Deer Park’s May Moore Primary School partnered with Long Island Cares to kick off May Moore Kindness Week with a Cereal Box Challenge. As part of the event, the school collected a whopping 1,113 boxes of unopened cereal – far surpassing their goal of 1,000 boxes – to create a domino chain. The boxes were set up in the hallways and gym during the school day, so all students could view them in action. Once the chain was completed, the boxes were donated to local food pantries through Long Island Cares. Photo courtesy of Deer Park School District
BOE Recognizes Robert Frost’s Emily Rodriguez
As cold and flu season sets in, a seemingly simple cold could signal a more serious concern for some people—but there’s good news, too.
The Risk of RSV Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common virus that mimics cold-like symptoms. While many people recover quickly, RSV can cause severe illness, hospitalization, and even death in certain groups, particularly older adults. The virus spreads easily through coughing, sneezing, and close contact.
However, there’s a way to protect yourself: vaccination. Last year, RSV vaccines reduced the risk of hospitalization or emergency visits by 75%, making them a powerful tool in preventing severe outcomes.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends RSV vaccination for:
• Everyone 75 years and older
• Adults aged 60–74 at higher risk due to chronic conditions like cardiovascular disease, severe obesity, or diabetes, as well as those living in nursing homes. Unfortunately, chronic conditions are widespread
“You did a
At the Deer Park School District’s Feb. 25 Board of Education meeting, Robert Frost Middle School eighth grader Emily Rodriguez was recognized for being named a runner up in the 2024 Hispanic Heritage Month essay contest. Her essay was titled “The
and we
of you and are
behind you,” Board President Donna Marie Elliott told Rodriguez.
Photo courtesy of Deer Park School District
May Moore’s Cereal Box Challenge inspires kindness
Photo courtesy of Deer Park School District
Deer Park’s May Moore Primary School partnered with Long Island Cares to kick off May Moore Kindness Week with a Cereal Box Challenge. As part of the event, the school collected a whopping 1,113 boxes of unopened cereal – far surpassing their goal of 1,000 boxes – to create a domino chain. The boxes were set up in the hallways and gym during the school day on Feb. 10, so all students could view them in action. Once the chain was completed, the boxes were donated to local food pantries through Long Island Cares.
Every February, May Moore’s Positive Behavior Committee, co-chaired by Dana Grafstein and Melissa Greenfield, hosts Kindness Week. This leads up to P.S. I Love You Day, which promotes positive messages of love, acceptance and community. Each day of
Kindness Week not only features a different theme that revolves around acts of kindness, but also serves as a spirit day, where students can dress up to show their support. As students brought in cereal boxes, they received note cards to design, which included kind, thoughtful messages signed by each student. They then taped their messages to the front of the boxes and added it to the collection.
“Through this special week, we strive to promote kindness and empathy at a young age, hoping to stop bullying in its tracks,” Grafstein said. “This year, we wanted to extend the activities we do within our school into the community in a way that would also be fun and memorable for our students. As part of our Kindness Week, we wanted to choose a food that we know most kids really like, and that our students would feel other
Reza Zorakhsh Named National Merit Finalist
kids would love to have. In this way, they made more of a connection to the food drive itself. Our hope is that when their box finds its way into the hands of someone in need, it will put a smile on their face.”
The domino chain itself served as more than mere entertainment.
“Our students were able to see that they collected enough cereal boxes to go through our entire school. As the first box was pushed over, the domino effect was in full swing, and the students saw that kindness has a domino or ripple effect in the world. This chain reaction starts when someone is kind to another person and this kindness inspires others, which in turn inspires others and so on. The cereal boxes are a visual representation of how far this kindness ripple can travel.”
Deer Park High School
senior Reza Zorakhsh has advanced to Finalist status in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program. This academically talented student began this journey as one of about 1.3 million
juniors in over 20,000 high schools nationwide who took the 2023 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. National Merit Semifinalists were named last fall, representing less
than one percent of high school seniors and the highest scorers in each state. Zorakhsh will now compete within a field of 15,000 Finalists for the opportunity to earn one of 6,870 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million.
“When I was a
sophomore, I started hearing about this whole National Merit Scholarship program,” Zorakhsh said. “Guidance counselors came in and talked about it. Looking through the whole progression from over a million people starting off, to only 15,000 being finalists, seemed so
NAMED NATIONAL MERIT FINALIST - Deer Park High School senior Reza Zorakhsh has advanced to Finalist status in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program. Photo courtesy of Deer Park School District
abstract. I wondered how I was going to get through all those rounds. But being here today, now that I am declared a finalist for this amazing program, I feel so grateful, especially for my family for helping me
push my way through academically, as well as all of my teachers and classmates for providing a supporting environment so that I can achieve as much as I can.”
Deer Park’s May Moore Primary School partnered with Long Island Cares to kick off May Moore Kindness Week with a Cereal Box Challenge.
Home Sweet Home Starts Here...
MARCH HAPPENINGS
“Michelle was amazing. Very responsive. Great experience from start to finish! Michelle explained the process, answered all our questions, coordinated quickly and efficiently the whole process between all parties involved. We recommend Michelle to all our friends on Long Island”.
-Zillow Review From Previous Seller
SAT., MARCH 15th
11:00AM-2:00PM
ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH CLOTHING SALE
305 Carll’s Path in Deer Park.In the church hall. Rain or shine. Hot beverages will be served. Come by and take a look. You won’t be disappointed. Plenty of women’s, men’s, and children’s clothes, shoes, and accessories at great prices. For more information, please call 631-242-7530
SUN., MARCH 16th
1:00PM
WINTER CONCERT SERIES
Cambiata Cello Duo Paul Finkelstein & Suzanne Mueller
The New York Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation invites you to enjoy the comfort of fine classical music on Sunday afternoos at the Upper Carriage House at Bayard Cutting Arboretum in Great River. For more information, please call the Islip Arts Council at 631-8883525. For information on the day of the concert, please call Bayard Cutting Arboretum at 631- 581-1002
SAT., MARCH 22nd
10:00AM-1:00PM
LENTEN COLLECTION
FOR SOLES4SOULS
Farmingdale United Methodist Church, 407 Main Street, invites the community to join their Lenten Collection for SOLES4SOULS, a nonprofit organization that
HOLIDAYS
9th - Daylight Savings Begins
17th - St. Patrick's Day
20th - Spring Begins
MAKE A SUBMISSION!
Events must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the event date and will run free of charge on a space available basis. For more info, call 631.226.2636 x275 or send events to editorial@longislandmediagroup.com
collects new/slightly used shoes and distributes them to people in need. Donations can be brought to their Grant Avenue entrance.
5:00PM-8:00PM
ST PATRICK'S DAY DINNER & SHOW
First Presbyterian Church 497 Pulaski Road in Greenlawn. $30.00 per person. Entertainment~ Mulvahill-Lynch School of Irish Dancers. Full Traditional Irish Meal, Irish Soda Bread beverages & dessert, Raffle Baskets and a Door Prize! Call Priscilla for tickets and reservations 631-379-4889.
RSVP by March 15
SUN., MARCH 23rd
11:00AM-5:00PM
ST JAMES MODEL RAILROAD CLUB
WINTER OPEN HOUSE
Located at the Mills Pond House in St James. Once again opening to the public with many new additions to the Layout There is a requested donation, Adults $2.00, Children .50. PLEASE NOTE: The St. James Model Railroad Club is not handicapped accessible. For further information call evenings 516-263-9607 or 631-543-8732
12:00PM-4:00PM
ANNUAL ST JOSEPH CELEBRATION
Long Island Society of Italian Americans (LISIA) are getting ready for their annual St Joseph Celebration at The Inn at New Hyde Park. $100.00 per person includes antipasto, complete dinner, beer, wine & soda and
dancing. Call Diane Langella @ 516-398-3484 for additional information and reservations.
