Chamber holds annual installation dinner
Members of the Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmore were sworn in at the annual installation. Story, additional photos, Page 3.
Bellmore house fire claims life of 72-year-old man; destroys two structures
By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com
A predawn fire tore through two homes on Chapman Avenue on Feb. 11, killing a 72-year-old man, critically injuring a 69-year-old woman and destroying neighboring properties before firefighters brought the blaze under control, authorities said.
Police said officers were dispatched at 4:31 a.m. to reports of a residential fire. When they arrived, the house was fully engulfed, and flames spread to an adjacent home, causing significant damage to at least two other houses.
The 72-year-old man, later identified as John
Mora, was found inside his residence and pronounced dead at the scene, according to Nassau County police. His wife, Marie Mora, 69, was transported to a local hospital in critical condition, officials said. Their children, Greg, Alex and Mariana Mora, were not home at the time.
According to a GoFundMe created for the families, the Mora family also lost their dog and cat, Luna and Kiki, in the fire. The neighboring Glynn family — Tom, Ann, Caitlin and Tommy — escaped without injury. As of press time, the fundraiser had raised $49,000 to support the two families in rebuilding their lives.
Bellmore Fire Department Chief Eric
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Seniors drive safety change
Student leaders secure new school zone signs near Mepham H.S.
By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com
Two seniors at Wellington C. Mepham High School turned a classroom leadership assignment into real-world change, successfully advocating for new school zone signage on Stewart Avenue to improve traffic safety near the campus.
Jake Wilson, 18, and Brayden Seligman, 17, spearheaded the effort through Pirate for a Purpose, an initiative within the school’s Senior School and Community Leadership class that challenges students to identify community needs and take action.
The pair said they first became concerned about speeding vehicles while parking along the street as students.
“Seeing some students or even parents picking up kids just kind of flying down these roads, I thought it was pretty dangerous,” Seligman said, noting that limited visibility and frequent traffic near dismissal added to the risk.
After discussing the idea with their teacher, the students began researching the issue and reaching out to officials. Wilson said they first consulted school administrators, including principal Anthony DeMartinis, before contacting local representatives and working with Chris Schneider of the Town of Hempstead. Wilson said Schneider and his staff helped guide them through the process, which included multiple phone calls and attending a town meeting to understand how municipal decisions are made.
“Getting to see how the town meeting works and the people who represent me helped me personally,” Wilson said. “Something that directly impacts me and that Brayden and I thought of — seeing them put that into action was definitely a privilege.”
Their advocacy paid off when multiple school zone signs were installed along
Continued on page 24
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Bellmore Parents Facebook group restored
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By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com
The Bellmore Parents Facebook group — a popular online forum for local families — is back online after its administrator regained access to his account earlier this month, ending a weeks-long disruption that had left the roughly 12,000-member community offline.
David Tyskowski, who has overseen the group for about seven years, said he received an email from Meta Platforms on Feb. 9 notifying him that restrictions on his account had been lifted.
“I logged in and everything popped back up,” Tyskowski said. “It was relief — we’d spent weeks trying everything we could to get it restored.”
Because Tyskowski was the sole administrator, the Bellmore Parents page had been automatically paused while his account was disabled. After regaining access, he manually unpaused the group and posted an update to members explaining what happened.
The account suspension had also affected a nostalgia Facebook group Tyskowski co-administers, “I Grew Up in Arlington,” which shares memories and photos from residents who grew up in Arlington, Virginia.
Eric Dobson, a co-administrator of that group, said it too is back online and members quickly returned.
“We’re very happy — we’re back up and running,” Dobson said in a phone interview. “People posted, ‘This is the only reason I’m on Facebook.’ So people were pretty excited.”
Dobson said activity resumed almost immediately, with members once again sharing stories and historical photos.
“It’s exciting to be back,” he said. “People are already telling their stories again about growing up here.”
Tyskowski said he believes the breakthrough came after a member of the Arlington group who works at Meta or Facebook submitted an internal support ticket. Several days later, he received
notice that his account restrictions had been removed.
“The restrictions on your Meta account have been removed so you can use Meta Quest again,” the email to Tyskowski stated. “We’re sorry you weren’t able to use your account for a while. Sometimes we need to take action to help keep our community safe.”
To reduce the risk of another outage, Tyskowski said he is adding additional administrators to the Bellmore Parents group so its availability will not depend on one account.
Dobson said administrators of the Arlington group discussed potential changes but ultimately decided not to alter the type of content members share.
“The problem wasn’t anything we could have predicted,” Dobson said. “Our group is about telling stories of growing up here, so there are going to be childhood photos. Why should we censor ourselves because of an AI mistake?”
The Bellmore Parents group’s return reinstates what members describe as a key local resource where residents share recommendations, local updates and support during emergencies.
Tyskowski said recent incidents, including local fires, underscored how the page helps residents circulate information and fundraising efforts.
“That’s where the group comes in handy,” he said. “It’s nice to have it back so people can spread the word and help each other.”
The group went offline in January after Tyskowski’s Meta account was disabled, which he said followed what he believes was an automated moderation error tied to posts in the Arlington group featuring decades-old youth sports photos. At the time, he said repeated appeals through Meta’s support channels produced little response, highlighting what he and others see as the challenges of appealing automated moderation decisions.
Both administrators said they are focused on moving forward.
Bellmore Chamber Honors Community Leaders
The Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmore held its annual installation and awards dinner on Feb. 14 at the Crest Hollow Country Club, celebrating local business and community achievements.
During the evening, George Fillios was recognized as Outstanding Community Person of the Year for his longstanding contributions to Bellmore, while Hector Granados received the Chamber Member of the Year award for his dedication to the organization and local business initiatives.
The event also featured the installation of new Chamber officers and provided members an opportunity to network and reflect on the past year’s accomplishments.
— Hernesto Galdamez
Holden Leeds/Herald photos
George Fillios was recognized as Outstanding Community Person of the Year.
President Robert Saylor was recognized at the annual installation and awards dinner.
Gene Judd addresses attendees.
Gene Judd, left, receives recognition for his contributions to the Bellmore community.
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Crime Brief
William Hepworth, 60, was arrested last Friday after what it described as an extensive investigation into incidents at multiple religious institutions.
60-year-old man charged for stealing
from donation boxes
A 60-year-old man was arrested last Friday in connection with a series of thefts and attempted thefts at Catholic churches across Nassau County.
Nassau County police arrested William Hepworth during the afternoon of Feb. 13 after what it described as an extensive investigation into incidents at multiple religious institutions.
Hepworth damaged a donation box and removed cash from Maria Regina Roman Catholic Church on Jerusalem Avenue in Seaford last December, according to police. That same month, he allegedly removed a donation box containing cash from Holy Name of Mary Roman Catholic Church on East Jamaica Avenue in Valley Stream.
Hepworth additionally allegedly failed to remove cash from a donation box at St. Barnabas Roman Catholic Church on Bedford Avenue in Bellmore in January, according to police. Most
recently, on Feb. 10, police said he damaged and removed a donation box at Our Lady of Hope Roman Catholic Church on Broadway in Carle Place.
Hepworth is charged with three counts of fourth-degree grand larceny, third- and fourth-degree criminal mischief, possession of burglar tools, tampering with physical evidence, petit larceny and attempted petit larceny. He pleaded not guilty during his arraignment at First District Court in Hempstead and is due back in court on Wednesday, after the Herald goes to print. The 60-year-old is represented by the Legal Aid Society of Nassau County, a nonprofit that provides free criminal, family court, and juvenile legal representation to individuals who are unable to afford an attorney, after a court determines they are financially eligible for the appointment of counsel.
— Luke Feeney
William HepWortH
Luke Feeney/Herald photos
Fayette students serve as reading ambassadors
Students at Harold D. Fayette School in the North Merrick School District are helping to foster a love of reading across the building by taking on the role of Reading Ambassadors.
Volunteer participants were divided into two groups — kindergarten through second grade and third through sixth grade — with each ambassador representing their class. The students met with library media specialist Joanne Constantino, library clerk Giovanna Amarain and Principal Christine Talbot to discuss favorite books and authors and share ideas to support their mission.
Among their recommendations for new library additions were titles from the Peppa Pig franchise, the Fancy Nancy collection and the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series, along with nonfiction football and sports books and fantasy titles. The selections are now highlighted on a main hallway bulletin board, with additional copies set to be added to the school library.
“We are so proud of these student Reading Ambassadors for their enthusiasm, thoughtful participation and leadership,” Talbot said. “Their voices and ideas help shape our school’s reading culture, and we commend them for serving as positive role models for their classmates by representing their classes.”
— Hernesto Galdamez
Courtesy North Merrick Public Schools
Harold D. Fayette School students in grades 3-6 were named Reading Ambassadors with a mission to inspire a love of reading in their school.
Students in kindergarten through second grade were named Reading Ambassadors.
By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com
Calhoun’s girls’ basketball team was in a difficult and unexpected spot after a 37-36 upset loss at Long Beach Jan. 8 left the Colts with one win over their first five Conference AA-I games and with five defeats in their last six overall after a promising opening month.
“That Long Beach game was a wake-up call,” head coach Dan Catapano said of a first half that put Calhoun in a 25-9 hole. “We battled back after a rough first half but couldn’t come all the way back. It was a quiet bus ride home.”
Having a non-league game on the schedule 36 hours later was a plus, Catapano said.
“We had a competitive and highenergy practice the day after the Long Beach game,” he said. “We’ve missed the playoffs by a game two seasons in a row and our seniors wanted nothing more than to make it in their final year.”
