Rockville Centre Herald 11-27-2025

ROCKVILLE CENTRE

HERALD

State champions!

South Side High School’s girls’ volleyball program captured its first state title since 1993 last Saturday with a thrilling five-set victory over Williamsville South in Glens Falls. Story, more photos, page 6.

By AlYSSA R. GRIFFIN agriffin@liherald.com

The Rockville Centre school district is changing the way it addresses mental health concerns outside counselors’ offices.

South Side High School held a Mental Health Essentials presentation earlier this month for its coaches, phys. ed. teachers and health staff. Mental Health Collaborative, an organization headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, that focuses on building resilient communities through mental health education and awareness, partnered with the district on the workshop, which focused on the signs and symptoms of various mental health issues that may appear in studentathletes.

“It addressed the historical taboo surrounding mental health, and emphasized that communicating mental health struggles is a sign of strength and courage, not weakness,” South Side Athletic Director

Continued on page 16

Lions deliver comfort, Leos collect food for needy Coaching with care and concern

By BRIAN KACHARABA bkacharaba@liherald.com

As Thanksgiving approached and kitchens filled with turkeys waiting to be stuffed, the Rockville Centre Lions Club spent part of a recent afternoon stuffing toy lions instead — part of a new effort to bring comfort to children who have encounters with village police.

The Lions and the South Side High School Leos teamed up for a weekend of community service that paired a food drive with a new initiative to provide comfort toys to children who experience trauma during police calls.

The Leos — a student branch of the Lions — spent the day outside the King Kullen supermarket in Rockville Centre on Nov. 8 collecting food donations for families in need. Marian Thomsen, the Lions’ marketing communications chair, who volunteers at the Soup to Nuts food pantry in Freeport, said that the students’ presence helped make the drive a success.

“I think they were so nice and young, and I think people found them very hard to resist,” Thomsen said. “The food drive was very successful.”

She said she delivered a carload of food to the Soup to Nuts

I t’s gratifying to help out people when they need things.

MARIAN THoMSEN Lions Club marketing communications chair

Kitchen, while “the majority of the food goes to the (Rockville Centre Recreation Center), and the rec center divvies it up where they feel is needed.”

Thomsen added that donations also went to Congregation B’nai Sholom-Beth David, and Nassau County veterans.

Gift cards were included as well, and turkeys were distributed through the recreation center.

About a dozen Leos participated throughout the day in rotating shifts, according to Lions former President Bill Manteria, who said the students’ enthusiasm helped draw greater support from shoppers.

“If a Lion asks for a food donation, yeah, people are very accommodating,” Manteria said. “But if a Leo does … people are far more receptive.”

South Side senior Amalia Breen, president of the Leos, said she was outside the supermarket for two to three hours, and the experience exceeded

Continued on page 19

Andy Camp/Herald

Sharon’s Pantry prepares for holiday surge

By ALYSSA R. GRIFFIN agriffin@liherald.com

With the holidays around the corner, Sharon’s Pantry is gearing up to support those in need during this festive season.

Last weekend, the pantry held its Thanksgiving distribution, giving out turkeys and oven stuffers to families based on size. This year, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows RVC Chapter donated 35 turkeys and more to feed 35 families.

“The Odd Fellows have been very supportive of Sharon’s Pantry and were truly a blessing this Thanksgiving distribution day,” said Rena Riback, the pantry’s co-founder.

However, following the government shutdown, the pantry has seen an increase in people seeking assistance. The number of visitors rose by about 50%, causing the pantry to deplete its resources sooner than expected.

The pantry operates strictly on donations and volunteers, and the number of families in need has been increasing since the beginning of the year due to rising costs of food, heating, and other essentials.

“Without the SNAP benefits, which provide the ability for people to get food, they have to make choices,” Riback said. “SNAP benefits are essential to people, and these are people who work two and three jobs for the most part, just trying to make ends meet.”

The pantry works hard to serve the community, offering two distribution days a month, with emergency pick-ups available as well.

“It’s not just affecting our individual pantry,” she said. “It’s affecting all pantries, particularly Long Island Cares and Island Harvest. This affects them as well, which in turn becomes a domino effect, because

Pantry board members and volunteers worked together to distribute Thanksgiving dinners

we also get food from them.”

The pantry is very appreciative of all those who have supported them and those in need during this increase. Groups including Boy and Girl Scout troops and South Side varsity sports teams have come together to support the pantry, and they are truly grateful.

“Our mission is to extend love, hope, and nourishment to our neighbors and families who may be struggling,” co-founder Sharon Sheppard and Executive Director Karen Mobley said in a joint statement.

“Everyone deserves dignity, care, and compassion. Together, with our family and friends, we can ensure that no one goes hungry and no soul feels unseen. Let’s make kindness contagious.”

Sharon’s Pantry currently serves more than 115 families each week, and that number continues to grow. The pantry expects that the rise in those in need is far from over and welcomes anyone who can volunteer to join them.

For more information on Sharon’s Pantry, visit SharonsPantry.org.

Courtesy Sharon’s Pantry

for families in need.

Marathoners run with purpose and heart

By ISABELLA PLANTE Intern

As thousands filled the streets for the New York City Marathon, several Rockville Centre runners carried something deeper than bib numbers: the memories, missions, and hometown causes that inspired every step.

Matt Nolan raised more than $19,000 for Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in this year’s race, completing his eighth NYC Marathon with Fred’s Team.

Nolan dedicated the run to his parents — his mother, who fought breast cancer for 14 years with MSK’s support before dying in 2018, and his father, who has remained in remission since receiving treatment there in 1986. For Nolan, the marathon offered a chance to honor his family’s story while supporting the organization that helped shape it.

Fred’s Team was created in honor of Fred Lebow, “an avid New York City runner who was very instrumental in the growth of the New York City Marathon. He was one of the main figures who helped get the race from being four loops of Central Park to running through all five boroughs,” Nolan said.

“He was diagnosed with cancer, succumbed to cancer, and then a team was formed in his memory and his honor because of the work and the treatment he received from MSK,” he added.

Arlene Nolan’s long battle with breast cancer remains one of the driving forces behind her son’s commitment to running for MSK. When she was first diagnosed, doctors told the family her prognosis could range “anywhere from six months to years.”

“Even though she passed away, I’m obviously still very thankful that because of MSK, we had what I refer to as bonus time with her,” Nolan said. Reflecting on crossing the finish line, Nolan said the “meaningful miles” matter far more than time or performance. After completing so many marathons, the race has become less about pace and more about purpose.

“It is truly the most special day in the city,” he said.

Now a coach for marathon runners, Nolan said he tries to instill that same mindset in those he trains.

“I’d remind them you need not just one or two reasons why you want to run a marathon. You need like 40 or 50,” he said. “There’s no limit to how many reasons you need. For me this year, it was really honoring my mom and feeling so many different moments along the race course that I was hearing her voice still and hearing her cheer me on.”

Rory Harms, a Rockville Centre native who now lives on the East Side of Manhattan, ran the marathon in support of the Mary Ruchalski Foundation, which raises money and awareness for pediatric cancer in honor of Mary Ruchalski, who died in 2018.

“It’s really a special cause,” Harms said. “She was a really special little girl. She grew up in Rockville Centre, which is where I’m from too, and she attended St. Agnes Cathedral. She was a few

years younger than me.”

Harms described the marathon as an unforgettable experience, saying she felt fortunate to run on behalf of Mary’s foundation. The energy throughout the city, the support of the crowds, and having her family there to cheer her on made the day even more meaningful.

She finished the race feeling deeply grateful for the chance to take part in what she described as a “once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

Raising more than $5,000, Harms said the foundation is a driving force “for spreading kindness throughout the community.”

“They really get a lot of children and families involved throughout Rockville Centre and towns across Long Island,” she said.

Another runner dedicating his effort to the Mary Ruchalski Foundation, John Hunter, ran this year’s race with a deep sense of purpose. The foundation’s mis-

sion holds personal meaning through his wife’s family.

Hunter said running for Mary, his wife’s cousin, gave his lifelong goal of completing a marathon far deeper significance, motivating him through months of early morning training and steadily increasing mileage.

He raised almost $5,700 in support of the foundation’s mission as an official charity partner of New York Road Runners.

Volunteer firefighter and physical therapist Joshua LaBar of Rockville Centre took on the marathon in support of Wheeling Forward, a nonprofit dedicated to helping people with disabilities live more independent and active lives.

LaBar, who works at STARS in East Meadow, said the organization’s mission closely mirrors the values he brings to his work as a therapist. He surpassed his fundraising goal, bringing in $4,450 for Wheeling Forward.

Courtesy Matt Nolan

Matt Nolan raced through the streets of New York City, dedicating his run to the memory of his mother, Arlene, and raising over $19,000 for Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center with Fred’s Team.

Rory Harms ran with determination during the NYC Marathon while supporting the Mary Ruchalski Foundation.

Rory Harms had plenty of young supporters as she took on the New York City Marathon course.

Photos courtesy Rory Harms

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Treat your family to something special

One of the most common and devastating misconceptions about elder law estate planning is that it is too late to save money from nursing home costs. On the contrary, there are crisis planning tools that may save substantial assets from being spent on nursing home costs, even after the client has already entered the nursing home. Almost always, if there are assets left, much can be saved.

There are only three ways to pay for nursing home costs – your own assets, long-term care insurance (owned by less than five percent of the population), or Medicaid provided by the government.

Many people know about the “five-year look-back period” and assume nothing can be done without advance planning. The five-year look-back rule means that if you gave any gifts away within the last five years, when asking for Medicaid to pay for nursing home costs, the gift amount creates a penalty period, which results in a period of ineligibility for Medicaid coverage.

Despite the five-year look-back, New York

law allows people to protect assets from nursing home costs, even without pre-planning. For single applicants, you may be able to save about half of the assets through the “gift and loan” strategy. For married couples, where one spouse needs a nursing home, “spousal refusal” may protect substantial amounts of assets for the spouse at home. These techniques are discussed in detail at trustlaw. com, under “Practice Areas”, then “Medicaid Strategies”.

The five-year look-back rule does not affect eligibility of Medicaid home care, also known as “community” Medicaid. Currently, an applicant may transfer their assets out of their name and still qualify for home care in the next month.

