Long Beach Herald 04-02-2026

LONG BEACH

Chris Colucci/Herald

Cub Scout Ryan Ferraro, left; his mother, danielle; and his brother, Jackson, a Boy Scout, collected trash, wood and other debris.

Volunteers hit Lido Beach for year’s first cleanup event

By CHRIS ColuCCI ccolucci@liherald.com

The saying is, “I’ve got Long Beach sand in my shoes.” It shouldn’t be, “I’ve got bottle caps, cigarette butts and a little sand in my shoes.” To help combat that preventable problem, volunteers took to Lido Beach Town Park last Saturday for the year’s first beach cleanup.

The event was a coordinated effort between the Town of Hempstead and the Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, based in Hampton Bays. For three hours, nearly 100 people braved cold, windy weather, with

temperatures dipping into the 20s, to collect nearly 300 pounds of trash and debris, including a large canopy tent and a 120pound buoy that had washed ashore.

The volunteers included residents and local scouts — Long Beach Girl Scout Troop 864, Long Beach Boy Scout Troop 215 and Long Beach Cub Scout Troop 51 were all represented. “Last year we were here with the Cub Scouts,” said Danielle Ferraro, a Long Beach resident and the mother of Jackson, a Boy Scout, and Ryan, a Cub Scout. “This year we’re with the Boy Scouts. We like keeping the beach clean, and it’s an adven-

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Debate skills helping people with autism ������������

By AIDAN WARSHAVSKY & KAYl A DECHTER Of the Herald

If you ask Long Beach resident Max Stein, who is on the autism spectrum, about the misconceptions of mental disabilities, he’ll tell you that the structure of thinking and communication with others can be different and challenging. That factored into his decision to attend the Find Your Voice Autism Debate Workshop in Port Washington on March 20.

The program was offered by Spectrum Designs, a nonprofit that offers neurodiverse people employment opportunities. It adapts traditional debate and public speaking techniques for those on the spectrum, using strategies informed by research into the challenges of communication.

headquartered in Port Washington, said that the workshop reflected how people should converse regardless of their behavioral status. “It helps foster communication between any group of people by reinforcing how people should speak to each other,” he said.

I t helped us fine-tune our arguments to circumvent the opposition while making sure we stay on point and stand up to scrutiny.

MAx STEIN Resident, Long Beach

Stein, 30, who works parttime — filling odd jobs — for Spectrum Designs, which is

During the hourlong session, 12 Spectrum Designs employees and staff members, including Stein, took part in seven interactive exercises with a group of autistic people from East Rockaway, Port Washington, West Hempstead and Kings Park. The sessions included Lights Out Listening, a technique to manage sensory overload and improve focus, as well as activities to reflect others’ perspectives and build effective rebuttal skills. Participants who completed the session received certificates. One exercise, Stein recalled, helped participants understand

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Gerrin Hagen Memorial Hockey Day returns

By AIDAN WARSHAVSKY awarshavsky@liherald.com

The Long Beach Municipal Ice Arena will feel a bit warmer on April 11, as members of the community gather for the 4th annual Gerrin Hagen Memorial Hockey Day. The all-day event is hosted by the G2H Foundation in partnership with the FDNY Hockey Team Fundraiser Series and The City of Long Beach.

G2H, a local nonprofit that supports communitybased charities, first-responder charities and families in need, was formed on March 2, 2023 in memory of Gerrin Hagen.

Hagen died in January 2023 just two weeks after his 18th birthday. He was struck from behind by a motorist who ran a stop sign attempting to pass another vehicle. Hagen was studying carpentry in the mornings at Nassau BOCES Joseph M. Barry Career & Technical Education Center — heading to his car to drive to Long Beach High School for his afternoon classes.

Well-loved by the community, Hagen spent summers on the beaches as an ocean lifeguard. As a senior defenseman, he was captain of the varsity hockey team and his travel team, the Long Island Gulls. Hagen also worked at the ice arena starting when he was 14 and had just learned how to drive the Zamboni before he died.

“He was very well respected as a fierce and technical player,” Chris Hagen said of his son. “But more importantly, he was an excellent teammate and a good human being.”

Joe Brand, the current Parks and Recreation Commissioner for Long Beach, was Gerrin’s hockey coach growing up. Brand described Hagen, a player on the Long Beach Lightning youth hockey team and a mem-

ber of the high school’s 2020 state championship hockey team, as selfless and a “coach’s dream.”

“Gerrin was a special one-of-a-kind type of kid, both on and off the ice,” he said. “He always went above and beyond in whatever he did.”

In its first year, the FDNY approached Hagen’s father and uncles — Michael Hagen and William Duffy — offering to move a Saturday fundraising game in a two-game set between the FDNY’s hockey team and the Mississauga Fire Department, in Ontario. The Hagens and Duffy have served as firefighters in the department, which prompted the gesture.

“They pitched it as a memorial game for Gerrin,” Chris Hagen said. “From there, the idea really came to life.”

To put more kids on the ice this year, the youth hockey clinic offered as part of Memorial Hockey Day

will have two sessions. Kids aged 6 to 8 will skate from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Nine- and 10-year-olds will skate from 11:30 a.m. to noon.

The Nassau County Police Department will play the FDNY at 2:30 p.m., and at 5 p.m., the Toronto Fire Hockey Club will face off against the Long Beach Legends Hockey Club team, the Guardians.

Other offerings include the Chuck-A-Puck contest, Bubble Ball races, T-shirt cannons, facepainting and a variety of raffle prizes — including a 50/50 raffle. Students and children are free, and a $10 donation is suggested at the door.

As the fourth Memorial Hockey Day approaches, Hagen is just as grateful as he was in previous years.

“This day personifies what my son was all about,” Hagen said. “We’re humbled and happy to be able to do it.”

Collection yields nearly 300 pounds of trash

ture. We would’ve been just stuck inside this morning.”

Town of Hempstead Supervisor John Ferretti stopped by the cleanup, and noted the importance of community members taking action on behalf of the environment. “It helps not only aesthetically, when Town of Hempstead residents are utilizing the beaches,” Ferretti said, “but it also keeps our waters clean and keeps our marine life safe. It’s really an incredible thing they do, and we’re thankful.”

The partnership between the town and the conservation society began more than 15 years ago. Last year alone, more than 1,100 volunteers gathered to collect over 1,900 pounds of garbage from beaches in the area.

Ellie Sywak, education and outreach coordinator for the environmental group, began the day by teaching volunteers about the sea creatures they were helping. “There’s four species of sea turtles, about four species of seals and about 15 species of whale and dolphins that we can see in the waters around New York,” Sywak said, “spread out across the year in different seasons, so we want to protect those animals.”

The conservation society also plays a key role in conducting environmental research and necropsies — animal autopsies — on marine species that are found at sea or wash ashore. “We once found a leatherback sea turtle that had eaten a 15-gallon trash bag while it was floating out in the ocean,” Sywak recalled. “Unfortunately, that sea turtle had starved to death, most likely due to that trash bag making it feel full.”

The most common items found in beach cleanups, she said, include T-shirts, shoes and socks, broken beach chairs, plastic bags and bottle caps. Bal-

loons are another surprisingly common item.

Cynthia Seibold, of Merrick, founded Balloon Mission Inc. after she became aware of the problem during a beach cleanup in 2020. During a presentation at the start of the day, she explained that her goal is to reduce the balloon litter that parties, celebrations and memorial events often leave behind. According to statistics, balloons are the leading cause of death for seabirds and the third most common cause of death for sea turtles.

“We do a balloon litter survey near the Jones Beach Energy & Nature Center,” Seibold said. “We’ve been doing it twice a year since 2015. And in that time,

twice a year, in four hours, we have found 1,900 pieces of balloon litter — it’s a one-by-one-mile stretch of beach.”

Scouts from Troop 215 have built one of several special balloon collection bins, designed by the Long Island Children’s Museum, which serve as dedicated drop-off point for used balloons. One bin can be found in the lobby of the Long Beach Public Library, and there are others in schools and libraries across Long Island. In the past three years, more than 65,000 balloons have been deposited in the bins.

Maintaining a clean beachfront and unpolluted waterways is an ongoing challenge, which is why the Town and conservation society plan monthly vis-

its to the area throughout the warmer seasons. “We’re here every month through October,” Sywak said. “We’re also at Hallock State Park in Riverhead every Saturday, year-round.”

Four addition cleanup events are scheduled at Lido Beach Town Park — on April 19, June 28, Aug. 23 and Sept. 26 — and three at Point Lookout Town Park — May 30, July 25 and Oct. 25. Each will take place from 9 a.m. to noon, divided into two 90-minute sessions; participants are asked to attend only one session per day. Collection buckets and equipment will be provided, but organizers recommend bringing a pair of gloves. To register for one of the events, visit hempsteadny.gov/856/beach-cleanups.

Rabbis host special program before Passover

Lido Beach and Long Beach rabbis of the South Shore Vaad Rabbinical Council hosted a pre-Passover program at the Lido Beach Synagogue on March 26. The program, called “Maggid, Meat and Mashkeh,” was a men’s night out to prepare for Passover.

The evening featured meat dishes, a variety of wines and a review of sections from the Passover Haggadah which recounts the exodus of the Children of Israel from Egyptian slavery 3,341 years ago.

Lido’s Rabbi Elly Krimsky, in collaboration with his colleagues, saw the popularized men’s night and its impact on a national scale and wanted to bring it to the Barrier Island.

Jonathan Kahan, a resident of Long Beach, who was one of the over 40 participants, called the night an excellent opportunity to learn about Passover while interacting with the Jewish community. “It pro-

vided a great opportunity to socialize and meet new people, and I look forward to many such programs in the future.”

The evening featured several rabbis sharing material — Benny Berlin, rabbi of the BACH Jewish Center in Long Beach; David Bibi, rabbi of Congregation Benei Asher, the Sephardic Congregation of Long Beach; Eli Goodman, rabbi of Chabad of the Beaches; Elly Krimsky, rabbi of the Lido Beach Synagogue; and Binyamin Silver, rabbi of the Young Israel of Long Beach.

