Merrick Herald 08-20-2026

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Chabad creates after-school program org anization’s Hands-On Hebrew School, which has grown from a handful of stuThe Chabad of Merrick-Bell- dents to about 180.

“We found that the Hebrew more-Wantagh is launching an after-school program designed school students — they make to give local Jewish children great friendships,” Kramer opportunities to develop new said. “They get to know friends skills while building friend- outside school, and it really ships and a stronger connec- adds to their social-emotional being.” tion to their comBut because munity.

Hebrew school The Albert & meets only once a Temi Horowitz week, Chabad CKids Clubs will serve children ages heard from families 4 to 12 during the who wanted their 2026-27 school year, children to have providing enrichmore opportunities ing and exciting to spend time with activities such as their peers, Kramer gymnastics, drama, said. sports and moveT he clubs are m e n t , b a k i n g , RABBI SHIMoN intended to provide Hebrew language, kRAMER that additional art, STEM and sciopportunity while ence. also giving children The program is access to extracurbeing supported by a grant ricular activities. from CKids Inter national, “They can actually, besides allowing Chabad to offer spe- for all the skills that they’re cialized programming at heavi- learning after school, which is ly subsidized rates and provide great for them, it also brings scholarships to families who them self-confidence, friendneed additional financial assis- ship, learn how to work with tance. others,” the rabbi said.

Chabad Rabbi Shimon Chanie Kramer, program Kramer said the clubs developed from the success of the CoNTiNued oN paGe 11

By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ

hgaldamez@liherald.com

I

Courtesy Christina Bonfiglio-Scali

The Merrick Library recently opened a coffee bar, adding another amenity to a building that has increasingly become a destination for remote workers, students and community members.

Gina Noto, above, runs the show.

Library adds a coffee bar

By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com

The Merrick Public Library is giving patrons another reason to stay awhile.

The library recently opened a coffee bar, adding another amenity to a building that has increasingly become a destination for remote workers, students and community members who spend hours working, studying and reading.

The coffee bar opened Aug. 11 and is staffed by library employee Gina Noto, a barista with eight years of experience.

Christina Bonfiglio-Scali, the library’s head of community engagement, said the addition was a natural extension of how patrons have begun using the library.

“We realized that the way people use the

library has really changed, especially since after COVID, and there’s a lot of people working remote,” Bonfiglio-Scali said.

“We’re seeing students, we’re seeing remote workers and community members spending several hours here rather than simply stopping in to borrow a book.”

The library has added quiet pods, comfortable seating and work-friendly spaces in recent years, creating an environment where patrons can work or study throughout the day.

Bonfiglio-Scali said the library noticed the shift before the coffee bar was considered.

“It’s not like we got the coffee bar now; they’re staying here longer,” she said. “It was vice versa. We noticed they’re staying CoNTiNued oN paGe 2

t brings them selfconfidence, friendship, learn how to work with others.

Making patrons feel at home with brew Continued from page 1

here longer, and we got the coffee bar to accommodate them.”

The coffee bar occupies a space that previously housed a water fountain and two vending machines.

The library is one of a small number on Long Island to offer a coffee bar, according to Bonfiglio-Scali. She said the Merrick library was inspired by other libraries that had incorporated coffee service while also recognizing that the amenity fit the community’s changing needs.

“Coffee builds community just like libraries,” she said.

For Noto, the new role combines two things she enjoys: coffee and books.

“I also love to read, so being surrounded by coffee and books is a plus, huge plus,” Noto said.

Before joining the library, Noto worked at Massapequa Perk, where she said the pace could be intense, with lines sometimes extending out the door. Working at the library’s coffee bar has allowed her to spend more time with customers.

“I feel like I can hone in on that more here,” Noto said of building community. “I am able

to give each customer even more time. I can, you know, it’s a little bit more of an intimate experience rather than that crazy busyness of a regular coffee shop.”

The response has been positive since the coffee bar opened, Noto said. She has already seen some customers become regulars.

The customers have ranged from adults working remotely to younger patrons studying during the summer. Noto said she expects the coffee bar could become particularly useful for students once the school year begins.

The menu includes a variety of drinks, with the cold brew proving especially popular.

Noto said the library’s cold brew uses a slow-drip process, making it highly caffeinated.

Customers can also choose from numerous flavor combinations.

Bonfiglio-Scali emphasized that the coffee bar is intended primarily as a service for people already using the library, rather than a way to draw customers who otherwise would not visit.

“Our target audience are

Courtesy Christina Bonfiglio-Scali

the library is one of a small number on Long island to offer a coffee bar. people who are already here in the library,” she said. “They were here before the coffee bar.

They’ll be here after the coffee bar. And now they’re just enjoying this extra library service,

this library amenity that’s available.”

The library hopes the coffee bar will be self-sustaining and remain a long-term service for Merrick patrons.

“It’s just going to be another program or another service that the Merrick patrons love and enjoy,” Bonfiglio-Scali said.

“We expect it to be here for the long term.”

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August 20, 2026 — MERRICK HERALD

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Community steps up for Nassau veterans

MERRICK HERALD — August 20, 2026

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

More than 100 people gathered at Eisenhower Park to support Nassau County veterans and their families, collecting food and essential supplies for a local veterans pantry while walking together in recognition of those who served.

The second annual Veterans Valor Food Drive & Walk brought veterans, residents, community organizations and volunteers together for a half-mile walk around Salisbury Lake and a food drive benefiting the Vet Mart Pantry in East Meadow.

State Sen. Steve Rhoads, Nassau County Comptroller Elaine Phillips, County Executive Bruce Blakeman and the Nassau County Veterans Service Agency welcomed participants to the Aug. 8 event, which organizers said was intended to honor veterans while providing tangible assistance to those in need.

Participants donated nonperishable food items that will help stock the Vet Mart Pantry, which provides food and essential household items to veterans and their families throughout Nassau County.

“The second annual Veterans Valor Food Drive & Walk was a tremendous success, taking this important effort to a new level through the meaningful partnerships and strong leadership of Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, Nassau County Comptroller Elaine Phillips, and the Nassau County Veterans Service Agency,” Rhoads said. “Together, we brought our community together in support of the men and women who have served our nation. Standing side by side with our local veterans, we collected nonperishable food donations for the Veterans food pantry in East Meadow and showed that supporting those who served requires more than just words — it requires action.

“Every step we took, and every donation collected sent a powerful message that their service is appreciated and their needs matter,” Rhoads continued.

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Holden Leeds/Herald photos

The second annual Veterans Valor Food Drive & Walk brought veterans, residents, community organizations and volunteers together for a half-mile walk around Salisbury Lake.

“The generosity of our community will help provide essential food and household items to veterans and their families, while reminding us all of the responsibility we share to honor and support those who have put their lives on the line for our country and sacrificed so much for our freedom.”

Phillips similarly emphasized the importance of providing ongoing assistance to veterans beyond events recognizing their service.

“Supporting our veterans is not just something we do on one day, it is a commitment we owe every day,” Phillips said. “Our veterans made extraordinary sacrifices to protect our freedoms, and we have a responsibility to ensure they receive the support and respect they have earned. I am proud to partner with County Executive Bruce Blakeman, New York State Senator Steve Rhoads, and the Nassau County Veterans Service Agency to give back to those who have given so much for our nation. I thank Ralph Esposito, Director of the Nassau County Veterans Service Agency, and his dedicated team for their tireless work on behalf of our veterans and their families.”

Ralph Esposito, director of the Nas-

sau County Veterans Service Agency, said efforts such as the food drive are part of the agency’s broader mission to connect local veterans with assistance.

“Our mission at the Nassau County Veterans Service Agency is to make sure Nassau County veterans have access to the services, resources, and assistance they need,” Esposito said. “Our veterans have given so much to our country and this food drive will help provide essential supplies to veterans while ensuring they know their community stands behind them. We are committed to doing everything we can to support those who served and ensure no veteran in Nassau County goes hungry.”

The food collected during the event will help stock the Vet Mart Pantry in East Meadow, providing veterans and their families with food and essential household items.

The Nassau County Veterans Service Agency Food Pantry is at 2201 Hempstead Turnpike, Building Q, in East Meadow, behind Nassau University Medical Center. The pantry is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon and is closed on weekends and holidays.

Veterans seeking more information or directions can call (516) 572-6565.

Ralph Esposito, director of Nassau County Veterans Service Agency, helped collect food to supply the county’s ‘Vet Mart.’

County Legislator Michael Giangregorio, Gary Glick of the Jewish War Veterans and County Legislator Tom Mckevitt at the walk.

Gatima Hanton and Teresa Peterson dropped off donations ahead of the walk.

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Nature’s renewal

t rained a lot this spring. Then propotting soil left, I fill four small planters crastination set in, preventing real and place them on the east facing windetermination to plant sunflower dowsill in late July. Without a lot of seeds that had been harvested from promise, I keep watering the lifeless our 2025’s flowers. We lost time and soil, creating a kind of hopeful mud. opportunity – then maybe the soil And then, just when one least expects it, wasn’t rich enough or the holes weren’t there they were: some skinny sprouts deep enough. Whatever it was, we didn’t pushing up through the soil, twisting get the eight-foot plants that we had and bending around the pots determine enjoyed yearly, just one small stalk that to thrive. even now, I keep encouragAs much as I have rooted ing to grow tall among its for the big, bold flowers outwildflower friends. doors, I am rooting twice as Fortunately, by sharing hard for these underdog last year’s seeds with our plants. They remind me that neighbors, we are witnessthey might not be mighty, ing much better results, but they have a kind of natuincluding a few huge plants ral resilience that cannot be growing in our (near) midst. ignored. I can’t control their But this is less a story future, not knowing if they about flowers and more will survive or blossom about control vs. the unpregiven their fragility. But dictable in our lives and how when August turns to Sepauren ev we accept it. It doesn’t mattember and then October, at ter that every year I squeeze least the plants will have the blossoms and dry the given me a little more expecseeds before placing them in glass jars. tation, something to look forward to, It doesn’t matter that the photos I take and more than I could have imagined at the prime of the season look so staged myself.

