History Hunt set to return to Long Island landmarks
By WIll SHEElINE
wsheeline@liherald.com
Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino announced the return of the Long Island History Hunt at Raynham Hall Museum, unveiling a Revolutionary War-themed edition of the regional program that encourages residents and visitors to explore historic sites across Long Island.
Speaking at the historic Oyster Bay museum on Monday, Saladino said that “Red Coats and Rebels” would commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution while promoting local history and tourism.
“Last year we joined together to unveil the Long Island History Hunt program, which has been a great success,” he said. “We’ve
been asked to bring it back again, and so we are. But this year it has a special twist, as it’s the ‘Redcoats and Rebels’ edition.”
The free interactive program invites participants to visit designated historical sites, take selfies at each location and upload the photos online for a chance to win prizes.
“This year’s Long Island History Hunt will feature 26 museums, landmarks, historical sites like this one throughout the region,” Saladino said. “Everything with ties to the Revolutionary War.”
The hunt is sponsored by the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation, and presented in partnership with the New York State Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Continued on page 8
What are the results of
L.V. investigation?
By WIll SHEElINE wsheeline@liherald.com
The Locust Valley Central School District’s investigation into former Board of Education President Lauren Themis has concluded that Themis violated her fiduciary duties to the district. Themis did so, the investigation found, by advocating for the interests of the nonprofit Operation Democracy while directing intellectual property attorneys retained by the district to grant the organization distribution rights to an educational curriculum developed by district employees at taxpayer expense.
Iwith Operation Democracy, a civics-focused nonprofit closely tied to district activities including the Remembrance Bowl, student trips to Normandy and curriculum development connected to World War II and civic education.
will continue to clear my name at whatever cost
The report stated that the partnership was generally accepted by the board until last summer, when Themis resigned and turned over communications with intellectual property attorneys to incoming President Nick Vasiliou.
lAuREN THEMIS
Former president, Locust Valley Central School District
The findings were detailed in a confidential report submitted Dec. 1 by an investigator, former Administrative Judge Elena Cacavas, after a monthslong probe authorized by the school board. The results were released following a Freedom of Information Law request by the Herald.
The investigation centered on the district’s relationship
The Board of Education released a statement about the investigation on Tuesday, which did not mention Themis by name.
“While we acknowledge that a board member voluntarily resigned in December 2025, moving forward, the Board is focused on maintaining stability and continuity in district leadership and operations,” the statement read.
According to the report, concerns about Themis’s connecContinued on page 7
Will Sheeline/Herald
town Supervisor Joseph Saladino snapped a selfie with elected officials, Raynham Hall Museum staff and members of the oyster Bay-east norwich Chamber of Commerce.
With a May 16 strike deadline approaching, the MTA and a
over wages and work rules for more than
L.I. Rail Road strike looms as talks continue
By BRIAN KACHARABA bkacharaba@liherald.com
With less than a week remaining before a potential Long Island Rail Road strike set for midnight Saturday, negotiations between the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and a coalition of rail unions remain ongoing, with both sides offering sharply different assessments of progress.
At the center of the dispute are pay and working conditions. Union leaders are seeking a retroactive 9.5% wage increase over the past three years and an additional 5% raise beginning this year.
“At this point, we’re getting close enough that it would be, I think, crazy for the workforce who is looking for more money to throw it away by going on a strike,” he said. “Remember, if you go on a strike for a day, that’s one out of roughly 260 days of pay. Pretty quickly, that starts to wipe out the small increments that we’re still trying to negotiate out.”
However, union leaders said in a May 8 statement that negotiations made no progress and accused the MTA of failing to offer acceptable wage terms.
“What was presented did not move us closer to a settlement,” said Jeff Klein, general chairman of IBEW Local 589. “Every day, as a result of MTA’s phony surface bargaining, we move closer to the May 16 strike date.”
Meanwhile, the MTA is offering raises but is also seeking changes to work rules and productivity standards in return, saying it must control costs and protect the system’s long-term financial stability.
The sides were scheduled to meet again on Monday.
Shaun O’Connor, general chairman of IAM District 19, said talks have been slow-moving.
The dispute involves more than 3,500 workers represented by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen; the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers–Transportation Division; the Transportation Communications Union/IAM; the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen; and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
Two Presidential Emergency Boards were convened between September 2025 and last March to help resolve the dispute. Both boards sided with the unions, rejecting the MTA’s proposed work rule changes and recommending wage increases, helping set the stage for the current standoff.
At a press conference in New York City on May 8, MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber said he believes progress has been made in negotiations but acknowledged a deal has not yet been reached.
“I do think progress has been made,” he said. “We had a very long meeting yesterday and I would say we are closer, although we’re not there yet.”
Lieber urged the unions to avoid a strike, warning of financial consequences for workers.
“We’re running out of time here,” he said. “The MTA is still showing a lack of urgency. We practically had to drag them back to the bargaining table this week and what they’ve offered can be best described as ‘too little, too late.’”
Kevin Sexton, vice president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, said workers want a contract that reflects rising costs.
“Our members are very frustrated,” he said. “They have gone years without a raise, and they want the trains to keep moving. But they won’t agree to a concessionary contract when the cost of living on Long Island has dramatically increased.”
Lieber disputed those characterizations.
“I don’t think it’s accurate,” he said. “I don’t want to get into a debate. It’s their turn to come back and respond to the new proposals that have been put on the table.”
He also said the MTA has already put money on the table.
“It’s money in the pockets of the families that they represent,” Lieber said. “No one’s playing gimmicks, but we’ve got this money on the table. Don’t hurt your workforce. Let’s make a deal.”
The unions also held a rally May 9 at the Massapequa LIRR station.
Kyle Denson/Herald
coalition of LIRR unions continue negotiations
3,500 employees.
Working together to ‘re-clam the bay’
By JULIA CAPITELLI jcapitelli@liherald.com
Oyster Bay’s Friends of the Bay organization launched its “Re-Clam the Bay” initiative with its first clam drop in Oyster Bay Harbor. Members and Oyster Bay residents gathered at Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park where they loaded 10,000 clams onto three boats to be delivered to protected sanctuaries.
The hard-shell clams were dug by local baymen who sold them to Captree Clam, acting as a wholesaler. Friends of the Bay purchased the clams from there. Local baymen cannot sell directly to Friends of the Bay because of permitting constraints.
Christine Suter, Friends of the Bay executive director, said that the organization is aiming to help the environment while also supporting local baymen. She added that while there have been efforts to increase the oyster population in local waters, Friends of the Bay wanted to take a different approach to support biodiversity and baymen who cannot make a living from only harvesting oysters.
“It’s important to have both species in the bay,” Suter said, “not just for the environment, but also for the shell fishing industry.”
The locally dug clams are quahog clams, found in waters from northern Canada to Florida. Suter described using the species for the project as “healthier” for the local waters.
“We’re focused on regrowing native populations,” she said, “that have been in the bays for hundreds, thousands of years.”
Vice President Mitch Kramer said that these local clams are considered “superior” among restaurant owners and echoed Suter’s desire to help the community as well as the ecosystem.
“We said, ‘How great would it be if we could just support our local guys that are really hurting,’” he said, “’and get a better product?’”
Like oysters, clams are filter feeders, meaning they filter the water the occupy. They filter at different rates and can filter different types of algae.
Oysters prefer a harder seafloor and tend to remain in one place once they are settled, whereas clams have a foot that burrows into the seafloor and allows for more movement.
“It’s good to have the biodiversity too, between the two species,” Suter said, “because it’s not great to just rely on one species to do everything in the bay.” She also pointed out that oysters and clams are susceptible to different predators and diseases.
Both oysters and clams provide habitats for other creatures. Oysters build on top of each other, creating threedimensional habitats. Clams do not attach to each other, instead creating environments for invertebrates living closer to the seafloor.
All of the clams Friends of the Bay put into the three town-protected sanctuaries were mature clams.
“Our hope is that they can spawn and
Friends of the Bay conducted its first clam drop as part of
Friends of the Bay used mature clams for the project with the hope that they will bolster existing clam populations.
help create new clams in the rest of the bay,” Suter explained, “so that hopefully they’ll supplement the existing populations.”
Friends of the Bay held a second clam drop on May 8. Suter said the organization hopes to have two more in the fall. A fundraiser “kick-off” event was held in March at the Oyster Bay Brewing Company to finance the clam purchase.
“We were very pleasantly surprised,” she said, “with the amount of people that came out and were supportive of it.”
Suter said that for the program to become annual, continued community support is required.
To learn more about Friends of the Bay, visit FriendsOfTheBay.org.
Participants, including Friends of the Bay Vice
the clams onto boats to deliver them to protected
President Mitch Kramer, right, loaded
sanctuaries.
Julia Capitelli/Herald photos
its ‘Re-Clam the Bay’ initiative.
The clams were purchased from Captree Clam after being dug by local baymen.
4 Butcher’s
1
8
Stu Goldman/Herald
New data shared by the Alzheimer’s Association reveals a growing concern for families in New York and an increasing public health challenge. The organization holds an annua walk in East Meadow’s Eisenhower Park, typically in October.
New report highlights rising toll of Alzheimer’s disease
at 6:30 p.m. Register in advance at trustlaw.com.
Avoiding Guardianship in New York
For the ever-increasing number of those who become legally incapacitated later in life (i.e. unable to handle their legal and financial affairs) having a legal guardian appointed looms as a distinct possibility.
A guardianship proceeding may be commenced by a hospital, nursing home, assisted living residence, family member or a professional involved in the affairs of the “alleged incapacitated person” or “AIP”. These proceedings arise for various reasons such as the facility looking to secure payment or a family member or professional finding that the AIP is either not handling their affairs well or is being taken advantage of financially.
Once the proceeding is commenced a vast bureaucratic process begins to unfold. Notice of the proceeding and of the date and location of any hearings are sent to all interested parties, including all immediate family members.
The court appoints a court evaluator to meet with the AIP, determine the nature and extent
of the disability and write a report to the judge. The judge will also appoint a lawyer to represent the AIP in the proceeding and sometimes adult children will want their own lawyers to represent their interests.
The judge decides on who the legal guardian will be and it often ends up being a stranger to the family. Some judges feel that the AIP’s children should not be guardian due to a conflict – that whatever they spend on the AIP is coming out of their inheritance. Other reasons for not choosing one of the AIP’s adult children are sibling rivalry or inability to handle the responsibility.
Guardianship proceedings are expensive, time-consuming and highly stressful to all involved, including the AIP. Trusts avoid guardianship by providing privately who will handle your legal and financial affairs should you become legally incapacitated. Having a trust means you will have those in charge who you know and trust instead of the possibility of a court
New data released by the Alzheimer’s Association shows Alzheimer’s disease is a growing concern for families in New York and an increasing public health challenge.
According to the association’s 2026 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report, 426,500 residents age 65 and older in New York are living with Alzheimer’s disease. The disease continues to take a significant toll, with 3,208 deaths attributed to Alzheimer’s and a statewide mortality rate of 16.1 deaths per 100,000 people.
The impact extends beyond those diagnosed, with 776,000 New Yorkers serving as unpaid caregivers, providing an estimated 1.3 billion hours of care valued at $33.8 billion.
The report also highlights the scope of the crisis nationwide. An estimated 7.4 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s. Annual care costs, excluding unpaid caregiving, are projected to reach $409 billion this year. Nearly 13 million family members and friends provided more than 19 billion hours of unpaid care last year, and since 2000, U.S. deaths from Alzheimer’s have increased 134 percent.
