Community Day returned in grand fashion last Saturday, bringing together residents for a day of free programs. From athletic challenges to a pieeating contest, there was something for everyone to enjoy at Speno Park. Above, Roxane Rose and Linda Walsh gave out patriotic décor. At right, Joseph Freire, 7, took part in the football toss. Story, photos, Page 3.
By JoRDAN VAlloNE jvallone@liherald.com
Girl Scout Troop 1316 in East Meadow recognized that many could find it challenging to express their feelings in a safe way, spurring them to create something meaningful for the community: the Stress Less Box, now on display at the East Meadow Public Library.
WTroop 1316 is a Girl Scout Cadette troop comprised of students from Woodland and W.T. Clarke middle schools in the East Meadow School District. The Stress Less Box was created for their Silver Award project, the highest honor a Cadette can earn independently or in small groups. Girls must identify a community issue and create a sustainable project that addresses its root cause. Projects usually involve at least 50 hours of work.
benefits the community, not just one time, but for a while,”
Jeannie Cardali, who leads the troop with Alison Vardakis, told the Herald. “What the girls found is that people will keep in or harbor feelings, and not a lot of people have safe outlets to express [them]. And when someone keeps in their feelings, those feelings are often negative, and those negative feelings can turn bad. The girls said they wanted to find a safe and anonymous way for people to vent.”
e recognize that many people in our community carry a lot of unspoken stress and heavy emotions.
EMIly CARDAlI Member, Girl Scout Troop 1316
“We had to find a problem in the community,” Emily Cardali, Jeannie’s daughter and troop member, shared, “and we recognize that many people in our community carry a lot of unspoken stress and heavy emotions, and we wanted to just create a safe, healthy outlet for those feelings.”
“The whole idea is something that’s long lasting, that
So, they built the Stress Less Box, now on a stand inside East Meadow library’s main
Continued on page 5
By JORDAN VALLONE
jvallone@liherald.com
Rain may have kept Parkway Elementary School’s annual Wellness Walk indoors, but it did not dampen the spirit of Mental Health Awareness Month. On May 21, students transformed the East Meadow school’s hallways into a colorful celebration of kindness, wellness and community support, capping off a week dedicated to healthy habits and emotional well-being.
Parkway Elementary concluded Mental Health Awareness Month with its annual Wellness Walk, a tradition that encourages students to recognize the importance of physical, emotional and mental well-being. While the event is typically held outside, rainy weather prompted organizers to move the celebration indoors this year. Students marched through the hallways carrying handmade signs and banners that highlighted messages of positivity, encouragement and self-care. Teachers, staff members and classmates lined the corridors, applauding participants and helping create an atmosphere of support. The indoor route allowed the entire school community to take part in the celebration, reinforcing the message that wellness is something everyone can support.
The Wellness Walk served as the culminating event of Parkway’s Wellness Week, a schoolwide initiative focused on promoting healthy lifestyles and emotional wellness. Throughout the week, students participated in activities designed to encourage positive habits, kindness and selfawareness. The program aimed to help students understand that wellness extends beyond physical health and includes emotional and mental well-being. By engaging students in age-appropriate activities and discussions, the school sought to create a supportive environment where children feel encouraged to care for themselves and others. The week’s events reinforced lessons about empathy, positivity and the importance of maintaining healthy routines.
It was part of a districtwide effort
Parkway’s Wellness Walk was one of several activities held throughout the East Meadow School District during Mental Health Awareness Month. Schools across the district participated in programs intended to raise awareness about mental health and provide students with tools to support their overall wellness. At Parkway, students played a central role in sharing those messages through their creativity and participation. The colorful signs and banners displayed during the walk reflected the themes of encouragement and healthy living that were emphasized throughout the month. By bringing the school community together in a visible show of support, the event highlighted the growing importance of mental health education.
By JORDAN VALLONE & JOSEPH D’ALESSANDRO of the East Meadow Herald
The East Meadow community gathered at Speno Park, marking the return of Community Day, with a full slate of free activities, entertainment and giveaways, continuing a tradition that organizers say has united the community for more than three decades.
The four-hour event on June 13, organized through a partnership of the East Meadow Chamber of Commerce, the East Meadow Kiwanis Club and other community volunteers, featured nearly 90 vendors, youth sports clinics, live performances, contests and family activities — all offered free of charge.
Founded in 1991 by former Town of Hempstead Supervisor Gregory Peterson, Community Day was created with a simple mission: celebrate East Meadow while ensuring every resident could participate regardless of cost. That tradition remains unchanged today, with vendors donating goods, services and activities rather than selling them.
“It really is a whole community coming together,” Chamber member and former president Roxanne Rose said.
Families filled the park throughout the day, visiting vendor booths, collecting raffle entries through the event’s bingo card program and enjoying giveaways provided by local businesses and organizations. Members of the East Meadow Kiwanis Club also distributed free books to children in attendance.
A variety of activities kept visitors busy throughout the morning and afternoon. Lifetime Fitness hosted a mixed doubles pickleball tournament, while Club Pilates offered an outdoor mat class. Soccer Shots and Soccer Stars conducted clinics for children of different age groups, and St. Raphael’s Catholic Youth Organization led youth basketball clinics.
One of the day’s most popular attractions was the annual Color Run, which wrapped up the event. Children dressed in white shirts ran through the park as volunteers tossed colorful powder, creating a vibrant finale to the celebration.
“We end the day with a fun color run for the kids,” Chamber events chair Maureen Pye said before the event. “They run around the park, we toss powder at them, they’re in white shirts, so they come out looking tie-dyed afterwards.”
Additional activities included pie-eating contests sponsored by Stew Leonard’s, bounce houses, a Star Wars character meet-and-greet, an East Meadow student art display and safety demonstrations from the North Bellmore Fire Department Safety House.
Local entertainment was showcased throughout the day, with performances by dance studios, music groups and students from the East Meadow School District. Nearby, East Meadow Baseball Softball Association teams took to the field for games that added to the festive atmosphere.
The event was supported by dozens
of volunteers and local organizations, including Friends for a Beautiful East Meadow. Organizers also thanked the Town of Hempstead and park staff for helping coordinate the celebration and providing shuttle service between Speno Park and Veterans Memorial Park.
For many attendees, the event’s greatest appeal was not any single attraction but the opportunity to connect with neighbors and celebrate community pride.
“Everybody is driving in the same direction toward the same goal, which is community cohesiveness,” Community Day organizer Richie Krug Jr. said.
With strong attendance, 90 participating vendors and a park filled with families throughout the day, Community Day once again demonstrated why it has remained one of East Meadow’s most enduring community traditions.
4
y the traditional magic of DVD, I had a recent opportunity to watch the filmed production of the 2024 Broadway revival, “Merrily We Roll Along.”
With the book by George Firth and music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, this show unpacks a series of themes including (but not limited to) friendship and fame, money and memories, trust and turning points — a piece of art that helped me revisit the decisions that lead me to the life and adult that I am.
lives that are firmly in the present. But while steering away from cliches, we acknowledge that their journey will be worthy and will provide insight much later -- why they did what they did – for a greater good.
Quietly, I think of decisions that changed our collective lives:
“When was the moment?” is asked repeatedly in this musical, that is, when was the moment when the rest of your life began and when it began to change?
Right on time, like the 11 o’clock number (theater geeks need not look it up), here comes our daily life to compare with this production.
Over the last few days my husband and I have been discussing the future with our adult children – all the while looking back at our own road to decision making. We have listened to their concerns about finding the right place to live, identifying employment that is personally and professionally satisfying and how to be sure, really sure, about anything.
With early “adulting” in our rearview mirrors, my spouse and I can’t give many answers that can satisfy their
The university chairperson who offered me an adjunct instructor’s job a few years out of college. The husband who gave notice and then rescinded his request because I asked him to allow me to be a full-time Mom rather than him becoming a stay-at-home Dad. Me carrying five parttime jobs at once for several years when household finances got tough. Midnight conversations that gave clarity and purpose to marriage and raising kids. Seeing Paris. Can we give perfect guidance for each family member’s path? Not really. But hindsight gives us the chance to give them comfort, pause and perspective so that the future and the choices to be made do not seem so daunting after all.
A contributing writer to the Herald since 2012, Lauren Lev is a direct marketing/ advertising executive who teaches marketing fundamentals as well as advertising and marketing communications courses at the Fashion Institute of Technology and SUNY Old Westbury.
entrance. The box comes with a small slit to drop notes, along with a pad of paper and pencils, and words of encouragement that tell users, “Take a breath, write it down, let it go.”
The box is locked, and will be cleared out periodically. Messages are anonymous and will never be read.
Troop 1316 members include Emily Cardali, Holly Vardakis, Brielle Stephens, Hibah Farukh, Jeyla Gadirli, Lauren Ochtera and Sofia Yagman.
The box, Jeannie Cardali said, was constructed entirely by the Girl Scouts, who worked with a carpenter to design it and put it together. It was then painted and decorated and affixed with instructions as well as a QR code that provides a user with a positive affirmation.
Reflecting on the collaboration between the Girl Scouts to create their project, Emily Cardali simply said, “I love my troop.”
The Girl Scouts’ project was unveiled on June 8 at the library, where they were joined by Hempstead Town Clerk Kate Murray, Nassau County Legislator Tom McKevitt, Assemblyman John Mikulin and a representative from State Sen. Steve Rhoads’ office.
