Massapequa Herald Post 07-09-2026 by Richner Communications, Inc

HERALD Massapequa

Officials okay tax credit increases for volunteer firefighters

By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com

The New York State Senate and Assembly have approved legislation aimed at strengthening recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters and volunteer ambulance workers by significantly increasing the state income tax credit available to those unpaid first responders. The bill, sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Monica R. Martinez, (4th SD), would raise the existing tax credit from $200 to $800 for eligible individual volunteers and from $400 to $1,600 for married couples filing jointly when both spouses qualify.

The measure passed both the Senate and Assembly during the 2025-26 legislative session and is eligible to be sent to Gov. Kathy Hochul for consideration. If signed into law, the legislation would provide one of the largest increases ever made to New York’s volunteer firefighter and ambulance worker tax credit program.

Supporters say the increase is long overdue. The current credit was established in 2007 and has remained unchanged for nearly two decades, reducing its value over time because of inflation. The legislation is intended to provide meaningful recognition for volunteers who dedicate their time to protecting their communities while helping local departments address ongoing

Courtesy Massapequa Kiwanis Pictured, are Assemblyman John K. Mikulin, scholarship recipients Ryan Falta and Frank Padavan, Kiwanis Vice President and Scholarship Committee Chairman Jim Taratunio, scholarship recipient Danna Sarmiento Aguilar, Kiwanis President Leonard “Bud” Antonelli, Assemblyman Michael Durso and Oyster Bay Town Councilman Tom Hand. Not pictured are scholarship recipients Meghan Walsh, Olivia Guttman and Christian Hardiman, who were unable to attend the ceremony.

Massapequa Kiwanis awards scholarships to six local seniors

By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com

Six students from Massapequa High School, Seaford High School, Plainedge High School and Nassau BOCES GC Tech each received $1,000 scholarships from the Massapequa Kiwanis Club in recognition of their community service and volunteerism.

This year’s recipients were Ryan Falta and Frank Padavan, Seaford High School; Danna Sarmiento Aguilar, GC Tech BOCES; Meghan Walsh and Olivia Guttman, Massapequa High School, and Christian Hardiman, Plainedge High School.

In addition to the scholarships, each student received a citation from Nassau County Legislator James Kennedy, a Certificate of Merit from Assemblyman Michael Durso and

a Certificate of Achievement from Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino.

Massapequa School District Executive Assistant for Guidance Paul Weber attended the ceremony and was recognized for assisting with the scholarship application process in the district, along with guidance counselors from the participating schools.

The six recipients were selected by the Kiwanis scholarship committee from more than 60 applications submitted this year.

“The Massapequa Kiwanis believes that the heart of our community lies in the hands of those who give back,” said Bud Antonelli, President of Massapequa Kiwanis. “This year, we are proud to recognize the incredible volunteer efforts of our graduating students.

Through their dedication,

North Massapequa man charged in murder of sister-in-law

By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com

Massapequa residents have been shaken by a violent case in North Massapequa in which an Oceanside music teacher has been charged with seconddegree murder. Police said he strangled and sexually assaulted his 25-year-old sister-in-law inside a North Oak Street home last week.

According to Nassau County police, officers responded at about 8:45 a.m. June 29 to a 911 call requesting an ambulance at 285 N. Oak St. Police said the caller, Joseph Horner, 27, was waiting outside when officers arrived.

Inside the first-floor apartment of the two-family home, officers found the woman unconscious. Police said officers and paramedics performed CPR before she was transported to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Police said Horner lived in the upstairs apartment with his wife, while the victim lived in the downstairs unit. His wife was not home at the time of the incident and was not involved, according to police.

Authorities identified the victim as Victoria Castle, 25, a geology Ph.D. student and research assistant at Stony Brook University. In a social media post about a month earlier, she

wrote, “Wrapping up another year of PCSTEM with a Symposium was another incredibly rewarding moment.”

Police and prosecutors said Horner asked Castle to help him move a piano before allegedly placing her in a chokehold until she became unresponsive. Prosecutors also alleged Horner later admitted he had been attracted to Castle for several years.

Residents of the close-knit community expressed heartbreak and shock over the killing.

“This is not what this area is like,” said Love Constant of Farmingdale, as he spent time with his young son at John Burns Park as news of the case spread. “This area is about families and community.”

“This was devastating news,” said a former resident who was visiting family in Massapequa last weekend. “What scares me is to think about how such a cruel person is able to live in the shadows of a community and then do something like this.”

“This is an overall lack of humanity, and it is scary to think that someone is capable of things that are so heinous,” said resident Champ Dengenis.

Molly Seewald of Copiague, who was at John Burns Park last week, said violent incidents like this happen everywhere.

Conserving water starts with everyday choices

The U.S. Drought Monitor currently classifies Long Island in a severe drought.

Water is one of our most valuable natural resources, yet it is often taken for granted. Every drop we save helps protect drinking

Fix leaks promptly. Even a slow-dripping faucet or a running toilet can waste hundreds of gallons of water over time. Regularly checking plumbing fixtures and making repairs as soon as a leak is noticed can prevent unnecessary water loss and lower utility bills.

Take shorter showers. Reducing shower time by just two or three minutes can save several gallons of water with each use. Installing a low-flow showerhead can help conserve even more water without sacrificing water pressure.

water supplies, reduces the energy needed to treat and deliver water, and preserves rivers, lakes and groundwater for future generations. Conserving water is especially important during dry periods and the hot summer months when demand is high and supplies can become

Turn off the tap when it’s not needed. Water doesn’t need to run while brushing your teeth, shaving or scrubbing dishes. Turning off the faucet until it’s time to rinse is a simple habit that can save thousands of gallons of water each year.

Choose water-efficient appliances. Modern washing machines, dishwashers, toilets and showerheads are designed to use significantly less water while providing the same level of performance. Replacing older fixtures can make a noticeable difference in household water use.

strained. By making a few simple changes at home, everyone can help ensure that clean, safe water remains available for years to come.

Here are five simple ways to conserve water:

Water landscapes wisely. Lawns and gardens need less water than many people think. Watering early in the morning or in the evening reduces evaporation, while using mulch, native plants and rain barrels helps keep soil moist and reduces the need for additional watering.

Water conservation doesn’t require major lifestyle changes. Small actions, practiced consistently by individuals, families and communities, can have a lasting impact. By using water wisely today, we help protect this essential resource for ourselves, our neighbors and future generations. For more information, go to droughtmonitor.unl.edu

—Carolyn James

Massapequa Chamber installs Sal Polito as president

Swears in new officers and honors local business owners

By MIKE POLANSKY Senior Correspondent

The Massapequa Chamber of Commerce installed longtime member Sal Polito as its new president during the organization’s annual installation dinner on June 23 at Patrizia’s of Massapequa Park.

“My goal is to make the Massapequa Chamber of Commerce the most active chamber by increasing involvement from local businesses and giving merchants a stronger voice in the community,” said Polito. “We’ll do that through our newsletter, email updates and monthly meetings. As the Town of Oyster Bay’s veterans service adviser, I also hope to encourage local businesses to support veterans by helping connect them with housing, employment and available benefits.”

Polito, who has served in a variety of chamber leadership roles since 1996, most recently as first vice president, succeeds Robin Hepworth after her twoyear term. He is an associate real estate broker with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate in Massapequa and a U.S. Navy veteran who served aboard the USS Warrington during the Vietnam War. Polito is also a member of American Legion Post 1066 and AMVETS Post 88 and serves as a veteran’s service adviser for the Town of Oyster Bay.

Joining Polito on the chamber’s leadership team are Greg Massimi, first vice president; Karen Gawrych, second vice president; Lucrezia Falacara, third vice president; Randi Jankowski, treasurer; and Isabelle Rapacuillo, recording secretary.

The board of directors includes past presidents Robert E. Barrett, Robin Hepworth, Keith Wilson and Gary Slavin, along with Yesinia Vasquez, Scott Wiss, Angela Shiran and Neil DeRosa.

The officers and board members were sworn in by Assemblyman Michael Durso, Nassau County Legislators James Kennesy and Rose Walker, and Oyster Bay Town

Councilmen Tom Hand and Andrew Monteleone.

Hepworth, who was recognized for her service as outgoing president, reflected on her tenure.

“It was bittersweet,” she said of stepping down. “I will still be here helping out as a member of the Board of Directors, advising and helping Sal along the way. It’s been an honor to serve the community I love.”

Hepworth said the highlight of her presidency was opening the chamber’s new headquarters on Ocean Avenue, “turning a long-held vision of a welcoming home into a reality.”

Several members and businesses were also recognized during the dinner.