THURS., MARCH 27th
6:30PM-9:30PM MUSIC BINGO FUNDRAISER
The Seaford Historical Society will host a fundraiser, Music Bingo, at the museum. The event is $25 per person, which includes 2 bingo cards. There will be raffles, door prize and a 50/50. Coffee and water will be available. The museum is located at 3890 Waverly Ave. in Seaford. Tickets can be purchased at their website seafordhistoricalsociety.org/ music-bingo. Seating is limited. For more information, please call Judy Bongiovi at 516-783-8629
SAT., MARCH 29th
8:30AM-11:30AM
HECKSCHER STATE PARK
MARATHON, HALF MARATHON & 5K 1 Heckscher State Parkway, Field 6 in East Islip. Rain or Shine. Boston Qualifier Marathon and USATF Certified 5K and Half Marathon! The course is fully stocked with water and nutrition stops. The course is on fully closed park roads. This is one of the 1st Marathons & Half Marathons of the spring - come run a well supported event at Scenic Heckscher State Park! Each runner will receive a longsleeved shirt & a finisher medal! For more information, please contact Brendan Dagan 516-531-3323
$399 - MANY SIZES
• Chicken Parm
• Sausage and Peppers
• Spinach and Mozzarella
• Eggplant Parm
•
Reading Is A Beloved Pastime
Reading is a beloved pastime that can positively affect cognitive health and even help to reduce stress. Though those benefits are largely associated with adults, reading can be equally beneficial to children, even those who have yet to learn how to read. According to
the Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center, an affiliate of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, infants pick up on language earlier than researchers once realized, and hearing language is important as their brains prepare them to speak. Reading also supports word
learning and preliteracy skills in older children. The ECLKC notes that when adults read to children, they typically speak words they would not otherwise use in typical discourse. That helps children expand their vocabularies, even before they learn to read on their own.
free for most people. Both private and public insurance plans, including Medicaid and Medicare, cover RSV vaccines. Adults who are eligible can get vaccinated against RSV at any time of year. Find a Vaccine To locate an RSV vaccine near you and learn more about RSV protection options, visit www.vaccines.gov or www. CVEEP.org/RSVReady. Continued From 2
encourage you to discuss your RSV risk with your healthcare provider. Nearly 95% of adults aged 60 and older have at least one chronic health issue, and almost 80% have two or more, so talk with your healthcare provider if you have questions about whether you have eligible risk conditions.
Taking Action Champions for Vaccine Education, Equity, and Progress (CVEEP), a trusted source of information that advocates for access to recommended vaccines, emphasizes the importance of vaccination for those most vulnerable to respiratory illnesses, especially in underserved communities.
RSV vaccines can be given alongside other vaccinations, and they’re
WHOLE HOUSE CLEAN OUTS & MOVE OUTS BASEMENTS, ATTICS, GARAGES CLEANED OUT
SHEDS,DECKS POOLS, ETC DEMOLISHED AND REMOVED NO DUMPSTER
ak finders) , Windows, Sheetro ck, Pa int & Spackle, Fa scia, Soffit, Rotten Wood Re pair Kitchens , Baths
THINKING ABOUT ADVERTISING YOUR BUSINESS and not sure how to get started? Call today and one of our experi enced Sa les Representatives will assist you. We c an help you with a lin e ad or a di splay ad. Let us at SOUTH BAY'S NEIGHBOR NEWS PAPE RS set up an adv ertising program for you. Y ou'll be glad you di d! Call 631-226-2636, Ext. 276 HAVE AN APARTMENT TO RENT? Place your ad in our Classifieds 631 -2 26- 2636 Ex t. 276 THINKING ABOUT ADVERTISING YOUR BUSINESS
Darla The Therapy Dog Visits JQA Kindergarten Classes
Darla the therapy dog visited each of the kindergarten classrooms at Deer Park’s John Quincy Adams Primary School in early February. Students had the opportunity to pet Darla and interact with her as they learned about therapy dog training and the different ways she helps people in her community.
“Our kindergartners were excited to meet Darla and experience firsthand
the joy she brings to people,” Kathryn Outcault said. “It was a valuable and positive learning experience for young children.”