The Colts responded to the Long
Late-season surge lifts Calhoun to playoffs Calhoun nips Manhasset for county title
Beach setback by rolling Bethpage by 20 points behind freshman point guard Lia Biscardi’s 15 points and junior Angie Kasimatis’ 12 in a performance that not only stopped the bleeding but sent the team on a heater that culminated with a playoff-clinching 65-32 victory at Great Neck South Feb. 11.
“We’ve been inconsistent, but the past month we’ve played our best basketball of the season,” Catapano said. “We’re in the playoffs and going in with confidence. We played the top two teams really tough the second time around and our offense has picked up the pace.”
Though the Colts were unable to top conference-leading and likely No. 1 Class AA seed MacArthur and secondplace New Hyde Park down the stretch, losing both rematches by six points apiece gave Catapano’s squad plenty of positives to take away.
“We’re sharing the ball and running the floor so well,” he said.
“Everyone found their roles and things are clicking. It’s an unselfish group that just wants to win.”
Senior Katie DiPaola led Calhoun
By ANDREW COEN sports@liherald.com
Calhoun boys coach David Hendler entered the Nassau Class B indoor track & field championships at Saint Anthony’s High School Feb. 4 with a strong premonition.
While the Colts needed to contend with a tough Manhasset squad, Hendler knew he had a deep, versatile roster that could rack up key points when it mattered most. Calhoun did just that with two individual county champions and seven All-County placers to edge Manhasset, 78 to 75.
“Manhasset was the favorite, but I had a feeling we were going to win it because we had some really good athletes on the field and the track,” Hendler said. “It was a fun night and the kids were better than anybody could expect to. They were just amazing.”
The Colts’ county title was paced by first-place finishes from senior Oraldini Mpoy in the long jump and junior Jayden Hines in the triple jump.
Mpoy captured the long jump with a leap of 21-6 1.2 to finish ahead of Lion Jang of Bethpage and Hewlett’s Tyler Hopkins.
Hines took the triple jump with a mark of 43-9 3⁄4 to beat out Manhasset’s Cole Miller (41-11 ½.). He also stepped up big in the long jump by exceeding expectations with a fourth-place finish.
“That was really huge,” said Hendler of Hines securing critical team points in the long jump. “He wasn’t supposed to score at all in that event.”
Junior Tyler Booker also earned All-County honors with third place finishes in the 1000 meters and 1600 meter events. Hendler said he was projected to place fourth in both events.
with 16 points in its 54-48 loss at New Hyde Park Jan. 30, and Kasimatis poured in 23 in a 55-49 nailbiter loss to MacArthur two days later.
It was the second time in a week Kasimatis produced a career-high in points. She starred with 23 points in a 63-44 win over Kennedy Jan. 27 that proved huge in the playoff picture. Biscardi and DiPaola had 11 apiece that evening as the Colts avenged a loss to the Cougars in the first meeting between district rivals.
“Angie hit five threes in that Kennedy game and is the type of kid who shows up early for practice and stays late,” Catapano said. “She can play anywhere we need her.”
Seniors Julia Kopelman and Ruthie Small have played significant starting roles as well. “It’s awesome for the seniors to get the program back to the playoffs,” Catapano said. “Katie is one of our top scorers and top defender, and Julia and Ruthie bring the intangibles.”
Calhoun (6-6 in AA-I) enters the postseason with an overall record of 11-9.
The Colts squeezed out enough points to upset Manhasset for the Nassau Class B track & field championship.
Calhoun also shined in the shorter races with senior Luke Pierce placing third in the 55-meter hurdles. His time of 8.46 seconds edged out Division’s Maxwell Ng by just .21 seconds to earn Al County accolades with a top three placement.
The field events were the ultimate difference in Calhoun taking home the county crown with senior Jack Ciccimarro taking third place in the triple jump to join his teammate Hines on the podium.
Senior Max Zubiria took third place in the pole vault with a clearance of 10.0. The shot put saw senior Hansen Cao take bronze with a throw of 41-7 ¼.
Hendler said Alexander Nalbone ended up playing a crucial role in Calhoun’s three-point county title triumph by earning two points in the 1600 by placing fifth after entering the event seeded seventh.
“That was a real clutch out of him,” said Hendler of Nalbone. “That to me was the difference in the meet.”
Calhoun followed up its championship performance by qualifying three athletes for the state indoor track championship at Staten Island’s Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex on March 6-7 in Hines (triple jump), Booker (1600 meters) and Mpoy (long jump.)
Derrick Dingle/Herald Senior Julia Kopelman, left, and the Colts are headed to the playoffs after a strong stretch run.
Courtesy David Hendler
Mepham’s Martin captures coveted title
By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com
Jason Martin has been on a mission for a year.
And there was no denying the Mepham senior in what was his last opportunity to become a Nassau County wrestling champion.
Martin, the top seed, overcame an early deficit to defeat defending champ Josh Kama of Farmingdale, 10-4, in the 190-pound Division I title match Sunday evening at Hofstra University’s Mack Sports Complex.
Martin, who was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler, was pinned by Kama in last season’s semifinals.
“It feels just incredible,” Martin said. “This has been a longtime dream and I’ve been working for five years towards it. I was training all season for this match and felt if I made the finals, he [Kama] would be the opponent and I’m glad it was him. He’s a great athlete and a great kid and I’m so grateful to win.
“I set high expectations for myself,
but at the same time I try not to put too much pressure on myself,” he added.
Kama, the No. 2 seed, scored the first four points of the match before Martin ripped off 10 unanswered.
“We knew the deeper the match went, the better it was for Jason,” Mepham coach Ken Richards said.
“Beating Kama is no easy task. We know how athletic and great of a wrestler he is, Jason didn’t panic down 4-0. He’s been in every situation there is over the years and he came up big in the biggest spot.”
Martin, who earned All-County in each of the previous two seasons as well, will take a record of 31-1 to the New York State championships Feb. 27-28 at Albany’s Times Union Center and he’ll be joined by senior teammate Jack Weber, who beat Kama in a challenge match for second place to punch his ticket. Martin topped Weber in Sunday morning’s semifinals, 6-3.
“I’m looking to go up there and have a fun time and get All-State,” Martin said of finishing in the top six in Albany. “If I can make it to the finals, even better.”
Weber’s only loss of the tournament came to Martin. On Saturday, Weber knocked off Kennedy’s Michael Polizzi by major decision, 13-5, and beat Jericho’s James Wang, 7-2 in the quarterfinals. His key wrestleback victory came Sunday afternoon over Calhoun’s Gianni Castiglia, 5-4.
“He’s one of the hardest workers in our room,” Richards said of Weber, who has a record of 41-4. “What separates him is how well he prepares and takes care of his body.”
The Pirates, who placed seventh in the county, had two others reach the All-County podium.
Junior Paul Genovese split his first two matches and battled back to get fourth at 165 pounds. His podiumclinching win was a 9-6 double-overtime decision over Jericho’s Brad Rosembarg.
Senior Christopher Notti took fourth at 138. He reached the semifinals where he came up just short against Freeport’s Christian Mccravey, 12-9, but rebounded to edge Long Beach’s Matthew Diamond, 2-1, in his next match.
Paul Grassini/Herald Mepham senior Jason Martin defeated Farmingdale’s Josh Kama in the 190-pound county title match.
Birch Elementary Students take the stage
Students at Birch Elementary School dove under the sea earlier this month as part of the annual Birch Theatre Residency production of “The Little Mermaid, Jr.”
The PTA-sponsored program, held Feb. 4 through Feb. 6, was open to all fifth- and sixth-grade students and offered opportunities both on stage and behind the scenes.
Cast and crew members arrived about 90 minutes before each performance to prepare, getting into costume, completing microphone checks and running through final preparations before curtain.
The production relied on the support of parent volunteers, who assisted with coordination, costumes, props and other backstage needs.
Organizers said the residency continues to give students a hands-on introduction to the performing arts, helping them build creativity, confidence and teamwork while participating in a full theatrical production.
— Hernesto Galdamez
Photos courtesy of the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District.
Isabel, Krysten, Julia, Toni and Celeste.
Josh.
Sebastian, Flounder, Ariel and Scuttle on stage.
Ursula and her eel minions on stage.
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What’s underground comes back around
Undoing the damage: the challenges of managing Long Island’s largest chemical spill
By ALYSSA R. GRIFFIN & JOSEPH D’ALESSANDRO of the Herald Community Newspapers
Second installment in a series about water.
It’s impossible to discuss Long Island’s groundwater without addressing Northrop Grumman.
The Long Island aeronautics industry was a key asset to the United States armed forces in the last century, testing and manufacturing nearly 30,000 airplanes for the U.S. Navy starting in the 1930s, and later producing the lunar module for Apollo 11’s landing on the moon. For over 50 years, the Northrop Grumman Bethpage Facility and Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant Site was at the center of American defense and innovation — and one of the largest chemical contamination sites in New York.
According to the state Department of Environmental Conservation, the degreasing agent trichloroethene leaked from NWIRP’s plumbing and dumping sites into the Magothy Aquifer — which provides water to much of Nassau County — creating the Navy Grumman groundwater plume.
tions or captured in granulated carbon, preventing any future leaks.
The DEC’s 2019 Record of Decision was the first formal plan for cleaning up the site. Before then, there were around 10 extraction wells in the affected area. Since the ROD, the number of wells has risen to 26, supported by five watertreatment plants. The aggressive plan to stop the plume’s southward migration was motivated by the DEC’s zero-tolerance attitude toward chemical contamination, Pelton said.
