A Lasting Tribute to Freedom
Courtesy Don Sinkfield One of the initiatives the fundraiser for Adjust Upward Community Development Corporation will support is a monthly men’s wellness group at an Emblem Health in Cambria Heights.
Fundraiser
By ANGELINA ZINGARIELLO azingariello@liherald.com
Nearly 100 supporters are expected to gather at Komfort Kocktails in Valley Stream on Thursday from 7 to 11 p.m. for a fundraiser to expand access to mental health services for residents facing financial barriers to care.
Adjust Upward Community Development Corporation and Help to Adjust Counseling will host the event, which has a $60 admission fee. All proceeds will benefit Adjust Upward, a Valley Stream-based nonprofit founded about a year ago by licensed mental health counselor Don Sinkfield.
The funds will be used to help cover the
cost of mental health and anger management services, subsidize counseling expenses for those who cannot afford treatment, and support the organization’s community programming.
The idea for the fundraiser came after Sinkfield connected with Komfort Kocktails’ owner Kim Champion and shared the nonprofit’s mission. Champion offered the venue at no charge, provided attendees purchase at least one drink, allowing more of the event’s proceeds to go directly toward the nonprofit’s work.
The evening will serve as both a fundraiser and an opportunity to introduce more residents to the organization’s mission. OrgaCOntinUED On pAgE 9
Senior housing set to close a commuter lot
By ANGELINA ZINGARIELLO azingariello@liherald.com
The Valley Stream village board approved a series of resolutions at its June 15 meeting advancing plans for a senior housing development at 62-78 Hicks St., which will lead to the permanent closure of Parking Field 26, a designated non-resident commuter parking lot, this fall.
Trustees approved the subdivision of the villageowned property, finding the action to be in the village’s best interests and consistent with planning considerations. The board also approved resolutions under the State Environmental Quality Review Act, adopted Local Law 3-2026 and applyied a CA Floating Multiple Dwelling District to the property.
senior housing,” in the village. That will eliminate 156 parking spaces.
There are currently 230 nonresident parking permit holders. Under the village’s permit system, residents pay $40 per year for commuter parking permits, while nonresidents pay $650 annually.
M ost of the time, I don’t find a parking spot — I’m having to park at Field 26. That’s always my saving grace, but not if it’s closed
CLAUDINE NAZON Non-resident commuter
Village Treasurer Tom McAleer said Field 26 will close to make way for what he emphasized is “much-needed
Following the closure, non-resident commuters will be directed to the village’s remaining designated non-resident parking areas, Fields 8 and 19 and the Hendrickson Pool parking lot. Village officials say they believe there will continue to be sufficient parking capacity.
McAleer also confirmed that the village did not conduct a parking-utilization study or a post-pandemic parking-demand analysis before making its decision, nor did it consider alternatives such as a parking garage, expanded parking access or a shuttle serCOntinUED On pAgE 2
As lot closure looms, commuters speak out
vice. Permit holders were notified of the closure when they renewed their parking permits this year.
While the commuters interviewed by the Herald all said they support building senior housing, they questioned whether the remaining non-resident lots can absorb the displaced demand.
Mirella Bonilla, a commuter who has lived outside the incorporated village since 1996, said that Field 26 has long served as the backup when Field 8, the non-resident lot that is closest to the Long Island Rail Road station, fills up during the morning rush.
“I don’t think they can adequately support the needs of today’s commuters,” Bonilla, who works in corporate meetings and incentive and recognitionevent planning in Manhattan, said. “This is a real hardship when trying to catch a morning train. It’s not practical to arrive at the lot, find it full, and then drive to another, farther lot. Adding the driving time and the walking, despite paying significantly more, we’re not receiving additional services or access; we’re receiving less now.”
Bonilla also raised concerns about pedestrian access from the pool lot and nighttime safety near Field 19.
The village, she said, should consider allowing non-resident permit holders to park in resident lots with available capacity, or build a parking garage to replace the lost spaces. She added that many commuters remain unaware that Field 26 will close, despite notices distributed during the permit renewal process.
She suggested that the village temporarily allow non-resident permit holders to use one of the larger resident parking fields until another long-term solution is identified.
Melanie Colon, a Mill Brook resident, recently retired after 17 years at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan, where she served as manager of language services before becoming director of patient relations. She will continue commuting as she starts a new position in language services with New York state.
“When you are an essential service, you have to be at work, especially if something happens — even atmospheric, whether it’s Hurricane Sandy or that huge snowstorm — so trying to park somewhere where they’re probably not going to plow, and then trying to walk where they haven’t plowed yet, that is dangerous,” Colon said. “If you want to talk about crime, I don’t know what the statistics are, but you’re walking by yourself in the dark, whether it’s early morning or late evening.”
Colon added that the loss of Field 26 will increase commuting times, particularly for those headed to work early in the morning or returning home late at night. Rather than relying solely on more distant parking lots, she suggested that the village operate a shuttle between those lots and the train station during peak commuting hours, or allow non-resident permit holders to use additional parking fields.
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For years, our home has been right here on Long Island. We are proud to stand alongside the local organizations, neighbors, and companies that keep our region thriving today.
Togeth�, we are building the next chapter of our story.
Claudine Nazon, a Mill Brook resident for 15 years and a librarian in the New York Public Library, said the closure would have a significant impact on commuters who already adjust their schedules to secure parking. She often arrives well before her train, Nazon said, just to find a space in Field 8, using Field 26 when the closer lot is full.
“Most of the time, I don’t find a parking spot,” Nazon said. “I’m having to park at Field 26. That’s always my saving grace, but not if it’s closed. My option is Hendrickson Park. Now, when it’s snowing, it’s cold and it’s raining, paying almost $800, I’m having to park five blocks away, which is absolutely absurd.”
“I don’t think that they’ve really thought that we’re people, and we’re not being treated as such, and we’re not being treated as a business, either,” Colon said. “We’re not treated as good business, because unfortunately, sometimes government [thinks] that if we’re not direct constituents, then we’re not customers.”
Although village officials maintain that the remaining non-resident lots can accommodate displaced commuters, those who offered their comments believe the closure of Field 26 warrants additional accommodations before it takes effect this fall. Supporting senior housing and addressing commuter parking needs, they said, should not be mutually exclusive, and they urged the village to revisit potential alternatives before construction begins.
News brief
Adelphi joins youth mental health effort
Adelphi University has been selected as one of 10 inaugural partners in Empower Every Coach, a national initiative to improve youth mental health by strengthening coaching practices.
Facilitated by the Aspen Institute’s Project Play, the initiative is distributing more than $2 million.
Adelphi will receive a $250,000 grant to develop evidence-based mental health guidelines for coaches, led by Meredith
Whitley, a professor of health and sport sciences. The initiative builds on the Million Coaches Challenge, launched in 2021.
Over the next 18 months, participating organizations will collaborate through quarterly meetings, shared learning opportunities and joint problem-solving efforts.
Courtesy Claudine Nazon
A sign announced the permanent closure of Parking Field 26 this fall as the village prepares the site for a new senior housing development.
Continued From PAge 1
–Allyson Ferrari
LIJ marks fifth annual Juneteenth celebration
By ANGELINA ZINGARIELLO azingariello@liherald.com
Long Island Jewish Valley Stream hospital continued its annual Juneteenth celebration, bringing employees together to recognize the holiday through music, food and education while reinforcing the importance of cultural awareness in healthcare.
The hospital has hosted a Juneteenth event each year since 2021. The observance has evolved over time while remaining focused on honoring Juneteenth’s history and creating a space where employees from all backgrounds can come together.
This year’s celebration was held on the hospital’s outdoor patio and featured a cookout-style atmosphere with music, soul food and opportunities for staff members to connect during breaks in the workday. Because the hospital operates 24 hours a day, organizers planned the event to allow employees to participate as their schedules permitted.
Project Manager Tatiana Rodriguez, who has helped coordinate the event since its inception, said this year’s gathering was intentionally less structured than in previous years. While earlier celebrations included speakers and were sometimes held in the hospital auditorium, organizers opted for a more informal format this year.
“We felt that this Juneteenth celebration was going to just pretty much give everybody a time to just reflect and celebrate each other, get to know each other, eat,
dance, sit and listen to music, and just enjoy the history, the culture and the impact that this subject really represents,” Rodriguez said. The event also coincided with the final day of the hospital’s Epic electronic health record implementation, giving employees an opportunity to unwind after weeks of intensive work.
Lissa Nelson, director of patient and customer experience, said the event honors the courage and perseverance of those
whose freedom is commemorated by Juneteenth while inviting employees across the hospital to learn, reflect and celebrate together.
Music, food and fellowship are central to the event, creating opportunities to recognize African American cultural contributions while fostering conversations about history and community.
“It’s a time for us just to lie back, have conversation, laugh, joy, laughter and at the same time take seriously the commitment
of those newly freed slaves who were held back for so long,” Nelson said. “Yet we’re able to stand on their shoulders, so we remind ourselves that we cannot hold back, we cannot take freedom for granted, and we were given a great gift by them, so we celebrate that as well as we remind ourselves about how much work we have to do.”
The celebration is organized by the hospital’s African American Caribbean Business Employee Resource Group, with participation from members of other employee resource groups, including the Latin and Asian groups.
Cultural observances are closely connected to patient care.
“Part of the conversation is being skilled, to understand the different cultures and communities, so that when we approach them, we allow them to be their authentic selves, but we want to promote the best possible you, while we respect and learn and understand your culture and meet you where you’re at,” Nelson said.
“That is such an important part of being successful in reaching the community and keeping the community healthy.”
Rodriguez added that recognizing cultural traditions helps patients feel welcomed, respected and understood.
The hospital plans to continue its Juneteenth celebration annually and other cultural observances, including Hispanic Heritage Month, as part of its ongoing effort to reflect the diverse workforce and community it serves.
Local student earns George Farber Award
By ANGELINA ZINGARIELLO
azingariello@liherald.com
Alan Diaz, a student from the Valley Stream Central High School District who attends the Nassau BOCES Rosemary Kennedy School program at West Hempstead, has been recognized with the George Farber Outstanding Student Award, an honor presented to students who demonstrate exceptional character, perseverance, scholarship and a commitment to helping others.
The annual award, now in its 19th year, commemorates former Nassau BOCES Board President George Farber, whose decades of service focused on improving educational opportunities for students.
“I feel happy to receive that award,” Diaz said.
Diaz attends the Achievement, Career and Education program, which serves students ages 18 to 22 as they prepare for life after school. He has attended the Rosemary Kennedy School program since 2018 through the Valley Stream Central High School District and is working toward employment and adult services after completing the program in early 2027.
Diaz has met every goal outlined in his individualized education program while making significant progress in social-emotional development, daily living skills, problem-solving, mathematics and language development. He is also known for consistently helping classmates and greeting students and staff with enthusiasm.
Alan Diaz, center, of the Valley Stream Central High School District, who attends the Nassau BOCES Rosemary Kennedy School program in West Hempstead, earned the George Farber Outstanding Student Award. His family, school staff and administrators congratulate him.
“I want to improve when I leave the school,” Diaz said. “I’m working towards getting a job.”
His teacher, Judith Litvaitis, who nominated him for the award, has worked with Diaz at different points throughout his education and said one of his most significant accomplishments has been his personal growth. She described his transformation from a student who initially struggled with social interactions to a leader among his peers, building friendships throughout the
program and regularly assisting classmates with daily routines and responsibilities.
“He recently went to the prom with his classmates, and he really wanted a traditional prom experience,” Litvaitis said. “He invited a date to the prom, and he really enjoyed himself. He even invited his classmates, and they invited the gym teacher from the West Hempstead School District to come, and she came to the prom too. So, a huge social event for him, and for somebody who I know had a very difficult time
being social when he first got here, he’s like a completely different person. He’s just a terrific young man.”
Litvaitis also pointed to Diaz’s growing independence. She recalled an instance in which he independently completed a multistep task to obtain a replacement identification badge for another student, navigating several offices in the building without assistance.
Outside the classroom, Diaz has developed vocational skills through the program’s work-based learning experiences. He has worked in the school’s coffee house, completed library tasks and gained restaurant experience, including in the prep kitchen at Applebee’s in Elmont. There, he prepares ingredients while following food safety procedures and inventory requirements.
