Lawrence resident Joseph Horowitz, 63, took part in the Jovia Financial Credit Union Long Island Half Marathon at Eisenhower Park, in East Meadow, last Sunday. Festivities kicked off with a 5K Family Fun Run on Friday, followed by a 10K and a 1K Kids Fun Run on Saturday and the halfmarathon and marathon to finish off the weekend.
By AIDAN WARSHAVSKY awarshavsky@liherald.com
Susan Corbetti remembers volunteering at the Woodmere Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Woodmere as a middle schooler in 1965, where she sang songs with the seniors and helped them pass the time. That put her on course, she said, to be a volunteer for the rest of her life.
Now 72, Corbetti is retiring from her job as an administrative assistant at the Five Towns Learning Center, in Inwood.
Corbetti was hired in 1995 in part because of her work experience. She had spent a decade
painting scenery for Broadway shows before working for six years at the now-defunct Septum Printing in Oceanside printing pennysavers.
“I had experience with the software [the learning center] was using,” Corbetti said.
Pepper Robinson, the learning center’s executive director since 2004, called Corbetti her righthand woman. Robinson said that Corbetti was a tremendous help with daily operations.
Beyond her responsibilities with insurance, and staff training and orientation, Corbetti roamed the learning center, from the kitchen to the classrooms. She helped with special events like the National Council of Jewish Women’s
By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com
With a ceremonial ribbon cutting and applause from a packed crowd of health care leaders, elected officials and residents, Episcopal Health Services unveiled the Walsh Ambulatory Pavilion at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital — a sweeping expansion of outpatient care aimed at transforming how medicine is delivered across the Rockaway Peninsula.
The five-story, 65,000-square-foot facility at 19-20 Brookhaven Ave. is designed to transform how care is delivered locally by bringing primary care, specialty services and advanced treatment options into one centralized, patient-focused setting. The celebration took place on May 1.
“This is a defining moment for our organization,” said Dr. Donald Morrish, president and chief executive officer. “We are not just expanding our foot -
print, we are changing the way care is accessed. The goal is simple: catch illness earlier, treat it more effectively and keep people healthier so they can stay out of the hospital.”
Morrish underscored that the pavilion represents a shift toward preventive and relationshipbased care.
“We want patients to have a medical home,” he said. “Somewhere they can call, be seen quickly, and build trust with their providers. When that happens, you see better compliance, earlier diagnoses and ultimately better outcomes.”
He added that improving access was central to the project’s mission.
“For too long, gaps in access have led people to rely on emergency rooms for routine care,” Morrish said.
“This gives the community a better option — one that is more coordinated, more personal and more effective.”
The pavilion houses a wide
Continued on page 8
By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com
The Lawrence School District has once again earned national recognition for its commitment to the arts, being named a 2026 Best Communities for Music Education by the NAMM Foundation — an honor it has received every year since 2017.
Now in its 27th year, the award recognizes districts across the country that demonstrate outstanding achievement in providing music access and education to all students. Lawrence is among a select group of districts acknowledged for prioritizing music as part of a wellrounded academic experience, with evaluators reviewing areas such as funding, curriculum, participation and community support.
Superintendent Ann Pedersen said the recognition reflects a districtwide effort.
“This recognition reflects the dedication of our music educators, administrators, students and the entire Lawrence community,” Pedersen wrote in a statement. “We believe that music is an essential component of student development, fostering creativity, discipline and collaboration.”
Lawrence’s music program includes band, orchestra, chorus and general music instruction at all grade levels, with students regularly participating in regional and statewide performances and honors ensembles.
Lawrence Primary School music department staff members Clarissa Baquiran, orchestra & general music, left and Miriam Frank, general music at LPS and ECC.
District Music Coordinator Pamela Gallopini emphasized that the award extends beyond the classroom.
“This really involves everybody — the department, the community, the Board of Education, administration, teachers and students,” Gallopini said. “We have so many opportunities for students to perform, whether it’s in school or out in the community.”
Those opportunities include concerts, honor society recitals and out -
reach performances at local venues such as nursing homes in the Five Towns area. Students also take part in drama and dance productions throughout the year, further expanding their exposure to the arts.
District officials said they remain committed to expanding access to music education, ensuring students continue to benefit from a program that has become a point of pride for the Lawrence community.
“We really allow students many opportunities to feel proud, both individually and collectively,” Gallopini said. “And just seeing the students, the progress of the students, and how each student grows — the growth throughout the school year and from year to year — and then coming together to celebrate through performances, it’s a wonderful thing. I’m very proud and happy to be part of it.”
By AIDAN WARSHAVSKY awarshavsky@liherald.com
While incumbent Trustees Cheryl May and Shari Amitrano are running unopposed this month, they’re doing so with the goal of continuing their commitment to the Hewlett-Woodmere School District.
May, the board’s vice president and longest-serving trustee, has served on the Board of Education for 15 years. Her district résumé includes work on the curriculum, extracurricular and policy committees, as well as the Central Council PTA.
Before joining the board, she served as president of the Central Council PTA, Hewlett Elementary School’s PTA and Franklin Early Childhood Center’s PTA.
As she seeks a sixth term, May said she is most proud of helping pass fiscally responsible budgets and complete capital projects, including improvements to the middle school and high school athletic fields. She also pointed to the board’s vote to appoint District Superintendent Dina Anzalone, who she said has worked closely with trustees since arriving last year.
With a family of educators and children who are graduates of the district, May said those connections — along with students — continue to motivate her.
“I’ve always had a passion for education,” May said. “I’ve always felt that giving back to the community is important. It’s just something that I’ve always
done.”
In a statement to the Herald, board
President Debi Sheinin said May’s long tenure has made her an important part of
district leadership.
“Her years of service and deep knowledge of the district continue to make her a valuable asset to the board,” she said.
Amitrano, who is seeking a third term, has over 30 years of experience as an award-winning Managing Sales Director, and comes from a family who frequented the district as teachers, students and coaches.
Amitrano said she has worked to strengthen communication between the district and community members while supporting academic and extracurricular opportunities with fellow trustees.
As chair of the Endowment Fund, Amitrano helps organize Arts Below Sunrise. She also said she helped expand middle school athletic offerings by dividing sports into seventh-and eight-grade teams, and advocated for construction of the soon-to-be high school concession stand.
“I’m not doing this for a pat on the back,” Amitrano said. “I want to continue to help elevate our education and community.”
Sheinin wrote Amitrano’s ties to the district and continued service have helped shape her work on the board.
“Not only is Shari a district alumna and current parent, but she also brings a strong personal connection and thoughtful perspective through her continued service.”
In addition to voting for the two trustee seats, Hewlett-Woodmere residents will cast ballots on the school budget and three propositions at the Woodmere Education Center, 1 Johnson Ave., Woodmere, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. May 19.
Village of Cedarhurst officials broke ground on an expansion of Parking Field 10 on Washington Avenue, a project aimed at easing congestion in the busy downtown shopping district, on May 1.
Mayor Benjamin Weinstock and the Board of Trustees announced that construction is scheduled to begin May 11. The project will add 55 parking spaces to accommodate growing demand as foot traffic in the business area continues to rise.
On most days, the village’s commercial corridor sees steady activity, and parking can be difficult to find during peak hours. Officials said the expansion is designed to improve access, reduce traffic congestion on nearby streets and make visits more convenient for residents and visitors.
The additional spaces are part of a
broader effort to adapt to increased use of the business district, as more people spend time shopping and dining in Cedarhurst.
“We’re seeing more people come through our business district, and that’s a good thing,” Weinstock wrote in a news release. “This expansion is about keeping up with that and making sure our local shops remain easy to access.”
As part of the project, the existing parking field will close for approximately six weeks beginning May 13. Planned upgrades include new drainage, improved lighting, and a reconfiguration of parking spaces and the metering system.
Village officials said they will continue to provide updates as construction progresses.
— Melissa Berman
Courtesy Gerard Petrocelli
Student members of Hewlett Elementary School’s Student Council visited Angela House as part of their partnership.
By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com
Students from Hewlett Elementary School are learning that even small acts of kindness can make a big impact, thanks to their ongoing partnership with Angela’s House.
Members of the school’s Student Council recently visited the food pantry to see firsthand how their yearlong fundraising efforts — collecting dry goods, toiletries and other essentials — help families in need across the community.
“It really makes me feel good inside because I know I’m helping people,” said fifth grader Tiffany Levin. “Not everyone always thinks about people who need help, but when you do something, even small, it matters.”
The visit served as a “full-circle moment,” educators said, allowing students to connect their in-school initiatives with real-world impact. During the trip, students met with Angela’s House representative John Coyne, who explained the pantry’s mission and how donations from Hewlett Elementary have helped keep shelves stocked with items like soup, cereal and paper goods.
Student Council at Hewlett Elementary includes representatives from each class in grades two through five and is designed to foster leadership and civic responsibility at a young age. Younger students are selected by their teachers, while fifth graders campaign and are elected by their peers to serve in roles such as president, vice president, secretary and treasurer.
“We really try to focus on leadership and giving back in ways the students can actually see,” said teacher and advisor Stephanie Maltz. “In the past, we raised money for national organizations, which is wonderful, but the impact can feel distant. Partnering with Angela’s House allows students to directly see how their efforts help their own neighbors.”
Throughout the year, the council organizes themed drives, including a Thanksgiving food collection, a winter
“Souper Bowl” canned goods drive and a spring effort focused on paper products — a need students learned about during earlier visits.
“They were surprised to learn that items like toilet paper can’t be purchased with food assistance benefits,” Maltz said. “That really opened their eyes and motivated them to help fill that gap.”
Principal Heather Sosnovsky said the partnership has become a defining part of the school’s culture.
“When you walk into Angela’s House, you can actually see signs and reminders of Hewlett Elementary’s contributions over the years,” she said. “It’s something our students take pride in, and it reinforces the values we try to instill — empathy, civic responsibility and kindness.”
Superintendent Dr. Anzalone joined the students on the visit, underscoring the district’s commitment to community engagement and student leadership.
For many students, the experience was eye-opening.
“A lot of kids don’t realize there are people in their own neighborhood who need help,” Sosnovsky said. “This gives them that awareness — and more importantly, shows them they can do something about it.”
Building on the visit, Student Council members plan to continue their outreach efforts and raise awareness, so more families know about available resources.
“It’s not just about collecting donations,” Maltz said. “It’s about building compassionate leaders who understand their role in the community — and that’s a lesson that lasts far beyond elementary school.”
Superintendent of the Hewlett-Woodmere school district Dina Anzalone accompainied the students on the trip and said that servant leadership is what they hope to instill in the students.
“I think it is important even at an early age for students to see themselves as
and leaders,” Anza -
jaxsON tOrres
PLAINEDGE Junior Baseball
ONE OF MANY REASONS the Red Devils have established themselves as one of the favorites in Nassau Class A baseball, Torres threw their second no-hitter this spring April 27 in Plainedge’s 8-0 win over Locust Valley. The righthander struck out 15 and walked only one as the Red Devils won their 13th straight game without a loss. The performance upped Torres’ record on the mound to 5-0 with a 1.75 ERA and 0.61 WHIP with 56Ks in 28 innings.
Thursday, May 7
Softball: South Side at Hewlett 4:30 p.m.
Baseball: Plainedge at Mineola 4:45 p.m.
Boys Lacrosse: Seaford at Wantagh 5 p.m.
Baseball: Massapequa at Oceanside
Baseball: Uniondale at V.S. Central
Softball: Farmingdale at Plainedge
Softball: Baldwin at V.S. North
Softball: Uniondale at Sewanhaka 5 p.m.
Girls Lacrosse: Long Beach at North Shore 5 p.m.
Girls Lacrosse: South Side at Garden City 5 p.m.
Girls Lacrosse: Manhasset at Farmingdale 5:30 p.m.
Boys Lacrosse: Plainedge at South Side 6 p.m.
Baseball: V.S. South at East Rockaway 7 p.m.
Friday, May 8
Softball: Lynbrook at Elmont 4:30 p.m.
Boys Lacrosse: Baldwin at Freeport 5 p.m.
Softball: Glen Cove at Wantagh
5 p.m.
Softball: Mepham at Oceanside 5 p.m.
Softball: East Meadow at Plainedge 5 p.m.
Softball: Garden City at Long Beach 5 p.m.
Baseball: Long Beach at Kennedy 5 p.m.
Baseball: New Hyde Park at Calhoun 5 p.m.
Baseball: Hewlett at Carey 5 p.m.
Baseball: Mepham at Clarke 5 p.m.
Nominate a “spotlight athlete”
High School athletes to be featured on the Herald sports page must compete in a spring sport and have earned an AllConference award or higher last year. Please send the following information: Name, School, Grade, Sport and accomplishments to Sports@liherald.com.
By NICK MONGIOVI sports@liherald.com
The “cardiac kids,” as Hewlett softball coach Jon Welsh said, made an appearance last Saturday afternoon as the Bulldogs erased a two-run Baldwin lead in the seventh inning.
With one out and runners on second and third, junior center fielder Lily Simon singled through the left side of the infield to complete the comeback, beating the Bruins 5-4.
“We’re just built differently,” Welsh said. “It doesn’t matter if we’re down 10, down five, down four, down three, or up seven. We just continue to battle, play our game. [They’re] the cardiac kids.”
Junior catcher Sarah Oliveros opened the last-inning rally with a single and advanced to third on an error. Sophomore shortstop Alyssa Reich laced a single into left field, scoring Oliveros to cut the deficit to 4-3. Eighth-grade pitcher Coraila Savin singled, setting up runners on the corners with one away. Eighth-grade first baseman Sav Nicaleck tied the game with a single, putting the game in the hands of Simon.
“I just wanted to get it in play,” Simon said. “I just wanted to get the runner in.”
She did just that, as Hewlett moved within one game of clinching a playoff spot and knocked Baldwin out of playoff contention.
Reich led the offense, going 3-for-4, scoring two runs and swiping two bases. “In my first at-bat, I struck out and I usually let that linger, but this game, I wanted to change my mindset,” she said. “That really helped me.”
Baldwin had quite the fourth inning, producing timely hits and putting together quality at-bats with two outs. Sophomore catcher Lily Duet poked her second hit of the day to lead off the frame. With two outs in the inning, senior right fielder Abby Belony doubled to right field, knotting the score at 2-2.
