__________________ Merrick _________________
HERALD Film focuses on Haitian history
Students attend NCC program
barbara Harris takes the stage
Page 3
Page 7
Page 10
Vol. 29 No. 36
September 3 - 9, 2026
$1.00
Learn about Beth Ohr’s new youth program “It’s really a wonderful balance that combines Jewish learning with things kids natuCongregation Beth Ohr is rally love,” said Adina Frumer, expanding its educational offer- OHRchard’s director. OHRchard will operate Monings this fall with OHRchard, a new Jewish after-school pro- day through Thursday after g ram designed to combine school until 6 p.m. and Fridays lear ning, enrichment and a until 5 p.m. The program will also offer camp-like atmosphere for children in kindergarten through “Schools Out Camp Days” from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on fifth grade. select days when The Bellmorechildren are of f based synagogue, from school, but which serves the parents may still wider Bellmorebe working. Merrick communiTransportation ty, is one of seven will be available North American from nearby synagogues selectschools, with the ed for the fourth program aiming to cohort of the Jewserve families in ish After School elleN AGUlNICk A c c e l e r a t o r, a Director, congregational Bellmore, Merrick, nationwide initia- learning, Seaford, Masstive that helps Jew- Congregation Beth Ohr ap e q u a a n d t h e ish organizations surrounding South create after-school Shore communiprograms for local families. ties. Beth Ohr is the first synagogue The program will feature on Long Island to launch a pro- Jewish and Hebrew learning gram through the initiative. alongside activities including The program is designed to cooking, sports, filmmaking provide families with an alter- and drama. Children will spend native to traditional after- time learning about Judaism school care, offering children a and engage in enrichment place to lear n, explore and activities that allow them to build community after the explore their individual interschool day ends.
by JUlIA GIlleGo
jgillego@liherald.com
t
Courtesy Gina Bennicasa
Joe Gallart with a homemade pizza at the Desirae’s Darlings Christmas in July Pizza Toy Swap, which took place at his Merrick home.
Desirae’s Darlings continues its work to bring joy to children in need by JUlIA GIlleGo jgillego@liherald.com
Desirae’s Darlings — a charitable organization founded by Merrick resident Joe Gallart in honor of his late daughter, Desirae — will host two fundraisers in October, collecting toys for children in need and continuing its yearslong effort to bring holiday gifts to families across Long Island. The organization hosts toy drives and fundraisers throughout the year, including its annual Christmas in July Pizza Toy Swap and the upcoming October Pizza Toy Swap. At the events, community members can drop off new toys or monetary donations at Gallart’s home while enjoying homemade pizza. The two upcoming fundraisers are the
fourth annual Desirae’s Darlings Comedy Night, which will be held on Oct. 9 at 8 p.m. at Governor’s Comedy Club in Levittown, and the Pizza Toy Swap, scheduled for Oct. 25, from 1 to 4 p.m., at 2057 Sherman Ave. in Merrick. Gallart said the Pizza Toy Swap provides another opportunity for the community to support the organization — particularly those who may not be able to attend the comedy fundraiser. Desirae’s Darlings officially got its start in 2016, when Gallart collected 21 toys, and the organization has turned the event into an annual effort, gathering more than 11,000 toys last year. Gallart was named Merrick Herald’s Person of the Year in 2024 for his fundraising efforts through Desirae’s Darlings. ConTinueD on PaGe 16
hey’ll learn about Judaism but all in a fun, engaging way.
ConTinueD on PaGe 9
110 Pine Street, Freeport, NY 11520 516-379-3119 • HungerfordandClark.com
Carmine Carpinone Funeral Director/Manager
Michael Carpinone Funeral Director
FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED MAKES A DIFFERENCE
We're Here For Your Family Day Or Night. Aquí Para Su Familia A Toda Hora Todos Los Días. Nou La Pou Fanmi Ou, Chak Èdtan, Chak Jou. • 50 Car Parking Lot & 100 Car Municipal Parking Across The Street • Most Beautifully Renovated Facility In The Area • Largest Chapel In Nassau County (can hold over 200 guests) As Well As Smaller Chapels For Intimate Gatherings Most Cost Effective Burials, Cremations, Memorial Services and International Shipping Based on Our General Price List
Meet Our Licensed Funeral Directors
Please read our 5 Star Reviews
Lincoln McLean
Sapphire Edwards
Hablamos Español
Rubidia Martinez 1362302
September 3, 2026 — MERRICK HERALD
2
3
MERRICK HERALD — September 3, 2026 Allyson Ferrari/Herald photos
“The Forgotten Occupation” appeared on the marquee at Bellmore Movies and Showplace for its Long Island premiere last Sunday, bringing filmmaker Alain Martin’s decadelong project closer to home.
‘The Forgotten Occupation’ screened close to home By ALLYSON FERRARI aferrari@liherald.com
Bellmore became the Long Island homecoming for Baldwin filmmaker Alain Martin’s decade-long documentary project last Sunday, when “The Forgotten Occupation” made its local premiere at Bellmore Movies and Showplace. The screening was part of a tour commemorating the 111th anniversary of the beginning of the U.S. occupation of Haiti. “I’m elated that the project is finally coming to Long Island,” Martin, 45, said. “There are a lot of cultural and artistic events about Haiti that mostly take place in Brooklyn and Manhattan. People forget we have a rich, vibrant Haitian community here, and I’m hoping with this screening, we can encoura g e other Haitian filmmakers to remember those of us in Long Island. I’m happy I was able to make this happen, and it feels validating.” Nassau County Legislator Carrié Solages, who is of Haitian descent, joined Martin in bringing the documentary to Bellmore. Martin said he had long known Bellmore Movies and Showplace’s reputation as a welcoming venue for independent filmmakers, and he asked about showing the film there. Then a mutual connection put him in touch with Solages’ chief of staff, Martin said. Solages had heard about the documentary from someone who had seen it in Los Angeles. For Martin, the premiere was more than another stop on the film’s growing tour. Much of “The Forgotten Occupation” was edited on Long Island, and Martin organized the Bellmore screening himself. “I reached out to DSA, PSL, Haitians of NYC to help me with outreach, and they did not hesitate to come on board,” he said referring to the Long Island chapters of the Democratic Socialists of America and the Party for Socialism and Liberation. “This is also my hometown screening. The film was mostly edited in Long Island, so it’s a
Courtesy Alain Martin
Filmmaker Alain Martin spent more than a decade creating “The Forgotten Occupation,” a documentary examining the U.S. occupation of Haiti from 1915 to 1934. coming-home party.” Martin, who grew up in Jacmel, Haiti, before emigrating to the United States at age 13, spent more than a decade creating the documentary while working in finance on Long Island. The film examines the American occupation of Haiti from 1915 to 1934 and frames that history as a letter to Martin’s late grandfather, who came of age during the occupation. Following the assassination of Haitian President Jean Vilbrun Guillaume Sam in July 1915, President Woodrow Wilson sent U.S. Marines into Haiti to “restore order” and “maintain political and economic stability” in the Caribbean, according to the U.S. State Department’s Office of the Historian. The occupation lasted nearly two decades. Since the Herald spoke with Martin in February, the film has reached more audiences across the country — in Miami; at Temple University, in Philadelphia; at the People’s Forum, in Manhattan; at a theater in upstate Nyack — and around the world, including the Cinélux in Geneva, Switzerland. The film concluded its festival run
in 2024, and made its New York premiere at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum in February. Its current tour commemorates 111 years since the occupation began, with screenings planned in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Boston and New Jersey, as well as Norway. Martin said that Adelphi University and other organizations have also expressed interest in showing it. His interactions with viewers, he said, have reinforced why he spent more than a decade making it. At a Manhattan screening, he recalled, an older woman approached him afterward and broke down in tears. “She had remembered brief episodes of the occupation, and watching the film bought back those memories,” Martin said. At a screening in Washington, he said, an audience member told him that she had supported American intervention in Haiti before seeing the documentary, but watching it changed her mind. Those encounters have also given new meaning to something Martin told the Herald in February. “As more peo-
ple have seen the film, I am even more convinced that this was my gift to Haiti,” he said. “So many people have called, texted, emailed to thank me for making the film and how much it changed them and how much of their own family dynamics they see in it.” The journey has been rewarding, he said, but also frustrating, because he wants the documentary to reach more viewers outside the Haitian diaspora. “The jour ney has been inspiring, although discouraging at times,” he said. “I mean, me and my team made the first ever feature film on the topic of the U.S. occupation. A lot of people in Haiti have now seen it and have gone out of their way to get in touch with me to thank me. That feels good. Discouraging because I feel as though not enough people beyond the Haitian diaspora have seen this. But we are working to change it.” The Long Island premiere also came as Haitian immigrants face uncertainty over their ability to remain in the United States. Martin said the current debate has made the documentary’s mission feel more urgent. “In Long Island … we have a lot of Haitians facing the threat of deportation,” he said. “Someone told me a lot of people would love to attend the screening, but they are afraid of leaving their houses.” Martin views the current moment through the history explored in his documentary, arguing that the American occupation contributed to conditions that have shaped generations of Haitian migration. “The occupation largely made Haiti unlivable,” he said. “It kick-started the immigration phenomenon going on now. And yet many of us are now being made to feel unwelcome here.” For Martin, bringing the film to Long Island was an opportunity to make that century-old history resonate closer to home. “I hope they’re thinking about their fellow Haitians right here in Long Island,” he said, “who are now facing an existential crisis.”
Questions we’ve been asked... Is there a fee charged for making funeral pre-arrangements?
There is absolutely no fee or other charge in New York State when you make “pre-arrangements”. Moreover when you pre-fund those arrangements Thomas L. Kearns through the Pre-Plan Trust there is no additional expense in establishing the trust account. A trust account that remains under your control and your funds are FDIC insured. No commission, no set-up fees, no extra expenses. Just accurate, helpful information, and a plan that conforms to all New York State Regulations and SSI-Medicaid regulations as well. An enhanced rate of interest on the Pre-Plan Trust enables us to guarantee the funeral home costs when a complete funeral is arranged and paid for. If you would like to discuss these issues, call us and we’ll arrange to have one of our licensed funeral director professionals meet with you and answer your questions. You’ll receive clear answers, an itemized list of the costs, and some peace of mind. Leo F.
Herald file photo
Hofstra University professors will not walk off the job on the first day of classes after the university and faculty union reached an agreement Sunday night to extend their existing collective bargaining agreement while negotiations continue.
Strike averted as talks continue
KEARNS , Inc. Funeral Directors
Thomas L. Kearns, Patrick J. Kearns, Paul C. Kearns-Stanley
(516) 794-0500 or 1-800-640-9500 (NYS)
445 East Meadow Ave., East Meadow (across from the East Meadow Post Office)
www.LEOFKEARNS.com
1362239
Attorney advertising
Protecting Your Future with Michael and Suzanne Ettinger Attorneys-at-Law
Please join attorney Michael Ettinger for a live webinar, “Four Advantages of Using Trusts,” on Wednesday September 9 at 6:30 p.m. Register in advance at trustlaw.com
Saving Half on the Nursing Home Doorstep What do you do when a client comes in to see you and says that his mother is going into a nursing home and she has $300,000 in assets. In fact, mom scrimped and saved all of her life to have this nest egg and now she desperately wants to see her children get an inheritance. Although you may protect all of your assets by planning five years ahead of time with a Medicaid Asset Protection Trust, all is not lost if nothing has been done and the client finds herself on the nursing home doorstep. There is a solution for single clients who do not have the “spousal refusal” option. The advanced elder law technique, used to protect assets at the last minute, is called the “gift and loan” strategy. Here’s how it works. Let’s assume, for the purposes of our example, that the nursing home costs $15,000 a month. When mom goes into the nursing home, we gift one-half of the nest egg, in this case one-half of $300,000, or $150,000, to her children. Then we lend the other $150,000 to the children and they execute a promissory note agreeing to repay the $150,000 in ten monthly payments of $15,000 per month, together with a modest amount of interest. Now we
apply for Medicaid benefits. Medicaid will impose a penalty period (i.e., they will refuse to pay) for 10 months on the grounds that the gift of $150,000 could have been used to pay for mom’s care for 10 months. Medicaid ignores the loan since it was not a gift. It is going to be paid back, with interest, according to the terms of the promissory note. What happens is that the ten loan repayment installments will be used to pay for mom’s nursing home care during the penalty period. Just when the loan repayments are finished, the penalty period expires and Medicaid begins to pick up the tab. Lo and behold, the children get to keep the $150,000 gift and mom has saved some of the inheritance for her children. This technique also illustrates why you should have an elder law lawyer prepare your power of attorney. Let’s say mom no longer has the legal capacity to make the needed gifts. The “elder law” power of attorney allows for gifts in any amount to be made on her behalf by her agent. If you find yourself with the basic power of attorney that general lawyers use, gifts are usually limited to no more than $5,000.00 per year. Under Medicaid, it’s move it or lose it.
