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UNIONDALE _____________
HERALD BEACON
Helping L.I.’s little learners
Hispanic Heritage month
Honoring forgotten heroes
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Students get ‘ultimate’ night of college info that for some of our students who might be first-generation and may not know how to naviUniondale High School host- gate the process, that we are ed the Uniondale School Dis- the ones who are leading them trict Ultimate College and and helping them so they pick the right instituCareer Information tion for them.” Night on Oct. 1. There were a Students and wide variety of their families workshops to joined engaging choose from, workshops presentincluding writing ed by college and college essays, career program financial aid, colrepresentatives. lege search processThe BOCES Adult es, majors leading Education proto successful gram, Emory Unicareers, admisversity, Hofstra sions, the role of University, Mitchell AI, programs for College, Molloy neurodivergent stuUniversity, SUNY dents, and SUNY Farmingdale, the colleges and uniSUNY Welcome versities. With the Center and Western option of attending Connecticut State up to three workUniversity were in shops, students left attendance. MoNIque the event feeling “We have such a DARRISAW-AKIL more confident strong college proabout their futures c e s s , ” d i s t r i c t Superintendent, than when they S u p e r i n t e n d e n t Uniondale School entered. Monique Darrisaw- District “We’re able to Akil said. “We do bring in more colworkshops during the summer; we do workshops for freshmen, lege partners, more presenters, sophomores, juniors, seniors. where they get a sense of our It’s an all-year-long process, community,” Jessica Kane, the because we want to make sure Continued on page 16
By ALYSSA R. GRIFFIN
agriffin@liherald.com
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Tim Baker/Herald photos
Reptiles take the spotlight The red tegu, which recently made an appearance at the Cradle of Aviation Museum, is a lizard native to western Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay. Known for its calm temperament and easy care, it is commonly sold in the global pet trade. More photos, Page 10.
Piano, pride and spirited Latin sounds Matthew Fishteyn leads joyful music at Uniondale library By STACY DRIKS sdriks@liherald.com
The Uniondale Public Library’s Bookmark Café was filled with the lively sounds of Latin music on Sunday as composer and pianist Matthew Fishteyn performed a mix of jazz, folk and Latin melodies in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. Fishteyn, a seasoned performer who has been playing since age 6 and studied at the Special Music School of America — a New York City public school dedicated to music education — guided the audience through an interactive performance that blended cultural history with music. “Are we in the dancing mood?” Fishteyn asked, encouraging the attendees to stand. “This
is what I call the pre-workout workout — the workout before the workout.” People in the audience clapped, swayed to “El Hombre Divertido” (“The Fun Man”), by Dominican musician Wilfrido Vargas, and joined in as Fishteyn led calland-response sections of the performance. Although the concert focused on Latin music, which Fishteyn said is his repertoire, he explained that he frequently blends genres, and calls his a variety act. “I’m actually a blues piano player,” he said. “People ask me all the time, ‘Can you do one style?’ and I say, ‘No, it’s boring for me.’ I do a little Brazil, blues, some Bee Gees, even Ozzy Osbourne.” Audiences want variety in concerts, Fishteyn said, adding, “Everyone’s tired of the same Continued on page xx
e have such a strong college process. We do workshops during the summer; we do workshops for freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors.