South Bay's Neighbor
WEDNESDAYS
By Deb Colton
WHAT’S HAPPENING AT THE
Kiwanis Club Of Wantagh
Wantagh Spring Festival Is Coming May 17th
(Rain date May 31st)
Spring has finally sprung! The crocuses have sprouted, forsythias are beaming their bright yellow glory that screams winter is over. It is time to get out in the warm sunshine and enjoy the renewal that spring brings each year.
In Wantagh, we look forward to welcoming the change of season at the annual Spring Festival! Located at the LIRR station between Beech Street and Oakland Avenue, the Kiwanis Club of Wantagh hosts this event every spring. This family fun day is the major fundraiser of the Kiwanis Club that helps support the
many activities and service projects the club participates in throughout the year to help children and families. Each year the Kiwanis Club of Wantagh sponsors children to attend Kamp Kiwanis for a week during the summer in the Adirondacks. This experience is offered to families that otherwise might not be able to offer this exciting experience to their child. The Kamp Kiwanis experience is lifechanging for many children. In 2024 the club sponsored twelve children. Each year the festival depends on the combined efforts of many volunteers and sponsors. People donate
their time and energy to make this event grow and offer new attractions every year. Our sponsors are a major part of how the Kiwanis Club of Wantagh meets our goals to send children to camp and other service projects in the community. Sponsors will be included in a series of email campaigns to about 25,000 Wantagh residents, a glossy color festival brochure that will be delivered to 5000 homes in Wantagh, and many large color posters will go up throughout town in advance of the event.
If you would like to congratulate someone on a new job or promotion,
celebrate a graduation, birthday, anniversary or promote your business or organization, this event is a wonderful way to spread the
word locally and affordably. If interested in becoming a sponsor please contact Kiwanis Club of Wantagh, President Margaret Silberger: mrs2929@ optonline.net. https://www. facebook.com/ KiwanisClubOfWantagh
William Desroches Foundation
LET’S BUILD A FIELD FUNDRAISER - MAY 8, 2025 - 6PM TO 10PM
Fundraiser To Build A New Soccer & Lacrosse Field
In Memory Of A 15 Year Old Wantagh Boy That Died Too Soon
One beautiful summer day in August of 2023 on Crescent Lake in New Hampshire, a vibrant young man was dancing on the water on his jet sky doing something he loved. Along with dirt bikes, hiking, working hard to become the very best he could be, time with his friends and the joys of high school before pivoting to become a Navy Seal someday, tragedy struck in an instant. Will just fifteen was suddenly gone.
The life of Will is what we all want to remember and the reason for this first of many fundraisers. William Desroches from
Wantagh was an avid lacrosse and soccer player who loved the outdoors, the joy of learning to rebuild a dirt bike, the training and focus to get stronger for his body in sports and his mind for the future. Will was well liked by his friends and respected for his determination no matter what he worked on. He had plans for his future.
After the accident Will’s family and friends were left with an emptiness that too many families experience.
Will’s Father Don needed to find a way to make Will’s life resound in the community his
son thrived in and for Willliam to still be present despite his passing.
The William Desroches Foundation was created to ensure Will’s life will bring opportunity and
joy to future generations of children in Wantagh. The foundation is raising funds for a new turf field at Forest Lake Elementary School in Wantagh. Forest Lake is where Will once played
and discovered his love of lacrosse and soccer.
The goal is mighty, $1.2 million, but so was Will in everything he ever did from when he was a toddler throughout his life. Always full of energy, determined, focused and refusing to admit exhaustion or pain, Will used all that early energy to guide every effort in his life. This field is a big challenge, but Will would never stop until it was a reality, and neither will the Wantagh community in his honor.
On May 8th at Mulcahy’s the William Desroches Foundation is holding its first major fundraiser to build the
field that will be an enduring legacy to a young man that loved sports. There will be raffles and live auctions, live music by Vinyl Revival, unlimited food & drinks, and so much more. Come and help pay tribute to a local boy called home too soon and support the building of a new field that will benefit many children in the community for years to come. Entry is $75 with an open bar and buffet and $35 for those twenty and younger. Visit www.WilliamDF.org where you can donate, volunteer, purchase sponsorships and tickets.
Wantagh High School Kiwanis Key Club - Story Time
New York State Senator Steve Rhoads Meets With Library Directors
On March 14,
directors and trustees
needs and priorities. Representatives from
Safe To Say, Forest Lake Third Graders Have Some Street Smarts
Third graders at Forest Lake Elementary School in the Wantagh School District learned how to take responsibility for their own safety and look out for the safety of others during a field trip in late March. The youngsters went to the Nassau County Police Department’s Safety Town at Eisenhower Park, which has been an educational hub for generations of elementary students.
During the trip, Forest Lake students got to drive small cars, ride bicycles and walk as pedestrians, with each experience imparting valuable safety lessons. Although they may be several years away from driving, they certainly can use those bike riding and pedestrian safety tips immediately.
This was the third year that Forest Lake students have gone to safety town. Teacher Stacey Sandurs had her students write reflection pieces upon returning to the classroom. She explained that it was a way to reinforce lessons from the trip and would also be something tangible to keep as a memory of the trip.
Their three-paragraph stories began with basics facts such as when and where they went, who they went with and why they visited Safety Town. Students also explained what they did and what they learned and wrapped up their stories with their favorite moments.
Ms. Sandurs added that the pieces helped students work on literacy skills such as writing structure, spelling and grammar, and get better at keyboarding.
Senator Steve Rhoads met with library
from Senate District 5 to discuss local library
Hicksville, Island Trees, Seaford, Bethpage, Wantagh, Plainview-Old Bethpage, Levittown, East Meadow, North Bellmore, and the Nassau Library System attended. Senator Rhoads values their insights and remains committed to supporting the essential services they provide.
Forest Lake Elementary School third graders in Stacey Sandurs’ class visited Safety Town at Eisenhower Park. Photo courtesy of the Wantagh School District
New York State Senator Steve Rhoads Attends Wantagh Fire Department Installation
Clerk
and Legislator
congratulated Chief Mathewson and all the incoming officers. The ceremony also honored members celebrating milestone anniversaries, including those marking 50 years of service. The Senator expressed gratitude to the entire department for their unwavering dedication, bravery, and commitment to keeping the community safe.
New York State Senator Steve Rhoads recently attended the Wantagh Fire Department Installation Ceremony, joined by Councilman Chris Schneider, Councilman Dennis Dunne, Hempstead Town
Kate Murray, Nassau Comptroller Elaine Phillips, Legislator John Ferretti,
Michael Giangregorio. Senator Rhoads
Wantagh Students Make A Huge Impact To Find A Cancer Cure
Wantagh High School students are determined to make an impact in the fight against blood cancers. This year’s Warriors for a Cure team raised more than $118,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, with junior Allie Reisert alone responsible for a quarter of that total.
For the second year in a row, Allie received the Team Member of the Year award for all of Long Island. This year she raised about $28,000 for LLS through online donations and bake sales of homemade goods.
Allie’s older sister, Ashley, was a Warriors for a Cure leader in 2021. That inspired Allie to get involved in the fundraising effort when she got to high school, in two years has raised nearly $45,000.
“I admired how my sister showed so much dedication and I wanted to follow in her footsteps,” Allie said. “I’m so grateful that I have the chance to make such an impact.”
The seven-week fundraising campaign ran from Feb. 6 to March 27. This year’s pillar is
patient support, with the proceeds going to benefit people currently battling leukemia and lymphoma. Allie created a presentation on Canva about the fundraiser and its impact that she shared with potential donors.
“I feel so inspired that I get to help all of these patients through their cancer journey,” Allie said.
Beyond the fundraiser, Allie is involved in dance and attends the Manhattan Youth Ballet School. She also is vice president of the general organization, a member of the National Honor Society, National Science Honor Society, Wantagh Animal Rights and Class of 2026, and plays the violin the orchestra. Additionally, she has been a part of the Rustic Pathways Climate Leader Fellowship, leading a community service initiative to support the One Tree Planted organization.
This year’s Warriors for a Cure leaders for the LLS fundraiser were Gabe Avitable, Mike Avitable, James DiCerbo and Matt Reilly. Under their
leadership, the team raised $118,240 for LLS to win the Long Island campaign and far exceed their goal of $50,000. It brought Wantagh’s five-year total to more than $425,000.
“It feels awesome,” James said about the impact Wantagh has made, noting that many people who donated have a personal connection to the cause as they have known someone diagnosed with leukemia or lymphoma.
The team was inspired by meeting Elijah, a 7-yearold leukemia survivor, who was the honored hero at a kick-off bowling event for all Long Island fundraising teams.
“It was truly incredible how everyone did get together to raise so much money,” Matt said, adding that several members of Warriors for a Cure raised at least $1,000. “This year everyone went above and beyond. It shows how people truly care and our success is because of the individual efforts of every single person.”
High School Principal
Legislator Koslow Congratulates Temple B’nai Torah Rabbi Daniel Bar-Nahum On 13th Year Of Torah And Tradition
Temple
13th Year of Torah and
held in Wantagh on Friday, April 4. “During his many years of service, Rabbi Bar-Nahum has enriched the lives of his congregants and given freely of himself to strengthen Jewish life in Wantagh and around the world,” Legislator Koslow said. “It was a pleasure to congratulate him for his devoted service and wish him many more years of success in leading the faith community at Temple B’nai Torah.” Photo courtesy of the Office of Legislator Seth I. Koslow
Wantagh
Dr. Paul Guzzone congratulates the Warriors for a Cure team on a successful fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Team leaders included, from left, Matt Reilly, Gabe Avitable, Mike Avitable and James DiCerbo, along with top fundraiser Allie Reisert. Junior Allie Reisert was the Student of the Year Campaign winner for Long Island by raising about $28,000 for LLS. Photo courtesy of the Wantagh School District
Nassau County Legislator Seth I. Koslow (D – Merrick) congratulated
B’nai Torah - A Reform Congregation Rabbi Daniel Bar-Nahum’s
Tradition during ceremonies
3176 ANN STREET
4 BD | 3 BA | 2,303 SQ FT
Waterfront Sunsets
Minutes to the Ocean
Close to Manhattan
Central Air & EMG Heat
Duel Fuel Gas Cooking
A Boat Ride to the Hamptons | SOLD AT $1,600,000 |
OUR SUCCESS IS REPETITIVE
Lightning strikes again in Baldwin Harbor and the thunder is rumbling through the real estate market in the 1st quarter of 2025. Shore Choice Realty, headed by Michael J. Willis, has designed another record-breaking masterpiece home. 3176 Ann Street on Parsonage Cove is selling for $1.6m. The last million-dollar waterfront to sell on the open public market, according to the MLS in Baldwin Harbor, is Michael’s last designer masterpiece on Parsonage Creek, a 1500 SF waterfront Ranch, sold for $1.155m in 2023. “I’m very fortunate and surrounded by craftsman that are always raising the bar of quality. I design from my heart, not discounted material and profit margins. I convey my visions to the carpenters, plumbers, electricians, tile guys and they bring it to a reality. As much as I enjoy creating, I truly enjoy helping my clients with their real estate needs, selling, representing and connecting them with the right tradesman to help have their real estate dreams come true as well.”Michael said mid-January. His phone is on and ready to help (516) 315-1218
By Deb Colton
It often takes a personal connection to inspire any of us to do something outside of our normal routine or comfort zone. For the past five years, Warriors For A Cure, a student-led fundraising team from Wantagh High School, has participated in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Student Visionaries of the Year campaign. This is a philanthropic leadership initiative for high school students across Long Island. In just seven weeks the team created fundraising events that raised over $118,000! Competing against 26 Long Island High School teams, Wantagh raised the most money, placing them first as the winners of the 2025 Student Visionaries of the Year.
Since the effort started in 2021, Warriors for a Cure has raised over $424,000 in total for LLS. These young people
Wantagh High School Students Win 2025 Student Visionaries Of The Year!
are a great reminder to all of us, never underestimate the power of people with a purpose. One person turned into many and soon a team of twenty-eight freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors were born. Through a letter writing campaign, social media, fundraisers at Ridgewood
Tavern, raffle donations, booths set up at the St. Patrick’s Day parade and in front of Iavarrone’s, these young people jumped into action. The three team leaders: James DiCerbo, Matt Riley and Mike Avitable attended meetings throughout the community to tell Wantagh residents
what they were working so hard toward
The community came out to support the high school team with tickets donated to Mets, Jets and Islanders games, and with the support of John Theissen donating concert tickets and raffling them off live on the John Theissen Children’s Foundation page, raffle
items included Blackstone grills, gym memberships, a TV, tons of local restaurants gift certificates and groups like the Wantagh Kiwanis Club of Wantagh donating funds. Allie Reisert won Team Member of the Year two years in a row, raising the highest amount of funds in 7 weeks. There is inspiration for all of us in
what our Wantagh students have done for the past five years. Congratulations to the 2025 Warriors for a Cure team for winning the Student Visionaries of the Year Award! We as a community are so proud of your accomplishments and grateful for your reminder of what we can all do to make life better for others.
Wantagh Band Standouts Tapped For Tilles Festival
A trio of Wantagh High School musicians have been selected to participate in the 17th annual LIU Post Band Festival at the Tilles Center in April. The 17th annual LIU Post Band Festival, featuring performances by the wind ensemble, concert band, and jazz band, will take place at the Tilles Center on April 30 at 7:30 p.m. Michael Muscarnera, Brendan O’Callaghan and Olivia Scherer will be among 128 studentmusicians to join the 2025 Tilles Festival Band.
The students were selected from approximately 220 nominees from across Long Island. They were nominated by Wantagh band director, Danilo Aviles.
“Michael, Brendan and Olivia are three of our top student musicians,” Mr. Aviles said. “They are not only remarkable
instrumentalists, but they are also great people. Their appetite for music is tremendous and their daily contributions as band students are plentiful.”
The three musicians are highly accomplished in music. Collectively, they represent numerous school musical groups including the brass, concert, jazz and marching bands, pit orchestra, jazz ensemble and wind ensemble. Michael is president of the Wantagh band, with Brendan serving as vice president and Olivia as secretary. Outside of school, Michael and Olivia play with the Five Towns College Wind Ensemble and Olivia is also in the Long Island Youth Orchestra. Brendan and Michael were 2025 All-County music festival sections.
For the upcoming Tilles Festival Band, Michael will
play the bass clarinet, but he is proficient in several instruments including the horn and saxophone. Brendan will perform on the trumpet and Olivia will be in the flute section. She also plays piccolo and saxophone.
At the festival, the students will be led by guest conductor and composer-in-resident Randall Standridge. Songs they will perform include Aaron Copeland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man,” Mark Camphouse’s “A Dakota Rhapsody” and Standridge’s own pieces, “Galop Festivo” and “Utopia.”
“There was no hesitation when nominating Michael, Brendan and Olivia for this great opportunity as they have had a tremendous resume of musical accomplishments both through the Wantagh Band program and other high-level
ensembles throughout the county,” Mr. Aviles added. “Performing under the baton of the world-
renowned composer and conductor Randall D. Standridge will be yet another incredible
experience to add to their resume. I’m truly excited for them.”
Mike Avitable, Matt Riley and James DiCerbo
Part of the Warriors for a Cure team at the Grand Finale March 27, 2025
Wantagh High School band students, from left, Olivia Scherer, Michael Muscarnera and Brendan O’Callaghan will perform in the 17th annual LIU Post Band Festival in April. Photo courtesy of the Wantagh School District
Application Open For Fall 2025 Hope For The Warriors Military Spouse And Caregiver Scholarships
National Scholarship Program Accepting Applications Until April 30
Now, through April 30, applications are being accepted for the fall 2025 semester for the Hope For The Warriors Military Spouse and Caregiver Scholarship Program.
Since 2006, Hope For The Warriors has awarded Military Spouse and Caregiver Scholarships twice a year. The nationwide program recognizes and rewards post-9/11 spouses and caregivers for their strength, fidelity and resolve despite adversity as they assume critical roles in the financial well-being of their families.
Scholarships vary from $1,800 to $2,500 and are applied toward higher education at an accredited U.S. university, college, or trade school. Unique to the program is a scholarship for spouses of the fallen, Restoring Family.
Wantagh High School
senior Evelyn Caputo placed third in the animal science category during the second round of the Long Island Science and Engineering Fair. She presented her independent research project on March 13 at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury.