“The Silver Award is one of the highest awards a Girl Scout can earn,” Jeannie Cardali said at the unveiling. “It’s when Cadette Girl Scouts do something (that) makes a long lasting, positive impact on their community. As you can see, these girls hit the nail on the head. This project truly became a labor of love.”
Cardali extended thanks to the library for allowing the troop to install their vision and to the girls’ parents who supported their efforts.
For those interested in checking out the Stress Less Box, the library is located at 1886 Front St. in East
of girl Scout troop 1316 —
and Holly
was completed for their Silver award.
Meadow.
Troop members collectively shared the following message at the unveiling: “As people visit the library, The Stress Less Box will be here for anyone who needs
to let something go. You simply write down whatever is on your mind — a worry, a frustration, or a private thought of any kind — and drop it into the box, anonymously.”
By JEFFREY BESSEN jbessen@liherald.com
Kids ran around as only children can — free and without care — as adults milled around the artificial-turf field and the seats of Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium on the Stony Brook University campus.
I really love the USA, and I really want to support the team
This was the first of a few World Cup watch parties staged by Empire State Development, which promotes business growth, job creation, and greater economic opportunity across New York. Several thousand people came for the soccer last Friday. The first game shown on the stadium screens was Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina, being played in Toronto, as the event began at 3 p.m. Guests had a choice of watching the first game, the second game or both.
At 7 p.m., after those teams played to a 1-1 draw, the second session got underway, and many had come to root for the Unites States Men’s National Team, playing their first game of the quadrennial global tournament, which this year is being hosting across North America, with many of the games in the U.S.
Joe Nola, a Holbrook resident, brought his son Everett, 9, a soccer fan who started playing a few years ago and took to the sport.
“[I’m here] basically for him,” Nola said of his son. “He started getting into soccer and the World Cup, and I started following it a lot more the last couple of years. He’s really excited and so am I, so we’ve been waiting to check out more soccer, and saw this and thought it would be a full opportunity to watch the USA game.”
A travel soccer team player, Everett was a bit shy, but his father said he has an affinity for the “beautiful game.”
“As a family, we’re trying to watch more and learn more about it, so this is, like, a really cool experience,” Nola said, adding of Everett. “He plays goalie. He loves the pressure, for some reason. He drives his mother crazy with the stress. He’s a big fan of [Matt] Freese [the American goalie] and a lot of the goalies that we see internationally.”
Antonella Cortez, 11, from Setauket, who also plays on a travel team, was there to cheer on Team USA.
“I’m here to watch the game,” she said matter-of-factly, adding that playing soccer is fun. Her favorite position? “Anything besides middle and goalie,” she said.
Before the featured match of Paraguay vs. USA, in Los Angeles, the band Third Eye Blind performed a roughly 30-minute set in a driving rainstorm that seemed to end just after they struck
Terryville, Liam Sobritch, of East Northport, and Connor Klinger, from Selden, all wearing USA jerseys, roleplayed interviewer and interviewee, so of course the natural thing was to interview them.
“I really love the USA,” Hernandez said, “and I really want to support the team. I hope they win the World Cup.” His analysis of the first half? “They played great. We need to space out a little more, but we could have this win.
“It was good,” Sobritch said. “We scored three, so maybe [we] space out a little more.”
“We need more spacing,” Klinger agreed, “but [we’re] amazing on the attacking.”
From an own goal by Paraguay in the opening minutes to a score by Gio Reyna in the match’s waning seconds, the U.S. team dominated in a 4-1 win. The next game for the Americans is Friday versus Australia.
Organizing events such as a World Cup Watch Party is not an easy feat.
“This is almost two years in the making,” Dan Gross, Empire State Development’s executive director for New York Special Events, said. “I drew up a plan. It really started with the governor. FIFA controls the tickets,” he added, referring to the World Cup’s governing body. “They control the ticket pricing. The need to make sure people have access.”
Gross and colleagues drew up the plan to hold watch parties across the state. They developed a grant program so that all 10 state regions across New York could have watch parties as well.
“I am very proud to say we are the only state in the nation, from a states perspective, that is truly bringing the World Cup experience to all four corners of the state,” Gross said.
For information on future news related to the World Cup Watch Experience, go to ILOVENY.com/fifa-world-cup/ community-viewing-events.
Music fans gathered at Eisenhower Park on June 7 for an evening of free live entertainment as Blessid Union of Souls and Fun Lovin’ Criminals took the stage at the Lakeside Theatre.
The concert, part of Nassau County’s summer entertainment lineup, featured performances by both bands, drawing residents and visitors to the East Meadow park for a night of nostalgia and classic hits.
Blessid Union of Souls performed several of its best-known songs, including “Hey Leonardo (She Likes Me for Me)” and “I Believe.” Fun Lovin’ Criminals followed with fan favorites such as “Scooby Snacks” and “Love Unlimited.”
Attendees brought lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy the outdoor concert under clear skies, filling the theater grounds as the bands delivered a mix of rock, pop and alternative hits from the 1990s.
The event was held at the Lakeside Theatre, one of the county’s most popular outdoor concert venues, and was free and open to the public. The performance was one of several concerts scheduled throughout the summer season at Eisenhower Park.
Visit NassauCountyNY.gov.
–Jordan Vallone
Blessid Union of
was
the
By HUNTER FENOLLOL hfenollol@liherald.com
Jeanine C. Driscoll, the Town of Hempstead’s receiver of taxes, says her experience managing one of Nassau County’s most visible local offices has prepared her for a run for Congress, and she is seeking the Republican nomination in New York’s 4th District.
Driscoll, 59, a Republican and a longtime resident of Bellerose, will face Marvin Williams in next Tuesday’s primary. The winner will take on incumbent Democratic Rep. Laura Gillen in November.
Driscoll said she decided to enter the race after former Rep. Anthony D’Esposito lost to Gillen in 2024.
“I was called and I found out that they were interviewing candidates,” Driscoll said. “I’ve been in office for seven years. I’ve lived in Nassau County for about 25 years. I’ve been a volunteer, I was a village judge, and I’m a lawyer. I have the life experience to do this.”
She said the timing also aligned with her family life, noting that she and her husband are now at a stage where their youngest child is heading off to college.
A central focus of Driscoll’s campaign is tax policy, an issue she said has defined her public-service career. “I have always been focused on trying to alleviate the burden of taxpayers,” she said. “That’s been my number one priority since I’ve been in office.”
As receiver of taxes, Driscoll said, she has worked to expand access to property tax exemptions and educate homeowners about available relief programs. Her office has also implemented services such as drivethrough payment windows, satellite offices, online payment options and email reminder systems.
She said she also regularly hosts seminars on tax grievances and exemptions. “I don’t leave until every question is answered,” she said. “I’ve been in libraries
at 10 o’clock at night helping people understand their taxes.”
Driscoll said that direct contact with residents has shaped her understanding of public service more than any other experience. “No one deals with constituents
every day like I do,” she said of area tax officials. “People are in my office every single day, and I hear firsthand what they’re going through.”
In Congress, she added, lawmakers often lack dayto-day exposure to constituent concerns.
Driscoll also noted her background as an attorney for more than three decades and her prior service as an associate village justice. She has also been active in community organizations, including the Floral Park Memorial PTSA and the Junior Women’s Club of Bellerose.
Her policy priorities, she said, would center on reducing costs for families through tax relief measures, changes to federal deductions and reducing regulatory burdens on small businesses. Rising insurance costs, housing prices and taxes are all contributing to what Driscoll described as an affordability crisis on Long Island.
“You have people who grew up here, raised their families here and now they can’t afford to stay,” she said. “She supports efforts to increase take-home pay by eliminating taxes on tips and overtime and expanding the deduction for state and local taxes.
Asked why voters should choose her over Williams in the primary, Driscoll said that experience and familiarity with local taxpayers set her apart. “I know the residents, I know the taxpayers and I know how Nassau County works,” she said. “I’ve worked directly with people who are struggling, and I understand what they need.” She also emphasized her endorsement by the Nassau County Republican Committee.
As for what differentiates her from Gillen, Driscoll said the contrast comes down to tax policy and fiscal priorities, and that she looked forward to making her case directly to 4th District voters. “I’m all in,” she said. “I want to win this seat, and I believe I can.”
By ANDREW FRANCIS
afrancis@liherald.com
Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Marvin Suber Williams will face off against Town of Hempstead Receiver of Taxes Jeanine C. Driscoll in the Republican primary in the 4th Congressional District next Tuesday. The winner will challenge Democratic incumbent Rep. Laura Gillen in the November general election. Williams, 64, is a lifelong New Yorker and current Garden City resident who has spent 30 years in public service as an active-duty Air Force chaplain, senior pastor and senior executive at the federal level. He is focusing his campaign to represent Nassau County’s South Shore communities on lowering costs for Long Island families, restoring public safety, securing the country’s southern border, creating congressional term limits, supporting veterans and, he said, bringing accountability to Washington D.C.
“The core lesson is exactly the same in ministry as it is in the federal government: When a mission is failing, you do not keep sending the same people back with the same plan,” Williams said. “That is not just political partisanship — that is the voters of Long Island loudly telling Washington that they have not been heard.”
Williams said that hearing those loud cries, and his love for country and community, motivated him to run for the congressional seat and create “lasting change” for Long Islanders in the 4th District, economically and socially.
“I am not running because I need a new career,” he told the Herald. “I am running because I have the time, the executive experience and the absolute political
“In
independence to do this job for the right reasons.”
Williams listed affordability, public safety and immigration, honoring veterans, and term limits as
his “four critical priorities.” Additionally, he wants to reduce energy and transportation costs, especially for Long Island.