Cooking has become both a strength and a career goal for Diaz. He enjoys preparing meals and hopes to work as a chef after leaving the program. His favorite school subjects include science and physical education, and he enjoys coming to school because of the friendships he has built with classmates and teachers.
Litvaitis said recognizing students through awards such as the George Farber Outstanding Student Award helps highlight their achievements and contributions while giving the broader community an opportunity to celebrate their success and future potential.
Courtesy Northwell Health
Long Island Jewish Valley Stream hospital staff members Jaime Lambert, Aisha Johnson, Tatiana Rodriguez, Tracey Clouden, Lissa Nelson and Jaime King came together to celebrate and honor Juneteenth at the hospital’s annual event.
Courtesy Nassau BOCES
News brief
State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. today visited SUNY Nassau Community College as part of the SUNY Reconnect Tour. Chancellor King has been visiting SUNY community colleges throughout the state to promote New York’s free community college program for adult learners, which officially began at the start of Fall 2025.
SUNY chancellor spotlights free community college program at Nassau
SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. visited Nassau Community College as part of the SUNY Reconnect Tour, highlighting New York’s free community college program for adult learners and the college’s nursing and health care programs.
SUNY Reconnect, launched in fall 2025 under Gov. Kathy Hochul, covers tuition, fees, books and supplies for New Yorkers ages 25 to 55 who do not already have a college degree and are pursuing an associate degree in a high-demand field.
King’s visit also spotlighted a recent expansion of the program. Under the state’s newly enacted budget, adults seeking a nursing degree may now qualify for SUNY Reconnect even if they already hold a degree in another field, a change intended to help address the state’s health care workforce shortage.
“SUNY Reconnect allows us to create lifechanging opportunities for adult learners and their families,” King said. “With this initiative, we remove barriers to higher education and reinforce the fact that it is never too late to follow your dreams.”
Nassau Community College Chief Administrative Officer Maria Conzatti said the college will continue to build on the state’s investment.
“Nassau Community College is proud to see the continued investment and confidence from SUNY and our partners in state government,” Conzatti said. “We will continue to support our community and region by offering dynamic programming and pro-
viding students of all ages with an affordable option for excellent academic opportunities.”
According to SUNY, nursing and other health care programs were the most popular fields among SUNY Reconnect participants during the program’s first year. Early data also showed students enrolled through SUNY Reconnect had higher fall-to-spring retention rates than other adult learners.
The program funds associate degrees in several high-demand industries, including nursing and allied health, advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, engineering, artificial intelligence, green and renewable energy, technology and teacher preparation in shortage areas. Beginning in the 2026-27 academic year, aviation management, emergency management and supply chain/logistics programs will also be eligible.
To support the initiative, Nassau Community College received $220,000 to hire a full-time advisor to assist Reconnect students with enrollment, scheduling and retention, as well as community outreach and tutoring. The college also received $35,000 to purchase advanced simulation and clinical equipment to expand capacity in its nursing and respiratory care programs.
More information about SUNY Reconnect programs at Nassau Community College is available at NCC.edu/admissions/ suny-reconnect.shtml.
— Jordan Vallone
rglickman@liherald.com Fax: (516) 569-4643 ■ PUBlIC NOTICES: Ext. 232 E-mail: legalnotices@liherald.com
Little League celebrates players at Green Acres
By JANE BAGATTA Herald Intern
Valley Stream Little League players received recognition from the organization at its annual awards night following the 2026 season.
The players and their families, along with VSLL coaches and officials, gathered at center court in Green Acres Mall on June 23 to celebrate the young athletes’ accomplishments. Jill Bromberg, the marketing and community relations manager for Green Acres, said it is important for the mall to support local institutions, especially those that benefit the community, such as VSLL.
“I like to think the mall is a community center,” Bromberg said. “We’re bringing the people from the community who shop here into the [mall] community to celebrate all kinds of things, and the Little League has been celebrating their annual end-of-year award ceremony for several years now, and it’s a lot of fun.”
VSLL offers baseball and softball programs for boys and girls ages 4 to 16. Players of all ages attended the awards night. During the event, VSLL officials recognized each team and its coaches. Each team posed for a group photo, and every player received a medal for their hard work and athleticism throughout the season. Players also received a Dick’s Sporting Goods drawstring bag, a
hat wipe and snacks from Hello Panda.
The mall’s center court was filled with proud children showing off their medals and reflecting on a fun season. Nicholas Fischman, 9, has been playing Little League baseball for four years. He plays first base, third base and shortstop for VSLL’s Black Knights. He enjoys playing with his teammates.
“They’re nice, they’re friendly, they do good sportsmanship,” Fischman said. “It’s just fun. You can make new friends.”
Mia Carbone, 14, who plays second base for VSLL softball, also said her favorite part of the season was spending time with her friends. Her mother, Suzanne, greatly appreciates the kindness of the girls on her daughter’s team.
“She was new to the area, and this team has been very welcoming,” Suzanne Carbone said. “All the girls are super sweet and it’s just like a big family.”
Rachael Aiello and Jose Paulinho coach an 11-13-year-old girls softball team. Both have daughters who play softball, and they have been coaching the team since 2018.
“It’s been fun,” Paulinho said. “They bonded as a family, as a sisterhood and as a family.”
Aiello and Paulinho’s team had a successful season. Their players worked hard and greatly improved their softball skills throughout the season. They attended softball clinics at St. John’s University and Hofstra University. Additionally, four girls on the team competed in an All-Star game.
“After each game or before a game, I would tell them, ‘You guys are getting better each time, and this is a learning experience, and your skills are getting better, and you’re working as a team,” Paulinho said.
Paulinho hopes VSLL’s future includes a new field for players, given Little League’s continued positive impact on young athletes in Valley Stream.
“Little League is an institution,” Bromberg said. “It’s been around for a long time; it’s camaraderie, sportsmanship, all good things.”
Lids
Jane Bagatta/Herald
Zion Nichols, left, and Jonas Washington showed off their medals.
HERALD SPORTS
A salute to 2025-26 sports champions
By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com
It was a banner season for not only the New York Knicks but also for many high school athletic teams in the Herald’s coverage area. Listed are the top team accomplishments, in chronological order.
1. Seaford girls soccer
It was a full-circle moment for Kaylie Conklin and 11 other Seaford seniors. Conklin scored off a rebound in the 11th minute of the Nassau Class A girls’ soccer championship game Nov. 1 and that’s all the offense the Vikings needed to capture their second county title in four years, 1-0 over Plaindege. The lone goal originated from a corner kick off the foot of Meghan Stovall, and Grace Cullingford was credited with the assist. Goalkeeper Caden Calderaro had the shutout.
2. Oceanside girls soccer
Fresh off its first county title in 45 years, Oceanside’s girls soccer engineered another historic victory Nov. 2, fending off surging Syosset, 2-0, to repeat as Nassau Class AAA champions. The Sailors won it behind a lights-out performance from goalkeeper Ella Murray and goals from Ava Bowers and Gianna Visone. Bowers scored unassisted in the 9th minute and assisted on Visone’s insurance goal in the 51st minute. Oceanside also took its first Long Island title, defeating Northport 1-0 on Cathryn Evans’ overtime goal Nov. 8.
3. South Side girls soccer
South Side had to work overtime and beyond to capture its third county title in the past five seasons. For a second straight game, the Cyclones needed some penalty kick magic to emerge as Nassau Class AA girls’ soccer champions. After battling top-seeded Garden City to a 1-1 draw through 80 minutes of regulation and 30 minutes of overtime in the final, they outscored the Trojans 4-3 in PKs Nov. 2. Molly Barry, South Side’s sixth shooter, delivered the golden PK goal and immediately jumped into the waiting arms of goalkeeper Abby Gruner, who not only made two dynamic PK saves but also scored.
4. South Side girls volleyball
South Side’s 32-year wait ended. The Cyclones won the New York State Class A girls’ volleyball championship Nov. 22, outlasting Williamsville South 25-22, 18-25, 25-18, 18-25, 15-12 in Glens Falls. It was their second state title in program history and first since 1993, when the program captured the Class B crown. The decisive fifth set embodied everything about the Cyclones’ resilience.
They fell behind 5-1 before storming back with a 7-2 run sparked by two kills and a serving ace from Keira Mullaney. They led 8-7 at the side switch, and after Williamsville tied it at 11, the Cyclones seized control by scoring four of the final five points to claim the title.
5. Seaford football
To win a county championship, the Seaford football team needed to exorcise some demons. On Halloween, the Vikings suffered their lone loss of the season to a scary good Plainedge team at their intimidating home stadium. In a true team effort, Seaford put the memories of that defeat to bed by defeating the Red Devils, 21-7, to capture the Nassau Conference IV title Nov. 22. Seaford’s opening statement was a 12-play, 65-yard drive in which quarterback Michael Spinella (165 yards, two touchdowns) went 7-of-8, connecting with Mark Villeck and Peter Barone as well as Brian Falk, who capped the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run to put the Vikings in front.
6. Wantagh football
Down 14 points to Bethpage early in the second quarter of the Nassau Conference III football championship game
Nov. 22, Wantagh didn’t flinch. The fourth-seeded Warriors cut the margin to one by halftime and eventually built a 14-point lead of their own before holding on for a 28-21 victory over the Golden Eagles. Luke Martini had three offensive touchdowns and an interception on defense. It marked the first time in program history Wantagh has captured back-to-back county titles. It lost 19 players from last year’s Nassau Conference IV and Long Island Class IV championship team.
7. Massapequa football
Massapequa’s football team made history Nov. 28, defeating Ward Melville, 14-12, to win the Long Island Class I title. The Chiefs joined William Floyd as the only teams in the Long Island Championship’s 33-year history to win three consecutive Class I crowns. The Colonials did so from 2005-07. And Massapequa, which topped Oceanside for the Nassau Conference I crown, did it by going undefeated for the ninth time in program history and the second time in the last three years.
8. Plainedge girls basketball
The No. 4 seed in the Nassau Class A girls’ basketball playoffs left no doubt
who’s No. 1. Junior-led Plainedge capped a sensational county tournament run March 6 with a resounding 48-28 victory over Floral Park in the championship game. “It’s really amazing and unbelievable,” said Allison Younghans, who led all scorers with 17 points. It’s the second county title in five seasons and third all-time for the Red Devils, who beat Shoreham-Wading River for the L.I. title. Maddie Belz scored 10 points off the bench, and Peyton Wise and Michela Netto added 9 and 7 points, respectively.
9. South Side boys basketball
In a packed Farmingdale State College gymnasium March 7, South Side gave Roslyn a taste of its own medicine, dropping a season-high 82 points in capturing the Nassau Class AA boys basketball championship game by a 15-point margin. Roslyn averaged 75 points but was held to 20 in the opening half and 67 on the night as the Cyclones captured their second county title in four years. South Side went on a 22-2 run from the last bucket of the first quarter to the end of the opening half, to take a 32-20 halftime lead. Trevor Walsh recorded eight of his career-high 23 points during the surge, while Ryan Schmitt, John Pericolosi, Connor Erickson and Kieran Vetter combined for the other 14 points.
10. Baldwin boys basketball
It was a freak accident at a practice in early January when Rian Gittens heard the pop in his knee and immediately thought the worst. “I thought my season was over,” the senior forward said. It was another example of adversity in a season full of it for the Baldwin boys basketball team. So when the Bruins were slow coming out of the gate and trailed by 13 in the second quarter of the Nassau Class AAA championship game March 7, it was just the latest obstacle for Baldwin to hurdle. Enter Gittens, who in his first game back from a torn MCL provided the needed offensive spark to help top-seeded Baldwin defeat Port Washington, 47-40, to win a sixth consecutive county title.
11. Baldwin girls basketball
In a Baldwin’s once-comfortable 19-point lead over Walt Whitman in the Long Island Class AAA girls’ basketball title game whittled down to five with less than three minutes remaining when its lone returning starter from last season’s state championship team made sure it wouldn’t be her high school finale. Senior guard Alyssa Polonia’s long trey from the top of the key with 2:46 to go provided the dagger in Baldwin’s 54-46 victory March 11. Her four free throws in the final minute sealed the program’s
Erik Lee/Herald
Massapequa won its third straight Long Island football title.
BRINGING LOCAL SPORTS HOME EVERY WEEK
HERALD SPORTS
Local teams celebrated historic seasons
eighth L.I. crown in head coach Tom Catapano’s 17 seasons at the helm. Polonia had a team-high 17 points, Malia Robinson added 11 and Ajeya Nicholas chipped in 8.