ETTINGER LAW FIRM ELDER LAW ESTATE PLANNING SINCE 1991
trustlaw.com Trusts & Estates • Wills & Probate • Medicaid
Visit us at trustlaw.com to learn more or search Ettinger Law on YouTube for our elder law estate planning videos
NO-COST CONSULTATION: 516-327-8880 or email info@trustlaw.com
100 Merrick Rd., Rockville Centre • 3000 Marcus Ave., Lake Success Other offices in Huntington • Melville • Islandia
1349196
September 3, 2026 — MERRICK HERALD
4
Hofstra University professors will not walk off the job on the first day of classes after the university and faculty union reached an agreement Sunday night to extend their existing collective bargaining agreement while negotiations continue. The Hofstra chapter of the American Association of University Professors announced Monday that the two sides made significant progress during negotiations over the weekend and reached agreement on several major terms. As part of the agreement, the current collective bargaining agreement will be extended through Friday, Sept. 4, giving both sides additional time to finalize outstanding issues and work toward a new contract. The potential strike had loomed over the start of the fall semester as professors and the university remained at odds over a new agreement. The decision to extend the contract means classes can begin as scheduled while negotiations continue. Officials said negotiations continued throughout the weekend, with the progress made sufficient for both sides to agree that extending the current contract
was the appropriate course of action. “We have made meaningful progress on several major issues, and we believe continuing negotiations this week provides the best path toward reaching a fair agreement,” Anthony Basile, president of the Hofstra AAUP, said in a statement. “Our faculty members have demonstrated tremendous solidarity throughout this process, and our focus remains on securing a contract that supports our faculty, our students and the continued strength of Hofstra University,” Basile said. The union is scheduled to meet with its membership Monday evening to provide an update on the negotiations and discuss the progress made over the weekend. The extension gives the university and faculty several more days to work through remaining issues before the Sept. 4 deadline. Both sides have indicated that negotiations will continue this week as they work toward reaching an overall agreement. This is the most current news as of press time on Aug. 31.
_________________ bellmore ________________
__________________ merrick _________________
HERALD
— Abigail Grieco
HERALD
HOW TO REACH US
Our offices are located at 2 Endo Blvd. Garden City, NY 11530 and are open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
MAIN PHONE: (516) 569-4000 ■ WEB SITE: www.liherald.com/bellmore ■ E-MAIl: Letters and other submissions: belleditor@liherald.com ■ EDITORIAl DEPARTMENT: Ext. 207 E-mail: belleditor@liherald.com
■ WEB SITE: www.liherald.com/merrick ■ E-MAIl: Letters and other submissions: merrickeditor@liherald.com ■ EDITORIAl DEPARTMENT: Ext. 207 E-mail: merrickeditor@liherald.com
The Bellmore Herald USPS 017547, is published every Thursday by Richner Communications, Inc., 2 Endo Blvd. Garden City, NY 11530.
The Merrick Herald USPS 017651, is published every Thursday by Richner Communications, Inc., 2 Endo Blvd. Garden City, NY 11530.
SUBSCRIPTIONS: Press ”7” ClASSIFIED ADVERTISING: Ext. 286 DISPlAY ADVERTISING: Ext. 249 PUBlIC NOTICES: Ext. 232
E-mail: subscriptions@liherald.com Fax: (516) 569-4942 E-mail: ereynolds@liherald.com Fax: (516) 622-7460 E-mail: rglickman@liherald.com Fax: (516) 569-4643 E-mail: legalnotices@liherald.com
Periodicals postage paid at Garden City, NY 11530 and additional mailing offices. Postmaster send address changes to Bellmore Herald or Merrick Herald, 2 Endo Blvd. Garden City, NY 11530. Newsstand Price: $1. Annual Subscription Rates, $52 per year auto-pay or $65 one-time payment within Nassau County or $76 outside of Nassau County. Copyright © 2026 Richner Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.
Events help raise money for Desirae’s Darlings The organization’s annual comedy fundraiser has become a significant part of its toy drive. Gallart said proceeds from last year’s event allowed him to purchase 2,285 new toys. Desirae’s Darlings distributes toys through partnerships with organizations that serve children and families. In recent years, the organization has partnered with Cohen Children’s Medical Center and St. Mary’s Children’s Hospital in Bayside, Queens, where Gallart and his volunteers have delivered toys to children. This year, Desirae’s Darlings is adding another recipient, MOMMAS House in Levittown, a nonprofit that helps young mothers and their children. Gallart said the organization holds an annual holiday party for mothers who have completed its program and their children, and Desirae’s Darlings plans to supply toys for the event. Gallart’s organization also partners with the Glen Cove Economic Opportunity Commission, providing toys for its annual children’s holiday party. Irma Jeanty, the commission’s program director, said the partnership began after the EOC’s work with Toys for Tots led to an introduction to Desirae’s Darlings. “Let’s put it that they were miracles to us,” Jeanty said about Desirae’s Darlings. Since then, Gallart and his volunteers have provided toys for children and fami-
lies served by the EOC, which works with low-income families throughout the community. Jeanty said Gallart has personally delivered toys to the EOC and brought volunteers to help distribute them. “It’s been a godsend,” Jeanty said. “He came in, and he brought other people to volunteer to help out.” Gaitley Stevenson-Mathews, an advisory board member for the Glen Cove EOC, said he has been familiar with Desirae’s Darlings through its annual toy giveaway for about three years. “They bring a giant amount of toys to be shared, which is a substantial gift when you recognize how many children there are in need in our community,” Stevenson-Mathews said. Local businesses also have helped Desirae’s Darlings maximize its fundraising efforts. Mike Timko, owner of Fun Stuff Toys in Seaford, has worked with Gallart to make the most of the money raised by the organization. “We’ve worked very closely with him, trying to get the most bang for the money he raises,” Timko said. “Trying to get him as many items to serve to help as many kids as possible.” Gallart said his goal has shifted from simply collecting more toys each year to helping one additional child. He said he hopes the legacy of Desirae’s Darlings will ensure children have something that brings a smile to their faces during the holidays.
MERRICK HERALD — September 3, 2026
ConTinueD froM PaGe 1
Courtesy Joe Gallart
Joe Gallart and his wife, Gina Bennicasa, brought plenty of holiday spirit to Merrick for this year’s Desirae’s Darlings Christmas in July Pizza Toy Swap, held at Gallart’s home. The festive gathering featured pizza, toys and plenty of smiles, proving that Christmas cheer doesn’t have to wait until December. Tickets for the Comedy Night are available through the organization’s website. For more information about Desirae’s
Darlings, including upcoming events and ways to support the organization, visit DesiraesDarlings.org.
MAX’S APPETIZING & MAJESTIC CATERING APPETIZERS • chopped liver • vegetable • gefilte fish • our own homemade horseradish
SOUPS • chicken soup • matzoh balls • kreplach • pea soup
GRILLED VEG. PACKAGES UPON REQUEST
SIDE DISHES
• mushroom & barely • derma • kasha varnishkes • noodle pudding • potato pudding • potato latkes • asparagus vinaigrette • carrot tzimmis
VEGETABLES
• potato pudding • string beans almondine • honey glazed baby carrots • zucchini / carrot kugel
ENTREES
• southern fried chicken • roasted chickens • glazed ducklings • turkey • stuffed breast of veal • meatloaf • brisket
DESSERTS
• rugelach chocolate & cinnamon raisin • fresh fruit compote • cranberry fruit compote • fresh fruit sala • halvah
Kosher
YOM KIPPUR PACKAGES 10 People $358 Choice of 2 Cream Cheeses, Tuna, Egg & Whitefish Salad, Vegetable Chopped Liver, Pickled Herring in Cream Sauce, Nova Scotia, Sliced Tomatoes & Onions, 1 lb Rugelach
15 People $448 / 20 People $576 Choice of 3 cream cheeses, Tuna, Egg & Whitefish Salad, Vegetable Chopped Liver, Salmon, Whitefish, Nova Scotia, Pickled Herring in Cream Sauce, Sliced Tomatoes & Onions, 2 lbs Rugelach
A La Carte & Deserts Available • We Customize Special Requests
YOM KIPPUR SUGGESTIONS • baked salmon salad • vegetable chopped liver • vegetable cream cheese • cucumber salad • whole poached salmon • chopped herring salad • matjes herring • whole smoked Nova • pickled herring • halibut salad Scotia or Scotch salmon • whitefish salad • brook trout • eggs-mushroom-onions • farmer cheese, raisins, & nuts • belly lox salad • kippered salmon • homemade blintzes • schmaltz herring • whole smoked large whitefish
A Happy New Year To All 2655 Clubhouse Road • Merrick, NY 11566 • 516-205-2737 • maxskoshercatering.com
1360626
Original Owner Bobby Rosh Hashanah Menu
5
September 3, 2026 — MERRICK HERALD
6
BRINGING LOCAL SPORTS HOME EVERY WEEK
HERALD SPORTS Hofstra wins new coach Roche’s debut By ANDREW COEN sports@liherald.com
The Hofstra men’s soccer team kicked off a new era Aug. 20 with a familiar winning feeling. In the program’s first game under first-year head coach Stephen Roche following the retirement of the legendary Richard Nuttall, the then 20th-ranked Pride pulled out a 2-1 win at Bucknell on a goal from midfielder Sean Keane with 9:51 remaining. Nuttall recorded 364 wins in 38 years leading the sidelines while elevating Hofstra men’s soccer to a national level Roche is looking to continue to raise. “It’s an incredible honor to be chosen to not only take over Hofstra but to replace Richie who’s been my boss and my friend for so many years,” said Roche, an Ireland native who spent the last 10 seasons as an assistant under Nuttall. The momentum from the season opener carried over three days later when the Pride (2-0-1) knocked off American at home on Aug. 23 with goals from junior forward Bastian Carlman and Keane. The 2-0 start moved Hofstra to 13th in the national rankings and they stayed unbeaten after a 1-1 draw at Stony Brook in the CAA opener last Saturday. Roche was an instrumental part of Hofstra’s recent success that included four straight Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) titles and five straight NCAA Tournament appearances. The Pride went 14-5-1 in Nuttall’s final season and reached the third round of the NCAA Tournament for the third time in five years with a 3-2 upset win at number-one ranked Vermont, the defending national champions. “Going back to 2021 when we won the CAAs and got to the Sweet 16 the first time from that point onwards our success has allowed us to recruit great players,” Roche said. “We believe we have really good players and we then have to make sure they’re good people who buy into the Hofstra style of soccer.” The first year since 1988 of someone other than Nuttall spearheading Hofstra men’s soccer features a largely new team with just six returners who saw game action last year. The backline is anchored by fifth-year defender Pietro Santi, an Italy native who garnered CAA Preseason Player of the Year honors. Santi was part of a defensive unit last season that surrendered less than one goal per game and recorded seven shutouts. “He’s the general on the field, he’s the coach on the field and he keeps our backline incredibly organized,” Roche said of Santi. “A lot of the work he does goes unnoticed but at the end of the game when we’ve limited the opponent to very few chances a lot of that is to do with him and his organization.” Roche has also been pleased with other members of the defense so far this season including Anthony Grodzki and Joel Bona, a transfer from the University of Rhode Island, along with freshman Ben Schulz at left back. Milo Risenhoover, a fifth-year goalkeeper who arrived at Hofstra from University of the Pacific, is also shining on the defensive end early in the season. The Portland, Ore.. native garnered CAA Defensive Player of the Week honors after recording seven saves in Hofstra’s first two matches including four stops in the Bucknell victory. The offense has been largely carried early on by Keane, a 6-foot-5 graduate transfer from Auburn Montgomery University in Alabama, and Bastian Carlman, who has netted three goals. Roche is looking for a collective scoring effort this season that also includes
Photos courtesy Hofstra Athletics Communications
Jack Benham, right, and the Pride opened the campaign in winning fashion topping Bucknell, 2-1. many other potential offensive weapons including Lewis Matton, David Citron, Marc Perkuhn, Lewis Johnson and Schulz. Hofstra was picked to place first in the CAA North Division, which also includes Stony Brook, Monmouth, Drexel and Northeastern. The Pride’s CAA home opener is scheduled for this Saturday against Drexel at 7 p.m. Roche has pieced together a challenging non-conference schedule to position Hofstra for a possible at-large NCAA Tournament which the Pride obtained last year after falling to Stony Brook in the CAA semifinals. Hofstra hosts 7th-ranked Vermont in a rematch of last year’s NCAA Tournament thriller on Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. and Ivy League power Princeton on Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. “We got unlucky in the semifinals last year but because we had a tough schedule and our national ranking was high we still got into the tournament,” Roche said. “We’ve got a long way to go with a lot of really difficult games coming up, but with the difficulty of the schedule we have if we get 11 or 12 wins you would imagine we would be in that position again.”