Projects submitted for the first round of LISEF were judged virtually, and approximately 15% of applicants advanced to the in-person semifinal round. Expert scientists met with all of the participants and Evelyn was able to share her research about the spotted lantern fly.
Last summer’s spotted lantern fly invasion piqued the interest of many Long Islanders including Evelyn. Upon doing some preliminary research, she read that the milkweed flowering plant could be poisonous to the insects. Evelyn set
• Honorary Scholarship – awarded to those seeking graduate or post-graduate degree.
• New Beginnings Scholarship – awarded to those pursuing an associate degree, entry level classes or training.
• Restoring Family Scholarship – awarded to spouses of the fallen.
• Restoring Hope Scholarship – awarded to those pursuing a master’s or doctorate of social work, psychology counseling, or mental health counselingrelated field.
• Restoring Self Scholarship – awarded to those pursuing a bachelor’s degree.
Since the program’s inception, Hope For The Warriors has granted
290 Military Spouse and Caregiver Scholarships totaling $737,107.
To receive an application to apply for the fall 2025 semester, visit hopeforthewarriors.org and connect to services.
About Hope For The Warriors: Founded in 2006, Hope For The Warriors is a national nonprofit dedicated to restoring a foundation of stability, strength and community for post-9/11 veterans, service members and military families. Since its inception, Hope For The Warriors has served over 171,000 service members, veterans, military spouses, and caregivers through 10 programs/services focused on providing financial, career and educational stability; physical and emotional strength; and social support that builds
community. This includes The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Hope For The Warriors
providing confidential, high-quality mental health care services. For more information, visit
hopeforthewarriors.org, Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube or LinkedIn.
Science Star Awarded At LISEF Competition
up an experiment placing spotted lantern flies in nets with two different types of milkweed. In the control group, the lantern flies were with grape plants. She observed that they died at a higher and faster rate with the milkweed than with the grape plants during the month she monitored the nets.
Following her experiment, Evelyn used Google Colab to write and run Python code to analyze her results. She was encouraged by science research Casey Clark to use coding to compile statistical data, and found it to be a very useful tool. The program produced charts and graphs that helped her analyze her results.
Evelyn’s interests in spotted lantern flies began when she was visited family in Pennsylvania and saw the insects a few years before they arrived
on Long Island. This past summer, she volunteered with the Town of Hempstead’s Conservation and Waterways department in Lido Beach, where one of her tasks was spotted lantern fly control. After high school, she wants to continue her scientific endeavors in college and pursue a career either in medicine or research.
“It’s exciting to know that people saw my research and found it interesting that they want to see more of it,” she said of advancing to the second round of LISEF.
In addition to the third place award in animal science, Evelyn also received a Special Achievement award from the United States Air Force for aerospace and technology-related research excellence, and the Genius Olympiad and International Journal of High School Research Award. The
latter will give Evelyn the chance to present her research at the Genius Olympiad and publish in the International Journal of High School Research.
Carol-Ann Winans, Wantagh’s executive director for curriculum and instruction, commended Evelyn on her commitment to her research and contributions to the scientific community.
“We are so pleased that Evelyn was not only accepted into the second round of the prestigious Long Island Science and Engineering Fair, but also came home with multiple awards,” she said. “This is a high-level competition that brings together the best young scientists from across Long Island. We are proud of her accomplishment and wish her much success in her future scientific endeavors.”
Wantagh High School senior, Evelyn Caputo, earned a third-place award for her research on the spotted lantern fly at the Long Island Science and Engineering Fair on March 13. Photo courtesy of the Wantagh School District
No-Bake Dessert
Enjoy a this Easter Sunday
Easter eggs in all their pastel glory come to mind when pondering an important holy day on the Christian calendar. Easter eggs are great to hide and fun to find, but when they come in the form of a tasty dessert, celebrations become that much more festive.
“No-Bake Cheesecake Eggs” are a confectionary twist on the chocolate eggs that are popular come Easter. Home chefs can have fun decorating and playing with the flavors of these treats. Try this recipe, courtesy of “Jane’s Patisserie Celebrate!” (Sourcebooks) by Jane Dunn.
