Long Beach Herald 01-22-2026

HERALD LONG BEACH

Also serving Point Lookout & East Atlantic Beach

at the front of the march making its way to the MLK Community Center during Monday’s celebration, singing, cheering and calling attention to the day.

MLK Day 2026 marks 40 years of perseverance

By CHRIS ColUCCI ccolucci@liherald.com

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. walked the streets of Long Beach in March 1968, less than two weeks before his assassination. Almost 60 years after his visit, and 40 years after Martin Luther King Jr. Day became a federal holiday across the country, more than 150 people of all creeds, colors and backgrounds marched those same streets, helping his spirit and message live on.

The MLK Community Center celebrated the holiday with its annual commemorative march, which began at the corner of West Park Avenue and Laurelton Boulevard, across the street from the Laurel Diner. The Rev. Ronald McHenry, a Long Beach native and the pastor at Evangel Revival Community Church, led the march with a bullhorn in hand.

The crowd ignored the chilly 31-degree weather, making its way down West Park Avenue for nearly

West Elementary teacher speaks at Denver conference

By AIDAN WARSHAVSKY awarshavsky@liherald.com

When West Elementary school reading teacher Kelly Mendoza isn’t visiting kindergarten classes or helping students in smaller group settings, she’s often broadening her knowledge as an educator. In November she was invited to make a presentation at the National Conference of Teachers of English, at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. NCTE focuses on improving the teaching and learning of English and language arts at all levels of education. Each year, NCTE members are invited to

present research and demonstrations. Mendoza was part of a six-person group representing Hofstra University’s Reading and Writing Learning Clinic, which included its director, professor Michele Marx.

Mendoza and her colleagues explained how they used children’s books to illuminate concepts like friendship, bullying and body image in order to help create a positive learning environment and a safe space for teachers and students.

The goal, Mendoza said, was “honoring student voices and discussing how students are impacted through diverse literature.”

While her fellow educators focused on their experience, Mendoza, who has been an adjunct professor at Hofstra since 2022, explored what teaching children’s books might look like to new educators.

In her Literacy Studies Practicum Course at the university, graduate students used “Operation Frog Effect” to teach sixth-grade students from the Hempstead, Uniondale and Roosevelt districts. The story, by Sarah Scherger, focuses on eight diverse fifth-graders who explore concepts like bullying, immigration and poverty.

“We wanted students to form connections with characters,”

Mendoza said. “Exploring different characters can help them explore deeper messages and help them to grow.”

Despite missing the first day and a half of the four-day conference due to travel complications, Mendoza was able to take advantage of its other offerings.

An exhibit hall at the convention center featured pub -

lishers like Scholastic and Heinemann, which Mendoza said was a “reading teacher’s dream.” After the conference, she shipped more than two dozen books to her Westbury home, including “Braiding Sweetgrass,” by Robin Wall Kimmerer, after the two shared what Mendoza described as a

Students conquer WordMasters Challenge

By AIDAN WARSHAVSKY awarshavsky@liherald.com

Students in Long Beach Public Schools’ Learning Activities to Raise Creativity (LARC) program participated in the WordMasters Challenge, where 11 students placed in the top 5 percent nationally. Two earned perfect scores.

WordMasters is a national vocabulary and verbal reasoning competition designed to help students in grades three through eight establish critical thinking skills, improve reading comprehension and analogical reasoning. In a series of three meets — December, February, and April — students are given a list of 25 vocabulary words per meet to complete word analogies. Each meet includes a 20-question test, which gets progressively harder by the end of the sequence.

Fifth graders Jiya Klarner and August Rodabaugh both achieved a perfect score of 20, a rare distinction earned by only 35 fifth graders nationwide. Also joining the top 5 percent were Max April, Blythe Aull, Dylan Davies, Declan Garvey, Tyler Gorman, Charles Johnston, Rafe Kaminsky, Beckett McCaffrey-Ricardo and Ryan McMahon.

dardized test scores and advanced reading. Fuentes-King gives them that opportunity from her knowledge of the LARC program, and wants her students to “think and take risks.”

“LARC gave me the courage to think deeply,” she said. “I want my students to think deeply, and I try to instill that idea in my classroom.”

The competition, which has over 125,000 national participants every year, is divided into Gold and Blue divisions. Participants from LARC were in the Gold Division — demonstrating advanced language skills — which, as Fuentes-King said, puts them at an elite level. She also praised parents for helping create a nurturing environment.

With two more competitions on the horizon, the district says they’re excited for the future. “Long Beach LARC students have set an impressive standard of excellence,” a statement from the district read, “and we look forward to continued success in the WordMasters Challenge.”

Her students use their words as tools to complete larger creative projects. In addition to writing songs, students can construct 3-D or digital models of

The LARC program has come full circle for Caitlin Fuentes-King. She was in the program as a student in the 1990s, and has taught it for the last 18 years. She said the program is more about conceptualizing than memorizing.

Comfort, Vision

objects, and use their vocabulary words to describe their model.

“They don’t just learn the words,” Fuentes-King said. “They learn how to use them in context.”

Understanding vocabulary in context allows students to improve their stan-

Fuentes-King said she is very proud of her students, and that they’re taking intellectual risks. “It’s not about the score,” Fuentes-King said. “We have a community that’s encouraging our children to reach for the stars.”

Inspiring the next generation at MLK Center

mile before reaching the MLK Center, on Riverside Boulevard. Along the route, McHenry elicited responsive cheers, asking participants, “Tell me what America looks like!” The diverse crowd responded in unison, This is what America looks like!” The marchers also sang verses of “This Little Light of Mine” and “We Shall Overcome” references to King’s civil rights work.

When the crowd reached the center, a gymnasium-turned-reception hall was ready for the turnout, with 24 eight-seat tables that were filled by friends, family, neighbors, strangers, children and seniors, as well as local notables — several City Council members, City Manager Dan Creighton, former Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg, and Rabbis Jack Zanerhaft, of Temple Emanu-El, and Eli Goodman, of Chabad of the Beaches.

Two grand marshals were also celebrated — Mother Kathy Williams, a former member of the NAACP and the North Park Civic Association, and a cherished member of the Christian Light Missionary Baptist Church; and Herman Prophett, who joined the Long Beach Fire Department in 1979, eventually reached the rank of captain and remains an active volunteer.

The ceremony, which ran close to three hours, featured singing, dancing, speeches, award presentations, fundraising appeals and prayer. One constant throughout the day was a focus on youth participation. Children as young as 7 made presentations declaring their connection to King’s teachings.

Adam DeJesus, vice chair of the cen-

ter, said later that highlighting younger members of the community was a conscious effort to instill long-term values.

“We want the next generation to see what the last generation left behind,” DeJesus said, “so they can be inspired by it and continue onward.”

McHenry gave the keynote speech, and his topics ranged from religious to political to human — from loving your neighbor to the importance of Medicaid and SNAP benefits to the recent killing of Renee Good in Minneapolis. McHenry reminded the audience to be persistent when facing any hardship. “No matter how dark it is through the night,” he said, “as long as we continue to struggle

through the night, daybreak will happen.”

Grand Marshals Williams and Prophett received recognition awards, and shared their thoughts on the day.

Williams, a longtime Sunday school teacher, launched into an animated chorus of “The Lord Has Been Good to Me,” with audience members joining in. Prophett, surrounded by LBFD members and Fire Commissioner Joseph Miller, told attendees to remain confident and assured of their intelligence, and believe in their own power to reach any goal.

Dance routines featuring performers including the Generations Praise Dance Ministry, from the Christian Light Mis-

sionary Baptist Church; the Long Beach High School step team; and a praise dance performance by two LBHS students, twin sisters Kalisha and Kim Smith.

After the presentations, attendees enjoyed a buffet-style meal and reflected on the day’s message and lessons. “Our city is proud to celebrate the life of a great American hero,” City Council President Brendan Finn said. “The march that retraces the steps of Dr. King as he visited Long Beach in 1968, a moving ceremony, and some very sound advice from a hero firefighter, Herman Prophett, defined the day.”

Finn emphasized the grand marshal’s advice. “Be positive, accept responsibility as you confront life’s challenges, and stay committed to the community,” he said. “Dr. King would surely be proud of our city as he watched the community come together in his honor.”

James Hodge, former chairman of the MLK Center, emphasized the benefits of looking back in order to move forward. “The more we speak about Dr. Martin Luther King, the more we speak about his values, the things that he spoke about and the things that he taught about,” Hodge said. “If we teach it to the youth, by the time they get ready to take the torch, the torch won’t drop and burn out.

“So many people want the torch, but they don’t understand what they’re holding — the history,” Hodge added. “It’s important to understand the history. We have to look back and see all that we’ve been through. What are we giving? What are we teaching?”

Mendoza wants to make reading ‘relatable’

“very positive interaction.”

She also had the opportunity to take part in six 90-minute workshops. One explored strategies for teaching neurodiverse students. Another, taught by Kathy Short, a highly respected literacy educator and scholar, encouraged teachers to use students’ homes as a springboard for conversations between parents and students. There were also luncheons with authors and other literacy advocates.

Mendoza said she especially liked Antwan Eady, who wrote “The Last Stand”— which won the NCTE’s Charlotte Huck Award. Mendoza also enjoyed Mychal Threets commonly known for his role as host of the children’s show “Reading Rainbow,” who spoke about libraries and how they are underutilized.

There were also workshops on curriculum design, as well as reading and writing instruction.

Mendoza’s decision to attend the conference aligned with the Long Beach school district’s emphasis on helping students get the most out of their classes. She is now in her fifth year at West Elementary, and the books she uses in her classes vary in message. She employs both fiction and non-fiction narratives that broaden students’ perspectives on topics like pollution to “expand their curiosi-

ties,” as she puts it.

“I try to make reading relatable while challenging the students’ reading comprehension skills,” she said.

Mendoza is always looking for ways to help her students. She advises her fellow reading teachers and West Principal Amy Dirolf on best practices for engaging students. Dirolf said that Mendoza tries to “hone in” on what her students do in an effort to strengthen both her own teaching and her advice to others.

“She’s a trusted voice with strong expertise,” Dirolf said. “It speaks to her professionalism as an educator.”

In a statement, the district congratulated Mendoza for her participation at the conference, saying she is always working to expand her knowledge. “We applaud her for her hard work, dedication and contributions to Long Beach schools,” the statement read.

As a member of NCTE, Mendoza takes advantage of benefits including instructional webinars, the organization’s magazine, The Council Chronicle, and a digital journal archive of over 1,800 entries.

“Being a member and having the opportunity to attend the conference was inspiring, engaging and thought-provoking,” she wrote in a text message, “I was happy to attend.”

Harvey Weisenberg opens new doors at rec center

By CHRIS COLUCCI ccolucci@liherald.com

Harvey Weisenberg has served the city of Long Beach, in some capacity, for almost all of his 92-year-long life. His work has ranged from volunteer to professional — as a lifeguard, police officer, educator, city councilman, city council president, community activist, and New York State assemblyman.

In his most recent act of community support, Weisenberg donated a set of self-opening doors at the Long Beach Recreation Center. The installation of a push-button door opener now allows easier access for individuals with mobility issues, mobility aids such as wheelchairs or walkers, or anyone carrying cumbersome equipment.

“I’ve been walking through those doors at the Rec since I was a little boy,” said City Council President Brendan Finn. “Harvey Weisenberg has now made it so much easier for everyone to access this great Long Beach resource.”

