Malverne Cinema & Art Center announces reopening
By MADISoN GUSlER mgusler@liherald.com
As local theaters across Long Island close down because of economic pressures and competition from chain theaters and streaming services, Malverne will once again become a bright light for movie lovers. Malverne Cinema, which closed last September, has announced plans to reopen as a nonprofit.
The Malverne Cinema and Art Center opened at 350 Hempstead Ave. in 1947, and has been operated by Anne and Henry Stampfel since 1990. The original cinema had a single 700-seat theater, but the Stamp-
fels altered the layout to eventually include five theaters.
After a series of temporary closures, due mainly due to the coronavirus pandemic and the theater’s high operating expenses, it hosted a final screening before it closed last fall.
“It’s a major part of our community,” Malverne resident Nick Hudson said. “Having not just a movie theater, but a place where your kids’ memories are made, I think, is really important.”
Shortly after the theater closed, Hudson, the executive director of Entertainment 2 Affect Change, a New York based nonprofit Continued on page 9
Plea deal falls through for Mascia
By MADISoN GUSlER mgusler@liherald.com
Thomas Mascia, of West Hempstead, the former state trooper charged with falsely reporting that an assailant shot him in the leg while on patrol on the Southern State Parkway in October, returned to court on May 7 and was expected to accept a plea agreement.
oThe Nassau County District Attorney’s office had offered Mascia, 27, a plea deal, but it fell through when he told Judge Robert Bogle of the New York Supreme Court that he was not in good mental health. In addition, he incorrectly signed a document required for him to enter a plea agreement.
plea deal would also have included an order of protection issued against Mascia from an unnamed individual.
ur investigation determined that Mascia deliberately shot himself, and he lied about it.
StEVEN G. JAMES Superintendent, New York
State Police
Under the guilty plea, Mascia would have been sentenced to six months in jail and five years probation, and he would have been required to receive mental health treatment, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $289,511.32. The
The plea agreement fell apart when Judge Bogle asked Mascia if he was in good mental health, and he responded “no.” After a brief discussion with his lawyer, Jeffrey Lichtman, Mascia changed his answer and explained he was “currently receiving treatment” for his mental health. Mascia also incorrectly signed a document “Trooper Mascia,” instead of Thomas Mascia, which was a requirement to enter the plea agreement. For the document to be valid, it must be signed by all parties, including the judge, the prosecution, the defense and the defendant.
While the judge said he understands court can cause anxiety for many and that Mascia may have mistakenly signed the document as a former state trooper, Bogle stated he was not
Continued on page 4
Madison Gusler/Herald
Malverne Cinema has announced that it will reopen, after closing last September.
After a conclave that lasted just over a day, Robert Francis Prevost, 69, from Chicago, was selected as the next pope. He selected the papal name Pope Leo XIV.
Pope Leo XIV is the first from the United States
By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com
Cardinals in the Vatican have selected Robert Francis Prevost as the 267th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. Prevost, 69, who has adopted the papal name Pope Leo XIV, is the first pope from the United States.
The conclave, comprising of 133 cardinal electors, reached the required twothirds majority in just over a day, signaling their decision with the traditional white smoke from the Sistine Chapel chimney on May 8.
Pope Leo XIV was born in Chicago, and received a bachelor’s degree from Villanova University. A member of the Order of St. Augustine, he took his first vows in 1978 and his solemn vows in 1981. He earned a master’s degree in divinity in 1982 from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.
He has spent much of his career as a missionary in Peru, eventually becoming a naturalized Peruvian citizen and serving as Archbishop of Chiclayo. In 2023, he was appointed by Pope Francis to lead the Vatican’s Congregation for Bishops, an important role in overseeing the selection of bishops around the globe.
Upon his first appearance as pope on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Leo XIV greeted the thousands assembled with the words, “Peace be with you” in Italian and Spanish.
AP News reported that Pope Leo XIV was formerly the leader of the Order of St. Augustine, formed in the 13th century as a community dedicated to poverty, service and evangelization.
Pope Leo XIV is expected to continue efforts toward modernization and inclusivity within the Catholic Church.
As well-wishes poured in from global and local leaders, The Most Reverend John Barres, Bishop of Rockville Cen-
tre, said: “With my brother bishops, the clergy, religious, and lay faithful of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, I give thanks to the Almighty God for the gift of our new Holy Father, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV.
“As the 267th Successor of Saint Peter, we pray Pope Leo XIV will receive every grace to strengthen the Church in unity and peace, preach Jesus Christ, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and confirm the Faith.
“With years of global missionary experience in Peru and leadership in his Augustinian community here in the United States, we pray, too, that his evangelizing pastoral charity and wisdom will guide the mission of the Church he now serves as Supreme Pontiff.”
County Executive Bruce Blakeman said: “Congratulations Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope and proud son of Chicago. His election marks a new chapter of hope, unity and spiritual leadership for Catholics around the world.
“As we celebrate this milestone, we pray for Pope Leo XIV as he begins his sacred mission to guide the Church with wisdom, compassion and strength.”
State Sen. Steve Rhoads, who leads a youth group at St. Pius X RC Church in Plainview, said “Congratulations to Pope Leo XIV on his election as the first American pope in the history of the Roman Catholic Church. As he begins this sacred journey, we pray his leadership brings renewed hope, unity and faith to Catholics around the world.”
Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church wrote on Facebook, “With joy and gratitude to the Holy Spirit, we welcome our new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV! Let us unite in prayer for our new shepherd as he begins his papal ministry, guiding the Church in faith, hope, and love.”
Courtesy Press Office of the Holy See
Lakeview Peace Garden upgrades to come
By MADISON GUSLER mgusler@liherald.com
The Lakeview Civic Association, with the help of Legislator William Gaylor, has secured a $34,000 grant allocated for upgrading the Lakeview Peace Garden. Upgrades to the garden will include a new sign and repaired fencing.
The civic association has also requested new mulch and for the grass to be improved, along with other requests. Lisa Ortiz, co-founder of the civic association, also expressed a need for bulbs to be replaced and light fixtures to be updated in the garden.
“We were able to get a little bit of money for Lakeview, for the peace garden, so that we can fix up the sign, replace it with a newer sign. We also are going to put in a new fence along the length of the back part of the property,” said Gaylor. “It’s a great little county ‘pocket park,’ is what I call it, in a beautiful community. I was able to accomplish just a small part and I hope it lasts for many years.”
The Lakeview Peace Garden, which sits along Woodfield Rd., is a project that began in 2011 and was funded by the Environmental Bond Act, which supported environmental projects and green infrastructure. The garden was completed and opened to the public in 2012.
“It’s an extension of outdoor space that residents have been able to enjoy,” Ortiz said, explaining the importance of the garden to the Lakeview community.
“You can go for a walk in the peace garden, you can sit down and have some quiet time, while enjoying the community we have all come to love.”
“Anytime we have a beautiful area like that for the community to go visit and enjoy, it’s important to make sure that we keep it clean,” said Legislator John Ferretti, who attended a clean up in the garden on May 3. “We did some gardening, put some flowers in, raked out all the leaves, and we’re going to
continue to do that to make sure it’s a beautiful place for people.”
“One of the things we are hoping to have changed is the name of the peace garden,” Ortiz added. “A woman named Cay Fatima, who advocated for the implementation of the peace garden, was originally promised that the garden would be named after a young man who was killed in the community back in the late 80s.”
“This was proposed as the Roderick Cockerham Botanical Peace Garden,” Ortiz explained. Cockerham was a Lakeview teenager who was shot and killed by a neighbor in 1989. Fatima, spent 20 years working on this project in Cockerham’s honor, but claimed the county executive hijacked her project in 2013 when the park was named the Lakeview Peace Garden — despite years of official documents referring to the park with her chosen name.
“We have asked if the peace garden could be renamed to the name that it was originally intended to be, the Roderick Cockerham Botanical Peace Garden, because many residents would love to see that happen,” Ortiz said.
The Town of Hempstead Department of Public Works, who will oversee the upgrades, is currently assessing the scope of the work and will provide the civic association with a layout once completed.
Chiefs soccer club commences new season
By MADISON GUSLER
mgusler@liherald.com
As young children sign in for their first soccer practice of the season, each one is greeted by name from West Hempstead Chiefs soccer club board president Loraine Magaraci. Magaraci, a lifetime resident of West Hempstead, has been a member of the club since her now adult children played in their youth.
The West Hempstead Chiefs soccer club includes intramural and travel teams for various age groups. Each spring and fall, the club hosts intramural training sessions led by professional trainers and student volunteers at the Eagle Ave. Soccer Field at Gersh Academy for Students on the Autism Spectrum. For $140 the club provides training two times each week for children ranging from Pre-Kindergarten to eighth grade.
“Here we fill them with skills and get them ready for travel,” said Magaraci. “As kids come in, we hope to feed them into new or existing travel teams.”
Their travel soccer teams are available each season to players in grades four through twelve, providing them the opportunity to compete against teams from across Long Island.
The club also organizes a TOPSoccer Program at George Washington Elementary School, which is available for athletes with physical, developmental and/or intellectual disabilities. TOPS allows children with disabilities to learn to play soccer, focusing on player participation, soccer skills and being a part of a team.
Despite competition from other soccer organizations, Magaraci and her board are dedicated to their mission of promoting a love for soccer in the local youth, all at a reasonable price point.
“We couldn’t do this without our volunteers. We are a non-profit, everybody here is a volunteer, and none
of us have kids in the program,” said Magaraci, on opening day, April 5. “If we aren’t on the field, we are on the phone or computer trying to figure out what else we can do to enrich the program.”
The Chiefs recently began a training program to prepare young goalies for playing games. They also host events for the community to participate in, such as attending the NYCFC game at CitiField together.
A large goal of the soccer program is to get the kids outside and playing together during practice and games. They also aim to keep the kids active, hosting winter training sessions in the school gyms during the off season.
“To me a good training session, for a three or four year old, is that they didn’t leave the field, they stayed, they smiled, they kicked the ball,” Magaraci said. “They learn what it is to be on a team and by the end of the season, they’re scrimmaging games, they’re passing to their friends, they’re shooting on goal.”
“When they come out here, there’s no cell phones or electronics, the kids are playing,” Magaraci added. “They make soccer friends who may not be in their class at school. Everybody comes, they exercise, and they’re all excited to see each other.”
Madison Gusler/Herald
A $34,000 grant has been obtained to help refurbish the Lakeview Peace Garden.
Leydi Iraheta, left, Ryan Joseph, Artaan Butt, and Ethan Velasquez play soccer during practice with the West Hempstead Chiefs.
Miguel Castro/Herald
Thomas Mascia is due back in court on May 21
“comfortable” continuing with the case that day and adjourned it until May 21.
A representative from District Attorney Anne Donnelly’s office said, “We plan to move forward with our prosecution on the next court date.”
Mascia’s parents, Thomas Sr. and Dorothy, are also expected to return to court on May 21. They were charged with criminal possession of a firearm, which was discovered during a state investigation into their property they share with their son to recover the younger Mascia’s weapons, along with any other guns. During the search, nearly $800,000 in cash was seized from Mascia’s home and linked to his parents, authorities said.
His parents have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
In 1993, Mascia Sr., a former NYPD officer, pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to distribute cocaine. As a convicted felon, Mascia Sr. is not allowed to possess a firearm.
All three appeared in court on Wednesday wearing green accessories, since a green ribbon is an internationally recognized symbol for mental health awareness. Mascia wore a green ribbon on his lapel, his mother a green shawl, and his father a green tie.
A Forgotten American Treasure
Benjamin Franklin’s Poor Richard’s Almanac appeared from 1732 to 1758. Amongst other information, it provided pithy sayings and proverbs, many of which have withstood the test of time.
“An empty bag cannot stand upright.”
“Anger is never without a reason, but seldom a good one.”
“Anoint a villain and he’ll stab you: stab him and he’ll anoint you.”
“An old young man will be a young old man.”
“Don’t think to hunt two hares with one dog.”
“Eat few suppers and you’ll need few medicines.”
“Great almsgiving, lessens no man’s living.”
“Happy’s the wooing that’s not long a doing.”
“He that lies down with dogs, shall rise up with fleas.”
“If your riches are yours, why don’t you take them with you to the other world.”
“Lost time is never found again.”
“The noblest question in the world is, what good may I do in it?”
“They who have nothing to trouble them, will be troubled at nothing.”
“The sleeping fox catches no poultry.”
“The tongue is ever turning to the aching tooth.”
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Merrick Rd., Rockville
Mascia set off a multi-state manhunt after reporting he had been shot in the leg while patrolling near Exit 17 of the Southern State Parkway on Oct. 30. Mascia claims that around 11:45 p.m. he had stopped to help a person he thought to be in distress before being shot.
The alleged shooter was described as a dark-skinned man driving a Dodge Charger with a temporary New Jersey license plate.
On Nov. 1, Mascia left Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow in a wheelchair to the cheers of a few hundred fellow state troopers. A few days later, he was suspended without pay and stripped of his trooper ID, duty weapon and badge.
After identifying several inconsistencies in Mascia’s story — and a lack of
body camera footage — a state investigation concluded he had violated official policy and falsely reported the incident.
Investigators determined that Mascia intentionally shot himself in the leg with his personal gun at a nearby park, which was discovered by state police in the search and matched to bullet casings discovered at the crime scene on the parkway.
“Our investigation determined that Mascia deliberately shot himself, and he lied about it,” New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said at a January news conference.
Mascia resigned from the New York State Police on Jan. 24. Three days later, Mascia turned himself in to police and was charged with tampering with physical evidence, falsely reporting an incident and official misconduct.
This is a developing story.
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Courtesy New York State Police thomas mascia was expected to take a plea deal in court on may 7.
VALENTINA KESABIAN
Clarke Senior Lacrosse
IT’S BEEN AN IMPRESSIVE rise for Clarke’s girls’ lacrosse program since it endured a winless 2022 campaign, and Kesabian has been a major part of the turnaround. Last spring she helped lead the Rams to 10 wins, scoring 26 goals and earning All-Conference honors in the process. This season, both the third-year attack and the team continued to flourish. Kesabian finished with 39 goals and 13 assists, and Clarke won 12 of 15 games.
GAMES TO WATCH
Thursday, May 15
Softball playoffs: First round at higher seed ...................TBA
Boys Lacrosse: Freeport at Kennedy .........................5
Boys Lacrosse: Elmont at
Baseball: Elmont at West Hempstead
G.N. South at V.S. Central ..........................5 p.m.
Friday, May 16
Boys Lacrosse: Garden City at Carey....................4:30 p.m.
Boys Lacrosse: Oceanside at Farmingdale................5 p.m.
