For five decades, generations of Five Towns families have gathered around the tables at the Friendlier 76 Italian restaurant in Woodmere to celebrate birthdays, Little League victories, graduations and simple weeknight dinners.
Now, as the restaurant marks its 50th anniversary, owner Vito Vinceslao is looking ahead to the next chapter — one that includes passing the business to a third generation of family members and expanding beyond the Five Towns with a second location opening in
Greenvale after Labor Day.
“My father, Tony Vinceslao, opened the doors in 1976,” Vito Vinceslao said. “It was half the store. The rest is history.”
Founded on June 23, 1976, Friendlier has become much more than a neighborhood pizzeria, having grown into a community institution, known for its familiar faces, generous portions and loyal customers, who have become extended family, according to Vinceslao.
“The community’s been great,” he said. “(I’m) very grateful, very blessed. It gave my family a life, and hopefully my sons, too.”
That family tradition is
already continuing. His three sons — Antonio, Marco and Alessio — now work alongside him, preparing to eventually take over the business.
“We need another store now,” Vinceslao said with a laugh. “The boys are doing a great job.”
The family’s next venture will open on Long Island’s North Shore this fall.
“We’re hoping our second location opens right after Labor Day,” Vinceslao said. “We’re going to be a little busy in the next few months.”
The expansion comes during a yearlong celebration of Friendlier’s milestone anniver-
History on the diamond for H-W Juniors
By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com
The Hewlett-Woodmere Junior League all-star baseball team, made up of players from the H-W Little League, claimed its first New York District 30 championship on June 28, defeating Freeport 7-0 at Baldwin Park to advance to the Little League International Junior League tournament.
The district title marked the Little League’s first championship in the Williamsport tournament in many years. The team finished the District 30 tournament with a 4-1 record, defeating Baldwin twice and CoNTiNueD oN page 9
sary. Throughout the year, customers have enjoyed special pricing, including $19.76 pizza specials and bottles of wine priced to honor the restaurant’s founding year. In June, the business hosted a four-day celebration featuring live music and a 19.76 percent discount.
“We’ve been celebrating all year,” Vinceslao said. “It’s real-
ly about celebrating with the customers we have and the staff that’s been working here for 30 years. Hopefully, they’re staying another 50.”
He credited the restaurant’s longevity not only to his family’s dedication but also to employees who have spent decades serving customers.
Courtesy Henry Cohen
The Hewlett-Woodmere Junior League all-star baseball team claimed its first New York District 30 championship on June 28.
WMS students reflect on America’s future
By Gabriel Lieberman, Sophia Ferdman and Ellie Sapir
As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, students are invited to reflect on the people, places, ideas and moments that have shaped the nation’s history and continue to influence its future. This milestone offers an opportunity to look beyond the dates in a textbook and explore the stories, achievements, challenges and traditions that define the American experience.
It is an opportunity to recognize the people and communities that have shaped the country while inspiring the next generation to imagine what the future can hold.
Gabriel Lieberman:
In 50 years, when America celebrates its 300th birthday, technology will become more sophisticated. AI will do many more jobs and machines will be robotic helpers. In 50 years, schools might become more fun by using VR that might
allow students to experience history and science. There will be a high chance of flying cars. Finally, the energy crisis will probably be solved by finding renewable energy sources, as well as using more eco-friendly sources.
Sophia Ferdman: America has the potential to do incredible things in 50 years, but
we have to remember to take care of our planet. I predict that selfdriving cars will become normalized and be the most common form of transportation. I also believe AI will become very advanced and be a part of most people’s daily lives.
Ellie Sapir: American values are like no
other: honor, courage, and most importantly, freedom. America is not just a hodgepodge of cultures, but a place where people can unite under equality and liberty. I believe that in fifty years we will still be a country driven by kindness, democracy, and American spirit.
Photos courtesy Hewlett-Woodmere school district Woodmere Middle School sixth graders Gabriel Lieberman, left, Sophia Ferdman and Ellie Sapir.
Rock Hall Museum celebrates 260 years of American history
By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com
For nearly 260 years, Rock Hall has stood as a reminder of the Five Towns’ colonial past, quietly overlooking the busy flow of traffic along Broadway, a main street running through Lawrence.
Today, thousands of motorists make their way through the Five Towns, often unaware that one of Long Island’s most significant historic landmarks, now a museum, sits just beyond the trees and lawns at 199 Broadway. Yet long before Broadway became a main artery through the Five Towns, Rock Hall was already a fixture of the landscape.
Built in 1767, Rock Hall is considered one of the finest surviving pre-Revolutionary War homes on Long Island. The Georgian-style mansion was constructed for Josiah Martin, a wealthy British sugar plantation owner from Antigua who sought a permanent residence overlooking Jamaica Bay. Then the surrounding area was largely rural farmland, with open fields stretching toward the water and only a handful of roads connecting small settlements.
Martin purchased roughly 600 acres and built Rock Hall as a grand country estate. During the American Revolution, the home was briefly occupied by patriot forces in 1776, making it a witness to the turbulent years that shaped the nation. After Martin’s death in 1778, the estate remained in his family until financial difficulties led to
its sale. In 1824, Rock Hall was acquired by the Hewlett family, whose descendants would own the property for more than a century.
Over the years, the house evolved from a working farmstead to a summer retreat for affluent families seeking respite along Long Island’s South Shore. As the Five Towns developed and transportation improved, the once-isolated estate found itself surrounded by growing villages and expanding roadways. Broadway, which had begun as a local route through farmland, gradually transformed into one of the region’s most heavily traveled thoroughfares.
By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the arrival of the Long Island Rail Road helped spur residential growth throughout the South Shore. Farms gave way to neighborhoods, businesses and schools, while Broadway emerged as the primary eastwest route linking communities across the Five Towns. Through all of those changes, Rock Hall remained a recognizable landmark, visible to generations of residents who passed by its stately grounds. The mansion’s survival is particularly remarkable considering the rapid development that reshaped much of Nassau County during the post-World War II era. While many
historic structures were demolished to make way for modern construction, Rock Hall endured as a symbol of preservation and community pride.
Recognizing the historical importance of the property, the Hewlett family deeded Rock Hall to the Town of Hempstead in 1948. Following an extensive restoration, the mansion reopened as a museum in 1953, preserving a rare glimpse into 18th-century life. The museum remains on the National Register of Historic Places and serves as an educational center featuring guided tours, lectures, archaeology exhibits and community programs.
In recent decades, Rock Hall has continued to expand its role as a cultural destination, hosting historical reenactments, seasonal festivals, concerts and educational programs for students and families. The museum’s collection of period furnishings, documents and artifacts helps tell the story not only of the house itself, but also of the broader history of Lawrence and the South Shore.
The contrast between Rock Hall and modern Broadway is striking. Outside its gates, traffic moves steadily through the heart of the Five Towns. Inside, visitors can step back nearly three centuries and experience the architecture, furnishings and stories of a bygone era. As Lawrence and its neighboring communities continue to grow, Rock Hall remains a rare connection to the region’s earliest history — a colonial landmark standing watch over a roadway that has become the backbone of the Five Towns.
Woodmere’s Steven Bienstock saves a dental patient’s life
By ABIGAIL GRIECO agrieco@liherald.com
What began as a routine dental appointment for an 84-year-old woman seeking relief from an ill-fitting denture turned into a series of medical discoveries that may have saved her life.
Dr. Steven Bienstock, a Woodmere resident and owner of Coastline Dental Care, in Oceanside, was reviewing a panoramic dental X-ray for Patricia Perricone in early March when he noticed something unusual beyond her mouth. The image appeared to show calcifications near the carotid artery, a finding that can indicate plaque buildup and an increased risk of stroke.
Rather than dismissing the discovery, Bienstock urged Perricone to follow up with her physician for further evaluation.
That recommendation set off a chain of medical appointments that revealed far more than anyone expected.
Vascular imaging found that Perricone had nearly 90 percent blockage of her left carotid artery and roughly 70 percent blockage of her right carotid artery. Additional testing also uncovered a 1-centimeter aneurysm behind the carotid arteries.
“It was pretty shocking and surprising,” said Bienstock, 36, who joined Coastal Dental in March 2025 after practicing dentistry for seven years.
“The reason I wanted to share this story isn’t because it’s about one
patient. It’s about the role dentists play in overall health.”
Perricone, an Oceanside resident who wears dentures, visited the office because her bite had become uncomfortable. Since she no longer has natural teeth, Bienstock took a panoramic X-ray that captures the entire jaw, facial bones and surrounding structures rather than focusing on individual teeth.
