Seaford Herald 05-28-2026

of recurring odor complaints from nearby residents.

The hidden cost of clean water Neighbors say odors from Cedar Creek impact daily life

By HUNTER FENOLLOL hfenollol@liherald.com

For some living near the Cedar Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant off Merrick Road in Wantagh, the smell emanating from the facility is more than an occasional nuisance — it has shaped daily life for decades.

The odors, often described by residents as sewage-like or sulfuric, have become a recurring source of frustration in nearby neighborhoods, including Seaford, particularly for homeowners closest to the South Shore waterfront the facility overlooks.

“We pay such incredibly high taxes and can’t use our outdoor space,” said Seaford resident Debra Stoeckert Rapisardi, who has lived on Neptune South near the facility for 26 years. “There are times that you literally hold your nose when you have to go outside.”

“This winter, for some strange reason, it was horrible, mostly every single night,” Rapisardi said. “You can’t even go sit outside and put your fire pit on.”

The problem, she said, has changed the way her family lives inside their own home.

“I use my air conditioner all year long,” Rapisardi said. “I never, ever open up the windows.”

Other residents described similar experiences, including smelling the odors while driving along the Wantagh Parkway or spending time outdoors near the water. Several said they have stopped reporting the issue altogether because they feel complaints lead nowhere.

“You call, you complain about the smell, and they say, ‘Well, it can’t be coming from us,’” Rapisardi said. “Those calls go absolutely nowhere.”

But officials with Veolia, the environmental services company that operates Cedar Creek on behalf of Nassau County, said the facility remains one of Long Island’s most critical pieces of environmental infrastructure.

The Cedar Creek facility serves roughly

a 50-year-old time capsule

By HUNTER FENOLLOL hfenollol@liherald.com

A time capsule was buried outside St. James Catholic School, in Seaford, for the past 50 years, quietly preserving the memories, hopes and voices of students who roamed its halls during the United States’ Bicentennial celebration.

Nearly 200 alumni, parishioners and community members gathered outside St. James Parish on May 2 as the capsule was unearthed — just days before the 50-year anniversary of its burial in May 1976.

I“When the time capsule was opened, the first letter to be found — and the last item placed in the capsule before sealing — was my father’s handwritten letter of love to his wife and children,” Janice Whelan said. “It was like him speaking to us from heaven.”

The simple note, wrapped around a quarter to keep it secure, listed the names of Whelan’s wife, children and even the family dog before ending with one word: “Love.”

t was like him speaking to us from heaven.

JANICE WHELAN

St. James alumna

Inside were more than 600 letters written by students and teachers, school uniforms and handwritten reflections from another era, many remarkably preserved thanks to the craftsmanship of Ronald Whelan, a skilled builder who later owned his own construction company and helped engineer the capsule decades ago. He died in December of 1997.

For Whelan’s daughters, Janice and Monica, the ceremony became something far more personal than a reunion.

Event coordinator Kelley Sommerville, a St. James alumna who helped organize the celebration, said that discovering Whelan’s note was one of the ceremony’s most emotional moments.

“It was just a white piece of paper enclosed with a quarter in it,” Sommerville said. “It listed all his family, his wife, his children and their dog, and it just said ‘love.’ I teared up with that because I know the Whelan family.”

The capsule was buried during the nation’s Bicentennial

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Courtesy Veolia

The Cedar Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant in Wantagh, which officials have described as critical to protecting Long Island waterways and groundwater, has for decades been the subject

Necessary infrastructure, unwanted neighbor

600,000 residents and processes around 60 million gallons of wastewater daily, according to Veolia officials.

“If we were to shut down the plant immediately, there’d be a massive backup into the homes of all those 600,000 people,” Cedar Creek project leader Daniel Rowe said. “Without wastewater treatment, essentially we’d be pouring sewage straight into the ocean.”

John Turner, senior conservation policy advocate for the Long Island environmental group Seatuck Environmental Association, called Cedar Creek “critically important” to Long Island’s environmental health.

“All of the sewage treatment plants on Long Island play a vitally important role,” Turner said. “If somehow you had all that sewage being generated that could not be treated, it would be catastrophic.”

Turner explained that centralized wastewater systems are essential in densely populated areas like Nassau County, where relying solely on septic systems and cesspools could threaten Long Island’s aquifer system.

Still, Turner acknowledged that persistent odors near a wastewater facility should not simply be accepted as normal.

“An operating plant that is operating well shouldn’t be generating regular strong odors,” he said. “That suggests

there may be something else going on.”

According to Veolia officials, odors can originate from multiple sources, including wastewater collection lines, nearby marshlands, low-tide conditions and weather patterns that trap odors near the ground.

Veolia officials said the company monitors hydrogen sulfide — the gas commonly associated with sewage odors — using sensors around the facility and throughout surrounding communities. The company has also implemented additional sewer flushing, installed carbon filters in certain manholes and expanded odor-abatement systems in

recent years.

Officials also acknowledged that odors can temporarily worsen during equipment failures or maintenance work. Rowe cited a scrubber pipe that burst during extremely cold weather this winter, briefly taking odor-control equipment offline before repairs were completed.

“We take every single report seriously,” said Adam Lisberg, Veolia’s senior vice president of external communications.

Residents told the Herald they often feel dismissed after filing complaints, while Veolia officials expressed frustra-

tion that some residents who are bothered by odors may not formally report them through the hotline system.

“If people aren’t reporting it to us, we don’t know,” Lisberg said.

Lauren Sternberg, the plant’s communications manager, said she oversees every phone call except overnight complaints, which are addressed the next day.

Turner said the tension reflects the difficult balance between maintaining essential infrastructure and protecting nearby residents’ quality of life.

“They need to try to the greatest extent possible to make sure that infrastructure harmonizes with the communities that it’s being placed in,” Turner said.

“Long Island is awash in too much nitrogen,” he added. “It’s vital that we continue to ratchet down the amount of nitrogen that is in our wastewater.”

Rapisardi said she understands that the plant serves an essential purpose, but believes that nearby residents have carried the burden of the infrastructure for too long.

“I understand it’s a plant,” she said. “I understand that at some point there’s going to be some type of odor. But can we come together and do this on a specific day or night — just something that allows us to utilize our outdoor space?”

Offshore wind, solar and storage power New York’s next chapter

New York’s energy debate is often framed as a question of transition. But for many experts, environmental advocates and utility officials, the more immediate issue is one of necessity. Electric demand is rising, infrastructure is aging and customers are grappling with utility costs, all while the state works to reduce pollution and prepare for future growth.

The fastest way to add more power to the grid is through renewable energy paired with battery storage. Offshore wind, solar power and battery energy storage have become central to the conversation because they can diversify the grid, provide stable sources of energy and reduce environmental impact.

The New York Independent System Operator has predicted energy demand will increase by 65% by 2040, putting pressure on an already strained electric system that still relies heavily on aging

fossil-fuel infrastructure.

“Our electricity needs are increasing,” said Doug Schmid, environmental science professor at Nassau Community College and executive committee member of the Sierra Club Long Island Group.

“The New York State plan for our energy future is counting on 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind energy. We need it.”

Renewable energy advocates also point to the environmental and public health benefits tied to reducing combustion emissions.

“The wind blows, the turbines turn, and energy is produced,” said Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment. “The air quality is not impacted.”

Esposito said communities are

already experiencing the effects of climate change through rising seas, heavier rainfall and coastal damage, concerns that directly affect Long Island’s economy, tourism industry and shoreline infrastructure. Insurance costs in flood-prone areas are also becoming a growing issue.

Though renewable energy projects have faced opposition and misinformation campaigns funded by fossil-fuel interests, advocates say offshore wind, solar and battery storage together offer a practical path toward meeting future energy demand, improving affordability, creating jobs and reducing emissions.

Courtesy Veolia

Project Leader Daniel Rowe, fourth from right, pointed out the raw sewage pumps on a tour of the Cedar Creek Water Reclamation Facility on May 9.

Photo taken by a fisherman of a whale at an offshore wind farm near Long Island.

Photo credit: Captain Paul Eidman

WHS 9/11 Committee builds legacy from loss

By HUNTER FENOLLOL hfenollol@liherald.com

The Wantagh Warrior 9/11 Committee is continuing to expand its efforts to ensure that younger generations never forget the impact of the Sept. 11 attacks, as it raises funds for a permanent memorial, student scholarships and educational trips to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.

All of our kids that go to school now were born after 9/11. The only recollection they have is from word of mouth or from a textbook.

Created in 2023, the committee grew out of conversations among school administrators and staff who felt the district needed a more lasting tribute to the lives lost in the attacks, including those of Wantagh residents.

“We really do live by that mantra of ‘Never forget,’”

Christopher Widmann, assistant principal of Wantagh High School, said. “We want students to understand the impact that it had on our country and on the people who lived and worked in this community.”

local first responders. The Nassau County Police Department and the Wantagh Fire Department have also supported the event, and an American flag has been displayed over Wantagh Avenue during the race.

CHRISTOPHER

WIDMANN

Assistant principal, Wantagh High School

The district has long held moments of silence and read the names of Wantagh residents who died each year, Waldman said, but staff members wanted to create something more permanent and meaningful for students born after the attacks.

“All of our kids that go to school now were born after 9/11,” Widmann said. “The only recollection they have is from word of mouth or from a textbook.”

The committee launched the Wantagh Warriors 9/11 5K in 2024 as its primary fundraiser to support several initiatives, including discounted trips for Wantagh High juniors to the 9/11 Memorial, scholarships for graduating seniors, teacher grant programs and the eventual construction of a memorial on school grounds. The event has already become a major community gathering, drawing more than 750 runners in its first year and similar participation last year, according to district officials.

