Sewanhaka Central High School District celebrated the recent accomplishments of staff and students at the Board of Education meeting on April 21. Above, Floral Park Memorial High School Principal Alicia Calabrese is pictured with Superintendent Regina Agrusa, board trustee Rosemarie Peltonen, President William Leder and trustee Jaclyn O’Donohue during the board meeting.
The Hillcrest Civic Association of Floral Park is offering a scholarship to high school seniors who live in the Hillcrest section. An application and short essay is required and must be submitted by May 15, 2026.
Applications may be obtained by calling Margaret MacDonald, President of Hillcrest Civic Association at 516-567-6737.
Mayor’s Statement Prior To Vote On Special Use Decision
The Village of Floral Park Board of Trustees has on its agenda this evening a vote to approve Stella Cerrone LLC’s application for a Special Use Permit to construct below-grade (underground) parking facilities for a proposed mixed-use residential development at the Jericho Turnpike and Van Buren Avenue sites.
The Board would like to thank all the residents and businesses that have come to the meetings to ask questions and provide insight for this proposed project. These comments combined with the evaluation by the Village’s professional consultants and departmental representation aided in the Board’s comprehensive review and has led to a decision with conditions that enhance the future outcomes.
This decision does not approve the full building project in all respects. It specifically grants approval for the underground parking component, while requiring the applicant to return for additional approvals from other Village boards (e.g. ZBA, ARB, etc.) and the Board of Trustees for future elements such as:
• building height / zoning relief
• architectural review
• senior housing component
•proposed restaurant uses or any other business requiring a special use permit
The Board in its substantial review of the numerous documents submitted and testimonies given by the applicant and its various representatives, responses to questions asked and issues raised by the Board and the public at the two public hearings has determined that:
• the application complies with Village zoning provisions for below-grade parking
• traffic studies showed no significant adverse traffic impacts
• sufficient parking will be made available by using underground parking
The Board also will be voting on issuing a SEQRA Negative Declaration, meaning it found no significant environmental
impact requiring a full Environmental Impact Statement based on the standards set forth by NY State SEQRA.
The special use approval has restrictions and covenant that the developer will need to accept in order to proceed. Some of the highlights are:
Traffic / Access
• no vehicle access from South Tyson Avenue
• all curb cuts on South Tyson removed
• all deliveries, ingress/egress, and trash pickup must use Van Siclen Avenue only
Streetscape Improvements
Developer must fund substantial public improvements including:
• pavers
• decorative lighting
• street furnishings
• pedestrian connectivity enhancements to downtown
Utilities
• overhead utility lines must be removed and buried
Security
Developer must provide Floral Park Police access to:
• security cameras
• key-card systems
• garage door controls
Parking
• each apartment will be assigned one parking space at no charge under the lease. This space cannot be passed to another unit (so as to ensure each unit has at least one spot)
Property Restrictions
The Board imposed several significant restrictions:
• no EV charging stations
• no rooftop decks or roof use other than mechanical needs (e.g. HVAC etc.)
• no cellular antennas
• entire property must be smoke-free
• underground garage must have
automatic secure doors
Construction Requirements
The developer must:
• begin construction within 3 months of building permit issuance
• complete work within 12 months with increased costs for permit extensions if required
• provide a performance bond / letter of credit
• submit demolition and construction phasing plans for approval by the Village’s Superintendent of Buildings along with working with Village to ensure that the demolition can be done with limited or no disturbance to surrounding community
• repair any Village Road damage
• comply with stormwater management requirements
Host Community Benefits Agreement
A major component of the decision is the required Host Community Benefits Agreement. This means if the developer receives IDA / PILOT tax benefits, the developer must pay the Village the difference between what normal Village taxes would have been minus PILOT payments received. This ensures the Village remains financially protected. In simple terms, the Village is guaranteed to receive the equivalent of full Village taxes annually, even if the project gets tax incentives. This is a very significant protection for Village finances.
An important note: this decision specifically states that height and massing issues, appearances etc. were not decided and those matters remain subject to determinations to be made by the Board of Zoning Appeals and Architectural Review Board both which will have future public hearings.
A copy of the decision on Special Use Permit Application, together with other important documents related are available here. If you have any ques-
Inspiring Stories
Bill Corbett, Jr.
Aaliyah Corley ~ Eagle Scout, 1st Long Island Girl To Earn All Merit Badges
The Floral Park Mayor’s Report
Hon. Kevin M. Fitzgerald
“The Floral Park Public Library: An Overview ” ~ Patricia Eren, Director
The Author’s Corner
Stephanie Larkin
“Frequent Viewer Questions” ~ …From Aspiring Authors!
Community Spotlight
Four Village Studio
“A Great, Grand, Mother’s Day” ~ Moms That Raised The Greatest Generation
Wes Houston Presents…
Wes Houston
“Mountain Maidens” ~ Vocal Trio Performs Ol’-Tyme Music
The unmistakable rumble of classic engines will once again echo along the South Shore as Hempstead Town Supervisor John Ferretti invites residents and visitors to the return of the Spring Dust-Off Car Show at Town Park Point Lookout on Sunday, May 3 (rain date: Sunday, May 17). Widely recognized as Long Island’s largest car show, the annual event transforms the waterfront park into a showcase of craftsmanship, nostalgia, and automotive innovation.
Car enthusiasts and families alike can expect a packed day featuring hundreds of vehicles competing for top honors, from vintage classics and custom builds to modern muscle cars and motorcycles. The celebration also includes live entertainment, a popular touch-a-truck experience, a kids’ zone, movie cars, a beer garden, and dozens of vendors offering food, merchandise, and automotive accessories.
This year’s show will also feature appearances from some of the most recognizable names in the automotive and entertainment world, including custom car builder Dave Kindig, television personality Kev Dogg, automo-
tive entrepreneur Richard Rawlings, and professional wrestling icon Bill Goldberg.
“The Spring Dust-Off has grown into one of the most anticipated traditions on our Town calendar,” said Supervisor Ferretti. “It’s a chance for car enthusiasts to show off their pride and joy while giving families a great reason to spend the day together along our beautiful shoreline.”
The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Town Park Point Lookout (1300 Lido Blvd., Point Lookout). Gates open at 7 a.m. for registered vehicles. All makes and models are welcome, including cars, trucks, motorcycles, slingshots, trikes, and specialty vehicles.
