serving Farmingdale, Massapequa, Massapequa Park and Plainedge POST
Community mourns death of local high school senior
By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com
The Massapequa community is mourning the death of a 17-year-old Massapequa High School senior who died by suicide Monday, June 8, at the Massapequa Long Island Rail Road station.
Authorities have not publicly released the student’s identity and the Herald is withholding her name out of respect for her family.
Other sources said, however, that the student expressed concerns at school about being bullied shortly before the incident. Following that disclosure, she immediately left the school. Apparently concerned, school officials attempted to locate her but were unsuccessful and filed a missing person’s report.
Nassau County police and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority have released few details about the incident. In service advisories issued Monday, the Long Island Rail Road reported an “unauthorized person on the track,” a term commonly used when a non-employee is present on or near active railroad tracks.
As news of the student’s death spread throughout the community and on social media, however, residents expressed grief and sympathy for her family, friends and
AMVETS Post 88 had an enthusiastic presence.
Massapequa Street Fair draws record crowd
By MIKE POLANSKY Senior Correspondent
A record 124 vendors lined Broadway in Massapequa on Sunday, June 7, as an estimated 15,000 people attended the annual Street Fair, hosted by the Chamber of Commerce of the Massapequas in partnership with the Town of Oyster Bay.
The fair stretched along both sides of Broadway from Veterans Boulevard to Clark Avenue and featured local businesses, craft vendors, nonprofit organizations and a wide variety of food vendors. Fairgoers could choose from foods including calzones, zeppoles, empanadas, corn on the cob, cinnamonglazed nuts, pickles and ice cream. Tapville also served wine, beer and cider.
Chamber President Robin Hepworth praised the event’s turnout and community spirit during the opening ceremony.
“We are proud of our community spirit and dedication to supporting one another,”
Hepworth said. “Events like this highlight the importance of shopping locally, supporting local businesses, and coming together as friends and neighbors.”
Past chamber president Keith Wilson chaired the event, assisted by incoming chamber president Sal Polito and Greg Massini. Chamber Treasurer Karen Gawrych served as grand marshal.
“Massapequa is part of who I am,” Gawrych said. “I care deeply about this community, and want to help ensure that it remains the special place we all call home.”
Gawrych noted that the fifth generation of her family was born in Massapequa in December, which she said reflects the community’s enduring values and spirit.
Among the elected officials in attendance were Oyster Bay Town Councilmen Tom Hand and Andrew Monteleone,
Talent, teamwork and passion bring choirs together
By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com
When John Buckel, music director for St. Rose of Lim R.C. Church in Massapequa was asked if his choir would consider working in collaboration with other local church choirs for a special event, he and members of the choir immediately said yes.
“It was an exciting idea; something we had never done before,” said Buckel.
After months of practice, the group joined with 9 other local church choirs in an event recognizing the Our Lady of Grace Choir’s 50th anniversary. More than 100 choir members from local churches participated in the event.
The community gathered to celebrate the occasion at the church on Albin Avenue, West Babylon on May 17. The choir has been led by Terence Purtell for the last 20 years who described the event as “an incredible feat of teamwork.
“We had 11 different parish choirs involved with each guest choir preparing with its own music directors for the entire year,” said Purtell. “We had just one dress rehearsal together to make sure that we were in sync and we all did it,” he noted with pride.
Approximately 150 people
attended.
“It was absolutely beautiful and we all enjoyed the concert very much,” said Donna Deodato, a parishioner who attended with her family. “They did an outstanding job.”
Erin Barrett, director of the choir from Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Lindenhurst which participated in the event, described the experience as delightful and uplifting.
“We had never done anything like that before and it is amazing how everything came together so beautifully,” she said. “All of the members of the choir enjoyed in tremendously. Terence did a wonderful job.”
Buckel said the groups practiced separately and only had the chance to practice together once. “It was absolutely beautiful the way it all came together,” he said. “We had never gotten to do anything like that.”
In addition to the choirs from Our Lady of Grace, St. Rose of Lima and from Our Lady of Perpetual Help, other local choirs included those from Our Lady of Lourdes in Massapequa Park, and Saint Killian in Farmingdale.
In addition to the adult members of the choir, it included young performers as well. The the music was provided by an orchestra, CONTINUED ON PAGE 9
Photos: Mike Polansky/Herald
Chamber celebrates local businesses, food and neighborhood spirit
Receiver of Taxes Jeff Pravato, Assemblymen Mike Durso and John Mikulin, Nassau County Legislator James Kennedy and Massapequa Park Mayor Daniel Pearl.
Entertainment at Veterans Boulevard included DJ Lynn Johnson, The CQ Experiment featuring Chantal, The Acchords and the L.I. Rewind Band.
TLC Companions Home Care was the event’s main sponsor, while Masone Masonry sponsored the entertainment. Additional sponsors included Genstar
Masonry, Coastal Collision and Towing, Action Auto Wreckers, Chapey Funeral Home, Embassy Diner, Extreme Autobody, James Funeral Home, Think Chiropractic, Signature Premier Properties and Apple Bank.
“To all our vendors, volunteers, and attendees, thank you for making this event a success,” Hepworth said. “We’re proud to bring our community together and grateful for the spirit and dedication that makes events like this possible!”
Karen Gawrych, this year’s Grand Marshal
Karen Gawrych was selected by the Chamber of Commerce of the Massapequas to be the Grand Marshal of the 2026 Massapequa Street Fair.
“I am truly honored and deeply humbled to be named the Grand Marshal for the Street Fair this year,”said Gawrych. “To be recognized by the community that has given me so much is something I never imagined, and it means more to me than words can express.”
Gawrych is a 1978 graduate of Plainedge High School and a 1982 graduate of C.W. Post with a Bachelor of Science degree in
accounting, currently works as an Independent Beauty Consultant for Mary Kay.
She has been a key member of the Chamber’s Board of Directors for the past 12 years, serving at various times as the Chamber’s 3rd Vice President, 2nd Vice President, and now as the Treasurer.
According to the Chamber, Gawrych was selected for this honor “based on her many years of dedication and service to the Chamber and our community.”
The Massapequa Fire Department
Elected officials congratulate Grand Marshal Karen Gawrych.
Massapequa school board honors Challenger athletes, Mock Trial champions and student leaders
By MIKE POLANSKY Senior Correspondent
The Massapequa Board of Education recognized members of the district’s Challenger athletic program and Best Buddies volunteers, the Nassau County champion Mock Trial team and the district’s first student ex officio board members at its June 4 meeting.
Superintendent Dr. William Brennan praised the Challenger program, which gives students with special needs an opportunity to participate in modified athletic programs with support from student volunteers.
“I go to games all over the district, but there is nothing like our Challengers and Best Buddies,” Brennan said. “We are so excited to celebrate you.”
Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Personnel Services Dr. Jordan McCaw said the program “truly reflects the very best of who we are as a school community.”
Ed Hoffman, chair of physical education at Berner Middle School and coordinator of the Challenger program, said 49 students participated in Challenger sports during the school year, including soccer, cheerleading, basketball and track and field. He also recognized the 46 Best Buddies volunteers who assisted athletes at practices, games and events.
“If you have attended a Challenger athletic event, you always leave happier and more inspired than when you arrived,” Hoffman said.
Hoffman also thanked the Challenger coaches —Lauren Dean, Sal Calderone, Kathleen Wagner and Megan Porter — and members of the newly formed Challenger Booster Club for their support.
The 2025-2026 Challenger athletes were: Francesco Biondo, Hailey Clements, Lucas Clements, Sofia ‘Agostino, , Christian Dean, William Easteadt, Ayden Easton, Jonathan Kovalsky, Morgan Litvack, Ryan O’Connor, Jacob O’Connor, Jacqueline O’Connor, Matthew Olmsted, Thomas Pan, James Parente, Jake Petrucco, Mengxue Pi, Colin Renne, Matthew Reyes Sazo, Anthony Sarandrea, Luca Trinchese, Mary Willdigg, Grace Brown, Claire Coyle, Matthew Dougherty, Jacob Fazio, Kate Friedrich, Arianna Fusco, Ryan Mangan, Ryan O’Fee, Tyler Owens, Madison Buckvar, Devin DeMicoli, Kevin Dempsey, Sean Dempsey, Lucas Friedman, Ava Gonzalez, Tyler Kirby, Johnny Maiorino, Jada Maroldo, Karina Martin, Sophia Matos, Dan McCullough, Olivia Razzano, Caitlyn Reece, Joe Riggio, Chris Riviezzo, and Nicolas Tucker.
The 2025-2026 “Best Buddies” were: Kennedy Eslinger, Norah Carozza, Briella Trinchese, Lily Parente, Dillon Carozza, Declan Petrucco, Charlize Calvello, William Martin, Cecilia DoSouto, Gretchen Klein, Hailey Auguliaro, Emma Martin, Gabriella LaBarbera, Gwen Gibbons, Taylor Rosmarin, Madelyn Dejak, Johanna Ferrante, Reagan Cordeau, Hannah Casey, Emma Dougherty, Jackson Eslinger, Kaitlin Dougherty, Aliki Sakkos, Ioanna Sakkos, Aiden Nilsen, Ava Nilsen, Genevieve Geritano, Isabella Rabadi, Travis Gil, Bryce Nolan, Joseph DeCunzo,
Julia Guida, Kameryn Doherty, Luci Bernstein, Daniel Moreno, JT O’Fee, Christina Samilo, Casey Brown, Kiley Kelch, Michael Caramore, Melissa Stalzer, Reagan Beleckas, Quinn Eslinger and Casey Brown.
Next in line to be recognized were the members of the student Mock Trial team, who were the Nassau County Champions for 2025-2026, Allison Hassell, Corinne Schrammel, Brooke Applegate, Kailyn Duffy, Silvia Izquierdo, Chloe Goldberg, Sofia Dalton, Olivia Guttman, Michael Mark, Keira Stealey, Phil Bentz, Sean McCahon and Ryan Lin.
Brennan called team members “true leaders” and credited adviser Dan Brachman for building a culture of excellence over decades. Jason Gelardi, the district’s curriculum associate for social studies, praised Brachman and attorney adviser Brian Faraczek for their leadership.
Brachman recognized each team member and applauded their dedication and accomplishments. The championship trophy was unveiled before team members received certificates of recognition.
The board concluded the recognitions by honoring James Benjamin and Tatum Brennan, the district’s first student ex officio members of the Board of Education. A state law enacted last year requires school districts to appoint at least one non-voting student board member.
Brennan noted that it was somewhat touch-and-go as to whether Benjamin would make it to the meeting, since he was pole vaulting for the Massapequa track & field team earlier in the evening. “But he completed a vault of 13 feet, changed, and rushed over to the meeting in time,” said Brennan.
Board President Kerry Wachter thanked the students for their service and leadership.
“We are grateful for you having stepped up and volunteering this way,” Wachter said. “We know that you will both be very successful and represent Massapequa well once you leave here.”
Benjamin and Brennan each received a plaque recognizing their service to the district.
Courtesy Massapequa school district
The Challengers and Best Buddies from the Massapequa High School Challenger team.
The Challengers and Best Buddies from the Ames Challenger team.
The Challengers and Best Buddies from the Berner Challenger team.
