Huntington School Briefs
The 75th anniversary reunion of the Blue Devil marching band was a great success on every front. The celebration drew 104 alumni from more than a dozen states and from as far away as London. The grads marched in the homecoming day parade, played the national anthem at the afternoon football game alongside current band members and enjoyed a reunion dinner at the Elks Club. There was also a pair of rehearsals Friday night and Saturday morning prior to the parade through Huntington village.
Many band alums live locally, in the metropolitan area or in the upstate New York region. But, many others returned to Huntington from out-of-state locations to partake in the various anniversary activities.
Jeff Guerrera (’87) returned from London and Gary Donofrio (’80) flew in from Alaska. Linnell Hinchey Cergi (’75) came back to Huntington from Spokane, Washington and Barbara Aylaian (’71) traveled to the Northeast from her home in Texas.
Alums Samantha Fenno (’87 – Illinois), Claudia Schmitz (’01 – Michigan), Melissa Strang Martin (’87 – North Carolina), Rebecca Martelli Ripple (’94 – North Carolina), Alanna Pica Brewton (’94 – North Carolina), Ted Smith (’86 – Georgia), Nicole Strang (’82 – Florida), Aisling Swift (’77 – Florida) were also in attendance at the reunion.
Dan Maier (’92), Naomi Botkin (’87), Karen Bernstein Brouady (’86), Christene Geiger (’84), Marie McDermott (’81) and Lynn Somin Kaminski (’87) all came in from Massachusetts. Allan Altholz (’76 – Virginia), Sarah Ironman (’98 – Philadelphia), Courtney Navarro Gabriel (’90 – New Jersey), Christine O’Brien Brough (’90 – New Jersey), Dawn Winters Zipay (’93 – Maryland), Kat Brower Mata (’86 – Connecticut), Kimberly Davidson (’92 – New Jersey), Melissa Stillman Christenberry (’76 – Pennsylvania), Kevin Carran (’92 – Virginia), Fred Rubin (’79 – Virginia), Kari Meyers Covello (’92 – New Jersey), Katie Maloney (’80 – Maryland), Jessie Wang Gorman (’93 – New Jersey), Lisa Flynn (’80 – Pennsylvania) and Scott Miner (’79 – Virginia) were also participants. Former color guard instructor George Prieto returned from Florida.
The alumni band was coordinated by retired band director Linda Shoemaker and was led in the homecoming day parade by 1989 drum major Tanya Woldbeck Gesek, who also led the band in the 1989 Tournament of Roses parade in Pasadena, California.
Remembering Village Green School
Village Green School was completed in 1952 and was organized as a kindergarten through sixth grade building. Three sections for each grade were housed there. It was located on the corner of Park Avenue and 25A. At the time, many agreed it would be the last elementary school built in the district. It wasn’t as Flower Hill, Southdown, Washington, Jefferson and Huntington Elementary schools were all built between 1954 and 1969.
It was a split-level, all brick building and modern in every sense. Located in the lovely “Town Green” area, it closed in 1973 and was sold to the Town of Huntington. It is now a community center.
Prior to its opening, students participated in a contest to pick a name for the school. The youngsters came up with many possibilities, expressing a desire to name it after various local historical figures and popular current and former teachers. Potential names garnering support included Sarah Maybee School, Harold Kincaid School, Jonas Holdsworth School, Whitman School, Washington School, Samuel Fleet School, Samuel Higgins School and Heckscher School. (Mr. Higgins was the first principal in Huntington’s history.)
Many people today believe the district should never have closed the building, since it was centrally located and situated on a nice plot of land. It was also barely 20 years old and could have served the community for many years to come. But, that was not the prevailing sentiment at the time.
Huntington Highsteppers
The Huntington Highsteppers, the high school’s competitive dance team, are an energetic group of skilled young woman. Coached by Lora Ayala and Kristen Margraf, the team is captained by Sarah Kulchinsky, Molly Smith and Alexa Giammarino. The squad includes Annie Minoff, Renna Wirchin, Aliyah Cohen, Jessica Harris, Micki Raczka, Allie Wieland, Bianca Iarrobino, Esti Lodge, Mary Maiorello, Kelly McConnell, Brittney Robinson-Smikle, Ashley Angstadt, Brianne Bennett, Caroline Doscas, Katie Fleming, Kylee Kiesel, Christine O’Grady, Angeline Ramos, Elizabeth Sager and Alexandra Smith.
At their last meeting, Huntington School Board members approved a trip for the Highsteppers to the Eastern Cheer and Dance Association’s national dance competition in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The team will leave Huntington High School on Friday, March 26, 2010 at 6 p.m. and return home on Monday, March 29.
The trip is optional for team members and will cost $600 each. Fundraising has been ongoing since last July. The Highsteppers practice four times a week, learning to work collaboratively in the development of demanding dance routines, which require a high level of dance training.
Adult Education Instructors
Huntington School Board members have approved the appointment of adult education program instructors Oksana Danziger, Ernest Destefano, Edward Enyart, Richard Gress, Jenny Marcotte, Jessica Medina, Kieran Mock, John Morales, Dr. Michael Posner, Martha Reilly, Carmela Stone Klein, Kerri Titone, Ellen Winter and Richard Gross. They will be paid $25 per hour for teaching courses.
SEQRA Resolution Approved
A resolution to meet the requirements of the State Environmental Quality Review Act was approved by the Huntington School Board, allowing various capital projects previously authorized by district residents to move forward.
The projects, which were requested by the State Education Department as safety measures, include the installation of new exterior cafeteria doors Jefferson, Flower Hill, Washington and Southdown primary schools where none currently exist, accessibility improvements related to the Americans with Disabilities Act in Jefferson Primary School’s bathrooms and the installation of special auditorium area safety smoke doors at Huntington High School, which will help create a distinct smoke free zone.
Trustees declared the School Board as the “lead agency” for the projects and “determined” that the five projects are classified as “Type II Actions” under SEQRA regulations.
Next School Board Meeting
The next regularly scheduled public meeting of the Huntington School Board will be held on Monday, November 16 at 7:30 p.m. in the Jack Abrams Intermediate School auditorium.
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