Serene and Grateful Entertainment, also known as SAGE, is a Levittown-based nonprofit that champions music and art therapy as tools for people recovering from addiction. Above, Andrew Kase, the organization’s LGBTQ+ outreach director, Sean Mullady, its founder, and Danielle McNicholas, its therapeutic director.
By JoRDAN VAlloNE jvallone@liherald.com
Serene and Grateful Entertainment, known as SAGE, is using creativity to help transform lives in recovery — and on March 29, the nonprofit, which is based in Levittown, brought that mission down the road at the East Meadow Public Library.
The organization hosted a creative showcase highlighting the talents of musicians, poets, artists and performers, celebrating joy, strength and resilience through art. SAGE champions music and art therapy as powerful tools for individuals recovering from addiction.
SAGE, a nonprofit organization that champions music and art therapy as tools for individuals recovering from addiction, was founded by Sean Mullady, with the same name of his son, Sage Mullady, who died in 2022 from a drug overdose.
“It was devastating,” Mullady said. “I didn’t have any coping skills. I’d always been a functioning addict, but when that happened, I completely spiraled out of control. Long story short, one day I woke up, and I was like, ‘I’m either going to have an act two in life, or I’m going to go down in flames.’”
Mullady went to St. Christopher’s Rehabilitation Inn in upstate-New York.
“I found a higher power, you know, I found God, and started getting clean,” he said at the event on March 29. “But what I realized that there was a void that needed to be filled with music and art. And that’s where SAGE comes in.”
After leaving rehab about three years ago, Mullady, who is originally from Oceanside, began working on building what would become SAGE. The nonprofit regularly engages in workshops and programs across
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By ABBEY SAlVEMINI asalvemini@liherald.com
Two Wantagh High School seniors, Liam Fields and Ethan Chen, have been recognized as finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program, a distinction awarded to some of the nation’s highestachieving students.
The prestigious program identifies students based on their performance on the PSAT taken during their junior year and awards scholarships to those who demonstrate exceptional academic ability, leadership and potential for success in college.
T
For Fields, the news marked the culmination of a process he had been anticipating, while Chen had been working toward the honor and said the moment was especially meaningful.
“I was pretty glad that I made it to finalist,” Chen said. “The National Merit Scholarship has been my goal since junior year, so I’m glad I made it through the final stage.”
hey set a strong example and make an impact both inside and outside the classroom.
PAul GuzzoNE Principal, Wantagh High School
Nationally, roughly 7,000 students are named finalists each year. Each scholar receives $2,500, which can be used to offset college expenses, and these students may be eligible for other corporate-sponsored or collegesponsored monetary awards. Many universities offer substantial award packages to National Merit finalists.
Both students credited years of consistent effort, as well as strong support networks, for their achievements. Fields said his parents encouraged his curiosity early on.
“My mother’s a reading teacher, and my father’s an engineer,” he said. “Together, they really pushed me to start learning at an early age and ignited my love of learning about everything.”
Chen cited his mother as a motivating influence. “She’s always pushed me to do my best so I can build a good future,” he
CoNTiNuED oN pAGE 5
It was another year of an “egg-stra” special event at the East Meadow Stew Leonard’s on April 1. The store hosted its annual Easter Egg Hunt Egg-Stravaganza, geared towards families with children ages 8 or younger.
Easter eggs filled with candy and other prizes could be found all throughout the store. There were several beloved characters, such as the Easter Bunny, that helped make the egg hunt just a tad more magical.
Five lucky children walked away with an egg that had a special ticket inside, redeemable with customer service for a grand prize: “a WOW Easter Basket,” bursting with extra treats.
The Easter Egg-Stravaganza was completely free to the community and got children and families out and having fun — and putting their egg hunting skills to the test — a few days before the actual holiday.
For more on upcoming holiday events, which take place all year long at Stew Leonard’s, visit StewLeonards.com/Stew-Leonard-Events/. The East Meadow store is at 1897 Front Street, East Meadow.
—Jordan Vallone
t is an early weekday evening in Chelsea, and I get confirmation from the conductor on the southbound “W” train that their stops include Prince Street.
No one. Wait, is this a throwback to my writing about “being seen?”
I let this go for a while, just to be sure that it’s not imagination or something even more paranoid. My companion assures that it’s very evident, we are dressed in business casual, lugging parkas and backpacks. This is not our scene to crash or otherwise.
Once above ground the goal is to head for Greene Street, thinking I am better than Google Maps and know where east is. I don’t. So double back to Greene after going two blocks in the wrong direction across Broadway.
4 Kielbasa Sausages (3 oz.)
4 Individual Scalloped Potatoes (3.8 oz.)
4 Caramel Apple Tartlets (4 oz.)
1 Omaha Steaks Seasoning (3 oz.)
8 FREE Omaha Steaks Burgers (4 oz.) 81957ZSR separately $242.93
Headed to a fundraising event, a celebration of creativity with salon show, light bites and personalized shopping it is an event I gave an immediate RSVP when first publicized. Rarely in SoHo yet I see it as a new experience, never factoring in that I will have just finished a full day of teaching the concepts of direct marketing to college students with their eye on the spring recess to come.
This is a lovely venue, and there is the direction to the stairs and lower level in which the promised light bites are fortified by a wine bar and soft hightop chairs. But just then reality steps in.
At first, I watch young models being corralled by a sales representative who determines how they will ascend and descend the stairs for interested patrons. There are waiters serving white wine on silver trays. A bartender approaching and serving others. But no one is acknowledging me.
“I’m outta here,” I finally whisper behind the photographers taking pictures of the models and beautiful people. We gather our belongings, thank the coordinator at the door and head out to the fresh air, an unexpected 70-degree early evening in a spring that can’t make up its mind.
I’m not amused by the way things went, but for the first time in a long time I’m not suffering from FOMO either. There will always be places in which one will fail to be seen if left to first impressions. But I’m not discouraged about the future. It’s the 740-something to Huntington after Raising Cane’s chicken fingers and fries. So much for wine and small bites.
A contributing writer to the Herald since 2012, Lauren Lev is a direct marketing/ advertising executive who teaches marketing fundamentals as well as advertising and marketing communications courses at the Fashion Institute of Technology and SUNY Old Westbury.
said.
Outside the classroom, both students are deeply involved in extracurricular activities. Fields is an Eagle Scout with the Wantagh-based Troop 656, serves as head of construction for the school’s stage crew and is a captain of the varsity academic team.
“A lot of my extracurriculars mesh well with my academics,” he said. “For instance, I can apply what I learn from the academic team to other school activities.”
Chen, Wantagh’s Class of 2026 salutatorian, balances a busy schedule that includes cross-country and winter and spring track, and leadership roles in the animal rights and recycling clubs, all while working as a pharmacy technician at Walgreens.
“I just find ways to make time for things,” he said. “If I come home late, I’ll stay up a little later to get my work done for the next day.”
Looking ahead, both students are exploring future career paths. Fields is considering engineering and possibly pre-law.
“I’m still deciding,” he said. “If I go to law school, I’ll figure out what type of law I want to do.”
Chen plans to study biomedical engineering on a pre-med track.
School leaders praised the students for both their achievements and character. “They’re extremely humble,” Paul Guzzone, Wantagh High School’s principal, said. “They accomplish a lot but don’t go out of their way to highlight it. They set a strong example and make an impact both inside and outside the classroom.”
As graduation approaches, Fields and Chen said they are focusing on what comes next while appreciating the experiences that brought them to this point.
seniors Liam f ields, left, and ethan Chen were named finalists in the national merit Scholarship program. the program identifies students based on their performance on the pSat, taken during their junior year, and awards scholarships to those who demonstrate exceptional academic ability.
ELIZABETH POIROT
WEST HEMPSTEAD Senior Lacrosse
ONE OF NASSAU COUNTY’S most prolific scorers, Poirot shares the Herald’s 2026 High School Lacrosse preview cover with Seaford’s Brian Falk. Poirot earned Honorable Mention All-County honors last spring after dominating the scoresheet for a second straight season and helping the Rams to 11 wins. As a junior, she racked up 77 goals to go along with 38 assists. This after in 2024 the dynamic attack scored 74 goals and had 25 assists.
