Living In East Meadow - 2023

Photo: Tim Baker Cover design: Jeffrey A. Negrin

We are pleased to present our annual Living in East Meadow, a special supplement to the East Meadow Herald.

Those of us who live here know East Meadow is a wonderful, diverse place. Our annual guide is a testament to its post-pandemic resurgence. Not only does it include vital information about East Meadow, but it also gives you a look at some of the people and places that represent the best of the community.

Think of Living in East Meadow as an “owner’s manual” for newcomers and longtime residents alike. As you’ll see in these pages, there’s an amazingly rich social fabric here. An abundance of services and organizations are available to residents. No matter what your interests, age, religion or needs, the community has much to offer.

East Meadow is home to one of Nassau County’s biggest attractions, Eisenhower Park. The sprawling oasis boasts a golf course, catering hall, lakeside theater, and so much more. Minutes away from East Meadow Avenue, the lifeblood of the town, you’ll always find people out and about in the park.

It would be impossible to discuss East Meadow without mentioning the structure that dominates its skyline: Nassau University Medical Center, the county’s safety hospital. The teaching hospital has a renowned burn center, stroke center, and a two-level health science library. 19-stories high, it is Nassau’s tallest building — a familiar Long Island landmark.

The town is well protected by the East Meadow Fire Department. The over 200-member force is there to serve the community — no matter what. You’ll find friends in the fire department, or maybe over at East Meadow Kiwanis, an excellent organization that is committed to bettering the community. Whether you attended East Meadow High School or W.T. Clarke High School, East Meadow is vibrant and welcoming — a place that you want to live and take care of.

Living in East Meadow is published in cooperation with the East Meadow Chamber of Commerce. We are honored to mark another year as the chamber's official publication.

We hope that you find this edition useful and informative, and that you enjoy reading the East Meadow Herald 52 weeks per year. Be well and be safe.

Stuart Richner Publisher

P.S. If you're not currently receiving the East Meadow Herald by mail each week, please help keep quality local journalism alive in your community by subscribing. See our ad on Page 18 for subscription information, or find us online at LIHerald.com/subscribe, or call (516) 569-4000, Ext. 7.

Editor

Jordan Vallone

Publisher

Stuart Richner

Vice President of Sales

Rhonda Glickman

Executive Editor

Michael Hinman

Deputy Editor Jeffrey Bessen

Features/ Special Sections Editor

Karen Bloom

Multi Media Marketing Consultants

Robert Cummings

Creative Director Designer Jeffrey Negrin

Stuart Richner

LON G ISLAN D MON TESSORI SCHOOL IS N OW ACCEPTIN G APPLICATIONS FOR FALL EN ROLLMEN T.

• Three Montessori-certified teachers

• Nursery, pre-kindergarten, kindergarten programs

• Emphasis on math and reading skills

• Music, art and science enrichment, including special projects

• Weekly Spanish instruction

• Affiliated with the American Montessori Society

Long Island Montessori

718 The Plain Rd., Westbury, NY 11590

Phone: 516-997-0250

Office hours: 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Email: longislandmontessori@gmail.com

Website: h p://www.longislandmontessori.com/ Facebook: h ps://www.facebook.com/LIMontessori

BRING YOUR VIALS IN, WE WILL HAVE YOUR PRESCRIPTIONS TRANSFERED

a message from the east meaDoW Chamber presiDent

Dear East Meadow Community:

The East Meadow Chamber of Commerce and all our members are proud to be part of Living In East Meadow, and part of the community.

The chamber's membership includes businesses, organizations and civic leaders who help, service and promote East Meadow.  We are celebrating our 69th year, and continue to grow.

We work together to improve our whole community. East Meadow and Salisbury are hamlets within the Town of Hempstead, and part of the East Meadow school district.  We help develop and maintain relationships, and act as a liaison between local businesses, various levels of government, and neighboring chambers.  In short, the East Meadow Chamber of Commerce strives to help businesses grow, and to create a business-friendly environment that ensures that our community will be a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family.

The chamber — with the help and guidance of state and local officials — helped created the East Meadow Town Square at TOH Veterans Memorial Park, which has become a gathering place for residents to enjoy as well as a venue for local events such as the annual holiday lighting, and the installation of our snowflakes along the avenue, Easter egg hunt, 9/11 memorial service

and National Night Out. This park is also the site of our brick campaign, which started in 2001 and continuing once again in 2023.

We believe in order to make lasting memories, you must first pave the way.

We invite you to take a stroll along Town Square, where every brick tells a story. We are also looking forward to our upcoming fall carnival, networking events, "shop local" programs, Trunk or Treat, and East Meadow Committee Day.

Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, American flags are installed to honor our veterans. Each year, we also present four scholarships to graduating seniors from East Meadow and W.T. Clarke high schools.

The chamber holds regular monthly meetings — held primarily on the first Wednesday of the month — allowing members networking opportunities.  Please review the guide as a list of all our members who have supported us during the year. Our success allows us to give back to the community to sponsor Little League teams and many other worthy organizations.

If you would like more information, please call the chamber office at (516) 794-3727, or visit us at EastMeadowChamber.com.

Thank you to the East Meadow community for helping and supporting our local businesses. This community is amazing!

James P. Skinner President East Meadow Chamber of Commerce

Courtesy East Meadow Chamber of Commerce East Meadow Chamber of Commerce board at the 2023 installation.

ELECTED OFFICIALS Town oF HEMPSTEAD

Town of Hempstead Supervisor Don Clavin (R) 1 Washington St. Hempstead, N.Y. 11550 (516) 489-6000 donclavin@hempsteadny.gov

Town Clerk Kate Murray (R) 1 Washington St. Hempstead, N.Y. 11550 (516) 489-5000 ext. 3046 kmurray@hempsteadny.gov

nASSAU CoUnTY

Councilman - 6th District

Dennis Dunne (R) 1 Washington St. Hempstead, N.Y. 11550 (516) 812-3180 ddunnesr@hempsteadny.gov

Nassau County Executive

Bruce Blakeman (R) 1550 Franklin Ave. Mineola, N.Y. 11501 (516) 571-3131

Nassau County District Attorney

Anne Donnelly (R) 262 Old Country Road, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 (516) 571-3800

Nassau County Comptroller Elaine Phillips (R) 240 Old Country Road Mineola, N.Y. 11501 (516) 571-2386 NCComptroller@ NassauCountyNY.gov

Nassau County Clerk

O’Connell (R)

Old Country Road

N.Y. 11501 (516) 571-2664

Nassau County Legislator District 13

Thomas McKevitt (R) 1550 Franklin Ave. Mineola, N.Y. 11501 (516) 571-6213

Nassau County Legislator District 15

John R. Ferretti, Jr. (R) 1550 Franklin Ave., Mineola, N.Y. 11501 (516) 571-6215

Governor Katherine Hochul (D) State Capitol Building Albany, N.Y. 12224 (518) 474-8390

Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515 (202) 225-5516

PLACES OF WORSHIP

Churches

Calvary Lutheran Church

36 Taylor Ave., East Meadow

(516) 735-1473

Christ Alive Church

493 East Meadow Ave., East Meadow

(516) 794-4291

Pastor: Christian Preda

Crossbridge Church

600 Bob Reed Lane, Westbury (516) 334-1832

Pastor: Nate Young

Holy Trinity Orthodox Church

369 Green Ave., East Meadow (516) 483-3649

The Rev. Martin G. Kraus

HTOCEM.org

New Covenant Church

757 Bellmore Ave.

East Meadow

(516) 489-1600

Pastor: Rob Taormina

New Hope Church

675 Brookside Court, Westbury

(516) 726-2288

The Rev. Dan Olson

Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church

720 Merrick Ave.

North Merrick

(516) 379-1356

The Rev. Stephen Brigandi Jr.

