Also serving Lakeview
powell has brought $9 million in grants to the uniondale school district.
Highlighting local role models Women’s History Month award ceremony
By ABBY GIBsoN & sTAcY dRIks of the Herald
Two West Hempstead residents were among the seven women and members of the Uniondale High School girls’ wrestling team were honored by Nassau County Legislator Olena Nicks at the Peter J. Schmitt Legislative Chamber on March 25. The celebration recognized leadership, business success and community impact for Women’s History Month.
“Women’s History Month is not just a date on the calendar, but it is the living, breathing proof that when women show up, things happen,” Nicks, who represents part of Uniondale and West Hempstead, said.
The Uniondale High School show choir — a student vocal ensemble known for combining singing, choreography and theatrical performance — gave one of its first performances since earning first place at the Fame Show Choir America competition in Orlando on March 22.
The girls’ wrestling team
The wrestling team received the legislatures Youth Award, and junior Captain Keishara Tulloch reflected on what she and her teammates have learned.
“This sport has taught us so many lessons, not just on the mat, but in our day-today life that we can use: determination, Continued on page 7
New theater renovation project update
By NoAH PERETZ nperetz@liherald.com
Nick Hudson and Maria Dente, the new operators of the Malverne Cinema and Art Center, have taken the next step in their plan to renovate the theater: They began painting its interior last Friday.
The building has been closed since September 2024, when its operators at the time, Henry and Anne Stampfel, could not reach a lease agreement with the landlord. It had been open since 1947 before its closing, and the Stampfels had operated it since 1990.
Wterms of what we could do a year from now,” Hudson added. “But we were able to get a lot done right away.”
“All the work on this project has been done by volunteers and community members,” Dente said.
The pair signed a lease for the theater in December 2025, and started the renovation project in January. They plan to turn it into a multipurpose venue, with three theaters, a live performance space and a combination coffee lounge and bar.
e want to make the experience of seeing a movie in theaters more immersive and welcoming.
NIck HudsoN co-operator, Malverne Cinema & Art Center renovation project
Hudson and Dente’s goal date for reopening is this June. “We want to be open by the time schools are out, so kids can see movies at the new theater,” Hudson said.
They attribute the quick turnaround to help from the Malverne community, which they said rallied around them and the project. “To be honest, we were looking at this plan in
“The live performance room used to be two separate theaters, but we knocked the wall down and turned it into a big room with a stage,” Dente, who added two of her own dents in the original wall, explained. “The original stage, that’s been there since 1947, was exposed when we were knocking walls down.”
According to Hudson and Dente’s plan, one theater will screen premieres and classic
Continued on page 10
Courtesy Chris Portuondodesmith
Barbara powell with County Legislator olena nicks. through her work with the naaCp’s Hempstead chapter,
Malverne High School holds annual Career Day
Malverne High School students took a step toward their futures during the school’s annual Career Day on March 25. The event provided an immersive opportunity for students to explore a diverse array of professional paths through direct engagement with established experts and entrepreneurs.
Career Day featured representatives from a wide range of industries, including medicine, law, government, law enforcement, finance, graphic design and cybersecurity. These guest present-
ers offered students more than just a job description; they provided a comprehensive “real-world” perspective on the requirements and rewards of their respective fields. Discussions centered on necessary educational pathways and certifications, daily responsibilities, salary expectations and the importance of job security and work-life balance.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Raymond A. Tierney, Suffolk County District Attorney
Produced B RICHHNNE
BUSINESS & TRANSACTIONAL
JOSEPH G. MILIZIO
Managing Partner Vishnick McGovern Milizio, LLP
RALPH ROSELLA
Office Managing Member Bond, Schoeneck & King
WENDY K. GOIDEL, ESQ. Founder & Principal Goidel Law Group, LLC
FAMILY LAW/PRINCIPAL PARTNER
JASON A. GREENBERG Founder & Managing Attorney Law Offices of Jason Greenberg, P.C.
LEONARD J. WIENER
ALEXANDER E. SKLAVOS, ESQ. Founder & Principal Attorney Sklavos Law Group, P.C.
Associate Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, P.C.
TRUST & ESTATE LITIGATION
ANDREW P. NITKEWICZ Partner Cullen and Dykman, LLP
The success of the day was a collaborative effort. Malverne school district extends its sincere gratitude to the guest presenters for their time and for their commitment to mentoring the next generation of professionals. Special recognition is also due to the Malverne school counselors for their tireless dedication to student development, and to the student ambassadors whose leadership ensured the event ran smoothly from start to finish.
DAVID F. DURSO
Partner Ruskin Moscou Faltischek, P.C.
DEBT SOLUTIONS
LESLIE H. TAYNE
Founder & Managing Director Tayne Law Group, P.C.
CORPORATE & SECURITIES ELDER LAW
BRIAN A. TULLY
Founder & Managing Partner Tully Law Group, P.C.
ROCHELLE L. VERRON, ESQ.
Founding & Managing Partner
RONALD FATOULLAH, ESQ.
Chair Elder Law Group & Partner
Trusts & Estates
Meltzer, Lippe, Goldstein & Breitstone, LLP
JOSEPH TROTTI Partner Vishnick McGovern Milizio, LLP
MICHAEL ALBER, ESQ Partner The Alber Firm, P.C.
FINANCE, INSURANCE & LEGAL AFFAIRS
ALAN B. HODISH, ESQ. Founding Principal Law Offices of Alan B. Hodish, LLC
HEALTHCARE & CANNABIS LAW
ANDREW P. COOPER, ESQ., LLM Cannabis & Psychedelics Attorney Falcon Rappaport & Berkman LLP
INJURY & CAR ACCIDENT LAW
ROSS L. SCHILLER, ESQ. Founder & Managing Attorney Ross L. Schiller & Associates, P.C.
REAL ESTATE
BRIAN S. STOLAR
Partner Harris Beach Murtha
BRYAN P. MCCROSSEN Partner Jaspan Schlesinger Narendran
ED PUERTA
Partner Nixon Peabody, LLP
GIL ADLAD Attorney at Law Law Office of Gilad Adlad
TOM MEALIFFE Partner Nixon Peabody, LLP
RISING STARS
ALEXIS EPSTEIN
Associate
CHAD J. LAVEGLIA CEO & Trial Lawyer Law Office of Chad J. LaVeglia, PLLC
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
JONATHAN R. KLEE Managing Partner Klee Woolf Coldman & Filpi, LLP
TIMOTHY E.T. FINNEGAN
Partner McIntyre, Donohue, Accardi, Salmonson, & Riordan, LLP
COMMUNITY CHAMPION
PHIL RIZZUTO Trial Attorney The Rizzuto Law Firm
LAW FIRM
Verron Law Group, P.C. VISHNICK MCGOVERN MILIZIO,
EMPLOYMENT & BUSINESS LITIGATION
DANIELÉ D. DE VOE
Partner Sahn Ward Braff Coschignano, PLLC
JEFFREY BASSO
Partner Campolo, Middleton & McCormick, LLP
MICHEAL POROPAT Partner Stockman & Poropat, PPLC
ESTATE PLANNING & ELDER LAW
RUSSEL MORGAN, ESQ
Founding Partner Morgan Legal Group, P.C.
STEPHEN J. SILVERBERG
Founding Attorney Law Office of Stephen J. Silverberg, P.C.
STEPHANIE D’ANGELO, ESQ.
Principal D’Angelo Law Associates, P.C.
CHRISSY GRIGOROPOULOSPELEYTAY, ESQ. Founding Attorney Grigor Law Injury & Car Accident Lawyers
IP & TRADEMARK
ROSS PITCOFF Founder & Managing Partner Pitcoff Law Group, P.C.
LITIGATION & DISPUTE RESOLUTION LAW
ANDREW J. TURRO Shareholder Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, P.C.
MEDICAL MALPRACTICE
JOSEPH L. CIACCIO Partner Napoli Shkolnik, PLLC
NICHOLAS PAPAIN
Member & Director Sullivan Papain Block McManus Coffinas & Cannavo, P.C.
PERSONAL INJURY
DOROTHY RENZ Partner Duffy & Duffy, P.C.
Barket Epstein Kearon Aldea and LoTurco, LLP
BROOKE MCDONALD
Associate Salenger, Sack, Kimmel & Bavaro, LLP
JACOB BLOOM, ESQ.
Attorney Miller & Caggiano, LLP
SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY
ANDREW B. WOOLF, ESQ. Founding Partner Klee Woolf Coldman & Filpi, LLP
TAX CERTIORARI LITIGATION
ANTHONY FORZAGLIA
Partner Schroder & Strom, LLP
TRIAL ATTORNEY TRIAL LAW
CAV. NICHOLAS R. CAIAZZO
Partner Wilson Elser
BOUTIQUE LAW FIRM
Davison Avenue Intermediate School assistant principal Stephen Benfante was honored with an award from SCOPE Education on
Malverne assistant principal honored by
Stephen Benfante, assistant principal of the district’s Davison Avenue Intermediate School, was honored on March 23 with an award from SCOPE Education recognizing his outstanding service as an administrator in the Malverne community.
This recognition reflects Mr. Benfante’s continued commitment to educational excellence, leadership and service to students, families and staff. His dedication has made a meaningful and lasting impact on the school community.
Malverne district thanked Mr. Benfante for his dedication and congratulates him on this welldeserved honor.
–Noah Peretz
Courtesy Malverne UFSD
At Career Day, Malverne High School students met with Registered Nurses and representatives from NYU Langone to learn about the world of healthcare.
Courtesy Malverne UFSD
–Noah Peretz
‘Bunny Hop and Shop’ Easter celebration
Malverne Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Easter event, the ‘Bunny Hop and Shop,’ the morning of April 4. The event had fun events for children and families, including face painting and balloon animals. Kids also took pictures with the Easter Bunny.
The event also had a raffle, with gift baskets donated by local businesses that sponsored the event for the winners. Baskets were donated by Tori T’s Pizzeria, Marcucc For Hair, Cornerstone Dental, Phoenix Family Chiropractic, and others.
Chamber of Commerce President Elizabeth Krull has gratitude for the community participation that the event inspires, and hopes the village feels the same. “This event is special,” she said. “We hope the community appreciates that we do this for them.”
Event participants were invited to shop at all participating businesses along Hempstead Avenue, Church Street, and Broadway, in the immediate area of Reese Memorial Park by Malverne’s LIRR station.
Krull takes pride in hosting the Bunny Hop every year. “This event is one of our most popular of the year, families from Malverne and even surrounding towns come out to celebrate,” she said. “They’re here for the holiday, but they’re also here to celebrate the community and all of our local businesses.”
–Noah Peretz
SCOPE honors 192 for district service
More than 900 guests filled Villa Lombardi’s in Holbrook for SCOPE Education Service’s 25th annual School District Awards Dinner on March 23.
This year’s program was dedicated to the memory of Jennifer Milillo, former SCOPE Awards Dinner coordinator. Her daughter, Danielle Marcello, accepted flowers from George Duffy, executive director and CEO of SCOPE. Duffy thanked the sponsors of the evening and invited representatives from each organization to receive a plaque as a token of appreciation.
Robert Vecchio, executive director of the Nassau-Suffolk School Board Association, was given the National School Development Council’s Cooperative Leadership Award. Mr. Vecchio was joined by his wife and daughter, and he subsequently offered his praises to SCOPE and to all districts in attendance for the work they do for all students after he accepted his award.
The highlight of the evening was the service awards presentation. A total of 192 individuals were recognized across five categories: School Board Service, Community Service, Teacher Service, Support Staff Service and Administrator Service.
–Noah Peretz
Noah Peretz/Herald
Malverne’s annual Easter celebration is held at Chester A. Reese Veteran’s Memorial Park.
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Legal
battle continues in
West Hempstead abuse case
By NOAH PERETZ nperetz@liherald.com
West Hempstead Union Free School District filed a motion on April 2 to dismiss multiple causes of action in the case of John O’Dwyer, a former Cornwell Elementary special education teacher.
O’Dwyer was accused of abusing students in March 2025 after a West Hempstead parent gave News 12 a letter they received from the district in February 2025, saying that the district “opened a case of alleged child abuse in an education setting … involving their child.”
Superintendent Daniel Rehman responded with a letter to the community, affirming that “the district has taken all appropriate steps as part of an investigation into a former employee of the district. We are aware of alleged incidents that have occurred and remain committed to ensuring that they are taken extremely seriously and are fully investigated.”
A lawsuit was filed in October 2025 on behalf of at least 12 children allegedly abused by O’Dwyer. West Hempstead
filed a motion to sever, meaning the case was split into multiple individual cases for each individual victim. He is also facing separate criminal charges for his alleged abuse.