Friday, April 10
Softball: Plainedge at Mineola
Softball: Plainview at Carey
Softball: Roosevelt at Malverne
Softball: Sewanhaka at Uniondale
Softball: Hewlett
Softball:
Baseball: Kennedy at Calhoun
Baseball: Long Beach at South Side
Baseball: Glen Cove at Hewlett
Baseball: Garden City at MacArthur
Boys Lacrosse: Wantagh at North Shore 11 a.m.
Girls Lacrosse: Oceanside at Wantagh 11 a.m.
Girls Lacrosse: Plainedge at Lynbrook 11
Girls Lacrosse: West Hempstead at Elmont 5 p.m.
Saturday, April 11
Girls Lacrosse: East Meadow at Plainedge 9 a.m.
Softball: V.S. Central at V.S. South 10 a.m.
Softball: North Shore at Hewlett 10 a.m.
Softball: Freeport at East Rockaway 10 a.m.
Softball: Massapequa at Oceanside 10 a.m.
Softball: Elmont at West Hempstead 10 a.m.
Girls Lacrosse: Locust Valley at Seaford 2 p.m.
Nominate a “Spotlight Athlete”
High School athletes to be featured on the Herald sports page must compete in a spring sport and have earned an AllConference award or higher last year. Please send the following information: Name, School, Grade, Sport and accomplishments to Sports@liherald.com.
By NICK MONGIOVI sports@liherald.com
Could the third time be the charm for MacArthur softball?
The Generals have suffered back-to-back heartbreak in the Nassau County Class AA finals, falling to Bellmore JFK in 2024 and Glen Cove last spring. Despite a 7-11 record in Conference 1 last season, MacArthur battled its way to one of Long Island’s biggest stages.
Now, with junior pitcher Alexandra Livanos leading the way, the Generals are aiming to finish the job.
“We had five senior starters,” said coach Bobby Fehrenbach. “Our pitcher, Livanos, has been starting since ninth grade. She’s not a big strikeout pitcher, but she battles and works, and we try to make plays behind her. Offensively, we just try to put the ball in play and see what happens.
“We won the first game [of the county finals] in extras, got no-hit in the second, and then had a 1-0 lead late in the third game. They scored late, and we stranded a runner, and that was it,” he explained.
Livanos has been the heartbeat of the program, striking out 115 batters across 11 wins last season while also contributing at the plate with a .315 batting average.
While MacArthur returns its ace, and the roster features significant turnover, a small core of two upperclassmen and one lowerclassman joins Livanos.
“[Senior] Brianna Almanzar is at third, [senior] Gianna Spaventa moves from
is MacArthur’s new starting shortstop after spending last season in the outfield.
left to center, and [sophomore] Alyssa Tinucci moves from the outfield to shortstop,” Fehrenbach said. “We lost catcher, first, second, short and center.”
Those positions usually hold key leadership roles.
Almanzar and Spaventa, along with the rest of the seniors, will fulfill leadership roles.
From an offensive standpoint, Fehrenbach loves making the opposing defense make a play. It’s all about contact for the Generals.
“Tinucci is our fastest kid and leads off,” Fehrenbach said. “Spaventa is a lefty hitting second who can bunt or
drive the ball. That creates pressure on the defense. From there, it’s about putting the ball in play and adjusting based on what teams give us.”
Young talent has surged early for MacArthur. Sophomore first baseman Ashley Powers and Tinucci have displayed some power early on.
Sophomore Olivia Macken, who will be in left field, offers some balance to the lineup as well. Freshman Bella Santoro, who will start at second, has also shown some power at the dish. Fehrenbach added, “The young kids are pretty good.”
Junior Danielle Giordano will be behind the plate as
the new starting catcher. It might be a young group, but Fehrenbach believes in his group and the identity they’ll have, despite the lack of overall experience.
“It’ll come around, just going to take a little bit,” Fehrenbach said. “[We want to] play hard, be mentally focused and never give up. We want to be competitive every game. Even if we’re down late, we’re going to keep battling. That mindset carries into the playoffs, believing we can come back and win.”
The Generals travel to face Conference I newcomer Calhoun this Saturday at 10 a.m.
Students from Nassau BOCES career and technical education schools — Barry Tech, GC Tech and Long Island High School for the Arts — earned top honors at the New York State Regional SkillsUSA Conference held recently at Suffolk County Community College.
Eight students took first place, 14 placed second and 17 came in third place overall.
The regional conference is part of a national series of events sponsored by SkillsUSA to help develop a competitive, skilled workforce. During the event, students competed in timed, hands-on contests aligned with their programs of study, as well as leadership and professional development competitions. Students who succeed at the regional level advance to the State Conference in Syracuse, with top performers moving on to the National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta in June.
SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry leaders working to prepare high school and college students for careers in the workforce. The program establishes industry standards for job skills training and promotes community service, and is recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor as a successful employer-driven youth development model.
Among the local honorees from Bellmore-Merrick, East Meadow, Levittown, Wantagh and Baldwin school districts were: Aidan Lehmann, East Meadow, Automotive Service Technology Competition, GC Tech Automotive Technology; AndaLucia Navetta, Wantagh, Digital Cinema Competition, Long Island High School for the Arts Film and Digital Media; Isabella Bonano, Levittown, Action Skills Competition, GC Tech Medical Assisting; Anthony Cruz Ramos, Baldwin, Pin Design Competition, Barry Tech Animation & Digital Media Skills; Tagan Moran, Levittown, Digital Cinema Competition, Long Island High School for the Arts Film and Digital Media; Liam Mugford, Baldwin, Carpentry Competition, Barry Tech Carpentry; Robert Fekete, Bellmore-
Nassau BOCES Long Island High School for the Arts Film and Digital Media teacher Robyn Morgan celebrates with students Kingsley Ngitngif, Syosset; Alessia Surolich, Valley Stream; and Tagan Moran, Levittown; and AndaLucia Navetta, Wantagh, along with Nassau BOCES Board member Fran Langsner and Susan Bergtraum at this year’s SkillsUSA Regional Competition.
Merrick, Job Interview Competition, Barry Tech Carpentry; Caeli Mugno, Levittown, Extemporaneous Speaking Competition, GC Tech Esthetics; Anthony Rampino, Bellmore-Merrick, Criminal Justice Competition, Barry Tech Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement; Sarah Wallis, Levittown, Employment Application Process Competition, GC Tech Esthetics; Matthew Rivas, East Meadow, Quiz Bowl Competition Team, GC Tech Automotive Technology; Matthew Silvestro, Levittown,
Quiz Bowl Competition Team, GC Tech Construction Electric.
A vital regional resource, Nassau BOCES provides a range of programs and services for students of all ages, including career and technical education, special education and adult learning, while supporting school districts across Long Island.
By Abbey Salvemini
The room at The Heritage Club at Bethpage was filled with energy, ambition and a shared sense of purpose on March 25 as business leaders gathered for the 2026 Premier Business Women of Long Island Awards. This annual event honored outstanding women who are not only achieving success within their respective industries but also driving innovation and meaningful change across them.
At the heart of the evening was a clear and resonant message: women are no longer waiting for opportunities to be granted; they are creating their own paths and redefining leadership on their own terms.
Amy Amato, executive director of corporate relations and events at Richner Communications, set the tone early in the night, encouraging attendees to “take a look around this room” as a reflection of progress. She also emphasized the significance of the occasion. “Tonight is about celebrating the incredible women who are leading, building and shaping our community,” she said.
She added that the event is part of a broader mission to create spaces “where women don’t just sit at the table, they own the room,” reinforcing the evening’s theme of empowerment and visibility.
She praised the honorees not only for their professional achievements but also for their role in transforming their industries. “You are not just leaders in your field, you are redefining them,’ she said.
Stuart Richner, CEO of Richner Communications, echoed that statement, reflecting on the company’s history and his mother, Edith Richner, a co-founder who once stood alone as the only woman at the table nearly six decades ago. “If she were here tonight, she would be incredibly proud to see a room filled with such accomplished, driven and inspiring women,” he said.
The evening also highlighted the importance of giving back, with proceeds supporting Baby Essentials of Long Island, an organization dedicated to helping families in need provide safe and healthy starts for their children. Richner emphasized the organization’s mission to assist parents facing financial hardship and other challenges, adding a deeper sense of purpose to the celebration.
The honorees themselves brought the evening to life, sharing personal
stories of resilience, leadership and determination that resonated throughout the room.
