__________________ Merrick _________________
HERALD Merrick Chamber installation
local to play at Carnegie Hall
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Vol. 29 No. 6
FEBRUARY 5 - 11, 2026
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Rotary Club steps in to aid Merrick family family to assist with immediate needs. “When you lose everything, The Freeport-Merrick Rota- there are so many things you ry Club recently donated $900 to don’t even think about at first a Merrick family whose Decker — basic household items like a Avenue home was destroyed by can opener, clothes, a hair fire , part of the organization’s dryer,” Esmay said. “We just continued effort to expand its wanted to give them a little help community outreach in Mer- to get back on their feet.” rick. In addition to Spearheaded by the Rotary Club’s Rotary Club secredonation, a tary and Merrick GoFundMe fundresident Ker ry raiser was created Esmay, who is set to to support the famibecome the club’s ly. As of press time, president later this more than $19,000 year. had been raised JoRDAN PECoRA “ I h a d h e a r d Immediate Past through communia b o u t t h e f i r e President, Freeportty contributions. through some conJordan Pecora, Merrick Rotary Club nections in the comthe immediate past munity, and it really president of the tugged at my heartFreeport-Merrick strings,” said Rotary Club, said Esmay, who joined the effort reflects the club two years the organization’s ago. “They lost their home, core mission of service. their belongings and several “Our motto is ‘Service Above pets. I just couldn’t imagine Self,’” Pecora said. “We want to going through something like give more of ourselves and that and not trying to help.” make sure people know we’re Esmay brought the situation here to support both Freeport to the Rotary Club, which and Merrick.” quickly organized a collection Pecora, who served as club among its members. The funds president during the 2024–25 were recently presented to the
By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ
hgaldamez@liherald.com
o
ur motto is ‘Service Above Self.’
Courtesy Chris Brick
Long Island High School for the Arts students prepared for their performances of ‘Big Fish’ since September, rehearsing for hours every week after school.
BOCES brings ‘Big Fish’ to stage By JoSEPH D’AlESSANDRo jdalessandro@liherald.com
Bellmore’s Jerusalem Avenue Elementary School hosted some of Long Island’s best aspiring performers, who took the stage for their first professional-grade production of the 1998 novel turned Broadway classic and Tim Burton film, ‘Big Fish.’ The troupe of students are enrolled in the Nassau BOCES Long Island High School for the Arts, which offers career and technical programs for half of a student’s school day, ranging from music and performing arts to video game design and animation. BOCES is an alternative education program for young people who want to begin training for their careers as soon as possible. For the theatrical students, performing Big Fish allowed students to collaborate with
professionals in the industry, including Broadway professionals and career sound designers. “This is just one of the many opportunities that is offered to students at Long Island High School for the Arts,” said LIHSA Principal Lindsay Rogan. “The school provides students an opportunity to study at a pre-college and pre-conservatory level when they are still in high school. “These CTE programs meet the district arts programs and then take them to the next level, we are able to provide students two and a half hours of just arts education every single day,” she continued. The goal of this intensive artistic education is to prepare students to enter competitive colleges and fields with years of training to support them. Chris Brick, a teacher ContInued on pAge 3
ContInued on pAge 13