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DEADLINE MARCH 31ST
INCORPORATING THE WEST HEMPSTEAD BEACON VOL. 76 No. 09
Second Class Postage paid at Post office at Hempstead, N.Y. 11550
February 26 - March 4, 2026
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Where curiosity meets a microscope Maidenbaum Property
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Mashiat Azmi /Herald
Town of Hempstead’s fitness program is back Geared for seniors and veterans to keep healthy, stay active through exercise By MASHIAT AZMI Correspondent
The Town of Hempstead is once again offering its Total Body Fitness program for seniors and veteran residents this winter and spring. It combines abs, cardio, and strength training to tone and firm muscles. The program is held at three spots — Echo Park, West Hempstead, on Tuesdays, through April 3, 10:45–11:45 a.m., Levittown, Hicksville from Mondays, though April 27, 8:30–9:30 a.m., and Thursdays, through April 30, 9:15– 10:15 a.m., and Merrick Golf Clubh o u s e , M e r r i c k f r o m M o n d ay s , through April 27, 9–10 a.m. or 6:30–7:30 p.m. The 12-week program currently has 215 students in all three places. John Ferretti, supervisor of the Town of Hempstead emphasized the
inspiration behind this program: the need for an affordable fitness program that offers a high-quality, high-energy experience. “We’re happy to provide residents with a way to keep moving and stay active,” Fer retti said in an email. “Many gyms and fitness studios have steep monthly costs — these fitness classes are a more affordable alternative while still offering a high-quality, high-energy experience.” The classes include music, fitness routines, and various forms of exercise. Ferretti stated that each program gets better every year with new music, new routines, and new ways of exercise. He noted that participants should b r i n g a n e xe rc i s e m at a n d l i g h t weights, as they are necessary for certain floor exercises and help provide COntinued On Page 4
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bugs were chosen for inspection based on what they thought would look good under the microscope, she laughed. Sisters Rae, 2, and Ami, 5, accompaChildren climbed aboard a new, allelectric mobile laboratory — dubbed nied by their mom, Freeport resident the BioBus — at the Long Island Chil- Lennaxia Brathwaite, found the worm dren’s Museum in Uniondale, peering station fascinating, looking at the into high-powered microscopes and insects under a microscope with a examining samples of insects and bright light and watching them in organic matter during a hands-on dem- their environment moving in dirt. Brathwaite expressed appreciation onstration. The museum held a ribbon-cutting for the experience, noting that such ceremony on Feb. 16 on the mobile sci- opportunities weren’t available to her ence lab, which travels to schools growing up. “This is awesome, I always loved sciacross Long Island, New York City and Boston, and will now make several ence,” Brathwaite said. “I want them stops at the museum each to experience it, to be able year for special events. t o b e t a n g i bl e a n d t o The expansion is supporttouch things, to explore ed by a $600,000 investanything hands-on. ment from the National “The visuals and the Grid Foundation over the tangibles, they’re going to next three years. have a lasting impression During the ceremony, on this. She’s going to about 40 children helped LennAxIA remember this,” she said cut the ribbon, and then BRATHwAITe of Rae, who stayed by the they crowded inside the Freeport resident earthworm station most mobile lab, taking turns of the visit. looking at microscopes Brathwaite explained and asking scientists questions as par- that her daughters have read books ents tagged along. about worms from Raz-Kids, a website The BioBus’s interior was separated where they could choose what they into two stations, one was “focus” and want to read, and the trip to the Biothe other “hands on.” Children leaned Bus made the literary experience come over microscopes, adjusting the focus to life for her kids. as magnified images of cells, tiny Built upon a strong partnership organisms and worms came into view. between the Long Island Children’s Ben Dubin-Thaler, a scientist and Bio- Museum and National Grid, the BioBus co-founder, explained to them what Bus is set to retur n throughout the they were examining. year. Organizers expressed hope that “My favorite one was the bee,” the hands-on experience will continue 7-year-old Eoien Callan said. “It was sparking curiosity — and perhaps actually so cool because you can see inspire the next generation of scienthe pollen on it, and I never gotten to tists. really do it before.” COntinued On Page 3 Co-founder Latasha Wright said the
By STACY DRIKS
Senior residents are taking part in a total Body fitness class at Levittown Hall in Hicksville, combining cardio, strength training, and core exercises.
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hey’re going to have a lasting impression on this.