Among them, Carol Gomes was recognized in the Healthcare and Wellness category, highlighting her leadership as CEO and COO of Stony Brook University Hospital. Reflecting on what it means to be a woman in business today, she described it as a sense of empowerment and the confidence to lead with strong conviction.
“We are nowhere near where we need to be; we’re making progress, but there are still many opportunities to advance women into higher leadership positions,” she said.
Ana Ludemann, MBA, was honored in the Financial Services category, celebrating her success in a competitive, male-dominated industry. Now a vice president and wealth management financial advisor, she built her career after arriving in the United States in 2014 with just $100. Her journey underscored the importance of perseverance and mindset.
“If you work hard and do right by people, there is no way you will not succeed,” she said, adding that resilience is defined not by obstacles, but by how one responds to them.
Honorees in the Insurance and
Rising Stars Under 40, Evelyn Gellar and Jillian Kashuba of Forest Hills Financial Group, echoed the evening’s central themes. Together, they emphasized that while women are increasingly supporting one another and rising into leadership, challenges remain — particularly around work-life balance and equitable opportunities. Their message was clear: building networks and lifting each other up is essential to sustaining momentum in a competitive industry.
Another highlight of the evening was the recognition of the Power Team award, which honored a group of women from St. Joseph’s University. Among them, Jessica McAleer Decatur, Vice President of marketing and communications, reflected on the significance of the recognition and the responsibility that comes with it.
“To follow in the footsteps of these pioneering women is deeply meaningful. As part of the next generation of women leaders, I hope not only to carry forward their legacy, but also to inspire the next generation,” she said.
Throughout the evening, the room buzzed with energy and camaraderie as powerful women mingled,
exchanged stories and shared insights across industries. The atmosphere reinforced the idea that success is not achieved in isolation, but through collaboration, mentorship and a shared commitment to lifting others along the way. Conversations extended beyond individual accomplishments, focusing instead on creating lasting impact and opening doors for the next generation of women leaders.
The event also celebrated the sponsors and partners whose support made the evening possible, including Forest Hills Financial Group, Long Island Contractors Association, and our centerpiece sponsor, St. Joseph’s University. Their involvement underscored the Long Island business community’s ongoing commitment to fostering diversity, inclusion and opportunity.
As the evening ended, the message remained clear: progress is underway, and the future of women in business is being shaped through the shared determination and collaboration of everyone present.
To learn more, see additional photos and view the complete list of honorees and sponsors, visit richnerlive.com.
Nearly a third of Seaford High School’s Class of 2026 will graduate with the prestigious New York State Seal of Biliteracy, reflecting their mastery of both English and at least one world language. The 53 seniors earning the seal is the largest number since it was introduced as a diploma designation in 2022.
World languages and ENL lead teacher Patricia Foley, who serves as the Seal of Biliteracy coordinator, said this the fifth class of Seaford students with Seal of Biliteracy recipients. This year’s candidates reflect five world languages – French, Mandarin Chinese, Russian, Spanish and Turkish. Students can earn the Seal of Biliteracy in a world language taught in school, spoken at home or self-studied. Seaford offers French and Spanish.
For the world language component, each candidate must complete a cultural comparison project on a topic of his or her choosing, then present to a panel of educators in the target language and answer questions. In October, seniors visited the library and worked with Joanna McCloskey, the high school librarian, for research guidance. The presentations took place in January and February.
“They had a wide variety of topics, based on personal interests,” Foley said. “A lot of them picked topics that are current globally, which gives a good perspective of who they are and where they want to go when they leave Seaford High School.”
Rihana Miah is earning the Seal of Bil-
iteracy in French, a language she started studying in eighth grade. Learning about the culture of French-speaking countries across the world was the most rewarding part of the experience, she said. Her cultural comparison was on opinions in France and in the United States of the Israel-Palestine conflict. She hopes that earning the Seal of Biliteracy will open
doors for her.
“It will make me stand out for prospective jobs and give me more opportunities in the future,” Rihana said.
Nick Kanellopoulos has been learning Spanish since seventh grade and wanted to pursue the Seal of Biliteracy because it has been a strength for him. He wants to work in finance in the future and said
having the ability to speak other languages will be beneficial. Additionally, Nick loves to travel and his mastery of Spanish will help him communicate with others. His cultural comparison project focused on the efforts of the United States and Spain to combat the negative effects of fast food.
Gokay Sezer will earn the Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish, the language he learned in school, and Turkish, which he has been speaking a home since childhood. He was motivated by his older brother, who earned the designation three years ago.
“I like learning new languages, so I can communicate with more people and learn new cultures,” Gokay said, adding that learning two languages as a child helped him when he started learning a third language in middle school.
For his Turkish cultural comparison project, Gokay compared the effects of inflation on home and grocery prices in the United States and Turkey.
Foley said it is gratifying to see the number of seniors pursuing the Seal of Biliteracy increase every year. She commended this year’s candidates on their hard work not just on their cultural comparison projects, but on their dedicated immersion into world languages and cultures over several years.
“It really does open the door for them,” she said, “because employers are looking for people who are bilingual.”
Hunter Fenollol
Art has been a longtime passion for Seaford High School senior Emma Edzards, and her talent and dedication was recently rewarded with a scholarship from the Art Supervisors Association.
Emma was one of two dozen artists from the Seaford School District to have a piece included in this year’s AllCounty art show. One senior from each district was then selected to receive a $200 scholarship. Her featured artwork was a painting of Taylor Swift with a glitch effect. Emma, in her artist statement in the Senior Scholar Awards Ceremony booklet, explained that music has always comforted her throughout her life and Taylor Swift is one of her favorite musical artists. She also elaborated on the process used to create the effect.
This year, Emma is enrolled in Advanced Placement art, during which students complete a themed portfolio project. An avid equestrian, Emma’s theme is about the impact of horse riding on her life.
During her time in Seaford
High School, Emma has taken almost every art class offered including Introduction to Art and Photography 1 in ninth grade, Digital Art and Drawing and Painting in 10th grade, Drawing and Painting Honors and Photography 2 in 11th grade and AP Art and Comic and Cartoon Illustration as a senior. She also was inducted into the National Art Honor Society.
“I’ve always liked art since I was young,” Emma said. “I love the creative aspect of it.”
Emma was awarded her scholarship at the opening ceremony of the All-County art exhibit, which took place at W.T. Clarke High School. Her teachers said she was highly deserving of the award.
“Her commitment to her artwork is unwavering,” said Curtis Tripoli, who has had her for two classes including AP Art. “She’s always locked in.”
“She’s an artist,” added Michael Kerr, the National Art Honor Society adviser. “It’s her personality and her passion.”’
—Jordan Vallone
By NOAH PERETZ nperetz@liherald.com
The Long Island Association hosted state Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez as a guest speaker last week. Dominguez spoke about Gov. Kathy Hochul’s fiscal year 2027 executive budget and policy proposals for the DOT.
Appearing at LIA headquarters in Melville on March 31, Dominguez explained that Hochul’s administration matched the federal funding for New York state’s transportation needs from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in 2021 with a five-year, $35 billion plan. Hochul added $800 million to the plan last year to offset the cost of tariffs and inflation.
“Our federal dollars are expiring on Sept. 30, which presents a unique challenge,” Dominguez said. “We need to make sure that we are positioning New York for the next level of transportation funding.”
She detailed Hochul’s proposed spending plan, which totals $260 billion. Federal funding is down 11.4 percent, or $10.3 billion, and state operating funds have increased by $157 billion. The state is expecting $17 billion more in state revenue over the next two years than earlier estimates.
“The governor is committed to economic growth and making sure there is a social safety net, and funding that social safety net across the board without increasing taxes,” Dominguez said. “In sum, the 2027 Executive Budget successfully balances two simultaneous realities that we have real momentum here in New York, and addressing the volatility that we know is ahead.”
The budget plan includes automated work-zone speed enforcement with new
speed cameras. Dominguez noted that some drivers have been speeding at over 100 miles per hour through work zones, according to the cameras.
The budget proposes deployment of the cameras on non-controlled-access highways, like Sunrise Highway. It also proposes protections for highway maintenance workers against violent assault.
Dominguez also touched on Hochul’s plan to lower the cost of car insurance.