Vehicle pre-registration is $25 and $30 the day of the event. Participants can sign up in advance by visiting townofhempsteadevents.com.
“With incredible cars, special guests, and the energy of thousands of visitors gathering in one place, the Spring DustOff captures the spirit of the car community,” Ferretti added. “It’s a great way to kick off the season here in the Town of Hempstead.”
BY ANN GRIBBINS, FPCS VOLUNTEER
Another Weedout is upon us. Saturday, May 2nd, all are invited to join the many wonderful volunteers who come and help. Students will get proof of community service.
Some people may remember singing “when April showers bring May flowers”. These words were part of an English proverb back in the 1500s. It was a reminder to have patience and optimism while the beautiful May flowers would bring new life and joy. Did they have umbrella’s, boots and raincoats in the 1500s ? Surprisingly basic umbrellas were used over 4000 years ago. Areas around China, Egypt and Mesopotomia used them to provide shade from the sun. The people who used them were of the upper class. Boots, too, have been around for centuries. Native Americans began using rubberized compounds before 1600 BCE, all these early inventors have helped us to be where we are today with protective gear against adverse elements.
The Lily of the Valley is considered the May birth flower. It is a perennial plant with lace-shaped leaves, and small bell shaped fragrant white flowers. It blooms until late spring, can be six to twelve inches in height and forms dense colonies in the garden. It symbolizes a return to happiness as it blooms in late spring cheering the end of winter and the arrival of the warmer sunnier days. Surprisingly, the Lily of the Valley is a highly toxic plant, it is even deer and rabbit resistant.
Rather then plant flowers that are harmful to living beings gardeners are encouraged to create Native Plant Gardens that are safe for all. Yarrow, Columbine, phlox, coneflowers, and sage are a few native plants to consider. The most important, the Milkweed, is necessary to sustain the lives of the butterfles.
Please come for the Weedout on May 2nd. Join interested gardeners at the main entrance on Floral Parkway, at 9 a.m. it will be a great way to start the day and month.
Our Service Directory is sure to bring results. Call 516-294-8900 for rates and information.
The group got a tour of the historic home of President Roosevelt.
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Then write a letter to our editor and bring it to everyone’s attention!
Send your letter to editor@gcnews.com and we’ll publish it for you!
For the fourth Thursday of the month trip the Floral Park Library Urban Explorers enjoyed a trip to the Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site, followed by lunch at the
Old Town Restaurant.
This was the 58th trip for the intrepid group. Guess where they’re going next month? The answer is in the adjective!!
Members of the Floral Park Urban Explorers visited the birthplace of President Theodore Roosevelt in Manhattan.
JUNE–AUGUST 2026
Our interactive, three-day intensive culinary camp is perfect for your Junior Chef. Each child will learn culinary skills, knife skills, kitchen safety and etiquette as well as mastering new recipes.
JUNIOR CHEF CAMPS, TEEN CAMPS, AND BAKING CAMPS AVAILABLE
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Knife Skills, Sauté, Braising, Grilling, Sauces, Desserts, Baking, Plating
The group enjoyed a sunny day in Manhattan.
From page 2
tions concerning the next steps to this process, you can email your questions to: BZA@FPVillage.org
Special Recognition
Tonight is a special evening and it goes to show just how special Floral Park is, with the dedication of over 100 volunteer firefighters. Another thing that makes Floral Park a special place to live is the ongoing drainage project. I would like to recognize Superintendent Ginnane for all he has done, especially visiting residents’ homes to address questions and concerns about the project. Kevin, thank you for making those personal visits. I don’t think that happens across the border in Queens. So, thank you very much.
Belmont Community Advisory Board
Trustee Chiara and I will be attending the Belmont Community Advisory Board meeting for the new Belmont Park on Monday, May 4. We will have a report at the next Board meeting the following evening. I believe we will get a tour of the new facility, which is on track to be open on September 18, 2026. I would also like to thank J. Cav Scott of the Long Island Press for being here with us tonight to cover the Village Board meeting, as well as for helping
share information about what is happening in this great and busy village.
In March, 853 Incidents required our Floral Park Police Department’s attention (in comparison with 695 in February). This number encompassed 255 traffic stops, 36 traffic accidents with damage and/or injuries, 3 residential fires/smoke conditions, 81 aided cases also involving our NYU Langone or Fire Department ambulance, 36 citizens needing assistance, 30 alarms of all types, 7 domestic incidents, 9 youth-related issues, 30 suspicious persons, and 6 important welfare checks.
One hundred sixty-nine violations, not including parking, were issued in March. Forty-four summonses were issued due to failure to stop at stop signs. Additional summonses were issued for disobeying traffic control devices (11), improper u-turns (10), speed not reasonable and prudent, inadequate lights, unlicensed operation of a vehicle, unregistered and uninspected vehicles, and other infractions that violate our Vehicle and Traffic Laws.
The Motor Carrier Unit is conducting ongoing truck inspections, especially during the month of April. These will be reported in our upcoming May Police Report.
Our FPPD Detectives perform an essential role as they conduct investigations seeking additional information and evidence when alleged crimes are committed. In March, our Detectives investigated ten incidents involving an unidentified teen, grand larceny (one involving an auto and another, a jewelry scam), petit larceny (shoplifting), criminal mischief (vandalism), and assault (cases of fighting and road rage). Please keep in mind that the above represents ten incidents. Our Detectives and Patrol Officers have also made nine arrests, year to date.
In the area of parking violations, 1,103 summonses were issued in March (as compared with 827 in February): 240 were for illegal 3:00 AM to 5:00 AM parking on the street, 337 for expired meters, 69 for parking over the four hour Village limit, 22 for parking under the railroad tracks without a permit, 14 for double parking (both disruptive to traffic and dangerous), 8 for parking in designated fire/emergency lanes, 7 for parking in spaces designated for the handicapped, 7 for parking within fifteen feet of a fire hydrant, and other infractions. The Department will increase its focus on illegal parking in the fire/emergency lanes, in handicapped spaces and within fifteen feet of fire hydrants.
Save the date, Saturday, April 25th
from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The Floral Park Police will be once again participating in the important, semi-annual DEA Drug Take Back Day. You may bring your expired and unused medications to the Police Headquarters lobby, next to Village Hall, and deposit them in the marked boxes inside. But first, check out our FPPD Facebook page for important information and instructions including: Keep Them Safe. Clean Them Out. Take Them Back.
