ASD celebrates Black History Month Page 2
Obituary: WB firefighter Garry Mowbray, 69 Page 6
Carolyn James/Herald
Newly elected Village Trustee Adam Ansanelli is shown third from left as he celebrated his victory with Village Justice Joseph Calabrese, Trustee Owen Brooks, Mayor Michael O’Neill and Trustee Roger Smith.
By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com
Though Amityville Village Trustee Adam Ansanelli faced no formal opposition, voters turned out March 18, driven by civic duty and a grassroots write-in campaign for firefighter Eric Onderdonk.
Unofficial results showed Ansanelli winning decisively, 546 votes to 114.
“We won this and we won big,” Ansanelli said as he gathered with family, friends, supporters and village officials at his campaign headquarters. “I am incredibly grateful to the voterse. Thank you for coming out in those frigid conditions to make your voices heard.”
The write-in campairgn was promoted by Amityville resident Peter Collorafi, primarily on social media. Onderdonk, who said he did not ask for the grass roots support, added he was nonethless “honored that so many people chose to write in my name.
“I think it speaks volumes,” said Onderdonk who ran for Mayor in 2025. “I hear you and I am more motivated than ever to keep pushing forward.”
Mayor Michael O’Neill said he was pleased to
see Ansanelli continue in the role.
“In a short period of time, he has demonstrated a strong commitment to our residents and has worked collaboratively with all members of the board,” O’Neill said.
He pointed to upcoming environmental efforts, including a parrot feather removal project scheduled for early April at the Delano Preserve, as an example of Ansanelli’s focus.
“His commitment to environmental stewardship is clear, and I’m confident it will continue,” O’Neill added.
Despite cold temperatures and high winds on Election Day, residents said voting remained a priority.
“I always vote,” said resident Paul Ketcham.
“It’s important.”
“It’s our civic duty,” his wife added.
Jennifer Monahan echoed that sentiment. “I always vote — it’s important,” she said.
Eileen Allstadt, who voted with her husband, Phil, said participation is essential.
“We believe it is the American thing to do,” she said.
“If you don’t vote in your community elections, you have nothing to say about what goes on,” Phil Allstadt added.
appoints new ass’t superintendent Page 12
On March 17, it was a day full of laughter, creativity, and a little bit of mischief at Northeast Elementary School in Amityville, as pre-K and kindergarten students and teachers celebrated St. Patrick’s Day in festive style.
Classrooms were a sea of green, with students and staff dressed head-to-toe in their most spirited attire. But the real excitement began before the school day even started — mysterious leprechauns paid an early visit, leaving behind a trail of playful chaos. Tiny green footprints and fingerprints covered classroom surfaces, sparking curiosity and delight among students as they arrived to discover the surprising scene.
Throughout the day, young learners embraced the holiday with hands-on activities, including crafting bright green clovers and participating in themed games and lessons that brought the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day to life. Meanwhile, teachers joined in the fun with a friendly Irish soda bread baking contest, showcasing their culinary talents and adding a delicious twist to the celebration.
From imaginative surprises to creative projects and tasty traditions, the day was a memorable one for students and teachers at Northeast, proving that a little leprechaun magic can go a long way in making learning fun.
Edmund W. Middle School in Amityville recently marked Black History Month with a festive staff potluck that brought educators together in celebration of culture, community and tradition.
Throughout the day, staff members gathered in the middle school’s break room to connect and share a variety of traditional dishes thoughtfully prepared by colleagues. The room was decorated in Black History Month colors and décor, creating a welcoming and celebratory atmosphere. The aromas of the diverse cuisine filled the break room and drifted into the hallways, reflecting the warmth and unity of the school community. The event highlighted the importance of honoring Black history while strengthening bonds among staff members. The staff potluck served as a meaningful reminder of the rich traditions and shared values at the heart of the Amityville school community, said school officials.
EWM Staff Danielle Catanzarite, Natalie Atwater, Kristine Lattanzio and Jennifer Morris. (Also, pictured all the way in the back is Courtney Arnold).
The Town of Babylon is holding a Stop Throwing Out Pollutants (S.T.O.P.) collection day along with the Cleanup Day. This program allows residents to bring household hazardous wastes to the Town of Babylon Residential Recycling Center for safe disposal. Participation in this program is vital to insure safe drinking water and a healthier environment for the future. All materials must be bagged or boxed and labeled so STOP workers can remove them from your vehicle while you remain inside.
S.T.O.P.
Collection
April 11, 2026
8:00
The following are examples of household hazardous wastes accepted by the Town:
Acids • Aerosols • Antifreeze • Automotive
Driveway sealer
Freon canisters
Gasoline
Unacceptable Materials under the STOP program or at the Residential Recycling Center that must be disposed of legally and safely are Ammunition, Asbestos, Explosives and Radioactive Materials.
For further information or questions regarding acceptable or unacceptable household waste materials, please call the Town of Babylon Residential Recycling Center at (631) 249-9347. For information on proper disposal of the unacceptable items, please contact the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation at (631) 444-0375. ** Automobile batteries, empty propane tanks, and used motor oil may be brought to the Town of Babylon Recycling Center during normal business hours.
Fluorescent bulbs
Full propane cylinders
Granular fertilizer containing insecticide
Herbicides
Mercury containing
• Pool Chemicals • Solvents
• Thinners and reducers.
The following items will not be accepted under the STOP program but may be brought to the Residential Recycling Center Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.: • Alkaline and rechargeable batteries • Construction and demolition debris from residents • Kerosene • Latex paint
• Non-hazardous recyclable materials • Tires.
������������ Supervisor Antonio Martinez ����������������������������
DuWayne Gregory Councilman Anthony Manetta Councilman Terence McSweeney Councilman
Town Hall 200 East Sunrise Highway Lindenhurst, N.Y. 11757 (631) 957-3072
Babylon Town recently hosted Green Horizons 2.0, the town’s second annual sustainability fair, bringing together residents, environmental advocates, and community partners for an afternoon focused on sustainability and environmental stewardship.
Organized by Sustainability Director Jassi Anand, the event featured presentations, workshops, and networking opportunities on waste reduction, recycling, composting, and native gardening. Attendees learned practical strategies for reducing their environmental footprint while connecting with local and regional experts.
Councilman DuWayne Gregory praised the event. “Green Horizons 2.0 demonstrates our Town’s strong commitment to protecting the environment and empowering our residents with the knowledge and tools they need to live more sustainably,” he said. “By working together with our partners and sponsors, we are helping to build a healthier and more resilient future for Babylon.”
Suffolk County Legislature Minority Leader Jason Richberg joined town officials and community partners in supporting the event’s mission. Supervisor Rich Schaffer and members of the Town Board were recognized for their leadership in advancing environmentally responsible initiatives throughout the town.
Daniel Ricci from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation opened the event with an overview of Babylon’s waste stream, explaining what happens to trash after it is collected and how residents can dispose of waste responsibly. Marjorie Spitz, co-founder of the LI Organics Initiative, spoke about reducing food waste through prevention and backyard composting programs.
The Green Homes backyard composting and rain barrel program was highlighted, with discounted equipment available online at www.babylon.compostersale.com and a pickup scheduled for May 2 at the Town’s annual Earth Day event at Geiger Park in Deer Park. “Food scraps are a resource—and with tools like backyard composters and Compost Coaches, it’s easier than people think to take action at home,” Spitz said. Sustainability Director Anand added, “You can then take the compost you’ve created and feed it to your yards to grow vegetables and native plants. This will support local pollinators, conserve water, and help restore Long Island’s ecosystems.”
Attendees also received free native plant seeds from ReWild and custom landscape design recommendations for their yards.
“Winters Bros., a WM Company, was proud to sponsor this year’s Green Horizons sustainability fair,” said Dan Schaefer, public affairs manager. “Each day, we are responsible for the collection and proper disposal of all commercial waste in the Town of Babylon in addition to offering recycling services. We thank Supervisor Schaffer, the Town Board, and their hardworking employees for their partnership in protecting our local environment.”
Sponsor ReWorld emphasized the value of community engagement. “Events like Green Horizons 2.0 bring sustainability out of the abstract and into everyday life,” said Maureen Early, lead community relations specialist. “We’re proud to partner with the Town of Babylon to help residents understand how waste is responsibly managed at our local ReWorld facility while empowering families with sim-
ple tools to reduce waste and support a cleaner Long Island.”
Other participating sponsors, presenters, and stakeholder partners included state and regional agencies, environmental organizations, and community groups such as Green Homes, LI Clean Energy Hub, Island Harvest, LI Organics Council, CCE-Suffolk Horticulture, Earth Law Center, Drive Electric LI, Plant Up, and Creat-
ing Healthy Schools & Communities. Catering was provided by The Green Fork in Babylon Village, featuring organic and fresh ingredients.
Green Horizons 2.0 reflects Babylon Town’s ongoing commitment to environmental education, conservation, and community engagement, promoting sustainable practices and protecting Long Island’s natural resources for future generations.
The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, in partnership with several members of the Suffolk County Legislature, will host a community presentation in Copiague aimed at helping seniors recognize and prevent financial exploitation.
The seminar, titled “Preventing the Financial Exploitation of Seniors,” will take place on Tuesday, March 31 at 10:30 a.m. at the Tanner Park Senior Center, 2 Baylawn Ave., Copiague.
The presentation will provide seniors, caregivers and family members with
information on how to identify warning signs of financial exploitation and protect themselves from identity theft and fraud. Attendees will also learn about common scams in which individuals falsely claim to represent banks, government agencies or other trusted institutions.
Officials said financial crimes targeting seniors are often committed not only by strangers, but sometimes by individuals known to the victim, including family members, friends, caregivers or fiduciaries such as agents acting under a power of attorney. The seminar will offer guid-
ance on recognizing these situations and steps that can be taken to prevent exploitation.
The event is sponsored by Suffolk County Legislators R.J. Renna (LD14), Jason Richberg (LD15), Steve Flotteron (LD11) and Tom Donnelly (LD17).
Community members are encouraged to attend and share the information with seniors and caregivers who may benefit from learning how to protect themselves from financial crimes.
For additional information, contact Renna’s office at 631-854-1100.
the staff of
Stuart Richner Publisher Rhonda Glickman V.P. Sales
Jeffrey Bessen Jordan Vallone Managing Editor Deputy Editor
The following incidents have been reported by the Suffolk County Police Department and other law enforcement and emergency service units:
INCIDENTS
GRAND LARCENY
Copiague: Someone stole a motor. Vehicle. That was parked on 34th Street, March 12. The theft was reported at 4:12 a.m.,
•Someone stole a 2013 Nissan Sentra that was parked outside of the Red Roof Inn at 10 34th Street.
OPERATOR LEAVES THE SCENE OF AN ACCIDENT
Copiague: A motorcycle rear ended a vehicle at the intersection of Sunrise Highway and Bayview Avenue, at approximately 6:30 p.m., March 10. The driver of the motorcycle fled the scene without exchanging information with the driver of the vehicle he/she struck.
ARRESTS
DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED IMPAIRED
Renzo Massaro Martinez, 43, of 134 N. 20 St., Wyandanch; Adam Lesniewski, 61, of 19 Versi Terrace, Copiague; Normile Robert Donovan, 71, 129 Bobby’s Way, Schoharie, New York; Mike McGarvey,
50, of 740 S 6th St., Lindenhurst; Edgar Figueroa Hernandez, 31, of 23 Feustal St., North Lindenhurst.
LEAVING THE SCENE OF AN ACCIDENT
Jonathan Marrero, 21, of 35. Churchill Dr., Brentwood.
PETIT LARCENY
Christopher Hoffman, 49, of. 190 Fulton St., Farmingdale; Ali Hussain, 43, of 3 Givson Blvd., Valley Stream; Jessica Stephens, 39, of 7 Gary St., Lindenhurst; Marcela Herrera, 38, of 116 Bayberry La., Farmingville; Jack Carson, 35, 122 Prospect St., Port Jefferson; Rasheed McCutcheon, 26, of 63 Washington Ave., Brentwood; Edward Bennett, 51, of 12 Roosevelt Ave., North Amityville.
CRIMINALMISCHIEF
Henry Cruz, 26, of 1685 Selwin Ave., the Bronx; Luis Acosta, 1510 Undercliff Ave., the Bronx.
CRIMINAL POSSESSION OF A FIREARM
Doreen Pinnell, 55, of 49 Kane St., Lindenhurst; Todd Pinnell, 54, of 49 Kane St., Lindenhurst.
ASSAULT
Marta Merinobenchimol, 28, of 110 Lincoln Pl., Massapequa; William Watts, 47, of 14624 220 St., Queens.
People named in Crime Watch items as having been arrested and charged with violations or crimes are only suspected of committing those acts of which they are accused. They are all presumed to be innocent of those charges until and unless found guilty in a court of law.
Residential Program: Beacon House
Short-term, long-term and transitional housing is provided throughout Long Island in 58 group homes, emergency shelters, and select single-family residences. Those eligible include homeless veterans, veterans with families, veterans and nonveterans with substance abuse and mental health issues, women in need of supportive housing, and those living with HIV/AIDS. Every veteran resident has access to intensive case management, transportation and daily living essentials. For assistance, call 631 665-1571.
Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation
•Maryhaven Center of Hope-New Hope 24hr. substance abuse crisis center: 516-5467070; maryhaven.chsli.org/new-hope
•N.C. Drug & Alcohol Hotline: 516-227-8255
•LI Crisis Center: 516-679-1111
•24/7 Behavioral health helpline: 516-227-
8255, namiqn.org/crisis-info
•AA Meetings Nassau County: For More Information on meetings and times call 866-504-6974 or go to findrecovery.com/aa_ meetings/ny/nassau-county/ Domestic Violence
N.C. Coalition Against Domestic Violence Crisis services for victims of domestic violence, rape and sexual assault; group/individual counseling for adults and children; bilingual court advocacy; legal consultation and representation; safe emergency housing; elder abuse services; referrals and systems advocacy; community education. Eligibility criteria: Nassau County residents or non-residents seeking safe housing in Nassau. Will serve undocumented immigrants. Payments accepted free or on sliding scale. Address is 250 Fulton Avenue, Mezzanine West, Hempstead. Call 516-572-0700; 24-hour hotline is 516 542-0404.
WEB SITE: www.amityvillerecord.com / www.liherald.com/Amityville
moms
a
Mery and Sindy always knew they wanted to open a spa to bring beauty to customers. Little did they know it would have the same effect on the community. And Business First was there. We provided $23,000 in grants to help with much-needed renovations so Mery and Sindy could bring their vision to life.* Now, not only does their spa impact clients in a beautiful way, it gives the community an economic lift as well.
grants, and savings will vary with every project.
Garry J. Mowbray, a West Babylon resident who spent roughly 50 years serving his community as a volunteer firefighter in Bay Shore and West Babylon, died on Feb. 13, 2026. He was 69.
Mowbray was remembered by fellow firefighters as a dedicated and outspoken mem-
ber of the department who took pride in mentoring younger volunteers.
“You always knew where you stood with him,” said Pete McArdle, a former West Babylon fire chief, adding that Mowbray enjoyed teaching younger firefighters after joining the West Babylon Fire Department about 25 years
ago. “He. Loved showing them the right way to do things.”
Mowbray grew up in Bay Shore, where he attended local schools. He later worked at Oakwood Cemetery, for the Bay Shore School District and as a head custodian for Western Suffolk BOCES.