Crime watCh

menaCing

On Nov. 22, an employee of 3 Brother’s Pizzeria reported that an unknown person threatened him with a golf club after a verbal dispute.

arrest

On Nov. 21 Hector Barajas, 61, of Mineola, was arrested and charged with petit larceny after an investigation at King Kullen.

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.

Fire watCh

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

November 16 – November 22

General Alarms – 10

Still Alarms – 5

Rescue – 5

Aided Cases (Ambulance) – 42

Mutual Aid Fire – 2

Mutual Aid Rescue – 0

Mutual Aid Ambulance – 0

Total – 64

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 – 412

Still Alarms – 266

Rescue – 167

Aided Cases (Ambulance) – 2116

Mutual Aid Fire – 74

Mutual Aid Rescue – 2

Mutual Aid Ambulance – 8

Total – 3045

news brieF

Police, Molloy team up for safety training

The Rockville Centre Police Department partnered with Molloy University to deliver a proactive and engaging Situational Awareness Training session designed to support a safer and more informed campus community.

Led by Lt. Peter Pellegrino, the program showcased the department’s ongoing commitment to working collaboratively with local institutions to promote preparedness, awareness, and community well being.

“Working hand in hand with our community partners is essential to creating safe and resilient spaces,” said Rockville Centre Police Commissioner Randy Dodd. “Training opportunities like this allow us to share valuable tools

and strengthen the relationships that help keep our residents, students, faculty, and staff safe.”

The session brought together the school’s entire division of student affairs, members of enrollment management, the university’s emergency response team, as well as Molloy President James P. Lentini.

“Safety is a top priority at Molloy University and we value our partnership with the Rockville Centre Police Department and appreciate their time and expertise in training our community,” added Janine Biscari, Molloy’s vice president for student affairs.

–Brian Kacharaba

Many assets, such as retirement accounts, rental properties and even the family home in certain cases, are exempt from Medicaid. The bottom line is that if someone you love is in failing health, the sooner you consult an elder law attorney the more you will

be able to

ADVERTISING: Ext. 249 E-mail: rglickman@liherald.com Fax: (516) 569-4643

■ PUBlIC NOTICES: Ext. 232 E-mail: legalnotices@liherald.com

rockville centre

HERALD SPORTS

South Side captures state volleyball title

By BRIAN KACHARABA bkacharaba@liherald.com

South Side’s 32-year wait is over.

The Cyclones won the New York State Class A girls’ volleyball championship last Saturday night, outlasting Williamsville South 25-22, 18-25, 25-18, 18-25, 15-12 at the Harding Mazzotti Arena in Glens Falls. It was their second state title in program history and first since 1993, when the program captured the Class B crown.

This time, South Side showed the same grit that defined its historic season, trailing at one point in all five sets before clawing its way to victory.

The decisive fifth set embodied everything about the Cyclones’ resilience. South Side fell behind 5-1 before storming back with a 7-2 run sparked by two kills and a serving ace from senior Keira Mullaney. They led 8-7 at the side switch, and after Williamsville tied it at 11, the Cyclones seized control by scoring four of the final five points to claim the title.

Senior Allie Fingleton slammed a key kill, and junior Lena Miller delivered two more—including her 20th of the match, the championship-clinching shot off a perfect set from senior Amy Berenbroick.

Miller described the winning swing as the product of a season-long connection with her setter.

“Amy made such a smart set there because their whole team thought that the set was going to the outside,” Miller said. “So, when she set that and I was able to get up and hit that. When it hit the ground, it was a really surreal moment.”

Berenbroick said she intentionally looked to deceive the Williamsville block on the final rally.

“When I was going to set, I kind of expected them to think that I was going outside. So, I set Lena and Lena was on fire the whole game,” she said. “She had an awesome kill and we won.”

The fourth set had nearly ended the match early for South Side. The

Cyclones held a 16-15 lead, but Williamsville answered with a 10-2 run to force the fifth.

In the third set, the Cyclones authored one of their biggest surges of the match. Trailing 18-14, they strung together 11 straight points, fueled by three kills from Miller and additional kills from Mullaney and Fingleton.

Junior Caitlin Ferrari added a block and senior Maeve Britt dropped in an ace as South Side stormed to a 25-18 win and a 2-1 match lead.

Williamsville claimed the second set by tightening its play and capitalizing on its opportunities.

The match began with a comeback that foreshadowed the Cyclones’ nightlong toughness. Down 17-14 in the first set, Mullaney unleashed three consecutive kills to tie the score before adding a fourth to put South Side in front 19-18. She finished the match with 24 kills— including eight in the opening set—

while Miller delivered 20 of her own along with three blocks and an ace.

The championship represented a fullcircle moment for Berenbroick, whose mother, Jessica Seaman, and aunt, Nicole, were both setters on South Side’s 1993 state title team.

“I really just feel like it was such a full circle moment,” Berenbroick said. “There are generations of setters in my family. My entire high school career, my mom was always like, ‘I really hope you get the opportunity to go to states one day, just like I did.’ Not only did we get to go to states, but we were able to win just like she did.

“It was really cool to be able to share that experience with her,” she continued. “She was able to feel that same accomplishment as we did. She was so excited. She was crying. She was really happy.”

The run to the championship included a gritty rally past Islip and a sweep

1 — Tess Rakeman, Soph. 2 — Izzy Fulcher Garcia, Jr. 4 — Maeve Britt, Sr.

6 — Josie Burke, Soph. 7 — Alison Canner, Sr. 9 — Grace Lomot, Soph. 10 — Caitlin Ferrari, Jr.

11 — Audrey Reilly, Soph. 12 — Sydney Marshall, Soph. 13 — Amy Berenbroick, Sr. 14 — Ryan Aiello, Sr.

19 — Keira Mullaney, Sr.

20 — Lyla Walker, Jr.

24 — Madeline Rich, Jr.

25 — Lena Miller, Jr.

26 — Julia Coles, Sr.

27 — Grace Mullin, Soph. 32 — Allie Fingleton, Sr. Coach: Steve Mariano

Assistant Coaches: Katie D’Angelo, Jeremy Cohen, Meghan Wildes

of Burnt Hills–Ballston Lake in pool play on Nov. 21. Williamsville swept South Side in the final pool-play match, but both teams had already clinched a spot in the title match and played their reserves.

Mariano said the postseason became a story the team wrote—and believed in—together.

“We said each one of these games was like a chapter in our story,” Mariano said. “And when we went to states, I said, now we’re going to write the final chapter. That was the storybook, the fairytale ending to our story.”

We’ve Got Specialists For That ®

Andy Camp/Herald

South Side captured its first NYS girls’ volleyball title since 1993 last Saturday evening in Glens Falls, defeating Williamsville South in five sets.

Bring Heart Home This Holiday Season

We will be bringing Mount Sinai’s top-ranked open heart surgeons to Oceanside beginning next year, so patients and their families don’t have to travel to NYC or to the North Shore for advanced cardiac care.

The Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital at The Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan ranks No. 2 nationally for Cardiology, Heart, and Vascular Surgery, according to 2025 U.S. News & World Report ® That expertise is coming to our Oceanside campus.

If you or a loved one have suffered a cardiac event, consider making a donation in their name today.

Scan the QR code, visit bringinghearthome.org , or call Anne Fernandez in our Development Office at 516-377-5360 to learn more.

Donate today.

Together, we can bring the of Mount Sinai home to the South Shore.

Independent pharmacies warn of collapse

By AINSLEY MARTINEZ amartinez@liherald.com

Howard Jacobson sat in his car outside a Long Island rehab center, holding a box of medication that cost him more than he would be reimbursed to dispense it. The longtime pharmacist, who owns Rockville Centre Pharmacy and West Hempstead Pharmacy, said that moments like this have become routine in an industry he once believed had room for sustainable community care.

For Jacobson, a pharmacist for nearly four decades, the crisis is no longer abstract. It is existential.

Independent pharmacists across New York describe the same pattern: reimbursement rates from pharmacy benefit managers — the middlemen known as PBMs — frequently fall below the cost of the drugs they dispense. PBMs negotiate prices on behalf of insurance plans, adjudicate claims and determine how much pharmacies get paid. But with three companies controlling nearly 90 percent of the national market, pharmacists say they have little leverage.

“They pay me what they want,” Jacobson said. “Many times now they’re paying us below my cost of the medication.”

Jacobson said that as a result, he has cut hours, trimmed staff and subsidized losses out of his own pocket.

On some drugs, he said, the reimbursement rates defy logic. “Yesterday I

did a prescription for 46 cents,” he said. State lawmakers, backed by hundreds of pharmacists, are now pushing the Patient Access to Pharmacy Act, which would establish minimum reimbursement standards for commercial insurance plans and increase oversight of PBMs. Legislators say it mirrors a costplus model that New York’s Medicaid program implemented in 2023, and that independent pharmacies credit with stabilizing state spending.

Assemblywoman Judy Griffin said she had heard the same warnings from

pharmacists in her district for years.

“They really have limited incomes, like our seniors,” Griffin said, referring to the patients who rely most heavily on local pharmacies. “Getting the drugs at a cheaper price is really important.”

Griffin is co-sponsoring the bill, which has more than 80 supporters in the Assembly. Pharmacy closures, she said — including dozens on Long Island — have already strained communities that depend on them for guidance, delivery and everyday care. “It’s nice when your pharmacist knows you,” she said.

The bill would set a minimum reimbursement rate tied to the cost of acquiring and dispensing medication, and impose transparency requirements on PBMs and restrict practices that critics say steer patients toward PBMowned mail-order pharmacies or chains.

At a rally last week outside Rockville Centre Pharmacy, Jacobson warned lawmakers plainly: “No business can afford to operate at a loss.”

“We’re offered one-sided contracts, and it’s take it or leave it,” he added. “If you leave it, then not only are you telling your patients you don’t care about them, you’re leaving a network.”

Critics of the bill — including some insurers, employer groups and PBMs — argue that mandating reimbursement floors could increase premiums, reduce negotiating flexibility and drive up pharmaceutical spending. They warn that cost-plus models can weaken market competition, and could ultimately shift financial burdens onto employers and consumers.

CVS Caremark, the PBM owned by CVS Health, did not respond to a request for comment.