Chamber Member’s Child Scholarship Award winners Zachary Jankowski and Lorenzo Roehn were also recognized. Jankowski is the son of incoming Chamber Board member Randi Jankowski, and Roehn is the grandson on incoming Chamber President Sal Polito.

Karen Gawrych received the President’s Award, Randi Jankowski earned the Above and Beyond Community Service Award, Jennifer Masone was named Patricia Orzano Memorial Businesswoman of the Year, and Gary Slavin received the Tony Award, named in memory of past Chamber President Anthony Ventiera.

Michael Masone of Masone Masonry was named Businessperson of the Year, while Brendan Taber, founder of Pick Up Pros, received the Young Businessperson Award. Tiny Artist Studio, owned by Isabelle Rapacuillo, was recognized for 25 years in business and Greg and Robin Massimi of TLC Companions Home Care were presented with the Chamber’s Top Sponsor Award.

In addition, a special “Microphone” Award was presented to past president Keith Wilson.

More than 100 people attended the installation dinner.

For information on the Massapequa Chamber of Commerce go to massapequachamber.org or call (516) 5411443.

Elected officials N.C. Leg. James Kennedy, Leg.

Andrew Monteleone, NYS Assemblyman Michael Durso congratulate the new officers of the Chamber: Sal Polito , Lucrezia Falacara, Randi Jankowski, Robin Hepworth, Isabelle

Karen Gawrych and Greg Massimi.

Mike Polansky/Herald

Rose Walker, Counclimen Tom Hand and

Rapacuillo,

Chamber Scholarship winner Lorenzo Roehn is congratulated by Robin Hepworth, Scholarship Chair Karen Gawrych and grandfather Sal Polito.

Greg and Robin Massimi of TLC Companions Home Care, top sponsors of the event, with Robin Hepworth. Robin Hepworth presents the Young Businessperson of the Year award to Brendan Taber.

Chamber Scholarship winner Zachary Jankowski is shown with his mother and father, Sal Polito, Robin Hepworth and Karen Gawrych.

Seven years later, McKenna grads return for a final walk

On the precipice of high school graduation, nearly 20 former students from McKenna Elementary School in the Massapequa school district returned to a place they called their second home for six years.

Gathering in the senior center on the morning on June 12, the seniors gathered for the second annual clapout. After checking in, they made their way to a table to find their fifth grade picture on a stick. Finally, they lined up and then walked through their former halls, cheered on by McKenna’s students and staff.

After the walk-through was complete, the seniors were invited to stay and visit with former teachers. Many brought their yearbooks to be signed by the elementary educators who helped build the foundation for their success.

“These halls watched them grow,” Principal Dr. Amanda Lowry said. “Now we celebrate the incredible people our seniors have become. We were excited to welcome them back for one final walk.”

Take Me Out to the

Ballgame Foundation presents Christmas in July

Join YES Community Counseling Center, in support of the Take Me Out to the Ballgame Foundation, TMOTBG, for a fun-filled evening with live music, raffles and food at Christmas in July at Mulcahy’s on July 30 from 6:30 to 10 p.m.

Tickets sold by YES will directly benefit TMOTBG, which is looking to replenish ten local Nassau and Suffolk food pantries.

The event will have auctions and raffles, which will include tickets to Yankees, Mets, Knicks and Rangers games,

as well as Harry Styles concert tickets. There will be barbecue, including chicken, hamburgers and hotdogs, as well as live entertainment. The cost is $50 per ticket. Children 10 and under are free. For more information and to purchase a ticket, please call YES at (516) 799-3203 or visit takemeouttotheballgamefoundation.org.

Tickets can also be purchased at muls. com or at the door.

Mulcahy’s is located at 3232 Railroad Ave., Wantagh.

■ WEB SITE: www.massapequapost.com / www.liherald.com/Babylon

Courtesy Massapequa school district

McKenna Elementary School alumni and soon-to-be high school graduates were invited back to their first school on June 12.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

THURSDAY, JULY 9

•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.

•Massapequa School District Board of Education Meeting: 8 p.m., Board Room, 4925 Merrick Rd., Massapequa. For more information, call (516) 3085000.

FRIDAY, JULY 10

•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, JULY 12

•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, JULY 13

•Nassau County Legislature Committees Meeting: 1p.m., Theodore Roos -

Calendar items are printed for nonprofit 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 twothree 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.

evelt Executive and Legislative Building, 1550 Franklin Ave., Mineola. For more information, call 516-571-6200.

•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, JULY 14

•Town of Oyster Bay Town Board Meeting: 10 a.m., Town Board Hearing Room, Town Hall North, 54 Audrey Ave., Oyster Bay. For more information, please call (516) 624-6380.

•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 12-step 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, JULY 15

• 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) 332-0552 or Jill at (516) 220-7808. All calls are confidential.

Park Ranger Exam September 12

County of Suffolk is announcing their civil service exam for those interested in serving as a park ranger.

They are seeking highly motivated individuals to take this exam which will be used to fill future vacancies within their park ranger division.

The last filing date is August 5 and the exam will take place on September 12.

To register, please visit apps2.suffolkcountyny.gov/civilservice/efile/.

For more information, visit smithtownny.gov/m/faq?cat=37.

Assemblyman recognized for helping fund Amityville athletic field improvements

Amityville Memorial High School recognized Assemblyman Kwani O’Pharrow on June 8 for securing $75,000 that helped pay for improvements to the school’s track and softball field.

School district administrators, Board of Education trustees, coaches, studentathletes and PTA members gathered for the ceremony, thanking O’Pharrow for supporting athletic facilities that school officials said will benefit students for years to come.

The funding , recognized at a ceremony June 8, paid for repairs and upgrades that allowed the school’s track team to host home meets this season and improved the varsity softball field.

Superintendent Gina Talbert said the investment gives students a stronger sense of pride in their school.

“We are so grateful that the assemblyman chose these students first, that they do not have to leave their senior year feeling that their school community did not rally and advocate for them to have this amazing field,” Talbert said. “You have created memories that these young people will take away from this school district, that there’s a leader who cared, who stood for me, who said yes for me because I’m enough, I matter and I’m worth it.”

Evan Farkas, the district’s director of athletics, physical education and health,

said athletic facilities help students develop skills beyond competition.

“As many of you know, our athletic facilities are more than just fields and tracks,” Farkas said. “They are places where our students learn teamwork, leadership, perseverance and pride.”

Senior varsity softball player Abigail Brown thanked O’Pharrow for helping secure the funding.

“We would like to thank him for helping secure the funding that made the renovation of our softball field possible,” Brown said. “These improvements will not only help our current team, but also future generations of the Amityville softball players.”

Senior track and field athlete Eghosa Ojo said the repairs made a noticeable difference this season.

“These repairs allowed our team to host home meets this season, which is something we truly appreciated,” Ojo said. “Being able to compete in front of our classmates, teachers and families made this season even more special.”

School officials said investments in athletic facilities contribute to student achievement, school pride and community engagement.

O’Pharrow said participation in athletics helps prepare students for life beyond school.

“Sports is something that’s really impor-

tant because it gives you that opportunity to be well-rounded in life,” O’Pharrow said. “It gives you that discipline, it gives you that camaraderie as a team and something that you will need when you go on further in life. I would like to thank Dr. Talbert, the Amityville school board, all the athletic teams, the directors and everyone that

worked on this project to make this possible.”

Following the ceremony, school officials, students and community members gathered for a ribbon-cutting celebrating the completed improvements to the athletic facilities.

Eghosa Ojo, senior track and field member, shared how the upgrades have already enhanced the student experience.

Abigail Brown, senior varsity softball player, reflected on the long-awaited improvements to the softball field.

Photos Courtesy Amityville School District

On June 8, Amityville Memorial High School held ribbon-cutting ceremonies to celebrate their renovated softball field and track and field, supported by a $75,000 donation from State Assemblyman Kwani B. O’Pharrow.

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Police say Oceanside music teacher is accused of strangling 25-year-old Stony Brook doctoral student

“The good thing is that we have police officers who try hard, do their jobs and arrest these people,” she said, offering sympathy for the Massapequa community and the victim’s family.

“I am heartbroken,” said one Massapequa woman who asked that her name not be used. “Unfortunately, this reflects what is happening throughout the country, and we don’t have enough mental health services available. As in all tragedies, I grieve for the family left behind.”

Following an investigation, police ar-

rested Horner at the scene and charged him with second-degree murder.

In a statement, the school district said Horner has been placed on administrative leave pending further review and that police indicated the allegations are unrelated to the district or its students.

Horner was arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead and pleaded not guilty. If convicted, he faces 25 years to life in prison.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Massapequa Kiwanis awards scholarships to six local seniors

CONTINUED FROM COVER selflessness, and hard work, these young individuals have made a tangible difference for our neighbors. By celebrating their achievements, we hope to inspire others to step forward, lend a hand, and

continue building a stronger, more connected community.”

