_______________ east meadow ______________
HERALD Carey Welt sworn in to fire commission
Celebrating Israel in Eisenhower Park
Take part in free golf clinic
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Vol. 25 No. 24
$1.00 $1.00
JUNE 12 - 18, 2025
State takeover of NUMC is taking shape efit corporation, expanded oversight, including the ability to approve hospital contracts of the East Meadow Herald exceeding $1 million. The hospiNew York state has begun tal’s public benefit corporation, the transition in leadership at the Nassau Health Care CorpoNassau University Medical Cen- ration, is also required to conter, following the approval last duct a study on strengthening NUMC by Dec. 1, month of a $254 bil2026. lion budget package A newly restrucfor fiscal year 2026 tured NUMC board that included severwill see six memal provisions affectbers appointed by ing NUMC, includt h e g ove r n o r — ing a “takeover” of including one recLong Island’s largommended by the est public hospital state Assembly system. speaker and state State lawmakers Senate president — approved the two appointed by changes on May 7, the Nassau County shifting control executive, two by from Nassau Coun- GoRDoN TEPPER the county Legislaty Executive Bruce Gov. Hochul’s Long ture’s majority, and Blakeman to Gov. Island press secretary one by its minority. Kathy Hochul and On May 31, state Democrats. The changes — which took Hochul announced her appointef fect June 1 — seeks to ments, including Stuart Rabienhance state oversight and set nowitz, former president of a p a t h t o w a r d f i n a n c i a l Hofstra University in Hempimprovement and operational stead, designating him chair of stability at the East Meadow the 11-member board. Rabinowitz, a longtime leadhospital and its extended care er in higher education and pubfacility in Uniondale. In addition, the state has lic policy, now serves as senior granted the Nassau Interim counsel at Meltzer, Lippe, GoldFinance Authority, a public benContinued on page 8
By JoRDAN VAlloNE & lUKE FEENEY
T
Holden Leeds/Herald
Community day returns Saturday, featuring four hours of fun activities and a vendor fair, all completely free. at last year’s event, Julia and Rebecca Smith had their faces painted.
In E.M., no fees, just fun Community Day returns to Speno Park this weekend By JoRDAN VAlloNE jvallone@liherald.com
For more than 30 years, East Meadow’s “Community Day” has stood as a shining example of what it truly means to belong. On June 14, neighbors, friends, and families will again gather for the beloved free fourhour celebration at Speno Park that transforms the heart of the hamlet into a vibrant hub of connection, tradition, and pride. Community Day traces its beginnings to 1991 when the event was founded by Gregory Peterson, the former supervisor of the Town of Hempstead. “His idea was to create an event, in
essence, honoring East Meadow,” Ted Rosenthal, one of the organizers on the Community Day committee, said, “and making it so that all people in East Meadow could participate. So the rule was, from day one, there’s no fees.” That rule still stands 34 years later. Vendors are invited to set up a table for free, and they’re not allowed to charge visitors for any goods or services they’re offering. “I do not know of any other event like this anywhere,” Rosenthal said, “and it has been going for all these years.” Over the last few years, the event has changed slightly, due in part to the coronaviContinued on page 23
he board’s restructuring is unequivocally the best possible news for anyone who relies on NUMC.