Malverne/West HeMpstead
HERALD
Also serving Lakeview
Christine Rivera/Herald
Scouting America Troop 240 in West Hempstead annual pasta dinner at the American Legion Cathedral Post 1087 on March 15, drew more than 130 attendees.
Scout troop’s pasta dinner fundraiser nets $2,500
By MADISoN GUSlER mgusler@liherald.com
Members of Scouting America Troop 240 in West Hempstead hosted its annual pasta dinner at the American Legion Cathedral Post 1087, at 233 Woodlawn Road, on March 15, drawing more than 130 participants and raising $2,500.
“It’s our biggest fundraiser of the year,” Troop 240 Scoutmaster Nick Hoh said. “The Scouts are our waiters, and they serve all the food.
“In Scouting, we’re teaching responsibility, accountability and leadership,” he continued.
“So, learning tasks, like how to do a job, how to plan an event from the beginning stages, that’s ConTinued on PAge 20
School boards discuss finances at budget meetings
By NoAH PERETZ nperetz@liherald.com
The Malverne and West Hempstead school district boards of education held their initial budget meetings for the 2026-27 school year on March 3 and 10, respectively.
All numbers reported for both schools are pending, because the state budget and with it the amount of state aid that will be available to the districts, have yet to be finalized.
Malverne
“We will maintain robust athletic and arts programs, and this is also fiscally responsible
for our community,” Malverne school board President Josephine Bottitta said of the district’s preliminary $75.7 million spending plan. “It maintains the tax levy at the tax cap, and it reflects our priority of maintaining a safe and appropriate learning environment within our schools.”
The district plans to increase spending by 2.36 percent or about $1.75 million next year but is expecting to receive about 0.4 percent less in total state aid, including the minimum 1 percent increase in foundation aid.
District officials project a budget gap of roughly $610,000
in 2026-27. Transportation services districtwide are expected to increase by 16 percent, or about $840,000, to $6.1 million. Insurance and employee benefits expenditures are projected to rise by about 8 percent, or $730,000, to $9.8 million. The predicted foundation aid, about $140,000, would cover less than 10 percent of the increase in total mandatory expenditures.
Board trustees also discussed the district’s decreasing enrollment and the issue of charter schools, which, they said, are drawing more students away from public schools and adversely affecting state aid.
“Charter schools put the burden on the public schools to pay the tuition for the charter school,” Trustee Jeanne D’Esposito said. “If a child moves to a charter school, we pay $25,000. If charter schools are considered public, the state should pay for them like they are public schools. [Charter schools] don’t have the same regulatory oversight.”
The district’s enrollment is projected to drop from 627 students to 600 in 2026-27. “Enrollment is what dictates state aid,” D’Esposito said.
West Hempstead
The West Hempstead district’s preliminary spending
Legal win for residents grieving property taxes
By Chris ColuCCi ccolucci@liherald.com
The Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court, Second Judicial Division reached an important decision in favor of homeowners last month. The court strengthened residents’ abilities to provide supportive evidence and documentation when challenging their yearly property tax assessments.
The appeal reversed a Nassau County Supreme Court case that had previously complicated the process for homeowners submitting documents, including assessments of comparable properties and completed sales of similar homes, when filing an “unequal assessment claim” during Small Claims Assessment Review proceedings. The appellate verdict went into effect immediately, and applies to the current assessment year, 2027-28.
“This is a very significant case,” said Shalom Maidenbaum, founder of Maidenbaum Property Tax Reduction Group and Maidenbaum and Sternberg, the law firm that brought the case to court. “It could’ve impacted all of Nassau County and curtailed the rights of taxpayers.” The decision affects any Nassau homeowner filing an assessment grievance, and is especially beneficial to residents of certain villages who may have been assessed at an inaccurate or outdated assessment ratio.
In the final order of the matter of Yeung v. Assessor of the Village of Great Neck Estates — the initial case presented to the appellate court — the court wrote in its conclusion, “The hearing officer’s determinations denying the petitioners’ Small Claims Assessment Review applications were arbitrary and
Tim Baker/Herald
“This is a very significant case,” Shalom Maidenbaum said. “It could’ve impacted all of Nassau County and curtailed the rights of taxpayers.”
capricious and lacked a rational basis in the law.”
Mark Miller, one of the most experienced lawyers on the Maidenbaum team, explained that multiple lowercourt decisions throughout Nassau County can now
be clarified, since some hearing officers had been inconsistently applying existing laws to homeowners’ ability to present evidence. “Hundreds of cases can now go back to court,” Miller said. “This decision gives them standing.”
The appellate court’s decision is expected to remain in effect without further challenge. Legal experts say that it would require costly, involved legislation to overturn it.
While the legal victory provides homeowners with invaluable support, experts say they should not misinterpret the ruling as a guarantee that their assessments will be reduced. “They just have the right to present that evidence,” explained Amy Madmon, a partner at both Maidenbaum and Sternberg and Maidenbaum Property Tax Reduction Group, explained. “Essentially, it’s confirming the tools that homeowners have. Whether it’s successful or not depends on the case, but a hearing officer does have to hear the argument and take it into account when they’re making a decision.”
The deadline to file a property tax assessment grievance in Nassau County is March 31. There’s no risk for homeowners — an unsuccessful appeal results in no penalties and no increased assessment. There’s also no inherent expense: Homeowners can either submit a grievance at no cost on their own, or hire a property tax grievance firm, such as Maidenbaum, which typically charges no fees if the appeal is unsuccessful, and charges a percentage of the amount of the reduction, often up to 50 percent, for a successful appeal.
More information about filing a grievance, including applications and steps to file, can be found at nassaucountyny.gov/arc/arow.
Gas prices spike amid Middle East conflict
By Chris ColuCCi ccolucci@liherald.com
Malverne and West Hempstead residents are spending more to fill their cars as gas prices have steadily increased over the past month. The average price of gas on Long Island has jumped almost 65 cents in recent weeks, with the national average spiking nearly 90 cents over the same period, as of press time. Local stations have followed a similar, significant upward trend.
Prices across the state and country have increased after U.S. military activity in Iran created political and financial pressure. With local schools on hiatus for spring break in less than three weeks, some residents are concerned about gas prices affecting travel plans, even factoring in several competitive options to fill their tanks.
In Malverne and West Hempstead, gas prices currently average $3.60 per gallon of regular, with one station as high as $3.70 per gallon. The increased cost of fuel isn’t only felt by residents, but by business owners as well. Gas stations need to refill their own supply from tankers, with the increased cost of inventory being an underlying factor in pricing. With stations refilling 20,000 gallons or more, an increase in their cost gets passed on to consumers.
One manager of a local gas station, who asked to remain nameless, explained that larger gas station franchises can offer lower prices than individually owned stations. “It went up a dollar from two weeks ago,” he said. “Everyone has a different price. It depends how big you are or how small you are. We’re small over here.”
On Feb. 28, President Trump initiated a military attack against Iranian targets. Iran, one of the world’s foremost oil producers, retaliated by slowing overall
oil production and blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway through which roughly 20 percent of worldwide oil passes. The reduced oil supply is a crucial factor in the cost of fuel.
The last time oil spiked above $100 per barrel, a standard benchmark of fuel costs, was in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in March 2022, reaching a peak of $123 per barrel. It remained above $100 for five months. On March 12 of this year, oil reached $100
reviewing the Cost of Fuel
Prices have seen a rapid increase due to global events.
National Average per Gallon, Regular
Current: $3.79
One week ago: $3.54
One month ago: $2.92
One year ago: $3.08
Long Island Average per Gallon, Regular Current: $3.61
One week ago: $3.40
One month ago: $2.97
One year ago: $2.98
per barrel for the first time since 2022, bouncing to $106 on March 15.
On March 11, U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright announced a plan to release 172 barrels from American petroleum reserves over the next 120 days. The action, which mirrors President Biden’s release of 180 barrels during the price increase of 2022, should reduce the financial strain on consumers but will leave the country’s stockpile of raw oil at its lowest point since 1982. “The United States has arranged to more than replace these strategic reserves,” Wright wrote in a statement, “with approximately 200 million barrels within the next year — 20% more barrels than will be drawn down — and at no cost to the taxpayer.”
Towns back tax relief for officers’ families
By MiKE Pol ANsKY Senior Correspondent
Nassau County’s three town supervisors gathered place at the Brian Moore Athletic Center in Plainedge Park, along with local officials and law enforcement families to highlight a new property tax exemption for surviving spouses of police officers killed in the line of duty.
The announcement with Hempstead’s John Ferretti, Oyster Bay’s Joseph Saladino and North Hempstead’s Jen DeSena took place on March 11; one day after the Oyster Bay Town Board unanimously approved the exemption.
Brian Moore, a Plainedge High School graduate and New York City police officer was shot and killed in Queens in 2015. His father, Ray Moore, attended the news conference.
The measure allows surviving spouses to receive a 50 percent exemption on the town portion of property taxes for their primary residence. The program was authorized by legislation approved by the State Legislature and signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul in late 2025.
“Here in Nassau County, we back the blue,” Ferretti said, adding “we have never taken for granted the many sacrifices made by Nassau County police officers every single day! We hope that this
Mike Polansky/Herald Hempstead Town Supervisor John Ferretti discussed the property tax exemption on March 11. North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena, left, and Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino, right.
new legislation provides some relief and assistance to those left behind.”
The exemption applies only to the town portion of property tax bills.
School districts, fire districts, villages and other municipalities must adopt
their own legislation to offer similar relief.
Several Long Island towns — Babylon, Brookhaven, Hempstead, Huntington, Islip and Oyster Bay — have already enacted the exemption. The
North Hempstead town board is expected to consider the measure next month.
“The men and women who put service before self, people who risked their own lives to protect our lives and sometimes just our property,” Saladino said. “No law could repay what they gave,” adding the exemption is “one of many meaningful ways that we can show their families that the sacrifice of their loved ones will always be appreciated, and that they did not die in vain.”
DeSena said the exemption recognizes the risks police officers take to protect residents.
“There is no greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for his friends,” she said, quoting the Gospel of John, “this is what the men and women in blue do for us. They are dedicated, they are trained, and they go out every day and put their lives between danger and we the residents they protect. Nassau County is the safest county in the country thanks to the men and women in blue.”
Nassau County Superior Officers Association Vice President Keith Jaklitsch thanked local leaders for adopting the measure.
“The families of fallen officers cannot be forgotten,” he said, adding that the exemption was something “that actually should have been done a long time ago.”
Chris Colucci/Herald
Residents are paying more to fill up at the pump.
News briefs
Two killed in Malverne crash
Two people were killed and several others injured Sunday night after an Oceanside woman, allegedly driving while intoxicated and speeding, lost control of her SUV and crashed into oncoming traffic on the Southern State Parkway in Malverne around 10 p.m., according to New York State Police.
Police said Diana Kutateladze, 36, of Oceanside, was driving a 2020 Cadillac Escalade heading west, when the vehicle sideswiped a gray BMW traveling in the left lane.
Kutateladze then lost control of the SUV, which spun out, crossed the center median and continued heading west in the eastbound lanes, troopers said. The Escalade struck multiple vehicles before crashing head-on into a 2016 Toyota Highlander, authorities said.
Kutateladze was arrested at the scene and charged with aggravated vehicular homicide, two counts of vehicular manslaughter, assault, driving while intoxicated and reckless driving.
The crash forced authorities to shut down the parkway between Exits 15 and 17 for roughly seven hours overnight as investigators processed the scene and crews cleared the wreckage.
The investigation remains ongoing, police said.
Two passengers in the Highlander — Donald Maxwell, 82, and Liscent B. Maxwell, 88, both of Westbury — were pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
In total, six vehicles and 10 drivers and passengers were involved in the crash, according to state police.
