Long Beach Herald 12-18-2025

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State honors 93-year-old Laurel Diner stated in a news release. “I’m proud to honor their history, their resilience, and the imporWith an average lifespan of tant role they continue to play five years, the restaurant busi- in our district.” ness is one of the toughest The Laurel, on the corner of industries in the country — but West Park Avenue and Laurelyou wouldn’t know that from ton Boulevard, is currently stepping into the Laurel Diner, owned by Andrew Loucas, a which was added to the New Bronx native turned Rockville York State Office of Centre resident — Parks, Recreation but running a diner and Historic Preswas something Louervation’s Historic cas’s family hadn’t Business Preservaforeseen as their tion Re gistry on future.

Dec. 5.

Andrew’s father, T h e r e g i s t r y, Chris Loucas, got established in 2020, into the diner busiincludes over 230 ness in the 1970s, historic businesses after emigrating to statewide, reco gthe United States nized for their lon- ANDREW LoucAS f r o m h i s n a t ive gevity and their Owner, Cyprus. But Chris i m p a c t o n t h e i r Laurel Diner wanted Andrew communities. and his brother, State Sen. PatriPeter, to go to colcia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick nom- lege so they wouldn’t have to inated the Laurel, which was join the business. founded in 1932, earlier this “My brother and I grew up year in recognition of its cul- in the business,” Andrew said. tural value and its enduring “But our father never intended presence in Long Beach. that for us.”

“The Laurel Diner repreNonetheless, Andrew, who sents the heart of the Long earned a degree in mechanical Beach community — family- engineering, and Peter, a certirun, deeply rooted, and cher- fied public accountant, joined ished by generations of resi- their father in the family busidents,” Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick Continued on page 9

By AIDAN WARSHAVSKY

awarshavsky@liherald.com

Tim Baker/Herald photos

T

he Laurel will always be the Laurel, so long as we’re here.

The Electric Light Parade rides again The 12th annual Electric Light Parade brightened up West Beech Street last Saturday night. Holiday spirit was on display as decorations and lights adorned cars, trucks and themed floats, and marchers and spectators braved the chilly weather to take part in the neighborhood tradition. Local families, schools, businesses, civic organizations and sponsors worked together to kickstart the holiday season, with fun competition for the best, most creative and most eyecatching displays.

2025-26 HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS PREVIEW December 18, 2025

News briefs Pharmacists team up to fight hunger

Sophomore named HOBY ambassador

Local pharmacists are joining forces to support neighbors in need through the PharmAid Food Drive, a collaborative effort organized by the Long Island Pharmacists Society and the nonprofit rock CAN roll.

Donation boxes have been placed at participating pharmacies across Long Island — including Rockville Centre Phar macy, West Hempstead Pharmacy, Keezac Pharmacy in Bellmore, Gelos Pharmacy in Point Lookout, Smith Pharmacy in Hicksville, Brookhaven Pharmacy, Lakeview Pharmacy in Lynbrook, New Island Pharmacy in Deer Park, and Neergaard Pharmacy in BrookHerald file photo lyn — through Dec. 22.

Howard Jacobson of Rockville Centre Pharmacy Residents can drop off nonp e r i s h abl e i t e m s s u ch a s helped organize the PharmAid Food Drive, now canned meats, pasta, rice, cere- underway at participating pharmacies. al and peanut butter, along several pharmacists who died from with personal care products including soap, toothpaste, diapers, Covid-19 during the pandemic, including former Rockville Centre resident wipes, new socks and pet food.

All donations will be distributed to Bill Mantell.

For more information on donation the Interfaith Nutrition Network in Hempstead and the Rudman Family locations and updated drive dates, visit participating pharmacies’ social media Food Pantry in Plainview.

Phar mAid was spearheaded by pages or rock CAN roll’s website.

Rockville Centre Phar macy owner –Brian Kacharaba Howard Jacobson and created to honor

Thomas Jacoby, a tenth g rader at Long Beach High School, has been recognized as one of 8,500 nationwide winners of the 2025 HOBY ambassad o r s h i p. T h e H u g h O’Brian Youth Leadership Foundation (HOBY) designates the annual award to sophomores who demonstrate key values and principles within the community and outside the classroom.

HOBY, created in 1958 by actor and Rochester, NY-native Hugh O’Brian, celebrates volunteerism, i n t e g r i t y, e x c e l l e n c e, diversity, and community Courtesy Long Beach Public Schools partnership. The foundation allows school faculty 2025 HOBY ambassador Thomas Jacoby, right; or community members alongside alternate ambassador Karina Rios, left. to nominate a tenth grade sense of service by participating in student they feel best embodies community service, good self-improvement activities, hearing keynote speakers, and further developcharacter, and leadership.

Jacoby’s next step as a HOBY ing their leadership skills.

The annual tradition concludes with ambassador is to attend a three-day seminar in June of 2026 at SUNY Alba- each seminar attendee being asked to ny. Under the guidance of HOBY lead- commit to performing 100 dedicated ership and volunteer alumni of the hours of volunteer service work in the program, attendees will learn addition- coming year.

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December 18, 2025 — LONG BEACH HERALD

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Enduring 1,000 days of ocean plunges awarshavsky@liherald.com

When Long Beach resident Mindi Dovberg sat by the ocean’s edge during the spring of 2021 with a cane due to her physical ailment, she saw it as an opportunity to get out of her comfort zone.

Four years later, that opportunity has turned into something more as she approaches 1,000 consecutive days of taking a dip in the ocean.

The Reiki master teacher and mindset teacher started her journey as a way to heal physically and mentally – battling the adversity of losing her father, as well as the effects of a devastating car accident on Sept. 11, 2001.

Dovberg always walks into the water, slowly and mindfully as an opportunity to reflect on her past, building a discipline that she carries with her.

“I feel [my father] as I walk in slowly,” she said. “It’s something to walk into that water, feel the cold and not run from it.”

The accident afflicted the 52-yearold with a variety of injuries, including complex regional pain syndrome – a chronic condition that causes intense burning pain, swelling, and movement issues.

At the beginning of her journey, Dovberg explained it was “too much for [her],” the water’s edge was the furthest she could go, both physically and mentally.

Dovberg’s growing belief in coldwater immersion has allowed her to accelerate her progress over the past year, along with her passion to continue her journey and help others.

She explained that there’s a level of excitement from thinking about committing to going in the water, even when she feels like staying in the warm.

“I get so excited to do it every day,” Dovberg said. “The journey is about

healing. The cold is everything.”

Dovberg begins her daily ritual listening to genres like House and EDM as she dances up the ramp to the boardwalk and onto the sand – where she etches the daily number in the sand.

Mother Nature has always challenged Dovberg’s consistency – strong winds, extreme cold, rain and snow.

When Hurricane Erin made its offshore trek past Long Island, Dovberg negotiated with lifeguards, who allowed her to walk in shin-deep.

“Safety is always the priority,” she said.

Dovberg explained that the commitment to her consistency comes from making it to the next day, not the milestone itself.

“One percent every day is one hundred percent in 100 days. I take one achievement at a time,” she said.

Dovberg has continued her affiliation with the “NY Dippers,” a swim club from Rockaway that she credits with helping her along her journey.

The group’s support compounded with her progress have given her a newfound desire to inspire others: Her swim group, Sunday Splashers, meets every Sunday at 10 a.m. from November through April on Laurelton Boulevard. Dovberg also uses her WhatsApp group “SUNDAY SPLASHERS LBNY” to post motivational messages – like quotes she’s seen – in addition to her progress.

“It’s an opportunity for people to push each other.” She explained.

“You’re never going to be motivated to take a cold shower or jump in the water. It’s fun to do it with people” Dovberg will reach 1,000 days on Dec. 22, 2025 with cheers from her supporters. When people say to her “what you are doing is extraordinary” or ask her how could she be cold she responds with a simple “I’m still human. I still get cold. It’s about discipline, not motivation.”

Mindi Dovberg braves the ocean daily regardless of weather or temperature.

LONG BEACH HERALD — December 18, 2025

By AIDAN WARSHAVSKY

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Photos courtesy Mindi Dovberg

Mindi Dovberg, pictured center, will eclipse 1,000 days of cold plunges in the oceans of Long Beach.

Mindi captures her progress by etching the day in the sand.

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Brentwood man charged with DWI in Long Beach 1328219

Email your resume to jnegrin@liherald.com

Courtesy Long Beach Fire Department

Police report a two-car crash in Atlantic Beach that left three people injured on Dec. 10 at 5:33 p.m.

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December 18, 2025 — LONG BEACH HERALD

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According to Police, a Brentwood man was arrested following a two-car crash in Atlantic Beach that left three people injured, including an 11-year-old boy who was airlifted to Cohen Children’s Medical Center, on Dec. 10 at 5:33 p.m.

Police report Job Giuliana, 30, was driving a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox east on Beech Street and struck a westbound 2019 Chevrolet Traverse near Scott Drive.

