Leonard Burke Leonard “Leo” Burke, a 45-year-old Valley Stream volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician, is searching for a living donor for his third kidney transplant.
By ANGELINA ZINGARIELLO azingariello@liherald.com
For nearly a decade, Leonard “Leo” Burke has served the Valley Stream community as a volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician. Now the 45-year-old father and longtime first responder is relying on that same sense of community as he searches for his third living kidney donor.
Burke, a Queens native who moved to Valley Stream in 2015, was in his late 20s when he learned his kidneys were failing due to previously undiagnosed and uncontrolled high blood pressure.
“I wasn’t aware that I had anything, because at 27 years old, really, you don’t know,” he said. “You’re feeling good.”
His wife, Rhonda, who has known him since they were teenagers and has been married to him for nearly 24 years, quickly became part of his care journey.
After Burke initially began dialysis, his wife pursued testing on her own and was found to be a match. Despite his concerns about the potential impact on her health and their future plans to start a family, she ultimately donated a kidney to him in 2010.
The transplant was successful, though the
By ANGELINA ZINGARIELLO azingariello@liherald.com
The Valley Stream Teachers’ Association, representing educators and school staff across all four Valley Stream districts, expanded its community outreach efforts through a donation drive benefiting patients at the Orzac Center for Rehabilitation at Long Island Jewish Valley Stream hospital.
The initiative, organized by the union’s Public Relations Board, reflects a broader effort to strengthen ties between educators and the community they serve. The board, composed of a representative from each district, was established to identify meaningful ways for the association to give back beyond the classroom. Members include Mardi Beck, James Fischman, Stephani McNulty and Tara Zamarano, working in collaboration with VSTA President Noelle Villa.
NOELLE VILLA President, Valley Stream Teachers’ Association
er this school year after the board met to discuss outreach opportunities. Building on prior efforts such as supporting local food pantries, youth sports teams and blood drives, the group sought to expand its impact. The idea to assist the Orzac Rehabilitation Center emerged from that discussion, with a focus on supporting patients in recovery and long-term care. Fischman, who chairs the Public Relations Board and teaches fifth grade at Robert W. Carbonaro Elementary School in District 24, helped lead the initiative and coordinated outreach to the rehabilitation center.
“We love working for our community,” Fischman said. “We’re all teachers in Valley Stream, even though we don’t all live here. I just happen to live in the area, and I actually see the fruits of our labor right in front of us, which is a beautiful thing. It’s nice to bring the community and the teachers’ association
The project took shape earli-
Continued on page 5
Courtesy
BELMONT PARK VILLAGE
STEPS FROM UBS ARENA
Solages joins volunteers for ‘I Love My Park Day’
Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages joined dozens of volunteers May 2 at Valley Stream State Park for the annual “I Love My Park Day,” a statewide initiative focused on improving and celebrating public lands.
It ’s just exciting to be here with my neighbors showing Valley Stream State Park love
MIchaelle SolageS Assemblywoman
Held each year on the first Saturday in May, the event is organized by Parks & Trails New York in partnership with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Now in its 15th year, the initiative has brought together more than 5,000 volunteers across more than 150 parks, historic sites and public lands statewide. At Valley Stream State Park, volunteers took part in a range of beautification efforts, preparing the park for the upcoming summer season. The work underscored the role of community stewardship and environmental preservation across Long Island.
“Communities all across the state come together and show their state parks love, and today we are here in Valley Stream State Park with dozens of volunteers, painting benches and planting trees,” Solages said. “And so I thank you, the State Parks Department, for having facilities all across the state that are worthy of New Yorkers. It’s just exciting to be here with my neighbors showing Valley Stream State Park love.”
Similar efforts were carried out across New York, with volunteers participating in projects such as trail restoration, invasive species removal, debris cleanup, and habitat improvement. Approximately 2,000 trees were planted statewide this year, an increase from the previous year.
“I Love My Park Day” remains the largest single-day volunteer event dedicated to New York’s parks, highlighting the shared responsibility of maintaining public spaces while encouraging year-round stewardship and awareness of park needs.
Dozens of volunteers gathered at Valley Stream State Park for the annual “I Love My Park Day,” a statewide initiative focused on improving and celebrating public lands.
Nassau County Legislator Cynthia Nuñez and Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages took part in beautification efforts.
Planting flowers is one of the many ways in which participants showed love for their state parks.
RESULTS THAT SPEAK
Crime watCh
Man charged for two fatal stabbings in Island Park and Valley Stream
A Valley Stream man was arrested in connection with two fatal stabbings in Island Park and Valley Stream that occurred hours apart on Friday, Nassau County police said.
Detectives said Rony Yahir Alvarenga Rivera, 22, of West Mineola Avenue, was arrested by Lynbrook police following an investigation linking him to both killings.
Police said officers first responded shortly after midnight Friday to a 911 call at Wendy’s on Austin Boulevard in North Long Beach, where they found a 42-year-old woman stabbed outside the restaurant. She was pronounced dead at the scene by a Nassau County police medic.
About three hours later, officers
responding to a well-check request from Lynbrook police at a West Mineola Avenue residence in Valley Stream discovered a 32-year-old woman stabbed inside the home. She was also pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities have not yet released the identities of either victim.
Alvarenga Rivera was charged with first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder. He was scheduled to be arraigned Saturday in First District Court in Hempstead. Police said the Homicide Squad’s investigation into both incidents is ongoing.
— Abigail Grieco
People named in Crime Watch items as having been arrested and charged with violations or crimes are
suspected of committing those acts of which they are accused. They are all presumed to be innocent of those charges until and unless found guilty in a court of law.
fire watCh
Apartment catches fire in North
The Arson Bomb Squad reported a building fire that occurred April 30 at 4:48 p.m. in North Valley Stream.
According to Detectives, Officers responded to an apartment building fire located at 1027 Fenwood Dr. Officers saw a heavy smoke condition and flames coming from the basement upon arrival. The Elmont Fire Department and neighboring fire departments responded to extinguish the flames.
V.S.
The Nassau County Fire Marshal and Arson Bomb Squad responded to the scene. A firefighter suffered a leg injury and was transported to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment. No other injuries were reported.
The Red Cross was notified and responded to assist the displaced residents. The investigation is on-going.
— Angelina Zingariello
Rony yahiR alvaRenga RiveR a
only
Union’s outreach expands with hospital drive
together.”
After connecting with hospital staff, including Amanda Smith, director of patient and customer experience, and Christopher Lynch, deputy executive director, the board received guidance on what items would be most useful for patients. The hospital team gathered input directly from residents, identifying a need for recreational and practical items that could improve daily life during treatment.
Based on that feedback, the association organized a donation drive among its members. An online wish list was created to streamline the process, allowing educators across Districts 13, 24, 30 and the high school district to contribute items conveniently. Donations included puzzles, playing cards, crossword and word search books, as well as wearable holders designed to keep eyeglasses and phones accessible and secure.
The response from union members resulted in the collection of about 140 items. The items are intended to provide both mental stimulation and comfort to patients during their recovery.
“I think we all feel the same way,” Fischman said. “We hope that it brightens their day and makes their life a little bit easier.”
Villa, who has served as VSTA president for five years and has been an educator in District 13 since 1998 and cur-
rently teaches at Willow Road Elementary School as a math academic intervention services teacher, described the effort as part of a larger mission to remain actively engaged in the community. The association represents a wide range of school personnel, including teachers, teaching assistants, nurses and support staff, and has a longstanding presence in Valley Stream.
tive schools, helping to generate broader participation. The centralized online system simplified contributions and allowed members to donate according to their preferences.
For Beck, a first-year member of the Public Relations Board who teaches sixth grade at Shaw Avenue Elementary School in District 30, the experience highlighted the importance of modeling community involvement.
“We always stress to our students the importance of giving back to the community and being, you know, an active member in society,” Beck said. “I feel like if we’re going to impart that on our students, then we should be doing the same.”
Hospital staff appreciated the association’s efforts. Recreational materials can offer a welcome distraction from the routines of treatment, while practical items add convenience and safety.
“We want to make sure that the people of Valley Stream know that their teachers are always working hard for them, and our concern for the community doesn’t end with the school bell,” Villa said.
The project also serves as an example of collaboration across the four districts. Each representative shared the donation initiative within their respec-
Looking ahead, VSTA plans to continue its outreach work through additional initiatives. The association is scheduled to host a community blood drive at Green Acres Mall on May 16, building on similar efforts from previous years. The event is intended to encourage local participation and support ongoing blood donation needs.
In addition, members are preparing to volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House in New Hyde Park later in May, where they will help prepare meals for families.
Courtesy James Fischman
Christopher Lynch, James Fischman, Amanda Smith and Mardi Beck, representing both Long Island Jewish Valley Stream hospital and the Valley Stream Teachers’ Association, came together for the donation drop-off on April 28.
jAxsON TORRes
PLAINEDGE Junior Baseball
ONE OF MANY REASONS the Red Devils have established themselves as one of the favorites in Nassau Class A baseball, Torres threw their second no-hitter this spring April 27 in Plainedge’s 8-0 win over Locust Valley. The righthander struck out 15 and walked only one as the Red Devils won their 13th straight game without a loss. The performance upped Torres’ record on the mound to 5-0 with a 1.75 ERA and 0.61 WHIP with 56Ks in 28 innings.
GAMES TO WATCH
Thursday, May 7
Softball: South Side at Hewlett 4:30 p.m.
Baseball: Plainedge at Mineola 4:45 p.m.
Boys Lacrosse: Seaford at Wantagh 5
Baseball: Massapequa at Oceanside
Baseball: Uniondale at V.S. Central
Softball: Farmingdale at Plainedge
Softball: Baldwin at V.S. North
Softball: Uniondale at Sewanhaka
Girls Lacrosse: Long Beach at North Shore 5 p.m.
Girls Lacrosse: South Side at Garden City 5 p.m.
Girls Lacrosse: Manhasset at Farmingdale 5:30 p.m.
Boys Lacrosse: Plainedge at South Side 6 p.m.
Baseball: V.S. South at East Rockaway 7 p.m.
Friday, May 8
Softball: Lynbrook at Elmont 4:30 p.m.
Boys Lacrosse: Baldwin at Freeport 5 p.m.
Softball: Glen Cove at Wantagh 5 p.m.
Softball: Mepham at Oceanside 5 p.m.
Softball: East Meadow at Plainedge 5 p.m.
Softball: Garden City at Long Beach 5 p.m.
Baseball: Long Beach at Kennedy 5 p.m.
Baseball: New Hyde Park at Calhoun 5 p.m.
Baseball: Hewlett at Carey 5 p.m.
Baseball: Mepham at Clarke 5 p.m.
Nominate a “spotlight Athlete”
High School athletes to be featured on the Herald sports page must compete in a spring sport and have earned an AllConference award or higher last year.
Please send the following information: Name, School, Grade, Sport and accomplishments to Sports@liherald.com.
V.S. South completing the puzzle
By PATRICK MOQUIN sports@liherald.com
Valley Stream South baseball has put together a tidy campaign by squeezing every drop of production from a highly versatile roster.
Coach Rich Hess said each pitching change feels like a chess game with players shuffling between positions, but readily adapting in the delicate system has been crucial to the Falcons’ success.
“We put a priority on communication,” Hess said. “The kids know what their expectations are and who’s going to be counted on to go fill in those spots when the situations come. We try to develop multi-positional players because the lack of depth forces you to do that.”
If any player represents Valley Stream South’s commitment to a diverse skillset, it’s senior co-captain Danny Casey. The catcher is also in the starting rotation and pitches the third game of each series. On May 1, he struck out nine and led the Falcons to a 7-1 victory against Cold Spring Harbor. His ERA is 1.47 and he has struck out 62 batters in 38 innings.
“He’s wired,” Hess said. “Quite simply, he gets it. He knows what it takes to compete. You don’t have to motivate him. He’s completely self-motivated, and everything he does has a purpose.”
When Casey pitches, senior Kris Lopez moves behind the plate, which has had no effect on his outstanding offensive production. He’s batting .404 with 16 RBIs.
Peter Greif is another senior captain capable of carrying the Falcons, as he did in the first game of a crucial series against Oyster Bay on April 21. The starter threw a complete game, striking out seven batters and allowing just one run. At the plate, he hit a home run and a triple, almost singlehandedly producing a 3-1 victory. He has scored 24 runs and stolen 24 bases in 17 games.
Senior Zachary Dyer, also a captain, seemed certain to miss the season after sustaining an injury last fall. But with the help of trainer Winta Thompson and others, he completed a rigorous physical therapy program, and in 14 games, he’s batting .389 with 11 RBIs. Hess couldn’t
Freshman Leo Sanchez accepted a trial by fire as a starting pitcher and
throughout the campaign.
help but call him “special.”
“It’s a testament to his character, his makeup, his willingness to do hard things,” Hess said. “The rehab process to get that knee back into shape is grueling, and I saw what he went to.”
