Rabbi Irwin Huberman, of Congregation Tifereth Israel in Glen Cove, dressed as Moses, displayed a scroll before reading from the Megillah during the synagogue’s Purim celebration on Monday. The reading recounted the biblical story of Queen Esther and the Jewish people’s deliverance from persecution in ancient Persia. Congregants gathered in costume to celebrate the holiday with music, laughter and the traditional retelling of the Purim story.
Roksana Amid/Herald
By ROKSANA AMID ramid@liherald.com
Laughter and music steeped in centuriesold tradition filled the sanctuary at Congregation Tifereth Israel on Monday as the synagogue celebrated Purim with a spirited Megillah reading followed by an original musical comedy known as a Purim spiel. The evening began with a reading of the Book of Esther, the biblical story of how the Jewish people in ancient Persia were saved from destruction by the bravery of Queen Esther and her cousin Mordechai. During the reading, congregants followed one of Purim’s best-known traditions, making loud
noise with groggers, or noisemakers, to drown out the name of the villain Haman whenever it was spoken.
Rabbi Irwin Huberman reflected on the story’s historical roots, noting its connection to the ancient Persian Empire and the way its themes continue to resonate today.
“It is absolutely phenomenal that with events going on in Iran and in Israel, that this is the story of Jews being under the thumb of the Persians,” Huberman said. “If you ask somebody today if they are from Iran, they will say that they are Persian. Iran is actually interchangeable with Persia.”
Huberman explained that the events of
By ROKSANA AMID ramid@liherald.com
The North Shore Historical Museum honored the legacy of the Harlem Hellfighters, and the local effort that helped secure the unit a Congressional Gold Medal more than a century after their service in World War I, last weekend.
Capping off Black History Month on Feb. 28, the event served as a local homecoming, after the Hellfighters — members of the 369th Infantry Regiment in World War I — were formally honored in Washington and their descendants accepted the medal at a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol last September.
WMarine Corps major and the other co-chair of the project; Kenny Jones, a descendant of the Fowler family, several members of which served in the 369th; and other descendants, including Gloria Fowler-Jones and Deborah Willett.
hat makes history fascinating is not just those facts, but to me, the lives of the people we can find out about.
RICHARD HARRIS Professor of humanities, Webb Institute
The guests included Rep. Tom Suozzi; Richard Harris, the John J. McMullen Professor of Humanities at Webb Institute and a co-chair of the Harlem Hellfighters Recognition Project; Fred Nielsen, a retired U.S.
The event highlighted the role that Glen Cove residents played in advocating for national recognition for the Hellfighters, whose achievements were largely overlooked for decades.
“We’re a very young museum,” Georgie Connett, the facility’s president, said. “But it’s a place where people can come and take a step back and look at what’s happened in the past that brought us all, from the North Shore, to where we are today.”
Connett noted that the museum’s exhibit on the Hellfighters, installed in 2018 — which includes one of the medals —
CONTINUED ON PAGE 14
By ROKSANA AMID & BRIAN KACHARABA ramid@liherald.com
Symphony of Hope will bring restored Holo caust‑era violins, international soloists and local ensembles to Long Island for a concert that will trans form private histories of loss into public acts of remembrance and education.
On March 12 at 8p.m., Madison Theatre at Molloy University will host the collaborative program pre sented by Molloy University, the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, the Holocaust Memorial and Tol erance Center of Nassau County and the Long Island Concert Orchestra.
The centerpiece of the evening is the Violins of Hope collection — instruments once owned and played by Jewish musicians before and during the Holocaust that have been meticulously restored for performance. “It really brings to life the people who once owned them and played on them in real time,” said David Winkler, executive director and composer‑in‑residence of LICO. Winkler, who founded the orchestra in 2016, framed the event as both a memorial and a community effort: “I consider Symphony of Hope to be a celebra tion of the human spirit through music.”
Only a portion of the collection will be used in the Madison Theatre performance; roughly 70 instru ments are currently in performing condition, with many more awaiting restoration. Avshi Weinstein, who continues the restoration legacy begun by his father, master luthier Amnon Weinstein, will partici pate in the presentation, bringing the project’s craft and historical expertise to the stage.
Winkler emphasized why violins, in particular, carry such resonance: “Only the violins fall into this category. All other instruments were either discarded
or torn apart. Violins are relatively small instruments that can be taken, put into a knapsack, into a bag.”
That portability, he said, allowed persecuted musi cians to carry cultural identity and, in some cases, a means of survival.
The program pairs local and international talent. The Long Island Concert Orchestra will be joined by the Long Island Choral Society, with rising guest con ductor Jeffrey Dokken on the podium and Simon Zhu. The repertoire blends historical resonance and con temporary voices, including Violin Concerto No. 7 by
Long Island composer Alexey Shor and work by Win kler titled Pacifica, which is “dedicated to peace.” Grammy‑nominated music director Enrico Fagone is listed as the orchestra’s artistic leader.
Institutional leaders framed the concert as both an artistic event and an educational mission. “Molloy University is honored to host The Symphony of Hope at our Madison Theatre,” s Molloy University Presi dent James Lentini, said. Jolanta Zamecka, vice chair of HMTC and a LICO board member, emphasized the event’s broader purpose: “The Symphony of Hope enables us to honor musicians whose lives ended far too soon and to inspire future generations to reject hatred and intolerance.” Michael Klinghoffer, presi dent of the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, added that the arts “have a power to transcend time and place and bring the world together with a healing presence.”
LICO traces its roots to the Sea Cliff Chamber Play ers, formed in 1971, evolving through various itera tions before Winkler established the Long Island Con cert Orchestra in 2016 after the Long Island Philhar monic ceased operations. Winkler described the orchestra’s mission as responding to Long Island’s “growing needs” with large‑scale special events and community‑oriented programming.
Each instrument in the Violins of Hope collection carries a distinct story of survival, loss or rescue — some were played in ghettos or camp orchestras, oth ers were hidden or carried by those who escaped per secution. Presenting these violins onstage seeks to give voice to those personal histories in a way organiz ers say can resonantly educate and move contempo rary audiences.
Ticket and sponsorship information for Symphony of Hope is available at madisontheatreny.org.
By ABIGAIL GRIECO agrieco@liherald.com
Nassau County officials said Monday they have heightened security measures and increased police deployments in response to the escalating military conflict with Iran, citing concerns about potential retaliatory attacks, self-radicalized individuals and cyber threats.
Speaking March 2 at the Ceremonial Chamber in the Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said the county began reviewing and expanding its security posture immediately after the conflict began.
“As we all know, we are engaged now in a military conflict with Iran,” Blakeman said. He added that he believed the federal government’s response was “an appropriate action to take” and that “Iran has been nothing but an irritant and a danger to America for a long, long time.”
Blakeman said Nassau County is home to residents of Iranian descent, some of whom, he said, have expressed support for changes in their country of origin.
“They are now celebrating the liberation of a once great country that was taken over by a very brutal and dictatorial regime, and that is now come to an end, and I can say, on my own behalf, we are very grateful that that action was taken by President Trump,” Blakeman said.
In Nassau, he said, public safety remains the top priority.
“That is our number one mission, and we take that mission very seriously,” he said. “When there are extraordinary events that occur — whether it’s a mass gathering, a celebration or a situation where someone may have an ax to grind — we always take special precautions.”
Blakeman said he and Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder have been in constant contact since the outbreak of hostilities, reviewing intelligence and determining how best to deploy additional resources.
Abigail Grieco/Herald Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman spoke during a news conference at the Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building in Mineola on March 2, outlining heightened security measures in Nassau County following the military conflict with Iran.
Officials referenced a recent shooting at a Texas bar that authorities believe may have been motivated by the overseas conflict. While that investigation remains ongoing, Blakeman said preliminary information suggests the attack may have been influenced by events in Iran.
“That brought especially to light the fact that there may be a lone wolf that could be motivated, or even a terrorist cell that could be activated,” he said. “Therefore, we will take extraordinary precautions to make sure that our community is safe.”
Ryder said the police department implemented an “all-hands-on-deck” response as soon as intelligence briefings were received.
Specialized units, including the Bureau of Special Operations, criminal intelligence teams and the Stra-
The Diabetes Research Institute Foundation will celebrate a major milestone this spring as it hosts its 20th annual Cooking for a Cure fundraiser, honoring Glen Cove resident and attorney Jaime Greenberg for his advocacy and longtime support of diabetes research.
The event is scheduled for Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at the Crescent Beach Club in Bayville. Tickets are priced at $125, and proceeds will directly benefit the foundation’s mission to fund cutting-edge research aimed at curing and preventing diabetes.
Greenberg, a partner at Greenberg & Greenberg, has a deeply personal connection to the cause. His 21-year-old son, Sean, lives with type 1 diabetes, a lifelong autoimmune condition that requires constant monitoring and insulin management. Years later, Greenberg himself was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes following a serious health incident. Those experiences have fueled his commitment to raising awareness and supporting research
that could one day eliminate the disease.
Over the past two decades, Cooking for a Cure has grown into one of Long Island’s signature charitable culinary events, drawing community members, business leaders and advocates together for an evening focused on both fellowship and fundraising. Since its inception, the fundraiser has generated more than $1.5 million to advance the foundation’s work.
Funds raised through the event support research initiatives centered on restoring the body’s natural insulin production and pursuing a biological cure. Scientists affiliated with the foundation are working on therapies that aim to regenerate insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, improve transplant techniques and develop innovative treatments that reduce the burden of daily disease management.
-Roksana Amid
tegic Response Team, have been deployed. K-9 units, mounted patrols, drones and aviation assets are also in use. Ryder said officers conducted more than 1,500 visits to critical infrastructure sites over the weekend.
Police are coordinating daily with the New York City Police Department, Suffolk County Police Department, the FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force, Ryder said, sharing intelligence across agencies.
Blakeman urged residents to assist law enforcement by reporting suspicious activity.
“It’s not just a cliché,” he said of the phrase “If you see something, say something.” “If you see someone that looks suspicious, if you see a package left somewhere, a suitcase or a backpack — anything that might be suspicious — please call 911 immediately.”
He also warned residents about potential cyberattacks linked to the conflict.
“Do not open suspicious emails,” Blakeman said. “If something doesn’t look right, don’t open it. We don’t want you to be the victim of a cyberattack or someone hacking your internet or social media accounts.”
With the Jewish holiday of Purim beginning Monday evening — a celebration that often includes large gatherings and costumes — police had already planned intensified patrols, Ryder said. In light of current events, the county is asking residents not to wear masks while traveling to and from houses of worship so officers can more easily identify individuals in public spaces.
Blakeman said additional patrols have been assigned to Jewish, Muslim, Christian and Sikh houses of worship and schools, noting that religious institutions have historically been targets of violence.