I can hardly believe the flowers are real.

What matters is that when you keep on A contributing writer to the Herald since doing what you are used to, trying to 2012, Lauren Lev is a direct marketing/ control the process and the results, advertising executive who teaches marnature reminds you that can’t. Life keting fundamentals as well as advertisreminds you that you can’t. ing and marketing communications With just a few seeds at the bottom of courses at the Fashion Institute of Techmy glass jar, and just a few pounds of nology and SUNY Old Westbury.

L

L

News brIef Realtor awards scholarships to seniors

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August 20, 2026 — MERRICK HERALD

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Merrick resident and licensed associate broker Anna Beigelman presented college scholarships to graduating seniors at Mepham, Calhoun and John F. Kennedy high schools as part of a program she started in 2019.

The scholarships recognize students for community service, leadership, character and positive contributions among

their peers, rather than academic achievement or financial need. Awards were presented during each school’s awards night in M a y.

The 2026 recipients were Matthew Klein of JFK High School, Sophia Ricci of Calhoun High School, and Jack Weber and Kaylee White of Mepham High School.

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NYU Langone earns top national rankings hgaldamez@liherald.com

NYU Langone Health, including NYU Langone Hospital— Long Island, received multiple top national rankings in the late s t U. S . N e w s & Wo r l d Report “Best Hospitals” rankings released Aug. 4.

The health system had the most No. 1-ranked specialties in the nation, along with the most specialties ranked in the top 10, according to the rankings. NYU Langone also was named to the publication’s Honor Roll of the top 20 hospitals nationwide and ranked among the No. 1 hospitals in the New York metropolitan area.

The rankings evaluated nearly 4,500 hospitals across 14 specialties and 23 procedures and conditions.

Neurology and neurosurgery ranked No. 1 nationally for the fifth consecutive year, while cardiology, heart and vascular surgery ranked No. 1 for the second consecutive year.

“All 13 of NYU Langone’s ranked clinical specialties placed in the top 20 nationally, with 12 in the top 10,” according to the health system.

NYU Langone also received high-performing designations in all 23 procedures and conditions evaluated by U.S. News & World Report.

“NYU Langone achieved these top rankings through our talented and dedicated care teams, with each relentlessly focusing on the details that impact patient outcomes and experience,” Alec C. Kimmelman, dean of NYU Grossman School of Medicine and CEO of NYU Langone Health, said in a statement. “This commitment to exceptionalism results in the highest standard of quality care that we consistently deliver across every location.”

For Long Island patients, Joseph J. Greco, executive vice president and chief of hospital operations at NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island, said the rankings highlight the care available through the health system locally.

“For patients and families on Long Island, these rankings underscore that NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island delivers some of the best care in the nation in cardiology, neurology, neurosurgery, and many other specialties,” Greco said in a

MERRICK HERALD — August 20, 2026

By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ

Courtesy NYU Langone

NYU Langone Health, including NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island, received multiple top national rankings released on Aug. 4. statement. “We are proud to be part of a health system recognized for excellence, where the quality of care is truly exceptional.”

The rankings cover NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island, Tisch Hospital, Kimmel Pavilion and NYU Langone Orthopedic

Hospital in Manhattan, as well as NYU Langone Hospital— Brooklyn.

NYU Langone Hospital—Suffolk, which joined the health system last year, was ranked separately and received “high performing” designations for pneumonia, heart failure and chronic

obstructive pulmonary disease.

NYU Langone shared the distinction for the most No. 1-ranked specialties in the nation with Mayo Clinic, UCSF Medical Center and Johns Hopkins Hospital, each of which also received two No. 1 specialty rankings this year.

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August 20, 2026 — MERRICK HERALD

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A high-profile Blakeman backer pays a visit

By HUNTER FENOLLOL hfenollol@liherald.com

President Trump used a visit to Nassau County last Friday to tout falling crime rates and to endorse County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s bid for governor, while more than 100 protesters gathered nearby to criticize the administration’s policies on immigration, health care and affordability.

Trump spoke at the Nassau County Police Department’s David S. Mack Center for Training and Intelligence, in Garden City, where he praised local law enforcement and repeatedly pointed to Nassau County as a model for public safety.

“Nassau County has been rated the No. 1 one safest county in America,” Trump said, citing a 2024 U.S. News & World Report ranking. He also praised Blakeman, saying, “We’ll get Bruce in there. We’ll change it around,” as he urged New Yorkers to support the county executive’s gubernatorial campaign.

Blakeman credited local and federal law enforcement cooperation for the county’s crime record. He also highlighted Nassay’s agreement with federal immigration authorities, saying the county had removed about 2,000 immigrants with criminal records in one year. He cited cases involving attempted murder, rape, robbery, carjacking and drug dealing as examples of the people he said had been removed.

Trump’s remarks largely focused on crime, immigration and his administration’s support for law enforcement. He cited newly released FBI statistics that he said showed the largest reduction in violent crime in American history in 2025, along with additional declines in murders and robberies in 2026.

He also criticized Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York’s criminal justice policies, particularly

Tim Baker/Herald

President Trump joined County Executive Bruce Blakeman at the Nassau County P.D.’s David S. Mack Center for Training and Intelligence in Garden City last Friday.

Trump endorsed Blakeman’s campaign for governor. its bail laws and immigration policies, while praising Blakeman’s record.

Outside the police training center, meanwhile, more than 100 protesters gathered at a designated protest area on Endo Boulevard. They included Nassau County Democratic Party officials, community leaders and residents. Civil rights attorney Fred Brewington led protesters in chants, including, “This is what America looks like today and we’re not going away.”

Adrienne Adams, the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, was among the speakers. She crit-

icized both Trump and Blakeman, saying that Blakeman was the president’s “biggest cheerleader” and urging voters to reject what she described as their extremism.

“Keeping our community safe doesn’t stop at law enforcement,” Adams said, arguing that public safety also includes health care, dignity and the ability to afford essential care.

Adams criticized Trump’s health care and food assistance policies, and said that Blakeman would take Medicaid cuts further.

Sen. Siela Bynoe, county elected officials and community leaders also addressed the crowd, focusing on the cost of living, health care, immigration and ICE enforcement.

For supporters who attended the Trump event, however, public safety remained the central message. Nikolai Glushkov, 23, founder of the Glen Cove Young Republicans, came to the rally to support congressional candidate Michael LiPetri Jr. as well as Trump and Blakeman.

Glushkov, a lifelong Nassau County resident, said he was encouraged by what he heard about crime reductions. “I took away [President Trump’s] impact on the national level on keeping the crime safe in Nassau County, reducing that along with Blakeman,” he said.

Glushkov said he believed that Nassau’s record under Blakeman could serve as a model for the rest of New York. “We are the safest county, and we got to make New York state the safest state this November,” he said.

The rally and the nearby protest underscored the political divide surrounding Trump’s visit, with his supporters emphasizing crime and law enforcement while opponents argued that health care, affordability and reforms in immigration policy should be made higher priorities.

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HERALD — August 20, 2026

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Continues to guide Dance Arts with creativity and spirit

Donna Carbone’s Dance Arts has been providing dancers with instruction since 1977.

N

early 50 years after opening Donna Carbone’s Dance Arts, Donna Schaeffer still arrives at the studio with the same enthusiasm that inspired her to first open its doors in 1977.

For Donna, dance has never been merely a business. It is a lifelong calling that continues to shape her daily life, relationships and outlook on the future.

“The best part is going to work and looking forward to going to work,” Donna said. “I never dread going to the studio.”

That passion remains evident throughout the Merrick studio she founded and helped grow into a community institution.

After all these years, Donna no longer demonstrates every movement the way she once did.

Following decades of teaching and nine knee surgeries, she now channels much of her artistry through the students she mentors and instructors she has trained.

“I dance through my kids now,” she said.

The business itself has evolved significantly over the years.

Dance Arts recently expanded into additional space next door, creating a second studio, larger waiting areas, new dressing rooms and opportunities for additional programming. The studio now offers camps, dance intensives, birthday parties and specialized dance programs, including opportunities for students with special needs.

Yet despite the physical growth, the culture remains rooted in Donna’s original vision.

“It takes a village,” she said. “By no means is Dance Arts a oneperson thing.”

Nearly all the studio’s instructors are former Dance Arts students themselves. Many began dancing there as toddlers, worked their

way up to the advanced level classes, became student teachers, and eventually returned as professionals to teach the next generation of dancers.

That continuity has become one of the organization’s greatest strengths.

Over the decades, Donna has watched countless students grow up, leave for college, begin careers, raise families and eventually return with children of their own.

“There’s a ton of them,” she said of the multi-generational families now attending the studio.

The experience can be especially meaningful when former students see their children following similar paths.

“What’s really interesting now is I have kids who are on senior kickline, and their moms were on senior kickline,” Donna said.

The studio’s family atmosphere reflects Donna’s leadership style. While she maintains high standards, she also emphasizes joy, creativity and personal growth.

Donna has taught generations of dancers, including her daughter Dawn.

Unlike many other dance programs, Dance Arts does not center its identity on competitions.

“We have tried competition style programming,” she said. “My goal has always remained focused on education.”

Donna believes dance should always be accessible to students who simply love performing, regardless of whether they pursue professional careers.

“Most of the people coming

As Donna Carbone’s Dance Arts approaches its milestone 50th anniversary, it continues to attract young dancers.

through your door are recreational dancers,” she said. “Education is paramount for me, but it also has to be fun.”

That philosophy has helped sustain the studio through changing trends and challenges, including the pandemic.

Partner and longtime student Carrie Dale assumed a larger leadership role in recent years, as the business successfully navigated that uncertain period while continuing to serve local families.

Donna credits Carrie, her dedicated staff, and supportive parents for helping the studio endure.

“The Merrick community is wonderful,” she said. “Merrick is a wonderful place to do business.”

Her own professional development has also contributed to the studio’s longevity.

Throughout her career, Donna studied with respected dance masters in New York City, including Phil Black, Frank Hatchett, Eddie Wright and Don Farnsworth. She believes Merrick’s proximity to Manhattan provided a tremendous advantage.

