Issuu

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AMITYvIlle _____________

HERALD ReCORD

Also serving Amityville, North Amityville, Amity Harbor, Copiague, and East Massapequa

ASD’s All-State NYSSMA winners

Meet local hip-hop pioneer

Remembering Thomas Germano

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VOL. 112 NO. 32

SEPTEMBER 16-22, 2026

$1.00

Schaffer and Quigley face off Babylon does not leave a lot of time for Rich Schaffer to focus on countywide issues,” Quigley Rich Schaffer, the Babylon said. She added that she considtown supervisor and longtime ers his role as town supervisor, chair of the Suffolk County town Democratic leader and Democratic Committee, faces a county Democratic leader as a challenge from Kathryn Casey “conflict of interest.” She Quigley, chair of the Southold points to Brookhaven, SouthTown Democratic Committee, old, East Hampton, Riverhead and Islip as county towns, which Democrats prohibit electprepare to ed officials choose their from leading leader for the political parnext four ties. years. “ S o m e More than times party 1,000 commitleaders have tee members to make decirepresenting sions based Suffolk’s 10 on what they towns are believe is best expected to for elected gather Sept. 22 officials and at the Hilton the county, Long Island even when Hotel in MelRICH SCHAFFER those deciville to vote on sions could w h e t h e r Suffolk County carry politiSchaffer will Democratic leader cal conseremain chair quences,” Schaffer countered. or Quigley will take over. Quigley has criticized Schaf- “There’s something higher fer’s leadership, arguing that than a political position,” Democrats have suffered elec- Schaffer said, adding that he toral losses, relied too heavily was born and raised in Suffolk on cross-party relationships County and wants to do what and not done enough to build he believes is right for the the party at the grassroots county and its residents. Quigley, who was first electlevel. “The job as a town supervi- ed as Southold Democratic sor for such as large town as CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

By CAROLYN JAMES

cjames@liherald.com

Carolyn James/Herald

Members of the Amityville Junior League were on hand with refreshments throughout the day.

Music on the Porch Day brings music —and more—to the village

By CAROLYN JAMES

cjames@liherald.com

Music on the Porch Day gave musicians and neighbors a chance to turn outdoor spaces into informal stages in Amityville on Aug. 29. This year’s event also became a show of support for Jack Nehring, a young local guitarist with the band Split Signal. Split Signal had previously participated in Music on the Porch Day in Amityville. The week before this year’s event, Nehring was struck and injured while riding his bicycle. He is expected to recover but remained hospitalized for the Aug. 29 event. “Jack is a big part of our community,” said former Amityville Fire Chief Chuck Scudlo. .”He’s captain of our junior fire department and the next generation of firefighters. We are here to support him and we know he will be here. Next year, up. On that porch. Playing with is band.”

The band, supported by other musicians, was one of six local bands performing that day, bringing music to Amityville throughout the day. At each location, musicians and community members kept Nehring in their prayers and accepted donations to help in his recovery. The Nehring family has expressed its gratitude for the “overwhelming support” from friends and neighbors. Music on the Porch Day has grown into an international event, with participation reported in more than 70 countries and 1,000 cities. Local versions can take many forms, from individual musicians performing outside their homes to organized neighborhood events where residents walk from porch to porch to hear different performers. Unlike a traditional concert, the event does not require a formal venue or professional stage. The idea is to bring music into CONTINUED ON PAGE 17

ometimes party leaders have to make decisions based on what they believe is best for elected officials and the county, even when those decisions could carry political consequences.

Shah, Leach selected for NYSSMA All-State Two Amityville Memorial High School students have been selected to perform at the 2026 New York State School Music Association All-State Conference in Rochester in December. Sameer Shah, a cellist, was selected to perform with the All-State Symphony Orchestra, while Susan Leach, an alto 2 vocalist, was selected to perform with the All-State Treble Chorus. They will represent Amityville during the conference, which will be held Dec. 3-6 in Rochester. Selection for a NYSSMA All-State ensemble is a competitive process. More than 6,500 sophomores and juniors across New York typically prepare Level VI solos for All-State evaluations, with approximately 825 students ultimately selected to participate in the Conference All-State ensembles. Students are evaluated by NYSSMA-certified adjudicators, and statewide selection committees consider audition scores and rankings along with several additional factors when determining placement. “Sameer and Susan have achieved something truly special, and we could not be prouder to have them represent Amityville on the statewide stage,” said Amityville school district Superintendent of Schools Dr. Gina Talbert. “Their selection reflects their talent, but it also represents countless hours of preparation, perseverance, and dedication to their craft. Opportunities like this demonstrate the importance of the arts in helping our student scholars discover

Courtesy Amityville school. district

Sameer Shah, a cellist, was selected to perform with the All-State Symphony Orchestra, while Susan Leach, an Alto 2 vocalist, was selected to perform with the All-State Treble Chorus. Shown from left ar Bianca Ferrante, Sameer Shah, Susan Leach and Joe De Mato-Garcia. their talents, develop confidence, and

have supported and encouraged them

pursue excellence. Congratulations to

along the way.”

Sameer, Susan, and the educators who

The Conference All-State ensembles

bring together student musicians from across New York for several days of rehearsals under the direction of guest conductors. The experience culminates with performances during the annual NYSSMA Winter Conference. The district also recognizes Amityville music educators Bianca Ferrante and Joe De Mato-Garcia for their dedication to supporting the students throughout their musical development and helping prepare them for this achievement. “Sameer and Susan’s selection for the NYSSMA All-State Conference is an extraordinary accomplishment and a reflection of the dedication they have shown to their musical growth,” said Kimberly Musial, director of fine and performing arts for the Amityville school district. “To be selected among thousands of talented student musicians from across New York State is a tremendous honor. We are incredibly proud of them for reaching this level of achievement and grateful to Ms. Ferrante and Mr. De Mato-Garcia for the instruction, mentorship and encouragement they provide to our students. I look forward to seeing Sameer and Susan represent Amityville and our outstanding music program in Rochester this December.” Sameer and Susan will prepare their All-State repertoire ahead of the December conference, where they will have the opportunity to rehearse and perform alongside student musicians from across New York State.

W.I. Country Fair Sept. 27

GRACE EPISCOPAL CHURCH

More than 100 craft vendors plus live music, a children’s play area, food and more will be featured again at the annual West Islip Craft Fair to be held Sunday, Sept. 27 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This year recognizes the 50th year since the first fair in 1976. The event will be held on the grounds of the West Islip Public Library, Higbie Lane and Montauk Highway. The live music schedule includes

21stANNUAL

H AR VEST FAIR

performances by the West Islip Symphony Orchestra from 10 to 11 a.m.’ the Rock Underground from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. That will follow with line dancing with Sherry Palencia. Fair goers can sample a variety of foods including Italian, Polish and Greek specialties, crepes, Philly cheese steaks, hot dogs and hamburgers, roasted corn, funnel cakes and more. For more information, go to westislipcountryfair.org/

September 26, 2026 10AM - 4PM Enjoy thE Family-Fun activitiEs RAIN OR SHINE 23 CEDAR SHORE DRIVE MASSAPEQUA

OUR FAMOUS JAMS & JELLIES - VENDORS - CRAFTS PETTING ZOO - BOUNCE HOUSE - GIFT BASKET RAFFLE - FOOD & BEVERAGES - PUMPKIN PAINTING THRIFTY BOUTIQUE & MORE..!!

Courtesy West Islip Country Fair 1362724

September 16, 2026 — AMITYVILLE HERALD RECORD

The annual West Islip Country Fair is coming Sept. 27. You won’t want to miss this popular event.

Long Island hip-hop pioneers get their due in new documentary

AMITYVILLE HERALD RECORD — September 16, 2026

By CHRISTIE LEIGH BABIRAD cbabirad@liherald.com

Long before Long Island became known for hip-hop stars like Public Enemy, De La Soul and Biz Markie, Archie Snowden remembers a generation of local DJs and rappers laying the groundwork for the music in communities across Nassau and Suffolk counties. Snowden was among them. Born in Amityville and raised in Brentwood and Central Islip, Snowden, also known as MC Amazin’ A, was part of Long Island’s early hip-hop scene before going on to build a career as a multimedia journalist and award-winning video producer. Now he is turning the camera toward that history with his directorial debut, “The Long Island Underground Legends of Hip Hop,” a documentary highlighting artists who Snowden believes have largely been left out of the story of hip-hop’s beginnings. The film will be screened Sept. 26 at the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame’s Music Documentary Film Festival in Stony Brook. A panel discussion and live performances by artists featured in the documentary will follow the screening. “I’m excited to be showing this in my hometown of Long Island,” Snowden told the Herald. “If you talk about the traditional sense of rap music, no one talks about these legends who started it in Nassau and Suffolk County.” Snowden said the documentary focuses on artists who were making music across Long Island in the 1970s, before hip-hop exploded into the mainstream. “And when I say started it, I’m talking about artists in the early to mid to late 1970s, before it became mainstream, and I’m a part of that,” he said. “I’m one of those pioneers.” Snowden argues that the conventional history of hip-hop has too often focused on New York City, particularly the Bronx, while overlooking artists who were developing the culture elsewhere. DJ Kool Herc is widely credited as one of hip-hop’s founding figures, but Snowden believes focusing on one person or place obscures a larger story about the music’s development. “He was part of it, but in every borough, including Connecticut and New Jersey, it was started at the same exact time as everybody else,” Snowden said. “When you say that Kool Herc started it, you’re eliminating everybody else, including Long Island.” For Snowden, understanding why Long Island artists were overlooked also means examining the Island’s history of racial segregation and discrimination. The documentary explores that history and its effect on the perception of Black communities and culture in Nassau and Suffolk. “There were many communities but only a few of them were recognized as black communities,” Snowden said. “There are racial covenants put in

Long Island Hip Hop musician Archie Snowden there to not sell your home to black people in the 1960s and 1970s — my film features this entire conversation.” As a result, he said, Long Island’s contributions to Black music and culture were frequently ignored. “That’s why we were always overlooked,” Snowden said. Putting ‘Strong Island’ on the map Among the artists Snowden highlights is JVC Force, the Central Islip hiphop group best known for its 1987 song “Strong Island.” Snowden views the track as an important declaration of Long Island’s identity within hip-hop at a time when artists elsewhere in New York were making music celebrating their own neighborhoods and boroughs. “When you talk about traditional anthems, artists who make songs about their neighborhood — JVC Force made a song called ‘Strong Island,’” Snowden said. “That song was an anthem equal to the artists who were doing songs for the Bronx and Queens. It blew up when it first came out but they did not get the

recognition in the traditional sense when it comes to this music.” The documentary also delves into the early story of Biz Markie, the late rapper, DJ and producer who became one of Long Island hip-hop’s best-known figures. “This documentary also features a true story of how the great Biz Markie got started — a story that has never been told before,” Snowden said. More than simply documenting the past, Snowden said he wants the film to introduce younger generations to artists whose influence they may never have known. “I want everybody to recognize us — how we approached the music here on Long Island, and I want the younger people to know who these folks were,” he said. “Even the rappers in the 80’s didn’t reference us but they got it from us. I want them to recognize us and tell their children about it. I want this to be an education that we were here the entire time.” That intergenerational conversation will continue after the Sept. 26 screen-

Photo Courtesy Archie Snowden

ing. Snowden said the Q&A panel was deliberately assembled to bring together DJs and rappers from hip-hop’s early days with artists from later generations. “The Q and A portion, I wanted to make sure that there was a mixture of the DJ’s and rappers from the early days and the newer rappers so the younger guys can talk about how they were inspired by the older ones and the older ones can tell their stories,” Snowden said. Snowden said the screening sold out within an hour, and his exploration of Long Island hip-hop history is not ending with the documentary. He is already working on a second installment. The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame Music Documentary Film Festival runs Sept. 25 through Sept. 27 at 97 Main St. in Stony Brook. For more information about the festival and tickets, visit limusichalloffame. org or call (631) 689-5888. More information about Snowden is available on social media at @ArchieSnowden, and updates about the film are available on Instagram at @longislandhiphopfilm.

Amity police warn of scams

O N

Amityville police are warning the public about phone and online scams and urging people not to provide confidential information to unsolicited callers. “No one should give confidential information such as social security numers or credit card numbers to anyone over the phone or through the internet,” Amityville Police Chief Frank Caramanica said. Scammers often target older people by creating a sense of urgency and pressuring them to provide information immediately, Caramanica said. “In every case, they should reach out

S T A G E

to a friend or relative before complying with a request for confidential information,” Caramanica said. Caramanica also recommends contacting police after receiving a suspicious solicitation. “Nothing is really such an emergency that a legitimate caller cannot wait for theinformation,” he said. Anyone concerned about phone or online scams can call the Amityville Police Department at (631) 264-0400, or visit suffolkpd.org/Information-and-Policies/SCAM-Alerts for more information.

Pilot lands at Robert Moses Park A veteran Long Island airshow pilot safely made an emergency landing in an empty parking lot at Robert Moses State Park on Wednesday, Sept. 9, after his plane suffered an apparent engine failure shortly after takeoff. David Windmiller, 62, of Melville, was the sole occupant of the aircraft and was not injured. No one on the ground was hurt. Windmiller, an aerobatic pilot who performs annually in the Air Show at Jones Beach, said he had departed Republic Airport in Farmingdale to practice for an airshow scheduled for Sept. 10 in Cape May, New Jersey. Less than 10 minutes into the flight, Windmiller said the aircraft’s propeller stopped while he was flying over Robert Moses Beach, forcing him to make an emer-

SEP 10–OCT 25 U P

N E X T

NOV 12–DEC 27

Suffolk County Police from the First and Third precincts, as well as other law enforcement and emergency service units reported the following arrests and incidents this week:

North Amityville: The owner of a 2006 Toyota that was parked on Harrison

Abandoned Boat By William Goldman Based on the Novel by Stephen King

Amityville: On Sept. 3, shortly before

JAN 14–FEB 28 T H E A T E R

Frosty NOV 21–DEC 27

2 5 0 M A I N S T R E E T , N O R T H P O R T , N Y 11 7 6 8

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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.

