Serving Williston Park, East Williston, Mineola, Albertson and Searingtown
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Friday, September 29, 2023
Vol. 72, No. 39
GUIDE TO MINEOLA STREET FAIR PAGES 21-32
Broadcast center for Cohen’s
JEWELRY STOLEN IN MINEOLA
CRICKET WORLD CUP COMES TO NASSAU
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MINEOLA MILESTONES
TV personality Ryan Seacrest aids kids BY B R A N D ON D U FF Y Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New Hyde Park is now home to the 13th Seacrest Studio, a broadcast media center built by “American Idol” host Ryan Seacrest’s foundation. The TV personality in 2009 started the Ryan Seacrest Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to providing pediatric patients with entertainment and education-focused initiatives. “As the largest provider of pediatric services in New York State, we are thrilled to welcome Cohen Children’s Medical Center into the Seacrest Studios family,” Seacrest said in a statement. “I had the pleasure of calling New York home for many years, so to know that so many children and families will now have access to our programming is incredibly rewarding.” A star-studded cast joined Seacrest Sept. 19 for the studio’s ribbon-cutting, including singer Stephen Sanchez, actress Madelyn Cline, WWE Superstar Charlotte Flair and Paw Patrol characters Chase, Skye Rubbel and Marshall. The 1,500-square-foot state-ofthe-art studio in the hospital’s atrium will feature programming broadcast to all patient rooms. Programming will include visits from special guests, educational content, music therapy and patient-created shows. Continued on Page 46
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE VILLAGE OF MINEOLA
Mineola Mayor Paul Pereira and the board of trustees joined LIRR officials, elected officials and others at the 100th Anniversary of the Mineola Train Station and ribbon cutting ceremony.
Herricks teacher leaves after video Middle school band instructor allegedly featured in ‘disturbing and upsetting’ post BY B R A N D ON D U FF Y The Herricks School District and Nassau County District Attorney’s Office are investigating an incident regarding a former teacher who was removed from the district after a “disturbing and upsetting” video surfaced online. Residents expressed concern
during the Thursday night board of education meeting over the well-being of students and the next steps for the jazz band, which parents said the removed teacher was involved with. Superintendent Tony Sinanis said the district was informed after 9 p.m. Tuesday night of a video circulating online that allegedly featured a Herricks teacher. “The following morning, we informed legal authorities and continued investigating in an effort to ensure the safety of our students,” Sinanis said in a statement Thursday night and in an email to the district. “We also took steps to ensure that our students and staff were supported and had access to coun-
selors if necessary.” Sinanis said the teacher is no longer employed by the district. The Nassau County District Attorney’s office is also investigating the matter with their law enforcement partners, officials confirmed to Blank Slate Media. “I moved to this district specifically for the music program,” said Linda, the mother of an eighth-grade trombone player. “For this to happen now was just heartbreaking and shocking.” Sinanis told the mother and other parents who inquired that the district offers counseling in both group and individual settings. Board of Education President
James Gounaris said one person does not make the entire district win or lose, commending the students and parents who reported the incident to the district. “We thank you for that, because without them we may not have known until the day after or the day after that,” Gounaris said. “It’s a testimony to the entire family unit in this district and also the staff members who reported it.” “No one stands for this, no one thinks it’s tolerable,” Gounaris said. Catalin Wong, a senior at Herricks High School, said she and her friends were shocked by the news and asked to board about the process Continued on Page 45