Baldwin Herald 03-19-2026

HERALD BALDWIN

Long Island champions!

Bruins capture AAA title

Baldwin High School’s girls’ basketball team captured

Story, more photos, page 8.

Bethany House fashion show raises funds, awareness

By AllYSoN FERRARI aferrari@liherald.com

Bethany House held its 23rd annual fashion show at the Rockville Links Club last week, raising funds to support its mission of ending homelessness on Long Island.

A Baldwin-based nonprofit, Bethany House focuses on helping women, and women with children, who are homeless move from uncertainty to stability. It currently runs three emergency shelters, and will soon open a fourth, in Baldwin and Roosevelt, as well as affordable apartments in Bellmore for women who have long-term

housing vouchers.

According to Executive Director Katie Swanson, Bethany House serves about 40 families at any given time in its shelters and housing programs.

“Once you’re a part of Bethany House, you’re always a part of Bethany House,” Swanson said.

The annual event, on March 11, brought together supporters, volunteers and community leaders for an evening of fashion, fundraising and storytelling highlighting the organization’s mission. Among the attendees was U.S. Rep. Laura Gillen, who said she has discussed with the organization

what they could do together to end homelessness on Long Island.

“There is no reason, on Long Island, in a county like Nassau County, that people should be living on the street,” Gillen told the Herald. “Organizations like [Bethany House] make it possible for people to turn around their lives. It’s really important to support all the great organizations that address not only homelessness, but food insecurity, and making sure that people get the help they need.”

Gillen said she is focused in Congress on doing everything she can to reduce the cost of living for Long Islanders.

“We’ve seen the greatest cut to Medicaid in our nation’s history,” she said. “We’re facing a real cost-of-living crisis, between housing, health care and utilities. When you have partner organizations like Bethany House, that are trying to pick up the slack because of the cuts that have been implemented by this administration,

it’s really important to support them.”

This year’s fashion show raised $20,000 to help support Bethany House’s mission. Swanson said that fundraising events like this one provide critical flexible funding that allows the organization to support families in ways govern -

Easter Dinner Packages

Easter Menu $269 99

SERVES 6–8 PEOPLE

Starters

SIGNATURE A&S ANTIPASTO PLATTER

Choice of Pasta

(Half Tray - Choice of 1)

BAKED STUFFED SHELLS

OUR TRADITIONAL LASAGNA with homemade sausage, homemade mozzarella, chopped meat and fresh ricotta

OUR TRADITIONAL BAKED ZITI with homemade sausage, chopped meat homemade mozzarella, and fresh ricotta

PENNE ALLA VODKA

Choice of Green Salad

BLUE CHEESE AND WALNUTS with dried cranberries

TOSSED SALAD with cucumbers, tomatoes and carrots

Choice of Main Course

(Half Tray - Choice of 1)

GLAZED SPIRAL CUT HAM

BONELESS STUFFED LOIN OF PORK with prosciutto, provolone, locatelli romano and spices. Cooked and sliced with potatoes.

ITALIAN SEASONED EYE

ROUND BEEF ROAST

Cooked and sliced with potatoes.

Easter Menu $449 99 + tax + tax

SERVES 12-15 PEOPLE

Starters

SIGNATURE A&S ANTIPASTO PLATTER

Choice of Pasta

(Full Tray - Choice of 1)

BAKED STUFFED SHELLS

OUR TRADITIONAL LASAGNA with homemade sausage, homemade mozzarella, chopped meat and fresh ricotta

OUR TRADITIONAL BAKED ZITI with homemade sausage, chopped meat homemade mozzarella, and fresh ricotta

PENNE ALLA VODKA

Place your orders for our Famous mouth watering

PORK CROWN ROAST LEG OF LAMB

LAMB CROWN ROAST

WE ONLY USE AMERICAN LAMB

Choice of Green Salad

BLUE CHEESE AND WALNUTS with dried cranberries

TOSSED SALAD with cucumbers, tomatoes and carrots

Choice of Main Course

(Full Tray - Choice of 1)

BONELESS STUFFED LOIN OF PORK with prosciutto, provolone, locatelli romano and spices. Cooked and sliced with potatoes.

ROSEMARY AND HERB ENCRUSTED LEG OF LAMB ROAST

ITALIAN SEASONED EYE ROUND BEEF ROAST Cooked and sliced with potatoes.

GLAZED SPIRAL CUT HAM

Now Carrying

Italian Chocolate Easter Eggs

KINDER EASTER EGGS

HOMEMADE GRAIN PIES

PIZZA RUSTICA

WE CARRY ALL YOUR BAKING NEEDS FOR YOUR EASTER PIES

Choice of oneVegetable (Half Tray - Choice of 1)

GRILLED ASPARAGUS with sundried tomatoes

BROCCOLI AND CAULIFLOWER OREGANATA

STRING BEANS ALMONDINE ROASTED ROSEMARY RED POTATOES

Includes 2 fresh breads and 1 cookie platter

Choice of two Vegetables (Half Tray - Choice of 2)

GRILLED ASPARAGUS with sundried tomatoes

BROCCOLI AND CAULIFLOWER OREGANATA

STRING BEANS ALMONDINE

ROASTED ROSEMARY RED POTATOES

Includes 2 fresh breads and 1 cookie platter

Seafood Fridays during Lent

FLOUNDER

FRIED SHRIMP

MUSSELS MARINARA

SEAFOOD PASTA

SEAFOOD SALAD

We also now carry a full line of Bindi Desserts

ALL MADE FRESH

ALL ORDERS MUST BE PLACED BY APRIL 1st AND MUST BE PICKED UP ON APRIL 5th BY NOON 3382 Long Beach Road, Ocenside, NY 11572

516-764-4606 or 516-255-0305 • www.asoceanside.com

Sweet treats and smiles at BPL workshop

By ALLYSON FERRARI aferrari@liherald.com

Children at the Baldwin Public Library recently put their creativity to work during a candy-making workshop where they crafted colorful treats inspired by the popular Shamrock Shake.

Led by chocolatier Melinda Space, owner of the East Meadow-based confectionery business Thems The Breaks, the class guided young participants through the process of creating their own candy kabobs and decorating festive milkshake-style drinks.

During the activity, children assembled candy kabobs using marshmallows and sour belt gummy candy, carefully arranging the sweets onto straws before dipping and decorating them. The kabobs served as colorful toppers for green milkshake-style treats made with vanilla ice cream dyed green.

Participants also learned how to decorate the rims of their cups using icing, sprinkles and Lucky Charms cereal, adding a festive touch to their creations.

Space demonstrated each step of the process, showing students how to apply the icing and add toppings before helping them assemble their final treats. Her husband, Bill Space, also assisted throughout the workshop, helping children place chocolate onto their candy kabobs and guiding them through the decorating process.

The class, held on March 15, attracted several Baldwin families, with children eagerly watching the demonstrations and following along at their tables as they created their own edible designs.

Among those participating were members of the Durrani family — Musa, Ismael, Issac and Isa — who joined other students in decorating their Shamrock Shake-inspired treats.

For some participants, the experience sparked a deeper interest in candy-making. Isaiah Adegbenle, 10, who has taken several classes with Space, said he enjoys learning how sweets are made and hopes to do something similar when he grows up.

Students proudly displayed their finished creations, including candy kabobs topped with sprinkles and colorful gummies, before enjoying the treats they had made.

The workshop gave children a hands-on introduction to basic candy-making techniques while offering a fun and festive activity tied to the St. Patrick’s Day season.

by Jeffrey Rosen (Part 1)

News briefs

Take a safe boating certification class

As Hempstead Town begins to thaw from a frigid, snow-filled winter, officials are reminding residents that boating season will soon return — and with it a statewide requirement for safety certification.

Supervisor John Ferretti said boaters preparing to launch their vessels this spring and summer must comply with New York state law requiring operators to complete a recognized safe boating course by 2026. To help residents meet the requirement, the Town of Hempstead will offer additional certification classes.

“Safe boating is essential to keeping everyone safe on local waterways, and it is also the law,” Ferretti said. “If you have not completed a New York State-recognized certification course, we strongly urge you to participate in the Town of Hempstead’s upcoming classes.”

The next Town of Hempstead Boater Safety Course will take place over three

LAW FIRM

sessions on Thursdays, March 12, 19 and 26, from 7 to 10 p.m. at the town’s Conservation and Waterways building, located at 1401 Lido Blvd. in Point Lookout.

Participants must attend all three sessions to receive certification. The classes will be administered by the Town of Hempstead Bay Constables.

Under state law, once boaters obtain certification, they must keep proof of completion on board their vessel while operating it.

Residents interested in registering for the course can contact the Town Bay Constables at (516) 897-4100.

Boaters who have already completed certification but cannot locate their card can obtain replacement documentation online at ILostMyCard.com/Records?state_ cd+NY&cert_type+Boating.

—Jordan Vallone

Relay For Life of Baldwin kickoff set for Saturday

Community members are invited to the Relay For Life Kickoff Party on March 21, from 2 to 5 p.m. at The Irish Pub in Baldwin. The event will introduce residents to the Relay For Life program and the services provided by the American Cancer Society, while offering opportunities to get involved in the upcoming fundraiser. Attendees are encouraged to bring canned goods, which will be used to weigh down luminaria bags during Relay For Life before being donated to the St. Christopher’s food pantry. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Nassau Community College will add additional infant and toddler child care spaces as part of a statewide initiative announced by Gov. Kathy Hochul to expand child care services at SUNY community colleges.

Child care expansion at NCC aims to support student parents

By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com

Student parents attending Nassau Community College may soon have greater access to child care as part of a statewide expansion announced this week by Kathy Hochul aimed at supporting adult learners across the State University of New York system.

Hochul said the initiative will expand child care services at 11 SUNY community colleges, either by extending hours into evenings and weekends or by creating additional child care spots for infants and toddlers. Nassau Community College is among six campuses that will add more spaces for younger children, a move intended to help student parents balance their academic and family responsibilities.

The effort is designed in part to support participants in SUNY Reconnect, a state program that offers free tuition, fees, books and supplies to New Yorkers ages 25 to 55 who do not already hold a college degree and want to pursue an associate degree in a high-demand field.

“We are investing in the futures of our adult learners and student parents to ensure they can pursue and achieve their dreams,” Hochul said in a statement announcing the expansion. “Through the expansion of child care across SUNY’s community college campuses … we are reinforcing our commitment to meeting the needs of adult learners and offering them a path to upward mobility.”

State officials say access to reliable child care remains one of the most significant barriers facing adult students, particularly parents returning to school while working or raising young children. By expanding child care availability, SUNY hopes to make it easier for those students to enroll in classes and complete degree programs.

John B. King Jr., chancellor of the State University of New York, said the

expansion is intended to give student parents the support they need to stay focused on their education.

“Student parents should be able to focus on their studies without having to worry about finding safe and affordable child care,” King said. “The expansion of the child care programs across SUNY’s community colleges will work to remove barriers, so all of our students can receive the support they need to pursue the education of their dreams.”

In addition to Nassau Community College, five SUNY community colleges will expand child care hours to better align with evening or nontraditional class schedules. SUNY Broome Community College will create additional evening care hours, while Dutchess Community College plans to add two weeknights of evening care and expand infant and toddler capacity. Finger Lakes Community College will extend evening hours until 9 p.m. two days a week, and Monroe Community College will add 16 hours of evening child care while also increasing capacity for younger children. Onondaga Community College is partnering with the YMCA to provide evening child care spots for adult learners enrolled through the SUNY Reconnect program.

Additional infant and toddler child care spaces will also be created at Jamestown Community College, SUNY Niagara Community College, Rockland Community College, Tompkins Cortland Community College and SUNY Westchester Community College.

The expansion builds on several recent state investments aimed at increasing access to child care across SUNY campuses. In 2022, the state announced $10.8 million to address child care shortages and expand capacity at SUNY schools. More recently, SUNY also expanded child care programs at Dutchess and Monroe community colleges to include evening hours aligned with high-demand academic programs.

Hofstra eyes CAA championship stage

By ANDREW COEN sports@liherald.com

Hofstra’s men’s lacrosse team reached the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) tournament last spring for the first since 2021 and longtime head coach Seth Tierney hopes that building block lays a solid foundation for a bigger climb.

The Pride reached the CAA semifinals and just missed out on the opportunity to play for a conference title with an 11-10 overtime heartbreaking loss at topseeded Towson. Hofstra brought back plenty of key pieces from that breakthrough season looking to write a different script this May, but returning to the four-team CAA postseason stage will come down to crucial regular season contests against closely-matched opponents.

“The CAA games just take on a different meaning and they have a lot of weight because they’re technically playoff games without being in the playoffs,” said Tierney, who is also the U.S. Men’s Senior National Team head coach as it gears up for 2027 World Lacrosse Men’s Championship, in Japan next year. “They’re tiebreaker games and every time that you can get a win then you can get a tiebreaker over that team not knowing how the future is going to play out.”

Hofstra opened CAA play March 13 with a 12-7 setback at Long Island rival Stony Brook which puts even more weight on Pride’s upcoming conference games.

The Pride (2-5) entered the season with plenty of promise seeing three returning players named to the preseason All-CAA team in red-shirt senior attackman Trevor Natalie, red-shirt junior defenseman Austin Clarke and red-shirt sophomore goalie Shea Kennedy. Natalie was also named a preseason USA Lacrosse AllAmerican after a 2025 season in which he tallied 40 points on 28 goals and 12 assists.

Natalie leads Hofstra in goals through seven games with 16 including three in a hard-fought 11-8 loss to Big Ten foe Rutgers on Feb. 28. The Stuart, Fla. native also tallied four goals in Hofstra’s 14-7 season-opening win at Iona on Feb. 2.

The offense is also led by senior attackman Anthony Mollica, who registered a career-best six goals in Hofstra’s 11-10 home win against UMBC on March 7. Mollica, a former Massapequa High School standout, has 11 goals and nine assists so far this season after tallying 50 points as a junior.

“Anthony is this quiet leader who leads by example with a quiet voice,” Tierney said. “He works hard and he is reaping the rewards.”

The Pride offense boasts plenty of other scoring weapons including senior midfielder Trey Parkes, sophomore attackman Drew Bogardus, redshirt sopho-

more midfielder Joey DeYoung and freshman attackman Gus Langtry.

Langtry, who was ranked 94th on Nike/Inside Lacrosse Power 100 Freshman Rankings out of Parker, Colo., is off to a strong start in his collegiate career with 10 goals including three in the Rutgers loss. He has solid lacrosse genes as the son of former Hofstra All-American Brian Langry.

“He’s got some great DNA and some great characteristics,” said Tierney of Langtry. “He is a very confident and skilled player.”

The close defense is anchored by Clarke, a Parkton, Md. native who recorded 24 ground balls and 13 caused turnovers last season. Redshirt senior Will Delaney also brings veteran experience in front of the cage after registering 20 ground balls last season.

Kennedy patrols the net for a second straight season after making 167 saves last year. He is off to another strong start this season with 83 saves and 54 percent save percentage so far this season.

Hofstra will host Monmouth in a critical CAA game this Saturday at 1 p.m. at Shuart Stadium. The Pride also has a big conference home game against Fairfield on April 4 at 3 p.m. and will face Ivy League power Yale in anon-league tilt on April 14 at 7 p.m.

HERALD SPORTS

Baldwin’s Barnett blazes to state 300-meters title

By PATRICK MOQUIN sports@liherald.com

When Baldwin senior Breanne Barnett took the line for the 300meter dash at the New York indoor track and field championships on March 7, her focus remained resolute under raised expectations. From her earliest days competing, the appeal of running had always been the same, and it wasn’t about to change as she looked to defend her state title.