In addition to the race, the day includes a children’s fun run, raffles, sponsor tents and appearances by

Wantagh High Principal Paul Guzzone said the committee recently spent nearly $10,000 to help fund this year’s museum trip, covering about 80 percent of the cost for students. Economically disadvantaged students attend free of charge.

“We felt this should really be a rite of passage,” Guzzone said. “We didn’t want the cost to prevent students from having that experience.”

The district’s partnership with the Gary Sinise Foundation has played a major role in shaping the committee’s mission. The high school previously participated in the foundation’s Soaring Valor program, which connected students with World War II veterans in New Orleans. The school later became the first in the country to participate in the foundation’s student 9/11 museum program.

“I can tell you firsthand just how proud our founder, Gary Sinise, is to see so many grateful Americans, like himself, at Wantagh High School, who, in a nutshell, [are] the epitome of our educational mission to ensure that these incredible stories of service and sacrifice after the events of Sept. 11, 2001, continue to transcend future generations,” Jim Ravella, the foundation’s executive vice president, said of the actor. “What began for Wantagh High School as a student trip to the National World War II Museum and National Septem-

ber 11th Memorial & Museum has evolved into a schoolwide effort to honor our nation’s heroes and their families through initiatives like their annual Wantagh Warrior 9/11 Memorial 5K and scholarships for students with service members or first responders in their families, initiatives we were honored to support.”

Ravella added that as the 25th anniversary of the attacks nears, the foundation plans to expand its educational initiatives to connect students to additional memorials and museums nationwide, including the Flight 93 Memorial, so it can inspire more schools to learn about and preserve those lessons of leadership and heroism.

Guzzone said the experiences have deeply impacted students and staff alike. Following its first Soaring Valor trip, the district invited several World War II veterans to graduation and presented them with honorary diplomas. One veteran revealed that it was the first diploma he had ever received after leaving school early to enlist during the war.

The committee has also awarded scholarships to graduating seniors for their community service and leadership. This year, seven scholarships will be presented at a ceremony on May 28.

Looking ahead, officials say the committee’s largest goal remains the creation of a permanent 9/11 memorial on school grounds. Organizers estimate the project will cost more than $150,000, and hope to complete it in 2027.

Courtesy Wantagh School District photos

Racers lined up at the starting line, on Beltagh Avenue, last Sept. 14 for the second annual Wantagh Warrior 9/11 Memorial 5K.

Runners were off for the race which began and ended at Wantagh High School.

NEWS BRIEF

Lee Road Students Hatch Connections

Kindergartners at Lee Road Elementary School in the Levittown School District recently experienced a memorable hands-on lesson as they watched duck eggs hatch right inside their classroom.

Over the course of multiple weeks, students carefully observed the incubation process as eggs were cared for in their classroom, teaching them about the life cycle of ducks and the importance of patience and responsibility. Excitement filled the classroom as the ducklings began to hatch and students

got a firsthand look at new life emerging. After the ducklings arrived, students had the opportunity to gently touch the ducklings and care for them under teacher supervision. From providing food and water to observing the ducklings’ behaviors, students learned valuable lessons about kindness, compassion and caring for living things. The experience combined science with interactive discovery, creating lasting memories for the young learners while inspiring curiosity about the natural world.

Serving Our Community with:

• Funerals that are dignified, personalized and affordable

• Pre-arrangement planning in your home or our office

• Traditional Cremation options

• Specialized in Veterans Benefits

WANTAGH

603 Wantagh Avenue (516) 731-5550

EAST MEADOW

2515 N. Jerusalem Rd. (516) 826-1010

Subtitled “The Art and Science of Thriving in Life’s Second Half”, this book reflects the natural progression of our desire to increase our lifespan (the number of our years), to increasing our healthspan (the number of our healthy years), to increasing our joyspan (the number of our joyful years). The author defines joy as an inner feeling of well-being or contentment, as opposed to happiness, which comes and goes, often according to external circumstances.

Burnight writes, “To thrive in old age means to live a fulfilling, purposeful, and satisfying life despite the challenges of aging. It involves maximizing physical health, cognitive function, emotional well-being, social connections, and a sense of meaning. Thriving doesn’t mean being free of all health problems or challenges, rather, it emphasizes resilience, adaptability, and the ability to find joy and value in life.”

Research shows that those who thrive late in life:

Grow: They continue to explore and expand

Connect: They put time into new and existing relationships

Student ambassadors covered a broad range of topics to prepare fifth graders for the transition to middle school in a few months.

EAST ISLIP

62 Carleton Avenue (631) 581-2828

Student Leaders Welcome Future Wantagh Warriors

By HUNTER FENOLLOL hfenollol@liherald.com

Mandalay Elementary School fifth graders are just months away from the next stop on their educational journeys, and they will be prepared thanks to their peers who made the transition to middle school a few years ago.

Adapt: They adjust to changing and challenging circumstances

Give: They share themselves

As a Professor of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Dr. Burnight was struck by the radical difference in how people experienced their own aging process. “For some it is a frustrating, degrading, painful trajectory of ever-increasing decline. For others, there is visible delight, spirituality, and joy in occupying their eighth, ninth, and tenth decades.”

The thieves of joy are (1) comparison with others (2) frustration with health and mobility limitations (3) feeling like you are a burden (4) feeling heartbroken over the loss of a loved one, and (5) feeling defeated as if your best days are behind you. Nevertheless, she says, “Like the sun, joy is always there. But when it’s hidden by clouds, we mistakenly say it’s gone. Joy is resilient and can break through the clouds because it’s an innate part of the human experience.”

“One might say that following this doctor’s prescription will increase your “joyspan” and decrease your “oyspan”!

Wantagh Middle School student ambassadors visited Mandalay on May 19 to meet with the future sixth graders. That followed visits to Forest Lake Elementary School the day before and Wantagh Elementary School on May 13. The student ambassadors shared a digital presentation that gave a comprehensive overview of middle school. Topics included a typical sixth grade schedule, elective courses, annual events, clubs and sports, lockers, student IDs, teaming, technology

and time management.

The seventh and eighth grade student ambassadors shared tips for success and used their own experiences to help put the incoming middle schoolers at ease. They noted the Wantagh Middle School brand, “Warriors Care,” which emphasizes kindness. Additionally, student ambassadors talked about the middle school’s “helping team” which includes guidance counselors, nurses, psychologists and social workers.

In June, fifth graders from each elementary school will visit the middle school for a meeting with their future guidance counselors and a tour led by the student ambassadors. An orientation session follows in August. Students ambassadors are advised by teacher Corrie Harris and psychologist Dr. Tracy Zelenetz.

Courtesy Wantagh School District

Students in 1976 imagined life 50 years later

celebration in 1976, when St. James students dressed in Colonial-era clothing and wrote essays imagining what life in 2026 might look like.

Sommerville, who attended the school from first through eighth grades, recalled the excitement surrounding the ceremony, when she was in first grade. “I remember dressing up in Colonial garb,” she said. “It was a huge celebration.”

The unearthing was part of what is another milestone year for the parish, which is preparing to celebrate its 75th anniversary this fall, after commemorating America’s upcoming semiquincentennial.

The Rev. John Derasmo, the pastor of Saint James Catholic Church, watched the capsule excavation from a secondfloor window overlooking the crowd.

“To see the concern and the love, the joy that they had just being together, was very heartwarming,” Derasmo said. “Many of them have said the same — what a great event that was.”

The capsule contained tubes filled with letters from every grade level, along with boys’ and girls’ school uniforms from the 1970s. Monica Whelan’s uniform was among them.

The 50-year-old time capsule contained over 600 letters and Colonial-inspired outfits from America’s 200th anniversary.

“Our father was all about community,” she said. “Everything our dad did was about enhancing the neighborhood.”

She described her father as a proud Marine, a Boy Scout leader and a patriot who embraced the future long before modern technology became commonplace.

“He was so advanced in his time,” his daughter said. “He kept saying to us that everything was going to be on video and phones someday.”

According to the family, engineers involved in excavating the capsule were stunned by how well the structure held

up after five decades underground.

“They kept saying, ‘How did he know how to do that?’” Monica said.

Many of the student letters reflected both the innocence and anxieties of the mid-1970s. Sommerville said that older students wrote about pollution, drugs and concerns about society, while younger students focused on everyday school life and hopes that St. James would still be thriving in 2026.

“Life has changed — but then some of it hasn’t changed,” she said.

BELMONT PARK VILLAGE

Three letters from faculty members were read aloud at the ceremony, messages from beloved teachers and nuns whose words still resonated five decades later. One warned of growing moral decline despite advances in technology, while another expressed hope that future students would continue growing into “good citizens.”

After the capsule was opened, alumni gathered in the school’s Delaney Hall to search through tables organized by graduating class, many discovering childhood letters they hadn’t seen in half a century.

“There were tears and hugs everywhere,” Sommerville said. “People reconnected with friends they lost touch with years ago.”

For many attendees, the event was less about nostalgia and more about preserving a shared sense of faith, family and community.

“I would tell future generations to keep the community strong and the faith strong,” Sommerville said. “Stay together and keep the parish going.”

Derasmo agreed, saying the event reflected the welcoming spirit that continues to define St. James today.

“I just hope younger parishioners can see that our parish is deeply loved by people,” he said. “That will stir in them a desire to want to get involved and be part of it.”

Maureen Lennon/Herald

Students of the Quarter named at Nassau BOCES

This spring, 125 students from throughout Nassau County were named Students of the Quarter for the thirds quarter by Nassau BOCES Barry Tech and GC Tech career and technical education high schools. All were honored for their grades, attendance, work ethic and preparedness. Students of the Quarter have taken the initiative on class projects and are role models for their fellow students, in both the classroom and the workplace.