Weisenberg has regularly cited his son, Ricky, as a source of strength and inspiration. Ricky, who lived with cerebral palsy, died in 2024 after more than 60 years of motivating Weisenberg to

act on behalf of people living with disabilities.

“God gave me a special child and he changed my life,” Weisenberg said of his beloved son. “And then I changed the lives of so many. There are people with disabilities, or older people, and they had to open two or three doors [at the rec center]. They had doors that you had to push open.”

The automated door device was installed and operating on Jan. 8, after a historic year of upgrades at the center. Throughout 2025, the community hub received a slew of improvements including new exercise equipment for the fitness center, a complete paint job on the pickleball court, a snack bar renovation, restorations to the pro shop, and a new Zamboni for the ice arena. In 2026, the center expects to install new turf on the outdoor field.

“Long Beach is defined by community and this is a perfect example of that,” explained City Councilman Michael Reinhart. “On behalf of the council, we want to extend heartfelt thanks to Harvey Weisenberg for opening his heart to our Long Beach neighbors with this donation. Making a difference in our community is what it’s all about.”

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Fax: (516) 569-4643

EMILY McGOWAN SEAFORD Junior BASKETBALL

PICKING UP WHERE she left off last winter when she earned All-County honors as well as Conference Player of the Year honors after leading the Vikings to 15 wins, McGowan ranks among Nassau’s top 20 scorers at 15.8 points per game as Seaford sits in the driver’s seat in Conference 7 with a 6-0 record (8-4 overall.) She scored in double figures in nine of the first dozen games as well as served as a key figure on the defensive end.

games to watch

Thursday, Jan. 22

Girls Basketball: Plainedge at Seaford 5 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Carey at V.S. North 5 p.m.

Boys Basketball: C.S. Harbor at Malverne 7:00 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 23

Girls Basketball: Baldwin at Farmingdale 5 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Uniondale at Hempstead 5 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Massapequa at Syosset 5 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Wantagh at V.S. North 5 p.m.

Girls Basketball: North Shore at Malverne 6 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Jericho at Calhoun 6:45 p.m.

Girls Basketball: MacArthur at Long Beach 6:45 p.m.

Boys Basketball: Port Wash at E.Meadow 6:45 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Plainview at Freeport 6:45 p.m.

Girls Basketball: Oceanside at Massapequa 6:45 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 24

Girls Basketball: West Hemp at East Rock 10 a.m.

Boys Basketball: Malverne at North Shore 11:45 a.m.

Girls Basketball: Clarke at Sewanhaka 11:45 a.m.

Girls Basketball: Elmont at South Side 11:45 a.m.

Girls Basketball: Plainedge at V.S. South 11:45 a.m.

Boys Basketball: East Rock at West Hemp 11:45 a.m.

Boys Basketball: Herricks at Oceanside 1 p.m.

Nominate a “Spotlight Athlete”

High School athletes to be featured on the Herald sports page must compete in a winter sport and have earned an AllConference award or higher last season. Please send the following information: Name, School, Grade, Sport and accomplishments to Sports@liherald.com.

Long Beach investing in future

By PATRICK MOQUIN sports@liherald.com

Still putting the pieces together with a young roster, Long Beach girls’ basketball is slowly blossoming into a respectable contender in Nassau Class AA.

Despite starting league with a 2-4 record, head coach Blake Malizia said the girls are beginning to buy in, which has resulted in far grittier performances in recent weeks.

“I would say that experience and youth has maybe held us back at times,” Malizia said. “But the second half of the season, we’re starting to compete with the better teams. We’ve turned the next page.”

After getting their first taste of conference success in a 37-36 victory over Calhoun Jan. 8, the Marines returned four days later and hung tough in an upset bid against Bellmore JFK. Long Beach led 40-38 entering the fourth quarter, only to get outscored 26-7 in the closing minutes.

Late collapses have been an unfortunate habit Malizia chalked up to the roster’s inexperience. Even in victory against Calhoun, they were outscored 27-12 in the second half and desperately clung to a one-point lead at the buzzer. On Jan. 17, the Marines left no doubt in a 62-48 victory over Great Neck South, their second league win.

“You could just see the mentality and the mindset has now shifted to a winning mentality,” Malizia said. “It takes time sometimes, but they’re starting to get it and it’s definitely building towards the future.”

With 10 juniors and just two seniors on the roster, Long Beach still has plenty of time to figure things out. Its leading scorers, Iris Lynch and Brianna Bothell are both juniors who will continue contributing for the Marines next season.

Bothell, named a captain as a sophomore, has scored at least 10 points in eight of 11 contests.

“She has a very high IQ,” Malizia said of Bothell. “She understands it to a different level that sometimes can be

challenging to others. She can do anything. She can drive, attack, plays hard defense. She can shoot three-pointers. She’s willing to take charges and she’s the first one on the ground on loose balls.”

Lynch, on the other hand, has gradually discovered a game that plays to her strengths. She has become a dominant rebounder and scored a season-high 19 points against Bellmore JFK.

Brooke Buehre, the senior captain and forward, does her part on the floor, chipping in 3.8 points per game. Her role off the floor is immense, however, as Malizia explained she and fellow senior Ava Kolb have been integral to bringing

about a new culture for their younger teammates.

“I want the two seniors to be remembered as the two girls that helped reshape the program,” Malizia said. “Giving us that winning mindset where we don’t go in there hoping to win, but expecting to win. That mindset is everything.”

Malizia said junior Jordan Soriano and sophomore Sofia Milito have both been especially receptive to lessons from older teammates. As they progress, Malizia expects them to step into leadership roles left behind, propelling Long Beach forward to more promising and competitive days ahead.

‘Pothole Patrol’ will address road repairs

By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com

As winter conditions continue to strain Long Island roadways, Hempstead Town officials are rolling out a new strategy to tackle potholes before they worsen during the busiest repair season of the year.

Town Supervisor John Ferretti announced the launch of the town’s Pothole Patrol during a news conference in Merrick, citing repeated freeze-thaw cycles and heavy traffic as the primary causes of pavement deterioration.

“This is the time of year where potholes form from the constant freezing and melting of rain and snow. They aren’t just an inconvenience — they’re a safety issue,” Ferretti said. “The Pothole Patrol is part of our ongoing commitment to invest in infrastructure and maintain the quality of life enjoyed by our residents. Well-maintained roads protect vehicles, improve safety, and support our local economy.”

The initiative assigns crews to monitor streets daily and respond to reported hazards in an effort to reduce vehicle damage and improve roadway safety.

Four newly hired patrol workers attended the event, and town officials said the program includes two dedicated trucks operating at all times, each staffed by

four employees and equipped with machinery designed to dispense asphalt quickly.

Unlike previous years, when repairs were largely complaint-driven, the new patrol will actively search for potholes

throughout the township. Pothole repairs will be prioritized based on traffic volume, visibility, and proximity to high-use locations such as schools and commercial corridors.

The initiative also introduces a new

online reporting portal, developed by the town’s Information Technology Department, that allows residents to submit reports directly to the town. Users may enter an address manually or enable GPS location services on their devices to pinpoint a pothole, and photos can be uploaded to assist repair crews.

“We are relying on residents to be our eyes and ears,” Ferretti added. “By reporting potholes through our online form, they will help us prioritize repairs and respond faster. It’s a convenient way for our community to partner with us in keeping our roads in top-tier shape.”

The system can automatically determine whether a reported road falls under town, county, or state jurisdiction, and it will redirect residents if the pothole is outside town responsibility.

Ferretti addressed concerns that patched potholes may reopen, noting that full repaving cannot be done during winter months. Temporary repairs will continue until spring, when repaving resumes. The town maintains roughly 1,200 miles of roadway, repaving more than 100 miles in 2025 and planning to exceed that in 2026 as part of a 12-year plan to resurface every town road.

Residents can now utilize the reporting form at HempsteadTown.com/PotholePatrol.

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Hochul delivers her fifth State of the State

By ROKSANA AMID ramid@liherald.com

Gov. Kathy Hochul used her 2026 State of the State address Jan. 13 to present an ambitious agenda focused on affordability, public safety and social services — while Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, her likely Republican challenger in this year’s gubernatorial race, sharply criticized the speech and questioned her record in office.

The state of the state of New York is strong, and we’re just getting started.

“The state of the state of New York is strong, and we’re just getting started,” Hochul said in her fifth State of the State, at Albany’s Hart Theater, framing the coming year as one focused on easing the financial strain on families while continuing investments in safety, housing and infrastructure.

GOv. KATHy HOcHul

At the core of Hochul’s address was a renewed push for universal child care, which she described as the most pressing affordability issue facing working families. The governor outlined plans to expand prekindergarten statewide, with the goal of achieving universal pre-K for 4-year-olds by 2028, while piloting yearround, full-day child care for children from birth to age 3.

“This plan will ultimately deliver universal child care for every family in New York, full stop,” Hochul said, drawing sustained applause.

She cited the high cost of care, particularly in New York City, where annual expenses can range from $26,000 to $40,000, calling the burden “almost impossible” for many parents. Hochul said the state would expand subsidies, strengthen its voucher system and improve tax incentives for employers who invest in child care benefits.

Beyond child care, Hochul framed affordability as a broader economic challenge, pointing to proposals aimed at lowering utility and auto insurance costs. She said the state would crack down on staged car accidents and insurance fraud, streamline utility assistance programs and protect consumers from steep rate hikes, while continuing investments in clean energy.

Housing, infrastructure, public safety

Housing and infrastructure were also key pillars of the address. Hochul announced an additional $250 million investment in affordable housing and $100 million for manufactured housing, while reiterating her administration’s commitment to cutting red tape that she said has slowed development for decades.

Under her Let Them Build initiative, Hochul said the state would modernize environmental review processes to accelerate housing, clean energy and

infrastructure projects.

“We’re changing the culture around building, brick by brick,” she said, noting that more than 400 communities have signed on as “pro-housing” municipalities eligible for state funding.

Public safety was another major focus. Hochul pointed to more than $3 billion in state investments in police and public safety over the past four years and said crime, including shootings, homicides and subway crime, has declined statewide.

“We’ll never be satisfied,” Hochul said, outlining plans to expand crime analysis centers, increase police patrols in subway stations, install platform barriers at 85 additional stations and grow mental health response teams that pair law enforcement with clinical professionals.

On gun violence, Hochul proposed a first-in-the-nation law requiring 3D printers sold in New York to include software that blocks the production of firearms, targeting so-called “ghost guns.” She also called for restrictions on handguns that can be converted into automatic weapons.

“Not here. Not in New York,” she said. “That’s how we save lives and fight crime.”

Immigration, civil rights, federal tensions

Hochul also used her address to draw a sharp contrast with President Trump and federal immigration enforcement

County Executive Bruce

spoke after Hochul’s address, criticizing her agenda and calling for tax credits for working families with children.

child care affordability and instead proposed tax credits for working parents, though he did not offer specific details. He said those credits would be worth more than those proposed by Hochul. He also criticized Hochul’s handling of the migrant crisis, pointing to what he described as nearly $5 billion in state spending to manage the influx of asylum seekers, largely centered in New York City.

policies. She said New York would not allow the use of state resources to assist in federal immigration raids involving people who have not committed serious crimes, and would bar U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from entering schools, day cares, hospitals and houses of worship without a judicial warrant.

“We will not bow to a wannabe king,” Hochul said, adding that congestion pricing in New York City “is staying on.”

The governor also proposed legislation that would allow New Yorkers to sue federal officers in state court for alleged violations of their constitutional rights, framing the measure as a safeguard against abuses of power.