“Many different perspectives were provided that collectively enhance the Passover observance,” Silver said. “It was a pleasure to participate in a unifying event that brought the barrier island together in celebration of our shared heritage.”

–Aidan Warshavsky

WWiden your outlook this Passover passover message

ability to see anyone but themselves with dignity. A restricted view allows the myopic powers to treat humans less than equal. Hatred, discrimination and unjustifiable violence invariably follow.

As we retell the story of the great Exodus we are reminded that when the progeny of Jacob’s 12 tribes left, an erev rav — a mixed multitude — went with them into freedom. Many other slaves in Egypt that had been brought there through conquests from North Africa to Mesopotamia joined the Hebrews as they fled toward dreams of their own homeland of harmony.

ith the onset of Spring I know two things are true. A new baseball season begins — as I write this, opening day was yesterday — and the start of Passover will soon occur. This year the annual celebration of the festival will commence at sundown Wednesday, April 1. Jews, and many who join them across the globe, will gather around a Seder — the ritual infused storytelling dinner — to commemorate the anniversary of the liberation of the ancient Israelites from hundreds of years of bondage under the Pharaohs of Egypt. But this biblical holiday is much more than a movement from slavery to self-determination. It’s a spiritual and metaphorical blueprint toward peace.

The name for Egypt in Hebrew is Mitzrayim, which literally translates to “a narrow place.” By exiting the harsh prejudice, bigotry and xenophobia experienced in Egypt and entering the wide and expansive wilderness of the Sinai desert, the ancestors of Sarah and Abraham demonstrated not only how to walk the road to redemption, but a pathway to peace.

Those that marched to the Promised Land knew that the degradation they left behind was caused by narrow thinking, which led to hardened hearts and fear of the other. Kings of the Egyptian empire and their acolytes limited their

Passover teaches all of us that lasting peace begins when we refuse to be trapped in narrowness. When we allow our hearts, souls and minds to expand — to finally see the humanity in every person, to imagine living in a world larger than our indefensible fears of anyone somehow different. Only then can we find ourselves on a planet where the sunlight of peace shines on everyone.

May this Passover inspire people of all faiths to leave our small-minded ways, to widen our understanding that we are all the children of the same God and to pursue peace.

Rabbi Jack Zanerhaft is the spiritual leader at Temple Emanu-El in Long Beach.

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What one man carried through the fire Passover message

Passover begins on April 1 and it asks a question most of us spend our lives avoiding: What are you carrying and what would you refuse to let go of, even when everything in you says to walk away?

Passover traces back to the Book of Exodus — the story of a people enslaved in Egypt who are ultimately freed. Each year, communities gather for a ritual meal known as a Passover Seder where the story is retold through questions, symbolic foods, and deliberate reenactments. Participants eat matzah to recall the unleavened bread of their forebearers, taste bitter herbs to evoke suffering, and are pushed to see themselves not as distant observers but as people who personally experienced the journey from oppression to freedom.

For my wife’s family, it was also the only time her grandfather, Akiva Yosef Weinberger, spoke about his experience during the Holocaust.

It was at the Seder table that he told his children and grandchildren how he had carried his tefillin, his phylacteries, wherever he was sent. He had even worn them in Mauthausen concentration camp.

On one of the death marches, he was helping a man who had fallen when a

Nazi soldier, enraged, beat him and threw the satchel carrying his tefillin into a pit of fire filled with burning human corpses.

Without thinking, Akiva Yosef jumped in after them.

He lay among the flames and somehow survived. After liberation in 1945, the tefillin were examined by a ritual scribe. They were completely intact. He wore them every morning until he passed away in 1999.

What is it a person dives into fire for? What does it mean to refuse to let something go when every instinct for self-preservation screams otherwise?

may be a piece of jewelry passed down from a grandmother who survived something unimaginable; a recipe written in faded handwriting; a photograph carried across an ocean; a language kept alive in a kitchen long after the old country was gone. These things accumulate a weight that has nothing to do with material value and everything to do with what we have decided, often unconsciously, we will not lose.

in every morning he had risen and wrapped those straps around his arm. And in just a few years, my son, who’s named after him, will wrap around his arm the same tefillin his great grandfather pulled from a burning pit.

The younger Akiva Yosef will say the same morning prayer his great grandfather said every day for the rest of his long life after walking out of that fire.

I do not know exactly what my son will make of that moment, but I know he will feel the weight of it. And I know that weight is the point.

The answer lies in what those holy vessels represented. They were a living thread connecting him to his parents, to his grandparents, to a chain of people who had prayed the same words every morning for thousands of years. To let them burn would have been to let that chain break. That was unthinkable. More unthinkable than the fire itself.

Every family has some version of this. It may not be a religious object. It

The question worth asking is what we are actually transmitting when we pass these things on. It is not the object itself. Objects break, get lost, are sometimes thrown into fires. What survives is the story of what someone was willing to sacrifice to preserve it, and the values embedded in that sacrifice.

Decades after the Holocaust ended, Akiva Yosef did not sit at a Seder surrounded by his beautiful family because he was lucky. He was there because he had decided, somewhere beneath conscious thought, what he was and was not willing to surrender. That decision had been made long before the death march,

What we pass to the next generation is never just an heirloom. It is a set of answers to questions they have not yet thought to ask. What are we, at the deepest level, unwilling to become?

Akiva Yosef answered that question in a pit of fire. Most of us answer it in quieter ways, in what we choose to preserve and teach and hand down. But the question is the same in every generation. What are you carrying.

And what would you jump into fire to keep.

Rabbi Benny Berlin is the rabbi of BACH Jewish Center in Long Beach, New York. For more information, visit bachlongbeach.com.

Hofstra baseball impacted by weather

By ANDREW COEN sports@liherald.com

The Hofstra baseball team is looking to take flight in the heart of spring after it was largely grounded to open the season in the dead of winter.

After opening the 2026 season with a three-game series at then fourth-ranked Mississippi State from Feb. 13-15, the Pride were only able to play three games over the next three weeks as mother nature unleashed historic snow totals across the Long Island region.

“You count on those early games to be able to evaluate the team and see where we’re going into conference play,” said fifth-year Hofstra head coach Frank Catalanotto. “It’s tough to replicate that when you’re inside in the gym or in the bubble.”

Playing just six games in the first three weeks of the season didn’t give Hofstra much preparation before starting the critical Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) portion of its schedule on March 6 at College of Charleston. The Pride took one of three games in series at Charleston and Monmouth to open conference play before taking two of three against Northeastern last weekend to move to 4-5 entering April.

Hofstra is looking to reach the sixteam CAA tournament with 21 returners from last year’s disappointing 18-36 team that went 8-19 in the league to miss out on the postseason. The Pride can assure a CAA playoff spot by placing among the top two in the league’s north division featuring Monmouth, Northeastern, Stony Brook and Towson or by having one of the two highest NCAA RPI ratings at the end of the regular season for the remaining teams.

Leading Hofstra’s charge for some late May baseball is red-shirt senior center fielder Tyler Cox, who hit .276 last season after transferring from West Virginia. The local lefty product from Clarke High School is second on the team in hitting as of March 30 with a .304 average and four home runs.

“He’s probably my best hitter in the

lineup and his approach has gotten better as lately he’s been more aggressive in hitting counts,” said Catalanotto of Cox. “He’s a leader on the team.”

Junior shortstop Michael Brown who leads the Pride in hitting with a .361 average and two home runs. Brown drove in the winning run in Hofstra’s 5-4 11 inning win against Northeastern on March 27.

Sophomore catcher CJ Griggs entered the final week of March hitting .304 and recording the winning RBI in a dramatic 11-10 win against Northeastern Sunday in which the Pride rallied for four runs in the bottom of the ninth.

JJ DeVito, a graduate student transfer from St. Johns, who was a former standout at Wantagh High School, has added some offensive punch to the lineup with a .268 average including four hits in a 5-4 loss at Charleston on March 8.

The pitching staff got a boost to start the season with the return of 2024 First-

Team All-CAA honoree Carlos Martinez, who missed last season due to Tommy John surgery. Martinez missed some early non-league action as he worked his way back from injury and Catalano is hoping he can peak during the crucial CAA portion of the schedule in April and May.

“He was struggling a little bit early with some pain in his arm, but now he’s feeling close to 100 percent,” said Catalanotto of Matinez.

The starting rotation for weekend CAA games also features sophomore Chris Bedford and senior Sean Hamilton. Key hurlers out of the bullpen include Nick Reese, Deuce Musial, Maddon McArthur, Tanner Sanderoff and Brayden Gregg.

Sophomore Michael Heyman, a Hewlett High School graduate, is another relief pitching option who could be called upon in non-league midweek games this season.

The Pride will look to get the April part of their CAA schedule off on the right foot with a series at Towson this weekend before hosting Long Island rival Stony Brook for three games from April 10-12. Hofstra will host series against Towson from May 1-3 and Monmouth from May 8 -10 before closing the regular season at Stony Brook.

Hofstra dug itself an early hole to gain a playoff spot by dropping four of six CAA games to start the season, but taking two of three from Northeastern gives the Pride a winning foundation to build off with plenty more conference games left to finish strong.

“There are a lot of games left and we’ve got to go take care of business,” said Catalanotto, a former 14-year Major League Baseball player who led Hofstra to a CAA title in his season as head coach in 2022. “We’ve got the talent to do it.”

Happy Holidays — Sing with new intent passover message

spring is in the air, and soon families will sit together to celebrate Passover. During the course of the Seder we retell the story of the Exodus and reaffirm the themes of freedom, strength and hope that are central to the holiday. We sing “Let my people go” as our ancestors did so many years ago, but I can’t help thinking that this year we should sing it with new intent.

With Iran still showing open belligerence toward Israel and the US, and with the threats and name calling emanating from Tehran still looming large, we know that the world still has not completely healed from the Middle East conflict. Soldiers downrange are living with the fear that many of our ancestors knew during

those long years in Egypt, and we are grateful that we have men and women with the moral fortitude to stand up and face that fear.

