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Dylan Friedman

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North Shore UMC Youth Group co-leaders and some group members with the Peace Pole after the dedication ceremony on Saturday, October 19. Church pastor Rev. Thomas Kim, standing behind, presided at the dedication. Courtesy Margery Sokolski

By Dylan Friedman

A group of passionate young community members are taking a stand for peace, literally.

With hands stained with paint and hearts filled with hope, youth from North Shore United Methodist Church in Wading River embarked on a project to erect a Peace Pole, an 11.5-foot symbol of unity and harmony, in front of an estimated 65 attendees.

The Peace Pole Project is a global movement that began in Japan in the 1970s and is now incorporated as May Peace Prevail on Earth International. More than 250,000 Peace Poles have been planted around the globe, including several in New York state.

While May Peace Prevail on Earth International often sells templated poles, project orchestrator and youth group leader Palesa Ramohlouane expressed pride in the fact that the church’s youth and congregation decided to make, design, and plant the pole themselves after months of theological groundwork.

“We had some choices about how we wanted to do the Peace Pole, whether we wanted to pay for one or build it,” Ramohlouane said. “I wanted them to have a sense of ownership instead of us just buying it. So they decided to make their own, and I think all of [the youth] reported they are grateful for the time we spent on the project and that those moments were also moments of peace,” she said.

Although the youth decided to create their own Peace Pole, they stayed true to the original design by ensuring the phrase “May peace prevail on Earth” appeared on the pole in six different languages, a consistent feature of Peace Poles worldwide. While the design, colors, art, and weatherproofing were done entirely by the youth, congregation members assisted with construction and planting, which, according to Ramohlouane, was an intended byproduct of the project.

“People noticing a Peace Pole brings people together,” Ramohlouane said. “It’s definitely about bringing the community together, spreading peace, and making sure that, even in its art form, it is interesting enough for people to spend a little time reflecting,” she said.

After months of hard work that started in the twilight of 2023, the pole was finally finished and placed near the church on Oct. 19. The church’s pastor, Rev. Thomas Kim, presided at the consecration, which featured members of the youth group and clergy representing Buddhist, Islamic, Jewish, and Christian faith communities, a testament to the church’s extensive community influence. A representative from each faith community delivered a peace message or scripture as a testament to this influence.

Furthermore, co-youth group leader Heather Caldara and youth group members Sanku Assamagan, Daniel Scielzi, and Riley Stark delivered inspiring remarks to reflect on the creation of the Peace Pole.

While the towering 11.5-foot Peace Pole initially stands out as a striking symbol of unity and hope, its ultimate goal is to seamlessly and quietly integrate into the fabric of the community. As time passes, the pole, made to stand out, hopes to blend in, a quiet reminder to pause, reflect, and find peace in the everyday. As Ramohlouane stated, the project’s purpose is to “be in our community,” inviting individuals to interpret its meaning and find personal resonance and peace within its powerful presence.

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School board meetings are held at Centereach High School.

By Dylan Friedman

The Middle Country Central School District Board of Education meeting Oct. 16 was a night to celebrate students’ outstanding achievements and the district’s continued progress in academics and technology. The meeting opened with the recognition of four Students of the Month, beginning with Diya John, a senior at Newfield High School.

John, described as a considerate and mature young lady beyond her years, is the president of the National Honor Society, where she was praised for her leadership, diligence and commitment to helping her peers succeed.

The board also recognized Jeanlee Marcano Robles, an eighth grader at Selden Middle School, and Adam Khazanovich, an eighth grader at Dawnwood Middle School. 

According to Brad Smith, Jeanlee’s soccer coach, she is a “diligent student who is focused on hard work and positivity.” Meanwhile, Adam was praised for his academic excellence, leadership in extracurricular activities and kind, friendly demeanor. 

Alexa Carmody, of Centereach High School, was also honored as a student of the month.  

Celebrating athletic achievements

In addition to the student accolades, the meeting highlighted the district’s athletic achievements. Meaghan Grieco, a four-year varsity starter and captain of the Centereach volleyball team, was named the district’s female Athlete of the Month. 

“Megan will be sorely missed next season, but we know she is looking forward to continuing her playing career at Farmingdale State College,” said head coach Mike Weaver.

The board also recognized Matt Evers, a senior quarterback on the Newfield varsity football team, as the district’s male Athlete of the Month. Assistant coach Nick Adler commended Evers’ character, positive attitude and exceptional performance on the field, which led the team to a 3-0 record in September. 

PTA community engagement

The  meeting also featured an update from the Bicycle Path PTA, highlighting the group’s efforts to support the district’s youngest students and their families.

According to PTA president, Rose Noonan, and first vice president, Nicole Esposito, the PTA has already hosted several successful events, including a membership drive that surpassed expectations, a book fair and a welcome-back picnic with over 330 attendees. Upcoming events include a trick-or-treat street, a pumpkin patch and a frozen pie fundraiser.

Fiscal responsibility and technological advancements

The district’s auditor, Chris Schneider, delivered good news, reporting that the district received “unmodified opinions,” the highest level of audit opinion, on both the district’s financials and the extracurricular activity funds. “For a district of this size, to have no comments is a great thing,” Schneider said. 

Finally, the district’s technology director, Vincent Raicovi, provided an overview of the district’s robust technology infrastructure, including a high-availability data network, virtualized servers and a growing number of devices and digital whiteboards deployed across the schools. 

“When we started this, we had a little over 3,000 devices on our network. And now, many moons later, we are up to 18,000 devices,” Raicovi reported, highlighting the district’s commitment to supporting student learning with the latest technology. 

The next BOE meeting is Oct. 30 at Centereach High School at 7 p.m.