“Groundwater exists in these voids between grains of sand and soils in what we call pore spaces,” Granzen explained. “Water moves in between those pore spaces. When the contaminants get mixed with the groundwater, that causes movement.”
RISING TIDES
“The water districts should not have to address this,” Pelton said. “That’s the primary driver here: removing the TCE from the aquifer system so that we’ve got a better drinking water source.”
The plume is a twomile-by-four-mile body of TCE with the potential to leach into Long Island’s South Shore waters and the Great South Bay, according to Jason Pelton, director of Remedial Bureau D in the DEC’s Division of Environmental Remediation.
“As plumes go, it’s probably the largest in New York state,” Pelton said. “It may be one of the largest in the country.”
Bethpage’s tarnished legacy
Shortly after the plume was identified in 1983, the DEC formed a partnership with both the responsible parties, the Navy and Northrop Grumman, to begin restoration efforts. The two groups operate extraction wells, large structures that siphon water out of the aquifer, filter out TCE, and send the water back underground by way of recharge basins.
“I’ve been very impressed with the Navy and Northrop Grumman’s ability to locate these wells precisely where they need to be, and to see the contaminant numbers that are coming out in these locations,” Kristin Granzen, DEC project manager for the U.S. Navy Bethpage site, said.
The joint cleanup effort processes about 10 million gallons of contaminated water per day, according to DEC documents provided to the Herald. The agency estimates that about 80 percent of the contamination — 276,000 pounds — has been removed from the Magothy Aquifer and destroyed in chemical reac-
The DEC’s goal is to reduce the aquifer’s TCE levels to 5 parts per billion, the groundwater safety standard, though much of the plume’s area is still over 50 ppb, according to DEC map data from May 2025.
“The fact that it’s predominantly TCE makes it a little bit easier,” Pelton added. “The challenge is the magnitude of the contamination … I would say maybe we’re pumping in the interior of the plume for 30 or 40 more years.”
Chemicals linger, at what cost?
While the cleanup continues, the plume’s public health effects have been a topic of endless discussion. Its cleanup is made possible by collaboration with local municipalities, home to the county’s hundreds of monitoring wells collecting data on groundwater. They are a strict quality-control measure assessing whether the water is safe to consume or to use in irrigation.
Kevin Reilly, who oversees the monitoring of the Massapequa Water District as its superintendent, told the Herald that if the chemicals posed no real health risks to the community, there would be no need for the decades-long cleanup effort. The district serves parts of Massapequa, Massapequa Park and North Massapaqua, all areas just south of Bethpage, where the plume originated.
After filtration, there are no risks to residents’ health, the DEC maintains. “I would say the overall health of the aquifer is healthy,” Pelton said. “It’s important that people know that their drinking water is really high quality, and it’s absolutely safe to drink that water.”
According to a chemical profile from the Agency for Toxic Substances and
Courtesy Department of Environmental Conservation this map shows the estimated extent of the navy grumman groundwater plume, which was first identifed in 1983, based on the most recent data from 2025.
Disease Registry, a division of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, TCE can be a carcinogen with high exposure, and the state Department of Health conducted an environmental health investigation in Bethpage, finalized in 2013, on whether long-term exposure to contamination from the sites had affected local cancer rates.
According to the department’s report, there was no correlation between the presence of TCE in the aquifer with cancer rates on Long Island. The most commonly diagnosed cancers in the areas affected by the plume were those typically seen most often in adults, and no single rare cancer type appeared more than once. Most diagnoses occurred at ages when cancer is generally most common. There was no indication that the cancers were linked to environmental findings.
The health department continues routine monitoring of drinking water and remediation efforts to protect public health as the cleanup progresses.
At the request of the Bethpage community, the department is revisiting the
2013 study, and its work is expected to be completed by the end of this year. In a written statement, the department told the Herald that the update cannot provide a direct link between cancer cases and environmental exposure, including the plume. Evaluations of environmental exposure can draw some health associations, but they cannot determine causality.
“There is no new threat to public health, and prior exposures have been addressed for more than a decade due to the efforts of New York State,” the statement read. “The Department is currently working on the study and upon completion of the report will announce findings and host a public meeting.”
The race against the spread
The state continues its effort to clean up the plume while keeping the affected communities informed. The DEC facilitates regular community meetings through its Community Participation Working Group, comprising elected officials, agencies, businesses and experts
LONG ISLAND’S WATER BLUEPRINT
Saga of Navy-Grumman plume continues
Continued from PreViouS PAGe
that meet on a quarterly basis. The group was established to foster dialogue, improve public understanding, and encourage discussion of the cleanup.
The DEC staff also provides regular project updates at Bethpage Community Council meetings, which are held at the Bethpage Public Library and open to the public.
According to the DEC’s January Groundwater Plume Cleanup Update, public water suppliers treat groundwater using established methods to contain regulated contaminants before they reach homes and businesses. Water is drawn from designated sources, treated to meet all federal and state drinking water standards, and distributed through a network of mains and storage tanks. Throughout the process, water quality is continuously monitored to ensure that it remains safe to drink.
The challenge is the magnitude of the contamination.
Jason PelTon Remedial bureau director, Department of Environmental Conservation
“We work really closely with the water districts in Nassau County,” Pelton said. “Every single day they provide high-quality drinking water that meets all of the New York State Department of Health drinking water requirements.”
The system relies on multiple safeguards to maintain high water quality and protect public health. This approach ensures that if standards are not met, suppliers notify customers and take corrective action, which can include temporarily taking wells out of service.
Negotiations among public water suppliers, the DEC, Northrop Grumman and the Navy have focused on funding the treatment systems used to maintain safe drinking water. The Bethpage Water District, for example, operates treatment systems that are considered among the most advanced in the nation, according to the DEC.
Though it is currently not affected, the Massapequa Water District is just outside the current spread of the plume. “We are not an active part of the cleanup yet,” Reilly said. “We monitor — there’s monitoring wells that we get the data from the Navy and their consultants and the DEC. But we don’t have any contamination in our wells from the Grumman Navy plume at this time.”
Common misconception has led many Long Island residents to believe the entirety of the South Shore has been impacted, which is not the case. Nonetheless, Reilly said, “The plume is migrating and flowing towards our district.”
He explained that while large-scale, permanent systems for treating the underground water are currently under construction, temporary systems have been installed along the leading edge of the plume. They operate on a smaller scale, but they are designed to be mobile, and can be relocated as needed to respond to changing conditions while the permanent treatment infrastructure is being completed.
“The water districts to the north of us are already treating their wells for the contaminants, and they’ve spent millions upon millions of dollars to get these treatment systems in place,” Reilly said. “We haven’t had to do that yet — we’re watching. We don’t want to have to do that, and we’re constantly involved in pushing to get these Navy treatment systems up and running, to treat the groundwater.”
Northrop Grumman did not respond to requests for comment.
the northrop Grumman rW-21 Area Groundwater extraction and treatment system processes water when it is pumped out of the aquifer, before sending it back underground.
Courtesy Northrop Grumman northrop Grumman was a major manufacturer in the aeronautics industry for the u.S. armed forces. Above, airplane parts in of one its factories.
study that shows local governments and corporations working together to protect communities. The plume’s development and spread also show that the consequences of a mistake can be challenging to deal with, and that decades of damage require as much or more time to repair. The DEC’s expertise, Northrop Grumman and the Navy’s willingness to take responsibility, and the help of local water districts, were essential in making the restoration effort possible.
The public can receive updates about the plume cleanup effort at the DEC’s Bethpage Community Council meetings at the Bethpage Public Library, the Navy’s semi-annual Resident Advisory Board meetings online at NAVFAC.Navy.Mil/Divisions/Environmental, and Northrop Grumman’s website, NorthropGrumman.com/Sustainability.
deCeX6 is an early exploration well designed to support the cleanup of the plume. the well, installed in the town of oyster Bay by the State department of environmental Conservation, awaits potential future use if needed.
Photos courtesy Department of Environmental Conservation
Ozechowski described the conditions firefighters faced while battling the blaze.
“We received a call at 4:32 a.m. and arrived within a few minutes,” he said. “Fire was already very visible, and you could feel the heat out in the street. Police reported someone trapped on the first floor. I got about six feet inside the house before heavy heat forced us to retreat.”
Ozechowski said the fire quickly spread to the neighboring home, which was also destroyed. “We operated approximately 90 minutes until we were able to get a handle on it. One civilian and two police officers were transported with minor injuries.”
Frigid temperatures complicated efforts to contain the blaze, as firefighters had to clear ice and snow from a hydrant before attaching hoses, officials said. In a fire department Facebook post, officials warned, “When seconds matter, access to a clear hydrant can make all the difference … If they’re covered by snow, blocked by vehicles, landscaping, or debris, it slows down our operation and can impact the outcome.”
Michael F. Uttaro, chief fire marshal of Nassau County, advised residents on winter fire safety. “Clear your fire hydrants of snow, ensure that your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms are installed and operating as
Courtesy Vincent
a fire tore through two homes on Chapman avenue feb. 11, killing a 72-year-old man, critically injuring a 69-year-old woman and destroying neighboring properties.
required, do not use extension cords for space heaters and heavy-duty appliances, have your heating system inspected annually, and have a home fire evacuation plan,” he said.
Ozechowski emphasized that hydrant upkeep is a shared responsibility in the community. “If everybody does a little
bit, every little bit helps, and many hands make light work,” he said, advising residents to contact the fire department immediately if they suspect a problem.