The Traverse was carrying a 52-yearold man, a 49-year-old woman and an 11-year-old boy.

Responding officers found Giuliana with a severe injury to his left leg and applied a tourniquet to stop the bleeding, according to police. He was taken by the Long Beach Fire Department to a nearby hospital, where officers determined he was intoxicated and placed him under arrest.

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Beach Fire Department and the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department all responded to the scene of the accident.

Police said the 11-year-old boy suffered serious body trauma and was airlifted by Nassau Police Helicopter 6 to a hospital. The 49-year-old woman, who complained of body pain, was taken with him. The driver of the Traverse sustained a head laceration and was transported by the Long Beach Fire Department for treatment and was later released.

Giuliana was charged with secondde g ree vehicular assault, seconddegree assault, two counts of thirddegree assault, driving while intoxicated, and second-degree reckless endangerment. He will be arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead when medically able.

–Melissa Berman

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HERALD SPORTS Talented Hofstra eager to build momentum

By ANDREW COEN sports@liherald.com

Hofstra’s women’s basketball team is looking to build off a 14-win season which marked the most victories for the program in nearly a decade.

The Pride went 14-16 overall and 9-9 in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) to finish eighth in the 14-team conference after being picked to place 12th.

Hofstra returned eight players from the breakthrough season in which the Pride achieved their highest win total since going 25-9 in the 2015-2016 campaign and are looking to continue that winning mindset this winter.

“Ging into this year we were really excited because we have a really talented bunch,” said sixth-year head coach Danielle Santos Atkinson. “The returners want more as they had a taste of it last year and ran out of gas down the stretch.”

Senior guard Chloe Sterling, who missed the end of last season with a knee injury, gives the Pride an offensive boost this winter leading the team in scoring with 13 points per game prior to being sidelined in February. Sterling made her season debut on Dec. 6 with 11 points in a 67-46 home loss to Fordham.

The Pride also brought back senior guard Emma Von Essen, a Rockville Centre native who averaged 10.9 points per game as a junior. The Long Island Lutheran product has proven to be a three-point threat throughout her Hofstra career and sank her 200th career shot from beyond the arc at the end of last season.

“Her leadership has been great this year,” said Santos Atkinson of Von Essen. “She has led by example in things that we want to be able to do culturally and establishing our standards and expectations.

Hofstra has gotten a boost with the addition of SMU transfer Sandra Magolico, who is averaging more than 10 points per game despite battling some injuries. The 6-1 forward from Spain recorded 25 points and 13 rebounds in a 73-66 win at Yale on Nov. 11.

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Senior Alarice Gooden, left, is the Pride’s starting point guard.

The Pride boast a number of offensive weapons as evident by an 80-44 win against Marywood on Dec. 10 where four players reached double figures led by sophomore guard Ema Karim, a Portugal native, who posted a career-high 15 points along with four assists.

The Marywood blowout victory also featured 11 points apiece from Sterling and Von Essen. Senior point guard Alarice Goode, a Brampton, Ontario native, tallied 11 points while senior Deivejon Harris nearly cracked double digits with nine points.

“We have the talent and it’s about us just being able to put it together,” Santos Atkinson said. “We’re still trying to figure out our identity because we haven’t had everyone out there together due to injuries.”

Freshman forward Olivia VanPatten, who shined at St. George’s School in Rhode Island, has also shown offensive potential early in the season netting

Photos courtesy Hofstra Athletics Communications

Sandra Magolico, a transfer from SMU, had 25 points and 11 rebounds in Hofstra’s Nov. 11 win over Yale. eight points in a 95-38 loss to then seventh-ranked Maryland on Thanksgiving Day in Puerto Rico.

Santos Atkinson organized a rigorous non-conference schedule that kicked off with a season-opening 83-48 loss at ACC foe Miami and saw the Pride take on Big Ten power and seventh-ranked Maryland. The Pride will close the non-league on Dec. 28 at Kentucky, who was ranked 15th in the nation in mid-December.

The home CAA schedule commences on Jan. 9 against Towson at 6 p.m. followed a week later when Hofstra hosts Long Island rival Stony Brook on Jan. 16 for another 6 p.m. tipoff. The Pride were picked to finish ninth in the 14-team conference in a preseason coaches poll.

“I think the conference season is going to be as it is every year, anybody’s game for that championship, “ Santos Atkinson said. “It’s going to be a fight.”

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December 18, 2025 — LONG BEACH HERALD

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LONG BEACH HERALD — December 18, 2025 Carly Hariton/Herald

Gary Brown, at rear in Green Bay Packers sweatshirt, with Herald staff and the donated toys collected for the nonprofit Dream 68.

‘Pack’ing up toys for a good cause at the Herald Brown was a member of the 1996 Super Bowl-winning Packers team. Yes, Herald staffers saw his ring!

He was inducted into the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.

Knowing firsthand how much a single act of kindness can mean, Brown spoke candidly about how hard he worked to play professional football. His message was unmistakable: A community that invests in its children — consistently, intentionally and all year

long — creates pathways to hope that last a lifetime.

Dream 68 has mentored and supported underprivileged children and their families for the past 10 years. The organization also supplies local homeless shelters serving more than 500 people on Thanksgiving. The toys are distributed to more than 350 children.

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It’s not often that journalists become as giddy as schoolchildren, but when former NFL player Gary Brown visited the Herald on Dec. 9, the entire office rippled with excitement.

Brown, who was born in Amityville and grew up in Brentwood, came to pick up two boxes of toys that Herald employees collected for Dream 68, the nonprofit organization he founded. The 68 is the number he wore playing for the Green Bay Packers, and

County emphasizes Christmas tree safety

By ALYSSA R. GRIFFIN agriffin@liherald.com

Nassau County fire officials and the Nassau County Firefighters Museum and Education Center are reminding community members to prioritize fire safety during the holiday season.

County firefighters demonstrated the dangers of an untreated Christmas tree during a live fire demonstration at the Nassau County Vocational Education and Extension Board Fire Service Academy in Old Bethpage on Dec. 9. The demonstration made clear how quickly a home can go from festive to heavily damaged, with a Christmas tree fire completely consuming a room in just one minute.

Paul Wilders, chief of the academy, spoke about the importance of fire safety — and for Wilders, these demonstrations hit close to home. In 2001 he lost his mother’s home, where he grew up, as the result of a Christmas tree fire caused by their cat. “After 49 years, my mother’s house burned to the ground,” he told the Herald. “If it can happen to me and happen to my family, it happens to anybody out there.”

“We do our best to prepare first responders, but this demonstration is aimed at the public,” Wilders said. “As beautiful and festive as the holidays are, tragedies can happen if we’re not vigilant.”

Joining Wilders at the event were Alana Petrocelli, the center’s executive director; John Rottkamp, executive director of Nassau County VEEB; Nassau County Chief Fire Marshal Michael Uttaro; and others.

“We don’t want any accidents in our homes, especially as holiday decorations go up,” Petrocelli said.

“It’s important to be mindful of the wires you’re using, avoid overloading electrical outlets, and make sure your tree and decorations don’t block exits.”

Alyssa R. Griffin/Herald

Paul Wilders welcomed those who watched the holiday tree burn at the Nassau County Vocational Education and Extension Board Fire Service Academy with John Rottkamp, far left, VEEB’s executive director; Alana Petrocelli, the center’s executive director; Chief Fire Marshal Michael Uttaro; VEEB Director Ray Maguire; Nick Corrado, captain at the Nassau County fire marshal’s office; and Rob Leonard, of the Firefighters Association of the State of New York.

The demonstration featured a live Christmas tree, presents and furniture set up in the academy’s burn building, which were set ablaze to show how quickly fire can spread. Firefighters Josiah Reed and Alex Thompson extinguished the flames.

Fire officials emphasized the need for working smoke detectors and fire safety precautions not only during the holidays, but throughout the year. “If people take proper precautions and make sure they water their tree — if they want to use a synthetic tree, obviously that’s a better option, but smoke alarms are the main thing that we try to push,” Capt.

Nick Corrado, of the fire marshal’s office, told the Herald.

Fire departments respond to hundreds of home fires caused by Christmas trees, and between 2016 and 2020, the U.S. recorded two civilian deaths, 11 civilian injuries and $12 million in property damages.

“Most people don’t think about it every day, and that’s when accidents, unfortunately, do occur,” Petrocelli said. “But during the holiday season, we have lots of decorations up. We’re putting things in different places, we’re plugging things into different outlets that we maybe don’t use. So we need to be conscious of safety while we’re decorating as well.”

For more information on the Nassau County Firefighters Museum and Education Center, visit NCFireMuseum.org.

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December 18, 2025 — LONG BEACH HERALD

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LONG BEACH HERALD — December 18, 2025

Courtesy office State Sen. Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick

Laurel diner owner andrew Loucas accepted a citation from State Sen. patricia Canzoneri-fitzpatrick, honoring the business’s contributions to the community.

