Malverne’s valedictorian Selin Mutlu, left, salutatorian Olivia Brown, and class president Kaiden Ulysse look forward to the bright futures ahead of them. See more photos from the graduating classes of Malverne and West Hempstead on Pages 9 and 10.
By MADISoN GUSlER mgusler@liherald.com
At a Special Use Meeting on June 18, the Malverne village board voted unanimously to approve the development of a multi-family, 12-unit housing project at 61 Church St. The vacant building that now occupies the property will be demolished and replaced by a three-story structure comprising two two-bedroom apartments, nine one-bedroom units and one studio apartment.
Peter Rossi, a Malverne resident for 30 years, owns the property. His company, Rossi Custom
Homes, Inc., purchased it in 2022 with the intention of developing it. The existing structure, built over 70 years ago, was once a storefront, but is now dilapidated and has not been used in years.
“This will be an improvement for the village,” Rossi said. “It’s something that is very needed, and I’m very happy they approved it.”
Rossi appeared before the village Board of Zoning Appeals twice before the special use meeting. The Church Street lot is zoned as a mixed-use property in a business district, so while the property does not need to be rezoned,
By MADISoN GUSlER mgusler@liherald.com
The Lakeview Civic Association held its third annual Men of Lakeview Award presentations on Thursday, honoring three recipients “for the work they’ve done to make our community great.”
The awards were handed out to Russell Myers, the Rev. Tristan Salley and Isaiah Jolly for their years of dedication to the Lakeview community, during the civic group’s last meeting before summer break in the community room at Harold Walker Memorial Park.
We have a lot of men that are very active in our community and we wanted to have an opportunity to acknowledge the work they’ve done to make our community great
The award ceremony was originally scheduled to take place on June 7 during the association’s annual family kickball event, but was canceled due to rain.
ed a moment of time to acknowledge the men in our community that have poured into, sacrificed and given back to our community in a meaningful and impactful way,” association president Lisa Ortiz said in presenting the honors to the three recipients.
lISA oR tIz President, Lakeview Civic Association
“Normally every year at our kickball event we have dedicat-
“We have a lot of men that are very active in our community,” Ortiz added. “And we wanted to have an opportunity to acknowledge the work they’ve done to make our community great.” Myers was born in Lakeview and has lived there his entire life, since 1958. An alumnus of Malverne High School, he has served as the high school’s head of security for the past 13 years.
“He gives students in the Malverne School District a sense of stability and Continued on page 5
The Lakeview branch of the NAACP recognized four students at Maurice W. Downing primary school for their perfect attendance during the 2024-25 school year.
First graders Jack Chen and James Montiel Morales, as well as second graders Moana Alexis and Nathaniel Green, received certificates from NAACP branch president Doris HicksNewkirk. She congratulated them during a June 16 perfect attendance ceremony at the school.
More than 150 students at West Hempstead’s George Washington School received new library cards this month. By collaborating with the West Hempstead Public Library, the school district got these young readers excited about literature.
To celebrate their access to books,
movies and more, the Rams mascot visited George Washington to congratulate the library card recipients. During the celebration, the student proudly displayed their new library cards and the books they’ve been able to check out.
Rossi was seeking approval to deviate from seven village ordinances, and six of his requests were approved. His request to make the building taller than 36 feet was denied.
Rossi said he believed the new development will be a significant contribution to the village, offering longterm residents the chance to downsize as they age and also creating housing for younger residents who can’t yet afford homes.
The proposal is for a development similar to one just a few doors down, at 47 Church St., a two-level, 12-unit property that also offers family space in the village’s business district.
Some residents, however, say they are concerned about a lack of parking. There is no on site parking at 61 Church St., nor would any be added as part of the development.
There are several municipal parking lots nearby, and Rossi conducted two parking surveys, one lasting 45 days and the other six months, at the request of the zoning board. He found that there are an average of 28 overnight parking spots available for residents.
Rossi is required to find 19 parking spots for residents. He has said that he doesn’t think that residents parking in village lots or on local streets will cause congestion or limit residents’ parking. He has agreed to pay for 19 annual overnight parking passes for future tenants each year.
He has also agreed to another condition set by the village board: to contribute towards the reduction of the width of the sidewalk in front of the building, as part of a village project to widen Church Street and reduce congestion on the roadway. The sidewalk is 10 feet wide, and the village is discussing narrowing it to four to six feet. “The sidewalks were constructed rather wide (there),” Mayor Tim Sullivan said, “as they are
in front of the businesses further down the road, to allow for pedestrian traffic.”
Sullivan explained that the section of Church Street near the development no longer serves a commercial use, and doesn’t need such wide sidewalks.
Kevin Brady, superintendent of the Department of Public Works and a resident of Church Street, spoke against the new development at the meeting. Brady said that the building would affect his quality of life and reduce the value of his property.
“I don’t think that the board actually looked into this fully — I think they made a decision without doing more research on it,” Brady told the Herald after the building was approved. He also said he was concerned the project could lead to an increase in similar developments that will put the “feeling” of the village at risk.
By JUSTIN McKENZIE Intern
To continue preserving their village’s history, members of the Malverne Historical Society invited the community to a whiskey and cigar night. Tickets were sold to raise money for the upkeep of the Historical and Preservation Society House, a 171-year old house that’s become a staple in Malverne’s history.
“We’re putting on this event to bring awareness to the Malverne Historical Society,” Trevor Loew, a member of the historical society, said. “It’s a great community resource, a place where the community can gather and talk about the history of Malverne.” The Historical House is on Ocean Avenue in the heart of the village.
Attendees received a pre-rolled cigar and a cigar hand-rolled on site in addition to five whiskey samples. In addition to preserving Malverne’s history, the event allowed sponsors and donors to promote their companies. Andrew Chernoff, owner of Coliseum Gun Traders and Long Island Shooting Range, helped by providing cigar cutters and liquor at the event. Chernoff described the Historical House as “another thread that makes up the fabric of this village” and noted his role as a captain in the police
reserve as one the reasons he decided to help with the event.
Many Malverne residents play a role in hosting community events at the historic house.
Even after his tenure as mayor, Keith Corbett still remains a part of the Malverne Historical Society. “We’re always looking for ways to raise funds and get the community into our property,” he said. “We have a great historic house that really preserves the history of Malverne. The Cigar and Whiskey Night is really about getting people in the house. It’s the only entity really designed to preserve the history of our great village.”
The historical society hosts other events at the house as well. “Our goal is to raise money to maintain and sustain the house so it’s here for future generation,” Loew explained. Every month the historical society opens the house to host events for the public to come by and learn more about Malverne history.
The historical society’s events add to Malverne’s tight-knit community feel. The society provides insight into the village’s past by hosting educational events in the present. Upcoming events can be found on the Malverne Historical and Preservation Society website at MalverneHistory.org or Facebook.
Scientific studies show that we have a “set point” that determines our happiness in life. Once we get accustomed to a new situation we inevitably return to our general state of happiness. However, only about 50% of our happiness is determined by “set point.” The other half is determined by our attitudes and actions, over which we have a great deal of control. According to psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky, and affirmed by the Dalai Lama, “the three factors that seem to have the greatest influence on increasing our happiness are our ability to reframe our situation more positively, our ability to experience gratitude, and our choice to be kind and generous.
“The Archbishop says that “ultimately our greatest joy is when we seek to do good for others… we are wired to be caring for the other and generous to one another.” He refers to the African concept of Ubuntu “ A person is a person through other persons.
“The goal is not just to create joy for
ourselves but, as the Archbishop phrased it “To be a reservoir of joy, an oasis of peace, a pool of serenity that can ripple out to all those around you.” Joy, love, compassion and generosity are all contagious.
Concerning forgiveness, while it may be necessary to counter wrong action, you may choose not to develop anger and hatred towards the actor — not losing sight of the humanity of the person.