The plan proposes changes to the state’s auto insurance laws that will punish perpetrators of staged car crashes.
The spending plan also includes funding for filling potholes on main roadways. “We are on a blitz statewide addressing potholes,” Dominguez said. It proposes investments of $107 million for paving on Long Island, including 50 miles of the Northern State Parkway and 35 miles of Sunrise Highway.
Action Long Island representative Michael Rodin suggested more improvements he wanted to see. “We want to make sure public transit is a part of the DOT’s agenda in the future,” he said. “We want roads to be able to accommodate buses as well as more cars — a lot of people take public transit to work.”
When the presentation was open for questions, Dominguez addressed a concern about independent contractors’ coverage under the anti-assault provisions in the budget. “The worker assault provision covers state employees as well as independent contractors,” she said.
“We need to make sure elected officials understand that transit and the lives of transit workers are important, so they fund initiatives to help these efforts and these people,” Marc Herbst, executive director of the Long Island Contractors Association, said. “If we don’t ask, they don’t respond.”
By JULIA CAPITELLI jcapitelli@liherald.com
To promote President Trump’s economic agenda, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent visited Long Island and took part in a panel discussion with Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and business executives from across the county.
The March 30 discussion, at the county legislative building, focused on three aspects of the Working Families Tax Cut Act: the elimination of taxes on tips and overtime pay, the creation of so-called Trump Accounts and the higher cap on the income tax deduction for state and local taxes. Under the law, parents can open and contribute funds to accounts for their children under age 18. As part of the pilot program for the accounts, children born during Trump’s term will receive $1,000 from the Treasury Department.
“It’s something that’s going to help every family in America,” Blakeman, the Republican candidate for governor, said of the program.
The law includes an increase in the state and local tax deduction cap from $10,000 to $40,000. It also allocates roughly $170 billion to carry out the administration’s immigration and border objectives, and raises the federal debt ceiling to $5 trillion.
“That’s the American way,” Bessent said of the tax cuts. “Work harder, keep more of your money.”
The SALT deduction avoids double taxation and allows certain taxpayers to reduce their federally taxable income. To offset the cost created by this and the elimination of taxes on tips and overtime, the law cuts nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid and reduces food assistance and clean-energy incentives.
Panelists shared their perspectives on the law, mostly as it relates to their businesses. Michael Serao, exec-
utive vice president and chief administrative officer of First Central Savings Bank, claimed that Trump Accounts could help students build financial literacy.
But much of the discussion focused on the elimination of taxes on tips and overtime, and the SALT deduction. “I am surrounded by hardworking people, who come into the diner and tell me how happy they are about their tax returns and about how much more money they are getting back,” Gus Tsiorvas, owner of the Embassy Diner, in Bethpage, said.
According to the Internal Revenue Service, the average tax refund this year is roughly 10 percent higher than it was in March 2025. “This means more discretionary spending here in Nassau County,” County Comptroller Elaine Phillips said, “which allows
Bruce not to raise taxes.”
Blakeman reiterated his assertion that Nassau is “the safest county in America where we haven’t raised taxes one penny in four years.”
In a statement about Blakeman’s use of taxpayer resources to campaign as everyday costs escalate, Democratic County Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton said the Bessent visit was “as shameless as it gets.”
“Nassau residents aren’t stupid — they feel the squeeze every time they fill up, check out at the grocery store, or pay a bill,” DeRiggi-Whitton said. “The cost-of-living crisis is real, and it’s being driven directly by the disastrous tariffs and global instability coming from the same out-of-touch allies in Washington [Blakeman] continues to stand with.”
Come learn about local disability rights pioneer Dr. Henry Viscardi, Jr. and explore over 125 artifacts highlighting the fight for equal opportunity for people with
The museum provides an inclusive, fully accessible experience for all visitors and is the perfect place to spend a fun and educational day with your family. School field trips and group tours welcome.
By Iris Wiener
When Adam Pascal pulls into Long Island these days, it’s not just a commute; it’s a homecoming layered with memory, coincidence, and creative possibility. This spring, the Tony-nominated performer-turned-director from Syosset is channeling all of that into “Feels Like the First Time: The Foreigner Musical.”
The new production premieres April 17 at the Little Theatre on Long Island University’s Brookville campus.
The project, created in collaboration with the legendary rock band Foreigner, marks the launch of LIU’s New Works Initiative and Pascal’s tenure as the university’s inaugural Artist-in-Residence. But for Pascal, the journey to this moment is anything but typical.
The path to directing the show began not in a rehearsal room, but at a backyard barbecue.
“Tom Dunn [Tilles Center’s creative producer, executive/artistic Director and Dean of LIU’s College of Arts and Design] lives across the street from my sister. I first met Tom and his wife at a barbecue,” Pascal relates. “Tom said, ‘We’re doing this thing. Do you want to direct it?’”
From there, the pieces quickly began to align. A previous version of the musical had been developed, but Pascal and the team — including book writer Stephen Garvey and arranger David Abbinanti — set out to reshape it into something fresh: a high-energy, heart-driven story set in the 1980s, centered on three families whose lives collide when a rock star arrives for a backyard concert after an MTV contest win.
“We wanted to create something that was fun and that had heart, that understood its purpose using Foreigner’s music,” Pascal says.
That purpose, however, comes with a unique creative challenge. The musical weaves iconic songs into an original narrative — a process Pascal describes as both complex and deeply collaborative.
“You’re creating a story, and in many ways building a scene backwards,” he explains. “You have these lyrics that were never written to be narrative in that way, so you have to do a lot of reverse engineering.”
Still, that creative freedom is part of the appeal.
“We get to reimagine these songs,” he adds. “They’ve now become narrative storytelling songs.”
The new musical features a company of 26 performers, primarily LIU students — a fact Pascal calls fortuitous.
“The combination of this process, this particular show, and this university … it couldn’t have been a better melding of all things.”
For Pascal, working with students isn’t just about mentorship — it’s personal, as he has two sons the same age as the young cast. His directing style reflects that perspective, blending instinct, experience and a focus on emotional authenticity.
“I approach it from a much more naturalistic and real place. I’m trying to orchestrate a picture and to get them to use their emotions in a physical way.”
That lived-in approach comes from decades in the industry, which includes roles in Broadway’s “Aida,” “Memphis” and “Something Rotten,” besides the iconic“Rent.” However, Pascal quickly points out that he was never formally trained.
Works Initiative, an incubator for developing and refining new theatrical works by both emerging and established writers.
• Friday through Sunday, April 17-19 and Thursday through Sunday, April 23-26, varied times
• Tickets are $43.82, $17.82 students; available at tillescenter.org/events
• Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville
“My approach can only be [described as] a layman approach. I’m fortunate enough to now have 30 years of experience making musicals.”
And yet, for all his Broadway credentials, Pascal is candid about the challenges facing the industry today — particularly the financial barriers that make developing new work increasingly difficult in New York City.
“We all have to change the mindset about working in New York,” he says bluntly, pointing to rising production costs and systemic issues. Instead, he sees projects like “Feels Like the First Time” as part of a larger shift — one that prioritizes creativity, collaboration and accessibility over tradition and expense.
“I want to take the power out of Broadway’s hands and put it back into the hands of people who make theater,” he states.
That philosophy is evident in the show’s development process, which Pascal praises for its efficiency and clarity of vision.
For LIU students like Anna Frost, being part of that process is nothing short of transformative. A senior serving as dramaturg for the show, Frost is deeply embedded in the rehearsal rooms, helping to shape the evolving script.
“It is so exciting for me to work on a show which is in development,” she says. “I get to work with a living, breathing text.”
For her, the experience underscores the importance of new work in today’s theatrical landscape.
“There has to be new art that is relevant to what is happening now,” she adds. “Getting to be a part of something that will be history is really cool.”
Pascal agrees and hopes the students recognize the significance of their involvement.
“They’ll forever be connected to this show as the first people that played these characters,” he says. “If the show becomes a hit, they’ll always have that on their resume.”
That sense of legacy resonates deeply with Pascal himself, particularly given his return to Long Island. He remains deeply connected to his roots, and optimistic about its potential as a hub for theatrical innovation.
“There’s no better place for it,” he says of LIU. “They have the facilities, the desire and the proximity to the city.”