Student Board members James Benjamin and Tatum Brennan are congratulated by the Board of Education and Superintendent Brennan.
Members of the Baymen’s
a large donation from
Oyster Bay dedicates monument honoring baymen’s sacrifices
Town of Oyster Bay officials joined members of the Baymen’s Heritage Association, Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder and local baymen on June 7 to dedicate the new Baymen’s Memorial Monument at Theodore Roosevelt Park.
oysters in the waters, providing one of the last locally gathered food supplies in our area – and their work is full of risk.”
The monument, overlooking Oyster Bay Harbor, honors local baymen and those who lost their lives working on the water. It features a statue of a bayman pulling his catch aboard a boat and serves as a tribute to the generations of men and women who have made their living from the sea.
“This new monument...that will be a place of reflection, where friends, family and visitors can view our beautiful harbor and take a few minutes to think about the sacrifices made by our baymen,” Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino said. “They toil in a challenging environment and endure hardship to bring the bounties of the sea to our tables. Throughout the year, despite the elements, baymen harvest clams and
Saladino unveiled the monument alongside members of the family of Michael Kennedy, who died while working as a bayman on Long Island Sound, as well as representatives of the Baymen’s Heritage Association, local officials, artist José Ismael Fernandez, local baymen, representatives of the Joel Foundation and musician Mike DelGuidice.
Funding for the project was raised by members of the Baymen’s Heritage Association, including a significant contribution from musician Billy Joel.
Organizers said the memorial serves as a lasting reminder of the risks and sacrifices associated with a profession that remains an important part of Oyster Bay’s maritime heritage.
Courtesy Town of Oyster Bay
Heritage Association raised funds for the project, which included
Billy Joel. The memorial honors the Town’s Baymen and those who have lost their lives to the demanding profession.
Richard Kessel appointed chair of NHCC
By JORDAN VALLONE jvalloneliherald.com
Richard Kessel, chairman of the Nassau Interim Finance Authority, has been tapped by Gov. Kathy Hochul to be the next chairman of the Nassau Health Care Corporation, the public benefit corporation that oversees Nassau University Medical Center, in East Meadow, and the A. Holly Patterson Extended Care Facility, in Uniondale.
RNHCC continues its mission of providing high-quality care to the communities we serve.”
ichard Kessel brings decades of leadership experience in government, public policy and complex organizations.
A regional leader for decades, Kessel, of Merrick, is known for his expertise on energy and consumer issues and has an extensive background in public service. He previously served as chairman of the Nassau County Industrial Development Agency and as chief executive officer of the New York Power Authority. Kessel, 76, has a bachelor’s degree from New York University and a master’s from Columbia University.
KATHY HOCHUL Governor of NY
“Richard Kessel brings decades of leadership experience in government, public policy and complex organizations,” Hochul said of Monday’s appointment in a statement emailed to the Herald. “His proven record of public service, commitment to Long Island and ability to navigate challenging issues make him exceptionally well-suited to lead the board as
Kessel’s appointment to the NHCC board means he will step down from NIFA. His position there will be filled by Moshin Meghji, a current NIFA board member.
The finance authority, another public benefit corporation, monitors and oversees Nassau County’s finances. It assumed direct financial oversight of NUMC in 2020, a move that was met with heavy opposition from previous hospital leadership.
As part of the state’s takeover last year, it mandated that NHCC conduct a comprehensive study outlining the long-term viability of NUMC. The study is to be submitted to NIFA by Dec. 1.
The NHCC chair’s position has been vacant since March, when former Chairman Stuart Rabinowitz stepped down. Rabinowitz had served in the role since June 2025, after being appointed by Hochul when state officials assumed leadership of the public hospital and its governing body.
Rabinowitz’s departure came during a turbulent period for NUMC. Following a public battle between the hospital’s former leadership and the state, New York assumed oversight of the hospital under provisions included in the 2025-26 state
Richard Kessel
budget. The board was restructured to include 11 members, most of whom were appointed by Hochul.
When Rabinowitz stepped down, Hochul thanked him for his service, saying he “stepped up when Nassau University Medical Center desperately needed steady, serious leadership.” She added that “his focus on accountability and fiscal management has helped put this critical safety-net hospital on the road to recovery.”
• New chairman: Gov. Kathy Hochul appointed Richard Kessel, chairman of the Nassau Interim Finance Authority, to lead the Nassau Health Care Corporation.
• Leadership change: Kessel succeeds Stuart Rabinowitz, who stepped down in March after leading NHCC since June 2025.
Massapequa captures state baseball championship
By DYLAN BUTLER sports@liherald.com
For much of the season, Jack Scannapieco has dealt with shoulder pain. Until a bullpen session a few days ahead of Massapequa’s trip to Binghamton for the Nassau Class AAA final four.
“I think I had two weeks of rest. And then I threw a bullpen, and my shoulder just completely unlocked,” the junior said. “It didn’t hurt anymore. All the pain went away, and my arm was just free.”
The ace was back and made sure the Chiefs were back on top of the mountain, defeating Liverpool, 7-1, to capture the New York State Class AAA baseball championship at Binghamton University Saturday.
It is Massapequa’s third state title and first in Class AAA.
“Knowing that my team has worked so hard to get to that game and then to come out and win, it’s the greatest feeling ever,” Scannapieco said.
Massapequa coach Tom Sheedy knew it was vintage Scannapieco on the hill when he retired the side in the first inning.
“We knew in the first inning he got two ground balls, that’s Jack Scannapieco,” Sheedy said. “He gets rollover ground balls, he throws strikes, and that was definitely a winning formula.”
Scannapieco earned the win, allowing one earned run on five hits, while striking out five with one walk in five innings.
“I was hitting my spots,” Scannapieco said. “My curveball was good. I was getting ground balls, my changeup was getting swings and misses. They were all coming together.”
An RBI-single to right field by junior rightfielder Chris Sultana drove in senior second baseman Brady Love to give Massapequa (25-3-1) a 1-0 lead in the first
inning. The Chiefs made it 2-0 on a bases-loaded walk by senior shortstop John Neary.
Joe Genova and senior third baseman Ryan Moore added RBI singles to extend Massapequa’s lead to 4-0 in the third inning. Genova went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
“He was aggressive,” Sheedy said of the junior first
baseman. “He was looking for pitches, and he attacked, as opposed to being defensive and hesitant. That was the difference in Joe’s transition during this season.”
A Genova run-scoring double in the right-centerfield gap highlighted a two-run fifth inning, extending the Chiefs’ lead to 6-0.
Liverpool broke up Scannapieco’s shutout bid with a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning. Senior Sal Apap came out of the bullpen, retiring all five batters he faced, striking out three to close out a remarkable season for Massapequa.
“I think the number one thing I’ll remember from this group is the depth of the pitching staff. We’ve never had a pitching staff that was this deep,” Sheedy said. “Everybody knows their role, but this year there was so much talent. They really are a close-knit group, and that showed in how they supported each other.”
The Chiefs defeated Monroe-Woodbury, 5-3, in the semifinals at Union-Endicott on Friday night to book their spot in the final.
RBI doubles by Sultana and Genova capped a threerun first inning for Massapequa. Sophomore Jack Mulligan earned the win, allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits, striking out four with three walks in four innings.
Genova added a run-scoring single and senior centerfielder Caiden Erker scored on a sacrifice fly by Moore to put the Chiefs in front, 5-2. Senior James Alonso earned the four-out save, allowing one unearned run.
“We really thought we had a team that had all the components that could be a possible state championship team,” Sheedy said. “You need a lot of things. You need very talented players with pitching, hitting, timely hitting and defense, and just people who can handle the mental part of the competition because things don’t always go your way.”
Xavier Micheli and the Chiefs completed an emotional run to the program’s third state championship.
Beyond The Print photos
Massapequa celebrated the New York State Class AAA title last Saturday after beating Liverpool, 7-1, at Binghamton University.
SPORTS
Chiefs score 19 in state championship victory
By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com
The freight train known as Massapequa’s boys lacrosse team made one final stop Sunday evening at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva.
The Chiefs’ offense hummed like a locomotive, producing at least four goals in every quarter of their 19-9 victory over West Genessee in the New York State Class A championship game.
Massapequa put a stamp on its third state title and first since 2019 with eight straight goals after the Wildcats got within 9-8 with 5:15 remaining in the third quarter. Junior Rocco Spallina had four goals to lead a balanced attack.
Freshman Jake Byrnes and junior Nolan Wieczorek added hat tricks, and senior Tyler Byrnes and junior Dylan Milio chipped in two goals apiece as the Chiefs netted 19 for a third consecutive championship game.
They beat Syosset, 19-5, June 2 for the Nassau Class A crown and took down Sachem North, 19-6, June 6 for the Long Island title.
“These kids worked hard not only all season but all offseason,” Massapequa coach Kevin Catalano said. “We have so many talented players and our depth was a big reason we were able to get this done. It feels as great as I thought it would.”
The Chiefs outscored West Genessee 14-4 over the last three quarters after the teams were tied at 5 after the first. Massapequa had seven different goal scorers during the decisive 8-0 run spanning the third and fourth quarters. One of those was Spallina’s third of the day that made it 11-8. He finished a lengthof-the field play that started with a takeaway from junior Dominick Antonelli and transitioned through junior
Michael Ippolito and Tyler Byrnes.
The defense and senior goaltender Peter Konstantinakos did its part as well, holding the Wildcats to single goals in the second and fourth quarters.
In the state semifinals, the Chiefs went toe-to-toe with Mamaroneck before a strong fourth quarter proved the difference in a thrilling 13-11 victory at Middletown High School.
Senior Braden Tucker had four goals
and an assist, and Wieczorek added a pair of goals and six assists as the Chiefs avenged a 16-10 loss to Mamaroneck March 28.
“When we lost to Mamaroneck early in the year we gave up the first eight goals and were forced to play catch-up all game,” Catalano said. “That’s a tremendous team. Losing to them gave us extra juice. We never want to lose to the same opponent twice.”
Plainedge baseball finishes state runner-up
By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com
Plainedge’s quest for a New York State baseball championship and perfect season on the diamond fell just short last Saturday morning.
The Red Devils were defeated by Averill Park (Section II) in the Class A title game, 5-0, at Binghamton University’s Mirabito Stadium. Fred Bornn fired a two-hit shutout and the Golden Knights pushed across single runs in the top of the fourth and fifth, and added three insurance runs in the seventh.
Plainedge, which finished 28-1 and captured its first Nassau County and Long Island championships since 2012, managed just three singles against Bornn, who struck out four and retired the side in order three times.
“It didn’t end the way we wanted, but the whole experience was incredible,” Plainedge coach Colin Fratrik said. “We lost to a really good team and a really good D1 pitcher. We didn’t beat ourselves. They were the better team today and we’re going
out with our heads held high.”
The Red Devils’ biggest threat came in the second when they had runners on second and third with two outs before Bornn got an inningending groundout to shortstop.
It’s Averill Park’s second state title in four years.
“All of our three hits were infield singles,” Fratrik said. “We had a few loud outs and some hard-hit balls in the infield, their third baseman and shortstop made all the plays.”
Senior Taylor Nitsch kept the Red Devils in striking distance going the first six innings. He finished the season 12-1 with a 0.90 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and 134 strikeouts in 70 1/3 innings.
