplant from her sister the following year. Now, that transplanted kidney is also failing, and Berge has end-stage kidney disease. She said the failing kidney has caused fluid to build up
around her heart, and she has been placed on the national kidney transplant waiting list. Berge said the wait for a deceased-donor kidney can take five to seven years. She believes a living donor offers her the best opportunity to receive a transplant sooner. “I understood that there was always a possibility that I would need another kidney,” Berge said. “I just didn’t think that it would be so soon.” According to the National Kidney Foundation, most living kidney donors recover within four to six weeks after surgery, with many able to return to work in two to four weeks. CONTINUED ON PAGE 7
The Massapequa Board of Education appointed two Massapequa High School seniors as its ex officio student members during its reorganization meeting July 9, going beyond a state-required minimum that took effect last year. Antonio DelMaestro and Melissa Stalzer will serve as the board’s non-voting student members for the 2026-27 school year. A state requirement that took effect July 1, 2025, requires school boards to appoint at least one student member. For the second consecutive year, the Massapequa board opted to appoint two. DelMaestro is president of the Massapequa High School General Organization, the school’s student government, and is a member of the bowling and mock trial teams. Stalzer is active in the district’s Challenger Program and is a member of Best Buddies, which promotes inclusion for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. “We are excited to welcome our two new student Board members,” said School Board P r e s i d e n t K e r r y Wachter. “Last year Tatum and James did a great job and
we’re sure that Melissa and Antonio will do the same. Welc o m e a b o a r d ! ” The board also elected its officers for the 2026-27 school year. Kerry Wachter was reelected president, Jeanine Caramore was re-elected vice president, and Danielle Ocuto was elected board secretary. “I just want to thank everybody for the confidence you have in me to lead the Board and just be out there,” said Wachter. “I appreciate the privilege that I have to do that. Hopefully I’m doing a good job, and hopefully I’ll do a good job again this year.” Additional appointments approved during the reorganization meeting included Kate Mintz as district clerk, Susan Casquarelli as deputy district clerk, Jennifer Kolias as district treasurer, and Assistant Superintendent for Business Ryan Ruf as deputy district treasurer. In other business, the board accepted a $78 donation from New York Life Insurance Company, made on behalf of Christopher J. Tebeau, to benefit the Massapequa High School girls golf team. The board also accepted a $20,000 donation from Allyn B. CONTINUED ON PAGE 8