Long Beach Herald 03-19-2026

LONG BEACH

Also serving Point Lookout & East Atlantic Beach

gas prices at the pump Page 3

Justine Stefanelli/Herald

Several hundred people showed up to breach the waves for this year’s event after waiting more than a month.

L.B. Polar Bears finally celebrate 2026 Splash

By CHRiS ColuCCi ccolucci@liherald.com

The Long Beach Polar Bears made a triumphant return to the waves on Sunday. The annual event was scheduled to take place on Super Bowl Sunday, as it has been since 2000, but was postponed for the first time in its history due to nearly a foot of snowfall at the end of January worsened by freezing temperatures in the beginning of February.

Undeterred by weather that was still far more winter than spring, the ocean-jumpers braved water temperatures in the mid-30s, and land temperatures only slightly warmer. The plunge helped the Polar Bears in their continued drive to raise money for the MakeA-Wish Foundation.

The funds come from direct donations, contributions and the eye-catching branded merchandise associated with the Long Beach Polar Bears — most recognizable are T-shirts and hooded sweatshirts

LBHS students advance to international science fair

By CHRiS ColuCCi ccolucci@liherald.com

For the first time in 14 years, students from Long Beach High School have earned entrance into the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair, with sophomores Sydney Olivo and Karina Rios attending the competition May 9-15 in Phoenix, Ariz.

The two students, under the guidance of science research teacher Kristen Conklin-Kearney, advanced to ISEF after taking first place at the Long Island Science and Engineering Fair, which took place from Feb. 2 to March 12.

“Making it to ISEF, you have to be 1 percent of the population on planet Earth,” ConklinKearney said. “It’s one of the most prestigious science competitions in the world. A lot of students see it as their golden ticket to apply to colleges. When a college sees this student got an ISEF ticket, that sets them apart.”

The Long Island Science and Engineering Fair — a competition comprising students from grades eight through 12 who present their research across nine categories — began with nearly 70 schools from across the Island presenting more than 400 projects in round one.

Nearly 150 projects from less than 50 schools advanced to the second round of competition. Of them, Long Beach garnered three second-place awards, one for third place, and two honorable mentions. Olivo and Rios captured two of the three total ISEF tickets that were available to first-place winners. Olivo’s research, titled “Detection of Trifluoroacetic Acid in Commercial Water Filters and its Toxicological Impacts on Keystone Aquatic Species,” investigated the ability of common water filters to remove trifluoroacetic acid — a “forever chemical” — and its effect on daphnia magna, a

crustacean that plays a small but notable role in the environment.

“I enjoy researching gaps in literature because I know these things can have real-world implications on people,” Olivo explained of her interests. “I like the problem-solving aspect of science and how it can be challenging, but it’s very

rewarding when you’re able to put together an experiment like this and you see significant results.”

Rios’ work, titled “Evaluating Behavioral Outcomes and Gut Microbiome Diversity in Drosophila melanogaster Following Exposure to Natural Versus Prescription ADHD

MSSN recognized for pancreatic cancer care

By ABIGAIL GRIECO agrieco@liherald.com

Mount Sinai South Nassau has been designated a Pancreatic Cancer Center of Excellence by the National Pancreas Foundation following a rigorous national audit and review process. The recognition places the Oceanside hospital among an elite group of just 60 hospitals in the United States — and 13 in New York state — to receive the designation.

The Center of Excellence designation recognizes hospitals that provide a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to treating pancreatic cancer, focusing on both clinical outcomes and patients’ quality of life. Hospitals must demonstrate that they coordinate care across multiple specialties while offering services that address the medical and supportive needs of patients.

According to the National Pancreas Foundation, the designation is based on criteria developed by a task force of pancreatic disease specialists and patient advocates. Requirements include the availability of expert physicians such as gastroenterologists, pancreatic surgeons and interventional radiologists, along with patient-focused services including pain management programs, psychosocial support and other supportive care resources.

“This designation results from our singular focus on advancing health care for the communities we serve,” said Adhi Sharma, president of Mount Sinai South Nassau. “I am proud of our teamwork and collaboration that is centered on providing our patients with standard-setting medical care.”

Pancreatic cancer treatment at the hospital is led by Ganesh Gunasekaran, chief of hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery services. Under his leadership, the

hospital’s Liver, Bile Duct and Pancreas Surgery Program develops individualized treatment plans for patients with pancreatic cancer, complex benign tumors and other diseases affecting the liver, gallbladder, bile duct and pancreas.

The program’s board-certified, fellowship-trained hepatobiliary surgeons use advanced technology and minimally invasive surgical techniques. Physicians work closely with specialists such as advanced gastroenterologists and interventional radiologists to coordi-

nate care and determine the most effective treatment approach for each patient.

For complex cases requiring major surgical procedures, the multidisciplinary team includes surgeons with transplant experience and surgical oncologists who perform intricate operations and reconstructions. This collaborative expertise allows physicians to remove cancers that involve major blood vessels— cases that are sometimes considered inoperable at other institutions.

“Center of Excellence designation reflects our commitment to working across specialties to identify the optimal treatment for each patient with pancreatic cancer or other hepatobiliary diseases,” Gunasekaran said. He noted that he has performed more than 1,000 hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgeries during his career. “We are truly committed to creating an environment of excellence in patient care and innovation.”

Founded in 1997, the National Pancreas Foundation supports patients affected by pancreatic diseases, including pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. The organization funds research, advocates for improved treatments and provides education and resources for patients, caregivers and medical professionals.

Mount Sinai South Nassau is the Long Island flagship hospital of the Mount Sinai Health System. The 455-bed acute-care teaching hospital employs more than 900 physicians and 3,500 staff members and offers specialized services in cardiac care, oncology, orthopedics, bariatric surgery, mental health and emergency medicine.

The hospital also operates the South Shore of Nassau County’s only trauma center verified by the American College of Surgeons and Long Island’s only freestanding 911-receiving emergency department in nearby Long Beach.

Gas prices spike with conflict in Middle East

By Chris ColuCCi ccolucci@liherald.com

Long Beach residents are spending more to fill their cars as gas prices have steadily increased over the past month. As of press time, the average price of gas on Long Island has jumped nearly 80 cents in recent weeks, with the national average spiking more than 90 cents over the same period. Long Beach stations have followed a similar, significant upward trend.

Prices across the state, and the country, have been hit with increases after U.S. military activity in Iran created political and financial pressure. With local schools on hiatus for spring break in less than three weeks, some residents are concerned about the cost of gas affecting travel plans, even factoring in several competitive options to fill their tanks. “I’m definitely trying to drive less,” said one Long Beach resident while pumping gas, “and looking for cheaper stations.”

In Long Beach, gas prices average $3.79 per gallon of regular, with one station as high as $3.99 per gallon. The increased cost of fuel isn’t only felt by residents, but by business owners as well. Gas stations need to refill their own supply from tankers, with the increased cost of inventory being an underlying factor in pricing. As stations often refill 20,000 gallons or more, an increase in their cost gets passed on to consumers.

One manager of a local gas station, who asked to remain nameless, explained that larger gas station franchises can offer lower prices than individually owned stations. “It went up a dollar from two weeks ago,” he said. “Everyone has a different price. It depends how big you are or how small you are. We’re small over here.”

On Feb. 28, President Trump initiated a military attack against Iranian targets. Iran, one of the world’s

foremost oil producers, retaliated by slowing overall oil production and blocking the Strait of Hormuz — a crucial waterway through which roughly 20 percent of worldwide oil passes. The reduced oil supply is a crucial factor in the cost of fuel.

The last time oil spiked above $100 per barrel — a standard benchmark of fuel costs —was in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in March 2022, reaching a peak of $123 per barrel. It remained above $100 for five months. On March 12 of this year, oil reached $100 per barrel for the first time since 2022, bouncing to

reviewing the Cost of Fuel

Prices have seen a rapid increase due to global events.

National Average per Gallon, Regular Current: $3.84

One week ago: $3.58

One month ago: $2.92

One year ago: $3.08

Long Island Average per Gallon, Regular Current: $3.64

One week ago: $3.44

One month ago: $2.85

One year ago: $2.98

$108 on March 18.

On March 11, U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright announced a plan to release 172 barrels from American petroleum reserves over the next 120 days. The action, which mirrors President Biden’s release of 180 barrels during the price increase of 2022, should ultimately reduce the financial strain on consumers but will leave the country’s stockpile of raw oil at its lowest point since 1982. “The United States has arranged to more than replace these strategic reserves,” Wright wrote in a statement, “with approximately 200 million barrels within the next year — 20% more barrels than will be drawn down — and at no cost to the taxpayer.”

Towns set tax relief for fallen officers’ families

By MiKE Pol ANsKY

Senior Correspondent

Nassau County’s three town supervisors gathered place at the Brian Moore Athletic Center in Plainedge Park, along with local officials and law enforcement families to highlight a new property tax exemption for surviving spouses of police officers killed in the line of duty.

The announcement with Hempstead’s John Ferretti, Oyster Bay’s Joseph Saladino and North Hempstead’s Jen DeSena took place on March 11; one day after the Oyster Bay Town Board unanimously approved the exemption.

Brian Moore, a Plainedge High School graduate and New York City police officer was shot and killed in Queens in 2015. His father, Ray Moore, attended the news conference.

The measure allows surviving spouses to receive a 50 percent exemption on the town portion of property taxes for their primary residence. The program was authorized by legislation approved by the State Legislature and signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul in late 2025.

“Here in Nassau County, we back the blue,” Ferretti said, adding “we have never taken for granted the many sacrifices made by Nassau County police officers every single day! We hope that this

new legislation provides some relief and assistance to those left behind.”

The exemption applies only to the town portion of property tax bills. School districts, fire districts, villages and other municipalities must adopt

their own legislation to offer similar relief.

Several Long Island towns — Babylon, Brookhaven, Hempstead, Huntington, Islip and Oyster Bay — have already enacted the exemption. The

North Hempstead town board is expected to consider the measure next month.

“The men and women who put service before self, people who risked their own lives to protect our lives and sometimes just our property,” Saladino said.

“No law could repay what they gave,” adding the exemption is “one of many meaningful ways that we can show their families that the sacrifice of their loved ones will always be appreciated, and that they did not die in vain.”

DeSena said the exemption recognizes the risks police officers take to protect residents.

“There is no greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for his friends,” she said, quoting the Gospel of John, “this is what the men and women in blue do for us. They are dedicated, they are trained, and they go out every day and put their lives between danger and we the residents they protect. Nassau County is the safest county in the country thanks to the men and women in blue.”

Nassau County Superior Officers Association Vice President Keith Jaklitsch thanked local leaders for adopting the measure.

“The families of fallen officers cannot be forgotten,” he said, adding that the exemption was something “that actually should have been done a long time ago.”

Impaired driving remains a concern in Long Beach

By AIDAN WARSHAVSKY awarshavsky@liherald.com

Over 31,000 impaired driving arrests were made across New York State in 2024, according to the Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research.

Long Beach’s 35,000 residents— a 2024 U.S. Census Bureau estimate — are no strangers to the effects of impaired driving. On March 11, a 36-year-old Long Beach native was arrested in Island Park by Nassau County Police officers. Officers claimed she was intoxicated, per a press release, and allegedly resisted arrest.

With impaired driving incidents occurring on Long Beach’s doorstep, Police Commissioner Richard DePalma explained how the city addresses drivers who may be under the influence.

Between 2014 and May 2025, the Long Beach Police Department made over 1,200 arrests related to impaired driving. Richard DePalma, Long Beach’s police commissioner, said the battle against impaired driving is multifaceted and thanked county police for their continued efforts at Long Beach’s borders.

