Valley Stream Herald 07-09-2026

HERALD VALLEY STREAM

Kicking off the celebration with a bang

Residents celebrated Independence Day and the nation’s 250th anniversary during the village’s annual Fireworks Spectacular last Friday at Firemen’s Memorial Field. The celebration featured family activities, live entertainment and a fireworks display. Story, more photos, Page 10.

Harry Chapin’s legacy lives on in Valley Stream and across L.I.

By ANGELINA ZINGARIELLO azingariello@liherald.com

As Long Island prepares to mark Harry Chapin Day on July 16, the singer-songwriter’s legacy extends far beyond his music.

More than four decades after he began an effort to combat hunger by founding Long Island Cares in 1980, the need for food assistance continues to grow, including at the organization’s Valley Stream pantry.

The recent increase in demand underscores the continued relevance of Chapin’s mission at a time when nearly 314,000 Long Islanders struggle to access food. While Nassau County is often

viewed as an affluent community, staff members at the Valley Stream pantry said the need for assistance continues to rise among people from all walks of life.

Nichole Rojas, program center coordinator for the Valley Stream pantry, oversees the site’s daily operations, including volunteer management and assistance to pantry visitors. The pantry primarily serves Nassau County residents, while maintaining six pantry locations across Long Island — in Valley Stream, Freeport, Bethpage, Huntington Station, Lindenhurst and Hampton Bays.

Rojas said she has seen

By ANGELINA ZINGARIELLO azingariello@liherald.com

The Valley Stream Chamber of Commerce launched a new educational initiative last month with an artificial intelligence workshop designed to help local business owners better understand emerging technology and apply it to their dayto-day operations.

Held at the Valley Stream Community Center, at Hendrickson Park, on June 9, the event was the first in a planned series of quarterly workshops that the chamber is organizing in partnership with Hofstra University’s Entrepreneurship Assistance Center.

The inaugural session, “Using AI to Accelerate Your Business,” introduced attendees to practical ways in which artificial intelligence can improve productivity, marketing, customer engagement and business operations.

According to chamber board member Lauri LoQuercio, the workshop exceeded expectations for its first offering, with strong attendance.

ur workshops provide entrepreneurs with the knowledge, confidence and connections they need to succeed.

MARIBEL PAdIN Program manager, Hofstra University’s Entrepreneurship Assistance Center

“It was not only people in the chamber, but there were also business people who were not in the chamber, as well as just some citizens who were interested in it,” LoQuercio said. “As always, the chamber tries to involve everybody.”

The program was organized by LoQuercio and Glenore Anderson, of Dime Savings Bank, with Hofstra serving as the educational partner. A.I. expert Mitch Tobol led the two-hour session, which combined presentations with hands-on exercises and one-on-one guidance for participants working on their own businesses.

Rather than focusing on A.I. as a replacement for employees,

Continued on page 8

Juan Alzamora/Herald

Valley Stream residents took an important step toward improving home safety as Nassau County Legislator Cynthia Nuñez joined New York State Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, the American Red Cross and local community partners for a “Sound the Alarm” day of service.

Working alongside trained American Red Cross volunteers on June 20, Nuñez helped install free smoke alarms in homes throughout the Valley Stream community while providing residents with valuable fire safety information and emergency preparedness resources.

By the end of the day, almost 200 free smoke alarms had been installed in local homes, helping to better protect families across the community.

“Smoke detectors save lives, and this initiative is one of the many ways in which the American Red Cross keeps our communities safe and protects families from house fires,” Nuñez said. “I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the incredible Red Cross volunteers who generously gave their time to install smoke detectors and educate residents on fire safety and emergency preparedness. Your commitment to services makes a lasting impact, one home at a time.”

The “Sound the Alarm” initiative is part of the American Red Cross’s ongoing effort to improve fire safety by ensuring families have working smoke alarms and know what to do in the event of a fire.

— Angelina Zingariello

Photos courtesy office of Legislator Cynthia Nuñez Nassau County Legislator Cynthia Nuñez joined New York State Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, the American Red Cross and local community partners for a “Sound the Alarm” day of service.

Nuñez helped install free smoke alarms in homes throughout the Valley Stream community.

Lawmakers condemn Supreme Court TPS ruling

By HAILEY FULMER hfulmer@liherald.com

Lawmakers that represent Valley Stream are condemning a U.S. Supreme Court decision on June 25 allowing the Trump administration to move forward with terminating Temporary Protected Status for Haitian recipients.

Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages and her brother, Nassau County Legislator Carrié Solages, who are of Haitian heritage, said the ruling threatens families who have built lives in the United States and could have significant humanitarian and economic consequences for Long Island.

U.S. Rep. Laura Gillen weighed in as well, saying the decision “puts our friends’ and neighbors’ lives at risk,” and argued that it could force Haitian TPS holders to return to a country still facing severe violence and instability.

Gillen said she had “stood shoulder to shoulder” with the Haitian community on Long Island throughout efforts to oppose the termination of TPS and has continued to advocate for protections at the federal level. She said she has “fought this termination in the courts,” and pledged continued action in Congress to extend legal safeguards.

She also described Haitian TPS recipients as “a fundamental part of our vibrant identity on Long Island,” and warned that removing them would have both humanitarian and economic consequences.

Michaelle Solages strongly condemned the ruling, calling it “a devastating betrayal of America’s values.” She said that TPS exists to protect people fleeing crises, and pointed to conditions in Haiti, including “unprecedented levels of gang violence, political turmoil, economic collapse and insecurity,” arguing that returning people under those circumstances would be dangerous and irresponsible.

Solages added that Haitian families are deeply embedded in communities across New York, and that they work as nurses, educators, small-business owners and essential workers and have built longterm lives in the United States.

The Supreme Court decision, she said, sends what she called a “chilling message” by prioritizing politics over people and undermining the humanitarian intent of TPS. Solages called on Congress to act quickly to provide permanent protections for TPS holders.

TRep. Laura Gillen, far left, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Nassau County Legislator Carrié Solages and Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages took part in a roundtable discussion hosted by Gillen at Le Spot Café, in Elmont, in April. Elected officials and advocates gathered to discuss legislation extending Temporary Protected Status for Haitian immigrants.

become essential workers in industries such as health care, hospitality and other service sectors.

“These individuals followed the rules,” he said. “They relied on a promise under the law that, ‘Hey, if you come here, we’ll take care of you after the earthquake.’

hey relied upon promises under the law — that’s a contract. They pay taxes, they worked, they stayed at it, and now they will be forced to leave in mass, breaking up families.

Carrié Solages said the ruling has a direct impact on his community and constituents, many of whom have lived in the United States for years, worked legally, paid taxes and built stable lives while contributing to Long Island’s workforce in health care, hospitality and other essential sectors.

CARRIÈ SoLAgES Nassau County Legislator

TPS holders, he said, have followed legal requirements, paid taxes and

“They relied upon promises under the law — that’s a contract. They pay taxes, they worked, they stayed at it, and now they will be forced to leave in mass, breaking up families.”

Carrié Solages warned that the decision would have ripple effects across Long Island, and that it could destabilize the local economy and create fear and uncertainty in immigrant communities.

He also emphasized that his office strongly encourages anyone seeking immigration guidance to use trusted resources rather than navigating the system alone. He urged residents to contact the New York City Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs Immigration Legal Support Hotline at (800) 354-0365, or call 311 and say, “Immigration legal.”

spoke about the ramifications of removing protected status for Haitian immigrants.

The hotline operates Mondays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and the last Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The service connects eligible New York City residents with trusted immigration legal help in the five boroughs, but it does not provide legal services directly or guarantee representation because of high demand.

Solages also pointed residents to the

Haitian Response Initiative and other Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs partner organizations, which offer Haitian Creole-speaking staff and additional immigration resources, including legal screenings, know-your-rights materials and guidance for families facing separation or deportation risk.

Solages urged families to seek help early, stressing that trusted legal guidance is critical as immigration policies continue to shift, and uncertainty grows.

Hailey Fulmer/Herald photos

Gillen

V.S. man arrested after chemical spray at barbecue sends seven to hospitals

A 46-year-old Valley Stream man was arrested after authorities said he sprayed a chemical substance toward a neighboring home.

A 46-year-old Valley Stream man was arrested after authorities said he sprayed a chemical substance toward a neighboring home during a Fourth of July barbecue, sending multiple people to hospitals for evaluation.

The incident occurred at 8:14 p.m. on July 3 on Cochran Place in Valley Stream, according to police.

Investigators said Nicholas Stolz, of Avondale Street, sprayed the substance at a neighboring residence during the gath-

ering. Seven people were taken to area hospitals for evaluation and treatment. Police said all were listed in stable condition.

Stolz was arrested without incident following an investigation. He is charged with seven counts of assault and four counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

His next court appearance is July 22.

— Angelina

Zingariello

People named in Crime Watch items as having been arrested and charged with violations or crimes are only suspected of committing those acts of which they are accused. They are all presumed to be innocent of those charges until and unless found guilty in a court of law.

News brief

Birthright Israel raises $2 million

Birthright Israel foundation was able to raise a record-breaking $2 million in honor of community leader Jonathon “Jon” Held. Around 300 community members gathered at the Glen Oaks Club for the Birthright Israel Foundation Long Island Gala to recognize and honor Held, who is one of the founding supporters of Birthright Israel on Long Island as well as being a respected business and community leader.

“For more than 20 years, Jon has been a cornerstone of that work on Long Island, inspiring others to invest alongside him” wrote President and CEO of Birthright Israel Foundation, Elias Saratovsky.

The record-breaking event was cochaired by Steven Cooper and Scott Jaffee and had over $2 million raised with nearly half of it being raised in one night alone. The gala itself was planned by Rachel Podell, Birthright Israel Foundation Long Island Cabinet Chair, and Amy Jaffee, Past Cabinet Chair. Michelle Rojas-Tal, a leader in the global Israeli and Jewish community and a Birthright Israel alumna, was featured as speaker where she highlighted the impact of the program on young Jewish adults around the world.

— Jack Levey

Herald file photo

Districts 13, 24 hold reorganization meetings

By ANGELINA ZINGARIELLO azingariello@liherald.com

The Valley Stream 13 School District and Valley Stream 24 School District Boards of Education held their annual reorganization meetings July 1 and 2.

In District 13, the meeting opened with newly elected trustee Cecil Mathew being administered the constitutional oath of office and sworn in as a member of the Board of Education.

The board then elected trustee Sarah Sabatino as president of the Board of Education. Following the unanimous vote, Sabatino was sworn into office and assumed leadership of the meeting.

Trustee Anthony Grosso was elected vice president. Because he was not present, his oath of office was deferred. Trustee Patricia Farrell was elected alternate vice president and was sworn into office. Superintendent Judith LaRocca also took the annual oath of office.

The board approved appointments for district officers, naming Jennifer Mercatante as district clerk and Brian Cleary as district treasurer.

The board appointed Mathew as alternate district clerk. The board also authorized Sabatino and Grosso to sign district checks in the absence of the district treasurer and deputy district treasurer.

Grosso, Farrell and Sabatino were also elected to represent District 13 on the Valley Stream Central High School District Board.

Board members later recognized a donation from One Church in Elmont, which provided backpacks and school supplies for District 13 students.

Trustees also discussed a request from the James A. Dever Elementary School Parent-Teacher Association to donate playground stencils for the school’s blacktop. District officials said the donation would be placed on a future agenda for formal approval.

“I think that sounds great,” Sabatino said. “I know we have something similar at Wheeler, so it’ll be very nice for Dever to

have that as well.”

The following evening, the Valley Stream 24 Board of Education held its annual reorganization meeting.

Newly elected trustees Aisha Darby, Salman Quader and Thomas Dowling were sworn into office. Superintendent Unal Karakas also took the oath of office.

The board elected Annette Matthew to serve as president for the upcoming school year. Following her election, Matthew took the oath of office and presided over the remainder of the meeting.

Trustees then elected Darby as vice pres-

ident after considering nominations for both Darby and trustee Markus Wilson. The board also voted to table the appointment of the district clerk until its next meeting.

Wilson, John Maier and Darby were elected to represent District 24 on the Valley Stream Central High School District Board.

The board also appointed Cleary as district treasurer for the upcoming school year. Because Cleary was not present, his oath of office will be administered later. Trustees also appointed Maier to serve as acting district treasurer whenever the district treasurer is absent or otherwise unable to serve.

In his superintendent’s report, Karakas announced the start of the 2026-27 school year. Summer school began July 6 with an expanded five-hour instructional day and will continue through July 30, while the district’s extended school year program will run through Aug. 14.