Griffin said she sees the legislation as part of a broader effort to protect not just small businesses, but a key piece of the state’s health care infrastructure.

“I am really at my wits’ end on how to keep my business going,” Jacobson said. “I don’t want to concede defeat.”

Happy Thanksgiving

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Part Time Receptionist Position Garden City, NY

Monday, Wednesday & Friday 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM Saturday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Courtesy Office Judy Griffin

Assemblywoman Judy Griffin joined dozens of pharmacists at Rockville Centre Pharmacy on Nov. 18 to urge fellow lawmakers to pass the Patient Access to Pharmacy Act.

‘Puffs’ delights crowds with pure magic

By ALYSSA R. GRIFFIN agriffin@liherald.com

The spectacular world of magic took over South Side High School for a night Rockville Centre won’t soon forget.

From Nov. 19–22, the wizarding world took the school’s stage during the students’ production of “Puffs, or: Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic,” by Matt Cox.

SSHS students performed the comedic play for hundreds of attendees, offering a night filled with laughter, lessons and fun for the whole family. The play offered a fresh look at the commonly known wizarding world, presenting its own spin from the perspective of three potential heroes living in the shadow of a boy with a scar on his forehead.

The story followed the Puffs, a group of young, loyal outsiders with a fondness for badgers. The students struggle to attend a school of magic that has become increasingly unsafe for children as it is threatened by outside evil entities.

Several students showcased their talents on stage, including Wayne Hopkins, played by Reagan Zelles, 17; Oliver Rivers, played by Matthew Connolly, 16; Megan Jones, played by Amalia Breen, 16; and the Narrator, played by James Herard, 17.

These students worked for weeks alongside Russell M. Dembin, theater teacher and co-advisor of the SSHS Drama Guild, to bring the story to life.

The actors had the audience cheering and filled with excitement as each school year passed during the show. Attendees left with the message that even if you’re not destined to save the world, you can still do anything.

Reagan Zelles, left, Amalia Breen, and Matthew Connolly played the heroic trio living in the shadows of “the boy who lived.”

Alyssa R. Griffin/Herald photos

Mr. Potter, played by Tatum Gallagher, had a knack for speaking to snakes.

The villain, played by Alice Hoyos, hissed throughout the auditorium of South Side High School.

Zelles and The Headmaster, played by William Flaherty, meet once again unexpectedly.

Narrator James Herard transitioned the story along for each passing school year. The Puffs cheered for their friend’s victory in their later years.

Long-aged village bus facility receives boost

By BRIAN KACHARABA bkacharaba@liherald.com

Nassau County will receive $42 million in federal funding to upgrade the Nassau Inter-County Express bus system, a major investment that includes new lowemission buses and long-needed rehabilitation work at the aging Rockville Centre bus depot.

Iam delighted to help deliver $42 million in federal grant funding to Nassau County

Congresswoman Laura Gillen, who pushed for the funding earlier this year in meetings with Federal Transit Administration leadership, said the award will help modernize transit infrastructure across the South Shore.

“I am delighted to help deliver $42 million in federal grant funding to Nassau County that will help upgrade the NICE bus fleet and make station improvements to the County facility,” she said in the Nov. 20 statement.

L AuRA GILLeN Congresswoman

“Improving transportation options and reliability will directly benefit families, residents, and businesses across Long Island’s South Shore. I’m proud to advocate for Long Islanders on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and will continue to work with our local partners to bring federal dollars back home to Nassau County.”

The grant will allow NICE to replace 28 buses at the end of their service life with new compressed natural gas vehicles while supporting major structural and functional improvements at the Rockville Centre depot.

New investments in transit infrastructure are set to modernize Nassau County’s bus system, with $42 million in federal funding directed to upgrades like low-emission buses and critical improvements to facilities like the Rockville Centre bus depot on Banks Avenue, pictured here.

The depot, located on Banks Avenue, was once a fixture of Nassau’s transit system. Originally built for the private Bee Line bus company, it later became part of county-run operations and for decades supported South Shore routes. Its role diminished after NICE assumed operations in 2012, and in 2017, the agency suspended active use of the building as part of costsaving measures, shifting employees to the Mitchel Field facility.

In recent years, the site has primarily housed retired or out-of-service buses.

NICE has also evaluated the depot as a potential future electric-bus charging hub, given its industrial setting and capacity for modernization.

A NICE spokesman said the agency is still working through the details with Nassau County, having only been recently notified of the grant, and is not prepared to comment further.

Brian Kacharaba/Herald

Seniors step out for health, fun at Expo

By ANNA GRACI

Hundreds of seniors, caregivers, and community members filled O’Connell Gardens the final Senior Health & Beyond Expo of the 2025 series, presented by PSEG Long Island and hosted by Herald Community Media and RichnerLIVE on Nov. 7. The day was packed with resources, entertainment and interactive activities designed to promote health, wellness, and lifestyle enrichment.

Attendees explored booths from local organizations offering information on fitness, alternative medicine, estate planning, and senior services. Entertainment included lively performances and laughs from local talent, while a panel discussion provided expert insights and a Q&A session on programs tailored to seniors’ well-being.

The Oceanside expo featured a variety of sponsors and engaging activities. Presenting Sponsor PSEG Long Island led the event, supported by Silver Sponsors Parker Jewish Institute Health Care and Rehabilitation, New York State Department of Public Service Long Island, Long Beach Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, and AARP Long Island. Gift bag sponsors Grandell Rehabilitation Center, Beach Terrace Care

Center, and Oceanside Care Center provided attendee swag.

Health-focused activities included HSS Long Island, the “Get Moving” sponsor, leading a chair side guided fitness routine that attendees loved, and Mount Sinai South Nassau offering free flu and Covid-19 vaccines on-site. The first 150 attendees also received a complimentary to-go lunch and had chances to win door prizes throughout the day.

“We’re thrilled to share that the Oceanside Senior Health & Beyond Expo was a huge success,” Amy Amato, Executive Director of RichnerLIVE said. “The turnout and energy were fantastic, and we’re so grateful for the strong community participation and sponsor support that made the event both educational and enjoyable. Each expo in this series brings people together to discover new ways to live healthier, happier lives — it’s about community, connection and empowerment.”

Across all seven expos in 2025, hundreds of Long Islanders gained valuable resources, education, and inspiration for healthier living. RichnerLIVE will be announcing the 2026 expo schedule shortly, continuing its mission to connect the community with vital health and wellness resources.

Allison Puglia from PSEG Long Island speaking on the topic of Senior Connections.

Christine Grolli, Mark Gross, and Nicole Hall from our presenting sponsor, PSEG Long Island.

Diana Arevalo from NY Cancer & Blood Specialist.

Janice Alkire R.N., Catherine Colwell, Jordan Gryl, Regina Buckman, and Abigail

Fromm from Mount Sinai South Nassau.

Attendees doing the guided exercise led by HSS Long Island.

Jill Wasser from NYS Department of Public Service of Long Island talking to the attendees on the topic of DPS Community Services.

Susan Petroski-Randolph from HSS Long Island.

The amazing Seasoned Steppers performing.

Our wonderful crowd for the final senior health expo in our 7 part series.

(Standing) Betty Bradford and Karen Murphy, (Sitting) Eric Gross, Rita Johnson, and Rita Infuso from AARP of Long Island.

Attendees talking to Annelle Gabay and Alexia Santiago from Professional Hand Therapy.

Rejection of NCC leader sparks opposition

By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com

Nassau Community College’s board of trustees and local leaders expressed strong opposition after State University of New York trustees formally rejected the nomination of Maria Conzatti as the college’s next president. The unanimous 12-0 vote on Nov. 14 — the first of its kind in SUNY history — has heightened tensions over governance, autonomy and college leadership.

“SUNY does not comment on personnel issues,” a spokesperson told the Herald. “Community colleges are essential engines of student success and upward mobility, and SUNY is committed to excellent leadership for all of our campuses.”

Jerry Kornbluth, NCC’s vice president of community and governmental relations, called the decision “extremely upsetting,” citing Conzatti’s accomplishments during her tenure. Under her leadership, Kornbluth said, the college eliminated $14 million in debt and increased enrollment by 3 to 7 percent annually. As previously reported in the Herald, NCC also secured full eight-year accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

“Here you have a president who has done everything possible to move the college forward, implementing all the things SUNY would want her to do,”

Kornbluth said. “The board and most of the faculty are fully behind her.”

County Executive Bruce Blakeman also criticized SUNY’s decision. “Once again, SUNY has taken local control away from the suburbs by refusing to confirm the duly selected president, Maria Conzatti, put forth by the Nassau Community College Board of Trustees,” Blakeman stated in a news release.

“This is a slap in the face to every local board in New York State. Maria has done an excellent job educating our students and increasing enrollment at our college.”

NCC has been without a permanent president since 2022, and Conzatti has led the college since January of that year, despite SUNY guidelines recommending that temporary appointments last no more than six months. In the spring of 2023, the NCC board gave her an “iron-clad” five-year contract, extending through Dec. 31, 2028, which remains in effect.

Despite the SUNY vote, NCC Trustee Elliot Conway confirmed the board’s full support for Conzatti.

“I find it an upside-down world where the leader of the college with the highest enrollment increase is deemed unacceptable by the SUNY board,” Conway said.

In June, SUNY trustees began implementing a rule that would limit interim appointments of an administrator-in-

charge to one year, effectively blocking Conzatti from continuing in her role. Conway has voiced concerns about what he calls state overreach into local governance.

Speaking at a SUNY listening session in August, Conway said, “SUNY’s proposed rule, giving the chancellor final say over presidential appointments, salaries and contracts, is unnecessary overreach. Centralizing control would harm responsiveness, equity and the partnership that makes our programs succeed.”

At the session, Conway highlighted Conzatti’s contributions, including balancing budgets, adding vocational programs and improving campus civility. He also noted that Nassau County contributes more funding to the college than the state, asserting that local trustees should retain oversight.

“If it’s not broken, don’t fix it,” Conway said, calling for SUNY to confirm Conzatti as president.

The dispute unfolds amid a long-running, bitter conflict with the faculty union, which has opposed Conzatti’s leadership, citing department consolidations and other governance changes.