For more information about the Massapequa Kiwanis Club, visit massapequakiwanis.org or email massapequakiwanis@gmail.com.

Tax credit increase for volunteer firefighters awaits governor’s signature

staffing shortages.

“The service our volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers provide is invaluable, but the tax credit supporting them has not kept pace,” Martinez said. “The credit has remained unchanged for nearly 20 years, reducing its value over time. If New York is serious about recruiting and retaining volunteers, we must provide support that reflects the demands of their service.”

New York State Assemblyman Michael Durso, who supported the measure said that while it provides some incentive, he and some other lawmakers would have liked to have seen an even greater incentive.

“There was a measure to pass along a $2,500 tax credit but that was voted down,” said Durso. “Eight hundred dollars is good but $2,500 would have been better.”

According to the Firefighters Association of the State of New York, the number of volunteer firefighters statewide has declined by roughly one-third over the past 20 years and that the cost to taxpayers statewide to adopt a paid service model to replace these essential services would exceed $4.7 billion.

Ambulance services have faced similar challenges, with some communities reporting longer response times because of a lack of volunteers.

Supporters argue that strengthening the tax credit could encourage more residents to join and remain active in

volunteer emergency service organizations.

Amityville Fire Chief Robert Macomber said fire officials encourage the Governor to sign the measure.

“We all face declining membership and the members we do have, have

less time to volunteer because they are often working two jobs and their spouses are working as well,” he said. “Anything the state can do to put a little more coin in the pockets of volunteers means more time they can spending serving and responding to calls for assistance from their communities.”

Massapequa Fire Chief Ryan Zimmerman concurred. “Our volunteers dedicate a lot of time to serving their communities, which means they have less time working and earning money for their families,” he said. “Whatever the state can do to make it easier for them to join and stay in the volunteer fire service is well worth it.”

Efforts to get the measure passed were made by the New York Fire Chiefs Association. According to the association’s past president. Anthony LaFerrara, the organization formed a lobbying committee to help get the tax credit measure—and about four other laws—passed during the 2025-26 legislative session.

“We recognized this as a vital piece of legislation not only for attracting volunteers but also for retention,” said LaFerrara. “And while we recognize this is a cost to the state, it is vital to maintaining volunteer fire departments and emergency service units throughout the state.”

Herald file photos

NYS Sen. Monica Martinez, author of the tax credit bill in the Senate, left, and NYS Assemblyman Michael Durso (9th District), right, who supported it in the Assembly.

Zillow

Home at 285 North Oak St., North Massapequa where a 25-year-old woman was found strangled on Monday

Victoria Castle Photo Linkedin Joseph Horner Photo NCPD

Inspirational drawings from our youngest readers

Ashly R. 6th G W. Babylon Junior High School

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Rubi 4th G California Ave. School

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Anabelle D. 6th G W. Babylon Junior High School

Karol M. 4th G California Ave. School

Mila O. 4th G California Ave. School

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Samantha P. 6th G W. Babylon Junior High School

Mia H. 6th G West Babylon Junior High School

Mia A. 6th G West Babylon Junior High School

Jocelyn C. 5th G California Ave. School

AMERICA

By ANGELINA ZINGARIELLO azingariello@liherald.com

Between 1860 and 1942, agriculture remained a defining part of life on Long Island across Nassau and Suffolk counties. During the same period, transportation improvements and expanding connections to New York City began shaping economic changes that would influence Long Island’s future development.

According to the Long Island Farm Bureau, agriculture has been an important industry on Long Island since the earliest periods of Native American cultivation and European settlement.

Before European settlement, the 60,000-acre Hempstead Plains in Nassau — the largest natural prairie east of the Mississippi River — served Indigenous peoples as a vital landscape for hunting, gathering and managing natural resources. English colonists later used the expansive grasslands to graze livestock, establishing agriculture as one of the area’s earliest industries.

The organization reports that fertile soils, access to fresh water, and proximity to major markets helped make Long Island one of New York State’s most significant agricultural regions. The Farm Bureau notes that farmers produced a wide range of crops and agricultural products, including vegetables, potatoes, fruits, poultry, livestock and shellfish.

Historical records published by the Town of Brookhaven show that early residents were primarily engaged in farming, fishing and whaling. The town’s historical records further indicate that additional industries developed during the nineteenth century, but agriculture remained an important part of the local economy.

Transportation became an increasingly important factor in the region’s development. According to the Town of Brookhaven’s historical overview, the arrival of the Long Island Rail Road during the mid-19th century made travel and the movement of goods faster and easier. Historical records of Long Island transportation show that rail service reached the eastern end of

Farming fueled Long Island before suburbia

the island in 1844, creating stronger links between rural communities and larger markets.

By the late 19th century, however, parts of Nassau County’s rural landscape were undergoing dramatic change as wealthy industrialists purchased North Shore farmland to build lavish country estates, creating the famed Gold Coast.

Even as the North Shore evolved, farming remained a dominant force across central Long Island. Throughout the 19th century and into the first half of the 20th century, the Island ranked among the nation’s leading potato-producing regions.

Throughout the 19th century and into the first half of the 20th century, the Island ranked among the nation’s leading potatoproducing regions.

Farming remained a dominant force across central Long Island. Throughout the 19th century and into the first half of the 20th centu-

ry, the Island ranked among the nation’s leading potato-producing regions. Thousands of acres were planted with potatoes, supporting a thriving agricultural economy and supplying markets throughout the Northeast.

While much of eastern Suffolk County remained rural during this period, signs of long-term change were emerging. Historical information published by the Town of Brookhaven states that the 20th century witnessed the town’s expansion from an agrarian community into a more diversified economy.

The transition had not yet fully occurred between 1860 and 1942, but the transportation networks and market connections established during those years

helped shape the conditions under which later development would occur.

Manorville itself retained strong agricultural roots. Historical accounts of the hamlet describe it as a farming community for many years, reflecting the broader agricultural character that defined much of central and eastern Suffolk County during the late 19th and early 20 centuries.

That era began to fade after World War II. As returning veterans fueled an unprecedented demand for housing, farmland rapidly disappeared beneath subdivisions, highways and commercial development. The transformation was perhaps most evident in Levittown, where beginning in 1947 more than 4,000 acres of former potato fields were converted into what became the nation’s most iconic suburban development, symbolizing the shift from an agricultural landscape to the suburban Long Island recognized today.

Angelina Zingariello/Herald

While the landscape and industries of Long Island have changed over the years, the East End holds onto its farming roots. Every spring, the Waterdrinker Family Farm & Garden in Manorville plants over a million tulips for the annual Tulip Festival.

AMERICA

By BRIAN KACHARABA, ALYSSA R. GRIFFIN & LAYLA EASON of the Herald

Across Long Island, history is not just preserved — it is built into the landmarks that still stand in its villages, harbors, downtowns, and shorelines, where centuries of American life are reflected in manor houses, churches, libraries, museums, crossroads, and memorials.

Together, these sites form a living timeline of the nation’s past, showing how Long Island evolved alongside the United States over more than 300 years.

One of the earliest stories begins in Bay Shore at Sagtikos Manor, one of Suffolk County’s oldest surviving structures. Built around 1697 by Stephanus Van Cortlandt, New York City’s first native-born mayor, the manor grew from a colonial estate into one of the region’s most enduring landmarks.

During the American Revolution, British forces occupied the property, placing it directly within the war’s contested landscape. In the early years of the republic, the manor is also associated with President George Washington, who stayed there for one night during his 1790 tour of Long Island, further linking the site to the nation’s founding era and its first presidential administration.

In Massapequa, Old Grace Church, established in 1844 on land donated by General Thomas Floyd-Jones, preserves nearly two centuries of community life and remains a lasting symbol of the area’s early settlement era. Nearby, the Elbert Floyd-Jones Servants Cottage,

2 3

Landmarks define Long Island’s history

built around 1870, survives as one of the few remnants of Massapequa’s grand estate period, offering a rare glimpse into daily life on Long Island’s 19th-century South Shore estates.

The Phillips House Museum in Rockville Centre, built in 1882 and once home to village founder James Phillips, reflects the community’s late-19th-century growth driven by commerce and transportation. Saved from demolition in the 1970s and restored during the Bicentennial era, it now stands as one of New York’s premier small historic museums.

Long Island’s rise to national prominence is reflected at Sagamore Hill in Oyster Bay, built between 1884 and 1885 for Theodore Roosevelt. The Queen Annestyle home served as both his family residence and Summer White House, where policy and diplomacy shaped the Progressive Era. Today, it remains a National Historic Site and one of the country’s most significant presidential homes.

