GREEN PAPAYA
GRILLED TIGER SHRIMP
CARAMELIZED PORK RIBS
CRISPY SPRING ROLLS (SEAFOOD/PORK/VEGETABLE)
CRISPY CHICKEN WINGS
SUMMER ROLLS
SUGAR CANE PORK
LYCHEE SHRIMP
CRISPY SEASONED TOFU
GOLDEN OYSTER ROLLS
BANH MI (PORK/CHICKEN/TOFU)
GRILLED PORK CHOPS
GRILLED CHICKEN (BREAST/THIGH)
GARLIC SHRIMP (GRILLED/FRIED)
GRILLED LAMB CHOPS
SIZZLING BASIL STEAK
GRILLED WHOLE SQUID BEER CLAMS
GRILLED BRANZINO/RED SNAPPER
By Natalie Raccuglia
Gus Tsiorvas began working at this father’s thendiner when he was just ten years old at Seaford Palace Diner. Years later, his dad Peter Tsiorvas would purchase Oconee Diner in Islip in 2001 where Gus worked his way up and became the manager. After years of working in the business, he decided it was time for him to go on his own which led to his decision to purchase Embassy Diner in 2022.
Embassy Diner which has been in Bethpage for 62 years has since been refreshed by Gus to make it his own. Instead of traditional Greek aspects, the primary décor is American themed, including – flags, banners, stars and stripes and a whole lot of red, white and blue. He began renovations to the place when he officially took it over in April. He’s given the interior a new look by replacing some tables, booths, and carpeting. There’s also a new chef and baker who will be making everything from scratch.
Long-departed favorites have since come back to the menu at Embassy and these include the beef goulash as well as pepper steak and lamb shanks. Gus’s brother Billy, an NYPD cop also manages
the diner part time and has even added some contemporary items that have gained traction: A grilled cheese that includes turkey and bacon, a chicken-bacon-honey-BBQ- panino or quesadilla, and an Italian-style grilled cheese that is filled with mozzarella sticks.
When purchasing Embassy Diner, it wasn’t about the money to the previous owners. Despite getting multiple offers, all they wanted was reassurance that Embassy would remain a diner. Luckily for them, Gus was perfect for the job since working in a diner was all he knew. Tsiorvas lives in Wantagh with his wife Ann Tsiorvas and their three children. He plans to be there during all his waking hours ensuring customers are seated and enjoying their meals. At the end of the day, he stands behind the characteristics of a diner that makes a diner what it is. This includes their extensive menu and classic counter space for all to enjoy.
Since purchasing Embassy Diner, it has tripled in business in a year. They are open Sunday to Thursday from 6 to 2 a.m., Friday and Saturday all day and all night.
Wantagh Chamber of Commerce
Heritage Club at Bethpage
99 Quaker Meeting House Road, Farmingdale, NY 11735
Tuesday, March 4, 2025|6:30 –9:30 pm|$150 pp
Meet and greet this year's Grand Marshal. It’s a wonderful start to the 2025 parade season leading up to Wantagh’s Fifth Annual Parade on Sunday, March 16, 2025.
In 1998, Tommy followed in his father’s footsteps and pursued a career in law enforcement with the NYPD. While working in the NYPD, Tommy learned the skills necessary to e ectively function in various communities, on patrol as well as an undercover o cer. He remained with the NYPD until November 1, 2005, when he was sworn into the Nassau County Police Department. Tommy worked patrol for 12 years in the 3rd Precinct , located in Williston Park. He was then elected as a 3rd Precinct PBA Delegate in April of 2013.
As a Delegate, Tommy recognized that the needs of law enforcement o cers were not fully met. With the support of the Department, he began taking counseling classes at Molloy University and transferred to the NCPD Employee Assistance O ce. In this capacity, Tommy was able to provide counseling, support and direction to his fellow o cers. After four years, Tommy determined he could help more of his brothers and sisters in blue by running for PBA President.