SEP 26–OCT 25

9 a.m., Amityville police received a call about a boat that was at Broadway and Oak Street, abandoned. Police responded and had the boat removed by Coastal Towing. Criminal mischief

INCIDENTS

C H I L D R E N’S

gency landing. “I was practicing for an airshow tomorrow in Cape May, New Jersey, and the brand-new engine quit,” Windmiller told news outlets. “I had to find a place to land and found a beautiful parking lot with no cars in it. That was the only safe spot.” The pilot brought the aircraft down in an empty parking lot near Field 4, which is closed for the season. Officials are investigating the cause of the engine failure. Windmiller credited the availability of the vacant parking lot for helping him avoid a potentially dangerous situation. The plane remained at the scene as authorities examined the aircraft. No injuries were reported, and no property damage was immediately reported.

CRIME WATCH

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September 16, 2026 — AMITYVILLE HERALD RECORD

HOW TO REACH US Our offices are located at 2 Endo Blvd. Garden City, NY 11530 and are open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

MAIN PHONE: (516) 569-4000 ■ WEB SITE: www.amityvillerecord.com / www.liherald.com/Amityville ■ E-MAIl: Letters and other submissions: cjames@liherald.com ■ EDITORIAl DEPARTMENT: Ext. 329 E-mail: cjames@liherald.com ■ SUBSCRIPTIONS: Press ”7” E-mail: subscriptions@liherald.com ■ ClASSIFIED ADVERTISING: Ext. 286 E-mail: ereynolds@liherald.com ■ DISPlAY ADVERTISING: Ext. 249 E-mail: rglickman@liherald.com ■ PUBlIC NOTICES: Ext. 232 E-mail: legals@liherald.com The Amityville Herald Record USPS 114-210, is published every Wednesday by Richner Communications, Inc., 2 Endo Blvd. Garden City, NY 11530. Periodicals postage paid at Garden City, NY 11530 and additional mailing offices. Postmaster send address changes to Amityville Herald Record, 2 Endo Blvd. Garden City, NY 11530. Newsstand Price: $1. Annual Subscription Rates, $52 per year auto-pay or $65 one-time payment within Suffolk County or $76 outside of Suffolk County. Copyright © 2026 Richner Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Petit larceny Amityville: A resident of East Lake Drive called Amityville police shortly after 10 a.m., Sept. 2 to report the theft of two bicycles from the driveway of his home sometime after Aug. 25. Zone was a black cruiser type with a wooden basket attached to the handlebars and the other a grey mountain bike. •Another bike was reported stolen on Sept. 4. The owner said it was taken from her home on Coles Avenue. Police indicated they would be increasing patrols in the area. Copiague: Suffolk County police arrested Stephen Clayton, 43, of 463 W. Fourth St., West Islip, Aug. 31 and charged him with petit larceny. Police said Clayton stole $800 worth of clothing from Target at 1149 Sunrise Highway. Grand larceny Copiague: A 2007 Honda was parked in front of a home on Pleasantview Court Sept. 1 when someone stole it. The theft was reported at 7 p.m. •A 2020 Mercedes was stolen from in front of a Cedar Court home Aug. 29. The owner reported the theft at 10 p.m. that day. North Amityville: Assorted merchandise, valued at $78, was reported stolen from Dollar General at 3395 Great Neck Road Aug. 28. The report was filed with police at 4:12 p.m. Motor Vehicle Accident Amityville police were called to the scene of a motor vehicle accident at County line Road and Sunrise Highway Sept. 4, shortly before 6 p.m., Upon arrival they found an individual trapped in the vehicle. Amityville Fire Department rescue personnel removed the victim and transported them to Good Samaritan Hospital.

ARRESTS Driving while intoxicated/impaired Matthew Troche, 19, of 49 Railroad Ave., Amityville; Jeremy Mazzo, 23, of 6 Willow Road, Rocky Point; Jose Vidal, 31, of 8925 107th St., Richmond Hill; Ulises Medrano, 55, of 10 Spring St., Wheatley Heights; Darwin Garcia Lopez, 29, of 22 Arlene Drive, Brentwood; Kenneth Unger, 54, of 655 Hyman Ave., West Islip (boat/ vessel); Alexander Leon, 24, of 8621 20th Ave., Brooklyn; Eddie Rathan, 61, of 1389 E. 91st St., Brooklyn; Wilfredo Garcia, 47, of 292 Poplar St., Islip; Ramazan Dumlupinar, 21, of 105 Lenox Road, West Babylon; Joseph Nasso, 53, of 151 Lemon St., Central Islip; Anthony Arenas, 26, of 784 Greenlawn Ave., North Great River. Aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle Norman Myers, 55, of 137 N. 21st St., Wyandanch; Roseanne Potornai, 46, of 53 Lake Drive, West Islip. Robbery

Joseph Tufariello, 33, of 16 Mill Pond Lane, East Moriches; Jhon Martinez Casasbuenas, 33, of 425 Elmore St., Central Islip. Petit larceny Peter Bruno, 45, of 53 Bayonne Ave., Central Islip; Melissa Raspanti, 47, of 334 New York Ave., Lindenhurst; Sarah Agrusa, 30, of 22 New York Ave., Massapequa; Charles Blando, 55, of 30 E. Santabarbara Road, Copiague; Latoya Roille, 41, of 76 E. Minerva Road, Copiague; Stephen Clayton, 43, of 463 W. Fourth St.,

West Islip; Tara Violino, 40, of 32 Grover Lane, East Northport; Shariff Brown, 49, of 276 Cabota Ave., Copiague; Michele Brown, 29, of 1225 St. Paul St., Baldwin; Hermes Leon Garcia, 45, of 2955 196th St., Bronx; Esther Sullivan, 50, of 8 Jefferson Ave., Massapequa; Nicholas Ramroop, 27, of 138-32 248th St., Rosedale; Aidan Newman, 18, of 108 W. Scudder Ave., Copiague; Ranaldo Gray, 22, of 88 Ulster Ave., West Babylon.

Ave., Babylon. Criminal possession of a weapon Jarreth Avila Zamora, 19, of 8 Ferndale Court, Copiague; Eduardo Avila Zamora, 56, of 17 Walnut Road, North Amityville. Leaving the scene of an accident Oscar Moran, 24, of 134 Van St., Brentwood; Diena Machicote, 52, of 195 Broadway, Brentwood.

Criminal mischief Ryan Schmidt, 39, of 25 Mayhew

COMMISSIONER OF

ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL TOWN OF BABYLON

TOWN OF BABYLON SEEKS A COMMISSIONER OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL TO LEAD THE DEPARTMENT AND OVERSEE THE ONGOING MANAGEMENT OF THE TOWN’S SOLID WASTE OPERATIONS, INCLUDING THE RESOURCE RECOVERY FACILITY AND ASH LANDFILL IN WEST BABYLON.

QUALIFICATIONS A minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible senior management experience in municipal solid waste, sanitation, or environmental operations, including direct executive responsibility for landfill, transfer station, or resource recovery operations regulated under 6 NYCRR Part 360 / Part 363 or analogous frameworks. A degree in public administration, public policy, environmental management, or a related field is preferred; candidates without a degree must demonstrate equivalent senior executive training (such as a Senior Executives in State and Local Government certificate from a nationally recognized institution) and commensurate operational experience.

CANDIDATE MUST HAVE • Senior operational management experience in a large municipal sanitation or environmental agency, with direct supervision of a uniformed or civilian workforce of substantial scale and responsibility for staffing, performance management, and labor relations; • Experience coordinating with internal audit, inspector general, or external oversight functions (e.g., state comptroller, department of investigation, or equivalent); • Working knowledge of the regulatory environment affecting closed and active Long Island landfills post-1990, including Part 360/363 closure and post-closure obligations, leachate and groundwater monitoring, and emerging contaminants such as 1,4-dioxane and PFAS; • Experience managing large-scale emergency response operations involving multi-agency coordination; • Familiarity with GIS-based operational analytics in a public works or environmental context; • Proven ability to conduct sensitive investigations, code compliance, and coordination with federal, state, and local agencies; • Strong communication skills and experience interfacing with elected officials, the public, regulators, and the press. • Direct senior executive experience in a large municipal sanitation system with experience in navigating a major landfill closure or transition.

Resumes only. Send to:

Judith Garrick Town of Babylon Personnel Officer Municipal Building – 2nd Floor 456 Albany Avenue, Amityville, NY 11701

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AMITYVILLE HERALD RECORD — September 16, 2026

Avenue Sept. 3 reported to police that someone vandalized the car. The incident was reported at 5:58 p.m.

HERALD SPORTS

September 16, 2026 — AMITYVILLE HERALD RECORD

Amityville girls soccer ready to right the ship By NIKO SCARLATOS sports@liherald.com

After a difficult season in which games often got out of hand early, the Amityville Tide girls soccer team is approaching the new campaign with a different mindset — and a renewed sense of belief. Head coach Nick Demonda believes the Tide can be “very, very competitive” this season, thanks to a combination of returning experience, emerging young talent and, perhaps most importantly, a team that has continued to put in the work. Last season’s struggles forced Amityville to focus heavily on skill development. This year, Demonda believes those lessons can translate into closer games and a more competitive team in a league designed in part for programs looking to rebound. “The girls work really, really hard,” Demonda said. “After last season, they could have just packed it in, and they’re not.” Three seniors, Katherin Medrano, Grace Luis, and Andrea Santos, will provide leadership as returning varsity starters. Each brings a different strength to the field. Medrano is expected to anchor the defense as a stopper and sweeper, while Santos is a defensive presence who can be tasked with marking an opponent’s top player. Luis, meanwhile, returns after earning All-League honors last season and being recognized among the area’s top

(Niko Scarlatos/Herald)

From left, Natasha Diaz, Andrea Santos and Katherin Medrano lead the way for Amityville girls soccer. players despite the team’s overall record. Her work ethic has made an impression on opposing coaches and Demonda alike. Luis’ younger sister, Isabella, a sophomore, is another player Demonda expects to make a significant impact in her first season with the team. The Tide also have plenty of promising youth.

8th grader Natasha Diaz is expected to become a varsity starter after scoring three or four goals at the JV level last season. Demonda praises Diaz’s strong kick, feel for the game and willingness to compete without fear. “She doesn’t play scared,” Demonda said, describing a player who is coachable and eager to improve. Twins Yarielly and Yacqueline Chin-

chilla add another dimension with their combination of speed and power, while Jackie Hernandez Belowo is expected to contribute in the midfield. In goal, sophomore Anamarie Jimenez returns after facing a barrage of shots last season. Despite the difficult circumstances, Jimenez made enough saves to keep several games from becoming even more lopsided and finished among the area’s top 10 goalkeepers in saves. For Demonda, however, the foundation of the season goes beyond formations, goals and wins. The team’s motto is simple: accountability and effort. Demonda wants his players to communicate constantly on the field, believing that talking and encouraging one another can effectively bring a “12th girl” onto the field. Team bonding has also been a priority, helping create a group that genuinely enjoys being around one another. And when things inevitably get difficult, Demonda wants his players to remember why they play. Whether it is a favorite professional player, a family memory or simply the love of the game, that motivation can provide the extra push needed through a tough practice or a difficult stretch of a game. Our goal is clear,” Demonda said. “We want to compete every time they step on the field and show just how far the girls’ hard work can take them.”

West Babylon football embraces fresh start By NIKO SCARLATOS sports@liherald.com

After a difficult 1-7 campaign in 2025, West Babylon enters the new football season with a fresh voice leading the program. Joe Ritacco took over as head coach, inheriting one of the youngest rosters in Division III. But it’s one he believes has the talent and work ethic to steadily return the Eagles to contention. With only four seniors on the roster, West Babylon’s focus isn’t centered on immediate results. Instead, Ritacco is emphasizing daily improvement, physical football and restoring the tradition that has long defined the program. “We want to be the hardest-working team in Division III,” Ritacco said. “We want to be the most physical team. We just want to keep getting better every single week.” The youth movement is impossible to ignore. West Babylon’s entire offensive line consists of sophomores, while much of the skill-position talent is made up of juniors making the jump from a successful junior varsity team that finished 7-1 a season ago. The transition hasn’t been seamless, but the coaching staff has already seen encouraging progress. After a difficult joint practice with Babylon early in the preseason, the Eagles responded with a much stronger showing during scrimmages against Brentwood and Deer Park just five days later. “We’re taking it slow, but we’ll get there,” Ritacco said.

(Niko Scarlatos/Herald)

The Eagles will look to, from left, Jahavi Reyes, Xavier Estevez and Jackson Burmeister to get the program back on track. Leading the way is senior captain Jahavi Reyes, whom Ritacco considers the team’s top player and one of the premier talents on Long Island. “He’s probably our number one overall kid,” Ritacco said. “He should be a Top 100 player on Long Island.” The junior class gives West Babylon plenty of reasons for optimism. Running back and middle linebacker Xavier Estevez, the other team captain, has been a varsity starter since his freshman sea-

son and will again be a two way leader. Jackson Burmeister arrives after starring on last year’s JV squad, where Ritacco said he was “the best player on the field every single game.” Derrick Leveille is expected to anchor the defense at linebacker, while Bobby Nunns brings toughness at wide receiver and will also contribute in the secondary. Quarterback Jacob Gaertner returns to West Babylon after spending time at Holy Trinity and St. John’s. The 6-foot-2 junior gives the Eagles an intriguing presence under center thanks to his size and strong arm. Up front, the sophomore offensive line will be counted on to mature quickly. Jayden Hansen, Tyler Hurd, Damen Anderson and Nevin McKenzie headline the young group, while junior Logan Hennessy adds experience in the trenches. While victories may not come easily with such an inexperienced roster, Ritacco believes the foundation is being laid for sustained success. He credits an experienced coaching staff that includes family members and coaches with NFL backgrounds for helping establish that culture. For a young Eagles team, the mission is clear: grow each week, compete with relentless effort and begin building toward brighter seasons ahead. “Our coaching staff is outstanding,” Ritacco said. “We’re just really building on and bringing back the traditions that all the coaches before me have instilled. We want to bring that toughness back to West Babylon and get us back on the map.”