Several other people involved in the accident were taken to nearby hospitals. One person was as of press time reported to be in critical condition, while the remaining injuries were described as non-life-threatening.
Troopers said preliminary findings indicate, both speed and alcohol impairment were contributing factors in the crash.
In response to the crash, Legislator Carrié Solages, who represents Malverne, Lakeview, and West Hempstead, wrote in a March 19 Facebook post, “As our community grapples with this senseless loss of life, I respectfully urge the New York State Police and the Nassau County Police Department to increase patrols on the Southern State and its connected roadways. This will send a clear message that aggressive, reckless and especially impaired driving will never be tolerated.
“I will continue to work with New York State officials to spearhead necessary infrastructure improvements that will provide longterm solutions for the underlying issues that have made the Southern State one of the most dangerous roadways in our region,” he wrote.
–Abigail Grieco
Thursday shooting leaves victim hospitalized
A shooting occurred the afternoon of March 19 in Lakeview, leaving one woman hospitalized, according to a release from Nassau County Police. The investigation is continuing.
According to police, officers responded to a 911 call in the vicinity of Owasco Road. Upon arrival, officers discovered a shooting victim who sustained a non-life-threatening injury.
At the March 19 Lakeview Civic Association meeting, Problem Oriented Policing (POP) officers addressed the attendees.
Upon inquiry about the perpetrator still being at large, POP officers said the incident was isolated, as the victim and perpetrator know each other.
–Noah Peretz
By MELISSA BERMAN
2026 Business First financial incentives
mberman@liherald.com
PSEG Long Island is offering 2026 Business First financial incentive programs with grants up to $125,000 and energy efficiency rebates for small businesses, having distributed more than $3.4 million in grants since 2018. Programs include Community Thrive grants up to $10,000, Main Street Revitalization grants of $2,500 to $100,000, Vacant Space Revival credits up to $10,000, and energy efficiency rebates up to $5,000 per apartment for heating and cooling systems. The Transportation Electrification Program provides up to $45,000 per EV charger and up to $200,000 for fleet electrification infrastructure, with support from Business FIRST Advocates.
Substantial financial support for small business revitalization
Since 2018, PSEG Long Island has distributed more than $3.4 million in grants to hundreds of local businesses through Business First programs. The Community Thrive grants provide up to $10,000 to chambers of commerce, business improvement districts and civic associations for projects that promote dining and shopping, with awards in NYSERDA-designated Disadvantaged Communities (DAC) areas eligible for an extra 25% bonus and nonprofits receiving an additional 10%. The Main Street Revitalization grant offers $2,500 to $100,000 to help encourage investment in business districts for renovation or expansion projects, while the Vacant Space Revival Program provides qualified new customers up to $10,000 in electric bill credits for their first 12 months.
Comprehensive energy efficiency rebates and incentives
For energy efficiency projects in 2026, PSEG Long Island is offering free energy assessments and rebates on heat pump water heaters, refrigeration equipment, heating and cooling heat pump devices, ventilation equipment and compressors. Financial incentives include rebates for multifamily dwellings on heating and cooling systems of $4,000 per apartment, or $5,000 for apartments in NYSERDA-deemed DACs. Heating and cooling rebates of up to $1,200 are available for specified ENERGY STAR listed heat pump water heaters, with additional incentives and enhanced rebates available for other approved energy savings and electrification measures through PSEG Long Island’s Custom Program.
EV charger installation support and fleet electrification programs
PSEG Long Island’s Transportation Electrification Program offers financial incentives for business owners installing EV chargers at their businesses, multi-family buildings and other approved locations. Under the EV Make Ready Program, up to $45,000 is available for each Level 2 and DC Fast Charger plug, and up to $100,000 in infrastructure upgrades to install. For businesses with vehicle fleets, PSEG Long Island offers a complimentary Fleet Advisory Service and the Fleet Make Ready Program, which provides up to $200,000 in incentives to build the infrastructure to power fleets. Business customers can connect with PSEG Long Island’s Business FIRST Advocates (BFA), who offer a concierge service providing information and account services.
New coach guides experienced Hofstra softball
By ANDREW COEN sports@liherald.com
A Hofstra softball program with a storied history reaching 18 NCAA Tournaments added a coaching legend last year looking to raise more banners.
The Pride appointed Susan CassidyLyke as Hofstra’s new head softball coach in July after 21 years leading the diamond at Molloy University softball where she guided the Lions to three Division II National Championship Tournament appearances.
“I was born and raised on Long Island so I am very familiar with the championship tradition here at Hofstra,” Cassidy-Lyke said. “This is a good experience for me and a good challenge.”
Cassidy-Lyke inherited a Hofstra team that returned 13 players from a 2025 team that went 22-28 and fell in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) semifinals. Hofstra was picked to finish in a tie for first in the CAA North Division with Stony Brook.
Hofstra boasts two preseason All CAA players in senior pitcher Emma Falen and senior shortstop Alanna Morse, a local product out of Mepham High School.
Morse is coming off a 2025 season in which she led the team in hitting with a .343 batting average with 49 hits in 143 at bats. She is off to another strong start during her final season in a Hofstra uniform as a leadoff hitter batting .365 through 25 games with three home runs to lead the team in both categories.
“She is very talented offensively and defensively and just a great kid that seems to do the right thing all the time,” said Cassidy-Lyke of Morse. “She leads by example.”
Falen recorded a 12-10 record with a 3.14 ERA last season after transferring from UC-Riverside. The Folson, Calif. native recorded seven strikeouts in a 2-1 win against Stony Brook on March 7.
Freshman Madison Steppe has emerged as the ace of the Pride pitching staff this season following a standout career at Monticello High School in
Charlottesville, Va. Steppe recorded a season-high 10 strikeouts in an 8-5 victory against Buffalo on Feb. 28 in Harrisonburg, Va.
The Hofstra lineup has plenty of balance early in the season with five hitters batting over .290 in Morse, junior third baseman Gabby Sultan, sophomore catcher Gemma D’Orazio and junior second baseman Nicole Cansel. Junior right fielder Lily Yepez, a former Mepham teammate of Morse, has caught fire offensively with a .455 average in 44 at bats after missing the start of the season due to injury.
“She is another homegrown talent and it’s definitely a staple for us,” said Cassidy-Lyke of Yepez. “She really does a lot of different things out of the bottom of the lineup hitting for power, as a slap hitter and can bunt with some good speed.”
Hofstra entered the week at 12-13 overall and 8-1 in CAA play after a sweep at Hampton. The Pride have played the early portion of its home schedule at Farmingdale State due the harsh winter
weather, but are slated to return to Bill Edwards Stadium for a three-game series against Campnell on April 10-12. The regular season concludes with three games against Monmouth at Bill Edwards Stadium from April 30 to May 2.
The six-team CAA Tournament commences from May 6 to May 9 with the winner earning an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. The Pride can
qualify for the double elimination CAA playoffs by placing in the top four in the North Division or one of two wildcard teams.
“They’ve come a long way since the beginning of the year and we have faith they can do it,” Casidy-Lyke said. “It’s really just going to be about consistency and not letting the game get bigger than it is.”
Former Mepham star Alanna Morse had a team-high .343 average a year ago.
Photos courtesy Hofstra Athletics Communications/Keith Lucas and Nick DeCastro Emma Falen had 12 wins in the circle for the Pride in 2025.
These two moms opened a spa. It had one big, on the community.
Mery and Sindy always knew they wanted to open a spa to bring beauty to customers. Little did they know it would have the same effect on the community. And Business First was there. We provided $23,000 in grants to help with much-needed renovations so Mery and Sindy could bring their vision to life.* Now, not only does their spa impact clients in a beautiful way, it gives the community an economic lift as well.
Learn more about how we’re helping communities thrive. psegliny.com/revitalization
celebrating women’s history month
Inspiring girls and LGBTQ youth through music
By JULIA CAPITELLI jcapitelli@liherald.com
Nini Camps was a solo singer-songwriter in New York City when Kristen Henderson, the bassist for the all-female rock band Antigone Rising, asked her to get together to write music in 2009. The band soon got an offer to open for Joan Jett, and invited Camps to be a vocalist. The opportunity launched more than a decade of performances, and nonprofit work, with Camps as Antigone Rising’s lead singer.
The band was formed in 1993 by sisters Cathy and Kristen Henderson, now Kristen Ellis-Henderson. Several members have joined and left over the years. After Camps joined the Hendersons, Antigone Rising quickly made a record and resumed playing shows after a hiatus.
“It just felt like a good fit,” Camps said. “We had so much fun.”
Camps, 54, has lived in Sea Cliff for roughly 15 years with her wife, Brooke. She said that she enjoys Sea Cliff’s thriving music scene.
Before the coronavirus pandemic began in 2020, Antigone Rising band was busy making music, touring and creating a nonprofit, Girl Rising. After the pandemic lockdowns eased, the group continued to play together on a smaller scale.
Girls Rising launched in 2014, after the band was invited by the U.S. State Department to travel to Israel and the Palestinian territory. There Antigone Rising worked in schools and community centers, playing music and talking to students and educators about their creative and musical process.
The trip, Camps explained, helped inspire them to
create the nonprofit. “We were an all-female band, and our crew that we took with us was female, and it was an anomaly,” she said. “… They were like, ‘We’ve never seen this. This is unusual.’ And we realized that as we went along, this was something that we faced a lot, even in the States.”
After returning to the United States, Antigone Rising began visiting LGBTQ centers, community centers and schools as they toured. Camps said the band got so many requests for these visits that they essentially became part of their tours and even events around which they based their schedule.
Girls Rising’s mission is to inspire young girls and LGBTQ youth to pursue nontraditional career paths and encourage all children to think, act and be themselves. Through performances, presentations and workshops, the band carried out the mission for nearly a decade, though it is now in what Camps described as a “pause.” “Things need a chance to sometimes rest and breathe” after operating for so long, she said.
Antigone Rising hosted the Girls Rising Music Festival annually for roughly eight years, first at Sea Cliff Beach and then at Glen Cove’s Morgan Park. It featured female artists, both seasoned musicians and younger ones just starting out.
“We were in a place where we were kind of in the middle,” Camps said, “where we were able to reach out to women who were real game-changers and real trailblazers ahead of us, who are very successful, and we were able to sort of hand that down to young women who were just making their way.”
As part of each year’s festival, the band recognized
women making a difference — who “showed up” — with a Game Changer Award. The band received donations and grants from artists like Joan Jett and Melissa Ethelridge. With that money, Antigone Rising was able to provide instruments and music education in Glen Cove, and help support young women pursuing music education.
Camps said that the band isn’t currently seeking gigs, but will take one if the opportunity presents itself. In the meantime, she is working on a solo album, her first since she joined the group.
A lifelong love of science sparked by dinosaurs
By ALYSSA R. GRIFFIN agriffin@liherald.com
Not all scientists begin their careers in labs — some start in the shadow of dinosaurs. For Ray Ann Havasy, 63, of Port Washington, that early fascination led to a career defined by academic achievement, creative outreach and global science engagement.
With degrees in zoology, education and biology, and a doctorate in science education from Columbia University in 1998, Havasy built a foundation that combines rigorous scholarship with a passion for making science accessible.
She began her career in education, teaching science at East Meadow High School and Schreiber High School, in Port Washington, and later at the New York Institute of Technology’s School of Education.
Her interest in dinosaurs led to work with the Dinosaur Society and, in the early 1990s, as a technical adviser on “Jurassic Park,” helping guide how dinosaurs were portrayed while balancing scientific accuracy with cinematic storytelling. She partnered in the development of the touring “Dinosaurs of Jurassic Park” exhibit. Blending film props with real fossils and scientific content, the exhibit toured internationally for nearly eight years beginning around 1993, drawing crowds across the United States and in cities in Europe and the Netherlands. What stood out most, Havasy said, was the universal reaction: Children everywhere were captivated.
