Amityville Herald 02_18_2026

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Amityville firefighters battle two blazes in brutal cold

By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com

Amid freezing temperatures and fierce winds off the bay, volunteers with the Amityville Fire Department spent the weekend of Feb. 7 and 8 battling two major house fires on consecutive days — a demanding stretch that tested their endurance, training and resolve.

The first broke out Saturday, Feb. 7, at about 2 p.m. at 69

Ocean Ave. Fire Chief Stephen Juliano arrived to find a chimney fire that had spread to the second and third floors and immediately called for additional volunteers.

“Everyone was already out of the home and we were advised that there were no pets inside,” Juliano said.

As wind-driven flames threatened neighboring houses, firefighters stretched two handlines in icy conditions while

mutual aid requests were sent to surrounding departments. Exchange Ambulance of the Islips responded to provide medical support.

Firefighters from North Amityville, Copiague, Massapequa, North Lindenhurst, Lindenhurst, East Farmingdale, South Farmingdale, Farmingdale Village, Seaford and West Babylon assisted, along with Suffolk County Fire and Rescue Emergency Services. A county bus

rehab unit and a MERV unit, used to monitor air quality, were also deployed.

About 75 volunteers operated 15–20 pieces of equipment at the scene. Despite treacherous ice and bitter cold, no injuries were reported.

“We can’t thank the firefighters who were at the scene enough,” said a neighbor who

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19

•Amityville Rotary Club Meeting: 8 a.m., Brownstones Coffee, 55 Merrick Road, Amityville. For more information, please call President Carolyn Dodd at (631) 374-8712.

•Church Attic Thrift Shop: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 25 Broadway, Amityville. For information, call (631) 264-0152 or email amitychurch1792@gmail.com

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20

•Simpson United Methodist Church Thrift Shop: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 30 Locust Ave., Amityville. For more information,

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

call (631) 789-2569.

•St. Mary’s Thrift Shop: 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., 175 Broadway, Amityville, enter from rear parking lot. Lots of collectibles, glassware, clothing and other gently used items. For information, call (631) 464-4899.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21

•Church Attic Thrift Shop: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 25 Broadway, Amityville. For information, call (631) 264-0152 or email amitychurch1792@gmail.com

•St. Mary’s Thrift Shop: 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., 175 Broadway, Amityville, en-

ter from rear parking lot. Lots of collectibles, glassware, clothing and other gently used items. For information, call (631) 464-4899.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22

•Simpson United Methodist Church Thrift Shop: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 30 Locust Ave., Amityville. For more information, call (631) 789-2569.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24

•Emotional Health Recovery and Support Group: 7:30 to 9 p.m., Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9592, 55 Hickory Lane, Levittown. Free weekly, in-person meeting of Emotions Anonymous, a 12-

step support group for anyone experiencing emotional difficulties. For more information, call Steve at (631) 332-0552 or Jill at (516) 220-7808. All calls are confidential.

•Church Attic Thrift Shop: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 25 Broadway, Amityville. For information, call (631) 264-0152 or email amitychurch1792@gmail.com

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25

•Town of Babylon Town Board Meeting: 3 p.m., Town Board Room, Babylon Town Hall, 200 E. Sunrise Highway, Lindenhurst. For more information, please call (631) 957-3000.

•Emotional Health Recovery and Support Group: 7:30 to 9 p.m. Free weekly, virtual meeting of Emotions Anonymous, a 12-step support group for anyone experiencing emotional difficulties. For more information, call Steve at (631) 3320552 or Jill at (516) 220-7808. All calls are confidential.

•Church Attic Thrift Shop: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 25 Broadway, Amityville. For information, call (631) 264-0152 or email amitychurch1792@gmail.com

Calendar items are printed for non-profit organizations, as space permits, or when an event, service or information is being sponsored by a profit-making organization without charge to readers. Submit items to us at Richner Communications, attn: Record Editor, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530; or email: dconsola@ liherald.com at least two - three weeks prior to the publication date in which the item must appear. Sorry, but open-ended requests without the specific dates of the events are not acceptable. While we make every attempt to accommodate each request, we cannot guarantee publication of any items. For more information, call 516-569-4000.

Faithful

resistance prayer service, Feb. 25

The public is invited to participate in an ecumenical and interfaith prayer service calling for the humane treatment of immigrants at Simpson United Methodist Church, 30 Locust Ave., Amityville on Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 1p.m.

Meet some local scholars...

The following students were recently recognized for academic achievements and graduation at their respective colleges: •The following students were recently named to the Dean’s List at The University of Alabama: Emily Geiger of Amityville; Caitlin Mullin of Amityville; and Cole Weinberg of Amityville.

LIA report details Farmingdale State College’s growing economic footprint

The institution supported 10,000 jobs and $1B in impact to region over 5-year period

The LIA Research Institute has released a new economic impact analysis of Farmingdale State College, finding that the institution generated nearly $1 billion in regional economic activity and supported close to 10,000 jobs between 2020 and 2025.

The study evaluated college spending on operations and construction, along with expenditures by students and visitors, and measured the ripple effects across Nassau and Suffolk counties.

“Farmingdale State College is an economic engine for our region, enabling Long Islanders to obtain a quality education and secure jobs while also serving as a major employer and community asset,” said Matt Cohen, president and chief executive officer of the Long Island Association. “The LIA was proud to partner with Farmingdale to conduct this illuminating analysis to demonstrate its ripple effect throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties.”

The LIA Research Institute is the research arm of the Long Island Association, a nonprofit, nonpartisan regional business organization that has operated for more than a century.

According to the report, Farmingdale State College generated $272 million in economic impact in 2025, driven primarily by operational expenditures including administrators, faculty and support staff. The college has also expanded investments in infrastructure to support new academic programs, with several construction projects underway, including a 50,000-squarefoot Computer Sciences Center. Construction-related activity through 2028 is projected to add approximately $250 million to the regional economy.

“Colleges and universities are remarkable public assets, not only as major employers but as engines of social mobility, workforce development and innovation,” said Robert S. Prezant, president of Farmingdale State College. “FSC plays a vital role in the local and regional economy, and this report solidifies that role with meaningful data. Through our innovative programs, we continue to attract talented students who will shape Long Island’s future workforce.”

Founded 114 years ago as a farming and horticultural institution, Farmingdale State College now educates more than 10,000 students annually in programs including engineering, health sciences, business and computer science.

“What Farmingdale creates for our community goes well beyond its campus,” said Steven Kent, chief economist of the LIA Research Institute. “The college’s spending, construction, students and visitors activate the broader economic chain within Nassau and Suffolk counties. But it’s not just dollars — the college transforms students who largely remain on Long Island, obtain high-paying jobs and create a virtuous cycle for our region.”

The LIA Research Institute used the IMPLAN economic modeling system to estimate the college’s total impact, incorporating direct institutional spending from 2020 to 2025, indirect spending by employees, students and visitors, and induced effects on regional businesses.

—Carolyn James

State College

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW: About Farmingdale State College

Historical facts about Farmingdale State University, officially known as Farmingdale State College, part of the State University of New York: Founded in 1912 as an agricultural school:

Farmingdale State was chartered on April 15, 1912 as the New York State School of Agriculture on Long Island to provide practical agricultural training, making it the oldest public college on Long Island.

Expanded mission and numerous name changes:

Over its history, the institution’s name changed multiple times to reflect its evolving mission—from applied agriculture to broader technical and applied sciences—before becoming Farmingdale State College in 1993.

First classes and early campus buildings:

Students were first admitted in March 1916 and initially lived in temporary quarters because Ward Hall (the original dormitory) was not yet completed. Historic campus buildings like Hicks Hall and Cutler Hall were constructed in 1914.

Theodore Roosevelt Jr. was a commencement speaker:

At the college’s second commencement ceremony on May 26, 1920, Theodore Roosevelt Jr. delivered the address, reflecting the school’s early regional importance.

A Memorial Oak for World War I:

In June 1921, a Memorial Oak was planted on campus to honor Americans who died in World War I, using soil collected from all 48 U.S. states and allied countries—a symbolic tribute to international sacrifice.

—Carolyn James

Early days of Police Science program at Farmingdale reflected its varied course offerings.

Shubin

CRIME WATCH

The following incidents have been reported by the Amityville and Suffolk County police departments, and other local law enforcement and emergency service units:

GRAND LARCENY

Amityville: A 2016 Chevrolet that was parked on Washington Avenue and North 10th Street was reported stolen at 8:15 a.m., Feb. 3. Police said the driver told them he/ she left the keys inside the vehicle.

PETIT LARCENY

Copiague: Suffolk Police arrested Raesean Allen, 35, of 72 Patton Ave., Wyandanch charging him with stealing $115 in merchandise from Target at 1149 Sunrise Highway.

BURGLARY

North Lindenhurst: A representative of King Cash Pawn Shop at 47 Sunrise Highway, called police shortly after 1 a.m., Jan. 30 to report that an automatic alarm at the businesses had been activated. The representative could not immediately provide police with a list of items stolen, if any.

OPERATORS LEAVING THE SCENE OF ACCIDENTS

Amityville: A passing motorist called police to. report. That a bus traveling sideswiped a black SUV at the corner of Broadway and Oak Street without stopping to leave information for the owner. That incident was reported Feb. 2 at 10:09 p.m.

Amityville: The owner of a vehicle parked in the parking lot on Merrick Road called police to report that his vehicle had been struck and slightly damaged on Feb. 4. The operator of the other vehicle did not leave information on the victim’s car.

WATER MAIN BREAK

curred Feb. 6, shortly after 10 p.m. GRAFFITI

Amityville P.O. Eric Kreuder reported on Feb. 8, that someone painted graffiti on the LIRR trestle in Amityville including the words Crips, and 30 O NADA (a strict ultimatum or a non-negotiable stance) in blue paint. Police notified the MTA of the incident.

ARRESTS

Driving While Intoxicated/Impaired: JoseDavid Ramos Lopez,27Hilltop Ave., West Babylon; Hmilmas Ashraf, 37, of 100 Stonecutter Road, Levittown; Jose Ariasyanes, 32, of 442 Bergold Street, Brentwood; Josue Marquez Ochoa, 34, of 4 North Peters Boulevard, Central Islip; Tomas Lopez Lopez, 27, of 19 Bay Shore Avenue, Bay Shore; Shelby Brewster, 35, of 41 Pendale Drive, North Amityville; Andres Castillo Guzman, 24, of 1040 North Clinton Avenue, North. Lindenhurst; Maria Cruz Reyes, 34, of 1375 Ferndale Boulevard, Central Islip; Forsey Roundtree, 29, of 80 Concord Rd., Shirley; George. Rice, 62, of 563 5th Avenue, Bay Shore; Lisa Jewell 63, of 411 47 St., North Lindenhurst; Stephen Hanrahan, 42, of 194 N. Pine Street, Massapequa.

Leaving the Scene of an Accident: Jarrett Dichter, 27, of 237 South 16 Street, Lindenhurst.

Petit Larceny: Kevin L. Purnell51 of Nathalie Ave., Amityville; William D. Skinner, 55,of Williams St., Amityville; Andrew Galushka, 20, of 117 East Granada Avenue, Copiague; James Bamundo, 68, of 403 North 4 Street, Lindenhurst; Jhon Vivas Campuzano, 32, of 21 Millpond Lane, Bay Shore; Valentina Cassarino, 26, of 250 Grant Avenue, Copiague; Mary Gore, 44 of 271 Cyprus Dr., Mastic Beach; William O’Connor, 36, of 818 Freedom St., North Babylon; Ismahane Merazga, 40 of 55 Wall Street, East Farmingdale

Amityville: A resident on Mill Street called police shortly before 5 p.m., Feb. 6 to report that a pipe had burst on the street. Reporting officers responded and confirmed a watermain break there, immediately contacting the Suffolk County Water Authority and reporting the incident.

AIDED CASE

Amityville: Suffolk Police in Yaphank reported to Amityville Police that a man was at the Amityville Rail Road station and in need of medical assistance. Police responded and found a man near the elevator having a seizure. He was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital for treatment. That oc-

Burglary: Joseph Porter, 37, of 27 Manor Dr., Shirley; Thomas Decker, 25, of 315 West 12 Street, Deer Park.

Grand Larceny: Franco Chuquilin, 31, of 1552 North Thompson Drive, Baywood; Hunter Donohue, 25, of 11 Heston Rd., Shirley.

Robbery: David Alfaro, 28, of 20 Birch St., Central Islip; Brandon Johnson, 22 of 1189 Northville Turnpike, Riverhead.

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.

Consecutive house fires test volunteers’ resolve in Amityville

asked not to be named. “They did a tremendous job fighting what was an awful fire.”

Laurie D’Angelo, who lives next door, said firefighters kept the flames from spreading to her home and others nearby.

“It was very scary and we are fortunate and grateful to have these volunteers,” D’Angelo said.

John Palermo, a retired New York City firefighter who lives nearby, said he understood the danger the blaze posed and praised the volunteers who “did an outstanding job fighting a terrible fire.”

Less than 24 hours later, firefighters were dispatched again — this time to 41 Braham Ave.

First Assistant Chief Rob Macomber arrived to heavy smoke pouring from the second floor and attic and notified volunteers of a working fire. Juliano took command shortly after.

The first arriving engine stretched the initial line from a hydrant to the house. A ladder company positioned in front as additional engines arrived, and at least two more handlines were put into operation.

