First-grader Luke Siergiej with his mixed-media artwork at the Oceanside School District’s annual arts festival on March 31 at the high school, where student works from all grade levels were showcased. Story, more photos, Page 3.
By ABIGAIL GRIECO agrieco@liherald.com
The Jewish Sports Heritage Association honored standout student-athletes and national figures at its eighth annual Induction and Awards Ceremony last Sunday, continuing a mission that began with a simple goal — to celebrate Jewish excellence in sports.
Among this year’s honorees was Samantha Friedman, 19, an Oceanside native and 2025 graduate of Oceanside High School.
Founded in 2015 by Alan Freedman, director of the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame & Museum at the Suffolk Y in Commack, the organization highlights Jewish athletes at all levels of competi-
tion, countering stereotypes about them that have long plagued the world of sports.
“By highlighting Jewish athletes from across the sports world, it hopefully offers a starting point for discussions of stereotypes and prejudice,” Freedman said.
The ceremony was held at Temple Israel of Lawrence. It has become a centerpiece of the association’s work on the South Shore, recognizing both nationally known athletes and those from local high schools who excel not only in competition, but also in the classroom and community.
“Our goal is to educate the public about the role that Jewish men and women have played and continue to play in the world of sports,” Freed-
By ABIGAIL GRIECO agrieco@liherald.com
Dozens of Long Islanders rolled out yoga mats and stretched alongside playful puppies at South Shore Craft Brewery in Oceanside, where a lighthearted class served a deeper purpose: supporting rescue animals in need.
EThe April 12 puppy yoga session, hosted in partnership with Hope for Cleo Animal Rescue, blended gentle exercise with animal socialization and community outreach. The nonprofit, based in Smithtown, focuses on rescuing abandoned and high-risk animals — particularly pregnant dogs, nursing mothers and orphaned puppies — from overcrowded shelters.
“We do about 200 events a year,” Amanda Jo Guido, the organization’s founder and executive director, said, “everything from craft fairs to school visits to senior centers. It’s all about getting the dogs out into the community.”
The Oceanside event was one of many creative fundraisers the group organizes annually, but its impact extended beyond ticket sales. Participants paid to attend the class, with a portion of proceeds donated to the rescue, while others contributed supplies such as towels, treats and food — critical resources for a foster-based operation that relies heavily on community support.
ven if someone just leaves smiling, that’s a win. But if they leave with a new best friend, that’s even better.
AMANDA JO GUIDO
Executive director, Hope for Cleo Animal Rescue
Unlike traditional shelters, Hope for Cleo operates without a central facility, housing animals in foster homes, including Guido’s own home. That model allows for more individualized care while also increasing dependence on donations and volunteers.
“We’re a rescue, not a shelter, so we rely on the community to get us through,” Guido said.
The organization’s work has grown significantly since its founding in 2022, inspired by a deeply personal story. Guido creat-
CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
By ABIGAIL GRIECO agrieco@liherald.com
Community members and business leaders are invited to tee off for a cause as Mount Sinai South Nassau prepares to host its 42nd annual golf outing on May 11, raising funds to expand advanced cardiac care for South Shore residents.
The hospital has named Justin Breslin, vice president of Breslin Realty Development Corporation, as this year’s honoree. Dr. Jay Itzkowitz, chair of emergency medicine, will receive the Lifesaver Award, while Ralph Esposito, director of the Nassau County Veterans Service Agency, will be recognized for community service.
The outing — described as the largest annual hospital golf fundraiser on Long Island — will take place across three courses: The Seawane Club, Rockaway Hunting Club and Rockville Links Club.
Proceeds will support the hospital’s “Bringing Heart Home” campaign, an initiative aimed at enhancing cardiac services at its Oceanside campus, including the introduction of openheart surgery. The campaign seeks to raise $5 million over three years to fund new equipment and infrastructure.
Hospital leaders say the initiative will allow patients to receive advanced
cardiac care closer to home, reducing the need to travel to Manhattan or other parts of Long Island. Specialists from the Manhattan-based Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital — part of The Mount Sinai Hospital, which is ranked among the nation’s top programs for cardiology and heart surgery by U.S. News & World Report — are expected to perform procedures locally.
“We are grateful to the many companies and individuals who have supported our annual golf outing year in and year out,” said Tony Cancellieri, cochair of the event, noting that past contributions helped fund major projects such as the Fennessy Family Emergency Department and the Feil Family Pavilion.
Breslin, a third-generation real estate
developer, has played a key role in expanding his family’s firm to multifamily housing. His projects include redevelopments in Lynbrook and Baldwin, transforming underutilized properties into large-scale residential communities. Since joining the company in 2017, he has taken on increasing responsibility in leading, property management and long-term strategic planning.
Itzkowitz, who lives in West Hempstead, is being recognized for his leadership of the hospital’s emergency department, which handles about 70,000 patient visits annually. He has overseen operations during a $50 million renovation that expanded the department and introduced new patient care areas, including a dedicated behavioral health space.
Under his leadership, the department improved a key patient satisfaction metric — the rate of patients leaving without being seen — from seven percent in 2023 to below two percent in 2024. The department also received the Lantern Award from the Emergency Nurses Association, recognizing excellence in leadership, innovation and patient care. It remains the only Level II trauma center on Nassau County’s South Shore and is designated as a regional stroke center by the state.
Esposito, a longtime advocate for veterans, is being honored for decades of public service. A U.S. Navy veteran who served aboard the U.S.S. Ticonderoga, he has led efforts to connect veterans with essential services through the county agency. His work has earned numerous accolades, including induction into the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame and multiple community service awards.
“Ralph Esposito has dedicated his career to serving our country and helping the veterans who have sacrificed so much,” said Jeff Greenfield, co-chair of the hospital’s golf committee.
Event organizers said sponsorships, journal ads and foursomes are still available, along with a pickleball tournament for non-golfers. Proceeds from all activities will contribute to the hospital’s ongoing efforts to expand lifesaving cardiac care on the South Shore.
By ABIGAIL GRIECO agrieco@liherald.com
Student artwork spanning every grade level filled the gymnasiums at Oceanside High School on March 31 as the district hosted its annual districtwide arts festival, drawing large crowds of families, students and community members.
The event, organized under the direction of Media, Fine and Performing Arts Director Andrew FreyGould, showcased work from students as young as five years old through high school seniors. While the festival predates his tenure, FreyGould said it has evolved into a more focused visual arts exhibition centered on student work.
“It was created as a festival of all of the fine and performing arts,” he explained. “What it’s turned into is an art-specific festival, so an opportunity to show the community really all the amazing work that we do, and to give the students a chance to exhibit.”
That opportunity is key, he said, noting that while the artistic process is important, presenting finished work is an essential part of arts education.
“One of the major components of any art in general is to exhibit and to showcase,” Frey-Gould said.
All schools in the district participated, including kindergarten centers, creating a wide-ranging display of artwork across mediums and skill levels. Teachers selected pieces to be featured, often choosing standout work from various projects throughout the year and ensuring a broad representation of students.
At the high school level, the exhibit included a cross-section of courses such as ceramics, sculpture, drawing and painting, photography and film. Frey-Gould said the goal was to highlight students who are excelling while representing the diversity of the district’s art program.
The festival was held in the high school’s main and auxiliary gyms, with elementary artwork displayed in the auxiliary space and secondary-level work featured in the main gym. Film and digital media projects were screened in a nearby room, allowing for a dedicated viewing area.
Setting up the event required extensive coordination.
Putting the exhibit together required months of preparation and a full day of setup. Teachers and student helpers began work in the early morning, constructing temporary display walls and mounting artwork. Materials were ordered in advance, but preparation for the festival took place throughout the school year, with teachers collecting and preserving student work for possible inclusion.
“It’s quite the undertaking,” FreyGould said, noting that the installa -
tion process lasted several hours, while the exhibit itself was open for a limited time before being dismantled later that day.
Despite its short duration, the festival drew significant attendance.
Frey-Gould said it is one of the districts’ most popular events. Families attended to view their children’s work, often bringing extended relatives, while others came simply to appreciate the exhibit.
Music performances scheduled at intervals throughout the event also helped attract additional visitors, creating a dynamic, multidisciplinary atmosphere.
Looking ahead, Frey-Gould said he hopes to expand the festival’s format by securing a space where the exhibit could remain on display for a longer period, allowing more community members to experience the work.
Frey-Gould also emphasized the importance of arts education, calling it “a foundation of being human.”
Beyond creative expression, he said, students gain problem-solving abilities, hands-on skills and a sense of belonging.
“For some students, this is what keeps them coming to school,” he said. “They find their home in the arts.”
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The cast of Oceanside High School’s production of “Spamalot” recently had the privilege of meeting Steve Rosen, who played a number of characters in the original 2005 Tony Award-winning Broadway musical. As the cast rehearsed ahead of their April 24 opening night, they were able to learn from the Drama Desk award nominee about his experience with both “Spamalot” and show business itself.
An important theme that Rosen addressed was the natural humor that comes from a show based on a Monty Python film. Two OHS performers, Ellie Marmol and Sofia Garcia, are stepping into the same shoes that Rosen once wore. They were able to ask Rosen about the intricacies of the show’s technical elements in regard to the character Concorde getting shot with an arrow, and ways to get the audience laughing. “Don’t try to be funny, let the writing be funny,” Rosen said on the latter. “There’s something funny about someone who’s covered in filth flirting with somebody,” he said, laughing.
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The cast of OHS’s “Spamalot” hopes to welcome many members of the Oceanside community (anyone can purchase tickets for the hit musical). Rosen addressed the importance of community and collaboration both on stage and off. He described one of the many lessons he learned while working on “Spamalot.” “I learned that comedy is a team sport,” he said. “It’s like volleyball. The only reason you can spike that great line and win the point and get that laugh is because of how you were set up by what happens before it. The people on your team are creating the space and timing for you to deliver that great joke. This means the two or three lines before that laugh line are just as important in achieving that laugh. So when the audience laughs, that laugh belongs to everyone who set up that [moment]. Instead of saying ‘I got a laugh,’ I now see it as ‘we got a laugh.’”