“The exhibit was amazing — I went all around the world with it,” she said. “That was a great experience,
Courtesy Ray Ann Havasy Ray Ann Havasy, founder and director of the Center for Science Teaching & Learning, in Rockville Centre, has built a multifaceted career focused on education.
also seeing that dinosaurs and science are universal.”
The exhibit also supported paleontological research worldwide, turning public interest into funding for scientific discovery — reinforcing her belief that handson experiences can spark lifelong curiosity.
That philosophy led her to Rockville Centre, where she founded the Center for Science Teaching & Learning in the Tanglewood Preserve in 2000. What began as a teacher-training initiative has grown into a hub for interactive, family-focused learning.
“A lot of museums are ‘look but don’t touch,’” Havasy said. “We’re the exact opposite. Our whole mission is to encourage people to learn about science and like science, because a lot of us went through school thinking science was hard and yucky.”
Today she continues to promote hands-on learning while encouraging more young women to pursue science with animals, nature and interactive experiences for fun learning.
“I wasn’t doing it for accolades,” she said. “I was doing it because these opportunities are exciting.”
Michele Anselmo, a teacher and an educator at the center, has worked with Havasy for over 15 years, on several innovative projects. “Ray Ann’s knowledge of science and education provides a wonderful support system for me and the other educators here,” Anselmo said.
Through her work, Havasy hopes to create a future in which more girls see science as a natural and attainable path. “I think it’s important that we find a way to encourage women to get involved in science,” she said. “I speak a lot to young women about encouraging them to be more attuned to being involved in science, and that would be a dream of mine, to have kids — young women — understand that science, engineering and math is for them, and is something that the world wants them to do.”
Courtesy Nini Camps Nini Camps is currently working on her first solo album since she joined Antigone Rising.
influential women on long island
Joan whitney Payson co-founder and owner new York Mets grace hartigan abstract expressionist painter
celebrating women’s history month
Delivering change as a leader in maternal care
By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com
For Dr. Jacqueline Marecheau, chair of obstetrics and gynecology at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital, Women’s History Month is more than a celebration: It is a call to confront one of the nation’s most urgent and persistent health crises.
Marecheau has spent her career delivering babies and caring for mothers, working on the front lines of maternal health in underserved communities. She has been at Episcopal Health Services for six years, and her work is rooted in community health, equity and supporting the teams who care for women and families every day.
Marecheau earned an undergraduate degree in biomedical education from the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education (now the CUNY Medical School) and a medical degree from the SUNY Health Science Center at Brooklyn.
U.S. continues to have the highest maternal mortality rate among high-income nations, with Black women facing the greatest risks.
Between 2018 and 2021, Black women were three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women, according to federal health data. Marecheau emphasized that these disparities are rooted not in biology, but in systemic inequities including gaps in care, delayed diagnoses, implicit bias and lack of access to resources.
“I went through my third year of medical school rotations and I fell in love with OB/GYN,” she said. “I realized that I was drawn to women’s health because it interested me in medicine and advocacy. OB/GYN is a field where you can see direct results of action and education, and that’s always been meaningful to me.”
Marecheau’s experience underscores a troubling reality: Maternal health risks in the United States remain alarmingly high. About 22 women per 100,000 die from childbirth-related causes each year, and roughly 50,000 experience severe complications. The
At EHS, which serves the diverse and historically underserved Rockaway peninsula, Marecheau sees these challenges play out daily. The community has long faced barriers to high-quality care, but, she said, the hospital is working to change that narrative.
“I love improving access to pre-natal care, helping women navigate complex health decisions,” she said, “and knowing I can create a safer and healthier outcome for women who haven’t always historically been prioritized brings me immense joy.”
In August 2025, St. John’s opened a new state-of-the-art labor and delivery suite, restoring comprehensive maternity services to the area. The facility features private suites and emphasizes patientcentered care.
Marecheau has championed programs including doula support services, postpartum care initiatives and the Centering Pregnancy model, which combines prenatal visits with group education to improve outcomes for mothers and babies.
If you’ve wondered where
By ABBEY SALVEMINI asalvemini@liherald.com
For Cynthia Seibold, recognizing the achievements and resilience of women is deeply personal. Raised by a single working mother, she saw firsthand the strength, determination and perseverance it takes to overcome challenges. Today she carries that legacy forward, and takes pride in inspiring strong, capable and resilient women herself.
Seibold’s path to founding Balloon Mission was unconventional. After earning a master’s degree in secondary education, she spent 20 years in the insurance industry, analyzing risk and researching hazards for organizations including the NBA and the NHL. “My mission at that job was to protect people from harm and save money,” she said. The role sharpened her research and problem-solving skills — which would later inspire her environmental advocacy.
The pandemic was a turning point. The health scare forced reflection. “It showed me how precious and fragile life is,” Seibold, 57, said. “Whatever days are left, I want to give back in some way.”
A lifelong Long Islander, she found peace by the ocean, but noticed balloon debris piling up on local beaches. While volunteering at cleanups, she researched the environmental impact of balloon releases. She was stunned by the volume of data on their harm to wildlife, waterways and ecosystems worldwide, with little accountability.
Tim
Dr. Jacqueline Marecheau is the chair of obstetrics and gynecology at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital in Far Rockaway, which serves the diverse Rockaway peninsula.
“My focus these days is making sure services are equitable and culturally responsive,” she said.
Hospital staff have received additional training to better recognize early signs of complications, and systems have been implemented to ensure that patients receive follow-up care after they’re discharged, a critical period when many maternal deaths occur.
“No woman should feel that her pain is ignored or her concerns are dismissed,” Marecheau said.
balloons end up . . .
filled with “soul-crushing” moments and fears of being laughed at for “chasing balloons.”
What began with collection bins in three schools and one library has grown into a regional and national effort. In three years, Balloon Mission has collected more than 65,000 post-event balloons.
Seibold says that collaborative partnerships with strong, inspiring women helped make the initiative possible. “I would not be me without these partners,” she said, citing Allison DePerte, of the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, and Maureen Early, of the waste-management company Reworld.
She also praises Tara Moran-Schneider, senior conservation biologist with the Town of Hempstead’s Department of Conservation and Waterways, for installing 20 “No Balloon Release” signs in local parks and on beaches.
“We’ve become the experts in the room through research and data collection,” Seibold said — not because of advanced degrees, but thanks to research, partnerships and persistence.
Women have guided her journey. “It’s vital for young girls to see female leaders in all roles,” she said. “Leading by example shows that positive change is possible. There is no age limit.” Since Balloon Mission started, she has worked with Girl Scout troops, educating communities about responsible balloon practices by expanding “No Release” signs across Long Island.
So she launched Balloon Mission, the first balloon collection-recycling infrastructure in the United States. “Here I am, an ordinary citizen stepping up,” she said. “Not certified in anything, but I did know how to research.” The early days were challenging,
In March 2022, a New York Times article on the surging popularity of balloon decor was published on her late mother’s birthday, and Seibold took that as a sign. “The idea of a solution would not leave me alone,” she said of the problem of balloon waste. “If not me, who was going to do it?”
Seibold’s message to women with a passion for change is simple: “If you have an idea or solution that has latched onto you and won’t shake free, that wakes you up in the middle of the night,” she said, “you have to pursue it.”
Baker/Herald
influential women on long island
Joan whitney Payson co-founder and owner new York Mets grace hartigan abstract expressionist painter
Courtesy Cynthia Seibold
Cynthia Seibold, the founder of Balloon Mission, at a World Ocean Day beach cleanup in June 2020.
Curtain call for West Hempstead Drama Club
The West Hempstead Drama Club put on three performances of the musical comedy whodunit “Curtains” earlier this month. The three shows on Mar. 12, 13, and 14, were available to all members of the community.
“Curtains” is a musical comedy set in 1959 at Boston’s Colonial Theatre. On opening night of a new musical performance, the leading lady mysteriously dies on stage and the entire cast and crew are suspects. It’s up to Lieutenant Frank Cioffi, a musical theater fan, to solve the case.
“Curtains” is written by Rupert Holmes based on the original concept of Peter Stone. Music was created by John Kander and Lyrics by Fred Ebb, with additional lyrics by Kander and Homes.
–Madison Gusler
Jason Thomas/Herald photos
Cast and crew of West Hempstead’s production of the musical comedy whodunit “Curtains” took their final bow on Mar. 14.
Julianna Poirot played chorus performer Bambi Bernet.
Christopher Loria, left, took on the role of Lieutenant Frank Cioffi and Lansee Sainvilus played Christopher Belling.
The ensemble of the musical comedy whodunit “Curtains” hit some high kicks.
Anasha Abdur-Rahman played leading lady Georgia Hendricks, left, who performs with Julianna Poirot as Bambi Bernet and Emma Pearlman as Niki Harris.
The West Hempstead Drama Club performed three shows.
Students gather at ERASE Racism summit
By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com
High school students from across Long Island gathered at Hofstra University for ERASE Racism’s 2026 Long Island Leaders of Tomorrow Conference, a daylong event focused on leadership, dialogue and social change.
ERASE Racism, a Long Island-based civil rights organization, hosted the conference as part of its broader mission to address structural racism, particularly in public education and housing.
The conference brought together students from Nassau and Suffolk counties on March 18 to take part in interactive workshops and discussions aimed at building connections across school districts and communities. Students from more than a dozen districts — including Baldwin, Bellmore-Merrick, Glen Cove, Hewlett-Woodmere, Long Beach, Malverne and Valley Stream — took part. Organizers said the goal was to equip students with practical tools they could bring back to their schools and communities.
Melissa Berman/Herald
High school students from across Long Island participated in interactive workshops and discussions at ERASE Racism’s Leaders of Tomorrow Conference on March 18.
“Long Island is the 10th most segregated metro region, even according to the 2020 census,” Nicole Grennan, program associate for ERASE Racism, said. “We have this long history of structural racism even in the form of racial covenants and red-lining that was happening in the region. As a result, our schools are very segregated.”
Participants engaged in sessions designed to strengthen leadership skills while exploring issues related to race, equity and opportunity. The program emphasized collaboration among students from diverse racial and socioeconomic backgrounds, encouraging them to share experiences and develop strategies for creating more inclusive school environments.
“It was really important to us, as a civil rights organization, to connect students across their racially and socioeco-
nomically segregated lines,” Grennan said. “We believe it’s important that students interact with students who don’t look like them and have an understanding of what’s going on in Long Island and their surrounding communities.”
By connecting young people from different regions of Long Island, the event aimed to foster understanding and empower a new generation of leaders committed to equity and civic engagement.
“Part of the reason why I wanted to bring our students here is because I have
a social justice lens, and I wanted the students to not only hear the language, but see what’s going on in neighboring communities so they can collaborate together,” Betyne Farrell, a school psychologist at Baldwin High School, said.
Anissah Brown, a member of ERASE Racism and a junior at Calhoun High School in Merrick, said it was inspiring for her to attend, and to both educate and learn from her peers. “I get to inspire others to be more involved in their community, and attack racism at hand when they see it,” Brown said.
She said that coming into the conference, she expected unity and knowledge. “What I didn’t expect was the amount of ignorance that is still among my peers today,” she added. “A lot of stuff that people don’t know, stuff that people brush off as normal, and a lot of normalization of racial slurs and racism in general in their schools.”
Long Beach High’s dean of students, Phil Bruno, said he has noticed that, globally, those of the same religions and races have tension within their own communities.