“Whether it’s business, pleasure or family activities, we want you to go about your daily lives,” he said. “Our police department is out there. They’re experienced, they do a great job, and we’re very confident in their ability to make sure that we get through this situation in a way that is safe and secure for all.”
Officials said the heightened security posture will remain in place until law enforcement determines that extraordinary measures are no longer necessary.
The Grenville Baker Boys & Girls Club will host its annual Teen Job and Career Fair on March 18, from 5 to 7 p.m., providing local teens with the opportunity to explore career options and connect with professionals from a variety of industries.
The event is open to all teens in the community, and club membership is not required to attend.
The fair is designed to introduce young people to potential career paths while helping them gain valuable insight into today’s workforce. Teens who attend will be able to speak directly with local employers, ask questions about different professions and learn about part-time and seasonal job opportunities currently available.
Participants will also have the chance to begin developing professional networking skills by meeting industry representatives and making connections that could support future career goals.
In addition to meeting employers, attendees will be able to pose for pro-
fessional photos that can be used for LinkedIn profiles and future job applications, helping them begin building a professional presence as they prepare to enter the workforce.
Industries represented will include health care, radio, journalism, golf and recreation, construction, electrical work, union representation, health and wellness, legal services, veterinary medicine, law enforcement and interior design.
Organizers say the fair offers teens an opportunity to gain real-world exposure to career possibilities while interacting with professionals working in fields that may interest them.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to attend with their teens and learn more about potential job opportunities and career pathways available to young people.
For more information, contact Tara Butler-Sahai at 516-759-5437, ext. 214.
-Roksana Amid
A 25-year-old Glen Cove man was arrested Feb. 19 for criminal possession of cannabis , aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, unlicensed operation, nontransparent front and rear windows one Forest Ave.
A 46-year-old Glen Cove man was arrested Feb. 20 for aggravated unlicensed operation, unlicensed operation, nontransparent windows on Glen Street.
A 40-year-old Glen Cove woman was arrested Feb. 20 for criminal possession of a controlled substance with the intent to sell, criminal possession of a controlled substance, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, drinking alcohol in a motor vehicle, insufficient tail lamps, unlicensed operator, no inspection, obstructed vision, broken windshield on Forest Ave.
A 36-year-old Levittown man was arrested Feb. 20 for criminal contempt, aggravated family offense on Bridge Street.
A 51-year-old Glen Cove man was arrested Feb. 24 for trespassing on Glen Street.
A 17-year-old Levittown man was arrested Feb. 25 for driving while
intoxicated, failure to stop at stop sign on Titus Road.
A 20-year-old Glen Cove woman was arrested Feb. 26 for driving while intoxicated, possession of a forged instrument on Walnut Road.
A 23-year-old Roosevelt man was arrested Feb. 28 for criminal mischief on Brewster Street.
A 32-year-old Glen Cove man was arrested March 1 for driving while intoxicated, unregistered vehicle, unsafe lane change, possession of a forged instrument, uninspected motor vehicle, failure to signal on Brewster Street.
A 45-year-old Glen Cove woman was arrested March 2 for trespassing on Glen Cove Ave.
A 39-year-old Roosevelt man was arrested March 2 for criminal contempt, harassment, menacing on Bridge Street.
A 24-year-old Lindenhurst man was arrested March 2 for Glen Cove City Court warrants for aggravated unlicensed operation, nontransparent windows, unlicensed operation, no inspection on Dutch Broadway in Elmont.
People named in Crime Watch items as having been arrested and charged with violations or crimes are only suspected of committing those acts of which they are accused. They are all presumed to be innocent of those charges until and unless found guilty in a court of law.
The Holocaust Memorial AND Tolerance Center of Nassau County will host its next virtual book club discussion on March 18, from 1 to 2 p.m. via Zoom.
Participants will discuss The Girls of the Glitter Factory by Jennifer Coburn, a historical novel set during World War II that explores the power of propaganda and acts of resistance under Nazi rule.
The story follows Hannah and Hilde, childhood friends whose lives take dramatically different paths after the Nazis rise to power. Hannah is imprisoned in the Theresienstadt concentration camp,
while Hilde becomes involved in a plan to produce a propaganda film intended to portray the camp as humane. When the two women reunite, their conflicting motivations reveal the stark contrast between Nazi propaganda and the harsh realities faced by prisoners.
The discussion will be led by Dr. Linda Burghardt, the center’s scholarin-residence. The free program is open to the public, and advance registration is required through the center’s website.
Ext. 249 E-mail: rglickman@liherald.com Fax: (516) 569-4643
■ PUBlIC NOTICES: Ext. 232 E-mail: legalnotices@liherald.com
By MELISSA BERMAN
mberman@liherald.com
Purim is a joyous Jewish festival commemorating the survival of the Jews who were marked for annihilation in ancient Persia in the 5th century BCE, as told in the biblical Book of Esther, where Queen Esther risked her life to reveal the villain Haman’s plot and save her people. Jews worldwide enjoy traditional three-cornered pastries called hamantaschen (filled with poppy seeds, prune, or apricot) or Sephardi treats like folares and ojos de Haman, which symbolically represent the destruction of the evil Haman.
Purim is a joyous Jewish festival commemorating the survival of the Jews who, as narrated in the biblical Book of Esther, had been doomed to annihilation in Persia in the 5th century BCE. The festival is based on events set during the Babylonian Captivity in the capital city Shushan and the palace of Persian King Ahasuerus, often identified with Xerxes of the Achaemenian Dynasty. The villain Haman, a descendant of the Amalekites and the king’s chief minister, drew lots (Hebrew: purim) to decide on a date for the destruction of all Jews in the kingdom, setting the 13th of Adar as the day. Queen Esther, who had hidden her Jewish identity, risked her life by going uninvited to the king to reveal Haman’s plot and save her people.
The observance of Purim begins with the Fast of Esther on Adar 13, the day preceding the primary holiday. The sages of the Talmud listed four mitzvot (commandments) to be observed on Purim: hearing the recitation of the Book of Esther, giving donations to the poor, exchanging gifts with friends, and feasting. During the public reading of the megillah (scroll) of the Book of Esther, whenever Haman’s name is said, Jews often respond by shaking loud rattles called gragers to drown out the name associated with evil. The holiday has a carnival atmosphere involving costumes, partying, and even religiously condoned inebriation.
Purim 2026 begins at sundown on Monday, March 2, and concludes at nightfall on Tuesday, March 3.The holiday occurs on the 14th of Adar in the Jewish calendar, falling in February or March on the Gregorian calendar, while in Jerusalem, Shushan, and other ancient walled cities, the holiday is celebrated as Shushan Purim on the 15th of Adar. For Jews around the world this festive holiday is inextricable from its emblematic three-cornered pastries called hamantaschen. Originally filled with poppy seeds, these treats are now found stuffed with a wide variety of sweet fillings, frequently prune or apricot.
Camp has become a staple of the summer season. Each year, millions of children, youth and adults head to the hills, lakes, valleys, and parks to participate in the time-honored tradition of camp. And, while most people easily conjure up images of campfires and canoes, there is a lot more to the camp experience. Here are some things you may not have known about the camp experience, courtesy of American Camp Association.
Camp is older than dirt, almost literally Started in 1861, the camp experience turned an impressive 150 years young in 2011. The secret behind the longevity? “Camps are adapting to meet the needs of today’s campers,” says Tom Rosenberg, formr president/CEO of the American Camp Association.“At the same time, the impact camp has on campers, the lifechanging experience, has remained after all these years.”
Camp is worth its weight in gold, and then some!
The camp experience is life-changing –developing friendships and memories that last well beyond the final campfire. And, there is a camp for literally every budget. Often camps offer special pricing or financial assistance, and some camp experiences qualify for tax credits or for payment with preGreen is “zen.”
Research shows that first-hand experience with nature, like those at camp, reduce stress in children and help them better handle stress in
the future. In addition to teaching children how to be good stewards of the environment, camps are teaching children how to enjoy the world around them and take a minute to breathe deep and feel the nature, which ultimately teaches them how to de-stress the natural way.
Mommies and Daddies do it too.
Camp is not just for children and youth. There are family camp experiences, and camps for single adults, senior adults, and any adult that wants to relax and enjoy all camp has to offer. Adults benefit from the same sense of community, authentic relationships, and selfdiscovery that children do. Camp is an excellent vacation option, allowing adults to try a variety of new activities in a safe and fun environment.
Try this on for size!
Camp is a great place to try new activities and hobbies. Afraid of rock walls? According to ACA research, 74 percent of campers reported that they tried new activities at camp that they were afraid to do at first. And, those activities often leave lasting impressions. In the same survey, 63 percent of parents reported that their child continued new activities from camp after returning home.
Manners matter, and often linger.
The camp experience teaches more than just archery or lanyard making. The entire experience is made of teachable moments, perhaps one of the biggest is how to live with a group of people. Campers learn to pick up after themselves, respect each other’s property, and to say
“Please” and “Thank You.”
Camp gets those neurons pumping Education reform debate and concern over summer learning loss have pushed academic achievement into the spotlight. Research shows that participation in intentional programs, like camp, during summer months helps stem summer learning loss. In addition, camp provides ample opportunity for developmental growth, which is a precursor to academic achievement. And, because of the “hands-on” nature of camp, often children who struggle in traditional edu-
cation settings do well at camp.
Camp builds leaders for the 21st century and beyond Independence, resiliency, teamwork, problem-solving skills, and the ability to relate to other people these are the skills that tomorrow’s leaders will need, and the skills camp has been adept at building for 150 years.
Photo: Long after the final campfire fades, the skills and friendships built at camp continue to shine.
The hours after school can feel like a sprint to bedtime. There are snacks to serve, carpools to manage, practices to attend and homework to complete all while academics remain the priority. For families whose children need extra academic support, adding tutoring to the mix can feel overwhelming.
Yet when approached thoughtfully, tutoring can become a powerful and positive investment in your child’s growth not just another obligation on an already crowded calendar.
Start
Before beginning the search for a tutor, talk openly with your child. Frame tutoring as support, not punishment. A simple, reassuring approach “Reading feels tricky sometimes, so we’re going to find someone who can help” emphasizes growth rather than deficiency.
Most children are aware when they’re struggling. While they may feel apprehensive, involving them in the decision fosters cooperation and reduces resistance. Encouragement and confidence from parents go a long way toward building buy-in.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to tutoring. The right setting depends on your child’s needs, personality, schedule and budget.
Some families prefer one-on-one private tutoring. Others choose small-group instruction
at a learning center or opt for online services. When evaluating options, consider class size, location convenience and cost. Research shows that consistent, frequent sessions often yield stronger academic gains.
