Serving New Hyde Park, North New Hyde Park, Herricks, Garden City Park, Manhasset Hills, North Hills, Floral Park
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Friday, August 12, 2016
Vol. 65, No. 33
N E W H Y D E PA R K
back to school after-school activities guide for long Island’s North shore 6 n • august 12, 201 ions special sectio a / litmor publicat a blank slate medi
SENIOR LIVING & BACK TO SCHOOL
NEW PARK FOR FLORAL PARK
GONSALVES VIOLATED ELECTION LAWS: COURT
PAGES 29-44
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a blank slate medi a / litmor publicat ions special sectio n • august 12, 201 6
Decade brings diversity in N. Shore schools
‘ART WITH SUGAR’
Education quality spurs growth in Asian, Hispanic communities BY J OE N I K I C Over the past 10 years, an influx of new groups has brought greater ethnic diversity to North Shore schools, and administrators are working to foster a climate of acceptance and tolerance. The Great Neck, Manhasset, Roslyn, Port Washington, Herricks, Mineola, Sewanhaka, East Williston and New Hyde Park-Garden City Park school districts have all seen populations of minority students increase from the 2005-06 school year to the 2014-15 school year, according to state education department data. A sharp increase in enrollment by Asian students has been seen in several districts. The Herricks School District has seen the biggest change in student demographics, with the Asian population now totaling more than half of the student body. In 2005-06, the white population made up about 50 percent of the student body, but that number
has since decreased to 35 percent. The Asian student population, which accounted for 45 percent of the student body in 2005-06, now accounts for about 57 percent. The Hispanic/Latino student population has increased from 4 to 6 percent, while the African-American population has remained the same at 1 percent. Herricks Superintendent Fino Celano said that students have a lot of “empathy and respect” for each other because of the district’s diversity. “I think that’s a byproduct of the fact that we have a wonderfully diverse community,” Celano said. Kids are going through the experience of having classmates of different ethnicities and different religious beliefs and it really fosters a spirit of acceptance and tolerance and respect, which is a wonderful thing.” He said that the district devotes “a lot of time and energy” to Continued on Page 54
PHOTO FROM SWEET PASSION DESSERTS ON FACEBOOK
Johnny Ciminna offers custom sculpted cakes — such as this one in the shape of a coffee mug — and more than 20 varieties of pastries at Sweet Passion Desserts, his new bakery in New Hyde Park. See story on page 3.
Town follows villages by passing vape shop rules BY J OE N I K I C
bars, from being located near residential neighborhoods and The North Hempstead areas where large numbers of Town Board approved regula- children are found. Town Councilwoman Dina tions Tuesday prohibiting indoor smoking establishments, De Giorgio, who spearheaded such as vape shops and hookah the effort to regulate vape
shops, said the legislation was aimed at protecting children from exposure to tobacco products. “The purpose of this zoning amendment is to regulate Continued on Page 12
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