HERALD SPORTS

By NIKO SCARLATOS sports@liherald.com

Copiague opened its football season Sept. 10 with a hard fought 21-19 loss to Commack, but the result did little to diminish the confidence the Eagles have in what they can accomplish moving forward. Playing in its Suffolk II opener, Copiague established itself on the ground and played strong defense for much of the night. The Eagles ran for 278 yards and held Commack’s rushing attack in check, while their front seven consistently made life difficult for Commack quarterback Lincoln Riggs. “We want to reinforce the positives,” Copiague head coach Phil Fortuno said. “We will look to improve the passing game on both sides of the ball. Their quarterback made some tough throws. Even though we got after him all night and made him uncomfortable, he made some plays.” Senior running back Asante Daniels was the standout offensive performer for Copiague. Daniels carried the ball 19 times for 210 yards, added 27 receiving yards and scored on a spectacular 99-yard touchdown run. It was an impressive opening performance for a player who did not receive many carries last season. “He worked so hard in the offseason,” Fortuno said. “He’s fast, shifty and strong, and he has great vision. It was an awesome way for him to start the season.”

James Vassilico/Herald

Asante Daniels had a 99-yard touchdown run for the Eagles, who fell just short to Commack in the opener, 21-19. Copiague also received contributions from players who excelled on both sides of the ball. Jayden James scored a rushing touchdown while playing slot receiver and cornerback. Despite battling cramps throughout the game, James continued to compete and demonstrated the toughness his coaches admire. Senior captain Trameer Jones provided another big defensive moment with an

interception in the second half. Jones has grown tremendously as both a player and a person since arriving as a freshman and continues to serve as one of the team’s leaders. Gregory Brooks was another difference maker defensively, recording two tackles for loss and five quarterback pressures. After asking for more opportunities to rush the passer, Brooks took advantage of

his chances against Commack. Junior safety Ayden Reaves, who played on the JV team last season, recorded three tackles in his varsity debut. The multisport athlete’s work ethic has impressed the coaching staff. Up front, senior Jaiden Urbina consistently finished his blocks and looked for another defender to hit, while the entire front seven played a major role in stopping Commack’s rushing attack. Copiague also saw encouraging signs from quarterback Adrian Jaquez, who possesses a strong arm, mobility and the willingness to lower his shoulder when necessary. Commack ultimately won behind a strong passing performance from Riggs, who threw for 224 yards, including 127 to Jordan Hamilton. Corey Jacobs and Spencer Weiss each scored rushing touchdowns, while Weiss sealed the victory with a pick six. Ryan Ostling led Commack with nine tackles, while Mason Ruocco added four tackles for loss. Despite the disappointing result, Copiague’s message remains focused on the future. “We never look behind us, we always look in front of us,” Fortuno said. “We stay together and stay with each other. These guys love each other, and we want to keep that culture going.” Copiague will look to earn its first victory of the season when it travels to face Lindenhurst this Saturday at 2 p.m.

High expectations for North Babylon girls soccer By NIKO SCARLATOS sports@liherald.com After reaching the semifinals in three of the last four seasons, the North Babylon girls soccer team has high expectations and plenty of experience. Now in his 19th season at the helm, coach Steve Corrado knows his team has the talent to compete with the best teams in the division. The Bulldogs are still searching for their first win of the season, however, dropping their first two games, 1-0 to Ward Melville on Sept. 5 and 2-0 to Connetquot on Sept. 10. Despite the early setbacks, Corrado is focused on the bigger picture. “We’re definitely looking to return to the playoffs,” Corrado said. “We’re going to compete at the end of the year. The focus right now is getting rid of the early season kinks.” Leading the way is senior forward and captain Monica Clavijo, who was named Division Player of the Year last season after recording 18 goals and eight assists. A fifthyear varsity starter, Clavijo has already committed to Stony Brook and gives the Bulldogs an experienced offensive weapon capable of changing a game at any moment. North Babylon also returns junior captain Brook Milheiser, an All-State selection who led Long Island with 18 assists last season while adding eight goals of her own. The Bulldogs will look to the chemistry between Milheiser and Clavijo to help control games and create opportunities in the attacking third. Experience extends throughout the rest of the roster. Senior captains Sydney Villalter and Melania Turano

Sheryl Amorosino/Herald

Junior Samarah Myers and the Bulldogs have their sights set on returning to the playoffs.

anchor the defense. Villalter is a three- year starter who has committed to Queens College, while Turano brings another strong senior presence to the back line. Senior goalkeeper Alexa Furman is also entering her third year as a starter. A converted field player, Furman has done

nothing but win since taking over in goal and continues to improve with every game. Senior Dakota Rivers, another three-year starter, provides tremendous versatility and athleticism, while midfielder Giavanna Pop, an All-League selection, will help control the middle of the field alongside Clavijo. Senior Sarah Hernandez, another All-League player and an FSC commit, adds even more experience to the Bulldogs’ core. Junior Samarah Myers gives North Babylon a different dimension with her speed, while returning defensive starter Laura Iudica provides stability in the back. Eighth graders Julissa Pinto and Ashley Higuita will also look to make an impact and inject some youth into an experienced group. For Corrado, though, success will come down to more than talent. “The only ones who can stop us is ourselves,” he said. Corrado has also adapted his approach to training as the game and athletes have evolved, placing a greater emphasis on injury prevention as players increasingly train year-round outside of school. With a battle tested senior core, elite playmakers and promising young talent, North Babylon believes another deep playoff run is within reach. The Bulldogs just need to put the early season kinks behind them and find their rhythm. “The talent is so important obviously, but the team chemistry is just as important,” Corrado said. “You want the girls to want to go to battle for the girl next to them. I’ve grown to understand that more and more as I’ve gotten older and been around the game as long as I have now.”

AMITYVILLE HERALD RECORD — September 16, 2026

Copiague football falls in opener against Commack

September 16, 2026 — AMITYVILLE HERALD RECORD

Gandolfo focuses on region’s cost of living By CHRISTIE LEIGH BABIRAD cbabirad@liherald.com

Jarett Gandolfo, a Republican who has served in the Assembly since 2020, is seeking the 8th State Senate District seat currently held by State Sen. Alexis Weik, who is not running re-election. His opponent is Democrat Joshua James Taveras. The district includes portions of the towns of Babylon and Islip, as well as parts of the towns of Oyster Bay and Hempstead. Before being elected to the Assembly, Gandolfo, 36, worked for Assemblyman Andrew Garbarino (now Rep. Garbarino) as his chief of staff. Gandolfo also said his blue-collar upbringing also shaped his approach to public service. His parents instilled a strong work ethic, he said, and he worked at his grandfather’s window treatment shop. While in school, he also worked as a supermarket cashier and warehouse delivery driver. “When the current sitting senator, Alexis Weik, announced that she wasn’t seeking re-election, I was immediately interested,” Gandolfo said. “I have really enjoyed serving in the Assembly, but I felt the Senate gives me an opportunity to represent a larger area of the South Shore and make more of an impact in state government.” Gandolfo said he is particularly proud of securing money for the Bayport-Blue Point School District’s Student Wellness Center, when in the Assembly. Mental health advocacy, he said, would remain a priority, if elected. “It’s an issue that has been neglected, I think, for a long time,” he said. “Anything we can do to increase access to mental health care is a positive step.” Making Long Island more affordable is also at the top of Gandolfo’s agenda. As a father of two young children, he said he understands the financial pressures created by property taxes, housing and child-

8 th STATE SENATE DISTRICT

Christie Leigh Babirad/Herald

Republican Jarrett Gandolfo cites affordability as well as health awareness and services as his top priorities. care. “At the height of our child care needs, two children going to daycare, it was costing us over $3,000 extra a month,” he said. “It’s a cost you don’t necessarily think of when you’re going to have a family.” Gandolfo said he has introduced legislation aimed at reducing childcare costs, including a proposal requiring the state to consider regional cost-of-living differences in child care subsidy programs. He is also developing a proposal that would provide tax credits to families with prekindergarten-age children to reimburse up to 50 percent of child care costs

when using licensed providers. Gandolfo said he favors that approach over the state’s planned expansion of universal pre-K, citing concerns about available space and staffing. Public safety is another priority. Gandolfo said he wants to work with police and other experts to ensure departments have the resources needed to keep communities safe. Long Island’s environment and quality of life are also among his concerns. He said clean bays, waterways and beaches are essential to the region. “We have to understand that if we harm our aquifer, the costs will not only be financial, but it will affect public health,” he said. Gandolfo supports expanding wastewater infrastructure and sewer systems. “I think any way that we can expand the wastewater infrastructure, the sewers, is a home run,” he said. He said residents throughout the district generally want similar things, including economic growth in downtowns, occupied storefronts and well-maintained infrastructure. Working across party lines and increasing his involvement throughout the district is part of Gandolfo’s agenda. “Showing up is important,” he said. Gandolfo lives in Sayville with his wife, Natalia, their sons, Leonard, 5, and Benjamin, 3, and their two cats, Sniffles and Elizabeth.

Taveras hopes to turn the district Democratic By CHRISTIE LEIGH BABIRAD cbabirad@liherald.com

The issues are well known: affordability, education and health care. Joshua James Taveras, a Democrat, is challenging Republican Jarett Gandolfo for the New York State Senate’s 8th District seat, which is currently held by Sen. Alexis Weik, who is not seeking re-election. The district includes portions of the towns of Babylon and Islip, as well as parts of the towns of Oyster Bay and Hempstead. Taveras, 26, who describes himself as Afro-Latino and a member of the LGBTQ community, said he is running as an advocate for residents he believes are not adequately represented. “On Long Island and in New York with the politics we have here right now, District 8 has been a Republican seat and sadly for a lot of New Yorkers who live in District 8, they’re not being represented to the extent that they should be,” Taveras said. He works as a store manager for BYLT, an apparel company, and said he comes from a working family. “We need someone who actually knows the struggles that Long Islanders have endured, working fulltime and paycheck to paycheck,” Taveras said. If elected, he said his priorities would include affordability, education and health care. Housing costs and property taxes are among his biggest concerns. Taveras said high costs are affecting both younger residents and seniors. “What are we doing if we’re pricing out the next generation?” he said. “We are indirectly cutting them

Christie Leigh Babirad/Herald

Joshua James Taveras is looking to advocate particularly for the large Latino population he believes feels underrepresented in the district. off from having any type of successful future on Long Island.” Taveras said he would support legislation to help first-time homebuyers and would advocate for allowing homeowners to legally rent portions of their properties, such as basements or upper floors. He also supports universal pre-K and said he would

oppose charter schools, which he believes divert funding from public schools. “I think we need to protect the education system as a whole here and make the system so strong that the other states want to copy it as well,” Taveras said. He supports the state’s plan to expand universal pre-K by the 2028-29 school year and said investing in early childhood education would benefit both students and families. He also said he would support better wages and working conditions for pre-K teachers. Health care is another major issue for Taveras, who said he would advocate for expanded access to health care and changes to what he described as a largely forprofit system. “We need to knock down that system,” he said. Taveras also said nurse-to-patient ratios should be more strictly enforced, arguing that nurses are being pushed to the brink. He said his approach to public policy is focused on addressing long-term problems rather than temporary fixes. “I’m always thinking ahead,” Taveras said. “They just want to fill a pothole, but we need to take off the whole road and lay a completely new one.” Taveras grew up in Copiague and now lives in Massapequa. He speaks Portuguese and Spanish and said support from the LGBTQ community helped inspire him to seek public office. In addition to his professional work, Taveras said he wants to remain active in the communities he hopes to represent. Election Day is Nov. 3. The polls are open from 6 am. to 9 p.m.

OBITUARY By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com

Thomas J. Germano, a North Babylon resident, labor leader, scholar and arbitrator who helped lead the historic 1970 postal strike, died peacefully Aug. 27, 2026, at 86, after a battle with multiple myeloma. Born in New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood, Germano lost his mother when he was 10. He held several jobs while raising a family and attending night school, eventually earning a Ph.D. in sociology from the City University of New York’s Graduate Center. As a New York City letter carrier, Germano became one of the principal rankand-file leaders of the Great Postal Strike of 1970. The wildcat strike began in New York City and spread nationwide, involving approximately 200,000 workers who sought better wages, collective bargaining rights and improved working conditions. Decades later, the National Association of Letter Carriers honored Germano as an honorary permanent member. In 2020, he shared his memories of the strike in a nationally broadcast conversation on NPR’s “Morning Edition.” “Sometimes you have to do a moral thing, and a dignity thing,” Germano said. He hoped to be remembered as “somebody who helped people when he could.” Germano went on to become a labor scholar, teacher, arbitrator and mediator.

He also founded the Labor Management Center on Long Island and served on panels for the American Arbitration Association, National Mediation Board and Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. Both labor and management sought his counsel, and he continued hearing cases until retiring in 2020. For all of his professional accomplishments, his family THOMAS J. GERMANO was his greatest source of pride. “He was always quick with a joke or a funny story,” said his daughter, Judith Germano. “He had a great sense of humor.” But perhaps one of the greatest gifts he left his children and grandchildren was the example he set throughout his life of always trying to do the right thing. “He lived it,” she said. “His fairness and his ability to cut through the emotion and look at the facts, made him successful in his field,” she said. He is survived by his children, Thomas Germano of East Norwich; Andrew Germano of Florida; and Judith Germano and her husband, Michael Bonarti, of New Jersey. His stepchildren, James Miller and his wife, Shana, of Babylon, and Patti Miller Retzlaff and her husband, Todd, of North Carolina also survive him as does his sister, Patricia Germano Canova, his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends.

His first wife Rosalie Chamberlain and the mother of their four children also survives him. The two remained close friends and family. He was predeceased by his daughter Elizabeth Germano, who died in 2021; his second wife, Mary Ann Germano, whom he married in 2000 and who died in 2008 and his brother Robert Germano. A memorial gathering was

held Sept. 7 at Claude R. Boyd-Spencer Funeral Home in Babylon. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Tuesday, Sept. 8, at 10:15 a.m. at St. Joseph’s R.C. Church in Babylon. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes contributions in Germano’s memory to the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) and the link is: https://fundraise.myeloma. org/campaign/840028/donate., or to Island Harvest, islandharvest.org, which provides food and support to those in need on Long Island.

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AMITYVILLE HERALD RECORD — September 16, 2026

Thomas J. Germano, labor leader and scholar, dies at 86

September 16, 2026 — AMITYVILLE HERALD RECORD

NEIGHBORS IN THE NEWS

A fresh start for a new school year begins The first day of school is about much more than new backpacks, sharpened pencils and getting used to an earlier alarm. It marks a fresh beginning for students, families, teachers and entire school communities. For students, the first day can bring excitement and nerves in equal measure. They see old friends, meet new classmates and begin learning the rou-

tines that will shape their days for the months ahead. For younger children — and those entering a new school — that transition can feel especially significant. The first day also sets the tone for belonging. A welcoming teacher, a friendly classmate or simply knowing where to go can help a student feel that school is a place where they belong.