The growth of suburban Long Island is traced to Pearsall’s Corners, later Lynbrook, where a 19th-century crossroads centered on the Pearsall family store evolved into a stagecoach and railroad hub. With the arrival of the South Side Railroad, the community expanded rapidly and adopted the name Lynbrook in 1894, marking its transformation from rural hamlet to suburban village.

In Massapequa, the Delancey FloydJones Free Library, built in 1896, became the community’s first public library and remained its only one for more than 50 years. Now preserved within the Massapequa Historical Society Historic Complex, it reflects the rise

of civic institutions across Long Island.

On the South Shore, Long Beach reflects early 20th-century coastal planning. The home at 226 W. Penn Street, built in 1909 as part of William H. Reynolds’ resort vision, is one of the city’s earliest surviving structures. Now the Long Beach Historical Museum, it preserves the story of a barrier island community that grew from seasonal destination to year-round city.

The North Shore Historical Museum in Glen Cove occupies the former 1907 Justices Court Building, a State and National Register landmark that preserves the legacy of the Gold Coast era. In nearby Sea Cliff, the Village Museum—founded in 1979 and housed in a former Methodist church—continues that preservation effort through extensive archives of photographs, artifacts, and village records.

In Freeport, history spans multiple eras. A historic marker at Babylon Turnpike and Lakeview Avenue commemorates Washington’s passage through Long Island during his 1790 tour, linking the village to the nation’s earliest years. Nearby, the World War II memorial honors local service members who fought in the nation’s defining 20thcentury conflict, while the Vietnam War memorial stone at the Freeport Memorial Library stands as a tribute to those who gave their lives in service.

As America approaches its 250th anniversary, these landmarks underscore a simple truth: history is not confined to textbooks. It continues to live in the buildings, streets, and communities that shaped Long Island — and helped

shape the nation itself.

Photo 1 - Sagtikos Manor in Bay Shore, built around 1697, stands as one of Suffolk County’s oldest surviving homes and a rare link to Long Island’s colonial, Revolutionary War, and early presidential history.

Brian Kacharaba/Herald

Photo 2 - The World War II memorial plaque in Freeport honors residents who served and sacrificed during the conflict.

Layla Eason/Herald

Photo 3 - Sagamore Hill in Oyster Bay, the longtime home of President Theodore Roosevelt, reflects Long Island’s role in American leadership history and served as his residence and “Summer White House” during his presidency.

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Photo 4 - A historic marker at Babylon Turnpike and Lakeview Avenue in Freeport commemorates President George Washington’s passage through the area during his 1790 tour of Long Island.

Layla Eason/Herald

Photo 5 - The Old Grace Church in Massapequa traces its roots to 1844, where community members gathered to establish an Episcopal church closer to home rather than traveling to Hempstead for worship.

Alyssa R. Griffin/Herald

Photo 6 - Built in 1882, the Victorian home now housing the Phillips House Museum was once owned by sea captain and village founder James Phillips, whose family played a key role in the early development of Rockville Centre as a growing center of commerce and banking.

Alyssa R. Griffin/Herald

YBy JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

It is nearly impossible to discuss American literary history without mentioning Walt Whitman. Often called “America’s poet,” Whitman left a lasting mark as a writer, journalist and teacher, with a legacy deeply woven into both the nation’s history and Long Island’s own.

Born in what is now Huntington Station in 1819, Whitman came from a family whose Long Island roots stretched back to the 17th century. Though the family moved to Brooklyn when he was young, the island remained part of his foundation. His formal schooling ended at 11, but his education continued in print shops, newsrooms and city streets, where he developed a lifelong appetite for language, politics and the lives of ordinary people.

ou cannot really understand America... without ‘Leaves of Grass.’

MARY BERENsON

Art historian

As a teenager and young adult, Whitman worked as a printer, teacher and journalist across Long Island and New York City. When he returned to Huntington, he founded The Long-Islander, a local newspaper that is still being published.

His formative years placed Whitman in close contact with people from every corner of American life: laborers, commuters, families, readers, voters and strangers passing through the world around him. That broad human canvas helped shape the ideals that came to define his poetry — a sweeping appreciation for everyday Americans.

Whitman carried those influences into “Leaves of Grass,” the collection he first published in 1855 and continued revising until his death in 1892. What began as a slim, unconventional volume grew into a sweeping body of work that challenged literary traditions and helped redefine what American poetry could sound like.

Much of Whitman’s work opens a window onto everyday American life, but “Song of Myself” may be his most expansive expression of that vision. In it, the speaker stretches beyond the individual, seeing himself reflected in all people and all things — a voice that is deeply personal and collective.

The poem stands apart for its bold embrace of the body, its deep connection to the natural world and its insistence on elevating the ordinary individual.

“Born here of parents born here from parents the same, and their parents the same,”

AMERICA Long Island’s own Walt Whitman helped give America its voice

Courtesy Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Gottscho-Schleisner Collection [LC-USZC2-4855]

Walt Whitman, one of America’s most renowned poets, taught at a summer school in Woodbury in 1840. The school building, erected in 1807, was acquired by Alexander M. White around 1927, who moved it to his estate in Oyster Bay Cove. The desk from the schoolhouse once used by Whitman is now at his birthplace, a historic site, in Huntington Station.

Whitman writes — a line that captures the layered, generational nature of belonging. It suggests how roots are formed not only through family, but through the places people claim as home. For Whitman, one of those places was Long Island.

Today, the Walt Whitman Birthplace Association maintains the New York state historic site Whitman was born in. Open to the public for tours, the home provides Long Islanders with insight into his early childhood, which influenced his work. Tours run daily in the summertime, and between Wednesdays and Sundays after Labor Day.

On the grounds of his original home is also an Interpretive Center, which opened in 1997, further allowing the birthplace association to build a tourist destination and regional hub for arts and literature, that offers unique, interdisciplinary programs.

“You cannot really understand America without Walt Whitman, without ‘Leaves of Grass’…” art historian Mary Berenson once wrote of the work, according to Whitman’s profile on Goodreads, a networking site for readers. “He has expressed that civilization, ‘up to date,’ as he would say, and no student of the philosophy of history can do without him.”

LeaH Ramai (HunteR)

By Leah Ramai (Hunter)

Sewanhaka High School freshman

AReader, three centuries is a long time.

ridiculous amount of possibilities could generally happen. Robots mating and artificial intelligence becoming the structure of everything.

America at 300. It’s long enough for your name to become dust. Long enough for every person you have ever loved to disappear. Long enough for your bedroom to become a room nobody remembers belonged to you. Long enough for the sound of your laughter to vanish from the earth entirely.

And perhaps, before you continue reading, I ask something of you. Look at your mother. Look at the shine in her eyes. The bliss, the warmth in her hugs. Look at your father. His tired eyes of making income and he doesn’t get a minute to himself. Not as parents. Not as permanent figures suspended safely in the background of your life. Look at them as people. As living things, imagine the lines of their faces softened by time until even memory struggles to hold them together.

Imagine the sound of their voices becoming some-

AMERICA America at its 300th anniversary

thing distant. Imagine reaching for a memory and discovering it has begun to fade. That it simply doesn’t exist anymore. Where do these memories go? Certainly not in the future. Horrifying, isn’t it? Yet this is not fantasy. This is not horror fiction. This is reality moving exactly as it always has, because time does not wait for anyone whatsoever.

When people speak of America 300 years from now, they speak of progress. They speak of technology, discovery, innovation, and futures polished bright enough to distract themselves from the darkness beneath them. The good and positives. Yet I find myself haunted by something far quieter. Far more patient. The casualties time leaves behind.

How many voices will history never bother to remember? How many political figures will be jacks of spades in newspapers and magazines. How many poets will spend entire lifetimes filling notebooks only for their words to disappear without ceremony?

How many artists will devote themselves to beauty only for time to consume their work without even acknowledging it existed? Somewhere tonight, a child is creating something absolutely extraordinary. Somewhere, a story capable of changing a life is being written for the very first time. And somewhere else, another story dies before it is ever born. Reader that should terrify you. Not because it is unlikely. Because it is ordinary for dreams to never be pursued.

That is what makes humanity sacred. Not permanence. Not survival. Not the illusion that anything was

ever promised forever. If life stretched endlessly before us, love would become weightless. If grief did not exist, devotion would mean nothing. If death never arrived, neither would urgency, nor wonder, nor the desperate and beautiful need to create something before time steals the opportunity away.

It isn’t the fear of leaving, but leaving behind something utterly unfathomable, Humanity. Edgar Allan Poe understood this. Mary Shelley understood this. Beneath every graveyard, every ghost, every monster stitched together from pieces of the dead, there lingers the same unbearable realization. Existence is precious because it ends.