The Library
Do you know that this is National Library Week, from April 20th to April 25th? Please be sure to visit the Library, check out any library item, and get your free chance to win a “mystery book” containing a gift card to The Harrison Restaurant. Apply for a new library card or renew an expiring card and get your two chances to win. The drawing for our National Library Week “mystery book” and gift card winner will happen on April 27th.
Earth Day is Wednesday, April 22nd and will signal the soft launch for the brand new “Seed Library,” opening for business. Patrons may come in and check out seeds that will be inside small packets with magnificent prints of the original John Lewis Childs Seed Catalog covers on the fronts of the packets.
See page 10
Sewanhaka Central High School District proudly hosted its 32nd annual Intra-District Model United Nations Conference on April 18 at Sewanhaka High School, welcoming approximately 250 students from all five schools to participate in this dynamic districtwide event.
The day began with an opening ceremony, featuring remarks from Principal John Kenny, Superintendent of Schools Regina Agrusa, New Hyde Park Memorial High School Chairperson of Social Studies Thomas Galvin, District Coordinator of Social Studies and Sewanhaka High School Chairperson Dr. Nicholas Simone, and Sewanhaka High School Class of 2016 graduate and former Model UN member Shaheer Khan.
Following the ceremony, students
moved into their respective committees to begin debate. Taking on the roles of world leaders, participants debated critical issues, worked collaboratively to build consensus and proposed solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. Delegates represented United Nations members, including Barbados, Cuba, Denmark, Fiji, France, Italy, South Africa and Sweden.
The United Nations Environment Programme addressed emergency response and infrastructure recovery for natural disasters; the Disarmament and International Security Committee examined artificial intelligence and military weapons in the digital age; the United Nations Children’s Fund focused on the rehabilitation of former child soldiers; the Security Council analyzed
Students represented individual countries which are members of the United Nations.
the Cuban Missile Crisis; and the Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee explored the issue of maternal mortality.
Entirely student-run, the conference showcased leadership at every
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BY KAREN RUBIN & LAURIE MILLMAN
For those for whom riding coasters is more sport than entertainment and are forever seeking out the latest, greatest, newest, biggest, bad-est thrill ride to stop your heart and defy gravity, Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey, is your ultimate destination.
Packed into a relatively compact space considering the 3-dimensional thrills, are 14 coasters. And like ski areas, the coasters have a progression of development – from little ones in kid-friendly areas like the skiing learning area (that gets them conditioned and hooked early!), up to coasters rated a 5 for thrills (equivalent to skiing’s double black) that pull enough Gs to rival what a fighter pilot, aerobatic flyer and even an astronaut might experience. You progress from small turns and tilts and drops up to the dramatic, thrilling, heart-pulsing, screaming twists, turns, topsy turvy rolls and gravity-defying plunges.
When we watched how people dangle on The Joker coaster ride, we basically said, “Are they kidding?!!
On a recent visit just after Great Adventure opened for the season, we get to see construction underway for the newest mega-coaster (much of it is still so secret, they refer to it as the “Purple Project”), which is expected to be open in 2027. It is going up in the newly expanded Shoreline Pier section, where visitors will get to ride five new attractions opening later this season, and a revamped Boardwalk made to evoke the Jersey Shore.
We watch as workmen in their
orange suits are suspended as they piece track together.
During a press preview, we learn that the new, massive roller coaster – a successor to Kingda Ka – will be a first or biggest in six coaster categories but little else is disclosed.
It will be uniquely different, unique to this park, was all Ryan Patrick, the park’s communications manager, teased. Does it use some new technology like magnets? Won’t say. We hear that the coaster will rise to an incredible 375 feet.
Shoreline Pier at The Boardwalk is a new rides area that channels the vibe, electricity, nostalgia and charm of New Jersey’s iconic oceanside amusement piers. While the new coaster is expected to be open by 2027, this season it will offer five attractionsfour new to Great Adventure: Barrels O’Fun, Flying Scooters, Wave Swinger, Hypno Twister, and the return of Super Roundup.
The Joker coaster. For those for whom riding coasters is more sport than entertainment Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey, is your ultimate destination © Karen Rubin/ goingplaces farandnear.com
The Shoreline Pier will feature entertainment from day into night. On select dates and times, guests can enjoy: stilt walkers, live musicians and roaming acts and performance artists. When the sun goes down, Boardwalk Nights will feature stage performances feature vocalists, dancers and gravity-defying acrobats.
One of the iconic highlights of Six Flags Great Adventure is Wild Safari, one of the largest safaris outside of Africa, and home to more than 1,200 animals representing six continents. It offers guests up-close look at wildlife across expansive, naturalistic habitats via safari vehicles (no longer self-drive). The tour can now can be accessed from within the main park (Safari OffRoad Adventure, a 35-minute tour), as well as a separate tour from the Wild Safari Base Camp (a 45-minute tour).
Wild Safari Base Camp is a standalone wildlife experience at the main
safari entrance. The area features animal encounters, educational presentations and interactive experiences.
You may well spot its newest arrival, a brown bear cub named JJ, born to mother Hollywood who are spending time together in their own dedicated habitat space among the park’s brown bears.
We do the Safari Off-Road Adventure from Frontier Station inside the theme park – no longer a selfdrive, but you pack into a large open safari truck.
You can actually overnight in luxurious glamping tents within the Safari Park, at its Savannah Sunset Resort – even feed giraffes that come right up to the porch which is raised up on stilts to eye level, and listen to the lions roaring at night (their enclosure is just a little beyond where the tents are). Glamping guests are driven in and out of the tent area by the resort (which is completely encircled by the safari park/habitat), and are given a tour of the safari park in those special vans instead of the big safari truck vehicles.
Motion-oriented rides dominate the experience at Six Flags. To prevent nausea, take over-the-counter motion sickness medication (like Dramamine or Bonine) 30-60 minutes before riding, eat a light, bland meal, and stay hydrated. On the ride, keep your head straight, look forward and avoid closing your eyes. Afterward, sit in the shade, sip water, and use ginger candy to settle your stomach.
To get the most out of your visit, upgrade to the Fast Pass which lets you go through a much, much faster line.
Six Flags Great Adventure, 1 Six Flags Blvd, Jackson Township, NJ 08527, (732) 928-2000, www.sixflags.com/ greatadventure. May 1, 2026
BY DENNIS MAMMANA
Week of May 3-9, 2026
If you’re old enough, do you remember seeing Halley’s Comet -- the most famous of all celestial nomads -- when it swung past our neck of the cosmic woods in 1986?
