Skip to main content

Bellmore Herald 08-20-2026

Page 1

GREAT

GLE, OBG, SEA, MER,

BEL, WAN, SEA, MAS

HOMES AUGUST 2026

_________________ bellmore ________________

HERALD Stepping up for Nassau veterans

Vol. 29 No. 34 GLE, OBG, SEA, MER,

Bring on the color

Page 3 AUGUST 20 - 26, 2026

BEL, WAN, SEA, MAS

$1.00

GUS LAFKAS

LICENSED ASSOCIATE REAL ESTATE BROKER

OVER 25 YEARS OF EXP ERIENCE

COMPLIMENTARY HO

ME VALUATION

2300 MERRICK ROAD Office 516-623-2771 • , MERRICK, NY 11566 Direct 516-445-0657 gus.lafkas@elliman.com Residential/Commercia l

Chabad creates after-school program Hebrew School, which has grown from a handful of students to about 180. “We found that the Hebrew The Chabad of Merrick-Bellmore-Wantagh is launching an school students — they make after-school program designed great friendships,” Kramer to give local Jewish children said. “They get to know friends opportunities to develop new outside school, and it really skills while building friend- adds to their social-emotional ships and a stronger connec- being.” But because Hebrew school tion to their community. meets only once a The Albert & week, Chabad Temi Horowitz CKids Clubs will heard from families serve children ages who wanted their 4 to 12 during the children to have 2026-27 school year, more opportunities providing enrichto spend time with ing and exciting their peers, Kramer activities such as said. gymnastics, drama, T he clubs are sports and moveintended to provide ment, baking, that additional Hebrew language, opportunity while art, STEM and sci- RABBI SHIMoN also giving children ence. access to extracurkRAMER The program is ricular activities. being supported by “They can actua grant from CKids Interna- ally, besides for all the skills tional, allowing Chabad to offer that they’re lear ning after specialized programming at school, which is great for them, heavily subsidized rates and it also brings them self-confiprovide scholarships to fami- dence, friendship, learn how to lies who need additional finan- work with others,” the rabbi cial assistance. said. Chabad Rabbi Shimon Chanie Kramer, program Kramer said the clubs devel- director at Chabad, said the oped from the success of the organization surveyed parents org anization’s Hands-On

By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ

hgaldamez@liherald.com

I

Courtesy Christina Bonfiglio-Scali

The Merrick Library recently opened a coffee bar, adding another amenity to a building that has increasingly become a destination for remote workers, students and community members. Gina Noto, above, runs the show.

Library adds a coffee bar By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com

The Merrick Public Library is giving patrons another reason to stay awhile. The library recently opened a coffee bar, adding another amenity to a building that has increasingly become a destination for remote workers, students and community members who spend hours working, studying and reading. The coffee bar opened Aug. 11 and is staffed by library employee Gina Noto, a barista with eight years of experience. Christina Bonfiglio-Scali, the library’s head of community engagement, said the addition was a natural extension of how patrons have begun using the library. “We realized that the way people use the

library has really changed, especially since after COVID, and there’s a lot of people working remote,” Bonfiglio-Scali said. “We’re seeing students, we’re seeing remote workers and community members spending several hours here rather than simply stopping in to borrow a book.” The library has added quiet pods, comfortable seating and work-friendly spaces in recent years, creating an environment where patrons can work or study throughout the day. Bonfiglio-Scali said the library noticed the shift before the coffee bar was considered. “It’s not like we got the coffee bar now; they’re staying here longer,” she said. “It was vice versa. We noticed they’re staying CoNTiNued oN paGe 2

t brings them selfconfidence, friendship, learn how to work with others.

CoNTiNued oN paGe 11


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Bellmore Herald 08-20-2026 by Richner Communications, Inc - Issuu