Following a walk from senior center fielder Akua Bonsu, junior third baseman Chloe Collado knocked in a pair on an error, giving the Bruins a 4-2 lead.
“Abby Belony got a hit when it mat-
tered and Chloe, who’s been hitting well all year, hit another RBI with two outs,” Baldwin coach Tom Llewellyn said. “They’ve been working hard all year.”
Savin notched seven strikeouts across seven innings of six-hit ball, allowing four runs and four walks. She recorded her 10th win and 80th strikeout of the season. Savin helped herself out at the plate, going 2-for-4, with a run scored, two RBI and two stolen bases
“I knew that was going to be a tough
game,” Savin said. “I knew they were going to hit the ball and knew they were good hitters, so I had to mix in other pitches besides a fastball.”
Baldwin sophomore pitcher Liv Pascual struck out five and allowing 10 hits and two walks.
The Bruins (6-7 in Conference 4, 6-9 overall) hits the road against Valley Stream North Thursday at 5 p.m., while Hewlett (9-4; 10-5) hosts South Side at the same time.
EHS is proud to introduce the EHS Cancer Center at the new Walsh Ambulatory Pavilion, bringing together leading oncologists, comprehensive treatments, state-of-the-art technology (PET/CT, TrueBeam linear accelerator) and coordinated support services in a serene, streamlined setting. Radiation oncology is now available on the Rockaway Peninsula ������������������������������������������������������������ space, new physicians and new era of cancer care at EHS.
• Medical Oncology
• Radiation Oncology
• Surgical Oncology
• Immunotherapy
• Access to Clinical Trials
• Cancer Navigation Program
• Inpatient Physical Rehabilitation
• Social Work and Counseling
• EHS Specialty Pharmacy
• Pastoral and Spiritual Support
19-20 Brookhaven Avenue, Far Rockaway, NY 11691
For more information, visit ehs.org/oncology or call: Medical Oncology 718-869-7949
Oncology 718-869-7101
range of services, including primary care, women’s health, behavioral health, specialty practices and an endoscopy center, all aimed at reducing fragmentation in care.
“It’s about convenience, but it’s also about continuity,” Morrish said. “When your providers are connected, your care is stronger.”
A key component of the facility is the new EHS Cancer Center, which officials described as a longawaited resource for the peninsula.
“This is incredibly meaningful for our patients,” said Karen Paige, executive vice president and chief operating officer. “We are now able to offer a fully comprehensive cancer program from prevention and screening to diagnosis, treatment and survivorship all in one place.”
Paige said the addition of radiation oncology services is particularly impactful.
“Radiation therapy is not a one-time visit it can require daily treatment for weeks,” she said. “Previously, that meant repeated travel off the peninsula, which is a real burden. Now, patients can receive that care close to home, surrounded by their support systems.”
She emphasized the importance of bringing multiple specialties together.
“When you co-locate services, you remove barriers,” Paige said. “Patients don’t want to travel from one office to another. They want a seamless experience, and that’s what we’ve created here.”
Dr. Marc Warshawsky, chief of hematology and oncology, said the Cancer Center represents a major leap forward in clinical capability.
“This is the first time we’ve been able to offer all three pillars of cancer care — surgical oncology, medical oncology and radiation oncology — under one
roof,” Warshawsky said. “That level of integration is critical to delivering the highest standard of care.”
Warshawsky noted that collaboration among specialists will directly benefit patients.
“Cancer treatment is complex, and it requires constant communication between disciplines,” he said. “Now, those conversations can happen in real time, with everyone in the same building. That leads to more coordinated treatment plans and better outcomes.”
He also pointed to the emotional and logistical relief for patients.
“Being treated for cancer is difficult enough,” Warshawsky said. “Anything we can do to reduce stress — like eliminating the need to travel long distances — makes a real difference. This facility allows patients to focus on healing, not logistics.”
Hospital leaders said the pavilion is part of a broader effort to address health disparities in Far Rockaway and surrounding communities by expanding access to
high-quality care.
“We’re listening to what this community needs,” Morrish said. “And what they’ve told us is clear — they want accessible, comprehensive care close to home. This pavilion delivers on that.”
Paige echoed that sentiment.
“This building reflects our promise,” she said. “To be here for our patients, to grow with our community and to ensure that no one has to leave the neighborhood to receive exceptional care.”
Appointments at the EHS Cancer Center can be scheduled at ehs.org/oncology or by calling medical oncology at 718-869-7949, radiation oncology at 718-8697101, or surgical oncology at 718-347-3627.
For the Walsh Ambulatory Pavilion, patients can call 718-EHS-DOCS (347-3627) or visit ehs.org/walsh.
“This is more than a ribbon cutting,” Morrish said. “It’s a statement about the future of health care in this community and we’re just getting started.”
Q: What should people look for when checking their skin?
Learn how to prevent skin cancer
By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com
Q: Why is Skin Cancer Awareness Month important?
A: Rozenberg: Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States, yet it is also one of the most preventable. We want people to understand that ultraviolet (UV) exposure from the sun and tanning beds is the primary cause. The damage is cumulative even everyday exposure adds up over time. Awareness is about helping people build lifelong habits that reduce that risk.
Q: Who is most at risk for skin cancer?
A: Rozenberg: Anyone can develop skin cancer, regardless of skin tone or ethnicity. However, individuals with fair skin, light eyes, and light hair are at
higher risk. That said, we also see skin cancer in patients with darker skin tones, and unfortunately those cases are often diagnosed later, which can lead to worse outcomes. Genetics can also play a role in some rare but higher-risk cases.
Q: What are the most important prevention steps people should take?
A: Rozenberg: Sunscreen is critical. People often underuse it the correct amount for the body is about a shot glass full, and it should be reapplied every two hours, even on cloudy days. Protective clothing, hats, sunglasses, and seeking shade between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. are also very important. And I cannot emphasize enough: avoid indoor tanning beds entirely. They significantly increase your risk of melanoma and other skin cancers.
A: Rozenberg: We teach the ABCDEs of melanoma: asymmetry, irregular borders, multiple colors, diameter larger than a pencil eraser, and anything that is evolving or changing. Also watch for sores that don’t heal, or spots that bleed or crust. When in doubt, get it checked.
Q: Why is early detection so important?
A: Rozenberg: When melanoma is caught early, the five-year survival rate is about 99 percent. That’s why routine skin exams and self-checks are so important. Basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas are also very treatable when found early but can cause significant damage if ignored.
Q: Anything else to add?
A: Rozenberg: Protect your skin every day, not just in the summer. Make sunscreen part of your routine like brushing your teeth. And remember even if you’re under an umbrella or in the shade, UV rays can reflect off surfaces like sand and water. Prevention is lifelong, and it truly makes a difference.
Ettinger Law Firm promotes the well-being of our clients as well as the public at large. Here are some thoughts to help ease your day.
“All life is an experiment and the more experiments the better”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Set peace of mind as your highest goal, and organize your life around it”
– Brian Tracy
“Accept what is. All pain comes from resistance” – Zen saying
“Holding on to anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die” – Buddha
“There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so” – Shakespeare
“Gratitude is not only the greatest of all virtues, but the parent of all the others” – Cicero
“When you’re good to others, you are best to yourself” – Ben Franklin
“The voyage of the best ship is a zigzag line of a hundred tacks” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Who is rich? He that rejoices in his portion” – Ben Franklin
“Nothing in life is so hard that you can’t make it easier by the way you take it”
– Ellen Glasgow
“Life appears to me to be too short to be spent in nursing animosity or regret”
– Charlotte Bronte
“Not money, or success, or position, or travel, or love makes happiness - service is the secret”
– Kathleen Norris
“To understand all is to forgive all” – Evelyn Waugh
To celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, Rock Hall Museum is hosting a series of lectures and exhibits that examine the Revolutionary War from multiple perspectives including the difficult question many colonists faced: Which side would you choose?
Rock Hall pre-dates the United States, being built in 1767 making the semiquincentennial not only a marker for the country but for an anniversary of everything at Rock Hall.
Titled “Which Side Are You On?”, the exhibit, which opened on April 26, will examine the choices faced by colonists in the 1770s, when loyalty to the British Crown clashed with growing calls for independence.
“We have not only information on Long Island’s role in the revolution but in particular the division between Loyalists and Patriots,” said Amy Vacchio, director of Rock Hall Museum. “The Martin family’s story is unique because it’s a story that’s often not told because it’s about their loyalty to the king as a Loyalist family.”
— Melissa Berman
The “Which side are you on?” exhibit asks guests to question whether they would be a Patriot or a Loyalist during the
back-to-school store and the center’s two-day trip to Rock Hall Museum in Lawrence, where children make scarecrows.
“Susan would pick up everyone who didn’t have a car and take them to our holiday parties,” Robinson said. “She’d run errands for people who couldn’t. That’s the kind of woman she was.”
During the coronavirus pandemic, when the learning center stayed open for families in need, Corbetti helped Robinson secure grants to keep it operating. For children who aged out of the learning center and were in public school, the center opened its all-purpose room and offered staff and resources to help them do schoolwork online before going outside to play.
Whenever problems arose, Robinson knew she had someone she could count on. “Anytime there was a disaster, we did it together,” she said.
Corbetti’s warmth and dedication attracted many families, including Paola Cortez and her now 6-year-old son, Salim, who attended the learning center through kindergarten.
“Susan would always ask Salim about his day,” Cortez said. “She was always so caring.”
Growing up on Wood Lane in Woodsburgh, Corbetti had an active family life. For many years her family belonged to several beach clubs in Atlantic Beach.
When she wasn’t at the beach, she played softball through junior high school, and graduated from Hewlett High School in 1971.
As she got older, Corbetti, her husband, Robert Corbetti, who owned an auto shop in Oceanside, and their child maintained a close-knit family life. Dozens of relatives gathered for barbecues on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.
“My husband and I entertained our
family every weekend,” Corbetti said.
“We had a big house on the water in Island Park. We loved to be with our family.”
Now a grandmother, Corbetti remembers when seniors from the Five Towns Senior Center, in Woodmere, came to the learning center once a week. For more than 20 years, the seniors would pair up with students on small projects or reading, and Corbetti enjoyed watch-
ing the interactions.
“It was a beautiful program,” she said. “A lot of the kids didn’t have grandparents, and a lot of these grandparents didn’t have access to their grandchildren.”
Robinson thanked Corbetti for her dedication to the center, and noted that Corbetti always looked for ways to help where she could, and knew every child’s name, as well as the parents and grandparents she met.
“Susan was an integral part of the family,” Robinson said. “Not just for the staff, but for the families.”
As she looks toward retirement, Corbetti said she has joined the New Horizon Counseling Center’s Senior Center, in Hewlett, and has taken an interest in mahjong and canasta, as well as tai chi.
Her volunteer experience when she was a student at Woodmere Elementary — now the Woodmere Education Center — she said, was a huge factor in shaping what became her future. She had the chance to reconnect with Elinor Tannenbaum, the sixth-grade teacher she had volunteered for, at a National Council of Jewish Women’s volunteer breakfast. Volunteering, Corbetti said, taught her to be involved in the community, and how vital that role is.
“That was another thing that married me to the center,” Corbetti said, adding of Tannenbaum, “She made a lasting impression on my life.
Hewlett-East Rockaway Jewish Centre’s Rabbi Michel Schlesinger, Israel Committee Chair Tova Markowitz, Hazzan Bonnie Zakarin and Executive Director Lisa Stein at the Israel Fair on April 26.
The Hewlett-East Rockaway Jewish Centre transformed its space into a vibrant celebration of Israeli culture during its Israel Fest on April 26, drawing families and community members for a morning of food, music and hands-on activities.
Held from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., the event offered a wide range of experiences designed to engage all ages, from a bustling “shuk” marketplace featuring Israeli goods to interactive stations like hummusmaking, Israeli dancing and crafts. Attendees sampled traditional foods,
explored cultural displays and connected with organizations supporting Israel.
Tova Markowitz, chair of the synagogue’s Israel Committee, said the event was created to provide both education and a sense of connection during a challenging time.
“In this stressful environment, we wanted to give people an opportunity to relax a little bit and come together,” Markowitz said. “It was about bringing Israel to life in a positive way.”
Vendors sold products sourced directly from Israel, including items purchased
from small businesses that have struggled amid decreased tourism. Markowitz noted that supporting those businesses was an important part of the fair’s mission.
“We had people who went to Israel, brought back goods and sold them here to help support Israeli artisans,” she said. “It gave the community a way to connect and give back at the same time.”
The event also highlighted a variety of Israeli and Jewish organizations, broadening awareness beyond those that are widely known. Alongside educational components were moments of reflection
and connection, including guided activities focused on mindfulness and shared energy.
“There was just a feeling of people coming together,” Markowitz said. “Even simple things like making tote bags or dancing created that sense of unity.”
Organizers said the fair aimed to replicate the sights, sounds and spirit of Israel locally — offering a meaningful experience for those unable to travel while strengthening community bonds through culture, learning and shared celebration.
— Melissa Berman
Mery and Sindy always knew they wanted to open a spa to bring beauty to customers. Little did they know it would have the same effect on the community. And Business First was there. We provided $23,000 in grants to help with much-needed renovations so Mery and Sindy could bring their vision to life.* Now, not only does their spa impact clients in a beautiful way, it gives the community an economic lift as well.
grants, and savings will vary with every project.
ROOTED IN STRENGTH
Glen Cove Hospital
Northwell Health
Abigail Dunne’s path into healthcare began during her high school years in Locust Valley.
“I went to Locust Valley High School and I took an EMT course and I started volunteering in the Bayville Fire Department as an EMT,” Dunne, 23, says. “I decided that I really enjoyed helping people and I really liked being able to help people in ways that others couldn’t necessarily.”
Her experience in emergency medical services shaped her decision to pursue nursing, to provide what she described as a deeper level of care.
“So it was more than just offering emotional support, but now it’s like physical support and seeing people get better, get stronger. It’s just been something that’s always made me feel really good. I just love helping people.”
Dunne went on to attend nursing school while a nursing assistant at Glen Cove Hospital, where she has been employed since September 2022.
“I’ve worked at Glen Cove ... I was a nursing assistant during nursing school.”
She relates that her role as a nurse centers on compassion and service to others.
“I feel like being a nurse, it’s really just about being able to give to other people. We know people are sick and being able to help them definitely is very rewarding in itself.”