Loucas family nearing 20 years of ownership Victor Velasquez, a waiter at the Launess in 2006, when they bought the Lau- rel for over 15 years, is a respected member of the staff. “Working at the Laurel rel.

At the beginning, the hour-plus com- is like family, from the usual customers mute for Andrew, from his home in the to my coworkers,” Velasquez said.

Bronx. was the greatest challenge. When “Everyone wants what’s best for you.”

And Loucas and his staff are accusit snowed during the workday and the tomed to working hard. “This place has roads were bad, he’d sleep at the diner. been around since the Great DepresIn the years since, the challenges of operating a diner — the cost of goods sion,” he said. “We’re not going to let things like egg prices and and the competitive nature bad weather stop us.” of the industry — have The mom-and-pop diner proven far more problemathas always fostered commuic than travel times. Meat nity, serving as a meeting prices this year have “skyplace for families, business rocketed” according to Louassociates, teammates, local c a s, a n d t h e d r a m a t i c school alumni, lifeguards increase in the price of eggs and old friends. Loucas said beginning in 2022, initially that the staff is always overdriven by an outbreak of hearing stories of diners’ avian flu, has driven up nights out or reminiscences costs as well. of years past.

“You overcome one thing, The Laurel has enjoyed another trial follows,” he PaTricia canzoneriits fair share of publicity. said.

FiTzPaTrick Thanks to appearances in Loucas said that while State senator two episodes of the Netflix the summer is fun and the series “You” in 2024 and a staff “looks forward to the action and hustle,” that’s not the status Cosmopolitan photo shoot featuring quo year-round. The winter months, actor Taylor Lautner and his wife, Tayother stretches of bad weather and the lor Dome, in October, the eatery is occasional natural disaster have forced known far beyond Long Beach.

Over the course of 93 years, the Lauthe Loucases to adapt.

W h e n S u p e r s t o r m S a n dy t o r e rel has undergone many changes and through Long Beach in late October survived many renovations. Originally 2012, the Laurel remained open, thanks called the Laurel Luncheonette, it was to a generator. In 2020, the business was an extension of the Laurel Theater — also tested by the pandemic, when most space now occupied by CVS. “The Laurel will always be the Lauof the staff had to be let go.

These days, Loucas’s commitment to rel, so long as we’re here,” Loucas said. keeping the Laurel bus is motivated in “Being open for more than 90 years is a part by the obligation he has to his testament to our food and the strong ties employees, whose families depend on we’ve built with this community. This them. “As an owner, your staff depends recognition belongs not only to the Lauon you,” he said. “You have to get up rel Diner, but to Long Beach and the people of this community.” and put 110 percent in.”

Continued from page 1

T

he Laurel Diner represents the heart of the Long Beach community.

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December 18, 2025 — LONG BEACH HERALD

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Tim Baker/Herald photos

A cheerful audience watched along the parade route.

Electric Light Parade shined through the night Holiday cheer brightened spirits, and the roadway, as the 12th annual Electric Light Parade took over West Beech Street last Saturday. Families, businesses, schools, and organizations joined in the yearly celebration with decorated cars, trucks, and floats.

Each year, participants go above and beyond to celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and more as they use costumes, lights, and decorations to showcase the season.

–Chris Colucci

The Long Beach Bulldogs represented holiday spirit and team pride.

Rabbi Eli Goodman, of Chabad of the Beaches in Long Beach, danced alongside his float.

West School lit up to celebrate their 100th anniversary.

The Long Beach Chamber of Commerce had their truck fully decked out.

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Today Today What is your favorite family holiday tradition?

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Ozzie Beck

Erika Palette

Celebrating Hanukkah. My four kids live all over the United States, so when we get together, it’s really festive. I love all holidays!

On Christmas Eve, we go around and look at all the Christmas lights all around Lynbrook. We play holiday music in the car, we drink hot cocoa then we come home and leave cookies out for Santa and carrots for the reindeer. Bonus points for snow.

Long Beach

LONG BEACH HERALD — December 18, 2025

Compiled by the Herald Staff Lynbrook

Tim Baker/Herald

Tim Baker/Herald

Lucy Frain

Rockville Centre, age 17

Ian Siegel Glen Cove

Grace Robson

Christmas morning, enjoying breakfast. We make the same breakfast every year and sit in front of the fire watching Christmas movies.

Tim Baker/Herald

I like making cookies and going to my grandparents’ house on Christmas Day. Christie Leigh Babirad/Herald

Massapequa, age 10

On Christmas Eve, we’re usually at my aunt’s house wearing matching pajamas, which is always my favorite, and we pass gifts around. I’m excited to finally be involved in their white elephant.

Alyssa Griffin/Herald

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Today Today Remembering Ellen Coryat with smiles OBITUARY

By AIDAN WARSHAVSKY awarshavsky@liherald.com

Courtesy Diana Coryat

Ellen “Babs” Coryat was outgoing and kept people laughing. sonality with a humorous irreverence.”

“She always kept people laughing.” Coryat said.

“She loved being a mother and sister figure to all beyond her family.”

Christmas Day was Coryat’s favorite holiday.

Referred to by her children as the “very spirit of Christmas,” Coryat would stay up into the early hours of the morning, wrapping gifts for her family. She also enjoyed hosting family parties and singing Christmas carols while her husband, Henry, played the piano.

During the 1970s, when aging city hotels transformed into healthcare facilities and nursing homes, Coryat began her career as an office manager.

Working for doctors--including Dr. Kirschner, Dr. Lemlich, Dr. Reddy, and Dr. Sood--Coryat came to know community members from Hotel Ila and Scharf ’s to the King David.

To soften doctor visits for patients, Coryat often entertained them with jokes and stories. She also learned several words of Yiddish–offering positive words to many of the patients.

Coryat and her husband moved to South Florida in 1989, but she always considered Long Beach her home.

She returned often, and especially loved attending the annual Irish Day. “It was a part of her identity,” Coryat said.

After helping one of her sons, Brian, start his own company, Value Click, she retired in 2000.

The late Coryat wrote short stories about growing up in the West End, the poverty her family experienced during the Great Depression, which will be published in the future.

Her children, Diana, Brian, David, Annie and Ellen, along with six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, survive Coryat. Coryat is also remembered by her many nieces and nephews.

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Ellen Rourke Coryat “Babs,” a Long Beach native and medical office manager, died in Ocala, Florida on Nov. 21. She was 94.

Coryat was a beloved member of the community.

“You always knew you’d have a good time with her,” said eldest daughter Diana. “She was very loved by patients and anyone who knew her.”

Born in 1931, Coryat grew up in the West End during the Great Depression. Then known as the Rourke’s, the family lived in bungalows on Connecticut Avenue, Wyoming Avenue and Georgia Avenue.

In the summer months to make ends meet, the family would rent rooms when the demand was high on Wyoming Avenue and Alabama Street. During those months, the family would sleep together on their sun porch.

Coryat said that her mother would always tell her children stories about the guests who stayed there, including the long waiting times for bathing, and even finding a toupee on a dresser in one room – not knowing what it was.

Growing up in a beach town, Coryat entered many bathing beauty contests, and also modeled. Later she commuted to New York City to work as a secretary. She also embraced volunteer work, collecting bread from local bakeries and donating it to Saint Mary’s and other Church-based soup kitchens Coryat described her mother as an “outgoing per-

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December 18, 2025 — LONG BEACH HERALD

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Get ready for more car-smashing, ramp-jumping, wheel-revving action with Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live

By Abbey Salvemini

H

ot Wheels fans, buckle up — it’s about to get loud and crazy at Nassau Coliseum shortly. Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live is back with its wild glowing spectacle, Jan. 17-18, introducing spectators to its newest vehicle: Rhinomite.

Following the tour’s success this year, the production is set to debut the rhino-themed truck as part of an expanded slate of stunts and performances for the 2026 season. Audiences can expect new, high-intensity action from the Hot Wheels lineup, including the first no-handed front flip by the FMX riders, when the tour makes • Jan. 17-18, times vary its final appearance in • Tickets start at $48.80, $30.05 Uniondale. children (also me +3 ticket Witness the raw offer $39.45); available at ticketmaster.com and power of these epic hotwheelsmonstertruckslive.com machines when the • Nassau Coliseum, Hempstead iconic Hot Wheels toy Tpke., Uniondale vehicles transform into unstoppable monster trucks for this “Glow-N-Fire” competition. As the arena darkens for the glow-in-the-dark effect, each truck revs up with its unique LED lights.

Pyrotechnic effects light up the arena, adding even more intensity to the stunts.

The action unfolds through four signature competitions: the wheelie challenge, the donut, the long jump and the freestyle finale. Together, the components determine the ultimate holder of the Champions Cup. This format allows fans to follow the action closely and see how each truck performs across a variety of challenges, adding a competitive edge to the entertaining experience.