Recommendations from teachers, guidance counselors and other parents can help narrow your search. Be sure to check references and ask about measurable results, such as improved grades, stronger test performance or increased homework completion.
Successful tutoring works best when everyone is aligned. Teachers, tutors, parents and students should collaborate on clear, realistic goals.
Parents remain an essential part of the learning process. After each session, ask what your child is expected to practice before the next one and provide gentle support at home.
One of the greatest benefits of tutoring is individualized attention. Whether a child needs help mastering multiplication facts, expanding vocabulary or strengthening study skills, oneon-one instruction allows lessons to be tailored to specific learning styles.
Tutoring isn’t only about catching up or getting ahead. It can also help students manage learning differences, organize assignments or gain confidence in challenging subjects.
Tutors may incorporate visual aids, discussion, hands-on activities or technology depending on what resonates most with your child.
If you have other children at home, establish clear expectations during tutoring sessions. Institute “quiet Hours by encouraging quiet activities such as reading, homework or creative play. Turning off televisions and limiting device use can help maintain focus.
When possible, outdoor play or activities in another part of the house can give siblings space to burn off energy while preserving a calm learning environment indoors.
Coordinate breaks and boundaries. Children’s attention spans vary by age. Younger students may focus for 20 to 30 minutes before needing a short break; older students may manage 30 to 40 minutes. Work with your tutor to determine appropriate breaks, boundaries and incentives that suit your child. It’s often best for parents to step back during sessions. Hovering even with good intentions can disrupt concentration. Establish in advance where you’ll be during tutoring time, and allow your child to build independence.
Photo:Tutoring can become an opportunity for growth — not just extra homework.
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By HAILEY FULMER hfulmer@liherald.com
Emilian Emeagwali has built a life rooted in service, driven by a deep, generational commitment to uplifting and supporting the community around her.
Born and raised in Onitsha, Nigeria, Emeagwali, 60, emigrated to the United States in 1992, where she faced a dramatic change of lifestyle. In Nigeria, she had been surrounded by support, with help raising a baby girl and managing her daily responsibilities. “Everybody was helping with the baby,” she said. “I was like a queen.”
In America there was no such support system, leaving her to adjust to life with just her husband and their daughter, and to take on a variety of responsibilities herself, from child care to cooking and cleaning.
Determined to adapt, Emeagwali immersed herself in American culture. She spent time watching movies, listening to the news and reading books to better understand her new environment. Even everyday things like food and weather required adjustment.
After moving from Nigeria, Emeagwali received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Brooklyn College. In 2003 she enrolled at Stony Brook University, where she earned a doctorate degree in physical therapy. Balancing school and family life proved difficult, because she was commuting 50 miles from Elmont and now caring for two children.
Despite these challenges, Emeagwali remained focused on her goal of helping others. After finishing her degree, she was motivated to continue her education by a desire to make an impact.
Her psychology classes helped her understand how to approach and connect with people, but she ultimately felt she could make a greater difference through physical therapy. While working as a therapist’s assistant in hospital settings, she became dissatisfied with the fastpaced environment, in which she often treated multiple patients in a short period of time.
Wanting to provide more personalized care, Emeagwali decided to open her own practice. In 2007 she founded State of the Art PT OT, a clinic in Valley Stream that has now been serving patients for nearly two decades. Her approach centers on treating people with the same care and attention she would give her own family.
That philosophy, she said, stems from her upbringing. As a child, she watched her parents give money to people in need, ensuring that they had food to eat. That instilled in her a lasting commitment to helping others and giving back.
“That is how I was raised,” she said. “I think that was embedded in me when growing up.”
In 2009, Emeagwali expanded that mission by founding the nonprofit Giving Back to Community Corp., headquartered in Valley Stream. The organization, which is funded by fundraisers and donations, focuses
on providing food, educational resources and other support to underserved people in surrounding communities as well as in Nigeria.
Whether through her clinic or her nonprofit work, Emeagwali’s impact extends far beyond individual patients, strengthening entire communities and carrying forward the values that first inspired her to give back.
By ABIGAIL GRIECO agrieco@liherald.com
As director of noninvasive cardiology at Mount Sinai South Nassau, Dr. Pilar Stevens-Haynes has built a career centered on precision, compassion and the belief that medicine can be both life-saving and lifechanging.
That sense of connection is what ultimately steered her toward cardiology. Born and raised in the Elmont/ Valley Stream area, Stevens-Haynes discovered her love of science in high school, drawn to biology and fascinated by a senior-year anatomy and physiology elective.
Though she once envisioned herself as a surgeon, clinical rotations changed her mind. “I thought I would just love surgery,” she said. “But I actually found I loved speaking to patients. In surgery, your patients are unconscious.”
Instead she chose a field that allows her to combine long-term patient relationships with moments of dramatic intervention. While many areas of internal medicine focus on managing chronic illness, StevensHaynes noted that cardiology allows physicians to intervene in acute, life-threatening situations — heart attacks, heart failure or dangerous arrhythmias — and dramatically improve outcomes.
“In cardiology, you can treat someone and sometimes give them back the life they had before,” she said. “I find true joy in taking care of people over time and watching them heal.”
A graduate of SUNY Geneseo, Stevens-Haynes completed her medical training in the Mount Sinai system before joining South Nassau over a decade ago. Her current role centers on cardiac imaging, from
electrocardiograms and echocardiograms to multiple forms of stress testing. Four days a week she oversees the lab, ensuring that the facility meets national accreditation standards.
“The lab has to do what it says it’s going to do,” Stevens-Haynes said. “We have to perform the studies accurately and meet the standards that are set.”
Patient care remains central to her. “I’ve got the best
of both worlds,” she said. “I get to practice medicine, but I also get to do a little bit of curative medicine.”
Throughout her career, she has also navigated the realities of being one of few women — and often the only woman of color — in the room. “You have to get very comfortable by being the one and only,” StevensHaynes said. Early on, she admitted, she was “very, very quiet and shy,” hesitant to draw attention to herself. Over time, however, she came to recognize the importance of representation.
“Patients will say how wonderful it is to see women physicians and to see people that look like them take care of them,” she said. “They trust me because I look like me.”
Mentorship has become one of the most meaningful aspects of Steven-Haynes’s work. She recalled sitting down with a tearful young physician who worried that starting a family would jeopardize her medical career. Stevens-Haynes encouraged her to do both. That physician is now a cardiology fellow.
“It’s important that women know they can have grand professional goals and personal goals — and achieve them,” she said.
Stevens-Haynes credits academic medicine with offering flexibility that has allowed her to balance professional growth with family life. She and her husband, Hector Luna, are raising four children in Baldwin.
She remains driven by the passion that first led her into medicine, and by her belief that physicians can build meaningful careers without sacrificing the aspects of life that matter most.
“Even if it feels overwhelming or like an all-boys club, you can find your niche anywhere,” she said. “Chase your dreams. You don’t have to sacrifice.”
By ROKSANA AMID ramid@liherald.com
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is renting office space in Woodbury for what could be as many as 40 agency attorneys, Newsday has reported. The move is drawing concern from immigration advocates and prompting calls for transparency from local officials.
Last month, ICE began leasing offices in a four-story building at 88 Froehlich Farm Blvd., according to Craig J. Padover, president of the Hauppaugebased Aresco Management, which owns the property. The space, Padover said, is being used for legal offices, but he did not confirm the size or extent of the lease, nor could he verify how many ICE attorneys would ultimately work there.
He added that the space would not be used to house detained immigrants.
The expansion comes as controversy intensifies over President Trump’s deportation campaign. ICE received nearly $80 billion in funding through Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” passed last July, increasing the number of agents from roughly 10,000 to 22,000 this year, making it the largest-funded federal law enforcement agency.
ICE already maintains a presence at the federal courthouse in Central Islip and at the Nassau County Correctional Center in East Meadow, where detained
Luke Feeney/Herald
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is leasing office space at 88 Froehlich Farm Blvd. in Woodbury.
migrants are housed. Agents covering Long Island are based primarily in New York City offices.
“One of the most important things to remember is that the Department of Homeland Security and [Secretary] Kristi Noem has not been transparent about what’s going on,” Sylvia LivitsAyass, a partner at Livits Ayass Baskin PLLC and the immigration chair of the Nassau County Bar Association, said.
In Central Islip, marked and unmarked vans have been seen near district courts. Attorneys from ICE’s Office of the Principal Legal Advisor repre -
sent the Department of Homeland Security in immigration-removal proceedings, and can facilitate warrants and enforcement actions.
“My guess is that there will be a ramp-up in ICE presence in Nassau and Suffolk, and they’re probably going to try and facilitate these enforcement actions through warrants and by supporting these operations,” Livits-Ayass said, emphasizing that that remains speculation.
She explained that there are different types of warrants. An administrative warrant is not reviewed by a federal
judge, and is often signed by an ICE officer or agency official. A judicial warrant, by contrast, must be signed by a U.S. District Court judge and typically identifies the court, the name and birth date of the subject of the warrant, and the address to be searched.
“Just because they have a warrant doesn’t mean they can go wherever they want,” Livits-Ayass said.
Because immigration court for downstate New York is at Federal Plaza in Manhattan, she added, the Woodbury lease is surprising. She suggested that it could signal expanded enforcement operations, but also noted that it could simply be cost-effective for ICE to house its attorneys on Long Island. “The bottom line is we don’t know,” she said, “because they’re not telling anybody.”
In a letter to Noem, Rep. Tom Suozzi asked if the lease was accurate and how ICE has engaged with local governments.
In a statement to the Herald, Suozzi wrote, “Expanding deportation operations in safe communities creates fear and undermines trust in local enforcement, and would be a bad policy. Our focus should be on removing dangerous criminals while protecting families who contribute to our local economy and way of life.”
ICE offices in New York City did not respond to the Herald’s request for comment.
Purim date back roughly 2,300 years, when the Persians defeated the Babylonians and ruled a vast empire that included Jewish communities.
“It was repressive against the Jews,” he said of the regime described in the story. “It was repressive against women.”
Despite its serious origins, Purim is one of the most joyful and festive holidays on the Jewish calendar, marked by costumes, comedy and celebration.
Jay Barron, a Glen Cove resident who attended the event, said the holiday stands out among Jewish traditions for its emphasis on joy and reversal of fortune.
“It’s an unusual holiday in Jewish history,” Barron said. “Often the Jews are oppressed and there are all sorts of problems, and this story has the exact same beginning. The Jews were going to all be murdered, and the whole story changed around.”
Barron added that revelry is part of the holiday’s tradition. “It’s very celebratory,” he said. “It’s an unusual holiday in which I believe you’re commanded to get drunk — to get so inebriated that you don’t know good from evil.”
Following the reading of the Megillah, the scroll containing the biblical Book of Esther, which is traditionally read aloud during the Jewish holiday of Purim. Congregants stayed for the evening’s main attraction: an original musical comedy titled “The Spiel That Goes Wrong.”
