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HERALD VoL. 25 No. 21
Barnum marks 70th anniversary
Fire Dept. races on Long Island
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MAY 22 - 28, 2025
Performers set to sizzle at National BBQ Festival By JoRDAN VALLoNE jvallone@liherald.com
Joanna Yee/Herald
East Meadow marks another Founders Day The East Meadow community celebrated the work and accomplishments of the district’s PTAs at its annual Founders Day celebration, held at Leonard’s Palazzo last month. Story, more photos, Page 10.
What’s new in East Meadow?
Civic group provides updates on ongoing projects By JoRDAN VALLoNE jvallone@liherald.com
The Council of East Meadow Community Organizations passed along crime prevention tips during a recent meeting and informed residents about several key initiatives and upcoming projects that will affect the greater East Meadow and Salisbury area. The area is covered by the first and third precincts. CEMCO leaders began their late-April meeting, held at the East Meadow Public Library, by acknowledging the death of Norma Gonsalves, a former Nassau County legislator and longtime East Meadow resident. Gonsalves, who died in February at age 90, was an integral part of CEMCO’s leadership, running its crime watch committee for many years. Following a moment of
silence, CEMCO’s president, Joe Parisi, announced that John Nikiel, who was part of the crime watch with Gonsalves, has agreed to take on her leadership role. A 30-year law enforcement veteran, Nikiel said no concern is too small. “If there’s something happening in your neighborhood, on your street — if something’s happening that concerns you, let me know,” he said. The crime watch committee meets regularly with local police officials, as well as the East Meadow School District superintendent and school principals, to discuss safety concerns and potential solutions in the community. Overall, crime is down in East Meadow, Nikiel said, adding that the police department is doing Continued on page 15
Nassau County is gearing up to host this year’s National BBQ Festival, right in the heart of East Meadow in Eisenhower Park, bringing together top pitmasters, sizzling flavors and a weekend of family-friendly fun to Long Island. The festival, originally held in Georgia from 2002 to 2011, has been on hiatus and will make its highly anticipated return from June 13 to June 15, featuring two full days of competition with a $100,000 prize pool at stake. Along with food, Nassau County officials told members of the press in March that a lineup of musical performances will be featured, along with other forms of entertainment. Among the perfor mers is “Hip Hop’s Pitmaster,” Warren
G, who is set to perform and compete during the festival. The West Coast rap pioneer, whose real name is Warren Griffin, will headline the festival on June 14, with a high-energy performance and will also step into the pit to compete against some of the country’s top barbecue masters. A hip-hop artist turned culinary entrepreneur, Warren G has had a significant cultural impact as a rapper, record producer, media personality, philanthropist, and businessman. Best known for his 1994 multiplatinum hit “Regulate,” he has sold an estimated eight to 10 million records worldwide. In recent years, he has turned his passion toward the culinary arts, inspired by his family’s legacy. In 2019, Warren G launched Continued on page 4
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