As for what’s next, Pascal continues to develop new musicals through his production company, including an adaptation of “Ruthless People.” He’s also set to direct “Our Little Secret: A True New Musical” in Toronto. For now, “Feels Like the First Time” offers something that feels incredibly meaningful — -a chance to build, collaborate, and rediscover the spark that started it all.
Or, as Pascal might put it, to make it feel like the first time all over again.
Local favorite Mike DelGuidice returns to the Paramount stage with his popular residency, delivering the high-energy, feel-good performances that have made him a hometown standout. Backed by his powerhouse band, DelGuidice brings the music of his idol, Billy Joel, to life with passion and precision, celebrating decades of iconic hits in a rousing, crowd-pleasing show. A multi-instrumentalist who grew up immersed in music, DelGuidice’s deep knowledge of Joel’s catalog ultimately led to sharing the stage with the Piano Man himself, touring around the world. Alongside Joel’s beloved classics, he weaves in his own original songs, showcasing the songwriting that has earned him a devoted following. Whether performing on stage or connecting with fans through his “Live on the Porch” series, which brought audiences together during the pandemic, DelGuidice continues to share his love of music in ways that resonate far and wide.
Friday and Saturday, April 10-11, 8 p.m. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.
Fleetwood Macked
Eighteen years ago
Fleetwood Macked set out to provide audiences with the truest live Fleetwood Mac experience as possible and haven’t stopped since. Much of the realism comes from the New York-based band’s history. Husband and wife musical team Hillary and Michael Epstein (Stevie and Lindsey) and friends Tracy Wells, Jay Novas, Phil Weiss and Andrew Nadien (Christine, John and Mick) have made great music together in various incarnations that finally all came together with their mutual love of Fleetwood Mac. They are and have always been professional touring rock musicians, which also adds to the authenticity of the sound of the band. Fleetwood Macked live brings audiences the passion, depth, heart, and the musicianship Fleetwood Mac’s music requires. Out of love and respect musical liberties are not taken, songs are recreated just as Fleetwood Mac intended them.
Friday, April 10, 8 p.m. $48. My Father’s Place 1221 Old Northern Blvd., Roslyn. Tickets available at mfpproductions.com.
Join Chef Barbara Sheridan at Wantagh Library help you plan the perfect spring appetizer menu to ramp up your spring entertaining game. The class includes new recipes and step by step instructions for making great party bites. Registration required.
• Where: 3285 Park Ave.,Wantagh
• Time: 1-3 p.m.
• Contact: wantaghlibrary.org or (516) 221-1200
Long Island Children’s Museum stages “Pete the Cat,” the charming musical based on the book series by Kimberly and James Dean. Life is certainly an adventure for Pete, no matter where he winds up. So the minute the groovy blue cat meets The Biddles, he gets the whole family rocking. That is, except for young Jimmy Biddle, the most organized second grader on planet Earth. But when Jimmy draws a blank in art class during the last week of school, it turns out Pete is the perfect pal to help him out. Together, they set out on a mission to help Jimmy conquer second grade art, and along the way, they both learn a little something new about inspiration. $11 with museum admission ($9 members), $15 theater only.
• Where: 11 Davis Ave., Garden City
• Time: 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; also April 14-15
• Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800
Bring the kids to Old Westbury Gardens to discover the wonders of nature with a one-hour guided tour through the gardens and woodlands, featuring naturethemed games and hands-on activities. This week, children explore plants big and small, learning how they grow and change with the seasons. Each session includes a simple planting or craft project for children to take home and continue their learning. Registration required. $22 adult, $20 seniors 62+ (member discounts available).
• Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury
• Time: 11 a.m.-noon
• Contact: oldwestburygardens. org or call (516) 333-0048
Tunes with Nashville Nights
Check out the Nashville Nights band at Mulcahys, for a 21 and up audience, featuring energetic country and classic hits.
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Game time
Play Mah Jongg and Canasta every Thursday at Congregation Beth Tikvah. Snacks and drinks are provided. $5 contribution.
• Where: 3710 Woodbine Ave., Wantagh
• Time: Noon-4 p.m.
• Contact: mahjonggCBT@ yahoo.com or (516) 785-2445
Wantagh BOE meets Wantagh Board of Education holds its business meeting.
• Where: 3301 Beltagh Ave., Wantagh
• Time: 8 p.m.
• Contact: (516) 765-4100
Asbury Short Film Concert
• Where: The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington.
• Time: 8 p.m.
Micky Dolenz celebrates the 60th anniversary of The Monkees with a special tour honoring the band’s enduring legacy and timeless sound. In this nostalgic and high-spirited performance, Dolenz takes audiences on a musical journey through The Monkees’ rise to fame, performing their biggest hits in chronological order while sharing personal stories from his decades in entertainment. As the last surviving member of the beloved group, Dolenz brings both heart and history to the stage, paying tribute to bandmates Davy Jones, Peter Tork and Michael Nesmith, while celebrating the fans who helped transform a fictional TV band into a global sensation. A true entertainment veteran, Dolenz’s career spans decades and disciplines — from his early days as a child star on “Circus Boy” to his work as a singer, actor, director and radio host. In recent years, he has continued to keep The Monkees’ music alive for new generations, including a solo tour performing the group’s 1967 album “Headquarters” in its entirety. This is sure to be a heartfelt, hit-filled evening that blends music, memories and a lasting connection to one of pop culture’s most iconic acts.
• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com
This national touring showcase returns to the Madison Theatre. See a diverse, focused lineup — in many cases featuring up-and-coming filmmakers — of short films you generally won’t find on the big screen. These films, including Oscar and film festival winners, cover all genres.
• Where: Madison Theatre, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Where: 3232 Railroad Ave., Wantagh
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Contact: mulcahys.com
‘Dog Sees God’
Hofstra University’s Department of Drama and Dance presents Bert V. Royal’s edgy comedy. The unauthorized continuation of the Peanuts comic strip, reimagines its characters as teenagers dealing with various contemporary issues including, identity, substance abuse, and relationships. When CB’s dog dies from rabies, CB begins to question the existence of an afterlife. His best friend is too burnt out to provide any coherent speculation; his sister has gone goth; his ex-girlfriend has recently been institutionalized; and his other friends are too inebriated to give him any sort of solace. Drug use, suicide, eating disorders, teen violence, rebellion and sexual identity collide and careen toward an ending that’s both haunting and hopeful. $15 general admission, $10 for seniors and Hofstra alumni.
• Where: Hofstra’s Joan and Donald Schaeffer Black Box Theater, Joseph G. Shapiro Family Hall, Hempstead
• Time: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; also April 12, 2 p.m.; April 16-April 19
• Contact: hofstra. universitytickets.com
‘A Dream Is A Wish’
The enchanting “A Dream Is A Wish” princess concert returns to the Madison Theatre with new adventures and Disney Classics. Families are invited to sing along to all their favorite Disney songs including “Let It Go,” “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes,” “Part of That World,” “ A Whole New World,” and many more. Enjoy a magical journey and maybe even meet your favorite princess! Breakfast and tea ticket options also available.
• Where: Madison Theatre, Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre
• Time : Varied times, also April 12
• Contact: madisontheatreny.org or (516) 323-4444
APR
12
Celebrate Holi Families are invited to Long Island Children’s Museum to celebrate Holi, the Festival of Colors. Originating in India, this Hindu festival marks the end of winter and the arrival
of the colorful spring season. During this joyous holiday, families eat sweets, dance to traditional folk music and throw colorful powder made from flowers called gulal. Wear white clothes you don’t mind getting messy!
• Where: 11 Davis Ave., Garden City
• Time: 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Contact: licm.org or (516) 224-5800
15
Seaford BOE meets
Seaford Board of Education holds its first of two monthly meetings.
• Where: 1590 Washington Ave., Seaford
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Contact : (516) 592-4000
Bingo at Temple B’Nai Torah
Temple B’nai Torah hosts weekly bingo with prizes, progressive games, and refreshments every Wednesday and Thursday.
• Where: 2900 Jerusalem Ave., Wantagh
• Time : Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m.1 p.m.; Thursdays, 7:15-10 p.m.
• Contact: (516) 221-2370
• Contact: madisontheatreny.org or (516) 323-4444
Wantagh
24
American Legion 1273 banner display Honor local veterans and active military with commemorative banners displayed along Wantagh and Railroad Avenues, celebrating the 250th birthday of our nation. Submit a completed application with photo, service verification and payment to sponsor a banner recognizing a cherished hero.