I did, and I wasn’t terribly impressed. It was arguably one of the comet’s worst appearances in some 2,000 years. And do you know when one of its best will be? When it returns in July of 2061.
Now, I know what you’re thinking -- that you may not be around at that time to see it. Personally, I’m looking forward to it. Of course, I’ll be nearly 110 years old, and I suppose I’ll be quite thrilled just to see the sun rise, but that’s my plan, anyway.
In case we don’t make it, it’s good to have a backup strategy. But you’ll have to be willing to rise early and head out to a dark rural location this week.
On the mornings of May 5 and 6, fragments of this most famous of comets will pelt our planet’s atmosphere in what astronomers call the Eta Aquarid meteor shower.
Meteors, or shooting stars, are specks of interplanetary dust hardly larger than a sand grain that fall into our atmosphere at speeds of tens of miles per second. As one of these slams into the air, it ignites and causes the
BY TRACY BECKERMAN
OK, fellas, you may want to check out of this column.
I want to talk about bras. No, not the sexy, what-woman-in-her-right-mindwould-wear-this-to-go-food-shopping bras. I’m talking about the everyday, full-coverage, gets-the-job-done-without-a-jiggle bras.
For most of my bra-wearing life, I’ve managed to find the right size bra that made me feel comfortable, confident and contained. No easy feat for a 36DD. And not a pole dancer 36DD -- a two-pregnancies-later-and-now-approaching-menopause 36DD. Even when I was pregnant and I grew to a size H (and by the way, who even knew that was a letter in the bra alphabet?), I was still able to find my own bras without any outside help.
But apparently, the internet doesn’t believe me. They think I need a bra intervention. Every day I am bombarded with ads for bras, bandeaus and bralettes. I’m inundated with ads asking me, “Do you have saggy breasts?” They yell at me, “Are you wearing the
neighboring atmospheric gases to glow. It’s this fiery demise that we see as a meteor.
Those of the Eta Aquarid meteor shower are known to be pieces that have fallen off Comet Halley during one of its many trips past our planet. Though historical records suggest that sky watchers have been seeing the Eta Aquarids since about 74 B.C., the shower was not officially “discovered” until Lieutenant Colonel G. L. Tupman recorded it in the year 1870.
These meteors will appear all around the sky, but you can tell if one is part of the Eta Aquarid swarm by tracing its path backward. If it appears to radiate from the direction of Aquarius, low in the east-southeastern sky before dawn, it is almost certainly associated with this swarm. If it appears to originate elsewhere, it’s what astronomers call a “sporadic” or random meteor.
To view the celestial show, head away from city lights where the sky is dark and clear. Under ideal conditions, stargazers may see as many as 50 or 60 meteors, or falling stars, every hour, coming from the eastern sky. The best times for viewing will be between midnight and the first light of dawn. On May 5 and 6, the moon appears in its waning gibbous phase, so we may see only the brightest of meteors.
The best part is that all you need
to view the shower is your eyes, a lawn chair or sleeping bag, and some warm clothing. While binoculars or telescopes would produce much too narrow a field of view to see the all-sky show, binoculars could be useful to check out any persistent smoke trails left behind by some of the meteors.
wrong size bra?!?!?” And they commiserate, “Is your bra letting you down?”
Who would have thought my breast comfort was such a priority for the World Wide Web?
There are some things I will willingly buy on the internet. For instance, I have no problem ordering trash bags online. If I get an ad asking me, “Is your trash bag letting you down?” I might click on that and maybe even try this wondrous new product that claims to not only be stronger and smell better but will also take itself out to the corner on garbage pickup day.
But then there are items like bathing suits and bras that no woman I know would ever buy without trying on first. Even with online quizzes and fit guides and virtual consultants, you just don’t know how that sucker is really going to fit until you get your girls inside and give it a T-shirt test.
When I actually go into a store, the results can still be dicey. More than once an A-cup saleslady has told me I don’t really need underwire. Then I must convince her that without underwire, there’s a good chance I may never
see my belly button again. Who needs that type of stress in their life?
Meanwhile, back online, the ads keep coming, as though directed by some unseen force with a deep, deep concern for my breasts’ wellbeing. I imagine the camera on my computer looking back at me, and the people on the other side saying to each other, “Wow, that bra is not doing her any favors. Did she make that herself with two socks and a string? Is she even a citizen of the United States of Bramerica?!”
Concerned that the Bra Police were indeed spying on me, I covered my computer camera and ceased doing anything that might lead someone to suspect I had breast issues. To be doubly sure, I checked all my bras for spyware and ran them through a TSA X-ray machine to make sure the Russians hadn’t interfered with my bra purchases.
Finally, after taking all these steps, I stopped getting bra ads. ... And started getting ads for full-body Spanx instead.
Admittedly, the Eta Aquarids shower is not the great comet itself, but it can still be quite a fun show. Besides, it beats waiting 35 years!
Visit Dennis Mammana at dennismammana.com. .
COPYRIGHT 2026 CREATORS.COM
Tracy Beckerman is the author of the Amazon Bestseller, “Barking at the Moon: A Story of Life, Love, and Kibble,” available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble online! You can visit her at www. tracybeckerman.com.
COPYRIGHT 2026 CREATORS.COM
In today’s housing market across Westchester County and Long Island, a quiet but powerful shift is underway.
More families are choosing to live together under one roof—not out of necessity alone, but as a strategic, lifestyle-driven decision.
Multi-generational living is no longer the exception.
It’s becoming the plan.
While this shift is happening nationwide, it’s especially pronounced in high-cost regions like ours.
Here’s why:
Affordability pressures remain elevated
Median home prices across Long Island and Westchester continue to push higher
Higher mortgage rates have reduced purchasing power
Combining incomes makes homeownership more attainable
Property taxes are a major factor
Many homeowners are seeking ways to offset rising tax burdens
Sharing expenses creates immediate financial relief
Aging population staying local
Many seniors want to remain close to family rather than relocate
In-home support is often preferred over assisted living
Adult children staying longer—or returning
Student debt + high rent = delayed independence
“Boomerang buyers” are increasingly common
Childcare costs in the region are significant
Multi-gen households often eliminate or reduce this expense entirely
This isn’t about squeezing more people into a house.
