Courtesy Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District
Art teacher Mike Goldberg with his student, Joseph Solorzano-Ruiz, a junior at Sanford H. Calhoun High School.
Inspired by older brother, student creates towering alien sculpture
By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com
Long before Sanford H. Calhoun High School junior Joseph Solorzano-Ruiz spent eight months building a towering sculpture that turned heads at the school’s annual art show, he was a kindergartner admiring his older brother filling sketchbooks with drawings.
“I would see my brother using sketchbooks all the time, and I just always was inspired by his example,” Joseph said.
“Since then, there’s been a bunch of movies and shows that I love that inspire me, and I want to recreate a lot of the things I see.”
That inspiration culminated this spring in “The Xenomorph Warrior,” a nearly
9-foot-tall sculpture inspired by the creature from the “Alien” film franchise. Created in AP 3-D Art and Design, under the guidance of teacher Mike Goldberg, the piece became one of the highlights of Calhoun’s annual art show in June.
The sculpture also served as the centerpiece of Joseph’s Advanced Placement portfolio, which explored themes surrounding technology and artificial intelligence.
“I chose to go as big as I possibly could,” he said. “I wanted to show a very evil, large, imposing figure.”
The project demanded eight months of work, often late into the night after balancing school, sports and homework.
“It was almost every day,” Joseph said.
SHOWS
Bringing local and global film to theaters
By JoSEPH D’AlESSANDRo jdalessandro@liherald.com
The Long Island International Film Expo, Long Island’s summer playground for filmmakers, returned to Bellmore Movies and Showplace for its 29th year this month.
The festival featured 113 films from around the world, including Spain, Hong Kong, Ghana and beyond, as well as domestic films, including those from Long Islanders.
TMerrick resident Debra Markowitz is a filmmaker and active member of the local film community. “I can tell you how vital LIIFE is to the community — the economic community, and to the community itself,” she said. “The film industry is a big part of the Island, a big part of our economic development, so this is so important for so many reasons, and art itself is always important.”
The sponsors for the event included Nassau County, the county Industrial Development Agency, Gold Coast Studios, Drink Media Network, Hani, and Screen Vision.
“I’m here today on behalf of all 1.4 million people that live in Nassau County”, county Comptroller Elaine Phillips said. “We are culturally rich. We celebrate every race, every religion, every ethnicity. We have the best hospitals, the best beaches, the best restaurants, the best shopping, and the best film festival.”
DEBRA MARkowiTZ
Long Island filmmaker
Donna Drake, founder of Drake Media Studios and the executive producer and host of “The Donna Drake Show,” on CBS, spoke to the gathered filmmakers.
The expo ran from July 7 to 11, and featured free panels on screenwriting, directing, foreign markets, and a live table reading of a screenplay.
“My love for this film festival starts basically from day one,” she said. “I am thankful for all the years that the festival has thrived here, and that’s why I decided to sponsor it. It is an economic driver for us, but it’s also a creative driver for the world.”
Eddie Lebron, a three-time Emmy Award-winning editor,
Continued on pAGe 11
Lawmakers propose Blue Envelope Program
By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com
Two Nassau County legislators have introduced legislation that would create a Blue Envelope Program aimed at improving communication between law enforcement officers and neurodivergent drivers during traffic stops and emergency situations.
The measure, introduced by Nassau County Alternate Deputy Presiding Officer Michael Giangregorio, who represents Bellmore, Merrick, Wantagh and Seaford, and Legislator Patrick Mullaney, who represents Long Beach, Island Park and Oceanside, co-sponsored by the Republican majority, would provide free blue envelopes and blue seat belt sleeves through the Nassau County Police Department to neurodivergent drivers and those who regularly transport neurodivergent passengers.
The blue envelopes would hold a driver’s license, vehicle registration, proof of insurance and other important documents while discreetly alerting responding officers that a driver or passenger may communicate or respond differently during an interaction. The program would also include instructions for both drivers and officers to help facilitate communication during traffic stops.
“As the father of a child with autism, I understand firsthand that even routine interactions, like a traffic stop, can be especially overwhelming for individuals with autism and other neurodivergent conditions,” Giangregorio said in a statement. “That’s why programs like the Blue Envelope Program are so important.”
Mullaney, a first responder, said the program would help emergency personnel recognize when someone may have different communication needs.
“The Blue Envelope Program provides an immediate indication that an individual may have unique communication needs, allowing first responders to adjust their
approach, reduce unnecessary anxiety, and focus on delivering the assistance that’s needed,” Mullaney said.
Under the proposal, the Nassau County Police Department would distribute the blue envelopes and seat belt sleeves free of charge by mail and at each county police precinct.
Nassau County Presiding Officer Howard Kopel said the legislation would help make the county safer and more inclusive by giving officers additional tools to recognize and respond to the needs of neurodivergent individuals.
“The Blue Envelope Program is a thoughtful initiative
that reflects our Legislature’s commitment to protecting every member of our community,” Kopel said. “By giving law enforcement officers additional tools to recognize and respond to the unique needs of neurodivergent individuals, we can help ensure that routine encounters remain respectful, less stressful and focused on everyone’s safety.”
The legislation is scheduled to be reviewed by Nassau County Legislature committees on July 13 before advancing to the full Legislature for a vote on July 27.
If approved, the Blue Envelope Program would be implemented by March 1, 2027.
Herald file photos
Nassau County Alternate Deputy Presiding Officer Michael Giangregori represents Bellmore, Merrick, Wantagh and Seaford.
Legislator Patrick Mullaney represents Baldwin, Freeport and Oceanside.
Garden at St. Francis reopens seasonal stand
By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com
As fresh vegetables begin to ripen this summer, the Garden at St. Francis has reopened its seasonal farm stand, offering locally grown produce while continuing its mission of helping feed neighbors in need.
The volunteer-run garden behind St. Francis Episcopal Church in North Bellmore is now open Sundays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. through October. Visitors can purchase a variety of fresh produce grown on the church’s two-acre property, with offerings expanding throughout the season as crops mature.
Now in its 16th growing season, the garden continues to provide affordable, locally grown fruits and vegetables while donating surplus harvests to local food pantries. The farm stand also accepts Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program coupons, making fresh produce more accessible to residents experiencing food insecurity.
“We all know when we go to the grocery store that prices are ever increasing, and that it’s harder and harder for people to feed themselves and their families,” Rev. Grace Flint said. “Any way in which
we can sort of try to close that gap ... we’re able to provide much cheaper, fresh organic produce, and they can see where it’s grown.”
Flint said the ministry is about more than selling vegetables.
“It’s not about sales for us. It’s not about making money,” she said. “It’s about trying to meet a need in the community.”
Throughout the growing season, the garden produces a wide variety of crops, including tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, kale, romaine, Swiss chard, collard greens, potatoes, garlic, onions, herbs, eggplant, zucchini and several varieties of beans. Volunteers have also expanded into growing fruit, including strawberries, while blueberries, blackberries and raspberries are expected to produce larger harvests in the coming seasons.
Produce not sold during the Sunday farm stand is donated to local food pantries, including the Parish Social Ministry at St. Frances De Chantal in Wantagh.
“It’s a gift. We never get that,” said Ele Ruth Melendez, director of Parish Social Ministry at St. Frances De Chantal. “Our clients really enjoy it.”
Melendez said fresh vegetables are rarely available through donations and
have become a meaningful part of the ministry’s partnership with the garden.
“It’s given with love and it’s received with love,” she said.
The garden relies entirely on volunteers to plant, weed, water and harvest crops throughout the season. Open volunteer hours are held Wednesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon, with tasks available for people of varying abilities.
“Come and get your hands dirty digging the dirt with us — it’s fun,” Flint said.
She said the garden also offers visitors an opportunity to reconnect with nature and better understand where their food comes from.
“When you come here and you put your hands in the dirt, you know this is a thing,” Flint said. “You plant the seeds, and most of the time they grow. It takes water and sun and tending and all of those things. It’s just lovely to see that whole cycle, and then to see that people are able to put food on the table.”
Looking ahead, Flint said she hopes the garden will continue serving as a dependable resource for the community.
“We just want to continue to be a presence in our community and a reliable source for people to come and try to close that gap,” she said. “We want to meet the needs that we are able to and do our little part in our little corner of the world.”
Islanders fans invited to design next jerseys
The New York Islanders are giving fans the chance to make franchise history by designing the team’s official third jersey for the 2027-28 season.
The club announced the launch of what it called the first fan-driven third jersey design contest in National Hockey League history, allowing supporters to submit original concepts that could become an official on-ice uniform.
Beginning immediately, fans can access a digital jersey design tool that includes the team’s historic logos and patches, official Islanders fonts and a wide selection of colors. The interactive platform uses a “paint-by-number” format designed to ensure submissions comply with NHL jersey specifications while allowing participants to personalize their entries.