Blakeman’s rebuttal sharpens political contrast

An hour after Hochul’s address, Blakeman delivered a blistering rebuttal from Nassau GOP headquarters in Westbury, calling the governor’s remarks “the most unbelievable speech” he had ever heard.

“There was nothing in that speech that was believable,” Blakeman said. “I thought I was watching a ‘Saturday Night Live’ skit.”

He accused Hochul of failing to deliver results during her four years in office, particularly on child care. While Hochul outlined expanded subsidies and universal pre-K, Blakeman said the governor had “done nothing” to address

“She’s helping people who have been in the state for 15 minutes,” Blakeman said, arguing that Hochul’s policies have contributed to population and business losses.

The two leaders also diverge sharply on immigration enforcement. Blakeman has touted Nassau County’s cooperation with ICE, while Hochul is proposing legislation allowing New Yorkers to sue federal officers who violate their civil rights.

Shortly after his swearing-in this week, Blakeman signed Nassau County’s Religious Safety Act into law, banning protests within 35 feet of houses of worship around service times. Hochul, meanwhile, proposed a statewide ban on protests within 25 feet of religious property lines, saying worshippers should be able to pray “without fear or harassment.”

As Blakeman positions himself for a statewide run, political analysts note the challenge ahead. Long Island accounts for nearly one-fifth of New York’s electorate, with about 2.1 million active voters, but Blakeman will need to expand his appeal beyond his local base to attract swing voters upstate.

Hochul’s full agenda — more than 200 proposals spanning housing, energy policy, artificial intelligence regulation, youth mental health and consumer protections — will be detailed further when she releases her executive budget next week, setting the stage for a high-stakes gubernatorial race.

It’s Girl Scout cookie season in Nassau

Girl Scouts of Nassau County officially launched the 2026 Girl Scout Cookie Program on Jan. 5, marking the return of one of the most recognized and impactful youth entrepreneurship programs in the country. Each year, cookie season offers Girl Scouts across the region hands-on opportunities to practice goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills and business ethics, all while sharing a tasty tradition that families look forward to. All proceeds from cookie sales stay within Nassau County, powering girl-led programs, community service projects, camp experiences and leadership opportunities year-round.

“When you see Girl Scouts selling cookies, you may see a tasty treat, but I see Girl Scouts who are building life skills and discovering what they are capable of,” said Rande Bynum, CEO of Girl Scouts of Nassau County, in a release sent to the Herald. “These Girl Scouts are setting goals, building their confidence and learning how to run their own small business from start to finish. Every box sold helps local Girl Scouts explore their dreams and passions, whether that’s funding a community service project, a new skill they want to explore, or a troop adventure they’ve been working toward.”

From Jan. 5 through March 26, Girl Scouts throughout Nassau County will sell cookies to family, friends and neighbors in person and through their personalized online storefronts. Starting Feb. 19, cookie booths will pop up at local businesses and community spaces across the county. Each purchase directly supports meaningful, skill-building opportunities for Girl Scouts from kindergarten through senior year of high school.

“I’ve gotten to participate in so many awesome things over my 13 years of being a Girl Scout,” said

Cathy M., a Long Beach resident and Ambassador for Troop 2356. “I’ve gotten the opportunity to sell cookies at cool places, such as at an Islanders game and at Hofstra women’s sports games. This is my last cookie season with my troop as we graduate and I’m looking forward to having a great season together.”

This season also introduces an exciting addition to the cookie lineup called Exploremores. This rocky road ice cream–inspired sandwich cookie will join the legendary lineup for the 2026 Girl Scout Cookie season. Filled with delicious flavors of chocolate, marshmallow and toasted almond–flavored crème, Exploremores reflect the spirit of exploration at the heart of every Girl Scout.

Girl Scouts of Nassau County is also proud to continue Operation Cookie and Hometown Heroes for its 22nd year as the council’s annual Gift of Caring program. Through a partnership with DHL Express, customers can donate boxes of Girl Scout Cookies that will be delivered to active-duty U.S. military members overseas and on Long Island, as well as local essential workers and first responders.

The full 2026-cookie lineup includes classic favorites such as Thin Mints, Samoas, Tagalongs, Do-sidos, Trefoils, Adventurefuls, Toffee-tastic, LemonUps, and now, Exploremores. Cookies are available for $7 per package, purchased directly from registered Girl Scouts or online through the Digital Cookie platform, which offers direct delivery and local pickup options.

Girls in grades K–12 can join the world’s largest entrepreneurial program for girls at any time during the year. To join or volunteer, visit Gsnc.org/ join. For more information about Girl Scouts of Nassau County, visit Gsnc.org.

–Allyson Ferrari

Nominate your favorite local business for the 2026 Long Island Choice Awards

Small businesses bring life to our communities. They are the restaurants, shops, and services that make each neighborhood unique and keep our local economy strong.

PSEG Long Island is proud to once again sponsor the Long Island Choice Awards, presented by the Herald, honoring the resilience, innovation, and dedication of local businesses across our region.

In 2026, PSEG Long Island’s commitment to helping small businesses grow is stronger than ever. Through our Business First platform, we provide resources and incentives that make a real difference. Programs like Vacant Space Revival help fill empty storefronts, Main Street Revitalization strengthens downtown districts, and Business First Advocates meet directly with owners to connect them to energy savings and business support.

Now it’s your turn to help celebrate the businesses that make Long Island thrive. Nominate your favorite local spots, your family-owned bakery, the boutique you love, or the service provider that always goes the extra mile. Your nomination helps give them the recognition they deserve and shines a light on the people and places that make our community stronger.

When small businesses thrive, we all thrive. Join us in celebrating their impact by submitting your nominations for the 2026 Long Island Choice Awards today.

Thank you,

Sincerely,

Scott Jennings, President & COO PSEG Long Island

Several vendors offered an array of meats and cheeses.

Farmers market goes indoors for the winter

The Long Beach farmers market is a Kennedy Plaza staple from May to November, This year, instead of hibernating through the cold weather, the market will set up a temporary winter residence inside the Bright Eye Beer Co., on West Park Avenue directly across from the Plaza, beginning Jan. 17.

The Winter Farmers Market will take place four times through the season — every other Saturday on Jan. 17, Jan. 31, Feb. 14, and Feb. 28 — from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. each day, in the downstairs taproom. Farmers, bakers, and other small businesses will be offering a variety of locally grown and locally made goods.

Confirmed vendors include All American Wontons, Baked By Spock, The Big Cheese, Fields of Dough, Green Solutions Roots, Heda Healing Health and Wellness, Horman’s Best Pickles, The Lemon Life, Madefresh Organic, Merlin’s Unrefined, MooLa Farm, Pat’s Bakehouse, Plantopia LI, Pure Raw Brands, and Saha Guys.

–Chris Colucci

Blakeman is sworn in to his second term

By MOHAMMAD RAFIQ mrafiq@liherald.com

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman was sworn in to a second term at the county’s 2026 inauguration ceremony at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City last week, and afterward signed new safety legislation.

The Jan. 12 ceremony was attended by hundreds, including elected officials, law enforcement representatives and clergy members.

Elaine Phillips and Maureen O’Connell were also sworn in to new terms as county comptroller and county clerk, respectively.

Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino led the ceremony, introducing a number of esteemed speakers, stakeholders and performers including Father Gerard Gordon, senior chaplain of the Nassau County Police Department, as well as Mary Millben, an internationally known performer who sang the national anthem.

Religious leaders representing both Judaism and Christianity took part in the ceremony, with Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetzky, of Yeshiva of South Shore, delivering the invocation and Gordon offering the benediction.

The ceremony opened with a presentation of colors by members of the Nassau County Police Department, the

County Sheriff’s Department, the Nassau County Fire Marshal’s Office and the Emerald Society Pipes and Drums, alongside Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 82.

Nassau County Chief Fire Marshal Michael Uttaro led the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a moment of silence

honoring those who have served in public service and the armed forces.

Musical selections were also provided by international vocalist Christopher Macchio, who sang “Hallelujah,” by Leonard Cohen.

“I would like to thank Hashem — God — for giving me the strength to serve as

your county executive,” Blakeman said in his remarks after his swearing in, which was conducted by his wife, Segal Blakeman, a Nassau County Family Court judge. “It’s only through the strength of God that I have the ability to serve, and I recognize that each and every day.”

“[We supported] our law enforcement, hired 600 law professionals, canceled a $150 million tax increase, didn’t raise taxes for four years, and earned seven bond upgrades,” he added, touting the achievements of his first term. “That’s unprecedented.”

Following his swearing in, Blakeman signed a bill previously approved by county legislators meant to add protection for worshippers at religious institutions. The bill prohibits demonstrations from occurring within 10 feet of a person entering or exiting a place of religious worship. It also prevents demonstrations within 35 feet of an entrance to a religious institution in the hour before a scheduled service and the hour after it ends.

“You know how I feel about religious freedom,” Blakeman said. “And the ability for people to be able to worship in their mosque, their church, their synagogue, their temple. And therefore we will protect those institutions, and we will protect people’s rights to worship freely here in the Nassau County.”

CATHOLIC SHOOLS WEEK

Students put moral values to work in their lives every day

Strong spiritual guidance is an essential part of daily activities at Long Island’s Catholic schools, creating a special sense of community among children, families, teachers, and the local parish, which reinforces moral values and an abiding respect for others. Resourceful instructors use powerful spiritual teachings and real-world experiences to bring these values to life for children, while our smaller classes allow for more personalized and productive interaction between students and teachers.

The timeless values that create better prepared, more capable, and more confident young adults. An important part of your child’s program is the learning of values. This is often the most easily observable difference in a ‘Catholic school kid’.

While the specific order and organization of when these values are taught might differ from school-to-school, the values and the discipline to live them are enduring qualities and are taught consistently across all Catholic elementary schools.

Kindergarten – Courtesy and Respect: Learning the importance of politeness and good manners in dealing with others, as well as the need to respect one another, and personal and public property.

First Grade – Punctuality and Neatness: Being on time for school and with assignments and being neat in both school work and homework.

Second Grade – Kindness and Generosity: Understanding the need to reach out and help one another and realizing the joy in giving more than is expected.

Third Grade – Hard Work and Perseverance: Recognizing the importance of diligence and a good work attitude, the satisfaction of doing our best and the need to keep trying despite obstacles.

Fourth Grade – Honesty and Responsibility: Being truthful and keeping our word, doing the right thing even when no one else is looking, accepting the consequences of our actions and

meeting our obligations.

Fifth Grade – Patience and Discipline: Learning to be patient with ourselves and others, saying “yes” to the right things and “no” to the wrong things, and taking charge of ourselves by controlling our actions and emotions.

Sixth Grade – Tolerance and Justice: Learning to accept and appreciate the differences in others and treating them with equality and fairness.

Seventh Grade – Thoughtfulness and Compassion: Understanding the needs and feeling of others and treating them with equality and fairness.

Eighth Grade – Loyalty and Courage: Caring about our relationships with others and being willing to show it through our actions; having the strength and will to do what is right even when we’re afraid or it’s unpopular.

CN Guidance & Counseling Services, a nonprofit behavioral health leader serving Long Island for more than five decades, officially opened its trans formative Community Crisis Center (CCC) in Hicks ville this December. The 24/7/365 facility provides immediate, walk-in mental health and substance use crisis care for adults, children, and families, offering a comforting, safe alternative to hospital emergency departments (where people can sometimes wait up to 10 hours to receive care).

To celebrate, CN Guidance hosted a ribbon cutting and Community Open House on Friday, December 5, followed by the CCC’s public opening on Saturday, December 6.