12. MacArthur flag football
Alexa Coppola caught a pass through the heavy rainfall from junior quarterback Gina Iannuzzi and toe-tapped in the back of the end zone to secure MacArthur’s first flag football county title May 23 at LIU Post over Plainedge, 13-9, in the Class B championship game. On fourth and goal from the 9-yard line, Iannuzzi rolled right and found a leaping Coppola, who got one foot down with just a few turf pellets between her toe and the white out-of-bounds line. The Generals went on to capture the L.I. Class B crown.
13. Massapequa girls lacrosse
Massapequa girls lacrosse ran away with the Nassau Class A championship May 27, defeating Syosset 13-5 to take the county title in convincing fashion. Savanna Appleton led the way with four goals and four assists. In a three-game playoff stretch that also included victories over East Meadow and Port Washington, Massapequa outscored opponents 43-10, a commanding run as the top seed. The Chiefs have won nine county championships in the last 11 years, including six straight since 2021.
14. South Side girls lacrosse
Tara Cody was unfazed when South Side’s girls lacrosse season hung in the balance in the final minute of the Nassau Class C final against Wantagh May 28. The senior goalie squared up for her
second free position shot in a matter of minutes in a tie game, but unlike the first attempt Cody made a crucial low stick save. Cody’s clutch stop, one of her eight on the day, set the stage for more heroics at the other end of the field when freshman Juliet Diorio scored with just 2.3 seconds left to propel South Side to an 8-7 victory and a repeat county title.
15. Massapequa softball
Dropping three straight games to Oceanside didn’t faze defending Nassau and Long Island Class AAA softball champ Massapequa. The Chiefs, who fell twice to the Sailors during the regular season and dropped the best-of-three county finals series opener, stayed alive with a wild come-from-behind victory in Game 2 and kept the momentum going in the third and deciding game for a repeat. Samantha Dolan went 3-for-4 with five RBIs, Sienna Erker scored three runs and pitcher Alexa O’Mallon scattered five hits as Massapequa squeaked past Oceanside, 7-6, May 29 for its fifth county title in six years.
16. Wantagh boys lacrosse
Wantagh captured its third straight Nassau Class C boys lacrosse championship June 1, rolling to a 15-7 victory over South Side. Warriors goalie Gianni Passaro came up huge, making 15 saves. Martini, Matt Giacobello and Sean Stachlik each had three goals and one assist, Joe Nicholson and Carter Loughman had two goals and two assists apiece, and Devin Paccione had two goals to lead Wantagh’s high-octane offense. The Warriors advanced to beat Sayville, 12-11, for their second straight Long Island title.
17. Wantagh softball
It was fitting the Long Island Class A softball championship game ended with a strikeout from Wantagh’s Lucy Olore. The junior pitcher fanned 12 and provided all the offensive support she’d need with a two-run single in the top of the first inning of the Warriors’ 3-0 victory over two-time defending champion Miller Place June 6. It was Wantagh’s third L.I. title and first since 1990 — also won on the same date that year.
18. Calhoun softball
Five days after capturing their first Nassau County title, the Colts added another chapter to the history books. Calhoun had never played for a Long Island softball title before June 6, but the Colts proved more than worthy of sharing the same stage with defending Class AA champion East Islip. Featuring a wicked curveball, sophomore pitcher Sophia Nicastro was dialed in. She struck out 14 and allowed only six baserunners in a dominant performance to lead a 7-1 victory.
19. Kennedy baseball
It was a dream season for Bellmore JFK baseball. After dramatically winning their first county championship, the Cougars claimed their first Long Island crown, defeating Hauppauge, 9-3, to win the Class AA title June 6. Ryan Yormack set the tone with a leadoff double in the first inning and scored on an error. A sacrifice fly by Matt Toliplano gave the Cougars a 2-0 lead. Dylan Babek got the win on the mound and Derek Yormack retired all six batters he faced for the save.
20. Plainedge baseball
With Plainedge’s Taylor Nitsch and Kings Park’s Everett Zarzicki on the mound, it wasn’t going to take many runs to come away with the Long Island Class A baseball championship June 6. And it was the bat of an unlikely source, Dylan Loccisano, who provided all the offense the Red Devils needed to capture their first L.I. title since 2012. The backup catcher’s two-run, basesloaded single to right with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning was all Plainedge needed to secure a 2-0 victory.
21. Massapequa baseball
Massapequa ace Jack Scannapieco was back and made sure the Chiefs were back on top of the mountain, defeating Liverpool, 7-1, to capture the New York State Class AAA baseball championship at Binghamton University June 13. Scannapieco earned the win, allowing one earned run on five hits, while striking out five with one walk in five innings. Joe Genova went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored for Massapequa, which defeated Port Washington for the Nassau County title and Connetquot for the Long Island crown.
22. Massapequa boys lacrosse
The freight train known as Massapequa’s boys lacrosse team made one final stop in Geneva. The Chiefs’ offense hummed like a locomotive once again, producing at least four goals in every quarter of their 19-9 victory over West Genessee in the New York State Class A championship game June 14. Rocco Spallina had four goals and Nolan Wieczorek and Jake Byrnes added hat tricks.
Continued FRoM PReViouS Page
Media Origin Inc./Herald
alyssa Polonia and Baldwin captured the L.i. Class aaa crown.
Erik Lee/Herald Kennedy’s baseball team made history with the program’s first county and Long island titles.
KRISTIN THORNE Emmy-Award Winning Investigative Reporter
EMCEE TAMMY J. COHEN Founder & Messaging Strategist TC Brand Consulting
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MICHELLE MOREIRA-JODICE Vice President Market Manager, Valley Bank
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SUZETTE GORDON President & CEO, SCO Family of Services
& CEO, SCO of Services
THERESA PORCARO Vice President, Growth & Marketing, Pelvic Rehabilitation Medicine
Students from Robert W. Carbonaro School in the Valley Stream 24 School District participated in the Nassau County Games.
The annual games took place at both Mitchel Athletic Complex and Nassau Community College and included students from all over Nassau County. The students competed in a variety of activities such as a 100-meter dash, an obstacle course, field games and more, all while displaying athleticism, school pride and sportsmanship. Students’ family members were also present to cheer them on.
“We are incredibly proud of our students for representing our district with such enthusiasm, sportsmanship and perseverance,” Unal Karakas, superintendent of schools, said. “It was inspiring to see our students enjoy this memorable experience.”
— Jane Bagatta
Carbonaro students participate in county games District 13 hosts field day
JESSICA RONDASH, MBA Director, Business Operations & Performance, Holt Construction
WHELAN Capital Program Director, The New Terminal One
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OWN YOUR POWER
Students from Valley Stream UFSD 13 competed in the district’s annual field day.
The event, which was outdoors, included a variety of classic field day activities such as relay races, obstacle courses, team challenges and more. Students rotated through stations featuring these activities throughout the day. Alongside the students, teachers and staff also participated in the field day.
Students showcased athleticism, sportsmanship and enthusiasm while learning the importance of physical fitness and spending time outside. As summer begins, field day serves as an important reminder of the friendships students built during the school year.
— Jane Bagatta
Courtesy Valley Stream 24 School District
Students at Robert W. Carbonaro School in the Valley Stream 24 School District took a special field trip to compete in the Nassau County Games.
Courtesy Valley Stream UFSD 13 Students rotated through stations featuring different activities throughout the day.
Fundraiser will support mental health access
nizers will share information about the nonprofit and how donations will help increase access to mental health care throughout Valley Stream, southeast Queens and surrounding communities.
“I hope that people understand that mental health access is what I believe is an important equity issue of this time,” Sinkfield said. “I truly believe that if Dr. King were around in 2026, one of the issues that he’d be talking about would be access to mental health.”
Adjust Upward was established to address the costs associated with mental health treatment — one of the biggest obstacles preventing people from receiving the necessary care. While the nonprofit does not provide counseling services itself, it raises money to support individuals seeking treatment and develops community programs focused on mental wellness.
Sinkfield has witnessed that even families with health insurance can struggle to afford weekly expenses. Those costs can become even more difficult when multiple members of the same household need services.
“Often insurance companies have very detailed agreements that exclude people from access to mental health because they have to get pre-authorization for a certain provider, or they have to expect to pay sometimes a high
deductible before their services will be covered, or for the copays, which are sometimes high,” Sinkfield said. “Making mental health accessible is important to us, and we believe that we’re on the right side of history to make this effort.”
The nonprofit works closely with Help to Adjust, a separate communitybased counseling center in Valley Stream. Because Help to Adjust is often the first point of contact for people seeking counseling, the nonprofit can provide financial assistance to clients who might otherwise be unable to continue treatment.
Wit is just telling them, if you feel sad, it could be regular sadness, situational sadness or it could be a sign of depression, and what to look for. And even giving them that information can stabilize people long enough to be able to seek deeper intervention.”
hile the fundraising is important, I get that, but the key word is the community piece.
For Felicia Hunt, operations supervisor at Help to Adjust, financial concerns are only one of the barriers keeping people from seeking care. Many people also avoid counseling because of the stigma surrounding mental health or concerns about receiving a diagnosis.
Yusuf Clarke Social-emotional learning specialist, Adjust Upward Community Development Corp.
“My favorite word is ‘psychoeducation,’” Hunt said. “It is when we teach people about mental health and about what they are experiencing. It’s not necessarily providing counseling or advice, but
Help To Adjust provides counseling for individuals, families, couples, children and adolescents, as well as grief and relationship counseling, crisis intervention and anger management services. The practice serves residents of all ages but has developed a specialty in anger management, including working with clients ordered by the courts to complete counseling.
Adjust Upward complements those efforts by organizing community programming and support groups. One of its primary initiatives is a monthly men’s wellness group at an Emblem Health location in Cambria Heights, where participants gather to discuss challenges, support one another and build relationships.
Yusuf Clarke is a social-emotional learning specialist with Adjust Upward who also works at Help to Adjust, offer-
ing therapeutic services and restorative justice programming in New York City schools. Through that work, he provides counseling, facilitates restorative circles, and trains school administrators and employees in restorative practices.
“While the fundraising is important, I get that, but the key word is the community piece,” Clarke said. “If they don’t know we’re here, they won’t know this is a service they might need. And so, it is our responsibility to make sure that they know that we are here and part of the community.”
Organizers said they hope attendees leave the fundraiser with a greater understanding that seeking mental health care is a sign of strength and that improving access to treatment is a community issue. They also hope the event will encourage additional partnerships and community support for the nonprofit’s work.
Sinkfield expressed hope that Adjust Upward will expand beyond its current programming by increasing the number of families it assists with treatment costs, offering community events more frequently and building additional partnerships and sponsorships.
Clarke said he also hopes to see the nonprofit eventually develop programming for adolescents, allowing young people to receive support earlier before transitioning into adult programming.
North, South and Central grads turn the tassel
Graduates from Valley Stream North, South and Central high schools were celebrated during commencement ceremonies held June 22 and 23 at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex at Hofstra University.
Family members, friends, teachers, administrators, Board of Education members, staff, and other supporters gathered to recognize the Class of 2026 as graduates crossed the stage to applause, celebrating the milestone with classmates and loved ones.
Valley Stream North High School recognized valedictorian Ravjot Singh and salutatorian Julianna Dekel. Valley Stream South High School honored valedictorian Vijay Singh and salutatorian Alexa Kosinski. Valley Stream Central High School recognized valedictorian Alishba Chaudhry and salutatorian Abdul Haseeb.
–Angelina Zingariello
Photos courtesy Valley Stream Central High School District
Valley Stream Central High School graduates created a memorable moment through music during the commencement ceremony.
Valley Stream North High School graduates celebrated a milestone as they begin the next chapter.
Valley Stream South High School graduates reflected on their shared journey as they sang together.
Valley Stream North High School graduates joined together in song. Valley Stream Central High School graduates applauded their fellow classmates.
L.I. Choice Awards celebrate local success
By Maureen Fitzgerald
Presented once again by PSEG Long Island, the fifth annual Herald Long Island Choice Awards Gala has quickly become one of the region’s signature contests and business recognition events. The program brings together hundreds of businesses and organizations across categories spanning dining, healthcare, home services, wellness, professional services, retail, entertainment and more.