He joined the Bay Shore Fire Department as a junior firefighter in 1974, alongside his two brothers. After moving to West Babylon in 1990, he became a member of the West Bab-
ylon Fire Department, where he continued his decades-long service.
“He was always there for us,” said his daughter, Christine. “He was a great person who loved his family; his grandchildren were his life.” If you did something wrong, he let you know it but he was always supportive, she added.
When he wasn’t working or volunteering, Mowbray enjoyed fishing on his grandson’s boat.
“He is going to be truly missed in this department,” McArdle said.
Mowbray is survived by his wife of 49 years, Debbie (nee Schnieder); his children, Christine, and Garry Jr.; his son-in-law, John Manzi of West Babylon; his daughter-in-law, Jillian of West Babylon; and his grandchildren, Michael, Wyatt, Carter, Emily and Bennett. He is also survived by his siblings, George of Bay Shore; Marion and her husband, John McCann, of Bay Shore; Patricia of Bay Shore; Wendy of Mastic; Linda and her husband, Lou Giordano, of Bohemia; and Danny Mowbray. He was predeceased by his parents, Frank and Marjorie (Conklin) Mowbray; his brother Frank; and his brother-in-law John Gottliez. Services were held at Claude R. Boyd-Spencer Funeral Home in Babylon on Wednesday, Feb. 18. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated the following day at Our Lady of Grace R.C. Church in West Babylon, followed by interment at Oakwood Cemetery in Bay Shore. Online condolences may be offered at www. boyd-spencer.com.
Several Copiague Middle School students earned top recognition at the Long Island Science and Engineering Fair on March 12 at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury. The event brings together talented young scientists from across the region to present their research and innovative projects.
The following Copiague Middle School students were recognized for their outstanding work:
•First place: Lenna Karwowska, “Investigating the Comparative Effects of Tapioca Starch-Based and PolylacticBased Bioplastic on the Mortality of Artemia salina.”
•Second place: Cole Sells and Juliette Peralta, “Prosthetic vs. Human.”
•Second place: Yeslie Ventura, “The Effect Temperature Has on Magnetism.”
•Third place: Anala Amin, “Smart Sprouting.”
•Honorable mention: Gabriella Olszowy, “Roll with It!”
“Students spent months researching, experimenting and preparing their projects before presenting their findings to judges and peers at the competition,” said Copiague School Superintendent Kathleen Bannon. “Their success at LISEF reflects their curiosity, dedication and commitment to scientific exploration.”
By ROSKANA AMID, JEFFREY BESSEN & CAROLYN JAMES of the Herald
Against a backdrop of a military action in the Middle East and a domestic economy that swings up and down as the price of oil steadily rises, Long Island’s congressional delegation took part in a spirited but congenial debate of ideas and issues last week at the Long Island Association’s annual What’s New In Washington panel.
Representatives Andrew Garbarino, Laura Gillen, Nick LaLota and Tom Suozzi spoke on issues ranging from the economy to immigration to energy, with LIA Acting President and CEO Stacey Sikes moderating the March 16 discussion.
“The thing that’s so brilliant about the system, I think, is today we’re going to have [four] Congressional representatives —two Democrats, two Republicans,” Lawrence Waldman, the LIA’s board chairman, said. “They’re going to sit in the interview with Acting President Stacey Sikes, and I’m sure they’ll agree on some of these issues and disagree on some.”
Andrew Garbarino
All of the legislators noted progress on the effort to raise or eliminate the limit on the income tax deduction for state and local taxes, a measure critical to Long Island homeowners facing some of the nation’s highest property taxes, as well as a $1.5 billion infrastructure package for transportation, water quality and storm resilience.
“We have worked together on a bipar-
tisan infrastructure bill, one of the best things we did,” Garbarino, a former assemblyman, said, noting frustrations with Albany over implementation.
His 2nd Congressional District stretches from Massapequa, in Nassau County, east to Shirley, in Suffolk County.
The four lawmakers had differing perspectives on Operation Epic Fury, the military effort against Iran. Suozzi and Gillen praised its objectives, but criticized Congress’s lack of oversight and what they described as the Trump administration’s failure to define a long-term strategy.
“There does not seem to be a plan, and shouldn’t that have been thought of ahead of time?” Suozzi asked.
Ithe finish line, by working together.”
Gillen, who represents the 4th Congressional District, which spans nearly the entire South Shore of Nassau County, noted that the administration’s “One Big, Beautiful Bill” has added to the national debt. “It caused the average American to have $1,600 in extra cost,” she said. “We’re not going in the right direction. We can fix that, but there has to be political will.”
’m sure they’ll agree on some of these issues and disagree on some.
L
Garbarino countered, noting that congressional committees are briefed regularly, and that prior administrations have taken similar actions. All agreed that any escalation involving ground troops would require Congressional approval.
Laura Gillen
AwRENCE wALDMAN
Board chairman, Long Island Association
Nick LaLota
Gillen noted the impact of the federal crackdown on illegal immigration on local businesses.
“People are afraid to patronize businesses,” she said, adding that new business in Hempstead is “going to go out of business already, because people — there’s an ICE car parked in an apartment lot across from Main Street, and even if no one’s in there, people see it, and they’re afraid to go out.”
that same part of the world,” he noted, jobs will be created and prices will be lower.
LaLota’s 1st Congressional District stretches from Melville, in western Suffolk County, to Montauk.
Tom Suozzi
Suozzi highlighted his work with the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus. The group includes 46 members of Congress, evenly split between Democrats and Republicans.
“We have committees that work together on issues, on everything from affordability,” Suozzi said, noting that the caucus also addresses immigration and national security.
Despite those efforts, Suozzi described Washington as increasingly difficult to navigate. “The problem is, the environment is so toxic in Washington, D.C.,” he said. “And the leadership on both sides really is only focused on winning the majority.” He added that the political climate is likely to worsen as the midterm elections approach.
Speaking on her proposed Dignity Act, which would give illegal immigrants what she called “a pathway to legal status,” Gillen said, “If you’re going to do transformative legislation, it’s better to tap in with both sides,” noting that the effort began with 10 Democrats and 10 Republicans. “And that’s the way we can get a law like this across
LaLota said that one party doesn’t have a monopoly on “this nation’s most major issues, and we do work together on certain big things.”
With the cost of energy on the minds of consumers, he noted that “the economy is growing, we have more demand, more power here on the Island and across the nation.” LaLota added that there’s “a ton of natural gas” in New York’s Southern Tier. “If we do things the way that Pennsylvania does them in
Suozzi also pointed to several economic concerns facing many Americans, including tariffs, artificial intelligence data centers, and rising health care costs tied in part to the elimination of the premium tax credit.
“The economy is in trouble,” he said. “Everybody knows the economy is in trouble.” He argued that strong stock market performance does not reflect the experience of most households.
His 3rd Congressional District predominantly includes Glen Cove, Oyster Bay and a portion of Queens, and stretches east to Huntington.
The Babylon Village Arts Council is putting out a call to artists for their celebration of America’s 250th Anniversary. Submit one original artwork celebrating flags in any 2D media: painting, photography, printmaking or collage.
The display will be on display from June 2 through July 29 at the Babylon Historical and Preservation Society, 117 W. Main St., Babylon.
There will be an opening reception on June 11 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Reproductions will be on view in July in the Museums of Miniature Art at the Nathaniel Conklin House and at the Historical Society.
Applications are available online at babylonvillagearts.org.
For more information, please call (631) 669-1810.
Save the Great South Bay will be hosting multiple clean ups in our local area. Volunteers are welcome and encouraged. Please note that the dates may change due to rain or other circumstances.
Please sign-up on Sign UP Genius to be alerted of changes.
Local clean-ups will be taking place on the following dates: March 28 at Haw-
ley’s Lake, Hawley’s Place Park, Babylon; April 12 in Lindenhurst at Neguntatogue Creek, Lincoln Ave.; and April 19 at Santapogue Creek, LA Fitness parking lot, West Babylon.
To sign-up and for times, visit savethegreatsouthbay.org/volunteer.
For more information, contact info@ savethegreatsouthbay.org
Drivers from around the world competed on RPM’s Guiness World Record–breaking indoor multi-level track on March 22 for a final shot at the SWS International E-Finals in Sicily, Italy June 11 through 13.
The event was organized by Sodikart, the world leader in go-kart manufacturing and innovation and selected RPM Raceway to bring this international competition to the U.S.
Drivers from around the world competed at RPM, with the top finishers earning guaranteed tickets to the SWS International e-finals.
RPM Raceway’s Long Island location is home to the Guinness World Record Longest Indoor Multi-Level Go-Kart Track in the World, showcasing the scale, innovation and immersive racing experience that make it a premier destination for competitive electric karting.
The record-breaking 3,515.7-foot track spans two stories and features three layouts with more than 40 dynamic corners. Coupled with RPM Raceway’s state-ofthe-art facilities, RPM in Farmingdale provides drivers with a unique and challenging environment that’s ideal for internationally celebrated competition.
“We’re proud to introduce our very first Regional Cup in the USA since the creation of SWS and the launch of the world’s largest international rental karting ranking,” said Rémi Niero, CEO of SodiKart. “Choosing RPM was a natu-
ral fit, given the quality of the complex and our strong ambition to grow this community across the United States. We will be delighted to welcome the winners of this edition to Italy for the SWS International e-finals.”
RPM Raceway was selected as the U.S. host venue by Sodikart for its proven leadership in electric karting and elite competitive racing programs. This landmark competition highlights RPM Raceway’s central role in a broader movement to bring competitive karting to more drivers and make racing more accessible. The qualifier reflects the company’s mission to democratize the sport and provide drivers of all experience levels the opportunity to compete at the highest level of electric motorsports, in alignment with Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) Karting.
“This event is a huge moment not just for RPM Raceway, but for electric karting in the U.S.,” said Andrew Farage, CEO of RPM Raceway Farmingdale.
“Hosting the first-ever SWS E-Regional Cup gives drivers from all over the world a true gateway to the global stage and it reinforces RPM’s commitment to making elite-level racing more accessible.”
Participation in the SWS E-Regional Cup was open to drivers who achieved a minimum of six SWS results in the ESprint Cup category during the qualifying year.
The Amityville School District is proud to announce that four Amityville Memorial High School art students represented Amityville in the 2026 Suffolk County Art Leaders Association’s All-County Art Exhibition and Senior Scholarship Show.
Students who exhibited their work in the High School All-County portion of the show include junior Justin Cruz (mixed media, “The Love of J + N”) senior Guadalupe Hernandez Granados (mixed media, “Eye of the Tiger”), and senior Nasir Grant (charcoal, “Focus”). Senior Elidi Laquidara entered her artwork (acrylic, “Morning Walks) in the Senior Scholarship portion of the SCALA exhibition.
The reception for the show took place on Feb. 7 at the Old Town Hall in Babylon. Congratulations to these students and their art teacher Jennifer Dibble on this fine accomplishment.
APRIL 16 • 10AM-12:30PM
DEER PARK KNIGHTS
759 LONG ISLAND AVE, DEER PARK
FREE community event focused on health, wellness, and lifestyle
Meet trusted local exhibitors and service providers
Take advantage of on-site health screenings
Enjoy lively entertainment, fitness demonstrations and interactive experiences
Hear from experts during a panel discussion with Q&A
Win raffles, prizes, and giveaways
Snack station for all
*Boxed lunches for first 150 attendees
All designed to help you stay active, informed, and engaged at every stage of life.
MAE CAIME FOUNDER, AMAEZING MIDLIFE & BEYOND
Register for this FREE event: Deerpark.eventbrite.com or email lcreem@LIHerald.com or call 516.569.4000 x243 AGENDA:
+ Q&A RAFFLE DRAWINGS MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN
The Rotary Club will host a spring afternoon tea featuring tea service, conversation and community gathering at Bestea in Babylon, Wednesday, April 22.
The event will include a selection of teas from Bestea along with finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones and pastries prepared by Chef Andrew of Babylon Mercantile, a cooking school and culinary venue at 45 E. Main St., next door to Bestea.
Organizers said that if attendance exceeds the venue’s capacity, Babylon Mercantile has offered to open its space to accommodate additional guests.
Guests are encouraged to wear spring attire, and hats are welcome as part of the event’s theme, “Spring Elegance with a Twist.”
Those interested in attending are asked to register by April 17. Registration is available online at tinyurl.com/ yuuezatv.
Organizers said attendees may also confirm their attendance directly with Rotary organizers.
The event aims to bring together Rotary members and guests for an afternoon of fellowship and community connection.
The Great South Bay Boating club is offering a variety of boating courses including to help prepare boaters for the upcoming boating season:
America’s Boating Courses
•Massapequa: Captree Squadron May 9, 9 a.m., at Harbor Green Shore Cloub, 38 Riviera Dr., East. The cost is $30. For information call Gene Johnson at 631921-3403 or email him at pwrbtr@aol.
•West Islip: Great South Bay Squadron, May 11, 6:30 p.m., West Islip Library, 3 Higbie La., West Islip. The cost is $40. For information call Michael Boland at 631-290-8096 or email him atbolandmi-
chael123@gmail.com
District 3 Seminars
• BH Anchoring with Assurance,Great South Bay Squadrom, April 9, 6:30 p.m., at West Islip Library, 3 Higbie La., West Islip. The cost is $20. For information call Michael Boland at 631-290-8096 or email him atbolandmichael123@gmail. com
•BH Emergencies on Board, Great South Bay Squadrom, April 13, 6:30 p.m., at West Islip Library, 3 Higbie La., West Islip. The cost is $20. For information call Michael Boland at 631-290-8096 or email him atbolandmichael123@gmail.com
A shredder truck will be available for use by the community on April 11 at the 9/11 Park in Amityville from 9 a.m. to noon, rain or shine.
A $10 donation is requested by the Bay Village Civic Association for three bags or boxes of personal paper material to be destroyed on site. The donation, made in cash or check payable to the BVCA, will help fund scholarships for Amityville High School seniors.
This event is a collaboration between the Amityville Library and the Bay Village Civic Association.
BVCA volunteers will assist residents in unloading when they arrive at the parking lot. Drivers should wait until the volunteers signal to them to proceed to the truck. This is always a well anticipated and patronized event.
The BVCA represents the residents of the Village of Amityville and thanks the library and everyone for their continued support.
For more information, email bayvillagecivic@aol.com. You may also see more details in the current edition of The Browser, published by the library.
The 9/11 Park is located on Broadway, near the railroad trestle, across from Peter’s Diner.
The Kiwanis Club of Amityville is offering all high school seniors residing within the Amityville School District to apply for the Kiwanis Club of Amityville Achievement Award. Criteria for this award is based upon academics, athletics, community service and involvement
in school activities.
Applications are now available at the Amityville Memorial High School Guidance Office or email amityvillekiwanis@ gmail.com for one. All completed applications must be received by April 18.
The Amityville School District is proud to announce that Joseph C. Dragone has been named the new interim assistant superintendent for business and operations, effective March 4.
Dragone brings more than four decades of leadership in public education, with extensive experience overseeing district operations and finances. Most recently, he served as the interim assistant superintendent for business and operations in the Cold Spring Harbor Central School District.
A familiar face in Amityville, Dragone previously served as the district’s assistant superintendent for finance and operations from 2021-2022. Prior to his tenure in Cold Spring Harbor, Dragone also held senior business and administrative roles in the Manhasset, Roslyn, Harborfields and Rockville Centre school districts. He holds multiple advanced degrees in educational administration and mathematics, and maintains permanent New York State certifications in school administration and supervision.