Pietro Santi, right, anchors Hofstra’s defense.
NCC welcomes 40 students to EOP Summer Institute By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ Nassau Community College recently welcomed 40 incoming students to campus for its Educational Opportunity Program Summer Institute, a four-week program designed to help students build academic skills and prepare for the transition to college. The program, part of the State University of New York’s Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Program, gives incoming EOP students an opportunity to experience college life before beginning their fall coursework. Students participate in academic instruction, enrichment activities, professional development and social programming while becoming familiar with the Garden City campus and its resources. “This year, we are welcoming one of the largest EOP cohorts the College has seen in recent years, including both firsttime, full-time and transfer students,” Ariyanna Simmons, acting director of Special Programs, EOP, said in a news release. “Our Summer Institute gives students an opportunity to build a strong foundation before beginning their college careers while also encouraging them to explore their interests, discover their strengths and develop meaningful connections with their peers, faculty and the NCC community.” Throughout the program, students received instruction in reading, writing,
Courtesy Nassau Community College
Nassau Community College recently welcomed 40 incoming students to campus for the College’s Educational Opportunity Program Summer Institute, a four-week prefreshman program designed to help students build academic skills, develop connections and prepare for a successful transition to college. mathematics and critical thinking. They also had opportunities to meet faculty members, connect with EOP staff and become familiar with the campus. This year’s Summer Institute also marked the launch of EOP Pathways, a new initiative that allows students to complete independent projects in art and
STEM fields. Students participated in hands-on learning, developed criticalthinking and problem-solving skills, collaborated with peers and learned from professionals in their areas of interest. Projects included work ranging from robotics to abstract art. The projects will be featured during an EOP Summer
Showcase, where students can share their work and reflect on their summer experiences. The institute also included enrichment and social activities intended to help students establish connections and build a sense of community before the fall semester. “EOP is about creating opportunity and providing students with the support they need to reach their full potential,” Dr. Maria Conzatti, chief administrative officer at Nassau Community College, said. “The Summer Institute is an important part of that mission. We are excited to welcome these students to NCC and look forward to watching them grow as scholars, leaders and members of our college community.” SUNY’s Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Program provides academic support and supplemental financial assistance to students who have the potential to succeed in higher education despite limited financial resources and inadequate academic preparation. At NCC, EOP provides academic support, tutoring, supplemental instruction and modest financial assistance for nontuition expenses, as well as a community for participating students. Nassau Community College, a SUNY campus, serves more than 17,000 full- and part-time students annually and offers 70 degree and certificate programs. The 225acre campus in Garden City has more than 164,000 alumni.
Celebrate the New Year With a Sweet Beginning.
The Future is Now
JEWELRY & TIMEPIECES FOR SUMMER
WATERPROOF WATCHES
Jewelry for weddings, celebrations, and special moments.
Made for summer.
WE BUY GOLD Receive immediate payment for your unwanted gold jewelry and coins.
A Warm, Welcoming Jewish Community for every stage of life. Wishing you and your family
• Scrap Gold • Gold Chains • Gold Bracelets • Gold Rings • Gold Coins • Estate Jewelry REPAIRS & SIZING
WATCH BATTERIES
LASER ENGRAVING
a Happy & Healthy New Year!
1362155 1349503
CUSTOM JEWELRY
COME DISCOVER CONGREGATION BETH OHR
2164 MERRICK ROAD MERRICK, NY 11566
FOLLOW US
516-208-6194
@hislonjewelersli
Early Childhood Programs K- 12th Grade Jewish Learning OHRchard After School Program Adult Education Classes Innovative & Innovative and Shabbat Rabbi Sara Birnbaum Cantor Joshua Diamond Nadine Lewis, President Ellen Agulnick, Director of Congregational Learning
Shabbat Family Services Sisterhood & Men’s Club Rosh Chodesh Women’s Circle Teen Events Kosher Food Pantry
2550 Centre Avenue Bellmore, NY 11710 (516) 781-3072 www.cbohr.org
1358544
WEDDING SEASON
225 Fox Boulevard Merrick, NY 11566 (516) 379-8650 www.merrickjc.org
1361666
Merrick Jewish Centre
MERRICK HERALD — September 3, 2026
hgaldamez@liherald.com
7
8
September 3, 2026 — MERRICK HERALD
JOIN US – IT’S FREE!
SEPTEMBER 18 • 10AM-12:30PM
ROCKVILLE CENTRE RECREATION CENTER 111 N OCEANSIDE RD, ROCKVILLE CENTRE 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
AGENDA:
VISIT EXHIBITORS EXPERT PANEL + Q&A RAFFLE DRAWINGS MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN
Register for this FREE event:
All designed to help you stay active, informed, and engaged at every stage of life.
AN ALL-IN-ONE EXPO FOR LIVING YOUR BEST LIFE SILVER SPONSORS
RockvilleCentre.eventbrite.com or email rbamgbose@liherald.com or call 516.569.4000 x273
Scan Here!
GIFT BAG SPONSORS
TO SPONSOR OR EXHIBIT CONTACT ANNA GRACI AGRACI@LIHERALD.COM OR 516.569.4000 X290
1335981
*Boxed lunches for first 150 attendees
GOLD SPONSORS
MAE CAIME FOUNDER, AMAEZING MIDLIFE & BEYOND
Jewish learning and enrichment at OHRchard ests. For Ellen Agulnick, Beth Ohr’s director of congregational learning, creating an environment where children genuinely want to participate has been a central goal. Agulnick, who has been with Beth Ohr for about five years, helped lead the synago gue through the application process for the Jewish After School Accelerator. “I wanted to make sure that the kids were getting what they needed,” Agulnick said. “The giant goal was that kids would want to come to Hebrew school and that it could feel like a camp environment, feel fun for them.” That camp-inspired approach also comes from Agulnick’s own experiences. “They can go to Jewish camp in the summer and come to us after school for a similar kind of experience where they’ ll learn Hebrew,” Agulnick said. “They’ll learn about Judaism but all in a fun, engaging way.” Beth Ohr Synagogue President Nadine Lewis said the program fills a need in the community by offering more than tra-
ditional babysitting-style afterschool care. “We wanted to do a true enrichment program,” Lewis said. “We wanted to be really an all-inclusive type of program, and that children just are in a nurturing environment and a learning environment.” Through the Jewish After School Accelerator, Beth Ohr is receiving coaching, curriculum and financial support over three years to help establish the program. Agulnick said the initiative provided a comprehensive blueprint, while also allowing Beth Ohr to develop a program tailored to its community. The name OHRchard was chosen to reflect growth and community, while also capturing the pro g ram’s playful, camp-like feel. As the first school year approaches, Frumer said she is most looking forward to seeing children make connections and thrive. “It’s really for the children, and to see the smiles at the end of the day and see them learn something new,” she said. For more information, visit OHRchard’s website, Ohrchard. org.
MERRICK HERALD — September 3, 2026
COnTinued fROm page 1
9
Courtesy Congregation Beth Ohr
Congregation Beth Ohr’s OHRchard after-school program will launch this fall, offering children in kindergarten through fifth grade Jewish learning, enrichment activities and a camp-like atmosphere. The program is open to families across the South Shore, regardless of synagogue membership.
GREAT OPPORTUNITIES BELLMORE UFSD NOW HIRING
LETTER/RESUME/CERTIFICATION: Dr. Joseph S. Famularo, Supt. of Schools 580 Winthrop Ave., Bellmore, NY 11710 | Fax: 516-679-3027 bellmore@bellmoreschools.org or apply directly on OLAS
1360904
• Permanent Guaranteed Everyday Building Substitutes Full Time Applicants applying for this position must have New York State Childhood Education (1-6) or (N-6) certification (preferred) or may be pursuing an Undergraduate/ Graduate Degree in Education • Teaching Assistants Full Time with Full Benefits Applicants applying for these positions must have New York State Teacher or Teaching Assistant Certification • Teacher Aides – Part Time and Full Time with Benefits • School Monitors – Part Time
September 3, 2026 — MERRICK HERALD
10
Fans line danced to the hit, ‘Love Train.’
Barbara Harris brings 1960s classics to park Music from one of the defining girl groups of the 1960s came to Eisenhower Park when Barbara Harris, an original member of The Toys, took the stage for a noontime concert Aug. 12. Harris performed at the park’s Parking Field 1 as part of Nassau County’s summer concert programming, giving Long Islanders an opportunity to hear a performer whose career stretches back more than six decades. Harris is best known as a member of The Toys, the New York-based pop trio that rose to national prominence in the mid-1960s with “A Lover’s Concerto.” Harris began singing in churches before moving to Queens when she was 11. While in high school, she sang with a group of young performers that eventually evolved into a trio with Barbara Parritt and June Montiero. The three became The Toys and signed with DynoVoice Records. The group found its biggest success in 1965 with “A Lover’s Concerto,” written by Sandy Linzer and Denny Randell.
Barbara Harris of the New York-grown group, The Toys, performed at Eisenhower Park on Aug. 12, serenading the crowd with classic hits.
Drawing its melody from the classical “Minuet in G major,” the song climbed to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and sold more than 2 million copies. The Toys followed the hit with “Attack!,” which reached the Billboard Top 20 in 1966. During their years together, The Toys appeared on popular television music programs including “Hullabaloo” and “Shindig!” and toured with singer-songwriter Gene Pitney. They also appeared in the 1967 film “It’s a Bikini World,” performing “Attack!” Although the original group disbanded in the late 1960s, Harris continued performing, carrying the music that first brought The Toys national attention to audiences decades later. Her Aug. 12 appearance at Eisenhower Park offered Nassau County concertgoers a midday dose of 1960s pop and a chance to hear music from one of New York’s homegrown vocal groups. —Jordan Vallone
Tim Baker/Herald photos
Mike Reinhart, deputy commissioner of Nassau County Parks & Recreation, Debbie Pugliese of the department of human services, Barbara Harris, and Michael D’Ambrosio, Nassau County’s deputy commissioner, at the summer show.
Audience members clapped along to Harris’s performance in the park.
11
P R O U D LY S E R V I N G L O N G I S L A N D H O M E O W N E R S
PAY LESS. KEEP MORE.
MERRICK HERALD — September 3, 2026
PROPERTY TAX REDUCTION
Breakfast Meeting: All About MWBEs Join WEDLI to learn about MWBEs (Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises). Our speakers will address requirements, resources, and opportunities in Nassau, Suffolk, and NY State.
File your grievance today.
