_________________ bellmore ________________
HERALD
Easy. Honest. Accurate.
Save on your property taxes with Nassau County’s trusted tax reduction experts.
Exploring holiday traditions
Dancing into the New Year
Page 3
Page 10
Vol. 29 No. 2
JANUARY 8 - 14, 2026
THE LEADER IN PROP ERTY TAX REDUCT ION
Apply online at mptrg.com/heraldn or call 516.715.1266 ote Hablamos Español
Maidenbaum Property
$1.00
Tax Reduction Grou
p, LLC
Bellmore home welcomes dogs Local raises her 9th future service dog Canine Companions breeds, raises and trains its own service dogs, which are bor n When Anne Johnson wel- through the organization’s comes a puppy into her Bell- breeding program in Califormore home, she realizes its stay nia. According to Kim Doyle, a senior instructor with Canine will not be a long one. Johnson, who has lived in Companions, the do gs are Bellmore for nearly 40 years, trained to assist with a wide recently be gan raising her range of needs. “They can pick up dropped ninth future service dog for Canine Companions, a national items, open doors, turn lights on and off, internonprofit that provides highly trained rupt anxiety or service dogs to nightmares, and adults, children and alert people who veterans with disare hearing abilities at no cost. impaired to sounds Her newest trainaround them,” e e, Ta n s y I V, a Doyle said. “What 9-week-old Golden makes us special is Retriever, will even- ANNE JoHNSoN that we find the tually lear n more right job for the Bellmore than 40 professional right person.” commands before Volunteer puppy being matched with raisers play a critia person in need. cal role in that proJohnson has volunteered as cess. Puppies are placed with a puppy raiser with Canine volunteers at about 8 weeks old Companions for about 15 years and spend roughly 18 months — a role she first adopted in learning basic obedience, house 2011 after working as a veteri- manners and socialization nary technician while raising a before returning for six months family. of professional training at the “Once you see what these organization’s regional headdogs can do to change some- quarters in Medford. one’s life, you kind of get “We rely heavily on our addicted to raising puppies,” puppy raisers,” Doyle said. “We Johnson said. COntinued On paGe 2
By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ
hgaldamez@liherald.com
courtesy of the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District.
Gabriella Gioielli, left, Juliet Harvey, Superintendent of Schools Michael Harrington, Molly Hofmayer, Olivia Wood, and Hailey Johnson enjoyed the relaxation-focused event.
Students unwind with puppy yoga By JoSEPH D’AlESSANDRo jdalessandro@liherald.com
The Meadowbrook Alternative Program found a special group of therapeutic partners with wagging tails and tiny paws for an experimental, one-time relaxation event. Eight adoptable puppies helped high school students decompress after a tough semester as a part of Roslyn Salt Cave and Yoga’s guided yoga session, who partnered with the program to find new ways to improve students’ school experience. The Dec. 9 yoga session guided students through mindfulness and relaxation exercises while exploring their social and emotional worlds, supported by the infectious positivity of playful puppies. MAP held the event at the Brookside School in North Merrick. MAP is a specialized program in the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District designed to help students who struggle in a conventional educational environment.
Ironically, the puppies learned as much as the students. While the four-legged visitors helped students be at ease, the exposure to new people and places helped the dogs get comfortable in the human world and prepare for adoption. The canines came from Yoga Puppies, an agency partnering with Roslyn Salt Cave. Carol Cupo is a school counselor for the district’s MAP, Prep Academy and CHOICE programs said puppy yoga offers a range of benefits for high school students, especially those in alternative settings. “It combines the stress-relieving effects of yoga with the emotional support of interacting with puppies, helping students manage anxiety, improve focus, and boost mood,” Cupo said in a news release. The supplementary experience is meant to build community and support essential interpersonal skills, according to Cupo. “The practice promotes mindfulness, physical well-being, and social interaction in COntinued On paGe 11
Y
ou kind of get addicted to raising puppies.