As President of the largest law enforcement union in Nassau County, Tommy is recognized as a leader of organized labor. He is well respected by his peers, elected o cials and the public. Tommy and the Nassau County PBA proudly utilize and support small businesses in Nassau County.
On January 1, 2021, Tommy began his four-year term as Nassau County PBA President. Being a union leader, like running a business, has its challenges. During his current tenure, Tommy and his Board have successfully negotiated a new contract and secured longevity. Tommy has also maintained his passion for mental health and helping first responders and their families. He is focused on creating government policies that enable and encourage o cers to receive the assistance and support they deserve. He knows a healthy Police O cer is a more e ective Police O cer and an asset to all they are sworn to protect and serve.
Tommy will continue to work tirelessly to safeguard the rights of his members, who protect the citizens of this great County with distinction. As a leader of Irish heritage, Tommy is especially grateful to the Wantagh Chamber of Commerce for this opportunity to be a part of the 2025 St. Patrick’s Day celebration.
It may still be cold outside, but spring is right around the corner with crocus already reaching for the sun, and early spring flowers beginning to break through the earth. As the sun rises higher in the sky and days grow longer, the colors of spring will soon burst forth. That means that the Wantagh Spring Festival will soon follow. The Kiwanis Club of Wantagh Spring Festival committee has been working for months to make the event more fun packed than ever.
The Sixth Annual Wantagh Spring Festival will be on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at the Wantagh LIRR station on Sunrise Highway between Beech Street and Oakland
Avenue from 10 AM to 5PM. If there is inclement weather, the rain date will be Saturday, May 31, 2025. On the day of the festival Wantagh will take on a carnival atmosphere with cartoon characters, music, colorful inflatables, fanciful booths, games, and the feeling of fun in the air!
The Spring Festival is growing each year and this year it will stretch almost a quarter mile. We are looking forward to more outrageously delicious and diverse food trucks, craft vendors, cool inflatables, and rides for the kids. There will also be all kinds of games, and the Wantagh High School Key Club Storytime booth will return after being
a favorite of little ones and parents last year. Returning for the third year is the Community Corridor that offers local not-for-profits a free space to share what they are doing in the community with residents. It is a wonderful way to learn about organizations in Wantagh and the services they provide. You may even find something that interests you enough to join. These groups are part of the local spirit that makes Wantagh so special.
More information about the festival will be coming soon. Get ready for an enjoyable May 17th! https:// www.facebook.com/ KiwanisClubOfWantagh
5TH
Sunday March 16, 2025 - 2PM
WANTAGH 5TH ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE
St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2025
Join us for TWO After Parties immediately following the Parade on Railroad Ave and Park Ave Parking Lot
Location - Wantagh High School
Line up
12N Parade will step off at 2PM.
CARS MUST BE REMOVED BY Sunday 6AM on the following Streets and Municipal Lots: Beltagh Ave, Wantagh Ave, Railroad Ave, Brooklyn Ave, Beech St (Sunrise to Park)
Municipal Lots on Brooklyn Ave, Railroad Ave, Park Ave., TOH Lot behind Lifestyles Sports, Sunrise Hwy Lot near Sunrise Diner
Beltagh Ave 12N Wantagh Ave -12N Railroad Avenue- 12N Beech St (Sunrise Hwy to Park Ave) - 12N Park Ave - 12N
PLEASE NOTE:
Snakes are featured prominently in the legend of St. Patrick, whose feast day is celebrated every year on March 17. As the legend goes, St. Patrick drove all snakes from Ireland. But scientists and historians note that St. Patrick, who lived in the mid-fifth to early sixth century, likely came along too late to accomplish such a feat, as evidence suggests post-glacial Ireland never had any snakes. Indeed, the ocean waters surrounding the Emerald Isle are too cold to enable the migration of snakes from other locales, which suggests the snakes in the legend of St. Patrick are symbols and not meant to represent reptiles.
Extra LIRR Trains will be added. Please enjoy the parade responsibly. Only Authorized vendors with permits will be allowed to sell merchandise at the Block Parties.Vendors ARE NOT PERMITTED at Line Up or on the Parade Route.