“We work together to heavily enforce statutes and laws with respect to impaired driving,” DePalma said, noting their vehicular crimes unit. “Our partnership with them is valued.”

Nassau County district attorney Anne T. Donnelly gives more than $30,000 in annual grant money to the Long Beach Police Department to help fund training on field sobriety tests, breath analysis and drug recognition.

The department also receives grant money from Long Beach Aware to provide classes for underage drinkers. “The only time you can make the decision to drive is before you have a drink,” Executive Director Judi Vining said.

Regarding substances like marijuana, DePalma said an officer in the department is undergoing Drug Recognition Expert training. The training program involves nine days of academic training related to physiology and vital signs. The program then includes a 56-hour training course that covers drug evaluation procedures and legal issues. Lastly, the officer undergoes field training,

where they are required to identify people under the influence of at least three drug categories.

With dozens of businesses in Long Beach holding a state liquor license, DePalma said that the department visits annually with reminders of penalties for overserving, including the suspension or rescinding of a liquor license.

At a recent Atlantic Beach board of trustees meeting, residents were reminded of a car accident in December. The driver left a nearby beach club while allegedly intoxicated and under the influence of Delta-9-THC and collided with another vehicle.

Atlantic Beach residents, representing a main route into Long Beach from the west, questioned Long Beach’s approach to impaired driving. When asked about the accident, DePalma said that there are dozens of marinas, restaurants and beach clubs that operate across the barrier island. He added that while the accident was not a result of a Long Beach business, it did highlight the sensitivity of the issue.

“Impaired driving is an issue that goes far beyond Long Beach,” DePalma said. “Always have a plan when you go out — one wrong decision can hurt someone else.”

Long Beach real estate agents take on the market

By AidAn WArshAvsky

The Long Beach Chamber of Commerce hosted five local real estate agents at their latest meeting. They discussed the state of the market at their general meeting on March 16, examining what residents, new and old, should consider as they look to expand their commercial or personal portfolio.

U.S. long-term mortgage rate hovering at 6 percent

In February, for the first time since September 2022, the mortgage rate dropped below 6 percent for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. With the number now at 6.11 percent — still down from 2025’s high of 6.89 percent — the rate is influenced by the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy and expectations for the economy and inflation. Lower interest rates stimulate the housing market by making borrowing money cheaper and increasing competition.

Barbara Mullaney, a real estate agent for Coldwell Banker American Homes, said she hopes the lower rates will give buyers more confidence to negotiate. “More people can get into the market,” she said. “It gives buyers a little more buying power. They don’t have to sit on the fence anymore.”

Understanding what your buying power is

The average value of a Long Beach home over the past year is just under $800,000 — a 4.5 percent increase, according to Zillow. During the negotiation process, Mullaney urged people to know their finances and come prepared to make an offer. Many times, buyers are upset that they missed out on a home because they must bet against themselves. Mullaney said that coming prepared tempers expectations and gives buyers better understanding of the purchases they can make. “Put your best offer in and get prepared with your lender,” Mullaney said. “The price of the house does not matter if you are only comfortable with spending a certain amount per month.”

Remaining objective on your goals and plan for success

Understanding why you want to list your property is important. Kelly Forman, a real estate advisor from Compass, said that knowing the “why” will help you sell your property better. “Every neighborhood is different,” she said. “You market where your buyers are coming from.”

Home staging is one of the best ways to increase a home’s value on the market, according to the National Association of Realtors. By allowing buyers to visualize a space, 30 percent of real estate agents reported increases as high as 10 percent in the dollar value offered.

“Your property should look like a canvas, so that a consumer can come in and say ‘wow I can see myself here,” Forman said.

Hofstra eyes CAA championship stage

By ANDREW COEN sports@liherald.com

Hofstra’s men’s lacrosse team reached the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) tournament last spring for the first since 2021 and longtime head coach Seth Tierney hopes that building block lays a solid foundation for a bigger climb.

The Pride reached the CAA semifinals and just missed out on the opportunity to play for a conference title with an 11-10 overtime heartbreaking loss at topseeded Towson. Hofstra brought back plenty of key pieces from that breakthrough season looking to write a different script this May, but returning to the four-team CAA postseason stage will come down to crucial regular season contests against closely-matched opponents.

“The CAA games just take on a different meaning and they have a lot of weight because they’re technically playoff games without being in the playoffs,” said Tierney, who is also the U.S. Men’s Senior National Team head coach as it gears up for 2027 World Lacrosse Men’s Championship, in Japan next year. “They’re tiebreaker games and every time that you can get a win then you can get a tiebreaker over that team not knowing how the future is going to play out.”

Hofstra opened CAA play March 13 with a 12-7 setback at Long Island rival Stony Brook which puts even more weight on Pride’s upcoming conference games.

The Pride (2-5) entered the season with plenty of promise seeing three returning players named to the preseason All-CAA team in red-shirt senior attackman Trevor Natalie, red-shirt junior defenseman Austin Clarke and red-shirt sophomore goalie Shea Kennedy. Natalie was also named a preseason USA Lacrosse AllAmerican after a 2025 season in which he tallied 40 points on 28 goals and 12 assists.

Natalie leads Hofstra in goals through seven games with 16 including three in a hard-fought 11-8 loss to Big Ten foe Rutgers on Feb. 28. The Stuart, Fla. native also tallied four goals in Hofstra’s 14-7 season-opening win at Iona on Feb. 2.

The offense is also led by senior attackman Anthony Mollica, who registered a career-best six goals in Hofstra’s 11-10 home win against UMBC on March 7. Mollica, a former Massapequa High School standout, has 11 goals and nine assists so far this season after tallying 50 points as a junior.

“Anthony is this quiet leader who leads by example with a quiet voice,” Tierney said. “He works hard and he is reaping the rewards.”

The Pride offense boasts plenty of other scoring weapons including senior midfielder Trey Parkes, sophomore attackman Drew Bogardus, redshirt sopho-

more midfielder Joey DeYoung and freshman attackman Gus Langtry.

Langtry, who was ranked 94th on Nike/Inside Lacrosse Power 100 Freshman Rankings out of Parker, Colo., is off to a strong start in his collegiate career with 10 goals including three in the Rutgers loss. He has solid lacrosse genes as the son of former Hofstra All-American Brian Langry.

“He’s got some great DNA and some great characteristics,” said Tierney of Langtry. “He is a very confident and skilled player.”

The close defense is anchored by Clarke, a Parkton, Md. native who recorded 24 ground balls and 13 caused turnovers last season. Redshirt senior Will Delaney also brings veteran experience in front of the cage after registering 20 ground balls last season.

Kennedy patrols the net for a second straight season after making 167 saves last year. He is off to another strong start this season with 83 saves and 54 percent save percentage so far this season.

Hofstra will host Monmouth in a critical CAA game this Saturday at 1 p.m. at Shuart Stadium. The Pride also has a big conference home game against Fairfield on April 4 at 3 p.m. and will face Ivy League power Yale in anon-league tilt on April 14 at 7 p.m.

Prestige for college-bound young scientists

Interventions,” examined the effects of certain ADHD medications and over-the-counter nutrients on the digestive and cognitive function of fruit flies.

“I’m most interested in neurology,” Rios said. “Last year, I also did a study on neurology. There’s so little known about how everything works, and that’s mostly what I’m interested in and why I want to keep researching neurological topics.”

Ilike the problemsolving aspect of science and how it can be challenging.

Sydney OlIvO

Sophomore, Long Beach High School

This year, ISEF will distribute awards up to $6,000 for winners of 22 different categories, as well as up to $100,000 for nine separate awards to those who meet specific criteria as determined by the judging panel.

The competition is open to high school students from around the world, with up to 70 different countries expected to be represented.

Conklin-Kearney pointed out that entering science fairs isn’t about winning or earning prize money, but it’s about being self-motivated, gaining experience with in-depth research and presenting it confidently.

“We have a lot of kids who, maybe they’re not sure what they want to do,” she said. “But once they start to get comfortable presenting and they’re talking about something they’re really passionate about, it becomes real to them. They’re able to say, ‘I absolutely want to work in a lab when I get older. I absolutely want to do this for the rest of my life.’”

Flooded streets are signs of larger challenges

Rising seas, stormwater runoff and pollution affect communities from shore to shore

By ROKSANA AMID, ALYSSA R. GRIFFIN & ABBEY SALVEMINI of the Herald Community Newspapers

Fourth installment in a series about water.

Flooding streets, polluted bays and aging infrastructure are reshaping life along Nassau and Suffolk counties’ coasts. From the barrier island neighborhoods of Long Beach and Island Park to the waterways of the Great South Bay and Hempstead Harbor, communities are confronting the growing impacts of rising water, runoff and environmental strain.

Across Long Island, scientists and planners say, climate change, development patterns and aging infrastructure are converging to create new risks for coastal communities.

Nassau’s South Shore

Heavy rain can quickly overwhelm parts of Nassau County’s South Shore. In the West End of Long Beach, storm drains can fill within minutes as water pools at intersections, climbs curbs and creeps toward front steps. In nearby Freeport, residents sometimes wade through ankle-deep water along canal-side streets. In a Facebook poll from the Herald, residents of Oceanside and Island Park were invited to share experiences with bayside flooding.

RISING TIDES TIDES

Heavy rain combined with high tide, residents say, can push water back up through storm drains. Major flooding events, they report, have struck several times in recent years. High tides — particularly during a new moon and combined with strong winds — can bring roughly a foot of water onto some blocks.

Across the South Shore, flooding is no longer unusual. In many communities, it has become a regular part of life.

Long Beach and Island Park sit on narrow barrier islands only a few feet above sea level, while Freeport and Oceanside stretch along canals and bays that funnel water inland. All four communities connect through Reynolds Channel and the Western Bays, allowing tidal surges to move freely between them.

Much of the infrastructure in and beneath these communities — storm drains, sewer lines and bulkheads — was built decades ago, before sea levels began rising and extreme rainfall became more common.

“When you look at repeated flooding in coastal places like Long Beach and Freeport,” Amy Chester, managing director of the climate resilience nonprofit Rebuild by Design, said, “a huge part of the vulnerability comes down to how these neighborhoods were originally built, where houses went, how high they were built and what infrastructure was put underneath them.”

Many South Shore communities expanded rapidly during the post–World War II housing boom. Natural landscapes that once absorbed rainfall were replaced with pavement and development, while stormwater systems were designed with the assumption that rain would fall and simply drain away. Today, that assumption often proves faulty.

Living with water

Flooding now shapes daily life in many South Shore neighborhoods. Many residents move their cars to higher ground when storms threaten. Others install

pumps in crawlspaces to push water back outside, though many say it still seeps back in. For many households, flooding now affects everyday decisions — from where to park to whether work or school schedules may change.

And flooding doesn’t stop at municipal borders. Rain falling in higher-elevation communities such as Lynbrook eventually flows downhill toward the bay. During intense storms, runoff travels from Nassau’s glacial high points on the North Shore toward its lowest-lying southern communities.

“If you look at the topography, it’s the result of a terminal moraine left by a glacier,” said Georgeen Theodore, an architect and urban planner with Interboro Partners. “Water flows from the high point to the low point. What happens to a town on the bay is connected to towns uphill.”

Because of that connection, Theodore said, climate resilience must be addressed regionally. “Climate vulnerability cannot be solved by one village alone,” she said.

In Long Beach, the highest elevations are along the oceanfront, descending toward Reynolds Channel, where flooding is more common. Similar patterns appear along Freeport’s canals and along Island Park’s lowest blocks, where water tends to pond first and recede last.

Many resilience programs focus on homeowners, offering grants to elevate houses or retrofit properties. Renters, and residents of multifamily buildings, often have fewer options.

