East Meadow Youngsters Sing at the Library

As American Idol begins its 10th season with tryouts and the search for the next superstar, local East Meadow youngsters gathered at the on Thursday evening to sing at the Young Adults Sing Along.

Teenagers from 6th through 12th grade, who love to carry a tune or play a musical instrument, were encouraged to attend the first Young Adults Sing Along as part of the library’s programs for teens.

Samantha and Alexandra Cadiff, twin sisters and 6th graders at East Meadow’s , joined Billy Finnegan, a freshman at Hofstra University, in singing lyrics to Katie Perry’s Firework and Don't Stop Believin' from the hit television show Glee.

“Well it’s a tie between Kurt’s rendition of I Want to Hold Your Hand, Kurt and Rachel’s rendition of Happy Days Are Here Again, Get Happy, Don’t Cry for Me Argentina, Start Me Up, Living on a Prayer and Four Minutes,” said Finnegan while discussing his favorite songs from Glee.

Finnegan, who is still on his winter break, and is the former chair of the library’s teen advisory board, came out to help Paula Cea, the Young Adult librarian, with the sing along.

The library maintains an advisory board of 8th through 12th graders supervised by the young adult department to not only plan events for local teens like the sing along, but organize educational events for younger children, community service projects and much more. Meeting once a month starting in September, the advisory board has started planning the largest event of the year--a world cultural day for younger East Meadow residents in early summer with games, crafts, food, books and activities on countries around the world.

In addition to the advisory board for high school students, the library has a tween advisory board for 6th and 7th graders that also plans events and collaborates on ways to make a difference in the East Meadow community.

“The tween group started by donating pumpkins to a nursing home and then evolved into a book club that involves community service, so the kids are sponsoring it,” said Chrissy Hirsch. “The kids will donate proceeds from collecting recyclables to buy trees."

For information on the next Young Adults Sing Along and other events for teenagers, stay tuned to the East Meadow Library’s website at: http://www.eastmeadow.info/.