St. Brigid’s Roman Catholic Church

85 Post Ave., Westbury

(516) 334-0021

Rev. John Sureau

St. Francis Polish National Catholic Church

1752 Harton Ave., East Meadow

(516) 794-5189

The Rev. Andrzej Koterba

St. Raphael’s Roman Catholic Church

600 Newbridge Road, East Meadow

(516) 785-0236

Pastor Leo Song

United Methodist Church

470 East Meadow Ave. East Meadow

(516) 794-5855

The Rev. Dorett Johnson-Agu

Synagogues

Temple Sholom

675 Brookside Court, Westbury

(516) 334-2800

Rabbi Simcha Zamir

Temple B’nai Torah

2900 Jerusalem Ave., Wantagh

(516) 221-2370

Rabbi Daniel Bar-Nahum

Congregation Beth Ohr

2550 South Center Ave., Bellmore (516) 781-3072

Cantor Joshua Diamond

Community Reform Temple

18 Tobe Lane, Jericho

(516) 333-1839

Rabbi: Judith Cohen-Rosenberg

East Meadow Beth-El Jewish Center

1400 Prospect Ave., East Meadow

(516) 483-4205

Religious Groups

Knights of Columbus, Pope Pius XII Council 4422

P.O. Box 507, East Meadow

(516) 781-5852

East Meadow

Simcha Hadassah Chapter

(516) 766-2725

Parish Outreach of St. Brigid’s Roman Catholic Church

75 Post Ave., Westbury

(516) 334-0021, Ext. 108

Director: Yanira Chacon-Lopez

Mosques

Long Island Muslim Society

475 East Meadow Ave.

East Meadow

(516) 357-9060

President:

Prof. Hussain S. Ahmad, MBA, MS

Tim Baker/Herald file

The longtime rabbi of the East Meadow Beth El Jewish Center, Ronald Androphy, celebrated his retirement with a gala in March. Next to him was his wife, Nancy, and their grandson, Nat Androphy.

B’Nai’s garden an anchor for many

By Natalie DiFusco

There have now been four seasons of harvest at the Garden of Temple B’nai Torah, which its team of volunteers celebrated with a garden party, bringing everyone from Bellmore, Merrick, East Meadow, Wantagh, and Seaford, together to honor the hard work for a good cause.

A number of years ago, Rona and Bob Kauffman attended a class in the synagogue led by Rabbi Daniel Bar-Nahum and the Rev. Mark Genzsler. Bar-Nahum was their rabbi at Temple B’Nai Torah, while Genzsler was the spiritual leader of nearby St. Francis Episcopal Church in Bellmore.

The two compared interfaith scriptures, and during all of that, the subject of the garden at St. Francis came up.

Intrigued, the Kauffmans met with Susan Salem — the garden’s creator and coordinator — and would eventually become regular volunteers there, where parishioners grow fresh produce to fight local hunger.

Salem and the Kauffmans wanted to bring that effort to Temple B’nai Torah, and this interest grew stronger when the temple’s youth group was brought to the St. Francis Garden in 2019 for Sukkot.

A year later, when the pandemic hit, B’nai Torah took action: Salem and the Kauffmans

knew they should go forward with their plan immediately, since food pantries were struggling.

It turned out B’nai Torah had a playground no longer in use, so that spot was chosen for the garden.

There, sandboxes became garden beds for growing vegetables, and harvested with love for the sole purpose of going to those who needed it most.

Still busy with her own garden,

Photos courtesy Edwin Chavez

Top photo: Joyce Rappaport and Ronni Fauci at Temple B’Nai Torah’s annual garden party.

Bottom photo: Charles Timman with Cantor Rica Timman at the synagogue's garden.

Salem continued to lend her skills, which were passed down from her grandfather. While she brings her gardening prowess to the project, Rona Kauffman, a co-chair of the temple’s social action committee, coordinates all of the volunteer efforts.

It was important to ensure that although the garden was at the temple, it was truly a community garden, Salem said.

B’nai Torah did this by following in the footsteps of St. Francis, which named its efforts the Garden at St. Francis instead of the St. Francis Garden. The dogooders used that inspiration to call their operation the Garden at Temple B’nai Torah.

You don’t have to be a member of the synagogue to volunteer or contribute to the garden. Or even to benefit from its bounty.

The vegetables grown in the garden include artichokes, sweet peas, radishes, cucumbers, Swiss chard, lettuce, beets, turnips, onions, garlic, lettuce and carrots.

The temple typically donates its produce to the Island Harvest warehouse in Uniondale as well as the Bethany House of Nassau County, Hempstead village’s Community Solidarity, and various homes of synagogue members.

Top photo: Rabbi Daniel Bar-Nahum, far left, with Rona and Bob Kauffman and Susan and Phil Salem. The Kauffmans and Susan Salem are in charge of the Garden at Temple B’Nai Torah.

Bottom photo: The community garden is bustling with goodwill, and the need to serve those in need. It receives tremendous support from congregants.

East Meadow Kiwanis The king of :

By Mallory Wilson

“Kiwanis should be a positive influence in communities worldwide,” Diane Krug said. And the East Meadow Kiwanis — for which she serves as president — is just that.

Throughout the year, Kiwanis plans event after event to raise funds for those in need. And when it’s not their event, they’re always there to lend a hand.

For the winter holidays, like Thanksgiving and Christmas, Kiwanis members always get together for their annual meal and gift drive-by.

Before its event starts, the club hosts its Secret Snowflake Toy Drive through December to collect toys and provide some great Italian meals from Borrelli’s Italian Family Restaurant for each family. Gift cards are collected as well to give to the older kids. Stew Leonard’s donated cookies last year to complete each meal.

Kiwanis partners with the school district to identify East Meadow families that are in need, which typically number anywhere between 75 and 100. Social workers from the schools will collect any meals and presents that remain.

“This is all about the holiday spirit,” David Rothman, a Kiwanian who has been involved with the event for more than 20 years, said.

“It’s sad when you see the same people on the regular, and they have something going on in their life that they just can’t get out of. But knowing we helped somebody in need is just great.”

Before the academic year begins, Kiwanis runs a school supply drive so kids who need it can start the school year off right with fresh

Courtesy Kevin Kamper

Top Photo: Kiwanis members and their helpers cooked up a tasty Thanksgiving meal on Nov. 20 for their annual Senior and Military Dinner.

Maureen Lennon/Herald

Bottom Photo: From left, Catherine Razzano, Michael Simms, Donna Goldstein and Graham Reinhardt all helped out by making pancakes at East Meadow Kiwanis’s annual pancake breakfast.

supplies. This past year, some 160 kids in the East Meadow School District were given a new backpack with everything they could need. Supplies and money are donated from local politicians, neighbors, and other organizations.

“I’ve seen the generosity go up over the years,” said Jennifer Reinhardt, the immediate past president of East Meadow Kiwanis. “Any time that we do this, the community comes together — the businesses, organizations. I’m always so floored at the generosity of our community.”

The club gets a list from each school in the district with how many backpacks they need. Once the backpacks are done, they get dropped off at the Leon Campo Salisbury Center, where they are then distributed to students who need them.

In the summer, there’s no stopping the club. They host a pancake breakfast that collects funds for Kiwanis scholarships for deserving high school seniors, and to send underprivileged children to Kamp Kiwanis.

In August, the club holds its annual Steven J. Eisman Memorial Golf Outing. Kiwanians and their friends show up to hit the links in Eisenhower

Park to raise money. Last year, the club used $5,000 from the event to stock the McVey Mighty Market, a food pantry in McVey Elementary School for community members in need.

Photos courtesy East Meadow Kiwanis

Top Photo: Richie Krug Jr., left, and Steve LaSala worked together to pack multiple backpacks for the yearly school supply drive. The cost of school supplies rose more than 25 percent over the past fi ve years, meaning more students might have gone without.

Bottom Photo: The club also hosts food drives during the year.

One little girl with a

By Mallory Wilson

Emma Vulpi has proven you’re never too young to start making a difference.

The 11-year-old sixth-grader at W.T. Clarke Middle School has donated more than 1,000 toys to children at local hospitals. And last year, she decided to share the wealth with the John Theissen Children’s Foundation in Wantagh.

Emma started donating toys when she had just turned 7. It was during a car ride with her mother in 2019, Emma decided what she wanted to do with the rest of the gift cards she received for her birthday that year.