Designers can also include notes explaining custom features or unique ideas they would like the Islanders to consider.
Submissions will be accepted through July 24.
After the submission period closes, a committee of Islanders representatives will review all entries and select five finalists. Those designs will be posted online for a public fan vote in early August.
The winning design will become the Islanders’ official third jersey for the 202728 season. The winning designer will also receive a team-signed version of the jersey and tickets to a 2027-28 Islanders game to see the uniform make its on-ice debut.
“Islanders fans are among the most passionate in all of sports, and their emotional investment is the heartbeat of this
New York Islanders fans can design the team’s 2027-28 third jersey in a first-ever fan contest.
franchise,” Kelly Cheeseman, the Islanders’ president of business operations and UBS Arena, said in a statement. “With this contest, we are breaking down traditional boundaries and inviting Isles Nation directly into the design room to do something that has never been done before in our league. Our Third Jersey will truly belong to the fans, born from their passion and chosen by their voice.”
The Islanders have made the online jersey creator available through the team’s website, where fans can access the
design platform and submission instructions.
Visit IslesJerseyBuilder.com to get started.
Founded in 1972, the Islanders have won four Stanley Cup championships and recorded 19 consecutive playoff series victories during their dynasty years in the early 1980s. The franchise has had eight players, two general managers and one coach inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
The team plays its home games at UBS
Arena in Elmont.
Beyond hockey, the Islanders Children’s Foundation has supported charitable initiatives benefiting children through fundraising efforts led by players, staff, fans and community partners. The organization’s official retail store, Isles Lab, offers team merchandise and exclusive collaborations both inside UBS Arena and online.
Herald file photo
The Garden at St. Francis has reopened its seasonal farm stand, offering locally grown produce while supporting local food pantries.
—Jordan Vallone
Courtesy IslesJerseyBuilder.com
Hands-on farm effort helps feed Long Islanders in need
By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com
Fresh berries and vegetables were harvested, weeds pulled and farmland prepared as state senators, legislative interns and volunteers spent the day working at Island Harvest’s Healthy Harvest Farm in Brentwood, supporting an effort to provide fresh produce to Long Islanders experiencing food insecurity.
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Your writer has often stated that, in elder law, there is more misinformation than information.
For example, one of the most pernicious myths about MAPTs is that they lose the stepped-up basis at death. Indeed, a syndicated columnist under the byline “Ask the Expert” recently wrote “...the IRS has determined that assets in an irrevocable trust don’t qualify for a step-up in tax basis at your death.”
For those unfamiliar with the step-up in basis, it works this way. Let’s say you bought your house many years ago for $200,000 and when you pass away it is worth $850,000. The basis gets stepped-up from what you paid to what it was worth on the date of your death. If the heirs sell it shortly after inheriting, they pay no capital gain tax. Savings would be about $200,000 in taxes!
In 2023, the IRS issued a widely misunderstood Revenue Ruling stating that a certain type of irrevocable trust did not get the stepped-up basis. In tax law, it is well understood that (1) if assets pass at death they are includible in the estate and get the stepped-up basis, and (2) if the assets are given away during your lifetime, they keep your original basis. You either get the tax break of the
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The volunteer event marked the third annual Senate Farm Day of Action, an initiative led by State Sen. Steve Rhoads that brings Long Island senators together for a day of hands-on service focused on hunger relief, sustainability and strengthening local food systems.
Shubin Dresner and the organization’s staff for their continued work addressing food insecurity across Long Island.
Working alongside Island Harvest staff and volunteers, participants harvested produce, weeded fields and helped maintain the farm. The fruits and vegetables grown at the farm are distributed to Long Islanders facing food insecurity and can reach dinner tables as soon as the following day.
“Fighting hunger requires more than just talking about the problem—it requires action, compassion, and a commitment to serving our communities,” Rhoads, who represents the 5th Senate District, said. “The Senate Farm Day of Action is a great reminder that even a few hours of hands-on work can make a meaningful difference for families across Long Island. By supporting Island Harvest’s Healthy Harvest Farm, we are helping provide fresh, locally grown food to our neighbors while strengthening the partnerships that make our communities stronger. I am grateful to Senator Murray, our interns, volunteers, and the entire Island Harvest team for their dedication to this important mission.”
State Sen. Dean Murray, who represents the 3rd Senate District, also participated in the event.
“One of the greatest strengths of so many communities on Long Island is their willingness to come together to help our neighbors in need. I was proud to volunteer at this year’s Island Harvest’s Long Island Senators Farm Day, where we helped plant and prepare crops that will provide fresh, nutritious food to Long Islanders experiencing food insecurity. Every seed planted represents hope for families who may not know where their next meal will come from. Thank you to all the volunteers who continue to dedicate their time and energy to this important mission. By working together, we can help ensure that more of our neighbors have access to healthy food while strengthening the spirit of compassion and service that makes Long Island such a special place to call home,” Murray said.
stepped-up basis and inclusion in the estate OR you get the exclusion from the estate but no stepup. Some aggressive tax lawyers tried to write a trust that purported to get both -- inclusion for capital gains tax purposes but exclusion for estate tax purposes. The 2023 IRS ruling simply stated that you cannot have your cake and eat it too. If the taxpayer claims the irrevocable trust is excluded from the estate for estate tax purposes, then no step-up in basis will be allowed.
Seeing as the estate tax exemption for New York is $7.35 million, most clients are not concerned about inclusion for estate-tax purposes, they want the step-up! Every elder law attorney worth their salt knows this and drafts the MAPT as a “Grantor Trust” keeping the trust assets in the estate.
A very common way of doing this is to provide a “power of appointment” giving the grantor (creator of the trust) the right to change who they leave it to. This way the gift is “incomplete” until death, as which time the grantor can no longer change it. Since the gift is only “completed” at death, it is included in the estate and gets the stepup.
Volunteers also received a behind-thescenes look at the operation of Healthy Harvest Farm, which is managed by one full-time staff member, Cassidy, with the support of volunteers. Cassidy guided participants throughout the day and explained the farm’s role in supplying fresh produce to Island Harvest’s hunger relief efforts.
Rhoads thanked Cassidy, Island Harvest President and Chief Executive Randi
“We are incredibly grateful for the support of Sens. Dean Murray and Steve Rhoads, not just in Albany and their districts, but here at our Healthy Harvest Farm,” Shubin Dresner said. “Our hardworking, community-minded senators spent the morning harvesting wholesome and nutritious locally grown fruits and vegetables that will feed our neighbors across Long Island. We always look forward to their Senate Day of Service with us, and we invite all our elected representatives to spend time at our farm, centrally located at the Sisters of St. Joseph campus in Brentwood.”
Courtesy State Sen. Steve Rhoads Legislative interns and volunteers from the 5th and 3rd State Senate District.
First rounders shine at Isles development camp
By TONY BELLISSIMO
tbellissimo@liherald.com
Unlike 2025 when the New York Islanders selected three players within the first 17 picks of the NHL Draft, including eventual unanimous Calder Trophy winning defenseman Matthew Schaefer No. 1 overall, they had only one pick in the first three rounds this year.
That came at No. 13 overall when Schaefer, in Buffalo for draft weekend June 26-27, stepped to the podium to announce the selection of 6-foot-4, 203-pound left-shot defenseman Malte Gustafsson.
“I’m a big two-way defender, I like to contribute all over the ice,” said the 18-year-old Gustafsson, who played 27 games in the Swedish Hockey League with HV71. “I like to use my size, my length and I play physical. Being annoying is part of my game,” he added.
Gustafsson was one of 37 players at Islanders Development Camp June 29-July 2 and impressed in the Blue & White Scrimmage played before an overflow crowd July 1 at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow.
Gustafsson signed a one-year contract to remain with HV71 for the 2026-27 season, but perhaps one day he’ll be teammates with fellow Swedes Simon Holmstrom, Emil Heineman and Victor Eklund.
The latter two became Islanders property during the early stages of the 2025 Draft when General Manager Mathieu Darche dealt defenseman Noah Dobson to Montreal. Heineman scored 22 goals in his debut season on Long Island, while Eklund, drafted 16th, and defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson, 17th, were nothing short of dynamic in the SHL and Ontario Hockey League, respectively.
Eklund is very much looking forward to playing a full season in North America, either with the Islanders or recently relocated Hamilton Hammers of the American Hockey League. The 19-year-old winger registered 6 goals and 18 assists in 43 games for Djurgardens IF in the SHL and made his way to the Bridgeport Islanders (10 points in nine games) and ultimately Long Island for his NHL debut April 14. He recorded his first NHL point, an assist, against Carolina.
“I think I made the right decision at the end of last season to come to North America and adapt as fast as I can,” Eklund said after the Blue & White Scrimmage. “Being here with the boys and playing in front of the fans is a lot of fun. Now I’m looking to get stronger, gain weight and be ready for camp in September.”
Aitcheson, who brings a rare combination of physicality and offensive sizzle, is ready for the next step as well after the 19-year-old earned the OHL’s Most Outstanding Defenseman award after posting 70 points (28 goals, 34 assists) during the regular season and 27 in the playoffs (8, 19) for the Barrie Colts, helping them to the finals.
“Just putting my head down and putting the work in,” Aitcheson said. “This is another step to get ready for training camp. It’s been fun so far.”
Nobody had more fun at the Blue & White Scrimmage than Gleb Veremyev, an undrafted 23-year-old 6-5, 218pound forward born in Brooklyn. He had a hat trick to lead Team Blue to a 6-3 victory and also scored the winner in a shootout that followed the 40-minute game.
“I’m trying to take everything in this summer, and I feel like I have something to prove for the rest of my career,” Veremyev said.
Kashawn Aitcheson, one of the Islanders’ three first-round picks in 2025 is ready for the next level after starring in the Ontario Hockey League.
Tony Bellissimo/Herald photos Goaltender Sam Hillebrandt made a stop on Jesse Nurmi during development camp held June 29-July 2 at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow.
These two moms opened a spa. It had one big, on the
Mery and Sindy always knew they wanted to open a spa to bring beauty to customers. Little did they know it would have the same effect on the community. And Business First was there. We provided $23,000 in grants to help with much-needed renovations so Mery and Sindy could bring their vision to life.* Now, not only does their spa impact clients in a beautiful way, it gives the community an economic lift as well.
*Incentives, grants, and savings will vary with every project.
Learn more about how we’re helping communities thrive. psegliny.com/revitalization
Mery Seminario and Sindy Catalan, ISSI Beauty Spa, Port Washington
ClearVote system set for November election
By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com
The new voting machines Nassau County residents will use in November are designed to make casting a ballot faster while keeping the voting experience largely unchanged, according to election officials and the machines’ manufacturer.
Voters heading to the polls this fall will use an allnew voting system, after the county Board of Elections selected Clear Ballot’s ClearVote system following a competitive procurement process.
The system will replace the county’s traditional voting equipment, and Nassau will join more than a dozen New York counties that have already adopted ClearVote’s paper-ballot technology.
Although the machines are new, election officials said that voters should notice very little difference in how they cast their ballots. “To the public it will be pretty much the same as they’re used to,” Republican Elections Commissioner James V. Moriarty wrote in a news release. “These machines will be smaller, more efficient and new. New and better equipment.”
The ClearVote system uses full-sized paper ballots that voters fill out by hand or, for those requiring accessibility accommodations, through an ADA-compliant ballot-marking device that prints a full-sized ballot. Every voter ultimately casts the same type of paper ballot, regardless of how it is marked.
The biggest improvements, Democratic Elections Commissioner James Scheuerman explained, will take place behind the scenes, allowing election workers to administer elections more efficiently while preserving the familiar voting experience.
“It’s easier for us to build and run the election and it’s going to be the exact same for the voter, which is
what you’re looking for when you’re bringing on a new voting system,” Scheuerman wrote in a news release.
Once a ballot is filled out, it is inserted into a scanner that reads and records the vote while securely storing the ballot for auditing and recount purposes. Unlike some voting systems that rely on barcodes or summary cards, ClearVote records votes directly from the paper ballots, giving voters the chance to visually verify every selection before casting it.
According to Clear Ballot CEO Bob Hoyt, that transparency is central to the company’s philosophy.
“We believe the best way to establish voter trust is through paper ballots,” Hoyt said. “It allows people to verify their own vote before it’s cast so they know that it counted.”
The new scanners also process ballots significantly faster than older equipment. A ballot, Hoyt said, is scanned and accepted almost immediately after it is inserted — about one second — compared with four to five seconds on many older voting systems.
As soon as the ballot is processed, the screen confirms that the vote has been successfully cast and displays a running ballot count. “It processes the ballot almost immediately,” Hoyt said. “You get a message on the screen that your ballot has been cast, and you can actually see the ballot count increase.”
Clear Ballot first came to New York in 2017, providing high-speed scanners for absentee and mail-in ballots and conducting independent post-election audits. The company introduced its first in-person voting system in the state in 2023. Nationally, its election technology is used in 14 states, serving more than 46 million registered voters.
Preparing Nassau County for the transition has been a months-long process. Roughly 500 voting machines have already been delivered for testing and poll worker training, with the remaining equipment — roughly 12 trailer loads — scheduled to arrive beginning later this month.
The company is also implementing a learning-management system that will help Nassau comply with New York’s mandatory poll worker training requirements by documenting training and providing ondemand instructional materials.
“If you train the election workers really well, and you have good equipment and good people servicing it,” Hoyt said, “you’ll probably have a really good election.”
Courtesy Clear Ballot Group
Nassau County voters will be using the new ClearVote voting system in the November election.
Solorzano-Ruiz talks his journey as an artist
“There were nights where I thought that it wouldn’t be possible to complete, but no matter what, I just had to keep going.”
He described his junior year at Calhoun as one of his most challenging, with the pressure of completing an AP portfolio while keeping up with classes and athletics.
“It was a very difficult school year overall,” he said. “I knew that this was an AP portfolio, so that was a lot of pressure as well to do as well as I possibly could.”
Building the sculpture required experimenting with different materials. Joseph ultimately used craft foam and yoga mats for the detailed exterior, while wood and PVC pipe formed the internal frame strong enough to support the nearly 9-foot structure.
Although the finished piece drew praise from classmates and teachers, Joseph said he still sees ways he could have improved it.
“There are a million things that I would have done differently,” he said. “But it was a very, very proud moment to have it completed and dis -
played.”
Art has long been a shared passion for Joseph and his older brother, Gary SolorzanoRuiz, a 2021 Calhoun graduate who now works as a permanent substitute teacher in the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District. Earlier this year, Gary completed a longterm art substitute assignment at Calhoun while Joseph was finishing the sculpture, and the brothers now work together during the summer at the Long Island Children’s Museum.
For Gary, seeing the completed sculpture after months of watching it come together piece by piece was unforgettable.
“I just could not believe how realistic it looks,” Gary said. “It looks straight out of the movie.”
Viewing it as both a teacher and a brother made the accomplishment even more impressive.
“From a teacher’s perspective, I don’t even know what I would say or do other than support the student,” he said. “That is pure 100 percent talent and dedication.”
Gary said Joseph’s success
is the result of years of persistence.
“There’s a lot of times where he starts one and maybe something doesn’t really work out, but he learns from that,” Gary said. “He put all that knowledge together to make this incredible sculpture.”
While the sculpture was inspired by a well-known movie monster, Gary said Joseph made it his own by combining elements from different versions of the character.
The brothers continue to critique each other’s work, a tradition that has helped both grow
as artists.
“We always offer constructive criticism,” Joseph said. “It’s only to help, and we build off each other.”
Years ago, Gary publicly credited Joseph as one of his artistic inspirations. Hearing that from someone he has admired since childhood remains one of Joseph’s proudest moments.
“It feels surreal because he has been one of the main role models in my life,” Joseph said. “To know that I have the same effect on him ... it’s shocking and makes me feel really proud and confident of the work I’m doing.”
Gary said the admiration goes both ways.
“It really means a lot to me,” he said. “He puts in a lot of the dedication. He puts in a lot of the time.”
With his senior year approaching, Joseph said he’s still deciding which path within the art world he wants to pursue, but one thing is certain: “It will 100 percent be in the art field,” he said. “I don’t see anything else that I’ll be doing as a career. It’s my number one passion.”
Courtesy Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District Sanford H. Calhoun High School junior Joseph Solorzano-Ruiz created a nine-foot sculpture, inspired by the iconic creature from the film “Alien.”
Reggae legends and local talent take the stage
Thousands of music fans gathered at Eisenhower Park on June 28 as Nassau County and DubShot Records presented the Long Island Reggae Festival, a free concert featuring reggae legends Inner Circle, dancehall star Wayne Wonder and Long Island band IRIEspect.
The festival was part of the county’s 2026 Free Summer Fun Guide, a series of concerts, movies and cultural events presented by County Executive Bruce Blakeman and the Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation and Museums.
“Enjoy live music and family-friendly movies under the stars at Eisenhower Park’s Lakeside Theatre and parks across Nassau County,” Blakeman wrote in the summer guide. “Join us all summer long for unforgettable nights of entertainment.”
Hosted by Brooklyn DJ Max Glazer, co-founder of Federation Sound, the festival also featured DJ sets by Federation Sound and special guest appearances throughout the day.
Inner Circle, known as the “Bad Boys of Reggae,” headlined the event. Formed in Jamaica in 1968 by brothers Ian and Roger Lewis with Bernard “Touter” Harvey, the band rose to international prominence alongside reggae pioneers Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh.
After regrouping in the 1980s, the band achieved worldwide success with hits including “Bad Boys,” the longtime theme song for the television series COPS, and “Sweat (A La La La La Long),” which topped charts around the world in the 1990s. The group continues to tour internationally and recently released “Stay Strong,” a song inspired by Jamaica’s recovery following Hurricane Melissa in 2025.
Wayne Wonder, one of dancehall’s most recognizable performers, also took the stage. Best known for the international hit “No Letting Go,” which reached No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and helped earn his album No Holding Back a Grammy nomination, Wonder
has remained a fixture in reggae and dancehall for more than three decades.
Representing Long Island was IRIEspect, a six-piece reggae, dub and Latin fusion band known for its energetic live performances. The group has built a regional following through extensive touring and recent releases, including the “Lost in Time” and “Lost in Dub” EPs.
DubShot Records, founded in New York in 2008, partnered with Nassau County to present the festival. The independent label has become a leading distributor of reggae and dancehall music through its partnership with ADA/Warner and a roster of Caribbean artists.
—Jordan Vallone
Tim Baker/Herald photos
Fans got into the groove last month, enjoyed the Long Island Reggae Festival, a free concert featuring reggae legends Inner Circle, dancehall star Wayne Wonder and Long Island band IRIEspect.
Inner Circle was among the groups that performed in front of a packed audience at the Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre.
Yve Stewart of Elmont, Patricia Manning of Valley Stream, Meldoy Jones of Uniondale and Grace Douglas, 4, of Valley Stream, enjoyed the perforamces.
International filmmakers share their projects
cinematographer and director, has returned to the festival year after year as his career has grown. “Many things have changed in my life: I’ve held on to many different positions, worked on many different projects, but the constant is every year I find myself back here,” LeBron said. “It’s a hotbed for upcomers in the industry, current rising stars, and veterans who want to share what they’ve learned.”
Flying in from Los Angeles, producer and director Tamela D’Amico offered the global premiere of her film “Bed/Time,” which won LIIFE’s Jury Prize.
“This is a story about family, which is universal to many people,” D’Amico said. “It’s good to be back here, good to be back home. I’m originally from Long Island, and it’s wonderful to bring this film here.”
The cast members of “Bed/Time,” Cooper Barnes, Liz Stewart Barnes and 10-year-old Ripley Barnes, worked with D’Amico to create a story that captured a routine yet meaningful evening in their household, with parents reading to their daughter.
“It documents that moment that parents can relate to, that push and pull between something that you love, something that you want to be present for, but something that you’re obligated to do,” Cooper Barnes said. “Tamela really did a wonderful job capturing that for us … I hope the audience really likes it, because we’re very proud of it.”
Kai Helenius, creator of “I Wish My Bones Were Unidentifiable,” was elated that his second short film was accepted by LIIFE. The film, following a young transgender man’s troubling visit home, received multiple award nominations.
“It’s been incredible,” Helenius said. “I think everyone is very nice. Almost too nice,” he joked. “I studied to be behind the camera, not in front of it,
Joseph D’Alessandro/Herald Bellmore Movies and Showplace brought together over 100 film projects for five days of special screenings throughout last week.
and as life would have it, here I am now, starring in a short film,” said Kavi Sacha, an actor playing the Stranger in “The Last Sun.” “It’s great to have had this opportunity. I love being part of this community. It’s just really inviting, and motivates you to keep going.”
Hina Ali, director of “Salam Shalom: The Untold Story of a Jewish Family in Pakistan,” created an epic documentary spanning the decades of Hazel Selzer Kahan’s life. Kahan’s parents fled Nazi Germany and established a new life in Lahore, experiencing rejection that led Kahan eventually to Long Island. The documentary also covers her return to Lahore, where she visited her
childhood home and reunited with family friends from her childhood.
“I was researching online about different stories that are unique about Pakistan,” Ali said. “Jewish people lived everywhere in the world. I’m sure there were Jewish people in Pakistan … so, the next day I looked it up, and lo and behold, I found Hazel. I found her blog, and then I contacted her, and I was like, hey, I’m a filmmaker, and I’m interested in your story, and that’s how the film came to be.”
To learn more about LIIFE and upcoming events, visit LongIslandFilm.com.
STEPPING OUT
Wild Child
Jazz is in the air
By Karen Bloom
Tilles Jazz Fest is going strong in its third season. The festival returns to the historic LIU Post campus, on Saturday, offering a full day of world-class jazz, family-friendly fun and community celebration across four stages.
Presented in collaboration with Jazz at Lincoln Center, this year’s edition again brings together legendary artists and rising stars. This is an immersive indoor/outdoor experience — from lawn picnics and second line parades during the day to headliner The Buena Vista Orchestra performing in the evening.
The day’s lineup includes the Bobby Sanabria Octet, the Grammy-nominated percussionist blends Afro-Cuban jazz with big band flair; Bluesy Beats and Jazzy Treats with Dan and Claudia Zanes, with a lively, family-friendly set of jazz rhythms; young vocalist Ruby Laks, a fresh, expressive voice in contemporary jazz; along with a swinging Second-Line Parade, led by Hot Jazz All-Stars, including up-and-coming trumpeter Bria Skonberg, when all artists and the audience are invited to join in.
As Tom Dunn, Tilles Center’s executive and artistic director puts it: “This festival captures the spirit of jazz, where iconic voices and emerging artists share the stage. It’s an energizing celebration of artistry, innovation, and community, set in a place that inspires creativity at every turn.”
The LIU Jazz Combo (current LIU students) and Long Island Rising Stars (LIU alumni and regional talent) welcome guests at festival entrances from 12:15 p.m. Members of the LIU Marching Band add energy to the New Orleans-style Second Line parade, closing the daytime festivities at 5:45 p.m.
The young superstars of tomorrow are certainly given their due, alongside the jazz greats. Of course, headliner, The Buena Vista Orchestra, surely deserves the spotlight. The orchestra (sometimes referred to as The Buena Vista Social Orchestra, Orquesta Buena Vista) is acclaimed as the world’s foremost Cuban music repertory ensemble — featuring a revolving lineup. Virtuoso Cuban violinist Rolando Morejón Reyes leads an exciting set of musicians pulled from The Buena Vista Social Club, AfroCuban All Stars, the bands of Celia Cruz, Omara Portuondo, Chucho Valdés, Willie Colón, and others.
To date, The Buena Vista Orchestra and related projects have toured the world and garnered global accolades, making it one of the biggest-selling and best known Cuban music projects in history.
On a more intimate scale are Dan and Claudia
Feel that beat
Zanes, who are delighted to bring what Dan Zanes described as their “community music” to this year’s festival audience.
“It was an exiting call to get,” he says, of the invite. He notes that while they’ve performed at Tilles before, their festival appearance allows the Zanes to show a different side of their musicianship.
• July 18, starting at noon
• Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100
• LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville
This is not a typical tribute or pretend concert act. Wild Child relies on recapturing the original: sound, feel, mood, dynamics and delivery of the Doors music. It’s about the music and its delivery. Wild Child lead singer Dave Brock’s Doors concert tribute debuted with a triple sellout at the Whisky a-Go-Go. Since then the act has been touring and playing at sold out national act venues and festivals around the world. Wild Child became the mold that “tribute bands” aspired to become, as they flooded the market with good and bad impersonations of famous artists. In 2010 Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger of The Doors, invited Dave to tour with them as their vocalist on their concert engagements: a hug honorl Wild Child performances are praised as the closest thing to a real live Doors experience.
Friday, July 17, 8 p.m. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny. com.
“I come from the folk and rock ‘n roll world, but Claudia, my wife and partner in all this, is a jazz singer. She was performing and touring as a jazz vocalist before I met her. And Tyree Austin who’s also going to be singing with us is also a jazz vocalist. He sings jazz and gospel. So the spirit of jazz is really in what we do.”
Zanes, a Grammy-winner, occupies a unique place in American music — where sea shanties, English Music hall, play party songs, the spirit of early rock ‘n roll, soul, North American and West Indian folk music collide. For the past 20 years, he has toured the world with his band, Dan Zanes and Friends, sharing 21st century social music with enthusiastic crowds of all ages.
In the 1980s Zanes was a member of The Del Fuegos, the roots rock band that released several albums and toured heavily before spontaneously combusting in 1989. In 1994 he became a father and began trying to create music that he and his daughter could enjoy together as a shared experience — an updated version of the Folkways records he grew up on. In 2000, he released Rocket Ship Beach, which became an immediate hit with families in America. NPR called him “The Gold Standard in kid’s music.”
And while their music does have a certain kid-friendly appeal, Zanes is quick to point out that there’s much more to it than that. The Zanes prefer not to be categorized as “children’s entertainers.”
“Our music is social music. It’s very participatory. We come out of a lot of different folk traditions: North American folk traditions, blues, as well as Haitian folk traditions {influenced by Claudia who is Haitian-American). It’s for all ages, including young folks but also older.