Freshman Leo Sanchez accepted a trial by fire as a starting pitcher and has gradually improved beside his older teammates. Senior Gabe Sukhu put in innings at the start of the year and has been hot at the plate recently, earning five RBIs in two wins against Cold Spring Harbor.
Giada Simone made her mark soon after becoming a varsity starter in
eighth grade. Now a junior, she has stepped up to become a seasoned contributor and defensive standout.
“People ask me why I have a girl playing second base,” Hess said. “I tell them I’m trying to win games.”
Junior Michael Kinzer and senior Elijah Espinal round out the starters and have had their share of timely contributions.
With a 10-7 record and one series remaining against East Rockaway, the Falcons’ success is a result of working to one another’s strengths. It’s a system Hess devised to fill in gaps, but it has become the life blood of a thriving program.
Sue Grieco/Herald
improved
Serving the village while searching for a donor
kidney functioned for only about three years.
In 2013, as Burke again faced kidney failure, his father stepped forward as a donor.
Burke said he was able to live a relatively normal life during that period, including joining the Valley Stream Fire Department in 2016 and later expanding his service to include EMS work.
However, the second transplanted kidney began to fail in 2024. Since then, Burke has been on dialysis, undergoing treatments three times a week. He said the routine is physically demanding and comes with strict dietary and fluid restrictions, along with persistent fatigue.
Despite his health challenges, he continues to work full-time overseeing the warranty department at Dejana Truck & Utility Equipment. He also remains active with the fire department and EMS squad.
“I still volunteer my time,” Burke said. “It is one of the things I love doing, but you don’t have the same capabilities that you had when you’re healthy. But I still volunteer my time as much as possible.”
At home, he balances his health needs with family life. His daughter, Isabelle, is a student at Valley Stream South High School, where she participates in music and track. She is also involved as a junior firefighter, where Burke serves as an advisor, allowing them to spend time together through training and meetings.
Rhonda described her husband as consistently dedicated to his responsibilities as a family man and community member, even throughout repeated health challenges. She said his determination has remained steady from his initial diagnosis through multiple surgeries and ongoing dialysis treatments.
“Truthfully speaking, I would not have chosen anyone else to be married to and to spend this life with,” she said. “People always ask me if I have any regrets about giving him my kidney. Absolutely not, I would do it over. And I said to him, ‘If I had three, he would have gotten another one, but unfortunately, I only have two.’”
The couple’s experience has also
shaped their perspective on organ donation. Rhonda said that donating a kidney, despite complications during her surgery, did not prevent her from continuing her career or having a child. She gave birth to Isabelle about a year after the transplant.
Burke emphasized that both his wife and father were able to return to normal, active lives after donating, underscoring what he sees as a broader need for awareness about living organ donation.
Now awaiting a third transplant, Burke is on the national transplant list while continuing dialysis. He said a living donor would significantly improve his chances of receiving a transplant sooner and regaining his strength.
His goal is to return to a more active role in the fire department and to keep up with his daughter as she prepares for milestones, such as obtaining her driver’s license and eventually heading to college.
Burke’s case has drawn support through Kidneys for Communities, an organization that helps connect first responders with potential living donors.
to share his story and provide information for those interested in helping.
Community members looking to support Burke can do so by sharing his story or learning more about living
donation. For more information, contact Kidneys for Communities at info@kidneysforcommunities.org. Individuals can also reach out to Burke’s transplant social worker at Lbinkiewicz@northwell.edu for guidance on the donor evaluation process.
As Burke continues treatment and waits for a match, he remains focused on maintaining his routine and staying involved in the community he has served for years.
The group has worked
Leonard Burke’s daughter, isabelle, and his wife, rhonda, have helped him throughout the challenges of kidney failure.
Photos courtesy Leonard Burke details for those interested in donating a kidney can be found on the flier.
At Willow Road Elementary School’s Multicultural Night, families contributed homemade dishes, giving guests the opportunity to sample foods from different regions and cultures.
Students and their families created posters and tri-fold presentations highlighting aspects of their heritage, including traditions, history, languages and customs.
Willow Road School celebrates cultures at event
Willow Road Elementary School hosted a Multicultural Night that brought together students, families and staff to celebrate the diverse backgrounds represented within the school community.
The event invited participants to share their heritage through a variety of activities and displays. Many
attendees wore traditional attire, filling the school gymnasium with a wide range of cultural expressions.
Families also contributed homemade dishes, giving guests the opportunity to sample foods from different regions and cultures. In addition, students and their families created posters and tri-fold presentations high -
lighting aspects of their heritage, including traditions, history, languages and customs.
The event provided an opportunity for members of the school community to connect and learn from one another while deepening their understanding of different cultures. Students explored their peers’ backgrounds
while also expressing pride in their own heritage.
Willow Road continues to support initiatives that encourage cultural awareness, respect and community engagement through events such as Multicultural Night.
— Angelina Zingariello
Ettinger Law Firm Well-Being Tips
Ettinger
“All life is an experiment and the more experiments the better”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Set peace of mind as your highest goal, and organize your life around it”
– Brian Tracy
“When you’re good to others, you are best to yourself” – Ben Franklin
“The voyage of the best ship is a zigzag line of a hundred tacks” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Who is rich? He that rejoices in his portion” – Ben Franklin
“Nothing in life is so hard that you can’t make it easier by the way you take it”
– Ellen Glasgow
“Accept what is. All pain comes from resistance” – Zen saying
“Holding on to anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die” – Buddha
“There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so” – Shakespeare
“Gratitude is not only the greatest of all virtues, but the parent of all the others” – Cicero
“Life appears to me to be too short to be spent in nursing animosity or regret”
– Charlotte Bronte
“Not money, or success, or position, or travel, or love makes happiness - service is the secret”
– Kathleen Norris
“To understand all is to forgive all”
– Evelyn Waugh
Chamber of Commerce hosts food truck festival
The Valley Stream Chamber of Commerce kicked off its first food truck festival of the season, drawing community members to the pool parking lot at Hendrickson Park for a full day of food, music and activities.
Held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on May 2, the event featured a lineup of food trucks offering a wide range of options. Participating vendors included Tornado Potato, Love Coffee, Mama Mia What a Taco, Rockin Roast, Good Food, Coal House Grill, Pelican SnoBalls, Pupusa City, Nothin Bundt Cakes and Dominick’s Chicken Fingers.
In addition to food, attendees enjoyed music from a DJ throughout the day, demonstrations by the Valley Stream Fire Department and more. Organizers promoted the festival as a community gathering and encouraged visitors to support local businesses by purchasing from the various trucks.
The event marked the start of the Chamber’s seasonal programming, bringing residents together for what was billed as “a day of fun” centered around food and community engagement.
–Angelina Zingariello
Holden Leeds/Herald photos
The Valley Stream Chamber of Commerce Food Truck Committee made sure operations ran smoothly throughout the day.
Dayris and Iris Viera from Pupusa City served up pupusas and smiles from their food truck all day long.
Jessica Bautista had the signature dish from Tornado Potato.
Alejandro and Alessia Joja took part in the many activities available at the festival.
Taylor and Summer Benzola enjoyed a sweet treat from Pelican SnoBalls.
Carlee Brown, Diane Torres and Jane Perez joined together for a day of fun.
Mery and Sindy always knew they wanted to open a spa to bring beauty to customers. Little did they know it would have the same effect on the community. And Business First was there. We provided $23,000 in grants to help with much-needed renovations so Mery and Sindy could bring their vision to life.* Now, not only does their spa impact clients in a beautiful way, it gives the community an economic lift as well.
grants, and savings will vary with every project.
What PSEG Long Island advises to stay safe during hurricane season
By ANGELINA ZINGARIELLO
azingariello@liherald.com
Hurricane season begins June 1, and during National Hurricane Preparedness Week, PSEG Long Island urges customers to prepare early, strengthen safety plans and understand steps that help reduce damage and improve recovery after storms.
n Grid improvements and ongoing storm prevention efforts
PSEG Long Island has spent the past 12 years strengthening the electric grid to better withstand extreme weather and allow for faster power restoration after storms.
These improvements include elevating substation equipment above flood levels and installing stronger poles and wires to increase system resilience. In addition to infrastructure upgrades, PSEG Long Island maintains a year-round tree trimming program to help minimize storm damage. This program identifies and trims tree limbs in rights-of-way and along easements that could cause outages during or after a storm.
Together, these efforts are designed to reduce the impact of hurricanes on Long Island’s electric system while improving reliability and restoration times for customers.
n Preparing your home and emergency supplies ahead of time
PSEG Long Island encourages customers to put together an emergency plan and prepare ahead of hurricane season.
Home preparation includes reinforcing your home to withstand high winds, storms and flooding, as well as pruning trees and shrubs to remove dead branches near the home that could cause unnecessary damage. Customers should also gather essential emergency supplies in advance, including a battery-powered radio with fresh batteries, flashlights, blankets, nonperishable food and bottled water.
Additional preparation steps include planning for refrigeration of medicines or power-dependent medical devices, charging cell phones and tablets, keeping cash available in case banks are inaccessible, filling vehicle fuel tanks, bringing in unsecured outdoor furniture, and compiling a list of emergency phone numbers.
n Safety precautions and staying connected during storms
Customers should take important safety precautions before, during and after a hurricane.
Generators and fuel must always be used outdoors and kept at least 20 feet away from windows, doors and attached garages to prevent carbon monoxide exposure. Homes should have working carbon monoxide detectors on every level, as the gas is colorless, odorless and dangerous. Downed wires should always be considered live, and people should never approach, touch or drive over them. If a wire falls on or near a vehicle, remain inside and call 911 unless fire requires exiting safely.
Customers can stay connected by reporting outages, receiving updates, and monitoring restoration through PSEG Long Island’s app, text alerts, website, social media and MyPower outage map.
CELEBRATING
ROOTED IN STRENGTH
CELEBRATING NURSES: MEET SOME OF OUR NURSE HEROES
ABIGAIL DUNNE, RN
Glen Cove Hospital
Northwell Health
Abigail Dunne’s path into healthcare began during her high school years in Locust Valley.
“I went to Locust Valley High School and I took an EMT course and I started volunteering in the Bayville Fire Department as an EMT,” Dunne, 23, says. “I decided that I really enjoyed helping people and I really liked being able to help people in ways that others couldn’t necessarily.”
Her experience in emergency medical services shaped her decision to pursue nursing, to provide what she described as a deeper level of care.
“So it was more than just offering emotional support, but now it’s like physical support and seeing people get better, get stronger. It’s just been something that’s always made me feel really good. I just love helping people.”
Dunne went on to attend nursing school while a nursing assistant at Glen Cove Hospital, where she has been employed since September 2022.
“I’ve worked at Glen Cove ... I was a nursing assistant during nursing school.”
She relates that her role as a nurse centers on compassion and service to others.
“I feel like being a nurse, it’s really just about being able to give to other people. We know people are sick and being able to help them definitely is very rewarding in itself.”
Healthcare runs in her family. Her sister works in EMS and as a nurse at Plainview Hospital, and her greatgrandfather was a doctor.
- As told to Roksana Amid
TAMEKA WALLACE, RN
Glen Cove Hospital Northwell Health
Tameka Wallace, 42, vice president and chief nursing officer at Glen Cove Hospital, did not initially plan a career in health care.
“My path was finance,” Wallace says, explaining that she once hoped to pursue her father’s career path. “I wanted to follow in my father’s footsteps. He worked on Wall Street, and I was always fascinated.”
Her trajectory shifted after she took a job in hospitality services at North Shore University Hospital at age 16. By 18, she had moved onto a Telemetry unit, where she discovered her passion for patient care.
“Once I was able to get on the first unit, I fell in love with patient care services.”
That experience, coupled with working alongside her mother, helped shape her future.
“I actually started nursing school with my mom. We did nursing school together, and we actually graduated together as well.”
Wallace, who has been with Northwell Health for 26 years and a nurse for more than two decades, shares that her work is rooted in advocacy and compassion.
“What nursing means to me is being the patient and caregiver’s advocate; making sure that they feel that they are at home, away from home. You want to put the patient at ease at a very tough time in their life.”
Now in a leadership role, Wallace aims to highlight the broader impact of the profession.
“My goal is to make sure that we get the word out on how special nursing is. It’s not just being at the bedside, we touch so many people in so many ways.”
- As told to Roksana Amid
EBONI NORVILLE, RN, NURSE MANAGER
St. John's Episcopal Hospital
Episcopal Health Services
As a child, I have always had a love for medicine. One of my first toys was a stethoscope, and I loved to play doctor and surgery on my dolls. My favorite television shows have been related to medicine. My late father would say “Medicine is in your blood! You’re born with it!”
One day, I could not help but to ask my father why he said this. He went on to explain that his aunt worked as an RN in England for over 20 years, and my grandmother worked as a CNA. As I thought about this, I realized that he was right! Some of my fondest memories as a child are of my family members caring for the elders.