This year we lost several brave souls in this campaign. Let us never forget them. As we say at Passover, “next year in Jerusalem,” let us also remember “as if we ourselves were liberated from Egypt.” Let us never forget our troops, as if they were our own family.

Chag Pesach Sameach. May this holiday bring strength to those who need it, comfort to those who mourn, and peace to everyone.

Rabbi Jeshayahu “Shai” Beloosesky, D. Min is the spiritual leader of Temple Avodah in Oceanside.

News brief

Aleph Academy hosts matzah bake-off

Local children turned into master bakers as families gathered at Aleph Academy at Chabad of the Beaches on March 25 for a hands-on Passover experience. As part of a global CKids initiative, the event brought ancient traditions to life with a modern MasterChef style twist that left every participant and parent buzzing with excitement.

Young bakers got up close with raw wheat stalks, seeing how matzah begins before it is milled into flour. With the timer ticking, kids raced to mix, roll, and perforate their dough, recreating the adrenaline-fueled rush of the Jewish people escaping Egypt before the dough could rise. They then rolled out their dough into matzah, mastering the secrets of the authentic artisan baking process.

“The energy was incredible,” Beila Goodman, director of Aleph Academy said. “To see the children so engaged, covered in a little bit of flour and a lot of Jewish pride, is exactly what CKids is all about. They didn’t just learn about the Exodus; they felt the rush of it!”

Each participant headed home not only with their handmade Matzah but with a deeper connection to their heritage as Passover begins.

–Aidan Warshavsky

The risen Lord renews our path forward easter message

Dear Brothers and Sisters: Happy Easter to you and your families!

This Easter Sunday, Easter Octave, Divine Mercy Sunday and Easter Season we continue to pray and contemplate our Lord’s Resurrection appearances, and we give thanks for Pope Leo XIV and his worldwide spirit of Catholic mission.

In his Cycle of Catechesis on the Resurrection of Christ, Pope Leo writes: “The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is an event that one never finishes contemplating and meditating on, and the more one explores it, the more one is filled with wonder, drawn in as if by an overwhelming yet fascinating light. It was an explosion of life and joy that changed the meaning of reality itself, from negative to positive; yet it did not happen in a striking way, much less a violent one, but gently, hidden, one might say humbly.”

much sadness in the world - “a feeling of precariousness, at times profound desperation.” We think especially of the daily crosses and trials of those from war-torn and violence-ridden areas of the world.

ReveRend

John o. BaRRes

Pope Leo recognizes that there is

The Holy Father then reflects on the despair of the two disciples on the Road to Emmaus. Their hearts burn and their joy is restored as the Risen Lord explains the scriptures to them and they recognize him in the breaking of the bread. In this way, the Paschal Mystery gives us hope and strength in every trial and circumstance.

May the light of the risen Christ illumine with God in heaven our path to holiness on earth and our path to eternal life and happiness

Sincerely yours in the Risen Lord, Most Reverend John O. Barres

The Most Reverend John O. Barres is the Bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre.

Wishing all of our friends and neighbors a Joyous

Community

Water economics: balancing need with cost

The politics of profits, taxes and surcharges have roiled the debate over public and private service

By Allyson Ferr Ari & Chris ColuCCi of the Herald

Fifth installment in a series about water.

Water is a business.

Advocates argue that water is a basic human right. It’s also a product, provided for a cost and purchased by consumers. Whether filling a 40-ounce water bottle, taking a long, relaxing shower or running the tap for two minutes of teeth-brushing, water consumption is an often overlooked part of our everyday lives.

Like other expenses considered essential for life such as food, electricity and a Wi-Fi signal, the water bill is a recurring payment. And just like other utilities, residents sometimes have limited options for their service provider.

Long Island residents are served by either public water districts or private water suppliers and, depending on location, some pay significantly more for the same basic necessity — often with little or no ability to choose their provider. While a majority receive water from public providers, a smaller portion of the population is served by private companies, often at higher cost.

The dollars and cents

When their water bill comes in, many ratepayers feel a sharp pain in the wallet. Costs can fluctuate based not only on how much they use, but what they use it for.

Several water districts estimate that the average use for a family of four is nearly 400 gallons per day. In some cases, especially in private service areas, water bills can range from $500 to $800 per month during peak summer periods, according to longtime advocate Agatha Nadel, a resident of Glen Head.

Pricing differs sharply between public and private water systems. According to Pamela Bellings, a communications specialist at Liberty Water, “Residential water rates are set through a regulatory process overseen by the New York Public Service Commission.”

“Rates are designed to recover the cost of operating, maintaining and upgrading water infrastructure while ensuring service remains safe and reliable,” Bellings said of how Liberty determines its residential rates.

“Rates do not fluctuate month to month, but they may change over time following regulatory review and approval,” she added. These proposed changes require detailed justification and include opportunities for public input before a decision is made, which helps balance customer affordability with the need to maintain and modernize critical water infrastructure, according to Liberty.

Critics argue that despite regulatory oversight, the structure of private water systems can lead to significantly higher costs due to general service charges, meter charges, regulatory charges and other fees.

Public water suppliers typically pro-

vide a standard water usage rate, a conservation rate — a type of sliding scale applying higher fees to higher use, intended to encourage judicious water use — and an irrigation fee for dedicated sprinkler systems, which are presumed to be relatively lower priority than consumption.

“We feel water is a basic need. You need it for drinking, cooking and bathing,” said Robert McEvoy, chairman of the Oyster Bay Water District.

“Once you get past that, whether you’re putting 15,000 gallons on your lawn in the course of a quarter or you’re drinking every last drop, it has to meet the same standards, health-wise. We have to treat all our water the same way.”

“Water districts are determined or created as part of town law,” McEvoy explained. “A lot of the boundaries preexist the Nassau Subdivisions Act and the Nassau County charter — when they were established. Some of them run sort of coterminous with school district lines.”

of about 9.75 percent per project by the New York Public Service Commission, and that can rise to as much as 12 to 15 percent.

While treatment standards remain consistent for public safety, pricing can vary significantly depending on the provider. In some towns, prices may even vary between houses on the same block due to water zoning boundaries or the homeowners’ use of private or public water supplies.

Nadel’s residence, for example, is in the Liberty Water service area, while homes just 100 feet away are served by the public Jericho Water District.

“My neighbor pays a fifth of what I pay in an entire year,” Nadel said. “No taxes, no surcharges, nothing.”

Pricing differences, advocates say, are driven largely by the structure of private systems, which include profit margins and surcharges and have limited access to the government funding that public providers rely on to offset costs.

Residents in a private system can pay three to five times more than those served by public water providers, according to Nadel. Private water companies are guaranteed a baseline profit

According to Nadel, a four-year rate cycle in the mid-2010s brought an increase of about 120 percent, significantly driving up household water costs. A major issue voiced by private water customers is the amount they pay in fees added to their water bills, which typically include base usage rates and additional charges such as taxes and surcharges. In some cases, nearly half of the bill is not for water usage. Surcharges can include the cost of infrastructure projects such as filtration systems, water towers and other capital improvements.

“It’s an absolute sin,” Nadel said of the surcharges. “Forty-one percent of a typical water bill goes to charges and taxes that have nothing to do with the actual water usage. It really is an absolute sin.”

Public vs. private water suppliers

While most Long Island homeowners rely on public water services from their local municipality, private water suppliers may be an option for certain service areas. Liberty Water is one of the area’s

Public, private water rates differ drastically

Continued from PreViouS PAGe

largest private alternatives, currently supplying water to nearly 120,000 Nassau residents, primarily in the Town of Hempstead. A homeowner who wants an alternative to either public or private water suppliers would need to install and maintain a private well, subject to local and state requirements.

“For most customers, remaining connected to a regulated public water system provides reliability, water quality oversight and long-term infrastructure support,” Bellings said.

As a result, most Long Islanders continue to receive water service from the provider assigned to their area, even if they are dissatisfied with it. Because water is tied to geographic districts, homeowners typically cannot choose their provider.

As a matter of public safety, water suppliers — public and private — must adhere to state and federal guidelines to monitor and remove waterborne contaminants. “Private suppliers have the same health department and [Department of Environmental Conservation] requirements — federal, state and local requirements for pure water,” McEvoy said. “They have the same maximum contaminant levels for the same contaminants. Their testing requirements are the same as us, whether it’s a public or a private water supplier.”

McEvoy has decades of experience in the water industry, having previously served as chairman of the Long Island Water Conference and president of the Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners’ Association — both organizations dedicated to ensuring water quality, safety and affordability across the Island.

Nadel explained that the Water Authority of North Shore has two main options to deliver public water: build and operate its own system or contract with an existing public provider. In her own research with North Shore Concerned Citizens, she has concluded that contracting with nearby systems — such as Jericho, Glen Cove, or Roslyn — would be the fastest and most practical approach because those providers already have infrastructure in place.

Long Island’s water systems are interconnected, allowing supplies to be rerouted during emergencies such as contamination events or periods of high demand, demonstrating that a transition from private to public supply may be feasible. Nadel said the shift would not be overly complex, but rather a matter of political will.

Homeowners having scant options is an issue on both shores, but potential alternatives have been considered for several years. The South Nassau Water Authority was created in 2021 to potentially offer Town of Hempstead residents an alternative to Liberty Water. A plan to establish a new water authority and create a sustainable, efficient and effective alternative to Liberty has been in the works for years. Residents and legislators are eager to move forward, but negotiations to transition away from the current water supply are complex and have moved slowly.

“Right now, the options are very limited,” explained Assemblywoman Judy Griffin, who represents District 21, which encompasses Baldwin, East Rockaway, Lynbrook, Malverne, Rockville Centre, South Hempstead and parts of Freeport and Valley Stream. “Residents that live in the Village of Rockville Centre and the Village of Freeport have municipal water; however, those who live anywhere else in AD-21 are served by Liberty Water with no ability to opt out, unless the municipalization of South Nassau Water Authority becomes a reality. The primary goal being to transition these private customers to public control to lower costs.” Public funding for some, but not for others

“Strong communities start with a strong infrastructure,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a 2024 news release. “Clean water is a basic human right.”