The new motion filed by the district is in response to a lawsuit filed in March of this year, by the parents of the alleged victims, claiming that staff members who witnessed O’Dwyer’s abuse did not report it, despite being legally required to do so.
“The district’s latest round of legal acrobatics will not stop us from figuring out why they let Mr. O’Dwyer keep abusing special needs children,” said Nathan Werksman, the attorney representing the families of six of O’Dwyer’s victims.
“As we have alleged, they knew of his bad conduct, and we are focused on getting justice for them,” Werksman added.
The Herald contacted the Nassau County District Attorney’s office about the investigation into O’Dwyer.
“NCDA has a pending prosecution and our investigation remains ongoing,” the district attorney’s office wrote in a March 30 statement.
Herald file photo
The West Hempstead school district filed a new motion in the case involving of John O’Dwyer, a former Cornwell Elementary special Ed teacher, who is alleged to have abused several students.
Large community turnout at ‘Hoppy Hunt’
By NOAH PERETZ nperetz@liherald.com
Local nonprofit Believe at Bellaire hosted its second annual ‘Hoppy Hunt’ at Harold Walker Memorial Park on April 4. The event included an Easter Bunny photo station, arts and crafts, popcorn and cotton candy booths, a talent show, a pizza eating contest, and a spelling bee. The three contests had $25 rewards. The titular hunt took place at the end of the event.
LaTaya Carter, founder of Believe at Bellaire, was honored and awarded a proclamation plaque by New York State Senator Selia Bynoe.
“I love giving back and making sure kids have access to everything they need to have a good childhood,” Carter said. “I want them to learn new things and provide them the opportunity to do things they wouldn’t be able to afford otherwise.”
There were also sports instructional clinics for basketball, baseball, football, karate, and cheer. Members of the Malverne High School cheer team ran the cheer clinic. The event also had free haircuts and hair braiding stations.
The ‘Hoppy Hunt’ was under way at 3pm.
A financial literacy seminar was also presented by ‘Where’s the Money?’ founder Elijah Butts. Butts’ organization teaches young people and adults about investments, life insurance, 401k, and other money management strategies. Butts started the organization in 2010 and has been giving financial advice ever since.
Emblem Health sponsored the event. In collaboration with Carter’s other nonprofit, Beyond Your Scars, they had
a free health check-up station at the entrance to the park. “With Beyond Your Scars, I wanted to give healthcare to people who may not be able to afford it,” Carter said.
State Assemblyman Noah Burroughs and County Legislator Carrie Solages were at the event. Solages addressed the crowd and thanked them for their participation and enthusiasm. “We’re all here to give support the organizations that bring us together as a community,” he said. “Let’s make sure we have a third annual event.”
Dr. Henry Viscardi, Jr. and explore over 125 artifacts highlighting the fight for equal opportunity for people with disabilities. The
Christine Rivera/Herald
ELIZABETH POIROT
WEST HEMPSTEAD Senior Lacrosse
ONE OF NASSAU COUNTY’S most prolific scorers, Poirot shares the Herald’s 2026 High School Lacrosse preview cover with Seaford’s Brian Falk. Poirot earned Honorable Mention All-County honors last spring after dominating the scoresheet for a second straight season and helping the Rams to 11 wins. As a junior, she racked up 77 goals to go along with 38 assists. This after in 2024 the dynamic attack scored 74 goals and had 25 assists.
games to watch
Friday, April 10
Softball: Plainedge at Mineola 10 a.m.
Softball: Plainview at Carey
Softball: Roosevelt at Malverne
Softball: Sewanhaka at Uniondale
Softball: Hewlett at Baldwin
Softball: Kennedy at Bethpage
Softball: Floral Park at South
Softball: East Meadow at Farmingdale
Baseball: Kennedy at Calhoun
Baseball: Long Beach at South Side
Baseball: Glen Cove at Hewlett
Baseball: Garden City at MacArthur
Boys Lacrosse: Wantagh at North Shore
Girls Lacrosse: Oceanside at Wantagh
Girls Lacrosse: Plainedge at Lynbrook
Girls Lacrosse: West Hempstead at Elmont 5 p.m.
Saturday, April 11
Girls Lacrosse: East Meadow at Plainedge 9 a.m.
Softball: V.S. Central at V.S. South 10 a.m.
Softball: North Shore at Hewlett 10 a.m.
Softball: Freeport at East Rockaway 10 a.m.
Softball: Massapequa at Oceanside 10 a.m.
Softball: Elmont at West Hempstead 10 a.m.
Girls Lacrosse: Locust Valley at Seaford 2 p.m.
Nominate a “Spotlight Athlete”
High School athletes to be featured on the Herald sports page must compete in a spring sport and have earned an AllConference award or higher last year. Please send the following information: Name, School, Grade, Sport and accomplishments to Sports@liherald.com.
HERALD SPORTS
West Hempstead off 13-win season
By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com
Coming off a strong 13-3 campaign, West Hempstead softball will look to continue its momentum this spring and has the potential to do it with its largest roster since Covid canceled the 2020 season.
“One big positive are the numbers are solid,” longtime Rams coach Chris Van Kovics said. “We have a nice returning core from last year and we’ll see how we do with a more challenging schedule. We’re going to face some tough teams with good pitching.”
West Hempstead also boasts a quality arm with senior Valerie Schreck, who is also one of its top offensive players. “She has a lot of experience and if she throws strikes, we can be in every game,” Van Kovics. “She had success last year and we’ve been working on defensive fundamentals behind her. We want to take the easy outs and make the routine plays.”
Backing up Schreck when needed will be freshman Arianna Corona, a junior and the starting shortstop. “She has great speed and will steal bases and make things happen at the top of the order,” Van Kovics said. “She’s a contact hitter with a good glove and arm.”
Senior Morgan Hill, a lefty, is Schreck’s battery mate and a middle of the order bat who’ll be counted on to drive in runs. “Morgan did a nice job last year and we’re expecting more of the same,” Van Kovics said.
Senior Kayla Wallack can also catch and could give Hill a breather at times, but she’ll primarily play first base. She’s a returning starter and a tall target at first for the rest of the infielders. “Kayla and Morgan are both line-drive hitters who we’ll need to drive in runs,” Van Kovics said.
Sophomore Emma Pearlman and freshman Emma Torres round out the starting infield. Both could see time at third and second. Pearlman has experience at the hot corner and is another gap hitter. Torres is making the jump from middle school ball along with another
Sue Grieco/Herald
Senior Jasmine Johnson is a first-time softball player and making an impact as the Rams’ starting center fielder.
freshman, Jamie Rizzo. A lefty who can play first base or outfield, Rizzo looks to have secured a spot in the lineup.
The improvement of junior Alondra Discua has been noticeable every year, Van Kovics said, and her arm strength makes her a good fit for a corner outfield spot. She’ll also boost the Rams’ “small ball” offensive mentality with bunting skills.
In center field, senior newcomer Jasmine Johnson has served notice in the early going she’ll be an important piece to the puzzle. She began the spring play-
ing flag football but made the switch to softball without ever swinging a bat before.
“Jasmine’s a great story and is learning quickly on the fly,” Van Kovics said. “She’s fast and can catch the ball. She’s working on her swing every day and has good instincts.”
West Hempstead is part of Conference V and will face East Rockaway, Freeport, Valley Stream Central, Valley Stream South, Lawrence, Lynbrook, Jericho, Oyster Bay and Elmont twice apiece.
Awards celebrate leadership, service
arriving on time, being at every practice,” Tulloch said. “We’re smart, we’re dedicated, we are willing to learn new things. We can do anything we put our minds to. We can achieve anything we want.”
In January, the team made history by winning Nassau County’s first Section VIII Dual Meet Championship.
Rita Brown and Paulana Lamonier
Rita Brown, owner of For Juice Sake, in West Hempstead, and Paulana Lamonier, a multimedia journalist and founder of Black People Will Swim, a Hempstead-based organization, received the legislatures Business Award.
Brown, who founded what she described as the first Black-owned kosher cafe in West Hempstead, said she shifted from a media career to focus on promoting healthier lifestyles after her mother died of skin cancer.
Before launching the store, Brown consulted with a nutritionist from Health First to make sure everything on her menu was healthy.
“When I decided to pivot from a successful media career into doing something more purposeful, I had all the fun and the perks and the concerts and all of that,” Brown said. “But I wanted to do something more purposeful.”
Lamonier created Black People Will Swim to challenge stereotypes and pro-
mote water safety, drawing on her experience as a former collegiate swimmer. Research has long highlighted disparities in swimming ability among children. According to the USA Swimming Foundation, some 64 percent of Black children have little to no swimming ability, compared with 40 percent of white children.
LaShawn Lukes and Ebony Guerrier
LaShawn Lukes, president of the New Greater Hempstead Chamber of Commerce, and Ebony Guerrier, founder of Mrs. G’s Brown Bag Charity — the Herald’s 2025 Person of The Year — were honored with the legislatures Community Leader Award.
Guerrier founded Mrs. G’s in 2020, and hopes to become a federally recognized nonprofit this year. As things stand now, she funds events like trunk-or-treats and egg hunts on her own.
Wyounger to older, was such an empowering thing.”
Lukes, the first president of the chamber elected to a three-year term, emphasized unity in her remarks. “Today I stand here and say we are one community,” she said. “We’re greater, and that’s why I use that word, greater — we’re greater than ourselves.”
omen’s History Month is not just a date on the calendar, but it is the living, breathing proof that when women show up, things happen.
OLEna nickS Nassau County legislator
“It’s so empowering seeing women that walk different paths and the accolades that they have and things that I aspire to do,” Guerrier said. “Seeing this in real time, and from ages from
Barbara Hafner, Tina Hodge Bowles, Barbara Powell
Barbara Hafner, a retired teacher and public-education advocate; Tina HodgeBowles, executive director of the nonprofit Operation Get Ahead; and Barbara “Bobbie” Powell, president of the NAACP’s Hempstead chapter, received the legislatures Impact Award.
Before retiring from teaching in 2019, Hafner, of West Hempstead, taught fifth and sixth grade in the West Hempstead school district for 25 years. She wanted to start another chapter in her life, and ran for the Legislature in 2019, challenging the Republican incumbent, Vincent Muscarella. Although Muscarella ultimately held on to the seat, Hafter continued to
advocate for teachers.
“It takes a village, and all of you are members,” she said. “I work with parents, educators, community and union leaders to make a difference in the lives of those who will lead today and in the future.”
In 2017, Hodge-Bowles was honored by then Hempstead Mayor Don Ryan as part of a weekly recognition program in Hempstead. Her nonprofit, founded in 1970s, focuses on offering diversified programs to youth in Nassau’s minority communities.
Powell has secured $9 million in grant funding for the Uniondale school district since joining the NAACP’s Hempstead chapter. Her mother previously led the chapter for 27 years, and Powell stressed the organization’s continued importance.
“The NAACP is our heritage,” she said. “We need to fight for things that are going on that we shouldn’t have to fight for. We’re always in the struggle and always trying to make things better.”
In 2025, at The Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s 37th annual Gala Award’s and Toy Drive, Powell was named the Trailblazer of the Year. In 2025 she was honored for her lifelong advocacy.
The event highlighted the contributions of women and showcased the impact of local leaders, educators and advocates.
L.I. Association hosts state transport chief
Presentation by DOT Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez ranges from speeding to potholes
By NOAH PERETZ nperetz@liherald.com
The Long Island Association hosted state Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez as a guest speaker last week. Dominguez spoke about Gov. Kathy Hochul’s fiscal year 2027 executive budget and policy proposals for the DOT.
Appearing at LIA headquarters in Melville on March 31, Dominguez explained that Hochul’s administration matched the federal funding for New York state’s transportation needs from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in 2021 with a five-year, $35 billion plan. Hochul added $800 million to the plan last year to offset the cost of tariffs and inflation.
“Our federal dollars are expiring on Sept. 30, which presents a unique challenge,” Dominguez said. “We need to make sure that we are positioning New York for the next level of transportation funding.”
She detailed Hochul’s proposed spending plan, which totals $260 billion. Federal funding is down 11.4 percent, or $10.3 billion, and state operating funds have increased by $157 billion. The state is expecting $17 billion more in state revenue over the next two years than earlier estimates.
“The governor is committed to economic growth and making sure there is a social safety net, and funding that social safety net across the board without increasing taxes,” Dominguez said. “In sum, the 2027 Executive Budget successfully balances two simultaneous realities that we have real momentum here in New York, and addressing the volatility that we know is ahead.”
The budget plan includes automated work-zone speed enforcement with new
speed cameras. Dominguez noted that some drivers have been speeding at over 100 miles per hour through work zones, according to the cameras.
The budget proposes deployment of the cameras on non-controlled-access highways, like Sunrise Highway. It also proposes protections for highway maintenance workers against violent assault.
Dominguez also touched on Hochul’s plan to lower the cost of car insurance.
