Merrick Herald 04-16-2026

Joseph Maroney, an 18-year-old Mepham High School senior, was an avid lacrosse player. He is remembered for his leadership, kindness and steady presence both on and off the field.

Joseph Maroney, Mepham senior, remembered for courage, kindness

By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com

Joseph Patrick Maroney, an 18-year-old senior at Wellington C. Mepham High School, died April 6, 2026, after a courageous battle with a secondary cancer. He was the oldest of 10 siblings and a lifelong resident of North Bellmore.

Born July 17, 2007, Maroney was first diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at age 6 in November 2013. He underwent a bone marrow transplant and entered remission, remaining cancer-free for more than a decade.

In January 2025, Maroney was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive sarcoma known as malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor.

The cancer primarily affected his abdomen and required multiple surgeries, with complications continuing throughout his treatment.

Despite his illness, Maroney was remembered as consistently positive, selfless and deeply devoted to his family.

“He was amazing. He was always very happy, very easygoing. He never complained about any of it,” his mother, Gemma Maroney, said.

Gemma Maroney said her son’s identity was rooted in his role as an older brother in a large family.

“He was the oldest of my 10 children,” she said. “He was always very helpful at home, just an amazing big brother and friend to

Continued on page 5

Hope grows for research

Bill will help push research forward

By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com

A Merrick father who feared his young son could lose access to a potentially lifesaving treatment is now expressing relief after Congress passed legislation to restore critical medical research funding, sending the bill to President Donald Trump for final approval.

Andrew Jedlicka, an adjunct professor and consultant who has lived in Merrick since 2014, spent months advocating for the reauthorization of the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs, known as SBIR/STTR. The funding had lapsed in October 2025, putting at risk laboratories and small businesses conducting experimental medical research.

but for all research facilities and small businesses that were looking for that funding.”

Jedlicka’s 5-year-old son, whose name he declined to provide, was diagnosed last year with KBG syndrome, a rare genetic disorder associated with developmental delays, seizures and other health challenges. A Long Island Citybased lab is working to develop a personalized treatment for him, though the process is still in its early phases.

ANDREw jEDlIckA Merrick parent

“I was extremely excited and filled with gratitude,” Jedlicka said. “Not just for my son and the lab that’s trying to help treat his genetic disorder,

The potential closure of that lab earlier this year prompted Jedlicka to travel to Washington, D.C., during Rare Disease Week, where he met with lawmakers and their staff to advocate for restoration of the funding.

He credited Rep. Laura Gillen, who represents Merrick, along with U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer’s team and Rep. Gus Bilirakis, for helping move the legislation forward.

“I spoke directly and met with Congresswoman Gillen in

Continued on page 2 I was extremely excited and filled with gratitude.

Courtesy Gemma Maroney

Bill now awaits President Trump’s signature

Washington, and she wrote letters to help get the bill passed,” Jedlicka said. “Senator Schumer’s team was also very helpful, and there were others on both sides of the aisle who supported this.”

Gillen announced that the House of Representatives advanced the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act after months of delays, reauthorizing the SBIR/STTR programs through 2031.

“I’m proud to have helped push this funding for vital medical research through Congress after months of a partisan stalemate in the Senate and weeks of inaction by the Speaker of the House,” Gillen said in a statement. “Every day that passed without a reauthorization of this funding threatened to end lifesaving treatment for Long Islanders and others across the country. This legislation now moves one step closer to saving the medical breakthroughs and innovations they rely on.”

Jedlicka said he remains cautiously optimistic as he awaits the bill’s final approval.

“I’m relieved that it’s finally sitting on the president’s desk,” he said. “I’m just looking forward

to it becoming law so labs and research facilities can get the funding they need to continue their work.”

The treatment for his son has not yet begun, he said, requiring multiple research phases, which he has partially funded out of pocket. If successful, the treatment could significantly reduce or eliminate symptoms associated with KBG syndrome.

“His seizures could go away, and other symptoms could go away,” Jedlicka said. “That’s what we’re working toward.”

Jedlicka said the experience underscores broader challenges for families navigating rare diseases, particularly when delays in federal policy put research at risk.

“It was disturbing how long it took to reauthorize such an important bill,” he said, noting that more than 100 labs and small businesses were waiting for the funding.

Looking ahead, he said he plans to continue advocating for rare disease research.

“I’m in it for life,” Jedlicka said. “I want to help not just my son, but others dealing with genetic disorders.”

Courtesy Andrew Jedlicka

andrew Jedlicka with u.S. rep. Laura gillen during a visit to Washington, d.C., where he advocated for the reauthorization of federal research funding critical to his son’s treatment for a rare genetic disorder.

Bellmore resident to perform at North Merrick Library

By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com

Life and death hang in the balance at the Tower of London when the Gilbert & Sullivan Light Opera Company of Long Island presents its 2026 production of The Yeomen of the Guard” at the North Merrick Public Library on April 26 at 2 p.m.

The classic operetta, which debuted in 1888 with a libretto by W.S. Gilbert and music by Arthur Sullivan, is known for its blend of drama and humor. Set in the 1510s during the reign of King Henry VIII, the story follows Colonel Fairfax, who is unjustly imprisoned and facing execution. Phoebe Meryll, who is in love with him, devises a plan with her family to save him — a scheme that draws in a cast of characters and puts several lives at risk.

Director Gayden Wren said the show stands apart from other works in the Gilbert and Sullivan canon.

“The Yeomen of the Guard has a depth and realism that’s unique in the Savoy operas,” Wren said. “There are laughs and there’s melodramatic drama as well, but it all grows out of the characters.”

Wren said the operetta’s emotional strength comes from its character development.

“They’re real, well-rounded people who have the kind of contradictions and ambiguities that you find every day in real people, but rarely in comic opera,” he said. “People feel for these characters because Gilbert and Sullivan feel for them.”

He added that the work held special significance for its creators.

“Both Gilbert and Sullivan separately said that The Yeomen of the Guard was the favorite of their own operas,” Wren said, calling it “one of the best works of musical theater ever written.” He noted that the production is staged infrequently due to the resources required, but said, “when it comes up, we’re thrilled.”

Among the performers is Bellmore resident Jordan Breslow, who plays the First Yeoman. Breslow has lived in Bellmore for nearly 30 years and has been a member of the company since 2011. He has also served as its treasurer for the past eight years.

“We’re not made up of professionals — we’re all volunteers,” Breslow said. “But we get really great talent from all different backgrounds.”

Breslow, who works professionally as a marketing research manager, said his passion for music dates back to his school years, when he performed in choir and a cappella groups. He continued performing in college at Bingham-

ton University and remains involved in theater for the enjoyment and camaraderie it provides.

In Yeomen of the Guard, Breslow takes on a supporting role as the First Yeoman, part of the ensemble that helps bring the story to life. The production marks the company’s first staging of the operetta since 2009.

Preparing the show is a months-long process, he said, beginning with auditions in the fall and continuing through rehearsals into the winter.

“It does take a number of months to actually put something like this together,” Breslow said. “By January and February, we’re really starting to stage the production.”

For Breslow, performing in North Merrick carries special meaning, as the company regularly rehearses locally.

“It’s great to perform so close to home,” he said.

Breslow said he hopes audiences leave with a new appreciation for the genre.

“Opera tends to get a bad rap,” he said. “This is light opera — it’s in English, it’s accessible, and I hope people can really appreciate what it brings.”

The performance will take place at the North Merrick Public Library, 1691 Meadowbrook Road. Admission is free. For more information, call 516-378-7474.

Shore Road students brought fairytale fun to stage

Fifth- and sixth-grade students at Shore Road School in the Bellmore School District stepped into the spotlight with their production of Shrek Jr., which premiered March 25 and 26.

The student performers, members of the school’s Musical Theatre Club, spent weeks rehearsing lines, learning choreography and helping to build sets in preparation for the show. The production fea-

tured dozens of students portraying beloved fairytale characters in a story centered on an unlikely hero and a group of misfits who discover the value of friendship, teamwork, confidence and selfacceptance.

The show included colorful costumes, coordinated dance numbers and a dedicated stage crew working behind the scenes to ensure a smooth performance.

The production was directed by teachers Mallory Aronoff, Laura Itzkovitz, Beth Obergh and Joanna Rocco, who guided students through every step of the process.

School officials said the experience allowed students to collaborate creatively while building confidence and bringing a well-known story to life on stage.

— Hernesto Galdamez

Courtesy Bellmore Public School Shore Road School students are brought the story of ‘Shrek’ to life through the Musical Theatre Club’s latest production.

The show featured several musical numbers performed by talented students.

Courtesy Jordan Breslow

Jordan Breslow, above, will perform in ‘The Yeomen of the Guard’ at the North Merrick Public Library this month.

Man pleads guilty in fraud case linked to N. Bellmore coffee shop

By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com

A former Massapequa-based financial adviser pleaded guilty this week to federal charges that he defrauded clients and steered investor money into risky and undisclosed ventures, including a North Bellmore coffee shop, federal prosecutors from the Eastern District said.

More than 430 clients of A.G. Morgan Financial Advisors LLC, many of them Long Islanders, lost their life savings through investments tied to Vincent J. Camarda’s funds, according to prosecutors and a civil lawsuit filed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Camarda, 62, of Amityville, the chairman and chief executive officer of A.G. Morgan Financial Advisors LLC, pleaded guilty in federal court in Central Islip to securities fraud and investment adviser fraud.

The proceeding was held before U.S. District Judge Nusrat J. Choudhury. When sentenced, Camarda faces up to 20 years in prison, as well as restitution of at least $160,022,836.81 and forfeiture of $6,639,498.17.

Camarda ran a yearslong scheme in which he misled clients about the safety of their investments, repeatedly describing funds as “safe” or “low-risk” while concealing major risks and conflicts of interest, according to prosecutors.

“We will aggressively prosecute investment advisors who betray their clients’ trust and commit crimes for their own financial gain,” U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr., said in a news release. “This defendant used a series of lies to lure clients, including elderly and other vulnerable individuals, into investing with him, all while enriching himself. Today’s guilty plea is an important step toward holding the defendant

accountable for the substantial harm he has caused.”

“CEO Vincent Camarda repeatedly deceived trusting clients to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars to finance extravagant purchases. The FBI is committed to protecting investors from executives who abuse their authority to line their own pockets,” James C. Barnacle Jr., FBI assistant director in charge, said in the release.

According to court filings, Camarda created several investment funds under A.G. Morgan between 2017 and 2024, including AGM Capital, Windsor Capital and Omni Diversified.

Prosecutors said investor money was funneled into a range of ventures, including a Philadelphia-area

Ponzi scheme, a mining operation out West, and a North Bellmore coffee shop, Buzz’d Express Coffee, according to court documents on the U.S. Department of Justice’s website.

As press time, there was no response for comment to a call to Buzz’d Express Coffee using the phone number listed on its website for comment.

Prosecutors said Camarda also diverted investor funds for personal use, including luxury purchases such as travel, jewelry, plastic surgery and credit card payments. In one instance, a victim wired more than $700,000, much of which was later misappropriated. Camarda faces up to 25 years in prison and will be sentenced on Aug. 12.

News

brief

Women’s Alliance hosts presentation

The South Shore Women’s Alliance will host a “Teaching Kids Media Literacy Presentation” aimed at helping parents, educators and community members address concerns about misinformation and social media influences.

cuss how schools can help students recognize credible information, evaluate sources and distinguish between truth and propaganda.

The program will feature Howard Schneider, executive director of the Center for News Literacy at Stony Brook University, a national leader in media literacy education. He will dis-

The presentation is scheduled for Thursday, April 23, at 7 p.m. at the Merrick Golf Course Clubhouse. Organizers ask attendees to RSVP at nassausouthshorewomensalliance@gmail.com.

— Hernesto Galdamez

Herald file photo

Vincent J. Camarda pleaded guilty to securities fraud in a case tied in part to a North Bellmore coffee shop.

Mepham senior lived with faith over fear

anybody that he encountered.”

She added that even during his illness, Maroney remained focused on others.

“Ninety percent of the pictures I look at now, he’s holding one of his younger siblings,” Maroney’s Joseph’s father, Christian Maroney said.

Faith was central to Joseph Maroney’s life and his family’s approach to his illness. The Maroney family, who are Catholic, said prayer was a constant source of strength throughout his treatment.

“We did the rosary a lot,” Gemma Maroney said. “We prayed together as a family all the time. Faith over fear.”

“Joseph really found solace in that,” Christian Maroney added. “In the face of everything, faith in Go in d is what sustained him.”

Maroney’s friend Jackson Amiruddin first met him in 2016 at Sunrise Day Camp in Wheatley Heights, a camp for children with cancer and their siblings. The two remained close through summers until 2024.

“He was an overall great kid. He was smart, caring, he was brave,” Amiruddin said. “He was a big family guy.”

Amiruddin said Joseph Maroney’s role as the oldest sibling was always visible.

“He always cared so much about every single one of them,” he said. “You

never really saw him in a bad mood. He was always smiling.”

He described Maroney as a steady, trusted presence among friends.

“He was like the ultimate older brother,” Amiruddin said. “If everything was going wrong, he was the guy you could go to and talk to.”

Amiruddin said one of his most meaningful memories came in 2024, when a group of campers formed a close friendship circle, they called the “Sunrise Six.”

Even while undergoing treatment, Amiruddin said Joseph Maroney tried to return as a counselor at camp, despite his health.

“He tried to come back and be a counselor and help others,” he said. “I really admire him for that and how brave and courageous he was.”

In addition to his close ties with family and friends, Maroney was an active member of the Mepham High School community, where he played lacrosse and built strong relationships with teammates, teachers and staff.

School officials said his presence left a lasting impact on those around him.

“Joseph Maroney carried himself with the character, kindness, and strength we hope to inspire in all of our student body,” Principal Anthony DeMartinis said. “Joseph was an avid lacrosse player, and he treasured his role in our successful program. Joseph’s

teachers report that he was the consummate gentleman and diligent participant in class; he enriched his class community simply by being himself. Joseph’s genuine goodness and positivity left an indelible mark on our school culture, which is evident by the strong bonds he forged with his peers and teachers. Joseph Maroney will be remembered forever, as a Mepham Pirate of the highest caliber, and we will miss him dearly.”

Joseph was previously honored in 2016 as “Comeback Player of the Year” in a Sacred Heart Youth basketball program after recovering from leukemia.

He is remembered by family and friends as a devoted son, brother and friend whose presence deeply impacted those around him.

“I kind of coined it: ‘What would Joseph do?’” Christian Maroney said. “Because he didn’t have an evil bone in his body.”

Joseph Maroney is survived by his parents, Gemma and Christian Maroney, and his nine siblings.

In reverence to Joseph’s life, the Maroney family held services to honor his memory. An overnight vigil took place on April 13 at St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother Church in Queens. A Mass of Christian Burial was held on April 14 at the same church. Maroney was then laid to rest at St. Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale.

Friday, April 24: Rides 6 PM - 10 PM

Saturday, April 25: Rides 11 AM - 9 PM

Sunday, April 26: Rides 11 AM - 7 PM Vendors Sat. & Sun. 10 AM - 6 PM

Courtesy Gemma Maroney Joseph maroney, the oldest of 10 siblings, was active in school athletics and community programs.

BRIAN FALK

SEAFORD Senior Lacrosse

A DYNAMIC THREE-SPORT athlete who helped Seaford’s football team to the Nassau Conference IV championship and the basketball team to a deep run in the Class A playoffs, Falk is one of the most talented lacrosse players in the county. He shared the Herald’s 2026 Lacrosse Preview cover with West Hempstead’s Elizabeth Poirot. Bound for Villanova, Falk racked up 25 goals and 18 assists a year ago and earned All-County honors.

games to watch

Thursday, April 16

Boys Lacrosse: Glen Cove at Freeport 5 p.m.

Boys Lacrosse: Uniondale at Clarke 5 p.m.

Boys Lacrosse: Hewlett at Baldwin 5 p.m.

Girls Lacrosse: MacArthur at Mepham 5 p.m.

Baseball: Seaford at Lynbrook 5 p.m.

Baseball: Oceanside at East Meadow 5 p.m.

Baseball: Farmingdale at Massapequa 5 p.m.

Softball: Kennedy at East Meadow 5 p.m.

Softball: V.S. North at Baldwin 5 p.m.

Softball: Plainedge at Farmingdale 5 p.m.

Softball: Hewlett at South Side 5 p.m.

Friday, April 17

Baseball: MacArthur at Hewlett 5 p.m.

Baseball: South Side at Kennedy 5 p.m.

Softball: Freeport at West Hempstead 5 p.m.

Softball: Oceanside at Mepham 5 p.m.

Softball: Lawrence at East Rockaway

5 p.m.

Girls Lacrosse: Lynbrook at South Side 5 p.m.

Boys Lacrosse: Plainedge at Lynbrook 5 p.m.

Boys Lacrosse: Long Beach at Farmingdale 6 p.m.

Saturday, April 18

Girls Lacrosse: V.S. District at Sewanhaka 10 a.m.

Boys Lacrosse: Uniondale at East Meadow 1 p.m.

Nominate a “Spotlight Athlete”

High School athletes to be featured on the Herald sports page must compete in a spring sport and have earned an AllConference award or higher last season. Please send the following information: Name, School, Grade, Sport and accomplishments to Sports@liherald.com.

HERALD SPORTS

Colts gain steam in new conference

By BRIAN KACHARABA bkacharaba@liherald.com

After navigating some early inconsistency in a Nassau’s top conference, the Calhoun softball team is hoping it has finally found some rhythm in April.

The Colts are off to a 4-3 overall start, including a 3-2 mark in the highly competitive Conference 1. The Colts alternated losses and wins through their first six games before breaking through with consecutive victories, including a 7-4 win at MacArthur last Saturday.

Calhoun’s early success comes on the heels of an 11-10 campaign in which it reached the Nassau Class AA playoffs as a Conference 3 participant, defeating Long Beach in the opening round before a heartbreaking 1-0 quarterfinal loss at eventual county champion Glen Cove.

“Conference 1 gives you a real taste of what’s out there,” Colts coach Michael Pisano said. “Every game is a battle, and those kinds of competitive games are only making us better and preparing us for playoff softball. We’re excited about where we are right now, but even more excited about where this team can go.”

Offensively, junior Madison Martins has been a standout catalyst. She delivered a three-hit performance, including a triple, and drove in five runs against MacArthur, and also enjoyed a 4-for4 performance in a 10-8 victory over Syosset on March 30 that helped boost her batting average to .536 and on-base mark to .591 while leading the team in RBIs.

“She’s been the driving force of our offense so far,” Pisano said. “She is absolutely on fire at the plate right now. She’s always had talent,

but this year she’s been locked in, consistent, and confident every time she steps to the plate. She’s been a major difference maker for

us.”

Calhoun opened with a 10-1 non-league win over Carey behind contributions throughout the lineup, including senior Ruth Small’s three RBIs and a combined nine strikeouts from sophomore hurlers Sophia Nicastro and Megan Hobdy.

Nicastro also struck out eight in a 4-2 win over Mepham on April 9, allowing just two runs as the Colts scored all four of their runs in the first inning. Hobdy earned the save, while Martins delivered a key two-run double.

“Nicastro is one of the top young players around,” Pisano said of his hurler, who also blasted a home run at Oceanside on April 7. “She impacts the game both in the circle and at the plate and has all the tools to be a star. What stands out most is how hard she works and how much she loves the game. She’s a humble, team-first player and is only getting better.”

Eighth-grader Selma Radoncic and senior Alexa LaBarbera are also off to strong starts after both homered and combined to drive in five runs against Syosset. Pisano also praised LaBarbera for her seamless transition to the outfield and the clutch hitting of senior captain Katie DiPaola, who is batting .343 with a .455 OBP.

Following a five-day break, Calhoun returns to action with three challenging games in four days, beginning with a non-league home matchup against Plainedge on April 20. The Colts then travel to Massapequa the next day before hosting Wantagh on April 23.

Ron Manfredi/Herald

Ruth Small drove in three runs as Calhoun opened the campaign in winning fashion against Carey.

PSEG Long Island supports small businesses

Business First workshop, with topics ranging from billing to electric vehicles, scheduled for May 6

By ANGELINA ZINGARIELLO azingariello@liherald.com

To mark Small Business Week, May 3-9, PSEG Long Island will host a Business First Workshop to support small businesses across the region.

The workshop is scheduled for May 6, from 9 to 11 a.m., at the Nassau County Office of Emergency Management, at 510 Grumman Road West in Bethpage, commonly referred to as the old Grumman building. The event is intended to bring together business owners and PSEG Long Island representatives to share information about programs and services that can help businesses operate more efficiently and manage energy use and costs.

“PSEG Long Island is proud to support our local business community — the entrepreneurs who invest in our neighborhoods, drive local economy and create jobs,” Veronica Isaac, PSEG Long Island’s senior manager of Economic Development, said. “Our Business First Workshop on May 6 will present all of the products and services offered by our PSEG Long Island Business First program for small and medium business owners. We will also have a special recognition ceremony to honor local companies and business organizations that participate in, promote and support our programs.”