Forgiveness frees us from the past. Without it, we remain tethered to the person who harmed us. Until we can forgive them, they hold the keys to our happiness and remain our jailor, Tutu explains. When we forgive, we take back control of our own fate and feelings, we become our own liberator. Studies show that remembering grudges stimulates all of our stress responses while empathizing with our offenders and imagining forgiving them returns the stress responses to normal. Forgiveness, then, is essential to our own health and well-being.
The Nassau police arrested Roberto Loo Kung, 36, of West Hempstead, for a robbery that occurred Monday, June 30.
Kung threatened the driver with a closed fist before the driver complied, police said.
Kung was charged with robbery in the third degree and was arraigned in First District Court on June 30.
According to police, a 22-year-old man was working as an Uber driver and picked up three men in Hempstead. They requested transportation to 28 Morton Avenue. Upon arriving at the destination, there was a dispute over the fare and one of the passengers grabbed the driver by his shirt and demanded he return the money.
On June 19, an unknown male subject removed merchandise from the West Hempstead Stop & Shop, at 50 Cherry Valley Ave., according to a victim.
On June 17, Lizzette Anderson, 56, of Lindenhurst, was arrested for shoplifting at West Hempstead’s Stop and Shop, located at 50 Cherry Valley Ave.
People named in Crime Watch items as having been arrested and charged with violations or crimes are only suspected of committing those acts of which they are accused. They are all presumed to be innocent of those charges until and unless found guilty in a court of law.
or www.liherald.com/westhempstead
E-MAIl:
safety,” Ortiz said. “In his role in security, he’s a great listener and sometimes a great problem-solver for the students.”
In addition, Myers is a retired corrections officer and a former entrepreneur who ran a landscaping business. He’s also worked in the finance and mortgage industries. Myers actively supports the school district’s sports teams and has watched many of Lakeview’s children move up in their education.
“I’m humbled by this award,” Myers said. “I love this community. I love the children in this community. I’m very, very grateful.”
Salley, a Lakeview Civic Association trustee, was awarded during the ceremony for his service to the community. After six years in Lakeview, serving as pastor of St. Paul AME Church, he will be leaving the community in the coming weeks to lead the First African Methodist Episcopal Church–Bethel in Harlem.
During his time in Lakeview, Salley has reinstated the church pantry, completed building renovations and grown the membership of his church. He has hosted various events at St. Paul with the intention of engaging the Lakeview community. In addition, Salley helped found the civic association and is a member of the local chapter of the NAACP.
Viola rubena myers, and trustee Lisa Lewis.
“This is a bittersweet moment, for as excited as I am to receive this award, I do it with a heavy heart as my family and I are in the process of preparing for our move,” Salley said. “Lakeview will always be home. It will be home because of the love of the people, the sense of community, and the tremendous impact that Lakeview has had on me.”
Also honored for his contributions to the community was Jolly, a graduating senior at Malverne High School who has excelled as a student and an athlete, and in track.
“I’m not a man of many words, I like to lead by action,” Jolly said while accepting his award. “I will continue to be better a man for the people around
By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com
It was a banner season for many high school athletic programs in the Herald’s coverage area. Listed are the Top 20 team accomplishments, in chronological order.
1. Oceanside girls soccer
With one overtime in the books and penalty kicks looming in the Nov. 4 Nassau Class AAA girls’ soccer championship game, Oceanside’s Kaylin Harrington had one thing in mind when she settled a pass from Chloe Polito about 20 yards from the Massapequa net. “My first instinct was to shoot,” Harrington said. “I knew we were getting close to PKs and I had a little space, so I just shot it.” It turned out to be the shot heard ‘round Oceanside. Harrington’s goal 5:35 into the second 15-minute sudden victory OT period gave the Sailors a 2-1 win over the three-time defending champion Chiefs and their first county title since 1978.
2. Wantagh girls soccer
Wantagh entered the Nassau Class A girls’ soccer playoffs riding a five-game winning streak and bursting with confidence. And on Nov. 7, the Warriors made history by capturing their firstever county championship with a 1-0 victory over top-seeded North Shore, which defeated them twice during the regular season.Kayla Mannix continued a storybook postseason by netting the lone goal of the night in the 65th minute off a feed from Shannon Udell. Goalkeeper Gabriella Astaiza, who missed a large portion of the season with an injury, made five saves to shut out a talented Vikings team that scored six goals against Wantagh in two previous meetings.
3. Mepham girls volleyball
Mepham’s girls’ volleyball made history Nov. 11. It took four sets for the Pirates to secure the Nassau Class AA championship in a revenge-match rematch of last year’s county title game against Long Beach, winning 25-21, 17-25, 25-17, 25-20. “They just came together and played incredibly, supporting each other, never got down, had the momentum most of the game; blocking was outrageous, serve receive was best I’ve seen all year,” Mepham coach Tom Wildeman said. Captains Sam Raikos (18 kills and 10 digs) and Makayla Daube (19 assists and 6 kills) led the way for the Pirates, who captured their first-ever county crown.
4. South Side girls volleyball
Wantagh entered the Nassau Class A girls’ volleyball championship stage rid-
ing a 10-match win streak dating back to an Oct. 7 five-set victory over South Side, which captured its first seven matches and eight more since. So something had to give with the county title on the line Nov. 11 as the top two seeds went to battle before a jam-packed crowd at East Meadow. However, the matchup didn’t live up to the hype and unlike both regular-season meetings failed to go the full five sets. Cate Cammalleri (18 kills) and Abby Magness (13) and Amy Berenbroick (37 assists) led No. 1 South Side to a convincing 25-18, 25-19, 25-10 victory over No. 2 Wantagh. It marked the Cyclones’ first county crown since 2019.
5. Massapequa boys volleyball
Coach Elissa DiSalvo didn’t exactly have a royal flush in-hand with the Massapequa boys’ volleyball roster this year: a good chunk of the 2023 team graduated, multiple positions needed to be changed and the influx of new players meant they had to be brought up to speed. It was only a matter of time before the Chiefs starting jelling together, with practices or games Monday-Saturday, followed by Sunday brunches. It was all by design, because DiSalvo knew that chemistry would be make or break. It all paid off Nov. 12 when Massapequa defeated pesky East Meadow in four sets to capture the Nassau County Division I title.
6. Carey football
There was nothing fake about Carey’s dominant run to the Nassau Conference II football championship. Well, actually, there was. Deadlocked with Mepham early in the second half of the Nov. 22 title game, the Seahawks pulled a fake punt on fourth-and-6 from their own 47 that saw Billy Koutsoumbaris gain 29 yards. Five plays later, Justin DePietro scored his second of three touchdowns and Carey eventually pulled away for a 28-7 victory and its first county championship since 2014. The Seahawks went on to complete a perfect 12-0 season with a victory over Half Hollow Hills East in the LIC.
A 13-yard run from Dylan Martini on the first play from scrimmage was a precursor for Wantagh’s explosive ground game in the Nassau County Conference IV football championship Nov. 22. Led by 232 yards rushing from Martini and 108 by John Gendels, the Warriors rolled to a 48-21 win over Plainedge for the program’s first county crown since the spring of 2021. The convincing victory also avenged the only regular season loss for Wantagh, which dropped a 33-27 overtime thriller to the Red Devils Oct. 10.
8. Massapequa football
Tyler Villalta called it a “just in case” play, one practiced about three times a week for three weeks but never used in a game. And fourth down in overtime of the Nassau Conference I football championship game with the season on the line proved to be the best time to debut that for Massapequa. The call came from Chiefs’ offensive coordinator Mike Ambury, and Villalta, the star running back, put it into motion. Operating out of a Wildcat set, which debuted in the semifinals against Oceanside last week, Villalta rolled left and connected with quarterback-turned-wide receiver Joey Diesso for a 17-yard touchdown. Chris Bascetta kicked the extra point to seal Massapequa’s thrilling 35-34 win over Farmingdale Nov. 23. The Chiefs went on to beat William Floyd for the L.I. crown.