“Honestly, I like winning,” Barnett said. “I don’t know if that’s cliched, but whenever I’m on the track, my main goal is to win. That’s what pushes me across that finish line. That’s what makes me run around this track.”

A heavy favorite entering the event, Barnett breezed through the preliminaries with a top time of 39.41 seconds to qualify for the finals. It was merely a warmup for the star sprinter, who was not only focused on winning, but setting the state record.

Despite a stirring effort, Bar-

nett came up short of her lofty goal, instead being forced to settle for mere dominance. In one of the most convincing victories at the championship meet, Barnett finished the 300 in 38.09 seconds, 1.42 seconds ahead of the runner-up.

The next seven runners behind Barnett all finished within a half-second of one another, but Baldwin’s best left them all far behind. Being the heavy favorite did not daunt her — if anything, it seemed to embolden her.

“I’ve always had that type of mindset,” Barnett said. “I want something, I’m gonna go after it, and even though I wasn’t to get the state record, I was just happy to be able to win again.”

Sandra Cole, Baldwin girls’ track and field coach, has spent the last three years coaching Barnett and marvels at her progression. A bright light in the Bruins’ program, she has elevated the school’s standing through her diligence and fiercely competitive nature.

“She’s focused on what she’s doing,” Cole said. “She’s a very

hard worker. She’s very competitive, and she has had success at the state championships in the past, even before I got here and became her coach.”

The day before Barnett defended her state title in the 300, she competed in the 55-meter dash and finished fourth with a time of 7.02. Cole credited her with a brave effort in an event she has never favored.

Just ahead of Barnett in the 55-meter dash, Baldwin junior Savannah Stephenson finished third in the finals with a time of 7.02 seconds. Cole said the improving sprinter exceeded expectations in the event to land on the podium, putting Baldwin ahead of schedule as it prepares for another budding star.

Barnett is committed to compete for the University of Virginia in college, and before her final outdoor season begins at Baldwin, the senior plans to represent Haiti in the 400-meter dash at the CARIFTA Games in April. It will be her fifth straight appearance at the Caribbean junior championship meet.

Baldwin’s Thweatt wins epic 55 hurdles state title

By PATRICK MOQUIN sports@liherald.com

Once a workmanlike freshman finding his way in track and field, Baldwin senior Brandon Thweatt can look back on his high school career and say he reached the pinnacle. In an epic three-way battle at the New York State indoor track and field championship March 6, the ever-improving athlete sprung home to win the 55-meter hurdles by onehundredth of a second.

From humble beginnings, Baldwin coach Mike Higgins described the tough path for Thweatt to take command in one of the state’s most competitive divisions.

“He wasn’t even our best ninth grader,” Higgins said. “But he just kept working and grinding, and now, if you look at his achievements and all the data, he’s probably the best combo sprinter hurdler in Nassau County in quite a while.”

After qualifying with the third fastest time in preliminaries, Higgins said Thweatt was focused and prepared for a star-studded finals. He was joined by Copiague senior Nigel Harris and Wagner senior

Alexander Acosta, among a litany of supremely talented hurdlers.

For weeks leading into the championship meet, Higgins told Thweatt that the winner of the race would likely be in front at the first hurdle. They worked exhaustively on the senior’s starts, trying to get him as sharp as possible.

“It’s just about being locked in,” Higgins said. “He just has a great ability to do that. He responds very well. He’s gotten better and better over the years with his start.”

When his moment came, Thweatt burst off the line in a picture-perfect beginning, but Acosta was just as quick, and as they reached the first hurdle, Higgins conceded that the Wagner senior might have been in front by a hair. Thweatt was right alongside him with Harris surging too.

At the line, the top three finishers were separated by two-hundredths of a second, but with a final time of 7.26, Thweatt found just enough to pip Acosta and Harris for the victory. It was the race of his life, and it could not have been better timed.

Beyond track and field, Higgins described Thweatt as a highly seri-

ous student as well as one of his most hardworking athletes. He is studying to become a computer engineer, his priority while choosing between colleges.

“This is a guy that has a 102 average,” Higgins said. “He’s the type of guy that has literally sat down and designed a sensor, put it together by soldering. That’s where his mind is. Fantastic student, very locked in. He’s looking at a couple of schools that will offer the opportunity for him to primarily study engineering and still run track and field.”

Elsewhere at the state championship meet, Baldwin senior Tyrell Holder, who Higgins called the “surprise of the year” ran in the 55-meter dash, setting a time of 6.72 seconds in preliminaries. Senior Patrick Appolon competed alongside Thweatt in the 55 hurdles and finished 15th in preliminaries, while senior Chinonso Ajomiwe finished 22nd in the triple jump.

Senior Brandon Thweatt took the state indoor title in the 55-meter hurdles by the slimmest of margins.

HERALD SPORTS

Baldwin holds off Whitman for L.I. crown

By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com

Baldwin’s once-comfortable 19-point lead over Walt Whitman in the Long Island Class AAA girls’ basketball title game whittled down to five with less than three minutes remaining when its lone returning starter from last season’s state championship team made sure it wouldn’t be her high school finale.

Senior guard Alyssa Polonia’s long trey from the top of the key with 2:46 to go provided the dagger in Baldwin’s 54-46 victory March 11. It was her first basket in the second half and her four free throws in the final minute sealed the program’s eighth L.I. crown in head coach Tom Catapano’s 17 seasons at the helm.

“Alyssa is the leader of this team and she’s been clutch all season,” Catapano said. “She’s worked herself into being an exceptional player and when we need a big basket, we’re calling her number because we know she’s knocking it down.”

Polonia had a team-high 17 points, sophomore Malia Robinson added 11 and junior Ajeya Nicholas chipped in 8 as the Bruins (21-3) held off a late surge from Whitman to add to their dynasty that includes a dozen Nassau County championships and three state titles during Catapano’s tenure.

“We knew coming into this game we’d have to bring our best,” Polonia said. “I didn’t get a lot of opportunities, but I stayed confident and I always had faith that we’d win. Everyone did a great job tonight.”

In the paint, Nicholas and seniors Akua Bonsu and Leah Williams proved major factors in the outcome. Williams had 6 points and Bonsu scored all 5 of hers in the third quarter to offset some of Whitman’s momentum. And the trio combined for 24 rebounds.

“We have a three-headed monster in the backcourt with Alyssa, Malia and Chinaya [Okogeri], but we also have a three-headed monster up front with Ajeya, Leah and Akua,” Catapano said. “They did a great job getting rebounds and points, and they showed their versatility because they all had tough assignments on defense.”

The Wildcats (21-2) outscored Baldwin 32-24 in the second half. They got three-pointers from senior Paige Hiller, sophomore Hannah Creighton and junior Madison Richter in the third quarter and crept within seven before Williams’ three-point play made it 42-32 entering the fourth.

“We had a tough first half and we were just looking to get back to some of the things I knew we could do better like shot selection and ball movement,” Whitman head coach Dan Trebour

Senior Akua Bonsu chipped in 5 points and was clutch on the boards in Baldwin’s L.I. title game victory.

said. “These kids have had a lot of success and they showed a lot of grit.”

Junior Jazmynn Julien, who led the Wildcats with 17 points, had 12 of those in the second half and assisted on Creighton’s layup that shaved the margin to 46-41 with 3:30 remaining.

Polonia then dialed long distance off a drive-and-dish from Robinson to make it 49-41.

“At halftime we just said it’s our game to win and to stay the course,” Robinson said. “They made a good run, but we took the game back.”

Baldwin, the reigning state Class AA champion, fell behind early and never recovered in a 73-44 to Albertus Magnus last Saturday in the Class AAA regional final to complete its memorable season.

“It feels great to continue the program’s legacy,” Bonsu said. “It’s been a memorable season and we want to keep going as far as we can.”

Baldwin’s comeback try falls short in LIC

By BRIAN KACHARABA bkacharaba@liherald.com

Days after rallying from 13 points down to defeat Port Washington for the Nassau County Class AAA boys’ basketball title, Baldwin again faced that same deficit in the first quarter of the Long Island championship — but the Bruins were unable to complete another comeback.

The Bruins never led against Bay Shore on March 11 at Farmingdale State College, but pulled within two points with just under nine seconds remaining before the Marauders sealed a 66–62 victory on two clutch free throws by leading scorer Corey Faines with 7.5 ticks left, ending Baldwin’s run as defending Long Island champions.

Bay Shore (20-4) also defeated Baldwin (21-3) in the 2024 Long Island championship game, earning the program its first title since 1981. The Marauders now advance to the Southeast Regional Final against Section I’s Mamaroneck on Saturday at Yorktown High School.

“It’s Baldwin,” Bay Shore head coach Gary Williams said. “I told them they’re not going to give up. They’re too well coached. The kids are too tough. They’re not going to give up. I expected nothing less than that. I knew that was going to happen.”

The 66 points allowed marked the Bruins’ second-highest total surrendered this season, trailing only the 72 they gave up in a 10-point non-conference win over Smithtown West in the season opener on Dec. 6. The loss also snapped Baldwin’s 16-game winning streak.

“We didn’t play the defense that we’ve been playing for the whole season,” Bruins head coach Darius Burton said. “We just didn’t get stops. Credit Bay Shore.”

Faines scored 13 of his game-high 25 points in the decisive first quarter, accounting for all but five of Bay Shore’s points in the opening eight minutes. The Marauders built their largest lead of the game during that stretch, going up 19–6 approaching the final minute before closing the period with a 21–9 advantage.

Faines added seven points in the second quarter but was limited to just two in the third, allowing Baldwin to slowly chip away at Bay Shore’s lead and trail by just four, 50–46, entering the final stanza. But 6-foot-8 Marauder senior Niall Haughney, who finished with 22 points, helped pick up the offensive slack by scoring six of his team’s first eight points of the fourth quarter, giving Bay Shore a 58–49 lead with just over four minutes remaining.

The game appeared to be out of reach for Baldwin as it faced a 64–56 deficit with 27.3 seconds left, but Mekhai St. Louime’s 3-pointer from the right cor-

ner ignited one final burst for the Bruins. Mical Saint Jean then intercepted a long inbound pass and was eventually fouled by Bay Shore, putting Baldwin in the bonus.

Saint Jean hit one free throw with 11.9 seconds left to make it 64–60, then intercepted another inbound pass and sank two more free throws to pull Baldwin within two. The Bruins nearly stole a third straight inbound pass, but it was deflected out of bounds.

“These guys never give up,” Burton said. “They play it to the last second. But unfortunately, we didn’t get enough stops at the beginning of the game.”

Faines was fouled on Bay Shore’s ensuing possession and sank both free throws to ice the game.

“We always hit free-throws at the end of practice,” Faines said. “I knew our fate decided on our free-throw percentage. Usually, our free-throw percentage is kind of low. Today, we turned it up a whole notch.”

St. Jean hit five 3-pointers in the game and paced Baldwin with 28 points. Senior Jordan Williams scored 12, and Ethan Sainsbury added nine.

Fashion and philanthropy take the runway

ment funding often cannot.

“Government funding helps keep the lights on,” Swanson said. “But the money raised from events like this allows us to do the extra things that really make a difference — transportation when someone gets a new job, college books, therapeutic groups or other support that helps people move forward.”

The event began 23 years ago as a fun way for Bethany House to raise money for the women and children who turn to the organization in their time of need. Its guests used to model at the event, but because it became difficult to coordinate schedules, Bethany House now asks those who volunteer to walk the runway.

The donations included a threecourse dinner, and supporters purchased $5 surprise bags in the hope of winning the grand prize, a Tiffany heart necklace.

The night began with a cocktail hour, before guests sat down for dinner. Bethany House officials including Swanson spoke, talking about the work the organization does and thanking the sponsors.

The emcee for the evening was Samantha Augeri, a former News12 meteorologist. Augeri said she got involved with Bethany House after visiting one of its homes and learning more about the scope of homelessness in the region.

“I didn’t realize the scale of homelessness on Long Island, especially for women,” she said. “When I saw the work they were doing and met some of the women and their children, it really struck a chord with me.”

Augeri said she felt inspired to take part in the fashion show after seeing how Bethany House supports women as they work to rebuild their lives. “Bethany House helps women get through struggles, and gives them the tools they need to succeed and hopefully reach their goals and dreams someday,” she said.

At around 8:15 p.m., the fashion show began. Dressed by stylists from Nordstrom, which supplied all of the clothing in the show, the models took to the runway. The featured looks were styled by Nordstrom employees Tatiana Smith, assistant department manager of women’s contemporary, and department Manager Carole Brown.

Smith said the team was honored to be part of the event after learning more about Bethany House’s mission. “Homelessness is something everyone can come together around,” Smith said. “Events like this bring people from different walks of life into one room to raise awareness and support something important.”

Styling the models, Smith said, was one of the highlights of the evening, noting that the process involved meeting with the participants and selecting outfits that reflected their personalities.

“It was so much fun getting to know everyone, and helping them find looks they felt great in,” she said.

pam Cliszis took to the runway in support of Bethany House, after being inspired by the event last year and later joining the organization’s team. a former television production professional and a mother of two, Cliszis said she was proud to support Bethany House’s mission to uplift and empower local women and families in need.

Dozens of supporters filled the club’s ballroom, cheering as the models walked the runway. Swanson said that events like the fashion show highlight how community support plays a vital role in helping families rebuild their lives.

“Every little bit helps, and everyone has something they can offer,” she said. “Homelessness isn’t just an individual issue — it’s something the entire community can work together to solve.”

WEDNESDAY

MARCH 25 • 6:00-9:00PM

The Heritage Club at Bethpage 99 Quaker Meeting House Road Farmingdale, New York

For more information or to sponsor this event, contact Amy Amato,

Executive Director, Corporate Relations and Events at aamato@richnerlive.com or 516.569.4000 x224

ACCOUNTING EXCELLENCE

DONNA M. DISCLAFANI

Partner Prager Metis CPAs

VANESSA M. GORDON

Principal, Nonprofit Practice Grassi Advisors

BANKING LEADERSHIP

CAROL A. ALLEN

President & CEO

People’s Alliance Federal Credit Union

LUCY ZHANG

FVP/Commercial Lender

Royal Business Bank

NICOLE A. STEFANAKOS

Senior VP, Commercial Banking Citizens

COMMUNITY IMPACT

GIOVANA BRACCHI

Executive Director

La Fuerza Community Development Corporation

KATHERINE FRITZ

President & CEO

Long Island Cares

LISA BURCH

President & CEO

EPIC Family of Human Service Agencies

LAUREN WAGNER

Executive Director Long Island Arts Alliance

PATRICIA CHARLEMAGNE, ED.D., J.D

Executive Director Girls, Inc.

SUZETTE GORDON

President & CEO

SCO Family of Services

VALENTINA JANEK

Founder & Host Long Island Breakfast Club

PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS

MEET THE 2026 AWARD WINNERS

CORPORATE & INDUSTRY

AGNES FALCONE

Controller Winter Bros.

ERIN NOURIJANIAN VP of Marketing UBS Arena

MELISSA MATASSA

Business Owner GEICO Lynbrook & iSmash Farmingdale

MERLISA FAIRLEY, BS, PH. MBA COO Pronto of Long Island, Inc.

EDUCATION & YOUTH

ELLEN MORRIS TIEGERMAN, MD

Founder & CEO

Tiegerman School and Tiegerman Community Services

JASMIN VARELA, MD

District Superintendent

Eastern Suffolk BOCES

ENTREPRENEURIAL

CHARLENE JACKSON, ESQ.