At the center of the excitement is Rhinomite, a truck designed to charge “horn-first” into the lineup with its dynamic, high-impact personality.

Along with its striking appearance, Rhinomite will showcase a set of stunts tailored specifically for its debut.

According to its driver Kellen Williams, Rhinomite offers something entirely new to the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks universe.

“The tool that I have against everybody else is I have a real mighty front horn that I’m going to use to bash the competition,” he says.

Besides Rhinomite, fans can expect several new technical elements in this edition of the show, including that groundbreaking no-handed flip. Returning FMX rider Koltin Polinsky is excited to debut this trick for Long Island audiences.

“Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live is all about pushing the limits, and this stop is going to be one of our wildest yet,” he declares.

Thoroughly enjoyed by dedicated fans and newcomers alike, the show blends competitive action with immersive visual elements that engage all ages.

A major part of the appeal is Glow-N-Fire’s signature darkened arena setting, where glowing trucks, dramatic lighting and special effects give the show a special edge with electrifying visuals.

Arena lights are dimmed at the start, allowing the trucks to glow.

After intermission, the show shifts into its fiery segment, highlighting the “fire” element that gives Glow-N-Fire its name.

The production’s popularity has grown in part because of its consistent engagement with fans, particularly younger audiences experiencing monster trucks for the first time. Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live continues to distinguish itself from other monster truck shows on the circuit with its unique characteristics, such as appearing in smaller venues.

“We are very fan-oriented and bring them into the show,” Williams says.

“The fans announce the scores a lot of times and we also do toy giveaways. Our shows are mainly geared towards smaller children. However, everybody enjoys it. Children especially love watching the trucks crush cars and the dinosaur-themed elements.”

Opportunities to go behind the action add to the spectacle. At the Pre-Show Party, held twoand-a-half hours prior to every performance, get up close and see the outrageous designs and epic size of the Hot Wheels behemoths on the arena floor. Meet favorite drivers and performers.

With the mix of innovative stunts, high-energy performances and interactive fan experiences, this promises to be more than just a show — it’s an immersive event. The debut of Rhinomite adds an extra layer of excitement, while thrilling car-crushing trucks, dinosaurs and jaw-dropping FMX stunts keep the audience fully involved from start to finish. Fans can expect an unforgettable, actionpacked experience that celebrates the Hot Wheels legacy and leaves everyone with lasting memories of speed, power and fun.

Courtesy Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live

FMX rider Koltin Polinsky is sure to thril fans with his no-handed front flip. He’s joined by many Hot Wheels favorites in a display of exciting car-crunching feats as they fly more than 35 feet in the air. Plus, the fiery Skelesaurus roars into the arena ready to “chomp,” as everyone awaits the debut of Rhinomite.

Beloved holiday tunes are combined with a musical cabaret in a joyous over-the-top spectacle at the Madison Theatre. The cast of 41 performers enthusiastically share all the delights of the season in this remarkable show, created by Artistic Director Angelo Fraboni.

The cast includes Molloy’s CAP21 Musical Theatre Conservatory students, Broadway performers Kevin Bernard and Christina DeCicco, with local children. Their energy shines throughout the 90-minute show that tells of a young girl who has lost the Christmas spirit. Family and friends help reignite her love for the holidays.Timeless songs are brought to life in joyful arrangements, accompanied by a lively band..This captivating theatrical experience that brings the spirit of the season to life with energetic dancing and well known pop culture references.

Thursday and Friday, Dec. 18-19, 7 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 20, 2 and 7 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 21, 3 p.m. $40-$60.

Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. Tickets available at madisontheatreny.org or (516) 323-4444.

‘Rockin’ the Holidays’ with The Rascals If you’re humming holiday tunes and craving a little rock ‘n’ roll spirit, here’s your chance to celebrate in timeless style. Rockin’ the Holidays brings The Rascals back to the stage — joined by special guests John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band — for a concert packed with energy, nostalgia and chart-topping hits.Two of The Rascals’ founding members, Felix Cavaliere and Gene Cornish, reunite for this festive performance, fueled by a deep love for their fans and the enduring power of their music. With accolades that include induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Grammy Hall of Fame, the Vocal Group Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, The Rascals remain icons of American rock and the defining sound of 1960s blue-eyed soul. Their legacy shines through 17 Top 20 hits, seven Top 10 singles and three No. 1 classics — among them “Groovin’,” “People Got to Be Free” and “Good Lovin’.” Expect all the favorites, plus holiday flair and those warm, soulful harmonies.

Saturday, Dec 20, 8 p.m. Flagstar at Westbury Music Fair, 960 Brush Hollow Road, Westbury. Tickets available at livenation.com.

LONG BEACH HERALD — December 18, 2025

Christmas Spectacular

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December 18, 2025 — LONG BEACH HERALD

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YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD DEC

18

LuminoCity Festival

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CALENDAR

some holiday fun. Experience a rare evening visit to the village in winter. Enjoy 19th-century musical entertainment, hot drinks, and festive activities as you stroll through a village ablaze with light, with candles glowing in the windows of homes and buildings.

It will be an enchanting evening to live in your memory. $15, $12 seniors and children 5-12.

• Where: 1303 Round Swamp Rd., Old Bethpage • Time: 5-9:30 p.m., also Dec. 20-23, Dec. 26-29 • Contact: oldbethpagevillagerestoration. org or call (516) 572-8409

LuminoCity is back at Eisenhower Park.

Walk through a winter wonderland. Timed admission fee.

• Where: Eisenhower Park, East Meadow • Time: 4:30-5:15 p.m., 6-6:45 p.m., 7:30-8:15 p.m., through Jan. 1 • Contact: luminocityfestival.com

Long Beach Soup Kitchen Juice Box Drive

Support the Long Beach Soup Kitchen by contributing to their 3rd Annual Juice Box Drive, helping meet the growing need for hundreds of meals served each week. All are encouraged to drop off juice box donations at the library’s Circulation Desk or arrange a pickup if needed. It’s a simple but meaningful way to give back this season.

• Where: 111 West Park Ave., Long Beach • Time: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., through Dec. 21 • Contact: (516) 432-7201

‘Home for the Holidays’ Pet Adoption There’s no better time to adopt a new pet than during “Home for the Holidays’ at the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter. All adoption fees are waived and include free spaying/neutering, vaccinations and micro-chipping.

Preview the cats and dogs online at Hempsteadny.gov/179/animalshelter.

• Where: 3320 Beltagh Ave., Wantagh • Time: Ongoing, through Jan. 4.

• Contact: (516) 785-5220

Zoning Board Meeting Agendas for upcoming Zoning Board of Appeals meetings can be picked up in Room 304 of the Building Department the Friday before each session. Online summaries are available after meetings.

• Where: 1 W. Chester St. • Time: 7 p.m.

• Contact: longbeachny.gov/ zoning

Ugly Sweater Karaoke Party

Celebrate the holiday season at the Ugly Sweater Karaoke Party, a lively and inclusive evening of karaoke, games and a Secret Santa raffle. Hosted by Alex Mercado, this free community event offers a safe and uplifting space for families, friends and neighbors to come together.

Attendees are encouraged to wear their most creative holiday sweaters while enjoying festive

DEC

DEC

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Get The Led Out

Get The Led Out rocks out with their tribute to what many consider rock ‘n roll’s greatest band, in “A Celebration of the Mighty Zep,” on the Paramount stage. From the bombastic and epic, to the folky and mystical, GTLO has captured the essence of the recorded music of Led Zeppelin and brought it to the concert stage. The six veteran musicians who make up the Philadelphia-based group delivers Led Zeppelin live with the all passion and fury these blues-soaked, groove-driven rock anthems deserve. Utilizing the multi-instrumentalists at their disposal, GTLO re-creates songs, in all their depth and glory, with the studio overdubs that Zeppelin themselves never performed. When you hear three guitars on the album, GTLO delivers three guitarists on stage. No wigs or fake English accents, GTLO brings what the audience wants — a high energy Zeppelin concert with honest, heart-thumping intensity with a strong focus on Led Zeppelin’s pivotal early years. They touch on the deeper cuts that were seldom, if ever heard in concert. GTLO’s approach to performance of this • Where: The Paramount, 370 hallowed catalog is not unlike a classical performance. “Led Zeppelin are sort of the New York Ave., Huntington classical composers of the rock era,” says lead vocalist Paul Sinclair. “I believe 100 years • Time: 8 p.m.; also Dec. 27 from now they will be looked at as the Bach or Beethoven of our time. As cliche as it • Contact: ticketmaster.com sounds, their music is timeless.” $92, $49.25, $60.25. or paramountny.com food, drinks and seasonal cheer.

A contribution of a dessert or snack to share is appreciated.

• Where: 405 E. Broadway • Time: 5 p.m.

