Six SHS students named All Eastern musicians Funds for Paws of War

Inspired by damning reports that disgraced Rep. George Santos stole $3,000 from Richard Osthoff, a veteran who was raising funds for lifesaving treatment for his dying service dog—Nassau County Legislator Joshua A. Lafazan (D – Woodbury) joined with constituents to present a $27,000 donation to Paws of War—a Nesconset-based organization that helps train and place service dogs with veterans—on Wednesday, Feb. 15.

The success of fundraiser, which began of Jan. 18, greatly eclipsed Legislator Lafazan’s initial $3,000 goal – the exact amount that Santos is accused of stealing from Mr. Osthoff. The $27,000 sum represents a combined total of private donations from Mr. Larry Sarf and the proceeds of a GoFundMe fundraiser that Legislator Lafazan’s office sponsored.

“You think about the moral bankruptcy that an individual would have to take

Six Syosset High School seniors were selected to perform at NAfME’s All-Eastern Conference this spring (five pictured).

Six student musicians from Syosset High School have been recognized as All-Eastern Musicians. They have been invited to perform at the National Association for Music Education’s All-Eastern Conference this coming April in Rochester, New York. The Conference selects top-performing students through a rigorous application. Students across eleven states and Washington, D.C. are invited to apply.

This year’s conference will take place in Rochester, New York, beginning April 13 and concluding April 16. It will be hosted by the New York State School

Music Association (NYSSMA). While at the conference, our students will prepare challenging programs under the leadership of prominent conductors from across the Northeast.

The Syosset All-Eastern musicians are:

Luca Alexandru – Songwriting

Maya Kopacz – Mixed Chorus

Kaity Lee – Symphonic Band Alternate

Sharon Lim – Mixed Chorus

Michael Sabatino – Mixed Chorus

Abigail Wu – Symphony Orchestra from such a vulnerable and a service dog that was so important to his quality of life,” Legislator Lafazan said. “Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of our community, we’ve raised the $3,000—and a little more. We’ve now raised over $27,000 to benefit this amazing nonprofit—money that came from individuals who were sickened by the actions of George Santos and wanted to do their part to make things right.”

The Paws of War donation spearheaded by Legislator Lafazan comes after POLITICO reported that George Santos was charged in 2017 with theft in relation to a separate animal-related incident in which he allegedly paid for $15,000 in bad checks to steal puppies from Amish dog breeders in Pennsylvania—and then duplicitously had the charge expunged by claiming to prosecutors that he “worked for the SEC.”