Trailing Lynbrook by a point in the waning moments of the Nassau Class A girls’ basketball championship game March 10, Wantagh’s designed play off a
timeout resulted in a good look but no basket. But in one fell swoop, Kayla Mannix not only saved the ball from landing out of bounds but found Riley Forthofer open in the paint. Forthofer banked in a layup with 7.7 seconds remaining to give Wantagh a thrilling 44-43 victory over top-seeded Lynbrook. Juliana Cerasi had 12 points and freshmen Isabelle Ferraro (10) and Makayla McNeil combined for 19 as second-seeded Wantagh avenged a pair of regularseason defeats to the Owls and captured its first county title since the 2005-06 campaign.
On the heels of winning a fifth straight Nassau County boys’ basketball title, as the No. 5 seed in the tournament no loess, Baldwin was determined to end a two-game drought in the Long Island championship stage. The Bruins did just that March 11 against a familiar foe.
Mical Saint Jean scored a career-high 19 points, point guard Ethan Sainsbury
added a career-high 17 and dished out 10 assists, Chase Timberlake chipped in 12 with 8 steals, Vaughdrea Johnson had 11 points and 11 rebounds, and Gabe Phillips ripped down 16 boards as Baldwin never trailed in its 75-56 victory over Amityville in the AA LIC.
11. Baldwin girls basketball
The ultimate goal of Baldwin’s girls’ basketball team was made clear on the opening day of practice Nov. 17 and that was to win the final game of the season. On the morning of March 23 at Hudson Valley Community College in upstate Troy, the Bruins turned a dream into reality with a thrilling 50-48 roller coaster victory over Aquinas Institute for the New York State Class AA title. Monique Echols scored the game’s final five points, including the go-ahead layup off a bounce pass from Payton Dulin with 1:35 remaining. It was Baldwin’s first state championship in seven years and third all-time.
12. Massapequa girls lacrosse
Paige Garguilo scored twice in the fourth quarter and came up with a critical interception to help topseeded Massapequa defeat No. 2 Port Washington, 11-9, and capture a fifth straight girls’ lacrosse county title May 27. Garguilo, who scored five times, wasn’t the only clutch player for the Chiefs. In the waning seconds of the third quarter, Port Washington’s Catherine Karman beat the buzzer with a low shot on frame. But Massapequa goalie Emily Fitzgerald made the massive save, one of seven for the freshman. Isabella Grosso had a hat trick. Also playing a pivotal role was Reilly Cereghino, who held Violet Ortenzi, who scored 35 goals heading into the final, without a goal.
13. Plainedge flag football
For a second straight season, the Plainedge and East Rockaway girls’ flag football teams met with a Nassau County title on the line. And it was Plainedge
repeating last year’s championship accomplishment in rainy conditions May 28 as quarterback Gianna Ponticello and receiver Amanda Martone hooked up for a touchdown in each half and the defense stood tall to lead the Red Devils over the Rocks, 12-0, in the Conference C final. Kate Franks (nine flag pulls), Sarah Abdul-Rassoul (eight) and Jennifer Larwood were relentless on defense, and Rebecca Reiter sealed the deal with an interception.
After heartbreaking semifinal playoff defeats in each of the past three seasons including two by one goal, South Side’s girls’ lacrosse team wasn’t satisfied with just reaching the championship stage this spring.
The top-seeded Cyclones made the most of their opportunity and also program history in a driving rainstorm May 28, knocking off defending Nassau Class C champion Wantagh, 14-8, for their first-ever county title. Bobbie Creo exploded for five goals, Charlotte Rathjen had three goals and two assists, Sienna Connolly had three goals and Skye Korten added a pair to back the goaltending of Tara Cody.
The flame was ignited for Michael Jannotte two years ago following a loss to Port Washington in the Nassau Class A boys’ lacrosse semifinals. It was a slow burn for the Massapequa goalie. And on May 31, on the same field, the senior got his revenge, helping lead the top-seeded Chiefs to a 9-7 win over Port Washington in the Nassau Class A final. The Stevens Tech commit, who made 14 saves in a 9-7 semifinal win over Syosset, remained hot in the county final. He made five of his eight saves in the fourth quarter to help secure the Chiefs’ 12th county championship and first since 2019. Nolan Wieczorek had two goals and one assist, eighth-grader Jake Byrnes had a pair of goals, Braden Tucker and Sean Durnin had a goal and an assist each.
Wantagh pitcher Dominick Cusamano entered the June 1 winner-take-all Nassau Class A baseball finals Game 3 against Seaford determined to not have it be the last time he would take the mound in his high school career. Cusamano, following strong performances from teammates Christian Danzilo and Gavin Diegnan, delivered under the brought lights tossing 6 1/3 innings with five strikeouts to propel top-seeded Wantagh to a 6-1 win for its first county title since 2018. The bats gave Cusamano all the run support he needed in the second inning starting with Frank McNally drawing a bases loaded walk that scored Ryan Tullo. The Warriors extended the lead when Cole Spinelli and Michael Avitabile scored on an error from a hard grounder off the bat of Cusumano.
After a heartbreaking loss to start its best-of-three Nassau Class AAA championship baseball series with Farmingdale, Massapequa went on to dominate the final two games and re-claim bragging rights between the crosstown rivals. Jack Scannapieco tossed five scoreless innings and Mikey Smar had a clutch five RBIs in three at-bats with the bases loaded as the second-seeded Chiefs knocked the top-seeded Dalers off their throne with a winner-take-all 12-0 triumph June 1. Massapequa went on to defeat Connetquot for the L.I. crown, 7-0, a week later behind the battery of
Derrick Dingle/Herald photos glen Cove’s battery mates, pitcher Brianna Simmons, left, and catcher isabella damiano, embraced after the softball team’s first title in 40 years.
senior southpaw pitcher Thomas Harding and junior catcher Anthony DiNello.
18. Glen Cove softball
With its season hanging in the balance, trailing MacArthur by one run through six innings of the decisive third game of the Nassau Class AA softball championship series June 2, Glen Cove produced a rally for the history books. The Big Red scored twice in the top of the seventh and pitcher Brooke Simmons stranded the potential tying run on third base in the bottom of the frame for a 2-1 victory and the program’s first county title in 40 years. Siena Scagliola doubled home Mia Lupinski with the eventual championship-winning run. Lupinski singled home Sommons with the tying run.
19. Wantagh boys lacrosse
The Wantagh boys’ lacrosse team made the spectacular look routine. For a second consecutive championship game, the Warriors rallied from a significant deficit to earn a dramatic win, coming back from five goals down to defeat Kings Park 16-15 in the Long Island Class C final June 4. Wantagh, which erased a four-goal deficit in an 11-10 overtime win over South Side in the county final May 31 on a Luke Martini goal, saw Devin Paccione, Dylan Martini, Carter Loughman and Joe Nicholson star in the LIC.
The Long Island Class AAA softball championship between Massapequa and Riverhead June 6 did not disappoint. There was no shortage of excellent pitching, clutch defensive plays, and some timely hitting with the title on the line. In a game that went to extra innings, Massapequa put together a couple of two-out hits in the bottom of the eighth, and with the winning run at third base in the form of Sienna Perino, who tripled, Annalisa Kohn slapped a base hit to walk it off, giving the Chiefs a thrilling 2-1 victory.
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
The West Hempstead Secondary School’s Class of 2025 donned black and gold one last time during their graduation ceremony on June 29 at the LIU Post Tilles Center.
The commencement ceremony included speeches by the valedictorian and salutatorian, Victoria Covino and Madison Abi Aoun, superintendent Dan Rehman, and principal Joseph Pumo. The ceremony also featured a performance from the secondary school’s chamber choir.
“What I’ve truly wanted the most over the past four years is to bring people together and to unite us,” Covino said. “I wanted our class to laugh together, cry together, and to support each other. I wanted us to live in the present even if things got messy, hard or stressful. The moments that matter the most are the ones that we’re living in right now.”