America, 300 years from now, will not be measured by what it builds. It will be measured by what it remembers. By whether someone still believes stories matter. By whether a child still stays awake long after midnight scribbling poems in a notebook because their heart feels too large for silence, deeply madly in love. Love, will you still feel the same flutter in your heart.

It’s chronically insane, isn’t it reader? To have to ask if a feeling would still sit in your anatomy because of how the world can change. By whether humanity still possesses the courage to create despite knowing everything eventually disappears. Knowing you have a purpose, but genuinely? It will end one day. Because the greatest horror has never been death. It has always been reaching the end of a life without leaving behind proof that you were here at all.

Look into the future

Photo: Credit: Courtesy Sewanhaka High School

STEPPING OUT

Photos courtesy LICM

Young artists created colorful works during last summer’s ArtVentures. This year, the program is expanded into four categories and families can enjoy similar creative experiences.

Bright colors and creative techniques come together in the watercolor project, one of the hands-on activities Kids can experiment how colors react to elements, and other colors.

More than art

Cool off with an ‘Artventure’

By Stacy Driks

Long Island Children’s Museum invites families to put down the screens this summer, pick up a paintbrush and discover the many ways to create art.

With the launch of Summer ArtVentures [July 7], the museum expands its arts programming into a season-long celebration of imagination, hands-on learning and creative exploration four days a week.

Whether it’s experimenting with watercolor, building collages, sculpting with clay or creating artwork inspired by professionals, every visit offers something new.

The lineup grew from a pilot series the museum introduced last summer. After seeing children return week after week and hearing families ask for more opportunities to create, museum educators decided it was time to think bigger.

“We had such a positive reaction, people were asking if we could do them on other days and if we could offer more arts programming,” says Jeanmarie Walsh Mansﬁeld, the museum’s director of visual arts and community initiatives. ”We found families kept coming back, and kids were building on what they learned from one week to the next.”

That enthusiasm inspired a full calendar of art experiences running throughout July and August, with activities designed to appeal to toddlers, schoolage children, teens and even adults.

Unlike traditional art classes, participants aren’t divided by age. Instead, everyone creates together in the same space, allowing each person to work at a level that’s comfortable while learning from one another.

“It’s sort of like an old-school classroom,” Mansﬁeld says. “Kids of all ages learn with and from each other.”

Each Tuesday, the museum hosts Imagine That! Summer ArtVentures Workshops, where participants explore a different artistic medium or technique. One week may focus on collage, while another introduces mosaics, sculpture or animation. Before children begin creating, participants are introduced to artists whose work connects to that week’s project.

Some come from centuries ago, like Italian painter Giuseppe Arcimboldo, whose portraits famously transformed fruits, vegetables and other everyday objects into imaginative faces. Others are contemporary artists such as Octavio Ocampo, whose optical illusion paintings encourage viewers to look beyond ﬁrst impressions.

Fireworks with the South Shore Symphony

“I want kids to learn that art can be much more than they think art is,” Mansﬁeld says. “Art can be everywhere and made from anything. All you need is your creativity, your imagination and a willingness to experiment.”

Fridays offer Watercolor Wonder Pop-Ups, rotating through different galleries with new watercolor techniques and themes each week. One session explores the effects of salt on watercolor paint, while another teaches children how oil pastels and watercolor interact to create surprising results. Other activities draw inspiration from nature, encouraging families to experiment with ﬂowers, color and texture.

What program is best for you?

• Tuesday: Imagine That ArtVentures workshops run from July 7 to Aug. 25, 1-3 p.m. Fee: $4 for children three and up.

• Friday: Watercolor Pop-Up run from July 10 to Aug. 28, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Free with museum admission.

• Saturday: Amethyst Playground Pop-Up runs from July 11 to Aug. 1, noon-2 p.m. Free with museum admission.

• Monday: Squish Studio runs from July 27 to July 31, 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. Free with museum admission.

Still craving more fireworks? Rockville Centre’s annual celebration is just the ticket! Head to Pette and Barasch Fields for a festive evening with the South Shore Symphony, capped off by a spectacular Grucci fireworks display. It’s a beloved summertime tradition that brings together everyone for a rousing spectacle. Music Director Adam Glaser passes the baton to conductor Eileen Murphy who leads the orchestra in a program of Broadway hits, movie themes, pop hits, and patriotic standards. Selections include American Salute by Morton Gould, Suite from Hamilton by Lin-Manuel Miranda, RimskyKorsakov’s Procession of Nobles, Sousa’s Washington Post March and John William’s Raiders March. The orchestra begins performing at 7:30 p.m., the fireworks begin at 9:15 and the orchestra continues after. Hosted by the Village of Rockville Centre and the Rockville Centre Guild for the Arts, this free event has been a favorite for more than 30 years. Admission is free and is open to everyone. Rain date is July 12.

Hope shows her art project inspired by Kelly Olshan’s “Amethyst Playground” exhibit.

On Saturdays, Amethyst Playground Pop-Up connects directly to the current Artists’ Corner exhibition by Kelly Olshan. Families transform leftover materials from the artist’s creative process into colorful magnets, demonstrating how everyday objects can become works of art.

For children who love getting their hands dirty, Squish Studio, running July 27 through 31, offers an entire week devoted to clay. Young artists can experiment with different tools, create personal sculptures and contribute to a collaborative creature that grows throughout the week.

Clay holds a special place for Mansﬁeld.

“I’ve been wanting to do clay-based workshops for a long time,” she says. “Kids really respond to it. It’s intuitive, it’s hands-on, and it helps develop ﬁne motor skills while encouraging creativity.”

But the aim is for visitors leave with more than artwork to hang on the refrigerator.

Creating art helps children build conﬁdence, develop criticalthinking skills and become more comfortable taking creative risks, Mansﬁeld explains. Working alongside others also teaches collaboration, communication and problem-solving.

“Art making reduces anxiety,” she says. “It can be meditative. We know screens can increase anxiety, but when children are creating with their hands, they’re engaged, they’re present and they’re learning.”

Perhaps most importantly, art teaches children that mistakes aren’t something to fear.

“You fail sometimes,” Mansﬁeld says. “You make something and it doesn’t come out the way you wanted. That’s an important life skill — mistakes are learning opportunities and that you can pivot and try something different.”

And the experience sparks curiosity. Rather than providing step-by-step instructions with one “correct” outcome, educators encourage children to ask questions, explore materials and decide for themselves what they want to create.

“There’s no wrong way to make art,” Mansﬁeld says. “I want kids to push their boundaries and realize they’re artists.”

And this is only the beginning.

Museum leadership plans to further expand programming beyond the summer, with additional workshops during school breaks and perhaps a future art festival that celebrates creativity throughout the museum.

Until then, paint, sculpt, squish and create all summer — one colorful adventure at a time. For schedules, admission and registration information, visit licm.org.

Saturday, July 11, 7 p.m. Pette and Barasch Fields, 244 S. Park Ave, Rockville Centre. For more information, visit.rvcny.us.

The Bronx Wanderers

What do you get when a father, his two sons, and two high school classmates come together to create a show? A wildly entertaining mix of hilarious personal stories, a powerhouse playlist spanning every genre and decade, and one unforgettable family’s journey through life and music. Meet The Bronx Wanderers — a high-energy musical experience that’s been bringing audiences to their feet for over 20 years. With a unique blend of rock ‘n’ roll nostalgia, modern hits, and dynamic storytelling, this band has mastered the art of connecting with fans of all ages in one sweeping, musical tour de force. They’re still having the time of their lives — and by the end of the show, you will be too.

Sunday, July 12,7:30 p.m. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com

Your Neighborhood CALENDAR

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‘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

Music on Main Farmingdale Music on Main returns with outdoor music, dining and fun. Admission is free.

• Where: Main St., Farmingdale.

• Time: 5-9 p.m.

• Contact: (516) 249-0093

Movies By Moonlight

The Town of Oyster Bay hosts Movies By Moonlight. Come out for “Zootopia 2.”

• Where: Marjorie R. Post Community Park, 451 Unqua Road, Massapequa Park.

• Time: 6:30 p.m.

Wild Child

The repertoire includes Faure Requiem and assorted choral works to honor America. Summer Sing is an opportunity for people who love to sing, love choral music or both to get together with like-minded individuals and sing some great musical compositions. It’s not a performance. There aren’t any rehearsals. There’s no audience. We just sing for our own enjoyment. Don’t worry if you don’t know all the notes. The point is not perfection, it is to have fun. Bring your own musical score or borrow one. $10 donation.

• Where: Garden City Community Church, 245 Stewart Ave., Garden City

• Time: 7 p.m.