Last month, Hochul announced a plan to direct $28 million in state and federal grants to Long Island to help facilitate water infrastructure upgrades. The

Customers who received water from Liberty utilities opposed a 2023 rate hike that potentially saw bills in nassau County increase by a cumulative 34.2 percent. the increase ultimately went into effect in August 2024.

Drip, drip, drip: Where are your dollars going?

If your water bill seems excessive, there are some relatively simple steps to pare it down.

20-minute shower with standard showerhead

Up to 50 gallons of water

15-minute shower with low-flow showerhead

Up to 30 gallons of water

5 loads of laundry, standard machine

Up to 200 gallons of water per week

4 loads of laundry, Energy Star-certified machine

Up to 115 gallons of water per week

Standard toilet with minor running leak

Up to 1.6 gallons per flush plus up to 180 gallons per week

EPA-verified WaterSense-label toilet

Up to 1.28 gallons per flush

funds are part of a $250 million statewide project to improve water infrastructure.

The plan follows similar financial support in January of this year, when Hochul sent $18 million to Long Island — one part of a $288 million project — with the similar aim of making water and sewer infrastructure improvements.

In a statement supporting the most recent funding, Village of Hempstead Mayor Waylyn Hobbs Jr. wrote, “We know that access to clean water is not a luxury, but it is a necessity.” Hobbs continued, “Upgrading our aging water system, replacing outdated pipes and improving the overall system is critical to protecting public health.”

The influx of funds can play a significant role in maintaining and upgrading anything from deteriorating equipment at water treatment plants to damaged

underground supply lines. As government agencies, water districts can benefit from funding directly from the state, while private businesses cannot. The trickledown effect, so to speak, of extra governmental funding is that cost savings can be passed to residents. More important, water quality and safety can be more easily maintained. Private suppliers address potential safety issues at their own expense, without state or federal aid.

“Currently they’re not available for private water companies,” McEvoy said. “But the Long Island Water Conference has put it on their agenda to seek legislation that would give them access [to public funds] only for treatment of the contaminants. Not for any other purpose.”

Due to the unequal funding for environmental upgrades, public water providers are in a stronger financial position to improve infrastructure and remove contaminants using state and federal funds, while private systems are excluded from receiving them — meaning costs are passed on to residents.

The Environmental Protection Agency requires community water systems — public and private — to publish “community confidence reports,” most commonly in the form of yearly water-quality reports that reveal test results for contaminants, as well as facts and figures detailing overall water consumption.

The Jericho Water District Annual Drinking Water Quality Report for 2024, for example, highlighted nearly 4.9 billion gallons of water provided to 58,000 customers, averaging 13.4 million gallons per day. Jericho Water charges a minimum of $13 per calendar quarter, at a rate of $1.30 per 1,000 gallons up to 10,000 gallons. Fees increase on a sliding scale with usage — similar to the conservation rate used in other municipalities — reaching $3.90 per 1,000 gallons for usage above 200,000 gallons per quarter.

According to the 2025 Liberty Annual Water Quality Report for the Sea Cliff Operations District, the average customer used just under 95,800 gallons of water, at a cost of about $1,340, or $3.67 a day. Liberty also revealed that it served roughly 4,388 customers, at a total cost of $5.9 million.

The reports highlight how costs and scale can vary widely between systems, even as both draw from the same regional water supply.

For many residents, the issue is not just how much water they use, but who controls the system that delivers it.

Annual Easter egg hunt rolls on with treats

The City of Long Beach Department of Parks and Recreation held the 64th annual Easter egg hunt on Saturday morning, presented by East End Volleyball. Children from 3 to 7 years old took to the Recreation Field in seven age-based groups and one special needs group throughout the day.

Hundreds of eager egg hunters raced around in search of nut-free candy and prizes. In celebration of their 50th season, East End Volleyball distributed mini-volleyballs across the field, not easily mistaken for Easter eggs.

Participation was limited to Long Beach residents and school district residents. City Council member Tracey Johnson, Nassau Legislator Pat Mullaney and Easter Bunnies were all on hand to cheer the happy hunters and keep the day energized.

The Easter egg hunt was an exciting send-off for the Recreation Fields, which were temporarily closed the following day to allow the installation of new turf — the field’s first upgrade in nearly 20 years. The turf is expected to be put in place within weeks and full use of the field should resume by May.

–Chris Colucci

Mery and Sindy always knew they wanted to open a spa to bring beauty to customers. Little did they know it would have the same effect on the community. And Business First was there. We provided $23,000 in grants to help with much-needed renovations so Mery and Sindy could bring their vision to life.* Now, not only does their spa impact clients in a beautiful way, it gives the community an economic lift as well.

grants, and savings will vary with every project.

Climate activists rally against Hochul plan

By JOSEPH D’ALESSANDRO jdalessandro@liherald.com

Dozens of advocates and concerned residents gathered at the Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building in Mineola last month to protest Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposal to revise New York state’s 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.

The CLCPA is an environmental policy that requires greenhouse gas emissions in the state to be reduced by 40 percent from 1990 levels by 2030 by replacing much of the state’s fossil fuel electricity with renewable energy. Hochul wrote about the policy in an opinion essay published by the Empire Report on March 20, titled “Climate Action and Affordability Must Go HandIn-Hand.”

Following the loss of federal support for solar, wind and other energy initiatives and the rapid increase of oil prices, Hochul suggested that the climate act could lead to severe utility cost increases if it is not revised.

“So much has radically changed since the climate act was enacted, necessitating common-sense adjustments that keep us on our path to a greener future in a way that is affordable for New Yorkers,” Hochul wrote. “We need more time, and so I am proposing we amend the law to require regulations to reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions to

be issued at the end of 2030.”

Eric Weltman, senior organizer of the national nonprofit Food and Water Watch, led a group of protesters urging state legislators to defend the climate law later that day.

“We are here because Governor Hochul, unfortunately, is threatening to weaken New York’s landmark climate law,” Weltman said, “and we’re here to urge our legislators to stand up and

defend and protect the climate law. Hochul is embracing policies that would promote fracking and more costly fossil fuel pipelines and power plants.”

The CLCPA, Weltman said, reduces costs related to fossil fuels, decreases air pollution and supports a shift toward renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power.

Joe Sackman, executive director of the Long Island Progressive Coalition,

said the 2019 legislation “fully expressed New York’s willingness to take on climate change and move us toward a just and working-class-centered economy.”

“Governor Hochul, by demanding rollbacks to the CLCPA, you are playing politics with our future,” Sackman added. “It’s time to do what is right. No rollbacks on New York’s climate law.”

T.J. Shivers, representing New York Communities for Change, focused on the climate crisis’s direct effects on Long Islanders’ budgets.

“Energy burdens are crushing families from many low- and moderateincome communities,” Shivers said.

“People are paying 6 to 10 percent or more of their income just on energy bills, far above what is considered affordable … When my bill goes up, it’s not just the number on paper, that’s food off the table.”

A number of community organizations joined the protest and spoke against revisions to the CLCPA, including the New York Public Interest Research Group, Transition Town Port Washington, the South Shore Audubon Society, the Green Party of Nassau County, All Our Energy, Grassroots Environmental Education, Renewable Heat Now and Bend the Arc Jewish Action: Long Island, calling for Nassau County residents to contact their local elected officials to advocate for preserving the climate act.

things to know about national garden month

Growing a garden is more than just a hobby

By Chris ColuCCi

ccolucci@liherald.com

Each year begins with months that spread awareness of powerful social issues, such as February’s Black History Month and March’s Women’s History Month. April brings a very different and impactful recognition with National Garden Month. With Earth Day occurring on April 22, the environmental focus can last all month long with the smallest of steps.

Share in a community garden

Many towns and villages, and some apartment complexes, have community gardens which offer residents a chance to take part in a relatively larger-scale growing project that their personal accommodations may not allow. The Point Lookout Community Garden is one local example, organized by the Point Lookout Civic Association. Participants can rent one of 42 planter boxes in which they can grow vegetables or flowers as part of a larger communal space. With a beach-adjacent area being predominantly soil that doesn’t naturally provide ideal growing conditions, a community garden allows easier access to a more controlled, potentially more bountiful environment. It’s also a chance to connect socially with like-minded gardeners and neighbors.

Rely on local nurseries

Nurseries and garden centers are local businesses that specialize in helping beginning gardeners get off to a strong start while also providing support and resources for experienced green thumbs. They typically offer everything from soil and garden supplies to partially developed plants — saving gardeners the time and frustration of growing fruits, vegetables or flowers from seed. They’re also an invaluable source of expertise on local climate and ecology, helping advise what types of plant life the local temperatures and soil conditions can support. With several nurseries in surrounding areas, residents have the chance to get direction from garden professionals to make the most of a growing season.

Improve mental health

Tending a garden can yield more than just bountiful crops and beautiful flowers. In addition to the benefits of eating garden-fresh tomatoes or enjoying the sight of colorful zinnias, research has consistently found that basic gardening and “therapeutic horticulture” — garden and plantbased activities guided by a professional — may reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. Whether it’s a windowsill box with fragrant basil and fresh herbs, a small potted flower on a table, or a modest vegetable container in an outdoor area, cultivating a plant can encourage daily physical activity, often in fresh air. It can also be a mental stimulus, requiring patience and concentration.

STEPPING OUT

From sketchbooks to the spotlight

Young artists stand out in ‘Long Island’s Best’

By Abbey Salvemini

Fresh talent is in full bloom this spring at Heckscher Museum of Art. For three decades, the Heckscher Museum of Art has served as a prestigious launchpad for the next generation of visual storytellers. “Long Island’s Best” is back, marking its 30th anniversary as it spotlights emerging high school artists throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties, now through May 3.

As the only juried exhibition of its kind on Long Island, this program offers high schoolers the rare distinction of seeing their work hanging in a professional museum and memorialized in a full-color commemorative catalog. The selection process is famously rigorous: For the 2026 season, 84 finalists were curated from over 400 submissions representing 63 schools across Nassau and Suffolk. Tasked with this challenge were jurors Meredith Brown, Ph.D., the museum’s consulting curator of contemporary art, and guest juror Aaron Feltman — an accomplished artist and a proud Long Island’s Best alumnus.