Despite having less political experience than Driscoll and Gillen, Williams maintains that experience is far from the most important quality of a political leader.
“In this race, political tenure is not the most important asset,” he said. “Proof of capability is. Traditional political experience simply means time spent occupying a seat in a government building. Proof means tangible, measurable results you can put a clear dollar amount on – and I have those numbers.”
Williams also points out that he already has experience serving at the federal level, leading the charge for Air Force Inspection System reform and spearheading operational adjustments that, he said, saved $30 million in overseas operations at the Naval Supply Systems Command.
He believes that his military experience also makes him a more qualified candidate for Congress. He credits the lessons he has learned about service and the time spent as a senior federal executive as more than adequate background to know how to represent Long Island residents.
“Long Islanders are carrying an immense amount of economic and social worry right now,” Williams said. “They need a representative who genuinely hears them, not a career politician who reads about them in a polling memo. … My service makes me uniquely qualified, because three decades of mission-driven, results-accountable executive work is the precise preparation required for a job that demands those qualities today.”
By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com
Staff members, board members, family and friends recently gathered at Island Harvest Food Bank’s Melville headquarters to surprise Chief Executive Officer Randi Shubin Dresner as she marked 25 years leading what has grown into Long Island’s largest hunger-relief organization.
Since joining Island Harvest in May 2001, Shubin Dresner, of East Meadow, has overseen the organization’s transformation from a small food-rescue operation that distributed fewer than 2 million pounds of food annually into a regional nonprofit that now distributes more than 21 million pounds of food each year to food-insecure residents across Nassau and Suffolk counties.
During her tenure, Island Harvest expanded its mission beyond food distribution, developing programs designed to address the root causes of poverty and hunger. Under her leadership, the organization established a Workforce Skills Development Institute, launched a Food as Medicine nutrition initiative in partnership with hospitals and clinics, expanded short-term case management and referral services, and developed an organic farm, greenhouse and network of Giving Gardens throughout Long Island.
Island Harvest has also played a key role in emergency response efforts, providing food and support during major crises, including Superstorm Sandy and the Covid-19 pandemic.
The organization said it has experienced
consistent annual revenue growth during Shubin Dresner’s leadership while broadening the scope of its services to meet changing community needs.
Reflecting on the milestone and the surprise celebration, Shubin Dresner thanked colleagues and supporters for helping build the organization over the past quarter-century.
“A simple thank you cannot fully capture my gratitude to you for your dedication and support in building this impactful organization,” she said. “The surprise reception was filled with warm memories of our shared journey and the difference we’ve made together.”
She also acknowledged the sacrifices made by staff members and volunteers throughout the years.
“True community work requires a shared sacrifice, and many of us have stepped away from our families to serve our neighbors during major disasters, daily crises and holiday seasons,” Shubin Dresner said. “Hunger remains a daily crisis for those affected, and balancing our calling, families and personal time is an ongoing challenge. Even after 25 years at Island Harvest, I continue to learn how to navigate that blend. My heart is full because of your shared passion and support.”
Island Harvest Food Bank serves children, families, seniors and veterans across Long Island through food distribution, nutrition education, workforce development, advocacy and other support services. The organization is a member of Feeding America, the nationwide network of food banks working to combat hunger in the United States.
The fields surrounding Eisenhower Park’s Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre were filled with families, community members and supporters on June 14 as Long Island IsraeliAmerican Night brought together residents from across the region for an evening of music, culture and celebration.
The free event, held from 5 to 8 p.m., was hosted by Sid Jacobson JCC in partnership with UJA-Federation of New York and the Jewish Community Relations Council of Long Island. Organizers described it as one of the largest public celebrations of Israel on Long Island, bringing together families, community leaders and supporters from across Nassau and Suffolk counties.
The program blended live music, cultural pride and communal solidarity at a time when many in the Jewish community continue to express concern over rising antisemitism and the ongoing impact of the war in Israel.
This year’s featured performers included Israeli singer Noam Buskila, Israeli-American a cappella group Six13, and Alon Ohel, an artist and Oct. 7 hostage survivor. Attendees gathered for an evening of music, dancing and community engagement overlooking the lake at Eisenhower Park.
In addition to the live performances, attendees enjoyed opportunities to connect with local organizations and community groups while celebrating Israeli heritage and culture in a family-friendly atmosphere.
The event was made possible through the support of Sid Jacobson JCC, UJA-Federation of New York and the Jewish Community Relations Council of Long Island. Organizers also acknowledged the support of numerous community partners, sponsors and participating organizations from throughout the region.
Security measures were in place throughout the evening to help ensure a safe and welcoming experience for attendees.
Long Island Israeli-American Night continued a growing tradition of public celebrations highlighting Israeli culture, resilience and the strong ties between Long Island’s Jewish community and Israel.
–Jordan Vallone
By JONATHAN PADILLA Intern
Athletes with physical disabilities were joined by families, friends and community members for the 40th annual Nassau County Games for the Physically Challenged last month.
The event was held at the Mitchel Athletic Complex and Nassau Community College in Nassau County and sponsored by Nassau County Executive Bruce A. Blakeman, Comptroller Elaine Phillips and others.
The event was expected to bring in approximately over 1,200 athletes from across New York State to compete.
Despite not receiving state funding for the event years ago, the office of the Nassau County Executive, in partnership with dedicated private sponsors, has proudly been able to grow and sustain the games.
“Each year, I’m inspired by the determination and spirit of these remarkable athletes,” said County Executive Blakeman.
During the event, athletes between the ages of 5 and 21 competed in events such as track and field, slalom, archery, swimming, wheelchair basketball and table tennis.
Participants represented a wide range of disabilities from those with visual and hearing impairments to spinal cord injuries, limb loss, cerebral palsy, dwarfism and other physical challenges.
The continued success of the games would not be possible if not for its many sponsors. Some of which include Susan Gordon Ryan, Founder and Former Director for the Nassau County Games for the Physically Challenged; Dr. Chris Rosa, President & CEO, Viscardi Center; Dr. Maria P. Conzatti ‘86, Chief Administrative Officer, Nassau Community College;
Nassau County recently hosted the 40th annual County Games for the Physically Challenged, bringing together 1,200 athletes from across New York State to compete.
Hofstra University President Susan Poser; Tracey A. Cullen, Esq., Senior Vice President, Company Operations, King Kullen Grocery Co., Inc.; Martin Elias, Ike, Molly & Steven Elias Foundation and Elias Properties; Bobby Gordon, President, Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick on Long Island; Scott Jennings, PSEG Long Island’s President and COO; Jack Khzouz, CEO of Transdev/NICE Bus; Linda Armyn, President and CEO, FourLeaf Federal Credit Union; The Theresa Foundation; Joel Berse, Trainville Hobby Depot; All our best, The Board of the Dee Foundation; John Houlihan, Managing Director-Regional Market Director, Northeast Region from UBS; Natalie Ryan, Senior
Manager, Government Relations & Corporate Affairs at Henry Schein; Ann Rina, Executive Director Community Relations for the New York Islanders; H.L. Greenberg, CEO and Founder at HOPEFitness; Daniel Bussani, CEO, The Bussani Mobility Team; Rivkin Radler Managing Partner Barry I. Levy.
“From an original group of 240 athletes in 1985 to 1600 today, the games have not only touched the lives of those many athletes but also their families, friends, volunteers and attendees,” said Bobby Gordon, President, Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick on Long Island. Participation in the Games was free and powered by the dedication of volunteers.
By ANDREW FRANCIS afrancis@liherald.com
The Long Island-based advocacy group ERASE Racism held its 25th Anniversary Benefit event earlier this month, giving out awards for anti-racism and anti-discrimination work and awarding scholarships to students who embody the organization’s values.
Hundreds of guests crowded the Garden City Hotel on June 3 for a cocktail hour and to take part in ERASE Racism’s silent auction, where items ranging from artwork to lottery tickets were bid on for up to thousands of dollars. The funds will go to ERASE Racism advocacy initiatives for public education and housing equality.
Students Ria Bhatia, of Jericho High School; Edwin Montes Dubon, of Uniondale High; Zamari Paul, of Malverne High; and Janeiry Savinon, of New Hyde Park High, were each awarded $500 scholarships for winning a student essay contest. Malverne High student Matthew DaCosta was awarded the $1,500 John Wenzel Scholarship for his work with ERASE Racism.
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones and activist Monique Fitzgerald were honored with special awards for their advocacy against structural racism. HannahJones’s work on the 1619 Project, a New York Times Magazine and audio series
examining the beginnings of American slavery and its generational effects, was highlighted during the program.
Hannah-Jones and Elaine Gross, ERASE Racism’s founding president, had a “fireside chat,” discussing how racism continues to impact life for minorities, particularly Black communities, on Long Island and across the country.
“This is a hard time for civil rights organizations, because there is a very organized and powerful effort from the highest reaches of the government that basically is saying there is nothing
called structural racism,” Gross told the Herald before the event.
She identified an April settlement between the U.S. Justice Department and the Town of Oyster Bay over alleged housing discrimination as an example of structural racism on Long Island. In the case, which was settled in U.S. District Court, the town was found liable for “intentionally discriminating against Black individuals” by giving the children of current residents priority in purchasing housing units under its Next Generation housing program. This allegedly hindered the ability of Blacks and
other racial minorities to buy homes in predominantly white Oyster Bay.
Hannah-Jones pointed out that racism on Long Island often is not a conscious effort by residents, but rather the result of the region’s historically discriminatory structure.