“I can’t say enough about Taylor’s performance all year,” Fratrik said.
In Friday night’s semifinal, junior Jaxson Torres struck out nine in a three-hit shutout and went 2-for-4 in the cleanup spot to lead Plainedge to a 7-0 win over Section IX champ Marlboro Central. The game started nearly two hours later than the scheduled 7 p.m. first pitch due to rain delays earlier in the day.
“Jaxson’s fastball was in the low
90s and he was in command all game,” Fratrik said.
“To have two unbelievable talents in Taylor and Jaxson to give the ball to in two of our three games every week was generational,” he added. “I don’t think we’ve seen a tandem like them on Long Island for quite some time.”
AJ Calapai went 2-for-2 with three RBIs, giving him 30 on the year, Nitsch and Mike Calapai both went 2-for-4, and Bobby Wescott (.395 avg, team-leading 35 RBIs) cracked an RBI triple to lead the offense in the semis.
Torres went 11-0 with a save in the L.I. Class A title game victory over Kings Park. He allowed only 17 hits in 67 innings, struck out 122 and had a 1.03 ERA and 0.56 WHIP. He also batted .443 with 5 homers and 28 RBIs.
“It’s a special group kids who’ve been friends since elementary school,” Fratrik said. “The community was behind us all the way and the school gave us a great sendoff on Thursday. It’s a season none of us will ever forget.”
Robert Daniels/Herald Massapequa captured its first state championship since 2019 with a 19-9 win over West Genessee on Sunday evening.
Bill Baburchak/Herald
Mike Calapai went 2-for-4 in Plainedge’s state semifinal win over Marlboro Central.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
THURSDAY, JUNE 18
•Town of Oyster Bay Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting: 7 p.m., Town Board Hearing Room, Town Hall North, 54 Audrey Ave., Oyster Bay. For more information, call (516) 624-6333.
FRIDAY, JUNE 19
•Simpson United Methodist Church Thrift Shop: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 30 Locust Ave., Amityville. For more information, call (631)-789-2569.
SUNDAY, JUNE 21
•Simpson United Methodist Church Thrift Shop: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 30 Locust Ave., Amityville. For more information, call (631) 789-2569.
MONDAY, JUNE 22
•Massapequa Fire District Regular Monthly Meeting: 7:30 p.m., District Administration Building, 1 Brooklyn Ave., Massapequa. For more information, call
(516) 798-9849. TUESDAY, JUNE 23
•Emotional Health Recovery and Support Group: 7:30 to 9 p.m., Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9592, 55 Hickory Lane, Levittown. Free weekly, in-person meeting of Emotions Anonymous, a 12step support group for anyone experiencing emotional difficulties. For more information, call Steve at (631) 332-0552 or Jill at (516) 220-7808. All calls are confidential.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24
• Emotional Health Recovery and Support Group: 7:30 to 9 p.m. Free weekly, virtual meeting of Emotions Anonymous, a 12-step support group for anyone experiencing emotional difficulties. For more information, call Steve at (631) 3320552 or Jill at (516) 220-7808. All calls are confidential.
Calendar items are printed for non-profit organizations, as space permits, or when an event, service or information is being sponsored by a profit-making organization without charge to readers. Submit items to us at Richner Communications, attn: Post Editor, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530; or email: dconsola@liherald.com at least two - three weeks prior to the publication date in which the item must appear. Sorry, but open-ended requests without the specific dates of the events are not acceptable. While we make every attempt to accommodate each request, we cannot guarantee publication of any items. For more information, call 516-569-4000.
Robert Moses State Park to host
‘Jr. Marine Biologist’ program
Families can explore the shoreline and marine life at Robert Moses State Park during a children’s nature program this summer.
The park will host “Jr. Marine Biologist” on June 27 from 1 to 3 p.m., giving participants the chance to study aquatic wildlife along Fire Island Inlet and the South Shore beaches.
The program is geared toward children and families, and participants should be prepared to hike on sand and get wet. Shoes are required, and organizers recommend water shoes.
Admission is $4 for adults and children. Children younger than 3 are admitted free. A parking fee of $8 or $10 is charged during the fee-collection season.
Reservations are required and may be made beginning two weeks before the event by visiting Eventbrite.com and searching “NatureEdventure.”
The New York state parks department oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, trails, golf courses and boat launches statewide. More information is available at parks.ny.gov.
MEET OUR LOCAL SCHOLARS
The following students were recently recognized for academic achievements and graduation at their respective colleges:
•Janet Battcher of Massapequa was recently awarded an undergraduate degree at Salve Regina University’s 76th commencement ceremony.
•The following Nassau BOCES Barry Tech seniors were recently inducted into the National Technical Honor Society: Tyler Nigro, Massapequa
UFSD, studying Audio Production II; Connor Greer, Massapequa UFSD, studying Computer Game Design and Programming Skills I; Nicholas Mollica, Massapequa UFSD, studying Aviation Operations I; Morgan Como, Plainedge UFSD, studying Appearance, Nail and Wax Skills I; Dylan Loccisano, Plainedge UFSD, studying Barbering Technician; Liam McKie, Plainedge UFSD, studying Veterinary Science I; and Aiden Mulvey, Plainedge UFSD, studying Welding I.
James/Herald
Our Lady of Grace choir director Terence Purtell leads the combined choir at the event.
Local choirs work together
which included Samantha. Stainkamp, James Kendall, Bernadette Tornabene, Michelle Lisi, Rodger Lee, John Buckel and Grace Rossi.
Following the performance, attendees were treated to refreshments at the church, which included a cake celebrating the church’s music ministry from 1976 to 2026.
The event also recognized the 100th birthday of the late Nelson Pintillo, one of the first parishioners of Our Lady of Grace Church.
“We are proud of what we were able to accomplish and the music directors from the 11 choirs that joined us that day did a great job preparing their groups; we could not have asked for more, said Purtell. ”
Massapequa community mourns death of high school senior
CONTINUED FROM COVER classmates.
“So very sad and heartbreaking,” one resident wrote. “Instead of celebrating her graduation, her family will plan her funeral. May God bless her and comfort her family and friends.”
Another resident described the death as “so tragic and upsetting.”
“Such absolute tragedy — my heart hurts for that family,” another commenter wrote. “It’s so sad to me that the girl felt there was no other way to make things better. This is just happening too much today. May she rest in eternal peace.”
In a letter to residents, Superintendent of Schools Dr. William Brennan said
the district extends its thoughts and heartfelt condolences with the student’s family, friends and all those whose lives were touched by this young person.
“Grief affects everyone differently and there is no right or wrong way to process such news,” said Brennan. “We encourage students, families and staff to check in on one another, offer kindness and seek support whenever needed.”
He added that the district is offering support from counselors, psychologist and other personnel at the high school. For those who may need immediate assistance, he suggests people contact YES Community Counseling Center and Northwell Health’s Pediatric Urgent Care Unit which can provide counseling for families.
Carolyn
Photo: John Scalisi
HERALD NEIGHBORS
Young runner wins inaugural PBA 5K fundraiser honoring fallen Nassau Police Officer
By MIKE POLANSKY
Under sunny skies and ideal running conditions, 12-year-old Daniel Magnani of Amityville crossed the finish line first in the inaugural Amityville PBA 5K Run on May 16.
Daniel completed the 3.1-mile course in 20 minutes, 16 seconds, leading a field of 193 runners and walkers who participated in the event. The race began and ended at James A. Caples Memorial Park at the southern end of Amityville.
Paul Schmidt of Amityville placed second overall with a time of 20:33. Laura Wasson of East Rockaway was the third overall finisher and the first female competitor to cross the finish line, completing the course in 20:48 while pushing a stroller carrying her son.
Several local runners turned in strong performances, including Amityville residents Alex Miller, Misha Ankurdovych, Katie Fallot and Chelsea Riviera, who competed as part of the Amityville Orthodontics team. Mary Dunphy was the first woman to finish in the 60-69 age group, while Joseph Cardinale earned top honors in the 70-andover division.
According to Race Director Carley Catalano, the event was organized in memory of Nassau County Police Officer Patricia Espinosa, who was killed in January while
Senior Correspondent
driving to work when an alleged drunk driver ran a red light and struck her vehicle. Proceeds from the race will be donated to Espinosa’s family.
Amityville PBA President Harold Miller served as master of ceremonies and introduced Mayor Michael O’Neill, who reflected on the purpose of the event.
“Patricia is smiling down on us today,” O’Neill said. “Today we honor Patricia and we honor everything the police do every day.”
Members of the Nassau County Police Emerald Society Pipe and Drum Band also performed during the event.
Sponsors included the Village of Amityville, the Amityville Chamber of Commerce, Eagle Scaffolding Services, Vittorio’s Italian Steak House, Powell Funeral Home, Amity Deli, DDMA, Security Chrysler, Custom Awards LI, Brazico, The Better Bagel, Al’s Auto Services and Carmelina’s Pizzeria & Gelateria, among others.
Miller said the strong turnout demonstrated the community’s support for the cause.
“Look at all the support we have, it’s amazing,” he said. “We raised a ton of money for the Espinosa family, and we hope to continue this event every year.”
Mike Polansky/Herald Left, the start of the run. At right, overall winner Daniel Magnani of Amityville gets ready to cross the finishing line.
The Nassau County Police Emerald Society Pipe and Drum.
Katie Fallot
Alex Miller
ERASE Racism hosts forum on inequality
By ANDREW FRANCIS afrancis@liherald.com
The Long Island-based advocacy group ERASE Racism held its 25th Anniversary Benefit event earlier this month, giving out awards for anti-racism and anti-discrimination work and awarding scholarships to students who embody the organization’s values.
Hundreds of guests crowded the Garden City Hotel on June 3 for a cocktail hour and to take part in ERASE Racism’s silent auction, where items ranging from artwork to lottery tickets were bid on for up to thousands of dollars. The funds will go to ERASE Racism advocacy initiatives for public education and housing equality.
Students Ria Bhatia, of Jericho High School; Edwin Montes Dubon, of Uniondale High; Zamari Paul, of Malverne High; and Janeiry Savinon, of New Hyde Park High, were each awarded $500 scholarships for winning a student essay contest. Malverne High student Matthew DaCosta was awarded the $1,500 John Wenzel Scholarship for his work with ERASE Racism.
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones and activist Monique Fitzgerald were honored with special awards for their advocacy against structural racism. HannahJones’s work on the 1619 Project, a New York Times Magazine and audio series
examining the beginnings of American slavery and its generational effects, was highlighted during the program.
Hannah-Jones and Elaine Gross, ERASE Racism’s founding president, had a “fireside chat,” discussing how racism continues to impact life for minorities, particularly Black communities, on Long Island and across the country.
“This is a hard time for civil rights organizations, because there is a very organized and powerful effort from the highest reaches of the government that basically is saying there is nothing
called structural racism,” Gross told the Herald before the event.
She identified an April settlement between the U.S. Justice Department and the Town of Oyster Bay over alleged housing discrimination as an example of structural racism on Long Island. In the case, which was settled in U.S. District Court, the town was found liable for “intentionally discriminating against Black individuals” by giving the children of current residents priority in purchasing housing units under its Next Generation housing program. This allegedly hindered the ability of Blacks and
other racial minorities to buy homes in predominantly white Oyster Bay.