The Amityville School District announced that Joseph C. Dragone has been named the new interim assistant superintendent for business and operations, effective March 4.
He has served as an adjunct professor at Hofstra University, LIU Post, and Queens College as well as an instructor in the New York State School Boards Association Fiscal Integrity Training Program for new school board members and as an adjunct for NYSSBA providing Custom Board Retreats. He has also served as an officer of state and local professional associations including the presidency of the New York State Association of School Personnel Administrators, a member of the Association of School Business Officials of New York
(ASBO New York), formerly NYSASBO, Governmental Relations Committee, and officer of both the Nassau and Suffolk Chapters of ASBO. He continues to serve as a representative to the Long Island Educational Coalition. Dragone has been active in his community including serving as the president of the local library board and as a founding member of educational foundations in Rockville Centre, Harborfields, and Northport. He now resides in Northport with his wife, Liz, and spends as much time as he can with his four children and six grandchildren.
By Chris ColuCCi ccolucci@liherald.com
The Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court, Second Judicial Division reached an important decision in favor of homeowners last month. The court strengthened residents’ abilities to provide supportive evidence and documentation when challenging their yearly property tax assessments.
The appeal reversed a Nassau County Supreme Court case that had previously complicated the process for homeowners submitting documents, including assessments of comparable properties and completed sales of similar homes, when filing an “unequal assessment claim” during Small Claims Assessment Review proceedings. The appellate verdict went into effect immediately, and applies to the current assessment year, 2027-28.
“This is a very significant case,” said Shalom Maidenbaum, founder of Maidenbaum Property Tax Reduction Group and Maidenbaum and Sternberg, the law firm that brought the case to court. “It could’ve impacted all of Nassau County and curtailed the rights of taxpayers.” The decision affects any Nassau homeowner filing an assessment grievance, and is especially beneficial to residents of certain villages who may have been assessed at an inaccurate or outdated assessment ratio.
In the final order of the matter of Yeung v. Assessor of the Village of Great Neck Estates — the initial case presented to the appellate court — the court wrote in its conclusion, “The hearing officer’s determinations denying the petitioners’ Small Claims Assessment Review applications were arbitrary and
Tim Baker/Herald
“This is a very significant case,” Shalom Maidenbaum said. “It could’ve impacted all of Nassau County and curtailed the rights of taxpayers.”
capricious and lacked a rational basis in the law.”
Mark Miller, one of the most experienced lawyers on the Maidenbaum team, explained that multiple lowercourt decisions throughout Nassau County can now
be clarified, since some hearing officers had been inconsistently applying existing laws to homeowners’ ability to present evidence. “Hundreds of cases can now go back to court,” Miller said. “This decision gives them standing.”
The appellate court’s decision is expected to remain in effect without further challenge. Legal experts say that it would require costly, involved legislation to overturn it.
While the legal victory provides homeowners with invaluable support, experts say they should not misinterpret the ruling as a guarantee that their assessments will be reduced. “They just have the right to present that evidence,” explained Amy Madmon, a partner at both Maidenbaum and Sternberg and Maidenbaum Property Tax Reduction Group, explained. “Essentially, it’s confirming the tools that homeowners have. Whether it’s successful or not depends on the case, but a hearing officer does have to hear the argument and take it into account when they’re making a decision.”
The deadline to file a property tax assessment grievance in Nassau County is March 31. There’s no risk for homeowners — an unsuccessful appeal results in no penalties and no increased assessment. There’s also no inherent expense: Homeowners can either submit a grievance at no cost on their own, or hire a property tax grievance firm, such as Maidenbaum, which typically charges no fees if the appeal is unsuccessful, and charges a percentage of the amount of the reduction, often up to 50 percent, for a successful appeal.
More information about filing a grievance, including applications and steps to file, can be found at nassaucountyny.gov/arc/arow.
By JULIA CAPITELLI jcapitelli@liherald.com
Nini Camps was a solo singer-songwriter in New York City when Kristen Henderson, the bassist for the all-female rock band Antigone Rising, asked her to get together to write music in 2009. The band soon got an offer to open for Joan Jett, and invited Camps to be a vocalist. The opportunity launched more than a decade of performances, and nonprofit work, with Camps as Antigone Rising’s lead singer.
The band was formed in 1993 by sisters Cathy and Kristen Henderson, now Kristen Ellis-Henderson. Several members have joined and left over the years. After Camps joined the Hendersons, Antigone Rising quickly made a record and resumed playing shows after a hiatus.
“It just felt like a good fit,” Camps said. “We had so much fun.” Camps, 54, has lived in Sea Cliff for roughly 15 years with her wife, Brooke. She said that she enjoys Sea Cliff’s thriving music scene.
Before the coronavirus pandemic began in 2020, Antigone Rising band was busy making music, touring and creating a nonprofit, Girl Rising. After the pandemic lockdowns eased, the group continued to play together on a smaller scale.
Girls Rising launched in 2014, after the band was invited by the U.S. State Department to travel to Israel and the Palestinian territory. There Antigone Rising worked in schools and community centers, playing music and talking to students and educators about their creative and musical process.
The trip, Camps explained, helped inspire them to
create the nonprofit. “We were an all-female band, and our crew that we took with us was female, and it was an anomaly,” she said. “… They were like, ‘We’ve never seen this. This is unusual.’ And we realized that as we went along, this was something that we faced a lot, even in the States.”
After returning to the United States, Antigone Rising began visiting LGBTQ centers, community centers and schools as they toured. Camps said the band got so many requests for these visits that they essentially became part of their tours and even events around which they based their schedule.
Girls Rising’s mission is to inspire young girls and LGBTQ youth to pursue nontraditional career paths and encourage all children to think, act and be themselves. Through performances, presentations and workshops, the band carried out the mission for nearly a decade, though it is now in what Camps described as a “pause.” “Things need a chance to sometimes rest and breathe” after operating for so long, she said.
Antigone Rising hosted the Girls Rising Music Festival annually for roughly eight years, first at Sea Cliff Beach and then at Glen Cove’s Morgan Park. It featured female artists, both seasoned musicians and younger ones just starting out.
“We were in a place where we were kind of in the middle,” Camps said, “where we were able to reach out to women who were real game-changers and real trailblazers ahead of us, who are very successful, and we were able to sort of hand that down to young women who were just making their way.”
As part of each year’s festival, the band recognized
women making a difference — who “showed up” — with a Game Changer Award. The band received donations and grants from artists like Joan Jett and Melissa Ethelridge. With that money, Antigone Rising was able to provide instruments and music education in Glen Cove, and help support young women pursuing music education.
Camps said that the band isn’t currently seeking gigs, but will take one if the opportunity presents itself. In the meantime, she is working on a solo album, her first since she joined the group.
By ALYSSA R. GRIFFIN agriffin@liherald.com
Not all scientists begin their careers in labs — some start in the shadow of dinosaurs. For Ray Ann Havasy, 63, of Port Washington, that early fascination led to a career defined by academic achievement, creative outreach and global science engagement.
With degrees in zoology, education and biology, and a doctorate in science education from Columbia University in 1998, Havasy built a foundation that combines rigorous scholarship with a passion for making science accessible.
She began her career in education, teaching science at East Meadow High School and Schreiber High School, in Port Washington, and later at the New York Institute of Technology’s School of Education.
Her interest in dinosaurs led to work with the Dinosaur Society and, in the early 1990s, as a technical adviser on “Jurassic Park,” helping guide how dinosaurs were portrayed while balancing scientific accuracy with cinematic storytelling. She partnered in the development of the touring “Dinosaurs of Jurassic Park” exhibit. Blending film props with real fossils and scientific content, the exhibit toured internationally for nearly eight years beginning around 1993, drawing crowds across the United States and in cities in Europe and the Netherlands. What stood out most, Havasy said, was the universal reaction: Children everywhere were captivated.
“The exhibit was amazing — I went all around the world with it,” she said. “That was a great experience,
Courtesy Ray Ann Havasy Ray Ann Havasy, founder and director of the Center for Science Teaching & Learning, in Rockville Centre, has built a multifaceted career focused on education.
also seeing that dinosaurs and science are universal.”
The exhibit also supported paleontological research worldwide, turning public interest into funding for scientific discovery — reinforcing her belief that handson experiences can spark lifelong curiosity.
That philosophy led her to Rockville Centre, where she founded the Center for Science Teaching & Learning in the Tanglewood Preserve in 2000. What began as a teacher-training initiative has grown into a hub for interactive, family-focused learning.
“A lot of museums are ‘look but don’t touch,’” Havasy said. “We’re the exact opposite. Our whole mission is to encourage people to learn about science and like science, because a lot of us went through school thinking science was hard and yucky.”
Today she continues to promote hands-on learning while encouraging more young women to pursue science with animals, nature and interactive experiences for fun learning.
“I wasn’t doing it for accolades,” she said. “I was doing it because these opportunities are exciting.”
Michele Anselmo, a teacher and an educator at the center, has worked with Havasy for over 15 years, on several innovative projects. “Ray Ann’s knowledge of science and education provides a wonderful support system for me and the other educators here,” Anselmo said.
Through her work, Havasy hopes to create a future in which more girls see science as a natural and attainable path. “I think it’s important that we find a way to encourage women to get involved in science,” she said. “I speak a lot to young women about encouraging them to be more attuned to being involved in science, and that would be a dream of mine, to have kids — young women — understand that science, engineering and math is for them, and is something that the world wants them to do.”
By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com
For Dr. Jacqueline Marecheau, chair of obstetrics and gynecology at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital, Women’s History Month is more than a celebration: It is a call to confront one of the nation’s most urgent and persistent health crises.
Marecheau has spent her career delivering babies and caring for mothers, working on the front lines of maternal health in underserved communities. She has been at Episcopal Health Services for six years, and her work is rooted in community health, equity and supporting the teams who care for women and families every day.
Marecheau earned an undergraduate degree in biomedical education from the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education (now the CUNY Medical School) and a medical degree from the SUNY Health Science Center at Brooklyn.
U.S. continues to have the highest maternal mortality rate among high-income nations, with Black women facing the greatest risks.
Between 2018 and 2021, Black women were three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women, according to federal health data. Marecheau emphasized that these disparities are rooted not in biology, but in systemic inequities including gaps in care, delayed diagnoses, implicit bias and lack of access to resources.
“I went through my third year of medical school rotations and I fell in love with OB/GYN,” she said. “I realized that I was drawn to women’s health because it interested me in medicine and advocacy. OB/GYN is a field where you can see direct results of action and education, and that’s always been meaningful to me.”
Marecheau’s experience underscores a troubling reality: Maternal health risks in the United States remain alarmingly high. About 22 women per 100,000 die from childbirth-related causes each year, and roughly 50,000 experience severe complications. The
If you’ve
At EHS, which serves the diverse and historically underserved Rockaway peninsula, Marecheau sees these challenges play out daily. The community has long faced barriers to high-quality care, but, she said, the hospital is working to change that narrative.
“I love improving access to pre-natal care, helping women navigate complex health decisions,” she said, “and knowing I can create a safer and healthier outcome for women who haven’t always historically been prioritized brings me immense joy.”
In August 2025, St. John’s opened a new state-of-the-art labor and delivery suite, restoring comprehensive maternity services to the area. The facility features private suites and emphasizes patientcentered care.
Marecheau has championed programs including doula support services, postpartum care initiatives and the Centering Pregnancy model, which combines prenatal visits with group education to improve outcomes for mothers and babies.
Tim Baker/Herald
Dr. Jacqueline Marecheau is the chair of obstetrics and gynecology at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital in Far Rockaway, which serves the diverse Rockaway peninsula.
“My focus these days is making sure services are equitable and culturally responsive,” she said.
Hospital staff have received additional training to better recognize early signs of complications, and systems have been implemented to ensure that patients receive follow-up care after they’re discharged, a critical period when many maternal deaths occur.
“No woman should feel that her pain is ignored or her concerns are dismissed,” Marecheau said.
By ABBEY SALVEMINI asalvemini@liherald.com
For Cynthia Seibold, recognizing the achievements and resilience of women is deeply personal. Raised by a single working mother, she saw firsthand the strength, determination and perseverance it takes to overcome challenges. Today she carries that legacy forward, and takes pride in inspiring strong, capable and resilient women herself.
Seibold’s path to founding Balloon Mission was unconventional. After earning a master’s degree in secondary education, she spent 20 years in the insurance industry, analyzing risk and researching hazards for organizations including the NBA and the NHL. “My mission at that job was to protect people from harm and save money,” she said. The role sharpened her research and problem-solving skills — which would later inspire her environmental advocacy.
The pandemic was a turning point. The health scare forced reflection. “It showed me how precious and fragile life is,” Seibold, 57, said. “Whatever days are left, I want to give back in some way.”
A lifelong Long Islander, she found peace by the ocean, but noticed balloon debris piling up on local beaches. While volunteering at cleanups, she researched the environmental impact of balloon releases. She was stunned by the volume of data on their harm to wildlife, waterways and ecosystems worldwide, with little accountability.
In March 2022, a New York Times article on the surging popularity of balloon decor was published on her late mother’s birthday, and Seibold took that as a sign. “The idea of a solution would not leave me
alone,” she said of the problem of balloon waste. “If not me, who was going to do it?”
So she launched Balloon Mission, the first balloon collection-recycling infrastructure in the United States. “Here I am, an ordinary citizen stepping up,” she said. “Not certified in anything, but I did know how to research.” The early days were challenging,
filled with “soul-crushing” moments and fears of being laughed at for “chasing balloons.”
What began with collection bins in three schools and one library has grown into a regional and national effort. In three years, Balloon Mission has collected more than 65,000 post-event balloons.
Seibold says that collaborative partnerships with strong, inspiring women helped make the initiative possible. “I would not be me without these partners,” she said, citing Allison DePerte, of the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, and Maureen Early, of the waste-management company Reworld.
She also praises Tara Moran-Schneider, senior conservation biologist with the Town of Hempstead’s Department of Conservation and Waterways, for installing 20 “No Balloon Release” signs in local parks and on beaches.
“We’ve become the experts in the room through research and data collection,” Seibold said — not because of advanced degrees, but thanks to research, partnerships and persistence.
Women have guided her journey. “It’s vital for young girls to see female leaders in all roles,” she said. “Leading by example shows that positive change is possible. There is no age limit.” Since Balloon Mission started, she has worked with Girl Scout troops, educating communities about responsible balloon practices by expanding “No Release” signs across Long Island.
Seibold’s message to women with a passion for change is simple: “If you have an idea or solution that has latched onto you and won’t shake free, that wakes you up in the middle of the night,” she said, “you have to pursue it.”
Last week’s “Pets” column described fiddling for felines at Last Hope. Kevin, an autistic client at Blue Raven Ministry, entertained the rescued Maine Coons. Previously, he played “Amazing Grace” on his violin at a nursing home when the ministry presented each of 60 residents with “You are Loved” Valentine’s Day T-shirts personalized with their names on the sleeve.
I asked if Kevin would play violin for the Maine Coon cats. I hoped this easygoing breed would enjoy live music and the movement of the bow. They did. The cat string serenade was a prelude to the T-shirts Blue Raven Ministry clients would design and print for the adopters of the Maine Coon cats. The shirts read “Maine Coon Mama” or “Maine Coon Maine Man,” whichever the adopter chose.
