Lady Dragons Undefeated
Friday, 08 February 2013 00:00
As the midpoint of the basketball season approaches, the Lady Dragons of Division Avenue High School are on top in Conference A2 with a 6-0 record and sole possession of first place.
The Dragons are led by leading scorer and rebounder Laura Stuart. Stuart has recorded four double doubles thus far this season. Floor leader and point guard Taylor Calabrese leads the team in assists while running a very potent offense. Adding tremendous shooting and aggressive defense are Tiffany Rodriguez and Kristin Aquila. Rodriguez was named to the All-Tournament Team this year at the Freeport High School.
Holiday Tournament, while Aquila leads the team in steals and scored 18 points in a win over Bethpage that propelled the girls into first place.
Returning to varsity from last year are Gina Fader, Trish Mollo and Julie Weidler. These girls are true leaders and bring intense defense, strong rebounding skills and a will to win to each game. Adding valuable minutes to a total team effort are Kim Beattie, Kristine Chavez and Brianna DeMilia. All three girls are new to the varsity team this year.
Rounding out this year’s squad are freshmen Erica Bleimeyer and Jess Fressle. Both girls play power forward and have helped the Lady Dragons dominate the offensive and defensive glass this season. If the Lady Dragons continue their winning ways, another run in the playoffs could be on the horizon.
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