Establishing predictable routines can provide another important source of comfort and confidence. For parents and caregivers, the morning may be an emotional milestone of its own. They are entrusting their children to teachers and school communities while adjusting to new schedules and responsibilities. Strong communication between families and schools can

help build the partnerships that support students throughout the year. By the final bell, the first day may already be fading into memory. But the relationships, routines and sense of possibility established that day can help shape the school year ahead. —Carolyn James

Courtesy Copiague school district

Teachers and staff welcomed Copiague students back to school on Sept. 2, helping create a warm and positive start to the 2026-27 school year. From the youngest learners entering kindergarten to high school seniors beginning their final year, students across the district reunited with friends, met their teachers and settled into new classrooms as they embarked on another year of learning and growth.

Courtesy Amityville school district

Amityville students and staff were all smiles as tey headed back toschool for. another successful school year.

A look back at the first search and rescue Shepherds Medal in Britain on behalf of all search-and-rescue dogs at the 9/11 site. The British consider the medal the equivalent of the Navy Cross. Apollo died in November 2006 at the age of 14.

AMITYVILLE HERALD RECORD — September 16, 2026

As we mark 25 years since 9/11 and honor those first on the scene, we must not forget the brave canine-handler search teams. Their stories remain part of the broader history of the day and its aftermath. The historic photograph of search-and-rescue shepherd Apollo was taken on Sept. 12 by my late photographer friend Mary Bloom. Although the press was not allowed at Ground Zero the next day, the American Kennel Club arranged for Mary, an AKC photographer, to meet dogs on duty that day. She recalled: “They were hard at work so I was there briefly, but the memory of that day will last forever.”

TRAKR (NOT PICTURED)

He was a stocky Shepherd born and trained in the Czech Republic in 1994. He joined the Halifax Regional Police Department a year later. Trakr worked for the department for six years, sniffing out more than $1 million in contraband, as well as finding missing people and helping in the arrests of hundreds of criminals. APOLLO His handler, Halifax police officer James Peter Davis and Apollo from the NYPD Symington, saw the 9/11 recovery effort on K-9 Unit arrived at the World Trade Center TV and put Trakr, his retired search dog, in site shortly after the South Tower collapsed, his car for the 15-hour ride from Nova Scotia making Apollo the first police K-9 to respond to New York City. Symington had retired at Ground Zero. Apollo was born in 1992. By Trakr early to avoid a Halifax police force 1994, he had graduated from the NYPD policy to euthanize working dogs the departCanine Special Operations Unit. ment had retired. Then he went on sick leave. Meanwhile, from 1994 to 2001, Apollo was Their first morning in New York City, one of New York’s best police dogs, contribTrakr found signs of life under the rubble. uting to arrests. He was a member of the first Firefighters discovered Genelle Guzman, the NYPD search-and-rescue team in urban last of only 20 survivors who had been inside JOANNE areas. the buildings when they collapsed. She was ANDERSON When the duo arrived at the scene on 9/11, trapped for 26 hours before her rescue. Apollo aided injured victims. At one point, he On Sept. 14, Trakr collapsed from chemiwas almost killed by falling debris and fire. But he was cal and smoke inhalation, burns and exhaustion, and was saved because he had been drenched when he landed in treated with intravenous fluids. After Trakr was an open pool. Davis brushed him off and sent him back to released, Symington and Trakr returned home to Canawork. da. When the Halifax Police Department saw Symington For weeks, Apollo worked for up to 18 hours a day in and Trakr on television, they suspended Jim with pay for hopes of finding survivors. He got a bath every day to attending the New York City rescue effort without perwash off contaminants and spent his downtime offering mission while on sick leave. workers moral support. In 2001, Apollo received the AKC Shortly before Trakr’s death in April 2009, Symington ACE Award. The next year, he was given the Dickin entered an essay contest sponsored by a biotech compa-

Pets, Pets, Pets...

Photo Courtesy Mary Bloom

Search & Rescue German Shepherd Apollo and handler Peter Davis NYPD at Ground Zero on 9/12/01. ny, searching for the most “clone-worthy dog.” Trakr was selected over 200 other entries. Despite controversy by animal welfare groups about the health of laboratory clones, five clone puppies were delivered to Symington in June 2009 from a South Korean laboratory. He began training the pups in search and rescue in 2011. In total, more than 350 search-and-rescue dogs with their handlers were at Ground Zero. The tallest was a Beauceron, a French herding breed; the smallest was a Rat Terrier. A memorial in New York City is dedicated to their memory and bravery. Heroes come in diverse sizes and shapes, including in the shape of man’s best friend.

Molloy is among Time’s top 100 colleges By BRIAN KACHARABA bkacharaba@liherald.com

Molloy University has been named to Time magazine’s inaugural America’s Best Colleges list for 2026-27, placing No. 85 among the top 100 colleges and universities in the nation. Molloy was one of 14 New York institutions on the list, and the only Long Island college or university to receive the distinction. It was recognized alongside Columbia University, Barnard College and New York University. Time evaluated colleges based on student outcomes, learning environment and attractiveness to students. Student outcomes accounted for 75 percent of an institution’s overall score, including graduation rates, graduate earnings and economic value for students. The remaining 25 percent of the score factored in educational costs, student resources and demand. Molloy earned an overall score of 79.93. For President James Lentini, the recognition came as a surprise, because the university was not asked to submit information. “It was totally a surprise to me,” Lentini said. “They did their own research by pulling up return-on-investment info and all kinds of metrics that are out there that people can find, and so, yeah, it was a surprise.” Lentini said that

Courtesy Molloy University

Molloy University is ranked No. 85 among the nation’s top 100 colleges and universities in Time magazine’s inaugural America’s Best Colleges list for 2026-27. Time used information including the cost of tuition, graduation rates and graduate salaries. “A lot of this data is available publicly through something called IPEDS” — the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System — “which is a system we all have to report to,” he said. “It was a pleasant surprise.”

The recognition follows another national ranking based on student outcomes. Lentini noted that Molloy was ranked No. 75 by the Wall Street Journal last year. “It was great that these two publications, and this one being Time, are the same kind of results based on student outcomes,” he said.

The distinction, Lentini added, reflects Molloy’s focus on students. “It says a lot about what we’re doing here and the high quality of the work, and what we’re doing for our students here,” he said. “We have the kind of institution that offers degrees where they’re highly regarded in health care and the arts and business and education, and it just speaks highly of the work that’s happening at Molloy.” Lentini attributed the success of the university’s students in part to its mission and student support. “I think we’re a different kind of place,” he said. “Our mission, being a Catholic school, I think the kind of care our students get, the kind of way we treat each other, the attention we pay to each student, I think it’s a lot missionbased, and I think it speaks to retention rates and graduation rates. “Those kinds of things speak to the fact that our students feel a sense of belonging here,” he added. “They stay, and they get nurtured in a way where they succeed when they graduate.” Time’s recognition, Lentini said, could bring attention from prospective students and families. “I think it should give [us] a boost,” he said. “We’re right in the backyard of a lot of these great students, so we’re worth a look from all these students, and we hope that more recognition will even take us further.”

September 16, 2026 — AMITYVILLE HERALD RECORD

Photo Courtesy of Amityville Village

Amityville Village officials attended the annual Beach Award ceremonies congratulating all the athletes who were recognized and thanking the Village’s beach manager, Terrylynn Bayon (shown center) for her work and all the beach employees who worked so hard during the 2026 season.

Amityville Beach 2026 Swimming & Sailing 2026 Awards Friday Swimming Races (Medals) Beginners 4-6 Girls Penelope Antonellis (1st) Audrey (2nd) Sunny Modica (3rd) Hannah Rousseau Boys Gavin Gullo (1st) Joe Grosseto (2nd) Max Howard – Lovette (3rd) Advanced Beginners 7-9 Girls Erin Pereira (1st) Mila Meade (2nd) Madison Roy (3rd) Layla Meade Ashley Cooper Boys Tatum Gardner (1st) John Antonellis (2nd) Timmy Rousseau (3rd) Caleb Kreuder (3rd) Swimmers 10-12 Girls Nora Pereira (1st)

Boys Will Meyer (1st) Ryan Carter (2nd) 7/21/26 Little Kids & Medium Kids Triathlon (Medals) Girls Penelope Antonellis (4) Emma Hernandez (4) Kaya Meade (4) Claire Pereira (4) Hannah Rousseau (5) Amelia Hernandez (6) Madison Roy (7) Leila Meade (7) Juliette Pascuzzi (8) Meila Meade (8) Ashley Cooper (9) Erin Pereira (9) Nora Pereira (10) Boys Mac Fallot (4) Joseph Grosseto (5) Gavin Gullo (5) Timmy Rousseau (7) Caleb Kreuder (8) John Antonellis (8) Tate Gardener (9) 7/22/26 Big Kids Triathlon (1st, 2nd &

3rd Places Trophies & Name on Jerry Pollock Wall of Fame) Bentley Broyles (14) – 44:08 Mason Nehring (15) – 46:04 Max Pickering (11) – 54:20 Ryan Carter (10) – 55:55 Half Mile Swim Little Kids 7/28/26 (Medals) Girls Penelope Antonellis (4) Claire Pereira (4) Madison Roy (7) Faith Miller (7) Erin Pereira (8) Juliette Pascuzzi (8) Ashley Cooper (9) Nora Pereira (10) Boys Joseph Grosseto (5) Caleb Kreuder (8) Nico Russo (10) Tom Howard - Half Mile Swim Big Kids 2026 (1st, 2nd & 3rd Places receive trophies & their name on the Jerry Pollock Wall of Fame) Girls Camila Bianco (12) - 25:54

Boys

Max Pickering (11) – 25:54 Mason Nehring (15) – 28:54 Sailing Race Day 2026 (trophies) Caleb Kreuder William Meyer Griffin Roche Brayden Tomczyk Kellen Tomczyk John Antonellis Tate Antonellis Everleigh Cardace Sierra Stachurski Giuliana DeChario Sofia Aguilar Emma Vasquez Jimmy Nieves Eric Meyer Ryan Carter Stephen Cummings Nico Russo Andersen Aguilar Max Pickering Caleb Garcia Wade Sharkey Brennan Ahl Shane Howard Bentley Broyles CONTINUED ON PAGE 13

AMITYVILLE HERALD RECORD — September 16, 2026

Nora Pereira Erin Pereira Ashleigh Cooper Juliette Pascuzzi Juliette Pickering Sara Sharkey Kennedy Thompson Brennan Stein Grayson Egan Camilia Bianco Madelena Romanyszyn Harper DeBruin Best Skippers (receive trophies & their name on the Jerry Pollock Wall of Fame) Boys Max Pickering & Bentley Broyles

Girls Emma Vasquez & Madelena Romanyszyn Most Improved (receive trophies & their name on the Jerry Pollock Wall of Fame) Boys Tate Antonellis & Nico Russo Girls Camilia Bianco & Kennedy Thompson Best Buddies (trophies) Ashleigh Cooper & Juliette Pascuzzi & Erin Pereria & Nora Pereria Amityville, Unqua & Narrasketuck Regatta August 1, 2026 @ UCYC Sunfish Division Winners Kellen Tomczyk & Shane Howard & Bentley Broyles

The Amityville Historical Society Congratulates all our athletes!

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Congratulations To All Our Athletes!

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Congratulations to our swimmers and sailors and “thank you” to all the instructors, lifeguards and beach staff. Mayor Michael O’Neill and the Amityville Board of Trustees

Aiming to ease emissions on Car Free Day By BRIAN KACHARABA bkacharaba@liherald.com

Brian Kacharaba/Herald

The Long Island Rail Road is among the transportation alternatives that Car Free Day LI organizers hope more residents will consider on Sept. 22. tributing to Long Island’s environmental impact, making alternatives to driving important for air quality and efforts to slow global warming. Participation this year is on pace to reach 5,000 pledges, which Germain said would be the most since the pandemic. She also pointed to changing patterns in transit use. In June, the Long Island

Rail Road recorded 5 million rides, a record, with many trips for purposes other than commuting. People are increasingly using the railroad for leisure, she said, while students use it to travel to the city for internships and programs. Family ridership has also increased thanks to an LIRR program that allows

children 17 or younger to ride for $1 when accompanied by a parent. For Germain, the most meaningful measure of success is seeing people actually using alternatives to driving. “What really is exciting to me is seeing that 20-something-year-old take the NICE bus to get to Farmingdale State College,” she said, referring to the Nassau Inter-County Express bus service, “or to see the employees at Northwell Health walk to lunch that day, the actions themselves, and the excitement it generates.” While Car Free Day is held once a year, Germain said the coalition promoting it works throughout the year with municipalities, transit partners, academic institutions and health care organizations. Improving transportation choices, she said, can also expand mobility for people who don’t drive, including older adults who have stopped driving and younger people who can’t afford cars. “I think that mobility offers so much freedom,” Germain said. People who live or work in Nassau or Suffolk counties can take participate by making a pledge on the Car Free Day LI website. Participants can also enter a raffle for prizes, including two hybrid bicycles, a Lululemon bundle and an LIRR weekly ticket. More information, and the pledge form, are available at CarFreeDayLI.com.