“The Board of Trustees’ decision is a responsible and necessary step toward restoring stability and confidence in Nassau Community College leadership,” Melinda Person, president of New York State United Teachers, said in

has been leading

Community College in an interim capacity since January 2022.

a statement. “Visionary, sustainable leadership cannot be built on prolonged interim arrangements.”

SUNY has sent a letter to NCC regarding a new presidential search, and a SUNY representative will work with the campus on the process.

Herald file photo

Maria Conzatti

Nassau

Self-storage redevelopment moves forward

By BRIAN KACHARABA bkacharaba@liherald.com

A new self-storage facility is moving forward at 117 N. Long Beach Road in Rockville Centre, with construction expected to be completed by spring 2027.

The project is being developed by Basis Industrial, a Florida-based real estate firm that specializes in selfstorage and multi-tenant industrial properties. Basis Industrial serves as the development manager and partial owner of the site.

The building itself is owned by WMG Rockville Owner LLC, one of the individual property-holding entities Basis creates for each facility it purchases.

Basis Industrial has secured a $27 million construction loan to undertake the redevelopment, which will transform the existing 52,811-square-foot structure into a modern self-storage facility. Unlike earlier proposals, the new plan does not involve raising the height of the building or demolishing its foundation.

“We’re not demolishing,” Basis Industrial Chief Operating Officer Anthony Scavo said. “We’re actually reusing most of the structure and the foundation.” He said contractors began interior environmental remediation earlier this month before heavier construction begins.

WMG Rockville Owner LLC acquired the property for $5.5 million in April 2022. At that time, the company proposed converting the site into a larger storage facility, including raising the building’s height from 18 to 30 feet. That plan required multiple zoning variances, including permission to increase height and reduce the number of required parking spaces from 91 to three.

The Rockville Centre Zoning Board rejected those variances in a 3–2 vote after residents opposed the pro-

Interior remediation work has begun inside the 117

transform into a modern self-storage facility.

posal at a public hearing. Scavo said that setback sent the developers back for revisions.

“When part of the board didn’t like it, we took their advice,” Scavo said. “We coordinated with them directly, and we said, ‘What would you guys approve?’ And this is what we came out with.”

Village of Rockville Centre spokesperson Julie Grilli said the project that ultimately received approval matches the current building’s height and footprint and does not involve a change of use.

“Once completed, the facility’s operating hours will be from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.,” Grilli said in a statement.

“The Village remains committed to ensuring full compliance with all required procedures and the proper review of all necessary approvals.”

The site has a long history of unrealized redevelopment attempts. In 2017, Maryland-based Shelter Group proposed a senior assisted-living facility at the location, but that plan also failed due to zoning restrictions. With approvals secured, Scavo said Basis Industrial is now proceeding “full force” with construction, and the general contractor, Zenith, has begun early work inside the building. The redesigned exterior will be fully updated as part of the project.

Brian Kacharaba/Herald

N. Long Beach Rd. building, which Basis Industrial plans to

Staffers focus on student mental health

Patrick Maguire said. “It highlighted that student-athletes often want to isolate, hide and avoid seeking help due to embarrassment, shame and fear of being judged or mocked.”

Susan Hanly, an MHC trainer, led the presentation on Nov. 4.

“One in five individuals are going to have a mental illness in their lifetime, and 50 percent of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin before age 14,” Hanly said. “So you think about coaches who are in this really excellent position to make a difference in the life of children by keeping their eyes wide open, and maybe seeing some signs and symptoms that others didn’t see.”

The presentation included several components in which coaches learned strategies for identifying athletes who may need referrals for mental health support, how to manage mental health on the field and how to maintain their own mental health. The focus included reducing the stigma of mental illness, recognizing the initial symptoms of mental health difficulties and being aware of available resources.

Jeremy Cohen, a phys. ed. teacher and the junior varsity girls’ volleyball coach, said he found the training informative. “The workshop gave us tools to step up and truly listen,” he said. “It taught us that asking for help is the ultimate sign of strength, and we can help foster that.”

Health teachers also found it useful, including Kerry Figueiredo. “This training reinforced what we teach in the classroom and, more importantly, gave

our students and student-athletes. This is a huge step in building a positive, supportive culture.”

This was not only Mental Health Collaborative’s first presentation in Rockville Centre, but the first the organization has given in Nassau County.

“Not only is mental illness common — over 50 percent of youth will at some point have a mental illness, and 75 percent of symptoms start before the age of 25,” its founder and CEO, Abbie Rosenberg, said. “But there’s an 8- to 11-year gap from the time someone first experiences symptoms to when they’re diagnosed and treated, and that just leads to much worse outcomes and crises, and a lot of things in this country that probably could be prevented that have to do with untreated mental illness.”

Rosenberg spent decades working as a therapist and psychopharmacologist before creating MHC. After losing a patient to suicide in 2017, she founded the organization in his honor, and in honor of all those, she said, who have suffered in silence and died too soon as a result of their mental health issues.

our coaches the language they needed,” said Figueiredo, “Mental health shouldn’t be a secret — it should be part of the daily conversation we have with

“Prevention is so key, because all of these people that surround our youth are partners in helping the future of youth,” Rosenberg said. “It’s not the only solution, but it’s a big part of it.”

For more information on Mental Health Collaborative, visit MentalHealthCollaborative.org.

Courtesy Patrick Maguire

Susan Hanly gave a presentation on the mental health concerns of student-athletes at South Side High School on nov. 4.

STEPPING OUT

‘Nutcracker’ sweets

Decades of holiday magic with Leggz Ltd. Dance

‘

By Abbey Salvemini

Tis the season: Those Sugar Plum Fairies and various figments of a young girl’s imagination come alive once again on local stages. Sacred Heart Academy started it all off recently with its student-run production, now the holiday classic is thrust into the spotlight throughout December.

Rockville Centre-based Leggz Ballet, with Rockville Centre Guild for the Arts, brings sparkle to the Madison Theatre stage as ‘Nutcracker’ season dances on. This year’s production is especially meaningful for the studio’s founder Joan Hope MacNaughton, her staff and students: Leggz celebrates 30 years bringing this beloved classic to life. With MacNaughton’s artistic direction and choreography, accompanied as always by the beloved South Shore Symphony Orchestra, the theater is filled with the wonder of the delightful ballet that showcases Tchaikovsky’s mesmerizing score. You might say it’s one of the most memorable holiday soundtracks ever composed.

With over four decades leading Leggz, the 30-year milestone is both deeply personal and artistically meaningful for MacNaughton.

• Dec. 5, 7:30 p.m.: Dec. 6, 5 p.m.; Dec. 7, 4 p.m.

• Tickets are $35-$65; available at MadisonTheatreNY.org or call the box office at (516) 323-4444

• Madison Theatre, Molloy University campus, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre

“Something that was a dream many, many years ago to have my own Nutcracker came true,” she says. MacNaughton reflects on how the production has grown in scale, professionalism and reach since its first performance, then on the South Side High School stage in Rockville Centre.

“From the costumes to all the dancers, it evolved dramatically. It started with dancers from my studio doing the solo parts. Then, I brought in professionals from the dance world to fill the roles of Sugar Plum Fairy, Dewdrop and Snow Queen.”

Dancers from renowned companies — including Boston Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, also Broadway — are now integral to the production.

MacNaughton — who danced professionally prior

Mark Tremonti

Sings Frank Sinatra ‘Christmas Special’

From redefining rock to reimagining Sinatra, Grammy-winning musician

Mark Tremonti, backed by members of Frank Sinatra’s original orchestra, brings his timeless swing and holiday spirit to the Paramount. The lights go down. Familiar horns pipe up from a world-class orchestra as piano twinkles like the jackpot lights on a winning slot machine. Then, the voice kicks in. It has all of the smoky splendor those first few notes hinted at, but it ain’t Ol’ Blue Eyes. In a tailored suit with microphone in hand, it’s Mark Tremonti. The multiplatinum musician sounds just as at home paying homage to the catalog of Frank Sinatra as he does fronting Tremonti or shredding his soul out as the guitarist for Alter Bridge and Creed. Tremonti’s influence on rock music is undeniable. Now, witness a new side of his artistry as he pays heartfelt tribute to the legendary Frank Sinatra.

to opening her studio — attributes their interest in joining her production to her both network and her artistic standards.

“I have a lot of friends who are dancers in Manhattan, so I reached out to them for professional roles,” she says.

Yet, the heart of the show remains the young dancers, who include talented kids residing in Rockville Centre, Oceanside, Baldwin, among other communities. A cast of over 50 young dancers in all, from throughout the metro area, join the guest dancers in this dynamic staging.

“It doesn’t matter what school they come from,” MacNaughton emphasizes. “They all really love dance and know what a quality production is like.”

Performing alongside the South Shore Symphony adds another layer of magic. The orchestra, MacNaughton explains, elevates the performance for both dancers and the audience, adding a unique energy and richness that recorded tracks can’t match.

“There’s nothing more exciting for a dancer than performing with live music. Watching the musicians play is a treat, you’re getting both the dance and the music.”

Her goal is that kids in the audience or who step onto the stage for the first time will continue to find inspiration in “The Nutcracker.” Keeping the beauty of dance alive is what’s behind MacNaughton’s decades of running her studio and producing the show each year.

Among the newest generation of dancers is 7-year-old Emma Lavas, of Rockville Centre, who’s making her first appearance in the ballet, continuing a family tradition. Her mom, Meg Guido, danced in the very first Leggz production, continuing for 12 years. Recalling the thrill of being on stage, she’s delighted, of course, that her daughter is now stepping into that role.

“It’s such a beautiful thing to see her dancing and smiling,” Guido says.

“She teaches me a lot of moves,” Lavas says, about her mother, as she carries forth with the family legacy.

Another Rockville Centre dancer, 14-year-old Analiese Cartier shares: “I’m so grateful for the opportunity to do this each year.”

For 15-year-old Paige McDaid, who also lives in Rockville Centre, the show has been as much about friendship as dancing.

“I’ve built some of my life-long friends and I’m so grateful for them.”

She wants audiences, whether returning or seeing it for the first time, to feel that same magic she experiences onstage.

“It’s such a beautiful performance, and we put so much effort into it,” McDaid adds, enthusiastically.