Last year’s Business First Workshop presenters offered information about programs and services that help businesses operate more efficiently.

The company’s Business First program provides businesses with dedicated support for managing electricity needs, as well as information on billing processes and energy-efficiency incentives. Other areas of focus include building and renovation services, electric vehicle infrastructure and fleet incen -

tives, and procurement-related opportunities.

The topics will include digital tools such as the utility’s app and online account management platforms, as well as economic development initiatives that offer grants and bill credit opportunities.

Presenters will include Nayan Parikh, on digital channels; Christine

Bryson, on economic development; Alex Nyilas, on the Business First program; Alexandro Campos, on billing; Brittany Degel, on energy efficiency; Nicole Jones-Cumberbatch, on building and renovation services; Paul DiBenedetto, on electric vehicles; and Jimmy Alty, on procurement.

The workshop will also provide an opportunity for attendees to connect with Business First Advocates and representatives from procurement and building and renovation services, offering direct access to support resources.

Long Island is home to more than 100,000 small businesses, according to the Long Island Association, underscoring their significance to the regional economy.

“We proudly share information about PSEG Long Island’s revitalization programs with all new businesses in our community,” Cheryl Fajardo, past president of the Greater New Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce, said. “As a strong partner in local economic development, PSEG Long Island has played a vital role in helping us improve our downtown areas through beautification projects, infrastructure support and promotional efforts.”

Pre-registration is recommended by emailing PSEGLI-Businessfirst@psegliny.com.

HERALD — April 16, 2026

Questions we’ve been asked...

Is there a fee charged for making funeral pre-arrangements?

There is absolutely no fee or other charge in New York State when you make “pre-arrangements”. Moreover when you pre-fund those arrangements through the Pre-Plan Trust there is no additional expense in establishing the trust account. A trust account that remains under your control and your funds are FDIC insured.

No commission, no set-up fees, no extra expenses. Just accurate, helpful information, and a plan that conforms to all New York State Regulations and SSI-Medicaid regulations as well. An enhanced rate of interest on the Pre-Plan Trust enables us to guarantee the funeral home costs when a complete funeral is arranged and paid for.

If you would like to discuss these issues, call us and we’ll arrange to have one of our licensed funeral director professionals meet with you and answer your questions.

You’ll receive clear answers, an itemized list of the costs, and some peace of mind.

Leo F. KEARNS, Inc. Funeral Directors

Thomas L. Kearns, Patrick J. Kearns, Paul C. Kearns-Stanley (516) 794-0500 or 1-800-640-9500 (NYS)

“Protecting Your Future”

The 2026 edition of “Ettinger Law Firm’s Guide to Protecting Your Future”, a free download at trustlaw.com, and in hard copy on Amazon or complimentary at your no-cost consultation (by phone, Zoom or in-person), with Ettinger Law Firm provides:

Elder Law Estate Planning: Explains planning for death and disability, including avoiding probate, the five steps to an elder law estate plan, mistakes to avoid, and special situations (such as estranged children, special needs, and second marriages).

Financial and Tax Aspects of Estate Planning: Estate planning for IRA’s and other “qualified” plans, reducing or eliminating New York and Federal estate taxes, avoiding mistakes with beneficiary designations, and reducing or eliminating capital gains taxes.

The Social Side of Estate Planning: The social aspects of how and to whom to leave your estate to and whether you should discuss these matters with your adult children. Are any more deserving, more in need, your relationships with them and theirs with each other, which are most

capable, what to do with a vacation home and much more.

Medicaid Planning Strategies: With 36 years’ experience in over 5,000 Medicaid applications, we show you (a) how to protect your assets from long-term care with the Medicaid Asset Protection Trust (MAPT), (b) the seven myths surrounding the MAPT, (c) how to get home care though Medicaid while keeping your income, (d) how to apply for Medicaid, (e) Medicaid exempt assets, and (f) “spousal refusal”.

Estate Administration on Death: Executors’ and trustees’ duties, including how to settle an estate quickly, efficiently, and at least cost while avoiding misunderstandings and litigation.

Health Issues for Older Adults: “Protecting Your Future” also includes living longer and healthier lives. Here you’ll find many of the keys to successful mental and physical aging.

Well-Being for Older Adults: As we age and begin to consider our legacy, how do we learn to “accept what is”, to forgive, to become less fearful, to increase our gratitude and generosity, and to achieve peace of mind.

Courtesy PSEG Long Island

Thomas L. Kearns

BUSINESS & TRANSACTIONAL

JOSEPH G. MILIZIO

Managing Partner Vishnick McGovern Milizio, LLP

RACHELLE ROSENBERG, ESQ.

Partner Abrams Fensterman

RALPH ROSELLA

Office Managing Member Bond, Schoeneck & King

COMPLEX TORT & GENERAL CASUALTY

CAV. NICHOLAS R. CAIAZZO

Partner/Trial Attorney Wilson Elser

CORPORATE & SECURITIES

DAVID F. DURSO

Partner Ruskin Moscou Faltischek, P.C.

DEBT SOLUTIONS

LESLIE H. TAYNE

Founder & Managing Director Tayne Law Group, P.C.

EMPLOYMENT & BUSINESS LITIGATION

DANIELÉ D. DE VOE

Partner

Sahn Ward Braff Coschignano, PLLC

JEFFREY BASSO

Partner Campolo, Middleton & McCormick, LLP

MICHAEL POROPAT

Partner Stockman & Poropat, PPLC

ESTATE PLANNING/ ELDER LAW

BRIAN A. TULLY

Founder & Managing Partner Tully Law Group, P.C.

ROCHELLE L. VERRON, ESQ.

Founder & Managing Partner Verron Law Group, P.C.

RONALD FATOULLAH, ESQ. Chair Elder Law Group & Partner Trusts & Estates Meltzer, Lippe, Goldstein & Breitstone, LLP

STEPHEN J. SILVERBERG

Founding Attorney Law Office of Stephen J. Silverberg, P.C.

WENDY K. GOIDEL, ESQ. Founder & Principal Goidel Law Group, LLC

ESTATE PLANNING/

GENERATIONAL WEALTH MANAGEMENT

RUSSEL MORGAN, ESQ. Founding Partner Morgan Legal Group, P.C.

STEPHANIE D’ANGELO, ESQ.

Principal Attorney D’Angelo Law Associates, P.C.

FAMILY LAW

ALEXANDER E. SKLAVOS, ESQ. Founder & Principal Attorney Sklavos Law Group, P.C.

ARMAND J. PRISCO, ESQ. Partner Polin, Prisco & Villafane

JOSEPH TROTTI Partner Vishnick McGovern Milizio, LLP

MICHAEL ALBER, ESQ Partner The Alber Firm, P.C.

FINANCE, INSURANCE & LEGAL AFFAIRS

ALAN B. HODISH, ESQ. Founding Principal Law Offices of Alan B. Hodish, LLC

HEALTHCARE & CANNABIS LAW

ANDREW P. COOPER, ESQ., LLM

Cannabis & Psychedelics Attorney Falcon Rappaport & Berkman LLP

INJURY & CAR ACCIDENT LAW

CHRISSY GRIGOROPOULOSPELEYTAY, ESQ.

Founding Attorney Grigor Law Injury & Car Accident Lawyers

LITIGATION & DISPUTE RESOLUTION LAW

ANDREW J. TURRO Shareholder Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, P.C.

TOM MEALIFFE Partner Nixon Peabody, LLP

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE

JOSEPH L. CIACCIO Partner

Napoli Shkolnik, PLLC

PERSONAL INJURY

DOROTHY RENZ Partner

Duffy & Duffy, P.C. JASON A. GREENBERG Founder & Managing Attorney Law Offices of Jason Greenberg, P.C.

LEONARD J. WIENER

Associate Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, P.C.

ROSS L. SCHILLER

Founder & Managing Attorney

Ross L. Schiller & Associates, P.C.

BRIAN S. STOLAR Partner

Harris Beach Murtha

BRYAN P. MCCROSSEN Partner

Jaspan Schlesinger Narendran REAL ESTATE

ED PUERTA Partner Nixon Peabody, LLP

GILAD ADLAD Attorney at Law Law Office of Gilad Adlad

RISING STARS

ALEXIS EPSTEIN

Associate

Barket Epstein Kearon Aldea and LoTurco, LLP

BROOKE MCDONALD Associate Salenger, Sack, Kimmel & Bavaro, LLP

JACOB BLOOM, ESQ. Associate Attorney Miller & Caggiano, LLP

TAX CERTIORARI LITIGATION

ANTHONY FORZAGLIA Partner Schroder & Strom, LLP

TRUST & ESTATE LITIGATION

ANDREW P. NITKEWICZ

Partner Cullen and Dykman, LLP

TRIAL LAW

CHAD J. LAVEGLIA

CEO & Trial Lawyer

Law Office of Chad J. LaVeglia PLLC

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

ANDREW B. WOOLF

Founding Partner

Klee Woolf Goldman & Filpi, LLP

JONATHAN R. KLEE

Managing Partner

Klee Woolf Goldman & Filpi, LLP

TIMOTHY E.T. FINNEGAN

Partner McIntyre, Donohue, Accardi, Salmonson, & Riordan, LLP

SPECIAL AWARDS

COMMUNITY CHAMPION

PHIL RIZZUTO

Trial Attorney

The Rizzuto Law Firm

TOP BOUTIQUE LAW FIRM

VISHNICK MCGOVERN MILIZIO, LLP

TOP LAW FIRM

NIXON PEABODY, LLP

TOP TAX CERTIORARI LAW FIRM

SCHRODER & STROM, LLP

TRIAL TEAM OF THE YEAR

STUART L. FINZ, CARAMIA R. HART, BRANDON S. FINZ

FINZ & FINZ, P.C.

TO

SILVERSPONSORS

Island FC helps carve professional path for soccer players

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

The Island FC announced a major step forward in youth soccer development on Long Island, confirming the creation of a unified MLS NEXT pathway designed to connect youth, college and professional levels under one club.

Beginning with the 2026–27 season, the club will operate both MLS NEXT Homegrown Tier 1 and Academy Tier 2 platforms across Nassau and Suffolk counties. The initiative is being launched through a partnership with Long Island Soccer Club, allowing The Island FC to assume operation of LISC’s MLS NEXT divisions in Nassau while designating LISC as its first strategic club affiliate partner.

The partnership will immediately establish a more streamlined development system for players and families across the region. As part of the agreement, LISC’s MLS NEXT divisions will be rebranded under The Island FC, aligning the area’s top youth programs with the professional club ahead of its MLS NEXT Pro brand reveal expected later this summer.

The move builds on a vision first introduced during the club’s MLS NEXT Pro launch in October 2025, when leadership outlined plans to create a fully connected development pipeline for Long Island athletes.

The Island FC, an independent professional soccer club was unveiled in October, alongside plans for a new stadium in Uniondale. Play is expected to get under way in 2027.

Club officials said the initiative will also be supported by expanded facilities across the Island, including multiple training and competition hubs aimed at reducing travel time for players and families.

“For decades, my family has invested in Long Island in ways that create lasting quality-of-life benefits,” said Mitchell Rechler, principal owner and chairman of The Island FC. “By establishing a true development structure under one professional club, we’re making a long-term commitment—one

that expands opportunity, strengthens local programs, and gives Long Island a pathway it can rely on for generations.”

The structure aligns with MLS NEXT Pro’s broader development model, which emphasizes stronger connections between youth systems and the professional game.

“MLS NEXT is designed to support developing youth players for professional careers,” said Ali Curtis, executive vice president of MLS sporting development and president of MLS NEXT Pro. “Creating aligned pathways

across an entire market, directly connected to a professional club, helps raise standards and expand opportunities for players. We are very excited as The Island FC will be great for MLS NEXT and the club will be the leading youth development program on Long Island.”

Team President Peter Zaratin said the pathway will offer local athletes a clearer route to higher levels of competition.

“This is about providing Long Island players a complete and connected pathway,” Zaratin said. “For the first time, families can see a real progression to the highest levels of the game—without having to leave Long Island.”

The LISC partnership is expected to be the first of several affiliate agreements as the club continues to collaborate with community organizations focused on player development.

As part of its long-term plans, The Island FC is also preparing to launch a professional women’s team and intends to extend the same development pathway to girls’ programs, creating equivalent opportunities for female athletes across Long Island.

The Island FC is preparing to debut its MLS NEXT Pro men’s team in 2027 as part of a broader effort to establish a comprehensive, locally rooted system for developing soccer talent. A new stadium will be built in Uniondale.

Herald file

Join jazz night fundraiser to feed local families

By JOSEPH D’ALESSANDRO jdalessandro@liherald.com

Many of Long Island’s best jazz musicians are coming to Bellmore for a good cause: funding programs that feed the hungry.

Congregation Beth Ohr is holding a charity jazz concert at the CBO Annex at 2655 Clubhouse Road in Merrick on April 19 at 2 p.m. At $10 per ticket, the proceeds from ticket sales will go towards funding the Congregation Beth Ohr’s Alix Rubinger Kosher Food Pantry’s operations.

Steve Tepper is an officer of Congregation Beth El and the organizer for this fundraiser. He is also a skilled musician with 50 years of experience, playing the drums from Bellmore to Broadway. With these skills and the help of likeminded artists, Tepper plans on helping his neighbors get food to the table while sharing his love for jazz music.

Treception, jazz nights may become a regular fixture of the congregation’s calendar.

“It’s a wonderful idea… we need the funds because we have a lot of people coming in that depend upon us,” said Iris Astrof, the director of the CBO food pantry. “I’m thrilled that we’re doing this.”

The pantry attracts those with a generous streak to their character. Hector Brizuela works with CBO as an employee, going above and beyond to volunteer with the pantry for 14 years.

here’s a great need for the food pantry right now.

STE vE TEPPER

Congregation Beth Ohr Officer

“There’s no real good jazz on Long Island except for restaurants,” he said. “The venue is part of Congregation Beth El, it’s our annex, and we have a piano and a stage, and it’s perfect for what I wanted to do… I wanted to I made it a charity because we have a community food pantry, and unfortunately, there’s a great need for the food pantry right now.”

The concert will feature performances from volunteer local bands Phantom Galaxy, McKenna Fenimore and All Star Band Jam. Depending on

“I come in from nothing, and I know the feeling, (to not) have any money in your pocket, food to eat that day, and things like that,” he said. “That is why I like to do that.

“I see very the people that like to help, very generous people,” he continued. “That is my inspiration.”

Brizuela encouraged community members who cannot attend the event to help whenever and however they can.

A person in need can come to the pantry every other Thursday and receive one or two large bags of high-quality food. To make this possible, the pantry accepts financial and physical donations year-round. Funds go towards the purchase of grocery store gift cards that can be used to buy perishable goods such as fresh vegetables.

For more information, visit cbohr.org/event/ jazz-concert-fundraiser.html.

Reinhard students celebrate Music in Our Schools Month

Students at Reinhard Early Childhood Center took center stage in March as part of Music in Our Schools Month, celebrating with a series of themed activities designed to highlight different musical styles.

Throughout the month, students in the Bellmore School District participated in weekly themes that encouraged them to explore music in creative ways. At Reinhard, Rising Star Leaders embraced each theme by dressing the part and engaging with the spirit of the genre.

One week focused on country music, with students wearing blue jeans, flannel shirts, boots and cowboy hats. Another theme highlighted

different decades of music, and on March 27, students arrived in tie-dye shirts, leather jackets and gold chains to represent a variety of musical eras.

District officials said music education plays a key role in student development, helping reinforce leadership skills and core values. Through songs and activities, students learn lessons in teamwork, dedication and synergy.

Music in Our Schools Month is observed nationwide each March to recognize the importance of music education and its impact on student learning.

— Hernesto Galdamez

Photos courtesy Bellmore Public Schools

Reinhard students had an exciting time becoming the stars of the show.

Tie dye and gold chains represented the day’s theme.

Courtesy Steve Tepper

Proceeds from the Congregation Beth Ohr’s Jazz Concert’s ticket sales will go towards funding the Alix Rubinger Kosher Food Pantry’s donations to community members in need.

Karma Beauty celebrates 20 years in business

By JOSEPH D’ALESSANDRO jdalessandro@liherald.com

Nikki Cestaro, owner of the 20-year-old salon Karma Beauty Studio, has seen it all. Cestaro is an East Meadow resident whose business operates in Merrick.

Cestaro’s salon opened on April 5, 2006, and since then, she has seen hundreds of clients, dozens of employees, and a few exceptional events that she shares in her book, “Super Hairo,” published in 2024.

“How in the world can it be 20 years since I opened my salon? A generation of hair and relationships that has transformed this tiny little space into a special home for my staff and loyal clients,” she said. “I was so unhappy in my work environment at that time when I started, and I dreamed of a place that would function and inspire joy for my business to grow. My clients and career were so special to me, and I felt in order to succeed, it was the right decision to make. I took the risk and let Karma lead the way.”

Cestaro’s book is an autobiography exploring the highs and lows of her hairdressing career with good humor and sincerity. In addition to jokes and drama, Nikki also shares her experience as an entrepreneur.

have hairspray running through my veins.

“I will not lie and say it has been easy, but to see how we can transform not only someone’s hair, but their mindset by the work we do makes all the effort worthwhile,” she said. “Like the old saying, ‘if you build it, they will come,’ so I did. And here we are.”

NIkkI CEStARO Founder of Karma Beauty Studio

While the book records Nikki’s story up to now, she does not intend on stopping her work anytime soon.

“I want to be that 88-year-old hairdresser that gets dropped off from the assisted living bus to go work at the salon,” she said in prior conversations with the Herald. “I’m never going to leave the chair. I have hairspray running through my veins.”

“Super Hairo” is available digitally and in print on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Courtesy Nikki Cestaro

Nikki Cestaro, owner of Karma Beauty Studio, celebrated 20 years of operation on April 5.

Concerns about water rise across the region

Uneven investment in treatment, emerging contaminants leave many residents feeling vulnerable

By Roksana amid, stacy dRiks & Hailey FulmeR of the Herald

Sixth installment in a series about water.

Concerns about water quality remain visible and closely tied to patterns of neglect in communities across Long Island.

In the region, water problems don’t exist in isolation. Flooding, contamination and aging infrastructure are increasingly intersecting, and all of it can be traced back to a single source: the Island’s underground aquifer system. The sole-source system supplies all of the region’s drinking water, leaving little margin for error as environmental pressures intensify.

neglect beneath the surface

In Uniondale, aging infrastructure, delayed upgrades and a lack of investment are reflected in a deteriorating water tower and broader concerns about environmental health. The tower is known locally as “Old Rusty,” according to Pearl Jacobs, president of the Nostrand Gardens Civic Association, and has stood for more than three decades without proper maintenance. Experts typically recommend inspection, repainting and structural upkeep every seven years, Jacobs said.

“It’s beyond repair,” she said of the tower. “You can see the corrosion. There were reports of leaks. This is not just infrastructure; it’s a health and safety issue.”

Despite years of complaints, advocates like Jacobs say local officials initially proposed only cosmetic fixes, such as applying internal epoxy coatings to stop leaks. It was only after community pressure that roughly $10 million was allocated in 2025 for a new tower. The project is still in its early stages over a year later. The new tower is planned to be fully operational by the summer of 2027.

Residents have reported brown water in their homes, raising concerns about unsafe levels of contaminants. Water quality studies conducted one of Jacobs civic partners, Jeannine Maynard, cofounder of the Greater Uniondale Area Action Coalition and vice president of the Uniondale Community Land Trust indicated elevated levels of 1,4-dioxane, [a synthetic industrial chemical that is often found as a contaminant in water supplies, especially in places with past manufacturing or heavy chemical use], in the system.

Uniondale’s water infrastructure also includes aging pipes, with much of the system’s lead content still unknown. Maps show large portions of Uniondale untested, highlighting gaps in oversight compared with nearby communities. Advocates say these combined issues — brown water, an outdated tower, unknown lead risks and industrial contamination — reflect broader inequities.

a pattern of delays and uncertainty

The water tower is not just a one-off

issue but, for many residents, part of a broader pattern of neglect in the Town of Hempstead.

Jacobs pointed to a stark comparison: while Uniondale’s water tower deteriorated, West Hempstead received millions of dollars for a new facility. “They took taxpayer money and invested it elsewhere while our infrastructure was failing,” she said.

Uniondale residents, Jacobs said, have been diagnosed with a variety of cancers. “People start asking questions like, ‘What’s in our water?’”

reflects “a level of neglect,” leaving residents in the dark about risks.

“When things are ignored for decades, it sends a message,” Maynard said. “The question is: whose communities get prioritized and whose are left waiting?”

researchers are still working to understand the full scope.

Rising seas, stronger storms strain water supply

“We have a single-source water supply on Long Island,” Ali FarhadZadeh, an associate professor of civil engineering at Stony Brook University, said. “The water basically comes from the ground — from the aquifer.”

Residents wonder about the safety of their water because much of the community’s infrastructure has not been fully studied, said Maynard.