“It’s like looking at a globe instead of a local map,” he explained. “You see a much bigger picture.”
Although dentists occasionally identify calcifications on panoramic X-rays, Bienstock said they are trained to recognize findings that fall outside traditional dental concerns, and to refer patients for medical evaluation when appropriate.
Several weeks after the appointment, Bienstock received an emotional phone call from Perricone’s daughter, Jennifer Berenson.
“I was surprised because she was crying,” he said. “I asked if everything was OK.”
Instead, she was calling to thank him.
The vascular workup had uncovered the severe arterial blockages and aneurysm before the woman experienced symptoms.
“I actually got teary-eyed,” Bienstock said. “As a dentist, you don’t think of yourself as someone who saves lives. We treat teeth, infections and
Dr.
a dentist at Coastal Dental
was reviewing a panoramic dental X-ray in early March when he noticed something unusual beyond his patient’s mouth. After further research, he found calcifications near the carotid artery.
oral disease. But this reminded me why we have ‘doctor’ in front of our name.”
Berenson said the findings came as a complete surprise.
“My mom is asymptomatic,” the 53-year-old said. “We had no idea. She’s
84, and we just thought she was slowing down because of her age.”
After Bienstock contacted the family about the X-ray findings, Berenson immediately scheduled an appointment for her mother with a vascular specialist. Within a week, Perricone was undergoing testing that revealed the extensive blockages and aneurysm.
Berenson said she never imagined a dentist would identify a potentially lifethreatening condition.
“Everybody I tell is amazed,” she said. “Even members of my family who own a dental lab couldn’t believe that a dentist found this.”
She added that Bienstock continued checking on her mother’s recovery long after the initial referral, calling several times to ask how she was doing.
“He’s just incredibly caring,” Berenson said. “He didn’t have to keep following up, but he did.”
Bienstock hopes the experience reminds people that oral health is closely connected to overall health.
“The mouth is the pathway to the body,” he said. “We see many diseases that first manifest in the mouth or show signs there. We’ve helped identify diabetes, sleep apnea and gastrointestinal issues because patients had changes they didn’t realize were significant.”
Courtesy Rock Hall Museum
Rock Hall was built in 1767 for Josiah Martin, a wealthy West Indian plantation owner. The Georgian- style home belonged to two of the area’s most famous families, the Martins and Hewletts.
Courtesy Steven Bienstock
Steven Bienstock,
in Oceanside,
News briefs
EHS recognized for heart failure care
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EHS has been recognized by the American Heart’s Association (AHA) with the Get With The Guidelines - Heart Failure Gold Plus quality achievement award.
The award recognizes hospitals nationwide each year for their continued commitment to following the up-to-date guidelines as outlined by the AHA. Get With The Guidelines is a program that helps hospitals shorten hospital stays and increase healthy days for patients.
According to AHA’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Report, about 6.7 million adults in the U.S. are living with heart failure, and that number is expected to rise to 8.7 million by 2030.
“We are proud to recognize the leader-
Taxation of The Medicaid Asset Protection Trust (MAPT)
Your writer has often stated that, in elder law, there is more misinformation than information. For example, one of the most pernicious myths about MAPTs is that they lose the stepped-up basis at death. Indeed, a syndicated columnist under the byline “Ask the Expert” recently wrote “...the IRS has determined that assets in an irrevocable trust don’t qualify for a step-up in tax basis at your death.”
For those unfamiliar with the step-up in basis, it works this way. Let’s say you bought your house many years ago for $200,000 and when you pass away it is worth $850,000. The basis gets stepped-up from what you paid to what it was worth on the date of your death. If the heirs sell it shortly after inheriting, they pay no capital gain tax. Savings would be about $200,000 in taxes!
In 2023, the IRS issued a widely misunderstood Revenue Ruling stating that a certain type of irrevocable trust did not get the stepped-up basis. In tax law, it is well understood that (1) if assets pass at death they are includible in the estate and get the stepped-up basis, and (2) if the assets are given away during your lifetime, they keep your original basis. You either get the tax break of the
stepped-up basis and inclusion in the estate OR you get the exclusion from the estate but no stepup. Some aggressive tax lawyers tried to write a trust that purported to get both -- inclusion for capital gains tax purposes but exclusion for estate tax purposes. The 2023 IRS ruling simply stated that you cannot have your cake and eat it too. If the taxpayer claims the irrevocable trust is excluded from the estate for estate tax purposes, then no step-up in basis will be allowed.
Seeing as the estate tax exemption for New York is $7.35 million, most clients are not concerned about inclusion for estate-tax purposes, they want the step-up! Every elder law attorney worth their salt knows this and drafts the MAPT as a “Grantor Trust” keeping the trust assets in the estate.
A very common way of doing this is to provide a “power of appointment” giving the grantor (creator of the trust) the right to change who they leave it to. This way the gift is “incomplete” until death, as which time the grantor can no longer change it. Since the gift is only “completed” at death, it is included in the estate and gets the stepup.
ETTINGER LAW FIRM
ship and dedicated care teams at Episcopal Health Services for their strong commitment to improving care for people living with heart failure,” said Sabra Lewsey, volunteer chair of the American Heart Association Heart Failure System of Care Advisory Group.
EHS additionally received the AHA’s Target: Stroke: Honor Roll Elite and the Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll awards, which are awarded for a hospital’s timely treatment of patients that need thrombolytic therapy and use of up-to-date care for stroke patients diagnosed with Diabetes respectively.
— Jack Levey
EHS awarded for excellence in stroke care
EHS has been recognized by the American Heart’s Association (AHA) with the Get With The GuidelinesStroke Gold Plus quality achievement award.
The award recognizes hospitals’ commitment to ensuring the care of patients experiencing a stroke. Highlighting timely treatment that follows the research-based guidelines, aiming to save lives and reduce disability.
Get With The Guidelines is a program that aims to help bring hospitals nationwide up to date with the latest guidelines used for stroke care by the AHA and American Stroke Association. Participants of the program also provide education to manage patients’ recovery.
According to AHA’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics Report, strokes are the fourth leading cause of death and disability in the U.S. “Episcopal Health Services is committed to improving patient care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines,” said Donald T. Morrish, Chief Executive Officer at EHS.
EHS also received the AHA’s Target: Stroke: Honor Roll Elite and the Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll awards, which are awarded for a hospital’s timely treatment of patients that need thrombolytic therapy and use of up-todate care for stroke patients diagnosed with Diabetes respectively.
■ PUBlIC NOTICES: Ext. 232 E-mail: legalnotices@liherald.com
NASSAU
Courtesy Episcopal Health Services Dr. Dheeraj Khurana, Chief of Cardiology at EHS meeting with a patient.
psegliny.com/revitalization These two moms opened a spa. It had one big,
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.
*Incentives, grants, and savings will vary with every project.
Learn more about how we’re helping communities thrive.
Mery Seminario and Sindy Catalan, ISSI Beauty Spa, Port Washington
First rounders shine at Isles development camp
By TONY BELLISSIMO
tbellissimo@liherald.com
Unlike 2025 when the New York Islanders selected three players within the first 17 picks of the NHL Draft, including eventual unanimous Calder Trophy winning defenseman Matthew Schaefer No. 1 overall, they had only one pick in the first three rounds this year.
That came at No. 13 overall when Schaefer, in Buffalo for draft weekend June 26-27, stepped to the podium to announce the selection of 6-foot-4, 203-pound left-shot defenseman Malte Gustafsson.
“I’m a big two-way defender, I like to contribute all over the ice,” said the 18-year-old Gustafsson, who played 27 games in the Swedish Hockey League with HV71. “I like to use my size, my length and I play physical. Being annoying is part of my game,” he added.
Gustafsson was one of 37 players at Islanders Development Camp June 29-July 2 and impressed in the Blue & White Scrimmage played before an overflow crowd July 1 at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow.
Gustafsson signed a one-year contract to remain with HV71 for the 2026-27 season, but perhaps one day he’ll be teammates with fellow Swedes Simon Holmstrom, Emil Heineman and Victor Eklund.
The latter two became Islanders property during the early stages of the 2025 Draft when General Manager Mathieu Darche dealt defenseman Noah Dobson to Montreal. Heineman scored 22 goals in his debut season on Long Island, while Eklund, drafted 16th, and defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson, 17th, were nothing short of dynamic in the SHL and Ontario Hockey League, respectively.
Eklund is very much looking forward to playing a full season in North America, either with the Islanders or recently relocated Hamilton Hammers of the American Hockey League. The 19-year-old winger registered 6 goals and 18 assists in 43 games for Djurgardens IF in the SHL and made his way to the Bridgeport Islanders (10 points in nine games) and ultimately Long Island for his NHL debut April 14. He recorded his first NHL point, an assist, against Carolina.