“If you don’t own your home, what are your choices?” Chester asked. “You can’t elevate the building. You can’t redesign the drainage.”

Historic housing policies also play a role. In the 1930s and 1940s, federal mortgage maps labeled certain neighborhoods risky for investment, often based on

race or religion. “What we see today is the legacy of those decisions,” Chester said. “Areas that were denied investment then are often the same places facing higher climate risk now.”

Theodore cautions against viewing flooding as purely natural. “Is it a natural disaster,” she asked, “or the outcome of decades of planning and housing decisions?”

Fragmented solutions

Residents say that official responses to flooding have been inconsistent. Some recall sewer improvements in Island Park, but broader efforts have been limited. Experts say that effective solutions necessitate a regional approach.

The best way to manage rainfall, Theodore said, is to slow it before it reaches storm drains through strategies such as permeable pavement, rain gardens, increased tree cover and reducing paved surfaces.

“We want to slow the way water flows,” she said. “But we built for speed.”

With Nassau County already densely developed, creating space for water absorption has become increasingly difficult. Addressing flooding one property at a time won’t solve the larger problem, Theodore said, and long-term coordination will likely be necessary. Some residents worry about what the next decade may bring as sea levels rise and flooding becomes more common. Communities including Long Beach, Freeport, Island Park and Oceanside increasingly represent the front line of a worsening problem.

The Great South Bay

Pollution entering the Great South Bay is closely tied to what happens on land, particularly through

Wading into the debate over rising water

Continued from PreViouS PAGe

groundwater and runoff. The bay stretches along the South Shore, between the Island’s “mainland” and Fire Island. While it receives freshwater from rivers and streams, a significant portion flows underground through Long Island’s aquifer system.

As groundwater moves through soil, it carries pollutants on its way to the bay. “Excess fertilizer can then make its way into the water column, and that is going to stimulate these algal blooms,” Ryan B. Wallace, assistant professor of environmental studies and sciences at Adelphi University, said. “We have to be able to reduce the amount of nitrogen that’s entering into our groundwater.”

Nitrogen pollution is one of the most significant environmental challenges facing the bay. Much of it originates from cesspools and septic systems, while fertilizers used on lawns, golf courses and farmland also contribute.

Excess nitrogen fuels algae growth. As algae die and decompose, bacteria consume oxygen in the water.

The bay has also experienced harmful algal blooms such as brown tide, which block sunlight from reaching the bay floor and damage seagrass habitat. Because groundwater moves slowly, pollution entering the aquifer today may take years — or even decades — to reach coastal waters.

Despite these challenges, local organizations are working to improve water quality.

Save the Great South Bay, a nonprofit founded in 2012, focuses on reducing pollution and restoring the bay’s ecosystem.

“In each of the 16 towns that cross that area, we have appointed a creek defender who is a local steward,” Executive Director Robyn Silvestri said. “They go out, they patrol the creeks, look for trash or anything else that might be blocking the creek. And then, once a year, they organize a major community cleanup.”

Volunteers patrol waterways for debris in addition to organizing the annual cleanups. Over the past several years, they have removed more than 85,000 pounds of trash from creeks feeding into the bay.

“Oysters used to be all over the bay, and now there’s basically no natural oysters in the bay,” Sylvestri said. “We have oyster farms, but no naturally occurring oysters. So we’re looking to reverse that.”

Because a single oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water per day, restoring oyster reefs could significantly improve water quality.

Nassau’s North Shore

Environmental advocates say that conditions in Hempstead Harbor have improved significantly over the past several decades, though pollution from runoff, septic systems and aging infrastructure still affects nearby communities.

The harbor connects to Glen Cove Creek and several tributaries along the North Shore, and serves as both an ecological system and a drainage outlet for

the surrounding watershed.

“We have a long-term water monitoring program, which is really the backbone of what we do,” Michelle Lapinel McAllister, programs director for the Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor, said. “We’ve had consistent and uninterrupted monitoring since 1992.”

Researchers collect water samples year-round to measure nitrogen, bacteria and dissolved oxygen. “The main issues come down to nutrient pollution, bacteria and plastic pollution,” McAllister said.

Nitrogen pollution remains a persistent challenge, because excess nutrients can fuel algal blooms that reduce oxygen levels in the water.

Despite those challenges, the harbor has improved. In 2011, roughly 2,500 acres of shellfish beds reopened after being closed for more than 40 years because of high bacteria levels.

Oyster restoration has also helped improve water quality. Through partnerships with volunteers and federal grants, the coalition has planted more than 1.7 million oysters in Hempstead Harbor since 2022.

Nassau County Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton said that wastewater infrastructure remains a concern on the North Shore, where many communities still rely on septic systems.

“90 percent of Nassau County is sewered, and out of the 10 percent that is not sewered, 90 percent is in my district,” DeRiggi-Whitton said.

County officials have also targeted pollution flowing from Scutter’s Pond, in Sea Cliff, once identified as a major

contamination source for Hempstead Harbor. Officials installed a catch basin and weir system designed to filter runoff before it reaches the harbor.

“It’s basically a filter,” DeRiggi-Whitton said. “It just skims the water and takes out the pollutants that would go into Hempstead Harbor.” The roughly $250,000 project significantly reduced the amount of contamination entering the harbor.

Assemblyman Charles Lavine said that flooding in Glen Cove in 2024 illustrated how stormwater moves through the landscape. “Any groundwater that collects as a result of storms is going to find its way toward the lowest point,” Lavine said. “That’s gravity.”

Residents of Glen Cove’s Woolsey Avenue say they have repeatedly experienced flooding during major storms.

“The water isn’t just rain — it’s runoff from other streets, and it’s filled with garbage and bacteria,” resident Linda Melbinger said. “We’ve had dead animals in our yard in the past, and there’s a layer of contamination on everything that smells.”

“It impacts so many things,” McAllister said. “Everyone moves here because they want the beauty of the harbor, but it’s only going to be beautiful to the extent that you take care of it and you have a healthy and thriving harbor.”

The harbor, she said, supports local recreation, fishing and the broader coastal ecosystem.

“As good citizens,” McAllister said, “we have to make sure that we’re doing our part to respect the harbor and everything it has to offer.”

What residents can do to help

While large infrastructure projects and policy changes play a major role in addressing flooding and water pollution, environmental experts say residents can also take steps to reduce runoff, limit pollution and help protect local waterways.

Reduce fertilizer use

■ Fertilizers used on lawns and gardens can wash into storm drains and eventually reach bays and harbors.

■ Experts recommend using fertilizers sparingly — or avoiding them altogether — especially before heavy rain. Nitrogen from fertilizer is one of the leading contributors to harmful algal blooms in Long Island waters.

Upgrade septic systems

■ Many homes on Long Island still rely on older septic systems or cesspools, which can release nitrogen into groundwater.

■ Programs in Suffolk County offer incentives for installing nitrogenreducing septic systems. Environmental advocates say similar upgrades across the region could significantly reduce pollution entering coastal waters.

Limit runoff from driveways and yards

■ Rain that falls on paved surfaces flows quickly into storm drains, carrying pollutants with it.

■ Residents can help reduce runoff by installing rain barrels, planting rain gardens, adding trees or replacing pavement with permeable materials that allow water to soak into the ground.

Protect storm drains

■ Storm drains typically flow directly into nearby waterways.

■ Residents can help by keeping leaves, grass clippings and trash out of drains and reporting blocked drains to local public works departments.

Volunteer with local groups

■ Several Long Island organizations rely on volunteers to monitor waterways and remove debris. Programs such as Save the Great South Bay’s Creek Defender initiative organize cleanups and waterway patrols throughout the region.

Super Bowl Splash to St. Paddy’s Splash

with their iconic bear logo.

“We’ve been printing the sweatshirts since 2001,” said Chris Bergoffen, a volunteer with the Polar Bears. “We went from raising a few thousand dollars to, now, over $500,000 per year. The merchandise is at least half, maybe a little more.”

My son was saying he’s going to bring his kids here. It’s something we believe in.

EdMund WalthEr

Sayville Resident

The impetus for the Polar Bears’ Make-A-Wish connection is Long Beach’s local Bradley family whose son, Paulie, died of leukemia at age 4 in 1997. The Bradleys eventually approached Polar Bear co-founders Pete Meyers and Kevin McCarthy, who’d begun jumping into the frigid ocean as a birthday celebration in 1998, and the team soon coordinated to honor Paulie’s memory in the ocean he enjoyed. Meyers pointed out that the organization raised more than $11 million in its 26-year run and raised nearly $600,000 this year.

The Polar Bear Splash became a yearly opportunity for the community — residents and non-residents — to enjoy the water and support a charitable cause. While the Bradleys remain at the heart of the event, many families use the day to honor their own family or friends who’ve been affected by Make-AWish.

Kerry Ann Troy is the event coordinator for the City of Long Beach as well as the being the mother of Connor, the force behind Team Connor.

“Connor’s wish was to meet Kermit the Frog, so we went off to Disney,” Troy said. “It was an amazing trip. He was happier and healthier than he’d been in a long, long time. Unfortunately, right after the trip, he went into the hospital with pneumonia and he passed away.”

Groups often take the initiative to focus on their own fundraising efforts, heightening the impact and benefit of the day. “The first year, we raised, $8,000,” Troy said of the inspired efforts. “Last year, we raised $30,000. Hopefully we raise enough money to make a couple of wishes come true for other deserving children.”

Operating for more than two decades, the reputation of dipping into the cold Atlantic Ocean for a good cause has garnered attention far beyond Long Beach city limits, with repeat splashers and first-timers making appearances each year.

“We’re from Sayville,” said Edmund Walther, standing among his party of nine people gathered on the sand. “We started in 2004, me and my best friend. Now we bring our kids. We buy sweatshirts for us and for our kids. We spend

“polar bears” walked the beach to motivate and entertain the polar Bears.

$300 or $400 for an awesome cause.” Walther said one of his sons was away at college and unable to attend this year’s event, but it’s set to remain a family tradition. “My son was saying he’s going to bring his kids here. It’s something we believe in. It’s something we’ll do for as long as I can do it.”

For the uninitiated, the thought of running into 30-plus degree water can be daunting, but it’s not enough to dissuade determined beginners.

“I was a little nervous about an hour ago, but once you get in and you do it, it’s all worth it for a great cause,” said Max Suitovsky of Island Park after

emerging from his first Polar Bear Splash experience. Maria Suitovsky, his wife and another first-timer, offered advice to prospective participants.

“Keep on moving right before you jump in. Do some jumping jacks, do some stretches, and keep on moving when you get out,” she said, before including a final piece of motivation. “And you’ve got to scream as loud as you can when you jump in, for some power.”

City Council member George Ennis is a regular attendee who got into the water once again on the cold afternoon.

“This is clearly one of the biggest days in Long Beach,” he said as he reflected

Han-thu Cao couldn’t resist a backflip into the cold water.

on the Splash’s impact on the city. “It’s one of the most anticipated and one of the most fun. On a good day, if it’s in the 50s and sunny, you’ll have thousands of people. Thousands. It’s just a great community day.”

The Polar Bear Splash happens annually, but fundraising is endless with online merchandise sales and direct donations. The next public event will be the yearly announcement of the upcoming shirt color at Irish Day in October. More information about the Long Beach Polar Bears can be found at longbeachpolarbears.org.

Freeport Rec to host Hempstead Job Fair

Hundreds expected at annual event, where veterans and the disabled will be offered early admission

By ANDREW FRANCIS afrancis@liherald.com

The Town of Hempstead is once again hosting a job fair at the Freeport Recreation Center. General admission for the March 26 event will be available from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Veterans and those with disabilities are invited to an early admission beginning at 9:30 a.m. Registration is required, and organizers ask that all prospective participants do so by visiting HempsteadWorks.com/jobfair. Registrants will receive an invitation to attend an online pre-event workshop that will help prepare them for the fair.

