Herald file photo Volunteers from across the North Shore School District pitch in to support the Coalition Against Substance Abuse’s annual golf outing.
Fire chiefs urge caution in busy season
By WILL SHEELINE wsheeline@liherald.com
Amid summer’s higher temperatures and outdoor activities, local fire officials are reminding residents that a few simple precautions can help prevent house fires, grill accidents, drownings and heatrelated medical emergencies.
Sinski said. “You just can’t buy a regular little extension cord.”
By JULIA CAPITELLI jcapitelli@liherald.com
The North Shore Coalition Against Substance Abuse is preparing for its annual CASA Cares Golf Outing fundraiser, the latest of the organization’s events this year. According to Co-President Sean Trager, the Aug. 24 outing at Brookville Country Club is CASA’s largest fundraiser that allows it to carry out its mission throughout the year. CASA was founded in 2017 to help create sustainable behavioral and environmental changes to abate youth substance abuse. Within the last few years, it has added initiatives focused on mental health. The nonprofit offers initiatives and events for students and parents within the North Shore School District.
Six years ago, Trager and his wife, Alexa,
also a CASA board member, organized a golf outing to support Glen Head resident and father Paul Salinas, who was battling pancreatic cancer and struggling with his mortgage and medical bills. After Salinas’ death in 2021, the Tragers decided to organize a golf outing for CASA. Trager said they wanted to find a way to raise money for something meaningful each year.
“I stand up every year making my speech about CASA,” he said, “thinking about my friend.”
According to Trager, CASA has already raised nearly $30,000 ahead of the outing, and the goal is to raise roughly $50,000. The event consists of a golf scramble, a style of team golf, followed by a cocktail hour.
Trager said that more than 120 people are expected to attend this year’s golf outing,
Fire chiefs from Glenwood Hook and Ladder Engine and Hose Company, the Sea Cliff Fire Department and Atlantic Steamer Fire Company said that many of the most common seasonal emergencies are preventable with adequate planning, safe equipment use and proper supervision.
One of the biggest concerns during the hottest months is the increased use of air conditioners, according to Glenwood Hook and Ladder Chief Donald Sinski.
“The biggest thing with air conditioners is electrical cords, and you have to use the proper cord for the air conditioner,”
Air conditioners draw significant electrical power, he explained, so extension cords must be rated for that load. He also warned residents never to run extension cords underneath carpeting or rugs, calling it “a recipe for disaster,” because damaged insulation or unseen sparks can ignite a fire.
SCFD Chief Brian O’Donnell echoed those concerns, urging homeowners to avoid overloading electrical outlets and inexpensive multi-outlet strips.
“If you’re going to buy something, make sure it’s up to date,” O’Donnell said. “Make sure it’s in good condition before you decide to plug things in. If there’s any loose or exposed wires, you should not be going to use it.”
Flickering or dimming lights, he added, can be an early warning sign that a home’s electrical system is overloaded, and simple tricks like not hav-
Summer 2026 Starts Here.
2026 Summer Bucket List
❑ See a real Lunar Module
❑ Watch a Giant-Screen Movie
❑ Walk the Air & Space Trail
❑ Discover Aviation History
❑ Sit in an Airplane Cockpit
❑ Eat Astronaut Ice Cream
This year, skip the airport lines, expensive hotels, and rising travel costs. America’s 250th anniversary is happening right here in your own backyard.
Join us for a summer-long celebration of aviation, innovation, exploration, and discover with special exhibits, family events, and full-dome films on Long Island’s largest screen!
From early air fields to the Moon, Long Island helped shape America’s story. Come celebrate where history took flight.
Scan the QR code or visit www.cradleofaviation.org/celebrate250 for a complete list of ongoing celebrations and special events.
Practicing peace on Sea Cliff Avenue
By JULIA CAPITELLI jcapitelli@liherald.com
Business owners, elected officials and community members came together outside Sea Cliff’s Sol Vibration for the wellness center’s grand opening July 22. The wellness center, owned by Salon Solis owner Graciela Bustos and Antigone Rising guitarist Cathy Henderson, opened on May 8.
Bustos held a brief meditation session to start the ribbon cutting ceremony. Village Trustee and Business Liaison Mark Sobel introduced elected officials to speak.
Mayor Elena Villafane and Sea Cliff trustees, Glen Cove Mayor Pamela Panzenbeck, Assemblyman Charles Lavine, Nassau County Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, Nassau County Comptroller Elaine Phillips and representatives on behalf of Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino and County Executive Bruce Blakeman attended the ribbon cutting.
Among classes and services offered at Sol Vibration by 20 instructors and practitioners, including Bustos and Henderson, are yoga, Tai Chi, sound healing and Reiki, a Japanese form of energy healing.
Henderson described the wellness center as “everchanging and evolving.”
“It’s really a co-creation with us and the other teachers,” she said, “as well as the community.”
Landlord Eugene Alletto approached Bustos nine months prior to the center’s opening, when he told her the space at 316 Sea Cliff Ave. would be available. Bustos and Henderson had been holding monthly sound healing sessions at Salon Solis for roughly six months before the opportunity to open Sol Vibration presented itself. The owners said that Alletto had a vision for a wellness center, and so did they.
Bustos said that with the sound healing at the salon, Sol Vibration came alive before she and Henderson moved into the physical space. She added that they would like to hold retreats in the future and work with practitioners outside the United States virtually.
“We want to share and show people ‘you can dream,’” Bustos said.
Henderson and Bustos have connected with the Sea Cliff Senior Outreach Network and are working with local daycare centers and pediatricians to offer more specialized services for seniors and children. Discounts are available for seniors and first responders.
Elected officials, like Mayor Elena Villafane, far right, and Trustee George Williams attended at the ceremony and presented Graciela Bustos and Cathy Henderson with citations.
Both owners emphasized that Sol Vibration is not just a business, it is built from the heart. Bustos said that an experience in the space is about finding peace and being open.
“When you put expectations,” she said, “you close the gate to the beauty.”
Bustos and Henderson added that they want to encourage people to get to know their inner selves.
“When you are connected to that peace, and you can bring that into your own life and into the world, that’s the vibration that will ripple out,” Henderson said. “And when more and more people are coming from that calm, clear, peaceful space inside, this society changes.”
Sol Vibration offers both group and individual sessions. Through the summer, the owners have invited class participants to bring a guest. They plan to extend the two-for-one through Labor Day.
Sol Vibration offers a variety of movement, energy and sound centered classes and services with 20 instructors and practitioners.
Julia Capitelli/Herald
Community members, elected officials and other local business owners attended the grand opening for Sol Vibration, owned by Graciela Bustos and Cathy Henderson.
ON THE ROAD WITH A TAKEOUT QUEEN
How To Eat & Beat The Heat
When it feels like 103 degrees outside, the only thing that will lure me out of my house is food. When my stomach growls, I make a mad dash for my car, pick up breakfast, lunch, or dinner and drive home at top speed. This month, I discovered new quick bites around town that made me smile even while I was melting.
SoBol (14 E. Main St., Oyster Bay; 214 Glen Cove Ave., Glen Cove)
For breakfast: I visited this healthystyle café filled with smoothies and fresh-fruit-fun-food. I tried the new strawberry Belgian waffle. Oh, my goodness. Imagine your great grandmother and grandmother collaborating and turning out an old-style, sweet, gooey, crunchy, warm waffle infused
Experienced communications company, or individual, to assist in preparing community and public communications, and in preparing responses to media inquiries.
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Protecting Your Future
Making the World a Better Place
The late Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom, wrote extensively on making the world a better place. In his book, “To Heal a Fractured World”, he writes, “I have spent much of my life thinking about life, observing people, reading books, searching for teachers and exemplars...I make no claim to wisdom, but this I have learned:”
“That what counts is not how much wealth we make but how much of what we have, we share.”
“That those who spend at least part of their lives in the service of others are the most fulfilled and happiest people I know.”
“That moral health is no less important to the quality of a life than physical health.”
“That the best do good without thought of reward, understanding that to help others is a privilege even more than it is an opportunity.”
“That self-interest is simply uninteresting.”
“That pain and loneliness are forms of energy that can be transformed if we turn them outward, using them to recognize and redeem someone else’s pain or loneliness.”
“That putting others down, we diminish ourselves; lifting others, we lift ourselves.”
“That nothing is gained by less-thanethical conduct. We may gain in the short term but we will lose in the long, and it is the long term that counts.”
“That the ability to give to others is itself a gift.”
“That the privilege of wealth lies not in what it allows us to do for ourselves, but what it enables us to do for others.”
“That the world is a book in which our life is a chapter, and the question is whether others, reading it, will be inspired.”
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with strawberries. It feels as if you’re eating a hug.