“You as an individual white person don’t have to be racist at all to have your housing choices and the benefits of your housing choices shaped by a structure that you have nothing to do with creating,” she said.
Talking more about the 1619 Project and contemporary racism, Hannah-Jones contended that the sanitized way in which many schools and institutions deal with America’s racist history is counterproductive to the goal of erasing racism.
“The truth about America is deeply heartbreaking,” she said, “but I find the truth to be a liberating thing, because one can confront the truth that everything that is within the law is constructed. If you know that it’s constructed, then you know it can be deconstructed.”
Hannah-Jones acknowledged that she was not very optimistic about race relations and how discrimination is handled in the U.S., citing the current administration as a reason for such pessimism. But, she and Gross said they believe that as today’s young people advocate for social justice, they have the potential to unlock a better future for Long Island and beyond.
By Iris Wiener
For more than three decades, Angelo Fraboni has built a career that spans Broadway stages, national tours, arts administration, and theatrical producing. Today, while serving as Artistic Director of the Madison Theatre, on the Molloy University campus, Fraboni continues to leave his mark on the professional theater world as a producer of Broadway’s “Celebrity Autobiography,” the comedic sensation currently delighting audiences once again after its original Drama Deskwinning run in 2008.
The show, created by Eugene Pack, takes passages from celebrity memoirs and transforms them into a live comedy event performed by well-known actors. For Fraboni, the appeal of the production has remained remarkably consistent since he first became involved. “Laughter,” he says when asked why the show continues to resonate.
“Everyone needs something to laugh at and just enjoy where you don’t have to think very hard. It’s easy laughter. We’re not making fun of people; we’re just reading this banal dialogue that people write in their autobiographies.”
That spirit of spontaneity has helped make “Celebrity Autobiography” a unique theatrical experience. Unlike most productions, the cast has little rehearsal time together before stepping onstage.
“The actors are cracking each other up as much as they’re cracking up the audience,” Fraboni says. “The greatest thing about the show is the rawness of it and these celebrities being human on stage with each other. It’s glorious.”
Fraboni has been involved with the production since its early years, serving as both producer and general manager before focusing exclusively on producing. He has helped bring the show to audiences across the United States and around the world, while continuing to oversee one of its most challenging components: casting. While the rotating cast has already featured the likes of Katie Couric, Rita Wilson, Keenan Thompson, and Tony Shalhoub, it also has an especially strong Long Island connection, featuring local entertainment icons such as Alan Zweibel, Susan Lucci, Ralph Macchio, and Ray Romano. Pack and co-producer
Douglas Denoff are also from the area.
While Fraboni’s current work places him at the center of Broadway and Off-Broadway productions, his path to producing began far from New York. Raised in a mining town in northern Minnesota, he started ballet lessons at age six alongside his twin brother.
“I was really into sports,” he recalls. “My mom and dad said, ‘Why don’t you take ballet? It will help with your athleticism.’”
What began as an extracurricular activity soon became a career. After high school, Fraboni joined a ballet company and performed professionally for five years. A chance audition for “West Side Story” during an off-season changed everything. The opportunity introduced him to acclaimed choreographer and director Jerry Mitchell, who cast Fraboni in six of his first seven productions. The experience ultimately led to his Broadway debut in “Cats” and opened doors throughout the industry.
As a performer, Fraboni developed a habit that would later serve him well as a producer and artistic leader.
“I would listen and watch,” he says. “I wanted to hear what the directors and choreographers were saying. I was very tuned in to what was going on.”
Eventually, curiosity about the creative process led him offstage and into producing. The transition revealed a side of theater audiences rarely see.
“As a performer, you show up to the theater do your job, and get your paycheck,” he says. “As a producer, you’re working constantly for months and months, sometimes years. Your job is never done.”
That commitment to building opportunities for others became the foundation of his work at Molloy University. Fraboni’s connection to the institution dates back more than two decades, when he helped bring Broadway legend Carol Channing to campus for a gala performance. There, he met then-president Drew Bogner, who shared plans to build a theater. One decade later, Fraboni received a call encouraging him to apply for the artistic director position at the newly constructed Madison Theatre.
“It was still a shell,” he remembers. “I was instrumental in how they built the infrastructure.”
Over the next 15 years, Fraboni transformed the Rockville Centre venue into a regional performing arts center featuring Broadway-caliber productions, symphony performances, international artists, jazz concerts, and educational opportunities. He also played a key role in bringing the renowned CAP21 musical theater program to Molloy, creating new pathways for aspiring performers.
“The idea was to make it an arts center with a variety of art,” he says. “I wanted it to be a regional theatre and performing arts center, but also give the students the opportunity to grow and perform with professionals.”
Despite balancing productions at Molloy with responsibilities on “Celebrity Autobiography,” Fraboni says the rewards make the long hours worthwhile.
“The joys are the audiences laughing and enjoying what we do,” he says. “We create what we think will be the best thing possible for our audiences to see, and the payoff is when they enjoy it.”
Whether producing a Broadway comedy, mentoring students at Molloy, or developing new artistic opportunities on Long Island, Fraboni remains committed to the idea that theater is ultimately about people coming together.
“There’s nothing like going to the theater, laughing with people, and experiencing a journey,” he says. “Everybody is emotionally affected differently by a show. That’s inspiring to me.”
Visit celebrityautobiography.com for more information or to purchase tickets.
A familiar favorite returns to a legendary stage as Dion takes the spotlight for a concert honoring Westbury Music Fair’s 70th anniversary. The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, whose history with the iconic venue spans decades, is returning to live performance after stepping back from regular touring in recent years. While he has been largely absent from the concert circuit, Dion has remained remarkably productive, releasing new music and books while continuing to earn acclaim for his blues recordings. In the past two years alone, he released The Rock and Roll Philosopher along with a companion book, further showcasing the creativity that has defined a career spanning more than six decades. His recent blues albums have topped the Billboard Blues chart, introducing his work to new audiences while reaffirming his place among America’s enduring musical voices. Best known for classic hits such as “Runaround Sue,” “The Wanderer,” and “Ruby Baby,” Dion continues to evolve as an artist well into his 80s.
Saturday, June 20, 8 p.m. Flagstar at Westbury Music Fair, 960 Brush Hollow Road, Westbury. Tickets available at LiveNation.com.
Tosh
Get ready for an evening of sharp observations and quick-fire punchlines that are Daniel Tosh’s signature irreverent style when he brings My First Farewell Tour to he Paramount stage. Acclaimed for his quick wit and deadpan delivery, he’s built a devoted following through both stand-up and television. After graduating from the University of Central Florida with a degree in marketing, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue comedy full-time. His career gained national attention following a standout appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman in 2001, leading to appearances Comedy Central Presents, Premium Blend and The Tonight Show. Tosh became a household name as the creator and host of Tosh.0, the longrunning Comedy Central hit that paired viral internet videos with his trademark commentary and satirical take on pop culture.
Tuesday, June 23, 7 and 9:30 p.m. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington.
Jun
Celebration
Eisenhower Summer Concert Series continues with an Earth Wind & Fire Tribute by D’votion, a Gospel Choir and DRIFT featuring members of TAUK and MJT.
• Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Contact: (516) 572-0200
Jun
19
Toy Story 5 Watch Party Kiwanis of East Meadow hosts a “Toy Story 5” movie party. $20, includes popcorn and drink.
• Where: Bellmore Playhouse, 525 Bedford Ave.
• Time: 9:30 a.m. seating, moving begins at 10 a.m.
• Contact: EastMeadow Kiwanis.org
FIFA World Cup Watch Party
Soccer fans are invited to Eisenhower Park for Soccer In The Park, a free public watch party for the FIFA World Cup match between the United States and Australia. The viewing will feature a live match broadcast, giveaways, family-friendly activities, concessions and more. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets for outdoor viewing. Free parking is available, with Lots 6 and 6A closest to the venue. Free parking is available.
• Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow
• Time: 3 p.m.
• Contact: (516) 572-0200 TheIslandFC.com
Jun
20
East Meadow library hosts a defensive driving course. Improve driving skills and obtain insurance discounts. $40, $35 for those 62 and older.
• Where: 1886 Front St.
• Time: 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
• Contact: EastMeadow.info
Pinoy Festival
Get ready to celebrate all things Filipino at the Long Island Pinoy Festival.
Stavros Halkias’s The Dreamboat Tour hits the Paramount stage. He delivers the sharp observations, self-deprecating humor and quick wit that have made him one of comedy’s fastest-rising stars. Originally from Baltimore and now based in New York City, Halkias recently wrote, produced and starred in the independent comedy Let’s Start a Cult. His latest standup special, Fat Rascal, is streaming on Netflix, following the success of his debut special, Live at the Lodge Room, which attracted millions of viewers online. Beyond the stage, Halkias hosts the hit podcast Stavvy’s World, which quickly climbed the comedy charts and built a devoted following. He also stars in the Netflix comedy series Tires and is set to appear in A24’s Tony, inspired by the life of Anthony Bourdain. Known for his candid storytelling and relatable humor, Halkias has built a loyal fan base through stand-up, podcasting and acting. He has also been featured in Steven Soderbergh’s sci-fi series Command Z. Outside of comedy, he made his runway debut at KidSuper’s Paris Fashion Week show in 2023, earning Vogue’s nod as “the plus-est of plus-size models.” His ultimate dream? Get just famous enough to buy his mother a nice home — then retire from show business to open a surf-and-turf restaurant in East Baltimore.