It’s about intentional design and smarter use of space.
Most common setups locally:
• Parents + adult children saving for a home
• Homeowners bringing in aging parents
• Families combining households to upgrade into a better location
• Post-divorce or life-transition regrouping
The defining feature?
A balance between togetherness and independence.
Is Your Home Ready for Multi-Generational Living?
Not every home in Westchester or Long Island was designed for this—but
many can be adapted.
Key Features to Evaluate
1. Flexible Living Space
• Finished basements (very common locally) can be ideal
• Bonus rooms, dens, or extensions can be repurposed
Look for:
• Potential in-law suite setup
• Space for a separate living area
BY PHILIP A. RAICES
• Ability to create privacy zones
2. Separate Entrance Potential
This is one of the most valuable upgrades in our market.
• Reduces disruption between households
• Adds long-term flexibility and value
Many buyers today actively seek:
• Homes with walk-out basements
• Side or rear private entry points
3. Bathroom Availability
A critical (and often overlooked) factor.
• One bathroom per generation is ideal
• Consider upgrades for: Accessibility (aging parents) Convenience (larger households)
4. Kitchen Efficiency or Expansion
• Can your current kitchen handle multiple daily users?
• Is there space to add: A second prep area? A kitchenette?
5. Parking & Property Layout
Particularly important in suburban neighborhoods:
• Is there room for multiple vehicles?
• Can the driveway be expanded?
• Is street parking practical or restricted?
Local Zoning & Legal Considerations
This is where many homeowners get caught off guard.
In both Westchester and Long Island:
• Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are gaining acceptance—but rules vary by town
• Some municipalities are becoming more flexible, but:
Permits are required
Codes must be followed
Rental use may be restricted
Before making changes:
• Verify local zoning regulations
• Understand tax implications
• Ensure all improvements are
legal and documented Renovate or Relocate?
Option 1: Renovate Your Current Home
Best if:
• You like your location
• You already have usable space (basement, extension potential)
Popular local upgrades:
• Basement conversions into legal accessory apartments
• Adding bathrooms
• Creating private entrances
• Soundproofing shared walls
Option 2: Purchase a Multi-Gen-Friendly Home
Inventory is evolving to meet demand.
Look for:
• Homes with dual primary suites
• Properties with separate wings or levels
• Newer construction designed for flexible living
• Larger parcels that allow expansion
In today’s market, these homes often:
• Sell quickly
• Command a premium
• Attract competitive offers
The Financial Upside
For many local families, this isn’t just practical—it’s transformative.
Key benefits:
• Shared mortgage payments
• Lower per-person cost of ownership
• Reduced childcare and eldercare expenses
• Ability to remain in high-value zip codes
• Long-term equity growth across generations
In a high-cost market, this can mean:
• Staying vs. relocating
• Owning vs. renting
• Building wealth vs. treading water
The success of multi-generational living has less to do with square footage—and more to do with structure. Households that thrive typically establish:
• Clear financial agreements
• Defined private vs shared spaces
• Respect for routines and schedules
• Open communication from the start
Without those, even the best-designed home can feel crowded.
Be realistic about potential friction:
• Privacy limitations
• Lifestyle differences between generations
• Noise and schedule conflicts
• Caregiving responsibilities
• Future resale considerations
The goal isn’t to avoid these—it’s to plan for them upfront.
This is not a temporary shift.
Across Westchester and Long Island:
• Buyers are actively seeking flexible layouts
• Builders are slowly adapting designs
• Multi-use spaces are becoming a priority
• Homes that accommodate multiple generations are increasing in value Flexibility is the new luxury.
Today’s home is no longer just a place to live.
It’s:
• A financial strategy
• A support system
• A long-term planning tool
Multi-generational living reflects all three.
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Philip A. Raices is the owner/Broker of Turn Key Real Estate. He has 43+ years experience in the Real Estate industry and has earned 3 significant designations:
Continued on page 5
BY TOM MARGENAU
Q: You have written past columns in which you said it is very difficult to qualify for Social Security disability benefits. I think just the opposite is true. It is so easy to get on the government disability dole. After all, you see so many commercials on TV from lawyers who tell people that they can get anyone on Social Security disability. They must somehow be in cahoots with the government. I’ll bet they have their own doctors who automatically get people enrolled in the program. Isn’t that a big scam?
A: No, it’s not a big scam. And you are missing the point if you think that the fact that many law firms specialize in Social Security disability law proves I was wrong when I said it is very difficult to qualify for Social Security disability benefits. Just the opposite is true.
Why do you think an entire cottage industry of private legal specialists has grown up around the Social Security disability program? It’s because the Social Security disability eligibility rules are so stringent. Or, to put it another way, if it were easy to qualify for disability benefits, why would people need to hire lawyers to get them?
In the world of disability benefit programs, including those from other government agencies and the private sector, Social Security is known for having the strictest definition of disability. Essentially, the law says you must have an impairment that prevents you from doing ANY kind of work for at least 12 months. Or you must have a condition that is terminal.
Despite this rather simple-sounding definition of “disability,” it can be such a complicated and such a personal issue. As I always point out, one person’s disabling condition may be another person’s minor inconvenience. For example, I have a friend who is a paraplegic and must use a wheelchair. If you were to see him, you would say, “There is a disabled guy.” Yet he works full-time and gets upset when people refer to him as disabled. On the other hand, during my career with the Social Security Administration, I helped hundreds of people file for Social Security disability benefits because they had conditions as relatively minor as bad knees or a sore back.
That’s one of the reasons why it is so difficult to administer a disability program. Here is another. Think of the hundreds of different kinds of possible disabling conditions: heart trouble, kidney disease, brain damage, cancer, nervous disorders, muscular and skeletal issues, mental health problems, etc. The list goes on and on. Q How do you decide how badly damaged a heart must be before someone can get disability?
How dysfunctional must a kidney be to keep someone from working? How much pain must a person endure to make him or her unemployable and eligible for benefits? The SSA has established guidelines to help its disability claims evaluators make that decision for each potential condition. Yet no matter how much they try to objectify that process, the decision is still ultimately a subjective one.
And that’s what leads to so much disagreement. And that’s why sometimes lawyers get involved. But despite your allegations, the legal and other firms that specialize in disability law are definitely not “in cahoots” with the government. Instead, it is very much an adversarial relationship. And they certainly don’t “automatically get people on the program.”