Written by CTI members Jon Goldstein and Diane Stillerman, the musical retold the Purim story through parody songs, comedic sketches and contemporary musical references.
Goldstein, the primary writer, said the challenge of creating a new Purim spiel lies in telling the same story each year in a fresh and entertaining way.
“It was definitely tricky to find different ways of telling jokes and different ways to convey the story,” Goldstein said.
Last year’s show featured songs inspired by music from the 1950s and early 1960s, so, Goldstein said, this year’s production aimed to connect with younger members of the congregation.
“All of the music were pop-rock songs of the last 25 years or so,” he said. “It’s almost like a Gen X Purim spiel.”
Much of the writing came together quickly during the winter holidays, Goldstein said, though the show continued to evolve during rehearsals as performers contributed ideas. “A lot of what’s funny in the show happens in the process of producing it collaboratively as a group,” he said.
The production also reflected the spirit of Purim itself, which often uses humor and satire to diminish the power of villains.
“There’s a real power in being able to laugh at a villain,” Goldstein said. “By making Haman into this ridiculous clown of a character, it’s a way to show that the mighty, abusive, powerful people cannot take us out forever.”
Stillerman, a Sea Cliff resident and Goldstein’s co-writer, said their creative partnership began several years ago
when they collaborated on a parody song for the synagogue. “We were laughing and having a good time,” Stillerman recalled. “There was this give-and-take, and we both love words and rhymes.”
Stillerman, a retired teacher and a pianist who taught piano for 25 years, said the experience of writing and producing the show has helped strengthen the congregation’s sense of community.
The production also involved several other members of the synagogue. Carly Barron served as associate and vocal director, Carl Schreiber was the music director, and Roberta Fox, Stephanie Lebowitz and Elise Splinter choreographed the dances.
For Goldstein, the project has also become a meaningful personal connection to Jewish life. Stillerman said that through writing and performing in the annual productions, Goldstein has deepened his relationship with the congregation and its traditions.
“I feel like it’s increased his attachment to feeling Jewish,” she said.
“These songs are almost like his declaration about believing in Judaism.”
Goldstein, portraying Eminem, was dragged offstage by Betsy Schreiber’s Haman in “The Spiel That Goes Wrong.”
The Glen Cove Chamber of Commerce is a nonprofit organization that supports local businesses while promoting economic growth and community engagement throughout the city.The chamber works to strengthen Glen Cove’s local economy by encouraging collaboration, networking and visibility for its members.
One of the chamber’s most important
functions is hosting monthly meetings. These gatherings provide members with opportunities to network, share ideas and learn about developments affecting the local business community. Meetings often feature guest speakers, updates on upcoming events and discussions about issues impacting Glen Cove’s economy. The meetings help foster a sense of community among business leaders.
- Roksana Amid
By ABIGAIL GRIECO, WILL SHEELINE & JOSEPH D’ALESSANDRO of the Herald Community Newspapers
Third installment in a series about water.
For generations, the waters surrounding Long Island have defined its identity — from the wide-open waterfronts of the South Shore to the shellfish beds of the North Shore. But beneath the surface, a quieter transformation is underway.
Ocean acidification is often called climate change’s “evil twin,” and refers to the lowering of the water’s pH, the scale used to measure the concentration of hydrogen ions in the water. While global warming refers to rising temperatures, acidification describes a shift in seawater chemistry.
The science begins with carbon dioxide. As levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increase — predominantly from the burning of fossil fuels — the ocean absorbs roughly 25 to 30 percent of it. When carbon dioxide dissolves in seawater, it forms carbonic acid, making the water more acidic, and lowering its pH.
farmers — industries that have experienced both revival and setbacks in recent decades — these chemical changes aren’t just theoretical. They are measurable, seasonal and, increasingly, part of daily operations.
The ‘evil twin’ of climate change
Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, a nonprofit advocacy organization in New York and Connecticut, describes ocean acidification as a hidden but mounting crisis for Long Island’s waters — one intensified by warming temperatures, nitrogen pollution and poor circulation in local bays.
“It’s commonly understood that roughly a third of all carbon dioxide emissions released into the atmosphere are absorbed by the marine environment,” Esposito said. That absorption increases acidity levels in bays, estuaries and the open ocean.
The pH scale is logarithmic, meaning that even a small numerical drop represents a significant shift in chemistry. The ocean is naturally slightly alkaline, but since the Industrial Revolution, average ocean surface pH has dropped by about 0.1 units — roughly a 30 percent increase in acidity. That shift reduces the availability of carbonate ions, the building blocks shellfish such as oysters and clams need to form their calcium carbonate shells.
Ryan Wallace, assistant professor of environmental science at Adelphi University, explained that these acidity levels are not evenly distributed.
On Long Island, acidification is not driven by global carbon emissions alone. Local factors intensify the problem. Nitrogen discharged from wastewater, septic systems and fertilizer runoff flows into bays and harbors, fueling harmful algal blooms. When those blooms die and decompose, the process consumes oxygen and releases additional carbon dioxide in the water, further lowering pH.
The result is a compounding effect: global atmospheric carbon dioxide combined with local nitrogen pollution accelerates acidification in shallow, enclosed estuaries.
Warming waters add another layer of stress. As temperatures rise, marine organisms’ metabolic demands increase, but warmer water holds less dissolved oxygen. Together, warming and acidification can weaken shellfish during their most vulnerable larval stages, making it harder for them to survive and build shells.
For Long Island’s oyster and clam
Some bays and harbors on the North Shore are measured at 450 parts per million, close to the ideal level of roughly 300 ppm, while others, particularly in the western portion of Long Island Sound, measured as high as 2,000 ppm.
Wallace emphasized that while these may not sound like huge differences, even minor changes in CO2 levels can have a drastic impact.
“To put it into perspective, over the last 800,000 years or so, the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was only about 300” parts per million, Wallace explained. “Two thousand is a lot more than that, so when you get to concentrations that are that high, this can have implications for, you know, organisms that are living in these ecosystems.”
While the data reflect a global pattern, the consequences are being felt at the regional level as well. As Esposito noted, Long Island’s problems do not exist in isolation.
“It’s being exacerbated by an increase in temperature of the waterways and more nutrient runoff, such as nitrogen, going into waterways,” she said. “All of that causes unfortunate degradation to our water bodies.”
While algae is an important part of a healthy ecosystem, excess nitrogen can fuel algal blooms that, when they die off, consume oxygen and further stress marine life — compounding the chemical impacts of acidification with biological ones.
In the South Shore’s Western Bays, limited water circulation compounds the problem. Research by Stony Brook
University has shown that it can take up to 180 days for water to fully flush out through an inlet into the Atlantic Ocean. Instead, Esposito said, the water “sloshes back and forth” before eventually reaching the ocean, trapping heat and pollutants in the process.
Coastal areas such as the western portion of the Sound are especially vulnerable because of limited circulation. Wallace stressed that scientists differentiate between open-ocean acidification and coastal-ocean acidification because of the unique challenges those areas face.
In Hempstead Harbor, the issue of acidification has been a focus for local environmental organizations for decades. The Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor was formed in 1986 to address a range of environmental issues facing the area, including acidification.
Michelle Lapinel McAllister, the coalition’s programs director, explained that pH monitoring is one of the core services that the nonprofit provides for the harbor. Measuring occurs yearround, with particular emphasis from May to October, when the harbor, in
common with other waterways, sees annual spikes in nitrogen levels.
“Each season we will see periods of low dissolved oxygen, and whenever dissolved oxygen gets low, then we’ll see pH drop as well,” Lapinel McAllister said. “That will typically happen around the hottest part of the year.”
Another complication is the fact that enclosed waters respond more quickly to environmental stressors than the open ocean, meaning local ecosystems can feel the impacts sooner and more intensely.
“The more stagnant the water body is, the more these acidity levels build up,” Esposito said. “The more the temperature builds up, the more damage the increase in acidity levels can do.”
She described three primary consequences of ocean acidification: “reduced water quality, the impact on shellfish and finfish and the degradation of the overall habitat due to low oxygen.”
Shellfish such as oysters and clams struggle to build and maintain their shells in more acidic conditions, while
Continued from PreViouS PAGe
finfish larvae have lower survival rates — threatening both the ecosystem and the region’s maritime economy.
“Acidification actually reduces the availability of carbonate ions that are needed for these organisms to build their shells, so that’s a major issue,” Wallace said. “Like shellfish aquaculture, it can impact fisheries, and then there’s this cascading effect that can influence things like recreational activities and tourism.”
This is especially relevant because shellfish play an important role in regulating nitrogen levels. An adult oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water per day, depending on size and environmental conditions, while a clam can filter roughly half that.
Across Long Island, and across the country, local environmental organizations and governments are throwing their support behind shellfish hatcheries and protection programs, including the towns of Hempstead, Oyster Bay and Babylon. Lapinel McAllister explained that while these efforts serve an important role in safeguarding healthy ecosystems, they can’t singlehandedly save marine ecosystems.
“On their own, shellfish can’t improve the water quality to healthy levels,” she said, “but having a good, healthy, strong population is going to be part of that overall puzzle of maintaining the stability of pH over long term.”
While local efforts to restore wetlands, upgrade sewage-treatment plants and rebuild shellfish populations are making progress, Esposito said the root cause remains global. “The main culprit of ocean acidification is the burning of fossil fuels,” she said. “The only thing we can do is support more renewable energy so that we’re not pouring more carbon dioxide into the waterways.”
The wet work of marine scientists
Across Long Island, scientists are working together to find ways to improve the quality of local waters. A leading solution is all-organic: Restoring local populations of filter-feeders could, with careful management, bear the brunt of decontamination efforts.
The Flax Pond Marine Laboratory, in Old Field, is nestled in the marshes of the North Shore, overlooking the Long Island Sound. This laboratory is a research hatchery, working toward “improving local coastal water quality and replenishing natural shellfish populations,” according to its shellfish restoration manager, Peter Martin.
The facility’s current focus is the Ribbed Mussel Bioextraction Project, in which staff test what growth strategies lead to the healthiest shellfish that could be reintroduced to coastal waters to rejuvenate them.
“There’s a lot of coastal communities and little inlets and even out-of-use small pockets of water that are just polluted and are in need of cleaner water,” Martin said. “Fundamentally … shellfish are natural filters. All they do is filter feed, so they’re cleaning the water as they grow.”’
“One of the big pollutants that we’re focused on is nitrogen removal,” hatchery Research Specialist Ashley Lopez said. “Shellfish take in the bad form of nitrogen, process it in their body, and they still expel some nitrogen, but it’s a safe and more bioavailable kind of nitrogen.”
The ribbed mussel program is exploring new methods of shellfish cultivation; according to Lopez, there is no consensus in the field about growing large amounts of these shellfish. In their nascence, ribbed mussels have delicate health — a larva is as small as a grain of sand. The Citizens Campaign for the Environment staff regularly sterilize equipment and filter externally sourced seawater to minimize diseases and infections from plankton and bacteria.
The researchers grow eight different varieties of algae to feed adult ribbed mussels, which are kept in temperature-stabilized basins. This conditioning pro-
nonprofits like the Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor play a vital role in the fight against acidification. Staff members such as michelle Lapinel mcAllister, right, programs director, and Carol diPaolo, water-monitoring coordinator, track pH levels and coordinate a shellfish restoration program to keep the harbor healthy.
■ 30 percent of carbon dioxide that is released into the atmosphere is absorbed by the ocean.
■ From 2008 to 2017, fossil fuel burning and land use changes were responsible for 40 billion tons of emissions per year.
■ Surface waters are 30 percent more acidic than their pre-industrial levels.
■ While the ocean on average has seen a 0.06 decrease in pH units, meaning increasing acidity, since 1985, the Long Island Sound has seen a decrease of 0.04 per decade, according to UConn Marine Sciences.
■ In the past 25 years, the $6 billion clamming industry has seen a 93 percent reduction in harvests, according to the New York state Department of Environmental Conservation.
■ More than 12,000 acres of Long Island waterways have been closed to shellfishing due to algal blooms, according to the Suffolk County Health Department.
■ 76 percent of the nitrogen in the waters off Long Island — home to 40 percent of the state’s population — comes from faulty septic systems.
cess is meant to “ripen the gonads” of the mussels and help them reproduce as effectively as possible, according to Martin.
“What we’re doing is trying to find out the best way
to grow a lot of them from birth on and have them actually survive,” Lopez said. “And the starting point, we think, is the feeding regimens that we’re giving them. So that’s why we’re doing different diets — to see what kind of spawn they produce and see how the larvae survive after that.”
“This two-year project is Phase Two of a larger project,” Martin added. “Phase One was from ’23 to ’25. Each phase is getting further and further, doing more to figure out the best way to grow these things.”
In addition to ribbed mussel cultivation, CCE staff are involved with other restoration efforts, including a Community Aquaculture Restoration and Education program, in which scientists partner with community volunteers to sow “spat-on-shell” oysters into local estuaries, from which larvae will grow and mature into underwater custodians.
The Flax Pond hatchery works with groups ranging from the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County and Stony Brook University to the state Department of Environmental Conservation and the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission. It is one ecological collective of many working toward improving the quality of local waters from the east end of Long Island to the shores of Nassau County.
Even as Long Island’s waterways face the threat of rising acidification, the experts emphasize that all is not lost. Thanks to the efforts of the Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor and other environmental groups, the region’s waters have bounced back from near-toxic levels of acidity, not to mention numerous pollutionrelated threats of the 1980s.
According to Wallace, the efforts of scientists and local volunteers, from the South Shore to coastal Connecticut, to monitor and address these issues have already made an impact.
“There’s been a lot of positives,” he said, “but we can’t stop there. There’s more work to be done.”
helped spark broader recognition efforts. “Just from that humble beginning of that exhibit, we culminated in going to D.C. and received a Congressional Gold Medal,” she said. “And it’s still amazing that this happened.”
Harris described how researching local soldiers helped bring their stories to light. “What makes history fascinating is not just those facts, but to me, the lives of the people we can find out about,” he said.
Uncovering the Hellfighters’ stories, Harris said, helped drive the effort to secure national recognition for them. “If we don’t write down the history, then others may decide to create their own histories and write those down,” he said.
Harris also had a hand in designing the congressional medal, helped develop the medal’s imagery and symbolism.
“We were responsible for the design of the medal,” Harris said. “We wanted to be sure that it’s clear these weren’t just other soldiers — we wanted them to look like African-Americans.”
The design includes several historical symbols associated with the regiment’s service, including the French Croix de Guerre and the American and French flags. The medal also reflects the cultural influence the soldiers had overseas, Harris added. One of the images is of a saxophone crisscrossed over a rifle.
Roksana Amid/Herald
Richard Harris, co-chair of the Harlem Hellfighters Recognition Project and a professor of humanities at Webb Institute, explained the symbolism of the Congressional Gold Medal honoring the Harlem Hellfighters.
“One of the things the 369th did was, they introduced jazz to the Europeans, to the French,” he said. “It was a revolution in European culture once they heard jazz, really for the first time.”
Nielsen said that learning about the Hellfighters was eye-opening.
“I’m a retired military officer,” he
said. “I never heard the words ‘Harlem Hellfighter,’ ever.”
After discovering the unit’s history through Harris’s research, Nielsen said, they felt compelled to push for recognition. The effort began with a small group of local residents who believed the soldiers deserved national recognition.
Suozzi told the attendees that the effort to secure the medal began with local advocacy, and required years of work in Congress. “It was the people here in this room that first started the process of getting us the Congressional Gold Medal for the Harlem Hellfighters,” he said.
The process, Suozzi explained, necessitated building bipartisan support in Washington. “To break through all the noise of Washington, D.C., to get people to pay attention to do something that’s only been done about 180 times in the history of America, is not an easy thing to do,” he said.
Suozzi ultimately secured hundreds of congressional co-sponsors for the legislation, which was signed into law by President Joseph Biden in 2021.
Descendant Kenny Jones detailed his connection to the Fowler family. “My great-grandfather fought in World War I as a Harlem Hellfighter in the 369th, and his brothers — six of them went to World War I,” Jones said. “And they all managed to come back home safe and sound.”
Learning more about the regiment’s history, Jones added, deepened his appreciation for their sacrifices. “I knew about the Harlem Hellfighters, but I didn’t know to the extent of what these gentlemen [were] actually doing,” he said. “I want to thank everybody for bringing this to the forefront.”
By Abbey Salvemini
Get ready to cheer, dance and gasp — the legendary Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is back, and it’s dazzling audiences in ways few could have imagined. The self-proclaimed “Greatest Show on Earth” has been boldly reimagined for a new generation, bringing a high-voltage spectacle to UBS Arena from March 6 through March 8.
This is not the circus of decades past. Gone are the traditional three rings and animal acts; in their place is a fast-paced, immersive experience that blends worldclass acrobatics, cutting-edge choreography, live music and vibrant storytelling. The arena transforms into a colorful celebration that feels as much like a concert and dance party as a circus performance.
The energy begins the moment everyone walks through the doors. An interactive pre-show sets the tone, introducing audiences to the dynamic Ringling Hype Crew — a lively cast of dancers and performers who invite everyone to move, clap and join in the fun. Before the first aerialist soars or the first stunt takes flight, the crowd is already part of the action.
At its heart are the performers.
• Friday March 6, 7 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, March 7-8, 11 a.m., 3 p.m., 7 p.m.
• Tickets start at $39.35, $20 kids tickets for all performances; available at ticketmaster.com
• UBS Arena, 2400 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont
The 65-person cast, representing 17 countries, is a truly international ensemble that fuses time-honored circus traditions with bold, contemporary feats. Among the most buzzed-about moments is the crisscross trapeze act, in which elite aerialists launch themselves along intersecting flight paths, slicing through the air in breathtaking near-misses that leave audiences holding their collective breath.
The stars of this new incarnation of circus include 33-year-old trapeze artist Miles Postlethwait. He grew up in Florida, attending Ringling shows (and Disney on Ice). Caught up in the spectacle, he in love with trapeze at age 10. A trapeze performer for 10 years (six professionally), he landed at Ringling in November.
Recalling his early circus memories: “I remember going to see Ringling Bros when I was very young. Honestly, what I remember most was the toys (specifically the dragon sword) and the cotton candy. But my mom tells me I was enamored with the acrobats.”
That fascination stuck, leading him to his tour “home” and what’s now billed as “The Greatest Party On Earth,” according to the Ringling mantra.
“Who wouldn’t want to be a part of The Greatest Show On Earth? I saw the previous tour multiple times and loved the show. It’s nonstop fun because you’re part of the show the whole time, interacting with other performers and the audience,” Postlethwait says.
The vibe is fueled by today’s cultural influences — reimagined through the lens of pop culture, concerts and festivals.
Back to the aforementioned trapeze stunt, he points out that the crisscross rig is unique and requires intense precision, but years of training make the nearmisses almost instinctive.
“It keeps me on my toes, and the crowd’s reaction
A 150-year tradition leaps into the future as the reimagined spectacle delivers fresh thrills, bold artistry and gravity-defying feats that redefine the modern
is incredible.”
The thrills keep on coming. Other highlights include the Double Wheel of Destiny, in which four daredevils leap and jump rope on spinning wheels.
A Chinese acrobatic bicycle act, created exclusively for Ringling, features gravity-defying human pyramids and fearless athleticism, with one acrobat running across the backs of nine moving bike riders. Salsa Colombia, a fiery dance and acrobatics troupe, brings the energy of Latin rhythms to the arena floor. And audiences are fascinated by Cam, a content creator and unicycle rider, who stacks up to 25 wheels towering nearly 35 feet high. Also watch out for Bailey the Robo Pup, a high-tech canine character and PT (Party Time), Ringling’s first-ever hype character, who keeps the crowd engaged and amplifies the celebratory atmosphere.
Giant LED screens and cameras capture acrobats from impossible angles, giving every seat the feel of front-row access.
Music powers the show. A DJ spins everything from hip-hop to Latin beats, driving the action from start to finish, with beat drops, live drumming and dance battles.
Those in the audience are not just spectators — they’re all in. Kids are drawn into onstage interactions, while the LED screens highlight stunts from content creator Cam, adding an extra layer of excitement. From split-second trapeze timing to jaw-dropping acrobatics, the spectacle keeps everyone on the edge of their seats while leaving lasting memories for all involved. The result is a full-on celebration with a festival-style energy that transforms classic circus elements.
Postlethwait sums it up simply: “It’s a super fun, energetic party. Families come and say everybody had a blast. It’s a show where kids aren’t just watching — they’re a part of the action.”
Perhaps most importantly, according to Postlethwait, the spectacle inspires young audiences to dream big.
“I hope they see that anything is possible. Circus acts show that humans’ limits go so much further than we think.”
Whether you’re in it for the stunts, the music or the interactive fun, this version of “The Greatest Show On Earth” promises something for everyone. Experience firsthand why Ringling Bros. has thrilled audiences for generations — now with a fresh, modern twist that makes the circus feel entirely new.