“Long Beach itself is a very mixed community, and we represent a lot of different parts of the world,” Bruno said. “We’re trying to give a voice to these young people so that they feel comfortable to have these conversations with people in public, and build that type of character in our children.”
Transportation and insurance costs rising
plan for 2026-27 totals about $85 million.
“It is important to understand that a significant portion of our budget is dictated by factors outside the district’s control,” Brian Phillips, the district’s assistant superintendent for business and operations, said. “These costs include transportation services.”
The district expects to spend about $12 million on transportation next year, an increase of roughly $2 million. Over the past decade, spending in this category has nearly tripled, growing by more than $8 million. It now accounts for 14.1 percent of the total proposed budget, about 7 percentage points more than in 2015-16.
“West Hempstead school district transports over 1,200 students to over 100 different schools, making transportation one of the district’s most significant fiscal pressures on the budget,” Phillips said.
The same trend can be seen in the district’s health insurance expenses: They are projected to total $13.3 million, an increase of about $700,000 over the current year and some $5.7 million in the past decade.
“Health insurance remains a volatile and expensive cost for the district,” Phillips said. “Family insurance premiums have exceeded $40,000 annually for the last couple of years; these rates are set at the state level without input from school districts.”
Health insurance will account for an estimated 15.6% percent of the district’s total spending in 202627, slightly less than this year’s 15.8% percent but 2.3 percentage points more than a decade ago.
School board trustees also expressed their concerns about the growing popularity of charter schools, telling district parents that they would be petitioning
state legislators to limit these schools, though they recognized that the establishment of the Diamond Charter School, set to open in September, was already approved.
“That decision was already made, but the resolution we passed was to ask legislators to work against use of
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public funds for charter schools,” board President Karen Brohm said.
The budget votes in both districts will be held on May 19, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. The Malverne vote will be held in the middle school’s gym, and the West Hempstead vote in the secondary school’s north gym.
Courtesy Malverne school district
a pie chart illustrating the malverne school district’s proposed 2026-27 budget spending.
Kallie Valko, 10, left,
Tim Baker/Herald
H2M recognized nationally for Whelan Park restoration
H2M architects + engineers of Melville earned a National Recognition Award for exemplary engineering achievement in the American Council of Engineering Companies’ 59th annual Engineering Excellence Awards ceremony on March 9, 2026. H2M was awarded for their work on the Whelan Field and Pine Stream Extension project in Malverne.
H2M revitalized 5.72 acre Whelan Park, making it vibrant and installing new facilities and stormwater drainage systems to prevent it from being flooded by Pine Stream. They lowered the park terrain to make room for additional floodplain storage, including on-site detention and native green infrastructure for storing and filtering stormwater runoff.
The project also allowed H2M to implement renovations and improvements to park facilities, including two new baseball fields with dugouts, shade canopies, and improved seating in the spectator stands and outfield. They also
repaved the parking lot and added a pathway system with educational signage and exercise stations, an open-air pavilion, and a dog park.
H2M architects + engineers is a fullservice consulting and design firm.
Judging for the awards program took place in February, conducted by a national 32-member panel of built environment leaders, experts from government, media, and academia. Award criteria focused on uniqueness and originality, technical innovation, social and economic value, and excitement generated toward the engineering profession.
All 240 award winners including 16 Honor Awards, eight Grand Awards, and the announcement of the Grand Conceptor Award for the year’s most outstanding overall engineering achievement will take place at the 2026 EEA Gala on May 5, 2026, at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, D.C.
–Noah Peretz
By MADISON GUSLER mgusler@liherald.com
Solomon Goldman, a Malverne resident who survived the Holocaust, died on February 17 at 103. He was born Oct. 19, 1922 in Poland. “He was in 11 different labor and concentration camps,” Vivian Goldman Hubsher, his daughter, said. “He was liberated from Dachau.”
Goldman was 17 when he was taken to a concentration camp and 23 when he was liberated by U.S. Soldiers in 1945. After the war he spent time at a displaced persons camp in Austria, where he met his wife, Sonia. They moved to the United States.
Goldman attended a cheder, a Jewish school where Hebrew and religious knowledge is taught, then a Hebrew Gymnasium for secondary. He studied Jewish Education at Brooklyn College before receiving his doctorate at Dropsie College for Hebrew and Cognate Learning.
Goldman was principal at the Malverne Jewish Center and worked for
the Board of Jewish Education. He was the national director of education at the Jewish National Fund. He was president of the Jewish Educators Assembly, a professional organization for Conservative education professionals. Goldman spoke English, Yiddish, and Hebrew. He spent time teaching these languages and teaching Jewish history. He published articles in different Jewish education publications. “He was a passionate Zionist,” Hubsher said.
Goldman would speak about his experiences as a Holocaust survivor. Video footage of Goldman speaking can be found on the Malverne Historical Society’s website and on the West Hempstead Public Library’s Facebook. Goldman was a member of Congregation Shaaray Shalom in West Hempstead.
His wife Sonia, his daughters Vivian and Avivah, and his four grandchildren survive Goldman. “He was a very life affirming, very positive, engaging, optimistic person who really lived life to the fullest,” Hubsher said.
Maeve Maguire, 10, Olivia Soliman, 10, Selena Brands, 10, and Harlee Brands, 7, enjoyed Whelan Park on opening day.
SOLOMON GOLDMAN
L.I. representatives gather for a lively debate
By ROSKANA AMID, JEFFREY BESSEN & CAROLYN JAMES of the Herald
Against a backdrop of a military action in the Middle East and a domestic economy that swings up and down as the price of oil steadily rises, Long Island’s congressional delegation took part in a spirited but congenial debate of ideas and issues last week at the Long Island Association’s annual What’s New In Washington panel.
Representatives Andrew Garbarino, Laura Gillen, Nick LaLota and Tom Suozzi spoke on issues ranging from the economy to immigration to energy, with LIA Acting President and CEO Stacey Sikes moderating the March 16 discussion.
“The thing that’s so brilliant about the system, I think, is today we’re going to have [four] Congressional representatives —two Democrats, two Republicans,” Lawrence Waldman, the LIA’s board chairman, said. “They’re going to sit in the interview with Acting President Stacey Sikes, and I’m sure they’ll agree on some of these issues and disagree on some.”
Andrew Garbarino
All of the legislators noted progress on the effort to raise or eliminate the limit on the income tax deduction for state and local taxes, a measure critical to Long Island homeowners facing some of the nation’s highest property taxes, as well as a $1.5 billion infrastructure package for transportation, water quality and storm resilience.
“We have worked together on a bipar-
tisan infrastructure bill, one of the best things we did,” Garbarino, a former assemblyman, said, noting frustrations with Albany over implementation.
His 2nd Congressional District stretches from Massapequa, in Nassau County, east to Shirley, in Suffolk County.
The four lawmakers had differing perspectives on Operation Epic Fury, the military effort against Iran. Suozzi and Gillen praised its objectives, but criticized Congress’s lack of oversight and what they described as the Trump administration’s failure to define a long-term strategy.
“There does not seem to be a plan, and shouldn’t that have been thought of ahead of time?” Suozzi asked.
Ithe finish line, by working together.”
Gillen, who represents the 4th Congressional District, which spans nearly the entire South Shore of Nassau County, noted that the administration’s “One Big, Beautiful Bill” has added to the national debt. “It caused the average American to have $1,600 in extra cost,” she said. “We’re not going in the right direction. We can fix that, but there has to be political will.”
’m sure they’ll agree on some of these issues and disagree on some.
Gillen noted the impact of the federal crackdown on illegal immigration on local businesses.
that same part of the world,” he noted, jobs will be created and prices will be lower.
LaLota’s 1st Congressional District stretches from Melville, in western Suffolk County, to Montauk.
Tom Suozzi
Suozzi highlighted his work with the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus. The group includes 46 members of Congress, evenly split between Democrats and Republicans.
“We have committees that work together on issues, on everything from affordability,” Suozzi said, noting that the caucus also addresses immigration and national security.
Garbarino countered, noting that congressional committees are briefed regularly, and that prior administrations have taken similar actions. All agreed that any escalation involving ground troops would require Congressional approval.
Laura Gillen
L AwRENCE wALDMAN
Board
chairman, Long Island Association
Nick LaLota
“People are afraid to patronize businesses,” she said, adding that new business in Hempstead is “going to go out of business already, because people — there’s an ICE car parked in an apartment lot across from Main Street, and even if no one’s in there, people see it, and they’re afraid to go out.”
Despite those efforts, Suozzi described Washington as increasingly difficult to navigate. “The problem is, the environment is so toxic in Washington, D.C.,” he said. “And the leadership on both sides really is only focused on winning the majority.” He added that the political climate is likely to worsen as the midterm elections approach.
Speaking on her proposed Dignity Act, which would give illegal immigrants what she called “a pathway to legal status,” Gillen said, “If you’re going to do transformative legislation, it’s better to tap in with both sides,” noting that the effort began with 10 Democrats and 10 Republicans. “And that’s the way we can get a law like this across
LaLota said that one party doesn’t have a monopoly on “this nation’s most major issues, and we do work together on certain big things.”
With the cost of energy on the minds of consumers, he noted that “the economy is growing, we have more demand, more power here on the Island and across the nation.” LaLota added that there’s “a ton of natural gas” in New York’s Southern Tier. “If we do things the way that Pennsylvania does them in
Suozzi also pointed to several economic concerns facing many Americans, including tariffs, artificial intelligence data centers, and rising health care costs tied in part to the elimination of the premium tax credit.
“The economy is in trouble,” he said. “Everybody knows the economy is in trouble.” He argued that strong stock market performance does not reflect the experience of most households.
His 3rd Congressional District predominantly includes Glen Cove, Oyster Bay and a portion of Queens, and stretches east to Huntington.
Tim Baker/Herald
The Long Island Association held its annual What’s New In Washington panel on March 16. U.S. Representatives Andrew Garbarino, far left, and Nick LaLota, LIA Acting President and CEO Stacey Sikes, and Representatives Laura Gillen and Tom Suozzi discussed several issues.
APRIL 16 • 10AM-12:30PM
FREE community event focused on health, wellness, and lifestyle
Meet trusted local exhibitors and service providers
Take advantage of on-site health screenings
Enjoy lively entertainment, fitness demonstrations and interactive experiences
Hear from experts during a panel discussion with Q&A
Win raffles, prizes, and giveaways
Snack station for all
*Boxed lunches for first 150 attendees
All designed to help you stay active, informed, and engaged at every stage of life.
MAE CAIME FOUNDER, AMAEZING MIDLIFE & BEYOND
Register for this FREE event: Deerpark.eventbrite.com or email lcreem@LIHerald.com or call 516.569.4000 x243 AGENDA:
EXPERT PANEL + Q&A
RAFFLE DRAWINGS MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN
Compiled by Herald Staff
Eleanor Furbush Farmingdale
The flowers and sun coming up, and every day being alive.
I really like it when the trees bloom and you’re driving down the streets with beautiful flowers around. And not having to shovel anymore snow!
Tim Baker/Herald photos
Lin Shao Oceanside
I’m most excited to feel warmer weather, longer days and everything starting to bloom again. I’m also excited that I won’t need to bundle up every time I go outside.
Abbey Salvemini/Herald photos
Caleb Kolanovic Lynbrook, age 9
I get to play baseball when it’s warmer and have fun at the park. And the birds are chirping.
Tim Baker/Herald photos
Tim Baker/Herald photos
Christie Leigh Babirad/ Herald photos
Brittany Dursi Rockville Centre
Antoinette Hatzopoulos Glen Cove
STEPPING OUT
A gentle first step into the concert hall
‘Peppa Pig’ brings music to life
By Abbey Salvemini
Oink if you love Mozart! The world’s most famous piggy is trading muddy puddles for the conductor’s baton. “Peppa Pig –My First Concert” is headed to Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, on Saturday, March 28, offering families a vibrant, interactive introduction to the world of classical music.