Under the direction of the Bellmore Fire Department, about 100 firefighters responded to the Feb. 11 blaze, with
according to a gofundme, the 72-yearold man was identified as John mora.
mutual aid arriving from Bethpage, East Meadow, Freeport, Levittown, Massapequa, Merrick, North Bellmore, North Massapequa, North Merrick, Seaford and Wantagh fire departments.
The Town of Hempstead Building Department responded to evaluate the structural stability of the homes, and detectives from the Nassau County Police Department’s Homicide and Arson Bomb squads, along with the Nassau County Fire Marshal’s Office, are investigating the cause of the blaze. Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing.
Scaduto
State Republicans rally around Blakeman
County executive, now the GOP nominee for governor, has plenty to say about Hochul at convention
By Chris ColuCCi, ABig Ail grieCo & AngelinA Zing Ariello of the Herald
After three days of official business, rallying the party faithful and nominating the state Republican slate, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman was front and center at the party’s convention in Garden City last week, and accepted the GOP’s nomination to be its gubernatorial candidate.
If elected, Blakeman would be only the second Long Islander to become governor, 127 years after Teddy Roosevelt did so, and the first Nassau County executive to hold the state’s top office.
Blakeman criticized Gov. Kathy Hochul and pledged to cut income taxes for middle-class families, reduce electricity bills by rolling back stateimposed fees and mandates, and redirect spending he said is being wasted to instead fund schools, infrastructure, hospitals and services for veterans.
“Taxes are soaring, electric bills and insurance premiums keep climbing out of control,” Blakeman said on Feb. 11, the third and final day of the convention. “Crime is rising. Businesses are leaving the state in record numbers. Families and seniors are being priced out of their homes. New York ranks dead last for economic development, and number 45 out of 50 states in the nation for affordability, and it’s all a direct result of Kathy Hochul’s failed policies.”
He vowed to oppose congestion pricing, protect Second Amendment rights and support law enforcement, including keeping violent offenders in prison and revisiting criminal justice policies such as cashless bail and parole standards.
“I will bring the experience, leadership and focus on public safety,” Blakeman said. “We will make you safer in your homes and your communities, and we will continue to fight for your families. I will be governor for all the people, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, abilities and lifestyles.”
Upstate Madison County Sheriff Todd Hood was introduced as Blakeman’s running mate, the candidate for lieutenant governor. Hood pledged to support Blakeman and help lead what he described as an effort to fix the state’s pressing problems. A third-term elected sheriff with more than 30 years of law enforcement service, Hood framed his candidacy around public safety and government accountability. He argued that the state has become less safe and more expensive under oneparty rule, criticizing bail laws, antipolice rhetoric and high taxes that he said have hurt communities and driven families and small businesses out of the state. Hood said that he and Blakeman would stand with law enforcement and crime victims, cut taxes, rein in state spending and work to make New York more affordable.
“That’s the kind of leadership that I’ll bring to the lieutenant governor’s office,” Hood said. “Bruce Blakeman and
the party’s nominee for governor, noted Gov. Kathy Hochul’s “failed policies” on Feb. 11.
I are running to restore common sense.”
Former Gov. George Pataki, New York’s last Republican governor, who served three terms, from 1995 to 2006, offered his support as well, making clear the party’s push to win back the governor’s office.
“I’ve known Bruce for decades,” Pataki said of Blakeman. “He is someone who loves this country and loves this state. He is someone who has dedicated his life to public service to make the lives of others better. And he hasn’t just tried. He has succeeded.”
Delegates also nominated Saritha Komatireddy, a former federal prosecutor, for attorney general, with 86.3 percent of the vote. She defeated Brooklyn attorney Khurram Dara. Komatireddy emphasized her experience prosecuting terrorism and public corruption, and pledged to focus on public safety.
“I’ve spent my life in public service and public safety,” she said. “New Yorkers are tired of seeing criminals released over and over again while families feel
the office.
unsafe in their own communities.”
The party’s nominee for comptroller, Joseph Hernandez, shared his family’s story of emigrating from Cuba after his father was a political prisoner. He criticized current Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli and outlined plans to invest $1 billion in Israeli bonds and launch a proposed $10 billion “Empire Opportunity Fund.”
“I know a communist when I see a communist,” Hernandez said of DiNapoli. “My friends, he is a communist.”
Long Beach Republican Chairman Jim Moriarty pointed to Nassau County as a microcosm of the state.
“In Nassau County, the demographics and all other statistics mirrors the state of New York,” Moriarty said on the second day of the convention. “He’s got tremendous executive experience,” he added of Blakeman. “He’s shown he can win and attract bipartisan support. He’s going to be a tremendous candidate and a great governor.”
Along with Hochul, the Democratic
slate includes incumbents Attorney General Letitia James and DiNapoli, a native Long Islander. The lieutenant governor candidate is Adrienne Adams, the former speaker of the New York City Council.
Hochul received a boost in her campaign when current Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado suspended his campaign for governor, deciding not to challenge her in the Democratic primary.
Blakeman is expected to face a challenge in the Republican primary from Libertarian candidate Larry Sharpe. That election is June 23. The general election is on Nov. 3.
Despite Republican support inside the building, Democrats outside made their presence known on Feb. 11.
“We’re here to send a message to our Republicans over in the hotel across the street that we’re not going to stand for electing a man as governor of this state who’s going to kowtow to Donald Trump,” state Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs said.
Photos courtesy Brian Grogan
Saritha Komatireddy, a former federal prosecutor, is the GOP’s pick for attorney general.
Angelina Zingariello/Herald photos
State Republican Party members showed their support for Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s gubernatorial run.
Blakeman,
George Pataki, the last Republican to serve as governor, joined the party’s push to win back
Nominate a student under 18 for the Sustainability Champion Award to recognize their efforts in driving sustainable change.
Submit a nomination of approximately 100 words or less describing the student’s leadership in promoting sustainability: What motivates them? What impact have they had?
Be sure to include a photo or an example of their work—whether it’s a community garden, an environmental campaign, or a creative solution to a sustainability challenge.
Compiled by Herald Staff
Ariel Borkowsky
Farmingdale
Someone paid for my coffee in front of me, and I paid for the person in back of me
Christie Leigh Babirad/Herald
Joe Mascaro
Merrick
I shoveled my elderly neighbor’s driveway after the snowstorm.
Abbey Salvemini/Herald
Jarrod Murphy
Rockville Centre, age 10
When somebody was being mean to me at recess, my friends invited me to play football with them. Then, when they were feeing sad, I helped them back and let them play with my friends.
Tim Baker/Herald photos
Maria DeLuca
Glen Cove
Somebody on the Glen Cove neighbors Facebook created a group for people to come together and ideate on ways they can help homeless people in the area.
Roksana Amid/Herald
Nonprofit
Carson Giacopelli
Lynbrook, age 18
A neighbor with dementia didn’t have anybody to help her shovel. So, my family and I showed up to shovel her property for her. No money, it is all part of Lynbrook Cares.
Tim Baker/Herald photos
Yolanda
Republicans talk affordability policy report
State Sen. Steve Rhoads joined Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt and members of the Senate Republican Conference this week in unveiling “An Affordable New York,” a policy report and legislative package aimed at reducing the high cost of living across the state.
Conference members said the report grew out of a series of roundtable discussions held in communities statewide, where lawmakers met with business owners, families, local officials and advocacy groups to identify the pressures driving what they described as New York’s affordability crisis. Participants cited rising taxes and regulations, energy and utility costs, childcare expenses, housing prices, insurance, transportation costs and grocery bills as compounding factors making it increasingly difficult for residents to remain in the state.
Rhoads said affordability concerns have become central to conversations with constituents, noting that many residents feel squeezed by rising costs while wages struggle to keep pace.
“As President Reagan once said, ‘you can’t be for big government, big taxes and big bureaucracy and still be for the little guy.’ Kathy Hochul and Albany Democrats continue to pursue an agenda that punishes success and stifles economic growth with high taxes, over regulation and runaway spending – putting the American Dream out of reach for the average New Yorker. It’s why New York loses a resident to another state every 2 minutes and 23 seconds. Affordability should be more than a Governor’s polltested punch line. That’s why the Senate Republican Conference is offering a comprehensive package of legislation that will cut energy, housing and child care costs; slash regulations; make our communities more secure and deliver the largest personal income tax cut in the history of New York State. It’s an agenda focused on real affordability and solutions that will Save New York – by saving New Yorkers,” Rhoads said.
Among the central proposals is a restructuring of the state income tax system that would eliminate personal income tax on the first $50,000 earned by single filers and $100,000 for married couples filing jointly. Lawmakers estimate the change would deliver roughly $30 billion in tax relief over a decade. Additional proposals include exempting tips and overtime wages from state income tax and freezing property taxes for three years.
The conference also called for reducing government regulations and spending through measures including a review of state rulemaking processes, requirements to offset new business regulations by repealing older ones, and the creation of a commission to identify unnecessary state rules. Lawmakers also proposed independent audits of state agencies and public authorities to uncover potential waste or misuse of funds.
To address rising household expenses, proposals include returning unused climate investment funds to ratepayers, temporarily suspending certain utility taxes and surcharges, and repealing fees that
add to energy bills. Housing-related measures include tax credits for first-time homebuyers and revisions to building and energy codes that lawmakers say would lower construction costs.
Childcare affordability also figures prominently, with proposals to fully fund the Child Care Assistance Program, create a refundable $1,000 tax credit for families with newborns and allow temporary staffing flexibility at childcare centers during workforce shortages.