An accompanying special report, “Brain Health in America: Understanding and Supporting Lifelong Cognitive Health,” points to a gap in awareness that contributes to the public health
challenge. Survey results from more than 3,800 adults age 40 and older found that while nearly all respondents view brain health as equally important as physical health, only 9 percent say they know a lot about how to maintain it. More than two-thirds reported concerns about their brain health or the risk of developing dementia.
To address those needs, the Alzheimer’s Association is working with partners to deliver research-backed information and programs to help people support their brain health.
Locally, the Alzheimer’s Association will host the 2026 Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Sunday, Oct. 4 at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow, bringing together residents, caregivers and advocates to raise awareness and support for those affected by the disease.
The full 2026 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures report is available at alz.org/facts and will be published in the April 2026 issue of Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association.
The Alzheimer’s Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer’s care, support and researc. For more information, visit ALZ.org or call (800) 272-3900.
–Jordan
Vallone
ClASSIFIED ADVERTISING: Ext. 286 E-mail: ereynolds@liherald.com Fax: (516) 622-7460
■ DISPlAY ADVERTISING: Ext. 249 E-mail: rglickman@liherald.com Fax: (516) 569-4643
■ PUBlIC
HERALD SchoolS
Students help spread the love with teddy bears
First grade students at Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School presented a check to the Theodore Roosevelt Association in support of its Teddy Bears for Kids program. The donation was made possible by first grade families who contributed during the annual Social Studies Night in March.
Running since 1986, Teddy Bears for Kids has delivered more than 90,000 teddy bears to children in hospitals across the country. OBEN’s Elementary Curriculum Associate Jennifer Capogna and Theodore Roosevelt Association Executive Director Chris Cosentino spoke to students on May about the difference their generosity would make for children in need of comfort.
–Will Sheeline
First grade students at Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School in Oyster Bay gather to present a check to the Theodore Roosevelt Association for its “Teddy Bears for Kids” program.
Courtesy Oyster Bay-East Norwich Central School District Theodore Roosevelt Association’s Executive Director Chris Cosentino speaks to the first graders about the impact their donations will have on children in need.
Nassau County’s free concerts take the stage
ZZ Top, Cole Swindell and more among biggest names
By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com
Nassau County’s free summer entertainment series is returning with concerts, movie nights and international celebrations at Eisenhower Park and parks across the county.
The 2026 Nassau County Free Summer Fun Guide, presented by County Executive Bruce Blakeman and the Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation and Museums, features live music, family-friendly movies and cultural events throughout the summer. Most Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre concerts at Eisenhower Park begin at 7 p.m., unless otherwise noted.
“Enjoy live music and family-friendly movies under the stars at Eisenhower Park’s Lakeside Theatre and parks across Nassau County,” County Executive Bruce Blakeman wrote. “Join us all summer long for unforgettable nights of entertainment.”
Some of the biggest names on the schedule include Cole Swindell on Friday, Aug. 7; Loud Luxury on Friday, Aug. 21; Flo Rida on Monday, Aug. 31; ZZ Top on Tuesday, Sept. 1; The Lords of 52nd Street on Thursday, Sept. 3; and Los Lobos on Friday, Sept. 4.
The Lakeside Theatre lineup also includes Fun Lovin’ Criminals and Blessid Union of Souls on Sunday, June 7; a freestyle and salsa night featuring Brenda K. Starr, Tito Puente Jr., TKA/K7, Joey Cruz, La Sonora 495 and Forever Freestyle Band on Saturday, June 27; and reggae night with Inner Circle,
Wayne Wonder and IRIEspect on Sunday, June 28.
Dozens of additional shows will take to the stage throughout the duration of the summer.
A Celebrate America fireworks and drone show is scheduled for Thursday, July 2, at 5:30 p.m., with live music by
Glenn Strange, Chicken Head and Let Freedom Rock. The rain date is Friday, July 3.
Families will have several options beyond concerts. Movie nights at Eisenhower Park include “Elio,” “Gabby’s Dollhouse,” “A Minecraft Movie,” “Bad Guys 2,” “Zootopia 2,” “Freakier Friday,” “How to Train Your Dragon,” “Wicked” and “Wicked for Good.” Movies begin at dusk.
International Nights at Lakeside will celebrate a range of cultures, including Ukrainian American, Indian American, Israeli American, Greek American, German American, Creole American, Italian American, Caribbean, Irish American, Bangladeshi American, Pakistan American, African American, Chinese American, Turkish American, Korean American and Latino American nights.
Neighborhood concerts and movie nights will also be held at Wantagh Park, Cedar Creek Park, Grant Park and North Woodmere Park. The county will also offer noontime concerts Wednesdays from noon to 2 p.m. at Eisenhower Park’s mobile stage near Field 1. For updates, call Nassau County Parks at (516) 572-0200 or visit NassauCountyNY.gov/parks.
The Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre at Eisenhower Park will host concerts and celebrations all summer long. Above, Don Felder on stage during a previous show.
Tim Baker/Herald photos caption
Investigator questioned Themis’s
tion to Operation Democracy intensified after trustees learned that attorneys retained to protect the district’s curriculum materials may also have been directed to protect the interests of the nonprofit.
The investigation found that two intellectual property attorneys believed Themis was acting on behalf of the full board while directing their work. The attorneys reportedly said that she had “constant communication” with them and “directed” them regarding the district’s curriculum and copyright strategy.
The report states that the attorneys understood that Themis wanted the district to own the copyrights to the World War II education curriculum while ensuring that Operation Democracy retained rights to use them.
Cacavas wrote that while she could not conclusively determine Themis intentionally misled the board or attorneys, the evidence indicated that “Trustee Themis violated numerous of [her school board] duties in advocating for the interests of Operation Democracy with attorneys being paid by the District to advocate only for the interests of the District.”
The report repeatedly questioned Themis’s credibility.
In it, Cacavas stated that Themis frequently gave indirect answers to sensi-
tive questions, and often attempted to redirect questioning to benefit the district’s partnership with Operation Democracy.
“Challenging questions that were quite specific were often met with soft answers,” Cacavas wrote.
In an interview with the Herald, Themis disputed the report’s characterization of her testimony and the legitimacy of the investigation itself.
“I mean, it’s a very interesting statement,” she said, “seeing that [Cacavas] gave no examples of how I’m not credible and said I answered all of the questions.”
Themis said she was the last person interviewed by Cacavas and provided the investigator with extensive documentation, which she claimed were not included in the findings. The Herald was unable to confirm the documents by press time.
According to the report, board counsel John Gross had informed Themis in writing that the matter was confidential, and specifically reminded trustees of their obligations to maintain confidentiality. Despite that, Themis publicly announced that she was being investigated before the board went into executive session at that meeting. She alleged that the investigation had been launched in retaliation after she “caught some of the board members in a lie doing business behind the board’s back with the superintendent,” although she did not offer more specific details. But according to a public statement she posted to social media shortly after her resignation, her choice was prompted by a lack of trust and disagreements over the district’s handling of Title IX policy.
The report also raised concerns about curriculum ownership and authorship. District staff members were paid more than $9,300 to develop curriculum materials connected to the Normandy and Remembrance Bowl programs, according to the report. At the same time, Operation Democracy materials and social media posts referred to the content as “our curriculum” and promoted it for use in other districts.
Cacavas noted that the suggestion that non-licensed individuals may have contributed to curriculum materials used in a public-school setting was “potentially problematic.”
Themis disputed the characterization that the district was unaware of Operation Democracy’s role in developing the curriculum. She claimed that the district and Operation Democracy jointly developed the materials, and intended for the district to retain ownership while allowing Operation Democracy to distribute them.
Themis also defended her refusal to sign the affidavit about recording the interview, claiming it was on the advice of her lawyer.
The investigation also found that Themis publicly disclosed confidential information before a July 15, 2025, board meeting during which trustees were set to discuss authorizing the investigation in executive session.
District Superintendent Kristin Turnow denied allegations of financial impropriety by the district in an interview on Tuesday. Turnow said that district financial practices, including bidding procedures for capital projects, follow standard procedures, and their details are publicly available.
“There’s no mismanagement of public funds,” Turnow said. “And there never has been.”
The report concluded that the board acted “reasonably and necessarily” in authorizing the investigation, after reviewing communications involving Themis and the intellectual property attorneys. The report stopped short of recommending disciplinary action.
Themis said she intends to continue publicly contesting the findings.
“I will continue to clear my name at whatever cost,” she said.
Lauren Themis
Several area museums plan to participate
Participants can register online and then travel to participating museums, monuments, historic homes, parks and taverns from Brooklyn to Montauk. In addition to Raynham Hall, sites include the Oyster Bay Railroad Museum and the Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary and Audubon Center.
The program will begin May 23 and run through Sept. 30. Participants who complete challenges at the sites are eligible for prizes, and those who visit every participating location will be entered in a grand prize drawing. The grand prize, according to organizers, includes cash, museum memberships and other themed items.
Wphone and take a selfie with yourself, your family and your friends to enter.”
Representatives of Raynham Hall said the program will give participants a chance to engage with Long Island’s Revolutionary War-era history in a hands-on way.
e talk about history, we don’t always talk about having fun, and this is an opportunity to get involved in a fun contest.
Justinne Lake-Jedzinak Director of education and public programs, Raynham Hall Museum
Saladino highlighted Oyster Bay’s centuries-long history, noting that the town predates the founding of the United States. He added that the event will be an opportunity to bring visitors into the downtown and waterfront areas.
“What you’re really seeing here is quite simple,” he said. “Go to LIHistoryHunt.com … and you sign up, you go to any of the 26 sites and take out your
“We just wanted to say that Raynham Hall is proud to participate for the second year in the Long Island History Hunt,” Justine LakeJedzinak, the museum’s director of education and public programs, said, “an initiative that has doubled in size in terms of its participants, and now spans the entire geographic Long Island, from Brooklyn to Montauk.”
Lake-Jedzinak added that the museum’s connection to the Revolutionary War and the Culper Spy Ring makes it a fitting stop for the program. “For us, it’s a very special initiative, because we are the home of the historic Townsend family,” she said, “and we’re connected to George Washington’s covert spy ring, which was instrumental in winning the American Revolution.”
The event makes history more acces-
sible and engaging for families and visitors,” she continued. “Something that Supervisor Saladino was saying that I really connected with is the idea of
fun,” she said. “When we talk about history, we don’t always talk about having fun, and this is an opportunity to get involved in a fun contest.”
Will Sheeline/Herald
Justinne Lake-Jedzinak, at podium, of raynham Hall museum, said that she and museum staff were excited to participate in the History Hunt for its second year.
News briefs
Free breast cancer screening in Glen Cove
The Betty’s Breast Cancer Foundation will host a free mammogram screening event on Saturday, May 30, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Glen Cove Public Library.
The event is open to women ages 40 and older who do not have health insurance and meet eligibility requirements. Organizers said women with insurance may also participate, but they must bring a doctor’s prescription to their appointment.
The screening initiative is being organized in partnership with NuHealth and Molloy University as part of a broader effort to increase access to preventative breast cancer screenings and encourage early detection in underserved communities.
According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the most common can-
cer among women in the United States, excluding skin cancers. The organization estimates that about one in eight women in the U.S. will develop invasive breast cancer during their lifetime. The American Cancer Society also notes that early detection through regular screenings and mammograms can help improve treatment outcomes and survival rates.
Appointments are required for the screening event. Residents interested in scheduling a mammogram can call 516-4448752 for additional information and eligibility details.
Organizers said the event aims to help women receive potentially life-saving screenings.
–Roksana Amid
Town summer hockey program opens soon
Registration for the Town of Oyster Bay’s summer youth ice hockey program is now open for boys and girls ages 8 and under to 16 and under. This program includes instructional technique work, games and more. Clinics spanning 10 weeks in duration will also be available for registration including all girls’ clinics, and under clinics, adult learn to play clinics and advanced skills for travel players clinics. Programs will begin on July 6.