Boys Lacrosse: Plainedge at South Side ...................5 p.m.
Boys Lacrosse: Massapequa at Syosset ...................5 p.m.
Saturday, May 17
Softball: Nassau quarterfinals at higher seed ................TBA
Monday, May 19
Softball: Nassau semifinals GM1 at higher seed ...........TBA
Tuesday, May 20
Softball: Nassau semifinals GM2 at lower seed.............TBA
Baseball: Nassau Class A quarterfinals GM 3 ................TBA
Baseball: Nassau Class B semifinals GM 2 ...................TBA
Baseball: Nassau Class AAA play-in games ...................TBA
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 season. Please send the following information: Name, School, Grade, Sport and accomplishments to Sports@liherald.com.
Rams swing for winning season
By PATRICK MOQUIN sports@liherald.com
Bouncing back from a 3-13 record last year, West Hempstead baseball has regained winning form in 2025 and is intent on finishing the regular season strong.
Coach Ron Bauer said he is focused on nurturing a love for the sport first.
“There have been bumps and bruises, as every baseball season has, but right now we’re 9-7,” Bauer said. “The biggest thing is that we keep saying we want to compete, and every game has been pretty competitive.”
Teams in the Countywide division don’t compete in the playoffs, so the Rams’ final three games will also serve as a sendoff to several valuable seniors. When Bauer began his coaching career at West Hempstead four years ago, many players who are now seniors began their high school careers alongside him.
Seniors like Bryan Tator and Kyle Johnson went from upstarts to team leaders while Bauer was still developing as a coach. Both players are now massive parts of the lineup; Tator bats second and Johnson is the cleanup hitter who also maintains a role as a starting pitcher.
“When they were freshmen, we kind of came into this four-year journey together,” Bauer said. “We grew together, Since the beginning, we talked about building this program and make something special. Of course, everyone wants to be county champions, but it’s more about building a program the right way.”
Senior leadership doesn’t always translate directly to the box score, and there are other contributors that Bauer will soon miss. Jacob Lopez is such a consistent winner of West Hempstead’s Coach’s Award that the Bauer said that he could easily name it after him.
Described as a “keystone” player, Lopez has earned the respect of his teammates and set a positive example, proving even more valuable off the field. He is one of several seniors who will soon leave the program in good hands.
Brian Tator is one of West
seniors
program for four years with coach Ron Bauer.
Bauer said that West Hempstead’s resurgence in the Countywide division runs through sophomore Timothy Pendergast, the Rams’ ace pitcher who also bats third in the lineup. Pendergast is a rising star with two years remaining in the program, making him an immensely promising player moving forward regardless of his competition.
For a West Hempstead team that profoundly struggled last year, a hot start in 2025 remains a highlight among the players. As Bauer said, the seniors’ ultimate goal was not to win a championship but leave the program better than they found it. In a 4-0 start to the regular
been
season, the Rams earned more wins by April 10 than they did in all of 2024. They currently have a 9-7 record with three games left.
The head coach may simply be focused on fostering a love for baseball, but the stakes late in West Hempstead’s regular season are straightforward. If the Rams manage to win one of their final three games, one against Sewanhaka and two against Elmont, they will earn their first winning record since 2022. For the seniors, it would be a just reward for years of perseverance. For younger players, it could be a massive steppingstone to further progress.
Bill Kelly/Herald
Hempstead’s
who’ve
with the baseball
A bipartisan effort to protect IVF access
Gillen leads push for bill safeguarding fertility treatments, hoping for congressional momentum
By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com
U.S. Rep. Laura Gillen, a Democrat representing New York’s 4th Congressional District, and Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler, of the 17th District, have reintroduced a bipartisan bill aimed at protecting access to in vitro fertilization across the country.
The Access to Family Building Act, which Gillen is shepherding with support from Lawler and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, seeks to federally codify the right to access IVF services. The legislation is in response to growing concerns that reproductive technologies like IVF are being threatened by recent state-level legal developments and court rulings.
During a virtual press conference on May 7, Gillen emphasized the importance of ensuring legal certainty for families relying on reproductive technology. Infertility, she said, is a widespread issue affecting Americans of all backgrounds, and she called for Congress to act swiftly to protect the procedure.
“We believe, like most Americans do, that the right to start and grow family through IVF should be protected,” Gil-
len said. “The Access to Family Building Act will simply ensure that IVF remains accessible to families in every state.”
Lawler echoed Gillen’s sentiments, sharing his own family’s experience with fertility challenges. He reaffirmed his support for protecting IVF access, calling it a nonpartisan issue with widespread public backing. Lawler also referenced other related legislative efforts he supports, including tax credits and insurance mandates to reduce the financial burden of IVF treatments.
“Access to IVF should not be a partisan issue,” he said. “We want to help people through this journey and certainly make sure that their right to IVF is protected.”
The press event also featured Barbara Collura, president and CEO of Resolve: The National Infertility Association, who stressed the emotional and financial toll of infertility and the need for guaranteed nationwide access to IVF.
“There are so many challenges that our communities face in building their families,” Collura said. “Our goal is to reduce and eliminate those barriers. We know firsthand that our communities want to know that IVF is protected in all 50 states.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, IVF accounted for nearly 3 percent for U.S. births in 2022, with over 91,000 babies born through assisted reproductive technology.
Democrats that year introduced the Right to Build Families Act, to protect access to IVF and other fertility treatments amid concerns after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. The bill was blocked by Senate Republicans.
The lawmakers emphasized the bipartisan nature of the new legislation, with Gillen noting that Republican support like Lawler’s is vital to passing it in the current Congress.
When the Herald asked about the path forward, both lawmakers said they planned to advocate within their parties and with the congressional leadership to advance the bill through committee and onto the House floor.
The legislation comes amid renewed national attention to IVF following recent court rulings in states like Alabama, where embryos created through IVF were legally recognized as children, prompting clinics to suspend services due to the legal risks.
“I think it’s really important to dem-
U.S. Representatives Laura Gillen and Mike Lawler announced bipartisan legislation to protect nationwide access to in vitro fertilization at a virtual press conference on May 7.
onstrate that this is not a partisan issue,” Gillen said. “This is an easy one for us to agree on. We want to support couples and individuals who want to bring a child into the world. IVF may be the only way that they can do that.”
Attend Hofstra’s Virtual
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Saturday, June 7, 2025 10 a.m.
At Hofstra University, graduate students grow the seeds to advance in their career. Hear from representatives across 200 programs that include business, communications, education, engineering, health sciences, nursing, and psychology, and learn all the ways your success can sprout at Hofstra University. Your future awaits.
For event details and to RSVP, visit hofstra.edu/visit
Herald file photo
Chalk S. State crashes up to bad judgment
By AINSLEY MARTINEZ amartinez@liherald.com
Second story in a series on the Southern State Parkway.
Ana Marte, 67, said that a fatal car accident on the Southern State Parkway in January changed her life.
Her grandson Anthonie Marte, 23, was severely injured in a one-car crash shortly after 11 p.m. on Jan. 12, in the eastbound lanes not far from Exit 30, near Farmingdale and Massapequa, according to the New York State Police.
Investigators said that the car in which Marte was a passenger, a black 2016 Dodge Dart, was traveling at a high rate of speed and weaving between lanes before the driver lost control and crashed into a tree.
Two rear-seat passengers, ages 23 and 21, were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver, Jaden Dsouza, 19, of College Point, Queens, and Marte, of East Elmhurst, Queens, who was in the front passenger seat, were both extricated from the vehicle and transported to a nearby hospital in serious condition.
Marte’s grandmother said he suffered major head injuries, and she still takes care of him daily, feeding him and giving him pain medicine. He is slowly recovering, with doctors’ appointments and physical therapy. “He’s like a baby again,” she said. “He doesn’t want to go outside because he’s scared, and all he does is sleep.”
Marte does not remember the accident, his grandmother said.
Dsouza was later charged with one count of driving while ability impaired by drugs, second-degree manslaughter, first-degree vehicular manslaughter, second-degree assault and aggravated vehicular homicide, police said.
six years, with the number of fatal crashes in a year reaching as high as six.
Crashes resulting in serious personal injury in Nassau have remained relatively low throughout the period, with no more than two reported in any given year.
While most incidents are non-fatal, serious crashes often involve an added risk: intoxication. Speed and distraction remain consistent contributing factors, but impairment by drugs or alcohol increases the potential for deadly outcomes.
“It’s on the driver for the most part,” State Police Capt. Mike Rhodes said. “If they’re inattentive, if they’re speeding, if they’re not following the vehicle and traffic law, they do not understand the severity of what could happen.”
Rhodes oversees 56 state troopers and eight sergeants, many of whom patrol the 25.3-mile long Southern State. Most accidents, he said, occur during peak congestion, at around 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Crash data from the state police show a fluctuating but persistent pattern of accidents on the parkway over the past six years, with fatal crashes increasing in 2024.
In 2019, there were 3,127 crashes on the Nassau County stretch of the parkway, including six fatalities. That number dropped to 2,331 in 2020, but rose again in subsequent years, reaching 2,716 in 2022 and 2,725 in 2023. In 2024, state police recorded 2,549 crashes and five fatalities. Thus far this year, there have been 328 crashes and one fatality.
“A lot of these things, they hit every single age category,” Rhodes said.
To combat the persistent problem, state police focus on enforcement and outreach. Not every traffic stop results in a citation; many serve as opportunities for education.
Personal injury attorney Stephen Cohen said that in his more than five decades of handling lawsuits, most of those that involve accidents on the Southern State involve intoxicated drivers.
Cohen, a partner at the law firm Cohen and Jaffe, in New Hyde Park, said that speed, intoxication and reckless driving continue to be the common factors in the region’s most serious accidents.
“I don’t believe road design is an issue at all,” Cohen said. “Posting more signs to slow down isn’t an answer, because when somebody is either speeding or just intoxicated, they don’t really care what the sign says.”
Many collisions during rush hour, he explained, stem from traffic congestion and insufficient braking distance. “People are gliding along, and they hit a certain spot, and all of a sudden they weren’t prepared, because they’re going 70 miles an hour,” Cohen said. “So you
see a lot of rear-end collisions, not necessarily death-related.”
Fatal crashes, he noted, often involve younger drivers, high speeds and intoxication or impairment.
“You don’t see fatalities at 11 o’clock in the morning,” Cohen said. “You just don’t. You may see them at 4 in the morning. When your ability to observe is not sharp because of either impairment or intoxication, the car is going to go airborne. And if there happens to be a tree there, that’s the next thing you’re going to hit.”
In his practice, Cohen said, the firm represents victims or passengers, but not intoxicated drivers.
Under state law, he noted, lawsuits require plaintiffs to meet the “serious injury” threshold defined in insurance law. In cases involving fatalities, death, families must petition a Surrogate’s Court to appoint a representative for the estate before filing a lawsuit. That process can take over a year, he said.
Insurance coverage limits often dictate how quickly a case can be resolved. “If somebody has — let’s say, the responsible party — has a $100,000 policy, that case is going to be over in two seconds,” Cohen said.
Efforts to reform wrongful death laws in New York have repeatedly stalled, despite advocacy from legal organizations.
Despite changes in laws and vehicle technology over the years, Cohen said, the root problems remain unchanged.
“It only seems to get worse because cars are faster than they were 20, 30 years ago,” he said. “There’s more people drinking or doing some sort of drugs. And that’s what you see in all horrific accidents.”
Additional reporting by Mohammad Rafiq.
Accident data from the New York State Police
2019 – Total: 3,987
(3,127 Nassau, 860 Suffolk)
Serious personal injury: 2 (Nassau)
Fatal: 8 (6 Nassau, 2 Suffolk)
2020 – Total: 2,977
(2,331 Nassau, 646 Suffolk)
Serious personal injury: 3 (2 Nassau, 1 Suffolk)
Fatal: 9 (6 Nassau, 3 Suffolk)
2021 – Total: 3,566
(2,782 Nassau, 784 Suffolk)
Serious personal injury: 1 (Nassau)
Fatal: 9 (6 Nassau, 3 Suffolk)
2022 – Total: 3,552
(2,716 Nassau, 836 Suffolk)
Serious personal injury:
5 (1 Nassau, 4 Suffolk)
Fatal: 13 (5 Nassau, 8 Suffolk)
2023 – Total: 3,500
(2,725-Nassau, 775-Suffolk)
Serious personal injury: 1 (Nassau)
Fatal: 6 (3 Nassau, 3 Suffolk)
2024 – Total: 3,405
(2,549 Nassau, 856 Suffolk)
Serious personal injury:
2 (1 Nassau, 1 Suffolk)
Fatal: 15 (5 Nassau, 10 Suffolk)
2025* – Total: 426 (328 Nassau, 98 Suffolk)
Serious personal injury: 0
Fatal: 3 (1 Nassau, 2 Suffolk)
* To date
Tim Baker/Herald
Crash data from the New York State Police shows a fluctuating, but persistent, pattern of accidents on the Southern State Parkway over the past
Nonprofit partners with Malverne theater
that helps fund and distribute films, contacted the Stampfels. Hudson is familiar with what happens to theaters around the country after they close — developing retail or residential space that doesn’t serve the community — and pitched an increasingly popular alternative, transitioning the theater to a nonprofit model.
“When the theater closed I thought, why couldn’t we do that here?” Hudson said. “Why can’t we just have Malverne Cinema and Art Center be a 501(c)(3) on its own, and we can raise funds not just from community members, but foundations, or offices, or people who just care about this kind of thing working.”
E2AC will serve as a fiscal sponsor for the theater, giving the theater nonprofit status as the cinema applies for this status on its own. In the meantime, they can start raising funds, begin renovations and open as quickly as possible.
“We’ve been very involved in this process — between the new operators, the old operators, the landlord,” Malverne Mayor Tim Sullivan said at the May 7 village board meeting, “and the decision was made not to put a coat of paint, throw the lights back on and go
where they’ll show independent and mainstream movies, have live performances, drawing interest from everybody in the community.”
Sullivan also explained that as nonprofit, the theater won’t have to rely solely on ticket sales, but can accept taxdeductible donations.
“The idea, really, is not just to renovate the theater, but to update it with things like a new floor, make it more ADA-accessible, and then to really look at how we can create each theater to have its own theme,” Hudson said, referring to the Americans with Disabilities Act. He said that one theater might cater to families with young children, creating a bright space that allowed kids the freedom to move around during a movie. Another theater might focus on senior citizens, offering more matinees or screening more classic films. “We want those rooms to really feel connected to the population that’s coming to visit the theater,” Hudson said.
