INCORPORATING THE WEST HEMPSTEAD BEACON VOL. 76 No. 11
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Cradle of Aviation hosts game expo tion of his friends. “I’m big into Magic: The Gathering,” he said. “This is actually neat because The Long Island Tabletop Gaming there’s a whole bunch of vendors from Expo is a one-stop shop to learn and buy all over the island. This is one of the board games of all kinds. The March 7 conventions where there’s a handful of and 8 event brought thousands of table- them all in the same building. It’s really top hobbyists and local vendors to the nice being able to see what other people Cradle of Aviation in Uniondale in an have to trade, to buy, to sell, and just a eclectic mashup of interests and attrac- little bit of everything.” Vendor stations and game tables tions filled the museum, taking “We’ve got stuff from all space between various aeroacross the industry: card games, role playing games, nautical exhibits, featuring board g ames, miniature everything from global frangames, and we’ve got panels ch i s e s l i ke Wa r h a m m e r and classes on them,” said 40,000 to games made by Event Coordinator Jesse local and independent creHarchack. “(For) pretty SARAH BEcKER ators. much anything on the table- Staff Member, On the second floor of the top hobby, you can find some- Brothers’ Grimm building, attendees were able thing here.” to borrow board games and Games While conventions attract play them for free. many hardcore fans, the expo focuses on The convention’s vendors offered approachability to welcome newcomers. instructed play for many games, such as “We always put a focus on walk-ups, Battletech: Alphastrike and Halo: Flashpeople completely fresh to the hobby,” point, two combat board games using Harchack said. “I think people want plastic miniatures, hosted by Brothers’ more engagement in their hobbies and Grimm Games from Selden. their life right now… you see people “We’re running a bunch of demos playing with people who are complete this year,” said BGG staff member strangers. They just met, and they’re Sarah Becker. “We run them every year. having a good time playing games. I They’re free to play, they have so many think people really just like the social options… we’re serving our patrons and aspect of it.” hopefully making some friends along For the past four years, the expo has the way.” been bringing together friends and famDarlene Hartman attended the event ilies for game tournaments and panels with members of her hobby group. of industry experts, exhibits of board “We’re looking for some things for games throughout history, and sessions our Dungeons and Dragons tables: some helping new game designers test out dice, some terrain, some new miniatheir designs. tures,” she said. “We like just playing Johnathan Sammis attended the expo COntinued On Page 7 for the first time this year at the sugges-
By JOSEPH D’ALESSANDRO
jdalessandro@liherald.com
Madison Gusler/Herald
diamond Charter School has been approved to temporarily operate at 12 Westminster Road, in West Hempstead, beginning in September.
Charter school approved despite vocal opposition Set to open for 2026-2027 school year maximum of 18 months. “The Institute reviewed the facility documents for the temporary location The Diamond Charter School has and found them educationally, fiscally been approved by the SUNY Charter and legally sound,” Kathryn ConnellSchools Institute to open in West Hemp- Espinosa, the institute’s executive director, said in a statement stead for the 2026-27 school to the Herald. “The school year. also presented feasible In 2024, DCS requested plans which would allow approval to open in Hempthe school to move back stead. Despite strong oppowithin the Hempstead sition from residents of Union Free School District Hempstead and neighborby January 1, 2028.” ing communities, the pro“While we are disapposal was approved by the pointed that the approval institute, for a September for temporary relocation 2026 opening. T hen, in was granted for 18 months December, DCS submitted a DANIEL REHMAN rather than the two years request to revise its applica- Superintendent, West we initially requested, Diation, and to temporarily Hempstead school mond Charter School operate in West Hempstead district remains fully committed to for as long as two years while it completes construction of its serving the Village of Hempstead and the surrounding communities,” DCS’s permanent location in Hempstead. On March 3, the institute published a exter nal affairs director, Terrence memorandum detailing its approval for COntinued On Page 3 DCS to operate in West Hempstead, for a
By MADISON GUSLER & LUKE FENEEY
Of the Herald
Q
uite simply, any period of ‘incubation’ in West Hempstead is disappointing.
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hey’re free to play.