Joe & the Juice (1579 Northern Blvd., Manhasset)
For breakfast or lunch: This new, super-nutritious café just opened and it’s a great addition to our neighborhood. The beverages range from unique smoothies to innovative juices, to healthy shots, to all types of coffees, lattes, and other brilliant drinks. The inventive “Trust Your Gut” smoothie includes kefir, strawberries, Fibre Booster, bananas, date puree and beetroot powder. The Iced Matcha Picante is filled with jalapeno and lime nectar, matcha and coconut water. There are turmeric shots, desserts, breakfast bowls galore, and so much more. However, when I’m hungry, I need to chew everything in sight to feel completely satisfied. So, I’m madly in love with the sandwiches. My favorite is the Tunacado. It’s made with tuna mousse (tuna whipped into a mousse-like texture) plus avocado, tomatoes, and vegan pesto. The ingredients are wrapped inside two slices of “Joe’s Signature Flatbread” (long, thick, cracker-like slices of bread that are crispy and fiber rich). The eight types of sandwiches offered come in neat, pink packets that are easy to eat during your drive home in the heat.
Otherside Wine Bar (149 Glen St., suite 2, Glen Cove)
For dinner: I grabbed takeout from this homey wine and food café which recently reopened after a fire next door. There are nice, new menu options. I
tried the Roasted Jalapeno Hummus. The silky jalapeno hummus is slightly spicy, but not overwhelming. It only made my nose run a tiny bit. Crisp chickpeas, pickled red onion, and herb oil huddle inside the hummus and surprise you. Fried pita on the side was the perfect dip for this quick food trip. Other newbies on the menu include Basque Style White Anchovies and Shrimp Al Ajillo.
Scream Easy Ice Cream Shop (39 Roslyn Ave., Sea Cliff)
Dessert: This new mini ice cream/ retro candy shop is in the garden behind Foster Restaurant. On a hot day, you can be in and out in a flash with a cone or cup of Gifford’s amazing ice cream from Maine. Fun flavors such as Fly Fishing Fudge and Maine Deer Tracks fill the counter. I tried Peanut Butter Pie ice cream, along with the I Scream For Cake flavor. They were both creamy and dreamy, yet not ridiculously sweet. Retro candies are also sold in the shop. Though I refuse to cook, I do like to make concoctions. So, I bought Pez and swirled it inside my Peanut Butter Pie ice cream. It was… interesting. See you next month!
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These two moms opened a spa. It had one big, on
Mery and Sindy always knew they wanted to open a spa to bring beauty to customers. Little did they know it would have the same effect on the community. And Business First was there. We provided $23,000 in grants to help with much-needed renovations so Mery and Sindy could bring their vision to life.* Now, not only does their spa impact clients in a beautiful way, it gives the community an economic lift as well.
*Incentives, grants, and savings will vary with every project.
Learn more about how we’re helping communities thrive. psegliny.com/revitalization
Mery Seminario and Sindy Catalan, ISSI Beauty Spa, Port Washington
HERALD SPORTS
Crossovers fuel Nassau County football
By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com
Kickoff for the Nassau high school football season is just over a month away.
On Aug. 17, all 51 public high school football programs in the county will begin preparations for the upcoming season, scheduled to open Thursday, Sept. 3 with a Conference IV battle between Island Trees and Oyster Bay. The vast majority of openers will take place the following Thursday.
The biggest news of the offseason came in the spring when East Rockaway and West Hempstead announced it would be joining forces. Longtime Rocks head coach Russ Pajer adds Dom Carre, who served as the head coach at West Hempstead since 2010, as defensive coordinator. Carre played for Pajer at East Rockaway in 1997 and ‘98.
“Our JV teams combined last year and it was a great experience,” said Pajer, who enters his 32nd season as head coach. “West Hempstead’s numbers are down to less than 20, so it was a no-brainer. It was a seamless process with both superintendents on board. It’s a good thing and we expect to have a strong team.”
East Rockaway/West Hempstead is seeded fifth in Conference IV and opens at Valley Stream North. Three of its home games will be played under the lights at East Rockaway beginning Sept. 18 against defending county champion Seaford. West Hempstead will be the site of the Week 3 crossover against Elmont, and the game will serve as Homecoming. A Homecoming will also take place in East Rockaway Oct. 9. In 2025, the Rocks went 2-6 while the Rams finished 4-4 and qualified for the playoffs.
“We expect to have between 30 and 35 kids on varsity,” Pajer said.
Crossover games add intrigue
Seaford, along with three-time defending Long Island champion Massapequa (Conference I), ninetime defending county champion Garden City (II) and South Side (III) are the No. 1 seeds in their respective conferences.
Massapequa and Garden City will clash in a muchanticipated crossover game Sept. 26 on the Chiefs’ home field at 1:30 p.m. The Trojans enter the season riding an amazing 66-game winning streak. The showdown, along with all the other crossovers between Conferences I and II, and III and IV, will carry a lesser power-ranking weight than the other seven games, Carey head coach Mike Stanley said.
Some of the other Week 3 matchups feature Carey at Oceanside, Long Beach at Farmingdale, South Side at Seaford, Plainedge at Lynbrook, and Freeport at Roosevelt (Thurs., Sept. 24 at 5 p.m.)
Seven teams switch conferences
Plainedge and Carey lead a group of six teams switching conferences for this season based on enrollment and size breakdown of each conference. Plainedge finished first in the regular season in Conference IV a year ago, going undefeated in the process, and bumps down to III. Carey was in III last fall but jumps up to II, essentially changing places with Glen Cove. East Meadow is no stranger to the top conference and heads there after a brief stay in II. Floral Park, Valley Stream North and Valley Stream South moved to IV from III.
Few coaching changes
Legendary Plainedge head coach Rob Shaver retired
Chaminade’s Luka Tomaszweski was
10 games to watch
Sept. 10 Long Beach at Carey
Sept. 10 Wantagh at Plainedge
Sept. 10 Lynbrook at Seaford
Sept. 19 Mepham at Calhoun
Sept. 26 Carey at Oceanside
Sept. 26 Garden City at Massapequa
Oct. 10 Oceanside at Massapequa
Oct. 17 Plainedge at South Side
Oct. 24 Massapequa at Farmingdale
Oct. 31 South Side at Wantagh
at the end of last season and the Red Devils are now led by former assistant Adam Hovorka. They’ll kick off at home versus defending Conference III champion Wantagh. And for the third time in four seasons, East Meadow has a new head coach with Matt Castaneda taking over. The Jets are seeded seventh in their return to Conference I and open at home against Hicksville. Former Elmont head coach Jay Hegi is the new head coach at Division.
Lucas DiDio and Oceanside take on Carey in what promises to be an exciting crossover game Sept. 26.
Michelle Ebel/Herald photos
on the move during 7 on 7 drills at Oceanside.
Coalition leaders provide initiative updates
and the cocktail hour is usually wellattended. He added that in addition to raising money to support CASA functions year-round, the event is a way to bring the community together and destigmatize the discussion around substance abuse and mental health.
“People stand together, and they’re not talking about sports and alcohol,” Trager said, “and instead they’re thinking ‘How can we be most effective in helping our kids find a better future?’”
CASA Co-President Jolie Silva added that the outing creates a sense of community and is “lighthearted and fun.”
“I would hope to see more of that community engagement,” she said. “People joining together with a common goal and positivity.”
Trager said CASA has had to evolve over the years to include more programming focused on mental health, social media and digital devices. He added that children face many risks and technology is often necessary but must be managed effectively.
Silva, a psychologist, speaks at many of CASA’s parent education events about child and teen mental health, including topics like anxiety and parent stress management. She said that over the last two years, she has been advocating for more focus on screen and social media addiction.
“We have a generation of young adults
and teens who don’t really know how to cope with negative emotion,” Silva said, “because they immediately turn to a screen to avoid negative emotion.”
CASA has held several events throughout the first half of the year, including discussions, trainings and pickleball tournaments. The organization conducted a panel aimed at parents titled “Protect Our Teen Athletes” in the spring, featuring Northwell Health doctors who discussed mental health challenges student athletes might face and how parents can help.
Trager pointed out that student ath-
letes may feel their sense of identity is tied to the role they play on a sports team.
“There is a mental health crisis that comes along with sustaining an injury in the sense that they lose their sense of purpose and belonging,” he explained.
“So, we want to figure out a way to fill that void with something positive.”
Panelists also discussed the role parents play in helping their student athletes recover from an injury, including administering medication and lead the decision on whether taking a narcotic is appropriate. One pain management spe-
cialist on the panel offered information on alternatives to opiates that are safe and effective.
Silva echoed the idea of teen athletes’ identities being tied to their sports and pointed out that coping with depression and anxiety related to an injury can also be a challenge.
“The panel was really helpful,” she said, “in educating parents on how to identify the signs of when athletes might be at risk to abuse substances after an injury.”
CASA conducted a Narcan training at the Gold Coast Public Library in the spring, during which organizers addressed several ideas, Trager said. Among these ideas were the risks of opiate use and overdose, the risks of taking a prescription not provided by a doctor and that Narcan can do no harm in the event it is used when not needed.