Performer and student journalist Logan Bowe explained to Rosen that OHS acting teachers encourage students to make roles their own. “How did you make Sir Bedevere
your own?” asked Bowe. Rosen went on to share his unique perspective, which echoed OHS theatre teachers’ sentiments. “The people that they cast in the show-Tim Curry, David Hyde Pierce, Hank Azaria-none of them could do an impression; they could only really do their version of [the characters],” he said. “I think that was the encouragement that we got: ‘Talk like people talk.’ We were told not to recreate someone else’s work.”
Rosen also shared his favorite joke in the show and was thrilled to hear that OHS has included it in their production. “In ‘You Won’t Succeed on Broadway,’ they go, ‘Bum bum, ba dum, bum bum, bum bum, ba dum,’ and somebody walks by with a wagon and a thing of hay and everyone just goes ‘Hey!,’” he said. The actor made the meeting bright with his natural sense of humor and personable stories. He shared intimate anecdotes about his pants falling down during a performance of “The King and I” at just seven years old, and how that experience helped him find his love and passion for performing and comedy. He will continue to share his love for comedy as a co-writer for the Broadway-bound “The Griswolds’ Vacation,” as well as for the musical adaptation of the film Fifty First Dates.
The entire cast and crew of the OHS production of “Spamalot” at OHS was incredibly grateful to get advice from Rosen. “To have had an actor so charismatic grace the Oceanside Thespians with help for their show was a wonderful experience and will only make us work harder to put on an excellent show,” said performer Colin Prendergast. Everyone looks forward to having the Oceanside community join them for a phenomenal night of theatre.
To purchase tickets for “Spamalot” at Oceanside High School on April 24th and 25th at 7pm, visit CUR8.com .
—Logan Bowe Bowe is a journalism and theater senior at OHS and is a guest columnist for the Herald as part of the Work-Based Learning Program.
SEAFORD Senior Lacrosse
A DYNAMIC THREE-SPORT athlete who helped Seaford’s football team to the Nassau Conference IV championship and the basketball team to a deep run in the Class A playoffs, Falk is one of the most talented lacrosse players in the county. He shared the Herald’s 2026 Lacrosse Preview cover with West Hempstead’s Elizabeth Poirot. Bound for Villanova, Falk racked up 25 goals and 18 assists a year ago and earned All-County honors.
Thursday, April 16
Boys Lacrosse: Glen Cove at Freeport 5
Boys Lacrosse: Uniondale at Clarke
Boys Lacrosse: Hewlett at Baldwin 5
Girls Lacrosse: MacArthur at Mepham 5 p.m.
Baseball: Seaford at Lynbrook 5 p.m.
Baseball: Oceanside at East Meadow
Baseball: Farmingdale at Massapequa
Softball: Kennedy at East Meadow 5 p.m.
Softball: V.S. North at Baldwin 5 p.m.
Softball: Plainedge at Farmingdale 5 p.m.
Softball: Hewlett at South Side 5 p.m.
Friday, April 17
Baseball: MacArthur at Hewlett 5 p.m.
Baseball: South Side at Kennedy 5 p.m.
Softball: Freeport at West Hempstead 5 p.m.
Softball: Oceanside at Mepham 5 p.m.
Softball: Lawrence at East Rockaway 5 p.m.
Girls Lacrosse: Lynbrook at South Side 5 p.m.
Boys Lacrosse: Plainedge at Lynbrook 5 p.m.
Boys Lacrosse: Long Beach at Farmingdale 6 p.m.
Saturday, April 18
Girls Lacrosse: V.S. District at Sewanhaka 10 a.m.
Boys Lacrosse: Uniondale at East Meadow 1 p.m.
Nominate a “Spotlight Athlete”
High School athletes to be featured on the Herald sports page must compete in a spring sport and have earned an AllConference award or higher last season. Please send the following information: Name, School, Grade, Sport and accomplishments to Sports@liherald.com.
By DYLAN BUTLER sports@liherald.com
Oceanside’s baseball team is young, inexperienced, and has taken its lumps early in the season.
But the talent is unquestioned. It’s a scenario that reminds coach Mike Postilio Jr. about the team that formed the nucleus of the one that won 15 games and was one game away from competing for a county championship last year.
That Sailors side was led by the triumvirate of Dylan Beirne, Kyle Scheuer, and Luke Villella, all of whom are playing college baseball this spring.
“The senior group that graduated last year struggled as freshmen on varsity, which is understandable, but in the long run, they had some serious seasons in their junior and senior years, which is great,” Postilio Jr. said.
The Oceanside coach is hoping the beginning chapter of the next championship run is being written this year.
“We kind of see that same formula put in play here with these younger guys,” he said. “We knew it was coming this way, and we were ready for it. We just wish we could have snuck out a couple of wins early on. But they’re gaining experience every day.”
Playing in the unforgiving Conference AAA-I, the young Sailors are off to a 0-6 start. But results are secondary to development early in the season. Besides, all seven teams make the postseason, and that’s where Postilio Jr. is hoping Oceanside can play spoiler.
“It’s just a matter of us providing opportunities to these young kids so they can hopefully find their way throughout the regular season,” he said. “And then we can see if we can make some noise and be a disruptive team in the playoffs as we get closer to May.”
Providing the vital leadership on an inexperienced squad is shortstop Jack Regan, a senior captain who will play at Division II Bloomsburg and is one of the best hitters on the team.
Sophomore Matt Vlahakis came up late in the season as an eighth grader and started as a freshman. He is the No.
Mike Scotto and the Sailors are off to a slow start but are expecting to make strides as the season unfolds.
3 pitcher and third baseman, although he has the capability of playing anywhere in the infield.
Senior Jake Ganulin has slowly worked his way back after an offseason arm injury, but when healthy, he has command of multiple pitches.
Sophomore Brendan Mahoney and junior Chase Vargas have split starts in the second game of series. Mahoney is a righty who mixes up fastballs and curveballs, while Vargas is a lefty.
Sophomore Brad Albenda has been the Sailors’ best relief pitcher early on and plays third when Vlahakis is on the
mound. Sophomore Jaden Belone, a three-sport star, starts in centerfield and is a lefty bat and lefty arm who occasionally pitches.
Junior Peter Palotti and senior Jake Dyer both earned starting spots in the outfield as well, while freshman Nate Walker starts at first base.
“The kids who we feel have potential are getting valuable reps,” Postilio Jr. said. “The results from a score basis aren’t what we want, but these reps that these kids are getting are meaningful, and it’s going to help their growth for sure.”
man said. “We’re looking for not only a very good athlete but somebody who is academically up there and involved in the community.”
Friedman, now a freshman at Binghamton University majoring in biology on a pre-physician assistant track, was a two-sport athlete in high school, competing in soccer and track and field. She started playing soccer at age 4 and later joined competitive club teams, eventually playing on the high school varsity team for three years.
Track came later, in middle school, and she recommitted to the sport in high school at the encouragement of a friend, competing in the sprint events, ranging from 100 to 400 meters. What began as a secondary sport soon became a passion.
“I love track so much,” Friedman said. “It taught me so many lessons. It made me more confident. It taught me about putting in effort and working hard to get where you want to be.”
Balancing two sports along with academics was a constant challenge, she recalled. Friedman often went directly from track practice to spring club soccer, finishing her homework in the car.
“Academics came first,” she said. “But I wanted to do both, so I held myself accountable to making it work.”
While she found success in both sports, Friedman said track presented the greater challenge, in part because of
its individual nature.
“It’s really on you,” she said. “If you want to run a certain time, you have to put in the work. It’s such a mental sport — if you’re not in the right mindset, you’re not going to perform the way you want.”
Her track coach, Michael Howley, said Friedman stood out not only for her talent, but for her attitude and leadership.
“It couldn’t happen to a better person,” Howley said of her recognition. “She’s everything you want an athlete to be.”
Howley described Friedman as a humble competitor who avoided the spotlight despite consistent praise from teammates and coaches.
“She didn’t seek attention,” he said. “She was just focused on getting better and helping the team. That’s what made her so easy to root for.”
He recalled that Friedman’s growth accelerated as she began to recognize her own ability. “As a sophomore, she started to realize how good she was,” he said. “With that confidence, she just kept improving. She was willing to do the little things — working in the weight room, practicing [relay] handoffs — things that make a difference.
Friedman credited both her soccer and track teammates with shaping her experience, describing strong bonds and a shared commitment to improvement.
“We were always there for each other,” she said. “We pushed each other to be better, and that built a really strong work ethic.”
Her recognition by the JSHA came as a surprise, she said, but it was deeply appreciated.
“It means a lot to be honored for both academics and athletics,” Friedman said. “I didn’t even know something like this existed.”
At Binghamton, Friedman continues to run on her own when her schedule allows, while her focus is on her longterm goal of becoming an orthopedic physician assistant. Her interest in the field was influenced by both her academics and her experience as an athlete — including exposure to sports injuries.
“I’ve always been interested in science and health care,” she said. “Seeing injuries in sports definitely played a role in pushing me toward orthopedics.”
Looking back on her time in Oceanside, Friedman said she hopes to be remembered as a well-rounded student athlete.
“If it’s something you want to do, you have to work for it,” she said. “You have to put in the effort.”
Through athletes like Friedman, Freedman said, the association’s mission continues to resonate — highlighting not only academic and athletic achievement, but the values that make it possible.
invites you and your family to visit the NATION’S ONLY
Come learn about local disability rights pioneer Dr. Henry Viscardi, Jr. and explore over 125 artifacts highlighting the fight for equal opportunity for people with disabilities.
The museum provides an inclusive, fully accessible experience for all visitors and is the perfect place to spend a fun and educational day with your family. School field trips and group tours welcome.
Uneven investment in treatment, emerging contaminants leave many residents feeling vulnerable
By Roksana amid, stacy dRiks & Hailey FulmeR of the Herald
Sixth installment in a series about water.
