Terrapin Awareness Day

The Town of Oyster Bay, along with the Friends of the Bay, will be co-hosting their annual Terrapin Awareness Day and Beach Cleanup on Sunday, June 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Center Island Beach.

“The Town of Oyster Bay joined forces with Friends of the Bay to launch ‘Team Terrapin,’ to help protect the Diamondback Terrapin turtle, as this small species lives in fresh or brackish waters in our Town,” said Council- woman Laura Maier. “The turtles, which have distinctive diamond-shaped rings covering their shells, have a near-threatened conservation status and we are working with our environmental part-

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Grishman said his colleagues in other districts echo his perspective. “We strongly disapprove of any devaluing of the History regents exam or the teaching of American history and civics,” he said. They believe it’s important for students to have a grasp of the heritage and values that helped form the United States.

“I don’t know what’s behind the movement to eliminate the History regents exam,” Grishman said. The Blue Ribbon committee, consisting of some fifty educators and others involved in public school education, is expected to issue its recommendation in the fall.

Grishman said Jericho students in the 7th and 8th grades are taught American History, and in the 9th and 10th grades World History and in the 11th grade American History.

“Our students are given a solid background in both global and American history,” he said. “We will continue to maintain these courses.”