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9:30am-9:00pm
Wantagh High School
Principal Dr. Paul Guzzone will connect with some of the world’s leading educators during the week-long Nobel Prize Teacher Summit in March. He was one of only two administrators on Long Island selected to attend the renowned international conference, held in Stockholm, Sweden.
He was encouraged to apply by Superintendent John McNamara, and also knew it would likely be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Dr. Guzzone’s trip will be sponsored by EF Educational Tours, which provides a limited number of scholarships to educators looking to participate in the unique and prestigious professional development program.
In Sweden, he will interact with educators from more than 25 countries. The program includes a welcome dinner, workshops, city tours,
school visits and a teacher summit on democracy, along with free time to explore Stockholm.
“I’m looking forward to hearing different perspectives on education,” Dr. Guzzone said, adding that he wants to take what he learns to “enhance what we do for our students here in Wantagh.”
At the summit, Dr. Guzzone will get to share
what he is proud of at Wantagh High School. He wants to talk about the growing Science Research Academy, which already has 36 participants in just its second year, and the high school’s multiple points of entry for students to take accelerated classes. The new two-year technology sequence, which will introduce a two-part construction trades course next year, is also a program he is proud of as a way to enhance opportunities in a small school. Additionally, he’d like to highlight the district’s community connections, particularly the successful launch of the Wantagh 9/11 Memorial 5K and other efforts to remember the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
This is Dr. Guzzone’s fifth year at Wantagh High School after previously working in the Oceanside School District. In 2022, he was recognized with the Administrator of the Year award by the Nassau
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.”
Counselors’ Association for his support of the guidance program.
At the March 23-29 conference hosted by the Nobel Prize Museum, Dr. Guzzone said he most
looks forward to the organic and enlightening conversations he will have with other educators.
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.
“I’m super proud of the opportunity,” he said. “It’s very humbling to know that I was selected along with a prestigious group of peers.
I’m going to represent not only Wantagh High School, but our entire region with professionalism and pride.”
Dr. Guzzone said that attending the international conference is all about bringing back ideas to benefit the students of Wantagh. Photos courtesy of the Wantagh School District
There’s much to celebrate on the Spring Equinox, which is also referred to as the “Vernal Equinox” or the “March Equinox” and marks the official beginning of spring, a season many people associate with rejuvenation and longer hours of daylight. One unusual aspect of the equinoxes (the Autumnal Equinox in September ushers in the beginning of fall) is these days feature the fastest sunsets and sunrises of the year. According to Earthsky.org, this phenomenon occurs because the sun rises due east and sets due west on the equinoxes, which means the setting sun hits the horizon at its steepest possible angle. That steep angle leads to a very short sunrise and sunset on the equinoxes. Traditionally, we celebrate the first day of spring on March 21, but astronomers and calendar manufacturers alike now say that the spring season starts on March 20 in all time zones in North America.
• ICE CREAM
• CEREAL SHAKE
• SAUCERS
• COOKIE BOWL
• WAFFLE BOAT
(1 SCOOP OF ICE CREAM, 2 WAFFLE STICKS, 3 TOPPINGS)
• WAFFLE YACHT
(2 SCOOPS OF ICE CREAM, 4 WAFFLE STICKS, 3 TOPPINGS)
• BROWNIE BOWL
(1 BROWNIE, 1 SCOOP OF ICE CREAM, 3 TOPPINGS)
• RAINBOW SPRINKLES
• WHIPPED CREAM
• CRUNCHIES
• CHOCOLATE CHIPS
• REESE’S PIECES
• PEANUT BUTTER CHIPS
• CHOCOLATE SPRINKLES
• MINI M&M’S
• FRUITY PEBBLES
• COOKIE CRISP
• CINNAMON TOAST CRUNCH
• ICE CREAM ICED COFFEE
• ICED COFFEE
• FROZEN COFFEE
• HOT COFFEE
• AFFOGATO
• ESPRESSO
• CREPES
• ITALIAN ICES
• OREO CRUMBLE
• WET WALNUTS
• CHERRIES
• MINI REESE’S CUPS
• STRAWBERRY
• COOKIE DOUGH BITES
• CRUSHED PEANUTS
• PEANUT BUTTER SAUCE
• NUTELLA • FLUFF
• RASPBERRY • DOLCE DE LECHE
• COOKIE BUTTER SAUCE
St. Patrick’s Day is known for revelry. A festive atmosphere prevails each March 17, and people from all walks of life and genealogical backgrounds take part in festivities that have become celebrations of Irish culture. Cuisine is a big part of Irish culture, even if it’s not the first thing people think of when pondering the Emerald Isle. This St. Patrick’s Day, celebrants can bring a touch of Irish cuisine to their celebrations by preparing the following recipe for “Irish Guinness Stew with Lamb” courtesy of Lines+Angles.