“The turnout and enthusiasm from the community were extraordinary,” said Jeffrey Friedman, CEO of CN Guidance. “From our partners in government and healthcare to the families and neighbors who walked through our doors, people understand how deeply needed this level of crisis care is. The Community Crisis Center is already making an impact, and we are honored to serve as a lifeline for individuals seeking immediate, compassionate support.”

Closing the Crisis Care Gap

Centrally located on Long Island, the CCC introduces an innovative model bridging emergency departments and community-based care. The center provides:

24/7/365 walk-in access for anyone in mental health and/or substance use crisis, including those brought in voluntarily by family, friends, police or mobile crisis units. Quick screening, mental health evaluation, health monitoring, medication management, outpatient detox, medication-assisted treatment for substance use, and aftercare planning for more comprehensive treatment.

24-hour nursing staff ensure safe, clinically sound alternatives to hospital care.

Peer support staff with lived recovery experience to provide person-centered, recovery-oriented care. Emergency observation and stabilization in a comfortable, non-hospital setting for both adults and children, age five and older. The CCC is co-located alongside CN Guidance’s Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC), that currently provides ongoing treatment to thousands of Long Islanders each year, and represents a vital expansion of the organization’s mission to provide traumainformed, person-centered, on-demand care across the region.

Ribbon Cutting Highlights

The December 5th ribbon-cutting ceremony brought together state and local leaders, healthcare leaders, and community partners, emphasizing the CCC’s impact on

Long Island’s behavioral health landscape.

Dr. Ann Marie Sullivan, OMH Commissioner, highlighted the center as part of New York State’s broader behavioral health strategy. “The CN Guidance & Counseling’s Community Crisis Center will provide a safe and supportive environment where individuals experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis can receive quality care in a welcoming and healing setting with the goal of continuing their recovery journey,” Dr. Sullivan said. “These Crisis Centers represent yet another way Governor Hochul’s focus on mental health is providing greater access to care for all New Yorkers.”

Through the ribbon cutting, other leaders reinforced the center’s importance:

Dr. Chinazo Cunningham, OASAS Commissioner: Spoke on the center’s role in addressing the opioid crisis: ”We have seen success from this initiative across the state, and we look forward to the benefits this new facility will provide to those on

recovery-experience-support staff and observed the center’s innovative care model, which bridges the gap between hospital emergency departments and ongoing community-based treatment.

Inside the New Center

The CCC is staffed by dozens of professionals, including nurses, licensed behavioral health specialists, certified peer recovery advocates, psychiatric nurse practitioners, substance use counselors, and behavioral health technicians. The center provides many services including assessments, therapeutic interventions, peer support, ongoing observation, medication-assisted treatment, care coordination, and discharge planning. Food, beverages, showers and a change of clothes are also provided as needed. CN Guidance was awarded millions in state and Nassau County funding to undertake and develop the center. It can serve up to 24 individuals per day and is expected to help roughly 2,000 residents annually.

Community Impact

By expanding access to care and amplifying crisis response capabilities, the CCC helps reduce ER visits, supports recovery and strengthens families across the region. Working closely with state and local partners, CN Guidance delivers these life-saving services to all Long Island residents in need, regardless of ability to pay. The center also relieves pressure on hospitals and first responders, creating a more efficient behavioral health system. Most importantly, the CCC provides immediate support close to home, helping people regain stability before challenges escalate.

Accessing Services

Long Island.”

Nassau Deputy County Executive Anissa Moore: Recognized the county’s support,public health priorities, and celebrated how the center is bringing hope to the community.

Nassau County Legislator Rose Walker: CN Guidance’s long-term community impact, and how this new facility is an amazing next step.

Hundreds of attendees toured the 6,600-square-foot facility, designed with trauma-informed spaces for children, families, and first responders to promote both safety and dignity. There they met clinical, medical, and peer-with-lived-

Residents can access the CCC 24/7/365 at 950 S Oyster Bay Rd., Hicksville, calling 516-390-6544, or learn more at centralnassau.org/programs/communitycrisis-center. Anyone experiencing a behavioral health crisis may also contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for immediate support.

Partnering for Change

Community organizations and stakeholders can help by sharing CCC information, supporting outreach efforts, or contacting CN Guidance at 516-822-6111, ssanon@CentralNassau.org or msilberstein@centralnassau.org. Partnerships make sure compassionate care reaches those who need it most.

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STEPPING OUT

Feelings come to life

Inside the world of ‘Inside Out’ at Long Island Children’s Museum

By Abbey Salvemini

Joy, Sadness, Anger, Disgust, and Fear are in the spotlight. The vibrant world of Disney Pixar’s beloved film springs to life in “Emotions at Play with Pixar’s Inside Out,” a traveling, hands-on exhibit developed by the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. Now ensconced at Long Island Children’s Museum, the exhibition invites kids — and adults too — to step inside the film’s emotional landscape and explore how feelings shape the way we think, act, and connect. Running through May 10, it blends play and learning to help young visitors understand the important role emotions, memory and imagination play in our everyday lives.

Designed to spark curiosity and conversation, the exhibit transforms familiar moments from the film into immersive learning experiences. Visitors can step into “headquarters,” create glowing memory spheres and experiment with how emotions interact through physical and digital play.

• Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

• View the LICM events calendar at licm.org for additional information or call (516) 224-5800

• Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City

According to Margo Malter, the museum’s director of exhibits, the opportunity to bring “Emotions at Play” here is especially meaningful since it offers a playful way to interpret the movie’s ideas that resonate with children and families.

“All of the activities are very open-ended and hands-on, which is really what the museum is all about,” says Malter.

Transforming “Inside Out” into a hands-on learning experience required a thoughtful balance between storytelling and play. Rather than focusing on passive observation, it’s designed to invite children to actively engage with emotions. Developed in collaboration with Pixar Animation Studios, the exhibit features iconic set pieces directly inspired by the film.

Everyone will instantly recognize and gravitate toward the immersive recreations of scenes inspired by “Inside Out.” At the Control Panel kids can pull levers and press buttons to explore the intensity of different emotions, while Emotions in Motion welcomes kids to place a memory sphere — just like in the movie — into a large, interactive machine.

Additional experiences deepen the emotional journey. Emotion Mirrors spring to life as guests step in front of them, triggering appearances by familiar “Inside Out” characters. At Range of Emotions, facial expressions are captured and identified on a screen, helping children connect expressions with feelings. A nearby writing station encourages reflection, inviting participants to choose colored paper that represents the emotions they want to express or explore.

From the vibrant color palette to the instantly recognizable environments, the installation captures the spirit of the film while staying true to the museum’s mission.

“For kids this age [2-10], it’s really about naming

A child adds colorful paper to the Long Term Memory wall, creating a glowing display inside “Emotions at Play with Pixar’s Inside Out.”

At the Control Panel, use buttons and levers to explore how emotions guide our reactions.

Everyone works together at a hands-on balance and teamwork challenge. A young visitor tries the Range of Emotions activity, exploring how feelings can look and sound different.

emotions and helping them give words to the feelings they are feeling,” Malter says. “Play is really the language of children and how they learn.”

Always, complementary programming enriches the exhibit experience. Children can create their own “memory orbs” inspired by the film or craft personalized “headquarters hats,” extending the themes of “Inside Out” beyond the gallery. Malter underscores the importance of hands-on creativity, noting the value of giving children the chance to make something tangible — an experience, and a keepsake — they can proudly take home.

At its heart, “Inside Out” delivers a powerful message: every emotion has value and a purpose. The exhibit brings that idea to life by creating a welcoming, judgment-free environment where children can explore feelings openly.

“This [exhibit] gives kids a safe space to have those conversations and for parents to give guidance,” Malter adds.

Ultimately, Malter hopes the exhibit does more than entertain for an afternoon — she envisions it as a catalyst for meaningful conversations that continue long after families leave the museum. By giving children age-appropriate tools to recognize, name and understand their emotions, the experience helps build emotional awareness and empathy at an early stage. Through hands-on activities and familiar characters, complex feelings are made accessible and relatable, encouraging children to express themselves with confidence. The result is an environment where learning feels intuitive, playful and engaging, while quietly reinforcing skills that support communication, resilience and healthy social development.

Building on the momentum of “Emotions at Play,” the museum will soon be rolling out an engaging lineup of family-friendly performances. In February and March, “Pete the Cat” arrives on its stage. Join the groovy blue feline and his pal Jimmy Biddle on an art-filled adventure that travels from New York to Paris, blending music, imagination and plenty of toe-tapping fun. The excitement continues in April and May with the return of “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical.” Based on Mo Willems’ wildly popular books and featuring music by Deborah Wicks La Puma, the high-energy production invites young audiences to follow the mischievous Pigeon in a lively, interactive theatrical experience.

Together, these performances — alongside the gallery exhibits that includie the newest permanent installation “Saltwater Stories” — offer families even more reasons to return. With a dynamic mix of theater, interactive learning and creative play, the museum continues to be a vibrant hub for discovery and family fun throughout 2026.

Ballet Hispánico’s CARMEN.maquia

Ballet Hispánico visits Tilles Center with a captivating performance that demonstrates the vitality and artistry that define the company’s work. The stunning evening-length CARMEN. maquia, offers a look at the repertory that established Ballet Hispánico as a transformative force in American dance. Since her debut in 1875, Carmen, the titular character from Bizet’s opera, has become a timeless cultural icon, inspiring generations of composers, choreographers and writers to attempt to capture her elusive and alluring nature. Highly original and full of explosive movement, this is a bold reimagining of her tragic tale. The physically charged and sensual choreography fuses contemporary dance with nods to the Spanish paso doble and flamenco. Ballet Hispánico was born from a bold vision to transform the world through the power of dance and reimagine how Latin culture is celebrated on the global stage.

Friday, Jan. 23, 8 p.m. Tilles Center, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

Art talk

Nassau County Museum of Art welcomes New York–based artist Dee Shapiro for an engaging conversation about her work featured in the “Real, Surreal, and Photoreal” exhibition. Known for her meticulously detailed paintings, Shapiro explores the interplay of geometry, architecture and a powerful sense of place, drawing viewers into scenes that feel both familiar and quietly otherworldly. During her session, Shapiro discusses selections from her City and Landscapes series, revealing how she captures the rhythm, structure and subtle poetry of urban streetscapes and natural environments alike. Her work balances precision with atmosphere, inviting close looking and fresh perspectives on spaces we often take for granted. With what appears to be a strong impetus to constantly re-invent her painterly vocabulary, her work keeps us on our toes with each of her series which she sees overall as evoking an alternate reality with absurd connection. Limited seating, so register in advance.

Sunday, Jan 25, 3 p.m. $20, $15 seniors, $10 students (members free). 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor. Register at nassaumuseum.org or call (516) 484-9337.

YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD CALENDAR

JAN

22

Emotions at Play with Pixar’s Inside Out

Long Island Children’s Museum’s welcomes all to its new exhibit. Emotions at Play with Pixar’s Inside Out provides interactive experiences that help visitors learn about the important role emotions, memory and imagination play in our everyday lives. Hands-on and digital experiences focus on the five emotions featured in the film: Joy, Sadness, Anger, Disgust and Fear. Kids learn to recognize emotions and explore ways that we express and manage our own emotions. With related activities.