With heavy fire on the second floor and deteriorating conditions, firefighters were evacuated and shifted to a defensive operation. Handlines and a master stream from the ladder truck were used to knock down the bulk of the fire before crews re-entered to extinguish remaining hot spots.

“There was a large amount of fire that was driven by the winds off the bay,” Ju-

liano said. “Once firefighters put out the fire on the second floor, they were able to get to the attic and extinguish that fire.”

Macomber rescued two cats from inside the home.

One North Amityville firefighter sustained minor injuries and was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital for treatment. North Amityville Fire Chief Vince McLeod said he has since recovered.

“The volunteers worked tirelessly to ensure that the fires did not spread to neighboring houses,” McLeod said. “They did everything they could to preserve life and property and we are all grateful that no one was seriously injured.”

Firefighters spent roughly three to three-and-a-half hours bringing the second fire under control.

Both homes were later deemed uninhabitable by the Amityville building inspector. The causes remain under investigation.

Juliano said that over the past two weeks firefighters have continued responding to water-related emergencies caused by frozen and broken pipes and sprinkler systems.

“I want to personally thank all the volunteers who answered the call under the worst conditions,” Juliano said. “I could not be more grateful to all of them. It is good to know that our neighboring departments are there when we need them, despite the most difficult conditions.”

Mayor Michael O’Neill said he witnessed the response firsthand.

“Under the leadership of Chief Stephen Juliano and Assistant Chiefs Rob

IN THEIR OWN WORDS:

Jack and Karen Klein moved into 69 Ocean Ave 24 years ago. The home was built by Samuel Ireland as a wedding gift for his daughter Jenny, who moved in with her husband on Christmas Day 1900. The Ireland family lived there for 50 years before selling it to Gladys Adams, who lived there another five decades. The Kleins later purchased the home.

Over time, Karen said, the house became their beloved home.

“It’s not easy to watch the home where you’ve raised your kids, celebrated countless holidays and lived your day-to-day life for the last 24 years, literally, all go up in smoke,” said Karen. “And while it’s true what everyone says that what was lost were only material things, all of these things accumulated over decades have years of sentimental value and can never be replaced.”

Despite their tremendous loss, the Kleins remain grateful.

“We cannot begin to thank both Amityville’s finest and bravest,” said Klein. “Our police department arrived within minutes. Our dedicated fire department was nothing short of heroic, battling subzero temps and howling winds while trying to save our beloved old home. We are so very grateful that in what could have been a very dangerous operation, no one was hurt and that personally, we were never in danger.”

She also thanked the mayor for being at the scene with them and the fire police “who surely suffered frostbite diverting traffic for far too many hours.

“To the rest of our wonderful village, and there have been far too many to name individually, we appreciate all your kind words, remembrances and prayers,” she said.

Joseph Portela, who owns 41 Braham Ave. with his wife, Jennifer, also expressed gratitude.

“We are ridiculously grateful to everyone who worked so hard (in fighting the fire) and the number of companies and volunteers who came out to join the ‘event,’” Portela said. “We are taking this as a loss but the most beautiful part of it is that family and friends have been so amazing it makes me want to cry. This community is so amazing and we love everyone and thank everyone for their heartfelt support; it has been amazing.”

Both families thanked the firefighters who braved flames, freezing temperatures and strong winds to protect their homes and their neighbors.

Boarded up home at 69 Ocean Avenue, which sustained extensive damage inside and has been declared inhabitable.

Macomber and Thomas Langford, they battled large house fires on two consecutive days under extremely challenging conditions,” O’Neill said. “Because of the professionalism, training and tireless efforts of the volunteers, the fires were contained and did not spread to neighboring homes, sparing surrounding properties from major damage.”

O’Neill described the effort as a total village response, noting that the Amityville Police Department and Fire Police secured the scenes while Department of Public Works crews worked to de-ice the area. The Amityville Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary provided hot refreshments donated by Dunkin’ on Broadway and Mike’s Pizza.

Right: Holiday wreath askew on the front door of the Klein home at 69 Ocean Avenue following fire that destroyed the home.

The Amityville Fire Department Chemical Hose Co. #3 will be hosting a game of Bonko with dinner and drinks on March 21 at the Amityville Fire House. There will be cash game prizes and raffles. Cocktails are at 7 p.m. and dinner is at 7:30 p.m.

To purchase your tickets, please mail players name (s), address and phone number to Ex-Chief Charles Scudlo at 75

The Amityville Fire House is located at 55 West Oak St., Amityville. For more information, please call (631) 691-9081. Need more copies of the Herald? You can pick them up at Amityville Village or Babylon Town Hall.

Hamilton St., Amityville, NY 11701 with check(s) of $85 per couple. Please include the names of all players. Tickets for cash raffle are available for $20 each. Please make check(s) payable to Chemical Hose Co. #3.

State Republicans rally around Blakeman

County executive, now the GOP nominee for governor, has plenty to say about Hochul at convention

By Chris ColuCCi, ABig Ail grieCo & AngelinA Zing Ariello of the Herald

After three days of official business, rallying the party faithful and nominating the state Republican slate, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman was front and center at the party’s convention in Garden City last week, and accepted the GOP’s nomination to be its gubernatorial candidate.

If elected, Blakeman would be only the second Long Islander to become governor, 127 years after Teddy Roosevelt did so, and the first Nassau County executive to hold the state’s top office.

Blakeman criticized Gov. Kathy Hochul and pledged to cut income taxes for middle-class families, reduce electricity bills by rolling back stateimposed fees and mandates, and redirect spending he said is being wasted to instead fund schools, infrastructure, hospitals and services for veterans.

“Taxes are soaring, electric bills and insurance premiums keep climbing out of control,” Blakeman said on Feb. 11, the third and final day of the convention. “Crime is rising. Businesses are leaving the state in record numbers. Families and seniors are being priced out of their homes. New York ranks dead last for economic development, and number 45 out of 50 states in the nation for affordability, and it’s all a direct result of Kathy Hochul’s failed policies.”

He vowed to oppose congestion pricing, protect Second Amendment rights and support law enforcement, including keeping violent offenders in prison and revisiting criminal justice policies such as cashless bail and parole standards.

“I will bring the experience, leadership and focus on public safety,” Blakeman said. “We will make you safer in your homes and your communities, and we will continue to fight for your families. I will be governor for all the people, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, abilities and lifestyles.”

Upstate Madison County Sheriff Todd Hood was introduced as Blakeman’s running mate, the candidate for lieutenant governor. Hood pledged to support Blakeman and help lead what he described as an effort to fix the state’s pressing problems. A third-term elected sheriff with more than 30 years of law enforcement service, Hood framed his candidacy around public safety and government accountability. He argued that the state has become less safe and more expensive under oneparty rule, criticizing bail laws, antipolice rhetoric and high taxes that he said have hurt communities and driven families and small businesses out of the state. Hood said that he and Blakeman would stand with law enforcement and crime victims, cut taxes, rein in state spending and work to make New York more affordable.

Blakeman, the party’s nominee for governor, noted Gov. Kathy Hochul’s “failed policies” on Feb. 11.

Former Gov. George Pataki, New York’s last Republican governor, who served three terms, from 1995 to 2006, offered his support as well, making clear the party’s push to win back the governor’s office.

the office.

unsafe in their own communities.”

“I’ve known Bruce for decades,” Pataki said of Blakeman. “He is someone who loves this country and loves this state. He is someone who has dedicated his life to public service to make the lives of others better. And he hasn’t just tried. He has succeeded.”

Delegates also nominated Saritha Komatireddy, a former federal prosecutor, for attorney general, with 86.3 percent of the vote. She defeated Brooklyn attorney Khurram Dara. Komatireddy emphasized her experience prosecuting terrorism and public corruption, and pledged to focus on public safety.

“I’ve spent my life in public service and public safety,” she said. “New Yorkers are tired of seeing criminals released over and over again while families feel

“That’s the kind of leadership that I’ll bring to the lieutenant governor’s office,” Hood said. “Bruce Blakeman and I are running to restore common sense.”

The party’s nominee for comptroller, Joseph Hernandez, shared his family’s story of emigrating from Cuba after his father was a political prisoner. He criticized current Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli and outlined plans to invest $1 billion in Israeli bonds and launch a proposed $10 billion “Empire Opportunity Fund.”

“I know a communist when I see a communist,” Hernandez said of DiNapoli. “My friends, he is a communist.”

Long Beach Republican Chairman Jim Moriarty pointed to Nassau County as a microcosm of the state.

“In Nassau County, the demographics and all other statistics mirrors the state of New York,” Moriarty said on the second day of the convention. “He’s got tremendous executive experience,” he added of Blakeman. “He’s shown he can win and attract bipartisan support. He’s going to be a tremendous candidate and a great governor.”

Along with Hochul, the Democratic

slate includes incumbents Attorney General Letitia James and DiNapoli, a native Long Islander. The lieutenant governor candidate is Adrienne Adams, the former speaker of the New York City Council.

Hochul received a boost in her campaign when current Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado suspended his campaign for governor, deciding not to challenge her in the Democratic primary.

Blakeman is expected to face a challenge in the Republican primary from Libertarian candidate Larry Sharpe. That election is June 23. The general election is on Nov. 3.

Despite Republican support inside the building, Democrats outside made their presence known on Feb. 11.

“We’re here to send a message to our Republicans over in the hotel across the street that we’re not going to stand for electing a man as governor of this state who’s going to kowtow to Donald Trump,” state Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs said.

First of Suffolk’s 250th anniversary video series now available

Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine announced the first video in a docuseries to help commemorate Suffolk 250. The series will highlight local historical figures and places with significance during Suffolk’s revolutionary period.

The first video is of Patriot’s Rock in Setauket. Operated by the Three Village Community Trust, the location was the site of the Battle of Setauket. Patriots came across the Long Island Sound and faced off against the British garrison at the then Presbyterian Meeting House on August 22,

1777. The resulting skirmish ended in a retreat by the colonial forces. Members of the trust walk viewers through the battle, its importance to the war and the area’s history as a Native American meeting place.

Link to Patriot’s Rock Video: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=hr9FH2PQJsc.

More information on Patriot’s Rock can be found at https://www. threevillagecommunitytrust.org/patriots-rock-historic-site/.

For more on Suffolk 250, please visit https://www.suffolk250.org/.

Kiwanis Spring Social, March 1

Kiwanis Internation will be holding their Spring Social on March 1 from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Unqua Corinthian Yacht Club.

The event will include a 50/50 raffle, Chinese Auction and Credit Card Bar. The cost is $25 per person.

Town of Babylon Food Pantry requests donations

Councilman DuWayne Gregory is urging residents to support families by donating to the Town of Babylon Food Pantry, which is currently in desperate need of food.

Items may be dropped off at the pantry, located at the ACE Center, 48 Cedar Road, Amityville. The pantry provides essential food and household items to neighbors facing hardship. The pantry is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The pantry will be welcoming do-

nations of unexpired, nonperishable foods and toiletries. Items may also be dropped off Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Town Council Office, Town Hall, 200 E. Sunrise Highway, Lindenhurst; Department of Human Services, temporary location at the Town Hall Annex, 281 Phelps Lane, North Babylon; and the Old Town Hall, 47 W. Main St., Suite 2, Babylon.

For more information, please call (631) 957-3000.

For tickets and table reservations, please call Kevin Smith at (516) 351-1270 or email afd1131@verizon.net.

No food will be served but you are permitted to bring light snacks.

The Unqua Corinthian Yacht Club is located at 31 Unqua Place, Amityville.

Hometown Heroes Banner Program accepting orders

The Lindenhurst Kiwanis is now accepting orders for their Hometown Heroes Banner Program.

Honor your Hometown Hero with a custom banner displayed in North Babylon, West Babylon, Village of Lindenhurst, Deer

Park, Wheatley Heights, North Amityville, Wyandanch, Copiague and the Village of Amityville. Space is limited, so please do not delay.

For more information and to place your order visit shorturl.at/kbqH9.

HERALD NEIGHBORS

Copiague author channels career in law enforcement into debut thriller

By CHRISTIE LEIGH BABIRAD

A retired NYPD detective with more than 20 years on the force, Ev Newman now serves as a Town of Babylon Bay constable and volunteers as a firefighter in Copiague. But, he says, at his core he has always been a storyteller and musician.

At 52, Newman has released his debut thriller, Fade, which follows Jacob Johansson, a man drawn into a missing foster child case after discovering a necklace bearing a cryptic inscription. As Jacob investigates, he uncovers his father’s hidden past as a vigilante legend known as “The Fade.” Joined by a hardened child protection agent and a determined NYPD detective, Jacob soon realizes he is chasing more than a missing girl.

Newman, who already has four additional manuscripts completed, recently spoke with the Herald about the inspiration behind the novel and what comes next. Many artists draw from personal experience. Did your 20-plus years with the NYPD shape Fade?

Newman: Absolutely — everything is influenced by my experiences. I wrote for a living as a detective—that’s what they do— they go to a scene and they write the story, and I got pretty good at it. Everybody would laugh because I was the one detective who loved paperwork. I also ended up teaching child abuse investigations toward the end of my career. When they had a special victim’s class, homicide class, I would come in and do the child abuse investigation part. Every case is unique and for all my stories I draw from something I’ve seen or heard. The other thing is, cops see a lot of bad stuff, the worst of the worst. There’s a lot of trauma, a lot of PTSD that I didn’t realize I had until I was retired, but one of the things that detectives do is we all have this dark humor and I’ll find that in my writing sometimes. I try to be raw, a little unapologetic. I want to be different. I want it to be me. I really love to laugh. I like making jokes. So, I like to put a lot of humor in my stories. Who do you think will connect most with the book?