Upon further reflection I realized my most cherished childhood memories involve my family instinctively knowing how to care for our elders, anticipating their needs for healing or comfort. As I matured, the realization struck me: the care, compassion, attentiveness, and nurturing instinct that is within me, is the core of nursing. Almost instinctively knowing what's needed to heal or cure others.
Throughout my professional life, I have had the privilege of working in diverse settings, and those fundamental nursing principles have remained constant. Today, I am incredibly proud and grateful to be a registered nurse.
LUCKENDY CHERY, RN, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
St. John's Episcopal Hospital
Episcopal Health Services
My desire to become a nurse was shaped early in life, growing up surrounded by healthcare professionals, including pharmacists, physicians and a long line of nurses across various specialties. It felt like a path I was always meant to follow.
Although I briefly pursued a degree in business administration, it didn’t take long for me to return to my true calling. My journey began as an EMT, where I was known for going above and beyond in patient care, showing compassion, empathy and a commitment to doing my best. My curiosity led me to seek more than just immediate care. I wanted to understand what happened to my patients after I transferred them and how their care continued.
This curiosity led me to work as a Behavioral Health Technician for five years, where I supported patients on a Behavioral Health unit. There, I saw firsthand the profound impact nurses had through compassion, teaching and therapeutic interventions. I found fulfillment in reinforcing coping skills and lessons patients could carry back into their communities. Ultimately, my experiences, curiosity and support system guided me to nursing.
Now, after one year as a nurse, I embrace my role as an educator, advocate and leader entrusted with lives and responsible for making a meaningful difference. I chose nursing to be a positive force in the lives of patients and their families, to educate them in ways they can understand, and to serve as an example that empowers others to advocate for themselves and pursue nursing as well.
Excellence in All You Do! Thank You, Nurses.
At Mount Sinai, we proudly honor the strength, compassion, and expertise of our nurses, and recognize the essential role they play in caring for our patients and supporting the communities we serve.
Mount Sinai’s nursing team creates excellence together every day. Mount Sinai South Nassau in Oceanside and Mount Sinai Queens have each earned the prestigious Magnet® Recognition three times consecutively, while The Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan has received this distinction five times in succession—an honor achieved by less than 3 percent of hospitals in the United States. This recognition reflects an unwavering commitment to exceptional patient care and consistently better outcomes.
As we celebrate Nurses Week, we proudly recognize the dedication and excellence of the nurses who make this achievement possible every day. mountsinai.org
CELEBRATING NURSES: MEET SOME OF OUR NURSE HEROES
JENNIFER ERDMAN
PSINAKIS, BSN, RN, HNB-BC, PCCN
NYU Langone Hospital
Long Island
I have been a nurse at NYU Langone Hospital - Long Island for close to 15 years on a Surgical Telemetry unit specializing in cardiothoracic surgery patients. It is the first unit I started on, and I am still working on that unit to this day! It is a very special unit staffed with very special people, some who have grown to be my closest friends. I am on many hospital councils and committees, and am a boardcertified holistic nurse.
I became a nurse out of a deeprooted desire to care for others and to form meaningful human connections. From an early age, I was drawn to roles that allowed me to support, comfort and uplift those around me, and nursing provided a natural path to turn that passion into a profession. To me, nursing is far more than clinical skill or technical knowledge — it is the privilege of being present for individuals during some of the most vulnerable and significant moments of their lives.
My greatest fulfillment comes from building trust with my patients, understanding their stories and providing care that honors not only their physical needs but also their emotional and personal experiences. Nursing means advocating, listening and showing compassion in a way that helps patients feel seen, heard and valued. It is both a responsibility and a profound honor to walk alongside patients and their families, offering support, dignity and genuine human connections when it matters most.
ADRIENNE KINCH BSN, RN, CPAN, PGMT-BC
NYU Langone Hospital
Long Island
My career as a nurse has been deeply rewarding and a lifelong journey of learning. Nursing has been my profession for almost 48 years, and I cherish every experience — whether happy or sad.
As a teenager, I lost my grandfather to a heart attack, and I felt helpless. I began volunteering at a hospital, where I realized it was my life’s calling. It became very important to me to pursue a career that would allow me to make a difference in people’s lives and give me the opportunity to help others. Nursing was the perfect fit.
I have had the privilege of working at NYU Langone Hospital - Long Island for 36 years in the PACU. Prior to that, I spent 10 years as an ICU nurse and two years on a medical-surgical floor. I feel incredibly fortunate to have built such a fulfilling career at NYU Langone - Long Island and to have gained a second work family.
Helping new nurses grow and succeed is truly my passion. Teamwork and the ability to contribute to improving the quality of patient care have motivated me throughout the years. I credit my peers, my patients, and the support of leadership for helping me grow both professionally and personally.
Nursing has given me a profound sense of purpose and a lasting passion that has brought meaning to my life. If I can give hope to someone who is sick and see it in their eyes, then I am fulfilled. Sharing human experiences and showing kindness through serving others has made me a better person and helped me overcome some of my own life’s heartaches through the strength of those around me.
AMARPREET KAUR, RN
Northwell
Long Island Jewish Valley Stream
Amarpreet Kaur began her nursing career at Long Island Jewish Valley Stream hospital last March, working on the hospital’s Medical-Surgical unit with a focus on older adult care.
Her path to nursing was shaped by early experiences after immigrating to the United States from India in 2008. As a child, she often assisted her father during medical appointments, translating and observing the role communication plays in patient care.
“It was their dream of {my brother and me] basically getting our degrees in the medical field, and then coming back and giving back to the community,” Kaur says. “That's something that we always do here and there. When we go back, we set up a camp back home. Even if it is just checking their finger sticks for blood sugar levels or their blood pressure in the community, it's so fascinating to them. That's not something that people often do there.”
Kaur pursued a degree in biology before completing her nursing education at LIU Brooklyn in 2024.
Kaur shares she was drawn to nursing to combine compassion, advocacy and clinical knowledge while supporting patients during vulnerable moments. Since starting at the hospital, she has completed a nurse residency program and taken on additional responsibilities, including serving as a diabetes resource on her unit. She has also contributed to initiatives focused on improving care for older adults and reducing complications such as falls and delirium.
Looking ahead, Kaur plans to pursue certification in gerontology and begin graduate studies in informatics, with the goal of enhancing patient care through both clinical practice and technology.
- As told to Angelina Zingariello
ELIZABETH MCGRATH, RN
Northwell
Long Island Jewish Valley Stream
Elizabeth McGrath has worked in nursing since 2010, building her career in high-acuity settings before transitioning to Long Island Jewish Valley Stream hospital to serve her local community.
A Franklin Square resident, she spent more than a decade working in Emergency and Intensive Care units in the Bronx before joining the Valley Stream hospital in 2022 as an Emergency Department nurse.
“I've always wanted to be a nurse,” McGrath says. “I've always had a passion for helping people since a very young age. I think my faith in Catholicism played a lot in wanting to provide equitable care, especially for underprivileged populations.”
After two years in the Emergency Department, she stepped into her current role as an associate educator, where she supports the development of new and experienced nurses. Her responsibilities include onboarding staff, leading training programs and coordinating educational initiatives tailored to the needs of the department.
“I'm the first nurse in my family on all sides,” McGrath says. “Actually, I am very happy to say my daughter wants to become an Emergency Department nurse, just like me. So, perhaps there will be a second nurse in the family one day.”
She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in nursing education through Jacksonville University and expects to graduate next year. McGrath relates tht teaching has been a long-standing goal, allowing her to share her experience while supporting the next generation of nurses. She remains closely connected to clinical work by assisting staff during critical situations and staying engaged in patient care environments.
- As told to Angelina Zingariello
Our Dedicated to our communities. ,
Always leading. Always caring. Always learning.
They comfort, advocate, heal and inspire — often all in the same shift. Nurses bring skill, compassion and unwavering dedication to every patient encounter while helping shape the future of healthcare through leadership, education and innovation.
During National Nurses Week, we pause to recognize the extraordinary professionals who stand at the heart of our healthcare system. From routine visits to life-saving emergencies, from welcoming new beginnings to offering comfort in life’s most difficult moments, nurses are there through it all.
Their work demands resilience, expertise and endless empathy. We depend on their steady presence and commitment every day. Simply put, healthcare would not function without them.
In this special photo essay by Photo Editor Tim Baker, we celebrate these everyday heroes through images that capture their care, courage and commitment — and the countless ways they make a difference in our communities. We thank you. We celebrate you. We see you.
Photos by Tim Baker/Herald
1. At Glen Cove Hospital: Carla Joseph, RN, and Akeesha Sheriff, RN, confer in Endoscopy.
2 At work in Glen Cove Hospital's Brain Injury Unit with Nicole Caravella, RN, and Cindia Cisneros, RN
3. Lisa Pino, RN, and Hannah Russel, RN, with a newborn in Mercy Hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
4.
8.
Lindsay Bodner, RN, and Kayla Lewis, RN, go about their shift in Surgery Oncology at Mercy Hospital.
5. Christopher Kelly, RN, and Torey Bender, RN, staff Outpatient Dialysis in NYU Langone –Long Island’s Emergency Department.
6. At Long Island Jewish Valley Stream: James Arxer, RN, and Tania Francois, RN, in the Emergency Department.
7. Wayne Lee RN, is a Transfer Nurse in Admission and Discharge at Long Island Jewish Valley Stream
The team in Surgical Step-down at Mount Sinai South Nassau includes Anne Quinn, RN, Jimmy Hernandez, RN, and Lauren Cuevas, RN, Assistant Nurse Manager. 9
9. Portia Javillo, RN, and Pamela Piyavunno, RN, at work in Mount Sinai South Nassau’s Family Medicine Department.
19 VALLEY STREAM HERALD — May 7, 2026
CELEBRATING NURSES: MEET SOME OF OUR NURSE HEROES
MITCHEL MARAVILLA, BSN, RN-BC
Mount
Sinai South Nassau
Becoming a nurse has been my dream since childhood. This aspiration began when I had to care for my father at a very young age. Sadly, he passed away shortly after I graduated from nursing school, but his memory continues to inspire my passion for this profession.
Nursing is a noble calling. The ability to care for others and help save lives is both a privilege and a gift — one that I carry with deep pride. For the past 25 years, I have dedicated myself to this profession, including 13 meaningful years at Mount Sinai South Nassau.
Throughout my career, nursing has taught me far more than clinical and technical skills. It has instilled in me the values of compassion, dedication and selflessness. In this profession, I learned that true fulfillment comes from serving others with a selfless heart. Helping without expecting anything in return and choosing to do what is right even when no one is watching.
Currently I work on F3, the Oncology Med-Surg/Telemetry unit, where teamwork and service are at the heart of everything we do. I work with amazing colleagues where we do more than just care for patients; we care for one another. We stand side by side like a family, lifting each other up and sharing both the burdens and the victories.
Over the years, MSSN has faced many changes and challenges. Yet, one thing has remained constant: our deep sense of belonging. We do not simply work here; we consider this institution our second home and continue to serve with compassion and purpose.
IVAN TAGLORIN, MSN, RN
Mount
Sinai South Nassau
Born in South Nassau, raised in the Oceanside community and now serving patients within it, my journey into nursing has truly come full circle. I began my nursing career in 2016, driven by a passion for helping others. A passion instilled in me early on through the values of my parents, who were both nurses.
Over the years, I have had the privilege of growing within the profession, starting as a bedside nurse, advancing to Assistant Nurse Manager, and now serving as a Nurse Informaticist. Each role has shaped my perspective and strengthened my commitment to patient care. While my responsibilities have changed, the core of why I chose nursing has remained the same.
To me, nursing is more than caring for the illness in front of me. It is about recognizing the individual behind the diagnosis. It is about understanding that every patient has a story, a family, a life beyond the hospital room. Nursing means showing up for people during some of their most vulnerable moments and providing not only clinical care, but also compassion, dignity and support.
In my current role, I contribute to patient care on a broader level by improving systems and implementing technologies that empower nurses and enhance the care experience for patients. Supporting nurses in delivering safe, efficient and high-quality care is just as important as the outcomes themselves, as it ultimately shapes every patient's interaction. No matter the setting, my goal remains the same: to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
I am grateful for the opportunities that have brought me to this point and for the ability to continue serving others through nursing.
BETHANY LAWSON, RN Catholic Health Mercy Hospital
Bethany Lawson’s path to nursing began with a simple instinct: to care for others. Growing up, she was drawn to comforting people in difficult moments, a trait that steadily evolved into a calling.
Today, Lawson is a medical-surgical nurse at Mercy Hospital, where she has worked for 13 years, first as a patient care assistant before earning her nursing degree.
Her role is wide-ranging, from caring for psychiatric and elderly patients to performing IV therapy and phlebotomy. The variety keeps her engaged, but it is her mindset that defines her work. She approaches every patient as if they were family, a perspective that guides her through long hours and difficult days.