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Long Island residents are being encouraged to rethink how they get around when the region marks its 14th annual Car Free Day, an initiative in which participants are asked to replace at least one trip made alone by car with a sustainable option. Car Free Day, on Sept. 22, is observed in cities around the world. Long Island joined the movement 13 years ago with a campaign focused on raising awareness of transportation choices and measuring emissions saved when people leave their cars behind. Mindy Germain, co-chair of Car Free Day LI and program manager for Transit Solutions, said the goal is not for participants to eliminate driving for an entire day. “All we ask you to do is swap out one drive-alone car trip,” Germain said. That could mean walking to a store, taking the train or bus, bicycling, or sharing a ride with someone who would otherwise drive separately. Organizers measure the emissions saved through pledges received leading up to the event, and calculate the total for Long Island. Germain said the campaign had already reached about 75 tons of saved emissions based on those pledges. Transportation, she said, accounts for about a third of the emissions con-

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September 16, 2026 — AMITYVILLE HERALD RECORD

STEPPING OUT

Michael Carbonaro returns with

he music — that’s what keeps him coming back MARY TRAVIS Wife, Randy Travis

Randy Travis’s music lives on, forever and ever

‘More Life’ tour features country star and guest vocalist, James Dupré By JORDAN VALLONE

ountry Music Hall of Fame legend Randy Travis is bringing one of the ﬁnal dates of his acclaimed “More Life” tour to Long Island, wrapping up an emotional two-year run that has taken the show to 54 cities across 24 states. The dynamic performance arrives at Flagstar at Westbury Music Fair on Sept. 25. The show begins at 8 p.m. Travis’s four-decade long career generated iconic No. 1 hits, including “Forever and Ever, Amen,” “On The Other Hand,” and “Three Wooden Crosses,” among others. While Travis no longer performs due to the side effects of a stroke he survived in 2013, he joins his wife, Mary Travis, on stage throughout the show, interacting with fans and celebrating his music alongside longtime members of his band and guest vocalist James Dupré.

Randy Travis carries his country music legacy forward

Travis, 67, is a North Carolina native whose music helped usher in a new traditionalist movement of modern country music when he released. Recognized for his baritone voice and an earnest approach to music, he won backto-back Country Music Association Song of the Year awards in 1986 and 1987. The seven-time Grammy award winner has sold sold over 25 million albums, generating 23 No. 1 hits and 31 Top 10s. He was named a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1986 and inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2016. Though a near-fatal stroke has left him unable to perform, Travis’s recovery and commitment to his fans and music has inspired many. “The music — that’s what keeps him coming back,” Mary Travis told the Herald on a call with the country music legend. “That was Randy’s heart, his soul. That’s all he ever wanted to do was make music.” In 2024, Travis released “Where That Came From” through Warner Records Nashville, his

first new recording in over a decade, developed through the use of artificial intelligence software which helped recreate his vocals. It was overlaid on an existing recording of the song from his longtime collaborator, Dupré. Dupré, 42, of Louisiana, became a YouTube sensation in 2007 which led to a performance on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” Since then, he’s released multiple albums, appeared on NBC’s “The Voice” in 2015, and was eventually handpicked by Travis and his wife in 2019 to be the guest vocalist for the “More Life” tour. Dupré and Travis first worked together for a 2015 film, “The Price,” which tells the story of an aging country music singer aspiring to reconnect with his son. Years later, when Travis’s team discussed the possibly of him touring again, Dupré emerged as the best choice for long-term collaboration. “When Tony Conway, Randy’s manager said, several years after the stroke, ‘If we wanted to go back on the road, who would you have sing the music?’ — we immediately said James Dupré,” Mary recounts. “We remembered the connection that the two of them had, and it has proved correct. When you see the two on stage, you can see the relationship and the magnetism. It just works perfectly.” • Friday, Sept. 25, 8 p.m. Dupré’s collaboration with Travis, and the release of “Where That • Tickets begin at $35 per person Came From,” helped launch a new chapter of advocacy for Travis and • Flagstar at Westbury Music his wife, who used the song as a platform to champion creators’ rights Fair, 960 Brush Hollow Road, and responsible AI protections for artists. Westbury “It was a good way to introduce AI to be used in a good way,” • Visit RandyTravis.com for Mary says.“Randy’s heart and soul was still in it. He’s still involved with more details the production of it. It’s not taking his voice and using it and abusing it in some other realm.”

About the ‘More Life’ tour

Travis’s tour debuted as “The Music of Randy Travis,” but last year, his team changed the name to the “More Life” tour. “More Life” was one of the last songs Travis recorded before his stroke. “When we were in the hospital, it kept me going because it’s such a beautiful song,” Mary says. “We decided to name the tour ‘More Life’ because that’s what we felt like we got — more life — as a gift.” She describes the show as more than a “regular concert.” Travis’s songs are performed by Dupré, alongside members of his original band, but there’s also videos of Travis shown to the crowd spanning the entire length of his career. Mary also joins Travis and Dupré on stage to tell stories about her husband and his music. “It’s very interactive,” Mary says “It’s almost like a biopic of Randy Travis. It’s not just a concert — it’s a story, and it’s sad, it’s sweet, it’s happy. It’s just Randy Travis, and it’s a beautiful thing.” Travis’s team looks forward to bringing the show to Long Island and sharing his music and life with many longtime fans. “We get to play at some of the neatest (theaters), which I think is kind of cool, because of Randy Travis and the nostalgia of Randy Travis, and the years he’s been here to raise a lot of us on his music,” Mary says, “and Westbury’s a perfect place for us to land over there in Long Island with you all.”

“Wonderboy,” his all-new live tour. Packed with audience participation, sly improv, and his signature realitytwisting illusions, Carbonaro, from the star of truTV’s “The Carbonaro Effect,” delivers a high-energy, laugh-ﬁlled experience for all ages. Part magician, part comedian, all mischief-maker — “Wonderboy” is where magic is the superpower, laughter is the sidekick and reality doesn’t stand a chance. The multitalented actor-magician-comedian has built a career turning the ordinary into the extraordinary. He’s made millions laugh in astonishment by blending quick-witted comedy with jaw-dropping illusions in everyday settings. This tour is where audiences discover him as the Hero of Mischief, in a world where magic is the superpower and laughter is the sidekick.

Friday, Sept. 18, 7:30 p.m. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington.

Eddie Griffin Get ready to laugh until your sides hurt! Over his decades-long career, Eddie Grifﬁn has become known for his sharp social commentary and animated storytelling. The popular comedian-turned-actor blends personal experiences with cultural observations and shifts seamlessly from biting satire to playful crowd work, making him a consistent draw for live audiences nationwide. Acclaimed for his appearances in “Deuce Bigalow, Male Gigolo,” “Chappelle’s Show,” 2018’s “A Star Is Born,”and star of “Undercover Brother,” he’s praised for razor-sharp wit, spot-on impersonations and unmatched stage presence.

Saturday, Sept. 19, 8 p.m. Tickets available at LiveNation.com. Flagstar at Westbury Music Fair, 960 Brush Hollow Road, Westbury.

AMITYVILLE HERALD RECORD — September 16, 2026

Michael Carbonaro

September 16, 2026 — AMITYVILLE HERALD RECORD

Your Neighborhood SEP

Wendy Klemperer: Wrought Taxonomies

Vanderbilt Museum welcomes everyone to enjoy the exhibition of outdoor sculpture at the historic summer estate of William Kissam Vanderbilt II. Klemperer’s sculptures. a haunting assemblage of animal forms that span imaginary, endangered, familiar, and exotic species, celebrate natural history and the nonhuman world through evocative interactions with the surrounding environment. Using materials salvaged from scrapyards, she composes ecological narratives that respond to the history and collections of Suffolk County’s first public park and museum. Her brilliant use of gestural lines captures the spectator’s attention and invites museum-goers to reflect on the relationship between an interest in animal life and the incessant push of human industry. Visitors are encouraged to picnic on the grounds. • Where: 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport • Time: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. • Contact: vanderbiltmuseum.org or call (631) 854-5579

‘Everybody Loves Raymond: Celebrating 30 Years’

Visit the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame for an immersive exhibit (designed by LIMEHOF Creative Director, renowned designer Kevin O’Callaghan). It features the 70-foot-wide 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

SEP

First Presbyterian Church of Babylon Food Pantry

CALENDAR SEP

Nourish Babylon Sit-Down Dinner Every Monday Nourish Babylon holds a sitdown dinner. All are welcome to attend.

• Where: Christ Episcopal Church, 12 Prospect St., Babylon. • Time: 5 to 6:30 p.m. • Contact: (631) 661-5757

Grab-and-Go Free Dinners

Free dinners are available at Cross of Christ Lutheran Church, every Tuesday. Drive into the parking lot behind the church and a meal will be hand-delivered to you.

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• Where: 576 Deer Park Ave., Babylon • Time: 4-5 p.m. • Contact: (631) 987-2896

Double Vision

The 1970s and ‘80s come alive when Double Vision brings their “Foreigner Experience” to the Paramount stage. Whether you’re a lifelong Foreigner enthusiast or a newcomer eager to experience the magic of their music, Double Vision promises a night of electrifying entertainment that will leave you singing along and craving more. Composed of some New York City’s top professional rock musicians, the band delivers the highest level of integrity and technical prowess in bring audiences all the hits from the band that you’ve come to love, while honoring Foreigner and its audience, with a show second to none. The spirit of rock ‘n’ roll lives on, one unforgettable performance at a time, with this group of talented musicians and die-hard Foreigner fans. Double Vision has perfected the art of bringing to life the unforgettable hits that have defined generations. From “I Want to Know What Love Is” to “Cold as Ice,” their renditions are a harmonious blend of passion, precision, and nostalgic energy. Drawing inspiration from Foreigner’s unmistakable sound and stage presence, Double Vision delivers a performance that pays homage to the band’s legacy while infusing their own charisma and enthusiasm. They are joined by special guest Frontier for an authentic • Where: The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington Foreigner and Journey tribute. Sing along to some of the greatest hit tunes, including • Time: 8 p.m. “Juke Box Hero,” “Hot Blooded,” “Cold As Ice,” “I Want To Know What Love Is,” “Urgent,” • Contact: ticketmaster.com “Double Vision,” “Head Games,” “Feels Like the First Time,” and more. or paramountny.com

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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

OCT

• Time: 10 a.m.-1 p.m., ongoing • Contact: (631) 587-5838, administration@firstpresbabylon. org, firstpresbabylon.org.

Thrift Shop

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

St. Mary’s Thrift Shop

Stop by St. Mary’s Thrift Shop to check out some 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

Celebrating Alexander’s Angels

• Time: 8 p.m. • Contact: madisontheatreny.org

‘Oedipus by Sophocles’

Vanderbilt Museum’s Shakespeare in the Courtyard series continues with the Athenian tragedy, one of the great landmarks of Western theater. It’s performed by the Carriage House Players in the Mansion’s beautiful Spanish Revival courtyard. $20, $15 seniors and students. • Where: 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport • Time: 8 p.m.; also Sept. 20 • Contact: vanderbiltmuseum. org or call (631) 854-5579

SEP

Farmers Market Stop by for fresh produce and products from various vendors. Open every Saturday until Oct 24.

• Where: First United Methodist Church, 25 Broadway, Amityville • Time: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. • Contact: (631) 264-0152

This food pantry is available for anyone in need of a little extra support.

Showcasing what people with Down Syndrome can do, Alexander’s Angels Got Talent, AAGT, performs at the Madison Theater. Admission is $15.

Church Attic Thrift Shop

• Where: First Presbyterian Church of Babylon, 79 E. Main St., Babylon

• Where: Madison Theatre, Molloy University,1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre

First United Methodist Church welcomes all to their weekly thrift shop.

• Where: 25 Broadway, Amityville • Time: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. • Contact: (631) 264-0152 or email amitychurch1792@gmail. com

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Concert time

The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame welcomes Hector Martignon and Band for Sinfonía, Sabor & Cine, A Celebration Of Hispanic Heritage Month In Sound & Cinema.

Kid Zone

L.I. Buddy Walk

Celebrate Alexander’s Angels and raise awareness for individuals with Down Syndrome by participating in the L.I. Buddy Walk. Established in 1995 by the National Down Syndrome Society to celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness, the walk is free with registration required. • Where: Tanner Park, 400 Baylawn Ave., Copiague • Time: 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. • Contact: charity.pledgeit.org/ downrightawesome20years

• Where: 97 Main St., Stony Brook • Time: 2 p.m., percussion workshop; 3 p.m. concert • Contact: limusichalloffame. org or (631) 689-5888

SEP

First Presbyterian Church of Babylon Food Pantry

The Copiague Board of Education holds their next meeting. All are welcome to attend. • Where: First Presbyterian Church of Babylon, 79 E. Main St., Babylon • Time: 10 a.m.-1 p.m., ongoing

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.

Annual event draws hundreds to musical performances the places where people live and give neighbors an opportunity to connect through performances. Events held around the country have featured musicians ranging from students and amateur performers to experienced bands and solo artists. In Amityville, people brought lawn chairs, coolers and even their dogs to enjoy six local bands that performed from noon to 10 p.m. This year’s lineup included Echo Dharma, Split Signal, Kung Fu Betty, Porch Friends, Acous-

AMITYVILLE HERALD RECORD — September 16, 2026

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

tic Blue and Southbound. “It was a wonderful day,” said former Amityville Mayor Dennis Siry who started the Music on the Porch day tradition in Amityville and who helps organize the event each year. “Everyone seemed to enjoy it and we got great feedback from the community.” The six bands helped bring the spirit of Music on the Porch Day to Amityville, making music a part of the community’s streets and porches for the day.

Carolyn James/Herald

Brendan McGlone of Split Signal brings his music to the Village.

Doug Warren of the band Kung Fu Betty performs on Music on the Porch Day in Amityville.

Registration now open for BACCA’s autumn classes Carolyn James/Herald

Split Signal brings their music to the crowds.

At each stop on Music on the Porch Day, music lovers had a chance to help Jack Nehring of Amityville.

The Babylon Citizens Council on the Arts has announced their 2026 classes for their autumn sessions. To learn more about the classes offered, please shorturl. at/Gfn6P.

All classes will be held at the Babylon Town Hall Annex, 281 Phelps Lane, North Babylon. For more information, please call (631) 587-3696.

About the bands •Southbound: A local country music and classic rock band. It includes Michael DeLuca, Lou Lomangino, Joey Pohoto and Peter Kiernan. It has opened for artists including Eric Church, Marshal Tucker , Charlie Daniels and Keith Urban. For more information on the band go to southbound.li

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•Acoustic Blue: Acoustic Blue is a well-known band based in Long Island, performing songs that are well known and loved for over 20 years. They are recognized for their professionalism and ability to cater to various events, including corporate parties and private affairs. The band includes Matt Kagawada from Amityville, on bass; Marie Bluebello, keyboard, violin and mandolin; Tim Jansen on guitar and John Asta on drums. For more information on the band, go to acousticblueLI.com

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•Split Signal: Musicians from Split Signal were joined by other local musicians as the band’s guitarist, Jack Nehring was recovering from an accident. Playing this year were Naomi Chavez Duran, on bass and vocals; Harper DeBruin on drums, Brendan McGlone, vocals and guitar and Joe DeMato-Garcia on guitar.