Senate Republicans said additional elements of their broader “Save New York” agenda will be introduced in the coming
weeks as lawmakers continue pushing measures intended to address affordability concerns statewide.
—Jordan Vallone
State Sen. Steve Rhoads joined Senate Republicans to unveil ‘An Affordable New York’ policy report and legislative package.
Courtesy Office of Steve Rhoads
News brief
District reminds families of bus deadlines
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The North Bellmore Union Free School District is reminding families of transportation eligibility requirements and application deadlines for the upcoming school year.
The district provides bus transportation for resident students in kindergarten through third grade who live more than a half mile and up to 15 miles from their assigned schools. Students in grades four through six are eligible if they live more than one mile and up to 15 miles from their schools. Transportation to a day care provider within the district may be available in certain circumstances.
Parents and guardians with questions are encouraged to contact the district’s Business Office or Transportation Department before April 1, 2026, at 516-992-3000, ext. 3017.
Transportation is also available under the same guidelines for district residents attending private or parochial schools.
To be eligible, parents or guardians must register with the district and submit a written request for transportation by April 1 each year. The district said the deadline allows officials to budget funds for transportation services in September.
A transportation application for nonpublic school students is available on the district’s website at northbellmore-
The North Bellmore Union Free School District shared transportation requirements
schools.org. Requests should be sent to the Business Office/Transportation Department at 2616 Martin Ave., Bellmore, NY 11710.
Applications for students entering middle school in grades seven and eight or high school in grades nine through 12 are available through the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District website or by calling 516-992-1024.
— Hernesto Galdamez
Herald file
STEPPING OUT
Hoops, hijinks and history
By Andrew Coen
Acentury after the team’s founding, Harlem Globetrotters storied history comes alive when the latest iteration of the quickfingered hoops stars return here.
The Globetrotters bring their 100 Year Tour to Nassau Coliseum, on Feb. 21, giving fans a chance to see the team’s well-known acrobatic dunks, trick shots and long-range shots up close. This special appearance marks the first time the iconic team — debuting their new 100 Year jerseys — has performed in the arena against longtime rivals, the Washington Generals, since 2017. From gravity-defying dunks to game-changing tricks, everyone will certainly feel the history, the joy, and those “wow” moments in true Globetrotters style.
What started with Curly, Meadowlark, Wilt, and Geese continues on today with Hammer, Torch, Bulldog, Cheese, Jet, Wham, Thunder, TNT — and so many more. Taking inspiration from the fun-loving and awe-inspiring players of the past, today’s Globetrotters stars are ready to wow you on the court and in the crowd
The team is full of a number of talented men and women basketball players who were for various
Harlem Globetrotters at 100
courtesy Harlem Globetrotters Andrew “Big Dog” Whitsett, right, a 7’1” forward/finisher, commands attention with his size and presence on the court.
Wild days in the Bronx
reasons counted out throughout their lives, according to Lucius “Too Tall” Winston, who has spent the last nine years with the Globetrotters. Winston, despite his nickname, only measures 5’11’’ and was told by a former coach at age 15 he was too short to play college or professional basketball.
“You have a ton of guys through our team that had to face adversity and that builds character,” he says. “I got a chance to see that coach a couple years ago after he saw me play and he said he wanted to apologize for what he said to me and I told him if he didn’t tell me those words at that age I probably wouldn’t be where I am today.”
The centennial season’s “5th Quarter” postgame session gives fans some special moments with players. and pursue their dreams — anything is possible with good
Chazz Palminteri is back on the Paramount stage with his electrifying solo performance of “A Bronx Tale,” the autobiographical one-man show that launched his remarkable career. Riveting and deeply personal, it draws on Palminteri’s bruising Bronx childhood, including the moment — at nine-years-old — when he witnessed a gangland killing that forever shaped his view of the world. Palminteri inhabits 18 vivid haracters, seamlessly shifting between friends, foes and family members to conjure an entire neighborhood with nothing but his voice, physicality and storytelling prowess. First written and performed in 1989, “A Bronx Tale” became a sensation, hailed as one of the most sought-after properties since “Rocky.” The original production paved the way for the acclaimed film adaptation — directed by Robert De Niro — and later a hit Broadway musical.
Sunday, Feb. 22, 7:30 p.m. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny. com.
• Feb. 21, 2 p.m.
Winston is as fanatical about basketball today as he was as a young player in his hometown of Russellville, Ala. His love of the sport has crossed from player to coach to motivational speaker. Winston dedicates his personal time to organizations that shine a light on the sport with emphasis on leadership, team work and focus. True joy for him comes with motivating kids to get out of their comfort zone and pursue their dreams — anything is possible with good character, good grades and hard work.
• Tickets range from $50-$200; available at ticketmaster.com and harlemglobetrotters.com
The Globetrotters have revolutionized the sport of basketball throughout its 100-year history, including popularizing the slam dunk The team’s roster includes Zeus McClurkin, who set a record for the most dunks in a minute with 16 in 2016.
• Nassau Coliseum, Hempstead Tpke., Uniondale
Guard Lucius “Too Tall” Winston’s favorite trick is the 2 Ball Spin. He holds eight Guinness World Records, including Most Figure Eight Dribbles in One Minute (2020 and Most Three Point Shots Made By a Pair in One Minute (2020).
In addition to the Globetrotters’ famed high-flying dunks, the number of longdistance shots are always a thrill.The Globetrotters famously introduced a 4-point shot in 201, 30 feet from the basket, which is seven feet longer than the NBA’s three-point line.
Winston, who played college basketball at Tuskegee University, relates that interaction with the fans is what makes attending a Globetrotter game particularly unique. Among the signature moments, the team holds a free postgame autograph session. And during the game those in the crowd are frequently called down to the court to participate in stunts. Everyone can also take part in premium options that enable pregame access to meet players along with joining the team for warmups on the court.
“You get to see guys that can play the game at a high level who can jump out of the gym and shoot the ball extremely well and you’ll also see plenty of entertainment as well,” Winston says. “It’s a high quality game from start to finish and then at the end fans are allowed to come down courtside and get autographs and take pictures with us.”
McClurkin, who set a record for the most dunks in a minute courtside and get autographs and take pictures with us.”
future Hall of Famers like Wilt Chamberlain and Connie Hawkins; or Curly Neal and Meadowlark
International icons, the Globetrotters are considered “ambassadors” of the game, beloved the world over for their special brand athleticism that combines the skills and foundations of basketball with a uniquely theatrical flare. From breaking the NBA color barrier with alums like Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton signing a pro contract as a member of the New York Knicks or courting future Hall of Famers like Wilt Chamberlain and Connie Hawkins; or Curly Neal and Meadowlark Lemon dazzling sellout crowds; to ushering women into professional basketball; to the current group, the Globetrotters’ reach and impact attract attention.
Tilles Center Atrium becomes an intimate lounge to showcase exciting up-and-coming jazz talent Sarah Hanahan, presented in collaboration with Jazz at Lincoln Center. The dynamic, soulful alto saxophonist is swiftly emerging as one of the most compelling new voices in jazz. A graduate of both the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz and The Juilliard School, she blends deeprooted swing and bebop traditions with a bold, modern intensitySince stepping onto the scene, Hanahan has performed with an extraordinary range of jazz luminaries. =Her commanding tone, technical mastery, and melodic imagination have taken her to major stages across the U.S. and abroad, with regular appearances at premier New York City venues. Whether fronting her own quartet or collaborating with some of the music’s most revered artists, Hanahan plays with passion, precision and an unwavering commitment to the ever-evolving art of jazz.
The current team of elite men and women, holders of an unprecedented 60+ Guinness World Records, including 18 set just last year — the most of any team in any sport — bring a fresh look of gravity-defying dunks and game-changing tricks against their renowned rivals in this special centennial season.
Thursday, Feb. 26, 7:30 p.m. Tilles Center, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Tickets available at tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100.
Sarah Hanahan
Photos
Your Neighborhood CALENDAR
‘The Wedding Singer’ Molloy University’s CAP21 Musical Theatre students stage the musical comedy based on the iconic film. The show will have you partying like it’s 1985! Travel back to the outrageous 1980s, when hair was huge, neon ruled fashion and everything MTV was “like, totally tubular.” Based on the mega-hit Adam Sandler movie, this Broadway romance about a heartbroken rock star wannabe finding love again is jampacked with big laughs, dazzling dance numbers, and a score as bold and electric as the decade itself. From popped collars to power ballads, “The Wedding Singer” is a nostalgic, feel-good celebration of love, friendship, and all things ‘80s.
• Where: Madison Theatre, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre
• Time: 8 p.m.; also Feb. 21, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Feb 22, 3 p.m.
• Contact: madisontheatreny.org or (516) 323-4444
BenAnna Band in concert
BenAnna Band is back with a concert for children of all ages at Merrick Library.
Registration required.
• Where: 2279 Merrick Ave.
• Time: 10:30 a.m.-11:15 a.m.
• Contact: merricklibrary.org
Family theater
Long Island Children’s Museum stages “Pete the Cat,” the charming musical based on the book series by Kimberly and James Dean. Life is certainly an adventure for Pete, no matter where he winds up. So the minute the groovy blue cat meets The Biddles, he gets the whole family rocking. That is, except for young Jimmy Biddle, the most organized second grader on planet Earth. But when Jimmy draws a blank in art class during the last week of school, it turns out Pete is the perfect pal to help him out. Together, they set out on a mission to help Jimmy conquer second grade art, and along the way, they both learn a little something new about inspiration. $11 with museum admission ($9 members), $15 theater only.