“She said, ‘Ma, I know what I want to do with my gift cards,’, like out

of nowhere. It was just weird because it was already January, and she hadn’t used any of them,” her mother, Michele said. “I thought she was going to say ‘slime,’ because slime was huge back then. But instead, she asked if we could use the gift cards to buy toys for sick kids in the hospital.”

The idea originated from an ad Emma saw on YouTube about pediatric cancer patients at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. The ad was asking for donations, and that really stuck with the young Emma.

“I saw it and was like, ‘Oh, I really want to donate,’” Emma said. “I have everything I already wanted, I have everything I need, and other kids don’t have that.”

Emma started by donating toys to NYU Winthrop Hospital in Mineola where her aunt worked. The toys and crafts she bought with her gift cards went for the kids in the Child Life Program at the hospital,

Continued on page 20

Mallory Wilson/Herald file

Photo: Last year, Emma Vulpi decided to share the wealth with the John Theissen Children’s Foundation in Wantagh

Continued from page 19

which provides care and treatment for pediatric patients as well as space for playtime and crafts.

And every year since then, Emma hasn’t asked for any gifts for herself, only gift cards and toys for her to donate.

Last year, Emma received more than $3,000 for her birthday so she could buy toys for kids. Emma and her mother chose Theissen’s foundation this year in hopes to share the wealth with places that might not get as many donations. They shopped at Walmart, Target, Carter’s and other stores to get a variety of gifts for all ages.

Emma — along with her mother, aunt,

grandmother and grandfather — went and dropped off bags and bags of toys at Theissen’s foundation headquarters three days before Christmas. Theissen was excited to meet a young girl who was as passionate about toy-giving as he was.

“You’re a saint, and you’re so far ahead of where I was at 11 years old,” Theissen said. “Think about it. If you stick with this, you can make so much of a difference by the time you’re my age.”

Emma’s toy donations are not the only way she and her family give back. Together, they have donated food during holidays, adopted and shopped for families, and have cooked for

Mallory Wilson/Herald file Emma Vulpi, a sixth-grader at W.T. Clarke Middle School, has donated more than 1,000 toys to children at local hospitals.

people in shelters.

The toy idea, though, was all Emma.

“She’s just that type of kid,” Michele said. “Me and her dad joke like, ‘Where did she come from,’ but she’s so great.”

Each year Emma looks forward to collecting money and going to shop for toys for kids. She enjoys helping people just because she knows they are just a small representation of those who are not as fortunate as her.

“Helping people shows that you’re not selfish,” Emma said. “It’s not because you want to go on the news or anything. It’s because you feel good after. You feel better.”

Mallory

Wilson/Herald

file

Top photo: Emma Vulpi helped unload and pack donations last year during the holiday season.

Courtesy Michele Vulpi

Right photo: Emma's efforts began when she was young. At 7, Emma decided to use her gift cards from her birthday to buy toys for kids in hospitals.

Jewish War Veterans help community

By Jordan Vallone

If you ask Gary Glick what plagues modern military veterans most, he’d describe the number of people who do not know or understand what benefits they are entitled to after service.

Helping veterans — whether they live in or outside of the immediate community — is the mission of the Jewish War Veterans. Especially at Post 652 — which serves Bellmore, Merrick, East Meadow, Wantagh, Seaford, and surrounding communities — which has made an effort to remain active on community issues. Members can often be seen at veteran events, and well as helping Boy Scout troops complete community service projects.

Just last year, for example, the group helped an aspiring Eagle Scout restore a World War I Memorial in Merrick.

Although not well-known, the national Jewish War Veterans group has been around since 1896. Glick, Post 652’s commander, spends a lot of time dispelling myths like Jews never served in conflicts like the Civil War. In fact, some 8,000 Jewish men served. On both sides.

“Our biggest concern is to get the word out that we exist,” said Ed Freeberg, a lifetime member of the organization. “The Jewish War

Veterans has existed for about 127 years, and very few people know about it. So, our job is to do a tremendous amount of outreach.”

Post members are often seen at commemorative events on Veterans Day and Memorial Day, and in public schools. Members help conduct ceremonies for Jewish soldiers and establish working relationships with local rabbis.

In the past, Glick has responded to calls from

Kate Nalepinski/Herald file Top photo: The Jewish War Veterans recognize members when they hit milestones. Eric Spinner, left — joined by Hempstead Town Clerk Kate Murray — helped Murray Steinberg celebrate his 99th birthday.

Courtesy Ed Freeberg

Bottom photo: :The Jewish War Veterans Post 652 is always doing its part to help veterans, and is often seen out in the community. At a Hanukkah celebration last year, Gary Glick joined Rabbi Shimon Kramer to help celebrate.

veterans dealing with mental health crises from untreated post-traumatic stress disorder, and worked with additional organizations to help provide housing or food to veterans in need.

The more outreach the group can provide, the better off veterans are.

“There’s 130,000 of us out here” on Long Island, Glick said, ‘and I’ll tell you right now, there’s

maybe a handful that know what’s going on.”

Despite the seriousness of their cause, the group also takes part in holiday celebrations as well as milestone birthdays for veterans. And while the efforts of the group consist of diligent, hard work for everyone involved, it is truly a labor of love.

For more on Post 652, visit We-Are-Vets.us.

Courtesy Ed Freeberg

Top photo: Partnering with the Daughters of the American Revolution, the local Jewish War Veterans chapter help deliver blankets and wraps at the Long Island State Veterans Home.

Jordan Vallone/Herald file

Bottom photo: The local Jewish War Veterans post works to make sure veterans across Long Island know and understand benefits they are entitled to. It also takes part in community projects, such as the restoration of the World War I Memorial in Merrick for an Eagle Scout project. Eric Spinner, a member of Post 652, helped clean and restore the stonework.

Clubs & OrganizatiOns

East Meadow Chamber of Commerce

P.O. Box 77

(516) 794-3727

President: James P. Skinner

EastMeadowChamber.com

East Meadow Kiwanis Club

P.O. Box 9

President: Diane Krug

EastMeadowKiwanis.org

Knights of Pythias

East Meadow l odge

774 Alliance

PDGCG Sir Marty Nyer

Community a ssociation of stewart ave.

34 Mist Lane, Westbury 11590 (516) 997-6299

President: Helen Meittinis

Council of East Meadow Community Organizations

P.O. Box 532 (516) 542-7609

President: Joseph Parisi

l akeville Estates Civic a ssociation

1477 Beech Lane

(516) 485-3818

President: Alan Schneidman

nassau Cultural Center of Workmen’s Circle

(516) 794-0506

Director: Staci Davis

Wenwood Oaks Civic a ssociation

799 Wenwood Drive (516) 483-7916

Veterans groups

a merican l egion Post 1082 (516) 579-8781

a merican Merchant Marine Veterans, n orth atlantic Chapter (631) 669-6805

CEO: Anthony DiMattia

Disabled in action

(646) 504-4342

Contact: Jean Ryan

Jewish War Veterans Post 652 We-Are-Vets.us.

Veterans of Foreign Wars

Post 2736

292 Bellmore Road

Commander: Stephanie Rosetti

Political groups

Mid- nassau Democratic Club

2464 Jefferson St.

(516) 343-5733

Club chair: Dan Checkla

East Meadow republican Club

170 Maple Ave.

(516) 695-9544

Leader: Wayne Solar

nassau County Democratic

Committee County Headquarters

500 Old County Road, Suite 103

Garden City 11514

(516) 294-3366

Chair: Jay Jacobs

nassau County

Young republican Club

P.O. Box 7672, Garden City 11530

(516) 984-7068

Chair: David Carl

American Legion Post 1082 out of East Meadow has a plethora of services available for veterans. In January, club members helped World War II veteran Charlie Franza celebrate his 100th birthday.