Karakas also announced that superintendent’s conference days are scheduled for Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, with students returning for the first day of classes on Sept. 2.

“We look forward to the beginning of a new school year, and we wish all of our families a very, very restful and wonderful summer ahead,” Karakas said.

Trustees also discussed the district safety plan, which is available for public review on the district website and is scheduled for adoption at the next business meeting.

Courtesy Valley Stream 24 School District

The oath of office was administered to newly elected Valley Stream 24 School District Board of Education trustees Aisha Darby, Thomas Dowling and Salman Quader.

HERALD SPORTS

Racing fans say final goodbye to Aqueduct

By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com

There were plenty of cheers along with some tears in South Ozone Park June 28 as 6,866 horse racing fans bid farewell to Aqueduct Racetrack.

The crowd at ‘The Big A’ roared one last time as Assume Nothing, with jockey Jaime Rodriguez aboard, went wireto-wire to capture the final race of the track’s storied 132-year history.

“This is where my career started in 2010 and it feels amazing to win the last race on the last day,” Rodriguez said. “I’ve ridden the horse a few times and knew if he got a clean break, he’d have a great chance to win.”

After the finale, Rodriguez and the rest of the jockey colony celebrated with fans along the rail, giving out high fives and fist bumps. One fan hoisted a cardboard sign that read: “One more day! Give me a chance to win it back.”

Several thousand fans arrived two hours before the nine-race card began at 1:10 p.m. The first 1,000 through the doors received a small mason jar containing dirt from the main track.

One of the highlights on Aqueduct’s final day came not on the dirt but the turf in the penultimate race when Highway Harmony set a new track record at the 6-furlong distance, taking the last stakes race at the track in 1:06.44 under jockey Edgard Zayas.

Ron Berkowitz, a Merrick resident who grew up in Lynbrook, had the closing date circled on his calendar once it

was announced by the New York Racing Association.

“It’s a bittersweet day,” Berkowitz said. “I’ve been coming here since the late 1970s and really fell in love with the track and the sport. I haven’t been here in a couple of years, but there was no way I was missing today.”

Franklin Square residents Anthony and Sally Turco echoed Berkowitz’s sentiments. “Today brings back a lot of

The mural outside Aqueduct depicts Secretariat, who made his career debut there in 1972.

at Aqueduct, “Goretty” came in 2008. “So many memories,” he added. “I won’t miss the Belt Parkway, but I’ll definitely miss the Big A.”

great memories of coming to the Big A with family,” Anthony said. “Lots of nostalgia. It was awesome.”

The Turcos were in the paddock prior to the fifth race with friend Bruce Brown, a longtime trainer on the NYRA circuit and Floral Park resident. Brown saddled the winner, Boston’s Phinest.

“This is where it all started for me in New York when I came over from New Jersey,” said Brown, whose first winner

The closure of Aqueduct coincides with a rebuilt Belmont Park, set to open Sept. 18.

“I can see the new Belmont grandstand from my house,” said Brown, who expects to have between 15 and 20 horses in his barn once racing shifts back downstate from Saratoga. “I’ve watched the construction from the beginning to what’s almost the end and it’s going to be incredible when it opens,” he added.

Assume Nothing and jockey Jaime Rodriguez won the Aqueduct finale.

Tony Bellissimo/Herald photos

Nearly 7,000 fans packed Aqueduct Racetrack June 28 for its final day of racing after 132 years.

Community carries on Harry Chapin’s fight

number of people seeking assistance in recent months. Some visitors are coming to the pantry for the first time, while others who previously needed help have returned.

“It seems like it’s getting a little bit more filled up,” Rojas said. “There are a lot more people coming into the pantry. I believe it’s because of the benefits. Some of the clients are losing their benefits, or have had a decrease in their benefits, but it could be anything. It could be that they lost their job, possibly, you never know anybody’s situation.”

In May, the Valley Stream pantry served more people in nearly every category as compared with the same month a year ago. Adult clients increased from 520 to 597, a 15 percent increase. Children served rose from 266 to 288, an 8 percent increase, while seniors increased from 275 to 309, a 12 percent hike. The number of families assisted climbed from 318 to 350, a 10 percent increase.

The pantry also distributed 10,746 meals in May, up from 9,541 a year earlier, a 13 percent increase. The number of people who received assistance rose from 1,061 to 1,194, also a 13 percent boost.

From January through May, the Valley Stream pantry has assisted 5,954 people while distributing 53,447 meals. During that period, it served 2,947 adults, 1,450 children, 1,556 seniors and 1,756 families.

Rojas said access to food affects people regardless of their background or previous financial stability. She noted that the pantry serves seniors, veterans, working adults and younger residents alike, adding that people’s situations can change quickly.

She said she believes Chapin would be proud of how Long Island Cares has expanded its efforts since its founding, with staff members, volunteers, drivers

Donations help stock the shelves at the Long Island Cares pantry in Valley Stream.

and warehouse employees working together to continue the mission he began.

“He would also be disappointed at the fact that, you know, there are a lot of people in Long Island that have the means to help and do not,” Rojas said. “I feel, in my personal opinion, it shouldn’t be. There are so many people who are without food.”

Food drives, direct food donations and financial

contributions help keep pantry shelves stocked throughout the year. The pantry accepts canned goods, pasta, condiments, cooking aids, snacks, dairy products and other food donations, while fresh fruits and vegetables are also welcomed when available.

That community support once again will be on display on July 19, when musician Stuart Markus presents his annual “Just Wild About Harry” tribute concert at Heckscher Park in Huntington, the town where Chapin settled in as an adult. The concert, held every year since 2004, brings together Long Island musicians to perform songs written by Chapin and to collect food and financial donations for Long Island Cares.

Long Island Cares has been a beneficiary of the event since it began, as fighting hunger was central to Chapin’s life’s work.

“He just felt it was absolutely, I think the word he used was, ‘obscene,’” Markus said, “that, in one of the wealthiest nations in the world, so many people should still be struggling to put food on the table. So, he dedicated his life to fighting hunger.”

He expressed belief that Chapin’s music continues to resonate because of its storytelling and because Long Islanders remember him not only as a successful songwriter but also as someone committed to helping others.

Markus said Chapin would likely be frustrated that hunger remains such a persistent problem more than 40 years after his death, particularly in a region widely regarded as one of the wealthiest in New York.

As Harry Chapin Day recognizes the musician’s enduring legacy, both the growing demand at the Valley Stream pantry and the continued community support illustrate that the work he began remains as important today as it was when Long Island Cares first opened its doors.

Angelina Zingariello/Herald

Partnership to continue with future programs

the workshop emphasized using it as a business tool that can support owners by handling time-consuming tasks and generating ideas. Participants learned how to write effective prompts, explored A.I.-generated recommendations tailored to their businesses and learned about strategies they could begin using immediately.

One key lesson centered on treating A.I. as a collaborative business resource. By entering detailed prompts about their companies, participants received customized suggestions related to sales, marketing and other business goals. That approach helped demonstrate A.I.’s practical value while showing business owners how the technology can complement, rather than replace, their own expertise.

“If you are able to lean on the A.I. and get resources that make you more available to do other things — especially for a small business that can only afford to have a couple of employees — this is an added resource that allows them to do more with the same amount of help,” LoQuercio said.

She noted that while A.I. can save time and increase efficiency, business owners must still review and verify any information it produces. Human judgment, she said, remains essential to ensure that content is accurate and reflects the business owner’s voice and

Attendees worked on their own laptops throughout the session, experimenting with A.I. prompts that helped them better understand their businesses.

experience.

The positive response to the workshop has already prompted discussions about offering a follow-up A.I. session, recognizing that the technology continues to evolve rapidly and can’t be fully covered in a single workshop.

The event aligned with the mission of Hofstra’s Entrepreneur Assistance Center to help entrepreneurs launch, grow and strengthen their businesses through education, coaching and community partnerships.

Joy Williams, the EAC’s director, said the workshop focused on giving participants practical tools they could use immediately rather than simply explaining A.I. concepts. Attendees worked on their own laptops throughout the session, experimenting with

prompts that helped define their customer base, evaluate branding and better understand their businesses.

Williams said that A.I. can benefit businesses of all sizes by completing research, organizing information, identifying trends and helping with planning and marketing.

“I think when we have a new technology, there are people who are hesitant to start using that technology, and there are potential negatives,” she said. “But at the same time, we’ve been using A.I., even when people aren’t really paying attention to it, so spell-checkers and all those things, and they’re A.I. — we’ve been using it. So, how can we use and maintain it safely? To make sure you’re safe, you need a basic understanding of how it works and what you should and

shouldn’t do.”

Looking ahead, Williams said, future workshops will be guided by the needs expressed by local businesses. While A.I. served as the first topic because of its growing relevance, other programs could cover areas such as intellectual property, taxation, marketing and other issues that impact business growth.

Maribel Padin, of Valley Stream, program manager for the EAC, said that the partnership reflects the center’s commitment to connecting entrepreneurs with education, resources and support.

“We have built strong relationships with the Valley Stream Chamber of Commerce as well as other chambers and community organizations to connect small-business owners with valuable education, resources and support,” Padin said. “Because every business has unique challenges, our workshops provide entrepreneurs with the knowledge, confidence and connections they need to succeed, especially as they navigate today’s evolving business landscape and the growing impact of A.I.”

For LoQuercio, the workshop series reflects the chamber’s broader goal of serving as a resource for both businesses and residents. By offering educational opportunities and strengthening community partnerships, the organization hopes to help local businesses adapt, grow and remain successful while continuing to welcome community participation.

Courtesy Lauri LoQuercio

Expanding student career opportunities

By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com

Nassau Community College has announced a new partnership with Connoisseur Media Long Island aimed at providing students with expanded access to internships, professional mentorship and hands-on experience in the media industry.

The collaboration, announced June 4, brings together the college and Connoisseur Media Long Island, which owns and operates several local radio stations, including KJOY 98.3, WALK 97.5, 103.1 The Wolf, 94.3 The Shark and WHLI.

College officials said the partnership is designed to strengthen connections between higher education and Long Island’s media industry while creating pathways for students interested in careers in broadcasting, journalism, marketing, digital media, sales and related fields.

Under the agreement, Nassau Community College will provide opportunities for Connoisseur Media Long Island to engage with students through the college’s radio station, WHPC 90.3 FM, and select campus events. The college will also make available WHPC-produced public affairs programming and student-produced content for possible use across Connoisseur Media’s stations.

In return, Connoisseur Media will provide students with priority access to internships and employment opportunities in several departments, including broadcasting,

sales, marketing, journalism, video production, engineering, graphic design and web design.

The company will also offer guest speakers for classes, tours of its Farmingdale studios and professional development opportunities for student broadcasters. The partnership could eventually provide WHPC students with access to professional broadcast facilities at The Studio at The Paramount,

Online degree programs offered

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

The New York Institute of Technology is expanding its online undergraduate business programs to help adults complete their education.

The university’s School of Management now offers four fully online bachelor’s degree programs.

The online offerings include a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with concentrations in business analytics, finance, management and marketing; a Bachelor of Science in Forensic Accounting and Financial Fraud Investigation; a Bachelor of Science in Business Artificial Intelligence and Analytics; and a Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Applied Artificial Intelligence.

Each program incorporates artificial intelligence into its curriculum.

“These programs are ideal for a large segment of the population, including community college graduates looking to complete their bachelor’s degree, working professionals with some college credits, and also for career changers seeking to transition into business but hold degrees in other fields,” Jaishankar Ganesh, dean of the School of Management, said in a statement. “The online programs help adult and other nontraditional students get ahead without pausing their lives.”

The Business Administration program provides a foundation in management, marketing, finance and operations. The Foren-

The New York Institute of Technology is expanding its online undergraduate business programs.

sic Accounting and Financial Fraud Investigation program prepares students for careers in auditing, compliance and financial investigations. The Business Artificial Intelligence and Analytics program focuses on using AI and data analytics to solve business challenges, while the Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Applied Artificial Intelligence program combines business fundamentals with AI and cloud technologies to prepare students to launch and grow new ventures.

Enrollment is open for students interested in beginning the programs this fall.

creating opportunities for live and recorded broadcasts and celebrity interviews.

Maria Conzatti, Nassau Community College’s chief administrative officer, said the collaboration supports the college’s focus on experiential learning and workforce development.

“As Nassau Community College continues to expand opportunities for experiential learning and workforce development, this

partnership with Connoisseur Media Long Island represents an exciting investment in our students’ futures,” Conzatti said. “By connecting classroom learning with industry expertise and professional environments, we are helping students develop the skills, networks, and experiences necessary to thrive in today’s evolving media landscape.”