22
with The Chiclettes
Eisenhower Summer Concert Series welcomes The Chiclettes and Vinnie Medugno. Celebrate the remarkable women who reigned supreme on the charts! Gracie, Mikayla, and Jennie deliver an exceptional blend of female vocal groups and artists, spanning from the early rock ‘n roll and Motown eras to disco, R&B, ‘80s/90s pop and more. The Chiclettes are set to energize you as they celebrate the female artists who have graced the music scene from past to present.
• Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow
• Time: 6 p.m.
• Contact: (516) 572-0200
Jun 23
Harmonize with Long Island Harmonizers
audiences at libraries, assisted living facilities, hospitals, and local events. All are welcome to visit one of their weekly rehearsals. Come listen, meet the chorus, and — if you’d like — join in and sing. No musical experience is necessary, just a love of singing and a desire to have fun making music together.
• Where: Faith Lutheran Church, 231 Jackson Ave, Syosset
• Time: Tuesdays, 7:30-9:30 p.m.
• Contact: Call: Rich, (516) 521-4779, or Dennis, (516) 680-8036, or visit longislandharmonizers.org
• Where: The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com
ages 5+. | $24 per child (includes admission, guided tour, and LEGO kit). $22 per adult (includes admission and guided tour), with member discount. Registration required.
• Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury
• Time: 4:30-5:30 p.m.
• Contact: oldwestburygardens. org or call (516) 333-0048
Jun
26
27 Defensive Driving Course
• Where: 1660 Front St., East Meadow
• Time: 5 p.m.-12 a.m.
Love to sing? So do the Long Island Harmonizers. The chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society is a chorus of more than 20 singers, now welcoming new members. The ensemble performs fourpart a cappella harmony in the barbershop style, entertaining
Jun
25
Brick Builders: Build Something Wild Old Westbury Gardens welcomes families to spend an afternoon exploring, building and creating together! Brick Builders invites children and their grownups to enjoy building a LEGO Creator 3-in-1 Tropical Toucan. The program begins at the beech tree and includes a guided walk through some of the featured exhibit Sean Kenney’s Nature Connects made with LEGO bricks. After the tour, head to the Barn at Orchard Hill to build a LEGO kit to take home For
Theatre, East Meadow
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Contact: (516) 572-0200
Jun
28
‘Yeoman of the Guard’ The Gilbert & Sullivan Light Opera Company stages “Yeoman of the Guard.” The romantic tale unfolds in the Tower of London during the reign of Henry VIII, blending romance, humor and drama. The story follows Colonel Fairfax, unjustly condemned, who escapes execution moments after secretly marrying Elsie Maynard, leaving her torn between love and loyalty as danger closes in. Long a favorite of the Gilbert & Sullivan repertoire, The Yeomen of the Guard features some of W.S. Gilbert’s most beautiful lyrics, paired with Arthur Sullivan’s sweeping, romantic music. Its songs include the yearning “I Have a Song to Sing, O,” the bouncy patter song “A Private Buffoon Is a Light-Hearted Loon,” the ravishingly beautiful quartet “Strange Adventure,” the lyrical “Is Life a Boon?” and the comical “Hereupon We’re Both Agreed.”
• Where: Madison Theatre, Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre
• Time: 3 p.m.
• Contact: madisontheatreny. org or (516) 323-4444
Rock on with reggae Reggae is the vibe at Eisenhower Park. The concert series continues with Inner Circle, Wayne Wonder and IRIEspect.
• Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow
Rockin’ with The Almost Brothers Band Rock on during the Eisenhower Summer Concert Series. Enjoy an Allman Brothers tribute with ABB and Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute with Sons of Skynyrd.
• Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Contact: (516) 572-0200
Jun
Freestyle Meets Salsa
Get in the groove at Eisenhower Park with Brenda K. Starr, Tito Puente JR., TKA/ K7, Joey Cruz, La Sonora 495 and Forever Freestyle Band.
• Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Contact: (516) 572-0200
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.
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT
COUNTY OF NASSAU, GITSIT SOLUTIONS, LLC, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY IN ITS CAPACITY AS SEPARATE TRUSTEE OF GITSIT MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST BBPC1, Plaintiff, vs. UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES OF THE ESTATE OF MARIAN B. MARIN0 A/K/A MARION B. MARINO, ET AL., Defendant(s).
Pursuant to an Order
Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on April 15, 2026, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on July 2, 2026 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 2228 1st Street, East Meadow, NY 11554. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at East Meadow, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 50, Block 213 and Lots 10, 11, 12, and 13. Approximate amount of judgment is $776,344.00 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #601775/2025.
Linda S. Agnew, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 242972-2 160435
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT
COUNTY OF NASSAU, PEAK GARDEN
WESTBURY TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. DEIJH, INC., ET AL., Defendant(s).
Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on January 7, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on July 1, 2026 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 195 Garden Street, Westbury, NY 11590.
All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Westbury (outside the Incorporated Village) in the Town of North Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 11, Block 503 and Lot 25. Approximate amount of judgment is $627,379.58 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #607687/2023. Brian Carmody, Esq., Referee
Vallely Mitola Ryan PLLC, 6851 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 165, Syosset, New York 11791, Attorneys for Plaintiff 160429
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT
NASSAU COUNTY ATCF II NEW YORK LLC, Plaintiff against GREGORY GIORGIO, et al Defendant(s) Attorney for Plaintiff(s) Hersko & Ehrenreich P.C., 555 Willow Avenue, Cedarhurst, NY 11516, (516) 942-4216. Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered February 26, 2026, I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on July 14, 2026 at 2:00PM. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being, and identified on the land and tax map of the County of Nassau in the State of New York. Premises known as 1482 Dieman Ln., East Meadow, NY 11554. Sec 50 Block 585 Lot 2. Approximate Amount of Judgment is $25,515.10 plus interest, fees, and costs and attorney fees. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 608316/2024. The foreclosure sale will be conducted in accordance with 10th Judicial District’s Covid-19 Policies and foreclosure auction rules. The Referee shall enforce any rules in place regarding facial coverings and social distancing. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained
or there are other health or safety concerns, then the Court Appointed Referee shall cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”
Howard Colton, Esq., Referee File # 21-3992 160688
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD
LOCAL LAW NO. 54-2026
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 9th day of June 2026, by the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead, on the proposed adoption of Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 54-2026, and following the close of the hearing the Town Board duly adopted Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 54-2026, to amend Section 197-5 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, to include “ARTERIAL STOPS” at various locations. Dated: June 9, 2026 Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD
JOHN FERRETTI Supervisor
KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 160793
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and Municipal Home Rule of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing will be held in the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on the 23rd day of June 2026, at 10:30 o’clock in the forenoon of that day to consider the enactment of a local law to amend Section 202-1 of the code of the Town of Hempstead to INCLUDE “PARKING OR STANDING PROHIBITIONS” at the following location(s): EAST MEADOW TAYLOR AVENUE (TH
199/26) West SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the south curbline of Andrew Avenue, south for a distance of 30 feet.
TAYLOR AVENUE (TH 199/26) West SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the north curbline of Andrew Avenue, north for a distance of 30 feet.
TAYLOR AVENUE (TH 199/26) West SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the south curbline of Cedar Street, south for a distance of 30 feet.
TAYLOR AVENUE (TH 199/26) West SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the north curbline of Cedar Street, north for a distance of 30 feet.
(NR) EAST ROCKAWAY
LAWRENCE STREET (TH 204/26) North SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at the east curbline of Rhame Avenue, east for a distance of 31 feet.
RHAME AVENUE (TH 204/26) East SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at the north curbline of Lawrence Street, north for a distance of 35 feet.
SEAFORD
BAYVIEW STREET (TH 191/26) South SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the west curbline of Ocean Avenue, west for a distance of 38 feet.
ALSO, to REPEAL from Section 202-1 “PARKING OR STANDING PROHIBITIONS” from the following location(s):
WEST HEMPSTEAD GREENWAY SOUTH (TH 75/26) West SideNO PARKING EXCEPT SUNDAYS - starting at a point 10 feet south of the south curbline of Greenway East, south for a distance of 185 feet. (Adopted 4/14/26)
ALL PERSONS INTERESTED shall have an opportunity to be heard on said proposal at the time and place aforesaid.
Dated: June 9, 2026
Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD JOHN FERRETTI
A 70-year-old was struck by a vehicle and killed last month, according to Nassau County police, on Hempstead Turnpike near Franklin Avenue.
The Homicide Squad is investigating a fatal pedestrian crash that occurred in East Meadow last month.
The investigation is ongoing.
Police identified the victim as Robert McAteer, 70, of West Islip.
–Jordan Vallone
According to detectives, a 70-yearold man was crossing Hempstead Turnpike near Franklin Avenue when he was struck by a 2014 Toyota Camry operated by a 70-year-old Hempstead woman. The pedestrian was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead by a hospital physician. The driver remained at the scene.
Supervisor KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 160798
LEGAL NOTICE Request for Proposal RFP#2025/26-12Graphic Design Services
The Westbury Union Free School District, Town of North Hempstead, County of Nassau hereby invites the submission of sealed proposals from reputable and qualified companies for: Graphic Design Services. The district will receive sealed proposals on or prior to 10:00 AM on Friday, June 26, 2026, at the Business Office, 2 Hitchcock Lane, Old Westbury, New York 11568. Proposals will be opened on the date stated. Proposals received after the stated date and time will be returned to the sender unopened. Request for Proposals (RFP) may be obtained on or after June 18, 2026, on the District’s website, www.westburyschools. org. Click Menu, Departments, Finance & Operations, Request for Proposal, Graphic Design Services. If you have any difficulty obtaining the RFP from the District’s website, please email Mr. Robert Stein at rstein@westburyschool s.org.