Youth groups

High s chool Hockey l eague of nassau County

(516) 242-4213

President: Jim O'Gara

IslandersHighSchoolHockey.net

East Meadow

b aseball s oftball a ssociation

(516) 481-0943

Commissioner: Steve LaSala

Challenger Division: Lee Cook

EMBSA.net

P.O. Box 185

info@embsa.net

registration@embsa.net

Central nassau athletic a ssociation

(917) 703-5947

President: Joseph Aloi

East Meadow s occer Club

(516) 221-8957

President: Michael Cartier EastMeadowSoccer.com

l evittown red Devil Football/ Cheerleading l eague 3661 Howard Lane

Wantagh 11793

(516) 532-0310

Commissioner: Dennis Machado

girl s couts of nassau County

110 Ring Road W. Garden City 11530

(516) 741-2550

GSNC.org

big b rothers/ big sisters of l ong island

25 Carle Road, Westbury (516) 731-7880

CEO: Mark Cox

BBBSLI.org

b oy s couts of a merica (Theodore Roosevelt Council) 544 Broadway, Massapequa 11758 (516) 797-7600

TRCBSA.org

Mid island Y-JCC

45 Manetto Hill Road Plainview 11803

(516) 874-0345

Owner: Brett Suffis

MIY JCC .org

Police activity l eagueEast Meadow unit Special Activities Building, Eisenhower Park (516) 996-9903

Mallory Wilson/Herald file

Tim Baker/Herald file

St. Raphael’s CYO Basketball program has a Winter Classic tournament every year where players from other Long Island CYO programs come to compete. In February, Austin Wolff from St Ignatius Church in Hicksville played a great defense for his team.

In many ways, putting out a newspaper each week is an interactive process. We need your participation to do our job, so we offer you — our readers and partners — a reminder of how and when to reach us.

To tell us what’s going on in your community, or news of upcoming events sponsored by civic, service, religious or community organizations, the deadline is noon the Friday prior to publication. Notices are printed free of charge, and should be emailed to the editor at the address below, at right.

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We value your opinions, and provide a forum for them in our popular Letters to the Editor space.

The Herald also offers tours of its Garden City headquarters and printing plant for schools, scouts and other community groups. To schedule a tour, contact Michael Romero at (516) 569-4000 ext. 235 or email mromero@liherald.com.

Wilson

Editor

Email: mwilson@liherald.com Mail: East Meadow Herald, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, N.Y. 11530 Website: www.liherald.com

Editor: Mallory Wilson (mwilson@liherald.com) (516) 569-4000 ext. 328

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Mallory

Neighbors

neighbors stay fed

By Mallory Wilson

When the coronavirus pandemic struck and the world shut down, some families found themselves struggling with money, and finding even the most basic necessities, like food. Instead of sitting idly by, Kerry Dunne decided to do something.

The McVey Elementary School principal opened a pantry — dubbed the McVey Mighty Market — as a way to help those in the community get food if they were struggling to afford it. Amanda Napolitano, the school’s social worker, oversees the pantry.

When the pandemic slowed down, the need for the market did not, Dunne said. And so the Mighty Market remains.

“We just kind of started the pantry just to help our families in need, and we didn’t realize it was going to be post-pandemic,” Napolitano said. “We’re just happy to be able to help our

community as best as we can.”

The Mighty Market is open every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to noon, and is manned by volunteers or Dunne herself. Families can come in and shop for what they need. When the stock is low, however, families are limited as to how much they can take.

Napolitano likes to keep the market “grocery store style” so families can pick and choose what they need and want.

Mallory Wilson/Herald file photos

Top Photo: East Meadow Kiwanis helps keep the McVey Mighty Pantry stocked. Last year, the club donated $5,000 worth of food to the pantry after its annual golf outing.

Bottom Photo: Siena Reyes, left, and Ella Giordano — both from Woodland Middle School —  came out to help Kerry Dunne restock the shelves at the pantry.

There’s more than just canned food in the pantry. There’s also produce and meat when available, feminine hygiene products, diapers, toiletries and clothes. Most of the donations come from neighbors, but sometimes the Mighty Market gets donations from Island Harvest and local religious institutions, like New Hope Church.

Dunne isn’t sure whether inflation is what keeps the need for the pantry going, but the principal also sees an uptick once school ends and students aren’t getting fed anymore on campus.

East Meadow Kiwanis donates food whenever it can. Last August, after its annual golf outing fundraiser, the club used $5,000 of its raised funds to buy food for the pantry.

“We’re thrilled that we were able to transform what we raised right into something into the hands, for the people in the communities,” Kiwanian Ted Rosenthal said. “Specifically the kids, because I think it’s tough stuff. I’ve been a member of East Meadow Kiwanis for almost 35 years, and we do lots of wonderful things. But when you’re able to step back and actually do something like this, and see and think about what firsthand some of these people go through — where they have to choose whether they can feed their child or do something else — it’s just unbelievable.”

Dunne never wants families to feel awkward or

uncomfortable coming to the Mighty Market. She just wants people to utilize it if they really need it.

“I remember when we first opened, a family saw me and I could see the look on their face, like ‘I can’t believe this is where I’m at,’” she said.

Top Photo: McVey Elementary School principal Kerry Dunne points out how shelves are stocked in the school’s food pantry for the needy.

Bottom Photo: The pantry is open every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to noon, and is manned by volunteers or Kerry Dunne.

At EMHS, raising funds to help others

By Mallory Wilson

When Rebecca Saltzman was thinking about fundraising ideas for the Spanish Honor Society, she knew she wanted to explore something beyond the normal way of doing things.

The East Meadow High School Spanish teacher took over as the honor society advisor this past year, and wanted to show her students the importance of raising money for others.

Enter the Pulsera Project, a nonprofit organization based in West Chester, Pennsylvania, that connects artists from Guatemala and Nicaragua with schools in the United States. The artists create pulseras — “bracelets” in Spanish — with colorful threads.

The organization hires the artists, and the bracelets are sent to participating American schools, where students sell them. All the money is sent back to the Guatemalan and Nicaraguan communities, allowing them to earn fair wages for their work.

More than $5 million has been raised through those efforts over the years, according to the Pulsera Project website, creating jobs and educating Central Americans at the same time.

“I wanted to give the students an opportunity to raise money for other people, and not

necessarily have to do a fundraiser to raise money for ourselves,” Saltzman said. “I just thought it would be a good experience to have the students be able to give back to the Hispanic community.”

Saltzman found the Pulsera Project online, and couldn’t wait to introduce it to her students.

“I thought it was really cool,” said Samantha

Photo courtesy East Meadow School District

Top Photo: Students from East Meadow High School’s Spanish Honor Society sell bracelets for the Pulsera Project, an organization that employs artists in Nicaragua and Guatemala, paying them fair wages.

Bottom Photo: The Pulsera Project bracelets were handmade with colorful threads, representing the creativity of its Central American artists.

Flores, a senior at the school and member of the Spanish Honor Society board. “When we first started talking about activities that we were going to do throughout the year, (Saltzman) brought it up and I was like, ‘Oh my God, this is a perfect opportunity.’”

With a poster board that travels from school to school along with a box of bracelets, the students went to work, manning a table in the school’s lobby throughout the day. Each bracelet cost $7, and came with a small tag showcasing

its creator. The honor society sold more than half of the 500 bracelets delivered to them, making more than $2,000 for the artists a continent away.

Both teachers and students "thought it was an amazing cause,” Flores said. “They asked us what it was and where the money’s going towards. When we told them that nothing came back to us and it was all back to (the artists), they wanted to buy more.”

Top Photo: More than $5 million has been raised through the Pennsylvania-based Pulsera Project, according to its website, creating jobs and educating Central Americans who benefit from efforts.

Bottom Photo: Each bracelet from the Pulsera Project costs $7, and comes with a tag showcasing its Central American creator. The Spanish Honor Society wound up selling 290 out of the 500 bracelets, raising more than $2,000 for the organization.

One man’s act of kindness spread throughout the community

By Lara Murray-Sterzel

The embodiment of East Meadow has become stronger over the years because of one act of kindness made by a man through his Facebook page.

Todd Weinstein, of East Meadow, is the founder and administrator of the East Meadow Facebook page Nice Things That Happen in East Meadow, a popular social media space where neighbors capture highlights in their town and promote making a difference.

Weinstein’s work on Facebook has received recognition throughout the years, where he has helped donate school supplies, used clothing, toys, food and other necessities.

The origins of this great change started seven years ago when Weinstein noticed a lot of various community pages on the social media platform attacking local businesses. Upset by this, Weinstein wanted to change the tone of the conversation, directing people away from the negativity to instead focus on the nice things around town. It was about bringing a sense of kindness back to the community.

“I never thought it would grow to this magnitude where it’s made such an impact around town,” Weinstein said. “I just thought

it would be a group of people who could share pictures and stories. But over the years we’ve taken on a lot of different fundraising efforts for community groups.”

Through this Facebook page, Weinstein’s partnered with the Mary Brennan Interfaith Nutrition Network, the McVey Elementary School food pantry, and others — efforts which actually landed him talking about everything on the

Courtesy Dana Lopez

Top Photo: Jack Halley, left, Todd Weinstein, Dana Lopez and state Sen. Kevin Thomas helped organize supplies at the Mary Brennan Interfaith Nutrition Network back-to-school drive sponsored by Weinstein’s Facebook page, Nice Things That Happen in East Meadow, in 2021.

Courtesy Todd Weinstein

Bottom Photo: Stew Leonard's donated 50 containers of pasta, sauce, olive oil, beans and chicken broth as well as ice cream coupons for the food drive Todd Weinstein ran in his Facebook group for his 50th birthday in 2022.

syndicated “The Drew Barrymore Show” last year.

“It was very powerful, very emotional, that here we were trying to do a little bit of good, and they’re counting on us for our actions,” Weinstein said. “Thankfully, the people of East Meadow, every year, respond.”

Weinstein continuously sees the good in people who want to participate. This year, at East Meadow Community Day, Weinstein spoke about how successful efforts were thanks to the active members who helped promote every event, every drive.

In this direction, he hopes to see more communities on Long Island do the same thing.

Want to join in? Visit Weinstein’s Facebook page at tinyurl.com/NiceThingsEastMeadow.

Photos courtesy Todd Weinstein

Top Left Photo: People drop off supplies at Todd Weinstein’s house, or donate money that Weinstein then takes to buy supplies with, as part of the various drives to help others through his Facebook page, Nice Things That Happen in East Meadow.

Top Right Photo: Matthew Esslinger has donated from the very beginning to many of Todd Weinstei's various charitable drives that he holds through his Facebook page, Nice Things That Happen in East Meadow. Members of the social media group post photos of their children with their donations

Bottom Photo: Andrew, a worker at Stew Leonard’s, Mary Brennan Interfaith Nutrition Network Donations Manager Jason Tessler, joined Nice Things That Happen in East Meadow Facebook group founder Todd Weinstein along with some associates from Stew Leonard’s to accept donations from the grocery store ahead of Weinstein’s birthday food drive last year.

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East ME adow Chamber of Commerce

All businesses are in East Meadow, NY 11554, 11555, 11590 unless noted

7-11/ JsdB Inc

Joseph Mariampillai (516) 222-2817

319 East Meadow Ave. storemanager37151@7-11.com

a & C Pest Management Corp.

James P Skinner (516) 683-8376

392 East Meadow Ave. info@acpest.com ACPest.com

a & M supplies Network Inc.

Mitchell Skoller (516) 794-6740

2468 No. Jerusalem Road North Bellmore 11710 mksprints@aol.com

aaa North East

Charmaine Adams

(516) 346-5173

2411-B Hempstead Turnpike cadams2@aaanortheast.com

a bove Par drafting Inc

Zack DiResta (516) 783-4005

2068 Grand Ave., Baldwin 11510 zackd@abovepar.us

AbovePar.us

active auto Glass & s creen

James Darienzo (516) 785-0555

2507 N. Jersualem Road activeautoglass@aol.com ActiveGlass.com

advanced Hosted s ervices

Paul Bonelli (631) 940-9096

111 Carolyn Blvd. Farmingdale 11735 pbonelli@advancednetworkservices.us AdvancedHostedServices.com

a FC Urgent Care

Roxanne Rose

(516) 346-5090

2310 Hempstead Turnpike eastmeadowteam@afcurgentcare.com

AFCUrgentCareEastMeadow.com

a J Petroleum Inc.

Ravinder Purba

(516) 794-3241

1880 Front St. ravispurba@gmail.com

alene Bushey

(516) 794-7473

1725 Prospect Ave. avmb3@optonline.net

allstar Children's Center

Elena Saitta

(516) 394-8344

200 Merrick Ave. admin@allstarchildrenscenter.com

AllstarChildrensCenter.com

allstate Insurance -

dan Ratkewitch a gency

(516) 221-5400

343 Newbridge Road dratkewitch1@allstate.com

Allstate.com/DRatkewitch1

allstate Insurance - skinner a gency

Walter Skinner

(516) 222-2242

1576 Front St.

wskinner@allstate.com

Agents.Allstate.com/walter-skinnereast-meadow-ny.html

a pex Energy s olutions Inc.

Michael Carroll (516) 243-7098

26 Crown Lane Westbury 11590

apexmktg@apexenergysolutionsinc.com

ApexEnergySolutionsInc.com

a ric signs & awnings

Ivan Arizaga (516) 350-0409

361 Union Ave. Westbury 11590 aricsigns@gmail.com AricSigns.com

Bagelicious

Jay Singh (516) 794-0552

1864 Front St. bagelicious.front.st@gmail.com

Barry Rubinstein (516) 486-8540

737 Preston Road

mrubins123@hotmail.com

Beverage Barn (Liberty Beverage)

Jared Kane (516) 794-4818

2080 Front St. hkane315@gmail.com

BeverageBarnStores.com

Bizcom Global Ventures LLC

Abul Hossain (212) 464-8708

2362 Sixth St. usabizcom@gmail.com Bizcom-Global.com

Blimpie

Jitin Singh (516) 796-1295

2375 Hempstead Turnpike

jarmy25@gmail.com Blimpie.com

Borrelli's Italian Family Restaurant

Frank Borrelli (516) 794-0190

1580 Hempstead Turnpike

fjb1959@yahoo.com

BorrellisRestaurant.com

Brian o 'Flaherty (516) 794-5336

1810-30 Front St. bof1285@optonline.net

Burger City

Jim Roggio (516) 509-9600

1900 A Hempstead Turnpike

jimroggio@aol.com

BurgerCityLI.com

Calvary Lutheran Church/ Nursery s chool

Pat Schneider

(516) 735-1473

36 Taylor Ave. president@calvarylc.org

CalvaryLC.org

Camarano Construction Franklin Camarano (516) 220-6176 facjr1@gmail.com

Carvel Zenon Gatzoflias (516) 538-5260

477 Bellmore Ave. zenong@msn.com

Certilman Balin adler & Hyman

David Liezer

(718) 757-7644

90 Merrick Ave

dleser@certilman.com

Certilman.com

Charles o ' shea Funeral Home

Charles J. O'Shea Jr. (516) 731-5550

603 Wantagh Ave., Wantagh 11793 osheafh@gmail.com

OSheaFuneral.com

Chase Home Lending - East Meadow

George Roberts

(516) 662-5272

2469 Hempstead Turnpike

george.i.roberts@chase.com

HomeLoan.Chase.com/ george.i.roberts

Christ alive Church

Cristi Preda (516) 794-4291

493 East Meadow Ave.

ChristAliveNY.org

Deliah Roberts/Herald photos James Skinner Jr., right, was named the East Meadow chamber’s new president earlier this year.

East ME adow Chamber of Commerce

All businesses are in East Meadow, NY 11554, 11555, 11590 unless noted

Continued from previous page

Christine Mooney (516) 263-0836

1912 Muir Court

missyc470@aol.com

Club Pilates East Meadow

Rebecca Stalek (516) 744-1154

1949 Front St. eastmeadow@clubpilates.com ClubPilates.com/eastmeadow

Coldwell Banker a merican Homes

Lyndsey Gallagher (516) 796-8900

1856 Hempstead Turnpike tgallagher@cbamhomes.com

ColdwellBanker.com

Coldwell Banker a merican Homes -

debra Kirsh

(516) 662-7451

1856 Hempstead Turnpike dkirsh@cbamhomes.com

DebraKirsh.cbamhomes.com

Community a ssoc of stewart ave.

Helen Meittinis (516) 997-6299

34 Mist Lane, Westbury 11590 tule1029@aol.com

Complete orthopedic s ervices Inc.

