By Hank Russell
Despite warnings and litigation from the Board of Regents, the Massapequa School District will go on with its Chiefs logo and moniker and host a “Save the Chief” Festival Fundraiser on June 7 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the parking lot of Massapequa High School, located at 4925 Merrick Road.
The event will feature local vendors, restaurants, and food trucks, all rallying behind a cause that its supporters say strikes at the heart of Massapequa’s identity. The festival will raise funds for the Save the Chief Foundation, which was created in direct response to New York State’s efforts to mandate changes to Massapequa’s longstanding mascot and logos. All proceeds will support legal efforts to preserve the Chief name and emblem, which the group says represent generations of tradition and community pride.
“This is more than just a fundraiser—this is a celebration of who we are,” said Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino. “The Chief logo represents our heritage, our unity, and our pride. We’re fighting back against a one-size-fits-all mandate that disrespects local values and local voices.”
2025 Massapequa Class President Billy Sciurba added, “The Chief is a symbol of Massapequa’s pride. The Chief is a badge of honor, not just for students, but for everyone in this special community. It’s something brought upon an early age, and many dream of the day they are able to represent our town and mascot as they get older. Massapequa lives through the Chief, and I cannot imagine our town without it. Once a Chief, always a Chief.”
Oyster Bay Town Councilman Steve Labriola called the logo “a proud symbol that has united students, families, and alumni for decades. We stand with our community in defending this legacy and ensuring our traditions are not erased by misguided state policies.”
But it wasn’t just the Massapequa community that expressed support for keeping the nickname and the logo. As previously reported in Long Island Life & Politics, President Donald Trump took to his Truth Social account to back the school district’s refusal to change its name and logo. Massapequa School District President Kerry Wachtler reached out to U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon for help, noting that changing the name and logo would cost the district almost $1 million.
However, the Board of Regents doesn’t see it that way. “Disrespecting entire groups of people is wrong in any context, but especially in our schools, where all students should feel welcome and supported,” said JP O’Hare, the state Education Department’s director of communications. “
O’Hare said the Board of Regents was “compelled to act because certain Native American names and images have been shown to perpetuate negative stereotypes that are demonstrably harmful to children.” As a result, the Regents adopted resolutions two years ago to end “the use of demeaning Indigenous names and mascots in New York’s public schools once and for all.”
LILP also reported that the Massapequa School District has received support from the Native American Guardians Association. But O’Hare noted that the district “had years to reach out to local Indigenous leaders or engage with the Department’s Mascot Advisory Committee to determine whether its Native American team name and mascot would be permissible.
The festival is expected to draw a large crowd of residents, alumni, and supporters. Activities will include family-friendly entertainment, raffles, and merchandise, with every dollar raised going toward legal fees and advocacy efforts. O’Hare mentioned that the district took legal action against the state, “which has been wholly unsuccessful. We are confident that courts will continue to uphold the Department’s authority to prohibit the use of Indigenous names and mascots.”
Wachter emphasized the importance of community involvement, saying, “This is a grassroots effort by the people of Massapequa to preserve our identity and honor the history that our mascot represents. The response has been overwhelming and deeply inspiring.”
Oyster Bay Councilman Tom Hand echoed the sentiment: “We are proud to stand with Massapequa families and students in this effort. The Chief is not just a logo – it’s a symbol of excellence, tradition, and community spirit. We will not let Albany take that away.”