Healthcare runs in her family. Her sister works in EMS and as a nurse at Plainview Hospital, and her greatgrandfather was a doctor.
- As told to Roksana Amid
Tameka Wallace, 42, vice president and chief nursing officer at Glen Cove Hospital, did not initially plan a career in health care.
“My path was finance,” Wallace says, explaining that she once hoped to pursue her father’s career path. “I wanted to follow in my father’s footsteps. He worked on Wall Street, and I was always fascinated.”
Her trajectory shifted after she took a job in hospitality services at North Shore University Hospital at age 16. By 18, she had moved onto a Telemetry unit, where she discovered her passion for patient care.
“Once I was able to get on the first unit, I fell in love with patient care services.”
That experience, coupled with working alongside her mother, helped shape her future.
“I actually started nursing school with my mom. We did nursing school together, and we actually graduated together as well.”
Wallace, who has been with Northwell Health for 26 years and a nurse for more than two decades, shares that her work is rooted in advocacy and compassion.
“What nursing means to me is being the patient and caregiver’s advocate; making sure that they feel that they are at home, away from home. You want to put the patient at ease at a very tough time in their life.”
Now in a leadership role, Wallace aims to highlight the broader impact of the profession.
“My goal is to make sure that we get the word out on how special nursing is. It’s not just being at the bedside, we touch so many people in so many ways.”
- As told to Roksana Amid
St. John's Episcopal Hospital
Episcopal Health Services
As a child, I have always had a love for medicine. One of my first toys was a stethoscope, and I loved to play doctor and surgery on my dolls. My favorite television shows have been related to medicine. My late father would say “Medicine is in your blood! You’re born with it!”
One day, I could not help but to ask my father why he said this. He went on to explain that his aunt worked as an RN in England for over 20 years, and my grandmother worked as a CNA. As I thought about this, I realized that he was right! Some of my fondest memories as a child are of my family members caring for the elders.
Upon further reflection I realized my most cherished childhood memories involve my family instinctively knowing how to care for our elders, anticipating their needs for healing or comfort. As I matured, the realization struck me: the care, compassion, attentiveness, and nurturing instinct that is within me, is the core of nursing. Almost instinctively knowing what's needed to heal or cure others.
Throughout my professional life, I have had the privilege of working in diverse settings, and those fundamental nursing principles have remained constant. Today, I am incredibly proud and grateful to be a registered nurse.
St. John's Episcopal Hospital
Episcopal Health Services
My desire to become a nurse was shaped early in life, growing up surrounded by healthcare professionals, including pharmacists, physicians and a long line of nurses across various specialties. It felt like a path I was always meant to follow.
Although I briefly pursued a degree in business administration, it didn’t take long for me to return to my true calling. My journey began as an EMT, where I was known for going above and beyond in patient care, showing compassion, empathy and a commitment to doing my best. My curiosity led me to seek more than just immediate care. I wanted to understand what happened to my patients after I transferred them and how their care continued.
This curiosity led me to work as a Behavioral Health Technician for five years, where I supported patients on a Behavioral Health unit. There, I saw firsthand the profound impact nurses had through compassion, teaching and therapeutic interventions. I found fulfillment in reinforcing coping skills and lessons patients could carry back into their communities. Ultimately, my experiences, curiosity and support system guided me to nursing.
Now, after one year as a nurse, I embrace my role as an educator, advocate and leader entrusted with lives and responsible for making a meaningful difference. I chose nursing to be a positive force in the lives of patients and their families, to educate them in ways they can understand, and to serve as an example that empowers others to advocate for themselves and pursue nursing as well.
JENNIFER ERDMAN PSINAKIS, BSN, RN, HNB-BC, PCCN
NYU Langone Hospital
Long Island
I have been a nurse at NYU Langone Hospital - Long Island for close to 15 years on a Surgical Telemetry unit specializing in cardiothoracic surgery patients. It is the first unit I started on, and I am still working on that unit to this day! It is a very special unit staffed with very special people, some who have grown to be my closest friends. I am on many hospital councils and committees, and am a boardcertified holistic nurse.
I became a nurse out of a deeprooted desire to care for others and to form meaningful human connections. From an early age, I was drawn to roles that allowed me to support, comfort and uplift those around me, and nursing provided a natural path to turn that passion into a profession. To me, nursing is far more than clinical skill or technical knowledge — it is the privilege of being present for individuals during some of the most vulnerable and significant moments of their lives.
My greatest fulfillment comes from building trust with my patients, understanding their stories and providing care that honors not only their physical needs but also their emotional and personal experiences. Nursing means advocating, listening and showing compassion in a way that helps patients feel seen, heard and valued. It is both a responsibility and a profound honor to walk alongside patients and their families, offering support, dignity and genuine human connections when it matters most.
ADRIENNE KINCH BSN, RN, CPAN, PGMT-BC
NYU Langone Hospital
Long Island
My career as a nurse has been deeply rewarding and a lifelong journey of learning. Nursing has been my profession for almost 48 years, and I cherish every experience — whether happy or sad.
As a teenager, I lost my grandfather to a heart attack, and I felt helpless. I began volunteering at a hospital, where I realized it was my life’s calling. It became very important to me to pursue a career that would allow me to make a difference in people’s lives and give me the opportunity to help others. Nursing was the perfect fit.
I have had the privilege of working at NYU Langone Hospital - Long Island for 36 years in the PACU. Prior to that, I spent 10 years as an ICU nurse and two years on a medical-surgical floor. I feel incredibly fortunate to have built such a fulfilling career at NYU Langone - Long Island and to have gained a second work family.
Helping new nurses grow and succeed is truly my passion. Teamwork and the ability to contribute to improving the quality of patient care have motivated me throughout the years. I credit my peers, my patients, and the support of leadership for helping me grow both professionally and personally.
Nursing has given me a profound sense of purpose and a lasting passion that has brought meaning to my life. If I can give hope to someone who is sick and see it in their eyes, then I am fulfilled. Sharing human experiences and showing kindness through serving others has made me a better person and helped me overcome some of my own life’s heartaches through the strength of those around me.
Amarpreet Kaur began her nursing career at Long Island Jewish Valley Stream hospital last March, working on the hospital’s Medical-Surgical unit with a focus on older adult care.
Her path to nursing was shaped by early experiences after immigrating to the United States from India in 2008. As a child, she often assisted her father during medical appointments, translating and observing the role communication plays in patient care.
“It was their dream of {my brother and me] basically getting our degrees in the medical field, and then coming back and giving back to the community,” Kaur says. “That's something that we always do here and there. When we go back, we set up a camp back home. Even if it is just checking their finger sticks for blood sugar levels or their blood pressure in the community, it's so fascinating to them. That's not something that people often do there.”
Kaur pursued a degree in biology before completing her nursing education at LIU Brooklyn in 2024.
Kaur shares she was drawn to nursing to combine compassion, advocacy and clinical knowledge while supporting patients during vulnerable moments. Since starting at the hospital, she has completed a nurse residency program and taken on additional responsibilities, including serving as a diabetes resource on her unit. She has also contributed to initiatives focused on improving care for older adults and reducing complications such as falls and delirium.
Looking ahead, Kaur plans to pursue certification in gerontology and begin graduate studies in informatics, with the goal of enhancing patient care through both clinical practice and technology.
- As told to Angelina Zingariello
Northwell
Long Island Jewish Valley Stream
Elizabeth McGrath has worked in nursing since 2010, building her career in high-acuity settings before transitioning to Long Island Jewish Valley Stream hospital to serve her local community.
A Franklin Square resident, she spent more than a decade working in Emergency and Intensive Care units in the Bronx before joining the Valley Stream hospital in 2022 as an Emergency Department nurse.
“I've always wanted to be a nurse,” McGrath says. “I've always had a passion for helping people since a very young age. I think my faith in Catholicism played a lot in wanting to provide equitable care, especially for underprivileged populations.”
After two years in the Emergency Department, she stepped into her current role as an associate educator, where she supports the development of new and experienced nurses. Her responsibilities include onboarding staff, leading training programs and coordinating educational initiatives tailored to the needs of the department.
“I'm the first nurse in my family on all sides,” McGrath says. “Actually, I am very happy to say my daughter wants to become an Emergency Department nurse, just like me. So, perhaps there will be a second nurse in the family one day.”
She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in nursing education through Jacksonville University and expects to graduate next year. McGrath relates tht teaching has been a long-standing goal, allowing her to share her experience while supporting the next generation of nurses. She remains closely connected to clinical work by assisting staff during critical situations and staying engaged in patient care environments.
- As told to Angelina Zingariello
Prepare for your healthcare career—or advance the one you have. Adelphi is a U.S. News & World Report Best College for Nursing, offering:
Always leading. Always caring. Always learning.
They comfort, advocate, heal and inspire — often all in the same shift. Nurses bring skill, compassion and unwavering dedication to every patient encounter while helping shape the future of healthcare through leadership, education and innovation.
During National Nurses Week, we pause to recognize the extraordinary professionals who stand at the heart of our healthcare system. From routine visits to life-saving emergencies, from welcoming new beginnings to offering comfort in life’s most difficult moments, nurses are there through it all.
Their work demands resilience, expertise and endless empathy. We depend on their steady presence and commitment every day. Simply put, healthcare would not function without them.
In this special photo essay by Photo Editor Tim Baker, we celebrate these everyday heroes through images that capture their care, courage and commitment — and the countless ways they make a difference in our communities. We thank you. We celebrate you. We see you.
8.
Mount
Becoming a nurse has been my dream since childhood. This aspiration began when I had to care for my father at a very young age. Sadly, he passed away shortly after I graduated from nursing school, but his memory continues to inspire my passion for this profession.
Nursing is a noble calling. The ability to care for others and help save lives is both a privilege and a gift — one that I carry with deep pride. For the past 25 years, I have dedicated myself to this profession, including 13 meaningful years at Mount Sinai South Nassau.
Throughout my career, nursing has taught me far more than clinical and technical skills. It has instilled in me the values of compassion, dedication and selflessness. In this profession, I learned that true fulfillment comes from serving others with a selfless heart. Helping without expecting anything in return and choosing to do what is right even when no one is watching.
Currently I work on F3, the Oncology Med-Surg/Telemetry unit, where teamwork and service are at the heart of everything we do. I work with amazing colleagues where we do more than just care for patients; we care for one another. We stand side by side like a family, lifting each other up and sharing both the burdens and the victories.
Over the years, MSSN has faced many changes and challenges. Yet, one thing has remained constant: our deep sense of belonging. We do not simply work here; we consider this institution our second home and continue to serve with compassion and purpose.
Mount
Born in South Nassau, raised in the Oceanside community and now serving patients within it, my journey into nursing has truly come full circle. I began my nursing career in 2016, driven by a passion for helping others. A passion instilled in me early on through the values of my parents, who were both nurses.
Over the years, I have had the privilege of growing within the profession, starting as a bedside nurse, advancing to Assistant Nurse Manager, and now serving as a Nurse Informaticist. Each role has shaped my perspective and strengthened my commitment to patient care. While my responsibilities have changed, the core of why I chose nursing has remained the same.
To me, nursing is more than caring for the illness in front of me. It is about recognizing the individual behind the diagnosis. It is about understanding that every patient has a story, a family, a life beyond the hospital room. Nursing means showing up for people during some of their most vulnerable moments and providing not only clinical care, but also compassion, dignity and support.
In my current role, I contribute to patient care on a broader level by improving systems and implementing technologies that empower nurses and enhance the care experience for patients. Supporting nurses in delivering safe, efficient and high-quality care is just as important as the outcomes themselves, as it ultimately shapes every patient's interaction. No matter the setting, my goal remains the same: to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
I am grateful for the opportunities that have brought me to this point and for the ability to continue serving others through nursing.
Bethany Lawson’s path to nursing began with a simple instinct: to care for others. Growing up, she was drawn to comforting people in difficult moments, a trait that steadily evolved into a calling.
Today, Lawson is a medical-surgical nurse at Mercy Hospital, where she has worked for 13 years, first as a patient care assistant before earning her nursing degree.
Her role is wide-ranging, from caring for psychiatric and elderly patients to performing IV therapy and phlebotomy. The variety keeps her engaged, but it is her mindset that defines her work. She approaches every patient as if they were family, a perspective that guides her through long hours and difficult days.
“What keeps me going is I come to work every day, and I always treat my patients like they're my mom, my sister, my brother, my grandparents. The fulfillment I get from knowing I've done my part is unmatched, and it continues to motivate me to show up every day with the same passion and dedication.”
Lawson relates her decision to advance in the field came early in her career, when she realized she wanted to do more for her patients. That drive pushed her back to school and ultimately into nursing, where she could expand her skills and impact.
She credits the supportive, familyoriented environment at Mercy Hospital for helping her grow, noting that colleagues encourage one another to improve and deliver the highest level of care to the community they serve each day.
“Nursing means helping others when they're unable to help themselves, putting my patients' needs at the forefront, and caring for them the way I would care for myself or my loved ones.”
- As told to Brian Kacharaba
Gabrielle Del Gatto discovered her calling in nursing after initially pursuing a career in education, ultimately realizing she wanted to serve people more directly in their most vulnerable moments.
Drawn to the emotional and clinical demands of patient care, she entered the nursing profession in December 2024 and quickly found meaning in the fast-paced, high-responsibility environment of the hospital setting.
On a Medical-Surgical unit, she cares for a diverse mix of patients, managing multiple assignments per shift while striving to improve each patient’s experience through attentive care each day on the unit.
“Honestly, I'm very religious, so I always wanted to work for Catholic Health hospitals because they just align with my values,” she says. “But for me, God is my never-ending motivation. Every single patient that has stood in my path, I know that they're sent to me from God. So even if things seem like they're not going the way they're meant to be, I know it's all part of the plan, and I don't question it.”
Early in her career, Del Gatto found affirmation after forming a strong connection with a patient and family, an experience that led to a Daisy Award nomination just five months after practicing independently and reinforced her sense of purpose.
“My favorite part is when a patient looks me in the eye and tells me that they appreciate everything [I’ve done for them]. It is the best feeling in the whole entire world.”
She credits Mercy Hospital’s supportive culture and teamwork for helping her grow, noting the hospital’s shared commitment to compassionate care and the opportunity to learn and develop as a new nurse at Mercy.