“What makes my business successful is my access to what’s current and what’s happening in the dance world,” she said.

Even today, she stays connected to emerging music and dance trends, often surprising people with her knowledge of current artists and popular culture.

“It is important for me to know the music that the kids are listening to,” Donna said. But,

perhaps more than anything else, she credits her students for sustaining her energy.

As Dance Arts approaches its milestone 50th anniversary, Donna is increasingly focused on legacy.

She takes comfort in knowing the studio’s future is secure with Dale at the helm.

While she jokes about taking things “one year at a time,” retirement remains a far-off concept for someone whose identity has been intertwined with dance for nearly seven decades.

For now, however, Donna has no plans to leave the place that has defined so much of her life.

“Dance Arts is very important,” Donna said. “It keeps me young.”

For thousands of students who have grown up under her guidance, that youthful spirit may be the defining characteristic of Donna herself — a teacher, entrepreneur and artist whose greatest achievement is not the studio she built, but the generations she continues to inspire.

- Christy Hinko

Donna Carbone’s Dance Arts

Herald Content Studio articles are produced by the Herald's marketing division and independent of the newsroom. The Herald may be compensated by featured companies or purchases made through these articles, which does not constitute the Herald's endorsement.

Gifted students

9

volunteer your time, such as providing extra materials for class, or organizing classroom parent volunteerism.

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In School Keep an eye out for the characteristics of a typical gifted child; understanding that gifted children are

Your gifted child needs good programming in school and your support at home.

diverse and will not exhibit all traits all of the time. They are: excellent memory, large vocabulary and complex sentence structure for their age, enjoying problem-solving, logical thinking, concern with social and political issues and injustices, asking probing questions, being organized, being curious, and having either a wide range of interests or extreme focus in one interest.

Performance traits aside, gifted

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Have realistic expectations. Your child’s teacher may have limited resources and time to work with a large number of students in her classroom.

The NAGC suggests offering to

At Home Always engage your child verbally.

Gifted students are highly verbal and inquisitive, say the experts at the parenting website BabyCenter. If parents dismiss their questions because they’re too busy, kids get frustrated and shut down. Recognize that conversations teach your kids verbal and social skills, and seize every opportunity.

Ask your child about his or her current interests, and provide fresh material, such as biographies of scientists or botanists or a trip to a garden center to chat with a plant specialist.

Don’t overschedule your child.

Resist the urge to compete with other parents who have their kids signed up for multiple sports and activities each season. Be sure your child has plenty of downtime to read, relax, play with friends and recharge to avoid an early burnout.

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f you’re the parent of a gifted child, you likely experience a wide range of emotions, from pride for your child’s accomplishments, to concern when your child wrestles with stress over performance and test scores. And if your child hasn’t yet been tested as gifted, he or she might be bored in school — perhaps even underperforming.

It’s your support that can make all the difference in your child’s potential and achievements in the future.

According to the National Association for Gifted Children, students with high abilities need gifted education programs to challenge them in regular classroom settings, to enable them to make continuous progress in school.

As a parent, you can help your gifted student thrive during the school year, particularly when the curriculum doesn’t seem to engage your child.

MERRICK HERALD — August 20, 2026

How to help them thrive

August 20, 2026 — MERRICK HERALD

10

Stu Goldman/Herald photos

Students graced the stage in their graduation robes during the Jewish Early Learning Center’s graduation ceremony on June 16.

Jewish Early Learning Center celebrates graduates The Alan & Tatyana Forman Jewish Early Learning Center celebrated its graduating class on June 16, marking the students’ transition from preschool to the next chapter of their education.

Families, teachers and school staff gathered to recognize the young graduates, who celebrated their accomplishments and the friendships and experiences they developed during their time at the center.

The Jewish Early Learning Center provides early childhood education for children ages 18 months to 4 years, incorporating academic, creative and Jewish learning into its programs. The center emphasizes hands-on learning, creativity and fostering a lifelong love of learning.

The ceremony gave students and their families an opportunity to celebrate the milestone before the children head to their next schools and educational experiences.

— Hernesto Galdamez

Stu Goldman/Herald photos

Students were all smiles as they made the transition from preschool to the next chapter of their education.

Jake Kravat and Tyler Venturi celebrate their graduation from the Jewish Early Learning Center on June 16.

Students marched onto the stage during the Jewish Early Learning Center’s graduation ceremony.

Registration is now open for program can also play a role in helping children feel comfortable with their Jewish identity.

“The fact that they’re Jewish — they don’t have to hide that they’re Jewish,” he said. “We feel that this would help them with their identity and feel good about being Jewish.”

The program will incorporate Jewish experiences through elements such as kosher snacks, Hebrew, songs, stories and shared activities, while keeping the focus on hands-on enrichment.

One of the planned offerings will be a drama session in which children will work on a production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” The drama session will run for a longer period because of the time needed to prepare the production.

The clubs will be held on Mondays and Thursdays, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., at the Chabad Center for Jewish Life, 2174 Hewlett Ave. in Merrick.

Chanie Kramer said Chabad will consider the program successful if families retur n for additional sessions and the clubs lead to greater family engagement with Jewish programming.

“If we get a large interest in re-enrolling in the clubs or requests and just more family engagement, more families coming together for Jewish programming, then I’ll know that we’re in the right direction,” she said.

Registration is open at chabadjewishlife. org/clubs.

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director at Chabad, said the organization surveyed parents before developing the clubs to determine which activities would be most appealing to local children.

The activities receiving the most interest became the foundation of the program, with sessions offered in blocks of roughly six or seven weeks, rather than requiring families to commit to an activity for the entire school year.

That structure is intended to make the program easier to fit into increasingly busy family schedules.

The grant also allows Chabad to hire specialized instructors without passing the full cost on to families, Rabbi Kramer said.

“It makes it affordable to allow every child to come,” he said.

Each session costs $126, according to Chabad. Students enrolled in Chabad’s Hebrew school receive a 50 percent discount, lowering the price to $63. Scholarships also are available.

Chanie Kramer said the goal is not simply to provide another set of extracurricular classes, but to create a place where children can socialize with other Jewish children while participating in activities they enjoy.

“They’re actually having fun together,” she said. “They’re socializing with other kids their age, and parents are looking for that. They want their kids to develop those friendships.”

Rabbi Kramer said those relationships

MERRICK HERALD — August 20, 2026

Continued from page 1

11

12

Compiled by Herald Staff

Joanna Krul, Malverne

Trici Broderick Reading teacher, Jennie E. Hewitt Elementary School

In order to get back into my routine at Hewlett High School, I always look through my rosters a few days in advance so I can get a sense of what my classroom community might look like. I also like to come up with new mathrelated icebreakers to help my students feel more comfortable, build their confidence and start the year with a positive mindset.

I take time to reflect on the past school year — celebrating what went well, recognizing my own growth and identifying where I can improve. I think about my students, their successes and needs, and set meaningful goals. I also recharge by researching best practices, reading books and articles, seeking new ideas that will help me grow as an educator and better support every learner.

Courtesy Trici Broderick

Courtesy Joanna Krul

Caroline Ghiuro Oceanside, age 9

Some things that help me are making sure everything I need for school is ready. I pick out a new backpack and lunchbox. I also go shopping for new outfits to wear and start going to sleep a little earlier.

Tim Baker/Herald

Ace Ortiz

Nevzat Arda Agir

Inwood, age 8

Bayville, age 17

I start by going to bed early. Getting my backpack and clothes ready the night before helps me get back into my school routine.

Just like every year, going back to school is exciting, but this year is especially meaningful because it’s my senior year. I’m looking forward to seeing my friends and teachers again.

As an athlete, my sleep schedule stayed pretty consistent over the summer, but I still start adjusting by setting my alarm to school time about a week before classes begin.

Courtesy Angela Ortiz

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MERRICK HERALD — August 20, 2026

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With the start of the school year less than three weeks away, the new teachers gathered in the school library for introductions, informational sessions and workshops designed to prepare them for the year ahead.

The orientation began with North Bellmore instructional coaches Krista remarks from Assistant Superin- Zucker, right, and Danielle Calapai, second from tendent for Curriculum and right, hosted a breakout session in the afternoon Instruction Janet Pollitt and for the new grade-level teachers.

Director of Education Programs and Staff Development Tillie as well as a teacher for the ALPHA gifted McNamara. Superintendent Marie Testa and talented program, a psychologist and introduced the new faculty members to a speech-language pathologist. the district’s mission statement and core In the afternoon, the teachers particivalues, as well as its work implementing pated in breakout sessions with experithe Portrait of a Graduate initiative. enced educators in their respective fields.

The morning also included workshops “We’re really excited about the new on lesson planning and instructional tech- teachers that we’ve selected to work with nology, along with a welcome from the our students and hope they have long and North Bellmore Teachers Association. prosperous careers in North Bellmore,” The new educators were hired follow- McNamara said. “We are confident that ing a rigorous selection process to fill they will help us achieve our mission in positions across the district’s five elemen- creating an environment for all learners tary schools. The group includes grade- to grow and thrive.” level, English as a new language, music, physical education and reading teachers, — Hernesto Galdamez

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August 20, 2026 — MERRICK HERALD

14

WE Summit empowers leaders to ‘own their power’

By ABIGAIL GRIECO agrieco@liherald.com

Nearly 300 women gathered at the Crescent Beach Club in Bayville on Aug. 4 for the Long Island Herald’s fourth annual Women’s Executive Summit, a day focused on leadership, health, wealth and personal growth.

This year’s “Own Your Power” theme brought leaders across industries to share insights on overcoming challenges, building confidence and seizing opportunities.

The event featured keynote presentations, panel discussions and interactive sessions designed to help attendees invest in themselves and their futures.

The day began with a warm-up session, “Be the CEO of You,” led by Susan Gatti, founder of Disruptive Spark Group. Gatti encouraged attendees to reflect on their goals and identify what they hoped to gain from the summit.

“We make an investment in ourselves when we come to an event like this, but what we really want is a change,” Gatti said. “The change won’t happen here. It will happen after.”