Newman: I’m fantasy driven. I

cbabirad@liherld.com

grew up loving Harry Potter, Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files, and I’m a die-hard Star Wars fan. Readers who gravitate toward those worlds will probably enjoy this. Comic book fans and Marvel readers too. The story evolved while I was writing — it leans into urban thriller, mystery and fantasy — and that blend feels natural to me.

What first sparked the idea for Fade?

Newman: A song. I’m a musician and I love rock music. My favorite band is My Chemical Romance, and their song “Welcome to the Black Parade” always stayed with me. I heard it as a father telling his child to make a difference — to be a hero. That interpretation clicked, and it became the emotional seed for the story. How long did it take to complete the novel?

Newman: About two to three years. The original manuscript was nearly twice as long as the final book. A content editor — someone who had worked with the Big Five publishers — helped me shape it. That led to another year of rewriting. While sending out queries, I wrote four more manuscripts. Those are ready now, and I’m already working on another.

What does your writing process look like?

Newman: It changes from book to book, but I often start with the last line. I want a strong ending and then work toward it. With my debut I didn’t outline much — I just went with it and let the story evolve. Some chapters I scrapped entirely and started over. Sometimes the story surprises me. I’ll think I’m heading in one direction and suddenly the book pulls me somewhere else, and I’m as excited as any reader.

You published the book under Nubus Creative Ink, a company you founded. What’s the vision behind it?

Newman: I wanted to build something that could grow — maybe even help friends who write. The editors I worked with were fantastic. Nubus is designed as an independent idea lab. All my books carry the brand line “Stories cut from scars.”

What advice would you give to aspiring writers or artists?

Newman: Just do it. Write the first sentence. Make it a good one. If it takes three weeks to get that first sentence right, that’s fine — it’s your hook. Once you have it, the rest follows. You can always rewrite. Don’t let fear stop you from starting.

Newman lives in Copiague with his wife, Elizabeth, and their teenage children, Tiana, Thomas and Zachary. He is also the lead singer of HedboX, a local rock band that performs across Long Island. More information about Newman and his work, including how to purchase Fade, is available at evnewmanauthor. com.

Icons. Insights. Impact.

What’s underground comes back around

Undoing the damage: the challenges of managing Long Island’s largest chemical spill

By ALYSSA R. GRIFFIN & JOSEPH D’ALESSANDRO of the Herald Community Newspapers

Second installment in a series about water.

It’s impossible to discuss Long Island’s groundwater without addressing Northrop Grumman.

The Long Island aeronautics industry was a key asset to the United States armed forces in the last century, testing and manufacturing nearly 30,000 airplanes for the U.S. Navy starting in the 1930s, and later producing the lunar module for Apollo 11’s landing on the moon. For over 50 years, the Northrop Grumman Bethpage Facility and Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant Site was at the center of American defense and innovation — and one of the largest chemical contamination sites in New York.

According to the state Department of Environmental Conservation, the degreasing agent trichloroethene leaked from NWIRP’s plumbing and dumping sites into the Magothy Aquifer — which provides water to much of Nassau County — creating the Navy Grumman groundwater plume.

tions or captured in granulated carbon, preventing any future leaks.

The DEC’s 2019 Record of Decision was the first formal plan for cleaning up the site. Before then, there were around 10 extraction wells in the affected area. Since the ROD, the number of wells has risen to 26, supported by five watertreatment plants. The aggressive plan to stop the plume’s southward migration was motivated by the DEC’s zero-tolerance attitude toward chemical contamination, Pelton said.

“Groundwater exists in these voids between grains of sand and soils in what we call pore spaces,” Granzen explained. “Water moves in between those pore spaces. When the contaminants get mixed with the groundwater, that causes movement.”

RISING TIDES

“The water districts should not have to address this,” Pelton said. “That’s the primary driver here: removing the TCE from the aquifer system so that we’ve got a better drinking water source.”

The plume is a twomile-by-four-mile body of TCE with the potential to leach into Long Island’s South Shore waters and the Great South Bay, according to Jason Pelton, director of Remedial Bureau D in the DEC’s Division of Environmental Remediation.

“As plumes go, it’s probably the largest in New York state,” Pelton said. “It may be one of the largest in the country.”

Bethpage’s tarnished legacy

Shortly after the plume was identified in 1983, the DEC formed a partnership with both the responsible parties, the Navy and Northrop Grumman, to begin restoration efforts. The two groups operate extraction wells, large structures that siphon water out of the aquifer, filter out TCE, and send the water back underground by way of recharge basins.

“I’ve been very impressed with the Navy and Northrop Grumman’s ability to locate these wells precisely where they need to be, and to see the contaminant numbers that are coming out in these locations,” Kristin Granzen, DEC project manager for the U.S. Navy Bethpage site, said.

The joint cleanup effort processes about 10 million gallons of contaminated water per day, according to DEC documents provided to the Herald. The agency estimates that about 80 percent of the contamination — 276,000 pounds — has been removed from the Magothy Aquifer and destroyed in chemical reac-

The DEC’s goal is to reduce the aquifer’s TCE levels to 5 parts per billion, the groundwater safety standard, though much of the plume’s area is still over 50 ppb, according to DEC map data from May 2025.

“The fact that it’s predominantly TCE makes it a little bit easier,” Pelton added. “The challenge is the magnitude of the contamination … I would say maybe we’re pumping in the interior of the plume for 30 or 40 more years.”

Chemicals linger, at what cost?

While the cleanup continues, the plume’s public health effects have been a topic of endless discussion. Its cleanup is made possible by collaboration with local municipalities, home to the county’s hundreds of monitoring wells collecting data on groundwater. They are a strict quality-control measure assessing whether the water is safe to consume or to use in irrigation.

Kevin Reilly, who oversees the monitoring of the Massapequa Water District as its superintendent, told the Herald that if the chemicals posed no real health risks to the community, there would be no need for the decades-long cleanup effort. The district serves parts of Massapequa, Massapequa Park and North Massapaqua, all areas just south of Bethpage, where the plume originated.

After filtration, there are no risks to residents’ health, the DEC maintains. “I would say the overall health of the aquifer is healthy,” Pelton said. “It’s important that people know that their drinking water is really high quality, and it’s absolutely safe to drink that water.”

According to a chemical profile from the Agency for Toxic Substances and

Courtesy Department of Environmental Conservation this map shows the estimated extent of the navy grumman groundwater plume, which was first identifed in 1983, based on the most recent data from 2025.

Disease Registry, a division of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, TCE can be a carcinogen with high exposure, and the state Department of Health conducted an environmental health investigation in Bethpage, finalized in 2013, on whether long-term exposure to contamination from the sites had affected local cancer rates.

According to the department’s report, there was no correlation between the presence of TCE in the aquifer with cancer rates on Long Island. The most commonly diagnosed cancers in the areas affected by the plume were those typically seen most often in adults, and no single rare cancer type appeared more than once. Most diagnoses occurred at ages when cancer is generally most common. There was no indication that the cancers were linked to environmental findings.

The health department continues routine monitoring of drinking water and remediation efforts to protect public health as the cleanup progresses.

At the request of the Bethpage community, the department is revisiting the

2013 study, and its work is expected to be completed by the end of this year. In a written statement, the department told the Herald that the update cannot provide a direct link between cancer cases and environmental exposure, including the plume. Evaluations of environmental exposure can draw some health associations, but they cannot determine causality.

“There is no new threat to public health, and prior exposures have been addressed for more than a decade due to the efforts of New York State,” the statement read. “The Department is currently working on the study and upon completion of the report will announce findings and host a public meeting.”

The race against the spread

The state continues its effort to clean up the plume while keeping the affected communities informed. The DEC facilitates regular community meetings through its Community Participation Working Group, comprising elected officials, agencies, businesses and experts

Saga of Navy-Grumman plume continues

Continued from PreViouS PAGe

that meet on a quarterly basis. The group was established to foster dialogue, improve public understanding, and encourage discussion of the cleanup.

The DEC staff also provides regular project updates at Bethpage Community Council meetings, which are held at the Bethpage Public Library and open to the public.

According to the DEC’s January Groundwater Plume Cleanup Update, public water suppliers treat groundwater using established methods to contain regulated contaminants before they reach homes and businesses. Water is drawn from designated sources, treated to meet all federal and state drinking water standards, and distributed through a network of mains and storage tanks. Throughout the process, water quality is continuously monitored to ensure that it remains safe to drink.

The challenge is the magnitude of the contamination.

Jason PelTon Remedial bureau director, Department of Environmental Conservation

“We work really closely with the water districts in Nassau County,” Pelton said. “Every single day they provide high-quality drinking water that meets all of the New York State Department of Health drinking water requirements.”

The system relies on multiple safeguards to maintain high water quality and protect public health. This approach ensures that if standards are not met, suppliers notify customers and take corrective action, which can include temporarily taking wells out of service.

Negotiations among public water suppliers, the DEC, Northrop Grumman and the Navy have focused on funding the treatment systems used to maintain safe drinking water. The Bethpage Water District, for example, operates treatment systems that are considered among the most advanced in the nation, according to the DEC.

Though it is currently not affected, the Massapequa Water District is just outside the current spread of the plume. “We are not an active part of the cleanup yet,” Reilly said. “We monitor — there’s monitoring wells that we get the data from the Navy and their consultants and the DEC. But we don’t have any contamination in our wells from the Grumman Navy plume at this time.”

Common misconception has led many Long Island residents to believe the entirety of the South Shore has been impacted, which is not the case. Nonetheless, Reilly said, “The plume is migrating and flowing towards our district.”

He explained that while large-scale, permanent systems for treating the underground water are currently under construction, temporary systems have been installed along the leading edge of the plume. They operate on a smaller scale, but they are designed to be mobile, and can be relocated as needed to respond to changing conditions while the permanent treatment infrastructure is being completed.

“The water districts to the north of us are already treating their wells for the contaminants, and they’ve spent millions upon millions of dollars to get these treatment systems in place,” Reilly said. “We haven’t had to do that yet — we’re watching. We don’t want to have to do that, and we’re constantly involved in pushing to get these Navy treatment systems up and running, to treat the groundwater.”

Northrop Grumman did not respond to requests for comment.

courtesy

the northrop Grumman rW-21 Area Groundwater extraction and treatment system processes water when it is pumped out of the aquifer, before sending it back underground.

Courtesy Northrop Grumman northrop Grumman was a major manufacturer in the aeronautics industry for the u.S. armed forces. Above, airplane parts in of one its factories.

study that shows local governments and corporations working together to protect communities. The plume’s development and spread also show that the consequences of a mistake can be challenging to deal with, and that decades of damage require as much or more time to repair. The DEC’s expertise, Northrop Grumman and the Navy’s willingness to take responsibility, and the help of local water districts, were essential in making the restoration effort possible.

The public can receive updates about the plume cleanup effort at the DEC’s Bethpage Community Council meetings at the Bethpage Public Library, the Navy’s semi-annual Resident Advisory Board meetings online at NAVFAC.Navy.Mil/Divisions/Environmental, and Northrop Grumman’s website, NorthropGrumman.com/Sustainability.

deCeX6 is an early exploration well designed to support the cleanup of the plume. the well, installed in the town of oyster Bay by the State department of environmental Conservation, awaits potential future use if needed.

By Christie Leigh Babirad

Travis

Mottet

Amityville

I am a generous tipper and I tipped at the local coffee shop. I really like it there because they are dog friendly.

What is one act of kindness you have experienced or given recently

Amityville

A local man often drops into our store, American Velvet Clothing, and he’s someone who always wants to help, so he lets us know what people need. As a store, we always give to charity, but this is nice because we’re giving back to the local community. He will also just come in to check on us and make sure we’re safe.

Lily Rios Copiague

With the last snowstorm we had, the mailman got his truck stuck in the snow and I helped get him out.

Joanne Lerro

Amityville I just moved here and people in general are so nice. It’s more laid-back than where I lived previously.

Amityville I took in a cat recently. I already have five others cats, and I could tell he was hungry.

STEPPING OUT

Hoops, hijinks and history

By Andrew Coen

Acentury after the team’s founding, Harlem Globetrotters storied history comes alive when the latest iteration of the quickfingered hoops stars return here.

The Globetrotters bring their 100 Year Tour to Nassau Coliseum, on Feb. 21, giving fans a chance to see the team’s well-known acrobatic dunks, trick shots and long-range shots up close. This special appearance marks the first time the iconic team — debuting their new 100 Year jerseys — has performed in the arena against longtime rivals, the Washington Generals, since 2017. From gravity-defying dunks to game-changing tricks, everyone will certainly feel the history, the joy, and those “wow” moments in true Globetrotters style.

What started with Curly, Meadowlark, Wilt, and Geese continues on today with Hammer, Torch, Bulldog, Cheese, Jet, Wham, Thunder, TNT — and so many more. Taking inspiration from the fun-loving and awe-inspiring players of the past, today’s Globetrotters stars are ready to wow you on the court and in the crowd

The team is full of a number of talented men and women basketball players who were for various

Harlem Globetrotters at 100

courtesy Harlem Globetrotters Andrew “Big Dog” Whitsett, right, a 7’1” forward/finisher, commands attention with his size and presence on the court.

