Family roots in Woodmere
HAFTR senior publishes first book page 3
Although the annual Cedarhurst-Lawrence Memorial Day parade was cancelled due to the rain, the villages honored their veterans with an indoor ceremony at Village Hall in Cedarhurst, on May 24.
More than 30 organizations were expected
to participate, including the Lawrence-Cedarhurst American Legion Post 339, the LawrenceCedarhurst Fire Department and additional local civic groups, veterans organizations and youth participants. The ceremony included
remarks from community leaders, a moment of silence and tributes to fallen service members. The event was designed to bring together residents of all ages in remembrance and reflection.
— Melissa Berman
Alice Moreno/Herald
Protecting Your Future
Inheritance Protection Trusts Keep Assets in the Family
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
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”!
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King Kullen of Hewlett officially closed May 21
King Kullen in Hewlett officially closed its doors for good on May 21 after it was unable to negotiate a new lease, marking the end of a 45-year presence for shoppers in the community.
Located at 1765 Peninsula Blvd., the supermarket had long been a neighborhood staple, offering groceries, prepared foods and a familiar gathering place for generations of residents. Closing the store
is expected to leave a noticeable gap for many who relied on its convenience and connection to the community.
“The decision to close was made after lease options expired and we were unable to reach favorable lease renewal terms,” the statement read. “King Kullen is honored to have served the Hewlett community for 45 years.”
— Melissa Berman
Courtesy Elysa Parker
King Kullen in Hewlett officially closed its doors for good on May 21 after serving the community for 45 years.
Longworth Avenue: two words with great history in Woodmere
By AIDAN WARSHAVSKY awarshavsky@liherald.com
Street signs might seem insignificant to many people. But travelers on East Broadway in Woodmere might come across Longworth Avenue — named for the Longworth family, on of the Five Town’s earliest families.
Daniel J. Longworth arrived from Athlone Ireland with his wife and family in the 1850s. Together with his brother, William Henry Longworth, he built up 200 acres of farmland — land known today as Hewlett Bay Park and Woodsburgh.
St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on Broadway in Hewlett began as a smaller church on Ives Road on land owned by the Longworth family. Robert Longworth Jr., a current-generation descendant, said there was no established Catholic church in the area when the family settled there. Instead, they used a large estate in the Lawrence portion of Woodsburgh where priests would come once a month for Irish Catholics.
“Finally, around 1870, [Daniel J. Longworth] said he’d build the church,” Longworth Jr. said. “You use it for a church as long as you want.”
Daniel J. Longworth also became a charter member of the Hewlett Fire Department in 1891. He joined alongside his nephew, Daniel Lawrence Longworth. The department’s first building — which Longworth Jr. said resembled a large barn — stood on Franklin Avenue.
Longworth Jr. said relatives once used the department’s old hand pump, which remains visible in the firehouse lobby at 25 Franklin Ave., in Hewlett.
Jr. said while reading from an old newspaper clipping. “Many people back then tried to gain control of that meadowland. It was a big deal.”
The family’s story later attracted the attention of Millicent Volono, a former reference librarian at Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library, who created a picture book about Five Towns history in 2010. Volono met with the late Robert Longworth Sr., whom she described as very knowledgeable about the family’s history.
One story involved Longworth Sr. as a young boy tending to the cattle on the family farm. Volono recalled him describing how he chased cows down Broadway near Trinity-St. John’s Church, in Hewlett.
“The book has given people a perspective on what Hewlett used to be,” Volono said.
When the Longworth family sold their land, they moved to a 200-acre farm near Charlottesville, Virginia, where they grew crops including tobacco and corn.
Longworth Jr., who now lives near Virginia Beach, said he only recently began uncovering the depth of the family’s history after a distant cousin of Longworth Sr. contacted out.
“Rumors of a big deal in Hempstead Township and a new colony,” Longworth
After Daniel J. Longworth died in 1897, Logworth Jr. said, the family’s farm was divided among relatives and gradually sold off. The land attracted the attention of Joseph Auerbach before developers from New York City purchased large portions of the land to create what became Hewlett Bay Park.