• Where: Museum Row, Garden City

• Time: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

• Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800

‘Anastasia The New Musical’

Molloy Performing Arts Club stages the musical inspired by the films. From Tony winners Terrence McNally, Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, creators of such Broadway classics as Ragtime and Once On This Island, this dazzling show transports its audience from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the euphoria of Paris in the 1920s, as a brave young woman sets out to discover the mystery of her past. Pursued by a ruthless Soviet officer determined to silence her, Anya enlists the aid of a dashing con man and a lovable ex-aristocrat. Together, they embark on an epic adventure to help her find home, love and family.

• Where: Madison Theatre, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre

• Time: 7 p.m.; also Jan. 23, 8 p.m.; Jan 24, 1 and 7 p.m.

• Contact: madisontheatreny.org or (516) 323-4444

Icebreaker 5K

Step into the New Year with a frigid run through Eisenhower Park. Sign up for a full marathon (26.1 miles), a half-marathon (13.1 miles), or a 5k (3 miles). The marathon is a certified course and a Boston Marathon qualifier! The course is a looped course and great for spectating, on park paths with fully closed roads. The course is also fully stocked with water and nutrition stops. Participants get a long-sleeve tech tee and a finisher medal.

• Where: Eisenhower Park Field 5

• Time: 5K starts at 9:15 a.m., marathon and half-marathon start at 9:30 a.m.

• Contact: Events@EliteFeats.com

JAN

Pete Correale

JAN 28

Narcan Training

Presented by the Town of Hempstead, the Point Lookout-Lido Fire Department host a free training session in the use of Narcan — the life-saving medication that can rapidly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, including oxycodone, heroin, and fentanyl. Attendees learn how to identify an opioid overdose victim, administer the Narcan kit, and contact emergency officials. Participants will also receive a Narcan certification and a full Narcan kit.

• Where: 102 Lido Blvd., Point Lookout

• Time: 7 p.m.

• Contact: toh311.net/narcansignup

JAN

30

A Cappella Festival

SingStrong Interntional

• Where: The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington

• Time: 9 p.m., doors open 8 p.m.

• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com

After opening for Sebastian Maniscalco on his massive “It Ain’t Right” arena tour, Pete Correale is now doing his own. Be prepared for the laughs when he brings his “As I Was Saying” tour to the Paramount stage. The Long Island-born comedian-actor-writer, best known for his conversational, reality-based humor, is one busy guy. He co-hosts co-host of the “Pete and Sebastian Show,” a podcast with comedian Sebastian Maniscalco, that’s of the most popular comedy podcasts on air today, consistently growing in audience eight years after its launch. He’s been a frequent guest on late night TV, including “The Tonight Show,” and has filmed well as filming three of his own one-hour television comedy specials, “Things We Do For Love,” “Let Me Tell Ya” and “For Pete’s Sake.” He has also released two comedy albums and has been a staff writer on several TV shows, most recently “Kevin Can Wait” on CBS as well as “The Crew” on Netflix. His comedy is reflective of his life and the experiences he’s been through. Being married for over 20 years and having a young daughter, Pete’s never at a loss for material. With a conversational delivery and his trademark disarming regular guy attitude, Pete makes you feel like you’re listening to the funniest guy at a party as opposed to just another comedian on a stage.

Rooftop Rodeo County Music Festival

Saddle up for a night unlike any other at the rooftop of the Allegria. Expect live country music by top-notch artists, mechanical bull rides, axe-throwing, and delicious fare available to purchase. Sip on handcrafted cocktails and embrace the wild-west vibes high above Long Beach. Whether you’re a country-music junkie or just ready for a fun night out this is for you. Boots and more boots welcome! 21 and older. Tickets start at $13.59 in advance or $20 at door.

• Where: 80 W. Broadway

• Time: 7-11 p.m.

• Contact: allegriahotelny.com or (516) 889-1300

STEM Explorers: Winter Olympics

Long Island Children’s Museum invites families to get discover all that makes Olympics competition so exciting. From speed skating to alpine skiing, the Olympics are fun to watch, but did you know that they’re also filled with science? Join the Green Teens in exploring speed, balance and aerodynamics. This is a drop-in program, free with admission.

• Where: Museum Row, Garden City

• Time: Noon-2 p.m.

• Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800

JAN

25

Art talk

Nassau County Museum of Art hosts Dee Shapiro, a New York–based artist, is known for her richly detailed paintings exploring geometry, architecture, and place. She discusses works from her City and Landscapes series featured in The Real, Surreal, and Photoreal exhibit, which capture the rhythm and structure of urban and natural environments.. $20, $15 seniors, $10 students (members free). Limited seating, register in advance.

• Where: 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor

• Time: 3 p.m.

• Contact: nassaumuseum.org or (516) 484-9337

Long Beach Chamber of Commerce General Meeting

The Chamber of Commerce holds its next meeting at the Allegria Hotel. Discuss important updates, planning and discussions for the year ahead. Attendees will have the opportunity to review

organizational progress and upcoming initiatives.

• Where: 80 W. Broadway

• Time: 7 p.m. start at 9:30 a.m.

• Contact: thelongbeachchamber. com

JAN

27

Long Beach BOE meets

The Board of Education trustees meet to discuss agenda items and issues related t the Long Beach School District. Members of the public may address the Board regarding any specific agenda item during the meeting. The public may also address any matter of concern after the Board of Education completes agenda items. Visitors should not address the Board in public relative to questions or comments regarding specific staff members or specific students. Meetings take place on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month throughout the school year.

• Where: Long Beach Middle School Auditorium

• Time: 7 p.m.

• Contact: District Clerk Susannah Familetti sfamiletti@lbeach.org or (516) 897-2108

A Cappella Festival returns to the Adelphi University Performing Arts Center. This exciting threeday, all-vocal event features five unique concerts and two days of classes and coaching, showcasing the versatility and power of the human voice. Festival proceeds support music programs and the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund. Audiences will experience a diverse range of a cappella styles, including pop, jazz, rock, barbers hop, hip-hop, doo-wop, and more. The festival hosts performances by professional a cappella groups from around the world, alongside talented collegiate and high school ensembles. Visit singstrong.org for details.

• Where: Adelphi University Performing Arts Center, 1 South Ave., Garden City

• Time: Varied, through Feb. 1

• Contact: adelphi.edu/pac or 9516) 877-4000

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.

Compiled by Herald Staff

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By MELISSA BERMAN

rock hall scholarship

Honoring Linda Barreira’s legacy

mberman@liherald.com

The third annual The Friends of Rock Hall Linda Barreira Memorial Scholarship: Celebrating Community Passion application is live and submissions can be sent until April 1. This scholarship was made to remember Barreira in perpetuity while recognizing students who give back to their communities. They are looking for students who give a little extra and are passionate about animals, the garden and helping others just like Barreira was.

A legacy of community dedication and cultural preservation

This $1,000 scholarship celebrates the legacy of Linda Barreira, the beloved Director of Rock Hall Museum who dedicated 37 years to its growth and success. During her tenure, Linda initiated the garden club, curated permanent exhibits that still grace the museum today, and was the driving force behind the Annual Country Fair, transforming Rock Hall into a beacon of history and culture. The Friends of Rock Hall proudly carries on her mission of preserving the museum as a vibrant cultural center and promoting educational programs through fundraising activities that support educational exhibits, lectures, museum enhancements, and research.

Eligibility requirements and application timeline

To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must be a high school junior or senior attending a private or public school or be homeschooled, and must be a resident of the Town of Hempstead. Applicants must not have previously won this award and cannot be related to a board member of the Friends of Rock Hall or an employee of Rock Hall Museum. The application period opens on January 1st and all completed applications must be submitted by 12 noon Eastern Standard Time on April 1st, with late applications not being considered.

Essay guidelines and selection process

In the spirit of Barreira’s dedication to the community, applicants are invited to share a passion project or an impactful way in which they have contributed to their community with an original essay of 500 words or less. It must be emailed to friendsofrockhall@gmail.com with the subject line “Linda Barreira Memorial Scholarship” and must include the applicant’s name, grade, and current school. A panel of three board members of the Friends of Rock Hall will review each submission, with the recipient of the $1,000 award being notified in May and honored at the Friends of Rock Hall Annual Meeting in June at Rock Hall Museum in Lawrence with the award possibly being presented during the recipient’s end-of-year ceremony at their respective school.

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF NASSAU

LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVICING, LLC., Plaintiff AGAINST MATTHEW CASALE, ET AL., Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered January 3, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on February 2, 2026 at 2:30 PM, premises known as 781 W Park Ave 105, Long Beach, NY 11561. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the City of Long Beach, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 59 Block 250 Lot 143 Unit 105. Approximate amount of judgment $832,371.58 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #615411/2023. For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832. Francis X. McQuade, Esq., R eferee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 23-000656 88046 157515

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, THE BOARD OF MANAGERS OF THE LONG BEACH TOWNE HOUSE

CONDOMINIUM, Plaintiff, vs. DEBRA INDICK A/K/A DEBRA INDECK, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on November 18, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on February 10, 2026 at 3:30 p.m., premises known as 651 Shore Road, Unit 3B a/k/a 202, Long Beach, NY 11561. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying

and being in the City of Long Beach, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 59, Block 190 and Lot 255. Approximate amount of judgment is $8,200.26 plus interest and cost together with an undivided .055555 percent interest in the Common Elements. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 609094/2025.

Paul L. Meli, Esq., Referee Berkman, Henoch, Peterson, & Peddy, P.C., 400 Garden City Plaza, Suite 320, Garden City, NY 11530, Attorneys for Plaintiff 157724

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: Writing with Dana LLC Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York, (SSNY) on 09/22/2025. NY Office location: Nassau County. SSNY has been designated as an agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of the process to: Entity Protect Registered Agent Services LLC, 447 Broadway, 2nd Floor - #3000, New York, NY 10013 Purpose: To engage in any lawful act or activity. 157726

LEGAL NOTICE Notice is hereby given that a Summer Restaurant-Liquor On Premises Liquor License, Application ID NA-0371-25-138274 has been applied for by Sand Castles L.B.N.Y Inc d/b/a Riptides 11561 serving beer, wine, cider and liquor to be sold at retail for on premises consumption in a restaurant for the premises located at 1 Edwards Blvd Long Beach NY 11561 157823

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, SUCCESSOR TO THE BANK OF NEW YORK, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE ON BEHALF OF THE HOLDERS OF THE CIT MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST, 2007-1 ASSETBACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-1, -against-

JOANNE RABUFFO, 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 December 8, 2025, wherein THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, SUCCESSOR TO THE BANK OF NEW YORK, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE ON BEHALF OF THE HOLDERS OF THE CIT MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST, 2007-1 ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-1 is the Plaintiff and JOANNE RABUFFO, 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 February 17, 2026 at 2:00PM, premises known as 37 BLACKHEATH ROAD, LIDO BEACH, NY 11561; and the following tax map identification: 59-65-34.

ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT LIDO BEACH, IN THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 617656/2022. Lisa S. Poczik, 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. 157827

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU

SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS

INDEX #618363/2025

Original Filed with Clerk August 26, 2025

Plaintiff Designates Nassau County as the Place of Trial

The Basis of Venue is that the subject action is situated Nassau County Premises: 545 W Olive Street, Long Beach, NY 11561 PHH MORTGAGE CORPORATION, Plaintiff, -againstNASSAU COUNTY PUBLIC

ADMINISTRATOR AS ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF ROGER B. RAUCH AND ROGER B RAUCH’S UNKNOWN HEIRS AT LAW, NEXT OF KIN, DISTRIBUTEES, EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS, TRUSTEES, DEVISEES, LEGATEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, AND SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST AND GENERALLY ALL PERSONS HAVING OR CLAIMING UNDER, BY OR THROUGH SAID DEFENDANT WHO MAY BE DECEASED, BY PURCHASE, INHERITANCE, LIEN OR OTHERWISE, ANY RIGHT, TITLE OR INTEREST IN THE REAL RROPERTY DESCRIBED IN THE COMPLAINT HEREIN; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE; SECRETARY OF HOUSEING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT; and JOHN DOE AND JANE DOE #1 through #7, the last seven (7) names being fictitious and unknown to the Plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or parties, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the mortgaged premises described in the Complain, Defendants.