• Contact: Longbeachhotelny405@gmail. com

‘Holiday Joy’ Christmas Celebration

Beloved holiday tunes are combined with a musical cabaret in a vibrant, joyous over-the-top spectacle that is the Madison Theatre’s annual holiday celebration. The performers enthusiastically share all the delights of the season in this remarkable show, now in its 12th year, created by Artistic Director Angelo Fraboni. The lively cast includes Molloy University’s pre-professional CAP21 Musical Theatre Conservatory students and Broadway performers. Their enthusiasm and energy shine throughout the show, making it a one-of-a-kind holiday experience.

Timeless songs are brought to life in joyful arrangements, accompanied by a lively band that adds a festive musical backdrop to the spectacle.

• Where: Madison Theatre, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre • Time: 7 p.m.; also Dec. 19, 7 p.m.; Dec. 20, 2 and 7 p.m.; Dec. 21, 3 p.m.

• Contact: madisontheatreny.org or (516) 323-4444

DEC

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‘Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus! The Musical’

Long Island Children’s Museum welcomes back this delightful production, based on Mo Willems’ awardwinning “Pigeon” picture books.

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical! is even more fun than staying up late and having a hot dog party. It’s not easy being the Pigeon — you never get to do anything. But when the Bus Driver has a crisis that threatens to make her passengers (gasp!) late, maybe that wily bird can do something. Featuring an innovative mix of songs, and feathers, this show is sure to get everyone’s wings flapping. $11 with museum admission ($9 members), $15 theater only.

• Where: Museum Row, Garden City • Time: 10:15 a.m. and noon.; also Dec. 20, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; Dec. 21, 2:15 p.m.; also Dec. 29-30 • Contact: licm.org or (516) 224-5800

Film Friday

Settle in at Long Beach Public Library for a chilling afternoon

screening of ‘The Conjuring 4,’ following Ed and Lorraine Warren as they confront a terrifying new paranormal case. This suspenseful horror film dives deep into the shadows, testing the Warrens’ courage in their final investigation. A great pick for fans of supernatural thrills.

• Where: 111 West Park Ave. • Time: 1-3:30 p.m.

• Contact: longbeachlibrary.org or (516) 432-7201

LB Garden Club Holiday Party

The LB Garden Club is a welcoming space for gardening enthusiasts of all levels to connect, share tips and celebrate their love of gardening. Stop by for the club’s annual holiday party; attendees are invited to bring a treat or dish to share.

Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, everyone is encouraged to join the conversation and community.

• Where: 111 West Park Ave. • Time: 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

• Contact: longbeachlibrary.org or (516) 432-7201

Candlelight Evenings

Step back in time at Old Bethpage Village Restoration for

20

Crochet, Knit & More Club

Join fellow makers at the Long Beach Public Library’s Crochet & Knit Club, a welcoming space for both beginners and experienced crafters. Bring your yarn and needles to enjoy a relaxing, creative session while picking up new techniques and connecting with others who love to stitch.

It’s a perfect way to unwind and get inspired.

• Where: 111 West Park Ave. • Time: 10:30 a.m.-noon • Contact: longbeachlibrary.org or (516) 432-7201

Christmas Starfish Ornaments

Stars are an iconic symbol of Christmas, inspired by the Star of Bethlehem. Bring the kids to Long Island Children’s Museum to learn more about the importance of the Christmas star and create a Christmas starfish ornament to take home. This is a drop-in program.

• Where: Museum Row, Garden City • Time: Noon-2 p.m.

• Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800

Having an event?

Items on the Calendar page are listed free of charge. The Herald welcomes listings of upcoming events, community meetings and items of public interest. All submissions should include date, time and location of the event, cost, and a contact name and phone number. Submissions can be emailed to kbloom@ liherald.com.

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Update to rates of subscription plans: To continue providing you with high-quality hyperlocal news in the face of rising costs, as of December 1, 2025, the HERALD's subscription rates will be: annual subscription plan, paid by credit card - $1 per week (billed annually at $52.00); monthly subscription plan, paid by credit card - $2 per week (billed monthly at $8.67); one-year subscription, paid by check - $65 (check made out to "Richner Communications, Inc." and mailed to below address). Subscription plans paid by credit card renew at end of applicable term at then-current rates.

Payment can be made online at liherald.com/subscribe, by calling (516) 569-4000 & press 7, or by mail to Herald Subscription Processing Center, 2 Endo Boulevard, Garden City, NY 11530.

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Program Calendar: Winter 2026 starts January 12, 2026

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Before these words of Pope Leo, we hroughout this year, we have recall the wonderful truth: Christ marked many significant milebecame poor so that we who are poor stones in the life of the Church might become rich (Cor. 8:9). This is the leading us to the Lord’s Nativity good news of Christmas. We are not and this holy season of Christmas, most alone. We are not left to ourselves. A especially the passing of Pope Francis Savior has come - Christ the Lord. at Easter and the election of Pope Leo As we celebrate the Christmas seaXIV in May. son, we remember with Pope Leo that What a gift it has been to walk these “Christian holiness often flourishes in months with our new Holy Father, to learn from his teaching, and witness his the most forgotten and wounded places of humanity.” example.

How beautifully the folOn Oct. 4, the Memorial lowers of Christ have of Saint Francis of Assisi, responded to the cry of the Pope Leo released his first poor and looked with love Apostolic Exhortation, “Di/ upon the most vulnerable exit Te - I Have Loved You.” among us. As we rejoice in It is a profound meditation Christ’s Birth, we renew our on love for the poor and commitment to love others speaks powerfully to the as he has loved us. mystery of the Lord’s Birth On Dec. 28, at the Catheand the grace of this season. dral of Saint Agnes, on the The Holy Father reminds eveRend Feast of the Holy Family of us: “The Gospel shows us that poverty marked every ohn aRRes Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, we will conclude our Jubilee aspect of Jesus’ life. From Year of Hope. the moment he entered the We thank both Pope Francis and Pope world, Jesus knew the bitter experience Leo XIV for igniting hope within our of rejection. The Evangelist Luke tells families, the global mission of the how Joseph and Mary, who was about to Church, and the human family, and we give birth, arrived in Bethlehem, and contemplate the light and grace that then adds, poignantly, that ‘there was no radiates from the refugee Holy Family place for them in the inn’ (Luke 2:7).

Jesus was born in humble surroundings and that radiates to every family.

Our Catholic biblical and sacramenand laid in a manger; then, to save him tal worship, especially at the Catholic from being killed, they fled to Egypt Mass, focuses and ignites both our glob(Matthew 2:13-15). At the dawn of his al mission to the poor and our humble public ministry, after announcing in the openness to being evangelized by the synagogue of Nazareth that the year of grace, which would bring joy to the poor poor, the treasures of our Church.

Merry Christmas and Happy New was fulfilled in him, he was driven out Year to you and your families! of town (Luke 4:l4-30). He died as an outMay the Light and love of the Christ cast, led out of Jerusalem to be crucified Child animate and guide our global (Mark 15:22). Indeed, that is how Jesus’ Catholic missionary spirit this Christpoverty is best described: he experimas and throughout the New Year. enced the same exclusion that is the lot Sincerely in Christ, of the poor, the outcast of society. Jesus Most Reverend John O. Barres is a manifestation of this privilegium pauperum. He presented himself to the The Most Reverend John O. Barres is the world not only as a poor Messiah, but Bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre. also the Messiah of and for the poor.”

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LONG BEACH HERALD — December 18, 2025

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Merry Christmas to the people of God

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December 18, 2025 — LONG BEACH HERALD

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Menorah lighting sparks deep discussion

By AIDAN WARSHAVSKY awarshavsky@liherald.com

With a grandiose Menorah towering over Kennedy Plaza, Chabad of the Beaches Rabbi Eli Goodman delivered a powerful message Sunday night as members of the community gathered for the first night of Hanukkah.

“We stand with the Jewish community of Sydney, and with the Jews everywhere,” Goodman said. “This pain is deep, personal and very real.”

Goodman, originally from Melbourne, condemned the recent antisemitic attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney Australia, where 1,000 Jews were targeted during their celebration.

He also criticized Australian leadership for their lack of response during a time when antisemitic attacks have not been challenged.

“When rhetoric remains unchecked, it doesn’t remain rhetorical,” Goodman said. “It moves from words to fire, from slogans to violence, and now tragically we see the results.”

The attack claimed the life of Eli Schlanger, an assistant rabbi at ChabadLubavitch of Bondi in Sydney who was a key organizer of Chabad of Bondi’s “Channukah by the Sea” where the attack

Alyssa Piazza/Herald photos

The celebration featured singing from Hebrew School children across Long Beach and neighboring communities. occurred — who Goodman knew well.

Goodman thanked the Long Beach City Council, city officials, and newly elected city leadership for their support, and emphasized the importance of standing strong against hatred, symbolized by the lighting of the menorah and the presence of children.

