alexis Lerner, a Rockville Centre resident and asistant professor at thr u.S. naval academy, has spent years traveling and researching graffiti as an avenue of speech and connection. She photographed a mural by an artist named Blu in Berlin in december 2013.
By KElSIE RADZISKI kradziski@liherald.com
Alexis Lerner, a Rockville Centre resident and an assistant professor of political science at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, has spent more than a decade tracking graffiti as one of the world’s most subversive forms of protest. Her new book, “Post-Soviet Graffiti: Free Speech in Authoritarian States,” draws on years of fieldwork across Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, exploring how street art becomes a lifeline where free speech is suppressed.
“In the U.S. or New York City, Long Island, when we see graffiti, it can be something
that is undesirable, it can be something that we find to be visually unappealing,” Lerner said. “But in authoritarian states, it’s a tool and medium of political expression that is so fundamental to the ability to mobilize, to express political opinions, to engage in political discourse, specifically because one of the fundamental ideas of an authoritarian state is that free speech is not a guarantee, and so people have to look for other ways to share information and communicate.”
Lerner spent more than a decade researching graffiti as political expression across former communist states. Through thousands of photographs and dozens of Continued on page 11
By KElSIE RADZISKI kradziski@liherald.com
A group of Rockville Centre high school students is turning their grief into action following the sudden passing of their beloved soccer coach, Paul Ellis. The four juniors — Christian Hackett, Lachlan Stack, Declan O’Toole and Luca Suarez — have created the Paul Ellis Foundation in his honor and are organizing the inaugural Paul Ellis Memorial Youth Soccer Tournament on May 9 to raise funds for stroke awareness and prevention.
oNational Team.
“We had Coach Paul as our coach for a couple years, and we just loved him,” Hackett said. “He was the most influential coach that we’ve had in our lives, and we won the Long Island Cup [in 2024] with him and we had an undefeated season.”
ur main mission is raising
funds
for preventing strokes, raising stroke awareness and research.
CHRIStIAN HACKEtt
Ellis, who spent more than a decade mentoring hundreds of young athletes through the Rockville Centre Soccer Club, died unexpectedly in November of 2024, at the age of 58 after suffering a stroke. A native of Leeds, England, and a longtime Sayville resident, Ellis also worked as a soccer trainer and talent scout for the U.S. Men’s
Co-founder, Paul Ellis Foundation
Just weeks after his death, the students founded the nonprofit with the blessing of Ellis’ wife, Alexandra. The foundation aims to support the American Stroke Association through fundraising, education and advocacy, Hackett said. Every dollar raised will be donated in Ellis’ name to fund stroke research and prevention efforts.
The upcoming soccer tournament will be the foundation’s first official fundraising event. The goal of the event is to raise money for stroke awareness while also paying respect to the sport Ellis loved.
“Most people do a run or
Continued on page 12
By XIOMARA TRINIDAD PEREZ
Herald Intern
The Center for Science Teaching & Learning hosted its annual Nature Festival, welcoming kids and families for a week filled with nature-themed fun and educational activities, including a prehistoric twist on a holiday favorite: the Dino Egg Hunt.
Throughout the weeklong festival during spring break, children explored the wonders of nature and learned how to interact with it and protect it. Many of these experiences were led by CSTL’s knowledgeable staff. Highlights included up-close encounters with live animals such as turtles, snakes, goats and emus, as well as pond scooping adventures and guided hikes through the scenic Tanglewood Preserve.
Kids also had the chance to showcase their creativity at several arts and crafts stations scattered across the center, with projects they could take home as keepsakes, including a dinosaur-themed arts and crafts station.
One of the festival’s biggest hits was the Dino Egg Hunt, held from April 17 to 19. This unique activity allowed children to search for colorful eggs hidden throughout the Tanglewood preserve, all while enjoying the great weather and the beauty of the outdoors.
Families also got to enjoy the center’s “Dinosaurs! and Live Animals” exhibit, which is New York State’s largest permanent collection of robotic dinosaurs. Not only do the robotic dinosaurs tower in size, but their continuous movement makes the experience even more lifelike. At the exhibit, children can explore the special traits of each dinosaur and animal that contribute to their survival, engage in interactive activities and even participate in an exciting dino dig, where children can excavate fossil replicas and various interactive displays that engage visitors in learning about the prehistoric creatures.
Located at 1450 Tanglewood Road, the Center for Science Teaching & Learning is a nonprofit organization committed to advancing science and STEM education through hands-on, inquiry-based learning. Offering yearround programs for all ages, CSTL also hosts special events during school breaks, providing children with fun and educational ways to make the most of their time off.
For more information about CSTL and upcoming events, visit CSTL.org.
Jacqueline Logan Spencer passed away peacefully on April 10, 2025, in Boston, Massachusetts, at the age of 84. Born July 22, 1940, in Rockville Centre, New York, Jaci lived a life defined by compassion, humor, and love.
She graduated from St. Agnes High School and earned a B.A. in Education from Marymount College. Later, she followed her calling to care for others, becoming a registered nurse through Bergen Community College.
Jaci is survived by her children: Kevin (Leigh), Brian, William (Tracy), and Maura Ryan (Keith); her grandchildren: William, Julia, Elliot, Tallon, Lily, Aiden, Quinn, Reed, Braden, Justin, Clare, and Connor; siblings: Marilyn O’Brien (late husband Bernard), Rev. William Logan, and Lorraine Geasor (William); and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. She was predeceased by her former husbands, Brian Slayne and Edward Spencer.
Jaci’s warmth, quick wit, and infectious laugh made her unforgettable. Her legacy is one of strength, generosity, and unconditional kindness.
A funeral service will be held Monday, April 21, 2025, from 3:00 to 4:00 PM at the Cathedral of St. Agnes in Rockville Centre, New York.
On April 17, a patient at Mercy Hospital reported that they received unwanted and threatening voicemails to her cell phone.
On April 16, a N. Bellmore resident reported that an unknown person took a lease out in their name at the Avalon Bay Apartments located in Rockville Centre.
On April 14, a Shellbank Place resident reported a fraudulent transaction with their bank account.
On April 16, a Scott Place resident reported that they were a victim of a fraudulent scheme from someone claiming to work for the Treasury Department.
On April 16, a S. Centre Avenue resident reported that someone stole a package that was delivered to their home.
On April 16, a Linden Street resident reported a fraudulent transaction with their bank account.
On April 16, a motorist reported while driving on Merrick Road, an unknown vehicle struck their vehicle and then fled the scene.
On April 17, Ramel Williams, 28, of Hempstead, was arrested and charged with Criminal Impersonation and Identity Theft after an investigation at Nissan on Sunrise Highway in Rockville Centre.
People named in Crime Watch items as having been arrested and charged with violations or crimes are only suspected of committing those acts of which they are accused. They are all presumed to be innocent of those charges until and unless found guilty in a court of law.
The Rockville Centre Fire Department is always looking for help in serving our community. If you live here or in any one of the adjacent communities and are interested in joining or just
Apr. 13 – Apr. 20
General Alarms – 14
Still Alarms – 10 Rescue – 2
Aided Cases (Ambulance) – 31
Mutual Aid Fire – 0
Mutual Aid Rescue – 0
Mutual Aid Ambulance – 0
Total – 57
have questions, please visit any firehouse on Sunday mornings and speak with one of the officers or call (516) 6789320. For emergencies dial 911 or (516) 766-0400.
Year To Date
General Alarms – 160
Still Alarms – 88 Rescue – 47
Aided Cases (Ambulance) – 830
Mutual Aid Fire – 25
Mutual Aid Rescue – 0
Mutual Aid Ambulance – 3
Total – 1153
E-mail: rglickman@liherald.com Fax: (516) 569-4643
■ PUBlIC NOTICES: Ext. 232 E-mail: legalnotices@liherald.com
ElIzABETh poIRoT
West Hempstead Senior Lacrosse
TO SAY POIROT is off to an incredible start would be an understatement. A year after leading Nassau County in goals with 74 to go along with 25 assists, she’s set a torrid pace so far and has the Rams at 4-3 entering this week’s action. She scored their last seven goals April 2 in a 13-11 victory over Freeport and has a county leading 41 goals and 53 points. In 2023 as a sophomore, she scored 45 times to rank amoung Nassau’s best.
Thursday, April 24
Softball: Freeport at Lynbrook ..............................4:30 p.m.
Baseball: South Side at New Hyde Park ...................5 p.m.
Baseball: Bethpage at East Meadow ........................5 p.m.
Baseball: MacArthur at Division ................................5 p.m.
Baseball: Mepham at Calhoun .................................5 p.m.
Baseball: Long Beach at Kennedy ............................5 p.m.
Softball: V.S. Central at West Hempstead ..................5 p.m.
Softball: Westbury at Hewlett ....................................5 p.m.
Softball: Mepham at Seaford ....................................5 p.m.
Softball: Wantagh at MacArthur ................................5 p.m.
Softball: Division at Plainedge ..................................5 p.m.
Boys Lacrosse: Calhoun at G. City (Mitchel Field) .....5 p.m.
Boys Lacrosse: North Shore at Hewlett .....................5 p.m.
Girls Lacrosse: Long Beach at South Side ................5 p.m.
Girls Lacrosse: Massapequa at Wantagh ..................5 p.m.
Girls Lacrosse: V.S. District at West Hempstead ........5 p.m.
Girls Flag Football: MacArthur at Lynbrook ..........6:30 p.m.
Friday, April 25
Baseball: C.S. Harbor at East Rockaway ...................5 p.m.
Baseball: Oceanside at Freeport ...............................5 p.m.
Baseball: North Shore at Malverne ...........................5 p.m.
Baseball: Sewanhaka at Lawrence ...........................5 p.m.
Softball: Massapequa at Kennedy ............................5 p.m.
Nominate a “Spotlight Athlete”
High School athletes to be featured on the Herald sports page must compete in a spring sport and have earned an AllConference award or higher last season. Please send the following information: Name, School, Grade, Sport and accomplishments to Sports@liherald.com.