The organization has held several Narcan trainings over the years, targeting different age groups. The most recent training was open to all North Shore residents.
“I saw a kid this weekend who had attended one of our seminars two years ago,” Trager said, “and he told me that he actually saved someone’s life.”
Trager said that CASA leaders are exploring ideas for more athletic and creative arts-driven initiatives. To learn more about CASA’s mission and initiatives, visit NSCasa.org.
Herald file photo
the golf outing is CaSa’s largest fundraiser of the year.
AUGUST 13 • 10AM-12:30PM
CONGREGATION OHAV SHOLOM
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FREE community event focused on health, wellness, and lifestyle
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Discussing general safety during the summer
ing a number of appliances running at the same time can help keep a home safe.
Second Assistant Chief Frank Ozol, of Atlantic Steamer, said that residents using extension cords with air conditioners should avoid connecting multiple cords together. “The more extension cords you have connected to one air conditioner, the more likely of having some kind of a major problem like a fire,” Ozol said.
Take care when cooking outdoors
Outdoor cooking presents another potential fire hazard. “It’s always good to have a barbecue away from your house,” Sinski said. “Another thing with LPG, liquid propane gas, is never stored inside, not in the garage, not in the shed.”
He added that gasoline containers also should never be kept in a garage, because heat and everyday ignition sources such as garage door openers and vehicle engines, can create dangerous conditions.
Ozol said that propane tanks deserve special attention in hot weather. If pressure builds inside a tank, he said, the pressure-relief valve may release propane gas, which can ignite with a spark.
“You want to keep it out of the sun, because the propane can heat up in the bottle in the tank,” he said. “If it explodes, you’re losing your house and your neighbor’s house.”
O’Donnell advised residents to keep grills at least 10 feet from their homes to reduce the chance of flames or grease fires spreading to siding or other combustible materials. He also reiterated that “Barbecues are strictly for outdoor use only,” and recounted an incident in which one misguided backyard chef brought his grill inside to cook ribs because it was raining,
Herald file photo
While fires can start at any time, staying aware and taking preventative measures are key to reducing risk.
which led to a house fire.
Fire pits also require caution, particularly during dry weather. Sinski said that enclosed pits fitted with spark arrestors help prevent burning embers from escaping and igniting nearby brush or neighboring property.
O’Donnell encouraged homeowners to only use controlled fire pits, to keep children and pets away, to keep a garden hose nearby and to never leave a fire burning overnight. “Do not, under any circumstances, go to bed with an active fire lit in your backyard,” he said.
Be vigilant around the water
Water safety is one of the season’s top concerns. Sinski stressed the importance of fencing pools, using self-latching gates and securing hot tubs when they’re
not in use, and he recommended emptying kiddie pools immediately after their use.
Ozol said that backyard fencing alone may not be enough if young children can still access the pool area. He also encouraged residents to learn CPR, adding that many local fire departments offer training classes.
All three chiefs had the same advice for residents during periods of extreme heat, urging them stay hydrated, to recognize the signs of heat illness and, if someone shows those signs, to seek help quickly.
“Most of the heat affects people that have health compromises,” Sinski said. “In other words, extremely high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, anything like that, you shouldn’t really stay out in the sun or the heat.”
Residents should hydrate before beginning outdoor activities, in addition to during and after, Sinski said. He also pointed out that water often isn’t enough, and that people also need to replenish their electrolytes while working or spending extended time outside.
O’Donnell emphasized that people should never hesitate to call for help. He recalled several instances in which residents delayed calls because they didn’t think it was serious or thought it was too late or early in the day to call.
“We tell them, hey, you know, it’s not a bother, you can call 24/7, 365, and somebody will be there,” O’Donnell said. “No phone call is a stupid phone call.”
Sinski also advised residents not to reset tripped circuit breakers or fire alarm systems before firefighters arrive, because doing so can make it more difficult for them to determine the cause of the problem.
For more information on the fire departments, and to learn about volunteering, visit facebook.com/GlenwoodFireCo/ for Glenwood Hook and Ladder and Facebook.com/IVOSCFD/ for Sea Cliff.
Civic Association builds community with music in Sea Cliff
By JULIA CAPITELLI jcapitelli@liherald.com
After three weeks of cancelations, musicians, Sea Cliff residents and music lovers returned to Clifton Park for the Sea Cliff Civic Association’s Sunset Serenade. Local band Chicken Head performed on the July 23 evening, attracting a crowd of all ages.
“The weather was perfect,” said civic association President Ann DiPietro. “The band was amazing.”
The previous three Thursday night concerts were canceled due to heat, rain and poor air quality. Sunset Serenade is held by the civic association annually.
Sea Cliff resident Petrice Kaider approached the civic association with the idea for summer concerts 25 years ago after she moved to the village from Northport, where weekly concerts were held. She took on the role of contacting and scheduling bands for the event, something she still does now.
In its first year, the civic association held four concerts at Memorial Park. The series grew immediately, escalating
to roughly 10 weekly concerts the following summer. When the Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020, the civic association put together a video featuring local bands in place of in-person concerts. When concerts returned in 2021, Sunset Serenade moved to the larger Clifton Park so people would have more space to spread out amid concerns about Covid.
“The numbers quadrupled at Clifton Park,” DiPietro said. “There was no way we could ever have had those crowds at Memorial.”
Sunset Serenade features exclusively local bands and is free to attend. DiPietro said using only local bands gives them exposure and creates a sense of community, sometimes even resulting in the formation of new bands.
“It’s always that sense of the wonder of Sea Cliff that in a tiny village we’re able to have such enormous talent,” she said, “and then to have a showcase for the talent is amazing.”
The series will continue on Thursday nights through Aug. 27 when Brown & Bunce will close out the summer.
Courtesy Ann DiPietro
Local band Chicken Head performed at Sunset Serenade on July 23.
Courtesy Ann DiPietro
The community reconvened for the concert series at Clifton Park after three weeks of cancelations.
Photo credit
The Sea Cliff Civic Association has held summer concerts for 25 years.
8.04.2026 • 8:30AM - 3:30PM
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Co-Founder & Chief Creative Officer Rescripted
FRIDAY, AUGUST 7
7:00PM
EISENHOWER PARK
and The
Chapin’s legacy celebrated at Eisenhower Park concert
Music fans gathered at Eisenhower Park for a special evening honoring the life and legacy of Long Island singer-songwriter Harry Chapin as part of Nassau County’s Free Summer Concert Series.
The July 16 concert featured Harry Chapin Day performers Corey Rieman and The Dilemma Band, along with Scarborough Fair, a Simon & Garfunkel tribute act. Families and friends filled the park with lawn chairs and blankets, enjoying a night of classic folk and soft rock under the summer sky.
The annual tribute celebrated Chapin’s enduring impact on music and his humanitarian legacy. Best known for hits including “Cat’s in the Cradle” and “Taxi,” Chapin, a Huntington native, was also a passionate advocate in the fight against hunger, helping to found organizations dedicated to ending food insecurity.
The free concert was presented by
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman as part of the county’s summer entertainment series, which brings live music to Eisenhower Park throughout the season.
–Jordan Vallone
Tim Baker/Herald photos
Corey Rieman
Dilemma Band performed at Eisenhower Park, paying tribute to the life and legacy of singer-songwriter Harry Chapin.
Harry Chapin was a Long island native dedicated to fighting food insecurity. Corey Rieman, above on stage, led the tribute performance in his honor.
Also performing was Scarborough Fair, a Simon & Garfunkel tribute act.
An opportunity to support veterans at Sea Cliff Village Library
By JULIA CAPITELLI jcapitelli@liherald.com
The Sea Cliff Village Library is introducing a new program, inviting the community’s young adults and children in grades five and up to make patriotic dog toys for Paws of War. Library Director Camille Purcell said she would like to see it become an annual event.
Paws of War, a Long Island-based organization, trains and places shelter dogs to serve and provide independence to veterans suffering from emotional effects of war, like post-traumatic stress disorder. This is the first time the library is hosting the program.
Purcell said she received an email with information on the organization and program and thought it would be of interest to the library’s patrons.
“I believe as a public library that we should try to do more of these reach outs to these different types of organizations,” she said. “And I would love for it to be a success.”
The event will be led by Danielle DiMauro, a paralegal professional and history professor at Suffolk Community College. DiMauro offers lecture programs for adults and teens as well as interactive community service activities.
DiMauro is the president and founder of the Charmed Positivity and Imagination Corporation. The organization aims to “provide educational programming, professional development and mentoring opportuni-
ties that empower, inspire and promote positivity as well as imagination in addition to awareness,” according to its mission statement.
“It does seem like that is her thing,” Purcell said. “To really foster an atmosphere of inclusiveness, reaching out to other people, just positivity and things like that.”
Purcell added that she researched Paws of War and the organization’s mission of supporting veterans appealed to her. She emphasized that she thinks part of a public
library’s purpose is community outreach and that the Sea Cliff Library should do more.