Through a values-based activity, Gatti helped participants focus on their priorities and use those values as a guide for making decisions.

Opening remarks were delivered

by Stuart Richner and Amy Amato of Richner Communications and RichnerLIVE, followed by remarks from Mistress of Ceremonies Kristin Thorne, a five-time Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter with the Law & Crime Network.

“Owning your power means believing in yourself, even when someone else does not,” Amato said. “It means having the courage to launch the business, ask for the promotion, negotiate your salary, take care of your health, build your financial future, and become the leader you were meant to be.”

Patricia Charlemagne, EdD, JD from Girls Inc. of Long Island was honored by Richner Communications with the Community Impact award, recognizing her leadership and commitment to empowering girls from across the region. Proceeds from the event benefited the nonprofit.

The first panel, “Own Your

Photos by Tim Baker and Holden Leeds/Herald

Hundreds of powerful executives and entrepreneurs attended the fourth annual Women’s Executuves Summit earlier this month.

Voice,” explored leadership and confidence. Moderated by Sharon Wyman, president and CEO of Discover Long Island, the discussion featured Lillian Paley, vice president of business development at Silver Lining Homecare Agency; Palmina Whelan, capital program director for The New Terminal One; Carina Tom, president of NU World Connect Title LLC; and Suzette Gordon, president and CEO of SCO Family of Services.

Panelists shared personal stories about overcoming self-doubt, entering male-dominated industries and learning to advocate for themselves.

Whelan reflected on being one of the only women in aviation construction meetings early in her career.

“No one is going to speak for me, no one is going to promote me, no one is going to be my cheerleader,” she said. “I realized I had to own my voice.”

The summit also featured two blocks of “Power Sessions” covering topics such as hospitality, selfcare, branding, productivity and personal development.

During the “Own Your Health” panel, moderated by Kristyn Hodgdon, co-founder and chief creative officer of Rescripted, experts discussed the importance of women advocating for their health and understanding their bodies at every stage of life.

The panel included Dr. Helen Hsieh, founder and medical director of Vibrance 360; Linda Mashkabova, founder of The Beauty Cellar NY; Elly Rozengurtel, DPT, of Ideal Body Med Spa; and Dr. Meredith Vandegrift, board-certified plastic surgeon at Vandegrift Plastic Surgery.

Speakers encouraged women to move beyond simply “feeling fine” and instead focus on achieving their best health.

“Fine is not the same as feeling your optimal best,” Mashkabova said, emphasizing the importance of listening to one’s body and seeking answers when something feels wrong.

The “Own Your Wealth” panel focused on financial independence and preparation. Moderated by Elisa De Jesus, senior vice president and private client advisor at Bank of America, the discussion featured Kerri Winans Kaley of The Bristal Assisted Living, Michelle Moreira-Jodice of Valley Bank, Jessica Rondash of Holt Construction and Christina Rosas of Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC. Panelists stressed the importance of financial literacy, asking questions and staying engaged in financial decisions.

“Financial confidence doesn’t come from knowing all the answers,” Moreira-Jodice said. “It comes from asking the right questions and building trusted relationships.”

The summit concluded with two keynote presentations. Carrie Skowronski, CEO of Leadology, delivered “Dare to Lead: Reimagine Leadership for the Modern Workplace,” discussing mindset, growth and stepping outside comfort zones.

Skowronski encouraged attendees to embrace challenges and recognize their own strengths.

“In order to own our power, we have to name our power,” she said.

Renee Flagler, president of the National CARES Mentoring Movement, closed the event with “A Life Inspired by Passion & Purpose,” sharing her journey from storyteller and writer to community leader.

Flagler encouraged women to recognize their talents and use them in service of others.

“Passion is the vehicle that gets us to our purpose,” she said. “Take your gifts, indulge your passion, let it lead you to your purpose and serve your people.”

Throughout the day, attendees were reminded that leadership is not defined by titles or positions, but by confidence, resilience and the willingness to create meaningful change.

For more photos, click here: https://richnerlive.com/richner-event/womens-executive-summit/ For more info on RichnerLive, click here: https://richnerlive. com/

15

Herald Publisher, Stuart Richner, left, and Executive Director, Amy Amato, surprised Executive Director, Patricia Charlemagne, EdD, JD from Girls Inc. of Long Island with the Community Impact Award, event emcee Kristin Thorne at right.

Justine Del Prete, left, with ARC Excess & Surplus, Claudia Rodriguez of RichnerLive, Izabella Bobkiewicz and Agnieszka Supel representing Merrill Lynch Bank of America Corporation, Jenna Grasso of The Retreat, Catherine Fee of Empire Government Strategies, and Bridget Mantello with the Association for Mental Health and Wellness.

The Own Your Voice panel: Moderator Sharon Wyman, left, CDME Discover Long Island, with panelists Suzette Gordon, of SCO Family of Services, Carina Tom, of NU World Connect Title, Lillian Paley with Silver Lining Homecare Agency, and Palmina Whelan of The New Terminal One.

Moderator Elisa De Jesus, left, of Bank of America led the Own Your Wealth Panel with panelists Kerri Winans Kaley, CSA, representing The Bristal Assisted Living, Jessica Rondash of Holt Construction, Michelle Moreira-Jodice, of Valley Bank, and Christina M. Rosas, with Bond Schoeneck & King PLLC.

Carolynn Eiple and Judith Rivera with CareFirst Home Solutions.

CEO Lab Founder & Executive Consultant Natasha Zaytseva was another Power Session speaker.

Jo Marie Sacco, left, of Jo Marie Hair and Beauty and Dr. Stephanie Cooper, with Greenberg Cosmetic Surgery and Dermatology enjoyed the exhibit.

Power Session speaker Tammy J. Cohen, of TC Brand Consulting spoke during the second power session.

People’s Alliance Federal Union CEO Carol Allen, left, with VP of Business Development & Marketing Jennifer Gunn.

Closing Keynote speaker Renee Daniel Flagler, president of the National CARES Mentoring Movement Inc., left the crowd with a powerful message — A Life Inspired By Passion & Purpose.

MERRICK HERALD — August 20, 2026

From the Own Your Health panel, panelists, left, Helen Hsieh, MD, FACOG, Vibrance 360; Linda Mashkabova, FNP, The Beauty Cellar NY; Meredith Vandegrift, MD, FACS Vandegrift Plastic Surgery; Elly Rozengurtel, DPT, Ideal Body Med Spa.

August 20, 2026 — MERRICK HERALD

16

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STEPPING OUT

17

Chicken Kebabs

Grilled Skirt Steak with Roasted Corn Salad

Spiced Grilled Sweet Potatoes

cuisine’s fresh appeal

Keep the backyard sizzle going

By Karen Bloom

S

ummer hasn’t left us yet, so we surely want to keep firing up the grill.

As August winds down, backyard gatherings, poolside get-togethers and easy weeknight meals continue to call for the smoky, flame-kissed flavors that make grilling a summertime favorite.

But late summer is also a good time to move beyond the usual burgers and hot dogs. From grilled vegetables and seafood to perfectly seared steaks and creative takes on familiar favorites, a little variety can bring new life to the backyard menu.

Whether you’re keeping things casual or adding a touch of elegance to an endof-summer soirée, the grill offers plenty of possibilities. So before summer slips away, turn up the heat and try something a little different.

Chicken Kebabs With their easy preparation and quick cooking time, kebabs are a simple way to enjoy many of your favorite fresh flavors.

• 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon spicy brown mustard • 2 tablespoons olive oil • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder • 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar • 1 pound raw boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch cubes • 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and black pepper • 1 medium red onion, cut into 1-inch chunks To make sauce, place 3 tablespoons mustard in medium bowl. Add oil and garlic powder, and whisk until uniform. Cover and refrigerate.

To make marinade, in small bowl, combine vinegar with remaining 2 tablespoons mustard.

Stir until uniform.

Season chicken with salt and pepper. Place

chicken and marinade in large sealable plastic bag. Remove as much air as possible and seal.

Gently knead marinade into chicken through bag. Refrigerate for 1 hour.

Meanwhile, if using wooden skewers, soak 4 in water for 20 minutes to prevent burning.

Alternately thread marinated chicken and onion chunks onto 4 skewers. Bring grill to medium-high heat.

Brush both sides of kebabs with sauce. Grill kebabs for 5 minutes with grill cover down.

Flip kebabs and grill for 6 to 8 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through. Enjoy.

Grilled Skirt Steak with Roasted Corn Salad A quick and easy marinated grilled skirt steak will spice up any gathering. Pair it with a roasted corn salad that embodies the season’s fresh flavors — a mixture of corn, tomato, red onion, basil, and avocado.

• 1 1/2 pounds skirt steak, cut into 4-inch pieces • 1/3 cup Tabasco Chipotle Pepper Sauce • 1 tablespoon ground cumin • 1 large garlic clove, crushed In a large bowl, combine chipotle pepper sauce, cumin and garlic; add skirt steaks. Toss to mix well; cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes or overnight.

Preheat grill to high. Grill skirt steak about 5 minutes, or until of desired doneness, turning once. To serve, plate steak with corn salad.

Corn Salad: • 4 ears corn on the cob, shucked • 2 large tomatoes, chopped • 1 small red onion, diced • 1 ripe avocado, peeled, pitted and diced • 2 tablespoons fresh chopped basil

Chance the Rapper‘s 2016 mixtape Coloring Book just turned 10, and he’s on tour to celebrate. Chance takes a victory lap built around the project that won three Grammys in one night, broke streaming-only records, and turned him from a Chicago underground hero into a generational artist. The Coloring Book itself instantly reshaped what a hip-hop record could be.It became the first streaming-only project to win a Grammy, and it earned Chance Best New Artist, Best Rap Album, and Best Rap Performance in a single trip to the podium. Songs like “No Problem,” “Same Drugs,” “All Night,” “Blessings,” “Angels,” and “Summer Friends” turned into staples of a generation’s playlists — and fans have been waiting a decade to hear them performed live in full.

Friday, Aug. 21, 8 p.m. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny. com. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington.