By GARRETT D. URIBE sports@liherald.com
Capping a 4-0 run to start the season, South Side sent defending county Class A girls’ lacrosse champ Massapequa to its first league loss, 15-11, on April 3.
A week later, the Cyclones knocked off another reigning Nassau titlist –this time a tad poetically, dealing Class C champion and Conference 1 foe Wantagh an overtime 11-10 defeat, the final score a mirror image of the teams’ last tilt in last year’s Nassau semifinal, which marked the Warriors’ second win in three seasons over South Side in the semis.
Having weathered a winless league season as sophomores and fought to a .500 showing last spring in elite Conference 1, South Side’s senior core is collecting the dividends of dues-paying –with All-American Charlotte Rathjen ranked second in Conference 1 Power League with a team-high 27 goals, including the April 11 winner against Wantagh, Annie Chimienti No. 2 in Nassau with 25 assists, and Sienna Connolly (Honorable Mention All-American) tops on the team with 60 draw controls to go along with 22 goals, as South Side at the midpoint has turned a page – as well as heads around the league – vaulting to 5-1 in Conference 1, 7-2 overall.
“The girls have really clicked this year,” said Cyclones coach Rob Devlin. “They started the season strong, then walked into Massapequa with a ton of confidence and pulled out a nice win. Then the Wantagh win, that does a ton for your team, when you get over that hump against a team you’ve been chasing.”
“I feel blessed with this team,” added Devlin. “I mean, two All-Americans at midfield, two girls you know will play solid both ways. And then, you know, Annie has really raised our attack.”
Of the veteran trio, Chimienti has made the greatest strides, Devlin said, the attacker’s 44 points (19 goals) ranked third in Nassau – her numbers at the Easter break surpassing last year’s total production (16 goals, 13
assists).
“Annie’s stepped up for us offensively, playing with more confidence,” Devlin said. “She’s off to a phenomenal start taking over that low attack position.” Sophomores Skye Korten (17 goals, eight assists) and Bobbie Creo (13, five) have been a consistent spark alongside Chimienti, the pair combining for 12 goals in South Side’s last three games, all wins, heading into the break – which matched the duo’s output in its opening three contests – while junior Ava Curtis, injured much of last season, has been healthy all year at midfield, racking up 12 goals and eight assists, her hat trick against Seaford helping South Side ice
its league opener, 19-10, March 31.
“Having Ava back has really helped,” Devlin said. “She’s really learned how to be a leader.”
Behind defensive leader Alexa Giannone, fellow junior Tara Cody ranks second in the conference with 76 saves as a second-year starter at goalie for South Side. “Tara realizes how important she is to the team as our only goalie,” Devlin said. “She’s embraced that, and worked hard at becoming a leader.”
Added Devlin: “I think the girls are having fun. And I think they realize when they do that they’ll be relaxed and play better. And so far, that’s what’s been happening,”
We don't do it for the attention. We don't do it for the recognition. We don't do it for the personal gain. And we certainly don't do it for the awards. We do it for you.
Catholic Health is the winner of Press Ganey’s 2025 HRO Foundation Award for exceptional reliability and patient safety.
At Catholic Health, we pursue the very best in health care for one reason only: you. Every single one of you that walks through our doors, every day. So, while we’re honored by this recognition, we also know there’s no finish line in health care. There’s always a new goal just over the horizon, and a new level of excellence for us to achieve for the health of Long Island.
Learn more at DedicatedtoBetter.org
By JOSEPH D’ALESSANDRO jdalessandro@liherald.com
U.S. Rep. Laura Gillen answered the questions that are on hundreds of Nassau County residents’ minds at a town hall event on April 16. Gillen, who represents a large swath of the county’s South Shore, initially spoke about her current projects in Washington. But the majority of the meeting was a questionand-answer session, with questions submitted on index cards by audience members.
Q: How will Gillen work with Republicans to eliminate the cap on the income tax deduction for state and local taxes?
Gillen: She is a member of the bipartisan SALT Caucus, a group of representatives from states that pay the highest taxes in the country, as well as the
Ways and Means Committee, which dictates tax policy.
She co-sponsored a bill with fellow Long Island Rep. Andrew Garbarino to reinstate the full SALT deduction.
Q: How will she protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid?
Gillen: “I (joined) 200 of my colleagues in writing a letter to the administration saying that we will not tolerate cuts to Social Security, to Medicaid or to Medicare,” she said.
“We can use our voice,” she continued. “You can use your voice also to reach out to Republicans on Long Island and tell them that you will not stand for these cuts to Medicaid, and put pressure on them so that maybe they will retreat from this position.”
Q: What is she planning to
do to oppose President Trump’s “illegal removal of migrants”?
Gillen: “I, like the majority of Americans, do believe that people who are undocumented and who commit crimes should be deported,” she said.
The main problem, according to Gillen, is that the administration is not following orders from the judiciary. “I support our Constitution,” she said. “I will fight in the halls of Congress to make sure the dear principles upon which this nation was founded
on our caucus against any action to reduce the ability of the CDC to perform its important work,” she said.
A theme that Gillen emphasized was bipartisanship — whether with members of the administration, or with representatives across the aisle, she emphasized her desire to cooperate for the best results.
Q: Why hasn’t Congress stepped in to prevent a trade war?
are upheld, and will work with my colleagues in Congress to push back against overreach of the executive branch.”
Q: How is she working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to keep it operational?
Gillen: She is a member of the Science, Space and Technology Committee. “I continue to advocate to make sure that we get the grants necessary to continue the important work of the CDC, and we are pushing back
Gillen: She supports a new bipartisan bill, the Trade Policy Relief Act, which would “reassert Congress’s authority over trade policy.” The bill would give Congress the authority to review any tariff policies implemented by the administration for 60 days, and to cancel a tariff it does not consider justified.
Q: Why did sheen vote for the Laken Riley Act?
Gillen: “Homeland Security has the right to detain undocumented folks who commit crimes,” she said of the act, which gives federal authorities broader power to deport immigrants accused of crimes. “This expanded the types of crimes that could require mandatory detention. I am proud to join a number of Democrats who voted for this legislation.”
By KELSIE RADZISKI kradziski@liherald.com
Amid growing concerns from Long Island residents about dangerous road conditions, a coalition of lawmakers, law enforcement officials and safety advocates gathered to demand urgent action following a sharp increase in fatal crashes on local roadways.
Representative Laura Gillen stood alongside Assemblywomen Michaelle Solages and Judy Griffin to announce a sweeping road safety strategy for some of the most dangerous roadways, including Sunrise Highway and the Southern State Parkway.
“The sudden rise in the deadly accident on Long Island streets and roadways is deeply alarming and demands action,” Gillen said at an April 11 news conference.
Gillen called for specific infrastructure upgrades, including the construction of more roundabouts on highways and parkways to reduce intersection fatalities, and targeted improvements to high-risk roads like Sunrise Highway and the Southern State Parkway to make it safer for drivers and passengers. The goal, as Griffin said, is to “improve roadways and save lives.”
“I’m tired of seeing another roadside memorial,” Solages said on the matter. “We’re looking at the memorial of a life that we lost due to traffic safety issues that exist on Long Island.”
Gillen also voiced support for bipar-
tisan legislation to boost staffing and funding for small and mid-sized police departments, and urged New York State to increase the number of state troopers patrolling Long Island as a “deterrent” for risky behaviors like drag racing that are seen on highways and parkways. The goal, as Griffin said, is to “improve roadways and save lives.”
In addition to federal action, Gillen, along with support from Griffin and Solages, is pushing for the state to
lower the legal blood alcohol limit for drivers from 0.08 to 0.05. She pointed to Utah’s success with a similar law, which led to a nearly 20 percent drop in fatal crashes after its enactment in 2018.
To move forward, Gillen said she submitted a letter to the U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy last month urging an investigation into the spike in traffic fatalities. She also will be reaching out to House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair-
man Sam Graves to work on getting a hearing on roadway safety as Congress begins negotiating the Surface Transportation Reauthorization bill.
“As a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which has authority over our nation’s roadways and bridges, I’m proud to advocate on behalf of Long Island drivers, passengers and pedestrians to make all those safer for all,” she said.
Joining the lawmakers was Chief Brian Paladino of the Lynbrook Police Department, who spoke to the efforts of law enforcement in curbing reckless driving amid staffing shortages and shrinking budgets. He cited the three E’s of traffic safety: education, engineering and enforcement. The Lynbrook department, along with others, he said, are constantly working with the government to implement these principles and have found success.
“We’ve found this success with being out there, being visible and enforcement,” he said.
Cindy Brown, executive director of the New York Coalition for Transportation Safety, and Marge Lee, president of Dedicated to Long Island and a decadeslong advocate against impaired driving, also spoke at the news conference to highlight the need for infrastructure that protects pedestrians and cyclists as well to ensure that these “preventable” and “avoidable” accidents, as Lee said, don’t happen as often.
By XIOMARA TRINIDAD PEREZ
Herald Intern
SIBSPlace hosted its seventh annual “Rock for SIBS” benefit concert at Centre Station, raising over $20,000 to support the organization’s programs.
The concert featured live performances by local Long Island bands such as Trainwreck and Something Like That, playing classic rock anthems from the 70s and 80s. Lowell Frey, SIBSPlace Board President and a member of Trainwreck, first created “Rock for SIBS” seven years ago and has played a key role in organizing the event.
“Events that bring the community together are critical for nonprofit organizations to be able to support children and families,” Lowell said in a news release. “For the past seven years, Rock for SIBS has allowed us to come together and celebrate the good work that the SIBSPlace staff and volunteers are providing to children and families every week.”
“Rock for SIBS,” on April 4, supports the organization’s mission of providing mental health services and support to children who have a loved one with cancer or a life-threatening illness. The funds raised during the benefit concert came from sponsorships and ticket sales, ensuring that these vital services continue to reach families in need.
Through expressive arts peer support groups and other prevention-based programs, SIBSPlace helps children cope with loss and hardship.
“At SIBSPlace, we have created a safe space for children to express their feelings and cope with their emotions,” Joanna Formont, Executive Director of SIB-
SPlace, said in the release. “We make sure that no child or family member feels alone in their journey. It is through the generosity of our supporters and members of the community that we continue to make a pos-
itive impact on the lives of the children and families in our program, many of whom recently lost a loved one.” For more details about SIBSPlace and how to support their efforts, visit SIBSPlace.org/donate.html.
interviews with artists, activists and political elites, Lerner reveals how street art serves as a form of protest where freedom of speech is not guaranteed.
“I went throughout the post-Soviet region and postcommunist Europe for 10 years, everywhere from Berlin in the West, Vladivostok in the East,” she said, “and while I was there, I would speak with artists and activists and politicians and political elites and learn more about how they were using graffiti to express their political discontent and sentiment, kind of how they were circumventing censorship.”
The book is the first comprehensive, comparative study of graffiti in the postSoviet region. Lerner explores how this often subversive art form functions as a dialogue between citizens and the state, and how regimes selectively tolerate or suppress street messages depending on their content.
sages changed daily — from criticism of jailed activists to commentary on social issues — unlike the official media, which she said often ignored such topics. That contrast sparked years of research and repeated visits, until the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine made travel impossible.
Her research took her through Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, the Baltics, Hungary and Germany. In one especially memorable experience in Minsk, Belarus — where even small actions of dissent can be severely punished — she documented graffiti bearing defiant messages like “We will have freedom” and coded symbols used by opposition movements.
“It was really impactful for me to see how artists and activists are able to fill the silence left behind by censorship and to communicate with each other within these public spaces,” Lerner said.
The project began with curiosity during her walks along Nevsky Prospect in St. Petersburg, Russia, where she used to live. She noticed how graffiti mes-
Her fieldwork was not without risk. Lerner recalled being followed by state security in Belarus and guarded in Western Siberia, which she details in her book. She also documented antisemitic graffiti in post-Holocaust places like Poland, reflecting both modern and historical tensions in public expression.
Lerner, who holds a Ph.D. in political science and Jewish studies, completed much of the writing during an 18-month postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Western Ontario in 2020 and 2021. With funding from institutions in Canada and the U.S., including Georgetown University and the Cosmos Club in Washington D.C., she was able to publish the book with full-color imagery throughout.
Now based in Rockville Centre with her husband David, a rabbi at Congregation B’nai Sholom-Beth David, and their children, Lerner teaches courses on disinformation, Holocaust studies and quantitative methods part-time at the Naval Academy. She is also a vocal advocate of responsible fieldwork in authoritarian countries, with the advice to aspiring writers exploring similar topics to “protect your sources and to protect your interviewees, because your mistake could have a lifelong consequence for them.”
For writers in general, she said: “Know that the first draft doesn’t need to be the final draft, and that there’s always time to improve a draft, and that the
“post-Soviet graffiti: free Speech in authoritarian States,” is available in bookstores and online.
most important thing is to get something down on paper.”
Lerner will discuss her findings at a book talk at Congregation B’nai Sholom-Beth David on June 8. “Post-Soviet Graffiti” is available now in bookstores and online.
For more information, visit PostSovietGraffiti.com.
[raffles] that you can do,” Stack said about the fundraiser, “but since Paul was a soccer coach, we thought it would be more fitting to do a soccer tournament.”
The tournament will be held at the Rockville Centre Sports Complex at Bralower Field. The event features two sessions: the first, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., is for children in first through fourth grade. The second, from 7:45 to 9:15 p.m., is for those in fifth through eighth grade. Teams are co-ed and grouped by age, with each consisting of eight to ten players. A concession stand and merchandise booth will also be available.
While the tournament is a tribute to Ellis’ love for the game, the students also hope it becomes an annual event.
“We want the legacy [of the foundation] to have the fundraising tournament every year,” Hackett said. “I know there are definitely some freshmen and sophomores in high school right now who had Coach Paul and really loved him, so we’re definitely going to want to pass down some of the foundation duties to them, because we want to keep it up and running. I know that we’re going to go to college soon, but we’re going to also try to still have an impact.”
Corey Endy, vice president of the RVC Soccer Club and a longtime colleague of Ellis, has been working with
the four boys and expressed admiration for the teens’ initiative.
“These kids really have stepped up, and they’re doing it themselves, which is great,” he said.
Ellis was a fixture in Rockville Centre’s soccer scene, working with children as young as four through the club’s intramural programs and continuing to coach travel teams across various age groups, Endy said. His unexpected
absence was deeply felt by players, families and fellow coaches alike.
“I worked with Paul for 12 years before he passed away,” Endy said. “He didn’t show up for one practice, and we knew something was wrong, because he was punctual. He was always on time for everything. And he taught the boys over the years, no matter what age you are, just to be accountable for yourself on and off the field. And I think that’s
why the boys are doing this, because he really did have an impact on them.”
The foundation is looking for additional sponsors for the event. Registration for the tournament, volunteer opportunities for students looking to help out at the tournament and sponsorship opportunities are all open on the website, PaulEllisFoundation2425.com.
Donations can also be made directly through the site.
Meghan Kerns, the association’s new president, hosted the first civic association meeting on Jan. 7.
The Rockville Centre Civic Association officially elected its board on April 8.
Meghan Kerns will lead the association as president, joined by Catie Carter as vice president and Emily Kearns as treasurer. Rich Collet will serve as membership director, with Caitlin McEntee as the reporting Secretary and Kelly Wexlar as the corresponding secretary.
“For the first time in over 20 years, Rockville Centre has once again a civic association that is here to work on behalf of the residents of Rockville Center,” Meghan Kerns said. “We’re very excited to educate the residents of
Rockville Center regarding issues help them to have their voices heard and help educate them on issues at the village level and understand processes and procedures.”
The association will hold its meetings on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Rockville Centre Public Library.
Membership to the society is open to any Rockville Centre resident over the age of 18. Dues are $24 annually. For more information, questions or concerns, email RVC.Civic@gmail.com.
–Xiomara Trinidad Perez
Discover Long Island, the marketing organization promoting Long Island to the world, held its annual meeting and legislative breakfast at Hilton Long Island on March 14.
Discover LI presented its agenda for the year and premiered its new YouBelong campaign, featuring stories of local Long Islanders and business owners. “2025 is already proving to be a monumental year, and there is much more on the horizon,” said Mitchell Pally, chairman of the Discover LI board of directors.
In 2023, travelers spent $7.5 billion while visiting Long Island, in large part as a result of Discover Long Island’s global marketing of the region as a premier travel destination. With events like the 2025 Ryder Cup, the 100th anniversary of “The Great Gatsby” and the 2026 NHL All-Star Game, Long Island is expecting an unprecedented number of visitors in the coming months.
–Madison Gusler
The role of tourism in boosting the local economy
The goal of Discover LI is to increase tourism in the region, because tourism drives revenue across the Island. Over 42 million tourists visited Long Island in 2023, generating $900 million in local and state tax revenue. During peak season, tourism generates over 100,000 jobs.
With 11 social media channels and over 10 million followers, Discover LI promotes Long Island tourism to audiences around the globe.
Discover LI’s team attends tourism trade shows around the world to promote Long Island internationally. They target high-value visitors who spend more when they visit. When travelers come to LI from outside the region, they spend on hotels, dining and activities.
And Discover LI isn’t ignoring residents, featuring hyper-local marketing that aims to acquaint Long Islanders with new experiences in their own backyards.
Discover LI’s digital advances, with NearMe app and AI implementation
Discover LI has made strides in digital options for those planning a visit. Its AI chatbot, LiLi, was launched in 2024, and has since sent 6,071 messages. LiLi speaks a number of languages, and has saved Discover LI staff more than 200 hours of work.
The Discover LI app, which has seen a 300 percent increase in downloads since 2024, generates suggestions for dining and entertainment near users and provides information about the area. There is also a section of the website that allow users to buy tickets for various events without leaving the Discover LI page.
Spousal refusal is a legally valid Medicaid planning option in New York. By way of background, certain income and assets are exempt from Medicaid if there is a spouse. Generally, the spouse at home, known as the “community spouse” may keep about $3,950 per month of the couple’s combined income and up to about $158,000 of the assets or “resources”. Not included in those figures are any other exempt assets, such as a home (up to about $1,100,000 of the equity only) and one automobile. The spouse who is being cared for in a facility is known as the “institutionalized spouse”.
Many a spouse has advised us that they simply cannot afford to live on the allowances that Medicaid provides. This is where spousal refusal comes in. We start by shifting excess assets into the name of the “community spouse”. He or she then signs a document which the elder law attorney prepares and files with the county indicating that they refuse to contribute their income and assets to the care of the ill spouse since they need those income and assets for their own care and wellbeing. Note that you may not refuse your spouse’s own income over the $3,950 per month exemption as it is not coming to you.
Once the “community spouse” invokes their right to refuse, and all of the other myriad requirements of the Medicaid application are met, the state Medicaid program must pay for the care of the institutionalized spouse.
After Medicaid has been granted, the county may institute a lawsuit seeking to recover the cost of care from the refusing spouse. Nevertheless, there are a few reasons why spousal refusal makes sense, even in light of this risk. First, in many instances, the county never invokes this right. Secondly, these lawsuits are often settled for significantly less than the cost of care provided. Thirdly, the payment to the county can sometimes be deferred until the community spouse dies. As one county attorney told us when agreeing to such an arrangement, “the county is going to be around for a long time”. Finally, even though the county may seek recovery, it is only for the Medicaid reimbursement rate and not the private pay rate. For example, if the private pay rate is $18,000 per month, which is what you would have to pay, the amount Medicaid has to pay is generally a quarter to a third less. The county may only pursue you for the amount they actually paid.
The Rockville Centre School District has finalized a proposed $139.89 million budget for the 2025–2026 school year, featuring a 2.6 percent tax levy increase and a 1.63 percent overall spending increase. The plan, adopted by the Board of Education at the April 10 meeting, includes facility upgrades and expanded academic offerings while staying within the state’s tax cap. A final public hearing is scheduled for May 8, with the budget vote and Board of Education election set for May 20. Registration to vote is open through May 15, and absentee ballots must be received by 5 p.m. on May 20. Budget details and related materials will be available on the district’s website and in schools starting April 22.