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Huntington High School. File photo

By Dylan Friedman

Huntington Union Free School District Board of Education held its latest meeting Sept. 30. A wide range of topics were addressed that highlighted the district’s commitment to strategic planning for the future, community engagement and student success. 

Superintendent updates

One notable announcement was the recent implementation of a new cell phone policy at Huntington High School, where students are now required to deposit their phones in pouches during instructional time. As Superintendent Beth McCoy explained, “This really is a step in the right direction to start getting our students acclimated to leaving those phones in a pouch throughout their instructional class time.”

McCoy also shared details about the district’s strategic planning process, which will unfold over the next six months. “We are going to be doing a strategic planning process throughout the next six months that will require a lot of stakeholder input from our teachers, our administrators, our staff, as well as our parents and community members,” she said, while emphasizing the importance of gathering diverse perspectives to shape the district’s future.

Celebrating student achievements

Celebrations of student accomplishments also marked the meeting. Board members took turns in highlighting the success of the Blue Devil marching band, which took home a third first-place prize in a row, and the football team. Isabella Careccia-Johnson recently received prestigious recognition as a National Merit “Commended Student” from the National Merit Scholarship Corp.

With many positives from the student body to highlight, the board also expressed its pride in the community for rallying around homecoming. As one board member said, “It was a proud moment and weekend to be a part of Huntington. I’d just like to piggyback on that weekend, starting off with the parade … then the bonfire and the making of the floats, and how it involves so many people within the community.”

Community engagement and advocacy

The district’s engagement with the broader community was also a focal point. McCoy discussed the recent round table session with state legislators, during which the need for a regional cost index for Long Island and the fair distribution of foundation aid were crucial topics of discussion.

Additionally, a community member, Helen Murdock-Prep, used the public commentary portion of the meeting to invite the board to visit her art installation at the Huntington Arts Council that addresses the sensitive issue of sexual abuse. As she explained, “This interactive installation is my attempt to embody all that followed, set in physical form.”

Looking ahead

As the meeting drew close, the board and superintendent expressed their enthusiasm for the strategic planning process and their commitment to continued collaboration with the community. McCoy emphasized, “We encourage you to share your insights on what we’re excelling at and where there’s room for growth, and we’re eager to hear thoughts on what we should prioritize for the future.”

The next board meeting is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 21, at 7:30 p.m. at Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School in Huntington Station.

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Port Jefferson Rotary members Pat Sabo and Al Kopcienski, along with volunteer Joseph Schwartz repairing the Port Jefferson bus shelter. Courtesy Elizabeth Shwartz
Port Jefferson Rotary members Pat Sabo and Al Kopcienski, along with volunteer Joseph Schwartz repairing the Port Jefferson bus shelter. Courtesy Elizabeth Shwartz
Port Jefferson Rotary members Pat Sabo repairing the Port Jefferson bus shelter. Courtesy Elizabeth Shwartz

By Dylan Friedman

A Port Jefferson bus shelter in front of the Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce building on West Broadway has been given a new life thanks to the generosity of a team of philanthropic local Rotary Club individuals, including 91-year-old Al Kopcienski of Miller Place.

Kopcienski, who worked on the original structure in 2006 and the recent restoration of the structure’s roof and windows on Sept. 17, said that the motivation for the project came simply from seeing how many people used that bus stop. 

“If you think about it, that was a bus stop for a year and a half since Suffolk County started the bus route, and at the beginning there was nothing there. Anybody waiting for a bus [in the rain] would have to stand out … with umbrellas, if they had them — if not, they got wet,” he said.

“And then, with the original shelter they built, if you had a slight rain, you couldn’t stay there because you got wet. But with our design, people could stay in there and wait for the bus. It’s amazing how many people use the bus stop there. That was our motivation to accommodate the people that use mass transit,” Kopcienski added.

He graduated from Port Jefferson High School in 1950 and worked with his brother in farming before running a plumbing, heating and fuel business for 33 years. Kopcienski formally retired in 1989.

Among his many voluntary posts, he has served as president of Mount Sinai School District Board of Education, more than 60 years with Port Jefferson Rotary Club, and with Miller Place Fire Department where he served as chief from 1967-68.

Dr. Patrick Sabo, a fellow Port Jeff Rotary Club member with Kopcienski who worked on both the original shelter and its recent restoration, was quick to commend his colleague for his contributions.

“I have to give kudos to Al Kopcienski. He is in his 90s, he is still a Rotarian, and he still volunteers to drive an ambulance during the week. He’s the one who built the bus shelter in 2006, and he was down there with us putting the roof on it. I got to give him a lot of credit,” Sabo said.

At the remarkable age of 91, Kopcienski’s passion for community service continues to burn brightly. While he jokes about not replacing the shingles on the Port Jefferson bus shelter again, his ongoing involvement in projects at Chandler Estate in Mount Sinai and Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck in Center Moriches continuously demonstrate his unwavering dedication to making a difference, regardless of the endeavor.

The Chandler Estate “laid fallow for a long time, and Dr. Sabo, he and I … we opened up paths, and now we have people that go for walks, bird watching and [enjoying] animals and stuff like that, and sits right on Mount Sinai Harbor,” Kopcienski said. 

“Another big project we have is a hands-on project, Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck, which is a camp for disabled children out in Center Moriches. Probably 40 years ago, we started going out there and giving it a day’s labor, cleaning up the place, painting, raking leaves, this, that, and everything just to get the camp ready for the summer kids,” he added.

As Kopcienski continues to inspire others with his tireless volunteer work, the Port Jefferson bus shelter stands as a testament to his commitment to improving the lives of his fellow citizens. Even at the age of 91, his unwavering and consistent dedication to service remains an extraordinary example for all.

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