Concerns about water quality remain visible and closely tied to patterns of neglect in communities across Long Island.
In the region, water problems don’t exist in isolation. Flooding, contamination and aging infrastructure are increasingly intersecting, and all of it can be traced back to a single source: the Island’s underground aquifer system. The sole-source system supplies all of the region’s drinking water, leaving little margin for error as environmental pressures intensify.
neglect beneath the surface
In Uniondale, aging infrastructure, delayed upgrades and a lack of investment are reflected in a deteriorating water tower and broader concerns about environmental health. The tower is known locally as “Old Rusty,” according to Pearl Jacobs, president of the Nostrand Gardens Civic Association, and has stood for more than three decades without proper maintenance. Experts typically recommend inspection, repainting and structural upkeep every seven years, Jacobs said.
“It’s beyond repair,” she said of the tower. “You can see the corrosion. There were reports of leaks. This is not just infrastructure; it’s a health and safety issue.”
Despite years of complaints, advocates like Jacobs say local officials initially proposed only cosmetic fixes, such as applying internal epoxy coatings to stop leaks. It was only after community pressure that roughly $10 million was allocated in 2025 for a new tower. The project is still in its early stages over a year later. The new tower is planned to be fully operational by the summer of 2027.
Residents have reported brown water in their homes, raising concerns about unsafe levels of contaminants. Water quality studies conducted one of Jacobs civic partners, Jeannine Maynard, cofounder of the Greater Uniondale Area Action Coalition and vice president of the Uniondale Community Land Trust indicated elevated levels of 1,4-dioxane, [a synthetic industrial chemical that is often found as a contaminant in water supplies, especially in places with past manufacturing or heavy chemical use], in the system.
Uniondale’s water infrastructure also includes aging pipes, with much of the system’s lead content still unknown. Maps show large portions of Uniondale untested, highlighting gaps in oversight compared with nearby communities. Advocates say these combined issues — brown water, an outdated tower, unknown lead risks and industrial contamination — reflect broader inequities.
a pattern of delays and uncertainty
The water tower is not just a one-off
issue but, for many residents, part of a broader pattern of neglect in the Town of Hempstead.
Jacobs pointed to a stark comparison: while Uniondale’s water tower deteriorated, West Hempstead received millions of dollars for a new facility. “They took taxpayer money and invested it elsewhere while our infrastructure was failing,” she said.
Uniondale residents, Jacobs said, have been diagnosed with a variety of cancers. “People start asking questions like, ‘What’s in our water?’”
reflects “a level of neglect,” leaving residents in the dark about risks.
“When things are ignored for decades, it sends a message,” Maynard said. “The question is: whose communities get prioritized and whose are left waiting?”
researchers are still working to understand the full scope.
Rising seas, stronger storms strain water supply
“We have a single-source water supply on Long Island,” Ali FarhadZadeh, an associate professor of civil engineering at Stony Brook University, said. “The water basically comes from the ground — from the aquifer.”
Residents wonder about the safety of their water because much of the community’s infrastructure has not been fully studied, said Maynard.
An interactive map from the League of Conservation Voters shows that while neighboring Hempstead has many defined lead service lines, most of Uniondale is listed as unknown, raising concerns about potential contamination. Air studies and local health data suggest higher rates of certain conditions, such as asthma, in the community, which may be linked to environmental exposure. Experts say the lack of detailed pipe inventories and testing
She also pointed to growing concern over PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a class of human-made chemicals often referred to as “forever chemicals” because they do not break down easily in the environment or the human body. Used for decades in products designed to resist heat, water and stains — including firefighting foam, nonstick cookware and waterproof materials — PFAS have entered groundwater through industrial processes.
And because Long Island relies on a sole-source aquifer, those contaminants can persist and circulate throughout the region, Maynard said. “These weren’t things people were even looking for,” she said. “So they built up over time.”
She added that PFAS and related contaminants have been detected widely across Long Island. Exposure has been linked in studies to increased risks of cancers, hormone disruption and other long-term health effects, though
As storms grow more frequent and sea levels rise, that system is under mounting strain. Heavier rainfall is overwhelming drainage systems and saturating the ground, increasing flooding and raising the risk of saltwater intrusion.
“We have saltwater that’s in the sediment, under the ocean on the South Shore,” Ryan Wallace, assistant professor at Adelphi University’s Department of Environmental Studies and Sciences said. “That saltwater could actually make its way to make its way into and mix with the freshwater aquifer, and that’s a lot of different towns.”
While residents are not drinking saltwater, intrusion can render wells unusable and reduce the region’s supply of clean drinking water.
New York state launched a pilot program on March 8 to help residents with private wells testing for PFAS contamination and cover cleanup costs. Suffolk is among the counties expected to be
Continued from PreViouS PAGe
included.
Eligible homeowners can receive free testing and may qualify for rebates of up to $5,000 for filtration systems or $10,000 to connect to public water companies.
“It makes infrastructure like septic systems and pipelines very vulnerable,” FarhadZadeh said of heavy rainfall. “They’re old — they’re not built for the new norm that we have with these storm patterns.”
Low-lying communities — particularly along the South Shore and in eastern Suffolk County — face more frequent flooding and infrastructure stress. Flooding is no longer limited to major storms.
When groundwater is already close to the surface, even routine rainfall can overwhelm drainage systems, creating a direct pathway between surface pollution and the aquifer.
“When it floods, water picks up and carries a lot of pollutants with it,” Robert Hayes, Environmental Advocates NY’s senior director of clean water, said. “Those pollutants might make their way into drinking water sources, whether it’s groundwater or surface water.”
Hayes said that investing in naturebased solutions such as wetlands or rain gardens could help capture water before it carries pollutants.
Aging infrastructure adds to growing risks
Many of Long Island’s water and sewer systems were built decades ago, at a time when both population and climate pressures were lower.
“The aging infrastructure is a big deal,” FarhadZadeh said. “I think it should be taken very seriously.”
Systems not designed to handle today’s volume of stormwater can quickly become overwhelmed, increasing the likelihood of overflows, leaks or system failures.
A $250 million water infrastructure funding package announced by Gov. Kathy Hochul on March 12 includes projects aimed at upgrading aging systems and improving water quality statewide. It includes $23 million for the Village of Hempstead and $5 million for PFAS treatment in Williston Park.
Hayes said that such investments are critical, but risks — and resources — vary across the region.
“Long Island has some of the most polluted drinking water in the state of New York,” he said. “But there is much more contamination still out there, and much more still to be done to make sure that no New Yorker is exposed to harmful levels of contamination when they turn on the tap.”
“Drinking water and quality issues on Long Island — we can consider them to be disproportionately affecting certain communities,” Wallace said. “Especially communities with older infrastructure, in close proximity to industrial zones or historically industrial areas.” Communities like Uniondale and Hempstead Village, which also have fewer resources to address the problem.
Exposure to contaminated drinking water, Wallace said, has been associated with increased risks of cancers including stomach, bladder, kidney, ovarian and prostate.
As flooding increases and infrastructure continues to age, the challenge for Long Island is not just protecting its water supply, but understanding how interconnected pressures are reshaping it from the ground up.
N. Shore water divide highlights cost and quality
Glen Cove’s drinking water meets all state and federal safety standards, according to the city’s 2024 annual water quality report, but maintaining that standard has required years of infrastructure upgrades, careful management of its well system and, at times, reliance on neighboring communities.
In nearby Glen Head and Sea Cliff, water is supplied privately by Liberty Utilities, highlighting differences not only in cost, but in how water systems are maintained and experienced by residents.
Glen Cove relies on a network of six municipal wells, including sites at Duck Pond Road, Nancy Court, Seaman Road and Kelly Street. According to former Councilwoman Marsha Silverman, the system was under significant strain eight years ago , with only two of the six wells operational at the time.
Multiple wells were offline for different reasons — contamination, storm damage, long-term deterioration — forcing the city to act quickly to restore capacity.
“We had purchased a couple hundred thousand dollars’ worth of water from Locust Valley because we couldn’t supply Glen Cove,” Silverman said.
To stabilize the system, the city
implemented a multi-year plan that included installing temporary filtration systems at the Duck Pond Road wells to address freon contamination, repairing the Kelly Street well after a lightning strike, and fully rehabilitating the Seaman Road well.
That work is ongoing. In January, the City Council approved more than $700,000 in additional repairs to the Seaman Road well, awarding a $776,000 contract to Philip Ross Industries Inc. to upgrade its granular activated carbon system. The improvements are intended to better regulate PFAS, which have been linked to serious health risks, and ensure that the well remains in compliance with state Department of Health standards.
The investment follows a broader pattern of spending, with the city investing tens of millions of dollars in its water system in recent years, including a $5 million rehabilitation project completed in 2024 at the Seaman Road station. Those upgrades are necessary as state and federal guidelines for contaminants become increasingly strict.
“There was always talk about building a seventh well, because we really need it,” Silverman said.
Despite those infrastructure challenges, Glen Cove’s municipal system remains relatively affordable compared with neighboring communities, because it is publicly operated and not for profit.
Residents’ quarterly bills typically range from $40 to $50 in the winter to a few hundred dollars in the summer, depending on usage.
In contrast, residents of Glen Head and Sea Cliff — served by private systems — often face significantly higher costs, with some paying hundreds of
dollars per month. Those systems generally factor operational expenses, infrastructure upgrades and profit into their rate structures, contributing to higher bills.
For Glen Head resident Agatha Nadale, the cost is substantial — about $1,800 per year. Her concerns, however, extend beyond the money.
“I can remember [in the ’70s] we’d fill a pitcher of water in the summer and there were these, like, little squiggly things swimming in the water,” she said. She also recalled a strong chlorine taste, and said those early experiences continue to shape how she uses water today. Nadale said she relies on a wholehouse filtration system, and does not drink tap water.
“I have already saved a handful of families from buying homes where Liberty Utilities is,” she said.
While Glen Head’s system has undergone upgrades — including carbon filtration systems designed to remove PFAS and meet stricter standards for water quality — public perception has not always kept pace with those improvements.