–Kelsie Radziski
The administrative component of the budget, which accounts for about 8.8 percent of overall spending, will see a $289,763 increase, or 2.41 percent, over the current year. A major driver of this rise is a 15 percent jump in insurance premiums, including the addition of a $65,000 excess cyber insurance policy.
The administrative budget funds general district operations, including business administration, legal services, curriculum development, employee benefits for administrative staff and Board of Education functions such as the annual election and budget vote.
The academic program component makes up the largest portion of the budget — just under 79 percent — and is set to increase by $1.8 million, or 1.71 percent. The most significant cost driver is transportation, which will rise by nearly $1 million. The district was able to partially offset this increase through savings from retirements and staffing changes.
This section of the budget includes teacher and supervisor salaries and benefits, classroom instruction, co-curricular activities, athletics, professional development and transportation services. It also supports several expanded in-school and after-school offerings such as AP Cybersecurity, AP Human Geography, fashion marketing, Unified Theater and Unified Bowling, IB Dance and a new varsity field hockey team.
The capital component, which includes the upkeep and improvement of school facilities, will rise by 0.63 percent, or approximately $108,923. Capital projects remain flat from the previous year, with $1.8 million allocated to repairs and upgrades.
Planned capital improvements include office and bathroom renovations, HVAC system repairs, ceiling and lighting replacements, plumbing updates, playground upgrades and new flexible classroom furniture. This portion of the budget also includes debt service, leasing costs and operations and maintenance of buildings and grounds.
By Brian Norman
Some of Long Island’s top attorneys were honored for their professional achievements and community contributions at the 2025 Herald Top Lawyers of Long Island Awards Gala at the Heritage Club in Bethpage on April 8.
More than 300 people attended the gala, where 50 of Long Island’s top attorneys, nominated by their peers, were recognized for their professional excellence and dedication to their communities.
Before the awards ceremony, attorneys gathered for a cocktail hour, where they had the opportunity to meet and connect with fellow honorees and colleagues.
Stuart Richner, president and CEO of Richner Communications Inc., opened the ceremony by thanking all of those who were in attendance for their dedication to their professions and the people they serve. “Lawyers are pivotal in navigating business and personal matters, and we admire the commitment that our honorees have to their clients and all of the institutions they serve,” Richner said.
He added that a portion of the proceeds from the gala would be donated to the WE CARE fund, the charitable arm of the Nassau County Bar Association.
The gala attracted representatives from law firms across Long Island. Among those honored were Minevich Law Group, Villacorta Law Group, JAG Law Group, Schroder & Storm LLP, and Meyer Suozzi Attorneys at Law.
Thomas A. Kenniff, a criminal defense attorney and founding partner of Raiser & Kenniff P.C., was the keynote speaker. He detailed his high-profile defense of Marine veteran Daniel Penny last year, when the Long Island native was acquitted of homicide charges stemming from a fatal subway confrontation with a man who had a history of violent behavior.
Kenniff said he was humbled to speak in front of the gala honorees, and honored to be recognized by his peers as the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award.
“It’s very humbling, and it’s difficult to speak and be recognized by a crowd of this caliber,” he said. “You look around the room and see first-class attorneys, household names in the legal industry, and you can’t help but ask yourself, ‘Why me?’ It’s a tremendous honor.”
Nicholas Papain, director and managing member of Sullivan Papain Block McManus Coffinas & Cannavo P.C., was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Papain, who has spent his entire career with the firm since joining it in 1978, has been a personal injury lawyer for 47 years. He has represented families of first responders to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and played a key role in securing a $700 million settlement for rescue and recovery workers.
“I represent people who have been
Hundreds attended to celebrate award winners recognition.
catastrophically injured, and offer them, through our work for them, some financial security for the losses that they have suffered,” Papain said. “It’s a huge honor, I am very humbled by it, I am very appreciative of it, and I am fortunate to be in this position.”
Other honorees included Svetlana Minevich, of the Minevich Law Group, named top health care attorney; Eduardo M. Villacorta, of Villacorta Law Group, recognized as top immigration attorney; and Marjorie Mesidor, of Mesidor PLLC, honored as top employ-
ment discrimination attorney. Mesidor said that to be recognized for what she does drives her to do well. “To be recognized for the work that you are doing is always a great motivator, particularly in times like these, where you feel like there is a lot going on in our country both socially and politically and in the legal field,” Mesidor said. “So this helps to put a little gas in your tank, so to speak, and encourages me to keep going.”
Vishnick McGovern Milizio LLP was among the firms with multiple members
The Schroder and Strom, LLP team, Allison Brewi (left), Nicolette MainiMoligano, Robert Goldstein, Esq., Edward Mohlenhoff, Esq., Anthony Forzaglia, Esq., Honorees Joseph C. Packard, Esq. and Christopher P. Byrnes Esq., Jeremy May, Esq., Asad Jilani, Michael Spellman, Esq. (right).
honored, and was recognized as the Top Law Firm on Long Island for the seventh consecutive year. Managing Partner Joseph G. Milizio said that it was a great feeling to receive the award at this point in his career.
“This award is an honor, and it means that I am at a stage in my career where I am able to be recognized for the things that I have done,” he said, “and that is a great feeling.”
For a full list of honorees and to view more pictures please visit: RichnerLive. com/toplawyerawards.
Oceanside High School
junior Aleena Zeejah was named one of the youngest recipients of the Town of Hempstead’s annual Pathfinder Award—honor-recognizing women who have made significant contributions to their communities. Zeejah received the award for her work founding Cards for Mental Health, a youth-led initiative that spreads mental health awareness through handmade messages of support.
The award, presented during Women’s History Month, celebrates individuals whose service uplifts the local community. Zeejah said she was nominated for her leadership in Cards for Mental Health, an organization Zeejah started last summer, which organizes workshops where students create handwritten messages of support for those struggling with mental health challenges and delivers them to patients in mental health units at local hospitals.
messages during a Cards for Mental Health workshop.
handwritten notes designed to brighten someone’s day, emphasizing how a little kindness goes a long way. Supplies were provided by the Ryan Patrick O’Shea Foundation.
On April 12, Backyard Players & Friends partnered with Zeejah and Cards for Mental Health to host a free community workshop at The Backyard in Rockville Centre. Attendees dropped by between noon and 2 p.m. to craft
“If I could help the whole world right now, I would give everybody a big hug and do everything for everyone,” she said. “It’s fun work for me.”
–Kepherd Daniel
By Steve Cole-Hatchard, Project Director, New York Transco Quentin McMahon, Senior Program Director, New York Power Authority
Earth Week is a perfect time to consider how we can better ensure that our homes, businesses, and families have access to sustainable, reliable and secure energy in the face of increasingly extreme weather events and steadily rising electricity demand.
Propel NY Energy is a core electric infrastructure project that will do just that – keeping the lights on for all our families, ensuring businesses thrive, and keeping communities safe before, during and after storms.
As extreme weather events become more frequent, modernizing our electric grid is critical to helping prevent outages, improving emergency response, and strengthening resilience. Propel NY Energy will ease bottlenecks on the current system, expand capacity, and support the integration of cleaner energy sources, all of which will help lower costs for ratepayers, provide communities and businesses needed energy, and ensure long-term environmental and economic benefits.
The Propel NY Energy team understands that a strong, modern electric grid isn’t just about technology, it’s about people. That’s why, over the past two months, we’ve hosted nine local community information sessions — meeting with residents, answering questions, and incorporating their input into the future buildout of New York’s electric infrastructure.
From day one, we’ve prioritized early, often, and inclusive community engagement. Our recent information sessions are just one piece of a broader effort that has included 17 open houses, knocking on nearly 300 doors, tabling at more than 15 local libraries and events, and hundreds of meetings with local municipalities, civic groups, business owners and more. Thank you to all that continue to engage, ask questions, and share input! Your input helps us build a project that meets the needs of the community. As we advance to the next stages of this public process, we remain committed to being a community partner.
Earth Week is a reminder that protecting our environment and communities goes hand in hand. Modernizing our electric grid in a manner that prioritizes environmental and community needs will ensure a more resilient, sustainable energy system for generations to come. Together, we can build a stronger, more reliable electric grid.
By Karen Bloom
pring is calling — and there’s no better place to answer than at Old Westbury Gardens. As blooms burst into color and we shake off winter — and early spring’s chill — the beloved 200-acre historic estate is the perfect place to be.
Now a few weeks into its re-opening, this idyllic landmark is ready to enchant visitors with its lush gardens, a refreshed Westbury House and a calendar packed with events and activities. And this momentous season marks the conclusion of its 65th anniversary year as a public garden and historic home.
For Maura Brush, Old Westbury Gardens’ president and horticulturist extraordinaire, the milestone continues to carry a deep meaning.
“Our anniversary year is still ongoing and we have so much to offer,” she says. “And we’re excited about the event we have planned for the 100th anniversary of ‘The Great Gatsby’ being published.”
Gatsby enthusiasts will have to wait for fall to celebrate iconic novel. In the meantime, there’s so much to enjoy — right now.
“When the gardens first opened to the public, it was Peggy Phipps and her friends who helped usher in that new chapter. Sixty-five years later, we’re still here, thriving,” Brush says. It’s a real testament to how loved these gardens are.”
Indeed, it’s not just about surviving — it’s about flourishing. The estate, once home to prominent lawyer John Shaffer Phipps, draws record numbers of visitors and members alike, year after year, enticed by its historic charm and horticultural magic.
And that magic begins the moment you step through the gates.
“All winter long you’re sort of just looking for any signs of life in the garden,” Brush says, about the transition to spring.
“The smallest snowdrop or crocus means the world. And then when you hit this time of year it feels like I can take a walk in the garden in the morning, and by the afternoon something else has sprung up. I love that the garden really changes almost day to day.”
One of her favorite early spring spots? The serene lakeside.
“In the early part of the season, the lake areas are just
stunning. The trees haven’t fully leafed out yet, so the
stunning. The trees haven’t fully leafed out yet, so the sunlight dances on the water,” she says.