CEO

Thompson Economic Development Services, LLC

JOANNA AUSTIN

CEO

31st State

LETY ALGERI

Founder & CEO Plant Up

FINANCIAL SERVICES

ANA LUDEMANN, MBA

VP / Wealth Management Financial Advisor

Janney Montgomery Scott, LLC

KATHERINE M. DEAN, CFP®, MBA

Financial Advisor

Opal Wealth Advisors

HEALTHCARE & WELLNESS

CARMINE PEÑA, DDS Endodontist

Peña Dentistry PLLC Practice Limited to Endodontics

CAROL GOMES CEO & COO

Stony Brook University Hospital

JANIS HOFFMAN, LCSW-R Co-Founder Mindful Therapy

JILL KOFLER, LMHC-D Co-Founder

Mindful Therapy

MARINA CORTESE, DAC, LAC, CMES, CCES, CSCS Founder MoveMed Rx

TARA BUONOCORE-RUT President & CEO CenterLight Health System

VANESSA BAIRD-STREETER

President & CEO

Health & Welfare Council of Long Island

INSURANCE

EVELYN GELLAR

Managing Director Forest Hills Financial Group

LEGAL

BARBARA MARISSA MAISTRO Member

Bond Schoeneck & King

CHERYL L. FRATELLO, ESQ. Founding Attorney Fratello Law, P.C.

MEDIA EXCELLENCE

ASTRID CORDOBA President AVC Media

MOR GREENBERG Founder MOR Media Group

SKYE OSTREICHER, MPH, MA Founder & President In the Room Media & The Political Personality

MINORITY WOMEN OWNED BUSINESS

NOREEN CARRO

President LMN Printing of NY, Inc.

PUBLIC SERVICE

MAEGAN FOX President Project Thank a Cop

REAL ESTATE

GINA COLETTI, PHD, ABR, SRES, RSPS President, Broker/Owner GC Advisory Group, Inc.

SUCI PADRO

Producing Sales Manager OwnIt Home Loans

TECHNOLOGY

LUCIA SULJIC

Vice President of Corporate Legal Canon U.S.A., Inc

RISING STARS UNDER 40

JILLIAN KASHUBA

Managing Associate Forest Hills Financial

JANNA RODRIGUEZ

President The Innovative Daycare Company

POWER TEAM AWARDS

DRIVE FORE SUCCESS

JAMIE FRANCHI

Director of Communications & Government Relations

SHERYL BURO

Deputy Executive Director & CFO

Long Island Contractors Association

STEPHANIE ROSADO

COO

REENA WALIA

Lead, Marketing and Growth Strategy

Always Compassionate Health

ST. JOSEPH’S UNIVERSITY

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR EVENT SPONSORS

CENTERPIECE SPONSOR

SPONSORS

News brief

The 2025-26 Baldwin High School girls bowling team includes Kaci Carpenter, Morgan-Alexis Ransom, Isabella McKeon, Rose Altschuler, Casey Keryc and Lauryn Sistrunk.

Lady Bruins make Baldwin history

The Baldwin High School girls bowling team achieved a historic milestone this season by finishing first in their division and securing the conference championship. Despite not receiving an invitation to the County tournament, which concluded their season, this accomplishment marks a significant moment for the program.

Head Coach Nick LaForgia, who is also a science teacher at Baldwin High School, founded the current girls’ team 11 years ago. For over a decade, the team has aimed to reach this goal. Many talented teams have come close over the years, setting the stage for this breakthrough season.

“For the past 11 years, the girls’ bowling team has pursued a single objective: to win the conference championship,” LaForgia said in a release sent to the Herald. “This year, that goal has finally become a reality as the team proudly lifted the conference trophy. This is a special achievement for these eight young women, whose talent, hard work, and determination have left an indelible mark on our program.”

Although the season ended earlier than hoped, the team’s championship victory serves as a defining moment for Baldwin girls’ athletics and sets a new standard for future teams.

— Allyson Ferrari

Freeport Rec to host Hempstead Job Fair

By ANDREW FRANCIS afrancis@liherald.com

The Town of Hempstead is once again hosting a job fair at the Freeport Recreation Center. General admission for the March 26 event will be available from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Veterans and those with disabilities are invited to an early admission beginning at 9:30 a.m. Registration is required, and organizers ask that all prospective participants do so by visiting HempsteadWorks.com/jobfair. Registrants will receive an invitation to attend an online pre-event workshop that will help prepare them for the fair.

In addition to networking and potential interview and job opportunities, registrants can get a professional headshot taken for free at the event. All of those taking part are encouraged to bring several copies of their resume.

Attendance at the job fair has grown considerably, according to town officials. Supervisor John Ferretti said that over 700 people were registered for the event as of March 13. Since the first gathering in 2022, as many as 2,000 attendees have registered each year.

Despite the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports of steady increases in unemployment nationwide since early 2022, the Town of Hempstead has maintained unemployment rates under 4 percent since 2021. The current unemployment in Hempstead, according to the town, is 3.2 percent, well under the U.S. average of 4.4 percent.

Job fair organizers seek to continue reducing unemployment and to provide residents with “an opportunity to meet with local businesses and major companies one on one” to discuss job prospects, Ferretti said.

“We also have agencies providing information and resources for individuals with disabilities and giving them an opportunity to meet with businesses,” he added. “HempsteadWorks will also have a table so residents can learn about the resources available at the Town of Hempstead Career Center.”

The companies and organizations that will be take part in the fair will represent a variety of industries, including retail, security, first responders, health care, child care, public transit, armed forces and communications. Some of the featured employers include Advantage Solutions, Council for Airport Opportunity, Long Island Cares, the New York City Department of

Correction, Richner Communications, the U.S. Marines Corp, the U.S. Postal Service, with many Long Island- and New York City-based job opportunities.

Additionally, HempsteadWorks has begun the registration process for its Summer Youth Employment Program, and is looking for eligible young people from ages 16 to 20 to apply. Participants will work as interns for 30 hours a week for six weeks over the summer with partnering local businesses and organizations.

For more information on the job fair and other HempsteadWorks initiatives, go to the HempsteadWorks Career Center website, HempsteadWorks.com, or call (516) 485-5000 ext. 1100.

Business summit highlights entrepreneurs, innovation

By ABBEY SALVEMINI

The Herald Long Island Business Summit & Thrive Awards brought together entrepreneurs, executives and family-owned businesses at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury on March 3 for a day of networking, education and celebration focused on helping businesses expand and compete in a challenging market.

An all-day networking expo

featuring organizations such as the New York Small Business Development Centers, Trellus and the Secure Choice Savings Program kicked off the summit.

A featured executive session, “The Future is Now: Protecting Your Wealth and Legacy,” led by attorneys Morris Sabbagh and Joseph Trotti, of Vishnick McGovern Milizio LLP, emphasized proactive planning, wealth preservation and safeguarding family legacies.

Sabbagh encouraged a forwardthinking approach to protecting businesses and personal legacies.

“Most successful people are optimists, that’s what makes them successful,” he said, emphasizing that confidence, preparation and strategic vision drive long-term, generational success.

After the executive session, event leaders took the stage to formally greet attendees and highlight the summit’s mission of supporting and strengthening Long Island’s business community. Those lead-

ers underscored their commitment to strengthening Long Island’s business community and supporting small and mid-size companies.

Marc Perez, senior vice president at Bank of America, highlighted the bank’s commitment as a presenting sponsor of the event and to the region’s entrepreneurs, stating, “Bank of America remains deeply committed to supporting businesses, the backbone of Long Island’s economy.”

Stuart Richner, CEO of Richner Communications Inc., echoed that sentiment.

“Small and mid-size businesses are the backbone of Long Island’s economy,” emphasizing the vital role they play in driving regional growth,” he said.

Amy Amato, executive director of corporate relations/events at Richner Communications, encouraged attendees to maximize the day’s opportunities.

“I want you to leave here with tangible strategies and meaningful relationships,” she said.

16 Joseph Milizio, managing partner at Vishnick McGovern Milizio LLP, highlighted the energy in the room and the value of collaboration.

“We have a room filled with excitement,” he said. “This is where you form partnerships to grow your business,” underscoring how connection and strategic guidance can help businesses thrive for generations.”

At the heart of the summit were the 2026 Thrive Awards, celebrating the small and family-owned businesses that drive Long Island’s economy. Stew Leonard Jr. was honored with the Legacy Leadership Award, alongside winners in categories such as Excellence in Entrepreneurship, Social Impact, Creative Excellence and Health & Wellness Leadership. The awards showcased the innovation and resilience that shape the region’s business community.

The opening keynote of the summit featured fashion entrepreneur and native Long Islander Steve Madden, who shared insights on balancing ambition with sustainability in business during his session, “Building a Business That Doesn’t Break You.” Emmy Awardwinning broadcaster Curt Chaplin, guided the discussion on the challenges and triumphs of growing a successful enterprise.

“An entrepreneur is someone who breaks the rules and thinks of things differently,” Madden said, giving attendees an inside view of the unconventional strategies and mindset that have driven his success.

“His entire story is just remarkable,” Chaplin said, framing the conversation and asking questions that highlighted the lessons behind Madden’s journey.

Guests then attended “Workshop Session I: The Money Hour,” focused on financial strategy and growth. Panels on scaling startups, managing cash flow and protecting business legacy featured experts from Bank of America, CliftonLarsonAllen, GC Advisory Group and Empire State Development, offering practical guidance for sustainable success.

The afternoon continued with “Workshop Session II: Mind Your Business,” which covered legal essentials, AI tools and marketing strategies. Speakers included Milizio and Derek Gibbs of Casper Studios and Brad Harmon of Richner Communications.

“All decisions are driven through

data,” Harmon said. He reminded attendees that “it’s not about you, it’s about the consumer,” urging them to understand their target market and where their audience is. When challenges arise, his advice was simple: “Ask yourself, what did the data say?”

Motivational speaker and entrepreneur Brandon Steiner, founder and president of The Steiner Agency and CollectibleXchange, delivered his closing keynote, “The 5 Essentials to Thrive in Business in 2026.”

He emphasized innovation, empathy and growth, telling attendees, “I’m always trying to outthink my competition,” and urging them to “lead with empathy” by truly listening to customers’ needs. Steiner also encouraged continuous improvement, reminding the audience, “Don’t let success get in the way of more success.”

The Bank of America Small Business Spotlight Awards honored three standout businesses in the Micro, Small and Growth categories. Cholados y Antojitos Corp, Charles Krull + Son, Inc. Plumbing and Heating and Curl Evolution each received $5,000 in unrestricted funds. Participants entered by submitting how their business gives back to the community, and how they would use the prize money.

“We are thrilled to have been chosen to receive this award,” Curl Evolution owner Allison Bridges said. “We are very invested in Long Island and the people here. This will help us open an additional location at the end of the year helping us get more curl care options to the residents here as well as hire more talent.”

The event was powered by Bank of America, with additional support from Vishnick McGovern Milizio LLP, whose sponsorship underscored a shared commitment to strengthening and sustaining Long Island’s small and family-owned business community. Event highlights were also shared on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Attendees left with new connections, actionable strategies and renewed inspiration to navigate an evolving business landscape. By combining expert insight, meaningful networking and recognition of local excellence, the Herald Long Island Business Summit & Thrive Awards reinforced a shared commitment to empowering entrepreneurs and ensuring

Take a fresh look at your organization How this can turn challenges into opportunities

By Jocie Dye and Dave Hickman

Are you confident you’re heading toward sustainable and positive change? Are you concerned about the effectiveness of your operations and workforce, and if they can keep pace with your growth?

Reviewing your structure, processes, and systems with an eye toward your strategic vision can help your organization make informed, targeted, and impactful decisions.

Three key ways to uncover opportunities

Many businesses and organizations face uncertainty as competition, tax, and funding structures continue to evolve. Organizations need to be nimble and lean, while operating efficiently through leveraging data, automation, and their workforce to help drive growth.

Start with a 360-degree view of your business. If you’re already feeling stretched, think about helping fill those gaps while you focus on core strategy.

Getting a fresh perspective in three key areas – structure, process, and systems – can help you thrive now and in the face of new disruptions and business opportunities.

1. Understand the structure required to support your operations

Ask these questions to help determine if your operations are supporting the needs of your mission, strategy, and leadership now and in the future:

• Are managers receiving the training, tools, and information they need to do their work effectively?

• Do they understand their budget and spending?

• Do they feel they have the right tools and resources to operate efficiently?

• Do managers know who they can turn to if they have questions on financial or human resource matters?

People strategy: Filling the skills gap with the right team

If the answer to any of the above is

“no,” it’s possible you are experiencing either skills or capacity gaps within your operations functions.

Ideally, your organization’s operations serve in both a compliance and risk management role, as well as one of customer support to the rest of the organization. If you’re feeling gaps in either compliance or customer service, it’s likely time to further evaluate and identify where and why those exist — and begin planning to remediate.

Many businesses find outsourcing some or all their business operations can help fill skills gaps in required compliance areas, as well as add capacity, particularly through change and growth. Outsourcing often provides the ability and flexibility to right-size in a way that can grow with you as your needs change.

2. Review key operating processes

Your team is only as effective as the processes they follow and the tools and technology they use. To help you understand how effectively and efficiently your team is operating, ask:

• Do we have documented and wellunderstood standard operating procedures?

• Are we leveraging electronic and auditable system workflows for things like employee onboarding, accounts payable, expense approvals, and signatures on cash disbursements?

• Do sales and billing data flow seamlessly into the financial system of record?

• Are we storing documentation electronically, in shared and documented locations?

• Do managers know where to access the reporting data and information they need when they need it?

A “no” answer may indicate manual, inefficient processes, and risks associated with human error, weak controls, lost documentation, and the potential for missed revenues.

3. Modernize your technology systems for efficiency and security

Updating your technology doesn’t have to be a major undertaking. For some, it may be as simple as converting to a cloud-based version connected to other platforms.

Automation

Do you use outdated, unintegrated technologies, or have modern tools staff struggle to use effectively? If your workflows aren’t automated and you don’t have data at your fingertips, you should be asking yourself why.

Today’s business systems — and increasingly, AI-driven tools — make it possible to automate nearly any and all routine data entry tasks, which not only increases efficiency, but lends itself to stronger controls, documentable audit trails, and better data and analytics. Other systems can track a company’s full financial profile, which helps with everything from setting revenue targets to taxes.

Cybersecurity

Protecting technology, including software your employees use to work from home, is critical. Hackers, or threat actors, are constantly on the move, using AI and other tactics to hone their attacks. Anti-virus software,

employee education, strong passwords, a two-factor identification system, and regular system scans are just some of the cybersecurity techniques available

Artificial intelligence

AI-powered platforms can go beyond automation by learning patterns in your financial data, predicting cash flow, and identifying cost-saving opportunities. Combined with outsourcing support, these technologies allow your back-office team to shift from manual tasks to strategic analysis, helping leadership make smarter decisions faster.

For more information on business operations improvements, contact Nicola Ellam at nicola.ellam@CLAconnect.com or 646-604-0015.

The information contained herein is general in nature and is not intended, and should not be construed, as legal, accounting, investment, or tax advice or opinion provided by CliftonLarsonAllen LLP (CLA) to the reader. For more information, visit CLAconnect.com.

CLA exists to create opportunities for our clients, our people, and our communities through our industryfocused wealth advisory, digital, audit, tax, consulting, and outsourcing services. CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP) is an independent network member of CLA Global. See CLAglobal.com/disclaimer Investment advisory services are offered through CliftonLarsonAllen Wealth Advisors, LLC, an SECregistered investment advisor.