In Baldwin, the Students of the Quarter were Elizabeth Albrecht, Barry Tech Cosmetology; Ashaunti Mosley, Barry Tech Veterinary Science; Analia Perez, Barry Tech Cosmetology; Anthony Cruz Ramos, Barry Tech Animation & Digital Media Skills; and Ethan Solano-Madera, Barry Tech Auto Skills.

Bellmore-Merrick’s Student of the Quarter was Sean Schettino, CG Tech Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning.

In East Meadow, the Students of the Quarter were Sandra Flores Garcia, Barry Tech Physical Therapy Aide and Rehab Medicine; Yiannis Kakavas, Barry

Tech Carpentry; Bryan Lai, Barry Tech Computer Game Design & Programming Skills; Aidan Lehmann, GC Tech Automotive Technology; Gabriel Martinez Cruz, Barry Tech Animation & Digital Media Skills; Joshua Rubinfeld, Barry Tech Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement Administration; Isabella Schaefer, Barry Tech Health Care Skills; and Kaylee Fuentes, Barry Tech Culinary Arts.

In Levittown, the Students of the Quarter were Isabella Bonano, GC Tech Medical Assisting; Antonia Bruno, GC Tech Medical Assisting; James Carr, Barry Tech Computer Game Design & Programming Skills; Thomas Cukro, GC Tech Construction Electric; Sarah Florentin, GC Tech Cosmetology; Luis Guerrero, GC Tech Automotive Technology; Caeli Mugno, GC Tech Esthetics and Skin Care; and Kyle Russo, Barry Tech Plumbing.

In Wantagh, the Students of the Quarter were Emma Bush, Barry Tech Child Care Skills; Margaret Conti, Barry Tech Dental Assisting; and Peyton Garrett, Barry Tech Horse Science and Management.

—Jonathan Padillo

NEWS BRIEF

MacArthur Student Publishes Book

A General Douglas MacArthur High School student is now a published author after the release of his book that collects wildlife photography from a trip to Kenya.

Titled “Wildlife Photography: Frames From Kenya,” junior Daniel Islam’s book features photos of elephants, various birds, hippopotamuses and more. Islam brought a Canon M50 on his family trip to Kenya, where he spent two weeks in February 2025. His primary passion is birdwatching, which he describes as an accessible hobby that benefits from the use of a camera. When he saw his photos of wildlife throughout the trip, he was influenced to collect

them in a book. With the help of his father, sister and a family friend who is a book publisher, the idea came to fruition. Islam wrote the book’s preface and blurbs for each photo throughout. A highlight for him, Islam shared, are the photos that showcase elephants, which help the reader “feel the power and intelligence behind the animal.”

One of Islam’s main goals in publishing the book is to inspire people to travel more. “It’s not just to showcase wildlife photography,” he said, “but to generate interest in such a wonderful place.”

—Hunter Fenollol

Sunday, June 7th

FUN LOVIN’ CRIMINALS AND BLESSID UNION OF SOULS

Thursday, June 11th - 6:00pm

Senior Afternoon Concert

featuring Amber Ferrari and Debra Toscano

Thursday, June 18th

Juneteenth Celebration – Earth Wind & Fire Tribute by D’votion, Gospel Choir and DRIFT featuring members of TAUK and MJT

Friday, June 19th - 3:00pm

FIFA World Cup Watch Party USA vs. Australia

Monday, June 22nd - 6:00pm

Senior Afternoon Concert

The Chiclettes and Vinnie Medugno

Friday, June 26th

The Allmost Brothers BandAllman Brothers Tribute, Sons of Skynyrd –Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute

Saturday, June 27th

FREESTYLE MEETS SALSA –featuring BRENDA K. STARR, TITO PUENTE JR., TKA/K7, JOEY CRUZ, LA SONORA 495 AND FOREVER FREESTYLE BAND

Sunday, June 28th

REGGAE NIGHT WITH INNER CIRCLE, WAYNE WONDER AND IRIEspect

Thursday, July 2nd – 5:30pm

TD PRESENTS CELEBRATE AMERICA FIREWORKS & DRONE SHOW with Live Music By: Glenn Strange, Chicken Head and Let Freedom Rock

Friday, July 3rd

Fireworks Rain Date

Thursday, July 9th

Oldies Night with E’stefano DiSanto, Johnny Farina, Bobby Wilson, Vito Picone & The Elegants and The Brooklyn Bridge

Saturday, July 11th

Disco Unlimited

Thursday, July 16th

Harry Chapin Day – Corey Rieman and The Dilemma Band with Scarborough Fair - Simon & Garfunkel Tribute

Saturday, July 18th

Simply Stapleton –Chris Stapleton Tribute

Sunday, July 19th - 6:00pm

Last Exit – Pearl Jam Tribute Foo For All – Foo Fighters Tribute

Thursday, July 23rd

LANIE GARDNER & BROOKE MORIBER

Friday, July 24th

ZBTB – Zac Brown Band Tribute and Guys with Guitars

Saturday, July 25th - 6:30pm

JEFFERSON STARSHIP, ATLANTA RHYTHM SECTION, FIREFALL AND PURE PRAIRIE LEAGUE

Sunday, July 26th - 4:00pm

Family Day On The Lake, featuring Beauty and The Beat, Princesses and wide-ranging entertainment for children and families

Thursday, July 30th

3 Decades Rewind

Rock Hits of the 60s, 70s and 80s

Friday, July 31st

Half Step – Grateful Dead Tribute

Saturday, August 1st

SALUTE TO VETERANS with Desert Highway – Eagles Tribute and American Bombshell

Sunday, August 2nd

Lovesong – 80s New Wave Tribute

Thursday, August 6th

THE OUTLAWS

Friday, August 7th

COLE SWINDELL

Saturday, August 8th

Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Broadway

Monday, August 10th - 6:00pm

Senior Afternoon Concert

Gerry Ferretti and the Mutant Kings and Jenna Esposito

Thursday, August 13th

Neil Diamond Tribute

Friday, August 14th

Swingtime Big Band

Saturday, August 15th

MIDTOWN MEN

ORIGINAL CAST OF JERSEY BOYS

Thursday, August 20th

Let’s Sing Taylor – Taylor Swift Tribute

Friday, August 21st

LOUD LUXURY with OPENING BY DJS CAFFEINE ACADEMY, DJ DENNIS THE MENACE AND JUST JOE

Sunday, August 23rd

WORLD RENOWNED PUERTO RICAN SALSA ORCHESTRA

Thursday, August 27th

Long Island’s American Idols featuring Constantine Maroulis, Kevin Covais and Robbie Rosen with Special Guests

Friday, August 28th

Dancing Dream – ABBA Tribute

Monday, August 31st FLO RIDA

Tuesday, September 1st ZZ TOP

Thursday, September 3rd

THE LORDS OF 52ND STREET

Friday, September 4th LOS LOBOS

Saturday, September 5th

Streetfighter – Rolling Stones Tribute, Who’s Next – The Who Tribute

Courtesy Nassau BOCES

Nassau BOCES GC Tech Students of the Quarter, Antonia Bruno, Jordyn Lessne, Sarah Florentin, Matthew J. Wipperman, Aidan Lehmann, Kanye Ray, Logan McClancy and Robert Northrop.

Israeli Elite hockey comes to UBS arena

With late third-period rally, Jerusalem Capitals capture Challenge Cup, defeating HC Tel Aviv 6-5

By HAILEY FULMER hfulmer@liherald.com

No matter who scored, fans throughout UBS Arena jumped to their feet, waving Israeli flags, proudly cheering on competitors from the Israeli Elite Hockey League last week during the Challenge Cup championship between the Jerusalem Capitals and HC Tel Aviv. In a thrilling game, the Capitals mounted a late comeback to win 6-5.

The Challenge Cup, originally scheduled for February but postponed because of a blizzard, finally brought the two teams together on the ice in Elmont for a hard-fought game.

The atmosphere inside the arena on May 17 felt like more than just a hockey game. Families packed the stands dressed in blue and red, and there was loud chanting and spirited flag-waving throughout the crowd, creating a strong sense of pride and unity among fans celebrating both the sport and Israeli culture.

“It’s nice when you get to see support a lot for Jews and the country,” said spectator Hillel Kober, who was rooting for HC Tel Aviv.

Brooklyn resident David Silverberman said the game provided a comforting atmosphere amid a culture of rising antisemitism. “It’s a good game,” he said.” It’s very competitive scoring, but not too much. The fans are into it. It’s an exciting day, and you know, if you’re Jewish, there’s so much antisemitism going on right now, it feels very comfortable to be here. It’s nice to see the families too.”

The IEHL, founded in 2020 and approaching its sixth season this summer, was founded by Marc Brunengraber, a former goaltender for the Israeli national team. Brunengraber said the league was created not only to develop hockey talent in Israel, but also to highlight another side of the country.

“The goal is to raise Israel from the world championship Division II level to Division I,” Brunengraber said. He added that the league aims to positively represent Israel beyond the conflict-focused narratives that often dominate coverage of the country, emphasizing that its citizens continue to live everyday lives as ordinary people.

The championship game was intense from start to finish, marked by heavy physical play, shifting momentum and a UBS Arena crowd that fed off every moment of drama. Tel Aviv controlled play for much of the first two periods, keeping Jerusalem players on their heels and forcing them to fight just to stay within reach heading into the third.

Capitals player Nathanel Peretz described the surreal feeling of stepping onto the ice at UBS Arena.

“There’s kids growing up dreaming of this moment, and you’re seeing Jerusalem against Tel Aviv, and a bunch of Jewish people just playing the sport they love,” he said.

Peretz admitted that the locker room atmosphere was tense after the second period with Jerusalem trailing by two goals. “It’s the second year that we [were down by] two goals going into the third,” he said. “We trusted our coaches, we trusted our captain, we trusted our players, and we got out there in the third.”