Registration is available online at OysterBayTown.com/sports. All registrants must provide a copy of their birth certificate, proof of residency, and payment for registration.
All participants must provide their own equipment and should have some skating ability. For more information, call the rink at (516) 433-7465, x 8234 or visit OysterBayTown.com/hockey.
–Will
Sheeline
Passport weekend returns to O.B.
To help residents looking to obtain new passports, the Town of Oyster Bay Clerk’s office will offer a special one-stop passport weekend on June 6 and June 7 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at both Town Hall North in Oyster Bay and Town Hall South in Massapequa. Residents are required to book appointments in advance.
“Residents looking to apply for a new passport are invited to visit town hall during passport weekend to receive assistance,” said Town Clerk Rich LaMarca. “We can help you with organizing your documents, obtaining a photo and submitting the documents for approval.”
Requirements for applying for a passport include:
■ One 2×2 color photograph with a clear view of the applicant’s face against a plain white or light-colored background. Photos will also be available for $10 at both Town Halls North and South during passport weekend.
■ Proof of U.S. Citizenship – Previously issued undamaged U.S. passport, certified birth certificate, Consular Report of Birth
BELMONT PARK VILLAGE
Abroad or Certification of Birth, Naturalization Certificate, or Certificate of Citizenship.
■ Proof of Identity – Naturalization Certificate, Valid Driver’s License (cannot have been issued or renewed in the last six months), Current Government ID (city, state or federal), Current Military ID (military and dependents).
This service does NOT apply to Adult Renewals unless your passport is expired for 5+ years.
LaMarca has offices located at Town Hall North, 54 Audrey Avenue in Oyster Bay and Town Hall South, 977 Hicksville Road in Massapequa. Passport appointments are available Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and during this special passport weekend. For appointments in Oyster Bay, call (516) 6246324. For appointments in Massapequa, call (516) 797-7962. By appointment only.
For information on passport requirements and processing times, as well as instructions for passport renewals, visit Travel. state.gov.
–Will Sheeline
HERALD SCHOOLS
Softball field dedicated in honor of coach
The Locust Valley Central School District honored one of its most impactful graduates, as the high school softball field was dedicated to teacher, coach, mentor and champion of girls’ athletics, Cindy Tobin.
The May 2 ceremony was attended by many, some traveling from far and wide to pay tribute to Tobin’s legacy and the new sign that welcomes visitors to the softball diamond. Among the attendees were the members of the current varsity softball team.
“Today, we dedicate this field in her name and we are doing more than placing a sign or honoring a career. We are cementing her legacy into the very fabric of our program, our school and our community,” athletic director Danielle Turner Cosci said. “Every practice, every game and every young athlete who steps onto this field will be a part of that legacy.”
The dedication came together through a project involving the district, the athletic department and Falcon Pride Athletic Booster club. A graduate of the high school’s Class of 1970, Tobin gave decades of her life to coaching, winning three conference championships in the 1984, 1985 and 1988 seasons and a Conference Coach of the Year award in 1988. But Tobin is just as revered for her community work, serving the summer recreation program for 50 years. Tobin is remembered as a caring, kind and loving leader in her community.
“On the softball diamond, she did more than teach the mechanics of the game,” Locust Valley Superintendent of Schools Kristen Turnow said. “She empowered young women to find their inner confidence, fostered a spirit of resilience and helped them realize their absolute highest potential.”
Falcon Pride Athletic Booster Club president John Johnson said that the organization reached out to the alumni base with the idea, leading to an outpouring of love and support for the idea.
“As a big sister, she taught me many of the attributes that she taught her players. To play fair, try your best, work hard, help others and be a team player.” Cindy’s sister, Wendy Tobin said. “I am forever grateful to have a sister like her and I miss her every day.”
“The way I coach, the way I teach, the way I show up for others, that’s her. That’s her influence living through me every day” Tobin’s former player and current high school coach and physical education teacher Nadine Pacifico said. “I can still hear her voice echoing behind me, pushing me, challenging me and believing in me.”
–Will Sheeline
Photos courtesy Locust Valley Central School District
Locust Valley Central School District athletic director Danielle Turner Cosci, left, Board of Education Vice President Holly Esteves, Trustee Krystina Tomlinson, Superintendent of Schools Kristen Turnow and President George Vasiliou celebrated the dedication.
Many came from far and wide to remember a devoted teacher, coach and mentor in Cindy Tobin.
Wendy Tobin spoke about the ways her older sister taught her how to be a great teammate and leader.
Nadine Pacifico, left, and Wendy Tobin unveiled the sign commemorating the dedication of the Locust Valley High School softball field for legendary coach Cindy Tobin.
Falcon Pride Athletic Booster Club president John Johnson spoke of the outpouring of love and support for dedicating the field to Cindy Tobin.
DMemory’s mysteries
The story opens as our narrator nervously arrives in Providence to interview Thomas.
ear Great Book Guru, I was at Sea Cliff’s latest eventthe West End Block Party… such fun. The downtown business area from Matt’s Deli to K.C. Gallagher’s was closed to car traffic on Friday evening. Some of the stores on the other endamong them the Daily Grind (great lobster rolls) joined in the fun. While attending, I heard a group of friends talking about a very short book they had all read…it was about fathers and sons and conflicting memories. Are you familiar with it?
Block Party Fan
Dear Block Party Fan,
While in the hotel he drops his iPhone and it is destroyed. How will he record and transcribe what are to be Thomas’s last words? He pretends to be recording and soon realizes he will have to interpret/ embellish this interview.
In the second section, we are at a memorial service for Thomas where we hear platitude after platitude about his amazing life and talent. Meanwhile in the third section, Max recounts his tortuous relationship with his father, but we soon question his memories of past hurts and injustices.
“Transcription” by Ben Lerner is a fascinating take on how far we can trust our memories. Set in three cities: Providence, Barcelona, and Los Angeles, the novel tells the tales of three men: Thomas – a ninety-year-old esteemed university professor, Max his lawyer son, and the narrator- an unnamed author and former student of Thomas’s and also best friend of Max.
Finally, we see how difficult it is to define a person’s life - whether we have a transcription or a recording, truth remains elusive. A thought-provoking novel and highly recommended.
Would you like to ask the Great Book Guru for a book suggestion? Contact her at annmdipietro@gmail.com.
STEPPING OUT
A garden invites children to take part in nurturing life and understanding the outcomes of their choices. When things don’t go as planned, it becomes a valuable space to build resilience, accept outcomes and try again.
Planting seeds of wonder
By Karen Bloom
One of the most meaningful things you can grow in a garden isn’t a flower or a vegetable — it’s a lifelong gardener. With summer on the horizon, outdoor spaces begin to feel like an extension of home, creating a natural setting for families to connect, explore and unwind.
For children, the benefits of gardening go far beyond getting a little dirt under their nails. A growing body of research links hands-on gardening to improved physical health, emotional well-being and even stronger academic performance. Add in the value of family time, and it’s easy to see why more parents and grandparents are heading outside together.
Let curiosity lead
The key to success? A little flexibility — and a lot of patience.
When gardening with kids, be prepared to pivot. Adults may focus on neat rows and finished results, but children are often drawn to discovery. That carefully planned planting activity might pause for a closer look at a grasshopper or a worm—and that’s okay. Lean into their curiosity. Use those moments as opportunities to teach, connect and nurture a sense of wonder.
At its core, gardening with children is about building positive associations. If they leave the garden feeling curious, happy and engaged, you’ve done it right — and they’ll be eager to return.
America
Following a sold-out run of shows for their 55th anniversary, America is on the road again. Known for their timeless tunes, the Grammy-winning band draws on their deep catalog of hits, including their signature song, “Horse With No Name,” which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972. America — Gerry Buckley and Dewey Bunnell — met in while attending school in London, along with Dan Peek, while their Air Force fathers were stationed there. The band is also the subject of a new documentary, “I Need You: 53 Years Of The Band America,” which takes audiences backstage as Beckley and Bunnell privately say goodbye to a lifetime together on the road. Beckley remains an active band member but retired from touring in 2024, while America continues to tour with Bunnell at the helm. America’s audiences continue to grow, bearing testament to their enduring appeal.
Friday, May 15, 8 p.m. Tilles Center, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100.
Life lessons in the garden
Dig, plant, repeat
Giving kids a say in what they grow can also make a big difference. While it helps to include a few easy, reliable plants, don’t shy away from their creative choices. Whether it’s beets, roses or bright petunias, that sense of ownership encourages them to stay involved. And remember, gardening doesn’t require a large backyard — containers on a porch, balcony or windowsill can be just as rewarding.
It’s also important to choose projects that fit your family’s lifestyle. Consider your children’s ages and abilities, along with your time, space and budget. Setting realistic expectations helps ensure the experience remains enjoyable rather than overwhelming.
And don’t underestimate the simple joy of digging. For many kids, that’s the highlight. Designating a small “dig zone” in the garden allows them to explore freely — searching for worms, examining soil and engaging their senses — while protecting more delicate plantings.
Many hands, one garden
Creating a welcoming, joyful environment is essential. Early, positive experiences in nature can foster a lasting sense of responsibility for the world around them. Encourage participation and small responsibilities, but avoid turning gardening into a chore. Let children engage at their own pace, and respect their comfort levels when it comes to touching, tasting or smelling plants.
If you’re gardening with multiple children, think about ways to make the experience inclusive. Collaborative tasks — one child digging, another adding soil, another placing a plant — can keep everyone involved and invested.
Equally valuable is unstructured time. Allow kids to simply be in the garden without a set agenda. Those quiet moments of observation and self-directed play often spark the deepest connections to nature.
Finally, don’t forget to enjoy it yourself. Children take cues from the adults around them, and your enthusiasm can be contagious. When they see your genuine appreciation for gardening, they’re far more likely to develop their own.
Because in the end, the real harvest isn’t just what grows in the soil — it’s the love of nature that grows alongside it.
Wallflowers
The Wallflowers mark the 30th anniversary of their breakthrough album “Bringing Down the Horse” on their latest tour, with a special full-album performance at the Paramount, presenting the record in sequence from start to finish. Originally released in 1996, the album became a defining success of the decade, reaching No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and going quadruple platinum. It produced a string of major hits, including “6th Avenue Heartache,” “The Difference,” and the Grammy-winning “One Headlight,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 and remains one of the era’s most recognizable rock singles. Led by songwriter Jakob Dylan, the band draws on classic American rock influences such as The Band and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers — a legacy echoed in the tour’s additional tribute segment to Petty, including a full performance of the 1982 album Long After Dark. Saturday, May 16, 7:30 p.m. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.
Your Neighborhood CALENDAR
MAY
On Exhibit
Nassau County Museum of Art joins in the celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. Its landmark exhibition explores how Long Island has reflected and shaped the story of American art. From Revolutionary-era portraiture and folk art to nineteenth-century landscapes, Impressionism, and the bold innovations of Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art, the exhibition highlights how every major art movement found expression here. From Brooklyn to Montauk, Long Island’s natural beauty, coastal light, and close connection to New York City inspired generations of artists and gave rise to thriving art colonies and postwar creative communities. Featuring paintings, decorative arts, and historical objects displayed together in immersive settings, the exhibit celebrates the region’s enduring influence and its rich artistic legacy. On view through July 12.
• Where: 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor
• Time: Ongoing
• Contact: nassaumuseum.org or (516) 484-9337
MAY
16
Art explorations
Converse, collaborate and create with kids at Family Saturdays at Nassau County Museum of Art. Get inspired by the art and objects in the galleries and then join educators at the Manes Center to explore and discover different materials to create your own original artwork. Kids and adults connect while talking about and making art together. A new project is featured every week. $20 adult, $10 child. For ages 2-14. Registration required. $20, $10 child; members free.