“I think I made the right decision at the end of last season to come to North America and adapt as fast as I can,” Eklund said after the Blue & White Scrimmage. “Being here with the boys and playing in front of the fans is a lot of fun. Now I’m looking to get stronger, gain weight and be ready for camp in September.”
Aitcheson, who brings a rare combination of physicality and offensive sizzle, is ready for the next step as well after the 19-year-old earned the OHL’s Most Outstanding Defenseman award after posting 70 points (28 goals, 34 assists) during the regular season and 27 in the playoffs (8, 19) for the Barrie Colts, helping them to the finals.
“Just putting my head down and putting the work in,” Aitcheson said. “This is another step to get ready for training camp. It’s been fun so far.”
Nobody had more fun at the Blue & White Scrimmage than Gleb Veremyev, an undrafted 23-year-old 6-5, 218pound forward born in Brooklyn. He had a hat trick to lead Team Blue to a 6-3 victory and also scored the winner in a shootout that followed the 40-minute game.
“I’m trying to take everything in this summer, and I feel like I have something to prove for the rest of my career,” Veremyev said.
Kashawn Aitcheson, one of the Islanders’ three first-round picks in 2025 is ready for the next level after starring in the Ontario Hockey League.
Tony Bellissimo/Herald photos
Goaltender Sam Hillebrandt made a stop on Jesse Nurmi during development camp held June 29-July 2 at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow.
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District champs: HWLL’s summer to remember
Freeport twice, clinching the title behind six shutout innings from Jonah Brown and a two-strikeout save by Jacob Cohen.
“Winning the ultra-competitive New York District 30 Championship was well-earned and an incredible achievement,” manager Henry Cohen, of Woodmere, said. “The boys played great baseball in all phases of the game — pitching, defense, hitting and base-running. They were amazing and represented Hewlett-Woodmere Little League at the highest levels, both in how well they played the game and in sportsmanship.”
Cohen has coached in the league for seven years while his four sons have played at various levels. After leading several championship teams, he embraced the chance to guide HewlettWoodmere into the Junior League division of the Little League International Tournament.
The Junior League division is for players ages 13 and 14. Cohen assembled a roster consisting of the league’s top players, many of whom had spent years competing against one another before becoming teammates. Nearly all were eighth-graders at the Hebrew Academy of Long Beach: Ari Berman, Jonah Brown, Jacob Cohen, Benjamin Farber, Joshua Friedman, Ethan Goldstein, Eli Greenberg, Samuel Kaplan, Moshe Klein, David Levy, Daniel Rosen, Noah Sax and Gabriel Weiss.
Unlike many of their opponents, Hewlett-Woodmere relied almost entirely on players who came directly from the Little League rather than yearround travel baseball programs.
“A lot of the teams we played have travel players who compete year-round at a very high level,” Cohen said. “Our boys came from Little League. They may not have had the same experience, but they worked incredibly hard to prepare.”
Preparation became the team’s biggest advantage. The players practiced regularly at Hewlett Elementary School and Grant Park while making frequent trips to the batting cages at Five Towns Mini Golf & Batting Range on Rockaway Turnpike. Hewlett High School baseball coach Keith Passaretti volunteered to lead several instructional sessions to help prepare the squad for tournament competition on a larger field and under more advanced rules.
Because of the tournament format, Hewlett-Woodmere needed four victories to claim the district title. “It was really a major feat,” Cohen said. “The boys believed in each other, kept improving every game and never stopped working.”
Assistant coach Jason Farber, a Hewlett resident who has coached Little League for roughly 14 years, said the team’s greatest accomplishment was learning to become one unit despite the fact that the player previously starred on separate teams.
“These boys have all been the best players on their own teams,” Farber said. “Many of them had always played
shortstop. Suddenly they had to learn new positions, and nobody complained. Everyone figured out how they could best contribute.”
Farber acknowledged that there were plenty of nerves before the opening game against Baldwin because HewlettWoodmere lacked the travel baseball experience many opposing teams possessed.
“The boys were anxious before that first game,” he said. “There was talk about hoping we didn’t lose badly. But after those first few innings, they realized they belonged. Once they relaxed and just played baseball, everything changed.”
From there, confidence replaced uncertainty. “There was no weak link,” Farber said. “Everyone developed very quickly, and everyone contributed to our success.”
Jacob Cohen, who played shortstop while also pitching in relief, said the players exceeded even their own expectations.
“We didn’t really think we were going to do much, because it was our first time doing something like this,” Jacob said. “The other teams play in these tournaments every year. We just went out there, pitched well, made good plays and were able to beat them.”
Competing against unfamiliar opponents made the experience even more memorable. “In Little League, we usually play kids from around our community,” Jacob said. “It was really cool playing against teams we’d never seen before. Every team was very competitive.”
Hewlett-Woodmere advanced to the tournament’s sectional competition earlier this month, in which it was eliminated by Franklin Square. The timing proved difficult, because several players had already left for sleepaway camp and had to travel back for games, some arriving only hours before the first pitch.
“The commitment the boys showed was unbelievable,” Farber said. “Families were driving kids back from camp because they wanted to be with their teammates. That says a lot about how close this group became.”
Courtesy Henry Cohen
Jonah Brown pitched in the championship game at Baldwin park on June 28.
neighbors
Woodmere Music Studios 26th student recital
For 26 years, Woodmere Music Studios has helped shape young musicians across the Five Towns, providing lessons that extend far beyond learning notes and scales. The studio celebrated another year of achievement with its annual end-of-year recital, showcasing students ranging from beginners to advanced performers.
The studio’s 26th annual recital series was on June 21 and 29 at the Lynbrook Public Library. Students will perform on a variety of instruments, including piano, guitar, violin, viola, cello, bass, flute, saxophone and voice.
For founder and director Patricia Lee, the recitals represent the culmination of months of hard work while also fulfilling a lifelong mission.
“Woodmere Music Studios, now in its 26th year, is a music school that has helped thousands of students in the community learn music and important life lessons,” Lee said. “It was a personal dream of mine to help the community and the next generation achieve goals by learning how to set goals through music, recitals and giving back to the community through performances.”
— Melissa Berman
Courtesy Patricia Lee
Woodmere Music Studios held their first student recital on June 21 at the Lynbrook Public Library.
Lucas Giordano played on the upright bass at the Woodmere Music Studios recital on June 29 at the Lynbrook Public Library.
All the student performers with Owner/Director Patricia Lee on the June 29 performance.
Patricia Lee, owner and director of Woodmere Music Studios for 26 years.
Deniz Artan, featured senior performer, Patricia Lee and Derin Artan, student performer.
Primary Care and Pediatric Services
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• New patients welcome
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• Preventive Care and Annual Checkups
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ClearVote system set for November election
By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com
The new voting machines Nassau County residents will use in November are designed to make casting a ballot faster while keeping the voting experience largely unchanged, according to election officials and the machines’ manufacturer.
Voters heading to the polls this fall will use an allnew voting system, after the county Board of Elections selected Clear Ballot’s ClearVote system following a competitive procurement process.
The system will replace the county’s traditional voting equipment, and Nassau will join more than a dozen New York counties that have already adopted ClearVote’s paper-ballot technology.
Although the machines are new, election officials said that voters should notice very little difference in how they cast their ballots. “To the public it will be pretty much the same as they’re used to,” Republican Elections Commissioner James V. Moriarty wrote in a news release. “These machines will be smaller, more efficient and new. New and better equipment.”
The ClearVote system uses full-sized paper ballots that voters fill out by hand or, for those requiring accessibility accommodations, through an ADA-compliant ballot-marking device that prints a full-sized ballot. Every voter ultimately casts the same type of paper ballot, regardless of how it is marked.
The biggest improvements, Democratic Elections Commissioner James Scheuerman explained, will take place behind the scenes, allowing election workers to administer elections more efficiently while preserving the familiar voting experience.
“It’s easier for us to build and run the election and it’s going to be the exact same for the voter, which is
what you’re looking for when you’re bringing on a new voting system,” Scheuerman wrote in a news release.
Once a ballot is filled out, it is inserted into a scanner that reads and records the vote while securely storing the ballot for auditing and recount purposes. Unlike some voting systems that rely on barcodes or summary cards, ClearVote records votes directly from the paper ballots, giving voters the chance to visually verify every selection before casting it.
According to Clear Ballot CEO Bob Hoyt, that transparency is central to the company’s philosophy.