- As told to Brian Kacharaba
At Mount Sinai, we proudly honor the strength, compassion, and expertise of our nurses, and recognize the essential role they play in caring for our patients and supporting the communities we serve.
Mount Sinai’s nursing team creates excellence together every day. Mount Sinai South Nassau in Oceanside and Mount Sinai Queens have each earned the prestigious Magnet® Recognition three times consecutively, while The Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan has received this distinction five times in succession—an honor achieved by less than 3 percent of hospitals in the United States. This recognition reflects an unwavering commitment to exceptional patient care and consistently better outcomes.
As we celebrate Nurses Week, we proudly recognize the dedication and excellence of the nurses who make this achievement possible every day. mountsinai.org
Nicolette Mascioli spent eight days in March on a mission trip to Guatemala. It was not a glamorous, Instagram-worthy vacation. Instead, she and other volunteers — through her alma mater Sacred Heart University — provided care in remote villages. Anyone who knows the 24-year-old Farmingdale native would not be surprised.
Today Nicolette is a registered nurse at Long Island Jewish (LIJ) Medical Center in New Hyde Park, specializing in a Post-Surgical unit that handles everything from neurosurgery and plastic surgery to colorectal procedures and hysterectomies.
She started her volunteer streak at age 15 when she spent time with the child life program at Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New Hyde Park by entertaining, playing and bonding with sick youngsters. She followed that up as an LIJ volunteer. Little did she realize that a career in nursing — let alone a staff role at LIJ — would be in her future. After all, no one in her family had pursued a career in health care.
“I’m grateful to have made an impact on someone else’s life — even a little,” says Nicolette, the oldest of three sisters. “I feel like I do learn something new every day. I did not expect the opportunities that I’ve had through nursing.”
The Guatemala mission through her Catholic university was made possible by a donation from LIJ to cover her travel expenses. Nicolette brought back a greater appreciation of the need in the world and good she can do.
“It was life changing,” she says. “It really reshapes your perception.”
SMALL, RN
Northwell
Long Island Jewish Medical Center
Melissa Small went away to college, a Jamaican immigrant living the American dream. But the leap proved too great financially and she was soon back in Brooklyn working a string of department store jobs. She even considered joining the U.S. military. Then a chance encounter with a nursing assistant who sold an alternative future pushed her into health care.
Today Melissa, 40, of Jamaica, Queens, is a registered nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center — the last 13 years in the same unit. Eight Tower is LIJ’s surgical oncology floor, with a focus on abdominal, lung and pancreatic surgery patients.
Looking back, the climb up seemed improbable. She worked in a nursing home, then received certifications for phlebotomy and electrocardiogram testing. Her big break was landing a temp job at LIJ, which eventually grew into full-time employment.
“I would recommend health care if your heart is in it,” Melissa says. “I can’t imagine my life not being by the bedside. I like to be around people — our patients are like family — so nursing is great for that.”
Northwell helped fuel her growth. Aided by tuition reimbursement, she earned an Associate’s degree in Nursing followed by her Bachelor’s degree.
The leveling up of her career continues. Commuting part-time to New Jersey, she graduates from William Paterson University on May 20 with a Master of Science in Nursing, part of its family nurse practitioner program.
“Northwell has encouraged me to do more. The opportunity is there if it’s in you to do more."
– As told to Jason Molinet
– As told to Jason Molinet
Courtesy Keri Naiman
The children of Gan Chamesh at Chabad of the Five Towns have been actively engaged in counting the Counting of the Omer.
The children of Gan Chamesh at Chabad of the Five Towns have been actively engaged in counting the Counting of the Omer, the 49-day period between Passover and Shavuot that marks the journey from the exodus from Egypt to the giving of the Torah.
Through creative, hands-on activities, students are exploring the concept in age-appropriate ways, incorporating patterning, sorting and num-
ber recognition into their daily routines. Educators say the interactive approach not only helps children connect to the meaning of the Omer but also strengthens early math skills.
By blending tradition with play-based learning, the program offers young students a meaningful introduction to both Jewish heritage and foundational academic concepts.
— Melissa Berman
Team RoboBoogie Team 3540 proudly
High School at the FIRST Robotics New England Premier Event in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Team RoboBoogie Team 3540 represented Hewlett High School at the FIRST Robotics New England Premier Event, held April 17 to 18 in Springfield, Massachusetts, where they competed against 55 teams from across the country.
The team earned the prestigious Reach Award, recognizing its outstanding efforts to expand access to robotics and STEM education beyond the competition field.
RoboBoogie has distinguished itself through a range of outreach initiatives, including producing instructional YouTube content in five languages, leading robotics clubs at local elementary schools, mentoring emerging
teams worldwide and donating unused parts to support teams in need. Organizers said the work reflects the team’s commitment to making STEM opportunities more inclusive and accessible.
Accompanied by coach Daniel Duffey Birkenstock, the team showcased both technical skill and a strong dedication to community impact.
School officials said the recognition underscores the importance of innovation, collaboration and service, while continuing to inspire future generations of students both within the district and beyond.
— Melissa Berman
Hewlett High School’s History Bee/Quiz Bowl Club turned in a strong showing at the Long Island Quiz Bowl Playoffs on Wednesday, April 22, with both its varsity and junior varsity teams representing the district with distinction.
The varsity squad, led by captain and club president Aviv Parag and joined by Isabel Ginsberg, Ryan Bernstein and Joshua Simms, competed with steady focus and sportsmanship. The team also remained at the event to support fellow competitors during the Long Island Quiz Bowl Championship rounds.
Hewlett’s junior varsity team earned a secondplace finish among all JV squads on Long Island, marking the second consecutive year the program has brought home a trophy from the competition. Team members included captain Jacob Tenenbaum, Jack Reich, Deep Aryal, Joshua Racer and Tamar Bober-Tsafrir.
District officials credited staff members Janice Nolan and Melissa Pantelis for supporting students throughout the event and helping ensure a smooth experience.
— Melissa Berman
By Nick Mongiovi
Long Island has been home for the Ducks for 26 seasons in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB), and who better to add to a successful organization than a former CY Young Award winner?
Trevor Bauer signed with the Ducks on April 2, after pitching the last five years in Japan and Mexico. Long Island went 72-54 in 2025, as it looks to build upon last year’s success with speed and dominant pitching.
“When we signed guys, we were looking for guys that wanted to win, wanted to be here and further their careers,” says third-year manager Lew Ford, the franchise’s all-time hits leader. “They’re going to play hard. I think the fans enjoy that and that’s the kind of baseball we want to play.”
Last year’s Ducks led the league in pitching, finished in second in both fielding and hitting, and broke a team record for most stolen bases in a season with 239. Before last season, Ford emphasized speed, reiterating “The game is moving a lot towards speed.”
“We’re very happy with all these guys,” he says “They can still run, hit and play defense. We have a good mix of veterans and younger guys, too.”
Bauer is the name that’ll bring the reigning No. 1 pitching staff to the next level. He received the nod from Ford to be the team’s Opening Day starter on April 21 against the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars. The 10-year MLB veteran struck out eight but surrendered five hits, three walks and two runs in four innings of work in the 7-0 loss. Bauer, who followed his Ducks debut with a dominant no-hitter, makes his return to the United States to pitch on American soil for the first time since 2021 with a “hate to lose” mentality.
“They’ve had a lot of good players here,” Bauer says, on why he chose the Ducks. “A lot of guys have come through here and then signed elsewhere, kind of elevated their careers. All the guys who have been here and have had a really good time here, so that’s part of it. They win. I don’t like losing.
Infielder Wilmer Difo brings MLB experience.
creation to be featured on his and the team’s social media and streaming outlets.
“We are excited to welcome Trevor to Long Island,” Ducks President/CBO Michael Pfaff says. “His talent and knowledge will be important additions to our ballclub, and we are happy to offer him this opportunity to showcase his talents to MLB clubs while giving fans unprecedented access to Ducks baseball. We felt that was a unique and interesting approach. He’s got very unique content, and his approach is overwhelmingly positive.”
Along with Bauer, the Ducks’ starting rotation features Island Park native Ryan Sandberg, who was the team’s most reliable and dominant starter, Nolan Clinton, Harrison Francis and Michael Dominguez. Sandberg pitched to a 3.82 ERA in 91.2 innings of work, striking out 73 batters,
Familiarity returns in the bullpen for Long Island as Jacob Asa, Garrett Crowley, Tanner Jacobsen, Ryan Langford, Michael Reed and Ramon Santos all return.
“Most of these guys came halfway through the year; they had a lot of success here,” Ford adds.
“Ramon Santos, being our closer, had under a one ERA, did a very good job for us.”
Dix Hills native Matt Hogan is the starting center fielder.
Ben Folds is widely regarded as one of the major music influencers of his generation is joined by multitalented actress-singer-composer Lindsey Kraft. Known for pushing genre boundaries, Folds first rose to prominence with Ben Folds Five before launching a wide-ranging solo career that blends sharp lyricism, piano-driven melodies and orchestral ambition. His recent work reflects his deep engagement with orchestral music, including a live album featuring an olrchestral performance of his hits recorded just before concluding his eight-year tenure as Artistic Advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center — an appointment that marked a first for the role. Today, he continues to move fluidly between pop tours and performances with leading orchestras worldwide, while also developing new work for film, television and theater.
Friday, May 8, 8 p.m. Tilles Center, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100.
“Teams I’ve been on have been in the playoffs the last decade, except for 2019, when I was traded. “So I want the chance to be in the playoffs and play for something meaningful at the end of the year. Checks that box here. Great market, big in New York, with a huge baseball market. There are a lot of things that are important to me that go on here.”
meaningful at the end of the year. Checks that box are
Additionally, Bauer will be “Mic’d Up” for all games and practices for the purposes of content
He possesses “a lot of speed and defense,” Ford says. It’s a “full-circle moment” for Hogan, who grew up attending Ducks games.
“I remember I sat up in that box up there with my aunt and uncle,” Hogan says, reminiscing on his time as a kid coming to Ducks games. “So coming here and being able to enjoy the time here and have my family come to games. It’s my first time playing on Long Island in about eight years. It’s humbling, it feels good. I’m excited to be here and really play with this team.”
Tickets can be purchased online at LIDucks.com, by calling (631) 940-TIXX, or in person at the Fairfield Properties Ballpark box office in Central Islip. All games will be streamed on HomeTeam Network (HTN) with a paid subscription.
Some promotions include fireworks at all Saturday home games, sunglasses to the first 1,500 fans May 17, and Bark in the Park with Ducks patriotic hats July 1.
here and being able to enjoy the time here and have my family come to with
Big band energy meets Jamaican soul. The unique 20-piece band blends the exuberant musical layers of the jazz Big Band era with Jamaican roots music. Their sound is powered by a passionate team of talented musicians, each bringing unique energy and expertise to create an unforgettable experience. Led by trumpeter and vocalist Kevin Batchelor, and featuring Jamaican music legend 87-year-young celebrated percussionist/vocalist Larry MacDonald on congas and vocals, and Jamaican master drummer Carl Wright, band creates and perform lush original compositions and arrangements of classic songs from the rich and culturally iconic Jamaican music of ska, mento, rock steady, reggae, and jazz from the 1950s, ’60s and ‘70s.
Friday, May 8, 8 p.m. $91, $42, $37. andmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. Tickets available at landmarkonmainstreet.org or (516) 767-6444.
Family theater
Long Island Children’s Museum stages “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical!,” back at the museum by popular demand. With a script written by Mo Willems, the creator of the award-winning “Pigeon” picture books, and featuring music by Deborah Wicks La Puma (Elephant & Piggie’s We Are in a Play!), this show is even more fun than staying up late and having a hot dog party! It’s not easy being the Pigeon since you never get to do anything. But when the Bus Driver has a crisis that threatens to make her passengers (gasp!) late, maybe that wily bird can finally do something. Featuring an innovative mix of songs, and feathers, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical! is sure to get everyone’s wings flapping. $11 with museum admission ($9 members), $15 theater only.
• Where: 11 Davis Ave., Garden City
MAY
• Time: 10:15 a.m. and noon.; also May 13-14
• Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800
8 Eisenhower Craft Fair
9
Check out the many craft vendors at Eisenhower Park.
• Where: Eisenhower Park, Field 8
• When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. also May 10, weather permitting
• Contact: NassauCountyFairs. com
‘The Enchantment of Strings’
Visit Old Westbury Gardens for an evening of chamber music as presents in the intimate and elegant Red Ballroom. Ensemblein-residence Poetica Musica Quartet featuring Eric Wyrick, violin; Eugene Moye, cello; and guest artists Janey Choi, violin; and Michael Roth, viola, performs a captivating program including works by Ravel, Mendelssohn, and Dvorák.
• Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury
• Time: 8 p.m.
• Contact: oldwestburygardens. org or call (516) 333-0048
‘Inside Out’ Memory Orb Families are invited to Long Island Children’s Museum for a drop-in program themed around the Disney/Pixar film. In “Inside Out” memories are represented by glowing orbs
14
250 Years of Art on Long Island
In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, the Nassau County Museum of Art is hosting a landmark exhibition (March 21-July 12). Artist Eva Berger provides highlights of the exhibition atHewlett-Woodmere Public Library that explores how Long Island has reflected and shaped the story of American art.
• Where: 1125 Broadway, Hewlett
• Time: 11 a.m.-noon
• Contact: hwpl.org or (516) 374-1967
Village of Lawrence Trustees meet
The Village of Lawrence Board of Trustees hold their next meeting. All are welcome to learn what’s going on in the community and to bring any issues up to the board.
• Where: 196 Central Ave., Lawrence
• Time: 8 p.m.
• Contact: (516) 239-4600
• Where: The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington
• Time: 8 p.m.
The Wallflowers mark the 30th anniversary of their breakthrough album “Bringing Down the Horse” on their latest tour, with a special full-album performance at the Paramount, presenting the record in sequence from start to finish. Originally released in 1996, the album became a defining success of the decade, reaching No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and going quadruple platinum. It produced a string of major hits, including “6th Avenue Heartache,” “The Difference,” and the Grammy-winning “One Headlight,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 and remains one of the era’s most recognizable rock singles. Led by songwriter Jakob Dylan, the band draws on classic American rock influences such as The Band and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers — a legacy echoed in the tour’s additional tribute segment to Petty, including a full performance of the 1982 album Long After Dark. Over the years, Dylan has remained a consistent figure in rock music, collaborating widely and appearing in projects such as Echo in the Canyon alongside artists including Neil Young, Eric Clapton, Beck, Norah Jones and others. The Wallflowers also recently supported Eric Clapton on his 2025 U.S. tour, continuing their long-standing presence on major stages.
of various colors based on the emotions tied to the memories. Design and decorate your own memory orb to represent a special memory or feeling. Free with museum admission.
