RSS 2.0 FeedThursday, December 28, 2011, Merrick Life
2011 year in review
Looking back at the year that was.
It’s always interesting for us at Merrick Life to take a look back at the year that was. For me personally my reflections have come full circle. I began the year just having been announced as Merrick’s Woman of the Year (with Lenny Heide named Man of the Year) and now I will pass the title on to MeMe Wanderman, a 30-plus-year advocate for the school district’s children and library volunteer. The 2012 Man of the Year is Al Lage who supports many Merrick organizations as well as helping the chamber of commerce run the midway at its festivals.
Here is a review of of other stories we published. Details of many of these stories can be found on our website at www.merricklife.com
In January, Layna Christon’s dad had taken ill and she came to visit her 90-year-old North Merrick mom. Layna suffered a heart attack while taking a neighborhood walk. “Overwhelmed,” she recalled, she sat down on the curb. Lucky for her, the Sena family’s dog, Jenny, wanted to go outside. Soon after, the dog alerted the family to Mrs. Christon’s condition and the family tended to her until they were able to get her in an ambulance to the hospital.
Al and Tot Barthel celebrated 70 years of marriage.
Michelle Manfrede of Merrick ended 2010 as overall high point gymkhana Grand Champion of the Islip Horsemen’s Association.
Eighteen-year-old Mepham student Erin Clare Malloy-McArdle was killed in January at Windham Mountain ski resort when she left a ski trail she was on and collided with a tree.
The Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives TV show stopped at the Pit Stop on Sunrise Highway.
Merrick’s Robbie Rosen was on TV, too. He made it all the way to Hollywood on “American Idol” only to face a loss in a sing-off. He did not make the final show but Merrick enjoyed following his journey and the emergence of its latest star. Merrick Life followed his many subsequent performances including his debut of an original song at an Islander game and his performance at the Merrick’s KidsFest. Robbie has generously shared his talents with many groups and can often be found pursuing his music career as he prepares to graduate from Calhoun High School.
In February we wrote that baby Kasey Ann Devlin of Merrick was born during a snowstorm on January 12, making her the winner of our First Baby of the Merricks contest. If you know anyone due to have a baby soon, they should enter soon after the baby is born. Our generous merchants are giving away great prizes. See contest prizes on pages 10 and 11.
Calhoun Colts football players Nick Marcello and Coleman Meier signed to Division 1 schools.
55-year-old Merrick resident Doug Oggeri survived a heart attack thanks to his 18-year-old daughter, Colleen. He suffered the incident after shoveling snow.
News 12 meteorologist and Merrick resident Bill Korbel renewed their vows with his wife Sharon after 38 years of marriage, at Town Hall in Hempstead.
The Calhoun Varsity Kickline Team did an excellent job at the 2011 Long Island Scholastic Championship Kickline Competition. They earned First Place for their Pom routine and Second Place for their High Kick Routine, in the AAA division.
The threat of the elimination of municipal bus routes in the Merricks was announced in March. Fast forward to present day, a new bus company will assume the busing system in the county as of January 1, riders anxiously wait and watch as the transition happens.
The Merrick Film Forum announced that it would be ending its 53-year history. Its closing film, “The Little Traitor,” was shown on March 25.
North Merrick’s Abby Dry Cleaners was the site of a suspicious fire, and damage spread to many of the connected stores on Jerusalem Avenue.
After 19 years at the helm, Pastor Thomas Gallagher retired from Sacred Heart Church in North Merrick. A new pastor, Joseph Nixon, is now at the altar.
In April, Sacred Heart’s drama club performed “Beauty and the Beast;” an active parishioner, artisan and gardener Rae Reilly, 93, died after a series of illnesses.
North Merrick residents voted down the library’s referendum, effectively saying no to the building’s expansion; school district teachers and staff froze their salaries.
The Chamber of Commerce KidsFest closed out the end of the month. Funds raised go towards supporting the group’s scholarship awards, the largest such given by a single chamber in all of New York State.
In May, a Roosevelt man was captured by police after a wide search that included a helicopter, K9 searchers and a foot chase. He was sought in connection with a North Merrick burglary. Merrick Avenue Middle School and Calhoun High School were locked down during the pursuit.