Hannah-Jones pointed out that racism on Long Island often is not a conscious effort by residents, but rather the result of the region’s historically discriminatory structure.
“You as an individual white person don’t have to be racist at all to have your housing choices and the benefits of your housing choices shaped by a structure that you have nothing to do with creating,” she said.
Talking more about the 1619 Project and contemporary racism, Hannah-Jones contended that the sanitized way in which many schools and institutions deal with America’s racist history is counterproductive to the goal of erasing racism.
“The truth about America is deeply heartbreaking,” she said, “but I find the truth to be a liberating thing, because one can confront the truth that everything that is within the law is constructed. If you know that it’s constructed, then you know it can be deconstructed.”
Hannah-Jones acknowledged that she was not very optimistic about race relations and how discrimination is handled in the U.S., citing the current administration as a reason for such pessimism. But, she and Gross said they believe that as today’s young people advocate for social justice, they have the potential to unlock a better future for Long Island and beyond.
Courtesy ERASE Racism
Elaine Gross, founding president of ERASE Racism, left, hosted a “fireside chat” with Nikole Hannah-Jones on the continuing impact of racism on Long Island.
World Cup fervor spreads to Long Island
By JEFFREY BESSEN jbessen@liherald.com
Kids ran around as only children can — free and without care — as adults milled around the artificial-turf field and the seats of Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium on the Stony Brook University campus.
I really love the USA, and I really want to support the team.
This was the first of a few World Cup watch parties staged by Empire State Development, which promotes business growth, job creation, and greater economic opportunity across New York. Several thousand people came for the soccer last Friday. The first game shown on the stadium screens was Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina, being played in Toronto, as the event began at 3 p.m. Guests had a choice of watching the first game, the second game or both.
LogaN HERNaNdE z Terryville
At 7 p.m., after those teams played to a 1-1 draw, the second session got underway, and many had come to root for the Unites States Men’s National Team, playing their first game of the quadrennial global tournament, which this year is being hosting across North America, with many of the games in the U.S.
Joe Nola, a Holbrook resident, brought his son Everett, 9, a soccer fan who started playing a few years ago and took to the sport.
“[I’m here] basically for him,” Nola said of his son. “He started getting into soccer and the World Cup, and I started following it a lot more the last couple of years. He’s really excited and so am I, so we’ve been waiting to check out more soccer, and saw this and thought it would be a full opportunity to watch the USA game.”
A travel soccer team player, Everett was a bit shy, but his father said he has an affinity for the “beautiful game.”
“As a family, we’re trying to watch more and learn more about it, so this is, like, a really cool experience,” Nola said, adding of Everett. “He plays goalie. He loves the pressure, for some reason. He drives his mother crazy with the stress. He’s a big fan of [Matt] Freese [the American goalie] and a lot of the goalies that we see internationally.”
Antonella Cortez, 11, from Setauket, who also plays on a travel team, was there to cheer on Team USA.
“I’m here to watch the game,” she said matter-of-factly, adding that playing soccer is fun. Her favorite position? “Anything besides middle and goalie,” she said.
Before the featured match of Paraguay vs. USA, in Los Angeles, the band Third Eye Blind performed a roughly 30-minute set in a driving rainstorm that seemed to end just after they struck
Terryville, Liam Sobritch, of East Northport, and Connor Klinger, from Selden, all wearing USA jerseys, roleplayed interviewer and interviewee, so of course the natural thing was to interview them.
“I really love the USA,” Hernandez said, “and I really want to support the team. I hope they win the World Cup.” His analysis of the first half? “They played great. We need to space out a little more, but we could have this win.
“It was good,” Sobritch said. “We scored three, so maybe [we] space out a little more.”
“We need more spacing,” Klinger agreed, “but [we’re] amazing on the attacking.”
From an own goal by Paraguay in the opening minutes to a score by Gio Reyna in the match’s waning seconds, the U.S. team dominated in a 4-1 win. The next game for the Americans is Friday versus Australia.
Organizing events such as a World Cup Watch Party is not an easy feat.
“This is almost two years in the making,” Dan Gross, Empire State Development’s executive director for New York Special Events, said. “I drew up a plan. It really started with the governor. FIFA controls the tickets,” he added, referring to the World Cup’s governing body. “They control the ticket pricing. The need to make sure people have access.”
Gross and colleagues drew up the plan to hold watch parties across the state. They developed a grant program so that all 10 state regions across New York could have watch parties as well.
“I am very proud to say we are the only state in the nation, from a states perspective, that is truly bringing the World Cup experience to all four corners of the state,” Gross said.
For information on future news related to the World Cup Watch Experience, go to ILOVENY.com/fifa-world-cup/ community-viewing-events.
their final chords. At halftime, the kids resumed their playful running around, and adults
made their way back and forth to the LaValle Stadium concession stands. Young teens Logan Hernandez, from
Rock group Third Eye Blind performed a roughly 30-minute set before the U.S.-Paraguay game in Los Angeles.
Tim Baker/Herald photos
As the U.S. team scored three first-half goals against Paragua, fans got to cheer often at the Stony Brook World Cup Watch Party.
Elmont resident Al Amin was a particularly colorful supporter of the U.S. team.
STEPPING OUT
Dion
‘Celebrity Autobiography’ is back in the spotlight
By Iris Wiener
For more than three decades, Angelo Fraboni has built a career that spans Broadway stages, national tours, arts administration, and theatrical producing. Today, while serving as Artistic Director of the Madison Theatre, on the Molloy University campus, Fraboni continues to leave his mark on the professional theater world as a producer of Broadway’s “Celebrity Autobiography,” the comedic sensation currently delighting audiences once again after its original Drama Deskwinning run in 2008.
The show, created by Eugene Pack, takes passages from celebrity memoirs and transforms them into a live comedy event performed by well-known actors. For Fraboni, the appeal of the production has remained remarkably consistent since he first became involved. “Laughter,” he says when asked why the show continues to resonate.
“Everyone needs something to laugh at and just enjoy where you don’t have to think very hard. It’s easy laughter. We’re not making fun of people; we’re just reading this banal dialogue that people write in their autobiographies.”
That spirit of spontaneity has helped make “Celebrity Autobiography” a unique theatrical experience. Unlike most productions, the cast has little rehearsal time together before stepping onstage.
“The actors are cracking each other up as much as they’re cracking up the audience,” Fraboni says. “The greatest thing about the show is the rawness of it and these celebrities being human on stage with each other. It’s glorious.”
Fraboni has been involved with the production since its early years, serving as both producer and general manager before focusing exclusively on producing. He has helped bring the show to audiences across the United States and around the world, while continuing to oversee one of its most challenging components: casting. While the rotating cast has already featured the likes of Katie Couric, Rita Wilson, Keenan Thompson, and Tony Shalhoub, it also has an especially strong Long Island connection, featuring local entertainment icons such as Alan Zweibel, Susan Lucci, Ralph Macchio, and Ray Romano. Pack and co-producer
Douglas Denoff are also from the area.
While Fraboni’s current work places him at the center of Broadway and Off-Broadway productions, his path to producing began far from New York. Raised in a mining town in northern Minnesota, he started ballet lessons at age six alongside his twin brother.
“I was really into sports,” he recalls. “My mom and dad said, ‘Why don’t you take ballet? It will help with your athleticism.’”
What began as an extracurricular activity soon became a career. After high school, Fraboni joined a ballet company and performed professionally for five years. A chance audition for “West Side Story” during an off-season changed everything. The opportunity introduced him to acclaimed choreographer and director Jerry Mitchell, who cast Fraboni in six of his first seven productions. The experience ultimately led to his Broadway debut in “Cats” and opened doors throughout the industry.
As a performer, Fraboni developed a habit that would later serve him well as a producer and artistic leader.
“I would listen and watch,” he says. “I wanted to hear what the directors and choreographers were saying. I was very tuned in to what was going on.”
Eventually, curiosity about the creative process led him offstage and into producing. The transition revealed a side of theater audiences rarely see.
“As a performer, you show up to the theater do your job, and get your paycheck,” he says. “As a producer, you’re working constantly for months and months, sometimes years. Your job is never done.”
That commitment to building opportunities for others became the foundation of his work at Molloy University. Fraboni’s connection to the institution dates back more than two decades, when he helped bring Broadway legend Carol Channing to campus for a gala performance. There, he met then-president Drew Bogner, who shared plans to build a theater. One decade later, Fraboni received a call encouraging him to apply for the artistic director position at the newly constructed Madison Theatre.
“It was still a shell,” he remembers. “I was instrumental in how they built the infrastructure.”
Over the next 15 years, Fraboni transformed the Rockville Centre venue into a regional performing arts center featuring Broadway-caliber productions, symphony performances, international artists, jazz concerts, and educational opportunities. He also played a key role in bringing the renowned CAP21 musical theater program to Molloy, creating new pathways for aspiring performers.
“The idea was to make it an arts center with a variety of art,” he says. “I wanted it to be a regional theatre and performing arts center, but also give the students the opportunity to grow and perform with professionals.”
Despite balancing productions at Molloy with responsibilities on “Celebrity Autobiography,” Fraboni says the rewards make the long hours worthwhile.
“The joys are the audiences laughing and enjoying what we do,” he says. “We create what we think will be the best thing possible for our audiences to see, and the payoff is when they enjoy it.”
Whether producing a Broadway comedy, mentoring students at Molloy, or developing new artistic opportunities on Long Island, Fraboni remains committed to the idea that theater is ultimately about people coming together.
“There’s nothing like going to the theater, laughing with people, and experiencing a journey,” he says. “Everybody is emotionally affected differently by a show. That’s inspiring to me.”
Visit celebrityautobiography.com for more information or to purchase tickets.
A familiar favorite returns to a legendary stage as Dion takes the spotlight for a concert honoring Westbury Music Fair’s 70th anniversary. The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, whose history with the iconic venue spans decades, is returning to live performance after stepping back from regular touring in recent years. While he has been largely absent from the concert circuit, Dion has remained remarkably productive, releasing new music and books while continuing to earn acclaim for his blues recordings. In the past two years alone, he released The Rock and Roll Philosopher along with a companion book, further showcasing the creativity that has defined a career spanning more than six decades. His recent blues albums have topped the Billboard Blues chart, introducing his work to new audiences while reaffirming his place among America’s enduring musical voices. Best known for classic hits such as “Runaround Sue,” “The Wanderer,” and “Ruby Baby,” Dion continues to evolve as an artist well into his 80s.
Saturday, June 20, 8 p.m. Flagstar at Westbury Music Fair, 960 Brush Hollow Road, Westbury. Tickets available at LiveNation.com.
Get ready for an evening of sharp observations and quick-fire punchlines that are Daniel Tosh’s signature irreverent style when he brings My First Farewell Tour to he Paramount stage. Acclaimed for his quick wit and deadpan delivery, he’s built a devoted following through both stand-up and television. After graduating from the University of Central Florida with a degree in marketing, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue comedy full-time. His career gained national attention following a standout appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman in 2001, leading to appearances Comedy Central Presents, Premium Blend and The Tonight Show. Tosh became a household name as the creator and host of Tosh.0, the longrunning Comedy Central hit that paired viral internet videos with his trademark commentary and satirical take on pop culture.
Tuesday, June 23, 7 and 9:30 p.m. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington.