The plan proposes changes to the state’s auto insurance laws that will punish perpetrators of staged car crashes.
The spending plan also includes funding for filling potholes on main roadways. “We are on a blitz statewide addressing potholes,” Dominguez said. It proposes investments of $107 million for paving on Long Island, including 50 miles of the Northern State Parkway and 35 miles of Sunrise Highway.
Action Long Island representative Michael Rodin suggested more improvements he wanted to see. “We want to make sure public transit is a part of the DOT’s agenda in the future,” he said. “We want roads to be able to accommodate buses as well as more cars — a lot of people take public transit to work.”
When the presentation was open for questions, Dominguez addressed a concern about independent contractors’ coverage under the anti-assault provisions in the budget. “The worker assault provision covers state employees as well as independent contractors,” she said.
“We need to make sure elected officials understand that transit and the lives of transit workers are important, so they fund initiatives to help these efforts and these people,” Marc Herbst, executive director of the Long Island Contractors Association, said. “If we don’t ask, they don’t respond.”
Noah Peretz/Herald
DOT representatives, including Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez, center right, made a presentation to the Long Island Association.
Bessent, Blakeman tout Trump’s tax cuts
By JULIA CAPITELLI jcapitelli@liherald.com
To promote President Trump’s economic agenda, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent visited Long Island and took part in a panel discussion with Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and business executives from across the county.
The March 30 discussion, at the county legislative building, focused on three aspects of the Working Families Tax Cut Act: the elimination of taxes on tips and overtime pay, the creation of so-called Trump Accounts and the higher cap on the income tax deduction for state and local taxes. Under the law, parents can open and contribute funds to accounts for their children under age 18. As part of the pilot program for the accounts, children born during Trump’s term will receive $1,000 from the Treasury Department.
“It’s something that’s going to help every family in America,” Blakeman, the Republican candidate for governor, said of the program.
The law includes an increase in the state and local tax deduction cap from $10,000 to $40,000. It also allocates roughly $170 billion to carry out the administration’s immigration and border objectives, and raises the federal debt ceiling to $5 trillion.
“That’s the American way,” Bessent said of the tax cuts. “Work harder, keep more of your money.”
The SALT deduction avoids double taxation and allows certain taxpayers to reduce their federally taxable income. To offset the cost created by this and the elimination of taxes on tips and overtime, the law cuts nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid and reduces food assistance and clean-energy incentives.
Panelists shared their perspectives on the law, mostly as it relates to their businesses. Michael Serao, exec-
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and several business
discussed President Trump’s economic agenda on March 30.
utive vice president and chief administrative officer of First Central Savings Bank, claimed that Trump Accounts could help students build financial literacy.
But much of the discussion focused on the elimination of taxes on tips and overtime, and the SALT deduction. “I am surrounded by hardworking people, who come into the diner and tell me how happy they are about their tax returns and about how much more money they are getting back,” Gus Tsiorvas, owner of the Embassy Diner, in Bethpage, said.
According to the Internal Revenue Service, the average tax refund this year is roughly 10 percent higher than it was in March 2025. “This means more discretionary spending here in Nassau County,” County Comptroller Elaine Phillips said, “which allows
Bruce not to raise taxes.”
Blakeman reiterated his assertion that Nassau is “the safest county in America where we haven’t raised taxes one penny in four years.”
In a statement about Blakeman’s use of taxpayer resources to campaign as everyday costs escalate, Democratic County Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton said the Bessent visit was “as shameless as it gets.”
“Nassau residents aren’t stupid — they feel the squeeze every time they fill up, check out at the grocery store, or pay a bill,” DeRiggi-Whitton said. “The cost-of-living crisis is real, and it’s being driven directly by the disastrous tariffs and global instability coming from the same out-of-touch allies in Washington [Blakeman] continues to stand with.”
Courtesy Nassau County
executives
Goal opening date for theater: June 2026
movie re-showings, one will be reserved for afternoon matinees, and one will be dedicated to independent and documentary film screenings.
They intend to make the theater into a more interactive experience. “We notice now that movie theaters are more like factories nowadays — they’re very get-in-get-out,” Hudson said. “We want to make the experience of seeing a movie more immersive and welcoming.”
Dente, a former special-education teacher, is the founder and president of Dente’s Dreamers, a nonprofit based in Lynbrook that helps people with disabilities find jobs in the entertainment industry. The organization stages theater productions and employs those with disabilities in both cast and crew positions.
“My background in education and theater was one of my inspirations to take up this project,” she said. “I used to direct plays with my students.”
Dente said she believes that teaching vital skills can help people break into the industry of their choosing, regardless of their disability.
Hudson is also in the nonprofit world, an executive director at Entertainment 2 Affect Change. E2AC, a national nonprofit, produces independent films, documentaries and live entertainment with the purpose of bringing change to underserved communities.
Hudson said he wants to screen E2AC productions at the theater and believes it can be a springboard to for artists’ visions and messages.
One local business that was eager to help the pair is Elite Painting Services Plus. Its founder, Benny Montalbano, Elite volunteered to repaint the theater
with his staff. “I love doing things like this, just giving back to my community,” Montalbano said.
Hudson and Dente have talked with the Malverne Chamber of Commerce over the course of their renovations and say that the chamber is excited about their plans to re-open the theater.
“They told us it used to be a hub around the theater — a lot of businesses were helped by the theater runoff [and] when it closed you no longer had that hub,” Hudson said. “Now we can keep people around the area by keeping them in the theater. They can go see a movie and hang out in town after.”
Cornwell Ave students’ empathy lesson
Students at Cornwell Avenue School in West Hempstead recently participated in a classroom lesson based on the book “It’s Okay to Be Different” by Todd Parr, focused on understanding and celebrating each person’s unique qualities and differences.
Teachers guided students through conversations about individuality, kindness and acceptance. The story served as a powerful entry point for students to reflect on how communities are strengthened by inclusion.
The lesson also encouraged critical thinking and empathy using the Habit of Mind: Questioning and Problem Posing. Using this framework, teachers presented scenarios designed to bolster problem solving skills. They posed scenarios such as asking students what they would do if they noticed a new student sitting alone at lunch. These discussions helped Cornwell students practice identifying challenges, considering others’ feelings, and collaborating to resolve thoughtful and compassionate solutions. Throughout the activity, students were eager to share their perspectives, demonstrating their empathy, curiosity, and willingness to support their classmates.
Cornwell Avenue School demonstrated its commitment to fostering a supportive learning environment through the implementation of this lesson. Students built their academic skills, developed social and emotional awareness, and improved their empathy needed to become caring community members.
–Noah Peretz
Theater chairs are covered as the heating and ventilation system is overhauled.
Courtesy West Hempstead school district
Students at Cornwell Avenue School in West Hempstead holding conversations about individuality, kindness, and acceptance inspired by the children’s book, “It’s Okay to Be Different” by Todd Parr.
Noah Peretz/Herald photos
The malverne Cinema and Art Center closed in 2024.
STEPPING OUT
‘Rent’ star Adam Pascal returns to reimagine the jukebox musical
By Iris Wiener
When Adam Pascal pulls into Long Island these days, it’s not just a commute; it’s a homecoming layered with memory, coincidence, and creative possibility. This spring, the Tony-nominated performer-turned-director from Syosset is channeling all of that into “Feels Like the First Time: The Foreigner Musical.”
The new production premieres April 17 at the Little Theatre on Long Island University’s Brookville campus.
The project, created in collaboration with the legendary rock band Foreigner, marks the launch of LIU’s New Works Initiative and Pascal’s tenure as the university’s inaugural Artist-in-Residence. But for Pascal, the journey to this moment is anything but typical.
The path to directing the show began not in a rehearsal room, but at a backyard barbecue.
“Tom Dunn [Tilles Center’s creative producer, executive/artistic Director and Dean of LIU’s College of Arts and Design] lives across the street from my sister. I first met Tom and his wife at a barbecue,” Pascal relates. “Tom said, ‘We’re doing this thing. Do you want to direct it?’”
From there, the pieces quickly began to align. A previous version of the musical had been developed, but Pascal and the team — including book writer Stephen Garvey and arranger David Abbinanti — set out to reshape it into something fresh: a high-energy, heart-driven story set in the 1980s, centered on three families whose lives collide when a rock star arrives for a backyard concert after an MTV contest win.
“We wanted to create something that was fun and that had heart, that understood its purpose using Foreigner’s music,” Pascal says.
That purpose, however, comes with a unique creative challenge. The musical weaves iconic songs into an original narrative — a process Pascal describes as both complex and deeply collaborative.
“You’re creating a story, and in many ways building a scene backwards,” he explains. “You have these lyrics that were never written to be narrative in that way, so you have to do a lot of reverse engineering.”
Still, that creative freedom is part of the appeal.
“We get to reimagine these songs,” he adds. “They’ve now become narrative storytelling songs.”
The new musical features a company of 26 performers, primarily LIU students — a fact Pascal calls fortuitous.
“The combination of this process, this particular show, and this university … it couldn’t have been a better melding of all things.”
For Pascal, working with students isn’t just about mentorship — it’s personal, as he has two sons the same age as the young cast. His directing style reflects that perspective, blending instinct, experience and a focus on emotional authenticity.
“I approach it from a much more naturalistic and real place. I’m trying to orchestrate a picture and to get them to use their emotions in a physical way.”
That lived-in approach comes from decades in the industry, which includes roles in Broadway’s “Aida,” “Memphis” and “Something Rotten,” besides the iconic“Rent.” However, Pascal quickly points out that he was never formally trained.
launching LIU Post’s New Works Initiative, an incubator for developing and refining new theatrical works by both emerging and established writers.
• Friday through Sunday, April 17-19 and Thursday through Sunday, April 23-26, varied times
• Tickets are $43.82, $17.82 students; available at tillescenter.org/events
• Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville
“My approach can only be [described as] a layman approach. I’m fortunate enough to now have 30 years of experience making musicals.”
And yet, for all his Broadway credentials, Pascal is candid about the challenges facing the industry today — particularly the financial barriers that make developing new work increasingly difficult in New York City.
“We all have to change the mindset about working in New York,” he says bluntly, pointing to rising production costs and systemic issues. Instead, he sees projects like “Feels Like the First Time” as part of a larger shift — one that prioritizes creativity, collaboration and accessibility over tradition and expense.
“I want to take the power out of Broadway’s hands and put it back into the hands of people who make theater,” he states.
That philosophy is evident in the show’s development process, which Pascal praises for its efficiency and clarity of vision.
For LIU students like Anna Frost, being part of that process is nothing short of transformative. A senior serving as dramaturg for the show, Frost is deeply embedded in the rehearsal rooms, helping to shape the evolving script.
“It is so exciting for me to work on a show which is in development,” she says. “I get to work with a living, breathing text.”
For her, the experience underscores the importance of new work in today’s theatrical landscape.
“There has to be new art that is relevant to what is happening now,” she adds. “Getting to be a part of something that will be history is really cool.”
Pascal agrees and hopes the students recognize the significance of their involvement.
“They’ll forever be connected to this show as the first people that played these characters,” he says. “If the show becomes a hit, they’ll always have that on their resume.”
That sense of legacy resonates deeply with Pascal himself, particularly given his return to Long Island. He remains deeply connected to his roots, and optimistic about its potential as a hub for theatrical innovation.
“There’s no better place for it,” he says of LIU. “They have the facilities, the desire and the proximity to the city.”
As for what’s next, Pascal continues to develop new musicals through his production company, including an adaptation of “Ruthless People.” He’s also set to direct “Our Little Secret: A True New Musical” in Toronto. For now, “Feels Like the First Time” offers something that feels incredibly meaningful — -a chance to build, collaborate, and rediscover the spark that started it all.
Or, as Pascal might put it, to make it feel like the first time all over again.
Mike DelGuidice
Local favorite Mike DelGuidice returns to the Paramount stage with his popular residency, delivering the high-energy, feel-good performances that have made him a hometown standout. Backed by his powerhouse band, DelGuidice brings the music of his idol, Billy Joel, to life with passion and precision, celebrating decades of iconic hits in a rousing, crowd-pleasing show. A multi-instrumentalist who grew up immersed in music, DelGuidice’s deep knowledge of Joel’s catalog ultimately led to sharing the stage with the Piano Man himself, touring around the world. Alongside Joel’s beloved classics, he weaves in his own original songs, showcasing the songwriting that has earned him a devoted following. Whether performing on stage or connecting with fans through his “Live on the Porch” series, which brought audiences together during the pandemic, DelGuidice continues to share his love of music in ways that resonate far and wide.
Friday and Saturday, April 10-11, 8 p.m. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.