In addition to networking and potential interview and job opportunities, registrants can get a professional headshot taken for free at the event. All of those taking part are encouraged to bring several copies of their resume.

Attendance at the job fair has grown considerably, according to town officials. Supervisor John Ferretti said that over 700 people were registered for the event as of March 13. Since the first gathering in 2022, as many as 2,000 attendees have registered each year.

Despite the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports of steady increases in unemployment nationwide since early 2022, the Town of Hempstead has maintained unemployment rates under 4 percent since 2021. The current unemployment in Hempstead, according to the town, is 3.2 percent, well under the U.S. average of 4.4 percent.

Job fair organizers seek to continue reducing unemployment and to provide residents with “an opportunity to meet with local businesses and major companies one on one” to discuss job prospects, Ferretti said.

“We also have agencies providing information and resources for individuals with disabilities and giving them an opportunity to meet with businesses,” he added. “HempsteadWorks will also have a table so residents can learn about the resources available at the Town of Hempstead Career Center.”

The companies and organizations that will be take part in the fair will represent a variety of industries, including retail, security, first responders, health care, child care, public transit, armed forces and communications. Some of the featured employers include Advantage Solutions, Council for Airport Opportunity, Long Island Cares, the New York City Department of

Correction, Richner Communications, the U.S. Marines Corp, the U.S. Postal Service, with many Long Island- and New York City-based job opportunities.

Additionally, HempsteadWorks has begun the registration process for its Summer Youth Employment Program, and is looking for eligible young people from ages 16 to 20 to apply. Participants will work as interns for 30 hours a week for six weeks over the summer with partnering local businesses and organizations.

For more information on the job fair and other HempsteadWorks initiatives, go to the HempsteadWorks Career Center website, HempsteadWorks.com, or call (516) 485-5000 ext. 1100.

A better way to treat blocked ears

For more than a century, doctors typically have treated children and adults with chronically blocked ears by surgically placing tubes within the ears to relieve pressure. Now, there is a better way.

Mount Sinai South Nassau’s ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialists are using minimally invasive endoscopic technology to thread a tiny balloon catheter through the nose and into the eustachian tube. They inflate the balloon for two minutes to restore tube function before deflating it and removing the catheter. Patients often can return to work and take part in normal daily activities on the same day as the procedure.

The new procedure can be used by patients suffering from chronic eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD), including those experiencing a persistent feeling of ear fullness, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), recurring ear fluid, difficulty hearing, earaches during weather changes, or difficulty equalizing ear pressure when traveling by plane or ascending steep inclines. Each year, ETD accounts for nearly 2 million visits to doctors, emergency departments, or urgent care centers in the United States.

ETD occurs when the eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear to the throat, becomes blocked, inflamed, or fails to open properly. When functioning correctly, the eustachian tube opens and closes naturally, especially when yawning or swallowing, and is vital to maintaining ear health and helping regulate pressure.

While children are susceptible to

Kakani, MD, Director of Otolaryngology

uses advanced noninvasive procedures to treat patients with issues related to the ears, nose, and throat

ETD due to their shorter, more horizontal, and narrower eustachian tubes, it is most prevalent in adults 65 years and older as well as those ages 40-64.

In the past, ETD has been treated by surgically placing tubes within the eardrums to aerate the middle ear. However, Mount Sinai South Nassau’s team of otolaryngologists (specialists in diagnosing and treating structural dysfunctions or injuries in the ear, nose, and throat) led by Rajesh Kakani, MD, Director, Otolaryngology, are using “tuboplasty surgery” or eustachian tube balloon dilation to correct ETD.

Approved by the Food and Drug Administration, tuboplasty surgery is an elective, minimally invasive endoscopic outpatient procedure that opens blocked

eustachian tubes with a balloon catheter.

Performed under general anesthesia, the benefits of tuboplasty surgery include minimal recovery time and follow-up care. Studies have found that patients experience long-lasting relief after tuboplasty surgery.

Designated as a Sinus Center of Excellence, Mount Sinai South Nassau’s Department of Ear, Nose, and Throat specializes in treating allergies, chronic ear infections, dizziness, hay fever, hearing loss, voice hoarseness, chronic nosebleed, chronic sinusitis, sleep apnea, and snoring and swallowing disorders.

Dr. Kakani and his team use advanced noninvasive procedures to treat patients with all types of issues related to the ears, nose, and throat, including:

• Endoscopic sinus surgery

• Eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty

• Head and neck cancer surgery

• Rhinoplasty, or plastic surgery of the nose

For more information about Mount Sinai South Nassau’s ENT services or to schedule an appointment, call 1-877-SOUTH-NASSAU.

mountsinai.org/southnassau

Turn down the risk

Protecting hearing starts with everyday habits Your HealtH and Wellness

By Christy Hinko

Protecting your hearing no longer applies only to loud workplaces or rock musicians. Everyday environments such as yardwork, commuting and concerts expose people to sound levels that can gradually damage the delicate structures of the inner ear. Because hearing loss is permanent, health experts emphasize prevention through simple, consistent habits that reduce exposure and give ears time to recover.

Everyday noise adds up

Many common activities reach volumes that can strain hearing. Gas-powered lawn equipment, leaf blowers and chainsaws often exceed levels considered safe for prolonged use. Commuters encounter steady noise from traffic, trains and buses, which can push sound exposure higher than people realize. Concerts and sporting events regularly reach levels that can cause damage in minutes. Even if the noise doesn’t feel painful, repeated exposure can contribute to long-term loss or persistent ringing in the ears.

Protecting hearing during yardwork

Reducing exposure while commuting

Daily travel exposes people to a mix of traffic, engines and crowd noise. Small adjustments can make a difference. Noisecanceling headphones reduce the need to turn up music or podcasts to compete with background sound. Standing farther from train doors or bus engines lowers exposure during rides. For drivers, keeping windows closed in heavy traffic and avoiding prolonged idling near loud vehicles helps limit cumulative noise. These changes are subtle but meaningful over months and years of routine travel.

Staying safe at concerts and events

Live music and large venues create some of the loudest environments people encounter. Wearing high-fidelity earplugs,

Outdoor chores are among the most overlooked sources of noise. Equipment that runs on gas or high-powered motors produces sustained sound that can exceed safe limits. Wearing well-fitted earplugs or earmuff-style protectors reduces the intensity reaching the inner ear. Choosing electric or battery-powered tools, which tend to run more quietly, also helps lower exposure. Taking short breaks during long tasks gives ears time to recover, and maintaining equipment can reduce unnecessary noise from worn parts or engines running at high strain.

which lower volume without distorting sound, allows listeners to enjoy performances while protecting their hearing. Standing farther from speakers or rotating positions during long shows reduces direct exposure. Taking breaks in quieter areas between sets gives ears a chance to recover. After an event, temporary muffled hearing or ringing is a sign that the ears have been stressed; allowing quiet time afterward helps them recover and reduces the risk of long-term effects.

Building long-term habits

Protecting hearing is most effective when it becomes part of everyday routines.

Keeping ear protection with yard tools, in a car or in a bag makes it easier to use consistently. Paying attention to early signs of strain, such as ringing or difficulty hearing conversations after loud activities, encourages people to adjust their habits. Regular hearing checks can help detect changes early and reinforce the importance of prevention.

How Treating Hearing Loss Protects Memory and Brain Health

During Brain Awareness Week (March 16–22), Hearing and Brain Centers of America is highlighting one of the most overlooked—but proven—ways to protect brain health: treating hearing loss and tinnitus.

Research shows untreated hearing loss is one of the largest modifiable risk factors for cognitive decline and dementia. As auditory input to the brain decreases, the brain must work harder to process sound, diverting resources away from memory, focus, and comprehension. Over time, this cognitive overload can accelerate brain atrophy, social isolation, and dementia risk.

Studies from Johns Hopkins Medical Center reveal that individuals with mild hearing loss are twice as likely to develop dementia, while

those with moderate to severe hearing loss face up to a five-fold increased risk. A 2023 study published in The Lancet further confirmed that treating hearing loss can significantly slow cognitive decline.

At Hearing and Brain Centers of America, traditional hearing aids have been replaced with prescriptiongrade NeuroTechnology™,

designed not just to amplify sound—but to stimulate the brain. These advanced devices improve clarity, reduce listening effort, and support neural pathways critical for memory and cognition.

The landmark ACHIEVE Study (The Lancet, 2023) found that older adults who treated hearing loss experienced a 48% reduction in cognitive decline over three years. Additional research shows hearing aid use is linked to improved memory recall, increased social engagement, and lower dementia prevalence.

Dr. Keith Darrow, neuroscientist and clinical audiologist, emphasizes: “We hear with our brains, not our ears.” Treating hearing loss early helps protect brain function, enhance quality of life, and promote healthier aging. In recognition of Brain

Awareness Week, Hearing and Brain Centers of America encourages adults over 50 to schedule regular hearing and cognitive screenings. If you or a loved one are experiencing hearing loss or tinnitus, contact us to schedule a comprehensive hearing and cognitive assessment.

Together, we can protect brain health and add more life to your years.

Business summit highlights entrepreneurs, innovation

By ABBEY SALVEMINI

The Herald Long Island Business Summit & Thrive Awards brought together entrepreneurs, executives and family-owned businesses at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury on March 3 for a day of networking, education and celebration focused on helping businesses expand and compete in a challenging market.

An all-day networking expo

featuring organizations such as the New York Small Business Development Centers, Trellus and the Secure Choice Savings Program kicked off the summit.

A featured executive session, “The Future is Now: Protecting Your Wealth and Legacy,” led by attorneys Morris Sabbagh and Joseph Trotti, of Vishnick McGovern Milizio LLP, emphasized proactive planning, wealth preservation and safeguarding family legacies.

Sabbagh encouraged a forwardthinking approach to protecting businesses and personal legacies.

“Most successful people are optimists, that’s what makes them successful,” he said, emphasizing that confidence, preparation and strategic vision drive long-term, generational success.

After the executive session, event leaders took the stage to formally greet attendees and highlight the summit’s mission of supporting and strengthening Long Island’s business community. Those lead-

ers underscored their commitment to strengthening Long Island’s business community and supporting small and mid-size companies.

Marc Perez, senior vice president at Bank of America, highlighted the bank’s commitment as a presenting sponsor of the event and to the region’s entrepreneurs, stating, “Bank of America remains deeply committed to supporting businesses, the backbone of Long Island’s economy.”

Stuart Richner, CEO of Richner Communications Inc., echoed that sentiment.

“Small and mid-size businesses are the backbone of Long Island’s economy,” emphasizing the vital role they play in driving regional growth,” he said.

Amy Amato, executive director of corporate relations/events at Richner Communications, encouraged attendees to maximize the day’s opportunities.

“I want you to leave here with tangible strategies and meaningful relationships,” she said.

18 Joseph Milizio, managing partner at Vishnick McGovern Milizio LLP, highlighted the energy in the room and the value of collaboration.

“We have a room filled with excitement,” he said. “This is where you form partnerships to grow your business,” underscoring how connection and strategic guidance can help businesses thrive for generations.”

At the heart of the summit were the 2026 Thrive Awards, celebrating the small and family-owned businesses that drive Long Island’s economy. Stew Leonard Jr. was honored with the Legacy Leadership Award, alongside winners in categories such as Excellence in Entrepreneurship, Social Impact, Creative Excellence and Health & Wellness Leadership. The awards showcased the innovation and resilience that shape the region’s business community.