Joined by Mummy Pig, Daddy Pig and George, Peppa leads young audiences through playful romp designed to give toddlers and preschoolers their very first taste of an orchestra — in this case, the Aurora Orchestra. By blending catchy hits from the popular TV series with masterpieces by Mozart and Beethoven, the production creates a bridge between playground favorites and the concert hall. At just 60 minutes long, it’s a perfectly sized musical adventure for “little piggies” as young as 18 months.
Families explore how different instruments create sound in this playful production giving the little ones their first taste of classical music in an engaging setting. From the first notes of the Peppa Pig theme to the soaring strings of the masters, the production invites families to see how an orchestra actually works. Peppa and her brother George learn alongside their audience, discovering the distinct sounds and shapes of the instruments as the music comes to life. It’s an engaging, front-row seat to the wonders of the woodwind, brass and string families.
“This is really an interactive introduction to a live orchestra for very young audiences,” says Stephanie Turner, Tilles Center’s director of education and outreach.
This is a ‘first concert’ in the truest sense — approachable, loud and full of life. Stripping away the formality of a standard concert hall, the production encourages little ones to respond to the music however they feel moved. Children are welcome to participate throughout — whether that means clapping along, dancing in the aisles or simply reacting to the music.
“Anything they want to do,” Turner says. “When kids hear familiar music, they love to get up and dance. Whatever movement or sound kids want to make is totally open.”
The production also introduces a fresh face to the Peppa-verse: Lucy. Played by Evie James, this specially created character serves as the show’s lively narrator, helping children navigate their very first symphonic experience, while interacting with Peppa and her friends.
The show blends puppetry, live music and audience participation, featuring four puppeteers and 12 musicians performing alongside Lucy and the Peppa Pig family. James eplains that the production offers young audiences a whimsical introduction to live theater and classical music through the adventures of Peppa and her family.
“The kids respond to it so well,” she says. “It’s a really sweet and fun show with an educational element.”
Continuing the Tilles Center’s commitment to inclusive programming, this program — part of its “Family Fun!” series — it’s done as a relaxed performance. The atmosphere is intentionally crafted to be welcoming and accommodating, providing a supportive space for neurodivergent audiences to enjoy the arts together.
“These performances feature modified sound and lighting levels,” Turner explains. “There’s also a quiet space with sensory toys if a child gets overwhelmed.”
Families can check out a ‘social story’ before the big day. This visual guide uses photos and simple descriptions to walk children through the entire theater experience, turning the ‘unknown’ into a familiar and exciting adventure. Everyone is also welcome to a free family workshop prior to showtime (for ticket holders), with crafts, games and storytime.
• Saturday, March 28, 2 p.m.
• Tickets start at $39, VIP tickets are $79.50; available at ticketmaster.com
• Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville
“Our goal is to provide the arts to the greater Long Island population,” Turner adds. “Through the Family Fun series, we bring shows like Peppa Pig, along with productions featuring characters like Curious George and ‘Sesame Street, so families can experience live performances together.”
Of course, for many children in the audience, Peppa Pig will be their first live performance.
“It’s age-appropriate, gentle and welcoming,” Turner continues. “You can come at any age or level and enjoy it. Even adults who’ve never been exposed to classical music can learn something.”
For James, the true magic happens after the curtain falls. Her goal is simple: to send the kids home feeling delighted with what’s transpired on stage.
“I hope they just have a fun time,” she says. “Maybe it will inspire them to listen to music, play an instrument themselves or develop an interest in theater.”
along as Peppa and George discover the magic of live music together at Tilles Center.
Isaac Mizrahi
Actor-host-writer-fashion designerproducer, performer extraordinaire
Isaac Mizrahi is a truly unique talent. He regales his fans — and those just experiencing him for a first time — with song and his signature wit when he appears at Tilles Center. His one-of-a-kind show brings together comedy, commentar and an array of classic and soon-to-be classic songs from Stephen Sondheim to Blondie, Comden & Green to Madonna. He’s worked extensively in the entertainment industry for over 30 years. Most recently seen as Amos Hart in the Broadway production of “Chicago,” he heads here after his annual (triumphant) residency at Café Carlyle in Manhattan. Isaac also performs at such venues as Joe’s Pub and nationwide. Among his many credits, he’s the subject and co-creator of “Unzipped,” a documentary following the making of his Fall 1994 collection which received an award at the Sundance Film Festival.
Saturday, March 28, 8 p.m. Tilles Center, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Tickets available at tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100.
The Man In Black: A Tribute to Johnny Cash
With his strikingly similar looks, baritone voic and spot-on mannerisms, Shawn Barker’s uncanny resemblance to the original “Man In Black” revitalizes the true character and spirit of Cash himself, for a one-of-a-kind show. In character throughout the entire evening, he takes the audience through each era of Cash’s life and music, including hits like “Folsom Prison Blues,” “I Walk The Line,” “A Boy Named Sue,” and “Ring of Fire,” backed by a full band. Born and raised in a working-class suburb of St. Louis, Barker took a schoolboy love for singing in church with his family and turned it into a career. The path to his current success wasn’t a straight line from gospel choir to Johnny Cash tribute act. After serving his country in the Army, Barker returned home to Missouri, took a job as a carpenter, and spent all of his free time learning how to play the guitar. His act then quickly turned from hobby to profession.
Sunday, March 29, 7 p.m. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at
Photos courtesy Logan Westom
Little theatergoers follow
Your Neighborhood CALENDAR
MAR
26
‘You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown’ Adelphi University Department of Theatre students give a concert performance of the beloved classic. With charm, wit and heart, “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” explores life through the eyes of Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy and their friends in the Peanuts gang. This revue of songs and vignettes, based on the beloved Charles Schulz comic strip, showcases Adelphi’s talented students.
Musical numbers include “My New Philosophy,” “The Book Report,” “The Baseball Game,” “Little Known Facts,” “Suppertime” and “Happiness.”
• Where: Adelphi University
Performing Arts Center, 1 South Ave., Garden City
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Contact: adelphi.edu/pac or (516) 877-4000
MAR
27
Family theater
Long Island Children’s Museum stages “Pete the Cat,” the charming musical based on the book series by Kimberly and James Dean. Life is certainly an adventure for Pete, no matter where he winds up. So the minute the groovy blue cat meets The Biddles, he gets the whole family rocking. That is, except for young Jimmy Biddle, the most organized second grader on planet Earth. But when Jimmy draws a blank in art class during the last week of school, it turns out Pete is the perfect pal to help him out. Together, they set out on a mission to help Jimmy conquer second grade art, and along the way, they both learn a little something new about inspiration. $11 with museum admission ($9 members), $15 theater only.
• Where: 11 Davis Ave., Garden City
• Time: 10:15 a.m. and noon; also March 28, April 1-April 2
• Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800
MAR
28
South Shore Symphony
The beloved orchestra springs forward with its next concert “The Rite of Spring.” The program includes Marquez’s Conga del Fuego Nuevo, Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending (Romance for Violin and Orchestra) and Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring.
• Where: Madison Theatre, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Contact: madisontheatreny.org or (516) 323-4444
‘…how I wish you were here’
Wish You Were Here celebrates the 50th Anniversary of Pink Floyd’s album “Wish You Were Here,” acclaimed as “one of the greatest albums of all time,” and cited by Pink Floyd keyboardist Richard Wright and guitarist David Gilmour as their favorite album. The band delivers a critically-acclaimed, stunningly authentic and heartfelt tribute experience, faithfully and expertly reproducing Pink Floyd’s timeless musical soundscapes with entirely live music and vocals.
• Where: Tilles Center, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
with LuminoCity, participants’ 2-D artwork will be submitted for a chance to have it brought to life as a 3-D light sculpture featured on display at the 2026 LuminoCity Festival. Free limited ticket with Museum admission, available at the Box Office on the day of the workshop.
• Where: 11 Davis Ave., Garden City
• Time: 11-noon and 3-4 p.m.
• Contact: licm.org or (516) 224-5800
APR
10
‘An Evening of Magic’ fundraiser
Immerse yourself in this captivating journey through Pink Floyd’s musical catalog with this top-level act! Wish You Where Here continues its 30-year tradition of combining sight and sound to capture the mood, emotions, and intensity of the Floydian theatrical concert experience — in a spectacular tribute of music, performers, lighting, video, lasers and inflatables — performed live with no backing or click tracks. The band is arguably the longest continually-performing Pink Floyd tribute act with an unparalleled history of sold-out concerts, record-breaking festival events and celebrated theater productions. The show utilizes a veteran 10-piece musical ensemble featuring seven vocalists and a Floydian stage production — sound effects and vintage videos on a large circle screen, flying inflatables, theatrical vignettes with props, and a sensational light show with moving lasers, rolling fog and state-of-the-art intelligent lighting — all produced with a fan’s obsession for detail. The band authentically recreates the music from Pink Floyd’s entire career, performing the crowd favorites that all rock fans recognize, interspersed with the show-stoppers that appease even the most ardent Floyd fanatics.
Hop Into Spring
Families are invited to hop on over to Long Island Children’s Museum to welcome spring! Meet Peter Rabbit and Baby Chick costume characters, explore the museum to collect goodies, interact with live animals, and create themed craft activities. Celebrate the arrival of spring with a day of family fun!
• Where: 11 Davis Ave., Garden City
• Time: 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Contact: licm.org or (516) 224-5800
MAR
29
‘The Identity Reset’
Join author Ashley Olivia Nelson for an intimate afternoon conversation celebrating the release of “The Identity Reset: A Guide to Discovering Yourself After Loss, Change, and Survival.” It features a moderated conversation with a special guest (to be announced), a short reading by the author, and an audience Q&A exploring how people can move forward when life changes, and how to reconnect with themselves along the way. Attendees will leave with language for what they’ve been experiencing, insight into
navigating change with more clarity, and a renewed sense of direction for the season ahead. The afternoon includes light hors d’oeuvres, time for connection, and a book signing with photo opportunities. Each attendee receives a signed copy of the book.
• Where: Madison Theatre, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre
• Time: 3 p.m.
• Contact: madisontheatreny.org or (516) 323-4444
MAR 31
District STREAM Night
Malverne holds its district-wide STREAM night. All students are invited to come participate in hands-on learning activities that highlight principles of science, technology, engineering, art, and math.
Where: 443 Ocean Ave.
• Where: Malverne High School, 80 Ocean Ave.
• Time: 6-8 p.m.
• Contact: malverneschools.org
APR
1
Community scholarship fundraiser Support West Hempstead seniors!
• Contact: ticketmaster.com or tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100
Dine at Gino’s Pizzeria on the 1st Wednesday of each month and 10 percent of the proceeds will support the West Hempstead Community Scholarship Fund’s scholarships. This excludes deliveries and orders with coupons. Please let the staff know you are supporting the WHCSF.
• Where: Gino’s Pizzeria & Restaurant 619 Woodfield Rd., West Hempstead
Malverne Trustees meet The Village of Malverne’s Board of Trustees hold their monthly meeting at Village Hall.
APR 8
• Where: 99 Church St., Malverne
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Contact: malvernevillage.org
Light-Art Collaboration
Families are invited to Long Island Children’s Museum to illuminate their imagination and inspire creativity In this educator-led, hands-on workshop, participants are introduced to the history and process of lantern making while creating their own unique drawing. In collaboration
The Sarah Grace Foundation for Children With Cancer hosts its annual “An Evening of Magic” gala dinner. Awardwinning magician Will Fern brings high-energy entertainment, including strolling magic and mind reading, to benefit children with cancer. The dinner fundraiser takes place in the Philodendrum Room at The Milleridge Inn. Tickets are $125 and include dinner, drinks and the show; advance purchase is required. Raffles and a 50/50 drawing will also be held.