Hosted by RichnerLIVE on May 19 at the Crest Hollow Country Club, the evening featured a cocktail reception, networking, dinner and the highly anticipated live winner reveal — with honorees learning their placements in real time throughout the evening. From the moment guests stepped into cocktail hour, the atmosphere carried an unmistakable buzz as finalists mingled and snapped photos in front of the glowing LI Choice Awards LED sign.
The applause erupted repeatedly as winners crossed the stage to accept their awards, with cheers echoing throughout the packed ballroom.
For many attendees, the evening represented more than just an awards gala; it was a celebration of resilience, growth and community recognition after years spent building businesses across Nassau and Suffolk counties.
“This evening is about celebrating the people and businesses that make our communities special,” said Stuart Richner, publisher of the Herald and CEO of Richner Communications, during opening remarks. “It is the people in this room that are the economic engines of our communities.”
This year’s continued partnership with PSEG Long Island also reinforced the utility’s longstanding focus on supporting the region’s small business community through its Business First advocate programs, which provide guidance, energy efficiency resources and rebate opportunities to help local businesses grow and operate more sustainably. The utility company — ranked No. 1 by J. D. Power in business customer satisfaction — has granted over $3.5 million to help businesses lower operating costs, improve sustainability, and create jobs.
“Small businesses are the backbone of our communities,” said Veronica Isaac, Senior Manager Customer and Community Partnerships, during the evening’s program. “Without your hard work, we would not have so many thriving downtown districts and beyond here on Long Island. Investing in and promoting small businesses will power the future of Long Island.”
The event also underscored how the LI Choice Awards has evolved beyond recognition. Drawing hundreds of thousands of votes across the region during the months-long public voting campaign, the program has become a platform that strengthens visibility for local businesses while fostering new partnerships and meaningful connections across industries. For many of
A beautiful poolside setting provided the perfect backdrop for an evening of networking and
the evening’s winners, the recognition has translated into tangible business growth, customer trust and lasting community credibility.
“Winning the Long Island Choice Award five years in a row for Best Auto Repair Shop, has been incredibly rewarding for our business. Because the award is voted on by the public, it means a great deal to know our customers continue to support and believe in us,” shared Kevin Killelea,
owner of Rockville Centre Auto Repair.
“The recognition has helped our business grow and flourish, while reinforcing the trust and reputation we’ve worked hard to build within the community.”
Sharing the same five-year milestone win, the Theralympic Speech Therapy team celebrated by extending “A huge thank you to our wonderful clients for believing in us, and to our
dedicated team for the care, passion, and heart you bring every single day. We couldn’t do this without you!!”
“Winning the past few years is especially meaningful because it reflects the trust our patients place in us every day,” said Dr. Howard Goodman, Long Island Weight Loss Doctor.
This year’s winners and finalists can be found in the LI Herald 2026 LI Choice Winners Guide and online at LIChoiceawards.com.
Photos by Tim Baker/Melissa Baptiste/Michael Rechter
celebration.
Proud sponsor PSEG Long Island was represented by Matt Connors, left, Andrew Cacioppo, Jordan Isaac, Veronica Isaac, Krista Kester, Sean Galvis, and Amy Di Leo.
Photos by Tim Baker/Melissa Baptiste/Michael Rechter
The winning team at Ambiance Salon and Spa took home multiple categories.
Erik Andrieux, Esq. of Andrieux Law, PLLC, was named finalist in multiple categories.
Six generations of Bagel Boss, one winning team.
The team at Discover Long Island, a proud supporting partner.
Future Stars Summer Camp’s winning team were all smiles after their big victory. Geri Barish, right, Executive Director of Hewlett House, accepts her award.
Maidenbaum Property Tax Reduction Group, LLC’s winning team members. PSEG attendees Krista Kester and Sean Galvis enjoy cocktail hour poolside.
Marianne Bochilo of Peaceful Yoga is pleased to be a winner.
Harry Cohen, left, of Men on the Move beams after their big win.
Dr. Ryan Sugarman of Memorial Sloan Kettering, second from left, accepts his award.
Photos by Tim Baker/Melissa Baptiste/Michael Rechter
Laura D’Amato (second, right) and team members of Apple Bank were among the winners.
Winners Rachael Berg and Dr. Beth Raskin of Kulanu Academy.
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LONG ISLAND’S 2026 STAYCATION GUIDE
Celebrate America’s 250th at the Cradle of Aviation Museum!
Summer 2026 Starts Here.
2026 Summer Bucket List
❑ See a real Lunar Module ❑ Watch a Giant-Screen Movie ❑ Walk the Air & Space Trail ❑ Discover Aviation History
❑ Sit in an Airplane Cockpit
❑ Eat Astronaut Ice Cream
This year, skip the airport lines, expensive hotels, and rising travel costs. America’s 250th anniversary is happening right here in your own backyard.
Join us for a summer-long celebration of aviation, innovation, exploration, and discover with special exhibits, family events, and full-dome films on Long Island’s largest screen!
From early air fields to the Moon, Long Island helped shape America’s story. Come celebrate where history took flight.
Scan the QR code or visit www.cradleofaviation.org/celebrate250 for a complete list of ongoing celebrations and special events.
LONG ISLAND’S 2026 STAYCATION GUIDE
A&C Pest Management East Meadow acpest.com
ACV Media
Hauppauge Media, Radio Presenter
Adam Zimmerman
Merrick
Syl-Lee Antiques
Alan B. Hodish, Esq.
Garden City Law Office of Alan B Hodish, LLC
All Business Management, LLC
DavidKondrup.com
David Kondrup CPP
All Island Home Renovation
East Northport allislandhomerenovation.com
America’s Vetdogs & Guide Dog Foundation
Smithtown VetDogs.org/GuideDog.org
American Burgers
Rockville Centre americanburgersrvc.com
Andrea M. Bernardo, Co-Chair
Rockville Centre
LI Walk for Preeclampsia
Andrea M. Brodie, Esq., Partner
Jericho
Meister Seelig & Schuster
Assemblywoman
Michaelle C. Solages
Elmont
New York State Assembly
B Safe Rubber Mulch
S&M Prompt Rubbish
Removal Service
S&M Tire Recycling
Beach Baseball Camp & Clinics LLC
Long Beach
Beach Bombers Baseball Travel Teams
Ben Coggiano, President
Walter F. Cameron Advertising cameronadvertising.com
Best Skin & Body Aesthetics Spa Oceanside
MediSpa
Bill Goode
Amityville
J.F. Goode Funeral Home
Brian Busto, CEO
Stetson Cybergroup stetsoncg.com
Brookhaven National Laboratory Upton bnl.gov
C Marlborough, Esq. Lynbrook FightWageTheft.com
Carolyn Argento Mgr
Long Beach
Douglas Elliman Real Estate
Carolyn Argento Mgr.
Merrick | 5 Towns
Douglas Elliman Real Estate Central Business Systems
Melville
Technology
Charlene Jackson Baldwin
Jackson Legacy Legal Services
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th Celebrating Our DECLARATION
Community Chest
South Shore Five Towns, NY CommunityChestSS.org
Connie Pinilla
The Connie Pinilla Team
Compass-Manhasset Councilman
Jorge C. Guadrón District 1 Town of Islip
Cynthia Nuñez Legislator 14th District
Dean Castagnaro Inc.
General Contractor
DciRemodeling.com
DGNY Property Management
Melville
dgnypropertymanagement.com
Donna M. Ferrara
East Rockaway
The Awakening Summit
Donna Stefans Woodbury
StefansLawGroup.com
Dr. Glen Shanock
Long Beach
Dr. Glen’s Happy Teeth
Dr. Helen Hsieh
Vibrance 360 Vibrance360.co
Dr. Jamie Rockwin, P.T., DPT
Merrick
Therapeutic Solutions
Physical Therapy
Dr. Kimon Bekelis
The Stroke & Brain Aneurysm Center of Long Island strokecarelongisland.com
Dr. Paul C. Carey, D.D.S. Massapequa
Dentist
Dr. Ron Mark
Founder & CEO
Mark Medical Care markmedicalcare.com
Elisa’s Restaurant
N Jerusalem Rd. Bellmore ElisaRestaurant.com
Episcopal Health Services
EHS Primary Care ehs.org/primarycare
Eric Wiggins
CEO, Didit Marketing didit.com
Flinch & Bruns
Lynbrook Funeral Home
Frank Palma Hauppauge
Liberty Coca Cola
Gaby Paulino
West Babylon
Gema’s Childcare
George Martin
The Original
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George Martin’s Strip Steak
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Geri Barish, Executive Director
Hewlett House
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Greg Massimi
Bethpage
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ilovehearing.com
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Our DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE Community, Businesses and Leaders
International Empire Electric
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Turnkey Electrical Contractors
Irving J. Kaminetsky
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Commissioner
Vice Chairman of the Board
Ivania Flores, Realtor
Medford
HomeSmart Dynamic Realty
James A. Soviero
Elmont
Elmont Funeral Home
Jason A. Greenberg
Freeport
Founder - JAG Law Group
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Jennifer DeSena Manhasset
Town of North Hempstead Supervisor
John Spiliotis Baldwin Insurance
Joseph Petraro
Joe the Gamer’s Be Kind Campaign East Rockaway
Joshua Marino CFP®, ChFC® East Moriches
Edward Jones
Ken Dookram, Agent
Freeport State Farm
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Perry Funeral Home
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Digital Printing & Promotions
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AMERICA
By HUNTER FENOLLOL hfenollol@liherald.com
Joe Gaeta remembers spotting mines off Normandy
When Joe Gaeta looks at the American flag today, the feeling is simple.
“I’m proud of myself,” he said.
The Wantagh resident turned 99 on March 9, making him one of the last surviving members of the generation that fought and served during World War II. More than eight decades after helping support the Allied invasion of Normandy, Gaeta still carries memories of the war — and of the unlikely journey that took him there.
Gaeta grew up in the Ravenswood section of Long Island City during the Great Depression. Life was difficult. His family of five lived in a one-bedroom apartment, and there was no refrigerator, only an icebox, filled with blocks of ice delivered to the neighborhood.
“We didn’t have heat,” he recalled. “We had kerosene, and all our clothes stunk of kerosene.”
His parents worked at a local cigar company, as did many of their neighbors. Gaeta attended P.S. 83 but never went to high school. Instead, he entered the workforce and later became a laborer in construction.
At 17, with many of his older friends already serving, Gaeta decided he wanted to enlist.
“All my friends were gone,” he said. “I told my father I wanted to go.”
His parents were not thrilled by the decision, but they signed the paperwork, allowing him to join the U.S. Navy.
TGaeta served aboard a ship that transported troops to Normandy during the D-Day campaign. While thousands of soldiers stormed the beaches, he spent much of his time below deck in the engine room, making sure gauges and equipment were functioning properly.
“I didn’t see nothing,” he said with a laugh. “I was in the engine room.”
But he certainly heard the battle. During breaks, the sounds of gunfire and explosions echoed around the ship. After the invasion, his vessel helped recover American soldiers from the water.
“We picked up a lot of dead bodies,” he recalled quietly. “I was 17-years-old.”
Gaeta was among the youngest men aboard his ship. While many of the sailors around him worried about wives and children back home, the teenager’s concerns were much different.
Veterans reflect on service, role in American history
“A lot of guys had families,” he recalled. “Me, I’m 17-years-old. I’m talking about the Yankees and the Giants.”
Decades later, he still remembers viewing the war through the eyes of a teenager.
“To me, it was a great adventure,” he said. “It really didn’t dawn on me until I was about 21 what I did.”
o me, it was a great adventure. It really didn’t dawn on me until I was about 21 what I did.
— JOE GaETa
One of Gaeta’s most important contributions came because of his exceptional eyesight. Navy officials recognized his ability to see long distances and frequently assigned him to the crow’s nest whenever the ship entered dangerous waters.
Twice, he spotted enemy mines.
The discoveries allowed naval crews to destroy the mines and alter the routes of ships following behind, helping protect countless service members.
“They made all the ships behind us take a different route,” Gaeta said proudly.
For his efforts, he received a reward that still makes him smile more than 80 years later: a day off and a steak dinner with the ship’s chef.
“They made a big deal out of me,” he said.
After the war, Gaeta returned home to a difficult job market as thousands of veterans searched for work. He found a path into the bricklayer’s union and built a career in the trades.
Today, he remains active with veter-
an’s organizations, including AMVETS and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. During local parades, he often rides at the front.