The opening keynote of the summit featured fashion entrepreneur and native Long Islander Steve Madden, who shared insights on balancing ambition with sustainability in business during his session, “Building a Business That Doesn’t Break You.” Emmy Awardwinning broadcaster Curt Chaplin, guided the discussion on the challenges and triumphs of growing a successful enterprise.

“An entrepreneur is someone who breaks the rules and thinks of things differently,” Madden said, giving attendees an inside view of the unconventional strategies and mindset that have driven his success.

“His entire story is just remarkable,” Chaplin said, framing the conversation and asking questions that highlighted the lessons behind Madden’s journey.

Guests then attended “Workshop Session I: The Money Hour,” focused on financial strategy and growth. Panels on scaling startups, managing cash flow and protecting business legacy featured experts from Bank of America, CliftonLarsonAllen, GC Advisory Group and Empire State Development, offering practical guidance for sustainable success.

The afternoon continued with “Workshop Session II: Mind Your Business,” which covered legal essentials, AI tools and marketing strategies. Speakers included Milizio and Derek Gibbs of Casper Studios and Brad Harmon of Richner Communications.

“All decisions are driven through

data,” Harmon said. He reminded attendees that “it’s not about you, it’s about the consumer,” urging them to understand their target market and where their audience is. When challenges arise, his advice was simple: “Ask yourself, what did the data say?”

Motivational speaker and entrepreneur Brandon Steiner, founder and president of The Steiner Agency and CollectibleXchange, delivered his closing keynote, “The 5 Essentials to Thrive in Business in 2026.”

He emphasized innovation, empathy and growth, telling attendees, “I’m always trying to outthink my competition,” and urging them to “lead with empathy” by truly listening to customers’ needs. Steiner also encouraged continuous improvement, reminding the audience, “Don’t let success get in the way of more success.”

The Bank of America Small Business Spotlight Awards honored three standout businesses in the Micro, Small and Growth categories. Cholados y Antojitos Corp, Charles Krull + Son, Inc. Plumbing and Heating and Curl Evolution each received $5,000 in unrestricted funds. Participants entered by submitting how their business gives back to the community, and how they would use the prize money.

“We are thrilled to have been chosen to receive this award,” Curl Evolution owner Allison Bridges said. “We are very invested in Long Island and the people here. This will help us open an additional location at the end of the year helping us get more curl care options to the residents here as well as hire more talent.”

The event was powered by Bank of America, with additional support from Vishnick McGovern Milizio LLP, whose sponsorship underscored a shared commitment to strengthening and sustaining Long Island’s small and family-owned business community. Event highlights were also shared on Instagram and LinkedIn.

Attendees left with new connections, actionable strategies and renewed inspiration to navigate an evolving business landscape. By combining expert insight, meaningful networking and recognition of local excellence, the Herald Long Island Business Summit & Thrive Awards reinforced a shared commitment to empowering entrepreneurs and ensuring

Take a fresh look at your organization How this can turn challenges into opportunities

By Jocie Dye and Dave Hickman

Are you confident you’re heading toward sustainable and positive change? Are you concerned about the effectiveness of your operations and workforce, and if they can keep pace with your growth?

Reviewing your structure, processes, and systems with an eye toward your strategic vision can help your organization make informed, targeted, and impactful decisions.

Three key ways to uncover opportunities

Many businesses and organizations face uncertainty as competition, tax, and funding structures continue to evolve. Organizations need to be nimble and lean, while operating efficiently through leveraging data, automation, and their workforce to help drive growth.

Start with a 360-degree view of your business. If you’re already feeling stretched, think about helping fill those gaps while you focus on core strategy.

Getting a fresh perspective in three key areas – structure, process, and systems – can help you thrive now and in the face of new disruptions and business opportunities.

1. Understand the structure required to support your operations

Ask these questions to help determine if your operations are supporting the needs of your mission, strategy, and leadership now and in the future:

• Are managers receiving the training, tools, and information they need to do their work effectively?

• Do they understand their budget and spending?

• Do they feel they have the right tools and resources to operate efficiently?

• Do managers know who they can turn to if they have questions on financial or human resource matters?

People strategy: Filling the skills gap with the right team

If the answer to any of the above is

“no,” it’s possible you are experiencing either skills or capacity gaps within your operations functions.

Ideally, your organization’s operations serve in both a compliance and risk management role, as well as one of customer support to the rest of the organization. If you’re feeling gaps in either compliance or customer service, it’s likely time to further evaluate and identify where and why those exist — and begin planning to remediate.

Many businesses find outsourcing some or all their business operations can help fill skills gaps in required compliance areas, as well as add capacity, particularly through change and growth. Outsourcing often provides the ability and flexibility to right-size in a way that can grow with you as your needs change.

2. Review key operating processes

Your team is only as effective as the processes they follow and the tools and technology they use. To help you understand how effectively and efficiently your team is operating, ask:

• Do we have documented and wellunderstood standard operating procedures?

• Are we leveraging electronic and auditable system workflows for things like employee onboarding, accounts payable, expense approvals, and signatures on cash disbursements?

• Do sales and billing data flow seamlessly into the financial system of record?

• Are we storing documentation electronically, in shared and documented locations?

• Do managers know where to access the reporting data and information they need when they need it?

A “no” answer may indicate manual, inefficient processes, and risks associated with human error, weak controls, lost documentation, and the potential for missed revenues.

3. Modernize your technology systems for efficiency and security

Updating your technology doesn’t have to be a major undertaking. For some, it may be as simple as converting to a cloud-based version connected to other platforms.

Automation

Do you use outdated, unintegrated technologies, or have modern tools staff struggle to use effectively? If your workflows aren’t automated and you don’t have data at your fingertips, you should be asking yourself why.

Today’s business systems — and increasingly, AI-driven tools — make it possible to automate nearly any and all routine data entry tasks, which not only increases efficiency, but lends itself to stronger controls, documentable audit trails, and better data and analytics. Other systems can track a company’s full financial profile, which helps with everything from setting revenue targets to taxes.

Cybersecurity

Protecting technology, including software your employees use to work from home, is critical. Hackers, or threat actors, are constantly on the move, using AI and other tactics to hone their attacks. Anti-virus software,

employee education, strong passwords, a two-factor identification system, and regular system scans are just some of the cybersecurity techniques available

Artificial intelligence

AI-powered platforms can go beyond automation by learning patterns in your financial data, predicting cash flow, and identifying cost-saving opportunities. Combined with outsourcing support, these technologies allow your back-office team to shift from manual tasks to strategic analysis, helping leadership make smarter decisions faster.

For more information on business operations improvements, contact Nicola Ellam at nicola.ellam@CLAconnect.com or 646-604-0015.

The information contained herein is general in nature and is not intended, and should not be construed, as legal, accounting, investment, or tax advice or opinion provided by CliftonLarsonAllen LLP (CLA) to the reader. For more information, visit CLAconnect.com.

CLA exists to create opportunities for our clients, our people, and our communities through our industryfocused wealth advisory, digital, audit, tax, consulting, and outsourcing services. CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP) is an independent network member of CLA Global. See CLAglobal.com/disclaimer Investment advisory services are offered through CliftonLarsonAllen Wealth Advisors, LLC, an SECregistered investment advisor.

Sports stars to headline Herald Reworld event

Esiason and

Rjoin sustainability leaders for May 14th awards program honoring Long Island’s environmantal champions

eworld™, presenting sponsor of the 2026 Herald Sustainability Awards of Long Island, announced that former NFL quarterback and sports broadcaster Boomer Esiason and New York Islanders forward Kyle Palmieri will join this year’s event, with longtime broadcaster Tom Kelly returning as master of ceremonies.

Produced by RichnerLIVE and the Long Island Herald in partnership with Reworld™, the awards program will take place on May 14 at The Heritage Club in Bethpage. The evening will recognize outstanding environmental leadership across Long Island, honoring nonprofit organizations, educators, elected officials, and community leaders who are advancing sustainability efforts throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties.

“As this program enters its second year, we are proud to elevate leaders who are making meaningful environmental progress across Long Island,” said Maureen Early, lead community relations specialist at Reworld™.

“Bringing together respected voices from our region, including Boomer Esiason and Kyle Palmieri, helps shine a spotlight on the inspiring work happening in our communities.

Sustainability

is built through partnership, and this event reflects the collective commitment required to move our region forward.”

eVeNt DetailS

• Date: May 14

• locatioN: The Heritage Club, Bethpage

• preSeNteD by: Reworld™

• proDuceD by: RichnerLive

the 2026 herald Sustainability awards of long island presented by reworld™ will recognize individuals and organizations in several categories, including:

• Environmental Leader in Policy

• Champions of Municipal Stewardship

• Community Impact for Sustainability

• Environmental Infrastructure Leader

• Environmental Development Leader

• Environmental Leader in Entertainment

Esiason, who enjoyed a distinguished NFL career and later became a nationally recognized sports commentator, and Palmieri, a veteran NHL forward with the New York Islanders, will join Reworld™ in celebrating this year’s honorees and highlighting the importance of community leadership in tackling environmental challenges.

Kelly will guide the evening’s program, introducing award recipients and leading the ceremony.

The program will also feature the Student Sustainability Champion Award, honoring one exceptional student from Nassau County and one

from Suffolk County for leadership in promoting sustainable change. Each student honoree will receive a $2,500 prize provided by Reworld™ and will be recognized during the ceremony.

Reworld™ continues to invest in initiatives that empower communities and advance environmental stewardship across Long Island.

For more information about Reworld™ and its environmental initiatives, visit ReworldWaste.com.

For more information about the 2026 Herald Sustainability Awards of Long Island Presented by Reworld™ or to request an invitation, visit: RichnerLive.com/richner-event/ herald-sustainability-awards-powered-by-reworld/

STEPPING OUT

GIVE IN TO TEMPTATION

Life is sweet at the Chocolate Expo

By Abbey Salvemini

Chocolate lovers, mark your calendars for a day of indulgence for all the senses. The Chocolate Expo returns on Sunday, March 22 — this year bringing its tasty wonders to its new venue, following many years at Hofstra University. Nassau Coliseum’s Expo Hall, a vast — more than 44,000 square foot — space, is ready to welcome all to an immersive chocolate wonderland of decadent flavors, irresistible aromas and family-friendly fun.

Upon entering everyone is immediately greeted by chocolate fountains, flowing with rich white, dark and milk chocolate, setting the tone for a deliciously unforgettable experience.

One of the largest and most celebrated chocolate festivals in the U.S., according to its founder Marvin Baum, more than 80 vendors are represented at what he describes as “the official home of chocolate, food and fun.” Visitors can treat themselves to everything from artisan chocolates and baked goods to specialty foods, cheeses and spirits.

“We’re happy to bring the Chocolate Expo to the Nassau Coliseum,” Baum says. “With more space comes more vendors. We’re bringing in vendors who don’t normally come to events on Long Island, so people will get to see something truly different.”

Beyond shopping and sampling, visitors can enjoy demonstrations, chocolate-themed presentations and interactive moments throughout the day.

From classics like bonbons, fudge and chocolatedipped treats there are no shortage of desserts to sample. Savory pairings, baked goods, specialty foods, wine, and cheeses are also tempting; there’s something to satisfy everyone’s taste buds.

Some of the most buzz-worthy treats that you won’t to miss out on include chocolate-covered bacon, a favorite since 2012. For those looking to try something new, the Dubai-style chocolates are trending this year, with creative twists like chocolatecovered donuts, including offerings from a purveyor based in Lebanon.

These unexpected goodies add an adventurous edge to the festival, making it as much about discovery as it is about indulgence.