Having said that, I will point out that they do have a high degree of success helping folks qualify for Social Security disability. Why is that? Remember those disability guidelines I mentioned earlier? The folks who work at these law firms have those guidelines memorized backwards and forwards. And when they are representing a disability claimant at a hearing before one of Social Security’s “administrative law judges,” they can “talk the talk” and “walk the walk.” They know exactly how to present a case convincingly.
That is not to say that lawyers or other specialists are always needed to help a disability claimant get his or her Social Security benefits. Let me back up a few steps.
No one needs a lawyer to file his or her first claim for disability benefits. That’s a relatively simple process of filling out a bunch of forms and then sitting back and waiting (usually about three to six months) for a decision. My book, “Social Security Simple and Smart,” has a chapter on filing for disability benefits with tips on getting a claim approved.
About 35% of first-time claims are approved. Of course, that means 65% are denied. The reason a high percentage of first-time claims are denied is that many folks file for disability benefits out of desperation. Most of them are simply unemployed and not really “disabled.”
If your disability claim is denied, the first appeal is what the SSA generally calls a “reconsideration.” And that is merely a matter of filling out a few more forms and waiting a couple more months for a decision. A reconsideration is just an internal review of the disability claim by SSA personnel. The last statistics I saw showed that between 10 and 20% of disability claims are approved at this level.
But if your claim is turned down again, then the next step in the appeals process is a hearing before the aforementioned SSA judge. You don’t need
legal help for this process. But many people feel more comfortable having an attorney represent them at the hearing. And if you use such help, you’ve got about a 70% chance of getting your disability claim approved. That’s the good news. The bad news is that it will cost you. Most of these firms will take 25% of any back pay benefits you receive.
If you have a Social Security question, Tom Margenau has two books with all
the answers. One is called “Social Security -- Simple and Smart: 10 Easy-to-Understand Fact Sheets That Will Answer All Your Questions About Social Security.” The other is “Social Security: 100 Myths and 100 Facts.” You can find the books at Amazon.com or other book outlets. Or you can send him an email at thomas. margenau@comcast.net. .
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BY CLAIRE LYNCH
Just over a year ago my friend, Jenna, joined a book club and she said that her foray into the world of book clubs has been interesting. After retiring she started looking around for some new hobbies and since she doesn’t golf, play pickleball or play bridge, she considered checking out book clubs.
Jenna tried three different ones, at the senior center, at the public library and in a neighbor’s home, but she decided on the one I go to at the public library in town. I was pleased to see her, had known she was a fairly new retiree, and after introducing her to some of the other women in the group, the moderator started the meeting and a hush fell over the room.
We were all eager to talk about the book of the month which was “Say You’ll Remember Me” by Abby Jimenez. I’m a big fan of Abby Jimenez who before becoming an author founded Nadia Cakes, a custom cake shop which won several awards from her home kitchen in Minnesota in 2007.
Jimenez writes lots of romance novels and “Say You’ll Remember Me,” published in 2025, is about Samantha and Xavier. She’s a social media manager and he’s a veterinarian. Samantha brings her kitten to Xavier and they hit it off then have one date where they discover that they’re perfect for each other.
The only hitch is Samantha is moving to Los Angeles immediately to take care of her mother who has a health issue. That leaves Samantha
and Xavier in a situation of the “right person, wrong time.”
While Samantha and Xavier go through the ups and downs of their relationship throughout the story, and regardless of what each person is dealing with, they still were committed to each other.
The moderator gave a quick summary of the book before opening it up to comments and she also read some good talking points - some themes we could touch on. Terry in the group said Abby Jimenez always writes a romance novel that’s got a good storyline and not too sappy because her books deal with real life situations that many people are challenged with and people can relate to them.
Jack spoke up and said he wasn’t sure about reading this romance novel on the list because generally speaking romance novels aren’t his favoritethey’re not his cup of tea - but he forged ahead and agreed with Terry’s comment that it wasn’t too sappy at all. The author has a voice that’s all her own, she’s not like so many other romance writers, and the main characters were pretty solidly created. Abby Jimenez has a comfortable way of writing so “Say You’ll Remember Me” was an easy read although it does have its serious themes.
Jack added he’s hoping our book club will read authors like Cormac McCarthy, Stephen King and Andy Weir. He said he likes reading science fiction so he recommended we all check out and discuss Weir’s “The Martian,” self-published on his blog in 2011, and
Crown Publishing re-released the book in 2014.
It was made into a movie the following year and here’s the plot: set in the year 2035, the crew of NASA’s Ares III mission arrive at Acidalia Planitia for a month-long stay on Mars. After only six solar days on Mars, an intense dust and wind storm threatens to topple their Mars Ascent Vehicle which would trap them on the planet.
What happens next? Dr. Mark Watney, played by Matt Damon, is a botanist and mechanical engineer who is part of the Ares III team. Jessica Chastain is Commander Melissa Lewis, USN Submarine Warfare officer, oceanographer, geologist and the Ares III mission commander. But I digress about the movie. Usually we critique books.
My friend, Erica, said she likes reading science fiction books such as “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood are more her style and Jack said he not only likes science fiction, he likes reading about muscle cars, too.
We all laughed at that because my book club has about 30 people - 27 women and three men. Not that women aren’t interested in muscle cars since there’s always the possibility that reading about high-performance Ford Mustangs, Dodge Chargers and Pontiac GTOs is an attraction, but my book club usually discusses books by James Patterson, Kristin Hannah and occasionally we do a throwback to an old Danielle Steel or Mary Higgins Clark book. We also focus on the current bestsellers because there are so many good
ones out there.
Other people spoke then the moderator reminded us about the next book on our list, “The Lincoln Highway” by Amor Towles, and she had plenty of books in the library that we could check out. She didn’t have 30 copies but she had a few so we could take them, return them and give everyone a chance to read it.
Set in 1954, this novel is about four young men on a cross-country journey from Nebraska to New York City featuring a road trip that takes an unexpected turn from its original plan of heading west to California. The story follows 18-year-old Emmett Watson, his younger brother Billy, and two friends from a juvenile work farm, Duchess and Woolly, as they go about their adventures.
When the meeting ended I showed Jenna the list of upcoming books to be discussed. She smiled and nodded as she read the list, pleased with the choices and happy to be part of an interesting group. We meet once a month and once Jenna got into the swing of things she realized how much fun a book club can be. We have great discussions and book clubs are good for socializing with people in the community.
