_________________ WANTAGH ________________
HERALD
IS IT TIME FOR A HEARING CHECK-UP?
Coming together for Israel
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Vol. 73 No. 24
JUNE 12 - 18, 2025
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Dr. Thomas Recher, Au.D.
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An extension on the mascot ban
One of Long Island’s Top Audi Presented by
Students write letters to honor fallen hero
to those who knew him. He was a star athlete in high school and college and spent his sumWantagh Middle School stu- mers as a lifeguard at Jones dents recently paused from Beach. After graduating from their busy schedules to write Duke University, Lynch made heartfelt letters — each one the courageous decision to join the U.S. Marine Corps, followaddressed to the parents of Matthew Lynch, a U.S. Marine ing in the footsteps of both his who gave his life in Iraq. father, Bill, and brother, Tim. Mary DeGre gorio, the On Oct. 31, 2004, at age 25, s c h o o l ’s l i b r a r y Lynch was killed in assistant, spearaction serving headed the touchoverseas in Iraq. ing project to make Lynch’s father was sure the students a Marine who realize the impormade casualty calls tance of Memorial during his time Day and to teach serving a short them the value of tour at the Marine honoring those who Corps District l o s t t h e i r l iv e s Headquar ters in fighting for their MARy DEGREGoRIo Garden City. When country. Around 50 Library assistant, h e s aw t h e t wo letters were written Wantagh Middle Marines dressed in as the Herald went School blue unifor ms to press. w a l k i n g t ow a r d Starting on May him as he arrived 21, DeGregorio set a desk right home with his wife, he knew outside her office with pens they were going to be told the and premade cards at the ready. worst possible news — that She created this with the hopes their son had been killed in that students could express combat. their gratitude to the parents DeGregorio explained that of Lynch for the bravery that she wanted students to focus on their son exemplified through- the true meaning of Memorial out his life. Day, adding that she felt barbeLynch, a Jericho native, was cues and pool parties overshada driven and dedicated son, Continued on page 8 brother and friend, according
By NIColE ToBIA
Correspondent
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Brian Ballweg/Herald
Warriors rally for l.I. title Wantagh’s, from left, John Gendels, Joe Nicholson, Dylan Martini and Devin Paccione had the Long Island Class C championship hardware on display after the Warriors beat Kings Park, 16-15, at Hofstra June 4. Story, additional photos, Page 6.
Defenders of Mill Pond Preserve Lions protect waterways with Save the Great South Bay By CHARlES SHAW cshaw@liherald.com
Volunteers armed with trash bags and grabbers fanned out across Mill Pond Preserve May 31 during a community cleanup organized by Save the Great South Bay in partnership with the Wantagh Lions Club. Lions Club members, wearing safety harnesses, helped collect roughly 800 pounds of debris from inside and along the 15-acre preserve, located near Lakeview Road and Sunrise Highway near the Wantagh and Bellmore border. The effort was part of Save the Great South Bay’s Creek Defender program, which mobilizes vol-
unteers to clean and protect about 50 South Shore creeks that flow into the bay. Coordinating with the Lions for the volunteer cleanup was James Pertsch, a board member of Save the Great South Bay and chairman of the Creek Defender program, who provided about two dozen volunteers with the equipment needed to clean the area. “This is a pretty complex waterway system,” Pertsch said. “We have to do something to pick up garbage and get people outside to do something positive.” According to its website, Save the Great South Bay is a nonprofit organization dedicated to reviContinued on page 4
e have come so far away from the true meaning of Memorial Day.