“People often find new favorites at the Expo, whether it’s a specialty cheese they will look for in stores or a spirit they want to visit at the distillery,” Baum says highlighting its lasting impact.

Be sure to check out the Long Island confectioners represented, such as Bellmore’s Chocolate Works, a

Trevor Wallace

chocolaterie selling chocolate-covered pretzels, platters, and more. Other local favorites include Chez Hedwidge, an artisan gluten-free bakery, based in Valley Stream; also the Sunflower Bakeshop, a Kosher bakery in West Hempstead, offering a wide range of gluten-free and vegan options.

In addition to culinary delights, this year’s edition includes a dose of television nostalgia. Cast members from the classic series “Little House on the Prairie” and ‘Diff’rent Strokes’ are scheduled for special guest appearances. Dean Butler, Patrick Labyorteaux and Todd Bridges will be on hand to meet fans throughout the day. The actors will be available for autographs and selfies (fees are set individually) and will participate in a panel discussion with an audience Q&A at 1 p.m., included with event admission.

The combination of chocolate with pop culture has become an Expo hallmark, with Baum noting that “Little House on the Prairie” holds a special place for many.

“Chocolate is very nostalgic,” he says. “People are always looking for treats and desserts, and we also want to bring in that element of nostalgia.”

• Sunday, March 22, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; early VIP access starts at 9 a.m.

• Tickets are $30, $15 ages 5-12 online only; general admission timed-entry tickets: $20, $15 child online; $30, $15 child at the door; available from thechocolateexpo.com

• Nassau Coliseum, Hempstead Tpke., Uniondale

Providing a visual centerpiece sure to attract attraction (and serve as a vibrant, imaginative backdrop for photos), acclaimed balloon artist Robbie Furman returns to craft an intricate balloon sculpture display featuring scenes and characters from both iconic TV series. When his demo wraps up, children eagerly dive in to pop the balloons, in what Baum playfully terms a “balloon popping party.”

For more family-sized fun, young visitors can drop by the Kidz Zone. Face painting, balloon twisting and a scavenger hunt will surely keep the young set entertained, in addition to being surrounded by chocolate treats.

“Seeing the smiles on people’s faces is what it’s all about,” Baum enthuses.“This is a chance for people to get away from everything, whether that’s trying a new chocolate or just enjoying the moment.” He encourages everyone — whether coming solo, with friends or family — to make this a must-visit.

“It’s really about the experience and having a good time.”

For Baum, supporting local businesses and building relationships with returning chocolatiers is just as important as the treats themselves, making it a unique and meaningful day for the community.

courtesy Chuck Fishman

Photos: From chocolate-dipped treats to inventive creations, every bite is a delicious discovery.

The comedian brings his Alpha Beta Male Tour to the Paramount stage. The energetic comic-digital creator has gained a growing following with sharp observational bits, viral character sketches, and fast-paced crowd work. Rising from early internet sketches to sold-out clubs and theaters, he blends internetsavvy humor with classic jokecrafting, making his shows accessible to longtime fans and first-timers alike. He co-hosts the popular Stiff Socks podcast, further expanding his reach to comedy listeners nationwide. Wallace’s tour is packed with fresh stories, act-outs, and interactive riffs. His ascent started with viral sketches lampooning internet culture, energy-drink bros, entrepreneurs, and micro-trends; those clips earned millions of views and a loyal fan base that now fills venues everywhere. As his reputation grew, he transitioned from shortform videos to touring, proving he could translate online momentum into consistent, in-person laughs.

Friday, March 20, 7 p.m. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.

Three Italian Tenors

Direct from Rome, the Three Italian Tenors stop at Tilles Center on their North American Tour debut. Everyone will be captivated by Giovanni Maria Palmia, Ugo Tarquini, and Alessandro Fantoni accompanied by pianist Fabrizio Mocata. Their salute to the great Italian tenors — Luciano Pavarotti, Andrea Bocelli, Mario Lanza and Enrico Caruso — is an exhilarating and unique musical event. It features original arrangements and universally loved Italian songs and tenor arias, fusing Italian wit and charm with romanticism, lyricism, dramatic flair and operatic style. Their repertoire also includes romantic ballads like “Musica Proibita” and “Dicitencello vuje,” a tribute to Dean Martin with Volare, and a lively piano medley of popular Italian tunes — all culminating in a thrilling celebration of vocal artistry and Italian musical heritage. You’re sure to be enthralled by their rich vocals, heartfelt emotion and the golden tradition of Italian vocal artistry.

Tuesday, March 24, 7 p.m. LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Tickets available at tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

Your Neighborhood CALENDAR

Family theater

Long Island Children’s Museum stages “Pete the Cat,” the charming musical based on the book series by Kimberly and James Dean. Life is certainly an adventure for Pete, no matter where he winds up. So the minute the groovy blue cat meets The Biddles, he gets the whole family rocking. That is, except for young Jimmy Biddle, the most organized second grader on planet Earth. But when Jimmy draws a blank in art class during the last week of school, it turns out Pete is the perfect pal to help him out. Together, they set out on a mission to help Jimmy conquer second grade art, and along the way, they both learn a little something new about inspiration. $11 with museum admission ($9 members), $15 theater only.

• Where: 11 Davis Ave., Garden City

• Time: 10:15 a.m. and noon; also March 22, March 24-26

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

mar 21

STEM Explorers: In Like A Lion

The weather during the month of March can be described as coming in like a lion and out like a lamb. Families are invited to join the Green Teens at Long Island Children’s Museum in welcoming spring. Explore what happens during the change of seasons at the drop-in program. For ages 3+.

• Where: 11 Davis Ave., Garden City

• Time: Noon-2 p.m.

• Contact: licm.org or (516) 224-5800

mar

24

Long Beach BOE meets

The Board of Education holds its next meeting. The public may address the Board regarding any specific agenda item; also any matter of concern after the Board of Education completes agenda items. Meetings take place on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month throughout the school year.

• Where: East Elementary School

• Time: 7 p.m.

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

Ask the tech guy

mar 29

The Man In Black: A Tribute to Johnny Cash

With his strikingly similar looks, baritone voice, and spot-on mannerisms, Shawn Barker’s uncanny resemblance to the original “Man In Black” revitalizes the true character and spirit of Mr. Cash himself, one of America’s greatest musical icons, for a truly one-of-a-kind show. The energetic concert features Barker in character throughout the entire evening, walking the audience through each era of Cash’s life and music, including hits like “Folsom Prison Blues,” “I Walk The Line,” “A Boy Named Sue,” “Hurt,” and “Ring of Fire,” backed by a full band. Born and raised in a working-class suburb of St. Louis, Barker took a schoolboy love for singing in church with his family and turned it into a career. The path to his current success wasn’t a straight line from gospel choir to Johnny Cash tribute act. After serving his country in the Army, Barker returned home to Missouri, took a job as a carpenter and spent all of his free time learning how to play the guitar. He developed strength and versatility in his voice by modeling his crooning on a cast of legends — Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Buddy Holly and Gene Vincent. His performances quickly turned from hobby to profession, but oddly enough, Barker’s first touring gigs were portraying Elvis, not Johnny Cash. Everything changed, however, when Barker was asked to audition for the part of Cash in a Hollywood production, as it became evident to the director and Barker himself that Johnny Cash was his true calling. From that point there was no turning back.

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

• Time: 7 p.m.

• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com

• Where: 50 W. Park Ave.

• Time: 10 a.m-1 p.m.

• Contact: brighteyebeerco.com or (516) 543-5736

South Shore Symphony

The beloved orchestra springs forward with its next concert “The Rite of Spring.” The program includes Marquez’s Conga del Fuego Nuevo, Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending (Romance for Violin and Orchestra) and Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring.

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

• Time: 7:30 p.m.

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

Hop Into Spring

Families are invited to hop on over to Long Island Children’s Museum to welcome spring! Meet Peter Rabbit and Baby Chick costume characters, explore the museum to collect goodies, interact with live animals, and create themed craft activities. Celebrate the arrival of spring with a day of family fun!

• Where: 11 Davis Ave., Garden City

• Time: 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

• Contact: licm.org or (516) 224-5800

aPr

mar

25

Do you have questions about your computer or laptop? Want to learn more about Zoom, streaming movies, or

downloading ebooks to your device? Join Long Beach Library’s Tech Guy, every Wednesday, to get answers to your pressing tech questions.

• Where: 111 W. Park Ave.

• Time: Ongoing Wednesdays, 2-3 p.m.

• Contact: longbeachlibrary.org

mar 26

“You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown’

Adelphi University Department of Theatre students give a concert performance of the beloved classic. With charm, wit and heart, “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown” explores life through the eyes of Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy and their friends in the Peanuts gang. This revue of songs and vignettes, based on the beloved Charles Schulz comic strip, showcases Adelphi’s talented students. Musical numbers include “My New Philosophy,” “The Book Report,” “The Baseball Game,” “Little Known Facts,” “Suppertime” and “Happiness.”

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

• Time: 7 p.m.

• Contact: adelphi.edu/pac or (516) 877-4000

mar

28

Easter Egg Hunt

Join in in the fun at the Department of Parks and Recreation’s annual Easter egg hunt. It’s a great time for families with children ages 7 and under, also a special needs category. The Easter egg hunt is a longtime Long Beach tradition that you don’t want to miss. In-person, advance registration only at the Long Beach Recreation Center lobby. Register early, as space is limited.

• Where: Recreation fields on Magnolia Boulevard and the bay next to the Long Beach Ice Arena.

• Contact: (516) 431-1000

Lido Beach Town Park Clean-up

Atlantic Marine Conservation Society and the Town of Hempstead partner to host a community beach clean-up. Volunteers are able to sign up for a 1.5-hour time slot. Only sign up for one time slot so that more cam participate. Cleanup supplies are provided, but it is recommended to bring your own gloves. Registration is required. Parking fees are waived for all registered participants.

• Where: Lido Beach Town Park, 630 Lido Blvd.

• Time: 9 a.m.-noon

• Contact: education@amseas. org

Hooks for Heroes Night on the Bay

Hooks for Heroes gives back to American veterans and First Responders by providing fishing trips free of cost, to help cope with the physical and mental injuries developed during their service. The Night on the Bay fundraiser helps support these efforts. The semiformal evening includes passed hors d’oeuvres, open bar, band, and raffle prize. Tickets are $150; advance purchased recommended due to limited capacity entry.

• Where: The Buoy Bar, 72 Bayside Drive, Point Lookout

• Time: 7-10 pm.

• Contact: (516) 432-4665

Winter Farmer’s Market

Kennedy Plaza winter farmer’ market wraps up its season at Bright Eye Beer Co. Come sip and shop your way through the colder months with an incredible lineup of local farmers, makers, food vendors, and small businesses you know and love. Grab a craft beer, stock up on local goodies, and support the community.

Light-Art Collaboration

8

Families are invited to Long Island Children’s Museum to illuminate their imagination and inspire creativity In this educator-led, hands-on workshop, participants are introduced to the history and process of lantern making while creating their own unique drawing. In collaboration with LuminoCity, participants’ 2-D artwork will be submitted for a chance to have it brought to life as a 3-D light sculpture featured on display at the 2026 LuminoCity Festival. Free limited ticket with Museum admission, available at the Box Office on the day of the workshop.

• Where: 11 Davis Ave., Garden City

• Time: 11-noon and 3-4 p.m.

• Contact: licm.org or (516) 224-5800

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.

Nominate a student under 18 for the Sustainability Champion Award to recognize their efforts in driving sustainable change.

Submit a nomination of approximately 100 words or less describing the student’s leadership in promoting sustainability: What motivates them? What impact have they had?