• Where: 585 N. Broadway, Jericho
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Contact: thesarahgracefoundation.org
Carnival
APR
11
Diamond Charter School hosts a free carnival to introduce local families to the new school.
• Where: 12 Westminster Road, West Hempstead
• Time: Noon- 6 p.m.
• Contact: Terrence Mclean tmclean@diamondcs.org
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.
Public Notices
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT
NASSAU COUNTY
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR VELOCITY COMMERCIAL CAPITAL LOAN TRUST 2023-1, Plaintiff against NYCT PROPERTIES LLC; VISHWANAUTH RAMCHARAN; KAVIA SMITH, et al Defendant(s) Attorney for Plaintiff(s) Stern & Eisenberg, P.C., 20 Commerce Drive, Suite 230, Cranford, NJ 07016 and 1131 Route 55, Suite 1, Lagrangeville, NY 12540.
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered January 14, 2026, I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on April 8, 2026 at 2:00 PM.
Premises known as 70 Wolf Avenue, Malverne, NY 11565-1544. Sec 35 Block 234 Lot 1-2. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Malverne, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York.
Approximate Amount of Judgment is $617,115.49 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 613196/2024.
During the COVID-19 health emergency, Bidders are required to comply with all governmental health requirements in effect at the time of the sale including but not limited to wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing (at least 6feet apart) during the auction, while tendering deposit and at any subsequent closing. Should a bidder fail to comply, the Referee may refuse to accept any bid, cancel the closing and hold the bidder in default. Bidders are also required to comply with the Foreclosure Auction Rules and COVID-19 Health Emergency Rules issued by the Supreme Court of this County in
addition to the conditions set forth in the Terms of Sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the Court Appointed Referee shall cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”
Sean C. Acosta, Esq., Referee File # NY202300000510-1 158688
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCAF ACQUISITION TRUST, Plaintiff, AGAINST RANDAL A. BENNETT, et al. Defendant(s) Pursuant to a judgment of foreclosure and sale duly entered on October 30, 2025. I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on April 15, 2026 at 2:00 PM premises known as 583 Dogwood Avenue, West Hempstead, NY 11552.
Please take notice that this foreclosure auction shall be conducted in compliance with the Foreclosure Auction Rules for Nassau County, and the COVID 19 Health Emergency Rules, including proper use of masks and social distancing.
All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at West Hempstead, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York. Section 35, Block 608 and Lot 47A, 47C, and 51.
Approximate amount of judgment $309,912.76 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment. Index #612556/2024.
Brian J. Carmody, Esq., Referee, Aldridge Pite, LLPAttorneys for Plaintiff40 Marcus Drive, Suite 200, Melville, NY 11747 158825
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF FORMATION of WESTWOOD GLOBAL
LLC . Arts of Org filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 12/24/2025 Office location: Nassau County. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process may be served and shall mail copy of process against LLC to 21 Horton Street, Malverne, NY 11565 . Purpose: any lawful act. 158808
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, MCLP ASSET COMPANY, INC., Plaintiff, vs. EDGARD ARAYA A/K/A EDGAR ARAYA, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee’s Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on June 23, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on April 22, 2026 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 185 Fairlawn Avenue, West Hempstead, NY 11552. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 35, Block 361 and Lot 175, 176, 274. Approximate amount of judgment is $914,305.55 plus interest and costs.
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 614112/2023. Cash will not be accepted. Andrew K. Preston, Esq., Referee Knuckles & Manfro, LLP, 120 White Plains Road, Suite 215, Tarrytown, New York 10591, Attorneys for Plaintiff 158979
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the MALVERNE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS will hold a PUBLIC HEARING on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at the MALVERNE VILLAGE HALL, 99 Church Street, Malverne, New York 11565 and will hear
the following cases at 7:00 PM:
Anastasia Patikoglou 93 Nassau Ave.; Residential “B” District Building Permit Application #2025-0990
Proposes to construct 110 sq. ft. rear wood deck. Bibi Ali 216 Franklin Ave.; Residential “A” District Building Permit Application #2025-0702
Proposes to amend existing conditional zoning variance approval dated February 12, 2026 to increase allowable F.A.R. for additions and alterations to existing single family dwelling. All interested parties should appear at the above time and place.
BY ORDER OF THE MALVERNE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS
INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF MALVERNE
Jill Valli, Village Clerk Dated: March 20, 2026 159053
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE
The resolution, a summary of which is published herewith, has been adopted on March 17, 2026, and the validity of the obligations authorized by such resolution may be hereafter contested only if such obligations were authorized for an object or purpose for which West Hempstead Union Free School District, in the County of Nassau, New York, is not authorized to expend money or if the provisions of law which should have been complied with as of the date of publication of this Notice were not substantially complied with, and an action, suit or proceeding contesting such validity is commenced within twenty days after the publication of this Notice, or such obligations were authorized in violation of the provisions of the constitution.
Awilda Cruz District Clerk REFUNDING BOND RESOLUTION OF WEST HEMPSTEAD UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT, NEW YORK, ADOPTED MARCH 17, 2026, AUTHORIZING THE REFUNDING OF ALL OR A PORTION OF CERTAIN OUTSTANDING BONDS OF SAID DISTRICT, STATING THE PLAN OF REFUNDING, APPROPRIATING AN
AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $4,250,000 THEREFOR, AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF NOT TO EXCEED $4,250,000 REFUNDING BONDS OF THE DISTRICT TO FINANCE SAID APPROPRIATION, AND MAKING OTHER DETERMINATIONS RELATIVE THERETO. Object or purpose: refunding of all or a portion of outstanding bonds issued in 2014. Period of probable usefulness: thirty (30) years, commencing on the date of original issuance of the first note or bond issued for the purposes for which the outstanding bonds were issued. Amount of obligations to be issued: not to exceed $4,250,000
A complete copy of the refunding bond resolution summarized above shall be available for public inspection during normal business hours at the office of the District Clerk, West Hempstead Union Free School District, 252 Chestnut Street, West Hempstead, New York. Dated:March 17, 2026 West Hempstead, New York 159054
LEGAL NOTICE CASE NO. 7179 RESOLUTION NO. 256-2026
Adopted: March 10, 2026 Councilmember Ryder offered the following resolution and moved its adoption: RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE ASSESSMENT ROLL FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OR RECONSTRUCTION OF SIDEWALK AREA IN ; BALDWIN, BELLMORE, BETHPAGE, EAST MEADOW, ELMONT, FRANKLIN SQUARE, INWOOD, ISLAND PARK, LEVITTOWN, MERRICK, NORTH BALDWIN, NORTH BELLMORE, OCEANSIDE, ROCKVILLE CENTRE, ROOSEVELT, SEAFORD, SOUTH HEMPSTEAD, UNIONDALE, WANTAGH, WEST HEMPSTEAD, WOODMERE IN THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, NASSAU COUNTY, NY, ADOPTING PROPOSED ASSESSMENT ROLL FOR THE COST THEREOF. WHEREAS, an
assessment roll has been prepared by this Town Board for and in connection with the reconstruction of sidewalk area on: AMBROSE CT, BABYLON TPKE, BALDWIN AVE, BARBARA ST, BAY FRONT DR, BONNIE DR, BROADWAY, CARNATION AVE, CHALADAY LN, CHESTNUT LN, CLEARMEADOW DR, COLONY ST, COLUMBUS AVE, CONDOR RD, COOLIDGE AVE, COURT ST, COURTNEY LN, DALE PL, DAY ST, E ROOSEVELT AVE, EASTERN PKWY, EVELYN AVE, EVERS LN, FARM LN, FENWORTH BLVD, GRAND AVE, GUN LN, HAMILTON AVE, HAMPTON RD, HANCOCK ST, HENRY ST, HOPATCONG AVE, HOWARD PL, HUDSON AVE, IVANHOE DR, IVY CT W, JEFFERSON ST, KINGSTON AVE, LAKEVIEW RD, LAUREL AVE, LINCOLN BLVD, LINCOLN ST, LINKS DR W, LYDIA PL, MANOR PKWY, MARILYN DR, MARJORIE LN, MATTITUCK AVE, MCDONALD AVE, MEADOW LN, MEADOW RD, MERRICK AVE, MERRICK RD, MILBURN AVE, MONACO AVE, MONROE ST, N JERUSALEM RD, NORTHERN PKWY, ORIOLE AVE, OWL PL, PAMLICO AVE, PARK AVE, PARKER AVE, QUARRY LN, REMSEN ST, ROCKWOOD AVE, ROOSEVELT ST, ROYAL AVE, SCHREIBER PL, SKILLMAN AVE, SPRAGUE AVE, SPRUCEWOOD DR, STEPHEN ST, SUNSHINE AVE, SURREY LN, WADLEIGH AVE, WAUKENA AVE, WAVERLY AVE, WESTMINSTER RD, WILLIAM PL, WOLCOTT RD, WOLFSON DR, WOOD PARK DR In the TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK, which said roll was completed and filed in the office of the Town clerk of said Town on or about the 10th day of March 2026; and WHEREAS, due notice of the completion of said assessment roll and of the time and place when and where this Board would meet to hear and consider any objection that might be made to said roll and for the purpose
of reviewing, correcting and amending the same was duly given by the Town Clerk by publication of due notice thereof in the official newspaper of the Town of Hempstead and the Town Board duly met at the time and place specified and a hearing was duly had upon said assessment roll; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that such expense for the improvement be and it hereby is assessed as a whole pursuant to Section 200-a Article 12 of the Town Law as amended, upon each of the Lots and the parcels of land especially benefited by said improvement in just proportion to the amount of benefit which the improvement confers thereon in the amount listed opposite each such Lot or Parcel in the said assessment roll under the heading “BENEFITED” assessment against each such Lot or parcel of land especially benefited by the said improvement may be paid in five (5) or less annual installments and shall be payable at the time and the manner provided by law for the levy of State And County Taxes with interest not to exceed six percent (6%) of each such installment; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town Clerk be instructed to annex to said assessment roll a Warrant which shall be signed by the Supervisor and countersigned by the Town Clerk commanding the Receiver of Taxes to collect from the several persons named in said assessment roll the sum or sums opposite their respective names and to pay the same to the Supervisor of the Town of Hempstead. The foregoing resolution was adopted upon roll call as follows: AYES: SEVEN (7) NOES: NONE (0) SIDEWALK AREA ASSESSMENT ROLL SIDEWALK AREA IMPROVEMENT ON: AMBROSE CT, BABYLON TPKE, BALDWIN AVE, BARBARA ST, BAY FRONT DR, BONNIE DR, BROADWAY, CARNATION AVE, CHALADAY LN, CHESTNUT LN, CLEARMEADOW DR, COLONY ST,
COLUMBUS AVE, CONDOR RD, COOLIDGE AVE, COURT ST, COURTNEY LN, DALE PL, DAY ST, E ROOSEVELT AVE, EASTERN PKWY, EVELYN AVE, EVERS LN, FARM LN, FENWORTH BLVD, GRAND AVE, GUN LN, HAMILTON AVE, HAMPTON RD, HANCOCK ST, HENRY ST, HOPATCONG AVE, HOWARD PL, HUDSON AVE, IVANHOE DR, IVY CT W, JEFFERSON ST, KINGSTON AVE, LAKEVIEW RD, LAUREL AVE, LINCOLN BLVD, LINCOLN ST, LINKS DR W, LYDIA PL, MANOR PKWY, MARILYN DR, MARJORIE LN, MATTITUCK AVE, MCDONALD AVE, MEADOW LN, MEADOW RD, MERRICK AVE, MERRICK RD, MILBURN AVE, MONACO AVE, MONROE ST, N JERUSALEM RD, NORTHERN PKWY, ORIOLE AVE, OWL PL, PAMLICO AVE, PARK AVE, PARKER AVE, QUARRY LN, REMSEN ST, ROCKWOOD AVE, ROOSEVELT ST, ROYAL AVE, SCHREIBER PL, SKILLMAN AVE, SPRAGUE AVE, SPRUCEWOOD DR, STEPHEN ST, SUNSHINE AVE, SURREY LN, WADLEIGH AVE, WAUKENA AVE, WAVERLY AVE, WESTMINSTER RD, WILLIAM PL, WOLCOTT RD, WOLFSON DR, WOOD PARK DR In the TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK. *
* * * * WARRANT TO COLLECT ASSESSMENT TO: JEANINE C. DRISCOLL, RECEIVER OF TAXES OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, NASSAU COUNTY, N.Y. YOU ARE HEREBY COMMANDED to collect from the persons named in the annexed Assessment Roll, the sum set opposite their respective names, as taxes or assessments, payable by them and to pay the sum to the Supervisor of the Town of Hempstead. The assessments in the annexed Assessment Roll may be paid in five (5) annual installments with interest thereon, if the benefit is in excess of $100.00 or may be paid in one (1) installment without fee or penalty which shall not be less than thirty (30) nor more than one hundred and eighty
Money raised supports the troop’s adventures
part of what we do. Waiting tables is just one part of the big picture in getting that done.”