Drag out that neon once again and give your hair its best ‘80s ‘do. Those crazy days are back — as only Jessie’s Girl can pull off, on the Paramount stage. The band of NYC’s top rock/pop musicians and singers gets everyone into that “Back To The Eighties” vibe with the latest edition of their popular concert experience. With a lineup including four pop-rock vocalists dressing and performing as 80s icons, backed by a dynamic band, this is the definitive ‘80s experience. Jessie’s Girl’s primary line-up includes a team of NYC’s top rock and pop vocalists: Jenna O’Gara, Jerome Bell-Bastien, and Mark Rinzel. They are backed by one of the tightest bands in the city comprised of 20+ year veterans of the NYC music scene, each with dozens of credits performing with authentic ‘80s icons who made the music famous to begin with! Their motto: There’s no decade like the Eighties and no party like Back To The Eighties with Jessie’s Girl.
Friday, March 6, 8 p.m. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.
With a voice radiating warmth, refinement and emotional depth, jazz vocalist Jane Monheit brings her celebrated interpretations of Great American Songbook classics to the Madison Theatre in a special collaboration with the South Shore Symphony Orchestra. Renowned for breathing fresh life into beloved standards, she headlines an unforgettable afternoon, blending the intimacy of jazz with the grandeur of full orchestral sound. Under the baton of Music Director Adam Glaser, the South Shore Symphony accompanies her in a series of orchestral arrangements that highlight both her vocal artistry and the timeless beauty of these enduring songs. The program also offers audiences a more intimate jazz club feel, with Monheit backed by a trio, including Glaser on piano, for several selections.
Sunday, March 8, 3 p.m. Molloy University campus, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. Tickets available at madisontheatreny.org or (516) 323-4444.
Explore the extensive collection of medieval and renaissance stained glass at Planting Fields! During this walk and workshop for adults, participants will discover the travels and stories of a few of the 40-plus stained-glass panes that illuminate the historic housemuseum, the Main House. Guests are guided by Collections and Exhibitions Manager Emily Leger and Archivist Marie Penny and have the opportunity to view the Corpus Vitrearum, an International scholarly compilation of historic glass windows. Also make your own faux stained glass to bring home and enjoy! $25.
• Where: Main House, 1395 Planting Fields Road, Oyster Bay
• Time: 2-3:30 p.m.
• Contact: plantingfields.org or call (516) 922-9210
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Converse, collaborate and create with kids at Family Saturdays at Nassau County Museum of Art. Get inspired by the art and objects in the galleries and then join educators at the Manes Center to explore and discover different materials to create your own original artwork. Kids and adults connect while talking about and making art together. A new project is featured every week. $20 adult, $10 child. For ages 2-14. Registration required. $20, $10 child; members free.
• Where: 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor
• Time: Noon-3 p.m.
• Contact: nassaumuseum.org or (516) 484-9337
The Glen Cove Council of PTAs hosts its annual Scholarship & Diamond Club Awards Dinner. Honorees are Ida Johnson, Stacey Karathanasis, Christopher Moll, and Maria Venuto. The evening supports the Glen Cove Community Scholarship Fund and the Class of 2026 Glen Cove High School graduates. $140. No tickets are sold at the door.
• Where: Soundview Caterers, 45 Bayville Ave., Bayville
• Time: 6-10 p.m.
• Contact: Sandra Potter, (516) 669-7703, sandrapotter27@ yahoo.com; or Kelley Montesano, (516) 680-9706, kimesano@ hotmail.com
Winter Forest Walk
Join naturalist Virginal Dankel for an interactive winter stroll across
The Grammy-nominated global sensation returns to the stage with their highly anticipated new tour, Celtic Woman — A New Era. Featuring the mesmerizing talents of Mairéad Carlin, Muirgen O’Mahony, Ciara Ní Mhurchú, and the dynamic new addition Caitríona Sherlock, this production fuses the ensemble’s signature ethereal harmonies with innovative orchestrations, captivating stagecraft, and a contemporary energy that honors Ireland’s rich musical and cultural legacy while embracing Celtic Woman’s ongoing evolution. Audiences will be transported on a spellbinding journey through Irish music, from timeless classics to stirring original compositions. The evening promises breathtaking vocal performances, intricate instrumental mastery, and the rhythmic grace of traditional Irish dance. Accompanied by a full ensemble, the performers bring to life Celtic staples — including the bagpipe, bodhrán, tin whistles, and Uilleann pipes — creating a lush and immersive soundscape that resonates with both tradition and modernity. From evocative Irish ballads and contemporary favorites to classical masterpieces and fresh original songs, their tour celebrates the vibrancy of modern Ireland while paying tribute to centuries of musical heritage. It is a concert experience that blends elegance, passion, and cultural storytelling, offering audiences an unforgettable evening of artistry, energy and enchantment.
• Where: The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington
• Time: 8 p.m.
• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com
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Hempstead House Tour
See the grand rooms inside the massive 50,000-square-foot Tudor-style mansion at Sands Point Preserve, the former summer residence of Howard Gould (1912-1917) and later Daniel and Florence Guggenheim (1917-1930). For adults, but children 5+ are allowed. $10 per person.
• Where: 127 Middle Neck Road, Sands Point
• Time: Noon and 1:30 p.m.; also March 29
• Contact: sandspointpreserveconservancy. org or call (516) 571-7901
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Library Board of Trustees meet Glen Cove Public Library Board of Trustees hold their monthly meeting. All are welcome.
• Where: 4 Glen Cove Ave.
• Time: 6:45-8:45 p.m.
• Contact: glencovelibrary.org or (516) 676-2130
mar
the Nassau County Museum of Art grounds. During this seasonal walk, participants can expand their knowledge of the natural world and strengthen their powers of observation. Adults only. $20, $10 members. Registration required.
• Where: Manes Education Center, 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor
• Time: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
• Contact: nassaumuseum.org or (516) 484-9337
Princess Day at the Castle
Families can step into a real-life storybook on a journey through the castle at Sands Point Preserve on a magical adventure! Guests are welcomed into the majestic Hempstead House, where they meet their first princess who sends them on a magical quest to become a true princesses (or prince!). Collect stickers to fill a personal badge and take individual photos. Once badges are complete, bring them to the Fairy Godmother who rewards visitors with a tiara (or crown) to decorate, signifying the completion of their royal adventure. Finally each guest is crowned in a special coronation mar
ceremony. Ticket includes access to the grounds. Limited availability. $70 per child, adults free.
• Where: 127 Middle Neck Road, Sands Point
• Time: Session one, noon; Session two, 12:30 p.m., Session three, 1 p.m.
• Contact: sandspointpreserveconservancy. org or call (516) 571-7901
City Council meets The Glen Cove City Council holds their next regular meeting. All are welcome
• Where: Glen Cove City Hall, 9 Glen St.
• Time: 7:30- 8 p.m.
• Contact: (516) 676-2000
mar
Friends of the Glen Cove Public Library meet The Friends of the Glen Cove Public Library hold their monthly meeting.
• Where: 4 Glen Cove Ave.
• Time: 11 a.m.-noon
• Contact: glencovelibrary.org or
(516) 676-2130
mar
This special performance celebrates the power of music to unite people of all faiths and backgrounds. Paganini Competition winner Simon Zhu performs as principal soloist, with rising star Jeffrey Dokken conducting. The program also includes a major work by Long Island composer Alexey Shor, joined by a local choir for an evening of reflection, resilience and hope. Violins of Hope, a collection of restored instruments owned and played by Jewish musicians before and during the Holocaust — some performed in ghettos and concentration camps, others belonging to musicians who did not survive are featured. Proceeds support the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, Molloy University and Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County.
• Where: Madison Theatre, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre
• Time: 8 p.m.
• Contact: madisontheatreny.org or (516) 323-4444
Glen Cove Youth Recreation Dinner
The 5th Annual Glen Cove Youth Recreation Dinner raises funds in support of Glen Cove Youth Sports. The evening includes dinner, an open bar, raffles, and the presentation of 2026 awards. $125 per person. RSVP required.
• Where: Crescent Beach Club, 333 Bayville Ave., Bayville
• Time: 6 p.m.
• Contact: Email kfoster@ glencoveny.gov
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.
By ABIGAIL GRIECO
agrieco@liherald.com
Every March 17, communities across the world celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with parades, music and plenty of green. What began as a religious feast day honoring Ireland’s patron saint has grown into a global celebration of Irish heritage and culture. Here are three things to know about the holiday and its history.
St. Patrick’s Day began as a religious feast, not a party
Observed each year on March 17, St. Patrick’s Day honors Ireland’s patron saint, St. Patrick, who is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland in the fifth century. The date marks the traditional anniversary of his death in A.D. 461. The day was originally a solemn religious feast day in Ireland, marked by church services and family meals. For much of its history in Ireland, the day was observed quietly, and pubs were even closed by law until the 1970s. Irish immigrants later transformed it in the United States into a public celebration of heritage and pride. Today, cities across the country host parades, festivals and cultural events. While it’s often associated with revelry, the holiday’s roots are spiritual and historical, commemorating Irish identity and resilience.
Green became associated with St. Patrick’s Day because of Ireland’s nickname, “The Emerald Isle,” and the shamrock, which Irish legend says St. Patrick used to explain the Holy Trinity. Wearing green is also said to make someone “invisible” to mischievous leprechauns in Irish folklore. Other popular symbols include Celtic crosses, harps and pots of gold; the cross symbolizes Irish Christianity, the harp represents Ireland’s long musical and cultural heritage, and the pot of gold comes from legends of leprechauns said to hide treasure at the end of the rainbow. Even rivers get in on the tradition — the Chicago River is famously dyed bright green each year as part of the city’s festivities.
While many people consider corned beef and cabbage a classic St. Patrick’s Day meal, it’s more Irish American than traditionally Irish. In Ireland, bacon and cabbage were more common, but Irish immigrants in cities like New York City substituted corned beef because it was more affordable and readily available from local butchers. Over time, the dish became closely tied to March 17 celebrations in the United States, symbolizing both adaptation and the blending of Irish heritage with American life. Another traditional favorite is Irish soda bread, a simple loaf made with baking soda instead of yeast that dates back to rural Irish kitchens. Often served alongside the main meal — and sometimes sweetened with raisins in American versions — soda bread has become a staple of holiday tables.
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.
By WILL SHEELINE wsheeline@liherald.com
A new one-acre garden, conceived by the renowned Dutch landscape designer Piet Oudolf, is taking shape at Oyster Bay’s Planting Fields Arboretum, and locals as well as visitors will soon get the chance to stroll the space.
The Oudolf Garden, scheduled to open this fall, will be located directly behind the Blue Pool Garden, also known as the Italian Garden, and adjacent to the historic Rose Arbor, designed by James Greenleaf in 1906. The site, long an open and largely undesigned area, will be Long Island’s first public garden by Oudolf, whose many projects include the High Line in New York City.