“I thought it would be a nice event for the young people to get involved,” Purcell said. “Everybody loves animals, or most people do, and I thought wouldn’t it be nice if they could feel like ‘Yeah, I’m making this, and it’s going to a good organization.’?”
She also said she hopes to show younger community members that the library is a “multidimensional place” with activities for
everyone.
In addition to programming for all ages, the library hosts art exhibits with the Sea Cliff Arts Council. A poetry event was held in April to celebration National Poetry Month.
The Paws of War program, titled “Patriotic Kindness,” is set for Aug. 8 at 10:30 a.m.
“I’m hoping that it does take off,” Purcell said. “I’m hoping that it’s a nice, successful event and that it leads to more collaboration.”
photo
The Sea Cliff Village Library will host a dog toy making event, benefiting Paws of War, on Aug. 8.
Spend Wednesday with free live music
A free soundtrack to summer continues at Eisenhower Park, where the Noontime Concert Series brings live music to Field 1 every Wednesday from noon to 2 p.m. The upcoming schedule features everything from timeless standards to dance-floor
n Johnny Avino brings timeless classics
Wednesday, Aug. 5
Fans of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Tony Bennett can spend the afternoon with Johnny Avino, a professional singer known for his polished renditions of the Great American Songbook.
Avino has become a familiar presence in the New York entertainment and dining scenes, performing at restaurants, country clubs and community venues, often accompanied by his trio.
At Eisenhower Park, audiences can expect an easygoing program filled with romance, nostalgia and songs made famous by some of the 20th century’s most celebrated vocalists.
giving visitors a
lunch outdoors while listening to local performers. All concerts are weather permitting. Here are three shows coming to the mobile stage.
n Sound Chaser keeps the crowd dancing n Bob Damato celebrates music and memories
Wednesday, Aug. 19
Sound Chaser brings a wide-ranging playlist and high-energy stage presence to Eisenhower Park.
Based in nearby Williston Park, the award-winning party and wedding band performs music spanning the 1940s through today, allowing its shows to appeal to listeners across generations.
Its repertoire includes pop, rock, Motown, disco and other danceable favorites, along with familiar songs that invite audiences to sing along.
The group’s afternoon set should offer plenty of opportunities for dancing, clapping and enjoying recognizable hits.
Wednesday, Sept. 2
Bob Damato, known onstage as Bobby D, will bring his show, Music, Love, and Memories, to Eisenhower Park in early September. The Floral Park crooner performs favorites from the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s, including songs associated with Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Bobby Darin and Tom Jones. Damato regularly appears at Italian feasts, village festivals, restaurants and other community events across Long Island. He also sings with the seven-piece cover band The New York Connection and has acted in local theater productions. His performance promises a relaxed afternoon of familiar melodies, sentimental favorites and classic vocal standards.
News briefs
Children’s Snapper Derby returns to hamlet
Town of Oyster Bay residents are invited to attend the town’s 4th annual Children’s Snapper Derby to be featured at the famed Bluefish Tournament on Sept. 20 at Theodore Roosevelt Park in Oyster Bay.
“This fun family event is open to youngsters ages 14 and under with fun prizes and awards for winners, as well as giveaways for all participants,” Ton Supervisor Joseph Saladino wrote in a statement. “This fun event provides a great opportunity to introduce children to the wonderful recreational sport of fishing.”
The Snapper Derby will take place between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 3 p.m., during the town’s Bluefish Tournament, at Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park by the fishing pier. There is a $15 registration entry fee. Participants are invited to bring their own equipment, including poles and bait, as supplies are limited.
Children will be placed into two age groups, ages 7 and under, and 8-14. Winners will be based on number of snappers caught – catch and release only – with awards and prizes being given out for first, second and third place for each age group. Family fun activities will be held from 1 to 3 p.m.
“We are thrilled to bring this fun event to Theodore Roosevelt Park and invite all children who enjoy fishing to sign up and participate,” Town Clerk Rich LaMarca wrote in the same statement. “There will be free refreshments, shirts and raffles for all participants, as well as awards and prizes for top winners.”
Registration will be available online at OysterBayTown.com/sports beginning July 28. For more information on registration, residents can contact the Town’s Recreation Office at (516) 797-7945.
Pickleball tournament registration opened
The Town of Oyster Bay will host an additional Pickleball Social Play Tournament this fall. The two-day long tournament will take place from Sept. 12 through 13, and feature brackets of doubles games for players ages 18 and up, and of all skill levels. Categories are divided into men’s, women’s, and mixed, and under 40, over 40, and over 60.
“Pickleball has quickly become one of the fastest-growing sports in the nation, and the Town of Oyster Bay is proud to lead the way in creating opportunities for residents to enjoy this fun game,” Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino wrote in a statement. “So grab your paddle and a partner, and start warming up for this exciting, social event.”
Registration is available at OysterBayTown.com/sports. Registration for town residents opened July 23 for a fee of $40 (teams with 2 residents) or $50 (teams with 1 resi-
Non-residents can register starting Thursday at 9 a.m. for a fee of $50. All team members must provide a valid photo ID with address and date of birth on tournament day. Rain dates are scheduled for Oct. 3 and 4.
Players must bring their own paddles and all teams will play at least 6 matches. No more than 16 teams may register per category, and times and locations are subject to change slightly based on registration.
Championship games will be played immediately following pool play and medals will be given out to all first, second, and third place teams for each category. First place champions will win a free Town of Oyster Bay pick-up game session for the 2027 calendar year. For more information, call the Recreation Office at (516) 797-7945, or visit OysterBayTown.com.
Giving blood and saving lives in Oyster Bay
With hospitals facing a nationwide blood shortage, Town of Oyster Bay residents are invited to attend a blood collection drive on Aug. 13 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Town Hall North, located at 54 Audrey Avenue in Oyster Bay.
“Blood supplies are critically needed for local hospitals to meet the demand and continue saving lives,” Town Councilwoman Vicki Walsh wrote in a statement. “Please consider participating in this blood drive to help bolster our blood banks and ensure as many people as possible can be helped. Together, we can give the gift of life though a simple blood donation.”
Appointments are preferred for the town’s blood drive. To qualify as a donor, a person must be between the ages of 17 and 75 years old (16 with parental permission and 76 or older with a doctor’s note), weigh at least 110 pounds and not have donated blood within the last 56 days. Anyone who received a tattoo within the past three months is ineligible to donate.
It is recommended that donors eat well (low fat) and drink fluids in the days before the blood drive. All donors will receive a voucher for a free Blizzard at Dairy Queen, and donors who enter their email addresses will receive two free New York Islanders tickets via email one week after the donation drive.
“It’s quick, easy, and safe to donate a single pint of blood which can save up to three lives,” Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino added in the same statement.
“Donating blood is an incredible way for all of us to pitch in and give back, to help ease the burden of our healthcare heroes as they continue to provide lifesaving efforts.”
For additional information regarding the town’s blood drive, contact (516) 6246380. To make an appointment to donate at this blood drive, sign up today at OysterBayTown.com/blooddrive.
–Will Sheeline
THURSDAY, AUGUST 6 7:00PM
STEPPING OUT
For Michelle Taplin, seen here at a spring showcase, theater is about more than performance. Through Tap Into Your Passion, she is helping young actors develop the confidence, resilience and skills to succeed both onstage and off.
Opening doors to the stage
By Iris Wiener
Michelle Taplin has spent much of her life immersed in the performing arts, but her greatest role may be helping the next generation discover their own voices. What began as a longtime dream has grown into Tap Into Your Passion, a thriving coaching and arts education company that, more than a year after its official launch, is already making a lasting impact on aspiring performers across the region.
As Tap Into Your Passion marks its first year and a half, Taplin celebrates the milestone with a special fundraising gala on Aug. 10 in The Green Room 42 in New York City that reflects the heart of her mission: making quality theater education accessible to everyone.
For Taplin, the journey started long before she opened her Rockville Centre-based business. Growing up in Oceanside, she balanced voice lessons, dance classes, gymnastics, and community theater while nurturing two lifelong ambitions: becoming a theater educator and one day opening her own company. Inspired by Oceanside High School theater teacher Laura Gallo, she pursued degrees in theater and business at Muhlenberg College before earning an MA in theater education from Adelphi University. Along the way, she gained experience as a performer, director, choreographer, stage manager, and arts administrator while also spending six years with the Sunrise Association, where she developed an inclusive teaching philosophy serving children with cancer and their siblings. Those experiences continue to shape every lesson she teaches today.
Taplin continues to wear many hats. She teaches theater at both the middle and high school in Oceanside, and directs productions with the school district and community theaters, including Plaza Theatricals. She also advises student organizations and mentors countless young performers. Tap Into Your Passion has become a natural extension of everything she loves most about teaching.