“Over my four years of high school, I learned that there’s no way to stop time, go back or fast forward,” Abi Aoun said. “My best piece of advice for my fellow graduates is to live in the moment.”
Mr. Rehman spoke about three key principles that made the Class of 2025 stand out while in West Hempstead.
“They have truly embodied the principles of putting ‘WHe over me,’” Rehman said. “Throughout their time here at West Hempstead, these students have learned that the most meaningful accomplishments come not from their individual glory, but from lifting others up alongside themselves.”
–Madison Gusler
Greatness was unleashed onto the world during the Malverne High School’s 2025 Graduation ceremony on June 27.
Salutatorian Olivia Brown spoke about the compassion students of Malverne show each other and the community created through their school experiences. Senior class president Kaiden Ulysse excited the crowd by celebrating the memories and many accomplishments of their student body, from the athletes to the artists.
“This is the story of a generation built on other people’s sacrifice and our own relentless refusal to give up,” valedictorian Selin Mutlu said. “But we made it. We didn’t do this alone. We carried each other, every step, every moment, together.” Mutlu thanked the Malverne staff for their dedication to the student body, as well as her family for their sacrifices to provide her the education she received at Malverne.
She reminded her classmates of the challenges that lay ahead for them in life and college, advising them they will learn, grow, and overcome what lies ahead as they continue to seek out their purpose in life.
Over 170 students graduated from Malverne High School, making up 99 percent of the senior class. Together these students earned over $15 million in scholarship offers. They will be attending four year and two year postsecondary institutions in the fall or pursue trades.
“These students have worked hard, played hard, contributed generously to their community in time, talent and are now ready to step into the world,” superintendent Lorna Lewis said. “This will be my 47th and final graduation, and I have never been prouder of a graduating class as I am today.”
–Madison Gusler
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By JEFFREY BESSEN jbessen@liherald.com
Carolyn McCarthy, a former U.S. representative from Long Island who transformed personal tragedy into a two-decade-long crusade for gun control in Congress, died on June 26. She was 81.
Born Carolyn Cook on Jan. 5, 1944, in Brooklyn, and raised in Mineola, McCarthy wanted to become a physical education teacher. Instead she became a nurse, inspired to do so after caring for an injured boyfriend. Her life was forever changed on Dec. 7, 1993, when Colin Ferguson opened fire on a Long Island Rail Road car, killing six people, including McCarthy’s husband, Dennis, critically wounding their son, Kevin, and injuring 18 others.
McCarthy became a symbol of resilience nationwide, and entered public service. Her story was dramatized in the 1998 television movie “The Long Island Incident,” with actress Laurie Metcalf portraying her.
“Long Island lost a giant today,” Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages said in a statement last Thursday. “As a woman representing Long Island in elected office today, I walked through doors Carolyn helped open. Her work on behalf of survivors, her courage to speak out when others stayed silent, and her focus on protecting families and communities are just a few parts of a legacy that will live on for generations.”
McCarthy, a former Republican, ran for Congress as a Democrat in 1996, defeating Republican incumbent Dan Frisa in a stunning upset. She represented New York’s 4th Congressional District, which covers a large swath of Nassau County’s South Shore, from 1997 until her retirement in 2015.
During her 18 years in the House, she was widely regarded as one of the nation’s most tenacious and outspoken champions of gun reform.
“I was privileged to serve with Carolyn in Congress for almost two decades,” former U.S. Rep. Peter King
wrote, “and was proud to call her a friend. She was a fighter and staunch advocate for New York and Long Island who used her family tragedy as an opportunity to do so much good for so many others.”
McCarthy often referred to herself as “the gun lady,” though she also worked on education and local constituent issues.
“I recently spoke with her about the 125th anniversary of Nassau County and invited her to attend the county’s gala as an honored guest,” County Executive Bruce Blakeman said in a statement. “Unfortunately, she wasn’t feeling up to it, but she expressed her best wishes and love for Nassau County. Carolyn was a true leader and a very decent person. She will be sorely missed.”
U.S. Rep. Laura Gillen called McCarthy “a tireless advocate for Long Island.”
“Carolyn turned her pain into action, running for Congress and advocating for common sense gun reform, including comprehensive background checks,” Gillen said in a statement. “We must honor her legacy by continuing her life’s work to keep our communities and our children safe from the scourge of gun violence.”
McCarthy announced her decision not to seek reelection in 2014, citing health reasons, and stepped down in January 2015. Fellow Democrat Kathleen Rice succeeded her.
“Carolyn fought for safer communities, and stronger laws to prevent gun violence,” Jay Jacobs, Nassau County’s Democratic committee chairman, said in a statement. “She leaves behind a legacy of action, resilience, and public service. We will continue to honor her memory, as we vow to carry on her fight.”
By Karen Bloom
Barbecue season is heating up! Whether fireworks are part of your holiday weekend plans, certainly some time at the grill will be very much on the agenda. There’s no better way to celebrate than with good food, great company and a sizzling grill. Whether you’re planning a backyard bash or a cozy cookout, make this year’s Fourth of July feast one to remember.
Sure, burgers and hot dogs are always a hit — and a holiday standard — but why not kick things up a notch? Impress your guests with flavorful additions like chorizo sausages, ribs, or maybe some spice-up marinated chicken. If that’s a bit too exciting for you, then you can always spruce up the classics by going for unique flavors. Jalapeño hotdogs, anyone?
Make sure to marinade: Don’t underestimate the power of a good marinade. Prepping your meat a day or two ahead lets those bold flavors soak in — and yes, even hot dogs and burgers can benefit from a tasty soak. Marinating your meat before you grill can seriously enhance its flavors. Don’t forget your vegetarian friends and family: Got vegetarian friends or just want to lighten things up? Grilled vegetables like zucchini, bell peppers and asparagus add vibrant color and bold flavor to your spread. Try veggie kebabs or marinated portobello mushrooms as hearty meatless options. Keep it healthy (but delicious): Unlike the other holidays that we associate with eating (such as Thanksgiving), it’s totally possible to keep your feast healthy. Fourth of July doesn’t have to mean food coma. Use clean ingredients and simple swaps — think avocado-oil mayo in your coleslaw or a touch of honey instead of sugar in cornbread. Add a big salad, fresh fruit and grilled corn for balance.
Put a twist on the standards: Whatever you choose, you can seriously wow your guests by putting a modern take on a traditional recipe. For instance, if you’re making coleslaw this time around, then you can experiment with different flavors, such as jalapeño, apple, or even spicy Thai peanut. You can add the same variation to different dishes, such as baked beans, mac and cheese, and even your condiments.
Turn your grill into a flavor playground — and serve up a celebration your guests won’t forget.
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon orange juice
• 1 tablespoon Montreal Steak Seasoning (or any spicy season of your choice)
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 2 pounds boneless beef sirloin or flank steak
turn to coat well.
Refrigerate 1 hour or longer for extra flavor. Remove steak from marinade. Discard any remaining marinade.
Grill over medium-high heat 6 to 8 minutes per side or until desired doneness.
For added flavor, try a tasty topper on your meat.
Dijon Mustard Aioli: Blend Dijon and whole-grain mustard with creamy Greek yogurt, garlic, tarragon and white pepper for a rich, tangy topping. Mushrooms and Blue Cheese: Mix hearty mushrooms and full-flavored blue cheese with your favorite savory spices and a splash of sherry wine
Smoky Bacon Jam: Start with the finest cuts of bacon browned to crispy perfection then add caramelized onion and an accent like brown sugar or balsamic vinegar.
Tomato Jam: Experiment with your favorite varieties to find the perfect balance of crushed tomatoes, sweet gherkins and seasonings.