Makes 6 servings
8 cups lamb or beef stock; divided
1 cup pearl barley
3 lb. lamb shoulder, cubed
Salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
3 tablespoons oil
1⁄2 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
4 stalks of celery, washed, trimmed and chopped
2 large yellow onions, peeled and chopped
3 cloves of garlic, minced
3 large carrots, peeled and roughly chopped
12 fluid ounces Guinness stout
1 bunch fresh parsley
1 bunch fresh thyme
1 bunch fresh rosemary
3 large potatoes, peeled and cubed
2 teaspoons cornstarch
4 teaspoons water
1. In a medium saucepan set over medium heat, bring 3 cups of stock to a boil; add barley. Reduce heat to low and gently simmer for 20 minutes. Set aside.
2. Meanwhile, pat the meat dry with paper towels. Season the meat with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a 6-quart Dutch oven. Brown the meat on all sides over medium-high heat. Using a slotted spoon, remove the meat from the pot. Sprinkle flour over the meat, shaking off any excess; set aside.
3. Add the celery, onions, garlic and carrots to the pot and saute until onions are soft and translucent. Add Guinness and deglaze the pot, scraping up all the caramelized bits on the bottom and sides of the pan.
4. Chop the leaves of the parsley, reserving the stems. Tie the parsley stems and several sprigs of thyme and rosemary into a bundle; drop the bundle into the pot. Chop the remaining thyme and rosemary; set chopped herbs aside.
5. Return the meat to the pot. Add the potatoes, barley and enough stock to cover the meat and vegetables. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to very low and simmer for 2 to 3 hours, or until meat is fork tender. Stir occasionally, adding remaining stock as necessary.
6. Check seasoning; adjust to taste. Stir in chopped parsley, thyme and rosemary. Mix cornstarch in water and stir. Add to stew, stirring to incorporate. Cook over low heat for 5 to 10 minutes or until stew thickens. Ladle into bowls. Serve with crusty bread and of course more Guinness if desired.
While it certainly can be fun to visit a pub and raise a pint in honor of St. Patrick’s Day on March 17, such efforts are not necessarily a family-friendly way to commemorate the patron saint of the Emerald Isle. Thankfully, there are plenty of activities for children and adults that focus less on imbibing and more on hands-on fun so everyone can be involved equally. Crafting often fits that bill.
The following are some unique craft ideas to celebrate the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day. Many of these projects include items you may already have around the house.
Shamrock key chain
Find your favorite salt dough recipe and use a shamrock cookie cutter to cut out the shape of a
lucky clover. Poke a hole at the top where you can connect a key ring. When the shamrock is dried and hardened, paint it in a vivid shade of green. Attach keys, a school ID or anything else to the key ring, or simply hang it from a backpack.
Leprechaun hats
With a little green paint, green card stock and construction paper in black and gold, anyone can create miniature leprechaun hats. Paint the toilet paper tube green, then wrap the bottom in a strip of black and place a gold “buckle” made out of a rectangle of gold or yellow paper. Glue the tube to a round of green card stock, and voila, you have a perfect leprechaun hat for decorating a room or table.