Celebrating three decades of Nutcracker, Leggz Ltd. has filled the Madison Theatre with music, movement and holiday spirit. From the youngest dancers to world-class professionals bringing the choreography to life, the production captures the essence of the season. It explains why this timeless performance continues to draw everyone back each year.

Saturday, Dec. 11, 8 p.m. $108.75, $86.50, $71.25, $59.75, $54.25, $43.75.The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.

Just ‘Wild About Harry’ redux

Everyone has another chance to go “Wild About Harry” when over 30 of Long Island’s top musicians and songwriters gather for another concert in tribute to the beloved Harry Chapin. Groove along to 18 acts — including concert organizer Stuart Markus and his trio Gathering Time — that perform Chapin classics including “Taxi” and “Cat’s in the Cradle,” plus many lesser hits and fan favorites like “Mr. Tanner.” The concert is concsdered a “Birthday Bash,” as Chapin would have turned 83 on Dec. 7. As they’ve done for the past 20 years, participating artists are encouraged to put their own interpretations on his songs. Long Island music “royalty” is turning out in force to support this most worthy cause. All revenues above production costs will be donated to Long Island Cares, the food bank Chapin founded. Long Island Cares will also be collecting non-perishable food donations.

Tuesday, Dec. 2, 7:30 p.m. Minimum $20 suggested donation per ticket. Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. Tickets available at landmarkonmainstreet.org or (516) 767-6444.

Courtesy Leggz Ltd.

The Snow Queen (Ella Titus, Miami City Ballet) and Snow King (Mauricio Vera Nunez, National Ballet Of Cuba) begin Clara’s Dream.

The Snowflake Corps dazzle in the intricate Waltz of the Snowflakes, the grand finale of Act I.

Tim Baker/Herald Evelyn Strouse and Paige McDaid in rehearsal.

YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD CALENDAR

NOV

27

LuminoCity Festival

LuminoCity is back at Eisenhower Park. Walk through a winter wonderland. Timed admission fee.

• Where: Eisenhower Park, East Meadow

• Time: 4:30-5:15 p.m., 6-6:45 p.m., 7:30-8:15 p.m., through Jan. 1

• Contact: luminocityfestival.com

NOV

‘Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive

The Bus! The Musical’

Long Island Children’s Museum welcomes back this delightful production, based on Mo Willems’ awardwinning “Pigeon” picture books. Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical! is even more fun than staying up late and having a hot dog party. It’s not easy being the Pigeon;,you never get to do anything. But when the Bus Driver has a crisis that threatens to make her passengers (gasp!) late, maybe that wily bird can do something. Featuring an innovative mix of songs, and feathers, this show is sure to get everyone’s wings flapping. $11 with museum admission ($9 members), $15 theater only.

• Where: Museum Row, Garden City

• Time: 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; also Nov. 29, Dec. 3-Dec. 4

• Contact: licm.org or (516) 224-5800

Special EFX All-Stars in concert

Special EFX All-Stars, led by guitar virtuoso Chieli Minucci, takes the stage for one extraordinary night of genre-defying fusion. He’s joined his bandmates Lin Rountree, Eric Marienthal, Jay Rowe, Dave Livolsi, Joel Rosenblatt, Alan Grubner & Emedin Rivera. For over 40 years, Minucci has been a driving force in modern electric jazz, co-founding Special EFX and releasing more than 30 albums that blend rock, Latin rhythms and contemporary jazz into a signature sound. A three-time Emmy Award winner, he has collaborated with musical greats from Celine Dion and Lionel Richie to Kirk Whalum, Jeff Lorber, Omar Hakim, even Bernie Williams, and others.

• Where: Madison Theatre, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre

• Time: 8 p.m.

• Contact: madisontheatreny.org or (516) 323-4444

29

1863 Thanksgiving Step back in time at Old Bethpage Village Restoration for some holiday fun. Immerse yourself in the sights and smells

Allman Betts Family Revival

Get ready for an unforgettable night of music at the 9th Annual Allman Betts Family Revival! This extraordinary live music experience is hosted by Devon Allman and Duane Betts, the sons of Allman Brothers Band legends Gregg Allman and Dickey Betts. Inspired by the legendary Last Waltz, this tour features a revolving cast of top-tier artists from the realms of blues, Americana, country, and rock, all coming together to honor the timeless legacy and rich catalog of the Allman Brothers Band. This year’s amazing lineup features the Allman Betts Band, the iconic Jimmy Hall, former Wet Willie singer and Allman Brothers alumni; alongside Robert Randolph, Amanda Shires, G. Love, Judith Hill, Jimmy Hall, Cody & Luther Dickinson, Alex Orbison, and others. Special guests may also join in. Set against the backdrop of the famous Allman Brothers Brotherhood of Light show, blending electrifying music with stunning visuals. This unforgettable night that honors the rich history and timeless catalog of the Allman Brothers Band is a musical family reunion that promises to lift your spirits as you enjoy an authentic Allman Brothers musical experience. $108.75, $64.75.

• Where: The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington

• Time: 8 p.m.

• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com

bring the warmth of the season to your home. This is a drop-in activity that takes approximately 10 minutes and is yours to keep.

• Where: Museum Row, Garden City

• Time: 2:30-4 p.m., also Dec. 3-5

• Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800

Christmas Tree

DEC

3

of the festive season, as those early years of our national day of feasting and giving thanks comes alive. Imagine that it’s 1863 and you’re preparing a holiday meal, following President Abraham Lincoln’s proclamation of the first official national holiday of Thanksgiving Day. The restored site bustles with activity as it readies for an old-fashioned Thanksgiving: wood-burning stoves, beehive ovens and hearths are fired up to prepare foods and baked goods made from 19th-century recipes. Culinary exhibits include the “spitting” and roasting of turkey in a tin reflector oven beside the Williams House hearth and preparation of pies at the Powell House. Also on display are 19th-century methods of food preservation employed for late fall crops. Historical period music adds to the festive atmosphere each afternoon. $15, $12 seniors and children 5-12.

• Where: 1303 Round Swamp Rd., Old Bethpage

• Time: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

• Contact: oldbethpagevillage restoration.org or call 516-5728409

Jolly Jamboree

Long Island Children’s Museum welcomes everyone to a festive family night filled with merriment for all ages. The museum is

transformed into a winter wonderland to celebrate the start of the holiday season. Among the highlights: Snap a festive family photo with Santa, join Rudolph and Miss on the dance floor for a holiday dance party, create keepsake holiday crafts to take home or give as gifts, decorate a cookie and design a special plate perfect for Santa’s visit, enjoy classic holiday tunes performed by carolers throughout the galleries. Also take in some “sock skating” on the museum’s indoor rink and meet the Ice Queen, and more. Come dressed in your holiday best: sparkles, pajamas, reindeer antlers, or your favorite holiday character costume! $16 per person ($14 members). Advance purchase is recommended as space is limited.

• Where: Museum Row, Garden City

• Time: 5:30-8:30 p.m.

• Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800

DEC

2

Sandel Center

Holiday Fair

Check out over 20 unique vendors to kick off the holiday season at the Sandel Center.

• Where: 50 S. Park Ave.

• Time: 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

• Contact: RVCNY.us or (516) 678-9350

Cream Tea at Westbury House

Savor a traditional Cream Tea featuring freshly baked scones with Devonshire cream, assorted sweets, and a fine selection of teas. The experience concludes with a guided tour of beautifully decorated Westbury House. $28, discounts for members and groups.

• Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury

• Time: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:303 p.m.; also Dec. 3-4 and ongoing

• Contact: oldwestburygardens.org or call (516) 333-0048

Greeting

card workshop

Toast the New Year at Rockville Centre Public Library by creating an iris folding greeting card ready to send to someone special or to frame. Bring scissors, scotch tape, pencil, and glue stick; all other supplies provided. Registration is now open to all.

• Where: 221 N. Village Ave., Rockville Centre

• Time: 10:30 a.m.

• Contact: rvclibrary..or (516) 766-6257

Glowing Gingerbread Houses

Bring the kids to Long Island Children’s Museum to make a cozy light up gingerbread house craft to

Lighting

Celebrate the beginning of the festive season at the village tree.

• Where: Village Green, 1 College Place, Rockville Centre

• Time: 7 p.m.

• Contact: 516-678-9300

Little Learners

DEC

4

Art Lab

Each week in this engaging workshop, participants are introduced to handson materials, artmaking, and inspiration from artists and techniques. Young kids, ages 2-5, build critical thinking skills, expand vocabulary, and support imaginations as they play, create and explore. This week create DIY wrapping paper with bubble wrap. $4 with museum admission.

• Where: Museum Row, Garden City

• Time: 11:30 a.m.-noon

• Contact: licm.org or 516-224-5800

DEC

5

Night Out On

The Lion

Molloy University hosts its annual gathering for kids ages 5-10. With snacks, games and more. Registration required by Dec. 1.

• Where: Wilbur Arts Center, 1000 Hempstead Ave, Rockville Centre

• Time: 5:30-9 p.m.

• Contact: Alex at agoessmann@ molloy.edu

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.

Giving brings Lions, Leos clubs together

her expectations.

“We raised a lot more than I even expected,” she said. “We filled up our boxes so quickly. We had to take so many trips to the rec center to drop everything off. We were getting so many people that were giving us full carts of items. It was truly amazing.”

Maureen Jordan, the Lions’ treasurer, said that the Leos also collected about $900 in gift cards and $273 in cash that day.

The Lions also used the weekend to launch a new project: lion toys stuffed with polyester fiberfill stuffing which will be distributed to the Rockville Centre Police Department for officers to give to children who are involved in emergencies.

Thomsen said the idea came from another Lions Club member who had seen it done elsewhere. “It’s the first time,” she said. “It’s never been done here.”

Jordan said the idea came from her sister, a Lions member in Florida. “She does regular stuffed animals, but we were like, ‘Hey, why don’t we do a lion?’” Jordan said. “It’s so cute.”

She approached Rockville Centre Police Commissioner A. Randy Dodd to gauge his interest. “I asked if he’d be good with it,” Jordan said. “And they were like, ‘Are you kidding me? We come across some domestic violence cases or

a car accident, or a child’s upset. So, this would be absolutely fantastic.’”