• Where: 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor
• Time: Noon-3 p.m.
• Contact: nassaumuseum.org or (516) 484-9337
MAY
17
Four Seasons In Music
Sands Point Preserve’s reserve’s historic mansions and waterfront grounds are the backdrop for the latest edition of its unique chamber music series at Hempstead House, themed “Spring Colors.” A celebration of renewal and discovery, like the season itself, this concert is filled with fresh energy, blending beloved classics with intriguing newer works. With a touch of Mozart and Beethoven, the colors of Debussy and Ravel, the
‘Cold Beer on a Saturday Night’
of the Long Island Chamber Music collective set against the picturesque backdrop of Planting Fields.. $45 per person in advance, $50 at the door if seats are available. Includes a complimentary glass of wine.
• Where: 1395 Planting Fields Road, Oyster Bay
• Time: 7-8:30 p.m.
• Contact: plantingfields.org or call (516) 922-9210
Art in the Park
Enjoy the fresh spring air at Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park and Beach. Local artists, craftspeople, photographers, food artisans and others display and sell hand-crafted goods.
• Where: 63 Larrabee Ave., Oyster Bay
• Time: Noon
• Contact: capa@oysterbay-ny. gov or call (516) 797-7925
JUNE
4
• Time: 8 p.m.
Spring blooms with a taste of summer as Jimmy Kenny and the Pirate Beach Band bring their “Ultimate Beach Party Tribute” to the Paramount stage, celebrating the music of Kenny Chesney, Jimmy Buffett, and Zac Brown Band. Long Island–based and led by Paul C. Cuthbert (aka Jimmy Kenny) on lead vocals and acoustic guitar, the group also features Linn DeMilta (Lovely Linn) on lead and backing vocals, Luis Rios on guitar, Frank Stainkamp on keyboards, Dan Prine on bass, and Mike Vecchione on drums. Together, they’ve spent more than a decade channeling the laid-back spirit of beach-country favorites across stages throughout the Northeast. With a setlist built for singing along, the band blends crowd-pleasing hits with an easygoing, sun-soaked energy that evokes margaritas, ocean breezes and carefree nights where, as they like to say, it’s always “5 o’clock somewhere.” Fans of Parrotheads, No Shoes Nation and the Zamily alike can expect a lively, feel-good night of music that turns the Paramount into a full-on coastal celebration. Everyone has a great time grooving to their lively mix of their popular sing-along hits and feel good, easy living flair. If you like your toes in the sand, wasting away with a margarita or a cold beer, then you’ll surely have a great time with the Jimmy Kenny Band.
program comes together in a joyful reminder of our world .duoJalal ensemble-in-residence featuring Kathryn Lockwood, viola and Yousif Sheronick, percussion, with violinists Debbie Buck and Julia Glenn, cellist Raman Ramakrishnan and pianist Simone Dinnerstein perform. With wine reception following. $61, $50 members.
• Where: 127 Middle Neck Road, Sands Point
• Time: 3 p.m.
• Contact: sandspointpreserveconservancy. org or call (516) 571-7901
MAY 19
Town board meets
The Oyster Bay Town Board holds a public meeting at Town Hall North. Residents are encouraged to attend.
• Where: 54 Audrey Ave., Oyster Bay
• Time: 10 a.m.
• Contact: (516) 624-6380
MAY 23
2026 Spring 5K
Planting Fields
Arboretum hosts its annual spring 5K. The first 350 racers to finish will receive a collectible finisher medal
and a personalized race bib. Registration before April 25 is $40 per person. After April 25, registration is $45 per person and $50 on the day of the race.
• Where: 1395 Planting Fields Road, Oyster Bay
• Time: 7:30 a.m.
• Contact: plantingfields.org or call (516) 922-9210
Bayville Youth Art Showcase
Bayville Village Arts Council hosts its fourth annual Youth Art Showcase exhibition. Artists 6-17 display their works.
• Where: 88 Bayville Ave., Bayville
• Time: 2 p.m.
• Contact: bvac11709@gmail. com or call (917) 880-6618
Hempstead House Tour
See the grand rooms inside the massive 50,000-square-foot Tudor-style mansion at Sands Point Preserve, the former summer residence of Howard Gould (1912-1917) and later Daniel and Florence Guggenheim (1917-1930). For adults, but children 5+ are allowed. $10 per person.
• Where: The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington
• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com
• Where: 127 Middle Neck Road, Sands Point
• Time: Noon and 1:30 p.m.; also May 31
• Contact: sandspointpreserveconservancy. org or call (516) 571-7901
MAY
26
Memorial Day Parade and Open House
Join Raynham Hall Museum for the annual Oyster Bay Memorial Day Parade followed by an open house at the museum. Chat with A.I. George Washington, play lawn games and enjoy free ice cream.
• Where: 30 West Main Street
• Time: 11 a.m.
• Contact: (516) 922-6808
MAY
30
Notes In Nature: String Quartets
Visit Planting Fields for the next concert in the “Notes in Nature” series. Celebrate the coming of summer under the open sky at the Main House’s Cloister Garden with a captivating evening of string quartets inspired by nature and romance. Experience the vocal and virtuosic essence
Monthly meditation
Sands Point Preserve’s historic mansions and waterfront grounds are the backdrop for an evening of nature-based mindfulness and meditation with Hildur Palsdottir, first Thursday monthly. Classes are held in the beautiful rooms of the Preserve’s mansions, or in the Hempstead House Garden when weather permits. Explore techniques specifically aimed at stress reduction. Hildur adapts ancient Buddhist teachings to modern applications for calming the mind. In addition to facilitating these monthly groups, Hildur offers support with establishing a home meditation practice. No feeling is final. $17 per class.
• Where: 127 Middle Neck Road, Sands Point
• Time: 6-7 p.m.
• Contact: sandspointpreserveconservancy. org or call (516) 571-7901
Having an event?
Items on the Calendar page are listed free of charge. The Herald welcomes listings of upcoming events, community meetings and items of public interest. All submissions should include date, time and location of the event, cost, and a contact name and phone number. Submissions can be emailed to kbloom@ liherald.com.
Public Notices
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF BUDGET
HEARING AND ANNUAL DISTRICT ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE OYSTER BAYEAST NORWICH CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE OYSTER BAY-EAST NORWICH PUBLIC LIBRARY TO BE HELD ON MAY 19, 2026
NOTICE IS HEREBY
GIVEN that the Annual Election of the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Central School District will be held in the music wing of the Oyster Bay High School, located at 150 East Main Street, Oyster Bay, New York, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 between the hours of 7:00 AM and 9:00 PM for the following purposes:
1. To vote upon the appropriation of the necessary funds to meet the estimated expenditures of the District for the school year beginning July 1, 2026 which shall be identified on the ballot as Proposition No. 1.
2. To vote on the following propositions:
PROPOSITION
NO.2 (Technology Capital Reserve Fund Expenditure): SHALL the Board of Education of the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Central School District be authorized to expend $495,000 from the Technology Capital Reserve Fund established on May 15, 2018 for the purpose of performing the following projects: purchase of student devices; purchase of educational display boards; purchase of classroom devices, all of the foregoing to include all labor, materials, equipment, apparatus and incidental costs related thereto.
PROPOSITION NO.3
(Capital Reserve Fund Expenditure):
SHALL the Board of Education of the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Central School District be authorized to expend $980,000 from the Capital Reserve Fund established on May 16, 2006 and amended on May 17, 2011 and May 21, 2013 and May 16, 2017 for the purpose of performing the following projects: auditorium rigging renovations at Oyster Bay High School; hot water heater replacement at Oyster Bay High School; gymnasium air
conditioning at James H. Vernon School; new scoreboard at Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School; new playground at Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School; and abandon oil tank at Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School, all of the foregoing to include all labor, materials, equipment, apparatus and incidental costs related thereto.
? PROPOSITION NO.4: RESOLVED, that a Capital Reserve Fund be created in accordance with the provisions of Education Law Section 3651, for the purpose instructional and non-instructional space improvements/ renovations/upgrades, (including but not limited to classroom improvements/ renovations/upgrades and/or additions to existing facilities), auditorium renovations, gymnasium renovations, cafeteria renovations, library/multi media center renovations, exterior renovations/ reconstruction, plumbing improvements/ renovations/upgrades, electrical improvements/ renovations/upgrades, HVAC improvements/ renovations/upgrades, energy efficiency improvements/ renovation/upgrades, fuel tank replacement, renovations required for compliance with ADA requirements, vocational and career preparation renovations, roof/gutter/ leader replacement, window replacement, structural renovations including masonry, brick and steel replacement, paving and concrete replacement, interior and exterior door/ entry ways replacement (including hardware), toilet room renovations, lighting upgrades, ceiling replacement, floor replacement, wall replacement, boiler replacements, elevators, carpentry renovations, site renovations/ reconstruction including track resurfacing and turf field replacement, press box/dugout/ field house improvements/ renovations/ upgrades, bleacher improvements/ renovations/ upgrades, upgrades of signs, athletic field renovations/ reconstruction, tennis court renovations, playground renovations, lockers/locker room renovations, public address/clock system replacement, sound system upgrades,
telephone system upgrades, hazardous material remediation, storage space renovations, furnishings and equipment, including the purchase of vehicles.
The term of the Capital Reserve Fund will be fifteen years commencing on June 30, 2026 and expiring June 30, 2041. The Capital Reserve Fund will be capitalized in an amount not to exceed twenty-five million dollars, plus interest, during the term of the fund. The source of the funding of the Capital Reserve Fund will be the annual transfer of surplus money, if any, from the General Fund, not exceeding two million dollars in any given year, as may be available at the end of each fiscal year from June 30, 2026 through and including June 30, 2041 and any other sources permitted by law.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that upon establishment of this Capital Reserve Fund, the Board of Education is authorized to transfer any remaining unexpended balance, including accrued interest, from the District’s existing Capital Reserve Fund to the Capital Reserve Fund established herein, and thereafter to close the existing Capital Reserve Fund.
3. To elect three members for the office of the Board of Education. One office for the balance of an unexpired term from May 19, 2026 through June 30, 2027, and two offices for a four-year term from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2030. The two candidates receiving the highest vote totals will be elected to the four-year terms of office. The candidate receiving the next highest vote total will be elected to the balance of the unexpired term.
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE, that the public budget hearing for the purpose of discussing the proposed budget of expenditure of funds for the school year 20262027 will be held May 5, 2026 at 7:30 PM in the Oyster Bay High School auditorium or remotely, if legally permissible. The condensed form of the budget proposition and the text of all
other propositions to appear on the voting machine and a detailed statement in writing of the amount of money which will be required for the school year 2026-2027 for school purposes, specifying the purposes and the amount for each, will be prepared and copies thereof will be made available, upon request, to any resident in the district at each school house in the District between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM during the period of the 14 days immediately preceding said election for May 19, 2026, excluding Saturday, Sunday and holidays, and at such annual election.
Notice is further given that pursuant to Section 495 of the Real Property Tax Law, the District is required to attach to its proposed budget an exemption report. Said exemption report, which will also become part of the final budget, will show how the total assessed value on the final assessment roll used in the budgetary process is exempt from taxation, list every type of exemption granted by the statutory authority, and show the cumulative impact of each type of exemption, the cumulative amount expected to be received as payments in lieu of taxes and the cumulative impact of all exemptions granted.