TO THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the Complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a notice of appearance, on the Plaintiff’s Attorney(s) within 20 days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within 30 days after the service is complete if this Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York); the United States of America may appear or answer within 60 day of service hereof; and in case of your failure to appear

or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint.

TO THE ABOVE NAMED

DEFENDANTS: The foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of the Hon. Jeffrey A. Goodstein, a Justice of the Supreme Court, Nassau County, entered Dec. 24, 2025 and filed with the complaint and other papers in the Nassau County Clerk’s Office.

NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT

THE OBJECT of the above captioned action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure the amount of $585,000.00 recorded in the office of the clerk of Nassau County on July 11, 2011 in Book M 36181 page 852 covering premises known as 545 West Olive St, Long Beach, NY 11561 a/k/a Section 59, Block 025, Lot 53-55. The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above.

NOTICE

YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME

If you do not respond to this Summons and Complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action.

YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF PHH MORTGAGE CORPORATIONAND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.

Dated: Uniondale, New York

October 27, 2025

Respectfully submitted, Pincus & Tarab, Attorneys at Law, PLLC.

By: Linda P. Manfredi, Esq.

Attorneys for Plaintiff 425 RXR Plaza

Uniondale, NY 11556 516-699-8902 #102720 157825

LEGAL NOTICE

Legal Notice for Mariners

The New York State Department of Transportation is currently performing drawbridge repairs in the Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, under contract D265324. This work affects the Wantagh Parkway Drawbridge over Sloop Channel, Loop Parkway Drawbridge over Long Creek and the Meadowbrook Parkway Drawbridge over Sloop Channel. Repairs to these bridges include repainting of the bascule and flanking spans. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a drawbridge schedule deviation will be in effect beginning on September 15th, 2025 through March 31st, 2027, beginning with the Wantagh Drawbridge followed by the Meadowbrook Parkway Drawbridge then the Loop Parkway Drawbridge. The work on the Wantagh will be completed on or about January 30th, 2026 and begin on the Meadowbrook on or about February 2nd, 2026.The schedule deviation will restrict bridge openings for mariners to a single leaf only. Horizontal clearances will be restricted to 40 ft and, when the single leaf is opened, the unlimited vertical clearance width will be reduced to 23 ft. After March 31st, 2027 the draw spans will return to their normal operating schedule and both leaves will be able to open simultaneously for mariners. Mariners should refer to the U.S. Coast Guard’s Local Notice to Mariners for specific dates of schedule deviations at these bridges. Project questions should be directed to (631) 952-6929 or r10rpic@dot.ny.gov. 157982

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD LOCAL LAW NO. 7-2026 PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town

Law and the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, as amended, a public hearing was duly called and held on the 13th day of January 2026, by the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead, on the proposed adoption of Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 7-2026, and following the close of the hearing the Town Board duly adopted Local Law No. 7-2026, to amend Section 190-10, subdivision “A”, of the Code of the Town of Hempstead by the addition of a location, in relation to a fifteen mile per hour school speed limit, as follows: INSERT: 15 mph school speed limit 7 AM to 6 PM school days LIDO BEACH, BLACKHEATH ROADbetween Eden Road to Long Beach High School property line. (TH-515/25)

Dated:January 13, 2026 Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD JOHN FERRETTI Supervisor KATE MURRAY Town Clerk 157916

LEGAL NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE OF NASSAU COUNTY TREASURER’S SALE OF TAX LIENS ON REAL ESTATE Notice is hereby given that commencing on February 17th, 2026, will sell at public online auction the tax liens on certain real estate, unless the owner, mortgagee, occupant of or any other party in interest in such real estate shall have paid to the County Treasurer by February 12th, 2026 the total amount of such unpaid taxes or assessments with the interest, penalties and other expenses and charges against the property. Such tax liens will be sold at the lowest rate of interest, not exceeding 10 percent per six-month period, for which any person or persons shall offer to take the total amount of such unpaid taxes as defined in Section 5-37.0 of the Nassau County Administrative Code.

Effective with the February 2019 lien sale Ordinance No. 175-2015 requires a $175.00 per day registration fee for

each person who intends to bid at the tax lien sale. Ordinance No. 175-2015 also requires that upon the issuance of the Lien Certificate there is due from the lien buyer a Tax Certificate Issue Fee of $20.00 per lien purchased. Pursuant to the provisions of the Nassau County Administrative Code at the discretion of the Nassau County Treasurer the auction will be conducted online. Further information concerning the procedures for the auction is available at the website of the Nassau County Treasurer at: https://www.nassaucou ntyny.gov/526/CountyTreasurer

Should the Treasurer determine that an inperson auction shall be held, same will commence on the 17th day of February 2026 at the Office of The County Treasurer 1 West Street, Mineola or at some other location to be determined by the Treasurer.

A list of all real estate in Nassau County on which tax liens are to be sold is available at the website of the Nassau County Treasurer at: https://www.nassaucou ntyny.gov/527/AnnualTax-Lien-Sale

A list of local properties upon which tax liens are to be sold will be advertised in this publication on or before February 05th, 2026.

Nassau County does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission to or access to, or treatment or employment in, its services, programs, or activities. Upon request, accommodations such as those required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) will be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to participate in all services, programs, activities and public hearings and events conducted by the Treasurer’s Office. Upon request, information can be made available in Braille, large print, audio-tape or other alternative formats. For additional information, please call (516) 571-2090 ext. 1-3715.

Dated: January 22, 2026

THE NASSAU COUNTY

22, 2026

TREASURER

Public Notices

Mineola, New York

TERMS OF SALE

Such tax liens shall be sold subject to any and all superior tax liens of sovereignties and other municipalities and to all claims of record which the County may have thereon and subject to the provisions of the Federal and State Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Acts. However, such tax liens shall have priority over the County’s Differential Interest Lien, representing the excess, if any, of the interest and penalty borne at the maximum rate over the interest and penalty borne at the rate at which the lien is purchased.

The Purchaser acknowledges that the tax lien(s) sold pursuant to these Terms of Sale may be subject to pending bankruptcy proceedings and/or may become subject to such proceedings which may be commenced during the period in which a tax lien is held by a successful bidder or the assignee of same, which may modify a Purchaser’s rights with respect to the lien(s) and the property securing same. Such bankruptcy proceedings shall not affect the validity of the tax lien. In addition to being subject to pending bankruptcy proceedings and/or the Federal and State Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Acts, said purchaser’s right of foreclosure may be affected by the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act (FIRREA),12 U.S.C. ss 1811 et seq., with regard to real property under Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) receivership.

The County Treasurer reserves the right, without further notice and at any time, to withdraw from sale any of the parcels of land or premises herein listed. The Nassau County Treasurer

reserves the right to intervene in any bankruptcy case/litigation where the property affected by the tax liens sold by the Treasurer is part of the bankruptcy estate. However, it is the sole responsibility of all tax lien purchasers to protect their legal interests in any bankruptcy case affecting their purchased tax lien, including but not limited to the filing of a proof of claim on their behalf, covering their investment in said tax lien. The Nassau County Treasurer and Nassau County and its agencies, assumes no responsibility for any legal representation of any tax lien purchaser in any legal proceeding including but not limited to a bankruptcy case where the purchased tax lien is at risk. The rate of interest and penalty at which any person purchases the tax lien shall be established by his bid. Each purchaser, immediately after the sale thereof, shall pay to the County Treasurer ten per cent of the amount for which the tax liens have been sold and the remaining ninety per cent within thirty days after such sale. If the purchaser at the tax sale shall fail to pay the remaining ninety per cent within ten days after he has been notified by the County Treasurer that the certificates of sale are ready for delivery, then all amounts deposited with the County Treasurer including but not limited to the ten per cent theretofore paid by him shall, without further notice or demand, be irrevocably forfeited by the purchaser and shall be retained by the County Treasurer as liquidated damages and the agreement to purchase shall be of no further effect. Time is of the essence in this sale. This sale is held pursuant to the Nassau County Administrative Code and interested parties are referred to such Code for

additional information as to terms of the sale, rights of purchasers, maximum rates of interest and other legal incidents of the sale. Furthermore, as to the bidding,

1. The bidder(s) agree that they will not work with any other bidder(s) to increase, maintain or stabilize interest rates or collaborate with any other bidder(s) to gain an unfair competitive advantage in the random number generator in the event of a tie bid(s) on a tax certificate. Bidder(s) further agree not to employ any bidding strategy designed to create an unfair competitive advantage in the tiebreaking process in the upcoming tax sale nor work with any other bidder(s) to engage in any bidding strategy that will result in a rotational award of tax certificates.

2. The tax certificate(s) the Bidder will bid upon, and the interest rate(s) bid, will be arrived at independently and without direct or indirect consultation, communication or agreement with any other bidder and that the tax certificate(s) the Bidder will bid upon, and the interest rate(s) to be bid, have not been disclosed, directly or indirectly, to any other bidder, and will not be disclosed, directly or indirectly, to any other bidder prior to the close of bidding. No attempt has been made or will be made to, directly or indirectly, induce any other bidder to refrain from bidding on any tax certificate, to submit complementary bids, or to submit bids at specific interest rates.

3. The bids to be placed by the Bidder will be made in good faith and not pursuant to any direct or indirect, agreement or discussion with, or inducement from, any other bidder to submit a complementary or other noncompetitive bid.

4. If it is determined that the bidder(s) have

violated any of these bid requirements then their bid shall be voided and if they were the successful bidder the lien and any deposits made in connection with said bid shall be forfeited.

Dated: January 22, 2026THE NASSAU COUNTY TREASURER Mineola, New York 157891

PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES…

To place a notice here call us us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com

To Place A Notice Call 516-569-4000 x232

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, Plaintiff, vs. GLORIA MICHELL, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on September 29, 2008 and an Order duly entered on May 2, 2022, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on February 24, 2026 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 26 East Market Street a/k/a 26 Market Street, Long Beach, NY 11561. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the City of Long Beach, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 59, Block 96 and Lot 218. Approximate amount of judgment is $647,819.24 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #023192/2007. Melissa Levin, Esq., Referee Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC, 10 Bank Street, Suite 700, White Plains, New York 10606, Attorneys for Plaintiff 157965

NUMC receives nearly $110 million from state

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

Nassau University Medical Center has received $109.6 million in funding from New York state, an investment announced by Gov. Kathy Hochul in a release on Jan. 15. According to the release, the funding reflects the state’s “recognition of the hospital’s progress under new leadership and its commitment to stabilizing operations while preserving access to essential health care services for Long Island residents.”

It’s been a turbulent year at NUMC, Long Island’s only public hospital. It provides health care to all residents, including the undocumented and uninsured. Due to provisions passed in the state’s budget in 2025, a restructured board was implemented at NUMC, shifting control from Nassau County leadership to Hochul and state Democrats.

The state also granted the Nassau Interim Finance Authority, a public benefit corporation, expanded oversight, including the ability to approve hospital contracts exceeding $1 million.

