_______________ east meadow ______________
HERALD
Your Home is Your Sanctu ary.
Don’t Let High Ta Chase You Away!xes
Making the most at Mulchfest
Young poets take the stage
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Vol. 26 No. 3
JANUARY 15 - 21, 2026
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Fighting back against scams Free seminar aims to protect residents of all ages from scams and thefts being victimized by scams every single day.” Millions of Americans, With scams and identity including thousands of Nassau theft on the rise, a Feb. 9 semi- County residents, are affected nar will aim to help residents by scams each year. According in the 5th Senate District and to a recent survey by AARP, nearby communities protect about 41 percent of adult Amerthemselves from those looking icans, roughly 110 million peoto scam them. The district ple, reported that they have had money stolen encompasses parts through fraud or of East Meadow, misuse of sensitive Wantagh, Seaford, information. Merrick and Bell“The first thing I more. tell people,” McKevThe free event itt said, is “if you will take place at 7 don’t know the p.m. at the Levitnumber, do not pick town Public Library. up. Your doctor’s It is organized by office will leave a S t at e S e n . S t eve vo i c e m a i l . Yo u r R h o a d s , N a s s a u StEVE RhoAdS child will leave a County Legislators State Senator voicemail.” McKevTom McKevitt and itt has done scamKayla Knight, and the Kiwanis Club of Levittown, prevention seminars for the and will feature experts from past five years, he said. “We get the county’s Office of Crime more and more stories all the Victim Advocate, the Family & time about seniors being taken Children’s Association and the for tens of thousands, if not Nassau County Police Depart- hundreds of thousands of dolment. Attendees will learn how lars due to scams,” he added. The Federal Trade Commisto recognize scam red flags, report incidents and recover sion reported that in 2024, consumers lost over $12.5 billion to from fraud. “Whether it’s text messages, fraud and scams — a 25 percent e m a i l s, t e l e p h o n e c a l l s, ” increase over 2023. A broader Rhoads said, “residents are Continued on page 13
By lUKE FEENEY
lfeeney@liherald.com
R
Courtesy Richie Krug Jr.
three members of the east Meadow Chamber of Commerce, past president James Skinner, left, 2026 Man of the Year Honoree Richie Krug Jr. and Chamber president Ross Schiller share an appreciation for community-building events and programs.
E.M. Chamber of Commerce celebrates 70th anniversary By JoSEPh d’AlESSANdRo jdalessandro@liherald.com
The East Meadow Chamber of Commerce starts the year with a remarkable milestone in celebrating its 70th anniversary, while welcoming this year’s chamber president, Ross Schiller of Ross L. Schiller & Associates P.C., a local real estate, trust and asset protection legal practice. The new executive board will start 2026 strong at its annual Installation of Officers and Directors at the Coral House in Baldwin on Jan. 23.
“This is our 70th year, which is a true milestone,” he said. “The chamber not only looks to the past for guidance, but we look to the future and to all the events the chamber runs throughout the year, and our history really helps define who we are.” Schiller has been a chamber member for seven years in addition to involvement in multiple other community groups including the East Meadow Kiwanis Club. “It’s going to be a nice year for the chamber,” he said. “We’re looking to do many new things, and one of the important things that Continued on page 10
esidents are being victimized by scams every single day.