“Tap Into Your Passion’s mission is to provide theater education without costing an arm and a leg,” Taplin says, explaining that she wanted to remove financial barriers for students pursuing careers in the performing arts. She offers three primary services: private coaching for performers ages nine and up; a comprehensive college audition program that guides students through every step of the competitive application process; and a monthly master class series featuring accomplished Broadway performers, choreographers, casting directors, and other industry professionals.
The response has been exceptional. Taplin credits much of Tap Into Your Passion’s early success to the generosity of the artists who have shared their time and expertise. Taplin explains that each workshop has
Theater coach celebrates a milestone
reinforced the lessons she teaches her students while helping to build a supportive network where young performers can learn directly from professionals working in the industry.
Rather than molding students into “cookie-cutter performers,” Taplin encourages them to embrace their individuality. She believes there is no single path to success in theater and exposing students to a wide variety of artistic voices helps them discover the techniques and perspectives that resonate most authentically.
That philosophy has attracted students from throughout Long Island and Manhattan. Students from Floral Park, Oceanside, Lynbrook, Sewanhaka, Elmont, Rockville Centre, East Rockaway, Garden City, and New York City, among other places, create a diverse community connected by a shared love of theater.
“Michelle always makes sure to put care and respect into all of her students’ work sessions,” says Kevin Kirley, a student from Rockville Centre who now attends New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. “She has also been so integral to my journey throughout the college audition process. Her teaching has been extremely influential to me as a working actor, and I will take what I have learned throughout my training into my artistry.”
For Taplin, arts education extends well beyond singing, dancing or acting. She advocates that theater teaches empathy, collaboration, resilience, confidence, communication, and determination — life skills that benefit students regardless of whether they ultimately pursue careers on stage.
“It’s what the process teaches you,” she says, emphasizing that the personal growth students experience is often more valuable than the performances themselves.
Those values will be front and center shortly when Tap Into Your Passion hosts its Broadway Gives Back gala. The evening will feature performances by many of the Broadway artists and teaching professionals who have led Taplin’s master classes, each sharing a song that inspired their own theatrical journey. Beyond celebrating the company’s growth, the fundraiser will support Taplin’s goal of keeping coaching and master classes affordable for aspiring performers while demonstrating to students the passion that fuels successful careers in the arts.
As Tap Into Your Passion enters its second year, Taplin aims to continue expanding its reach while maintaining the close-knit community that has become its hallmark. She envisions welcoming more students, introducing them to even more accomplished professionals, and reminding every young artist that there is room for their unique voice in the theater world. Looking back on Tap’s remarkable beginning and the theater community’s willingness to help, Taplin relates that the experience has reinforced one lesson above all others: “The answer will always be ‘no’ if you don’t ask.”
It is a philosophy that has helped transform a childhood dream into a flourishing business, and one that continues to inspire the students following in her footsteps.
Visit TheGreenRoom42.VenueTix.com for tickets or more information about Where It All Began: Broadway Gives Back.
Double Vision: The Foreigner Experience
Comprising a group of exceptionally talented musicians and die-hard Foreigner fans, Double Vision has perfected the art of bringing to life the unforgettable hits that have defined generations. From “I Want to Know What Love Is” to “Cold as Ice,” Their renditions are a harmonious blend of passion, precision, and nostalgic energy. Drawing inspiration from Foreigner’s unmistakable sound and stage presence, Double Vision delivers a performance that pays homage to the band’s legacy while infusing their own charisma and enthusiasm. Their commitment to authenticity is matched only by their unwavering dedication to creating an electrifying experience for their audiences.
Saturday, Aug. 1, 8 p.m. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington.
Vishal & Sheykhar
Brace yourself for a high-octane night with Bollywood’s most electrifying music duo – Vishal and Shekhar! VishalDadlani and Shekhar (formerly Shekhar) Ravjiani return to the states, following a completely sold-out U.S. run in 2025. Experience the energy and excitement of The Superhit Tour as acclaimed music duo Vishal and Sheykhar take the stage. Known for creating some of Bollywood’s biggest hits, the duo brings a powerhouse performance filled with fan-favorite songs, dynamic production and a concert atmosphere that will have the entire audience singing along. Expect a night packed with unforgettable music, stunning visuals, and the signature sound that has made them global sensations.
Sunday, Aug. 2, 7 p.m. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or tillescenter. org or (516) 299-3100. Tilles Center, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville.
Photos courtesy Michelle Taplin
Student Bella Romero performs at the spring showcase at The Green Room 42.
Broadway’s Krystina Alabado, right, leads a master class.
Your Neighborhood CALENDAR
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30
On exhibit
Louis Comfort Tiffany:
Artist of the Gilded Age brings together the Nassau County Museum of Art’s unparalleled collection of more than 130 oil and watercolor paintings by one of America’s most celebrated artists. This landmark exhibition marks the first time the museum presents the full scope of its Tiffany paintings — an extraordinary group made possible through a generous, anonymous gift that represents the largest private collection of Tiffany paintings. While Tiffany is best known for his stained-glass windows, lamps, and decorative objects, this exhibition highlights a rarely seen dimension of his artistic practice: the paintings that he personally created at the beginning of his career. Through Nov. 8.
• Where: 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor
• Time: Ongoing
• Contact: nassaumuseum.org or (516) 484-9337
Sunset Serenade
Sea Cliff Civic Association welcomes all to Clifton Park for a concert with popular local band the Sea Cliff Porch Pickers. This marks the sixth concert in the Sunset Serenade series.
• Where: 70 Glen Ave., Sea Cliff
• Time: 6 p.m.
• Contact: sccivicassociation@ gmail.com
Falaise Tour
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Visit the cliff-side French Norman-style mansion at Sands Point Preserve, which was the residence of Captain Harry F. Guggenheim and his wife, Alicia Patterson, founder of Newsday. Explore the exquisite artwork, antiques, and furnishings inside one of the most inviting mansions on the Gold Coast. For adults, but children 12+ are allowed. $10 per person.
• Where: 127 Middle Neck Road, Sands Point
• Time: Varied times, also Aug 1-2
• Contact: sandspointpreserveconservancy. org or call (516) 571-7901
Garvies Point Museum Day
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Celebrate the natural world during a full day of familyfriendly adventures at Garvies Point Museum/ Explore guided bird and wildlife walks, a butterfly and insect safari, scavenger hunts, rock and
Franz Ferdinand
Cliff Beach for the seventh installment of the village’s summer concert series.
• Where: 56 The Blvd., Sea Cliff
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Contact: (516) 671-0080
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Tunes with Trash BoyZ
Visit Still Partners for an evening with Trash BoyZ, a Long Island-based garage, grunge and punk cover band.
• Where: 225 Sea Cliff Ave., Sea Cliff
• Time: 8 p.m.
• Contact: stillpartners.com or call (516) 200-9229
Ecotherapy Walk
The Scottish band brings their Greater Glasgow European Cultural Exchange Tour to the Paramount stage, in support of their latest album, “The Human Fear,” which dropped in January. Since emerging from Glasgow’s art-school scene — where the band famously staged illegal parties in abandoned buildings — Franz Ferdinand has built a reputation for bold sharp hooks, infectious riffs and a fearless approach to reinvention. The band’s sixth studio album explores the emotions that define the human experience, transforming fear from something to avoid into something that awakens us. From the vulnerability of new relationships to the courage required to embrace change, “The Human Fear” channels those moments of uncertainty into songs packed with energy, urgency and unmistakable Franz Ferdinand style. Following the retrospective collection “Hits To The Head,” their latest album marks a new chapter for the group — one that honors its signature sound while pushing forward. Expect a high-energy performance filled with the clever songwriting, driving rhythms and irresistible beats that have made Franz Ferdinand one of the most influential bands of its generation. At this point in their career, Franz Ferdinand definitely know who they are, and are relishing the vigor that comes with accepting that
mineral identification, arts and crafts, pollinator face painting and a high-tide beach adventure (water shoes recommended). Visitors can also meet live animals from Tackapausha Museum and enjoy nature films and hands-on activities throughout the day. Programs take place rain or shine, both indoors and outdoors.
• Where: 50 Barry Drive, Glen Cove
• Time: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Contact: garviespointmuseum. com or (516) 561-8010
Storybook
Studio
Families are invited to step into the pages of beloved children’s books and watch stories come alive through art at Nassau County Museum of Art. In this highly interactive, collaborative workshop, children ages 4-7 and their parents/ caregivers will team up to explore literature through tactile crafting, playful mechanics, and creative engineering. Each session begins with an engaging reading of a celebrated storybook, followed by a hands-on art project that transforms abstract themes into beautiful, functional and kinetic
sculptural objects. Perfect for developing fine motor skills and a lifelong love for reading and art! This is a true partner class!
• Where: Manes Center, 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor
• Time: 10-11 a.m., also Aug. 12, Aug. 19
• Contact: nassaumuseum.org or (516) 626-5280
Sunset Serenade
• Where: The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington
• Time: 8 p.m.
• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com
• Time: 11 a.m.
