Division Avenue Celebrates Homecoming
Written by Elizabeth Sobel Friday, 28 September 2012 00:00
A day of community pride
It was a great day of fun and community pride as family, staff and friends gathered for homecoming on the grounds of Division Avenue High School (DAHS). The kickoff to the weekend commenced with a pep rally in the gymnasium, where students proudly wore their school colors and cheered for their athletes.
The DAHS marching band led the parade, followed by the kickline team, cheerleaders, Wisdom Avenue’s marching band, homecoming king and queen candidates and students who accompanied colorful and creatively themed class banners. Prior to the start of the game, senior football players, cheerleaders and kickline team and marching band members were honored alongside their parents for having dedicated many hours on and off the field. Members of the board of education, high school administrators, student council members and coaching staff were also on hand to participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Legislator Dennis Dunne (Class of 1968), who donated a new scoreboard for the athletic field.
Senior Iliana Tzanis’ impressive singing of the national anthem signaled the official start to the game against Valley Stream South. At halftime, the cheerleaders riled up the crowd with cheers and stunts, followed by a spectacular musical performance by the marching band and a dancing demonstration by the kickline team.
A much-awaited moment then arrived as candidates James Reilly and Felicia Comuniello were named homecoming king and queen, with Devin Votta and Emily Doglio announced as prince and princess. Congratulations are also in order for candidates Rob Cracchiolo, Tom Critelli, Khondker Hossan, Theresa O’Neill, Ashley Stinnet, Caitlin Sweeney, Iliana Tzanis and Matt Wilson, who were members of the homecoming court.
News
Wednesday, 19 June 2013 00:00
The members of the eighth-grade graduating class at Jonas E. Salk Middle School proceeded down the aisles of the school’s gymnasium in a ceremonial moving-up tradition, as proud parents and family members watched from the bleachers. Class officers led the salute to the flag, after which the eighth-grade chorus, conducted by Lisa Levenberg, sang the national anthem.
Thursday, 13 June 2013 00:00
When Msgr. Ralph Sommer was growing up he found inspiration from the example of his uncle, Father Ralph Besendorfer. “He was a Brooklyn priest,” said Msgr. Sommer, who is known to parishioners as “Father Sommer” or “Father Ralph.”
“My uncle was a most powerful and delightful influence, happy, caring, and helpful,” said Father Sommer, outgoing pastor of St. Brigid’s Church, in Westbury. “I would look at him and say, ‘I could do that.’”
For a number of years, Father Besendorfer would come out to St. Bernard’s in Levittown on weekends to assist.
Now, Father Sommer finds himself about to become pastor of St. Bernard’s on June 26, succeeding Msgr. Gerard Ringenback, pastor of St. Bernard’s since 2001.
He doesn’t know if anyone at St. Bernard’s will remember his uncle, Father Sommer said, but “if I meet people who remember him from that time, it will be a nice thing.”
Born in Flushing, Queens, Father Sommer grew up in Garden City, attending St. Anne’s School. He advanced to St. Pius X Preparatory Seminary, a high school for young men considering the priesthood.
“It was a caring community,” with priest-instructors and students who shared an interest in exploring the priesthood.
For college, he left the seminary system for Adelphi University near his home. “I walked every day. We didn’t have another car.”
Adelphi offered an opportunity to test his vocation. He majored in psychology, “which I thought would help me if I became a priest.”
After Adelphi, he returned to priestly studies at Immaculate Conception Seminary, Huntington. Upon graduation, he was ordained a priest in 1983.
Sports
Thursday, 13 June 2013 00:00
Senior pitcher Anthony Semonella at Division Avenue High School has received a scholarship from the University of Bridgeport and has signed a National Letter of Intent to play baseball at the collegiate level. He was joined by parents Donna and Ralph Semonella, Principal Dr. Francesco Ianni, Physical Education Chairperson Mauro Chiti and varsity baseball coach Tom Tuttle as he signed a letter confirming his acceptance to the university’s athletic program.
Photo provided by Syntax
Thursday, 13 June 2013 00:00
St. Thomas Aquinas College freshman Robert Naughton, of Levittown, has made his impact known in the NCAA Baseball East Coast Conference. Naughton started out his 2013 campaign not allowing an earned run in the first 19 innings he pitched.
At completion of his first season Naughton pitched 58 innings compiling a record of 6-1, leading the East Coast Athletic Conference with an era of 1.54.
Calendar
Poet Laureate Induction - June 15
Island Harvest Benefit Run - June 15
Lazy Days Of Summer - July 12
Columns
The Worst-Case Coliseum
Written by Sheila Ferrari
Quinn’s Quest: Suburbia To Gracie Mansion
Written by Sheila Ferrari
Belmont Stakes 2013: A Sure Bet
Written by Mike Barry, MFBarry@optonline.net
