The Independent Voice of George W. Hewlett High School HEWLETT SPECTRUM Volume LXVI No 6 60 Everit Avenue Hewlett, New York Thursday, June 8, 2017 Inside: HEWLETT HONORS DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI by Bharvi Chavre Dukoff serves as the President of the American executive member on the UJA-Federation of On April 30, 2017, G.W. Hewlett High Association of Women Dentists. New York Sports for Youth initiative. School was filled with chatter and laughter, as Eric Baum ’89 was honored for his ac- Saul Blinkoff ’90 was recognized for alumni came back to honor their former peers. complishments in pediatric otolaryngology. his success as an animation film director and The 20th annual induction ceremony celebrated In addition to being the Director of Pediatric consultant. Blinkoff began his animation career alumni who have made groundbreaking ac- Otolaryngology at Yale University, Baum is the working on “Pocahontas,” “The Hunchback complishments utilizing the skills they acquired Director of the Pediatrics Section, Curriculum of Notre Dame,” “Mulan,” and “Tarzan” with in high school. Committee of the Division of Otolaryngology. Disney Studios. In addition to directing “Spy Courtesy of Joan Chin-Schmidt The day began with the Hewlett-Wood- His publications include a variety of peer- Groove” for MTV, “Winnie the Pooh: Spring- mere Alumni Association (HWAA) board reviewed manuscripts and poster presentations. time with Roo” and “Kronk’s New Groove,” members, honorees and alumni gathering Keith Gutstein ’89 was nominated for his Blinkoff has directed many commercials for QUOGUE WILDLIFE IS WILD and reminiscing at their old high school while achievements in law, and practices labor and many corporations including Best Buy, Dunkin’ members of the high school’s chamber orchestra employment law on behalf of management. He Donuts and Subway. provided music for the event. Visitors gathered Carla Sosenko ’94 was commended PAGE 8 in the cafeteria for brunch. Towards the end, for her work in arts and entertainment, as she Dr. Ralph Marino, Superintendent of Hewlett- progressed from local to national publications. Woodmere Public Schools, and Dr. Theodore After working for Life & Style and Time Out Fulton, Principal of Hewlett High School, New York, Sosenko was recently named the congratulated the inductees and praised them Executive Editor of Entertainment Weekly. She for making Hewlett proud. HWAA President also won many awards for Time Out. Susan Deutsch Love Wilker welcomed the SPECTRUM/Julia Grossman Craig Weintraub ’99 was praised for crowd to the auditorium and began the induc- was recognized by numerous organizations, in- his work as an actor, producer, director, and tion ceremony. The inductees were introduced cluding the UJA-Federation of New York, New screenwriter. Not only did Weintraub form his by a colleague who nominated them for the York Metro Super Lawyers and Long Island motion picture production company, Weintraub honor and explained why their nomination Business News. Presently, Keith is a member of Films, but his first feature film Uncle Melvin’s was deserving of the award. Afterwards, the the Board of Directors for the Holocaust Memo- Apartment gained multiple awards for Best inductees gave a short speech thanking the rial and Tolerance Center in Nassau County. Comedy, Best Screenplay and Best Director. He HWAA for their award. David Berson ’90 was honored for his also co-founded The Long Beach International Amy Dukoff ’74 was recognized for her achievements within sports media industry. In Film Festival. Currently, he is working to build a Art by Abigail Chen work in advanced endodontics. Not only does June 2013, Berson was named the President of filmmaking curriculum at Hewlett High School she have an international patent for a method of CBS Sports. Today, he oversees all facets of the with a peer. stem cell preparation and tissue regeneration, CBS Sports Network’s management. Berson “It is truly amazing to be back,” Wein- but she is also a principal founder of a non-profit won a Sports Emmy as the Executive Producer traub said. “This [honor] means very much to AMAZON ALEXA UPGRadES organization called Jr. Re-gifting, which encour- of Super Bowl 50 and has been recognized me, and inspires me to make Hewlett proud.” ages children and young adults to understand as being one of the most powerful people in Congratulations to all of the inductees for PAGE 11 their impact on their communities. Currently, the sports industry. Currently, Berson is an their amazing accomplishments. MANCHESTER BOMBING BREAKS HEARTS by Sofia Pesantez media. In addition, Salman Abedi’s brother, package” in the town of Wigan, about 20 miles An explosion rocked the Manchester Hashim, knew he was planning this attack. He west of Manchester. As of May 29, a total of Arena in England on May 22, 2017 following told the authorities that he knew everything 16 suspects have been arrested, but two have a concert by singer Ariana