The club ordered 48 unstuffed lions, each with a packet of measured polyester fiberfill stuffing and a small T-shirt featuring the Lions’ logo. Members gathered on Nov. 9 to complete the project in about two hours, according to Jordan.

in a statement. “Our officers often meet young people during moments of fear, uncertainty or crisis, and having something soft and reassuring to offer can help ease that anxiety and establish a sense of safety. This thoughtful initiative speaks to the compassion and community spirit that defines Rockville Centre. We are grateful to the Lions Club for their continued support, dedication and generosity.”

Mayor Francis X. Murray praised the Lions for expanding their tradition of service with a project that strengthens the bond between residents and first responders.

Dodd said the lions would give officers an immediate way to connect with and comfort children in crisis. The group plans to give the toys to the Police Department soon.

“When children experience a traumatic event, even a small source of comfort can have a tremendous impact on their emotional well-being,” Dodd said

“The RVC Lions Club has long been a pillar of service in our Village, and this newest project is yet another example of their dedication to uplifting our community,” he said in a statement. “By providing these stuffed lions, they are offering children a meaningful source of comfort at a time when it is needed most. Their kindness speaks volumes about the strength of our local organizations, and we are sincerely thankful for the Lions Club’s thoughtful and inspiring contribution.”

For Thomsen, participating in both service efforts was especially meaningful.

“It means a lot, particularly this happened during the government shutdown,” she said. “It’s gratifying to help out people when they need things.”

Courtesy Marian Thomsen

rockville Centre Lions Club members spent part of the afternoon of nov. 9 stuffing plush lions that will be kept in village police vehicles and given to children during critical or frightening situations. participants include, from left, Cynthia metzger, Liz perrier, maureen Jordan, ron Webb, marian thomsen and Jeanne mulry.

27,

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE AVISO DE ELECCIONES ANUALES DISTRITO DE LA BIBLIOTECA PÚBLICA DE LAKEVIEW DEL CIUDAD DE HEMPSTEAD CONDADO DE NASSAU, NUEVA YORK A LOS VOTANTES CALIFICADOS DEL DISTRITO DE LA BIBLIOTECA PÚBLICA DE LAKEVIEW: POR LA PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA que, de conformidad con el Capítulo 403 de las Leyes del Estado de Nueva York de 1977, se celebrarán elecciones en el Distrito de la Biblioteca Pública de Lakeview el 2 de diciembre de 2025. Las urnas se abrirán entre las 16:00 y las 22:00. hora estándar, en la Biblioteca Pública de Lakeview, ubicada en 1120 Woodfield, Rockville Centre, Nueva York, en dicho Distrito, con el fin de elegir a un (1) Fideicomisario de la Biblioteca, por un período de cinco (5) años, para suceder a Andrea Maddison, cuyo mandato vence el 31 de diciembre de 2025. La votación se realizará mediante papeleta. Las urnas abrirán a las 16:00 h y permanecerán abiertas hasta las 22:00 h, o el tiempo que sea necesario para que los votantes presentes puedan emitir su voto. SE NOTIFICA ADEMÁS que, de conformidad con la resolución adoptada en la reunión de la Junta Directiva del Distrito de la Biblioteca Pública de Lakeview, celebrada el 15 de octubre de 2025, los candidatos a la Junta Directiva de la Biblioteca deberán presentar sus candidaturas ante el Secretario del Distrito en la Biblioteca Pública de Lakeview, 1120 Woodfield Road, Rockville Centre, Nueva York, al menos diez (10) días antes de la fecha de dicha elección, con la firma de veinticinco (25) electores cualificados (según se define más adelante) del Distrito. Un elector cualificado es una persona registrada para votar y que ha residido en el Distrito de la Biblioteca al menos 30 días antes de la elección. Solo los electores cualificados residentes pueden ejercer el cargo de Junta Directiva de la Biblioteca o votar en las elecciones del

Distrito. Los formularios de solicitud están disponibles en la Biblioteca. TAMBIÉN SE NOTIFICA que las solicitudes de papeletas de voto en ausencia para las elecciones de la Biblioteca Pública de Lakeview pueden presentarse en la Biblioteca Pública de Lakeview, ubicada en 1120 Woodfield Road, Rockville Centre, Nueva York 11570. Las solicitudes completas deben ser recibidas por la Biblioteca Pública de Lakeview al menos siete (7) días antes de la elección si la papeleta se enviará por correo al votante, o un (1) día antes de la elección si la papeleta se entregará personalmente al votante. Las papeletas de voto en ausencia deben recibirse en la Biblioteca Pública de Lakeview a más tardar a las 5:00 p. m. del 2 de diciembre de 2025. Una lista de todas las personas a quienes se les habrán emitido papeletas de voto en ausencia estará disponible para su inspección en la oficina administrativa de la Biblioteca Pública de Lakeview entre las 10 a. m. y las 5 p. m. de cada uno de los cinco (5) días anteriores al día de la elección, excepto los domingos, y entre las 10 a. m. y las 5 p. m. y las 12 del mediodía del sábado anterior a las elecciones. Dicha lista también estará disponible para su consulta en el centro de votación durante la elección de los miembros de la Junta Directiva.

Por Orden de la Junta Directiva del Distrito de la Biblioteca Pública de Lakeview.

Fecha: 15 de octubre de 2025

Rockville Centre, Nueva York

Biblioteca Pública de Lakeview Secretario de Distrito 156794

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF ANNUAL ELECTION

LAKEVIEW PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK TO THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS OF THE LAKEVIEW PUBLIC LIBRARY DISTRICT:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that in accordance with

Chapter 403 of the Laws of the State of New York for 1977, an election will be held in the Lakeview Public Library District on December 2, 2025, the polls to be opened between the hours of 4 p.m. o’clock and 10 o’clock p.m. standard time, at the Lakeview Public Library, 1120 Woodfield, Rockville Centre, New York , in said District for the purpose of electing one (1) Library Trustee, one for a term of five (5 ) years to succeed Andrea Maddison which term expires on the 31st day of December 2025. The voting will be by paper ballot. The polls will opened at 4:00 p.m. and remain opened until 10:00 p.m. and as much longer as may be necessary to enable the voters then present to cast their ballot.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that pursuant to a resolution adopted at a meeting of the Trustees of the Lakeview Public Library District held on the 15th day of October 2025, candidates for Library Trustee shall file their names with the District Clerk at the Lakeview Public Library, 1120 Woodfield Road, Rockville Centre, New York, at least ten (10) days prior to the date of such election, subscribed by twentyfive (25) qualified electors (as defined below) of the District. A qualified elector is a person who is registered to vote and who has resided in the Library District at least 30 days prior to the Library District election. Only resident qualified electors are eligible to hold office of Library Trustee or to vote at a Library District election. Petition forms are available at the Library.

NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that applications for absentee ballots for the Lakeview Public Library election may be made at the Lakeview Public Library at 1120 Woodfield Road, Rockville Centre, New York 11570. Completed applications must be received by the Lakeview Public Library at least seven (7) days before the election if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter or one (1) day before the election; if the ballot is to be personally delivered to the voter. Absentee ballots must be received at the

Lakeview Public Library no later than 5:00 p.m. on December 2, 2025. A list of all persons to whom absentee ballots shall have been issued will be available for inspection in the administrative office of the Lakeview Public Library between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on each of the five (5) days prior to the day of the election except Sundays, and between the hours of 10a.m. and 12 noon on the Saturday prior to the election, and such list will also be available for inspection at the polling place at the election of members of the Board of Trustees.

By Order of the Board of Trustees of the Lakeview Public Library District.

Dated: October 15th, 2025

Rockville Centre, New York

Lakeview Public Library District Clerk 156792

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: BOWA Ventures, LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York, (SSNY) on 11/5/2025. NY Office location: Nassau County. SSNY has been designated as an agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of the process to: 91 Dorchester Rd, Rockville Centre, NY 11570

Purpose: To engage in any lawful act or activity. 156729

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF REGISTRATION OF A FOREIGN LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: PAC Homes LLC Application for Authority filed with the Secretary of State of New York, (SSNY) on 10/31/25. NY Office location: Nassau County. SSNY has been designated as an agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of the process to: 53 S Lewis Place, Rockville Centre NY, 11570. Certificate of Formation filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on 07/08/24.

The boys and girls varsity soccer teams at South Side High School raised $6,500 and presented the check to the Rockville Centre Breast Cancer Coalition on Nov. 23.

South Side soccer teams score big for cancer charity

By ALYSSA R. GRIFFIN agriffin@liherald.com

The South Side High School varsity soccer teams raised $6,500 in October through its new initiative, “Score for Breast Cancer.”

All proceeds were donated to the Rockville Centre Breast Cancer Coalition, and the teams presented the check on Nov. 23.

“In the month of October, we had no idea how successful the teams were going to be, but they were very prolific goal scorers,” said Kristen StuccioSuarez, one of the parents who helped launch the campaign.

The boys’ and girls’ teams scored a combined 40 goals in October. The girls team scored four goals in three separate games, and the boys team netted 11 in

consecutive wins over Division and Elmont.

The teams set a fundraising goal of $2,500, which they surpassed by 160 percent. They requested that the funds support individuals affected by Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer.

Donations were raised through pledges of a set dollar amount for each goal scored or shutout recorded. Both teams played about 10 games in honor of the Rockville Centre Breast Cancer Coalition.

The Rockville Centre Breast Cancer Coalition is a nonprofit that supports individuals affected by breast cancer in more than 40 communities across Nassau County.

For more information about the Rockville Centre Breast Cancer Coalition, visit RVCBCC.org.