Susan Storms was named Mother of the Year.
A threat to redraw legislative district lines was announced and would have left local and active Legislator David Denenberg without a district. Later in the year this idea was declared illegal and did not take effect.
The Merrick Lions Club held a very successful, second Purple Heart Pups 3K walk and dog event-filled day.
Monies raised throughout Purple Heart Pup events help disabled veterans lead successful and independent lives by raising the money needed to provide them with access to service dogs and other supportive programs.
Serengeti Design Studios and Dr. David Sukoff were chosen as Merrick’s 2011 Merchant and Professional of the Year in the annual contest co-sponsored by Merrick Life and the Merrick Chamber of Commerce.
In June, we profiled Merrick teen Kayla Babush and her work with Teens for Life. Her mission is to bring awareness about CPR and AED training to teens. Teens for Life is a branch of the Merrick organization, Forever 9, The Robbie Levine Foundation – named for the nine-year-old boy who died playing baseball with no defibrillator in the area.
After 40 years, the Treehouse Bar and Restauarant on Sunrise Highway closed, June 18.
Calhoun graduating senior Brittany Georgalas gathered over 50 of her closest friends, admirers and family as she debuted her 30-minute claymation film “Peanut on a Skateboard” at the Bellmore Movies.
Rocco Ognibene was named Merrick Life’s Father of the Year.
Renovated Julian Lane Park opened to great reviews.
25-year old William Hartley Long was killed by a hit-and-run driver in the vicinity of Smith Street and Babylon Turnpike on June 20. The accident occurred directly in front of the victim’s home.
St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church began its 50th anniversary year.
In July, the Historical Society of the Merricks held the annual reading of the Declaration of Independence. The Belbol family told of their experience witnessing baseball history – three generations seeing Derek Jeter’s 3,000th hit.
The FBI raided a home on Carley Court in North Merrick, in association with the coordinated “Anonymous” attacks happening in various locations. A computer was removed but no arrests were made.
Merrick was among the many volunteer fire departments to receive portions of steel from the World Trade Center.
In August, voters came out in droves to say no to the Nassau Hub plan that included a new arena for the New York Islanders hockey team. The South Shore Audobon Society turned 40.
Rains flooded the streets and parkways in the early part of the month, many motorists were stranded on the parkways and rescue efforts were required by the fire departments.
Local band Toxin released their CD “Skindependence” and held a concert at the Jones Beach bandshell.
Long Island experienced an earthquake of 5.8 on the Ricther scale – it was centered in Virginia and felt up and down the east coast.
The end of August the area suffered the effects of Hurricane Irene. The storm’s strength was not nearly as bad as predicted but the Merricks and the surrounding areas suffered nonetheless. Many residents were without power for over a week.
Many homes suffered water damage, roads were impassable and LIPA.s response to our town was widely reported in many news outlets to be less than satisfactory. More oversight of the electric company was demanded by many.
In September we remembered with a special section the tenth anniversary of 9/11. This section and the coverage of ceremonies from the events are available online at www.merricklife.com/issue/september-8-2011/article/9-11-01-ten-years-later.
Calhoun student Frankie DeVito was spotlighted for his heartfelt letter to his pop-pop that was published in a family of survivors book.
Merrick Avenue Middle School started its first day of school in the dark. Parents were advised to pick their students up early due to a partial blackout in the building.
The lack of mosquito spraying in the summer months, and 13 inches of rain in August and September found many Merokians with unwelcome “biting” guests.
Merokian Christine Shields Markoski began a stint on CBS’s “Survivor.” She lasted two weeks in the Upolo tribe but several more on the show’s “Redemption Island.”
A home invasion in North Bellmore on September 19 caused all the schools to go on lockdown. Merrick Life was praised by many readers and social network followers for its coverage that helped many keep informed of the unfolding situation.
62-year-old Shashi Sharma of North Merrick was attacked by two pit bulls on September 29 on the grounds of the Brookside School. Nearly mauled to death, Mrs. Sharma was exercising on the school’s track when the dogs approached her. They followed her to the parking lot, ripping her clothes and biting her ferociously. She managed to use her cellphone to call 911 while being attacked.
