The South Huntington community shaved their heads in a show of support benefiting the St. Baldrick's Foundation.

SOUTH HUNTINGTON, NY — Students shaved their teachers’ heads. Kids shaved their parents’ heads. Parents shaved their children’s heads. Teachers shaved their students’ heads.

Walt Whitman High School was buzzing with activity on March 10 as volunteers of all ages — and all hair lengths — took a seat in the barber chair, ready to lose their locks and give hope to children fighting cancer.

The Robocats robotics club continued its long-running tradition of hosting a St. Baldrick’s Foundation fundraiser, once again rallying the South Huntington community to “free their follicles” in support of childhood cancer research. This year’s event raised more than $19,000.

The event was founded 19 years ago by Whitman physics and engineering teacher and Robocats advisor, Jaime Rogers. Rogers first launched the effort by shaving his 11-year-old son’s head — before switching seats and letting his son return the favor.

What began as a small service project with 12 participants raising $3,000 has since grown into a major district tradition.

“I thank everyone for supporting us every year,” Rogers said. “It’s such a great cause. So many of us have had our lives touched by cancer. When I was 16, my mom had cancer. I saw some of my friends donate at a fire department St. Baldrick's event, and then I thought, ‘You know what? Let’s bring it to the school.’”

Whitman senior Ryan Pastore, one of this year’s top fundraisers, raised $3,500. He has participated annually since 2015 in memory of his sister, Marissa, who had leukemia.

“People have said things to me before like, ‘Why would you cut your hair like that?’” Pastore said. “And I say, ‘My hair’s gonna grow back. I’m doing this for the kids whose hair doesn’t always grow back, and for my sister, because she can’t be with me here today to do all this stuff.’”

One of the most talked-about moments of the day came from the mother-daughter team of Summer and Violet Chetty. Eleven-year-old Violet and her mother arrived with long braided ponytails, prepared to donate their hair to support patients with cancer and alopecia.

According to Summer Chetty, the decision started with her daughter.

“She came home a couple weeks ago and said, ‘Mom, I wanna do St. Baldrick’s,’” she said. “And I asked, ‘Are you sure?’ I told her, ‘Kids might make fun of you with a bald head.’ But she didn’t care. And I think because of her bravery — a few days later I said, ‘I’m gonna do it with you.’”

Together, they raised nearly $3,500.

Teachers and students from Maplewood and Birchwood Intermediate Schools formed the top fundraising team, bringing in more than $10,000. Birchwood teacher Matthew Williams, participating for the fourth year, opted for a close trim rather than going fully bald — and let his students handle the clippers.

“It’s all about the kids,” Williams said. “We do it to show them what’s right, that giving can be fun, and to get them involved both inside and outside the classroom.”

The St. Baldrick’s Foundation began in 1999 as a challenge among three friends who shaved their heads at a St. Patrick’s Day party to raise money for childhood cancer research and stand in solidarity with children undergoing treatment.

According to the foundation, it has invested more than $371 million in childhood cancer research grants worldwide since 2005.

Rescued from a Hempstead parking garage with a neck injury, the young cat is now healing and waiting for a loving home.

HUNTINGTON, NY — Some cats arrive quietly. Some arrive with a story.

And then there is Zipper.

The young male cat — affectionately called “Zippy” by volunteers — is the newest arrival and Grateful Paw Cat Shelter's adoptable pet of the week. Zipper's journey to safety began in a place no cat should have to call home: a parking garage in Hempstead.

Zipper is a striking tiger-and-white cat with unusual markings and “the most beautiful eyes — the color of green sea glass that seems to hold a thousand stories,” shelter volunteers said.

No one knows how long he had been living in the garage or where he had been hiding. His scruffy coat suggested he had been struggling for quite some time, and he carried a painful mystery with him — a serious wound on his neck.

“What we do know is that Zipper was hungry… very hungry,” the shelter said.

The garage manager noticed him wandering through the structure and knew he needed help. Instead of hiding from people, Zipper approached them, looking for attention and hoping someone might share food.

Concerned for his safety, the manager contacted a local rescuer. When a carrier was placed on the ground, Zipper did something remarkable.

“As if he somehow knew this was his chance, he simply walked right in,” the shelter said.

From there, Zipper was taken to a municipal shelter before Grateful Paw stepped in to bring him into its care.

Veterinarians estimate Zipper is between one and two years old. During his neuter surgery, the wound on his neck was carefully examined. It may have been caused by a bite from another animal — possibly a cat or dog — or perhaps an injury from a vehicle while he was surviving outdoors.