Public Notices

Purpose: To engage in any lawful act or activity. 156835

LEGAL NOTICE Notice of Public Hearing

Village of Rockville Centre Nassau County, New York

Meeting Date: December 1, 2025

Pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 330 Rockville Centre Village Code NOTICE IS

HEREBY GIVEN that the Exterior Design Review Board of the Village of Rockville Centre will have a Public Hearing at the Eugene J. Murray Village Hall, 1 College Place, Rockville Centre

LEGAL NOTICE December 1, 2025 at 6:00 PM Case No. 08-2025 Kevin McGowan 12 Stratford Road Rockville Centre, NY 11570

Description: One-story front addition, covered front porch, garage extension, and second story addition over existing first story, with interior alterations. Premises known as:12 Stratford Road

The Exterior Design Review Board OF THE VILLAGE OF ROCKVILLE CENTRE

Eugene Murray Village Hall, Rockville Centre, New York

George Bella, Chairperson of the

consultants to The Exterior Design Review Board Thomas Domanico, Secretary to The Consultants Information and records for Exterior Design Review cases are available the Office of the Secretary, 110 Maple Avenue, RVC 156876

Courtesy Kristen Stuccio-Suarez

Help Wanted

CIRCULATION ASSOCIATE

Full Time/Part Time

Richner Communications, publisher of Herald community newspapers has an excellent opportunity for a FT/PT Customer Service Clerk in our busy Circulation Department. Basic customer service and administrative responsibilities include: heavy computer work, answering phones, making phone calls, entering orders, faxing, filing, etc. STRONG knowledge of EXCEL a must! Knowledge of DATABASE maintenance or postal regulations a big plus. Qualified Candidates must be computer literate, able to multi-task, dependable, reliable, organized, energetic, detail oriented and able to work well under deadlines. Salary Range is $16.50 per hour to $20 per hour. For consideration, please send resume & salary requirements to: circulationassociate@liherald.com

DRIVERS WANTED

Full Time and Part Time

Positions Available!

Busy Print Shop in Garden City is Hiring Immediately for Full Time and Part Time Drivers. Must Have a Clean License and BoxTruck Driving Experience.

Hours Vary, Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $21 per hour Night Availability is a Must.

Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239

EDITOR/REPORTER

Part Time & Full Time. The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. Salary range is from $20K to $45K To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to jbessen@liherald.com

MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP

Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges fromo $16.50 per hour to $20 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com

MULTI MEDIA

ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT

Inside Sales

Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $34,320 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286

OUTSIDE SALES

Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Earning potential ranges from $34,320 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses. Compensation is based on Full Time hours

Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off.

Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X250

PRINTING PRESS OPERATORS FT & PT. Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for Printing Press Operators in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges from $20 per hour to $30 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com

TAX PREPARER WANTED

FREEPORT TAX SERVICE INC. Located Sunrise Hwy, Bellmore Hours Are Flexible And Position Requires 20-40 Hours Per Week During Tax Season Possible Future

to the Ocean

Apartments For Rent

CEDARHURST NO FEE Private Entrance, Modern 1BR, 2BR, 3BR, CAC, W/D, Storage, Wall To Wall Carpeting, Indoor Parking Space. Starting At $1450 For One Bedroom When Available. (516)860-6889/ (516)852-5135/ (516)582-9978

EAST ROCKAWAY: 3 BRS, LR, DR, EIK, 1 Fbth, Pets OK. 2 Car Parking. Close To All. All Included. $3,200. Call 516-596-9470

Some strange suggestions from the Building Department

Q. I went to my Building Department, because, as you suggested, I should get an idea from them as to what to do and how to go about it. After discussing the problems I would have to overcome, they suggested certain people, drafting services, and also told me that if I use an architect, I should only use the ones they suggest, because others might not be “acceptable” to them. I thought this was kind of strange. Should they do that, and is that acceptable practice?

A. That is not only strange, but also illegal.

Putting limits on who provides a state-licensed professional service is, at the very least, a restriction-oftrade issue that I am sure would turn into a legal matter if the jurisdiction you live in ever tried to enforce the practice. Maybe you could finance your project by going through that process, getting hassled for the reasons you describe, and then suing the individuals and department that created the scenario. Of course, you would have to show hard evidence, such as documents and/or recordings of this kind of exchange. Or you could just go along with them, if you feel comfortable with the racket they’re running.

Lately I have seen more situations like this occurring, and it’s disheartening, as a professional, but many officials have commented, over the years, that certain architects only like to handle, or are only capable of handling, the “small stuff.” Clearly they don’t recognize the situation created by their own jurisdictions, where you’re required to have an architect’s or engineer’s professional seal on the submitted drawings when applying for a permit. Instead they encourage people to get an unlicensed person to prepare plans, and then that unlicensed individual gets a retired professional who could use the extra money to just sign and seal.

Even worse than that is the problem created during the pandemic, when an electronic seal was issued by the state to architects and engineers, creating the opportunity to just electronically float a seal onto plans, with or without the licensed professional’s permission.

It seems that people have forgotten what that seal represents. Not only does it represent a level of trained expertise — it also represents safety.

Protection of public safety was once the paramount objective of local governments. And aside from the skirting of enforcement of licensed professionalism, safety is still important, but money, favoritism and territorial behavior make you wonder what you’re really dealing with.

I know so many people who are sincerely trying to enforce public safety in their government jobs, people who are equally disgusted with the ones who make their profession look bad. Defying the public trust or manipulating the public should not be tolerated. Thirty years ago, the state attorney general’s office did an investigation, and concluded that this practice was widespread — but investigators candidly admitted that they did not have the resources to pursue prosecutions, leaving the public to decide. Good luck!

© 2025 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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Thanksgiving couldn’t come at a better time

The spirit of Thanksgiving is particularly welcome and needed this year. Times are turbulent. Discord appears to be almost everywhere. Prices are still too high. The federal government has just gone through its longest and most bitter shutdown ever, with another one threatened in less than three months.

The political divide continues, as Democrats scored overwhelming victories across the country, while Nassau Republicans, led by County Executive Bruce Blakeman, swept every countywide office and retained control of the county’s three towns and two cities — including Long Beach, where the GOP won every elective office for the first time since 1971. And while Nassau was voting bright red, New York City went deep blue, electing a committed socialist, Zohran Mamdani, as its mayor, promising to upend the city’s political and social structures as we’ve known them.

Ideally in a time of discord and stress, the citizenry turns to sports as an escape, as an island of refuge in a sea

of turmoil. This time, though, no such luck. At least not yet. The Yankees were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs, while the Mets, with their astronomically high payroll, didn’t even make it to the postseason, eliminated for the final playoff slot by the unheralded, low-income Cincinnati Reds.

Not even New York sports offer an island of refuge in our current sea of turmoil.

Granted, there was temporary relief for baseball fans, as the World Series confrontation between the Dodgers and Blue Jays provided intense drama right down to the final out of the climactic seventh game. But that moment of escape was soon overtaken by what portends to be Major League Baseball’s biggest and worst gambling scandal since the Black Sox scandal in 1919: Two relief pitchers for the Cleveland Guardians were arrested and charged with colluding with organized crime on “micro bets” — wagers on what type of pitches they would throw. This scandal, like the NBA betting scandal that preceded it just weeks earlier, is expected to expand, because of professional sports’ extensive, and misguided, business dealings with the gaming industry.

Thank God for the arrival of Thanksgiving! Taking time to celebrate the spirit of the holiday, which gives us the opportunity to step back and reflect on

what we should be thankful for, is a true American tradition. As we learned in our early school days, legend has the earliest Thanksgiving being celebrated in 17th-century Colonial times between by the Pilgrims and native Indians in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The national celebration of Thanksgiving in November was proclaimed by President George Washington in 1789. During the darkest days of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln certified the final Thursday of November as the official day for celebrating Thanksgiving. Later, after Americans endured the depths of a Depression and as we got involved in the tragedy of World War II, President Franklin Roosevelt reaffirmed the significance of Thanksgiving while officially declaring the fourth Thursday of November to be the day of celebration. These actions by Lincoln and Roosevelt should be guideposts for Americans. Neither the absolute horror raging through our country during the Civil War, nor the economic devastation of the Depression, nor the carnage and suffering of World War II, would prevent Americans in those years from being thankful for, and appreciating, the blessings of living in this great land. Not to minimize our current hard-

ships, but we should take the time to show our thanks for all that we do have. America is not at war. It provides more opportunity for its people than any other country on earth, as demonstrated by the tens of millions of people from all over the world who want to live here.

During my years in Congress, I traveled to many countries, mainly in Europe but also in parts of Asia and North Africa. There was no country that could match America for our ingenuity, industriousness and opportunity for generations of people to move upward and thrive. Often we fail to remember that the United States was the first nation to experiment with democracy since Greece many centuries ago, and how that experiment has worked so successfully.

There are reasons why America has the world’s strongest economy and strongest military. That success results from our commitment not just to free enterprise but to freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press and freedom of opportunity, which allow the human spirit to fully develop and thrive. So let’s enjoy our blessings and give thanks for living in this great land. Happy Thanksgiving, and God bless America.

Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.

Weekly newspapers are a great community asset

When you’re a news junkie like me, you reach out for a large variety of sources of information. Finding and digesting the offerings of all these many outlets takes a lot of time, but there is one resource that I constantly rely on: the weekly newspaper.

My love for the weekly goes back as far as when I was a bold 12-year-old who walked into the offices of the Long Island Independent and offered my services as a writer. Rather than usher me out the door, the publisher, the late Paul Jackson, gave me an assignment: to read all of the social announcements and to distill them into a few short paragraphs.

By the time I turned 15, I was a paid employee, enjoying my $10-a-week stipend, and I went on to become the principal reporter for the Independent and

the Long Beach Life. Later, during my years in the Assembly, I kept close working relationships with all of the weekly papers in my district, and assigned a full-time staff member to keep the weekly papers informed about my activities in Albany.

Every Friday, I make it a point to look for the latest news in the Herald. I read about the goings-on in five or six communities and read the opinion pages. I offer these details because many residents of our region don’t always take advantage of the many items published in their local papers that are genuinely of interest.

of our schools.

N ational news is great, but I learn the important stuff from the weeklies.

While I have the greatest respect for the mass media, I learn from the weeklies about local athletes who may someday wind up on the national sports pages. Today’s high school track star could eventually become a member of an Olympic team. People complain a lot about high taxes, but if they read their local paper, they would know that 60 percent of their tax bill is for the operation

I like to stay in touch with old friends, and sometimes I find out that they have experienced some great family events thanks to my weekly paper. I also frequently learn that some potential countywide political battle has its roots in an action taken by a village or another municipal entity. So many people would be surprised to learn how much they can find out about local politics by subscribing to a weekly.

On a more somber note, I learn from weeklies that someone I met and liked has died. Too often we learn about family tragedies weeks and months after they occur, and realize that if we’d checked out a weekly paper, we would have known much sooner to reach out to the bereaved family.