Fleetwood Macked
Eighteen years ago Fleetwood Macked set out to provide audiences with the truest live Fleetwood Mac experience as possible and haven’t stopped since. Much of the realism comes from the New York-based band’s history. Husband and wife musical team Hillary and Michael Epstein (Stevie and Lindsey) and friends Tracy Wells, Jay Novas, Phil Weiss and Andrew Nadien (Christine, John and Mick) have made great music together in various incarnations that finally all came together with their mutual love of Fleetwood Mac. They are and have always been professional touring rock musicians, which also adds to the authenticity of the sound of the band. Fleetwood Macked live brings audiences the passion, depth, heart, and the musicianship Fleetwood Mac’s music requires. Out of love and respect musical liberties are not taken, songs are recreated just as Fleetwood Mac intended them.
Friday, April 10, 8 p.m. $48. My Father’s Place 1221 Old Northern Blvd., Roslyn. Tickets available at mfpproductions.com.
Photo courtesy Jack Roman
Adam Pascal, left, with Tilles Center’s Executive and Artistic Director Tom Dunn, is
the Porch” series, which brought
“Feels is
Your Neighborhood CALENDAR
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‘Dog Sees God’
Hofstra University’s Department of Drama and Dance presents Bert V. Royal’s edgy comedy. The unauthorized continuation of the Peanuts comic strip, reimagines its characters as teenagers dealing with various contemporary issues including, identity, substance abuse, and relationships. When CB’s dog dies from rabies, CB begins to question the existence of an afterlife. His best friend is too burnt out to provide any coherent speculation; his sister has gone goth; his ex-girlfriend has recently been institutionalized; and his other friends are too inebriated to give him any sort of solace. Drug use, suicide, eating disorders, teen violence, rebellion and sexual identity collide and careen toward an ending that’s both haunting and hopeful. $15 general admission, $10 for seniors and Hofstra alumni.
• Where: Hofstra’s Joan and Donald Schaeffer Black Box Theater, Joseph G. Shapiro Family Hall, Hempstead
• Time: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; also April 12, 2 p.m.; April 16-April 19
• Contact: hofstra.universitytickets.com
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: 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; also April 14-15
• Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800
Seasonal Sprouts: Flowers and Trees
Bring the kids to Old Westbury Gardens to discover the wonders of nature with a one-hour guided tour through the gardens and woodlands, featuring naturethemed games and hands-on activities. This week, children explore plants big and small, learning how they grow and change with the seasons. Each
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Micky Dolenz
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Traffic Commission meeting
The Malverne Traffic Commission meets to discuss village traffic issues.
• Where: Malverne Village Hall, 99 Church St., Malverne
• Time: 7:30 p.m..
• Contact: malvernevillage.org
Scholarship Fund meets
The West Hempstead Community Scholarship Fund will be meeting. Email any questions to whcommunityscholarshipfund@ gmail.com.
• Where: American Legion Hall, 233 Woodlawn Rd., West Hempstead
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Contact: whcommunityscholarshipfund@ gmail.com
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Asbury Short Film Concert
• Time: 8 p.m.
Micky Dolenz celebrates the 60th anniversary of The Monkees with a special tour honoring the band’s enduring legacy and timeless sound. In this nostalgic and high-spirited performance, Dolenz takes audiences on a musical journey through The Monkees’ rise to fame, performing their biggest hits in chronological order while sharing personal stories from his decades in entertainment. As the last surviving member of the beloved group, Dolenz brings both heart and history to the stage, paying tribute to bandmates Davy Jones, Peter Tork and Michael Nesmith, while celebrating the fans who helped transform a fictional TV band into a global sensation. A true entertainment veteran, Dolenz’s career spans decades and disciplines — from his early days as a child star on “Circus Boy” to his work as a singer, actor, director and radio host. In recent years, he has continued to keep The Monkees’ music alive for new generations, including a solo tour performing the group’s 1967 album “Headquarters” in its entirety. This is sure to be a heartfelt, hit-filled evening that blends music, memories and a lasting connection to one of pop culture’s most iconic acts.
session includes a simple planting or craft project for children to take home and continue their learning. Registration required. $22 adult, $20 seniors 62+ (member discounts available).
• Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury
• Time: 11 a.m.-noon
• Contact: oldwestburygardens. org or call (516) 333-0048
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‘A Dream Is A Wish’
The enchanting “A Dream Is A Wish” princess concert returns to the Madison Theatre with new adventures and Disney Classics. Families are invited to sing along to all their favorite Disney songs including “Let It Go,” “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes,” “Part of That World,” “ A Whole New World,” and many more. Enjoy a magical journey and maybe even meet your favorite princess! Breakfast and tea ticket options also available.
• Where: Madison Theatre, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre
• Time: Varied times, also April 12
• Contact: madisontheatreny.org or (516) 323-4444
Carnival
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
Knit-A-Thon
The Knittin Gang participates in the 6th annual Knit for Food Knita-thon at Lakeview Library. It is a 12-hour knit-a-thon to raise funds and awareness for food insecurity.
• Where: 1120 Woodfield Road, Rockville Centre
• Time: 10 a.m.-4:45 p.m.
• Contact: lakeviewlibrary.org
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Legislator Nicks mobile office hours
Nassau County Legislator Olena Nicks brings her district office’s resources directly to residents by hosting a series of mobile office hour events across District 5. Mobile office hours are an opportunity residents to meet with Nicks and her staff to express their concerns, get answers to questions, and share
• Where: The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington.
• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com
suggestions. No reservations are required.
• Where: West Hempstead Public Library 500 Hempstead Ave. West Hempstead
• Time: 7-8:30 p.m.
• Contact: (516) 571-6205 onicks@nassaucountyny.gov
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West Hempstead BOE meeting
The West Hempstead Public Library Board of Trustees holds its monthly meeting, budget adoption, and candidate vote.
• Where: West Hempstead Secondary School, 400 Nassau Blvd., West Hempstead
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
Malverne BOE budget adoption
The Malverne Board of Education holds its budget adoption meeting with an opportunity for public discussion.
• Where: Malverne Performing Arts Center, 80 Ocean Ave., Malverne
• Time: 8 p.m.
• Contact: malverneschools.org
17
This national touring showcase returns to the Madison Theatre. See a diverse, focused lineup — in many cases featuring up-and-coming filmmakers — of short films you generally won’t find on the big screen. These films, including Oscar and film festival winners, cover all genres.
• Where: Madison Theatre, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Contact: madisontheatreny.org or (516) 323-4444
Public Notices
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING, BUDGET
VOTE AND ELECTION OF THE WEST HEMPSTEAD UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT WEST HEMPSTEAD, NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing of the qualified voters of the West Hempstead Union Free School District, Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York, will be held at the West Hempstead Secondary School Video Conference Room, 400 Nassau Boulevard, West Hempstead New York, in said District on May 5, 2026 at 7:30pm, prevailing time, for the transaction of such business as is authorized by the New York State Education Law, including the following items.
1. Presentation of the budget document.
2. To discuss all of the items herein set forth, to be voted upon by voting machine, at the election to be held on May 19, 2026 as hereinafter set forth.
3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting AND FURTHER NOTICE
IS HEREBY GIVEN that said vote and election will be held on May 19, 2026, at 7:00 a.m. prevailing time, in the North Gymnasium of the West Hempstead Secondary School, 450 Nassau Boulevard, West Hempstead, New York at which time the polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., prevailing time, to vote by voting machines upon the following items:
1. To adopt the annual budget of the School District for the fiscal year 2026 - 2027 and to authorize the requisite portion thereof to be raised by taxation on the taxable property of the District.
2. To elect one (1) member of the Board of Education for a threeyear term commencing July 1, 2026, and expiring on June 30, 2029, to succeed David Lazar, whose term expires on June 30, 2026.
3. To elect one (1) member of the Board of Education for a threeyear term commencing July 1, 2026, and expiring on June 30, 2029, to succeed Joseph Magaraci, whose term expires on June 30, 2026.
4. To adopt the annual budget of the West
Hempstead Public Library for the fiscal year 2026 – 2027 and to authorize the requisite portion thereof to be raised by taxation on the taxable property of the School District.
5. To elect one (1) member of the Library Board of Trustees for a five-year term commencing July 1, 2026, and expiring on June 30, 2031, to succeed Owen M. Rumelt, whose term expires on June 30, 2026.
AND FURTHER NOTICE
IS HEREBY GIVEN that petitions nominating candidates for the office of Member of the Board of Education of the West Hempstead Union Free School District shall be filed with the District Clerk of said School District at the District Clerk’s office, Chestnut Street Administrative Offices, 252 Chestnut Street, West Hempstead, New York not later than April 20, 2026, between 8:00am and 4:00pm, prevailing time. All nominating petitions must be signed by at least 53 qualified voters of the District (representing the greater of 25 or 2% of the number of voters who voted in the previous annual election); must state the name and residence of each signer, and must state the name and residence of the candidate. Each petition shall be directed to the District Clerk and shall describe the specific vacancy for which the candidate is nominated. Each vacancy upon the Board of Education to be filled shall be considered a separate specific vacancy.
AND FURTHER NOTICE
IS HEREBY GIVEN that personal registration of voters is required either pursuant to New York Education Law §2014 or pursuant to Article 5 of the New York State Election Law. If a voter has heretofore registered pursuant to New York Education Law §2014 and has voted at any annual or special district meeting within the past four (4) calendar years, such voter is eligible to vote at this election; if a voter is registered and eligible to vote pursuant to Article 5 of the New York State Election Law, such voter is also eligible to vote at this election.
All other persons who wish to vote must register. The Board of Registration will meet for the purposes of
registering all qualified voters of the District pursuant to Education Law §2014 at the Office of the District Clerk, Chestnut Street Administrative Offices, 252 Chestnut Street, West Hempstead, New York on May 14, 2026 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., prevailing time, to add any additional names to the Register to be used at the aforesaid Budget Vote and Election, at which time any person will be entitled to have his or her name placed on such Register, provided that at such meeting of the Board of Registration he or she is known or proven to the satisfaction of said Board of Registration to be then or thereafter entitled to vote at such Budget Vote and Election for which the Register is prepared. The Register so prepared pursuant to Education Law §2014 will be filed in the Office of the Clerk of the School District in the Administration Building, located at 252 Chestnut Street, West Hempstead, New York, and will be open for inspection by any qualified voter of the District beginning on May 14, 2026, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. prevailing time, on weekdays, and each day prior to the day set for the Budget Vote and Election, except Sunday or holidays, and on Saturday by prearranged appointment, and at the polling places on the day of the Budget Vote and Election.
AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to Education Law §2014, the Board of Registration shall meet on May 19, 2026, at 450 Nassau Boulevard, West Hempstead, New York between the hours of 7:00am and 9:00pm, prevailing time, to prepare the Register of the School District to be used at the annual meeting and election that is to be held in 2027, and any special meeting that may be held after the preparation of said Register, at which time any person will be entitled to have her or his name placed on such Register, provided that at such meeting of the Board of Registration he or she is known or proven to the satisfaction of such Board of Registration to be then or thereafter entitled to vote at the school meeting or election for which such Register is
prepared.
AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that qualified voters with disabilities who seek information about access to polling places may, in advance of the day of the vote, contact the District Clerk at 516-390-3118 for information about accessibility.
AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that beginning seven (7) days immediately preceding the May 5, 2026 public budget hearing, any resident in the District may request to review a copy of the proposed budget by appearing at the Office of the District Clerk, 252 Chestnut Street, West Hempstead, New York. Additionally, a statement of the estimated expenses for the ensuing year may be obtained by any resident in the District during the fourteen (14) days immediately preceding said election on the school district website www.whufsd.com, at the West Hempstead Public Library during its normal hours of operation, located at 500 Hempstead Avenue, West Hempstead, New York, at the School District Administrative Center, located at 252 Chestnut Street, West Hempstead, New York, and at each of the following school buildings in which school is maintained between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., prevailing time, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays:
CHESTNUT STREET
SCHOOL
252 Chestnut Street West Hempstead, NY 11552
CORNWELL AVENUE
SCHOOL
250 Cornwell Avenue West Hempstead, NY 11552
GEORGE WASHINGTON SCHOOL
347 William Street West Hempstead, NY 11552
WEST HEMPSTEAD
SECONDARY SCHOOL
400 Nassau Boulevard West Hempstead, NY 11552
AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that pursuant to Real Property Tax Law Section 495, the School District is required to attach to its proposed budget an exemption report. Said exemption report, which will also become part of the final budget, will show how much of the total assessed value on the final assessment roll used in the budgetary process is exempt from taxation, list every type
of exemption granted, identified by statutory authority, and show: (a) the cumulative impact of each type of exemption expressed either as a dollar amount of assessed value or as a percentage of the total assessed value on the roll; (b) the cumulative amount expected to be received from recipients of each type of exemption as payments in lieu of taxes or other payments for municipal services; and (c) the cumulative impact of all exemptions granted. The exemption report shall be posted on any bulletin board maintained by the District for public notices and on any website maintained by the District.
AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that applications for absentee and early mail ballots will be obtainable during school business hours at the office of the District Clerk beginning April 20, 2026. In accordance with Education Law §§ 2018a and 2018-e, completed absentee and early mail ballot applications may not be received by the District Clerk earlier than thirty (30) days prior to the election, and must be received by the District Clerk at least seven (7) days before the election if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the election, if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter or to the agent named in the absentee or early mail ballot application. Absentee and early mail ballots must be received by the District Clerk not later than 5:00 p.m., prevailing time, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. A list of persons to whom absentee ballots shall have been issued, and a list of all persons to whom early mail voter’s ballots shall have been issued, will be available for inspection to qualified voters of the District in the office of the District Clerk on and after May 14, 2026, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on weekdays prior to the day set for the annual election and on May 16, 2026, by advanced appointment by contacting the District Clerk at 516390-3118 and on May 19, 2026, the day set for the election. Any qualified voter may, upon examination of such lists, file a written challenge of the qualifications as a voter
of any person whose name appears on such lists, stating the reasons for such challenge. Any such written challenge shall be transmitted by the District Clerk or a designee of the Board of Education to the inspectors of election on election day.
AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that military voters who are not currently registered may apply to register as a qualified voter of the West Hempstead Union Free School District by requesting and returning a registration application to the District Clerk in person, or by email to acruz@ whufsd.com or fax sent to 516-489-1776. The request for the registration application may include the military voter’s preference for receipt of the registration application by either mail, fax or email. Military voter registration application forms must be received in the office of the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 23, 2026.
AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that military voters who are qualified voters of the West Hempstead Union Free School District may request an application for a military ballot from the District Clerk and return such military ballot application to the District Clerk in person, or by email to acruz@ whufsd.com or fax sent to 516-489-1776. In order for a military voter to be issued a military ballot, a valid military ballot application must be received in the office of the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m., on April 23, 2026. Military ballot applications received in accordance with the foregoing will be processed in the same manner as a non-military ballot application under Section 2018-a of the Education Law. The application for military ballot may include the military voter’s preference for receipt of the military ballot by mail, fax, or email. A military voter’s original military ballot application and military ballot must be returned by mail or in person to the office of the District Clerk at 252 Chestnut Street, West Hempstead, New York along with the required signed affidavit by the voter.
AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that military ballots shall be canvassed if they are
received by the District Clerk before the close of polls on May 19, 2026 showing a cancellation mark of the United States Postal Service or a foreign country’s postal service, or showing a dated endorsement of receipt by another agency of the United States Government; or received not later than 5:00 p.m. on May 19, 2026 and signed and dated by the military voter and one witness thereto, with a date which is ascertained to be not later than the day before the election.
AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that pursuant to a rule adopted by the Board of Education in accordance with New York Education Law §2035, any referenda or propositions to amend the budget, or otherwise to be submitted for voting at said election, must be filed with the District Clerk at Chestnut Street Administrative Offices, 252 Chestnut Street, West Hempstead, New York, not later than 4:00 p.m., prevailing time, on March 20, 2026. All such petitions must be typed or printed in the English language; must be directed to the Clerk of the School District; must be signed by at least 133 qualified voters of the District (representing the greater of 25 or 5% of the number of voters who voted in the previous annual election); and must legibly state the name of each signer. However, the Board of Education will not entertain any petition to place before the voters any proposition the purpose of which is not within the powers of the voters to determine, nor any proposition or amendment which is contrary to law.
AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that those voters seeking information regarding this Budget Vote and Election in Spanish should contact the Office of the District Clerk at 516-390-3118. Awilda Cruz District Clerk of the Board of Education West Hempstead Union Free School District 252 Chestnut Street West Hempstead, New York 158915
PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES… To place a notice here call us us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com
LEGAL NOTICE AVISO DE AUDIENCIA PÚBLICA, VOTACIÓN DEL PRESUPUESTO ANUAL Y ELECCIÓN DE LA JUNTA ESCOLAR DEL DISTRITO ESCOLAR LIBRE UNIÓN DE WEST HEMPSTEAD WEST HEMPSTEAD, CONDADO DE NASSAU, NUEVA YORK POR LA PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA que se celebrará una audiencia pública de los votantes cualificados del Distrito Escolar Libre Unión de West Hempstead, Municipio de Hempstead, Condado de Nassau, Nueva York, en la Sala de Videoconferencias de la Escuela Secundaria West Hempstead, ubicada en 400 Nassau Boulevard, West Hempstead, Nueva York, en dicho Distrito, el 5 de Mayo de 2026 a las 7:30pm, hora vigente, para tratar los asuntos autorizados por la Ley de Educación del Estado de Nueva York, incluyendo los siguientes puntos: 1. Presentación del documento presupuestario.
2. Debatir todos los puntos aquí establecidos, que se someterán a votación mediante máquina de votación, en la elección que se celebrará el 19 de Mayo de 2026, como se estipula más adelante.
3. Tratar cualquier otro asunto que se presente debidamente ante la asamblea.
Y ADEMÁS, SE NOTIFICA que dicha votación y elección se llevará a cabo el 19 de Mayo de 2026, a las 7:00 a. m., hora vigente, en el Gimnasio Norte de la Escuela Secundaria West Hempstead, 450 Nassau Boulevard, West Hempstead, Nueva York. Las urnas estarán abiertas de 7:00am, a 9:00pm, hora vigente, para votar mediante máquina de votación sobre los siguientes puntos:
1. Aprobar el presupuesto anual del Distrito Escolar para el año fiscal 20262027 y autorizar que la parte correspondiente del mismo se recaude mediante impuestos sobre los bienes gravables del Distrito.
2. Elegir a un (1) miembro de la Junta de Educación por un período de tres años, que comenzará el 1 de julio de 2026 y finalizará el 30 de junio de 2029, para suceder a David Lazar, cuyo mandato vence el 30 de junio de 2026.
3. Elegir a un (1) miembro de la Junta
Public Notices
de Educación por un período de tres años, que comenzará el 1 de Julio de 2026 y finalizará el 30 de Junio de 2029, para suceder a Joseph Magaraci, cuyo mandato vence el 30 de Junio de 2026.
4. Aprobar el presupuesto anual del Consejo Público de West Hempstead y Biblioteca para el año fiscal 20262027 y autorizar que la parte correspondiente se recaude mediante impuestos sobre los bienes gravables del Distrito Escolar.
5. Elegir a un (1) miembro de la Junta Directiva de la Biblioteca por un período de cinco años, que comenzará el 1 de Julio de 2026 y finalizará el 30 de Junio de 2031, para suceder a Owen M. Rumelt, cuyo mandato finaliza el 30 de Junio de 2026.
Y ADEMÁS, SE NOTIFICA que las peticiones de nominación de candidatos para el cargo de Miembro de la Junta de Educación del Distrito Escolar Libre de West Hempstead deberán presentarse ante el Secretario de Distrito de dicho Distrito Escolar en la oficina del Secretario de Distrito, Oficinas Administrativas de Chestnut Street, 252 Chestnut Street, West Hempstead, Nueva York, a más tardar el 20 de Abril de 2026, entre las 8:00am y las 4:00pm, hora vigente. Todas las peticiones de nominación deben estar firmadas por al menos 53 votantes calificados del Distrito (que representen el mayor de los dos porcentajes: 25 o el 2% del número de votantes que votaron en las elecciones anuales anteriores); deben indicar el nombre y la residencia de cada firmante, así como el nombre y la residencia del candidato. Cada petición deberá dirigirse al Secretario del Distrito y describir la vacante específica para la cual se nomina al candidato. Cada vacante en la Junta de Educación que se cubra se considerará una vacante específica independiente. Y, ADEMÁS, SE NOTIFICA que el registro personal de votantes es obligatorio, ya sea de conformidad con la Ley de Educación de Nueva York, artículo 2014, o de conformidad con el Artículo 5 de la Ley Electoral del Estado de Nueva York. Si un votante se ha registrado previamente
de conformidad con la Ley de Educación de Nueva York, artículo 2014, y ha votado en cualquier reunión anual o extraordinaria de distrito en los últimos cuatro (4) años calendario, podrá votar en estas elecciones; si está registrado y es elegible para votar de conformidad con el Artículo 5 de la Ley Electoral del Estado de Nueva York, también podrá votar en estas elecciones.
Todas las demás personas que deseen votar deben registrarse. La Junta de Registro se reunirá con el propósito de registrar a todos los votantes calificados del Distrito de conformidad con la Ley de Educación §2014 en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito, Oficinas Administrativas de Chestnut Street, 252 Chestnut Street, West Hempstead, Nueva York, el 14 de Mayo de 2026 entre las 9:00 a. m. y las 4:00 p. m., hora vigente, para agregar cualquier nombre adicional al Registro que se utilizará en la Votación y Elección de Presupuesto antes mencionada, momento en el cual cualquier persona tendrá derecho a que su nombre se coloque en dicho Registro, siempre que en dicha reunión de la Junta de Registro se sepa o se pruebe a satisfacción de dicha Junta de Registro que él o ella está entonces o posteriormente autorizado a votar en dicha Votación y Elección de Presupuesto para la cual se prepara el Registro. El Registro preparado de esta manera de conformidad con la Ley de Educación §2014 se archivará en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito Escolar en el Edificio de Administración, ubicado en 252 Chestnut Street, West Hempstead, Nueva York, y estará abierto para inspección por cualquier votante calificado del Distrito a partir del 14 de Mayo de 2026, entre las 9:00 a.m. y las 4:00 p.m., hora vigente, de lunes a viernes y cada día anterior al día establecido para la votación y elección del presupuesto, excepto los domingos o feriados, y los sábados mediante cita previa, y en los lugares de votación el día de la votación y elección del presupuesto. Y, ADEMÁS, SE NOTIFICA que, de conformidad con la Ley de Educación §2014, la Junta de Registro se reunirá el
19 de Mayo de 2026, en 450 Nassau Boulevard, West Hempstead, Nueva York, entre las 7:00am y las 9:00pm, hora vigente, para preparar el Registro del Distrito Escolar que se utilizará en la reunión anual y las elecciones que se celebrarán en 2027, así como en cualquier reunión especial que se celebre después de la preparación de dicho Registro. En ese momento, cualquier persona tendrá derecho a que su nombre se incluya en dicho Registro, siempre que en dicha reunión de la Junta de Registro se sepa o se demuestre, a satisfacción de dicha Junta, que tiene derecho a votar en ese momento o en el futuro en la reunión o elección escolar para la que se prepare dicho Registro. Y ADEMÁS, POR EL PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA que los votantes calificados con discapacidades que busquen información sobre el acceso a los lugares de votación pueden, antes del día de la votación, comunicarse con el Secretario de Distrito al 516-390-3118 para obtener información sobre accesibilidad. Y, ADEMÁS, SE NOTIFICA que, a partir de los siete (7) días previos a la audiencia pública sobre el presupuesto del 5 de Mayo de 2026, cualquier residente del Distrito podrá solicitar la revisión de una copia del presupuesto propuesto presentándose en la Oficina de la Secretaria del Distrito, ubicada en 252 Chestnut Street, West Hempstead, Nueva York. Además, cualquier residente del Distrito podrá obtener un estado de cuenta de los gastos estimados para el año siguiente durante los catorce (14) días inmediatamente anteriores a dicha elección en el sitio web del distrito escolar www.whufsd.com, en la Biblioteca Pública de West Hempstead durante su horario habitual, ubicada en 500 Hempstead Avenue, West Hempstead, Nueva York; en el Centro Administrativo del Distrito Escolar, ubicado en 252 Chestnut Street, West Hempstead, Nueva York; y en cada uno de los siguientes edificios escolares con horario de clases de 9:00am a 4:00pm, horario vigente, excepto sábados, domingos y festivos: ESCUELA CHESTNUT STREET
252 Chestnut Street West Hempstead, NY
11552
ESCUELA CORNWELL
AVENUE
250 Cornwell Avenue West Hempstead, NY 11552
ESCUELA GEORGE
WASHINGTON
347 William Street West Hempstead, NY 11552
WEST HEMPSTEAD
ESCUELA SECUNDARIA
400 Nassau Boulevard West Hempstead, NY 11552
Y, ADEMÁS, SE NOTIFICA que, de conformidad con el Artículo 495 de la Ley de Impuestos sobre Bienes Inmuebles, el Distrito Escolar debe adjuntar a su presupuesto propuesto un informe de exenciones. Dicho informe, que también formará parte del presupuesto final, mostrará qué proporción del valor catastral total en el registro catastral final utilizado en el proceso presupuestario está exenta de impuestos, enumerará cada tipo de exención otorgada, identificada por la autoridad legal, e indicará: (a) el impacto acumulado de cada tipo de exención, expresado como monto en dólares del valor catastral o como porcentaje del valor catastral total en el registro; (b) el monto acumulado que se espera recibir de los beneficiarios de cada tipo de exención como pagos en lugar de impuestos u otros pagos por servicios municipales; y (c) el impacto acumulado de todas las exenciones otorgadas. El informe de exenciones se publicará en cualquier tablón de anuncios que mantenga el Distrito para avisos públicos y en cualquier sitio web que mantenga el Distrito.