“I think we’re going to end up being a really unique model,” he added. “We’ll probably be the first ones to do this, which is really exciting. And if all goes well, we will get copied by a lot of places around the country, which adds to the
in a production company, in roles ranging from stage performers to light and sound design. Maria Dente, president and director of Dente’s Dreamers and a former special-education teacher, was looking for a place to house her operation when she was connected with Hudson.
“We’re going to employ the community of individuals that really aren’t necessarily well represented in the job force,” Dente said.
The building already has a cement stage that has been covered by two movie screens, which will give Dente’s Dreamers a place to put on live theater productions and rent out the stage to others.
“The Malverne Cinema and Art Center is truly a landmark for so many people, not only in Malverne, but so many people outside of Malverne who come to that theater,” said Elizabeth Krull, president of the village Chamber of Commerce. “Bringing it back is critical, because it’s really going to help boost our local economy. As we bring foot traffic back into Malverne, it will be beneficial for other businesses.”
“I’ve been coming here and harassing the board about the theater since September, when they closed,” resident
ing up. I’m very happy that it’s going forward, and I’m sure that the people who are going to be running it are going to do a wonderful job.”
The Cinema and Art Center will host a community discussion and information session at Connolly Station on May 29, at 7 p.m. There is a suggested donation of $20. This session will give residents a chance to share their ideas about the theater and hear more about the vision that E2AC and Dente’s Dreamers have it. You can register at
Nine & Dine
Teeing Off for Change
HONORING MEN & COMPANIES ADVANCING WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP
Jeffrey Bessen/Herald the theater has been a fixture in the community since it opened in 1947.
HERALD SCHOOLS
Students had the opportunity to learn about the
Malverne students celebrate STEAM night
Students of the Malverne school district and their families enjoyed an evening of hands-on activities designed to inspire an interest in STEAM learning on April 24. STEAM is a teaching approach that combines science, technology, engineering, art, and math to allow the students to develop problem solving, design, and critical thinking skills.
STEAM night allowed all students to engage in chemistry, biology and physical science experiments, as well as robotics, art, math games, and science-themed crafts.
Malverne’s middle and high school students presented their research projects in the library. Families were invit-
ed to view projects and learn more about the research procedures and conclusion from the students.
“It was a night that not only showcased talents of our students, but highlighted the power of STEAM to ignite imagination, foster collaboration, and inspire innovators of tomorrow,” said Malverne district STEM supervisor, Debbie Langone. “We are all scientists and engineers in our daily lives, and we strive to move full STEAM forward by sparking students’ curiosity as they grow into the scientists, engineers, artists, and visionaries who will shape the future.”
–Madison Gusler
Photos courtesy Malverne school district
robotics program and operate one of the robots used in high school competitions.
Malverne High School student Eva Figueroa, left, explains her science research project, “Testing the Toxicity of Energy Drinks on E.coli,” to a parent.
Ariana Chinchilla, left, Shenieka Grant, and Minnie Joa Feng display certificates of recognition they received from Town of Hempstead Deputy Town Supervisor Dorothy Goosby for their science research success.
Malverne High School student
Jayden Jolly, left, guides Davison Avenue student Jake Louthan through a chemical reaction experiment in the science lab at STEAM Night.
Focusing on
Yourconnectionmind-body
A balanced life starts with your emotional fitness
Some people think that only people with mental illnesses have to pay attention to their mental health.
But the truth is that your emotions, thoughts and attitudes affect your energy, productivity and overall health. Good mental health strengthens your ability to cope with everyday hassles and more serious crises and challenges. Good mental health is essential to creating the life you want.
It’s always important to take stock of your mental well-being and its connection to overall health. Just as you brush your teeth or get a flu shot or other immunization, you can take steps to promote your mental health. A great way to start is by learning to deal with stress.
How stress hurts
Stress can eat away at your well-being, like acid eating away at your stomach. Actually, stress can contribute to stomach pains and lots of other problems, like headaches, insomnia, overeating, back pain, high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke, irritability, vulnerability to infection, and poorer brain functioning.
Stress also can lead to serious mental health problems, like depression and anxiety disorders. If you think you have such a problem, get help.
Of course you can’t magically zap all sources of stress. But you can learn to deal with them in a way that promotes the well-being you want — and deserve. You can figure out ways to cope better with whatever comes your way. And decades of research suggest which steps are most likely to work.
The evidence
The concrete steps mental health professionals suggest are not based on guesses, fads or advice from grandma (though she probably got a lot right). They represent hundreds of research studies with thousands of participants, often conducted over decades and backed by major universities or government agencies.
This research shows that how good you feel is to a fairly large extent up to you. No matter how stressful your situation, you can take steps to promote your well-being.
Focus on self-care
In order to maintain and strengthen your mental and emotional health, it’s important to pay attention to your own needs and feelings. Don’t let stress and negative emotions build up. Try to maintain a balance between your daily responsibilities and the things you enjoy. If you take care of yourself, you’ll be better prepared to deal with challenges if and when they arise.
Taking care of yourself includes pursuing activities that naturally release endorphins and contribute to feeling good. In addition to physical exercise, endorphins are also naturally released when we:
Do things that positively impact others. Being useful to others and being valued for what you do can help build self-esteem.
Practice self-discipline. Self-control naturally leads to a sense of hopefulness and can help you overcome despair, helplessness, and other negative thoughts.
Appeal to your senses. Stay calm and energized by appealing to the five senses: sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste. Listen to music that lifts your mood, place flowers where you will see and smell them, massage your hands and feet, or sip a warm drink.
Engage in meaningful, creative work. Do things that challenge your creativity and make you feel productive, whether or not you get paid for it — things like gardening, drawing, writing, playing an instrument, or building something. Make time for contemplation and appreciation. Think about the things you’re grateful for. Meditate, pray, enjoy the sunset, or simply take a moment to pay attention to what is good, positive, and beautiful as you go about your day.
Limit unhealthy habits like worrying. Try to avoid becoming absorbed by repetitive mental habits — negative thoughts about yourself and the world that suck up time, drain your energy, and trigger feelings of anxiety, fear, and depression.
Sometimes it all seems too much to handle
Keep your ‘thought life’ healthy and your stress level low
Life gives people plenty of reasons to be stressed.
Relationship problems, child-rearing issues, job woes and a lack of money are just some of life’s complications that can weigh people down — and cause health problems.
In today’s society, stress and change often are thought of as the same thing. Stress is a physiological and psychological response to a change in a situation the body and mind find to be overwhelming.
With the fast pace of work and home, being constantly inundated with technology and still wanting to have time to connect with those around you, life can feel overwhelming and stressful at times.
“It’s difficult to stay healthy and energized when stress is a daily reality,” says Dr. Greg Wells. “Chronic stress can damage your body, threaten your mental health, put a strain on relationships, and take the joy out of life.”
But there’s no reason to surrender to stress, Wells, author of “The Ripple Effect: Eat, Sleep, Move and Think Better,“ says. He suggests some techniques that can help you have a healthier “thought life” and recover from chronic stress.
Move your body. Rhythmic, repeated motion is particularly soothing to the mind and body. A long walk, cycling, swimming, or running will all work, but any kind of movement relieves tension, improves circulation and clears your mind.
Get into nature. Head to the garden or the park to lower your blood pressure, strengthen your immune system, reduce tension and depression, and boost your mood. “It’s stunning how good it is for your health to be in nature,” Wells says. “And I recommend you leave the cell phone and earbuds at home.”
Practice yoga or Tai Chi. Therapy, yoga and Tai Chi are good ways to decrease stress and anxiety, increase energy and boost the immune system. They also give you more staminaand improve the quality of your sleep. Have perspective. Don’t be so quick to conclude that you “can’t handle” a stressful situation. “This is truly a mind-over-matter opportunity,” Wells says. “Believing that you are strong and resourceful actually makes you stronger and more resourceful.”
Change the nature of your response. Research indicates that taking an active, problem-solving approach to life’s challenges relieves stress and can transform it into something positive. If you withdraw, deny the problem, or spend all your time venting, you’ll feel helpless. Instead, be determined to make a change, put effort into it, and plan for better results.
Practice slow, deep breathing. Start applying the power of deep breathing each day. It will make a huge difference. Wells recommends you start small by taking three deep breaths each time you sit down at your desk — in the morning, after breaks, after lunch and so on. It will help you become more patient,
Block time for single-tasking. Each day, schedule time in your calendar for focusing exclusively on one task. This task should be something that is important to you. “People love to talk about multi-tasking, but while doing several things at once might make it seem as if you are working hard, it’s an illusion,” Wells says. Your body and mind are not designed to work that way and it causes extra stress.
“Ultimately, it’s important to remember that your thoughts have a strong influence over stress levels,” Wells says. “What you choose to think about, or not think about, dictates how your body and mind react to everyday life.”
Photo: Stressful experiences are a normal part of life, and the stress response is a survival mechanism that primes us to respond to threats. Some stress can be considered positive; but when a stressor is negative and can’t be fought off or avoided — such as layoffs at work or a loved one’s medical crisis — or when the experience of stress becomes chronic, our biological responses to stress can impair our physical and mental health.
Photo: Everything starts with the mind. Thoughts, beliefs, emotions and models of reality all influence and affect your biological chemistry. The words that you say to yourself have more of an impact on your health and well-being than you realize.
Queens-Long Island Renal Institute offers Home Hemodialysis/ Certified Home Health Care available through Parker Jewish Institute
Queens-Long Island Renal Institute (QLIRI), a 2025 Bests of Long Island winner and located at The Parker Jewish Institute, now offers a state-of-the-art Home Hemodialysis Program for people battling kidney disease. Those patients who also require Certified Home Health Care can access it conveniently through QLIRI’s affiliate, Parker Jewish Institute.
With QLIRI’s Home Hemodialysis Program, patients can transition from an in-center setting to receiving hemodialysis from the comfort of their home, using the Tablo Hemodialysis System. Enrolled patients are first trained by a registered nurse. The nurse provides step-by-step guidance four days a week over the course of four weeks, or longer if necessary. With this training, patients learn to use the system before transitioning to the convenience of home hemodialysis.
If needed, patients of Parker’s Certified Home Health Care Agency receive individualized nursing, medical, and rehabilitation services, so they can maintain maximum independence in the comfort of their homes. Home-care services can include skilled-nursing care; physical, occupational and speech therapy; home-health aides; medical social services; medical supplies; and 24-hour telephone availability.
Call (718) 289-2600 with questions. To learn more about QLIRI’s Home Hemodialysis Program, visit qliri.org.
For more on Parker’s Certified Home Health Care, visit parkerinstitute.org.
Health memos are supplied by advertisers and are not written by the Herald editorial staff.
Queens Long Island Renal Institute • 271-11 76th Ave., New Hyde Park • (718) 289-2600
Queens-Long Island Renal Institute is located at the Parker Jewish Institute.
Alcohol and cancer — what will you do?
In a recent Mount Sinai South Nassau “Truth in Medicine” public health poll, 51 percent of metro area residents said they would consider drinking less as a result of the advisory by former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, MD, linking alcohol use to certain types of cancer.
According to the Surgeon General’s advisory, alcohol consumption contributes to nearly 100,000 cancer cases and about 20,000 cancer deaths each year in the United States. Studies show alcohol use increases the risk for breast, colorectal, liver, and esophageal cancer, as well as cancers of the mouth, throat, and voice box.
The poll, sponsored by Four Leaf Federal Credit Union, has sparked a debate over the benefits of reducing or eliminating alcohol consumption, highlighting the tough road ahead for public health experts trying to shift behaviors. Although 58 percent of respondents agree that alcohol can lead to overeating and smoking, fewer than half—46 percent—said they believe it increases the risks of cancer. Meanwhile, 58 percent believe there is a safe level of alcohol that can be consumed without raising one’s risk of cancer.
“Alcohol is a carcinogen, so the more alcohol a person drinks — particularly over time — the greater their risk of developing an alcohol-associated cancer,” said Adhi Sharma, MD, President of Mount Sinai South Nassau. “It would be prudent to add the cancer risk to the warning label, which could have a dual effect of reducing alcohol-related accidents as well as a range of serious health complications, such as liver and heart disease, stroke, depression, and brain damage.”
Studies show that alcohol may increase cancer risk by disrupting cell cycles, triggering chronic inflammation, damaging DNA (which controls cell growth and function), and elevating hormone levels, including estrogen, which plays a role in breast cancer development.
“As a hepatologist and gastroenterologist, I remind my patients
that while complete abstinence is the safest path, reducing consumption (no more than 1 standard drink for women and no more than 2 for a man), staying hydrated, avoiding binge drinking, and supporting liver health with a balanced diet might help mitigate some of alcohol’s toxic effects,” said Pruthvi Patel, MD, Associate Program Director of Outpatient Hepatology, Division of Gastroenterology, Mount Sinai South Nassau, and Associate Professor of Medicine (Liver Diseases), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “But there’s no completely safe level when it comes to cancer risk.”
According to the American Association of Cancer Research’s 2024 Cancer Progress Report, 40 percent of all cancer cases in the United States are associated with modifiable risk factors like alcohol consumption. The Surgeon General affirmed in the advisory that, “The largest burden of alcohol-related cancer in the United States is for breast cancer in women, with an estimated 44,180 cases in 2019, representing 16.4 percent of the approximately 270,000 total breast cancer cases for women.”
Adding the cancer risk warning to alcohol labels may be the inspiration some need to quit drinking alcoholic beverages, as 54 percent of poll respondents say they generally trust warning labels on food and beverages. Seeing the warning in print could provide the motivation for the 20 percent (of those who said they drink alcoholic beverages) to act on their desire to cut back on alcohol.
“I strongly encourage everyone to make it a priority to consider whether they should reduce the amount of alcohol they drink,” said Aaron Glatt, MD, Chief of Infectious Diseases and Chair of the Department of Medicine at Mount Sinai South Nassau. “Additional benefits of drinking less include lowered blood pressure, weight loss, a healthier complexion, sharper mental clarity, balanced mood, reduced anxiety, and better liver function.”
Mount Sinai South Nassau has provided behavioral health and substance use disorder services to Nassau County residents for more than 50 years. The hospital is committed to providing the highest-quality treatment and support to children, adults, and
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A recent Mount Sinai South Nassau “Truth in Medicine” public health poll revealed that 51 percent of metro area residents said they would consider drinking less as a result of the advisory by former U.S. Surgeon General, linking alcohol use to certain types of cancer.
families with a wide variety of symptoms and diagnoses, from substance abuse to anxiety and depression to attention deficithyperactivity disorder and more.