Daniel Tosh
Courtesy Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade Scott Adsit and Rita Wilson are among the show’s rotating cast.
Courtesy Michaelah Reynolds
Angelo Fraboni is all smiles on opening night with his wife, Michelle Fraboni and his Molloy students Grace McNally, left, and Skylar Faith Ludwig.
Your Neighborhood CALENDAR
Jun
18
Wendy Klemperer: Wrought Taxonomies
Vanderbilt Museum welcomes everyone to enjoy the exhibition of outdoor sculpture at the historic summer estate of William Kissam Vanderbilt II. Klemperer’s sculptures. a haunting assemblage of animal forms that span imaginary, endangered, familiar, and exotic species, celebrate natural history and the nonhuman world through evocative interactions with the surrounding environment. Using materials salvaged from scrapyards, she composes ecological narratives that respond to the history and collections of Suffolk County’s first public park and museum. Her brilliant use of gestural lines captures the spectator’s attention and invites museumgoers to reflect on the relationship between an interest in animal life and the incessant push of human industry. Visitors are encouraged to picnic on the grounds.
• Where: 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport
• Time: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Contact: vanderbiltmuseum. org or call (631) 854-5579
‘Everybody Loves Raymond: Celebrating 30 Years’
Visit the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame for an immersive exhibit (designed by LIMEHOF Creative Director, renowned designer Kevin O’Callaghan). It features the 70-foot-wide set from the show’s recent 30th anniversary TV special on CBS, never before on display. Visitors can walk into the world of the Barone family and explore their home through original studio sets, which include the living room, the kitchen and other areas of the house. Also see a variety of iconic items, including original clothing, the famous fork and spoon, and the Christmas toaster, among other classic items from the series. Multimedia clips, including behind the scenes and rare out-takes and a range of related videos play in LIMEHOF’s surround sound theater.
• Where: 97 Main St., Stony Brook
• Time: 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Contact: limusichalloffame.org or (631) 689-5888
Jun 19
Thrift Shop
Stop by Simpson United Methodist Church’s Thrift Shop for some unique finds.
Stavros Halkias
Stavros Halkias’s The Dreamboat Tour hits the Paramount stage. He delivers the sharp observations, self-deprecating humor and quick wit that have made him one of comedy’s fastest-rising stars. Originally from Baltimore and now based in New York City, Halkias recently wrote, produced and starred in the independent comedy Let’s Start a Cult. His latest standup special, Fat Rascal, is streaming on Netflix, following the success of his debut special, Live at the Lodge Room, which attracted millions of viewers online. Beyond the stage, Halkias hosts the hit podcast Stavvy’s World, which quickly climbed the comedy charts and built a devoted following. He also stars in the Netflix comedy series Tires and is set to appear in A24’s Tony, inspired by the life of Anthony Bourdain. Known for his candid storytelling and relatable humor, Halkias has built a loyal fan base through stand-up, podcasting and acting. He has also been featured in Steven Soderbergh’s sci-fi series Command Z. Outside of comedy, he made his runway debut at KidSuper’s Paris Fashion Week show in 2023, earning Vogue’s nod as “the plus-est of plus-size models.” His ultimate dream? Get just famous enough to buy his mother a nice home — then retire from show business to open a surf-and-turf restaurant in East Baltimore.
• Where: 30 Locust Ave., Amityville
• Time: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Contact: (631) 789-2569
St.
Mary’s Thrift Shop
Stop by St. Mary’s Thrift Shop to check out some found treasures. Choose from collectibles, glassware, clothing and other gently used items.
• Where: St. Mary’s, 175 Broadway, Amityville (enter from rear parking lot)
• Time: 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Contact: (631) 464-4899
Film screening
The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame presents an encore performance of the film “Harry Chapin Cat’s In The Cradle,” a documentary revolving around the famous song by Long Island’s own Harry Chapin. On hand to discuss the film will be Harry’s son Jason Chapin, and the film’s producer S.A. Baron. Food donations are requested for Long Island Cares, the Harry Chapin Regional Food Bank.
• Where: 97 Main St., Stony Brook
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Contact: limusichalloffame.org or (631) 689-5888
Jun
20
Free Document Shredding
Shred your personal papers at Farmingdale Public Library. All documents are shredded in a professional mobile shredding truck while you watch, and are then recycled. No spiral binders, plastic folders, clips or staples. Limit of three bags or boxes per person at no cost to you, courtesy of the members of the Farmingdale Chamber of Commerce. Donations to the FHS Scholarship Fund are welcome.
• Where: 116 Merritts Road, Farmingdale
• Time: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Contact: farmingdaleny chamber.org
Church Attic Thrift Shop
Stop by the First United Methodist Church for their weekly thrift shop.
• Where: 25 Broadway, Amityville
• Time: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Contact: (631) 264-0152 or email amitychurch1792@gmail. com
Jun 22
Massapequa Fire District meets The Massapequa Fire District holds
Jun
24
Emotional Health Recovery and Support Group
This group meets weekly, at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9592, in person with Emotions Anonymous, a 12-step support group for anyone experiencing emotional difficulties. All calls are confidential.
• Where: 55 Hickory Lane, Levittown
• Time: 7:30 -9 p.m.
• Contact: Steve at (631) 3320552 or Jill at (516) 220-7808
Jun
25
Farmingdale Chamber of Commerce After Hours Networking
• Where: The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com
their monthly meeting. All are welcome to attend.
• Where: District Administration Building, 1 Brooklyn Ave., Massapequa
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Contact: (516) 798-9849
Jun
23
Harmonize with Long Island Harmonizers
Love to sing? So do the Long Island Harmonizers. The chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society is a chorus of more than 20 singers, now welcoming new members. The ensemble performs fourpart a cappella harmony in the barbershop style, entertaining audiences throughout the area. All are welcome to visit one of their weekly rehearsals. Come listen, meet the chorus, and — if you’d like— join in and sing. No musical experience is necessary, just a love of singing and a desire to have fun making music together.
• Where: Faith Lutheran Church, 231 Jackson Ave, Syosset
• Time: Tuesdays, 7:30-9:30 p.m.
• Contact: Call: Rich, (516) 521-4779, or Dennis, (516) 680-8036, or visit longislandharmonizers.org
The Farmingdale Chamber of Commerce holds an after-hours networking event. It includes their monthly business card swap with complimentary appetizers and cash bar with happy hour pricing. All are welcome to attend. There will be no cover charge, but register by June 19.
• Where: 306 Main St., Farmingdale
• Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m.
• Contact: farmingdaleny chamber.org
Massapequa BOE meets
The Massapequa Board of Education holds their next meeting All are welcome to attend.
• Where: Massapequa High School, Board Room, 4925 Merrick Rd., Massapequa
• Time: 8 p.m.
• Contact: (516) 308-5000
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.
When pets cheer for their family’s favorite team everyone wins
Last week during the exciting NBA championship games, plenty of New York dogs and cats on social media were wearing Knicks jerseys, bandanas, or hats. On that note, have you noticed that if a person is a Mets or Jets fan, his dog is a Mets or Jets fan too?
Granted, the pet goes with the fan flow and doesn’t get to choose his favorite team, but there are benefits to this “sports copycat clothing” for both the family and the pet.
Pets, Pets, Pets...
JOANNE ANDERSON
HOW DRESSING YOUR PET AS A FAN HELPS THE OWNERS:
Seinfeld fans will remember that when Elaine asked her boyfriend Puddy why he painted his face beyond recognition before a football game, he said: “You gotta support the team.” Adding Fido or Whiskers to the cheering squad in your living room extends your support of the team without scaring the wits out of anyone who sees you while driving to the stadium.
The owners are projecting their identity and passions onto their animals. Dressing your dog or cat (if your cat allows clothing) is a fun, visible way to express your loyalty and feel more connected to the game. For many families, dressing pets in team colors is a lighthearted tradition that adds to the festive atmosphere. These owners find it adorable and humorous if their pet is comfortable wearing team colors. And this makes for great photo opportunities and lasting memories.
HOW DRESSING YOUR PET AS A FAN HELPS THE PET:
Every adoption agency looks for homes where the new pet will be considered a member of the family. Putting a favorite jersey onto a dog invites that dog to be part of the “pack” and share in the joy and pathos of watching the game. This strengthens the animal/human bond, especially if the pup is on the sofa with his peeps and partaking of snacks. The time dog spends sharing the game with his special people boosts the dog’s sense of belonging.
In January 2023, PetSmart commissioned OnePoll to conduct a survey of 2,000 American pet parents that revealed four in five claimed their pets to be bigger sports fans than them, out of the 68 percent who identified as sports fans themselves.
We welcome our pets to the TV for the viewing party. 79 percent said they watch sports with their pets and 83 percent even said their furry friends have a favorite sport to watch. Pets appear to be drawn to sports with fast action and running including football (40 percent), soccer (19 percent) and basketball (14 percent). Does this mean the World Cup will be more popular with pets than the Knicks versus the Spurs?
The study also revealed that 78 percent of pet parents think their pet has a favorite athlete, which may be why a majority of them (87 percent) have either named a pet after an athlete or would consider naming
a pet after an athlete in the future. Some respondents even shared their sports-inspired names: Messi, Bolt, Fenway, Jackson, Shea and Jeter.
Pet sport-mania even goes into themed items. Two in three pet parents (65 percent) said they’ve bought their pet a sports teamthemed item including pet bandanas (19 percent), collars (19 percent), jerseys (18 percent) and stuffed toys (17 percent), all sporting their favorite teams. Of those who have bought sports team-themed clothing for their pets, 90 percent will dress their pet in the item when their team is playing.
METS – BARK IN THE PARK:
The Mets hosted their first “Bark in the Park” event in 2023. Owners are invited to bring their dogs with them to specific games at Citi Field. When the owners buy a special ticket, there is a pre-game parade and other celebrations before the dogs and families sit in the Coca Cola section of the stadium to watch the game. The next Bark in the Park is Thursday, June 25th. Go to the Theme Games and Heritage Nights on the Mets website for more information.
Hobbs, a Last Hope alumnus Beagle at a Mets Bark in the Park day.
Bowser from Babylon Shelter to Last Hope, dressed in Knicks attire, because he was a winner hours before the last NBA game started.
Notice of formation of KEVINS TILE AND STONE CO. LLC
Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 03/30/2026
Office location Nassau
SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a process served to: 77 Madison St. Massapequa NY, 11758. Purpose: any lawful act.
26-107. 5/27, 6/3, 10, 17, 24, 7/1
Notice of formation of Top gun home remodeling LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York SSNY on 1/20/26. Office located in Nassau County. SSNY has been designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail copy of any process served against the LLC to 51 Maple run DR, Jericho, NY 11753. Purpose: any lawful purpose.
26-98. 5/13, 20, 27, 6/3, 10, 17
Notice of formation of ICV Holdings LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York SSNY on 02/04/2026. Office located in Nassau County. SSNY has been designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail copy of any process served against the LLC to 1055 Fayette St, Uniondale, NY 11553. Purpose: any lawful purpose.
26-108. 5/27, 6/3, 10, 17, 24, 7/1
Notice of Formation of RSN CONSULTING LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) on 05/12/2026. Office location: Nassau County. SSNY is designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of the process to: RSN CONSULTING LLC, 71 Bayview Ave, Port Washington, NY 11050. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.