“What keeps me going is I come to work every day, and I always treat my patients like they're my mom, my sister, my brother, my grandparents. The fulfillment I get from knowing I've done my part is unmatched, and it continues to motivate me to show up every day with the same passion and dedication.”
Lawson relates her decision to advance in the field came early in her career, when she realized she wanted to do more for her patients. That drive pushed her back to school and ultimately into nursing, where she could expand her skills and impact.
She credits the supportive, familyoriented environment at Mercy Hospital for helping her grow, noting that colleagues encourage one another to improve and deliver the highest level of care to the community they serve each day.
“Nursing means helping others when they're unable to help themselves, putting my patients' needs at the forefront, and caring for them the way I would care for myself or my loved ones.”
- As told to Brian Kacharaba
GABRIELLE DEL GATTO, RN Catholic Health Mercy Hospital
Gabrielle Del Gatto discovered her calling in nursing after initially pursuing a career in education, ultimately realizing she wanted to serve people more directly in their most vulnerable moments.
Drawn to the emotional and clinical demands of patient care, she entered the nursing profession in December 2024 and quickly found meaning in the fast-paced, high-responsibility environment of the hospital setting.
On a Medical-Surgical unit, she cares for a diverse mix of patients, managing multiple assignments per shift while striving to improve each patient’s experience through attentive care each day on the unit.
“Honestly, I'm very religious, so I always wanted to work for Catholic Health hospitals because they just align with my values,” she says. “But for me, God is my never-ending motivation. Every single patient that has stood in my path, I know that they're sent to me from God. So even if things seem like they're not going the way they're meant to be, I know it's all part of the plan, and I don't question it.”
Early in her career, Del Gatto found affirmation after forming a strong connection with a patient and family, an experience that led to a Daisy Award nomination just five months after practicing independently and reinforced her sense of purpose.
“My favorite part is when a patient looks me in the eye and tells me that they appreciate everything [I’ve done for them]. It is the best feeling in the whole entire world.”
She credits Mercy Hospital’s supportive culture and teamwork for helping her grow, noting the hospital’s shared commitment to compassionate care and the opportunity to learn and develop as a new nurse at Mercy.
- As told to Brian Kacharaba
Take Your Place in Healthcare
Nursing at Adelphi: Top Rated, Top Salaries, Top Career Opportunities
Prepare for your healthcare career—or advance the one you have.
Adelphi is a U.S. News & World Report Best College for Nursing, offering: • BS in Nursing
• Accelerated BS in Nursing*
We’re also a U.S. News & World Report Best Grad School for Nursing, offering:
• MS in Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
• MS in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
• MS in Healthcare Informatics
• MS in Nursing Education
• Master of Public Health • PhD in Nursing • DNP in Adult Gerontology Primary Care
• DNP in Psychiatric Mental Health
Clinical partnerships include Catholic Health, NYU Langone Health, Northwell Health, Mount Sinai Health System, New York-Presbyterian and New York City Health + Hospitals. Visit adelphi.edu/nursingdegree
*Now offered in Garden City and Adelphi’s new Manhattan Center
CELEBRATING NURSES
NICOLETTE MASCIOLI, RN
Northwell
Long Island Jewish Medical Center
Nicolette Mascioli spent eight days in March on a mission trip to Guatemala. It was not a glamorous, Instagram-worthy vacation. Instead, she and other volunteers — through her alma mater Sacred Heart University — provided care in remote villages. Anyone who knows the 24-year-old Farmingdale native would not be surprised.
Today Nicolette is a registered nurse at Long Island Jewish (LIJ) Medical Center in New Hyde Park, specializing in a Post-Surgical unit that handles everything from neurosurgery and plastic surgery to colorectal procedures and hysterectomies.
She started her volunteer streak at age 15 when she spent time with the child life program at Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New Hyde Park by entertaining, playing and bonding with sick youngsters. She followed that up as an LIJ volunteer. Little did she realize that a career in nursing — let alone a staff role at LIJ — would be in her future. After all, no one in her family had pursued a career in health care.
“I’m grateful to have made an impact on someone else’s life — even a little,” says Nicolette, the oldest of three sisters. “I feel like I do learn something new every day. I did not expect the opportunities that I’ve had through nursing.”
The Guatemala mission through her Catholic university was made possible by a donation from LIJ to cover her travel expenses. Nicolette brought back a greater appreciation of the need in the world and good she can do.
“It was life changing,” she says. “It really reshapes your perception.”
– As told to Jason Molinet
MELISSA SMALL, RN
Northwell
Melissa Small went away to college, a Jamaican immigrant living the American dream. But the leap proved too great financially and she was soon back in Brooklyn working a string of department store jobs. She even considered joining the U.S. military. Then a chance encounter with a nursing assistant who sold an alternative future pushed her into health care.
Today Melissa, 40, of Jamaica, Queens, is a registered nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center — the last 13 years in the same unit. Eight Tower is LIJ’s surgical oncology floor, with a focus on abdominal, lung and pancreatic surgery patients.
Looking back, the climb up seemed improbable. She worked in a nursing home, then received certifications for phlebotomy and electrocardiogram testing. Her big break was landing a temp job at LIJ, which eventually grew into full-time employment.
“I would recommend health care if your heart is in it,” Melissa says. “I can’t imagine my life not being by the bedside. I like to be around people — our patients are like family — so nursing is great for that.”
Northwell helped fuel her growth.
Aided by tuition reimbursement, she earned an Associate’s degree in Nursing followed by her Bachelor’s degree.
The leveling up of her career continues. Commuting part-time to New Jersey, she graduates from William Paterson University on May 20 with a Master of Science in Nursing, part of its family nurse practitioner program.
“Northwell has encouraged me to do more. The opportunity is there if it’s in you to do more."
– As told to Jason Molinet
L.I. marathon draws runners to Eisenhower Park
By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com
Runners from near and far hit the pavement in Eisenhower Park this weekend for the Jovia Financial Credit Union Long Island Marathon, drawing thousands of athletes, families, foodies and more for a celebration of endurance, community and local connection.
Festivities kicked off with a 5K Family Fun Run on May 1, followed by a 10K and 1K Kids Fun Run on May 2 and the halfmarathon and marathon on May 3. Each race began, and ended, in East Meadow’s Eisenhower Park.
Not only is the marathon a premier sporting event in Nassau County and an economic generator for the area, but a great source of community entertainment outside of the races. A food truck festival ran all weekend, along with a full line up of music entertainment at the Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre in the park. The marathon, which celebrated its 53rd year, has been sponsored by Jovia Financial Credit Union for the last decade.
Over 4,000 runners participated in the weekend’s festivities.
“The Marathon Weekend brings together people from all over the globe,” race director Corey Roberts remarked of the festivities in a news release. “I cannot thank Jovia enough for continuing their support as the title sponsor of the marathon.”
Peter Purpura, vice president of busi-
ness development at Jovia Financial Credit Union, explained that the race has served as a great way for the company to get to know the Long Island community. At the race, he said, Jovia gets to interact with thousands of runners, each who has a unique story to tell.
“I think our partnership with this event is really relevant,” he said at a previous race preview event. “We’ve been in the community for 85 years now, serving our members, and they trust us for a variety of financial needs. Similar to the runners, they come to us with a number of different reasons, and some of them are good, some of them are bad. But no matter what, our staff is always looking to greet them and get them to their next mile.”
The top finishers in the men’s marathon included Scott Bickard, 37 of Bethpage; Demir Degirmenci, 24 of Forest Hills; and Raphael Archer, 28 of Port Chester. The top three finishers in the women’s marathon included Grace Garvey, 25 of New York City, Rebecca Arbitman, 17 of Roslyn; and Samathna Augeri, 43 of Rockville Centre.
Garvey spoke with the Herald at the conclusion of the race and said she didn’t realize she was as far ahead of other runners as she was. Pacers on a bicycle were guiding her towards the finish line, but still, she said, “I thought there was a really big gap between me and person that was in first.”
“I am extremely, extremely thankful,” she said, reflecting on the performance. “I
was injured this past year, so I was in a lot of recovery, so to be able to come out and perform the way that I did — it was amazing.”
Garvey corssed the finish line at 3 hours, 6 minutes and 55 seconds.
The 26.2-mile race began and ended near Eisenhower Park’s Field 5. Runners headed west, leaving the park on Merrick Avenue, and then turned toward Garden City on Charles Lindbergh Boulevard. The race looped back toward East Meadow, and runners then headed north and east through Salisbury, around the perimeter of Eisenhower Park, before re-entering the park near Carmen Avenue.
The half marathon followed the same path — but completed only one loop of the entire course instead of two. As runners crossed the finish line, they were cheered on by grandstands full of supporters.
Jenna Vallone, 21 of Massapequa, completed her first half-marathon. She turned to running as a way to stay in shape while away at college, and improve her mental health. Her training began a year ago, and she expressed gratitude for her family and friends that supported the journey. She completed the race in just under 2-hours.
“You can do hard things,” she said. “You only have one life and I want to spend it working hard and being grateful.”
Jenna Vallone is the younger sister of the Herald’s deputy managing editor, Jordan Vallone. Additional reporting by Tim Baker.
Tim Baker/Herald
Dylan Vidoli, of Valley Stream, at the completition of the race.
STEPPING OUT
By Nick Mongiovi
Long Island has been home for the Ducks for 26 seasons in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB), and who better to add to a successful organization than a former CY Young Award winner?
Trevor Bauer signed with the Ducks on April 2, after pitching the last five years in Japan and Mexico. Long Island went 72-54 in 2025, as it looks to build upon last year’s success with speed and dominant pitching.
“When we signed guys, we were looking for guys that wanted to win, wanted to be here and further their careers,” says third-year manager Lew Ford, the franchise’s all-time hits leader. “They’re going to play hard. I think the fans enjoy that and that’s the kind of baseball we want to play.”
Last year’s Ducks led the league in pitching, finished in second in both fielding and hitting, and broke a team record for most stolen bases in a season with 239. Before last season, Ford emphasized speed, reiterating “The game is moving a lot towards speed.”
“We’re very happy with all these guys,” he says “They can still run, hit and play defense. We have a good mix of veterans and younger guys, too.”
Bauer is the name that’ll bring the reigning No. 1 pitching staff to the next level. He received the nod from Ford to be the team’s Opening Day starter on April 21 against the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars. The 10-year MLB veteran struck out eight but surrendered five hits, three walks and two runs in four innings of work in the 7-0 loss. Bauer, who followed his Ducks debut with a dominant no-hitter, makes his return to the United States to pitch on American soil for the first time since 2021 with a “hate to lose” mentality.
“They’ve had a lot of good players here,” Bauer says, on why he chose the Ducks. “A lot of guys have come through here and then signed elsewhere, kind of elevated their careers. All the guys who have been here and have had a really good time here, so that’s part of it. They win. I don’t like losing.
create buzz with Bauer signing
Infielder Wilmer Difo brings MLB experience.
creation to be featured on his and the team’s social media and streaming outlets.
“We are excited to welcome Trevor to Long Island,” Ducks President/CBO Michael Pfaff says. “His talent and knowledge will be important additions to our ballclub, and we are happy to offer him this opportunity to showcase his talents to MLB clubs while giving fans unprecedented access to Ducks baseball. We felt that was a unique and interesting approach. He’s got very unique content, and his approach is overwhelmingly positive.”
Along with Bauer, the Ducks’ starting rotation features Island Park native Ryan Sandberg, who was the team’s most reliable and dominant starter, Nolan Clinton, Harrison Francis and Michael Dominguez. Sandberg pitched to a 3.82 ERA in 91.2 innings of work, striking out 73 batters,
Familiarity returns in the bullpen for Long Island as Jacob Asa, Garrett Crowley, Tanner Jacobsen, Ryan Langford, Michael Reed and Ramon Santos all return.
“Most of these guys came halfway through the year; they had a lot of success here,” Ford adds.
“Ramon Santos, being our closer, had under a one ERA, did a very good job for us.”
Dix Hills native Matt Hogan is the starting center fielder.
Ben Folds & A Piano
Ben Folds is widely regarded as one of the major music influencers of his generation is joined by multitalented actress-singer-composer Lindsey Kraft. Known for pushing genre boundaries, Folds first rose to prominence with Ben Folds Five before launching a wide-ranging solo career that blends sharp lyricism, piano-driven melodies and orchestral ambition. His recent work reflects his deep engagement with orchestral music, including a live album featuring an olrchestral performance of his hits recorded just before concluding his eight-year tenure as Artistic Advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center — an appointment that marked a first for the role. Today, he continues to move fluidly between pop tours and performances with leading orchestras worldwide, while also developing new work for film, television and theater.
Friday, May 8, 8 p.m. Tilles Center, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100.