“We believe the best way to establish voter trust is through paper ballots,” Hoyt said. “It allows people to verify their own vote before it’s cast so they know that it counted.”
The new scanners also process ballots significantly faster than older equipment. A ballot, Hoyt said, is scanned and accepted almost immediately after it is inserted — about one second — compared with four to five seconds on many older voting systems.
As soon as the ballot is processed, the screen confirms that the vote has been successfully cast and displays a running ballot count. “It processes the ballot almost immediately,” Hoyt said. “You get a message on the screen that your ballot has been cast, and you can actually see the ballot count increase.”
Clear Ballot first came to New York in 2017, providing high-speed scanners for absentee and mail-in ballots and conducting independent post-election audits.
The company introduced its first in-person voting system in the state in 2023. Nationally, its election technology is used in 14 states, serving more than 46 million registered voters.
Preparing Nassau County for the transition has been a months-long process. Roughly 500 voting machines have already been delivered for testing and poll worker training, with the remaining equipment — roughly 12 trailer loads — scheduled to arrive beginning later this month.
The company is also implementing a learning-management system that will help Nassau comply with New York’s mandatory poll worker training requirements by documenting training and providing ondemand instructional materials.
“If you train the election workers really well, and you have good equipment and good people servicing it,” Hoyt said, “you’ll probably have a really good election.”
Courtesy Clear Ballot Group
Nassau County voters will be using the new ClearVote voting system in the November election.
And the Experts Agree
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
A half-century of slices, smiles and memories
“The servers are great, the wait staff is great and the employees make it also,” he said, “not just myself, my father and my uncle.”
His uncle, Mario Divella, worked alongside the family for 40 years before recently retiring.
One of the restaurant’s most memorable stories is how it got its unusual name.
For decades, Vinceslao wondered why his father chose the name “Friendlier” for an Italian restaurant, and he finally learned the truth about five years ago.
“My father wanted to call it Tony’s,” he said. “But the place had a brand-new sign, and he said, ‘I’m not wasting money on a new sign. Leave it.’”
Later, longtime customers explained that the previous owner had earned a reputation for being unfriendly, prompting a subsequent owner to rename the restaurant “Friendlier.”
“It finally made sense,” Vinceslao said. “For 40 years, we kept asking, ‘Why Friendlier?’”
Today, the name perfectly reflects the atmosphere inside the restaurant.
“I love being here,” Vinceslao added. “I love what I do. You have to have good food first, a clean place, and people who care.”
His son, Antonio Vinceslao, said growing up in the restaurant gave him an appreciation for the sacrifices his father made.
“My dad had always been working his whole life,” Antonio Vinceslao said. “What I wanted was for him to be able to take off and spend time with my mom.”
As the next generation prepares to lead the business, he added that he hopes to preserve everything customers have come to expect.
“It’s very important to keep this tradition going,” he said. “There’s second, third and even fourth-genera-
tion customers who tell us how much this place means to them. I want to make sure this place is left the same way my dad loved it.”
Running a family business isn’t easy, he acknowledged.
“If you’re considering taking over your family business, get ready to work,” Antonio Vinceslao said. “Dedicate yourself every single day, keep trying to improve it and love what you do. We love it. I hope for another 50, 100 years of this place.”
Friendlier’s impact extends well beyond its dining room.
David Friedman, president of the Hewlett-Woodmere Business Association, has worked with Vito Vinceslao on community events for more than a decade and said the restaurant has become synonymous with giving back.
“Friendlier is an institution in the Five Towns,” Friedman said. “Vito and his sons have been so accommodating to customers and to our community.”
From sponsoring school athletic banners and Arts Below Sunrise to donating food for athletic team dinners, pizza parties and community fundraisers, Vinceslao rarely turns down a request for help, Friedman said.
“He never says no,” Friedman said. “His family and the staff know their customers by name and remember their favorite foods and drinks. Everyone is family.”
As Friendlier celebrates 50 years in Woodmere while preparing to open its second location, Vinceslao remains focused on the same values his father embraced when he first put on an apron nearly five decades ago.
“Our goals are to expand a little more,” Vinceslao said. “But no matter where we go, it’s about the people. That’s what has made Friendlier what it is.”
June 23, and
anniversary specials all year long.
BRUCE A. BLAKEMAN
FREE SUMMER CONCERT
TUESDAY, JULY 21
Courtesy Vito Vinceslao
Vito Vinceslao, owner of the friendlier 76 italian restaurant in Woodmere, celebrated its five decades in the community on
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Sharing their visions of the country’s future
By Claire Wang, Dalia Madjar, Liam Aronshtein, Samantha Rigicura and Noa Bendelstein
As America looks ahead to its 300th anniversary, students are putting their thoughts into words to imagine what the nation might be like 50 years from now. Through their written submis sions, young authors share their hopes, ideas and predictions for the future of America.
Each submission offers a person al perspective on what America could become. Some students imag ine a future filled with ground breaking discoveries and new opportunities, while others focus on creating a more connected, compassionate and inclusive society. Their words highlight the creativity, curiosity and optimism of young people as they think about the challenges and opportunities that await future generations.
Ogden Elementary School fifth graders Liam Aronshtein, Claire Wang, Samantha Rigucira, Dalia Madjar and Noa Bendelstein.
Claire Wang, fifth grade:
The ideas, dreams and voices of today’s youth will play an important role in shaping the next chapter of the nation’s history.
On America’s 300th birthday, I think the world of technology would improve and that it would make our lives better. World peace will hopefully be more established and that economic life would be better for everyone. I hope someone amazing would cure cancer and make the world a better place.
Dalia Madjar, fifth grade: In 2076 what will the world look like? Robots everywhere?! Cure for cancer?! New technology?! Don’t go on an airplane just hop in a flying car?! Imagine having something even more convenient than a phone! Instead of people, you’ll have robots doing the job.
Liam Aronshtein, fifth grade: In 50 years, America would have flying cars all over the place. There will be machines that take you to your destination in under 20 minutes no matter how far you go. Trains will be moving with a very strong magnet that makes the train go way faster than any speeds currently.
By: Samantha Rigicura, fifth grade: In 50 years, I think America will be full of advanced robots and glass buildings that will reach the clouds. We won’t have traffic anymore since robots could drive everything. Schools will use holograms instead of books, and everyone will have a robot friend to help them with their homework!
By: Noa Bendelstein, fifth grade: In 2076, the whole world changed. Teleportation, you arrive in one click. Robots could practically take over the world. Taxis zooming around the city. No more viruses, cancer’s cured! Instead of iPhones, holograms are used. No more homeless, everyone’s rich. Schools are digital, no more waking up early. What could be better?
STEPPING OUT
Wild Child
Jazz is in the air
By Karen Bloom
Tilles Jazz Fest is going strong in its third season. The festival returns to the historic LIU Post campus, on Saturday, offering a full day of world-class jazz, family-friendly fun and community celebration across four stages.
Presented in collaboration with Jazz at Lincoln Center, this year’s edition again brings together legendary artists and rising stars. This is an immersive indoor/outdoor experience — from lawn picnics and second line parades during the day to headliner The Buena Vista Orchestra performing in the evening.
The day’s lineup includes the Bobby Sanabria Octet, the Grammy-nominated percussionist blends Afro-Cuban jazz with big band flair; Bluesy Beats and Jazzy Treats with Dan and Claudia Zanes, with a lively, family-friendly set of jazz rhythms; young vocalist Ruby Laks, a fresh, expressive voice in contemporary jazz; along with a swinging Second-Line Parade, led by Hot Jazz All-Stars, including up-and-coming trumpeter Bria Skonberg, when all artists and the audience are invited to join in.
As Tom Dunn, Tilles Center’s executive and artistic director puts it: “This festival captures the spirit of jazz, where iconic voices and emerging artists share the stage. It’s an energizing celebration of artistry, innovation, and community, set in a place that inspires creativity at every turn.”
The LIU Jazz Combo (current LIU students) and Long Island Rising Stars (LIU alumni and regional talent) welcome guests at festival entrances from 12:15 p.m. Members of the LIU Marching Band add energy to the New Orleans-style Second Line parade, closing the daytime festivities at 5:45 p.m.
The young superstars of tomorrow are certainly given their due, alongside the jazz greats. Of course, headliner, The Buena Vista Orchestra, surely deserves the spotlight. The orchestra (sometimes referred to as The Buena Vista Social Orchestra, Orquesta Buena Vista) is acclaimed as the world’s foremost Cuban music repertory ensemble — featuring a revolving lineup. Virtuoso Cuban violinist Rolando Morejón Reyes leads an exciting set of musicians pulled from The Buena Vista Social Club, AfroCuban All Stars, the bands of Celia Cruz, Omara Portuondo, Chucho Valdés, Willie Colón, and others.
