Village board candidates state their cases
residents,” she said, “I was inspired to become even more invested in our village.”
O’Rourke-Schutta has served as chair of the village’s Celebrations Committee, overseeing holiday light celebrations in Malverne, Groundhog Day traditions and Memorial Day festivities. She’s also served as a member of the Malverne Youth Board, co-president of the Our Lady of Lourdes school board and cochair for the Our Lady of Lourdes 100th anniversary. In addition, she’s a board member of the Moms of Malverne group, a long standing local organization she helped revitalize.
“As your trustee, I will make sure your tax dollars are spent wisely,” she said, “continue to support and develop our business district, continue to provide the services we enjoy and expect. I’ll be a voice for the residents, making sure things are done in a fiscally responsible way, while keeping Malverne beautiful.”
Lang, a lifelong resident of Malverne, has been a member of the Board of Trustees since her election in March 2023. In her role as trustee, Lang has served as commissioner of the Malverne Fire Department, a Celebrations Committee liaison, education liaison and Malverne Public Library liaison.
“I offer a lifetime of professional experience and a track record of active community service,” Lang told the Candidates Night audience. “I am eager to continue advocating for you and your interests as a trustee for the Village of Malverne for the next four years.”
Lang has 30 years of experience in
14 to determine whose name will be listed first on the 2025 ballot.
business administration, she said, explaining that it has assisted her as trustee, helping guide the board in crafting village and departmental budgets with the goal to keep taxes low for residents, while continuing to provide ser-
vices to the community.
Lang obtained her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Fordham University and later returned for her MBA. She’s worked in communications in the for-profit and not-for-profit
sectors, before taking on a role in her family business, Hunts Point Market in the Bronx. She spent 16 years managing accounts and working in quality control, before the business was sold in 2017. Since then, she has started and operated a small real estate business in Malverne and was recently recruited as a real estate agent by Douglas Elliman Real Estate.
“My experience as a small business owner and real estate agent has given me unique insight into the challenges our local business face and the dedication it takes to success in our community,” Lang said.
Lang and her husband, Rob, a sergeant with the Malverne Police Department, have served the community as coaches for the Our Lady of Lourdes soccer and basketball teams. They’re also the directors of the Malverne Mohawks Lacrosse Club.
Lang created the “I Love Malverne” Facebook group in 2011 and continues to oversee the 6,000-member group. She has utilized this “go-to community board for residents” to coordinate various fundraising efforts. During the pandemic, she helped organize the Malverne Feeding our Heroes and Malverne Helping our Merchants fundraising campaigns, which raised more than $50,000 for Malverne storefronts during the pandemic.
“Your vote and support is very important to me, in order to serve you, our taxpayers,” Lang said.
The March 18 Village of Malverne elections will be held from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Malverne Village Hall, 99 Church St.
Gillen part of strident Adams questioning
By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com
Rep. Laura Gillen grilled fellow Democrat New York City Mayor Eric Adams during a House Oversight Committee hearing on March 5, where Gillen, challenged his leadership and declared she had “no confidence” in his ability to run the city.
The tense exchange escalated when Adams shot back, “But you don’t live in New York City, you live on Long Island.”
Gillen, a former town supervisor and first-term congresswoman representing most of the South Shore of Nassau County, asked to participate in the hearing despite not being a member of the Republican-led committee. The hearing saw Adams facing bipartisan criticism from lawmakers who accused him of betraying his constituents and bowing to federal immigration policies in exchange for leniency in a Justice Department corruption probe.
Some lawmakers called for Adams
to resign, citing what they described as mismanagement of city resources and a failure to stand up to federal pressure on immigration enforcement. Adams refused to directly answer questions from Democrats about whether he discussed his criminal case with President Donald Trump and his team.
The clash between Adams and Gillen became one of the most contentious moments of the hearing. Gillen finished her remarks, telling the mayor: “You should resign, and I said that before you made your deal with Donald Trump.” The comment, again, prompted Adams to respond: “Thank God you don’t live in New York City.”
“Everything in the city affects my constituents, Mayor,” Gillen replied.
Before questioning Adams, Gillen remarked that the border crisis had overwhelmed schools, law enforcement, and local governments. She argued that his administration’s response over the past two years had “compounded the crisis” by offering not only food and shelter to migrants
but also financial assistance in the form of debit cards.
Adams continued to plead his case, saying he did nothing wrong when pressed about the Department of Justice’s move to suspend the charges last month.