The hospital counseling centers offer outpatient, in-person, and telehealth services in Baldwin and Hempstead; they accept a variety of payment options and use a sliding scale for uninsured patients. Treatment is provided in English and Spanish, as well as in more than 100 other languages via interpreter services. Call (516) 3775400 to schedule an appointment.
One Healthy Way Oceanside, NY 11572 • 877-SOUTH-NASSAU (877-768-8462) • www.mountsinai.org/southnassau
Health memos are supplied by advertisers and are not written by the Herald editorial staff.
Mount Sinai South Nassau is Improving Health Care on the South Shore
The new Fennessy Family Emergency Department at Mount Sinai South Nassau doubles the size of our previous emergency department, o ering 54 private exam rooms with clear lines of sight for physicians, nurses, and support sta . Our new emergency department also o ers a separate triage area, dedicated areas for children and behavioral health patients, and has been designed to reduce wait times and improve patient outcomes.
The Fennessy Family Emergency Department is located within the new Feil Family Pavilion, opening later this year, which will have 40 new critical care suites and nine new operating rooms, designed to support the most complex surgeries on the South Shore.
To learn more visit www.mountsinai.org/feilpavilion
Parker Jewish Institute hosts Medal Day for NYPD’s 105th Precinct
Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation proudly hosted the 2025 Medal Day for the New York Police Departments 105th Precinct.
At the ceremony, which was held in Parker’s spacious auditorium, NYPD officials recognized officers who exemplified extraordinary merit and excellence in their police duties. In attendance were community leaders and supporters, as well as family members who had gathered to show their appreciation.
Michael N. Rosenblut, Parker’s president and CEO, accepted an NYPD award on behalf of Parker. The award recognized Parker’s dedication to the 105th Precinct and Parker’s continued commitment to community partnership with local first responders.
“We were honored to host NYPD’s 105th Precinct Award Ceremony and show our support to New York’s Finest,” Mr. Rosenblut said. “These highly skilled, empathetic officers help ensure the safety
of the Parker Jewish Institute community each and every day.”
About The Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation
The Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation is headquartered in
New Hyde Park, New York. The facility is a leading provider of Short-Term Rehabilitation and Long-Term Care. At the forefront of innovation in patient-centered health care and technology, the Institute is a leader in teaching and geriatric research. Parker Jewish Institute features its own
Parker Jewish Institute • (718) 289-2212
Health memos are supplied by advertisers and are not written by the Herald editorial staff.
medical team, and is nationally renowned as a skilled nursing facility, as well as a provider of community-based health care, encompassing Home Health Care, Medical House Calls, Palliative Care and Hospice. Parker Jewish Institute is also home to Queens-Long Island Renal Institute (QLIRI) — providing patients with safe, comfortable Hemodialysis treatments in a relaxed setting — as well as PRINE Health — a Vascular Center offering advanced vascular services. The Center and QLIRI further Parker’s ability to expand access to essential health-care services to adults in the greater New York metropolitan area. For more information, visit parkerinstitute. org or call (877) 727-5373.
STEPPING OUT
Young imaginations shine
Little Learners Art Lab at Long Island Children’s Museum is filled with year-round creativity
By Danielle Schwab
Long Island Children’s Museum transforms into a colorful hub of creativity for some of its smallet visitors, every Thursday at 11:30 a.m. Its Little Learners Art Lab welcomes young artists — and the grownups with them — for a handson art adventure designed to spark curiosity and imagination.
Whether it’s painting, planting or playing with textures, sessions offer an inviting space where toddlers and preschoolers can explore the world through art. This is more than about creating something beautiful — it’s about growing minds and nurturing self-expression.
“We try to infuse in all of the themes different mediums, exposure to different artists and different approaches to art,” says Ashley Niver, the museum’s director of education. Each week, children are introduced to artists, techniques, and styles through engaging projects and materials, led by museum educators. Parents and grandparents are welcome to join in the fun, making it a bonding experience that’s as enriching for adults as it is for kids. Through these immersive projects, the tots explore their creativity and even make new friends.
“Around a third of our visitors are under the age of five. It’s important for early childhood development to have activities that are process-focused to give them that expressive freedom [to create],” Niver explains.
In each class, young learners are encouraged to ask questions, try new things and take the lead in their creative journey. The program mixes play with gentle guidance, helping children explore big concepts in age-appropriate ways.
The activities act as a gateway to talk about new concepts for young learners as they discover the world around them, combining inquisitive thinking with instructional supervision. On the schedule, May 22, families can explore the lifecycle of a plant while decorating terracotta pots during Art In Bloom. Kids will plant seeds in those pots and take their tiny gardens home to watch, water and nurture as litle sprouts grow into blooming plants.
That’s followed by Crystallized Creations on May 29. The salt-based art project allows kids experiment with textures and observe how salt and paint interact — adding a rocky twist to their creativity.
“Science isn’t just happening behind the scenes. It can
‘Murr’ goes solo
Get ready to laugh — and laugh you will. Prepare for an unforgettable night filled with comedy, chaos and wild antics as Impractical Jokers’ James “Murr” Murray hits the stage on The Errors Tour. Known for his outrageous pranks, laugh-out-loud moments and unpredictable humor, Murr brings the party to you with a show packed full of hilarious stories, ridiculous mishaps and plenty of jaw-dropping moments. With his signature style of comedy and a few unexpected surprises, Murr will have you in stitches from start to finish. It’s surely a non-stop ride of comedy, antics and pure fun you won’t want to miss. For more than a decade, Murr and his lifelong Friends — Sal, Joe and Q — have been making audiences laugh across the country, and now he’s bringing the laughs to you. Murr Live is hysterical — of course, interactive — stand-up comedy, in true Impractical Jokers style. Hangout with Murr as he tells funny stories, shows off his own personal never-before-seen videos from Impractical Jokers and plays Jokers “live” on stage with the audience.
• Weekly Thursdays, 11:30 a.m.-noon
• Admission: $18 adults and children over 1 year old, $16 for seniors, free to members and under one year; additional fees for theater and special programs may apply
• For more information, visit licm.org or call (516) 224-5800
happen when you’re mixing paint and looking at changes in color or how, for instance, the salt disperses the paint pigment,” Niver says.
Other sessions examine techniques like pointillism or even introduce self-portraits in a thoroughly kid-friendly approach.
“When the parents see these ‘sticky moments’ for younger kids where they’re ingrained in these memories and these experiences, they are right there for the ride,” Niver adds.“They’re going through it with their children, and seeing their children light up and experience joy and learning of these new concepts connects the parents to the activities.”
Of course, art doesn’t have to happen in a classroom or museum space, it can also be done right at home! Niver encourages families to use these classes as an accessible way to bring the creativity back to their households.
“We want to give the opportunity for parents to incorporate making art in easy forms at home that may be less daunting for them,” Niver says.
And often, the youngsters can try materials and methods they may not have access to elsewhere. The sessions offer an introduction to new media as well.
“We also try to balance with materials that maybe they wouldn’t be exposed to normally at home. We could bring in easels one day and have the kids do canvas painting,” she adds.
The fun doesn’t stop when class ends. The museum’s exhibits and upcoming events are often tied into the weekly themes. So, when the class concludes, there’s plenty more to explore!
For example, in celebration of National Zoo and Aquarium Month, in June, kids can make majestic underwater creatures using recycled materials and bubble wrap. This is a creative “sneak peek” teaser what’s to come as the museum prepares to open its newest permanent exhibit, “Saltwater Stories,” in October.
Accessibility is another important component of the museum’s approach to arts programming. Little Learners Art Lab provides families with high-quality early childhood education at a fraction of the cost of private art classes or specialized preschool programs, according to the leadership team. The program’s affordability ensures that all children in the community have access to enriching artistic experiences that contribute to cognitive, social, and emotional development.
“Our whole point is to bring people in, and celebrate and cater to the audience that is coming to us daily, and that is the early childhood audience,” Niver says.
“We hope that for years to come families will bring back other children in their family, as their family grows, and continue to value the museum.”
Kids and their adult partners play and create together at the Art Lab. Artistic inspiration involves developing young motor skills as everyone fully engages in the moment.
Friday, May 16, 7 p.m. $65, $55, $45, $35. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny. com.
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Artistic Directors David Finckel (piano) and Wu Han (cello) have assembled a scintillating collection of works that reveal the joy and depth of the chamber music literature. Starting as frequent collaborators, Finckel and Han have been married since 1985. As a duo, they began to tour regularly while retaining residencies in New York. In this program, volin sonatas from the Baroque and Classical eras are performed by the young virtuoso Chad Hoopes, followed by Mendelssohn’s invigorating Second Sonata for cello and piano, a gem of the Romantic era. The art of romantic music hits a high point in the concluding work, in which all combine for a trio by the founder of Czech music, Bed�ich Smetana.
Sunday, May 18, 3 p.m. Tilles Center, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100.
David Finckel, Wu Han and Chad Hoopes
Your Neighborhood CALENDAR
MAY
15
Whiskey & Cigar Night
RSVP now to the Malverne Historical & Preservation Society Whiskey & Cigar Night on June 21. A $50 ticket includes five whiskey samplings and two cigars. Limited tickets available and must be purchased by May 15.
• Where: Joseph L. Landers Memorial Restoration House, 369 Ocean Ave.
• Time: 6-9:30 p.m., June 21
• Contact: malvernehistory.org
Garden
Days
Garden lovers, green thumbs and spring seekers: Old Westbury Gardens’ beloved Garden Days return. Four vibrant days are filled with plants, programs, and purpose, highlighted by the much-anticipated Plant Sale Preview Party on Friday evening. On May 16 (6-8 p.m.), guests are invited to sip, shop and stroll through the gardens during this exclusive first-look event, featuring live music, sweet and savory treats, and early access to a lush array of rare perennials and signature plants grown right here on Long Island. The two-day plant sale runs May 17-18, (10 a.m.-4 p.m.), where shoppers can select from a curated selection of garden favorites with expert guidance from the Gardens’ horticulture staff. Addition highlights include a panel discussion, Guided walks and garden tours and spring celebration chamber concert.
• Where: 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury
• Time: Ongoing, May 15-18
• Contact: Visit oldwestburygardens.org/2025garden-days for full schedule and ticket details
On Exhibit
Nassau County Museum of Art’s latest exhibition, the original “Deco at 100” coincides with the 100th anniversary of the 1925 Paris International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and IndustrialArts (Exposition internationale des arts décoratifs et industriels modernes) that publicly launched the movement. The direct follow-up to the well-received 2023 exhibit, “Our Gilded Age,” it comparably links the period’s signature innovation in the decorative arts, Art Deco, to the fine arts. On view through June 15.
• Where: 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor
• Time: Ongoing
• Contact: (516) 484-9337 or nassaumuseum.org
Jon Lovitz
Comedy legend Jon Lovitz brings his signature wit and unforgettable characters to the Paramount stage for a night of nonstop laughs. Best known for his Emmy-nominated run on SNL and roles in hit films like “A League of Their Own” and “The Wedding Singer,” Lovitz has been a staple of comedy for over 30 years. He got his start acting in high school productions, developing his skills at the University of California, Irvine where he earned a B.A. in Drama. He also studied acting with Tony Barr at the Film Actors Workshop. At the advice of Tony Barr, Jon decided to concentrate solely on comedy. From there his trajectory took off. He began taking classes with the famed improv comedy group The Groundlings in 1982. One year later, Jon got his first acting job on the television show “The Paper Chase: the Second Year.” Two years followed and then he was accepted into The Groundlings main company. In March 1985 The Groundlings appeared on “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson” where Jon premiered his character “Tommy Flanagan of Pathological Liars Anonymous. SNL and numerous other offers followed and Jon was on his, working non-stop since. Along with his comedy, Jon is well known for his distinctive voice. It has served him will in his varied TV and film career. He is one of the few performers to start as an actor and then become a stand-up comedian who successfully headlines venues nationwide. Jon’s humor is unique, which is attributable to his quirky personality, and he is sure to entertain. $59.50, $49.50, $39.50, $29.50.
‘Elephant & Piggie’s We Are in a Play!’
The beloved musical adventure, ripped from the pages of Mo Willems’ beloved award-winning, best-selling children’s books, is back on stage at Long Island Children’s Museum. Willems’ classic characters Elephant and Piggie storm the stage in a rollicking musical romp filled with plenty of pachydermal peril and swiney suspense perfect for young audiences.
• Where: Museum Row, Garden City
• Time: Also May 17 and May 20-22, times vary
• Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800
MAY
17
Mental Health & Wellness Workshop
Participate in Healing Hearts & Finding Purpose, hosted by Brittany Jenkins LCSW, founder & CEO of Beauty in Healing Counseling Services. Reflect, heal, and find fellowship as you connect the dots to propel into a purposeful and fulfilling future.
• Where: Lakeview Public Library, 1120 Woodfield Rd., Rockville Centre
• Time: 11 a.m.
• Contact: Brittanyjenkins@ BIHCounseling.com
Art Explorations
Converse, collaborate and create at Nassau County Museum of Art. Kids and their adult partners can talk about and make art together. Enjoy reading and play in the Reading Room, and contribute to The Lobby Project, a collaborative art installation. Registration required.
• Where: 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor
• Time: noon-3 p.m.
• Contact: (516) 484-9337 or nassaumuseum.org
Caregiver of Autistic Children workshop
Kiwanis Club of Malverne hosts a free workshop with Jennifer Dull, PhD. at Malverne Public Library. Learn calming strategies.
• Where: 61 St. Thomas Place, Malverne
• Time: 1-3 p.m.
• Contact: eliza.kiwanis@gmail.com
‘H.M.S. Pinafore’
The classic Gilbert & Sullivan comic opera, in Gilbert & Sullivan Light Opera Company of Long Island’s all-new production, staged at West Hempstead Public Library.
• Where: 500 Hempstead Ave.
• Time: 2 p.m.
• Contact: whplibrary.org
Malverne UFSD Budget Vote/ Trustee Election
Do your civic duty and vote for the 202526 budget and elect trustees to the school board.
• Where: Howard T. Herber Auditorium, 75 Ocean Ave., Malverne
• Time: 7 a.m.-9 p.m.
West Hempstead UFSD Budget Vote/Election
• Where: The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington.
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com
MAY
18
New York Equestrian Center Horse Show/Camp Open House
Bring the family for unforgettable day at the stables. Highlights include free pony rides, bounce house, hobby horse race at $10 per entry (fun for all ages). With summer camp tours and info sessions. Whether you’re a seasoned rider or just curious, this is the perfect opportunity to explore NYEC, meet the team, the horses and experience the excitement of this horse show.