“I never knew the depths of it until I really started digging into this genealogy stuff,” Longworth Jr. said. “[The distant cousin] found the exact ship and time they came over from Ireland, and that’s what piqued my interest.”
HAFTR High School senior turns her writing dream into reality
By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com
Before even receiving her high school diploma, Woodmere resident Shiri Cohen has achieved a milestone many aspiring writers spend years pursuing — publishing her first novel.
The 18-year-old Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway High School senior recently self-published her debut romance novel, “You, Summer, and I,” on Amazon. The book, released April 17 on Amazon, marks the culmination of a dream Cohen said she has been working toward since middle school.
For Cohen, publishing a book before graduating high school fulfills a dream she has carried for years.
“Honestly, I’m really excited,” Cohen said. “That was my biggest dream for like six years. I’ve been waiting to do something like this, so now I’ve got to find a new dream to accomplish.”
Cohen said she has been writing stories since she was about 12 years old, often drawing inspiration from real-life experiences and relationships.
“I had a couple ideas about some people in my life, and I was like, that chapter’s ended, so I wanted to continue it myself,” she said. “The beginning of it is based on true events, but then I just kind of put my own turn on things.”
“You, Summer, and I” centers on Lily and Daniel, two teenagers whose unresolved feelings and fear of heartbreak
pull them apart before eventually bringing them back together.
Cohen said she enjoys writing stories rooted in emotional honesty rather than fantasy.
“I don’t like writing fake stuff,” she said. “I like when there’s a sense of truth to the story. Writing helps me get my
emotions out into the open and not feel so restricted.”
In the fall, Cohen will attend Baruch College, where she plans to study communications. She said her years of creative writing have helped shape the way she expresses herself and connects with others.
The teachers at HAFTR have also supported her literary ambitions, including English teacher Samuel Abaev, who purchased and read the book.
“What impressed me most is just the fact that she wrote a book, period,” Abaev said. “Today, so much creativity is focused on content creation and visual media, so to see someone go back to this traditional form and actually complete a novel is worth celebrating.”
Abaev said the story explores themes that resonate strongly with teenagers and adults alike.
“It’s about fear, misunderstanding, overthinking and how people can get in the way of love,” he said. “It’s a story about two people who care deeply about each other but struggle to communicate that.”
He also praised the discipline required to complete a full-length novel at a young age.
“We live in a world of instant gratification,” Abaev said. “To sit down and work through something that takes time, effort and patience is becoming rarer and rarer. The fact that she was able to do this at 18 is really impressive.”
Cohen said she has already started working on a second novel, though she admits she is still figuring out where the story will go next.
“I started another one,” she said with a laugh. “I love the idea behind it, but I’m stuck on page five right now. I’ll get there.”
Courtesy Daniel Longworth Jr.
Daniel Longworth Jr. is a descendant of the Longworth family, one of the oldest families in the Five Towns.
Courtesy Shiri Cohen
Woodmere resident and Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway High School senior Shiri Cohen self-published her first book “You, Summer, and I.”
HERALD EDitoRiAL
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, stateapproved 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 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. 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.
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
L E tt ER to t HE ED ito R
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.”
BriaN KElly Rockville Centre
LCFD ex-chiefs honored by
TOH’s Kate Murray
Hempstead Town Clerk Kate Murray congratulated Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department Ex-Chiefs Michael Rizzo and James Cavanagh as they were recognized for
of service to the LCFD during the organization’s luncheon on May 3. — Melissa Berman
BELMONT PARK VILLAGE
Courtesy Town of Hempstead
Hempstead Town Clerk Kate Murray, middle, congratulated Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department Ex-Chiefs Michael Rizzo, left, and James Cavanagh for 50 years of service.
Hewlett House to host garage sale fundraiser
By AIDAN WARSHAVSKY awarshavsky@liherald.com
The Hewlett House, at 86 East Rockaway Road in Hewlett, will host its first garage sale on May 30 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with support from students and families from the Norman J. Levy Lakeside School in Merrick.