Wild days in the Bronx

reasons counted out throughout their lives, according to Lucius “Too Tall” Winston, who has spent the last nine years with the Globetrotters. Winston, despite his nickname, only measures 5’11’’ and was told by a former coach at age 15 he was too short to play college or professional basketball.

“You have a ton of guys through our team that had to face adversity and that builds character,” he says. “I got a chance to see that coach a couple years ago after he saw me play and he said he wanted to apologize for what he said to me and I told him if he didn’t tell me those words at that age I probably wouldn’t be where I am today.”

The centennial season’s “5th Quarter” postgame session gives fans some special moments with players. and

Chazz Palminteri is back on the Paramount stage with his electrifying solo performance of “A Bronx Tale,” the autobiographical one-man show that launched his remarkable career. Riveting and deeply personal, it draws on Palminteri’s bruising Bronx childhood, including the moment — at nine-years-old — when he witnessed a gangland killing that forever shaped his view of the world. Palminteri inhabits 18 vivid haracters, seamlessly shifting between friends, foes and family members to conjure an entire neighborhood with nothing but his voice, physicality and storytelling prowess. First written and performed in 1989, “A Bronx Tale” became a sensation, hailed as one of the most sought-after properties since “Rocky.” The original production paved the way for the acclaimed film adaptation — directed by Robert De Niro — and later a hit Broadway musical.

Sunday, Feb. 22, 7:30 p.m. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny. com.

• Feb. 21, 2 p.m.

pursue their dreams — anything is possible with good

Winston is as fanatical about basketball today as he was as a young player in his hometown of Russellville, Ala. His love of the sport has crossed from player to coach to motivational speaker. Winston dedicates his personal time to organizations that shine a light on the sport with emphasis on leadership, team work and focus. True joy for him comes with motivating kids to get out of their comfort zone and pursue their dreams — anything is possible with good character, good grades and hard work.

• Tickets range from $50-$200; available at ticketmaster.com and harlemglobetrotters.com

The Globetrotters have revolutionized the sport of basketball throughout its 100-year history, including popularizing the slam dunk The team’s roster includes Zeus McClurkin, who set a record for the most dunks in a minute with 16 in 2016.

• Nassau Coliseum, Hempstead Tpke., Uniondale

Guard Lucius “Too Tall” Winston’s favorite trick is the 2 Ball Spin. He holds eight Guinness World Records, including Most Figure Eight Dribbles in One Minute (2020 and Most Three Point Shots Made By a Pair in One Minute (2020).

In addition to the Globetrotters’ famed high-flying dunks, the number of longdistance shots are always a thrill.The Globetrotters famously introduced a 4-point shot in 201, 30 feet from the basket, which is seven feet longer than the NBA’s three-point line.

Winston, who played college basketball at Tuskegee University, relates that interaction with the fans is what makes attending a Globetrotter game particularly unique. Among the signature moments, the team holds a free postgame autograph session. And during the game those in the crowd are frequently called down to the court to participate in stunts. Everyone can also take part in premium options that enable pregame access to meet players along with joining the team for warmups on the court.

“You get to see guys that can play the game at a high level who can jump out of the gym and shoot the ball extremely well and you’ll also see plenty of entertainment as well,” Winston says. “It’s a high quality game from start to finish and then at the end fans are allowed to come down courtside and get autographs and take pictures with us.”

McClurkin, who set a record for the most dunks in a minute courtside and get autographs and take pictures with us.”

future Hall of Famers like Wilt Chamberlain and Connie Hawkins; or Curly Neal and Meadowlark

International icons, the Globetrotters are considered “ambassadors” of the game, beloved the world over for their special brand athleticism that combines the skills and foundations of basketball with a uniquely theatrical flare. From breaking the NBA color barrier with alums like Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton signing a pro contract as a member of the New York Knicks or courting future Hall of Famers like Wilt Chamberlain and Connie Hawkins; or Curly Neal and Meadowlark Lemon dazzling sellout crowds; to ushering women into professional basketball; to the current group, the Globetrotters’ reach and impact attract attention.

Tilles Center Atrium becomes an intimate lounge to showcase exciting up-and-coming jazz talent Sarah Hanahan, presented in collaboration with Jazz at Lincoln Center. The dynamic, soulful alto saxophonist is swiftly emerging as one of the most compelling new voices in jazz. A graduate of both the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz and The Juilliard School, she blends deeprooted swing and bebop traditions with a bold, modern intensitySince stepping onto the scene, Hanahan has performed with an extraordinary range of jazz luminaries. =Her commanding tone, technical mastery, and melodic imagination have taken her to major stages across the U.S. and abroad, with regular appearances at premier New York City venues. Whether fronting her own quartet or collaborating with some of the music’s most revered artists, Hanahan plays with passion, precision and an unwavering commitment to the ever-evolving art of jazz.

The current team of elite men and women, holders of an unprecedented 60+ Guinness World Records, including 18 set just last year — the most of any team in any sport — bring a fresh look of gravity-defying dunks and game-changing tricks against their renowned rivals in this special centennial season.

Thursday, Feb. 26, 7:30 p.m. Tilles Center, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Tickets available at tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

Your Neighborhood CALENDAR

‘Everybody Loves Raymond: Celebrating 30 Years’

Visit the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame for its latest exhibit. The immersive exhibit (designed by LIMEHOF Creative Director, renowned designer Kevin O’Callaghan) features the 70-footwide set from the show’s recent 30th anniversary TV special on CBS, never before on display. Visitors can walk into the world of the Barone family and explore their home through original studio sets, which include the living room, the kitchen and other areas of the house. Also see a variety of iconic items, including original clothing, the famous fork and spoon, and the Christmas toaster, among other classic items from the series. Multimedia clips, including behind the scenes and rare out-takes and a range of related videos play in LIMEHOF’s surround sound theater.

• Where: 97 Main St., Stony Brook

• Time: 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

• Contact: limusichalloffame.org or (631) 689-5888

Thrift Shop

FEB 27

“Don’t stop believin’…

Levittown

• Time: 7:30 -9 p.m.

• Contact: Steve at (631) 3320552 or Jill at (516) 220-7808

FEB

26

Serving Our Savior Feeding Ministry

First Presbyterian Church of Babylon holds their weekly “Grab and Go.” No questions are asked. All are welcome.

• Where: 79 E. Main St., Babylon

• Time: 4-6 p.m.

• Contact: (631) 587-5838

FEB

Native Garden Design Workshop

Stop by Simpson United Methodist Church’s Thrift Shop for some unique finds.

• Where: 30 Locust Ave., Amityville

• Time: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

• Contact: (631) 789-2569 FEB

St. Mary’s Thrift Shop

Stop by St. Mary’s

Thrift Shop to start your new year with found treasures. Choose from collectibles, glassware, clothing and other gently used items.

• Where: St. Mary’s, 175 Broadway, Amityville (enter from rear parking lot)

• Time: 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m.

• Contact: (631) 464-4899

Church Attic Thrift Shop

Visit First United Methodist Church for their weekly thrift shop.

• Where: 25 Broadway, Amityville

• Time: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

• Contact: (631) 264-0152 or email amitychurch1792@gmail.com

Lunar Year Celebration

Families are invited to Vanderbilt Museum to celebrate the Year of the Horse. Make a paper lantern, learn Chinese calligraphy and create traditional good luck decorations. $20 adults and youth

Voyage rocks on with another dynamic tribute to Journey. The popular band takes everyone back to the ‘80s when Journey’s timeless music ruled the airwaves. Hailed by fans and critics alike, the band performs the music with chilling accuracy. Voyage is celebrated for their uncanny ability to recreate the legendary sound, energy and passion of one of rock’s greatest bands. With their blistering guitar solos, lush keyboard arrangements, electrifying stage presence, and stunning harmonies, the band has earned a reputation as the ultimate homage to Journey’s timeless music. Fronted by vocalist Pedro Espada, whose range and tone is acclaimed as rivaling the iconic Steve Perry, he’s backed by a lineup of world-class musicians — Robby Hoffman, Greg Smith, Lance Millard, and Dana Spellman — who bring every note to life with precision and heart. Voyage doesn’t just perform Journey’s greatest hits, they transport audiences back to the height of arena rock glory. From the soaring ballads of “Faithfully” and “Open Arms” to the anthemic energy of “Don’t Stop Believin’” and “Separate Ways,” every performance is a journey through the soundtrack of a generation. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or discovering the magic of Journey for the first time, Voyage promises a night of unforgettable rock ‘n’ roll.

12+ ($18 members), $15 ages 5-11 ($13.50 members).

• Where: 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport

• Time: 10 a.m.-noon

• Contact: vanderbiltmuseum. org or call (631) 854-5579

Night Sky Live

Visit Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum’s Reichert Planetarium for a family-friendly program with an astronomy educator. Tour the night sky from right in Centerport. Topics vary depending on the time of year, but can include seasonal constellations, visible planets, galaxies, nebulae, and more. $22, $18 seniors and students, $16 child 12 and under.

• Where: 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport

• Time: 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; also Feb. 27 and March 6

• Contact: vanderbiltmuseum. org or call (631) 854-5579

Black Experiences in the Revolutionary War

The Revolutionary War was more than battles. It was about people. Those saying no to England also said they

did not want to be treated like slaves. Yet, many of them in New York, from the elite class down to tenant farmers were enslavers. Blacks became soldiers for both sides. Black women and children were both laborers and refugees. This program with Lavada Nahon, Interpreter of African American History for New York State Parks, takes a look at the Black faces of the war, people who traditionally have been left out of the story.

• Where: Bethpage State Park, 99 Quaker Meeting House Road, Farmingdale

• Time: 1-3 p.m.

• Contact: parks.ny.gov/visit/ events/

In concert

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame welcomes Singer-songwriter Joe Louis. Combining rhythm, soul, Motown & blues, Joe Louis and the Groove always has audiences at the edge of their seats. His soulful vocals are incredibly inspired from greats like Wilson Pickett, Little Buster, and BB King, among others. His bright fierce guitar playing will touch your heart with each and every note.

• Where: 97 Main St., Stony Brook

• Time: 3 p.m.

• Contact: limusichalloffame.org or (631) 689-5888

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

• Time: 8 p.m.

• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com

FEB

25

Movie matinee

Copiague Memorial Public Library welcomes all to a showing of “Shirley.” A Copiague library card is required at registration. Feel free to bring a beverage and snack.

• Where: 50 Deauville Blvd., Copiague.

• Time: 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

• Contact: copiaguelibrary.org or (631) 691-1111

Kid Zone

Children in grades Pre-K-5 are invited to First Presbyterian Church’s Kid Zone, weekly. Included is dinner, a Bible story, as well as crafts and games.

• Where: 79 E. Main St., Babylon

• Time: 5:30-7 p.m.

• Contact: (631) 587-5838

Emotional Health Recovery and Support Group

This group meets weekly, at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9592, in person with Emotions Anonymous, a 12-step support group for anyone experiencing emotional difficulties. All calls are confidential.

• Where: 55 Hickory Lane,

Vanderbilt Museum welcomes Anthony Marinello, CNLP, owner of native plant nursery Dropseed Native Landscapes, for a discussion on designing, creating and maintaining native plant gardens. Whether you want to support pollinators, butterflies, or songbirds, native plants provide wildlife habitat while simultaneously beautifying our landscape. $25, $22.50 members. Registration required.

• Where: 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport

• Time: 10 a.m.-noon

• Contact: vanderbiltmuseum.org or call (631) 854-5579

Kiwanis Spring Social

Kiwanis International welcomes all to their spring social. With a 50/50 raffle, Chinese Auction and bar. $25 per person. No food is served, but attendees can bring bring light snacks.

• Where: Unqua Corinthian Yacht Club. 31 Unqua Place, Amityville

• Time: 3-7 p.m.

• Contact: For tickets and table reservations, call Kevin Smith at (516) 351-1270 or email afd1131@verizon.net

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.

Skijoring makes dogs feel like Olympic champions

While watching the Winter Olympics in Milan, you may be wondering if there are winter sports, besides dog sledding, your dog would enjoy. Skijoring is a twist on dog sledding, and Chinooks are an American breed developed by one man that excel in this sport.

Pets, Pets, Pets...

THE CHINOOK was developed by polar explorer Arthur T. Walden at his New Hampshire farm in the 1920s after breeding a female Greenland Dog, supposed to be descended from Admiral Peary’s lead sled dog, to a tawny St. Bernard/Mastiff. One puppy named “Chinook” stood out from the rest and became the foundation of his namesake breed.

JOANNE ANDERSON

In 1925, Arthur Walden’s Chinook sled team was the first dog team to summit Mount Washington, and in 1927 Walden, along with 16 of his male Chinooks, went with Admiral Richard E. Byrd’s first expedition to Antarctica, where the Chinook dogs were used to haul the freighting sleds.

During the Depression, Walden sold his Chinook kennels, which in 1947 were again sold to Perry Greene, who became the sole breeder of Chinooks until his death in 1963. Over the next decades the breed was saved from extinction by people dedicated to this unique dog. Presently, Chinooks number about 1,500 and are still considered one of the rarest breeds. In 2009, the Chinook was chosen as the state dog of New Hampshire.