• Where: 3484 Park Ave., Wantagh
• Time: Ongoing
• Contact: Walpost1273@gmail. com
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.
WEDNESDAY APRIL 22
Produced B RICHHNNE
BUSINESS & TRANSACTIONAL
JOSEPH G. MILIZIO
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Vishnick McGovern Milizio, LLP
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SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY
ANDREW B. WOOLF, ESQ. Founding Partner
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WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
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COMMUNITY CHAMPION
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TRIAL TEAM OF THE YEAR
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Wilson Elser ANTHONY FORZAGLIA Partner
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LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC, Plaintiff AGAINST MARK VAUGHAN, CASEY VAUGHAN, Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered January 8, 2020, and amended June 25, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on April 30, 2026 at 2:30 PM, premises known as 3982 Kingsberry Road, Seaford, NY 11783. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Plainedge-Wantagh, partly in the Town of Oyster Bay and partly in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 52, Block 450, Lot 19A & 19B. Approximate amount of judgment $433,510.28 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #008440/2015. For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832. Jared Kasschau, Esq, Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 16-000890 89358 159190
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a resolution was duly adopted by the Board of Fire Commissioners of the WANTAGH FIRE DISTRICT, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York, on the 30th day of March 2026, subject to permissive referendum as provided for by the General Municipal law. An extract of the resolution is as follows:
The WANTAGH FIRE DISTRICT has by appropriate resolution established a certain capital reserve fund designated as the Capital Reserve Fund, established pursuant to Section 6(g) of the General Municipal Law, in an account for deposit of said Capital Reserve Fund entitled, “The Wantagh Fire District, Section 6(g) General Municipal Building and Grounds Capital Reserve Fund”; and; in which account is sufficient funds to accomplish the purposes herein after set forth, namely, the 2026 Informational Technology Infrastructure Upgrade Capital Project, including repairs and replacement of Informational technology systems, including by not limited to computers, servers, access control systems, fuel management systems, camera equipment as well as incidental expenses, advertising, engineering fees, labor, materials, inspections, delivery and attorney’s fees, in order to maintain the efficiency of the Wantagh Fire District in the discharge of their duties in preserving the lives and property of the residents of the community and the said project is deemed in the best interest of the residents of the Wantagh Fire District.
The resolution further provides that there be transferred from the present Capital Reserve Fund entitled, “The Wantagh Fire District, Section 6(g) General Municipal Building and Grounds Capital Reserve Fund” of the Wantagh Fire District a sum not to exceed an additional Twenty-Six Thousand ($26,000) dollars to the previous resolutions for One Hundred Twenty-Four Thousand ($124,000) dollars for a total project amount not to exceed One Hundred Fifty Thousand
($150,000) dollars and the District Treasurer is authorized to effect such transfer from time to time as necessary for the project.
This resolution is subject to a permissive resolution and shall not take effect until thirty (30) days, as provided by the General Municipal Law.
Dated: March 30th 2026
By order of The Board of Fire Commissioner
Brendan J. Narell Superintendent 159476
LEGAL NOTICE
ASSESSOR’S NOTICE OF COMPLETION OF THE FINAL ASSESSMENT ROLL
THE ASSESSOR OF THE COUNTY OF NASSAU HEREBY GIVES NOTICE that he has completed the 2026/2027 final assessment roll, which will be used for the 2027 levy of Town and County Taxes in the Towns of Hempstead, North Hempstead and Oyster Bay, and the City of Glen Cove and the City of Long Beach, and for the 2026/2027 levy of school taxes in such Towns and in the City of Long Beach. A certified electronic copy of the roll was filed with the Department of Assessment on April 1, 2026. The electronic roll may be examined on public terminals located in the offices of:
DEPARTMENT OF ASSESSMENT
NASSAU COUNTY OFFICE BUILDING 240 OLD COUNTRY ROAD, FOURTH FLOOR MINEOLA, NY 11501 where the same will remain open for public inspection for fifteen days.
Dated this 1st day of April 2026.
JOSEHA A. ADAMO Assessor, Nassau County 159474
LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU
BETHPAGE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION,
-againstLIANNE DUNNE A/K/A LIANNE J. DUNNE, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on April 19, 2018, wherein BETHPAGE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION is the Plaintiff and LIANNE DUNNE A/K/A LIANNE J. DUNNE, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on May 11, 2026 at 2:00PM, premises known as 3884 FRANKLIN AVENUE, SEAFORD, NY 11783; and the following tax map identification: 52-291-932-934. ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT SEAFORD (UNINCORPORATED AREA) IN THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 003770/2016. Ellen Durst, Esq.Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 159479
Sage held an event at the east meadow public Library on march 29, showcasing the talents of musicians, artists and poets. at left, the stage was set ahead of the event’s kickoff.
Continued from page 1
Long Island and New York state, as well as hosting events open to the public — such as the creative showcase in East Meadow.
In rehabilitation centers, Mullady combines music and storytelling, which he feels resonates with those who attend his programming.
“I do these workshops where I speak my story, and then I also play music, which is very interesting — usually people don’t have both,” he said. “Usually, you either have the music, or you have somebody lecturing. It’s not really combined. That’s what I did, I combined the two, and it’s amazing. People seem to get a lot out of it. I always say it’s a lot more fun than a hepatitis lecture.”
Andrew Kase, SAGE’s LGBTQ+ outreach director, said Mullady’s approach is unique.
“I have had my own journey through recovery, and I’ve been in a bunch of facilities, and what Sean and SAGE do is something, and I think it really brings hope to all the patients inside,” Kase said. “It basically shows people there’s life in recovery. There’s life after active addiction.”
Over the course of two hours in the East Meadow Public Library’s community space, attendees experienced dozens of performances that included music, poetry and comedy that spoke to healing and renewal. An art exhibition near the stage showcased drawings and paintings created by individuals in recovery. With exhibition tables and resources available, the showcase embodied Mullady’s hope that life after addiction can be both meaningful and beautiful.
“It’s almost like an extravaganza of art,” Mullady said of SAGE’s events. “There’s just a little bit of everything for everyone. Every song isn’t about recovery because the people are the recovery.”
At the event, Danielle McNicholas, SAGE’s therapeutic director, said a big part of the organization involves providing instruments to those in recovery.
“New people coming in might’ve sold their instruments in their active addic-
tion,” she explained. “We like to give a few instruments away at every SAGE event.”
At the event in East Meadow, two guitars were distributed to musicians.
“It’s a such a beautiful thing, because a lot of times, people that are struggling with addiction, especially if they are musicians, they’ve sold a lot of their instruments, and they’ve kind of lost their mojo,” Mullady said. “I give them a platform where they can step on stage, get their juices flowing. I try to give people a professional space where they can share their stuff and feel like a rock star again. I would say 99 percent, if not 100 percent, of our performers are all in recovery, which is an amazing feat.”
SAGE’s events are attended by people in recovery, the family members of performers and often just members of the general public, especially in spaces like a public library. Concert spaces will be filled with families and children, which brings a lot of hope and light to the event itself, Kase said.
“I’ve been working in the field for a while,” Kase said. “I tell people this message: The opposite of addition is connection. It’s always a beautiful mess, but there’s always so much love. Every single one of our shows, we always grow.”
As Mullady likes to say, SAGE puts “the fun in dysfunctional.”
“There is usually such a negative stigma attached with recovery,” Mullady said. “I feel like the public perception of that is changing — people are much more accepting, because I don’t think there’s a family in the United States that isn’t somehow affected by this disease. So, I feel like SAGE is really doing its part.”
“I think there’s now so much more awareness and education when it comes to addiction, and we’ve been slowly chipping away at the stigma,” Kase added. “It’s not perfect, of course, but we’re doing our part and we’re helping out.”
To donate and learn more about SAGE, its offerings, workshops and upcoming events, visit SAGESite. org.
EMPLOYMENT
Help Wanted
BRANDS CYCLE (WILL TRAIN) *MECHANICS
*FITNESS EQUIPMENT TECHNICIAN 1966 Wantagh Ave, Wantagh 516-781-6100 info@brandscycle.com
Building Maintenance Assistant and Porter needed for Management Co. in Long Beach Experience Preferred Email: humanresoures5771 @gmail.com or Call: (212) 873-7575
DRIVING INSTRUCTOR Company Car/ Bonuses. Clean Driving Record Required, Will Train. Retirees Welcome!
