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UNIONDALE _____________
HERALD BEACON
‘The nutcracker’ returns to SHA
Ghostly Gala at the LICm
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Kids try out town trucks Grand Avenue students learn what Hempstead municipal workers do an entire unit around roles and community workers,” Grand Avenue School Principal Samantha Dias said, referLong before the ring to the acronym municipal trucks for science, technolorolled onto school gy, engineering, arts grounds, Grand Aveand math. “He came nue School pre-K up with this idea of students were bringing the commualready hard at nity into the lesson, work, building roads so students get out of blocks, hands-on, real-world sketching traffic experience.” signs and learning “I called the Town how their communiof Hempstead last ties are built. week and spoke to When a highway the Parks Departpayloader, dump ment,” Weiss said. “I truck and street took five minutes out sweeper pulled up of my day, and gave outside on Oct. 23, it (students) an experiwasn’t just exciting SAmAnTHA DIAS ence of a lifetime.” — it was about to be Principal, Grand The children took educational. As part Avenue School, on turns climbing the of a classroom unit pre-K STEAM teacher steps of the vehicles on roads and trans- Paul Weiss and sitting in the portation, the seat of the street Uniondale School District partnered with the Town sweeper. Some pretended to honk of Hempstead to host a Touch-a- the horn and called out, “Beep, Truck event, giving the district’s beep!” Others laughed as they youngest learners a chance to explored. When asked if he was connect their in-class explora- scared to get in the sweeper, one tion with real-world machines — 4-year-old student said yes, but and the workers who operate smiled proudly afterward. Town workers stood alongside them. “Paul Weiss, who’s our pre-K the trucks, talking with students STEAM teacher, has been work- and teachers. One driver ing with the pre-K on designing COntinUed On pAGe 6
By STACY DRIKS
sdriks@liherald.com
H
Tim Baker/Herald photos
Olga Moreno-Hernandez, left, a 25-year breast cancer survivor from Hempstead, and Gloria Gantt, of Uniondale, a 15-year survivor, at Uniondale’s American Legion Hall.
Breast cancer survivors honored
Evening raises funds for research and awareness By STACEY TAYLOR Correspondent
The nonprofit Uniondale Empowerment Resource Center hosted its first annual Breast Cancer Survivor Dinner last Friday, in partnership with the American Legion Hall in Uniondale, celebrating courage, faith and community in honor of local breast cancer survivors, including State Sen. Siela Bynoe. Guests enjoyed an elegant evening of unity and celebration, with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and dinner set amid black and pink décor, floral centerpieces and artwork by students at Hofstra University. Their paintings were auctioned to raise funds for breast cancer awareness initiatives. The program began with an opening prayer and welcoming remarks from UERC President Stacey Richardson, who thanked the commu-
nity, sponsors and cancer survivors for their strength and partnership. “We appreciate each and every one of you for recognizing breast cancer awareness and showing resilience through your journey,” Richardson said. “Tonight, we celebrate you — and we’re going to have a ball!” Bynoe, who was diagnosed 22 years ago, shared her personal journey, recalling how she discovered a lump while on vacation in the Caribbean. “I scheduled an appointment as soon as I got home,” she told the crowd. At the time, she was the executive director of the North Hempstead Housing Authority and studying for a master’s degree at LIU Post. Despite the challenge, she found strength in her faith — in particular, words from the Bible, Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I COntinUed On pAGe 9
e came up with this idea of bringing the community into the lesson, so students get handson, real-world experience.