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VOL. 61 NO. 31
To the Stage meets Broadway
Brush strokes on the beach
Page 5
Page 10 JULY 30 - AUGUST 5, 2026
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L.B. Lions honor families from Island Park partnership with the Guide Dog Foundation, which has sponsored nearly 90 guide and of the Herald service dogs for veterans and The Long Beach Lions Club people who are blind or visualmarked a century of communi- ly impaired. ty service earlier this month, Island Park Mayor Michael and recognized three families McGinty and his wife, Jeanne, whose commitment received the club’s to volunteerism has Lion of the Year strengthened Long Aw a rd fo r t h e i r Beach, Island Park unwavering supand neighboring port of Lions events communities for and fundraisers. generations. Two of Club President the evening’s highAllen Schwartz said est-profile honorees that the McGintys were from Island have volunteered at Park. virtually every club More than 200 e ve n t i n r e c e n t guests gathered at years, from food the Lawrence Yacht drives and bingo and Country Club nights to fundraison July 18 to celeing events on the b r at e t h e cl u b ’s Long Beach board100th anniversary, walk. commemorating its “When you say founding in 1926 MICHAEL McGINTY Mike and Jeanne, a n d a l e g a cy o f you don’t say one Island Park mayor c h a r i t a b l e wo rk without the other,” that has extended Schwartz said. well beyond Long Beach. “They’re one. They’ve particiThroughout the evening, the pated in every single event Lions’ longstanding service we’ve had.” was highlighted, including Schwartz noted the symbolscholarships for local students, ism of presenting the couple an annual Thanksgiving food with a singular Lion of the drive that has helped hundreds Year award rather than sepaof families and its decades-long CoNTiNUed oN PAge 16
By ABIGAIL GRIECO & CHRIS COLUCCI
Courtesy Tom Ryan
Brendan Ryan, 22, displayed his martial arts skills during the 2026 AAU National Taekwondo Championships in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where he won two gold medals and was named the 2026 AAU Para Athlete of the Year.
Brendan Ryan continues to prove his life has ‘no limits’ By ABIGAIL GRIECO agrieco@liherald.com
For Brendan Ryan, success has never been defined by limitations. The 22-year-old martial artist from Garden City recently captured two gold medals and was named the 2026 AAU Para Athlete of the Year at the AAU National Taekwondo Championships in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, capping a seven-year journey built on determination, discipline and a simple family philosophy: “No Limits.” Ryan won national titles in the Senior Black Belt Para Traditional Forms and Senior Black Belt Para Creative Weapons divisions, earning recognition among the country’s top para athletes at the July 2 competition. The AAU — Amateur Athletic
Union — recognized him with the award not only for his competitive accomplishments but also for his character and commitment to the sport. Ryan, who has Down syndrome, honed his championship form training at Champions Martial Arts Oceanside, under the guidance of Master Nadine Pace, owner and fourth-degree master instructor. “It was an amazing week at nationals,” Pace said. “It wasn’t just given because he was a para athlete. He truly, truly earned it.” For Ryan, however, the week was about more than medals. “It was nice to see other people with Down syndrome from around the country who love taekwondo like me,” he said. Although excited, Brendan admitted he CoNTiNUed oN PAge 12
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n a world where volunteerism has gone the way of the dodo, here’s a group that has been together for five generations.