$22 - $27/ Hour Bell Auto School 516-365-5778
Email: info@bellautoschool.com
PHOTOGRAPHERS WANTED
$20 - $25 Per Hour
Must Be Available On Weekends April - June 516-902-6258 Randy@LISNYC.com
This is a standout listing in Woodmere’s Five Towns. Fully renovated legal mother-daughter (2-family classification 220.01), this originally 6-bedroom, 3-bath home is ideal for rental income or extended family living. This oversized 3,500 sq. ft. Hi-Ranch is in the award-winning Hewlett-Woodmere District 14. A stunning
Q. I saw a billboard and several TV commercials for something called “Let Them Build, NY,” and was wondering what you could tell me about it. The commercial said that there is an extra $82,000 spent on housing, per home, just due to government red tape. Is this true, and is anything being done about it?
A. There is plenty of finger-pointing in the construction industry, on top of the current cost increases due to tariffs, war and subsequent delivery costs due to higher fuel prices. But long before there were these current issues, government officials began, at every level, to either increase enforcement of existing regulations or to add regulations on top of what was already fairly complicated and burdensome.
Many years ago I was very active in the American Institute of Architects, to the point of being vice president of the Long Island chapter. I left them when I realized that they did not want to have the backbone to challenge, as a professional group, the regulations that cause construction and building design to become out of reach for a large segment of our population. In the years following, I daily encountered the thousands of building owners who never even attempted to comply with building regulations, basically skirting the entire permit process altogether because of the added expense.
The first and foremost expense is caused by the delays in getting through the approval process. There are so many reasons for the slowdown that it will take several columns, at 500 words apiece, to get through the long list of problems. If you ask a government official, they will point to the design professionals who “just can’t seem to get the regulations right” in their drawing submissions. I have often listened as officials complained to me about inadequate drawings being submitted. In all fairness, it is a two-way street, because the communications from officials back to the architects and engineers is often incoherent or incomplete.
When a plans examiner uses phrases like “demonstrate compliance” or “incomplete submission,” they are contributing to the problem, not solving it. Instead of pointing to specific sections of code and explaining the very specific problem, they communicate in generalities that are useless and cause a lot of extra work and discussion among the people trying to move a project forward. The phrase “If you aren’t part of the solution, you’re part of the problem” applies here.
I remember when a plans examiner would mark up and discuss specific drawings, and some even went the extra mile and pulled out their code books. In the era of computers, the internet and the “portal,” building officials often abbreviate and confuse both the professional and the customer by not pointing out that “the wording on Sheet 3 in the upper right-hand corner should state…” The lack of specifics creates lots of back-and-forth, delays and cost to the owner for the delays. Rent and taxes still need to be paid during the delays.
More to follow.
© 2026 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., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.
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Rosemary and I and our son Sean recently visited the University of Notre Dame. In many ways it was a homecoming.
Rosemary, her mother and her sister graduated from St. Mary’s College, adjacent to Notre Dame, in the days before it accepted female students. Her father and two brothers are Notre Dame grads. Our daughter Erin and I graduated from Notre Dame Law School, and Sean earned his MBA from Notre Dame’s Mendoza School of Business. Sean is now an affiliated scholar at the university’s Liu Institute for Asian Affairs, and regularly lectures on Asian geopolitics and economic policy at the institute and the Mendoza School. When I was growing up as an IrishCatholic kid in blue-collar Queens, Notre Dame embodied Irish-Catholic immigrant success in becoming a part of the American fabric and achieving the American dream. That success was exemplified by Notre Dame’s fabled football teams, which dominated college
football during that era. Of course, there was and is more to the university than football. Notre Dame was founded at a time of severe anti-Catholic bias in the country, led by hate groups such as the Ku Klux Klan and the Know Nothing movement. There also was anti-Catholic bias in academia well into the 20th century, which Arthur Schlesinger Sr. described as “the anti-Semitism of intellectuals.”
My wife and I visited a university you may have heard of to watch our son in action.
Notre Dame, though, went beyond being a defensive religious fortress to making Catholic thought a part of American life, along with full acceptance of other religions, with open debate and finding common ground encouraged. Striking that balance can be difficult, but it is still working. Religious freedom was on display on the campus last year, when pro-Hamas demonstrations did not devolve into the antisemitic violence that occurred at other universities, such as Columbia. Students were given prescribed locations and time periods for demonstrations, and those who ignored them were arrested. The result was intelligent debate without violence.
Rosemary and I visited this year to meet with some of Sean’s academic colleagues and watch him in action. We
ialso walked around the campus, taking in iconic sights like the Golden Dome and rekindling old memories. On our first morning, we met with Frank Pomarico and his wife, Eileen. A Queens native and a graduate of St. Francis Prep, Frank was the captain of Notre Dame’s 1973 national champion football team, coached by the legendary Ara Parseghian. Frank and Eileen live in South Bend, and are amazingly friendly and interesting. It was a great way to start the day.
Then we walked over to the law school to meet with Diane Desierto, a professor of international law and human rights, a native of the Philippines, a friend of Sean’s and a true scholar. Desierto updated me on the state of the law school (all good), her strong belief that law students should be exposed to all sides of issues and that legal education must include a moral component.
We had lunch with Josh Gobel, a good friend and a longtime member of the South Bend Police Department who now works in the Notre Dame P.D. in various key capacities, including protecting visiting dignitaries, such as Supreme Court Justice Amy Cony Barrett — who
attended the law school at the same time as Erin. Great conversation with Josh, as always.
After a visit to the campus bookstore, Rosemary and I joined Sean at the Morris Inn on campus for dinner with Michel Hockx, a Chinese scholar and a professor at the Liu Institute, where Sean had just finished teaching a class. Hockx, who is originally from the Netherlands, has been teaching at Notre Dame for 10 years, and has worked with Sean on various projects. After dinner, we all walked to the Mendoza School to watch Sean give a lecture to a group of students preparing to visit Japan.
He discussed the intricacies of Japanese political, cultural and economic development since the end of World War II, the country’s relationship with the United States and the threats it faces from China. My biased opinion? A thoughtful, virtuoso performance. (He must have gotten it from Rosemary, who was a teacher.)
The next day we flew back to New York. Rosemary and I went home to Seaford, and Sean to his apartment in Manhattan — all three of us with new Notre Dame memories to share. And yes, Notre Dame football is still great. Go, Irish!
Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.
Is this the year of the blue wave? Will it be a modified one or a total rout? Is there any chance of a red wave? Not likely. But, once again, we are facing a year in which the U.S. House of Representatives, and perhaps the Senate, are up for grabs, and the early odds favor the party that’s out of power.
We often refer to political prognosticating it as “reading the tea leaves.” But tea leaves are no longer the best way to pick winners and losers. There are now so many more sophisticated ways to handicap the races, some of which we have been used for years and others that are brand new. The media is dominated by daily polling announcements, and if you give the polls any credence, they spell bad news for President Trump and the candidates of his party.
Poll after poll, whether from the left or the right, seem to indicate that this may be a very bad year for Republicans.
You know that things look bad for them when Fox News consistently announces polls showing that everyday Republicans and independents are slowly moving away from long-favored party candidates. In addition, wellknown commentators such as Megyn Kelly and Tucker Carlson are predicting only bad things for the party come November.
i’ve seen many waves, red and blue, which are part of the ups and downs of politics.
The newest form of political projections is occurring on such outlets as Kalshi and Polymarket. On Kalshi, people trade contracts on the outcome of real-world events. They are deep into gambling on sports events, but lately have also been involved in betting on political events. Polymarket is built on a crypto platform. People bet on “yes” and “no” shares that reflect the feelings of the bettors and their inkling to pick winners. Both platforms have become highly controversial. Demands are being made for them to be regulated by Congress, but that won’t happen soon.
If you want to find more reliable trends, pay attention to what’s going on in Washington and around the country. This year, more than 30 Republican
members of the House have announced that they won’t seek re-election. Some are campaigning for Senate seats and others are running for governor, but the vast majority of the retirees have announced that they’re eager to spend more time with their families, the age-old excuse to get out of Washington.
