INCORPORATING THE WEST HEMPSTEAD BEACON VOL. 75 No. 29
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Local director brings Hollywood magic to Sparkle South Shore Theatricals debuts ‘Blame it on the Movies’ in Freeport By MOHAMMAD RAFIQ mrafiq@liherald.com
Courtesy Reine Bethany
Hempstead Village Mayor Waylyn Hobbs Jr., at right, thanked Congresswoman Laura gillen, second from right, for her sponsorship and support of Congressional traffic safety initiatives. His thanks were echoed by Hempstead Police Chief Richard Holland, third from right, and Pastor Robert Stewart of Calvary Baptist Church.
Gillen announces sweeping initiatives to reduce traffic deaths Hempstead first in Congresswoman’s district to apply for transportation grant
which are circular intersections with yield signs at entry points. “Roundabouts have been proven to Standing with Hempstead Village dig- reduce roadway collisions, to improve the nitaries near the intersection of North flow of traffic, and in turn reduce emisFranklin Street and Centre Street, Con- sions from idling,” said Gillen. “If congresswoman Laura Gillen outlined two structed right, they can add to the beauty major federal traffic safety initiatives pro- of these intersections.” The second initiative, made public in jected to have direct impact on HempMarch 2025, is a powerful stead thoroughfares. grant program from the “Making our roads U.S. Department of Transsafer is a bipar tisan portation called FY25 Safe issue,” said Gillen, “and I Streets and Roads for All will continue to use my Planning and Demonstraseat on the House of Reption Grant. The program resentatives Transportaallocates $980 million to tion and Infrastructure fund local efforts to prevent Committee to push for pol- CONgREsswOMAN roadway fatalities and injuicies that keep Long Island LAuRA gILLEN ries. Applications had to be drivers, pedestrians and 4th Congressional District submitted by June 26. passengers safe.” “My office reached out to towns and The first initiative Gillen detailed is the introduction of H.R. 3440, the Biparti- villages across the Fourth Congressional District to urge them to apply,” said Gilsan Traffic Safety Enhancement Act. She sponsored the bill in partnership len. “Hempstead Village was the only one with Republican Congressman Rob Bres- to seize the opportunity.” Mayor Waylyn Hobbs Jr., Deputy nahan. The legislation would provide federal Mayor Jeffery Daniels, and Community surface transportation block grants spe- Development Association Commissioner cifically for reconstructing dangerous Danielle Oglesby sent in an application intersections to become roundabouts, COntinued On Page 7
By REINE BETHANY
Special to the Herald
M
aking our roads safer is a bipartisan issue.
A new theatrical gem is set to shine in Freeport as Bruce Bider, a veteran theater director from Oceanside, prepares to bring a nostalgic musical journey to Sparkle on Stage Cultural Arts Center with his latest production, “Blame It on the Movies.” After 36 years teaching music in Oceanside schools, Bider has dedicated himself completely to his true passion: local theater, retiring from the district in 2024. His company, South Shore Theatricals, which he founded with the late John Payne about 13 years ago, is now bringing its musical magic to Freeport’s intimate performance space. Courtesy Bruce Bider “These are all songs that were written Performer Jackie Balsan is among the for motion pictures,” Bider explains, notcast members bringing Hollywood’s ing the show will feature songs spanning greatest hits to life in “Blame it On the from 1939’s “Ding Dong, the Witch is Dead” to 1980s hits like “How Do You Use Movies” at Sparkle on Stage in Freeport. It” and “Let’s Hear It for the Boy.” Stage, a unique black box theater in FreePerformances will take place at Spar- port that seats just 50 people. kle on Stage (195 Woodcleft Ave, Freeport) This is a significant change from previon Thursdays, July 17 and 24 at 8 p.m., ous venues where Bider’s company would and Sundays, July 20 and 27 at 3 p.m. perform a single show for 200 people. Now, Billed as “The Reel Music of Holly- they’ll perform four shows, allowing the wood,” the revue is a dazperformance to grow and zling cinematic mixtape improve with each night. celebrating the greatest “Now we get to do four h i t s f ro m ove r e i g h t performances for 50 people decades of film. Audiences at a time,” Bider said, will be transported “which means the show through time with iconic will get only smoother and songs that helped define more polished and stronHollywood’s golden age BRuCE BIDER ger over the span of four and beyond. performances.” Director A musical revue is a theThe partnership with atrical production that blends music, Sparkle on Stage came about serendipidance, and sketches, typically centered tously. around a common theme or concept, but Bider was invited to see a show last without a continuous storyline. In this summer by a former student and was case, it’s all about the song and dance. immediately captivated by the venue’s The show promises a delightful mix of intimate setting. nostalgia and discovery at Sparkle on
T
he show will get only smoother and more polished.
COntinued On Page 4