The Catskill Chronicle

LIBERTY, NY (March 10, 2011) – After March 11, Liberty High School Teacher Maureen Crescitelli will definitely have to wear a hat on cold days.

Having accepted a challenge from high school Principal Jack Strassman, the special education teacher will have her head shaved on Friday to benefit the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.

At this year’s pancake dinner sponsored by the LHS Student Council and Interact Club, Principal Strassman "threw down the gauntlet," says Crescitelli. He challenged her to shave her head if he were to raise $1,000. As of Thursday, March 10, $1,055 was raised.

Liberty High School students have actively participated raising money for St. Baldrick’s over the years. In those years, students, teacher and community members have shaved their heads to raise money and awareness for childhood cancer. The event is spearheaded at LHS by student Dillion Cerullo and this year 29 "shavees" are participating from LHS and the community.

Crescitelli isn’t the first female from Liberty to become a "shavee." Last year, student Amanda Agapito shaved her head for St. Baldrick’s. "She was allowed to wear a hat for the first day back to school," says Strassman, "so she could adjust to not having hair." Whether Crescitelli will get that  privilege is not known.

The official St. Baldrick’s Foundation event for Liberty will take place at the Liberty Fire House at   4:00 p.m. on Friday, March 11. For more information, or to make a donation, visit www.stbaldricks.org.