“It is never an easy process,” says Brown, who explained that the strongest pieces combine technical skill with originality and meaningful themes.

This year’s exhibition included an unusually high number of sculptures — more than in any previous “Long Island’s Best” exhibitions — that reflect both the students’ ambition and influenced by the recent exhibition “Emma Stebbins: Carving Out History.”

“I was surprised by the number of sculptural submissions,” Brown adds. “Sculpture is tricky, and many schools don’t have the resources, but these students took the challenge on and produced really compelling work.”

Among standout pieces is Luminous Harvest, a ceramic sculpture by Lyla Pinto, a senior at Long Beach High School, which earned fourth place and the Stan Brodsky Award. Inspired by painter Darragh Park’s “To Here/From Here,” Pinto created a tree-like form composed of branches holding symbolic fruit and candles.

“I was drawn to Park’s artwork because it seemed alive, as though the forms are changing and expanding rather than remaining still,” she explains. “The handcrafted fruits represent abundance, sustenance and the various attributes each branch offers. I made seven branches because the number seven represents completeness and balance, suggesting a full cycle of growth rather than a single moment. Like Park, I wanted to convey a sense of natural rhythm through organic shapes as demonstrated in the abundance and repetitious organic greenery.”

For Director of Education Joy Weiner — whose program leadership is being honored at a “30th Birthday Bash” on April 18 — the most rewarding aspect of her involvement is observing students experience the thrill of having their work displayed in a museum.

“Just watching their faces as they show their parents how special this opportunity is, that’s one of the happiest memories every year,” she relates.

“Long Island’s Best” has evolved considerably since its early years.

“Years ago, there were landscapes, still lifes and portraits. That was pretty much what you got,” Weiner

Lyla Pinto: Lyla Pinto’s ceramic sculpture “Luminous Harvest, was awarded Fourth Place and honored with the Stan Brodsky Scholarship Award.

• Now through May 3

• Open Thursday through Sunday, noon-5 p.m.

• Heckscher Museum of Art, 2 Prime Ave., Huntington

• Visit Heckscher.org or call (631) 380-3230 for information on related programming

adds. “Over the years, the different kinds of materials became something that students were interested in exploring. And they’re also much more aware of the world around them, tackling social issues, personal experiences and big-picture ideas through their art.”

While the program certainly sharpens their technical craft, its true value lies in instilling the professional rigor required of a working artist. It also underscores the lasting influence of arts education, with many alumni pursuing careers in art, design, filmmaking, and teaching.

“The whole process from beginning to end involves meeting deadlines, working with teachers, creating the work and writing about it,” Weiner says. “That’s very important as they continue in their careers, to not only create a work of art but to be able to speak about it and share it with others.”

Looking ahead, both Brown and Weiner encourage students to embrace the process, even if their work isn’t selected.

“Sharing your work is a powerful experience. It helps students grow as artists and lets others engage with their vision.” Weiner adds.“Even if your piece isn’t chosen, you learn something about yourself and your art. And when people connect with your work, it’s a truly rewarding experience.”

Teachers, Long Island’s Best alumni and the community are all invited to the stylish “Birthday Bash” celebrating this momentous milestone. Alumni and local artists will contribute works for a fundraiser, underscoring the lasting influence of “Long Island’s Best” throughout the region. The gathering includes an opportunity to meet students and hear firsthand how the program shaped their creative journeys.

“I’ve been privileged to watch the growth of Long Island’s Best,” Weiner says. “I have seen elementary school students eventually become LI Best finalists, have watched students’ progress to becoming Long Island Biennial artists as professionals; and have been lucky to work with students who now teach art in our community, inspiring the next generation.”

This milestone exhibit not only celebrates the talent of today’s students but also emphasizes the enduring value of arts education in shaping Long Island’s creative future. It’s an opportunity to explore a wide variety of media and themes while experiencing the fresh perspectives and voices of the next generation of artists, gaining insight into how young people interpret the world around them through art.

Dan Soder

Come chill with stand-up comedian Dan Soder! Get ready for a night of sharp, laugh-out-loud comedy when he takes the stage on The Golden Retriever of Comedy tour. Known for his quick wit and effortlessly relatable storytelling, Soder has built a devoted following. His credits include ”Not Special” on Comedy Central, a standout turn on Netflix’s The Standups” and his acclaimed HBO special “Son of a Gary.”Fans have also embraced his hit YouTube special, “Dan Soder: On The Road,” a laugh-packed set filled with smart, surprising takes on relationships, growing up and everything in between. Offstage, Soder hosts the popular podcast Soder and was a longtime co-host of SiriusXM’s The Bonfire from 2015 to 2023. Many will also recognize him from his role as Dudley “Mafee” on Billions. With his easygoing charm and razor-sharp observations, Soder delivers comedy that feels both down-to-earth and unexpectedly insightful.

Saturday, April 4, 7 and 9 p.m. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.

‘…how I wish you were here’

Wish You Were Here celebrates the 50th Anniversary of Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here,” acclaimed as one of the greatest albums of all time and cited by Pink Floyd keyboardist Richard Wright and guitarist David Gilmour as their favorite album. The band continues its 30-year tradition of combining sight and sound to capture the mood, emotions, and intensity of the Floydian theatrical concert experience — in a spectacular tribute of music, performers, lighting, video, lasers and inflatables — all performed without backing or click tracks. The veteran 10-piece musical ensemble features seven vocalists and a Floydian stage production — sound effects and vintage videos, flying inflatables, theatrical vignettes with props, and a sensational light show with moving lasers, rolling fog and state-of-the-art intelligent lighting — all produced with a fan’s obsession for detail.

Thursday, April 9, 7:30 p.m. Tilles Center, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

Your Neighborhood CALENDAR

APR 3

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: 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; also April 6-9

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

Seasonal Sprouts: Artful Explorers

Bring the kids to Old Westbury Gardens, now open for the 2026 season, to xplore creativity in nature during this one-hour guided program through the gardens and at the barn at Orchard Hill. Children will observe colors, textures, and patterns in the landscape, play art-inspired games, and create a simple hands-on art project using natural inspiration. Meet at the Beech Tree. Registration required. $22 adult, $20 seniors 62+ (member discounts available).

• Where: 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury

• Time: 11 a.m.-noon

• Contact: oldwestburygardens. org or call (516) 333-0048

APR 4

Great Big Easter Egg Hunt

Old Westbury Gardens welcomes families for some Easter fun. Take part in a reading of the classic Peter Rabbit tale, “The Great Big Easter Egg Hunt.” Afterward join in an exciting egg hunt in the Cottage Garden! Perfect for children ages 3-6. Up to 12 eggs per child may be redeemed for prizes; eggs are empty. Registration required. $22 adult, $20 seniors 62+ (member discounts available).

• Where: 71 Old Westbury Rd.,

APR

Mike DelGuidice

Local favorite Mike DelGuidice returns to the Paramount stage with his popular residency, delivering the high-energy, feel-good performances that have made him a hometown standout. Backed by his powerhouse band, DelGuidice brings the music of his idol, Billy Joel, to life with passion and precision, celebrating decades of iconic hits in a rousing, crowd-pleasing show. A multi-instrumentalist who grew up immersed in music, DelGuidice’s deep knowledge of Joel’s catalog ultimately led to sharing the stage with the Piano Man himself, touring around the world. Alongside beloved classics, he weaves in his own original songs, showcasing the songwriting that has earned him a devoted following. His releases include My Street, Miller Place and Mask Production, and his track “Ordinary Guy” was featured as the theme for Kevin Can Wait starring Kevin James. Whether performing on stage or connecting with fans through his “Live on the Porch” series, which brought audiences together during the pandemic, DelGuidice continues to share his love of music in ways that resonate far beyond the Long Island community.

Old Westbury

• Time: 10:30 a.m., noon and 1:30 p.m.

• Contact: oldwestburygardens. org or call (516) 333-0048

APR

7

Long Beach City Council Meeting

The Long Beach City Council meets the first and third Tuesday monthly. “Good and Welfare,” an opportunity for the public to speak on any topic pertaining to the City, is held following each regular meeting. Those who wish to speak must sign in prior to the start of the meeting.

• Where: 6th Floor, City Hall

• Time: 7 p.m.

• Contact: (516) 431-1000

APR

8

Light-Art Collaboration

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

APR

‘An Evening of Magic’ fundraiser

The Sarah Grace Foundation for Children With Cancer hosts its annual “An Evening of Magic” gala dinner. Award-winning magician Will Fern brings highenergy entertainment, including strolling magic and mind reading, to benefit children with cancer. The dinner fundraiser takes place in the Philodendrum Room at The Milleridge Inn. Tickets are $125 and include dinner, drinks and the show; advance purchase is required. Raffles and a 50/50 drawing will also be held.

• Where: 585 N. Broadway, Jericho

• Time: 7 p.m.

• Contact: thesarahgracefoundation.org

APR 11

The G2H Foundation hosts 4th Annual Hockey Day. The Nassau County Police Department hockey team takes on the FDNY hockey team, 2 p.m. The Toronto Fire Hockey Club then faces the Guardians, 5 p.m. Both are livestreamed by Long Island Sports Network. The games are preceded by a morning clinic for mite and squirt players coached by the Long Beach Lightning Coaches and the Farmingdale State College hockey team. With a 50/50 raffle, donated by businesses and local supporters. The ChuckA-Puck contest, t-shirt launch and bubble ball races are also included.

