The-Leader_2007-06-21

              The Leader salutes the class of 2007!
SN pag« 11-16
www.lreeportfcaldwij^ieader.com
FffifiPORTHEHOKALlfflRARY itei«RMi(S Ocean Avamn jaoaS-*'-
—. r^ »r V^'' i* rr- O V .11* ^ ^
1
n
1 i
I
J
It !|
L
72nti Year, No. 22 Freeport, N.Y. 11520
The Community Newspaper
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Sounds on the Natiti
FEEL THE RHYTHM: The calypso beats of The Steel Sensations had the audience bobbing their heads at the Long Island Sounds show last week, left photo.
THEO TORRES and Vientos del Sur played Peruvian music at the concert. Mr. Torres could not resist dancing to the music himself, below.
Leader photos by Amanda Gaines
By Amanda Gaines
At an\' regular concert, fans may not expect the bands lo wear such contrast­ing styles: the first musical group is dressed in sharp, clean white suits, the second band goes casual, the lead singer of the third band wears a bold, over­sized red hat, and the last band is dressed for a nice night out.
But then again, most concerts do not consist of African-American gospel. steelband, Peruvian and Dominican music all in one show.
The Long Island Traditions-spon­sored Long Island Sounds show last week had a vibrant combination of per­formers. The men and women in the bands were not average performers—
they displayed an unusu­ally strong connection to their music. They had rich backgrounds, many of them being first-gener­ation immigrants.
The Leader had the chance to talk with some of these exceptional per­formers before tlie show lo discover how their unusual mix of bands developed and were influ­enced.
The Elder Statesmen, the first per­formers at the show, was a group of dedicated .African-American gospel singers whose passionate music flies above religion.
"We all say religion is a name. If you just remove the name and stand and listen to it, everj'body can get a message out of it," said Joe Warren, the self-proclaimed tallest member of the Elder Statesmen,
The group, founded in 1998, has had dif­ferent
members over the years. Today it consists of Mr. Warren, Teddy Williams, Ronnie Alford and Douglas Covington.
"At the time when the group was formed, it was four of us and everyone (continued on page 9)
Baldwin staff honored in absentia
By Joan Delaney
The Baldwin School District's June Board of Education meeting, generally an event of poignant and binersweet cama­raderie with a host of colleagues, rela­tives and parents honoring retiring staff, was unusual in the presence of only four of the 22 retirees.
The event, begun in 1989 by former Superintendent of Schools Gene Lanzaio, highlights the achievements of all sectors of staff, who, Mr. Lanzaro was fond of saying, were "educators all."
At the June 13 meeting, the retiring staff members who were present included Kathleen Dykes, principal of Steele School and Petronella Celura, principal of Shubert School, as well as senior high
school account clerk Robert Devlin and District Clerk Jacquie Ackerman. Ms. Ackerman will continue in that position until December, but retired from her pri­mary position as administrative assistant in Ae personnel department during the past year.
Despite the absence of the 18 other retirees. Board President Mary Jo O'Hagan read the'prepared citations enu­merating their accomplishments during a 40-minute portion of the public meeting.
At that point. Acting Superintendent Thomas Caramore read a list of three dozen staff members who were receiving tenure and they and their families were applauded prior to a short break for refi^shments. Among those honored were teachers encompassing a wide vari­ety
of academic disciplines as well as Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Michael Roccoforte and District Director of Curriculum, Technology and Instructional Support Services, Sandy Frieberg.
The presence of Dr. Caramore as Acting Superintendent was not explained fiurther to the audience,who, at last month's regular meeting, saw Dr. Robert Britto presiding as superintendent
-As reported in The Leader, the resigna­tion of Dr. Britto was announced by the board at a speciaUy caUed meeting at 5:30 p.m. on May 22, which was attend­ed only by local press. At that time, Ms. O'Hagan also announced that Dr. Caramore would serve as acting superin­tendent until June 30. Those facts were
subsequently sent in a letter to local newspapers but no further public announcement has been made relative to Dr. Caramore's status beyond that date.
However, after his welcome by Ms. O^Hagan, Dr. Caramore said that he was looking forward to working together with staff and students, a comment that seemed to imply a further fiiture role beyond the next two weeks.
On May 22, Ms. O'Hagan said that the board had no plans in place relative to a superintendent search or interim appoint­ment, and at least publicly, has not explained what would then be a gap in cov­erage after Jime 30, until the next scheduled public meeting on July 11, unless another special meeting is called to vote on an appointment (continued on page 7)