Upcoming Events at the Jericho Public Library

Saturday, April 29 11:00 a.m.: Table Top Adventures - Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Lucy Van Horn - Join Lucy when she shows us how to make some delicious, mild, Mexican food for this festive holiday. You will get to taste vegetable fajitas, tacos al pastor (pork), pollo en naranja (chicken with orange) and a surprise dessert. Lots of recipes and tasting!

Cost: $3 per person, per class. (Nonrefundable) Register online or at the Circulation Desk.

Monday, May 1 9:30 a.m.: Book Donations - The Library will be accepting donations of patrons’ gently used hardcover books, CDs and DVDs to be sold at our Annual Book Sale.

Please leave donations beneath the overhang in the back of the library on the JPL Donation Cart. Donated items will become the property of the Jericho Public Library. Use of these items is at the sole discretion of the Library.

Tuesday, May 2 10:30 a.m.: 1,2,3 Full S.T.E.A.M Ahead (18 Months–5 Years) - This preschool STEAM program includes music movement, fine and gross motor development and storytelling followed by a craft!

Thursday, May 4 1:00 p.m.: HYBRID ~ A Booktastic Discussion- “The Thread Collectors

”by Alyson Richman & Shaunna J. Edwards - In New Orleans, Stella, a young Black woman, embroiders intricate maps on repurposed cloth to help enslaved men flee and join the Union Army. In New York City, Lily, a Jewish woman, stitches a quilt for her husband, stationed in Louisiana with the Union Army. Their paths converge in New Orleans, where they discover that even the most delicate threads have the capacity to save us.

7:00 p.m.: Pajama Storytime (Ages 3–Kindergarten) - Children will enjoy 1/2 hour of stories and songs and see a short film. Caregivers must stay in the Children’s Room during this program.

Friday, May 5

10:00 a.m.: IN-PERSON ~ Free Health Screening: St. Francis Hospital Community Outreach Program - The St. Francis Hospital Bus will be in our front parking lot offering free health screenings. The screenings include a brief cardiac history, blood pressure, a simple blood test for cholesterol and diabetes screenings. They will offer appropriate education and referrals as needed for those attending.

No appointment necessary, but you MUST be 18 years of age or older.

10:30 a.m.: Coding Storytime (Ages 3–5) - Preschool coding activities can set down the foundation for helping kids start to think like a computer programmer.

Register for all events at https:// www.jericholibrary.org/events/month

Non-residents may register beginning 2 weeks before each program.

Letters To The Editor

Email: Editor@GCNews.com

Vibrant discourse

To the Editor:

The April meeting of the Jericho School Board included a spirited debate on Policy #3270 “Community Use of School Facilities,” which specifies that the use of District grounds and property “out of school hours without the permission of the Board is absolutely prohibited.” In practice, the Superintendent has for many years, without objection, granted access on short notice to local community groups without the Board’s pre-approval.

However, an April 6 press conference held by Senator Charles Schumer in front of Jericho High School, without Board approval, necessitated a discussion of the Superintendent’s discretion given that: (a) Senator Schumer is not a member of our Jericho community; and (b) Policy #3270 explicitly prohibits “meetings sponsored by political organizations.”

The vibrant discourse, which included participation by Board members, the Superintendent, and residents of our community, featured an analysis of the facts and competing viewpoints, and generated meaningful guidance for our District’s attorney to refine this policy for consideration at future meetings.

New York State’s “Open Meetings Law” prescribes that the public has the right to listen to debate and watch the decision-making process of local School Boards. Any discussion of #3270 required this public forum.

Such debate can be uncomfortable and perhaps heated at times, particularly when there is strong conviction and disagreement concerning Board members performing their mandated roles of setting policy and overseeing the Superintendent; jobs we were elected to do.

Sam Perlman, Jericho Board of Education Trustee