Late in the third period, the Capitals suddenly took over. Two goals came just seconds apart, and suddenly Tel Aviv was scrambling to keep up. The energy in the arena flipped instantly as fans rose to their feet, and the game intensified dramatically in the final minutes.

Capitals head coach Craig Brunengraber said the team had to manage intense emotions to complete the comeback. “You have a lot of strong personalities,” he said. “At the end of the day, we won the game, and that’s the hardest part about being a coach.”

He also praised Peretz’s performance, saying, “Peretz is all heart and soul. He shows the world he can do this on a world stage.”

Despite the loss, Tel Aviv captain Mike Gennello reflected on the broader meaning of the game. “Guys can get on the ice and it can be an absolute war out there, and then we get off and it’s all smiles,” he said.

As Jerusalem celebrated its comeback victory on the ice, fans throughout the arena remained standing, waving Israeli flags, giving the scene a powerful sense of pride in their country — and the game of hockey.

HC Tel Aviv’s Johnny Lazarus controlled the puck, with Jerusalem’s Zach Sprung on his heels.

Erik Lee/Herald photos

The Jerusalem Capitals and goaltender Yonatan Reisinger pulled out a win over HC Tel Aviv on May 17 at UBS Arena.

HC Tel Aviv’s Zach Freeman, right, collided with Jerusalem’s Jeremy Sprung.

Molloy Celebrates Class of 2026 at Jones Beach

By HUNTER FENOLLOL hfenollol@liherald.com

More than 1,000 graduates crossed the stage at Jones Beach Theater on May 20 as Molloy University held its annual commencement ceremony overlooking the Great South Bay and Atlantic Ocean.

The Class of 2026 included 703 bachelor’s degree recipients, 295 master’s graduates and 30 doctoral graduates, among others, who were celebrated by family members, friends and faculty during the ceremony.

“This is always a triumphant day, and even better that it’s here, at an iconic Long Island location where we can all celebrate,” Molloy University President James P. Lentini said. “We hear a lot about challenges for new graduates, but our students have studied in practical fields, and they always find success when they leave us.”

One of the ceremony’s highlights featured Lentini performing Green Day’s “Good Riddance” on acoustic guitar alongside Molloy CAP21 theater graduates.

Award-winning journalist Jo Napolitano delivered the commencement address and received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree for her work in education and social justice reporting. Napolitano has written for The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, Newsday and The 74, focusing much of her reporting on education equity and student opportunity.

valedictorian, while Grace Wilson of Hicksville was named salutatorian.

The university also recognized two top graduates from Long Island. Isabella Schaefer of East Rockaway served as

“Isabella and Grace represent the very best of Molloy University,” Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Michelle Piskulich said.

“Together, they embody the spirit of service and purpose that defines Molloy University and will undoubtedly inspire our graduates as they step forward into lives of impact and meaning.”

Tim Baker/Herald

Graduates from Molloy University’s Class of 2026 celebrate during commencement exercises at Jones Beach Theater on May 20.

Wantagh High Hosts Health and Wellness Fair

By HUNTER FENOLLOL hfenollol@liherald.com

An idea to connect Wantagh High School students with health and wellness resources came to fruition on May 20 with a two-hour fair featuring dozens of vendors. The inaugural Health and Wellness Fair was several months in the making, and gave hundreds of students a chance to explore new ways to support their mental and physical health.

Representatives from numerous agencies and businesses, such as hospitals, counseling centers, physical therapy offices and fitness centers, were on hand. Students could learn about organ donation, skin protection, vaping prevention, wholistic wellness and much more. There were giveaways at many of the booths, where students and professionals made meaningful connections. Food and beverage companies also donated samples of healthy snacks and drinks.

Several of Wantagh High School’s health-related student organizations and classes were represented including Best Buddies, Cohen Strong, the Health and Wellness Club, Morgan’s Message, Physical Education Leaders, student government and the Peak Performance and Nutrition class. Cohen Strong students provided their peers with coping skills and strategies based on the five senses. Morgan’s Message had a large board filled with sticky notes, and students were encouraged to take a note with a positive message and leave one for someone else. Bags with messages on inclusivity along with bracelets, pins and stickers were given out by Best Buddies.

The Health and Wellness Fair was organized by health education teacher Jaclyn Stevens. Physical education and health classes that met during the three-period fair attended, and all teachers were invited to bring down their classes to the gymnasium as well. Students could also visit during lunch. Each period featured a planking

One of the highlights of the event was a planking competition.

competition, as students and staff competed to see who could do the static, full-body exercise the longest.

The event was sponsored by Wantagh SEPTA, the 6-12 Association, the Sports Booster Club and Jovia Financial Credit Union.

Addison Gottlieb, left, and Erin Gerrity from the Morgan’s Message club encouraged their peers to take and leave positive messages.

Seaford Teachers Honored During Appreciation Week

By HUNTER FENOLLOL hfenollol@liherald.com

Walmart partnered with the Seaford Harbor Elementary School PTA this month to celebrate local educators during Teacher Appreciation Week, donating $1,500 and providing gifts and supplies to honor teachers and staff.

The retail giant donated snacks and supplies for more than 200 educators to celebrate and recognize school employees, while also providing three 55-inch Vizio televisions that were awarded during a Teacher Appreciation Week trivia game. The televisions were later donated back to the Seaford School District for student use.

According to Seaford Harbor Elementary Principal Jennifer Bisulca, one television will remain at the elementary school and be mounted in the cafeteria to display announcements and student photos, while the other two were donated to the middle school and high school.

“We’re grateful for the opportunity to celebrate Seaford’s teachers and school staff, whose dedication makes a lasting difference for students and families every day,” a Walmart spokesperson said. Bisulca agreed that Teacher Appreciation Week is an important opportunity to recognize the work educators do every day for students and families.

“Our teachers really work hard every single day to make our school a warm and welcoming place for students,” Bisulca said. “They really give 100 percent, so it’s important for us to acknowledge them.”

She added that teachers in Seaford Harbor Elementary go beyond classroom instruction by building strong relationships with students and families while

Seaford Harbor Elementary staff and PTA representatives

Week. Local Walmart stores provided snacks for the celebration and

schools.

creating supportive learning environments.

“They build nice connections with the families and the students so that they can work together in a partnership,” Bisulca said. “Everybody knows that homeschool connection is the most important.”

Bisulca also said community partnerships with

organizations like Walmart help educators feel valued and recognized.

“It means a lot,” she said. “It means that they’re recognizing that this profession is not just a profession — it’s a calling, and it’s something that needs to be honored and acknowledged.”

Courtesy Wantagh School District photos

Courtesy Walmart

joined Walmart leaders to celebrate Teacher Appreciation

donated three 55-inch Vizio TVs to Seaford

BRIEF

East Broadway Elementary’s Career Day

Students throughout East Broadway Elementary School in the Levittown School District had the opportunity to learn about a wide range of professions during the annual Career Day on May 15 as community members shared insights into their careers.

Students were inspired to think about their futures as classrooms were visited by professionals who gave engaging presentations. Careers represented included police officers and firefighters, with special guests that included the vice president of design for Calvin

Klein, the deputy editor of Newsday and a robotics coordinator. Presenters discussed their career paths, daily responsibilities and the skills needed to succeed in their industries. The event gave students a firsthand look at careers in public service, media, law and more while encouraging curiosity, goal setting and lifelong learning. Students asked questions and gained valuable exposure to the many opportunities available to them in the future.

—Hunter Fenollol

Courtesy Levittown Public Schools

Police officer James Frauenberg spoke to students at East Broadway Elementary School during Career Day on May 15.

STEPPING OUT

Nature, brick by brick

Wild wonders in LEGO form at Old Westbury Gardens

By Christie Leigh Babirad

Art, nature and imagination come together this summer at Old Westbury Gardens with the arrival of Sean Kenney’s Nature Connects Made with LEGO Bricks, an outdoor exhibition that transforms familiar scenes from the natural world into larger-than-life works of art.

Now on display through Sept. 7, the exhibit features 17 larger-than-life intricate sculptures crafted entirely from LEGO bricks, many inspired by the landscapes, wildlife and beauty found throughout the historic gardens. Blending creativity with environmental themes, the installation invites visitors of all ages to experience the grounds in a fresh and unexpected way.

For Maura Brush, president and CEO of Old Westbury Gardens, bringing the exhibition here has been especially rewarding after years of planning and anticipation.

“We’re really excited to be hosting this exhibit,” Brush says, explaining that whenever she and her team choose a temporary exhibit, they strive for the display to blend with the grounds — and this does exactly that.

“When you see the exhibit and you see the sculptures it really fits so beautifully within the landscape,” she continues. “Old Westbury Gardens is home to foxes, butterflies and hummingbirds, and to see these exaggerated, large-scale sculptures in the landscape, it feels like it fits pretty beautifully.”

All of the displays are tucked into natural places throughout the garden areas where visitors might see these creatures and flora naturally. Each includes is a sign that indicates how many bricks were used, how many hours it took the artist to make each one and facts about the creature or flora.

Angela and Martin Pavlovic attended the preview opening with their 5-year-old son Niko who was excited to see the hummingbird and gave rave reviews for the wheel barrel made completely out of LEGOs.

“I like the wheel barrel,” Niko enthused. “It’s a 10 out of 10.”

Anne Caminiti, who attended with her daughters Nina and Mia, noted their eagerness to see the exhibit as her eldest daughter loves LEGOs.

South Shore Symphony

“I’m excited to see this display in one of our favorite places and see how many LEGOs it took to make each one,” Caminiti says, adding that she appreciates how many great family programs are offered at Old Westbury Gardens.