Personalized attention from start to finish Decades of proven, real results Pay nothing upfront LIMITED-TIME
Anissa D. Moore Nassau Deputy County Executive, Health & Human Services
New customer discounts • Referral programs
Sandra Alfano Exec Director, Multicultural Affairs & Community Engagement, Suffolk County Human Services
Wednesday, Sept 9 | 8:15 -10:15 a.m. The Mansion at Oyster Bay, Woodbury
516-915-OTAX Gold Sponsor
Bronze Sponsor
Media Sponsor
1360533
TheTaxReliefPro.com • info@TheTaxReliefPro.com
1359603
516-915-0829
1362185
Register today at WEDLI.org
Advocates call for county to cut ties with ICE New state law, which Blakeman calls ‘completely misguided,’ orders end to cooperation agreements By HAILEY FULMER hfulmer@liherald.com
With a new state law taking effect that ends local immigration enforcement agreements, Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages and immigrant advocates called on Nassau County last week to end its cooperation agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and comply with the law. An Aug. 25 news conference outside Nassau County Police Department headquarters, in Mineola, included members of Make the Road Action, the New York for All Coalition and the Long Island Immigrant Justice Alliance. Speakers mad the point that the new law is meant to prevent law enforcement agencies from using local resources for federal immigration enforcement. Solages said the law comes as immigrant communities face uncertainty about their status and concerns about immigration enforcement. “It’s a tumultuous time right now in our community,” she said. Fears about immigration enforcement, Solages said, can undermine public safety when residents avoid police or emergency services. “There are victims of crimes who are afraid to come forward,” she said. “There are people who are having emergency situations who are afraid to call police or ambulance because they might get into deportation proceedings.” “We need to make sure that we’re building trust with communities,” she said. Local police should continue their public safety work, Solages said, without using local resources for federal immigration enforcement. “We want to make sure that our public safety continues, our public safety officers and law enforcement keeps doing their work,”
Hailey Fulmer/Herald
Robert Agyemang, the New York Immigration Coalition’s vice president of advocacy, spoke outside Nassau County Police Department headquarters in Mineola on Aug. 25, calling for an end to the county’s cooperation with ICE. she said, but not using our local resources to do federal immigration.” Kiana Bierra-Anderson, Long Island director of Make the Road New York, criticized County Executive Bruce Blakeman for using local resources to support federal immigration enforcement. “Nassau County workers are losing their jobs, children are losing their parents and small businesses are reporting losing revenues,” Bierra-Anderson said. Cheryl Keshner, a community advocate for Long Island’s Empire Justice Center, said that immigration enforcement had spread fear among immigrant resi-
dents, and could deter people from reporting crimes or seeking emergency help. Keshner raised the case of Santos Banegas Reyes, an immigrant who died after being detained by immigration authorities. She called for answers about his death, and supporters at the news conference chanted, “Justice for Santos.” The criticism came one day before Blakeman said that Nassau County would comply with the state law and end its cooperation agreement with ICE. At a news conference Wednesday in Mineola, Blakeman called the state law “completely misguided” and said it would make Nassau County less safe. “I am a law-and-order county executive,” he said. “I believe in the rule of law, even when it’s a bad law, and this is a very, very bad and dangerous law.” Blakeman added that the Nassau County attorney had notified ICE and sent termination notices to the agency. He said the county would continue working with ICE where permitted by law. “Whatever we are allowed to do within the confines of the law, we will do,” Blakeman said. Bryan Flanagan, ICE’s assistant field office director, who appeared with Blakeman, said that ending the agreement removed what he called a public safety tool. “New Yorkers deserve a clear understanding of what ended yesterday,” Flanagan said. “This decision has removed a proven public safety tool.” He said that ICE would continue its federal immigration enforcement work without the agreement. Blakeman defended the county’s previous cooperation with ICE, saying that the agreement allowed local law enforcement to work with federal authorities in cases involving people accused of crimes.
JOIN US IN GREENVALE... IT‘S FREE! PRESENTED BY
10.15.26
FOOD &
REFRESHMENTS
EXPERT PANEL + Q&A
LOCAL EXHIBITORS
RAFFLES & GIVEAWAYS
10AM - 12:30PM GREENVALE TILLES CENTER
720 NORTHERN BLVD, GREENVALE
SPONSORED BY
Register for this FREE event: or email https://GreenvaleSeniorHealth Expo.eventbrite.com
rbamgbose@liherald.com or call 516.569.4000 x273
1336069
September 3, 2026 — MERRICK HERALD
12
STEPPING OUT
13
Courtesy iBulb
Seasonal flowers bring color and character to your home as we transition to fall.
Fresh from the garden
“Just another band from East L.A,” is the legendary band’s motto. Since 1973, Los Lobos has been putting their own spin on Mexican folk music to embrace rock, punk, country, soul, R&B, and more. The band broke through with its Grammywinning 1983 recording “Anselma” and 1984’s “How Will the Wolf Survive?,” but its biggest commercial success came with its 1987 cover of Ritchie Valens’ “La Bamba,” which topped charts in the U.S. and U.K. Over five decades, the band has built a devoted international following with its adventurous recordings and acclaimed live performances.. But perhaps its most lasting impact will be how well its music embodies the idea of America as a cultural melting pot. The reseult is a new sound that’s greater than the sum of its parts.
Friday, Sept. 4, 7 p.m. Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, Eisenhower Park, East Meadow. Contact nassaucountyny. gov for information.
Ease into the new season in color By Karen Bloom
F
all may be knocking on the door, but there’s no need to put away the flowers just yet. As the seasons shift, summer’s vibrant blooms can continue to brighten patios, porches, balconies and interiors, offering an easy way to savor the lingering days of warm weather. Whether enjoyed beside a favorite book and a cold drink or gathered into a colorful centerpiece, fresh flowers can make even an ordinary afternoon feel like a celebration. There are endless ways to bring that seasonal beauty to your surroundings. In fact, this in-between time of year can be one of the best times to enjoy summer’s bounty when the garden is still generous with color but the first hints of autumn are beginning to appear. The key is to have fun with it. Mix colors, textures, greenery and branches, experiment with different containers and let the flowers reflect the season — and your own personality. With a little creativity, you can keep summer’s cheerful spirit around a while longer while gently welcoming the cozy days of fall.
Let summer linger
Late-summer gardens are still bursting with possibilities. Dahlias, gladioli and lilies come in an astonishing range of colors, shapes and sizes — and they make stunning arrangements. Rather than reaching for a ready-made bouquet, gather a mix of loose flowers, foliage and branches and create your own. Arrange them in a favorite vase or container, then display the finished bouquet indoors or outside for an instant dose of color.
Make a statement
Let your floral arrangements reflect your personal style. Choose a sturdy vase or planter for outdoor displays, or scatter several smaller vessels across a table for a more playful look. To help cut flowers stay fresh, trim the stems diagonally before placing them in water and keep arrangements in a
shady spot. Change the water regularly and, during lingering warm spells, check them daily. Outdoors, a few rocks or some sand in the bottom of a container can help keep it steady when the breeze picks up. For an inviting finishing touch, surround your arrangement with candles, lanterns or other seasonal accents. A simple floral display can turn a patio table into a cozy gathering spot for those last leisurely days outdoors. Let nature have its moment Summer-flowering bulbs can keep the garden colorful for weeks, while also attracting pollinators and supporting biodiversity. Remove spent blooms to encourage continued flowering, and remember that some bulbs, including dahlias and gladioli, can be lifted after flowering and stored in a frost-free place to replant next year. And there’s a whole world of unusual bulbs to consider for future gardens, including calla lilies, pineapple lilies, freesias and Blazing Star. Planning ahead now can help ensure another spectacular display when warm weather returns.
A lily for all seasons
If lilies are already growing in your garden, you have an especially versatile bloom at your fingertips. Their elegant flowers range from pristine white and creamy yellow to rich reds and purples — making them equally at home on a terrace, balcony or dining table. Potted lilies can also transition easily between outdoor and indoor spaces. A bouquet of lilies makes a beautiful statement on its own, but they also pair effortlessly with other seasonal flowers. Combine them with dahlias and gladioli in late summer, or bring them into fall with branches and foliage for an arrangement with a more autumnal feel. With their variety of colors, forms and fragrances, lilies offer endless opportunities to refresh a floral display as the seasons change.
Blooms for the soul
Flowers do more than brighten a room — they can brighten a mood, too. There’s something inherently soothing about selecting blooms, arranging them in a vase and taking the time to appreciate their color, texture and fragrance. Even the simple ritual of creating a bouquet can provide a welcome moment of calm. So before summer slips away completely, gather a few favorite blooms and bring them to the table. After all, there’s no better way to ease into fall than with a little beauty still in bloom.
Australian Pink Floyd Show The Australian Pink Floyd Show’s The Happiest Days Of Our Lives – Greatest Hits 26 Tour is a collection of greatest hits that resonate deeply with Pink Floyd fans everywhere. This critically acclaimed tribute has been astonishing audiences worldwide for nearly 40 years. Striving to reproduce the Pink Floyd experience and bring the music to new audiences, the show features a new stage set and video animation, cutting-edge lighting, precision lasers, massive inflatables, and impeccable live sound, TAPFS promises to offer an unforgettable experience for both long-time fans and newcomers.
Wednesday, Sept. 9, 8 p.m. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington.
MERRICK HERALD — September 3, 2026
Los Lobos
September 3, 2026 — MERRICK HERALD
14
Your Neighborhood SEP
3
Rock out
CALENDAR Stargazers
Eisenhower Park’s summer concert series welcomes The Lords of 52nd Street, the legendary New York band known for backing up Billy Joel and classic hits.
Old Westbury Gardens invites everyone to join members of the Astronomical Society of Long Island for an evening of guided stargazing and nighttime skywatching. Learn about the stars, planets, and seasonal constellations visible overhead while experienced observers help you navigate the night sky through telescopes and shared knowledge. Gates open 30 minutes before observing begins, allowing guests time to settle in and take in the twilight transition before the sky comes alive. Bring your curiosity and enjoy a relaxed, awe-filled evening under the stars. Free with admission.
• Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow • Time: 7 p.m. • Contact: nassaucountyny.gov or (516) 572-0200
SEP
5
Storybook Stroll
Bring the kids to Old Westbury Gardens for a Storybook Stroll. Little listeners are invited to participate in a guided stroll through the Gardens, with a reading of “Mossy” by Jan Brett. The new and improved stroll route starts out at the map stand. Along the way, discover nature’s wonders, in the formal gardens. The tour ends at the Thatched Cottage with a story and handson craft for each child to take home. • Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury • Time: 10:30-11:30 a.m. • Contact: oldwestburygardens. org or call (516) 333-0048
• Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury • Time: 8:15-10 p.m., also Sept. 17 • Contact: oldwestburygardens. org or call (516) 333-0048
SEP
17
‘The Rocketman Show’
Remember when rock was young? You will after this enthralling show, on the Paramount stage. Crash land into your seat with The Rocket Man Show, starring Scotsman Rus Anderson — Elton John’s official stunt and body double for various “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” world tour projects. Hand picked by Elton and David Furnish for the role, it was Rus’ own live Broadway-esque production “The Rocket Man Show” that got him noticed. Witness the magic and live persona of a 1970’s Elton, recreated like no other. Rus storms around the stage with a fun-loving sense of flamboyance; part diva, part soccer player, killer vocalist, fierce piano player, all rock and roller. This is a detailed re-creation of Elton concert’s • Where: The Paramount, that’s not to be missed. Anderson’s painstaking attention to detail includes 370 New York Ave., Huntington wearing gorgeous, colorful and spectacular costumes, including Elton’s iconic • Time: 8 p.m. boots, glasses and jumpsuits from 1973, as well as a sparkly Swarovski • Contact: ticketmaster.com or tuxedo from 1984. paramountny.com
Rock on
Eisenhower Park’s summer concert series concludes with Rolling Stones tribute band Streetfighter and The Who tribute band Who’s Next. • Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow • Time: 7 p.m. • Contact: nassaucountyny.gov or (516) 572-0200
SEP
6
Amazing Animal Encounter
Join Long Island Children’s Museum’s animal educator in the Hive Studio in the Feasts for Beasts Gallery to learn what goes into the care of the museum’s “residents.” Meet some of our real-life animals up close. • Where: 11 Davis Ave., Garden City • Time: 1:30-2 p.m. • Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800
SEP
8
Harmonize with Long Island Harmonizers
Love to sing? So do the Long Island Harmonizers. The Barbershop Harmony Society chapter is a chorus of more than 20 singers,
now welcoming new members. The ensemble performs four-part a cappella harmony in the barbershop style, entertaining audiences at 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
SEP
9
Drawing Class
Kids ages 5-12 can learn how to draw Luigi from Super Mario at Bellmore Library. Registration required.
• Where: 2288 Bedford Ave. • Time: 7-8 p.m. • Contact: bellmorelibrary.org
Tea and Tour
Old Westbury Gardens welcomes visitors to enjoy a delightful afternoon tea at Orchard Hill, featuring an elegant spread of tea sandwiches, scones, and desserts, perfectly paired with
a selection of fine teas. After your meal, enjoy a seasonal garden tour led by one of our knowledgeable volunteer docents. $65
original Broadway production of “A Chorus Line” and roles in “Dirty Dancing” and other acclaimed projects. Each ticket includes a paperback copy of her memoir.
• Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury • Time: 1-3 p.m.; also Sept. 10 and Sept. 17 • Contact: oldwestburygardens. org or call (516) 333-0048
• Where: Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre • Time: 7 p.m. • Contact: madisontheatreny.org or (516) 323-4444
SEP
10
Laughs with Mitch Fatel
Comedian and former Howard Stern Show intern performs at The Brokerage.
