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Page 10 Vol. 37 No. 2
JANUARY 8 - 14, 2026
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SCAN ME!
Bill Hogan named parade grand marshal
New year, new beginnings At 4 a.m. on New Year’s Day, Janiah Thompson made her grand entrance, becoming the first baby born at Mercy Hospital in 2026. Wrapped in love and surrounded by festive decorations, this little one is already a star. The family was overjoyed to welcome their newest member just in time to ring in 2026. Story and more photos, Page 20.
“They turned it into a parade that cares and shares, picking three charities annually and For Bill Hogan, leading the spreading the good fortune of 2026 Rockville Centre St. Pat- Rockville Centre while supportrick’s Day Parade isn’t just an ing local businesses. I’ve suphonor — it will be a walk down ported it for years, and to have memory lane through decades them choose me as an honoree of community, family and vol- is a great honor.” The recognition, unteer service. he said, reflects the The parade will collective efforts of take place March 21, many families who along Maple Avenue, have contributed to and is expected to the village over the draw thousands of years. “They just spectators to the vilpicked me as a replage’s downtown, as resentative of a genalways. eration of adults Ho g an, 57, has that did a lot for the been a Rockville c o m m u n i t y, ” h e Centre resident for BIll HoGAN said. 28 years, and has Ashley Brennan, been deeply involved in youth sports, parish president of the St. Patrick’s life and charitable initiatives Parade Committee, said Hogan around the community. He has exemplifies the qualities the held leadership roles with St. organization looks for in a Agnes CYO, coached a number grand marshal. “There’s no official applicaof youth sports teams and supported a wide range of philan- tion process,” Brennan said. thropic causes, including the “It’s someone who has shown St. Baldrick’s and Tunnel to strength in the community and has given back, and Bill Hogan Towers foundations. “It’s been a great celebration is just a phenomenal person of the village for a long time, with really strong ties to CYO and I really love the way they and volunteer service.” Brennan said that Hogan’s celebrate the community,” Hogan said of the parade. Continued on page 19
By BRIAN KACHARABA
bkacharaba@liherald.com
Courtesy Catholic Health Mercy Hospital
Mary Ruchalski Foundation grants $105K to cancer research By AlYSSA R. GRIFFIN agriffin@liherald.com
The Mary Ruchalski Foundation made 2025 its most impactful year yet, continuing its mission to fight pediatric cancer. Driven by a year of successful fundraising efforts, the Rockville Centre-based nonprofit awarded $105,000 in grants to four nationally recognized cancer research institutions: the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Children’s Cancer Therapy Development Institute. The grants were formally presented during
the final week of the year, marking a significant milestone for the organization. “It’s amazing how these big research labs are coming to us for funding,” Carol Ruchalski, the mother of the late Mary Ruchalski and the foundation’s creator, said. “This year more than ever, it was so important that we gave it to them. I feel like Mary made that happen for me.” Each of the labs focuses on advancing treatments and working toward cures for pediatric cancers, including rhabdomyosarcoma — the rare disorder that claimed Mary Ruchalski’s life in 2018, when she was 12. The foundation created in her memory has since grown into a trusted Continued on page 12