• Where: 11 Davis Ave., Garden City
• Time: 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.: also Feb. 25-26
• Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800
Art talk
Nassau County Museum of Art hosts Dee Shapiro, a New York–based artist, is known for her richly detailed paintings exploring geometry, architecture, and FEB
FEB
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“Don’t stop believin’…
• Where: 11 Davis. Ave., Garden City
• Time: 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.
• Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800
Congregation
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Beth Ohr Mel Polay Purim Carnival
Beth Ohr Mel Polay welcomes to enjoy games, prizes, snacks, tattoos, bagels with a schmear and more at the annual Purim Carnival.
• Where: CBO Merrick Annex, 2655 Clubhouse Road, Merrick
• Time: 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
• Contact: (516) 781-3072
Purim Carnival
Join the Merrick Jewish Centre for its annual Purim Carnival.
• Where: Merrick Jewish Centre, 225 Fox Blvd., Merrick
• Time: 10:15 a.m.-1:15 p.m.
• Contact: (516) 379-8650
Art Perspectives
• Where: The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington.
Voyage rocks on with another dynamic tribute to Journey. The popular band takes everyone back to the ‘80s when Journey’s timeless music ruled the airwaves. Hailed by fans and critics alike, the band performs the music with chilling accuracy. Voyage is celebrated for their uncanny ability to recreate the legendary sound, energy and passion of one of rock’s greatest bands. With their blistering guitar solos, lush keyboard arrangements, electrifying stage presence, and stunning harmonies, the band has earned a reputation as the ultimate homage to Journey’s timeless music. Fronted by vocalist Pedro Espada, whose range and tone is acclaimed as rivaling the iconic Steve Perry, he’s backed by a lineup of world-class musicians — Robby Hoffman, Greg Smith, Lance Millard, and Dana Spellman — who bring every note to life with precision and heart. Voyage doesn’t just perform Journey’s greatest hits, they transport audiences back to the height of arena rock glory. From the soaring ballads of “Faithfully” and “Open Arms” to the anthemic energy of “Don’t Stop Believin’” and “Separate Ways,” every performance is a journey through the soundtrack of a generation. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or discovering the magic of Journey for the first time, Voyage promises a night of unforgettable rock ‘n’ roll.
• Time: 8 p.m.
• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com
place. She discusses works from her City and Landscapes series featured in The Real, Surreal, and Photoreal exhibit, which capture the rhythm and structure of urban and natural environments.. $20, $15 seniors, $10 students (members free). Limited seating, register in advance.
• Where: 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor
• Time: 3 p.m.
• Contact: nassaumuseum.org or (516) 484-9337
Pokémon club
popular “Brown Bag Lecture” at the museum. Explore “The Real, Surreal, and Photoreal,” through a lively and informative presentation. No reservations. First come,first seated.
• Where: 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor
• Time: 1 p.m.
• Contact: nassaumuseum.org or (516) 484-9337
Snowman and Cocoa fun
composers, allowing the writing of music that expands the style and capacity of brilliant voices of our time.
• Where: Adelphi University Performing Arts Center, 1 South Ave., Garden City
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Contact: adelphi.edu/pac or 9516) 877-4000
Nassau County Museum of Art welcomes acclaimed artist Adam Straus for engaging conversation with noted art critic, writer, and filmmaker Amei Wallach. Together, Straus and Wallach will discuss his artistic process, share insights from his current and past work, and present images that illuminate the evolution of his practice. Their dialogue offers a unique window into the artist’screative journey and the broader role of art in reflecting and responding to our contemporary world. $20, $15 seniors, $10 students (members free). Limited seating, register in advance.
• Where: 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor
• Time: 3 p.m.
• Contact: nassaumuseum.org or (516) 484-9337
Bellmore Library welcomes kids ages 5-12 for some Pokemon fun. Meet other trainers while playing at the library.Bring your cards to trade or play. Children under age 10 must be accompanied by parent, caregiver or responsible person over 14. Space is limited and registration required.
• Where: 2288 Bedford Ave.
• Time: 7-8 p.m.
• Contact: bellmorelibrary.org FEB
‘Brown Bag’ Art Chat
Grab your lunch and join Nassau County Museum of Art Docent Riva Ettus for her
Kids are invited to make snowman crafts and enjoy a hot cocoa at Merrick Library.
• Where: 2279 Merrick Ave.
• Time: 10:30 a.m.-11:15 a.m.
• Contact: merricklibrary.org
S Õ Percussion in concert
The Grammy-winning percussionists return to the Adelphi University Performing Arts Center. For 25 years and counting, the quartet has redefined chamber music for the 21st century through an “exhilarating blend of precision and anarchy, rigor and bedlam” (The New Yorker). Their commitment to the creation and amplification of new work have made them a trusted partner for
Read to a dog Kids ages 4-12 can practice reading skills with your dog at Bellmore Memorial Library.
• Where: 2288 Bedford Ave.
• Time: 10-11 a.m.
• Contact: bellmorelibrary.org
Carnival
Long Island Children’s Museum invites families to a celebration of Caribbean and Latin American culture. Feel the rhythm and embrace the color at the Carnival Festival! Inspired by Caribbean and Latin American traditions, this high-energy celebration welcomes the changing of the seasons with music, dance, and joyful cultural activities for all. Decorate a parade float fit for the Carnival King and Queen; sample the sweet and savory flavors of the
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.
Turning class project into real-world impact
Stewart Avenue on Feb. 3, several months after the idea first emerged in the fall. Seligman recalled spotting trucks installing the signs outside their classroom window.
“It was so relieving and just awesome to see that the work we put into it paid off,” he said.
Both students said the experience reinforced the value of persistence and civic engagement. Wilson said it showed him that community members should not hesitate to contact elected officials to pursue improvements, while Seligman noted the importance of continuing outreach even when responses were slow.
DeMartinis said watching the students navigate the process was inspiring.
make it better,” he said, adding that “a passionate young voice can cut through with clarity and can really get things done.”
Social studies teacher Jacqueline Geller, who leads the class, said the project reflects the program’s mission of turning leadership lessons into tangible results.
“I’m incredibly proud to be the principal at a school where students are engaged in the community and want to
LEGAL NOTICE
“Jake and Brayden’s work exemplifies the mission of Pirate for a Purpose: identifying a real-world problem, charting a course forward and seeing the project through with perseverance, leadership and civic responsibility,” she said.
Students and school leaders say the new signage is expected to encourage slower driving and increase awareness for the many buses, student drivers and families who use the corridor each day — a visible reminder, they said, of how student voices can shape their community.
Public Notices
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR THE RMAC TRUST, SERIES 2016-CTT, Plaintiff AGAINST SHAWN WHALEN, JANET WHALEN, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered March 7, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on February 26, 2026 at 2:30 PM, premises known as 402 Marle Place, Bellmore, NY 11710. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Bellmore, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 56, Block 351, Lot 87-89. Approximate amount of judgment $417,139.32 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of
filed Judgment Index #600417/2020. Ronald J. Ferraro, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Dri ve Williamsville, NY 14221 19-007424 88499 158010
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD LOCAL LAW NO. 18-2026
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that, pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing was duly called and held on the 10th day of February 2026, by the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead, on the proposed adoption of Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 18-2026, and following the close of the hearing the Town Board duly adopted Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 18-2026, to amend Section 202-1 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, to include “PARKING OR STANDING PROHIBITIONS” at various locations.
News brief
Rhoads hits the road with office hours
Dated: February 10, 2026
Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD JOHN FERRETTI Supervisor KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 158434
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR FREMONT HOME LOAN TRUST 2005-D, MORTGAGE-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2005-D, Plaintiff, Against MICHAEL BROWN, et al, Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 10/09/2018, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 on 3/23/2026 at 2:00PM, premises known as 1855 Madison Avenue, Bellmore, New York
11710, and described as follows:
ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Bellmore, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York. Section 56 Block L Lot 21
The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $992,729.74 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 5261/09 If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the then Court Appointed Referee will cancel the Foreclosure Auction. This Auction will be held rain or shine.
Louis B. Imbroto, Esq., Referee. MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC, 10 Midland Avenue, Suite 205, Port Chester, NY 10573
Dated: 1/16/2026 File Number: 17-300073 CA 158465
State Sen. Steve Rhoads is once again taking government directly into the community, announcing the return of his Mobile Office Hours program for a fourth consecutive year, with stops scheduled at libraries throughout the 5th Senate District.
The program allows residents to meet face-to-face with Rhoads and members of his staff to discuss issues affecting their families and neighborhoods, including affordability, public safety, education concerns and access to local and state services. By holding meetings in community libraries, the senator aims to make state government more accessible and convenient for residents who may otherwise find it difficult to travel to district offices or Albany.
Since its launch, the Mobile Office Hours initiative has hosted more than three dozen sessions, drawing residents seeking assistance with state agencies, community concerns and legislative issues.
The continued expansion of the program reflects what Rhoads described as a commitment to listening directly to constituents and developing solutions grounded in local needs.
“Although I legislate in Albany, my top priority is always the hardworking residents of Senate District 5,” Rhoads said in a statement
announcing the new series. “These Mobile Office Hours are an opportunity for me to hear directly from residents, understand the challenges they face and work toward practical solutions that make a difference in their daily lives.”
Residents are encouraged to schedule appointments in advance by calling Rhoads’ district office at (516) 882-0630. While appointments are required to ensure time for each meeting, walk-ins may be accommodated if scheduling allows. Officials also advise residents to confirm dates and locations in advance, as schedules may change.