JOANNE ANDERSON
Larry Hung left a financial job in New York City during the pandemic to found Blue Raven Ministry, a nonprofit based in an Albertson warehouse and print shop. His goal was to provide job and life skills, along with a sense of giving back to the community, for young adults on the autism spectrum from age 21 — when they age out of publicschool services — through their 30s.
If the clients were going to design and manufacture these gift T-shirts for Maine Coon adopters, representative clients and staff needed to meet this social feline breed while they were still together at Last Hope Adoption Center. Hung and two clients — Kevin, 21, and Sammy, 31 — visited first. They sat with the free-roaming cats to sketch
logo designs after the concert.
Barbara Davis, chief instructor, suggested other ways her clients could collaborate with Last Hope in the future. She is a Last Hope dog adopter and an ailurophile. She met the Maine Coon cats as well. Patriarch, Mufasa — a large, long-haired tabby with a head tilt — perched on her shoulder with his polydactyl paws and nudged her earlobes.
TEE SHIRT SYNCHRONICITY
- EASIER SAID THAN DONE
“Maine Coon” is a magic phrase because the breed is extremely popular. From Jan. 20, when the we took in 32 of 120 neglected cats from a hoarder-breeder’s West Islip home, we refused to accept or screen adoption requests until the cats were medically ready.
Veterinary care took two months. Three cats are still awaiting test results, surgery, dental work or recovery from respiratory infections.
Persistence alone did not ensure a responsible home. Unrelenting callers were eager to adopt, but some advance applications contained red flags, according to Last Hope. We prioritized volunteers who cared for the cats, their family members and people highly recommended by veterinarians.
On March 20, the adoption committee began processing applications from people who had met the cats. Long-distance adopters were not considered. By the evening of May 21, every available Maine Coon had an adopter, an application or multiple applications.
Blue Raven hoped to customize adopter T-
Sample of Maine Coon Mama and Maine Coon Main Man tee shirts given to Last Hope Maine Coon adopters by Blue Raven Ministry.
shirts by style, size and color, but simplified the process by printing only large and extralarge sizes, with more “Maine Coon Mama” shirts than “Maine Man.” A tag asks adopters to take a photo wearing the shirt with their cat for @blueravenministry.
30 shirts were delivered on the weekend. The pace of adoptions exceeded expectations and those who left without shirts will still get them.
Meanwhile, Blue Raven clients created illustrated cage cards, including messages like “You will love me … not ‘lion,’” to hang on cat cages and dog runs. They are planning bracelets, bandannas and more T-shirts for adopters and volunteers, and possibly for sale at Last Hope’s Huntington thrift shop.
As Humphrey Bogart almost says to Claude Rains at the end of “Casablanca,” “Blue raven, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”
‘Peppa
By Abbey Salvemini
Oink if you love Mozart! The world’s most famous piggy is trading muddy puddles for the conductor’s baton. “Peppa Pig –
My First Concert” is headed to Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, on Saturday, March 28, offering families a vibrant, interactive introduction to the world of classical music.
Joined by Mummy Pig, Daddy Pig and George, Peppa leads young audiences through playful romp designed to give toddlers and preschoolers their very first taste of an orchestra — in this case, the Aurora Orchestra. By blending catchy hits from the popular TV series with masterpieces by Mozart and Beethoven, the production creates a bridge between playground favorites and the concert hall. At just 60 minutes long, it’s a perfectly sized musical adventure for “little piggies” as young as 18 months.
Families explore how different instruments create sound in this playful production giving the little ones their first taste of classical music in an engaging setting. From the first notes of the Peppa Pig theme to the soaring strings of the masters, the production invites families to see how an orchestra actually works. Peppa and her brother George learn alongside their audience, discovering the distinct sounds and shapes of the instruments as the music comes to life. It’s an engaging, front-row seat to the wonders of the woodwind, brass and string families.
“This is really an interactive introduction to a live orchestra for very young audiences,” says Stephanie Turner, Tilles Center’s director of education and outreach.
This is a ‘first concert’ in the truest sense — approachable, loud and full of life. Stripping away the formality of a standard concert hall, the production encourages little ones to respond to the music however they feel moved. Children are welcome to participate throughout — whether that means clapping along, dancing in the aisles or simply reacting to the music.
“Anything they want to do,” Turner says. “When kids hear familiar music, they love to get up and dance. Whatever movement or sound kids want to make is totally open.”
The production also introduces a fresh face to the Peppa-verse: Lucy. Played by Evie James, this specially created character serves as the show’s lively narrator, helping children navigate their very first symphonic experience, while interacting with Peppa and her friends.
The show blends puppetry, live music and audience participation, featuring four puppeteers and 12 musicians performing alongside Lucy and the Peppa Pig family. James eplains that the production offers young audiences a whimsical introduction to live theater and classical music through the adventures of Peppa and her family.
“The kids respond to it so well,” she says. “It’s a really sweet and fun show with an educational element.”
Continuing the Tilles Center’s commitment to inclusive programming, this program — part of its “Family Fun!” series — it’s done as a relaxed performance. The atmosphere is intentionally crafted to be welcoming and accommodating, providing a supportive space for neurodivergent audiences to enjoy the arts together.
“These performances feature modified sound and lighting levels,” Turner explains. “There’s also a quiet space with sensory toys if a child gets overwhelmed.”
Families can check out a ‘social story’ before the big day. This visual guide uses photos and simple descriptions to walk children through the entire theater experience, turning the ‘unknown’ into a familiar and exciting adventure. Everyone is also welcome to a free family workshop prior to showtime (for ticket holders), with crafts, games and storytime.
• Saturday, March 28, 2 p.m.
• Tickets start at $39, VIP tickets are $79.50; available at ticketmaster.com
• Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville
“Our goal is to provide the arts to the greater Long Island population,” Turner adds. “Through the Family Fun series, we bring shows like Peppa Pig, along with productions featuring characters like Curious George and ‘Sesame Street, so families can experience live performances together.”
Of course, for many children in the audience, Peppa Pig will be their first live performance.
“It’s age-appropriate, gentle and welcoming,” Turner continues. “You can come at any age or level and enjoy it. Even adults who’ve never been exposed to classical music can learn something.”
For James, the true magic happens after the curtain falls. Her goal is simple: to send the kids home feeling delighted with what’s transpired on stage.
“I hope they just have a fun time,” she says. “Maybe it will inspire them to listen to music, play an instrument themselves or develop an interest in theater.”
discover the magic of live music together at Tilles Center.
Isaac Mizrahi
Actor-host-writer-fashion designerproducer, performer extraordinaire Isaac Mizrahi is a truly unique talent. He regales his fans — and those just experiencing him for a first time — with song and his signature wit when he appears at Tilles Center. His one-of-a-kind show brings together comedy, commentar and an array of classic and soon-to-be classic songs from Stephen Sondheim to Blondie, Comden & Green to Madonna. He’s worked extensively in the entertainment industry for over 30 years. Most recently seen as Amos Hart in the Broadway production of “Chicago,” he heads here after his annual (triumphant) residency at Café Carlyle in Manhattan. Isaac also performs at such venues as Joe’s Pub and nationwide. Among his many credits, he’s the subject and co-creator of “Unzipped,” a documentary following the making of his Fall 1994 collection which received an award at the Sundance Film Festival.
Saturday, March 28, 8 p.m. Tilles Center, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Tickets available at tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100.
With his strikingly similar looks, baritone voic and spot-on mannerisms, Shawn Barker’s uncanny resemblance to the original “Man In Black” revitalizes the true character and spirit of Cash himself, for a one-of-a-kind show. In character throughout the entire evening, he takes the audience through each era of Cash’s life and music, including hits like “Folsom Prison Blues,” “I Walk The Line,” “A Boy Named Sue,” and “Ring of Fire,” backed by a full band. Born and raised in a working-class suburb of St. Louis, Barker took a schoolboy love for singing in church with his family and turned it into a career. The path to his current success wasn’t a straight line from gospel choir to Johnny Cash tribute act. After serving his country in the Army, Barker returned home to Missouri, took a job as a carpenter, and spent all of his free time learning how to play the guitar. His act then quickly turned from hobby to profession.
Sunday, March 29, 7 p.m. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at
25,
Loves Raymond: Celebrating 30 Years’
Visit the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame for an immersive exhibit (designed by LIMEHOF Creative Director, renowned designer Kevin O’Callaghan). It features the 70-foot-wide set from the show’s recent 30th anniversary TV special on CBS, never before on display. Visitors can walk into the world of the Barone family and explore their home through original studio sets, which include the living room, the kitchen and other areas of the house. Also see a variety of iconic items, including original clothing, the famous fork and spoon, and the Christmas toaster, among other classic items from the series. Multimedia clips, including behind the scenes and rare out-takes and a range of related videos play in LIMEHOF’s surround sound theater.
• Where: 97 Main St., Stony Brook
• Time: 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Contact: limusichalloffame.org or (631) 689-5888
Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting
The Town of Babylon ZBA meets. All are welcome to attend.
• Where: Town Board Room, Babylon Town Hall, 200 E. Sunrise Highway, Lindenhurst
• Time: 6 p.m.
• Contact: (631) 957-3012
Thrift Shop Stop by Simpson United Methodist Church’s Thrift Shop for some unique finds.
• Where: 30 Locust Ave., Amityville
• Time: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Contact: (631) 789-2569
St. Mary’s Thrift Shop
Stop by St. Mary’s Thrift Shop to check out some found treasures. Choose from collectibles, glassware, clothing and other gently used items.
• Where: St. Mary’s, 175 Broadway, Amityville (enter from rear parking lot)
• Time: 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Contact: (631) 464-4899
Teen Movie/Pizza
Copiague Memorial Public Library welcomes teens in grades 6-12 to a showing of “Karate Kid: Legends.” The sixth film in The Karate Kid franchise, it serves as a follow-up to “The Karate Kid” (2010) and the television
• Where: 12 Prospect St., Babylon
• Time: 5-6:30 p.m.
• Contact: (631) 661-5757
Copiague BOE meets
The Copiague School Board of Education holds their next meeting All are welcome to attend.
• Where: Everett E. Newmann III Administrative Offices at Copiague Middle School, 2650 Great Neck Road, Copiague
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Contact: (631)-842-4015
Babylon Planning Board meets
• Where: Tilles Center, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Contact: ticketmaster.com or tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100
Wish You Were Here celebrates the 50th Anniversary of Pink Floyd’s album “Wish You Were Here,” acclaimed as “one of the greatest albums of all time,” and cited by Pink Floyd keyboardist Richard Wright and guitarist David Gilmour as their favorite album. The band delivers a critically-acclaimed, stunningly authentic and heartfelt tribute experience, faithfully and expertly reproducing Pink Floyd’s timeless musical soundscapes with entirely live music and vocals. Immerse yourself in this captivating journey through Pink Floyd’s musical catalog with this top-level act! Wish You Where Here continues its 30-year tradition of combining sight and sound to capture the mood, emotions, and intensity of the Floydian theatrical concert experience — in a spectacular tribute of music, performers, lighting, video, lasers and inflatables — performed live with no backing or click tracks. The band is arguably the longest continually-performing Pink Floyd tribute act with an unparalleled history of sold-out concerts, record-breaking festival events and celebrated theater productions. The show utilizes a veteran 10-piece musical ensemble featuring seven vocalists and a Floydian stage production — sound effects and vintage videos on a large circle screen, flying inflatables, theatrical vignettes with props, and a sensational light show with moving lasers, rolling fog and state-of-the-art intelligent lighting — all produced with a fan’s obsession for detail. The band authentically recreates the music from Pink Floyd’s entire career, performing the crowd favorites that all rock fans recognize, interspersed with the show-stoppers that appease even the most ardent Floyd fanatics.
series “Cobra Kai” (2018–2025) Registration is required.
• Where: 50 Deauville Blvd., Copiague
• Time: 6-8 p.m.
• Contact: copiaguelibrary.org or (631) 691-1111
Visit Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum’s Reichert Planetarium for a family-friendly program with an astronomy educator. Tour the night sky from right in Centerport. Topics vary depending on the time of year, but can include seasonal constellations, visible planets, galaxies, nebulae, and more. $22, $18 seniors and students, $16 child 12 and under.
• Where: 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport
• Time: 2 p.m.; March 28, 2 and 8 p.m.; also April 4
• Contact: vanderbiltmuseum. org or call (631) 854-5579
• Time: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Contact: (631) 264-0152 or email amitychurch1792@gmail. com
ScribeCraft: Scrolls and Seals
Stop by Vanderbilt Museum for a creative adventure through the world of traditional writing arts. Each session explores a different ancient skill — from making your own writing materials to shaping the pages, scrolls, and bindings that once carried stories across centuries. Every workshop stands alone, offering a fun hands-on project you can jump into at any point, and together they form a complete path from raw materials to finished works you craft yourself. Whether you join for one session or multiple ScribeCraft invites you to slow down, experiment, and rediscover the joy of making something meaningful with your own hands. Drawing from traditions from throughout the world, explore the craft and history of handmade paper. $40, $36 members. Registration required.
• Where: 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport
• Time: TBD, also April 25
• Where:
• Contact: vanderbiltmuseum. org or call (631) 854-5579
MAR
The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame welcomes welcomes Medicine Fish. Originally started on Long Island in 2011, the New York/ Pennsylvania band cooks their music only using raw sound ingredients. Whether they’re tearing into a wild funk jam, making you clap and stomp with a folk n’ roll tune, or pushing full speed ahead with a vintage psychedelic fury, their music is produced under their creed that “music is human and so are we!” Their most recent EP, titled “Flooded With Sunlight”, was released on digital streaming services in March 2025.
• Where: 97 Main St., Stony Brook
• Time: 3 p.m.
• Contact: limusichalloffame.org or (631) 689-5888
Nourish Babylon Sit-Down Dinner
Every Monday Nourish Babylon holds a sit-down dinner at Christ Episcopal Church. All are welcome to attend. MAR
The Town of Babylon Planning Board holds their next meeting All are welcome to attend.
• Where: Town Board Room, Babylon Town Hall, 200 E. Sunrise Highway, Lindenhurst.
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Contact: (631) 957-4434
MAR 31
Babylon Accessory Apartment Review Board Meeting
The town holds an Accessory Apartment Review Board Meeting. All are welcome to attend.
• Where: Town Board Room, Babylon Town Hall, 200 E. Sunrise Highway, Lindenhurst
• Time: 6 p.m.
• Contact: (631) 957-7468
APR 1
BACCA Board Meeting
The Babylon Citizens Council on the Arts Board holds a meeting. All are welcome to attend.
• Where: Lindenhurst Memorial Library, 1 Lee Ave., Lindenhurst.
• Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m.
• Contact: (631) 957-7755
Having an event?
Items on the Calendar page are listed free of charge. The Herald welcomes listings of upcoming events, community meetings and items of public interest. All submissions should include date, time and location of the event, cost, and a contact name and phone number. Submissions can be emailed to kbloom@ liherald.com.
By Christie Leigh Babirad
Abby Kimmitt
Amityville
The bird song
Photo: Christie Leigh Babirad/ Herald
Zisamme Rom
Amityville
The flowers. The tulips. They do a very good job here in Amityville with the planting of so many flowers.
Photo: Christie Leigh Babirad/Herald
Dina Rosenberg Amityville
Toward the middle of Wood Avenue there are so many crocuses that come up. When I see them, I know spring is coming. It’s wild to see how many come up. Also, hearing the cardinals singing.