Ashley Friel, spokesperson for Imagine, which manages the exhibit, explains that Sean Kenney, who has been involved with Imagine for over 10 years now, is an artist who likes to invoke a sense of whimsy and fun for the whole family.

• Sean Kenney’s Nature Connects open daily, except for Tuesdays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., through Sept. 7

• 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury

• For more information and program/events schedule visit oldwestburygardens.org or call (516) 333-0048

“Nature Connects is a super inspiring show and really about how the beauty of nature is interconnected in the same way that LEGO bricks are,” Friel says.

She added that she is eager to hear visitors’ reactions to the sculptures and hopes the exhibit encourages guests to see the natural world through a new and more imaginative lens.

The fun does not stop with the sculptures. Throughout the Nature Connects’ duration, Old Westbury Gardens will host a series of LEGOthemed events and programs designed to inspire creativity and bring together visitors of all ages.

Laura Erwin, education manager, explained that the exhibit will be complemented by a variety of special events, including Family Nights and the Seasonal Sprouts program, held on select Wednesdays from July 1 through Sept. 2. Created for children ages 4 through 10, Seasonal Sprouts combines exploration and creativity through guided outdoor tours of the exhibit followed by hands-on activity in a LEGO free-play space.

“There are a lot of fun events coming up and the Family Nights are going to be big,” Erwin says.

Another preview visitor, Claudine Krause, stopped by with her son Tatum, who she said loves LEGOs and goes to all the master LEGO events and has been following Sean Kenney’s work.

“There’s a lot you can learn through LEGOs and they have a lot of great events for children here,” Krause says.

Adults can also join in the creativity when Bricks and Brews returns on Aug. 6, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

The adults-only evening pairs art and socializing, beginning with a guided tour of the exhibition and continuing at the Barn at Orchard Hill, where guests will build with official LEGO Botanical Daisies kits while enjoying refreshments in a relaxed setting.

The beloved orchestra, under direction of Adam Glaser, returns to St. Agnes Cathedral for its annual spring concert, joined by St. Agnes combined choirs, directed by Michael Bower. The inspiring program showcases beloved masterworks, including Mozart’s Regina Coeli, and Bach’s Mass in B Minor: Dona Nobis and Beethoven’s Christ on the Mount of Olives: Hallelujah.The evening culminates with Beethoven’s monumental Symphony No. 9, the groundbreaking 1824 masterpiece that transformed symphonic music by introducing a chorus in its final movement and giving voice to Friedrich Schiller’s enduring “Ode to Joy,” a celebration of unity and shared humanity. More than 65 musicians and approximately 75 vocalists join acclaimed soloists soprano Risa Renae Harman, mezzosoprano Elizabeth Sarian, tenor Eric Finbarr Carey, and baritone Scott Lefurgy. Admission is free, with donations requested.

Friday, May 29, 7:30 pm. 29 Quealy Place, Rockville Centre. Visit sssymphony.org for more.

The blues-rock guitarist-singersongwriter has built a reputation as one of the most exciting live performers of his generation. Blending electric blues, rock, soul, R&B, and hints of hip-hop, Clark’s sound is both rooted in tradition and boldly modern. His guitar tone often recalls legends like Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan, but his songwriting, socially aware lyrics, and willingness to experiment make him stand out as a contemporary artist. On stage, he is known for extended solos, dynamic arrangements, and emotionally charged vocals that move from soft falsetto to gritty growls, making every concert feel unforgettable. Anyone who has listened to a Gary Clark Jr. album or watched the four-time Grammy Award winner perform live knows that he’s a gifted multiinstrumentalist, songwriter and performer.

Wednesday, June 3, 8 p.m. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.

Gary Clark Jr.

Right photo courtesy Imagine/ other photos Christie Leigh Babirad/Herald Detailed

Westbury Gardens

bricks.

Your Neighborhood CALENDAR

MAY

‘Something Rotten! The Musical’

See the comedy musical, set in the 1590s, which follows two playwright brothers competing with William Shakespeare as they attempt to create the world’s first musical. From tap dancing eggs to beautiful love stores, this musical really has it all. Songs include “A Musical!,” “It’s Hard to Be the Bard,” and “Welcome to the Renaissance.” The cast is comprised of New York City professionals, including David Hibbard, who was in the original Broadway production, with CAP21 alumni and current students. Performances are scheduled throughout the fourday run.

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

• Time: Varied times, through May 31

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

Family theater

MAY

Long Island Children’s Museum stages

“Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical!,” back at the museum by popular demand. With a script written by Mo Willems, the creator of the award-winning “Pigeon” picture books, and featuring music by Deborah Wicks La Puma (Elephant & Piggie’s We Are in a Play!), this show is even more fun than staying up late and having a hot dog party! It’s not easy being the Pigeon since you never get to do anything. But when the Bus Driver has a crisis that threatens to make her passengers (gasp!) late, maybe that wily bird can finally do something. Featuring an innovative mix of songs, and feathers, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical! is sure to get everyone’s wings flapping. $11 with museum admission ($9 members), $15 theater only.

• Where: 11 Davis Ave., Garden City

• Time: 10:15 a.m. and noon.; also May 30, June 3-4

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

Seaford Spring Jam

The Seaford Spring Jam returns for a weekend packed with carnival rides, games, entertainment, food trucks, and family fun at the Seaford LIRR station. Enjoy concerts each night on the LI Fairs Stage, including performances by T Minus Ten on Friday, Arlington Road on Saturday, and School of Rock with Netty & Friends on

David Lee Roth

JUN

• Where: 3710 Woodbine Ave., Wantagh

• Time: Noon-4 p.m.

• Contact: mahjonggCBT@ yahoo.com or (516) 785-2445

JUN

Floats Your Boat

Long Island Children’s Museum welcomes families to celebrate the opening of the H2Oh! Water Play exhibit by creating a floating boat. Put your boat to the test in a water tub to see if it sinks or floats at the drop-in program. For ages 3+.

• Where: 11 Davis Ave., Garden City

• Time: Noon-2 p.m.

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

Storybook Stroll

Get ready to jump! Diamond Dave is back! The iconic, high-flying frontman of Van Halen is bringing his legendary swagger and a massive arsenal of rock anthems to the Paramount stage. Fans can expect a high-octane night packed with timeless hits like “Jump,” “Panama,” and “Runnin’ with the Devil.” This tour marks a massive return for the rock legend, who officially ended a five-year hiatus from the stage last May with a triumphant, headlinemaking debut at the M3 Rock Festival. Far from a stripped-down nostalgic act, Roth is backing up his signature showmanship with a powerhouse new eight-piece band to perfectly replicates those massive, classic Van Halen harmonies. Between the fresh musical muscle and Roth’s undiminished, charismatic stage presence, this promises to be an unforgettable night of nostalgia and high-energy rock ‘n’ roll. If you’re looking for a night of pure, unadulterated arena-rock energy right in our own backyard, this is the ticket of the season.

Sunday. Attendees can also enjoy a variety of food vendors and trucks serving festival favorites and specialty eats while taking part in rides, games, and activities for all ages.

• Where: LIRR station, from Seamans Neck Road to Jackson Ave, Seaford

• Time: 4-10 p.m., through May 31

MAY

30

Sprout and Bloom

Families can dig in and get their hands dirty at Long Island Children’s Museum. The museum welcomes all to celebrating all the beautiful May flowers by planting your own at the drop-in program. Take it home and watch it grow!. For ages 3+.

• Where: Museum Row, Garden City

• Time: Noon-2 p.m.

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

2

Barbershop Harmony Society is a chorus of more than 20 singers, now welcoming new members. The ensemble performs fourpart a cappella harmony in the barbershop style, entertaining audiences at libraries, assisted living facilities, hospitals, and local events. All are welcome to visit one of their weekly rehearsals. Come listen, meet the chorus, and — if you’d like—join in and sing. No musical experience is necessary, just a love of singing and a desire to have fun making music together.

• Where: Faith Lutheran Church, 231 Jackson Ave, Syosset

• Time: Tuesdays, 7:30-9:30 p.m.

• Contact: Call: Rich, (516) 5214779, or Dennis, (516) 680-8036, or visit longislandharmonizers. org

JUN

3

Harmonize with Long Island Harmonizers

Love to sing? So do the Long Island Harmonizers. The chapter of the JUN

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

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

• Time: 8 p.m.

• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com

JUN

4

Thursday Night

Thursday Night Live returns to Wantagh with an evening of live entertainment, local vendors, family activities, and community fun. The popular outdoor event series transforms the downtown area into a lively gathering space featuring live music performances, bounce houses, food and dessert trucks, shopping opportunities, and activities for all ages. Residents and visitors alike are invited to enjoy a festive summer atmosphere while supporting local businesses and vendors. The event is part of the 2026 Thursday Night Live summer schedule, which continues on select evenings throughout June (18), July (2, 16, and 30), and August (13, 27).

• Where: Railroad Avenue and Wantagh Avenue, just north of the LIRR station, Wantagh

• Time: 5 p.m.

• Contact: Wantagh Chamber of Commerce at (516) 679-0100

Game time Play Mah Jongg and Canasta every Thursday at Congregation Beth Tikvah. Snacks and drinks are provided. $5 contribution.

Bring the kids to Old Westbury Gardens for a Storybook Stroll. Little listeners are invited to participate in a guided stroll through the Gardens, with a reading of “The Secret Garden” by Callista Brill (based on Frances Hodgson Burnett) Along the way, discover nature’s wonders, in the formal gardens. The tour ends at the Thatched Cottage with a story and hands-on craft for each child to take home.

• Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury

• Time: 10:30-11:30 a.m.

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

JUN

7

Rockin’ the park

Eisenhower Summer Concert Series is back and welcomes Fun Lovin’ Criminals and Blessid Union of Souls bands.

• Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow

• Time: 76 p.m.

• Contact: (516) 572-0200

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.

FREE community event focused on health, wellness, and lifestyle

Meet trusted local exhibitors and service providers

Take advantage of on-site health screenings

Enjoy lively entertainment, fitness demonstrations and interactive experiences

Hear from experts during a panel discussion with Q&A

Win raffles, prizes, and giveaways

Snack station for all

*Boxed lunches for first 150 attendees

All designed to help you stay active, informed, and engaged at every stage of life.

x273 AGENDA:

NEWS BRIEF

MacArthur Student Publishes Book

A General Douglas MacArthur High School student is now a published author after the release of his book that collects wildlife photography from a trip to Kenya.

Titled “Wildlife Photography: Frames From Kenya,” junior Daniel Islam’s book features photos of elephants, various birds, hippopotamuses and more. Islam brought a Canon M50 on his family trip to Kenya, where he spent two weeks in February 2025. His primary passion is birdwatching, which he describes as an accessible hobby that benefits from the use of a camera. When he saw his photos of wildlife throughout the trip, he was influenced to collect them in a book. With the help of his father, sister and a family friend who is a book publisher, the idea came to fruition. Islam wrote the book’s preface and blurbs for each photo throughout. A highlight for him, Islam shared, are the photos that showcase elephants, which help the reader “feel the power and intelligence behind the animal.”

One of Islam’s main goals in publishing the book is to inspire people to travel more. “It’s not just to showcase wildlife photography,” he said, “but to generate interest in such a wonderful place.”

Gillen talks drug threats with local superintendents

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE TO THE TAXPAYERS OF THE WANTAGH FIRE DISTRICT: NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a resolution was duly adopted by the Board of Fire Commissioners of the WANTAGH FIRE DISTRICT, Town of WANTAGH, County of NASSAU, State of New York, on the 18th day of MAY, 2026, subject to permissive referendum as provided for by the Town Law. An extract of the resolution is as follows: THE WANTAGH FIRE DISTRICT SHALL SELL A 2013 FORD BRAUN AMBULANCE NO LONGER NECESSARY FOR THE DISTRICT’S USES AND PURPOSES VALUED AT MORE THAN TWENTY THOUSAND ($20,000.00) DOLLARS, BUT LESS THAN ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND ($100,000.00) DOLLARS, SUBJECT TO MARKET FORCES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN THE BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS

UNDER SECTION 176 SUBDIVISION 23 OF THE TOWN LAW.

Sale of said vehicle is subject to a permissive referendum as required under Section 176 subdivision 23 of the Town Law and in accordance with procedures for permissive referendums as described in the General Municipal Law.

By Order of the BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS WANTAGH FIRE DISTRICT

TOWN OF WANTAGH Attested May 18th 2026: Brendan J. Narell Superintendent Wantagh Fire District 160422

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BY THE BOARD OF APPEALS

Pursuant to New York State Town Law Article 16, New York State Public Officers Law

Article 7, and the Town of Hempstead Building Zone Ordinance, NOTICE is hereby given that the BOARD OF

APPEALS of the Town of Hempstead will hold a public hearing in the Town Meeting Pavilion, Town Hall Plaza, One Washington Street, Hempstead, New York on 06/10/2026 at 9:30

A.M. to consider the following applications and appeals:

THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 9:30

A.M.

304/26. - 306/26. SEAFORD - Thomas & Andrea Glynn, Maintain shed higher & larger than permitted, exceeding horizontal maximum on all sides & with rear yard setback variance; Special exception to maintain 2nd accessory structure (gazebo) higher than permitted; Maintain 6’ high PVC fence forward of the dwelling which may substantially obstruct line of sight & in clear sight triangle at owners driveway., N/W cor. Hilaire Way & Hilaire Way, a/k/a 3705 Hilaire Way

This notice is only for new cases in Seaford

within Town of Hempstead jurisdiction. There are additional cases in different hamlets, towns and villages on the Board of Appeals calendar. The full calendar is available at https://hempsteadny.go v/509/Board-of-Appeals The internet address of the website streaming for this meeting is https://hempsteadny.go v/576/Live-StreamingVideo

Interested parties may appear at the above time and place. At the call of the Chairman, the Board will consider decisions on the foregoing and those on the Reserve Decision calendar and such other matters as may properly come before it. 160412

PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES…

To place a notice here call us us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com

To Place A Notice Call 516-569-4000 x232

U.S. Rep. Laura Gillen hosted an information session with Nassau County school superintendents and Frank Tarentino, associate chief of operations for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Northeast Region, to discuss the threat of fentanyl and synthetic drugs in local schools and communities.

The discussion focused on efforts to combat fentanyl, carfentanil, xylazine and other illicit drugs, while also highlighting resources and opportunities available through Gillen’s office for students and schools.

The meeting included presentations from Tarentino and Larry Lamendola, co-chair of the Levittown Community Action Coalition. Lamendola, an addiction treatment advocate, has worked to raise awareness about fentanyl poisoning since the death of his daughter in 2019.

“The danger we face from the fentanyl, carfentanyl, xylazine and other illicit drugs trafficked into our communities cannot be overstated. Their capacity to kill is terrifying,” Gillen said. “After meeting with the frontline warriors at the DEA who are combating this scourge, I saw the critical need to make sure our neighbors, schools and students are informed about this threat.

I’m grateful to DEA Associate Chief of

Operations Tarentino, activist Larry Lamendola and our school superintendents for their partnership in fighting to protect our youth and neighbors.”

In addition to discussing public safety and student wellness, Gillen encouraged school leaders to connect students with programs available through her office, including the Congressional Art Competition, the Congressional App Challenge and this week’s Military Service Academy Information Session. Gillen also highlighted her work in Congress to support law enforcement and combat drug trafficking, including helping pass the HALT Fentanyl Act and supporting increased funding for the DEA through the fiscal year 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Act. Gillen recently visited New York’s divisional DEA lab to hear about its work supporting law enforcement and keeping illegal drugs off the street.

Participating school leaders included representatives from Hempstead, Rockville Centre, Lynbrook, East Meadow, Baldwin, Valley Stream, Uniondale, Roosevelt, Oceanside, Malverne, Lawrence, Island Park, East Rockaway, Chaminade High School and Evergreen Charter School.

—Jordan Vallone

L et us K now

News Brief items including awards, honors, promotions and other tidbits about local residents are welcome. Photographs may be emailed as well. Deadline for submissions is noon Thursday, week prior to publication. Send to execeditor@liherald.com

Courtesy Levittown Public Schools

General Douglas MacArthur High School junior Daniel Islam is a published author after the release of his book, “Wildlife Photography: Frames From Kenya.”

Courtesy Office of U.S. Rep. Laura Gillen

U.S. Rep. Laura Gillen hosted an information session with school superintendents to discuss the threat of fentanyl and synthetic drugs in local schools and communities.

CIRCULATION ASSOCIATE

Full Time/Part Time

Richner Communications, publisher of Herald community newspapers has an excellent opportunity for a FT/PT Customer Service Clerk in our busy Circulation Department. Basic customer service and administrative responsibilities include: heavy computer work, answering phones, making phone calls, entering orders, faxing, filing, etc. STRONG knowledge of EXCEL a must! Knowledge of DATABASE maintenance or postal regulations a big plus. Qualified Candidates must be computer literate, able to multi-task, dependable, reliable, organized, energetic, detail oriented and able to work well under deadlines.

Salary Range is $17 per hour to $20 per hour.

For consideration, please send resume & salary requirements to: circulationassociate@liherald.com

COMPANION AVAILABLE

Responsible & Experienced With Luxury Car To Assist With Doctor Appointments, Errands, Shopping, Etc. or Just Going Out For An Enjoyable Day! Call 646-708-2160

DRIVERS WANTED

Full Time and Part Time

Positions Available!

Busy Print Shop in Garden City is Hiring Immediately for Full Time and Part Time Drivers. Must Have a Clean License and BoxTruck Driving Experience. Hours Vary, Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $21 per hour Night Availability is a Must. Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239

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

EDITOR/REPORTER

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

To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to jbessen@liherald.com

MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP

Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $20 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com

Employment HERALD

beach. (516)705-8398

HAMMOCK NEW in Bag all weather fabric hardware incl. 2

$75. (516) 857-5804

WENDY'S CLEANING SERVICES INC.

Commercial/Residential. We Specialize In Houses, Apartments, Offices, Airbnb & More. Good References. Free Estimates. Call/Text Wendy 516-406-5375 Or Email wencruzpa@gmail.com

E-Z ELECTRIC SERVICES, INC.

All Types Residential/Commercial Wiring, Generators, Telephone/Data, Home Entertainment, Service Upgrades, Pools, Spas. Services/Repairs. Violations Removed. Free Estimates Low Rates. 516-785-0646 Lic/Ins.

PAINTING & HANDYMAN SERVICE

Tired of calling a contractor & they don't call back? I will call you back the same day! 917-822-0225 Ricky

APPLIANCE KING: Washers, Dryers, Dishwashers, Microwaves, Stoves, Refrigerators. WE RULE REPAIR ! $10 Off Repair With Ad. Senior Discount. Lic/Ins #201025, Call 516.640.8593

Get DISH Satellite TV + Internet! Free Install, Free HD-DVR Upgrade, 80,000 OnDemand Movies, Plus Limited Time Up To $600 In Gift Cards. Call Today! 1-866-782-4069

Specializing in carpentry, bathrooms, kitchens, sheetrock, flooring, electric, plumbing. Over 25 yrs exp.Lic/Ins H3805150000

DO YOU KNOW what's in your water?