To date, The Buena Vista Orchestra and related projects have toured the world and garnered global accolades, making it one of the biggest-selling and best known Cuban music projects in history.
On a more intimate scale are Dan and Claudia
Feel that beat
Zanes, who are delighted to bring what Dan Zanes described as their “community music” to this year’s festival audience.
“It was an exiting call to get,” he says, of the invite. He notes that while they’ve performed at Tilles before, their festival appearance allows the Zanes to show a different side of their musicianship.
• July 18, starting at noon
• Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100
• LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville
This is not a typical tribute or pretend concert act. Wild Child relies on recapturing the original: sound, feel, mood, dynamics and delivery of the Doors music. It’s about the music and its delivery. Wild Child lead singer Dave Brock’s Doors concert tribute debuted with a triple sellout at the Whisky a-Go-Go. Since then the act has been touring and playing at sold out national act venues and festivals around the world. Wild Child became the mold that “tribute bands” aspired to become, as they flooded the market with good and bad impersonations of famous artists. In 2010 Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger of The Doors, invited Dave to tour with them as their vocalist on their concert engagements: a hug honorl Wild Child performances are praised as the closest thing to a real live Doors experience.
Friday, July 17, 8 p.m. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny. com.
“I come from the folk and rock ‘n roll world, but Claudia, my wife and partner in all this, is a jazz singer. She was performing and touring as a jazz vocalist before I met her. And Tyree Austin who’s also going to be singing with us is also a jazz vocalist. He sings jazz and gospel. So the spirit of jazz is really in what we do.”
Zanes, a Grammy-winner, occupies a unique place in American music — where sea shanties, English Music hall, play party songs, the spirit of early rock ‘n roll, soul, North American and West Indian folk music collide. For the past 20 years, he has toured the world with his band, Dan Zanes and Friends, sharing 21st century social music with enthusiastic crowds of all ages.
In the 1980s Zanes was a member of The Del Fuegos, the roots rock band that released several albums and toured heavily before spontaneously combusting in 1989. In 1994 he became a father and began trying to create music that he and his daughter could enjoy together as a shared experience — an updated version of the Folkways records he grew up on. In 2000, he released Rocket Ship Beach, which became an immediate hit with families in America. NPR called him “The Gold Standard in kid’s music.”
And while their music does have a certain kid-friendly appeal, Zanes is quick to point out that there’s much more to it than that. The Zanes prefer not to be categorized as “children’s entertainers.”
“Our music is social music. It’s very participatory. We come out of a lot of different folk traditions: North American folk traditions, blues, as well as Haitian folk traditions {influenced by Claudia who is Haitian-American). It’s for all ages, including young folks but also older.
“At our concerts there’s quite a bit of singing along. It’s a social experiment. Even though we’re a modern group we work with ancient traditions and one of those traditions is galvanizing people with song. There’s movement, there’s dancing. Three voices and a 12 string guitar is the foundation of what we do, with addition of trombone, horn and some percussion.”
He describes their sound as “joyful music.”
“These are hard times for a lot of people and music reminds us that there is so much beauty in the world and so much that we get from being with each other. There’s something about singing together that gives all a sense of life’s best possibilities. Behind it all is joy always.”
Guests are encouraged to come with lawn chairs and blankets for a day of relaxed listening and discovery. Youngsters will also enjoy the Kids Zone, with an instrument “petting zoo,” crafts and face painting. When everyone is ready for a bite, check out the food trucks and artisan purveyors with their tempting wares. Or bring your own picnic!
Derek Hough Symphony of Dance: Encore
Following sold-out successes of his previous tours, Derek Hough is back. The Emmy-winning dancerchoreographer-entertainer — known for his dazzling performances on “Dancing With The Stars” — takes his audience on an exhilarating journey through dance with breathtaking choreography, vibrant visuals and his signature stage presence. The high-energy production celebrates the artistry and emotion of movement while showcasing the versatility that has made Hough one of today’s most celebrated performers. Experience a thrilling fusion of dance and music; the fan-favorite dancer explores styles ranging from ballroom, tap, salsa, hip-hop and everything in between.
Sunday, July 19, 8 p.m. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or tillescenter. org or (516) 299-3100. Tilles Center, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville.
Courtesy Anna Zanes Dan Zanes
partner in performing and
Courtesy Tilles Center Bobby Sanabria
Courtesy Andrea Escobar
The Buena Vista Orchestra
Courtesy Mark Mann Claudia Zanes
Your Neighborhood CALENDAR
jul
16
Patriotic
concert
To honor the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, HewlettWoodmere Public Library hosts the Paul Effman Band. Hear a musical tribute that features patriotic arrangements alongside hits from the decades that shape our cultural landscape.
• Where: 1125 Broadway, Hewlett
• Time: 7-8:30 p.m.
• Contact: hwpl.org or (516) 374-1967
Village of Lawrence Board of Trustees meet
Attend the July meeting of the Lawrence Board of Trustees. Obtain monthly updates, express issues/grievances and learn about what is going on in your village.
• Where: 196 Central Ave., Lawrence
• Time: 8 p.m.
• Contact: (516) 239-4600
jul
17
Happy Birthday, Franklin!
Long Island Children’s Museum invites families to celebrate the Eastern Box Turtle’s 50th Birthday! Make him a one-of-a-kind cake craft inspired by all his favorite things! Come help honor 50 turtle-tastic years at the drop-in program. For ages 3+.
• Where: 11 Davis Ave., Garden City
• Time: 1-3 p.m.
• Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800
‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’
The Madison Theatre’s production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” brings the beloved Andrew Lloyd Webber musical to the stage, retelling the biblical story of Joseph, his colorful coat and his rise from slavery to Pharaoh’s trusted advisor. Told entirely through song, the family-friendly production features memorable numbers including “Any Dream Will Do,” “Close Every Door” and “One More Angel in Heaven,” blending musical styles from calypso to country-western. Suitable for audiences of all ages, the show continues to be one of the world’s most frequently performed musicals.
A Celebration of the Mighty Zep
hear monthly updates, express issues/grievances and learn about what is going on in your village.
• Where: 30 Piermont Ave., Hewlett
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Contact: (516) 295-1400
jul
21
Family movie
Enjoy a movie under the stars at North Woodmere Park. Bring the family to see “Transformers: One.”
• Where: 750 Hungry Harbor Road, Valley Stream
• Time: Dusk
• Contact: nassaucountyny.gov
Summer sounds
The Village of Cedarhurst summer concert series at Cedarhurst Park continues with “A Night Of Italian Music.” With a pre-show performance by Magic of Alexo and concert with Blaise Biagio Benevenga. Bring your own lawn chair and enjoy.
• Where: 235 Cedarhurst Ave., Cedarhurst
• Where: The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington
• Time: 8 p.m.; also July 25
Led Zeppelin fans, rejoice! Get The Led Out returns to the Paramount with “A Celebration of the Mighty Zep,” two electrifying nights of classic rock, running through June 28. From the bombastic and epic, to the folky and mystical, GTLO has captured the essence of Led Zeppelin and brought their music to the concert stage. The Philadelphia-based group consists of six veteran musicians, intent on delivering Led Zeppelin live, like you’ve never heard before! Utilizing the multi-instrumentalists at their disposal, GTLO re-creates songs, in all their depth and glory, with the studio overdubs that Zeppelin themselves never performed. Hailed for their powerful tribute to what many consider the greatest rock band of all time, the band delivers a faithful and highoctane recreation of Zeppelin’s iconic sound. From thunderous anthems to mystical acoustic ballads, GTLO captures the full range of Led Zeppelin’s brilliance — complete with the layered instrumentation and soaring dynamics that the band rarely performed live. With no wigs or phony accents, just pure musical passion. When an album calls for three guitars, GTLO brings three guitarists to the stage — no shortcuts, no gimmicks. GTLO focuses on the legendary band’s early years and dives deep into beloved hits and rare cuts alike. Their approach is reverent and precise, more like a classical concert than a cover band — a true celebration of timeless rock.
• Where: Madison Theatre, Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre
• Time: Various dates and times, through Aug. 2
• Contact: madisontheatreny. org or (516) 323-4444
jul
18
Country sounds
Eisenhower Park’s Summer Concert Series welcomes Simply Stapleton for a Chris Stapleton tribute.
• Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Contact: nassaucountyny.gov or (516) 572-0200
Summertime vibes
Cover City Soundtrack takes over the Jones Beach Bandshell for a free, all - ages night of pop - punk anthems, emo nostalgia, and shoreline summer energy. Parents can relive their Warped Tour days while kids discover why this music still hits hard. Expect jump - worthy pop - punk, heart - tugging emo classics, and the kind of electric beach - night vibe only Jones Beach delivers. From toddlers to teens to
full - grown elder emos, everyone can dance, laugh, and sing along. Bring your crew, your kids, your nostalgia, and your energy.
• Where: Jones Beach Boardwalk Bandshell, Field 4, 2400 Ocean Parkway, Wantagh
• Time: 8-10 p.m.
• Contact: CoverCitySoundtrack. com
jul
19
Rockin’ on Eisenhower Park’s Summer Concert Series continues with a double bill of Last Exit’s Pearl Jam tribute and Foo For All with Foo Fighters tunes.
• Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow
• Time: 6 p.m.
• Contact: nassaucountyny.gov or (516) 572-0200
Family theater
Lance the Eagle welcomes families to “A Semi-Quincenten-EAGLE Birthday” on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage. In this original production, families are invited to celebrate his birthday. His message: As the national bird, this party will be happening throughout the whole month of July. Come to think of it, I did hear something about a birthday for the
• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com
United States of America as well. Hmm...must be a coincidence! I’ll be throwing a parade through LICM’s galleries and a celebratory spectacle in the Theater. Come ready to party!” Keep an eye out 30 minutes before each show for a special interactive pre-show! For ages 3+. $5 with museum admission ($4 members), $10 theater only.
• Where: 11 Davis Ave., Garden City
• Time: 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; also July 22
• Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800
Hewlett Bay Park Board of Trustees meet Hewlett Bay Park Trustees hold their next meeting. All are welcome to hear monthly updates, express issues/grievances and learn about what is going on in your village.
• Where: 30 Piermont Ave., Hewlett
• Time: 6:30 p.m.
• Contact: (516) 295-1400
Woodsburgh Board of Trustees meet
The Woodsburgh Board holds their next meeting. All are welcome to
• Time: 7-9:30 p.m.
• Contact: (516) 295-5770
jul
22
Citizen Science: Monarch Larva Monitoring Project
Long Island Children’s Museum welcomes families to be a citizen scientist and study monarch butterflies in the museum’s Milkweed Garden. By measuring plants, rainfall, and monarch eggs you will be collecting real data that scientists can analyze! Your data will help them understand butterfly migration and will help conserve this species. Each Wednesday, take a walk through this garden and see how the plants grow as habitat for visiting monarchs! To join, meet at the front desk. For ages 4+
• Where: 11 Davis Ave., Garden City
• Time: 2-3 p.m., also July 29
• Contact: licm.org or call (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.
Looking into the future at America’s 300th
By Ni-Khan Veliieva and Ethan Kalontarov
As America looks ahead to its 300th anniversary, students are using their creativity and imagination to envision what the nation might look like 50 years from now. Through their drawings, young artists share their hopes, ideas and dreams for the future of America.
These student submissions offer a colorful glimpse into how the next generation views progress, possibil ity and change. Their artwork explores a wide range of ideas — from futuristic technology and environmental innovations to stronger communities, new discoveries and a continued commitment to the values that have shaped the country for nearly three centuries.
Together, these creative visions show the optimism and curiosity of young minds as they consider the possibilities ahead.
Each drawing tells a unique story about what students believe America can become. Some imagine advancements in science and transportation, while others focus on the importance of family, friendship, equality and protecting the planet.
LEGAL NOTICE
While no one can predict exactly what America will look like 50 years from now, these young artists remind us that the future is shaped by imagination, innovation and the dreams of each new generation.
As part of the celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, local
Public Notices
NOTICE OF SALE Supreme Court County of Nassau The Bank of New York Mellon fka The Bank of New York, as Trustee for the Certificateholders, CWALT, Inc., Alternative Loan Trust 2007-12T1 Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-12T1, Plaintiff AGAINST Sarwar H. Riaz, et al, Defendant Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on August 4, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, North sides of the steps, Mineola, NY 11501 on August 10, 2026 at 2:00 PM premises known as 721 Park Lane, Cedarhurst, NY 11516. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the County of Nassau, State of New York, SECTION: 39, BLOCK: 292, LOT: 116. Approximate amount of judgment is
$947,543.00 plus interests and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 000334/2016. This sale may be subject to the US Dept of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network Real Estate Reporting Rule. In such event, all purchasers are required to provide the information needed for proper reporting in accordance with the terms of sale. For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832. Francesco Tini, Referee FRENKEL LAMBERT WEISMAN & GORDON LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706 01-032194-F01 90318 161043
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD LOCAL LAW NO. 63-2026
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 7th day of July 2026, by the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead, on the proposed adoption of Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 63-2026, and following the close of the hearing the Town Board duly adopted Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 63-2026, to amend Section 197-15 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, to include and repeal “PROHIBITION OF LEFT TURNS” at various locations.
Dated: July 7, 2026
Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD
JOHN FERRETTI
Supervisor
KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 161226
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD
LOCAL LAW NO. 61-2026
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 7th day of July 2026, by the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead, on the proposed adoption of Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 61-2026, and following the close of the hearing the Town Board duly adopted Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 61-2026, 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: July 7, 2026
Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD
JOHN FERRETTI
Supervisor KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 161224
students were invited to imagine what the nation might look like when it celebrates its 300th birthday in 2076. Their written reflections offer a glimpse into the hopes, dreams and priorities of the next generation.
Many students envisioned a future shaped by remarkable advances in science and technology, with cleaner energy, smarter cities, self-driving transportation and breakthroughs in medicine improv-
ing everyday life. Others focused on protecting the environment, imagining healthier oceans, greener communities and innovative solutions to combat climate change.
Ni-Khan Veliieva: “At 300, robots are going to clean up!”
Ethan Kalontarov: “At 300, the flag will be on Jupiter”
News briefs
The Village of Lawrence is moving forward with a series of traffic safety measures in the Back Lawrence neighborhood.
Lawrence traffic safety
The Village of Lawrence is moving forward with a series of traffic safety measures after residents raised concerns about speeding and hazardous driving conditions in the Back Lawrence neighborhood.
At a recent Board of Trustees meeting, residents expressed concerns about excessive speeding along Causeway, Ocean Avenue, Harborview North, Harborview South and Narragansett Avenue. They said limited visibility, sharp roadway curves and the lack of sidewalks in some areas have created safety risks for pedestrians, bicyclists and families with young children.
In response, trustees approved resolutions authorizing additional traffic studies to evaluate new safety measures at several intersections. The proposed improvements include stop signs at Harborview North and Lawrence Avenue, Harborview South and Harborview West, and Causeway and Narragansett Avenue.
Village officials said they will work with residents and traffic safety professionals to determine what measures are most appropriate for each location.
For more information, residents may contact Village Hall at (516) 2394600.
Franklin Early Childhood Center First Grader Ni-Khan Veliieva.
Franklin Early Childhood Center First Grader Ethan Kalontarov.
Courtesy Village of Lawrence
Help Wanted
DRIVERS WANTED
Full Time and Part Time
Positions Available!
Busy Print Shop in Garden City is Hiring Immediately for Full Time and Part Time Drivers.
Must Have a Clean License and BoxTruck Driving Experience.
Hours Vary, Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $21 per hour
Night Availability is a Must. Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239
EDITOR/REPORTER
Part Time & Full Time. The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. Salary range is from $20K to $45K To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to jbessen@liherald.com
WAREHOUSE HELP
MAILROOM/
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
Operations/ Office Coordinator
Full-Time. Cedarhurst. $25–$30/hour. Seeking person with strong communication, organizational, computer skills. Resume: info@purebitessnacks.com
OUTSIDE SALES
Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Earning potential ranges from $35,360 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses. Compensation is based on Full Time hours
Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off. Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X250
PRINTING PRESS OPERATORS
FT & PT. Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for Printing Press Operators in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges from $20 per hour to $30 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com
Stat. Assist. Compile and anal. beauty category data to identify hi-perf. SKUs & trends; Synth. hist. sales & prod. records to forecast inventory needs; Maintain DBs & create visual dashboards/reports that translate
Eldercare Offered
To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5 • To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5
Waterfront Dream Home
Spectacular 8,100-square-foot stately brick Colonial offering seven bedrooms, seven full and two half baths on 215 feet of prime waterfront property. Beautifully renovated throughout, this exceptional home features a dramatic two-story entry foyer that opens to a second-floor balcony. Walls of windows flood the home with natural light while showcasing magnificent water views. Designed for both comfortable living and elegant entertaining, the home offers an exceptional flow and generously proportioned rooms throughout. The main-level primary suite overlooks the water and features two enormous walk-in closets and a luxurious radiant-heated bath with double vanities, separate water closets, a steam shower, and a Jacuzzi tub. The 2,100-square-foot finished basement, renovated just 10 years ago, includes a theater, recreation room, gym, wine cellar, bonus room, and full bath. The resortstyle backyard features a heated Gunite pool and spa, outdoor kitchen, expansive patio, and a newly renovated 215-foot raised vinyl bulkhead with a private dock for your boat. Additional highlights include a grand circular driveway and an attached three-car garage. Every luxury amenity has been thoughtfully included. Located in the Hewlett-Woodmere School District #14, this remarkable waterfront estate is conveniently close to the LIRR, shopping, and houses of worship. Asking $5,570,000. Call today to arrange your private viewing of this exceptional waterfront residence.