Be sure to include a photo or an example of their work—whether it’s a community garden, an environmental campaign, or a creative solution to a sustainability challenge.

19, 2026 —

LEGAL NOTICE

Public Notices

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT

NASSAU COUNTY

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON AS TRUSTEE FOR CDC MORTGAGE CAPITAL TRUST 2004-HE3, Plaintiff against JOHN P. PEERS, et al Defendant(s)

Attorney for Plaintiff(s) McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLC, 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 840, New York, NY 10170.

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered February 25, 2025, I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on April 13, 2026 at 3:30 PM.

Premises known as 507 Lindell Boulevard , Long Beach, NY 11561. Sec 59 Block 10 Lot 41. 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, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York.

Approximate Amount of Judgment is $328,408.17 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 608866/2023.

The foreclosure sale will be conducted in accordance with 10th Judicial District’s Covid-19 Policies and foreclosure auction rules. The Referee shall enforce any rules in place regarding facial coverings and social distancing. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the Court Appointed Referee shall cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.” For sale information, please contact XOME at www.Xome.com or call (844)400-9633.

Paul L Meli, Esq., Referee File # 22-12053NY 158887

CERTIFICATEHOLDERS OF THE CWALT, INC., ALTERNATIVE LOAN TRUST 2006-HY13, MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-HY13, Plaintiff, vs. BONNIE BISOGNO A/K/A BONNIE SALSONE A/K/A BONNIE BISOGNOSALSONE A/K/A BONNIE L. BISOGNOSALSONE INDIVIDUALLY AND AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF SHIRLEY BISOGNO, ET AL., Defendant(s).

Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on February 4, 2026, 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 April 14, 2026 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 159 Regent Drive, Lido Beach a/k/a Long Beach, NY 11561. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Lido Beach, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 60, Block 64 and Lot 10. Approximate amount of judgment is $1,144,368.57 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 604034/2023.

Scott H. Siller, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 193493-4 158893

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK TRUST

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCF 2 ACQUISITION TRUST, -against-

MARION B. SPRUILL, 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 January 28, 2026, wherein U.S. BANK TRUST

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCF 2 ACQUISITION TRUST is the Plaintiff and MARION B. SPRUILL, 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 April 9, 2026 at 2:00PM, premises known as 270 WEST FULTON STREET A/K/A 270 FULTON STREET, LONG BEACH, NY 11561; and the following tax map identification: 59-55-11 & 12. 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 Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 610311/2019. Scott H. Siller, 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. 158883

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

LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE OF CSMC 2020-RPL1 TRUST, -againstMILAGROS HUERTA, 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 January 6, 2026, wherein WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE OF CSMC 2020-RPL1 TRUST is the Plaintiff and MILAGROS HUERTA, 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 April 9, 2026 at 2:00PM, premises known as 836 E PARK AVENUE, LONG BEACH, NY 11561; and the following tax map identification: 59-215-25, 26 & 27. 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 Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 601675/2023. Scott H. Siller, 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. 158885

PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES…

Sacred Heart freshmen offer gun safety measures

By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com

A team of freshmen students from Sacred Heart Academy earned first place at Northwell Health’s Annual Medical Marvels Public Health Competition at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, marking the best finish the school has achieved in the event.

The five girls, Vivien Squadrito from Atlantic Beach; Hailey Coyle from Rockville Centre; Kylie Gorman from Long Beach; Madeleine Maier from Glen Cove and Nora Mac Conaonaigh from Manhasset were part of the academy’s science research program.

They impressed judges with a research paper addressing gun safety in schools, focusing on prevention strategies that include mental health support, communication and safety measures at home and in school.

“The papers had already been judged, so they had already won something before they even got there,” said Stephen Sullivan, Sacred Heart Academy’s research director. “The presentation didn’t affect their paper grade.”

home and what to do if something actually happens.”

Throughout the project, students learned how to analyze academic research and properly cite sources using professional standards.

“It was definitely challenging at first,” Squadrito added. “But we learned how to read scientific articles and use APA citations, and it helped us improve our writing.”

Gorman said the collaborative nature of the research made the experience especially rewarding.

“It’s really helpful to have a group that works well together,” she said. “A lot of science is about working with other people.”

Coyle said they worked on the four most important steps.

“We created an acronym based on them,” Coyle said. “It starts with the root of the problem, which is mental health.”

Six awards were presented at the competition. Sullivan said he believed the Sacred Heart team had produced a strong paper and expected them to place among the top finishers.

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

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 PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES…

Students were given just three minutes to present their research to judges, followed by questions. Although the team had prepared extensively, they were unsure how their presentation compared with others.

“They thought they didn’t do that well,” Sullivan said. “If they had thought they were the absolute best, I probably would have been confused.”

The team’s research focused on identifying the most critical components of gun safety and prevention. After reviewing scientific studies and data, the students developed a framework that emphasized mental health awareness, communication, prevention at home and preparedness in schools.

“We talked about what the most important aspects of gun safety were,” Squadrito said. “We focused on mental health, communication, preventing it at

When the winning team was announced, the students were stunned. “When they heard their name,” Sullivan said, “the five girls were shocked. They were shouting with joy.”

Now in his eighth year at Sacred Heart Academy after a 31-year teaching career at Lawrence High School, Sullivan said working with the academy’s research students has been deeply rewarding.

“I get to teach the smartest girls in the school, and I love it,” he said. “It’s awesome — nothing to complain about.”

Like coaching a team, Sullivan said the research program allows him to build strong relationships with students over time.

“You get to know the kids for a long period and build special relationships with them,” he said.

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Once In a Lifetime

This beautifully maintained Colonialstyle home is in one of the village’s most desirable

All about wood beams

Q. We are talking with contractors about rebuilding our large deck, and we would like to have fewer columns so they don’t block our water view. The contractor suggested that there are wood beams that can do the job, and mentioned something called a lam beam to go a longer distance and open up the space underneath. We would also like to have the deck be sealed so that we can use the underneath area, even in the rain. What do you suggest we use and not use?

A. For starters, laminated wood beams are generally a poor choice for outdoor use, even though there are some on the market that are specifically treated with waterproof adhesives. These few products on the market for outdoor use are much more expensive, and often only used in commercial projects or where the expense is not the greatest concern. Not all beams are the same material or made the same way.

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When I have conversations with people who build, I sound negative instead of enthusiastic, but that is based on the experience of writing insurance reports and investigating the damage and cost of failed products and applications. Remember, in order to succeed, you first have to know how to fail, so as to avoid failure.

What I have witnessed is not failure at the center of beams, where the beam would bend the most, but at the ends and tops, where water penetrates more frequently. If the product isn’t waterproof, the grain of the laminations will start to split. For these reasons, I discourage outdoor use of manufactured, laminated beams because when they are specified very carefully for a project, there is little or no control over what ends up on the jobsite unless the ordering is micro-managed.

I keep samples in my office of beam cutaways to demonstrate how one beam product was specified for a job and what ended up on the jobsite was similar but, with careful inspection, clearly shows the two beams are not the same. They were laminated using different species of trees, one weaker than the other and an inferior number of plies and glues. To a person dropping the material off, based on an order for a “lam beam,” the inferior material looked the same but after installation the floor bounced like a trampoline. The beam had to be removed, at great expense, and the right product ordered. Even though a lesson was learned, it came at a great price.

So indoor locations can also be a problem if the wrong configuration of laminations and species are used. If the correctly engineered lumber beam or steel reinforced beam is designed, they will last for years without another thought. I would use an interlocking aluminum deck product called Versadeck or another product called Lock Dry. They conduct heat rapidly, which means they dissipate heat quickly, making them cool enough on hot summer days to walk on while barefoot, and they keep water from getting through. Good luck!

© 2026 Monte Leeper Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.

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opinions

With Kristi Noem gone, we must restore order at DHS

As our country’s largest law enforcement agency, the Department of Homeland Security is essential to our national security, disaster relief and the safety of the American people. There is far too much at risk for this agency to be mismanaged or subject to incompetent leadership. Former Secretary Kristi Noem’s tenure there was nothing short of a disaster, and her recent removal from office did not come a moment too soon.

Under her failed leadership, U.S. citizens were killed at the hands of federal agents, trust in our law enforcement was eroded and our communities’ safety was jeopardized. She showed a contemptible disregard for her fundamental responsibility to keep the American people safe, and should never have been confirmed as the head of DHS. I’m relieved that she was finally removed after her failures became too numerous to ignore.

In addition to her complete disregard for law and order, Noem lost control of the department, egregiously misused taxpayer dollars, stoked violence, and

failed to keep the American people safe. Under her watch, hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars were wasted and funneled away from essential programs. That included the purchase of two luxury jets, with plans to purchase a third, to support her travel, costing nearly $300 million, as well as a public advertising campaign improperly awarded to companies with close ties to Noem and other senior officials, costing $220 million.

TInstead of prioritizing the capture of violent criminals, Noem escalated dangerous situations by slashing training for ICE recruits — including on legal use of force — and sent unprepared agents into the streets, making everyone less safe. She diverted federal agents and resources from combating cybersecurity attacks, child abuse, human trafficking and terrorism. That put our national security at even greater risk.

audit of how ICE investigates use-offorce incidents.

Noem’s removal does not absolve her from her gross negligence or the unjust killing of American citizens. She must still answer for her disastrous and deadly period in office to restore the public’s trust in DHS and ensure that her mistakes are not repeated. Noem left the department in disarray, and degraded its ability to work in a nonpartisan fashion. Protecting the U.S and its citizens should never be partisan.

he next Homeland Security secretary must work with Congress to reform ICE.

In light of her incompetence, dereliction of duty and corrupt practices, I am proud to have helped lead the call for Noem’s removal by demanding her impeachment following the deaths of Renée Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. I urged House Speaker Mike Johnson and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan to begin impeachment proceedings just days before she was fired.

extending Temporary Protected Status for law-abiding Haitians in our communities; and restoring order at the agency.

The next Homeland Security secretary must push forward negotiations between Congress and the administration to reach a bipartisan compromise on greater reforms of ICE, and then he or she must ensure that reforms are immediately and properly enacted. This must include proper training and deescalation tactics that other law enforcement agencies use.

Additionally, the next secretary must refocus on bolstering the department’s other essential agencies, which Noem foolishly cut, by reinstating the billions of dollars in essential funding and thousands of workers that were eliminated from CISA’s cybersecurity efforts and FEMA’s lifesaving disaster relief and mitigation. These agencies and others within DHS are vital to our country’s security, and must be resuscitated.

To make matters worse, Noem systematically obstructed the DHS inspector general’s office from ensuring that the agency operated within the bounds of the law. The week she was removed from office, the inspector general revealed to Congress that as many as 11 investigations were being blocked by Noem and DHS leadership, including an

With Noem’s exit, the Trump administration has an opportunity to right her wrongs and ensure that the next Homeland Security secretary leads with competence and integrity. That includes working with Congress to reform ICE; reinstating and reallocating funds for disaster relief, cybersecurity and fighting human trafficking and terrorism;

Above all, accountability and law and order must be restored at DHS. Our country cannot afford another secretary who defies his or her oath to uphold the Constitution. The next secretary must prioritize the safety and security of our communities and officers, undo Noem’s horrendous legacy and rebuild the American people’s trust in the Department of Homeland Security.

Laura Gillen represents the 4th Congressional District.

Auto insurance rates need to be fair, and affordable

Like most New Yorkers, I start my workday by dropping my daughter off at school before heading to the office. Unfortunately, like some, I recently got involved in a rearend accident as I waited to find parking. The crash served as a sudden reminder of something New Yorkers experience every day.