Although Glen Cove’s system remains compliant, continued monitoring and investment will be necessary as environmental standards evolve.
That concern extends across Long Island, where all communities rely on the same groundwater source and face challenges not only of contamination and saltwater intrusion, but also of steadily increasing demand.
Silverman has also raised the possibility of long-term alternatives, including desalination, though no formal plans have been established.
At the federal level, U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi said that water quality has been a longstanding priority.
“This has been a problem for a long time, and I’ve been working on improving our water quality on Long Island for over 30 years,” Suozzi said. “Dealing with aging infrastructure as mayor of Glen Cove, I realized how crucial drinking water projects were to my community. I installed one of the earliest ‘granulated activated carbon’ filtration systems on Long Island.”
“Improvements need to consistently be made to ensure our water remains safe,” he added.
For Glen Cove, the ability to draw from neighboring systems like Locust Valley provides a critical safety net. But it also highlights the importance for the city of maintaining its own infrastructure — particularly its network of wells — as demand continues to grow.
Across the North Shore, the contrast is clear: While water may come from the same aquifer, the cost, management and experience of that water can vary significantly from one community to the next.
And for residents like Nadale, of Glen Head, those differences are not abstract — they shape daily decisions about cost, safety and trust in what comes out of the tap.
ed the rescue in honor of her family dog, Cleo, a French bulldog who served as a seizure-alert companion for her daughter, Logan, who has epilepsy. Cleo was later diagnosed with a rare neurological disease that left her paralyzed.
After caring for Cleo for several years, Guido and her family decided to honor her legacy by helping other animals in need.
“Cleo crossed our path for a reason,” Guido said. “She changed our lives, and now we’re trying to do that for as many animals as we can.”
That mission has translated into tangible results. In 2025 alone, the rescue reported 73 puppies born in its care, with all mothers and litters successfully placed in homes.
At the brewery, several of those rescue puppies — some just weeks old — wandered among yoga mats, drawing laughter and frequent pauses in the workout as participants stopped to pet and play with them.
The class was led by Long Island yoga instructor Lauren Goldfarb, who has partnered with the rescue on multiple puppy yoga sessions.
“These sessions help people feel good about helping rescue dogs get socialized and hopefully adopted while also taking care of themselves,” Goldfarb said. “You’re moving, you’re breathing and you’re present — but you’re also connecting with the puppies.”
Goldfarb said she structures the classes to encourage interaction, keeping poses low to the ground and incorporating familiar stretches like downward-facing dog — often mirrored by the puppies running across participants’ mats.
“It’s a gentle class suitable for all levels,” she said. “And honestly, seeing the joy the puppies have, you can’t help but smile.”
For Hope for Cleo, that joy plays a key role in the adoption process. Guido said bringing dogs into public spaces increases their visibility and helps potential adopters connect with them in a relaxed environment.
“If I take a puppy into a store or a public place, we get an adoption,” she said. “People connect with them right away.”
The rescue sources animals from a range of locations, including New York, Maryland and southern states, where overcrowding in shelters often leads to euthanasia. Dogs are transported north through regulated systems or retrieved directly by volunteers.
Many arrive in poor condition, Guido explained, including some rescued from neglectful or unsafe environments. The
organization works to rehabilitate the animals before placing them in permanent homes.
Adoption is a careful, multi-step process. Prospective owners must submit an application, undergo interviews, and participate in a virtual home check. Foster families also play a role in the final decision.
“It’s like giving away a child,” Guido said. “We love them. We’re so thorough because we want to make sure it’s the right fit.”
Despite the challenges — including the high cost of veterinary care and a recent flood that damaged the organization’s kennel space — Guido said the work remains deeply rewarding.
One of the group’s priorities moving forward is expanding access to affordable spay and neuter services, which are limited and costly in the region.
“That’s what we really need,” Guido said. “We need to get these dogs medical care. There’s just not enough of it. That’s why we do all these fundraisers — to better their lives.”
Goldfarb said that combining mindfulness with animal interaction creates a unique experience that resonates with participants.
“It’s a non-intimidating way to try yoga,” she said. “And it helps people practice kindness, not just on the mat, but off it too.”
As the class wrapped up, many participants lingered, holding puppies and chatting with volunteers — a sign that the event had achieved its goal.
“Even if someone just leaves smiling, that’s a win,” Guido said. “But if they leave with a new best friend, that’s even better.”
By ANGELINA ZINGARIELLO azingariello@liherald.com
To mark Small Business Week, May 3-9, PSEG Long Island will host a Business First Workshop to support small businesses across the region.
The workshop is scheduled for May 6, from 9 to 11 a.m., at the Nassau County Office of Emergency Management, at 510 Grumman Road West in Bethpage, commonly referred to as the old Grumman building. The event is intended to bring together business owners and PSEG Long Island representatives to share information about programs and services that can help businesses operate more efficiently and manage energy use and costs.
“PSEG Long Island is proud to support our local business community — the entrepreneurs who invest in our neighborhoods, drive local economy and create jobs,” Veronica Isaac, PSEG Long Island’s senior manager of Economic Development, said. “Our Business First Workshop on May 6 will present all of the products and services offered by our PSEG Long Island Business First program for small and medium business owners. We will also have a special recognition ceremony to honor local companies and business organizations that participate in, promote and support our programs.”
The company’s Business First program provides businesses with dedicated support for managing electricity needs, as well as information on billing processes and energy-efficiency incentives. Other areas of focus include building and renovation services, electric vehicle infrastructure and fleet incen -
tives, and procurement-related opportunities.
The topics will include digital tools such as the utility’s app and online account management platforms, as well as economic development initiatives that offer grants and bill credit opportunities.
Presenters will include Nayan Parikh, on digital channels; Christine
Bryson, on economic development; Alex Nyilas, on the Business First program; Alexandro Campos, on billing; Brittany Degel, on energy efficiency; Nicole Jones-Cumberbatch, on building and renovation services; Paul DiBenedetto, on electric vehicles; and Jimmy Alty, on procurement.
The workshop will also provide an opportunity for attendees to connect with Business First Advocates and representatives from procurement and building and renovation services, offering direct access to support resources.
Long Island is home to more than 100,000 small businesses, according to the Long Island Association, underscoring their significance to the regional economy.
“We proudly share information about PSEG Long Island’s revitalization programs with all new businesses in our community,” Cheryl Fajardo, past president of the Greater New Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce, said. “As a strong partner in local economic development, PSEG Long Island has played a vital role in helping us improve our downtown areas through beautification projects, infrastructure support and promotional efforts.”
Pre-registration is recommended by emailing PSEGLI-Businessfirst@psegliny.com.
By CHRIS COLUCCI ccolucci@liherald.com
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, the Republican nominee for governor, held a news conference last week to laud the county’s budget surplus and financial stability. Blakeman also called for an end to the strict oversight of the Nassau Interim Finance Authority, which was created in 2000 to monitor county finances.
“We are calling on NIFA to basically transfer from being a control authority to an advisory authority,” Blakeman said on April 10. “NIFA costs county taxpayers approximately $3 million a year in administrative expenses. That money is unnecessary. It is not doing anything to help our fiscal status.”
The $3 million cost Blakeman cited is a rough estimate of the combined salaries of the five NIFA committee members. The committee has had oversight of county spending since 2011.
“We will do everything necessary to make sure that we are no longer burdened in a control period that is completely unnecessary, unwarranted and, quite frankly, not according to the law,” Blakeman added.
Richard Kessel, chairman and director of NIFA, delivered a direct rebuttal, saying, “The only reason the county budget is balanced is that it got over $200 million in federal funding during
Covid, and it’s using that money and other reserves to balance and to hide what is a deficit.” In 2024, Blakeman’s administration moved more than $220 million received from federal pandemic aid into the county’s general fund.
Blakeman noted recent county prosperity — including seven bond upgrades in the past three and a half years and gross economic output that he described as larger than that of nearly 150 mem-
bers of the United Nations — before addressing the potential for a political slant to NIFA’s financial control.
“NIFA has been a political machine, governed by [Gov.] Kathy Hochul,” he said. “She wants to control every aspect of our business here in Nassau County, just like she has throughout the state of New York.”
Blakeman said that State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, a Democrat, has
declared that the county has no fiscal stress. And County Comptroller Elaine Phillips, a Republican, emphasized Nassau’s financial health despite rising costs statewide. “In 2024 to 2025, we saw almost a $5 million increase in health insurance costs,” Phillips said, “[and] a 23 percent increase in our pension costs.”
Phillips commended Blakeman’s decision not to raise county taxes for the entirety of his four-year tenure, and added that NIFA’s shift to an advisory role would be appropriate. “I wholly support that NIFA does not keep us in a control period,” she said.
County Treasurer David Chiang also voiced support for reduced NIFA oversight while stressing the county’s current financial position. “Nassau County is in the best fiscal shape it’s ever been in,” he said. “Without cutting services, we have maintained our service level while keeping revenues stable. Our expenses have been going down. We have budget surpluses.”
“Bruce Blakeman has no authority to decide whether there’s a control period in effect,” Kessel said. “It’s our position that a control period is absolutely necessary, and we will continue it going forward. It’s up to us to decide whether or not to decide to have a control period. If he doesn’t comply with it, we’ll take the appropriate action at the appropriate time.”
By ALYSSA R. GRIFFIN agriffin@liherald.com
Rex Heuermann admitted in Suffolk County Court last week to being the Gilgo Beach serial killer, and to murdering seven women whose remains were found along Ocean Parkway between 1993 and 2011.
Heuermann said on April 8 that he strangled Melissa Barthelemy, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Amber Lynn Costello, Sandra Costilla, Valerie Mack, Jessica Taylor and Megan Waterman. He also admitted to killing Karen Vergata, who disappeared in 1996. Her remains were found later on Fire Island and near Tobay Beach.
“When Rex decided that he wanted to accept responsibility and didn’t want to proceed the trial, from a defense standpoint, we then pivoted and did our best to protect his interest,” Michael Brown, Heuermann’s attorney, said. “That included the fact that he’s going to cooperate with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Behavioral Analysis Unit.”