• Where: 11 Davis Ave., Garden City
• Time: 1-3 p.m.
• Contact: licm.org or (516) 224-5800
MAY
11
Spend a relaxing afternoon at Peninsula Public Library! Join friends in a game or to work on your ongoing craft projects in a warm and friendly atmosphere. Bring your own knitting, crocheting, or other projects and materials. Some games will be provided.
• Where: 280 Central Ave., Lawrence
• Time: 2-4:30 p.m.
• Contact: peninsulapublic.org or (516) 967-5777
Village of Atlantic Beach Board of Trustees meet
The Village Board holds their next meeting. All are welcome. Find out what’s going on in the
community and bring any issues up to the board.
• Where: 65 The Plaza, Atlantic Beach
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Contact: (516) 371-4600
Village of Cedarhurst Trustees meet
The Cedarhurst Board of Trustees hold their next meeting. All are welcome to hear about what’s going on in the community and to bring any issues up to the board.
• Where: 200 Cedarhurst Ave., Cedarhurst
• Time: 8 p.m.
• Contact: (516) 295-5770
MAY
13
For adults 18 and over who are neurodivergent or have developmental disabilities are welcome at Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library once a month for crafts and socializing. Participate in a variety of quality crafts and activities each month or just come to hang out and meet new friends. No registration necessary. For more information, e-mail ladler@hwpl. org.
• Where: 1125 Broadway,
• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com
Hewlett
• Time: 5:30-6:30 p.m.
• Contact: hwpl.org or (516) 374-1967
Roberto Fabbri
The Internationally acclaimed classical guitar virtuoso brings his signature blend of precision and expressive artistry to the Madison Theatre stage. A prolific performer and educator, Fabbri has built a global reputation that extends well beyond the concert hall. His more than 40 guitar publications — translated into five languages, including Chinese — have reached an audience of over 300,000 readers worldwide, underscoring his influence on both aspiring musicians and seasoned players Fabbri is a frequent guest at leading international guitar festivals and has performed in many of the world’s most renowned concert venues, where he also conducts masterclasses. His recording career has further expanded his reach.
• Where: Madison Theatre, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Contact: madisontheatreny. org or (516) 323-4444
MAY
16
STEM Explorers: May Flowers
Flowers are happening at Long Island Children’s Museum. As the weather gets warmer, the world around us starts blooming! Join the Green Teens and learn about the importance of flowers in our natural world.
• Where: 11 Davis Ave., Garden City
• Time: Noon-2 p.m.
• Contact: licm.org or (516) 224-5800
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.
Students across Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway marked Yom HaShoah with a series of programs that emphasized remembrance, reflection and responsibility across all grade levels.
In the high school, students heard firsthand testimony from Holocaust survivor
Livia Horvitz, a child survivor from Hungary. Her account offered a deeply personal perspective on the atrocities of The Holocaust, while also highlighting the resilience and strength that continue to define survivors and their families.
The middle school program featured a solemn gathering in which students shared poems, reflections and messages as candlelight flickered in the background, creating a powerful atmosphere of remembrance.
At the lower school, fourth- and fifthgrade students known as Thinkers of Tomorrow led a ceremony filled with stories, songs and heartfelt presentations, underscoring the importance of introducing Holocaust education at a young age.
School leaders said the programs reflected a unified commitment across the institution to honor the memory of the six million Jews who perished, while reinforcing the responsibility of future generations to stand against antisemitism.
Organizers described the day as more than a commemoration, calling it a reaffirmation that memory carries responsibility and that the lessons of the past must continue to guide future actions.
— Melissa Berman
Students across Hebrew Academy of Long Beach and its Lev Chana campus marked Yom Ha’atzmaut with a full day of immersive activities, followed by a spirited community-wide celebration.
Throughout the school day, both campuses transformed into a “trip to Israel,” with students receiving passports and rotating through stations representing different cities. The interactive program blended culture, geography and hands-on learning, giving students a deeper connection to Israel’s diversity and identity.
The celebration continued after school, when students, parents and staff gathered for an evening event at HALB featuring food, music and dancing, highlighted by entertainment from DJ Farbreng. The program concluded with performances by lower school students and a Daglanut presentation by eighth grade girls.
The festivities capped off a period of notable academic achievement for HALB students. On April 26, a group traveled to SUNY Oneonta to compete in New York
State History Day, part of the National History Day competition.
Students presented three projects tied to this year’s theme, “Revolution, Reaction, and Reform,” following months of research and development. HALB earned first place in the junior group website category for “A Declaration of Her Own: A Revolution in Seneca Falls,” and third place for “Building Talent, Breaking Barriers: Branch Rickey’s Revolution in Baseball.”
Adding to the recognition, HALB teacher Kristen Waterman was named New York State Junior Division Teacher of the Year for National History Day. The honor recognizes her leadership in guiding students through the research process and fostering critical thinking and historical analysis. Waterman will now represent New York as the state’s nominee for the national Teacher of the Year award, as HALB continues to celebrate both its students’ and faculty’s accomplishments.
— Melissa Berman
LAWRENCE UNION
FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT
NO. 15
NOTICE OF ANNUAL DISTRICT BUDGET VOTE AND ELECTION
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the Annual District Budget Vote and Election will be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., prevailing time, at the four (4) school election districts indicated below for the purpose of enabling the District’s properly registered and qualified voters to vote upon the appropriation of necessary expenditures for the 2026-2027 school year, to elect two (2) trustees of the Board of Education and one (1) trustee of the Peninsula Public Library at which business will be transacted as required by law, including a vote on the following propositions, as well as any other propositions which may properly come before the electorate: AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the accurate description of the boundaries of the election districts is available for inspection by any qualified voter together with a map of the district in the Office of the District Clerk at Lawrence High School, 2 Reilly Road, Cedarhurst, New York, during regular school days by appointment only.
“ Atlantic Beach Village Hall, 65 The Plaza, Atlantic Beach “ Primary School at Number Two School, 1 Donahue Avenue, Inwood “ Lawrence High School, 2 Reilly Road, Cedarhurst “ Lawrence Middle School, 195 Broadway, Lawrence
PROPOSITION NO. 1SCHOOL BUDGET
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Lawrence Union Free School District No. 15, Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York, be authorized to expend the sum of One Hundred Six Million Two Hundred Thirty One Thousand Nine Hundred Eighteen ($106,231,918.00) Dollars for the 20262027 fiscal year, and is further authorized to levy the necessary tax for the above purpose upon the taxable property of the School District, after first deducting the monies available from State Aid and other sources.
PROPOSITION NO. 2LIBRARY BUDGET
RESOLVED, that the sum of Three Million Six Hundred One Thousand Four Hundred Fifty ($3,601,450.00) Dollars be appropriated for the Peninsula Public Library for the 20262027 fiscal year and that said amount be raised by tax upon the taxable property of the Lawrence Union Free School District No. 15, Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York, pursuant to §259 of the Education Law, and be levied and collected in the same manner as are other general taxes, after first deducting the monies available from State Aid and other sources.
PROPOSITION NO. 3 - 2026 BUILDING CAPITAL RESERVE FUND CREATION AND EXPENDITURE AUTHORIZATION
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Lawrence Union Free School District No. 15 is hereby authorized to establish a Building Capital Reserve Fund pursuant to §3651 of the Education Law (to be known as the “2026 Building Capital Reserve Fund”) and expend funds from such Reserve for the purpose of financing reconstruction, renovation, equipping or purchasing of the following: 1) Districtwide: site improvements, flooring, ceiling and lighting replacements, gymnasium upgrade, purchase new trucks, cars and lifts, new backhoe and equipment trailer, landscaping equipment, snow removal and related equipment, curb, street and sidewalk maintenance; 2) Lawrence Primary School at Number Two School, 1 Donahue Avenue, Inwood, NY 11096: rebuild storage buildings, replace garage doors; 3) Lawrence Early Childhood Center at Number Four School, 87 Wanser Avenue, Inwood, NY 11096: sidewalk restoration, playground resurfacing and fencing, flooring replacement, masonry restoration, hardscapes and landscapes upgrade; 4) Lawrence Middle School, 195 Broadway, Lawrence, NY 11559: classroom renovation Phases VI, VII and VIII, masonry and facade restoration, window replacement, courtyard foundation walls (waterproof
and install drainage), renovate library, tennis courts, track and field reconstruction, parking lot reconstruction; 5) Lawrence High School, 2 Reilly Road, Cedarhurst, NY 11516: masonry and façade restoration, roof replacement, door replacement, window and curtainwall replacement, lighting upgrade, athletic wing renovation (HVAC, locker rooms, weight room, bathrooms, floors, ceilings, new gymnasium roof), music wing renovation, administrative wing renovation, waterproof foundation. The ultimate amount of such Reserve is not to exceed Five Million ($5,000,000.00) Dollars, plus interest and earnings thereon. The probable term of such Reserve is to be ten (10) years, but such Reserve shall continue in existence until liquidated in accordance with the Education Law or until the funds are exhausted. The sources from which the funds shall be obtained for such Reserve are unappropriated fund balances made available by the Board of Education from unappropriated funds and the 2025-2026 budget.
PROPOSITION NO. 4 - 2027 BUILDING CAPITAL RESERVE FUND CREATION AND EXPENDITURE
AUTHORIZATION
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Lawrence Union Free School District No. 15 is hereby authorized to establish a Building Capital Reserve Fund pursuant to §3651 of the Education Law (to be known as the “2027 Building Capital Reserve Fund”) and expend funds from such Reserve for the purpose of financing reconstruction, renovation, equipping or purchasing of the following: 1) Districtwide: site improvements, flooring, ceiling and lighting replacements, gymnasium upgrade, purchase new trucks, cars and lifts, new backhoe and equipment trailer, landscaping equipment, snow removal and related equipment, curb, street and sidewalk maintenance; 2) Lawrence Primary School at Number Two School, 1 Donahue Avenue, Inwood, NY 11096: rebuild storage buildings, replace garage doors; 3) Lawrence Early
Childhood Center at Number Four School, 87 Wanser Avenue, Inwood, NY 11096: sidewalk restoration, playground resurfacing and fencing, flooring replacement, masonry restoration, hardscapes and landscapes upgrade; 4) Lawrence Middle School, 195 Broadway, Lawrence, NY 11559: classroom renovation Phases VI, VII and VIII, masonry and facade restoration, window replacement, courtyard foundation walls (waterproof and install drainage), renovate library, tennis courts, track and field reconstruction, parking lot reconstruction; 5) Lawrence High School, 2 Reilly Road, Cedarhurst, NY 11516: masonry and façade restoration, roof replacement, door replacement, window and curtainwall replacement, lighting upgrade, athletic wing renovation (HVAC, locker rooms, weight room, bathrooms, floors, ceilings, new gymnasium roof), music wing renovation, administrative wing renovation, waterproof foundation. The ultimate amount of such Reserve is not to exceed Five Million ($5,000,000.00) Dollars, plus interest and earnings thereon. The probable term of such Reserve is to be ten (10) years, but such Reserve shall continue in existence until liquidated in accordance with the Education Law or until the funds are exhausted. The sources from which the funds shall be obtained for such Reserve are unappropriated fund balances made available by the Board of Education from unappropriated funds and the 2026-2027 budget.
SCHOOL BOARD
TRUSTEES- To elect two (2) trustees of the Board of Education for a three (3) year term commencing July 1, 2026, and ending on June 30, 2029.
LIBRARY BOARD
TRUSTEE- To elect one (1) trustee of the Peninsula Public Library for a five (5) year term commencing July 1, 2026, and ending on June 30, 2031.
AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the election shall be held in accordance with the Annual Meeting and Election Policy and Candidate and Campaigning Policy adopted by the Board of Education.
NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN,
in accordance with §495 of the NYS Board of Real Property Services Local Government Exemption Impact report, the District shall prepare a Real Property Tax “Exemption Impact Report” which will show how much of the assessed value on the final assessment roll (utilized for the school tax levy) is exempt from taxation by the school District. This exemption report will be in the 2026-2027 Budget Statement (Line by Line) and will become part of the final budget.
AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the condensed form of the budget proposition and the text of all other propositions to appear on the official voting ballot and a detailed statement of the proposed budget, in writing, of the amount of money which will be required for the school year 2026-2027 for school purposes, specifying the purposes and the amount for each, will be prepared and copies thereof will be made available upon request, to any resident in the district at each schoolhouse in the district, during the period of fourteen (14) days immediately preceding the Annual District Budget Vote and Election excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., on the district website Lawrence. org and at the polling locations on the day of the election.
AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that registration of voters shall take place at the office of the District Clerk located at, 2 Reilly Road, Cedarhurst, New York, on school days between September 2, 2025, and May 6, 2026, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., during which times any person shall be entitled to have their name placed upon such register provided that they are known, or proven to the satisfaction of the District Clerk to be then or thereafter entitled to vote at the Annual District Budget Vote and Election for which such register is prepared.
AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the registration of voters, not previously registered and eligible to vote, will take place between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on May 6, 2026, at the Office of the District Clerk. Such
persons must present themselves personally for registration during the time and place set forth, in order to be entitled to vote.
AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the final date to register for the 2026-2027 Annual District Budget Vote and Election is May 12, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. in the office of the District Clerk, at which time any person shall be entitled to have their name placed upon such register, provided that he/she is known, or proven, to the satisfaction of the District Clerk, to be then or thereafter entitled to vote at the Annual Budget Vote and District Election for which such register is prepared. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the register shall include (1) all qualified voters of the district who shall personally present themselves for registration; and (2) all previously qualified voters of the District who shall have been previously registered for any annual or special District meeting or election and who shall have voted at any annual or special district meeting or election held or conducted at any time within the four (4) calendar years prior to preparation of the said register; and (3) voters permanently registered with the Nassau County Board of Elections.
AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the register shall be filed in the office of the District Clerk where it shall be open for inspection by appointment, by any qualified voter between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on each of the five (5) days prior to the day set for the election, except Saturday, Sunday or holidays.
AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that applications for absentee ballots and early mail ballots may be obtained at the Office of the District Clerk and on the district website Lawrence.org. Completed applications must be received by the District Clerk in the District Clerk’s office, not before April 20, 2026. If the ballot is to be mailed to the voter the application must be received before May 12, 2026. If the ballot is to be hand delivered, it must be received by the District Clerk in the District Clerk’s office by 5:00 p.m. on the day of
the election. If the ballot is to be hand delivered, the application must be received by the District Clerk in the District Clerk’s office the day before the election. A list of all persons to whom absentee and early mail ballots shall have been issued will be available in the Office of the District Clerk on each of the five (5) days prior to the day of the election excluding Saturday, Sunday and holidays.
AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that military voters may apply for a military ballot by requesting an application from the District Clerk via email at MBharaj@Lawrence. org. For a military voter to be issued a military ballot, the District Clerk must have received a valid ballot application no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 20, 2026. In a request for a military ballot application or ballot, the military voter may indicate their preference for receiving the application or ballot by mail, facsimile transmission or electronic mail. A list of all persons to whom military ballots are issued will be available for inspection to qualified voters of the district in the Office of the District Clerk during regular business hours during the seven (7) days prior to the election, except for Saturday and Sunday, and on May 19, 2026 at the polling locations, subject to any applicable laws and regulations.
AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that this Board shall convene a special meeting in the Lawrence High School within twentyfour hours after the filing with the District Clerk of a written report of the results of the ballot for the purpose of examining and tabulating said reports of the result of the ballot and declaring the result of the ballot; that the Board hereby designates itself to be a set of poll clerks to cast and canvass ballots pursuant to Education Law, §2019a, subdivision 2b at said special meeting of the Board.
Dated: May 7, 2026
By Order of the BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE LAWRENCE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 15, Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York MS. MOHINDER BHARAJ, DISTRICT
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR MASTR ASSET BACKED SECURITIES TRUST 2006-WMC4, MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-WMC4 Plaintiff, Against LUCRECIO AQUINO, et al Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 12/24/2018, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on 5/27/2026 at 3:00PM, premises known as 46 Saint George Place, Inwood, New York 11096, and described as follows: ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York. Section 40 Block 57 Lot 48 The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $466,857.24 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 16-008698 If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the then Court Appointed Referee will cancel the Foreclosure Auction. This Auction will be held rain or shine. Michael Ehrenreich, Esq., Referee. MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC, 10 Midland Avenue, Suite 205, Port Chester, NY 10573
Dated: 3/24/2026 File Number: 560-3388 CA 159802
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT
COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE OF THE CABANA SERIES IV TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. RUBINA MOUGHAL, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on March 24, 2026, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on June 4, 2026 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 186 East Rockaway Road, Hewlett, NY 11557. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 42, Block 249 and Lot 4. Approximate amount of judgment is $1,045,892.89 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 604694/2024.
Scott H. Siller, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 202758-6 159923
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR THE RMAC TRUST, SERIES 2018 G-CTT, Plaintiff AGAINST TREVORTON A. WILLIAMS, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered January 3, 2025 and amended on March 19, 2026, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on June 1, 2026 at 2:30 PM, premises known as 903 Park Lane, North Woodmere, NY 11581. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected,
situate, lying and being near Valley Stream, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 39 Block 564 and Lot 12. Approximate amount of judgment $649,016.09 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #605709/2023. For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832.
Samantha Segal, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 22-001905 89677 159849
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 05/20/2026 at 9:30
A.M. to consider the following applications and appeals:
THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 9:30
A.M.
263/26. INWOODShira Litvack, Variances, height, number of stories, lot area occupied, front yard setbacks on Donahue Ave. & Healy Ave., rear yard, construct 3-story dwelling (demolish existing dwelling)., S/E cor. Donahue Ave. & Healy Ave., a/k/a 190 Donahue Ave. 270/26. - 273/26. EAST ATLANTIC BEACHWKLS 27 OSWEGO LLC, Variances, lot area occupied, front yard average setback, side yard, side yards aggregate, construct 2nd story deck attached to dwelling; Variances, lot area occupied, side yard, side yards aggregate, rear yard, maintain outdoor shower attached to dwelling; Variance, side yard, maintain a/c unit attached to dwelling; Variances, lot area occupied, rear yard, maintain accessory structure (playhouse)., W/s Oswego Ave.,
367.83’ S/o Beech St., a/k/a 27 Oswego 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 Inwood & East Atlantic Beach 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.
160074
LEGAL NOTICE INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF LAWRENCE NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING, PUBLIC HEARING & BID
OPENING
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that there will be a Regular Meeting of the Mayor and Board of Trustees of the Incorporated Village of Lawrence, at Lawrence Village Hall, 196 Central Avenue, Lawrence, New York 11559, on the 14th day of May, 2026, at 8:00 PM, Eastern Standard Time; the opening of sealed bids and one (1) Public Hearing with respect to the following matters:
“ NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED LOCAL LAW #6 OF 2026, amending Chapter 42 Article I and Article II of the Village Code regarding Terms of Office for Mayor and Trustee from two to four years and reducing the maximum permissible terms from four to two.
“ OPENING OF SEALED BIDS for an ambulance (as per bid specifications). SEALED BIDS will be received by the Board of Trustees of the Incorporated Village of Lawrence, 196 Central
Avenue, Lawrence, New York 11559 up to 10:00 A.M., on Tuesday, May 19th. Proposals must be in writing, signed by the party making the bid, contained in a securely sealed, postpaid wrapper, addressed to the Village Administrator, marked with the applicable bid name. Bids are to actually be received at the said place on or before the day and hour stated. A noncollusive bidding certificate (included in the specification package) as required by Section 103-d of the General Municipal Law must accompany each bid submitted. Proposals will be publicly opened and read at the time stated by the Village Administrator and the contract awarded by the Board of Trustees within thirty (30) days thereafter. The Board of Trustees reserves the right to reject any and all bids and subject to the foregoing will award the contract to the lowest responsible bidder.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT copies of the proposed items described above are on file/available in the office of the Village Clerk of the Village of Lawrence, NY, where the same is available for public inspection during regular office hours.
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER
NOTICE that all interested parties will be given an opportunity to be heard on all meeting matters at the place and time aforesaid. If anyone needs special accommodations for a disability, such person should contact the Village Clerk at least 5 days before the meeting.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to the requirements of the Open Meetings Law of the State of New York, that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Lawrence will convene in public meeting at the place and time aforesaid for the purpose of conducting a regular meeting where general business will be conducted.
Dated: May 1, 2026
By Order of the Board of Trustees, Village of Lawrence, NY, Gerry Castro, Village Administrator 160079
LEGAL NOTICE INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF HEWLETT HARBOR LEGAL NOTICE MONTHLY MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Hewlett Harbor will meet in both public and via Zoom on May 14, 2026, at 7:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, for the purpose of holding the Village’s regular monthly meeting.
All residents wishing to attend via Zoom can visit www.hewlettharbor.go v for instructions.
Dated: April 28, 2026
Hewlett Harbor BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF HEWLETT HARBOR
LISA JAMES VILLAGE CLERK 160080
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and Municipal Home Rule of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing will be held in the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on the 12th day of May 2026, at 10:30 o’clock in the forenoon of that day to consider the enactment of a local law to amend Section 202-52 of the code of the Town of Hempstead to REPEAL “BUS STOPS” at the following location(s): INWOOD DOUGHTY BOULEVARD - East Side
NO STOPPING BUS
STOP - starting at a point 10 feet from Elizabeth Street north for a distance of 44 feet.
(Adopted 10/10/50)
DOUGHTY BOULEVARD
- West SideNO STOPPING BUS
STOP - starting at a point 10 feet from Morris Avenue north for a distance 70 feet.
(Adopted 10/10/50)
ALL PERSONS INTERESTED shall have an opportunity to be heard on said proposal at the time and place aforesaid.
Dated: April 28, 2026 Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD JOHN FERRETTI
Supervisor KATE MURRAY
Town Clerk 160017
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and Municipal Home Rule of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing will be held in the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on the 12th day of May 2026, at 10:30 o’clock in the forenoon of that day to consider the enactment of a local law to amend Section 202-1 of the code of the Town of Hempstead to INCLUDE “PARKING OR STANDING PROHIBITIONS” at the following location(s): ELMONT LOUIS AVENUE (TH 131/26) West SideNO PARKING ANYTIME - starting at a point 118 feet south of the south curbline of Pelham Street, south for a distance of 25 feet.
FRANKLIN SQUARE HOFFMAN STREET (TH 120/26) West SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at the north curbline of Gabriel Avenue, north for a distance of 30 feet.
INWOOD DOUGHTY BOULEVARD (TH 125/26) West SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at the north curbline of Morris Avenue, north for a distance of 30 feet.
DOUGHTY BOULEVARD (TH 125/26) East SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at the north curbline of Elizabeth Street, north for a distance of 30 feet.
ELIZABETH STREET (TH 125/26) North SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at the east curbline of Doughty Boulevard, east for a distance of 30 feet.
LAWRENCE MOTT AVENUE (TH 121/26) North SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the east curbline of Caryl Court, east for a distance of 40 feet.
MOTT AVENUE (TH 121/26) North SideNO STOPPING ANYTIME - starting at a point 40 feet east of the east curbline of
Caryl Court, east for a distance of 85 feet.
LEVITTOWN ORIOLE ROAD (TH 103/26) East SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the north curbline of Hempstead Turnpike, north for a distance of 30 feet.
ORIOLE ROAD (TH 103/26) West SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting from the north curbline of Hempstead Turnpike, north for a distance of 58 feet.
ORIOLE ROAD (TH 103/26) East SideNO STOPPING ANYTIME - starting at a point 30 feet north of the north curbline of Hempstead Turnpike, northeast for a distance of 394 feet.
OCEANSIDE LAWSON BOULEVARD (TH 84/26) East SideNO STOPPING ANYTIME - starting at a point 265 feet south of the south curbline of Concord Avenue, south for a distance of 107 feet.
ATLANTIC AVENUE (TH 98/26) North SideNO STOPPING ANYTIME - starting at a point 90 feet east of the east curbline of Terrell Avenue, east for a distance of 40 feet. ALSO, to REPEAL from Section 202-1 “PARKING OR STANDING PROHIBITIONS” from the following location(s):
LEVITTOWN
ORIOLE ROAD (TH 139/63) West SideNO STOPPING HERE TO CORNER - starting at the north curbline of Hempstead Turnpike, north for a distance 35 feet.
(Adopted 4/23/63)
ORIOLE ROAD (TH 139/63) East SideNO STOPPINGstarting at the north curbline of Hempstead Turnpike, north for a distance 140 feet.
(Adopted 4/23/63)
OCEANSIDE
LAWSON BOULEVARD (TH 403/16) East SideNO STOPPING ANYTIME - starting at a point 256 feet south of the south curbline of Concord Avenue, south for a distance of 90 feet.
(Adopted 6/6/17) ALL PERSONS INTERESTED shall have an opportunity to be heard on said proposal at the time and place aforesaid.
Dated: April 28, 2026 Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD JOHN FERRETTI Supervisor
KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 160015
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD LOCAL LAW NO. 41-2026
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that, pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing was duly called and held on the 28th day of April 2026, by the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead, on the proposed adoption of Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 41-2026, and following the close of the hearing the Town Board duly adopted Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 41-2026, to amend Section 202-1 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, to include and repeal “PARKING OR STANDING PROHIBITIONS” at various locations. Dated: April 28, 2026 Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD JOHN FERRETTI Supervisor KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 160010
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and Municipal Home Rule of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing will be held in the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on the 12th day of May 2026, at 10:30 o’clock in the forenoon of that day to consider the enactment of a local law to amend Section 197-5 of the code of the Town of Hempstead to INCLUDE “ARTERIAL STOPS” at the following location(s): INWOOD DOUGHTY BOULEVARD (TH 125/26) - STOP - All traffic traveling
Over the past few weeks, HAFTR High School has experienced some of the most meaningful days of the year, as students and faculty came together to remember the past, honor the present, and celebrate the strength of Am Yisrael, the Jewish people. Through powerful assemblies, inspiring speakers, and schoolwide programs, we were reminded of the resilience, sacrifice, and unity that continue to shape the Jewish people.
On Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, HAFTR had the incredible privilege of hearing from Holocaust survivor, Mrs. Livia Horvitz, who shared her heroic story of surviving the
Holocaust as a five-year-old in Auschwitz. Listening to her speak was both heartbreaking and inspiring, as she described experiences that no child should ever have to endure, yet she did so with strength, dignity, and so much emunah, faith. Her presence alone was a gift to our school. Mrs. Horvitz is living proof of the perseverance of the Jewish people, a precious reminder that even in the face of evil, we will never be defeated. Her story left a powerful impact on students and faculty, reminding us of our responsibility to
eastbound on Morris Avenue shall come to a full stop.
LEVITTOWN ORIOLE ROAD (TH 103/26) - STOP - All traffic traveling eastbound on Hawk Road shall come to a full stop.
OCEANSIDE
GOLF DRIVE (TH 128/26) - STOP - All traffic traveling westbound on Bunker Drive shall come to a full stop.
GOLF DRIVE (TH 128/26) - STOP - All traffic traveling westbound on Green Court shall come to a full stop.
BUNKER DRIVE (TH 128/26) - STOP - All traffic traveling eastbound on Divot Road shall come to a full stop.
BUNKER DRIVE (TH 128/26) - STOP - All traffic traveling northbound on Slice Drive shall come to a full stop.
ALL PERSONS INTERESTED shall have an opportunity to be heard on said proposal at the time and place aforesaid.
Dated: April 28, 2026 Hempstead, New York
BY ORDER OF THE
TOWN BOARD OF THE
TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD
JOHN FERRETTI
Supervisor
KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 160016
LEGAL NOTICE
PROBATE CITATION
SURROGATE’S COURT· File No. 2021-1272
NASSAU COUNTY
SUPPLEMENTAL
CITATION
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, By the Grace of God
Free and Independent TO VINCENT WILSON as the sole surviving heir of the late Catherine Harris, Attorney General of New York State and To the heirs at law, next of kin and distributees of Edith Peterson, deceased, if living, and if any of them be dead to their heirs at law, next of kin, distributees, legatees, executors, administrators, assignees and successors in in interest whose names are unknown and cannot be ascertained after due diligence.