Wnew board, now with Stokes stepping into the chief executive role.

Stokes identified major opportunities to strengthen performance, while efforts to tighten financial oversight, contain costs, and improve revenue and operational efficiency take hold. Stokes remarked that he was “deeply committed to restoring and strengthening this hospital for the patients and communities that depend on us.”

“With this investment, we can continue building a stronger, more stable future for NUMC — one that delivers the quality, access, and accountability our residents deserve,” he said.

ith this critical investment, we can continue building a stronger, more stable future for NUMC.

ThOmAs sTOkEs Chief executive, Nassau University Medical Center

A majority of the new board members at NUMC were named by Hochul, who also designated the chairman, Stuart Rabinowitz, a former president of Hofstra University.

Thomas Stokes was tapped to lead as chief executive officer in late-2025, and began earlier this month. With over 25 years of experience overseeing finance and operations in health care institutions, his appointment, according to a Jan. 1 release, “brings deep expertise and a longstanding commitment to public service” to the hospital.

$82.1 million of the funding announced last week was provided through the state’s Department of Health’s Vital Access Provider Assurance Program, also known as VAPAP, for Fiscal Year 2025-2026, which ends this March. VAPAP provides assistance to hospitals and health care providers facing financial distress. $27.5 million was provided through an Inter-Governmental Transfer associated with enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentage funding tied to the coronavirus pandemic.

Of the VAPAP award, $25 million was received in August 2025, with the remaining $57.1 million anticipated in the first quarter of 2026. The $57. 1 million, along with the additional $27.5 million, was not reflected in NUMC’s previously approved budget. The funding will reduce the hospital’s projected 2026 operating loss from $167.1 million to $82.5 million.

NUMC, in the release, said the state’s investment helps it build on a year of “decisive action” under the hospital’s

“The board is deeply appreciative of Gov. Hochul and the Department of Health for their confidence in NUMC’s direction and leadership,” Rabinowitz added. “This funding acknowledges the difficult but necessary reforms underway and provides the financial runway needed to continue stabilizing operations, improving care delivery, and positioning the hospital for long-term sustainability.”

Hospital leadership stated that it will continue to work with state and county stakeholders to advance reforms, strengthen fiscal accountability and maintain NUMC’s mission as a vital health care resource.

“This funding marks an important step forward for NHCC and reflects growing confidence in the direction of its leadership,” said Richard Kessel, chairman and director of the Nassau Interim Finance Authority. “We look forward to continued collaboration in supporting NHCC’s financial stability and ensuring that public resources are managed effectively.”

Legislator Olena Nicks, a Democrat, is the ranking member of the legislature’s health and social services committee, and a representative of communities that heavily rely on NUMC’s care. She said she is “committed to ensuring its long-term viability as an essential health care resource.”

“I thank Gov. Kathy Hochul for delivering nearly $110 million in vital funds to secure NUMC’s future,” she said in a statement on Jan. 16.

State Sen. Siela Bynoe, a Democrat who represents the state’s 6th District, said NUMC “is a lifeline for thousands, providing critical care for strokes, severe burns, cancer and other complex conditions.” She added that mismanagement threatened NUMC’s future.

“This recent investment of nearly $110 million from New York state strengthens NUMC’s role as our region’s safety-net hospital, helping secure operations and ensure patients continue to have access to the care they need,” she said.

EMPLOYMENT

Help Wanted

CIRCULATION ASSOCIATE

Full Time/Part Time Richner Communications, publisher of Herald community newspapers has an excellent opportunity for a FT/PT Customer Service Clerk in our busy Circulation Department. Basic customer service and administrative responsibilities include: heavy computer work, answering phones, making phone calls, entering orders, faxing, filing, etc. STRONG knowledge of EXCEL a must! Knowledge of DATABASE maintenance or postal regulations a big plus. Qualified Candidates must be computer literate, able to multi-task, dependable, reliable, organized, energetic, detail oriented and able to work well under deadlines. Salary Range is $17 per hour to $20 per hour. For consideration, please send resume & salary requirements to: circulationassociate@liherald.com

Situations Wanted

DRIVERS WANTED

Full Time and Part Time Positions Available! Busy Print Shop in Garden City is Hiring Immediately for Full Time and Part Time Drivers. Must Have a Clean License and BoxTruck Driving Experience. Hours Vary, Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $21 per hour Night Availability is a Must. Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239

DRIVING INSTRUCTOR Company Car/ Bonuses. Clean Driving Record Required, Will Train. Retirees Welcome! $22 - $27/ Hour Bell Auto School 516-365-5778 Email: info@bellautoschool.com

Situations Wanted

EDITOR/REPORTER

Part Time & Full Time. The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. Salary range is from $20K to $45K

To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to jbessen@liherald.com

MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP

Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $20 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com

MULTI MEDIA ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT

Inside Sales

Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $35,360 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286

OUTSIDE SALES

Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Earning potential ranges from $35,360 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses. Compensation is based on Full Time hours

Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off. Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X250

Spacious Split

REAL ESTATE

Real Estate

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Keeping indoor air clean

Q. Every winter I get terrible colds, and this year I got a postcard from a company that cleans air conditioning ducts. Does this help? I’m concerned about stirring up more dust. What else can I do except buy one of those portable air cleaners?

A. These days, with all the requirements for home energy savings, airtight homes and pressurized air testing, homes are much more likely to have impurities in the air. Homes used to be built with alkali-laden plaster, which mold couldn’t live on. People wore sweaters, because windows leaked cold air and homes were cooler. It seems that modern materials and methods actually brought on more sickness.

The paper backing on gypsum wallboard provides an excellent place in a dark wall cavity for mold spores to live. Inert, sprayed-in foam does help, but most people are intimidated by the cost. Carpets gather dust and, when vacuumed, may release more impurities into the air.

Cleaning hard-walled metal air ducts is a good idea after a couple of years of continuous use. If you only use the system in midsummer heat spells, the main reason to clean the ducts is because dust settles there and adheres to the sides of the air ducts. Spores and other mold prosper in the layers of dust, and can remain inactive until moisture is present, which is why, at certain times of the year, condensation from cold meeting warm air allows the mold to develop.

Apartments For Rent

CEDARHURST NO FEE Private Entrance, Modern 1BR, 2BR, 3BR, CAC, W/D, Storage, Wall To Wall Carpeting, Indoor Parking Space. Starting At $1450 For One Bedroom When Available. (516)860-6889/ (516)852-5135/ (516)582-9978

You should be aware that some air conditioning companies make life easier for themselves by putting in flexible, soft, round duct, which comprises an inner lining of foil attached to a wire spiral frame covered with a thin layer of fiberglass insulation and a plastic sheeting cover. The system installation costs less if the installer passes on the savings to you, and is simpler to install. By simpler, I mean that duct tape is used instead of mechanical fastening with bends of metal and screws.

Unfortunately, you can’t clean flex duct, since the devices used to clean duct apply pressure, with vacuum and scraping techniques that will destroy your flex duct and render your system useless. You should consider cleaning the main “trunks,” which are probably made of metal duct. Duct cleaning is the first step to better breathing in the home. Then, after cleaning, have a reliable mechanical contractor install a filter in your central air conditioning unit, so you have “in-line” filtration.

Ask about the different types of filter systems, such as an electronic, static-type unit that catches dust like a magnet, and also how often the filter requires cleaning or replacement. Don’t just look for the lowest-priced unit, since the maintenance or replacement of the filter may be much more than the savings. With the electrostatic filter, you may be able to simply wash the filter and put it back. Once the filter is installed, you won’t require the portable type, and you should breathe easier, which is nothing to sneeze at.

© 2026 Monte Leeper

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opinions A silent health threat facing Long Islanders

We are in the midst of a growing public health crisis, one that especially impacts senior citizens. Fortunately, everyone can take an active role in solving it.

charles j. Fuschillo jr.

Loneliness and social isolation are widespread. One in three American adults reported feeling lonely, while one in four conveyed having no social and emotional support, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This goes far beyond occasional feelings of loneliness or disconnect that everyone experiences periodically. Someone who is socially isolated has few relationships and little contact with others, while those who are lonely feel like they lack meaningful or close relationships or a sense of belonging. Research shows that prolonged loneliness and social isolation increase the risk of health conditions including cognitive decline and memory loss, depression, anxiety, stress, high blood pres-

ssure, heart disease and stroke. They can also make existing illnesses worse; someone with Alzheimer’s disease, for example, may have accelerated symptoms due to lack of social and mental stimulation.

Regular social engagement helps stimulate the brain and support cognitive health, improves mood, encourages physical activity and better sleep, and strengthens emotional resilience. As is the case with other lifestyle choices — healthy diet, exercise, proper sleep — prioritizing or neglecting it influences numerous facets of health.

pgap, but not all seniors feel comfortable using it. Without support and training, many are left disconnected from family, friends and the larger community.

An estimated 111,000 Long Islanders ages 65 and older — roughly one out of every five seniors — live alone, according to Newsday. Fortunately, there are a variety of free resources available to help them strengthen social bonds and stay connected.

eople of all ages can feel lonely and isolated, but especially seniors.

Loneliness and isolation occur in people of all ages, and senior citizens are especially susceptible. Older adults isolate for many reasons. Some live alone after the loss of a spouse, and don’t have relatives or close friends nearby. Others face mobility issues, or have a health condition that makes going out harder. Mobility challenges are even more problematic on Long Island during the winter, when the weather makes leaving the house harder. Fear, embarrassment and self-consciousness can also lead people to withdraw. Technology can partially bridge the

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America offers free daily activity programming at its AFA Barbara Rabinowitz Education & Resource Center in Amityville. The activities are dementiafriendly, but you don’t need to have a dementia-related illness to participate; programming is open to all seniors. Learn more and view upcoming free activities at afalongisland.org, or call the center at (631) 223-4000.

Municipal senior centers offer programs and opportunities to socialize with other nearby residents. Local libraries offer activities, social gatherings and group outings, many of which center on learning about or trying something new, an added benefit for brain

health. Religious institutions often have social groups for their congregations. Look into these and other options if you’re feeling lonely, and find something you might enjoy. It may require you to step out of your comfort zone, but chances are it will be worth it.

We can all take small steps in our daily lives that will make a big difference. Visit or call someone instead of texting or emailing them (especially if they’re older); it will help both of you feel more connected. Encourage someone to take advantage of the services described above, and go along with them to help them break the ice. Check in with family, friends and elderly neighbors periodically to see if they need anything; that simple act will remind them that someone is thinking of them, and promote feelings of connectivity. Social connection isn’t a luxury — it is essential for maintaining physical health, cognitive function, emotional well-being and overall quality of life. Unlike other health conditions, loneliness and isolation can’t be cured or medicated with pills. Helping hands and warm hearts are the necessary treatments. Every one of us can provide them.

Charles J. Fuschillo Jr., of Merrick, is president and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.

It’s time for Albany to put New Yorkers first

ince being elected to my first term as a state senator in 2023, I have seen how issues raised by Senate Republicans are often ignored, only to resurface months later as priorities for the governor or the legislative majorities. One such example is the legislation introduced over a year ago by the Republican conference to eliminate state taxes on tipped wages.

paTricia canzoneri-FiTzpaTrick

I am proud to cosponsor this legislation, because it’s a real solution that would allow residents to keep more of their earnings. My colleagues in the Senate Republican conference and I have raised the alarm on affordability and public safety, because these are the issues directly impacting families, workers and small businesses across New York state. New York’s affordability crisis didn’t happen overnight. It is the product of years of policy decisions made without consideration of the eventual consequences of those policies, which have increased the cost of necessities for all New Yorkers. Many Democratic politi-

cians in Albany still believe we can spend our way out of the affordability crisis they have created.