• Contact: LICS.org

AuG

Farmingdale

Vendor Fair

• Where: The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington

• Time: 8 p.m.

TThis is not a typical tribute or pretend concert act. Wild Child relies on recapturing the original: sound, feel, mood, dynamics and delivery of the Doors music. In true Doors fashion there are no: wigs, props, costumes, or phony banter between songs. It’s about the music and its delivery. Wild Child lead singer Dave Brock’s Doors tribute debuted with a triple sellout at the Whisky a-Go-Go. Since the band debuted, the act has been touring and playing at sold out national act venues and festivals around the world. Wild Child became the mold that “tribute bands” aspired to become, as they flooded the market in the 1990s with good and bad impersonations of famous artists. In 2010 Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger of The Doors, invited Dave to tour with them as their vocalist on their concert engagements. This was perhaps the best compliment Dave has ever received from anyone for his work. Being selected by these two Rock ’n Roll Hall of Fame musicians was a huge honor; the ultimate compliment of his talents and speaks volumes for his credibility as a Doors style frontman and vocalist. Fans and critics alike praise Wild Child performances as the closest thing to a real 1960s Doors concert and live Doors experience.

St. Mary’s Thrift Shop

Stop by St. Mary’s Thrift Shop to start your new year with found treasures. There will be lots of 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. to 3 p.m.

• Contact: (631) 464-4899.

• Contact: (516) 797-7925 ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’

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

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Thrift Shop Stop by Simpson United Methodist Church’s Thrift Shop for some unique finds.

• Where: 30 Locust Ave., Amityville

• Time: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

• Contact: (631) 789-2569

The Madison Theatre’s production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” brings the beloved Andrew Lloyd Webber musical to the stage, retelling the biblical story of Joseph, his colorful coat and his rise from slavery to Pharaoh’s trusted advisor. Told entirely through song, the family-friendly production features memorable numbers including “Any Dream Will Do,” “Close Every Door” and “One More Angel in Heaven,” blending musical styles from calypso to country-western. Suitable for audiences of all ages, the show continues to be one of the world’s most frequently performed musicals.

• Where: Madison Theatre, Molloy University, 1000

Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre

• Time: Various dates and times, through Aug. 2

• Contact: madisontheatreny.org or (516) 323-4444

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11

Church Attic Thrift Shop

Visit First United Methodist Church for their weekly thrift shop.

• Where: First United Methodist Church, 25 Broadway, Amityville.

• Time: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• Contact: (631) 264-0152 or email amitychurch1792@gmail. com

Music Under The Stars

The Town of Oyster Bay’s concert series features Dr. K’s Motown Revue. Bring your blankets, chairs and coolers.

• Where: Syosset-Woodbury Community Park, Woodbury, 7800 Jericho Turnpike, Woodbury

• Time: 8 p.m.

• Contact: (516) 797-7925

Family theater

Lance the Eagle welcomes families to “A Semi-Quincenten-

• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com

EAGLE Birthday” on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage. In this original production, families are invited to celebrate his birthday. His message: As the national bird, this party will be happening throughout the whole month of July. Come to think of it, I did hear something about a birthday for the United States of America as well. Hmm... must be a coincidence! I’ll be throwing a parade through LICM’s galleries and a celebratory spectacle in the Theater. Come ready to party!” Keep an eye out 30 minutes before each show for a special interactive pre-show! For ages 3+. $5 with museum admission ($4 members), $10 theater only.

• Where: 11 Davis Ave., Garden City

• Time: 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; also July 15

• Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800

2026 Summer Sing

Calling all singers! From experienced choral veterans to shower singers with a taste for the classics, all are welcome at Long Island Choral Society’s sing-in happening.

The Kiwanis Club of Farmingdale hosts a vendor fair. Stop by and check out clothing, accessories, handmade crafts, beauty products, food and beverages, art, home décor and more.

• Where: Village Green, 361 Main St. Farmingdale

• Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Contact: For sponsorships, contact Robin Asighieri at farmingdalekiwanisclub@ gmail.com. For vendor inquires, call (516) 442-6000 or visit nassaucountyfairs. com

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.

Notice of formation of Appliances Be Me LLC

Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SS Y) on April 09, 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: Appliances Be Me LLC, 915A Carmans RD #306 Massapequa, NY 11758

Purpose: any lawful act.

26-127. 6/24, 7/1, 8,15, 22, 29

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

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

Public Notices

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF ROYAL 3 HOLDINGS

LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York on 11/10/2025. Office location: Nassau County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process to 125 Kopf Rd, Bellmore, NY 11710. Purpose: Any lawful act or activity.

26-128. 6/24, 7/1, 8, 15, 22, 29

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 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 Enforcement 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 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 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 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 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 7/28/2026 at 10:30AM. Unless listed below, the contents consist of household goods, furnishings and garage essentials.

Michael Farrugia Unit #1305; Nicholas Ouellette Unit #1776; Miguel Cabrera Unit #2402; Ronald Clinton Unit #3202. This sale may be withdrawn at any time without notice. See manager for details.

26-134 7/8, 15

Notice of formation of Binoues Enchanted Garden LLC.

Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 06/15/2026.

Office location, County of Nassau, New York.

Marie Sabrina Cadet has been designated as agent of the LLC Upon whom process against it may be served. Mary Sabrina Cadet shall mail a process served to:

Binoues Enchanted Garden LLC, 1637 Morgan Street, Valley Stream NY 11580

Purpose any lawful act or activity for which a limited liability company may be organized under the laws of the State of New York. 26-135. 7/8, 15, 22, 29, 8/5, 12

Affordable summer entertainment options that may be a short drive from home

Summer is full of opportunities to rest and unwind. It’s also a prime time for people to embark on vacations, road trips or take in activities around their hometowns. According to InsureMyTrip, millennials prefer to travel the most during summer. July is repeatedly ranked highest, with Transportation Security Administration volume records indicating various dates during July are particularly busy times for travel.

Summer is synonymous with school breaks and time off from work, and it makes sense that people will look to entertainment options to fill their time. But not everyone has the budget for lavish two-week vacations or big-ticket excursions. Fortunately, having fun doesn’t have to involve going broke. The following are some low-cost options for active daily or overnight adventures when the mercury rises.

Local sports game

While the draw of a Major League Baseball stadium certainly has its merits, unless inexpensive tickets can be secured, more local options may be a more budget-friendly fit. Minor league games can provide the thrill of watching sports without the high price tag. Plus, they draw smaller crowds and are closer to home for most fans.

Fairs and carnivals

The average cost of a day at an amusement park can be eyeopening. BestLifeOnline.com says major park tickets for a family of four now range from $370 to more than $1,100, depending on the park’s luxury level. Smaller regional parks may have lower-priced tickets, but even then, costs can add up when considering food and drink, too. Church carnivals and local county fairs tend to be much more affordable and offer similar thrills and games.

Day at the beach

Few things can be more relaxing and fun than spending time by the ocean. Families and friends can spice things up by picking different beach locales and packing the car to check them out. Create a list of possible beaches to visit on weekdays or weekends. Purchasing beach tags well before the start of the season can reduce the costs of beaches, as some charge around $10 to $12 per person for daily rates. But there also may be plenty of free or low-cost options.

Summertime activities are numerous, and there are many ideas that can appeal to those looking for affordable adventures close to home.

Courtesy Metro Creative Connection

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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

to careers@liherald.com Eldercare Offered

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What to do about cracking concrete

Q. We have large cracks in our concrete driveway and garage floor, and want to make sure they are repaired correctly, since they appear to be recently done, possibly within a year before we purchased the house. In particular, there is a nearly round hole that turned to gravel, kind of, and we want to know why it happened and avoid having it happen again. What can you tell us?

A. Concrete reacts to extreme weather changes. That is a given to designers of concrete structures, even though most people think concrete is the “immovable object.”

Nature moves mountains, so your driveway was no challenge for the forces of nature.

Extreme cold causes concrete to contract, push in on itself, while the heat has the effect of stretching this fairly rigid material to its limits. In the heat of summer, as you may have heard, the beautifully engineered Autobahn in Germany just buckled in various places. I’ve seen cars going nearly 200 miles per hour on that roadway, but with a buckled road, sections were shut down.

The key to any material selection is understanding its reaction to two major factors in nature, namely, water and movement. Throw in other factors, like chemical reaction and deterioration rates, and you realize that concrete is vulnerable. You have to work with its basic properties to have it adapt and cooperate with your intended use.

All that being said, the hole is basically like a zit, a buildup of pressure in a weaker place across the surface. Concrete develops strength as a chemical reaction to the specific combination of materials it is made from. With too much water in the mix, it will be weaker, especially in a particular spot. If it has no way to expand over a large area, as a thin sheet, only 4 to 6 inches thick over 10 to 20 feet, its strength is reduced because of a strengthto-distance ratio. So, to relieve the intensity of the expansion or contraction, separations, or “joints,” are made so the slabs can spread the forces of shrinking or expanding, a little.