The double challenge of hearing and vision loss

Screenings, diagnostics and referrals are critical to care

By Christy Hinko

The connection between vision and hearing is an increasingly important topic in patient care, particularly as sensory impairments can significantly affect overall health and well-being. Many patients, according to Audiologist Dr. Esther Fogel, owner of Comprehensive Audiology, present with challenges that extend beyond a single sense.

“Many of my patients have both hearing and vision sensory issues, going on,” Fogel says.

Sensory health does not exist in isolation. Any impairment — whether related to hearing or vision — can have wide-ranging effects.

“What I think the biggest thing to understand is how any sensory impairment, whether it’s hearing or vision, can affect a person’s overall health and well being,” she says. “The impact can compound if not treated properly.”

Hearing loss can interfere with communication and social interaction, which may in turn affect cognitive function. Vision impairment can similarly disrupt independence and daily activities. When both are present, the impact can compound.

In some cases, vision issues may not be treatable. Fogel notes that certain conditions affecting eyesight cannot be corrected.

“It becomes even more important to address a patient’s hearing, because that is their connection to the world around them. Preserving sensory input becomes critical to maintaining engagement and quality of life.”

Treatment decisions in audiology often require consideration of other impairments. When recommending hearing aids, Fogel evaluates more than just the degree of hearing loss.

“The other thing that I take into account when I’m discussing treatment solutions such as hearing aids, is understanding a patient’s other impairments,” she says.

Visual impairment and dexterity challenges can influence which devices are appropriate. Many modern hearing aids are smaller and rechargeable, advancements that improve convenience and cosmetic appeal. However, small components can pose challenges for patients with limited vision or difficulty manipulating tiny parts. In those situations, audiologists may modify devices with larger removal handles or more visible color indicators.

“Hearing aids have come a long way in terms of ease, comfort and being more discreet,” Fogel says.

replacement.

For patients with vision impairment, those indicators may need to be enlarged, or the entire device may be made more visibly distinct, color coded, for instance, to ensure proper use.

even if they have not noticed symptoms. Medical conditions can further increase risk. Fogel cites diabetes, cardiovascular issues, high blood pressure and kidney disease as examples of conditions associated with both hearing and vision loss. Patients with these diagnoses should be monitored closely for sensory changes. Certain medications may also carry side effects that affect hearing.

The role of primary care providers is an important entry point in identifying sensory issues. Fogel encourages patients to maintain a relationship with a primary doctor.

“It is important to have someone overseeing your overall care,” she says. Primary care offices often conduct screenings during wellness checkups, including basic hearing assessments. Screenings differ from diagnostic testing.

“What is being done at the primary care is more of a screening, just to rule out if you’re at risk for hearing loss,” she says. A screening typically determines whether a patient hears tones at a certain level, but it does not establish the degree or cause of hearing loss. If a patient does not pass a screening, referral to a specialist is essential. Comprehensive diagnostic testing can determine the level of hearing loss and identify underlying causes, which may range from age-related changes to medical conditions affecting the ear. Early specialist evaluation supports more precise treatment and management.

In private practice, Fogel says individualized care is central to effective treatment.

“We definitely take our time; gathering a full medical history, not just hearing.”

Understanding the broader picture — including vision impairment and other health concerns — allows for customized solutions.

Addressing one impairment while ignoring another can limit a patient’s ability to communicate, remain socially engaged and maintain cognitive function.

Hearing aids have come a long way technologically and also in design and functionality, including being rechargeable and less burdensome with battery

Age remains a significant factor in both hearing and vision loss.

“We all know that age plays a big factor in both hearing loss and vision loss,” Fogel adds. Still, she emphasizes that hearing loss can occur at any age and should not be dismissed. She recommends that adults over 55 obtain a baseline hearing test,

Coordinated care among primary providers and specialists ensures that sensory changes are identified, evaluated and treated appropriately.

As Fogel’s experience illustrates, preserving hearing and vision is not only about managing individual symptoms but about protecting overall well-being.

How Treating Hearing Loss Protects Memory and Brain Health

During Brain Awareness Week (March 16–22), Hearing and Brain Centers of America is highlighting one of the most overlooked—but proven—ways to protect brain health: treating hearing loss and tinnitus.

Research shows untreated hearing loss is one of the largest modifiable risk factors for cognitive decline and dementia. As auditory input to the brain decreases, the brain must work harder to process sound, diverting resources away from memory, focus, and comprehension. Over time, this cognitive overload can accelerate brain atrophy, social isolation, and dementia risk.

Studies from Johns Hopkins Medical Center reveal that individuals with mild hearing loss are twice as likely to develop dementia, while

those with moderate to severe hearing loss face up to a five-fold increased risk. A 2023 study published in The Lancet further confirmed that treating hearing loss can significantly slow cognitive decline.

At Hearing and Brain Centers of America, traditional hearing aids have been replaced with prescriptiongrade NeuroTechnology™,

designed not just to amplify sound—but to stimulate the brain. These advanced devices improve clarity, reduce listening effort, and support neural pathways critical for memory and cognition.

The landmark ACHIEVE Study (The Lancet, 2023) found that older adults who treated hearing loss experienced a 48% reduction in cognitive decline over three years. Additional research shows hearing aid use is linked to improved memory recall, increased social engagement, and lower dementia prevalence.

Dr. Keith Darrow, neuroscientist and clinical audiologist, emphasizes: “We hear with our brains, not our ears.” Treating hearing loss early helps protect brain function, enhance quality of life, and promote healthier aging. In recognition of Brain

Awareness Week, Hearing and Brain Centers of America encourages adults over 50 to schedule regular hearing and cognitive screenings. If you or a loved one are experiencing hearing loss or tinnitus, contact us to schedule a comprehensive hearing and cognitive assessment.

Together, we can protect brain health and add more life to your years.

A better way to treat blocked ears

For more than a century, doctors typically have treated children and adults with chronically blocked ears by surgically placing tubes within the ears to relieve pressure. Now, there is a better way.

Mount Sinai South Nassau’s ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialists are using minimally invasive endoscopic technology to thread a tiny balloon catheter through the nose and into the eustachian tube. They inflate the balloon for two minutes to restore tube function before deflating it and removing the catheter. Patients often can return to work and take part in normal daily activities on the same day as the procedure.

The new procedure can be used by patients suffering from chronic eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD), including those experiencing a persistent feeling of ear fullness, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), recurring ear fluid, difficulty hearing, earaches during weather changes, or difficulty equalizing ear pressure when traveling by plane or ascending steep inclines. Each year, ETD accounts for nearly 2 million visits to doctors, emergency departments, or urgent care centers in the United States.

ETD occurs when the eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear to the throat, becomes blocked, inflamed, or fails to open properly. When functioning correctly, the eustachian tube opens and closes naturally, especially when yawning or swallowing, and is vital to maintaining ear health and helping regulate pressure.

While children are susceptible to

Kakani, MD, Director of Otolaryngology

uses advanced noninvasive procedures to treat patients with issues related to the ears, nose, and throat

ETD due to their shorter, more horizontal, and narrower eustachian tubes, it is most prevalent in adults 65 years and older as well as those ages 40-64.

In the past, ETD has been treated by surgically placing tubes within the eardrums to aerate the middle ear. However, Mount Sinai South Nassau’s team of otolaryngologists (specialists in diagnosing and treating structural dysfunctions or injuries in the ear, nose, and throat) led by Rajesh Kakani, MD, Director, Otolaryngology, are using “tuboplasty surgery” or eustachian tube balloon dilation to correct ETD.

Approved by the Food and Drug Administration, tuboplasty surgery is an elective, minimally invasive endoscopic outpatient procedure that opens blocked

eustachian tubes with a balloon catheter.

Performed under general anesthesia, the benefits of tuboplasty surgery include minimal recovery time and follow-up care. Studies have found that patients experience long-lasting relief after tuboplasty surgery.

Designated as a Sinus Center of Excellence, Mount Sinai South Nassau’s Department of Ear, Nose, and Throat specializes in treating allergies, chronic ear infections, dizziness, hay fever, hearing loss, voice hoarseness, chronic nosebleed, chronic sinusitis, sleep apnea, and snoring and swallowing disorders.

Dr. Kakani and his team use advanced noninvasive procedures to treat patients with all types of issues related to the ears, nose, and throat, including:

• Endoscopic sinus surgery

• Eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty

• Head and neck cancer surgery

• Rhinoplasty, or plastic surgery of the nose

For more information about Mount Sinai South Nassau’s ENT services or to schedule an appointment, call 1-877-SOUTH-NASSAU.

mountsinai.org/southnassau

Turn down the risk

By Christy Hinko

Protecting your hearing no longer applies only to loud workplaces or rock musicians. Everyday environments such as yardwork, commuting and concerts expose people to sound levels that can gradually damage the delicate structures of the inner ear. Because hearing loss is permanent, health experts emphasize prevention through simple, consistent habits that reduce exposure and give ears time to recover.

Everyday noise adds up

Many common activities reach volumes that can strain hearing. Gas-powered lawn equipment, leaf blowers and chainsaws often exceed levels considered safe for prolonged use. Commuters encounter steady noise from traffic, trains and buses, which can push sound exposure higher than people realize. Concerts and sporting events regularly reach levels that can cause damage in minutes. Even if the noise doesn’t feel painful, repeated exposure can contribute to long-term loss or persistent ringing in the ears.

Protecting hearing during yardwork

Outdoor chores are among the most overlooked sources of noise. Equipment

that runs on gas or high-powered motors produces sustained sound that can exceed safe limits. Wearing well-fitted earplugs or earmuff-style protectors reduces the intensity reaching the inner ear. Choosing electric or battery-powered tools, which tend to run more quietly, also helps lower exposure. Taking short breaks during long tasks gives ears time to recover, and maintaining equipment can reduce unnecessary noise from worn parts or engines running at high strain.

Reducing exposure while commuting

Daily travel exposes people to a mix of traffic, engines and crowd noise. Small adjustments can make a difference. Noisecanceling headphones reduce the need to turn up music or podcasts to compete with background sound. Standing farther from train doors or bus engines lowers exposure during rides. For drivers, keeping windows closed in heavy traffic and avoiding prolonged idling near loud vehicles helps limit cumulative noise. These changes are subtle but meaningful over months and years of routine travel.

Staying safe at concerts and events

Live music and large venues create some of the loudest environments people encounter. Wearing high-fidelity earplugs,

which lower volume without distorting sound, allows listeners to enjoy performances while protecting their hearing. Standing farther from speakers or rotating positions during long shows reduces direct exposure. Taking breaks in quieter areas between sets gives ears a chance to recover. After an event, temporary muffled hearing or ringing is a sign that the ears have been stressed; allowing quiet time afterward helps them recover and reduces the risk of long-term effects.

Building long-term habits

Protecting hearing is most effective when it becomes part of everyday routines.

Keeping ear protection with yard tools, in a car or in a bag makes it easier to use consistently. Paying attention to early signs of strain, such as ringing or difficulty hearing conversations after loud activities, encourages people to adjust their habits. Regular hearing checks can help detect changes early and reinforce the importance of prevention.

Photo: Everyday activities — from yardwork to concerts — can expose people to sound levels that may damage hearing over time, making simple protection like earplugs an important habit.

Students become meterologist’s at Meadow

Students at Meadow Elementary School had an exciting opportunity to engage with weather science during a special visit from the Emmy Award-winning meteorologist, Samantha Augeri.

The Long Island weather expert, who is also the founder of Sam’s Weather School, led an interactive presentation aimed at igniting curiosity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The program reflected Meadow Elementary School’s commitment to hands-on STEM education.

Known for her ability to transform complex weather concepts into engaging learning experiences, Augeri brought weather science to life through demonstrations and hands-on activities that encouraged the Meadow third graders to explore the workings of the atmosphere.

Throughout the program, students learned about various weather phenomena and the underlying science, while participating in experiments that illustrated how different weather systems form. From tornadoes and hurricanes to lightning and thunder, students experienced these powerful weather events right inside the school gymnasium.

Augeri also familiarized students with the essential tools used by meteorologists. She demonstrated professional instruments, like anemometers, which measure wind speed, and barometers, which gauge air pressure, helping students understand how scientists gather and analyze atmospheric data.

One of the highlights of the presentation allowed students to step into the shoes of a meteorologist. Using a microphone and green screen, several students presented their own weather forecasts, gaining firsthand insight into the creation and presentation of weather reports.

By linking classroom science to real-world careers, Augeri helped the Baldwin students not only learn about weather and science behind it in a fun and meaningful way—she may have even ignited interest in the next generation of meteorologists.

— Allyson Ferrari

Students don’t just learn about weather at Sam’s Weather School, they experience it.

Flooded streets are signs of larger challenges

Rising seas, stormwater runoff and pollution affect communities from shore to shore

By ROKSANA AMID, ALYSSA R. GRIFFIN & ABBEY SALVEMINI of the Herald Community Newspapers

Fourth installment in a series about water.

Flooding streets, polluted bays and aging infrastructure are reshaping life along Nassau and Suffolk counties’ coasts. From the barrier island neighborhoods of Long Beach and Island Park to the waterways of the Great South Bay and Hempstead Harbor, communities are confronting the growing impacts of rising water, runoff and environmental strain.

Across Long Island, scientists and planners say, climate change, development patterns and aging infrastructure are converging to create new risks for coastal communities.

Nassau’s South Shore

Heavy rain can quickly overwhelm parts of Nassau County’s South Shore. In the West End of Long Beach, storm drains can fill within minutes as water pools at intersections, climbs curbs and creeps toward front steps. In nearby Freeport, residents sometimes wade through ankle-deep water along canal-side streets. In a Facebook poll from the Herald, residents of Oceanside and Island Park were invited to share experiences with bayside flooding.

RISING TIDES TIDES

Heavy rain combined with high tide, residents say, can push water back up through storm drains. Major flooding events, they report, have struck several times in recent years. High tides — particularly during a new moon and combined with strong winds — can bring roughly a foot of water onto some blocks.

Across the South Shore, flooding is no longer unusual. In many communities, it has become a regular part of life.

Long Beach and Island Park sit on narrow barrier islands only a few feet above sea level, while Freeport and Oceanside stretch along canals and bays that funnel water inland. All four communities connect through Reynolds Channel and the Western Bays, allowing tidal surges to move freely between them.

Much of the infrastructure in and beneath these communities — storm drains, sewer lines and bulkheads — was built decades ago, before sea levels began rising and extreme rainfall became more common.

“When you look at repeated flooding in coastal places like Long Beach and Freeport,” Amy Chester, managing director of the climate resilience nonprofit Rebuild by Design, said, “a huge part of the vulnerability comes down to how these neighborhoods were originally built, where houses went, how high they were built and what infrastructure was put underneath them.”

Many South Shore communities expanded rapidly during the post–World War II housing boom. Natural landscapes that once absorbed rainfall were replaced with pavement and development, while stormwater systems were designed with the assumption that rain would fall and simply drain away. Today, that assumption often proves faulty.

Living with water

Flooding now shapes daily life in many South Shore neighborhoods. Many residents move their cars to higher ground when storms threaten. Others install

pumps in crawlspaces to push water back outside, though many say it still seeps back in. For many households, flooding now affects everyday decisions — from where to park to whether work or school schedules may change.

And flooding doesn’t stop at municipal borders. Rain falling in higher-elevation communities such as Lynbrook eventually flows downhill toward the bay. During intense storms, runoff travels from Nassau’s glacial high points on the North Shore toward its lowest-lying southern communities.