An interactive map from the League of Conservation Voters shows that while neighboring Hempstead has many defined lead service lines, most of Uniondale is listed as unknown, raising concerns about potential contamination. Air studies and local health data suggest higher rates of certain conditions, such as asthma, in the community, which may be linked to environmental exposure. Experts say the lack of detailed pipe inventories and testing

She also pointed to growing concern over PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a class of human-made chemicals often referred to as “forever chemicals” because they do not break down easily in the environment or the human body. Used for decades in products designed to resist heat, water and stains — including firefighting foam, nonstick cookware and waterproof materials — PFAS have entered groundwater through industrial processes.

And because Long Island relies on a sole-source aquifer, those contaminants can persist and circulate throughout the region, Maynard said. “These weren’t things people were even looking for,” she said. “So they built up over time.”

She added that PFAS and related contaminants have been detected widely across Long Island. Exposure has been linked in studies to increased risks of cancers, hormone disruption and other long-term health effects, though

As storms grow more frequent and sea levels rise, that system is under mounting strain. Heavier rainfall is overwhelming drainage systems and saturating the ground, increasing flooding and raising the risk of saltwater intrusion.

“We have saltwater that’s in the sediment, under the ocean on the South Shore,” Ryan Wallace, assistant professor at Adelphi University’s Department of Environmental Studies and Sciences said. “That saltwater could actually make its way to make its way into and mix with the freshwater aquifer, and that’s a lot of different towns.”

While residents are not drinking saltwater, intrusion can render wells unusable and reduce the region’s supply of clean drinking water.

New York state launched a pilot program on March 8 to help residents with private wells testing for PFAS contamination and cover cleanup costs. Suffolk is among the counties expected to be

Courtesy City of Glen Cove

Former Glen Cove Mayor Reggie Spinello, second from left, toured the Duck Pond Road well’s filtration system with Public Works Director, James Byrne, far left, Denise O’Connor, Water Service Foreman Michael Colangelo, Daniel Ermmarino and Kevin Basile.

Water infrastructure faces increased demand

Continued from PreViouS PAGe

included.

Eligible homeowners can receive free testing and may qualify for rebates of up to $5,000 for filtration systems or $10,000 to connect to public water companies.

“It makes infrastructure like septic systems and pipelines very vulnerable,” FarhadZadeh said of heavy rainfall. “They’re old — they’re not built for the new norm that we have with these storm patterns.”

Low-lying communities — particularly along the South Shore and in eastern Suffolk County — face more frequent flooding and infrastructure stress. Flooding is no longer limited to major storms.

When groundwater is already close to the surface, even routine rainfall can overwhelm drainage systems, creating a direct pathway between surface pollution and the aquifer.

“When it floods, water picks up and carries a lot of pollutants with it,” Robert Hayes, Environmental Advocates NY’s senior director of clean water, said. “Those pollutants might make their way into drinking water sources, whether it’s groundwater or surface water.”

Hayes said that investing in naturebased solutions such as wetlands or rain gardens could help capture water before it carries pollutants.

Aging infrastructure adds to growing risks

Many of Long Island’s water and sewer systems were built decades ago, at a time when both population and climate pressures were lower.

“The aging infrastructure is a big deal,” FarhadZadeh said. “I think it should be taken very seriously.”

Systems not designed to handle today’s volume of stormwater can quickly become overwhelmed, increasing the likelihood of overflows, leaks or system failures.

A $250 million water infrastructure funding package announced by Gov. Kathy Hochul on March 12 includes projects aimed at upgrading aging systems and improving water quality statewide. It includes $23 million for the Village of Hempstead and $5 million for PFAS treatment in Williston Park.

Hayes said that such investments are critical, but risks — and resources — vary across the region.

“Long Island has some of the most polluted drinking water in the state of New York,” he said. “But there is much more contamination still out there, and much more still to be done to make sure that no New Yorker is exposed to harmful levels of contamination when they turn on the tap.”

“Drinking water and quality issues on Long Island — we can consider them to be disproportionately affecting certain communities,” Wallace said. “Especially communities with older infrastructure, in close proximity to industrial zones or historically industrial areas.” Communities like Uniondale and Hempstead Village, which also have fewer resources to address the problem.

Exposure to contaminated drinking water, Wallace said, has been associated with increased risks of cancers including stomach, bladder, kidney, ovarian and prostate.

As flooding increases and infrastructure continues to age, the challenge for Long Island is not just protecting its water supply, but understanding how interconnected pressures are reshaping it from the ground up.

N. Shore water divide highlights cost and quality

Glen Cove’s drinking water meets all state and federal safety standards, according to the city’s 2024 annual water quality report, but maintaining that standard has required years of infrastructure upgrades, careful management of its well system and, at times, reliance on neighboring communities.

In nearby Glen Head and Sea Cliff, water is supplied privately by Liberty Utilities, highlighting differences not only in cost, but in how water systems are maintained and experienced by residents.

Glen Cove relies on a network of six municipal wells, including sites at Duck Pond Road, Nancy Court, Seaman Road and Kelly Street. According to former Councilwoman Marsha Silverman, the system was under significant strain eight years ago , with only two of the six wells operational at the time.

Multiple wells were offline for different reasons — contamination, storm damage, long-term deterioration — forcing the city to act quickly to restore capacity.

“We had purchased a couple hundred thousand dollars’ worth of water from Locust Valley because we couldn’t supply Glen Cove,” Silverman said.

To stabilize the system, the city

implemented a multi-year plan that included installing temporary filtration systems at the Duck Pond Road wells to address freon contamination, repairing the Kelly Street well after a lightning strike, and fully rehabilitating the Seaman Road well.

That work is ongoing. In January, the City Council approved more than $700,000 in additional repairs to the Seaman Road well, awarding a $776,000 contract to Philip Ross Industries Inc. to upgrade its granular activated carbon system. The improvements are intended to better regulate PFAS, which have been linked to serious health risks, and ensure that the well remains in compliance with state Department of Health standards.

The investment follows a broader pattern of spending, with the city investing tens of millions of dollars in its water system in recent years, including a $5 million rehabilitation project completed in 2024 at the Seaman Road station. Those upgrades are necessary as state and federal guidelines for contaminants become increasingly strict.

“There was always talk about building a seventh well, because we really need it,” Silverman said.

Cost differences across the North Shore

Despite those infrastructure challenges, Glen Cove’s municipal system remains relatively affordable compared with neighboring communities, because it is publicly operated and not for profit.

Residents’ quarterly bills typically range from $40 to $50 in the winter to a few hundred dollars in the summer, depending on usage.

In contrast, residents of Glen Head and Sea Cliff — served by private systems — often face significantly higher costs, with some paying hundreds of

dollars per month. Those systems generally factor operational expenses, infrastructure upgrades and profit into their rate structures, contributing to higher bills.

For Glen Head resident Agatha Nadale, the cost is substantial — about $1,800 per year. Her concerns, however, extend beyond the money.

“I can remember [in the ’70s] we’d fill a pitcher of water in the summer and there were these, like, little squiggly things swimming in the water,” she said. She also recalled a strong chlorine taste, and said those early experiences continue to shape how she uses water today. Nadale said she relies on a wholehouse filtration system, and does not drink tap water.

“I have already saved a handful of families from buying homes where Liberty Utilities is,” she said.

While Glen Head’s system has undergone upgrades — including carbon filtration systems designed to remove PFAS and meet stricter standards for water quality — public perception has not always kept pace with those improvements.

Although Glen Cove’s system remains compliant, continued monitoring and investment will be necessary as environmental standards evolve.

That concern extends across Long Island, where all communities rely on the same groundwater source and face challenges not only of contamination and saltwater intrusion, but also of steadily increasing demand.

Looking ahead

Silverman has also raised the possibility of long-term alternatives, including desalination, though no formal plans have been established.

At the federal level, U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi said that water quality has been a longstanding priority.

“This has been a problem for a long time, and I’ve been working on improving our water quality on Long Island for over 30 years,” Suozzi said. “Dealing with aging infrastructure as mayor of Glen Cove, I realized how crucial drinking water projects were to my community. I installed one of the earliest ‘granulated activated carbon’ filtration systems on Long Island.”

“Improvements need to consistently be made to ensure our water remains safe,” he added.

For Glen Cove, the ability to draw from neighboring systems like Locust Valley provides a critical safety net. But it also highlights the importance for the city of maintaining its own infrastructure — particularly its network of wells — as demand continues to grow.

Across the North Shore, the contrast is clear: While water may come from the same aquifer, the cost, management and experience of that water can vary significantly from one community to the next.

And for residents like Nadale, of Glen Head, those differences are not abstract — they shape daily decisions about cost, safety and trust in what comes out of the tap.

Courtesy New York American Water the new York American Water treatment facility in Glen Head has updated its filtering process with the installation of two new granular-activated carbon vessels.

Blakeman looks to curtail NIFA’s oversight

By CHRIS COLUCCI ccolucci@liherald.com

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, the Republican nominee for governor, held a news conference last week to laud the county’s budget surplus and financial stability. Blakeman also called for an end to the strict oversight of the Nassau Interim Finance Authority, which was created in 2000 to monitor county finances.

“We are calling on NIFA to basically transfer from being a control authority to an advisory authority,” Blakeman said on April 10. “NIFA costs county taxpayers approximately $3 million a year in administrative expenses. That money is unnecessary. It is not doing anything to help our fiscal status.”

The $3 million cost Blakeman cited is a rough estimate of the combined salaries of the five NIFA committee members. The committee has had oversight of county spending since 2011.

“We will do everything necessary to make sure that we are no longer burdened in a control period that is completely unnecessary, unwarranted and, quite frankly, not according to the law,” Blakeman added.

Richard Kessel, chairman and director of NIFA, delivered a direct rebuttal, saying, “The only reason the county budget is balanced is that it got over $200 million in federal funding during

Covid, and it’s using that money and other reserves to balance and to hide what is a deficit.” In 2024, Blakeman’s administration moved more than $220 million received from federal pandemic aid into the county’s general fund.

Blakeman noted recent county prosperity — including seven bond upgrades in the past three and a half years and gross economic output that he described as larger than that of nearly 150 mem-

bers of the United Nations — before addressing the potential for a political slant to NIFA’s financial control.

“NIFA has been a political machine, governed by [Gov.] Kathy Hochul,” he said. “She wants to control every aspect of our business here in Nassau County, just like she has throughout the state of New York.”

Blakeman said that State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, a Democrat, has

declared that the county has no fiscal stress. And County Comptroller Elaine Phillips, a Republican, emphasized Nassau’s financial health despite rising costs statewide. “In 2024 to 2025, we saw almost a $5 million increase in health insurance costs,” Phillips said, “[and] a 23 percent increase in our pension costs.”

Phillips commended Blakeman’s decision not to raise county taxes for the entirety of his four-year tenure, and added that NIFA’s shift to an advisory role would be appropriate. “I wholly support that NIFA does not keep us in a control period,” she said.

County Treasurer David Chiang also voiced support for reduced NIFA oversight while stressing the county’s current financial position. “Nassau County is in the best fiscal shape it’s ever been in,” he said. “Without cutting services, we have maintained our service level while keeping revenues stable. Our expenses have been going down. We have budget surpluses.”

“Bruce Blakeman has no authority to decide whether there’s a control period in effect,” Kessel said. “It’s our position that a control period is absolutely necessary, and we will continue it going forward. It’s up to us to decide whether or not to decide to have a control period. If he doesn’t comply with it, we’ll take the appropriate action at the appropriate time.”

Chris Colucci/Herald

County Executive Bruce Blakeman, center, recognized the financial guidance of Comptroller Elaine Phillips and Treasurer David Chiang at a news conference last week.

Zucker School of Medicine earns top ranking

The Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell has been recognized among the nation’s top medical schools for research, earning a Tier 2 designation in the 2026 Best Graduate Schools rankings released by U.S. News & World Report.

The school ranked among the top three in New York and in the top half of medical schools nationwide for research excellence, according to the report.

The recognition comes amid a challenging funding climate for medical research, including reductions in grants from the National Institutes of Health. Research activity now accounts for 60 percent of a school’s overall ranking in the U.S. News methodology, making federal funding levels a critical factor.

Despite those pressures, the Zucker School of Medicine has maintained a strong research performance, supported by its academic programs and institutional partnerships.

U.S. News evaluates research-focused medical schools based on faculty resources, funding and the strength of training programs for physician-scientists. At Zucker, MD/PhD and PhD programs emphasize the study of human disease, translational research and applying scientific discoveries in patient care.

A key component of the school’s research environment is its partnership with Northwell Health, the state’s largest health care provider. The affiliation gives students access to an extensive clinical network, diverse patient populations and advanced research facilities.

“We are incredibly proud that our dedication to impactful research has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report, amidst federal funding challenges,” said David Battinelli, the Deborah and Lawrence Smith dean of the medical school. “This recognition is a testament to our commitment to pioneering discovery.”

Battinelli said students “benefit tremendously” from research opportunities across Northwell’s system, includ-

ing the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, as well as collaborations with institutions such as Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.

Since opening 15 years ago, the Zucker School of Medicine has built a reputation for hands-on learning, innovative programming and a strong emphasis on research. Graduates have gone on to match into competitive specialties, including surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, neurosurgery and orthopedic surgery, as well as primary care fields such as internal medicine, pediatrics and family medicine.

According to a nationwide survey conducted by the Association of American Medical Colleges, program directors report that Zucker graduates consistently exceed national expectations in professionalism, clinical skills and systems-based practice.

More information about the school and its research programs is available on its website.

— Abigail Grieco

The Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell has been recognized among the nation’s top medical schools for research, earning a Tier 2 designation in the 2026 Best Graduate Schools ranking released by U.S.

Rex Heuermann pleads guilty in Gilgo case

By ALYSSA R. GRIFFIN agriffin@liherald.com

Rex Heuermann admitted in Suffolk County Court last week to being the Gilgo Beach serial killer, and to murdering seven women whose remains were found along Ocean Parkway between 1993 and 2011.

Heuermann said on April 8 that he strangled Melissa Barthelemy, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Amber Lynn Costello, Sandra Costilla, Valerie Mack, Jessica Taylor and Megan Waterman. He also admitted to killing Karen Vergata, who disappeared in 1996. Her remains were found later on Fire Island and near Tobay Beach.

“When Rex decided that he wanted to accept responsibility and didn’t want to proceed the trial, from a defense standpoint, we then pivoted and did our best to protect his interest,” Michael Brown, Heuermann’s attorney, said. “That included the fact that he’s going to cooperate with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Behavioral Analysis Unit.”

Heuermann is expected to be sentenced to three consecutive terms of life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murders of Barthelemy, Costello and Waterman. He is also expected to receive four consecutive sentences of 25 years to life for the killings of Brainard-Barnes, Costilla, Mack and Taylor. Sentencing is scheduled for June 17.

Brown stated that with this new plea, Heuermann will face no further prosecution.

Asa Ellerup, Heuermann’s ex wife, attended the hearing with their daughter, Victoria Heuermann, and attorney Robert Macedonio.

“Rex Heuermann, and Rex Heuermann alone, is responsible for these horrific crimes,” Macedonio

said. “Any suggestion that Asa Ellerup and Victoria Heuermann were involved is irresponsible. They have no knowledge, no involvement or any connection to these heinous acts.”

“My thoughts are prayers are with the victims and their families,” Ellerup said. “Their loss is immeasurable, and the focus should be on them. I ask that you give some privacy to my family as they navigate this very difficult time.”

In January, Heuermann appeared before state Supreme Court Justice Timothy Mazzei, and his attorneys filed a 178-page omnibus motion seeking multiple forms of legal relief, including dismissal of a second-degree murder charge in the 1993 death of Costilla and a review of grand jury minutes.

He had previously pleaded not guilty, and his attorneys mounted a broad challenge to the prosecution’s case. At earlier court proceedings, the defense focused on disputing key forensic evidence, particularly DNA analysis that prosecutors said linked Heuermann to the victims.

Defense attorneys argued that the testing methods and conclusions should be closely examined, raising questions about how the evidence was collected and interpreted. They also challenged other elements of the investigation, signaling an effort to weaken the case and prepare for a potential trial.

Prosecutors maintained that the evidence was strong, citing DNA findings, cellphone data and years of investigative work that led to Heuermann’s arrest.

In September, Mazzei ruled that Heuermann would face one trial for all seven of the alleged murders.

Additional reporting by Carolyn James.

Seven women were killed between 1993 and 2010. Their remains found near Gilgo Beach and Ocean Parkway.

Rex Heuermann admitted to killing the following women:

Melissa Barthelemy — strangled July 10, 2009.

Maureen Brainard-Barnes — strangled July 9, 2007.

Amber Lynn Costello — strangled Sept. 2, 2010.

Sandra Costilla — strangled Nov. 19, 1993.

Valerie Mack — strangled and dismembered between Sept. 1 and Nov. 1, 2000.

Jessica Taylor — strangled and dismembered around July 23, 2003.

Megan Waterman — strangled June 6, 2010.

Heuermann also admitted to killing:

Karen Vergata — disappeared in 1996; remains found later on Fire Island and near Tobay Beach.

–Heuermann allocution

OUT

Destination: Outdoor escape Your backyard, reimagined

By Karen Bloom

Spring has surely sprung (at last) — and we’re very much attuned to Earth Month as we embrace the outdoors. It’s great get out and about and not feel so housebound, which leads many of us to rethink how we use our outdoor space. The season definitely invites us outside, offering a chance to reconnect with nature right at home and shape a backyard that works for everyday living.

Start by considering how your yard can better serve your household. Maybe you’re envisioning a space for easy entertaining, a safer play area for kids and pets, or simply a peaceful retreat to unwind. Increasingly, homeowners are embracing “backyarding” — bringing indoor comforts like dining, lounging and even workouts into the open air.

A little planning now can pay off all season long, with vibrant blooms, fresh herbs and a space that feels both functional and inviting.

“With the season’s first signs appearing, this is the time to prepare your garden for months of enjoyment,” garden design expert Fiona Jenkins says.

Here are her practical tips for creating a beautiful, low-maintenance yard that doesn’t demand all your free time.

Keep It Manageable

When it comes to flower beds, smaller is often smarter. Narrow beds — about one to two feet wide — are easier to plant, maintain and keep looking tidy.

Limiting plant variety can also make a big difference. Sticking to a handful of dependable options helps you better handle their needs and simplifies care. Hardy perennials such as geraniums and peonies, along with evergreen shrubs, offer reliable color year after year without the need for constant replanting.

“Once established, these plants can provide lasting beauty with minimal effort,” Jenkins says. “Just be

sure you understand their watering, feeding and pruning needs before planting.”

Build A Strong Foundation

Healthy soil is the backbone of any successful garden. Investing in rich, organic soil — and refreshing it annually with compost — helps plants thrive while reducing the necessity of frequent watering and fertilizing.

Mulch is another essential. A layer of organic material such as bark, leaves or compost helps retain moisture, regulate soil temperature and keep weeds in check — all while improving soil quality over time.

“Mulching is a great way of protecting your soil and making it last longer by helping to maintain moisture levels and prevent weeds from growing,” she explains.

Add Structure With Hardscaping

Incorporating hard surfaces like decking, patios or walkways can transform a backyard into a more usable living space. These elements provide structure, define different zones and create natural gathering areas.

Composite decking remains a popular choice for its durability and low maintenance, while natural stone, concrete or porcelain pavers offer a clean, timeless look.

Thoughtful additions like built-in lighting can extend the use of your yard into the evening, adding both safety and ambiance.

For visual interest with minimal upkeep, consider a rock garden. Combining alpine plants or succulents with layered stones and pebbles creates texture and dimension — without demanding much attention.

Try Raised Beds

Raised beds are a practical solution for both flowers and vegetables. They help contain plant growth, improve drainage and make gardening more accessible. Whether placed over existing soil or integrated into a patio design, they also serve as attractive focal points.

“A raised flower bed will stop them from spreading out of control and add a focal point of interest to your garden,” Jenkins says.

Let Nature Take The Lead

For a softer, more natural look, consider embracing a slightly “wild” aesthetic. Swapping part of a traditional lawn for a meadow-style area can reduce maintenance while supporting pollinators.

“This isn’t to say you should let it grow completely out of control, but your garden can look beautiful with the aesthetic of a grassy meadow rather than an urban space,” she continues.

Scattering wildflower seeds introduces bursts of color and attracts bees and butterflies, creating a lively, ever-changing landscape that benefits the local ecosystem.

With thoughtful choices and a bit of early effort, your backyard can become one of your favorite places to spend time this season and throughout the year — a space that feels as welcoming and comfortable as any room inside your home.

Asbury Short Film Concert

The acclaimed national touring showcase returns with a curated showcase of standout short films — many seen by the local audience for the first time. Presented by Asbury Shorts, the New York City-based long-running short film exhibitor, the program highlights an eclectic mix, including film festival favorites and Oscar-recognized selections. The dynamic lineup spans genres, from sharp comedies like “The Tailor,” where culture and confusion collide on a Brooklyn street (pictured), to compelling dramas, inventive animation and occasional thoughtprovoking documentaries. This is a rare opportunity to experience these cinematic “hidden gems” in a true theater setting — films that often don’t reach traditional big screens. These shorts provide a window into emerging filmmakers alongside early works from directors who go on to achieve major acclaim.

Friday, April 17, 7 p.m. Madison Theatre, Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. Tickets available at madisontheatreny. org or (516) 323-4444.

Micky Dolenz

Micky Dolenz celebrates the 60th anniversary of The Monkees with a special tour honoring the band’s enduring legacy and timeless sound. In this nostalgic and high-spirited performance, Dolenz takes audiences on a musical journey through The Monkees’ rise to fame, performing their biggest hits in chronological order while sharing personal stories from his decades in entertainment — as he keeps the music alive for new generations As the last surviving member of the beloved group, Dolenz brings both heart and history to the stage, paying tribute to bandmates Davy Jones, Peter Tork and Michael Nesmith, while celebrating the fans who helped transform a fictional TV band into a global sensation. This is sure to be a heartfelt, hit-filled evening that blends music, memories and a lasting connection to one of pop culture’s most iconic acts.

Sunday, April 19, 8 p.m. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.

Photos: Spring unfolds in your backyard, where patios, gardens and greenery set the stage to gather and unwind.

Your Neighborhood CALENDAR

APR 17

Friday Night Car Show

Drop by to check out hundreds of antique and custom cars, every Friday, through Oct. 30.

• Where: Bellmore LIRR parking lot on Broadway between Bellmore and Bedford avenues.

• Time: 5-10 p.m.

Evening of laughs

Comedian Mark Viera performs at The Brokerage Comedy Club. Known to his fans as the Latin Prince, he performs regularly at top clubs and venues. He made his network TV debut on NBC’s Emmy award winning show, “30 Rock,” an opportunity that piqued the interest of the industry’s most prominent executives. Tickets start at $36.

• Where: 2797 Merrick Road

• Time: 8 p.m., also April 18

• Contact: brokerage.govs.com

Family theater

It’s the final weekend for Long Island Children’s Museum staging of “Pete the Cat,” the charming musical based on the book series by Kimberly and James Dean. Life is certainly an adventure for Pete, no matter where he winds up. So the minute the groovy blue cat meets The Biddles, he gets the whole family rocking. That is, except for young Jimmy Biddle, the most organized second grader on planet Earth. But when Jimmy draws a blank in art class during the last week of school, it turns out Pete is the perfect pal to help him out. Together, they set out on a mission to help Jimmy conquer second grade art, and along the way, they both learn a little something new about inspiration. $11 with museum admission ($9 members), $15 theater only.

• Where: 11 Davis Ave., Garden City

• Time: 10:15 a.m. and noon.; also April 19

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

APR

18

An evening with “The Sopranos’ Fans of the hit HBO series have an opportunity to participate in session with cast members who share behind-thescenes stories during “A Night with the Cast of The Sopranos” at the Bellmore Movies & The Showplace. General admission start at $40.

• Where: 222 Pettit Ave.

• Time: 8-10 p.m.

• Contact: bellmoremovie.com

Once upon a time in the Bronx

Hofstra University Jazz Ensemble and Vocal Jazz Quartet. The ensembles perform original student arrangements and traditional jazz repertoire.

• Where: Hofstra’s Helene Fortunoff Theater, Monroe Lecture Center, South Campus, Hempstead

• Time: 7 p.m.

• Contact: hofstra. universitytickets.com or call the Hofstra Box Office at (516) 463-6644

APR

25

Paul Joseph Jazz Duo

Enjoy an afternoon of jazz with the Paul Joseph Duo at Merrick Library.

• Where: 2279 Merrick Ave.

• Time: 2-3 p.m.

• Contact: merricklibrary.org

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

• Time: 7:30 p.m.

• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com

Chazz Palminteri is back on the Paramount stage with his electrifying solo performance of “A Bronx Tale,” the autobiographical one-man show that launched his remarkable career. Raw, riveting and deeply personal, the play draws on Palminteri’s own bruising childhood in the Bronx, including the moment — at just nine-years-old — when he witnessed a gangland killing that would forever shape his view of the world. Onstage, Palminteri inhabits 18 vividly drawn characters, seamlessly shifting between friends, foes and family members to conjure an entire neighborhood with nothing but his voice, physicality and storytelling prowess. First written and performed in 1989, A Bronx Tale quickly became a sensation, hailed as one of the most sought-after stage properties since Rocky. The original production paved the way for the acclaimed film adaptation — directed by Robert De Niro—and later a hit Broadway musical. Born and raised in the Bronx, Palminteri stands firmly in the lineage of iconic Italian-American artists who redefined New York storytelling in the 1970s, including Martin Scorsese, De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci. Like them, he brings grit, muscle and an unflinching realism to his work, capturing both the violence and the humanity of life on those sidewalks. This return engagement offers audiences a chance to experience the original, powerhouse performance that started it all — up close, uncompromising and unforgettable.

and design services. Experts are ready to provide guidance on enhancing your living spaces, ensuring every corner of your home meets your needs and style.

• Where: Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale

• Time: Opens 10 a.m., also April 19

• Contact: ticketmaster.com

‘Dog Days’ Weekend and Dog Festival

Get ready to wag those tails, at Old Westbury Gardens with your pooch (leashed of course), Bring your canine companions for a scenic stroll through grounds bursting spring’s first blooms. With a curated lineup of local pet and dog-focused vendors offering treats, accessories, services, and more — ust for your pup (and you!).

• Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury

• Time: 10 a.m.-6 p.m., also April 19

• Contact: oldwestburygardens. org or call (516) 333-0048

Jazzin’ with Kirk Whalum

The sax icon appears at the Madison Theatre. He blasts off with his highly-anticipated new album “Epic Cool.” an

electrifying collection of original grooves. Whalum focuses on his songwriting to craft an album that’s passionate and spirited on a monumental scale, but with his trademark soul. Get ready to groove, because like his new album, Whalum is anything but ordinary.

• Where: Madison Theatre, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre

• Time: 8 p.m.

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

‘Romantic Rendezvous’

Old Westbury Gardens chamber ensemble in residence, Poetica Musica welcomes the season in the intimate and elegant Red Ballroom of Westbury House. Renowned pianists Javor Bracic and Angelina Gadeliya make their series debut, performing solo and duo piano works by Chopin, Schubert, Fauré, Barber, and others.The program includes Sonata in A minor by Franz Schubert, Dolly Suite for piano four hands by Gabriel Fauré, Rondo, Op. 5 by Frédéric Chopin, Souvenirs for piano four hands by Samuel Barber, and Crimean Sketches for solo piano by Serhii Bortkiewicz. Advance ticket purchase required. A pre-concert talk will take place at 7:30 pm, followed by a reception after the concert on the West

Porch. $30, $25 for members, seniors and students.

• Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury

• Time: 8-9:30 p.m.

• Contact: oldwestburygardens. org or call (516) 333-0048

APR

19

Art Reception: Through the Lens of Glenn Urquhart Award-winning local photographer Glenn Urquhart presents a collection of his work at Merrick Library.

• Where: 2279 Merrick Ave.

• Time: 1:30-4:30 p.m.

• Contact: merricklibrary.org

Benefit Jazz Concert

Local musicians gather for a special benefit jazz concert featuring three bands. $10 for admission

• Where: CBO Annex 2655 Clubhouse Road

• Time: 2 p.m.

APR

20

Hofstra Jazz Ensemble

All are welcome to“An Evening of Jazz,” with the

Spring Sips/Sweet Treats

Enjoy a spring afternoon with wine and spirit tastings, pastries and pizza hosted by Sip & Say Craft Wine & Spirits.

• Where: 2067 Merrick Road

• Time: 3-7 p.m.

• Contact: sipsay.com

APR

27

Superhero Story and Craft Families with children ages 2-5 are welcome to celebrate National Superhero Day at Merrick Library. Enjoy fun stories and a creative craft; design your very own cape to show off the superpowers you’d love to have. Registration required.

• Where: 2279 Merrick Ave.

• Time: 10:30 a.m.-11:15 a.m.

• Contact: merricklibrary.org

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.

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

AVISO DE AUDIENCIA

PÚBLICA

BELLMORE-MERRICK

CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT

CIUDAD DE HEMPSTEAD

CONDADO DE NASSAU, NUEVA YORK

EL AVISO SE HA DADO

AQUÍ que la Junta de Educación del BellmoreMerrick Central High School District celebrará una audiencia pública el 6 de mayo de 2026, a las 7:30 p.m. en la Sala de la Junta del Edificio de Administración Central ubicado en la Centro Educative Brookside, 1260 Meadowbrook Road, Merrick, Nueva York, con el propósito de tramitar todos los negocios según lo autorizado por la Ley de Educación, que incluye, entre otros, la discusión de los gastos de fondos y presupuestos, por lo tanto, en relación con la apropriación de fondos necesarios para cubrir los gastos necesarios del Distrito Central de Escuelas Secundarias para el año escolar 2026-2027 y sobre las propuestas que involucran el gasto de fondos o la recaudación de impuestos, en qué momento y en qué lugar todas las personas interesadas en el tema del mismo en relación con el mismo tendrán la oportunidad de ser escuchadas.

Y TAMBIÉN SE DE AVISO que una copia del estado de la cantidad de dinero que se requerirá para el año siguiente con fines escolares (presupuesto escolar) y copias de las propuestas relacionadas con el gasto de dinero y el funcionamiento del sistema escolar para el año siguiente , estará disponible para cualquier contribuyente en el Distrito siete días inmediatamente antes de la audiencia pública, excepto los sábados, domingos o días festivos, en cada escuela en la que se mantenga la escuela durante las horas de 8:00 a.m. y 4:00 p.m.

Y TAMBIÉN SE DE AVISO que un Informe de Exención del Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles, preparado de acuerdo con la Sección 495 de la Ley del Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles, se adjuntará a cualquier presupuesto provisional / preliminar, así como al presupuesto adoptado final del cual formará parte; y se publicarán en el (los) tablón (s) de boletines del Distrito que se mantendrá para

avisos públicos, así como en el sitio web del Distrito

POR ORDEN DE LA JUNTA DE EDUCACIÓN BELLMORE-MERRICK CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT

PATTIANNE GUCCIONE SECRETARIO DE DISTRITO

El aviso anterior se publicará en los periódicos Herald de Bellmore y Herald de Merrick el Jueves, el 2 de abril de 2026, el 16 de abril de 2023 y el 30 de abril de 2026. 159353

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING OF THE BELLMOREMERRICK CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD COUNTY OF NASSAU, NEW YORK

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Education of the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District will hold a Public Hearing on May 6, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. in the Boardroom of the Central Administration Building located at the Brookside Educational Center, 1260 Meadowbrook Road, Merrick, New York, for the purpose of transacting all business as is authorized by the Education Law, including, but not limited to, discussion of the expenditure of funds and budgeting therefore relative to the appropriation of necessary funds to meet the necessary expenditures of the Central High School District for the school year 2026-2027 and on propositions involving the expenditure of funds or the levy of tax, at which time and which place all persons interested in the subject matter thereof concerning the same will have an opportunity to be heard.

AND NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that a copy of the statement of the amount of money which will be required for the ensuing year for school purposes (school budget) and copies of propositions involving expenditure of moneys and the operation of the school system for the ensuing year, will be available to any taxpayer in the District seven days immediately preceding the public hearing except Saturday,

Sunday or holidays, at each schoolhouse in which school is maintained during the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

AND NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that a Real Property Tax Exemption Report, prepared in accordance with Section 495 of the Real Property Tax Law, will be annexed to any tentative/preliminary budget as well as the final adopted budget of which it will form a part; and shall be posted on District Bulletin board(s) maintained for public notices, as well as on the District’s website.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION BELLMORE-MERRICK

CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT PATTIANNE GUCCIONE DISTRICT CLERK

The above notice will be published in the Bellmore and Merrick Herald Life newspapers on Thursday, April 2, 2026, April 16, 2026, April 30, 2026 and May 14, 2026. 159351

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF ANNUAL SCHOOL DISTRICT VOTE OF THE BELLMOREMERRICK CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU, NEW YORK

NOTICE IS HEREBY

GIVEN that the annual vote of the qualified voters of the BellmoreMerrick Central High School District, Nassau County, New York, will be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at the several polling places designated by the Bellmore, Merrick, North Bellmore, and North Merrick Union Free School Districts, as follows:

BELLMORE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT, at the Charles A. Reinhard Early Childhood Center, 2750 South St. Marks Avenue, Bellmore, New York between 6:30 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.

MERRICK UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT, at the Merrick District Office-Katherine E. Reif Administration Center, 21 Babylon Road, Merrick, New York, between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.

NORTH BELLMORE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT, at the Newbridge Road School, 1601 Newbridge Road,

North Bellmore, New York, between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.

NORTH MERRICK UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT, at the North Merrick Public Library, 1691 Meadowbrook Road, North Merrick, New York, between 6:30 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.

For the following purposes:

a.) To vote upon the annual school budget for the year 2026-2027 and to authorize the levying of a tax upon the taxable property of the district for the foregoing purposes.

b.) To vote upon such other propositions as may properly come before the voters.

AND NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that registration shall be conducted at the several polling places stated above by the Boards of Registration of the several component districts as follows: the Bellmore Union Free School District at the District Office, Winthrop Avenue School, 580 Winthrop Avenue, Bellmore, New York, on all school days of the school year until five (5) days preceding the vote between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.; the Merrick Union Free School District at the Administrative Office, 21 Babylon Road, Merrick, New York on all school days of the school year until five (5) days preceding the vote between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.; the North Bellmore Union Free School District at the Office of the District Clerk, 2616 Martin Avenue, Bellmore, New York, on all school days of the school year until five (5) days preceding the vote between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.; and the North Merrick Union Free School District at the Harold D. Fayette School, 1057 Merrick Avenue, Merrick, New York, on all school days of the school year until five (5) days preceding the vote between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. for the purpose of preparing a register of the qualified voters entitled to vote at the school meeting and election for which such register is prepared, in the manner provided by law. The register, as so prepared, will be filed in the office of the clerk at each of the respective Union Free School

Districts as set forth in this notice of meeting and such register is to be open for inspection at reasonable times for at least five (5) days prior to the date set for voting on the budget and election, except Sunday, and by appointment on the Saturday prior to the election at each elementary district.

AND NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that a person shall be entitled to vote at the annual meeting and election who is a citizen of the United States, eighteen years of age, a resident of the Union Free School District in which he intends to vote for a period of thirty days next preceding the election he offers to vote and registered to vote for said election. A person shall be registered to vote if he or she shall have permanently registered with the Nassau County Board of Elections or with the Board of Registration of the component Union Free School District in which he resides. Only persons who shall be registered shall be entitled to vote.

AND NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the Boards of Registration of the several component Union Free School Districts will meet during the hours of voting on May 19, 2026 at the polling places in each of the Union Free School Districts for the purpose of preparing a register for district meetings or elections to be held subsequent to May 19, 2026; said register shall include (1) all qualified voters of the Union Free School Districts, who shall present themselves personally for registration; and (2) all qualified voters permanently registered with the Nassau County Board of Elections.

AND NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that a copy of the statement of the amount of money which will be required for the ensuing year for school purposes (school budget) and copies of propositions involving expenditure of moneys and the operation of the school system for the ensuing year, may be obtained by any resident in the District during the fourteen days immediately preceding the annual vote except Saturday, Sunday or holidays, at school district offices and any schoolhouse within the district and on the

district’s website.

AND NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that applications for early mail voting and absentee ballots for the school district election may be applied for at the Office of the Clerk of the District. Applications for early mail voting and absentee ballots must be received by the District Clerk no earlier than thirty (30) days before the election. Furthermore, such application must be received by the District Clerk at least seven days before the election if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the election if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter or his/ her designated agent. Upon receiving a timely request for a mailed ballot, the District Clerk will mail the ballot to the address set forth in the application by no later than six (6) days before the vote. No early mail voting or absentee voter’s ballot will be canvassed unless it has been received in the office of the District Clerk not later than 5:00 P.M. (prevailing time) on the day of the election. A list of all persons to whom early mail voting and absentee ballots shall have been issued will be available for inspection at the Office of the Clerk until the day of the vote.

AND NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that military voters who are not currently registered may apply to register as a qualified voter of the school district. Military voters who are qualified voters of the school district may submit an application for a military ballot. Military voters may designate a preference to receive a military voter registration, military ballot application or military ballot by mail, facsimile transmission or electronic mail in their request for such registration, ballot application or ballot. Military voter registration forms and military ballot application forms must be received in the office of the District Clerk of the school district no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 23, 2026. No military ballot will be canvassed unless it is (1) received in the office of the District Clerk before the close of the polls on election day and showing a cancellation mark of the United States postal service or a

foreign country’s postal service, or showing a dated endorsement of receipt by another agency of the United States government; or (2) received by the office of the District Clerk by no later than 5:00 p.m. on election day and signed and dated by the military voter and one witness thereto, with a date which is associated to be not later than the day before the election.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION

BELLMORE-MERRICK

CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT

PATTIANNE GUCCIONE DISTRICT CLERK

The above notice will be published in the Bellmore Herald and Merrick Herald newspapers on Thursday, April 2, 2026, April 16, 2026, April 30, 2026 and May 14, 2026. 159355

LEGAL NOTICE AVISO DE VOTO ANUAL DEL DISTRITO ESCOLAR

BELLMORE-MERRICK CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT CIUDAD DE HEMPSTEAD, CONDADO DE NASSAU, NUEVA YORK

EL AVISO SE HA DADO AQUI que el voto anual de los votantes calificados del BellmoreMerrick Central High School District, el Condado de Nassau, Nueva York, se llevará a cabo el Martes, el 19 de mayo de 2026, en los varios lugares de votación designados por el Bellmore, Merrick, North Bellmore y North Merrick Union Free School Districts, de la siguiente manera:

BELLMORE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT, en el Charles A. Reinhard Early Childhood Center, 2750 South St. Marks Avenue, Bellmore, New York, entre las 6:30 a.m. y las 9:00 p.m.

MERRICK UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT, en la Merrick District Office-Katherine E. Reif Administration Center, 21 Babylon Road, Merrick, Nueva York, entre las 7:00 a.m. y las 9:00 p.m.

NORTH BELLMORE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT en la escuela Newbridge Road, 1601 Newbridge Road, North Bellmore, Nueva York, entre las 6:00 a.m. y las 9:00 p.m.

NORTH MERRICK UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT,

en la Biblioteca Pública de North Merrick, 1691 Meadowbrook Road, North Merrick, Nueva York, entre las 6:30 a.m. y las 9:00 p.m.

Para los siguientes propósitos:

a. Para votar sobre el presupuesto escolar anual para el año 2026-2027 y para autorizar la imposición de un impuesto sobre la propiedad sujeta a impuestos del distrito para los propósitos anteriores.

b. Para votar sobre otras proposiciones que puedan presentarse adecuadamente antes los votantes.

Y TAMBIÉN SE DA AVISO que el registro se llevará a cabo en los lugares de votación indicados anteriormente por Las Juntas de Registro de los varios distritos componentes de la siguiente manera: la Bellmore Union Free School District en la Oficina del Distrito, Winthrop Avenue School, 580 Winthrop Avenue, Bellmore, Nueva York, en todos los días de clases del año escolar hasta cinco (5) días anteriores a la votación entre el horario de 9:00 a.m. y las 3:00 p.m.; la Merrick Union Free School District en la Oficina Administrativa, 21 Babylon Road, Merrick, Nueva York, en todos los días de clases del año escolar hasta cinco (5) días anteriores a la votación entre las horas de 9:30 a.m. y 3:30 p.m.; la North Bellmore Union Free School District en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito, 2616 Martin Avenue, Bellmore, Nueva York, y en todos los días de clases del año escolar hasta cinco (5) días anteriores a la votación entre el horario de 9:00 a.m. y las 3:00 p.m.; y la North Merrick Union Free School District en la escuela Harold D. Fayette, 1057 Merrick Avenue, Merrick, Nueva York, en todos los días escolares del año escolar hasta cinco (5) días antes de la votación entre las 9:00 a.m. y 3:30 p.m. con el fin de preparar un registro de los votantes calificados con derecho a votar en la reunión de la escuela y la elección para la que dicho registro es preparado, en la forma prevista por la ley. El registro, como así preparado, será archivado en la Oficina del Secretario (District

16,

Public Notices

Clerk) en cada uno de los respectivos Distritos Unión Libre como se establece en este aviso y dicho registro sera abierto por inspección en horas razonables hasta cinco (5) días antes de la fecha establecida para votar sobre el presupuesto y la elección del distrito, excepto el domingo, y por cita el sábado anterior de la elección en cada distrito elemental.