• Where: 633 Eagle Ave., West Hempstead
• Time: 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Contact: (516) 486-9673
60th Anniversary
MLK March
NAACP of Lakeview hosts a march to commemorate 60 years since Martin Luther King Jr. visited Lakeview to support the desegregation of the Malverne school district.
• Where: Lakeview Public Library, 1120 Woodfield Road., Rockville Centre
• Time: 2 p.m.
Do your civic duty and vote for 2025-26 budget and elect trustees to the school board.
• Where: West Hempstead Secondary School North Gymnasium 400 Nassau Blvd., West Hempstead
• Time: 7 a.m-9 p.m.
Science Symposium and Art Exhibit
Check out the experiments and art completed by Malverne students of all ages.
• Where: Malverne High School Gymnasium 80 Ocean Ave., Malverne
• Time: 7 p.m.
Having an event? Items on the Calendar page are listed free of charge. The Herald welcomes listings of upcoming events, community meetings and items of public interest. All submissions should include date, time and location of the event, cost, and a contact name and phone number. Submissions can be emailed to kbloom@ liherald.com.
House fire on Wright Ave., no injuries
The Malverne Fire Department responded to a call regarding a house fire on April 28. A fire broke out in the attic of a home at 146 Wright Ave. Malverne’s Chief Jay Houlihan had control of the scene.
“Due to a quick response and aggressive moves by our members with a line to the attic, the extension of the fire was limited and we got it under control quickly,” Malverne FD’s public information officer, Dave Gildea, said. Neighbors alerted the residents of
Water providers are tested in taste contest
By CHARLES SHAW cshaw@liherald.com
What’s the best-tasting tap water on Long Island?
That was the question posed to students at Farmingdale State College during the Long Island Water Conference’s 37th annual drinking water tasting contest, held during National Drinking Water Week.
The conference, also known as LIWC, is made up of members of public and private water suppliers across Long Island. According to LIWC Commissioner Robert McEvoy, the event has taken place at the Farmingdale campus for the past four years, sparking student interest in water quality.
“It draws in a lot of the students,” McEvoy said. “They’re interested in where the water comes from, and if there’s any variance in taste. We also try to promote tap water as being the most regulated and tested, even more so than bottled water.”
The finals, held on May 7, featured 16 Long Island water providers competing for the title of best-tasting drinking water in Nassau and Suffolk counties. Students, faculty and staff on campus participated in a blind taste test, sampling water from each provider and casting their votes.
The Oyster Bay Water District won the Nassau County competition, while
the Greenlawn Water District took the top spot in Suffolk. Both districts will advance to the New York State Regional Metro Tap Water Taste Contest in New York City in August, where they will compete for a spot in the statewide competition held later that month at the Great New York State Fair in Syracuse.
LIWC representatives at the event also took the opportunity to educate attendees about the water supplied to their homes, and assured them that Long Island’s drinking water remains of high quality.
McEvoy, who is also a commissioner
RichnerLIVE and Herald Gives Back
and the chairman of the Oyster Bay Water District, said that frequent testing is conducted by the state Department of Health to ensure the water’s quality.
“It’s safe, it’s highly regulated and it’s extremely affordable,” McEvoy said. “It’s something that should be utilized by the public, and it’s a far greater value than bottled water.”
Michael Rich, a commissioner and the secretary of the Oyster Bay district, has taken part in the competition for the past 10 years, educating the community about local water supplies.
“It’s great to come out to the commu-
nity and have everyone get involved with local water,” Rich said.
He noted that most people aren’t aware of where their water comes from. On Long Island, drinking water comes from an aquifer system, a naturally formed underground storage area.
In an aquifer system, unwanted chemicals are capable of seeping into the water supply. The LIWC urges residents to dispose of hazardous household waste properly at designated town drop-off sites and never pour it down drains, into storm sewers or on the ground.
“Anything that we put on the ground will ultimately find its way into the aquifer,” Rich stated.
Lawn irrigation, he said, accounts for much of Long Island’s water use. He urged residents to follow odd/even watering schedules, watering on days that match their house numbers. He also highlighted the importance of leak detection, noting that undetected leaks can waste hundreds of thousands of gallons each month, making it vital for both residents and water providers to monitor and address them.
Rich added that it doesn’t take much water to maintain a healthy lawn.
“You don’t have to water your lawn for a half-hour a day,” Rich said. “You’ll get the same results 15 minutes a day, so we try to stress that.”
For more information on the local water supply, visit liwc.org.
Charles Shaw/Herald
Oyster Bay Water District Secretary Michael Rich, second from right, and Treasurer Nick Niznik offered samples to students during the Long Island Water Conference’s annual water tasting event at Farmingdale State College.
On April 8th the Herald and RichnerLIVE hosted the Top Lawyers of Long Island Awards Gala at the Heritage Club of Bethpage. The WE CARE Fund, the charitable arm of the Nassau County Bar Association, which supports a range of local nonprofits was the evening’s charity beneficiary and the recipient of $2000.
From left to right: Herald publisher and CEO Stuart Richner; RichnerLIVE executive director Amy Amato, Elizabeth Post, Jeffrey Catterson and Sandy Strenger of the Nassau County Bar Association.
Public Notices
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY
COMPANY. NAME: SNAPPIE HANDYMAN LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York, (SSNY) on 02/25/25. NY Office location: Nassau County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of the process to:Steve Nappie 1050 Jackson Ave Franklin Square NY 11010
Purpose: To engage in any lawful act or activity. 152942
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU. HEMPSTEAD LLC d/b/a HEMPSTEAD 126, LLC, Plaintiff -againstRIVIERA DINER LTD, et al Defendant(s).
Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated March 27, 2025 and entered on April 2, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction “Rain or Shine” on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on June 4, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at a point on the North side of the Hempstead Turnpike, distant 121.57 feet (deed) 121.06 (Actual) Westerly from the corner formed by the intersection of the North side of Hempstead Turnpike with the West side of the Greenway South; being a plot 71.78 feet by 92.59 feet by 70 feet by 108.39 feet. Section: 33 Block: 251 Lot(s): 3, 4, and 5
Said premises known as 564 HEMPSTEAD TURNPIKE, WEST HEMPSTEAD, NY 11552
Approximate amount of lien $2,949,166.85 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 616007/2022.
OSCAR A. PRIETO, ESQ., Referee KRISS & FEUERSTEIN LLP
Attorney(s) for Plaintiff
360 Lexington Avenue, Suite 1200, New York, NY 10017
{* WEST HEMP1*} 153180
LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE FOR MORTGAGEIT SECURITIES CORP. MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST, SERIES 2007-1, MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, -againstCHERYL LOVELACE, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on March 27, 2025, wherein HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE FOR MORTGAGEIT SECURITIES CORP. MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST, SERIES 2007-1, MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES is the Plaintiff and CHERYL LOVELACE, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on June 11, 2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 447 CHAMPLAIN AVENUE, WEST HEMPSTEAD, NY 11552; and the following tax map identification: 35-459-660, 661 & 662.
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
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 617657/2022. Harold F. Damm, Esq.Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with
Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 153370
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU. U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE OF LEGACY MORTGAGE ASSET TRUST 2020-GS5, Plaintiff -againstMICHELE C. REED, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated March 24, 2025 and entered on April 3, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court “Rain or Shine” located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on June 10, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in Lakeview, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at a point on the westerly side of Erie Road, distant 333.57 feet northerly as measured along the westerly side of Erie Road from the corner formed by the intersection of the westerly side of Erie Road with the northerly side of Champlain Avenue; RUNNING THENCE North West, 97.58 feet; THENCE North East, 66.20 feet; THENCE South East, 87.55 feet; THENCE South West, 22.54 feet; THENCE South West, 44.91 feet.
Section: 35 Block: 597 Lot: 55 Said premises known as 256 ERIE ROAD, WEST HEMPSTEAD, NY 11552
Approximate amount of lien $640,216.88 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 617177/2022.
DAVID I. ROSENBERG, ESQ., Referee Kosterich & Skeete, LLC
Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 707 Westchester Ave, Suite 302, White Plains, NY 10604
{* MALVERNE H*} 153330
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE
TO BIDDERS
The Board of Education of the West Hempstead Union Free School District, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York, will receive sealed bids on May 22, 2025 for: Printing of School District Calendars - 10:00 a.m.
At which time and place bids will be opened and publicly read. Information for Bidders, Form of Bid and Specifications may be obtained at 252 Chestnut Street, West Hempstead, in the Office of the Assistant Superintendent for Business on any working day between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.; you may call (516) 390-3103 to request a bid; or you may visit the Business Office page on our website at www.whufsd.com, to download a copy of the bid. The Board of Education reserves the right to waive any informality in order to reject any or all bids or accept the one that, in its judgment, will be in the best interest of the School District. By Order of: The Board of Education West Hempstead UFSD, 252 Chestnut Street West Hempstead, NY 11552 Awilda Cruz, District Clerk 153512
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU SANTANDER BANK, N.A., Plaintiff AGAINST JONATHAN ANGULO, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered July 19, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on June 17, 2025 at 2:30 PM, premises known as 146 Malverne Avenue, Malverne, NY 11565. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Village of Malverne, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 35 Block 22 Lot 4. Approximate amount of judgment $709,732.88 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of
filed Judgment Index #603397/2023. Michael W. Alpert, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 22-001470 85446 153489
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU Freedom Mortgage Corporation, Plaintiff AGAINST Amalia Per, Jose Balarezo, et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered December 7, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on June 17, 2025 at 2:00 PM, premises known as 106 Park Boulevard, Malverne, NY 11565. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Malverne, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section: 38, Block: 005, Lot(s): 295, 296, 471. Approximate amount of judgment $598,703.55 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #613194/2022. For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800 ) 280-2832. Brian J. Davis, Esq., Referee Frenkel Lambert Weiss Weisman & Gordon, LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706 01-096574-F00 85371 153485
Place A Notice Call 516-569-4000 x232
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING, BUDGET VOTE AND ELECTION MALVERNE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU, STATE OF NEW YORK
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing of the qualified voters of the Malverne Union Free School District, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, New York, will be held at Malverne Performance Art Center, 80 Ocean Avenue, Malverne, N.Y., in said District on May 13, 2025, 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 20, 2025 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 Tuesday, May 20, 2025 in the gymnasium of the Howard T. Herber Middle School, 75 Ocean Avenue, Malverne, N.Y., 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.PROPOSITION NO. 1
Budget 2025 - 2026 Resolved that the proposed Budget of the Malverne Union Free School District of the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York for the fiscal year 2025-2026 be adopted in the amount of said budget be raised by tax upon the taxable property of the School District after first deducting the monies available from the State Aid and other sources.
2.PROPOSITION NO. 2
Capital Reserve Fund Expenditure Shall the Board of Education of the Malverne Union Free School District be authorized, to expend from the Capital Reserve Fund III, which was established on June 9, 2020 (“Reserve Fund”) pursuant to Section 3651 of the Education Law, for the following capital improvement projects: (1) Multi-Field Scoreboard Replacement at Malverne High School; (2) Playground upgrades at Davison Avenue Intermediate School and Maurice W. Downing Primary School; (3) Window Replacements at Malverne High School; (4) District-wide Door Upgrades; and (5) Districtwide Promethean Board (Equipment) Replacements; and any ancillary or related work required in connection with such projects, and to expend from the Reserve Fund therefor, including preliminary costs and costs incidental thereto, an amount not to exceed the estimated total cost of One Million Three Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($1,350,000.00), provided that the Board of Education shall determine the allocation of cost of each project within said maximum
amount?
3. To elect two (2) members to the Board of Education for a four (4) year term, commencing July 1, 2025 and expiring on June 30, 2029. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that petitions nominating candidates for the office of Member of the Board of Education of the Malverne Union Free School District shall be filed with the District Clerk of said School District at the District Clerk’s office, 301 Wicks Lane Malverne, NY not later than April 21, 2025 between 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., prevailing time. All nominating petitions must be signed by 25 Signatures (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. Vacancies on the Board of Education shall not be considered separate, specific offices; candidates run at large. 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 on April 24, 2025 at the Malverne High School Lobby 80 Ocean Avenue , Malverne , N.Y. between the hours of 8:30 a.m and 11:30 a.m prevailing time, and at the District’s Administration Building 301 Wicks Lane, Malverne, NY between the hours 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., prevailing time, and on May 9, 2025 at the Office of the District Clerk 301 Wicks Lane, Malverne, NY between the hours of 9 a.m. to 1 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 301 Wicks Lane, and will be open for inspection by any qualified voter of the District beginning on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 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 pre-arranged 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 Tuesday May 20, 2025, in the gymnasium of the Howard T. Herber Middle School, 75 Ocean Avenue, Malverne, New York between the hours of 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., 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 2025, 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 516887-6483 for information about accessibility. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that beginning seven (7) days immediately preceding the May 13, 2025 pub-
15,
Public Notices
lic 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, 301 Wicks Lane, Malverne, NY. 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.malvernechools. org, at the Malverne Public Library during its normal hours of operation, located at 61 St. Thomas Place Malverne, N.Y, Lynbrook Public Library, 56 Eldert Street, Lynbrook, N.Y., Lakeview Public Library,1120 Woodfield Road, Rockville Centre, NY, at the School District Administrative Building, 301 Wicks Lane, Malverne, N.Y., 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: Malverne High School, Howard T. Herber Middle School, Davison Avenue Intermediate School, and Maurice W. Downing School 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 bal-
lots will be obtainable during school business hours at the office of the District Clerk beginning April 21, 2025. In accordance with Education Law §§ 2018-a 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 20, 2025. 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 15, 2025, 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 Saturday May 17, 2025, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 12 noon, prevailing time, by appointment only, and on May 20, 2025, 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 Malverne Union Free School District by requesting and returning a registration application to the District Clerk in person, or by email to lridley@malverneschools.org or fax sent to 516-596-2910. 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 3:30 p.m. on April 24, 2025. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that military voters who are qualified voters of the Malverne 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 lridley@ malverneschools.org or fax sent to 516-5962910. 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 24, 2025. 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 301 Wicks Lane, Malverne, N.Y 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 20, 2025 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 20, 2025 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 change the number of Board of Education members, or a bond issue for capital improvements, or any other petition required by law to be stated in the Notice of Annual Meeting and Election must be
filed with the District Clerk at 301 Wicks Lane, Malverne, NY, not later than 5:00 p.m., prevailing time, on April 21, 2025. Any other petition, except those petitions required by law to be stated in the Notice of Annual Meeting and Election, must be filed with the District Clerk at 301 Wicks Lane, NY, no later than 5:00 p.m., prevailing time on April 21, 2025. 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 100 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 516887-6483.