Noreen Diaz (516) 357-9113

325 Merrick Ave. ndiaz@completeorthopedic.net COSI.nyc

Connelly & s ons Plumbing

Connelly Family (516) 794-7380

230 East Meadow Ave. connellysons@aol.com

Cornell Cooperative

Amy Lesh (516) 832-2591

P.O. Box 148 asl287@cornell.edu CCENassau.org

Council of East Meadow Community organizations

Joseph Parisi (516) 542-7609

P.O. Box 532 cemco1976@gmail.com

CPN tax advisors Inc.

Craig Nupp (516) 652-7514

2900 Hempstead Turnpike Levittown 11756 cpntainc@gmail.com

dolores Rome (516) 972-9872

1959 Lenox Ave. deerome@optonline.net

donna Goldstein (516) 485-0736

2095 Longfellow Ave. dobogold@optonline.net

dr. Richard C. Meoli Chiropractor (516) 481-1400

595 Merrick Ave. drmeoli@optonline.net MeoliChiropractic.com

dream street Caterers

Joseph Monteleone (516) 520-9684

2558 Hempstead Turnpike

dscparty@optonline.net

DreamStreetCaterers.net

dunkin'

Joe Dazzo (516) 794-7155

2050 Hempstead Turnpike

jjd1122@aol.com DunkinDonuts.com/en

East Meadow Baseball/s oftball

Stephen LaSala (516) 428-4123

P.O. Box 185 steveembsa@gmail.com

EMBSA.net

East Meadow Fire d istrict

John Priest (516) 542-0805

197 East Meadow Ave. cwelt@eastmeadowfd.com EastMeadowFD.com

East Meadow Florist

Chris Hackert (516) 794-0020

577 East Meadow Ave. emf2230@aol.com EastMeadowFlorist.com

East Meadow Herald

Rob Cummings

2 Endo Blvd. Garden City 11530 (516) 569-4000, Ext. 212 LIHerald.com

East Meadow Kiwanis Club

Brian O'Flaherty (516) 204-5505 P.O. Box 9 bof1285@optonline.net EastMeadowKiwanis.org

East Meadow Public Library

William Ferro (516) 794-2570

1886 Front St. contactus@eastmeadow.info EastMeadow.info

East Meadow s chool d istrict (516) 478-5776

718 The Plain Road Westbury 11590 Eastmeadow.k12.ny.us

East Meadow Upholsterers

Mike Shannon (516) 794-2546

371 East Meadow Ave. mshannon@optonline.net EMUpholsterers.com

Eden II Programs - Genesis s chool

Kara Lamendola (516) 937-1397

600 Newbridge Road kalicakos@eden2.org

Eden2.org/the-genesis-school

Edmer s anitary supply Co

Ed Zeitlin (516) 794-2000

519 East Meadow Ave. edz@edmersupply.com EdmerSupply.com

Elizabeth a . Fries (516) 359-4269

2199 Seventh St. lizmeow@optonline.net

Epic Long Island

Brianne Hudson (516) 739-7733

1500 Hempstead Turnpike irodgers@epicli.org EpicLI.org

Fair and s quare Contracting Inc.

Robert Russo

(516) 586-4249

126 William St. Farmingdale 11735

lisa@fairandsquarecontracting.com FairAndSquareContracting.com

Farahs Glamour spa

Mohammed Barez (516) 385-5664

349 Merrick Ave. farahsglamourspa@gmail.com FarahsGlamour.com

Figarelly's d elicatessen & Caterers 593 East Meadow Ave.

Fiori Garden Nursery and Mason

Karin DeMartin (516) 542-0499

1660 Front St. business@fiorigardencenter.com

FioriGardenCenter.com

Florencia Florist & Events

Florencia Ariola (516) 542-8400

1660 Front St. florenciasflorist@gmail.com

Four s easons Power

Joe Licata

(516) 505-3000

1606 Front St. fsper@optonline.net

FSPer.com

Frantoni's Pizza

Michael Mistretta (516) 794-7878

1928 Hempstead Turnpike mike@frantonis.com

Frantonis.com

Full s cope Benefits

Ryan Parkman

(516) 375-4932

539 Benito St. ryan@fullscopebenefits.com

FullScopeBenefits.com

Garden s ocial

David Boller (516) 750-5338

1964 Hempstead Tpke Dave@gardensocialli.com www.gardensocialli.com

Getaways By Liz

Elizabeth Stelmach

(516) 680-4612

2124 Stuart Lane etalbot81@gmail.com

GetawaysByLiz.com

Girls on the Run Long Island

Doreen Dunne

(516) 870-3794

Eisenhower Park, Lannin Cottage gotrlongisland@gmail.com

GOTRLongIsland.org

Goodness People Inc.

Ikem Ugochikwue

(929) 402-9385

25 Hansom Place Roosevelt 11575 info@goodnesspeople.org

GoodnessPeople.org

East ME adow Chamber of Commerce

All businesses are in East Meadow, NY 11554, 11555, 11590 unless noted

Continued from previous page

Grand stage d iner

George Argyris (516) 719-5977

2490 Hempstead Turnpike grandstagediner@outlook.com

GrandStageDiner.com

Growth Generators

Harrison Baron (631) 235-5383

650 Montauk Highway Bayport 11705

hbaron@baronmediagroup.com

BaronMediaGroup.com

Hato sushi

Amy Cai (516) 962-0929

525 East Meadow Ave. Genkisushi11554@gmail.com

HatoSushi.com

Heidi Karen Hairstylist

Karen McDermott (516) 794-8686

1866 Front St. karenlmcd91@gmail.com

Hi tech signs

Scott Abrecht (516) 794-7880

415 East Meadow Ave. info@hitechsignsny.com

HiTechSignsNY.com

Home Improvements By Us Inc.

Jay Steinmetz (516) 435-5278

444 Glenwood Lane

jaysteinmetz56@gmail.com

I Love Hearing

Terry Perumal (516) 354-6882

30 Merrick Ave. amy@ilovehearing.com

ILoveHearing.com

Inspect-it

1st Property Inspections

Mitchell Allen (516) 662-1746

446 East Meadow Ave., No. 238 mitchell@inspectit1stny.com

InspectIt1stNY.com

Integrative acupuncture and Massage t herapy PLLC

Michel Solounias (516) 312-6670

2555 Hempstead Turnpike acuhealth1@gmail.com

IAMTherapyNY.com

J.P. Morgan s ecurities LLC

Jim Rice (212) 858-0832

681 Newbridge Road Levittown 11756

jmnmrice@gmail.com

Jag- one Physical t herapy

Rosemary Basmajian (516) 735-1018

2555 Hempstead Turnpike info@jagonept.com

JagOnePT.com

Jakes steakhouse

Kate Mintz (516) 222-8400

2172 Hemsptead Turnpike

jakeseast@gmail.com

JakesSteakhouse.com

Jewish Family Initiative

Rabbi Avraham Portnoy

1544 Prospect Ave. aportnoy@thejhc.org

Joseph danenza (516) 485-1942

1375 Richmond Court jdanenza@optonline.net

K9 Resorts Garden City

(516) 584-9119

1587 Stewart Ave Westbury 11590 gardencity@k9resorts.com K9Resorts.com

Karen Mancuso, attorney at Law

(516) 826-1783

917 Oakland Court North Bellmore 11710 kwmancuso@aol.com

Keller williams of Greater Nassau Vashti Hackert

(516) 263-8870

400 Garden City Plaza, Garden City 11530 vashti@kw.com Vashti.KW.com

Kevin Kamper (516) 538-7096

757 Fillmore Road knkamper@gmail.com

L.I. drone shots Inc.

