The-Leader_2006-10-05

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Constitution week
Dr. Britto on learning
Viet vet watts 30 years for diploma
STATION TO STATION: Senator Fuschiilo (right) dis­cusses plans for the renovation of the waiting room at the Freeport train station with Assennblyman IVIcDonough (left) and IVlayor Giacken (center).
MCCARTHY addresses BHS staff.
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Washington comes to Baldwin
By Joan Delaney
"We went to Wasiiington, D.C.
in the spring, and today ' Washington, D.C. has come to
Baldwin."
With those words, Sandy i Freiberg, the Baldwin School i District's director of curriculum, ; technology and instructional \ support services, welcomed U.S.
Congresswoman Carolyn
I McCarthy to the district's first ; School to Career Advisory [ Committee meeting of the year.
Mrs. McCarthy was present to ; honor the district for its commit-I ment to mentoring which was \ highlighted when mentor
i Charmaine Robbins of State Farm I Insurance and Baldwin senior I Chris Garcia were honored as win-I ners of the Spotlight Award given i by the National Mentoring I Partnership at ceremonies in • Washington, D.C. last year.
In comments to the dozens of mentors and teachers present, the congresswoman, who has served for five terms and sits on the Education and Workforce Committee, noted, "I wish I had a mentor when I first came to Congress."
She then described her visits abroad, particularly to China, where, she said, "Their education is proceeding full steam ahead with every student learning English."
She deplored almost $15 mil­lion in budget cuts in U.S. fund­ing for education last year but praised American students. "Our students may be shy a few points, but they are the best; they are the most innovative."
She described her joy at being able to speak on the floor of the House of Representatives about the community she represents. With Superintendent of Schools
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Robert Britto by her side, she] read aloud some of the comments she made on September 19, prais-1 ing Baldwin's educational com-| mitment, particularly its innova­tive mentoring program.
In turn. Dr. Britto noted that the | school to career partnership! serves "not only as an invaluable I link between school and work,! but on a more personal level, the I mentors serve as role rhodels tof Baldwin's students."
In commenting to The Leader | on her experiences. State Farml Insurance mentor Robbins s described the process as "one of | the greatest challenges of my| life." She spoke with pride ofi helping Mr. Garcia form hisf goals. "When he started, he did­n't even think of college as part ofi his future. I showed him what hef was capable of." Presently Mr.
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Senator Charles J. Fuschiilo, Jr. (8th Senate District) has announced that he secured over $1 million in state funding for a renova­tion project at the Freeport train station.
The funds will be used to completely overhaul the waiting room on the station platform. Senator Fuschiilo was joined by Assemblyman David McDonough (19th Assembly District) and Freeport Mayor Bill Giacken.
"The Freeport train sta­tion is an integral part of the village, serving hun­dreds of residents on a daily basis. This restoration project will make the train station safer, enhance its overall appearance, and improve the quality of life for the Freeport communi­ty," said Senator Fuschiilo.
"On behalf of myself and the Board of Trustees, I want to thank Senator Fuschiilo for his efforts in obtaining funding for these improvements," stated
Mayor Giacken. "The complete renovation of the Freeport LIRR station is a key objective of the Giacken . Administration and a princi­pal goal of our downtown revitalization efforts. These improvements will have a positive effect on the eco­nomic growth of the village and on our residents and commuters; who will benefit from these improvements in safety and comfort while using the Freeport station."
The improvements to the station include:
• Improved heating sys­tem
• New security cameras in waiting room and eleva­tor entrance at street level
• Better lighting
• Brand new wall and floor tiling
• Larger window
• New doors
• Renovations to the plat­form elevator area
According to the MTA, construction on the project is expected to begin in October.