Town of Hempstead Recognizes Baldwin High School Senior Jace Owens

East Meadow, NY –During the month of July, pools and beaches are buzzing with people looking to escape the heat. Unfortunately, according to CDC statistics, July is also known nationally as the month with the most accidental drowning deaths. Supervisor John Ferretti and members of the Hempstead Town Board today partnered with Kim and Stew Leonard, Jr., co-founders of the Stew Leonard III Water Safety Foundation to promote life-saving water safety tips and raise awareness for the town’s popular Learn to Swim program, which kicks off registration for its second session of summer swim lessons available at the town’s community pools on July 20^th. 

 

Ferretti and the Leonards also joined with Baldwin School Superintendent Anthony Mignella to tell the inspiring story of Jace Owens, a Town of Hempstead lifeguard and Baldwin High School student who made it his mission to ensure that two local students had access to swimming lessons. The press conference was hosted at Veterans Memorial Park Pool, where Owens is a lifeguard and is just a few minutes away from the Stew Leonard’s Grocery Store in East Meadow. 

 

“I’m proud to be surrounded today by a group of inspirational people to discuss a very important topic that impacts all of us . . .  water safety,” Ferretti said. “Whether you enjoy our beautiful town beaches and pools, or have access to a backyard pool, or even a smaller inflatable pool, please know that tragedy can strike at any moment and I urge parents and caregivers to learn and prioritize these life-saving water safety tips.”

 

Kim and Stew Leonard Jr., co-founded the Stew Leonard III Water Safety Foundation following the tragic drowning death of their 21-month-old son in 1989, have raised millions of dollars toward education, awareness and training, including lifeguard training and free or low-cost community swimming lessons. 

 

“Drowning is preventable,” Kim and Stew Leonard, Jr., said. “When everyone is watching, no one is watching.  We encourage all parents to put down their phones and designate a water watcher this summer.”

 

Jace Owens also made it his mission to help spread water safety awareness to families. Jace lost multiple family members to accidental drownings, living along the waters of the Caribbean islands. As a youth, he trained as a competitive swimmer and now as a high school student, is a Town of Hempstead lifeguard. Recently, he spearheaded an effort through the Stew Leonard III Foundation to help students at his former school, Lenox Elementary, gain the gift of swimming lessons. Thanks to the Stew Leonard III Foundation, Jace’s request was granted, and two young students received scholarships to apply toward swimming lessons at the Town of Hempstead pools. 

 

“This young man is an example of someone who is following the legacy of Kim and Stew Leonard, Jr., who turned a tragedy into a mission to save lives with awareness, education and training,” Ferretti said. “I am so proud that Jace is a Town of Hempstead lifeguard, and is spreading this important, life-saving message to neighbors. Thank you to the Stew Leonard III Foundation for their support to make Jace’s mission a reality.”

 

"One of the greatest lessons we can teach our students is that leadership means using your voice to make a difference in the lives of others,” Mignella said. “Jace Owens exemplified that belief by taking the initiative to advocate for two elementary students to receive free swim lessons through the Stewie the Duck Swim School. His actions reflect the very best of Baldwin and remind us that true leadership is measured not by what we accomplish for ourselves, but by the opportunities we create for others.”

 

Ferretti, members of the Town Board, and the Leonard family made special presentations to Jace Owens for his efforts. 

 

Along with Stewie the Duck, the popular mascot that represents the Stew Leonard III Water Safety Foundation in a children’s book and other educational materials, the group recited important water safety tips. Some of their tips emphasize the importance of children learning how to swim, swimming with a life vest and swimming with adult supervision:

 

• Never leave a child alone or out of your eyesight in or near the pool, spa or hot tub. 
• If a child is missing, always look in the pool first. Seconds count! 
• Steps and ladders to an above-ground pool should be secured and locked or removed from the pool when they are not in use. 
• Do not place objects (e.g., chairs or tables) near the pool, spa, hot tub, fence or barrier that could allow a youngster to climb over. 
• Keep toys away from the pool, spa or hot tub. Remove all toys from the pool after use so children are not tempted to reach for them later. 
• If you use a pool, spa or hot tub cover, always completely remove the cover before using your pool, spa or hot tub to avoid the possibility of anyone being trapped under the cover. 
• Never use a pool or spa with a missing or broken drain cover. Be sure a newer, safer drain cover is in place. 
• Keep rescue equipment by the pool. Keep a phone with emergency numbers near the pool.

 

Registration begins on July 20th for the second summer session of the Town’s Learn to Swim programs at https://secure.rec1.com/NY/hempstead-ny/catalog. Visit Hempsteadny.gov for more information on Town of Hempstead parks’ programs.  

“While we are fortunate to have one of the premier lifeguard teams staffing our town pools and beaches, we remind all residents that parents and caregivers must be vigilant when children are in the water,” Ferretti said. “I thank Kim, Stew and Ryann Leonard for their ongoing efforts to bring swimming lessons to thousands of children across the region and I once again salute our Town of Hempstead lifeguard Jace Owens for building on his life’s mission to protect youngsters and teach them how to swim.”

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