Jacob Rohrbach

(516) 495-3313

2492 Second Ave. jacob@lidroneshots.com LIDroneShots.com

La Carraia

Naveed Haroon

(917) 319-5318

2326 Hempstead Turnpike lacarraianyc@gmail.com

La Novella Ristorante of East Meadow

Mike Cobi (516) 794-6248

364 East Meadow Ave. LaNovella.com

Laffey Real Estate

Anne DiPalermo (516) 333-0025

830 Old Country Road

Westbury 11554

westbury@laffeyre.com

Laser Now

Yesenia Vasquez (516) 382-0398

2374 Hempstead Turnpike

laser_now@yahoo.com

Laser-Now.com

Law o ffices of alan B. Hodish LLC

Alan Hodish

(516) 222-1640

100 Quentin Roosevelt Blvd.

Garden City 11530

alhodish@aol.com

Lawrence a . Lambroia, dds

Lawrence Lambroia (516) 735-8700

2246 Bright Ave.

laldds@optonline.net

Bright Ave.Smiles.com

Leo F. Kearns Inc.

Thomas Kearns

(516) 794-0500

445 East Meadow Ave.

thomaskearns3@gmail.com

KearnsFamily.com

Leon Campo

(516) 731-3667

41 Clearmeadow Drive

lmcampo41@yahoo.com

Little Gardens Child Care

Johanna Diaz

(516) 280-9696

470 East Meadow Ave.

littlegardenschildcare@gmail.com

LittleGardensChildCare.com

Long Island Chiropractic & wellness

Ronda Bachenheimer

(516) 579-9300

2296 Hempstead Turnpike

mommychiro@aol.com

LIChiropracticWellness.com

Continued on next page

Deliah Roberts/Herald photos Frank Camarano, left, was honored with the Marvin Bernstein Humanitarian award, presented by Richie Krug Jr., at the East Meadow chamber’s 67th installation dinner.

East ME adow Chamber of Commerce

Continued from previous page

Long Island Nets

Yadiel Corporan

(516) 744-6361

1255 Hempstead Turnpike

Uniondale 11553

info@longislandnets.com

LongIsland.dleague.nba.com

M.B. Cohn Interiors

Shari Cohn Glassman (516) 794-0424

540 East Meadow Ave. mbcohninteriors@yahoo.com

MBCohnInteriors.com

M.J. Engineering and Land surveying PC

Becky Cahill (518) 371-0799

79 Knoll Lane Levittown 11756 rcahill@mjels.com

MJELS.com

Maidenbaum Property tax Reduction Group

Sandra Alvarenga (516) 336-8622

483 Chestnut St. Cedarhurst 11516 Sandra@mptrg.com

MaidenbaumTax.com

Majors steakhouse

Bob Cunningham (516) 794-6600

284 East Meadow Ave. bob@majorssteakhouse.com

MajorsSteakhouse.com

Mama t heresa's of East Meadow

Michael DaPruozzo (516) 520-5556

2411-A Hempstead Turnpike

MamaTheresas.com/ east-meadow

Mandu Management Corp

Tenzin Panamserkhang (516) 344-5074

2380 Hempstead Turnpike contact@mandumanagement.com

ManduManagement.com

Marcee Rubinstein (516) 486-8540

737 Preston Road

mrubins123@hotmail.com

Margarita's Cafe

Willy Martinez (516) 745-0033

1868 Front St. wmartinez37@yahoo.com

MargaritasCafe.com

Mark a Papagni CLUNew York Life Insurance Company

Mark Papagni (516) 804-4861

1660 Walt Whitman Road

Melville 11747

mpapagni@ft.newyorklife.com

NewYorkLife.com/agent/mpapagni

Mcdonald's of East Meadow

Lonny Weiner

(516) 731-9750

2361 Hempstead Turnpike

lonnyw@optonline.net

MacPride.net

Meadow deli

Ajay Patel

(516) 542-0494

393 East Meadow Ave.

ravikantpatel21@gmail.com

Medicare Health Plan s olutions & New York Life

Leslie Larson (516) 972-4463

2538 Inglewood St. llarson81@yahoo.com

LarsonMedicareInsurance.com

Meenan o il

Fran Duffy (516) 790-3422

3020 Burns Ave. Wantagh 11793 mscuderi@meenanlp.com Meenan.com

Memories on t he Move

Diane Landau (516) 357-9820

94 Gardiners Lane, No. 335 Levittown 11756 deelandau@optonline.net NYCRTS.com

Michael simone (516) 655-0334

1653 Parkview Ave. Seaford 11783

Msimone@emufsd.us

Mid Nassau Medical Care For Kids LLC

Steve Perrick (516) 333-7872

530 Old Country Road Westbury 11590 stelewis54@aol.com

Midanas Corp.

Mike Panagatos

12 Old Bridge Court Melville 11747

mikepanagatos1@optonline.net

Mike Bannen (516) 486-7771

456 Gates Ave. michael1sn@aol.com

Minuteman Press

Michael Levy (516) 731-4892

3000 Hempstead Turnpike Levittown 11756

mlevy@minutemanpress.com Levittown.MinutemanPress.com

My s alon suite

Rebecca Muellers

(631) 683-8877

1959 Front St. info.eastmeadow@mysalonsuite.com MySalonSuite.com/eastmeadow

Nassau Financial Federal Credit Union

Mohammed Shaikh (516) 240-1255

2575 Hempstead Turnpike

mshaikh@nassaufinancial.org

NassauFinancial.org

New Hope Church

Dan Olson

(516) 820-4200

675 Brookside Court Westbury 11590

pastordano@gmail.com

NewHopeChurchLI.org

New York Community Bank / Roslyn s avings

Cynthia DaCruz (516) 542-8300

1900 Hempstead Turnpike

cynthia.dacruz@mynycb.com MyNYCB.com

New York driver s afety

Joseph Parisi (516) 280-5455

1576 Front St.

newyorkdriversafety@gmail.com

NyDriverSafety.com

New York Life Insurance Company

Louis A. Medina, CLTC

(917) 699-6552

100 Jericho Quadrangle

Jericho 11753

lamedina@ft.newyorklife.com

LouisMedina.com

Newsday

David Wilkes

(631) 843-2694

8 Corporate Drive

Melville 11743

david.wilkes@newsday.com

Newsday.com

Noches Latinas

Luis Mendez (516) 902-8733

36 Hearth Lane

Westbury 11590

lfmendez1010@gmail.com

Nolan tree Experts

Jason Nolan

(516) 292-3620

407 Green Ave.

nolantree29@gmail.com

Norma Gonsalves

1901 Merion St. normag3@optonline.net

NuHealth/NUMC Hospital

Linda Walsh

(516) 296-4934

2201 Hempstead Turnpike lwalsh@numc.edu

NUMC.edu

NY Physical t herapy & wellness

Rachel Booth

(516) 222-2455

325 Merrick Ave. rachel@nyphysicaltherapy.net

NYPhysicalTherapy.net

oath a nimal Hospital

Makeda Scott

(516) 951-0254

505 Newbridge Road

mscott@oathanimalhospital.com

OathAnimalHospital.com

ophthalmic Consultants of Long Island o CLI

Thomas Burke (516) 812-8678

30 Merrick Ave. ocliinfo@ocli.net

OCLI.net/

orangetheory Fitness

Brianna Ventola

(516) 301-5909

2314A Hempstead Turnpike studiomanager0601@ orangetheoryfitness.com

East-Meadow.OrangeTheory Fitness.com

Peter Gidicsin (516) 486-7771

456 Gates Ave.

petergid@aol.com

All businesses are in East Meadow, NY 11554, 11555, 11590 unless noted Continued on next page

East ME adow Chamber of Commerce

All businesses are in East Meadow, NY 11554, 11555, 11590 unless noted

Continued from previous page

Peter Mancuso mancuso917@aol.com

Phenix s alon suites

Anthony Nasser (516) 418-2801

2571 Hempstead Turnpike anasser@phenixsalonsuites.com

PhenixSalonSuitesNY.com

Pietro's Pizza and Italian Restaurant

Lauren Maslov (516) 794-8820

476 East Meadow Ave. jarigo@aol.com

Pietros-Pizza.com

Pinot's Palette

Melissa Qadiri (718) 916-6500

2557B Hempstead Turnpike queens@pinotspalette.com

PinotsPalette.com/queens

Qdoba Mexican Eats

James Pousont (516) 743-9890

2160 Hempstead Turnpike qeastmeadow@qrestaurantgroupinc.com

Locations.Qdoba.com/us/ny/eastmeadow.html

Real Property Management Landmark

Brad Casella (516) 522-2859

626 RXR Plaza Uniondale 11556 bcasella@rpmlandmark.com

RPMLandmark.com

Reliable Voice & data systems Inc.