Proposals must be submitted in a sealed envelope plainly marked on the outside: RFP#2025/26-12 Graphic Design Services.
The Board of Education reserves the right to waive any informality in the proposal or to reject any and all proposals, or to accept any proposal which in the opinion of the Board of Education will be in the best interest of the School District. The District reserves the right to consider all relevant reasonable criteria in selecting the successful proposal. No proposer shall have any legal, equitable or contractual rights of any kind arising out of its submission of a proposal.
Westbury UFSD District Clerk, Beverly Cathnott June 18, 2026 160713
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BY THE BOARD OF APPEALS
Pursuant to New York State Town Law Article 16, New York State Public Officers Law Article 7, and the Town of Hempstead Building Zone Ordinance, NOTICE is hereby given that the BOARD OF APPEALS of the Town of Hempstead will hold a public hearing in the
Town Meeting Pavilion, Town Hall Plaza, One Washington Street, Hempstead, New York on 07/01/2026 at 9:30
A.M. & 2:00 P.M. to consider the following applications and appeals:
THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 9:30
A.M.
347/26. EAST MEADOW - CVS Albany LLC, Renewal of grant to maintain one double-faced, illuminated, detached ground sign; overall height 18’., N/W cor. Hempstead Tpke. & Newbridge Rd., a/k/a 2419 Hempstead Tpke. 361/26. EAST MEADOW - Ting An Zheng, Special exception to maintain 2nd accessory structure (shed) higher than permitted & exceeding horizontal maximum with less than required side & rear yard setbacks., N/W cor. Putnam Dr. & Stuyvesant Ave., a/k/a 2500 Putnam Dr. THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 2:00 P.M.
369/26. - 370/26. EAST MEADOW - Shiny Jacob & Sinu Varughese, Variance, rear yard, maintain breezeway converted to living space connecting garage to dwelling; Maintain shed with less
than required rear & side yard setbacks., S/E cor. Andrew Ave. & 7th Ave., a/k/a 359 Andrew Ave. ALL PAPERS PERTAINING TO THE ABOVE HEARING ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT THE BOARD OF APPEALS, TOWN HALL, 1 WASHINGTON STREET, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550. This notice is only for new cases in East Meadow within Town of Hempstead jurisdiction. There are additional cases in different hamlets, towns and villages on the Board of Appeals calendar. The full calendar is available at https://hempsteadny.go v/509/Board-of-Appeals The internet address of the website streaming for this meeting is https://hempsteadny.go v/576/Live-StreamingVideo
Interested parties may appear at the above time and place. At the call of the Chairman, the Board will consider decisions on the foregoing and those on the Reserve Decision calendar and such other matters as may properly come before it.
160785
Help Wanted
Assistant
$21 per hour Night Availability is a Must. Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239
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
MEDIA ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT
Sales Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing
To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5 • To place an ad call 516-569-4000
Welcome to this beautifully maintained expanded Cape in the Salisbury section of Westbury in the East Meadow school district. Offering 4-5 bedrooms and a versatile floor plan, this home is perfectly suited for today's lifestyle. The updated kitchen flows seamlessly into the comfortable living spaces, including a spacious living room and formal dining room. A striking double-sided wood-burning fireplace adds warmth and character, creating an inviting atmosphere throughout the main living areas. The first floor offers exceptional flexibility, featuring a bedroom, a den that can easily serve as a fifth bedroom, home office,
Ideally located in the highly sought-after Salisbury section of Westbury, this home offers convenient access to Bowling Green Elementary School, W.T. Clarke High School, Eisenhower Park, shopping destinations, restaurants, and all major highways. A wonderful opportunity to own a spacious, well-appointed home in one of Westbury's most desirable neighborhoods. Don't miss the chance to make this exceptional property your own.
Scott Wallace, Realtor Real Estate Salesperson Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty 102 Seventh Street Garden City, NY 11530
516.521.4065 mobile 516.248.6655 office Scottwallace@danielgale.com
Pinelawn Memorial Park
2 Cemetery Plots For Sale Plot M Grave 222 Range 26, Block 6, Section 40 $2,500.00 Each Total Real Value $8,000 615-444-3175 or 615-609-0332 Harrywatkins@yahoo.com
Q. I’m putting in a pool, and have to raise the property on the side closest to my property line by about 18 inches. I see that my permit shows I can’t go over 6 feet for the fence. What I want to do is build a wall along the property line using the concrete interlocking blocks that are made for this, and I remember from a previous column you wrote that the wall also needs a permit. Am I going to have problems getting the fence and wall approved, because the company that makes the blocks shows that they go right onto compacted gravel and not the concrete foundation you wrote about? Also, the fence will be 6 feet tall on my side, but at least 7 feet 6 inches on my neighbor’s side. Is that going to be a problem? I want to do this right away, so I can enjoy the pool this summer. Should I just do it and see what an inspector says, if anything?
A. You have given this a lot of thought. I will answer each question as well as possible. The reason for my doubt is that communities have differing opinions, and even inspectors have differing views. The real problem is that until, and sometimes even after, you get a final sign-off, anything that wasn’t documented on the plans is fair game for nullifying the approval, requiring refiling for a new permit.
The block wall can only go on a compacted gravel bed if the ground is stable — not in a flood plain or previously reclaimed land, such as in a neighborhood that was once marshland — and if the gravel bed reaches a 90 percent compaction level, according to manufacturers. This compaction is achieved only by using heavy equipment and extreme force, so if you plan to shovel it in and tamp it down, think twice. Fortunately, the wall movement will be hardly noticeable unless sections sag from the weight of the block and the horizontal shifting of the earth, which mainly occur with the help of water buildup and extremes like the weeks of below-freezing weather a few months ago that most people have already forgotten.
The fence height is another mixed bag of opinions. I’ve had to appear for clients at zoning hearings because of just such circumstances, where there was a problem achieving the 6-foot height and the uneven land dilemma. In other, similar circumstances, another inspector in the same jurisdiction said not to bother and passed the approval without the need to go through the hearing process. I believe that good fences make good neighbors, as Robert Frost wrote. The height issue should only come into play when a neighbor is harmed or potentially harmed by the height, such as if the fence blocks sunlight.
I can never recommend building something without approvals, as a licensed professional, but I am seeing more often that people hate the word “permit.” Good luck!
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.
SAVE
We Buy Antiques, Fine Art, Coins & Jewelry
Same Day Service, Free In-Home Evaluations, 45 Year Family Business. Licensed and Bonded, Immediate Cash Paid. SYL-LEE ANTIQUES www.syl-leeantiques.com 516-671-6464 Wanted To Buy
Costume Jewelry Wanted Necklaces, Earrings, Bracelets & Rings. Also Buying Gold & Silver. $$ CASH PAID $$ 631-500-0792 Long Island / Will Travel FINDS UNDER $100
Finds Under $100
BABY'S CHANGE TABLE. Gently used, white, 3 drawers. $15. Lido Beach. (516)705-9398
Finds Under $100
BASKETBALL HOOP REGULATION size, portable $20 text/ call Michele (516) 287-7027
CEDAR RABBIT HUTCH: Formica lined clean-out drawers, Casters, 54" X 24", Solid construction. $35. 516-343-4010
FOOD NETWORK (BRAND) countertop convection oven with rotisserie, never used!!! $95. Call 516 502 5699
GRACO STROLLER, MODES bassinet LX, Click Connect, 3 in one, excellent, instructions included, $60, 516-884-9994.
HANDICAPPED DELUXE SPORT
Hand-Held Portable GPS Unit for Hikers, Hunters, Bikers, etc. New! $50. 516-486-7941
HANDICAPPED FORTUNOFF'S OUTDOOR Store Patio Table. 5'x7' Glass Top, Cast Aluminum Frame. Mint. $100 516-486-7941
ROCKING CHAIR WHITE paint, text for picture, $25, 516-884-9994.
WALKER, ALUMINUM LIGHTWEIGHT
ProBasics w/ wheels, two button, original packaging never used $25. 516-781-8313
APPLIANCE DOCTOR FOR ALL YOUR APPLIANCE REPAIRS! Prompt, Reasonable, Reliable. All Repairs Guaranteed. Lic/Ins. Serving Community 45 Years. $10 OFF Repairs. Seniors $12 OFF. 516-764-7011
THE APPLIANCE KING: Washers, Dryers, Dishwashers, Microwaves, Stoves, Refrigerators. WE RULE REPAIR ! $10 Off Repair With Ad. Senior Discount. Lic/Ins #201025, Call 516.640.8593
Get DISH Satellite TV + Internet! Free Install, Free HD-DVR Upgrade, 80,000 OnDemand Movies, Plus Limited Time Up To $600 In Gift Cards. Call Today! 1-866-782-4069
Cleaning Services
WENDY'S CLEANING SERVICES INC.
Commercial/Residential. We Specialize In Houses, Apartments, Offices, Airbnb & More. Good References. Free Estimates. Call/Text Wendy 516-406-5375 Or Email wencruzpa@gmail.com
Electricians
E-Z ELECTRIC SERVICES, INC.
All Types Residential/Commercial Wiring, Generators, Telephone/Data, Home Entertainment, Service Upgrades, Pools, Spas. Services/Repairs. Violations Removed. Free Estimates Low Rates. 516-785-0646 Lic/Ins.