Keep your eyes open for some of the garden’s wildest residents: turtles sunning on logs, ducks gliding and birdsong echoing through the trees.
“This time of year you start to see the turtles more,” she notes. “The logs are filled with those turtles trying to get their Vitamin D, getting any sun they can.”
Just like us.
• Old Westbury Gardens
71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury
• For more information and program/events schedule visit oldwestburygardens.org or call (516) 333-0048
Another mustvisit is the delightful Primrose Path, at its peak in April through mid-May. Here, you’ll find delicate primroses in vibrant hues, forget-me-nots and a scattering of ephemerals — in an expression seasonal joy.
As spring progresses, Old Westbury Gardens transforms week by week. Daffodils, fritillaria, tulips, and more unfurl in careful succession, planned and planted by Brush’s dedicated team.
Of course, you’ll want to head over to the Walled Garden where tulips are in spring’s spotlight.
“The tulips change every year. What we really try to do is create a display that starts with the very early spring tulips and goes to the late bloomers,” Brush explains.
Some appear in early April while others flower closer to May, or even in the middle of May.
“We take a lot of pride in the tulip display,” she continues. “The combinations are very thoughtful. We’ll find a tulip that we really like and then we’ll try to find a pansy or some other annual that has some colors that bring out the tulip’s color and coordinate with that tulip. One row might be very ‘hot’ with ambers and yellows and oranges and then the center aisle will be very ‘cool’ with pale pink and silvery blues and purples. The Walled Garden is a masterpiece.”
Each year Old Westbury Gardens offers a soul-refreshing way to celebrate spring’s return. Plus the extensive schedule of programs enhances its surroundings — and its rich heritage.
“I am especially proud of the dynamic public programming we have curated,” Brush says.“Beloved favorites like Dog Days and Midsummer Nights return, alongside exciting new additions. From inspiring art programs and wellness, we always have a rich roster of programming because that’s who we are.
“It’s a legacy to the Phipps family that their lovely home is so enjoyed by so many people. I think that’s what Peggy envisioned when she so generously gifted Old Westbury Gardens. She had a very happy childhood and life here. Her vision was she would be able to share some of that with the generations to come after her.
And that’s exactly what she’s done.”
So go ahead — let spring sweep you away. The gates are open, the flowers are blooming and it’s all more spectacular than ever.
Experience an intimate and inspiring night with Misty Copeland, the trailblazing ballerina who made history as the first Black female principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre. Hear her incredible journey, from overcoming obstacles to becoming a global icon in the dance world and beyond. Copeland has often spoken out about being “different” in the ballet scene. From living in a motel to dancing on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera House, her story of perseverance through poverty, racism, and overcoming setbacks from injury has made Copeland an inspiring figure to millions. She is joined in conversation by screenwriterauthor-producer Susan Fales-Hill. She reflects on lessons learned, the remarkable mentors who have guided her on her path and her hopes and aspirations for the future. Also enjoy a performance by members of the prestigious ABT Studio Company, media from Misty’s legendary and trailblazing career, and some surprises, including students of Copeland’s Be Bold program, her groundbreaking afterschool dance initiative.
Saturday, April 26, 7:30 p.m. LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100.
Drag out that neon once again and give your hair its best ‘80s ‘do. Those wild days are back — as only Jessie’s Girl can pull off, on the Paramount stage. The band of NYC’s top rock/ pop musicians and singers gets everyone into that “Back To The Eighties” vibe with the latest edition of their popular concert experience. With a lineup including four pop-rock vocalists dressing and performing as 80s icons, backed by a dynamic band, this is the definitive ‘80s experience. Throw on top of that: a load of super-fun choreography, audience participation, props, costumes bubbles, and confetti — and you have a party that audiences don’t want to leave. Jessie’s Girl has mastered over-the-top renditions of the some of world’s most unforgettable songs, all while dressed up as the iconic characters of that decade. Theater meets live music — covered with a load of ‘80s glitz.
Saturday, April 26, 8 p.m. $49.50, $37.50, $35, $25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.
On Exhibit Nassau County Museum of Art’s latest exhibition, the original “Deco at 100” coincides with the 100th anniversary of the 1925 Paris International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts (Exposition internationale des arts décoratifs et industriels modernes) that publicly launched the movement. The direct follow-up to the wellreceived 2023 exhibit, “Our Gilded Age,” it comparably links the period’s signature innovation in the decorative arts, Art Deco, to the fine arts. On view through June 15.
•Where: 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor.
•Time: Ongoing
•Contact: (516) 484-9337 or nassaumuseum.org
‘Elephant & Piggie’s We Are in a Play!’
The beloved musical adventure, ripped from the pages of Mo Willems’ beloved award-winning, best-selling children’s books, is back on stage at Long Island Children’s Museum. Willems’ classic characters Elephant and Piggie storm the stage in a rollicking musical romp filled with plenty of pachydermal peril and swiney suspense perfect for young audiences.
•Where: Museum Row, Garden City
•Time: Also April 27, April 30-May 1, times vary
•Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800
APR
Education Foundation Benefit Gala
The Rockville Centre Education Foundation hosts their annual benefit gala.
•Where: Gatsby on the Ocean at Jones Beach, 2000 Ocean Pkwy, Wantagh
• Time: 7-11 p.m
•Contact: RVCEdFoundation. org/2025-gala
RVC Blue Speaks is holding its annual gala fundraiser for autism awareness.
•Where: Coral House, 70 Milburn Ave., Baldwin
•Time: 6:30 p.m.
•Contact: RVCBlueSpeaks.org
•Time: 6-8 p.m.
•Contact: Molloy.edu/Events/ Unity-Through-Diversity-2025/
The Poet’s Craft Rockville Centre Public Library invites all to learn the art of poetry.Turn ordinary moments into extraordinary poetry. Analyze and enjoy the work of established poets and apply their craft to your own writing. You will amaze yourself! Registration required.
•Where: 221 N. Village Ave., Rockville Centre
•Time: 1-3 p.m.
•Contact: rvclibrary.org
3
South Side Middle School hosts their annual Wellness Fair.
The Rockville Centre Lions and Leos Club invites all to join in a pond clean-up at Hempstead Lake State Park.
•Where: South Pond of Hempstead Lake State Park, 1000 Lake Drive, West Hempstead
•Time: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
•Contact: rvclions.com
Enjoy an evening of romantic songs in English, Italian and Spanish at the Madison Theatre. This exquisite concerts celebrates the enchantment of Italy, showcasing the captivating persona and velvety vocals of Giada Valenti. Her voice evokes memories of Celine Dion’s powerful vocals blended with the charm of Edith Piaf, accompanied by remarkable special guests. Hailing from Venice, Giada promises an unforgettable performance filled with passion, emotion, and pure musical artistry. From the hauntingly beautiful “The Prayer” to the romantic “A Place for Us” from Romeo and Juliet, she mesmerizes with stunning interpretations of beloved tunes.
•Where: Molloy University campus, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre
•Time: 7 p.m.
Science symposium and fair South Side High School hosts its annual student science symposium and fair
•Where: Gym, 140 Shepherd St., Rockville Centre
•Where: Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington
• Time: 8 p.m.
•Contact: landmarkonmainstreet.org.
Three mammoth bands. Three musical phenomenons. One idea inspired by love of the music. That’s Pink Talking Fish. The hybrid tribute fusion act takes the music from three iconic bands creating a remarkable musical jam. PTF brings their unique sound to the Landmark on Main Street stage, on their latest tour celebrating the 50th anniversary of the incredible Pink Floyd album “Wish You Were Here.” This show consists of two sets.The first will be a full rendition of this epic album from start to finish, with “Classic PTF” combinations in the second set. “Wish You Were Here” is extremely meaningful to the band members and so many music lovers around the world and PTF is thrilled to bring this album to life in 2025. Although the music from each act is different, PTF has discovered that fusing the material together creates an amazing story. The epic emotion of Pink Floyd; the funky, danceable layerings of The Talking Heads; the styles, unique compositional structures and pure fun of Phish — to merge these three into one gives music lovers a special experience. Tickets are $49 and $46.
Carole King tribute. This dynamic performance is jam-packed with chart-topping sensations such as “The Locomotion,” “I Feel the Earth Move,” “You’ve Got a Friend,” and many more. $40, $35 seniors.
•Where: 67 Hillside Ave., Rockville Centre
•Time: noon-2 p.m.
•Contact: (516) 255-8976
6
Rockville Centre Public Library meeting
Join the library for their final budget hearing and meet the candidates.
•Where: 221 N. Village Ave., Rockville Centre
•Time: 7-8:45 p.m.
•Contact: RVCLibrary.org
•Time: Symposium at 6:30 p.m., fair at 7 p.m.
•Where: Plaza’s stage at Elmont Memorial Library, 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont.
•Time: 2 p.m.
•Contact: SSHS.RVCSchools.org
RVC Homemakers
Join the RVC Homemakers to learn cooking and crafts while benefiting the community.
•Where: Recreation Center, 111 N. Long Beach Rd., Rockville Centre
•Time: Ongoing Tuesdays, 10 a.m.
•Contact: call Karen Alterson at (516) 318-6771.
30
26 Feel the beat with Carole’s Kings Plaza Theatricals continues its tribute series with a lively look at the Carole King songbook. The iconic singer-songwriter gets a brand-new sound with Carole’s Kings, the world’s first all-male
•Contact: madisontheatreny.org or (516) 323-4444
•Contact: plazatheatrical.com or call (516) 599-6870.
Join Molloy University for an inclusive event supporting the neurodivergent community, featuring artwork and performances by members of the Rebecca Center for Music Therapy and local groupps. All proceeds will benefit the TRC Client Scholarship Fund. Tickets are $20 until April 25, and $25 at the door. A group ticket rate of $10 per person is available for groups of 10 or more using promo code GRP25.
•Where: Madison Theatre, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre
7
Eat at numerous Rockville Centre restaurants, sample their special dishes and walk around town with friends or family while supporting the Rockville Centre Lions Club at their fourth annual Restaurant Crawl. $55.