AND FURTHER NOTICE
IS HEREBY GIVEN that the election shall be held in accordance with the Rules of the Conduct of Meetings and Elections adopted by the Board.
AND FURTHER NOTICE
IS HEREBY GIVEN that this Board shall convene a special meeting thereof within 24 hours after the filing with the District Clerk of a written report of the results of the ballot for the purpose of examining and tabulating and declaring said results; that the Board hereby designates itself to be set of poll clerks to cast and canvass ballots pursuant to Education Law, §2019-a, subdivision 2b at said special meeting of the Board.
Lisa Ridley District Clerk of the Board of Education Malverne Union Free School District 301 Wicks Lane, Malverne, NY 11565 March 11, 2025 152377
LEGAL NOTICE
AVISO DE AUDIENCIA PÚBLICA, VOTACIÓN DEL PRESUPUESTO Y ELECCIÓN
DISTRITO ESCOLAR MALVERNE UNION FREE PUEBLO DE HEMPSTEAD, CONDADO DE NASSAU, ESTADO DE NUEVA YORK
POR MEDIO DEL PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA que se realizará una audiencia pública de los votantes calificados del Distrito Escolar Malverne Union Free, pueblo de Hempstead, condado de Nassau, Nueva York, en Malverne Performance Art Center, 80 Ocean Avenue, Malverne, Nueva York, en dicho distrito el 13 de mayo de 2025, hora en vigor, para la resolución de dichos asuntos conforme a lo autorizado por la Ley de Educación del Estado de Nueva York, que incluye los siguientes puntos.
1. Presentación del documento presupuestario.
2. Análisis de todos los puntos establecidos en el presente para que se voten mediante una máquina de votación en la elección que se realizará el 20 de mayo de 2025, tal como se establece más abajo. 3. Resolución de cualquier otro asunto que se presente en la reunión.
POR MEDIO DEL PRESENTE TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que dicha votación y elección se llevarán a cabo el martes 20 de mayo de 2025 en el gimnasio de la escuela intermedia Howard T. Herber, 75 Ocean Avenue, Malverne, Nueva York, donde las urnas estarán abiertas de 7:00 a. m. a 9:00 p. m., hora en vigor, para votar mediante máquinas de votación sobre los siguientes temas:
1. PROPUESTA N.º 1: Presupuesto para 2025-2026
Se resuelve adoptar el presupuesto propuesto del Distrito Escolar Malverne Union Free del pueblo de Hempstead, condado de Nassau, estado de Nueva York, para el año fiscal 2025-2026 y recaudar el monto de dicho presupuesto mediante impuestos sobre la base del inmueble imponible del Distrito Escolar con posterioridad a la primera deducción de fondos disponibles de la ayuda estatal y otras fuentes.
2. PROPUESTA N.º
2: Gastos del fondo de reserva de capitales
Autorizar a la Junta de Educación del Distrito Escolar Malverne Union Free a usar el Fondo de
POR MEDIO DEL PRESENTE TAMBIÉN 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 la Secretaría del Distrito al 516-887-6483 para obtener información sobre accesibilidad.
POR MEDIO DEL PRESENTE TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que, a partir de los siete (7) días inmediatamente anteriores a la audiencia pública sobre el presupuesto del 13 de mayo de 2025, cualquier residente del distrito podrá solicitar la revisión de una copia del presupuesto propuesto presentándose en la oficina de Secretaría del Distrito, ubicada en 301 Wicks Lane, Malverne, 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. malvernechools.org, en la biblioteca Malverne Public Library durante su horario normal de atención, ubicada en 61 St. Thomas Place, Malverne, Nueva York, la biblioteca Lynbrook Public Library, 56 Eldert Street, Lynbrook, Nue-
Reserva de Capitales III, que se estableció el 9 de junio de 2020 (“Fondo de la Reserva”) de conformidad con la sección 3651 de la Ley de Educación para los siguientes proyectos de mejoras de capital: (1) reemplazo del tablero de puntaje multicampo en Malverne High School; (2) mejoras en los patios de recreo de la escuela intermedia Davison Avenue Intermediate School y de la escuela primaria Maurice W. Downing Primary School; (3) reemplazo de ventanas en Malverne High School; (4) mejoras en las puertas de todo el distrito; y (5) reemplazo de tableros (equipos) Promethean de todo el distrito; y cualquier trabajo auxiliar o relacionado requerido en conexión con tales proyectos, y a usar del Fondo de Reserva para ello, incluidos los costos preliminares e incidentales, un monto que no exceda el costo total estimado de un millón trescientos cincuenta mil dólares ($1,350,000.00), siempre que la Junta de Educación determine la asignación del costo de cada proyecto dentro de dicho monto máximo. 3. Elegir dos (2) miembros de la Junta de Educación para un período de cuatro (4) años que comenzará el 1 de julio de 2025 y finalizará el 30 de junio de 2029. POR EL PRESENTE, TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que las solicitudes para nominar candidatos para el cargo de miembro de la Junta de Educación del Distrito Escolar Malverne Union Free se presentarán ante la Oficina de la Secretaría del Distrito de dicho distrito escolar, ubicada en 301 Wicks Lane Malverne, Nueva York, antes del 21 de abril de 2025, de 9:00 a. m. a 5:00 p. m., hora en vigor. Todas las solicitudes de nominación deben estar firmadas por 25 firmas (que representen 25 votantes o el 2 % de la cantidad de votantes que votaron en la elección anual anterior, la cifra que sea mayor); indicar el nombre y la residencia de cada firmante, como así también el nombre y la residencia del candidato. Los puestos vacantes de la Junta de Educación no se considerarán cargos específicos ni independientes; los candidatos se presentan en general. POR MEDIO DEL PRESENTE TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que el registro personal de los votantes es obligatorio según la sección 2014 de la Ley de Educación del estado de Nueva York o el artículo 5 de la Ley de Elecciones del estado de Nueva York. Si un votante se ha registrado previamente según la sección 2014 de la Ley de Educación de Nueva York y votó en cualquier reunión de distrito anual o especial dentro de los últimos cuatro (4) años calendario, dicho votante es elegible para votar en esta elección; si un votante está registrado y es elegible para votar de conformidad con el artículo 5 de la Ley Electoral del estado de Nueva York, dicho votante también es elegible para votar en esta elección. Todas las demás personas que deseen votar deben registrarse. La Junta de Registros se reunirá a los fines de registrar a todos los votantes calificados del distrito según la sección 2014 de la Ley de Educación el 24 de abril de 2025 en la recepción de Malverne High School 80 Ocean Avenue, Malverne, Nueva York, de 8:30 a. m. a 11:30 a. m., hora en vigor, y en el edificio administrativo del distrito ubicado en 301 Wicks Lane, Malverne, Nueva York, de 11:30 a. m. a 3:30 p. m., hora en vigor, y el 9 de mayo de 2025 en la oficina de la Secretaría del Distrito ubicada en 301 Wicks Lane, Malverne, Nueva York, de 9:00 a. m. a 1:00 p. m., hora en vigor, para agregar cualquier nombre adicional al registro que se utilizará en la votación y elección del presupuesto antes mencionada. Durante ese horario, toda persona tendrá derecho a que su nombre se incluya en dicho registro, siempre que en dicha reunión de la Junta de Registros se sepa o se demuestre a satisfacción de dicha Junta que esa persona tiene derecho a votar en dicha votación del presupuesto y elección para la cual se prepara el registro. El registro preparado de esta manera de conformidad con la sección 2014 de la Ley de Educación se archivará en la oficina de la Secretaría del Distrito Escolar en el edificio administrativo, ubicado en 301 Wicks Lane, y estará abierto para inspección por parte de cualquier votante calificado del distrito a partir del miércoles 14 de mayo de 2025, de 9:30 a. m. a 2:30 p. m., hora en vigor, los días de la semana y todos los días antes del 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. POR MEDIO DEL PRESENTE TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que, según la sección 2014 de la Ley de Educación, la Junta de Registros se reunirá el martes 20 de mayo de 2025, en el gimnasio de la escuela intermedia Howard T. Herber Middle School, 75 Ocean Avenue, Malverne, Nueva York, de 7:00 a. m. a 9:00 p. m., hora en vigor, para preparar el registro del Distrito Escolar que se utilizará en la reunión anual y elección de 2025, y cualquier reunión especial que pueda celebrarse después de la preparación de dicho registro. Durante ese horario, toda persona tendrá derecho a que su nombre se incluya en dicho registro, siempre y cuando en la reunión de la Junta de Registros se sepa o se demuestre a satisfacción de dicha Junta que esa persona tiene derecho a votar en la elección para la cual se prepara el registro.
Public Notices
va York, la biblioteca Lakeview Public Library, 1120 Woodfield Road, Rockville Centre, Nueva York, en el edificio administrativo del distrito escolar, 301 Wicks Lane, Malverne, Nueva York, y en cada uno de los siguientes edificios escolares en los que se mantengan clases, de 9:00 a. m. a 4:00 p. m., hora en vigor, excepto sábados, domingos y feriados:
Escuela secundaria Malverne High School, escuela intermedia Howard T. Herber Middle School, escuela intermedia Davison Avenue Intermediate School y Maurice W. Downing School
POR MEDIO DEL PRESENTE TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que, de conformidad con la sección 495 de la Ley de Impuestos sobre Bienes Inmuebles, el distrito escolar debe adjuntar un informe de exenciones al presupuesto sugerido. Este informe de exención, que también formará parte del presupuesto final, mostrará qué parte del valor total calculado de la lista final de tasación usada durante el proceso presupuestario queda libre de impuestos, enumerará todos los tipos de exenciones otorgadas identificadas por la autoridad legal y mostrará: (a) el impacto acumulativo de cada tipo de exención, expresado en la cantidad en dólares del valor estimado o como porcentaje del total del valor estimado en la lista; (b) el valor acumulativo que se espera recibir de los beneficiarios de cada tipo de exención como pagos en lugar de impuestos u otros pagos para servicios municipales, y (c) el impacto acumulativo de todas las exenciones otorgadas. El informe de exenciones se publicará en cualquier tablero de anuncios que el distrito designe para avisos públicos y en el sitio web del distrito.
POR MEDIO DEL PRESENTE TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que las solicitudes de boletas electorales por ausencia y por correo anticipado se podrán obtener durante el horario escolar de la Secretaría del Distrito a partir del 21 de abril de 2025. De acuerdo con las secciones 2018-a y 2018-e de la Ley de Educación, la Secretaría del Distrito no recibirá las solicitudes de boletas electorales por ausencia y de boletas electorales por correo anticipado que estén completas antes de los treinta (30) días previos a la elec-
ción y las recibirá al menos siete (7) días antes de la elección si se debe enviar la boleta electoral por correo al votante, o el día antes de la elección, si se debe entregar la boleta electoral personalmente al votante o al agente nombrado en la solicitud de boleta electoral por ausencia o de boleta electoral por correo anticipado. La Secretaría del Distrito debe recibir las boletas electorales por ausencia y por correo anticipado antes de las 5:00 p. m., hora en vigor, del martes 20 de mayo de 2025. Habrá disponible una lista de personas para las que se emitieron boletas electorales por ausencia y una lista de todas las personas a quienes se les deben haber emitido boletas electorales por correo anticipado para que los votantes calificados del distrito puedan inspeccionar en la oficina de la Secretaría del Distrito a partir del 15 de mayo de 2025, de 9:00 a. m. a 4:00 p. m., los días de la semana anteriores al día establecido para la elección anual y el sábado 17 de mayo de 2025, de 9:00 a. m. a 12:00 del mediodía, hora en vigor, solo con cita previa, y el 20 de mayo de 2025, el día establecido para la elección. Cualquier votante calificado puede, después de analizar las listas, presentar una impugnación por escrito de las calificaciones como votante de cualquier persona cuyo nombre aparezca en las listas en cuestión, indicando los motivos de ello. La secretaria del distrito o un designado de la Junta de Educación comunicará a los inspectores de la elección acerca de cualquier impugnación por escrito el día de la elección.
POR MEDIO DEL PRESENTE TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que, los votantes militares que no estén registrados actualmente, pueden solicitar registrarse como votantes calificados del Distrito Escolar Malverne Union Free pidiendo una solicitud de registro ante la Secretaría del Distrito, y entregándola en persona o enviándola por correo electrónico a lridley@ malverneschools.org o por fax al 516-5962910. El pedido de la solicitud de registro puede incluir la preferencia del votante militar de recibir dicha solicitud por correo postal, fax o correo electrónico. Los formularios de solicitud de registro para votantes militares se
deben recibir en la Secretaría del Distrito antes de las 3:30 p. m. del 24 de abril de 2025.
POR MEDIO DEL PRESENTE TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que los votantes militares que sean votantes calificados del Distrito Escolar Malverne Union Free pueden pedir una solicitud de boleta electoral militar a la Secretaría del Distrito y entregarla en persona, o por correo electrónico a lridley@ malverneschools.org o fax al 516-596-2910. Para que se le otorgue una boleta electoral militar a un votante militar, se debe recibir una solicitud de boleta electoral militar válida en la Secretaría del Distrito antes de las 5:00 p. m. del 24 de abril de 2025. Dichas solicitudes de boleta electoral militar recibidas conforme a lo mencionado anteriormente se procesarán de la misma manera que las solicitudes de boletas electorales no militares, en virtud de la sección 2018-a de la Ley de Educación. La solicitud de boleta electoral militar puede incluir la preferencia del votante militar de recibir dicha boleta por correo, fax o correo electrónico. La solicitud de boleta electoral militar original y la boleta electoral militar de un votante militar se deben entregar en la oficina de la Secretaría del Distrito por correo postal o en persona en 301 Wicks Lane, Malverne, Nueva York, junto con la declaración jurada firmada requerida por el votante.
POR MEDIO DEL PRESENTE TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que los votos militares se escrutarán si la Secretaría del Distrito los recibe antes del cierre de la votación el 20 de mayo de 2025 y tienen una marca de cancelación del servicio postal de los Estados Unidos o del servicio postal de un país extranjero, o un endoso fechado de recepción por parte de otra agencia del gobierno de los Estados Unidos, o si se los recibe antes de las 5:00 p. m. del 20 de mayo de 2025, y están firmados y fechados por el votante militar y un testigo de ello, con una fecha que establezca que no son posteriores al día previo a la elección.