E IS

•Porch Friends: An Amityvillebased band with Greg Lutz on drums, Mario on guitar, Johnny Keys and vocalist Gina Marie.

Kung Fu Betty drummer was a crowd pleaser.

•Echo Dharma: Amityville-based band. Original Rock, Reggae, Funk Punk, Dub Ska Grunge Jam Band including Rick David on rhythm guitar; Bill Skyes, vocalist; Ryan Pitts, bass guitar and Johnny Papayana drums/percussion. For more information go to Echo Dharma on Facebook.

AND

Carolyn James/Herald

•Kung Fu Betty: Kung Fu Betty is a Long Island South Shore cover band based in Amityville, NY - an eclectic mix of players whose set runs from Elvis to Pink and Lynyrd Skynyrd to My Chemical Romance. The name comes from the founder’s aunt, nicknamed ‘Kung Fu Betty.’ Performing with the band that day were Doug Warren, John Machado, Katie Machado, Michael Lorino and John Perez and Nick Franco. For information on the band go to kung_fu_betty or go to their Facebook page, King Fu Betty.

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 6:00-9:00PM The Heritage Club at Bethpage 99 Quaker Meeting House Road Farmingdale, New York

20 26

For more information or to sponsor this event, contact Amy Amato Executive Director, Corporate Relations and Events aamato@liherald.com

MEET THE 2026 AWARD WINNERS *

EMCEE

KRISTIN THORNE Investigative Reporter Law&Crime Network

BEHAVIORAL & MENTAL HEALTH CHRISTINA DIBERNARDO, LMHC

PATIENT CARE EXCELLENCE

EXCELLENCE IN SPECIAL NEEDS THERAPEUTIC PROGRAMS & INNOVATION

JOHN L. GOMES, MD

Founder & CEO Women’s Health Care of Garden City

LEE D. STOCKNER

MARINA MILGROM, DDS

President, Music Lee Inclined Guy, Inc. Inventor, Occupational Octaves Piano™

Board Certified Pediatric Dentist First Smiles Pediatric Dentistry

DR. RALU ONUBOGU

Executive Director & Founder Expressive Connections

SPECIALIZED CARE EXCELLENCE

Founder Sensory Island Long Island

JOSEPH A. SALAMONE

TERESA Z. SCLAFANI, MD

HEALTHCARE LEADERSHIP

Founder & Executive Director The Long Island Coalition Against Bullying

Founder Ayur Interventional & Vascular Care

EMILLY TRICE, MSHA

NICOLE IANNARONE, MA, LBA, BCBA Founder & President Cornerstone Behavioral Services, LLC.

CLINICAL CARE EXCELLENCE

DONNA RILEY MATUSIAK, MA, CCC/SLP

Vice President of Dental Services Harmony Health Care of LI

SPECIAL AWARDS

KIMBERLY KANNER, ED.D., MSN, OCN RN, NPD-BC

JEFFREY L. REYNOLDS, PHD

EXCELLENCE IN LEADERSHIP

Director of Clinical Operations Visiting Nurse Service & Hospice of Suffolk

Director North Shore Center for Speech, Language & Swallowing Disorders

KRISTIE SCHWARZ, MA

HAN JO KIM, MD

MAUREEN SCALESI

President & CEO Family and Children's Association

LISA BURCH

Senior Director of Residential Services CN Guidance and Counseling Services

Spine Surgeon Hospital for Special Surgery

President & CEO EPIC Family of Human Service Agencies

THERESA DILLMAN

VP of Resident Services & Quality Compliance The Bristal Assisted Living

JORDAN BRODSKY, MD, FACR

Vice President & Chief Nursing Officer Northwell Plainview and Syosset Hospitals

NATASHA ELIE-LOUISSAINT, DSC, RN, LNHA, FACHE

Rheumatologist Rheumatology Consultants LLP

MICHAEL N. ROSENBLUT President & CEO Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care & Rehabilitation

Executive Director St. Johnland Healthcare

SARA MALAGOLD, PHD

Doctor Complete Neuropsychology, P.C.

SHELDON GENACK, MD, FACS

HEALTHCARE HERO

Chairman, Department of Surgery Episcopal Health Services

THE MARIWALLA FAMILY

SHARI LEVENTHAL, CDP, CMDCP

Director of Guest Services Excel at Woodbury for Rehabilitation and Nursing

COMMUNITY IMPACT

TRACY MOCCIO

Founder, Operator, Veterinarian Comforted Companions Veterinary Care

HEALTHCARE VISIONARY

HELEN HSIEH, MD, FACOG

RISING STAR

MARK SOBERMAN

INTEGRATIVE HOLISTIC CENTER TEAM

EXCELLENCE IN DERMATOLOGY

Cohen Children's Medical Center

Executive Director Maple Pointe Senior Living

ALEXIS TISCHLER, DVM CHPV CPEV JENNIFER BUSHATI, CTRS-G, CDP

INNOVATION IN TECHNOLOGY Founder, Medical Director Vibrance 360

LIVEONNY TEAM

Recreation Director Plattdeutsche Home Society

ALISON FENECH, MSW

Hospice Liaison/Account Manager MJHS Hospice and Palliative Care

CHILD LIFE & CREATIVE ARTS THERAPY TEAM

Field Sales Consultant Henry Schein, Inc.

TRAILBLAZER

HARRY S. JACOB, MD

NURSE EXCELLENCE

KAVITA MARIWALLA, MD, FAAD Double Board Certified Dermatologist & Mohs Surgeon Mariwalla Dermatology

President Primary PartnerCare Physicians, PLLC

NURSE CONNECT

EXCELLENCE IN ORTHODONTICS

VISIONARY

PATIENT CARE EXCELLENCE

ELENI MICHAILIDIS, DDS, MS, MPH

CHANTAE SULLIVAN-PYKE, MD, MS, FACOG

NATALIE BITTON, DDS

JASON WALLEN R.T,BS

STUART B. ALMER, FACHE President & CEO Gurwin Healthcare System

Infertility Specialist & Site Director Spring Fertility of Long Island

Co-Owner Avenue Orthodontics

VISIONARY IN NEUROSCIENCE

Assistant Director The Stroke & Brain Aneurysm Center of Long Island

Founder Bitton Orthodontics, PLLC

KIMON BEKELIS, MD

Director The Stroke & Brain Aneurysm Center of Long Island

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR EVENT SPONSORS

GOLD SPONSORS

*List still in formation

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September 16, 2026 — AMITYVILLE HERALD RECORD

LAMI1

Notice of formation of BAL SISTERS LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on January 26, 2026. Office located in Suffolk County. SSNY has been designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail copy of any process served against the LLC to 50 Greybarn Lane, 311, Amity ville, New York 11701. Purpose: any lawful purpose. 26-182. 9/2, 9, 16, 23, 30 10/7 Notice of formation of Go-Potty LLC Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SS Y) on 7/21/2026 O f f i c e location, County of Suffolk SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a process served to: G o-Potty LLC 277 Pacific Street,

Copiague NY 11726. Purpose: any lawful act. 26-187. 9/9, 16, 23, 30, 10/7, 14 Notice of formation of Vellum Hollow LLC Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SS Y) on 8/28/2026 O f f i c e l o c at i on , County of Suffolk SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a process served to: Ve l l u m H o l l o w LLC, 117 Ireland Pl., Amityville, NY 11701 Purpose: any lawful act. 26-191. 9/9, 16, 23, 30, 17, 14 NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIBERTY GROOMING LLC Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 08/27/2026. Office locailon: Suffolk County, SSNY has been designated as agent o1 the LLC upon whom process ogainst it may be served. SSNY shall mail a process servecl to: 9 Norman avenue Amltyvlllo NY 11701 Purpose Any lawful act 26-185 9/9, 116, 23, 30, 10/7,14 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, Oc-

Public Notices

tober 1, 2026, to consider the following applications: Application of Erin Hurme. Applicant seeks review and approval for the proposed installation of new Signage pursuant to Section 24-6 A. (1) (j) of the Village of Amityville Code. Premises located on the West side of Broadway approximately 360 feet North of Wanser Place in the “Historical” District known as 134 Broadway a/k/a SCTM #1015-7-10. Application of Kelly Bennett on behalf of VC Property Group L LC . Appl i c ant seeks to modify a previously approved site plan and architectural review pursuant to the erection of a one-story masonry building pursuant to Section 24-6 A. (1) (b) and 24-6 A. (1) (g) of the Village of Amityville Code. Premises located on the West side of Broadway (Rt.110) approximately 145 feet North of Maple Dr. in a “B-2 Business” District known as 566 Broadway a/k/a SCTM# 101-1-1-23. Application of Richard Rauff. Applicant seeks to Subdivide (1) parcel into (2) conforming parcels which will maintain the existing structure on (1) parcel and create (1) parcel for the construction of (1) new single-family dwelling pursuant to Section 183-136 (B) and 24-6 A. (1) of the Village of Amityville Code. Applicant also seeks site plan and architectural review associated with the proposed construction of the new one family dwelling pursuant to Section 24-6 A. (1) (b) and 24-6 A. (1) (h) of the Village

of Amityville Code. Premises located on the Southeast corner of Austin Avenue and Lake Street in a "Residential B" District known as 29 Lake Street a/k/a SCTM#101-4-4-21. Application of Louis Albanese. Applicant seeks architectural review and approval for a proposed FEMA compliant house raise and twostory rear addition pursuant to Section 24-6 A. (1) (h) of the Village of Amityville Code. Premises located on the West side of Unqua Place approximately 62.5 feet South of Richmond Avenue in a “Residential B” District known as 7 Unqua Place a/k/a SCTM# 101-13-142. By Order of the Planning Board, Village of Amityville Cathe r i n e Mu r d o c k , Clerk/Treasurer 26-192. 9/16, 23 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TOWN OF BABYLON - ZONING B OARD 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 TOW N B OA R D ROOM (Located in the East Wing) at Babylon Town Hall, 200 East Sunrise Highway, Lindenhurst, New York o n T H U R S DAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026 BEGINNING AT 6:00 P.M. 6:00 p.m. • Appl i c a tion #26-183 Claude Theodore and Marie Lucie Daniel, 30 Devine Place, North

Amityville, NY. Permission to increase total building area from 20% to 36.9% (over by 2,186.4 sq. ft.); diminish distance to rear yard setback from 40’ to 22’ (for second-story deck). All in connection with the erection of an inground pool and paver patio and to legally maintain a second-story deck. Property located on the north side of Devine Place, 452.59’ west of Albany Avenue, North A m i t y v i l l e , N Y. SCTM#0100-167-231 Zoning District: Residence B 6:05 p.m. •Application #26184 Cristina NorrisSabo, 19 Lee Place, Amity Harbor, NY. Permission to diminish front yard setback from 30’ to 16.21’; diminish east side yard setback from 10’ to 3.74’; diminish west side yard setback from 10’ to 4.7’; diminish total side yards from 25’ to 8.44’; increase total building area from 30% to 44.02% (over by 560.63 sq. ft.). All in connection with the erection of a covered front porch. Property located on the north side of Lee Place, 500’ west of Western Concourse, Amity Harbor, NY. SCTM#0100-1831-63 Zoning District: Residence C 6:10 p.m. •Application #26182 Deer Park Funeral Home, Inc., 1701 Deer Park Avenue, Deer Park, NY. Permission to diminish front yard setback from 25’ required to 7’- 9” proposed (for portico #2); diminish front yard setback from 25’ required to 6” proposed (for portico #1). All in

connection with the removal of two (2) canvas awnings and the proposed construction of two (2) new porticos. Property located on the east side of Deer Park Avenue, 92.66’ north of Winnecomac Avenue, Deer Park, NY. SCTM#0100-88-2-6 Z oning Dist r ic t: Business E ALL PERSONS OR THEIR DULY APP O I N T E D R E PR E S E N TAT I V E 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. BY ORDER OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS MIC HA E L KA N E , CHAIRMAN Dated: B a b y l o n Town Hall Lindenhurst, New York September 8, 2026 26-193. 9/16 LEGAL NOTICE TO THE TAXPAYERS OF THE COPIAGUE FIRE DISTRICT: NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that a resolution was duly adopted by the Board of Fire Commissioners of the COPIAGUE FIRE DISTRICT, Town of Babylon, County of Suffolk, State of New York, on the 8th day of September, 2026, subject to a permissive referendum as provided for by Section 6(g) of the General Municipal Law. An extract of the resolution is as follows: The COPIAGUE F I R E DI ST R IC T maintains a Buildings, Furnishings and Equipment Reserve Fund under Section 6(g) of the General

Municipal Law in which account there is sufficient funds to accomplish the purpose hereinafter set forth; namely, the purchase and installation of memorial signs at fire headquarters and Station 1 and it is proposed to contract for such work, in order to maintain the high standards of the COPIAGUE FIRE DEPARTMENT in the discharge of its duties in preserving the lives and property of the residents of the community and said work is deemed in the best interests of the residents of t h e C O P IA G U E FIRE DISTRICT. The resolution further provides that there be transferred from the present Building, Furnishing and Equipment

Reserve Fund of the COPIAGUE FIRE DISTRICT a sum not to exceed Thirty-Five Thousand ($35,000.00) Dollars for said work, and the District Treasurer is authorized to effect such transfer from time to time to effect such work. This resolution shall not take effect until thirty (30) days unless in the meanwhile a mandatory referendum as provided for by the General Municipal Law is required to be held. Dated: September 8, 2026 BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS COPIAGUE FIRE DISTRICT TOWN OF BABYLON ATTEST: Donna Marano District Secretary 26-194. 9/16

Legal notices are posted online and are available to the public at no cost. Go to: amityville record.com to access all legal notices.