•Where: Downtown Rockville Centre
•Time: 6-9 p.m.
•Contact: RVCLions.com/RVCRestaurant-Crawl/.
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.
May 2-17, 8 PM
May 2-17, 8 PM
Friday & Saturday nights only
AN EVENING of 10-MINUTE PLAYS directed by John Torres 2025
Bethany Congregational Church
100 Main Street, East Rockaway, NY
Bethany Main Street, NY
Tickets $25 strongboxtheater.com
Block Party
Live Music
Antique Cars
Horses
Motorcycles
Pipe Bands
Helicopter Flyover and so much more!
PARADE STEP-OFF: 2:00pm
STARTING POINT: Wantagh Avenue at Beltagh Avenue in Wantagh
ENDING POINT:
Beech Street and Park Avenue. Block party will take place at Railroad Avenue immediately after from 3:00pm-8:00pm.
SUNDAY, APRIL 27TH 2:00PM Rain date: Sunday, May 4, 2025
By KELSIE RADZISKI kradziski@liherald.com
He became an ordained Jesuit priest at 33 and was the first pope from outside Europe in centuries, yet Pope Francis was known for his human touch.
Bergoglio, just before his 17th birthday, was hurrying to meet friends when something directed him to go into the Basilica of St. Joseph in Buenos Aires that moved him to become a priest.
Jesuits are known for highlighting humility, aid the poor and having respect for indigenous people.
Bishop John Barres who leads the Archdiocese of Rockville Centre noted the works in his statement.
“As we mourn the death of Pope Francis on this Easter Octave Monday and the gift of his contemplative global evangelization grounded in Matthew 25 and the spiritual and corporal works of mercy, we give thanks to Father, Son and Holy Spirit for his unique graces and charisms and the compelling way during his Pontificate that he has been a Light of Jesus Christ and the mission of mercy of the Catholic Church to the world,” he said.
“In Evangelii Gaudium (2013), Pope Francis speaks about the original freshness of the Gospel: “Jesus can also
ty. Whenever we make the effort to return to the source and to recover the original freshness of the Gospel, new avenues arise, new paths of creativity
with new meaning for today’s world. Every form of authentic evangelization is always ‘new.’”
expressed his gratitude for the teachings of the Pope in a statement.
“I was deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Pope Francis,” he said. “His legacy as Holy Father is broad and deep. In his ministry and across his writings, he has continuously called us to deeper faith and to a more generous participation in the boundless compassion of God. He has challenged us to turn away from selfish impulses and towards communion with others and respect for God’s creation.
“I am personally grateful that he called me to the Episcopacy and entrusted me with the pastoral care of the Church of Boston. His example remains a guiding light to the Universal Church.”
James Lentini, President of Molloy University, also released a statement on how the impact of the Pope’s teachings — “care for our common home,” “ecological stewardship” and “advocacy for the dignity of all people” — will continue on, including at Molloy.
“At Molloy University, we strive to live out these values in our classrooms, our service and our daily interactions,” he said. “As we mourn the loss of Pope Francis, let us also celebrate his legacy by continuing to foster a community rooted in compassion, inclusion and a relentless pursuit of truth. May his
sion, more eloquent signs and words
LEGAL NOTICE
Public Notice to Bidders
Sealed Bids will be received by the Purchasing Department of the Village of Rockville Centre, One College Place, Rockville Centre, New York for the matter stated below until 11:00 am prevailing time on MAY 8, 2025 at which time they will be publicly opened and read aloud. The contract will be awarded as soon thereafter as practicable for: 2025 ROAD PROGRAM
Bid No. 2504CP1(1147)
The contract documents, specifications and plans can be examined on the Village’s website at www.rvcny.gov. Follow the link to the Purchasing Department. Each bid must be accompanied by a certified check, bank check or bid bond payable to the Incorporated Village of Rockville Centre in the amount of five (5%) percent of the gross amount of the bid. All questions should be directed to the Purchasing Department. Please contact Lisa Strazzeri via email only at Lstrazzeri@rvcny.us.
Questions must be submitted no later than May 1, 2025. All contractors and subcontractors submitting bids or performing construction work on public work projects or private projects covered by Article 8 of the Labor Law are required to register with the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) under Labor Law Section 220i and must include a copy of the registration with their bid response. Award of Contract will be made to the lowest responsible bidder in accordance with applicable provisions of the law. The Village reserves the right to reject all bids or make such determination as in the best interests of the Village, as provided by law.
Purchasing Department Lisa Strazzeri Purchasing Agent 516-678-9213 153097
LEGAL NOTICE
Notice of School
District Public Hearing, District-Wide Safety Plan
Rockville Centre UFSD
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Public Hearing will be held on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 at 7:00 pm in the Board Room at the Wm. H. Johnson Administration Building, 128 Shepherd Street, Rockville Centre, NY at which time and place the Board of Education of the Rockville Centre Union Free School District will consider the District-Wide Safety Plan. The Public Hearing shall be held at the time and place stated herein. The proposed Plan is available on the District website.
Rockville Centre Union Free School District Rockville Centre, New York
By: Marylou Celiberti, District Clerk 153098
LEGAL NOTICE INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NEW YORK
NOTICE OF SALE OF REAL ESTATE FOR UNPAID VILLAGE TAXES AND/OR WATER RENT ARREARS AND/OR GARBAGE DISPOSAL FEES AND/OR ASSESSMENTS REMAINING UNPAID FOR THE YEAR 2024.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to the provisions of the New York Real Property Tax Law as applicable to the Village of Rockville Centre (“Village”), and pursuant to direction of the Village Board of Trustees, the undersigned Village Clerk-Treasurer/Village Administrator will sell at Public Auction in the manner provided by law on May 22, 2025 at 10:00 am local prevailing time in the courtroom of the Eugene J. Murray Village Hall, One College Place, Rockville Centre, Nassau County, New York, so much of each of the following parcels upon which Village Taxes and/or Water Rent Arrears and/or Garbage Disposal Fees and/or Assessments remain unpaid for the year 2024 as will be sufficient to discharge the taxes and/or water rent arrears and/or garbage disposal fees and/or assessments, fees, interest and discharges which may be due thereon respectively at the time of such sale, and shall continue the same from day to day until the said sale shall be completed. The Village
reserves the right to withdraw any property prior to the sale of its lien. The parcels have not been researched to determine what the public records reflect regarding these properties, and the Village makes no representation with respect to such records or property status. Before bidding, all tax lien purchasers should investigate what the public records disclose about the property in question.
All persons bidding at the sale will be required to produce identification with full legal name and address. Persons acting as agent for another will be required to produce documentation of authority.
Such real estate will be sold subject to any unpaid tax liens purchased and held by the Village. The purchaser or purchasers at such tax sale will be required to pay the amount of their respective bids to the undersigned within TEN days after the sale pursuant to the provisions of Section 1454 of the New York Real Property Tax Law and Village Local Law #12-1994. Payment may be made only by cash, money order, bank check or certified check. No personal checks will be accepted. Where no bid is made and/or the bidder does not timely pay the balance of the bid, it shall be deemed that the tax lien for that premises has been purchased by and sold to the Village of Rockville Centre. THE VILLAGE DOES NOT PROVIDE LEGAL ADVICE TO ANY LIEN PURCHASER REGARDING ANY ASPECT OF THE PURCHASE OF OR FORECLOSURE UPON ANY LIEN. TAX LIEN PURCHASERS SHOULD FAMILIARIZE THEMSELVES WITH CURRENT LAW REGARDING ISSUANCE OF TREASURER’S DEEDS FOR UNREDEEMED TAX LIENS. The following is a list or statement of the Real Estate upon which such Tax and/or Garbage Disposal Fees and/or Assessments are unpaid for the year 2024 with a statement of the amount of tax, and/or water rent arrears, and/or garbage
disposal fees, and/or assessments, fees, interest and charges thereon to May 1, 2025.
NAME OF OWNER OR OCCUPANT AS IT APPEARS ON ASSESSMENT ROLL; DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY; TOTAL AMOUNT OF TAX, WATER RENT ARREARS, GARBAGE DISPOSAL FEES, ASSESSMENTS, FEES, INTEREST CHARGES AT MAY 1, 2025.
Nancy Howard
Clerk-Treasurer/Village Administrator
Sec 35, Blk 088, Lot 22
Estate of Estella Mitchell
65 Lakeside Dr
$ 2,815.75
Sec 36, Blk 296, Lot 124
Keri Rossner
76 Buckminster Rd
$ 3,281.01
Sec 36, Blk 335, Lot 85
James/Xochitl Pellegrini
16 Andover Rd
$ 4,110.10
Sec 36, Blk 335, Lot 541
Elizabeth Boldi
127 Berkshire Rd
$ 9,729.59
Sec 36, Blk 350, Lot 9
Kenneth J/Jinnette Park
14 Dover Ct
$ 3,134.90
Sec 36, Blk 355, Lot 477B
Danielle/Steven Shay
20 Adams Ct
$ 3,504.06
Sec 36, Blk 357, Lot
281
Asset Tree Group Ltd
15 Shepherd St
$ 7,169.44
Sec 36, Blk 428, Lot 279
Richard/Kathryn Pellegrini
16 Woodgreen Pl
$ 6,592.43
Sec 36, Blk 499, Lot 41
Ingibjorg Gallagher LE
21 Knollwood Rd
$ 1,433.54
Sec 38, Blk 188, Lot 7
Sheba Girl LLC
25 Hillside Ave
$ 2,528.51
Sec 38, Blk 189, Lot 17
Estate of Kathleen Powell
83 Clinton Ave
$ 978.98
Sec 38, Blk 191, Lot 7
55 Front LLC
55 Front St
$ 15,154.99
Sec 38, Blk 193, Lot
102
23 Maple Ave LLC
Nicholas Vuono from North Babylon, second from left, was the big winner of the High School Challenge Invitational on April 13 at Maple Lanes. He stood beside friends from North Babylon Christopher Nieves, left, Ethan Lebiene and Joseph Monock in preparation for the event.