Y TAMBIÉN SE DA AVISO que una persona quien es cuidadano de Los Estados Unidos, tenga diez y ocho años de edad y es residente del Distrito Escolar de la Unión en el que se tiene la intención de votar a favor un período de treinta días antes de la elección y esta registrado para votar para la elección dicha tendrá derecho a votar. Una persona debera ser registrada para votar si el o ella han registrado permanente con La Junta de Elecciones del Condado de Nassau (Nassau County Board of Elections) o con La Junta de Registro (Board of Registration) del distrito donde el o ella reside. Solamente las personas que estan registradas tienen el derecho para votar.

Y ADEMÁS SE NOTIFICA que Las Juntas de Registro (Boards of Registration) de las varias escuelas componentes tendran una reunion el 19 de mayo 2026 durante las horas de votación en los lugares de votación en cada escuela para el propósito de preparer el registro para que las elecciones tendran lugar despues del 19 de mayo 2026; El Registro incluirá (1) todos los votantes calificados de las escuelas, quines se presentáran personalemente para registro; y (2) todos votantes calificados permanente registrados con la Junta Electoral del Condado de Nassau (Nassau County Board of Elections).

Y TAMBIÉN

SE DA AVISO que una copia de la declaración de la cantidad de dinero que se requerirá para el año siguiente para fines escolares (presupuesto escolar) y copias de las propuestas que involucran gastos de dinero y el funcionamiento del sistema escolar para el año siguiente , puede ser obtenido por cualquier residente del Distrito

durante los catorce días inmediatamente anteriores a la votación anual, excepto sábados, domingos o días festivos, en las oficinas del distrito escolar y en cualquier escuela dentro del distrito y en el sitio web del distrito.

Y TAMBIÉN

SE DA AVISO que las solicitudes de votación anticipada por correo y boletas en ausencia para las elecciones del distrito escolar se pueden solicitar en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito. Las solicitudes de votación anticipada por correo y de voto en ausencia deben ser recibidas por el Secretario del Distrito no antes de treinta (30) días antes de la elección. Además, dicha solicitud debe ser recibida por el Secretario de Distrito al menos siete días antes de la elección si la boleta se enviará por correo al votante, o el día antes de la elección si la boleta se entregará personalmente al votante o a su agente designado. Al recibir una solicitud oportuna de una boleta por correo, el Secretario del Distrito enviará la boleta por correo a la dirección indicada en la solicitud a más tardar seis (6) días antes de la votación. No se escrutará ninguna boleta de votación anticipada por correo ni de votante ausente a menos que se haya recibido en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito a más tardar a las 5:00 p. m. (horario predominante) del día de la elección. Una lista de todas las personas a quienes se les habrá emitido la votación anticipada por correo y el voto en ausencia estará disponible para su inspección en la Oficina del Secretario hasta el día de la votación.

Y TAMBIÉN SE DA AVISO de que los votantes militares que no están registrados actualmente pueden registrarse como votantes calificados del distrito escolar. Los votantes militares que sean votantes calificados del distrito escolar pueden presentar una solicitud para una boleta militar. Los votantes militares pueden designar una preferencia para recibir un registro de votante militar, una solicitud de boleta militar o una boleta militar por correo, transmisión por fax o correo electrónico en su solicitud de dicho

registro, solicitud de boleta o boleta. Las formas de registro de votantes militares y las formas de solicitud de boletas militares deben ser recibidas en la oficina del secretario de distrito del distrito escolar no más tarde que a las 5:00 p.m. el 23 de abril de 2026. No se escrutará ninguna boleta militar a menos que (1) se reciba en la oficina del Secretario de Distrito antes del cierre de las urnas el día de las elecciones y que muestre una marca de cancelación del servicio postal de los Estados Unidos o de un servicio postal de un país extranjero, o mostrando un endoso fechado de recibo de otra agencia del gobierno de los Estados Unidos; o (2) recibido por la oficina del secretario de distrito no más tarde que las 5:00 p.m. el día de la elección y firmada y fechada por el votante militar y un testigo del mismo, con una fecha que se asocia a no ser mas tarde del día anterior de la elección.

POR ORDEN DE LA JUNTA DE EDUCACIÓN

BELLMORE-MERRICK

CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT

PATTIANNE GUCCIONE

SECRETARIO DE

DISTRITO

El aviso anterior se publicará en los periódicos Herald de Bellmore y Herald de Merrick el Jueves, el 2 de abril de 2026, el 16 de abril de 2026 y el 30 de abril de 2026 y el 14 de mayo de 2026. 159357

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING, PUBLIC HEARING, ELECTION, AND REGISTRATION OF VOTERS

NORTH BELLMORE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT

NORTH BELLMORE, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK

Pursuant to Section 1716 of Education Law a Public Hearing for discussion of the proposed 2026/27 School District Budget, and such other business as may come before the meeting, will be held on May 05, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. at the Administration Building on Martin Avenue, Bellmore, New York. A copy of the state of the amount of monies which will be required for the 2026/27 school year for school purposes may be

obtained, upon request, by any school district resident commencing April 30, 2026 during the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. except for Saturdays, Sundays or holidays.

FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Vote of the qualified voters of the North Bellmore Union Free School District will be held at the Newbridge Road School, North Bellmore, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 for the following purpose:

A. To vote upon the Annual School Budget for the school year 2026-2027 and to authorize levying of a tax upon the taxable property of the North Bellmore School District for such purposes.

B. The election of one (1) member of the Board of Education.

C. To vote upon such other propositions as may properly come before the meeting.

Voting will be by ballot on voting machines and the polls will remain open for voting from 6:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m., and as much longer as may be necessary for all voters then present to cast their votes. Voting will be in the gymnasium of the Newbridge Road School.

Copies of the proposed 2026/27 budget will be available at each of the offices of the school houses in the district, J. G. Dinkelmeyer School, Newbridge Road School, Park Avenue School, Saw Mill Road School and Martin Avenue School between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on each day other than a Saturday, Sunday or holiday during the fourteen (14) days preceding the Annual Vote, and on the school’s website.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE pursuant to Real Property Tax Law Section 495, an exemption report detailing exemptions from real property taxation shall be available and appended to any tentative, preliminary or final budget.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the election of members of the Board of Education will be as follows:

One (1) member of the Board of Education; for full terms of three (3) years, commencing July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2029.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that nominating petitions for candidates for the Board of Education must be filed with the District Clerk between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. not later than April 20, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Each petition shall state the name and residence of each signor, shall state the name and residence of the candidate, and must be signed by not less than thirty (30) qualified voters of the school district for election of members of the Board of Education. Vacancies on the Board of Education are not considered separate, specific offices; candidates run at large. Nominating petitions shall not describe any specific vacancy upon the Board for which the candidate is nominated.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that at the Annual Vote, qualified voters of the BellmoreMerrick Central High School District shall vote for the following purposes:

A. To vote upon the annual budget of the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District for the year 2026-2027 and to authorize the levying of a tax upon the taxable property of the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District for such purposes.

B. To vote upon such other propositions as may properly come before the voters.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that pursuant to Education Law §2014 personal registration of voters is required, and no person shall be entitled to vote at the District Meeting whose name does not appear on the register of the District. Voter registration for the District will be ongoing through and including Thursday, May 14, 2026, from 9:00 o’clock A.M. until 3:00 o’clock P.M. (Prevailing Time), on all school days of the school year, at the office of the District Clerk, for the purpose of preparing a register of the qualified voters of the District for said District Meeting, at which time any person shall be entitled to have

his/her name placed upon such register, provided that he/she is known or proven to be then or thereafter entitled to vote at said District Meeting for which such register is prepared. Immediately upon its completion, the register will be filed in the office of the District Clerk, 2616 Martin Avenue, Bellmore, New York, and will be open for inspection by any qualified voter of the District between the hours of 9:00 o’clock A.M. and 3:00 o’clock P.M. (Prevailing Time) on each of the five (5) days prior to the District Meeting for which it was prepared, except Sunday, and on Saturday, May 16, 2026 by appointment only.

NOTICE IS FURTHER

GIVEN that pursuant to Education Law §2018a and Education Law §2018-e applications for absentee and early mail ballots may be applied for at the office of the District Clerk. The District Clerk must receive applications for absentee and early mail ballots no earlier than thirty (30) days before the election. Furthermore, the District Clerk must receive such application at least seven days before the election if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the election if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter or his/her designated agent. Upon receiving a timely request for a mailed absentee or early mail ballot, the District Clerk will mail the ballot to the address set forth in the application, by no later than six (6) days before the vote. No absentee or early mail voter’s ballot will be canvassed unless it has been received in the office of the District Clerk not later than 5:00 P.M. (prevailing time) on the day of the election.

NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that a person shall be entitled to vote at the annual meeting and election who is a citizen of the United States, eighteen years of age, a resident of the District for a period of thirty days next preceding the election he offers to vote and registered to vote for said election. A person shall be registered to vote if he or she shall have permanently registered with the Nassau County Board of Elections or with the Board of Registration of the school district. Only persons who shall be registered shall be entitled to vote.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the Board of Registration will meet during the hours of voting on May 19, 2026 at the polling place of the school district for the purpose of preparing a register for District meetings or elections to be held subsequent to May 19, 2026. Said register shall include (1) all qualified voters of the school district who shall present themselves personally for registration; and (2) all qualified voters permanently registered with the Nassau County Board of Elections.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that military voters who are not currently registered may apply to register as a qualified voter of the school district. Military voters who are qualified voters of the school district may submit an application for a military ballot. Military voters may designate a preference to receive a military voter registration, military ballot application or military ballot by mail, facsimile transmission or electronic mail in their request for such registration, ballot application or ballot. Military voter registration forms and military ballot application forms must be received in the office

A list of all persons to whom absentee and early mail ballots shall have been issued will be available in the office of the District Clerk, 2616 Martin Avenue, North Bellmore, New York, commencing with the issuance of the first absentee or early mail ballot and during regular business hours on each of the five (5) days prior to the day of the election between the hours of 9:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M. (Prevailing Time), except Sunday and on Saturday, May 16, 2026 by appointment only. Such list will also be available at the polling place on the date of the vote. No absentee or early mail voter’s ballot shall be canvassed unless it shall have been received in the office of the District Clerk of the North Bellmore Union Free School District not later than 5:00 o’clock P.M. (Prevailing Time) on the day of Annual District Meeting.

of the District Clerk of the school district no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 23, 2026. No military ballot will be canvassed unless it is (1) received in the office of the District Clerk before the close of the polls on election day and showing a cancellation mark of the United States postal service or a foreign country’s postal service, or showing a dated endorsement of receipt by another agency of the United States government; or (2) received by the office of the District Clerk by no later than 5:00 p.m. on election day and signed and dated by the military voter and one witness thereto, with a date which is associated to be not later than the day before the election.

BY THE ORDER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION

Laurice Gunnels District Clerk

This information is provided in Spanish in compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965. 159359

LEGAL NOTICE AVISO DE REUNIÓN ANUAL, AUDIENCIA PÚBLICA, ELECCIÓN, Y EL REGISTRO DE VOTANTES

DISTRITO ESCOLAR NORTH BELLMORE UNION FREE NORTH BELLMORE, MUNICIPIO DE HEMPSTEAD, CONDADO DE NASSAU, NUEVA YORK

De acuerdo con la Sección 1716 de la Ley de Educación, se celebrará una Audiencia Pública para debatir el presupuesto propuesto del Distrito Escolar 2026/27 y cualquier otro asunto que pueda surgir antes de la reunión, el 5 de mayo de 2026 a las 19:30 horas en el Edificio de Administración en Martin Avenue, Bellmore, Nueva York. Cualquier residente del distrito escolar a partir del 30 de abril de 2026 de 2026 a fin escolar podrá obtener una copia del estado del importe que se requerrá para el curso escolar 2026 a petición de cualquier residente del distrito escolar a partir del 30 de abril de 2026, excepto sábados, domingos y 15:00, excepto sábados, domingos o festivos.

SE DA UN AVISO ADICIONAL de que la votación anual de los votantes cualificados del Distrito Escolar

Public Notices

Libre de North Bellmore Union se celebrará en la escuela Newbridge Road, North Bellmore, el martes 19 de mayo de 2026 con el siguiente propósito:

A. Para votar sobre el Presupuesto Anual de la Escuela para el curso escolar 2026-2027 y autorizar la imposición de un impuesto sobre los bienes gravables del Norte Distrito Escolar de Bellmore para tales fines.

B. La elección de uno (1) miembro de la Junta de Educación.

C. Votar sobre otras proposiciones que puedan presentarse adecuadamente ante la reunión.

La votación se realizará por papeleta en las máquinas de votación y las urnas permanecerán abiertas desde las 6:00 a.m. hasta las 9:00 p.m., y durante todo el tiempo que sea necesario para que todos los votantes presentes puedan emitir su voto. La votación se realizará en el gimnasio de la escuela Newbridge Road.

Copias del presupuesto propuesto para 2026/27 estarán disponibles en cada una de las oficinas de las escuelas del distrito: J. G. Dinkelmeyer School, Newbridge Road School, Park Avenue School, Saw Mill Road School y Martin Avenue School entre las 9:00 y las 15:00 horas de cada día excepto sábado, domingo o festivo durante los catorce (14) días previos a la Votación Anual, y en la página web del colegio.

POR FAVOR, TOME MÁS NOTA conforme a la Sección 495 de la Ley del Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles, estará disponible un informe de exención detallando exenciones de la tributación sobre bienes inmuebles que se adjuntará a cualquier presupuesto tentativo, preliminar o final.

POR FAVOR, TOME NOTA de que la elección de los miembros de la Junta de Educación será la siguiente:

Un (1) miembro de la Junta de Educación; por mandatos completos de tres (3) años, comenzando el 1 de julio de 2026 y finalizando el 30 de junio de 2029.

SE NOTIFICA ADEMÁS que las peticiones de nominación para

candidatos a la Junta de Educación deben presentarse ante el Secretario del Distrito entre las 9:00 y las 15:00 horas, a más tardar el 20 de abril de 2026 a las 17:00. Cada petición deberá indicar el nombre y la residencia de cada señor, el nombre y la residencia del candidato, y deberá ser firmada por no menos de treinta (30) votantes cualificados del distrito escolar para la elección de los miembros de la Junta de Educación. Las vacantes en la Junta de Educación no se consideran cargos separados o específicos; los candidatos se presentan en la categoría de votos libres. Las peticiones de nominación no describirán ninguna vacante específica en la Junta para la que el candidato sea nominado.

POR FAVOR, TOME NOTA de que en la votación anual, los votantes cualificados del Distrito Escolar Central de BellmoreMerrick deberán votar para los siguientes fines:

A. Votar sobre el presupuesto anual del instituto BellmoreMerrick Central High Distrito Escolar para el año 2026-2027 y autorizar la recaudación de un impuesto sobre la propiedad sujeta a impuestos del instituto Bellmore-Merrick Central High School Distrito para tales fines.

B. Votar sobre otras proposiciones que puedan presentarse adecuadamente ante el votantes.

SE NOTIFICA ADEMÁS que, conforme a la Ley de Educación §2014, se requiere el registro personal de votantes, y ninguna persona tendrá derecho a votar en la Asamblea del Distrito cuyo nombre no figure en el registro del Distrito. El registro de votantes para el Distrito continuará hasta el jueves 14 de mayo de 2026, desde las 9:00 a.m. hasta las 3:00 p.m. (hora vigente), en todos los días escolares del curso escolar, en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito, con el fin de preparar un registro de los votantes cualificados del Distrito para dicha reunión del distrito, en ese momento, cualquier persona tendrá derecho a que su nombre se incluya en dicho registro, siempre que se sepa o se demuestre que tiene

derecho a voto en dicha Asamblea de Distrito para la que dicho registro se prepare. Inmediatamente después de su finalización, el registro se archivará en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito, 2616 Martin Avenue, Bellmore, Nueva York, y estará abierto para la inspección de cualquier votante cualificado del Distrito entre las 9:00 y las 15:00 (hora vigente) de cada uno de los cinco (5) días previos a la reunión del distrito para la que fue preparado, excepto el domingo y el sábado 16 de mayo de 2026 solo con cita previa.

SE NOTIFICA ADEMÁS que, conforme a la Ley de Educación §2018-a y la Ley de Educación §2018-e, las solicitudes para papeletas por correo anticipado y por correo anticipado pueden solicitarse en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito. El Secretario del Distrito debe recibir solicitudes para votos por correo anticipado y por correo anticipado no antes de treinta (30) días antes de la elección. Además, el Secretario del Distrito debe recibir dicha solicitud al menos siete días antes de la elección si la papeleta debe enviarse al votante, o el día antes de la elección si la papeleta debe entregarse personalmente al votante o a su agente designado. Al recibir una solicitud oportuna de una papeleta por correo por correo anticipado o por correo postal, el Secretario del Distrito enviará la papeleta a la dirección indicada en la solicitud, a más tardar seis (6) días antes de la votación. No se solicitará el voto de votación por correo anticipado o por correo anticipado a menos que se haya recibido en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito a más tardar a las 17:00 horas (hora vigente) el día de la elección.

Una lista de todas las personas a las que se hayan emitido papeletas por correo anticipado y por correo anticipado estará disponible en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito, 2616 Martin Avenue, North Bellmore, Nueva York, comenzando con la emisión de la primera papeleta por correo por correo anticipado y durante el horario laboral regular en cada uno de los cinco (5) días previos al día de

la elección, entre las 9:00 y las 15:00 (hora vigente), excepto el domingo y el sábado 16 de mayo de 2026 solo con cita previa. Dicha lista también estará disponible en el colegio electoral en la fecha de la votación. No se podrá hacer campaña de votación por correo o por correo anticipado a menos que se haya recibido en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito Escolar Libre de North Bellmore Union a más tardar a las 17:00 horas (hora vigente) del día de la Asamblea Anual del Distrito.

TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que una persona tendrá derecho a votar en la asamblea anual y elección que sea ciudadano de los Estados Unidos, de dieciocho años, residente del Distrito por un periodo de treinta días antes de la elección que ofrezca votar y registrada para votar en dicha elección. Una persona estará registrada para votar si se ha registrado permanentemente en la Junta Electoral del Condado de Nassau o en la Junta de Registro del distrito escolar. Solo las personas que vayan a estar registradas tendrán derecho a voto.

SE NOTIFICA ADEMÁS que la Junta de Registro se reunirá durante el horario de votación del 19 de mayo de 2026 en el colegio electoral del distrito escolar con el fin de preparar un registro para las reuniones o elecciones del distrito que se celebrarán después del 19 de mayo de 2026. Dicho registro incluirá (1) todos los votantes cualificados del distrito escolar que se presenten personalmente para su registro; y (2) todos los votantes cualificados registrados permanentemente en la Junta Electoral del Condado de Nassau.

SE AVISA ADEMÁS de que los votantes militares que no estén actualmente registrados pueden solicitar registrarse como votantes cualificados del distrito escolar. Los votantes militares que sean votantes cualificados del distrito escolar pueden presentar una solicitud para una papeleta militar. Los votantes militares pueden designar una preferencia para recibir un registro de votante militar, solicitud de

papeleta militar o papeleta militar por correo, transmisión por fax o correo electrónico en su solicitud de dicho registro, solicitud de papeleta o papeleta. Los formularios de registro de votantes militares y los formularios de solicitud de papeleta militar deben recibirse en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito escolar a más tardar a las 17:00 horas del 23 de abril de 2026. No se revisará ninguna papeleta militar a menos que (1) se reciba en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito antes del cierre de las urnas el día de las elecciones y muestre una marca de cancelación del servicio postal de Estados Unidos o del servicio postal de un país extranjero, o que muestre una avalación fechada de recepción por parte de otra agencia del gobierno de Estados Unidos; o (2) recibido por la oficina del Secretario del Distrito a más tardar a las 17:00 horas del día de las elecciones y firmado y fechado por el votante militar y un testigo, con una fecha asociada a no más tardar que el día anterior a la elección.