“If you look at the topography, it’s the result of a terminal moraine left by a glacier,” said Georgeen Theodore, an architect and urban planner with Interboro Partners. “Water flows from the high point to the low point. What happens to a town on the bay is connected to towns uphill.”

Because of that connection, Theodore said, climate resilience must be addressed regionally. “Climate vulnerability cannot be solved by one village alone,” she said.

In Long Beach, the highest elevations are along the oceanfront, descending toward Reynolds Channel, where flooding is more common. Similar patterns appear along Freeport’s canals and along Island Park’s lowest blocks, where water tends to pond first and recede last.

Many resilience programs focus on homeowners, offering grants to elevate houses or retrofit properties. Renters, and residents of multifamily buildings, often have fewer options.

“If you don’t own your home, what are your choices?” Chester asked. “You can’t elevate the building. You can’t redesign the drainage.”

Historic housing policies also play a role. In the 1930s and 1940s, federal mortgage maps labeled certain neighborhoods risky for investment, often based on

race or religion. “What we see today is the legacy of those decisions,” Chester said. “Areas that were denied investment then are often the same places facing higher climate risk now.”

Theodore cautions against viewing flooding as purely natural. “Is it a natural disaster,” she asked, “or the outcome of decades of planning and housing decisions?”

Fragmented solutions

Residents say that official responses to flooding have been inconsistent. Some recall sewer improvements in Island Park, but broader efforts have been limited. Experts say that effective solutions necessitate a regional approach.

The best way to manage rainfall, Theodore said, is to slow it before it reaches storm drains through strategies such as permeable pavement, rain gardens, increased tree cover and reducing paved surfaces.

“We want to slow the way water flows,” she said. “But we built for speed.”

With Nassau County already densely developed, creating space for water absorption has become increasingly difficult. Addressing flooding one property at a time won’t solve the larger problem, Theodore said, and long-term coordination will likely be necessary. Some residents worry about what the next decade may bring as sea levels rise and flooding becomes more common. Communities including Long Beach, Freeport, Island Park and Oceanside increasingly represent the front line of a worsening problem.

The Great South Bay

Pollution entering the Great South Bay is closely tied to what happens on land, particularly through

Wading into the debate over rising water

Continued from PreViouS PAGe

groundwater and runoff. The bay stretches along the South Shore, between the Island’s “mainland” and Fire Island. While it receives freshwater from rivers and streams, a significant portion flows underground through Long Island’s aquifer system.

As groundwater moves through soil, it carries pollutants on its way to the bay. “Excess fertilizer can then make its way into the water column, and that is going to stimulate these algal blooms,” Ryan B. Wallace, assistant professor of environmental studies and sciences at Adelphi University, said. “We have to be able to reduce the amount of nitrogen that’s entering into our groundwater.”

Nitrogen pollution is one of the most significant environmental challenges facing the bay. Much of it originates from cesspools and septic systems, while fertilizers used on lawns, golf courses and farmland also contribute.

Excess nitrogen fuels algae growth. As algae die and decompose, bacteria consume oxygen in the water.

The bay has also experienced harmful algal blooms such as brown tide, which block sunlight from reaching the bay floor and damage seagrass habitat. Because groundwater moves slowly, pollution entering the aquifer today may take years — or even decades — to reach coastal waters.

Despite these challenges, local organizations are working to improve water quality.

Save the Great South Bay, a nonprofit founded in 2012, focuses on reducing pollution and restoring the bay’s ecosystem.

“In each of the 16 towns that cross that area, we have appointed a creek defender who is a local steward,” Executive Director Robyn Silvestri said. “They go out, they patrol the creeks, look for trash or anything else that might be blocking the creek. And then, once a year, they organize a major community cleanup.”

Volunteers patrol waterways for debris in addition to organizing the annual cleanups. Over the past several years, they have removed more than 85,000 pounds of trash from creeks feeding into the bay.

“Oysters used to be all over the bay, and now there’s basically no natural oysters in the bay,” Sylvestri said. “We have oyster farms, but no naturally occurring oysters. So we’re looking to reverse that.”

Because a single oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water per day, restoring oyster reefs could significantly improve water quality.

Nassau’s North Shore

Environmental advocates say that conditions in Hempstead Harbor have improved significantly over the past several decades, though pollution from runoff, septic systems and aging infrastructure still affects nearby communities.

The harbor connects to Glen Cove Creek and several tributaries along the North Shore, and serves as both an ecological system and a drainage outlet for

the surrounding watershed.

“We have a long-term water monitoring program, which is really the backbone of what we do,” Michelle Lapinel McAllister, programs director for the Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor, said. “We’ve had consistent and uninterrupted monitoring since 1992.”

Researchers collect water samples year-round to measure nitrogen, bacteria and dissolved oxygen. “The main issues come down to nutrient pollution, bacteria and plastic pollution,” McAllister said.

Nitrogen pollution remains a persistent challenge, because excess nutrients can fuel algal blooms that reduce oxygen levels in the water.

Despite those challenges, the harbor has improved. In 2011, roughly 2,500 acres of shellfish beds reopened after being closed for more than 40 years because of high bacteria levels.

Oyster restoration has also helped improve water quality. Through partnerships with volunteers and federal grants, the coalition has planted more than 1.7 million oysters in Hempstead Harbor since 2022.

Nassau County Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton said that wastewater infrastructure remains a concern on the North Shore, where many communities still rely on septic systems.

“90 percent of Nassau County is sewered, and out of the 10 percent that is not sewered, 90 percent is in my district,” DeRiggi-Whitton said.

County officials have also targeted pollution flowing from Scutter’s Pond, in Sea Cliff, once identified as a major

contamination source for Hempstead Harbor. Officials installed a catch basin and weir system designed to filter runoff before it reaches the harbor.

“It’s basically a filter,” DeRiggi-Whitton said. “It just skims the water and takes out the pollutants that would go into Hempstead Harbor.” The roughly $250,000 project significantly reduced the amount of contamination entering the harbor.

Assemblyman Charles Lavine said that flooding in Glen Cove in 2024 illustrated how stormwater moves through the landscape. “Any groundwater that collects as a result of storms is going to find its way toward the lowest point,” Lavine said. “That’s gravity.”

Residents of Glen Cove’s Woolsey Avenue say they have repeatedly experienced flooding during major storms.

“The water isn’t just rain — it’s runoff from other streets, and it’s filled with garbage and bacteria,” resident Linda Melbinger said. “We’ve had dead animals in our yard in the past, and there’s a layer of contamination on everything that smells.”

“It impacts so many things,” McAllister said. “Everyone moves here because they want the beauty of the harbor, but it’s only going to be beautiful to the extent that you take care of it and you have a healthy and thriving harbor.”

The harbor, she said, supports local recreation, fishing and the broader coastal ecosystem.

“As good citizens,” McAllister said, “we have to make sure that we’re doing our part to respect the harbor and everything it has to offer.”

What residents can do to help

While large infrastructure projects and policy changes play a major role in addressing flooding and water pollution, environmental experts say residents can also take steps to reduce runoff, limit pollution and help protect local waterways.

Reduce fertilizer use

■ Fertilizers used on lawns and gardens can wash into storm drains and eventually reach bays and harbors.

■ Experts recommend using fertilizers sparingly — or avoiding them altogether — especially before heavy rain. Nitrogen from fertilizer is one of the leading contributors to harmful algal blooms in Long Island waters.

Upgrade septic systems

■ Many homes on Long Island still rely on older septic systems or cesspools, which can release nitrogen into groundwater.

■ Programs in Suffolk County offer incentives for installing nitrogenreducing septic systems. Environmental advocates say similar upgrades across the region could significantly reduce pollution entering coastal waters.

Limit runoff from driveways and yards

■ Rain that falls on paved surfaces flows quickly into storm drains, carrying pollutants with it.

■ Residents can help reduce runoff by installing rain barrels, planting rain gardens, adding trees or replacing pavement with permeable materials that allow water to soak into the ground.

Protect storm drains

■ Storm drains typically flow directly into nearby waterways.

■ Residents can help by keeping leaves, grass clippings and trash out of drains and reporting blocked drains to local public works departments.

Volunteer with local groups

■ Several Long Island organizations rely on volunteers to monitor waterways and remove debris. Programs such as Save the Great South Bay’s Creek Defender initiative organize cleanups and waterway patrols throughout the region.

Towns back tax relief for fallen officers families

By MIKE POLANSKY Senior Correspondent

Nassau County’s three town supervisors gathered place at the Brian Moore Athletic Center in Plainedge Park, along with local officials and law enforcement families to highlight a new property tax exemption for surviving spouses of police officers killed in the line of duty.

The announcement with Hempstead’s John Ferretti, Oyster Bay’s Joseph Saladino and North Hempstead’s Jen DeSena took place on March 11; one day after the Oyster Bay Town Board unanimously approved the exemption.

Brian Moore, a Plainedge High School graduate and New York City police officer was shot and killed in Queens in 2015. His father, Ray Moore, attended the news conference.

HThe measure allows surviving spouses to receive a 50 percent exemption on the town portion of property taxes for their primary residence. The program was authorized by legislation approved by the State Legislature and signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul in late 2025.

“Here in Nassau County, we back the blue,” Ferretti said, adding “we have never taken for granted the many sacrifices made by Nassau County police officers

every single day! We hope that this new legislation provides some relief and assistance to those left behind.”

The exemption applies only to the town portion of property tax bills. School districts, fire districts, villages and other municipalities must adopt their own legislation to offer similar relief.

Several Long Island towns — Babylon, Brookhaven, Hempstead, Huntington, Islip and Oyster Bay — have already enacted the exemption. The North Hempstead town board is expected to consider the measure next month.

“The men and women who put service before self, people who risked their own lives to protect our lives and sometimes just our property,” Saladino said. “No law could repay what they gave,” adding the exemption is “one of many meaningful ways that we can show their families that the sacrifice of their loved ones will always be appreciated, and that they did not die in vain.”

DeSena said the exemption recognizes the risks police officers take to protect residents.

“There is no greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for his friends,” she said, quoting the Gospel of John, “this is what the men and women in blue do for us. They are dedicated, they are trained, and they go out every day and put their lives between danger and we the residents they protect. Nassau County is the safest county in the country thanks to the men and women in blue.”

Nassau County Superior Officers Association Vice President Keith Jaklitsch thanked local leaders for adopting the measure.

“The families of fallen officers cannot be forgotten,” he said, adding that the exemption was something “that actually should have been done a long time ago.”

MSSN named excellent in pancreatic cancer care

By ABIGAIL GRIECO agrieco@liherald.com

Mount Sinai South Nassau has been designated a Pancreatic Cancer Center of Excellence by the National Pancreas Foundation following a rigorous national audit and review process. The recognition places the Oceanside hospital among an elite group of just 60 hospitals in the United States — and 13 in New York state — to receive the designation.

The Center of Excellence designation recognizes hospitals that provide a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to treating pancreatic cancer, focusing on both clinical outcomes and patients’ quality of life. Hospitals must demonstrate that they coordinate care across multiple specialties while offering services that address the medical and supportive needs of patients.

According to the National Pancreas Foundation, the designation is based on criteria developed by a task force of pancreatic disease specialists and patient advocates. Requirements include the availability of expert physicians such as gastroenterologists, pancreatic surgeons and interventional radiologists, along with patient-focused services including pain management programs, psychosocial support and other supportive care resources.

“This designation results from our singular focus on advancing health care for the communities we serve,” said Adhi Sharma, president of Mount Sinai South Nassau. “I am proud of our teamwork and collaboration that is centered on providing our patients with standard-setting medical care.”

Pancreatic cancer treatment at the hospital is led by Ganesh Gunasekaran, chief of hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery services. Under his leadership, the

hospital’s Liver, Bile Duct and Pancreas Surgery Program develops individualized treatment plans for patients with pancreatic cancer, complex benign tumors and other diseases affecting the liver, gallbladder, bile duct and pancreas.

The program’s board-certified, fellowship-trained hepatobiliary surgeons use advanced technology and minimally invasive surgical techniques. Physicians work closely with specialists such as advanced gastroenterologists and interventional radiologists to coordinate care and determine the most effective treatment approach for each patient.

For complex cases requiring major surgical procedures, the multidisciplinary team includes surgeons with transplant experience and surgical oncologists who perform intricate operations and reconstructions. This collaborative expertise allows physicians to

remove cancers that involve major blood vessels— cases that are sometimes considered inoperable at other institutions.

“Center of Excellence designation reflects our commitment to working across specialties to identify the optimal treatment for each patient with pancreatic cancer or other hepatobiliary diseases,” Gunasekaran said. He noted that he has performed more than 1,000 hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgeries during his career. “We are truly committed to creating an environment of excellence in patient care and innovation.”

Founded in 1997, the National Pancreas Foundation supports patients affected by pancreatic diseases, including pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. The organization funds research, advocates for improved treatments and provides education for patients, caregivers and medical professionals.

Sports stars to headline Herald Reworld event

Esiason and

Rjoin sustainability leaders for May 14th awards program honoring Long Island’s environmantal champions

eworld™, presenting sponsor of the 2026 Herald Sustainability Awards of Long Island, announced that former NFL quarterback and sports broadcaster Boomer Esiason and New York Islanders forward Kyle Palmieri will join this year’s event, with longtime broadcaster Tom Kelly returning as master of ceremonies.

Produced by RichnerLIVE and the Long Island Herald in partnership with Reworld™, the awards program will take place on May 14 at The Heritage Club in Bethpage. The evening will recognize outstanding environmental leadership across Long Island, honoring nonprofit organizations, educators, elected officials, and community leaders who are advancing sustainability efforts throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties.

“As this program enters its second year, we are proud to elevate leaders who are making meaningful environmental progress across Long Island,” said Maureen Early, lead community relations specialist at Reworld™.

“Bringing together respected voices from our region, including Boomer Esiason and Kyle Palmieri, helps shine a spotlight on the inspiring work happening in our communities.

Sustainability

is built through partnership, and this event reflects the collective commitment required to move our region forward.”

eVeNt DetailS

• Date: May 14

• locatioN: The Heritage Club, Bethpage

• preSeNteD by: Reworld™

• proDuceD by: RichnerLive

the 2026 herald Sustainability awards of long island presented by reworld™ will recognize individuals and organizations in several categories, including:

• Environmental Leader in Policy

• Champions of Municipal Stewardship

• Community Impact for Sustainability

• Environmental Infrastructure Leader

• Environmental Development Leader

• Environmental Leader in Entertainment

Esiason, who enjoyed a distinguished NFL career and later became a nationally recognized sports commentator, and Palmieri, a veteran NHL forward with the New York Islanders, will join Reworld™ in celebrating this year’s honorees and highlighting the importance of community leadership in tackling environmental challenges.

Kelly will guide the evening’s program, introducing award recipients and leading the ceremony.

The program will also feature the Student Sustainability Champion Award, honoring one exceptional student from Nassau County and one

from Suffolk County for leadership in promoting sustainable change. Each student honoree will receive a $2,500 prize provided by Reworld™ and will be recognized during the ceremony.

Reworld™ continues to invest in initiatives that empower communities and advance environmental stewardship across Long Island.

For more information about Reworld™ and its environmental initiatives, visit ReworldWaste.com.