Upcoming sessions after Feb. 19 are scheduled for Feb. 21 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Wantagh Public Library, 3285 Park Ave., Wantagh; Feb. 28 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Hicksville Public Library, 169 Jerusalem Ave., Hicksville; March 7 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Bethpage Public Library, 47 Powell Ave., Bethpage; May 2 from 10 a.m. to noon at the East Meadow Public Library, 1886 Front St., East Meadow; June 15 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the North Bellmore Public Library, 1551 Newbridge Rd., North Bellmore; and June 29 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Island Trees Public Library, 38 Farmedge Rd., Levittown.
—Jordan Vallone
Jake Wilson
Photos courtesy of the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District. Brayden Seligman and Jake Wilson with the new street sign.
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Gutter Care 101
Q. I just took a $2,500 contract to have gutter screens added to my rain gutters. Would you recommend this instead of the biannual flush cleaning I do, which costs $450 per service?
A. It is great that you monitor routine maintenance around your house, including rain gutters. The cost, if you pay $450 twice a year for your biannual gutter cleaning, is $900 per year. An expense of $2,500 for the rain gutter covers would pay for itself in a timeframe determined by dividing 2500 by 900, which would be 2.7 years. So in two years and nine months, your outlay of $2,500 would be paid off — but only if the gutter screens do not also need maintenance.
I went through a learning phase with my own rain gutters, except that I would flush the gutters by myself. At first I had gutters that were open and, with all the trees surrounding my home, the gutters filled every fall with leaves and the debris that had to be removed. I then bought gutter screens that snap in, although there were places where they couldn’t snap in because of the long nail shafts used to attach the gutters to the face board, referred to as fascia. In those places, the metal screens had to be trimmed with a hacksaw and tin snips. It was tedious but rewarding, because the leaves did not clog the gutters. Unfortunately, twigs and smaller debris managed to find their way through the screens, and the metal rusted.
Those screens lasted six years, before another product, called Leafguard Gutters, was brought to my attention. It is a gutter with a top that wraps around and is bent in a curve so water flows over the top of the rain gutter and then, by a phenomenon called adhesion, the water clings to the gutter top and flows into a thin opening that runs the length of the gutter. It works very well, and hardly anything gets into the thin horizontal continuous opening except the rain.
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So, back at square one, I began cleaning gutters again, every fall, until one day, when I saw Leafguard stainless mesh gutter covers with a lifetime guarantee. They completely eliminated the debris, but require occasional brushing to keep clean, at a much higher price. It still pays to put on the screens. Good luck!
© 2026 Monte Leeper
Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.
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OpInIOns
I’m focused on getting New York’s tax dollars back
For decades, New Yorkers have faced high taxes, rising prices and infrastructure in need of repair. At the same time, we’ve been subsidizing other states with our federal tax dollars. New York is a big “donor” state, while most red states are “taker” states.
I’m always trying to bring money back to my district, and in the past couple of weeks I’ve had some new success doing just that. I announced more than $17 million in funding for community projects in my district.
Everyone knows that we’re facing a cost-of-living crisis. From health care to housing, energy to groceries, prices are sky-high. To make matters worse, New Yorkers bear one of the heaviest tax burdens in the country, which only adds to our cost of living. People are leaving our state at a record pace.
When I was born, New York had more than 40 representatives in the U.S. House. Now we only have 26. That number will be smaller after the next census,
as low-tax states continue to grow rapidly while New York’s population stays essentially the same. That’s not just a loss of political power, but a referendum on how expensive it is to live here. Between our skyhigh property taxes and the loss of our full SALT deduction (which I continue to fight to reinstate), it’s no wonder people are moving out.
TThey’re fleeing to red states in the South with much lower state taxes. The irony is that states like New York have long sent more money to the federal government than we get back, and Washington spends it propping up “poor” states like Florida, South Carolina and Tennessee. For every dollar we pay in federal taxes, we get 91 cents back. Kentucky gets $2.50. It’s just unfair.
in Congress is simple and direct: bring our money back home.
I’m working to make sure my constituents get a fairer return on the dollars we contribute to the federal government. That means fighting for federal funding that eases the burden on local governments, strengthens our infrastructure and protects public health and safety.
hat means fighting for federal funding to ease the burden on local governments.
Recently that work paid off. I secured millions of dollars worth of projects for my district, making sure federal money was included in a funding package that Democrats and Republicans worked together to craft. Those funds will support a wide range of critical projects that directly affect my constituents’ lives.
the Glen Cove Police Department. In Bethpage, the money will help build infrastructure to remove chemicals from the water supply linked to the Navy-Grumman plume. It will help create a vibrant downtown in Huntington by supporting affordable housing and business spaces. And in Lattingtown, these funds will go toward repairing emergency evacuation routes along East Beach Drive, improving our roads and safety during severe weather.
Securing funds for sewer repairs and water wells isn’t glamorous work, but it’s crucial. It’s not only about improving public health, environmental protection and local infrastructure; it’s also about fairness. New Yorkers contribute massively to the federal government, subsidizing growth in other states, and it’s time we got our fair share back.
Meanwhile, our town and village governments are under water. Our infrastructure is older and more expensive to maintain, and local budgets scramble to keep up. While New Yorkers fund new projects in the South, our own infrastructure risks lagging behind and our taxes continue to rise. We have been subsidizing our own demise.
That’s why one of my core missions
They’ll help replace old sewer pipes in Roslyn and Manorhaven, and replace old cesspools with new sewer lines in Sea Cliff. They will help prevent harmful runoff into Hempstead Harbor and Manhasset Bay, helping preserve our Long Island Sound ecosystem. Other projects will protect drinking water supplies from so-called “forever chemicals” and other contaminants.
The funding will also provide muchneeded technology and equipment for
I’ll never stop fighting to make sure we get back as much of the money we send to the federal government as possible, and use it to lessen the pressure on local budgets, improve our public health and safety, and reduce costs. In the months ahead I’ll propose a dramatic change to the federal tax code to try and bring more of New Yorkers’ money back to New York, to reduce our tax burden. Stay tuned.
Tom Suozzi represents the 3rd Congressional District.
Combating the scourge of kratom in Nassau County
Our most consequential responsibility as public servants, parents and community leaders is to confront emerging threats to our children’s health and wellness. Frighteningly, many of these can be found within arm’s length at our local convenience stores, and there’s a new one on the shelf.
arnOld w. drucker
We are all aware of the everpresent threats of alcohol, tobacco and nicotine products and the risks of lifelong addiction, cancers and terminal illnesses their use can cause. More recently, we witnessed the frightening rise of dangerous fruit- and candy-flavored vaping products that get our kids hooked on nicotine and can cause irreversible health problems like “popcorn lung.” Thankfully, our efforts to stem that tide have made slow but steady progress. Now we are confronted by the threat of a new and alarming substance — an emerging stimulant known as kratom — and it is incumbent on all of us to act swiftly to protect our communities.
A constituent recently contacted my office and asked to meet with me to discuss how Nassau County could address the dangers of this drug, which their son, and many others, had gotten hooked on. It had caused devastating damage, and I knew action was necessary.
It’s easy to see how people can be enticed by kratom. It is often falsely marketed as a natural, plantbased energy booster, mood lifter, pain reliever and opioid withdrawal remedy. But, as they say, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
It’s a stimulant with side effects ranging from psychosis to liver damage.
Experts at the Mayo Clinic warn that kratom has not been proven safe or to have any medical efficacy. The Food and Drug Administration similarly cautions against its use, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has labeled it a drug of concern, with side effects including confusion, delusions, tremors, psychosis, depression toxicity, liver damage and addiction. Because it is unregulated and its labeling is inconsistent, its users have little idea how much they’ve actually taken until it’s too late.
During a five-year span, poison-control centers across America received
more than 3,400 reports of kratomrelated incidents, and some cases ended in patients’ deaths. My constituent told me that when their son finally embarked on a path to recovery, the withdrawal symptoms he experienced were similar to, if not worse than, someone going through heroin withdrawal.
Based on these disturbing facts, I filed legislation on Feb. 6 that would ban the sale and distribution of kratom products in Nassau County. Those found in violation would be charged with a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and up to a year in jail for each offense.
Suffolk County has already banned kratom, and New York state restricts its sale to people over age 21. Passing my legislation would bring us in line with our neighbors in Suffolk and hopefully serve as a catalyst for a statewide ban. The fact that the Republican majority has followed my lead and filed similar legislation gives me hope that this common-sense approach to protecting public health is on the fast track to approval.
Throughout my decade as a legislator, I have remained laser-focused on preserving the wellness of our commu-
nities and protecting our young people from dangerous, misleading products that can ruin their health. In 2019 I proudly introduced and passed a ban on the sale of most flavored vaping products in Nassau — products that we have proven vape companies market directly to unsuspecting youths. The ban was later adopted statewide. The proposal built on my previous bill to restrict the advertising of age-restricted items such as cigarettes, tobacco and vaping products within 1,000 feet of establishments frequented by young people.
Before taking steps to regulate vaping, I focused intently on finishing the work that the late Legislator Judy Jacobs began to ban the sale of tobacco and cigarettes to anyone under age 21 — a goal that we achieved in 2018.
All of these proposals were ultimately enacted with bipartisan, unanimous support. As our focus now turns to kratom and addressing the devastation it has already caused for far too many families, I implore my colleagues to once again set aside our partisan labels. Banning kratom will protect our children and our communities from irreversible harm. Let’s work together and get it done.
Arnold W. Drucker represents Nassau County’s 16th Legislative District and is the Legislature’s deputy minority leader.