Grilled Chicken and Pineapple Skewers with Lemon-Cucumber Salsa
• 8 skewers
• 1 pineapple
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 3/4 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, diced into 1-inch pieces
Lemon-Cucumber Salsa
• 1 lemon, supremed
• 1 cucumber, diced
• 1/2 red onion, diced
• 1 tablespoon wildflower honey
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Soak wooden skewers for 15 minutes prior to grilling. Heat grill to medium-high heat. Remove rind from pineapple and dice into 1-inch pieces. In small bowl, combine oil, salt and pepper. Add chicken and pineapple; toss to coat.
Alternating chicken and pineapple, pierce onto skewers. Grill skewers 8 minutes each side, or until chicken is cooked thoroughly.
To make Lemon-Cucumber Salsa: In medium bowl, combine lemon, cucumber, onion, honey and pepper. Serve lemon-cucumber salsa over cooked chicken skewers
We’re gonna party like it’s 19801989! Rocker (and ageless heartthrob) Rick Springfield gave us the soundtrack of our glory days: “Jessie’s Girl,” “Don’t Talk to Strangers,” “An Affair of the Heart,” “Love Somebody,” “Human Touch,” “On the Dark Side,” and many more of the most iconic songs of that era. The Grammy-winning musician is back on the road this summer with the 2025 edition of his I Want My 80s Tour. This time around he brings along special guests John Waite, Wang Chung and Paul Young. Over the past four decades, he’s worn many hats as an entertainer and performer. The creator of some of the finest ‘80s power-pop, he’s sold 25 million albums and scored 17 U.S. Top 40 hits. Also an accomplished actor and an author, both his candid 2010 memoir “Late, Late at Night” (which Rolling Stone named one of the 25 greatest rock memoirs of all time) and his 2014 comedic novel “Magnificent Vibration” earned rave reviews and spots on the New York Times Best Sellers’ list.
Thursday, July 10, 7:30 p.m. $40, $30. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington.Tickets at landmarkonmainstreet.org or (516) 767-6444. Welcome the nation’s birthday in good taste
Wednesday, July 9, 7 p.m. Flagstar at Westbury Music Fair, 960 Brush Hollow Rd., Westbury. Tickets available at livenation.com.
He said, she said
Share in some lively repartee when four comedians — two men, two women — sling barbs at one another in The Ivy League of Comedy’s “Skirmish of the Sexes.”Laugh the night away with tales of love and not-love, bad dinners and good dates, broken cars and unbroken dreams. Check out this take on the age-old dichotomy of who’s right and who’s wrong. The lineup features Tony Deyo, known for his sharp, quick material and near-perfect timing; Calise Hawkins, a single mom who stands out with her hair, but also her smile and onstage likability. Also Shaun Eli, rightfully called one of America’s smartest comics. Whether it’s a story about dining with a vegetarian or fighting a parking ticket in criminal court, master storyteller Shaun shows you hilarity in the ordinary. And Ophira Eisenberg, who delivers a unique blend of smart irreverent standup and storytelling.
Mix soy sauce, honey, orange juice, steak seasoning and ginger in small bowl. Place steak in large resealable plastic bag or glass dish. Add marinade;
Tip: Supreme citrus fruit by cutting off top and bottom of fruit then cut away peel and pith, leaving no white on outside of fruit. Slice each segment into wedges by cutting toward center of fruit along membrane.
Check out West Hempstead Public Library’s book sale. Select items from the sale to keep with you forever. $1 per bag.
• Where: 500 Hempstead Ave.
• Time: 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
TD Bank ‘Celebrate America’ in park
Eisenhower Park welcomes the annual TD Bank Celebrate America Fireworks and Show. Enjoy tunes with Chicken Head and Glenn Strange Band, followed by fireworks. As always, bring seating. Rain date is July 5.
• Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow
• Time: 5:30 p.m.
• Contact: nassaucountyny.gov
On Exhibit
Nassau County Museum of Art’s unveils its new exhibition, “At Play,” a survey of artists’ perennial fascination with entertainment in all forms. Framing this topic between the nineteenth century Belle Époque and today, the exhibit includes works by Pablo Picasso, Reginald Marsh, Everett Shinn, and Max Beckmann among many others. The works are gathered to represent a wide range of expressions, from entertainment-related activities to the fascinating personalities involved. It encompasses dance, music, theater, movies, circus, boating, and beach scenes, along with horseracing and various sports, both active and passive Also featured are archival items from The Metropolitan Opera and the New York Philharmonic, including costumes by Marc Chagall for Die Zauberflöte, vintage fashion items by such designers as Alfred Shaheen, and iconic costumes from the FoliesBergère in Paris. On view until Nov. 9.
• Where: 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor
• Time: Ongoing
• Contact: nassaumuseum.org or (516) 484-9337
Learn to line dance at Lakeview Public Library. Come dressed to move and bring a water bottle. Registration required. $5 for nonLakeview residents.
• Where: 1120 Woodfield Road, Lakeview
• Time: 6-p.m.
• Contact: lakeviewlibrary.org
10
Bubble Pop Kids in grades K-5 can become a bubble scientist with the Long Island Children’s Museum at Malverne Library. Learn more about the unique physical properties of bubbles as you experiment at three interactive stations. Experiment making bubbles and take home your own bubble print.
• Where: 61 St. Thomas Pl., Malverne
• Time: 3 p.m.
• Contact: malvernelibrary.org
‘Where it began…’ Broadway’s Robert Neary, also a star of TV and film, visits Eisenhower Park’s Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre with his Neil Diamond showcase “So Good.” He creates an unforgettable tribute to one of the greatest recording artists in history. Two hours packed with 24 classic hit songs, nostalgia, stories, multimedia, and trivia, and a finale that is pure Broadway caliber. This is a true immersion into the life and career of Neil Diamond.
Crossroads Farm welcomes all to a Summer Berry Festival. With carnival games, pie eating contest, food trucks, dunk tank, egg and sack races, bounce house, and more. $15 in advance.
• Where: 480 Hempstead Ave.
• Time: Noon-7 p.m.
Bring the kids to Old Westbury Gardens for another storybook adventure Stroll the gardens and enjoy a telling of Arnold Lobel’s “The Rose in My Garden” With a take-home craft. For ages 3-5. Storybook Strolls start at the Beech Tree (next to Westbury House), and end at the Thatched Cottage.
• Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury
• Time: 10:30-11:30 a.m.
• Contact: oldwestburygardens. org or call (516) 333-0048
Hang out with some Long Island Children’s Museum’s “residents. Join an animal
educator in the Hive Studio in the Feasts for Beasts Gallery to observe animal bath time and learn what goes into the care of LICM’s animals.
• Where: Museum Row, Garden City.
• Time: 1:30-2 p.m.
• Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800
Malverne Board of Education holds their monthly business meeting in the Malverne Performing Arts Center.
• Where: Malverne High School
80 Ocean Ave., Malverne
• Time: 7 p.m.
Kids in grades K-2 can join Miss Samantha at West Hempstead Public Library and show off some creative colors! One item provided per child. Bringing an item from home to dye is also okay!
• Where: 500 Hempstead Ave.
• Time: 5:30 and 6:30 p.m.
• Contact: whplibrary.org
• Where: The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com
Take a trip down memory lane with Gin Blossoms when their highly anticipated 2025 tour visits Long Island. With their timeless hits, infectious melodies, and nostalgic vibes, Gin Blossoms promises to deliver a concert experience that will transport fans back to the heyday of ‘90s alternative rock. The band rose to fame in the ‘90s with hits like “Hey Jealousy,” “Found Out About You,” and “Til I Hear It from You,” that still resonate today. Their jangly guitars, catchy hooks and heartfelt lyrics captured the spirit of the decade and earned them a dedicated following that continues to grow. With their dynamic stage presence and infectious energy, Gin Blossoms knows how to keep the crowd on their feet and singing along to every word. Their latest tour is a nostalgic journey through the band’s greatest hits, as well as new songs that are sure to captivate. Whether you’re reliving the memories of the ‘90s or discovering Gin Blossoms for the first time, their music will leave a lasting impression. And, of course, one of the highlights of any Gin Blossoms concert is the connection they share with their fans. Whether it’s through their heartfelt lyrics or their engaging stage banter, Gin Blossoms creates a sense of camaraderie that makes every concert feel like a reunion with old friends. $82, $71.75, $60.25, $49.25, $37.25.