AMITYVILLE HERALD RECORD — September 16, 2026

Notice of formation of Black Moon Sunday LLC Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SS Y) on 08/06/2026 O f f i c e l o c at i o n , County of Suffolk SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a process served to: The LLC, 11 Park D r i v e , apt . 2 1 3 , Wyandanch, NY 11798. Purpose: any lawful act. 26-184 9/2, 9, 16, 23, 30, 10/7

Rich Schaffer seeks another term as county’s Democratic chair

September 16, 2026 — AMITYVILLE HERALD RECORD

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Committee chair in January 2018, is also the co-founder of Peconic Community School for grades 3-8 with her sister. She stepped away from that work when she became Southold Democratic leader. She maintains that Schaffer has worked too closely with Republicans, sometimes at the expense of Democratic candidates. Specifically, she criticizes the party’s decision under Schaffer to encourage Jonathan Estreich, a Democrat running for county comptroller this year, and Anthony Portesy, a Democrat who was running for county clerk, not to run for those offices. She characterizes those decisions as allowing Republicans to win in exchange for Republican cross-endorsement support for Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon, a Democrat. Schaffer has defended his approach as pragmatic, arguing that cross-party relationships and deal-making can be politically effective and that Democrats are strongest when they focus on shared goals rather than internal divisions. His decision regarding Portesy was influenced by what he viewed as the importance of protecting cross-endorsement support for Toulon, whom he described as having done “great work” as sheriff, rather than contesting what

Courtesy Town of Babylon and Kathryn Casey Quigleyt

Schaffer, left, faces a challenge for party leadership from Kathryn Casey Quigley, right. he characterized as a “ministerial county clerk position.” Schaffer said Democrats must appeal beyond their own party to win elections. He argued that voters want people in positions of power who can govern effectively and that “the party should not be dictated by its most extreme elements.”

“I just don’t think their (Quigley and her supporters) position is really going to help us win elections,” Schaffer said of his opponents’ approach. He said Democrats need to appeal to independent voters in a county where voter registration is split almost evenly among Democrats, Republicans and independents.

County figures show that there are approximately 307,000 registered independents in Suffolk, with 371,000 Democrats and 356,000 Republicans. Looking ahead to the county Democratic Committee’s decision, Schaffer said committee members face a clear choice about the direction of the party. He characterized the choice as being between what he called the extreme part of the party and someone with a proven track record and experience preparing Democrats to compete in elections. Meanwhile, Quigley hopes that, with the support of Democrats who want change, including 13 committee members she has helped become committee members in Babylon, she can emerge as the new leader of the Democratic Party in Suffolk. For his part, Schaffer said he has been preparing for the current election cycle — and the next two years — raising resources and recruiting candidates. He argued that his experience and organizational approach are necessary if Democrats want to compete effectively. “My track record over years has been very good in terms of getting Democrats elected in county that most people would call ‘purple,’” he said.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS THURSDAY, SEPT. 17

Town of Babylon Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting: 6 p.m., Town Board Room, Babylon Town Hall, 200 E. Sunrise Highway, Lindenhurst. For LAMI2

NOTICE TO BIDDERS Pursuant to resolution adopted by the Town Board, The Town of Babylon, Commissioner of General Services, Division of Purchasing will receive sealed proposals for: BID NO. 26G43 IMPROVEMENTS TO LING ISLAND AV E N U E B E TWEEN STRAIGHT PATH (COUNTY ROAD 2) & ROUTE 231 (DEER PARK AVENUE) DEER PARK, NEW YORK Until 10:00 AM on THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026 at Babylon Town Hall, 200 E. Sunrise Highway, Lindenhurst,

more information, please call (631) 957-3000. Amityville Rotary Club Meeting: 8 a.m., Brownstones Coffee, 55 Merrick Road, Amityville. For more informa-

tion, 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.

Each Proposal must be accompanied by a Certified Check or Bid Bond made payable to the Town of Babylon, in the amount of, five percent (5%) of the total bid comparison price. This bid is a Federal Aid Project and is subject to all provisions of the Federal Highway Administration and the New York State Department of Transportation, including but not limited to NYS Dept. of Labor Prevailing Wage Law, Davis Bacon Act, Buy America Act. An APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM approve d by t he NYS Dept. Of Labor is required for

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

Public Notices

New York, 11757, at which time they will be publicly opened and read in the Division of Purchasing office. Bids may be hand delivered or mailed to the above address. Bids will not be accepted after 10:00 A.M. on the date of bid opening. NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE GRANTED. Do not remove any pages, all bids are to be submitted intact. For information call (631) 9573025. The Town reserves the right to reject any or all bids. Bidding and contract documents may be obtained on the Town’s website on and after 9:00 AM on THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 , 2026.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 18

all projects in excess of $250,000.00. This requirement applies to All Prime Contractors and all their Respective Sub-Contractors regardless of the subcontract amount for all trades necessary to complete the work. All requirements are detailed in the bid documents. Failure to comply with any of the requirements shall be cause for your bid to be rejected The Town of Babylon encourages minority and women owned businesses to participate in all bids. Joseph Ferrandino Commissioner of General Services Date:9/10/26 26-195 9/16, 23

SATURDAY, SEPT. 19

Amityville Village Farmers Market: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 25 Broadway, Amityville. The market will be every Saturday until October 24. For more information, call (631) 264-0152. 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, enter from rear parking lot. Lots of collectibles, glassware, clothing and other gently used items. For information, call (631) 464-4899.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 20

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, SEPT. 22

Emotional Health Recovery and Support Group: 7:30 to 9 p.m., Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9592, 55 Hickory Lane, Levittown. Free weekly, inperson 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, SEPT. 23

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) 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. The Herald will print public meetings and event notices for not-forprofit organizations at no charge and as space permits. To have an item considered for publication, email cbabirad@liherald.com. Please send items two weeks in advance.

S1 09/17

Employment

CLASSIFIED

Fax your ad to: 516-622-7460 E-mail your ad to: ereynolds@liherald.com E-mail Finds Under $100 to: sales@liherald.com DEADLINE: Monday, 11:00 am for all classified ads.

To pLACE your AD CALL 516-569-4000 - press 5

Every effort is made to insure the accuracy of your ad. Please check your ad at the first insertion. Credit will be made only for the first insertion. Credit given for errors in ads is limited to the printed space involved. Publisher reserves right to reject, cancel or correctly classify an ad.

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

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Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Malverne Union Free School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Earning potential ranges from $35,360 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses. EDITOR/REPORTER EMPLOYMENT Compensation is based on Part Time & Full Time. The award-winFull Time hours Long Island, New York ning Herald Community Newspapers Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and group, covering Nassau County's North MULTI MEDIA Paid Time Off. and South Shores with hard-hitting news ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT Please Send Cover Letter and stories and gracefully written features, Help Wanted Inside Sales Resume with Salary Requirements to seeks a motivated, energetic and creaLooking for an aggressive self starter rglickman@liherald.com tive editor/reporter to join our dynamic who is great at making and maintaining or Call 516-569-4000 X250 (and awesome) team! This education relationships and loves to help businessand general assignment reporting posies grow by marketing them on many diftion offers a unique experience to learn PRINTING PRESS OPERATORS ferent advertising platforms. You will from some of the best in the business. Full Time and Part Time FT & PT. Long Island Herald has IMMEDIsource new sales opportunities through H i s t o r i c a l l y, r e p o r t e r s w h o h ave Positions Available! ATE openings for Printing Press Operators inbound lead follow-up and outbound launched their careers with us have in Garden City. We are a busy print shop Busy Print Shop in Garden City cold calls. Must have the ability to undergone on to The New York Times, Newslooking for motivated and reliable individuis Hiring Immediately for stand customer needs and requirements week, Newsday, the New York Daily als to assist in various duties in the shop. Time and Part•Time Drivers. • 49270 and turn them in to positive advertising • Clients Full • m-Clients Malverne Malverne Communications News, New York Post, Richner CNN, BBC, NBC Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Must Have a Clean License and solutions. We are looking for a talented News and The Daily Mail, among many 3.125x 3" Richner Communications Ranges from $20 per hour to $30 per hour. BoxTruck Driving Experience. and competitive Inside Sales Represenothers. We look for excellent writers who Email resumes or contact info to Hours Vary, Salary Ranges from tative that thrives in a quick sales cycle are eager to learn, enhance their skills, careers@liherald.com environment. Compensation ranges from $17 per hour to $21 per hour and become well-established and re$35,360 + commissions and bonuses to Night Availability is a Must. spected journalists in our industry. Salaover $100,000 including commission and Please Email Resume to ry range is from $20K to $45K Eldercare Offered bonuses. We also offer health benefits, careers@liherald.com or To apply: Send a brief summary in the 401K and paid time off. Please send form of a cover letter describing your caCall (516)569-4000 x239 cover letter and resume with salary reHOUSEKEEPING/ SENIOR CAREreer goals and what strengths you can quirements to GIVEREmployer. Available. Private/ Professional. bring to our newsroom, along with a Malverne reUnion Free School District is an Equal Opportunity ereynolds@liherald.com CNA* HHA* CCA Certified. Experienced/ sume and three writing samples to Call 516-569-4000 X286 E x c e l l ent References. Emma jbessen@liherald.com DRIVING INSTRUCTOR 516-519-0456

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September 16, 2026 — AMITYVILLE HERALD RECORD

S2 09/17

Homes

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To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5

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ou'll appreciate the amazing design of this newly built 4-bedroom, 3.5 bathroom home with an elevator. Using only the highest quality building materials, it's designed for the best in beach living, with sunfilled rooms featuring cathedral ceilings, hardwood floors, modern appliances, and stunning views, making this one of the most valuable new listings in the Long Beach area. Come live the good life in the quiet community of the canals, which offers a small city ambience with a neighborhood feel. You’re close to restaurants and markets, with proximity to the beach, parks, parkways and the Long Island Railroad.

A second floor was easier than a small addition

Q. Why is everything so complicated and expensive, just to build a small addition? It has been so frustrating interviewing builders, then needing an architect, then hearing that, even for our little addition, we might face a big delay to get a zoning variance. We just heard that we need something called a drywell, which makes this almost impossible because there really isn’t any place to put one. Do we really need one? Again, why is everything so complicated? When we added to our second floor in 1989, it was nothing like this. A. If you know the expressions “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing” and “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction,” you’ll understand that as time goes by, governing bodies respond to how someone seemed to find a way to twist the meaning of a requirement and manage to get away with something, so they react by making more and onte eeper more strict requirements. Some of those requirements result from the reaction to a catastrophe, such as Superstorm Sandy, that gets twisted back and forth from a tropical storm to a hurricane, depending on who wants to take advantage of the way regulations and insurances define the storm. One mile per hour in wind speed either way meant a difference in eligibility for more coverage, for example, so authorities and insurance companies wanted to close the loopholes. People all over Florida were suddenly hit with fees to cover building assessments after the collapse of the Champlain Towers condominium building in the Miami suburb of Surfside in 2021 — a response to one building. Members of the Surfside building board knew just enough to cause part of the problem but not enough to prevent it, which resulted in an avalanche of new, more restrictive requirements. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, and in the case of overreacting regulators, increased regulations make planned projects more expensive and problematic. Your small project gets lumped together in the reaction to larger projects. People have been known to be sent to a zoning hearing because the proposed stone they want to add to the face of their home will mean that their front setback distance will fall below the required distance by 3 or 4 inches. Some municipalities have tried to relieve these zoning board bottlenecks by giving building officials discretion to bypass review boards when the proposal is simple, while others treat each case the same, so that your stone-facing proposal gets scrutinized alongside a proposed shopping center. Some zoning hearings are scheduled without consideration of your simple proposal, so when you get to the hearing, you may find yourself sitting for hours while a shopping center presentation goes ahead of your request. Drywells are deep, concrete-formed basins that collect rainwater on your property, and different communities have their own requirements. Some don’t require them. Others mandate that if you add 50 percent more roof or modify 50 percent of a building, you have to add a drywell. More next week.

Ask The Architect

Tom Tripodi Tripodi | Shemtov Team Douglas Elliman Real Estate 30A West Park Avenue, Long Beach 516-902-3497

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© 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.

S3 09/17

Market Place • •

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AMITYVILLE HERALD RECORD — September 16, 2026

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Answers to todAy’s puzzle

opinions

s the effects of PFAS, the socalled “forever chemicals,” become the focus of discussions across the United States — on Long Island because of their impacts on the underground water table, our sole source of potable water — New York state’s attorney general is suing corporations involved with PFAS for allegedly violating a number of state laws. In a suit brought in July in State Supreme Court, Letitia James presented corporate documents as evidence that DuPont and other companies knew about PFAS’ threats to human health and the environment, but pushed products made with them anyway. And last month, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called on Lee Zeldin, a Suffolk County resident who now heads the Environmental Protection Agency, to, as Newsday reported, take “steps to protect Long Island drinking water from forever chemicals as the agency proposes rollbacks on [their] regulations.” In addition to DuPont, which first developed PFAS in 1938 and patented

them as Teflon, James’s lawsuit charges 3M, Chemours, Corteva and its subsidiary EIDP with violations of state laws, including: “Protection of the State’s Natural Resources Under New York State Constitution and Statutory Law; Public Nuisance Under New York Common Law; Strict Products Liability: Failure to Warn Under New York Common Law.” It also cites the “Green Amendment” to the State Constitution, which “provides that ‘each person shall have a right to clean air and water and a healthful environment.’” The lawsuit states: “As a consequence of the defendants’ manufacture, production, marketing and sale of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — PFAS — for use in consumer products, the State of New York faces threats to human health, widespread contamination, and damage to natural resources on an unprecedented scale.” It continues: “Long after they knew their PFAS were toxic, defendants manufactured and sold these compounds for use in consumer products — including personal, family, and household products like Stainmaster carpets, Scotchgard stain-repellent sprays, grease-resistant coatings for food packaging, cosmetics, and personal care items — that defendants knew would be sold, used,

and disposed of in New York, thereby exposing people to PFAS and releasing PFAS into New York’s environment.” It goes on: “As the results of defendants’ conduct, PFAS … are in the water we drink, the soil that sustains our crops, the fish we catch, and the air we breathe. … PFAS are highly resistant to degradation in the environment, travel easily through water and air, and bioaccumulate in humans, plants and animals. And: “People exposed to defendants’ PFAS suffer various negative health effects, including higher risks of certain cancers, adverse pregnancy outcomes, liver disease, endocrine disruption, and other increased risks.” As evidence of “knowledge” — that the companies knew about the “severe health and environmental risks” of PFAS — the lawsuit points to numerous corporate documents. DuPont, it says, “knew for decades that PFAS pose substantial dangers to public health and the environment. By 1961 … Dupont’s researchers had concluded that PFOA [a type of PFAS] was toxic … Dupont’s chief toxicologist warned in a memo that products containing PFOA should be ‘handled with extreme care.’ As early as 1966 … DuPont was aware that PFOA could leach into groundwater. … DuPont

.G. Letitia James alleges that companies knew the chemicals’ dangers.

also learned in the 1970s … of the research showing that PFAS had been detected in blood bank samples from the general public. “In 1988,” the suit continues, “DuPont began internally treating PFOA as a possible carcinogen. … In 2000, John R. Bowman … DuPont inhouse counsel wrote … to several colleagues relating to PFOA …‘My gut tells me the biopersistence issue will kill us … We are going to spend millions to defend these lawsuits and have the additional threat of punitive damage.’” A New York Times article on the lawsuit quotes Judith Enck, former director of the EPA region that includes New York state and now president of the organization Beyond Plastics, saying, “This is a blockbuster legal action that should hold these companies accountable for the immense harm caused by their products.” Schumer wrote to Zeldin, “At your confirmation hearing … you told the Senate that you had been a member of the PFAS task force [in Congress], that you voted for the PFAS Action Act, and that addressing PFAS would be a top priority of yours. The proposals now before the agency move in the other direction.” 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.