TOm
suOzzI
Established 1994
Incorporating the Bellmore Life in 2013
Hernesto
aHERALD
Misleading safety data could hurt kids
Feb. 2 report, “Violent and Disruptive Incidents and Bullying in New York Schools,” from State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli should serve as a wake-up call for anyone tempted to declare victory on school safety.
While official data shows that rates of “serious” violent and disruptive incidents are near zero, bullying, cyberbullying and drug-related incidents are rising statewide — in many cases exceeding pre-pandemic levels. That disconnect matters, because it reveals a system that risks measuring safety by definitions rather than by students’ lived experiences.
According to DiNapoli’s analysis of seven years of School Safety and Educational Climate data from the State Education Department, bullying is now the most frequently reported school safety incident.
In the 2023-24 school year, bullying, not including cyberbullying, accounted for nearly two-thirds of all reported incidents statewide. Almost 30,000 bullying incidents were reported, translating to 12.4 incidents per 1,000 pupils. In schools that reported at least one incident, the rate was far higher.
Cyberbullying, meanwhile, remains officially “low” in the data, but that is precisely the problem. Anonymity, offcampus activity and the digital lives students have after dismissal make cyberbullying notoriously difficult to detect and report. The report itself acknowledges that many incidents likely go unreported. When nearly 35 percent of public schools report no bullying or
letters
Peter King goes too easy on ICE agents
To the Editor:
Re Peter King’s column “There are better ways to resolve the immigration crisis” in last week’s issue: The videos we all saw of Renee Good and Alex Pretti being shot to death by ICE agents contradict Mr. King’s description. He referred to these horrific acts as “heat-of-the moment reactions to unexpected incidents.”
Additionally, Mr. King opposes “any requirement that ICE agents remove their masks” because “wearing masks has become absolutely essential for them.”
If only Mr. King found it in his heart to have similar consideration and respect for the families of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
JOSIE MARINO Lynbrook
cyberbullying incidents, the question is not whether bullying exists, but whether schools are capturing it honestly.
Drug-related incidents tell a similar story. After dropping during the period of remote learning, the number of drug incidents in secondary schools has risen above pre-Covid levels. Statewide rates climbed from 4.2 incidents per 1,000 students in 2017-18 to 6.5 in 2023-24, with especially high rates in upstate districts. These are not abstract numbers. They reflect daily realities that students, teachers and families confront in hallways, bathrooms and social spaces.
Yet at the same time these troubling trends are rising, reports of serious violent and disruptive incidents — such as assault, sexual offenses and weapons possession — have plummeted. That decline coincides not with a dramatic transformation of school culture, but with changes to reporting definitions implemented in 2021-22. Under the revised rules, incidents are only reportable if the offender is at least 10 years old, the incident meets felony criteria, and it has been referred to law enforcement.
The result is a dataset that may be technically accurate under state rules, but deeply misleading if taken at face value. Schools may still experience serious incidents that never meet the threshold for state reporting, creating a false sense of security for parents and policymakers who rely on these numbers to assess safety.
This is not the intent of New York’s school safety laws. The Safe Schools Against Violence in Education Act,
enacted in 2000, and the Dignity for All Students Act, adopted a decade later, were designed to protect young people and ensure transparency in reporting harassment, bullying and violence. After the Sandy Hook tragedy in Connecticut, New York state rightly sought to refine and streamline reporting to focus on prevention. But refinement must not become minimization.
Limiting cellphone use during the school day is a modest step in the right direction. It will reduce in-school distractions. But bullying and cyberbullying don’t stop at the dismissal bell. Students carry their social worlds and their conflicts home in their pockets. Without sustained education, intervention and accountability, phones will simply resume their role as weapons after school hours.
Schools need to be honest with themselves about what these incidents are and properly report them to the State Education Department. That honesty isn’t about protecting reputations or presenting a picture of perfect calm. It’s about identifying real problems so they can be addressed.
Pretending a school or district is blissful may look good on paper, but it does nothing to protect students. Reliable, transparent data is the foundation of meaningful solutions.
If we want safer schools in reality and not just safer statistics, we must confront bullying, cyberbullying and substance use head-on, report them accurately, and commit to prevention that extends beyond the school day. Our children deserve nothing less.
Nurses get the short end of the educational stick
Dr. William osler, one of the founders of Johns Hopkins Hospital and a pioneer in medical education and history said, “The trained nurse has become one of the great blessings of humanity, taking a place beside the physician and the priest.” Now, though, we have nurses on strike for safer working conditions and greater compensation, and educators decrying federal action to withdraw graduate nursing education from the category of “professional.”
The members of a profession are highly educated, with specialized knowledge, may be required to pass stateapproved licensure exams, and pledge to certain ideals. In the case of nursing, the pledge is to patient welfare, compassion and trust, building knowledge in the field, lifelong learning, teamwork, professional integrity, an ethical code, skillful care, and humanity. Like other professions, nursing requires prolonged learning and licensure. So imagine the surprise to nurses, nurse educators, nurse researchers, nurse executives, hospital administrators and others when the U.S. Depart-
ment of Education declared that an advanced degree in nursing did not qualify for federal student aid. yet advanced education is one of the pathways for advancement in nursing, and many employers require a master’s degree.
In response to critical reactions to its decree, the department said it did not mean that nursing is not a profession, just that advanced nursing education at the master’s and doctoral levels did not qualify for federal student loans. In addition to reducing the amount students can borrow under the Graduate PLUS program, which previously allowed up to the full cost of a program, the government has cut in half the amount that students in nursing and social work, among others disciplines, can borrow for advanced education.
a
es universities to raise tuition even in fields that have limited employment opportunities and low compensation. That is certainly not the case in nursing. others support the department, arguing that there is a strong correlation between extended graduate study for women and our low rate of childbearing.
n advanced degree in nursing doesn’t qualify for federal student aid.
No such limits have been proposed for medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, optometry, osteopathic medicine, podiatry, chiropractic, theology, law or clinical psychology. Architects, physical therapists, social workers, computer scientists and accountants, however, join nursing in losing their professional status.
The Education Department is trying to limit access to government-backed loans for graduate degrees because, it says, the availability of loans encourag-
Letters
Who’s left to report the truth?
To the Editor:
As a former reporter, I cherish a free press — and with our democracy hanging by a thread, I refuse to sit by while truth tellers are silenced.
I was bothered that Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos caved to President Trump’s demand that the Post stay out of presidential endorsements. But what bothered me more was watching people cancel their subscriptions over it. That’s cutting off your nose to spite your face. Why punish a newspaper already struggling to survive? Did we forget that reporters are stationed around the world, risking their lives to bring us the truth — and that in times of conflict, they’re always the first targets, precisely so the truth never reaches us?
The Post loses $100 million a year, yet it remains an essential truth teller. This is the paper that exposed Watergate. Not surprisingly, Trump admired President Richard Nixon. Both detested the press because its job is to investigate corruption and
report the truth. And let’s not forget: a Washington Post journalist was murdered at the direction of a Saudi prince while Trump looked the other way.
While Trump manufactured a crisis in Greenland and ICE gunned down American citizens, the final board meeting of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting barely registered. Jimmy Kimmel’s being pulled off the air and the cancellation of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” already feel like ancient history. Even as wars rage in Ukraine and the Middle East, coverage keeps shrinking — and that is no accident. And now Bezos is laying off a third of the Post’s staff, including a war correspondent in Ukraine. With Secretary of War Pete Hegseth blocking Pentagon reporting, Trump forming a “Board of Peace” with Putin and other authoritarian leaders, and independent news sources collapsing, who is left to deliver the truth?
CLAUDIA
BoRECKy President, Bellmore Merrick Democratic Club Merrick
According to public reports, there are approximately 57,000 registered nurses on Long Island, with an average age of 46. In New york City and the Downstate region, there is a critical shortage of certain categories of nursing, with “disaster emergencies” declared in Manhattan, the Bronx and Nassau County. In upstate New york, over 93 percent of hospitals report extreme difficulty in recruiting RNs, and 97 percent struggle with retention. Hospitals and nursing homes have the most difficulty recruiting and retaining RNs.
Long Island is fortunate to have universities that offer baccalaureate and higher nursing programs, including Adelphi, Farmingdale, Hofstra, LIU, Molloy, NyIT, St. Joseph’s and Stony Brook. yet even with these resources, shortages remain. With the new federal guidelines, those shortages will likely persist, while retention rates drop.
I have seen the profession of nursing
from four distinct vantage points. As assistant commissioner of Higher Education in Indiana in the 1970s, I was involved in a national study of nursing supply and demand commissioned by the National Governor’s Association. In the 1980s I initiated a nursing program at Ramapo College of New Jersey, in partnership with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, which did not offer nursing.
In the 2000s I led the rebuilding of Adelphi’s historic nursing program, which had been neglected by a previous administration. We built new, state-ofthe-art nursing labs and teaching spaces, with the help of leaders at Winthrop and Northwell hospitals.
From these experiences, I learned a great deal about nursing education and practice. They are professionals at every level of education.
More than 150 Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives have authored a bill, the Professional Student Degree Act, that would include graduate nursing education in the category of professional degree, and give graduate nursing students access to the federal student-aid programs for which they were eligible just last year. Let’s hope that wisdom prevails in Congress, with hearty encouragement from grateful patients.
Robert A. Scott is president emeritus of Adelphi University and the author of “How University Boards Work.”
Framework by Ross Chaban
Visiting one of the world’s best-known opera houses — Sydney, Austraiia
robert a. scott