NYBG becomes the canvas for the colorful brush strokes of one of the world’s most revered artists during Van Gogh’s Flowers. Revel in the beauty of the flowers that inspired his iconic paintings, hosted byWest Hempstead Public Library. $130 check, payable to WHPL. Fee includes garden pass, guided walking tour, tram tour, chef’s luncheon in the Garden Terrace Room, and roundtrip bus and gratuities.
• Where: 500 Hempstead Ave.
• Time: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Contact: whplibrary.org
Enjoy a movie under the stars at Eisenhower Park. Enjoy “Despicable Me 4,” the fourth main installment and sixth overall entry in the Despicable Me franchise. With the arrival of a new baby, Gru’s life is great — until an old rival comes back for revenge and forces Gru to uproot his family and Minions! Starring Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Will Ferrell. Bring seat.
• Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow
• Time: Movie begins at dusk
• Contact: nassaucountyny.gov
• Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Contact: nassaucountyny.gov
Concert at the Gazebo Enjoy Malverne’s summer concert series with the Nassau Pops in Gazebo Park. Their entertaining concert includes classics, hits and showtunes. Bring seating.
• Where: Reese Gazebo Park
• Time : 3 p.m.
Watermelon 5K
Get your steps in and enjoy a sweet treat at the Watermelon 5K at Eisenhower Park.
• Where: Field 2, East Meadow
• Time: 8:30 a.m.
• Contact: events.elitefeats. com/25WatermelonNassau
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.
On June 17, West Hempstead school district held its annual Tenure Tea ceremony at the secondary school to celebrate newly tenured teachers, retirees, and 20-year employees.
The West Hempstead school district held its annual Tenure Tea ceremony at the secondary school on June 17. The ceremony celebrated newly tenured teachers, retirees, and 20-year employees.
Superintendent Dan Rehman spoke highly of each staff member, while Board of Education President Karen Brohm presented plaques recognizing staff milestones.
“Everyone that we’re recognizing this evening have chosen education as more than just a profession,” Mr. Rehman said. “They’ve embraced it as a calling. Each individual has played a vital role in our mission to educate and nurture every student.”
–Madison Gusler
West Hempstead Secondary School senior Vivian Thomas, pictured with Principal Joesph Pumo, received the student of the year regents award from the Long Island Association of Special Education Administrators, Inc. Award Committee.
West Hempstead Secondary School senior Vivian Thomas has been selected by the executive board of the Long Island Association of Special Education Administrators, Inc. Award Committee to receive a student of the year regents award.
LIASEA is a group of special education administrators who are responsible for programs and services for students with disabilities in public and private schools.
Thomas will receive her scholarship check of $500, certificate, personal letter of congratulations and a special gift from LIASEA. Additionally, Thomas, along with West Hempstead’s district administrators, will attend the Student Scholarship Luncheon at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury on June 6 to receive her award.
By Justin McKenzie Intern
To raise funds for their trip to Italy, the Malverne Select Choir invited members of the community to their Pancake Fundraiser. With the help of the Malverne Music Parents Association, otherwise known as the MMPA, the choir plans to travel to Italy in 2026.
This will be the choir’s second international voyage.
it’s an opportunity for the community to hear the beautiful voices and to know what they’re helping to raise funds for.
LuKeisHA PAuL
Co-president, MMPA
The Choir travels internationally every four years, according to choral director Kenneth Zagare, with the goal of introducing young music students to new performances, ensembles, and cultures.
The upcoming journey will include Select Choir performances as a group and performances in a choral festival with other schools from around the world, where students will get to learn from foreign composers.
To kick off the fund raising for their trip, the choir welcomed members of the community to a Pancake Breakfast event. Attendees were able to enjoy breakfast prepared by the MMPA, while singers from the Select Choir performed Show tunes and pop songs.
The MMPA is “responsible for enriching all of the programming that we have for our students from elementary school to high school, in all the musical arts programs that they have,” copresident Lukeisha Paul explained.
The goal of the fundraiser is more than collecting money. It also serves as a chance to bring attention to the choir’s mission. “We want people to get involved with what the students are doing,” Paul said. “It’s an opportunity for the community to hear the beautiful voices and to know what they’re helping to raise funds for.”
“To see the world outside of Malverne is so instrumental for students. We’ve had children who’ve made career choices based on these experiences.”
Principal Kesha Bascombe explained.
Fundraisers like the Pancakes and Performances Fundraiser allow the Select Choir to raise funds and bring awareness to their work. More fundraising events will be held throughout the school year as the choir prepares to head to Italy next summer.
If you can’t attend a fundraiser but would like to contribute to the trip, donate by visiting https://www.paypal. com/US/fundraiser/charity/4862941
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the BOARD OF TRUSTEES of the Inc. Village of Malverne will hold a PUBLIC HEARING at Malverne Village Hall, 99 Church Street, Malverne, New York 11565 on Thursday, July 17, 2025, at 7:15 PM to hear the following cases:
324-328 Hempstead Ave. Realty Corp. 324A Hempstead Avenue; Business District Building Permit Application #2025-0379
New tenant (Mexican Bites) proposes to open a new takeout restaurant with interior alterations.
All interested parties should appear at the above time and place.
BY ORDER OF THE MALVERNE BOARD OF TRUSTEES INC. VILLAGE OF MALVERNE
Jill Valli, Village Clerk
Dated: June 20, 2025 154336
LEGAL NOTICE PUBLIC HEARING INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF MALVERNE
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Board of Trustees of the Incorporated Village of Malverne will hold a Public Hearing on Thursday, July 17, 2025 at 7:00 PM, at Malverne Village Hall, 99 Church Street, Malverne, NY 11565 in
order to receive public comment upon the following proposed Local Laws amending the Municipal Code of the Incorporated Village Of Malverne: Chapter 44, “Vehicles and Traffic” Attachment 2, Appendix B to reflect amended Fines and Penalties.
Chapter 411, “Notification of Defects” Section 411-1, “Notice Required for Action” to further clarify prior written notice.
Chapter 507, “Stormwater Management” to further clarify new illicit discharge regulations.
Chapter 523, “Taxation” Article VI, “Exemption for Ambulance Corps and Fire Department Volunteers” repealing current code and adopting in its place a new Article VI to be entitled “Exemption for Volunteer Firefighters and Ambulance Workers” pursuant to section 466-a of the Real property tax law. BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES INCOPORATED VILLAGE OF MALVERNE Jill Valli/Village Clerk
DATED: June 27, 2025 154337
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF ARCHITECTURAL & SITE PLAN REVIEW BOARD HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE BOARD OF ARCHITECTURAL & SITE PLAN REVIEW of the Inc. Village of Malverne will hold a PUBLIC HEARING at the Malverne Village Hall, 99 Church Street, Malverne, New York 11565 on Thursday, July 17, 2025, at 7:30 pm to hear the following cases: Weber Assets, LLC 4 Weber Ave.; Business District
Sign Permit Application #2025-0242
Proposes to install 24” x 132” wall mounted letters (no internal illumination). All interested parties should appear at the above time and place. The Architectural & Site Plan Review Board Meeting will be immediately followed by a work session of the Board of Trustees. BY ORDER OF THE MALVERNE BOARD OF TRUSTEES INC. VILLAGE OF MALVERNE
Jill Valli, Village Clerk June 25, 2025 154334
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the MALVERNE PLANNING BOARD will hold a PUBLIC HEARING on Tuesday, July 29, 2025 at the MALVERNE VILLAGE HALL, 99 Church Street, Malverne, New York 11565 and will rule on the following case at 6:30 pm: Atlas Five Realty Corp. 7 Atlas Court; Residential “A” District Permit Application #2022-0238 Proposes to subdivide vacant land for the purpose of creating three (3) separate, single family dwellings located at 7 Atlas Ct., Malverne, NY 11565; known as Section 35, Block 480, Lots 1218A & 1218B; which is located in Residential “A” District. The proposed subdivision requires approval from the Malverne Planning Board as indicated in the Code of the Incorporated Village Malverne. BY ORDER OF THE MALVERNE PLANNING BOARD INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF MALVERNE Jill Valli, Village Clerk
Dated: June 25, 2025 154335
Q. I met with an architect whom my contractor recommended, and I’m now very upset and confused. We need to get our job done by the end of the summer, and the building department said I should speak to an architect, get plans and they could process my permit. It sounded a lot simpler than the architect said. What seemed like a simple job — to do plans for a small bump-out back dormer to match the front one — has been made to sound like a major project. Why is there such exaggeration of the things the architect says need to be done? This shouldn’t take so long, and the cost is a lot more than we planned. What should I expect, minimally, to get plans and a permit?