“At our concerts there’s quite a bit of singing along. It’s a social experiment. Even though we’re a modern group we work with ancient traditions and one of those traditions is galvanizing people with song. There’s movement, there’s dancing. Three voices and a 12 string guitar is the foundation of what we do, with addition of trombone, horn and some percussion.”
He describes their sound as “joyful music.”
“These are hard times for a lot of people and music reminds us that there is so much beauty in the world and so much that we get from being with each other. There’s something about singing together that gives all a sense of life’s best possibilities. Behind it all is joy always.”
Guests are encouraged to come with lawn chairs and blankets for a day of relaxed listening and discovery. Youngsters will also enjoy the Kids Zone, with an instrument “petting zoo,” crafts and face painting. When everyone is ready for a bite, check out the food trucks and artisan purveyors with their tempting wares. Or bring your own picnic!
Derek Hough Symphony of Dance: Encore
Following sold-out successes of his previous tours, Derek Hough is back. The Emmy-winning dancerchoreographer-entertainer — known for his dazzling performances on “Dancing With The Stars” — takes his audience on an exhilarating journey through dance with breathtaking choreography, vibrant visuals and his signature stage presence. The high-energy production celebrates the artistry and emotion of movement while showcasing the versatility that has made Hough one of today’s most celebrated performers. Experience a thrilling fusion of dance and music; the fan-favorite dancer explores styles ranging from ballroom, tap, salsa, hip-hop and everything in between.
Sunday, July 19, 8 p.m. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or tillescenter. org or (516) 299-3100. Tilles Center, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville.
Courtesy Anna Zanes Dan Zanes
partner in performing and
Courtesy Tilles Center Bobby Sanabria
Courtesy Andrea Escobar
The Buena Vista Orchestra
Courtesy Mark Mann Claudia Zanes
Your Neighborhood CALENDAR
jul 16
Bellmore Block Party
The business community, in collaboration with the Bellmore Chamber of Commerce, hosts the family-friendly event. With entertainment, food and beverages from local businesses. Pour Some 80’s On Me band performs.
• Where: Bedford Avenue, from Pettit to Wilson Avenues
• Time: 6-10 p.m.
• Contact: bellmorechamber.com
Summertime tunes
Eisenhower Park’s Summer Concert Series continues with Corey Reimer and The Dilemma Band with Scarborough Fair for a Simon & Garfunkel tribute.
• Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Contact: nassaucountyny.gov or (516) 572-0200
jul
17
‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’
The Madison Theatre’s production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” brings the beloved Andrew Lloyd Webber musical to the stage, retelling the biblical story of Joseph, his colorful coat and his rise from slavery to Pharaoh’s trusted advisor. Told entirely through song, the familyfriendly production features memorable numbers including “Any Dream Will Do,” “Close Every Door” and “One More Angel in Heaven,” blending musical styles from calypso to country-western. Suitable for audiences of all ages, the show continues to be one of the world’s most frequently performed musicals.
• Where: Madison Theatre, Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre
• Time: Various dates and times, through Aug. 2
• Contact: madisontheatreny. org or (516) 323-4444
jul
18
Magic
in the Making Old Westbury Gardens welcomes young witches, wizards, and magical makers to special after-hours evening in the gardens. Families are invited enjoy an evening of creativity and a little bit of magic. Activities include Sean Kenney’s Nature Connects
A Celebration of the Mighty Zep
jul
22
Step lively on the dance floor
Society Tempo welcomes all to an afternoon of dancing, ongoing every month. Participate in Big Band, classic ballroom, Latin and line dancing. Refreshments include bagels, pastries and beverages. Singles and couples welcome. Bring your friends or make new ones. $12 donation. Must reserve!
• Where: Merrick Golf Course Clubhouse, 2550 Clubhouse Road, Merrick (9E off Meadowbrook Pkwy)
• Time: 1:45-3:45 p.m.
• Contact: (718) 332-7825 or email dancezee@aol.com to reserve
Family movie night
Led Zeppelin fans, rejoice! Get The Led Out returns to the Paramount with “A Celebration of the Mighty Zep,” two electrifying nights of classic rock, running through June 28. From the bombastic and epic, to the folky and mystical, GTLO has captured the essence of Led Zeppelin and brought their music to the concert stage. The Philadelphia-based group consists of six veteran musicians, intent on delivering Led Zeppelin live, like you’ve never heard before! Utilizing the multi-instrumentalists at their disposal, GTLO re-creates songs, in all their depth and glory, with the studio overdubs that Zeppelin themselves never performed. Hailed for their powerful tribute to what many consider the greatest rock band of all time, the band delivers a faithful and highoctane recreation of Zeppelin’s iconic sound. From thunderous anthems to mystical acoustic ballads, GTLO captures the full range of Led Zeppelin’s brilliance — complete with the layered instrumentation and soaring dynamics that the band rarely performed live. With no wigs or phony accents, just pure musical passion. When an album calls for three guitars, GTLO brings three guitarists to the stage — no shortcuts, no gimmicks. GTLO focuses on the legendary band’s early years and dives deep into beloved hits and rare cuts alike. Their approach is reverent and precise, more like a classical concert than a cover band — a true celebration of timeless rock.
exhibit, I LUG NY Challenge Zone, LEGO-free-play area, “My Own Creation” build contest, craft stations and spell-bound sports. Dress as your favorite wizard, witch or whimsical character! $34 general admission, $24 child, with member discounts. Registration required.
• Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury
• Time: 5-8 p.m.
• Contact: oldwestburygardens.org or call (516) 333-0048
Country sounds
Eisenhower Park’s Summer Concert Series welcomes Simply Stapleton for a Chris Stapleton tribute.
• Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow
• Time: 6 p.m.
• Contact: nassaucountyny.gov or (516) 572-0200
Summertime vibes
Cover City Soundtrack takes over the Jones Beach Bandshell for a free, all - ages night of pop - punk anthems, emo nostalgia, and shoreline summer energy. Parents can relive their Warped Tour days while kids discover why this music still hits hard.
Expect jump - worthy pop - punk, heart - tugging emo classics, and the kind of electric beach - night vibe only Jones Beach delivers. From toddlers to teens to full - grown elder emos, everyone can dance, laugh, and sing along. Bring your crew, your kids, your nostalgia, and your energy.
• Where: Jones Beach Boardwalk Bandshell, Field 4, 2400 Ocean Parkway, Wantagh
• Time: 8-10 p.m.
• Contact: CoverCitySoundtrack. com
jul
19
Rockin’ on Eisenhower Park’s Summer Concert Series continues with a double bill of Last Exit with a Pearl Jam tribute and Foo For All with Foo Fighters tunes.
• Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow
• Time: 6 p.m.
• Contact: nassaucountyny.gov or (516) 572-0200
Family theater
Lance the Eagle welcomes families to “A Semi-QuincentenEAGLE Birthday” on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage. In this original production, families are invited to celebrate
• Where: The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington
• Time: 8 p.m.; also July 25
• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com
his birthday. His message: As the national bird, this party will be happening throughout the whole month of July. Come to think of it, I did hear something about a birthday for the United States of America as well. Hmm...must be a coincidence! I’ll be throwing a parade through LICM’s galleries and a celebratory spectacle in the Theater. Come ready to party!” Keep an eye out 30 minutes before each show for a special interactive pre-show! For ages 3+. $5 with museum admission ($4 members), $10 theater only.
• Where: 11 Davis Ave., Garden City
• Time: 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; also July 22
• Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800
jul
20
Blood Drive
Save lives at Merrick Library! Join the New York Blood Center’s Blood Drive in the Community Room and make a vital difference. Your donation can give the gift of life! Walk-ins welcome.
• Where: 2279 Merrick Ave.
• Time: Noon-6 p.m.
• Contact: merricklibrary.org or (516) 377-6112
Enjoy a movie under the stars at Eisenhower Park. See “A Minecraft Movie,” the 2025 adventure comedy film based on the video game. Four misfits are suddenly pulled through a mysterious portal into a bizarre cubic wonderland that thrives on imagination. To get back home they’ll have to master this world while embarking on a quest with an unexpected expert crafter.
• Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow
• Time: Movie begins at dusk
• Contact: nassaucountyny.gov
jul 30
Live After Five
Don’t miss out on Merrick’s Live After Five, back for another year. Merrick Community Civic Association hosts an evening dedicated to supporting local businesses. Participating restaurants and shops offer special promotions for the evening for all customers. Enjoy music at the Gazebo near the LIRR (weather permitting).
• Where: Along Merrick Avenue, from LIRR to Loines Ave, and into the Merrick Mall
• Time: Beginning at 5 p.m.
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.