Heuermann is expected to be sentenced to three consecutive terms of life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murders of Barthelemy, Costello and Waterman. He is also expected to receive four consecutive sentences of 25 years to life for the killings of Brainard-Barnes, Costilla, Mack and Taylor. Sentencing is scheduled for June 17.
Brown stated that with this new plea, Heuermann will face no further prosecution.
Asa Ellerup, Heuermann’s ex wife, attended the hearing with their daughter, Victoria Heuermann, and attorney Robert Macedonio.
“Rex Heuermann, and Rex Heuermann alone, is responsible for these horrific crimes,” Macedonio
said. “Any suggestion that Asa Ellerup and Victoria Heuermann were involved is irresponsible. They have no knowledge, no involvement or any connection to these heinous acts.”
“My thoughts are prayers are with the victims and their families,” Ellerup said. “Their loss is immeasurable, and the focus should be on them. I ask that you give some privacy to my family as they navigate this very difficult time.”
In January, Heuermann appeared before state Supreme Court Justice Timothy Mazzei, and his attorneys filed a 178-page omnibus motion seeking multiple forms of legal relief, including dismissal of a second-degree murder charge in the 1993 death of Costilla and a review of grand jury minutes.
He had previously pleaded not guilty, and his attorneys mounted a broad challenge to the prosecution’s case. At earlier court proceedings, the defense focused on disputing key forensic evidence, particularly DNA analysis that prosecutors said linked Heuermann to the victims.
Defense attorneys argued that the testing methods and conclusions should be closely examined, raising questions about how the evidence was collected and interpreted. They also challenged other elements of the investigation, signaling an effort to weaken the case and prepare for a potential trial.
Prosecutors maintained that the evidence was strong, citing DNA findings, cellphone data and years of investigative work that led to Heuermann’s arrest.
In September, Mazzei ruled that Heuermann would face one trial for all seven of the alleged murders.
Additional reporting by Carolyn James.
Seven women were killed between 1993 and 2010. Their remains found near Gilgo Beach and Ocean Parkway.
Rex Heuermann admitted to killing the following women:
Melissa Barthelemy — strangled July 10, 2009.
Maureen Brainard-Barnes — strangled July 9, 2007.
Amber Lynn Costello — strangled Sept. 2, 2010.
Sandra Costilla — strangled Nov. 19, 1993.
Valerie Mack — strangled and dismembered between Sept. 1 and Nov. 1, 2000.
Jessica Taylor — strangled and dismembered around July 23, 2003.
Megan Waterman — strangled June 6, 2010.
Heuermann also admitted to killing:
Karen Vergata — disappeared in 1996; remains found later on Fire Island and near Tobay Beach.
–Heuermann allocution
By Karen Bloom
Spring has surely sprung (at last) — and we’re very much attuned to Earth Month as we embrace the outdoors. It’s great get out and about and not feel so housebound, which leads many of us to rethink how we use our outdoor space. The season definitely invites us outside, offering a chance to reconnect with nature right at home and shape a backyard that works for everyday living.
Start by considering how your yard can better serve your household. Maybe you’re envisioning a space for easy entertaining, a safer play area for kids and pets, or simply a peaceful retreat to unwind. Increasingly, homeowners are embracing “backyarding” — bringing indoor comforts like dining, lounging and even workouts into the open air.
A little planning now can pay off all season long, with vibrant blooms, fresh herbs and a space that feels both functional and inviting.
“With the season’s first signs appearing, this is the time to prepare your garden for months of enjoyment,” garden design expert Fiona Jenkins says.
Here are her practical tips for creating a beautiful, low-maintenance yard that doesn’t demand all your free time.
When it comes to flower beds, smaller is often smarter. Narrow beds — about one to two feet wide — are easier to plant, maintain and keep looking tidy.
Limiting plant variety can also make a big difference. Sticking to a handful of dependable options helps you better handle their needs and simplifies care. Hardy perennials such as geraniums and peonies, along with evergreen shrubs, offer reliable color year after year without the need for constant replanting.
“Once established, these plants can provide lasting beauty with minimal effort,” Jenkins says. “Just be
sure you understand their watering, feeding and pruning needs before planting.”
Healthy soil is the backbone of any successful garden. Investing in rich, organic soil — and refreshing it annually with compost — helps plants thrive while reducing the necessity of frequent watering and fertilizing.
Mulch is another essential. A layer of organic material such as bark, leaves or compost helps retain moisture, regulate soil temperature and keep weeds in check — all while improving soil quality over time.
“Mulching is a great way of protecting your soil and making it last longer by helping to maintain moisture levels and prevent weeds from growing,” she explains.
Incorporating hard surfaces like decking, patios or walkways can transform a backyard into a more usable living space. These elements provide structure, define different zones and create natural gathering areas.
Composite decking remains a popular choice for its durability and low maintenance, while natural stone, concrete or porcelain pavers offer a clean, timeless look.
Thoughtful additions like built-in lighting can extend the use of your yard into the evening, adding both safety and ambiance.
For visual interest with minimal upkeep, consider a rock garden. Combining alpine plants or succulents with layered stones and pebbles creates texture and dimension — without demanding much attention.
Raised beds are a practical solution for both flowers and vegetables. They help contain plant growth, improve drainage and make gardening more accessible. Whether placed over existing soil or integrated into a patio design, they also serve as attractive focal points.
“A raised flower bed will stop them from spreading out of control and add a focal point of interest to your garden,” Jenkins says.
Let
For a softer, more natural look, consider embracing a slightly “wild” aesthetic. Swapping part of a traditional lawn for a meadow-style area can reduce maintenance while supporting pollinators.
“This isn’t to say you should let it grow completely out of control, but your garden can look beautiful with the aesthetic of a grassy meadow rather than an urban space,” she continues.
Scattering wildflower seeds introduces bursts of color and attracts bees and butterflies, creating a lively, ever-changing landscape that benefits the local ecosystem.
With thoughtful choices and a bit of early effort, your backyard can become one of your favorite places to spend time this season and throughout the year — a space that feels as welcoming and comfortable as any room inside your home.
The acclaimed national touring showcase returns with a curated showcase of standout short films — many seen by the local audience for the first time. Presented by Asbury Shorts, the New York City-based long-running short film exhibitor, the program highlights an eclectic mix, including film festival favorites and Oscar-recognized selections. The dynamic lineup spans genres, from sharp comedies like “The Tailor,” where culture and confusion collide on a Brooklyn street (pictured), to compelling dramas, inventive animation and occasional thoughtprovoking documentaries. This is a rare opportunity to experience these cinematic “hidden gems” in a true theater setting — films that often don’t reach traditional big screens. These shorts provide a window into emerging filmmakers alongside early works from directors who go on to achieve major acclaim.
Friday, April 17, 7 p.m. Madison Theatre, Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. Tickets available at madisontheatreny. org or (516) 323-4444.
Micky Dolenz celebrates the 60th anniversary of The Monkees with a special tour honoring the band’s enduring legacy and timeless sound. In this nostalgic and high-spirited performance, Dolenz takes audiences on a musical journey through The Monkees’ rise to fame, performing their biggest hits in chronological order while sharing personal stories from his decades in entertainment — as he keeps the music alive for new generations As the last surviving member of the beloved group, Dolenz brings both heart and history to the stage, paying tribute to bandmates Davy Jones, Peter Tork and Michael Nesmith, while celebrating the fans who helped transform a fictional TV band into a global sensation. This is sure to be a heartfelt, hit-filled evening that blends music, memories and a lasting connection to one of pop culture’s most iconic acts.
Sunday, April 19, 8 p.m. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.
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Family theater
It’s the final weekend for Long Island Children’s Museum staging of “Pete the Cat,” the charming musical based on the book series by Kimberly and James Dean. Life is certainly an adventure for Pete, no matter where he winds up. So the minute the groovy blue cat meets The Biddles, he gets the whole family rocking. That is, except for young Jimmy Biddle, the most organized second grader on planet Earth. But when Jimmy draws a blank in art class during the last week of school, it turns out Pete is the perfect pal to help him out. Together, they set out on a mission to help Jimmy conquer second grade art, and along the way, they both learn a little something new about inspiration. $11 with museum admission ($9 members), $15 theater only.
• Where: 11 Davis Ave., Garden City
• Time: 10:15 a.m. and noon.; also April 19
• Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800
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Long Island Home Show
Check out the best resources in home improvement, landscaping and design services. Experts are ready to provide guidance on enhancing your living spaces, ensuring every corner of your home meets your needs and style.
• Where: Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale
• Time: Opens 10 a.m., also April 19
• Contact: ticketmaster.com
‘Dog Days’ Weekend and Dog Festival
Get ready to wag those tails, at Old Westbury Gardens with your pooch (leashed of course), Bring your canine companions for a scenic stroll through grounds bursting spring’s first blooms. With a curated lineup of local pet and dog-focused vendors offering treats, accessories, services, and more — ust for your pup (and you!).
• Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury
• Time: 10 a.m.-6 p.m., also April 19
• Contact: oldwestburygardens. org or call (516) 333-0048
Kiwanis Annual
Pancake Breakfast
Island Park Kiwanis Club welcomes all its annual Pancake Breakfast fundraiser. Breakfast is served by the
an elegant evening of service, leadership and dedication to the community.
• Where: O’Connell Gardens, 2985 Kenneth Place, Oceanside
• Time: 6:30-10 p.m.
• Contact : (516) 637-2262
Girl Scouts of Nassau County Information Session
The Girl Scouts of Nassau County host an information session for families interested in learning more about joining, volunteering and available programs. Attendees have the opportunity to ask questions and explore how to get involved in local troops.
• Where: Island Park Library, 176 Long Beach Road, Island Park
• Time: 6:30 p.m.
• Contact: (516) 432-0122
• Where: The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington .
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com
Chazz Palminteri is back on the Paramount stage with his electrifying solo performance of “A Bronx Tale,” the autobiographical one-man show that launched his remarkable career. Raw, riveting and deeply personal, the play draws on Palminteri’s own bruising childhood in the Bronx, including the moment — at just nine-years-old — when he witnessed a gangland killing that would forever shape his view of the world. Onstage, Palminteri inhabits 18 vividly drawn characters, seamlessly shifting between friends, foes and family members to conjure an entire neighborhood with nothing but his voice, physicality and storytelling prowess. First written and performed in 1989, A Bronx Tale quickly became a sensation, hailed as one of the most sought-after stage properties since Rocky. The original production paved the way for the acclaimed film adaptation — directed by Robert De Niro—and later a hit Broadway musical. Born and raised in the Bronx, Palminteri stands firmly in the lineage of iconic Italian-American artists who redefined New York storytelling in the 1970s, including Martin Scorsese, De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci. Like them, he brings grit, muscle and an unflinching realism to his work, capturing both the violence and the humanity of life on those sidewalks. This return engagement offers audiences a chance to experience the original, powerhouse performance that started it all — up close, uncompromising and unforgettable.
fabulous LOMS Builders’ Club students. Money raised helps achieve Kiwanis goals and commitment to the Island Park community and support numerous charitable programs. Open to the public; all are welcome!
• Where: F.X. Hegarty Elementary School, 100 Radcliffe Road, Island Park
• Time: 9 a.m.-noon
• Contact: mrsdaviskr@yahoo. com
Jazzin’ with Kirk Whalum
The sax icon appears at the Madison Theatre. He blasts off with his highly-anticipated new album “Epic Cool.” an electrifying collection of original grooves. Whalum focuses on his songwriting to craft an album that’s passionate and spirited on a monumental scale, but with his trademark soul. Get ready to groove, because like his new album, Whalum is anything but ordinary.
• Where: Madison Theatre, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre
• Time: 8 p.m.
• Contact: madisontheatreny.org or (516) 323-4444
‘Romantic Rendezvous’
Old Westbury Gardens chamber ensemble in residence, Poetica Musica welcomes the season in the intimate and elegant Red Ballroom of Westbury House. Renowned pianists Javor Bracic and Angelina Gadeliya make their series debut, performing solo and duo piano works by Chopin, Schubert, Fauré, Barber, and others.The program includes Sonata in A minor by Franz Schubert, Dolly Suite for piano four hands by Gabriel Fauré, Rondo, Op. 5 by Frédéric Chopin, Souvenirs for piano four hands by Samuel Barber, and Crimean Sketches for solo piano by Serhii Bortkiewicz. Advance ticket purchase required. A pre-concert talk will take place at 7:30 pm, followed by a reception after the concert on the West Porch. $30, $25 for members, seniors and students.
• Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury
• Time: 8-9:30 p.m.
• Contact: oldwestburygardens.org or call (516) 333-0048
Earth Week Book Fair The shelves are stocked and ready for the Friedberg JCC Used Book Fair. Come browse a wide selection of gently used books — from children’s favorites and fiction to poetry, APR 20
cookbooks, and more. Every book is just one dollar, making it the perfect opportunity to discover your next great read while supporting sustainability in our community.
• Where: Friedberg JCC, 15 Neil Court, Oceanside
• Time: Through April 26
• Contact: friedbergjcc.org
22
Oceanside BOE meets Oceanside Board of Education holds its next meeting. Residents are encouraged to attend to stay informed on district initiatives, budget updates and educational programs. A public comment period is included, allowing community members to share questions and concerns with the board.
• Where: 145 Merle Ave., Oceanside
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Contact: (516) 678-1215
23
Annual Fundraising Gala
The Kiwanettes of Oceanside welcome all to their Annual Fundraising Gala! It will be
24
Community Drum Circle
Join certified drum circle facilitator Laura Cerrano for a fun interactive rhythmic music-making experience at Oceanside Library. Drumming is proven to reduce stress, provide an outlet for positive self-expression, build community and improve social engagement. All drums and small percussions are provided. No prior drumming experience needed!
• Where: 30 Davison Ave., Oceanside
• Time: 1 p.m.
• Contact: oceansidelibrary.com or (516) 766-2360
That Diva Band
Groove along to sing-along anthems and dance floor favorites spanning the ‘80s, ‘90s, 2000s, and today at South Shore Brewery. Expect big hooks, big voices and big fun! Grab a beer and dance!
• Where: South Shore Craft Brewery, 3505 Hampton Road, Oceanside
• Time: 7:30-10:30 p.m.
• Contact: southshorecraftbrewery.com or (516) 388-6685
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.
of Brownie
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT
COUNTY OF NASSAU, US BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR VRMTG ASSET TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. MONICA CORNING A/K/A MONICA FUSCO, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Amending Caption, Confirming Referee’s Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on October 31, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on May 6, 2026 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 17 Marina Road, Island Park, NY 11558. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Village of Island Park, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 43, Block 3 and Lot 347. Approximate amount of judgment is $660,228.77 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 604918/2023. Cash will not be accepted.
John Riordan, Esq., Referee Knuckles & Manfro, LLP, 120 White Plains Road, Suite 215, Tarrytown, New York 10591, Attorneys for Plaintiff 159273
LEGAL NOTICE
Notice of Formation of Lara’s Luxe Pet Care LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 1/4/2026. Office location: Nassau County, NY. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Lara Behan 242 Nassau Parkway, Oceanside, NY 11572. Purpose: Any lawful purpose 159265
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT NASSAU COUNTY FRONTSEAT LLC, Plaintiff against NEVADA VILLAS INC., et al Defendant(s) Attorney for Plaintiff(s) Hersko & Ehrenreich P.C., 555 Willow Avenue, Cedarhurst, NY 11516, (516) 942-4216. Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered March 11, 2026, I will sell at 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 May 14, 2026 at 2:00 PM. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being identified on the land and tax map of the County of Nassau in the State of New York. Premises known as (No Street Number) Nevada Avenue, Island Park, NY 11558. Sec 43 Block 70 Lot 485 and 494, Group Lot 485 and 486. Approximate Amount of Judgment is $584,854.96 plus interest, fees, and costs and Attorney fees.
By ABIGAIL GRIECO agrieco@liherald.com
Second graders in Brownie Troop 2170 spent an afternoon turning lessons in environmental stewardship into hands-on action at Masone Beach.
On March 27, the troop gathered at the waterfront park for its second annual cleanup and beach awareness event, an initiative that combined education, service and creativity. The effort helped the girls earn their Beach Awareness badge while reinforcing the importance of protecting local shorelines.
broader local impact.
“I want to make the Earth clean with no litter,” she said. “If we clean all those little bits, there will be more ocean, and the animals won’t get sick.”
After the cleanup, the troop took part in a creative activity, decorating shells with positive messages. The shells, provided by the Long Beach Cleanup organization, were later scattered around the beach to spread encouragement and raise awareness among visitors.
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 602550/2025.
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.”
Christy Demelfi, Esq., Referee File # 17-6721 159496
LEGAL NOTICE
Island Park Union Free School District
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Island Park Union Free School District will be holding a public hearing on April 28, 2026 at 7:00 p.m., in the Lincoln Orens Middle Auditorium, 150 Trafalgar Blvd., Island Park, NY to consider appropriating a sum not to exceed Three Hundred Thousand dollars ($300,000.00) held in the District’s General Municipal Law § 6-r ERS Retirement Contribution Reserve Fund and transferring these funds to the District’s General Municipal Law § 6-d Repair Reserve Fund. Additional information may be obtained by contacting Salvatore Carambia, School Business Administrator, at (516) 434-2600. Patti LaBarbera
District Clerk Dated: March 30, 2026 159630
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCAF ACQUISTION TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. JENNIFER MIKODA, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Amending Caption, Confirming Referee’s Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on February 26, 2026, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on May 20, 2026 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 3152 Trinity Street, Oceanside, NY 11572. 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 43, Block 373 and Lots 71, 72, 73, 74. Approximate amount of judgment is $418,204.96 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 620608/2024. Cash will not be accepted. Michael Sepe, Esq., Referee Knuckles & Manfro, LLP, 120 White Plains Road, Suite 215, Tarrytown, New York 10591, Attorneys for Plaintiff 159424
The program began with a talk from a local lifeguard, who spoke to the troop about beach safety and environmental responsibility. The girls then set out across the sand and nearby playground areas, collecting litter and debris.
“The beach was dirty,” said Angelina Plant, 8. “The cleanup takes probably an hour or two.”
Other scouts described the conditions as mixed, depending on the area.
“I had a lot in my bag, but overall the kids didn’t have much,” Madilyn Porcelli, 8, said of the garbage scattered across the beach.
Luna Rodriguez, 7, said she encountered more significant waste.
“It was pretty dirty, and I cleaned up a baby’s diaper,” she said.
Lucy Fitzgerald, 7, added that even small amounts of debris can pose a risk.
“The stuff might get in the water,” she said.
Despite varying conditions, the scouts agreed the effort made a noticeable difference and highlighted the impact of litter on the environment.
“Animals can choke on stuff or die from the garbage,” Plant said of why the cleanup is important. “It’s good for the environment and Earth.”
Porcelli echoed that concern, noting that trash left behind can harm marine life, while Rodriguez emphasized the
Beyond the cleanup, the scouts also shared ideas for improving their community. Several suggested installing more signs to discourage littering, while others proposed additional ways to help.
“Maybe put up signs that say no littering — but a lot of signs,” Plant said.
Rodriguez said she would like to expand efforts beyond the beach. “I want the town to be safe, so I would help people do their chores if they need help and plant more trees for more oxygen,” she said.
The Masone Beach cleanup is part of a broader commitment to service by Troop 2170. So far this year, the group has volunteered at the Long Beach Soup Kitchen, explored nature trails and marine life in Oceanside and packaged gifts for a local children’s hospital with the St. Nick Foundation at the Inn.
For many of the girls, the beach cleanup has quickly become a favorite tradition.
“It’s fun looking for garbage and cleaning up stuff, and there are more chances to see turtles on the beach,” Plant said.