• 2 tablespoons lime juice • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil • 1 tablespoon Tabasco Chipotle Pepper Sauce • 1/4 teaspoon salt To prepare corn salad: Preheat grill to medium. Grill corn about 5 to 10 minutes, turning frequently, until tender-crisp. When cool enough to handle, cut corn from cob.

In medium bowl, combine corn, tomatoes, red onion, avocado, basil, lime juice, olive oil, chipotle pepper sauce to taste, and salt; toss to mix well.

Spiced Sweet Potatoes A simple spice rub makes a tasty complement to grilled sweet potatoes, adding some extra zest that gives potatoes some pizzas.

• 4 medium sweet potatoes (about 3 pounds), scrubbed well • 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt • 1 teaspoon ground cumin • 1 teaspoon paprika • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon • 1/2 teaspoon chipotle powder • 2 tablespoons cider vinegar • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil Cover potatoes with cold salted water in a large pot, then bring to a boil. Simmer until slightly resistant when pierced with a sharp small knife, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain well. When cool, slice potatoes lengthwise.

Mix together salt, spices and apple cider vinegar; add oil in a slow stream. Brush this mixture on sweet potatoes.

Grill potatoes on a lightly oiled grill rack over medium heat, until grill marks appear and potatoes are cooked through, about 15 minutes.

Serve potatoes warm.

Celtic Festival and Highland Games The sounds of bagpipes, the rhythm of Irish step dancing and the spectacle of Highland Games return to Old Westbury Gardens.

The refreshed edition of its annual summer festival celebrates the rich Scottish Irish and Welsh traditions woven into Long Island’s Celtic communities. The Highland Games remain a centerpiece, featuring centuries-old tests of strength including the caber toss, sheaf toss and stone put. Entertainment for all ages, including performances by songwriter-vocalist Andy Cooney, acclaimed as “Irish America’s favorite son,” and others; along with and tempting eats and a marketplace round out the day.

Saturday, Aug. 22, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Tickets at oldwestburygardens.org. 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury.

MERRICK HERALD — August 20, 2026

Chance the Rapper

August 20, 2026 — MERRICK HERALD

18

Your Neighborhood

20

CALENDAR off Meadowbrook Pkwy) • Time: 1:30-4:30 p.m.

• Contact: (718) 332-7825 or email dance@aol.comDj to reserve

Bellmore Block party

Check out the family-friendly festivities entertainment, food, and beverages from local businesses.

Merrick sounds

• Where: Bedford Avenue from Pettite to Wilson Avenues • Time: 6-10 p.m.

Merrick Library welcomes Pat Casella. Casella plays contemporary rock and pop covers on the guitar, with a singalong.

Summer groovin’

• Where: 2279 Merrick Ave. • Time: 6-7:30 p.m.

• Contact: merricklibrary.org

Eisenhower Park’s Summer Concert Series welcomes Let Sing Taylor, a Taylor Swift tribute.

The bamd brings the communal experience of celebrating Taylor’s music in a live setting to Swifties near and far. So, let the games begin! Get ready to sport your Taylor- inspired attire and sing your hearts out.

• Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow • Time: 7 p.m.

• Contact: nassaucountyny.gov or (516) 572-0200

“In The Mood”

AUG for swing music?

21

Take a step back in time with the most popular and sought after big band of all time! The Glenn Miller Orchestra visits the Madison Theatre on their national tour. Hear all their greatest hits, including “In The Mood,” “Chattanooga Choo Choo,” “American Patrol,” “A String Of Pearls,” “Little Brown Jug,” “Pennsylvania 6-5000,” “Tuxedo Junction,” and of course their theme song “Moonlight Serenade.” The 15 member orchestra, their lead singers, and vocal group will perform their catalog of big band classics just the way they would have over 80 years ago when Glenn Miller stood in front of his band. It is a show that continues to transport audiences back in time and is as nostalgic as it is exciting. Touring continuously since 1956, The Glenn Miller Orchestra is featured in over 200 concerts and dances per year. Each performance includes the timeless classics that made them famous the world over in a show that has moved audiences for generations.

• Where: Madison Theatre, Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre • Time: 7 p.m.

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

Westbury House Tour

For many years visitors to Westbury House at Old Westbury Gardens asked what was beyond

Nature Connects

Sep

1

Melissa Etheridge

Known for her confessional lyrics and raspy, smoky vocals, Melissa Etheridge (“I’m the Only One” “Come to My Window,” “I Want to Come Over.”) has remained one of America’s favorite female singers since bursting onto the scene in 1988. Etheridge performs songs from her new album, Rise, and her hits. “I chose to survive,” Melissa Etheridge sings on “Being Alive,” the powerful, exuberant opening song of the Academy Award- and Grammy Award-winning artist’s 17th studio album, “Rise.” She then takes a pause, the flurry of her guitar and her bandmates’ boisterous sounds fading out, before she practically shouts with unbridled joy: “God I love being alive!” The words say so much. But in that pause — just a few seconds long — it’s as if she’s reflecting on everything that has happened in her life since she last released an album of new material, 2019’s “The Medicine Show,” and all that is to come on this remarkable, emotional mosaic of songs. Etheridge is known for powerful rock vocals, emotional songwriting, and live shows that feel both personal and energetic. Her • Where: The Paramount, 370 concerts usually move between bigger sing-along songs, slower emotional moments, New York Ave., Huntington and the kind of tracks that let her voice really take over the room. That balance is a big • Time: 8 p.m. reason her live shows connect so strongly with the audience. The Rise Tour carries that • Contact: ticketmaster.com or same feel, with a set that blends the songs fans know best with newer material. paramountny.com

the first floor corridor. Now go beyond the door and discover “Secrets of the Service Wing,” during a 60-minute guided tour.

Be introduced to the intensive labor required to create the lifestyle experienced by the Phipps family and their guests; tour the many rooms that were “behind the scenes” to create the formal dining experiences of early 20th century. Reservations required.

• Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury • Time: Noon-1 p.m., also Aug. 23-24 and Aug. 26-27 • Contact: oldwestburygardens. org or call (516) 333-0048

AUG Christie Jones: Long Island Color Field Study

22

Long Island Children’s Museum welcomes families to learn about current Artists’ Corner artist Christie Jones. Make art based on her work to take home at the drop-in program. For all ages.

• Where: 11 Davis Ave., Garden City • Time: Noon-2 p.m., also Aug. 29 • Contact: licm.org or (516) 224-5800

AUG Salsa in the park

23

Eisenhower Park’s summer concert series continues with a salsa orchestra.

• Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow • Time: 7 p.m.

• Contact: nassaucountyny.gov or (516) 572-0200

AUG Family movie night

25

Enjoy a movie under the stars at Eisenhower Park. See “Wicked,’ the 2024 musical fantasy adaption of the first act of the stage musical, starring Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande and Jeff Goldblum. The second film, “Wicked For Good,” is shown Aug. 26.

• Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow • Time: Movie begins at dusk • Contact: nassaucountyny.gov

Harmonize with Long Island Harmonizers

Love to sing? So do the Long Island Harmonizers. The Barbershop Harmony Society chapter is a chorus of more than 20 singers, now welcoming new

members. The ensemble performs four-part a cappella harmony in the barbershop style, entertaining audiences at local events. All are welcome to visit one of their weekly rehearsals. Come listen, meet the chorus, and — if you’d like — join in and sing. No musical experience is necessary, just a love of singing and a desire to have fun making music together.

• Where: Faith Lutheran Church, 231 Jackson Ave, Syosset • Time: Tuesdays, 7:30-9:30 p.m.

• Contact: Call: Rich, (516) 521-4779, or Dennis, (516) 680-8036, or visit longislandharmonizers.org

AUG Step lively on the dance floor

26

Society Tempo welcomes all to an afternoon of dancing, ongoing every month. Participate in Big Band, classic ballroom, Latin and line dancing.

Refreshments include bagels, pastries and beverages. Singles and couples welcome. Bring your friends or make new ones. $12 donation. Must reserve!

• Where: Merrick Golf Course Clubhouse, 2550 Clubhouse Road, Merrick (9E

Old Westbury Gardens welcomes families to spend an afternoon exploring, building and creating together!

Seasonal Sprouts offers is a LEGO-themed adventure for young explorers. Children (ages 4–10) embark on a guided outdoor tour of Sean Kenney’s Nature Connects made with LEGO bricks. Everyone discovers the wonders of nature in a fun and hands-on way. After the tour, kids can unleash their creativity in a LEGO free-play area. $22 per adult, $20 ages 62+, $12 child.

Registration required.

• Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury • Time: 11 a.m.

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

After Five AUG Live Don’t miss out

27

on Merrick’s Live After Five, back for another year.

Merrick Community Civic Association hosts an evening dedicated to supporting local businesses. Participating restaurants and shops offer special promotions for the evening for all customers. Enjoy music at the Gazebo near the LIRR (weather permitting).

• Where: Along Merrick Avenue, from LIRR to Loines Ave, and into the Merrick Mally • Time: Beginning at 5 p.m.6

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.

19

JOIN US – IT’S FREE!

MERRICK HERALD — August 20, 2026

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August 20, 2026 — MERRICK HERALD

20

Islanders’ Palmieri brings smiles to families

By SEAN KENNEDY Correspondent

The outdoor hockey rinks at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow were filled with joy on Aug. 5, when New York Islanders star Kyle Palmieri hosted more than 50 military families for an afternoon of smiles, goals and fun.

Palmieri and his foundation, The Kyle Palmieri Foundation, along with the Islanders, introduced their beloved sport to the children of military members in the form of street hockey, offering each child sticks along with their chance at meeting one of the sport’s best players.

“Events like these make the game of hockey a lot more accessible, and for me to connect this to my work with the military, veterans, and their families, is a unique opportunity that I’m excited for,” Palmieri told the Herald at the event in Eisenhower Park.

Palmieri and the Islanders worked together with the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, or TAPS, to create a lasting moment for military families and their children. TAPS, which started operating in 1994, works with families grieving the loss of loved ones in the military community.

“Kyle has worked with TAPS across multiple teams that he’s played with, and it’s amazing that he’s so willing to give back to the military community,” Morgan Price, a coordinator in TAPS sports and entertainment division, said.