FREE community event focused on health, wellness, and lifestyle
Meet trusted local exhibitors and service providers
Take advantage of on-site health screenings
Enjoy lively entertainment, fitness demonstrations and interactive experiences
Hear from experts during a panel discussion with Q&A
Win raffles, prizes, and giveaways
Snack station for all
*Boxed lunches for first 150 attendees
All designed to help you stay active, informed, and engaged at every stage of life.
MAE CAIME FOUNDER, AMAEZING MIDLIFE & BEYOND AGENDA:
Register for this FREE event: Merrick.eventbrite.com or email rbamgbose@liherald.com or call 516.569.4000 x273
July 16, 2026
LEGAL NOTICE
Public Notices
REFEREE’S NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU ROCKET MORTGAGE, LLC F/K/A QUICKEN LOANS, LLC F/K/A QUICKEN LOANS INC., Plaintiff - againstFRANK LAMAGRA, et al Defendant(s).
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on May 19, 2026. 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 the 7th day of August, 2026 at 2:00 PM. 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, State of New York.
Premises known as 2347 Elbert Avenue, North Bellmore, (Town of Hempstead) NY 11710. (SBL#: 56-141-50)
Approximate amount of lien $699,370.58 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed judgment and terms of sale.
Index No. 617381/2023. Ernest Bartol, Esq., Referee. Davidson Fink LLP
Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 400 Meridian Centre Blvd, Ste 200 Rochester, NY 14618 Tel. 585/760-8218
For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832
Dated: June 1, 2026
During the COVID-19 health emergency, bidders are required to comply with all governmental health requirements in effect at the time of sale including but not limited to, wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing (at least 6feet apart) during the auction, while tendering deposit and at any subsequent closing. Bidders are also required to comply with the Foreclosure Auction Rules and COVID-19 Health Emergency Rules issued by the Supreme Court of this County in addition to the conditions set forth in the Terms of Sale. 161038
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD LOCAL LAW NO. 62-2026
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 7th day of July 2026, by the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead, on the proposed adoption of Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 62-2026, and following the close of the hearing the Town Board duly adopted Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 62-2026, to amend Section 197-5 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, to include “ARTERIAL STOPS” at various locations. Dated: July 7, 2026 Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD JOHN FERRETTI Supervisor KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 161225
LEGAL NOTICE CASE NO. 21527
RESOLUTION NO. 664-2026
Adopted: July 7, 2026 Councilmember Muscarella offered the following resolution and moved its adoption: RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING AND SETTING ASIDE CERTAIN PARKING SPACES FOR MOTOR VEHICLES FOR THE SOLE USE OF HOLDERS OF SPECIAL PARKING PERMITS ISSUED BY THE COUNTY OF NASSAU TO PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED PERSONS.
WHEREAS, pursuant to Resolution No. 657-2026, adopted June 23, 2026 a public hearing was duly held on the 7th day of July, 2026, at the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on the proposed establishment and setting aside of a certain parking space for motor vehicles for the sole use of holders of special parking permits issued by the County of Nassau to physically handicapped
persons, in accordance with Section 202-48 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, all as set forth in said resolution; and WHEREAS, after due consideration, this Town Board finds it to be in the public interest to establish and set aside a certain parking space for motor vehicles for the sole use of holders of special parking permits issued by the County of Nassau to physically handicapped persons; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED, that in accordance with Section 202-48 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, the following parking spaces be and the same hereby is set aside for the sole use of holders of special parking permits issued by the County of Nassau to physically handicapped persons:
ELMONT
RANDALL AVENUEwest side, starting at a point 129 feet south of the south curbline of Sweetman Avenue, south for a distance of 20 feet.
(TH-213/26)
WEST HEMPSTEAD
GREENWAY SOUTHeast side, starting at a point 140 feet south of the south curbline of Greenway East, south for a distance of 20 feet.
(TH-226/26) and on the repeal of the following locations previously set aside as parking spaces for physically handicapped persons:
BELLMORE
HILLSIDE AVENUEwest side, starting at a point 95 feet north of the north curbline of Wilson Avenue, east for a distance of 20 feet.
(TH-69/22 - 4/25/2022)
(TH-229/26)
; and, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town Clerk shall enter this resolution in the minutes of the Town Board and shall publish a copy of this resolution once a newspaper having a general circulation in the Town of Hempstead, and shall post a copy hereof on the signboard maintained by her, and file in her office affidavits of such publication and posting. The foregoing resolution was seconded by Supervisor Ferretti and adopted upon roll call as follows:
AYES: SIX (6) NOES: NONE (0) 161229
News briefs
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD LOCAL LAW NO. 61-2026
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 7th day of July 2026, by the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead, on the proposed adoption of Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 61-2026, and following the close of the hearing the Town Board duly adopted Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 61-2026, to amend Section 202-1 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, to include and repeal “PARKING OR STANDING PROHIBITIONS” at various locations. Dated: July 7, 2026 Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD JOHN FERRETTI Supervisor
KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 161224
LEGAL NOTICE
Notice is hereby given that in accordance with Town Law Section 181b (1) and pursuant to General Municipal Law Section 35, (2a) the fiscal affairs of the North Bellmore Fire District, for the period beginning on January 1, 2025 and ending on December 31, 2025, have been examined by Independent Certified Public Accounting firm of Craig, Fitzsimmons & Meyer, LLPSmithtown, NY. A copy of their independent audit report has been filed with the New York Office of the State Comptroller and the report of external audit by the independent public accountant has been filed in my office where it is available as a public record for inspection by all interested persons. In accordance with Town Law Section 181-b of
Tropical luau arriving in East Meadow
The Town of Hempstead is bringing a tropical twist to its public pools this summer with a new Traveling Summer Luau Series.
The program, introduced by Supervisor John Ferretti, will transform town pools into Hawaiian-themed destinations featuring live music, inflatables, mocktails, games and other familyfriendly activities.
The East Meadow event is scheduled
for Sunday, July 19, from 1 to 5 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park. Additional luaus will be held at town pools throughout the summer.
The Traveling Summer Luau Series is designed to encourage families to enjoy local pools while participating in themed activities in a festive, tropical atmosphere.
—Jordan Vallone
East Meadow farm is open for the season
Fresh, locally grown produce will once again be available at the East Meadow Farm Stand, which will operate every Wednesday through Oct. 28.
The farm stand, located at East Meadow Farm, 832 Merrick Ave., will be open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. each Wednesday, offering residents access to seasonal fruits and vegetables.
The program is funded by the Nassau County Department of Human Services’ Office for the Aging through the New
York State Office for the Aging. For information about Farmers Market Coupon distribution, residents can contact the Nassau County Office for the Aging at (516) 227-8900. For additional information about the farm stand, contact Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County at nassau@cornell. edu.
—Jordan Vallone
Public Notices
the Town Law, a written response and corrective action plan, if required, shall be prepared by the Board of Fire Commissioners of the North Bellmore Fire District within ninety days and filed in my office where it will be available as a public record for inspection by all interested persons.
+George V. Kern, Superintendent North Bellmore Fire District 1500 Newbridge Road
North Bellmore, NY 11710
Dated: July 1, 2026. 161208
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD LOCAL LAW NO. 60-2026
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 7th day of July 2026, by the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead, on the proposed adoption of Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 60-2026, and following the close of the hearing the Town Board duly adopted Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 60-2026, to amend Chapter 202 of the Code of the Town of
Hempstead, to include and repeal “REGULATIONS & RESTRICTIONS” to limit parking at various locations.
Dated: July 7, 2026
Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD
JOHN FERRETTI Supervisor
KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 161223
The Town of Hempstead’s new Traveling Summer Luau Series will arrive at Veterans Memorial Park on July 19.
EMPLOYMENT
Help Wanted
ASSISTANT F/T NEEDED For Kidz Being Kidz Daycare In Oceanside Must Be Reliable And Love Children Call 516-608-2575
DRIVERS WANTED
Full Time and Part Time
Positions Available!
Busy Print Shop in Garden City is Hiring Immediately for Full Time and Part Time Drivers.
Must Have a Clean License and BoxTruck Driving Experience.
Hours Vary, Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $21 per hour Night Availability is a Must. Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239
EDITOR/REPORTER
Part Time & Full Time. The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. Salary range is from $20K to $45K To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to jbessen@liherald.com
MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $20 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com
MULTI MEDIA
ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT
Inside Sales
Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $35,360 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286
OUTSIDE SALES
Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Earning potential ranges from $35,360 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses. Compensation is based on Full Time hours
Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off.
Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X250
HomesHERALD
Waterfront Dream Home
Spectacular 8,100-square-foot stately brick Colonial offering seven bedrooms, seven full and two half baths on 215 feet of prime waterfront property. Beautifully renovated throughout, this exceptional home features a dramatic two-story entry foyer that opens to a second-floor balcony. Walls of windows flood the home with natural light while showcasing magnificent water views. Designed for both comfortable living and elegant entertaining, the home offers an exceptional flow and generously proportioned rooms throughout. The main-level primary suite overlooks the water and features two enormous walk-in closets and a luxurious radiant-heated bath with double vanities, separate water closets, a steam shower, and a Jacuzzi tub. The 2,100-square-foot finished basement, renovated just 10 years ago, includes a theater, recreation room, gym, wine cellar, bonus room, and full bath. The resortstyle backyard features a heated Gunite pool and spa, outdoor kitchen, expansive patio, and a newly renovated 215-foot raised vinyl bulkhead with a private dock for your boat. Additional highlights include a grand circular driveway and an attached three-car garage. Every luxury amenity has been thoughtfully included. Located in the Hewlett-Woodmere School District #14, this remarkable waterfront estate is conveniently close to the LIRR, shopping, and houses of worship. Asking $5,570,000. Call today to arrange your private viewing of this exceptional waterfront residence.
Gerber Licensed Real Estate Salesperson C: 516-428-4298 O: 516-623-2776 ronnie.gerber@elliman.com For Everything 5 Towns & More Douglas Elliman / Merrick
What to do about cracking concrete, Part 2
Q. We have large cracks in our concrete driveway and garage floor, and want to make sure they are repaired correctly, since they appear to be recently done, possibly within a year before we purchased the house. In particular, there is a nearly round hole that turned to gravel, kind of, and we want to know why it happened and avoid having it happen again. What can you tell us?
A. As I previously explained, concrete reacts to extreme weather changes, and isn’t as stable as people think. Nature moves mountains, so your driveway was no challenge to the forces of nature. Extreme cold causes concrete to contract — push in on itself — while heat has the effect of stretching rigid concrete to the point of literally ripping apart.
As with any material, water and movement are the most critical factors to work with. You’ll never win over nature. The hole is basically like a zit, a buildup of pressure in a weaker place across the surface. Concrete develops strength as a chemical reaction to the specific combination of materials it is made from. With too much water in the mix, it will be weaker, especially in a particular spot. With not enough water to support the chemical reaction of Portland cement, sand and stone, the concrete will be weak. It’s important to follow the directions on the package(s) to get the correct mix.
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Like any successful repair or construction project, analysis and planning are extremely important. You should have a professional take a look at the problem before you repair it, to decide if a repair is even worth it. A short consult more than pays for itself if it turns out you’d be wasting money on something that isn’t worth a quick fix. If that round hole reveals that there’s no steel reinforcement, for example, then the rest of the driveway is on its way to needing more serious work in the near future. If the hole reveals that the mix was too wet or too dry, or was poured in weather that was too cold, or that admixtures were the wrong combination, you’ll just be throwing good money after bad.
When I see concrete work being done in extreme cold or excessive heat, as I’m driving by, I make a mental note to double back, over time, to see how the experiment worked or didn’t work. You can only shake your head when you understand the possible outcome. There are concrete repair mixtures that include epoxy adhesives, but, again, follow the directions to the letter if you’re making the less expensive, quick repair.
It was invaluable for me to work with a mason, carpenter and painter during summers off from architecture school. The mason taught me to wet the area before continuing after our lunch break, not adding wet next to dry mortar. The dry area was already curing. The fresh mortar would have the moisture sucked right into the drier surface, weakening both, and the work in general. 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.
Monte Leeper
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opinions America must not abdicate its leadership
Almost 60 years ago, former Secretary of State Dean Acheson wrote a memoir, “Present At the Creation,” which focused on the reality that the United States had to remake the world — or at least Europe — in the years after World War II. That required a rejection and repudiation of the isolationist “America First” policy that had predominated after World War I until Pearl Harbor.
In 1945, Hitler and Nazi Germany had been destroyed, and postwar Germany was in ruins. Though England and France had been victors, the war left them seriously weakened. The British economy was in shambles, and France, which had largely surrendered to Nazi collaborators during the war, was economically damaged and politically unstable.
Most ominously, it soon became apparent that Stalin’s Russia was intent on expanding Soviet rule in Europe, with no regard for treaties or territorial boundaries. Agreements such as Yalta and Potsdam were ignored as Soviet communist rule was imposed on
Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, East Germany and most of Eastern Europe, creating what Winston Churchill so accurately labeled the Iron Curtain.
Fortunately, the United States would not repeat the tragic errors it made after World War I, which led to the inexorable rise of Hitler and World War II. The first world war had left Germany impoverished, creating fertile ground for Hitler and the growth of Naziism. The U.S. had basically demobilized its armed forces after the “war to end all wars.”
UAs Hitler rebuilt the German war machine in the 1930s and Europe appeased Hitler at Munich, the U.S. was slow to respond, and then the America First movement opposed helping Churchill when England was under siege.
Ultimately, the Soviet empire would implode.
kraine needs American support, and in Iran we need NATO’s support.
Today, our world is in need of another act of creation. Russian President Vladimir Putin envisions a new Russian empire, beginning with the invasion of Ukraine. This was the first invasion of one sovereign European nation by another in the almost eight decades since World War II. This continuing attack threatens European stability and, as we should have learned from the two 20th-century conflagrations, America’s security is imperiled. The concept of Fortress America, with oceans protecting us, is outmoded, and potentially suicidal.
In the aftermath of World War II, however, the U.S. assumed the leadership of the free world. Unlike Germany under Hitler, Stalin’s Russian expansion would be halted. America First would be no more. The Marshall Plan was enacted to rebuild West Germany and Western Europe.
To prevent a replay of Munich and appeasement, NATO was created so that an attack on one would be an attack on all. Isolationism was over.
While Europe has stepped forward and provided Ukraine with needed weaponry, the Trump administration has cut off arms sales to Ukraine, instead selling them to Europe, which will provide them to Ukraine. This is unnecessarily convoluted, and is causing Ukrainian lives to be lost. The administration somehow sees a moral equivalence between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which isn’t that different from equating Hitler with Churchill.
Our lead negotiator, Steve Witcoff, is a real estate guy from New York with
no diplomatic experience, and he hasn’t met with the parties in months. Ukraine is fighting valiantly, and actually beating Russia on the battlefield. But being outnumbered and outgunned, Ukraine can’t survive without American support. Echoes of Munich! Similarly, we will not prevail in our struggle against Iran by announcing that we will never use ground troops or by pretending we are winning when we are stalemated by the Iranians, who have the ability to shut down the Strait of Hormuz. To succeed we will need the support of NATO nations to use their minesweeper expertise to clear the strait. That would have been easier if we had informed NATO of our intention to attack Iran in the first place. Every effort must be made to obtain congressional support, and to level with the American people that no war is easy, especially a war against religious fanatics. And every war has risks. Telling the enemy we won’t ever use ground troops only increases the risk of having to use them.
These are perilous times, and we cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of the past. America must show firm leadership. America First cannot be America alone!
Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.
No need for Democrats to panic about Mamdani & Co.
These past few weeks have been difficult for middle-of the-road Democrats. Candidates aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America have won roughly half of 70 or so contested primary contests nationwide. The Wall Street Journal called the DSA successes “the political story of 2026.”
But will the DSA drag the Democratic Party permanently to the left, or will it fade away, as the Tea Party did on the Republican side in the mid-2010s?
Over the past 50 years, I have seen the Democratic Party tugged left and center by a number of forces, but in the end the moderates have always won the tug of war. The first big DSA win was in New York City, when Zohran Mamdani was elected mayor. He has now been in office just over six months, and the political jury is still out on whether he will be able to hold on to his job for more than one term. To date, Mamdani has won some major victories, and kept his pledges to
the voters who supported him. He has gotten lots of money from Albany for pre-K and child care programs, and his promised rent freeze has been approved. He has not delivered yet on his promise of free buses, because that’s a cost that would hurt all New Yorkers who use mass transit, and can’t afford to subsidize bus riders.
GMamdani got elected by virtue of the fact that his only primary opponent was former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who turned out to be a weak candidate. Mamdani’s success can also attributed to the so-called socialists’ mastery of social media. Moderate Democrats have failed to use that medium as effectively, giving the DSA a gift that other candidates around the country have benefited from as well. Can the DSA become a major force in American politics? I personally doubt its long-term ability to survive, but I may be proven wrong. An August 2025 Gallup poll found that 39 percent of Americans had a positive view of socialism, while 57 percent had a negative view. Socialist positions like defunding the police, eliminating rent and solidarity with the Palestinian cause may ener-
overning in the modern era is a big challenge for a fledgling movement.
gize the base, but they remain liabilities in swing districts and national races. A recent article in the Atlantic reported that the DSA’s sectarian wing has refused to endorse a Democratic presidential nominee. That will undercut its political influence.
The recent DSA wins have been concentrated in cities such as New York, Seattle, Denver and Washington, where progressive voters dominate. The organization has no U.S. senators and only a handful of House members, and no member of the DSA has never won a statewide race. And the Mamdani victory is instructive. He won because he softened his image, distancing himself from defunding the police, and stuck to breadand-butter issues.