Auto insurance has become too costly, too complicated and too disconnected from the concept of fairness. Nearly every household in the state depends on a car, and when insurance premiums rise, families feel it immediately.

Across New York, people rely on their vehicles to get to work, to take their children to school, to care for loved ones and to stay connected with their communities. Car insurance is not optional. It is a basic requirement of daily life. Yet too many responsible drivers are paying inflated rates because fraud, staged crashes and systemic abuse continue to push costs higher for everyone.

A fair system should discourage reckless and unlawful behavior, not create incentives that undermine accountability. When responsibility breaks down, law-abiding New Yorkers are left to absorb costs that do not reflect how they live or drive. Restoring balance is not about punishment. It is about fairness, responsibility and trust.

misuse or exploitation of the system. Hochul is advancing a coordinated, statewide approach to restore accountability and bring greater balance to the auto insurance system. Her proposal includes:

We all share the road — and we share responsibility for one another.

Gov. Kathy Hochul has put forward a clear and thoughtful plan to address these challenges. Her proposal strengthens efforts to combat insurance fraud, closes loopholes that contribute to unnecessary litigation, and reinforces the principle that responsibility should matter. At the same time, it preserves protections for those who are legitimately injured and ensures that the system continues to function for those who follow the rules.

The proposal reflects the important role of government — not simply reacting when costs spiral upward, but stepping in when systems no longer operate as intended. New Yorkers expect their government to protect consumers, promote fairness and ensure that everyday people aren’t left paying the price for the

n Strengthening efforts to identify, investigate and prosecute staged accidents and organized insurance fraud.

n Expanding accountability for people who organize or financially benefit from fraudulent crash schemes.

n Increasing oversight of medical providers who participate in fraudulent claims or improper diagnoses.

n Addressing illegal out-of-state vehicle registrations that shift costs onto lawabiding New York drivers

n Strengthening insurer anti-fraud programs by giving insurers more time and flexibility to investigate suspicious claims.

n Limiting non-economic damage awards for those engaged in unlawful or reckless conduct at the time of an accident.

n Ensuring that drivers who are primarily responsible for causing acci-

dents are not rewarded with excessive damage awards.

n Clarifying and tightening the definition of serious injury to reduce abuse while protecting those who are genuinely harmed.

n Ensuring that cost savings benefit consumers by maintaining strong oversight and protection so reduced system costs translate into relief for policyholders.

This approach reflects the values New Yorkers expect from their government. As part of the governor’s proposed budget, these reforms recognize that affordability is not abstract. It is personal. Bringing down auto insurance costs means easing pressure on household budgets, supporting workers and small businesses, and making our state more livable for everyone. We all share the road, and we all share responsibility for one another. Governor Hochul’s proposal moves New York toward a system that reflects that shared responsibility and puts fairness back where it belongs. That is a goal worth advancing for families in every corner of New York state.

Walter T. Mosley is New York’s secretary of state.

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Inspire the next generation of leaders

in speeches and campaign platforms, public officials frequently speak about the importance of inspiring the next generation of civic leaders.

Far fewer take the concrete step of bringing young people into the halls of government to see how democracy actually works.

When students are given the opportunity to witness the legislative process firsthand, ask questions of policymakers and engage with peers from across the state, civics education moves beyond textbooks and becomes real.

A trip to a legislative chamber or a youth summit in a state capital can transform abstract lessons about government into tangible experiences. Students see debates unfold, observe how laws are crafted and understand that decisions made in these rooms affect the lives of millions of people.

Exposing students firsthand to the responsibilities of public service helps them understand how decisions made in government affect their communities — and their own futures. These experiences also demonstrate that leadership isn’t reserved for a select few. Instead, it is something young people can aspire to through education, service and engagement. In a Zoom-first world, it is critical that school districts budget for field trips that put students in the civic arena.

Programs that open the doors of government to students also provide something increasingly valuable in today’s civic climate: a sense of connection. When young people interact with elected officials and government staff, they learn that government is not some distant or mysterious institution. It is a

letters

Peter King defends Trump’s hockey locker room remarks

To the Editor:

system run by people who are accountable to the public, and whose work shapes the policies that affect schools, transportation, public safety and economic opportunity.

Across Long Island, many villages and towns have taken small but meaningful steps in this direction through “Mayor for a Day” or “Supervisor for a Day” programs. These initiatives give students a chance to shadow a local leader, attend meetings and get a brief but memorable glimpse into municipal government. For many students, the experience is their first real exposure to how decisions are made in their own communities.

Those programs are valuable, but they could go further. Municipal leaders might consider expanding them into broader outreach efforts that bring the experience directly into classrooms. A rotating “government road show,” in which mayors, supervisors, council members and department leaders visit schools in their communities, could reach far more students than a singleday shadowing opportunity.

By bringing government into schools — rather than just inviting a handful of students to visit government buildings — officials could spark interest among young people who might never otherwise consider public service. A conversation with a mayor or council member can demystify the process and show students that civic leadership begins with curiosity, participation and a willingness to serve.

We know that local institutions don’t always have the capacity to build these programs from scratch — and they don’t have to. We encourage students, munici-

It is continually sad to read Peter King’s opinion pieces. His notions of patriotism, justice and morality are warped by his political fervor for President Trump and his administration — and it shows.

In last week’s op-ed, “A heart-stopping hockey victory was marred by politics,” by trying to bend the president’s boys-club remarks about the U.S. women’s hockey team into a “friendly jibe,” King showed just how behind the times he is. “Lighten up!” he wrote. Really?

King went further. He tried to validate Trump’s failure to acknowledge the women’s hockey team by pointing out that the women were favored to win anyway and had secured their third gold medal since 1998. So no big deal, I guess. Talk about disrespectful.

palities and school districts to partner with established organizations that have proven track records of connecting young people to public service. Two we especially recommend are Civics Unplugged and Govern For America. CU equips high school students to work on government projects they care about, providing the skills, mentorship and connections to make that work transformative for communities. GFA places high-achieving early-career professionals in impactful, full-time state government roles — channeling elite talent where it can do the most good.

Government internships are crucial entrees into public service, too. Too often, however, these internships are unpaid. We need these positions and other entry-level jobs to pay a living wage; otherwise, the only young people who can take them are those from wealthy families, leading to further societal inequality as well as biases among policy creators who lack diverse lived experiences.

At a time when civic participation is often uneven and public trust in institutions is frequently tested, investing in meaningful engagement with young people is not simply educational — it is essential. The more these young people grow, the more our communities gain — and that cycle is the point.

If leaders truly want to inspire the next generation of public servants, they must do more than speak about civic engagement. They must open the doors of government and invite young people inside. Our children are ready to enter the arena.

Let them in.

L.I.’s economy is solid — but is increasingly K-shaped

assessing current economic conditions over the past year has been unusually challenging due to delays in federal data releases, volatile inflation readings and shifting labor-market dynamics. As more complete data has recently become available, however, a clearer picture is emerging for Long Island — one that reflects strength in aggregate, but growing divergence beneath the surface.

Long Island’s economy continues to outperform many regions nationally. Home values remain elevated, hospitality and tourism activity are robust, and unemployment rates in Nassau and Suffolk counties remain below the national average. These indicators point to a region that has weathered recent economic shocks relatively well.

Yet aggregate strength masks important distributional differences. Increasingly, Long Island reflects what economists describe as a K-shaped recovery, in which different segments of the population experience sharply disparate economic outcomes.

Households in the upper echelon of income and wealth distribution have

benefited substantially since 2020. Financial markets have posted significant gains, increasing retirement balances and household net worth for those with market exposure. At the same time, residential real estate values across Nassau and Suffolk have risen markedly since the pre-pandemic period, reinforcing wealth accumulation for existing homeowners. Those households have seen stronger balance sheets, greater financial resilience and sustained consumption capacity.

iincomes have not kept pace with the rising costs of living.

The implications extend beyond household well-being. Long Island’s economy, like the broader U.S. economy, is fundamentally consumer-driven, with roughly two-thirds of economic activity tied to consumer spending. While higher-income households account for a disproportionate share of consumption, sustainable regional growth depends on broadbased purchasing power across income groups.

llustrating the difference between wealth and incomes that aren’t keeping pace.

While affordability in our region impacts all Long Islanders, many lower- and middle-income households have faced a more constrained economic reality. While nominal wages — what you see in your pay stub — have increased over the past several years, real wage growth — your pay adjusted for inflation — has been limited by persistently higher prices of essential goods and services. Housing costs, food prices and energy expenses have accounted for a growing share of household budgets, eroding purchasing power even as headline inflation shows moderation.

This divergence is central to the concept of a K-shaped economy. The upper arm reflects asset-driven growth and wealth accumulation, while the lower arm captures households whose

Recent measures of consumer sentiment underscore this tension. Despite relatively low unemployment, confidence levels remain subdued. Concerns about job security, trade policy and long-term affordability continue to weigh on household expectations, suggesting that employment alone is an insufficient indicator of economic confidence on the national level.

There are also macroeconomic risks associated with sustained divergence. If equity markets weaken or housing price growth moderates, the wealth effects currently supporting higher-income consumption could diminish. In such a scenario, the economy would be vulnerable if lower-income households lack the income growth necessary to offset that slowdown.

Importantly, these dynamics do not

suggest that Long Island is entering a period of economic decline. The region’s proximity to New York City, its diversified industry base and the relative strength of sectors such as health care, professional services, technology and finance continue to provide stability. Recent improvements in office occupancy and continued strength in hospitality further reinforce this resilience.

But resilience shouldn’t be confused with inclusivity. The central economic challenge facing Long Island isn’t simply maintaining growth, but also ensuring that growth benefits all industry sectors and sizes. Workforce development, housing affordability and goodpaying jobs that offset higher inflation are essential components of long-term regional economic health. Policymakers and business leaders should remain attentive not only to aggregate indicators, but also to the real impacts of policies on Long Islanders.

As more complete data becomes available in 2026, the contours of Long Island’s economic trajectory are becoming clearer. Aggregate performance remains strong, but the divergence across households warrants careful attention. Economic strength is most durable when the entire population is benefiting from it — and addressing these imbalances will be critical to sustaining Long Island’s long-term prosperity.

Dr. Steve Kent is chief economist of the Long Island Association.

King also called out those athletes who had the nerve to express their dismay and concern over our current administration’s actions and the climate it has created here. Every American athlete has a right to speak their mind. Our athletes travel and train at their own expense, typically requiring immeasurable sacrifice from their families. While chosen to represent our country, they are private citizens, not representatives of the state.

Unfortunately, King missed the point. Everyone was celebrating the men’s victory, just as they had celebrated the women’s win a few days earlier — until the locker room antics. First of all, the FBI director was seen chugging beer, screaming and pouring beer over players’ heads like a sophomoric jock. Then Trump called and invited the team to the White House, and as an afterthought, said the women would have to be invited. And no one winced. No one stood up for the women’s team, which had beaten Canada just days before in overtime. As a matter of fact, they laughed.

The men’s win wasn’t marred by politics. It was marred by the leader of our country’s public disregard for

a select group of Olympians, it was marred by the excuses made for his behavior, and it was marred by those who think it was no big deal.

ELIzABETH MURPHY Franklin Square

Trump’s, and King’s, words matter

To the Editor:

As I’m sure Peter King knows, words still matter. Tone still matters (thank goodness!). A president’s words still matter. Trump’s use of the words “I guess I have to invite the women” has behind it a long history of his sexism and disrespect for women. If someone else had said it, maybe it would have landed differently.

King’s printed words “Lighten up!” are furthering a culture of disrespect toward women. Shame on him. And to think my late grandfather loved him so much. I would hope this article would have changed his mind.

SUzANNE VERA North Bellmore