“There’s no deal,” he said. “No quid pro quo. And I did nothing wrong.”
After taking the oath alongside other mayors at the hearing, Adams spoke in support of sanctuary cities, emphasizing their role in protecting law-abiding immigrants. He pointed to declining crime rates in New York City while stressing the importance of working with federal authorities to target violent gangs and those who exploit children.
“Comprehensive immigration reform is long overdue,” he said. “While the solution is not within my control, as a mayor, I am committed to working with federal officials — no matter who is president — to go after violent gangs and those who harm residents of our city.”
Courtesy Lori Lang
megan o’rourke-Schutta, left, and Lori Lang drew straws on feb.
Herald file photo
rep. Laura gillen challenged new York City mayor eric adams during a House oversight Committee on march 5. She challenged his leadership and his ability to run the city.
Malverne performs “Anastasia: The Musical”
The cast and crew of Malverne High School’s production of “Anastasia: The Musical,” put on three performances in the Howard T. Herber auditorium on Mar. 7 and 8.
Set in the 1920s, the musical, which is based on the book by Terrence McNally, follows the journey of a young Russian pauper and her adventures as she searches to find her true identity in a dangerous and unforgiving world.
A live orchestra, compiled of student and professional musicians, accompanied the actors, as they sang and danced on stage. Their performance transported the audience from the Russian Empire to Paris, where Anastasia is set to uncover the mysteries of her past.
The stage crew set the scene, with elaborate set pieces, dramatic lights and video projections and exceptional sound, enabling audiences to fully immerse in the epic adventure.
–Madison Gusler
Malverne’s storytelling workshop with Author
Fifth graders at Malverne’s Davison Avenue Intermediate School recently participated in an engaging storytelling workshop led by author Isaac Rudansky.
During the workshop, the students learned about the parts of a story, including characters, conflict and resolution. They learned how to brainstorm story concepts and had the opportunity to share their ideas with Rudansky, a published author.
At the end of his presentation, Rudansky answered questions about his new book “Georgie Summers and the Scribes of Scatterplot.” Each student received a free copy of Rudansky’s book, which he autographed.
–Madison Gusler
Photos courtesy Malverne school district
Michael Lawless, center, performed as Dmitry, with the cast of “Anastasia: The Musical”.
Courtesy Malverne school district
Author Isaac Rudansky engages Davison Avenue students in a storytelling workshop during his recent visit to the school.
Malverne students put on three performances of “Anastasia: The Musical” on Mar. 7 and 8.
Leaders and advocates celebrate Sustainability
Local leaders push for greener, cleaner communities
By Kelsie Radziski
Visionaries, advocates and trailblazing leaders gathered at the Heritage Club in Bethpage on Feb. 26 to celebrate groundbreaking innovations and inspire bold action toward a sustainable future. From young students to influential policy-makers to community members making a difference, the Herald Sustainability Awards of Long Island, presented by Reworld, recognized those whose efforts are shaping a cleaner, greener tomorrow.
“It is an honor for us at the Herald and Reworld to showcase the achievements of these leaders,” Stuart Richner, president and publisher of Richner Communications Inc. and the Herald, said.
As Azeez Mohammed, CEO of Reworld, emphasized, the commitment to sustainability is not just about progress — it’s about making a lasting, positive impact.
“We are honoring those leaders and budding youngsters who demonstrated a commitment to sustainability, and that matters a lot to us,” Mohammed said. “Because with Reworld, our claim to fame is that we are the only company that manages waste in a sustainable manner.”
Reworld utilizes “infrastructure, technology and imagination to solve complex waste management challenges and help create a sustainable and more prosperous future for businesses and communities,” according to the company’s website.
Reworld was represented at the awards ceremony by Maureen Early, lead community relations specialist; Dawn Harmon, director of Long Island market; Adel Omrani, president of the East Region; and Lloyd Naideck, director of state government relations along with many other Reworld team members.
“We’re delighted to be able to honor all of these sustainability champions here tonight,” Early said. “So many of them have done so much in making Long Island a better place to live, work and play.”
Two young students were recognized for their sustainability efforts. Joseph Petraro, an 11-year-old who is a freshman at Louisiana State University, founded the Joe’s Be Kind Campaign, a nonprofit aimed at promoting positive social change, especially for vulnerable children. The initiative’s mission is to foster kindness, inclusivity and connections throughout communities, and to promote positive mental well-being.
“I used to get bullied when I was a lot younger,” Joseph said, “and I don’t want other people to feel that same way.”