No-Bake Cheesecake Eggs
Serves 2
Base
1 medium chocolate Easter egg
35 grams unsalted butter
75 grams digestive biscuits
Filling
200 grams full-fat soft cheese (such as cream cheese or neufchâtel), at room temperature
1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons icing sugar
100 milliliters double cream
25 grams cocoa powder
Decoration
50 grams milk chocolate, melted Easter chocolates
Sprinkles
Directions:
Base
Carefully split the Easter egg into two halves. Melt the butter in the microwave in short bursts or in a small pan over a medium heat. In a food processor, blitz the biscuits to a fine crumb, add the melted butter and pulse a few times until the mixture is well combined.
Divide the mixture equally between the two halves of the Easter egg, and very gently press down, without breaking the shell.
Filling
In a large bowl, whisk the cheese, vanilla extract and icing sugar until smooth. Add
the double cream and cocoa powder and whisk again until smooth and thickened. Divide the mixture evenly between the two Easter egg halves and smooth over as carefully as possible. Chill in the fridge for an hour or so until set.
Decoration
Drizzle the melted milk chocolate over the two halves and decorate with some Easter chocolates and sprinkles.
Editor’s note: Icing sugar also is known as confectioner’s sugar or powdered sugar. In the United States and Canada, “double cream” may not be readily available. Double cream has a higher butterfat content and is primarily sold in the UK. If double cream is not available, try substituting with heavy cream with the highest fat content you can find, but note that the consistency of the finished product may be slightly different.
Fourth graders at Lee Road Elementary School in the Levittown School District explored what makes them unique by
Lee Road Students Are Unique Inside And Out
taking introspective looks at their internal and external character traits.
Students in Ms. Dunbar’s class were challenged to
identify “what makes you, YOU!” by naming their personal characteristics. Each student drew a selfportrait, leaving half of
Ms. Dunbar’s fourth grade class at Lee Road Elementary School identified their internal and external traits. Photo courtesy Levittown Public Schools
Earth’s
Systems Take 3D Form
It was a collaborative effort at Lee Road Elementary School in the Levittown School District as fifth graders explored Earth’s four systems and recreated them in 3D form.
Students in Mrs. Belmonte’s class worked together to learn about the four Earth systems: the geosphere, hydrosphere,
atmosphere and biosphere. With guided support, they utilized an AI Earthbot along with various research links to gather information and deepen their understanding of each system. Collaborating with partners, students crafted life models of each Earth system using provided crafting materials,
showcasing their creativity and teamwork.
To share their findings, they designed engaging presentations using Canva and Google Slides. The students presented their models and research to the class, showing off their hard work.
Fifth graders at Lee Road Elementary School recreated Earth’s four systems in 3D form. Each project was a collaborative effort between students. Photo courtesy Levittown Public Schools
the image to fill with their internal traits, such as being honest, kind or brave. The portraits were transformed into mosaics as students
brought them to life with color. The projects, which now hang outside of Ms. Dunbar’s classroom, helped to show fourth graders
the importance of being confident in their unique qualities.
Basketball Tournament Ups The Competition
Fourth and fifth graders at Abbey Lane Elementary School in the Levittown School District stepped on the court for a fierce three-on-three basketball tournament on March 20.
Equipped with green jerseys marking the annual event, each team of three
represented different colleges and universities from across the nation such as the University of Connecticut, Syracuse University, the University of Alabama and the University of California, Los Angeles.
In “March Madness” style, teams faced off in brackets
to see who came out on top in their respective games. The friendly competition boosted camaraderie and emphasized the importance of effective communication and teamwork.
Lane Elementary School students
off in an intense three-on-three basketball tournament on March 20.
courtesy Levittown Public Schools
Portraits were eventually turned into colorful mosaics. Photo courtesy Levittown Public Schools
Abbey
faced
Photo
Unleavened Bread Passover Cooking the foundation of
Passover is a Jewish celebration and one of the religion’s most sacred and widely observed holidays. Passover commemorates the Biblical story of the Israelites’ escape from 400 years of slavery in Egypt. In 2025, Passover takes place at sundown on Saturday, April 12 to Sunday, April 20, 2025. Pesach, as Passover is known in Hebrew, includes all kinds of ceremonial foods. The Passover seder plate showcases specific
items that relate to both the suffering and emancipation of the Jewish people. Throughout Passover, the faithful abstain from any leavened bread products. According to Exodus 12:8: “They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted on the fire; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat.” Jews also are to remove all leaven (hametz) from their homes and eat unleavened bread for an additional
seven days. Apart from being commanded by God, it is believed unleavened bread became traditional Passover food because the Jewish people departed Egypt in haste without time to let bread rise. Furthermore, some say God also associated leavened bread with sin.