Chinooks are large, affectionate family dogs, dependent on their owner, with a special bond to children. They are intelligent and easy to train, with a gentle and affectionate disposition and a calm and willing work ethic. As a working breed, the Chinook thrives on regular exercise, training and competing, along with activities such as backpacking, hiking, jogging, agility and skijoring that will keep a Chinook happy and fit.

Chinooks are not a protection breed and do not make good guard dogs. They usually are tan, double-coated with black muzzles, bent ears, a busy tail and a soft look in their eyes.

In 2014, the American Kennel Club recognized Chinooks. That year I invited the new AKC breeds and their owners to the Westminster Kennel Club pre-show press conferences at Madison Square Garden. I became enamored with Chinook temperaments and versatility and first learned about the dog sport skijoring.

SKIJORING, which translates from Norwegian to “ski driving,” combines cross country skiing and dog sledding. The dog wears a sledding harness, which is attached by rope or towline to a skijoring harness worn by the human. While the person directs using skis and poles, the dog also pulls the person. This activity can be done with one dog or a team of dogs.

Equipping your dog with a proper harness and bungee towline is crucial for their well-being. Gradual training with positive reinforcement ensures they learn essential commands and build confidence on the trails.

Basic commands include:

• “Whoa” or “Stop” mean wait.

• “Easy” means go slowly.

• “Hike up” means go faster.

• “Over Gee” means go to the right; “Over Haw” means go to the left.

• “On By” means to go straight down the trail and pass distractions like other dogs.

• “Line Out” means the dog should hold the line tight and straight out in front of you, important with more than one dog to avoid line tangles.

Make sure your dog is in good physical shape before you encourage intense exercise. If you have a puppy, you should wait until their bones and joints are fully grown. All dogs should be over 35 pounds for their safety. While sled breeds like Huskies, Malamutes and Chinooks excel, other large dogs enjoy skijoring. Smooth dogs like German Shorthaired Pointers need covering under their harness for warmth and skin protection.

Now if you and your dog are not fond of snow, there is a fair-weather sport called bikejoring — but take your training wheels off first.

Babylon-area residents who would like to help pets in need can support

LAST HOPE’S VALENTINE PET FOOD

Chinook- breed developed by one man in New Hampshire during the 1920s

DRIVE THROUGH FEB. 21 Donations of dry and canned dog and cat food are needed for “Nobody Starves on Long Island,” run by Gary Kaufman, who depletes his free pet food supply quickly with more requests per day from owners who can no longer afford to feed their pets or must decide whether to feed their pets or themselves. Drop-offs are accepted at Last Hope, 3300 Beltagh Ave., Wantagh, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. No open bags, please. Call 631-671-2588 for more information.

State comptroller urges residents to check for unclaimed funds

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli is urging residents on Long Island and across the state to take a few minutes to see whether they have unclaimed money..

The annual observance is intended to raise awareness about forgotten funds and help reconnect people with money that belongs to them. In 2025, the comptroller’s office returned more than $580 million to rightful owners statewide, including through a new fast-track program that automatically

mails checks to eligible individuals without requiring a claim form.

“Spend a few minutes on Unclaimed Property Day checking for your lost money,” DiNapoli said. “It’s free, easy, and the money is yours. Lost funds can come from an uncashed check, an unused gift card or a forgotten refund — even small amounts can add up.”

Unclaimed funds are turned over to the state when people lose track of money owed to them. Common sources include utility security deposits,

trust accounts, old bank accounts, uncashed checks and unused gift cards. The funds do not expire, and residents can search for them at any time.

The comptroller’s office maintains an online database where people can check whether money is being held in their name.

A county-by-county map showing unclaimed funds owed to residents statewide is also available. More information is available at osc.ny.gov/ unclaimed-funds.

Suffolk County offers senior advocates

Suffolk County Legislator Tom Donnelly, (17 th LD), announced that senior advocates from the Suffolk County Office for the Aging will visit multiple locations in the towns of Babylon and Huntington this winter as part of the county’s 2026 Senior Advocate Schedule.

Senior advocates are county representatives who meet with older residents in their communities to help them gather information, complete eligibility and recertification applications, and obtain referrals to appropriate agencies.

“It is so important for us to provide our senior citizens with the assistance and information they need in ways that are most convenient to them,” Donnelly, a Democrat from Deer Park, said in a statement. “These visits allow our seniors to connect with our county’s senior advocates right in their own communities.”

In the Town of Babylon, advocates will be available at the following locations:

• Deer Park Library, 44 Lake Ave., Deer Park: Friday, March 20, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

• North Amityville Senior Nutrition Center, 48-C Cedar Road, Amityville: March 18, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• Rainbow Senior Center, 293 Buffalo Ave., Lindenhurst: Wednesday March 4, from 8:30 to 11 a.m.

• Tanner Park Senior Center, 2 Tanner Park, Copiague: Wednesday March 11, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Spangle Drive Senior Center, 4385 Spangle Drive, North Babylon: March 24, from noon to 3 p.m.

• West Babylon Library, 211 Route 109, West Babylon: Thursday March 26, from 10 a.m. to noon.

• Wyandanch Senior Nutrition Center, 28 Wyandanch Ave., Wyandanch: Wednesday March 25, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Advocates assist seniors with applications for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the Medicare Savings Program and the Home Energy Assistance Program. They also provide information about Medicare, answer questions and make referrals to other services.

“For more than three decades, the Suffolk County Office for the Aging has been providing full and troublefree access to critical services,” Donnelly said. “I am glad to see their professional community outreach program continue.”

Public Notices — Your right to know

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF SUFFOLK

INDEX NO: 628672/2025

D/O/F: 10/23/2025

SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS

Property Address:

367 37th Street

Lindenhurst, NY 11757

Plaintiff designates Suffolk County as the place of trial. Venue is based upon the County in which the property is situate.

AVAIL 3 LLC, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS ADMINISTRATOR OF RESTORATION III TRUST,                                Plaintiff,

-against-

Unknown heirs at law of LINDA GILMORE, her next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, devisees, legatees, assignees, lienors, creditors, and successors in interest, and generally all persons having or claiming, under, by or through said defendant who may be deceased, by purchase, inheritance, lien or otherwise, any right title or interest in and to the premises described in the complaint herein, all of whom and whose names and places of residence are unknown to the plaintiff and cannot after diligent inquiry be ascertained; PATRICK A GILMORE AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE FOR THE ESTATE OF LINDA GILMORE, NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA;

“JOHN DOES” and “JANE DOES”, said names being fictitious, parties intended being possible tenants or occupants of premises, and corporations, other entities or persons who claim, or may claim, a lien against the premises,

Defendant(s).

TO THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANTS:

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in this action, and to serve a copy of your Answer, or, if the Complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a Notice of Appearance on the Plaintiff’s Attorneys within twenty (20) days after service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, where service is made by delivery upon you personally within the State, or within thirty (30) days after completion of service where service is made in any other manner, and in case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint.

TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: The foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of the Hon. Thomas F. Whelan, a Justice of the Supreme Court, Suffolk County, entered January 16, 2026 and filed with the complaint and other papers in the Suffolk County Clerk’s Office.

THE OBJECT OF THE ACTION is to foreclose a mortgage recorded in the Suffolk County Clerk’s Office on March 19, 2025 in Liber M00023649, Page 132, covering premises k/a 367 37th Street, Lindenhurst, NY 11757 a/k/a District 0103, Section 00.001, Block 04.00, Lot 108.000.

NOTICE

YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME

If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action.

YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.

The following notice is intended only for the defendants who are owners of the premises sought to be foreclosed or who are liable upon the debt for which the mortgage stands as security.

YOU ARE HEREBY PUT ON NOTICE THAT WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT, AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.

PLEASE BE AWARE:

• that debt collectors, in accordance with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1692 et seq., are prohibited from engaging in abusive, deceptive, an unfair debt collection efforts, including, but not limited to:

• the use or threat of violence;

• the use of obscene or profane language; and

• repeated phone calls made with the intent to annoy, abuse, or harass.

• If a creditor or debt collector receives a money judgment against

you in court, state and federal laws may prevent the following types of income from being taken to pay the debt:

• Supplemental security income, (SSI);

• Social security;

• Public assistance (welfare);

• Spousal support, maintenance (alimony) or child support;

• Unemployment benefits;

• Disability benefits;

• Workers’ compensation benefits;

• Public or private pensions;

• Veterans’ benefits;

• Federal student loans, federal student grants, and federal work study funds; and

• Ninety percent of your wages or salary earned in the last sixty days.

[SPACE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

TO THE DEFENDANTS: The Plaintiff makes no personal claim against you in this action.

TO THE DEFENDANTS: If you have obtained an order of discharge from the Bankruptcy court, which includes this debt, and you have not reaffirmed your liability for this debt, this law firm is not alleging that you have any personal liability for this debt and does not seek a money judgment against you. Even if a discharge has been obtained, this lawsuit to foreclose the mortgage will continue and we will seek a judgment authorizing the sale of the mortgaged premises.

Dated:

Sandy J. Stolar, Esq.

MARGOLIN, WEINREB & NIERER, LLP

Attorneys for Plaintiff

575 Underhill Boulevard, Suite 224 Syosset, New York 11791

516-921-3838

#102748

26-31 1/28, 2/4, 11, 18

NOTICE is hereby given that the BOARD OF APPEALS of the Village of Amityville will hold a Public Hearing in the Court Room of Village Hall, 21 Ireland Place, Amityville, NY at 7:00 P.M. on THURSDAY, February 26th, 2026, to consider the following applications: Application of David Gordon.  Applicant seeks multiple variances associated with the proposed expansion of a rear deck.  Variance 1 is to increase the allowed lot coverage from 20% to 31% pursuant to Section 183-15 of the Village of Amityville Code.  Variance 2 is to reduce the required individual side yard setback from 16 feet to 10 feet pursuant to Section 183-17 of the Village Code.  Variance 3 is to reduce the required aggregate side yard setback from 32 feet to 19.8 feet pursuant to Section 18317 of the Village Code.  Variance 4 is to reduce

the required rear yard setback from 25 feet to 20.98 feet pursuant to Section 183-20 of the Village Code.  Premises located on the South side of Purdy Lane approximately 798 feet East of South Bayview Avenue in a “Residential A” district known as 68 Purdy Lane a/k/a SCTM #101-12-6-11.

Application of Goyal Real Estate Development LLC.  Applicant seeks renewal of a previously approved special exception for a non-owner-occupied two-family dwelling pursuant to Section 183-82 A (10) (c) of the Village Code. Premises located on the southeast corner of Broadway (Rt. 110) and South Drive in a “Business 2” District known as 497/505 Broadway a/k/a SCTM# 101-2-3-3.1.

Application of Satya Kaur.  Applicant seeks a special exception to convert a one-family residence to a parentchild residence pursuant to Section 183-9

Willis Avenue a/k/a SCTM# 101-3-3-58.

Application of Richard Handler on behalf of the Amityville Historical Society.  Applicant seeks 2 variances associated with the proposed construction of a one-story extension.  Variance 1 is to reduce the required individual side yard setback from 12 feet to 2.2 feet pursuant to Section 183-76 of the Village of Amityville Code.  Variance 2 is to reduce the required roof pitch from four (4) inches rise per foot to zero (0) inches rise per foot pursuant to Section 183-74 of the Village Code.  Premises located on the corner of Broadway (Route 110), Ireland Place, and Park Avenue in a “Historical” District known as 170 Broadway a/k/a SCTM #101-5-7-2.1.

C. (4) of the Village of Amityville Code.  Premises located on the Southwest corner of Bayview Ave and Towne Street in an “Residential A” District known as 111 Bayview Ave a/k/a SCTM #101-8-2-1.1.

Application of Chavely Torres, expeditor, on behalf of Rajib Chowdhury.  Applicant seeks a special exception to convert a onefamily dwelling to a parent-child residence pursuant to Section 183-43 C. (4) of the Village of Amityville Code.  Applicant also seeks a variance to expand on the existing non-conforming side yard setback where 12 feet is required and 10 feet exists associated with the maintenance of a 2nd story deck pursuant to Section 183-51 of the Village of Amityville Code.  Premises located on the Southeast corner of County Line Road and Willis Avenue in a “Residential B” District known as 66

Notice of the Final Annual Meeting of Beth Moses Cemetery Corporation

The Annual Meeting of the Beth Moses Cemetery Corporation (“the Corporation”) will be the Final Annual Meeting since the merger with Wellwood Cemetery on December 17, 2025 and will be held in the office of Pryor Cashman LLP, 7 Times Square, New York, NY 10036 Borough of Manhattan, City of New York on the 3rd day of March 2026 at 2:00 in the afternoon.

Dated January 2026

Anthony Biolsi Secretary 26-34. 2/11, 18, 25

Applicant seeks a Use Variance for the proposed conversion of a one-story office building to a onefamily dwelling on a premises which already contains a 4-unit multiple dwelling pursuant to Section 183-82 A. of the Village of Amityville Code. Applicant also seeks a variance to reduce the required parking for the conversion from 10 spaces to 4 spaces pursuant to Section 183-129 of the Village Code. Premises located on the East side of John Street between Greene Avenue and West Oak Street in a “B-2 Business” District known as 3 John Street a/k/a SCTM# 101-5-2-2.