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE, that the Annual Election of the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Public Library will be held in the music wing of the Oyster Bay High School, located at 150 East Main Street, Oyster Bay, New York, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 between the hours of 7:00 AM and 9:00 PM for the following purposes:
1. To vote upon the appropriation of the necessary funds to meet the estimated expenditures of the Public Library for the school year beginning July 1, 2026.
2. To elect one member of the Board of Library Trustees for a term of five (5) years beginning July 1, 2026 and ending June 30, 2031.
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE, that the copies of the proposed library budget will be made available, upon request, to any resident at the Reference Desk of the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Public Library, located at 89 East Main
Street, Oyster Bay, New York between the hours of 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon and from 1:00 to 4:00 PM during the period of the 14 days immediately preceding said election of May 19, 2026, excluding Saturday, Sunday and holidays, and at such annual election.
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the voting shall be on voting machines as provided by the Education Law and the polls will remain open from 7:00 AM until 9:00 PM and as much longer as may be necessary to enable the voters then present to cast their ballots. The District Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to have the necessary ballot labels printed for said voting machines in the form corresponding as nearly as may be with the requirements of the Education Law.
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the nominations for the Board of Education members and Board of Library Trustee shall be made by petition subscribed by at least 25 qualified voters of the District, and filed with the District Clerk, Administration Building, 1 McCouns Lane, Oyster Bay, New York, between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM no later than 5:00 PM on Monday, April 20, 2026. Such petition shall state the residence of each signer and shall state the name and residence of the candidate. For the Board of Education, the two candidates receiving the highest vote totals will be elected to the four-year terms of office. The candidate receiving the next highest vote total will be elected to the balance of the unexpired term. For the Library, the candidate receiving the greatest number of votes shall be considered elected to the office. A nomination may be rejected by the Board of Education if the candidate is ineligible for office or declares his or her unwillingness to serve.
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the registration of the qualified voters of this District for said annual District election is permitted in the District Clerk’s Office, located in the Administration Building, 1 McCouns Lane, Oyster Bay, New York, during the hours of 8:00 AM and 1:00 PM and from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, Monday
through Friday, up to and including May 14, 2026. A register will be prepared and will be filed in the District Clerk’s Office and such register will be open for inspection by any qualified voter between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM on each of the five days prior to the day set for the election, except Sunday, by appointment only on Saturday, May 16, 2026 and at each polling place on election day.
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the register shall include: (1) all qualified voters of the District who shall personally present themselves for registration; (2) all previously qualified voters of the District who shall have been previously registered for any annual or special District meeting or election and who shall have voted at any annual or special District meeting or election held or conducted at any time within four calendar years (2022-2025) prior to preparation of the said register; and (3) voters permanently registered with the Board of Elections of the County of Nassau.
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the Board of Registration will further meet during the hours of voting at the Annual District Meeting on May 19, 2026 for the purpose of preparing a register for District meetings or elections to be held subsequent to May 19, 2026.
PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that applications for absentee and early mail ballots for the school district election and for the library trustee election may be applied for at the District Clerk’s Office. Applications for absentee and early mail ballots must be received by the District Clerk no earlier than thirty (30) days before the election. Furthermore, such application must be received by the District Clerk at least seven (7) days before the election if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the election if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter or his/ her designated agent. Upon receiving a timely request for a mailed absentee or early mail voter ballot, the District Clerk will mail the ballot to the address set forth in the application no later than six (6) days before the vote. A list
of all persons to whom absentee and early mail ballots shall have been issued will be available in the District Clerk’s Office on each of the five days prior to the election except Sunday. Eligibility to vote by absentee and early mail ballot will be determined in accordance with the provisions of New York State Education Law §§2018-a and 2018-e. PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE military voters who are not currently registered may apply to register as a qualified voter of the school district. Military voters who are qualified voters of the school district may submit an application for a military ballot. Military voters may designate a preference to receive a military voter registration, military ballot application or military ballot by mail, facsimile transmission, or electronic mail in their request for such registration, ballot application or ballot. Military voter registration forms and military ballot application forms (the latter of which is to be delivered only by mail or in person) must be received in the Office of the District Clerk of the school district no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 24, 2026. No military ballot will be canvassed unless it is (1) received in the Office of the District Clerk before the close of the polls on election day and showing a cancellation mark of the United States postal service or a foreign country’s postal service, or showing a dated endorsement of receipt by another agency of the United States government; or (2) received by the Office of the District Clerk by no later than 5:00 p.m. on election day and signed and dated by the military voter and one witness thereto, with a date which is associated to be not later than the day before the election.
Dated: MARCH 24, 2026 BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, OYSTER BAY-EAST NORWICH CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, COUNTY OF NASSAU, NEW YORK SUSAN WALSH DISTRICT CLERK 159407
PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES…
To place a notice here call us us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com
LEGAL NOTICE AVISO DE AUDIENCIA PRESUPUESTARIA Y ELECCIÓN ANUAL DE DISTRITO DE LOS MIEMBROS DE LA JUNTA DE EDUCACIÓN DEL DISTRITO ESCOLAR CENTRAL DE OYSTER BAY-EAST NORWICH Y DE LA BIBLIOTECA PÚBLICA OYSTER BAYEAST NORWICH QUE SE CELEBRARÁ EN 19 DE MAYO DE 2026
POR EL PRESENTE, SE NOTIFICA que la Elección Anual del Distrito Escolar Central de Oyster Bay-East Norwich se celebrará en el ala de música de la escuela superior de Oyster Bay, ubicada en 150 East Main Street, Oyster Bay, Nueva York, el martes 19 de mayo de 2026 entre las 7:00 a.m. y las 9:00 p.m. para los siguientes fines: 1. Votar sobre la asignación de los fondos necesarios para cubrir los gastos estimados del Distrito para el año escolar que comienza el 1 de julio de 2026, que se identificará en el boleto electoral como la Proposición Nº 1. 2. Votar sobre las siguientes proposiciones:
PROPOSICIÓN Nº 2
(Gasto del Fondo de Reserva de Capital Tecnológico): DEBE autorizarse a la Junta de Educación del Distrito Escolar Central de Oyster BayEast Norwich a gastar 495.000 dólares del Fondo de Reserva de Capital Tecnológico establecido el 15 de mayo de 2018 con el fin de llevar a cabo los siguientes proyectos: compra de dispositivos electronicos para estudiantes; compra de paneles educativos; compra de dispositivos electronicos para el salon, todo lo anterior incluye toda la mano de obra, materiales, equipo, aparatos y costos incidentales relacionados.
PROPOSICIÓN Nº 3
(Gasto del Fondo de Reserva de Capital): DEBERÁ autorizarse la Junta de Educación del Distrito Escolar Central de Oyster BayEast Norwich a gastar $980,000 dólares del Fondo de Reserva de Capital establecido el 16 de mayo de 2006, modificado el 17 de mayo de 2011, el 21 de mayo de 2013 y el 16 de mayo de 2017 con el fin de llevar a cabo los siguientes proyectos: Renovaciones de
Public Notices
montaje de auditorios en la escuela Superior de Oyster Bay; reemplazo del calentador de agua en la escuela Superior de Oyster Bay; el aire acondicionado del gimnasio en la escuela
James H. Vernon; nuevo marcador en la escuela primaria Theodore Roosevelt; nuevo patio de juegos en la escuela primaria Theodore Roosevelt; y abandonar el depósito de petróleo ubicado la escuela primaria
Theodore Roosevelt, todo lo anterior incluye toda la mano de obra, materiales, equipo, aparatos y costos incidentales relacionados.
? PROPOSICIÓN Nº 4: RESUELTO, crear un Fondo de Reserva de Capital conforme a las disposiciones de la Sección 3651 de la Ley de Educación, con el fin de mejoras/renovaciones/ modernizaciones de espacios, (incluyendo pero no limitándose a, mejoras/renovaciones y/o ampliaciones de las instalaciones existentes), renovaciones de auditorios, renovaciones de gimnasios, renovaciones de cafeterías, renovaciones de bibliotecas/ centros multimedia, renovaciones/ reconstrucción exterior, mejoras/renovaciones/ mejoras de plomeria, mejoras/renovaciones eléctricas, mejoras/ renovaciones/ de HVAC, mejoras, mejoras de eficiencia energética, mejoras/renovaciones, reemplazo de depósitos de combustible, reformas necesarias para cumplir con los requisitos de la Ley de Estadounidenses con Discapacidades (ADA), reformas profesionales y de preparación profesional, reemplazo de tejados/canaletas/ reemplazo del bajante de ventanas, reformas estructurales incluyendo mampostería, reemplazo de ladrillo y acero, pavimentación y hormigón reemplazo de puertas y entradas interiores y exteriores (incluyendo herrajes), renovaciones de aseos, mejoras de iluminación, sustitución de techos, sustitución de suelos, sustitución de paredes, sustituciones de calderas, ascensores, reformas de carpintería, renovaciones/ reconstrucción del sitio incluyendo reasfaltado de vías y sustitución de césped, mejoras/ renovaciones en la cabina de prensa/
excavación/casa de campo, mejoras/ renovaciones de gradas, mejoras de señales, campo deportivo, renovaciones/ reconstrucción de pistas de tenis, reformas de parques infantiles, renovaciones de taquillas/vestuarios, reemplazo de megafonía/sistema de reloj, mejoras del sistema de sonido, mejoras del sistema telefónico, remediación de materiales toxicos, renovaciones de espacios de almacenamiento, mobiliario y equipos, incluida la compra de vehículos.
El mandato del Fondo de Reserva de Capital será de quince años, comenzando el 30 de junio de 2026 y expirando el 30 de junio de 2041. El Fondo de Reserva de Capital se capitalizará en una cantidad que no exceda veinticinco millones de dólares, más intereses, durante el plazo del fondo. La fuente de financiación del Fondo de Reserva de Capital será la transferencia anual de dinero excedente, si lo hay, del Fondo General, que no exceda dos millones de dólares en un año determinado, que pueda estar disponible al final de cada año fiscal desde el 30 de junio de 2026 hasta el 30 de junio de 2041 e incluyendo cualquier otra fuente permitida por la ley.
SE RESUELVE
ADEMÁS que, tras el establecimiento de este Fondo de Reserva de Capital, la Junta de Educación está autorizada a transferir cualquier saldo pendiente restante, incluyendo los intereses acumulados, del Fondo de Reserva de Capital existente del Distrito al Fondo de Reserva de Capital establecido en este lugar, y posteriormente a cerrar el Fondo de Reserva de Capital existente.
3. Elegir a tres miembros para el cargo de la Junta de Educación. Un cargo por el resto de un mandato no expirado del 19 de mayo de 2026 al 30 de junio de 2027, y dos cargos por un mandato de cuatro años desde el 1 de julio de 2026 al 30 de junio de 2030. Los dos candidatos con mayor total de votos serán elegidos para los mandatos de cuatro años. El candidato que reciba el siguiente
mayor total de votos será elegido para el resto del mandato no vencido.
POR FAVOR, TOME NOTA ADICIONAL de que la audiencia pública presupuestaria con el propósito de discutir el presupuesto propuesto de gastos para el año escolar 2026-2027 se celebrará el 5 de mayo de 2026 a las 7:30 p.m. en el auditorio de la escuela Superior de Oyster Bay o de forma remota, si es legalmente permitido.
Se preparará en forma condensada la propuesta presupuestaria y el texto de todas las demás propuestas que aparecerán en la máquina de votación, así como una declaración detallada por escrito de la cantidad de dinero que se requerirá para el año escolar 2026-2027 para fines escolares, especificando los fines y la cantidad correspondiente a cada una, y se pondrán a disposición copias de la misma, a petición, de cualquier residente del distrito en cada escuela del distrito entre las 8:00 a.m. y las 4:00 p.m. durante el periodo de los 14 días inmediatamente previos a dicha elección para el 19 de mayo de 2026, excluyendo sábados, domingos y dias feriados, y en dichas elecciones anuales.