Linda Lovejoy (516) 542-1130, Ext. 415

366 East Meadow Ave. linda@reliablevoice.com ReliableVoice.com

RenaMarie Jewelers

James Sanicola (516) 564-1661

1934 Hempstead Turnpike renamariejewelry@aol.com

RenaMarieJewelers.com

Richner Printing s ervices

Michael Karff (516) 569-4000, Ext. 288

2 Endo Blvd. Garden City 11530 mkarff@richnerprinting.com

LIHerald.com

RJs Enterprises

Richard Stark

(516) 721-3214

384 Argyle Road

richbigblu@aol.com

RMB development Consultants Inc.

Richard Bivone

(516) 396-0600

308 East Meadow Ave. RMBNY.com

Rose Fuger (516) 974-1880

12 East Pine St. Massapequa 11798

nancy46rose@gmail.com

Roseanne Hatzelman (516) 826-3524

558 Kingston Ave. hatzel13@gmail.com

Rosenthal Curry & Kranz, LLP

Ted Rosenthal (516) 485-5577

1600 Front St. rcesqs@aol.com

RosenthalCurryKranz.com

Ross L. s chiller & a ssociates PCLaw Firm (516) 280-9727

1600 Front St ross@rlslawfirm.com RLSLawFirm.com

Ryann's wines

Katie Gersitz (516) 962-8250

1897 Front St., Unit W bguerrieri@ryannswines.com RyannsWines.com

s alisbury tavern

Joseph Aloi

(516) 333-1833

850 Carman Ave. Westbury 11590 salisburytavern@gmail.com SalisburyTavern.com

s al's Lunch Box (Hot Dog Truck)

Sal Briganti

(516) 263-0344

2519 Jody Court

North Bellmore 11710 sbrigant@optonline.net

s cholastic Promotions awards & More

Tony Daurio

(516) 538-0705

505 Uniondale Ave. Uniondale 11553

awardsandmore@verizon.net AwardsAndMore.net

sign- a -Rama

Pankaj Shah

(516) 222-0551

2066 Front St.

signaramaem@optonline.net SignARama.com/ny-east-meadow

snatched Pro studio LLC

Shondrea Barmore (914) 979-1883

1959 Front St.

snatchedprostudio@gmail.com

SnatchedPro-Studio.square.site

s obol East Meadow

James Duffe (516) 622-3355

2332 Hempstead Turnpike

sobol.east,eadow@gmail.com

Sobol.com

s onic drive-In

Spencer Hart (516) 228-5013

1724 Hempstead Turnpike

store6524@sonicpartnernet.com

SonicDriveIn.com

steppin n style dance

Laura Bowen (516) 796-5174

12 Wolcott Road

Levittown

steppinnstyledanceinc@gmail.com

SteppinNStyleDance.com

stew Leonard's East Meadow

Carl Danielson (516) 394-9001

1897 Front St. StewLeonards.com

stylush salon & laser

Sania Naqvi (516) 636-5070

2350 Hempstead Turnpike

stylushbeautystudio@outlook.com

StylushStudio.com

sunrise s enior Living

Doreen Fistina (516) 542-0990

1555 Glen Curtis Blvd.

eastmeadow.dos@sunriseseniorliving.com

SunriseSeniorLiving.com

syosset Physical t herapy & athletic training

Dr. Ray Cecira (516) 547-3421

2339 Hempstead Turnpike

info@park-pt.com

SyossetPT.com

Jason Thomas/Herald photos

Gloribel Franco, Nicholas Mendoza, and Richie Krug Jr., board chair of the East Meadow Chamber of Commerce, with Logan Sabella, 12, one of the winners of Stew Leonard’s Pie Eating Contest, at East Meadow’s Community Day.

East ME adow Chamber of Commerce

All businesses are in East Meadow, NY 11554, 11555, 11590 unless noted

Continued from previous page

td Bank

Lawrence Rutigliano (516) 796-4975

2549 Hemsptead Turnpike

lawrence.rutigliano@td.com

TDBank.com

t he a merican Legion

Leonard Volpe (516) 579-8781

294 Bellmore Road emfd243@gmail.com

Legion.org

t he Bagel Place

Josh Malament (516) 565-3917

487 Bellmore Ave thebagelplacecaterers@gmal.com

TheBagelPlaceCaterers.com

t he Bristal of East Meadow

Gina Pretino (516) 918-8604

40 Merrick Ave. TheBristal.com/east-meadow

t he Halal Guys

Khattab Abuattieh (908) 531-7224

2565 Hempstead Turnpike khattab@halalguysgroup.com TheHalalGuys.com

t he Krug team @ CB a merican Homes

Diane Krug (516) 731-5004

1856 Hempstead Turnpike info@krugteam.com

KrugTeam.com

t he Noon Inn (914) 258-2582

382 East Meadow Ave. danny@the12inn.com

t he NY dancers studio Inc

Stacie Nelson (516) 489-8795

388 Merrick Ave. Info@thenydancersstudio.com TheNYDancersStudio.com

t he UP s store

Russell Cohen (516) 280-3363

1936 Hempstead Turnpike store5603@theupsstore.com EastMeadow-NY-5603. theupsstorelocal.com

t homas McKevittCounty Legislator (516) 571-6213

1550 Franklin Ave. Mineola 11501 tmckevitt2@yahoo.com

t hryv Inc.

Samir Shah (516) 982-6940

2600 Park St. Westbury 11590 Tsshryv.com

total orthopedics & sports Medicine

Dr. Ray Cecira

(516) 547-3421

2339 Hempstead Turnpike Info@park-pt.com

tracy Rudd 516 794 6975

55 Lloyd Court ptapulice@yahoo.com

Uncle Giuseppe's Marketplace (516) 579-1955

2330 Hempstead Turnpike marketing@uncleg.com

UncleG.com

United Methodist Church of East Meadow

Douglas Wood St.

(516) 794-5855

470 East Meadow Ave.

woodyd48@aol.com

UMC.org/find-a-church/ church/12486

United Properties Corp.

Alex Carr

(516) 223-6200

1975 Hempstead Turnpike UnitedPropertiesCorp.com

wellcare Financial Planningwarren Kalmenson

(516) 505-7008

230 Hilton Ave., Suite 204

Hempstead 11550

wkalm51@aol.com

wML Enterprises

William Lannon

(516) 731-1937

16 Myrtle Lane

Levittown 11756

wlannon@optonline.net

WMLEnterprisesInc.com

world auction Gallery LLC

Ben Nejat

(516) 307-8180

228 East Meadow Ave. worldauctiongallery@gmail.com

WorldAuctionGallery.com

worth Real Estate & Management

Lynn Senko

(516) 489-1341

2 Bellmore Road

lynnsenko@worthpropertymgt.com

WorthPropertyMgt.com

Courtesy East Meadow Chamber of Commerce

The East Meadow Chamber of Commerce welcomed a new business, Fiori Garden Center and Mason Supply, at a ribbon cutting on April 28.

Congratulations to our Mount Sinai South Nassau 2023 Castle Connolly Top Doctors!

Our doctors were peer-nominated and selected based on extensive research, careful review and screening conducted by Castle Connolly’s physician-led research team. Nationally, only 7% of more than 850,000 practicing doctors in the United States earned Castle Connolly “Top Doctors” designation this year.

Ann Buhl, MD Director, Gynecologic Oncology

Rajiv Datta, MD Department Chair, Surgery Director, Gertrude & Louis Feil Cancer Center Director, Surgical Oncology/ Head & Neck

Steven Harris, MD Urology

Jay Itzkowitz, MD Department Chair, Emergency Services

Carlos MontoyaIraheta, MD Chief, Pediatric Cardiology

Matthew Rifkin, MD Department Chair, Radiology

Neil Soskel, DO Family Medicine

Alan Garely, MD Department Chair, Obstetrics & Gynecology Director, Urogynecology

Sherry Megalla, MD Cardiology