By Order of the Zoning Board of Appeals, Village of Amityville Catherine Murdock, Clerk/Treasurer 26-35. 2/11, 18

NOTICE is hereby given that the PLANNING BOARD of the Village of Amityville will hold a Public Hearing in the Court Room of Village Hall, 21 Ireland Place, Amityville, NY at 6:00 P.M. on THURSDAY, March 5, 2026, to consider the following applications: Application of Multibrands Amityville Operating Company for DXE RT 110. Applicant seeks review and approval for the proposed installation of new Dunkin’ BR Baskin Robbin branding signage pursuant to Section 24-6 A (1) (j) of the Village Code. Premises located on the East side of Broadway (Rt 110), approximately 220 feet South of Dixon Avenue in a “B-1 Business” District known as 355 Broadway a/k/a SCTM# 101-3-220.6.

By Order of the Planning Board, Village of Amityville Catherine Murdock, Clerk/Treasurer 26-38 2/18, 25

NOTICE OF SALE

Supreme Court County of Suffolk

U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, successor in interest to Bank of America, National Association, as Trustee, successor by merger to LaSalle Bank National Association, as Trustee for Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors Trust, Mortgage Loan AssetBacked Certificates, Series 2006-AR1, Plaintiff AGAINST

Frank E. Connor, Jr.

a/k/a Frank E. Connor

a/k/a Frank Connor, et al, Defendant

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on January 6, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the Babylon Town Hall, 200 East Sunrise Hwy., North Lindenhurst, NY on March 23, 2026 at 9:00 AM premises known as 64 Offaly Street, Amityville, NY 11701. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the County of Suffolk, State of New York, SECTION: 163.00, BLOCK: 03.00, LOT: 066.001, District 0100. Approximate amount of judgment is $686,972.95 plus interests and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 613660/2017. For sale information, please visit XOME at www.XOME.com or call 844-400-9663.

Richard Lavorata, Jr., Referee

FRENKEL LAMBERT WEISMAN & GORDON LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706 26-36. 2/18, 25, 3/4, 11

Public Notices — Your right to know

IN THE JUVENILE COURT OF GENEVA COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF: *

J. P. V. *

D.O.B. 02/21/2024 *

A Child * Case No. JU-2024-37.02

THE STATE OF ALABAMA SENDS

GREETINGS TO:

M Inatat Ur Rahman Khan the father of J.P.V., a male child born to Shannon Renae Lolley on February 21, 2024.  You are hereby summoned to appear in the Juvenile Court of Geneva County, Alabama, 200 N. Commerce St., Geneva, Alabama on the      18th   day of    May   , 2026, at 1:30 p.m. , to answer a Petition filed to terminate your parental rights.  If you intend to contest this petition, you must file a written response within 14 days with the Juvenile Clerk, Geneva County Courthouse, 200 N. Commerce St., Geneva, Alabama 36340.  Your failure to respond may result in the termination of your parental rights concerning the above-named child.

26-37 2/28, 25, 3/4, 11

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TOWN OF BABYLON - ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

Pursuant to Chapter 213, Article II of the Building Zone Ordinance of the Town of Babylon, notice is hereby given that the Town of Babylon on Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a Public Hearing at TOWN BOARD ROOM

(Located in the East Wing) at Babylon Town Hall, 200 East Sunrise Highway, Lindenhurst, New York on THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2026

BEGINNING AT 6:00 P.M.

6:00 p.m.

Application #26-3

Michael J. and Nicole Kilbridge, 153 14th Street, West Babylon, NY. Permission to increase total building area from 30% to 42.8 % (over by 1,299.5 sq. ft.). All in connection with the installation of an inground swimming pool and paver patio. Property located on the south side of Fourteenth Street, 50’ west of Second Avenue, West Babylon, NY.

NY.

SCTM#0100-2142-110

Zoning District: Residence C

6:15 p.m.

SCTM#0100-1303-7

Zoning District: Residence C 6:05 p.m.

2. Application #26-10

Maria Tatti-Rashidi, 20 Strathmore Drive, North Babylon, NY.

Permission to increase number of sheds per lot allowed from two (2) to three (3). All in connection with legally maintaining three (3) sheds. Property located on the south side of Strathmore Drive, 336.44’ east of Banner Lane, North Babylon, NY.

SCTM#0100-1482-69

Zoning District: Residence A

6:10 p.m.

3. Application #26-8

Nicholas Olson and Menaza Townsend, 641 Arlington Road, West Babylon, NY.

Permission to diminish front yard setback from 30’ to 26’ – 7’’ on Arlington Road; diminish distance to front street line from 40’ to 7’ – 6’’ on Arnold Avenue (for pavilion). All in connection with a proposed secondstory addition and to legally maintain a pavilion. Property located on the northwest corner of Arlington Road and Arnold Avenue, West Babylon,

4. Application #26-4 Christine Sewell, 20 Hawthorne Street, East Farmingdale, NY. Permission to increase total building area from 30% to 51.9% (over by 1,647.69 sq. ft.); increase total building area of rear yard for accessory structures from 45% to 68.4% (over by 761.25 sq. ft.); diminish distance to west side lot line from 2’ to 1.5’; diminish distance to rear lot line from 2’ to 1.5’; diminish distance to west side lot line from 6’ to 5’ (for pool); diminish distance to rear lot line from 6’ to 5’ (for pool). All in connection with the installation of an inground pool and paver patio. Property located on the north side of Hawthorne Street, 552.89’ east of Melville Road, East Farmingdale, NY.

SCTM#0100-30-153

Zoning District: Residence C

6:20 p.m.

5. Application #26-2 Robert Perticone (applicant)/109 Partners LLC (prop. owner), 55 Evergreen Street, West Babylon, NY. Permission to erect a senior citizen multiple residences building on 0.56 acres where two (2) acres is required; diminish front yard setback from 30’ to 5’- 2’’ at Farmingdale Road (Route 109); diminish north side yard setback from 20’ to 3’; dimmish common outdoor recreational area from 1,350 sq. ft. required to 812 sq. ft. provided; diminish common indoor recreational area from 1,500 sq. ft. required to 1,140 sq. ft. provided. All in connection with a proposed two (2) story, nine (9) unit,

senior citizen multiple residence building. Property located on the north side of Farmingdale Road (Route 109), 737.21’ west of Glenda Drive, West Babylon, NY.

SCTM#0100-2093-8

Zoning District: Senior Citizen Multiple Residence Subject Premises: 195 Farmingdale Road, West Babylon, NY

6:25 p.m.

6. Application #267 Deer Park Auto Collision (tenant)/ MEHR 93 LLC (prop. owner), 93 West 1st Street, Deer Park, NY. Renewal of a special exception permit to operate a public garage for auto body repair; allow outdoor storage of vehicles awaiting repair as per site plan. All in connection with an existing building (previously approved for three (3) years, expired September 29, 2025). Property located on the east side of W. 1st Street, 150.30’ north of Grand Boulevard, Deer Park, NY.

SCTM#0100-63-165.005

Zoning District: Business E 6:30 p.m.

7. Application #26-9 Burger Brothers Restaurant Group Inc. (tenant)/Burger King Company LLC (prop. owner), 1300 Deer Park Avenue, North Babylon, NY. Permission to diminish front yard setback from 60’ to 12.7’; diminish rear yard setback from 50’ to 44.1’. All in connection with proposed interior alterations, a new addition, and front canopy along with site improvements. Property located on the west side of Deer Park Avenue between Easton Avenue and Shipman Avenue, North Babylon, NY.

SCTM#0100-1133-48

Zoning District: Business Ea 6:35 p.m.

8. Application #26-6 Roberts Plywood (tenant)/45 N. Industry Partners, LLC (prop. owner), 45 N. Industry Court, Deer Park, NY. Requesting a special exception permit to allow retail sales of plywood; diminish off-street parking from one hundred forty-one (141) parking stalls required to eighty-nine (89) parking stalls provided; allow two (2) buildings where one (1) is permitted. All in connection with a proposed warehouse and canopy on an existing building. Property located on the west side of North Industry Court, 1,861.62’ north of Grand Boulevard, Deer Park, NY.

SCTM#0100-68-18.004 & 8.001

Zoning District: Industry Ga 6:40 p.m.

9. Application #261 Aromatic Gardens (tenant)/BrookeRose Realty LLC (prop. owner), 231 Edison Avenue, West Babylon, NY. Requesting a special exception permit to operate a retail marijuana dispensary; increase total building area from 40% to 43.10% (over by 878.8 sq. ft.); diminish front yard setback from 30’ to 29’ – 10’’ on Eads Street; allow three (3) parking stalls beyond the front building line; diminish off-street parking from thirtyfive (35) parking stalls required to twentytwo (22) parking stalls provided. All in connection with interior alterations to a portion of an existing building to allow a retail marijuana dispensary. Property located on the northeast corner of Edison Avenue and Eads Steet, West Babylon, NY.

SCTM#0100-74-224.014

Zoning District: In-

dustry GB 6:45 p.m.

10. Application #26-5 1116-1118 Realty, LLC, 1108 Route 110, Farmingdale, NY. Permission to diminish front yard setback from 25’ to 3.5’; diminish rear yard setback from 50’ to 43.7’; diminish offstreet parking from twenty-one (21) parking stalls required to fifteen (15) parking stalls provided. All in connection with the proposed erection of a one-story restaurant with a drive thru. Property located on the west side of Route 110, 298.04’ north of Parkway Court, Farmingdale, NY.

SCTM#0100-1211-14.002 & 13.001

Zoning District: Residence B & Business E

Subject Premises: 1116 & 1118 Broadway, East Farmingdale, NY 6:50 p.m. 11. Application #26-20 1116-1118 Realty, LLC, 1108 Route 110, Farmingdale, NY. Permission to increase number of signs on south wall from one (1) to two (2); increase number of signs on north wall from one (1) to two (2); increase number of signs per parcel from one (1) to six (6); diminish distance to west lot line from 10’ to 3’. All in connection with the erection of nonconforming wall and ground signs. Property located on the west side of Route 110, 298.04’ north of Parkway Court, Farmingdale, NY.

SCTM#0100-1211-14.002 & 13.001

Zoning District: Residence B & Business E

Subject Premises: 1116 & 1118 Broadway, East Farmingdale, NY

BY ORDER OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

MICHAEL KANE, CHAIRMAN

Dated: Babylon Town Hall Lindenhurst, New York February 9, 2026 26-39. 2/18

Notice of formation of JC Edward Consulting LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York on 1/19/2026 Office location, 19 Francine Ave., Amityville, NY, County of Suffolk. Secretary of State of New York has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. Secretary of State of New York shall mail a process served to: JC Edward Consulting LLC, 54 State Street, STE 804, Albany, NY 12207

Purpose: any lawful act

26-40 2/18, 25, 3/4, 11, 28, 25

ALL PERSONS OR THEIR DULY APPOINTED REPRESENTATIVE MUSTAPPEAR IN PERSON AT THE ABOVE HEARING. ALL CASES WILL BE HEARD IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY ARE ADVERTISED, TO BE FOLLOWED BY ADJOURNED CASES.

PUBLIC NOTICE

LEGAL NOTICE FOR TAXES DUE AND UNPAID TO THE VILLAGE OF AMITYVILLE FOR THE YEAR 2025

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT WHEREAS arrears of taxes levied in the year 2025 by the Village of Amityville, charged and imposed pursuant to law, remain due and unpaid on several tracts, plots, pieces, or parcels of land, situate, lying and being in the Village of Amityville, Town of Babylon, County of Suffolk and State of New York, and described in the following list indicating the names of those owners or occupants as the same upon the assessment roll for the said year and following said names are amounts, including tax fees, interest and charges against said properties for said year, to wit: (SEE ATTACHED LIST) AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT pursuant to the powers vested in me by law, I shall on the 13th day of March, 2026 at 10:00 AM and the succeeding days until the sale is completed, sell at public auction at ten o’clock in the forenoon in the 3rd Floor Court Room located in the Village Hall at No.21 Ireland Place in the Village Hall, Town of Babylon, County of Suffolk and State of New York, the above described tracts, plots, lots, pieces or parcels of land, until so much of each parcel shall be sold as will be sufficient to pay the tax for the year above specified, together with fees, interest and charges which may be due thereon at the time of the sale; bids shall be for an amount sufficient to pay said tax, fees, interest and charges, and where no bid shall be of such

Public Notices

amount, said premises shall be deemed to have been sold to and purchased by the Village. The purchasers at such sale shall pay the amount of their respective bids to the Village Clerk within ten days after the sale and upon such payment, the Clerk will give to the purchaser a certificate in writing describing the real estate purchased and the sum paid therefor. If any purchaser shall neglect or refuse to pay the amount of his bid or bids within the time prescribed, the Village Clerk may state an account such purchaser and may recover same together with costs from such purchaser, by an action brought in the name of the Village Clerk, or such Village Clerk may cancel so much of such sale to such purchaser and the parcel or parcels so sold shall be deemed to have been purchased by the Village. The owner, the occupant of, or any persons having an interest in any real estate sold for taxes to any party other than the Village itself, may redeem the same at any time prior to the filing of a Notice of Pendency of an action to foreclose the lien of such taxes or prior to the conveyance by the Village Clerk pursuant to the provisions of Section 1450 of the Real Property Tax Law, by paying to the Village Clerk for the use of the purchaser, his heirs or assigns, the sum mentioned in his certificate with the interest thereon at the rate of one percentum per month or fraction thereof, from the date of sale for which such certificate was given, together with the charges accrued at the time of such redemption, and the amount of any Village Taxes levied upon such real

estate which have been paid by such purchaser subsequent to such a sale, with interest on such amount at the rate of one half of one percentum per month, or fraction thereof, from the date of payment, where such payment of taxes was made for the purpose of protecting the lien, of the said purchaser. If said real estate shall have been bid in by, or sold to the Village, the said owner, occupant or person interested in such real estate may redeem same at any time prior to the filing of Notice of Pendency of action to foreclose the tax lien, or prior to conveyance to the Village by the Village Clerk by paying the Village Clerk the amount of such certificate with such interest together with the expenses accrued at the time of such redemption, as if a certificate for such sale has been issued to an individual.