Gina J. Wouters, president and CEO of the Planting Fields Foundation, said the idea grew out of ongoing efforts to both restore historic Olmsted Brothers landscapes and add contemporary layers to the 409-acre estate. Wouters described the relationship between the early-20th-century arbor and the new design as a “really beautiful and interesting dialogue” between contemporary and historic elements.
“So we sometimes like thinking if the Coes” — the family who owned the property — “were alive today, building Planting Fields, who would they invite?” Wouters said. “So Piet Oudolf is definitely within that realm. He’s regarded as the greatest living landscape designer of our time.”
Conversations with Oudolf began in 2023, with Wouters visiting him in the Netherlands before Oudolf traveled to Oyster Bay to view the site. After the space behind the Blue Pool Garden was deemed an ideal location, plans accelerated quickly.
Oudolf is widely known as the father of the new perennial movement, which designs gardens to naturally mimic wild plant communities. His designs often feature naturalistic, meadow-like compositions.
“It’s absolutely an inherent part of his ethos as a designer,” Wouters said of the garden’s environmental focus. She added that Oudolf’s work values “seasoned beauty,” and recognizes the importance of plants in four stages, from seeding to “when it’s blooming, when it’s dead, when it’s decaying, all of that.”
Of the 24,000 perennials and trees to be planted, more than 90 species have been selected, many of them native to the United States and pollinator friendly. Foundation officials wrote in a prior statement that the garden would “honor Long Island’s native species and biodiversity” while offering a four-season experience for visitors.
The Diabetes Research Institute Foundation will mark a significant milestone this spring with its 20th annual Cooking for a Cure event, honoring Glen Cove attorney Jaime Greenberg for his advocacy and dedication to diabetes research. The fundraiser, set for Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at the Crescent Beach Club in Bayville, aims to raise funds for cutting-edge research to cure and prevent diabetes. Tickets are priced at $125, with all proceeds benefiting the foundation’s mission.
Greenberg, a partner at Greenberg & Greenberg, has a personal connection to the cause. His 21-year-old son, Sean, has type 1 diabetes, and Greenberg himself was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes after a health scare. These experiences have deepened his commitment to raising
awareness and supporting diabetes research.
Since its inception, Cooking for a Cure has become one of Long Island’s premier charitable culinary events, raising over $1.5 million to date. The event brings together community members and advocates, all united by a shared mission: advancing research that aims to restore natural insulin production and find a cure for diabetes.
This year’s milestone event will honor Greenberg’s dedication while continuing the fight to turn groundbreaking scientific research into lifechanging treatments for families affected by diabetes.
–Roksana Amid
harmonious and very beautiful, colorful scheme.”
Preparatory work is already underway. The garden is currently fenced off while soil solarization takes place. This occurs as the original grass is buried beneath layers of cardboard and mulch to eliminate turf and weeds without chemicals. State park regulations prohibit the use of glyphosate, an herbicide.
“Hardscaping,” the construction of walkways and other non-botanical features of the garden, is expected to begin early next month, with trees and shrubs planted in late April or early May. Oudolf will come to Long Island in late May or early June for the planting of 24,000 perennials, a meticulous process he prefers to oversee personally. More bulbs will be planted in the fall, after the grand opening.
The project’s estimated cost is $1.5 million, but the foundation aims to raise closer to $4 million to fund an endowment supporting long-term maintenance, including a full-time landscape curator.
The Planting Fields Foundation recently announced a $100,000 grant from Bank of America to support the garden’s development. As well, people can sponsor individual plants for $25, $50 or $100 through the foundation’s Sponsor a Plant program.
Hanna Packer, a Long Island-based landscape designer who has worked with Oudolf since 2010, is the project manager for the garden. “For the first time, we are getting renowned garden designers for a public project here on Long Island,” Packer said. “I’m really looking forward to it.”
Oudolf’s approach at Planting Fields, she said, will include matrix plantings, dominated by a single grass species interwoven with perennials, as well as block plantings of large grouped species with accent plants, whose unique colors and shapes both contrast with and highlight the other plants and grasses, creating what Packer described as a “very
LEGAL NOTICE
“That was also important for us,” Wouters said, “that there were entry points for everybody in the community to participate in the creation of the space.”
While deer and other wildlife remain ongoing considerations at the arboretum, Wouters and Packer are optimistic that the garden’s location and plant selection will help mitigate browsing. Ultimately, Packer said, the garden represents a rare opportunity for her, as both a landscape designer and as a local resident who has been visiting the estate for decades. “Now Planting Fields becomes a destination,” she said. “I feel it will be a magnet for a lot of visitors, which is great.”
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON FKA
THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE CERTIFICATEHOLDERS OF THE CWABS, INC., ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-1, -againstROCIO RIOS, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of
Nassau on January 15, 2026, wherein THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON FKA THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE CERTIFICATEHOLDERS OF THE CWABS, INC., ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-1 is the Plaintiff and ROCIO RIOS, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on March 31, 2026 at 2:00PM, premises known as 2 DOXEY DRIVE, GLEN COVE, NY 11542; and the following tax map identification: 21-246-5. ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE CITY OF GLEN COVE, TOWN OF OYSTER BAY, COUNTY OF NASSAU, STATE OF NEW YORK Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 614405/2022. Brian J. Davis, Esq. -
Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 158620
Place a notice by phone at 516-569-4000 x232 or email: legalnotices@liherald.com
Long Islanders work hard for what they have. Families here build their lives around safe neighborhoods, good schools and the ability to provide for their children. The suburban way of life exists because generations believed in responsibility, accountability and earning their success through hard work.
Increasingly, the policies shaping Long Island’s future are not coming from Long Island. They are coming from New York City. That reality became unmistakably clear on Feb. 11, during a public hearing in Albany. As ranking member of the Assembly Local Governments Committee, I was questioning New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani in a televised hearing. My questions focused on public safety, antisemitism and the realworld consequences of the Mamdani administration’s decisions.
In the middle of my questioning, my microphone was turned off. The supporters of the mayor, who control the committee, silenced the ranking mem-
ber while he was performing his official duties. Other legislators were permitted to continue speaking freely. My questioning was stopped the moment it became uncomfortable for Mamdani.
That moment revealed everything Long Islanders need to understand. If the elected representative of suburban communities can be silenced while questioning the mayor of New York City, the voices of everyday Long Islanders are even easier to ignore.
IThis imbalance defines how Albany operates. Legislative priorities are driven by New York City’s political pressures. Housing policies punish property owners. Regulations expand government control. Tax burdens continue to rise. These policies may serve New York City’s political leadership, but they undermine the suburban communities that form the backbone of New York state.
across the state, including Long Island families.
Mamdani frequently speaks about working people. He has never lived the life of a working-class laborer. I have.
n the middle of my questioning of Mayor Mamdani, my mic was turned off.
I’m originally from Franklin Square, and I am a carpenter who has spent five decades swinging a hammer, building homes and working with my hands. I understand what it means to wake up early, work in the heat and cold, and earn every dollar through physical effort. Working people deserve leaders who understand their lives, not politicians who only talk about them.
ties like ours.
This issue is bigger than party labels. Long Islanders care about preserving their suburban way of life. Residents want safe streets, affordable living and leadership that respects the people who built these communities.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman has demonstrated that suburban communities can be protected and strengthened. His leadership has prioritized public safety, fiscal discipline and defending the interests of Long Island residents. He understands that Long Island is not an extension of New York City. Long Island is its own community, with its own values and its own identity.
Mamdani recently proposed raising New York City property taxes by nearly 10 percent while draining billions from reserve funds. That approach reflects a pattern of fiscal irresponsibility. When New York City mismanages its finances, Albany responds with policies that place additional pressure on taxpayers
Long Islanders live those values every day. Residents here prioritize safe communities, homeownership and fiscal responsibility. Families invest their savings in their homes and neighborhoods because they believe in stability and opportunity. These principles created the quality of life that makes Long Island one of the most desirable places to live.
New York City’s political leadership increasingly embraces a different model. Government expands. Taxes rise. Accountability disappears. The consequences spread far beyond city limits and reach suburban communi-
New York state needs leadership that understands that distinction. Long Island deserves a governor who will stand up for suburban communities, restore balance in Albany and ensure that our voices are never silenced or ignored.
The events of Feb. 11 were a reminder of what’s at stake. Long Islanders can’t afford to remain silent while decisions are made that shape our future without our input.
Long Island deserves to be heard, deserves to be respected and deserves leadership that will fight for its future.
Ari Brown represents the 20th Assembly District.
Ashort article appeared in Newsday last month, announcing that New York state had canceled new wind power bids. This was a big deal that required wider coverage. And then, two weeks later, another article appeared, with the headline that wind farms’ impact on average Long Island electric bills had increased near fivefold since 2019. This story spelled out what many of us had warned for years: The true cost of wind power is coming in at costs far higher than the initial low-balled estimates.
This is an enormous fall from grace for wind power, which was supposed to be the panacea for our costly energy needs.
Courts reversed President Trump’s decisions to halt wind projects that were already underway, and rightly so. But there was no such protection for newer projects.
These projects should have to rise
and fall on their own merits, and for too long they were propped up by misinformation and huge ratepayer and taxpayer subsidies. We have long argued that the public was not getting a transparent accounting of what these offshore wind projects were going to cost.
In fact, the woke, virtuesignaling politicians in Albany were just signing off on these projects without even knowing how much they would cost.
AWhen then Gov. Andrew Cuomo boasted at a 2019 press conference that these massive new windmills would cost about 73 cents per month per customer, he was clearly drifting in the wind. It is estimated that by 2028, the true cost will average $3.54 per month. This is in addition to fuel, delivery and other increases that will come about. The impact on commercial users will be even greater.
Imagine if we didn’t have adequate natural gas capacity as we weathered this brutally cold winter.
Here’s what our center wrote two years ago about these potential costs, after Newsday reported that officials were signing off on these projects having no idea of their true costs:
lbany was signing off on these projects without even knowing how much they’d cost.
“The head of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, which oversees offshore wind contracts and bidding, admitted that she did not know what the total cost will be of the project for the construction of wind turbines off Suffolk County.”
You can’t make this stuff up.
“When asked by a Newsday reporter how much the ballyhooed Sunrise wind project will cost, she stated: ‘The total cost of the project, I defer to Orstad.’”
ment to an “all of the above” strategy. But our legislators were making dangerously foolish decisions to block natural gas pipelines and close down upstate nuclear power plants, all while banking on the idea that solar and wind were going to save the day. They wouldn’t, and they couldn’t.
When the true price of these windmills became known, people started clutching their pearls. These policies are partly responsible for our having seen a 50 percent increase in energy rates over the past five years in New York. See our center’s white paper on this subject at cenetrforcosteffectivegivernment.org.