At last count, there were 35 House seats up for reelection that were tilting toward the Democrats. If the blue wave is really going to happen, most of those seats will go to the Democrats. In 2025 the party won major races in Virginia, New Jersey and New York. This year, a number of Democrats have had upset wins in races for state House seats in districts that Trump won in 2024 by wide margins. If these victories are any indication of the national trend, it’s all bad news for the Republicans.
Up to a few months ago, there was little or no talk about Democrats having any chance to take over the U.S. Senate, but the latest polls seem to show a tightening of the races in Maine, North Carolina, Texas and Ohio. If Democrats can
pull off any upsets in these key states, Jon Ossoff can hold on to his seat in Georgia and a newcomer can win in Michigan, the party’s chances of capturing the Senate will improve remarkably. One of the more disturbing factors for Republicans is the fact that Trump hasn’t made any strong statements about his desire to see his party stay in power. He is promoting various ideas about how they can win at the ballot box, but any federal effort to take the power to oversee voting away from the states will likely be struck down as unconstitutional.
Having reached an advanced age, I’ve seen many waves, both red and blue. They sometimes last two years, and occasionally continue for four years. The swings back and forth between parties are part of the ups and downs of politics. So if it turns out that the Democrats have a great year, they’d better handle their newfound power very carefully, because two years can pass very quickly.
Jerry Kremer was a state assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. He currently chairs the Capitol Insight Group, a government relations firm. Comments? jkremer@liherald.com.
Somewhere on Long Island tonight, a village board will vote on a zoning variance, a school district will finalize a budget or a contractor will win a bid. None of it will lead the network news or trend on social media. But it will matter — to the family whose street gets rezoned, to the teachers whose contract is on the line, to the taxpayers footing the bill.
In most cases, a Herald reporter will be in that room. But in too many communities across the country — and increasingly in our own backyard — that reporter’s chair sits empty. And when no one is watching, things have a way of going sideways.
April 9 is Local News Day, a national moment to recognize what local news does, why it matters, and what we lose when it disappears.
Local news isn’t the shouting matches on cable or the partisan warfare that passes for national political coverage. Local news is the Rockville Centre St. Patrick’s Day parade and the Hewlett High School science fair. It’s the Nassau County budget hearing that will affect your property taxes for the next decade, the obituary that captures a neighbor’s life, and the investigation that stops a bad idea before it becomes law. At Richner Communications — publisher of the Long Island Herald — we’ve been doing this work since 1964. Sixty-two years, three generations, over 100 local employees, nearly 30 weekly newspapers.
The Founding Fathers understood the stakes. The free press is the only indus-
try they considered important enough to protect by name in the Constitution. But we are failing that promise. Since 2004, one-third of all American newsrooms have closed. There are 43,000 fewer local reporters and editors working today than there were then. New York alone has lost nearly half its newspapers, and a quarter of the state’s counties now have one or no local news sources. Digital-only outlets have not filled the void.
Today, more than 2½ newspapers shutter in America each week. The consequences are documented and dire: Communities without local news see lower voter turnout, higher taxes and measurable increases in corruption, political polarization, and even toxic environmental emissions.
Wealth is no inoculation from this trend. The Scarsdale Inquirer was founded in 1901 and served one of the wealthiest communities in America for 123 years. It closed without warning in January 2024. The Westchester village — mirroring the demographics of many Long Island communities — still doesn’t have a newspaper over two years later.
Compounding this problem is the rise of artificial intelligence, which can now manufacture articles, quotes, and entire “news sites” that look authoritative and cost almost nothing to create. That means the news environment has only grown harder to navigate. Trusted news brands, with reporters who actually live and work in the communities they cover, are more important than ever. It’s the reason that we at the Herald use A.I. as a tool to support, not replace, the report-
ers you know and respect.
And yet the climate for news in America has rarely been more hostile than today. The United States now ranks 57th in the world in press freedom — labeled “problematic” by Reporters Without Borders, placing us alongside countries we’re accustomed to lecturing about democratic norms. Arrests of reporters and editors in America nearly tripled between 2023 and 2024. A national shield law for reporters has failed to pass Congress twice. Right now, the Pentagon is aggressively curtailing press access, a policy that flies in the face of a functioning democracy. The temperature in Washington sets a tone, and that tone travels — all the way to the reporters covering Long Island’s myriad municipal entities.
The Herald has always believed that local news is worth fighting for. It’s why we helped found the Empire State Local News Coalition, which won a first-of-itskind state tax credit for local newspapers. That legislation is already helping newspapers survive that might otherwise have gone dark, meaning that thousands of New Yorkers who might otherwise have lost their only trusted local news source still have one.
Every community gets the local news it deserves — which is to say, the local news it supports. If you want a paper that shows up, you have to show up for it. On Local News Day, make that decision. Subscribe. Advertise. Tell your neighbors. The Herald has been here for over a century. Whether we’re here for the next one is, in no small part, up to you.
The American people are fed up.
The chaos at our airports was awful, the Department of Homeland Security has not been fully funded during these very dangerous times, and the people are demanding that Immigration and Customs Enforcement live up to the standards of all other federal law enforcement agencies. They are sick and tired of the endless blame game. All across America, people are demanding that politicians put partisanship aside and work together to fix the very real problems we face.
The anger and annoyance are real. And frankly, I agree.
That’s why I’ve introduced bipartisan legislation to immediately reopen DHS while advancing common-sense reforms to ICE. Alongside my Problem Solvers Caucus co-chair, Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, who served as an FBI agent for more than 15 years, I am trying to cut through the dysfunction, isolate the problem areas where negotiations have stalled and work together to actually get something done.
Our solution is common sense: fund the parts of the DHS where there are no disagreements, like disaster response and cybersecurity, and institute real reforms to ICE that most Americans have been hungering for. It only makes sense to hold ICE, a federal law-enforcement agency, to the same safety and accountability standards of every other bureau in the nation.
Calling us
Democrats have been saying for weeks that they will fund the $87 billion that doesn’t go to ICE right now. That would have ended the airport disaster, paid our TSA agents far earlier and kept the core functions of DHS operating. We would not vote to fund the other $10 billion for ICE, however, until there were real reforms.
‘Country Destroying, Radical Left Democrats’ doesn’t help.
That means body-camera and officer-identification requirements, higher training standards, a crackdown on roving patrols and limitations on agents wearing masks. The legislation would also lay out stronger warrant requirements and rules governing activity in sensitive locations to ensure that enforcement resources are focused on the “worst of the worst.”
It seems simple, but Congress has been in a political standoff that perfectly exemplifies what’s wrong with Washington. Let me explain.
The budget for the DHS is $97 billion. $87 billion of that funds everything from the TSA agents at our airports to Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster responses, cybersecurity units and the Coast Guard. The remaining $10 billion funds ICE.
While Republicans resisted at first, there was eventually enough consensus among both Democratic and Republican members of Congress to at least reopen the non-ICE agencies of DHS. But just as bipartisan negotiations in the Senate were making progress, President Trump intervened with a directive to his party: “No deals with the Democrats.”
To be precise, he outlawed deals with the “Crazy, Country Destroying, Radical Left Democrats.”
That’s outrageous. Once again, that’s politics getting in the way of progress. Finger-pointing has been all too prevalent.
I have built my career on finding common ground for the common good. It has always been my philosophy that I’ll work with anyone, regardless of political party, to get things done for my constituents. As co-chair of the biparti-
san Problem Solvers Caucus, I’ve worked with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to tackle the nation’s toughest issues. Just a few months ago we passed legislation out of the House that extended health care tax credits to prevent skyrocketing premiums for millions. Unfortunately, then as now, the president got in the way, changing the debate from bipartisan health care wins to Venezuela and Greenland before the Senate could close the deal.
I represent a district that voted for Trump and for me. My constituents aren’t interested in partisan talking points — they want results. They want safe airports, secure borders, a functioning government and a lower cost of living. And they want their elected officials to work together to deliver.
People are concerned that the Department of Homeland Security has not been in the game. They’re outraged about the illegal and immoral behavior of ICE. And they’re frustrated that politicians are too busy pointing fingers to solve our problems.
We don’t have to choose between security and accountability. We can do both. We don’t have to accept dysfunction in Washington. And we certainly don’t have to tolerate political games when real people are being affected.
Tom Suozzi represents the 3rd Congressional District.