Se notifica además que, conforme a la Sección 495 de la Ley del Impuesto sobre la Propiedad Inmobiliaria, el Distrito está obligado a adjuntar a su presupuesto propuesto un informe de exención. Dicho informe de exención, que también formará parte del presupuesto final, mostrará cómo el valor total de tasación en el registro final de evaluación utilizado en el proceso presupuestario está exento de impuestos, listará todos los tipos de exenciones concedidas por la autoridad estatutaria y mostrará el impacto acumulativo de cada tipo de exención, la cantidad acumulada que se espera recibir como pagos en lugar de impuestos y el impacto acumulativo de todas las exenciones concedidas.
POR FAVOR, TOME NOTA ADICIONAL de que la Elección Anual de la Biblioteca Pública de Oyster Bay-East Norwich sera en el ala
de música de la escuela Superior de Oyster Bay, situado en 150 East Main Street, Oyster Bay, Nueva York, el martes 19 de mayo de 2026 entre las 7:00 a.m. y las 9:00 p.m. para los siguientes fines:
1. Para votar la asignación de los fondos necesarios para cubrir los gastos estimados de la Biblioteca Pública para el año escolar que comienza el 1 de julio de 2026.
2. Elegir a un miembro de la Junta de Síndicos de la Biblioteca por un mandato de cinco (5) años que comienza el 1 de julio de 2026 y finaliza el 30 de junio de 2031.
POR FAVOR TENGA PRESENTE LO SIGUIENTE ADICIONAL de que las copias del presupuesto propuesto para la biblioteca estarán disponibles, a petición, para cualquier residente en el Mostrador de Referencia de la Biblioteca Pública Oyster Bay-East Norwich, situada en 89 East Main Street, Oyster Bay, Nueva York, entre las 10:00 y las 12:00 del mediodía y de 1:00 p.m. a 4:00 p.m. durante el periodo de los 14 días inmediatamente anteriores a dicha elección del 19 de mayo, 2026, excluyendo sábados, domingos y dias feriados, y en esas elecciones anuales.
POR FAVOR
TENGA PRESENTE LO SIGUIENTE ADICIONAL que la votación se realizará en máquinas de votación según lo previsto por la Ley de Educación y que las urnas permanecerán abiertas de 7:00 a 21:00 horas y el mayor tiempo necesario para que los votantes presentes puedan emitir su voto. El Secretario del Distrito está autorizado y instruido a imprimir los boletos necesarios de las papeletas para dichas máquinas de votación en la forma que corresponda tanto como sea posible a los requisitos de la Ley de Educación.
POR FAVOR TENGA PRESENTE LO SIGUIENTE ADICIONAL que las nominaciones para los miembros de la Junta de Educación y la Junta de Fideicomisarios de la Biblioteca deberán hacerse mediante petición suscrita por al menos 25 votantes cualificados del Distrito, y presentada ante el Secretario del Distrito, Edificio
de Administración, 1 McCouns Lane, Oyster Bay, Nueva York, entre las 8:00 a.m. y las 4:00 p.m. horas, a más tardar de las 5:00 p.m. del lunes, 20 de abril de 2026. Dicha petición indicará la residencia de cada firmante y el nombre y la residencia del candidato. Para la Junta de Educación, los dos candidatos con mayor total de votos serán elegidos para los mandatos de cuatro años. El candidato que reciba el siguiente mayor total de votos será elegido para el resto del mandato no vencido. Para la Biblioteca, el candidato que reciba el mayor número de votos será considerado elegido para el cargo. Una nominación puede ser rechazada por la Junta de Educación si el candidato no es elegible para el cargo o declara su negativa a servir. POR FAVOR TENGA PRESENTE LO SIGUIENTE ADICIONAL que el registro de los votantes cualificados de este distrito para dichas elecciones anuales del distrito está permitido en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito, situada en el Edificio de Administración, 1 McCouns Lane, Oyster Bay, Nueva York, durante las horas de 8:00 a.m. y 1:00 p.m. y de 2:00p.m. a 4:00 p.m., de lunes a viernes, hasta e incluyendo el 14 de mayo, 2026. Se preparará un registro y se archivará en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito, y dicho registro estará abierto para su inspección por cualquier votante cualificado entre las 8:00 a.m. y las 4:00 p.m. en cada uno de los cinco días previos al día fijado para la elección, excepto el domingo, con cita previa solo el sábado, 16 de mayo de 2026 y, en cada colegio electoral el día de las elecciones.
POR FAVOR
TENGA PRESENTE LO SIGUIENTE ADICIONAL que el registro incluirá: (1) todos los votantes cualificados del distrito que se presenten personalmente para su registro; (2) todos los votantes previamente cualificados del Distrito que hayan estado previamente registrados para cualquier reunión o elección anual o especial del Distrito y que hayan votado en cualquier reunión anual o especial del Distrito o elección celebrada o realizada en cualquier momento dentro de los cuatro años naturales
(2022-2025) previos a la preparación de dicho registro; y (3) votantes registrados permanentemente en la Junta Electoral del Condado de Nassau.
POR FAVOR
TENGA PRESENTE LO SIGUIENTE ADICIONAL que la Junta de Registro se require posteriormente durante las horas de votación en la Asamblea Anual de Distrito el 19 de mayo de 2026 con el fin de preparar un registro para las reuniones o elecciones de Distrito que se celebrarán después del 19 de mayo de 2026.
POR FAVOR TENGA PRESENTE LO SIGUIENTE ADICIONAL que las solicitudes para votos por correo y por correo anticipado para la elección del distrito escolar y para la elección de Administracion de la biblioteca pueden solicitarse en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito. Las solicitudes para boletos por correo y por correo anticipado deben ser recibidas por el Secretario del Distrito no antes de treinta (30) días antes de la elección. Además, dicha solicitud debe ser recibida por el Secretario del Distrito al menos siete (7) días antes de la elección si el boleto debe enviarse por correo al votante, o el día antes de la elección si el boleto debe entregarse personalmente al votante o a su agente designado. Al recibir una solicitud oportuna de una papeleta de votación por correo o por correo anticipado, el Secretario del Distrito enviará el boleto a la dirección indicada en la solicitud como muy tarde seis (6) días antes de la votación.
Una lista de todas las personas a las que se hayan emitido boletos por correo y por correo anticipado, estará disponible en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito en cada uno de los cinco días previos a la elección, excepto el domingo. La elegibilidad para votar mediante voto por correo anticipado y por correo anticipado se determinará conforme a las disposiciones de la Ley de Educación del Estado de Nueva York §§2018a y 2018-e.
POR FAVOR
TENGA PRESENTE LO SIGUIENTE ADICIONAL Los
votantes militares que no estén actualmente registrados pueden solicitar registrarse como votantes cualificados del distrito escolar. Los votantes militares que sean votantes cualificados del distrito escolar pueden presentar una solicitud para una papeleta militar. Los votantes militares pueden designar una preferencia para recibir un registro de votante militar, una solicitud de papeleta militar o una papeleta militar por correo, transmisión por fax o correo electrónico en su solicitud de dicho registro, solicitud de papeleta o papeleta. Los formularios de registro de votantes militares y los formularios de solicitud de papeleta militar (estos últimos solo deben entregarse por correo o en persona) deben recibirse en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito escolar a más tardar a las 17:00 horas del 24 de abril de 2026. No se aceptara ningun boleto militar a menos que (1) se reciba en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito antes del cierre de las urnas el día de las elecciones y muestre una marca de sello del servicio postal de Estados Unidos o del servicio postal de un país extranjero, o que muestre una avalación fechada de recepción por otra agencia del gobierno de Estados Unidos; o (2) recibido por la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito a más tardar a las 5:00 p.m. del día de las elecciones y firmado y fechado por el votante militar y un testigo, con una fecha que se asocia como no posterior al día anterior a la elección.
Fecha: 24 DE MARZO DE 2026 POR ORDEN DE LA JUNTA DE EDUCACIÓN, OYSTER DISTRITO ESCOLAR CENTRAL BAY-EAST NORWICH, CONDADO DE NASSAU, NUEVA YORK SUSAN WALSH SECRETARIO DE DISTRITO 159409
LEGAL NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE
JERICHO WATER DISTRICT
NOTICE IS HEREBY
GIVEN that the fiscal affairs of the Jericho Water District for the period beginning on January 1, 2025, and ending on December 31, 2025, have been examined by Cullen & Danowski, LLP,
Certified Public Accountants, and that the annual Auditor’s Report and Audited Financial Statements prepared in conjunction with external audit have been filed in the District’s office where they are available as a public record for inspection by all interested persons. Pursuant to section thirty-five of the General Municipal Law, the Board of Commissioners of the Jericho Water District may in its discretion prepare a written response to the report of external audit or management letter and file any such response in the District Office as a public record for inspection by all interested person not later than September 4, 2026.
Board of Commissioners
Jericho Water District Patricia A. Beckerle Secretary 160210
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE TO BIDDERS
The Board of Education of the Locust Valley Central School District invites the submission of Sealed Bid Proposals to furnish materials and labor to complete the Cafeteria Renovation & Library Renovation at Locust Valley Middle and High School in accordance with the plans and specifications for the following category(ies) of work:
LOCUST VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT
PROJECT
Cafeteria Renovation NYSED PROJECT NO.:
28-05-03-06-0-012-058
Bid # LV012-01 & Library Renovation NYSED PROJECT NO.: 28-05-03-06-0-012-059
Bid # LV012-04
CONTRACT AV-1 & 2 (RE-BID) AUDIO VIDEO CONSTRUCTION
Sealed Bid Proposals will be received until 12:00 am prevailing time on Tuesday, May 26th, 2026 at the School District Administration Office, 22 Horse Hollow Rd. Locust Valley, N.Y. 11560, at which time and place the bids will be publicly opened and read aloud. Any bid may be withdrawn without prejudice prior to the official bid opening time or any publicized postponement thereof.
Public Notices
Any bid received after the time and date stated above will be returned to the bidder unopened. Bidders are solely responsible for the arrival of each bid at the School District Administration Office by the appointed time, regardless of the means of delivery. Bids must be presented on the standard bid proposal form(s) in the manner designated therein and as required by the Specifications. All bids must be addressed to the Purchasing Agent, Ingrid Wright, District Administration Building, 22 Horse Hollow Rd. Locust Valley, N.Y. 11560. All bids shall be sealed and in an opaque envelope that is distinctly marked on the outside as follows:
“Bid # LV012-01 & LV012-04 Cafeteria & Library Renovation –Contract AV-1&2 (ReBid) at Locust Valley Middle and High School” as required by the Bid Specifications. The name of the bidder, bidders address, and the name of the contract, and/or contracts being bid must also appear on the outside of the envelope.
The Contract Documents may be examined at the Office of the Architect, Mark Design Studios Architecture, PC, 270 North Broadway, Hicksville New York, 516-827-0240 (phone) during the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. excluding holidays. Bidders are encouraged to call ahead; however the Contract Documents may only be obtained through the Office of REVplans, 28 Church Street, Unit #7, Warwick, New York 10990 (877-272-0216) beginning on Monday, May 18th, 2026. Complete digital sets of Contract Documents shall be obtained online (with a free user account) as a download for a nonrefundable fee of One Hundred ($100.00) Dollars at the following website: https://mds.biddyhq.co m under ‘public projects’. Optionally, in lieu of digital copies,
hard copies may be obtained directly from REVplans upon a deposit of One Hundred ($100.00) Dollars for each complete set. Checks for deposits shall be made payable to Locust Valley Central School District, and may be uncertified. Plan deposit is refundable in accordance with the terms of the ‘Information For Bidders’ to all submitting bids. Bidding Document costs are refundable provided the documents are returned to REVplans within thirty (30) days of the Bid Opening, and are COMPLETE, UNMARKED and in NOT TORN condition.