IMPORTANT....

THE NAME OF THE OWNERS SHOWN ON THIS LIST MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE THE NAMES OF THE PERSONS OWNING THE PROPERTY AT THE TIME OF THIS ADVERTISEMENT. SUCH NAMES HAVE BEEN TAKEN FROM THE ASSESSMENT ROLLS PREPARED AS OF APRIL 1, 2025 AND FREQUENTLY DIFFER FROM THE NAMES OF THE OWNERS AT THE TIME OF PUBLICATION OF THE NOTICE. IT MAY ALSO BE THAT SUCH OWNERS ARE NOMINAL ONLY AND ANOTHER PERSON IS ACTUALLY THE BENEFICIAL OWNER.

DATED the 12th day of February 2026, Amityville, New York. Catherine Murdock, Village Clerk/Treasurer, Amityville, New York

TAX SALE- March 13th, 2026

26-41 2/18, 25, 3/4

Working out after age 50

Exercise is an important component of healthy living at any age. Physical activity helps to maintain a healthy body weight and offers mental benefits like reduced stress and the potential to reduce risk for cognitive decline. But it’s important to point out that appropriate exercise for a person at age 20 may look quite different from the right exercise regimen for someone who is 50 or older.

WebMD says exercise is important for quality of life as one ages and is a key to independence. It is important to think of exercise as a tool, and as with all tools, the right ones should be used with a goal to avoid injury. Fitness after 50 should prioritize some practices and avoid others.

• Focus on resistance training. Cardiovascular exercise is important for heart health and general health, but strength training also is essential to counter some of the normal effects of aging. Continuum Care, a private duty home care service, says aging results in a decline in bone density and muscle mass. Resistance exercise performed several times each week can help combat muscle loss and bone density decline.

• Opt for low-impact activities. Low-impact exercises that involve less jumping and pounding will be easier on the joints. A doctor, physical therapist or athletic trainer can help to customize or adapt activities based on a person’s limitations or medical conditions.

• Warm up before working out. Older adults are advised to warm up muscles before exercising to avoid injury, particularly if it has been some time since you last exercised. Harvard Medical School recommends five minutes of brisk walking or time on an elliptical machine to get blood flowing to muscles and make them pliable. After working out, it’s advisable to stretch afterwards.

• Switch to interval training. Interval training, which alternates between intense exercises and less demanding “rest” periods, offers greater benefits compared to a consistent exercise pace. Interval training helps burn extra calories and maximizes oxygen consumption. Interval training may allow for shorter workouts as well.

• Increase the number of rest days. Focusing on recovery after age 50 is important. Tissue takes more time to recover as the body ages, and that may require longer rest periods between workouts.

• Pay attention to what your body is saying. Scripps Health says that even with a doctor or professional trainer guiding workouts, an individual is the best judge if physical activity is too much or too little. Everyone should pay attention to signs of overexertion, such as dizziness, excessive fatigue or chest pain. Other signs of discomfort, such as joint pain, may mean the intensity needs to be dialed down or other exercises chosen.

An exercise regimen may need a reboot after a person turns 50. Modified activities and a slowing of pace can promote a healthy, injury-free lifestyle.

Strategies to manage and tame stress

Stress is a part of life. In small doses, stress can have a positive effect. But when stress is chronic, it can take its toll on the body and mind.

Stress can make people irritable and cause them to lash out at others. Stress also can contribute to high blood pressure and adversely affect sleep. When confronting chronic stress, individuals may have to take action to find relief. These stress-busting strategies can help.

• Engage in physical activity. The Mayo Clinic says any form of exercise can help relieve stress. Physical activity boosts chemicals in the brain and endorphins that help a person feel good. Exercise also can refocus attention so a person is not preoccupied with a stressful thought or situation.

• Listen to music. Music can be calming and serve as a distraction from stressful feelings. Simply listening to music can be a quick fix for a stressful situation and a bad mood.

• Review your lifestyle. It’s easy to take on too much, but doing so can lead to feelings of being overwhelmed, says the Mental Health Foundation. Prioritizing some things over others and delegating when possible can tame stress.

• Practice mindfulness. Breathing and mindfulness exercises can be practiced anywhere. Research has shown that mindfulness can reduce the effects of stress and anxiety. Deep breathing and being in a quiet moment when stress peaks may help to reduce stress.

• Step away for a few minutes. If possible, step away from a stressful situation, whether it is a difficult project at work or a loud room with a lot of activity going on. Many people find commuting stressful. Changing the route to one that avoids busy roads, even if it takes a bit longer to get from point A to point B, might help.

• Talk it out. Sometimes connecting with others and sharing experiences can help to relieve stress. Keeping feelings in and fixating on a situation may exacerbate feelings of stress. Social situations that encourage talking and laughing can lighten a person’s mental load, says the Mayo Clinic.

• Don’t turn to substances. Alcohol and drugs may temporarily relieve stress, but this approach can lead to addiction and even worsen the physical and mental toll stress takes on the body.

Stress is a part of life, but finding ways to manage chronic stress is vital to long-term health.

Activities for seniors with limited mobility

Physical activity is a valuable tool in the fight against chronic disease and other conditions. In fact, the Cleveland Clinic highlights physical activity among its nine ways to prevent disease in an effort to live a long and rewarding life. Children, adolescents, young adults, and even men and women in middle age may not face too many physical hurdles when they try to exercise, but seniors are not always so lucky. Aging men and women with mobility issues may wonder if they can reap the rewards of physical activity, and thankfully there are many ways to exercise even if getting up and going isn’t as easy as it might have been in years past. Sometimes referred to as “aerobic exercise” or simply “cardio,” cardiovascular exercise is an umbrella term that encompasses a wide range of physical activities that raise the heart rate and improve endurance. Seniors with mobility issues can look to various forms of cardio for inspiration as they seek to be more physically active without compromising their overall health.

• Walk your way to a healthier you. Walking is a form of cardiovascular exercise that is ideal for older adults with mobility issues because it need not be physically demanding and it’s safe to walk just about anywhere. Walking in a place such as a local park can be particularly good for older adults because they can take periodic breaks on benches if aches, pains or stiffness is affecting their ability to keep moving.

• Take up swimming. Swimming might be tailor-made for seniors with mobility issues because it’s a great workout and exercising in water tends to be less taxing on muscles and joints. The Cleveland Clinic notes that swimming promotes heart health, strengthens the lungs, helps to burn calories, and builds muscle, among other benefits. And many seniors find swimming is just as fun in their golden years as it was in their youth, which means aging adults might not face problems with motivation when the time comes to get in the pool.

• Use an exercise bike or portable pedal exerciser. Cycling is a wonderful exercise but one that seniors with mobility issues may feel is no longer possible. If doctors advise against riding a traditional bike, an exercise bike or portable pedal exerciser can provide many of the benefits of cycling without as great a risk for accident or injury. A portable pedal exerciser can be carried to a park, where seniors can still spend time in the great outdoors, which is one of the most appealing reasons to get on a bike and go.

• Take beginner yoga or tai chi. HelpGuide.org notes that gentle yoga or tai chi can help to improve flexibility and

reduce stress and anxiety. Though yoga and tai chi can provide as much demanding physical activity as individuals allow, beginner classes in each discipline don’t require much movement but do provide enough for seniors hoping to be less sedentary.

Even seniors with mobility issues can find safe and effective ways to be more physically active. Prior to beginning a new exercise regimen, seniors with mobility issues are urged to discuss activities with their physicians. Courtesy of Metro Creative Connectiion

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Gutter Care 101

Q. I just took a $2,500 contract to have gutter screens added to my rain gutters. Would you recommend this instead of the biannual flush cleaning I do, which costs $450 per service?

A. It is great that you monitor routine maintenance around your house, including rain gutters. The cost, if you pay $450 twice a year for your biannual gutter cleaning, is $900 per year. An expense of $2,500 for the rain gutter covers would pay for itself in a timeframe determined by dividing 2500 by 900, which would be 2.7 years. So in two years and nine months, your outlay of $2,500 would be paid off — but only if the gutter screens do not also need maintenance.

I went through a learning phase with my own rain gutters, except that I would flush the gutters by myself. At first I had gutters that were open and, with all the trees surrounding my home, the gutters filled every fall with leaves and the debris that had to be removed. I then bought gutter screens that snap in, although there were places where they couldn’t snap in because of the long nail shafts used to attach the gutters to the face board, referred to as fascia. In those places, the metal screens had to be trimmed with a hacksaw and tin snips. It was tedious but rewarding, because the leaves did not clog the gutters. Unfortunately, twigs and smaller debris managed to find their way through the screens, and the metal rusted.

Those screens lasted six years, before another product, called Leafguard Gutters, was brought to my attention. It is a gutter with a top that wraps around and is bent in a curve so water flows over the top of the rain gutter and then, by a phenomenon called adhesion, the water clings to the gutter top and flows into a thin opening that runs the length of the gutter. It works very well, and hardly anything gets into the thin horizontal continuous opening except the rain.

I did not touch the gutters for 15 years. Then one day a contractor noticed that my roof edge trim boards had discolored in places, and said he would gladly take care of it for me. I awoke one morning to loud banging, and when I looked out the window, several very energetic men had ripped all the trim from my home along with those rain gutters. It lay in a heap in the back of a pickup truck, and within two hours my fascia boards were covered in spanking new white aluminum and I had brand new, open-top gutters.

So, back at square one, I began cleaning gutters again, every fall, until one day, when I saw Leafguard stainless mesh gutter covers with a lifetime guarantee. They completely eliminated the debris, but require occasional brushing to keep clean, at a much higher price. It still pays to put on the screens. Good luck!

© 2026 Monte Leeper

Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.

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our most consequential responsibility as public servants, parents and community leaders is to confront emerging threats to our children’s health and wellness. Frighteningly, many of these can be found within arm’s length at our local convenience stores, and there’s a new one on the shelf.

We are all aware of the everpresent threats of alcohol, tobacco and nicotine products and the risks of lifelong addiction, cancers and terminal illnesses their use can cause. More recently, we witnessed the frightening rise of dangerous fruit- and candy-flavored vaping products that get our kids hooked on nicotine and can cause irreversible health problems like “popcorn lung.” Thankfully, our efforts to stem that tide have made slow but steady progress. Now we are confronted by the threat of a new and alarming substance — an emerging stimulant known as kratom — and it is incumbent on all of us to act swiftly to protect our communities.

The Hochul-Blakeman race for governor takes shape opinions Combating the scourge of kratom in Nassau County

with Elise Stefanik, the sixterm Republican member of the House of Representatives from upstate Schuylerville, deciding that she would not run for governor this year — and Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado dropping out of the Democratic primary — the race became a two-way contest.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, after a big re-election win in November, is now the presumptive Republican nominee. He was just sworn in to a second term as county executive, but has his eye on Albany.

“I’m on a journey,” he said. “I don’t know where the path will end.” Blakeman is a former presiding officer of the Nassau Legislature and Hempstead town councilman. He is a staunch supporter of President Trump, who has endorsed him for governor. Hochul, who is seeking a second term, and Blakeman were both at a recent Long Island Association event, at which she criticized him for having

A constituent recently contacted my office and asked to meet with me to discuss how Nassau County could address the dangers of this drug, which their son, and many others, had gotten hooked on. It had caused devastating damage, and I knew action was necessary.

It’s easy to see how people can be enticed by kratom. It is often falsely marketed as a natural, plantbased energy booster, mood lifter, pain reliever and opioid withdrawal remedy. But, as they say, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

it’s a stimulant with side effects ranging from psychosis to liver damage.

Experts at the Mayo Clinic warn that kratom has not been proven safe or to have any medical efficacy. The Food and Drug Administration similarly cautions against its use, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has labeled it a drug of concern, with side effects including confusion, delusions, tremors, psychosis, depression toxicity, liver damage and addiction. Because it is unregulated and its labeling is inconsistent, its users have little idea how much they’ve actually taken until it’s too late.

During a five-year span, poison-control centers across America received

more than 3,400 reports of kratomrelated incidents, and some cases ended in patients’ deaths. My constituent told me that when their son finally embarked on a path to recovery, the withdrawal symptoms he experienced were similar to, if not worse than, someone going through heroin withdrawal.

Based on these disturbing facts, I filed legislation on Feb. 6 that would ban the sale and distribution of kratom products in Nassau County. Those found in violation would be charged with a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and up to a year in jail for each offense.

Suffolk County has already banned kratom, and New York state restricts its sale to people over age 21. Passing my legislation would bring us in line with our neighbors in Suffolk and hopefully serve as a catalyst for a statewide ban. The fact that the Republican majority has followed my lead and filed similar legislation gives me hope that this common-sense approach to protecting public health is on the fast track to approval.