“Teams I’ve been on have been in the playoffs the last decade, except for 2019, when I was traded. “So I want the chance to be in the playoffs and play for something meaningful at the end of the year. Checks that box here. Great market, big in New York, with a huge baseball market. There are a lot of things that are important to me that go on here.”
meaningful at the end of the year. Checks that box are
Additionally, Bauer will be “Mic’d Up” for all games and practices for the purposes of content
He possesses “a lot of speed and defense,” Ford says. It’s a “full-circle moment” for Hogan, who grew up attending Ducks games.
“I remember I sat up in that box up there with my aunt and uncle,” Hogan says, reminiscing on his time as a kid coming to Ducks games. “So coming here and being able to enjoy the time here and have my family come to games. It’s my first time playing on Long Island in about eight years. It’s humbling, it feels good. I’m excited to be here and really play with this team.”
Tickets can be purchased online at LIDucks.com, by calling (631) 940-TIXX, or in person at the Fairfield Properties Ballpark box office in Central Islip. All games will be streamed on HomeTeam Network (HTN) with a paid subscription.
Some promotions include fireworks at all Saturday home games, sunglasses to the first 1,500 fans May 17, and Bark in the Park with Ducks patriotic hats July 1.
here and being able to enjoy the time here and have my family come to with
Big band energy meets Jamaican soul. The unique 20-piece band blends the exuberant musical layers of the jazz Big Band era with Jamaican roots music. Their sound is powered by a passionate team of talented musicians, each bringing unique energy and expertise to create an unforgettable experience. Led by trumpeter and vocalist Kevin Batchelor, and featuring Jamaican music legend 87-year-young celebrated percussionist/vocalist Larry MacDonald on congas and vocals, and Jamaican master drummer Carl Wright, band creates and perform lush original compositions and arrangements of classic songs from the rich and culturally iconic Jamaican music of ska, mento, rock steady, reggae, and jazz from the 1950s, ’60s and ‘70s.
Friday, May 8, 8 p.m. $91, $42, $37. andmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. Tickets available at landmarkonmainstreet.org or (516) 767-6444.
NYC Ska Orchestra
Courtesy Danielle Huebner
Courtesy L.I. Ducks
Quackerjack always gets Ducks fans hyped.
Courtesy L.I. Ducks Closer Ramon Santos was dominant in 2025.
Your Neighborhood CALENDAR
MAY
Supermarket ‘Sweeps’ Bingo
The Valley Stream South High School PTSA hosts its annual Supermarket “Sweeps”. $17 in advance, $12 without food; $20 at the door, $15 without food.
• Where: Valley Stream South High School, 150 Jedwood Place
• Time: 6 p.m.
• Contact: (917) 577-5345 or (516) 668-6172
Family theater
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 13-14
• Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800
MAY
9
The Wallflowers
aggressive. Bring the family to celebrate World Bee Day at Long Island Children’s Museum to learn all about these hard workers and make a bee habitat to welcome them to your garden. For ages 3+.
• Where: Museum Row, Garden City
• Time: 1-3 p.m.
• Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800
Long Island Choral Society Spring Concert
Eisenhower Park Craft Fair
Check out the many craft vendors at Eisenhower Park.
• Where: Eisenhower Park, Field 8
• Time: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. also May 10, weather permitting
• Contact: NassauCountyFairs.com
MAY
‘Inside Out’ Memory Orb
Families are invited to Long Island Children’s Museum for a drop-in program themed around the Disney/Pixar film. In “Inside Out” memories are represented by glowing orbs of various colors based on the emotions tied to the memories. Design and decorate your own memory orb to represent a special memory or feeling. Free with museum admission.
The Wallflowers mark the 30th anniversary of their breakthrough album “Bringing Down the Horse” on their latest tour, with a special full-album performance at the Paramount, presenting the record in sequence from start to finish. Originally released in 1996, the album became a defining success of the decade, reaching No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and going quadruple platinum. It produced a string of major hits, including “6th Avenue Heartache,” “The Difference,” and the Grammy-winning “One Headlight,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 and remains one of the era’s most recognizable rock singles. Led by songwriter Jakob Dylan, the band draws on classic American rock influences such as The Band and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers — a legacy echoed in the tour’s additional tribute segment to Petty, including a full performance of the 1982 album Long After Dark. Over the years, Dylan has remained a consistent figure in rock music, collaborating widely and appearing in projects such as Echo in the Canyon alongside artists including Neil Young, Eric Clapton, Beck, Norah Jones and others. The Wallflowers also recently supported Eric Clapton on his 2025 U.S. tour, continuing their long-standing presence on major stages.
• Where: 11 Davis Ave., Garden City
• Time: 1-3 p.m.
• Contact: licm.org or (516) 224-5800
MAY
13
Roberto Fabbri
The Internationally acclaimed classical guitar virtuoso brings his signature blend of precision and expressive artistry to the Madison Theatre stage. A prolific performer and educator, Fabbri has built a global reputation that extends well beyond the concert hall. His more than 40 guitar publications — translated into five languages, including Chinese — have reached an audience of over 300,000 readers worldwide, underscoring his influence on both aspiring musicians and seasoned players Fabbri is a frequent guest at leading international guitar festivals and has performed in many of the world’s most renowned concert venues, where he also conducts masterclasses. His recording career has further expanded his reach.
• Where: Madison Theatre, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Contact: madisontheatreny.org or (516) 323-4444
MAY
Old Westbury Gardens welcomes internationally acclaimed artist Sean Kenney and his Nature Connects exhibition. Explore 17 larger-thanlife sculptures inspired by the wonders of the natural world— each built from over 300,000 LEGO® bricks. Vibrant and imaginative, these creations blend art, science, and nature, offering visitors of all ages a playful new way to experience the gardens. Opens May 16 and is on view through Sept. 7. Tickets required.
• Where: The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington
• Time: 8 p.m.
• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com
MAY
The Long Island Choral Society performs a concert of varied delights, including Franz Schubert’s Mass No.2 in G, selections by Haydn, Brahms, Samuel Barber and Randall Thompson, plus some traditional selections celebrating America at 250. Under the baton of Music Director Michael C. Haigler, ensemble is joined by a chamber orchestra and featured soloists Georgia Rehbock, soprano; Christopher Judge, tenor, and Ian Joyal, baritone. Tickets are available at the door. $20 adult, $10, youth.
• Where: Garden City Community Church, 245 Stewart Ave., Garden City
• Time: 4 p.m.
• Contact: lics.org or (516) 652-6878
17
Kiwanis Car Wash Fundraiser
20 Nature Connects
The Valley Stream Kiwanis Club holds a car wash to raise money for student scholarships. $10 per car, $15 per SUV or truck.
• Where: Hendrickson Park Pool Parking Lot, 123 W. Merrick Road.
• Time: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Queen Charlotte’s 282nd Birthday Party
MAY
Library Board meets
The Henry Waldinger Memorial Library Board of Trustees holds their next meeting. All are welcome to attend. Ring bell at the Children’s Room Entrance for admittance. Send an e-mail to hwmlcontact@hotmail. com or register for the meeting if you are interest in attending and would like the agenda and documents sent to you via e-mail prior to the meeting.
• Where: 60 Verona Place
• Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury
• Time: Ongoing
• Contact: oldwestburygardens. org or call (516) 333-0048
STEM Explorers: May Flowers
Flowers are happening at Long Island Children’s Museum. As the weather gets warmer, the world around us starts blooming! Join the Green Teens and learn about the importance of flowers in our natural world.
• Where: 11 Davis Ave., Garden City
• Time: Noon-2 p.m.
• Contact: licm.org or (516) 224-5800
Children are welcome to celebrate Queen Charlotte’s birthday, hosted by the Valley Stream Historical Society by dressing in British period costumes. Scavenger hunts, face painting, arts and crafts and readings.
• Contact: (516) 872-4159 or vshistorical@gmail.com
Busy Bees
We all know that bees are amazing. While we often think of only the honey bee, Long Island’s native mason bee is an impressive little insect. They pollinate 20 times more plants than honey bees, live their life in solitude and are not
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Contact: valleystreamlibrary. org or (516) 825-6422
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.
Public Notices
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF PUBLIC
HEARING, BUDGET
VOTE AND ELECTION
VALLEY STREAM UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT THIRTY
TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD AND NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing of the qualified voters of the Valley Stream Union Free School District Thirty of the Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York, will be held at Shaw Avenue School, 99 Shaw Avenue in said District on May 12, 2026 at 7:30 p.m., prevailing time, for the transaction of such business as is authorized by the New York State Education Law, including the following items.
1. Presentation of the budget document.
2. To discuss all of the items herein set forth, to be voted upon by voting machine, at the election to be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 as hereinafter set forth.
3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting
AND FURTHER NOTICE
IS HEREBY GIVEN that said vote and election will be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 6:00 a.m., prevailing time, in the school buildings located in such districts as enumerated below:
District No. 1: Clearstream Avenue School 60 Clearstream Avenue Valley Stream, NY 11580
District No. 2: Forest Road School 16 Forest Road Valley Stream, NY 11581
District No. 3: Shaw Avenue School
99 Shaw Avenue Valley Stream, NY 11580 at which time the polls will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., prevailing time, to vote by voting machines upon the following items:
1. To adopt the annual budget of the School District for the fiscal year 2026-2027 and to authorize the requisite portion thereof to be raised by taxation on the taxable property of the District.
2. SHALL the proposed budget of expenditures of Valley
Stream Central High School District, Nassau County, New York for the year 2026-2027 be approved in the amount of $173,600,882 and that the sum be raised through a levy upon the taxable property in the Valley Stream Central High School District, after first deducting the monies from state aid and other sources, as provided by law.
3. SHALL the Valley Stream Union Free School District Thirty Board of Education be authorized to establish a capital reserve fund effective May 19, 2026 for a term not-to-exceed ten (10) years for the purpose of funding capital improvements to the schools of the Elementary School District Thirty, including but not limited to, reconstruction of current facilities, addition of instructional classrooms, replacement of air handling, ventilation and heat generation systems, ceilings, lighting fixtures, plumbing fixtures, interior doors and walls, floor tiles, water filtration systems, upgrade of electrical and heating distribution, site improvements, masonry repairs, security upgrades, technology upgrades, and site sanitary districtwide, and any projects listed in the Five-Year Capital Facilities Plan, in the ultimate amount of ten million dollars ($10,000,000); the source of said funds being transfers from the District’s general fund.
4. SHALL the Valley Stream Union Free School District Thirty Board of Education be authorized to appropriate and expend from the Capital Reserve Funds, which were established on May 16, 2023, June 16, 2020, and May 15, 2018 (“Reserve Fund”), pursuant to Section 3651 of the Education Law, for the following capital improvement projects: (1) renovation of the Auditorium for students at Shaw Avenue School, and (2) any projects listed in the Five-Year Capital Facilities Plan, in the approximate amount of $3,500,000, and other work required in connection therewith; and to expend from the Reserve Fund therefor, including preliminary costs and costs incidental thereto an amount not to exceed the estimated total cost of three million five hundred thousand
dollars ($3,500,000).
5. SHALL the Valley Stream Central High School District Board of Education be authorized to establish a Capital Reserve Fund for the purpose of financing capital improvements to District facilities and sites, including but not limited to additions, reconstruction, renovation, rehabilitation, expansion and equipping of District buildings and grounds; site work and improvements; parking areas and paving; sidewalks and curbing; drainage and utility infrastructure; ADA features; auditoriums; ceilings; computer and technology systems; data and communication networks; doors; mechanical, electrical, plumbing and sanitary systems; energy management and conservation systems; exterior and interior lighting; fencing; flooring; fire safety and suppression systems; heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems; gymnasiums; masonry; roofs; security systems; toilet rooms; walls; windows; furnishings and equipment permanently affixed to buildings, and similar projects together with architectural, engineering and other incidental costs related thereto; with the ultimate amount of such Capital Reserve Fund to be $15,000,000, plus accumulated interest, and with a term of fifteen (15) years, to be funded by transfers of unappropriated fund balance from the District’s general fund and interest earned thereon.
6. To elect members of the Board of Education as follows:
o To elect one (1) member of the Board of Education for a five (5) year term commencing July 1, 2026, and expiring on June 30, 2031, to succeed Kenneth Cummings, whose term expires on June 30, 2026.
o To elect one (1) member of the Board of Education for a two (2) year term commencing May 19, 2026, and expiring on June 30, 2028, to succeed Teresa Jackson, whose term expires on May 19, 2026.
AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that petitions nominating candidates for the office of Member of the Board
of Education of the Valley Stream UFSD 30 shall be filed with the District Clerk of said School District at the District Clerk’s office, 175 N. Central Avenue, Suite 220, Valley Stream, NY 11580 not later than April 20, 2026 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., prevailing time. All nominating petitions must be signed by 25 qualified voters (representing the greater of 25 or 2% of the number of voters who voted in the previous annual election); must state the name and residence of each signer, and must state the name and residence of the candidate. Each petition shall be directed to the District Clerk and shall describe the specific vacancy for which the candidate is nominated. Each vacancy upon the Board of Education to be filled shall be considered a separate specific vacancy.
AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that personal registration of voters is required either pursuant to New York Education Law § 2014 or pursuant to Article 5 of the New York State Election Law. If a voter has heretofore registered pursuant to New York Education Law § 2014 and has voted at any annual or special district meeting within the past four (4) calendar years, such voter is eligible to vote at this election; if a voter is registered and eligible to vote pursuant to Article 5 of the New York State Election Law, such voter is also eligible to vote at this election. All other persons who wish to vote must register. Voters may register on any school day up to and including May 12, 2026, at the following locations: Clearstream Avenue School Main Office, Forest Road School Main Office, Shaw Avenue School Main Office, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., prevailing time, and on May 12, 2026, at the same locations, between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., to add any additional names to the registers to be used at the aforesaid election, at which time any person will be entitled to have her or his name placed on such registers provided that at the meeting of the Board of Registration he or she is known, or proven to the satisfaction of the Board of Registration
to be then or thereafter entitled to vote at such public hearing or election for which such registers are prepared, and that the registers so prepared pursuant to New York Education Law § 2014 and the registration list prepared by the Board of Elections of Nassau County will be filed in the Office of the District Clerk of the School District, 175 N. Central Avenue, Suite 220, Valley Stream, NY 11580 and will be open for inspection by any qualified voter of the District on weekdays between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., prevailing time, on and after May 14, 2026, except Saturday and Sunday.
AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to New York Education Law § 2014, the Board of Registration shall meet on May 19, 2026, at all voting locations between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., prevailing time, to prepare the Register of the School District to be used at the annual meeting and election that is to be held in 2027, and any special meeting that may be held after the preparation of said Register, at which time any person will be entitled to have her or his name placed on such Register, provided that at such meeting of the Board of Registration he or she is known or proven to the satisfaction of such Board of Registration to be then or thereafter entitled to vote at the school meeting or election for which such Register is prepared.
AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that qualified voters with disabilities who seek information about access to polling places may, in advance of the day of the vote, contact the District Clerk at 516-434-3616 for information about accessibility.
AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to Education Law § 2017, the Board of Education has divided the Valley Stream UFSD 30 into three election districts, said districts being bounded and described as follows:
District No. 1: The area serviced by the Clearstream Avenue School: The place of registration, voting on the budget and voting
for trustees will be the Clear Stream Avenue School.
District No. 2: The areas serviced by the Forest Road School: The place of registration, voting on the budget and voting for trustees will be the Forest Road School.
District No. 3: The areas serviced by the Shaw Avenue School: The place of registration, voting on the budget and voting for trustees will be the Shaw Avenue School.
AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that beginning May 5, 2026, any resident in the District may request to review a copy of the proposed budget by appearing at the Office of the District Clerk, 175 N. Central Avenue, Suite 220, Valley Stream, NY 11580. Additionally, a statement of the estimated expenses for the ensuing year may be obtained by any resident in the District during the fourteen (14) days immediately preceding said election on the school district website www.valleystream30. com, at the School District Administrative Center, 175 N. Central Avenue, Suite 220, Valley Stream, NY 11580, and at each of the following school buildings in which school is maintained between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., prevailing time, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays:
Clearstream Avenue School 60 Clearstream Avenue Valley Stream, NY 11580
Forest Road School 16 Forest Road Valley Stream, NY 11581
Shaw Avenue School 99 Shaw Avenue Valley Stream, NY 11580
AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that pursuant to Real Property Tax Law Section 495, the School District is required to attach to its proposed budget an exemption report. Said exemption report, which will also become part of the final budget, will show how much of the total assessed value on the final assessment roll used in the budgetary process is exempt from taxation, list every type of exemption granted, identified by statutory authority, and show: (a) the cumulative impact of each type of exemption expressed
either as a dollar amount of assessed value or as a percentage of the total assessed value on the roll; (b) the cumulative amount expected to be received from recipients of each type of exemption as payments in lieu of taxes or other payments for municipal services; and (c) the cumulative impact of all exemptions granted. The exemption report shall be posted on any bulletin board maintained by the District for public notices and on any website maintained by the District.
AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that applications for absentee and early mail ballots will be obtainable during school business hours at the office of the District Clerk beginning April 20, 2026. In accordance with Education Law §§ 2018-a and 2018e, completed absentee and early mail ballot applications may not be received by the District Clerk earlier than thirty (30) days prior to the election, and must be received by the District Clerk at least seven (7) days before the election if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the election, if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter or to the agent named in the absentee or early mail ballot application. Absentee and early mail ballots must be received by the District Clerk not later than 5:00 p.m., prevailing time, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.
A list of persons to whom absentee ballots shall have been issued, and a list of all persons to whom early mail voter’s ballots shall have been issued, will be available for inspection to qualified voters of the District in the office of the District Clerk on and after May 14, 2026, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on weekdays prior to the day set for the annual election and on May 19, 2026, the day set for the election. Any qualified voter may, upon examination of such lists, file a written challenge of the qualifications as a voter of any person whose name appears on such lists, stating the reasons for such challenge. Any such written challenge shall be transmitted by the District Clerk or a designee of the Board of Education to the inspectors of election on
election day.
AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that military voters who are not currently registered may apply to register as a qualified voter of the Valley Stream UFSD 30 by requesting and returning a registration application to the District Clerk in person, or by email to districtclerk@vs30.org or fax sent to 516-9928602. The request for the registration application may include the military voter’s preference for receipt of the registration application by either mail, fax or email. Military voter registration application forms must be received in the office of the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 23, 2026.
AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that military voters who are qualified voters of the Valley Stream UFSD 30 may request an application for a military ballot from the District Clerk and return such military ballot application to the District Clerk in person, or by email to districtclerk@vs30. org or fax sent to 516992-8602. In order for a military voter to be issued a military ballot, a valid military ballot application must be received in the office of the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m., on April 23, 2026. Military ballot applications received in accordance with the foregoing will be processed in the same manner as a non-military ballot application under Section 2018-a of the Education Law. The application for military ballot may include the military voter’s preference for receipt of the military ballot by mail, fax, or email. A military voter’s original military ballot application and military ballot must be returned by mail or in person to the office of the District Clerk at 175 N. Central Avenue, Suite 220, Valley Stream, NY 11580 along with the required signed affidavit by the voter.
AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that military ballots shall be canvassed if they are received by the District Clerk before the close of polls on May 19, 2026 showing a cancellation mark of the United States Postal Service or a foreign country’s postal
Public Notices
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT
BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE VALLEY STREAM UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT THIRTY Town of Hempstead, Nassau County Valley Stream, New York Ashley Starna, District Clerk 159381 service, or showing a dated endorsement of receipt by another agency of the United States Government; or received not later than 5:00 p.m. on May 19, 2026 and signed and dated by the military voter and one witness thereto, with a date which is ascertained to be not later than the day before the election.
AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a rule adopted by the Board of Education in accordance with New York Education Law § 2035, any referenda or propositions to change the number of Board of Education members, or a bond issue for capital improvements, or any other petition required by law to be stated in the Notice of Annual Meeting and Election must be filed with the District Clerk at 175 N. Central Avenue, Suite 220, Valley Stream, NY 11580, not later than 5:00 p.m., prevailing time, on March 20, 2026. Any other petition, except those petitions required by law to be stated in the Notice of Annual Meeting and Election, must be filed with the District Clerk at the 175 N. Central Avenue, Suite 220, Valley Stream, NY 11580, no later than 5:00 p.m., prevailing time on April 21, 2026. All such petitions must be typed or printed in the English language; must be directed to the Clerk of the School District; must be signed by at least 25 qualified voters of the District (representing the greater of 25 or 5% of the number of voters who voted in the previous annual election); and must legibly state the name of each signer. However, the Board of Education will not entertain any petition to place before the voters any proposition the purpose of which is not within the powers of the voters to determine, nor any proposition or amendment which is contrary to law.
AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that those voters seeking information regarding this Budget Vote and Election in Spanish should contact the Office of the District Clerk at 516-434-3616 or districtclerk@vs30. org
Dated: March 26, 2026
By Order of the
COUNTY OF NASSAU NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, Plaintiff AGAINST MARK SOOKRAJ; ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered November 3, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on May 20, 2026 at 2:30 PM, premises known as 36 Fourth Street, Valley Stream, NY 11580 a/k/a 36 Fourth Street, Valley Stream, NY 11581. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Valley Stream, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section: 39 Block: 013 Lot: 101. Approximate amount of judgment
$575,572.18 plus interest and costs.
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #608357/2024. Jared Kasschau, Esq, Referee FEIN, SUCH & CRANE, LLP 28 East Main Street, Suite 1800 Ro chester, NY 14614 NFUNY004 89634 159609
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION, Plaintiff AGAINST MARVALYN MCKENZIE, DASHAWN DEROSIN, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered July 31, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on May 19, 2026 at 2:00 PM, premises known as 4 Sheridan Street, Valley Stream, NY 11580. All that certain
plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Valley Stream, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 37 Block 185 Lot 39. Approximate amount of judgment $619,486.41 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #615650/2022. For sale information, please contact XOME at www.Xome.com or call (844) 400-9633. Bria n J. Davis, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 22-003754 89599 159607
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU
The Bank of New York Mellon fka The Bank of New York, as Trustee for the Certificateholders of CWALT, Inc., Alternative Loan Trust 2007-8CB, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-8CB, Plaintiff AGAINST John Depergola; Fina Depergola; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered March 24, 2026, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on May 27, 2026 at 2:00 PM, premises known as 66 Berry Street, Valley Stream, NY 11580. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Valley Stream, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section: 37 Block: 605 Lot: 17. Approximate amount of judgment $604,499.54 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #611030/2023. For sale information, please visit ServiceLink Auction at https://www.servicelink auction.com or call (866) 539-4173. Lawrence Farbman, Esq., Referee McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce,
LLC 420 Lexington Avenue-Suite 840 New York, NY 10170 21-09312NY 89668 159717
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU CARRINGTON MORTGAGE SERVICES, LLC, Plaintiff AGAINST JACLYN CANNIZZARO A/K/A JACLYN M. CANNIZZARO, LORETTA CANNIZZARO, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered November 13, 2019, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on May 27, 2026 at 2:00 PM, premises known as 63 Garden Street, Valley Stream, NY 11581. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Valley Stream, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section: 39 Block: 408 Lot: 4. Approximate amount of judgment $390,428.35 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #611311/2018. For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832. Brian Davis, Esq., Referee Tromberg, Miller, Morris & Partners, PLLC 39 Broadway, Suite 1840 New York, NY 10006 25-001130 89529 159715
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE TO CITIBANK, N.A., AS TRUSTEE FOR BEAR STEARNS ASSET BACKED SECURITES I TRUST 2006-HE3, ASSET BACKEDCERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-HE3, Plaintiff AGAINST JEAN-PIERRE LAGUERRE A/K/A JEAN PIERRE LAGUERRE ; ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered March 19, 2019 and amended January 7, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee
will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on May 26, 2026 at 2:30 PM, premises known as 79 Oliver Avenue, Valley Stream, NY 11580. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section: 37. Block: 468 Lot: 103. Approximate amount of judgment $547,140.88 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject t o provisions of filed Judgment Index #009631/2013. For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832.
Steven M. Feinberg, Referee FEIN, SUCH & CRANE, LLP 28 East Main Street, Suite 1800 Rochester, NY 14614 SPSNY171 89554 159713
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE OF COOPERATIVE APARTMENT SECURITY BY VIRTUE OF A DEFAULT
In a Loan Security Agreement dated May 28, 2003 executed by Lynette Battle and Martha Battle, debtor to Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Inc., secured party via assignment, will cause a public sale of the security consisting of 178 shares of stock plus Parking Space and/or Garage, if applicable, of Valley Park Estates Owners Corp. all right title and interest in and to a Proprietary Lease between said Corporation and debtor for Unit 1 in the building known as 1848 SOBRO AVENUE, VALLEY STREAM, NY 11580 together with all fixtures and articles of personal property now or hereafter affixed to or used in connection with said apartment on May 22, 2026 at 9:30am. at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501, in satisfaction of an indebtedness. Apartment is sold “AS IS” AND POSSESSION TO BE OBTAINED BY THE PURCHASER. Said sale is subject to: payment of all sums due, if any, to Valley Park Estates Owners
Corp. and the consent if necessary, of said corporation; any existing tenancy; payment of all expenses and fees of the secured party with respect thereto; terms of sale and auctioneers fees; flip tax; State, City and County transfer tax. The secured party reserves the right to bid. Terms: an official bank or certified check made payable to Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC., for ten (10%) percent of the price bid. No cash accepted. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC. 900 MERCHANTS CONCOURSE WESTBURY, NEW YORK 11590 (516) 280-7675 159933
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Section 202-48 of the code of the Town of Hempstead entitled, “Handicapped Parking on Public Streets,” a public hearing will be held in the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on the 12th day of May 2026, at 10:30 o’clock in the forenoon of that day, to consider the adoption of a resolution setting aside certain parking spaces for motor vehicles for the sole use of holders of special parking permits issued by the County of Nassau to physically handicapped persons at the following locations: BALDWIN EMERSON AVENUEsouth side, starting at a point 120 feet east of the east curbline of Westervelt Avenue, east for a distance of 20 feet.