Fitzgerald agreed, adding that the effort benefits everyone.
“It helps our community,” she said. “And I love Masone Beach.”
Rodriguez hopes the tradition continues for years to come.
“If we keep doing it, it will get cleaner and cleaner as we go,” she said.
Mila Clarke, 7, a member of Brownie Troop 2170, decorated seashells with positive messages during a Beach Awareness badge activity at Masone Beach in Island Park on March 27. The shells, provided by Long Beach Cleanup, were later placed around the beach as part of the troop’s environmental outreach.
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Q. I saw a billboard and several TV commercials for something called “Let Them Build, NY” and was wondering what you could tell me about it. The commercial said that there is an extra $82,000 spent on housing, per home, just due to government red tape. Is this true, and is anything being done about it?
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A. As I continue to answer this delicate and complicated question, I have to respond to people who called this column, over the years, just an advertisement. I’ve received criticism and pushback for nearly four decades because I’ve pointed out where changes needed to happen, in a constructive manner. Instead of causing positive change, I saw projects delayed, passive-aggressive behavior and extra tasks thrown at me that weren’t required by others. It hasn’t been easy, and this is hopefully a forum for positive reflection on how to improve our lives, not just criticism. I will never just complain about a problem without stating that there is a solution.
The cost of building has gone up. It should be understood by all that building safety requirements should never be ignored. The problem with cost increases is that delays, due to issues that have nothing to do with safety, are a part of the problem, not the solution.
For example, the average project starts out with research. There are many issues that must be addressed, from environmental conditions, such as ground water levels, to parking and zoning use, structural conditions and fire safety. Local government archives information about each property, yet when it comes time to request the records, many have stumbling blocks, such as Freedom of Information Law, or FOIL, requests that can sometimes take weeks. Then, when you get the information, it is often inaccurate sketches.
Local government expects very detailed information from professionals, to fix the information problems of the past, yet often provides inaccurate plans that hardly reflect the building. This is because as-built drawings and final surveys were neither required nor enforced. A new home has always been required to have an accurate final survey from a licensed surveyor for the initial certificate of occupancy, but the surveys in municipal records are often inaccurate sketch diagrams made by the developer, a contractor or expeditor, not a licensed professional (as was also always required). Those “plot” plans often say “prop. dwelling” (proposed) with completely useless, inaccurate information. So, after waiting, in some cases, weeks just to see the records, what you get is just a waste of time and money. Might as well hire the surveyor at the outset, something many customers are reluctant to spend for.
The playing field is definitely not level. Government should require of itself the same standards it forces on the public. Imagine getting valuable data without delays, right at the beginning of a project, instead of waiting weeks for the answer that there are no records. Experienced developers already know to hire the surveyor, do the testing, do the zoning analysis, etc.
© 2026 Monte Leeper
Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.
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To the surprise of no one, Albany extremists — following the lead of Gov. Kathy Hochul — have once again proposed a one-sizefits-all, top-down mandate that would attack suburbia by stripping municipalities of control over local zoning.
The recently introduced REVIVE Act — sponsored by State Sen. James Skoufis and Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages — proposes to fast-track high-density housing by redeveloping “underutilized” commercial properties, and in the process, completely bypass the local review processes that ensure thoughtful, responsible growth.
Conveniently, the definition of “underutilized” is broad and open-ended, and includes shopping centers, office parks and parking lots, setting the threshold for “underutilized” as 50 percent vacant for one year. To make matters worse, the legislation contains a fast-track clause that would grant automatic approval to developments if municipalities fail to act within a rigid, state-imposed timeline that is far too short to accommodate any type of thoughtful and meaningful public input.
IWorse yet, under the REVIVE Act, new developments would be permitted to be built as-of-right to the same height as the tallest existing building in the municipality. In the Town of Hempstead, the tallest building is Nassau University Medical Center, at 280 feet. This would allow high-density, high-rise developments of nearly 30 stories to be fast-tracked throughout our community on any “underutilized” parcel a developer should choose.
This proposal simply has one goal in mind: to increase density in suburban areas, no matter what.
Ted. Responsible growth isn’t just about adding housing units. It’s about ensuring that our neighborhoods can thrive in the best way possible for every resident. Development needs to be sustainable, strategic, and aligned with the needs and character of the community.
he proposal has one goal: to increase housing density in suburban areas.
It does not adequately take into consideration the real-world impact that high-density developments would have on traffic congestion, school capacity, environmental concerns and public safety. And frankly, it sends a troubling message that Albany doesn’t care about those impacts. Local zoning exists for a reason, and decisions about development should be made by the people who live in these communities, not imposed by bureaucrats hundreds of miles away.
This “Albany knows best” approach is not just misguided; it’s dangerous. Legislation like the REVIVE Act fails to account for a community’s existing infrastructure, its long-term planning goal, and, most concerningly, the voices of residents who would be most affect-
That’s why I’ve been proud to stand with local and state leaders in strong opposition to this egregious state overreach. Last month I joined members of the State Senate and Assembly in Albany to denounce the REVIVE Act. More recently, I stood with a coalition of elected officials from across Nassau County in front of Samanea Mall in Westbury — a site that could easily be deemed “underutilized” under this legislation and targeted for highdensity redevelopment.
That location is not unique. There are countless sites across Long Island that could fall under the scope of this bill. And instead of encouraging balanced economic development or supporting job-creating commercial investment, Albany appears determined to impose high-density, high-rise residential projects with little regard for community impact.
Suburban communities aren’t Albany’s plaything to experiment with. They are neighborhoods where families have
built their lives, where small businesses support local economies and where residents take pride in the character of their towns. Stripping those communities of their voice isn’t just bad policy — it’s fundamentally detrimental to the principles of local governance and community-driven planning.
And make no mistake: Opposition to the REVIVE Act isn’t limited to elected officials. Residents across the region are speaking out because they understand what is at stake. They know that once local control is taken away, it will be impossible to get back. They know that decisions made without their input will shape their neighborhoods for generations to come.
That’s why I launched an online petition so residents can make their voices heard and stand up against this misguided proposal. I encourage everyone to visit Change.org/StopReviveAct and join the growing number of Long Islanders who are saying enough is enough.
The REVIVE Act doesn’t just get the balance wrong — it ignores it entirely. And if we allow that to happen, the consequences won’t be felt in Albany. They’ll be felt on our roads, in our schools and in the neighborhoods we call home.
That’s why this fight matters. And that’s why the REVIVE Act must be stopped.
John Ferretti is the Town of Hempstead supervisor.
n Island Park, we don’t make excuses — and we don’t wait for someone else to solve our problems.
When Winter Storm Fern hit on Jan. 23, dropping more than 14 inches of snow, it would have been easy to focus on the severity of the storm. But the real challenge wasn’t just the snowfall — it was the long stretch of bitter cold that followed. Snow can be plowed. Weeks of freezing temperatures, ice buildup and shrinking roadways are a different story. That’s where the difference between talking about leadership and actually leading becomes clear. Before the first snowflake fell, I was at the village garage with Deputy Mayor Matthew Graci and Trustee Robert Tice. We checked the plows, the fuel and the equipment, because in local government, preparation is not optional. Too often, people assume these things just happen. They don’t. They happen because people take responsibility
before there’s a crisis.
When the storm arrived, our Department of Public Works went to work, plowing roads, clearing lots and keeping sidewalks passable. But as the cold dragged on, it became obvious that routine operations wouldn’t cut it. Snow piled up. Streets narrowed. Access became more difficult.
So we didn’t sit back — we adapted. We went block by block, hauling snow out of the village. It took time, effort and a team that understood the job wasn’t finished just because the snow stopped falling.
tions. Our volunteers show up, and stay.
Then, just as we got through the first stretch, Feb. 23 brought a second punch, a nor’easter with more than two feet of snow, high winds and power outages.
Y es, we’re a small village, but we punch far above our weight.
At the same time, Trustee Barbara Volpe-Ried was checking on seniors and residents who needed help. That’s not a headline-grabbing job, but it’s one of the most important things we do. A community is judged by how it treats its most vulnerable, and we take that responsibility seriously.
Trustee Michael Gagliardi spent long hours at Fire Department headquarters with our volunteer firefighters. I joked he might need a sleeping bag — but that level of commitment is what keeps a community running in difficult condi-
Before it hit, I met with our public works crew and the village trustees. I gave them a pep talk, and joked that I felt like Lou Holtz before the 1988 college football national championship game. That night, Notre Dame won 12–0. And in February, Island Park wasn’t about to lose.
For nearly 48 hours, our crews, and our volunteer first responders, worked nonstop. Winds were relentless. Snow drifted as high as six feet in some areas. Power outages added another layer of urgency.
We worked closely with PSEG — but let me be clear, we also pushed. Because when residents are sitting in the cold, “we’re working on it” is not enough. In Island Park, we advocate, we press and we get results. Power came back faster than expected in many areas, and that didn’t happen by accident.
I rode along on the plows during both storms, and what I saw should put to
rest any doubts about what this community is made of. I saw neighbors shoveling out neighbors. I saw residents checking on one another. I saw firefighters responding to calls in conditions most people wouldn’t venture outside in. And I saw our workforce doing the kind of physically demanding, often thankless work that keeps a village functioning. That’s the part people don’t always see — but it’s the part that matters most. We also made it a priority to communicate constantly — through social media, alerts and our Village Beacon system. Because in a crisis, information isn’t a luxury; it’s a responsibility. Here’s the bottom line: Storms don’t build character — they reveal it. And what these storms revealed is that Island Park isn’t a community that backs down. We don’t pass the buck. We don’t wait around. And we don’t accept less than what residents deserve. Some people still like to call us a “small” village. They’re right: We are small in size. But in effort, resilience and heart, we punch far above our weight. Island Park doesn’t just weather storms; we outwork them, outlast them, and come back stronger every time.
Michael McGinty is the mayor of Island Park.