Concrete is known to be very strong in compression, meaning you can press it together, to an extreme, before it crushes. On the other hand, it has very little ability to resist being stretched or pulled apart. To counteract the problem, steel, which is very elastic (stretchable) is spaced within formed concrete to increase the resistance to cracking apart. The combination of steel, in the right ratio and strength, and expansion joints, to let the concrete separate without unsightly cracks, makes the concrete more stable. Even just a depressed joint, not through and through, helps, by basically letting the concrete crack in a controlled way, where the crack runs in a straight depression instead of looking like a big rip.

I recommend having a professional make the repairs, with caution. You want an experienced company that works from a calculated solution, not just a quick fix. More next week. Good luck!

Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.

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OpInIOns

The administration just won’t let up on deportation

There was an especially poignant happening on Long Island recently, amid the Trump administration’s campaign against immigrants, when honor student Sara Lopez Garcia returned — virtually — for graduation ceremonies at Suffolk County Community College and gave a video presentation.

A year earlier, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents had raided Garcia’s home in Mastic and arrested her.

As Bart Jones reported in Newsday, Garcia, who had a 3.9 GPA, “told the crowd … that while she joined in celebrating their new degrees, including hers, the day was bittersweet, as she was forced to watch from 2,500 miles away in South America.”

“This day brings really difficult memories for me,” Garcia, dressed in graduation regalia, said from Colombia. Of her arrest, she added, “It was one of the moments of my life when I felt fear. I was so scared, and everything was uncertain. I didn’t know what would happen to me, to my family, to my future.”

She was sent to an ICE detention facility in Louisiana. She had been brought to the United States by her mother, who was also arrested, and has no criminal record.

Jones wrote that SCCC English Professor Cynthia Eaton had nominated Garcia to speak at graduation because “she was a model of determination in the face of adversity.” Said Eaton: “She is a good thinker. She’s a good learner. She’s a good person … Everybody on our campus knew Sara’s smile. They all loved Sara. She was like a magnet … upbeat, positive.”

followed by laws enacted by New York state that prohibit “local governments, state and local police, and state and local corrections” from entering into “agreements with the federal government that allow for state and local enforcement personnel and facilities to be used for civil immigration enforcement purposes” — and that also ban “state, local and federal officers from wearing face covering while interacting with the public.”

A former Border Patrol chief talks of deporting over 100 million people.

Jim Morgo, ex-chief deputy Suffolk County executive, a former vice chair of the college’s board of trustees and a teacher, said that Garcia “is the perfect example of everything that’s wrong with mass deportation. There’s no distinguishing the honor students from the rapist.”

On Long Island, as is the case in the rest of the nation, there’s opposition to President Trump’s deportation program. For months there have been protests. The Town of East Hampton and, before that, East Hampton Village passed laws blocking their participation with ICE.

The town and village actions were

IBut Tom Homan, the exdirector of ICE who was given the title of “border czar” by Trump, has vowed that if New York passed “this ridiculous legislation,” ICE would “flood the zone. You’re going to see more ICE agents than you ever seen before.”

And in a party-line vote in the U.S. Senate, Republicans passed $70 billion in new funding for ICE and the U.S. Border Patrol, in addition to $150 billion the agencies received last year.

Meanwhile, Greg Bovino, the former Border Patrol chief who was removed in January after Renee Good and Alex Pretti were killed by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, has announced that he is running for president, and said, “My one and only priority is deporting the 106 million illegal

immigrants who are here.”

The website Mediaite commented that this is one-third of the nation’s population, and “the true number of illegal immigrants peaked at 14 million in 2023, according to Pew [Research Center].”

Back to earth and Long Island, the Bridgehampton Museum recently held an exhibition titled, “What We Carry: Memory & Migration.” “Rooted in themes central to the East End and beyond, What We Carry underscores how migration stories are embedded in local history while resonating on a global scale,” the museum wrote, and was co-curated by Jeremy Dennis, a Shinnecock Native American; Mark Wilson, who has roots in Australia; and Darius Yektai, who has an Iranian and Greek background.

The exhibition was scheduled to be followed by presentations by East Hampton attorney Lenny Ackerman, the author of “Leibisch’s Journey,” a book about his father’s escape from the horrors of the Russian Revolution through Europe to the U.S., and Tara Rider, a Stony Brook University professor of history, to speak about her book “Journey of Hope: The Irish in New York.”

Karl Grossman has been an investigative reporter in a variety of media for more than 50 years. He is a professor of journalism at the State University of New York at Old Westbury.

Staying ahead of microplastics

f you’ve been following the news lately, you’ve probably seen headlines about microplastics — tiny plastic fragments and fibers showing up in the human body. It’s a topic that understandably raises questions, and as the CEO of the Suffolk County Water Authority, which serves more than 1.2 million people on Long Island, I’m focused on addressing this issue proactively and making sure our customers know where things stand.

Microplastics are everywhere in the modern environment. They’ve been found in oceans, in rain, in the food we eat and in some water supplies. The health effects are not yet fully understood, and the science is still developing.

There are currently no federal regulatory limits for microplastics in drinking water. But the concern is real enough that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is considering requiring public water systems to test for them

under the upcoming Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule — a program the EPA uses every five years to study emerging threats before setting any standards. That’s a significant signal that the federal government is taking this seriously, and so are we.

OSCWA didn’t wait to be told to act. At the end of 2025, we completed one of the first voluntary microplastics assessments of a groundwater-based public water system in the United States. We tested source water, treatment effluents and finished drinking water across a wide range of wells and treatment locations — including some of our shallowest wells, which would be the most vulnerable to surface contamination.

of 325 plastic particles per liter in bottled water. Long Island tap water, drawn from a protected underground aquifer, performed dramatically better.

ur customers deserve accurate information about their drinking water.

We also applied strict quality-control procedures throughout the testing to confirm that our sampling and analysis process itself wasn’t introducing contamination. Those controls showed zero or near-zero particle counts, validating the accuracy of our findings. Sixty percent of our analyzed samples showed equal or fewer microplastics per liter than the blanks themselves.

study microplastics in the aquifer and examine how they might enter our groundwater system, including through stormwater recharge basins. That kind of regional, scientific collaboration is exactly what this issue calls for.

The results were reassuring. The vast majority of samples showed no detectable microplastics. Where particles were found, levels were extremely low: typically, just one to five particles per sample, with no pattern suggesting widespread presence in the aquifer or any introduction through our treatment process. Our average was just 3.6 particles per liter. To put that in perspective, a peer-reviewed study found an average

We didn’t do this study because a regulation required it. We did it because our customers deserve clear and accurate information about their drinking water, and because staying ahead of emerging issues is what responsible water management looks like. Waiting for mandates is the easy path. Understanding the science before you’re told to is how you actually protect people.

We’re not alone in that commitment. The Long Island Commission for Aquifer Protection has partnered with the United States Geological Survey to

And that brings me to a broader point. Microplastics are not solely a drinking water problem. Just as we’ve seen with PFAS — so-called “forever chemicals” — and other contaminants in recent years, drinking water is one of several possible exposure pathways — not the only one. Food packaging, synthetic textiles, household dust and consumer products are all sources. A serious, evidence-based response to microplastics must account for all these vectors, not single out one source while ignoring the others.

SCWA will continue to monitor the science, follow developments in regulatory guidance, and evaluate whether additional or expanded testing is appropriate as analytical methods improve. What I can tell you today is this: The water coming from your tap has been tested, the levels of microplastics found are extremely low, and we are not waiting for a crisis to take the issue seriously.

Jeff Szabo is chief executive officer of the Suffolk County Water Authority.

Ira

Massapequa

pOsT

Investing in libraries pays dividends all year

SPhone:

HERALD

ummer has a way of reminding us about the simple pleasures in life. For many, that means relaxing on the beach with a good book, spending time with family or finding fun ways to stay cool during the hottest days of the year.

But while a great novel may be the perfect beach companion, the local public library offers so much more than books. It is one of the smartest and most valuable investments any community can make.

Libraries have evolved far beyond quiet reading rooms lined with shelves full of books. They are vibrant community centers that welcome residents of every age and every background. They’re places where curiosity is encouraged, lifelong learning is celebrated and neighbors come together at author readings, musical performances and movie screenings.

Summer is one of the busiest times of the year for libraries. Children who might otherwise lose valuable academic skills during the school break can take part in summer reading programs intended to keep their minds engaged while making learning fun.

