A Story Becomes A Book

Gabi Oliva, a third grade student at Old Bethpage Elementary School, was surprised on her birthday Tuesday afternoon when the Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK High School National Art Honor Society, during their induction ceremony, presented an illustrated book they crafted out of a story Oliva had written titled “Someday.”  

Led by Adrian Kim, who is valedictorian of the class of 2013, Kim said the NAHS took an estimated two months to complete the book, which is 20 pages and features colorful artwork.  Others in the NAHS who worked on the project include  Samantha Sheinwald, Jena Stark, Madeleine Schultz, Samantha Valenza, Christina Billias, Dori Gronich, Ariel Borowsky, Amanda Slomovitz, Farrah Su, Brooke Holoman, & Bing Ying Xia.

Plainview Water: Best Tasting Again?

The Plainview Water District Board of Commissioners announce that the District is celebrating National Drinking Water Week, a nationwide commemoration designed to celebrate the vital role the Earth’s most precious natural resource from May 5 to May 11.

The Plainview Water District will mark the week-long occasion by participating in the Long Island Water Conference’s 28th Annual Best Tasting Water Competition. hThe District is looking to defend its title as the region’s best-tasting water as the District’s water supply was the recipient of the 2012 Best-Tasting Water Award and was a semi-finalist of New York State’s Best-Tasting Water Contest in Syracuse, NY. The competition will be held in the First Stop Café at Farmingdale State College. The Nassau and Suffolk County winners will face-off on a yet to be determined day and time.

Students Celebrate Earth Day

Jen Temkin’s class read a folktale, discussed how the tribe, and we, respect each other, animals and their habitats. They did a writing assignment about this.

Mike Beinert’s class had a weekend assignment of “doing good things” for the earth and shared what they did. Then they explored the history of Earth Day via the Internet; children found interesting facts on Google safe search and shared those facts. One student wrote an Earth Day song that was shared and they all stood by the open windows and sang Happy Earth Day.” He reported that many of his students found the facts about recycling alarming and even discussed the book Silent Spring, which began the Earth Day movement.

‘Empty Bowls’ Filled

Stratford Road Elementary School recently hosted its third annual Empty Bowls Festival. The Empty Bowls Project is a grassroots effort to help feed the hungry. Stratford Road teachers, administrators and staff began planning the event last fall.

Students made homemade clay bowls with the help of artist-in-residence Cliff Mendelson at the school’s Day in Clay. With the direction of their art teacher, Debbie Mittleman, each fourth grader’s clay bowl was painted and fired by another fourth grader. The bowls emphasize the true communal spirit of Empty Bowls, and were used to serve food at the festival.

New Prize For Distinguished Dads

Do you know a local father who is an outstanding parent and citizen? In recognition of the first Annual Father’s Day Brunch, Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano is calling on residents to nominate local fathers who have made extraordinary contributions to the community. Awards will be announced at the first Annual Father’s Day Brunch will be held on Saturday, June 15 from 9 – 11 a.m. at The Barn in Old Bethpage Village Restoration.

“It is my honor to host the first Annual Father’s Day Brunch, which recognizes local fathers for the work they do all year long making our county a better place to live, work and raise a family,” said County Executive Mangano.  

Announce Valedictorian, Salutatorian

Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School District’s John F. Kennedy High School has announced Adrian Kim as Valedictorian and Chelsea Griller as Salutatorian of the Class of 2013.

Adrian is being honored for her academic and extra-curricular accomplishments. She is co-president for the Art Club and the National Honor Society and has received the prestigious Long Island Scholar Artist award. Along with her artistic accomplishments Kim also excels academically and is a published microbiologist. She plans to continue her education in the field of research, specializing in the study of disease, virology and bacteriology.

You—Yes, You—A Firefighter

Ever thought of being a firefighter or fire medic? Here’s a chance to learn all about it as the Plainview Fire Department hosts a recruitment open house on Saturday and Sunday, April 27 and 28, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., at the firehouse on Old Country Road.

As a member of the Plainview department, you will learn new skills, connect with people from around the community and experience the thrills, challenges and satisfaction that come with making an important contribution.

All classes, uniforms and equipment are provided, and there are many other benefits to membership, including tuition reimbursement at Nassau Community College.

One-Man Crime Wave, Say Cops

A Bethpage burglary and assault, an East Meadow car theft and a Massapequa crash last week led to the arrest of a Levittown man, said Nassau County police. 

According to detectives, Albert C. Garfield, 47, of 12 Hunter Lane, drove to a Hahn Avenue home armed with a wooden table leg, and crashed through a fence in the driveway. He proceeded to kick in the door of the home, entering and beat the victim, a 50-year-old man, with the table leg, causing head injuries.

Bittersweet Celebrations At St. Pius

Monsignor Domenick T. Graziadio took the parishioners of St. Pius X on their last Lenten journey to Easter Sunday. Masses and Lenten devotionals included the Children’s Stations of the Cross. Monsignor Graziadio will be retiring in June, and celebrating his retirement Mass on May 5, with a reception to follow. 

Reconsidering Abstraction

Even for art lovers, Abstract Expressionism can sometimes be a bit of a hard sell. Museum-goers who draw inspiration from the idyllic garden parties of the Impressionists and the breathtaking landscapes of the Hudson River School often throw up their hands in confusion, or even disgust, at the giant swaths of color, indelicate globs of paint, and seemingly incomprehensible shapes that often populate the works of Abstract Expressionism. “It’s just not for me,” they say, satisfied to ignore this one particular school of art in favor of almost anything else.

Not so fast, says the Nassau County Museum of Art. With the show AB-EX/RE-CON, running now through June 16, viewers are asked to reexamine their preconceptions of this critically acclaimed, but intensely polarizing, school of art. In addition to classics of Abstract Expressionism from decades past, the show also highlights the work of three living artists: Judith Godwin from New York City, Stan Brodsky from Huntington, and Rita Rogers from Rhode Island. Love AB-EX or hate it, it’s virtually impossible to see the show and deny the vibrance of the movement.