“I’m the only World War II veteran,” he said. “When I walk in there, they make a big deal out of me.”
For Gaeta, service was never about recognition. But he hopes younger generations appreciate the sacrifices made by those who wore the uniform.
“You’re giving your life for your country,” he said. “It’s not something everybody does.”
Seaford Legion leader on service, sacrifice after 9/11 return to duty
For David VanderWerf, military service wasn’t a single chapter in his life — it was something he returned to when the country called again.
VanderWerf, adjutant of Edwin Welsh Jr. American Legion Post 1132 in Seaford and first division commander in the Nassau County American Legion, first enlisted at 17 in the National Guard and Reserve. But after the Sept. 11 attacks, he found himself drawn back to active duty.
“The impetus behind joining the regular Army was 9/11,” he said.
Raised in Glen Rock, N.J., VanderWerf said his interest in the military began early through a love of history and military simulation games with his father. Family members also served, including an uncle who flew bombing missions in World War II and another who spent decades in the Army Reserve.
After reentering service in 2003, VanderWerf deployed to South Korea,
where he spent nearly three years stationed near the Demilitarized Zone. There, he worked in combat arms on M1 Abrams tanks, serving as a driver, loader, gunner and briefly a tank commander.
A typical day, he said, began with physical training before long hours maintaining and repairing tanks in the motor pool. But the job also came with moments of high tension. He recalled monthly alerts simulating a potential North Korean attack, including one during the period when North Korea conducted its first nuclear test.
“We didn’t know why we were on alert at the time,” he said. “We were just ready.”
He also remembers the heavy responsibility of training soldiers who were later deployed to Iraq, some of whom were injured or killed in combat.
Despite those experiences, VanderWerf said morale among troops remained strong, grounded in camaraderie and shared purpose.
Today, VanderWerf has continued that sense of service through the American Legion, where he helps veterans navigate benefits, assists with community programs and participates in military funeral honors.
“Veterans and their families sacrificed a lot,” he said. “Freedom’s not free.”
For VanderWerf, the transition back to civilian life led him into leadership roles in restaurants and, later, continued community service on Long Island. But he said the core lesson of his military experience remains the same: service does not end when the uniform comes off.
Wantagh honors Revolutionary War patriot Thomas Jackson
As Wantagh residents gathered to honor veterans this Memorial Day, one of the community’s earliest patriots was remembered once again: Thomas Jackson, a Revolutionary War soldier whose roots run deep in the history of the hamlet.
Born on Dec. 24, 1754, in a house that once stood near present-day Jones Avenue, Jackson became an active supporter of the American cause during the fight for independence. Historical records show that he signed Queens County’s “Petition of Association” on Jan. 19, 1776 — a local declaration of support for the colonies’ break from British rule.
Jackson served as a private in the 4th Regiment of New York troops and helped defend local interests during the Revolutionary War. On Aug. 13, 1776, he received bounty funds for men assigned to protect livestock in Queens County before the Battle of Long Island, preventing supplies from falling into Brit-
Courtesy Joe Gaeta
World War II veteran Joe Gaeta remembers his military service with pride.
AMERICA
ish hands. He also participated in the capture of Fort St. George in 1780.
Following the war, Jackson remained a prominent local resident. In 1803, he built a large home in what is now Wantagh.
Jackson died on Nov. 29, 1842, and is buried in the Jackson Cemetery on Wantagh Avenue. More than 180 years later, his grave continues to serve as a reminder of Wantagh’s connection to the nation’s founding and the sacrifices made by its earliest patriots.
Reflecting on service during ‘forgotten war’
For Anthony Heckl, memories of military service stretch back more than seven decades, but some moments remain as clear as ever.
Heckl, a longtime Seaford resident and member of the Edwin Welsh Jr. American Legion Post 1132, served in the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1953 during the Korean War. Though he was only 19 when he enlisted, the experience left a lasting impression.
By ANDREW FRANCIS afrancis@liherald.com
Laura Smith and Stacey Rose, whose ancestors have served in the U.S. military since the Revolutionary War, were named the co-grand marshals of the Village of Freeport’s Memorial Day Parade. Despite the parade being cancelled due to rain, the pair were honored during an indoor ceremony.
I’m just proud to know that I’m part of these courageous people’s bloodline, and it informs me.
StACEy RoSE
Co-grand marshal, Freeport Memorial Day Parade
Smith is an attorney who lives in Seaford and has many ties to Freeport, including owning a home in the village. She is a descendant of Revolutionary era figures Adam Smith and Benjamin Raynor, the latter the namesake of Raynortown, which eventually became Freeport.
Adam Smith joined patriotic brigades along the Long Island’s North Shore at 44 years-old, while Raynor was only 20 when he joined the fight for American independence.
Laura Smith said that she was tremendously honored by the invitation to be one of the grand marshals, and hoped that the values her family, and so many others, have fought for are maintained today.
“These guys kind of bucked a trend, since it was very loyalist around here on the South Shore,” she said, referring to
For generations of heroes, anniversary offers time to reflect
“I was 19 when I went in and 22 when I came out,” Heckl said.
A native of Manhattan, Heckl said his path into military service began almost by accident. During a New Year’s Eve gathering in 1950, a friend in the National Guard challenged him to enlist. Two days later, Heckl and another friend signed up.
His service took him from California to Korea and later Japan. Assigned to a construction engineer unit, he worked in supply, helping ensure soldiers had the equipment and clothing they needed.
The memory that stayed with him most was not the military work itself, but the devastation he witnessed in Korea.
“When I got there, it was the poverty and the devastation,” Heckl recalled. “It made me wonder what it’s all about. Why war?”
Korea’s harsh winters presented another challenge. Heckl remembered shortages of winter clothing and boots, making it difficult to keep troops supplied during the bitter cold.
One of his proudest accomplishments was helping make sure soldiers in his company had the gear they needed.
“We were trying to keep the troops in clothing,” he said.
Not every memory was difficult. Heckl fondly recalled helping build a 250-bed hospital in the city of Taegu. When the project was completed, he and his fellow soldiers were thanked by the nurses.
“At the end of it, all the nurses kissed us,” he said with a laugh.
Returning home after the war was not always easy. Unlike veterans of other conflicts, many Korean War veterans felt their service received little public recognition.
“At least the Vietnam veterans got cursed at,” Heckl joked. “They didn’t even know I was gone.”
Today, after more than 60 years on Long Island, Heckl remains active with the Seaford American Legion, where he continues to honor the friendships, service and sacrifices that defined his generation.
Grand marshals honor their Revolutionary War ancestors
Smith and Raynor. “It was kind of a dangerous thing to do, and certainly unpopular that they did go against the tide.”
Smith also added that the legacies of
her ancestors inspire her to want to see the values of independence and fair representation upheld in today’s America.
“The government should be behold-
en to the people and should adhere to what it is that the people want, and not to forget that it’s for the people of the country,” she said. “Some people, they seem to be forgetting that.”
Rose, who has lived in Freeport for 40 years, is a substitute teacher at John W. Dodd Middle School, also in the village. She is a descendant of Benjamin Lattimore Sr., an enslaved Black man who was freed and later served in continental armies in New York during the Revolutionary War.
Lattimore’s descendants leading up to Rose have been very involved military service, abolitionist movements and civil rights. She speaks highly of the inspiration that her relatives provide and boldly works with her family to honor their legacy through publicly discussing the harsh treatments that Black U.S. service members and citizens often faced during the past 250 years.
“There’s a lot of Black American’s who have served in various capacities,” Rose said. “(President George) Washington didn’t want us in the military, but we were losing.”
Despite the wounds of persistent racism, Rose added she is honored to “give voice to my ancestors and give voice to everyone who served and continues to serve.”
“I’m just proud to know that I’m part of these courageous people’s bloodline, and it informs me,” Rose said during the Freeport ceremony. “It informs me the work is not over. Democracy is always a work in progress, a fragile idea. Today’s patriots are those who give military service for our country. … Our 250th anniversary is a time to reflect and think about the sacrifice of those who are no longer with us.”
Deliah Roberts/Herald
Stacey Rose, left, and Laura Smith, right, the two grand marshals for the parade, with Marie Carmel Houanche, chaplain of American Legion William Clinton Story Post 342.
Andrew Francis/Herald
Despite the rain, Phillip Matragas, Mayor Robert Kennedy and Laura Smith were still able to briefly enjoy riding in a Mustang convertible after the Memorial Day ceremony.
AMERICA
By ANDREW FRANCIS afrancis@liherald.com
During the 250 years of its existence, the United States has experienced many domestic and global triumphs in large part due to the sacrifices and contributions of the millions of individuals who served in the military in various capacities.
In recognition of the ongoing service active-duty military members and veterans have offered this nation, several Long Island veterans shared their reflections on their service and what the celebration of the country’s 250th anniversary signifies to them.
Bill Morris, North Bellmore
Morris served in U.S. Army from 1962 to 1965, and was stationed in Arlington, Virginia, as a part of the Old Guard that watches over the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. The memorial serves as a symbolic resting place for the many soldiers who died and whose remains were unidentifiable due to the state of the body, poor record keeping or technological limitations of the time.
DHe expressed that it was an honor to be a part of the Old Guard and serving the country in a unique way. In addition to guarding the tomb, he was a part of different ceremonies at the White House and parades at the Washington Monument.
espite all of our differences, the country goes on — and we celebrate our heritage and our victories.
— BILL MoRRIS
Morris also was a part of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy’s funeral in 1963 when JFK was assassinated in Dallas. When asked about what America 250 signifies to him, he reflected on how much history he had been a part of.
“It signifies that I’m getting old, because I remember the 200th anniversary,” he joked. “(The 250th) anniversary just shows that the country, despite all of our differences, goes on and we celebrate our heritage and we celebrate our victories.”
For America’s 250th, looking back on service
Photos courtesy Bill Morris
Bill Morris said he’s been “honored” to have participated in several emotional ceremonies, including the funeral of President John F. Kennedy.
Bill Morris has received several recognitions and awards for his service in the Old Guard.
Morris added that he hopes to see the U.S. government provide additional support for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and encourages the country to care more for veterans.
“There’s way too many veterans on the street,” he said. “Too many on drugs. They need more care, they need more mental health (resources), they need more benefits. And I know the Veterans Affairs are trying to do that.”
Lomonaco Angelo, Lynbrook
Angelo, a U.S. Navy veteran who served from 1951 to 1955, also worked as a New York City police
Deliah Roberts/Herald Herald reporter Andrew Francis with U.S. veteran Marie Carmel Houanche at the 2026 Freeport Memorial Day Ceremony at Freeport High School.
officer for 20 years. He said that the nation’s 250th birthday is “meaningful” and he also hopes to see the legacy of veterans honored better.
“People, don’t forget the veterans,” he asks, mentioning “the different eras to World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, until the present.”
Angelo does his part to try to honor fellow veterans by volunteering at the New York State Veterans Home in St. Albans.
Marie Carmel Houanche, Freeport
Houanche was a nurse in the U.S. Army for 20 years being sta-
tioned in Houston, Texas and other areas of the country. Despite retiring from the military in 2011, she has remained tied to it by serving as chaplain at the American Legion’s William Clinton Story Post No. 342 in Freeport.
Despite having not been a typical soldier, Houanche said that her experiences were transformative since she was required to still meet the same physical fitness requirements that regular soldiers met. She also learned how to speak French, Korean, French, Creole, Spanish, English and a bit of Russian throughout her life of service.
Houanche said that America’s 250th anniversary is both a celebration of progress and independence.
There’s way too many veterans on the street. They need more care, more mental health resources and more benefits.
— BILL MoRRIS
“The reason that we celebrate the 250th anniversary is because we have our freedom and independence, and if it wasn’t for the military, all the different branches working together, we wouldn’t be free today.”
Stephen Nicolino, Freeport
Nicolino, who recently celebrated his 94th birthday, was a U.S. Air Force traffic controller from 1952 to 1956. After graduating from high school, the same day as the Korean War started, he reported to basic training at the now closed Sampson Air Force Base in Seneca Lake, New York, and went on to be stationed at bases in Massachusetts and England. Following his service, he went on to graduate from Hofstra University with a degree in business administration. When asked about America 250, he said that he and his family have loved the U.S. for over a century.
“My parents came from Italy in 1921 and never looked back,” Nicolino said. “He became a citizen within five years of being here in the United States.”
