Oceanside/Island Park
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New president of Bar association
gold standard for o’side girl Scout
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Vol. 55 No. 27
JUlY 2 - 8, 2020
OHS aims for in-person graduation “Throughout this process, we have remained incredibly optimistic that we could hold The Oceanside School Dis- on to the traditions and experitrict will host an in-person high e n c e s t h a t g r a d u a t e s f o r school graduation on July 21, decades have enjoyed in the contingent on state coronavirus O c e a n s i d e S ch o o l s, ” t h e y guidelines at that time. wrote. “Unfortunately, that is The school has also resched- just not a reality in this current uled the senior situation.” prom for July 27, Donna Kraus, but that still the district’s pubdepends on whethl i c i n fo r m at i o n er the venue, the c o o r d i n a t o r, Sands in Atlantic explained that the Beach, will allow seating arrangethe event to hapment for graduapen. tion could look The graduamuch dif ferent tion, set to take than usual. Rather place outdoors, on than seating all the Oceanside graduates in the High School lawn front and families a f t e r s u n d ow n , doNNa kraUS in the back, the could also be split Public information district is considinto two ceremo- coordinator, Oceanside ering having all nies, to be held on students sit with July 21 and 22, to School District their families provide for more while keeping the social distancing. families six feet The rain dates are apart. July 23 and 24. I n m i d - M a y, Superintendent Dr. Phyllis parents petitioned the district Harrington and OHS Principal for an in-person graduation Geraldine De Carlo sent a letter rather than a drive-by ceremoto students and parents about ny. Also, according to surveys the district’s graduation and prom plans at the end of May. Continued on page 3
By BriaNa BoNfiglio bbonfiglio@liherald.com
W
Courtesy Donna Lamonica
BeSSie lamoNiCa, oNe of the founders of the first girls’ soccer league in Oceanside, died on June 14, at age 93. She dedicated decades to serving boys’ and girls’ youth soccer teams, volunteering for the Oceanside United Soccer Club and the Long Island Junior Soccer League.
‘She was everybody’s mom’ Founder of O’side’s first girls’ soccer team dies
By mike SmolliNS msmollins@liherald.com
After Bessie Lamonica lost her son, Rudy, a gifted soccer player, to bone cancer at age 17, she dedicated the rest of her life to ensuring that others could play the sport he enjoyed. She spent decades volunteering for the Oceanside United Soccer Club and the Long Island Junior Soccer League in his memory, and helped form the first girls’ soccer team in Oceanside.
Lamonica died on June 14, at 93, of complications of a stroke she suffered in 2018, but leaves behind a lasting legacy as a community leader in Oceanside. “She was a little celebrity in Oceanside and in many parts of Long Island,” said her daughter, Donna Lamonica. “My brother’s dreams revolved around soccer, so after he died, she took off and tried to pursue his dreams.” Bessie and her husband, Phil, volunteered for the
Oceanside United Soccer Club and the Long Island Junior Soccer League for many years, and were inducted into the Eastern New York Soccer Hall of Fame in 2001. Bessie was also enshrined in the LIJSL Hall of Fame in 2018, 11 years after Phil died. In 1962, Ian McDougall and Joe Goldberg founded the Oceanside United Soccer Club, and Bessie and Phil volunteered for it 58 years ago, when Rudy played on a team. Continued on page 3
e want to keep as close to tradition as possible, but keep everyone safe.