Throughout my decade as a legislator, I have remained laser-focused on preserving the wellness of our commu-

nities and protecting our young people from dangerous, misleading products that can ruin their health. In 2019 I proudly introduced and passed a ban on the sale of most flavored vaping products in Nassau — products that we have proven vape companies market directly to unsuspecting youths. The ban was later adopted statewide. The proposal built on my previous bill to restrict the advertising of age-restricted items such as cigarettes, tobacco and vaping products within 1,000 feet of establishments frequented by young people.

Before taking steps to regulate vaping, I focused intently on finishing the work that the late Legislator Judy Jacobs began to ban the sale of tobacco and cigarettes to anyone under age 21 — a goal that we achieved in 2018.

All of these proposals were ultimately enacted with bipartisan, unanimous support. As our focus now turns to kratom and addressing the devastation it has already caused for far too many families, I implore my colleagues to once again set aside our partisan labels. Banning kratom will protect our children and our communities from irreversible harm. Let’s work together and get it done.

Arnold W. Drucker represents Nassau County’s 16th Legislative District and is the Legislature’s deputy minority leader.

TNassau County coordinate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement in federal immigration enforcement efforts. Hochul also denounced Blakeman’s launching a program for deputized, armed county civilians to function as a reserve force with a mission including working with local police in assisting ICE.

hey’re already mixing it up, and, Blakeman said, ‘I’m on a journey.’

In the 2014 New York gubernatorial election, then Gov. Andrew Cuomo selected Hochul as his running mate, for lieutenant governor. She had been a member of the House of Representatives. The pair won, and were re-elected in 2018. Hochul ascended to governor in 2021 when Cuomo resigned amid allegations of sexual harassment.

Hochul, of Buffalo, who became the state’s first woman governor, chose Delgado, of upstate Rhinebeck, also a former House member, as her replacement lieutenant governor in 2022. They ran together that year, but their political relationship subsequently soured, and Delgado announced last year he would not run with Hochul in 2026 but instead take her on for the Democratic nomination for governor.

In an interview before he ended his campaign, he charged that Hochul had been “capitulating to Trump.” He faulted her, for example, for the state’s turnaround on a pipeline pushed by the Trump administration, previously rejected by the state, which would send fracked gas from Pennsylvania to New York.

Many of Delgado’s charges focused on environmental and energy issues. He said Hochul had not sufficiently implemented the state’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act of 2019, which aims to substantially reduce climate changecausing greenhouse gas emissions and emphasizes the use of green, renewable energy.

Delgado also differed with Hochul on nuclear power — a dominant issue in this area for decades, as the Long Island Lighting Company sought to build seven to 11 nuclear power plants, with the first constructed in Shoreham. Because of grassroots and governmental opposition, including from the administration of Governor Mario Cuomo, the Shoreham plant never went into commercial operation, and the

multi-plant scheme failed.

Last year Hochul began calling for new nuclear power generation in New York and pushing for the state to become the center of a nuclear power revival in the U.S. In her recent State of the State address, she said: “Last summer I took the bold step of green-lighting the first nuclear power project in a generation … At the time we set a goal of building one gigawatt of nuclear power” — the power generation equivalent of one large nuclear power plant.

“But if there’s one thing I believe, it’s this: Go big or go home. So I’ve decided to raise the bar to five gigawatts. That’s more nuclear energy then has been built anywhere in the United States in the last 30 years.”

Delgado said that nuclear power was a “distraction” from an emphasis on renewable energy led by solar and wind power. In terms of economics and rapid implementation in the face of climate change, he said, that was the sensible energy route.

Blakeman is also a supporter of nuclear power.

Karl Grossman has been an investigative reporter in a variety of media for more than 50 years. He is a professor of journalism at the State University of New York at Old Westbury.

Amityville

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COMMUNITY

aMisleading safety data could hurt kids

Feb. 2 report, “Violent and Disruptive Incidents and Bullying in New York Schools,” from State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli should serve as a wake-up call for anyone tempted to declare victory on school safety.

While official data shows that rates of “serious” violent and disruptive incidents are near zero, bullying, cyberbullying and drug-related incidents are rising statewide — in many cases exceeding pre-pandemic levels. That disconnect matters, because it reveals a system that risks measuring safety by definitions rather than by students’ lived experiences.

According to DiNapoli’s analysis of seven years of School Safety and Educational Climate data from the State Education Department, bullying is now the most frequently reported school safety incident.

In the 2023-24 school year, bullying, not including cyberbullying, accounted for nearly two-thirds of all reported incidents statewide. Almost 30,000 bullying incidents were reported, translating to 12.4 incidents per 1,000 pupils. In schools that reported at least one incident, the rate was far higher.

Cyberbullying, meanwhile, remains officially “low” in the data, but that is precisely the problem. Anonymity, offcampus activity and the digital lives students have after dismissal make cyberbullying notoriously difficult to detect and report. The report itself acknowledges that many incidents likely go unreported. When nearly 35 percent of public schools report no bullying or

letters

Peter King goes too easy on ICE agents

To the Editor:

Re Peter King’s column “There are better ways to resolve the immigration crisis” in last week’s issue: The videos we all saw of Renee Good and Alex Pretti being shot to death by ICE agents contradict Mr. King’s description. He referred to these horrific acts as “heat-of-the moment reactions to unexpected incidents.”

Additionally, Mr. King opposes “any requirement that ICE agents remove their masks” because “wearing masks has become absolutely essential for them.”

If only Mr. King found it in his heart to have similar consideration and respect for the families of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

JOSIE MARINO Lynbrook

cyberbullying incidents, the question is not whether bullying exists, but whether schools are capturing it honestly.

Drug-related incidents tell a similar story. After dropping during the period of remote learning, the number of drug incidents in secondary schools has risen above pre-Covid levels. Statewide rates climbed from 4.2 incidents per 1,000 students in 2017-18 to 6.5 in 2023-24, with especially high rates in upstate districts. These are not abstract numbers. They reflect daily realities that students, teachers and families confront in hallways, bathrooms and social spaces.

Yet at the same time these troubling trends are rising, reports of serious violent and disruptive incidents — such as assault, sexual offenses and weapons possession — have plummeted. That decline coincides not with a dramatic transformation of school culture, but with changes to reporting definitions implemented in 2021-22. Under the revised rules, incidents are only reportable if the offender is at least 10 years old, the incident meets felony criteria, and it has been referred to law enforcement.

The result is a dataset that may be technically accurate under state rules, but deeply misleading if taken at face value. Schools may still experience serious incidents that never meet the threshold for state reporting, creating a false sense of security for parents and policymakers who rely on these numbers to assess safety.

This is not the intent of New York’s school safety laws. The Safe Schools Against Violence in Education Act,

enacted in 2000, and the Dignity for All Students Act, adopted a decade later, were designed to protect young people and ensure transparency in reporting harassment, bullying and violence. After the Sandy Hook tragedy in Connecticut, New York state rightly sought to refine and streamline reporting to focus on prevention. But refinement must not become minimization.

Limiting cellphone use during the school day is a modest step in the right direction. It will reduce in-school distractions. But bullying and cyberbullying don’t stop at the dismissal bell. Students carry their social worlds and their conflicts home in their pockets. Without sustained education, intervention and accountability, phones will simply resume their role as weapons after school hours.

Schools need to be honest with themselves about what these incidents are and properly report them to the State Education Department. That honesty isn’t about protecting reputations or presenting a picture of perfect calm. It’s about identifying real problems so they can be addressed.

Pretending a school or district is blissful may look good on paper, but it does nothing to protect students. Reliable, transparent data is the foundation of meaningful solutions.

If we want safer schools in reality and not just safer statistics, we must confront bullying, cyberbullying and substance use head-on, report them accurately, and commit to prevention that extends beyond the school day. Our children deserve nothing less.

Nurses get the short end of the educational stick

Dr. William osler, one of the founders of Johns Hopkins Hospital and a pioneer in medical education and history said, “The trained nurse has become one of the great blessings of humanity, taking a place beside the physician and the priest.” Now, though, we have nurses on strike for safer working conditions and greater compensation, and educators decrying federal action to withdraw graduate nursing education from the category of “professional.”

The members of a profession are highly educated, with specialized knowledge, may be required to pass stateapproved licensure exams, and pledge to certain ideals. In the case of nursing, the pledge is to patient welfare, compassion and trust, building knowledge in the field, lifelong learning, teamwork, professional integrity, an ethical code, skillful care, and humanity. Like other professions, nursing requires prolonged learning and licensure.

So imagine the surprise to nurses, nurse educators, nurse researchers, nurse executives, hospital administrators and others when the U.S. Depart-

ment of Education declared that an advanced degree in nursing did not qualify for federal student aid. yet advanced education is one of the pathways for advancement in nursing, and many employers require a master’s degree.

In response to critical reactions to its decree, the department said it did not mean that nursing is not a profession, just that advanced nursing education at the master’s and doctoral levels did not qualify for federal student loans. In addition to reducing the amount students can borrow under the Graduate PLUS program, which previously allowed up to the full cost of a program, the government has cut in half the amount that students in nursing and social work, among others disciplines, can borrow for advanced education.

es universities to raise tuition even in fields that have limited employment opportunities and low compensation. That is certainly not the case in nursing. others support the department, arguing that there is a strong correlation between extended graduate study for women and our low rate of childbearing.

a n advanced degree in nursing doesn’t qualify for federal student aid.

No such limits have been proposed for medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, optometry, osteopathic medicine, podiatry, chiropractic, theology, law or clinical psychology. Architects, physical therapists, social workers, computer scientists and accountants, however, join nursing in losing their professional status.

The Education Department is trying to limit access to government-backed loans for graduate degrees because, it says, the availability of loans encourag-

Letters

Who’s left to report the truth?

To the Editor:

As a former reporter, I cherish a free press — and with our democracy hanging by a thread, I refuse to sit by while truth tellers are silenced.

I was bothered that Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos caved to President Trump’s demand that the Post stay out of presidential endorsements. But what bothered me more was watching people cancel their subscriptions over it. That’s cutting off your nose to spite your face. Why punish a newspaper already struggling to survive? Did we forget that reporters are stationed around the world, risking their lives to bring us the truth — and that in times of conflict, they’re always the first targets, precisely so the truth never reaches us?

The Post loses $100 million a year, yet it remains an essential truth teller. This is the paper that exposed Watergate. Not surprisingly, Trump admired President Richard Nixon. Both detested the press because its job is to investigate corruption and

report the truth. And let’s not forget: a Washington Post journalist was murdered at the direction of a Saudi prince while Trump looked the other way.

While Trump manufactured a crisis in Greenland and ICE gunned down American citizens, the final board meeting of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting barely registered. Jimmy Kimmel’s being pulled off the air and the cancellation of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” already feel like ancient history. Even as wars rage in Ukraine and the Middle East, coverage keeps shrinking — and that is no accident. And now Bezos is laying off a third of the Post’s staff, including a war correspondent in Ukraine. With Secretary of War Pete Hegseth blocking Pentagon reporting, Trump forming a “Board of Peace” with Putin and other authoritarian leaders, and independent news sources collapsing, who is left to deliver the truth?

CLAUDIA

BoRECKy President, Bellmore Merrick Democratic Club Merrick

According to public reports, there are approximately 57,000 registered nurses on Long Island, with an average age of 46.

In New york City and the Downstate region, there is a critical shortage of certain categories of nursing, with “disaster emergencies” declared in Manhattan, the Bronx and Nassau County. In upstate New york, over 93 percent of hospitals report extreme difficulty in recruiting RNs, and 97 percent struggle with retention. Hospitals and nursing homes have the most difficulty recruiting and retaining RNs.

Long Island is fortunate to have universities that offer baccalaureate and higher nursing programs, including Adelphi, Farmingdale, Hofstra, LIU, Molloy, NyIT, St. Joseph’s and Stony Brook. yet even with these resources, shortages remain. With the new federal guidelines, those shortages will likely persist, while retention rates drop.

I have seen the profession of nursing

from four distinct vantage points. As assistant commissioner of Higher Education in Indiana in the 1970s, I was involved in a national study of nursing supply and demand commissioned by the National Governor’s Association. In the 1980s I initiated a nursing program at Ramapo College of New Jersey, in partnership with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, which did not offer nursing.

In the 2000s I led the rebuilding of Adelphi’s historic nursing program, which had been neglected by a previous administration. We built new, state-ofthe-art nursing labs and teaching spaces, with the help of leaders at Winthrop and Northwell hospitals.

From these experiences, I learned a great deal about nursing education and practice. They are professionals at every level of education.

More than 150 Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives have authored a bill, the Professional Student Degree Act, that would include graduate nursing education in the category of professional degree, and give graduate nursing students access to the federal student-aid programs for which they were eligible just last year. Let’s hope that wisdom prevails in Congress, with hearty encouragement from grateful patients.

Robert A. Scott is president emeritus of Adelphi University and the author of “How University Boards Work.”

Nominate a student under 18 for the Sustainability Champion Award to recognize their efforts in driving sustainable change.

Submit a nomination of approximately 100 words or less describing the student’s leadership in promoting sustainability: What motivates them? What impact have they had?

Be sure to include a photo or an example of their work—whether it’s a community garden, an environmental campaign, or a creative solution to a sustainability challenge.