POR MEDIO DEL PRESENTE, TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que, de conformidad con una norma adoptada por la Junta de Educación en virtud de la sección 2035 de la Ley de Educación, toda solicitud relativa a
cualquier referéndum o propuesta para cambiar el número de miembros de la Junta de Educación, o una emisión de bonos para mejoras de capital, o cualquier otra petición que la ley requiera que se indique en el Aviso sobre la reunión anual y la elección, debe presentarse ante la Secretaría del Distrito en 301 Wicks Lane, Malverne, Nueva York, a más tardar a las 5:00 p. m., hora en vigor, el 21 de abril de 2025. Cualquier otra solicitud, excepto aquellas solicitudes que la ley requiere que se incluyan en el Aviso sobre la reunión anual y la elección, debe presentarse ante la Secretaría del Distrito ubicada en 301 Wicks Lane, Nueva York, a más tardar a las 5:00 p. m., hora en vigor, del 21 de abril de 2025. Todas estas solicitudes deben estar escritas a máquina o impresas en idioma inglés; deben dirigirse a la Secretaría del Distrito Escolar; deben estar firmadas por al menos 100 votantes calificados del distrito (que representen 25 votantes o el 5 % de la cantidad de votantes que votaron en la elección anual anterior, la cifra que sea mayor); y deben indicar de forma legible el nombre de cada firmante. Sin embargo, la Junta de Educación no considerará ninguna solicitud para presentar ante los votantes ninguna propuesta cuyo propósito no esté dentro de las facultades de decisión de los votantes, ni ninguna propuesta o enmienda que esté fuera de la ley.
POR MEDIO DEL PRESENTE, TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que, aquellos votantes que deseen obtener información sobre esta votación y elección de presupuesto en español, deben comunicarse con la oficina de la Secretaría del Distrito al 516-887-6483.
POR MEDIO DEL PRESENTE, TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que la elección se llevará a cabo de acuerdo con las Normas para la Organización de Reuniones y Elecciones adoptadas por la Junta de Educación.
POR MEDIO DEL PRESENTE, TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que esta Junta establecerá una reunión especial a partir de las 24 horas luego de la presentación ante la Secretaría del Distrito de un informe escrito de los resultados de la votación, con el fin de examinar y tabular y declarar dichos resultados; que, por el presente y de acuerdo con la sección
Community members run Long Island Marathon
By MADISON GUSLER mgusler@liherald.com
The Jovia Financial Credit Union Long Island Marathon returned to Eisenhower Park, drawing thousands of runners, festival goers and food lovers for a weekend packed with action, entertainment, local eats and more.
Over 3,870 runners participated in the race events, from the 5K Family Fun Run, a 1K Kids Fun Run, a 10k, half-marathon and marathon, all which took place on the weekend of May 2-4. West Hempstead resident Luz Marina Pena ran the half-marathon on Sunday, completing 13.1 miles with a time of 2:55:55.
This was Pena’s second time running the Long Island Half-Marathon. Pena is a physical therapist and began running 11 years ago after a coworker encouraged her to give it a try. She began training when they signed up for a 5k.
“I thought I was more into team sports than anything else, but she talked me into it,” said Pena. “I got to the race
2019-a, subdivisión 2b, de la Ley de Educación, la Junta se designa a sí misma como un grupo de presidentes de mesa para emitir y escrutar los votos durante dicha reunión especial de la Junta.
Lisa Ridley Secretaria del distrito de la
de Educación Distrito Escolar Malverne Union Free 301 Wicks Lane,
and I ran the whole thing, I was just so happy that I ran it. After that it was just kind of fun and I said ‘oh, let me sign up for another one.’”
Pena worked her way from running 5k’s to 10k’s before reaching the halfmarathon.
“It’s been a very busy year, so training for the race was a bit more challenging than last year, but I was very happy with how it all turned out,” said Pena. “I really started from zero when it comes to running and I still feel like I have a lot more I can work on. But you find a plan that fits your lifestyle and you go as hard as you want.”
“I look forward to these training sessions to just focus on me,” she added. “Even though it was hard work, it was good hard work, because it was for me and my health.”
Pena currently plans on becoming more confident in her half-marathon, but sees a potential full marathon in her future.
Junta
Tim Baker/Herald
West Hempstead’s Luz Marina Pena ran the Long Island Half-Marathon in Eisenhower Park on May 4.
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TRedoing a basement, Part 3
Q. We bought our home three years ago, and are finally ready to finish our basement to make a family room, guest bedroom and a bathroom while enclosing our laundry. Right now it’s just a big open space with a lot of columns. The ceiling is low, and we’ve had estimates to cut down the basement floor. It seems like a lot of money to do all these things at once, but we understand that we need to do it before the prices for materials, as we’ve been warned, go a lot higher. We want to know what needs to be done if we want to lower the floor, take out two columns so our recreation room is bigger, and put in a bathroom. Is there any way to save money?
A. This third column ties together the previous two to state that, basically, you get what you pay for, and sometimes less. I explained that basement bathrooms may not be allowed to have a bathing fixture, tub or shower, depending on the municipal requirements, and that many communities also won’t allow a bedroom in a basement, for safety reasons. I also outlined the process for figuring out beams so that columns can be removed, and that while “guessers” may save you some money up front, repairs can erase the savings.
Now we’re up to lowering the basement floor. “Saving money” and “lowering a basement floor” should rarely be in the same sentence, except for when writing an answer as to why. In general, you want more living space, structurally sound and waterproof. Both of those needs are hard to achieve if any part of the process is left out.
It’s always best to gain the most amount of interior space, and I can often tell when either saving money was the focus or amateur work was done when I see a foundation wall projecting into the basement like a concrete bench. To avoid this look and to get the most use out of the space, you have to start with knowing where the underground water table is. Unless you dig a hole or order a soil-boring test from a professional company, you may soon find out why the floor wasn’t lower to begin with. This test could save you great expense.
The process of correctly supporting the exterior concrete foundation walls is called “underpinning.” The excavation can be done from the interior side of the foundation wall if the exterior isn’t accessible. Either way, the underpinning process must be done in sections, not all at once. There would be complete collapses of walls and floors above if entire foundations were removed at one time. When this is done, it usually causes tremendous damage, possible death and news coverage.
Engineered sections, with waterproofing to the exterior, have to be planned. The old sections are carefully cut out, and then replaced several feet apart before the next sections are removed. Good luck!
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GET A
Local voices matter, and the RAPID Act listens
Last month, a handful of Nassau County town supervisors stood in front of a firehouse on Barnum Island and took the low road, whipping up fear, distorting facts and conflating fallacy and fantasy with reality to try to block progress. Their target was the Renewable Action through Project Interconnection and Deployment, or RAPID, Act, a new state law designed to streamline the approval process for large-scale renewable energy and electric transmission projects.
The RAPID Act creates a more efficient and transparent process for reviewing the major infrastructure projects we desperately need. If we’re serious about clean energy, grid reliability and energy security, this is our path toward resiliency and sustainability. It’s good for consumers and developers because the streamlined process reduces costs, making investments in the grid more affordable.
Unfortunately these days, facts don’t seem to matter much to some. But here are the facts.
Before the RAPID Act became law in April 2024, New York state had a patchwork of laws that made siting energy
projects difficult, confusing and expensive. Today there is a clear, easy-to-follow, streamlined system under the Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Electric Transmission. The new system saves time and money, increases consistency, and gives communities a meaningful voice from the very beginning. Here’s how it works.
Before even submitting an application, developers are required to consult with local officials. Throughout the process, the public is invited to comment. Each project must have meaningful community outreach in which residents are invited to participate, along with ORES.
Tfor clean, reliable energy.
The reality is that most projects comply with local laws almost entirely, and the few disputes thus far have largely been resolved through mutual agreement. Waivers aren’t done casually. They must be fully justified. And towns can challenge them. As of last month, only five towns in the entire state had appealed such rulings, and all five rulings were upheld.
here have been over 50 energy project siting hearings across the state.
To date, there have been over 50 hearings across the state. That’s not secrecy. That’s real public engagement. Your comments have been heard, as have developers — who often modify projects in response to public feedback.
Another fallacy is how the RAPID Act treats local laws. It did not create new authority for the state to waive local laws — that ability has been part of the siting process in New York for decades. The act was designed to make those waivers less likely by addressing points of conflict early. And the law allows ORES to waive those laws only when they are unreasonably burdensome and conflict with the state’s goals
If that sounds like a heavy-handed state bulldozing towns, you might want to check the script the town supervisors are reading from, because it’s fiction. What we saw last month was not thoughtful concern for our future infrastructure needs. It was a political strategy that assumes that every environmental policy from Albany is a threat, every clean-energy initiative a conspiracy and every step forward something to block. Lumping everything together and crying foul to whip up outrage doesn’t benefit the New Yorkers that we public servants are here to serve. Meanwhile, our infrastructure is aging, and doing nothing is no longer an option. The RAPID Act moves us forward. It helps make sure our homes have power during extreme storms. It helps reduce pollution. It helps create good-paying jobs in clean energy. That
should be something we can all get behind.
If the supervisors want to sit down and talk seriously about how to improve the process, our door is always open. But yelling about non-existent dangers doesn’t help anyone. It misleads the public. It slows progress. And it makes it harder to build the kind of energy future Long Island deserves and desperately needs.
We believe in transparency, community input and in building a future in which Long Island is stronger, safer and cleaner. The RAPID Act is a big step in that direction.
It’s time to stop the political games. Time to stop pretending that doing nothing is somehow safer. I know firsthand that Long Islanders care about their communities, and the environment. They’re smart enough to see through rhetoric designed to instill fear, and they deserve better: They deserve leadership that tells the truth about the very real needs and demands of our infrastructure and its impacts on growing our economy. As I’ve said in countless hearings and committee meetings, the RAPID Act isn’t about taking power away from towns. It’s about keeping the lights on, making sure everyone has a seat at the table, and making sure we’re ready for the future.
Let’s move forward together.
Rory Christian is chairman of the New York State Public Service Commission.
Companies that produce packing waste must recycle it
Consumers have changed our shopping habits across New York state. The transition to online shopping has significantly increased plastic, paper and cardboard packaging waste. Those materials go to Reworld, which takes our trash, and are turned into ash. The ash needs to go somewhere, but where?
On Long Island, most of the ash goes to Brookhaven Landfill, but that clock is ticking.
The Brookhaven facility will soon reach its capacity for ash, and that means it will close in the next few years, leaving towns such as Hempstead and North Hempstead with no ash-disposal options on Long Island. As packaging waste increases, recycling rates remain lackluster, which adds to our solid-waste burden. The good news is that we can reduce packaging waste and increase recycling rates to help address this challenge. Citizens Campaign for the Environment
chairs a statewide coalition of environmental leaders, local governments, stakeholders and elected officials who have joined to back state legislation called the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act. This important bill is urgently needed.
New York is experiencing a solid-waste crisis, with skyrocketing costs to municipalities, abysmal recycling rates, and plastic pollution littering our communities and waterways. Our state generates more than 17 million tons of municipal solid waste annually. Long Island is responsible for 1.6 million tons per year, 205,000 tons of which go to landfills off Long Island, and 1.4 million tons are sent to waste-toenergy facilities, resulting in 400,000 tons of ash that must be landfilled. There is currently no plan to manage this ash once the Brookhaven landfill is closed. The one wise choice everyone agrees on is to reduce our waste stream, and this legislation would do just that. The financial burden of managing recyclable waste falls on local taxpayers. Municipalities are struggling with
p ass the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act!
recycling costs and outdated infrastructure that significantly limits the volume of materials that are recycled. It is estimated that local governments statewide spend more than $200 million each year to keep local recycling programs going. That is not sustainable.
The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act would revolutionize New York’s approach to solid waste by shifting the responsibility of managing plastic, paper and packaging waste to corporations, not taxpayers and local governments. Those that put packaging into the waste stream are best positioned to reduce the amount of packaging that’s created in the first place.
The measure would require large corporations to reduce consumer packaging by 30 percent in 12 years, increase post-consumer recycled content in packaging and invest in new reuse/ refill infrastructure. The bill includes strong oversight and enforcement provisions to ensure that corporations comply.
Other states, including California,
Colorado, Maine and Oregon, have passed such laws, and similar policies have been in effect in parts of Europe and Canada for over 30 years. Where fully implemented, recycling rates exceed 70 percent, and the cost of consumer goods has not increased one penny.
It is time for corporations take out their own trash! Each year, companies ship billions of products with excess packaging, exacerbating the solid-waste crisis, yet they bear no responsibility for managing the waste they create. This sensible legislation promises to save money for municipalities and taxpayers, remove toxic substances from packaging, increase recycling and require producers to reduce waste.
We need to modernize New York’s recycling system and make producers take responsibility for managing their packaging waste. We need the governor, the State Senate and the Assembly to support this critical bill and get it signed into law this year. Every year we do nothing is another year we waste money, and allow our solid-waste management problem to grow. We can do this!
Adrienne Esposito is executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment.
We must restore Musk’s cuts of the 9/11 health fund
it is essential that Congress do all it can to fully restore the World Trade Center Health Program. I commend Long Island Congressmen Andrew Garbarino and Nick LaLota for leading a bipartisan effort to undo the damage, intentional or not, to this program by Elon Musk’s chainsaw cuts of government health programs.
During my years in Congress, no issue was more vital or intensely personal to me than ensuring that all of the surviving victims of the attacks of Sept. 11 — police officers, firefighters, emergency responders, construction workers and civilians — receive the care they require and deserve for the illnesses caused by the toxins they breathed in at ground zero in the days, weeks and months afterward.
It wasn’t until several years after 9/11 that evidence emerged of a growing number of blood cancers and lung and breathing disorders suffered by 9/11 first responders and nearby residents and students. The concern was bipartisan. Democratic Representatives Jerry Nadler and Carolyn Maloney and
ARepublicans Vito Fossella and I were the original prime advocates. We introduced legislation in 2005 and again in 2007 to establish and fund a 9/11 illness detection and treatment program.
ed a rare and fatal blood cancer after working together at ground zero. The chances of this being a coincidence were infinitesimal. And there were countless similar situations.
session, our efforts paid off: Zadroga passed both the House and Senate.
TToday we know that more people have died from 9/11 illnesses than from the attacks, but in those early years, the numbers of victims weren’t yet especially high, and there was no proof of direct linkage to 9/11, which made it difficult to generate strong interest or support outside the New York and New Jersey congressional delegations.
hey’re causing many of the 9/11 doctors and experts to be terminated.
Soon enough, however, there was too much evidence to ignore. Anecdotally, I would see FDNY and NYPD neighbors who had worked at ground zero wearing oxygen masks as they watched their kids’ Little League games or stopped by 7-Eleven for coffee.