It seems no two meetings are alike when it comes to book clubs because the members come and go. People go on vacation, sometimes people move away for new adventures and others arrive. That means there’s always something new to discuss. As they say in baseball, for better or worse, “It’s a whole new ballgame.”
Continued from page 3
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Oh Most Beautiful Flower of Mount Carmel, Fruitful Vine, Splendor of Heaven. Oh, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity.
Oh Star of the Sea, help me herein and show me here you are my Mother.
Oh Holy Mary Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succor me in my necessity (make request). There are none that can withstand your power.
Oh, Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee (say three times).
Holy Mary I place this cause in your hands (say three times). Amen. This prayer is never known to fail and is to be said for 3 consecutive days.
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Oh Most Beautiful Flower of Mount Carmel, fruitful vine of the splendor in Heaven, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in this necessity.
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Oh Mary Mother of God I beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succor this necessity (say intention).
Oh, Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee (say three times).
Holy Mary I place this cause in your hands (say three times). Thank you for your mercy to me and mine. Amen. (MAK)
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Salads make for a great meal when people are looking for light yet filling fare. Salads also offer a lot of versatility, and just about any ingredient can be added to a salad or even serve as the base of a salad. For example, this recipe for “Ham, Fennel and Quinoa Salad” from Lines+Angles features a base of quinoa. When paired with diced ham, the quinoa makes this delicious dish a little more filling than a more traditional salad.
8 ounces quinoa, rinsed and drained
1 fennel bulb, thinly sliced
4 slices cooked ham, about 6 to 8 ounces, diced
2 ounces roughly chopped pecans
1 1⁄2 ounces baby salad leaves
1) Put the quinoa in a saucepan with 3 cups of water and a big pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes, or until all of the liquid has been absorbed.
2) Spread out on a plate and leave to cool for 10 minutes. Toss the cooled quinoa with the
Makes 4 servings
Salt
Freshly ground black peppercorns
For the dressing:
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon honey
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
3 tablespoons olive oil
fennel, ham, pecans, and baby leaves.
3) To make the dressing, whisk the mustard, honey and vinegar together, then whisk in the oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper, then toss with quinoa salad.
From page 5
Many of these treasured prints, from the Floral Park Historical Society, were created in the late nineteenth century. There will also be interesting flyers for our patrons to view.
This unique “Seed Library,” with its historical seed packets, will be featured throughout the month of May. More glorious details to follow.
And now, for some Fun Facts about our Floral Park Public Library! Do you know that, in 2025, there were 9,526 registered cardholders, and that’s 1,100 more than in 2024? In 2025, there were 115,703 visits to the Library; 45,235 items in the Library’s entire collection; 153,531 check-outs of many of these items; and 506 very popular Library programs and events, with 9,171 enthusiastic participants in all.
Let’s keep up all that FPPL spirit and fun in 2026!
The Floral Park Chamber of Commerce is already looking ahead to its next meeting on Thursday evening, May 7th, 6:00 PM at Crabtree. Come for a delicious Crabtree dinner, network, learn about the Chamber’s June 5th Belmont Stakes Street Fair, and meet new Crabtree owner, Peter Hewitson, also owner of the famous Uncle Bacala’s Restaurant in Garden City Park.
And speaking of the Chamber’s very successful Belmont Stakes Street Fair, now in its fourth year, join with our local businesses and Village for a BEST time on June 5th, starting at 5:00 PM on Tulip Avenue. There’s SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE!
To register for the May 7th meeting and/or for a spot at the June 5th Street Fair, go to: floralparkchamber.org
The Highway Department crews have been actively filling potholes throughout the Village. In the last week, they have filled a total of 75 potholes, repaired damaged manhole covers, and cleaned the Stewart Street parking lot where snow removed from our roads was stored.
The Park Department crews are continuing their spring cleanup. They are checking and repairing sprinklers in all of the parks and around the Village buildings. They have completed an upgrade to the pocket park at Vandewater and Plainfield Avenue and will begin the upgrade of Lions Park this week. Additionally, watering of the new plantings is taking place.
The Tree Department crews have been very busy over the last two weekends trimming several trees in Centennial Gardens, as well as 15 others throughout our Village. A crimson maple tree is scheduled to be planted at
the Recreation Center on Friday, April 24th to celebrate Arbor Day. A reminder to residents that Centennial Gardens is now open daily from 12 PM to 5 PM, weather permitting.
The Sanitation Department has collected 67.5 tons of household waste, 7 tons of paper, 3.5 tons of comingled plastics, and 16 tons of bulk rubbish.
Here is an update on the West End Drainage project:
All drainage work on the affected streets in the West End has been completed.
ADA ramps and cement restoration have been finished.
Restoration, including the placement of topsoil and sod in areas disturbed during the project, will take place this week.
The digging of the new recharge basin should be completed by the end of next week.
Pipe connections for the dead ends in the West End will be installed next week.
National Grid is in the process of replacing the gas mains in that area and expects to complete this work in two weeks.
The final phase of paving is tentatively scheduled for early May.
Please note that all schedules are subject to change.
Four Village Studio
Four Village Studio currently has openings for high school and college students to join its volunteer staff. The studio has a long history as a successful educational facility offering career-building knowledge and experience in media production. Interested students from the Four Village area, aged 15 and over, should contact the studio to set up an informational interview. Please email 4vs@4vs.org or call 516326-1150 to schedule an appointment. To learn more about Four Village Studio, visit www.4vs.org.
Welcome to the next chapter of service in the Floral Park Fire Department. We are proud to welcome the new Chief’s staff, led by Chief of Department Eric O’Connor, and look forward to the leadership, dedication, and perspective he will bring to our community. The Chief Staff’s commitment to protecting our residents and strengthening our department is deeply appreciated.
We also extend our sincere gratitude to the outgoing Chief’s staff, with special thanks to Chief Luger, for his years of dedicated service. His leadership, professionalism, and unwavering commitment have left a lasting impact on our department and our Village. Thank you for your hard work, sacrifice, and the strong foundation you leave behind. A special thanks goes to ex-Chief Luger’s family, especially his wife Barbara. The families of our Fire
Department members make sacrifices as well. While their firefighter is training, fighting a fire, or responding to a call, they are home, holding down their respective forts so their firefighter can do wherever is needed to help our residents in need.