Nicolino’s family ties to service and patriotism extends to his brother Benedetto Nicolino, who was a Suffolk County police officer in the 1950s and 1960s who would become the first Long Island police officer with a K-9 dog.
Courtesy Marie Carmel Houanche
Marie Carmel Houanche worked as a nurse in the U.S. Army for 20 years before serving as an American Legion chaplain.
AMERICA
Look into the future
Julianna M. Birch Elementary School
Samuel G. Birch Elementary School
Hannah N. Birch Elementary School
Maddy K. Birch Elementary School
STEPPING OUT
Block party
The nation’s story comes to life at L.I. Children’s Museum
By Abbey Salvemini
Excitement is building as we head into Fourth of July weekend. All ages can find meaning and inspiration in this milestone 250th anniversary: even play takes on a patriotic twist. Long Island Children’s Museum provides young visitors a hands-on way to connect with America’s story as only kids can — by building and imagining. Through creativity and play, children can explore the country’s landscapes, wildlife and enduring symbols that are found in the museum’s “Red, White & Blue Blocks” exhibition.
At its core, the exhibit, which runs through Sept. 6, is built around a concept children readily understand. For Aimee Terzulli, the museum’s vice president of program and visitor experience, the best way to introduce young visitors to the 250th anniversary was to frame it as a birthday celebration — one on a truly grand scale.
“Birthdays are such a big part of what kids love,” Terzulli says. “We wanted to recognize and really lean into the celebration.”
The exhibit features large blue foam building blocks paired with red, white and blue accessories that encourage open-ended creativity. Inspired by the stars and stripes of the American flag, block building lets kids imagine what futures they will build together.
Throughout the first floor gallery space, prompts invite families to build birthday cakes, create monuments and design perches for bald eagles, our national bird.
The museum also incorporated an environmental and geographic component by highlighting animals native to the United States.
Large murals showcase species including buffalo, elk, mountain goats, beavers and alligators, while children can use animal puppets and blocks to create habitats inspired by each creature’s natural environment.
“This country is just so beautiful,” Terzulli says. “There are so many environmental aesthetics and animals that are indigenous just to America.”
Everyone is encouraged to study the murals for inspiration and think critically about the environments different animals call home. Some may build rugged mountain landscapes for goats, while others design swampy habitats for alligators complete with rivers
and marshes. What begins as a building exercise often opens the door to deeper discussions about ecosystems and the natural world.
“It’s really beautiful to see families looking at the murals and saying, ‘I don’t know if I’ve spent enough time traveling America’” Terzulli continues. “Our landscape is so unique.”
The exhibit’s open-ended design encourages children to chart their own creative paths. While some build patriotic displays or towering birthday cakes, others tackle ambitious engineering projects, from roller coasters to replicas of famous landmarks. No two building sessions look quite the same.
Terzulli recalls one child attempting to recreate Mount Rushmore with the oversized foam blocks. Other visitors have become fascinated with beavers, constructing dams after discovering the important role the animals play in shaping ecosystems.
• Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• View the events calendar at licm.org for additional information or call (516) 224-5800
• Long Island Children’s Museum, 11 Davis Ave., Garden City
“The beautiful thing is they’re organic, and they allow the learning to spring up for whatever the family’s interest is,” she adds.
One particularly popular challenge involves designing perches for bald eagles.
“I’m loving seeing these perches for the eagle, because they get really competitive,” Terzulli says.
A cozy reading area stocked with books on geography, wildlife and state symbols extends the learning beyond the block-building space. The educational approach, according to Terzulli, reflects the museum’s broader vision for its America 250 programming — one that emphasizes exploration and celebration rather than history lessons. Her team intentionally took a different approach from many America 250 initiatives, focusing less on historical interpretation and more on helping children celebrate and connect with the country in age-appropriate ways.
“We’re not really doing the historical element,” she explains. “We felt like we’d leave that to historical homes and foundations. Ours is more about our country’s birthday.”
Beyond play, the exhibit and its companion programs are intended to foster shared family memories that can last a lifetime. Terzulli vividly remembers celebrating America’s Bicentennial in 1976 as a child and relates that today’s young visitors may someday reflect on the nation’s 250th birthday with similar fondness.
“I remember wearing a little bonnet and making a poster that said 1776 and marching with my siblings and cousins in [this] parade,” she recalls. “I want kids to remember where they were; so that when they’re my age, they’ll have a reflective moment.”
At its heart the exhibit is designed to foster the kinds of shared experiences that families carry with them long after the blocks have been put away. Amid the excitement surrounding America’s 250th, Terzulli sees the celebration as an opportunity to pause, connect and find joy together.
As Terzulli puts it: “Coming together and celebrating what makes life full of joy is important.”
Sky-high salute to America’s 250th
Jones Beach is ready to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary with a spectacular three-day holiday weekend extravaganza. This year’s edition of the FourLeaf Air Show combines beachfront fireworks spectacle with one of the nation’s premier air shows, always an anticipated summer tradition. Festivities begin Saturday fireworks. The 25-minute display, presented by Garden State Fireworks, starts at 9:30 p.m. and will be synchronized to patriotic music. Sunday and Monday bring more excitement with the FourLeaf Air Show, headlined by the returning U.S. Navy Blue Angels. In a historic international tribute, the lineup also features the Royal Air Force Red Arrows making their first New York appearance, the Canadian Forces Snowbirds returning to Long Island for the first time since 2018, and the British Army Parachute Display Team Red Devils, among the exciting lineup. Together this is surely a signature semiquincentennial celebration that brings everyone together for a weekend honoring the nation’s history military service for a once-in-a-generation celebration.
Saturday through Monday, July 4-6. Jones Beach, Wantagh. More details available at fourleafairshow.com.
America’s birthday 19th century-style
Fourth of July is so much more than pyrotechnics. Step back in time into the 1800s at Old Bethpage Village Restoration for a more laid back type of holiday. The historic village transforms into a fully immersive living-history experience. Events include a patriotic parade through the village streets, military drills, and historical reenactments that bring the era to life. Guests can watch craft demonstrations showcasing traditional trades, enjoy storytelling sessions, and take in performances by a brass band echoing the music of the period. A reading of the Declaration of Independence offers a powerful reminder of the holiday’s origins, while old-time baseball — played by vintage rules — adds a spirited, hands-on touch of recreation. Visitors are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch and settle in with family and friends.
Sunday, July 5, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 1303 Round Swamp Road, Old Bethpage. Visit oldbethpagevillagerestoration.org or call (516) 572-8409 for more.
Photos courtesy LICM
Imagination takes shape in foam and color as children build within the Long Island Children’s Museum’s “Red, White & Blue Blocks” exhibit.
Your Neighborhood CALENDAR
JUL
2
Celebrate America
Eisenhower Park welcomes all to the county’s annual July 4th celebration. Glenn Strange, Chicken Head and Let Freedom Rock perform, followed by drone show and fireworks.
• Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow
• Time: 5:30 p.m.
• Contact: nassaucountyny.gov or (516) 572-0200
‘Summer of Love’ Pet Adoption
The Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter welcomes summer with the return of its “Summer of Love” pet adoption program. Now through Sept. 6 all pet adoption fees will be waived, making it easier than ever to adopt a pet. Each adoption includes free spaying/neutering, vaccinations and microchipping. Additionally, there is only a $10 licensing fee for dogs. The town animal shelter is home to playful pups and laid-back cats waiting for a fresh start. Check out the friendly faces of the dogs and cat before arriving at shelter. Browse photos and profiles at hempsteadny.gov/179/ animal-shelter or on the shelter’s Facebook page.
• Where: 3320, Beltagh Ave., Wantagh
• Time: Ongoing
• Contact: at hempsteadny. gov/179/animal-shelter or (516) 785-5220
JUL
3
The Bronx Wanderers
The Bronx Wanderers visit the Paramount stage for a night of classic pop, rock, oldies and their signature brand of comedy. What do you get when a father, his two sons, and two high school classmates come together to create a show? A wildly entertaining mix of hilarious personal stories, a powerhouse playlist spanning every genre and decade, and one unforgettable family’s journey through life and music. Meet The Bronx Wanderers — a high-energy musical experience that’s been bringing audiences to their feet for over 20 years. With a unique blend of rock ‘n’ roll nostalgia, modern hits, and dynamic storytelling, this band has mastered the art of connecting with fans of all ages in one sweeping, musical tour de force. The Bronx Wanderers have spent seven years as a Top 5 show in Las Vegas out of 223 productions. They’ve earned 12 “Best of Las Vegas” awards, were named Best Tribute Show by Las Vegas Weekly in 2022, hold a prestigious residency at the South Point Hotel and Casino, and were inducted into the East Coast Music Hall of Fame. Their on-stage chemistry and infectious energy they bring night after night prove they’re still having the time of their lives — and by the end of the show, you will be too.
• Where: The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington
• Time: 7:30 p.m.
• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com
• Contact: nassaucountyny.gov or (516) 572-0200
JUL
10
Classic Car Show
Mazda Valley Stream, in partnership with the Valley Stream Chamber of Commerce, hosts classic car shows on Friday nights throughout the summer, With a DJ at each show. Cars will be parked as they enter.
• Where: Rockaway Avenue
• Time: 6-9 p.m.
• Contact: (516) 318-4816 or (646) 235-2129
‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’
The Madison Theatre’s production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” brings the beloved Andrew Lloyd Webber musical to the stage, retelling the biblical story of Joseph, his colorful coat and his rise from slavery to Pharaoh’s trusted advisor. Told entirely through song, the family-friendly production features memorable numbers including “Any Dream Will Do,” “Close Every Door” and “One More Angel in Heaven,” blending musical styles from calypso to country-western. Suitable for audiences of all ages, the show continues to be one of the world’s most frequently performed musicals.
Annual Fireworks Show
The village hosts annual fireworks show sponsored by Anthony Capone of North Star Auto Body. With concert by NXLVL Band, 7-8:30 p.m., a DJ, food truck access, children’s activities and much more. Tickets can be purchased either at the gate for $15 or in advance for $12 at the Henry Waldinger Memorial Library, Valley Stream Pool Complex or Valley Stream Village Hall. Ticket purchases are cash only. The rain date is July 5.
• Where: Firemen’s Memorial Field, 120 Albermarle Ave.
• Time: Gates open at 6 p.m.
• Contact: (516) 825-4200
Family theater
invited to celebrate his birthday. His message: As the national bird, this party will be happening throughout the whole month of July. Come to think of it, I did hear something about a birthday for the United States of America as well. Hmm...must be a coincidence! I’ll be throwing a parade through LICM’s galleries and a celebratory spectacle in the Theater. Come ready to party!” Keep an eye out 30 minutes before each show for a special interactive pre-show! For ages 3+. $5 with museum admission ($4 members), $10 theater only.
• Where: 11 Davis Ave., Garden City
• Time: 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; also July 8
• Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800
JUL
7
JUL
5
Lance the Eagle invites families to “A Semi-QuincentenEAGLE Birthday” on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage. In this original production, families are
Lights, camera, Long Island!
The Long Island International Film Expo returns, bringing independent cinema from around the globe to local audiences. This year’s festival features 113 films representing countries including Spain, Hong Kong, Ghana, Wales, Singapore, Gibraltar and Nigeria, along with productions from
across the United States and a strong showcase of Long Island filmmakers. The festival opens with student film blocks at 6 and 9 p.m., including “Money Game,” winner of the 2026 Locust Valley Student Film Festival, directed by Justin Kwok. The diverse lineup includes documentaries, feature films, shorts, horror films, music videos and late-night screenings for mature audiences, along with workshops and more. Notable selections include “The Random Guest,” the final film featuring actor Peter Greene.
• Where: Bellmore Movies & Showplace, 222 PettitAve.,Bellmore
• Time: Varied, through July 16
• Contact: For a complete schedule and tickets, visit LIIFE2026.eventive.org
Community Band/ District Symphony Orchestra Concerts
The Valley Stream Community Band and District Symphony Orchestra host free concerts. The band performrs on Tuesdays and the orchestra will perform on Thursdays.
• Where: Village Band Shell, 123 S. Central Ave.
• Time: 8 p.m., through July 23
• Contact: (516) 825-4200
JUL
8
Family movie night
Enjoy a movie under the stars at Eisenhower Park.