Public Notices

LLON1 1218

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: Nightcap Stories, LLC. Art. of Org. were filed with the SSNY on 11/9/25. NY Office location: Nassau County.

SSNY is designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail a copy of the process to: 21 Arizona Ave, Apt 204, Long Beach, NY. Purpose: To engage in any lawful act or activity.

156910 LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU NEW YORK BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION d/b/a PURSUIT BDC, Plaintiff, against MICHAEL D’ANTONI a/k/a MICHAEL E. D’ANTONI, VERSA-TEL TS, INC., EMPIRE STATE CERTIFIED DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION d/b/a PURSUIT CDC, U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE, MONTANA DATACOM INC.,

NYBDC LOCAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION d/b/a THE EXCELSIOR GROWTH FUND, TBF FINANCIAL, LLC, AMERICAN EXPRESS NATIONAL BANK, CHILLAX LLC, CADLEROCK JOINT VENTURE, L.P., PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY, INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, and “JOHN OR JANE DOE” (such designation intending to refer to any and all other individuals occupying the subject premises and/or claiming any interest whatsoever in such premises), Defendants.

SECOND AMENDED NOTICE OF SALE Index No.: 609011-2024 Property Addresses: 30 Delaware Ave. Long Beach, New York Honorable Thomas Rademaker Pursuant to Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated February 5, 2025 and entered in the Nassau County Clerk’s Office of February 18, 2025 (the “Judgment”), I, the undersigned Referee,

duly appointed in this action for such purpose, will expose for sale and sell at public auction to the highest bidder on the north side steps, Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, New York, on January 8, 2026 at 2:00 p.m., the mortgaged premises located at 30 Delaware Avenue, Long Beach, New York (Sec. 59 Block 260 Lot 13) (“Property”), as directed in and by said Judgment.

Approximate amount of the Judgment is $80,670.12 plus postjudgment interest and costs.

Please take notice that the Property is subject to a prior mortgage of record now held by CitiMortgage, Inc. in the original principal amount of $360,000.00 (Nassau County Clerk Liber 37176 Mp 100; Assignment at Liber 42896 Mp 855).

Interested parties may contact Meghan Breen, Esq. at 518-581-8800.

Dated: November 25, 2025 /s/Ronald J. Ferraro Ronald J. Ferraro, Esq. 157108

Place a notice by phone at 516-569-4000 x232 or email: legalnotices@liherald.com

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: EAST COAST SPIRITS LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York, (SSNY) on 08/06/2025.

NY Office location: Nassau County. SSNY has been designated as an agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of the process to: 180 HUNNEWELL AVE ELMONT, NY 11003 Purpose: To engage in any lawful act or activity.

157092

LEGAL NOTICE Notice is hereby given that a license, number NA-0240-25-116468 for wine, beer, & cider has been applied for by Delilah G Corporation, DBA Fresco Creperie & Cafe Long Beach to sell at retail in a restaurant, under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at 150A East Park Avenue Long Beach NY 11561 for on premises consumption.Delilah G Corporation DBA Fresco Creperie & Cafe Long Beach.

157265

“You have shown moral courage, stood for moral dignity, truth, and the Jewish community as an integral part of our city’s success,” Goodman said.

“May you continue to bring light, safety, and unity to this city and beyond.”

This year’s menorah lighting featured flying dreidels and chocolate gelt, and included an appearance from Judah the Maccabee.

Attendees enjoyed holiday staples such as potato latkes and jelly donuts, as well as hot coffee to keep warm.

The night also included the singing of Jewish hymns from Temple Emmanuel Hebrew School, Betzalel Milstein Hebrew School, and the Chabad of the Beaches’ Aleph Academy.

Goodman gave thanks to presenting sponsor Long Beach Nursing and Reha-

bilitation Center.

He also gave thanks to Country Boy Bakery, FC Mint, Starbucks, The Sholom & Pessy Jacobs Foundation, and Trader Joe’s.

City Council President Brendan Finn, spoke on the impact of the Menorah lighting, calling it “an emblem of strength and resilience of the Jewish people.”

“Though our hearts are heavy thinking about the victims of the terrorist attack against Jews celebrating Hanukkah in Sydney, Australia, we join together as a community,” he said. “We stand strong, united — and in keeping with the spirit of the holiday as we light the menorah — committed to adding more light to the world even in the darkest moments.”

The Kreischer family were some of many who gathered for the first night of Hanukkah in sub-freezing temperatures.

17

C1 12/18

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.

BUS NOW HIRING IVERS AND VAN DR

PART TIME

BOOKKEEPER/ OFFICE MANAGER

DON’T MISS The Bus!

For The Greenberg Group consulting company based in Hewlett.

LOOK NEW PAY RATES FOR SEPTEMBER

• Must be able to manage all bookkeeping, including invoicing and bill payments, using QuickBooks.

• Handle payroll processing through QuickBooks.

• Payroll tax processing through IRS and NYS online systems.

• Reconcile accounts and maintain financial records.

• Perform administrative tasks such as filing and correspondence.

Big Bus $31.68/hr.

Non-Benefit Rate

Help Wanted CIRCULATION ASSOCIATE Full Time/Part Time Richner Communications, publisher of Herald community newspapers has an excellent opportunity for a FT/PT Customer Service Clerk in our busy Circulation Department. Basic customer service and administrative responsibilities include: heavy computer work, answering phones, making phone calls, entering orders, faxing, filing, etc. STRONG knowledge of EXCEL a must! Knowledge of DATABASE maintenance or postal regulations a big plus. Qualified Candidates must be computer literate, able to multi-task, dependable, reliable, organized, energetic, detail oriented and able to work well under deadlines.

Salary Range is $16.50 per hour to $20 per hour.

For consideration, please send resume & salary requirements to: circulationassociate@liherald.com

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

Why Not Print

choose

RICHNER Printing Services

• Eco friendly facility • Environmentally safe soy based inks • Recycled paper • Help reduce the carbon footprint

Call Lou today at 516-569-4000 ext 223

$28.91/hr.

Non-Benefit Rate

*Some restrictions may apply.

Will train qualified applicants

1326093

EDUCATIONAL BUS TRANSPORTATION

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 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 fromo $16.50 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 $34,320 + 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

1324119 1318134

for CDL driver bus and Sign On Bonus $5,000.00 van $500.00 for non CDL drivers.

516.454.2300 Call Today!

Positions available in Nassau and Suffolk Counties Apply At: www.educationalbusjobs.com/ EOE

OUTSIDE SALES

Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships.

Earning potential ranges from $34,320 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

TAX PREPARER WANTED

FREEPORT TAX SERVICE INC. Located Sunrise Hwy, Bellmore Hours Are Flexible And Position Requires 20-40 Hours Per Week During Tax Season Possible Future Opportunities Contact Matt At 516-868-9696

Deals on Wheels 1283447

EMPLOYMENT

Van

We Guarantee 30 Hours A Week

Qualifications: • 3+ years of bookkeeping experience.

• Proficiency with QuickBooks (Desktop or Online).

• Experience with payroll processing.

• Hourly rate based on experience.

Submit resume to Steven Greenberg: sgreenberg@thegreenberggroup.com CALL: 516-295-0406 ex 204

NEW

Want to sell your car, motorcycle or boat?

Have we got a deal for you! You can advertise your vehicle in the

Classifieds All for an amazing price! Your add will run until you sell your vehicle. Just call one of our expert classified account executives today and you will be on your way to making a great deal on your set of wheels!

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1-800-231-6152

LONG BEACH HERALD — December 18, 2025

HERALD

December 18, 2025 — LONG BEACH HERALD

18

C2 12/18

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

Lynbrook

Timeless Charmed Craftsman

Yes, A.I. will shape the future of building houses Q. Has A.I. affected construction? What do you see happening with A.I. in the building sector, and how does it change the cost of what we want to build?

Are you seeing costs level out or drop?

A. Lots of questions.

Costs are not dropping.

The future of construction will definitely be affected by the emergence of A.I., but, as usual, from the top down. The most sophisticated construction, large buildings and very high investments, started the trend.

This is similar to what the space program did for technology. First were the onte eeper innovations in military development, followed by civilian aircraft and then automobiles, kitchen appliances and finally computerization on a large scale.

The same is happening with artificial intelligence.

For me, the first significant experience with AI was when a client, young enough to be my daughter, grabbed her cellphone, ran outside and took a picture of the front of her house. I had been drawing various styles of roofs, and she focused on one scheme that was very modern, with sleek lines, lots of verticalshaped structures intersected by horizontal overhangs and balcony rails, some glass and some solid.

She took a picture of the house on her phone, a second one of the outside of the house and then, after speaking a command into her ChatGPT, waited a minute or so, and up came an image in 3-D — complete with palm trees and a red Ferrari — of the design I had developed in 2-D on my laptop screen. It was rough and a little out of scale, but close to what she was looking for.

