Harding Students Honored by VOL for Artwork

Students from elementary school were honored for their artwork efforts for Lindenhurst Village by the at its most recent .

Harding Avenue stepped forward and created some artwork to fill the empty storefronts around town, Mayor Tom Brennan told Lindenhurst Patch.

“The fifth-grade students worked for more than 11 hours each, and the older student helpers’ volunteer hours ranged from two to 22 hours,” Missy Longo-Lewis, visual arts instructor for Harding and E.W. Bower elementary schools, later shared in an e-mail to Patch.

“We painted 15 murals last year and nine this year, with acrylics, donated by Bak and Vogel, on wood, donated by Allers Lumber. They will be hung in the empty storefront windows along Wellwood Avenue, taking part in Windows on Wellwood II,” she explained.

The village, Brennan said, has been “trying to get a program like this rolling for the past couple of years.”

“[Board Trustee] Mike Lavorata was key in providing us with the tools and connections with the people for completing these works of art. He also acquired village funds through the BID Committee to help support our supply needs,” said Lewis.

The upstairs meeting room in was lined with the bright art pieces the students created, and filled with proud parents and beaming artist-students.

Brian Chamberlin, Harding principal, along with Lewis, were just as proud as the board began to present certificates to the student-artists.

Each student received one from the mayor before the board got down to , although there were a handful which were unable to attend to physically receive village .

The board, Chamberlin, Lewis and the kids gathered for a photo at the front of the room as parents snapped pictures for posterity.

Chamberlin, and “our fine arts coordinator were very supportive,” noted Lewis.

One student whose sister was attending prom that night arrived after the photo opp, but she didn’t lose out.

The board presented Sangari Yokeeswaran her certificate at the end of the , and she posed with the board and some artwork for her own picture – which Lewis would snap and send to her because her mom sent the digital camera to the prom with her sister.

“Sangari helped us one day, as did a few others, but they were former students of mine who are always eager to visit and help out,” Lewis said.