Teens can explore new interests through workshops, volunteer opportunities and technology programs. Adults can attend lectures, careerdevelopment seminars, financial-literacy classes and cultural events. Seniors can take part in social gatherings, edu-

letterS

Scott’s column should be required college reading

To the Editor:

Re Robert A. Scott’s column, “What it means to be a college graduate,” in the June 24-30 issue: At a time when some are questioning the value of a college education, Dr. Scott offers a thoughtful perspective on this important issue. Drawing on his own experiences at Bucknell University as well as research that demonstrates the many positive outcomes of college, he makes a strong case for post-secondary education. At its best, Scott notes, college can not only improve students’ writing and speaking skills and boost graduates’ earning power, but also foster personal growth and enhance one’s outlook on the world. “College is, or should be,” he writes, “as much about character development and active citizenship as it is about preparation for careers and advancement in commerce.”

cational presentations and wellness activities that help combat isolation while strengthening community connections.

Libraries are free public spaces open to everyone. They provide safe, air-conditioned environments in which families can spend time together, students can study, remote workers can focus and anyone can simply enjoy a quiet place to read, learn or reflect.

These services don’t disappear when summer ends. Throughout the year, libraries host civic meetings, support groups, educational workshops, cultural performances, technology training, tax-preparation assistance, job search resources and countless other programs that strengthen the social fabric of our communities. They serve as gathering places where ideas are exchanged, friendships are formed and local organizations find a home.

Elected officials deserve recognition when they prioritize funding for public libraries. Public investments often bring to mind roads, bridges or major construction projects, and those investments certainly matter. But investments in libraries produce returns that cannot always be measured in dollars. Whether funding is for the renovation of a community room to expand programs and services or a much larger capital project that overhauls the entire building, libraries aim to improve educational outcomes, encour-

age civic engagement, reduce social isolation, create stronger, more connected communities, and make their facilities more welcoming, accessible and functional for everyone who walks through their doors.

These projects also reflect a broader truth: Investments in libraries are investments in people. Every renovated classroom, meeting space or children’s area creates opportunities for learning, connection and growth that extend well beyond the life of the construction project itself.

At a time when many people worry about loneliness, educational gaps and divisions in society, libraries quietly address each of those challenges every day. They remain one of the few places where everyone is welcome, regardless of age, income or background, and where the only requirement for entry is a willingness to learn.

As summer unfolds, residents should take full advantage of everything their local libraries have to offer. Borrow that next beach read. Sign a child up for a reading challenge. Attend a lecture, explore a new hobby, join a community group or simply spend an afternoon discovering something new.

Every library card opened, every book borrowed and every program attended is a reminder that one of the greatest investments we can make is in institutions that educate, inspire and bring us together.

opinions

Biofuels can help decarbonize L.I.’s school bus fleet

as the deadline for school districts to begin purchasing zero-emission school buses loomed, state lawmakers rightfully hit the brakes by delaying the mandate for five years.

The reasons are as clear as they are daunting: the electric grid isn’t ready, charging infrastructure remains scarce compared with ambitious state targets, and the upfront cost of a single electric bus can be triple that of a traditional one.

For Long Island school districts already grappling with a high tax burden and unique costof-living challenges, this represents yet another significant financial strain that would fall squarely on local taxpayers. State leaders should be lauded for recognizing these realities. But as officials continue to debate these and other changes to the state’s climate law, we can’t fall into an either-or trap, just as we can’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

Letters

new york already has a solution that has been in use for decades, and is easily deployed: renewable liquid fuels.

Transitioning the existing school bus fleets to renewable diesel can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 86 percent immediately. Unlike electric buses, which require specialized chargers and rely on our dangerously thin electric grid, renewable diesel works in the engines we already own. It requires no costly equipment overhauls, no new infrastructure, and performs reliably in cold new york winters.

rfrom entering our air annually. officials aim to complete the conversion of all city-owned vehicles this summer.

new york became the first state in the northeast to offer the fuel to state agencies, authorities, schools, municipalities and nonprofits in 26 counties, including nassau and Suffolk. Still, too few are availing themselves of this resource.

e newable diesel fuel works in the school bus engines we already own.

While the state waits years for the grid to catch up, municipal leaders are already proving that renewable liquid fuels — biodegradable fuel manufactured domestically from vegetable oils, animal fats and recycled restaurant grease — can deliver significantly carbon reduction today without breaking the bank.

new york City is leading the way, having transitioned its fleet of garbage trucks, emergency vehicles and other heavy-duty machines to renewable diesel in 2024, a move expected to prevent 162 million pounds of carbon dioxide

Scott’s column should be required reading for every new college student, especially those entering with the misguided notion that college is little more than a quick ticket to a job. While finding a career that’s a good fit should certainly be part of everyone’s college years, students should also use this time to learn about themselves, to engage ideas, to come to grips with life’s complexities, and to develop a deeper understanding of the world that’s waiting for them after graduation.

Colleges themselves would also do well to pay attention to Scott’s advice. Too many schools present themselves as career factories, highlighting their programs’ “real world” skill development while paying only minimal attention to the transformative experiences that a college education can (and should) provide. Graduating thoughtful, knowledgeable and insightful human beings — people capable of seeing life’s big picture and acting on behalf of the greater good — should be a primary goal of higher education.

Given the cost of college, as well as our collective anxiety about the future of America’s workforce, I can understand many students’ wish to choose a major that will help them make their way. But preparing for a career needn’t preclude being open to activities and experiences, both in and out of the classroom, that will invite students to stretch intellectually, socially and emotionally. There are indeed many valuable lessons to be learned here; students should not miss out on them.

And while much of today’s conversation centers on delays in transportation electrification, concerns about the pace and practicality of electrification are also growing in the homes and buildings sectors, as well as budget-strapped public facilities — especially our schools.

Consider a high school in Brooklyn where administrators recently replaced traditional heating oil with the renewable fuel alternative, making it the first school in new york City to convert to a heating system running entirely on biofuels. This historic transition to cleaner renewable fuels proves that giving schools and other institutions the flexibility they need to adopt a range of clean-energy solutions — not just electrification — is how the

Framework by Tim Baker

state can continue to make meaningful climate progress while keeping energy reliable and at a manageable price point.

This common-sense approach is what new yorkers are demanding as they navigate a punishing economy. With affordability continuing to be top of mind and the state grid operator warning of a razor-thin reliability margin that leaves Long Island particularly vulnerable to blackouts, a pragmatic, costeffective approach to making environmental progress today is the smart approach for the region’s school districts and the taxpayers and families who support them.

The debate in Albany often presents a false choice between a costly mandate and a climate delay. But a true all-of-theabove approach to energy options being advanced by Gov. Kathy hochul and some legislators can find an effective middle ground when the right tools are brought into the mix.

The grid will catch up eventually, but our environment and hardworking Long Islanders can’t afford to wait. It’s time to choose the solutions that work today.

Rocco J. Lacertosa is CEO of the Hauppauge-based New York State Energy Coalition.

The U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels arrive at Republic Airport to prepare for their performances at Jones Beach — Farmingdale

Join Us at the Mount Sinai South Nassau Community Wellness Center for Daily Health Screenings and Community Education Events

106 East Boardwalk, Long Beach

(Between Long Beach Blvd. & Riverside Blvd. Enter via ramp at boardwalk level )

June 1- September 4, 2026

EKG Screenings for Students Ages 13-25 (pre-registration required) | 9 am - 2 pm

Narcan and Stop the Bleed Training* | 9 am - 2 pm

*30-60 minute sessions available within this timeframe.

CPR/BLS Certiﬁcation (pre-registration required) | 10 am - 12 pm

Blood Test (Diabetes, PSA, Cholesterol) | Call 516-377-5333 to schedule

Blood Pressure Cuff Loaner Program* | 9 am - 2 pm

*30-60 minute sessions available within this timeframe.

Diabetes Risk Assessment Screenings* | 12 pm - 2 pm

*30-60 minute sessions available within this timeframe.

Blood Test (Diabetes, PSA, Cholesterol) | Call 516-377-5333 to schedule

How to Take Your Blood Pressure at Home* | 9 am - 2 pm

Healthy Eating & Teddy Bear Clinic for Kids* | 9 am - 2 pm

*30-60 minute sessions available within this timeframe.

We also offer FREE Health Screenings (Monday - Friday, 9 am - 2 pm) including:

• Blood Pressure

• Body Mass Index (BMI)

• Colorectal Screening

• Diabetes Risk Assessment

• Memory Screening

• Stroke Risk Assessment

We are also offering COVID-19, Shingles, and Pneumonia Vaccines. For more information about the program, please call 516-377-5333

Programs subject to change. Please refer to our Facebook page @MountSinaiSouthNassau for weekly schedule.

This is not a patient care facility. In case of emergency, please call 911.