Any bidder requiring printed documents to be shipped shall make arrangements with the printer and pay for all packaging and shipping costs. All bid addenda will be transmitted to registered plan holders via email and will be available at the above.
Any bidder requiring documents to be shipped shall make arrangements with the printer and pay for all packaging and shipping costs. Plan holders who have obtained hard copies of the bid documents will need to make the determination if hard copies of the addenda are required for their use, and coordinate directly with the printer for hard copies of addenda to be issued. There will be no charge for registered plan holders to obtain hard copies of the bid addenda. The bid deposit for hard copies will be returned upon receipt of plans and specifications, in good condition, within thirty days after bid date, except for the lowest responsible bidder, whose check will be forfeited upon the award of the contract.
Each bid must be accompanied by a certified check payable to LOCUST VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT or by a Bid Bond in an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of the bid conditioned as set forth
in the “Information for Bidders” of the Bid Specifications. All bid security, except those of the three lowest bidders will be returned within ten (10) days after bids are submitted. The bid security provided by the three lowest bidders will be returned after the execution of the Trade Contract. The District will require the successful bidder to provide separate Performance and Labor & Materials Payment Bonds in the amount of the contract price and in the form specified in the Bid Documents.
Each Bidder shall prepare their bid proposal, along with a bid security, in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the “Information for Bidders” and Bid Specifications. Attention of bidders is particularly called to the minimum wage rates to be paid under the contracts.
Wages to workers, laborers and mechanics employed to work on this project shall be paid in accordance with Section 220 of the Labor Law and in accordance with the Prevailing Rate Schedules found in the Project Manual. Proof of such payments will be required.
The District reserves the right to award a contract to the lowest responsible bidder providing the required security within fortyfive (45) days of the date opening of the bids. To the fullest extent allowed by law, the District further reserves the right to reject bids that contain conditions, omissions, exceptions or modifications, or in its sole discretion to waive any irregularities in the bids, or to reject any or all bids, or to accept any bid which in the opinion of the District is in its best interest.
By Order of Board of Education
Locust Valley Central School District 160219
LEGAL NOTICE Notice to Bidders
The Locust Valley Central School District invites the submission of sealed bids for:
District-Wide Printing Bid Opening: 10a.m.on Thursday, May 28,2026
Locust Valley Central School District Administration Office, Board Room 22 Horse Hollow Rd, Locust Valley, NY 11560
Bids will not be accepted after 10 am, where bids are open and read aloud. The District-Wide Printing bid can be obtained by contacting Ingrid Wright at 516-277-5020 or emailing
LVpurchasing@locustva lleyschools.org 160186
PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES…
To place a notice here call us us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com
LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU. EMIGRANT BANK, SUCCESSOR BY MERGER WITH EMIGRANT SAVINGS BANK LONG ISLAND, Plaintiff against SEYMOUR COHEN, et al Defendant(s).
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on April 1, 2026, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court “Rain or Shine” located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on June 16, 2026 at 3:30 p.m.
ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Brookville, Town of Oyster Bay, Nassau County, known and designated as SBL# 17,9,173. Said premises known as 11 EVANS DRIVE, GLEN HEAD a/k/a 11 EVANS DRIVE, BROOKVILLE, NY 11545
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 610162/2023.
PAUL L. MELI, ESQ., Referee Terenzi & Confusione P.C.
Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 401 Franklin Avenue, Suite 304, Garden City, NY 11530 {* OYSTER BAY*} 160140
Thousands of runners at Long Island marathon
By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com
Runners from near and far hit the pavement in Eisenhower Park this weekend for the Jovia Financial Credit Union Long Island Marathon, drawing thousands of athletes, families, foodies and more for a celebration of endurance, community and local connection.
Festivities kicked off with a 5K Family Fun Run on May 1, followed by a 10K and 1K Kids Fun Run on May 2 and the half-marathon and marathon on May 3. Each race began, and ended, in East Meadow’s Eisenhower Park.
Not only is the marathon a premier sporting event in Nassau County and an economic generator for the area, but a great source of community entertainment outside of the races. A food truck festival ran all weekend, along with a full line up of music entertainment at the Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre in the park. The marathon, which celebrated its 53rd year, has been sponsored by Jovia Financial Credit Union for the last decade.
Over 4,000 runners participated in the weekend’s festivities.
“The Marathon Weekend brings together people from all over the globe,” race director Corey Roberts remarked of the festivities in a news release. “I cannot thank Jovia enough for continuing their support as the title sponsor of the marathon.”
Peter Purpura, vice president of business development at Jovia Financial Credit Union, explained that the race has served as a great way for the company to get to know the Long Island community. At the race, he said, Jovia gets to interact with thousands of runners, each who has a unique story to tell.
“I think our partnership with this event is really relevant,” he said at a previous race preview event. “We’ve been in the community for 85 years now,
serving our members, and they trust us for a variety of financial needs. Similar to the runners, they come to us with a number of different reasons, and some of them are good, some of them are bad. But no matter what, our staff is always looking to greet them and get them to their next mile.”
The top finishers in the men’s marathon included Scott Bickard, 37 of Bethpage; Demir Degirmenci, 24 of Forest Hills; and Raphael Archer, 28 of Port Chester. The top three finishers in the women’s marathon included Grace Garvey, 25 of New York City, Rebecca Arbitman, 17 of Roslyn; and Samathna Augeri, 43 of Rockville Centre.
Garvey spoke with the Herald at the conclusion of the race and said she didn’t realize she was as far ahead of other runners as she was. Pacers on a bicycle were guiding her towards the finish line, but still, she said, “I thought there was a really big gap between me and person that was in first.”
“I am extremely, extremely thankful,” she said, reflecting on the performance. “I was injured this past year, so I was in a lot of recovery, so to be able to come out and perform the way that I did — it was amazing.”
Garvey corssed the finish line at 3 hours, 6 minutes and 55 seconds.
The 26.2-mile race began and ended near Eisenhower Park’s Field 5. Runners headed west, leaving the park on Merrick Avenue, and then turned toward Garden City on Charles Lindbergh Boulevard. The race looped back toward East Meadow, and runners then headed north and east through Salisbury, around the perimeter of Eisenhower Park, before re-entering the park near Carmen Avenue.
As runners crossed the finish line, they were cheered on by grandstands full of supporters.
Additional reporting by Tim Baker.
Tim Baker/Herald
Runners came down the final stretch of the race path during the Long Island Marathon Weekend in Eisenhower Park, held between May 1 and May 3.
Protecting Oyster Bay’s waters for future generations
As spring returns, so, too, does a renewed sense of responsibility for the natural treasures that define our community.
Our waterways — harbors, bays and shorelines — are not only central to our identity, but vital to our environment and economy. Protecting them isn’t a seasonal task; it’s a year-round commitment. Spring, however, offers a visible reminder — and an opportunity for all of us to take part.
One of the most promising and innovative efforts now underway is our kelp cultivation program. This winter, as in years past, kelp lines were carefully planted at key marina locations, including Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park, Tappen Beach and Tobay Beach, as well as in the Oyster Bay Harbor and Cold Spring Harbor Conservation Management Areas. These underwater farms grow quietly through the colder months, reaching their peak just as spring arrives, when they are harvested.
The results speak for themselves. Since the program began, the town has successfully cultivated more than 3,000
feet of kelp — roughly the length of 10 football fields. This is more than an impressive statistic; it represents a meaningful step forward in water quality improvement. Kelp absorbs excess nitrogen and carbon dioxide, helping to combat pollution and ocean acidification while supporting marine ecosystems.
This work wouldn’t be possible without strong partnerships. We are proud to collaborate with organizations such as Friends of the Bay, Cornell Cooperative Extension, the state Department of Environmental Conservation and our local baymen. Their expertise, dedication and shared vision strengthen every aspect of this initiative. Together we are demonstrating how cooperation among government, environmental groups and industry can produce real results.
With solid partners, we’re cultivating kelp and restoring shellfish populations.
Shellfish play a critical role in maintaining water quality. A single oyster or clam can filter up to 50 gallons of water per day, removing impurities and improving clarity. By restoring these populations, we are not only supporting marine life, but also strengthening the local shellfishing industry, an important economic driver with deep roots in our community.
Environmental stewardship and economic growth are not opposing goals; they are interconnected. A cleaner harbor supports tourism, recreation and commerce, and ensures that future generations can enjoy the same natural beauty we value today. That’s why we encourage residents to do their part by reducing fertilizer use, properly disposing of waste and being mindful of what enters our storm drains and waterways.
Equally important is engaging in our community — especially our young people. Environmental protection is strongest when it is shared. That’s why we have invested in outreach programs that invite residents to take part in meaningful activities. From harbor cleanups and recycling events to Marine Education Days, dune-stabilization projects and environmental poster contests, there are opportunities for everyone to get involved.
I encourage residents to volunteer, and bring their families, because small actions add up to meaningful change. These programs do more than educate; they inspire. They help young residents understand that their actions matter, and that they have a role in shaping our future. That sense of ownership is essential to long-term success.
But our efforts don’t stop with kelp. We are currently planning and designing a new shellfish hatchery that will significantly expand our capacity to restore oyster and clam populations. Once completed, this facility is expected to produce an additional 40 million to 60 million shellfish seeds annually — a transformative investment in the health of our waterways.
Our commitment to sustainability extends beyond our waterways. The town has taken significant steps to reduce its carbon footprint by improving energy efficiency in municipal operations and encouraging conservation in the private sector. Residents can join us by embracing energy-saving practices at home and supporting local environmental initiatives.
As we look ahead, we remain focused on building on this progress. Whether it’s expanding kelp cultivation, advancing shellfish restoration or strengthening community engagement, our mission is clear: to preserve and protect our natural resources for generations to come.
Spring is a season of renewal, and here in the Town of Oyster Bay it’s also a season of action. Together we can make a difference — above and below the water’s surface.
Joseph Saladino is supervisor of the Town of Oyster Bay.
Preparing students to succeed in L.I.’s creative economy
Last month, five students from Long Island High School for the Arts advanced from regional competition to the SkillsUSA state championships in an impressive showcase of career readiness and leadership ability. Two went on to win bronze for their work in digital cinema production.
If you watched the LIHSA students present their work, explain their creative choices and demonstrate their technical skill, one thing was clear: These young people aren’t simply pursuing their passions, but are diligently preparing to enter Long Island’s thriving creative economy.
According to the Center for an Urban Future’s 2025 report, “Sustaining Long Island’s Creative Spark,” employment in Long Island’s arts and culture sector grew 21.6 percent from 2014 to 2024, compared with overall job growth in the region of just 4.1 percent. During that
same period, the number of independent artists on Long Island nearly doubled, and nonprofit arts and culture organizations generated more than $330 million in annual economic activity, according to the Long Island Arts Alliance.
I invite Long Island families to consider the growing promise of creative industries.
The creative economy is trending upward at the national level, too. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis’ most recently reported data attests that arts and cultural economic activity increased 6.6 percent in 2023, more than double the 2.8 percent increase of the prior year. It accounted for 4.2 percent of the nation’s GDP in 2023, and supported 5.4 million jobs.
As district superintendent and CEO of Nassau BOCES, where our mission includes a focus on vocational career training, I am thrilled that SkillsUSA — the nation’s top workforce-development organization for students — has recognized rigorous arts education for what it is: vital preparation for real careers.