Y ADEMÁS POR EL PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA que las solicitudes para las papeletas de voto en ausencia y para voto anticipado por correo se podrán obtener durante el horario de atención escolar en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito a partir del 21 de abril de 2025. De acuerdo con los §§ 2018-a y 2018-e de la Ley de Educación, las solicitudes de papeletas de voto en ausencia y para voto anticipado por correo completadas no pueden ser recibidas por el Secretario del Distrito antes de treinta (30) días antes de la elección, y deben ser recibidas por el Secretario del Distrito al menos siete
(7) días antes de la elección si la papeleta se va a enviar por correo al votante, o el día antes de la elección, si la papeleta se va a entregar personalmente al votante o al agente nombrado en la solicitud de papeleta de voto en ausencia o para voto anticipado por correo. Las papeletas de voto en ausencia y de voto anticipado por correo deben ser recibidas por el Secretario del Distrito a más tardar a las 5:00pm, hora vigente, del Martes, 19 de Mayo de 2026.
La lista de las personas a quienes se les habrán emitido papeletas de voto en ausencia y la lista de todas las personas a quienes se les habrá emitido papeletas de voto anticipado por correo estarán disponibles para su inspección por parte de los votantes cualificados del Distrito en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito a partir del 14 de Mayo de 2026, entre las 9:00am y las 4:00pm los días laborables previos al día de las elecciones anuales y el 16 de Mayo de 2026, previa cita previa contactando al Secretario del Distrito al 516-390-3118 y el 19 de Mayo de 2026, día de las elecciones. Cualquier votante cualificado podrá, tras examinar dichas listas, impugnar por escrito la cualificación de cualquier persona cuyo nombre figure en ellas, exponiendo las razones de la impugnación. Dicha impugnación por escrito será remitida por el Secretario de Distrito o su designado por la Junta de Educación a los inspectores electorales el día de las elecciones. Y, ADEMÁS, SE NOTIFICA que los votantes militares que no estén registrados actualmente pueden solicitar su registro como votantes cualificados del Distrito Escolar Libre de West Hempstead. Para ello, deben presentar su solicitud de registro personalmente al Secretario del Distrito, enviarla por correo electrónico a acruz@ whufsd.com o enviarla por fax al 516-4891776. La solicitud puede indicar la preferencia del votante militar de recibirla por correo postal, fax o correo electrónico. Las solicitudes de registro de votantes militares deben recibirse en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito a más tardar a las 5:00pm el 23 de Abril de 2026.
Y ADEMÁS, SE NOTIFICA que aquellos votantes que deseen información sobre esta Votación y Elección Presupuestaria en español deben comunicarse con la Oficina del Secretario de Distrito al 516-3903118. Awilda Cruz District Clerk of the Board of Education. West Hempstead Union Free School District 252 Chestnut Street West Hempstead, New York 158917
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
AND LEGAL NOTICES… To place a notice here call us us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, MCLP ASSET COMPANY, INC., Plaintiff, vs. EDGARD ARAYA A/K/A EDGAR ARAYA, ET AL., Defendant(s).
Y ADEMÁS, SE NOTIFICA que los votantes militares que cumplan los requisitos para votar en el Distrito Escolar Libre de West Hempstead pueden solicitar una solicitud de papeleta militar al Secretario del Distrito y devolverla personalmente, por correo electrónico a acruz@whufsd.com o por fax al 516-4891776. Para que se emita una papeleta militar a un votante militar, la oficina del Secretario del Distrito debe recibir una solicitud válida de papeleta militar a más tardar a las 4:00pm del 23 de Abril de 2026. Las solicitudes de papeleta militar recibidas de conformidad con lo anterior se procesarán de la misma manera que las solicitudes de papeleta no militar, según la Sección 2018-a de la Ley de Educación. La solicitud de papeleta militar puede indicar la preferencia del votante militar por recibirla por correo postal, fax o correo electrónico. La solicitud de votación militar original y la votación militar de un votante militar deben devolverse por correo o en persona a la oficina del Secretario de Distrito en 252 Chestnut Street, West Hempstead, Nueva York, junto con la declaración jurada firmada requerida por el votante. Y, ADEMÁS, SE NOTIFICA POR LA PRESENTE que las papeletas militares serán escrutadas si son recibidas por el Secretario de Distrito antes del cierre de las urnas el 19 de Mayo de 2026, mostrando una marca de cancelación del Servicio Postal de los Estados Unidos o del servicio postal de un país extranjero, o mostrando un endoso fechado de recibo de otra agencia del\ Gobierno de los Estados Unidos; o recibidas a más tardar a las 5:00pm del 19 de Mayo de 2026 y firmadas y fechadas por el votante militar y un testigo, con una fecha que se verifique como no posterior al día anterior a la elección. Y ADEMÁS POR LA PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA que, de conformidad con una regla adoptada por la Junta de Educación de conformidad con la Ley de Educación de Nueva York §2035, cualquier referéndum o propuesta para modificar el presupuesto, o que de otra manera se someta a votación en dichas elecciones, debe presentarse ante el Secretario del Distrito en las Oficinas Administrativas de Chestnut Street, 252 Chestnut Street, West Hempstead, Nueva York, a más tardar a las 5:00 p. m., hora vigente, el 20 de Marzo de 2026. Todas estas peticiones deben estar escritas a máquina o impresas en idioma inglés; deben dirigirse al Secretario del Distrito Escolar; deben estar firmadas por al menos 133 votantes calificados del Distrito (que representen el mayor de 25 o el 5% del número de votantes que votaron en la elección anual anterior); y debe indicar legiblemente el nombre de cada firmante. Sin embargo, la Junta de Educación no aceptará ninguna petición para presentar a los votantes ninguna propuesta cuyo propósito no esté dentro de la facultad de los votantes para determinar, ni ninguna propuesta o enmienda que sea contraria a la ley.
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 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS RFP # 2026-04 ACCOUNTING SERVICES
The West Hempstead Union Free School District is issuing this Request for Proposals (RFP) for the selection of qualified proposers to†provide accounting services. †Proposers must have expertise in school district accounting. You are invited to submit proposals in accordance with this RFP. Proposals will be received until 11:00 a.m. on April 24, 2026, by Brian Phillips, Assistant Superintendent for Business & Operations at the District’s Central Offices, located at 252 Chestnut Street, West Hempstead, NY 11552. Proposal forms may be obtained at the aforementioned office or from the district’s website at†www.whufsd.com. The Board of Education reserves the right to reject any proposal or to accept part of any proposal.
West Hempstead Union Free School District Board of Education 516-390-3100 159475
Public Notices
LEGAL NOTICE
ASSESSOR’S NOTICE OF COMPLETION OF THE FINAL ASSESSMENT ROLL
THE ASSESSOR OF THE COUNTY OF NASSAU HEREBY GIVES NOTICE that he has completed the 2026/2027 final assessment roll, which will be used for the 2027 levy of Town and County Taxes in the Towns of Hempstead, North Hempstead and Oyster Bay, and the City of Glen Cove and the City of Long Beach, and for the 2026/2027 levy of school taxes in such Towns and in the City of Long Beach. A certified electronic copy of the roll was filed with the Department of Assessment on April 1, 2026. The electronic roll may be examined on public terminals located in the offices of:
DEPARTMENT OF ASSESSMENT
NASSAU COUNTY OFFICE BUILDING 240 OLD COUNTRY ROAD, FOURTH FLOOR MINEOLA, NY 11501 where the same will remain open for public inspection for fifteen days.
Dated this 1st day of April 2026.
JOSEHA A. ADAMO
Assessor, Nassau County 159474
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU ONEWEST BANK, FSB, Plaintiff, Against LISA BELL MATTHEWS, et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 07/14/2017, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 on 5/11/2026 at 2:00PM, premises known as 841 Woodfield Road, West Hempstead, New York 11552, and described as follows: ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Lakeview, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York.
Section 35 Block 604 Lot 67
The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $669,160.70 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 004789/2011 If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the then Court Appointed Referee will cancel the Foreclosure Auction. This Auction will be held rain or shine.
Lawrence M. Schaffer, Esq., Referee. MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC, 10 Midland Avenue, Suite 205, Port Chester, NY 10573
Dated: 3/18/2026 File Number: 272-3363 CA 159490
LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU INDEX NO: 613759/2025
D/O/F: 06/26/2025 SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS
Property Address: 345 Walton Street, West Hempstead, NY 11552
Plaintiff designates Nassau County as the place of trial. Venue is based upon the County in which the property is situate.
AVAIL 3 LLC, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS ADMINISTRATOR OF RESTORATION III TRUST, Plaintiff, -againstUnknown heirs at law of FERDINAND MANZO, his next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, devisees, legatees, assignees, lienors, creditors, and successors in interest, and generally all persons having or claiming, under, by or through said defendant who may be deceased, by purchase, inheritance, lien or otherwise, any right title or interest in and to the premises described in the complaint herein, all of whom and whose names and places of residence are unknown to the plaintiff and cannot after diligent inquiry be ascertained, 345 WALTON HOLDING LLC, 345 WALTON ST LLC, PAUL MANZO AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF
FERDINAND MANZO, FERDINAND MANZO
A/K/A FRED MANZO AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF FERDINAND MANZO, MARNE MARIE
MANZO A/K/A MARNE MARIE DIETRICK AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF FERDINAND MANZO, LISA MANZO AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF FERDINAND MANZO, DOLORES DICKSON AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF FERDINAND MANZO, GINA MANZO AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF FERDINAND MANZO, ANNETTE LOUTREL AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF FERDINAND MANZO, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; “JOHN DOES” and “JANE DOES”, said names being fictitious, parties intended being possible tenants or occupants of premises, and corporations, other entities or persons who claim, or may claim, a lien against the premises, Defendant(s).
TO THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in this action, and to serve a copy of your Answer, or, if the Complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a Notice of Appearance on the Plaintiff’s Attorneys within twenty (20) days after service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, where service is made by delivery upon you personally within the State, or within thirty (30) days after completion of service where service is made in any other manner, and in case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint.
TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: The foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of the Hon. Jeffrey A. Goodstein, a Justice of the Supreme Court, Nassau County, entered March 26, 2026 and filed with the complaint and other papers in the Nassau County Clerk’s Office. THE OBJECT OF THE ACTION is to foreclose a mortgage recorded in
the Nassau County Clerk’s Office on March 3, 2025 in Book: M, Volume: 47879, Page: 97, covering premises k/a 345 Walton Street, West Hempstead, NY 11552 a/k/a Section 35, Block 490, Lot 45.
NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME
If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.
The following notice is intended only for the defendants who are owners of the premises sought to be foreclosed or who are liable upon the debt for which the mortgage stands as security.
YOU ARE HEREBY PUT ON NOTICE THAT WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT, AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.
PLEASE BE AWARE:
(1) that debt collectors, in accordance with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1692 et seq., are prohibited from engaging in abusive, deceptive, an unfair debt collection efforts, including, but not limited to: i. the use or threat of violence; ii. the use of obscene or profane language; and iii. repeated phone calls made with the intent to annoy, abuse, or harass.
(2) If a creditor or debt collector receives a money judgment against you
W.H. junior selected for national leadership program
The West Hempstead School District has announced that West Hempstead Secondary School junior Sergio Rodriguez Ayala Jr. has been selected to participate in the 2026 Hispanic Scholarship Fund Youth Leadership Institute, a national program that will take place this summer in Los Angeles, California.
Sergio, who aspires to become an environmental architect, is among 440 students chosen from a pool of more than 6,500 applicants representing 46 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The selective program recognizes high-achieving Latino high school juniors and provides them with valuable opportunities for academic and personal growth.
The YLI is designed to equip students with the skills, tools and knowledge needed to successfully navigate the college application and financial aid process as they enter their senior year of high school. Participants also gain insight into potential career paths while building a strong network of peers, mentors and professionals.
Through a combination of virtual learning and an in-person residential experience, students take part in college and career workshops, leadership development sessions and mentorship opportunities. The program is hosted on the campuses of the University of Southern California and Loyola Marymount University, where participants reside for five days in a college dormitory setting.