WHPC Director Shawn Novatt said the agreement builds on the station’s longstanding role as a training ground for aspiring media professionals.

“I am most excited about the fact that this partnership strengthens that mission by giving our students direct exposure to industry leaders, professional facilities, and a clear path that can help launch successful careers in the media and communications industry,” Novatt said.

Kristin Okesson, regional senior vice president and market manager for Connoisseur Media Long Island, said the partnership will help cultivate future talent in broadcasting and media.

“Partnerships like these create a direct pipeline for passionate students to gain realworld experience, build important industry connections, and ultimately become the future superstars of our business,” Okesson said. “We look forward to working together to support students as they begin their careers in broadcasting and media.”

The Scourge of Ageism

Herald file photo

Nassau Community College announced a new partnership with Connoisseur Media Long Island aimed at providing students with expanded access to internships, professional mentorship and hands-on experience in the media industry.

Courtesy New York Institute of Technology

Fireworks, fun and 250 years of freedom

Residents gathered at Firemen’s Memorial Field for the Village of Valley Stream’s annual Independence Day Fireworks Spectacular, celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary.

“This year, like every year, we know the crowds that gather for our fireworks celebration reflect that spirit of patriotism that unites Americans, whether young or young at heart, established in this country for generations or new to our great community,” Mayor Ed Fare said. “Our enthusiasm reflects our love of freedom and commitment to democracy and our shared joy of living in the greatest nation on earth.”

The community event on July 3 featured a concert, a live DJ, bouncy houses, children’s activities and food trucks before ending with a fireworks display.

Families and friends filled the field to enjoy the annual tradition, which brought the community together to celebrate Independence Day and commemorate America’s semiquincentennial.

–Angelina Zingariello

Juan Alzamora/Herald photos

Nassau County Legislator Scott M. Davis, Nassau County Legislator Cynthia Nuñez, New York State Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages and Nassau County Legislator Olena Nicks took part in the celebration.

An American flag was raised during the evening’s ceremony honoring America’s 250th anniversary.

Khizar Uddin, Saneen Pervez, Hudia Hunaina and Subhana Wasi gathered to celebrate Independence Day.

Fireworks lit up the night sky over Firemen’s Memorial Field.

Bursts of color illuminated the sky in a patriotic display.

JULY 9, 2026

Cover Story

Summer in motion Fitness beyond

Longer days, warm temperatures and abundant sunshine make summer an ideal season to take your fitness routine outdoors. Whether it’s a morning run or walk along the boardwalk, a bike ride, a game of tennis or pickleball, yoga on the beach, or even a family hike, exercising outside o ers both physical and mental health benefits.

An outdoor workout does more than change your scenery. Exercising outdoors has been linked to improved mood, lowered stress, better cardiovascular health, and more motivation to move consistently. Even walking outside can be an excellent workout, especially when you do it regularly. Fresh air and a change of scenery can make workouts feel less like a chore and more like an enjoyable part of your day.

Of course, summer’s relaxed pace — complete with vacations, barbecues, beach days and social gatherings — can sometimes derail even the best fitness intentions. The key is finding ways to incorporate activity into seasonal routines while taking precautions against heat and sun exposure.

Beat the heat

Summer temperatures can quickly turn a workout into a health risk. Exercising during the hottest parts of the day can lead to dehydration, heat exhaustion or even heat stroke. Whenever possible, schedule outdoor activities during the cooler morning or evening hours, typically before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. Check the heat index before heading outside, and if temperatures or humidity levels are extreme, consider moving your workout indoors to an air-conditioned gym, recreation center or your own home.

Watch for warning signs of heatrelated illness, including dizziness, headache, nausea, excessive fatigue, muscle cramps or confusion. If symptoms occur, stop exercising immediately, move to a cool location and rehydrate.

Protect your skin

While we all love being outside, the sun doesn’t love us. Even on cloudy days, ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage skin and increase the risk of skin cancer.

Health experts recommend applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 about 15 to 30 minutes before going outdoors. Reapply every two hours, or more frequently if swimming or sweating heavily.

Additional protection includes wearing lightweight, moisture-wicking clothing, a wide-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses. Light-colored fabrics help reflect heat and keep the

body cooler during outdoor activities.

Hydration matters

Proper hydration is essential yearround, but it becomes especially important during the summer months.

The American College of Sports Medicine recommends drinking approximately three to eight ounces of fluid every 15 to 20 minutes during exercise, depending on intensity and environmental conditions. For prolonged or high-intensity workouts lasting more than an hour, sports drinks may help replace electrolytes lost through sweat.

Don’t wait until you feel thirsty to drink. Thirst is often a sign that dehydration has already begun. Carry a reusable water bottle and drink fluids before, during and after physical activity.

After exercise, experts recommend consuming 20 to 24 ounces of water or a sports beverage for every pound of body weight lost during exercise.

Don’t skip the warm-up

Warm weather doesn’t eliminate the need to prepare your body for exercise. A proper warm-up gradually increases heart rate, loosens muscles and improves flexibility, helping reduce the risk of strains and injuries.

Spend five to 10 minutes performing light aerobic activity such as brisk walking, followed by dynamic stretches that target the muscles you’ll be using during your workout. Cooling down afterward is equally important and can help prevent sti ness and aid recovery.

Try something new

Summer o ers endless opportunities to shake up your exercise routine. Trying new activities can prevent boredom and challenge di erent muscle groups.

Consider adding activities such as:

• Walking or jogging on local trails

• Swimming or water aerobics

• Outdoor yoga classes

• Kayaking or paddleboarding

• Hiking

• Recreational sports leagues

Our parks, beaches and community organizations also o er free or low-cost fitness classes throughout the summer. Rev up the heart and cardiovascular system with sports you can play in the great outdoors. Eschew indoor racquetball for a game on an outdoor court. Try pickleball instead.

It’s easy to break a sweat and enjoy a good workout when a game of hoops is taken outdoors. Head out to your nearby park and check out the action on the basketball courts. Pickup football or baseball is another way to enjoy physical activity outdoors, especially for those who may not be gym hounds. Both sports provide a cardiovascular workout while building muscle. When you’re

engrossed in the game, you’re having fun and getting fit at the same time.

Even consider using items in your favored park to tailor a complete workout. Park benches can serve as a workout bench where athletes can do push-ups, triceps dips and step-up exercises. Stretch on a jungle gym or use monkey bars to fit in some pull-ups.

You’ll find that some parks even have their own fitness zones with exercise equipment built into the design.

Hike on! A nearby park or preserve that features walking trails is a good place to begin an outdoor workout. Some parks build exercise stations into their hiking paths, enabling visitors to vary their workouts along the way. Signs may also point out particular exercises that can be done during the hike, such as lunges or squats.

Hiking is a good cardiovascular workout that is particularly beneficial when done on varied terrain. Mixing uphill and downhill portions of the trail with level ones will work the various muscles in the legs and also provide greater resistance to get the heart pumping.

Take advantage of the beach

We’re surrounded by beaches, so make the most of our environment! After all, that’s one of the best features about living on Long Island. The beach provides much more than a place to relax. It can also serve as a natural fitness center.

Swimming in the ocean provides a full-body workout, as the resistance created by waves and currents challenges muscles while the water’s buoyancy reduces stress on joints. Water workouts are especially beneficial for older adults and those with arthritis or mobility concerns.

Walking or running on sand requires more effort than exercising on pavement because the unstable surface engages additional muscles in the legs,

core and hips.

As a result, beach workouts can improve strength, balance and cardiovascular fitness.

Even active beach outings that involve carrying chairs, coolers, umbrellas and beach gear can contribute to daily physical activity goals.

Keep moving all summer long

Adults should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week, along with musclestrengthening activities on two or more days, according to federal health guidelines.

Summer is the perfect season

to reconnect with the outdoors and discover enjoyable ways to stay active. By taking sensible precautions, staying hydrated and making movement part of everyday life, you can enjoy all the benefits of the season while supporting your long-term health and wellness.

The Best Outdoor Workouts to Try

1. Trail Running

What it works: Lower body, core, and cardiovascular system

Benefits: Trail running demands balance, coordination, and strength. Unlike conditions on a flat road or treadmill, trail running requires more physical effort,

Cedrina Calder, M.D., a boardcertified preventive medicine physician and fitness professional says.

“The balance and stability required on the trail engages and strengthens your core muscles. It also requires greater use of your lower limb muscles, including the glutes, quads, and calves.”

Trail running can also support mental health and often feels more engaging than repeating laps on a track.

“It requires 100-percent mental focus — or you subject yourself to a tumble,” says fitness expert Tina Vindum, M.S., C.P.T.

A 2020 study published in BMC Public Health found that people who completed at least 6.5 miles of trail running reported higher wellness and health scores. Additional research suggests that spending 90 minutes moving in nature can help reduce depressive rumination.

Beginner tips: Start with wellmarked trails and shorter distances, focusing on time on feet rather than pace. Keep your eyes a few feet ahead, shorten your stride, and use walking breaks on steep hills to manage intensity and protect your knees.

2. Surfing

What it works: Upper body, core, anaerobic conditioning, and balance Benefits: Surfing blends aerobic paddling with short bursts of anaerobic effort that feel similar to a HIIT routine.

“It’s a great anaerobic exercise that will help strengthen the trapezius, abdominals, and obliques, as well as the lats, triceps, biceps, and deltoids,”

Jimmy Minardi, C.P.T., founder of Minardi Training, says.

Water-based workouts can offer a powerful reset and stress relief in ways a gym can’t match. “I can tell you one thing after being a devout surfer for [many] years, the tranquil and buoyant qualities of being in the water lift your spirits up,” Minardi said.

Beginner tips: Work with a certified instructor and start on smaller waves. Always check tides, weather, and surf conditions and wear appropriate safety

gear, such as a leash and personal flotation device.

3. Hiking

What it works: Cardiovascular system, lower body, and aerobic endurance Benefits: Hiking intensity is highly customizable, making it an accessible outdoor workout.

“Hiking can be a great cardio workout as long as it’s intense enough to significantly raise your heart rate and respiratory rate,” Calder says.

Elevation gain, speed, and pack weight all influence intensity, allowing you to progressively increase the challenge as your fitness improves. Beyond fitness, hiking encourages mindfulness and sensory awareness in a natural environment. Spending time on the trail can also help reduce stress, support mental health, and improve sleep.

Beginner tips: Choose shorter trails with minimal elevation gain and use hiking poles if knee comfort is a concern. Wear supportive footwear, carry water, and plan your route so you finish before dark and avoid extreme heat.

Photo by Marcel Straub Summer is an ideal time to trade the treadmill for trails, parks, beaches and other outside paces. Outdoor fitness routines can help turn exercise into an enjoyable part of everyday life

Long Beach Boardwalk

Mhealth

at Mount Sinai South Nassau’s Community Wellness Center

ount Sinai South Nassau’s Community Wellness Center, 106 Boardwalk in Long Beach, is open all summer to help you enjoy the season safely. Stop in for no-cost health screenings. (See a full list of hours and screenings below.)

To make safety a priority, Mount Sinai South Nassau’s experts have compiled these important summer safety tips:

1. Tick Bites, Bee Stings and Insect Bites: One of the best ways to avoid ticks, mosquitoes, bees, and other insects is to apply EPA-registered insect repellent containing DEET, skin-friendly picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus onto clothing and exposed parts of your body. Other steps include: Wear light, long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks, and shoes/sneakers when hiking or gardening to reduce exposed skin areas.

2. Sunburn: When the skin — the body’s largest organ — soaks up the sun, it helps produce vitamin D, which is vital to maintaining a healthy calcium balance, immunity, blood pressure, and insulin secretion. When skin is repeatedly exposed to the sun for extended periods of time, the risk can far outweigh the reward.

The American Academy of Dermatologists recommends you:

• Minimize sun exposure between the hours of 10 am and 3 pm

• Apply sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 that protects against both harmful UVA and UVB rays to every part of your body exposed to the sun

• Reapply sunscreen every two hours, even on cloudy days

• Wear clothing that covers the body and shades the face

• Schedule an annual skin cancer screening

3. Water and Pool Safety: Whether spending time in the pool, at the beach, or on a boat:

• Never leave a child unsupervised near or around any water source

• Wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets during boating and fishing activities

• Keep a safe distance from boat propellers

• Learn CPR, especially if you and your family participate in water activities

Orthopedic Injuries: More than half of all sports and recreation-related injuries are preventable, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To reduce your risk of injury:

• Warm up first: perform gentle stretches before playing, practicing, or training

• Diversify training by alternating exercises like walking, jogging, biking, or weightlifting

• If you feel pain, soreness, or tightness, stop! Early

intervention is key to avoiding further injury

4. Dehydration: Symptoms of dehydration may include some or all of the following: lethargy, dizziness, deep or rapid breathing, muscle cramps, dry mouth and nose, and a drop in blood pressure. Prevent dehydration by drinking six to eight cups of water per day; avoid consumption of tea, coffee, soda, or alcohol on hot days or during recreational activities; and take a break from the sun and heat in a cool, shaded area

5. Picnic Food Preparation and Storage: Food that is not prepared and stored properly is a breeding ground for harmful bacteria. For a safe picnic:

• Wrap uncooked chicken and meats in separate tightly sealed bags or containers and place them at the bottom of the cooler

• Store foods with mayonnaise in the cooler and be sure to serve them on platters that are chilled by ice-filled salad bowls

• Keep cold foods cold and hot foods hot

• Freeze foods that are prepared more than one day in advance of the picnic

• Discard all leftovers

The Community Wellness Center, a service of Mount Sinai South Nassau’s Department of Community Education, is offering daily health education and screening events throughout the summer and early fall. This includes:

Monday: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. — EKG screenings for student athletes, ages 13-25 (registration is required)

9 a.m.-2 p.m.— Narcan and Stop the Bleed training*

Tuesday: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. — Diabetes, prostatespecific antigen (PSA), cholesterol blood tests

10 a.m.-12 p.m. — CPR/Basic Life Support certification (registration is required)

Wednesday: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. — Blood pressure loaner program*

Noon-3 p.m. — Lung health*

Thursday: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. —.Diabetes, PSA, cholesterol blood tests

1-3 p.m. — Diabetes risk assessment screenings*

Friday: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. — How to take your blood pressure at home*

9 a.m.-2 p.m. — Healthy eating and teddy bear clinic for kids*

= 30- to 60-minute sessions provided within the timeframe

The Center also offers free blood pressure, colorectal, memory, body mass index, diabetes risk, and stroke risk screenings Monday-Friday, 9 am-2 pm. The Center does not provide medical care. For more information, call the Department of Community Education at (516) 377-5333 or follow us on Facebook.

Mount Sinai South Nassau’s Community Education team is hosting daily health education and screening events throughout the summer at the Community Wellness Center located at 106 Boardwalk on the Long Beach Boardwalk

Join Us at the Mount Sinai South Nassau Community Wellness Center for Daily Health Screenings and Community Education Events

106 East Boardwalk, Long Beach

(Between Long Beach Blvd. & Riverside Blvd. Enter via ramp at boardwalk level )

June 1- September 4, 2026

EKG Screenings for Students Ages 13-25 (pre-registration required) | 9 am - 2 pm

Narcan and Stop the Bleed Training* | 9 am - 2 pm

*30-60 minute sessions available within this timeframe.

CPR/BLS Certification (pre-registration required) | 10 am - 12 pm

Blood Test (Diabetes, PSA, Cholesterol) | Call 516-377-5333 to schedule

Blood Pressure Cuff Loaner Program* | 9 am - 2 pm

*30-60 minute sessions available within this timeframe.

Diabetes Risk Assessment Screenings* | 12 pm - 2 pm

*30-60 minute sessions available within this timeframe.

Blood Test (Diabetes, PSA, Cholesterol) | Call 516-377-5333 to schedule

How to Take Your Blood Pressure at Home* | 9 am - 2 pm

Healthy Eating & Teddy Bear Clinic for Kids* | 9 am - 2 pm

*30-60 minute sessions available within this timeframe.

We also offer FREE Health Screenings (Monday - Friday, 9 am - 2 pm) including:

• Blood Pressure

• Body Mass Index (BMI)

• Colorectal Screening

• Diabetes Risk Assessment

• Memory Screening

• Stroke Risk Assessment

We are also offering COVID-19, Shingles, and Pneumonia Vaccines. For more information about the program, please call 516-377-5333

Programs subject to change. Please refer to our Facebook page @MountSinaiSouthNassau for weekly schedule.

This is not a patient care facility. In case of emergency, please call 911.

The Parker Jewish Institute Golf Outing is set for July 27

The Parker Jewish Institute will host its 2026 Peter Seideman Golf Classic at the Fresh Meadow Country Club in Lake Success on Monday, July 27, 2026. This year’s Golf Classic begins registration and breakfast at 10 a.m., followed by shotgun start at 11:30 a.m., and cocktails and dinner at 4:30 p.m. Proceeds from the event will benefit The Parker Jewish Institute Foundation to enhance the network of programs and services for thousands of people who access Parker’s continuum of services each year.

This year’s honoree is Old Republic Commercial Risk, which the Parker Foundation is recognizing for its excellence in delivering tailored commercial insurance solutions, and for its unwavering commitment to Parker’s patients and residents.

Parker’s golf outing is one of two major annual fundraisers, including the Parker Gala. This year’s gala will be held on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at The Village Club at Lake Success.

“We are grateful to our donors, sponsors, families and dedicated team

members, whose support is integral to the Parker community,” said Michael N. Rosenblut, President and CEO of The Parker Jewish Institute. “Through their generosity and commitment, Parker will continue advancing excellence in patient care, research and innovation while enhancing the lives of those we serve.”

To learn more about the 2026 Peter Seideman Golf Classic, and about sponsorship opportunities, call the Parker Jewish Institute Foundation at (718) 2892143, or email Golf@parkerinstitute.org.

Jewish Institute features its own medical team, and is nationally renowned as a skilled nursing facility, as well as a provider of community-based health care, encompassing Home Health Care, Medical House Calls, Palliative Care and Hospice. Parker Jewish Institute is also home to Queens-Long Island Renal Institute (QLIRI) — providing patients with safe, comfortable Hemodialysis treatments in a relaxed setting — as well as PRINE Health — a Vascular Center offering advanced vascular services. The Center and QLIRI further Parker’s ability to expand access to essential health-care services to adults in the greater New York metropolitan area. For more information, please visit parkerinstitute.org or call (877) 727-5373.

About The Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation

The Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation is headquartered in New Hyde Park. The facility is a leading provider of Short Term Rehabilitation and Long Term Care. At the forefront of innovation in patient-centered health care and technology, the Institute is a leader in teaching and geriatric research. Parker

Parker Jewish Institute • (718) 289-2212

Health memos are supplied by advertisers and are not written by the Herald editorial staff.

The Freedom To Hear and Stay Independent.

Every Independence Day, we celebrate freedom.

_ Dr. Keith N. Darrow, Ph.D., CCC-A

Each Fourth of July, Americans gather to celebrate independence declared nearly 250 years ago, honoring freedom through family, parades, fireworks, and shared stories. As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary in 2026, independence is not only a historic idea but an ongoing responsibility to protect, renew, and pass forward.

Independence also applies to personal health. For many people, it means living confidently— managing daily life, participating in conversations, making decisions, and staying connected without relying on others to interpret the world.

But for millions with untreated hearing loss and tinnitus, that independence slowly erodes. It often begins with asking for repetition, increasing television volume, avoiding noisy environments, and withdrawing

from social situations that once felt effortless.

Over time, hearing loss affects not just hearing but participation in life. Spouses often become interpreters, conversations become shorter, and social events become more stressful. This shift can strain relationships and reduce quality of life for both people.

Medical treatment for hearing loss and tinnitus focuses on improving clarity, reducing listening effort, and restoring

access to sound. The goal is not only louder hearing, but better understanding and fuller participation in everyday life.

Untreated hearing loss is also linked in research to cognitive decline risk, making hearing health an important part of brain health and long-term independence.

Tinnitus can further reduce independence when people rely on masking sounds such as fans, apps, or sound machines to cope

with constant ringing. Effective treatment aims to reduce the brain’s reaction to tinnitus, not just cover it.

This Independence Day, take action if hearing loss or tinnitus is affecting your life.

Schedule a hearing evaluation with Hearing and Brain Centers of America by calling (516) 212- 0691 or request information by visiting HBCABookOffer.com

Learn more to understand treatment options that support communication, brain health, and lasting independence.

The Freedom To Hear and Stay Independent.

Staying independent means staying connected to the people, places, and activities that matter most.

Untreated hearing loss can make everyday life more difficult and may increase the risk of social isolation, falls, cognitive decline, and dementia.

• Difficulty hearing conversations with family and friends

• Missing important details during meetings or appointments

• Avoiding social gatherings because hearing feels exhausting

• Turning the TV volume up higher than others prefer • Ringing, buzzing, or humming in your ears (tinnitus) • Concerns about memory, focus, or mental sharpness

Herald Content Studio articles are produced by the Herald's marketing division and independent of the newsroom. The Herald may be compensated by

articles, which does not constitute the Herald's endorsement.

Be sun smart

Take precautions so that the sun is friend not foe

For many people, summer means long days spent outdoors relaxing at the beach, boating on the water, tending the garden, enjoying backyard barbecues or simply lounging by the pool. While sunshine can lift our spirits and encourage us to be active, too much exposure to the sun can have serious consequences for our health.

A moderate amount of sunlight helps the body produce vitamin D, which is important for bone health and immune function. But excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation can damage the skin and eyes, increase the risk of heat-related illness and significantly raise the likelihood of developing skin cancer.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, affecting millions of Americans each year.

Fortunately, many cases are preventable with proper sun protection. Whether you’re headed to the beach, the golf course, a summer concert or simply spending time in your backyard, taking a few simple precautions can help you enjoy the season safely.

Have your fun but proceed with caution

Many folks take sunburn lightly, viewing it as an inevitable part of summer. But sunburn is much more than a temporary inconvenience.

Sunburn is actually a radiation burn caused by overexposure to UV rays. Depending on its severity, a sunburn can range from mild redness and tenderness to painful blistering and swelling. Severe sunburn may even require medical attention.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that sunburn remains common among both adults and children. Yet every sunburn causes damage to skin cells.

Much of that damage cannot be seen immediately. Ultraviolet radiation penetrates the skin and can alter the DNA inside skin cells. Over time, this cumulative damage contributes to premature aging, wrinkles, age spots, loss of skin elasticity and an increased risk of skin cancers, including melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.

Because UV damage accumulates over a lifetime, practicing sun safety is important at every age.

Avoid the burn

Sunburn is one of the most preventable summertime health risks. It’s also important to remember that UV exposure occurs year-round not just on hot, sunny days. Up to 80 percent of UV rays can penetrate clouds,

and reflective surfaces such as water, sand, concrete and snow can intensify exposure.

We all know by now that artificial UV sources, including tanning beds and sun lamps, are also dangerous. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and dermatologists strongly discourage indoor tanning because it significantly increases skin cancer risk.

Seek shade

The sun’s rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Whenever possible, limit prolonged outdoor activity during these peak hours.

If you are outside, take frequent breaks in the shade beneath a tree, umbrella, canopy or other shelter. Planning outdoor exercise, yard work or recreational activities during the early morning or evening hours can also help reduce UV exposure and lower the risk of heat-related illness.

Cover up

Clothing provides one of the simplest and most effective forms of sun protection.

Choose lightweight, loose-fitting garments that cover as much skin as possible, including long-sleeved shirts and long pants when practical. Densely woven, tightly constructed fabrics generally offer better protection than loosely woven materials.

Many outdoor clothing manufacturers now offer apparel with an Ultraviolet Protection Factor, or UPF, rating. UPF indicates how effectively fabric blocks UV radiation.

Clothing with a UPF rating of 30 to 50 or higher provides excellent protection. Darker colors and brighter fabrics typically absorb more UV rays than pale colors, while tightly woven materials outperform sheer or loosely

woven fabrics.

Complete your sun-protective wardrobe with a wide-brimmed hat that shades the face, ears and neck.

Wear sunscreen — and reapply it

Sunscreen is an essential part of any sun safety strategy, but it should not be your only line of defense.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. Broad-spectrum products protect against both UVA and UVB rays. UVB rays are primarily responsible for sunburn, while UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin and contribute to premature aging and skin cancer. Both types of UV radiation can damage skin cells and increase cancer risk.

Apply sunscreen generously to all exposed skin about 15 to 30 minutes before going outdoors. Most adults need approximately one ounce about enough to fill a shot glass to adequately cover the body.

Don’t overlook commonly missed areas, including:

• Ears

• Back of the neck

• Scalp or part line

• Tops of the feet

• Hands

• Lips

• Around the eyes

Reapply sunscreen at least every two hours, and more often after swimming, sweating or towel-drying.

Forget the ‘base tan’

Many people believe that obtaining a “base tan” before summer will protect against future sunburn. Experts say this is a myth.

A tan is actually a sign that the skin has already been damaged by UV radiation. When exposed to sunlight, the skin produces additional melanin pigment in an attempt to shield itself from further injury.

There is no such thing as a healthy tan. Any tanning or burning represents skin damage that can accumulate over time and increase skin cancer risk.

The safest way to achieve a sunkissed appearance is to use sunless self-tanning products rather than UV exposure.

Protect your eyes

The sun can damage the eyes as well as the skin.

Long-term exposure to UV radiation has been linked to cataracts, macular degeneration and certain cancers of the eyelid and eye.

Wear sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent of both UVA and UVB rays whenever you are outdoors. Wraparound styles offer additional protection by limiting UV rays that enter from the sides.

Children require extra precautions

Infants and young children are especially vulnerable to sun damage because their skin is thinner and more sensitive.

Babies younger than six months should be kept out of direct sunlight whenever possible. Use shade, protective clothing and hats to shield infants from UV exposure.

For older infants and children, apply broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, dress them in protective clothing and encourage regular hydration during outdoor play.

Teaching children healthy sun habits early can help reduce their lifetime risk of skin cancer.

Know when to seek medical care

Most sunburns can be treated at home with cool compresses, moisturizers, hydration and overthe-counter pain relievers. However, seek medical attention if sunburn is accompanied by:

• Extensive blistering

• Fever or chills

• Severe pain

• Confusion or dizziness

• Signs of dehydration

• Nausea or vomiting

Summer is meant to be enjoyed. By seeking shade, covering up, wearing sunscreen and practicing smart sun habits, you can safely soak up the season while protecting your health for years to come

As great as the sun feels, it poses serious threats to your health and appearance. Have your time in the sun while sparing your skin from damage and overall harm to your body.

Stronger bones start with healthy kidneys at Queens-Long Island Renal Institute

Healthy bones depend on healthy kidneys, and at Queens-Long Island Renal Institute (QLIRI), protecting bone health is essential to comprehensive kidney care. The kidneys regulate calcium and phosphorus levels and activate vitamin D, maintaining bone strength. When kidney disease interferes with these processes, bones can weaken, increasing the risk of fractures.

The QLIRI team takes a proactive approach to preserving bone health. Through ongoing lab monitoring, individualized treatment plans and expert nutritional guidance, QLIRI helps patients maintain the delicate balance of minerals that supports strong bones.

For those on dialysis, maintaining optimal calcium, phosphorus and parathyroid hormone levels can significantly help bones stay strong. QLIRI’s specialists collaborate closely with patients to fine-tune care plans and prevent complications.

Even small lifestyle steps — including

approved exercises, lower-phosphorus diets and prescribed medications — can strengthen bones and improve quality of life.

With advanced technology, a compassionate care team and a focus on education and prevention, QLIRI empowers patients to protect their bone and kidney health, helping them stay strong, active and independent.

About the Queens-Long Island Renal Institute

The Queens-Long Island Renal Institute (QLIRI) is a state-of-the-art dialysis center, conveniently located inside the first-floor lobby at Parker Jewish Institute in New Hyde Park, New York. QLIRI provides patients with the finest quality care, stateof-the-art technology, and uncompromised dignity, in a bright, ultra-modern and comfortable setting. Licensed by the New York State Department of Health, QLIRI is led by a compassionate and dedicated interdisciplinary team of experienced

Nephrologists and Dialysis Registered Nurses, a Renal Social worker and a Registered Dietitian. QLIRI also offers home dialysis, providing patients the flexibility to access needed care without ever leaving their homes, while also freeing up time to engage in their daily activities.

For more information, visit qliri.org or call (718) 289-2600.

Queens Long Island Renal Institute • 271-11 76th Ave., New Hyde Park • (718) 289-2600

Health memos are supplied by advertisers and are not written by the Herald editorial staff.

Queens-Long Island Renal Institute is located at the Parker Jewish Institute.

JU JULY 16 M M-122:30PM 6 • 10 10AM-12

FREE community event focused on health, wellness, and lifestyle

Meet trusted local exhibitors and service providers

Take advantage of on-site health screenings

Enjoy lively entertainment, fitness demonstrations and interactive experiences

Hear from experts during a panel discussion with Q&A

Win raffles, prizes, and giveaways

Snack station for all

*Boxed lunches for first 150 attendees

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

AGENDA:

Register for this FREE event:

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Inspirational drawings from our youngest readers

Ashly R. 6th G W. Babylon Junior High School

Keilani C. 5th G California Ave. School

Rubi 4th G California Ave. School

Jayden C. 2nd G California Ave. School

Anabelle D. 6th G W. Babylon Junior High School

Karol M. 4th G California Ave. School

Mila O. 4th G California Ave. School

Janelle H. 3rd G California Ave. School

Samantha P. 6th G W. Babylon Junior High School

Mia H. 6th G West Babylon Junior High School

Mia A. 6th G West Babylon Junior High School

Jocelyn C. 5th G California Ave. School

AMERICA

By ANGELINA ZINGARIELLO azingariello@liherald.com

Between 1860 and 1942, agriculture remained a defining part of life on Long Island across Nassau and Suffolk counties. During the same period, transportation improvements and expanding connections to New York City began shaping economic changes that would influence Long Island’s future development.

According to the Long Island Farm Bureau, agriculture has been an important industry on Long Island since the earliest periods of Native American cultivation and European settlement.

Before European settlement, the 60,000-acre Hempstead Plains in Nassau — the largest natural prairie east of the Mississippi River — served Indigenous peoples as a vital landscape for hunting, gathering and managing natural resources. English colonists later used the expansive grasslands to graze livestock, establishing agriculture as one of the area’s earliest industries.

The organization reports that fertile soils, access to fresh water, and proximity to major markets helped make Long Island one of New York State’s most significant agricultural regions. The Farm Bureau notes that farmers produced a wide range of crops and agricultural products, including vegetables, potatoes, fruits, poultry, livestock and shellfish.

Historical records published by the Town of Brookhaven show that early residents were primarily engaged in farming, fishing and whaling. The town’s historical records further indicate that additional industries developed during the nineteenth century, but agriculture remained an important part of the local economy.

Transportation became an increasingly important factor in the region’s development. According to the Town of Brookhaven’s historical overview, the arrival of the Long Island Rail Road during the mid-19th century made travel and the movement of goods faster and easier. Historical records of Long Island transportation show that rail service reached the eastern end of

Farming fueled Long Island before suburbia

Angelina

Zingariello/Herald

While the landscape and industries of Long Island have changed over the years, the East End holds onto its farming roots. Every spring, the Waterdrinker Family Farm & Garden in Manorville plants over a million tulips for the annual Tulip Festival.

the island in 1844, creating stronger links between rural communities and larger markets.

By the late 19th century, however, parts of Nassau County’s rural landscape were undergoing dramatic change as wealthy industrialists purchased North Shore farmland to build lavish country estates, creating the famed Gold Coast.

Even as the North Shore evolved, farming remained a dominant force across central Long Island. Throughout the 19th century and into the first half of the 20th century, the Island ranked among the nation’s leading potato-producing regions.

Throughout the 19th century and into the first half of the 20th century, the Island ranked among the nation’s leading potatoproducing regions.

Farming remained a dominant force across central Long Island. Throughout the 19th century and into the first half of the 20th centu-

ry, the Island ranked among the nation’s leading potato-producing regions. Thousands of acres were planted with potatoes, supporting a thriving agricultural economy and supplying markets throughout the Northeast.

While much of eastern Suffolk County remained rural during this period, signs of long-term change were emerging. Historical information published by the Town of Brookhaven states that the 20th century witnessed the town’s expansion from an agrarian community into a more diversified economy.

The transition had not yet fully occurred between 1860 and 1942, but the transportation networks and market connections established during those years

helped shape the conditions under which later development would occur.

Manorville itself retained strong agricultural roots. Historical accounts of the hamlet describe it as a farming community for many years, reflecting the broader agricultural character that defined much of central and eastern Suffolk County during the late 19th and early 20 centuries.

That era began to fade after World War II. As returning veterans fueled an unprecedented demand for housing, farmland rapidly disappeared beneath subdivisions, highways and commercial development. The transformation was perhaps most evident in Levittown, where beginning in 1947 more than 4,000 acres of former potato fields were converted into what became the nation’s most iconic suburban development, symbolizing the shift from an agricultural landscape to the suburban Long Island recognized today.

AMERICA

ABy BRIAN KACHARABA, ALYSSA R. GRIFFIN & LAYLA EASON of the Herald

cross Long Island, history is not just preserved — it is built into the landmarks that still stand in its villages, harbors, downtowns, and shorelines, where centuries of American life are reflected in manor houses, churches, libraries, museums, crossroads, and memorials.

Together, these sites form a living timeline of the nation’s past, showing how Long Island evolved alongside the United States over more than 300 years.

One of the earliest stories begins in Bay Shore at Sagtikos Manor, one of Suffolk County’s oldest surviving structures. Built around 1697 by Stephanus Van Cortlandt, New York City’s first native-born mayor, the manor grew from a colonial estate into one of the region’s most enduring landmarks.

During the American Revolution, British forces occupied the property, placing it directly within the war’s contested landscape. In the early years of the republic, the manor is also associated with President George Washington, who stayed there for one night during his 1790 tour of Long Island, further linking the site to the nation’s founding era and its first presidential administration.

In Massapequa, Old Grace Church, established in 1844 on land donated by General Thomas Floyd-Jones, preserves nearly two centuries of community life and remains a lasting symbol of the area’s early settlement era. Nearby, the Elbert Floyd-Jones Servants Cottage,

1 2 3

Landmarks define Long Island’s history

built around 1870, survives as one of the few remnants of Massapequa’s grand estate period, offering a rare glimpse into daily life on Long Island’s 19th-century South Shore estates.

The Phillips House Museum in Rockville Centre, built in 1882 and once home to village founder James Phillips, reflects the community’s late-19th-century growth driven by commerce and transportation. Saved from demolition in the 1970s and restored during the Bicentennial era, it now stands as one of New York’s premier small historic museums.

Long Island’s rise to national prominence is reflected at Sagamore Hill in Oyster Bay, built between 1884 and 1885 for Theodore Roosevelt. The Queen Annestyle home served as both his family residence and Summer White House, where policy and diplomacy shaped the Progressive Era. Today, it remains a National Historic Site and one of the country’s most significant presidential homes.

The growth of suburban Long Island is traced to Pearsall’s Corners, later Lynbrook, where a 19th-century crossroads centered on the Pearsall family store evolved into a stagecoach and railroad hub. With the arrival of the South Side Railroad, the community expanded rapidly and adopted the name Lynbrook in 1894, marking its transformation from rural hamlet to suburban village.

In Massapequa, the Delancey FloydJones Free Library, built in 1896, became the community’s first public library and remained its only one for more than 50 years. Now preserved within the Massapequa Historical Society Historic Complex, it reflects the rise

of civic institutions across Long Island.

On the South Shore, Long Beach reflects early 20th-century coastal planning. The home at 226 W. Penn Street, built in 1909 as part of William H. Reynolds’ resort vision, is one of the city’s earliest surviving structures. Now the Long Beach Historical Museum, it preserves the story of a barrier island community that grew from seasonal destination to year-round city.

The North Shore Historical Museum in Glen Cove occupies the former 1907 Justices Court Building, a State and National Register landmark that preserves the legacy of the Gold Coast era. In nearby Sea Cliff, the Village Museum—founded in 1979 and housed in a former Methodist church—continues that preservation effort through extensive archives of photographs, artifacts, and village records.

In Freeport, history spans multiple eras. A historic marker at Babylon Turnpike and Lakeview Avenue commemorates Washington’s passage through Long Island during his 1790 tour, linking the village to the nation’s earliest years. Nearby, the World War II memorial honors local service members who fought in the nation’s defining 20thcentury conflict, while the Vietnam War memorial stone at the Freeport Memorial Library stands as a tribute to those who gave their lives in service.

As America approaches its 250th anniversary, these landmarks underscore a simple truth: history is not confined to textbooks. It continues to live in the buildings, streets, and communities that shaped Long Island — and helped

shape the nation itself.

Photo 1 - Sagtikos Manor in Bay Shore, built around 1697, stands as one of Suffolk County’s oldest surviving homes and a rare link to Long Island’s colonial, Revolutionary War, and early presidential history.

Brian Kacharaba/Herald

Photo 2 - The World War II memorial plaque in Freeport honors residents who served and sacrificed during the conflict.

Layla Eason/Herald

Photo 3 - Sagamore Hill in Oyster Bay, the longtime home of President Theodore Roosevelt, reflects Long Island’s role in American leadership history and served as his residence and “Summer White House” during his presidency.

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Photo 4 - A historic marker at Babylon Turnpike and Lakeview Avenue in Freeport commemorates President George Washington’s passage through the area during his 1790 tour of Long Island.

Layla Eason/Herald

Photo 5 - The Old Grace Church in Massapequa traces its roots to 1844, where community members gathered to establish an Episcopal church closer to home rather than traveling to Hempstead for worship.

Alyssa R. Griffin/Herald

Photo 6 - Built in 1882, the Victorian home now housing the Phillips House Museum was once owned by sea captain and village founder James Phillips, whose family played a key role in the early development of Rockville Centre as a growing center of commerce and banking.

Alyssa R. Griffin/Herald

By Leah Ramai (Hunter) Sewanhaka High School freshman

AReader, three centuries is a long time.

ridiculous amount of possibilities could generally happen. Robots mating and artificial intelligence becoming the structure of everything.

America at 300. It’s long enough for your name to become dust. Long enough for every person you have ever loved to disappear. Long enough for your bedroom to become a room nobody remembers belonged to you. Long enough for the sound of your laughter to vanish from the earth entirely.

And perhaps, before you continue reading, I ask something of you. Look at your mother. Look at the shine in her eyes. The bliss, the warmth in her hugs. Look at your father. His tired eyes of making income and he doesn’t get a minute to himself. Not as parents. Not as permanent figures suspended safely in the background of your life. Look at them as people. As living things, imagine the lines of their faces softened by time until even memory struggles to hold them together. Imagine the sound of their voices becoming some-

AMERICA America at its 300th anniversary

thing distant. Imagine reaching for a memory and discovering it has begun to fade. That it simply doesn’t exist anymore. Where do these memories go? Certainly not in the future. Horrifying, isn’t it? Yet this is not fantasy. This is not horror fiction. This is reality moving exactly as it always has, because time does not wait for anyone whatsoever.

When people speak of America 300 years from now, they speak of progress. They speak of technology, discovery, innovation, and futures polished bright enough to distract themselves from the darkness beneath them. The good and positives. Yet I find myself haunted by something far quieter. Far more patient. The casualties time leaves behind.

How many voices will history never bother to remember? How many political figures will be jacks of spades in newspapers and magazines. How many poets will spend entire lifetimes filling notebooks only for their words to disappear without ceremony?

How many artists will devote themselves to beauty only for time to consume their work without even acknowledging it existed? Somewhere tonight, a child is creating something absolutely extraordinary. Somewhere, a story capable of changing a life is being written for the very first time. And somewhere else, another story dies before it is ever born. Reader that should terrify you. Not because it is unlikely. Because it is ordinary for dreams to never be pursued.

That is what makes humanity sacred. Not permanence. Not survival. Not the illusion that anything was

ever promised forever. If life stretched endlessly before us, love would become weightless. If grief did not exist, devotion would mean nothing. If death never arrived, neither would urgency, nor wonder, nor the desperate and beautiful need to create something before time steals the opportunity away.

It isn’t the fear of leaving, but leaving behind something utterly unfathomable, Humanity. Edgar Allan Poe understood this. Mary Shelley understood this. Beneath every graveyard, every ghost, every monster stitched together from pieces of the dead, there lingers the same unbearable realization. Existence is precious because it ends.

America, 300 years from now, will not be measured by what it builds. It will be measured by what it remembers. By whether someone still believes stories matter. By whether a child still stays awake long after midnight scribbling poems in a notebook because their heart feels too large for silence, deeply madly in love. Love, will you still feel the same flutter in your heart.

It’s chronically insane, isn’t it reader? To have to ask if a feeling would still sit in your anatomy because of how the world can change. By whether humanity still possesses the courage to create despite knowing everything eventually disappears. Knowing you have a purpose, but genuinely? It will end one day. Because the greatest horror has never been death. It has always been reaching the end of a life without leaving behind proof that you were here at all.

Look into the future

Photo: Credit: Courtesy Sewanhaka High School

LeaH Ramai (HunteR)

Aubrey L. Hewlett Elementary School

YBy JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

It is nearly impossible to discuss American literary history without mentioning Walt Whitman. Often called “America’s poet,” Whitman left a lasting mark as a writer, journalist and teacher, with a legacy deeply woven into both the nation’s history and Long Island’s own.

Born in what is now Huntington Station in 1819, Whitman came from a family whose Long Island roots stretched back to the 17th century. Though the family moved to Brooklyn when he was young, the island remained part of his foundation. His formal schooling ended at 11, but his education continued in print shops, newsrooms and city streets, where he developed a lifelong appetite for language, politics and the lives of ordinary people.

ou cannot really understand America... without ‘Leaves of Grass.’

MARY BERENsON

Art historian

As a teenager and young adult, Whitman worked as a printer, teacher and journalist across Long Island and New York City. When he returned to Huntington, he founded The Long-Islander, a local newspaper that is still being published.

His formative years placed Whitman in close contact with people from every corner of American life: laborers, commuters, families, readers, voters and strangers passing through the world around him. That broad human canvas helped shape the ideals that came to define his poetry — a sweeping appreciation for everyday Americans.

Whitman carried those influences into “Leaves of Grass,” the collection he first published in 1855 and continued revising until his death in 1892. What began as a slim, unconventional volume grew into a sweeping body of work that challenged literary traditions and helped redefine what American poetry could sound like.

Much of Whitman’s work opens a window onto everyday American life, but “Song of Myself” may be his most expansive expression of that vision. In it, the speaker stretches beyond the individual, seeing himself reflected in all people and all things — a voice that is deeply personal and collective.

The poem stands apart for its bold embrace of the body, its deep connection to the natural world and its insistence on elevating the ordinary individual.

“Born here of parents born here from parents the same, and their parents the same,”

AMERICA Long Island’s own Walt Whitman helped give America its voice

Courtesy Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Gottscho-Schleisner Collection [LC-USZC2-4855]

Walt Whitman, one of America’s most renowned poets, taught at a summer school in Woodbury in 1840. The school building, erected in 1807, was acquired by Alexander M. White around 1927, who moved it to his estate in Oyster Bay Cove. The desk from the schoolhouse once used by Whitman is now at his birthplace, a historic site, in Huntington Station.

Whitman writes — a line that captures the layered, generational nature of belonging. It suggests how roots are formed not only through family, but through the places people claim as home. For Whitman, one of those places was Long Island.

Today, the Walt Whitman Birthplace Association maintains the New York state historic site Whitman was born in. Open to the public for tours, the home provides Long Islanders with insight into his early childhood, which influenced his work. Tours run daily in the summertime, and between Wednesdays and Sundays after Labor Day.

On the grounds of his original home is also an Interpretive Center, which opened in 1997, further allowing the birthplace association to build a tourist destination and regional hub for arts and literature, that offers unique, interdisciplinary programs.

“You cannot really understand America without Walt Whitman, without ‘Leaves of Grass’…” art historian Mary Berenson once wrote of the work, according to Whitman’s profile on Goodreads, a networking site for readers. “He has expressed that civilization, ‘up to date,’ as he would say, and no student of the philosophy of history can do without him.”

STEPPING OUT

Photos courtesy LICM

Young artists created colorful works during last summer’s ArtVentures. This year, the program is expanded into four categories and families can enjoy similar creative experiences.

Bright colors and creative techniques come together in the watercolor project, one of the hands-on activities Kids can experiment how colors react to elements, and other colors.

More than art

Cool off with an ‘Artventure’

By Stacy Driks

Long Island Children’s Museum invites families to put down the screens this summer, pick up a paintbrush and discover the many ways to create art.

With the launch of Summer ArtVentures [July 7], the museum expands its arts programming into a season-long celebration of imagination, hands-on learning and creative exploration four days a week.

Whether it’s experimenting with watercolor, building collages, sculpting with clay or creating artwork inspired by professionals, every visit offers something new.

The lineup grew from a pilot series the museum introduced last summer. After seeing children return week after week and hearing families ask for more opportunities to create, museum educators decided it was time to think bigger.

“We had such a positive reaction, people were asking if we could do them on other days and if we could offer more arts programming,” says Jeanmarie Walsh Mansfield, the museum’s director of visual arts and community initiatives. ”We found families kept coming back, and kids were building on what they learned from one week to the next.”

That enthusiasm inspired a full calendar of art experiences running throughout July and August, with activities designed to appeal to toddlers, schoolage children, teens and even adults.

Unlike traditional art classes, participants aren’t divided by age. Instead, everyone creates together in the same space, allowing each person to work at a level that’s comfortable while learning from one another.

“It’s sort of like an old-school classroom,” Mansfield says. “Kids of all ages learn with and from each other.”

Each Tuesday, the museum hosts Imagine That! Summer ArtVentures Workshops, where participants explore a different artistic medium or technique. One week may focus on collage, while another introduces mosaics, sculpture or animation. Before children begin creating, participants are introduced to artists whose work connects to that week’s project.

Some come from centuries ago, like Italian painter Giuseppe Arcimboldo, whose portraits famously transformed fruits, vegetables and other everyday objects into imaginative faces. Others are contemporary artists such as Octavio Ocampo, whose optical illusion paintings encourage viewers to look beyond first impressions.

Fireworks with the South Shore Symphony

“I want kids to learn that art can be much more than they think art is,” Mansfield says. “Art can be everywhere and made from anything. All you need is your creativity, your imagination and a willingness to experiment.”

Fridays offer Watercolor Wonder Pop-Ups, rotating through different galleries with new watercolor techniques and themes each week. One session explores the effects of salt on watercolor paint, while another teaches children how oil pastels and watercolor interact to create surprising results. Other activities draw inspiration from nature, encouraging families to experiment with flowers, color and texture.

What program is best for you?

• Tuesday: Imagine That ArtVentures workshops run from July 7 to Aug. 25, 1-3 p.m. Fee: $4 for children three and up.

• Friday: Watercolor Pop-Up run from July 10 to Aug. 28, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Free with museum admission.

• Saturday: Amethyst Playground Pop-Up runs from July 11 to Aug. 1, noon-2 p.m. Free with museum admission.

• Monday: Squish Studio runs from July 27 to July 31, 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. Free with museum admission.

Still craving more fireworks? Rockville Centre’s annual celebration is just the ticket! Head to Pette and Barasch Fields for a festive evening with the South Shore Symphony, capped off by a spectacular Grucci fireworks display. It’s a beloved summertime tradition that brings together everyone for a rousing spectacle. Music Director Adam Glaser passes the baton to conductor Eileen Murphy who leads the orchestra in a program of Broadway hits, movie themes, pop hits, and patriotic standards. Selections include American Salute by Morton Gould, Suite from Hamilton by Lin-Manuel Miranda, RimskyKorsakov’s Procession of Nobles, Sousa’s Washington Post March and John William’s Raiders March. The orchestra begins performing at 7:30 p.m., the fireworks begin at 9:15 and the orchestra continues after. Hosted by the Village of Rockville Centre and the Rockville Centre Guild for the Arts, this free event has been a favorite for more than 30 years. Admission is free and is open to everyone. Rain date is July 12.

Hope shows her art project inspired by Kelly Olshan’s “Amethyst Playground” exhibit.

On Saturdays, Amethyst Playground Pop-Up connects directly to the current Artists’ Corner exhibition by Kelly Olshan. Families transform leftover materials from the artist’s creative process into colorful magnets, demonstrating how everyday objects can become works of art.

For children who love getting their hands dirty, Squish Studio, running July 27 through 31, offers an entire week devoted to clay. Young artists can experiment with different tools, create personal sculptures and contribute to a collaborative creature that grows throughout the week.

Clay holds a special place for Mansfield.

“I’ve been wanting to do clay-based workshops for a long time,” she says. “Kids really respond to it. It’s intuitive, it’s hands-on, and it helps develop fine motor skills while encouraging creativity.”

But the aim is for visitors leave with more than artwork to hang on the refrigerator.

Creating art helps children build confidence, develop criticalthinking skills and become more comfortable taking creative risks, Mansfield explains. Working alongside others also teaches collaboration, communication and problem-solving.

“Art making reduces anxiety,” she says. “It can be meditative. We know screens can increase anxiety, but when children are creating with their hands, they’re engaged, they’re present and they’re learning.”

Perhaps most importantly, art teaches children that mistakes aren’t something to fear.

“You fail sometimes,” Mansfield says. “You make something and it doesn’t come out the way you wanted. That’s an important life skill — mistakes are learning opportunities and that you can pivot and try something different.”

And the experience sparks curiosity. Rather than providing step-by-step instructions with one “correct” outcome, educators encourage children to ask questions, explore materials and decide for themselves what they want to create.

“There’s no wrong way to make art,” Mansfield says. “I want kids to push their boundaries and realize they’re artists.”

And this is only the beginning.

Museum leadership plans to further expand programming beyond the summer, with additional workshops during school breaks and perhaps a future art festival that celebrates creativity throughout the museum.

Until then, paint, sculpt, squish and create all summer — one colorful adventure at a time. For schedules, admission and registration information, visit licm.org.

Saturday, July 11, 7 p.m. Pette and Barasch Fields, 244 S. Park Ave, Rockville Centre. For more information, visit.rvcny.us.

The Bronx Wanderers

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. They’re still having the time of their lives — and by the end of the show, you will be too.

Sunday, July 12,7:30 p.m. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or

Your Neighborhood CALENDAR

jul

‘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/animalshelter 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

Lights, camera, Long Island!

The Long Island International Film Expo continues, bringing independent cinema from around the globe to local audiences. 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 Pettit Ave.,Bellmore

• Time: Varied, through July 16

• Contact: For a complete schedule and tickets, visit LIIFE2026.eventive.org

jul 10

‘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

Wild Child

Plaza Theatrical stages a thrilling celebration of life and the fighting spirit that keeps us all going. Five individuals find themselves careening through the world of love, babies and coffee. From Cabaret to Chicago, the nonstop hit parade features unforgettable gems, including “Mr. Cellophane,” “Maybe This Time,” “Cabaret” and “New York, New York,” seamlessly woven into a passionate, harmonious, up-tempo performance of musical theater.

• Where: Elmont Memorial Library, 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont

• Time: 2:30 p.m.

• Contact: PlazaTheatrical.com or call (516) 599-6870

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15

Nature Connects

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

• Time: 8 p.m.

This is not a typical tribute or pretend concert act. Wild Child relies on recapturing the original: sound, feel, mood, dynamics and delivery of the Doors music. In true Doors fashion there are no: wigs, props, costumes, or phony banter between songs. It’s about the music and its delivery. Wild Child lead singer Dave Brock’s Doors tribute debuted with a triple sellout at the Whisky a-Go-Go. Since the band debuted, the act has been touring and playing at sold out national act venues and festivals around the world. Wild Child became the mold that “tribute bands” aspired to become, as they flooded the market in the 1990s with good and bad impersonations of famous artists. In 2010 Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger of The Doors, invited Dave to tour with them as their vocalist on their concert engagements. This was perhaps the best compliment Dave has ever received from anyone for his work. Being selected by these two Rock ’n Roll Hall of Fame musicians was a huge honor; the ultimate compliment of his talents and speaks volumes for his credibility as a Doors style frontman and vocalist. Fans and critics alike praise Wild Child performances as the closest thing to a real 1960s Doors concert and live Doors experience.

show continues to be one of the world’s most frequently performed musicals.

• 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

Family theater

Lance the Eagle welcomes families to “A Semi-QuincentenEAGLE Birthday” on the Long Island Children’s Museum stage. In this original production, families are 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 15

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

Disco grooves

Eisenhower Park’s Summer Concert Series continues with Disco Unlimited. When Sista Soul, Sparkle Sista, Joe Cool, Strat Cat Ricky Smooth and The MacDaddy, all hit the stage, you are instantly transported to a time when Saturday nights meant white suits, platform shoes and your very best dance moves. And dance you will – when you experience the magic created when the boogie begins.

• Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow

• Contact: nassaucountyny.gov or (516) 572-0200

Semi-Annual Book Sale

Henry Waldinger Library is selling gently used books. One bag of books will cost $1. The sale will be in the library’s Adult Room.

• Where: 60 Verona Place

• Time: 10 a.m.-2 p.m

• Contact: valleystreamlibrary. org or (516) 825-6422

• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com

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2026 Summer Sing

Calling all singers! From experienced choral veterans to shower singers with a taste for the classics, all are welcome at Long Island Choral Society’s singin happening. The repertoire includes Faure Requiem and assorted choral works to honor America. Summer Sing is an opportunity for people who love to sing, love choral music or both to get together with like-minded individuals and sing some great musical compositions. It’s not a performance. There aren’t any rehearsals. There’s no audience. We just sing for our own enjoyment. Don’t worry if you don’t know all the notes. The point is not perfection, it is to have fun. Bring your own musical score or borrow one. $10 donation.

• Where: Garden City Community Church, 245 Stewart Ave., Garden City

• Time: 7 p.m.

• Contact: LICS.org

The World Goes Round: Songs of Kander & Ebb

Filled with humor, romance, drama and nonstop melody,

Old Westbury Gardens welcomes families to spend an afternoon exploring, building and creating together! Seasonal Sprouts offers is a LEGO-themed adventure for young explorers. Children (ages 4–10) embark on a guided outdoor tour of Sean Kenney’s Nature Connects made with LEGO bricks. Everyone discovers the wonders of nature in a fun and hands-on way. After the tour, kids can unleash their creativity in a LEGO free-play area. $22 per adult, $20 ages 62+, $12 child. Registration required.

• Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury

• Time: 1 a.m.-noon and 2-3 p.m.

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

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.

July 9, 2026 —

LEGAL NOTICE

Public Notices

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 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.

Premises known as 16 Laurel Place, Valley Stream, (Village of Valley Stream, Town of Hempstead) NY 11580. (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 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:

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 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

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BY THE BOARD OF APPEALS

Pursuant to New York State Town Law Article 16, New York State Public Officers Law Article 7, and the Town of Hempstead Building Zone Ordinance, NOTICE is hereby given that the BOARD OF APPEALS of the Town of Hempstead will hold a public hearing in the Town Meeting Pavilion, Town Hall Plaza, One Washington Street, Hempstead, New York on 07/22/2026 at 2:00 P.M. to consider the following applications and appeals: THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 2:00 P.M.

391/26. - 392/26. NR VALLEY STREAMElisheva Eis, Variance, lot area occupied, construct addition, 2nd story addition & 2 story addition, all attached to dwelling; Special exception to maintain accessory structure (basketball hoop) higher than permitted & not permitted in the front yard., N/s Vandam St., 724.94’ W/o Longacre Ave., a/k/a 736 Vandam St. ALL PAPERS PERTAINING TO THE ABOVE HEARING ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT THE BOARD OF APPEALS, TOWN HALL, 1 WASHINGTON STREET, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550.

This notice is only for new cases in Valley Stream within Town of Hempstead jurisdiction. There are additional cases in different hamlets, towns and villages on the Board of Appeals calendar. The full calendar is available at https://hempsteadny.go v/509/Board-of-Appeals

The internet address of the website streaming for this meeting is https://hempsteadny.go v/576/Live-StreamingVideo

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

161101

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, STATE OF NEW YORK MORTGAGE AGENCY (SONYMA), Plaintiff, vs. MARVIN DARIUS, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee’s Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on December 8, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on August 10, 2026 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 21 North Montague Street, Valley Stream, NY 11580. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Valley Stream, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 37, Block 221 and Lots 10-12. Approximate amount of judgment is $598,329.41 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of

filed Judgment Index #620598/2024. Cash will not be accepted. Jared A. Kasschau, Esq., Referee Knuckles & Manfro, LLP, 120 White Plains Road, Suite 215, Tarrytown, New York 10591, Attorneys for Plaintiff 161054

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 RCAF ACQUISITION TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. FRANK J. ROTH A/K/A FRANK ROTH, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee’s Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on May 19, 2026, I, the undersigned Referee will the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on August 11, 2026 at 3:00 p.m., premises known as 27 Gotham Street, Valley Stream a/k/a 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 Incorporated Village of Valley Stream, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 39, Block 319 and Lot 206. Approximate amount of judgment is $605,303.50 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #607162/2022. Cash will not be accepted. Christine Grillo, Esq., Referee Knuckles & Manfro, LLP, 120 White Plains Road, Suite 215, Tarrytown, New York 10591, Attorneys for Plaintiff 161050

EMPLOYMENT

Help Wanted

DRIVERS WANTED

Full Time and Part Time

Positions Available!

Busy Print Shop in Garden City is Hiring Immediately for Full Time and Part Time Drivers. Must Have a Clean License and BoxTruck Driving Experience.

Hours Vary, Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $21 per hour

Night Availability is a Must. Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239

EDITOR/REPORTER

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

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

MULTI MEDIA

ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT

Inside Sales

Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $35,360 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286

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 for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off. Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X250

PRINTING PRESS OPERATORS FT & PT. Long Island Herald has IMMEDI-

Contemporary Coastal Living

What to do about cracking concrete

Q. We have large cracks in our concrete driveway and garage floor, and want to make sure they are repaired correctly, since they appear to be recently done, possibly within a year before we purchased the house. In particular, there is a nearly round hole that turned to gravel, kind of, and we want to know why it happened and avoid having it happen again. What can you tell us?

A. Concrete reacts to extreme weather changes. That is a given to designers of concrete structures, even though most people think concrete is the “immovable object.”

Nature moves mountains, so your driveway was no challenge for the forces of nature.

Extreme cold causes concrete to contract, push in on itself, while the heat has the effect of stretching this fairly rigid material to its limits. In the heat of summer, as you may have heard, the beautifully engineered Autobahn in Germany just buckled in various places. I’ve seen cars going nearly 200 miles per hour on that roadway, but with a buckled road, sections were shut down.

The key to any material selection is understanding its reaction to two major factors in nature, namely, water and movement. Throw in other factors, like chemical reaction and deterioration rates, and you realize that concrete is vulnerable. You have to work with its basic properties to have it adapt and cooperate with your intended use.

All that being said, the hole is basically like a zit, a buildup of pressure in a weaker place across the surface. Concrete develops strength as a chemical reaction to the specific combination of materials it is made from. With too much water in the mix, it will be weaker, especially in a particular spot. If it has no way to expand over a large area, as a thin sheet, only 4 to 6 inches thick over 10 to 20 feet, its strength is reduced because of a strengthto-distance ratio. So, to relieve the intensity of the expansion or contraction, separations, or “joints,” are made so the slabs can spread the forces of shrinking or expanding, a little.

Concrete is known to be very strong in compression, meaning you can press it together, to an extreme, before it crushes. On the other hand, it has very little ability to resist being stretched or pulled apart. To counteract the problem, steel, which is very elastic (stretchable) is spaced within formed concrete to increase the resistance to cracking apart. The combination of steel, in the right ratio and strength, and expansion joints, to let the concrete separate without unsightly cracks, makes the concrete more stable. Even just a depressed joint, not through and through, helps, by basically letting the concrete crack in a controlled way, where the crack runs in a straight depression instead of looking like a big rip.

I recommend having a professional make the repairs, with caution. You want an experienced company that works from a calculated solution, not just a quick fix. More next week. 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,

ANNOUNCEMENTS Announcements

JOIN US EVERY FRIDAY at 7:30 pm, the Baha’i Center, 11 West Jamaica, Valley Stream For prayers, meditation, reflection, fellowship and refreshments. All are welcome.

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Antiques/Collectibles

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Miscellaneous For Sale

ARTWORK BY LI PAINTER/ SCULPTOR

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Finds Under $100

1993 PRECIOUS MOMENTS bear cookie jar. Brand new, never used, still in box. $30.00. 516-872-8486

BOAT OARS, ALUMINUM. 8.5' $50. Extra large and medium life vests $20 each. Text 516-647-1999.

SERVICES

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Electricians

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Home Improvement

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Services

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New York deserved better from this legislative session

The 2026 legislative session may be over, but the problems Albany left unresolved are still staring New Yorkers in the face.

lies, seniors and small businesses to stay in New York.

autopilot.

This year the Legislature made history for all the wrong reasons. Families needed real relief from rising costs, a stronger focus on public safety and a government that understands how expensive it is to live and work in this state. Instead, Albany delivered the latest budget in 16 years, the largest spending plan ever and another clear sign that one-party control is failing the people who are paying the bills.

Every legislative session reveals what Albany truly values. With families across New York struggling with rising expenses, public safety concerns and a state that continues to become less affordable, they deserve a Legislature focused on the issues affecting their daily lives. Instead, Gov. Kathy Hochul and the legislative majorities used another year of one-party control to advance the same misplaced priorities that have made it harder for fami-

The clearest example was the state budget. Despite one-party control of the Senate, Assembly and governor’s mansion, a budget deal wasn’t reached until 57 days after the April 1 deadline. After all that extra time, New Yorkers still didn’t get a clear accounting of what they were being asked to fund. Last year’s budget totaled $254 billion, and this year it’s $277 billion. That isn’t fiscal discipline, nor is it transparency. Rather, it is record-breaking spending, while New Yorkers are still waiting for the relief Albany promised.