The socialist movement has an internal contradiction. Its ideologically pure wing alienates voters it needs to build majority coalitions, while its more electable candidates drift toward positions that look a lot like those of typical progressives. In the early 1970s, the New Democratic Coalition made a run at taking over the moderate wing of the Democratic Party, but failed because it
lacked a strong party structure. Electoral success in blue cities does not equal long-term political viability. For socialist candidates to establish durable legitimacy, they will need to demonstrate competence at governing. Mamdani is being watched closely to see if he can hold on to his base. To do so he will have to relax some of his stated positions, which has already unnerved some of his DSA supporters. One example, that went beyond his campaign pledges, was his decision to keep the city police commissioner, Jessica Tisch, in her position.
Some of my Democratic friends in high party positions have reached for the panic button, but I’ve urged them to hold their fire. The DSA and its base have yet to capture the Democratic centrists and hold them hostage. They may notch a few more wins, but governing in the modern era is a big challenge for a small, fledgling movement. History informs me that the moderates in the Democratic Party are still in charge, and, while threatened, are very much alive and well.
Jerry Kremer was a state assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. He currently chairs the Capitol Insight Group, a government relations firm.
SHERALD
Sports still bring us together
ports have always been about more than wins and losses. At their best, they remind us that we have far more in common than the headlines, social media feeds and political arguments would have us believe.
Over the past several weeks, Long Islanders saw two remarkable examples.
The New York Knicks’ championship run transformed Long Island and New York City into one giant community gathering. Bars overflowed with fans wearing blue and orange. Families planned evenings around playoff game tipoffs. Friends who hadn’t watched a game together in years reunited.
Even people who only casually followed basketball found themselves caught up in the excitement. Whether you watched from a crowded sports bar, a watch party or your living room, you became part of something bigger than yourself.
The FIFA World Cup offered a different, but equally meaningful, lesson.
U.S. forward Folarin Balogun’s red card sparked spirited debate among soccer fans. Many questioned the referee’s decision, others defended it, and nearly everyone had an opinion. Yet those conversations, like so many others about the competition, remained focused on the pitch. Fans dissected tactics, coach-
ing decisions and player performances not as ideological opponents, but as people who simply loved the game.
That distinction matters.
In too many corners of public life today, disagreement quickly turns into hostility. Every issue seems destined to become another battle in an endless culture war. Sports remind us that there is another way. You can passionately disagree with someone’s opinion, make your case, and then sit beside that same person to watch the next match.
Even after Belgium eliminated the United States, American supporters found themselves tipping their caps to a talented Belgian squad. There was disappointment, certainly, but also respect. Some fans even joked that Belgium had earned a little good karma along the way for not making Balogun’s controversial reinstatement an issue. That’s the beauty of sports. Defeat doesn’t have to produce bitterness. Sometimes it simply produces appreciation for excellence.
The same spirit carried Knicks fans through every dramatic moment of their championship run. Complete strangers celebrated together after clutch baskets. Subway rides morphed into rolling pep rallies. Neighborhood restaurants and bars became gathering places where age, politics, profession and background mattered far less than
the logo on a jersey.
For a few hours at a time, everyone was simply a fan. Those shared experiences strengthen communities in ways that statistics never can. They create memories between parents and children, lifelong friends and even strangers who may never meet again.
Years from now, many people won’t remember every score or every lineup change. But they will remember where they were, whom they were with and how it felt when an entire room erupted in celebration.
Our communities need more moments like that.
Sports won’t solve our political differences or erase the challenges we face. They shouldn’t have to. Their value lies elsewhere. They remind us that healthy competition doesn’t require contempt, that spirited debate doesn’t have to become personal, and that people with different backgrounds and viewpoints can still cheer, groan and celebrate together.
The Knicks gave New Yorkers a championship to remember. The World Cup is giving the world another reminder of soccer’s unmatched ability to unite people across borders and cultures. Long after the trophies are lifted and the final whistles blow, that is the real victory worth celebrating.
MatterS
Your opinion Matters
The strength of our community comes from open dialogue. We invite residents to submit letters to the editor on issues affecting our neighborhoods, schools, businesses and local government.
The strength of our community comes from open dialogue. We invite residents to submit letters to the editor on issues affecting our neighborhoods, schools, businesses and local government. Letters must include your name and contact information for verification. Send them to execeditor@liherald.com.
Letters must include your name and contact information for verification. Send lettters to execeditor@liherald.com
Be heard. Be part of the conversation.
Be heard. Be part of the conversation.
Seeing for ourselves where a legendary writer lived
suffolk County has been the home of many literary giants. The number is unusual for any area. It includes Walt Whitman, James Fenimore Cooper, Kurt Vonnegut, James Jones, Truman Capote, Betty Friedan, Edward Albee, E.L. Doctorow, Joseph Heller, Lanford Wilson, Joe Pintauro, Terence McNally, Colson Whitehead, Peter Matthiessen . . . and John Steinbeck.
And now, you can get an extraordinary insight into Steinbeck.
The house in Sag Harbor in which Steinbeck and his wife, Elaine, lived has been preserved. That’s thanks to donations to the Sag Harbor Partnership, the participation of the Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas (Elaine’s alma mater), $750,000 from New York state, $11.2 million from the Town of Southampton’s Community Preservation Fund, and individual contributions from folks in Sag Harbor. You can go on a free Saturday tour of the 1.8 acres of property overlooking
Sag Harbor Cove, and visit inside the house, too, on Holiday Open House Weekends. My wife and I took the tour on the Memorial Day weekend.
Among the many features of the property is Steinbeck’s charming little six-sided gazebo, his writing studio. He named it, with a sign, Joyous Garde, after Sir Lancelot’s castle in the legend of King Arthur. Steinbeck won the Nobel Prize for literature and the Pulitzer Prize for fiction for his renowned novel “The Grapes of Wrath.” Among his many other books were “East of Eden,” “Of Mice and Men,” “The Pearl,” “The Red Pony,” “The Winter of Our Discontent,” “Tortilla Flat,” Cannery Row” and “Travels with Charley: In Search of America” — which begins in Sag Harbor.
sHe and Elaine lived in the Sag Harbor house from 1955 until his death in 1968. Elaine continued to use the house until she died in 2003.
Our docent for the tour was Lori Raimondo, who is highly knowledgeable about Steinbeck. She told us how Sag Harbor reminded him of Monterey, Calif., on the Pacific Ocean south of San Francisco, where he had earlier lived. Monterey was a working-class waterfront town, like Sag Harbor in those days.
teinbeck wrote in a gazebo that had room for only a small desk and a chair.
Raimondo said that Steinbeck saw the house while looking at another one nearby, but was told it wasn’t for sale. He went over and knocked on the door, anyway, and the couple who owned it said they were just putting it up for sale.
a collection of rifles hung above the fireplace, and she showed us photos of them. In a hallway that led down to a bedroom were many photos, including one of Steinbeck receiving the Nobel Prize. Up what is now a metal circular staircase — which replaced a ladder, Raimondo said — was a loft for the Steinbecks’ two sons, Thomas and John. Outside, we visited a small workshop building that, Raimondo told us, Steinbeck originally thought he could use for writing. But he found there were too many diversions in it. Then it was on to the simple Joyous Garde, which had room for only a small desk and a chair. It was a tranquil place for Steinbeck to write, with a serene view of the waters of Sag Harbor Cove through its windows.
He hung out with friends in the village, which in recent years has featured the John Steinbeck Waterfront Park. In the 1960s, he was a founder and honorary chairman of Sag Harbor’s Old Whaler’s Festival (now known as HarborFest). We lived in Sayville back then, and as a reporter for the Long Island Press, I went to Sag Harbor and interviewed Steinbeck on a festival day.
Framework by Tim Baker
In the house, Steinbeck’s creativity — and humor — were apparent immediately. Raimondo pointed out a mobile hanging in the living room, which, she noted, Steinbeck constructed from the spokes of an umbrella. Adjacent was a cozy kitchen area.
A main feature of the living room is a fireplace made with large stones, especially big in the context of the small house. Originally, Raimondo explained,
To arrange to take the tour, go to steinbeckhouse.org/visit. “There are two options for visiting,” it advises. One is a “regular Saturday visit,” on dates that are listed. The other is holiday open house weekends, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays on which both the grounds and the home are open. Take the tour. It is immensely worthwhile.
Karl Grossman has been an investigative reporter in a variety of media for more than 50 years. He is a professor of journalism at the State University of New York at Old Westbury.
Thrilling the thousands on chairs and blankets below, the Blue Angels celebrated the nation’s 250th birthday — Jones Beach
Your Safety is Our #1 Concern—
And the Experts Agree
At Mount Sinai South Nassau, patient safety isn’t just a priority— it’s a standard, one we work on every day. And the experts agree.
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When it comes to your health, nothing matters more than knowing you’re in a place where patient safety matters most.
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