Upon successful completion of the program, students earn the distinction of HSF Scholar, gaining access to a
range of ongoing support services, including career guidance, mentorship, leadership training, wellness resources and educational programming. Participants may also become eligible for scholarship opportunities as they pursue higher education.
The Youth Leadership Institute is offered at no cost to students, reinforcing its mission to empower young leaders and expand access to higher education opportunities.
–Noah Peretz
in court, state and federal laws may prevent the following types of income from being taken to pay the debt:
1.Supplemental security income, (SSI);
2.Social security; 3.Public assistance (welfare);
4.Spousal support, maintenance (alimony) or child support;
5.Unemployment benefits;
6.Disability benefits; 7.Workers’
compensation benefits; 8. Public or private pensions; 9.Veterans’ benefits; 10.Federal student loans, federal student grants, and federal work study funds; and 11.Ninety percent of your wages or salary earned in the last sixty days.
TO THE DEFENDANTS:
The Plaintiff makes no personal claim against you in this action.
TO THE DEFENDANTS:
If you have obtained an order of discharge from the Bankruptcy court, which includes this debt, and you have not reaffirmed your liability for this debt, this law firm is not alleging that you have any personal liability for this debt and does not seek a money judgment against you. Even if a discharge has been obtained, this lawsuit to foreclose the mortgage will continue and we will seek a
judgment authorizing the sale of the mortgaged premises.
Dated: Sandy J. Stolar,
Courtesy West Hempstead School District West Hempstead junior Sergio Rodriguez Ayala Jr. was selected to participate in the 2026 Hispanic Scholarship Fund Youth Leadership Institute.
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
DENTAL ASSISTANT
CHAIR SIDE F/T Lynbrook Office, Immediate Opening. Looking for Experienced Individual Email Resume nylaserendo@gmail.com Call 516-599-7111
DRIVING INSTRUCTOR Company Car/ Bonuses. Clean Driving Record Required, Will Train. Retirees Welcome!
$22 - $27/ Hour Bell Auto School 516-365-5778 Email: info@bellautoschool.com
FOOD DIVISION MARKETING SPECIALIST For ALPI USA, Inc (Valley Stream, NY). Requires 24 months experience in business development within logistics for overseas food industry and 24 months in international freight handling. High school diploma required. Salary: $61,797. Email resume to ana.felix@alpiusa.com”
PHOTOGRAPHERS WANTED
$20 - $25 Per Hour
Must Be Available On Weekends April - June 516-902-6258 Randy@LISNYC.com
Waiting For The Right Family
This is a standout listing in Woodmere’s Five Towns. Fully renovated legal mother-daughter (2-family classification 220.01), this originally 6-bedroom, 3-bath home is ideal for rental income or extended family living. This oversized 3,500 sq. ft. Hi-Ranch is in the award-winning Hewlett-Woodmere
How much extra money does a home cost these days?
Q. I saw a billboard and several TV commercials for something called “Let Them Build, NY,” and was wondering what you could tell me about it. The commercial said that there is an extra $82,000 spent on housing, per home, just due to government red tape. Is this true, and is anything being done about it?
A. There is plenty of finger-pointing in the construction industry, on top of the current cost increases due to tariffs, war and subsequent delivery costs due to higher fuel prices. But long before there were these current issues, government officials began, at every level, to either increase enforcement of existing regulations or to add regulations on top of what was already fairly complicated and burdensome.
Many years ago I was very active in the American Institute of Architects, to the point of being vice president of the Long Island chapter. I left them when I realized that they did not want to have the backbone to challenge, as a professional group, the regulations that cause construction and building design to become out of reach for a large segment of our population. In the years following, I daily encountered the thousands of building owners who never even attempted to comply with building regulations, basically skirting the entire permit process altogether because of the added expense.
The first and foremost expense is caused by the delays in getting through the approval process. There are so many reasons for the slowdown that it will take several columns, at 500 words apiece, to get through the long list of problems. If you ask a government official, they will point to the design professionals who “just can’t seem to get the regulations right” in their drawing submissions. I have often listened as officials complained to me about inadequate drawings being submitted. In all fairness, it is a two-way street, because the communications from officials back to the architects and engineers is often incoherent or incomplete.
When a plans examiner uses phrases like “demonstrate compliance” or “incomplete submission,” they are contributing to the problem, not solving it. Instead of pointing to specific sections of code and explaining the very specific problem, they communicate in generalities that are useless and cause a lot of extra work and discussion among the people trying to move a project forward. The phrase “If you aren’t part of the solution, you’re part of the problem” applies here.
I remember when a plans examiner would mark up and discuss specific drawings, and some even went the extra mile and pulled out their code books. In the era of computers, the internet and the “portal,” building officials often abbreviate and confuse both the professional and the customer by not pointing out that “the wording on Sheet 3 in the upper right-hand corner should state…” The lack of specifics creates lots of back-and-forth, delays and cost to the owner for the delays. Rent and taxes still need to be paid during the delays.
More to follow.
© 2026 Monte Leeper
Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.
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Did I ever tell you about my grad school?
Rosemary and I and our son Sean recently visited the University of Notre Dame. In many ways it was a homecoming.
Rosemary, her mother and her sister graduated from St. Mary’s College, adjacent to Notre Dame, in the days before it accepted female students. Her father and two brothers are Notre Dame grads. Our daughter Erin and I graduated from Notre Dame Law School, and Sean earned his MBA from Notre Dame’s Mendoza School of Business. Sean is now an affiliated scholar at the university’s Liu Institute for Asian Affairs, and regularly lectures on Asian geopolitics and economic policy at the institute and the Mendoza School. When I was growing up as an IrishCatholic kid in blue-collar Queens, Notre Dame embodied Irish-Catholic immigrant success in becoming a part of the American fabric and achieving the American dream. That success was exemplified by Notre Dame’s fabled football teams, which dominated college
Will
iIs this the year of the blue wave? Will it be a modified one or a total rout? Is there any chance of a red wave? Not likely. But, once again, we are facing a year in which the U.S. House of Representatives, and perhaps the Senate, are up for grabs, and the early odds favor the party that’s out of power.
We often refer to political prognosticating it as “reading the tea leaves.” But tea leaves are no longer the best way to pick winners and losers. There are now so many more sophisticated ways to handicap the races, some of which we have been used for years and others that are brand new. The media is dominated by daily polling announcements, and if you give the polls any credence, they spell bad news for President Trump and the candidates of his party.
Poll after poll, whether from the left or the right, seem to indicate that this may be a very bad year for Republicans.
football during that era. Of course, there was and is more to the university than football. Notre Dame was founded at a time of severe anti-Catholic bias in the country, led by hate groups such as the Ku Klux Klan and the Know Nothing movement. There also was anti-Catholic bias in academia well into the 20th century, which Arthur Schlesinger Sr. described as “the anti-Semitism of intellectuals.”
My wife and I visited a university you may have heard of to watch our son in action.
Notre Dame, though, went beyond being a defensive religious fortress to making Catholic thought a part of American life, along with full acceptance of other religions, with open debate and finding common ground encouraged. Striking that balance can be difficult, but it is still working. Religious freedom was on display on the campus last year, when pro-Hamas demonstrations did not devolve into the antisemitic violence that occurred at other universities, such as Columbia. Students were given prescribed locations and time periods for demonstrations, and those who ignored them were arrested. The result was intelligent debate without violence.
Rosemary and I visited this year to meet with some of Sean’s academic colleagues and watch him in action. We
also walked around the campus, taking in iconic sights like the Golden Dome and rekindling old memories. On our first morning, we met with Frank Pomarico and his wife, Eileen. A Queens native and a graduate of St. Francis Prep, Frank was the captain of Notre Dame’s 1973 national champion football team, coached by the legendary Ara Parseghian. Frank and Eileen live in South Bend, and are amazingly friendly and interesting. It was a great way to start the day.
Then we walked over to the law school to meet with Diane Desierto, a professor of international law and human rights, a native of the Philippines, a friend of Sean’s and a true scholar. Desierto updated me on the state of the law school (all good), her strong belief that law students should be exposed to all sides of issues and that legal education must include a moral component.
We had lunch with Josh Gobel, a good friend and a longtime member of the South Bend Police Department who now works in the Notre Dame P.D. in various key capacities, including protecting visiting dignitaries, such as Supreme Court Justice Amy Cony Barrett — who
attended the law school at the same time as Erin. Great conversation with Josh, as always.
After a visit to the campus bookstore, Rosemary and I joined Sean at the Morris Inn on campus for dinner with Michel Hockx, a Chinese scholar and a professor at the Liu Institute, where Sean had just finished teaching a class. Hockx, who is originally from the Netherlands, has been teaching at Notre Dame for 10 years, and has worked with Sean on various projects. After dinner, we all walked to the Mendoza School to watch Sean give a lecture to a group of students preparing to visit Japan.
He discussed the intricacies of Japanese political, cultural and economic development since the end of World War II, the country’s relationship with the United States and the threats it faces from China. My biased opinion? A thoughtful, virtuoso performance. (He must have gotten it from Rosemary, who was a teacher.)
The next day we flew back to New York. Rosemary and I went home to Seaford, and Sean to his apartment in Manhattan — all three of us with new Notre Dame memories to share. And yes, Notre Dame football is still great. Go, Irish!
Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.
there be a blue wave this fall?
You know that things look bad for them when Fox News consistently announces polls showing that everyday Republicans and independents are slowly moving away from long-favored party candidates. In addition, wellknown commentators such as Megyn Kelly and Tucker Carlson are predicting only bad things for the party come November.
iThe newest form of political projections is occurring on such outlets as Kalshi and Polymarket. On Kalshi, people trade contracts on the outcome of real-world events. They are deep into gambling on sports events, but lately have also been involved in betting on political events. Polymarket is built on a crypto platform. People bet on “yes” and “no” shares that reflect the feelings of the bettors and their inkling to pick winners. Both platforms have become highly controversial. Demands are being made for them to be regulated by Congress, but that won’t happen soon. If you want to find more reliable trends, pay attention to what’s going on in Washington and around the country. This year, more than 30 Republican
’ve seen many waves, red and blue, which are part of the ups and downs of politics.
members of the House have announced that they won’t seek re-election. Some are campaigning for Senate seats and others are running for governor, but the vast majority of the retirees have announced that they’re eager to spend more time with their families, the age-old excuse to get out of Washington.
At last count, there were 35 House seats up for reelection that were tilting toward the Democrats. If the blue wave is really going to happen, most of those seats will go to the Democrats. In 2025 the party won major races in Virginia, New Jersey and New York. This year, a number of Democrats have had upset wins in races for state House seats in districts that Trump won in 2024 by wide margins. If these victories are any indication of the national trend, it’s all bad news for the Republicans.
Up to a few months ago, there was little or no talk about Democrats having any chance to take over the U.S. Senate, but the latest polls seem to show a tightening of the races in Maine, North Carolina, Texas and Ohio. If Democrats can
pull off any upsets in these key states, Jon Ossoff can hold on to his seat in Georgia and a newcomer can win in Michigan, the party’s chances of capturing the Senate will improve remarkably.
One of the more disturbing factors for Republicans is the fact that Trump hasn’t made any strong statements about his desire to see his party stay in power. He is promoting various ideas about how they can win at the ballot box, but any federal effort to take the power to oversee voting away from the states will likely be struck down as unconstitutional.
Having reached an advanced age, I’ve seen many waves, both red and blue. They sometimes last two years, and occasionally continue for four years. The swings back and forth between parties are part of the ups and downs of politics. So if it turns out that the Democrats have a great year, they’d better handle their newfound power very carefully, because two years can pass very quickly.
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.
opinions Washington must start solving problems
The American people are fed up.
The chaos at our airports was awful, the Department of Homeland Security has not been fully funded during these very dangerous times, and the people are demanding that Immigration and Customs Enforcement live up to the standards of all other federal law enforcement agencies. They are sick and tired of the endless blame game. All across America, people are demanding that politicians put partisanship aside and work together to fix the very real problems we face. The anger and annoyance are real. And frankly, I agree.
That’s why I’ve introduced bipartisan legislation to immediately reopen DHS while advancing common-sense reforms to ICE. Alongside my Problem Solvers Caucus co-chair, Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, who served as an FBI agent for more than 15 years, I am trying to cut through the dysfunction, isolate the problem areas where negotiations have stalled and work together to actually get something done.
Our solution is common sense: fund the parts of the DHS where there are no disagreements, like disaster response and cybersecurity, and institute real reforms to ICE that most Americans have been hungering for. It only makes sense to hold ICE, a federal law-enforcement agency, to the same safety and accountability standards of every other bureau in the nation.
Calling us ‘Country Destroying, Radical Left Democrats’ doesn’t help.