For more information about the 2026 Herald Sustainability Awards of Long Island Presented by Reworld™ or to request an invitation, visit: RichnerLive.com/richner-event/ herald-sustainability-awards-powered-by-reworld/

STEPPING OUT

GIVE IN TO TEMPTATION

Life is sweet at the Chocolate Expo

By Abbey Salvemini

Chocolate lovers, mark your calendars for a day of indulgence for all the senses. The Chocolate Expo returns on Sunday, March 22 — this year bringing its tasty wonders to its new venue, following many years at Hofstra University. Nassau Coliseum’s Expo Hall, a vast — more than 44,000 square foot — space, is ready to welcome all to an immersive chocolate wonderland of decadent flavors, irresistible aromas and family-friendly fun.

Upon entering everyone is immediately greeted by chocolate fountains, flowing with rich white, dark and milk chocolate, setting the tone for a deliciously unforgettable experience.

One of the largest and most celebrated chocolate festivals in the U.S., according to its founder Marvin Baum, more than 80 vendors are represented at what he describes as “the official home of chocolate, food and fun.” Visitors can treat themselves to everything from artisan chocolates and baked goods to specialty foods, cheeses and spirits.

“We’re happy to bring the Chocolate Expo to the Nassau Coliseum,” Baum says. “With more space comes more vendors. We’re bringing in vendors who don’t normally come to events on Long Island, so people will get to see something truly different.”

Beyond shopping and sampling, visitors can enjoy demonstrations, chocolate-themed presentations and interactive moments throughout the day.

From classics like bonbons, fudge and chocolatedipped treats there are no shortage of desserts to sample. Savory pairings, baked goods, specialty foods, wine, and cheeses are also tempting; there’s something to satisfy everyone’s taste buds.

Some of the most buzz-worthy treats that you won’t to miss out on include chocolate-covered bacon, a favorite since 2012. For those looking to try something new, the Dubai-style chocolates are trending this year, with creative twists like chocolatecovered donuts, including offerings from a purveyor based in Lebanon.

These unexpected goodies add an adventurous edge to the festival, making it as much about discovery as it is about indulgence.

“People often find new favorites at the Expo, whether it’s a specialty cheese they will look for in stores or a spirit they want to visit at the distillery,” Baum says highlighting its lasting impact.

Be sure to check out the Long Island confectioners represented, such as Bellmore’s Chocolate Works, a

Trevor Wallace

chocolaterie selling chocolate-covered pretzels, platters, and more. Other local favorites include Chez Hedwidge, an artisan gluten-free bakery, based in Valley Stream; also the Sunflower Bakeshop, a Kosher bakery in West Hempstead, offering a wide range of gluten-free and vegan options.

In addition to culinary delights, this year’s edition includes a dose of television nostalgia. Cast members from the classic series “Little House on the Prairie” and ‘Diff’rent Strokes’ are scheduled for special guest appearances. Dean Butler, Patrick Labyorteaux and Todd Bridges will be on hand to meet fans throughout the day. The actors will be available for autographs and selfies (fees are set individually) and will participate in a panel discussion with an audience Q&A at 1 p.m., included with event admission.

The combination of chocolate with pop culture has become an Expo hallmark, with Baum noting that “Little House on the Prairie” holds a special place for many.

“Chocolate is very nostalgic,” he says. “People are always looking for treats and desserts, and we also want to bring in that element of nostalgia.”

• Sunday, March 22, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; early VIP access starts at 9 a.m.

• Tickets are $30, $15 ages 5-12 online only; general admission timed-entry tickets: $20, $15 child online; $30, $15 child at the door; available from thechocolateexpo.com

• Nassau Coliseum, Hempstead Tpke., Uniondale

Providing a visual centerpiece sure to attract attraction (and serve as a vibrant, imaginative backdrop for photos), acclaimed balloon artist Robbie Furman returns to craft an intricate balloon sculpture display featuring scenes and characters from both iconic TV series. When his demo wraps up, children eagerly dive in to pop the balloons, in what Baum playfully terms a “balloon popping party.”

For more family-sized fun, young visitors can drop by the Kidz Zone. Face painting, balloon twisting and a scavenger hunt will surely keep the young set entertained, in addition to being surrounded by chocolate treats.

“Seeing the smiles on people’s faces is what it’s all about,” Baum enthuses.“This is a chance for people to get away from everything, whether that’s trying a new chocolate or just enjoying the moment.” He encourages everyone — whether coming solo, with friends or family — to make this a must-visit.

“It’s really about the experience and having a good time.”

For Baum, supporting local businesses and building relationships with returning chocolatiers is just as important as the treats themselves, making it a unique and meaningful day for the community.

courtesy Chuck Fishman

Photos: From chocolate-dipped treats to inventive creations, every bite is a delicious discovery.

The comedian brings his Alpha Beta Male Tour to the Paramount stage. The energetic comic-digital creator has gained a growing following with sharp observational bits, viral character sketches, and fast-paced crowd work. Rising from early internet sketches to sold-out clubs and theaters, he blends internetsavvy humor with classic jokecrafting, making his shows accessible to longtime fans and first-timers alike. He co-hosts the popular Stiff Socks podcast, further expanding his reach to comedy listeners nationwide. Wallace’s tour is packed with fresh stories, act-outs, and interactive riffs. His ascent started with viral sketches lampooning internet culture, energy-drink bros, entrepreneurs, and micro-trends; those clips earned millions of views and a loyal fan base that now fills venues everywhere. As his reputation grew, he transitioned from shortform videos to touring, proving he could translate online momentum into consistent, in-person laughs.

Friday, March 20, 7 p.m. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.

Three Italian Tenors

Direct from Rome, the Three Italian Tenors stop at Tilles Center on their North American Tour debut. Everyone will be captivated by Giovanni Maria Palmia, Ugo Tarquini, and Alessandro Fantoni accompanied by pianist Fabrizio Mocata. Their salute to the great Italian tenors — Luciano Pavarotti, Andrea Bocelli, Mario Lanza and Enrico Caruso — is an exhilarating and unique musical event. It features original arrangements and universally loved Italian songs and tenor arias, fusing Italian wit and charm with romanticism, lyricism, dramatic flair and operatic style. Their repertoire also includes romantic ballads like “Musica Proibita” and “Dicitencello vuje,” a tribute to Dean Martin with Volare, and a lively piano medley of popular Italian tunes — all culminating in a thrilling celebration of vocal artistry and Italian musical heritage. You’re sure to be enthralled by their rich vocals, heartfelt emotion and the golden tradition of Italian vocal artistry.

Tuesday, March 24, 7 p.m. LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Tickets available at tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

Your Neighborhood CALENDAR

Adult Baking

Class

Baldwin Public Library hosts a baking workshop Decorate spring-themed “bird in a nest” sugar cookies during this hands-on workshop led by Fanny Cakes. Registration required.

• Where: 2385 Grand Ave.

• Time: 7-8 p.m.

• Contact: baldwinpl.org or call (516) 223-6228

STEM Explorers: In Like A Lion

The weather during the month of March can be described as coming in like a lion and out like a lamb. Families are invited to join the Green Teens at Long Island Children’s Museum in welcoming spring. Explore what happens during the change of seasons at the drop-in program. For ages 3+.

• Where: 11 Davis Ave., Garden City

• Time: Noon-2 p.m.

• Contact: licm.org or (516) 224-5800

Relay for Life Kickoff Celebration

The Baldwin Relay for Life community hosts a kickoff party at The Irish Pub to celebrate the upcoming American Cancer Society fundraiser. Party includes food, raffles and entertainment while bringing together participants and supporters ahead of the annual Relay for Life event. Guests are encouraged to bring a canned food donation to support St. Christopher’s Food Pantry.

• Where: 834 Merrick Road

• Time: 2-5 p.m.

• Contact: jamsmelen@gmail.com or Jenypooh@gmail.com

MAR

24

Bus Trip: St. Patrick’s Cathedral

Baldwin Public Library hosts a day trip to New York City featuring a VIP guided tour of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. Led by an expert docent, participants explore the cathedral’s NeoGothic architecture, sacred artwork and stained glass while learning about its history and role in major moments of American history. Following the tour, enjoy lunch at Connelly’s Pub and Restaurant, a well-known Irish pub located steps from the cathedral. In-person registration at the Baldwin library is required to attend. Payment is required

MAR

29

The Man In Black: A Tribute to Johnny Cash

Dueling Pianos Night

Baldwin Fire Department’s Hose Company One hosts an evening of live dueling pianos, featuring interactive performances. Guests can request songs and sing along to hits from every decade. Admission includes unlimited beer, wine and soda, light snacks and door prizes, with a 50/50 drawing. Guests must be 21 or older to attend. $50 per person; purchase online through ticketleap.com or through a Hose Company One member.

• Where: 2386 Grand Ave.

• Time: Doors open at 6 p.m., event starts at 7 p.m.

• Contact: hoseonebfd.org

South Shore Symphony

The beloved orchestra springs forward with its next concert “The Rite of Spring.” The program includes Marquez’s Conga del Fuego Nuevo, Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending (Romance for Violin and Orchestra) and Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring.

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

• Time: 7 p.m.

With his strikingly similar looks, baritone voice, and spot-on mannerisms, Shawn Barker’s uncanny resemblance to the original “Man In Black” revitalizes the true character and spirit of Mr. Cash himself, one of America’s greatest musical icons, for a truly one-of-a-kind show. The energetic concert features Barker in character throughout the entire evening, walking the audience through each era of Cash’s life and music, including hits like “Folsom Prison Blues,” “I Walk The Line,” “A Boy Named Sue,” “Hurt,” and “Ring of Fire,” backed by a full band. Born and raised in a working-class suburb of St. Louis, Barker took a schoolboy love for singing in church with his family and turned it into a career. The path to his current success wasn’t a straight line from gospel choir to Johnny Cash tribute act. After serving his country in the Army, Barker returned home to Missouri, took a job as a carpenter and spent all of his free time learning how to play the guitar. He developed strength and versatility in his voice by modeling his crooning on a cast of legends — Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Buddy Holly and Gene Vincent. His performances quickly turned from hobby to profession, but oddly enough, Barker’s first touring gigs were portraying Elvis, not Johnny Cash. Everything changed, however, when Barker was asked to audition for the part of Cash in a Hollywood production, as it became evident to the director and Barker himself that Johnny Cash was his true calling. From that point there was no turning back.

at registration and must be made by cash, check or money order payable to the Baldwin Public Library. Trip purchases are non-refundable. $150 per person (non-refundable). Ages 18+ only.

• Where: Departure from North Merrick Public Library. 1691 Meadowbrook Road

• Time: Bus departs at approximately 7:45 a.m.

• Contact: baldwinpl.org or call (516) 223-6228

MAR 25

AARP of Long Island meets

AARP of Long Island hosts its monthly meeting at the Baldwin Public Library. Members and guests are invited to attend for updates, discussion and community engagement.

• Where: 2385 Grand Ave.

• Time: 1-2:30 p.m.

• Contact: nyaarp@aarp.org

Oceanside Chorale welcomes new members

The Oceanside Chorale seeks new members in all sections to sing in their next concert.,“Going to the Movies, on June 7, at Fulton Avenue School. Rehearsals are

Wednesday evenings.

• Where: Fulton Avenue School, 3252 Fulton Ave.

• Time: Ongoing Wednesdays, 7:30 p.m.

• Contact: (516) 459-8513 or email oceansidechorale@gmail.com

MAR 26

Baldwin Lion’s Club meets The Baldwin Lions holds its general monthly meeting at the Baldwin Public Library. Members gather to discuss upcoming service projects, community initiatives and club business.

• Where: 2385 Grand Ave.

• Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m.

• Contact: e-clubhouse. org/sites/baldwinny/ or baldwinlionsclub@gmail.com

“You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown’ Adelphi University Department of Theatre students give a concert performance of the beloved classic. With charm, wit and heart, “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” explores life through the eyes of Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy and their friends in the Peanuts gang. This revue of songs and vignettes,

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

• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com

based on the beloved Charles Schulz comic strip, showcases Adelphi’s talented students. Musical numbers include “My New Philosophy,” “The Book Report,” “The Baseball Game,” “Little Known Facts,” “Suppertime” and “Happiness.”

• Where: Adelphi University Performing Arts Center, 1 South Ave., Garden City

• Time: 7 p.m.

• Contact: adelphi.edu/pac or (516) 877-4000

MAR

Spring

Eggstravaganza & Bazaar

The Baldwin Civic Association hosts its annual Spring Eggstravaganza & Bazaar featuring egg hunts, games, face painting, raffles, food and drinks, cotton candy and entertainment from local Baldwin talent. The event runs from 11 a.m. to noon exclusively for neurodivergent participants, with activities opening to the general public following.

• Where: 3232 Grand Ave.

• Time: 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

• Contact: baldwinspringevent@gmail.com

• Time: 7:30 p.m.

• Contact: madisontheatreny.org or (516) 323-4444

MAR

31

Let’s Meet And Network On Long Island Join in this community business networking dinner. Share advice, grow your business network, and enjoy a casual evening. Free and fun. Separate checks. RSVP needed.

• Where: Oceanside IHOP, 2971 Long Beach Road

• Time: 6-8 p.m.

• Contact: Register at lmnoli.com or call Mark at (516) 993-0053

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.

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

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

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

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF NASSAU

ROCKET MORTGAGE, LLC F/K/A QUICKEN LOANS, LLC F/K/A QUICKEN LOANS INC., Plaintiff AGAINST LUKE SHEPPARD, LUBONA SHEPPARD, Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered October 31, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on March 31, 2026 at 2:00 PM, premises known as 2739 Park Avenue, Baldwin, NY 11510. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Baldwin, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section: 54 Block: 286 Lot: 105 and 106. Approximate amount of judgment $263,100.40 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #614918/2022. For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (80 0) 280-2832. Scott H. Siller, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 22-002513 88935 158549

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE OF THE LBCABANA SERIES IV TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. JAMES A. COLES A/K/A JAMES COLES, ET AL., Defendant(s).

Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on November 13, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on April 6, 2026 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 921 Ocean Street a/k/a 921 Ocean Avenue, Baldwin, NY 11510. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected,

situate, lying and being at Baldwin, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 54, Block 394 and Lot 2450-2452. Approximate amount of judgment is $1,060,169.97 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 616171/2023.

Richard T. Kerins, Esq., Referee

Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 224135-1 158682

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF FORMATION of Freight Now Logistics LLC. Arts of Org filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 3/6/2026 Office location: Nassau County. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process may be served and shall mail copy of process against LLC to 918 hayes St. Baldwin, NY 11510. Purpose: any lawful act. 158821

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD LOCAL LAW NO. 24-2026

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that, pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing was duly called and held on the 10th day of March 2026, by the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead, on the proposed adoption of Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 24-2026, and following the close of the hearing the Town Board duly adopted Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 24-2026, to amend Chapter 202 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, to include and repeal “REGULATIONS & RESTRICTIONS” to limit parking at various locations.

Dated: March 10, 2026 Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD

JOHN FERRETTI Supervisor

KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 158965

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PARTITION ACTION

NASSAU COUNY SUPREME COURT

PAUL I. MOORE, Plaintiff, against JANET D. WALLACE, Defendant. Index No.: 610628/2020 TO: ALL UNKNOWN PARTIES, who may claim as lienors and other claimants for the address of 870 Edward Street, Baldwin, New York.

YOU ARE NOTIFIED that an action has been filed seeking a partition of property with the Index No. 610628/2020, in the Supreme Court of the State ofNew York, County ofNassau, on the following property: 870 Edward Street, Baldwin, New York, a/k/a Section 36, Block 173 & Lot 127 and that pursuant to a Stipulated Order of Reference entered December 17, 2025 by the Hon. Gary M. Carlton, J.S.C., all persons not a party to this action who have a lien upon any undivided share or interest in said property are required to appear before (or provide documentation to) the undersigned Referee at 11 Hillside Avenue, Williston Park, NY 11596, on or before May 6, 2026 at 3 pm, to prove their lien and the true amount due thereon. Known creditors will be served by mail at their last known address not less than twenty (20) days prior to the specified date.