• Where: 2797 Merrick Road • Time: 8 p.m. • Contact: Brokerage.Govs.com
An evening with Kelly Bishop
Molloy’s Madison Theatre and Theodore’s Books will presents an evening with award-winning actress Kelly Bishop. Best known for her role as Emily Gilmore on the Emmy Award-winning series “Gilmore Girls,” Bishop discusses her memoir, “The Third Gilmore Girl,” and reflect on her sixdecade career in entertainment, including her Tony Awardwinning performance in the
SEP
15
Blood Drive
Bellmore Library hosts New York Blood Center. Donate blood for those in need. Every 2 seconds someone is in need of blood, and your donation can save up to 3 lives! Registration preferred but walk-ins accepted.
SEP
18
Laughs with Peter Revello Enjoy stand-up comedy with Peter Revello at The Brokerage.
• Where: 2797 Merrick Road. • Time: 7 p.m., also Sept. 19 • Contact: Brokerage.Govs.com
SEP
24
Live After Five
Don’t miss out on Merrick’s Live After Five, ongoing. Merrick Community Civic Association hosts an evening dedicated to supporting local businesses. Participating restaurants and shops offer special promotions for the evening for all customers. Enjoy music at the Gazebo near the LIRR (weather permitting).
• Where: Along Merrick Avenue, from LIRR to Loines Ave, and into the Merrick Mall • Time: Beginning at 5 p.m.
• Where: 2288 Bedford Ave. • Time: 2:45-7:15 p.m. • Contact: bellmorelibrary.org
Having an event?
SEP
17
Bellmore Family Street Festival
The annual street festival presented by the Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores is not to missed. • Where: Bedford Avenue LIRR, Bellmore • Time: Varied, through Sept. 20
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.
15
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 6:00-9:00PM The Heritage Club at Bethpage 99 Quaker Meeting House Road Farmingdale, New York
20 26
For more information or to sponsor this event, contact Amy Amato Executive Director, Corporate Relations and Events aamato@liherald.com
MEET THE 2026 AWARD WINNERS *
EMCEE
KRISTIN THORNE Investigative Reporter Law&Crime Network
EXCELLENCE IN ORTHODONTICS
JOHN L. GOMES, MD
Co-Owner Avenue Orthodontics
MARINA MILGROM, DDS
ELENI MICHAILIDIS, DDS, MS, MPH
BEHAVIORAL & MENTAL HEALTH CHRISTINA DIBERNARDO
Founder Expressive Connections Mental Health Counseling
NATALIE BITTON, DDS Founder Bitton Orthodontics, PLLC
EXCELLENCE IN SPECIAL NEEDS THERAPEUTIC PROGRAMS & INNOVATION LEE D. STOCKNER
JOSEPH A. SALAMONE Founder & Executive Director The Long Island Coalition Against Bullying
NICOLE IANNARONE, MA, LBA, BCBA Founder & President Cornerstone Behavioral Services, LLC.
President, Music Lee Inclined Guy, Inc. Inventor, Occupational Octaves Piano™
DR. RALU ONUBOGU Founder Sensory Island Long Island
CLINICAL CARE EXCELLENCE
HEALTHCARE LEADERSHIP
DONNA RILEY MATUSIAK, MA, CCC/SLP
EMILLY TRICE, MSHA
Vice President of Dental Services Harmony Health Care of LI
Director North Shore Center for Speech & Swallowing
KIMBERLY KANNER, ED.D., MSN, RN,NPD-BC
HAN JO KIM, MD Spine Surgeon Hospital for Special Surgery
Director of Clinical Operations Visiting Nurse Service & Hospice of Suffolk
KRISTIE SCHWARZ, MA
JORDAN BRODSKY, MD, FACR
Senior Director of Residential Services CN Guidance and Counseling Services
Rheumatologist Rheumatology Consultants LLP
NATASHA ELIE-LOUISSAINT, DSC RN LNHA FACHE
SARA MALAGOLD, PHD Doctor Complete Neuropsychology, P.C.
COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD
Executive Director St. Johnland Healthcare
Founder Comforted Companions Veterinary Care
Chairman, Department of Surgery Episcopal Health Services
ALEXIS TISCHLER, DVM CHPV CPEV
SHELDON GENACK, MD, FACS TRACY MOCCIO
JENNIFER BUSHATI
Executive Director Maple Pointe Senior Living
Recreation Director Plattduetsche Home Society
HEALTHCARE VISIONARY
MARK SOBERMAN
LIVEONNY TEAM
Field Sales Consultant Henry Schein, Inc.
EXCELLENCE IN ORTHODONTICS
PATIENT CARE EXCELLENCE
MERRICK HERALD — September 3, 2026
TO PURCHASE TICKETS VISIT SCAN HERE
*List still in formation
Founder & CEO Women’s Health Care of Garden City Board Certified Pediatric Dentist First Smiles Pediatric Dentistry
SPECIAL AWARDS EXCELLENCE IN LEADERSHIP AWARD JEFFREY L. REYNOLDS, PHD President & CEO Family and Children's Association
LISA BURCH President & CEO EPIC Long Island
MICHAEL N. ROSENBLUT President & CEO Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care & Rehabilitation
HEALTHCARE HERO AWARD SHARI LEVENTHAL, CDP, CMDCP
Director of Guest Services Excel at Woodbury for Rehabilitation and Nursing
INNOVATION IN TECHNOLOGY HELEN HSIEH, MD, FACOG Founder, Medical Director Vibrance 360
RISING STAR
ALISON FENECH, MSW Hospice Liaison /Account Manager MJHS Hospice and Palliative Care
TRAILBLAZER
HARRY S. JACOB, MD President Primary PartnerCare Physicians, PLLC
VISIONARY AWARD
STUART B. ALMER, FACHE President & CEO Gurwin Healthcare System
ELENI MICHAILIDIS, DDS, MS, MPH
CHANTAE SULLIVAN-PYKE, MD, MS, FACOG
VISIONARY IN NEUROSCIENCE AWARD
Co-Owner Avenue Orthodontics
Site Director Spring Fertility of Long Island
Director The Stroke & Brain Aneurysm Center of Long Island
KIMON BEKELIS, MD
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR EVENT SPONSORS
SILVER SPONSORS 1362210
GOLD SPONSORS
16
Public Notices
News brief
September 3, 2026 — MERRICK HERALD
LMER1 0903
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. Bank National Trust Association, as Trustee for Adjustable Rate Mortgage Trust 2004-4, Adjustable Rate Mortgage-Backed Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2004-4, Plaintiff AGAINST Sharon Longo; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered March 2, 2026, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on September 29, 2026, at 2:00PM, premises known as 1654 James Street, Merrick, NY 11566. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Merrick, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 55 Block 31 Lots 550, 573, 574 & 575. Approximate amount of judgment $788,693.50 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 604316/2024. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.” Francesco P. Tini, Esq., Referee LOGS Legal Group LLP Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792 Dated: August 10, 2026 For sale information, please visit www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2831 161973 PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES… To place a notice here call us us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, FAMILY BENEFIT LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, Plaintiff, vs. EXECUTIVE RENTALS NY INC, ET AL., Defendant(s).
Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on August 21, 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 September 29, 2026 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 2216 Van Nostrand Avenue, Merrick, NY 11566. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Merrick, not an Incorporated Village, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 56, Block 25 and Lots 396-397. Approximate amount of judgment is $745,015.49 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #610395/2023. Oscar A. Prieto, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 231149-1 161969
LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO WELLS FARGO BANK MINNESOTA NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR REPERFORMING LOAN REMIC TRUST CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2002-R3, Plaintiff, v. JOHN R. SCHMIDLIN A/K/A JOHN SCHMIDLIN; ANY UNKNOWN HEIRS, DEVISEES, DISTRIBUTEES OR SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST OF THE LATE WILLIAM PEARSALL A/K/A WILLIAM F. PEARSALL, IF LIVING, AND IF ANY BE DEAD, ANY AND ALL PERSONS WHO ARE SPOUSES, WIDOWS, GRANTEES, MORTGAGEES, LIENORS, HEIRS, DEVISEES, DISTRIBUTEES, EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS OR
SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST OF SUCH OF THEM AS MAY BE DEAD, AND THEIR SPOUSES, HEIRS, DEVISEES, DISTRIBUTEES AND SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST, ALL OF WHOM AND WHOSE NAMES AND PLACES OF RESIDENCE ARE UNKNOWN TO PLAINTIFF; SUSAN SCHMIDLIN A/K/A SUSAN E. SCHMIDLIN; RAB PERFORMANCE RECOVERIES LLC; NEW YORK ANESTHESIA ASSOCIATES; MAIDENBAUM & STERNBERG, LLP; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ON BEHALF OF SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT; GENE BANCALARI A/K/A EUGENE MICHAEL BANCALARI; SHIRLEY HUFFMAN; JAMES SHIPLEY; MARGARET SCHMIDLIN Defendant(s). Index No.: 620289/2025 SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS
Property Address: 170 SHERMAN AVENUE MERRICK, NY 11566 SBL No.: 56-022-310 TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or if the complaint is not served with this summons, to serve a notice of appearance on the Plaintiff’s attorneys within thirty (30) days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service, and in case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint. NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to your mortgage
company will not stop this foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. This is an attempt to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. The foregoing summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an order of Honorable Jeffrey Goodstein, Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, signed the 14th day of July 2026 at Nassau County Supreme Court in the State of New York. The object of this action is to foreclose a mortgage on the following property: Tax I.D. No. SBL No.: 56-022-310 ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN MERRICK, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU, STATE OF NEW YORK, KNOWN AND DESIGNATED AS ALL OF LOT 1213 AND PARTS OF LOTS 1212 AND 1214 ON A CERTAIN MAP ENTITLED “MAP OF MERRICK MANOR ADDITION”, COMPRISING 833 LOTS AND PLOTS AT MERRICK, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU, NEW YORK, OWNED BY LONG ISLAND REALTY COMPANY, NEW YORK CITY AND SURVEYED SEPTEMBER, 1904 BY ROBERT KURZ, C.E., JAMAICA, NEW YORK, AND FILED IN THE NASSAU COUNTY CLERKS OCTOBER 3, 1904 AS MAP NO, 251, NEW NO. 1904, AND BEING MORE PARTICULARLY BOUNDED AND DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: BEGINNING AT A POINT ON THE NORTHERLY SIDE OF SHERMAN AVENUE, DISTANT 230.10 (230 TAX MAP) FEET EASTERLY FROM THE CORNER FORMED BY THE INTERSECTION OF THE NORTHERLY SIDE OF SHERMAN AVENUE WITH THE EASTERLY SIDE OF WHALE NECK ROAD;
Herald file
Residents can get fresh produce at the East Meadow Farm every Wednesday through October.
Shop fresh produce at this local farm stand Fresh, locally grown produce will once again be available at the East Meadow Farm Stand, which will operate every Wednesday through Oct. 28. The far m stand, located at East Meadow Farm, 832 Merrick Ave., will be open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. each Wednesday, offering residents access to seasonal fruits and vegetables. The program is funded by the Nassau County Department of Human Services’ Office for the Aging through
the New York State Of fice for the Aging. For infor mation about Far mers Market Coupon distribution, residents can contact the Nassau County Office for the Aging at (516) 227-8900. For additional information about the farm stand, contact Cor nell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County at nassau@cornell.edu. —Jordan Vallone
Public Notices
RUNNING THENCE NORTHERLY AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE NORTHERLY SIDE OF SHERMAN AVENUE, 125 FEET; THENCE EASTERLY PARALLEL WITH THE NORTHERLY SIDE OF SHERMAN AVENUE, 56 FEET; THENCE SOUTHERLY AND AGAIN AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE NORTHERLY SIDE OF SHERMAN AVENUE, 125 FEET TO THE NORTHERLY SIDE THEREOF; AND THENCE WESTERLY ALONG THE NORTHERLY SIDE OF SHERMAN AVENUE 56 FEET TO THE POINT OR PLACE OF BEGINNING.