POR ORDEN DE LA JUNTA DE EDUCACIÓN

Laurice Gunnels Secretario de distrito

Esta información se proporciona en español en cumplimiento de la Ley de Derecho al Voto de 1965. 159361

LEGAL NOTICE ELECTION AND REGISTRATION OF VOTERS, MERRICK UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND MERRICK PUBLIC LIBRARY

TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that a public budget hearing of the Merrick Union Free School District, Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York, will be held at the Lakeside Elementary School, Merrick, New York on May 5, 2026 at 7:15 p.m. for the purpose of discussion of the expenditure of funds for the 2026-2027 school year and the budgeting thereof and for such other business as is authorized by the Education Law of the State of New York.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN, that a public budget hearing of the Merrick Library will be held at the Merrick Library, Merrick, New York on April 28, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. for the purpose of discussion of the expenditure of funds for the 20262027 fiscal year and the budgeting thereof and for such other business as is authorized by the Education Law of the State of New York.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN, that the vote upon the appropriation of the necessary funds to meet the estimated expenditures of said school district and library for the 20262027 school year (school budget and library budget) will be held at the annual meeting of said school district on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at the Norman J. Levy-Lakeside School, Merrick, New York. Voting shall take place between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Voting machines will be used for voting at said annual election.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN, that an election to fill two (2) vacancies, each for a term of three (3) years for the office of member of the Board of Education and two (2) vacancies for a term of five (5) years for the office of trustee of the Library Board will be held at the Norman J. Levy-Lakeside School, Merrick, New York, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. The polls for voting at said election will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN, that a proposition will appear on the ballot to read substantially as follows: Shall the Board be authorized to expend $2,200,000 from the Capital Reserve Fund established on May 21, 2019 for the purpose of performing the following projects: (1) Roof replacement at the Birch and Lakeside Elementary Schools and (2) boiler replacement at Birch Elementary School, all of the foregoing to include all labor, materials, equipment, apparatus and incidental costs related thereto.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN, Pursuant to Chapter 258 of the Laws of 2008, Section 495 was added to the Real Property Tax Law and requires the School District to attach to its proposed budget an exemption report. Said exemption report will show how much of the total assessed value on the final assessment roll used in the budgetary process is exempt from taxation. The report will list every type of exemption granted, identified by statutory authority, and will show the cumulative impact of each type of exemption expressed either as a dollar amount of assessed value or as a percentage of the total assessed value on the roll, the cumulative amount expected to be received from recipients of each type of exemption as payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) or other payments for municipal services, and the cumulative impact of all exemptions granted. This exemption report shall be posted on any bulletin board maintained by the District for public notices and on the website maintained by the District.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN, that petitions nominating candidates for the office of member of the Board of Education must be filed with the Clerk of the District between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., and no later than 5:00 p.m., Monday, April 20, 2026. Such nominating petition must be signed by at least twenty-five (25) qualified voters of the district for election to the Board of Education. The candidates receiving the highest number of votes will be elected to office. Personal registration is a prerequisite for voting at all elections in this school district, and no person will be entitled to vote at such election whose name does not appear upon the register prepared for such election; except that any person, a resident of the district, who is permanently registered with the Nassau County Board of Elections to vote at

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN, that a copy of the statement of the amount of money which will be required for the school year 2026-2027 for school purposes and library purposes may be obtained by any resident of the district during the fourteen (14) days preceding the vote, except Saturdays, Sundays, or holidays, at the schools of the district from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

elections other than a school district election and whose registration is current, shall also be qualified to vote at this election without further registration.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN, that the District Clerk will be in the District Office in said district on Tuesday, May 5, 2026 between the hours of 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. for the purpose of preparing the register of the school district for such election; at such time and place, any person will be entitled to have his or her name placed upon such register provided that he or she is known or proven to the satisfaction of the Board of Registration to be entitled to vote at the meeting or election for which such register is to be prepared. Qualified individuals may also register between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on days when school is in session at the schools of the district, except that no registration shall take place less than five (5) days preceding the election, this year May 14, 2026.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN, that the Board of Registration will meet on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at the Norman J. Levy-Lakeside School, Merrick, New York, between the hours of 7:00 A.M. and 9:00 P.M. to prepare the Register of the School District to be used for meetings or elections held subsequent to the annual School District election and budget vote, at which time any person may be entitled to have his or her name placed on such Register provided that at such meeting of the Board of Registration he or she is known or proven to the satisfaction of said Board of Registration to be then or thereafter entitled to vote at the school meeting or election for which said Register is so prepared.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN, that the register thus prepared will be filed in the office of the Superintendent of Schools and that such register will be open for inspection to any qualified voter of the district at the office of the Superintendent of Schools and the District Clerk in the Katherine E. Reif Administration Center between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. during each of the five (5) days prior to the day set for the election, except

Public Notices

Sundays, and on the Saturday prior to the election by appointment only.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN, that applications for absentee and early mail ballots may be applied for at the Office of the District Clerk. An application for an absentee or early mail ballot must be received by the District Clerk no earlier than thirty (30) days before the date of the election. An application for an absentee or early mail ballot must be received by the District Clerk at least seven (7) days before the election if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the election if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter or his/her designated agent. Upon receiving a timely application for a mailed absentee or early mail ballot, the District Clerk will mail the ballot to the address designated on the application by no later than six (6) days before the election. No absentee and early mail voter ballot shall be canvassed unless it shall have been received at the Office of the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on the date of the election. A list of all persons to whom absentee and early mail ballots have been issued will be available in the Office of the District Clerk on each of the five days prior to the election except Sunday.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN, that military voters who are not currently registered may apply to register as a qualified voter of the school district. Military voters who are qualified voters of the school district may submit an application for a military ballot. Military voters may designate a preference to receive a military voter registration, military ballot application or military ballot by mail, facsimile transmission or electronic mail in their request for such registration, ballot application or ballot. Military voter registration application forms must be received in the Office of the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 23, 2026. Military ballot applications must be received in the Office of the District Clerk by mail or in person by also no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 23, 2026. No military ballot will be canvassed unless

it is returned by mail or in person and (1) received in the Office of the District Clerk before the close of the polls on election day and showing a cancellation mark of the United States postal service or a foreign country’s postal service, or showing a dated endorsement of receipt by another agency of the United States government; or (2) received by the Office of the District Clerk by no later than 5:00 p.m. on election day and signed and dated by the military voter and one witness thereto, with a date which is associated be not later than the day before the election.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN, that at the election of the Merrick Union Free School District, qualified voters of the BellmoreMerrick Central High School District shall vote for the following purposes:

a) To vote upon the annual school budget for the 20262027 school year, and to authorize the levying of a tax upon the taxable property of the district for the foregoing purposes.

b) To vote upon such other propositions as may properly come before the meeting.

DATED: March 2026

Merrick, NY

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION

MERRICK UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT PAMELA AMON, DISTRICT CLERK 159367

LEGAL NOTICE ELECCIÓN Y REGISTRO DE VOTANTES, DISTRITO ESCOLAR MERRICK UNION FREE Y BIBLIOTECA PÚBLICA DE MERRICK

PUEBLO DE HEMPSTEAD, CONDADO DE NASSAU, NUEVA YORK

POR EL PRESENTE, SE NOTIFICA que se celebrará una audiencia pública sobre el presupuesto del Distrito Escolar Merrick Union Free, pueblo de Hempstead, condado de Nassau, Nueva York, en Lakeside Elementary School, Merrick, Nueva York el 5 de mayo de 2026 a las 7:15 p. m. para analizar el gasto de los fondos para el año escolar 2026-2027, su correspondiente presupuesto y otros asuntos según la autorización de la Ley de Educación del estado de Nueva York.

TAMBIÉN

SE NOTIFICA que se celebrará una audiencia pública sobre el presupuesto de la biblioteca de Merrick en la biblioteca de Merrick, Merrick, Nueva York el 28 de abril de 2026 a las 7:00 p. m. para analizar el gasto de los fondos para el año fiscal 2026-2027, su correspondiente presupuesto y otros asuntos según la autorización de la Ley de Educación del estado de Nueva York.

TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que, durante la reunión anual de dicho distrito escolar, que se celebrará el martes 19 de mayo de 2026 en Norman J. Levy-Lakeside School, Merrick, Nueva York, también se votará la asignación de los fondos necesarios para cubrir los gastos estimados del distrito escolar y la biblioteca (el presupuesto escolar y para la biblioteca) para el año escolar 2026-2027. La votación se realizará entre las 7:00 a. m. y las 9:00 p. m. Se usarán máquinas de votación en dicha elección anual.

TAMBIÉN

SE NOTIFICA que se celebrará una elección para cubrir dos (2) vacantes con un mandato de tres (3) años para el cargo de miembro de la Junta de Educación y dos (2) vacantes con un mandato de cinco (5) años para la oficina del fideicomisario de la Junta de la Biblioteca en Norman J. Levy-Lakeside School, Merrick, Nueva York el martes 19 de mayo de 2026. Las urnas para dicha elección estarán abiertas desde las 7:00 a. m. hasta las 9:00 p. m.

TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que, en la boleta electoral, aparecerá una propuesta que indicará esencialmente lo siguiente: Se autorizará a la Junta a gastar $2,200,000 del fondo de reserva de capitales establecido el 21 de mayo de 2019 con el propósito de realizar los siguientes proyectos: (1) reemplazo del tejado de Birch Elementary School y Lakeside Elementary School; y (2) reemplazo de la caldera de Birch Elementary School; todo lo anterior incluirá toda la mano de obra, los materiales, los equipos,

los aparatos y los gastos imprevistos relacionados con dichas actualizaciones.

TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que cualquier residente del distrito podrá obtener una copia de la declaración del monto de dinero que será requerido para el año escolar 2026-2027, a los fines de invertirlos en la escuela y la biblioteca, durante los catorce (14) días previos a la votación, excepto los sábados, domingos o feriados, en las escuelas del distrito, entre las 9:30 a. m. y las 3:30 p. m.

TAMBIÉN

SE NOTIFICA que, de conformidad con el Capítulo 258 de las Leyes de 2008, se agregó la Sección 495 a la Ley del Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles y requiere que el distrito escolar adjunte a su presupuesto sugerido un informe de exenciones. Este informe de exenciones mostrará qué parte del valor total estimado de la lista de tasación final utilizada en el proceso presupuestario queda libre de impuestos. En el informe se mencionará cada tipo de exención, otorgadas por la autoridad legal, y se mostrará el impacto acumulativo de cada tipo de exención, expresado en un monto en dólares del valor estimado o como porcentaje del total del valor estimado en la lista, el valor acumulativo que se espera recibir de los beneficiarios de cada tipo de exención como pagos en lugar de impuestos (PILOT) u otros pagos para servicios municipales, y el impacto acumulativo de todas las exenciones otorgadas. Este informe de exenciones se publicará en cualquier tablero de anuncios que el distrito designe para avisos públicos y en el sitio web del distrito. TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que las peticiones para nominar a candidatos para el cargo de miembro de la Junta de Educación deberán presentarse ante la secretaria del distrito entre las 9:30 a. m. y las 3:30 p. m. y antes de las 5:00 p. m. del lunes 20 de abril de 2026. Dicha petición debe estar firmada por al menos veinticinco (25) [PA1.1][NB2.1]votantes del distrito calificados para elección para la Junta de Educación. Los candidatos que reciban la mayor cantidad de

votos serán electos para el cargo. El registro personal es un requisito previo para votar en todas las elecciones de este distrito escolar y nadie podrá votar en esta elección si su nombre no aparece en el registro preparado para dicha elección; a excepción de cualquier persona residente del distrito que esté registrada de manera permanente en la Junta de Elecciones del condado de Nassau para votar en otras elecciones que no sean del distrito escolar y cuyo registro esté vigente, quien también podrá votar en esta elección sin registro adicional.

TAMBIÉN

SE NOTIFICA que la secretaria del distrito estará en la oficina del distrito el martes 5 de mayo de 2026, entre las 12:00 p. m. y las 4:00 p. m., con el propósito de preparar un registro de este distrito escolar para dicha elección, momento y lugar en los que cualquier persona tendrá derecho a que su nombre se incluya en el registro, siempre y cuando se sepa o se demuestre, para satisfacción de la Junta de Registros, que dicha persona tiene derecho a votar en la reunión o en la elección para la cual se prepara dicho registro. Las personas calificadas también podrán registrarse los días en que la escuela esté en sesión entre las 9:30 a. m. y las 3:30 p. m. en las escuelas del distrito, pero no se harán registros con menos de cinco (5) días de anticipación a la elección; este año el límite es el 14 de mayo de 2026.

TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que la Junta de Registros se reunirá el martes 19 de mayo de 2026, entre las 7:00 a. m. y las 9:00 p. m. en Norman J. Levy-Lakeside School, Merrick, Nueva York, para preparar el registro del distrito escolar que se usará en las reuniones o elecciones subsecuentes a la votación del presupuesto y elección anual del distrito escolar, en cuyo horario cualquier persona tendrá derecho a inscribirse en el registro, siempre que en tal reunión de la Junta de Registros se sepa o se demuestre, a satisfacción de dicha Junta de Registros, que esa persona tiene derecho, entonces o en lo sucesivo, a votar en la reunión o en la elección escolar para la cual se prepara el registro.

ASIMISMO, SE NOTIFICA que el registro preparado se presentará en la oficina del superintendente de escuelas y estará disponible para que cualquier votante calificado del distrito pueda inspeccionarlo en la oficina del superintendente de escuelas y de la secretaria del distrito en Katherine E. Reif Administration Center cada uno de los cinco (5) días previos al día establecido para la elección, de 9:30 a. m. a 3:30 p. m., excepto los domingos, y el sábado anterior a las elecciones únicamente con cita previa.

TAMBIÉN

SE NOTIFICA que las solicitudes de boletas electorales por ausencia y boletas electorales anticipadas por correo pueden realizarse en la oficina de la secretaria del distrito. La secretaria del distrito deberá recibir las solicitudes de voto por ausencia y anticipado por correo no antes de los treinta (30) días previos a la fecha de la elección. La secretaria del distrito debe recibir las solicitudes de voto por ausencia y anticipado por correo por lo menos siete (7) días antes de la elección si la boleta electoral debe enviarse al votante por correo, o hasta el día antes de la elección si la boleta electoral debe entregarse al votante o a la persona designada por este en persona. Al recibir una solicitud oportuna para enviar por correo una boleta electoral por ausencia y anticipada por correo, la secretaria del distrito enviará por correo dicha boleta electoral a la dirección indicada en la solicitud a más tardar seis (6) días antes de la elección. Las boletas electorales por ausencia y anticipadas por correo no se escrutarán, a menos que se hayan recibido en la oficina de la secretaria del distrito antes de las 5:00 p. m. del día de la elección. Habrá una lista de todas las personas para las que se emitieron boletas electorales por ausencia y anticipadas por correo disponible en la oficina de la secretaria del distrito durante los cinco días previos al día de la elección, excepto los domingos. TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que los votantes militares que no estén registrados actualmente pueden solicitar registrarse como votantes

calificados del distrito escolar. Los votantes militares que sean votantes calificados del distrito escolar podrán enviar una solicitud de boleta electoral militar. Estos votantes pueden indicar su preferencia de recibir una inscripción de votante militar, una solicitud de boleta electoral militar o una boleta electoral militar por correo postal, fax o correo electrónico en su solicitud de inscripción, solicitud de boleta electoral o boleta electoral. Los formularios de solicitud de registro para votantes militares se deben recibir en la oficina de la secretaria del distrito antes de las 5:00 p. m. del 23 de abril de 2026. Las solicitudes de boleta electoral militar deben recibirse en la oficina de la secretaria del distrito por correo o en persona también a más tardar a las 5:00 p. m. del 23 de abril de 2026. Las boletas electorales militares no se escrutarán, a menos que se envíen por correo o se presenten en persona y (1) la oficina de la secretaria del distrito las reciba antes del cierre de las urnas el día de la elección y tengan una marca de cancelación del servicio postal de los Estados Unidos o del servicio postal de un país extranjero, o un endoso fechado de recepción por parte de otra agencia del gobierno de los Estados Unidos, o bien (2) la oficina de la secretaria del distrito las reciba antes de las 5:00 p. m. del día de la elección, y estén firmadas y fechadas por el votante militar y un testigo de ello, con una fecha asociada que no sea posterior al día previo a la elección.

TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que, durante la elección del Distrito Escolar Merrick Union Free, los votantes calificados del Distrito Escolar Central de Escuelas Secundarias BellmoreMerrick votarán con los siguientes fines:

a) Votar sobre el presupuesto escolar anual para el año escolar 2026-2027 y autorizar la imposición de un impuesto sobre la propiedad sujeta a tributación del distrito para los propósitos anteriores.

b) Votar sobre cualquier otra propuesta que se pueda presentar oportunamente en la reunión.

FECHA: marzo de 2026

Merrick, NY

POR ORDEN DE LA JUNTA DE EDUCACIÓN DISTRITO ESCOLAR MERRICK UNION FREE PAMELA AMON, SECRETARIA DEL DISTRITO 159369

LEGAL NOTICE ANNUAL SCHOOL DISTRICT MEETING AND ELECTION

NORTH MERRICK UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Budget Hearing of the North Merrick Union Free School District will be held at Harold D. Fayette School, 1057 Merrick Avenue, North Merrick, New York, on the 5th of May 2026, at 7:00 PM for the transaction of such business as is authorized by Education Law.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN the annual budget vote and election of the North Merrick Union Free School District will be held at the North Merrick Library, 1691 Meadowbrook, Road, North Merrick, New York on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 for the purpose of voting on estimated expenses for the school year 2026-2027 and upon such propositions as may properly come before the meeting, as well as the election of two (2) members of the Board of Education each for a three-year term, commencing July 1, 2026 and expiring on June 30, 2029. Voting will be on machines, and polls will be open between the hours of 6:30 AM and 9:00 PM on that day.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE, that at the afore-said election, qualified voters of the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District shall vote for the following purposes: (A) vote upon the annual school budget for the year 2026-2027 and to authorize the levying of a tax upon the taxable property of the district for the foregoing purposes. (B) To vote upon such other propositions as may properly come before the meeting.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that pursuant to Section 495 of the Real Property Tax Law the School District is required to attach to

Public Notices

its proposed budget an exemption report. Said exemption report, which will also become part of the final budget, will show how much of the total assessed value of the final assessment roll used in the budgetary process is exempt from taxation, list every type of exemption granted by statutory authority, and show the cumulative impact of each type of exemption, the cumulative amount expected to be received as payments in lieu of taxes, and the cumulative impact of all exemptions granted. The exemption report shall be posted on any bulletin board maintained by the District for public notices and on any website maintained by the District.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN the Board of Education has designated Thursday, May 14, 2026 between the hours of 8:00 AM and 3:30 PM to prepare the register of the School District at the Harold D. Fayette School, 1057 Merrick Avenue, Merrick, New York. Residents may also register on school days between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM in the District Clerk’s office until five days before the District vote. Qualified residents of the North Merrick Union Free School District must register at this time if not previously registered, in order to be eligible to vote at the annual meeting and on the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District Budget and Propositions. Any person shall be entitled to have his/her name placed upon such register provided that he/she is known or proven to the satisfaction of the District Clerk or a member of the board of registration, to be then or thereafter entitled to vote at the annual district election for which such register is prepared. If a voter is registered and eligible to vote under Article 5 of the Election Law, he or she is also eligible to vote at this election without further registration.

NO PERSON will be entitled to vote at the annual budget meeting and election of the North Merrick Union Free School District and the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School Budget Vote whose name does not appear on either the

Register of the North Merrick Union Free School District or the County registration lists provided by the County election officials.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that voters qualifying to vote by absentee or early mail ballot may apply and receive an absentee or early mail ballot from the District Clerk of the District. An application must be received by the District Clerk no earlier than thirty (30) days before the election for which an absentee or early mail ballot is sought. Completed absentee and early mail ballot applications must be received by the District Clerk at least seven (7) days before the election if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the election, if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter or his/her designated agent. Upon receiving a timely request for a mailed absentee or early mail ballot, the District Clerk will mail the ballot to the address set forth in the application by no later than six (6) days before the vote. Absentee and early mail ballots must be received by the District Clerk not later than 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. A list of all persons to whom absentee and early mail ballots shall have been issued, will be available in the Office of the District Clerk on each of the five (5) days prior to the day of the election except Sundays.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that military voters who are not currently registered may apply to register as a qualified voter of the school district. Military voters who are qualified voters of the school district may submit an application for a military ballot. Military voters may designate a preference to receive a military voter registration, military ballot application or military ballot by mail, facsimile transmission or electronic mail in their request for such registration, ballot application or ballot. Military voter registration forms and military ballot application forms must be received in the Office of the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 23, 2026. No military ballot will be canvassed unless it is (1) received in the Office of

the District Clerk before the close of the polls on election day and showing a cancellation mark of the United States postal service or a foreign country’s postal service, or showing a dated endorsement of receipt by another agency of the United States government; or (2) received by the Office of the District Clerk by no later than 5:00 p.m. on election day and signed and dated by the military voter and one witness thereto, with a date which is associated to be not later than the day before the election.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that a copy of the statements of the amount of money which will be required for the ensuing year for school purpose, exclusive of public monies, may be obtained by any qualified voter of the District during the fourteen (14) days immediately preceding the Annual Meeting except Saturday, Sunday, or holidays, between the hours of 9:00 AM and 3:30 PM at the District’s central office located at 1057 Merrick Avenue, and at each of the school houses in said District, to wit: Camp Avenue, Harold D. Fayette, and Old Mill Road Schools, at the North Merrick Public Library, on the District’s website, and at the Annual Meeting.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the register of the school district shall be filed in the Office of the District Clerk where it shall be open for inspection by any qualified voter of the School District, between the hours of 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM on each of the five days prior to and the day of the Annual District Election, except Sunday, and on Saturday, May 16, 2026 by appointment.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the Board of Registration of the North Merrick Union Free School District will meet during the hours of voting on May 19, 2026, at the polling place for the purpose of preparing a register for District meetings or elections to be held subsequent to May 19, 2026. Said register shall include: (1) all qualified voters of the Union Free School District, who shall present themselves personally for registration; and (2) all qualified voters permanently registered with the Nassau County

Board of Elections; and (3) all previously qualified voters of the District who shall have been previously registered for any annual or special District meeting or election and who shall have voted at any annual or special District meeting or election held or conducted at any time within the four calendar years (2021-2025) prior to preparation of the registration of voters.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that petitions nominating candidates for the office of member of the Board of Education shall be filed with the District Clerk at the Office of the Clerk between the hours of 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM on or before April 20, 2026. Vacancies on the Board of Education are not considered separate, specific offices; candidates run at large. Nominating petitions shall not describe any specific vacancy upon the Board for which the candidate is nominated; must be directed to the Clerk of the District; must be signed by 25 qualified voters of the District; must state the name and residence of each signer, and the name and residence of the candidate.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that pursuant to a rule adopted by the Board of Education in accordance with §2035 of the Education Law, any referenda or propositions to amend the budget, or otherwise to be submitted for voting at said election, must be filed with the District Clerk in sufficient time to permit notice of the proposition to be included with the Notice of the Public Hearing, Budget Vote and Election, if required to be included in said notice, or on or before March 20, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.; prevailing time; must be typed or printed in the English language; must be directed to the District Clerk; must be signed by at least 75 qualified voters of the District; and must legibly state the name of each signer. However, the School Board will not entertain any petition to place before the voters any proposition the purpose of which is not within the powers of the voters to determine, which is unlawful or any proposition which fails to include a specific appropriation where the expenditure of monies

is required by the proposition, or where other valid reason exists for excluding the proposition from the ballot.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that this Board shall convene a special meeting thereof within twenty-four hours after the filing with the District Clerk of a written report of the results of the ballot for the purpose of examining and tabulating said reports of the result of the ballot and declaring the result of the ballot; that the Board hereby designates itself to be a set of poll clerks to cast and canvass ballots pursuant to Education Law §2019a, subdivision 2b at said special meeting of the Board.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION NORTH MERRICK UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT Town of Hempstead, Merrick, New York

JOANNE LONG, DISTRICT CLERK 1057 Merrick Avenue, Merrick, New York

Merrick Herald Life: April 2, April 16, April 30, May 14 Long Island Business News: April 3, April 17, May 1, May 15 159371

LEGAL NOTICE AVISO MODIFICADO SOBRE LA REUNIÓN Y ELECCIÓN ANUAL DEL DISTRITO ESCOLAR

DISTRITO ESCOLAR NORTH MERRICK UNION FREE, PUEBLO DE HEMPSTEAD, CONDADO DE NASSAU, NUEVA YORK

POR EL PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA que se llevará a cabo una audiencia sobre el presupuesto del Distrito Escolar North Merrick Union Free en la escuela Harold D. Fayette, 1057 Merrick Avenue, North Merrick, Nueva York, el día 5th de mayo de 2026, a las 7:00 p. m., para la resolución de dichos asuntos de acuerdo con lo estipulado por la Ley de Educación.

TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que la votación anual sobre el presupuesto y la elección del Distrito Escolar Libre Unificado de North Merrick se llevarán a cabo en la biblioteca pública de North Merrick, 1691 Meadowbrook Road, North Merrick, Nueva

York, el día martes 19 de mayo de 2026, con el propósito de realizar una votación sobre los gastos estimados para el año escolar 2026-2027 y sobre cualquier propuesta que pueda presentarse oportunamente en la reunión, al igual que sobre la elección de dos (2) miembros de la Junta de Educación, cada uno con un cargo de tres años de duración, que comenzará el 1 de julio de 2026 y finalizará el 30 de junio de 2029. La votación se realizará con máquinas y se podrá votar desde las 6:30 a. m. hasta las 9:00 p. m. de ese mismo día.

TAMBIN SE NOTIFICA que, en la elección antes mencionada, los votantes calificados del Distrito Central de Escuelas Secundarias de Bellmore-Merrick votarán con los siguientes fines: (A) votar sobre el presupuesto escolar anual para el año 2026-2027 y autorizar la imposición de un impuesto sobre la propiedad sujeta a tributación del distrito para los fines antes expuestos; (B) votar sobre aquellas otras propuestas que puedan presentarse debidamente ante la asamblea.

TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que, de acuerdo con la Sección 495 de la Ley del Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles, el Distrito Escolar debe adjuntar un informe de exención al presupuesto sugerido. Este informe de exenciones, que también formará parte del presupuesto final, mostrará qué parte del valor total calculado de la lista final de tasación usada durante el proceso presupuestario queda libre de impuestos, enumerará todos los tipos de exenciones otorgadas por la autoridad legal y mostrará el impacto acumulativo de cada tipo de exención, el monto acumulativo que se espera recibir en pagos en lugar de los impuestos y el impacto acumulativo de todas las exenciones otorgadas. El informe de exenciones se publicará en cualquier tablero de anuncios que el distrito designe para avisos públicos y en el sitio web del distrito.

TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que la Junta de Educación ha designado el día viernes 14 de abril de 2026, de 8:00

a. m. a 3:30 p. m. para la realización de una reunión de la Junta de Registros en la escuela Harold D. Fayette, 1057 Merrick Avenue, Merrick, Nueva York, para preparar el registro del Distrito Escolar. Los residentes también pueden registrarse en la oficina de la secretaria del Distrito durante los días de actividad escolar desde las 9:00 a. m. hasta las 4:00 p. m., hasta cinco días antes de la votación del Distrito. Para ser elegibles para votar durante la reunión anual y sobre el presupuesto y las propuestas del Distrito Escolar Central de Escuelas Secundarias de Bellmore-Merrick, los residentes calificados del Distrito Escolar Libre Unificado de North Merrick deben registrarse en ese momento si no lo han hecho antes. Toda persona tendrá derecho a que su nombre se incluya en el registro, siempre y cuando se sepa o se demuestre ante la secretaria del Distrito o algún miembro de la Junta de Registros que dicha persona tiene, en ese momento o en adelante, derecho a votar en la elección anual del distrito, para la cual se prepara dicho registro. Si un votante está registrado y es elegible para votar en virtud del Artículo 5 de la Ley de Elecciones, también es elegible para votar en esta elección sin necesidad de ningún registro adicional.

NINGUNA PERSONA tendrá derecho a votar en la reunión anual de presupuesto y la elección del Distrito Escolar North Merrick Union Free ni en la votación de presupuesto del Distrito Central de Escuelas Secundarias de Bellmore-Merrick si su nombre no aparece en el registro del Distrito Escolar North Merrick Union Free o en las listas de registro del condado provistas por los funcionarios electorales del condado.

TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que los votantes que cumplan con los requisitos para votar mediante boleta electoral por ausencia o boleta electoral anticipada por correo pueden solicitar y recibir una boleta electoral por ausencia o una boleta electoral anticipada por correo a través de la secretaria del Distrito. La secretaria del Distrito deberá recibir la solicitud no antes

de los treinta (30) días previos a la elección para la cual se solicita una boleta electoral por ausencia o una boleta electoral anticipada por correo. La secretaria del Distrito debe recibir las solicitudes de boleta electoral por ausencia y boleta electoral anticipada por correo completas por lo menos siete (7) días antes de la elección si la boleta electoral debe enviarse al votante por correo, o hasta el día antes de la elección si la boleta electoral debe entregarse al votante o a la persona designada por este en persona. Al recibir una solicitud oportuna para enviar por correo una boleta electoral por ausencia o una boleta electoral anticipada por correo, la secretaria del Distrito enviará por correo dicha boleta a la dirección indicada en la solicitud a más tardar seis (6) días antes de la votación. La secretaria del Distrito debe recibir las boletas electorales por ausencia y las boletas electorales anticipadas por correo antes de las 5:00 p. m. del día martes19 de mayo de 2026. Durante los cinco (5) días anteriores al día de la elección, excepto los domingos, en la oficina de la secretaria del Distrito se encontrará a disposición una lista de todas las personas a quienes se les hayan emitido boletas electorales por ausencia y boletas electorales anticipadas por correo.

TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que los votantes militares que no estén registrados actualmente pueden solicitar su inscripción como votantes calificados del distrito escolar. Los votantes militares que sean votantes calificados del Distrito Escolar podrán enviar una solicitud de boleta electoral militar. Estos votantes pueden indicar su preferencia de recibir un registro de votante militar, una solicitud de boleta electoral militar o una boleta electoral militar por correo postal, fax o correo electrónico en su pedido del registro, de la solicitud de boleta electoral o la boleta electoral. Los formularios de registro de votantes militares y los formularios de solicitud de boleta electoral militar se deben recibir en la oficina de la secretaria del Distrito antes de las 5:00 p. m. del 23 de abril de 2026. Las boletas electorales militares

Public Notices

no serán escrutadas, a menos que (1) la oficina de la secretaria del Distrito las reciba antes del cierre de la votación el día de la elección y tengan una marca de cancelación del servicio postal de los Estados Unidos o del servicio postal de un país extranjero, o un endoso fechado de recepción por parte de otro organismo del Gobierno de los Estados Unidos, o bien (2) la oficina de la secretaria del Distrito las reciba antes de las 5:00 p. m. del día de la elección, y estén firmadas y fechadas por el votante militar y un testigo de ello, con una fecha asociada que no sea posterior al día previo a la elección.

TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que cualquier votante calificado del Distrito podrá obtener una copia de las declaraciones de la cantidad de dinero que será requerido para fines escolares para el año siguiente, a excepción de los fondos públicos, durante los catorce (14) días inmediatamente anteriores a la reunión anual, excepto los sábados, domingos o feriados, en la oficina central del Distrito ubicada en 1057 Merrick Avenue, de 9:00 a. m. a 3:30 p. m., y en cualquiera de las sedes escolares del Distrito, es decir: las escuelas Camp Avenue, Harold D. Fayette y Old Mill Road, la biblioteca pública de North Merrick, el sitio web del Distrito y en la reunión anual.

TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que el registro del Distrito Escolar se presentará en la oficina de la secretaria del Distrito, donde quedará abierto para la inspección de los votantes calificados del Distrito Escolar, de 9:00 a. m. a 4:00 p. m. durante los cinco días anteriores a la elección y el mismo día de la elección anual del distrito, excepto el domingo, y el sábado 16 de mayo de 2026 con cita previa.

TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que la Junta de Registros del Distrito Escolar North Merrick Union Free School se reunirá durante el horario de votación el día 19 de mayo de 2026 en el lugar de votación con el fin de preparar un registro para elecciones o reuniones del Distrito que se realizarán después del 19 de mayo de 2026. Dicho registro incluirá:

(1) a todos los votantes calificados del Distrito Escolar Libre Unificado de North Merrick, que deberán presentarse personalmente para el registro; (2) a todos los votantes calificados registrados permanentemente en la Junta de Elecciones del condado de Nassau, y (3) a todos los votantes previamente calificados del Distrito que se hayan registrado previamente para cualquier elección o reunión anual o especial del Distrito y que hayan votado en alguno de estos eventos realizados o llevados a cabo en cualquier momento durante los cuatro años calendario (2021-2025) previos a la preparación del registro de votantes.

TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que las peticiones para nominar candidatos para el cargo de miembro de la Junta de Educación deberán presentarse ante la secretaria del Distrito en su oficina, a más tardar el 20 de abril de 2026, de 9:00 a. m. a 5:00 p. m. Los puestos vacantes de la Junta de Educación no se consideran cargos específicos ni independientes; los candidatos se presentan en general. Las peticiones de nominación no deben describir ninguna vacante específica de la Junta para la cual se nomina al candidato, deben estar dirigidas a la secretaria del Distrito, deben estar firmadas por 25 votantes calificados del Distrito, deben indicar el nombre y la residencia de cada firmante y el nombre y la residencia del candidato.

TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que, de acuerdo con una regla adoptada por la Junta de Educación en virtud de la Sección 2035 de la Ley de Educación, cualquier referéndum o propuesta para modificar el presupuesto, o que se presente por otra forma para su votación en dicha elección, debe realizarse ante la secretaria del Distrito con el tiempo suficiente para permitir el aviso de la inclusión de la propuesta con el aviso de audiencia pública, votación de presupuesto y elección, si fuera necesaria su inclusión en dicho aviso, a más tardar el día 20 de marzo de 2026 a las 5:00 p. m., hora vigente, debe estar escrita o impresa en idioma inglés, debe estar dirigida a la

secretaria del Distrito, debe estar firmada por al menos 75 votantes calificados del Distrito y debe indicar el nombre legible de cada firmante. Sin embargo, la Junta Escolar no considerará ninguna solicitud de presentar ante los votantes una propuesta cuyo propósito no esté dentro de sus facultades de decisión, que esté fuera de la ley o que no incluya una asignación específica cuando dicha propuesta requiera un gasto de dinero, o cuando exista alguna otra razón válida para excluir la propuesta de la boleta electoral.

TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que esta Junta establecerá una reunión especial a partir de ese momento, dentro de las veinticuatro horas luego de la presentación ante la secretaria del Distrito de un informe escrito de los resultados del voto, con el fin de examinar y tabular dichos informes del resultado del voto y declarar su resultado; que, por el presente y de acuerdo con la Sección 2019-a, subdivisión 2b, de la Ley de Educación, la Junta se designa a sí misma como un grupo de presidentes de mesa para emitir y escrutar los votos durante dicha reunión especial de la Junta.

POR ORDEN DE LA JUNTA DE EDUCACIÓN, DISTRITO ESCOLAR NORTH MERRICK UNION FREE Pueblo de Hempstead, Merrick, Nueva York

JOANNE LONG, SECRETARIA DEL DISTRITO

1057 Merrick Avenue, Merrick, Nueva York

Merrick Herald Life: 2 de abril, 16 de abril, 30 de abril y 14 de mayo Long Island Business News: 3 de abril, 17 de abril, 1 de mayo y 15 de mayo 159373

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT. NASSAU COUNTY. CAZ R.E. HOLDINGS, INC., Pltf. vs. JOSEPH SIMON MUSSO, et al, Defts. Index #602619/2021. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered Sept. 17. 2024, I will sell at public auction on the North Side Steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on April 28, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. premises k/a 1370 Noel Court, Merrick, NY 11566 a/k/a Section

55, Block 526, Lot 24. Approximate amount of judgment is $240,079.20 plus costs and interest. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale. BRIAN J. DAVIS, Referee. MARGOLIN, WEINREB & NIERER, LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 575 Underhill Blvd., Ste. 224, Syosset, NY 11791. #102795 159108

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, FAMILY BENEFIT LIFE INSURANCE

COMPANY, Plaintiff, vs. EXECUTIVE RENTALS NY INC, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on August 21, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on April 28, 2026 at 2:30 p.m., premises known as 2216 Van Nostrand Avenue, Merrick, NY 11566. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Merrick, not an Incorporated Village, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 56, Block 25 and Lots 396-397. Approximate amount of judgment is $745,015.49 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #610395/2023.

Oscar A. Prieto, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 231149-1 159096

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF FORMATION of Speciale Law PLLC. Arts of Org filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/09/2026 Office location: Nassau County. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process may be served and shall mail copy of process against LLC to 1817 Gardenia Ave, Merrick, NY 11566. Purpose: legal services 159033

LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU US BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR THE RMAC TRUST, SERIES 2016-CIT, -againstJOSEPH SCHNAIER, ET AL.

NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on July 12, 2024, wherein US BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR THE RMAC TRUST, SERIES 2016-CIT is the Plaintiff and JOSEPH SCHNAIER, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on May 6, 2026 at 2:00PM, premises known as 1808 ECHO LANE, MERRICK, NY 11566; and the following tax map identification: 62-24-15.

ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, BEING AT MERRICK, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 615396/2018. Peter Kramer, Esq.Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social

distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 159287

LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU FIFTH THIRD BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, -againstJESSICA BRISTOLL, ET AL.

NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on January 15, 2026, wherein FIFTH THIRD BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION is the Plaintiff and JESSICA BRISTOLL, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on 05/12/2026 at 2:00PM, premises known as 2810 HEWLETT AVENUE, MERRICK, New York 11566; and the following tax map identification, 63-150-40. ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN MERRICK, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 618175/2024. Kenneth Lawrence Gartner, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff.

All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 159527

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, ON BEHALF OF THE HOLDERS OF THE ASSET BACKED SECURITIES CORPORATION HOME EQUITY LOAN TRUST, SERIES NC 2005-HE8, ASSET BACKED PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES NC 2005-HE8, Plaintiff AGAINST CHRISTOPHER BEDER, ELKE BEDER, Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered February 4, 2026, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on May 13, 2026 at 2:30 PM, premises known as 1046 North Merrick Avenue, Merrick, NY 11566. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at East Meadow, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 50 Block 597 and Lot 38. Approximate amount of judgment $504,544.88 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of fil ed Judgment Index #600944/2024. Oscar A. Prieto, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 23-001806 89222 159502

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU

U.S. Bank National Trust Association, as Trustee for Adjustable Rate Mortgage Trust 2004-4, Adjustable Rate Mortgage-Backed Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2004-4, Plaintiff AGAINST Sharon Longo; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered March 2, 2026, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on May 21, 2026, at 2:00PM, premises known as 1654 James Street, Merrick, NY 11566. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Merrick, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 55 Block 31 Lots 550, 573, 574 & 575. Approximate amount of judgment $788,693.50 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 604316/2024. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”

Francesco P. Tini, Esq., Referee LOGS Legal Group LLP Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792 Dated: March 31, 2026 For sale information, please visit www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2831 159636

1-866-782-4069

Cleaning Services

WENDY'S CLEANING SERVICES INC. Commercial/Residential. We Specialize In Houses, Apartments, Offices, Airbnb & More. Good References. Free Estimates. Call/Text Wendy 516-406-5375 Or Email wencruzpa@gmail.com

Electricians

E-Z ELECTRIC SERVICES, INC.

All Types Residential/Commercial Wiring, Generators, Telephone/Data, Home Entertainment, Service Upgrades, Pools, Spas. Services/Repairs. Violations Removed. Free Estimates Low Rates. 516-785-0646 Lic/Ins.

Handyman

PAINTING & HANDYMAN SERVICE

Tired of calling a contractor & they don't call back? I will call you back the same day! 917-822-0225 Ricky Specializing in carpentry, bathrooms, kitchens, sheetrock, flooring, electric, plumbing. Over 25 yrs exp.Lic/Ins H3805150000

Home Improvement

BEAUTIFUL BATH UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Superior quality bath and shower systems at AFFORDABLE PRICES! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Call Now! 1-833-807-0159

DO YOU KNOW what's in your water?

Leaf Home Water Solutions offers FREE water testing and whole home water treatment systems that can be installed in as little one day. 15% off your entire purchase. Plus 10% senior & military discounts. Restrictions apply. Schedule your FREE test today. Call 1-866-247-5728

Home Improvement

PREPARE FOR POWER outages today with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 5-Year warranty with qualifying purchase. Call 1-877-516-1160 today to schedule a free quote. It's not just a generator. It's a power move.

PREPARE FOR POWER outages with Briggs & Stratton® PowerProtect(TM) standby generators - the most powerful home standby generators available. Industry-leading comprehensive warranty - 7 years ($849 value.) Proudly made in the U.S.A. Call Briggs & Stratton 1-888-605-1496

SAFE STEP. NORTH America's #1 WalkIn Tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-the-line installation and service. Now featuring our FREE shower package and $1600 Off for a limited time! Call today! Financing available. Call Safe Step 1-855-916-5473

Miscellaneous

GET BOOST INFINITE! Unlimited Talk, Text and Data For Just $25/mo! The Power Of 3 5G Networks, One Low Price! Call Today and Get The Latest iPhone Every Year On Us! 844-329-9391

Power Washing

POWERWASHING ALL SURFACES: Houses, Fences, Concrete/ Brick, Decks/Sealing. ANTHONY & J HOME IMPROVEMENT, INC. 516-678-6641

Services

AGING ROOF? NEW HOMEOWNER?

STORM DAMAGE? You need a local expert provider that proudly stands behind their work. Fast, free estimate. Financing available. Call 1-833-880-7679

INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT? Don't Accept the insurance company's first offer. Many injured parties are entitled to major cash settlements. Get a free evaluation to see what your case is really worth. 100% Free Evaluation. Call Now: 1-833-323-0318. Be ready with your zip code to connect with the closest provider.

PEST CONTROL: PROTECT YOUR HOME from pests safely and affordably. Roaches, Bed Bugs, Rodent, Termite, Spiders and other pests. Locally owned and affordable. Call for service or an inspection today! 1-833-549-0598 Have zip code of property ready when calling!