• Contact: (516) 671-0080 or twarzer@seacliff-ny.gov
First Fridays: The Secret Life of Birds
Join certified guide Linda Lombardo on an Ecotherapy Walk at Sands Point Preserve. The theme is ecotherapy at the beach. Ecotherapy, also known as Forest Bathing, is not simply hiking in the woods, or a walk on a beach. The focus is on connection and relationship, allowing the heart to open to the beauty of the natural world, and at the same time, understand our belonging in that world. Register for individual walks or a series of three. $135 for series of 3, $120 members; $49 per session, $44 members.
• Where: 127 Middle Neck Road, Sands Point
• Time: 10:30 a.m.
• Contact: sandspointpreserveconservancy. org or call (516) 571-7901
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Town board meets
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Visit Clifton Park for the seventh night of Sea Cliff Civic Association’s summer concert series featuring local acoustic and harmony band Love/ Peace.
• Where: 70 Glen Ave., Sea Cliff
• Time: 6 p.m.
• Contact: sccivicassociation@ gmail.com AuG
Seniors By The Sea
The Sea Cliff Senior Outreach Network invites seniors to Sea Cliff Beach on Thursdays in the summer for an art activity. Guest artists lead activities. Activities are free, and Cliffside Café will offer a discounted senior lunch menu. RSVP required.
• Where: 56 The Blvd., Sea Cliff
Visit Planting Fields Arboretum for its August edition of First Fridays. This interactive program invites all into an engaging exploration of bird behavior, remarkable adaptations, and the surprising stories hidden in the natural world. Dissect owl pellets, learn about bird adaptations and local species, practice bird identification, and enjoy a guided walk to the Wedell Garden and Costich Bird Sanctuary. The program concludes with a rare opportunity to step inside The Posh Blind, part of the Catalyst exhibition by Mark Dion and David Brooks. Reservations are required. $25 per person. For ages 8+.Registration required.
• Where: 1395 Planting Fields Road, Oyster Bay
• Time: 10-11:30 a.m.
• Contact: plantingfields.org or call (516) 922-9210
Summer sounds Matt Pinto performs at Sea
The Oyster Bay Town Board holds its public meeting at Town Hall North. Residents are encouraged to attend.
• Where: 54 Audrey Ave., Oyster Bay
• Time: 10 a.m.
• Contact: (516) 624-6380
Having an event?
Items on the Calendar page are listed free of charge. The Herald welcomes listings of upcoming events, community
of
Bringing outdoor space to Harmony Heights Day School
By WILL SHEELINE wsheeline@liherald.com
Students at Harmony Heights Day School have a new place to learn, socialize and receive therapy outdoors after employees of Global Industrial, an industrial commercial supplies company based in Port Washington, spent July 17 transforming the school’s East Norwich campus in a daylong volunteer project.
The effort, part of Global Industrial’s Partnerships with Purpose corporate stewardship program, included the installation of outdoor furniture, construction of a storage shed, upgrades to Harmony Heights’ art room, new maintenance equipment and other improvements designed to expand students’ therapeutic and educational opportunities.
School leaders said the project far exceeded their expectations. “Ever since I started here, my dream was to, like, have this outdoor space utilized a lot better,” Principal Tatiana Pejkovic said. “It was kind of just a vast empty area.”
The school had already begun improving the grounds, Pejkovic said, by renovating a garden area and using donated furniture, picnic blankets and seating pillows because larger improvements were beyond the school’s budget.
That changed when the school connected with Global Industrial executive Adina Storch several months ago.
“I told her my basic vision,” Pejkovic said. “I was looking for something simple, like just some benches and chairs, literally just to have the student be able to sit outside or maybe have a class outside or a therapy session. And then in speaking with her and walking around the school, it literally blew up.”
Global Industrial expanded the project after touring the campus and speaking with staff about additional needs. Pejkovic called the finished project “beyond our dreams.”
Harmony Heights, which has served students for 52 years, enrolls girls in grades eight through 12 from school districts stretching from New York City to eastern Long Island. The therapeutic school specializes in helping students experiencing depression, anxiety, trauma, PTSD, mood instability and school refusal through an integrated academic and clinical program.
Clinical Director Lori Neazer, who has worked at the school for 42 years, said that outdoor spaces are especially valuable for students’ mental health. “Being outside with nature, and just out here in the elements, is just a big relief and a break for these kids and staff,” Neazer said. “It’s very calming and peaceful, and they can do their deep breathing out here, and just be out here with nature, in such a relaxing kind of environment.”
Neazer said she also hoped the improvements would help attract more families to the school, which has an 80-student capacity but has recently been underenrolled. Administrators hope the enhanced campus and increased visibility will encourage more referrals from other districts and families.
“We have been the best kept-secret for 52 years,” she said. “[Global Industrial] has been unbelievable. This is like a
Students and staff at Harmony Heights Day School joined Global Industrial employees to build and install benches with umbrellas, a shed, and other equipment that the company donated to the school.
dream come true. In the 42 years that I’ve been here, we have never had such a nice donation and a nice event like this.”
Harmony Heights Executive Director Dennis Garbo said the scope of Global’s donation surprised school leadership.
“We were extremely grateful, and quite frankly very surprised today,” Garbo said. “We didn’t know the magnitude of what was about to happen, and what Global has done for us. This donation is above and beyond our imagination or expectations.”
Elizabeth Wirth, the school’s grant coordinator — and the valedictorian of the class of 2000 — said the project’s impact was deeply personal, crediting the school with saving her life and the lives of many of its graduates.
Wirth recalled arriving at Harmony Heights 1996 after being out of school for two and a half years, and then becoming valedictorian and earning a full academic scholarship to Molloy University, where she graduated summa cum laude.
“I just think about what having something like this would have meant,” she said of the upgraded facilities. “We are the little engine that could, and having support like this from within our own community just means the world to us.”
About 10 Harmony Heights students worked alongside Global Industrial employees during the construction effort, assembling furniture and helping complete projects across campus. Several said they were especially excited about having more opportunities to spend time outside.
“I was really excited for that outdoor call, because I feel like we’re inside all the time,” 11th-grader Olivia said. “I’m really excited to just get to spend more time outdoors.”
Other students said they were excited that their contributions to the project would benefit future classes as well.
Global Industrial officials said that the project reflects the company’s philosophy of combining community service with its expertise in workplace products and design. Storch, the company’s general counsel and executive sponsor of the corporate stewardship program, said that Partnerships with Purpose was established in 2021.
“We are a family-founded business that really stands for the principle that we can do well as a company by doing good in the world,” she said.
After learning about Harmony Heights through another charitable partner, Global employees toured the campus, familiarized themselves with the staff’s needs and developed a plan. The planning was led by Senior Director of Creative Services Glenn Smith, who selected products from the company’s catalog after visiting the campus and creating a visual design.
Global Industrial CEO Anesa Chaibi also participated in the volunteer effort, working alongside employees and students.
“I’m an engineer, and I’m used to building things, and I have tools, so I can actually help,” Chaibi said. “I don’t want to be a figurehead. I’ll roll up my sleeves and be
LEGAL NOTICE
shoulder to shoulder with our team.”
She said she hoped the Harmony Heights students see women in leadership positions as examples for their own futures. “It’s always helpful to have role models of all genders and all backgrounds, all walks of life,” Chaibi said, “but it’s usually a good way to just say, ‘Wow, if that person could do it, can I do it too?’” More information on the school can be found at HarmonyHeights.org.
Public Notices
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a public hearing will be held as to the following matter: Agency: Planning Board, Village of Sea Cliff
Date: August 12, 2026
Time:7:00 pm
Place:Village Hall, 300 Sea Cliff Avenue, Sea Cliff, New York
Subject: Application of 94 Carpenter Ave LLC, 94 Carpenter Avenue, Sea Cliff, New York, to construct retaining walls, curb cuts and off-street parking, which construction requires site plan approval pursuant to Village Code Chapter 107 on account of the change in access and change in topography, and a permit pursuant to Village Code Chapter 64 to permit a wall in excess of four (4) feet in height. Premises are designated as Section 21, Block 90, Lot 208 on the Nassau County Land and Tax Map.
Application of TVC 38 Prospect LLC, 40 Cove Woods Road, Oyster Bay Cove, New York,
for property located at 38 Prospect Avenue, Sea Cliff, to demolish an existing dwelling and construct a new single family dwelling with associated improvements, which work requires site plan approval pursuant to Village Code Chapter 107. Premises are designated as Section 21, Block 200, Lot 211 on the Nassau County Land and Tax Map.
At the said time and place, all interested persons may be heard with respect to the foregoing matters. All relevant documents may be inspected at the office of the Village Clerk, Village Hall, 300 Sea Cliff Avenue, Sea Cliff, New York, during regular business hours.
Any person having a disability which would inhibit attendance at, or participation in, the hearing should notify the Village Clerk at least three business days prior to the hearing, so that reasonable efforts may be made to facilitate such attendance and participation.