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What to do about cracking concrete, Part 2
Q. We have large cracks in our concrete driveway and garage floor, and want to make sure they are repaired correctly, since they appear to be recently done, possibly within a year before we purchased the house. In particular, there is a nearly round hole that turned to gravel, kind of, and we want to know why it happened and avoid having it happen again. What can you tell us?
A. As I previously explained, concrete reacts to extreme weather changes, and isn’t as stable as people think. Nature moves mountains, so your driveway was no challenge to the forces of nature. Extreme cold causes concrete to contract — push in on itself — while heat has the effect of stretching rigid concrete to the point of literally ripping apart.
As with any material, water and movement are the most critical factors to work with. You’ll never win over nature. The hole is basically like a zit, a buildup of pressure in a weaker place across the surface. Concrete develops strength as a chemical reaction to the specific combination of materials it is made from. With too much water in the mix, it will be weaker, especially in a particular spot. With not enough water to support the chemical reaction of Portland cement, sand and stone, the concrete will be weak. It’s important to follow the directions on the package(s) to get the correct mix.
Like any successful repair or construction project, analysis and planning are extremely important. You should have a professional take a look at the problem before you repair it, to decide if a repair is even worth it. A short consult more than pays for itself if it turns out you’d be wasting money on something that isn’t worth a quick fix. If that round hole reveals that there’s no steel reinforcement, for example, then the rest of the driveway is on its way to needing more serious work in the near future. If the hole reveals that the mix was too wet or too dry, or was poured in weather that was too cold, or that admixtures were the wrong combination, you’ll just be throwing good money after bad.
When I see concrete work being done in extreme cold or excessive heat, as I’m driving by, I make a mental note to double back, over time, to see how the experiment worked or didn’t work. You can only shake your head when you understand the possible outcome. There are concrete repair mixtures that include epoxy adhesives, but, again, follow the directions to the letter if you’re making the less expensive, quick repair.
It was invaluable for me to work with a mason, carpenter and painter during summers off from architecture school. The mason taught me to wet the area before continuing after our lunch break, not adding wet next to dry mortar. The dry area was already curing. The fresh mortar would have the moisture sucked right into the drier surface, weakening both, and the work in general. Good luck!
Monte Leeper
Stuff HERALD
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opinions America must not abdicate its leadership
Almost 60 years ago, former Secretary of State Dean Acheson wrote a memoir, “Present At the Creation,” which focused on the reality that the United States had to remake the world — or at least Europe — in the years after World War II. That required a rejection and repudiation of the isolationist “America First” policy that had predominated after World War I until Pearl Harbor.
In 1945, Hitler and Nazi Germany had been destroyed, and postwar Germany was in ruins. Though England and France had been victors, the war left them seriously weakened. The British economy was in shambles, and France, which had largely surrendered to Nazi collaborators during the war, was economically damaged and politically unstable.
Most ominously, it soon became apparent that Stalin’s Russia was intent on expanding Soviet rule in Europe, with no regard for treaties or territorial boundaries. Agreements such as Yalta and Potsdam were ignored as Soviet communist rule was imposed on
Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, East Germany and most of Eastern Europe, creating what Winston Churchill so accurately labeled the Iron Curtain.
Fortunately, the United States would not repeat the tragic errors it made after World War I, which led to the inexorable rise of Hitler and World War II. The first world war had left Germany impoverished, creating fertile ground for Hitler and the growth of Naziism. The U.S. had basically demobilized its armed forces after the “war to end all wars.”
UAs Hitler rebuilt the German war machine in the 1930s and Europe appeased Hitler at Munich, the U.S. was slow to respond, and then the America First movement opposed helping Churchill when England was under siege.
Ultimately, the Soviet empire would implode.
kraine needs American support, and in Iran we need NATO’s support.
Today, our world is in need of another act of creation. Russian President Vladimir Putin envisions a new Russian empire, beginning with the invasion of Ukraine. This was the first invasion of one sovereign European nation by another in the almost eight decades since World War II. This continuing attack threatens European stability and, as we should have learned from the two 20th-century conflagrations, America’s security is imperiled. The concept of Fortress America, with oceans protecting us, is outmoded, and potentially suicidal.
In the aftermath of World War II, however, the U.S. assumed the leadership of the free world. Unlike Germany under Hitler, Stalin’s Russian expansion would be halted. America First would be no more. The Marshall Plan was enacted to rebuild West Germany and Western Europe.
To prevent a replay of Munich and appeasement, NATO was created so that an attack on one would be an attack on all. Isolationism was over.
While Europe has stepped forward and provided Ukraine with needed weaponry, the Trump administration has cut off arms sales to Ukraine, instead selling them to Europe, which will provide them to Ukraine. This is unnecessarily convoluted, and is causing Ukrainian lives to be lost. The administration somehow sees a moral equivalence between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which isn’t that different from equating Hitler with Churchill.
Our lead negotiator, Steve Witcoff, is a real estate guy from New York with
no diplomatic experience, and he hasn’t met with the parties in months. Ukraine is fighting valiantly, and actually beating Russia on the battlefield. But being outnumbered and outgunned, Ukraine can’t survive without American support. Echoes of Munich! Similarly, we will not prevail in our struggle against Iran by announcing that we will never use ground troops or by pretending we are winning when we are stalemated by the Iranians, who have the ability to shut down the Strait of Hormuz. To succeed we will need the support of NATO nations to use their minesweeper expertise to clear the strait. That would have been easier if we had informed NATO of our intention to attack Iran in the first place. Every effort must be made to obtain congressional support, and to level with the American people that no war is easy, especially a war against religious fanatics. And every war has risks. Telling the enemy we won’t ever use ground troops only increases the risk of having to use them.
These are perilous times, and we cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of the past. America must show firm leadership. America First cannot be America alone!
Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.
No need for Democrats to panic about Mamdani & Co.
These past few weeks have been difficult for middle-of the-road Democrats. Candidates aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America have won roughly half of 70 or so contested primary contests nationwide. The Wall Street Journal called the DSA successes “the political story of 2026.”
But will the DSA drag the Democratic Party permanently to the left, or will it fade away, as the Tea Party did on the Republican side in the mid-2010s?
Over the past 50 years, I have seen the Democratic Party tugged left and center by a number of forces, but in the end the moderates have always won the tug of war. The first big DSA win was in New York City, when Zohran Mamdani was elected mayor. He has now been in office just over six months, and the political jury is still out on whether he will be able to hold on to his job for more than one term. To date, Mamdani has won some major victories, and kept his pledges to
the voters who supported him. He has gotten lots of money from Albany for pre-K and child care programs, and his promised rent freeze has been approved. He has not delivered yet on his promise of free buses, because that’s a cost that would hurt all New Yorkers who use mass transit, and can’t afford to subsidize bus riders.
GMamdani got elected by virtue of the fact that his only primary opponent was former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who turned out to be a weak candidate. Mamdani’s success can also attributed to the so-called socialists’ mastery of social media. Moderate Democrats have failed to use that medium as effectively, giving the DSA a gift that other candidates around the country have benefited from as well. Can the DSA become a major force in American politics? I personally doubt its long-term ability to survive, but I may be proven wrong. An August 2025 Gallup poll found that 39 percent of Americans had a positive view of socialism, while 57 percent had a negative view. Socialist positions like defunding the police, eliminating rent and solidarity with the Palestinian cause may ener-
overning in the modern era is a big challenge for a fledgling movement.
gize the base, but they remain liabilities in swing districts and national races. A recent article in the Atlantic reported that the DSA’s sectarian wing has refused to endorse a Democratic presidential nominee. That will undercut its political influence.