(TH-101/26) ELMONT
238th STREET - east side, starting at a point 72 feet south of the south curbline of 117th Avenue, south for a distance of 20 feet.
(TH-126/26)
ATHERTON AVENUEsouth side, starting at a point 81 feet west of the west curbline of Emporia Avenue, west for a distance of 20 feet.
(TH-113/26)
BUTLER BOULEVARDwest side, starting at a point 79 feet south of the south curbline of James Street, south for a distance of 20 feet.
(TH-100/26)
SEWANEE AVENUEeast side, starting at a point 146 feet north of the north curbline of Atherton Avenue, north for a distance of 20 feet.
(TH-123/26)
(NR) FLORAL PARK 239th STREET - east side, starting at a point 68 feet north of the north curbline of Ontario Road, north for a distance of 15 feet.
(TH-134/26)
FRANKLIN SQUARE
GARFIELD STREETsouth side, starting at a point 81 feet east of the east curbline of Lincoln Road, east for a distance of 22 feet.
(TH-97/26)
HOFFMAN STREETwest side, starting at a point 249 feet south of the south curbline of Sobo Avenue, south for a distance of 20 feet.
(TH-120/26)
ROOSEVELT STREETnorth side, starting at a point 174 feet west of the west curbline of Caroline Avenue, for a distance of 20 feet.
(TH-133/26)
ROOSEVELT BROOKS AVENUEsouth side, starting at a point 48 feet east of the east curbline of Scherer Place, east for a distance of 22 feet.
(TH-136/26)
(NR) VALLEY STREAM
IRVING STREET - east side, starting at a point 244 feet north of the north curbline of Sobro Avenue, north for a distance of 20 feet.
(TH-118/26) and on the repeal of the following locations previously set aside as parking spaces for physically handicapped persons:
FRANKLIN SQUARE
JEFFERSON STREETeast side, starting at a point 77 feet south of the south curbline of Naple Avenue, south for a distance of 20 feet.
(TH-517/18 - 1/22/19)
(TH-106/26) ALL PERSONS INTERESTED shall have an opportunity to be heard on said proposal at the time and place aforesaid.
Dated: April 28, 2026 Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD JOHN FERRETTI
Supervisor
KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 160018
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 05/20/2026 at 9:30 A.M. to consider the following applications and appeals:
THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 9:30 A.M.
255/26. NR VALLEY STREAM - Robert Iccari, Renewal of grant to maintain 5’8” high fence., N/E cor. Heatherfield Rd. & Fieldstone La., a/k/a 43 Heatherfield Rd. ALL PAPERS PERTAINING TO THE ABOVE HEARING ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT THE BOARD OF APPEALS, TOWN HALL, 1 WASHINGTON STREET, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550.
This notice is only for new cases in Valley Stream 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.
160075
LEGAL NOTICE INC. VILLAGE OF VALLEY STREAM 123 South Central Avenue Valley Stream, New York 11580 (516) 825-4200 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
The public may attend the Public Hearing or join on
Public Notices
the link provided. https://us02web.zoom. us/j/7148140969.
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE
that pursuant to the provisions of the Village Law and the General Municipal Law of the State of New York, as amended, a Public Hearing will be held in person and on ZOOM in the Village Hall Auditorium, 123 South Central Avenue, Valley Stream, New York on Monday, the 18th day of May, 2026 at 7:00 o’clock p.m. before the Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees to consider contracting with the Valley Stream Fire Department for fire protection services for the fiscal year beginning June 1, 2026 and ending May 31, 2027.
The purpose of said contract is to: protect, against loss by fire, the property located within the limits of the Incorporated Village of Valley Stream, and within the districts with which the Village has contracted to provide fire protection services; to protect lives of the inhabitants of said Village and said fire protection districts; and to furnish all other services heretofore rendered including emergency and ambulance services.
Twenty-four hours before the Public Hearing, there will be a link on the Village website www.vsvny.org to download the Public Hearing calendar.
Dated: Valley Stream, New York May 7, 2026JAMES J. HUNTER Village Clerk/Administrator 160081
LEGAL NOTICE
Notice is hereby given that an On-Premises Restaurant-Liquor License, NYS Application ID: NA-0340-26-110785 has been applied for by The Cheesecake
Factory Restaurants Inc to sell liquor, beer, wine and cider at retail in an on-premises Restaurant-Liquor establishment. For on premise consumption under the ABC Law located at 2034 Green Acres Rd Valley Stream NY 11581 160067
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU SELECT PORTFOLIO SERVICING, INC., Plaintiff AGAINST LLOYD MARSHALL; KAELIA MARSHALL; ET AL., Defendant(s)
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered June 18, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on June 4, 2026 at 2:30 PM, premises known as 122 Union Street, Valley Stream, NY 11580. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Valley Stream, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section: 37 Block: 682 Lot: 47. Approximate amount of judgment $806,881.35 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #603573/2023. For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832. Natasha Meyers, Esq, Referee FEIN, SUCH & CRANE, LLP 28 East Main Street, Suite 1800 Rochester, NY 14614 YPHNY316 89669 159999
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE
Supreme Court County of Nassau U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, successor in interest to Bank of America, National Association, as Trustee, successor by merger to LaSalle Bank National Association, as Trustee for Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors Trust, Mortgage Loan Asset-Backed Certificates, Series 2006-WMC2, Plaintiff AGAINST Wilfrido Dominguez a/k/a Wilfredo A. Dominguez, et al, Defendant Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on January 28, 2026, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, North sides of the steps, Mineola, NY 11501 on June 5, 2026 at 2:30 PM premises known as 345 Hendrickson Avenue, Valley Stream, NY 11580. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the County of Nassau, State of New York, SECTION: 37, BLOCK: 552, LOT: 31. Approximate amount of judgment is $1,061,556.14 plus interests and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 008065/2016. This sale may be subject to the US Dept of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network Real Estate Reporting Rule. In such event, all purchasers are required to provide the information needed for proper reporting in accordance with the terms of sale. For sale information, please visit XOME at www.XOME.com or call 844-400-9663. Michael Postiglione, Referee FRENKEL
LAMBERT WEISMAN & GORDON LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706 01-064121-F01 89012 160003
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK N.A. AS TRUSTEE, ON BEHALF OF THE HOLDERS, OF THE J.P. MORGAN MORTGAGE
ACQUISITION TRUST
2006--WMC4 ASSET BACKED PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES
2006-WMC4, Plaintiff, vs. WILLIAMS FAMILY TRUST, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale With Reference For Sale duly entered on September 12, 2019 and an Order Substituting CourtAppointed Referee duly entered on December 31, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on June 9, 2026 at 2:30 p.m., premises known as 187 Fir Street, Valley Stream, NY 11580. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Valley Stream, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 37, Block 395 and Lots 453 and 454. Approximate amount of judgment is $831,973.71 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #000533/2015.
Ira B. Warshawsky, Esq., Referee Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC, 10 Bank Street, Suite 700, White Plains, New York 10606, Attorneys for Plaintiff 160051
READ THEM
News brief
hold the distinction of Suffolk County Poet Laureate, is hoping to highlight the work of poets from across Long Island.
Caribbean American
Poetry
Association
calls for submissions by May 26
A new poetry anthology ran by the Caribbean American Poetry Association is calling for poetry submissions from Black Long Island children and adults. The anthology, entitled “Celebrating Jupiter: An Anthology of Black Poets,” is named after Jupiter Hammon, the first published Black poet in America, who was enslaved in Suffolk County.
Suffolk County Poet Laureate Chip Williford, the first African American to hold the distinction, is partnering with CAPA to capture Black culture, history, strength and resilience through poetry.
“We are seeking poems from 100 poets who live, work or have affiliations in Suffolk County and Long Island,” Williford said. “We invite entries from students, adults, seniors and those who wish to find a welcoming space for their poetic voice.”
Selected works will be featured in the anthology, which will be released during a special National Black Poetry Day tribute on October 17.
“I am excited about producing this historic anthology in partnership with Suffolk County Poet Laureate Chip Williford,” Beyrl Williams, CAPA’s president and founder, said. “We look forward to an outpouring of poems to honor Hammon’s legacy and we also aspire to connect poetic voices in a new way.”
The submission window began this year on Feb. 26 and will close on May 26. The submission guidelines ask for one Word file per poem, with the file name being the submitter’s last name and poem title. Please use 12-point Times New Roman font with one-inch margins on standard U.S. letter paper size.
Include the poet’s full name at the top right of the document, center and bold the title and left-align the poem text. Up to three poem submissions are permitted per poet, with a 500 words per poem maximum.
Submitters must also include a third-person biography of up to 100 words in the email body of the submission, including their name, mailing address, telephone number and email address. Parental consent is required for all submitters under 18 years.
Artificial intelligence-generated content or poems with graphic, violent, or themes the editorial committee deems inappropriate will not be accepted.
Please submit all entries and ask any relevant questions by emailing chipwillifordpoetlaureate@gmail.com or caribbeanamericanpoetry@gmail. com with the subject line “Anthology of Black Poets.”
— Andrew Francis
Courtesy Caribbean American Poetry Association
Chip Williford, the first African American to
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HomesHERALD
Stunning to Behold
This breathtaking property
How early do I get the interior designer involved?
Q. I’ve been interviewing architects and want your opinion on the issue of interior design. I have no sense of space, color or furniture. I’m getting mixed ideas from the architects about having an interior designer involved at the beginning, and I’m wondering what to do. Should I have the interior designer do the space plan first, and then hire the architect, or should I get the interior designer involved more toward the middle, before plans are done?
A. This is a touchy subject that often leads to frustration, mostly because the tasks of each are not always understood. There’s an old saying, “Too many cooks spoil the broth.” An interior designer on my projects has always been requested to work after the building is designed, from the beginning to the end. The reasons for this are the differences in our knowledge of laws, engineering qualifications and responsibilities.
An interior designer doesn’t have a license, qualification or, generally, the education to perform the integrated services of an architect or an engineer. The reason that’s a frustrating answer is that I like working with interior designers personally, when the enhancement of the building’s finishes come into play, after the building has met the requirements of being able to stand, shed light to spaces, allow for all the safety requirements and myriad codes that must be followed. Unfortunately, clients often see that as being egotistical, overly sensitive or domineering, and that’s due to the lack of education as to what each person’s role is in construction. It’s no different than when a carpenter tells a homeowner that the structure could have been thinner and would have saved the owner money. The carpenter may not understand that the structure has to be sized for insulation thickness to meet energy codes before voicing their perspective. I’ve had multiple experiences that turned out very well because it was understood, from the project beginning, that the architect wasn’t there just to draw what they were told to draw. At times, issues needed to be discussed, and changes were necessary to accommodate the material thickness.
For example, stairways have a minimum width, and you can’t arbitrarily add a thick stone surface to the side walls that would reduce the clear width. It might be beautiful, but imagine having the inspection fail for safety reasons. In that instance, the plans could have been discussed or the material selection could have been revised.
I once had an interior designer repeatedly changing the shape of spaces, requiring the arbitrary removal of columns. A building won’t stand without columns, and moving them is like pulling one card out of a house of cards, literally and figuratively. A great design starts with great communication and a clear understanding of each person’s responsibilities and boundaries, both legal and by the project team as a whole. As a team, you will be successful if you and every team member understand this. Good luck!
Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.
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I have more than enough words for a memoir
Recently I entered into an agreement with noted editor Peter Ginna to put my 140,000-word memoir manuscript into final form to be presented to publishers. That will probably result in the reduction of at least 30,000 words and some reformatting. The final product, though, will be mine.
This project began five years ago. After I retired from Congress in January 2021, I started to assemble my thoughts, news stories, photos and memorabilia from 28 years in office in an attempt to make some sense of, and put in some perspective, my experiences. The more I assembled, the more I realized how long and unlikely the journey had been — and how fortunate I had been.
Particularly helpful to me in collating so much of the memories and information was Anne Rosenfeld, who worked in my district office, in Massapequa Park, for all of those years, including the last 20 as district director. Melissa Zimmerman was one of the Nassau County Police Department
detectives on my congressional security detail. Having retired shortly before I did, she agreed to be my post-congressional security director. As she learned what I was doing and heard my discussions about my experiences, she urged me to put it all into a memoir. And she didn’t let up until I started the process.