Dated: July 28, 2026 BY ORDER OF THE PLANNING BOARD 161461
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE TO BIDDERS
The Board of Education of North Shore Central School District of the Town of Oyster Bay, County of Nassau (in accordance with Section 103 of Article 5-1 of the General Municipal Law) hereby invites the submission of sealed bids for: FOOD SERVICE BAGELS 2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR
Bid Opening Date and Time: August 14, 2026 @ 11:00am
Bids for the term of August 27, 2026 through June 30, 2027 (with a conditional option to extend) will be received by way of mail or hand-delivery only until the abovestated hour of prevailing time and date at North Shore Central School District Administration Building 112 Franklin Ave Sea Cliff, NY, 11579 Attention: James R. Pappas.
Bids will be opened at 11:00 am and read
aloud from the District Offices, located at 112 Franklin Avenue, Sea Cliff, NY 11579. Specifications and bid forms may be obtained via email until August 10, 2026. Requests for bid documents and requests for information must be sent via email to: Alan Levin @ levina1@northshoresch ools.org or by calling him at 516-277-7090. The Board of Education reserves the right to waive any informality in the bids, or to reject all bids, or to accept any bids which, in the opinion of the Board of Education, will be in the best interests of the North Shore Central School District. Any bid submitted will be binding for sixty (60) days subsequent to the date of bid opening. Board of Education North Shore Central School District 161460
AND LEGAL NOTICES… To place a notice here call us us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com
Courtesy Harmony Heights Day School
Courtesy Harmony Heights Day School Ten Harmony Heights students volunteered to help with the installation and construction.
opinions
The documentary on Steven McDonald is a must-see
Recently I saw a screening of the documentary about the late NYPD detective Steven McDonald, “Saint of the City.”
McDonald was a true hero. In 1986, as a young police officer, he was shot and permanently paralyzed by 15-year-old Shavod Jones, whom he was questioning about a series of bicycle thefts in Central Park. Jones shot McDonald three times, the third time while he was lying on the ground, shattering his spine and leaving him a quadriplegic, needing a ventilator to breathe.
McDonald not only survived, but forgave Jones and went on to live more than 30 heroic years of dedicated service, without complaint or self-pity, until his death in 2017.
Steven and his wife, Patti Ann, lived in Malverne during that time with their son, Conor, who was born just months after his father was shot. Patti Ann went on to serve two terms as Malverne’s mayor. “Saint of the City” was written by veteran Emmy-award winning WPIX-TV reporter Mary Murphy
and produced by Erin Mulvey, a former DEA agent. Filled with facts, emotion and perspective, the film captures the essence of McDonald as an outstanding human being who inspired so many.
I met with him over the years at various police events, at his home in Malverne and in Congress. Those meetings made vividly clear to me just how devastating his injuries were. He was not only confined to a wheelchair, but incapable of moving any party of his body except his head, and he had no sense of feeling anywhere.
The NYPD detective forgave the teen who shot him, leaving him a quadriplegic.
Once when he gave me a book he had written, he inscribed it for me with a Sharpie he held between his teeth.
His breathing was labored, and required a ventilator. At any time he could be struck with severe spasms lasting 30 seconds to a minute. These were difficult to observe, never mind having to endure them.
As the film depicts, McDonald persevered through all of this. He regularly spoke at high schools and to young cops.
He was also an articulate voice for peace and justice in Northern Ireland, not just attending events in New York, but traveling to Northern Ireland to
Murge those on all sides — Catholics and Protestants, pro-British and pro-Irish — to resolve their differences and pursue the path to peace. McDonald’s efforts were particularly beneficial in the months following the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, when radicals attempted to shatter the peace accord with a horrific bombing attack in Omagh, Northern Ireland, that killed 29 civilians and injured more than 200. His presence at such a critical time delivered a strong message about the necessity of maintaining peace and allowing the agreement to be implemented.
I remember when Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern addressed a joint session of Congress and singled out McDonald, who was seated in the House gallery. At a reception later that day, Sen. Ted Kennedy asked me to introduce Ahern to McDonald.
The film also highlights how McDonald was sustained by his Catholic faith, and particularly by the advice and consolation he received from Father Mychal Judge, the chaplain of the FDNY who died at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, and Cardinal John O’Connor, who McDonald told me would visit him at his Malverne home
to help him through tough moments. McDonald also organized prayer groups that met regularly.
The “Saint of the City” screening took place at the Marymount School, in Manhattan. Among those in attendance were former NYPD Commissioners Ray Kelly and Keechant Sewell, former Detective Bo Dietl and many high-ranking police officials and officers who worked with McDonald or got to know him over the years. Magee Hickey of WPIX, WINS reporter Juliet Papa and Daily News columnist Michael Daly were also there.
From the sports world there was Mets all-time great relief pitcher Jesse Orosco, who, after pitching the final innings of the Mets’ final 1986 World Series game against the Red Sox, had thrown his glove high in the air. Days later, Orosco gave the glove to McDonald, a longtime Mets fan.
Most notable among the attendees, of course, were Steven’s widow, Patti Ann, and their son, Conor, who is now a captain in the NYPD. Both personify and carry on the inspirational legacy of Steven McDonald, who was truly a saint among us. Once it is distributed, be sure to see “Saint of the City.”
Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.
Donnie Kreiss, ‘I carry your heart with me’
y husband, Donnie Kreiss, died on July 12, at home, just days after our 58th anniversary. He was 80, and had been living with pancreatic cancer since it was diagnosed in 2023.
Donnie did not go gently. As Dylan Thomas wrote, he raged against the dying of the light, from the moment he knew he had this relentless cancer until two Sundays ago, when he drew a quiet breath and then no more. Our son and daughter were with him. My sister, Meryl Greenbaum, was with us. The loving good wishes of everyone he knew were with us.
He had been drifting away for the previous 10 days, suffering the side effects of three years of treatment. Still, in early June he was walking laps in our building, and in April the family had gathered for his birthday dinner. He pushed his athlete’s body beyond anyone’s expectation, and the night he died,
we rang the bell for him, because every single day he lived since 2023 was a tribute to his courage.
Donnie never felt sorry for himself. In his last days on earth he was reaching out to friends who had heartache, relationship woes, business setbacks or medical problems. He preached a gospel of positivity, insisting on finding threads of hope. He left a legacy of goodness and generosity, changing the lives of so many people along the way.
triumph over adversity.
H e always found the best in others because, truly, that was all he saw.
Donnie was a native Lawrencian. He was born in 1946 at Brooklyn Jewish Hospital to Lillian and Jack Kreiss, who lived at 16 Muriel Ave. in Lawrence. When he was 2, he contracted bacterial meningitis, which was usually fatal in those days. He was in isolation at St Joseph’s Hospital, in Far Rockaway, for two months. That was the first of his medical miracle recoveries, which included a fractured skull when he was 10, heart attacks at 40 and 50, bypass surgery, congestive heart failure and cervical spine surgery. He recited his near-misses enthusiastically, as if they were a resume, not of suffering but of
Donnie was a gifted athlete who ran track and played varsity football, basketball and golf. He was a beautiful man, and we fell hard in love as teenagers. We graduated together in 1964 from Lawrence High. When we married and settled in Woodmere, his second home was the Lawrence Golf Club, where his father was president and then, 50 years later, he was president. In recent years his home course was on Longboat Key, Fla., where last year he was named Most Inspirational Golfer of the Year, an award they created for him.
Don started his own business in 1969, selling slippers and bras and panties. He loved selling, and he was the best salesman because he could out-wait, out-talk and outlast any buyer he encountered.
He always found the best in others because, truly, that was all he saw. He drew on a deep well of generosity and kindness.
Our children, Jason, Rochelle, Jocelyn and Josh, were, as Auden said, his north, south, east and west. His grandchildren, Sabrina, Jacob, Elijah and
Emi, brought light and delight into his life. “Did you talk to the kids today?” was his mantra.
Despite his lifelong medical issues, Don was a rough and ready traveler, up for any adventure. We spent five summers exploring Montana when the kids were teenagers, and then for decades we traveled the world, from Komodo Island, in Indonesia, to the Alaska wilderness, from Bali to Singapore to Tasmania and New Zealand. Nothing stopped him.
Obituaries are the last public words written about someone. I never expected to write Donnie’s obituary, which I hope is more like telling the story of his life. Which is also the story of my life. As Cummings wrote, I carry his heart in my heart.
He trusted me to shepherd him through these last years, to get to the right doctors, to hold hands as we heard the diagnoses that limited his days. He wanted time, he said over and over again. I did my best, but time was not in my hands. I believe he would have wanted me to write this, the last words about him, from a place of love and longing, happy remembrance, and sadness that he did not have more days to grace our lives.
Copyright 2026 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.
2 Endo Boulevard
City, NY 11530
Phone: (516) 569-4000
Fax: (516) 569-4942
Web: seacliff.liherald.com
There’s always someone downwind
there’s a particular quality to the light when the smoke arrives. It goes flat and white, the sun turns into a coin you can look at directly, and the air smells faintly like someone three houses down is burning leaves. It has happened enough times now that Long Islanders recognize it.