Now the subsidies are gone, and wiser folks are saying “no more” until we can see that wind power is truly reliable and affordable. We can have more wind projects, but they must be costeffective, and they cannot, at the present time, replace natural gas, either in cost or reliability.
So many of these pols simply wanted to placate the burgeoning wind power cottage industries — which showered them with substantial donations — and repeat the mantra that wind was clean and cheap and would save the day from fossil fuels. But as we now know, wind power isn’t cheap, and it’s not reliable.
Orstad is the private company constructing the offshore wind turbines. When the spokesperson for that company was asked the cost, she had the temerity to state: “That’s something that publicly we do not share.”
Are you kidding us?
This isn’t to say that some wind projects could not be an important supple-
The fantasy has finally come to an end.
Steve Levy is executive director of the Center for Cost Effective Government, a fiscally conservative think tank. He has served as Suffolk County executive, as a state assemblyman and as host of the podcast “On the Right Side.” He can be reached at steve@commonsensestrategies.com.
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Edith Richner Publishers,
Every March we observe Sunshine Week, a national initiative dedicated to one of democracy’s most powerful disinfectants: light. This year, Sunshine Week will be celebrated March 15 to 21, anchored by Freedom of Information Day on March 16, the birthday of James Madison. The timing is symbolic and significant. Sunshine Week reminds us that open government is not a luxury. It is a necessity.
Launched in 2005 and rooted in the pioneering 1972 Colorado Sunshine Act, Sunshine Week was created to raise awareness of the public’s right to know. At its core is a simple but profound idea: Democracy works best when the people can see what their government is doing. Transparency is not about satisfying curiosity, it’s about accountability, trust and ensuring that power remains where it belongs: with the citizens.
Sunshine Week’s foundation is the principle that government records and proceedings belong to the public. Taxpayer dollars fund government operations; therefore, the public has both a legal and moral right to understand how decisions are made and how money is spent.
Freedom of Information laws at the federal and state levels give citizens access to public documents, from village board minutes to federal agency communications. But these laws are only as strong as the public’s willingness to use them. Like muscles, transparency laws weaken without exercise. When citizens
It’s ‘the power of the state against the people of the nation’
To the Editor:
Re Peter King’s column, “There are better ways to resolve the immigration crisis,” in the Feb. 12-18 issue: Immigration is a problem, but Immigration and Customs Enforcement exemplifies the real, much larger crisis. Immigration is a longstanding issue, and many “better ways” have been proposed over the past 30 years, as Mr. King knows. In fact, one such proposal was on track for bipartisan approval last year until President Trump and his allies killed it. ICE has operated for decades with little notice. Violence was seldom used, citizens were not arrested, and habeas corpus was observed — until Trump. The Border Patrol previously confined its racist brutality close to the Mexican border, until Republicans expanded the “border” to a 100-mile-wide
stop requesting records, attending meetings and asking questions, secrecy grows stronger.
Open meetings and public records are not bureaucratic technicalities; they are the mechanisms that keep democracy breathing. Transparency reveals how taxpayers’ money is spent, how contracts are awarded and how policies are shaped. It enables watchdog groups, journalists and everyday citizens to trace decisions from proposal to outcome.
Without openness, the risk of waste, fraud and abuse increases. History repeatedly shows that secrecy breeds complacency and, at times, corruption. Open government, by contrast, ensures that decisions must withstand scrutiny. It does not weaken institutions — it strengthens them. Sunshine Week underscores a critical truth: When the public can see the process, officials are more likely to act responsibly.
In times of crisis — economic downturns, national security challenges or public health emergencies — secrecy often expands. Officials may argue that swift action requires less oversight. While emergencies can justify temporary discretion, they must never become permanent excuses for opacity.
Democracy demands vigilance. Sunshine Week serves as an annual reminder that transparency must be defended, especially when it feels inconvenient. Freedom of information cannot be indefinitely sidelined without eroding public trust.
Supporting Sunshine Week means protecting democracy itself. Openness prevents the concentration of unchecked power and ensures that elected officials remain responsive to citizens rather than to special interests.
Transparency helps parents question school board policies, residents examine zoning proposals and taxpayers track infrastructure spending. It provides communities with the tools to advocate for fair and effective governance.
It also allows us, as journalists, to do our jobs. We rely on open-records laws to uncover stories about misuse of funds, conflicts of interest and public safety failures. It’s why studies show that the presence of a local newspaper in a community mitigates waste, fraud and abuse.
Public trust in government is fragile. One of the most effective ways to build and sustain that trust is through transparency. When agencies proactively release information and conduct business in public view, suspicion diminishes.
Transparency does not guarantee agreement. Citizens, and government officials, may still debate policies and priorities. But openness fosters understanding, and understanding is the bedrock of trust.
So this Sunshine Week, take a moment to reflect on the importance of open meetings and public records. And vow to step up whenever someone tries to turn off the light of transparency.
While the accusations and demands of the federal government against Harvard, Columbia and other elite institutions garner national headlines, the administration’s Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education offered to other universities should give further pause. The compact would confer preferred access to federal research funds in exchange for agreeing to demands that would compromise academic freedom and institutional independence.
University leaders must protect these priorities embedded in state-awarded institutional charters and regionally accredited campus mission statements. They are supported by many agreements on academic freedom and tenure, dating to 1915.
Support is also found in Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter’s 1957 concurring statement in Sweezy v. New Hampshire. In it, he said, “It is the business of a university to provide that atmosphere which is most conducive to speculation, experiment, and creation. It is an atmosphere in which there prevail ‘the four essential freedoms’ of a university — to determine for itself on
academic grounds who may teach, what may be taught, how it shall be taught, and who may be admitted to study.”
But what do we mean by academic freedom? This form of freedom is not freedom from responsibility to students, colleagues, institutional mission or society. Instead, it is freedom to inquire, i.e., interrogate assumptions and assertions to expose the questions hidden by answers, as James Baldwin said, and special interests in government, media and even institutions. It is the freedom to think independently, to have rights, and to consider consequences, both intended and not.
Sleadership?
urprisingly few college trustees have any professional experience in higher education.
It also is the freedom to imagine — to consider what might be, and how humanity might develop its humaneness. It is the freedom to express ideas without fear of reprisal or censorship. Finally, it is the freedom to innovate, to realize what is imagined in new forms and methods.
We know these priorities and principles. Do we know how to protect them? How do we prepare university trustees for their roles as fiduciaries and guardians of them? How do we prepare campus presidents for their duties as “chief purpose officers” responsible for ensuring that the principles guide decisionmaking? How do we prepare faculty for their responsibilities in governance and
zone. Even then, cities were not invaded — not even El Paso or Brownsville, much less Portland or Milwaukee — until Trump.
The Department of Homeland Security pursued its intended mission: defending against 9/11 or Beirut- and Benghazi-style attacks by foreign terrorists, seldom making the news. Then Trump decided that the homeland itself — Chicago, Los Angeles, Springfield, Ill. — was the “enemy within,” rife with “domestic terrorists” like Alex Pretti, who must be prevented from voting. Meanwhile, Trump allied himself with Saudi Arabian interests, the major sources of the 9/11 and other “homeland” assaults. Remember Jamal Khashoggi.
The FBI, formerly our premier law enforcement agency, is now Trumpified, refusing to investigate homicides by federal agents, interfering with state ballots, arresting journalists and charging members of Congress with sedition. In earlier times, Peter King himself might have been among those in such felonious jeopardy. The depth, breadth and pervasiveness of corruption in all of this is obvious, with beneficiaries openly paying well for more of this new form of republican government — modeled on ancient Rome’s republic of patricians and plebes, paterfamilias all.
Our government is using the power of the state against the people of the nation. That is the crisis. Currently, the best — and perhaps only — way to resolve both the crisis and the problem is to end MAGA’s abuse of government, from Blakeman and Garbarino to Vance and Trump.
BRIAN KELLY Rockville Centre
Boards of trustees are responsible for preserving academic freedom and free speech, which are necessary for teaching and scholarship that challenge assumptions and assertions. Furthermore, college and university boards have three legal duties like those of corporate boards, the duties of care, loyalty and obedience. Care means that board members must prepare diligently, participate actively and protect the institution through appropriate oversight, including guarding against external interference.
The duty of loyalty requires that board members act in good faith and in the institution’s best interests, not out of selfinterest or the interest of a particular constituency, including alumni or a governor. The duty of obedience means that boards must uphold the institution’s charter and mission, maintaining public trust through transparent stewardship.
Surprisingly, fewer than 15 percent of American college and university trustees have any professional experience in higher education. This underscores the need for rigorous orientation in academic governance, the meaning of mission and academic freedom and the highereducation landscape.
Campus presidents are too seldom
thought of as educators, the keepers of an institution’s mission and legacy for transformational teaching and learning as well as protectors of academic freedom. But they have the opportunity and responsibility to define how they fulfill their roles. Are they chief executive officers or chief mission officers?
Chief executive officers focus on size and scale, organization and delegation, short-term goals, the efficiency of means, money and markets, customers, personnel and labor. By contrast, chief mission officers focus on purpose, the long term, the integrity of ends and means, the quality of programs and services, student success, and faculty as partners in a moral enterprise. Both require balanced budgets.
The faculty is the guardian of academic standards. The curriculum is a covenant in fulfillment of the mission for student learning. This requires a focus on students, third-party quality reviews, and faculty as partners in governance and leadership. These roles require preparation and continued learning, not just memories of how mentors fulfilled their roles.
The three parties to academic governance constitute a system that is intended to support academic freedom — the freedom to inquire, imagine and innovate, in fulfillment of missions for teaching, research and service.
Dr. Robert A. Scott is president emeritus of Adelphi University and the author of “How University Boards Work.”
We had an absolutely amazing experience working with Damian! From start to finish, he was professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely cared about helping us sell our home. He was always available to answer questions, explain the process clearly, and make sure we felt confident every step of the way. His attention to detail, strong negotiation skills, and dedication truly sets Damian apart. What could have been a stressful experience was smooth and even enjoyable thanks to his guidance. If you are looking for an agent responsive, and committed to getting the best results, I highly recommend Damian. Five stars all the way!
Epitome of professionalism. Hard working, honest, and a pleasure. He was easy to reach and responsive. Damian has an unassuming way of getting things done. His knowledge and guidance was invaluable throughout the process. We highly recommend him and look forward to working with him in the future if the opportunity presents itself.
Damian was excellent. He gave good advice and made sure to attract legitimate buyers. He also knew exactly how to price and present my property to get a quick sale. I will call upon his services again.
For all your real estate needs.
Damian Ross | Associate Real Estate Broker | Gold Circle of Excellence 329 Glen Cove Avenue, Sea Cliff, NY | c.516.369.5868
Visit Online: damianross.danielgale.com | damianross@danielgale.com
