Weekly 4.12.16

Upcoming Meetings and Events: Wed 4/18 - SEPTA Event Parent-Information Exchange!, 7:30 pm; Thurs 4/14 - NS BOE Meeting, North Shore High School, 7:30; Poetry Workshop - with Matt Curiale, Sea Cliff Village Library 6:30 pm; Evening Lecture - Kayaking on Long Island, Sea Cliff Village Library 7 pm;

(click for complete calendar, including Gold Coast and Sea Cliff Library Events)

Fri 4/15 - Sea Cliff Beautification Spring Mixer, Metropolitan Bistro 5-7 pm; Sat 4/16 - Offbeat Artifacts Sale, Village Green, 8 am-1pm; Vets for Pets, American Legion Glenwood Landing Post 336, 7-11 pm; Glen Head Glenwood Business Association Meet & Greet, American Legion Glenwood Landing Post 336

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

PARENTS PRESS DISTRICT TO REMOVE RUBBER MULCH FROM PLAYGROUNDS

April 7, 2016 -- At the March 31 North Shore Board of Education meeting, two parents, citing potential health risks to children, urged the district to remove the rubber mulch installed on the playgrounds at all three elementary schools that is used to soften the impact for falling children.
The material, obtained from recycled tires, said Sea Cliff resident Nick Virgilio, is toxic, and while perhaps offering softening the blow of a hard fall, can potentially cause long term health problems. READ MORE

OTHER HEADLINES FROM MARCH 31st BOE MEETING

- EAST RAMAPO ACTIVISTS
  THANK NORTH SHORE FOR ITS
  SUPPORT
- BOE LAST OF SUPERINTENDENT
  SEARCH FIRM INTERVIEWS;
  WILL MAKE DECISION THIS
  MONTH
- BOARD ADOPTS BUDGET
  FOR 2016-17; INCREASES
  SPENDING 1.96% OVER CURRENT
  YEAR

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

OPT OUT UNTIL THERE IS REAL REFORM

Received from Deborah McDermott
Sea Cliff
March 31, 2016

Dear Editor:

New York State Common Core testing starts next week. This test, by law, can account for 50% of a teacher’s annual evaluation. There are many details of implementation and usage of this test that I find problematic. However, the “high stakes” of making test results as such a large portion of teacher evaluations, motivates teachers to spend too much time on test prep. Parents who want thoughtful, engaging education for their kids must opt their kids out to motivate our legislators to change the law. READ MORE

BLOGS

THE GREAT BOOK GURU

ANN DIPIETRO

THE ASSOCIATION OF SMALL BOMBS

Dear Great Book Guru, I am planning on attending a book lover's delight: Long Island Reads on Tuesday, April 12 from 7-8:30pm at the Metropolitan in Glen Cove. Readers from all over the North Shore area join together to discuss one book- this year Jodie Picoult’s LEAVING TIME. Well, while I enjoyed this book, I am now looking for my next read, something perhaps that will help me understand the current geopolitical scene. Any suggestions?
Long Island Reads Reader READ MORE

THE GARDEN'S EDGE

DONNA KIANKA
Winter’s Edge
Micro Farm
Sea Cliff, N.Y.

GROWING WITH YOUR GARDEN

Your garden should evolve, change and grow, just like we do as humans. Many a newbie starts with an aggressive agenda only to see their newly established beds over run with weeds and fall into ruin….. a garden casualty due to the limited amount of time or flexible knees each of us has. But there is a prudent and tested method to avoid this: start small and grow your gardens over time. Time and time again, I recommend starting with two ” themed gardens”. These can be in containers, raised beds or directly sown into the ground. READ MORE

NORTH SHORE ATHLETICS BOOSTER CLUB

ATHLETICS SCHEDULE WEEK OF APRIL 11, 2016 CLICK HERE

SCHOOLS NEWS

NORTH SHORE HOOPS STAND OUT SELECTED FOR THE NEWSDAY ALL-LI BASKET BALL FIRST TEAM

Congratulations goes out to Gabrielle Zaffiro, a sophomore on the Women's Varsity Basketball, who was recently selected for the Newsday All-Long Island First Team. Coach Keith Freund said, “Gabrielle is the third North Shore athlete to make the prestigious Newsday All-LI Basketball First Team and the first sophomore to do so.” Her accolades this year include:

Newsday All-LI First Team selection
MSG Varsity All-LI First Team selection
All-State selection
Conference A3 Player of the Year
3rd straight All-County selection
2nd on Long Island in scoring at 27.2 points per game
She scored her 1,000 point on January 5th, 2016
Became North Shore's all-time scoring leader in 2016