Leaf Home Water Solutions offers FREE water testing and whole home water treatment systems that can be installed in as little one day. 15% off your entire purchase. Plus 10% senior & military discounts. Restrictions apply. Schedule your FREE test today. Call 1-866-247-5728

PREPARE FOR POWER outages today with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 5-Year warranty with qualifying purchase. Call 1-877-516-1160 today to schedule a free quote. It's not just a generator. It's a power move.

PREPARE FOR POWER outages with Briggs & Stratton® PowerProtect(TM) standby generators - the most powerful home standby generators available. Industry-leading comprehensive warranty - 7 years ($849 value.) Proudly made in the U.S.A. Call Briggs & Stratton 1-888-605-1496

SAFE STEP. NORTH America's #1 WalkIn Tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-the-line installation and service. Now featuring our FREE shower package and $1600 Off for a limited time! Call today! Financing available. Call Safe Step 1-855-916-5473

GET BOOST INFINITE! Unlimited Talk, Text and Data For Just $25/mo! The Power Of 3 5G Networks, One Low Price! Call Today and Get The Latest iPhone Every Year On Us! 844-329-9391

POWERWASHING ALL SURFACES: Houses, Fences, Concrete/ Brick, Decks/Sealing. ANTHONY & J HOME IMPROVEMENT, INC. 516-678-6641

CONSUMER CELLULAR - the same reliable, nationwide coverage as the largest carriers. No long-term contract, no hidden fees and activation is free. All plans feature unlimited talk and text, starting at just $20/month. For more information, call 1-844-919-1682

T&M GREENCARE TREE SERVICE *TREE REMOVAL *STUMP GRINDING *PRUNING. FREE ESTIMATES. 516-223-4525, 631-586-3800 www.tmgreencare.com

DIRECTV- All your entertainment. Nothing on your roof! Sign up for Directv and get your first three months of Max, Paramount+, Showtime, Starz, MGM+ and Cinemax included. Choice package $84.99/mo. Some restrictions apply. Call DIRECTV 1-888-534-6918

TERRORISM IN NONPROFIT facilities is growing. But available security grant money can help protect them. Edldirect Consulting can help. Call/text 1(516)318-6385 for more information

AUTO BUYERS $Highest$ Ca$h Paid$. All Years/ Conditions! WE VISIT YOU! Or Donate, Tax Deduct + Ca$h. DMV

OPINIONS

Protecting our suburbs from overdevelopment

Long Island’s suburbs weren’t created by accident. They were built to offer families a place to grow, to feel safe, and to put down roots in communities that reflect shared values and a commitment to quality of life. In the Town of Hempstead, we take that responsibility seriously.

Right now, however, that way of life is being challenged from two directions: Albany’s push to override local zoning authority, and unchecked overdevelopment that threatens the character of our neighborhoods. I want to be clear that my administration is not opposed to growth. We understand the need for more housing, including more affordable housing, to ensure that the next generation can stay on Long Island. But growth must be thoughtful, balanced and locally driven. It can never be dictated by Albany bureaucrats who neither live in nor understand our communities.

Governor Kathy Hochul’s latest plan to circumvent local zoning regulations is a direct threat to suburban Long Island. It is a one-size-fits-all mandate

that ignores the unique needs, infrastructure and character of towns like Hempstead. Local zoning exists for a reason. It allows communities to plan responsibly to ensure that roads, schools, public safety services and utilities can support new development. Stripping that authority away undermines decades of careful planning and silences the voices of the very residents these policies impact.

Decisions about our neighborhoods should be made by the people who live here and the officials they elect, not by distant policymakers focused on solving problems specific to New York City. Long Island is not Manhattan, and it should not be treated as such.

A lbany’s plan to curcumvent local zoning is a direct threat to suburban L.I.

At the same time, we have taken decisive action at the local level to protect the integrity of our neighborhoods. In Levittown, one of the most iconic suburban communities in America, we recently passed a zoning reform to address the rise of so-called McMansions. Often built by developers looking to maximize profit, these oversized homes, which dwarf neighboring properties and fundamentally alter the character of entire neighborhoods, have been replacing modest, affordable houses.

Levittown was built as a symbol of opportunity. After World War II, it provided affordable homes for returning veterans and their families. It was a place where the American Dream was within reach and where legacy mattered. We listened when residents came forward, voicing concerns about privacy, overcrowding, infrastructure strain and the loss of neighborhood character.

After extensive public hearings and community input, the Town Board unanimously voted to reduce the allowable building area on residential lots to align it with the majority of residential zoning restrictions in the Town of Hempstead. This strikes a balance between allowing homeowners to improve and modernize their properties and preventing overdevelopment that erodes the very charm that makes these neighborhoods special. When modest homes are replaced with million-dollar structures, we aren’t expanding opportunity. Rather, we are pricing families out and changing the fabric of our neighborhoods in ways that cannot be undone.

These two issues — Albany’s overreach and local overdevelopment — are connected by the need to protect our suburbs from decisions that prioritize

volume over value and expediency over community.

We also cannot ignore the broader context. As Albany struggles to pass a budget, we see proposals that include record spending increases, bailouts that disproportionately benefit New York City, and little meaningful relief for Long Island taxpayers. At a time when families are already feeling the pressure of rising costs, this approach is simply unsustainable.

I am proud to stand with many of Long Island’s leaders to say to Albany that enough is enough. We need a state government that respects local control, exercises fiscal responsibility and recognizes that Long Island deserves its fair share and should not be left as an afterthought in a city-centric agenda.

Protecting the suburbs doesn’t mean resisting all change. It means guiding change in a way that preserves what works while addressing what doesn’t. It means building housing that is attainable, not excessive. It means empowering local communities, not overriding them.

The Town of Hempstead will continue to stand firm on these crucial matters. We will defend our neighborhoods, uphold local decision-making and ensure that our suburbs remain places where families can thrive today and for generations to come.

John Ferretti is the Town of Hempstead supervisor.

Bill Bleyer knows Long Island history like few others

“Long Island Naval History in Wartime” was the title of a recent presentation by Bill Bleyer, the author of “Long Island and the Sea,” from which much of his talk was drawn. It is among seven books written by Bleyer published by The History Press. For 33 years, Bleyer was an award-winning Newsday reporter with a specialty in history and maritime issues. He has a deep personal involvement in the marine world, literally — as a diver. Indeed, in his talk earlier this month he told of diving to and exploring several boats sunk in waters off Long Island. Also, on the surface of area waters he has long operated a sailboat.

Bleyer, of Bayville, is a former president of the Press Club of Long Island. His gave his talk at the Sag Harbor Whaling and Historical Museum. It came as the museum features a number of events tied to the nation’s semiquincentennial. Bleyer will be back

at the museum on June 28, speaking on “Long Island in the American Revolution.”

He started his most recent talk by relating the first naval battle in Long Island history, which was also the first amphibious landing of troops in U.S. history. The British, Bleyer said, were using Gardiners Bay, and taking provisions from lands around it. So, George Washington, commander and chief of the Continental Army, ordered a landing of troops on Plum Island to remove livestock that otherwise would be taken by the British.

Tschooner, removing most of those on board but leaving four, including a free African American, William Tillman, the steward. They told Tillman they would sell him as a slave for $1,000 or more when they reached Charleston, S.C.

he naval battles fought off our shores? Sunken ships? He knows about them.

Bleyer detailed the subsequent Meigs Raid, also called the Battle of Sag Harbor, in which, in 1777, Continental soldiers, under the command of Lt. Col. Jonathan Meigs, a veteran of Bunker Hill, journeyed from Connecticut and attacked a British outpost in Sag Harbor.

During the Civil War, the Confederacy deployed “commerce raiders” to prey on Union shipping — including off Long Island. Bleyer spoke of the Confederate ship Jefferson Davis snaring the schooner S.J. Waring in 1861, southeast of the Island. The southerners, he said, put a five-man crew of their own on the

Subsequently, Bleyer related, Tillman led the recapture of the vessel, grabbing a hatchet on the boat and killing the Confederate captain and two officers with it. The ship went on to New York and, Bleyer said, Tillman’s actions and the recapture were celebrated throughout the North at a time when the Union had few victories to celebrate.

It was on Long Island in the late 19th century, Bleyer said, that submarines, and torpedoes that could be fired from them, were developed. He told of how submarine builder John P. Holland worked in New Suffolk, which became America’s first submarine base. Meanwhile, to the south, the E.W. Bliss Company was experimenting with torpedoes in Noyac Bay, off Sag Harbor.

During World War I, the only sinking of a U.S. capital, or main, warship by the enemy happened eight miles off Fire Island, Bleyer said. The vessel was the

USS San Diego, a cruiser that ran into a mine laid by a German U-boat.

Bleyer noted how, during World War II, there was an “unorthodox” U.S. wartime move: the formation of the Picket Patrol. With the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard short on warships and intense German U-boat activity in the region, a fleet of civilian sailboats, longer than 50 feet, were used. The absence of engines allowed them to patrol silently without detection by U-boats. They were painted battleship gray, and crewed by Coast Guard Reserve members who were connected by radio to military forces.

Meanwhile, this area became a major center for the construction of landing craft, minesweepers and rescue boats. They were built in Freeport, Greenport, Huntington, Oyster Bay and Port Washington.

“Long Island and the Sea” goes way beyond the Island’s wartime history and is a great read, full of photos, like Bleyer’s excellent talk. He’s on the lecture circuit — he told me he has 68 bookings ahead on subjects he has written about. Catch a talk — and his books.