Jaime D. Ezratty Esq., Referee Haring Welikson Rosen & Digrugilliers, PC Address: 11 Hillside Ave, Williston Park, NY 11596 Tel: 516-535-1700 158977

LEGAL NOTICE REFEREE’S NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE TO CITIBANK, N.A. AS TRUSTEE OF STRUCTURED ASSET MORTGAGE INVESTMENTS II INC., BEAR STEARNS ALT-A TRUST II, MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES SERIES 2007-1, Plaintiffagainst - MAURO A. TURCIOS, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on May 27,

2025. I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 on the 21st day of April, 2026 at 2:00 PM. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, Baldwin, County of Nassau, and State of New York. Premises known as 1420 Grand Avenue, North Baldwin, NY 11510.

(District: 10, Section: 36, Block: 230, Lot: 50) Approximate amount of lien $1,101,764.18 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed judgment and terms of sale. Index No. 615033/2019. Michael Joseph Sepe, Esq., Referee. McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLC

Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 840 New York, NY 10170 Tel. 347/286-7409 For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832 Dated: February 23, 2026

During the COVID-19 health emergency, bidders are required to comply with all governmental health requirements in effect at the time of sale including but not limited to, wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing (at least 6feet apart) during the auction, while tendering deposit and at any subsequent closing. Bidders are also required to comply with the Foreclosure Auction Rules and COVID-19 Health Emergency Rules issued by the Supreme Court of this County in addition to the conditions set forth in the Terms of Sale. 158912

News brief

Students of the Quarter at Nassau BOCES

More than 100 students from 34 school districts across Nassau and Suffolk counties were named Students of the Quarter for the second quarter at Nassau BOCES career and technical education high schools, Barry Tech and GC Tech. Students were honored at special ceremonies for their grades, attendance, work ethic and preparedness. Students of the Quarter have taken the initiative on class projects and are role models for their fellow students, in both the classroom and the workplace.

Representing this semester’s Nassau BOCES Students of the Quarter are GC Tech students, from left, Adrianna Stephens, Caitlin Kilian, Alexander Krzeminski, Anthony Hernandez, Matthew Silvestro and Jessica Maitta.

Students from the Baldwin School District recognized at Barry Tech included Brianna Mars, Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Administration; John McDermott and Liam Mugfor, Carpentry; Jade Sexton, Medical Administrative Assistant; Tyler Bean, Computer Game Design and Programming Skills; and Oluwatoni Ojudun, Culinary Arts.

Students from the East Meadow School District recognized at Barry Tech included Thomas Abel, Horse Science and Management Skills; Zachary Fermin, Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Administration; Trevor Smith, Construction Electricity; and Alexander Hall, Welding.

From the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, Barry Tech honorees included Kyriaki Kammas, Audio Production; Kevin Pichardo Puntiel, Welding; and Hudson Amato, Power Sports and Engine Repair.

Levittown School District students recognized at Barry Tech included Allison Hernandez, Culinary Skills; Scott Leonard, Computer Game Design and Programming Skills; Robert Sommers, Construction Trade Skills; Brooke DeSena, Animal Care; Michaela Hendrickson, Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Administration; Kayla Miranda, Child Care Skills; Alessandro Muralles Parra, Animation and Digital Media

Skills; and Sophia Zaharakis, Veterinary Science. Levittown students honored at GC Tech included Caitlin Kilian, Medical Assisting; Anthony Hernandez and John Darcy, Automotive Technology; Matthew Silvestro and Harry Benitez, Construction Electricity; and Molly Leary and Sophie Llewellyn, Cosmetology.

Seaford School District student Frank Padavan Jr. was recognized at Barry Tech in Automotive Technology. Wantagh School District students honored included Maya Gilbert, a Health Care Skills student at Barry Tech. At GC Tech, Adrianna Stephens was recognized in Esthetics and Skin Care and Logan Conti in Automotive Technology.

A vital regional resource, Nassau BOCES offers state-of-the-art programs for learners of all ages and abilities as well as cost-effective services for school districts and municipalities. We empower students to achieve their maximum potential in alternative, artistic, outdoor, special education, virtual and career and technical environments. We offer adult education and a variety of programs that are vital to improving the Long Island regional economy. In addition, our technology services form the backbone of many school districts’ infrastructure. As the county’s educational leader in implementing the state’s reform efforts, we are helping to shape the future of education. To learn more, visit NassauBoces.org.

—Jordan Vallone

432, Lot 124, and all the estate , right, title and

interest of the parties to the action entitled, Edmire Saint Pierre v. Stuart Brewton, Index No. 617404/2022, whether present or future, vested or contingent, of dower, or otherwise, and the rights to which any other person might hereafter become entitled through them in the premises to be sold, in one parcel, at a public auction to be held on the 21st day of April 2026 at 2:00 p.m.

on the North Side steps of the Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501, by and under the direction of Brian J. Davis, Esq. the Referee appointed for that purpose. At such sale the Referee shall accept the highest bid offered by a responsible bidder, who shall be identified upon the court record, and shall require that such successful bidder immediately pay to the

Referee in cash or certified or bank check payable to such Referee, ten (10%) percent of the sum bid and shall execute a Terms of Sale for the purchase of the premises, unless such successful bidder is a party hereto, in which case no deposit against the purchase price shall be required; and in the event that the first successful bidder fails to immediately pay the ten (10%) percent

deposit as provided or fails to execute the Terms of Sale, immediately following the bidding upon the subject property, the Referee shall immediately, on the same day, reoffer the property at auction.

Brian J. Davis, Referee

EMPLOYMENT

Help Wanted

CIRCULATION ASSOCIATE

Full Time/Part Time

Richner Communications, publisher of Herald community newspapers has an excellent opportunity for a FT/PT Customer Service Clerk in our busy Circulation Department. Basic customer service and administrative responsibilities include: heavy computer work, answering phones, making phone calls, entering orders, faxing, filing, etc. STRONG knowledge of EXCEL a must! Knowledge of DATABASE maintenance or postal regulations a big plus. Qualified Candidates must be computer literate, able to multi-task, dependable, reliable, organized, energetic, detail oriented and able to work well under deadlines.

Salary Range is $17 per hour to $20 per hour. For consideration, please send resume & salary requirements to: circulationassociate@liherald.com

DENTAL ASSISTANT

CHAIR SIDE F/T

Lynbrook Office, Immediate Opening. Looking for Experienced Individual Email Resume: nylaserendo@gmail.com Call 516-599-7111

DRIVERS WANTED

Full Time and Part Time

Positions Available!

Busy Print Shop in Garden City is Hiring Immediately for Full Time and Part Time Drivers. Must Have a Clean License and BoxTruck Driving Experience. Hours Vary, Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $21 per hour Night Availability is a Must. Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239

DRIVING INSTRUCTOR

Company Car/ Bonuses. Clean Driving Record Required, Will Train. Retirees Welcome!

$22 - $27/ Hour

Bell Auto School 516-365-5778

Email: info@bellautoschool.com

EDITOR/REPORTER

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

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

MULTI MEDIA ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT

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

OUTSIDE SALES

Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Earning potential ranges from $35,360 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses. Compensation is based on Full Time hours

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

PRINTING PRESS OPERATORS FT & PT. Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for Printing Press Operators in Garden City. We are a busy print shop

or contact info to careers@liherald.com

Once In a Lifetime

This beautifully maintained Colonialstyle home is in one of the village’s most desirable

All about wood beams

Q. We are talking with contractors about rebuilding our large deck, and we would like to have fewer columns so they don’t block our water view. The contractor suggested that there are wood beams that can do the job, and mentioned something called a lam beam to go a longer distance and open up the space underneath. We would also like to have the deck be sealed so that we can use the underneath area, even in the rain. What do you suggest we use and not use?

A. For starters, laminated wood beams are generally a poor choice for outdoor use, even though there are some on the market that are specifically treated with waterproof adhesives. These few products on the market for outdoor use are much more expensive, and often only used in commercial projects or where the expense is not the greatest concern. Not all beams are the same material or made the same way.

Apartments For Rent

CEDARHURST NO FEE Private Entrance, Modern 1BR, 2BR, 3BR, CAC, W/D, Storage, Wall To Wall Carpeting, Indoor Parking Space. Starting At $1450 For One Bedroom When Available. (516)860-6889/ (516)852-5135/ (516)582-9978

When I have conversations with people who build, I sound negative instead of enthusiastic, but that is based on the experience of writing insurance reports and investigating the damage and cost of failed products and applications. Remember, in order to succeed, you first have to know how to fail, so as to avoid failure.

What I have witnessed is not failure at the center of beams, where the beam would bend the most, but at the ends and tops, where water penetrates more frequently. If the product isn’t waterproof, the grain of the laminations will start to split. For these reasons, I discourage outdoor use of manufactured, laminated beams because when they are specified very carefully for a project, there is little or no control over what ends up on the jobsite unless the ordering is micro-managed.

I keep samples in my office of beam cutaways to demonstrate how one beam product was specified for a job and what ended up on the jobsite was similar but, with careful inspection, clearly shows the two beams are not the same. They were laminated using different species of trees, one weaker than the other and an inferior number of plies and glues. To a person dropping the material off, based on an order for a “lam beam,” the inferior material looked the same but after installation the floor bounced like a trampoline. The beam had to be removed, at great expense, and the right product ordered. Even though a lesson was learned, it came at a great price.

So indoor locations can also be a problem if the wrong configuration of laminations and species are used. If the correctly engineered lumber beam or steel reinforced beam is designed, they will last for years without another thought. I would use an interlocking aluminum deck product called Versadeck or another product called Lock Dry. They conduct heat rapidly, which means they dissipate heat quickly, making them cool enough on hot summer days to walk on while barefoot, and they keep water from getting through. Good luck!

© 2026 Monte Leeper Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.

Stuff HERALD

AFFORDABLE TV & INTERNET. If you are overpaying for your service, call now for a free quote and see how much you can save! 1-833-323-0160

Accounting Services Available

Professional bookkeeping and accounting for small businesses, entrepreneurs, Condos,

and

• Monthly & annual bookkeeping

• Payroll & tax preparation

• Bank reconciliation & reporting

• Sage and accounting software support. Reliable. Accurate, Confidential.

Let us handle your numbers, so you can handle your business!

Email us and tell us what your needs are and we will respond acctprotech@hotmail.com | 516-780-4187 1340193

Electricians

E-Z ELECTRIC SERVICES, INC.

We Buy Antiques, Fine Art, Coins & Jewelry Same Day Service, Free In-Home Evaluations, 45 Year Family Business. Licensed and Bonded, Immediate Cash Paid. SYL-LEE ANTIQUES www.syl-leeantiques.com 516-671-6464

Finds Under $100

BABY'S CHANGE TABLE. Gently used, white, 3 drawers. $15. Lido Beach. (516)705-9398

Cable/TV/Wiring

Get DISH Satellite TV + Internet! Free Install, Free HD-DVR Upgrade, 80,000 OnDemand Movies, Plus Limited Time Up To $600 In Gift Cards. Call Today! 1-866-782-4069

Cleaning Services

WENDY'S CLEANING SERVICES INC. Commercial/Residential. We Specialize In Houses, Apartments, Offices, Airbnb & More. Good References. Free Estimates. Call/Text Wendy 516-406-5375 Or Email wencruzpa@gmail.com

HErald Crossword Puzzle

All Types Residential/Commercial Wiring, Generators, Telephone/Data, Home Entertainment, Service Upgrades, Pools, Spas. Services/Repairs. Violations Removed. Free Estimates Low Rates. 516-785-0646 Lic/Ins.

Home Improvement

BEAUTIFUL BATH UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Superior quality bath and shower systems at AFFORDABLE PRICES! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Call Now! 1-833-807-0159

CARPENTRY & PAINTING: Residential/ Commercial. All Phases. Licensed/Insured. FREE ESTIMATES! Anthony & J Home Improvements 516-678-6641

DO YOU KNOW what's in your water? Leaf Home Water Solutions offers FREE water testing and whole home water treatment systems that can be installed in as little one day. 15% off your entire purchase. Plus 10% senior & military discounts. Restrictions apply. Schedule your FREE test today. Call 1-866-247-5728

PREPARE FOR POWER outages today with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 5-Year warranty with qualifying purchase. Call 1-877-516-1160 today to schedule a free quote. It's not just a generator. It's a power move.

PREPARE FOR POWER outages with Briggs & Stratton® PowerProtect(TM) standby generators - the most powerful home standby generators available. Industry-leading comprehensive warranty - 7 years ($849 value.) Proudly made in the U.S.A. Call Briggs & Stratton 1-888-605-1496

SAFE STEP. NORTH America's #1 WalkIn Tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-the-line installation and service. Now featuring our FREE shower package and $1600 Off for a limited time! Call today! Financing available. Call Safe Step 1-855-916-5473

Miscellaneous

GET BOOST INFINITE! Unlimited Talk, Text and Data For Just $25/mo! The Power Of 3 5G Networks, One Low Price! Call Today and Get The Latest iPhone Every Year On Us! 844-329-9391

Services

AGING ROOF? NEW HOMEOWNER?

STORM DAMAGE? You need a local expert provider that proudly stands behind their work. Fast, free estimate. Financing available. Call 1-833-880-7679

INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT? Don't Accept the insurance company's first offer. Many injured parties are entitled to major cash settlements. Get a free evaluation to see what your case is really worth. 100% Free Evaluation. Call Now: 1-833-323-0318. Be ready with your zip code to connect with the closest provider.

PEST CONTROL: PROTECT YOUR HOME from pests safely and affordably. Roaches, Bed Bugs, Rodent, Termite, Spiders and other pests. Locally owned and affordable. Call for service or an inspection today! 1-833-549-0598 Have zip code of property ready when calling!

Telephone Services

CONSUMER CELLULAR - the same reliable, nationwide coverage as the largest carriers. No long-term contract, no hidden fees and activation is free. All plans feature unlimited talk and text, starting at just $20/month. For more information, call 1-844-919-1682

Tree Services

T&M GREENCARE TREE SERVICE

*TREE REMOVAL *STUMP GRINDING *PRUNING. FREE ESTIMATES. 516-223-4525, 631-586-3800 www.tmgreencare.com

Satellite/TV Equipment

DIRECTV- All your entertainment. Nothing on your roof! Sign up for Directv and get your first three months of Max, Paramount+, Showtime, Starz, MGM+ and Cinemax included. Choice package $84.99/mo. Some restrictions apply. Call DIRECTV 1-888-534-6918

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Health & Fitness

ATTENTION OXYGEN THERAPY USERS! Discover Oxygen Therapy That Moves with You with Inogen Portable Oxygen Concentrators. FREE information kit. Call 1-833-661-4172

ATTENTION: VIAGRA AND CIALIS USERS! A cheaper alternative to high drugstore prices! 50 Pill Special - Only $99! 100% guaranteed. CALL NOW: 1-833-641-6397

AUTOMOBILE & MARINE

AUTO BUYERS $Highest$ Ca$h Paid$. All Years/ Conditions! WE VISIT YOU! Or Donate, Tax Deduct + Ca$h. DMV ID#1303199. Call LUKE 516-VAN-CARS. 516-297-2277

DONATE YOUR CAR today, running or not. Support Patriotic Hearts for our Veterans and their Families! Free fast pickup. Max tax deduction. Se habla Español. Call now: 844-415-1229

GET A BREAK

opinions

With Kristi Noem gone, we must restore order at DHS

As our country’s largest law enforcement agency, the Department of Homeland Security is essential to our national security, disaster relief and the safety of the American people. There is far too much at risk for this agency to be mismanaged or subject to incompetent leadership. Former Secretary Kristi Noem’s tenure there was nothing short of a disaster, and her recent removal from office did not come a moment too soon.