The recent DSA wins have been concentrated in cities such as New York, Seattle, Denver and Washington, where progressive voters dominate. The organization has no U.S. senators and only a handful of House members, and no member of the DSA has never won a statewide race. And the Mamdani victory is instructive. He won because he softened his image, distancing himself from defunding the police, and stuck to breadand-butter issues.
The socialist movement has an internal contradiction. Its ideologically pure wing alienates voters it needs to build majority coalitions, while its more electable candidates drift toward positions that look a lot like those of typical progressives. In the early 1970s, the New Democratic Coalition made a run at taking over the moderate wing of the Democratic Party, but failed because it
lacked a strong party structure. Electoral success in blue cities does not equal long-term political viability. For socialist candidates to establish durable legitimacy, they will need to demonstrate competence at governing. Mamdani is being watched closely to see if he can hold on to his base. To do so he will have to relax some of his stated positions, which has already unnerved some of his DSA supporters. One example, that went beyond his campaign pledges, was his decision to keep the city police commissioner, Jessica Tisch, in her position.
Some of my Democratic friends in high party positions have reached for the panic button, but I’ve urged them to hold their fire. The DSA and its base have yet to capture the Democratic centrists and hold them hostage. They may notch a few more wins, but governing in the modern era is a big challenge for a small, fledgling movement. History informs me that the moderates in the Democratic Party are still in charge, and, while threatened, are very much alive and well.
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.
Sports still bring us together
Sports have always been about more than wins and losses. At their best, they remind us that we have far more in common than the headlines, social media feeds and political arguments would have us believe.
Over the past several weeks, Long Islanders saw two remarkable examples.
The New York Knicks’ championship run transformed Long Island and New York City into one giant community gathering. Bars overflowed with fans wearing blue and orange. Families planned evenings around playoff game tipoffs. Friends who hadn’t watched a game together in years reunited.
Even people who only casually followed basketball found themselves caught up in the excitement. Whether you watched from a crowded sports bar, a watch party or your living room, you became part of something bigger than yourself.
The FIFA World Cup offered a different, but equally meaningful, lesson.
U.S. forward Folarin Balogun’s red card sparked spirited debate among soccer fans. Many questioned the referee’s decision, others defended it, and nearly everyone had an opinion. Yet those conversations, like so many others about the competition, remained focused on the pitch. Fans dissected tactics, coach-
YoUr oPiNioN MatterS
ing decisions and player performances not as ideological opponents, but as people who simply loved the game.
That distinction matters.
In too many corners of public life today, disagreement quickly turns into hostility. Every issue seems destined to become another battle in an endless culture war. Sports remind us that there is another way. You can passionately disagree with someone’s opinion, make your case, and then sit beside that same person to watch the next match.
Even after Belgium eliminated the United States, American supporters found themselves tipping their caps to a talented Belgian squad. There was disappointment, certainly, but also respect. Some fans even joked that Belgium had earned a little good karma along the way for not making Balogun’s controversial reinstatement an issue. That’s the beauty of sports. Defeat doesn’t have to produce bitterness. Sometimes it simply produces appreciation for excellence.
The same spirit carried Knicks fans through every dramatic moment of their championship run. Complete strangers celebrated together after clutch baskets. Subway rides morphed into rolling pep rallies. Neighborhood restaurants and bars became gathering places where age, politics, profession and background mattered far less than
the logo on a jersey.
For a few hours at a time, everyone was simply a fan. Those shared experiences strengthen communities in ways that statistics never can. They create memories between parents and children, lifelong friends and even strangers who may never meet again.
Years from now, many people won’t remember every score or every lineup change. But they will remember where they were, whom they were with and how it felt when an entire room erupted in celebration.
Our communities need more moments like that.
Sports won’t solve our political differences or erase the challenges we face. They shouldn’t have to. Their value lies elsewhere. They remind us that healthy competition doesn’t require contempt, that spirited debate doesn’t have to become personal, and that people with different backgrounds and viewpoints can still cheer, groan and celebrate together.
The Knicks gave New Yorkers a championship to remember. The World Cup is giving the world another reminder of soccer’s unmatched ability to unite people across borders and cultures. Long after the trophies are lifted and the final whistles blow, that is the real victory worth celebrating.
Your opinion Matters
The strength of our community comes from open dialogue. We invite residents to submit letters to the editor on issues affecting our neighborhoods, schools, businesses and local government.
The strength of our community comes from open dialogue. We invite residents to submit letters to the editor on issues affecting our neighborhoods, schools, businesses and local government.
Letters must include your name and contact information for verification. Send them to execeditor@liherald.com.
Letters must include your name and contact information for verification. Send lettters to execeditor@liherald.com
Be heard. Be part of the conversation.
Be heard. Be part of the conversation.
Two-year terms just aren’t long enough
as Mayor of the Village of Lawrence and someone who is entrusted with protecting taxpayers, I believe that village officials should serve four-year terms instead of two-year terms. This isn’t about politics or protecting incumbents. It’s about creating stable, accountable government that delivers better results for residents. While elections are essential to democracy, holding them every year in villages with staggered two-year terms creates unnecessary disruption, higher costs and weaker long-term planning.
Running a village requires consistency, not constant political uncertainty. Every election introduces the possibility of leadership changes that ripple throughout village government. Employees naturally wonder whether their positions will remain secure. Many update résumés and explore other opportunities. Even when nobody leaves, uncertainty affects morale, recruitment, retention and productivity. A stable workforce provides residents with better service than one distracted by annual political turnover. Frequent elections also limit sound personnel management. Appointed village officials often oversee complex
operations requiring experience and continuity. But one board generally should not bind a future board with long-term employment contracts. When terms are only two years, boards hesitate to make commitments that would strengthen administration. Qualified professionals may decline public service because employment uncertainty outweighs opportunity.
Major infrastructure improvements, public safety initiatives, grant applications, environmental projects and capital investments rarely fit neatly within one or two years. Planning takes time. Funding requires coordination.
Dallows taxpayer dollars to be invested where residents benefit most.
Longer terms also encourage thoughtful decision-making rather than constant campaigning. Leaders can focus on solving problems instead of immediately preparing for the next election. That creates opportunities to pursue meaningful reforms whose benefits may not appear overnight but may strengthen communities for generations.
ealing with constant political uncertainty, we don’t accomplish what we need to.
Construction encounters delays, regulatory reviews and unforeseen challenges. If leadership priorities shift after every election, projects risk being paused, redesigned or abandoned. Taxpayers ultimately pay more, because work gets restarted instead of completed efficiently.
Financial responsibility is another compelling reason to support four-year terms. Elections require staffing, legal notices, polling places, equipment, security, administration and other public expenditures. Conducting elections every year consumes money that could instead improve roads, parks, public safety, sanitation and other essential services. Reducing election frequency doesn’t reduce accountability. It simply
Framework by Tim Baker
Effective government should balance stability with accountability. Fouryear terms provide enough time to implement policies, measure results and allow voters to render informed judgments. Residents deserve the opportunity to evaluate completed initiatives rather than campaign promises interrupted by perpetual election cycles.
I do not believe, however, that any elected office should become permanent. Reasonable term limits remain important, because fresh perspectives inspire innovation, challenge complacency and encourage new leaders to step forward. Experience matters, but so does renewal. A healthy democracy combines continuity with periodic change. That balance protects institutions while ensuring that government never loses touch with the people it serves.
Across Nassau County, every village faces unique priorities, yet every one
depends on effective governance. Whether addressing public safety, infrastructure, fiscal stewardship, economic development, environmental resilience or neighborhood quality of life, successful boards need sufficient time to execute responsible plans. Four-year terms create that opportunity without eliminating democratic oversight. Elections remain regular, competitive and meaningful, but they no longer dominate every year of municipal service.
Our responsibility is not merely to win elections, but to leave our villages stronger, more efficient, fiscally responsible and better prepared for the future. Extending village terms to four years while maintaining sensible term limits would reflect that responsibility. It would strengthen government, respect taxpayers, support employees, protect long-term planning, and ultimately deliver better outcomes for every resident.
I encourage residents to judge this proposal not through a partisan lens, but considering the practical realities of governing. Stronger institutions, stable leadership, responsible budgeting and measured accountability benefit everyone, regardless of political affiliation. Four-year terms, paired with reasonable limits, would help every Nassau County village remain focused on service, stewardship and results for generations to come. Together we can build villages that honor public trust every single day and into the future.
Samuel Nahmias is the mayor of Lawrence.
Thrilling
thousands on chairs and blankets below, the Blue Angels celebrated the nation’s 250th birthday — Jones Beach