A petition having been duly filed by MARY MCKAY,who is domiciled at YOU ARE HEREBY CITED TO SHOW CAUSE before the Surrogate’s Court Nassau County, at 260 OLD COUNTY ROAD, MINEOLA, New York, on JUNE 24 20 26 at 10°0o’clock in the fore noon of that day, why a decree should not be made in the estate of EDITH PETERSON A/K/A EDITH W. PETERSON A/K/A EDITH WILSON PETERSON lately domiciled at 274 LAWRENCE AVENUE, LAWRENCE, NY 11559 admitting to probate a Will dated NOVEMBER 25, 2014
(a Codicil dated -(a Codicil dated, a copy of which is· attached, as the Will of EDITH PETERSON A/K/A
EDITH W. PETERSON A/K/A EDITH WILSON PETERSON deceased, relating to real and personal property, and directing that
Kl Letters Testamentary issue to MARY MCKAY
Letters of Trusteeship issue to Letters of Administration c.t.a. issue to.
(State any further relief requested)
HON. DAVID P. SULLIVAN
Dated, Attested and Sealed April 27 2026
HonDaavidS Chief Clerk EDWARDS & BENTHAM, LLP. Attorney for Petitioner 175-20 WEXFORD TERRACE, STE C1, JAMAICA ESTATES, NY 11432
Address of Attorney 718-739-1529
Telephone Number
[NOTE: This citation is served upon you as required by law. You are not required to appear. If you fail to appear it will be assumed you do not object to the relief requested. You have a right to have an attorney appear for you.] 160046
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT NASSAU COUNTY
NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC, Plaintiff against TRACEY WALLACE, AS HEIR OF THE ESTATE OF JERMARL HOUSTON, et al
Defendant(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff(s) McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLC, 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 840, New York, NY 10170. Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered March 12, 2025, I will sell at
listen, remember, and carry on these stories.
public auction to the highest bidder at North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on June 8, 2026 at 2:00PM. Premises known as 13 Merrill Place, Inwood, NY 11096 a/k/a 13 Merril Place, Inwood, NY 11096. Sec 40. Block 57 Lot 229. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York. Approximate Amount of Judgment is $1,053,363.33 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 004123/2015. The foreclosure sale will be conducted in accordance with 10th Judicial District’s Covid-19 Policies and foreclosure auction rules. The Referee shall enforce any rules in place regarding facial coverings and social distancing. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the Court Appointed Referee shall cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”
For sale information, please contact XOME at www.Xome.com or call (844)400-9633. John Boklak, Esq., Referee File # 21-08133NY 160063
The following week, HAFTR commemorated Yom HaZikaron, a day dedicated to remembering the Israeli soldiers and victims of terror who gave their lives for the State of Israel and the Jewish people. Students gathered to reflect on the sacrifices made by those who defend our homeland, recognizing the bravery and pain carried by so many. We were especially moved to welcome the Ades family, who survived the October 7 attacks while hiding in the safe room of their home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza. We were honored to hear from both Amit and Tomer, who spoke about the beauty and hardships of living in a kibbutz so close to Gaza, and the fear and devastation caused by the October 7 terror attacks. Their words gave students a deeper understanding of the courage, resilience, and faith of those who continue to live and rebuild in the face of danger.
Following the heaviness of Yom HaShoah and Yom HaZikaron, HAFTR celebrated Yom Ha’Atzmaut, Israel Independence Day, with a joyful and spirited day at the park. Students and teachers came together to celebrate Israel through “Grade Wars,” sports, games, and time
spent outdoors. The energy was incredible, as everyone enjoyed their chance to relax and let loose. After days focused on memory and loss, Yom Ha’Atzmaut reminded us of the miracle of the State of Israel and the pride Am Yisrael holds. As the year continues, the halls of HAFTR are now filled with a different type of buzz as students prepare for AP exams and the final stretch of classes. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors are busy studying, reviewing, and pushing through the pressure of testing season. Seniors are beginning to feel the bittersweet reality of their final days at HAFTR High School. As their last day approaches, excitement is mixed with sadness as they prepare to say goodbye to a place that has shaped so much of their lives.
The past few weeks have reminded us of what it means to be part of the HAFTR family. We remember together, we honor together, we celebrate together, and we support one another through every season of the year. Whether listening to the stories of heroic fellow Jews or beginning to prepare for the next chapter in life, HAFTR continues to be a place of learning, strength, and unity.
Erin Nathan is the student columnist for Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway High School.
Hempstead Town officials recognized Hewlett High School’s Darren Chen for his achievements in the Regeneron Science Talent Search.
Chen was named a semifinalist in the national competition.
Town Supervisor John Ferretti, Deputy Supervisor Dorothy Goosby, Councilmembers Dennis Dunne, Tom Muscarella, Melissa Miller, Laura Ryder and Chris Schneider, along with Town Clerk Kate Murray, congratulated Chen on his accomplishment.
Chen was honored for his social sci-
ence research examining the influence of social media on behavior, as well as his efforts to educate students worldwide about cybersecurity.
Town officials praised him for his academic achievements and contribution to his respective fields of study.
–Melissa Berman
EMPLOYMENT
Help Wanted
Building Maintenance
Assistant and Porter needed for Management Co. in Long Beach Experience Preferred Email: humanresoures5771 @gmail.com or Call: (212) 873-7575
Certified Nursing Assistant
Full Time Positions Available
All Shifts, Every Other Weekend
Haven Manor HCC
1441 Gateway Blvd. Queens, NY 11691
Contact Precious S. 718-471-1500
CIRCULATION ASSOCIATE Full Time/Part Time Richner Communications, publisher of Herald community newspapers has an excellent opportunity for a FT/PT Customer Service Clerk in our busy Circulation Department. Basic customer service and administrative responsibilities include: heavy computer work, answering phones, making phone calls, entering orders, faxing, filing, etc. STRONG knowledge of EXCEL a must! Knowledge of DATABASE maintenance or postal regulations a big plus. Qualified Candidates must be computer literate, able to multi-task, dependable, reliable, organized, energetic, detail oriented and able to work well under deadlines. Salary Range is $17 per hour to $20 per hour. For consideration, please send resume & salary requirements to: circulationassociate@liherald.com
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
X250
Company Car/ Bonuses. Clean Driving Record Required, Will Train. Retirees Welcome!
$22 - $27/ Hour Bell Auto School
516-365-5778
Email: info@bellautoschool.com
Part Time & Full Time. The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. Salary range is from $20K to $45K To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to jbessen@liherald.com
MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $20 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com
MULTI MEDIA
ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT Inside Sales
Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $35,360 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286
This breathtaking property is a masterfully crafted home set on a sprawling threequarter acre corner lot, where elegance, space, and thoughtful design come together. From the moment you step inside, the superior craftsmanship
How
Q. I’ve been interviewing architects and want your opinion on the issue of interior design. I have no sense of space, color or furniture. I’m getting mixed ideas from the architects about having an interior designer involved at the beginning, and I’m wondering what to do. Should I have the interior designer do the space plan first, and then hire the architect, or should I get the interior designer involved more toward the middle, before plans are done?
A. This is a touchy subject that often leads to frustration, mostly because the tasks of each are not always understood. There’s an old saying, “Too many cooks spoil the broth.” An interior designer on my projects has always been requested to work after the building is designed, from the beginning to the end. The reasons for this are the differences in our knowledge of laws, engineering qualifications and responsibilities.
CEDARHURST NO FEE Private Entrance, Modern 1BR, 2BR, 3BR, CAC, W/D, Storage, Wall To Wall Carpeting, Indoor Parking Space. Starting At $1450 For One Bedroom When Available. (516)860-6889/ (516)852-5135/ (516)582-9978
An interior designer doesn’t have a license, qualification or, generally, the education to perform the integrated services of an architect or an engineer. The reason that’s a frustrating answer is that I like working with interior designers personally, when the enhancement of the building’s finishes come into play, after the building has met the requirements of being able to stand, shed light to spaces, allow for all the safety requirements and myriad codes that must be followed. Unfortunately, clients often see that as being egotistical, overly sensitive or domineering, and that’s due to the lack of education as to what each person’s role is in construction. It’s no different than when a carpenter tells a homeowner that the structure could have been thinner and would have saved the owner money. The carpenter may not understand that the structure has to be sized for insulation thickness to meet energy codes before voicing their perspective. I’ve had multiple experiences that turned out very well because it was understood, from the project beginning, that the architect wasn’t there just to draw what they were told to draw. At times, issues needed to be discussed, and changes were necessary to accommodate the material thickness.
For example, stairways have a minimum width, and you can’t arbitrarily add a thick stone surface to the side walls that would reduce the clear width. It might be beautiful, but imagine having the inspection fail for safety reasons. In that instance, the plans could have been discussed or the material selection could have been revised.
I once had an interior designer repeatedly changing the shape of spaces, requiring the arbitrary removal of columns. A building won’t stand without columns, and moving them is like pulling one card out of a house of cards, literally and figuratively. A great design starts with great communication and a clear understanding of each person’s responsibilities and boundaries, both legal and by the project team as a whole. As a team, you will be successful if you and every team member understand this. Good luck!
© 2026 Monte Leeper
Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.
AFFORDABLE
We Buy Antiques, Fine Art, Coins & Jewelry Same Day Service, Free In-Home Evaluations, 45 Year Family Business. Licensed and Bonded, Immediate Cash Paid. SYL-LEE ANTIQUES www.syl-leeantiques.com 516-671-6464
Wanted To Buy Costume Jewelry Wanted Necklaces, Earrings, Bracelets & Rings. Also Buying Gold & Silver. $$ CASH PAID $$ 631-500-0792 Long Island / Will Travel
Cable/TV/Wiring
Get DISH Satellite TV + Internet! Free Install, Free HD-DVR Upgrade, 80,000 OnDemand Movies, Plus Limited Time Up To $600 In Gift Cards. Call Today! 1-866-782-4069
WENDY'S CLEANING SERVICES INC. Commercial/Residential. We Specialize In Houses, Apartments, Offices, Airbnb & More. Good References. Free Estimates. Call/Text Wendy 516-406-5375 Or Email wencruzpa@gmail.com
Electricians
E-Z ELECTRIC SERVICES, INC. All Types Residential/Commercial Wiring, Generators, Telephone/Data, Home Entertainment, Service Upgrades, Pools, Spas. Services/Repairs. Violations Removed. Free Estimates Low Rates. 516-785-0646 Lic/Ins.
FENCES, RAILINGS, AWNINGS. All types (Gates) pvc, Iron, wood, chainlink, cable, glass. Retractable aluminum polycarbonate awnings, carports, roof awnings, Licensed/Insured. Inwood. 516-371-6444. Text/516-852-4075. AcedesignsNy.com AceDesignsNy@gmail.com
BEAUTIFUL BATH UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Superior quality bath and shower systems at AFFORDABLE PRICES! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Call Now! 1-833-807-0159
DO YOU KNOW what's in your water? Leaf Home Water Solutions offers FREE water testing and whole home water treatment systems that can be installed in as little one day. 15% off your entire purchase. Plus 10% senior & military discounts. Restrictions apply. Schedule your FREE test today. Call 1-866-247-5728
PREPARE FOR POWER outages today with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 5-Year warranty with qualifying purchase. Call 1-877-516-1160 today to schedule a free quote. It's not just a generator. It's a power move.
PREPARE FOR POWER outages with Briggs & Stratton® PowerProtect(TM) standby generators - the most powerful home standby generators available. Industry-leading comprehensive warranty - 7 years ($849 value.) Proudly made in the U.S.A. Call Briggs & Stratton 1-888-605-1496
Home Improvement
SAFE STEP. NORTH America's #1 WalkIn Tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-the-line installation and service. Now featuring our FREE shower package and $1600 Off for a limited time! Call today! Financing available. Call Safe Step 1-855-916-5473
Miscellaneous
GET BOOST INFINITE! Unlimited Talk, Text and Data For Just $25/mo! The Power Of 3 5G Networks, One Low Price! Call Today and Get The Latest iPhone Every Year On Us! 844-329-9391
Power Washing
POWERWASHING ALL SURFACES: Houses, Fences, Concrete/ Brick, Decks/Sealing. ANTHONY & J HOME IMPROVEMENT, INC. 516-678-6641
Services
AGING ROOF? NEW HOMEOWNER?
STORM DAMAGE? You need a local expert provider that proudly stands behind their work. Fast, free estimate. Financing available. Call 1-833-880-7679
INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT? Don't Accept the insurance company's first offer. Many injured parties are entitled to major cash settlements. Get a free evaluation to see what your case is really worth. 100% Free Evaluation. Call Now: 1-833-323-0318. Be ready with your zip code to connect with the closest provider.
PEST CONTROL: PROTECT YOUR HOME from pests safely and affordably. Roaches, Bed Bugs, Rodent, Termite, Spiders and other pests. Locally owned and affordable. Call for service or an inspection today! 1-833-549-0598 Have zip code of property ready when calling!
Telephone Services
CONSUMER CELLULAR - the same reliable, nationwide coverage as the largest carriers. No long-term contract, no hidden fees and activation is free. All plans feature unlimited talk and text, starting at just $20/month. For more information, call 1-844-919-1682
Tree Services
T&M GREENCARE TREE SERVICE *TREE REMOVAL *STUMP GRINDING *PRUNING. FREE ESTIMATES. 516-223-4525, 631-586-3800 www.tmgreencare.com
Satellite/TV Equipment
DIRECTV- All your entertainment. Nothing on your roof! Sign up for Directv and get your first three months of Max, Paramount+, Showtime, Starz, MGM+ and Cinemax included. Choice package $84.99/mo. Some restrictions apply. Call DIRECTV 1-888-534-6918
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Health & Fitness
ATTENTION OXYGEN THERAPY USERS! Discover Oxygen Therapy That Moves with You with Inogen Portable Oxygen Concentrators. FREE information kit. Call 1-833-661-4172
ATTENTION: VIAGRA AND CIALIS USERS! A cheaper alternative to high drugstore prices! 50 Pill Special - Only $99! 100% guaranteed. CALL NOW: 1-833-641-6397
Autos For Sale
HONDA 2006 PILOT Black, 67,000 Miles, Original Owner, Great Condition, No Accidents $5900 516 410-6258
Autos Wanted
I have more than enough words for a memoir
Recently I entered into an agreement with noted editor Peter Ginna to put my 140,000-word memoir manuscript into final form to be presented to publishers. That will probably result in the reduction of at least 30,000 words and some reformatting. The final product, though, will be mine.