“Having someone that has their back, knowing that their sacrifice that their family gave is not going unnoticed, it’s just really amazing.”

For Palmieri, helping the military

Erik Lee/Herald

Kyle Palmieri, New York Islanders forward, spoke to children of active military personnel at a street hockey clinic at the Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow on Aug. 5. community is also a personal endeavor.

One of Palmieri’s sisters, Taylor, served in the National Guard, while one of his brothers-in-law, Stephen Ficchi, served in the U.S. Army.

“The military has always been a very important cause for me,” Palmieri said.

“The ability to use my platform and be a part of the military community is something that’s always been important to me.”

Palmieri, a 35-year-old right winger, was born in Smithtown before moving to New Jersey in his early years. After being drafted out of Notre Dame in the first round by the Anaheim Ducks in 2009, Palmieri was traded to his hometown team, the New Jersey Devils, in 2015.

Soon after arriving back in New Jersey, Palmieri and the Devils launched the “Squad21” initiative, allowing active

Public Notices

LMER1 0820

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

BY THE BOARD OF APPEALS

Pursuant to New York State Town Law Article 16, New York State Public Officers Law Article 7, and the Town of Hempstead Building Zone Ordinance, NOTICE is hereby given that the BOARD OF APPEALS of the Town of Hempstead will hold a public hearing in the Town Meeting Pavilion, Town Hall Plaza, One Washington Street, Hempstead, New York on 09/02/2026 at 9:30 A.M. & 2:00 P.M. to consider the following applications and appeals: -----------------------------THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 9:30 A.M.

447/26. MERRICK Karin Trabold, Special exception to maintain shed higher than permitted & exceeding horizontal maximum with less than required rear yard setback., N/s Stuyvesant Ave., 115’ W/o Jefferson St., a/k/a 1885 Stuyvesant Ave. THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 2:00 P.M. 469/26.

470/26.

MERRICK 1844 Lansdowne Corp., Special exception for proposed day care center in existing building with no provisions for on-site maneuvering aisle for on-site pick-up & dropoff of children & attendees; Variance in off-street parking with parking in the clear sight triangle & with

insufficient maneuvering aisle, stall size & minimum access driveway width for two-way traffic; Special exception to park in front yard setbacks on Overbrook Pl. & Lansdowne Ave., S/s Lansdowne Ave., 100’ E/o Overbrook Pl., a/k/a 1844 Lansdowne Ave.

ALL PAPERS PERTAINING TO THE ABOVE HEARING ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT THE BOARD OF APPEALS, TOWN HALL, 1 WASHINGTON STREET, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550.

This notice is only for new cases in Merrick within Town of Hempstead jurisdiction.

There are additional cases in different hamlets, towns and villages on the Board of Appeals calendar. The

full calendar is available at https://hempsteadny.go v/509/Board-of-Appeals The internet address of the website streaming for this meeting is https://hempsteadny.go v/576/Live-StreamingVideo Interested parties may appear at the above time and place. At the call of the Chairman, the Board will consider decisions on the foregoing and those on the Reserve Decision calendar and such other matters as may properly come before it.

161810 PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES… To place a notice here call us us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com

service members and veterans to see a hockey game free of charge. The program carried over when the Islanders traded for Palmieri in 2021, and it became The Kyle Palmieri Foundation.

“I started my foundation eight years ago, and it provides an opportunity to do little things like this, to put a smile on a kid’s face or brighten up a family’s day,” Palmieri said. “It’s a great opportunity for them to get out and be a part of the community that they have a lot in common with.”

The Islanders organization was eager to help Palmieri in his pursuit of bringing the sport to a demographic deserving of recognition in their own communities.

“For us, it’s about giving them an opportunity to learn and to love the game,” Ann Rina, Islanders vice president of community relations, said.

“Hopefully, after an event like this, they want to take that hockey stick home and continue their hockey journey.”

The event was filled with families watching rink-side, as the children got their first taste of a new sport. Those spectators included Gary Dowling of North Babylon, whose nieces are just discovering the sport and learning from

Ceci Warshauer, 10, of Medford, participated in drills. one of hockey’s best players.

“They love the Islanders, they love hockey, and it’s cool to hang out with other military families,” Dowling said.

“When you have someone like (Palmieri) here, especially when he could be out training or getting ready for the upcoming season, it’s really cool to see.”

Palmieri sustained a season-ending ACL injury during a game last November, while making a spectacular assist on a goal. While he’s progressing well through rehabilitation and is expected to be ready for the season-opener on Sept. 30, he also had his sights on an equally important goal: making sure the kids who attended the street hockey clinic had a memorable experience.

“It’s all about them having fun,” Palmieri said. “Hopefully, a couple of them get excited about maybe playing hockey someday.”

Dalone Germain, 13, of New Jersey, got a puck past Sparky, the Islanders’ mascot, at the street hockey clinic hosted by the Kyle Palmieri Foundation.

21

E1 08/20

Employment

CLASSIFIED

To pLACE your AD CALL 516-569-4000 - press 5

Fax your ad to: 516-622-7460 E-mail your ad to: ereynolds@liherald.com E-mail Finds Under $100 to: sales@liherald.com DEADLINE: Monday, 11:00 am for all classified ads.

Every effort is made to insure the accuracy of your ad. Please check your ad at the first insertion. Credit will be made only for the first insertion. Credit given for errors in ads is limited to the printed space involved. Publisher reserves right to reject, cancel or correctly classify an ad.

BUS NOW HIRINGIVERS AND VAN DR

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$5000 SIGN ON BONUS FOR ALREADY ADY LICENSED CDLBPS & CPS DRIVERS!

SEPTEMBER PAYRATES

Big Bus $33.93/hr.

IMMEDIATE OPENINGS

BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL CHILD CARE PROGRAMS

SCOPE IS HIRING

For The Before & After School Child Care Programs That Will Be Opening For The 2026 - 2027 School Year In Nassau and Suffolk County Elementary Schools Hiring Directors, Assistants, Group Leaders and Substitutes. Up to a $500 Signing Bonuses, Scholarships and Employee Referrals Questions call: 631-360-0800 ext. 149 or send a resume to: cc@scopeonline.us SCOPE Education is an equal opportunity Employer 1356440

Help Wanted

Bookkeeper/Gal/Guy Friday

AR/AP; Bank Recs, General Office Duties, Maintain Monthly Reports, Review Monthly Mgmnt Reports. HS Diploma Required. Word, Excel and Quick Books. Salary Range $26 - $30/Hr. Email Resume: rita@13associatesllc.com

Building Maintenance Assistant and Porter

needed for Management Co. in Long Beach. 6 Days/Week Experience Preferred Email: humanresoures5771 @gmail.com or Call: (212) 873-7575

DENTAL ASSISTANT

Needed For Orthodontic Practice In Long Beach Mon. Tues. And Wed. Seeking Experienced Person But Willing To Train Call 516-432-5195 Or Text 516-808-8057

DRIVERS WANTED

Full Time and Part Time Positions Available!

Busy Print Shop in Garden City is Hiring Immediately for Full Time and Part Time Drivers.

Must Have a Clean License and BoxTruck Driving Experience.

Hours Vary, Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $21 per hour Night Availability is a Must.

Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239

EDITOR/REPORTER

Part Time & Full Time. The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business.

H i s t o r i c a l l y, r e p o r t e r s w h o h ave launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. Salary range is from $20K to $45K To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to jbessen@liherald.com

Non-Benefit Rate

Van $31.16/hr.

Non-Benefit Rate

We Guarantee 30 Hours A Week

Sign On Bonus *Some restrictions may apply.

$5,000.00 for CDL driver bus

and van $500.00 for non CDL drivers.

Will train qualified applicants

EDUCATIONAL BUS TRANSPORTATION

$35,360 1355793

SCOPE EDUCATION SERVICES

EMPLOYMENT

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$17.00

Positions available in Nassau and Suffolk Counties

Apply At: www.educationalbusjobs.com/ EOE MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City.

We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required.

Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $20 per hour.

Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com

MEDICAL SECRETARY

P/T - F/T F/T: 9-12 Saturdays A Must Pediatrician's Office Flexible Days Office Experience Preferred But Not Necessary $17-$20 Per Hour 516-680-5771 MULTI MEDIA ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT Inside Sales Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $35,360 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286

OUTSIDE SALES

(Salary is $17.00 per hour)

PHARMACY CLERK/ CASHIER Afternoon Shifts & Saturdays Gelo's Point Pharmacy Located At 62 Lido Blvd, Point Lookout.

Please Send Your Resume To: gelospharmacy@gmail.com or Call The Pharmacy At 516-889-3444 Ask For Kathleen

One phone call, one order, one heck of a good price to run your ad in any state, or across the country.

Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships.

Earning potential ranges from $35,360 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses.

Compensation is based on Full Time hours Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off. Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X250

PRINTING PRESS OPERATORS FT & PT. Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for Printing Press Operators in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop.

Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges from $20 per hour to $30 per hour.

Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com Open the door to a bright future!

Check the

Job listings today!

516-569-4000 Press 5

Looking to Buy, SeLL or Hire?

Check out our Classifieds Section — Your go-to local marketplace.

Call the USA Classified Network today!

1-800-231-6152

HERALD — August 20, 2026

HERALD

August 20, 2026 — HERALD

22

E2 08/20

Homes

HERALD

To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5

HOME Of tHE WEEK

• To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5

Levittown

Modern Luxury Living

T

his 5 bedroom, 4.5 bath home features 3 primary bedrooms all with private en-suite baths, 9 foot ceilings, hardwood floors, intricate millwork, coffered ceilings, and custom moldings. The main level opens with a grand entrance hall featuring 20 foot ceilings, leading to a living room, dining room, butler’s pantry, half bath and a 221 square foot gourmet eat-in-kitchen with quartz countertops, custom cabinetry, stainless steel appliances, and a spacious center island. The great room includes an electric linear fireplace, a full finish-able basement with high 9 ft. ceilings and outside entrance, much more.