Recently I’ve spoken about how cashless bail and the revolving door of criminal justice have affected the price of consumer goods and insurance across the state. After the implementation of cashless bail, shoplifting became sport for those brazen enough to walk into stores, empty the shelves and walk out with hundreds of dollars of merchandise while taunting the employees to stop them if they dared. Companies made decisions to allow shoplifters to walk away rather than risk harm to their employees.

The challenges we face every day can only be solved with real policy changes.

nor to pay lip service to the harms this policy has caused the state, while only offering Band-Aids as “solutions.” Even before I took office, our conference warned that these reforms went too far and would have serious consequences. Since then, my colleagues and I have put forward multiple legislative solutions for the governor and legislative majorities to consider, including my bill that would restore judicial discretion to detain defendants who credibly pose a danger to the community, a legal principle that is recognized in 49 states.

The eventual effect of this policy was that retailers absorbed the losses, paid higher insurance premiums and raised prices to make up the difference, affecting all of us. Insurance companies paying out claims for those losses also increased their rates for all New Yorkers. This trickle-down effect of cashless bail impacting affordability wasn’t considered by the shortsighted State Legislature.

Since the state passed bail and discovery reforms in 2019, it has become an almost annual tradition for the gover-

Albany-driven energy policies are also driving up taxes and utility costs, increasing energy bills for families and imposing costly burdens on small businesses. While I support taking steps to safeguard our environment, eliminating reliable sources of energy and favoring less-reliable sources is reckless and dangerous. The State Energy Planning Board recently acknowledged that reality by adopting an energy plan that delays the benchmarks for reducing emissions set forth in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act passed in 2019.

But this half-measure isn’t enough. We must advance legislation that includes transparency by utility companies, limi-

tations on rate increases, and realistic deadlines so families aren’t forced to pay the price for policies that move faster than technology, infrastructure and New Yorkers’ wallets can support. In the wake of several high-profile incidents and tragedies involving squatters in 2024, I brought an amendment to the Senate floor to correct state laws that were empowering and emboldening squatters. While my proposal was voted down at the time, a similar, albeit watered-down, proposal was ultimately tucked into the final state budget not long afterward. Time and again, the governor and the legislative majorities initially deny the realities and challenges New Yorkers are facing — which members of my conference and I consistently voice in the Senate chamber — only to later acknowledge these realities and pass legislative halfmeasures to pretend the problem is solved. These challenges New Yorkers face every day didn’t happen overnight, and they can only be solved with real policy changes, not more spending and empty promises. In this year’s legislative session, I will continue to fight for real solutions: lowering costs, holding criminals accountable and giving families, workers and small businesses the stability they need to thrive.

HERALD

Modernizing support for volunteer firefighters

New York’s volunteer firefighters and emergency service personnel have long been the backbone of the state’s emergency response system. On Long Island and across New York, they respond not only to fires, but also to car accidents, medical emergencies, storms and disasters of every kind.

Their service saves taxpayers an estimated $3.8 billion each year, according to the Firefighters Association of the State of New York. Yet despite their value, volunteer departments are struggling to recruit and retain enough members to meet growing demands.

The reasons are familiar. Potential volunteers say they don’t have the time, that the commitment feels overwhelming, or that the system is simply too complicated to navigate. Cultural and economic changes have made it harder for people to give unpaid time, and the numbers show it: New York’s volunteer fire service has declined from roughly 120,000 members in the early 2000s to about 80,000 today. While this is not yet a full-blown crisis, it is a warning sign that action is needed now.

Now, FASNY is proposing the next step: the Volunteer Optimization Legislative Initiative. This package of 14 straightforward actions is designed to modernize how New York supports volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel, making service more feasible for today’s families and workers. Importantly, these initiatives would apply uniformly across the state, ensuring fairness and consistency for all volunteer departments.

For more than a decade, FASNY has

worked to reverse the decline in the number of volunteers. Through initiatives like Train the Recruiter classes and a statewide outreach campaign, the organization has consistently pushed creative solutions.

In recent years, that effort has been strengthened by a productive partnership with Gov. Kathy Hochul and many state legislators. Together they have delivered training stipends, grants for capital improvements and funding for equipment purchases that have made a real difference in communities statewide.

At its core, VOLI recognizes that volunteers should not be penalized financially for serving. Several proposals focus on meaningful tax relief, including an enhanced volunteer firefighter and EMS income tax credit, the ability to combine such credits with property tax exemptions, and new credits to help offset child care and family-related expenses. Housing affordability is addressed with exemptions from mortgage recording taxes and optional local relief on recording fees, helping volunteers live in the communities they protect.

Other initiatives acknowledge the real, day-to-day costs of volunteering. VOLI would allow departments or authorities having jurisdiction to reimburse volunteers’ reasonable out-ofpocket expenses without creating tax burdens. It also proposes incentives for on-call duty shifts through the Length of Service Award Program, and statefunded reimbursement mechanisms to help smaller departments afford these benefits.

Workplace realities are another major

barrier to volunteering, and VOLI tackles this head-on. Employer tax incentives would encourage businesses to hire volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel while allowing them to respond during business hours. At the same time, volunteers would gain stronger workplace protections.

Equally important, the initiative would prohibit local governments, unions or bargaining units from preventing career firefighters from volunteering in their home communities, expanding the potential pool of experienced responders.

Safety and fairness are also central themes. VOLI would bring volunteer injury benefits in line with standard workers’ compensation, ensuring equal protection when volunteers are hurt in the line of duty. It would also expand eligibility for training stipends, public service loan forgiveness, and state tuition assistance, recognizing that education and training benefit both volunteers and the communities they serve.

Taken together, these 14 initiatives do not represent radical change. They are practical, thoughtful updates that reflect modern economic realities while respecting the proud tradition of volunteer service.

With the new state legislative session under way, FASNY representatives will discuss these proposals. Implementing at least a majority of them, if not all, would strengthen recruitment and retention, protect taxpayers, and help ensure that New York’s volunteer fire and EMS system remains strong for generations to come.

Both parties share the blame for the mess we’re in

To the Editor:

Re Jerry Kremer’s column in the Jan. 1-7 issue, “For President Trump, too many missed opportunities,” I will try to be as fair and balanced as possible.

Neither a Democrat nor a Republican, I’m an independent. We are as divided as ever, but the fault for that lies at the feet of both parties. Their respective loyalties override the business of representing the needs of the people.

Since the beginning of President Trump’s second term, no matter whatever good he has done, Democrats find fault with it. The reality is that he inherited a domestic as well as an international mess that was administered by behind-thescenes figures who were propping up a cognitive declined president. A year into

Outrage on demand: Gaza gets celebs, Iran gets ignored

if you walked through the streets of manhattan, Los Angeles, Baltimore, Chicago or Portland last year, you could hardly miss them: endless Gaza protests, celebrities on bullhorns, and nonstop media coverage treating every chant as a moral imperative.

Susan Sarandon, mark Ruffalo and a parade of progressive icons were everywhere, lecturing the world on justice. Now that courageous Iranians are risking their lives in the streets, confronting a brutal regime, where are these moral megaphones? Where are the hashtags, the celebrity rallies and the tearjerking op-eds?

The silence is deafening.

In Iran, protesters are facing a government that has crushed dissent for decades. Hundreds of people have reportedly been killed for demanding basic freedoms. These men and women aren’t marching for Instagram applause. They are risking imprisonment, torture and death. yet celebrity rallies vanish, elite media campaigns are absent, and the activists who claim to speak for the oppressed suddenly

Letters

office, Trump has to address affordability, with everyday costs that are crushing the majority of Americans. The expense of groceries, health care, auto and homeowner’s insurance and prescription drugs are forcing people to make hard choices, because dollars can be stretched only so far. Interest rates for mortgages and loans are still too high.

The other reality is that the president has a nine-month window to address affordability, or he will lose Congress in November. Describing it as a “hoax” was ill-advised and alienating. If Trump loses Congress, the remainder of his presidency will be tied up in gridlock and attempts to impeach him. Nothing will get done, and the American people will go backward — while the two-party system, which has outlived its usefulness, will flourish. Promoting their own agendas to finagle and scheme to stay in power, the parties will do nothing to respond to the needs of everyday people, but everything for the special interests, lobbyists, and big campaign contributors.

ToNy GIAmeTTA Oceanside

have nothing to say.

The left’s silence on Iran has nothing to do with principle. Their outrage is selective, because the oppressor isn’t Israel and the victims aren’t Jewish. When a cause can’t be weaponized against America or Israel, moral alarm disappears. outrage is on demand, but only when it fits the narrative.

w here were Sarandon and Ruffalo when Iranian women faced batons and bullets?

Feminist voices are especially absent. Iranian women have lived under systemic oppression for nearly 47 years, subject to forced dress codes, restricted movement and brutal punishment for defiance. They are beaten, jailed and killed for demanding basic freedoms. Activists who flood social media, claiming to defend women everywhere, remain silent. Feminism filtered through ideology becomes performative rather than principled.

The silence from LGBTQ organizations is equally revealing. Homosexuality is criminalized under Iran’s regime, and public expressions of LGBTQ identity are punishable by death. If slogans and flags in American protests were serious, Iran would be condemned first. Instead activists look away, showing that their concern is political alignment, not life or liberty.

Contrast this with the Gaza protests. every banner, every chant, every Insta-

gram post receives nonstop amplification. Celebrities march alongside activists who openly embrace movements hostile to America and Israel. Symbols of terror-linked groups are tolerated or ignored. meanwhile, ordinary Iranians who oppose the same terror-sponsoring regime receive barely a whisper. This is not moral consistency; it is ideological selectivity. most liberal universities provide a stark example. Administrations have tolerated or encouraged anti-Israel demonstrations while staying silent on Iranian protesters. Students who shut down lecture halls over foreign conflicts now say nothing as a regime executes dissenters and suppresses women. Silence becomes policy when outrage is inconvenient.

President Trump provides a sharp contrast. Unlike celebrity activists, Trump has consistently condemned the Iranian regime’s violence and warned of consequences if the crackdown continues. That is leadership. He stands with people who fight for freedom, not people who kneel for photo ops. The president doesn’t pick and choose human rights based on hashtags. He knows that regimes that brutalize citizens and export terror are enemies of freedom.

If the left truly believed in universal

Framework by Tim Baker

human rights, outrage over Tehran would match outrage over Jerusalem. Its imbalance reveals priorities that are political, not principled — and this issue is about principle, not theology. Iranian protesters demand liberty and dignity — the same rights claimed by Americans at our founding. But modern activist leftists treat Iranians’ struggle as an afterthought. Any conflict framed as “us versus the West” gets broadcast; real freedom fighters are ignored.

Where were Sarandon and Ruffalo when Iranian women faced batons and bullets? Where were the big-name voices condemning internet blackouts, executions and arrests? Their outrage is transactional and performative. When there is no ideological payoff, there is no protest. When there is no camera angle, there is no solidarity.

Real conservatives and courageous Americans see tyranny for what it is, wherever it occurs. They support Israel because it is a democratic ally amid hostile regimes. They support Iranians’ fighting for freedom because liberty is universal.

The left has an opportunity to prove it genuinely cares about human rights. Until it does, its moral hypocrisy will remain on full display. outrage on demand is not justice. True courage stands with freedom — everywhere, every time.

Ari Brown represents the 20th Assembly District.

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