This project began five years ago. After I retired from Congress in January 2021, I started to assemble my thoughts, news stories, photos and memorabilia from 28 years in office in an attempt to make some sense of, and put in some perspective, my experiences. The more I assembled, the more I realized how long and unlikely the journey had been — and how fortunate I had been.
Particularly helpful to me in collating so much of the memories and information was Anne Rosenfeld, who worked in my district office, in Massapequa Park, for all of those years, including the last 20 as district director. Melissa Zimmerman was one of the Nassau County Police Department
detectives on my congressional security detail. Having retired shortly before I did, she agreed to be my post-congressional security director. As she learned what I was doing and heard my discussions about my experiences, she urged me to put it all into a memoir. And she didn’t let up until I started the process.
As I began to write, I realized that the story would have to begin where it all began, on the bluecollar sidewalks of Sunnyside, Queens, and then St. Albans.
if not a ragsto-riches tale, my life has certainly been an improbable journey.
My grandparents were Irish immigrants. My father was a World War II veteran and an Army Reserve major who served for three decades in the New York City Police Department, rising to the rank of lieutenant as commanding officer for physical training and head of the department’s first Ceremonial Unit, which he formed. My mother, a product of the Depression, had to turn down a college scholarship and take a job instead.
My younger brother, Kevin, and I attended St. Teresa’s grammar school, in Woodside, where there were 70-plus kids in a classroom, with no concern for feelings or sensitivity. Tuition was 25 cents a week. After that it was Brooklyn Prep and then St. Francis College, while
TI worked full-time at the Railway Express freight yards on Manhattan’s West Side as a junior and senior. After that I was unexpectedly accepted by Notre Dame Law School, where I made friendships that would last a lifetime. At neighboring St. Mary’s College I met Rosemary, who has been putting up with me for a lifetime.
All of this somehow led to experiences with an eclectic mix of people and events that made for an interesting, never boring, life, as I navigated the minefields of New York and Washington politics and government. I dealt with tragedies such as Sept. 11 and its lasting aftermath, which included fighting for health care benefits for its survivors and first responders. I was one of only two members of Congress in history to vote against the impeachment of two presidents. I faced challenges as chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, holding controversial hearings into Islamic radicalization and ensuring that New York and Long Island received the funding necessary to defend against future terrorist attacks.
Over the years in New York, Washington and overseas, there were dealings with Presidents Clinton, Bush,
Obama, Trump and Biden; British Prime Minister Blair and Irish P.M. Ahern; Israeli leaders Rabin, Peres and Netanyahu; and meeting foreign leaders and dignitaries such as Russia’s Yeltsin, Poland’s Walesa and Britain’s Queen Elizabeth. There were New York leaders, characters and personalities including Cardinal John O’Connor, Al D’Amato, Ed Koch, Rudy Giuliani and Roy Cohn. There was also the almost surreal experience of being the grandson of Irish immigrants and having a great uncle who was in the IRA and imprisoned during the Irish War of Independence in the 1920s — and working with Clinton, Blair, Ahern and Irish Republican leader Gerry Adams to bring about the historic 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which ended the centuries-old, bloody struggle between the British government and the people of Ireland.
My life has not been a rags-to-riches tale, but it has certainly been an improbable journey, beyond what I ever could have dreamed of or imagined. It has indeed been what my book title describes, “The Road to God Knows Where — From the Blue Collar Sidewalks of Queens to the Halls of Congress.”
Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.
We all need friends, and NATO is our best one
he older you get, the more you need to have some friends. While we should always be lucky to have a family that cares for us in good times and bad, we still have to have friends. A little research showed me that there are more songs about the value of friends, and the need for them, than about independence or going it alone. I’m sure many readers are familiar with the Beatles’ “With a Little Help from My Friends.” Or Dionne Warwick’s “That’s What Friends Are For,” or Carole King’s “You’ve Got a Friend,” Or Bill Withers’ “Lean on Me.” I could list another dozen songs that capture the importance of having a friend. Which brings us to the subject of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Somehow, President Trump has advanced the distorted idea that America can go it alone in the world without the help of our overseas allies. Long before NATO came into existence in 1949, our European friends were fighting with us in World War II, losing thou-
sands of young men to keep democracy alive.
When NATO was founded, its membership comprised Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States. It now includes Albania, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Turkey. It is a powerful union of allies who all have economic and strategic relationships with the United States.
T here is no way the United States could go it alone with these allies.
has always stood by us since then. Trump alleges that Iran was almost ready to attack the United States and Israel, but it did not launch an attack on our country. Being a “threat” to a NATO ally isn’t the same as attacking it. On 9/11, the NATO countries immediately declared their support for the United States and provided numerous forms of assistance, both technical and economic.
territory.) Russia could mount an attack on our country in minutes if it ever served their purposes.
What gets lost in the debate about NATO’s obligations to intervene in the war with Iran is that NATO was never consulted before the war began, and no member country was attacked by Iran. Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty says that an armed attack against one member is considered an attack against all members, which is not what happened in the war with Iran.
The first time the NATO charter was invoked was when America was attacked on Sept. 11, 2001. The alliance
To this day, NATO members continue to offer us strategic advice about actions around the world that may be a threat to America. They provide us with warnings about weather patterns and environmental events that are a threat to our region of the planet. And most of all, they buy billions of dollars’ worth of military equipment and other products that make our manufacturers healthy and wealthy.
Whether the president admits it or not, our two biggest enemies are China and Russia. In the case of Russia, it is worth noting that it is less than 60 miles from Alaska. (And actually, Big Diomede Island, in Russian territory, is just 2½ miles from Little Diomede Island, in U.S.
As for China, even with some severe economic problems, it is capable of causing major upheaval for the U.S. if it chooses. Should it invade Taiwan, America would lose its major supplier of the semiconductor chips that companies like Nvidia and Apple use for advanced computing. Other chips are used in automobiles and a wide variety of products, and we can’t afford to lose that supply.
There is no way that the United States could go it alone without its NATO allies. We can’t protect our country from the world’s two worst predators without those allies on our side. Breaking up that alliance would be strategic and economic suicide. Talk is cheap, so the president has every right to pick occasional spats with NATO, but he can’t afford to abandon it. To do so would create chaos for generations to come.
Jerry Kremer was a state assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. He currently chairs the Capitol Insight Group, a government relations firm. Comments? jkremer@liherald.com.
P.M. Peres and leaders Yeltsin, Queen leaders, including D’Amato, Cohn. surreal of great imprisIndepenwith Republiabout Agreecenturies-old, British govrags-to-riches I ever imagined. It title Knows SideConcongressman, and Committee
Small Business Week, which runs from May 3 to 9, will bring the usual round of proclamations, ribbon-cuttings and feel-good photo ops. Local entrepreneurs deserve every one of them. They also deserve the truth: The Main Streets of Long Island are under siege, and a week of celebration cannot paper over what the rest of the year has made painfully clear.
Walk down Park Avenue, in Long Beach, or Merrick Avenue, or any commercial corridor from Lynbrook to Glen Cove, and the strain is visible. For Lease signs have not come down in months. Restaurants have cut hours because they can’t find or afford the staff to stay open. Family-owned shops that survived the pandemic now wonder whether they will survive the aftermath. The business owners who anchor our downtowns aren’t asking for sympathy. They are asking, quietly and increasingly, whether the math still works.
The pressures are no secret. Rents for Long Island commercial space have climbed steadily. Costs have skyrocketed, outpacing what owners can charge without losing customers. Wages have risen, as they should, but for thin-margin businesses, every raise is a calculation about how many shifts can be staffed next month.
Energy bills and insurance premiums keep grinding higher. And looming over all of it is the e-commerce machine — Amazon, Temu, Shein and a growing list of online giants whose business model depends on undercutting the shop down the block, capturing the sale, and sending the profit somewhere far from Long Island.
The numbers tell a more complicated story than the celebratory ones we usually hear. In Nassau County, the U.S. Small Business Administration backed more than $207 million in loans last year, supporting roughly 500 businesses and helping create or sustain 2,850 jobs. That is real and meaningful. But SBA lending is also a barometer of need. A community in which hundreds of businesses require government-backed credit just to keep their doors open is not a community where small business is thriving on its own. It is a community where small business is fighting to hold ground.
Matt Coleman, the SBA’s regional administrator, has said that anyone who wants to understand the local economy needs to look past the financial markets and pay attention to those small businesses, embedded in our communities. He’s right. And what those businesses are telling us, if we listen honestly, is that the ground beneath them is shifting faster than they can adapt.
Federal tax relief on tips and overtime will help some workers. Modest tax reductions for small-business owners will help some operators. Neither will reverse the structural forces reshaping retail, hospitality and local service. The playing field is not level, and pretending otherwise does our merchants no favors.
What small businesses can offer is what e-commerce cannot: presence, accountability and a stake in the community. The pizzeria in East Rockaway that sponsors the Little League team.
The diner in Seaford that hosts the volunteer fire department’s monthly breakfast. The florist in Oyster Bay that decorates the village gazebo for the holidays.
None of those things show up on a balance sheet. All of them disappear when the storefront goes dark.
The Herald takes pride in standing alongside local businesses every day of the year. Our reporters tell their stories — the grand openings, the second-generation handoffs, the milestone anniversaries, the moments when local owners step up to feed first responders during a storm. Our advertising and marketing teams work shoulder to shoulder with owners to help them reach customers and grow their brand across print, digital and social channels. We do this because we believe local journalism and local commerce rise and fall together.
Honesty about the challenges is not pessimism. It is the precondition for a serious response. Policymakers should be looking hard at commercial rent pressures, at the unequal tax treatment that favors online sellers, at workforce housing that should allow people to actually live near where they work. Residents have a role, too — a more direct one. Every dollar spent locally is a dollar that stays here, resulting in sponsors for Little League teams, donors for nonprofit events, tenants for local storefronts, and more.
So this week, before clicking “buy now” online, walk into the shop down the block. Order takeout from the family-run restaurant in Island Park. Book the local landscaper from Malverne. Tip generously. The Main Streets of Long Island are not guaranteed. They are chosen, one transaction at a time, by the people who live here — and that choice has never mattered more.
where are all the government’s best and brightest?
In the current administration, there are fewer models for academic achievement, moral rectitude and ethical behavior. The swamp is real, and it’s drowning the smart and dedicated people who go to Washington to serve the country.
Many of our best federal officials have been muted or sidelined by the Elon MuskDonald Trump one-two punch. The president has appointed a succession of officials who are unprepared for their demanding jobs. He has trolled the bottom for people whose only standard is loyalty to the regime. As they sink and flunk out, as scandal after scandal unfolds, as their inexperience and absurd behavior come to light, they leave and are replaced by other sycophants.
As education standards sink, we witness the rise of “influencers,” selfappointed experts who have co-opted the attention and expendable income of millions of people old enough to use a phone. We are ceding critical questions about our health and well-being to self-
promoters who may have no real expertise and even less education. What many of them do have is a social media presence and the marketing know-how to garner thousands — even millions — of followers.
This isn’t a new problem, but it’s getting worse.
One example: In February, The New York Times published a story titled, “Do Energy Drinks Offer Benefits Beyond Caffeine?”
sThe takeaway was that most of the boost in these drinks comes from oldfashioned caffeine, not the add-on vitamins or extracts or purified water. Even though many drinks are marketed by health influencers as enhancing focus or endurance, the evidence, the article said, is inconsistent. In addition, the high caffeine levels in these jazzed-up drinks are concerning for those with a variety of health issues.
and because they hold sway with millions of followers whose only source of scientific information and medical advice is social media.
ocial media offer an uninformed public a circular firing squad of ignorance.
They are influencers, too, because their audience often doesn’t read or listen critically to what they are peddling. The social media audience isn’t researching the claims made on Instagram, for example, because many don’t know how to do research. And it’s so easy to just click and buy and think your pimples will disappear with a new product. We need a savvier buying public, and that comes with old-fashioned, top-tier education backed by quality teachers who are paid generously for the immense responsibility they carry — to educate our young.
pelted with stones by members of the Red Guards. Allegiance to Mao was all.
I think of this as our best-trained military leaders are fired by Trump, as longtime officials in the FBI and CIA are replaced by flunkies, as people like Kristi Noem and Pam Bondi spin through the revolving door of our dysfunctional government.
A true leader seeks to elevate the best and brightest, without a loyalty test as the filter.
The concept of influencers has roots dating back to the early 1900s. It began with celebrities endorsing products. Remember the Marlboro Man who smoked his way to fame? And all the dead lung cancer victims who followed his lead?
What you get from some of these aggressively marketed drinks is an expensive thirst-quencher with a ton of caffeine.
This is just one example of how we have surrendered our power to people who may have no scientific background at all when it comes to herbs or lotions or foods or exercise regimens. They are “influencers” because they say they are,
The problem starts at the top, with an elected influencer in chief and his unqualified appointees, and it continues with an increasingly uninformed public whose only information comes from social media, a circular firing squad of ignorance.
In China, during the Cultural Revolution, from 1966 to 1976, intellectuals in every discipline were banished to the countryside. Illustrious scientists and writers were made to sit in public squares wearing dunce caps while being
I don’t understand the influence of influencers, the promotion of knownothings whom we empower to tell us how to live. I do know that to survive as a viable society, we must educate a new generation of critical thinkers.
It starts with our kids and grandkids, who must learn the difference between scientific-based information and random opinion offered up by charismatic but ignorant actors, even when they are handsome and riding a black stallion. Even when they live in the White House.
Copyright 2026 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.
At Mount Sinai South Nassau, patient safety isn’t just a priority— it’s a standard, one we work on every day. And the experts agree.
We’ve earned national recognition for patient safety, including an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group and the Healthgrades Patient Safety Excellence Award.
That means better outcomes for our patients with lower risk of infections or hospital acquired conditions.
When it comes to your health, nothing matters more than knowing you’re in a place where patient safety matters most.
Learn more at mountsinai.org/southnassau