John & Barbara Gandolfo Lic. Real Estate Brokers John: 516-779-8423 johngandolfosells@gmail.com Barbara: 516-644-8097 realtorgandolfo@aol.com

REAL ESTATE

Apartments For Rent

Rooms For Rent

Cemetery Plots

MERRICK: 1 BR, 2nd Floor, No Pets. $1,400/ Monthly. 2 Months Security Plus Electric. By Owner. 516-486-6139

ROCKVILLE CENTRE: SUNNY Private Entrance, Walking Distance South Nassau Hospital, Share Bath, Negotiable.

516-913-0804.

TWO BURIAL PLOTS FOR SALE. New Montifiore Cemetery. Desirable location. $5,000 per grave (below current pricing).

Please email or call: Nechul333@gmail.com 516-316-0497

Real Estate WE BUY HOUSES for Cash AS IS! No repairs. No fuss. Any condition. Easy three step process: Call, get cash offer and get paid. Get your fair cash offer today by calling Liz Buys Houses: 1-888-704-5670

Helping you find a HOME or sell a HOME … a place to call your own.

Suburb or country, house, condo, townhouse or apartment, our Classifieds can help you find a HOME that fits your style, your budget and Real Estate needs... it’s a MUST SEE!

Call us today!

Your Hometown Newspaper

To Place an Ad Call: 516-569-4000 • Press 5

Rent Your Apartment through the Herald and PrimeTime Classified section.

Call us for our great *specials.

516-569-4000, press 5 for Classified Dept. *(private party only)

Our project is never-ending

Q. We are near the end of our building project, which included a second floor and removing walls between our kitchen and living room. Our contractor hasn’t been answering the phone, and we learned that our building permit is still “open,” and remains that way until the contractor follows through, as our contract states. We are so frustrated, because it took much longer than we were promised, we spent much more than expected staying in a cheap hotel (if you call it that) and we moved back in even though, technically, we are told it is illegal. Our electrician and plumber, we now learn, didn’t get permits signed off, either, even though they gave their names and licenses to the building department. The building inspector says the construction doesn’t match the plans, and updated plans must be submitted for us to even be considered finished. What can you tell us about how to move forward and finish this off?

A. Spoken words and contracts used to mean something. I prefer to believe they still do, but I am seeing parties ignoring their commitments and, worst of all, not even having the decency to communicate. I try to warn clients to have a contingency plan for worst-case scenarios.

In my long career, I have seen only two projonte eeper ects come in on budget, one commercial and one residential. What both had in common was that they both had an experienced construction manager on the job. That cost the owner more — much more — but in the end, the plans were followed to the letter, the sign-offs were all done, the certifications were issued and the occupancy took place on the day it was scheduled to. Considering the other 4,500-plus projects I’ve done, that is a sad record.

At this point you have no choice. The plans that were not followed require re-measuring, and the plans need to reflect the changes. In many circumstances I have witnessed, this is easier said than done, because if the construction changes ignored structural load paths, hidden conditions now buried behind wall coverings or code violations, the architect or engineer of record is not obligated to just go along with the defective work.

Unfortunately, this unfairly strains the relationship with the architect or engineer.

The missing-in-action construction professionals, your licensed contractor, licensed plumber and licensed electrician, have obligations, not the least of which is to communicate with you, but the authorities giving the licenses and your building authority rarely protect you, often telling you that it is a “civil matter.” So much for consumer protection, because you are stuck and will need to decide who you can hire to take over the electrical sign-off, the plumbing sign-off and finally, after those are done and the plans have been modified and reapproved, then you will need to call for the final inspection yourself. Follow-up can be time-consuming, but it may be the only way around the situation. Good luck!

Ask The Architect

M

L

© 2026 Monte Leeper Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.

23

E3 08/20

Market Place • •

To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5

To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5

MERRICK HERALD — August 20, 2026

HERALD

To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5

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Answers to todAy’s puzzle

25

opinions

y sister and I called our father’s friends “Uncle Jack” and “Aunt Sue” Smith (not their real last name). We lived in Mount Vernon, the boot of Westchester County, and they lived in Floral Park. My sister and I believe our dad met Jack through work: Both were vacuum cleaner salesman.

Jack and Sue lived with their two daughters and a French bulldog name Dinky on a leafy street that ended at the gate to the local school playground. The four of us, the two girls and my sister and I, played together, swam together and talked about our dreams together. As teenagers, or near-teens, we would shoot baskets or run around in the playground. I still have pictures of the four of us at play, framed in my living room.

The Smiths owned an inboard motorboat, the Sue Jean, which they docked at the Freeport Yacht Club. The boat had an upper deck, with equipment for extra

steering; a galley, beds and a head down below; and an aft area for sitting, talking and fishing. I remember once catching two sea bass on one line with two hooks.

We’d dive off the boat into the Long Island Sound. Once when I was 9 or 10, I dived into the water with my glasses on. Oops and ouch!

At Gilgo Beach, we docked next to other boats, and were always reminded to watch that our hands didn’t get caught between two gunwales. A friend’s aunt lost a thumb that way.

At the dock, we cooked over a grill. From there we walked on sand for hours and explored parts of Jones Beach. Other times, we drove directly to Jones and spent the day in the sun. I recall a Native American exhibit that featured a woman I later learned was named Rosebud, from a book by Marjorie Weinberg-Berman.

Of course, there were the inevitable bad sunburns and the occasional tumble in a rip current that scraped our backs.

Both often necessitated a respite from the sun and the surf.

Those summer memories are deeply ingrained, and remind me of family

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love, friendship, freedom and learning.

They’re captured in my mind and in photos. While life took us on different career and health journeys, the four of us stayed in touch for a long time. One of the ironies of life is that when I moved to Long Island to work at Adelphi, I met the former boyfriend of one of my “cousins.” We had seen each other often as kids, and found ourselves at the same events as adults.

There are other summer memories, of course, but the summers on Long Island were all joy, all fun, with no other obligations.

In later years, most of my summer memories are of work — jobs at the local pool or as a camp counselor. I found new forms of joy, like being complimented for a job well done or seeing other people benefit from my efforts. Some of the books that have inspired me over the years were summer reads. I remember in particular “Attorney for the Damned,” a biography of Clarence Darrow, with chapters describing his preparation for the defense in the Scopes trial, the case against Dr. Ossian Sweet and the Leopold-Loeb murder trial.

hey were full of joy and fun — but they’re also a great time to learn.

During one summer between college semesters, when I wasn’t working, I tried to transcribe “The Canterbury Tales” into contemporary English, an effort celebrated by neither my professor nor me.

Over the years I have counseled my children and friends’ children about the importance of taking advantage of summertime to expand knowledge and hone skills, explore the world of work — and have fun. It is a respite from school, yes, but it has its own subjects to study and master, including sports, the arts and self-discipline. The school year doesn’t allow for much exploration, given homework and daily chores, but summer provides the flexibility to play sports, attend concerts and dramatic performances, visit museums and art exhibits as well as work.

These opportunities for personal growth were among the reasons that a colleague and I wrote “Letters to Students,” one chapter of which is “Trust Yourself.”

Summer is a great time to explore new interests, make new friends and save money for college, especially on Long Island.

Robert Scott is president emeritus of Adelphi University and a co-author of “Letters to Students: What it Means to be a College Graduate.”

An event-packed season in the Town of Hempstead

A

s the final weeks of summer approach, I find myself looking back fondly on what has been an extraordinary season in the Town of Hempstead.

Summer has always been a special time in our township. It’s when parks come alive, beaches and pools fill with families, and neighbors have an opportunity to spend more time together. This year has been no exception. All across America’s largest township, residents have gathered to enjoy everything our town has to offer.

For me, some of the best moments of this summer were also the simplest: talking with families at a local park, seeing kids dancing at one of our children’s shows, meeting seniors enjoying the Senior Summer Beach Program, or watching generations of residents create a music-loving bond at one of our summer concerts. Those moments are what make the town such a special place.

This summer, we worked hard to offer residents more opportunities to get outside, encouraging everyone to

take a “staycation,” to have some fun and to make memories without having to travel far from home.

Our free Summer Concert Series brought live music directly into neighborhoods across the township, with performances nearly every night throughout July and August. At Town Park Point Lookout, thousands gathered for our Disco Summer Dance Party, featuring Sister Sledge, C+C Music Factory, Lime, Alisha, Tavares and France Joli, along with food trucks, family activities and a spectacular drone show.

Our Traveling Summer Luau Series transformed local pools into tropical getaways, with music, games and activities for the entire family. Our children’s shows gave our youngest residents something to look forward to throughout their summer vacation, while programs for seniors offered opportunities to stay active, socialize and enjoy the best of this beautiful season.

We truly hit the ground running this summer, and it has been all gas and no brakes. We kicked off the season by opening town pools and splash pads early. When extreme heat arrived, we

F

extended hours at our beaches and pools to ensure that people had plenty of ways to beat the heat.

These facilities are about much more than entertainment; they’re about quality of life. Local government is at its best when it delivers the services residents depend on while also strengthening the communities they call home. That means maintaining our roads and infrastructure, keeping our neighborhoods clean, investing in our parks and recreational facilities, and ensuring that taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly.

But it also means creating opportunities for neighbors to come together.

Every packed concert, busy pool and crowded community event represents something bigger: people choosing to spend time together. As we all plunge deeper into the era of smartphones, tablets and social media, it’s extraordinary to see everyone connect offline and strengthen their communal roots in our township.

The programs and events we offer are intended to provide residents with memorable experiences they can enjoy just minutes from their homes. I’m proud of what we accomplished this

rom our Concert Series to our Disco Dance Party to our Luau Series.

summer — but I’m even more excited about what comes next.

We will continue to invest in our parks, beaches and recreational facilities. We will continue to improve our roads and infrastructure. We will continue to look for new ways to offer highquality services while respecting the hardworking taxpayers who fund them.

And we will continue to find ways to bring people together and make our communities even stronger.

There’s still plenty of summer left to enjoy, including more neighborhood concerts and activities across the township. Come on down and celebrate the unofficial end of the season with our Endless Summer Concert at Town Park Point Lookout.