Photo: Christie Leigh Babirad/Herald
Tamara Dolguikh
Amityville
Just no snow. Birds chirping and getting back to the dog park.
Christie Leigh Babirad/Herald
Rebecca Waite
Amityville
Oh my goodness, I’m just ready to see some grass. Every spring outside my bedroom window I have a Mourning Dove. She sounds like an owl, but whenever I hear her, I know warmer weather is coming. I also can’t wait for all the white lilies that fill the yards of homes on Ketcham Avenue, and for some reason, the whole street always smells like scallions and onions. I know the smell because my grandmother had a garden and she had scallions growing. I always miss her the most in the spring and summer because she had the biggest and most amazing garden I have ever seen.
NOTICE OF SPECIAL DISTRICT MEETING
COPIAGUE MEMORIAL PUBLIC LIBRARY
TOWN OF BABYLON, SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN to the qualified voters of the Copiague Union Free School District, Copiague, Suffolk County, New York, that a Special District Meeting will be held in the Copiague Memorial Public Library, 50 Deauville Boulevard, Copiague, New York on April 14, 2026, for the purpose of voting upon the appropriation of the necessary funds to meet the estimated expenditures of the Copiague Memorial Public Library for the 2026/2027 year, and the election of one (1) trustee of the Copiague Memorial Public Library. The term of said trustee shall be as follows: April 15, 2026 to June 30, 2031. The voting shall be by machine, and the polls will remain open from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., prevailing time.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that petitions nominating candidates for the office of Copiague Memorial Public Library Trustee must be filed with the District Clerk’s Office of the Copiague Union Free School District during regular business hours no later than 4:00 p.m. on the 30th day prior to the Special District Meeting. The Petitions shall be directed to the District Clerk; shall be signed by at least twenty five (25) qualified voters of the School District or two (2%) percent of the voters who voted in the previous annual election, whichever is greater; shall state the residence of each
signer and shall state the name and residence of the candidate being nominated for the office of trustee of the Copiague Memorial Public Library including the name of the incumbent and the length of the term of office of the position sought.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that pursuant to Section 2014 of the Education Law, personal registration of voters is required and no person shall be entitled to vote at said meeting and election whose name does not appear on the register of the said School District, or who does not register as hereinafter provided except as may otherwise be provided by the laws of the State of New York. The register so prepared includes all persons who have presented themselves personally for registration in accordance herewith, and all persons who shall have been registered previously hereunder for an Annual or Special Meeting, and who shall have voted at any Annual Meeting or Election, held or conducted at any time within four (4) years prior to April 14, 2026.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the Board of Trustees of the Copiague Memorial Public Library will hold a Special Budget Hearing on April 8, 2026 at the Copiague Memorial Public Library, 50 Deauville Boulevard, Copiague, New York, at 6:00 p.m., prevailing time.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that voters at the May 19, 1998 Copiague Union Free School District Budget/Trustee Election approved Continuous Voter Registration. Qualified
voters may register on a continuous basis for Copiague Union Free School District and Copiague Memorial Public Library votes/ elections as follows: Registration will be conducted Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. during the school year, and from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday during school recesses at the Office of the District Clerk, Central Administration Office, 2650 Great Neck Road, Copiague, NY 11726 except there will be no registration allowed seven [7] days prior to the election.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that applications for early voting ballots and absentee ballots for the purpose of voting upon the appropriation of the necessary funds to meet the estimated expenditures of the Copiague Memorial Public Library for the 2026/2027 year, and for the election of one (1) Library Trustee may be obtained from the Office of the District Clerk of the Copiague Union Free School District, 2650 Great Neck Rd., Copiague, NY 11726. Such application must be received by the District Clerk at least seven (7) days before the election if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the election if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter. No early mail ballot or absentee voter ballot will be canvassed unless it has been received in the office of the District Clerk not later than 5:00 p.m. [prevailing time] on the day of the election. A list of all persons to whom early mail ballots and absentee ballots have been issued will be available in the Office
of the District Clerk on each of the five (5) days prior to the day set for the Budget Vote and Election of a Library Trustee, except Saturdays and Sundays.
NOTICE IS
FURTHER GIVEN that military voters who are qualified voters of the Copiague Union Free School District may request an application for a military ballot from the District Clerk by mail to the Office of the District Clerk, Central Administration Office, 2650 Great Neck Road, Copiague, NY 11726, by e-mail at dvanflorcke@copiague.net or by fax at 631-841-4614. In such request, the military voter may indicate his/her preference for receiving the application by mail, fax or e-mail. A military voter must return the original military ballot application by mail to the office of the District Clerk at Central Administration Office, 2650 Great Neck Road, Copiague, NY 11726. This application must be returned by mail or in person to the Office of the School District Clerk, or appropriate official designated by the school district public library, as applicable, not later than 5:00 PM on the twenty-sixth (26th) day before the election for all school districts and school district public libraries, except city school districts with less than 125,000 inhabitants in which case the application must be received not later than 5:00 PM on the fifteenth (15th) day before the election. Military ballot applications received in accordance with the foregoing will be processed in the same manner as a non-military ballot application under Section 2018 of
the Education Law. The application for a military ballot should include the military voter’s preference for receipt of the military ballot by mail, fax or e-mail.
AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN a military voter’s original military ballot must be returned by mail to the Office of the District Clerk, Central Administration Office, 2650 Great Neck Road, Copiague, NY 11726. Military voters must submit a separate military ballot application for each election at which they wish to cast a vote, except any necessary budget revote. Military ballots shall be canvassed if they are received by the office of the District Clerk not later than 5:00 p.m. (prevailing time) on the day of the election, or showing a cancellation mark of the United States Postal Service or a foreign country’s postal service or showing a dated endorsement of receipt by another agency of the United States Government; or received no later than 5:00 p.m. (prevailing time) on the day of the election and signed and dated by the military voter and one witness thereto, with a date which is ascertained to be not later than the day before the election/vote.
By order of the Board of Trustees of the Copiague Memorial Public Library, Copiague Union Free School District, Town of Babylon, Suffolk County, New York 26-52. 3/11, 18, 25, 4/1
NOTICE is hereby given that the PLANNING BOARD of the Village of Amityville will hold a Public Hearing in
the Court Room of Village Hall, 21 Ireland Place, Amityville, NY at 6:00 P.M. on THURSDAY, April 2, 2026, to consider the following applications: Applicant of Amityville Historical Society. Applicants seek architectural review and approval for the addition of an 11’ x 43’ extension pursuant to Section 24-6 A. (1) (g) of the Village of Amityville Code. Premises located on the corner of Broadway (Route 110), Ireland Place, and Park Avenue in a "Historical" district known as 170 Broadway a/k/a SCTM# 101-5-7-2.1
By Order of the Planning Board, Village of Amityville Catherine Murdock, Clerk/Treasurer 26-59 . 3/18, 25
Notice of formation of EMILY EVER AFTER Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SS Y) on 02/08/2026
Office location, County of Suffolk SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a process served to: Emily Ever After 6 Albert Road Amityville, NY 11701
Purpose: any lawful act.
26-58. 3/18, 25, 4/1, 8, 15, 22
Notice of formation of JC Edward Consulting LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York on 1/19/2026
Office location, 19 Francine Ave., Amityville, NY, County of Suffolk. Secretary of State of New York has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. Secretary of State of New York shall mail a process served to: JC Edward Consulting LLC, 54 State Street, STE 804, Albany, NY 12207 Purpose: any lawful act
26-40 2/18, 25, 3/4, 11, 28, 25
Notice of Formation of ENCLAVE HOMES LLC
Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 11/14/2025
Office location: County of Suffolk. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a process served to: ENCLAVE HOMES LLC, 216 E State Street, Suite 100, Trenton, NJ 08608 Purpose: any lawful act. 26-57 3/11, 18, 25, 4/1, 8, 10
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BY THE TOWN OF BABYLON ACCESSORY APARTMENT REVIEW BOARD Pursuant to provisions of Local Law # 9 of the Babylon Town Code, notice is hereby given that the Town of Babylon Accessory Apartment Review Board will hold a public hearing in the Town Board Meeting Room in the East Wing of Town Hall, 200 East Sunrise Highway, Lindenhurst, New
York on Tuesday eve, March 31st, 2026. Public hearings begin 6:00pm. NEW
APPLICATIONS:
•Shamsul K. Chowdhury 309 Woods Rd North Babylon, NY 11703
SCTM#0100-1114-37
•Lawrence Nappi & Robert DaultonNappi 946 Tooker Ave West Babylon, NY 11704
SCTM#0100-139-163.001
•Grace Okusanya 897 Deer Park Ave North Babylon, NY 11703
SCTM#0100-151-1103.002
Printing
Instructions: RENEWALS BY AFFIDAVIT APPLICANTS, ARE NOT REQUIRED TO APPEAR. ALL NEW CASES WILL BE HEARD IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY ARE ADVERTISED. All interested persons should appear at the above time and place by order of Sandra Thomas, Chairperson, Accessory Apartment Review Board, Town of Babylon, North Lindenhurst, Suffolk County, New York.
Amityville Record: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 26-63. 3/25
AVISO DE REUNIÓN ESPECIAL
DEL DISTRITO DE LA BIBLIOTECA
PÚBLICA DE AMITYVILLE
VOTACIÓN PRESUPUESTARIA Y ELECCIÓN DE LOS ADMINISTRADORES
14 DE ABRIL DE 2026
SE EMITE AVISO de que se celebrará una Reunión Especial de los votantes cualificados del Distrito Escolar Libre de Amityville Union (el "Distrito"), el municipio de Babylon, condado de Suffolk y el municipio de Oyster Bay, condado de Nassau, Nueva York, en la Biblioteca Pública de Amityville, 19 John St., Amityville, Nueva York 11701 (la "Biblioteca"), el martes 14 de abril, 2026, entre las 10:00 y las 21:00, con el fin de votar los siguientes puntos:
• Adoptar el presupuesto anual de la Biblioteca Pública de Amityville para el año fiscal 2026-2027, y autorizar que la parte necesaria de este se recaude, mediante impuestos, sobre los bienes sujetos a impuestos del Distrito; y
• La elección de dos (2) miembros de la Junta de Síndicos, compuestos por: (i) uno (1) fideicomisario para servir un mandato de cinco años que comienza el 1 de julio de 2026 y expira el 30 de junio de 2031; y (ii) un (1) fideicomisario para cumplir un mandato de un año que comienza el 1 de julio de 2026 y expira el 30 de junio de 2027. El candidato que reciba el mayor número de votos será elegido para el mandato de cinco años, y el candidato que reciba el segundo mayor número de votos será elegido para el mandato de un año.
SE NOTIFICA
ADEMÁS que los candidatos al cargo de Fideicomisario de
la Junta de Síndicos de la Biblioteca serán nominados mediante petición. Las peticiones deben presentarse ante el Secretario del Distrito Escolar (dirección anterior), entre las 9:00 y las 17:00 horas, a más tardar el lunes 16 de marzo de 2026. Los formularios de petición pueden obtenerse del Secretario del Distrito Escolar. Cada petición debe dirigirse al Secretario del Distrito Escolar; debe indicar el nombre y la dirección del candidato; debe estar firmado por al menos veinticinco (25) votantes cualificados del Distrito y indicar la dirección de cada firmante.
SE NOTIFICA
ADEMÁS que se pueden obtener copias de un estado de cuenta de los gastos estimados de la biblioteca para el año fiscal 2026-2027 en la Biblioteca (dirección anterior) y en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito Escolar, situada en 150 Park Ave., Amityville, NY 11701, todos los días excepto sábados y domingos, a partir del 16 de marzo de 2026, entre las 9:00 y las 16:00 horas.
SE EMITE
ADEMÁS AVISO de que la Biblioteca acogerá una reunión informativa pública con el fin de debatir el presupuesto propuesto para el periodo 20262027 el 30 de marzo de 2026 a las 18:00. Se invita a todos los residentes del distrito a asistir a la Biblioteca.
SE NOTIFICA
ADEMÁS que, conforme a la sección 2014 de la Ley de Educación, se requiere el registro personal de los votantes, y ninguna persona tendrá derecho a votar en dicha reunión y elección cuyo nombre no aparezca ya en el registro de dicho
distrito escolar, o que no se registre según lo establecido posteriormente, salvo que lo dispongan las leyes del Estado de Nueva York. La inscripción está disponible en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito Escolar (dirección arriba) de lunes a viernes, de 9:00 a 16:00, hasta el 14 de abril de 2026. El registro así preparado incluye a todas las personas que se hayan presentado personalmente para su registro conforme a este documento, así como a todas las personas que hayan estado previamente registradas bajo este término para una reunión o elección anual o extraordinaria, y que hayan votado en cualquier asamblea o elección anual, celebrada o celebrada en cualquier momento dentro de los cuatro (4) años previos a la preparación del registro. Un votante cualificado es aquel que (i) es ciudadano de los Estados Unidos, (ii) tiene al menos dieciocho (18) años de edad y (iii) es residente dentro del Distrito durante un periodo de treinta (30) días previos a la reunión y elección SE NOTIFICA
ADEMÁS que las solicitudes para votos anticipados por correo o por correo pueden solicitarse en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito Escolar (dirección arriba). Las solicitudes completadas deben recibirse en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito Escolar al menos siete (7) días antes de la elección, si la papeleta se va a enviar por correo al votante, o el día antes de la elección, si la papeleta debe entregarse personalmente al votante. Las papeletas anticipadas por correo o por correo deben ser recibidas por el secretario del distrito
escolar, o en el colegio electoral de la biblioteca, a más tardar a las 17:00 horas, hora vigente, el lunes 13 de abril de 2026. Una lista de personas a las que se hayan entregado papeletas anticipadas por correo o por correo estará disponible en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito Escolar en cada uno de los cinco días previos al día de la elección, excepto sábados y domingos, y dicha lista también se publicará en el colegio electoral durante la elección.
SE DA ADEMÁS
AVISO de que un votante cualificado cuya capacidad para comparecer personalmente en el colegio electoral esté sustancialmente afectada por motivos de enfermedad permanente o discapacidad física, y cuyo registro de registro haya sido marcado como "permanentemente discapacitado" por la Junta Electoral conforme a las disposiciones de la Ley de Educación, tendrá derecho a recibir una papeleta de voto por correo sin presentar solicitudes separadas para ello.
SE DA UN AVISO
ADICIONAL de que los votantes militares que no estén actualmente registrados pueden solicitar registrarse como votantes cualificados. Los votantes militares que sean votantes cualificados del Distrito de la Biblioteca pueden presentar una solicitud para una papeleta militar. Los votantes militares pueden designar una preferencia para recibir un registro de votante militar, una solicitud de papeleta militar o una papeleta militar por correo, transmisión por fax o correo electrónico en su solicitud de dicho registro, solicitud de papeleta o papeleta.
Los formularios de registro de votantes militares y las solicitudes de papeleta militar deben recibirse en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito Escolar (dirección arriba) a más tardar a las 17:00 horas del viernes 20 de marzo de 2026. No se solicitará ninguna papeleta militar a menos que la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito Escolar la reciba a más tardar a las 17:00 horas del día de las elecciones.