A. I’m not sure if your building department still has the posted signs showing a person bent over, laughing, with the caption, “You want it when?” Or the one that says, “Your failure to plan ahead does not constitute an emergency on our part.”
As if that wasn’t enough of an explanation, I usually have to spend an hour or so — with a consultation fee, since I’m not a public service (and they are) — to explain, as fully as I can, what you didn’t get from your building department. Smaller building departments, I find, have a better track record at going over things with you, but bigger ones don’t have the time, so they refer you to an architect to lay the groundwork, often creating friction about what you’ll need.
The architect’s outline of what you can encounter is rarely an exaggeration, but most people are dazed and in disbelief, often saying that the building department made it sound a lot simpler, and the full explanation sounds like a con job.
Unfortunately, most people — including the first people you speak to at a building department, your contractor or a friend — are not producing or responding to the myriad code requirements, so they may not be fully aware of the big picture. For example, when you read a book, it can take several days to get through it, but that doesn’t mean it only took several days to write.
Someone showed me photos they rushed to take of a home they want to buy. I immediately spotted five violations in the pictures. Two of the violations were ceiling height (too low) and an electric panel next to a bathroom sink. Just the ceiling height could cause a six- to nine-month delay in filing documents and applying to the State Code Board for a hearing or review.
Then there was the fact that the dormer had a nearly flat roof and the wrong kind of roofing. Add in the under-minimum distance in front of the toilet and the lack of ceiling height in the shower with the wrong kind of sink trap, and you realize that just that one bathroom creates great time and expense. More to come next week.
“Herald
in
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on a somber April day, thousands gathered in my hometown of Plainview for a ceremony that should never have taken place. We renamed Manetto Hill Road Captain Omer Neutra Way, a permanent tribute to a brave young man who lost his life defending his homeland, and whose body is still being held hostage by terrorists.
I had the solemn honor of sponsoring the legislation that made this tribute possible. And while it passed unanimously, this wasn’t just a moment of legislative action; it was a moral obligation. As antisemitism continues to rise across America and around the world, we cannot allow the atrocities of Oct. 7, 2023, to be whitewashed, minimized or forgotten.
Omer Neutra was a son of Plainview, a proud American and a commander in the Israel Defense Forces. He was murdered in the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks by Hamas near Nir Oz, one of the Israeli communities most devastated by the assault. His senseless death shook our
community, but the pain deepens with every day his body remains in captivity.
How does what we read every day affect our lives?
Daily newspapers and TV news drown us with torrents of repetitive and sometimes conflicting accounts of events across America and the world. The best of them are stanchions of democracy, and we need these dailies to offer a wide-angle lens, to see what we cannot see from our own front yards.
We need our weeklies to bring us stories about people we know in our communities, a narrower lens that focuses on local events and individuals. Weeklies are the lifeblood of community life — the pages where our neighbors are hailed as heroes, and school athletes have their moment in the sun.
Newspapers in this country struck their roots in liberty, and until the Trump era, citizens could rely on the accounts of events they read in the paper. Today, with overt threats against freedom of the press and news outlets co-opted by political power players, we
This act of violence, this war crime, should have rallied universal condemnation. But instead, we are seeing something deeply disturbing: a surge of antisemitism so virulent that even those marching peacefully to honor Neutra and to advocate for the return of hostages have themselves become targets.
Just weeks ago, in Boulder, Colorado, peaceful demonstrators with the Run For Their Lives campaign were attacked with Molotov cocktails and a makeshift flamethrower. Their supposed crime?
Wcessfully to secure $950,000 in American Rescue Plan Act grant funding for the Mid Island Y JCC. That’s why I speak out — and that’s why I urge every elected official, regardless of party or position, to do the same.
e can’t allow the atrocities of Oct. 7, 2023, to be minimized or forgotten.
Calling for the return of hostages. This was not an isolated act of hate; it was the latest in an escalating pattern of antisemitic violence.
As a Jewish American, as a father and as a public official, I cannot and will not remain silent.
Jewish communities today are navigating a landscape of fear that is unlike anything I have experienced in my lifetime. We must respond not with fear or silence, but with resolve, unity and a firm commitment to truth and justice. That’s why I sponsored the legislation to honor Neutra. That’s why I fought suc-
We must call out antisemitism wherever it festers, whether it wears the mask of political activism or the cloak of conspiracy. This is not a matter of left or right. It is a matter of right and wrong.
But the work of governing isn’t just about remembrance; it’s also about results. That’s why I fought to unlock long-stalled funding for first responders in our community, securing nearly $91,000 for a new Muttontown police vehicle and supporting drainage, streetscape and public-safety projects throughout Syosset, Woodbury and Plainview.
It’s why I co-sponsored legislation to cut excessive small business fees that are choking entrepreneurs in Nassau County — fees that run three to five times higher than in neighboring Suffolk.
I’ve backed efforts that meet our neighbors where they are, supporting local food pantries, organizing “Shed the Meds” events to safely dispose of
expired medications, and honoring the heroism of Plainview firefighters who risked their lives during a devastating apartment fire.
I also stood alongside my Democratic colleagues in taking legal action against County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s reckless attempt to create a taxpayerfunded armed civilian militia, a program that lacks oversight, violates state law and endangers public trust.
At its core, public service isn’t about grandstanding or grabbing headlines. It’s about people. It’s about principle. It’s about doing the hard, necessary work to protect the vulnerable, uphold the law and deliver results for the communities we represent.
So I am renewing my pledge to honor Omer Neutra not just with words, but with action — to preserve the memory of those we’ve lost, protect the freedoms we cherish, and fight against hate in all its forms.
To those who feel alone in this moment, know that you are not. To those calling for justice, know that I am with you. And to those who think this moment will pass, I promise you: We will not forget, we will not back down and we will not be silent.
Arnold W. Drucker represents Nassau County’s 16th Legislative District and is the Legislature’s deputy minority leader.
need to double down on the demand for honest and unbiased reporting. (It’s useful to note here that my column is by definition an opinion piece, my own views, not the policies of the Herald).
So we push, push for our free press against an incoming tide of political pressure. We need journalists to challenge the leaders in whom we put our faith and trust. We need the pragmatists and the idealists and the investigators to keep our newspapers relevant and alive.
How did these values become dirty words?
p u t down the phone.
Pick up a book. Stand in someone else’s shoes.
From my perch, an even greater need is for more people to read books, any books, all books, nothing banned. The impulse to ban a book comes from a place of intolerance and ignorance. No one ever became gay or trans or hypersexual because they read a book on the subject. Book banning comes from a small place, fear of someone different or a way of life that doesn’t conform to the majority.
Why are school libraries being thinned and censored? Why was a reference to Jackie Robinson’s military service temporarily removed from the U.S. Department of State website? Apparently, part of a sweep to remove any references to diversity, equity and inclusion.