Subject to easements, covenants, and restriction of record. These premises are also known as 170 Sherman Avenue, Merrick, NY 11566. Dated: 7/30/2026 Stefani S. Kusterbeck, Esq. Tromberg, Miller,
Morris & Partners, PLLC Attorneys for Plaintiff 39 Broadway, Suite 1840 New York, NY 10006 Tel.: (800) 280-6205 161885
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 09/16/2026 at 9:30 A.M. to consider the following applications and appeals: -----------------------------THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 9:30
A.M. 480/26. 483/26. MERRICK - Christopher Chiarello, Variance, front yard setback on Locust St., maintain three (3) a/c units attached to dwelling; Maintain 4’ high fence within the clear sight triangle at neighbors driveway on Locust St. & 6’ high pool enclosure within the clear sight triangle at owners & neighbors driveway on Sycamore Ave., which may substantially obstruct line of sight; Special exception to maintain accessory structure (firepit) not permitted in the front yard on Sycamore Ave.; Maintain pool equipment with less than required side & rear yard setbacks., N/W cor. Sycamore Ave. & Locust St., a/k/a 1701 Sycamore 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 Merrick 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. 162092 To Place A Notice Call 516-569-4000 x232
17
E1 09/03
Employment
CLASSIFIED
To pLACE your AD CALL 516-569-4000 - press 5
Fax your ad to: 516-622-7460 E-mail your ad to: ereynolds@liherald.com E-mail Finds Under $100 to: sales@liherald.com DEADLINE: Monday, 11:00 am for all classified ads.
Every effort is made to insure the accuracy of your ad. Please check your ad at the first insertion. Credit will be made only for the first insertion. Credit given for errors in ads is limited to the printed space involved. Publisher reserves right to reject, cancel or correctly classify an ad.
ROOSEVELT
CHILDREN’S ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL Grades K-8
SCOPE EDUCATION SERVICES
IMMEDIATE OPENINGS
BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL CHILD CARE PROGRAMS
SCOPE IS HIRING
Hiring Directors, Assistants, Group Leaders and Substitutes. Up to a $500 Signing Bonuses, Scholarships and Employee Referrals Questions call: 631-360-0800 ext. 149 or send a resume to: cc@scopeonline.us SCOPE Education is an equal opportunity Employer
• MATH COACH
• MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL IF YOU THINK YOU CAN ADD TO THE FOCUS OF RCACS PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR COVER LETTER AND RESUME TO
rdillehay@rcacs.org
Main Location 111 Pleasant Avenue, Roosevelt, New York 11575 516-867-6202 • www.rcacs.org
Administrative Assistant P/T Leading To F/T
Email Resume To:
DON’T MISS The Bus!
jwpersonal@ wilsoncollegeconsulting.com
$5000 SIGN ON BONUS FOR ALREADY LICENSED CDLBPS & CPS DRIVERS!
SEPTEMBER PAYRATES NEW
Non-Benefit Rate
Van $31.16/hr.
Non-Benefit Rate
Sign On Bonus $5,000.00
for CDL driver bus and van $500.00 for non CDL drivers. Will train qualified applicants
EDUCATIONAL BUS TRANSPORTATION
1359462 1355793
We Guarantee 30 Hours A Week
516.454.2300 Call Today!
Positions available in Nassau and Suffolk Counties
Apply At: www.educationalbusjobs.com/ EOE
1360391
RANGE $140,000 - $150,000
Various Office Duties Must Be Proficient In Word And Outlook Will Train Right Candidate $21/Hour
BUS NOW HIRINGIVERS AND VAN DR
*Some restrictions may apply.
Bachelor Cert $54,308.70 Master Cert $59,847.63
EMPLOYMENT
1361569 1356440
$33.93/hr.
POSITIONS AND STARTING SALARIES • RESPONSE TO INTERVENTION
$87,500
For The Before & After School Child Care Programs That Will Be Opening For The 2026 - 2027 School Year In Nassau and Suffolk County Elementary Schools
Big Bus
Established 2000
Roosevelt Children’s Academy Charter School was the first charter school to be established in Long Island, New York. Now Hiring: Dynamic Educators and Leaders! We are seeking energetic teachers, passionate professionals holding a valid NYS Certification for the following open positions:
No Phone Calls Or In-Person Inquiries
BELLMORE UFSD NOW HIRING Permanent, Guaranteed, Everyday, Building Substitutes, Full Time. Applicants applying for this position must have New York State Childhood Education (1-6) or (N-6) certification (preferred) or may be pursuing an Undergraduate/Graduate Degree in Education. Teaching Assistants Full Time with Full Benefits. Applicants applying for these positions must have New York State Teacher or Teaching Assistant Certification Teacher Aides - Part Time and Full Time with Benefits School Monitors - Part Time Send Letter/Resume/Certification: Dr. Joseph S. Famularo, Supt. of Schools, 580 Winthrop Ave. Bellmore, NY 11710. Fax 516-679-3027 or email- bellmore@bellmoreschools.org or apply directly on OLAS
One phone call, one order, one heck of a good price to run your ad in any state, or across the country.
Call the USA Classified Network today!
1-800-231-6152
DRIVERS WANTED
Full Time and Part Time Positions Available! Busy Print Shop in Garden City is Hiring Immediately for Full Time and Part Time Drivers. Must Have a Clean License and BoxTruck Driving Experience. Hours Vary, Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $21 per hour Night Availability is a Must. Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239
DRIVING INSTRUCTOR
Company Car/ Bonuses. Clean Driving Record Required, Will Train. Retirees Welcome! $22 - $27/ Hour Bell Auto School 516-365-5778
Email: info@bellautoschool.com
EDITOR/REPORTER
Part Time & Full Time. The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. H i s t o r i c a l l y, r e p o r t e r s w h o h ave 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
Help Wanted
Help Wanted
LAND SURVEYOR FT
OUTSIDE SALES
Surveying Firm Seeks Experienced Only. Instrument Operator $20-$30/hr. Call/ Email Resume 516-678-9610; ra@aksurveyors.com MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $20 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com MULTI MEDIA ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT Inside Sales Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $35,360 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286
Looking to
Buy, SeLL or Hire? Check out our Classifieds Section —
Your go-to local
marketplace.
Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Earning potential ranges from $35,360 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses. Compensation is based on Full Time hours Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off. Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X250 PRINTING PRESS OPERATORS FT & PT. Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for Printing Press Operators in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges from $20 per hour to $30 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com Project Engineer (Westbury, NY): Estimate & prep bids by analyzing blueprints & specs. Pro-actively identify discrepancies & issue RFI to dsgn teams to ensure clarity & alignment on proj details. Engage w/suppliers & subcontractors to compile comprehensive cost proposals. Utilize construction estimating software like PlanSwift, & HCSS HeavyBid. Attend bid walk-through, scope review meetings, & participate in contract negotiations. Reqs. Mstr's deg in Civil Engrg & 24 mos exp as a Project Engineer. Sal $102,086/yr. Mail resumes to HR; Steven Dubner Landscaping Inc. 505 Grand St., Westbury NY 11590.
SECRETARY P/T
Phones, Clerical, Greet Customers, Support Administrative Staff $19/Hour. Email Resume To: jwpersonal@ wilsoncollegeconsulting.com No Phone Calls Or In-Person Inquiries
JOBS, MERCHANDISE, REAL ESTATE & MORE... JOBS, MERCHANDISE, REAL ESTATE & MORE... JOBS, MERCHANDISE, REAL ESTATE & MORE... JOBS, MERCHANDISE, REAL ESTATE & MORE... JOBS, MERCHANDISE, It’s in the REAL ESTATE & MORE... Herald Classifieds... JOBS, MERCHANDISE, To Advertise Call 516-569-4000 REAL ESTATE press 5 & MORE... JOBS, MERCHANDISE, REAL ESTATE & MORE... JOBS, MERCHANDISE, REAL ESTATE & MORE...
MERRICK HERALD — September 3, 2026
HERALD
September 3, 2026 — MERRICK HERALD
18
E2 09/03
Homes
HERALD
To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5
HOME Of tHE WEEK
• To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5
Old Woodmere
Classic Charm Spacious Living
S
et on one of Old Woodmere’s most coveted streets, this classic sidehall Colonial offers timeless charm and generous living spaces. Highlights include a lemonade porch, sun-filled living room with wood-burning fireplace, eat-in kitchen with oversized pantry, first-floor bedroom and full bath, and large entertaining deck. Upstairs features a primary en-suite plus two additional bedrooms. A detached two-car garage, loft storage, and sought-after Hewlett Neck amenities with 24-hour security complete this exceptional home.
Preparing to sell in an area that flooded Q. We live in an area that was flooded, and have a few items to take care of before we sell. My husband put in a deck when we first moved in, around 1982. It has been there so long, but the real estate people told us it still needs a permit. It’s only 24 inches off the ground. They also mentioned that it’s too close to our back property line, but we’re next to a waterway and have no neighbors behind us. Is that still the same problem? Our fences are new and so are the front steps, which we rebuilt to add planters and a bench. What can you tell us about what we should do before we sell?
A. Take a lovely vacation and relax, enjoy yourself and then prepare for a lot of minutia that will likely delay your ability to sell, unless you negotiate the price down for a buyer who can persuade a lender that they will take over the list of items you mentioned. In situations like this, there are many peripheral issues. For example, the wateronte eeper way may be either a local or state jurisdiction that limits how close you can build to a “protected” environment. As if that’s not enough, your municipality is one of the few that has many outstanding requirements that it claims it notified every homeowner about right after Hurricane Sandy. Prepare for the ambush of having to get a “proof of loss statement from the National Flood Insurance Program.” I have heard time and time again, “Oh, we had no damage,” which is great, since the national clearinghouse that compiles records about every property will prove that. If it turns out that there was a large payout from private insurance or public funding, the NFIP letter will show that more is needed, including recent building plans, a possible plumbing permit, electrical inspection and documents to close out a repair permit — yes, even from over a decade ago. When I arrive at a home and have to go into detail about how many requirements there are and how strict they’ve become, I always think of our custodian in elementary school. His name was Gus, and I remember his large, round face and how disgusted he was when he was called to a classroom where a child had thrown up lunch from the cafeteria. I identify with Gus, because mopping up these not-so-simple messes, the ones that someone told you were simple, is getting more complicated the longer people wait. This doesn’t seem to be the case in every jurisdiction, mostly the largest ones. Many decks built long ago don’t meet recent code standards, and there’s no such thing as “grandfathered.” The hours spent explaining these things, and then reexplaining them when a handyperson doesn’t install the correct connectors or takes a shortcut with a required footing support, add up to more cost and animosity. Good luck!
Ask The Architect
M
Nanci-sue Rosenthal Licensed RE Agent, BA 516.316.1030 nancisue.com Stacey Simens Licensed RE Salesperson, CBR 516.455.8152 bhhslaffey.com/Stacey-Simens 950 Broadway, Woodmere
REAL ESTATE Real Estate WE BUY HOUSES for Cash AS IS! No repairs. No fuss. Any condition. Easy three step process: Call, get cash offer and get paid. Get your fair cash offer today by calling Liz Buys Houses: 1-888-704-5670
Apartments For Rent MERRICK: 1 BR, 2nd Floor, No Pets. $1,400/ Monthly. 2 Months Security Plus Electric. By Owner. 516-486-6139
Rent Your Apartment through the Herald and PrimeTime Classified section. Call us for our great *specials. 516-569-4000, press 5 for Classified Dept. *(private party only)
Helping you find a HOME or sell a HOME … a place to call your own. Suburb or country, house, condo, townhouse or apartment, our Classifieds can help you find a HOME that fits your style, your budget and Real Estate needs... it’s a MUST SEE!
Call us today!
Your Hometown Newspaper
To Place an Ad Call: 516-569-4000 • Press 5
L
© 2026 Monte Leeper Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.
19
E3 09/03
Market Place • •
To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5
To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5
LAWN SPRINKLERS 250 OFF
$
With any new sprinkler installation completed by 9/30/26. Must mention ad at time of booking.
We Specialize in Water Leaks
50% OFF
All Service Calls Must mention ad when booking appt. Exp. 9/30/26
$1,000 OFF any job over $10,000
ROOFING & CHIMNEY
FREE ESTIMATES
Satisfying Customers For Over 43 Years Licensed & Insured WWW.COUNTYIRRIGATION.COM
T&M GREENCARE
586-3800
TREE SERVICE
1359218 1351298
223-4525 •
Sunday, August 02, 2020 11:31:01 AM
WE BEAT ALL COMPETITORS’ RATES www.greencaretreeservice.com Residential & • TREE REMOVAL Commercial • STUMP GRINDING Lowest FREE Rates • PRUNING ESTIMATES Seniors, Veterans, Police & Fireman Discounts 1358313
$250 OFF any job over $2,000
Free Estimates
516-255-9595
1360550
1359311
0% FREE FINANCING Call for Details
OWA_GotClutter_BW_Bold
To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5 Roofing • Chimneys • Decks Gutters • Siding • Skylights • Attic Fans
Installed, Serviced, Repaired Saluting USA 250 Year Anniversary
MERRICK HERALD — September 3, 2026
HERALD
Financing Available Sr. Citizen Discounts
516-806-6887 631-657-5059
Family Owned and Operated
Suffolk License #52306-H East Hampton License #9215-2018 • Nassau License #H3309640000 1360954 INSURED
Nassau Lic. - H2061360000 • Suffolk Lic. - 35679-H Owner Operated - Lic./Ins.