Taylor Lee, a senior at Newtown High School, and Nicholas Vuono, a sophomore at North Babylon High School, took top honors at the fifth annual High School Challenge Invitational, held April 13 at Maple Lanes in Rockville Centre.
The event drew 95 bowlers from 44
23 Maple Ave
$ 689.88
Sec 38, Blk 193, Lot 146
23 Maple Avenue LLC
23 Maple Ave $ 6,995.59
Sec 38, Blk 204, Lot 564
30 Raymond St LLC
30 Raymond St $ 2,017.86
Sec 38, Blk 220, Lot 42
49 Amherst LLC
49 Amherst Ct $ 7,570.77
Sec 38, Blk 225, Lot 1
Estate of Glenda Kaplan
85 Devon Rd $ 7,169.44
Sec 38, Blk 243, Lot 5 Factor Dynamics Vacant LandHawthorne Ave $ 289.07
Sec 38, Blk 261, Lot 474 Giuseppe/Antonia Lascala
124 Raymond St $ 2,543.00
Sec 38, Blk 262, Lot 147 James/Sheila Lee 201 Raymond St $ 4,324.91
Sec 38, Blk 267, Lot 8 Stephen Wollweber 226 No Forest Ave $ 4,522.40
Sec 38, Blk 271, Lot 40 Travis McShane 1091 Powell $ 6,019.27
Sec 38, Blk 274, Lot 337 Felix Cujilan 14 Jackson Ave $ 2,865.40
Sec 38, Blk 281, Lot 4 County Acquisitions LLC 165 No Forest Ave $ 3,040.11
Sec 38, Blk 295, Lot 2 45 N Village LLC 45 No Village Ave $ 7,377.21
Sec 38, Blk 295, Lot 3 Bergen Street Commons LLC
43 No
schools across the region. Both winners received a new bowling ball donated by Island Bowling Supply, a custom jersey from Bowlifi, and scholarship awards — $500 for Lee and $600 for Vuono. Scholarships were awarded to the top 10 finishers in each division, totaling $4,700.
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Q. We bought our home three years ago, and are finally ready to finish our basement to make a family room, guest bedroom and a bathroom while enclosing our laundry. Right now it’s just a big open space with a lot of columns. The ceiling is low, and we’ve had estimates to cut down the basement floor. It seems like a lot of money to do all these things at once, but we understand that we need to do it before the prices for materials, as we’ve been warned, go a lot higher. We want to know what needs to be done if we want to lower the floor, take out two columns so our recreation room is bigger, and put in a bathroom. Is there any way to save money?
A. I doubt that you’ll save money, since you are correct that prices are creeping up, but only because of the uncertainty of markets. It seems that the Canada lumber tariffs may not take affect so rapidly, because Congress — including those from both sides of the aisle — is reportedly working on bills to stop the economic strife with our neighbor to the north. But it’s anybody’s guess, right now, day to day.
Basements have always seemed so minor when compared with additions and other renovations, but there are many safety codes you should become familiar with. First, many jurisdictions disallow any sleeping room in basements. Bathrooms are allowed in most jurisdictions, but verify whether a bathing fixture, shower or tub, is allowed. Some will only allow a toilet and sink.
You also need a second means of escape from the main room, not just the staircase you already have from the first floor. You’ll need an escape window or stairwell to the outside. If you choose a window, the sill can’t be more than 44 inches above the floor, and the window must have at least 5.7 square feet of clear opening, swinging outward into a 9-squarefoot (3 feet by 3 feet minimum) area of escape well with a ladder to get out to the ground level. I’ve watched these escape wells go from $3,500 to $12,000 over the past decade.
You will also be required to insulate the basement walls, and insulation must meet the State Energy Code, because when the basement is done legally, with a permit, it must pass the energy code analysis submission to the state’s website portal.
Many people, hearing all these requirements, elect to skirt the rules by hiring someone who does what they think will pass. When you are required to legalize the work, as the responsible party (the homeowner) in the process, sometimes work has to be redone because someone missed something. There’s a reason that professionals have to be involved, and it’s best not to try to save money by avoiding the inevitable, because experience teaches that the rules don’t get simpler over time. More next week.
© 2022 Monte Leeper Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd.,
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picking up right where we left off last legislative session, the Liberty Water team has been hard at work, talking with New York’s elected officials about providing meaningful rate relief to customers. Currently, roughly 30 percent of a Liberty customer’s bill is made up of taxes that provide no benefit to the water system itself. The disproportionate level of taxes paid by our customers unnecessarily drives up the cost of water. That is unjust, but thankfully, we are keeping up the momentum from last year’s efforts to eliminate the special franchise tax — which makes up a significant portion of the overall taxes paid by Liberty customers — and to provide access to the state’s drinking water infrastructure grant programs. Once again, we are
asking our customers to join us in this fight in Albany, and use the tools we have created to make their voices heard.
Stopthehiddentax.org is our advocacy website, and we encourage every Liberty New York Water customer to visit and use it to take action. Showing your support for these legislative changes is very simple. Visit the website, click on the “Take Action” tab and fill out some basic information. Once it is submitted, a letter will automatically be sent on your behalf to key decision-makers who can move this legislation forward.
Jextremely impactful, and will build on the nearly 60,000 letters that have been sent to elected officials in the past year.
oin us in the fight in Albany to stop the hidden taxes and lower your water bills.
Showing overwhelming support from our customers for this legislative change will move the needle. If you are one of the more than 3,600 Liberty customers who have already taken action through the site, take action again. The continuous reinforcement to our elected officials that you want to see these cost-saving efforts become a reality is
As a company, we continue to make a strong case to the prominent policymakers on behalf of our customers, and the message is resonating. Legislation to eliminate the special franchise tax as well as to provide access to public grant funding has been introduced again this year. Right now it is vital that the elected officials responsible for moving the bill through the legislative process hear from our customers. For those who want to see lower water bills, going to Stopthehiddentax. org and sending a letter to state leaders takes less than five minutes, and policymakers won’t be able to ignore the voices of our 125,000 customers.
While the taxes collected do help fund local taxing jurisdictions, it is our firm belief that these taxes should not be collected through customer water bills. Making matters worse, our cus-
tomers are the only ones in Nassau County who have to pay this excessive tax. Moreover, your tax dollars are being used to fund water infrastructure projects throughout the state that Liberty is currently ineligible to access. Once again, those dollars are being collected without any benefit returning to the water system in your community. I want to be perfectly clear on one final point: The only advantage Liberty stands to gain in pursuing this legislative change is water rates that more accurately reflect the true cost of providing high-quality water service. That’s it. It is written into the proposed legislation that Liberty cannot realize any financial benefit from either bill.
So what can our customers do? Visit stopthehiddentax.org, click on the “Take Action” section, and fill in your information to have a letter sent on your behalf directly to key decisionmakers. There is power in numbers, and we are hoping every one of our customers will join the fight for lower bills. Let your voice be heard!
Deborah Franco is president of Liberty Water New York.
Ah, spring is finally here! And at the Rockville Centre Historical Society, we’re buzzing with excitement for a couple of spring events. Keep an eye out for details at the bottom.
Looking back a few columns, member Dan D’Antonio provided some fascinating stories about the events happening in the village 100 years ago. The feedback was fantastic, so Dan dug deeper and unearthed more intriguing news stories to share from the spring and early summer of 1925: At the request of shop owners, the village board approved widening Village Avenue by four feet.
To prepare for the arrival of the first electric train, members of the Exchange Club painted the LIRR station. The train arrived on Wednesday, May 20, with over 1,000 people waving flags as it pulled into the station. Many village businesses closed their shops for over an hour and took part in the celebration.
The village board instructed the
Police Department to stop the Long Island Lighting Company from erecting a power transmission line that the board felt was unnecessary.
The Sewer Commission was unable to devise a suitable plan to install sewers in the business district.
Saturday, May 23, was the auction date for 469 residential lots. They were to be known as Golf View Gardens, located on Oceanside Road (now Long Beach Road), across from the Rockville Centre Country Club.
The Memorial/Decoration Day Parade started at the new high school. It went to Clinton Avenue, to College Place, to Village Avenue, to the north side of Observer Street (Sunrise Highway), east to Park Avenue and finished at Memorial Boulder.
W
ould the choice be red-and-green traffic lights, or red-amber-andgreen?
Saint Marks Church invited Gai-i-wah-go-wah, a member of the Sioux tribe, to speak on the history of Native Americans.
The Board of Education approved $33,000 to purchase land at the corner of Hempstead and DeMott avenues for a new school. The board also celebrated the opening of the new high school on Hillside Avenue — the total cost for its construction was $690,248.76 (roughly $12,613,749 in today’s dollars). As part of the budget, the school board also approved the expenditure of $12,000 for an extension of Park Avenue, between Grand and Hillside avenues. This provided direct access to the new high school.
More than 1,000 children in town received vaccinations against smallpox. Physicians believed that no children in the village contracted the disease due to the vaccination program. The state Health Department said that if even one case of smallpox was discovered, they would insist that all children get vaccinated, “to guarantee the health of the community as a whole.”
The village board scheduled a second meeting to decide whether it would approve red-and-green traffic lights or red-amber-and-green lights.
The board and the Police Department requested that storekeepers refrain from selling fireworks to children before July 1.
The June 18 issue of the News & Owl included an article on the controversial Scopes Trial, which ended with, “The crux of the argument appears to hang on the natural right of the human species to seek the truth.”
The new Village Hall opened on June 28 on the site of the old high school. It included a new police station that had a “modern jail,” which was housed in the rear of the building.
Before we dive into our spring happenings, a huge thank-you to everyone who supported our 2025 annual appeal! Your generosity is vital for the Historical Society, and especially for keeping the Phillips House running. We would be thrilled if everyone would consider joining us and lending your support at our upcoming fundraiser, too.
The Historical Society has two more events scheduled this spring. The first is happening this Thursday, April 24, at 7 p.m., at the Oceanside Library. The topic is the history of Rockville Centre and Oceanside. The event is sponsored by the Historical Society and the library.