See Disney/Pixar’s “Elio. The cosmic misadventure introduces Elio, a space fanatic with an active imagination and a huge alien obsession.
• Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow
• Time: Movie begins at dusk
• Contact: nassaucountyny.gov
Summer sounds
TOH brings its summer concert series to Old Central Ave – Mill Brook. Enjoy tunes with In The Groove.
• Where: Old Central Ave – Mill Brook
• Time: 8 p.m.
• Contact: (516) 292-9000 ext. 7255
Oldies concert
JUL
9
Eisenhower Park goes all out for an oldies show. E’Stefano diSanto, Johnny Farina, Bobby Wilson, Vito Picone & The Elegants and The Brookly Bridge perform.
• Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow
• Time 7 p.m.
• Where: Madison Theatre, Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre
• Time: Various dates and times, through Aug. 2
• Contact: madisontheatreny.org or (516) 323-4444
JUL
18
Pool Dance Concert
As part of this summer’s Arthur J. Hendrickson Pool Dance Concerts, DJ John and Nini Love perforrm. This event is open to Valley Stream residents and CHSD Neighbors.
• Where: Arthur J. Hendrickson Pool (behind the pool)
• Time: 8 p.m.
• Contact: (516) 821-3786
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 SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, CARRINGTON
MORTGAGE SERVICES, LLC, Plaintiff, vs. CLAUDIA S.
ROSENTHAL AKA
PM. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Valley Stream, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York.
Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 on 7/22/2026 at 2:00PM, premises known as 16 Hudson Ave, Valley Stream, New York 11580, and described as follows:
CLAUDIA S. BROCHMAN, AS POTENTIAL HEIR, DEVISEE, DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF EILEEN ROSENTHAL AKA
Premises known as 16 Laurel Place, Valley Stream, (Village of Valley Stream, Town of Hempstead) NY 11580.
EILEEN G.
ROSENTHAL, ET AL., Defendant(s).
Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on March 18, 2026, 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 July 16, 2026 at 2:30
p.m., premises known as 47 Southgate Road
a/k/a 47 Southgate Road South, Valley Stream, NY 11581. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 39, Block 502 and Lot 41. Approximate amount of judgment is $416,394.08 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #607851/2024.
Kenneth Gartner, Esq., Referee Greenspoon Marder, 1345 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 2200, New York, NY 10105, Attorneys for Plaintiff 160682
LEGAL NOTICE
REFEREE’S NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE
SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU
MIDFIRST BANK, Plaintiff - against - ANY UNKNOWN HEIRS TO THE ESTATE OF
HERMAN M.G. RITCHIE
A/K/A GEORGE RITCHIE
A/K/A HERMAN
RITCHIE A/K/A
HERMAN G. RITCHIE, et al Defendant(s).
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on April 24, 2026. I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 on the 22nd day of July, 2026 at 2:00
(Section: 37, Block: 409, Lot: 60 (Lot Group 60-61))
Approximate amount of lien $222,844.01 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed judgment and terms of sale.
Index No.
601428/2023. Tiffany D. Frigenti, Esq., Referee. Davidson Fink LLP
Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 400 Meridian Centre Blvd, Ste 200 Rochester, NY 14618 Tel. 585/760-8218
For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832
Dated: May 11, 2026
During the COVID-19 health emergency, bidders are required to comply with all governmental health requirements in effect at the time of sale including but not limited to, wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing (at least 6feet apart) during the auction, while tendering deposit and at any subsequent closing. Bidders are also required to comply with the Foreclosure Auction Rules and COVID-19 Health Emergency Rules issued by the Supreme Court of this County in addition to the conditions set forth in the Terms of Sale. 160739
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU
SELENE FINANCE LP, Plaintiff, Against
JERD ORIENTAL A/K/A
JERD M. ORIENTAL, MIRLYNE RICHARDSONORIENTAL, GARDY ORIENTAL, Defendant(s)
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 10/11/2016, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court
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 452 Lot 11-14. The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $643,572.55 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 3680/2012 If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the then Court Appointed Referee will cancel the Foreclosure Auction. This Auction will be held rain or shine.
George P. Esernio, Esq., Referee.
MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC, 10 Midland Avenue, Suite 205, Port Chester, NY 10573
Dated: 4/22/2026 File Number: 464-0051 CA 160774
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCF 2 ACQUISITION TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. BRADLEY
GOLDSMITH A/K/A
BRADLEY JAY
GOLDSMITH A/K/A
BRADLEY J.
GOLDSMITH, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on May 19, 2026, 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 July 22, 2026 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 722 Caldwell Avenue, Valley Stream, NY 11581 a/k/a 722 Caldwell Avenue, South Valley Stream, NY 11581. All that
certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Valley Stream, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 39, Block 603 and Lot 17. Approximate amount of judgment is $929,948.15 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #609438/2024.
Lawrence M. Schaffer, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 190635-5 160780
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE
Supreme Court County of Nassau Deutsche Bank National Trust Company as Trustee for Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors Trust, Mortgage Loan AssetBacked Certificates, Series 2007-MLN1, Plaintiff AGAINST Julia Rosales, et al, Defendant Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on November 18, 2025, 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 July 20, 2026 at 2:30 PM premises known as 78 Ormonde Boulevard, 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: 430, LOT: 350. Approximate amount of judgment is $1,105,507.18 plus interests and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 613197/2024. 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. Brian J. Carmody, Referee FRENKEL
LAMBERT WEISMAN & GORDON LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706 01-099680-F00 90231 160759
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU. THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON FKA THE BANK OF NEW YORK AS TRUSTEE FOR THE CERTIFICATEHOLDERS OF CWALT 2004-05CB, Plaintiff -againstANTOUN A. HAMAWI, MUNA HAMAWI, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated May 15, 2026 and entered on May 22, 2026, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court “Rain or Shine” located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on July 28, 2026 at 3:30 p.m. premises situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Valley Stream, County of Nassau and State of New York, known and designated as SBL: 0039-00388-00-00002. Said premises known as 84 ROOSEVELT AVENUE, VALLEY STREAM, NY 11581 Approximate amount of lien $828,651.88 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 015252/2009.
PAUL L. MELI, ESQ., Referee Pincus & Tarab Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 425 RXR Plaza, Uniondale, NY 11556 {* VAL STRM H*} 160749
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT. NASSAU COUNTY. L&L ASSOCIATES HOLDING CORP., Pltf. vs. EDHNY SAINTANASSE, et al, Defts. Index #614372/2024. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered May 13, 2026, I will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on
July 28, 2026 at 2:30 p.m. premises k/a Section 37, Block 168, Lot 199. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale. The foreclosure sale will be held, “rain or shine.” If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the Court appointed referee will cancel the foreclosure auction.RONALD FERRARO, Referee. LEVY & LEVY, Attys. for Pltf., 12 Tulip Dr., Great Neck, NY 11021. #103025 160853
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and Municipal Home Rule of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing will be held in the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on the 7th day of July 2026, at 10:30 o’clock in the evening of that day to consider the enactment of a local law to amend Section 197-5 of the code of the Town of Hempstead to INCLUDE “ARTERIAL STOPS” at the following location(s):
BALDWIN
ST. LUKES PLACE (TH 250/26) - STOP - All traffic traveling southbound on Browning Street shall come to a full stop.
(NR) ISLAND PARK
AUSTIN BOULEVARD (TH 228/26) - STOP - All traffic traveling westbound on Jamaica Avenue shall come to a full stop.
MERRICK
ALEXANDER AVENUE (TH 223/26) - STOP - All traffic traveling westbound on Relyea Drive shall come to a full stop.
NORTH BELLMORE COLUMBUS AVENUE (TH 249/26) - STOP - All traffic traveling
southbound on Beckman Drive shall come to a full stop.
NORTH MERRICK
ROYDON DRIVE WEST (TH 209/26) - STOP - All traffic traveling eastbound on Suffolk Drive shall come to a full stop.
DECATUR AVENUE (TH 209/26) - STOP - All traffic traveling westbound on Crest Road West shall come to a full stop.
CREST ROAD WEST (TH 209/26) - STOP - All traffic traveling westbound on Monroe Avenue shall come to a full stop.
CREST ROAD WEST (TH 209/26) - STOP - All traffic traveling southbound on Waltoffer Annex shall come to a full stop.
CREST ROAD WEST (TH 209/26) - STOP - All traffic traveling eastbound on Devon Drive shall come to a full stop.
ROYDON DRIVE EAST (TH 209/26) - STOP - All traffic traveling eastbound on Dunstan Drive shall come to a full stop.
ROYDON DRIVE NORTH (TH 209/26) - STOP - All traffic traveling northbound on Dunstan Drive shall come to a full stop.
NORTH VALLEY STREAM (NR) VALLEY STREAM
FRANKLIN ROAD (TH 217/26) - STOP - All traffic traveling southbound on South Hommel Street shall come to a full stop.
JEDWOOD PLACE (TH 230/26) - STOP - All traffic traveling northbound on Sanford Court shall come to a full stop.
WANTAGH JANE STREET (TH 237/26) - STOP - All traffic traveling westbound on Franklin Street shall come to a full stop.
ALL PERSONS INTERESTED shall have an opportunity to be heard on said proposal at the time and place aforesaid.
Dated: June 23, 2026 Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD JOHN FERRETTI Supervisor KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 160978
PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES… To place a notice here call us us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION, Plaintiff AGAINST TYREK MCEACHIN, JASMINE MCEACHIN, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered September 26, 2023, 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 August 3, 2026 at 2:30 PM, premises known as 87 Gold Street, Valley Stream, NY 11580. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Rosedale, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section: 37 Block: 413 Lot: 582. Approximate amount of judgment $821,954.59 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #600906/2020. For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832. Harold F. Damm, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 21-001000 90347 160973
JANE STREET (TH 237/26) - STOP - All traffic traveling eastbound on Princeton Drive shall come to a full stop.
EDITOR/REPORTER
industry. Salary range is from $20K to $45K To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to jbessen@liherald.com
MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $20 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com
MULTI MEDIA ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT Inside Sales
Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $35,360 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com
Call 516-569-4000 X286
Operations/ Office Coordinator Full-Time. Cedarhurst. $25–$30/hour. Seeking person with strong communication, organizational, computer skills. Resume: info@purebitessnacks.com
OUTSIDE SALES
Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Earning potential ranges from $35,360 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses. Compensation is based on Full Time hours Eligible
Homes
To place an ad call 516-569-4000
Why should we have to pay for changes?
Prime Location - Endless Possibilities
Q. We want your opinion. Who should pay for changes to our drawings in order for us to get our permit? We got a list of problems from the building department, and most of them seem pretty simple, but our architect is telling us these are changes, and he wants to be paid for doing the changes. They most include words to change, but there are some other things. The plans are too big for the property by only a few feet, and the height is more, because we want 10-foot ceilings on each floor. Why should we have to pay for changes? The architect should have known about this.
A. The answer to your question is another question. Whose building is it? Who wants the high ceilings that prompted the extra height? You, the owner, are the driving factor in the direction your plans went, and because of that, and the outcome you want to ultimately reach — approval, legality and a building you started out wanting — there is the price of services by each person you hire.
Many people have a misperception of the process of planning a building. They also have this commonly held belief that the builder knows the laws, the structure, the unique, unwritten requirements of the municipality. Owners place faith in a system they imagine works a particular way, and find out the hard way that things are often not what they assumed they would be.
I have had many experiences in which I warned clients that doing or insisting on certain things was going to get rejected, just to hear them say, naively, “Let’s try anyway,” doubting the advice, only to be turned back. In most cases, they insisted that the architect bear at least part of the cost for the redoing. That’s when you realize the personality of the person you are working for, when they cannot take responsibility for ignoring good advice.
Over the years, there have been many people who insisted that they “knew somebody” who would allow something that wasn’t ordinarily allowed. Very rarely did that strategy work. This question sounds similar, where you don’t want to bear the responsibility, yet the end result should be that you must.
Remember, going forward with the idea that changes may have to be made causes an even bigger problem. The changes have to be as thoroughly and thoughtfully addressed as the first time. Making constant calls to see if the work to change the plans has been done is frustrating, because if any issue, any note, any inconsistency is left that should have been changed, the construction project can take an ugly turn.
I have often wanted to put a note on the plans, in tall, bold letters, that “change is bad.” Changes unravel the best-laid plans. Others reading this should understand that municipalities are consistent, and if the architect, builder, electrician or plumber advises you to think twice based on trying to break a regulation, listen. Good luck!