C.J.M. Contracting g Inc.
Chris Mullin EXPERT LEAK REPAIRS
1358343 1315294
SPECIALIZING IN: S
OWNER OPERATED RESIDENTIAL / COMMERCIAL
BATHROOMS & KITCHEN RENOVATIONS $5000 MINIMUM
CERTIFIED ARBORISTS ON STAFF
TREE REMOVAL • LAND CLEARING • PRUNING • STUMP GRINDING ELEVATING • STORM PREVENTION • 80 FT. BUCKET TRUCK
*POWER WASHING SPECIALIST*
Call Owner DireCt CHRIS 516-216-2617
Residential and Commercial - All Surfaces Call Anthony Romeo “The Local Guy” “Anthony & J Home Improvement, Inc.” Also specializes in ★ Deck Renovation ★ Driveways ★ Siding ★ Masonry ★ Fences ★ Roofing ★ Interior/Exterior Painting. (516) 678-6641 - Licensed & Insured
ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED WWW.WECARETREESERVICE.COM Suff. Lic. # HI-65621
1342907
Nass. Lic. # 185081
1340737
FREE ESTIMATES...Best Price For High Quality Service
• Hot & Cold Water Power Wash • Hot & Cold Water Soft Wash • Roof • House • Deck • Fence • Patio Cleaning & More Residential & Commercial Lic/Insured & Certified
1362361 1357973
Buy One, Get One
Windows and Doors
*
MINIMUM PURCHASE OF 4
PLUS
Home Improvement Corp.
$200 OFF
FREE ESTIMATES • Licensed & Insured Masonry • Steps • Driveways Water Proofing • Pointing • Siding Kitchen Remodeling • Roofing PVC Fence • Basements • Windows • Sheetrock & More
Your Entire Purchase
*
Call 516-540-5944 by 9/30
1354934
MINIMUM PURCHASE OF 4
631-532-5617 • Cell: 516-996-3036 L IC: #42194- H
1357128 1333017
40% OFF
2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
1361181
Lic. H18C6020000 LIAB. DISAB + W/C INS.
FREE ESTIMATE
tikalhomeimprovement@gmail.com L IC: # H 3711000000
CHRIS, RYAN & SAL PEKOFF
MEMBER OF THE CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE OF THE BELLMORES (516) 546-4976 S & M CONCRETE PAVERS • PATIOS • DRIVEWAYS • SIDEWALKS & ALL OTHER CONCRETE WORK CALL OUR EXPERTS FOR ADVICE & FREE ESTIMATES LICENSE & INSURED #H2302040000 | 40 YEARS IN BUSINESS
1358026
SMALL JOBS WELCOME
TREE SERVICE
NO JOB TOO SMALL OR TOO LARGE
SPECIAL ATTENTION TO HOME OWNER
OUR ! AKE Y E WE M S SPARKL OW WIND
Dun-Rite HOME SERVICE
Residential Window Cleaning Gutter & Leader Cleaning
Licensed & Insured
516-764-6633
1345923 1357249
Call 516-428-5777
GUARANTEED BEST PRICE BECAUSE WE CARE
1355427 1227928
Al Renovations • Bathrooms • Kitchens • Basements All ts Attics • Carpentry • Painting • Roofing • Flat Shingle Masonry • Stoops • Brickwork • Waterproofing Power Washing • Fire, Flood & Mold Remediation
September 3, 2026 — MERRICK HERALD
20
HERALD
Stuff
To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5 ANNOUNCEMENTS Announcements SAVE ON YOUR TRAVEL PLANS! Up to 75% More than 500 AIRLINES and 300,000 HOTELS across the world. Let us do the research for you for FREE! Call: 877 988 7277
MERCHANDISE MART Antiques/Collectibles 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 Nassau/ Suffolk / Will Travel
E4 09/03
FINDS UNDER $100 Finds Under $100 ANTIQUE HIGHBOY, SOLID mahogany, great condition. Photo available. Asking $99.00 516-637-6603
SERVICES Appliance Srvc./Repair 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
• To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5 • To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5 Cleaning Services
Home Improvement
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
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
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.
Handyman
PAINTING & HANDYMAN SERVICE
Brick/Block/Concrete/Masonry
Tired of calling a contractor & they don't call back? I will call you back the same day!
VUOTTO CONTRACTING INC: 50 Years In Business. Full Line Of Masonry, Stone And Blacktop. Serving North Shore And South Shore. Call Carlo 516-887-9045
Specializing in carpentry, bathrooms, kitchens, sheetrock, flooring, electric, plumbing.
Cable/TV/Wiring Get DISH Satellite TV + Internet! Free Install, Free HD-DVR Upgrade, 80,000 OnDemand Movies, Plus Limited Time Up To $ 6 0 0 I n G i f t C a r d s . C a l l To d a y ! 1-866-782-4069
917-822-0225 Ricky
Over 25 yrs exp.Lic/Ins H3805150000
Home Improvement 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
HErald
Crossword Puzzle
CJM GENERAL CONTRACTING Expert Leak Repairs *Dormers/ Extensions *Fire, Flood, Mold Remediation*Basements *Carpentry*Roofing/Flat Shingle *Attics All Masonry *Waterproofing *Power washing *Plumbing * Electric *Licensed/ Insured 516-428-5777 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 Br iggs & 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: H o u s e s , Fe n c e s , C o n c r e t e / B r i c k , Decks/Sealing. ANTHONY & J HOME IMPROVEMENT, INC. 516-678-6641
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 $99! 100% guaranteed. CALL NOW: 1-877-468-3979
Internet Services AFFORDABLE TV & INTERNET. If you are overpaying for your service, call now for a free quote and see how much you can save! 1-877-461-0663
Legal Services INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT? Don't Accept the insurance company's first offer. Many injured parties are entitled to major cash settlements. Get a free evaluation to see what your case is really worth. 100% Free Evaluation. Call Now: 1-877-315-0990. Be ready with your zip code to connect with the closest provider.
Autos Wanted
DONATE YOUR CAR today, running or not. Support Patriotic Hearts for our Veterans and their Families! Free fast pickup. Max tax deduction. Se habla Español. Call now: 844-415-1229 GET A BREAK on your taxes! Donate your car, truck, or SUV to assist the blind and visually impaired. Arrange a swift, nocost vehicle pickup and secure a generous tax credit for 2025. Call Heritage for the Blind Today at 1-855-484-3467 today! WE BUY 8,000 cars a week. Sell your old, busted or junk car with no hoops, haggles or headaches. Sell your car to Peddle. Easy three step process. Instant offer. Fr e e p i c k u p . Fa s t p a y m e n t . C a l l 1-855-403-3374
Junk Cars Wanted
TOP CA$H PAID
Junk Cars Bought
CALL US LAST!
516-766-0000
Medical AUDIEN HEARING. THE world's first hearing aid with touchscreen controls. No tiny buttons, apps or prescriptions. 45-day risk free trial. Free shipping. Lifetime support. More than 1.5 million happy customers. Call Audien 1-855-484-2093
AUTOMOBILE & MARINE Autos Wanted ***AAA*** AUTO BUYERS $Highest$ Ca$h Paid$. All Years/ Conditions! WE VISIT YOU! Or Donate, Tax Deduct + Ca$h. DMV ID#1303199. Call LUKE 516-VAN-CARS. 516-297-2277
NEED A CAR? Find it in the HERALD Classifieds.
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
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES END YOUR TAX worries today. Let us make your tax problem our priority. Scared, stuck with high tax amounts? Our A+ tax professionals can help. Call for a FREE consultation. Call Priority Tax now 1877-663-7719
Safety. Style. SPECIAL OFFER Waiving All Stress-Free Installation Installation. Costs! CALL NOW
516.540.6059
Add'l terms apply. Offer Add’l terms apply. Offer subject to change subject change and vary and varyto by dealer. Expires 12/27/26. dealer. Expires 12/27/26. 1340133
Answers to todAy’s puzzle
21
opinions
ong Island is getting older. Over the past decade, Nassau and Suffolk counties have added more residents over age 65 than anywhere else in the state. More than a halfmillion older adults call this place home, and they’re not all flocking to Florida. Long Island retirees aren’t uniformly downsizing or decelerating. They’re rejecting the outmoded idea that chronological age determines how we should live. In a world of 30-year retirements and second and third acts, a single number can no longer capture a person’s capacity, purpose or potential. We propose a different framework: your “feels-like” age. Your chronological age tells you how long you have lived. Your feels-like age reflects how you are living — the combined influence of your psychological outlook, social connections, physical health and environment. It is fluid, and offers a far more accurate picture of where you are in your aging journey. To understand feels-like age, consider
D
Carmen Herrera. Born in 1915, Herrera painted in relative obscurity for over a half-century. She worked in a small New York City loft, lived modestly and sold almost nothing. Things finally changed in 2004, when, at age 89, she was connected with a gallery owner who needed to fill a slot for a show. That show was her breakthrough: Critics embraced her, and she earned exhibitions at the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Museum of Modern Art. And even after achieving this recognition, she continued to paint daily, well past 100. Though Herrera’s chronological age was “late life,” her feels-like age aligned with what we call the SettledIn stage. Psychologically, she was ambitious; socially, she was networking; physically, she was continuing to create. The number 89 was, well, just a number, describing little else than how long she had lived. Feels-like aging acknowledges physical realities, but recognizes that vitality is multi-dimensional. A person’s lived
stage is defined by more than just biology — it is a product of mindset, relationships and purpose. Our aging journey is nonlinear. It is about movement across different flexible stages of aging that do not need to occur in sequence. We call that movement the “flicker.” People can move forward and backward across stages, depending on a range of factors and interventions. To understand this, consider Howard. In his early 80s, Howard lived in Florida, and had once embraced an active outdoor lifestyle. Over time, chronic knee pain narrowed his world. He felt older than his 82 years, and was drifting toward what we would describe as the Supported Living stage — because of only one factor, his knees, which were off balance. At his wife’s urging, Howard underwent knee-replacement surgery. Recovery restored his mobility and confidence, and he returned to the activities he had shared with his wife. “I feel like I’m 70 again,” he told us. Howard “flick-
ered” because intervention and intention changed his trajectory. Taken together, feels-like age and flicker give us a framework for taking full advantage of lifespans. The shift can be transformative. When people see themselves as capable of movement — of entering a new stage, of regaining capacity, of redefining purpose — they plan differently. They invest in prevention, as Howard did. They pursue lifelong work and creativity, as Herrera did. Retirement becomes redesign, not retreat, and aging becomes a process to navigate, not dread. When we think about Herrera’s late-life artistic ascent, or Howard’s return to mobility, we see that the calendar cannot fully define a human being. Our passions, potential and choices are what truly shape us. Stuart C. Kaplan is chief executive officer of Selfhelp Community Services Inc. Marcus Riley is the founder of the Booming Ageing Agency. They are the coauthors of “Your Aging Advantage.”