• Where: Long Beach Ice Arena, 150 W. Bay Drive

• Time: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

• Contact: (516) 543-5736

Town E-Cycle Program

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

• Time: 8 p.m., also Apr 11

• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com

‘Dog Sees God’

Hofstra University’s Department of Drama and Dance presents Bert V. Royal’s edgy comedy. The unauthorized continuation of the Peanuts comic strip, reimagines its characters as teenagers dealing with various contemporary issues including, identity, substance abuse, and relationships. When CB’s dog dies from rabies, CB begins to question the existence of an afterlife. His best friend is too burnt out to provide any coherent speculation; his sister has gone goth; his ex-girlfriend has recently been institutionalized; and his other friends are too inebriated to give him any sort of solace. Drug use, suicide, eating disorders, teen violence, rebellion and sexual identity collide and careen toward an ending that’s both haunting and hopeful. $15 general admission, $10 for seniors and Hofstra alumni.

• Where: Hofstra’s Joan and Donald Schaeffer Black Box Theater, Joseph G. Shapiro Family Hall, Hempstead

• Time: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; also April 12, 2 p.m.; April 16-April 19

• Contact: hofstra. universitytickets.com

Town of Hempstead encourages residents to dispose of older computers and electronics during the E-Cycle opportunity at Town Park Point Lookout. Residents may also bring personal paper and confidential documents to be shredded, free of charge (limit file boxes or five paper bags).

• Where: Town Park Point Lookout, 1300 Lido Blvd.

• Time: 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

• Contact: hempsteadny. gov/225/e-cycling or call (516) 378-4210

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.

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING, BUDGET VOTE AND ELECTION OF THE LONG BEACH CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing on the proposed school district budget will be held on May 12, 2026 at 7:00 P.M. in the Lido Elementary Multipurpose Room, 237 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, New York, and can also be viewed remotely at tinyurl. com/proudtobeLB; for the transaction of business as authorized by the Education Law, including the following items:

1. To present to the voters a detailed statement of the amount of money which will be required for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.

2. To discuss all the items hereinafter set forth to be voted upon by voting machine at the Budget Vote and Election to be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.

3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting pursuant to Education Law of the State of New York and acts amendatory thereto.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that a copy of the statement of the amount of money required for the ensuing year for school purposes (school budget) exclusive of public monies may be obtained by any district resident beginning May 5, 2026, between the hours of 8:00AM and 4:00PM, prevailing time, except Saturday, Sunday or holidays at the Office of the District Clerk, 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, New York, at Long Beach Public Library, at 111 West Park Avenue, Long Beach, New York, and on the District’s internet website. A copy of the statement of the amount of money that will be required for the Library purposes exclusive of public money will be available at the Long Beach Public Library and the Library’s district clerk’s office for the year beginning July 1, 2026.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that said Budget Vote and Election will be held on

Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at the school election districts indicated below, between the hours of 7:00AM and 9:00PM, prevailing time, at which time the polls will be opened to vote by voting machine upon the following items:

1. To adopt the annual budget of the School District for the fiscal year 2026-2027 and to authorize the requisite portion thereof to be raised by taxation on the taxable property of the District.

2. To elect two members of the Board of Education for a three (3) year term commencing July 1, 2026, and expiring on June 30, 2029, to fill the positions held by Dennis Ryan and Nora Bellsey, whose terms expire on June 30, 2026.

3. To elect one (1) trustee of the Long Beach Public Library for a five (5) year term commencing on July 1, 2026 and ending June 30, 2031.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that, per resolution of the Board of Education adopted on February 8, 2022, this vote and election will be held at the following school election districts (the accurate description of the boundaries is on file and may be inspected at the Office of the District Clerk, Administration Building, 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, New York 11561):

LINDELL SCHOOL ELECTION DISTRICT

LINDELL SCHOOL GYMNASIUM 601 LINDELL BOULEVARD, CITY OF LONG BEACH

This election district embraces the territory bounded on the West by a line parallel to and sixty (60) feet westerly from Malone Avenue, on the North by Reynolds Channel, on the East by the center line of Long Beach Boulevard and on the South by the Atlantic Ocean.

EAST SCHOOL ELECTION DISTRICT

EAST SCHOOL

GYMNASIUM 456 NEPTUNE BOULEVARD, CITY OF LONG BEACH

This election district embraces the territory bounded on the West by the center line of Long Beach Boulevard, on the North by Reynolds Channel, East to the easterly bounding line

of the City of Long Beach, and on the South by the Atlantic Ocean.

LIDO/MS SCHOOL ELECTION DISTRICT

LONG BEACH MIDDLE SCHOOL AUDITORIUM

LOBBY

239 LIDO BOULEVARD, LIDO BEACH, NEW YORK

This election district embraces the territory of the area known as Lido Beach, bounded on the West by a line commencing due east of the City of Long Beach, on the North by Reynolds Channel, on the East by the easterly boundary line of Point Lookout and on the South by the Atlantic Ocean.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that pursuant to Section 495 of the Real Property Tax Law, the School District is required to attach to its proposed budget an exemption report. Said exemption report, which will also become part of the final budget, will show how the total assessed value of the final assessment roll used in the budgetary process is exempt from taxation, list every type of exemption granted by the statutory authority, and show the cumulative impact of each type of exemption, the cumulative amount expected to be received as payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) and the cumulative impact of all exemptions granted. In addition, said exemption report shall be posted on any bulletin board maintained by the District for public notices and on any website maintained by the District.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that petitions nominating candidates for Board of Education trustees and Library Board trustee are available from the Clerk of said School District at her office in the Administration Building, 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, New York, 11561. Nominating petitions must be filed with the Clerk of the School District not later than April 29, 2026, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., prevailing time. Vacancies on both the Board of Education and the Library Board are not considered separate, specific offices; candidates run at large. Nominating petitions for Board of Education trustee must be directed to the District Clerk, must be signed by at least 100 qualified voters of the District;

must state the name and residence of each signer; and must state the name and residence of the candidate.

PLEASE TAKE

FURTHER NOTICE that applications for early mail ballots and absentee ballots for the school district election are to be completed on a form prescribed by the state board of elections and may be obtained by visiting the New York State Education Department’s Website (http://www.counsel. nysed.gov/common/ counsel/files/absenteeballot-application-andinstructions-english.pdf; http://www.counsel. nysed.gov/common/ counsel/files/absenteeballot-application-andinstructions-spanish. pdf), or by contacting the District Clerk by email or phone at sfamiletti@lbeach. org or 516-897-2108. Completed applications must be received by the District Clerk no earlier than April 20, 2026, and at least seven (7) days before the election, May 12, 2026, if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the election, May 18, 2026, if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter. Absentee ballots must be received by the District Clerk not later than 5:00 p.m., prevailing time, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.

A list of persons to whom early mail ballots and absentee ballots are issued will be available for inspection to qualified voters of the District in the Office of the District Clerk on and after Thursday, May 14, 2026, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., prevailing time, on each day prior to the day set for the annual election, except Sunday, and on May 19, 2026, the day set for the election. Any qualified voter then present in the polling place may object to the voting of the ballot upon appropriate grounds by making his or her challenge and the reasons therefore known to the Inspector of Election before the close of the polls. A challenge to an absentee ballot may not be made on the basis that the voter should have applied for an early mail ballot.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that any person who is not registered under permanent personal registration on or before January 1, 2018, or supplemental registration lists

furnished by the Nassau County Board of Elections, or has not voted at an intervening school district election, must present himself or herself personally for registration in order to be entitled to vote on May 5, 2026 from 2:00pm to 8:00pm; at Long Beach Middle School Auditorium Lobby, 239 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, New York 11561.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that any person who has moved from one school election district in the Long Beach City School District to another, and who has not registered in the new school election district, and who is still registered in the district from which he or she moved, may vote in the election district in which he or she registered. Such people must advise, at the time of voting, the election inspectors of his/her new address to correct such registration.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that only those qualified voters whose names appear on the registers prepared for said school district election will be entitled to vote on Election Day. The register will be filed in the District Clerk’s Office and open to inspection by any qualified voter of the school district from 8:00a.m. to 4:00p.m. on weekdays from May 5, 2026 to May 19, 2026, and Saturday May 9, 2026, when it will be available from 9 A.M. to 12 noon by appointment only.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that military voters who are not currently registered may apply to register as a qualified voter of the school district.

An application for registration as a military voter can be requested by contacting the District Clerk by telephone (516) 897-2108, facsimile (516) 771-3944, email sfamiletti@lbeach. org, mail to 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, NY, 11561, or in person (during regular office hours or between the hours of 8:15 AM to 4:00 PM); the application for registration must be received in the office of the District Clerk no later than 5:00 pm on May 4, 2026. In the request for an application for registration, the military voter is permitted to designate his/her preference for receiving the application for registration by mail,

facsimile transmission or electronic mail.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that military voters who are qualified voters of the district may submit an application for a military ballot by requesting an application form from the District Clerk; in order to receive a military ballot, the military ballot application must be received no later than 5:00 pm on May 4, 2026. In the request for an application for a military ballot, the military voter is permitted to designate his/her preference for receiving the application for a military ballot, and the military ballot, by mail, facsimile transmission or electronic mail. All qualified military voters’ ballot applications and military ballots must be returned by mail or in person. Ballots for military voters shall be distributed to qualified military voters no later than May 5, 2026. Military ballots must be received by the District Clerk (1) before the close of the polls, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, and must show a cancellation mark of the United States postal service or a foreign country’s postal service, or must show a dated endorsement of receipt by another agency of the United States Government; or (2) not later than 5:00 pm on the day of the election and be signed and dated by the military voter and one witness, with a date ascertained to be not later than the day before the election.

A list of persons to whom military ballots are issued will be available for inspection to qualified voters of the District in the Office of the District Clerk on and after Thursday, May 14, 2026, between the hours of 8:00a.m. and 4:00p.m., prevailing time, on each day prior to the day set for the annual election, except Sunday, and on May 19, 2026, the day set for the election. Any qualified voter then present in the polling place may object to the voting of the ballot upon appropriate grounds by making his or her challenge and the reasons therefore known to the Inspector of Election before the close of the polls.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that pursuant to a rule adopted by the

Board of Education in accordance with Section 2035 of the Education Law, any referenda or propositions to amend the budget, or otherwise to be submitted for voting at said election, must be filed with the Clerk of the Board of Education at the District Office, Administration Building, 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, New York 11561, in sufficient time to permit notice of the proposition to be included with the Notice of the Public Hearing, Budget Vote and Election required by Section 2004 of the Education Law or on or before April 20, 2026 at 4:00 p.m., prevailing time; must be typed or printed in the English language; must be directed to the Clerk of the School District; must be signed by at least 25 qualified voters of the District; and must legibly state the name of each signer. However, the School Board will not entertain any petition to place before the voters any proposition the purpose of which is not within the powers of the voters to determine, which is unlawful, or any proposition which fails to include a specific appropriation where the expenditure of monies is required by the proposition, or where other valid reason exists for excluding the proposition from the ballot.