Soon enough, the beach chairs will be packed away, children will head back to school and another Long Island summer will come to a close — but the work of building a better Town of Hempstead never stops. This summer gave us plenty to celebrate. Now we’ll carry that energy and sense of community into the months ahead as we continue to make the town the best place to live, work and raise a family.

Thank you to every resident who joined us and made this a summer to remember.

John Ferretti is supervisor of the Town of Hempstead.

MERRICK HERALD — August 20, 2026

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Remembering summers past

26

Herald editorial

Merrick

August 20, 2026 — MERRICK HERALD

HERALD and Merrick Herald News Established 1994

Incorporating the Merrick Life and Merrick Beacon in 2013

Hernesto Galdamez Editor robert CumminGs Multi Media Marketing Consultant offiCe 2 Endo Boulevard Garden City, NY 11530 Phone: (516) 569-4000 Fax: (516) 569-4942 Web: www.liherald.com E-mail: merrickeditor@liherald.com Copyright © 2026 Richner Communications, Inc.

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a

Parents are partners, not spectators

s children head back to school, parents naturally want to make sure their kids succeed — good grades, positive relationships with teachers and classmates, and a school year filled with opportunities.

That instinct is understandable. Parents have an important role in their children’s education. They should know what their kids are learning, monitor attendance and academic progress, communicate with teachers and school officials, attend meetings when appropriate, and ask questions when something doesn’t seem right. When a problem arises, parents shouldn’t be afraid to address it.

The key is to address problems with the school rather than automatically trying to solve every problem for the child.

Children need opportunities to develop independence, responsibility and confidence. Those qualities develop when they are given the chance to navigate challenges themselves.

No parent wants to see a child struggle with a difficult assignment, receive a disappointing grade, have a disagreement with a friend or feel frustrated by a teacher’s decision. The natural reaction can be to intervene immediately. Send the email. Make the phone call. Explain the situation. Fix the problem.

Sometimes intervention is necessary.

Parents should step in when a child is

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letters Why are we talking about measles again?

To the Editor: It happened a long time ago, but I still remember my childhood bout with measles.

I was 7. Measles had been going around my elementary school for months. Many of my second-grade classmates had already been sick.

With no vaccine available, everyone was at risk.

Early that spring, it was my turn. I felt flushed and tired in school one afternoon, and by the next evening was running a fever and feeling achy. The days that followed were awful. I developed a hacking cough and a sensitivity to light. When my temperature hit 102 one night, my parents took turns bathing my arms, chest and forehead with cool washcloths. I remember the worried looks on their faces.

After six rough days, I began to feel slightly better — still weak but

being bullied, facing discrimination, dealing with a serious safety concern or encountering a problem that requires adult assistance.

But a forgotten assignment can be a lesson in organization. A poor grade can be a chance to understand what went wrong and develop a better approach. A disagreement with a classmate can teach a child how to communicate, compromise and resolve conflicts. A difficult interaction with a teacher can teach a student to respectfully advocate for him or herself.

School is about far more than academics. It is also where children learn how to function in the world. They learn to meet deadlines, ask questions, accept constructive criticism, work with others, make decisions and live with the consequences.

They won’t always get it right. And that’s OK. Mistakes aren’t necessarily signs that a child is failing. Often, they are evidence that a child is learning.

The goal of parenting is not to eliminate every mistake, but to help children understand them and become better equipped to handle the next challenge.

Teachers and schools have an obvious role in this partnership. Educators should communicate clearly with families, offer appropriate opportunities for parents to be involved and recognize that they know their children in ways

teachers cannot. At the same time, schools must give students space to develop their own relationships, voices and responsibilities.

The partnership works best when everyone understands their roles. Parents provide support and guidance.

Teachers provide instruction and expertise. And students, increasingly as they grow older, take responsibility for their own education.

That balance may look different in kindergarten than it does in high school.

A young child may need considerable parental assistance getting organized, completing routines and understanding expectations. An older student should gradually take more ownership — contacting a teacher, tracking assignments, preparing for a test or addressing a problem before a parent becomes involved.

The ultimate goal is not to have children depend on their parents indefinitely. It is to prepare them to become capable adults who can make decisions, solve problems and recover when things don’t go according to plan.

As a new school year begins, parents should remember that their children are not projects to be perfectly managed.

They are young people learning how to become independent. The job is not to make sure students never stumble. It is to make sure they know how to get back up.

27

opinions

here’s fake news — and then there are fake accusations of fake news.

The first deserves condemnation. The second deserves our attention.

Fake news fabricates quotations, invents events, manipulates photos or knowingly reports things that never happened. It has existed for as long as journalism has existed, and it deserves every ounce of criticism it receives.

But there’s another phenomenon, one that has become a defining feature of the current administration.

It’s the increasingly routine practice of branding accurate, evidence-based reporting as fake news simply because it’s politically inconvenient.

When journalists reported, accurately, that Joe Biden was the winner of the 2020 presidential election, Donald Trump and his supporters dismissed it as fake news. When other journalists incorrectly reported that Trump was the real winner and that there had been widespread election tampering, the fabrications were touted by Trump and his minions as true, accurate and intelligent. For this administration, the formula is simple: Facts are fake unless

they are praise. Journalists who don’t flatter the president can’t be trusted, the evidence they cite is “made up” and they’re probably traitors.

Imagine a basketball game in which one player drives an elbow squarely into an opponent’s face.

The referee whistles a foul. Six cameras capture the play. Slow-motion replay confirms it. Twenty thousand fans watch it happen.

The offending player denies touching anyone.

His coach accuses the officials of bias. Fans boo the referees. Sports talk radio personalities debate whether replay officials manipulated the video.

Eventually, no one is discussing the elbow anymore. The argument has shifted to whether officials and cameras can be trusted at all.

That increasingly resembles the relationship between this administration and the American press.

Consider a few recent examples.

When news organizations reported concerns about U.S. munitions stockpiles during the conflict with Iran, the response wasn’t merely to dispute the reporting. The stories were dismissed as fake news, and reporters and anonymous sources were attacked. yet the administration itself has acknowledged the need to accelerate munitions production and replenish inventories.

D

emocracy requires a willingness to argue from a common body of observable facts.

Letters less feverish. The rash that had covered my body gradually disappeared. I coughed less as the days passed.

Almost three weeks after getting sick, I returned to school.

In 1963, when measles vaccines finally became available, my mother said that no one would ever suffer from this dreaded disease again. Though her optimism was a bit premature — measles didn’t vanish overnight — the number of cases nevertheless declined steadily as more children became vaccinated. By 2000, the World Health Organization declared the disease essentially eliminated in America.

But now measles is back, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting more than 2,400 confirmed cases in 2026 — more than all of last year. In fact, the number of reported cases in the past 20 months is greater than the previous 24 years combined.

CDC data also indicates that most of those infected are young and unvaccinated. While U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has recently encouraged parents to vaccinate their children against measles, he has had a long history of skepticism about vaccines, even push-

When CNN reported the Pentagon’s own assessments of the military situation involving Iran, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth couldn’t present contrary evidence. He just dismissed the reporting as “more fake news from CNN.” When journalists reported that tariffs were likely to increase prices for many consumer goods — and businesses announced price increases — the administration repeatedly characterized much of the coverage as exaggerated or fictional.

In April 2025, the White House published a document entitled “100 Days of Hoaxes: Cutting Through the Fake News.” Rather than identify fabricated stories one by one, it presented a broad catalog of unfavorable reporting that the administration characterized as hoaxes or fake news. The significance wasn’t whether each of the administration’s disputes with the press was right or wrong; it was that the accusation itself became an organized communications strategy rather than a response to demonstrably fabricated reporting.

Whether you agree with the administration’s policies is beside the point.

People may be for or against the conflict with Iran, and may disagree with the ways it’s portrayed in the media.

But if the Strait of Hormuz is still being blocked by Iranian ships, it isn’t

ing debunked connections between vaccines and autism. A chorus of antivaxxers share online conspiracy theories about the medical profession and the pharmaceutical industry.

Now we have President Trump’s recent executive order calling for the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine to be administered to children in three separate doses rather than two, the standard practice. His order has dismayed and angered doctors and other health care professionals, who fear that more children will receive incomplete dosages or wind up completely unvaccinated.

While a few thousand cases of measles may not strike some as serious, especially since most people recover from it, it’s astonishing that we’re even talking about a disease that was once practically eliminated. Shame on those who have stoked anxiety and confusion about MMR. And politics aside, there can be no excuse for putting any child at risk for such a miserable infection. Having the measles is no day at the beach. Trust me on that.

RICHARD J. CONWAy Massapequa

fake news to report the observable fact that the waterway is effectively closed to normal, unrestricted commercial shipping, with any limited transit strictly controlled and authorized only

by Iran.

Journalists report legislation that Congress passes, rulings that judges actually issue, speeches that officials actually deliver, statistics that government agencies themselves release. If the reports don’t seem accurate, they should be challenged with evidence that fairly contradicts them. Crying “Fake news!” isn’t a reasoned expression of disagreement.

To be sure, democracy doesn’t require agreement. What it does require is a willingness to argue from a common body of observable facts.

Americans disagree about taxes, immigration, war — and presidents.

Thoughtful disagreement is healthy, and often clarifies an issue from all sides. But calling the reporting of facts an act of fakery isn’t thoughtful disagreement; it’s a calculated strategy to discourage thinking entirely.

The most dangerous fake news may no longer be fabricated journalism. It may be the fabricated accusation that truthful journalism is fake — a rallying cry not against the press, but against reality itself.

Michael Blitz is professor emeritus and former chair of interdisciplinary studies at the City University of New York’s John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

Framework by Tim Baker

Barbara Harris, lead singer of the ’60s group the Toys, stopped by Eisenhower Park — East Meadow

MERRICK HERALD — August 20, 2026

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‘Fake news!’ — the rallying cry against reality

The Experts at U.S. News Agree: Mount Sinai South Nassau is High Performing

mountsinai.org/southnassau 1358581

August 20, 2026 — MERRICK HERALD

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