When I meet some young man or woman who has decided to run for public office, one of the first things I tell them is not to ignore their weekly newspaper, and to make an effort to meet with its editors so they know about their

candidacy. And I don’t restrict my advice just to budding candidates. I frequently advise federal and state officeholders to keep in touch with their weeklies.

A few years ago, a large group of weekly newspaper owners and editors converged on Albany in an effort to change how state laws govern those local weeklies. Not surprisingly, they were welcomed by members from both sides of the aisle who had learned well and understood the power of those news outlets. If you want to do the right thing, subscribe to your local paper. (If you’re reading this, I’d like to think you already have.) And if you’re a local business owner, think about buying an ad.

I’ve been fortunate enough to be an unpaid columnist for the Herald for over 20 years, and I’ve wanted to write this tribute to weekly papers for the longest time. They need your support, and like any business that serves the community, they also merit your help in keeping them as a great asset.

Jerry Kremer was a state assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. Comments about this column? jkremer@ liherald.com.

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HERALD

HThis Saturday, shop local

eld each year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving — Nov. 29 this year — Small Business Saturday encourages consumers to shift their attention from big-box and giant online retailers to the locally owned businesses that are the backbone of our neighborhoods. These local businesses create jobs, spark innovation and keep more dollars circulating in the local economy, strengthening the very places we call home.

Founded by American Express in 2010 and embraced by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Small Business Saturday has grown into a nationwide tradition. It’s nestled between the commercial frenzy of Black Friday and the digital deals of Cyber Monday, and it’s crucial that all of us make a concerted effort to shop at our favorite corner store or buy a gift card for our beloved neighborhood restaurant.

The impact of Small Business Saturday, of course, reaches far beyond economics. When people support a local bookstore, bakery, boutique or service provider, they’re investing in relationships and affirming the value of personal connection — the friendly wave from a shop owner who knows your name, the sense of pride in discovering a one-of-akind product crafted nearby, the feeling of belonging that comes from familiar streets buzzing with activity. These are experiences you simply can’t replicate

letters

Mamdani is on to something, Republicans

To the Editor:

New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s electoral appeal, centered on his affordability agenda, has prompted some of his opponents to start emphasizing this issue. Republican State Sen. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick is among those proposing actions to rein in New York’s cost of living in her Herald commentary last week, “The cost of living is driving families out of New York.”

Some of her suggestions make sense and, if adopted, might make Long Island living marginally more affordable. But CanzoneriFitzpatrick offers only Band-Aids for the hemorrhaging housing crisis that forces young families to look elsewhere for starter homes. As a professed capitalist, the senator should understand that a grossly inadequate supply of housing cannot meet demand, thus causing prices to spiral ever upward. The solution is obvious: build thousands of new homes.

with anonymous online transactions.

Small Business Saturday reminds us that thriving communities don’t happen by accident — they grow through intentional support and shared commitment. By shopping local, we help build vibrant neighborhoods where businesses and residents lift one another up, strengthening the community fabric, one small shop at a time.

Small businesses account for a significant portion of job creation across the country, and on Long Island they are essential to the economic ecosystem. When shoppers choose small over large, more money stays in the community. Studies show that when you shop at a small, locally owned business, more of your money stays here on Long Island — supporting infrastructure, schools and friends, and even reducing your tax burden. For every $100 spent at a small business, about $67 stays in the community. At a large chain, only about $43 does.

But most importantly, small businesses help define the identity of a place. Neighborhoods with bustling local shops tend to have stronger social ties, safer streets and greater civic engagement. Choosing to support a local business is choosing to support a stronger, more connected community.

Participating in Small Business Saturday is simple and enjoyable. Consumers explore local shops, take part in spe-

cial promotions, share their experiences on social media and leave positive reviews of their favorite spots. Spot a great bargain? Tell a friend! These small actions have big ripple effects, helping local entrepreneurs gain visibility, attract new customers and employ local workers.

Business owners can prepare for Small Business Saturday by using free marketing materials provided by the SBA and American Express, such as fliers, posters and social media graphics. Local governments, chambers of commerce and community groups also do their part by organizing events, hosting holiday markets, and creating interactive maps to guide residents to participating businesses. Many of the best local businesses and deals can be found right here, on the pages of the Herald, or at LIHerald.com.

This Saturday, Long Islanders have the opportunity to demonstrate what makes our communities so special: We show up for our neighbors and they show up for us. Our local small businesses are the ones donating to school fundraisers, sponsoring youth sports teams, hosting community events, providing teenagers with summer jobs, and paying taxes that help keep our local downtowns alive.

So shop local, Long Island — because when small businesses thrive, we all prosper.

A time for reflection, leadership and renewed vision

We have much to be grateful for here in the Village of Rockville Centre. Every season brings new accomplishments and new challenges, but what remains constant is the pride we share in our beautiful community. As your mayor, I am continually inspired by the progress happening around us and deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve.

Rockville Centre has always stood out as a special place, with its welcoming neighborhoods, active parks and a downtown that remains the heart of our village. This beauty is not accidental. It is the result of generations of care and a shared commitment to preserving what makes the village unique while continuing to improve it for the future. Over the past year, our employees and contractors have worked tirelessly to upgrade the infrastructure that supports our daily lives. From repaved roads to revitalized parks and ball fields, to ongoing improvements in our water and electric systems, their efforts ensure that the Village remains strong,

safe and resilient.

We are also fortunate to have departments that continue to keep Rockville Centre one of the safest communities in the United States. Our Police Department’s professionalism, vigilance and community-centered approach help maintain a standard of safety that residents can depend on. Equally remarkable is our Fire Department, whose volunteers dedicate countless hours to protecting our residents and businesses. Their willingness to serve, day or night, in every season, is one of the pillars of our community. These improvements and services require resources, and we remain committed to securing them responsibly. The village continues to be aggressive in seeking grants at the county, state and federal levels to fund upgrades at little or no cost to our residents. From infrastructure enhancements to public-safety investments, these grants help us modernize without placing additional burdens on taxpayers. This work will remain one of our top priorities as we move forward.

We have a shared commitment to preserving what makes the village unique.

being accessible to residents, and I encourage everyone to play an active role in staying informed. Our website, social media platforms, Swift 911 notifications, and especially our free mobile app, MY RVC, offer a variety of ways to stay connected with village news, events and resources. MY RVC continues to evolve as a convenient tool for paying utility, tax and parking fees, finding important contact information, receiving time-sensitive alerts, and accessing our newly established community calendar.

With the holiday shopping season underway, I also want to remind everyone of the importance of supporting our local businesses. Our downtown is one of our greatest assets, offering a diverse mix of shops and eateries that cater to every holiday shopping list. To help support our businesses, parking will once again be free on Saturdays throughout December. Shopping local strengthens our economy, fosters community pride and helps ensure that our business district remains vibrant all year round.

residents to come out, take part in the festivities, and celebrate with your neighbors. These gatherings bring our community together and reflect the spirit and warmth that make this such a wonderful place to live.

I extend my sincere appreciation to Deputy Mayor Kathy Baxley and Trustees Emilio Grillo, Katie Conlon and Gregory P. Shaughnessy for their dedication and partnership. I am equally grateful for our village administrator, Nancy Howard, our department heads, and of all our hardworking village employees. Their commitment and service are the driving force behind much of the progress we are celebrating today. They help shape and grow Rockville Centre, ensuring that it remains one of the most desirable communities to live, work, play and raise a family on Long Island.

As we look to the months ahead, I’m filled with optimism and a renewed sense of duty. We will continue working together to preserve our village’s character, enhance its services and build a stronger future for our children and for generations to come.

Transparency and open communication remain central to my approach as mayor. I have always prided myself on

Letters

But Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick has nothing to say about the extreme nimbyism that makes it so difficult to build housing anywhere in Nassau County. It’s particularly egregious that right-wing politicians have succeeded in blocking transit-oriented developments. Building housing near Long Island Rail Road stations would help make Long Island more affordable without worsening traffic congestion.

Republicans should adopt a variation on a mantra favored by their leader: “Build, baby, build!”

KEVIN J KELLEY Atlantic Beach

Trump’s ‘outrageous’ commutation of Santos

To the Editor:

Re Jerry Kremer’s column in the Oct. 30-Nov. 5 issue, “Presidents make mistakes, but this one was a doozy”: What

message was being sent to hardworking, honest people when President Trump excused former Rep. George Santos from serving a seven-year prison term after only three months? Santos was proven to be a liar, a cheat, a thief — a dishonest individual who harmed and deceived many people by falsifying everything he touched.

How do we know that he didn’t fabricate the conditions of his prison stay, inasmuch as he is a pro at making up stories? It appears that Trump commuted his sentence due to his being a good Republican supporting Trump.

In my eyes, Santos’s crimes are worse than those of a bank robber. His deceit is now being forgiven, and will Trump, in his generosity, assume the more than $300,000 in restitution that Santos is liable for? It is ludicrous that the president of the U.S. takes his time from government affairs to release an admitted criminal back into society. Outrageous indeed.

GRACE SEARBY Oyster Bay

Thoughts or comments about our stories?

Send letters to the editor to execeditor@liherald.com

The holiday season is also a special time in Rockville Centre, with many events and celebrations taking place throughout the village. I encourage all

I wish all of our residents a joyful holiday season and, most important, a happy, healthy and safe New Year. May the coming year bring good health, continued success and peace to us all.

Francis Murray is the mayor of Rockville Centre.

frameWork by Tim Baker

francis x. murray

Singing “Master of the House” in Hewlett High School’s production of “Les Misérables.”

The world may look different today, but my story hasn’t changed.

I’m still the same neighbor you’ve always known, proud to call Rockville Centre home and grateful for the chance to help others do the same. Every client, every address, every dream, they all matter to me.

This year, I had the privilege of helping my very first listing clients once again, proof that real estate is all about lasting relationships.

"In 2007 Gloria was able to facilitate the sale of our home and there she was again in 2005 to help us with the sale of our condominium. She is a consummate salesperson, efficient and dependable... and a great family friend. You can't find a better professional than Gloria."

~ Marilyn & Ken

Whether you’re planning your next move or simply exploring your options, I’m here to help. Let’s talk about what makes this community and your home so special.