Letter to the Editor: Edit Your Rhetoric for Evolving Elmont

Words by Alexandria Harvey* If I were leading a seminar about Elmont, I would probably begin with the following inquiry: When you tell people that you are from Elmont, what is their reaction? If you are like me, you are all too familiar with the widened eyes, raised brows, and gaping mouths. Some recipients of ourContinue reading “Letter to the Editor: Edit Your Rhetoric for Evolving Elmont”

A Letter to Petro: 10 Years Later

Words by Sophia Sunshine Vilceus (Class of 2007) A decade ago, on a cold February night, the legendary Elmont Memorial High School Basketball Coach and Guidance Counselor, Gregg “Petro” Petrocelli, passed away. It was February 27th, 2007 — I was seated directly next to him during our Championship Game. I can never forget my shrillContinue reading “A Letter to Petro: 10 Years Later”

#Exit13Challenge Shows Hip Hop’s Power To Unite A Neighborhood

#Exit13Challenge Shows Hip Hop’s Power To Unite A Neighborhood By Karl Valere Nearly one month ago, before the rise of the now popular, #MannequinChallenge and the #UNameItChallenge, Elmont natives circulated a buzz of their own by taking part in the #Exit13Challenge. The viral video challenge featured a bevy of Elmont lyricists hungry to showcase theirContinue reading “#Exit13Challenge Shows Hip Hop’s Power To Unite A Neighborhood”

Elmont Graduate Becomes a Doctor, Triumphs in the Face of Sickle-Cell Disease

  Meet Melissa Jackson. Melissa graduated from Elmont Memorial High School in 2006. After graduating, Melissa attended the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education at the City College of New York, where she was a Jackie Robinson scholarship award recipient from 2006-2010. Melissa graduated magna cum laude from Sophie Davis and was accepted into Dartmouth Medical School. She then graduatedContinue reading “Elmont Graduate Becomes a Doctor, Triumphs in the Face of Sickle-Cell Disease”

Fosters Family: Why Elmont & Rosedale Are Like Brother & Sister

For those of us growing up in Elmont, the lines between Elmont and Queens have always been blurry. This fact endures today — whether geographically, culturally, socially, or politically — Elmont and Queens undeniably share a great deal in common. We reached out to Bill Florio — a Valley Stream resident, historian, and author —Continue reading “Fosters Family: Why Elmont & Rosedale Are Like Brother & Sister”