Because the wound had been left to heal on its own, it caused some dermatitis, scarring, and patches of alopecia. While the area can still appear red or irritated at times, the shelter says Zipper does not seem overly bothered by it except for the occasional itch.

He has received antibiotics and cortisone to help the healing process, and veterinarians are optimistic that the injury will continue to improve.

Despite everything he has endured, Zipper has shown himself to be a gentle and social cat.

When he first entered the shelter’s cat room, he attempted to introduce himself to the other cats. The residents were not quite ready to welcome him.

“Between the unfamiliar smells of the animal hospital and the lingering scent of an unneutered male, the room erupted in hisses and growls,” the shelter said.

Zipper appeared confused by the reaction, volunteers said, “as if wondering what he had done wrong.” To his credit, he backed away and gave the other cats space.

Now the room has settled into a calmer truce.

Zipper has also discovered his favorite place in the shelter — the top of the cat condos, where he can watch birds and squirrels outside the windows and observe people passing by.

“It makes you wonder if this is something he used to do during his days surviving around that parking garage,” the shelter said.

He has not quite figured out toys yet, but volunteers are confident that with time and patience he will learn to enjoy them.

One thing Zipper has already mastered, however, is eating.

“He has quite the appetite,” the shelter said, noting he can sometimes be found “standing directly on the community wet food plate while simultaneously trying to reach the dry food bowls.”

Volunteers say he is clearly making up for lost meals from his past.

Zipper loves being pet and scratched, and gentle affection seems to make him very happy. However, he is not yet comfortable being picked up.

“For now, Zipper sets the rules, and we respect that,” the shelter said.

He has only been at the shelter for about a week and is still settling in, but volunteers are confident that with time he will continue to relax, make friends and show everyone the wonderful cat they already know he is.

Medically, Zipper is fully vetted. He has tested negative for FeLV and FIV, is parasite-free, vaccinated, neutered, microchipped and already litter-box trained.

His first two years of life remain a mystery.

“But we can only imagine the challenges he faced while trying to survive on his own,” the shelter said. “Now it’s time for a new chapter.”

Zipper can currently be found in the shelter’s Purple Room.

He received his name because the parking garage manager saw him “zipping around the garage, weaving in and out of cars and trucks and racing up and down the ramps.”

Now volunteers hope he will “zip right into someone’s heart — and straight into a loving forever home.”

Those interested in meeting Zipper can call the Grateful Paw Cat Shelter at 631-757-4517, email cats@laphuntington.org, visit the shelter’s Facebook page, or stop by the shelter at 3 Verleye Ave. in East Northport.

The shelter is open Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 4 p.m., with additional Thursday evening hours from 7 to 9 p.m. by appointment.

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Huntington Hospital ranked among the top 5% of U.S. hospitals for patient safety, Healthgrades says.

HUNTINGTON, NY — Huntington Hospital has once again been recognized among the safest hospitals in the nation, earning the 2026 Patient Safety Excellence Award from Healthgrades, hospital officials announced.

The Northwell Health hospital has received the award for eight consecutive years from 2019 through 2026 and has ranked among the top 5 percent of short-term acute-care hospitals nationwide for patient safety for seven straight years, according to Healthgrades.

Huntington Hospital was one of six Northwell hospitals recognized for patient safety excellence this year.

“Earning the Healthgrades Patient Safety Excellence Award for 2026 is a profound honor and a powerful reaffirmation of Northwell's unwavering commitment to placing patient safety and exceptional care at the heart of everything we do,” said Dr. Peter Silver, senior vice president and chief quality officer at Northwell Health.

Northwell’s Plainview Hospital was also ranked among the top 5 percent nationwide for patient safety for the fifth consecutive year, while Long Island Jewish Medical Center earned the distinction for the third straight year, Healthgrades said.

“This sustained recognition is a direct reflection of the extraordinary dedication and vigilance of every team member across our health system. They tirelessly champion a robust culture of hospital safety, continuously innovating and refining our practices to ensure the highest quality outcomes and the safest possible environment for the communities we are privileged to serve.”

Patients at Award-Winning Hospitals Experience Fewer Complications

The Healthgrades Patient Safety Excellence Award is based on an analysis of 13 patient safety indicators among Medicare patients treated at nearly 4,500 hospitals nationwide between 2022 and 2024.

Hospitals must meet multiple criteria to qualify, including:

According to Healthgrades, patients treated at award-winning hospitals had a significantly lower risk of experiencing several common hospital complications, including:

During the study period, Healthgrades identified more than 167,000 preventable safety events among Medicare patients nationwide, highlighting the importance of strong hospital safety practices.

Northwell officials said the recognition reflects the system’s continued focus on quality improvement, clinical safety protocols, and staff training across its hospitals.

Two Walt Whitman High School alumni were recognized for excellence in STEM teaching and mentorship through the prestigious New York State

SOUTH HUNTINGTON, NY — Two Walt Whitman High School science teachers have earned one of the highest honors for STEM educators in New York.

Daisha Boccard and Ralph Miranda were recently named New York State Master Teachers, joining a statewide network of top-performing public school STEM educators recognized for excellence in teaching, mentorship, and leadership in science education.

The New York State Master Teacher Program, established in 2013, honors outstanding teachers in grades K-12 who demonstrate a commitment to innovative learning environments and who mentor other educators early in their careers.

The program was launched by SUNY in 2013 to build a community of outstanding STEM educators who collaborate, mentor fellow teachers, and support high-quality science and math education across the state.

Both Boccard and Miranda share a special connection to the South Huntington school community — they are Walt Whitman High School graduates who returned to teach at their alma mater.

Boccard, a member of the Class of 1999, has taught at Whitman since 2004.

“For me, this is much more than a career; it’s a second home,” Boccard said. “Having walked these halls as a student, I feel a responsibility to provide my students with the same sense of community, support, and academic excitement that my teachers gave me. I truly couldn't imagine teaching anywhere else.”

Her path toward education began while working at South Huntington’s Wildcat Sports Camp, where she assisted cheerleading coaches and discovered how rewarding it was to mentor students and be part of a school community.

“What I love most about science is that it’s hands-on, constantly evolving, and driven by curiosity,” Boccard said. “It provides an opportunity to teach students how to think critically and solve problems. Science is also multidisciplinary, being able to bring history, math, art, and real-life experiences together, which keeps it interesting.”

Miranda, a Whitman graduate from the Class of 2008, has been teaching for 13 years. His courses include chemistry, physics, robotics, and forensic science.

Miranda said academic success did not always come easily to him when he was a student, which shaped how he approaches teaching today.

“I took a lot of pride in my own education and wanted to be successful,” Miranda said. “I was lucky to have both my parents and teachers who pushed me to be the best version of myself and didn't accept mediocrity. That is something I have tried to always instill in my classrooms.”

Understanding that science can sometimes be intimidating for students, Miranda focuses on making lessons relatable and engaging.

“I try not only to make science make sense for my students, but to get them to enjoy it,” he said. “I want it to be a class they look forward to each day, and a place to make connections to their lives.”

Both educators said their shared experience as Whitman alumni helps them relate to their students and strengthens their connection to the school community.

“Our students are incredibly resilient, diverse, and driven,” Boccard said. “There is a unique ‘neighborhood feel’ here that you don’t find everywhere else.”

Miranda reflected on his long relationship with the district.

“The district has certainly gone through some changes in the 30 years I've been a part of it — from kindergarten to now,” he said. “But the way this district has adapted to the changing times while still affording our students vast opportunities is remarkable. Even on some of my more trying days, I am reminded daily of how special a place this district is.”

The fourth annual event hosted by Cona Elder Law brought together dozens of couples celebrating more than half a century of marriage.

FARMINGDALE, NY — Long Island couples who have been married 50 years or more gathered Tuesday night to celebrate decades of commitment at the 4th Annual “Lasting Love” Valentine’s Dinner at Verona Ristorante.

Hosted by Cona Elder Law, the annual event is considered the largest gathering of Long Island couples married 50 years or more, bringing together partners who have spent decades building lives together.

Cona Elder Law focuses on elder law, estate planning, estate administration and litigation, and health care law. The firm takes a holistic approach to supporting older adults and caregivers while helping families plan for multiple generations.

During the evening celebration, couples shared memories, advice, and reflections on the keys to lasting relationships.

“There are a lot of things older adults can teach us, including the secrets of staying together,” said Jennifer Cona, founder and managing partner of Cona Elder Law. “Lessons of patience, of compromise. All those things that it takes to stay together for so long. This room is full of beautiful people who got it right.”

Each couple enjoyed a dinner that included appetizers, an entrée, and dessert, along with a glass of wine or cocktail.

Melissa Negrin-Wiener, senior partner at Cona Elder Law, also led a traditional toast honoring the couples’ relationship longevity.

Many attendees reflected on the personal qualities that helped their marriages endure for decades.

“We were friends before we fell in love and he’s still my best friend,” said Lena Gaynes of Melville, who has been married to her husband Paul for 65 years. “I think that has a lot to do with it.”

Other couples emphasized the importance of commitment and mutual support.

“It’s commitment,” said Gabriel Marques of East Meadow, who will celebrate his 50th wedding anniversary with his wife Maria in April.

“You have to love each other, respect each other and support each other,” Maria Marques added.

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