Easy rainbow craft
Grab some fruity O-shaped cereal and let kids sort the colors into red, orange, yellow, green, and purple. Glue rows of these colored cereal rings onto a piece of white cardstock to make the rainbow. At the base of the rainbow, glue some cotton balls to serve as the clouds.
Beaded bracelets
Visit a craft store and stock up on small green, white and gold beads, as well as some bracelet wire or poly string. Spend a few hours making bracelets that everyone can wear with their green attire for St. Patrick’s Day. The bracelets also can be given as gifts.
Shamrock slime
Those who can find green glitter glue and
shamrock confetti can turn their favorite slime recipe into one worthy of St. Patrick’s Day.
Rainbow cereal bars
Incorporate some of the marshmallows from a favorite “lucky” cereal brand into the mix of rice cereal treats to give them a rainbow-inspired upgrade.
Pots of gold
If you have leftover plastic witches’ cauldrons from Halloween, paint them gold and use them to store foilwrapped chocolate coins. Otherwise, tie green helium-filled balloons to the cauldron to make a perfect centerpiece. St. Patrick’s Day crafts get the entire family in on the fun of celebrating the Emerald Isle.
The beginning of spring is cause for celebration. In many areas of the world, the start of spring marks the end of cold temperatures and hours spent indoors, a shift in conditions that is welcomed by millions each year.
Spring is a time of rebirth when flowers and trees bloom anew and animals bear new young. Spring is an exciting and busy time, and one that people can commemorate in many unique ways. Here are seven ideas to usher in spring this March.
1. Fill a home or business with flowers. Collect some early tulip or daffodil blooms and place them around the house. Offer bouquets of dandelions to children or weave them into flower crowns.
2. Spend time in nature. It’s time to get outside, and
Wantagh’s young learners were inspired to make reading a lifelong habit during the 16th annual World Read Aloud Day on Feb. 5. Elementary students were visited in person and virtually by guest readers, including their older peers from the middle school and high school, as well as teachers and administrators.
Director of Humanities Julie Rosslee brought the World Read Aloud Day program to the district seven years ago to be a shared literacy experience across the district’s five schools. It is now a highly-anticipated event, as elementary school students look forward to the read-alouds.
“It’s a great experience on both ends,” Ms. Rosslee said, noting that the middle school and high school students enjoy sharing the books they loved as young children. It’s hardly a secret, she added, that children’s books are not just for children, and the messages
there is no better time to do so than the beginning of spring. Soak up the sun and temperate climate, which can be good for your physical and mental well-being.
3. Visit a loved one. Bring some sunshine to an elderly relative by visiting with him or her. Take a stroll outside or sit on a bench and enjoy a picnic.
4. Prepare the garden by cleaning out weeds and tilling the soil. Some early spring preparation ensures everything will be ready when planting time arrives.
5. Prepare an outdoor feast. Whether it’s a picnic or a barbecue, serve up a warm-weather feast with salads, sandwiches and other dishes that are normally served outdoors.
6. Sow some seeds.
Encourage each member of your household to pick a favorite plant or flower and sow it in celebration of the first day of spring.
It’s possible to make a special spring garden with perennials that will bloom each year.
7. Make spring-related
crafts. Colorful wreaths, centerpieces and garlands can bring some of the natural wonders of spring indoors.
The first day of spring is an opportunity to enjoy what makes the season so special. Celebrate the new season with plenty of creative ideas.
and elements of a story impact people differently at different ages.
Because the World Read Aloud Day program has been around for several years in the district, many of the secondary students now reading the books aloud were once on the other end as listeners. It is also exciting for the elementary teachers, Ms. Rosslee said, to see their former students.
Teachers from the secondary schools signed up to have their students read virtually to classes at Forest Lake, Mandalay and Wantagh elementary schools throughout the day.
Additionally, nine students from the National English Honor Society, advised by Alisa Lopera, traveled to the three elementary schools to read in person to kindergarten, first and second grade classes.
Several administrators also made the journey to the elementary schools.
Superintendent John
McNamara could be found reading “The Day the Crayons Quit” at Wantagh Elementary School, while the three fifth grade classes at Forest Lake
simultaneously welcomed Executive Director for Human Resources Dr. Stephanie Scolieri, high school Principal Dr. Paul Guzzone and middle school
Principal Anthony Ciuffo.
“World Read Aloud Day is about sharing the gift of reading,” Ms. Rosslee said. “It brings all of our students, administrators and faculty together for a unified message about the importance of reading. I can’t imagine something better than that.”
March marks a turning point for many people each year. Perhaps because winter winds down and officially ends in midMarch, the month is easy to characterize as a turning point toward spring and all that entails, including warmer weather and additional hours of daylight. The vernal equinox is one of many interesting facts about the third month of the year.
1. March might mark the official return of spring, but the inspiration for its name is far less serene. According to Almanac. com, March is named for Mars, the Roman
More than 30 musicians from the Wantagh School District were recognized at the Jan. 23 board of education meeting for their participation in the All-County music festival. Hosted by the Nassau Music Educators Association, the festival featured rehearsals and
god of war. That might not jibe with modern impressions of March, but it makes sense from a historical perspective. That’s because military campaigns were once routinely suspended during the cold winter months. Upon the return of spring and the more favorable conditions it produced, military campaigns would start up again, thus making March an aptly named month.
2. Though presidential inaugurations in the United States are now held in January, that wasn’t always the case.
In fact, March 4 was the official Inauguration Day until 1933, when the Twentieth Amendment was ratified and inaugurations were officially moved to January. Even George Washington, the first man to serve as President of the United States of America, was initially slated to be inaugurated on March 4. However, the Library of Congress notes that electoral ballots could not be counted as quickly as Congress anticipated, so the first inauguration was delayed until April 30,
1789. President Franklin D. Roosevelt holds the distinction of being the first American president to be inaugurated in January after he was sworn in on January 20, 1937.
3. March hosts one of the most beloved holidays across the globe, even though the day commemorates the patron saint of a small country in western Europe. St. Patrick is the primary patron saint of Ireland, a small island nation in the North Atlantic Ocean with a population of roughly seven million people.
Despite that, World Population Review reports that St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated in more than 200 countries each year on March 17. The New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade is world-renowned, but the holiday is celebrated in other countries one might not immediately associate with Ireland and St. Patrick, such as Singapore, Russia and Japan.
4. College sports fans anxiously anticipate the arrival of March each year. That’s because the month marks the return of March Madness,
concerts in mid-January.
Wantagh had 33 students from grades 5-12 selected for band, chorus and orchestra ensembles. They were chosen based on their NYSSMA solo festival scores and teacher recommendations.
“This is a product of your hard work and we’re
very proud of you,” Kelly Jones, director of fine and performing arts, told students before presenting them with certificates.
This year’s All-County musicians are:
Wantagh High School: Matthew Como, Michael Muscarnera, Brendan O’Callaghan and Madison
Rodriguez (band); Sabrina Albano, Nicholas Allen, Ryan Mundy and Logan Schroh (chorus); and Christopher Coseglia, Adrian Rafael De Chavez, Anya Dennis and Jack Goodwin (orchestra).
Wantagh Middle School: Audrey Annese, John Herman, Leah John and
Caitlyn Pinto (band); Rosalie Della Croce, Joseph Leone, Emily McHale, Giada Petrillo and Kate Stivali (chorus); and Jack Miller and Grace Pak (orchestra).
Forest Lake Elementary School: Julianna Simon (band); Cayden Calabro (chorus); and Xander Abel
a college basketball tradition that annually draws millions of fans to watch and/or attend games in the weeks long single-elimination NCAA Tournament that culminates with the national championship game. The origins of the phrase “March Madness” are not precisely known, though many historians trace the phrase to high school basketball in Indiana in the 1930s. Legendary broadcaster Brent Musburger is credited with associating the term with the NCAA Tournament in the 1980s.