© 2026 Monte Leeper
Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.
Ask The Architect Monte Leeper
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The Peace Corps language lesson 35 years in the making
My plane lifted off from Long Island MacArthur Airport in June 1991. The night before, Jupiter, Mars and Venus had aligned in the night sky above my family’s home in Yaphank, in Suffolk County — an auspicious moment that foretold a journey I’m still on today.
That propeller plane — so loud it rattled inside my brain — was headed to Washington, D.C., where I attended a three-day Peace Corps orientation before traveling to Bulgaria for two years of volunteer service as an English teacher. I had joined the corps at 24, in part out of a longing to see the world beyond my hometown. I never imagined how Peace Corps service would reshape my worldview — an experience that resonates today in my teaching as a Hofstra University journalism professor.
I was among the first two dozen Peace Corps volunteers sent to Bulgaria, only 18 months after the fall of commu-
nism there. At first I felt excited to be living 4,800 miles from home in a society that moved more slowly, more deliberately, with a deep appreciation for food and wine, art and music.
Living in Veliko Tarnovo, a thousand-year-old city perched atop steep hills overlooking the Yantra River, I was happy.
I couldn’t escape the feeling, though, that I was a foreigner, an outsider, despite the many kindnesses that Bulgarians showered on me. Language set me apart. Learning Bulgarian — really learning it — might rid me of my sense of otherness, I thought.
I had long known that it was riddled with grammar errors, and I struggled to pronounce many of the sounds unique to the language — but lower intermediate? Nothing like A.I. to offer a harsh dose of reality.
M y Bulgarian fell within the ‘ lower intermediate ’ range .
Then, amid my Peace Corps service, I married Katerina, a Bulgarian who taught — and still teaches — English. I wanted — needed — to feel more connected to her family, who became my family.
Katerina and I have spoken Bulgarian together, on and off, for nearly 35 years. Last summer I measured my listening, speaking, reading and writing skills with multiple A.I.-designed tests. After days of evaluation, A.I. delivered its verdict: My Bulgarian fell within the “lower intermediate” range.
I resolved to improve, and I’ve practiced and studied the language daily since. I talk with Katerina on walks through our Merrick neighborhood; read the Bulgarian-American community newspaper Sega; watch Bulgarian newscasts, TV series and movies; listen constantly to the Bulgarian alternative rock band Ostava; translate children’s books and Facebook posts; and drill with flashcards and grammar guides.
Slowly, steadily, I’ve moved up to upper intermediate. Progress has been hard-fought, though, full of minor wins rather than big breakthroughs — recalling an infrequently used word and dropping it into a sentence, pronouncing a tongue-twisting noun, deciphering word order to interpret a text.
I’m often frustrated and always humbled. I can understand 75 percent or so of spoken Bulgarian, but being able to speak it and write it quickly and eloquently is another matter entirely. As a
writer and journalism professor, it’s maddening when I fumble over Bulgarian words, as I often do. Words are my currency, my livelihood. They need to flow. Based on my current progress, I’ll likely need another three to six years of daily study to reach the advanced level of fluency.
Pushing myself to learn Bulgarian at a higher level has made me think of the Latino and Haitian communities that I’ve covered and researched in Hempstead and Uniondale in recent years. I think of the immigrants who must navigate schools, workplaces, doctors’ offices and government agencies in a language they are often still learning, while negotiating an increasingly complicated and precarious immigration system.
I set out last year to improve my Bulgarian because I want to understand my wife’s culture on a deeper level, and language is central to culture. I do not, however, need Bulgarian to survive. English, on the other hand, is vital to immigrants’ daily existence in the U.S. It’s a lifeline in an increasingly hostile sea.
Scott Brinton, a former executive editor of the Heralds, directs Hofstra University’s Graduate Journalism Program and coordinates its new Peace Corps Prep Program.
Village’s $10 million win: a down payment on our future
Valley Stream has always been more than a stop on the Long Island Rail Road. It’s a gateway community, a village of families, small businesses, commuters, houses of worship, restaurants, parks, and neighborhood pride. It’s one of the most diverse communities on Long Island, and it has long deserved public investment that matches its promise.
That’s why the announcement that Valley Stream will receive $10 million through New York state’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative is such an important victory for our community.
This award didn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of local advocacy, planning, partnership, and a shared belief that Valley Stream’s best days are still ahead. I was proud to stand with Gov. Kathy Hochul, Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, Village Trustee Kevin Waszak, village business owners and residents when this transformational funding was announced.
As the county legislator representing
this community, I’ve made it a priority to fight for the resources Valley Stream needs and deserves. Whether the issue is infrastructure, pedestrian safety, small business support, housing opportunities or quality-of-life improvements, my focus has been simple: Our village should never be overlooked. This award is proof of what can happen when we make our voices heard and bring every level of government to the table.
New York state’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative comes to Valley Stream.
I thank Hochul for recognizing our enormous potential, and for continuing the Downtown Revitalization Initiative as a tool for real, community-driven investment. Its strength is that it doesn’t impose a one-size-fitsall plan from Albany. Instead, it gives local communities the funding and support to build on their own vision.
I also want to recognize Solages, the village, local trustees, civic leaders, small business owners and residents who continued to believe in the future of our downtown. This was a team effort, and everyone who helped push us forward deserves credit.
The DRI will allow the village to pursue projects that can make our downtown safer, stronger, more walkable and more welcoming. Proposed improve-
ments include better pedestrian and bicycle access, upgrades to lighting and signage near LIRR overpasses, expanded public and cultural spaces at the Village Green, support for local businesses and new opportunities for mixeduse housing near transit.
These aren’t abstract ideas. Better lighting and safer crossings mean that a commuter can walk home from the train with greater peace of mind. Improved public spaces mean that families have more places to gather and connect. Support for arts and culture means that our downtown can better reflect the energy, diversity and creativity of the people who call Valley Stream home. Stronger business corridors mean more customers for local shops and restaurants, more foot traffic, and more reasons for residents to spend time and money close to home.
This funding also comes at a critical moment for housing on Long Island. Too many young people who grew up here wonder whether they can afford to stay.
Too many seniors who spent decades investing in their communities need options that allow them to remain close to family, doctors, transit and the neighborhoods they love.
Valley Stream has an opportunity to
be thoughtful and forward-looking. Expanding housing opportunities near transit doesn’t mean losing the character of our village. It means planning carefully, listening to residents and creating options that help our community remain vibrant across generations.
Of course, winning the award is only the beginning. The next step must be a public, accountable and inclusive planning process. This isn’t a blank check given to the village; this is a measured, inclusive approach that requires accountability and transparency for our residents, business owners, commuters, seniors, young families, homeowners, renters, and civic organizations, all of whom deserve a voice in shaping how these dollars are spent.
My office will continue to work with the state, the village and local stakeholders to make sure this investment delivers real benefits for Valley Stream. We must use this opportunity wisely, with a focus on safety, economic growth, affordability, accessibility, and preserving the character that makes our village special.
This is a win worth celebrating. More important, it is a down payment on the future we can build together. With this funding, Valley Stream has a major new tool to help turn our shared vision into reality.
Cynthia Nuñez represents Nassau County’s 14th Legislative District.
it’s Bulgarimy need to progress, I’ll years of level Bulgarian at of the that Hempyears. I must naviofficlanwhile complicated system. my Bulunderstand my and lannot, survive. to U.S. hoseditor UniversiProgram and Prep
In Congress, July 4, 1776
The Declaration of Independence was first published on July 6, 1776, in a newspaper, the Pennsylvania Evening Post. We are proud to commemorate that high point in American journalism by reprinting that historic document.
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at
places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness of his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws of Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislature.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their acts of pretended legislation:
For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from Punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing taxes on us without our consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the forms of our Government:
For suspending our own legislature, and declaring themselves invested with Power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy of the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free People.
Nor have We been wanting in attention to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the Protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our Sacred Honor.
The Declaration was signed first by John Hancock, president of the Continental Congress, and then by 55 others representing the 13 original states.
Ways we can ease the property tax burden
over the course of this state legislative session, I focused on the policies my constituents cared about most. Every session presents its own set of unique circumstances requiring legislative action, but this year it was abundantly clear that affordability was a top concern. The cost of groceries, utilities, insurance and housing continues to rise, making it increasingly challenging for many residents to make ends meet, especially on Long Island.
relief.
Since property taxes fund a significant portion of local school district budgets, substantial state support is vital. School districts are continually facing rising costs, and school administrators work diligently to mitigate those costs to avoid burdening taxpayers. One of my top priorities this year was securing increased funding for our schools while reducing costs in order to bolster district budgets.
slence that makes our communities so desirable.
tarting with foundation aid and pausing the zeroemission bus mandate.
But specifically among homeowners, one concern was raised time and again: property taxes.
For many Long Island families, property taxes represent one of the largest expenses in their household budget. Seniors living on fixed incomes worry about whether they can afford to remain in the communities they helped build. Young families trying to purchase their first home question whether they can keep up with the long-term costs of homeownership in addition to child care. The government has a responsibility to address those concerns with practical solutions that provide meaningful and tangible
Record foundation aid investment. Every additional dollar New York state invests in local schools is a dollar that doesn’t need to come from homeowners. This year’s state budget provides historic funding for public education, ensuring that school districts receive the resources they need to educate students without relying as heavily on local property taxpayers.
These investments allow districts to continue funding classroom instruction, special-education programs, transportation services, extracurricular activities, mental health resources and other essential programs. In short, increasing state support for education is one of the most effective ways to make homeownership more affordable while preserving the educational excel-
Framework by Tim Baker
Zero-emission bus mandate for school districts pause. I strongly support responsible environmental policies, but we must carefully consider the financial impact that major mandates can have on local communities. School districts across Long Island expressed concerns about the significant costs associated with purchasing electric buses, constructing charging infrastructure and upgrading facilities. Without additional flexibility, many districts could have been forced to absorb millions of dollars in new expenses in a relatively short period of time. Ultimately, those costs would have landed on the shoulders of local taxpayers.
I fought strongly for a pause in the zero-emission bus mandate because it just isn’t feasible at this time. The decision to pause implementation deadlines by five years gives the state more time to effectively plan a fiduciary responsible strategy of procurement, building the infrastructure and ensuring grid reliability. I will continue fighting to keep this pause in effect until the state agencies involved can lay out a comprehensive plan to implement EV buses, since the cost burden cannot be passed on to taxpayers.
Energy performance contracts. Energy performance contracts are an extremely effective tool that help school districts generate savings on energy upgrades. Currently, state law only allows recovery for up to 18 years, meaning schools often have to pass on projects that would generate longerterm savings. However, my bill A6318 would extend the allowable contract period to 25 years, making it easier for districts to undertake projects that lower costs without requiring large upfront expenditures. I’m proud to report that, for the first time since its introduction in 2019, this legislation passed both houses of the Legislature and is currently awaiting Gov. Kathy Hochul’s signature.
Real change happens when meaningful action is taken to address the burden of rising costs throughout our communities. Record foundation aid, pausing the zero-emission bus mandate and extending the time for energy performance contracts are just three of the ways to bring financial relief to Long Island families. I will continue fighting for policies that help families keep more of their hard-earned money, strengthen our schools and ensure that Long Island remains a place where people can afford to live, work, play, raise a family and retire with dignity.
Judy Griffin represents the 21st Assembly District.
FRIDAY, JULY 3RD
Firemen’s Memorial Field, Valley Stream, NY
Gates open 6pm - Entrance at E. Euclid St. & Emerson Place
Rain Date: Sunday, July 5th
TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
$12 per Ticket in Advance - $15 Per Ticket at Gate
Pre-purchase Your Tickets at:
Henry Waldinger Memorial Library, VS Pool Complex or VS Village Hall
Included with Admission:
Live Concert 7pm - 8:30pm
NXLVL Band
Live DJ
Bouncy House
Children’s Activities
TRUSTEES
JOHN L. TUFARELLI
KEVIN WASZAK
SHARON M. DALY
Food Truck Access And Much More!
MAYOR EDWIN A. FARE
DEPUTY MAYOR
DERMOND E. THOMAS
BETHLEHEM
ASSEMBLY OF GOD
VILLAGE JUSTICE MELANIE A. JENKINS
VILLAGE CLERK
JAMES J. HUNTER