The second event is our second annual fundraising cocktail party, “Night at the Museum.” It will take place on Saturday, May 31, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Phillips House Museum. A donation of $50 per person includes unlimited beer and wine, music, tours of the museum and light hors d’oeuvres. You can RSVP on our website, rvchs.org. We hope to see you at both!
Jim Belling is a member of the board of trustees of the Phillips House Museum and the Rockville Centre Historical Society.
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Incorporating The News & Owl of Rockville Centre 1928-2001
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Phone: (516) 569-4000
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Cliff Richner Publisher, 1982-2018
every May for more than 60 years, the United States has taken the time to celebrate a crucial force in its economy: the small-business owner. This year during National Small Business Week, May 4 to 10, we will honor the entrepreneurial spirit that fuels innovation, drives local economies, and creates opportunity in communities across the country.
It’s important to recognize that this is more than just a ceremonial observance. Small Business Week is a chance to spotlight the backbone of America’s economic engine and the importance of supporting the 33 million small businesses nationwide.
Two of their biggest backers are the federal Small Business Administration and SCORE, a nonprofit organization that has mentored more than 11 million entrepreneurs since 1964. The SBA is a government agency that promotes and safeguards the interests of small businesses. Its mission is to support them and help them thrive, because they are such a vital component of the nation’s economy. The SBA provides access to federal contracts, counseling and financing, among other resources, to help these business grow.
Together, the SBA and SCORE will offer invaluable resources to both aspiring and established business owners at the annual National Small Business Week Virtual Summit, a free online event May 6 and 7. It will offer more than educational workshops; it will be a showcase of what’s possible when the public and private sectors collaborate.
That effort will include mentorships,
To the Editor:
practical advice and access to federal programs and tools that can help smallbusiness owners navigate the myriad challenges they face, from financing to digital marketing.
The Summit won’t just be about learning — it will also be about community. Consider the sheer number of small businesses that dot the landscape of the cities, towns and villages that Herald newspapers cover. How many do you patronize on a regular basis, from your favorite pizza place to your favorite stationery store or barbershop? Many are anchors of their neighborhoods or downtown commercial areas, making towns into home towns.
Beyond the summit, the SBA is organizing in-person events across the country, including a national awards celebration in Washington, D.C., on May 5. There will be local events as well, giving municipalities the chance to recognize their own standout entrepreneurs.
But why should National Small Business Week matter to everyone — not just business owners? Because small businesses do more than sell products and services. They create jobs. Half of all U.S. workers are employed by small and medium-sized businesses, which contribute 43 percent of the country’s GDP. Small businesses mentor future leaders. They drive innovation. They support schools, sponsor local Little League teams, and strengthen the fabric of our communities.
Almost every dollar spent at a small business goes back into the local economy. And during challenging times, as we saw during the coronavirus pandemic,
Re Peter King’s column, “Ed Kranepool was the real Mr. Met,” last week: As a graduate of James Monroe High School in the Bronx (I entered as Kranepool left), I was following even his high school career, because my dad umpired high school games as Ed chased Hank Greenberg’s (no relation) career high school home run record.
As an aside, the title of Jimmy Breslin’s book, “Can’t Anybody Here Play This Game?” was a quote by Casey Stengel as he appraised his new team.
JOEL GREENBERG Merrick
To the Editor:
Over 40 years ago, I walked with a group of concerned citizens from Inwood, Manhattan, to the Coca-
these businesses often demonstrate resilience and creativity that not only help their communities endure those times, but inspire new ways to overcome them, bringing residents closer together in the process.
Smart legislation is critical, too. State Sen. Monica Martinez, whose district covers parts of Long Island, recently introduced the Lift Our Communities, Advertise Locally, or LOCAL, Act. This bill would provide truly small businesses — 10 employees or fewer — as well as minority-, female- or veteran-owned businesses of any size with a tax credit of up to $4,000 so they can advertise their products and services.
Supporting small businesses is a yearround responsibility, but next month’s special week will give us a chance to recommit to their success. Whether you attend the virtual summit, shop locally, or simply share the story of a small business that inspired you, there are countless ways to show support.
To learn more about this year’s events, to register for the summit, or to find a celebration near you, visit SBA. gov/NSBW. And be sure to follow along, and join the national conversation, at #SmallBusinessWeek. Throughout the year, the Herald offers small businesses webinars and training, too, and we encourage businesses to sign up for these valuable sessions.
In celebrating this special week, we celebrate the grit, vision and drive that continue to shape our nation by shaping its economy — one idea, one storefront and one hardworking entrepreneur at a time.
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the other week I had the pleasure of flying to Atlanta to celebrate the wedding of two good friends. The ceremony was beautiful, the bride and groom were happy, and nothing disturbed the sanctity of the moment.
What really struck me was how much fun I had seeing a bunch of old friends from college and high school, and how much I’d missed spending time with them.
The groom and I had gone to neighboring colleges, although we’d known each other for years through mutual friends. I spent so much time over my four years with him and the other kids at St. Andrews university that there were some days when I thought I knew their campus better than mine. Certainly I knew where all the cheapest bars in their town were. But after graduation, we all went our separate ways, as happens. While we
kept in touch sporadically, the demands of life and work — not to mention the pandemic and general global craziness — meant that I rarely, if ever, saw or talked to many people who only a few years before I’d hung out with every day. until this recent weekend, when we spent practically every waking moment getting up to our old shenanigans again. It sounds cliché to say, but it truly felt like no time had passed.
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every weekend. And for many young people, this connection is something that we’re all deeply missing.
Most people are aware that there is a loneliness epidemic in America.
fter college, we went our separate ways, but it was silly of me not to reach out before.
The most astonishing part was finding out how many of these friends now lived so close to me, with the majority of them having moved to New York City in the past few years. The last I’d heard from them, they were scattered as far apart as Los Angeles and London; little did I know that most of them now lived less than an hour away on the LIRR. I’ve already made plans to see some of them again soon.
That got me thinking about how silly it was of me not to reach out before. A simple text, “Hey, how’s it going, dude?” and I could have been seeing them
Cola plant in Tarrytown to call attention to the fact that New York state needed a bottle deposit bill. I was sore for three weeks! We achieved victory, and New York passed the Returnable Container Act, commonly known as the Bottle Bill. This landmark law has proven to be a highly effective program, reducing litter and increasing recycling rates in our state.
Albany now needs to support the Bigger Better Bottle Bill (S5684, A6543). This legislation would raise bottle and can deposits from 5 to 10 cents, which would increase redemption rates, support some of our state’s most marginalized workers and further reduce litter. The nickel deposit was enacted into law in 1983. If it were adjusted for inflation, it would be 15 cents today.
This bill could generate as much as $100 million for the state, and those funds could be used to address limits on redemption options in low-income communities and other litter and solid waste problems. It would also create more consistency by including sports drinks, iced tea, wine and spirits and more. With more beverage types included, there would be more recycling, less confusion and less pollution.
We must stop littering our Earth with one-time-use disposable bottles. This 42-yearold law needs to be updated. Here’s hoping our Legislature and governor will carry this bill through to fruition.
JoSEpH M. VARoN West Hempstead
Food
According to a study released in 2024 by the American psychiatric Association, 30 percent of adults experience feelings of loneliness at least once a week, with 10 percent admitting that they feel lonely every day.
This is even more pronounced in young people, with 30 percent of Americans ages 18 to 34 saying they are lonely every day or several times a week.
This crisis, while not as immediately obvious as a drug or disease epidemic, is just as insidious in its negative impact on the health of our country and our communities. A variety of factors are believed to contribute to this problem, from technology to being overworked to our hyper-focused sense of individualism.
While experts argue about the cause, the negative results speak for themselves. Humans are naturally social
& Water Watch, and Beyond Plastics.
To the Editor:
There is a desperate need for Nassau County politicians to establish a homeless shelter for people with pets.
There is nothing more emotionally jarring than looking into the eyes of a person who has lost everything and, in order to be admitted to a shelter, must surrender a beloved lifelong companion to an animal rescue — or continue to live on the streets — because Nassau County has no place for the two of them to go.
And it’s equally soul-wrenching to sit with a newly surrendered homeless animal, confused and scared, and console them as they get one last glimpse of the best friend they adored unconditionally.
Last month, the Safe Center of Long Island, in Bethpage, closed. Isn’t there a space like this that can be used as shelter for both the homeless and their pets?
politicians, for decades you have been telling homeless people what they need, instead of asking them. They have told me through their tears, and their animal friends by their despair. Will you act, or continue to look away from the truly voiceless, who in your campaign speeches you profess you will be a champion for.
DANA
FuCHS Long Beach
Dana Fuchs works at an animal rescue facility.
animals, and when we are unable to socialize, for whatever reason — from prisoners in solitary confinement to teenage shut-ins who spend all of their time online — the effects of being separated from others take a serious mental and physical toll on our health.
Studies have compared the impact of loneliness on our bodies to the effects of smoking 15 cigarettes, and concluded that it leads to higher rates of Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases. Loneliness literally kills us.
on the flip side, the desire for companionship can also lead people to seek connection and validation from unhealthy sources, such as political extremist groups, criminal organizations, and even drugs.
That’s why, now more than ever, it’s important to reach out. Shoot a text to your buddy from high school or call your friend from your sports team in college. Sometimes even a short conversation catching up is all you need to remind yourself how many friends you have, and how much they mean to you.
Will Sheeline is an editor covering Glen Head, Locust Valley, Oyster Bay and Sea Cliff. Comments? wsheeline@liherald.com.
AFFORDABILITY IS THE TOP PRIORITY FOR NEW YORKERS, WHO ARE ALREADY SUFFERING FROM HIGH COSTS. RADICAL ACTIVISTS ARE PUSHING A LAW THAT WILL SEND GROCERY PRICES EVEN HIGHER AND MAKE NEW YORK LESS AFFORDABLE!
X X X
The average family of four will pay $456 to $732 more per year for groceries.
It'll be harder to buy everyday products like cheese, hot dogs, bread, frozen veggies, and items for school lunches by banning some packaging.
Small businesses that make up the backbone of our communities will be hurt. Join your neighbors and businesses across New York and Tell Senator Bynoe and Assemblymember Griffin: