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Friday, January 23, 2026
Vol. 3, No. 4
THE GATEWAY TO NASSAU COUNTY SERVING FLORAL PARK, BELLEROSE AND STEWART MANOR
Hempstead Town offers Mulchfest for trees
New yoga studio brings wellness focus to downtown BY RIKKI MASSAND
Hempstead Town Supervisor John Ferretti (2nd right), Councilman Thomas Muscarella (2nd left), and Town Clerk Kate Murray (left) help a local resident turn his tree into mulch at the town's 6th Annual Mulchfest. The holiday season may have come to a close, but sustainability was front and center on Saturday, January 10th, as residents gathered at Echo Park in West Hempstead for the Town of Hempstead’s 6th Annual Mulchfest. The popular annual event invited residents to recycle their natural Christmas trees
by having them shredded into fresh mulch for personal use. This eco-friendly initiative ensured that holiday trees continued to give back by providing rich, organic material that can be used for gardening, landscaping, soil moisture retention, and weed prevention throughout the year.
“Mulchfest has become a cherished tradition in our town, and this year’s event was another great success,” said Town of Hempstead Supervisor John Ferretti. “Residents once again showed their commitment to environmental responsibility by repurposing their ChristSee page 3
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New Year’s resolutions focused on health, balance and overall well-being are finding support at a Verbena Avenue yoga and wellness studio that is approaching its second anniversary in Floral Park. Here and Now Yoga, Wellness and Arts Collective, located at 22 Verbena Avenue, opened in spring 2024 and is owned by licensed, experienced instructors Michelle Ingkavet Cavanagh and Dina Denis-Paolucci. In an interview, the owners cited the benefits of being located in a vibrant, walkable area just off Tulip Avenue, a few doors down from Swing the Teapot. “People love that we are here, and they share with us that they’ve walked by several times and are eager to stop in and try a class. And we know some students enjoy the routine of walking up to the studio, getting a warmup and clearing their mind before a class,” Denis-Paolucci said. Folks are entering 2026 working to feel good, both mentally and physically, and the energy here propels them – we have a warm and welcoming space, with ‘feel good heat.’ This space provides a real sense of community.” Here and Now offers yoga, mat Pilates, “yoga-lates,” Tai Chi, “Sculpt & Shred,” and wellness-fo-
cused exercise classes designed for “every body.” Denis-Paolucci explained that the physical and breath work practiced during classes or private sessions can help alleviate pain. “We help out anybody from those with trouble walking or limitations to people who can sprint. And our arts classes include dance as we get people moving and feeling good. There are people who come to us and don’t even take yoga; some even take everything except for yoga. We try to serve all the needs and a lot of different people, from their physical matters to their intentional needs,” she said. The Verbena Avenue studio, including its restroom, is ADA-accessible and features a specially designed rear entrance. Here and Now also offers a class for adults with special needs, attended alongside their support person. In addition, one of the studio’s Tai Chi classes is customized to focus on arthritis management and fall prevention. For individuals who work from home, are dealing with illness, or are unable to attend in person for other reasons, approximately half of Here and Now’s weekly schedule is offered virtually. “We had a lady this morning who’s home with the flu, and she took multiple classes online so she See page 12
Spelling champ crowned at Sewanhaka PAGE 4 Streets, courts and avenues in FP PAGE 10