Fechado: Amityville, Nueva York 19 de febrero de 2026
POR ORDEN DE LA JUNTA DE FIDEICOMISARIOS DE LA BIBLIOTECA PÚBLICA DE AMITYVILLE, DEL PUEBLO DE BABYLON Y DEL PUEBLO DE BAY, SUFFOLK COUNTYOYSTERNASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK
POR SECRETARIO DEL DISTRITO DISTRITO ESCOLAR LIBRE DE AMITYVILLE UNION, MUNICIPIO DE BABYLON, CONDADO DE SUFFOLK, MUNICIPIO DE OYSTER BAY, CONDADO DE NASSAU, NUEVA YORK
26-44 2/25, 3/11. 25, 4/8
SUPPLEMENTAL
SUMMONS Supreme Court of New York, Suffolk County. US BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE FOR CABANA SERIES V TRUST, Plaintiff -againstSEBASTIAN RASPANTI; ROSE ANN RASPANTI A/K/A ROSEANN A. RASPANTI A/K/A ROSEANN PERILLO, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF CARMELA DICARLO; JOHN J. PERILLO, JR., AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF CARMELA DICARLO; MICHELLE A. O’BRIEN A/K/A MICHELLE A. PERILLO, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF CARMELA DICARLO; MEGAN N. OLIVER A/K/A MEGAN N. PERILLO, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF CARMELA DICARLO; MELANIE SANTLOFER A/K/A MELANIE PERILLO, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF CARMELA DICARLO; KAREN A. PERILLO, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF CARMELA DICARLO; UNKNOWN HEIRS OF THE ESTATE OF JOHN S. PERILLO, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF CARMELA DICARLO; UNKNOWN HEIRS OF THE ESTATE OF CARMELA DICARLO; CITIZENS BANK, N.A. F/K/A RBS CITIZENS, N.A.; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA O/B/O INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE; CLERK OF THE SUFFOLK
COUNTY TRAFFIC & PARKING VIOLATIONS AGENCY; "JOHN DOE" and "JANE DOE" said names being fictitious, it being the intention of Plaintiff to designate any and all occupants of premises being foreclosed herein, Defendants Index No. 627293/2023. Mortgaged Premises: 5 Clifton Street Farmingdale, NY 11735 District: 0100 Section: 070.00 Block: 03.00 Lot: 002.000TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above captioned action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the Plaintiff's attorney within twenty (20) days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after completion of service where service is made in any other manner than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a Defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service hereof. In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECTIVE of the above-captioned action is to foreclose on a mortgage to secure $416,650.00 and interest, recorded in the Suffolk County Clerk’s Office on May 5, 2011, in Book M00022073, Page 051, covering the premises known as 5 Clifton Street, Farmingdale, NY 11735. The relief sought herein is a final judgment directing sale of the premises described above to satisfy
the debt secured by the mortgage described above. Plaintiff designates Suffolk County as the place of trial. Venue is based upon the County in which the mortgaged premises is located. NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. FRIEDMAN VARTOLO, LLP 1325 Franklin Avenue, Suite 160 Garden City, NY 11530, Attorneys for Plaintiff. 26-56. 3/11, 18, 25, 4/1
NOTICE OF SPECIAL DISTRICT MEETING OF THE AMITYVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY BUDGET VOTE AND TRUSTEE ELECTION
APRIL 14, 2026
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Special Meeting of the qualified voters of the Amityville Union Free School District (the “District”), Town of Babylon, Suffolk County and Town of Oyster Bay, Nassau County, New York will be held at the Amityville Public Library, 19 John St., Amityville, New York 11701 (the “Library”) on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, between the hours of 10:00am and 9:00pm, for the purpose of voting on the following items:
• To adopt the annual budget of the Amityville Public Library for the fiscal year 2026-2027, and to authorize the requisite portion thereof to be raised by taxation upon the taxable property of the District; and
• The election of two (2) members of the Board of Trustees, consisting of: (i) one (1) trustee to serve a five-year term commencing July 1, 2026 and expiring June 30, 2031; and (ii) one (1) trustee to serve a one-year term commencing July 1, 2026 and expiring June 30, 2027. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected to the five-year term, and the candidate receiving the second highest number of votes shall be elected to the oneyear term.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that candidates for the office of Trustee of the Library Board of Trustees shall be nominated by petition. Petitions must be filed with the School
District Clerk (address above), between the hours of 9:00am and 5:00pm no later than Monday, March 16, 2026. Forms of petition may be obtained from the School District Clerk. Each petition must be directed to the School District Clerk; must state the name and address of the candidate; must be signed by at least twenty-five (25) qualified voters of the District and list each signer’s address.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that copies of a statement of the estimated library expenses for the fiscal year 2026-2027 may be obtained at the Library (address above) and in the Office of the School District Clerk, located at 150 Park Ave., Amityville, NY 11701, daily except Saturday and Sunday, beginning March 16, 2026, between 9:00am and 4:00pm.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN, that the Library will host a public informational meeting for the purposes of discussion of the proposed 20262027 Library Budget on March 30, 2026 at 6:00pm. All residents of the District are invited to attend at the Library.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that pursuant to section 2014 of the Education Law, personal registration of voters is required, and no person shall be entitled to vote at said meeting and election whose name does not already appear on the register of said school district, or who does not register as hereinafter provided, except as may otherwise be provided by the laws of the State of New York. Registration is available in the Office of the School District Clerk (address above) Monday through
Friday, from 9:00am to 4:00pm, through April 14, 2026. The register so prepared includes all persons who have presented themselves personally for registration in accordance herewith, and all persons who shall have been registered previously hereunder for an annual or special meeting or election, and who shall have voted at any annual meeting or election, held or conducted at any time within four (4) years prior to the preparation of the register. A qualified voter is one who is (i) a citizen of the United States, (ii) at least eighteen (18) years of age, and (iii) a resident within the District for a period of thirty (30) days next preceding the meeting and election NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that applications for early mail or absentee ballots may be applied for at the Office of the School District Clerk (address above). Completed applications must be received in the Office of the School District Clerk at least seven (7) days before the election, if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the election, if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter. Early mail or absentee ballots must be received by the School District Clerk, or in the polling place at the Library, not later than 5:00pm, prevailing time, on Monday, April 13, 2026. A list of persons to whom early mail or absentee ballots shall have been issued will be available in the Office of the School District Clerk on each of the five days prior to the day of the election, except Saturdays and Sundays and such list will also be posted at the polling place at the election.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN, that a qualified voter whose ability to appear personally at the polling place is substantially impaired by reasons of permanent illness or physical disability, and whose registration record has been marked “permanently disabled” by the Board of Elections pursuant to the provisions of the Education Law, shall be entitled to receive an absentee ballot without making separate applications therefor.
FURTHER NOTICE IS GIVEN that military voters who are not currently registered may apply to register as a qualified voter. Military voters who are qualified voters of the Library District may submit an application for a military ballot. Military voters may designate a preference to receive a military voter registration, military ballot application or military ballot by mail, facsimile transmission, or electronic mail in their request for such registration, ballot application or ballot. Military voter registration forms and military ballot applications must be received in the Office of the School District Clerk (address above) no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday March 20, 2026. No military ballot will be canvassed unless it is received by the Office of the School District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on the day of the election.
Dated: Amityville, New York February 19, 2026 BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE AMITYVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY, TOWN OF BABYLON, SUFFOLK COUNTY AND TOWN OF OYSTER BAY, NASSAU COUNTY, NEW
YORK BY DISTRICT CLERK
AMITYVILLE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT, TOWN OF BABYLON, SUFFOLK COUNTY, TOWN OF OYSTER BAY, NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK
26-43. 2/25, 3/11, 25, 4/8
NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. Sketch Imprint LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York, (SSNY) on 03/15/26. NY Office location: Suffolk County. SSNY has been designated as an agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of the process to: 6 Bank Ct Greenlawn, NY 11740
Purpose: To engage in any lawful act or activity.
26-64. 3/25, 4/1, 8,15, 22, 29
NOTICE OF PUBLIC AND/ OR INFORMATIONAL HEARINGS BY THE TOWN OF BABYLON PLANNING BOARD
Pursuant to Chapter 186, Site Plan Review, and Chapter 213, Zoning, of the Babylon Town Code and Section 276 of the Town Law, notice is hereby given that the Town of Babylon Planning Board will hold public and/or informational hearings(s) at the Babylon Town Hall, Town Board Room, 200 East Sunrise Highway, Lindenhurst, New York, on the Monday, March 30, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. prevailing time or as soon thereafter as can be heard to con-
sider the following application(s):
PUBLIC HEARING/ SITE PLAN REVIEW
JOB# HPLN-28 (2562A); Crescent Group Realty, Inc.: SCTM# 0100-198-02-029: Zone – G Industry Prefabricated: SEQRA - Unlisted Action, Uncoordinated Review: Applicant proposes construction of a new one-story 20,000sf (footprint) prefabricated metal manufacturing/warehouse building with 600sf of office space, four (4) overhead doors, and associated site improvements.: Property is located on the southwest corner of Strong Avenue and Chettic Avenue, northwest corner of Strong Avenue and Victoria Avenue, Copiague, Suffolk County, Town of Babylon, New York PUBLIC HEARING/SITE PLAN REVIEW/BAR/RESTAURANT
JOB# HPLN-10 (2540AF); Sake Asia: SCTM# 0100-21302-032.004: Zone – E Business: SEQRA –Type II Action: Applicant proposes to expand an existing 81 seat Bar/Restaurant into two (2) adjoining tenant spaces in order to increase the amount of seats to 126, along with associated site improvements.: Property is located on the southeast corner of New York State Route 109 and Edel Avenue, West Babylon, Suffolk County, Town of Babylon, New York All interested persons should appear at the above time and place by order of Patrick Halpin, Chairperson of the Planning Board, Town of Babylon, North Lindenhurst, Suffolk County, New York PRINTING INSTRUCTIONS
Amityville Record: 03/25/26 26-65 3/25
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK INDEX NO. 619832/2025
COUNTY OF SUFFOLK
Plaintiff designates SUFFOLK as the place of trial situs of the real property
SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS
Mortgaged Premises: 41 SOUTH 31ST STREET, WYANDANCH, NY 11798
District: 0100, Section: 054.00, Block: 04.00, Lot: 019.002
MORTGAGE ASSETS MANAGEMENT, LLC, Plaintiff, vs. LAWRENCE SCOTT, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF ANNABELLE SCOTT; ERIC SCOTT, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF ANNABELLE SCOTT; VALENCIO BLACKWOOD, JR., AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF ANNABELLE SCOTT; CARL ANTHONY BLACKWOOD, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF ANNABELLE SCOTT; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES OF THE ESTATE OF ANNABELLE SCOTT, any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or general or specific lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administra-
tors, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff; SUSTAINABLE NEIGHBORHOODS LLC; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, "JOHN DOE #1" through "JOHN DOE #12," the last twelve names being fictitious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the premises, described in the complaint, Defendants. To the above named Defendants YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above entitled action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days of the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after service of the same is complete where service is made in any manner other than by personal deContinued on next page
Continued from previous
livery within the State.
The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service. Your failure to appear or to answer will result in a judgment against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. In the event that a deficiency balance remains from the sale proceeds, a judgment may be entered against you.
NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT
THE OBJECT of the above caption action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure the sum of $352,500.00 and interest, recorded on February 14, 2007, in Liber M00021476 at Page 599, of the Public Records of SUFFOLK County, New York., covering premises known as 41 SOUTH 31ST STREET, WYANDANCH, NY 11798. The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above.
SUFFOLK County is designated as the place of trial because the real property affected by this action is located in said county.
NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME
If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your
home.
Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action.
YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.
Dated: March 17th, 2026
ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC
Attorney for Plaintiff Matthew Rothstein, Esq.
900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310 Westbury, NY 11590
516-280-7675
26-67 3/25, 4/1, 8, 15
AVISO DE REUNIÓN ESPECIAL DEL DISTRITO
BIBLIOTECA MEMORIAL PÚBLICA DE COPIAGUE
CIUDAD DE BABYLON, CONDADO DE SUFFOLK, NUEVA YOR
SE NOTI -
FICA a los votantes calificados del Distrito Escolar Libre de Copiague, Copiague, Condado de Suffolk, Nueva York, que se llevará a cabo una Reunión Especial del Distrito en la Biblioteca Memorial Pública de Copiague, 50 Deauville Boulevard, Copiague, Nueva York, el 14 de Abril de 2026 con el propósito de votar sobre la asignación de los fondos necesarios para satisfacer los gastos estimados de la Biblioteca Memorial Pública de Copiague para el año 2026/2027, y la elección de un (1) fideicomisario de la Biblioteca Memorial Pública de Copiague. El mandato de fideicomisario será el siguiente: [1] del 15 de Abril de 2026 al 30 de Junio de 2031. La votación se realizará por maquina de voto y los lugares de votación permanecerán abiertas desde 10:00 a.m. hasta las 8:00 p.m., hora predominante.
SE NOTIFI-
CA ADEMÁS que las peticiones que nominan a los candidatos para el cargo de Fideicomisario de la Biblioteca Memorial Pública de Copiague deben presentarse en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito Escolar Libre y Unido de Copiague durante el horario normal de trabajo no más tarde de las 4:00 p.m. del día 30 antes de la Reunión Especial del Distrito. Las Peticiones deberán dirigirse al Secretario del Distrito; deberán estar firmadas por al menos veinticinco (25) votantes
cualificados del Distrito Escolar o por el dos (2%) por ciento de los votantes que votaron en la elección anual anterior, lo que sea mayor; deberán indicar la residencia de cada firmante y deberán indicar el nombre y la residencia del candidato que se propone para el cargo de fideicomisario de la Biblioteca Memorial Pública de Copiague, incluyendo el nombre del titular y la duración del mandato del cargo solicitado.
SE NOTIFICA ADEMÁS que de acuerdo con la Sección 2014 de la Ley de Educación, se requiere el registro personal de los votantes y ninguna persona tendrá derecho a votar en dicha reunión y elección cuyo nombre no aparezca en el registro de dicho Distrito Escolar, o que no se registre como se dispone en lo sucesivo, salvo que las leyes del Estado de Nueva York dispongan lo contrario. El registro así preparado incluye a todas las personas que se hayan presentado personalmente para registrarse de acuerdo con lo aquí dispuesto, y a todas las personas que se hayan registrado previamente en virtud del presente documento para una Asamblea Anual o Especial, y que hayan votado en cualquier Asamblea Anual o Elección, celebrada o realizada en cualquier momento dentro de los cuatro (4) años anteriores al 14 de Abril de 2026.
SE NOTIFICA ADEMÁS que la Junta de Fideicomisarios de la Biblioteca Memorial Pública de Copiague llevará a cabo una Audiencia Presupuestaria Especial el 8 de Abril de 2025 en la Biblioteca Memorial Pública de Copiague, 50 Deau-
ville Boulevard, Copiague, Nueva York, a las 6:00 p.m., hora vigente.
SE NOTIFICA
ADEMÁS que los votantes en la Elección de Presupuesto/Fideicomiso del Distrito Escolar Libre y Unido de Copiague del 19 de Mayo de 1998 aprobaron la Inscripción Continua de Votantes. Los votantes calificados pueden registrarse en forma continua para las votaciones/ elecciones del Distrito Escolar Libre y Unido de Copiague y de la Biblioteca Memorial Pública de Copiague de la siguiente manera: La inscripción se realizará de Lunes a Viernes de 9:00 a.m. a 3:00 p.m. durante el año escolar, y de 9:00 a.m. a 1:00 p.m. de Lunes a Jueves durante los recesos escolares en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito, Oficina de Administración Central, 2650 Great Neck Road, Copiague, NY 11726, excepto que no se permitirá la inscripción siete [7] días antes de la elección.