Dated: Lido Beach, New York, March 10, 2026

By Order of the BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE LONG BEACH CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT Lido Beach, New York Susannah Familetti, District Clerk 159398

LEGAL NOTICE NOTIFICACION DE AUDIENCIA PUBLICA, VOTACION DEL PRESUPUESTO Y ELECCION DEL DISTRITO ESCOLAR DE LA CIUDAD DE LONG BEACH, CONDADO DE NASSAU, NUEVA YORK

SE NOTIFICA que se llevará a cabo una audiencia pública sobre el presupuesto propuesto del distrito escolar el 12 de Mayo del 2026 a las 7:00 P.M. en el Salón de Usos Múltiples de la Escuela Primaria Lido, 237 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, Nueva York, el cual también podrá verse remotamente siguiendo el enlace tinyurl. com/proudtobeLB;

para la transacción de negocios según lo autoriza la Ley de Educación, incluyendo los siguientes artículos:

1. Presentar a los votantes una declaración detallada de la cantidad de dinero que se requerirá para el año fiscal 2026-2027.

2. Discutir todos los artículos aquí enumerados a continuación, que serán tabulados utilizando máquina automática durante la Votación del presupuesto y Elección que se llevará a cabo el Martes 19 de Mayo del 2026.

3. Para la transacción de dichos y otros negocios que puedan presentarse antes de la reunión de conformidad a la Ley de Educación del Estado de Nueva York y actos de enmiendas aplicables.

ADEMAS POR FAVOR TOME NOTA de que cualquier residente del distrito puede obtener una copia del estado de cuenta de la cantidad de dinero requerida para fines escolares del año siguiente (presupuesto escolar), excluyendo fondos públicos, a partir del 5 de Mayo del 2026, entre las 8:00 A.M. y las 4:00 P.M., hora vigente, excepto los sábados, los domingos o días festivos, en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito, 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, Nueva York, asi como también en la Biblioteca Pública de Long Beach, ubicada en el 111 West Park Avenue, Long Beach, Nueva York, y en la página digital del Distrito. Una copia del estado de cuentas detallando la cantidad de dinero requerido, propuesta destinada para la Biblioteca, la cual excluye el dinero público, estará disponible en la Biblioteca Pública de Long Beach y en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito para el año que comienza el 1 de Julio del 2026.

Y SE DA NOTIFICACION ADICIONAL de que dicho Voto del Presupuesto y Elección se llevarán a cabo el Martes 19 de Mayo del 2026 en los distritos electorales escolares indicados a continuación, entre las 7:00 A.M. y las 9:00 P.M., hora vigente, periodo durante el cual las urnas se abrirán para votar mediante máquina de votación sobre los siguientes artículos:

Public Notices

1. Para adoptar el presupuesto anual del Distrito Escolar para el año fiscal 2026-2027 y para autorizar que la porción requerida para ser se recaudada a través de impuestos sobre la propiedad incluida en el Distrito.

2. Para elegir a dos miembros de la Junta de Educación por un término de tres (3) años comenzando el 1 de Julio del 2026 y expirando el 30 de Junio del 2029, para llenar las posiciones mantenidas por Dennis Ryan y Nora Bellsey, cuyos términos expiran el 30 de Junio del 2026.

3. Para elegir a un (1) miembro del Consejo de la Biblioteca Pública de Long Beach por un término de cinco (5) años comenzando el 1 de Julio del 2026 y finalizando el 30 de Junio del 2031.

ADEMAS POR FAVOR, TOME NOTA de que, según la resolución de la Junta de Educación adoptada el 8 de Febrero del 2022, este voto y elección tendrá lugar en los siguientes distritos electorales escolares (la descripción precisa de las zonas está en el archivo y puede ser inspeccionada en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito, Edificio de Administración, 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, Nueva York 11561):

DISTRITO ELECTORAL

ESCOLAR DE LINDELL

GIMNASIO DE LA ESCUELA LINDELL 601 LINDELL BOULEVARD, CIUDAD DE LONG BEACH

Este distrito electoral abarca el territorio delimitado al oeste por una línea paralela y sesenta (60) pies al oeste desde Malone Avenue, al norte por el canal Reynolds, al este por la línea central de Long Beach Boulevard y al sur por el océano Atlántico.

DISTRITO ELECTORAL

ESCOLAR ESTE GIMNASIO DE LA

ESCUELA ESTE

456 NEPTUNE

BOULEVARD, CIUDAD DE LONG BEACH

Este distrito electoral abarca el territorio delimitado al oeste por la línea central de Long Beach Boulevard, al norte por el canal Reynolds, al este con la línea delimitante este de la ciudad de Long Beach y al sur por el océano Atlántico.

DISTRITO ELECTORAL ESCOLAR DE LIDO/ ESCUELA MEDIA VESTÍBULO DEL AUDITORIO DE LA ESCUELA MEDIA LONG BEACH 239 LIDO BOULEVARD, LIDO BEACH, NUEVA YORK

Este distrito electoral abarca el territorio de la zona conocida como Lido Beach, delimitado al oeste por una línea que comienza justo al este de la ciudad de Long Beach, al norte por el canal Reynolds, al este por la línea límite este de Point Lookout y al sur por el océano Atlántico.

Y SE AVISA ADICIONALMENTE de que, de conformidad a la Sección 495 de la Ley del Impuesto sobre la Propiedad Inmobiliaria Real, el Distrito Escolar está obligado a adjuntar a su presupuesto propuesto un informe de exención. Dicho informe de exención, que también formará parte del presupuesto final, mostrará cómo el valor total determinado de la evaluación final será utilizado en el proceso presupuestario para la está exención de impuestos, listará todos los tipos de exención concedidas por la autoridad estatutaria y mostrará el impacto acumulativo de cada tipo de exención, la cantidad acumulada que se espera recibir como pagos en lugar de impuestos (PILOT) y el impacto acumulativo de todas las exenciones concedidas. Adicionalmente, dicha exención deberá publicarse en cualquier tablón de anuncios mantenido por el Distrito para los avisos públicos y en cualquier sitio de internet gestionado por el Distrito.

POR FAVOR, TOME NOTA ADICIONAL de que las peticiones que nominan candidatos para fideicomisarios de la Junta de Educación y de la Junta de la Biblioteca están disponibles por parte del Secretario de dicho distrito escolar en su oficina ubicada en el Edificio de Administración, 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, Nueva York, 11561. Las peticiones de nominación deben ser completadas ante el Secretario del Distrito Escolar a más tardar el 29 de Abril del 2026, entre las 9:00 A.M. y las 5:00 P.M., hora vigente. Las posiciones

desocupadas tanto en la Junta de Educación como en la Junta de la Biblioteca no son consideradas oficinas separadas o específicas; los candidatos se nominan de manera general. Las peticiones de nominación para fideicomisario de la Junta de Educación deben dirigirse al Secretario del Distrito, deben ser firmadas como mínimo por 100 votantes calificados del Distrito; deben indicar el nombre y la residencia de cada firmante; y deben indicar el nombre y la residencia del candidato.

POR FAVOR, TOME NOTA ADICIONAL de que las solicitudes de papeletas para votar anticipadamente por correo y votación en ausencia para las elecciones del distrito escolar deben completarse en un formulario pre-escrito por la Junta Electoral Estatal y pueden obtenerse visitando la página web del Departamento de Educación del Estado de Nueva York (http://www.counsel. nysed.gov/common/ counsel/files/absenteeballot-application-andinstructions-english.pdf; http://www.counsel. nysed.gov/common/ counsel/files/absenteeballot-application-andinstructions-spanish. pdf), o contactando con el Secretario del Distrito por correo electrónico o teléfono en el sfamiletti@lbeach.org ó 516-897-2108. Las aplicaciones completas deben ser recibidas por el Secretario del Distrito no antes del 20 de Abril del 2026 y al menos siete (7) días antes de la elección, el 12 de Mayo del 2026, si la papeleta debe ser enviada al votante por correo, o el día antes de la elección, el 18 de Mayo del 2026, si la papeleta debe ser entregada personalmente al votante. Las papeletas para votar por correo deben ser recibidas por el Secretario del Distrito a más tardar a las 5:00 P.M., hora vigente, del Martes 19 de Mayo del 2026.

Una lista de las personas a quienes se emitan papeletas de voto anticipado por correo y por ausencia estará disponible para ser inspeccionada por votantes calificados del Distrito en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito a partir del Jueves 14 de Mayo del 2026,

entre las 8:00 A.M. y a las 4:00 P.M., hora vigente, en cada día anterior al día fijado para la elección anual, excepto los Domingos, y el 19 de Mayo del 2026, el día fijado para la elección. Cualquier votante calificado que esté presente en el distrito electoral podrá objetar la votación de la papeleta en base apropiada, haciendo pública su impugnación y sus motivos al Inspector de la Elección antes del cierre de las urnas. No se puede impugnar una papeleta por correo porque el votante debería haber solicitado un voto anticipado por correo.

POR FAVOR, TOME NOTA ADICIONAL de que cualquier persona que no esté registrada bajo registro personal permanente a partir del 1 de Enero del 2018, o en los listados suplementarios de registro proporcionados por la Junta Electoral del Condado de Nassau, o que no haya votado en o intervenido en una elección de distrito escolar, debe presentarse personalmente para registrarse para poder votar 5 de Mayo del 2026 de 2:00 P.M. a 8:00 P.M.; en el vestíbulo del auditorio de la Escuela Media Long Beach, 239 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, Nueva York 11561.