The clearest example was the bloated state budget, which was 57 days late.

Instead of strengthening the state’s Medicaid program and ensuring that every dollar is being used for its intended purpose, to help New Yorkers in need, the state continues to simply throw more money at the $124 billion program. Medicaid is a lifeline for seniors, people with disabilities and families who really need care. That is precisely why it must be safeguarded from fraud, waste and abuse. I have repeatedly called for a comprehensive audit so taxpayers know where the money is going and resources are preserved for those who depend on them. A program this large shouldn’t run on

At the same time, Albany apparently had less money for the volunteer firefighters who answer the call in our communities every day. The V-FIRE program helps departments invest in equipment, facility upgrades and lifesaving infrastructure. Yet this year’s budget reduced that program by $5 million, even as departments across Long Island face rising costs and growing emergency-response needs. The very least Albany can do is make sure these volunteers have the funding they need. That’s why I’m cosponsoring bipartisan legislation to help ensure that fire departments receive their fair share of V-FIRE funding.

This same mismatch between Albany’s and New Yorkers’ priorities continued beyond the budget. While residents were asking for relief, the legislative majorities advanced a proposal to replace words like “mother” and “father” in sections of state law with terms such as “gestating parent” and “non-gestating parent.” My four children call me “Mom” every day. That word has meaning in my home, as it does for mothers and fathers across the state. Why does Albany keep finding time for symbolic language changes

while families are still waiting for action on the issues that truly affect their lives?

The same problem surfaced in redistricting. In 2014, New Yorkers voted for the Independent Redistricting Commission because they wanted a fairer, more transparent process. In 2021, they rejected changes that would have weakened it. This year, Albany Democrats went right back at it, advancing another constitutional amendment that would make it easier to redraw maps in the middle of the decade and give the Legislature more control when the commission doesn’t produce the maps it wants.

Voters should choose their representatives, not the other way around. This is a clear attempt by politicians to consolidate power, and it’s all the more insulting to New Yorkers that in the waning days of the 2026 legislative session, the majorities’ focus was on solving their own political problems rather than New Yorkers’ financial struggles.

Residents expect a budget that respects taxpayers, policies that make communities safer, and a Legislature focused on the problems that families are actually facing. I will keep fighting for a safer, more affordable New York, and for a state government that finally puts New Yorkers’ priorities first.

Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick represents the 9th State Senate District.

New York needs stronger tools to stop illegal vape sales

Across New York state, we are witness to the same troubling reality: We are in the midst of a youth vaping epidemic.

This is because retailers and distributors are continuing to sell illegal vapes in our communities, paying no mind to the law as it stands.

These products are packaged in bright colors, sold in sweet flavors, are easy to conceal and use and are quite difficult to quit. What begins as curiosity quickly becomes fullblown nicotine addiction.

New York passed legislation to restrict flavored vapor products in 2020 with the hope of protecting public health. But the industry has changed quickly, and our enforcement tools aren’t working the way we hoped they might. Vape manufacturers and sellers are changing product formulas, using new, nicotine-like compounds to escape

enforcement, and moving products through complicated supply chains, making it impossible to curb their proliferation.

There is no point in having a law if you can’t enforce it.

That’s why I, along with State Sen. Leroy Comrie, put forth legislation to strengthen New York’s vapor product laws: to give the state the tools it needs to stop illegal sales, to prevent these illicit products from reaching our communities, and to ensure that they are being taxed the way the law intends.

Sin fueling the youth vaping epidemic. Additionally, in Nassau County, there were two charges filed against employees at a store in Baldwin in March for selling flavored vaping products, kratom and pepper spray.

ellers are changing formulas and moving products through complex supply chains.

This is not a hypothetical concern. Last September, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the largest criminal vaping enforcement action in New York state to date, resulting in more than a dozen arrests and nearly 40 criminal charges related to illegal distribution of vaping products throughout the state, with distribution networks on Long Island. State Attorney General Letitia James sued the manufacturers of 13 e-cigarette and vape companies last year for their role

What these cases illustrate is that illegal distribution of vaping products and sales of illegal vaping products are a real problem happening across the state, not an abstract issue.

Our bill focused on a simple principle: If a company wants to distribute vapor products in our state, it should be licensed and subject to real accountability.

Right now, enforcement happens at the retail level, the point of sale. That means the state is tasked with monitoring thousands upon thousands of individual sellers, many of whom are difficult to track. This approach is not effective at cutting down on illegal sales or ensuring proper taxation, nor is it manageable.

By creating a formal distributorlicensing system, New York could focus

enforcement higher up the supply chain. Distributors would be required to register with the Department of Taxation and Finance, renew their licenses and comply with state law. They would be taxed wholesale. Those who violated the law could face escalating penalties, including suspension or revocation of their ability to operate.

The bill would also create protections against flavored nicotine analog products, so that companies could not simply tweak a formula and claim they were outside the law.

New York can’t afford to wait while another generation is targeted by flavored nicotine products. We need licensing. We need inspections. We need seizure authority. We need clear rules for distributors, and real consequences for those who violate the law.

This is not about punishing responsible businesses, but about creating fairness by stopping bad actors and making sure our laws actually work as they were intended to, all while protecting our children. This legislation would give New York the tools to do exactly that.

Michaelle C. Solages represents the 22nd Assembly District.

Fax: (516)

Investing in libraries pays dividends all year

Summer has a way of reminding us about the simple pleasures in life. For many, that means relaxing on the beach with a good book, spending time with family or finding fun ways to stay cool during the hottest days of the year.

HERALD

But while a great novel may be the perfect beach companion, the local public library offers so much more than books. It is one of the smartest and most valuable investments any community can make.

Libraries have evolved far beyond quiet reading rooms lined with shelves full of books. They are vibrant community centers that welcome residents of every age and every background. They’re places where curiosity is encouraged, lifelong learning is celebrated and neighbors come together at author readings, musical performances and movie screenings.

Summer is one of the busiest times of the year for libraries. Children who might otherwise lose valuable academic skills during the school break can take part in summer reading programs intended to keep their minds engaged while making learning fun.

Teens can explore new interests through workshops, volunteer opportunities and technology programs. Adults can attend lectures, careerdevelopment seminars, financial-literacy classes and cultural events. Seniors can take part in social gatherings, edu-

letterS

Scott’s column should be required

college reading

To the Editor:

Re Robert A. Scott’s column, “What it means to be a college graduate,” in the June 24-30 issue: At a time when some are questioning the value of a college education, Dr. Scott offers a thoughtful perspective on this important issue. Drawing on his own experiences at Bucknell University as well as research that demonstrates the many positive outcomes of college, he makes a strong case for post-secondary education. At its best, Scott notes, college can not only improve students’ writing and speaking skills and boost graduates’ earning power, but also foster personal growth and enhance one’s outlook on the world. “College is, or should be,” he writes, “as much about character development and active citizenship as it is about preparation for careers and advancement in commerce.”

cational presentations and wellness activities that help combat isolation while strengthening community connections.

Libraries are free public spaces open to everyone. They provide safe, air-conditioned environments in which families can spend time together, students can study, remote workers can focus and anyone can simply enjoy a quiet place to read, learn or reflect.

These services don’t disappear when summer ends. Throughout the year, libraries host civic meetings, support groups, educational workshops, cultural performances, technology training, tax-preparation assistance, job search resources and countless other programs that strengthen the social fabric of our communities. They serve as gathering places where ideas are exchanged, friendships are formed and local organizations find a home.

Elected officials deserve recognition when they prioritize funding for public libraries. Public investments often bring to mind roads, bridges or major construction projects, and those investments certainly matter. But investments in libraries produce returns that cannot always be measured in dollars. Whether funding is for the renovation of a community room to expand programs and services or a much larger capital project that overhauls the entire building, libraries aim to improve educational outcomes, encour-

age civic engagement, reduce social isolation, create stronger, more connected communities, and make their facilities more welcoming, accessible and functional for everyone who walks through their doors.

These projects also reflect a broader truth: Investments in libraries are investments in people. Every renovated classroom, meeting space or children’s area creates opportunities for learning, connection and growth that extend well beyond the life of the construction project itself.

At a time when many people worry about loneliness, educational gaps and divisions in society, libraries quietly address each of those challenges every day. They remain one of the few places where everyone is welcome, regardless of age, income or background, and where the only requirement for entry is a willingness to learn.

As summer unfolds, residents should take full advantage of everything their local libraries have to offer. Borrow that next beach read. Sign a child up for a reading challenge. Attend a lecture, explore a new hobby, join a community group or simply spend an afternoon discovering something new.

Every library card opened, every book borrowed and every program attended is a reminder that one of the greatest investments we can make is in institutions that educate, inspire and bring us together.

Jefferson’s legacy is

Recently I watched a six-part documentary series on Thomas Jefferson. I couldn’t help but notice all of the twists and turns, achievements and criticisms, successes and failures of this brilliant yet very flawed man. I found myself constantly drawing parallels to today’s political and moral landscape.

Of course, the series, which has been out for a year, is part fact, part opinion and lots of storytelling. You can draw your own conclusions, but it’s impossible to know the whole truth. It’s also impossible to use current morality to judge someone who was born 283 years ago, in a very different place in a very different world.

So much of what Jefferson wrote was in conflict with what he did. Clearly he was an enigmatic figure. How do

LetteRs

Scott’s column should be required reading for every new college student, especially those entering with the misguided notion that college is little more than a quick ticket to a job. While finding a career that’s a good fit should certainly be part of everyone’s college years, students should also use this time to learn about themselves, to engage ideas, to come to grips with life’s complexities, and to develop a deeper understanding of the world that’s waiting for them after graduation. Colleges themselves would also do well to pay attention to Scott’s advice. Too many schools present themselves as career factories, highlighting their programs’ “real world” skill development while paying only minimal attention to the transformative experiences that a college education can (and should) provide. Graduating thoughtful, knowledgeable and insightful human beings — people capable of seeing life’s big picture and acting on behalf of the greater good — should be a primary goal of higher education.

Given the cost of college, as well as our collective anxiety about the future of America’s workforce, I can understand many students’ wish to choose a major that will help them make their way. But preparing for a career needn’t preclude being open to activities and experiences, both in and out of the classroom, that will invite students to stretch intellectually, socially and emotionally. There are indeed many valuable lessons to be learned here; students should not miss out on them.

RICHARD J. CONWAY Massapequa

mixed, like so many of our leaders

we praise him for writing the Declaration of Independence, serving as governor of Virginia and ambassador to France, and becoming the third president of the United States?

Yet he was an owner of 600 enslaved people, presumably fathering as many as six children with one of them, Sally Hemings, who was believed to be the halfsister of his deceased wife.

MJefferson publicly condemned slavery as a moral evil, but privately owned hundreds of enslaved people, and struggled to reconcile his ideals with economic and social realities. His own children were born into slavery.

smart as well as some very dumb things. It’s impossible to predict the effects of our decisions, and how history will judge any of us. Public life, private life, family, religion, policy decisions; it can be overwhelming.

uch of what our third president wrote was in conflict with what he did.

Jefferson believed immigration could strengthen the United States, but emphasized careful assimilation and civic responsibility. To me, that doesn’t sound too much different from legal immigration: coming to the United States with the goal of becoming a citizen and making the country stronger, not changing it to resemble the country you left.

gions?

Talk about a mixed legacy — how do we apply Jefferson’s misdeeds to today’s norms? You can’t rewrite history. This dilemma has continued throughout our 250-year history. Every president has great achievements and fantastic failures. In order to give equal bipartisan time to the modern era, think Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton. I can easily point to both fantastic achievements and sensational failures of these two men. I am certain we could do the same for almost any elected official, at any level. I am thinking the solution is honesty, admitting mistakes. The hypocrisy that continues to exist today is very disheartening.

He was not a successful governor, yet he eventually became president. As president he violated his own writings and teachings by buying land from France in 1803, effectively doubling the size of the United States, acquiring 828,000 square miles of territory from France for $15 million. I think of elected officials today who do some very

Jefferson embraced a rational, morally focused Christianity while advocating for religious freedom and a strict separation of church and state. As more and more of our elected leaders are focusing on myriad global beliefs, can we agree on the separation of church and state? It’s very hard to do. Do you recognize every religion, or no reli-

But Jefferson is, in part, a lesson in hypocrisy. He brought such greatness to a brand-new country, yet he could not separate himself from his own abuses of the system.

We know we are a flawed society, yet somehow we made it to 250 years. Let’s see if we can leave our children and grandchildren with at least another 250 years.

Ed Fare is the mayor of Valley Stream.

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