Fulfilling our promises to the 9/11 community
ecades after the worst terrorist attacks in our history, on Sept. 11, 2001, we continue to feel the aftershocks here on Long Island and beyond. As we approach the 25th anniversary of that day, our nation has a solemn obligation to honor the innocent victims, the first responders and their families, and to hold the perpetrators accountable. Honoring our heroes and the 9/11 community includes guaranteeing that survivors have access to the health care they need. We must also ensure that those still grappling with the loss of family members receive the compensation they are owed from the governments that supported the attacks. Finally, it is our duty to preserve the memories of our fallen first responders. In Congress, I will continue to fight for the 9/11 community and ensure that impacted families receive the justice, care and recognition they deserve. After the attacks, first responders, survivors and volunteers who worked at what became ground zero developed
debilitating conditions from their exposure to toxins. The tireless advocacy of leaders of the 9/11 community led to the creation of the World Trade Center Health Program in 2011, which became a lifeline for thousands to receive care at no cost. That includes nearly 7,000 survivors in New York’s 4th Congressional District. But the program has faced ongoing funding shortages. That’s why I proudly championed bipartisan legislation to right this wrong and fully fund its work. This year the bill became law, and provided long-sought certainty for the thousands of Americans who rely on the WTCHP. Despite this victory, the administration has disrupted the program by removing leadership, cutting staff and driving up wait times for critical care. I joined my New York congressional colleagues on both sides of the aisle to demand that the administration honor its duty to the 9/11 community and reverse course. No one whose health was affected should ever worry about accessing the care they require. We must also ensure that the governments that supported Al Qaeda pay what they owe victims’ families. In 2015,
W
Congress established the United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund for victims’ families to obtain some justice and compensation from the perpetrators. While no amount of money can ever make up for the devastating losses of Sept. 11, this fund will provide some relief to the families. They have obtained legal judgments against countries that supported Al Qaeda, including Iran, but those judgments remain unpaid. That’s why I led a bipartisan effort urging President Trump to ensure that Iran pays the billions of dollars it owes to 9/11 families. I also introduced bipartisan legislation to provide targeted financing to ensure that the fund dependably delivers compensation to victims’ families. For 25 years they have waited for justice for what they have endured, and I won’t stop fighting to ensure that they receive it. Finally, we can never forget, nor fully repay, the 9/11 first responders. We can, however, honor their courage by ensuring that their names are never forgotten. Thousands of them, including Detectives Luis Alvarez, Brian Lavin and Patrick Franzone, from Nassau County, embodied the very best of our
e must continue to honor those who died, and take care of the survivors.
nation before their lives were tragically cut short by 9/11-related illnesses. To preserve their memory, I proudly passed bipartisan legislation to fund the National September 11 Memorial and Museum so that future generations can learn the history of that dark day. To honor Alvarez, I recently introduced legislation that would rename the U.S. post office in his hometown of Oceanside in his memory. Alvarez was a staunch advocate for his fellow 9/11 first responders, and moved Congress to permanently replenish the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund before he died of cancer in 2019. I’m proud to have the support of the entire New York delegation, Democrats and Republicans, behind this bill and to move it closer to passage, forever memorializing Alvarez’s legacy. As the historic anniversary approaches, there is still much more work to do to honor and care for the 9/11 community. I won’t stop fighting to ensure that our first responders and survivors have the care they need, that 9/11 families obtain justice and compensation from the financiers of the heinous attacks, and that our lost heroes are never forgotten. We owe the 9/11 community a solemn duty, and we must continue to fulfill it. Laura A. Gillen represents the 4th Congressional District.
MERRICK HERALD — September 3, 2026
L
How about focusing on your ‘feels-like’ age?
22
Herald editorial
Merrick
September 3, 2026 — MERRICK HERALD
HERALD and Merrick Herald News Established 1994
Incorporating the Merrick Life and Merrick Beacon in 2013
Hernesto Galdamez Editor robert CumminGs Multi Media Marketing Consultant offiCe 2 Endo Boulevard Garden City, NY 11530 Phone: (516) 569-4000 Fax: (516) 569-4942 Web: www.liherald.com E-mail: merrickeditor@liherald.com Copyright © 2026 Richner Communications, Inc.
HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
Cliff Richner Publisher, 1982-2018 Robert Richner Edith Richner Publishers, 1964-1987 ■ stuart riCHner Publisher bradley m. Harmon Chief Operating Officer brian CorCoran Chief Financial Officer
■
Jeffrey bessen
Managing Editor Jordan Vallone
Deputy Managing Editor Jim Harmon
Copy Editor Karen bloom Features/Special Sections Editor tony bellissimo Sports Editor tim baKer Photo Editor ■ rHonda GliCKman Vice President - Sales amy amato Executive Director of Corporate Relations and Events lori berGer Sales Director
Cheer students on beyond the classroom
a
s a new school year gets underway, students are returning to classrooms on campuses across Long Island. They are also returning to athletic fields, courts, tracks and pools, rehearsal halls and laboratories, where they will spend countless hours training, practicing and studying for everything from football games to band and choir concerts and stage productions to science fairs and art shows, at which they will represent their schools. That makes this an ideal time for communities to remember that supporting local schools means more than voting on the district budget, following test scores and celebrating a championship after the fact. One of the simplest and most meaningful ways residents can support young people is by showing up. Extracurricular school activities are an important part of the fabric of our communities. For students, participation is about far more than wins and losses or hitting the perfect musical note. These activities offer them opportunities to build confidence, learn discipline, develop teamwork and leadership skills, overcome adversity and form friendships that can last long after graduation. The lessons learned from being part of a team, a music ensemble or the cast
ellen reynolds Classified / Inside Sales Director ■
Jeffrey neGrin Creative Director
robin Carter Art Director ViCKy yanG Pre-press Coordinator ■ dianne ramdass Circulation Director ■
Herald Community neWsPaPers Amityville Record Babylon Beacon Baldwin Herald Bellmore Herald East Meadow Herald Franklin Square/Elmont Herald Freeport Herald Glen Cove Herald Hempstead Beacon Long Beach Herald Lynbrook/East Rockaway Herald Malverne/West Hempstead Herald Massapeqa Post Merrick Herald Nassau Herald Oceanside/Island Park Herald Oyster Bay Herald Rockaway Journal Rockville Centre Herald Sea Cliff/Glen Head Herald Seaford Herald South Shore Record Uniondale Herald Beacon Valley Stream Herald Wantagh Herald
member: America’s Newspapers Empire State Local News Coalition Local Media Association New York Press Association Press Club of Long Island Merrick Chamber of Commerce
Published by richner Communications, inc. 2 Endo Blvd. Garden City, NY 11530 LIHerald.com (516) 569-4000
letters Our laws assume, incorrectly, that our leaders have integrity To the Editor: The fundamental faith of its people that elections are fair and safe are the hallmarks of a democracy. Sowing doubt is how autocracies take hold. In other countries, it is illegal to spread false or seriously misleading information attacking the integrity of the electoral process. Article 323 of Brazil’s Electoral Code makes it a crime for candidates to knowingly spread false facts about political parties or candidates. Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years in prison for plotting to overturn the results of the 2022 election after spreading unfounded claims about election fraud. In this country, there are slander and defamation laws. However, politicians are exempt. Why? In England, Section 106 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 makes it illegal to make a false
of the school play can’t be taught in a classroom. Working with peers toward a common goal teaches cooperation and accountability. Performing in public, whether leaping to spike a volleyball or playing an instrument, requires courage and confidence. But while coaches, advisers and families play essential roles in supporting these students, the encouragement of the larger community matters, too. An energetic crowd sends a message to students that their efforts are noticed and appreciated. It lets them know that the hours they’ve devoted to practicing over the summer, after school and on weekends mean something beyond the performance. It reminds them that they aren’t simply playing for themselves, but representing a school and a community that is behind them. And supporting your schools’ athletes and performers doesn’t have to be complicated. Get in the car. Bring the family. Invite a friend or neighbor. Spend an afternoon at a soccer match or a crosscountry meet. Attend the concert. Go to the play. You don’t need to know every rule. You don’t need to have a child or a grandchild on the team or on the stage. You just have to show up. Attending a school event can also be a reminder of what makes a community
special. Games and performances bring students, parents, teachers, alumni and neighbors together. They’re an opportunity for community members to see young people working hard, supporting one another and taking pride in the name on their uniforms. The musician performing on stage, the artist displaying a painting and the student presenting a science project deserve encouragement just as much as the athlete scoring a goal. Supporting students means recognizing achievement, effort and creativity in all their forms. As the new academic year takes shape, residents of every school district should make an effort to get out of the house and become part of the experience. Check the local school calendar, and choose a game, performance or event. Our schools are among the centers of community life, and the students who walk their halls today will help shape our communities tomorrow. A few hours spent cheering them on may seem like a small gesture, but to a young person who looks into the crowd and sees a community supporting them, that can mean the world. This school year, let’s do more than applaud our students from afar. Let’s show up for them.
23
opinions
re there safe alternatives to PFAS, the so-called forever chemicals? yes, plenty of them. As a 2024 article in Smithsonian magazine began: “On April 6, 1938, a group of chemists at duPont gathered around part of their latest experiment: a plain metal cylinder. it supposedly contained tetrafluoroethylene, a colorless gas. But when they opened the valve, no gas came out. … eventually someone realized they needed to cut open the cylinder to see what was going on. They found the interior of the metal unexpectedly coated with a slippery white powder.” “Since it was discovered,” the piece continued, “Teflon and its chemical descendants, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, have spread everywhere. … These molecules are so common that a 2015 study found the chemicals in 97 percent of Americans’ blood. And once they make it into our bodies, medical researchers are finding that the long-lasting chemicals could be wreaking havoc.” indeed, a study by the international Journal of environmental
Letters statement about a candidate’s personal character or conduct to affect an election. Candidates can be disqualified from standing for or holding office for three years. More serious corrupt practices can result in a five-year disqualification. Authoritarian regimes send militias to the polls, and spread false claims of voter fraud to intimidate voters and undermine confidence in elections. Are Republicans in this country acting any differently? The one lesson we should have learned from Jan. 6, 2021, is that our laws depend too heavily on the integrity of those in power. Our Constitution has baby teeth — important protections that can be too easily ignored or exploited by those willing to disregard democratic nor ms. Congress must enact stronger laws to give our democracy its permanent teeth: clear, enforceable safeguards with real consequences for those who try to undermine it. ClAudiA BOReCky President, Bellmore Merrick Democratic Club Merrick
Research and Public Health, and other studies, have linked PFAS to maladies including cancer. duPont’s motto through the years has been Better living Through Chemistry. A lawsuit brought in July by New york state Attorney General letitia James questions that rosy slogan, presenting evidence that the suit claims shows that duPont and other corporations “knew for decades that PFAS pose substantial dangers to public health and the environment.” With Suffolk and Nassau counties dependent on a sole-source aquifer that is being impacted by PFAS, and with people elsewhere in the nation and world affected in a variety of ways, what are the safe alternatives? in fact, substitute products are listed and clearly presented on a variety of websites. An excellent online source is that of the Washington, d.C.-based environmental Working Group. Others include PFAS Central, of the Californiabased Green Science Policy institute, and the Natural Resources defense Council. even the American Chemical Society offers a list of “530 potential alternatives to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, PFAS,” acknowledging that they are “linked to health risks” includ-
t
ing “certain cancers.” The environmental Working Group presents hundreds of listings divided by “Products Covered,” Brand” and “Company Policy,” and links to them for further details. under “Carpets and Rugs,” for example, the retail chain lowe’s states that “all [of its] indoor residential carpet and rugs are free of PFAS chemicals.” under “Cookware,” Green life states, “We’ve cut out the toxins — PFAS, PFOA … so you can cook without worry.” under “Cosmetics & Personal Care,” Sephora says, “PFAS compounds: Prohibited.” under “dental Care,” Radius Floss says, “Our uSdA Organic Floss is 100% … PFAS free.” under “Food Packaging,” Pactiv evergreen says its products are “PFAS-free.” under “Furniture, Office & Bedding,” Herman Miller says its products are “PFAS-free.” under “Apparel,” levi Straus & Co. says it bans “all related PFAS” in its clothing. As to claims that there are no alternatives to a given toxic product, a historical example of that not ringing true involves the Monsanto Company and polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs. Monsanto started manufacturing PCBs in 1929, and, decades later, feared that they would be banned in the united
here are safe alternatives to the harmful chemical descendants of Teflon.
Framework by Tim Baker
The Jazz Creole Festival, at the Vault — Elmont
States after being outlawed in Japan. There, PCBs had leaked into rice oil, people got sick and some died. PCBs were being used widely, especially as an insulating fluid in electrical systems. despite Monsanto’s claims that there were no adequate substitutes, PCBs were banned in the u.S. in 1979. What has substituted for them? Nothing space-age — just mineral oil. in New york state, there’s an initiative called PFAS-Free Ny, which describes itself as a “broad group of organizations, advocates and impacted community members who have come together to fight for a PFAS-free New york.” earlier this year, it issued a statement headed, “limiting PFAS exposure is Central Priority for Advocates This legislative Session.” Several measures on PFAS didn’t make it through the State legislature last year. Assemblywoman deborah Glick, of Manhattan, chair of the chamber’s environmental Conservation Committee, says that PFAS “have infiltrated our bodies and the environment, creating a toxic cycle that endangers both people and ecosystems. The only way to break this cycle is to eliminate these chemicals.” Karl Grossman has been an investigative reporter in a variety of media for more than 50 years. He is a professor of journalism at the State University of New York at Old Westbury.
MERRICK HERALD — September 3, 2026
a
Let’s find substitutes for ‘forever chemicals’
1358647
September 3, 2026 — MERRICK HERALD
24