26-104. 5/27, 6/3, 10, 17, 24, 7/1
Notice of formation of DNL Auto Sales LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York SSNY on 4/30/26. Office located in Nassau. SSNY has been designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail cору or any process server against the LLC 3819 Jerusalem Ave Seaford NY 11783 Purpose: any lawful purpose.
26-105. 5/27, 6/3, 10, 17, 24, 7/1
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas as Indenture Trustee for the Registered Holders of Saxon Asset Securities Trust 2006-3 Mortgage Loan Asset Backed Notes, Series 2006-3, Plaintiff AGAINST Jeffrey A. Mazes, Leslie A. Willis-Mazes; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered April 13, 2018, 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, New York, 11501 on July 7, 2026, at 2:30PM, premises known as 21 Delta Road, Massapequa, NY 11758. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land situate, lying and being at Amityville, Town of Oyster Bay, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 66 Block 100 Lot 650. Approximate amount of judgment $535,622.74 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 003203/2015. The auction will be conducted pursuant to the COVID-19 Policies
Concerning Public Auctions of Foreclosed Property established by the Tenth Judicial District. Foreclosure Auctions will be held "Rain or Shine."
Jane Pastor Shrenkel, Esq. LOGS Legal Group LLP f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792
Dated: May 14, 2026 For sale information, please visit www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2831
26-109. 6/3, 10, 17, 24
Notice is hereby given that a license, Application ID: NA0370-26-113193 for liquor, beer, wine, and cider has been applied for by the undersigned to sell liquor, beer, wine, and cider at retail in a Bar/Tavern under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at 1137 Old Country Road, Unit B, Westbury, NY 11590, County of Nassau, for on premises consumption at Dinsay Capital LLC. 26-116. 6/10, 17
Public Notices
Notice of Self Storage Sale
Please take notice Safeguard Self Storage #190113 located at 6000 Sunrise Highway Massapequa NY 11758 intends to hold a sale of the property stored in the below listed Storage Spaces. The public sale shall occur as an online auction via www. storagetreasures. com on 6/25/2026 at 10:30AM. Unless listed below, the contents consist of household goods, furnishings and garage essentials. Justin Nasuti unit #1344; Michelle Y Haynes Davis units #1404A & #2475; Regina Ragusa unit #1409; Hashid Louis unit #1713; Timothy C Williamson units #2313, #2456 & #2465; Adam H Rapp unit #3459A. This sale may be withdrawn at any time without notice. See manager for details.
26-113. 6/10, 17
Notice of formation of The Surf Press, LLC
Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SS Y) on 05/12/2025
Office location, County of Nassau
SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served.
SSNY shall mail a process served to: The Surf Press, LLC, 5 George St. Locust Valley, NY 11560 Purpose: any lawful act.
26-115. 6/10, 17, 24, 7/1, 8, 15
Notice of formation of Blasi Industries LLC
Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 03/01/2026
Office
location, County of Nassau
SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served.
SSNY shall mail a process served to:
Blasi Industries LLC, 2280 Cleveland St North Bellmore, NY 11710 Purpose: any lawful act.
26-117. 6/10, 17, 24, 7/1, 8, 15
Notice of formation of MDV Security & Protection LLC
Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SS Y) on 04.01.2026
Office location, Nassau
SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served.
SSNY shall mail a process served to:
MDV Security & Protection LLC 1804 Noble Street, East Meadow NY 11554 Purpose: any lawful act.
26-118. 6/10. 17, 24, 7/1, 8, 15
Notice of formation of SHREE KUBER LLC
Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SS Y) on 04/06/2026
Office location Nassau
SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served.
SSNY shall mail a process served to:
HIREN PATEL, 120 BEKERLY PLACE, MASSAPEQUA, NEW YORK 11758
Purpose: any lawful act.
26-120. 6/17, 24, 7/1, 8,15, 22
Notice of formation of IC Advisors LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York SSNY on 02/04/2026. Office located in Nassau County. SSNY has been designated for service of process.
SSNY shall mail copy of any process served against the LLC to 1055 Fayette St, Uniondale, NY 11553. Purpose: any lawful purpose.
26-121. 6/17, 24, 7/1, 8, 15, 22
NOTICE OF SALE
Supreme Court County of Nassau Nationstar Mortgage LLC dba Mr. Cooper, Plaintiff AGAINST Peter Falci, Kim Falci, et al, Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on March 5, 2019, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, North sides of the steps, Mineola, NY 11501 on July 15, 2026 at 2:00 PM premises known as 287 North Delaware Avenue, Massapequa, NY 11758. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the County of Nassau, State of New York, SECTION: 52, BLOCK: 527, LOT: 245. Approximate amount of judgment is $800,575.12 plus interests and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 009037/2013. NO CASH will be accepted at the sale. Certified checks only, made payable to the referee. This sale may be subject to the US Dept of the Treasurys Financial Crimes Enforce-
ment Network Real Estate Reporting Rule. In such event, all purchasers are required to provide the information needed for proper reporting in accordance with the terms of sale. Lisa Goodwin, Referee FRENKEL LAMBERT WEISMAN & GORDON LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706 01-046203-F00 90138 26-122. 6/17, 24, 7/1, 8
Notice of formation of THE LEYLINE TCG LLC
Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SS Y) on 02/09/2026
Office location, County of Nassau, SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served.
SSNY shall mail a process served to: The Leyline TCG LLC, 15 Cedar drive South, Old Bethpage, NY 11804. Purpose: any lawful act.
26-123 - 6/17, 24, 7/1, 8, 15, 22
Notice of formation of Ruiz Concepts and Construction LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 05/13/26. Office located in Nassau County. SSNY designated as agent for service of process. SSNY shall mail copy of any process against the LLC to 1322 Bellmore Ave., North Bellmore, NY 11710. Purpose: any lawful purpose 26-124 6/17, 24, 7/1, 8, 15, 22
EMPLOYMENT
Help Wanted
DRIVERS WANTED
Full Time and Part Time
Positions Available!
Busy Print Shop in Garden City is Hiring Immediately for Full Time and Part Time Drivers. Must Have a Clean License and BoxTruck Driving Experience.
Hours Vary, Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $21 per hour
Night Availability is a Must.
Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239
EDITOR/REPORTER
Part Time & Full Time. The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. Salary range is from $20K to $45K To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to jbessen@liherald.com
MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP
Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $20 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com
MULTI MEDIA ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT
Inside Sales
Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $35,360 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286
OUTSIDE SALES
Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Earning potential ranges from $35,360 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses. Compensation is based on Full Time hours Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off. Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X250
PRINTING PRESS OPERATORS FT & PT. Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for Printing Press Operators in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges from $20 per hour to $30 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com Eldercare Offered HOUSEKEEPING/ SENIOR CARE-
HomesHERALD
A new pool, and the fence around it
Beautiful Cape
Cemetery Plots
Pinelawn Memorial Park
WE BUY HOUSES for Cash AS IS! No repairs. No fuss. Any condition. Easy three step process: Call, get cash offer and get paid. Get your fair cash offer today by calling Liz Buys Houses: 1-888-704-5670
2 Cemetery Plots For Sale Plot M Grave 222 Range 26, Block 6, Section 40 $2,500.00 Each Total Real Value $8,000 615-444-3175 or 615-609-0332 Harrywatkins@yahoo.com
Welcome to this beautifully maintained expanded Cape in the Salisbury section of Westbury in the East Meadow school district. Offering 4-5 bedrooms and a versatile floor plan, this home is perfectly suited for today's lifestyle. The updated kitchen flows seamlessly into the comfortable living spaces, including a spacious living room and formal dining room. A striking double-sided wood-burning fireplace adds warmth and character, creating an inviting atmosphere throughout the main living areas. The first floor offers exceptional flexibility, featuring a bedroom, a den that can easily serve as a fifth bedroom, home office, or guest room, and a convenient laundry room. Sliding glass doors
Q. I’m putting in a pool, and have to raise the property on the side closest to my property line by about 18 inches. I see that my permit shows I can’t go over 6 feet for the fence. What I want to do is build a wall along the property line using the concrete interlocking blocks that are made for this, and I remember from a previous column you wrote that the wall also needs a permit. Am I going to have problems getting the fence and wall approved, because the company that makes the blocks shows that they go right onto compacted gravel and not the concrete foundation you wrote about? Also, the fence will be 6 feet tall on my side, but at least 7 feet 6 inches on my neighbor’s side. Is that going to be a problem? I want to do this right away, so I can enjoy the pool this summer. Should I just do it and see what an inspector says, if anything?
A. You have given this a lot of thought. I will answer each question as well as possible. The reason for my doubt is that communities have differing opinions, and even inspectors have differing views. The real problem is that until, and sometimes even after, you get a final sign-off, anything that wasn’t documented on the plans is fair game for nullifying the approval, requiring refiling for a new permit.
The block wall can only go on a compacted gravel bed if the ground is stable — not in a flood plain or previously reclaimed land, such as in a neighborhood that was once marshland — and if the gravel bed reaches a 90 percent compaction level, according to manufacturers. This compaction is achieved only by using heavy equipment and extreme force, so if you plan to shovel it in and tamp it down, think twice. Fortunately, the wall movement will be hardly noticeable unless sections sag from the weight of the block and the horizontal shifting of the earth, which mainly occur with the help of water buildup and extremes like the weeks of below-freezing weather a few months ago that most people have already forgotten.
The fence height is another mixed bag of opinions. I’ve had to appear for clients at zoning hearings because of just such circumstances, where there was a problem achieving the 6-foot height and the uneven land dilemma. In other, similar circumstances, another inspector in the same jurisdiction said not to bother and passed the approval without the need to go through the hearing process. I believe that good fences make good neighbors, as Robert Frost wrote. The height issue should only come into play when a neighbor is harmed or potentially harmed by the height, such as if the fence blocks sunlight.
I can never recommend building something without approvals, as a licensed professional, but I am seeing more often that people hate the word “permit.” Good luck!
© 2026 Monte Leeper
Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announcements
SAVE ON YOUR TRAVEL PLANS!
Up to 75% More than 500 AIRLINES and 300,000 HOTELS across the world. Let us do the research for you for FREE! Call: 877 988 7277
MERCHANDISE MART
Antiques/Collectibles
We Buy Antiques, Fine Art, Coins & Jewelry
Same Day Service, Free In-Home Evaluations, 45 Year Family Business. Licensed and Bonded, Immediate Cash Paid. SYL-LEE ANTIQUES www.syl-leeantiques.com 516-671-6464
Wanted To Buy
Costume Jewelry Wanted Necklaces, Earrings, Bracelets & Rings. Also Buying Gold & Silver. $$ CASH PAID $$ 631-500-0792 Long Island / Will Travel
FINDS UNDER $100
Finds Under $100
BABY'S CHANGE TABLE. Gently used, white, 3 drawers. $15. Lido Beach. (516)705-9398
BASKETBALL HOOP REGULATION size, portable $20 text/ call Michele (516) 287-7027
CEDAR RABBIT HUTCH: Formica lined clean-out drawers, Casters, 54" X 24", Solid construction. $35. 516-343-4010
FOOD NETWORK (BRAND) countertop convection oven with rotisserie, never used!!! $95. Call 516 502 5699
GRACO STROLLER, MODES bassinet LX, Click Connect, 3 in one, excellent, instructions included, $60, 516-884-9994.