That means body-camera and officer-identification requirements, higher training standards, a crackdown on roving patrols and limitations on agents wearing masks. The legislation would also lay out stronger warrant requirements and rules governing activity in sensitive locations to ensure that enforcement resources are focused on the “worst of the worst.”
It seems simple, but Congress has been in a political standoff that perfectly exemplifies what’s wrong with Washington. Let me explain.
The budget for the DHS is $97 billion. $87 billion of that funds everything from the TSA agents at our airports to Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster responses, cybersecurity units and the Coast Guard. The remaining $10 billion funds ICE.
iDemocrats have been saying for weeks that they will fund the $87 billion that doesn’t go to ICE right now. That would have ended the airport disaster, paid our TSA agents far earlier and kept the core functions of DHS operating. We would not vote to fund the other $10 billion for ICE, however, until there were real reforms.
While Republicans resisted at first, there was eventually enough consensus among both Democratic and Republican members of Congress to at least reopen the non-ICE agencies of DHS. But just as bipartisan negotiations in the Senate were making progress, President Trump intervened with a directive to his party: “No deals with the Democrats.”
To be precise, he outlawed deals with the “Crazy, Country Destroying, Radical Left Democrats.”
That’s outrageous. Once again, that’s politics getting in the way of progress. Finger-pointing has been all too prevalent.
I have built my career on finding common ground for the common good. It has always been my philosophy that I’ll work with anyone, regardless of political party, to get things done for my constituents. As co-chair of the biparti-
san Problem Solvers Caucus, I’ve worked with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to tackle the nation’s toughest issues. Just a few months ago we passed legislation out of the House that extended health care tax credits to prevent skyrocketing premiums for millions. Unfortunately, then as now, the president got in the way, changing the debate from bipartisan health care wins to Venezuela and Greenland before the Senate could close the deal.
I represent a district that voted for Trump and for me. My constituents aren’t interested in partisan talking points — they want results. They want safe airports, secure borders, a functioning government and a lower cost of living. And they want their elected officials to work together to deliver.
People are concerned that the Department of Homeland Security has not been in the game. They’re outraged about the illegal and immoral behavior of ICE. And they’re frustrated that politicians are too busy pointing fingers to solve our problems.
We don’t have to choose between security and accountability. We can do both. We don’t have to accept dysfunction in Washington. And we certainly don’t have to tolerate political games when real people are being affected.
Tom Suozzi represents the 3rd Congressional District.
Singing the low-down, how-did-I-get-so-old blues
am astonished to tell you that I just marked my 79th birthday.
No greetings and salutations, please. It’s a big number, and it weighs a ton. I’m standing on the threshold of lights-out and wondering how I got from then to now.
In 1949 I could walk under my parents’ dining room table. It was my special parlor trick. Then playground, school, dating, college, marriage, kids, grandkids and closing curtains. I’m still short, but I can’t clear the tabletop. And that’s not all that has changed. Culture, politics, fashion, food and entertainment are often unrecognizable to me. Sometimes I feel estranged from “modern” life. As I write this out of my own brain, sharing my unadulterated, unimproved or revised thoughts, I’m being assaulted by prompts asking if I want “Copilot” to rework my sentences. I don’t know where Copilot came from and have no
idea how to get rid of it. This isn’t a one-off experience. It’s daily combat with technology that threatens to drive me screaming from the house.
I’m barely exaggerating. Many friends are more adept with technology, but many more are less skilled. This is a constant challenge, whether I try to pay a bill or reach a doctor or, heaven forbid, get a copy of a document from the DMV.
Life is hard enough, what with approaching death and such. But add heaven knows how many streaming services when all you want to do is turn on the freaking TV for a half hour; it’s too much. With all the tools that are supposed to make life easier, it has undoubtedly become more complicated. And this isn’t just an oldster’s kvetch.
M y daily combat with technology threatens to drive me screaming from the house.
“Next time you can do better.” I want to be alone, and all day long I’m assailed by pings and rings and notifications ad nauseum. I talk to friends in real time and real space, and as I share my private thoughts with them, they’re talking to the watch on their wrist. This can’t be good for anyone. I know this sounds like every older generation’s observations of the young, but in this case, really, you know I’m right. No one just sits and talks to one another anymore without a prop, like a phone.
We were inexperienced and naïve enough to feel wonder and delight in love and travel and having children. Now “parenting” seems like a burden to many young people, and indeed it is, with apps that track ovulation and breast milk availability. The technology hijacks the entire experience. You can’t do better as a parent by finding the exact time Baby will burp after feeding. What you can do is lose the joy of the moment.
Time was, I could go for a walk in peace and quiet, enjoying my own thoughts. Now I’m fully sucked into the need to do three things at once: walk, listen to a book while I read and answer messages, and have some app count my steps. I never signed on to this app, yet it has the nerve to tell me after a walk:
I think about my first encounters with boys when we were in grade school. We started and stumbled and learned to talk to one another, and then danced and then dated and made out in cars. Today I read story after story about how 20-somethings say that romance and dating are dead. Who killed it? Did we boomers somehow get the best of it? You know, right place, right time? The pace of life, the devices, the culture of increasing isolation are not working to make a better life for the grandkids.
From my vantage point, stepping into my 80th year, it’s been a pretty good life so far. These last years have brought some painful challenges, but the decades before provided a buffer of good memories and gratitude. We can’t travel right now, but it is said that real discovery isn’t looking for something new but seeing the same life with different eyes.
I believe with all my heart that for many of us boomers, the pandemic and its isolation, the separation from kids, grandkids and friends, robbed us of the years we might have eased into older age. And now we’re here. The best I can do is look at this moment, and it will be just a moment, with new eyes.
Copyright 2026 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.
Local News Day now means more than ever
Somewhere on Long Island tonight, a village board will vote on a zoning variance, a school district will finalize a budget or a contractor will win a bid. None of it will lead the network news or trend on social media. But it will matter — to the family whose street gets rezoned, to the teachers whose contract is on the line, to the taxpayers footing the bill.
In most cases, a Herald reporter will be in that room. But in too many communities across the country — and increasingly in our own backyard — that reporter’s chair sits empty. And when no one is watching, things have a way of going sideways.
April 9 is Local News Day, a national moment to recognize what local news does, why it matters, and what we lose when it disappears.
Local news isn’t the shouting matches on cable or the partisan warfare that passes for national political coverage. Local news is the Rockville Centre St. Patrick’s Day parade and the Hewlett High School science fair. It’s the Nassau County budget hearing that will affect your property taxes for the next decade, the obituary that captures a neighbor’s life, and the investigation that stops a bad idea before it becomes law. At Richner Communications — publisher of the Long Island Herald — we’ve been doing this work since 1964. Sixty-two years, three generations, over 100 local employees, nearly 30 weekly newspapers.
The Founding Fathers understood the stakes. The free press is the only indus-
Your opinion Matters
try they considered important enough to protect by name in the Constitution. But we are failing that promise. Since 2004, one-third of all American newsrooms have closed. There are 43,000 fewer local reporters and editors working today than there were then. New York alone has lost nearly half its newspapers, and a quarter of the state’s counties now have one or no local news sources. Digital-only outlets have not filled the void.
Today, more than 2½ newspapers shutter in America each week. The consequences are documented and dire: Communities without local news see lower voter turnout, higher taxes and measurable increases in corruption, political polarization, and even toxic environmental emissions.
Wealth is no inoculation from this trend. The Scarsdale Inquirer was founded in 1901 and served one of the wealthiest communities in America for 123 years. It closed without warning in January 2024. The Westchester village — mirroring the demographics of many Long Island communities — still doesn’t have a newspaper over two years later.
Compounding this problem is the rise of artificial intelligence, which can now manufacture articles, quotes, and entire “news sites” that look authoritative and cost almost nothing to create. That means the news environment has only grown harder to navigate. Trusted news brands, with reporters who actually live and work in the communities they cover, are more important than ever. It’s the reason that we at the Herald use A.I. as a tool to support, not replace, the report-
ers you know and respect.
And yet the climate for news in America has rarely been more hostile than today. The United States now ranks 57th in the world in press freedom — labeled “problematic” by Reporters Without Borders, placing us alongside countries we’re accustomed to lecturing about democratic norms. Arrests of reporters and editors in America nearly tripled between 2023 and 2024. A national shield law for reporters has failed to pass Congress twice. Right now, the Pentagon is aggressively curtailing press access, a policy that flies in the face of a functioning democracy. The temperature in Washington sets a tone, and that tone travels — all the way to the reporters covering Long Island’s myriad municipal entities.
The Herald has always believed that local news is worth fighting for. It’s why we helped found the Empire State Local News Coalition, which won a first-of-itskind state tax credit for local newspapers. That legislation is already helping newspapers survive that might otherwise have gone dark, meaning that thousands of New Yorkers who might otherwise have lost their only trusted local news source still have one.
Every community gets the local news it deserves — which is to say, the local news it supports. If you want a paper that shows up, you have to show up for it. On Local News Day, make that decision. Subscribe. Advertise. Tell your neighbors. The Herald has been here for over a century. Whether we’re here for the next one is, in no small part, up to you.
opinions Navigating the state budget process
when I was elected, I accepted the responsibility of acting as a liaison between the constituency of Assembly District 21 and Albany, especially when it comes to how the state spends your money.
To be an effective legislator, it’s important to remain transparent about how these processes affect our communities, and to communicate the priorities of our district and Nassau County.
My goal has always been to address constituents’ needs through legislation, advocacy and the highly complex annual state budget process. It begins in January, when the governor releases the Executive Budget, a baseline spending plan that identifies all funding sources for the following year, starting a vigorous negotiation period.
Legislators discuss issues with a variety of state agency leaders, advocates and stakeholders in budget hearings that are necessary in order to gather information on how we can enhance the governor’s proposals. Afterward, the State Senate and Assembly respond by outlining resolutions, so-called “onehouse budgets.” Though not legislatively binding, they guide the governor, the Assembly speaker and the Senate
majority leader in their negotiations.
This year, some substantive issues continue to delay a final agreement, due to the considerable volume of policy involved. I welcome and share the correspondence I receive from constituents and the members of countless district and statewide organizations like local municipalities, law enforcement agencies, school districts, students, libraries, health care workers, labor unions and district attorneys.
r
Above all else, it’s clear that rising costs, often attributable to current events beyond the state’s jurisdiction that affect the entire country, are making it impossible for average middle-class families, young adults and senior citizens to thrive. Nevertheless, I work continuously with my colleagues to lighten people’s financial burden and deliver relief. Increased school funding, enhanced municipal aid and expanded funding for road maintenance help minimize local property taxes, while supporting our suburban quality of life.
dens on residents, while allowing time to phase in pragmatic and attainable environmental improvements.
Rising utility rates. Current events have resulted in rising gasoline prices and utility costs. I support proposals that will provide immediate relief and ensure that ratepayers see actual reductions in their utility expenses, instead of convoluted promises that don’t deliver.
ising costs are making it impossible for average middleclass families to thrive.
Addressing health care discrepancies and supporting aging populations. Access to quality, affordable health care is becoming less attainable for many in our communities, which results in increased costs for health insurance, hospital services, prescription medication and nursing facilities. I support increased aid to these health care providers.
impact state, municipal and school district budgets. Our public workforce is crucial, and our communities value our police, firefighters, teachers and other public servants.
Potential climate law revisions. When the ambitious Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act was enacted in 2019,we weren’t experiencing an affordability crisis coupled with supply-chain issues. The business sector maintains that these regulatory deadlines need to be re-examined to prioritize regional economic stability, while environmental advocates claim that any revision will increase energy costs and negatively impact the environment. Any changes to our climate laws must be both environmentally sound and fiscally responsible.
Here are the major issues in our budget negotiations:
School funding. I’m committed to ensuring that our schools receive equitable increases in foundation aid. Fully funding this aid enables schools to give students a robust education. It’s also necessary to halt the mandated transition to electric school buses on an unrealistic timeline to avoid additional tax bur-
Framework by Tim Baker
Reducing the escalating cost of auto insurance. Supporters of the governor’s auto insurance reforms have identified litigation abuse and fraudulent claims as key factors in skyrocketing rates. While I support measures that prosecute fraud, it is essential that seriously injured people are compensated.
Fixing Tier 6. There are many union households in A.D. 21 calling for equitable changes in public-employee pension programs. I agree with many proposals, but the cost for taxpayers must be considered, since these measures will
Modernizing the State Environmental Quality Review Act. It’s key to strike a balance between the need to increase the housing supply and provide jobs, resulting in economic vitality, and protecting the environment, promoting sustainable growth and ensuring that buildings don’t overload existing water infrastructure.
As we enter the final stage of this process, I’m fighting for a responsible budget that reflects the priorities of A.D. 21. Thank you to those who have shared your opinions with me, so that I can make sure your voice is heard in Albany.
Griffin represents the 21st Assembly District.
Judy