SE NOTIFICA
ADEMÁS que las solicitudes de boletas de votación anticipada y boletas de voto en ausencia con el propósito de votar sobre la asignación de los fondos necesarios para cubrir los gastos estimados de la Biblioteca Memorial Pública de Copiague para el año 2026/2027, y para la elección de un (1) fideicomisario de la Biblioteca pueden obtenerse en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito del Distrito Escolar Libre y Unido de Copiague, 2650 Great Neck Rd., Copiague, NY 11726. Dicha solicitud debe ser recibida por el Secretario del Distrito al menos siete [7] días antes de la elección si la boleta debe ser enviada por correo al votante, o el
día antes de la elección si la boleta debe ser entregada personalmente al votante. Ningun boleta de voto anticipado por correo o de votante ausente será escrutada a menos que haya sido recibida en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito no más tarde de las 5:00 p.m. [hora prevaleciente] del día de la elección. Una lista de todas las personas a las cuales se les ha emitido boletas de votación anticipada por correo y boletas de votante ausente estará disponible en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito cada uno de los cinco (5) días anteriores al día fijado para la Votación del Presupuesto y la Elección de un Fideicomisario de la Biblioteca, excepto los sábados y domingos.
SE NOTIFICA ADEMÁS que los votantes militares que son votantes calificados del Distrito Escolar Libre y Unido de Copiague pueden solicitar una solicitud de boleta militar al Secretario del Distrito por correo a la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito, Oficina de Administración Central, 2650 Great Neck Road, Copiague, NY 11726, por correo electrónico a dvanflorcke@copiague. net o por fax al 631841-4614. En dicha solicitud, el votante militar puede indicar su preferencia para recibir la solicitud por correo, fax o correo electrónico. El votante militar debe devolver el original de la solicitud de papeleta militar por correo a la oficina del Secretario de Distrito en la Oficina de Administración Central, 2650 Great Neck Road, Copiague, NY 11726. Esta solicitud debe devolverse por correo o en persona a la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito Escolar,
o al funcionario apropiado designado por la biblioteca pública del distrito escolar, según corresponda, no más tarde de las 5:00 p.m. del veintiseis (26) día antes de la elección para todos los distritos escolares y las bibliotecas públicas de los distritos escolares, excepto los distritos escolares de la ciudad con menos de 125.000 habitantes, en cuyo caso la solicitud debe recibirse no más tarde de las 5:00 p.m. del quince (15) día antes de la elección. Las solicitudes de boletas militares recibidas de acuerdo con lo anterior serán procesadas de la misma manera que una solicitud de boleta no militar bajo la Sección 2018 de la Ley de Educación. La solicitud de papeleta militar debe incluir la preferencia del votante militar para recibir la papeleta militar por correo, fax o correo electrónico.
Y SE NOTIFICA POR LA PRESENTE que la boleta militar original del votante militar debe ser devuelta por correo a la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito, Oficina de Administración Central, 2650 Great Neck Road, Copiague, NY 11726. Los votantes militares deben presentar una solicitud de papeleta militar separada para cada elección en la que deseen emitir un voto, excepto cualquier revocación presupuestaria necesaria. Las boletas militares serán escrutadas si se reciben en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito no más tarde de las 5:00 p.m. [hora vigente] del día de la elección, o si muestran una marca de cancelación del Servicio Postal de los Estados Unidos o del servicio postal de un país extranjero, o si muestran un endoso
fechado de recepción por otra agencia del Gobierno de los Estados Unidos; o si se reciben no más tarde de las 5:00 p.m. [hora vigente] del día de la elección y firmada y fechada por el votante militar y un testigo de la misma, con una fecha que se comprueba que no es posterior al día anterior a la elección/voto.
Por orden del Consejo de Administración de la Biblioteca Memorial Pública de Copiague, Distrito Escolar Libre y Unido de Copiague, Pueblo de Babylon, Condado de Suffolk, Nueva York 26-62. 3/25
Legal notices are posted online and are available to the public at no cost. Go to amityville record. com to access all legal notices.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TOWN OF BABYLON - ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
Pursuant to Chapter 213, Article II of the Building Zone Ordinance of the Town of Babylon, notice is hereby given that the Town of Babylon Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a Public Hearing at TOWN BOARD ROOM
(Located in the East Wing) at Babylon Town Hall, 200 East Sunrise Highway, Lindenhurst, New York on THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2026
BEGINNING AT 6:00 P.M.
6:00 p.m.
1. Application #2635 Barry Schaffer, 13 Seward Street, West Babylon, NY. Permission to diminish rear yard setback from 8’ to 4’ (for garage); diminish west side yard setback from 8’ to 4’; diminish east side yard setback from 12’ to 1.7’; diminish total side yards from 30’ to 16.8’; increase total building area from 20% to 54.6%. All in connection with a proposed detached garage and to legally maintain a side yard awning. Property located on the north side of Seward Street, 234.28’ east of Bond Street, West Babylon, NY.
SCTM#0100-1422-41
Zoning District: Residence B
6:05 p.m.
2. Application #2636 Dina Medina, 479 17th Street, West Babylon, NY. Permission to diminish rear yard setback from 30’ to 1’ – 8’’ (for wood deck). All in connection with legally maintaining a rear attached wood deck. Property located on the northwest corner of 6th Avenue
and 17th Street, West Babylon, NY.
SCTM#0100-1302-75
Zoning District: Residence C
6:10 p.m.
3. Application #26-37 Alex Askew and Maria Lugo, 52 Albany Avenue, West Babylon, NY. Permission to diminish rear yard setback from 40’ to 27.5’. All in connection with a proposed enclosed breezeway to connect the dwelling with a detached garage and second-floor addition. Property located on the west side of Albany Avenue, 100’ south of Genoa Street, North Babylon, NY.
SCTM#0100-1061-43
Zoning District: Residence B 6:15 p.m.
4. Application #26-38
Andrew Meyerowitz and Kristy Loewenstein, 145 Baylawn Avenue, Copiague, NY.
Permission to diminish north side yard setback from 3’ to 2.1’. All in connection with legally maintaining a garage. Property located on the east side of Baylawn Avenue, 250’ south of Clarence Street, Copiague, NY.
SCTM#0100-1911-162
Zoning District: Residence C 6:20 p.m.
5. Application #26-39 Christopher and Lauren Pellati, 25 Mitchell Avenue, Babylon, NY. Permission to diminish front yard setback from 30’ to 10.07’; diminish west side yard setback from 12’ to 4.15’; diminish rear yard setback from 40’ to 23.12’ (for rear deck). All in connection with a proposed house raising and front and rear stairs. Property located on the north side of Mitchell Avenue, 300’ west of South Bay Drive, Babylon, NY.
SCTM#0100-231-
3-22
Zoning District:
Residence B
6:25 p.m.
6. Application #26-40
Christopher Corbett, 32 Pershing Avenue, Babylon, NY. Permission to diminish front yard setback from 30’ to 7.13’ (for front stairs); diminish west side yard setback from 12’ to 2.87’; diminish total side yards from 30’ to 13.37’; increase total building area from 20% to 24.48% (over by 179 sq. ft.).
All in connection with a proposed house raising and front and rear stairs. Property located on the south side of Pershing Avenue, 420’ west of South Bay Drive, Babylon, NY.
SCTM#0100-2313-7
Zoning District: Residence B
6:30 p.m.
7. Application #26-41
Peter and Rose Jablonski, 32 Milton Road, Babylon, NY. Permission to diminish front yard setback from 30’ to 4.52’ (for front stairs); diminish east side yard setback from 12’ to 3.03’; diminish total side yards from 30’ to 9.05’; diminish rear yard setback from 40’ to 39.44’; increase total building area from 20% to 46.84% (over by 1,251 sq. ft.).
All in connection with a proposed house raising and front and rear stairs. Property located on the south side of Milton Avenue, 380’ west of South Bay Drive, Babylon, NY.
SCTM#0100-2313-67
Zoning District: Residence B
6:35 p.m.
8. Application #26-42 Luigi Commisso, 1316 Herzel Boulevard, West Babylon, NY. Permission to diminish rear yard setback from 40’ to 32’ – 3.5’’. All in connection with a proposed two-story single-family dwell-
ing. Property located on the north side of Herzel Boulevard, 100’ east of Twelfth Avenue, West Babylon, NY.
SCTM#0100-1351-61
Zoning District: Residence B
6:40 p.m.
9. Application #26-43 James Catapano, 60 Reeves Avenue, East Farmingdale, NY. Permission to side yard setback from 10’ to 6.1’ (for stoop); diminish rear yard setback from 30’ to 5.9’ (for enclosed rear porch); increase total building area from 30% to 36.6% (over by 638.9 sq. ft.); diminish distance to rear lot line from 2’ to 0’ (for patio); diminish distance to rear lot line from 6’ to 0’ (for jacuzzi); increase area of garage from 500 sq. ft. to 637.75 sq. ft. (over by 137.75). All in connection to erect a onestory addition and legally maintain an enclosed rear porch, dining room, rear patio, and jacuzzi. Property located on the west side of Reeves Avenue, 1470.04’ south of Melville Road, East Farmingdale, NY.
SCTM#0100-33-141
Zoning District: Residence C
6:45 p.m.
10. Application #26-33 Herc Rentals (tenant)/Carman Road Realty Inc. (prop. owner), 80 Sherwood Avenue, East Farmingdale, NY. Permission to allow a 10 ft. electric fence. All in connection with a proposed 10’ high fence. Property located on the south side of Sherwood Avenue, 482.50’ east of Broadhollow Road, East Farmingdale, NY.
SCTM#0100-35-119 & 20
Zoning District: Industry G ALL PERSONS OR
THEIR DULY APPOINTED REPRESENTATIVE MUST APPEAR IN PERSON AT THE ABOVE HEARING. ALL CASES WILL BE HEARD IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY ARE ADVERTISED, TO BE FOLLOWED BY ADJOURNED CASES. BY ORDER OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
MICHAEL KANE, CHAIRMAN
Dated: Babylon Town Hall Lindenhurst, New York
March 16, 2026 26-66 3/25
Now through March 31, the Amityville Rotary Club is sponsoring a Community Diaper & Wipe Drive, benefiting Hope for Youth. Diapers, sizes 3 to 6 and baby wipes are needed. You can drop off items at 32 Mole Pl., Amityville. For more information go to amityvillerotaryclub.com or email amityvillerotryclub@gmail.com.
The 52nd North Amityville Community Festival Day is scheduled for Saturday, June 6 and vendors are being sought.
The event is held at Bolden Mack Park, at Neck Road, Amityville from 8 a.m., to 6 p.m. Deadline to reserve space is May 30. Deadline to have a vendor name listed in the event Journal is May 1.
Trucks and trailers pay $175; merchandise vendor, $75; food vendor $100 and informational displays $30. For more information call (631) 620-8489, or email nacpfd@ gmail.com.
The Lindenhurst Historical Society will offer a preview of the newly renovated Freight House at Irmisch Historic Park, part of the village’s 1901 Restored LIRR Depot and Freight House Museum on March 28 from 1 to 4 p.m. Built in January 1901 as the third depot to serve the Breslau/Lindenhurst community, the society will celebrate the buildings’ 125 th anniversary with the completion of a two-year long renovation project enhancing both buildings and the adjoining railroad track. Admission is free; donations are gratefully accepted. Irmisch Historic Park is located at the intersection of South Broadway and South 3rd St., Lindenhurst.
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine t announced the first video in a docuseries to help commemorate Suffolk 250. The series will highlight local historical figures and places with significance during Suffolk’s revolutionary period. The first video is of Patriot’s Rock in Setauket. Operated by the Three Village Community Trust, the location was the site of the Battle of Setauket. Patriots came across the Long Island Sound and faced off against the British garrison at the then Presbyterian Meeting House on August 22, 1777. The resulting skirmish ended in a retreat by the colonial forces. Members of the trust walk viewers through the battle, its importance to the war and the area’s history as a Native American meeting place. Link to Patriot’s Rock Video: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=hr9FH2PQJsc
More information on Patriot’s Rock can be found at https:// www.threevillagecommunitytrust.org/patriots-rock-historicsite/
For more on Suffolk 250, please visit https://www. suffolk250.org/
Help Wanted
Building Maintenance
Assistant and Porter needed for Management Co. in Long Beach Experience Preferred Email: humanresoures5771 @gmail.com or Call: (212) 873-7575
CIRCULATION ASSOCIATE
Full Time/Part Time
Richner Communications, publisher of Herald community newspapers has an excellent opportunity for a FT/PT Customer Service Clerk in our busy Circulation Department. Basic customer service and administrative responsibilities include: heavy computer work, answering phones, making phone calls, entering orders, faxing, filing, etc. STRONG knowledge of EXCEL a must! Knowledge of DATABASE maintenance or postal regulations a big plus. Qualified Candidates must be computer literate, able to multi-task, dependable, reliable, organized, energetic, detail oriented and able to work well under deadlines. Salary Range is $17 per hour to $20 per hour.
For consideration, please send resume & salary requirements to: circulationassociate@liherald.com
Full Time and Part Time
Positions Available!
Busy Print Shop in Garden City is Hiring Immediately for Full Time and Part Time Drivers. Must Have a Clean License and BoxTruck Driving Experience. Hours Vary, Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $21 per hour
Night Availability is a Must. Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239
Company Car/ Bonuses. Clean Driving Record Required, Will Train. Retirees Welcome!
$22 - $27/ Hour Bell Auto School 516-365-5778
Email: info@bellautoschool.com
Part Time & Full Time. The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. Salary range is from $20K to $45K To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to jbessen@liherald.com
MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP
Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $20 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com
MULTI MEDIA ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT
Inside Sales
Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $35,360 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286
Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Earning potential ranges from $35,360 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses. Compensation is based on Full Time hours Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off. Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X250
PHOTOGRAPHERS WANTED $20 - $25 Per Hour Must Be Available On Weekends April - June 516-902-6258 Randy@LISNYC.com
PRINTING PRESS OPERATORS
TQ. We just moved from the city, and found a notice on our door saying we have to get a permit for my parents to continue living with us. Neighbors were probably the ones who called the building department. My parents have always shared a house with us, in their own separate basement area with a kitchen, where they can come and go as they wish and spend time with their grandchildren, especially while we’re at work. We can’t just send my parents somewhere. What is the easiest way to get what we need?
A. You will need 1) the whole home measured, 2) floor plans drawn, 3) paperwork filed with a building department, 4) rejected for zoning reasons, 5) the application package forwarded to a separate zoning board, 6) wait your turn to get your documents reviewed before you get a zoning hearing, 7) given an appearance date, 8) attend a public hearing to see your case presented, 9) await a building plan review for the necessary safety and code requirements, 10) pay for the approved permit(s) to be issued, 11) get a contractor, plumber and electrician, and 12) arrange for plumbing, electric and final inspections to complete the process.
In some communities, the procedures can take well over a year. You will need patience and trust that you will eventually get to the end.
