APRIL 9 - 15, 2026
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VOL. 35 NO. 15
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Simmons earns national spot
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Thousands of eggs to find
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Crescent Beach reopens, finally deemed safe mer, citing improved water quality thanks to years of remediation efforts. The deciOn warm summer after- sion, outlined in an April 2 letnoons in the 1960s, Rober- ter from the department to ta Cerassi would ride her bike Mayor Pamela Panzenbeck, d o w n t o C r e s c e n t B e a c h , was based on reduced bacteria an inflatable raft under her levels in samples collected in arm, and spend hours in the 2024 and 2025, as well as infracalm, shallow water of the structure upgrades aimed at Long Island Sound with her sis- addressing contamination from ter. The Glen Cove a nearby stream. shoreline, once For many resiknown among dents and offilocals as the “baby cials, the approval beach,” was where marks a longfamilies gathawaited milestone. ered, lifeguards “Crescent knew everyone by Beach has been name and childpart of my life for hood memories as long as I can were made. remember — from “It was just a ROBERTA CERASSI going there as a beautiful, beauti- Glen Cove kid to bringing my ful beach,” Cerasown children si said. “We years later,” Panwould hang out all zenbeck recalled. day. It was really the best beach “Seeing it reopen really means ever.” a lot. It’s a place for families, Now, after more than a for memories.” decade of restrictions, Crescent Still, the reopening comes Beach is set for a return to w i t h strict condithose days — though with sig- tions that water-quality connificant safeguards in place. cerns have not been fully The Nassau County Depart- resolved. ment of Health has granted Under the health departconditional approval for the ment’s stipulations, the beach City of Glen Cove to reopen the beach for swimming this sumCONTINUED ON PAGE 7
By ROKSANA AMID
ramid@liherald.com
Roksana Amid/ Herald
Summoning the faithful on Easter Robert Lynch played the bagpipes at 7 a.m. at Morgan Memorial Park as part of Glen Cove’s Easter Dawn Service, where Christian denominations gathered before attending their regular Easter services on Sunday. Story, page 3.
Celebrating inclusion in Village Square By ROKSANA AMID ramid@liherald.com
For Marisa Damiano, advocacy began at home. Her son, Nicholas, now a second-grader at Deasy School, once struggled to express himself socially, despite understanding everything around him. He received speech and language services early on, later followed by occupational and physical therapy and counseling after he was diagnosed with autism at age 4. As she navigated those challenges, Damiano said, she realized that many families like hers needed more support — and a stronger voice. “I was never ashamed or embarrassed to vocalize the issues that my son has,” she said. “He has helped me to be a better mother, a better teacher and a better person for this community.” That personal journey led her to help revive the Special Education Parent Teacher Associa-
tion in the Glen Cove City School District — and brought her to Village Square on Tuesday, where she stood among families, advocates and officials at the city’s third annual Neurodiversity Strength Flag raising. The ceremony, coordinated by Assembleyman Charles Lavine’s office and the City of Glen Cove, marked Neurodiversity Acceptance Month and highlighted a growing movement to recognize and celebrate neurological differences rather than stigmatize them. For Damiano, the meaning of the flag was immediate and personal. “[It’s about] acceptance, and not looking at neurodiversity as a stigma,” she said. “That we’re all accepted. And that’s what makes us unique and special in our own way.” The red and gold flag raised above Village Square was designed by Jericho resident Josh CONTINUED ON PAGE 11
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e would hang out all day. It was really the best beach ever.