The fires are in Canada. Ontario mostly, sometimes the prairie provinces — a thousand miles and more from here, far enough that the smoke spends days in transit before it reaches us. And it reaches us anyway. It settles over Rockville Centre and Garden City and Long Beach. It gets into the lungs of kids at day camp in Merrick who have never heard the phrase “boreal forest.”
There is something clarifying about that, if you let it be.
We are accustomed to thinking of our lives as local, and with good reason. This newspaper exists because the things that shape a day here — the school calendar, the traffic on Sunrise Highway, whether the field will be playable Saturday morning — are decided close to home by people you might run into at the deli. That proximity is the texture of life in a place like ours. The distance between a thing and its cause is usually short enough to walk.
letters
Town supervisor candidate Scianablo deserves a serious look
To the Editor:
Barely a day goes by that I don’t receive at least one mailing from John Ferretti expounding on all of his successes as Town of Hempstead supervisor. He claims that he is hard at work for the people of the town. He claims to have lowered town taxes, that he is working to ensure that our water is safe to drink, and is working with Nassau County to protect religious institutions. Just because he makes these claims doesn’t mean they aren’t just alternative facts.
The truth is that since he became supervisor — with the questionable means by which he was made the incumbent for his election — town taxes have increased 12 percent, our
Smoke from a forest a thousand miles away is a different phenomenon. It did not come from anything anyone here did or failed to do. And at the end of that very long chain sits your daughter’s soccer practice.
Why more of it, and why now? Because the climate is warming and the northern forest is drying out as a result. Spring snowpack melts earlier than it used to. Summers run longer and hotter, and the peat and duff beneath the trees turn into something that holds fire the way a sponge holds water — slowly, deep down and for a very long time.
Fires that once burned themselves out now smolder underground through the winter and surface again in spring. More fire, more smoke. And the same atmospheric machinery that has always carried Canadian cold fronts down to the Northeast now carries the smoke with them.
The smoke isn’t doing anything unusual. It is riding the same currents that have brought us our weather since before there was a Long Island to bring it to — the northwest flow behind a front, the same air that gives us a crisp October morning and the frigid air of January. We have always been downwind of Canada. We simply had no occa-
sion to notice.
That’s what makes this worth sitting with. Not the fires themselves, but what they reveal about connection. Something we didn’t do, in a place most of us have never been, is now a feature of summer on Long Island.
And what we do continues downwind. The exhaust from the Meadowbrook, the fertilizer that leaves a lawn in Wantagh and ends up in the bay, the plume from a stack in Island Park — none of that stays put, either. Our runoff is someone else’s smoke.
There is a version of this line of thinking that curdles into helplessness, and we would steer away from it. Being connected to a place you cannot influence isn’t the same as being powerless. It is mostly an invitation to pay attention — to the bay, to the air, to the small local things that are, somewhere downwind, someone else’s inherited condition.
The sky has cleared — but it will haze over again. If not this summer, then next. And each time it does, it is worth taking a moment to notice the strangeness: that we are downwind of a forest we will likely never see, and that somewhere, someone we will never meet is downwind of us.
Our harbor deserves more than deferred promises
For generations, Hempstead Harbor has been central to life in Sea Cliff. residents gather to swim, sail, fish, kayak and enjoy the natural beauty of our community. The harbor sustains beaches, marinas, yacht clubs, wildlife and local businesses. After decades of neglect, it has made a remarkable recovery because municipalities and residents refused to give up on it.
That progress is now at risk from the proposed Propel NY Energy project, which would install high-voltage transmission cables through Hempstead Harbor.
Sea Cliff’s opposition is the product of careful review — not reflex or reluctance. The village became a formal party to the Public Service Commission proceeding on Dec. 2, 2024. Since then, village representatives have taken part in more than 200 settlement conference sessions and dedicated countless hours to studying technical documents, environmental analyses and legal filings. We have submitted more than a dozen letters, briefs, comments and objections, each outlining the protections we believe the harbor requires.
We entered the settlement process in good faith, seeking clear and enforce-
Letters
able safeguards. Time and again, we identified the protections needed to ensure the harbor’s safety. Yet Propel chose not to adequately address these concerns, leaving critical issues to future Environmental Management and Construction Plans — after principal approvals would already be granted.
Sea Cliff isn’t alone in its reservations. Only 10 of the proceeding’s 79 parties signed the Joint Proposal submitted by Propel.
None of Nassau County’s three towns — Hempstead, North Hempstead and Oyster bay — signed it. The North Shore Central School District also submitted opposition papers. Together, these objections illustrate substantial unresolved concerns from the communities most directly affected.
t he Propel NY Energy project would put Hempstead Harbor’s recovery at risk.
ed. Originally promoted as a transmission pathway for offshore wind energy from Long Island to New York City and Westchester, it is now described as an “energy-agnostic,” two-way system capable of carrying electricity from any source, in either direction. The Joint Proposal contains no guarantee that the power transmitted will be offshore wind — or any renewable energy. This significant change warrants public scrutiny.
when pollution limits are first exceeded. by the time officials are notified and corrective action begins, contaminated sediment may already have spread through the harbor.
The village requested clear shutdown standards, immediate municipal notification, sediment-containment measures, independent testing, beach protections, and full responsibility for immediate cleanup and restoration. These are reasonable safeguards — practical measures to prevent harm, not obstacles to progress.
The Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee shares our position: The Joint Proposal does not sufficiently protect the harbor. Since 1995, the committee has united municipalities, advanced water-quality improvements and helped lead shellfish-restoration efforts that have added millions of oysters and clams to harbor waters — work that transformed a once-degraded harbor into an environmental success story. When the organization established specifically to protect the harbor warns that stronger safeguards are needed, that warning must be taken seriously.
The project’s purpose has also shift-
Sea Cliff recognizes the importance of a reliable electric grid and understands that major infrastructure projects may be necessary. but necessity can’t justify weak environmental protections. We shouldn’t have to choose between reliable electricity and a healthy Hempstead Harbor. If this project advances, Propel Applicant must be required to use the strongest available safeguards, prevent avoidable damage and take full responsibility for any harm caused.
Installing submarine cables would disturb the harbor bottom, suspend sediments and create turbidity plumes. given the harbor’s industrial history, project documents identify monitoring thresholds involving arsenic, copper, lead, mercury, dioxins, and furans. Disturbing those sediments could threaten water quality, marine habitat, shellfish beds and public beaches.
The proposed protections act too late. Work would not automatically stop
Framework by Tim Baker
water rates are up 33 percent, and our energy rates continue to climb. Due to the lack of transparency, we have no idea where our hard-earned tax dollars are going or to whom.
I met Ferretti’s opponent, Joe Scianablo, for the first time when he attended a parlor meeting at my home. I was impressed not only with his background, but also his sincerity and his desire to continue serving the public. Scianablo has spent his entire adult life as a public servant. He served multiple deployments in the Marines in East Timor, Eritrea, and Iraq, then was a New York City police officer, focusing on domestic violence cases, in which helped victims find safety and justice. He is a former prosecutor in the Queens district attorney’s office, where he advocated for survivors of domestic violence.
I believed Scianablo when he said his focus would be to ensure that our tax dollars and resources benefit all the people in the Town of Hempstead, not just the favored ones. He isn’t a career politician, but will be a politician who has made a career of service. I encourage anyone who has the opportunity to meet him to do so. I think you will come away as impressed as I was.
CHErIE FEINbErg Lawrence
Sea Cliff’s ownership rights beneath Hempstead Harbor must also be resolved before any approval is granted. The village holds historic state grants of lands underwater that the proposed cable route may trespass on or permanently impair. These property rights can’t be ignored or deferred for later resolution. The proposed burial depth is only a target, and if it proves unfeasible, concrete mattresses or similar structures could limit generations of residents from accessing and using the harbor for activities like boating, sailing, fishing and mooring that have long been part of Sea Cliff’s identity.
The harbor’s recovery took decades. After extensive and good-faith participation, Sea Cliff cannot support a Joint Proposal that fails to adequately protect a resource we all cherish. The village board will continue to insist on a transparent, scientifically sound review that safeguards the harbor, its surrounding communities and future generations.
Elena Villafane is the mayor of Sea
My Morning Jacket performed at the Great South Bay Music Festival, in Patchogue’s Shorefront Park, last Sunday.
Cliff.
Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty is proud to partner with Book Fairies, a nonpro t organization dedicated to providing children and communities with equitable access to books and learning opportunities.
We’re collecting new and gently used books for all ages—birth through adult—to be redistributed to underresourced communities across Long Island, New York City, and beyond.
If you’re clearing shelves, moving, downsizing, or simply ready to pass along books that once meant something to you, we invite you to donate and help those stories nd a new home.
Drop o your donations at participating Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty o ces.