Congratulations Gabrielle Zaffiro
Article provided by Coach Keith Freund photos by Shelly Newman

36 NORTH SHORE MS STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN NASSAU-SUFFOLK COUNTY MOCK TRIAL COMPETITION

Background - The Case:
Lee Cruise was sitting quietly by his pool quietly minding his own business when a car drove through his fence, through his bushes, knocking him into the water. The driver of the car was a teenage girl with a Junior License that swerved off the road to avoid another vehicle. Was this an accident or a case of negligence?
The North Shore Middle School Mock Trial Teams were brilliant last week as 36
students representing six trial teams (3 plaintiff teams and 3 defense teams) set out with their club advisor and Principal Dr. Marc Ferris to make their cases in the annual Suffolk County Bar Association Middle Level Mock Trial Tournament. READ MORE

KIDS CREATE THEIR VERY OWN MINI WEAPONS AT SC MAKESHOP

This past Tuesday elementary school students learned how to make mini weapons out of everyday office supplies at the SC Makeshop at Sea Cliff Children's Library. Click here for the SC Makeshop website click here.

EASTER TREATS AT THE GLEN COVE YOUTH BUREAU

April 5, 2016 -- Thanks to the generosity of PSEG Long Island employees, students who attend the after school program at the Glen Cove Youth Bureau received Easter treats and wishes from the “Bunny”. Gail Massaro, Senior Supervisor of Low Income Programs and Advocacy dropped off 20 Easter buckets filled with seasonal treats including chocolate bunnies, crayons, coloring books and more. Many thanks to PSEG employees for sharing Easter cheer with Glen Cove youth. Located at the Carol A. Sucharski Youth Center (128B Glen Street), the after school program provides homework assistance and recreational activities to students in grades 1-6. On select evenings, the Youth Center is open as a supervised recreational venue for middle and high school students. For more information, contact Sandra Potter at 671-4600.

PERCENTAGE OF NORTH SHORE STUDENTS OPTING OUT OF STATE EXAM INCREASES SLIGHTLY OVER LAST YEAR

ELA 2015

ELA 2016

April 5, 2016 - According to school district officials, 552 of the 1300 North Shore students enrolled in grades 3-8 who were scheduled to sit for the New York State Common Core English and Language Arts assessments that were administered on Tuesday opted their children out of the exam. . . . READ MORE

DOZENS SWORN INTO OFFICE AT SEA CLIFF VILLAGE BOARD ANNUAL ORGANIZATION MEETING

April 13, 2014 -- The Sea Cliff Village Board held its annual Organizational Meeting this past April 4th at which Trustees Kevin McGilloway and Robin Maynard, who won their positions in an uncontested election last month, were each sworn in to office. For Ms. Maynard it will be her first full term and Mr. McGilloway his second. Additionally Mayor Bruce Kennedy once again tapped Trustee Ed Lieberman to be Deputy Mayor and re-appointed the many in Village Hall who keep Sea Cliff government services running smoothly, and dozens of community volunteers to serve on the many village committees and boards. In his "State of the Village Address," the Mayor praised those who work for the Village and those who volunteer for their hard work, civic mindedness, and commitment to Sea Cliff, and offered thoughts on issues confronting the Village - in particular the Garvies Point waterfront development project. "The current plan is a loser, it will not benefit the residents of Glen Cove or Sea Cliff," Mayor Kennedy said. "Only the developer has something to gain from the current plan and the Board of Trustees are fighting on behalf of our residents to prevent this ill advised plan from going forward!"
Click here for Mayor Kennedy's remarks and for appointments to positions in village government.

OPTING OUT THE BEST WAY TO BRING ABOUT TESTING REFORM SAYS NORTH SHORE TEACHERS UNION

North Shore Schools Federated Employees mailer

April 3, 2016 -- On Thursday, March 31, the North Shore Schools Federated Employees, the union that represents the district’s teachers, sponsored an informational session at which parents had the opportunity to ask questions concerning changes to the New York State Common Core assessments that will be administered to students in grades 3 through 8 starting this upcoming week, and whether is was desirable to opt their children out of the exams. The previous week, the union had sent out a mailer expressing the organization’s support for boycotting the tests. About 40% of students in the district refused the exams last year - about the same percentage that did so across Long Island. READ MORE