Sprinkler Syst./Irrig.Wells

LAWN SPRINKLERS

Installed & Serviced. Repairs, Installations, Upgrades. EARLY SPRING SPECIALS! 0% FREE FINANCING! FREE WIFI TIMER ($550 Value) w/Any New Sprinkler System Installation Completed by 4/30/26. Call for Details. Satisfying Customers For Over 44 Years. Licensed & Insured. COUNTY IRRIGATION 515-255-9595 www.countyirrigation.com

Telephone Services

CONSUMER CELLULAR - the same reliable, nationwide coverage as the largest carriers. No long-term contract, no hidden fees and activation is free. All plans feature unlimited talk and text, starting at just $20/month. For more information, call 1-844-919-1682

Tree Services

T&M GREENCARE TREE SERVICE *TREE REMOVAL *STUMP GRINDING *PRUNING. FREE ESTIMATES. 516-223-4525, 631-586-3800 www.tmgreencare.com

Satellite/TV Equipment

DIRECTV- All your entertainment. Nothing on your roof! Sign up for Directv and get your first three months of Max, Paramount+, Showtime, Starz, MGM+ and Cinemax included. Choice package $84.99/mo. Some restrictions apply. Call DIRECTV 1-888-534-6918

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Health & Fitness

ATTENTION OXYGEN THERAPY USERS! Discover Oxygen Therapy That Moves with You with Inogen Portable Oxygen Concentrators. FREE information kit. Call 1-833-661-4172

ATTENTION: VIAGRA AND CIALIS USERS! A cheaper alternative to high drugstore prices! 50 Pill Special - Only $99! 100% guaranteed. CALL NOW: 1-833-641-6397

AUTOMOBILE & MARINE

Autos For Sale

HONDA ACCORD 2012: Black, 4 Door, 103,000 Miles, Safe, Dependable And Smooth Ride. Excellent On Gas, Very Clean And Well Maintained. $6,500 Negotiable.

HomesHERALD

How much extra money does a home cost these days? Part 2

to Market

Q. I saw a billboard and several TV commercials for something called “Let Them Build, NY” and was wondering what you could tell me about it. The commercial said that there is an extra $82,000 spent on housing, per home, just due to government red tape. Is this true, and is anything being done about it?

A. As I continue to answer this delicate and complicated question, I have to respond to people who called this column, over the years, just an advertisement. I’ve received criticism and pushback for nearly four decades because I’ve pointed out where changes needed to happen, in a constructive manner. Instead of causing positive change, I saw projects delayed, passive-aggressive behavior and extra tasks thrown at me that weren’t required by others. It hasn’t been easy, and this is hopefully a forum for positive reflection on how to improve our lives, not just criticism. I will never just complain about a problem without stating that there is a solution.

The cost of building has gone up. It should be understood by all that building safety requirements should never be ignored. The problem with cost increases is that delays, due to issues that have nothing to do with safety, are a part of the problem, not the solution.

For example, the average project starts out with research. There are many issues that must be addressed, from environmental conditions, such as ground water levels, to parking and zoning use, structural conditions and fire safety. Local government archives information about each property, yet when it comes time to request the records, many have stumbling blocks, such as Freedom of Information Law, or FOIL, requests that can sometimes take weeks. Then, when you get the information, it is often inaccurate sketches.

Local government expects very detailed information from professionals, to fix the information problems of the past, yet often provides inaccurate plans that hardly reflect the building. This is because as-built drawings and final surveys were neither required nor enforced. A new home has always been required to have an accurate final survey from a licensed surveyor for the initial certificate of occupancy, but the surveys in municipal records are often inaccurate sketch diagrams made by the developer, a contractor or expeditor, not a licensed professional (as was also always required). Those “plot” plans often say “prop. dwelling” (proposed) with completely useless, inaccurate information. So, after waiting, in some cases, weeks just to see the records, what you get is just a waste of time and money. Might as well hire the surveyor at the outset, something many customers are reluctant to spend for.

The playing field is definitely not level. Government should require of itself the same standards it forces on the public. Imagine getting valuable data without delays, right at the beginning of a project, instead of waiting weeks for the answer that there are no records.

Experienced developers already know to hire the surveyor, do the testing, do the zoning analysis, etc.

© 2026 Monte Leeper

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

Help Wanted

BRANDS CYCLE (WILL TRAIN)

*MECHANICS

*FITNESS EQUIPMENT TECHNICIAN 1966 Wantagh Ave, Wantagh 516-781-6100 info@brandscycle.com

DRIVING INSTRUCTOR

Company Car/ Bonuses. Clean Driving Record Required, Will Train. Retirees Welcome!

$22 - $27/ Hour Bell Auto School 516-365-5778

Email: info@bellautoschool.com

SEWING MACHINE OPERATOR/ CANVAS FABRICATOR For Awning And Canvas Manufacturing Co. Experience Helpful But Will Train. Call/Text Tommy 516-250-8094; Please Send Resume tgpeppeinc@gmail.com

REVIVE Act is the wrong solution to the housing crisis

To the surprise of no one, Albany extremists — following the lead of Gov. Kathy Hochul — have once again proposed a one-sizefits-all, top-down mandate that would attack suburbia by stripping municipalities of control over local zoning.

The recently introduced REVIVE Act — sponsored by State Sen. James Skoufis and Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages — proposes to fast-track high-density housing by redeveloping “underutilized” commercial properties, and in the process, completely bypass the local review processes that ensure thoughtful, responsible growth.

Conveniently, the definition of “underutilized” is broad and open-ended, and includes shopping centers, office parks and parking lots, setting the threshold for “underutilized” as 50 percent vacant for one year. To make matters worse, the legislation contains a fast-track clause that would grant automatic approval to developments if municipalities fail to act within a rigid, state-imposed timeline that is far too short to accommodate any type of thoughtful and meaningful public input.

Worse yet, under the REVIVE Act, new developments would be permitted to be built as-of-right to the same height as the tallest existing building in the municipality. In the Town of Hempstead, the tallest building is Nassau University Medical Center, at 280 feet. This would allow high-density, high-rise developments of nearly 30 stories to be fast-tracked throughout our community on any “underutilized” parcel a developer should choose.

This proposal simply has one goal in mind: to increase density in suburban areas, no matter what.

Ted. Responsible growth isn’t just about adding housing units. It’s about ensuring that our neighborhoods can thrive in the best way possible for every resident. Development needs to be sustainable, strategic, and aligned with the needs and character of the community.

he proposal has one goal: to increase housing density in suburban areas.

It does not adequately take into consideration the real-world impact that high-density developments would have on traffic congestion, school capacity, environmental concerns and public safety. And frankly, it sends a troubling message that Albany doesn’t care about those impacts. Local zoning exists for a reason, and decisions about development should be made by the people who live in these communities, not imposed by bureaucrats hundreds of miles away.

This “Albany knows best” approach is not just misguided; it’s dangerous. Legislation like the REVIVE Act fails to account for a community’s existing infrastructure, its long-term planning goal, and, most concerningly, the voices of residents who would be most affect-

That’s why I’ve been proud to stand with local and state leaders in strong opposition to this egregious state overreach. Last month I joined members of the State Senate and Assembly in Albany to denounce the REVIVE Act. More recently, I stood with a coalition of elected officials from across Nassau County in front of Samanea Mall in Westbury — a site that could easily be deemed “underutilized” under this legislation and targeted for highdensity redevelopment.

That location is not unique. There are countless sites across Long Island that could fall under the scope of this bill. And instead of encouraging balanced economic development or supporting job-creating commercial investment, Albany appears determined to impose high-density, high-rise residential projects with little regard for community impact.

Suburban communities aren’t Albany’s plaything to experiment with. They are neighborhoods where families have

built their lives, where small businesses support local economies and where residents take pride in the character of their towns. Stripping those communities of their voice isn’t just bad policy — it’s fundamentally detrimental to the principles of local governance and community-driven planning.

And make no mistake: Opposition to the REVIVE Act isn’t limited to elected officials. Residents across the region are speaking out because they understand what is at stake. They know that once local control is taken away, it will be impossible to get back. They know that decisions made without their input will shape their neighborhoods for generations to come.

That’s why I launched an online petition so residents can make their voices heard and stand up against this misguided proposal. I encourage everyone to visit Change.org/StopReviveAct and join the growing number of Long Islanders who are saying enough is enough.

The REVIVE Act doesn’t just get the balance wrong — it ignores it entirely. And if we allow that to happen, the consequences won’t be felt in Albany. They’ll be felt on our roads, in our schools and in the neighborhoods we call home.

That’s why this fight matters. And that’s why the REVIVE Act must be stopped.

John Ferretti is the Town of Hempstead supervisor.

Restoring accountability to school bus camera programs

Every driver has a legal and moral obligation to stop for a school bus, since violations can have devastating consequences — children getting on and off their school buses are among the most vulnerable people on the road. Consistent enforcement of traffic laws to deter illegal passing can help prevent injuries and save lives. At the same time, these systems must be implemented carefully. When enforcement programs are poorly administered, lack clear authorization or fail to provide drivers with adequate notice, they undermine trust in traffic safety efforts. Safety and accountability should go hand in hand, not come at the expense of one another.

In 2021 I helped pass legislation in the County Legislature approving schoolbus stop-arm cameras. As a former school board trustee, I did so with a deep sense of responsibility to protect chil-

dren not only in the classroom, but on their way to and from school. The law allowed the county to partner with a private vendor to operate the system — but only in districts that chose to opt in.

That distinction matters. The program was designed to give local school districts the ability to decide what was best for safety in their own communities. It was never intended to be a blanket system imposed across every neighborhood, nor was it designed to operate without clear local consent.

Tickets are being issued in school districts that never agreed to participate.

Soon after its implementation, however, concerns began to emerge. A Newsday investigation last year found that, over a two-year period, the Town of Hempstead issued more than 80,000 tickets in and around school districts that never agreed to participate in the program — raising serious legal and ethical questions about how the system was being enforced.

Town officials have suggested that these tickets stemmed from buses that take part in the program making stops outside their home districts. But that reality makes clear why stronger safe-

guards are necessary. A program built on local consent shouldn’t result in enforcement spilling into communities that never opted in. When the boundaries of participation become blurred, so does the public’s confidence in the system itself — and in the fairness of the penalties it produces.

That’s why I introduced legislation in the State Senate to restore fairness and transparency. My bill makes clear that enforcement cannot begin until there is authorization by local school boards for implementation in their school districts, proper public notice, and certification that a system is active. Drivers deserve to know when and where automated enforcement is being used. The bill also ensures that no one can be penalized retroactively for actions that occurred before a system was officially authorized and put in operation.

School bus camera systems would only be permitted to operate within school districts that formally opt in. That would restore the balance that was originally intended: protecting children while respecting the role of local com-

munities in making decisions about their own safety measures. It would also ensure that enforcement is consistent and applied only where it is authorized.

To protect local decision-making and ensure that enforcement is fair and transparent, the bill would set clear rules for both municipalities and vendors. Municipalities would be required to maintain accurate records of participating districts. Vendors would be required to ensure that bus camera systems operate only within the boundaries of those districts, and could not issue violations outside them. In other words, unless a district had made a clear and informed decision to participate, there would be no cameras and no tickets.

This is not about weakening school bus safety laws. Drivers must always stop for school buses to protect children — but enforcement must be transparent to maintain trust.

At its core, this legislation is about restoring public confidence. When people trust that laws are being enforced fairly and as intended, they are far more likely to respect and follow them. That’s how we create safer streets — not just through enforcement.

Siela Bynoe represents the 6th State Senate District.

LIRR riders, put on your damn headphones

there is an unwritten contract that comes with riding on the Long Island Rail Road. You buy your ticket, you find your seat and you agree — implicitly, silently, without anyone asking you to sign anything — to share a small, enclosed space with strangers for the duration of your journey. It’s not always comfortable. It’s rarely glamorous. But it works, because most people understand that shared spaces require a certain baseline of consideration for the people around you.

That contract is being violated, every day, by people who can’t be bothered to use headphones. This lack of common decency is getting worse. Perhaps it signals the erosion of pre-pandemic norms, or the proliferation of short-form video content that simply must be consumed the moment it appears. But the reason doesn’t matter. The result is the same: a train car held captive by one person’s indifference.

You know what I’m talking about. The commuter who has his phone propped against his coffee cup, watching a video at full volume like he’s in his living room — a living room, apparently, with very thick walls or no neighbors. The guy on his Bluetooth speaker. Yes, a Bluetooth. On a train. In public. Among other humans.

What is so urgent that it cannot wait — or at minimum, be routed through a pair of earbuds? If you’re going to subject your fellow passengers to unsolicit-

letters

Turning our backs on nuclear power will cost us

To the Editor:

ed audio, the least you can do is make it enriching. Bach’s “Goldberg Variations.” A Pulitzer Prize-winner on Audible. Perhaps a documentary about the migratory patterns of the Arctic tern. Something that, when the woman across the aisle glances up from her book, she might think, “Well, I didn’t ask for this, but I’ll learn something today.”

Instead, what Long Island commuters are treated to after a long day of work is a TikTok of someone attempting to fit way too many cherry tomatoes in their mouth. Or a Twitch stream of a man dropping words that would make a sailor take notes. Or, my personal favorite, a FaceTime call conducted at a volume that suggests the party on the other end is located not in Queens but in Uzbekistan.

The headphone — wireless, wired, over-ear, in-ear, take your pick — is sold at every price point from reasonable to why-does-this-cost-more-than-my-firstcar, and is one of the great inventions of the modern age precisely because it solved this problem. It lets each of us live inside our own sonic world without inflicting it on everyone else. The technology is cheap, ubiquitous, and works perfectly well even when moving at 60 miles per hour.

And before anyone reaches for the ready-made excuse, “My AirPods died” is not quite the sympathetic defense it might seem. Yes, it’s mildly inconvenient to sit for 40 minutes without being

Karl Grossman’s op-ed critique of New York’s zeroemission credit program, “Nuclear power for $33 billion, and guess who’s paying?” (April 2-8) mischaracterizes both the program’s purpose and its value. The figure he cites is designed to alarm, but stripped of context, it obscures a central truth: New York is not subsidizing failure — it is investing in reliability, climate compliance and economic stability.

In 2016, the state Public Service Commission established zero-emissions credits as part of its Clean Energy Standard to preserve existing nuclear generation, the single largest source of zero-emission electricity in the state. At the time, upstate nuclear plants were at risk of premature closure due to distorted wholesale markets. The commission found that losing those facilities would result in “significantly increased greenhouse gas emissions,” higher capacity costs and immediate reliability risks.

Federal courts agreed. In 2018, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit upheld New York’s ZEC program, finding it lawful and consistent with federal energy policy. The court rejected claims that ZECs distorted markets, affirming that states retain

able to catch up on the latest episode of “Love Is Blind.” We understand. We feel for you. But that inconvenience — yours, private, manageable — pales significantly when compared with forcing the occupants of an entire train car to listen to it with you.

Charge your headphones. Toss a wired pair in your bag. The bar here is low, but it’s still worth clearing.

Long Island commuters are not a fragile lot. Anyone who has navigated Penn Station at rush hour or waited half an hour for a delayed train on an unsheltered platform in January has developed a certain resilience. We don’t need silence. We don’t need perfection. Trains are noisy — the screech of the rails, the hiss of the doors, the conductor calling out “Jamaica next!” in a voice that carries to the next car. That’s the deal. That’s ambient. That’s fine.

What isn’t fine is being forced to listen to someone else’s choice of entertainment, which, based on available evidence, is made with absolutely no one else in mind.

So here’s a modest proposal: bring your headphones, and use them. The train is a community — a rolling slice of Long Island life, hurtling toward work or home. Communities are at their best when their members extend small courtesies to one another.

And, if you absolutely must share your audio with the world, at the very minimum, make it Bach.

authority to value environmental attributes of generation. As the court noted, “States are not preempted from encouraging production of clean energy.”

Nuclear power supplies roughly 20 percent of New York’s electricity and more than 40 percent of its carbon-free generation. Without it, emissions would spike dramatically, undoing years of progress under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. As New York’s independent system operator has repeatedly warned, premature retirements of dispatchable resources, espe-

Why expanding child care on Long Island is so difficult

Across Long Island, families are struggling to find reliable child care. Waiting lists are growing, educators are stretched thin and communities continue to ask the same question: Why can’t we simply open more child care programs?

As an early-childhood educator and a small-business owner on Long Island, I see this challenge from both sides — as someone serving families in need of care, and as someone actively working to expand child care in our community.

Many people assume that the primary barriers to opening new programs are licensing requirements, zoning regulations or finding appropriate space. These are certainly significant hurdles. Child care providers must meet strict safety regulations, navigate local zoning rules and secure properties that meet both municipal and state requirements.

But what often goes unrecognized is what happens after those hurdles are cleared.

In some cases, providers manage to secure the property, obtain the necessary approvals and design programs that expand the number of available

spots for families with children. The plans are approved. The need in the community is clear.

Yet even at that stage, expansion can stall because of one remaining obstacle: access to capital.

Child care programs are small businesses that operate with extremely tight margins. Unlike many other industries, the cost of delivering quality care — staffing, safety requirements, training, compliance and maintaining appropriate childto-staff ratios — leaves little room for financial flexibility. At the same time, many lending institutions continue to view child care as a high-risk investment.

Ters must manage both the expense of running a small business and the rising cost of maintaining a home.

Utility costs alone can be substantial when caring for children in a program that operates for long hours each day. Heating, electricity, water, sanitation, food preparation and cleaning requirements all contribute to increased operational costs. These aren’t optional expenses; they are essential components of maintaining a safe, healthy environment for children.

he cost of delivering quality care leaves little room for financial flexibility.

The result is a troubling disconnect. Communities are asking for more child care options, providers are ready to expand, and projects may already have the proper approvals in place, but financing remains out of reach.

On Long Island, this challenge is compounded by the broader affordability crisis. The cost of operating any small business here continues to rise.

Property costs, insurance, utilities, food, supplies and maintenance expenses have increased significantly in recent years. For home-based child care providers, the financial pressures can be even more complex. Many programs operate in residential homes, meaning provid-

LeTTers

cially nuclear, pose “significant reliability challenges,” particularly as electrification increases demand.

Critics often invoke plant age as a proxy for danger. That is misleading. Nuclear facilities are regulated by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission under one of the most stringent safety regimes in the world. License extensions are granted only after exhaustive review of materials, systems and operational performance. Comparing a nuclear plant to a “57-year-old car” may be rhetorically effective, but it is technically unserious. Nuclear facilities are continually upgraded with the latest technology, which is often mandated by the commission.

The economic argument also collapses under scrutiny. ZECs are not a “bailout”; they are a market correction. Fossil fuel generation benefits from decades of embedded subsidies and does not pay for its environmental externalities. ZECs attempt to internalize those costs, something economists across the spectrum have long advocated. As former Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz has stated, “Retaining existing nuclear plants is one of the most cost-effective ways to prevent carbon emissions.”

As well, these facilities support thousands of high-skilled, union jobs that cannot be quickly or easily replaced. More important, they anchor local economies across upstate New York. Abrupt closures

At the same time, providers must invest in staff wages, professional development, educational materials and regulatory compliance. These costs are necessary to ensure quality care, but they also make it more difficult for programs to accumulate the capital needed to grow. When providers attempt to secure financing to expand services, many encounter lending systems that aren’t designed with childhood programs in mind. Even projects that have secured zoning approval and appropriate facilities, and demonstrated community demand, may struggle to access the financing necessary to move forward.

This gap in financing has real consequences. Families across Long Island are already experiencing the impact of limited child care availability. Parents are delaying career opportunities,

would not only destabilize the grid but devastate entire communities.

Nuclear power is not a panacea. Renewables will continue to expand, but the idea that wind and solar alone can replace firm, dispatchable baseload power in the near term is not supported by grid realities. Even the Union of Concerned Scientists acknowledges that maintaining existing nuclear capacity can play a role in reducing emissions during the transition.

The real question isn’t whether ZECs cost money. It is whether abandoning them would cost more in emissions, in reliability failures, in lost jobs and, ultimately, in higher long-term energy prices.

New York’s energy transition must be grounded in pragmatism, not ideology. Preserving zero-emission nuclear generation through ZECs isn’t a step backward. It is a necessary bridge, one that ensures we reach a cleaner future without falling into the very pitfalls critics claim to oppose.

PATRICk GUIdICE Holtsville

Patrick Guidice is the business manager of IBEW Local 1049, representing over 4,000 workers in the electrical and gas utility industry on Long Island. Karl Grossman’s column did not appear in all print editions of the Herald, but can be found at liherald. com/oped.

adjusting work schedules or leaving the workforce entirely because they cannot find reliable care for their children.

Employers also feel the effects. Businesses depend on employees who depend on child care. When their child care options are limited, workforce participation declines and productivity suffers.

Expanding child care isn’t simply about building classrooms. It’s about investing in the system that allows families, businesses and communities to function. Long Island has no shortage of educators who are committed to serving families and expanding access to early learning opportunities. What we need now is greater alignment between that commitment and the financial system that supports small businesses trying to meet this urgent need.

When approved child care projects can’t move forward due to lack of financing, it should prompt an important conversation about how we invest in one of the most essential services our communities depend on.

Child care isn’t a luxury. It is the foundation that allows families to work, businesses to operate and communities to grow. If Long Island is serious about addressing the child care shortage, we must ensure that providers who are ready to expand have a viable path to do so.

Janna Rodriguez is an early childhood educator and a small-business owner in Freeport.

FrAmework by Tim Baker

Dancing to ‘Uptown Funk’ at Covert School’s Variety Show — Rockville Centre