There is an unwritten contract that comes with riding on the Long Island Rail Road. You buy your ticket, you find your seat and you agree — implicitly, silently, without anyone asking you to sign anything — to share a small, enclosed space with strangers for the duration of your journey. It’s not always comfortable. It’s rarely glamorous. But it works, because most people understand that shared spaces require a certain baseline of consideration for the people around you.
That contract is being violated, every day, by people who can’t be bothered to use headphones. This lack of common decency is getting worse. Perhaps it signals the erosion of pre-pandemic norms, or the proliferation of short-form video content that simply must be consumed the moment it appears. But the reason doesn’t matter. The result is the same: a train car held captive by one person’s indifference.
You know what I’m talking about. The commuter who has his phone propped against his coffee cup, watching a video at full volume like he’s in his living room — a living room, apparently, with very thick walls or no neighbors. The guy on his Bluetooth speaker. Yes, a Bluetooth. On a train. In public. Among other humans.
What is so urgent that it cannot wait — or at minimum, be routed through a pair of earbuds? If you’re going to subject your fellow passengers to unsolicit-
Turning our backs on nuclear power will cost us
To the Editor:
ed audio, the least you can do is make it enriching. Bach’s “Goldberg Variations.” A Pulitzer Prize-winner on Audible. Perhaps a documentary about the migratory patterns of the Arctic tern. Something that, when the woman across the aisle glances up from her book, she might think, “Well, I didn’t ask for this, but I’ll learn something today.”
Instead, what Long Island commuters are treated to after a long day of work is a TikTok of someone attempting to fit way too many cherry tomatoes in their mouth. Or a Twitch stream of a man dropping words that would make a sailor take notes. Or, my personal favorite, a FaceTime call conducted at a volume that suggests the party on the other end is located not in Queens but in Uzbekistan.
The headphone — wireless, wired, over-ear, in-ear, take your pick — is sold at every price point from reasonable to why-does-this-cost-more-than-my-firstcar, and is one of the great inventions of the modern age precisely because it solved this problem. It lets each of us live inside our own sonic world without inflicting it on everyone else. The technology is cheap, ubiquitous, and works perfectly well even when moving at 60 miles per hour.
And before anyone reaches for the ready-made excuse, “My AirPods died” is not quite the sympathetic defense it might seem. Yes, it’s mildly inconvenient to sit for 40 minutes without being
Karl Grossman’s op-ed critique of New York’s zeroemission credit program, “Nuclear power for $33 billion, and guess who’s paying?” (April 2-8) mischaracterizes both the program’s purpose and its value. The figure he cites is designed to alarm, but stripped of context, it obscures a central truth: New York is not subsidizing failure — it is investing in reliability, climate compliance and economic stability.
In 2016, the state Public Service Commission established zero-emissions credits as part of its Clean Energy Standard to preserve existing nuclear generation, the single largest source of zero-emission electricity in the state. At the time, upstate nuclear plants were at risk of premature closure due to distorted wholesale markets. The commission found that losing those facilities would result in “significantly increased greenhouse gas emissions,” higher capacity costs and immediate reliability risks.
Federal courts agreed. In 2018, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit upheld New York’s ZEC program, finding it lawful and consistent with federal energy policy. The court rejected claims that ZECs distorted markets, affirming that states retain
able to catch up on the latest episode of “Love Is Blind.” We understand. We feel for you. But that inconvenience — yours, private, manageable — pales significantly when compared with forcing the occupants of an entire train car to listen to it with you.
Charge your headphones. Toss a wired pair in your bag. The bar here is low, but it’s still worth clearing.
Long Island commuters are not a fragile lot. Anyone who has navigated Penn Station at rush hour or waited half an hour for a delayed train on an unsheltered platform in January has developed a certain resilience. We don’t need silence. We don’t need perfection. Trains are noisy — the screech of the rails, the hiss of the doors, the conductor calling out “Jamaica next!” in a voice that carries to the next car. That’s the deal. That’s ambient. That’s fine.
What isn’t fine is being forced to listen to someone else’s choice of entertainment, which, based on available evidence, is made with absolutely no one else in mind.
So here’s a modest proposal: bring your headphones, and use them. The train is a community — a rolling slice of Long Island life, hurtling toward work or home. Communities are at their best when their members extend small courtesies to one another.
And, if you absolutely must share your audio with the world, at the very minimum, make it Bach.
authority to value environmental attributes of generation. As the court noted, “States are not preempted from encouraging production of clean energy.”
Nuclear power supplies roughly 20 percent of New York’s electricity and more than 40 percent of its carbon-free generation. Without it, emissions would spike dramatically, undoing years of progress under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. As New York’s independent system operator has repeatedly warned, premature retirements of dispatchable resources, espe-
The REVIVE Act is being sold as housing reform, but it could become the law that quietly changes suburban Long Island before many residents even realize what happened. Wrapped in language about revitalization, vacant property and affordability, this bill is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, a measure that appears reasonable on the surface while giving Albany Democrats new power to override local decision making, weaken community review, and force suburban communities into a model many residents never asked for.
The act has not yet become law, but Long Islanders should understand what is in it. Albany Democrats present it as a housing solution, but the deeper reality is political: If they can force more housing into suburban communities, they believe they can slowly change the makeup, character and, ultimately, the voting patterns of places that have long resisted their agenda.
As ranking member of the Assembly’s Local Governments Committee, and after more than five decades in the construction industry, I see exactly what happens when decisions are made by
people who never have to live with the consequences.
Business districts are built deliberately. Stores, offices, restaurants and surrounding neighborhoods function together because local boards spend years carefully managing them. A healthy downtown supports the tax base that funds local services, police protection, sanitation, roads and municipal government.
IIf business districts begin converting into residential projects whenever vacancies appear, communities lose taxable revenue, business activity and commercial identity. Once a district begins shifting away from retail, it rarely comes back.
revenue while still carrying the same infrastructure burden, and homeowners are left carrying more of the cost.
Under the proposed law, if a commercial property is 50 percent vacant for a year, the state would open the door to residential conversion. One year is nothing in commercial real estate, yet one difficult year could permanently change a property and neighborhood that took decades to shape.
t sounds practical and moderate, but its long-term effects would be anything but.
Long Islanders should understand what this means in practice. Parking lots that support downtown merchants and customers can suddenly become targets for dense multifamily housing. A lot that serves local businesses today can become a large apartment project tomorrow, overwhelming infrastructure while weakening the very business district it once supported.
In some communities, tax-exempt institutions — religious, educational or otherwise — continue expanding into commercial corridors. When tax-exempt uses steadily replace taxable commercial property, local governments lose
cially nuclear, pose “significant reliability challenges,” particularly as electrification increases demand.
Critics often invoke plant age as a proxy for danger. That is misleading. Nuclear facilities are regulated by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission under one of the most stringent safety regimes in the world. License extensions are granted only after exhaustive review of materials, systems and operational performance. Comparing a nuclear plant to a “57-year-old car” may be rhetorically effective, but it is technically unserious. Nuclear facilities are continually upgraded with the latest technology, which is often mandated by the commission.
The economic argument also collapses under scrutiny. ZECs are not a “bailout”; they are a market correction. Fossil fuel generation benefits from decades of embedded subsidies and does not pay for its environmental externalities. ZECs attempt to internalize those costs, something economists across the spectrum have long advocated. As former Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz has stated, “Retaining existing nuclear plants is one of the most cost-effective ways to prevent carbon emissions.”
As well, these facilities support thousands of high-skilled, union jobs that cannot be quickly or easily replaced. More important, they anchor local economies across upstate New York. Abrupt closures
The law would go further. If a municipality doesn’t complete a review of a project of less than 150 units within 60 days, the project would automatically be approved. That would mean drainage, sewer capacity, traffic, parking and emergency access could all be pushed aside under an artificial deadline created by Albany Democrats who wouldn’t live with the consequences.
The bill would also limit parking to one space per dwelling unit. But families often have two or three cars. Streets weren’t designed to absorb endless overflow parking from dense development.
Design hearings could still take place, but they would nonbinding. On Long Island, boards of architectural review decide what signage, awnings, storefront designs and building appearances fit a community. Without that authority, downtown character quickly
would not only destabilize the grid but devastate entire communities.
Nuclear power is not a panacea. Renewables will continue to expand, but the idea that wind and solar alone can replace firm, dispatchable baseload power in the near term is not supported by grid realities. Even the Union of Concerned Scientists acknowledges that maintaining existing nuclear capacity can play a role in reducing emissions during the transition.
The real question isn’t whether ZECs cost money. It is whether abandoning them would cost more in emissions, in reliability failures, in lost jobs and, ultimately, in higher long-term energy prices.
New York’s energy transition must be grounded in pragmatism, not ideology. Preserving zero-emission nuclear generation through ZECs isn’t a step backward. It is a necessary bridge, one that ensures we reach a cleaner future without falling into the very pitfalls critics claim to oppose.
PATRICK GUIDICE
Holtsville
Patrick Guidice is the business manager of IBEW Local 1049, representing over 4,000 workers in the electrical and gas utility industry on Long Island. Karl Grossman’s column did not appear in all print editions of the Herald, but can be found at liherald. com/oped.
deteriorates. Anyone who has seen parts of Brooklyn knows what happens: outlandish signage and a complete free-forall that overwhelms the character of a street and strips away local identity.
Many suburban Democrats sound independent when they’re home on Long Island. Their votes tell a different story. Their leadership is driven overwhelmingly by New York City priorities. Again and again, what helps the city comes first, even when Long Island communities pay the price.
The state budget proves it year after year: top-heavy spending tilted toward the city, urban priorities funded by suburban taxpayers, and less local control. The REVIVE Act follows that same pattern. It was written to sound practical and moderate, but its long-term effect is to take more control away from local communities.
Too many elected Long Island Democrats sound suburban when they’re home in their districts, but when votes are called, they follow Albany Democrats increasingly influenced by voices openly hostile to suburban priorities, including New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. We Long Islanders put politics aside when Long Island itself is at stake, and we won’t stand by while bills like this threaten to erode our suburban way of life by putting the equivalent of a skyscraper in our backyards.
Ari Brown represents the 20th Assembly District.
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