The community staple, known for its support of cancer patients and their families, has partnered with students from the School since Hewlett House opened in 2000, founder Geri Barish said.
Their most recent visit on May 17 attracted dozens of students, families, student council members and students from Kennedy High School. Volunteers weeded the front and back gardens and planted shrubs and annual flowers, including impatiens.
“The kids come down and plant flowers and the teachers come almost every other week to clean,” Barish said. “They do it all.”
Earlier this year, Barish said, teachers helping organize items at Hewlett House suggested selling some of the donated goods as a fundraiser.
“I can’t even believe that up until this morning, they were bringing stuff in,” Barish said. “Our art center his filled to capacity.”
Funds raised from the garage sale will help cover operational costs, including supplies, wig stands and materials for
crochet comfort items donated to hospitals across Long Island, including Mount Sinai South Nassau in Oceanside, for patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Barish said wig stands can cost at least $8, while crochet projects add additional expenses. The wig stands are decorated with drawn eyelashes and lipstick by Oceanside Girl Scout Troop 2075, which also volunteers with Hewlett House.
“We have 5,200 wigs sitting here that we gift,” Barish said. “We want them to
see it on something.”
Vicky Marciano, leader of Troop 2075, said the project is especially meaningful because of her own battle with triple positive breast cancer. Marciano, who said she attends treatments once a week, noted the troop is working toward its Girl Scout Bronze Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout Junior can achieve.
“It’s extremely personal to be helping Hewlett House,” Marciano said. “This troop went through it with me and I’m
proud that they chose this as their project.”
Barish said one of Hewlett House’s greatest strengths is the sense of community and compassion volunteers bring to the organization. She added that the center can help secure screenings for people in need within 24 to 48 hours.
“We get phone calls from all over,” Barish said. “When people see what we do with the kids, the teachers, the community, I think it’s really important in this day and age.”
Courtesy Soo Becchina
Girl Scout Oceanside Troop 2075 helped decorate the wig stands, which will help display over 5,000 wigs set to be gifted by the Hewlett house.
Inwood man sentenced in infant daughter’s death
According to the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, an Inwood man was sentenced to 21 years to life in prison for the 2025 murder of his 2-month-old daughter, on May 21.
Anne T. Donnelly wrote in a news release Marlon Rabanales Pretzantzin, 21, pleaded guilty on March 31 before Judge Robert Schwartz to second-degree murder, a Class A-I felony, in the death of his daughter, Liseyda Rabanales-Barrios.
Prosecutors had recommended a sentence of 24 years to life.
“This sentencing is a somber conclusion to a case defined by unimaginable cruelty,” Donnelly wrote in a statement. “Little Liseyda represented the very essence of innocence, and she deserved nothing less than the protection of her father.”
According to prosecutors, the fatal assault occurred March 7, 2025, at 11 a.m. inside a residence on Maple Road in Inwood. Authorities said Pretzantzin was alone with his 14-month-old son and infant daughter when he slapped the
baby, punched her repeatedly in the stomach and violently shook her.
Prosecutors said he also dropped the child onto a bed from a standing position and pressed his body weight onto her.
After the infant became unresponsive, authorities said, the defendant brought her to a neighboring apartment, where a resident called 911.
The child was first taken to St. John’s Episcopal Hospital and later transferred to Cohen Children’s Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.
According to the district attorney’s office, the infant suffered head contusions, multiple rib fractures, severe hemorrhaging in the neck area and dislocated vertebrae in her neck.
Rabanales Pretzantzin was arrested March 12, 2025, by members of the Nassau County Police Department.
The case was prosecuted by Executive Assistant District Attorney Daryl Levy and Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Laird. The defendant was represented by attorney Mindy Plotkin.
—
Melissa Berman
DRIVERS WANTED
Time and Part Time
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
Help Wanted
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
MULTI MEDIA ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT Inside Sales
Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $35,360 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286
Herald File Photo
Marlon Rabanales Pretzantzin, 21
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