These days, various media compete for our attention. Teenagers, especially, are vulnerable to the sound and light shows coming from their phones. It’s hard to curl up with a book when the phone gives you games and shocking fake news and social media to keep you jacked up. Parents who used to read to their young children are often distracted themselves by their phones and other devices.
As our political world spirals into confusion and mistrust, and as our president and his minions draw the country in and out of real and threatened violence here and overseas, where can a thinking person turn for comfort? What can help keep us grounded and hopeful as we celebrate our democracy on the Fourth of July?
Put down the phone. Pick up a book. Stand in someone else’s shoes, in another time and place. Escape the political convulsions of this moment and feel buoyed by a character’s life and loves; feel grounded by the universal values humans share.
I’m not sure how you become a reader of books if you never have been, but I
do know it’s possible. I know folks in their adulthood who finally found the peace and the time to start reading. It’s comforting, it’s edifying, and the connection between reader and character can be profound.
The books I’m reading this summer fall under the banner of “repairing the world,” which comes from the concept in Judaism to work toward making the world better. John Steinbeck wove the theme of repairing the world into his great novel “East of Eden,” exploring the tension between free will and destiny in human experience. Gorgeous stuff.
The books on my list are “Twist,” by Colum McCann, a story about a team of seamen who fix underwater internet cables around the globe; “Prophet Song,” by Paul Lynch, a novel about a fight against a totalitarian takeover in Ireland; “The Return,” by Hisham Matar, a man’s search for his father, who was “disappeared” by the Qaddafi regime; and “Western Lane” by Chetna Maroo, a debut story of summoning strength while moving through grief.
These books explore the boundary places in our lives, the broken places, and offer visions for doing good in a fractured world.
Copyright 2025 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.
The Declaration of Independence was first published on July 6, 1776, in a newspaper, the Pennsylvania Evening Post. We are proud to commemorate that high point in American journalism by reprinting that historic document.
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at
places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness of his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws of Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislature.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their acts of pretended legislation:
For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from Punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing taxes on us without our consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the forms of our Government:
For suspending our own legislature, and declaring themselves invested with Power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy of the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free People.
Nor have We been wanting in attention to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the Protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our Sacred Honor.
The Declaration was signed first by John Hancock, president of the Continental Congress, and then by 55 others representing the 13 original states.
more than 32 million Americans live with life-threatening food allergies and other severe allergic conditions. Anaphylaxis can be triggered by food, insect stings or medications — things we come into contact with every day. In the event of life-threatening allergic reactions, families should not have to worry about access to life-saving epinephrine.
Last month, I proudly introduced the bipartisan legislation Gio’s Law alongside my Republican Long Island colleague Rep. Andrew Garbarino. Congress should come together and pass Gio’s Law, which would equip America’s brave law enforcement officers with lifesaving EpiPens and provide the training to administer care when responding to allergy-related emergencies.
Epinephrine is the first line of treatment for anaphylaxis, the only medication that can fully reverse the severe, life-threatening symptoms of anaphylactic shock. Benadryl or other allergy medications will not reverse those symptoms; only epinephrine can do that. Putting EpiPens in the hands of
our first responders could be the difference of life or death for members of our community.
I introduced Gio’s Law in honor of Giovanni Cipriano, a Lynbrook native who died from a severe allergic reaction at age 14. Giovanni, who was known as Gio to his friends and loved ones, was a beloved son, brother, teammate and honor student who had just begun his freshman year at Holy Trinity High School when he suffered a fatal response to a food allergen. His life was tragically cut short because of this reaction. We must do everything we can to prevent other families from suffering such a heartbreaking loss.
vent future tragedies and keep other families from enduring this pain is nothing short of awe-inspiring. Over the past decade, Georgina has succeeded in passing New York state’s version of Gio’s Law and worked to boost access here on Long Island.
m y bipartisan legislation would equip law enforcement with EpiPens.
Gio’s Law would establish the firstever federal grant program at the U.S. Department of Justice to equip law enforcement across the country with EpiPens and train officers on how to recognize the symptoms of anaphylactic shock and administer epinephrine.
I was honored to develop this legislation with Gio’s mother, Georgina Cornago, a Long Island native and the founder of the Love for Giovanni Foundation. Georgina has been a tireless advocate for this policy at the local and state level. Her commitment to honoring Gio’s memory by working to pre-
To the Editor:
Zohran Mamdani’s unexpected and resounding victory in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary holds some important lessons for Long Island.
But for them to be learned, it is first necessary to discard stereotypes and appraise Mamdani’s views with an open mind. Automatic negative reactions are unhelpful and unthinking. Such is the case with South Shore Democratic Congresswoman Laura Gillen’s contention that Mamdani “is too extreme to lead New York City. His entire campaign has been built on unachievable promises and higher taxes…” Gillen also detects “a disturbing pattern of unacceptable antisemitic comments” on Mamdani’s part.
If they look past the scary label of “democratic socialist,” Long Islanders may find that Mamdani bears some resemblance to … Donald Trump! The Queens assemblyman began his long-shot campaign by soliciting the views of New York
City voters who had supported Trump in 2024. The top reason many expressed was Trump’s emphasis on affordability. And so Mamdani made that the centerpiece of his effort to forge the broadest possible electoral coalition.
“Both Donald Trump and our campaign can see the disillusionment in politics, the inability for so many to celebrate crumbs that cannot feed themselves and their families,” Mamdani told The New York Times in a post-primary interview.
The presumptive Democratic mayoral nominee offered solutions for unaffordability — a rent freeze, accelerated housing construction, reduced-price public transport, free day care — that would likely appeal to many Long Islanders. As Herald readers know, Nassau and Suffolk are becoming wildly unaffordable for middle-income families, with the result that many are moving away. Maybe suburban politicians should consider adopting versions of what Mamdani proposes. They might find future election results to be surprisingly favorable.
On the issue of antisemitism, it’s essential to acknowledge that criticism of the Israeli government’s pol-
With this bill, we are expanding this effort nationwide and working to make epinephrine available and accessible to police departments on Long Island and across the country.
State and local law enforcement officers are our nation’s first responders, and they are often the first on the scene for calls for medical emergencies. It is vital that officers are given the resources and training to ensure they can effectively respond to these emergencies.
During a severe anaphylactic reaction, every second counts. We’ve seen firsthand here in Nassau County that equipping first responders with EpiPens can make the difference in these emergency situations.
As we introduced Gio’s Law, I was proud to be joined by Lynbrook Mayor Alan Beach and members of the Lynbrook Police Department. The village was a trailblazer in deploying EpiPens with first responders. Beach and Lynbrook police officers shared how their
officers have saved multiple lives in our community by stocking and administering EpiPens.
This is a nonpartisan public safety issue: Gio’s Law is about making sure first responders have what they need to save lives. By expanding access and awareness, we are making our communities safer for all those who are at risk of experiencing severe allergic reactions. This could be anyone, since many allergies do not manifest themselves until adulthood.
I am honored that the National Association of Police Organizations and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America have endorsed the bipartisan bill, and I’m proud to support our brave law enforcement officers who work each day to keep us safe.
Since taking office in January, I have worked every day to find compromise and to deliver on the priorities that matter most to my constituents in Nassau County, such as keeping our communities safe. I am proud to honor Gio’s memory alongside Representative Garbarino, and we will continue to push to advance this bipartisan legislation. Congress should come together to carry on Gio’s legacy and pass this common-sense bill to prevent tragedies and equip our law enforcement with the tools to save lives in life-threatening medical emergencies.
Laura Gillen represents the 4th Congressional District.
icies does not, a priori, equate with disrespect for Jews. Mamdani has in fact called Hamas’s Oct 7, 2023, murders of Jews “a horrific war crime.” And he has indeed condemned the Netanyahu government’s conduct of its war on Gaza.
It is to be hoped that Long Islanders of
good will can take advantage of the opportunity Mamdani presents for an overdue and respectful discussion of Israel’s military actions.
Atlantic Beach