UPCOMING EVENTS

NORTH SHORE BOE MEETING ON THURSDAY APRIL 14

NS Board of Ed Meeting Thurs, April 14, at 7:30 PM at North Shore High School
The North Shore Board of Education will meet on Thursday, April 14, 2016 at 7:30 PM, at North Shore High School. The following items will be on the agenda: Guidance Review and Playground Surface.
Upcoming meetings will take place on the following dates at 7:30 p.m. (unless noted otherwise): 4/19 (BOCES Budget Vote) in the Central Office at 6:30 PM(new time and location), Wednesday, 4/20 (Meet the Candidates Night in HS Cafeteria at 8 PM), and 5/5 (BOE Town Meeting/Budget Reading). The Budget Vote/Election of Trustees will take place on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at North Shore High School from 7 AM-10 PM. If you would like to contact the North Shore Board of Education, please email [email protected]. If you would like to host a budget coffee, please contact Shelly Newman at 277-7840.

SPRING CONCERT AT TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Spring concert at Trinity Episcopal Church, Roslyn on Sunday, April 24 at 4:00 pm, featuring the Trinity Choir with Pianist/Conductor Martha Regelmann, soloists Ariann Forella & Andrew Cordero, and Flutist Denise Healey.
The beautiful Suite Antique: Prelude and Chanson by John Rutter will be performed, and the program finale is the deeply spiritual and moving Requiem by John Rutter.
Following the Concert, there will be an Art Exhibit and Reception showcasing the paintings of Helen Bingham (1928-2015). Explore the beautiful use of light in various works by Trinity’s beloved long-time parishioner, while enjoying fellowship and complimentary wine and cheese.
No admission charge. Free will offering.
Trinity Episcopal Church is located at 1579 Northern Blvd., Roslyn (just east of the Roslyn Viaduct). www.trinityroslyn.org (516-621-7925)

FACEBOOK NEIGHBORS HAVE FIRST MEET UP

By Tab Hauser

Facebook has been a good outlet for being in touch with friends and making new friends. The “Glen Cove Neighbors” Facebook page has reached over 4000 members as of March, 2016. This group shares advice on where to get help with local goods and services, announce a yard sale, lost dog as well as share some of the members events. Recently the Glen Cove Neighbors had their first of they call a “meet-up” at Downtown Café. Here people were able to put the face to the screen name for the first time and say hello in person. Administrators who helped put and keep this Facebook page together include Karen O'Mara Swett, Alexander Papas and Deborah Orgel Gordon. If you are interested in joining your neighbors in Glen Cove, go to the Facebook page and “like” Glen Cove Nieghbors.
Photo credit - Tab Hauser

SEA CLIFF'S BENNETT PARKER COMPLETES TRAIL TO EAGLE SCOUT

On February 27, 2016, Boy Scout Troop 43, of Sea Cliff, honored Bennett Parker, a young man who completed the trail to Eagle Scout, an honor that is clearly indicative of his potential for future success in life.

When most boys enter Scouting, they picture themselves becoming Eagle Scouts. But as you know, there are many interests and activities clamoring for their attention and the flames that were once burning aspirations can flicker, dim and die out. Scouting is no doubt one of the greatest organizations in the world to foster the ideals of citizenship. It is little wonder then that so many of our Nation’s greatest leaders had some of their earliest leadership experiences in Scouting. The total development from boyhood to manhood depends on physical, mental and moral growth expressed in the Scout Law and Oath. The skills are so demanding and the challenges so great that it is not surprising to learn that only about 4% of all boys in scouting achieve the rank of Eagle. Congratulations!

SCOUTS STARGAZE AT CUSTER OBSERVATORY

Twenty boys from Boy Scout Troop 43 went on a Stargazing camping trip to Custer Observatory on March 12-13 2016. The Observatory is located in Southold, New York, facing Peconic Bay and Shelter Island. This is an astronomical observatory owned by Custer Institute. The boys listened to a very interesting 1 hour lecture about the motion of planets and their importance. We were able to see Mars and Jupiter through a high power telescope. We also got to see some famous images. Unfortunately the night we went was cloudy and we could not see any other planets.
Story and phot by RJ Pisciotta

LOCAL MUSIC

STILL PARTNERS
Sea Cliff, 8 PM

Thurs 4/14 - Poorcolin
Fri 4/15 - Jason Liebman and the Firewhistles
Sat 4/16 - DJ McLovin
Thurs 4/21 - The Brother Pluckers
Fri 2/22 - Alibi
Sat 4/23 - Rusty String Band

THE OAK ROOM TAVERN Sea Cliff, 8 PM

Wed 4/13 - Joe Ciampa and Friends
Fri 4/15 - Lucky Tones
Fri 4/29 - Jazz with an Island Reggae Twist