Serving Roslyn, East Hills, Roslyn Estates, Roslyn Harbor, Roslyn Heights, Greenvale, Old Westbury and North Hills
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Friday, May 12, 2023
Vol. 11, No. 19
SCHOOLS & EDUCATION
HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR GALLERY AT JCC
SANTOS INDICTED
PAGES 25-28
PAGE 3
PAGE 13
Roslyn community mourns Outpouring of support, grief for two middle school boys, 14, who died in crash BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z
PHOTO BY CAMERYN OAKES
Funeral attendees mourn the death of Ethan Falkowitz.
Nassau County mourned the deaths of two young Roslyn tennis players after an accused drunk driver cut short their lives last week and snuffed out the dreams their families, school, friends and community had for the talented 14-year-olds. The Roslyn School District, in a statement, reflected on the passing of Drew Hassenbein and Ethan Falkowitz, both middle school students, and two injured high school friends. “The tragic passing of two of our Roslyn Middle School students is a tremendous loss for their families, friends, and our school community,” the statement said. “The district extends our deepest condolences and asks that everyone respect the families’ right to grieve privately during this very difficult time…We wish a speedy and complete recovery to our two Roslyn High School students in the hospital. Our hearts are broken.” The district also said it will have psychologists, guidance counselors and other social workers set up at each school to provide support for students, staff or families.
Hassenbein and Falkowitz were killed after being hit by an allegedly drunk driver behind the wheel of a Dodge Ram traveling on the wrong side of the road in Jericho, according to the Nassau County Police Department. Both were remembered as promising tennis players with local sports groups where the two played from early childhood. Hassenbein was a nationally ranked tennis player who played on the high school varsity tennis team. He was ranked as high as No. 1 in the country in the National Boys 12 and Under division in 2021. He also facilitated the coin toss at the 2021 Men’s U.S. Open Final. The United States Tennis Association’s Eastern Region reflected on the passing of the two boys and extended their condolences to those close to them. “USTA Eastern is heartbroken over the tragic loss of Drew Hassenbein and Ethan Falkowitz, two members of the Roslyn High School tennis team on Long Island,” a statement from the organization said. “We extend our thoughts and prayers to their families, teammates and loved ones.” Continued on Page 9
No bail for alleged drunk driver on wrong side of road BY C A M E RY N O A K ES The driver who is accused of killing two Roslyn Middle School students was held without bail Monday as more than 100 people waited outside the Nassau County Courthouse. Drew Hassenbein and Ethan
Falkowitz, both 14-year-old tennis players, sustained fatal injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene of the DWI crash in Jericho Wednesday evening, police said. The two boys, along with Roslyn High School students Zach Sheena and Ethan Solop, were on their way back
from a celebratory dinner with their tennis team. Both Sheena and Solop remain in the hospital in stable condition with internal injuries, according to Newsday. Police reported that the four boys were in a 2019 Alpha Romero sedan driving on North Broadway when at
10:21 p.m. they were struck by a 2019 Dodge Ram driving in the opposite direction of traffic. The driver of the Dodge Ram, Roslyn resident Amandeep Singh, 34, was arrested and treated at a local hospital for minor injuries, according to police. Singh’s blood alcohol content was 0.18,
police said, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08. A few dozen family members and friends of both families were permitted in the first-floor courtroom for a three-minute hearing Monday where District Court Judge Anthony Paradiso Continued on Page 12
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