HANDICAPPED DELUXE SPORT Hand-Held Portable GPS Unit for Hikers, Hunters, Bikers, etc. New! $50. 516-486-7941
HANDICAPPED FORTUNOFF'S OUTDOOR Store Patio Table. 5'x7' Glass Top, Cast Aluminum Frame. Mint. $100 516-486-7941
ROCKING CHAIR WHITE paint, text for picture, $25, 516-884-9994.
WALKER, ALUMINUM LIGHTWEIGHT ProBasics w/ wheels, two button, original packaging never used $25. 516-781-8313
SERVICES
Appliance Srvc./Repair
APPLIANCE DOCTOR FOR ALL YOUR APPLIANCE REPAIRS! Prompt, Reasonable, Reliable. All Repairs Guaranteed. Lic/Ins. Serving Community 45 Years. $10 OFF Repairs. Seniors $12 OFF. 516-764-7011
THE APPLIANCE KING: Washers, Dryers, Dishwashers, Microwaves, Stoves, Refrigerators. WE RULE REPAIR ! $10 Off Repair With Ad. Senior Discount. Lic/Ins #201025, Call 516.640.8593
Cable/TV/Wiring
Get DISH Satellite TV + Internet! Free Install, Free HD-DVR Upgrade, 80,000 OnDemand Movies, Plus Limited Time Up To $600 In Gift Cards. Call Today! 1-866-782-4069
Cleaning Services
WENDY'S CLEANING SERVICES INC.
Commercial/Residential. We Specialize In Houses, Apartments, Offices, Airbnb & More. Good References. Free Estimates. Call/Text Wendy 516-406-5375 Or Email wencruzpa@gmail.com
Electricians
E-Z ELECTRIC SERVICES, INC.
All Types Residential/Commercial Wiring, Generators, Telephone/Data, Home Entertainment, Service Upgrades, Pools, Spas. Services/Repairs. Violations Removed. Free Estimates Low Rates. 516-785-0646 Lic/Ins.
Handyman
PAINTING & HANDYMAN SERVICE
Tired of calling a contractor & they don't call back? I will call you back the same day! 917-822-0225 Ricky Specializing in carpentry, bathrooms, kitchens, sheetrock, flooring, electric, plumbing. Over 25 yrs exp.Lic/Ins H3805150000
Home Improvement
AGING ROOF? NEW HOMEOWNER?
STORM DAMAGE? You need a local expert provider that proudly stands behind their work. Fast, free estimate. Financing available. Call 1-877-318-7982
BEAUTIFUL BATH UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Superior quality bath and shower systems at AFFORDABLE PRICES! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Call Now! 1-877-271-0003
DO YOU KNOW what's in your water? Leaf Home Water Solutions offers FREE water testing and whole home water treatment systems that can be installed in as little one day. 15% off your entire purchase. Plus 10% senior & military discounts. Restrictions apply. Schedule your FREE test today. Call 1-866-247-5728
PREPARE FOR POWER outages today with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 5-Year warranty with qualifying purchase. Call 1-877-516-1160 today to schedule a free quote. It's not just a generator. It's a power move.
PREPARE FOR POWER outages with Briggs & Stratton® PowerProtect(TM) standby generators - the most powerful home standby generators available. Industry-leading comprehensive warranty - 7 years ($849 value.) Proudly made in the U.S.A. Call Briggs & Stratton 1-888-605-1496
SAFE STEP. NORTH America's #1 WalkIn Tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-the-line installation and service. Now featuring our FREE shower package and $1600 Off for a limited time! Call today! Financing available. Call Safe Step 1-855-916-5473
Miscellaneous
GET BOOST INFINITE! Unlimited Talk, Text and Data For Just $25/mo! The Power Of 3 5G Networks, One Low Price! Call Today and Get The Latest iPhone Every Year On Us! 844-329-9391
Power Washing
POWERWASHING ALL SURFACES: Houses, Fences, Concrete/ Brick, Decks/Sealing. ANTHONY & J HOME IMPROVEMENT, INC. 516-678-6641
Services
PEST CONTROL: PROTECT YOUR HOME from pests safely and affordably. Roaches, Bed Bugs, Rodent, Termite, Spiders and other pests. Locally owned and affordable. Call for service or an inspection today! 1-877-290-0023 Have zip code of property ready when calling!
Telephone Services
CONSUMER CELLULAR - the same reliable, nationwide coverage as the largest carriers. No long-term contract, no hidden fees and activation is free. All plans feature unlimited talk and text, starting at just $20/month. For more information, call 1-844-919-1682
Tree Services
T&M GREENCARE TREE SERVICE
*TREE REMOVAL *STUMP GRINDING
*PRUNING. FREE ESTIMATES. 516-223-4525, 631-586-3800 www.tmgreencare.com
Satellite/TV Equipment
DIRECTV- All your entertainment. Nothing on your roof! Sign up for Directv and get your first three months of Max, Paramount+, Showtime, Starz, MGM+ and Cinemax included. Choice package $84.99/mo. Some restrictions apply. Call DIRECTV 1-888-534-6918
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Health & Fitness
ATTENTION OXYGEN THERAPY USERS! Discover Oxygen Therapy That Moves with You with Inogen Portable Oxygen Concentrators. FREE information kit. Call 1-877-536-0251
ATTENTION: VIAGRA AND CIALIS USERS! A cheaper alternative to high drugstore prices! 50 Pill Special - Only $99! 100% guaranteed. CALL NOW: 1-877-468-3979
Internet Services
AFFORDABLE TV & INTERNET. If you are overpaying for your service, call now for a free quote and see how much you can save! 1-877-461-0663
Legal Services
INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT? Don't Accept the insurance company's first offer. Many injured parties are entitled to major cash settlements. Get a free evaluation to see what your case is really worth. 100% Free Evaluation. Call Now: 1-877-315-0990. Be ready with your zip code to connect with the closest provider.
TERRORISM IN NONPROFIT facilities is growing. But available security grant money can help protect them. Edldirect Consulting can help. Call/text 1(516)318-6385 for more
So we set off to meet the new Notre Dame coach . . .
i’ve told this story before, but friends say it always bears retelling. Four years ago this month, a group of us experienced in just a few hours some truly high moments followed by some comedic screwups that still make us shake our heads.
Nassau County Republican Party Chairman Joe Cairo, my law school roommate Tom Curtin and I are Notre Dame graduates, and fanatical followers of Fighting Irish football. When we heard that then new football coach Marcus Freeman would be speaking at a Notre Dame event at the Union League Club in Manhattan, we decided to attend and then go to dinner afterward.
Melissa Zimmerman, a retired Nassau County Police Department detective who was on my security detail when I was in Congress and was still doing security work for me, coordinated the logistics for the evening. We took my car, picked up Cairo at his North Valley Stream home and made it to the city in
plenty of time. Zimmerman parked the car in a garage a few blocks from the Union League, and once there we met up with Curtin, who, as usual, knew someone who knew someone and got us into a pre-event gathering with just a small group of alumni and Freeman, who was friendly and generous with his time. Couldn’t have been a better moment for Notre Dame guys.
AFollowing the larger reception downstairs, we went to Sam’s Place, a terrific Italian restaurant on East 39th Street, where we were joined by my son, Sean, another Notre Dame graduate. The conversation was filled with reminiscing, and expressions of hope that Freeman would restore Notre Dame football’s golden luster.
Despite a sign that said it would be open for a few more hours, the garage were locked tight. We rang the bell. No answer. It started raining harder. We were the only people on the street.
nd what followed forced us to find our way home in the rain in a very sketchy Uber.
The always prepared Curtin produced an umbrella and decided to walk to the NYAC. Zimmerman, seeing her brilliant planning coming undone, was on her phone trying to find an Uber to drive us to North Valley Stream. Minutes went by; no taxicab, no Uber. Cairo, one of the nation’s most powerful political leaders, was standing in the rain, looking down 39th Street.
windshield. Eventually we made it to Cairo’s home, where he obligingly paid the driver and, adding insult to injury, at Zimmerman’s suggestion, gave the man a generous tip. He shook his head as he got out.
Next, Zimmerman tracked down a friend to drive us to my home in Seaford, and then, because her car keys were in my car in the Manhattan parking garage, to drive her to her Bellmore home.
Afterward, as we were outside on the street posing for a group photo, Zimmerman couldn’t help congratulating herself on her logistical success. Sean said he would walk to his nearby apartment and said good night. There was a drizzle of rain, but the garage was a block away; nothing to worry about. Curtin, who lives in Jersey, was staying at the New York Athletic Club, so we offered to drop him off.
TAfter several long minutes, a broken-down, filthy-looking, barely operable car pulled up. The driver held a cardboard sign with “Uber” scrawled in magic marker. Speaking with a thick foreign accent, he asked where we were going. North Valley Stream, Zimmerman told him.
“No problem,” he said. We warily got in the car — Zimmerman, the seasoned detective, in the front, and Cairo and I in the back. The driver seemed to have a hard time finding his way out of Manhattan as Zimmerman tried to guide him, and rain splashed against the
Because my wife, Rosemary, knew I’d be coming home late, she had decided to sleep in the back bedroom. When she got up in the morning and didn’t saw my car, she didn’t know whether to call the cops or the emergency room. Moments later, as I recounted the events of the previous evening, she shook her head with the look of a woman thinking, why did I ever marry this guy? Good question.
Later that morning, Zimmerman took an LIRR train to Manhattan to retrieve my car and her keys and complain to the parking garage manager about his misleading closing-time sign. The saga of the Notre Dame football coach and the locked garage was over, but none of us has ever forgotten it.
Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.
A crisis at a journalistic institution
here are a number of ways to frighten a politician. I could recite a few, but there’s nothing more frightening then telling an elected official that “‘60 Minutes’ wants to talk to you.” For almost 60 years, the show has been more than a television program. It is one of the few that has held powerful corporations, governments and individuals to account for their conduct. Like it or not, “60 Minutes” has been the conscience of the nation.
During its time on our television screens, the show has exposed the tobacco industry’s lies, the failures of the Veterans Administration and the abuses of Wall Street, to name just a few of its in-depth investigations. It has done so week after week, in prime time, watched by millions of Americans who might never have read an investigative newspaper series but would sit down on a Sunday night and absorb a piece of journalism that changed what they knew, and sometimes what the country knew.
That institution, in any meaningful sense, is now gone. What has taken place over the past year is a cautionary tale about what happens when corporate fear meets political intimidation and what is lost when the two converge. The chain of events that got us here started in April 2025, when Bill Owens resigned at executive producer of “60 Minutes.” He was only the third person to hold that job in 57 years. That was followed by the resignation of CBS President Wendy McMahon.
Why all the drama at ‘60 Minutes’ matters beyond the television industry.
The reason for both departures was that Paramount, the parent company of CBS, was seeking federal approval for its merger with Skydance Media. The Trump administration had leverage over the deal, and it was clear that it was prepared to use it. Then CBS settled a lawsuit with the president with a payment of $16 million. The optics should have been a tipoff of what was yet to come.
