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Page 3 Vol. 37 No. 7
FEBRUARY 12 - 18, 2026
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Little League welcomes nine more to HOF 2014, remains one of the longest-serving volunteers in league history. He spent 29 A new lineup of nine will years in the organization, servsoon take its place in Rockville ing as vice president, secretary and commissioner. When he Centre Little League history. This spring, the league will retired in 1985, the Mort Geller League, for 7- and 8-year-olds, honor a diverse g roup of administrators, coaches and was named in his honor. “Mort Geller was a living players as it welcomes its class legend,” said Hall of 2026 into the of Fame Selection Hall of Fame durCommittee Chairing Opening Day man Frank Keatfestivities, celebrating, who was ing decades of inducted as a coach achievement and last year. “He was service to the game. the longest-serving T he inductees vo l u n t e e r u n t i l will include long- MARK lEMANCzYK Rocky Seward and I time administrator Inductee, stayed a little lonMort Geller, chamRVC Little League ger.” pionship coaches Hall of Fame The coaching Ed Maher and Art inductees include Schnabel and standout former players Jack Schnabel, manager of the 1967 Finch, Chuck Kniffin, Matt state Babe Ruth League chamLemanczyk, Mike Lennon, pions, and Maher, a coach of Kenny Schnabel, and Jay Pette. the 1993 Long Island Little Their accomplishments span League championship team. Art Schnabel, who passed away more than four decades of local, regional and professional in 2015, also guided the 1966 Long Island Babe Ruth League baseball success. The induction ceremony will champions and later served as follow the annual Little League vice president of the league, Parade and Opening Day events and Maher spent two years as on April 18, as the league com- league president. The player inductees reprememorates its 75th season. Geller, who passed away in Continued on page 20
By BRIAN KACHARABA
bkacharaba@liherald.com
Deliah Roberts/Herald
Dancing with heart and attitude! Third-grader Cassie Rakeman, left, and fourth-grader Charlotte Powell share a fun moment on the dance floor during the William S. Covert Elementary School’s PTA Special Person’s Dance on Jan. 30. Powell shows off a little sass as the pair dance and pose together at the annual event, which brought students and their special guests together for an evening of music and memories. Story and more photos, Page 10.
Educators gather at South Side to advance inclusive life skills By AlYSSA R. GRIFFIN agriffin@liherald.com
More than 100 educators from school districts across Long Island convened at South Side High School last week for a regional Life Skills Consortium focused on strengthening special-education programming and inclusive opportunities for students with disabilities. Hosted by the Rockville Centre school district in South Side’s auxiliary gym, the Feb. 3 event brought together teachers, administrators and support staff to consult on best practices in lifeskills education and student support. Marie Dalton, the district’s assistant superin-
tendent for special education and pupil personnel services, said the gathering offered the educators a rare opportunity. “It’s where all of the special-education leaders across Long Island allow our teachers — specialeducation life-skills teachers — to come together to collaborate on best practices, creative ideas and new approaches,” Dalton said. “What we do is very unique, and there is a small pocket of special-education teachers within each school district.” The day was divided into two sessions to accommodate educators working in different grades. The secondary session, for grades six Continued on page 19
I
was kind of blindsided with excitement.