If there is one ingredient Passover celebrants may find challenging to work with during the holiday, it could
be unleavened bread. Typically matzoh/ matzah is substituted for other yeasted breads this time of year. One place matzoh really shines, though, is in matzoh balls for use in soups or side dishes. A dumpling of sorts, matzoh balls are tasty and filling, and ideal for meals throughout Passover. Try this recipe for “Perfect Matzah Balls (Kneidlach)” courtesy of Chabad.org’s Kosher Cooking.
Perfect Matzah Balls (Kneidlach)
Yields 4 balls per each 1⁄4 cup of matzah meal
(Meat, Pareve)
2 eggs, slightly beaten
2 tablespoons oil or chicken fat
2 tablespoons soup stock or water
1⁄2 cup matzah meal
1 teaspoon salt
1 quart of salted water or chicken soup, for cooking
Directions:
Beat eggs slightly with fork. Add other ingredients, except matzah meal, and mix. Add matzah meal gradually until thick. Stir. Refrigerate for 20 minutes in covered bowl.
Wet hands and form into balls. Drop into bubbling chicken soup or into a large wide pot into which 1 quart of water seasoned with 1 tablespoon salt has been added and has come to a boil. Cook for 30 minutes.
Levittown School District Residents Asked To Vote On Sale Of Seaman Neck Road School To
Nassau BOCES
On Tuesday, May 20, in addition to casting a ballot on the proposed budget, residents within the Levittown School District will be asked to vote on the sale of the building located at 1100 Crestline Place, Seaford, NY, to Nassau BOCES for $7,216,000. Included in the proposed sale are the physical school building and the immediate surrounding land. The district will retain ownership of the adjoining athletic fields for continued use by student athletic teams and community organizations.
Built in 1955, the school was used as an elementary
school for the district until its closure in 1997. It is currently leased by Nassau BOCES and used as a middle school for students with learning, behavioral, emotional and developmental disabilities.
“We believe that selling the building serves the best interests of all involved, including our taxpayers,” Superintendent of Schools Todd Winch said. “Transferring the building to a respected educational partner such as Nassau BOCES guarantees its continued role in education while allowing our students and community to continue using the athletic fields.”
If the sale is approved by Levittown residents on May 20, it remains conditional upon voter approval of Nassau County residents through a separate referendum, as well as approval by the Nassau County Planning Board of a subdivision to allow Levittown to retain ownership and use of the athletic fields.
The referendum will take place on Tuesday, May 20, from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. at Gardiners Avenue Elementary School, East Broadway Elementary School, Levittown Memorial Education Center and Division Avenue High School.
National Digest To Publish Wantagh Poets
The 2025 edition of “Young American Poetry Digest” will feature 18 poems from Wantagh Middle School students.
A poetry contest was sponsored in March by the middle school library and coordinated by library assistant Mary DeGregorio. There were two dozen submissions from 20 students, which were submitted to the poetry book that has been published since 1994. Digest editors then selected 18 for its annual edition.
“Poetry really moves your soul,” said Ms. DeGregorio, who dabbles in poem writing herself. “In middle school, students have a lot going on inside that they can get out in a poem.”
All of the poems, which had to be 80 words or less, were also entered into a schoolwide contest. Mira
Wantagh School District
Binckes was the seventh grade winner and Emily McHale was the eighth grade winner. Seventh grader Salem Riahi won the haiku category.
Librarian Amelie Weber said that the contest generated excitement for
Always Affordable
National Poetry Month, which is held in April. The next edition of the “Young American Poetry Digest” publishes later in the year and the library will receive a copy for its collection because its students are featured.
Wantagh Middle School seventh graders Mira Binckes and Salem Riahi were among the winners of a recent poetry contest. Photo courtesy of the