Then she got a little crazy and asked the program to use shades of pinks, grays and black trim for the handrails. Her husband objected, and said it should be all gray and white, and while they went back and forth, I was pondering what the architectural review board would do, how to structure the cantilever balconies and how much protest would come from the neighbors with their adjacent brick suburban colonials and split-level homes.

Tall buildings are now designed with A.I., with great success, and intricate aligning of all the systems and construction utilizes robots that can hang off a building’s edges to install the fasteners, exterior panels and glass within tolerances normally seen under a microscope. Training has evolved to not only understanding the manual assembly of building components, but also the level of skill to guide robotics.

New fields in technology are emerging, but with every change comes adjustment to the way we think about the tasks and how to solve them.

Cars are now mobile computers, not just greasy machines. Construction is changing in the same ways. We’re going to need people to adjust to not going to college for degrees in medicine and law, but rather to master careers with great skill and knowledge, commanding robotics, knowing engineering, science, math and problem-solving in several fields.

That’s the future.

Ask The Architect

M

S

tep into the timeless charm of this Craftsman-style home, beautifully blending classic character with everyday comfort. A welcoming living room with a stately fireplace sets the tone, offering the perfect backdrop for gatherings or quiet evenings in. The formal dining room provides an elegant space for hosting, while the large eat-in kitchen delights with abundant cabinetry, expansive counter space, and a cozy breakfast nook ideal for starting your day. With 4 well-appointed bedrooms, including an additional office/nursery that adapts to your lifestyle, this home offers exceptional flexibility. Classic architectural details—from rich woodwork to thoughtfully preserved finishes add warmth and personality throughout. Located in the heart of Lynbrook, this home pairs timeless style with convenience, creating a truly special place to call home. Asking $799,000.

Results that Move You

Leon Sanchez – Licensed Broker/Owner M: 516.444.2779 Jonathan Sanchez – Licensed Salesperson M: 516-406-4046 Newman Realty 341 Hempstead Avenue Malverne, NY 11565 516.599.2800

Rent Your Apartment through the Herald and PrimeTime Classified section. Call us for our great *specials. 516-5694000, press 5 for Classified Dept.

1313366

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

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Asking Mid $800's. By Owner. Call 970-989-0444

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INWOOD: NEW 2 BR, Kitchen, Bath, LR, 1 Car Rear Parking, Outdoor Storage Shed. No Pets/ Smoking, $2,800+ Electric. 516-315-0083 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

*(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

© 2025 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

C3 12/18

Market Place • •

To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5

To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5

LONG BEACH HERALD — December 18, 2025

HERALD

To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5

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516-678-6641– Licensed & Insured

Free estImAtes...call Anthony romeo 1323594

driving you

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sales@liherald.com to run a FREE "Finds Under $100"

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• Bathrooms • Basements • Sheetrock • Framing • Tile Work • Kitchens • Extensions • Doors • Moldings • Decks

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December 18, 2025 — LONG BEACH HERALD

20

HERALD

Stuff

To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5 ANNOUNCEMENTS Announcements AFFORDABLE TV & INTERNET. If you are overpaying for your service, call now for a free quote and see how much you can save! 1-833-323-0160 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

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FINDS UNDER $100 Finds Under $100 CHAMPAGNE & BROWN Color Block Room Darkening Drapes. Bronze Rod w/2 Brackets. 54"X84" $45. 516-320-1906 DOLLS, DOLL HOUSE MINIATURES & AC C E S S O R I E S F O R S A L E . U n d e r $99.00. Call Joy Evenings, 917-743-7695 Leave Message

C4 12/18

Finds Under $100 HOKA SNEAKERS: 2 pairs, 50.00 each. size 10D and 91/2M never worn 516-5025699 Evenings RAYNOR FLANAGAN RECLINER chair: beige, excellent, $99.00 H-38, W-32, D-32, Very Comfortable. 516-502-5699 evenings

• To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5 • To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5 Electricians

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HERALD

Crossword Puzzle

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Services AGING ROOF? NEW HOMEOWNER? STORM DAMAGE? You need a local expert provider that proudly stands behind their work. Fast, free estimate. Financing available. Call 1-833-880-7679 INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT? Don't Accept the insurance company's first offer.

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NEED A CAR? Find it in the HERALD Classifieds.

Answers to todAy’s puzzle

21

opInIons

o

n Long Island and across our country, the rising cost of living is making it harder for people to get by. From some of the highest tax bills in the country to rising utility and health care bills, everything just costs too much these days.

Making life more affordable for Nassau County’s young people, families and seniors is deeply personal to me.

My grandfather immigrated to Long Island from LAURA A. Italy to give his family a better GILLEn life, and took a job as a sanitation worker in the Town of Hempstead to make ends meet.

Two generations later, I’m raising my four children in Nassau County and fighting for a future they can afford. In serving this region, I consider it my utmost duty to give all Long Islanders the opportunity to prosper.

Since taking office, I’ve been focused on common-sense solutions to make life more affordable. In Congress I’m fight-

ing to lower costs by extending tax credits that help families afford health care, eliminating the state and local tax deduction to give Long Islanders a much-needed tax cut, and preventing outrageous utility rate hikes that drain families’ wallets.

When I speak with Long Islanders about what expenses are keeping them awake at night, health care costs are one of the main concerns I hear about. No one should have to choose between keeping food on the table and seeing a doctor. That’s why I’m pushing to extend tax credits that lower the cost of monthly insurance premiums. For some Nassau County residents, that could mean saving nearly $4,500 a year on their health care.

A bipartisan majority of Americans agree that we should extend these common-sense tax credits that help millions of families afford health care. If Republicans refuse to negotiate a bipartisan solution, the credits will lapse and health care premiums will rise for everyone, even those with private insurance.

I’ve also heard from countless Nassau

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residents about the burdensome effect that high taxes have had on their bottom lines. For nearly a decade, countless hardworking families have had to pay tens of thousands of dollars more in taxes due to the unfair cap on the deduction for state and local taxes, instituted by the GOP in its 2017 tax bill.

This double taxation is fundamentally unfair, and is making life more expensive for the middle class.

Congress has the opportunity to correct that wrong and cut taxes for Long Islanders by eliminating the SALT cap, which is making it so hard for families and small businesses in my district to get by. That’s why I’m leading a bipartisan bill that would do so. I also testified before the House Rules Committee earlier this year about how restoring the full SALT deduction would mean lower tax bills and more affordable mortgages for homeowners in our region.

Another worry for Long Island families is the dramatic and painful increase in their utility bills. No Nassau residents should have to pay 40 percent more per month just to have clean water

igh taxes continue to be a burden for too many Nassau County residents.

in their homes. That’s why I’m demanding answers from utility companies about the rate hikes that are draining Long Islanders’ wallets. I’m also working to pass the Stop the Rate Hikes Act to help prevent price surges in the future.

Long Islanders are counting on Congress to come together and address the affordability crisis. This shouldn’t be a partisan fight: Every member of Congress has a responsibility to lower costs and make life more affordable for the people we represent. I will work with anyone, from any party, who shares this goal of tackling the cost-of-living crisis and giving families more financial security.

I will always put Long Island first, and will continue my work to make life more affordable in our region by taking on the rising cost of health care, cutting taxes and preventing utility rate hikes that are crushing families’ budgets. I know that many people are having a hard time these days, and there’s a lot more work to be done. Long Islanders can trust that I will continue my fight to lower your costs so we can move forward together.

Laura Gillen represents the 4th Congressional District.

The sun rises and the sun sets; the rest is up for grabs

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ear readers, I began this column, my last of 2025, thinking that despite the chaos in our lives, we can all agree on certain basic truths.

And that’s as far as I got because, really, we can’t agree on anything.

We’ve reached a point in our America where we can’t even agree on what we’re seeing or hearing with our own eyes and ears. Fakery, fraud and deceit, perpetuated by people inside and outside the country, from the RAnDI influencers and KREIss conspiracists to our own political leaders, have torn down the normal guideposts that let us know that up is up, down is down, right is right and wrong is wrong.

We are in the vortex of an acute national vertigo.

Imagine climbing a mountain.

Everything looks good in base camp, but then, after several hours, it seems someone has removed the signposts.

Then there’s a signpost, but it has the wrong information. Then you dig into your supplies and find that your camp-

ing food is rancid. You can’t call for help because your phone has been hacked. Five hours out, your hiking shoe has unraveled and the tent you pitch is so poorly made that water seeps in. A storm is rolling in.

We climb mountains every day, and we need to trust our leaders to keep our schools safe, to keep education excellent and available. We need to know that airplanes will stay in the air; that competent air traffic controllers are on the job. I want to know the water I drink isn’t poisoning me. Pick any aspect of Life in America 2025 and find the relentless erosion of faith in our institutions and our elected officials.

If someone had told me that in December 2025 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, led by a discredited official with little medical background, would unravel our vaccine protocols and sow doubt among Americans about the efficacy of long-established standards and treatments, I wouldn’t have thought it possible. Yet here we are.