Those scenes were repeated across Long Island and the entire downstate region, and there would eventually be victims among rescue workers who had come to New York from almost all 50 states. To make our case, we asked 9/11 heroes to visit Congress to make direct appeals to individual members. I particularly recall NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly sitting in my Washington office telling me about two cops who contract-
The enormity of what was becoming a 9/11 health crisis could no longer be denied. In 2008, we thought our legislation — named the Zadroga Bill, after James Zadroga, who was believed to be the first NYPD officer to die from a 9/11 illness — would be included in a large year-end package of legislation agreed on by Congress and the White House. Unfortunately the combined tumult of a Presidential election and a stock market collapse prevented it from coming to a vote, and there was no opportunity to salvage it.
After close but disappointing nearmisses over the next two years, primarily because of opposition from Republicans in Southern and Western states, I and others fought furiously to get Zadroga passed. I had no tolerance for opposition from the crowd who primarily represented states and districts that received disproportionate levels of federal assistance at the expense of donor states like New York, which effectively subsidized them. Finally, on Dec. 22, 2010, the last day of the congressional
Unfortunately the bill had a five-year limit, so we had to wage the fight again in 2015. This time the struggle wasn’t as difficult, and Zadroga was extended. But then, in 2019, we learned there were many more victims than expected, and the fund was running short. With the bipartisan support of Democrats like then House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, and House Republicans like then Whip Steve Scalise and Representatives Doug Collins and Mike Johnson, Zadroga was extended to the end of the century. I was proud to be with President Trump when he signed this legislation at a ceremony on the White House lawn.
Now the fund is seriously threatened by Musk’s misplaced cuts, which, probably made unknowingly, are causing many of the 9/11 doctors and experts to be terminated, including program Director Dr. John Howard.
Though the White House has promised to fully reinstate the program, so far it has not been done. Victims are being denied necessary testing. This insanity must end. Our nation’s commitment to the victims of 9/11 must be honored!
Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.
The new state budget is a victory for Hochul
merica is fixated on picking winners and losers. We use that term every day, applying it to sports, the stock market and every other field of endeavor. I heard it during the trial of O.J. Simpson, and I remember hearing it as far back as the 1960s, when, following a massive snowstorm, some parts of Queens were the last neighborhoods in New York City to see snowplows. Winners and losers are proclaimed extensively in politics, because politicians are tested on an almost daily basis.
Which leads to a discussion of the long-delayed New York state budget. Over the years, when there was an agreement between the three leaders — the governor, the leader of the State Senate and the Assembly speaker — they would all show up at a much-heralded news conference, at which each would take credit for some portion of the budget bill. For the past few years, that practice has changed, because the only person who has been taking the
Lmedia spotlight is Gov. Kathy Hochul. Before talking about winners and losers, it’s worth looking at this year’s budget process. The new spending plan budget is the latest to be finalized since 2010. Since the April 1 deadline, there have been 11 legislative extensions, which assures state employees that they can collect their paychecks. Could the governor have refused to delay the passage of an agreed-on budget and submitted her own spending plan on a take-itor-leave-it basis? The answer is yes. During the administration of Gov. David Paterson, the courts decided that if the Legislature can’t agree on a budget by March 31, the governor can force a vote on his or her own plan with no further delays.
cation, housing, mental hygiene and tax reform. When the dust settled, the two leaders got their asks, but the governor got the lion’s share of what she proposed back in January.
ooking to next year’s election, she set aside money for every region of the state.
But in the spirit of harmony, succeeding governors have chosen to go through the arduous process of countless meetings and formal extensions until all of the parties sign on to a final accord. This year, Hochul made it clear that she had a long list of priorities, and had no plans to give in on them. She presented the Assembly and Senate with a long list of programs covering criminal law, edu-
With an eye on next year’s election, Hochul set aside money for every region of the state. She addressed subway crime, and sided with the state’s district attorneys on their demand for reforms that will allow them to prevent the dismissal of pending cases. Taxpayers can anticipate expansion of childcare tax credits and many other goodies, including $400 checks for families on limited incomes. School districts will get a hefty increase in education aid, and students won’t be unable use their cellphones from the first school bell to the last.
During a typical give-and-take that is part of the negotiating process, each of the parties shows some willingness to bend on their key issues. But this time, the governor stuck to her guns and yielded on very few issues. Facing what could be a very tough re-election campaign next year, Hochul dug in on almost every proposal she made and
gave little ground, which added to the delays. Albany insiders were surprised at her insistence on winning on so many issues, but she has powers, and used them.
An outsider might wonder why budgets take so long these days, compared with the process 20 and 30 years ago, when spending plans were adopted days and weeks before the deadline. Once upon a time, the state budget was strictly a numbers game. The leaders would promote their pet programs, and possibly sneak in a new program or two. But in the late 1980s, the leaders began to introduce items that were controversial and had little to do with the budget. Wrapped up in one big bill, these nonfiscal items would pass, because the members would have no choice but to swallow the whole document.
Is there a chance that state budgets will once again become just a numbers package? That’s highly unlikely, because all of the leaders have developed an appetite for inserting proposals in the budget that would have no chance of passing as stand-alone bills.
Jerry Kremer was a state assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. Comments about this column? jkremer@ liherald.com.
Also serving Lakeview
Established 1994
Incorporating: Malverne
aHERALD
Welcoming home your freshman
s college dorm rooms empty across the nation, millions of parents are preparing for a significant homecoming. Your freshman is returning — perhaps changed, certainly tired, and undoubtedly with more laundry than you thought humanly possible. This transition marks the beginning of a new chapter in your family story, one that requires delicate navigation, open communication, and occasional deep breaths as you adjust to your evolving relationship.
The transformation that occurs during college’s freshman year is nothing short of remarkable. The timid student who needed reminders about deadlines may return with strong opinions about political systems you’ve never discussed. The picky eater might come home raving about kimchi or curry. The once-shy teenager might stride through your door with newfound confidence and independence. Your child has spent months making independent decisions, forming new social circles, and discovering aspects of themselves that may surprise you — and them.
What parents sometimes fail to acknowledge is that we’ve changed, too. We’ve adjusted to quieter evenings, reclaimed bathroom counter space, and perhaps discovered new routines or even aspects of our identities that had been subsumed by active parenting. Your student’s return disrupts not just their new normal, but yours as well.
The first summer home represents uncharted territory for both generations. Your student has grown accustomed to complete autonomy — deciding when to eat, sleep, study and socialize without consultation or explanation. Meanwhile, you’ve maintained a household with certain rhythms and expectations. Within the first few days of your college student’s homecoming, have a detailed conversation with them about expectations to prevent misunderstandings.
letters
We have to be cautious while supporting sustainability
To the Editor:
What routines did they develop at college? What do they need to feel comfortable at home? How will household responsibilities be shared? This opens the door to compromise rather than confrontation.
For many freshmen, college is their first opportunity to define themselves beyond their family context or high school reputation. They’ve experimented with new identities, beliefs and social circles. Coming home can feel like stepping backward, especially if you still see them as the person they were before they left.
This identity navigation works both ways. Your student may struggle to integrate their college self with their home self. They might seem different with college friends than with family. They might challenge family traditions or political views that once went unquestioned. These explorations, while sometimes uncomfortable, represent healthy development and should be met with curiosity rather than defensiveness.
Don’t be surprised if your student spends the first week home sleeping extraordinary hours, eating everything in sight, or displaying emotional volatility. Freshman year is physically and emotionally exhausting — particularly its conclusion, with final exams, packing and goodbyes to new friends. The transition home often reveals the school year’s toll. Students maintain a frantic pace during the semester, running on adrenaline and caffeine. When they finally reach the safety of home, their bodies and minds demand recovery time. Parents should view excessive sleeping or emotional sensitivity as necessary healing, not regression or laziness.
The social landscape for your adult child has likely shifted dramatically as well. High school friendships that once seemed permanent may have drifted. New romantic relationships may have formed. Your student might spend little
As communities across New York and the nation explore ways to transition to cleaner energy, there is growing momentum behind battery energy storage systems, particularly those using lithium-ion technology. However, we must not let the promise of sustainability blind us to the inconvenient truths of our present reality.
The concept of a circular battery economy — in which batteries are reused, repurposed, and ultimately recycled to recover key materials — is a commendable goal. Yet we are far from achieving it. Our current
time at home as they reconnect with local friends or process the changes in these relationships. Alternatively, they might seem isolated if their primary social connections now exist at school. Both scenarios require your patience and understanding.
And while your instinct might be to recreate family traditions exactly as they were before, this summer presents an opportunity to develop new ways of connecting that honor your student’s developing adulthood. Ask them to teach you about their newfound passions. Take them to places that were once offlimits — a sophisticated restaurant, an art exhibit — that signal your recognition of their maturation. When they share stories about college experiences, practice active listening without immediately offering advice. Questions like, “How did you handle that?” communicate respect for their problem-solving abilities and invite deeper conversation. There’s a poignant truth most parents discover during this first post-college summer: Each homecoming from now on will be temporary. Your child’s primary residence increasingly exists elsewhere — in dorms, apartments and, eventually, their own home. The full nest you’ll experience this summer will empty again, with each cycle of departure becoming more permanent.
This realization, while sometimes painful, also brings opportunity. The time-limited nature of these summers encourages making the most of the moments you share. Rather than focusing on the inevitable goodbye at summer’s end, embrace the gift of time together, even if it seems fleeting.
What awaits in these summer months is a delicate dance of holding close and letting go — a choreography that, when performed with grace, becomes the foundation for a relationship that will sustain you both long after the last box is packed for sophomore year.
Wnal, someone and deserves is far more during have a sonal experience of the behind My arrived hope and
HerNesto GaldaMeZ
opinions
Not all immigrants are criminals
when we hear the term “illegal immigrant,” it’s easy to jump to the conclusion that the individual is a criminal, someone who has broken the law, and deserves punishment. But the truth is far more nuanced. For many immigrants, coming to the United States without legal documentation isn’t an act of criminality, but an act of survival — an effort to escape violence, political persecution or a situation so dire that the only option is to flee.
As the child of immigrants who fled El Salvador during its civil war in the late 1980s, I have a perspective that is shaped by personal experience and an understanding of the deeper human motivations behind these decisions.
My parents, both from El Salvador, arrived in the U.S. with nothing but hope and fear for their lives. They
understood the risks they were taking by entering this country without legal documentation, but the alternative was staying in a country where the government was killing its own people.
El Salvador’s civil war, which began in 1979, was marked by brutal violence, corruption and ruthless repression. The Salvadoran government, heavily supported by U.S. military aid, waged war against leftist insurgents and civilians it accused of being sympathetic to them. Throughout the conflict, military and paramilitary forces committed countless atrocities — massacres, forced disappearances and the destruction of entire villages. Thousands of innocent civilians were murdered or disappeared simply for being suspected of opposing the government.
wasn’t just about seeking a better life; it was about survival. It was about fleeing a government that viewed its citizens as expendable.
F or my parents, staying in El Salvador meant living in constant fear.
This is not to say that I support illegal immigration or that breaking the law should be excused. But I believe it’s essential to understand the perspective of those who make the difficult decision to flee their homeland. My parents did not come here to exploit the system or cause harm. They came to escape unimaginable violence, and to find a place where they could live without the constant threat of death.
the mechanic, my father was the only one in his family to leave, and he never got the chance to see his parents again. A few years ago, he and I stood at their graves for the first time — a painful reminder that the cost of leaving isn’t just physical, but deeply emotional and enduring. His journey wasn’t about breaking the law; it was about survival. It’s easy to forget that behind every “illegal immigrant” label is someone with a story, and usually with pain, sacrifice and hope for a better future. These people don’t come here to break the law. They come to escape the laws and systems that were oppressing them. And for every immigrant like my father or that mechanic, there are countless others who face the same impossible decision every day.
For my parents, like many others, staying in El Salvador meant living in constant fear — fear of being killed, of losing loved ones, or of being caught in the crossfire of a war they had no part in starting. Their decision to leave
Letters
infrastructure for battery recycling is still in its infancy, and the environmental and economic costs of lithium extraction remain extraordinarily high.
Lithium mining is not benign — it consumes vast amounts of water, devastates ecosystems, and often occurs in regions with poor labor and environmental protections. Meanwhile, the lack of cost-effective and widely available recycling facilities means that today’s lithium-based storage systems could become tomorrow’s toxic waste problem.
Until we have robust recycling infrastructure, updated fire and safety codes, and enforceable end-oflife regulations for BESS, policymakers must exercise caution. Approving large-scale lithiumbased projects now, without these safeguards, risks trading one environmental crisis for another.
Sustainability must be more than a buzzword. It requires fullcycle accountability — from cradle to grave and, ideally, cradle to cradle. Let’s not build the clean-energy future on the unstable foundation of unresolved waste and extraction.
These are my beliefs as a private citizen, and do not reflect the official stance or opinion of the Village of Sea Cliff.
BrUCE KEnnEdy Glen Cove Sea Cliff village administrator
We must urge Israel to cease its military campaign
To the Editor:
I am not a Jew, but I am a Zionist, in that I support Israel’s right to exist as a sovereign state.
I regard Hamas as a terrorist organization guilty of a barbaric attack on Israeli civilians in October 2023 as well as vicious repression of the people it purports to represent. Hamas must free all hostages immediately and unconditionally.
But the time has come for American Jews and gentiles alike who share these views to publicly urge the Israeli government to cease its military campaign in Gaza. Our voices can be powerful — if we exercise our moral duty to speak out.
Even if Hamas has inflated the death count, it is incontestable that many thousands of non-combatant Palestinians, including children and aid workers, have been killed in Israeli strikes. It is likewise certain that civilian suffering, already acute, is intensifying as a result of Israel’s two-month-long blockade of food and medicine deliveries to Gaza. And any escalation of the war is sure to further endanger the lives of the remaining hostages, according to the Israeli forum of families of the hostages.
There’s nothing antisemitic
My father eventually found work managing an apartment complex in roslyn, contributing to society, paying taxes, and respecting the country that took him in, belying the false narrative that immigrants don’t pay taxes or contribute to the economy.
My parents’ story is far from unique. not long ago, I met a mechanic who had fled Venezuela to escape violence — just as my father had decades earlier. Like
Framework by Tim Baker
So, I ask: If you were living in a country where your government was killing its own people, where staying meant a likely death, would you remain and accept your fate, or would you flee in search of safety? Would you risk breaking the law for a chance at survival?
Hernesto Galdamez is editor of the Baldwin Herald.
about opposing Israel’s disproportionate response to Hamas’s atrocities. Indeed, this stance should rest firmly upon the core Jewish values of rachamim (mercy and compassion) and
Alex Candon and her briefly airborne daughter, Lilli, at the L.I. Marathon — East Meadow
chesed (loving kindness).
KEVIn J. KELLEy Atlantic Beach
Hernesto GaLDameZ