As I began to write, I realized that the story would have to begin where it all began, on the bluecollar sidewalks of Sunnyside, Queens, and then St. Albans.
if not a ragsto-riches tale, my life has certainly been an improbable journey.
My grandparents were Irish immigrants. My father was a World War II veteran and an Army Reserve major who served for three decades in the New York City Police Department, rising to the rank of lieutenant as commanding officer for physical training and head of the department’s first Ceremonial Unit, which he formed. My mother, a product of the Depression, had to turn down a college scholarship and take a job instead.
My younger brother, Kevin, and I attended St. Teresa’s grammar school, in Woodside, where there were 70-plus kids in a classroom, with no concern for feelings or sensitivity. Tuition was 25 cents a week. After that it was Brooklyn Prep and then St. Francis College, while
TI worked full-time at the Railway Express freight yards on Manhattan’s West Side as a junior and senior. After that I was unexpectedly accepted by Notre Dame Law School, where I made friendships that would last a lifetime. At neighboring St. Mary’s College I met Rosemary, who has been putting up with me for a lifetime.
All of this somehow led to experiences with an eclectic mix of people and events that made for an interesting, never boring, life, as I navigated the minefields of New York and Washington politics and government. I dealt with tragedies such as Sept. 11 and its lasting aftermath, which included fighting for health care benefits for its survivors and first responders. I was one of only two members of Congress in history to vote against the impeachment of two presidents. I faced challenges as chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, holding controversial hearings into Islamic radicalization and ensuring that New York and Long Island received the funding necessary to defend against future terrorist attacks.
Over the years in New York, Washington and overseas, there were dealings with Presidents Clinton, Bush,
Obama, Trump and Biden; British Prime Minister Blair and Irish P.M. Ahern; Israeli leaders Rabin, Peres and Netanyahu; and meeting foreign leaders and dignitaries such as Russia’s Yeltsin, Poland’s Walesa and Britain’s Queen Elizabeth. There were New York leaders, characters and personalities including Cardinal John O’Connor, Al D’Amato, Ed Koch, Rudy Giuliani and Roy Cohn. There was also the almost surreal experience of being the grandson of Irish immigrants and having a great uncle who was in the IRA and imprisoned during the Irish War of Independence in the 1920s — and working with Clinton, Blair, Ahern and Irish Republican leader Gerry Adams to bring about the historic 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which ended the centuries-old, bloody struggle between the British government and the people of Ireland. My life has not been a rags-to-riches tale, but it has certainly been an improbable journey, beyond what I ever could have dreamed of or imagined. It has indeed been what my book title describes, “The Road to God Knows Where — From the Blue Collar Sidewalks of Queens to the Halls of Congress.”
Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.
We all need friends, and NATO is our best one
he older you get, the more you need to have some friends. While we should always be lucky to have a family that cares for us in good times and bad, we still have to have friends. A little research showed me that there are more songs about the value of friends, and the need for them, than about independence or going it alone. I’m sure many readers are familiar with the Beatles’ “With a Little Help from My Friends.” Or Dionne Warwick’s “That’s What Friends Are For,” or Carole King’s “You’ve Got a Friend,” Or Bill Withers’ “Lean on Me.” I could list another dozen songs that capture the importance of having a friend. Which brings us to the subject of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Somehow, President Trump has advanced the distorted idea that America can go it alone in the world without the help of our overseas allies. Long before NATO came into existence in 1949, our European friends were fighting with us in World War II, losing thou-
sands of young men to keep democracy alive.
When NATO was founded, its membership comprised Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States. It now includes Albania, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Turkey. It is a powerful union of allies who all have economic and strategic relationships with the United States.
There is no way the United States could go it alone without these allies.
has always stood by us since then. Trump alleges that Iran was almost ready to attack the United States and Israel, but it did not launch an attack on our country. Being a “threat” to a NATO ally isn’t the same as attacking it. On 9/11, the NATO countries immediately declared their support for the United States and provided numerous forms of assistance, both technical and economic.
territory.) Russia could mount an attack on our country in minutes if it ever served their purposes.
What gets lost in the debate about NATO’s obligations to intervene in the war with Iran is that NATO was never consulted before the war began, and no member country was attacked by Iran. Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty says that an armed attack against one member is considered an attack against all members, which is not what happened in the war with Iran.
The first time the NATO charter was invoked was when America was attacked on Sept. 11, 2001. The alliance
To this day, NATO members continue to offer us strategic advice about actions around the world that may be a threat to America. They provide us with warnings about weather patterns and environmental events that are a threat to our region of the planet. And most of all, they buy billions of dollars’ worth of military equipment and other products that make our manufacturers healthy and wealthy.
Whether the president admits it or not, our two biggest enemies are China and Russia. In the case of Russia, it is worth noting that it is less than 60 miles from Alaska. (And actually, Big Diomede Island, in Russian territory, is just 2½ miles from Little Diomede Island, in U.S.
As for China, even with some severe economic problems, it is capable of causing major upheaval for the U.S. if it chooses. Should it invade Taiwan, America would lose its major supplier of the semiconductor chips that companies like Nvidia and Apple use for advanced computing. Other chips are used in automobiles and a wide variety of products, and we can’t afford to lose that supply.
There is no way that the United States could go it alone without its NATO allies. We can’t protect our country from the world’s two worst predators without those allies on our side. Breaking up that alliance would be strategic and economic suicide. Talk is cheap, so the president has every right to pick occasional spats with NATO, but he can’t afford to abandon it. To do so would create chaos for generations to come.
Jerry Kremer was a state assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. He currently chairs the Capitol Insight Group, a government relations firm. Comments? jkremer@liherald.com.
P.M. Peres and leaders Yeltsin, Queen leaders, including D’Amato, Cohn. surreal of great imprisIndepenwith Republiabout Agreecenturies-old, British govIreland. rags-to-riches I ever imagined. It title Knows SideConcongressman, and Committee
Small Business Week, with eyes wide open
Small Business Week, which runs from May 3 to 9, will bring the usual round of proclamations, ribbon-cuttings and feel-good photo ops. Local entrepreneurs deserve every one of them. They also deserve the truth: The Main Streets of Long Island are under siege, and a week of celebration cannot paper over what the rest of the year has made painfully clear.
Walk down Park Avenue, in Long Beach, or Merrick Avenue, or any commercial corridor from Lynbrook to Glen Cove, and the strain is visible. For Lease signs have not come down in months. Restaurants have cut hours because they can’t find or afford the staff to stay open. Family-owned shops that survived the pandemic now wonder whether they will survive the aftermath. The business owners who anchor our downtowns aren’t asking for sympathy. They are asking, quietly and increasingly, whether the math still works.
The pressures are no secret. Rents for Long Island commercial space have climbed steadily. Costs have skyrocketed, outpacing what owners can charge without losing customers. Wages have risen, as they should, but for thin-margin businesses, every raise is a calculation about how many shifts can be staffed next month.
Energy bills and insurance premiums keep grinding higher. And looming over all of it is the e-commerce machine — Amazon, Temu, Shein and a growing list of online giants whose business model depends on undercutting the shop down the block, capturing the sale, and sending the profit somewhere far from Long Island.
The numbers tell a more complicated story than the celebratory ones we usually hear. In Nassau County, the U.S. Small Business Administration backed more than $207 million in loans last year, supporting roughly 500 businesses and helping create or sustain 2,850 jobs. That is real and meaningful. But SBA lending is also a barometer of need. A community in which hundreds of businesses require government-backed credit just to keep their doors open is not a community where small business is thriving on its own. It is a community where small business is fighting to hold ground.
Matt Coleman, the SBA’s regional administrator, has said that anyone who wants to understand the local economy needs to look past the financial markets and pay attention to those small businesses, embedded in our communities. He’s right. And what those businesses are telling us, if we listen honestly, is that the ground beneath them is shifting faster than they can adapt.
Federal tax relief on tips and overtime will help some workers. Modest tax reductions for small-business owners will help some operators. Neither will reverse the structural forces reshaping retail, hospitality and local service. The playing field is not level, and pretending otherwise does our merchants no favors.
What small businesses can offer is what e-commerce cannot: presence, accountability and a stake in the community. The pizzeria in East Rockaway that sponsors the Little League team.
The diner in Seaford that hosts the volunteer fire department’s monthly breakfast. The florist in Oyster Bay that decorates the village gazebo for the holidays.
None of those things show up on a balance sheet. All of them disappear when the storefront goes dark.
The Herald takes pride in standing alongside local businesses every day of the year. Our reporters tell their stories — the grand openings, the second-generation handoffs, the milestone anniversaries, the moments when local owners step up to feed first responders during a storm. Our advertising and marketing teams work shoulder to shoulder with owners to help them reach customers and grow their brand across print, digital and social channels. We do this because we believe local journalism and local commerce rise and fall together.
Honesty about the challenges is not pessimism. It is the precondition for a serious response. Policymakers should be looking hard at commercial rent pressures, at the unequal tax treatment that favors online sellers, at workforce housing that should allow people to actually live near where they work. Residents have a role, too — a more direct one. Every dollar spent locally is a dollar that stays here, resulting in sponsors for Little League teams, donors for nonprofit events, tenants for local storefronts, and more.
So this week, before clicking “buy now” online, walk into the shop down the block. Order takeout from the family-run restaurant in Island Park. Book the local landscaper from Malverne. Tip generously. The Main Streets of Long Island are not guaranteed. They are chosen, one transaction at a time, by the people who live here — and that choice has never mattered more.
Influencers, from Joe Schmoe to the influencer in chief
where are all the government’s best and brightest?
In the current administration, there are fewer models for academic achievement, moral rectitude and ethical behavior. The swamp is real, and it’s drowning the smart and dedicated people who go to Washington to serve the country.
Many of our best federal officials have been muted or sidelined by the Elon MuskDonald Trump one-two punch.
The president has appointed a succession of officials who are unprepared for their demanding jobs. He has trolled the bottom for people whose only standard is loyalty to the regime. As they sink and flunk out, as scandal after scandal unfolds, as their inexperience and absurd behavior come to light, they leave and are replaced by other sycophants.
As education standards sink, we witness the rise of “influencers,” selfappointed experts who have co-opted the attention and expendable income of millions of people old enough to use a phone. We are ceding critical questions about our health and well-being to self-
promoters who may have no real expertise and even less education. What many of them do have is a social media presence and the marketing know-how to garner thousands — even millions — of followers.
This isn’t a new problem, but it’s getting worse.
One example: In February, The New York Times published a story titled, “Do Energy Drinks Offer Benefits Beyond Caffeine?”
sThe takeaway was that most of the boost in these drinks comes from oldfashioned caffeine, not the add-on vitamins or extracts or purified water. Even though many drinks are marketed by health influencers as enhancing focus or endurance, the evidence, the article said, is inconsistent. In addition, the high caffeine levels in these jazzed-up drinks are concerning for those with a variety of health issues.
and because they hold sway with millions of followers whose only source of scientific information and medical advice is social media.
ocial media offer an uninformed public a circular firing squad of ignorance.
They are influencers, too, because their audience often doesn’t read or listen critically to what they are peddling. The social media audience isn’t researching the claims made on Instagram, for example, because many don’t know how to do research. And it’s so easy to just click and buy and think your pimples will disappear with a new product. We need a savvier buying public, and that comes with old-fashioned, top-tier education backed by quality teachers who are paid generously for the immense responsibility they carry — to educate our young.
pelted with stones by members of the Red Guards. Allegiance to Mao was all.
I think of this as our best-trained military leaders are fired by Trump, as longtime officials in the FBI and CIA are replaced by flunkies, as people like Kristi Noem and Pam Bondi spin through the revolving door of our dysfunctional government.
A true leader seeks to elevate the best and brightest, without a loyalty test as the filter.
The concept of influencers has roots dating back to the early 1900s. It began with celebrities endorsing products. Remember the Marlboro Man who smoked his way to fame? And all the dead lung cancer victims who followed his lead?
What you get from some of these aggressively marketed drinks is an expensive thirst-quencher with a ton of caffeine.
This is just one example of how we have surrendered our power to people who may have no scientific background at all when it comes to herbs or lotions or foods or exercise regimens. They are “influencers” because they say they are,
Framework by Tim Baker
The problem starts at the top, with an elected influencer in chief and his unqualified appointees, and it continues with an increasingly uninformed public whose only information comes from social media, a circular firing squad of ignorance.
In China, during the Cultural Revolution, from 1966 to 1976, intellectuals in every discipline were banished to the countryside. Illustrious scientists and writers were made to sit in public squares wearing dunce caps while being
I don’t understand the influence of influencers, the promotion of knownothings whom we empower to tell us how to live. I do know that to survive as a viable society, we must educate a new generation of critical thinkers.
It starts with our kids and grandkids, who must learn the difference between scientific-based information and random opinion offered up by charismatic but ignorant actors, even when they are handsome and riding a black stallion. Even when they live in the White House.
Copyright 2026 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.
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.