The troop’s members served the dinner, which included all-you-can-eat bread, garden salad, pasta, meatballs, soda, coffee and dessert. The $2,500 raised during the event will go to support the troop’s activities throughout the year.
Every four to six weeks, members of the troop will go camping, take a hike, or participate in other activities.
“We get them away from their devices whenever we can and get them out in nature,” Hoh said. “The funds support our trips, the planning the equipment, reserving campsites, and more.”
A ticket to attend the fundraiser was $20, but it cost $10 for children ages 5 to 12 and $5 for Scouts. Children ages 4 and under were admitted for free.
“It’s not just Scouting people that
come to our pasta dinner,” Hoh said. “There are families and neighbors. It’s a great place to get together, remember the important things and enjoy the community you live in.”
Public Notices
(180) days from the date of the warrant on or before the 7th day of September 2026
TOTAL ASSESSMENT: $148,883.11
DATED: SUPERVISOR
Of the TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD
COUNTERSIGNED: TOWN CLERK 159051
LEGAL NOTICE
A resolution, a summary of which is published herewith, has been adopted on March 19, 2026, and the validity of the obligations authorized by such resolution may be hereafter contested only if such obligations
were authorized for an object or purpose for which the Village of Malverne, in the County of Nassau, New York, is not authorized to expend money or if the provisions of law which should have been complied with as of the date of publication of this Notice were not substantially complied with, and an action, suit or proceeding contesting such validity is commenced within twenty days after the publication of this Notice, or such obligations were authorized in violation of provisions of the constitution.
Bond resolution of the Village of Malverne, New York, adopted March 19, 2026, authorizing the acquisition of a fire truck, including equipment related thereto, stating the estimated maximum cost thereof is $1,000,000, appropriating said amount for such purpose, and authorizing the issuance of bonds of said village in the principal amount of not to exceed $1,000,000 to finance said appropriation
The object or purpose for which the bonds are authorized is the
acquisition of a fire truck, including equipment related thereto. The period of probable usefulness is five (5) years. The amount of obligations to be issued is $1,000,000. A complete copy of the bond resolution summarized above shall be available for public inspection during normal business hours at the office of the Village Clerk, at the Village Hall, 99 Church Street, Malverne, New York. Jill Valli, Village Clerk Incorporated Village of Malverne March 19, 2026 159052
Attendees could also purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win one of the more than 50 raffle baskets donated by local businesses. Prizes included gift cards to Gino’s Pizza in West Hempstead, Connolly Beverage, Lost4toys, A&S Bagels, Dario’s Pizza, Maple Lanes Bowling in Rockville Centre, and more.
“We have a great group of parents that have been doing this for years and have a knack for it,” Hoh said. “They have great relationships with the local businesses who are willing to show their support.”
For pasta dinners in previous years, local Italian restaurants provided the food. But this year, troop leaders and Scouts’ parents, who purchased ingredients at Restaurant Depot, prepared the feast. Daphne and Ted Aristilde, an assistant Scoutmaster, led volunteers in cooking the food in the American Legion hall’s kitchen before the event began.
“Apparently, St. Patrick’s Day is a busy time, so we decided to try and do it ourselves,” Hoh said. “So, we got in there at noon and got everything ready for the dinner at four o’clock. It worked out pretty well.”
In addition to holding fundraisers to support their activities, the West Hempstead Scouts are looking for Eagle Scout project recommendations from the local
community. Previous projects include upgrading the American Legion facilities, preserving local history, and building projects outside of West Hempstead. Suggestions can be sent to bsatroop240wh@gmail.com.
To learn more about Scouting America or to find a local troop, visit beascout. scouting.org.
West Hempstead residents enjoyed being served by local Scouts at the pasta dinner.
Christine Rivera/Herald photos
Helping to prepare the pasta dinner were, from left, albert roach, Vinnie Spano, daphne and ted aristilde, peter Cornwall and greg Cook.
darrius roach, 15, left, and r yan Hernandez, 16, served a pasta dinner to attendees.
EMPLOYMENT
Help Wanted
Building Maintenance
Assistant and Porter needed for Management Co. in Long Beach Experience Preferred Email: humanresoures5771 @gmail.com or Call: (212) 873-7575
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 $17 per hour to $20 per hour.
For consideration, please send resume & salary requirements to: circulationassociate@liherald.com
DENTAL ASSISTANT
CHAIR SIDE F/T Lynbrook Office, Immediate Opening. Looking for Experienced Individual Email Resume nylaserendo@gmail.com Call 516-599-7111
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
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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. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. Salary range is from $20K to $45K To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to jbessen@liherald.com
MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP
Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $20 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com
MULTI MEDIA
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Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $35,360 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286
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 $35,360 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses. Compensation is based on Full Time hours Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off. Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X250
PHOTOGRAPHERS WANTED $20 - $25 Per Hour Must Be Available On Weekends April - June 516-902-6258 Randy@LISNYC.com
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
HomesHERALD
A permit just for my parents?
Village Charmer
TQ. We just moved from the city, and found a notice on our door saying we have to get a permit for my parents to continue living with us. Neighbors were probably the ones who called the building department. My parents have always shared a house with us, in their own separate basement area with a kitchen, where they can come and go as they wish and spend time with their grandchildren, especially while we’re at work. We can’t just send my parents somewhere. What is the easiest way to get what we need?
A. You will need 1) the whole home measured, 2) floor plans drawn, 3) paperwork filed with a building department, 4) rejected for zoning reasons, 5) the application package forwarded to a separate zoning board, 6) wait your turn to get your documents reviewed before you get a zoning hearing, 7) given an appearance date, 8) attend a public hearing to see your case presented, 9) await a building plan review for the necessary safety and code requirements, 10) pay for the approved permit(s) to be issued, 11) get a contractor, plumber and electrician, and 12) arrange for plumbing, electric and final inspections to complete the process.
In some communities, the procedures can take well over a year. You will need patience and trust that you will eventually get to the end.
It’s admirable that you have a family that is appreciative enough to support one another’s needs, like watching the children and spending valuable time together. You might think this kind of extended family unit would be encouraged, but there are reasons it is scrutinized, including safety concerns, home values, parking and monitoring the number of people on a property. Although neighbors do not have authority to reject your living situation, if you are not respectful of everyone around you, including parking considerately, keeping the property neat and quiet, neighbors will complain.
Cooking fires are a leading cause of home casualties. Primary or second kitchens located in a basement are prohibited in nearly every community I have ever dealt with. I just saw that a father and son perished in a basement fire, coincidentally, in a home I wrote a safety report about within the past year. I commented on how the basement was a nonhabitable space, and yet someone cleaned it up, moved in, and now a father and child have died.
The fire chief said it is very difficult, almost impossible, to fight a basement fire, because flames are blasting up at you while you’re trying to get down and into the space. Basement walls can’t be cut to relieve the heat and smoke buildup.
You may think of a home as a place to live, and fortunately, or unfortunately, disasters have shaped strict rules made to prevent more disasters. Not having a basement kitchen can save lives. Your parents won’t be sent away, but you will need to start the process as outlined above. Good luck!
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opinions Islamist terrorism remains a clear and present danger
The recent series of terrorist attacks in Austin, Texas; on the East Side of Manhattan, outside Gracie Mansion; at a synagogue in Bloomfield, Mich.; and at Old Dominion University, in Norfolk, Va.; send the clear signal that federal, state and local law enforcement must be on full alert, especially for the duration of the conflict with Iran.
Threats and potential terror attacks could range from ISIS, Al Qaeda and the Iranian proxy Hezbollah to radically inspired lone wolves. Prior to the horrific Sept. 11 attacks, our nation’s counterterrorism efforts were basically uncoordinated, both here at home and overseas. The FBI and CIA, for instance, were effectively precluded by policy and design from sharing information and intelligence with each other. Similarly, the FBI often withheld information from local police departments, including the NYPD. There were also few adequately constructed lines of communication between the United States and overseas intelligence agencies regarding terror threats (Great Britain, Canada and Isra-
el being among the few exceptions).
President George W. Bush and the majority of both parties in Congress agreed on the absolute necessity to tear down existing walls and barriers, and to establish new structures to enhance cooperation and communication.
intrusion. NYPD officers were assigned to key overseas embassies to report back actionable intelligence on possible terrorist plans for action in New York.
The past few weeks have been very distressing for the few of us who have had any experience living in America when a real war took place. There is no doubt that we are not in the middle of a world war in Iran, but that conflict has all the earmarks of a happening that will trigger years of violence that could hit extremely close to our country.
I’m not an expert on military issues. I have no doubt that Iran is a major threat to the world, and every possible step should be taken to curb its efforts to acquire nuclear weapons. I believe that Israel should be protected from a country that has pledged to wipe it off the map. But we must understand that there are consequences to these wars, and we should be aware of them. The problem is no one is telling us whether we should be concerned and why.
At the federal level, this was achieved by establishing the Department of Homeland Security, which incorporated 22 previously separate agencies into one coordinated entity. These bodies included the Customs Service, Immigration and Naturalization, the Coast Guard and the Secret Service. While the FBI and CIA remained independent, protocols were established to enable greater sharing of intelligence and information between them. As well, the Office of National Intelligence was created, and the CIA, the Defense Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency were required to report to the director of national intelligence.
our emphasis has shifted from terrorism to illegal immigration.
This caused some resentment among elements of the FBI and CIA, but proved successful. For example when Al Qaeda carried out a deadly attack in the Madrid train system, an NYPD officer was quickly on the scene, reporting procedures to be implemented in the New York City transit system that proved to be very effective. Overall, under Commissioner Ray Kelly, the NYPD had over a thousand officers assigned to counterterrorism and intelligence, resulting in more than 20 attempted attacks being prevented. Unfortunately progressive-minded elected officials assailed the NYPD’s efforts as “Islamophobic,” resulting in Mayor Bill de Blasio’s cutting back on the NYPD’s counterterrorism and intelligence operations. (Fortunately, much of its basic structure remains.)