PAINTING
Tired of calling a contractor & they don't call back? I will call you back the same day! 917-822-0225 Ricky Specializing in carpentry, bathrooms, kitchens, sheetrock, flooring, electric, plumbing. Over 25 yrs exp.Lic/Ins H3805150000
AGING ROOF? NEW HOMEOWNER?
STORM DAMAGE? You need a local expert provider that proudly stands behind their work. Fast, free estimate. Financing available. Call 1-877-318-7982
BEAUTIFUL BATH UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Superior quality bath and shower systems at AFFORDABLE PRICES! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Call Now! 1-877-271-0003
DO YOU KNOW what's in your water? Leaf Home Water Solutions offers FREE water testing and whole home water treatment systems that can be installed in as little one day. 15% off your entire purchase. Plus 10% senior & military discounts. Restrictions apply. Schedule your FREE test today. Call 1-866-247-5728
PREPARE FOR POWER outages today with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 5-Year warranty with qualifying purchase. Call 1-877-516-1160 today to schedule a free quote. It's not just a generator. It's a power move.
PREPARE FOR POWER outages with Briggs & Stratton® PowerProtect(TM) standby generators - the most powerful home standby generators available. Industry-leading comprehensive warranty - 7 years ($849 value.) Proudly made in the U.S.A. Call Briggs & Stratton 1-888-605-1496
SAFE STEP. NORTH America's #1 WalkIn Tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-the-line installation and service. Now featuring our FREE shower package and $1600 Off for a limited time! Call today! Financing available. Call Safe Step 1-855-916-5473
Miscellaneous
GET BOOST INFINITE! Unlimited Talk, Text and Data For Just $25/mo! The Power Of 3 5G Networks, One Low Price! Call Today and Get The Latest iPhone Every Year On Us! 844-329-9391
Power Washing
POWERWASHING ALL SURFACES: Houses, Fences, Concrete/ Brick, Decks/Sealing. ANTHONY & J HOME IMPROVEMENT, INC. 516-678-6641
Services
PEST CONTROL: PROTECT YOUR HOME from pests safely and affordably. Roaches, Bed Bugs, Rodent, Termite, Spiders and other pests. Locally owned and affordable. Call for service or an inspection today! 1-877-290-0023 Have zip code of property ready when calling!
Telephone Services
CONSUMER CELLULAR - the same reliable, nationwide coverage as the largest carriers. No long-term contract, no hidden fees and activation is free. All plans feature unlimited talk and text, starting at just $20/month. For more information, call 1-844-919-1682
Tree Services
T&M GREENCARE TREE SERVICE *TREE REMOVAL *STUMP GRINDING *PRUNING. FREE ESTIMATES. 516-223-4525, 631-586-3800 www.tmgreencare.com
Satellite/TV Equipment
DIRECTV- All your entertainment. Nothing on your roof! Sign up for Directv and get your first three months of Max, Paramount+, Showtime, Starz, MGM+ and Cinemax included. Choice package $84.99/mo. Some restrictions apply. Call DIRECTV 1-888-534-6918
Health & Fitness
ATTENTION OXYGEN THERAPY USERS! Discover Oxygen Therapy That Moves with You with Inogen Portable Oxygen Concentrators. FREE information kit. Call 1-877-536-0251
ATTENTION: VIAGRA AND CIALIS USERS! A cheaper alternative to high drugstore prices! 50 Pill Special - Only $99! 100% guaranteed. CALL NOW: 1-877-468-3979
Internet Services
AFFORDABLE TV & INTERNET. If you are overpaying for your service, call now for a free quote and see how much you can save! 1-877-461-0663
Legal Services
INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT? Don't Accept the insurance company's first offer. Many injured parties are entitled to major cash settlements. Get a
sometime around May, something shifts for Long Island parents. One morning you glance at your phone and realize that between now and the last day of school, you’re expected to attend a spring fling, coordinate field day gear, buy a prom corsage, RSVP to three birthday parties, survive finals week alongside a teenager who sleeps until 2 p.m. — or a toddler who wakes up at 2 a.m. — label 14 pairs of camp socks with permanent marker, and, somewhere in there, actually exhale. As a mom of two and as someone who works alongside Long Island families every day, I want to say plainly: This is a lot. Joy stacked on top of more joy, on top of logistics, on top of a full-time job and dinner and everything else — that’s not a celebration. That’s a stress response in a party hat.
Parental stress doesn’t stay tucked inside. It moves through families. The short-tempered answer at dinner, the
argument over a permission slip, the exhaustion that makes it hard to be present for the moments you’ve been looking forward to — these are the quiet consequences of end-ofyear overwhelm. And yet we’ve normalized it to the point where parents feel guilty for being overwhelmed.
parental stress doesn’t stay tucked inside. It moves through families.
That’s why the EAC Network’s Long Island Parenting Institute exists. LIPI has been offering free and low-cost workshops and classes to parents across Nassau and Suffolk counties for years — practical, judgment-free spaces to build skills, find community, and be reminded that the village is still out there. You just sometimes need an invitation. Last year, LIPI served nearly 750 parents across the region.
Its programming director, Kathryn Cannino, helps oversee programs on positive parenting, child development and strengthening family relationships. Asked about parents feeling stress this time of year, Cannino’s response was, “End-of-year stress is real, but parents don’t have to push through it alone, or perfectly. The families we work with often find that turning point is treating
Tthemselves with the same compassion they offer their loved ones — recognizing burnout is a signal to slow down and ask for support. Reaching out for support is a strength, and it also helps build the kind of connected village and supportive community that so many parents are longing for.”
So if you’re not the one managing the balancing act right now, look around. Someone near you probably is. Here are three simple ways to support parents in your community this season.
1. Be specific when you offer to help. “Let me know if you need anything” is easy to say, and almost impossible to act on. Instead, try, “I’m picking up dinner Friday — I’ll grab extra for you,” or “I can take the kids to Field Day.” Specific offers get accepted. Vague ones get politely declined by people who are too tired to ask.
2. Check in on the parent who seems like they’ve got it together. They don’t. At least not entirely. The parent who shows up at every event with snacks and a smile is often running on fumes by 9 p.m. Texting, “How are you actual-
ly doing?” can mean more than you know.
3. Say the quiet part out loud. We love our kids, and will do anything for them — but that doesn’t mean we have to do everything all the time, or that we have to do it silently and alone. When one parent names the overwhelm, others feel less alone in it. You don’t need to fix anything. Just being willing to say, “This time of year is genuinely hard” is a gift.
The LIPI team and community may be one of the best-kept secrets on Long Island, but the programs they offer are open to all. If you’re looking for your village, consider joining us for the sixweek Common Sense Parenting workshop series in July. Learn more and register at eac-network.org/li-parentinginstitute.
The end of the school year is supposed to feel celebratory — and it can, once we stop pretending the sprint to get there is effortless. So hang in there. Check on your people. Go to the concert. Cry a little at graduation. And when you’re ready to come up for air, we’ll be here.
Neela Mukherjee Lockel is president and chief executive officer of EAC Network and a Long Island mother of two.
here are a number of ways to frighten a politician. I could recite a few, but there’s nothing more frightening then telling an elected official that “‘60 Minutes’ wants to talk to you.” For almost 60 years, the show has been more than a television program. It is one of the few that has held powerful corporations, governments and individuals to account for their conduct. Like it or not, “60 Minutes” has been the conscience of the nation.
During its time on our television screens, the show has exposed the tobacco industry’s lies, the failures of the Veterans Administration and the abuses of Wall Street, to name just a few of its in-depth investigations. It has done so week after week, in prime time, watched by millions of Americans who might never have read an investigative newspaper series but would sit down on a Sunday night and absorb a piece of journalism that changed what they knew, and sometimes what the country knew.
That institution, in any meaningful sense, is now gone. What has taken place over the past year is a cautionary tale about what happens when corporate fear meets political intimidation and what is lost when the two converge.
The chain of events that got us here started in April 2025, when Bill Owens resigned at executive producer of “60 Minutes.” He was only the third person to hold that job in 57 years. That was followed by the resignation of CBS President Wendy McMahon.
W hy all the drama at ‘60 Minutes’ matters beyond the television industry.
The reason for both departures was that Paramount, the parent company of CBS, was seeking federal approval for its merger with Skydance Media. The Trump administration had leverage over the deal, and it was clear that it was prepared to use it. Then CBS settled a lawsuit with the president with a payment of $16 million. The optics should have been a tipoff of what was yet to come.
What happened next confirmed everyone’s worst fears. Bari Weiss became editor in chief of CBS News, installed by the new owners. While Weiss is a competent writer, she knew nothing about television news. Last
month she fired veteran “60 Minutes” correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega, the first Latina correspondent in the show’s history. That was followed by numerous other layoffs of longtime staffers. It’s worth noting that, months earlier, Weiss pulled a segment off the air that dealt with Trump administration deportees held in a Salvadoran prison. It eventually ran, but that sent another signal.
The final touch in the dismantling of a journalistic institution was the firing of Scott Pelley, who helped make “60 Minutes” what it was. Pelly is the modern-day version of what Walter Cronkite was in his time, and the loss of his voice is a loss for all of us who believe in investigative journalism.
So why does this matter beyond the television industry? Investigative journalism is a mechanism by which citizens of a democracy learn what their government and their corporations are actually doing, as opposed to what they are told they’re doing.
What do weekly newspapers have to do with this type of reporting? Willamette Week, the Village Voice and the Riverdale Press are just a few of the
weeklies that have won Pulitzer Prizes. Consider what happens when a weekly newspaper is sold. If a new owner has different priorities, different allegiances or a fear of generating controversy, it’s the beginning of the end of fair coverage for their readership. When a new owner takes over, the staff remains for a time. The nameplate stays the same, but the readers may sense the change before they can articulate it.
Identity and credibility aren’t assets that appear on a balance sheet, but they are one of the most fragile assets a paper possesses. You might have noticed that the Herald has both Republican Peter King and Democrat Jerry Kremer as columnists. That’s because the owner values all opinions.
The dismantling of “60 Minutes” because of political pressure and corporate self-interest is a message to newsrooms all over America. It is a reminder that the public can’t afford to ignore what takes place before their eyes. We need good and honest journalism, and should be supportive of those who practice it.
Jerry Kremer was a state assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. He currently chairs the Capitol Insight Group, a government relations firm. Comments? jkremer@liherald.com.
Established
every election cycle brings a familiar refrain: “This is the most important election of our lifetime.” The phrase is often overused, but the underlying message remains true. Democracy only works when citizens participate, and that participation begins long before Election Day in November.
For New Yorkers, that opportunity starts with next Tuesday’s primary election, which determines which candidates represent each political party on the ballot in November’s general election.
Too often, primary elections are overlooked. Turnout is routinely far lower than in general elections, even though primaries frequently determine who will ultimately hold office.
In many districts, particularly those dominated by one political party, the primary is effectively the most competitive election voters will see. Yet thousands of eligible voters stay home, leaving crucial decisions in the hands of a small fraction of the electorate.
Voting is more than a civic duty; it is one of the few opportunities citizens have to directly influence the direction of their communities, states and nation. The issues debated during campaigns — taxes, public safety, education, transportation, housing affordability, health care, environmental policy and economic development — impact residents every day. Whether voters are satisfied with current leadership or eager for change, the ballot box remains the most powerful tool available to make their voices heard.
The 2026 election cycle will determine control of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, institutions that shape federal policy on everything from spending and taxation to national security and judicial appointments. Midterm elections have historically served as a
How to register to vote and find your polling place
Nassau County: Go to the Nassau County Board of Elections website: nassaucountyny.gov/Departments/BOE.
Suffolk County: Go to the Suffolk County Board of Elections website: suffolkcountyny.gov/Departments/BOE.
referendum on the direction of the country, and they often produce significant shifts in political power.
Yet those outcomes are frequently decided by a relatively small number of voters. Nationally, turnout in midterm elections, like 2026, is typically lower than during presidential years. That means individual votes carry even greater weight.
New York voters face an unusual circumstance. Due to a court ruling involving the state’s congressional district maps, several elected officials who only recently won office must once again make their cases to voters. As a result, some communities will see campaigns and races return to the ballot much sooner than expected.
Rather than viewing this as election fatigue, we hope that voters see it as an opportunity. Democracy is strengthened when elected officials remain accountable to the people they represent. Frequent elections require candidates to engage with constituents, explain their records and articulate their plans for the future. Those elections also give voters a chance to evaluate whether promises made during previous campaigns have
To the Editor:
Re Jerry Kremer’s column, “Much of what Ben Franklin said is being ignored,” in the June 4-10 issue: To use Franklin to compare the personal qualities of top officials then and now is very appropriate, for it points a way forward.
When Franklin connected the maintenance of the republic to the character of its members, he knew whereof he spoke. He was well studied in history, the qualities of his compatriots were well known to him, and he was fully experienced in the effort that went into the maintenance of “virtue.” His statements that “only a virtuous people are capable of freedom” and about the tendency of corruption to bring on “masters” were deadly serious advice about the kind of citizens necessary to “keep” the republic.
been fulfilled.
Congressional races often receive the most attention, but local and state elections — for Assembly members, village mayors, town council members, and more — can have an equally profound impact on daily life. Decisions made by state lawmakers influence school funding, transportation projects, environmental protections, public health initiatives and countless other issues that directly affect neighborhoods. The officials chosen this year will help shape policies and budgets that residents will live with for years to come.
Unfortunately, many Americans have become increasingly cynical about politics. Some believe their vote doesn’t matter. Others feel frustrated by partisan divisions or disappointed by the pace of change. Those feelings are understandable, but disengagement isn’t the answer. History repeatedly demonstrates that elections can be decided by razor-thin margins. A handful of votes can determine a local race. Every voter who participates increases the legitimacy of the democratic process and helps ensure that election results reflect the will of the broader community.
Next week’s primary should therefore be viewed as more than a procedural step on the path to November. It is the opening chapter of an election season that will help determine who represents us and what priorities those leaders pursue.
Voters should take the time now to learn about the candidates, understand the issues and confirm their registration status. They should familiarize themselves with polling locations, early voting opportunities and absentee ballot options if needed.
The road to November begins next Tuesday. The most important thing voters can do is show up and vote.
As the State Legislature wrapped up its 2026 session, New Yorkers were focused on the issues affecting their daily lives: skyrocketing utility bills, the rising cost of living, jobs and public safety.
Gov. Kathy Hochul and Albany Democrats were focused on something else entirely. Instead of addressing the affordability crisis facing hardworking New Yorkers, they spent valuable time advancing legislation to replace the words “mother” and “father” in state law with terms such as “gestating parent” and “nongestating parent.”
under one-party rule in Albany. For example, while rejecting my legislation that would have provided New York families the largest personal income tax cut in state history and put as much as $5,000 annually back in your pocket, Democrats instead made the time to further undermine non-partisan elections.
Senate Democrats also passed a bill requiring gender-neutral breastfeeding rights.
Parents aren’t asking Albany to redefine parenthood or biological reality. They’re asking for relief from the crushing cost of living driven by high taxes and bad policy. At the same time, the $277 billion state budget is over $20 billion more than last year and $110 billion higher than when Democrats took control. One-party rule continues to ignore you.
But bad policy and misplaced priorities have become a recurring theme
Franklin made for himself a chart of seven columns, one for each day of the week, and 13 rows listing the 13 virtues he considered important enough to track. He focused on one per week, and marked his shortfalls. “Tho’ I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of attaining,” he wrote, “but fell far short of it, yet I was, by the endeavor, a better and happier man than I otherwise should have been if I had not attempted it.”
Most citizens — and very few politicians — would be hard-pressed to even name 13 virtues, confused today with ideology. We know that George Washington had his own written selfguide, and self-improvement was a popular theme at the time, in line with efforts at improving society by improving the people. Citizens today should make their own list of virtues, make an honest attempt to abide by them, and insist on representatives who share the effort. Franklin’s words should be remembered, as should his efforts to attain virtue and thus be a good citizen of our republic.
Elections from parts of the referendum process and gave themselves control over ballot language. So be careful.
Bad policy has become a recurring theme under one-party rule.
In 2014, New Yorkers voted to create a bipartisan Independent Redistricting Commission to prevent politicians from drawing their own districts. In 2021, Democrats weakened that system. Now they’re trying again. In the closing days of the session, they passed a constitutional amendment that effectively guts the commission and returns control of congressional and legislative map-drawing to politicians, with the power to redraw lines whenever they choose. If they don’t like election results, they can change the maps.
For 250 years, voters have chosen their representatives. This flips that principle on its head. Republicans shouldn’t be exempt, either — if either party manipulates maps for political gain, it is wrong.
New Yorkers still get the final say. The amendment must pass the Legislature again next year before going to voters, likely in 2027. Separately, Democrats also removed the bipartisan Board of
The same pattern is evident in election policy. While rejecting voter ID legislation, Democrats passed automatic voter registration tied to Medicaid and DMV interactions unless individuals opt out. The problem is that they have given illegal immigrants and non-citizens the right to obtain Medicaid benefits and driver’s licenses. Unless they voluntarily disclose they are not entitled to vote … you can guess what happens. Your local bipartisan Board of Elections is again cut out of the process.
Public safety was another casualty. From cashless bail and parole changes to Raise the Age, Democrats have repeatedly advanced policies that weaken accountability. This session, they also moved legislation that limits cooperation among local, state and federal law enforcement, creating communication barriers that undermine public safety. The same communication failures that contributed to 9/11 are now codified into state law because Democrats care more about protecting illegal immigration than protecting New Yorkers. Our communities’ safety shouldn’t be the casualty of a partisan fight over immigration policy.
Energy policy followed the same pat-
tern. Democrats continued pushing costly mandates, including floating solar projects on lakes and reservoirs, despite concerns about recreation, tourism and environmental impacts. Meanwhile, New Yorkers already pay energy bills 70 percent higher than the national average. Republicans warned that the 2019 climate law would cause costs to skyrocket, and we were right. Even worse, Hochul’s own energy experts predict that annual utility costs for the average family will increase by as much as $4,100 by 2031.
We offered real solutions: returning over $2 billion in ratepayer funds, enacting a utility tax holiday, cutting state fees and surcharges, and increasing transparency so families can understand their bills.
After sustained pressure from Republicans, Democrats delayed their $20 billion electric school bus mandate. While that delay is a step, it does not remove the long-term costs. I will continue fighting to repeal the mandate and to rein in broader CLCPA policies that threaten affordability and reliability.
In short, this session showed a troubling reality. At a time when New Yorkers need affordability, stronger communities, and economic growth, one-party rule focused on itself. The lesson? In November, voters will have to change who is in charge of this state if you want to change its direction.
Steve Rhoads represents the 5th State Senate District.