Grande. The attack about his brother, and what he was planning been released. on Monday night killed 22 people and injured to do in Manchester. He was arrested along Abedi was reported to have been a col- 116. The attacker detonated a homemade bomb with many other suspects. German authorities lege dropout who had recently become radical- in the arena’s foyer as Grande finished her confirmed on Thursday that Salman Abedi ized. Security experts said it was unlikely that SPECTRUM/Evetta Poley final song and fans had started making their flew to Düsseldorf four days before the arena he coordinated the attack, and he was most way home. Railings were knocked down as attack. It is home to hundreds of people con- likely “a mule” tasked with carrying out the the victims raced to escape the bomb, which sidered security threats due to their close links bombing, having little role in creating the SENIORS STEAL THE SHOW witnesses could only describe as an explosion to Islamist groups. explosive or choosing the target. followed by a flash of fire. “This was among the worst terrorist AGE The suicide bomber, Salman Ramadan incidents we have ever experienced in the P 12 & 13 Abedi was identified by a bank card that was in United Kingdom and although it is not the first his pocket. Long before the bombing occurred, time Manchester has suffered in this way, it is members of the bomber’s family warned se- the worst attack the city has experienced and curity officials about him, saying that he was a the wors[t] ever to hit the north of England,” “dangerous” man. British Prime Minister Theresa May said in a The mosque where the Abedi family statement on May 23. worshiped denounced the blast and expressed Ariana Grande since has canceled all hope that Manchester can heal. tour dates until June 5 to recover from this Concern among officials is still immi- incident. nent that Britain remains on its highest terrorism “We will not let this divide us,” Grande alert level. Although the Islamic State in Iraq said in a statement she posted on Instagram. and Syria (ISIS), an extremist fundamentalist “We won’t let hate win.” On Sunday, June 4, group, claimed responsibility for the attack, Art by Randel Placino Grande returned to the UK for a benfit concert Art by Aimee Ding much remains to be known about the bombing. Authorities expressed certainty that featuring many other artists. Links have been discovered between Abedi had been only one part of a web of The youngest victim in the attack, Saffie Abedi and the Islamic State, as his trips to Lib- plotters behind Britain’s worst terrorist attack Rose Roussos, was only 8 years old, while the SADD GIVES A REALITY CHECK ya are scrutinized. Close to Abedi’s household in more than a decade. Police were moving oldest was Jane Tweddle-Taylor, a 51-year-old were members of the Libyan Islamic Fighting quickly to disrupt the group, carrying out raids school receptionist. As of Friday, May 25, 75 Group (LIFG), who lived in Whalley Range. across the city and arresting four people, includ- victims remain in hospitals and 23 patients PAGE 17 Abedi’s father, Ramadan Abedi, has ing Abedi’s older brother, Ismail. A fifth suspect remain in critical condition, five of whom are previously praised militant groups on social was later apprehended carrying “a suspicious children. 2 Opinions SPECTRUM Thursday, June 8, 2017 E UST EARN TO AZE THE AZE While walkingW down M sane while painting L a wall in truly do not care about R the killed him. Eighteen boys fromH ment, can help distinguish the sidewalks of your new the dark with the Teletubbies initiation process. the fraternity who witnessed the the responsible and dedicated campus, nervous jitters flour- theme song playing on repeat. On Feb. 2, hazing prac- event are currently being tried members from the rest. ish in your stomach. Never- Perhaps, you are being forced tices at Penn State University’s for manslaughter. As the year comes to a theless, as you continue your to run around campus naked. fraternity Beta Theta Pi killed The hazing initiation, close, many seniors are anx- journey through freshman You attempt to question the 19-year-old Tim Piazza. He although originally designed iously counting down the ferocity and unforgivingness was warned ahead of time that to display one’s true loyalty, days until they move into of these orders, yet the older the hazing would involve “a lot has evolved into a wild tango their dorms to continue the editorial fraternity and sorority broth- of drinking,” but little did he with danger. While most states next chapter of their lives. For year, these anxieties begin ers and sisters look down at know, he and the other pledges have anti-hazing legislation, many, a significant part of the to subside and you realize you and laugh: welcome to would be forced to drink copi- many fraternities and sororities college experience is Greek that you want to be part of hell week! ous amounts of alcohol until still utilize different forms of life.