We welcome Chief of Department, Eric O’Connor, and his staff: Chief William Lauria, Chief Fred Sangen, and Chief Kevin Fogarty. We wish them a safe year leading the department.
Additionally, we welcome probationary FF Colton Wrage and wish him a safe career in our department. Perhaps being Board-approved on the same night his Chief is sworn in foreshadows his future in the department.
MTA/LIRR
This weekend (April 25th to the 27th), the following service changes will be in effect:
There will be no Hempstead Branch service operating this weekend, however, there will be some unique service changes in effect for Floral Park. Service will be available in both directions on the Huntington Branch trains.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has sent out its Spring Customer Service and Satisfaction Survey. You can visit MTA official website to complete this survey.
Cultural Arts Committee
The Village Wide Picnic and Fireworks will be held at the Recreation Center on Saturday, June 20th, beginning at 7 PM. Summer Concerts in Memorial Park begin on Friday, June 26th. A flyer with all of our bands will be available early next week. Stay tuned.
Trustee Michael Longobardi
Building Department
Here are some updates on the various construction projects in our Village: Tonight, you heard the below-grade parking decision for Stella’s mixed-use development. The decision made was only related to the parking request. The next hearing in this process will be for zoning. No date for that has been set. Please visit the website for updates.
Work on the West End Drainage project is progressing well and is tracking slightly ahead of schedule. It is about 70% complete. There are regularly scheduled update meetings with all parties involved. Check out our Village website for any updates that may occur regarding the project.
Construction work for the proposed restaurant at 99 Covert Avenue will continue for the next several months and is expected to be completed by the summer of 2026.
The Covert Avenue fire property construction is well underway and is estimated to be completed in the summer of 2026.
The Storage Post at 50 Carnation Avenue, has submitted a zoning application to expand its storage buildings. This case was approved with conditions
by the Board of Zoning Appeals, the Board of Trustees, and the Architectural Review Board. The buildings will be reviewed by the Building Department next for permitting. Construction start dates will be announced as soon as they are finalized.
Construction of the two new homes at the 32 Orchid subdivision and one home at 116 Miller Avenue is expected to begin in the next few weeks.
The renovation of 212 Jericho Turnpike, formerly Firestone, is ongoing. The owner will operate an auto repair shop in the rear portion of the first floor and have retail/business space in the rest of the building.
The King Arms Building at 60 Plainfield Ave is still undergoing fire restoration; a date for pre-occupancy is not currently available.
Now that the weather is warming up, this is a reminder that properties and sidewalks must be free of weeds, grass must be mowed, and all landscaping along the sidewalks must be trimmed so it does not overhang.
Pool and Recreation
Congratulations to our Floral Park Little League, which opened its 2026 season this past Saturday with a great parade through town and ending at the Recreation Center, the opening ceremonies, the first baseball and softball pitches, and the wonderful cry of “Play ball!”. This was followed by the annual Pitch, Hit & Run competitions, dunk tank, bouncy houses, food, and entertainment. It was a great day and a wonderful season opener for our young stars.
Repairs have concluded on the basketball courts, as well as the annual surface repairs to the tennis courts. Our park is open and in full swing. A reminder to all residents: courts are subject to weather and surface conditions. They are open each day with the approval of the Sup
The mini pool brochure will be going out soon via mail and will also be available for viewing on our website. Please keep an eye out for the new and exciting programs and events planned for the summer. The pool is scheduled to open on June 13th. The Recreation Center will host the Village’s 250th semi-quincentennial celebration on June 20th. Town-Village Aircraft Safety & Noise Abatement Committee (TVASNAC)
The next meeting is on Monday, April 27th, 2026, at Town Hall, One Washington Street in Hempstead. If you wish to make a noise complaint regarding air traffic, you can call 1-800-225-1071. You may also visit the Village website, where links to TVASNAC noise complaint resources can be found on the homepage under the TVASNAC contact information section.
Sewanhaka Central High School District celebrated the recent accomplishments of staff and students at the board of education meeting on April 21.
Ex officio board member Evangeline Moonsammy, a senior at Elmont Memorial High School, opened the meeting with the student report, highlighting recent activities from across the district.
Floral Park Memorial High School Principal Alicia Calabrese was recognized for receiving the St. John’s University Leadership in Education Award, a prestigious honor given to individuals who exemplify intelligence, leadership, service and character.
Celebrations continued for Floral Park Memorial, as the varsity boys basketball team was also recognized for their Long Island Championship victory. Head coach Sean Boyle introduced the players, while Athletic Director Larry Doreson presented Certificates of Recognition. The team set a remarkable record with 22 wins, the highest in Nassau County this season, and secured their second consecutive conference title. Their success extended beyond team achievements, earning numerous individual and coaching honors, including All-Conference, All-County, Conference Player of the Year, JV Coach of the Year, Assistant Coach of
the Year, Conference Coach of the Year and Nassau County Coach of the Year.
“The Floral Park boys basketball team achieved a historic and remarkable season, setting new benchmarks for success both on and off the court,” Superintendent of Schools Regina Agrusa said. “They won consecutive Nassau County Championships and claimed the school’s inaugural Long Island Championship, a significant milestone in the program’s history.”
The recognitions concluded with honoring the PTSA Reflections winners. This year’s theme, “I Belong,” inspired a wide range of original student works. The district proudly celebrated 11 winners, including five New York State PTA Award of Merit recipients and one student whose work is advancing to the national level. Elmont Memorial High School student Osinachi Crick earned a NYS PTA Award of Merit in the Film Production category. H. Frank Carey High School student Anderson Cheng is a Nassau Region Finalist in the Music Composition category, Ava Maia is a Nassau Region Finalist in the Photography category, Myrna Workman is a Nassau Region Finalist in the Dance Choreography category, and Michael Viverito earned a NYS PTA Award of Merit in the Photography category. New Hyde Park
Memorial High School student Joezac Mathew earned a NYS PTA Award of Merit in the Literature category, Leah Raghunath earned a NYS PTA Award of Excellence in the Literature category and is advancing to nationals, Harjot Singh earned a NYS PTA Award of Merit in the Literature category, Alayna Vyas is a Nassau Region Finalist in the
Visual Arts category and Axl Su is a Nassau Region Finalist in the Music Composition category. Sewanhaka High School student Breanna Brummell earned a NYS PTA Award of Merit in the Literature category.
Photos courtesy of the Sewanhaka Central High School District
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