2005 and 2006 — and again for another two-year term in 2011 and 2012. During both terms I focused on defending against Islamist terrorism — the main achievements being port and chemical plant security in my first term, and the investigation of radicalization of the Muslim community in my second term. Though key witnesses were Muslim, the radicalization hearings drew extensive media opposition but were successful.
Action was also initiated at the state and local levels. The NYPD was particularly innovative, creating intelligence and counterterrorism units that in many ways are comparable to the CIA and FBI. Sources were developed in neighborhoods reasonably believed to be subject to terrorist influence and
Following the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, Congress established a comparable committee to oversee it, similar to the Armed Services and Foreign Affairs committees monitoring the Defense and State departments. I was elected chairman of the committee in its first two years —
In recent years, funding for counterterrorism programs has been reduced. The emphasis of the DHS has shifted drastically from terrorism to illegal immigration. And elected officials like Mayor Mamdani are threatening to restrict police counterterror efforts. Most significantly, because of an unrelated dispute over ICE, congressional Democrats shut down the DHS at this time of maximum threat, when Islamists are using encrypted apps to circumvent our cybersecurity defenses. This is suicidal. The threat of Islamist terrorism cannot be relegated to the rearview mirror. It is a clear and present danger. Federal, state and local governments must face up to their responsibilities. (I am proud that Nassau and Suffolk are doing what has to be done.) We cannot risk another 9/11.
Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.
The faraway war in Iran is closer than you think
Iran isn’t just some crazy faraway country like Afghanistan, where a war took place that didn’t represent any kind of serious threat to America. During the American military involvement in that country, no one ever stopped me on the street to express fears about the “Afghanistan war.” Even though we deployed thousands of our troops in that country, there was no concern on the part of our government that it could spill over into our country.
Ehad gone through training programs that prepared it for such an event. The war has stirred up further incidents of antisemitism.
ven if it ends with some kind of settlement, there will be other consequences.
In the case of Iran, we are dealing with a bunch of idealogues who are not capable of being fully contained. History shows us that Iran enters into peace agreements and breaks its word almost immediately. Even If this current war ends on some type of settlement, there are other consequences that our nation should be aware of. What are they?
In the past month, there have been two incidents involving people who were true believers. In one, a man drove a truck into a Michigan synagogue in an effort to kill Jews. Luckily, that temple
The proof that the Iran incursion isn’t a faraway event is what we have been experiencing at the gas pump. When you pick a fight in the Middle East, lots of things happen. The war is having worldwide consequences. As energy costs go up, prices on all types of goods go up. No one is telling us what the long-range plan is to blunt price increases. There are not too many people around now who can talk about what it’s like to live in our country when there was a real war. As an 8-yearold boy, I experienced what happens when a country is at war. We had blackout shades in our house to protect us in the event of an air raid. Food was rationed and our neighbors became wardens in the event that faraway battle reached us in some way. Luckily, we had President Franklin Roosevelt to assure us that all would be well.
The war in Iran is far away from our country, and there won’t be any air raid sirens. But we have a lot to be concerned about because of the events now taking place thousands of miles from this nation. We are dealing with a different type of enemy and must be aware of that. The zealots who embrace Iran can be found anywhere.
There is no reason for us to start hiding in our homes, nor to curtail our daily activities. But we have to be aware of what is going on on this planet and get the comfort that we deserve. We should question our representatives in Washington on what steps are being taken to keep us away from harm. It would help heal the divide over this new war.
There is no politics to this story. Our leaders, whether Clinton, Bush, Obama or Trump, must tell us what they want our wars to accomplish and what steps they are going to take to limit our pain. That’s not asking too much.
Jerry Kremer was a state assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. He currently chairs the Capitol Insight Group, a government relations firm. Comments? jkremer@liherald.com.
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Spring reset should send us outside
after months of bundling up, shoveling out and watching gray skies linger over Long Island, the arrival of spring offers something more than a change in temperature — it signals a long-awaited reset.
The return of the Major League Baseball season is as reliable a marker as any: fresh grass, open stadiums and the simple joy of being outside again.
But spring’s promise goes well beyond symbolism. It offers a tangible opportunity to improve both physical and mental well-being in ways that winter simply does not allow.
The act of stepping outside — whether for a short walk, a bike ride or an afternoon at the park — can have an immediate and lasting impact. Sunlight helps regulate sleep cycles and boosts vitamin D levels, which are often depleted during the darker months. Fresh air, even in small doses, can sharpen focus, reduce stress and improve mood.
There is also something quietly restorative about reconnecting with the rhythms of the natural world. The budding of trees, the return of birds and the gradual greening of lawns and fields serve as reminders that change, even after the harshest stretches, is inevitable. After a winter defined by confinement, that sense of renewal
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Sunshine Week highlighted freedom of information
To the Editor:
The editorial “Sunshine week keeps democracy in the light” (March 5-11) was just what our struggling democracy needs — a timely reminder of the importance of open government.
We should all remember that in some parts of the world, governments routinely operate behind closed doors and keep their citizens in the dark about what takes place there. But not here in America, despite the efforts of some in power to block transparency.
A few months from now, when we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, we will also mark the 60th anniversary of another landmark moment: the signing of the Freedom of Information Act. On July 4, 1966, President Lyndon Johnson signed the act into law at his ranch in Texas. As a result of this legislation, Americans can now access many government records — at federal, state and local levels — that were once unavailable to
feels especially meaningful. Long Island is uniquely suited to take advantage of this seasonal shift. From local neighborhood parks to expansive destinations such as Grant Park in Hewlett, Hempstead Lake State Park in West Hempstead, Eisenhower Park in East Meadow, Marjorie Post Park in Massapequa and Tanner Park in Copiague, there is no shortage of places to stretch your legs and spend time outdoors. Walking paths, ball fields, playgrounds and open green spaces are not just amenities; they are essential parts of community life that come alive again in the spring.
For families, the change in season is an opportunity to reset routines that may have grown stagnant during the colder months. Screen time can give way to outdoor play. Weekends can shift from indoor errands to shared experiences such as picnic, a pickup game or simply time spent exploring a new trail. These moments, often simple and unplanned, are the ones that tend to linger.
For individuals, the benefits are just as significant. Even a brief daily walk can serve as a mental reset, a chance to step away from the demands of work and the constant pull of screens. Outdoor activity has been linked to lower levels of anxiety and depression, improved cardiovascular health and
increased overall energy. And unlike many wellness trends, it requires no special equipment or expense — just the willingness to step outside.
There is also a social dimension to spring that should not be overlooked. As temperatures rise, communities begin to reawaken. Youth sports leagues resume, neighbors linger a little longer in conversation, and public spaces once again become gathering places. After months of isolation, these interactions help rebuild a sense of connection that winter often erodes.
Not just a season, spring is an invitation. It encourages people to be more present, more active and more engaged with their surroundings. It asks us to take advantage of longer days and milder weather, to trade routine for spontaneity and to rediscover the simple pleasure of being outside.
The message, then, is straightforward: step outside. Make plans, but leave room for the unplanned. Visit a park you haven’t been to in years. Take a walk after dinner. Sit on a bench and watch a game, or better yet, join one. These small choices add up, shaping not just how we experience the season, but how we feel within it.
After a long winter, the urge to stay inside may still remain. But the better instinct — the healthier one — is to go outside.
Hochul’s insurance proposal: a disaster for crash victims
nassau and Suffolk counties continue to rank highest in New York state in traffic-related injuries and fatalities. As drivers, cyclists or pedestrians, even when we do everything right, we’re still one bad driver’s actions away from the E.R.
Now Albany wants to make it worse. Gov. Kathy Hochul’s latest budget proposal would quietly strip away basic legal protections for people injured by cars and dump the costs of traffic violence onto victims, their families and taxpayers. Bad drivers and their insurance companies would get a pass.
Redefining “serious injury” is wrong.
New York’s no-fault insurance system is designed so that anyone involved in an accident gets medical care and compensation for lost wages, up to a maximum of $50,000. That goes fast with hospital stays, physical therapy and months off work.
To seek damages beyond the $50,000 in no-fault coverage, a victim must meet the legal definition of a “serious inju-
Letters
them.
Ironically, President Johnson wasn’t a huge fan of FOIA. In a 2005 speech recalling the circumstances leading to the legislation’s becoming law, Bill Moyers, who was Johnson’s press secretary in the 1960s, noted that Johnson had at first resisted signing it.
“He hated the thought of journalists rummaging in government closets and opening government files,” Moyers said in 2005. “He hated them challenging the official view of reality.”
Nevertheless, Johnson signed the bill, largely due to pressure from the press, which supported FOIA, and Congress, which had overwhelmingly supported the legislation. It was an especially sweet victory for John Moss, a Democratic member of the House of Representatives who’d spent 12 years lobbying for greater access to government agency records, and Donald Rumsfeld, a Republican member of the House at the time who supported Moss in the effort.
But the real winners were the American people. It was a victory for democracy, a genuine “We the People” moment. Remember FOIA on July Fourth.
ry.” For decades, one category of a “serious injury” has been an injury that keeps you from living your normal life for the first 90 days after a crash.
The governor’s proposal would wipe that away.
Anyone who has ever been in a serious crash knows how absurd that is. These injuries might not be permanent, but are still serious and, indeed, take a lasting toll. They can keep you from caring for your family and out of work.
Three months out of work isn’t just inconvenient — it can be devastating to you and your family.
it won’t protect victims, and it won’t guarantee lower insurance premiums.
Hochul’s proposal would eliminate the right to sue the negligent driver who caused this category of injury and harm to you and your family.
Letting big companies off the hook.
Most serious crashes aren’t simple. They often involve multiple negligent actors: a speeding vehicle, a poorly designed roadway, a multi-vehicle crash caused by more than one driver. Multiple bad decisions lead to an injured victim. The term describing this is “joint and several liability.”
The longstanding legal concept of joint and several liability exists so that innocent victims aren’t left uncompen-
sated when more than one party is responsible. It ensures that the risk falls on all the people who caused the harm when a jury decides that more than one party contributed to the crash. The budget proposal would gut that protection. Crash victims would be left without full compensation. Insurance companies would avoid fiscal responsibility, and the financial burden would shift back to the injured victims.
“Modified contributory negligence” is open season on victims.
New York, like most states, has long used a comparative negligence standard. This system evaluates each party’s actual level of responsibility in causing a crash. A jury, at trial, decides fault and addresses any comparative negligence of the claimant by apportioning any share of their own responsibility and then awards a dollar amount that corresponds to fault.
Hochul’s proposal would throw that out. Under the new rule, if you were found just 51 percent at fault, you would get nothing. A driver could be 49 percent responsible for a crash and the insurance company would pay nothing. It would reward dangerous driving and leave victims without recourse.
Framework by Tim Baker
It won’t make streets safer or insurance cheaper.
None of this will prevent crashes. None of it will protect victims, and it won’t guarantee lower insurance premiums, the guise of these changes. The states that have implemented similar measures did not see rates drop. Don’t be fooled — the ones behind this change are the insurance companies, and Big Tech, such as Uber, which have dumped millions into the governor’s campaign as she goes about the state, reciting their talking points.
A recent report by the Center for Policy and Justice showed that insurance company profits have ballooned. S&P Market Intelligence reported in November 2025 that “the U.S. property/casualty insurance industry had its best quarter in at least a quarter of a century — and maybe longer.” Insurance companies continue to profit at the expense of you, the ratepayer.
What this proposal will do is make New York’s streets more dangerous by removing accountability, discouraging safety, and forcing injured victims to rely on public assistance instead of the insurance system that is supposed to cover their claims.
Daniel Flanzig is president of the board of directors of the New York Bicycling Coalition and a partner in the law firm Flanzig and Flanzig LLP.
Working on that fourth smile at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade — Wantagh
RICHARD J. CONWAY Massapequa