One dog was shot and killed by police on the scene, while the other got away. The events following Mrs. Sharma’s attack was closely followed in the news for several weeks – there were school lockdowns, pit bull sightings and rumors about the emotional behavior of the animals – until the remaining animal was killed by police outside a North Merrick day care center near the scene of the attack. Go to our website and search “pit bull” for details of our coverage.
Sharon Eriksen, Julie Marchesella, Susan Katz Richman, Donna Rosenblum and Lisa Siano were honored by Assemblyman David McDonough as Women of Distinction.
Longtime Merrick resident and comedy writer Carol Scibelli released the book, “Poor Widow Me: Moments of Feeling & Dealing & Finding the Funny Along the Way.”
Ed Sholander was installed as the new commander of the American Legion Post 1282.
In October, The Merrick Fall Festival was held on the 22nd and 23rd. The event was a huge success. From musical acts, more vendors than ever and lots of activities the fair raises money to pay for the holiday lights we see right now on display in town. The Historical Society of the Merricks ran its bus tour of local sites for the first time in conjunction with this event – with many more tour-takers than in years past.
A garden was dedicated in honor of former North Merrick Schools Superintendent Dr. June Irvin at Old Mill Road School where she was a principal in her early career.
Merokian Sadie Salerno turned 105 on October 6.
The Calhoun Colts played football in weather unbecoming of the season, with snow and winds this nor’easter left many of the players in bad condition. In total, 11 players (from both Calhoun and Carey) were sent to the hospital because of the effects of the cold.
A new law, spearheaded by state Senator Charles Fuschillo Jr. was signed aiding families with children on the autism spectrum with insurance claims.
In November, the Merrick Kiwanis debuted its Field of Honor near monument park in honor of our soldiers.
Merrick’s Lncpl. Robert Bernhardt of the United States Marines started a tour of duty in Afghanistan. In honor of Veteran’s Day, Merrick Life writer Laura Schofer did profiles of four veterans, one from each of our publishing family towns – chronicling their stories of war.
North Merrick Fire Department helped extract a driver from a crashed car on the Southern State Parkway. Under the guidance of Chiefs James Allen and Jim Rogers, the North Merrick Fire Department brought back the tradition of the Annual Ragamuffin Parade on Thanksgiving morning. Costumed children marched from Merrick Avenue Middle School to the North Merrick Fire House on Camp Avenue.
The Kennedy Cougar boys fell short of their fourth county Volleyball Championships.
“Find Your Happiness,” was published featuring, among 101 authors, Merrick resident Patrick Sepe. Merrick Life spoke with hometown boy Doug Ellin, creator of “Entourage.”
Michele Walsh directed the second Annual Special Needs Recreation Fair.
The Brotherhood Council hosted its annual Thanksgiving Concert preceded by the Merrick Kiwanis tradition – the Annual Pancake Breakfast.
In December, Sacred Heart School was slated to closed by the Diocese of Rockville Centre. Parents and alumni are continuing to rally and find a way to save the school. A candlelight vigil was held and reports from the Diocese are that the decision will not be reversed.
Pearl Harbor survivor Bill Halleran, 93, died on December 9 – two days after the 70th anniversary of the events in the South Pacific. He was the Merrick veteran profiled in our November Salute.
North Merrick voters approved the release of capital reserve funds for a number of improvement projects at the elementary school buildings.
Chabad held a Chanukah parade, and Merrick Jewish Centre held a massive menorah lighting in hopes of being certified by the Guiness Book of World Records.
So much, as always happened in the Merricks in 2011. If there is something we missed, please know it was an oversight – but drop us a line, we love hearing from you.
As we enter 2012, Merrick Life begins its 74th year, we look forward to many events already on the horizon – the 60th anniversary of Levy-Lakeside School, the upcoming Man and Woman of the Year dinner, finding our next “First” Baby and Mother and Father of the Year, etc., etc.
Make Merrick Life part of your Merrick Life. Let us know of the events you have coming up send us a email (lmedit@optimum.net), a tweet @lmpublications or fan us on Facebook and write on our wall at Merrick Life Newspaper. For a look back at our history – click on our custom Facebook page tab (on the left-hand side) A history of Merrick Life.