And yet there is still a lingering perception that arts education is somehow less practical than other vocational tracks, like those in health care, con-
struction, automotive technology and computer science — pathways that matter deeply. And concerns about the arts often come from a good place. Families want stability for their children. School leaders want to prepare students for real opportunity. But those goals aren’t at odds with arts education.
Students pursuing design, animation, digital media, filmmaking, music and performance are building specific and transferable skills that have value in today’s world. They are learning how to create under pressure, revise based on feedback, collaborate with others, communicate clearly and produce work for an audience. They are also learning industry tools and technology while building portfolios that make them competitive college applicants and open doors to conservatory training and professional employment.
For Nassau BOCES, this is evident at LIHSA and among the school’s alumni, who have gone on to study at Juilliard, the Parsons School of Design and the Boston Conservatory at Berklee and to work for employers ranging from The
New Yorker to the Metropolitan Opera. I offer LIHSA as an example, but this isn’t about one school. I invite Long Island families, educators and public officials to re-examine the full range of career pathways that lead to meaningful work in today’s evolving economy and consider the growing promise of creative industries.
We are quick to guide students who want to become nurses, engineers or electricians toward those programs of study. We should be just as ready to do the same for students who want to work in design, media or the performing arts.
The five LIHSA students currently advancing through the national rankings at SkillsUSA remind us of something important — talent matters, but so does training and opportunity.
If our region is serious about economic growth, we should prepare our students accordingly and not ignore the creative sector, which is outpacing overall job growth by a factor of five to one. Long Island has built strong pipelines into other trades. We owe our young artists, performers and producers the same counseling, the same investment, and the same expectation of success.
Larry Leaven is district superintendent and CEO of Nassau BOCES.
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May 19 decisions carry outsized local impact
long Islanders will be asked to make decisions on May 19 that quietly but profoundly shape their communities. From Amityville to Valley Stream and from Oyster Bay to Massapequa, voters will head to the polls to weigh in on public school district budgets, elect Board of Education trustees and, in several cases, decide funding for their local libraries.
These are not minor matters. Yet year after year, school district elections draw strikingly low turnout and are often decided by a small fraction of eligible voters. More often than not, only 5 to 10 percent of eligible voters cast ballots. That disconnect is hard to justify given the outsized influence these votes have on taxes, educational quality, public services and overall community health.
School budgets determine far more than what happens inside the classroom. They shape the volume of opportunities available to students — from arts and music programs to athletics and extracurricular activities — as well as spending on classroom instruction, staff salaries, employee benefits, school operations, transportation and specialized programs. The budgets, proposed by local school boards and voted on by residents, dictate the allocation of local property taxes, state aid and federal funding.
In districts where library budgets are on the ballot, these votes also impact access to books, technology, program-
letters
Support the Locust Valley school budget
To the Editor:
The Locust Valley Central School District Board of Education has unanimously adopted the district’s proposed 2026-27 budget for the May 19 budget vote and board trustee election. This budget represents a balance between essential student needs and fiscal restraint.
With a 2.0 percent overall increase and a proposed tax levy increase of 2.1percent — well below the state cap of 2.84 percent — this budget continues our board’s longstanding commitment to taxpayer stewardship. The proposed tax levy is the second-lowest among 12 neighboring districts, reflecting a continued dedication to careful financial management.
The budget is designed to protect and enhance the pillars of our district by prioritizing instructional excellence and physical security. It includes a $1.77 million increase in instructional appropriations to safeguard core academic programs, and a $2.5 million transfer to the capital fund to implement best-practice security systems, specifically replacing class -
ming and community space for residents of all ages.
Equally important are the elections for Board of Education trustees. These individuals are not figureheads; they are elected officials responsible for setting district policy, hiring and evaluating the superintendent, and establishing the annual budget. They ensure compliance with state education laws, manage district property and represent the community’s interests.
Their choices influence curriculum, long-term planning and how effectively taxpayer dollars are managed. The direction of a school district for years to come can hinge on who fills these seats. What makes these elections especially significant is how much can turn on so few votes. In many Long Island communities, multimillion-dollar spending plans and major capital projects are approved or rejected by narrow margins. A relative handful of ballots can alter the outcome. That reality means that every vote carries real weight, much more than in higher-profile elections where margins often stretch into the thousands or millions.
The 2006-07 Baldwin School District budget passed by only five votes. Last May, the Shelter Island School District spending plan fell just 40 votes short of the required 60 percent supermajority needed to pierce the state tax cap, A year earlier, only a few of Long Island’s 124 school districts, including Sachem and
West Babylon, had their budgets rejected. It is also a mistake to view these elections as relevant only to parents of school-aged children. Strong public schools are a cornerstone of vibrant communities. They help sustain property values, attract families, support local businesses and contribute to a shared sense of stability and pride. Libraries, too, serve as essential civic hubs, offering educational resources, workforce support and cultural programming that benefit entire neighborhoods.
Participation in these elections is not complicated, but it does require intention. Voters should take time to review the proposed budgets and any referendums, understand what is at stake and, if possible, attend public hearings or information sessions. These forums provide valuable insight into how decisions are made and where priorities lie.
Most important, residents must show up. Local democracy is strongest when it reflects the voices of the many, not the few. When turnout is low, decisions that affect entire communities are left in the hands of a limited group of voters, weakening the representative nature of the process.
May 19 may not carry the fanfare of a national election, but its consequences are immediate and tangible. Those who participate will shape the future of Long Island’s schools, libraries and neighborhoods. That alone should be reason enough to make voting a priority.
room doors and locks. Beyond these infrastructure needs, the budget preserves critical services that support our “whole child” mission, ensuring that the emotional and social well-being of every student remains a priority.
We must also candidly address the
implications of a failed budget vote. Should it be rejected, the board would be required to initiate a revote under more constrained circumstances. In addition, a failed vote would add unavoidable costs to the community, including the expense of conducting a revote.
It’s long past time to recognize the Montauketts
in March, the State Assembly unanimously passed — yes, even in these polarized times, it unanimously passed — a bill sponsored by Assemblyman Tommy John Schiavoni providing for reinstatement and acknowledgement of the Montaukett Indian Nation.
The bill has now gone to the State Senate, which, like the Assembly, has overwhelmingly passed it seven times. Yes, seven times. But Gov. Kathy Hochul has vetoed it four times. And her predecessor, Andrew Cuomo, a fellow Democrat, vetoed it three times.
“The people of the Montaukett Indian Nation are a rich part of the Long Island community,” declared a statement issued by Schiavoni’s office. But “After several attempts to advance legislation that would recognize and acknowledge the Montauketts, New York State has continued with the precedent set in 1910 to deny them their right of existence in the eyes of the state. Despite the 1910 Pharaoh v. Benson case when the court declared them to be extinct while their leaders and 75
members of the nation sat in the courtroom, the Montaukett Indian Nation has continued to thrive and govern itself. The wrongful removal of their state recognition remains uncorrected.”
Schiavoni, a Sag Harbor Democrat, joined the Assembly in January 2025.
The 2026 Montaukett recognition measure, and earlier bills, were sponsored in the Senate by Anthony Palumbo, a Republican from New Suffolk. One of them passed the Senate, 50 to 1, last year.
The Indian nation has been dissed by no fewer than seven vetoes by two governors.
In her veto message about that bill in December, Hochul again pointed to the 1910 ruling in Pharaoh v. Benson. In it, State Supreme Court Justice Abel Blackmar sided with the descendants of Arthur Benson, a developer, in awarding them Montaukett tribal lands. Hochul said there were still “outstanding questions and issues concerning the Montauketts’ eligibility for recognition, according to traditional criteria.”
Schiavoni succeeded Fred W. Thiele Jr., a member of the Assembly for nearly 30 years, who sponsored the earlier Montaukett measures in the Assembly.
After Hochul cited Pharoah v. Benson in a veto of the 2023 bill, Thiele, a Sag Harbor Democrat, said he was shocked
LeTTers
If a revised budget were also not approved, the district would have to adopt a contingency budget, resulting in an immediate reduction of almost $1.9 million. Reductions would extend beyond efficiencies, and necessitate the curtailment of core programs and longstanding community offerings, including summer recreation and academic programs, continuing education, EMT, support for senior centers and driver’s education. Planned facility improvements — such as enhanced security measures and weight room upgrades — would be suspended. Finally, we have historically and enthusiastically supported community access to district facilities and field use for local youth organizations, and we would like that to continue — but this is another area that could be adversely impacted if we were forced to operate under a contingency budget.
We encourage community members to review the proposed budget on the district website, locustvalleyschools. org, and consider its potential impact on educational services and local programs. And we urge our neighbors to vote on May 19.
GEORGE VASILIOU President, Locust Valley Central School District Board of Education
that the governor would reference that ruling, which he described as “one of the most racist decisions in the history of New York jurisprudence. The prior vetoes were unfortunate but the language in this one was stunning. To take the Benson case, which has language in it that would embarrass the Proud Boys, and hold that up as the justification for this veto is just crazy. Instead of rejecting the noxious rationale of Benson, [Hochul’s] veto affirmed it. I am ashamed of our state government.”
The case focused on an effort by the Montaukett chief, Wyandank Pharoah, to undo the taking of Montauk lands by Benson. As Newsday’s Mark Harrington noted in his coverage of the 2025 Hochul veto: “Newsday in a 1998 investigation found that the process by which developers and the Long Island Rail Road annexed Montaukett and Shinnecock Indian Nation lands over the past 200 years was rife with ‘deceit, lies and possible forgery.’”
There is a passage in the vetoed 2025 bill — and in the current and prior measures — stating that Blackmar’s “arbitrary ruling ignored earlier U.S. Supreme Court decisions defining Indian Nations according to criteria under
which the Montaukett Indian Nation qualified as an existing sovereign tribe and giving Congress, rather than the courts, power to decide [its] status.”
The Montaukett situation has attracted attention beyond Long Island. A New York Post article on Hochul’s December veto quoted Sandra BrewerWalker, executive director of the Montaukett Indian Nation, saying, “The governor just doesn’t get it — she lacks an understanding of Native American history and is upholding an illegal, racist ruling.”
On the floor of the Senate, Palumbo has decried the ruling in the Pharoah v. Benson case, which he termed “likely racist” and spoke of how the tribe “was recognized for years prior” to the case. He declared, “Now is the time to correct this injustice and provide the Montaukett Indian Nation with the status they deserve.”
The Montauketts were one of the original great tribes of Long Island — and they’re still here. Peter Pharaoh, a proud Montaukett, was a journalism student of mine. They thoroughly deserve the restoration of their recognition.
Karl Grossman has been an investigative reporter in a variety of media for more than 50 years. He is a professor of journalism at the State University of New York at Old Westbury.
Framework by Tim Baker
‘When does the bleeding stop?’
To the Editor:
Re the proposed 2026-27 Oyster BayEast Norwich school budget: The magic number is a $2 million increase. Let it be known that the district has a total enrollment of only 1,341 students, and the proposed budget is $69 million, which equates to about $51,000 per student — outrageous indeed. When costs are rising, the proper approach is to make reductions to offset the expenses.
The superintendent is earning over $401,000 per year, which is more than the governor and the mayor of New York City, and more than superintendents of other districts with much larger enrollments.
There will also be a proposition on the ballot to approve a $25 million bond. I am at a loss to understand the logic in asking for more money when our facilities have all been upgraded with previous bonds, and enrollment keeps decreasing rather than increasing. It is quite apparent that the more funds are approved, the more they find ways to spend them.
When does the bleeding stop?
GRACE SEARBY Oyster Bay
At the Town of Hempstead’s Rock Hall Museum, an affiliate of the Society for the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities — Lawrence
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