What happened next confirmed everyone’s worst fears. Bari Weiss became editor in chief of CBS News, installed by the new owners. While Weiss is a competent writer, she knew nothing about television news. Last
month she fired veteran “60 Minutes” correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega, the first Latina correspondent in the show’s history. That was followed by numerous other layoffs of longtime staffers. It’s worth noting that, months earlier, Weiss pulled a segment off the air that dealt with Trump administration deportees held in a Salvadoran prison. It eventually ran, but that sent another signal.
The final touch in the dismantling of a journalistic institution was the firing of Scott Pelley, who helped make “60 Minutes” what it was. Pelly is the modern-day version of what Walter Cronkite was in his time, and the loss of his voice is a loss for all of us who believe in investigative journalism.
So why does this matter beyond the television industry? Investigative journalism is a mechanism by which citizens of a democracy learn what their government and their corporations are actually doing, as opposed to what they are told they’re doing.
What do weekly newspapers have to do with this type of reporting? Willamette Week, the Village Voice and the Riverdale Press are just a few of the
weeklies that have won Pulitzer Prizes. Consider what happens when a weekly newspaper is sold. If a new owner has different priorities, different allegiances or a fear of generating controversy, it’s the beginning of the end of fair coverage for their readership. When a new owner takes over, the staff remains for a time. The nameplate stays the same, but the readers may sense the change before they can articulate it.
Identity and credibility aren’t assets that appear on a balance sheet, but they are one of the most fragile assets a paper possesses. You might have noticed that the Herald has both Republican Peter King and Democrat Jerry Kremer as columnists. That’s because the owner values all opinions.
The dismantling of “60 Minutes” because of political pressure and corporate self-interest is a message to newsrooms all over America. It is a reminder that the public can’t afford to ignore what takes place before their eyes. We need good and honest journalism, and should be supportive of those who practice it.
Jerry Kremer was a state assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. He currently chairs the Capitol Insight Group, a government relations firm. Comments? jkremer@liherald.com.
pOsT
Ira L. Cahn - Founder Established 1951
Incorporating Massapequa Post in 2024
CaroLyn James Associate Publisher / Editor
Consola
Kleiman maryann Heins
Multi Media Marketing Consultants
offiCe
2 Endo Boulevard
City, NY 11530
Phone: (516) 569-4000
Fax: (516) 569-4942
Web:
HERALD
eStart exercising your electoral muscles
very election cycle brings a familiar refrain: “This is the most important election of our lifetime.” The phrase is often overused, but the underlying message remains true. Democracy only works when citizens participate, and that participation begins long before Election Day in November.
For New Yorkers, that opportunity starts with next Tuesday’s primary election, which determines which candidates represent each political party on the ballot in November’s general election. Too often, primary elections are overlooked. Turnout is routinely far lower than in general elections, even though primaries frequently determine who will ultimately hold office.
In many districts, particularly those dominated by one political party, the primary is effectively the most competitive election voters will see. Yet thousands of eligible voters stay home, leaving crucial decisions in the hands of a small fraction of the electorate.
Voting is more than a civic duty; it is one of the few opportunities citizens have to directly influence the direction of their communities, states and nation. The issues debated during campaigns — taxes, public safety, education, transportation, housing affordability, health care, environmental policy and economic development — impact residents every day. Whether voters are satisfied with current leadership or eager for change, the ballot box remains the most powerful tool available to make their voices heard.
The 2026 election cycle will determine control of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, institutions that shape federal policy on everything from spending and taxation to national security and judicial appointments. Midterm elections have historically served as a
letters
How to register to vote and find your polling place
Nassau County: Go to the Nassau County Board of Elections website: nassaucountyny.gov/Departments/BOE.
Suffolk County: Go to the Suffolk County Board of Elections website: suffolkcountyny.gov/Departments/BOE.
referendum on the direction of the country, and they often produce significant shifts in political power.
Yet those outcomes are frequently decided by a relatively small number of voters. Nationally, turnout in midterm elections, like 2026, is typically lower than during presidential years. That means individual votes carry even greater weight.
New York voters face an unusual circumstance. Due to a court ruling involving the state’s congressional district maps, several elected officials who only recently won office must once again make their cases to voters. As a result, some communities will see campaigns and races return to the ballot much sooner than expected.
Rather than viewing this as election fatigue, we hope that voters see it as an opportunity. Democracy is strengthened when elected officials remain accountable to the people they represent. Frequent elections require candidates to engage with constituents, explain their records and articulate their plans for the future. Those elections also give voters a chance to evaluate whether promises made during previous campaigns have
Ben Franklin’s wise words? If only.
To the Editor:
Re Jerry Kremer’s column, “Much of what Ben Franklin said is being ignored,” in the June 4-10 issue: To use Franklin to compare the personal qualities of top officials then and now is very appropriate, for it points a way forward.
When Franklin connected the maintenance of the republic to the character of its members, he knew whereof he spoke. He was well studied in history, the qualities of his compatriots were well known to him, and he was fully experienced in the effort that went into the maintenance of “virtue.” His statements that “only a virtuous people are capable of freedom” and about the tendency of corruption to bring on “masters” were deadly serious advice about the kind of citizens necessary to “keep” the republic.
been fulfilled.
Congressional races often receive the most attention, but local and state elections — for Assembly members, village mayors, town council members, and more — can have an equally profound impact on daily life. Decisions made by state lawmakers influence school funding, transportation projects, environmental protections, public health initiatives and countless other issues that directly affect neighborhoods. The officials chosen this year will help shape policies and budgets that residents will live with for years to come.
Unfortunately, many Americans have become increasingly cynical about politics. Some believe their vote doesn’t matter. Others feel frustrated by partisan divisions or disappointed by the pace of change. Those feelings are understandable, but disengagement isn’t the answer. History repeatedly demonstrates that elections can be decided by razor-thin margins. A handful of votes can determine a local race. Every voter who participates increases the legitimacy of the democratic process and helps ensure that election results reflect the will of the broader community.
Next week’s primary should therefore be viewed as more than a procedural step on the path to November. It is the opening chapter of an election season that will help determine who represents us and what priorities those leaders pursue.
Voters should take the time now to learn about the candidates, understand the issues and confirm their registration status. They should familiarize themselves with polling locations, early voting opportunities and absentee ballot options if needed.
The road to November begins next Tuesday. The most important thing voters can do is show up and vote.
opinions
The lessons our leaders should take from the LIRR strike
the three-day long Island rail road strike last month did more than disrupt commutes. It highlighted just how interconnected new york City and long Island truly are.
For 72 hours, the effects rippled across the entire metropolitan region. Workers struggled to get to their jobs. Businesses lost customers and productivity. restaurants saw cancellations. Meetings were missed. Supply chains slowed.
State Comptroller Tom Dinapoli estimated that the work stoppage cost as much as $61 million per day in lost economic activity. The losses weren’t confined to any one county or borough. They were shared by all of us, because our regional economy functions as one interconnected system. as president and CeO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce, representing thousands of businesses across Queens, I heard from employers immediately concerned about staffing shortages, delayed deliveries and declining foot traffic. The reason was simple: The workforce connection between long Island and new york City is enormous. according to Census data, around
Letters
Franklin made for himself a chart of seven columns, one for each day of the week, and 13 rows listing the 13 virtues he considered important enough to track. He focused on one per week, and marked his shortfalls. “Tho’ I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of attaining,” he wrote, “but fell far short of it, yet I was, by the endeavor, a better and happier man than I otherwise should have been if I had not attempted it.”
Most citizens — and very few politicians — would be hard-pressed to even name 13 virtues, confused today with ideology. We know that George Washington had his own written selfguide, and self-improvement was a popular theme at the time, in line with efforts at improving society by improving the people. Citizens today should make their own list of virtues, make an honest attempt to abide by them, and insist on representatives who share the effort. Franklin’s words should be remembered, as should his efforts to attain virtue and thus be a good citizen of our republic.
BrIan Kelly Rockville Centre
240,000 long Island residents commute into new york City for work, while roughly 310,000 new york City residents work in nassau and Suffolk counties. Queens alone sends around 95,000 workers into nassau County and another 28,000 into Suffolk County every day. Queens residents are among the largest workforce pipelines for long Island employers, particularly in health care, construction, retail, transportation and professional services.
When that flow stops, even briefly, the economic consequences are immediate.
Lexactly why that mindset misses the bigger picture.
ong Island’s economy is deeply dependent on New York City’s, and vice versa.
That reality should also serve as a reminder in a broader political conversation that has become increasingly misguided recently. Too often, some elected officials and commentators have tried to frame long Island and new york City as competitors, as though economic success on one side of the city line somehow comes at the expense of the other side.
It doesn’t.
We saw this dynamic emerge during the pandemic, when some suburban leaders openly encouraged businesses to leave new york City and relocate to long Island. More recently, some politicians have continued to take rhetorical swipes at the city’s struggles as a way to score political points.
But the lIrr strike demonstrated
long Island’s economy is deeply dependent on new york City’s economic strength, just as the city depends on long Island. roughly 150,000 Suffolk County residents work in new york City’s five boroughs, with many commuting into Manhattan and Queens every day. nassau County’s economic ties are even deeper. Meanwhile, businesses throughout the city rely heavily on long Island residents as customers, employees and business partners.
Queens and suburban long Island, in particular, share extraordinarily close economic ties. Queens is home to Kennedy and laGuardia airports, major health care institutions, construction projects and entertainment destinations that employ thousands of long Islanders. long Islanders help staff schools, hospitals, financial firms and transportation systems throughout the city. at the same time, Queens residents support long Island’s retail centers, restaurants, beaches and small businesses. The relationship is reciprocal by necessity.
That’s why the true competition facing our region isn’t between Queens and nassau or between Manhattan and Suffolk. The real competition is coming from states aggressively attracting resi-
Framework by Tim Baker
dents and employers away from new york altogether. Florida. Texas. The Carolinas.
When families leave the metropolitan area because housing costs become unsustainable, long Island and new york City both lose. When businesses relocate operations out of state, the economic pain is shared throughout the downstate region.
Instead of trying to outcompete one another for headlines or short-term political advantage, regional leaders should be working together to address the challenges we all face: affordability, transportation reliability, housing shortages, public safety and economic competitiveness.
The lIrr strike also reinforced another important truth: Infrastructure matters. reliable transportation is the backbone of the downstate economy. Millions of people depend on the seamless movement of workers and consumers throughout the region every day. When that system breaks down, even temporarily, it reminds us how fragile — and how interconnected — our economy really is.
In the future long, Island and new york City will succeed or fail, rise or fall, together. That isn’t political rhetoric. It is an economic reality.
Tom Grech is president and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce and acting chair of the Town of Hempstead Industrial Development Agency and Local Development Corporation.
Diana Frohman with one of her dancing golden retrievers, 5-year-old George — Oceanside
FREE community event focused on health, wellness, and lifestyle
Meet trusted local exhibitors and service providers
Take advantage of on-site health screenings
Enjoy lively entertainment, fitness demonstrations and interactive experiences
Hear from experts during a panel discussion with Q&A
Win raffles, prizes, and giveaways
Snack station for all
*Boxed lunches for first 150 attendees
All designed to help you stay active, informed, and engaged at every stage of life.
AGENDA:
for this FREE event: BabylonSHE.eventbrite.com or email rbamgbose@liherald.com or call
x273