Karl Grossman has been an investigative reporter in a variety of media for more than 50 years. He is a professor of journalism at the State University of New York at Old Westbury.

robert Cummings

Multi-Media Marketing Consultant

oFFiCe

2 Endo Boulevard Garden City, NY 11530

Phone: (516) 569-4000

Fax: (516) 569-4942

Web: www.liherald.com

E-mail: seafordeditor@liherald.com

Water safety starts with vigilance

As summer approaches on Long Island, our communities eagerly embrace the joys of swimming, boating and waterfront leisure. From backyard pools to the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean, aquatic activities are woven into our seasonal traditions.

With those pleasures, however, comes a paramount responsibility: ensuring water safety for all.

New York ranks fourth in the nation in drowning deaths. The state now requires all operators of motorized vessels, regardless of age, to possess a valid boating safety certificate. The requirement, established as part of Brianna’s Law — named in memory of 11-year-old Brianna Lieneck, who lost her life in a 2005 boating accident in the Great South Bay — is intended to make waterways safer.

Boaters can enroll in approved safety courses available in person and online. The BoatUS Foundation offers a free, state-approved online course, and the New York State Parks Adventure License program encourages boaters to add an anchor icon to their driver’s license to indicate completion of the course.

Water safety extends well beyond boats, to backyard and public swimming pools and Long Island’s many miles of beaches. Drowning remains a leading cause of accidental death

LETTERS

Where is Hempstead’s affordable-housing plan?

To the Editor:

among children.

Suffolk County reported 24 drownings in 2024, a 60 percent increase over the prior year, based on statistics from Stony Brook University. Experts noted what they called an “alarming shift,” with 66 percent of drownings happening in backyard pools rather than open water, driven largely by a post-pandemic surge in pool installations. Nationwide, drowning remains a leading cause of unintentional-injury deaths among children ages 1 to 4.

To reduce the risks:

■ Always supervise children closely when they are in or near water. Avoid distractions, even when lifeguards are present.

■ Install fences with self-latching gates around pools to prevent unsupervised access. State law requires fences to be at least 4 feet high and to fully enclose pools.

■ Teach children to swim, learn yourself if you never have, and understand basic water safety rules.

■ Ensure that supervising adults are trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation so they can respond effectively in emergencies.

■ State law requires children under 12 to wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved lifejackets on boats smaller than 21 feet.

Re Joseph Scianablo’s op-ed, “We can’t solve a housing crisis with hypocrisy or politics,” in the May 14-20 issue: Scianablo, the Democratic candidate for Hempstead town supervisor, clearly stated the issues involved in dealing with the housing crisis. He also delineated steps that need to be taken to solve the problem.

One must wonder, what has the town’s leadership, under Supervisor John Ferretti, been doing about this housing crisis? No cogent plan has been followed to deal with the shortage of housing that’s affordable for young families or seniors wanting to downsize. A predictable pattern has developed, which we have witnessed with the Woodmere Country Club and Inwood/North Hempstead projects: A project is proposed by developers, there is an outcry from community residents who have reasonable concerns, and then there is expensive litigation, paid for with taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars.

Ferretti and the Town Board should have had a forward-looking housing plan in place. As proposed by candidate Scianablo, stakeholders

Lifejackets accessible to all passengers are essential on any vessel.

■ At public pools and beaches, pay attention to lifeguards, who are trained to identify hazards such as rip currents — fast-moving channels of water that can quickly pull swimmers away from shore.

■ Ask lifeguards about dangerous conditions, and swim only in designated areas. If caught in a rip current, stay calm and swim parallel to shore until free of the current.

Another major danger is after-hours swimming. When lifeguards are off duty, swimmers who are inexperienced, overconfident or impaired are left unmonitored, and that is when many drownings occur.

Early-season swimmers should also remember that ocean water remains dangerously cold well into late spring. Cold water quickly drains energy and increases the risk of distress, even for strong swimmers.

Water safety is everyone’s responsibility. Whether you’re watching children at a pool, enjoying a day at the beach or heading out on a boat, a few simple precautions can mean the difference between a close call and a tragedy. Long Island’s waters are meant to be enjoyed, but only if we treat them with the respect they demand.

including developers, union workers and residents must be engaged in planning housing projects for the needs of each unique community.

Instead of blaming Albany, our town leadership must take responsibility

to deal with the housing crisis.

PAMELA KORN

OPINIONS

The disappearance of embarrassment

Somewhere in Washington right now, custom bourbon bottles etched with FBI Director Kash Patel’s name and title are being distributed as tokens of power and prestige at taxpayer expense. Strange as it sounds, those bottles tell a much larger story about contemporary politics and politicians.

You don’t have to be a political historian to know that democracies have always produced their share of vain, incompetent and corrupt political opportunists. What feels different now is the brazenness — the complete disappearance of embarrassment and restraint among leaders, as well as citizens’ expectations that public officials at least appear to be answerable to the people they serve.

At a moment when millions of Americans are struggling to afford groceries, gasoline, rent, medication and health insurance, our “leaders” parade openly in a spectacle of self-glorification, ideological theater, open self-interest and flat-out contempt. The examples arrive almost daily:

A White House “ballroom” project that began as a supposedly privately

funded $200 million undertaking has steadily ballooned to a taxpayer-supported $1 billion monument to one man’s excesses.

A sitting president and his family are profiting from business ventures made possible only through political power. Airports, cultural institutions, public spaces and even passports are being renamed and revised in ways that elevate and glorify that president.

Patel’s custom bourbon bottles are etched with his name while taxpayers absorb the costs of an increasingly theatrical government culture.

Those personalized bourbon bottles seem sadly emblematic of the moment.

Other cabinet officials and agency heads appear openly hostile to, or ignorant of, the very missions of the departments they oversee.

A secretary of health and human services attacks scientific consensus, vaccine trust and established medical knowledge during a period of growing public health anxiety.

A secretary of defense speaks less like a sober administrator than a cablenews warrior wannabe posturing for cameras and political allies. Presidential social media tirades are aimed at journalists, critics, political opponents and private citizens — many dismissed as “low IQ,” “stupid,” dishonest, even treasonous.

LETTERS

Voters deserve to hear more from the candidates on housing

To the Editor:

Mr. Scianablo is half right. Politics is the only means we have to reconcile civil issues. What is required is the sort of politics Mr. Scianablo describes, where leadership seeks to “rise above the noise” and “tell the truth” to promote “honest conversations” and form “partnerships” that will work toward “thoughtful, community-driven planning.” That would mean a constructive confrontation with some hard words.

Nassau County’s leaders must acknowledge the truth that the housing issue can’t be “solved” at the county level, but progress can be

facilitated. Candidates for leadership must dismiss the noise to center the honest conversations on those few factors and limited partnerships within their purview and jurisdiction. This means devising a thoughtful plan for changes in zoning to encourage density at sites that provide transportation and public services — which will encourage builders and bankers to construct affordable units that make Nassau attractive to buyers, preferably families with children.

There are hard words here, but voters deserve to hear from each candidate some opening position from which they will begin their honest conversation, and what their vision is for a Nassau community plan to ameliorate its portion of the “crisis.”

Meanwhile, we are told every day that all is well, the economy is strong, the war is won, and that public concerns are exaggerated. Republican Sen. Tim Scott proclaimed on Fox Business last month that “You can even feel in our environment how good things are getting. Gas prices continue to come down, which means that your groceries will come down a little bit as well.”

As Scott spoke, gas and grocery prices were rising dramatically in his home state of North Carolina and around the country. Without embarrassment, he invented a picture of America that has no basis in reality.

That same day, on CNBC, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said, “You go back two years ago, we were paying almost $6 a gallon for gasoline.” Two years ago, in mid-2024, the nationwide average price of gasoline was $3.66 per gallon. Without embarrassment, he made up a price easily disproved.

More and more Americans no longer believe what they are being told, because their own lives tell them otherwise. And alongside all of this come the vanity projects, the public self-glorification, the open profiteering, the personalized institutions, the theatrical insults and the endless performances of loyalty and power.

The deeper cultural shift isn’t simply these behaviors themselves, but how little civic alarm they now produce. Why, we should ask, do these officials feel no shame, or even just a little embarrassment? But mostly we don’t ask. Too often we give up on demanding competence, dignity and social awareness in our leaders.

Why? Or maybe the question should be how? How can people who call themselves leaders act with so much contempt toward the people who put them in positions of authority? A healthy republic depends on leaders understanding that public office carries obligations larger than ego, profit, loyalty rituals and selfcelebration. It depends on some continuing sense that, at the very least, public suffering should impose limits on displays of extravagance and self-interest.

Evidently, our leaders feel no such constraints; they feel not one shred of embarrassment about the lies and excesses that have come to characterize them. For many of them, holding office means little more than having permission to engage in public spectacle, branding, self-celebration and acts of contempt in plain sight.

Which may be why those personalized bourbon bottles feel oddly — and sadly — emblematic of the political moment itself.

Michael Blitz is professor emeritus and former chair of interdisciplinary studies at City University of New York.

Beat. Get weekly news, events and alerts straight to your inbox. Sign up for our e-newsletter. Scan this QR code.

BRIAN KELLY Rockville

Centre

Get weekly news, events, and alerts straight to your inbox. Sign up for our e-newsletter scan this QR code. Stay in the Know Don’t MiSS a Beat. Get weekly news, events, and alerts straight to your inbox. Sign up for our e-newsletter scan this QR code.

FRAMEWORK by Tim Baker

At Molloy University’s graduation, that’s President James Lentini on guitar — Jones Beach

And the Experts Agree

At Mount Sinai South Nassau, patient safety isn’t just a priority— it’s a standard, one we work on every day. And the experts agree.

We’ve earned national recognition for patient safety, including an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group and the Healthgrades Patient Safety Excellence Award.

That means better outcomes for our patients with lower risk of infections or hospital acquired conditions.

When it comes to your health, nothing matters more than knowing you’re in a place where patient safety matters most.

Learn more at mountsinai.org/southnassau