If someone had told me that in December 2025 I would see my president order kill strikes on vessels off Venezuela, calling it a war against nar-

I

co-terrorists and not getting an OK from Congress, I wouldn’t believe it possible.

If, during the last election, someone had identified the political players who now run the country — some inexperienced, some ill-informed and some drunk on power — we would have dismissed the idea as hysteria. Yet consider Kristi Noem, Pete Hegseth and Stephen Miller. And the man who breathed life into their political savagery: Donald Trump. Oh, and I forgot Elon Musk, the nation builder with the hatchet.

Trump promised he would be aggressive on illegal immigration. No one supports illegal immigration; it isn’t sustainable. But did we expect to lose our national reputation and our humanity in the process? Did we expect to become a global outlier, threading immigration policy with malice and violence and overreach?

In a short time, the new administration has sanctioned more drilling, building and digging in previously protected areas. There isn’t a discernible plan. Could it be creating havoc so no one notices who’s profiting from the relaxed regulations in everything from finance to the Alaskan wilderness?

f someone had told me where we’d be today, I wouldn’t have thought it possible.

Everything every one of us does, from buying groceries to traveling, getting an education, having babies, getting health insurance, buying a home, finding reliable news sources, serving in the military or getting married, has been altered by the policies of the Trump administration. And all the policy makers start slip-sliding away when citizens call for accountability.

Who ordered the killing of the boat survivors off Venezuela? The president says he’ll release the videos. The president says he never said he’d release the videos. One general says the killing was a crime. Another says it was the right move. This isn’t the “fog of war”; this is the overwhelming fog of this administration, seeping into our homes.

The Trump touch has affected every aspect of our lives. At the end of the day — and we’re not there yet — all the razzle-dazzle, all the kill strikes, ICE raids and military occupations of our cities and tariffs and taxing and sucking up to dictators around the world, may be a smoke screen for damning revelations in the Epstein affair.

We can’t know. What we can know is, as the sun rises and sets, the world will turn, and better people may come forward to restore America to itself.

Copyright 2025 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.

LONG BEACH HERALD — December 18, 2025

I’m fighting to lower costs for Long Island families

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HERALD EDITORIAL

Long Beach

December 18, 2025 — LONG BEACH HERALD

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The power of giving, in every season

s the holiday season reaches its peak, reminders of generosity surround us. Yet beneath the glow of holiday lights lies a reality we cannot overlook: The needs our neighbors face do not disappear when the calendar turns to January.

Toy drives spill over with brightly decorated packages waiting to be delivered to children who might otherwise go without, and food donations are stacked high at local pantries, arriving just in time to help families struggling to put meals on the table. Across Long Island, community groups, places of worship and nonprofits mobilize volunteers and resources to make the season a bit warmer and brighter for those facing hardship.

These efforts showcase the best of who we are. When people give — not because they must, but because they care — they reveal the true strength of community.

But hunger doesn’t take a winter vacation. Unemployment, illness, unstable housing and financial strain don’t wait for the next holiday season to return. Families who rely on food pantries in December will still need support in the spring and throughout the

year.

Young people seeking stability, guidance and opportunity can’t put their challenges on hold until the next wave of donated toys arrives. The organizations that step up so visibly during the holidays are working tirelessly well beyond them. A community that invests in its children — consistently, intentionally and all year long — creates pathways to hope that last a lifetime.

Food banks, youth centers, shelters, churches and community organizations depend on steady support to continue their vital work. Together they form a safety net, but each strand of that net requires reinforcement. Donations of food, toys, clothing, money and time aren’t simply seasonal gestures. They are essential tools that allow these groups to respond quickly when new needs arise, or when crises strike without warning.

Year-round giving strengthens that safety net. It ensures that food pantries have enough supplies in the slower months, when contributions often dwindle. It allows youth programs to sustain mentorship and recreation long after the holiday volunteers go home. It gives shelters the flexibility to support fami-

lies beyond the seasonal surge.

As the holidays encourage us to reflect on gratitude, connection and generosity, this moment offers an opportunity to broaden our understanding of giving. Your contribution, whether it’s a toy, a can of soup, money or a few hours of volunteer work, can lift a family through a difficult week. It can motivate a teenager to stay focused on school.

As you think about where and how to give during this festive season, consider extending that generosity into the months that follow. Support a food pantry in February. Volunteer at a youth center in April. Donate to a shelter in July. Share your ideas with community groups that need fresh perspectives and helping hands.

Giving is powerful in every season, and your commitment can help build a foundation of hope, compassion and opportunity that lasts all year long.

Community is not built in a single season. It is built day by day, through acts of kindness large and small. If you have a favorite charity, please give yearround. If you don’t, please find one. And with your continued generosity, that community can grow stronger than ever.

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OPINIONS

ong Beach Public Schools have a commitment to the education of the whole child, and that commitment has been expressed through some recent and planned innovations. We are so grateful that our community approved a capital projects proposal two months ago that will allow us to upgrade all of our playgrounds, air condition all buildings, and create additional space at the high school for new programs. As we JENNIFER plan for those GALLAGHER changes, we are also moving forward with new programs, innovations and courses that support both students’ hearts and minds.

Some of those innovations and changes support students’ emotional health and well-being. Our High School Wellness Center, the Well, which opened in September, has seen a steady stream of students who are taking advantage of this calm, quiet space overlooking the

water to decompress, calm themselves and focus on well-being. We have also begun regular therapy dog visits (featured in the Herald) as the Well expands to include a variety of wellness programming for both students and staff.

A few weeks ago, we also launched an app called Counslr for middle school and high school families. With parent permission, the app gives students the opportunity to access live, text-based mental health support from licensed professionals, 24/7. Of course, students will continue to have access to face-to-face counseling support during the school day, but Counslr gives families the reassurance of knowing that even if a teen has a moment of crisis at midnight, someone will always be there to help.

In addition to supporting students’ mental health and well-being, we are constantly exploring new courses and programs that will be engaging to students and meaningful for future careers.

Next fall we hope to introduce a new program in barbering certification. Bar-

LETTERS It was Mamdani who brought new energy to Carville’s message

L

bering is a great career path for students who are interested in hair design, working with people and potentially owning their own business. Barbers can earn fine salaries these days, particularly if they get into niche areas. And since A.I. can’t cut your hair, barbering is a field that is expected to show tremendous career growth over the next 10 years.

With the new year-long barber certification course at Long Beach High School, in partnership with Nassau BOCES, students can graduate with a barbering license that they can use to work, either full- or part-time, while they attend college. So stay tuned — community members may soon be able to get haircuts from LBHS barbering apprentices.

Many of our students aspire to careers in business and finance. We are exploring the possibility of creating a Bloomberg Financial Lab in our high school next fall. It would give our students real-time access to financial and economic data, and would allow us to elevate our business courses to a level

ong Beach schools are always looking to improve our students’ experiences.

FRAMEWORK by Tim Baker

To the Editor: In his column “Those who ignore James Carville face oblivion” in last week’s issue, Jerry Kremer rightly cites Democratic Party guru James Carville as touting a message — “It’s the economy, stupid” — that Democrats (and Republicans) ignore at their electoral peril.

Kremer credits that emphasis on the economy as a key to the victories last month of Democratic gubernatorial candidates Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey and Abigail Spanberger in Virginia. And he warns that Democrats lose when they pay more attention to cultural issues than to “the economy, stupid.”

No argument here.

But Kremer reveals his own political narrowmindedness in not noting that it was New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani who earlier this year modeled the power of a campaign focused on economic issues. Mamdani coasted to victory in both the June Democratic primary and the November general election by hammering on issues related to “affordability.” Other Democratic pols — and a growing number of Republicans — have since echoed his theme (also without crediting Mamdani).

Come on, Jerry. How about giving credit where credit is due? Or are you too locked into a traditionalist political mindset to acknowledge the electoral success of a 34-year-old democratic socialist?

EILEEN BRADY Atlantic Beach

At the Coral House’s Breakfast with Santa — Baldwin

that better prepares our students professionally.

Complete with a live stock ticker, we hope this lab would excite and engage future business and finance leaders.

Bloomberg terminals would strengthen students’ understanding of market dynamics, business operations and global economic systems. The terminals could help with research in math, data analysis, journalism, science, supplychain management, sustainable development and more. Students could even eventually earn professional certifications that will equip them for finance careers.

Whether through initiatives that relate to social and emotional health or coursework and curricula, Long Beach schools are always looking for ways to improve our students’ experiences, and to make learning engaging and relevant.

At this time of year, “light” is often a metaphor for the hope the holiday season brings across religions and cultures. In a similar way, these innovations are a sign of light and hope that our schools are alive and responding to the needs of our children.

Jennifer Gallagher is superintendent of the Long Beach School District.

LONG BEACH HERALD — December 18, 2025

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