It’s admirable that you have a family that is appreciative enough to support one another’s needs, like watching the children and spending valuable time together. You might think this kind of extended family unit would be encouraged, but there are reasons it is scrutinized, including safety concerns, home values, parking and monitoring the number of people on a property. Although neighbors do not have authority to reject your living situation, if you are not respectful of everyone around you, including parking considerately, keeping the property neat and quiet, neighbors will complain.
Cooking fires are a leading cause of home casualties. Primary or second kitchens located in a basement are prohibited in nearly every community I have ever dealt with. I just saw that a father and son perished in a basement fire, coincidentally, in a home I wrote a safety report about within the past year. I commented on how the basement was a nonhabitable space, and yet someone cleaned it up, moved in, and now a father and child have died.
The fire chief said it is very difficult, almost impossible, to fight a basement fire, because flames are blasting up at you while you’re trying to get down and into the space. Basement walls can’t be cut to relieve the heat and smoke buildup.
You may think of a home as a place to live, and fortunately, or unfortunately, disasters have shaped strict rules made to prevent more disasters. Not having a basement kitchen can save lives. Your parents won’t be sent away, but you will need to start the process as outlined above. Good luck!
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The recent series of terrorist attacks in Austin, Texas; on the East Side of Manhattan, outside Gracie Mansion; at a synagogue in Bloomfield, Mich.; and at Old Dominion University, in Norfolk, Va.; send the clear signal that federal, state and local law enforcement must be on full alert, especially for the duration of the conflict with Iran.
Threats and potential terror attacks could range from ISIS, Al Qaeda and the Iranian proxy Hezbollah to radically inspired lone wolves. Prior to the horrific Sept. 11 attacks, our nation’s counterterrorism efforts were basically uncoordinated, both here at home and overseas. The FBI and CIA, for instance, were effectively precluded by policy and design from sharing information and intelligence with each other. Similarly, the FBI often withheld information from local police departments, including the NYPD. There were also few adequately constructed lines of communication between the United States and overseas intelligence agencies regarding terror threats (Great Britain, Canada and Isra-
el being among the few exceptions).
President George W. Bush and the majority of both parties in Congress agreed on the absolute necessity to tear down existing walls and barriers, and to establish new structures to enhance cooperation and communication.
intrusion. NYPD officers were assigned to key overseas embassies to report back actionable intelligence on possible terrorist plans for action in New York.
The past few weeks have been very distressing for the few of us who have had any experience living in America when a real war took place. There is no doubt that we are not in the middle of a world war in Iran, but that conflict has all the earmarks of a happening that will trigger years of violence that could hit extremely close to our country.
I’m not an expert on military issues. I have no doubt that Iran is a major threat to the world, and every possible step should be taken to curb its efforts to acquire nuclear weapons. I believe that Israel should be protected from a country that has pledged to wipe it off the map. But we must understand that there are consequences to these wars, and we should be aware of them. The problem is no one is telling us whether we should be concerned and why.
At the federal level, this was achieved by establishing the Department of Homeland Security, which incorporated 22 previously separate agencies into one coordinated entity. These bodies included the Customs Service, Immigration and Naturalization, the Coast Guard and the Secret Service. While the FBI and CIA remained independent, protocols were established to enable greater sharing of intelligence and information between them. As well, the Office of National Intelligence was created, and the CIA, the Defense Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency were required to report to the director of national intelligence.
o
ur emphasis has shifted from terrorism to illegal immigration.
This caused some resentment among elements of the FBI and CIA, but proved successful. For example when Al Qaeda carried out a deadly attack in the Madrid train system, an NYPD officer was quickly on the scene, reporting procedures to be implemented in the New York City transit system that proved to be very effective. Overall, under Commissioner Ray Kelly, the NYPD had over a thousand officers assigned to counterterrorism and intelligence, resulting in more than 20 attempted attacks being prevented. Unfortunately progressive-minded elected officials assailed the NYPD’s efforts as “Islamophobic,” resulting in Mayor Bill de Blasio’s cutting back on the NYPD’s counterterrorism and intelligence operations. (Fortunately, much of its basic structure remains.)
2005 and 2006 — and again for another two-year term in 2011 and 2012. During both terms I focused on defending against Islamist terrorism — the main achievements being port and chemical plant security in my first term, and the investigation of radicalization of the Muslim community in my second term. Though key witnesses were Muslim, the radicalization hearings drew extensive media opposition but were successful.
In recent years, funding for counterterrorism programs has been reduced. The emphasis of the DHS has shifted drastically from terrorism to illegal immigration. And elected officials like Mayor Mamdani are threatening to restrict police counterterror efforts.
Action was also initiated at the state and local levels. The NYPD was particularly innovative, creating intelligence and counterterrorism units that in many ways are comparable to the CIA and FBI. Sources were developed in neighborhoods reasonably believed to be subject to terrorist influence and
Following the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, Congress established a comparable committee to oversee it, similar to the Armed Services and Foreign Affairs committees monitoring the Defense and State departments. I was elected chairman of the committee in its first two years —
Most significantly, because of an unrelated dispute over ICE, congressional Democrats shut down the DHS at this time of maximum threat, when Islamists are using encrypted apps to circumvent our cybersecurity defenses. This is suicidal. The threat of Islamist terrorism cannot be relegated to the rearview mirror. It is a clear and present danger. Federal, state and local governments must face up to their responsibilities. (I am proud that Nassau and Suffolk are doing what has to be done.) We cannot risk another 9/11.
Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.
Iran isn’t just some crazy faraway country like Afghanistan, where a war took place that didn’t represent any kind of serious threat to America. During the American military involvement in that country, no one ever stopped me on the street to express fears about the “Afghanistan war.” Even though we deployed thousands of our troops in that country, there was no concern on the part of our government that it could spill over into our country. In the case of Iran, we are dealing with a bunch of idealogues who are not capable of being fully contained. History shows us that Iran enters into peace agreements and breaks its word almost immediately. Even If this current war ends on some type of settlement, there are other consequences that our nation should be aware of. What are they?
Ehad gone through training programs that prepared it for such an event. The war has stirred up further incidents of antisemitism.
ven if it ends with some kind of settlement, there will be other consequences.
In the past month, there have been two incidents involving people who were true believers. In one, a man drove a truck into a Michigan synagogue in an effort to kill Jews. Luckily, that temple
The proof that the Iran incursion isn’t a faraway event is what we have been experiencing at the gas pump. When you pick a fight in the Middle East, lots of things happen. The war is having worldwide consequences. As energy costs go up, prices on all types of goods go up. No one is telling us what the long-range plan is to blunt price increases.
There are not too many people around now who can talk about what it’s like to live in our country when there was a real war. As an 8-yearold boy, I experienced what happens when a country is at war. We had blackout shades in our house to protect us in the event of an air raid. Food was rationed and our neighbors became wardens in the event that faraway battle reached us in some way. Luckily, we had President Franklin Roosevelt to assure us that all would be well.
The war in Iran is far away from our country, and there won’t be any air raid sirens. But we have a lot to be concerned about because of the events now taking place thousands of miles from this nation. We are dealing with a different type of enemy and must be aware of that. The zealots who embrace Iran can be found anywhere.
There is no reason for us to start hiding in our homes, nor to curtail our daily activities. But we have to be aware of what is going on on this planet and get the comfort that we deserve. We should question our representatives in Washington on what steps are being taken to keep us away from harm. It would help heal the divide over this new war. There is no politics to this story. Our leaders, whether Clinton, Bush, Obama or Trump, must tell us what they want our wars to accomplish and what steps they are going to take to limit our pain. That’s not asking too much.
Jerry Kremer was a state assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. He currently chairs the Capitol Insight Group, a government relations firm. Comments? jkremer@liherald.com.
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after months of bundling up, shoveling out and watching gray skies linger over Long Island, the arrival of spring offers something more than a change in temperature — it signals a long-awaited reset.
The return of the Major League Baseball season is as reliable a marker as any: fresh grass, open stadiums and the simple joy of being outside again.
But spring’s promise goes well beyond symbolism. It offers a tangible opportunity to improve both physical and mental well-being in ways that winter simply does not allow.
The act of stepping outside — whether for a short walk, a bike ride or an afternoon at the park — can have an immediate and lasting impact. Sunlight helps regulate sleep cycles and boosts vitamin D levels, which are often depleted during the darker months. Fresh air, even in small doses, can sharpen focus, reduce stress and improve mood.
There is also something quietly restorative about reconnecting with the rhythms of the natural world. The budding of trees, the return of birds and the gradual greening of lawns and fields serve as reminders that change, even after the harshest stretches, is inevitable. After a winter defined by confinement, that sense of renewal
To the Editor:
The editorial “Sunshine week keeps democracy in the light” (March 5-11) was just what our struggling democracy needs — a timely reminder of the importance of open government.
We should all remember that in some parts of the world, governments routinely operate behind closed doors and keep their citizens in the dark about what takes place there. But not here in America, despite the efforts of some in power to block transparency.
A few months from now, when we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, we will also mark the 60th anniversary of another landmark moment: the signing of the Freedom of Information Act. On July 4, 1966, President Lyndon Johnson signed the act into law at his ranch in Texas. As a result of this legislation, Americans can now access many government records — at federal, state and local levels — that were once unavailable to
feels especially meaningful. Long Island is uniquely suited to take advantage of this seasonal shift. From local neighborhood parks to expansive destinations such as Grant Park in Hewlett, Hempstead Lake State Park in West Hempstead, Eisenhower Park in East Meadow, Marjorie Post Park in Massapequa and Tanner Park in Copiague, there is no shortage of places to stretch your legs and spend time outdoors. Walking paths, ball fields, playgrounds and open green spaces are not just amenities; they are essential parts of community life that come alive again in the spring.
For families, the change in season is an opportunity to reset routines that may have grown stagnant during the colder months. Screen time can give way to outdoor play. Weekends can shift from indoor errands to shared experiences such as picnic, a pickup game or simply time spent exploring a new trail. These moments, often simple and unplanned, are the ones that tend to linger.
For individuals, the benefits are just as significant. Even a brief daily walk can serve as a mental reset, a chance to step away from the demands of work and the constant pull of screens. Outdoor activity has been linked to lower levels of anxiety and depression, improved cardiovascular health and
increased overall energy. And unlike many wellness trends, it requires no special equipment or expense — just the willingness to step outside.
There is also a social dimension to spring that should not be overlooked. As temperatures rise, communities begin to reawaken. Youth sports leagues resume, neighbors linger a little longer in conversation, and public spaces once again become gathering places. After months of isolation, these interactions help rebuild a sense of connection that winter often erodes.
Not just a season, spring is an invitation. It encourages people to be more present, more active and more engaged with their surroundings. It asks us to take advantage of longer days and milder weather, to trade routine for spontaneity and to rediscover the simple pleasure of being outside.
The message, then, is straightforward: step outside. Make plans, but leave room for the unplanned. Visit a park you haven’t been to in years. Take a walk after dinner. Sit on a bench and watch a game, or better yet, join one. These small choices add up, shaping not just how we experience the season, but how we feel within it.
After a long winter, the urge to stay inside may still remain. But the better instinct — the healthier one — is to go outside.
nassau and Suffolk counties continue to rank highest in New York state in traffic-related injuries and fatalities. As drivers, cyclists or pedestrians, even when we do everything right, we’re still one bad driver’s actions away from the E.R.
Now Albany wants to make it worse.
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s latest budget proposal would quietly strip away basic legal protections for people injured by cars and dump the costs of traffic violence onto victims, their families and taxpayers. Bad drivers and their insurance companies would get a pass.
Redefining “serious injury” is wrong.
New York’s no-fault insurance system is designed so that anyone involved in an accident gets medical care and compensation for lost wages, up to a maximum of $50,000. That goes fast with hospital stays, physical therapy and months off work.
To seek damages beyond the $50,000 in no-fault coverage, a victim must meet the legal definition of a “serious inju-
them.
Ironically, President Johnson wasn’t a huge fan of FOIA. In a 2005 speech recalling the circumstances leading to the legislation’s becoming law, Bill Moyers, who was Johnson’s press secretary in the 1960s, noted that Johnson had at first resisted signing it.
“He hated the thought of journalists rummaging in government closets and opening government files,” Moyers said in 2005. “He hated them challenging the official view of reality.”
Nevertheless, Johnson signed the bill, largely due to pressure from the press, which supported FOIA, and Congress, which had overwhelmingly supported the legislation. It was an especially sweet victory for John Moss, a Democratic member of the House of Representatives who’d spent 12 years lobbying for greater access to government agency records, and Donald Rumsfeld, a Republican member of the House at the time who supported Moss in the effort.
But the real winners were the American people. It was a victory for democracy, a genuine “We the People” moment. Remember FOIA on July Fourth.
RICHARD J. CONWAY Massapequa
ry.” For decades, one category of a “serious injury” has been an injury that keeps you from living your normal life for the first 90 days after a crash.
The governor’s proposal would wipe that away.
Anyone who has ever been in a serious crash knows how absurd that is. These injuries might not be permanent, but are still serious and, indeed, take a lasting toll. They can keep you from caring for your family and out of work. Three months out of work isn’t just inconvenient — it can be devastating to you and your family.
it won’t protect victims, and it won’t guarantee lower insurance premiums.
Hochul’s proposal would eliminate the right to sue the negligent driver who caused this category of injury and harm to you and your family.
Letting big companies off the hook.
Most serious crashes aren’t simple. They often involve multiple negligent actors: a speeding vehicle, a poorly designed roadway, a multi-vehicle crash caused by more than one driver. Multiple bad decisions lead to an injured victim. The term describing this is “joint and several liability.”
The longstanding legal concept of joint and several liability exists so that innocent victims aren’t left uncompen-
sated when more than one party is responsible. It ensures that the risk falls on all the people who caused the harm when a jury decides that more than one party contributed to the crash. The budget proposal would gut that protection. Crash victims would be left without full compensation. Insurance companies would avoid fiscal responsibility, and the financial burden would shift back to the injured victims.
“Modified contributory negligence” is open season on victims.
New York, like most states, has long used a comparative negligence standard. This system evaluates each party’s actual level of responsibility in causing a crash. A jury, at trial, decides fault and addresses any comparative negligence of the claimant by apportioning any share of their own responsibility and then awards a dollar amount that corresponds to fault.
Hochul’s proposal would throw that out. Under the new rule, if you were found just 51 percent at fault, you would get nothing. A driver could be 49 percent responsible for a crash and the insurance company would pay nothing. It would reward dangerous driving and leave victims without recourse.
Framework by Tim Baker
It won’t make streets safer or insurance cheaper.
None of this will prevent crashes. None of it will protect victims, and it won’t guarantee lower insurance premiums, the guise of these changes. The states that have implemented similar measures did not see rates drop. Don’t be fooled — the ones behind this change are the insurance companies, and Big Tech, such as Uber, which have dumped millions into the governor’s campaign as she goes about the state, reciting their talking points.
A recent report by the Center for Policy and Justice showed that insurance company profits have ballooned. S&P Market Intelligence reported in November 2025 that “the U.S. property/casualty insurance industry had its best quarter in at least a quarter of a century — and maybe longer.” Insurance companies continue to profit at the expense of you, the ratepayer.
What this proposal will do is make New York’s streets more dangerous by removing accountability, discouraging safety, and forcing injured victims to rely on public assistance instead of the insurance system that is supposed to cover their claims.
Daniel Flanzig is president of the board of directors of the New York Bicycling Coalition and a partner in the law firm Flanzig and Flanzig LLP.