Under her failed leadership, U.S. citizens were killed at the hands of federal agents, trust in our law enforcement was eroded and our communities’ safety was jeopardized. She showed a contemptible disregard for her fundamental responsibility to keep the American people safe, and should never have been confirmed as the head of DHS. I’m relieved that she was finally removed after her failures became too numerous to ignore.

In addition to her complete disregard for law and order, Noem lost control of the department, egregiously misused taxpayer dollars, stoked violence, and

failed to keep the American people safe. Under her watch, hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars were wasted and funneled away from essential programs. That included the purchase of two luxury jets, with plans to purchase a third, to support her travel, costing nearly $300 million, as well as a public advertising campaign improperly awarded to companies with close ties to Noem and other senior officials, costing $220 million.

TInstead of prioritizing the capture of violent criminals, Noem escalated dangerous situations by slashing training for ICE recruits — including on legal use of force — and sent unprepared agents into the streets, making everyone less safe. She diverted federal agents and resources from combating cybersecurity attacks, child abuse, human trafficking and terrorism. That put our national security at even greater risk.

audit of how ICE investigates use-offorce incidents.

Noem’s removal does not absolve her from her gross negligence or the unjust killing of American citizens. She must still answer for her disastrous and deadly period in office to restore the public’s trust in DHS and ensure that her mistakes are not repeated. Noem left the department in disarray, and degraded its ability to work in a nonpartisan fashion. Protecting the U.S and its citizens should never be partisan.

he next Homeland Security secretary must work with Congress to reform ICE.

In light of her incompetence, dereliction of duty and corrupt practices, I am proud to have helped lead the call for Noem’s removal by demanding her impeachment following the deaths of Renée Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. I urged House Speaker Mike Johnson and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan to begin impeachment proceedings just days before she was fired.

extending Temporary Protected Status for law-abiding Haitians in our communities; and restoring order at the agency.

The next Homeland Security secretary must push forward negotiations between Congress and the administration to reach a bipartisan compromise on greater reforms of ICE, and then he or she must ensure that reforms are immediately and properly enacted. This must include proper training and deescalation tactics that other law enforcement agencies use.

Additionally, the next secretary must refocus on bolstering the department’s other essential agencies, which Noem foolishly cut, by reinstating the billions of dollars in essential funding and thousands of workers that were eliminated from CISA’s cybersecurity efforts and FEMA’s lifesaving disaster relief and mitigation. These agencies and others within DHS are vital to our country’s security, and must be resuscitated.

To make matters worse, Noem systematically obstructed the DHS inspector general’s office from ensuring that the agency operated within the bounds of the law. The week she was removed from office, the inspector general revealed to Congress that as many as 11 investigations were being blocked by Noem and DHS leadership, including an

With Noem’s exit, the Trump administration has an opportunity to right her wrongs and ensure that the next Homeland Security secretary leads with competence and integrity. That includes working with Congress to reform ICE; reinstating and reallocating funds for disaster relief, cybersecurity and fighting human trafficking and terrorism;

Above all, accountability and law and order must be restored at DHS. Our country cannot afford another secretary who defies his or her oath to uphold the Constitution. The next secretary must prioritize the safety and security of our communities and officers, undo Noem’s horrendous legacy and rebuild the American people’s trust in the Department of Homeland Security.

Laura Gillen represents the 4th Congressional District.

Auto insurance rates need to be fair, and affordable

Like most New Yorkers, I start my workday by dropping my daughter off at school before heading to the office. Unfortunately, like some, I recently got involved in a rearend accident as I waited to find parking. The crash served as a sudden reminder of something New Yorkers experience every day.

Auto insurance has become too costly, too complicated and too disconnected from the concept of fairness. Nearly every household in the state depends on a car, and when insurance premiums rise, families feel it immediately.

Across New York, people rely on their vehicles to get to work, to take their children to school, to care for loved ones and to stay connected with their communities. Car insurance is not optional. It is a basic requirement of daily life. Yet too many responsible drivers are paying inflated rates because fraud, staged crashes and systemic abuse continue to push costs higher for everyone.

A fair system should discourage reckless and unlawful behavior, not create incentives that undermine accountability. When responsibility breaks down, law-abiding New Yorkers are left to absorb costs that do not reflect how they live or drive. Restoring balance is not about punishment. It is about fairness, responsibility and trust.

misuse or exploitation of the system. Hochul is advancing a coordinated, statewide approach to restore accountability and bring greater balance to the auto insurance system. Her proposal includes:

We all share the road — and we share responsibility for one another.

Gov. Kathy Hochul has put forward a clear and thoughtful plan to address these challenges. Her proposal strengthens efforts to combat insurance fraud, closes loopholes that contribute to unnecessary litigation, and reinforces the principle that responsibility should matter. At the same time, it preserves protections for those who are legitimately injured and ensures that the system continues to function for those who follow the rules.

The proposal reflects the important role of government — not simply reacting when costs spiral upward, but stepping in when systems no longer operate as intended. New Yorkers expect their government to protect consumers, promote fairness and ensure that everyday people aren’t left paying the price for the

n Strengthening efforts to identify, investigate and prosecute staged accidents and organized insurance fraud.

n Expanding accountability for people who organize or financially benefit from fraudulent crash schemes.

n Increasing oversight of medical providers who participate in fraudulent claims or improper diagnoses.

n Addressing illegal out-of-state vehicle registrations that shift costs onto lawabiding New York drivers

n Strengthening insurer anti-fraud programs by giving insurers more time and flexibility to investigate suspicious claims.

n Limiting non-economic damage awards for those engaged in unlawful or reckless conduct at the time of an accident.

n Ensuring that drivers who are primarily responsible for causing acci-

dents are not rewarded with excessive damage awards.

n Clarifying and tightening the definition of serious injury to reduce abuse while protecting those who are genuinely harmed.

n Ensuring that cost savings benefit consumers by maintaining strong oversight and protection so reduced system costs translate into relief for policyholders.

This approach reflects the values New Yorkers expect from their government. As part of the governor’s proposed budget, these reforms recognize that affordability is not abstract. It is personal. Bringing down auto insurance costs means easing pressure on household budgets, supporting workers and small businesses, and making our state more livable for everyone. We all share the road, and we all share responsibility for one another. Governor Hochul’s proposal moves New York toward a system that reflects that shared responsibility and puts fairness back where it belongs. That is a goal worth advancing for families in every corner of New York state.

Walter T. Mosley is New York’s secretary of state.

2

Inspire the next generation of leaders

in speeches and campaign platforms, public officials frequently speak about the importance of inspiring the next generation of civic leaders.

Far fewer take the concrete step of bringing young people into the halls of government to see how democracy actually works.

When students are given the opportunity to witness the legislative process firsthand, ask questions of policymakers and engage with peers from across the state, civics education moves beyond textbooks and becomes real.

A trip to a legislative chamber or a youth summit in a state capital can transform abstract lessons about government into tangible experiences. Students see debates unfold, observe how laws are crafted and understand that decisions made in these rooms affect the lives of millions of people.

Exposing students firsthand to the responsibilities of public service helps them understand how decisions made in government affect their communities — and their own futures. These experiences also demonstrate that leadership isn’t reserved for a select few. Instead, it is something young people can aspire to through education, service and engagement. In a Zoom-first world, it is critical that school districts budget for field trips that put students in the civic arena.

Programs that open the doors of government to students also provide something increasingly valuable in today’s civic climate: a sense of connection. When young people interact with elected officials and government staff, they learn that government is not some distant or mysterious institution. It is a

letters

Peter King defends Trump’s hockey locker room remarks

To the Editor:

system run by people who are accountable to the public, and whose work shapes the policies that affect schools, transportation, public safety and economic opportunity.

Across Long Island, many villages and towns have taken small but meaningful steps in this direction through “Mayor for a Day” or “Supervisor for a Day” programs. These initiatives give students a chance to shadow a local leader, attend meetings and get a brief but memorable glimpse into municipal government. For many students, the experience is their first real exposure to how decisions are made in their own communities.

Those programs are valuable, but they could go further. Municipal leaders might consider expanding them into broader outreach efforts that bring the experience directly into classrooms. A rotating “government road show,” in which mayors, supervisors, council members and department leaders visit schools in their communities, could reach far more students than a singleday shadowing opportunity.

By bringing government into schools — rather than just inviting a handful of students to visit government buildings — officials could spark interest among young people who might never otherwise consider public service. A conversation with a mayor or council member can demystify the process and show students that civic leadership begins with curiosity, participation and a willingness to serve.

We know that local institutions don’t always have the capacity to build these programs from scratch — and they don’t have to. We encourage students, munici-

It is continually sad to read Peter King’s opinion pieces. His notions of patriotism, justice and morality are warped by his political fervor for President Trump and his administration — and it shows.

In last week’s op-ed, “A heart-stopping hockey victory was marred by politics,” by trying to bend the president’s boys-club remarks about the U.S. women’s hockey team into a “friendly jibe,” King showed just how behind the times he is. “Lighten up!” he wrote. Really?

King went further. He tried to validate Trump’s failure to acknowledge the women’s hockey team by pointing out that the women were favored to win anyway and had secured their third gold medal since 1998. So no big deal, I guess. Talk about disrespectful.

palities and school districts to partner with established organizations that have proven track records of connecting young people to public service. Two we especially recommend are Civics Unplugged and Govern For America. CU equips high school students to work on government projects they care about, providing the skills, mentorship and connections to make that work transformative for communities. GFA places high-achieving early-career professionals in impactful, full-time state government roles — channeling elite talent where it can do the most good.

Government internships are crucial entrees into public service, too. Too often, however, these internships are unpaid. We need these positions and other entry-level jobs to pay a living wage; otherwise, the only young people who can take them are those from wealthy families, leading to further societal inequality as well as biases among policy creators who lack diverse lived experiences.

At a time when civic participation is often uneven and public trust in institutions is frequently tested, investing in meaningful engagement with young people is not simply educational — it is essential. The more these young people grow, the more our communities gain — and that cycle is the point.

If leaders truly want to inspire the next generation of public servants, they must do more than speak about civic engagement. They must open the doors of government and invite young people inside. Our children are ready to enter the arena.

Let them in.

L.I.’s economy is solid — but is increasingly K-shaped

assessing current economic conditions over the past year has been unusually challenging due to delays in federal data releases, volatile inflation readings and shifting labor-market dynamics. As more complete data has recently become available, however, a clearer picture is emerging for Long Island — one that reflects strength in aggregate, but growing divergence beneath the surface.

Long Island’s economy continues to outperform many regions nationally. Home values remain elevated, hospitality and tourism activity are robust, and unemployment rates in Nassau and Suffolk counties remain below the national average. These indicators point to a region that has weathered recent economic shocks relatively well.

Yet aggregate strength masks important distributional differences. Increasingly, Long Island reflects what economists describe as a K-shaped recovery, in which different segments of the population experience sharply disparate economic outcomes.

Households in the upper echelon of income and wealth distribution have

benefited substantially since 2020. Financial markets have posted significant gains, increasing retirement balances and household net worth for those with market exposure. At the same time, residential real estate values across Nassau and Suffolk have risen markedly since the pre-pandemic period, reinforcing wealth accumulation for existing homeowners. Those households have seen stronger balance sheets, greater financial resilience and sustained consumption capacity.

iincomes have not kept pace with the rising costs of living.

The implications extend beyond household well-being. Long Island’s economy, like the broader U.S. economy, is fundamentally consumer-driven, with roughly two-thirds of economic activity tied to consumer spending. While higher-income households account for a disproportionate share of consumption, sustainable regional growth depends on broadbased purchasing power across income groups.

llustrating the difference between wealth and incomes that aren’t keeping pace.

While affordability in our region impacts all Long Islanders, many lower- and middle-income households have faced a more constrained economic reality. While nominal wages — what you see in your pay stub — have increased over the past several years, real wage growth — your pay adjusted for inflation — has been limited by persistently higher prices of essential goods and services. Housing costs, food prices and energy expenses have accounted for a growing share of household budgets, eroding purchasing power even as headline inflation shows moderation.

This divergence is central to the concept of a K-shaped economy. The upper arm reflects asset-driven growth and wealth accumulation, while the lower arm captures households whose

Letters

King also called out those athletes who had the nerve to express their dismay and concern over our current administration’s actions and the climate it has created here. Every American athlete has a right to speak their mind. Our athletes travel and train at their own expense, typically requiring immeasurable sacrifice from their families. While chosen to represent our country, they are private citizens, not representatives of the state.

Unfortunately, King missed the point. Everyone was celebrating the men’s victory, just as they had celebrated the women’s win a few days earlier — until the locker room antics. First of all, the FBI director was seen chugging beer, screaming and pouring beer over players’ heads like a sophomoric jock. Then Trump called and invited the team to the White House, and as an afterthought, said the women would have to be invited. And no one winced. No one stood up for the women’s team, which had beaten Canada just days before in overtime. As a matter of fact, they laughed.

The men’s win wasn’t marred by politics. It was marred by the leader of our country’s public disregard for

a select group of Olympians, it was marred by the excuses made for his behavior, and it was marred by those who think it was no big deal.

ELIzABETH MURPHY Franklin Square

Trump’s, and King’s, words matter

To the Editor:

As I’m sure Peter King knows, words still matter. Tone still matters (thank goodness!). A president’s words still matter. Trump’s use of the words “I guess I have to invite the women” has behind it a long history of his sexism and disrespect for women. If someone else had said it, maybe it would have landed differently.

King’s printed words “Lighten up!” are furthering a culture of disrespect toward women. Shame on him. And to think my late grandfather loved him so much. I would hope this article would have changed his mind.

SUzANNE VERA North Bellmore

Recent measures of consumer sentiment underscore this tension. Despite relatively low unemployment, confidence levels remain subdued. Concerns about job security, trade policy and long-term affordability continue to weigh on household expectations, suggesting that employment alone is an insufficient indicator of economic confidence on the national level.

There are also macroeconomic risks associated with sustained divergence. If equity markets weaken or housing price growth moderates, the wealth effects currently supporting higher-income consumption could diminish. In such a scenario, the economy would be vulnerable if lower-income households lack the income growth necessary to offset that slowdown.

Importantly, these dynamics do not

suggest that Long Island is entering a period of economic decline. The region’s proximity to New York City, its diversified industry base and the relative strength of sectors such as health care, professional services, technology and finance continue to provide stability. Recent improvements in office occupancy and continued strength in hospitality further reinforce this resilience.

But resilience shouldn’t be confused with inclusivity. The central economic challenge facing Long Island isn’t simply maintaining growth, but also ensuring that growth benefits all industry sectors and sizes. Workforce development, housing affordability and goodpaying jobs that offset higher inflation are essential components of long-term regional economic health. Policymakers and business leaders should remain attentive not only to aggregate indicators, but also to the real impacts of policies on Long Islanders.

As more complete data becomes available in 2026, the contours of Long Island’s economic trajectory are becoming clearer. Aggregate performance remains strong, but the divergence across households warrants careful attention. Economic strength is most durable when the entire population is benefiting from it — and addressing these imbalances will be critical to sustaining Long Island’s long-term prosperity.

Dr. Steve Kent is chief economist of the Long Island Association.