Celebrate Constitution Week by supporting the ERA

s a college professor who has long been involved in civic engagement programs and voter education at Nassau Community College, where I’ve taught for 23 years, I look forward to Constitution Week. From Sept. 17 to 23, educators around the country will teach students about the Constitution, their civic rights and responsibilities, and how their voices, and votes, count because they contribute to a stronger democracy for us all. This week, I’ll be focused not only on this bipartisan responsibility, but also on the November midterm elections — and on one of the most frustrating and misunderstood chapters of constitutional history, the saga of the Equal Rights Amendment. If you’re under the impression that equal rights for all citizens, regardless of sex, are the law of the land in the United States, you have plenty of company, but that’s not the case. Even though this landmark leg-

islation has been approved by both houses of Congress and by 38 states — the requisite three-quarters of the states necessary to ratify an amendment — it is still not part of the Constitution. How can this be, when Article V of the Constitution clearly explains the rules by which it can be amended, and Congress and state legislatures have satisfied those rules? The problem is the legislation’s time-limit loophole. In 1972, when both the House of Representatives and the Senate had passed the ERA, it faced a deadline imposed by Congress for the required ratification by the states — first seven years, then extended to 10 years. By the end of that decade, 35 states had approved the amendment, just three states short of what was needed. Its time was up — even if the deadline was nothing more than a provision added by Congress that could, and still can, be removed by a future Congress to move the legislation forward. When three more states ratified the amendment — Nevada (2017), Illinois (2018) and Virginia (2020) — that milestone

should have been enough to certify the Constitution’s 28th Amendment. But since then, the legislation has stalled in Congress: Opponents have relied on filibusters, pointing to the expired timeline, while advocates have called out the arbitrary nature of the deadline and argued for its revocation. The current national campaign for the ERA, backed by more than 300 organizations across the country and many thousands of people who have signed petitions supporting it, is making a persuasive case to the public — and candidates running for Congress this fall — that amendment requirements have been fulfilled and constitutional equality is long overdue. The nation observed Women’s Equality Day on Aug. 26, commemorating the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote in 1920. But even the fearless suffragist Alice Paul knew that voting rights were just the beginning of codifying gender equality in the nation’s laws; she knew that grave inequalities remained for women in politics, education, employment and health care.

f you think equal rights for all are enshrined in the Constitution, think again.

That’s why Paul introduced the ERA in 1923, and why gender-equality advocates have introduced it in every congressional session since. Over a century later, it’s time for the ERA to not only be reintroduced in Congress, but also enshrined in the Constitution — ideally by the 120th Congress, which will convene in January. I know that in November, I’ll be voting for candidates who support the work that Paul started — and that the late, great journalist Gloria Steinem continued with her bold exposés on sexual harassment, pay inequality and pregnancy discrimination in Ms. magazine. I’m grateful that my congressional representative, Laura Gillen, is one of 219 U.S. representatives, 53 senators, and all those citizen activists who have affirmed their support for the ERA. Please join this historic campaign, making it clear to our lawmakers that the equal rights movement won’t rest until a future Congress acts. Go to Sign4ERA. org and add your signature. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate Constitution Week — and to make history — than that. Susan Cushman, Ph.D., is a professor of English and women’s studies at Nassau Community College and a member of the League of Women Voters of East Nassau.

AMITYVILLE HERALD RECORD — September 16, 2026

New York state takes on the ‘forever chemicals’

Herald editorial

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HERALD September 16, 2026 — AMITYVILLE HERALD RECORD

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It’s time to update New York’s mansion tax

ew York lawmakers need to stop pretending that a $1 million home is a mansion. In 1989, when the state created a 1 percent tax on residential properties selling for $1 million or more, the threshold was intended to target luxury homeowners. At the time, it made sense. Thirty-seven years later, it doesn’t. A property on Long Island valued at $1 million back then now costs roughly $4.5 million. On Long Island, $1 million can buy a perfectly ordinary home. In Nassau County, the median home price is now around $880,000, and in Suffolk County, it’s roughly $750,000, both near historic highs. In communities where demand remains strong and inventory remains tight, a $1 million price tag is no longer an indication that someone is purchasing a sprawling estate. It may simply mean they’re buying a house. That’s why the State Legislature should make reforming the so-called mansion tax a priority in 2027. Five major Long Island business organizations — the Association for a Better Long Island, HIA-LI, the Long Island Builders Institute, the Long Island Association and the Long Island Contractors Association — have called for changes to the law. Their proposal deserves serious consideration.

The problem isn’t simply that the threshold is outdated. The structure of the tax is flawed. Once a home reaches $1 million, the additional 1 percent tax applies to the entire purchase price. A house selling for $999,999 doesn’t incur the tax. A house selling for $1 million does — an additional $10,000 charge. That is an illogical cliff. A buyer doesn’t suddenly become wealthy because a home’s sale price crosses an arbitrary line. And on Long Island, where housing costs have risen so dramatically, the tax increasingly falls on middle-class families rather than the ultra-wealthy buyers the law was designed to target. New York already collects a transfer tax on real estate transactions. The additional $10,000 on a $1 million purchase isn’t insignificant, particularly when buyers are already dealing with high mortgage costs, property taxes, insurance, maintenance and closing expenses. There is a legitimate argument for taxing luxury real estate. New York needs revenue, and those who can afford exceptionally expensive homes can reasonably be asked to contribute more. But that argument falls apart when the definition of luxury becomes disconnected from reality. The Legislature shouldn’t eliminate the mansion tax. It should modernize it.

First, lawmakers should substantially increase the threshold to reflect today’s housing market. Second, they should index that threshold to inflation or an appropriate measure of housing prices, so the law doesn’t become obsolete again. And third, they should seriously consider regional thresholds, because $1 million means something very different in Manhattan, Nassau County and upstate New York. The goal should be a tax that targets genuine luxury purchases — not families buying modest homes in one of the nation’s most expensive housing markets. The state cannot simultaneously complain about its high cost of living and defend a tax structure that adds thousands of dollars to the cost of buying a home simply because the housing market has appreciated. If New York wants more people to live, work and raise families here, it should be looking for ways to make homeownership more attainable, not preserving arbitrary barriers created nearly four decades ago. The Legislature has had plenty of time to reconsider the mansion tax. Now it should do so. In 1989, $1 million could make you the owner of a Long Island mansion. Today, it may simply make you a homeowner. New York’s tax policy should reflect that reality.

tury. And we should not forget that 9/11 ended the brief era of bipartisan fiscal responsibility between 1997 and 2000 in which we balanced the national budget. With the national debt now over $40 trillion, it seems there are errors to be corrected, and that we are not economically ready for any future

hostilities. The 9/11 Commission’s investigation found multiple points of failure, producing a homeland security conglomerate supposedly having greater unity and foresight. That agency, by many reports, has been distracted, diminished and diverted. If so, the nation has forgotten the most basic Boy

letters Ways to meaningfully remember Sept. 11 To the Editor: How, the Herald asked in its editorial last week (“Twenty-five years later, we remember”), do we remember Sept. 11 in a meaningful way? One way, I suggest, is to learn from the mistakes made then to avoid repetition. It was novel attack, and the next will be as well, probably by drone, infection or massive infrastructure hack. The list of lessons is long. I’ll mention a few. Next time, the legislative branch should not surrender so much authority to the executive; the former still has not recovered. The distinction between criminal acts and acts of war was lost, and must be clarified lest it be abused again. It must be resolved that no war be declared against abstractions like “terror,” “radical Islam,” “antifa” or for “prevention,” for such amorphisms are easily dressed in new clothes. We have learned, I hope, that no future authorization of the use of military force should be granted without terms of use, including dates of expiration or renewal, and progress reports. The last AUMF has been made a standing license for a series of costly and fruitless abuses over the past quarter-cen-

opinions

ew York’s Democratic governor, Kathy Hochul, is the oddson favorite to win re-election in November in this very blue state. But her Republican opponent, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, is running a very spirited, hardfought campaign. Hochul’s Republican challenger four years ago, Lee Zeldin, came within 6 percentage points of knocking her off. This year is bound to be a much tougher test for the Republican challenger, given that President Trump’s approval ratings hover in the mid-30s and that in most midterm elections, the party controlling the White House suffers. It won’t be enough for Blakeman to simply bash New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani or the dangers associated with the Democratic Socialist platform. Blakeman needs something bold to set him apart, and to give state residents something to vote for. That something should be a promise

to impose a cap on state spending. Blakeman could have a field day noting how hypocritical our state leaders have been in imposing spending and tax caps on local governments and schools while conveniently exempting themselves from those same restrictions. The most convincing statistic of all? Had the state imposed a cap on itself in 2012 (as it did for lower-level jurisdictions), when its budget was $132 billion, that budget today would be over $100 billion smaller than the $277 billion spending plan Hochul and the Legislature ushered through in June. The state cap limits spending and tax increases to 2 percent or the rate of inflation, whichever is lower. Had the cap applied to state spending, it would only have grown to $174 billion today. The cap wasn’t a silver bullet, but it was fairly successful on the local level. Before 2012, school budgets on Long Island were growing at an average of 6 percent a year. After the cap was implemented, the average rate of increase shrank to about 2 percent. That equated to enormous savings for taxpayers of over $25 billion through 2019.

As noted in a Center for Cost Effective Government report, spending caps work because they force prioritization. Each year, every special-interest group under the sun appears before state and local governments to lobby for more money. When there’s no cap, it’s easy for officials on both sides of the aisle to cave and add all those groups to the pot. The cap gives officials the excuse to tell some of those organizations that they just don’t have the room this year, and they’ll have to come back during the next budget cycle. Of course, there’s always a safety valve, allowing the cap to be pierced with a super-majority of support, but that’s not as easy as you might think. Spending caps have worked not only in New York, but in states across the country. States with caps spend less, have lower tax rates and are more competitive for their businesses and residents. The property tax cap was created largely because it was a major issue in the gubernatorial campaign in 2010. Four years earlier, then Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi ran for governor

he underdog against Gov. Kathy Hochul could drastically improve his odds.

LeTTers Scout precept, “Be prepared.” We have heroes to honor, victims to mourn, survivors to grieve with because the criminals were more clever than we imagined. To meaningfully remember Sept. 11, we should remember that connection, and make their memory a motive to make no more such heroes. BRIAN KELLY Rockville Centre

Borecky is right: Our elections need safeguards To the Editor: Re “Our laws assume, incorrectly, that our leaders have integrity,” the letter from Claudia Borecky, president of the Bellmore Merrick Democratic Club, in the Sept. 3-9 issue: The letter has some important points, and I agree that more must be done to improve our election system. But Ms. Borecky has not fully examined the issues that some of our nation’s cities and states have had with voting irregularities. While there is no question that the demonstrations on Jan. 6, 2021, will forever be a blight on our political system, and I do not in any way share the belief that Donald Trump won the 2020 presidential election, there have been credible news stories in major publications reporting that some cities experienced voting irregularities in that and prior elections that

may or may not have benefited either political party. We know from these news reports that in some cities, there were mail-in votes from deceased people. We also have heard about duplicate ballots being cast. And there have been examples of non-citizens casting ballots. I do not think that any of these irregularities have resulted in the wrong candidate winning any presidential election. But that may not be the case in congressional elections or local government races, which can also have a major impact. Again, I agree with Ms. Borecky that we are far behind other countries in creating proper safeguards for our elections. I will go one step further and suggest that our system, which enables each state to decide how elections should take place, has resulted in an imbalanced field, and that all elections should be conducted in the same manner, with the same equipment, all across our country. That way, no state or politician could cast doubt on any other state or party. And I agree completely with Ms. Borecky about the slander and defamation laws that are missing from our political campaigns. It disgusts me to have to listen to both sides spewing false information about their opposing candidates. It leaves the voters with tough decisions as we try to uncover the truth. RICHARD S. KAHN Glen Cove

talking about a cap, but it got little traction. After the real estate collapse of 2007, however, and the economic pain felt by homeowners, the cap became a centerpiece of the 2010 campaign. I made it part of my platform in my very short-lived run for governor. After I failed to secure the Republican nomination, the Democratic candidate, Andrew Cuomo, absorbed the issue into his campaign. After he won the general election, it became something of a mandate from the people, and it paved the way for this otherwise contentious issue to pass in the 2011 legislative session. Were Blakeman to make this his top priority in this fall’s campaign, it would not only gain him extra buzz, but would also provide the mandate that would be needed to help get the concept passed in 2027. We know that Hochul will never embrace a cap on state spending given the pressure from her left flank. There’s an opening for Blakeman here. He shouldn’t waste it. Steve Levy is president of Common Sense Strategies, a political consulting firm. He has served as Suffolk County executive, as an assemblyman and as host of the podcast “On the Right Side,” and is the author of “Solutions to America’s Problems” and “Bias in the Media.”

Framework by Tim Baker

At the Town of Hempstead’s Sept. 11 memorial service — Point Lookout

AMITYVILLE HERALD RECORD — September 16, 2026

Blakeman should embrace a state spending cap

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September 16, 2026 — AMITYVILLE HERALD RECORD