He also started other initiatives, including the Clean Wells for Humanity program, which tackles global water scarcity, and the Adopt-a-Grandparent program, which fosters intergenerational bonds and promotes sustainable living practices. Joseph’s efforts to bring people together to help the environment made him a Student Champion for Sustainability Award winner.
Desiree Mohammadi, a 12-year-old student at South Woods Middle School, in Syosset, was honored for her initiative Seeds of Hope, which began when she saved the seeds from the vegetables in her family’s garden. Seeds of Hope has blossomed into a bigger movement, and Desiree has partnered with Island Harvest to plant seeds every spring at the nonprofit’s Healthy Harvest Farm in Brentwood.
“I think it’s a human right that people should be able to access fresh fruits and vegetables,” she said. Both student award winners were also presented with $2,500 to support their education or future sustainability projects.
Other honorees include Don Clavin, Town of Hempstead supervisor, and Rich Schaffer, Town of Babylon supervisor, who received Environmental Leader in Policy awards. They have each made efforts, working with Reworld, to improve sustainability and environmental efforts in their towns.
“It’s a great honor to be recognized by the Herald and by Reworld,” Schaffer said. “Reworld has been an excellent partner with the Town of Babylon, and it’s probably the main part of our solid waste infrastructure and how we deal with making sure the garbage leaves the curb and is dealt with correctly.”
Local community leaders were also recognized for their work. Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, works to protect natural resources and public health. She and her organization have taken on challenges such as upgrading failing sewage-treatment systems, protecting and filtering drinking and surface water and supporting large-scale renewable-energy projects in the interest of improving the environment.
“We really feel it’s our job to make sure Long Island is clean, safe and sustainable for now and in the future,” Esposito said.
Gregory Sandor, executive director of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County, was honored as well, for the strides the organization has made during his 12 years of leadership. The group has earned grant funding for a number of its specialized programs, including renewable energy, sustainable food systems, urban forestry and youth development. Cornell Cooperative is currently working with Reworld to build a Dynamic Learning Center in East Meadow, with the goal of educating the public about sustainability issues.
“We’re always looking at sustainability issues and how to be more resilient,” Sandor said. “So it’s exciting to be a part of that, and be a part of this different group of leaders that are being recognized.”
As attendees mingled and celebrated the honorees, vendors offered their donated products, among them Barrier Brewing Co., Garvies Point Craft Brewery, Farrm Wines, Borghese
Loughlin
and
The Herald Sustainability Awards were a testament to the collective impact when leaders and advocates unite with a shared purpose. The inaugural event showed that commitment to sustainability is about leaving a lasting, positive imprint on the world for generations to come.
Vineyard, Del Vino Vineyards,
Vineyard
Twisted Cow Distillery.
Tim Baker/Herald
Maureen Early and Dawn Harmon pose with Gerry Compitello, Janina Martinez, Greg Gaxiola, Jassi Anand, and Doug Jacob accept award for Rich Shaffer.
Holden Leeds/Herald photos
Lorne Brousseau receives award for his work with REACH.
James Wylie, Lorne Brousseau, and Garrett Chelius.
Holden Leeds/Herald photos Gregory M Sandor, executive director of Cornell Cooperative Extention Nassau County.
Citizens Campaign for the Environment Executive Director Adrienne Esposito.
Hempstead Town Supervisor Donald X. Clavin gets his award for establishing the first hydrogen fueling station on Long Island.
Michael Fiorentino, Natural Resource Program Director at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County.
Seatuck Environmental Executive Director Enrico Nardone proudly poses with his award.
Desiree Mohammadi (center) proudly poses with her $2,500 check, joined by former NY Rangers Mike Richter, Maureen Early and Dawn Harmon.
Island Harvest CEO and president Randi Shubin Dresner proudly poses with her award.
Stony Brook University student Esther Poon with their award.
Reworld CEO Azeez Mohammed gives welcoming remarks.
Jason Thomas/Herald REACH Rotary Club honoree James Wylie playfully points out the towering height of former NFL star Justin Tuck as they pose together for a photo.
Lissette Pellegrino, celebrating her award for Environmental Stewardship.
Garrett Chelius receives his award for his work with REACH.
Operation SPLASH president Robert Weltner.
Thomas Powell accepts an award on Eric Swenson’s behalf to recognize his exceptional contributions.
MALVERNE/WEST HEMPSTEAD HERALD — March 13, 2025