(orchestra).
Mandalay Elementary School: Marykate Corry (band); Stella Eiermann (chorus); and Gavin O’Leary (orchestra).
Wantagh Elementary School: Arjun Banerjee (band);
The Levittown School District is pleased to announce that Jonas E. Salk Middle School has been named a 2025 State School of Character by Character.org, a prestigious designation that recognizes the school’s deep commitment to character education.
Salk is one of 98 schools across the state to receive the honor, which highlights communities that foster a caring and welcoming environment and provide students with opportunities to practice and reflect on their strengths. Schools of Character have developed and implemented an intentional, proactive and comprehensive approach that embeds character into all aspects of the school life. Salk will be considered for the organization’s National School of Character distinction, the highest
honor a school can receive from Character.org.
“We are thrilled and honored to be named a School of Character,” Principal John Zampaglione said. “This recognition reflects our commitment to fostering an environment in which everyone belongs. At Salk, everyone is family.”
“We are proud to be recertified as a State School of Character,” said school psychologist Barbara Montiero-Grady, who played an instrumental role in the application process. “At Salk, we embrace the principles of our RISE program both in and beyond the classroom. Our goal is to cultivate a community where all stakeholders feel connected and safe. We are committed to providing students with opportunities to grow academically, socially and emotionally.”
Felicia Garramone, a junior at General Douglas MacArthur High School in the Levittown School District, won the first-place prize in the prestigious
International Piano Competition “Andrey Stoyanov” in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Garramone began playing the piano at the age of four and quickly progressed through the NYSSMA levels, achieving Level 6 with a score of 100 in fifth grade. She subsequently began competing in online and in-person competitions, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. In eighth grade, Garramone earned first place in a competition that allowed her to perform at Carnegie Hall.
In addition to piano, Garramone has played the cello since third grade and has been consistently selected for the All-County and LISFA programs throughout her elementary school years. By eighth grade, she also completed NYSSMA Level 6 with
a score of 100. During her sophomore year, Garramone auditioned for All-State and received
a perfect score of 100. In December 2024, she was privileged to perform with the All-State Orchestra in
Rochester. The district congratulates Felicia on this honorable achievement.
St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated each year on March 17. The day honors St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, but it’s also a celebration of Irish culture.
Although St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated around the world by people who can trace their lineage to the Emerald Isle, millions more with no such heritage join in
the festivities each year. That means anyone who is Irish or just Irish in spirit can take part in St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
There are many entertain-
ing ways to commemorate this special day. Here are a few to get the party started.
1. Eat green foods. Green is a prominent color for St. Patrick’s Day and Ireland
in general. Many people eat foods and consume beverages dyed green on March 17.
2. Bake soda bread. Everyone can take part in the kitchen whipping up a batch of delicious Irish Soda Bread. This is a great recipe for kids because there’s no need to wait for dough to rise. Baking soda is the “soda” in the recipe and serves as the leavening agent.
3. Take part in a parade. St. Patrick’s Day parades are held in major cities across the country, making it relatively easy for people to be there in person. However, many communities also host parades that are small in scale but still big on fun.
5. Dine the Irish way. Although corned beef and cabbage is often served on St. Patrick’s Day, it is not the most authentic Irish fare one can eat. Find a restaurant that serves Irish stew, Boxty, Colcannon, or Black and white pudding, or try making such dishes at home.
6. Host a scavenger hunt. See who can find the gold at the base of the rainbow. Pick a person to organize the scavenger hunt. This person can write the clues and hide the prize.
7. Listen to Irish music. Tune in to The Chieftains, The Dubliners, Planxty, The Gloaming, The Wolfe Tones, and others to get into a festive spirit. Enjoy the different ways to celebrate.
4. Attend an Irish dancing demonstration. Irish dance is a traditional dance that originated in Ireland. It is known for its intricate footwork and minimal upper-body movement.