POR FAVOR, TOME NOTA ADICIONAL de que cualquier persona que se haya trasladado de un distrito electoral escolar en el Distrito Escolar de la ciudad de Long Beach a otro, y que no se haya registrado en el nuevo distrito electoral escolar y quien siga registrado en el distrito del que se trasladó, podrá votar en el distrito electoral en el que está registrado. Dichas personas deben informar, en el momento de votar, a los inspectores electorales de su nueva dirección para que corrijan dicho registro.

POR FAVOR, TOME NOTA ADICIONAL de que solo aquellos votantes calificados cuyos nombres aparezcan en los registros preparados para dicha elección del distrito escolar tendrán derecho a votar el día de las elecciones. El registro se archivará en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito y estará abierto para inspección por cualquier votante calificado del distrito

escolar de 8:00 A.M. a 4:00 P.M. los días laborables del 5 al 19 de Mayo del 2026, y el Sábado 9 de Mayo del 2026, cuando estará disponible de 9:00 A.M. a 12:00 P.M. solo con cita previa.

Y ADICIONALMENTE SE DA AVISO, de que los votantes militares quienes no esten inscritos actualmente pueden aplicar para registrarse como votante calificado en el distrito escolar. La solicitud de registro como votante militar puede solicitarse contactando con el Secretario del Distrito por teléfono (516) 897-2108, fax (516) 771-3944, correo electrónico sfamiletti@ lbeach.org, correo a 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, NY, 11561, o en persona (durante el horario habitual de oficina o entre las 8:15 A.M. y las 4:00 P.M.); la solicitud de registro debe recibirse en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito no más tarde de las 5:00 P.M. el 4 de Mayo del 2026. En la solicitud de registro, el votante militar puede designar su preferencia para recibir la solicitud de registro por correo, fax o correo electrónico.

POR FAVOR, TOME NOTA ADICIONAL de que los votantes militares que sean votantes calificados del distrito pueden presentar una solicitud para una papeleta militar solicitando un formulario de solicitud al Secretario del Distrito; para recibir una papeleta militar, la solicitud debe recibirse a más tardar a las 5:00 P.M. del 4 de Mayo del 2026. En la solicitud de una papeleta militar, el votante militar puede designar su preferencia para recibir la solicitud de una papeleta militar y la papeleta militar, por correo, transmisión por fax o correo electrónico.

Todas las solicitudes de voto de votantes militares calificados y las papeletas militares deben ser devueltas por correo o en persona. Las papeletas para votantes militares se distribuirán a los votantes militares cualificados a más tardar el 5 de Mayo del 2026. Las papeletas militares deben ser recibidas por el Secretario del Distrito (1) antes del cierre de las urnas, el Martes 19 de Mayo del 2026, y deben mostrar una marca de cancelación del Servicio Postal de Estados Unidos o del Servicio Postal de un

país extranjero, o deben mostrar un acuse de recibo fechado por otra Agencia del Gobierno de los Estados Unidos; o (2) no más tarde de las 5:00 P.M. del día de la elección y ser firmada y fechada por el votante militar y un testigo, con una fecha fijada que no sea posterior del día anterior de la elección.

Una lista de personas a quienes se emiten papeletas militares estará disponible para su inspección para los votantes calificados del Distrito en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito a partir del Jueves 14 de Mayo del 2026, entre las 8:00 A.M. y a las 4:00 P.M., hora vigente, en cada día anterior al día fijado para la elección anual, excepto el Domingo, y el 19 de Mayo del 2026, del día fijado para la elección. Cualquier votante calificado presente en el lugar de votación podrá oponerse a la votación de la papeleta por motivos apropiados, haciendo pública su impugnación y los motivos al Inspector de Elecciones antes del cierre de las urnas.

Y SE DA UN AVISO ADICIONAL de que, conforme a una norma adoptada por la de Educación de acuerdo con la Sección 2035 de la Ley de Educación, cualquier referendo o propuesta para enmendar el presupuesto, que sea sometida a votación en dicha elección, deberá ser presentada ante el Secretario de la Junta de Educación en la Oficina del Distrito, Edificio de Administración, 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, Nueva York 11561, con suficiente tiempo para permitir que la notificación de la propuesta se incluya con la Notificación de la Audiencia Pública, Votación de Presupuesto y Elección requerida por la Sección 2004 de la Ley de Educación o antes del 20 de Abril del 2026 a las 4:00 P.M., hora vigente; debe estar mecanografiada o impresa en el lenguaje Inglés; debe ser dirigida al Secretario del Distrito Escolar; debe estar firmada por como mínimo 25 votantes calificados del Distrito; y debe indicar legiblemente el nombre de cada firmante. Sin embargo, la Junta Escolar no aceptará ninguna petición para presentar ante los votantes ninguna propuesta cuyo

propósito no esté dentro de las competencias de los votantes para determinar que sea ilegal, ni ninguna propuesta que no incluya una asignación específica cuando la propuesta requiera el gasto de fondos, o cuando exista otra razón válida para excluir la propuesta de la papeleta.

Fechado: Lido Beach, Nueva York, 10 de Marzo del 2026

Por orden de la JUNTA DE EDUCACION DEL DISTRITO ESCOLAR DE LA CIUDAD DE LONG BEACH

Lido Beach, Nueva York

Susannah Familetti, Secretario del Distrito 159400

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

To Place A Notice Call 516-569-4000 x232

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT

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

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON FKA THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE 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.

April 2, 2026 —

Public Notices

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, -againstMARION 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

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

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, -againstROGER M. SARMUKSNIS, 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 February 4, 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 ROGER M. SARMUKSNIS, 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 May 6, 2026 at 2:00PM, premises known as 629 WEST BEECH STREET, LONG BEACH, NY 11561; and the following tax map identification: 59-015-36. ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, 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.: 601945/2023. Jeffrey Toback, 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. 159293

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTIFICACION DE AUDIENCIA PUBLICA, VOTACION DEL PRESUPUESTO Y ELECCION DEL DISTRITO ESCOLAR DE LA CIUDAD DE LONG BEACH, CONDADO DE NASSAU, NUEVA YORK

SE NOTIFICA que se llevará a cabo una audiencia pública sobre el presupuesto propuesto del distrito escolar el 12 de Mayo del 2026 a las 7:00 P.M. en el Salón de Usos Múltiples de la Escuela Primaria Lido, 237 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, Nueva York, el cual también podrá verse remotamente siguiendo el enlace tinyurl.com/proudtobeL B; para la transacción de negocios según lo autoriza la Ley de Educación, incluyendo los siguientes artículos:

1. Presentar a los votantes una declaración detallada de la cantidad de dinero que se requerirá para el año fiscal 2026-2027.

2. Discutir todos los artículos aquí enumerados a continuación, que serán tabulados utilizando máquina automática durante la Votación del presupuesto y Elección que se llevará a cabo el Martes 19 de Mayo del 2026.

3. Para la transacción de dichos y otros negocios que puedan presentarse antes de la reunión de conformidad a la Ley de Educación del Estado de Nueva York y actos de enmiendas aplicables.

ADEMAS POR FAVOR TOME NOTA de que cualquier residente del distrito puede obtener una copia del estado de cuenta de la cantidad de dinero requerida para fines escolares del año siguiente (presupuesto escolar), excluyendo fondos públicos, a partir del 5 de Mayo del 2026, entre las 8:00 A.M. y las 4:00 P.M., hora vigente, excepto los sábados, los domingos o días festivos, en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito, 235 Lido

Boulevard, Lido Beach, Nueva York, asi como también en la Biblioteca Pública de Long Beach, ubicada en el 111 West Park Avenue, Long Beach, Nueva York, y en la página digital del Distrito. Una copia del estado de cuentas detallando la cantidad de dinero requerido, propuesta destinada para la Biblioteca, la cual excluye el dinero público, estará disponible en la Biblioteca Pública de Long Beach y en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito para el año que comienza el 1 de Julio del 2026.

Y SE DA NOTIFICACION ADICIONAL de que dicho Voto del Presupuesto y Elección se llevarán a cabo el Martes 19 de Mayo del 2026 en los distritos electorales escolares indicados a continuación, entre las 7:00 A.M. y las 9:00 P.M., hora vigente, periodo durante el cual las urnas se abrirán para votar mediante máquina de votación sobre los siguientes artículos:

1. Para adoptar el presupuesto anual del Distrito Escolar para el año fiscal 2026-2027 y para autorizar que la porción requerida para ser se recaudada a través de impuestos sobre la propiedad incluida en el Distrito.

2. Para elegir a dos miembros de la Junta de Educación por un término de tres (3) años comenzando el 1 de Julio del 2026 y expirando el 30 de Junio del 2029, para llenar las posiciones mantenidas por Dennis Ryan y Nora Bellsey, cuyos términos expiran el 30 de Junio del 2026.

3. Para elegir a un (1) miembro del Consejo de la Biblioteca Pública de Long Beach por un término de cinco (5) años comenzando el 1 de Julio del 2026 y finalizando el 30 de Junio del 2031.

ADEMAS POR FAVOR, TOME NOTA de que, según la resolución de la Junta de Educación adoptada el 8 de Febrero del 2022, este voto y elección tendrá lugar en los siguientes distritos electorales escolares (la descripción precisa de las zonas está en el archivo y puede ser

inspeccionada en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito, Edificio de Administración, 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, Nueva York 11561):

DISTRITO ELECTORAL ESCOLAR DE LINDELL GIMNASIO DE LA ESCUELA LINDELL 601 LINDELL BOULEVARD, CIUDAD DE LONG BEACH

Este distrito electoral abarca el territorio delimitado al oeste por una línea paralela y sesenta (60) pies al oeste desde Malone Avenue, al norte por el canal Reynolds, al este por la línea central de Long Beach Boulevard y al sur por el océano Atlántico.

DISTRITO ELECTORAL ESCOLAR ESTE GIMNASIO DE LA ESCUELA ESTE 456 NEPTUNE BOULEVARD, CIUDAD DE LONG BEACH

Este distrito electoral abarca el territorio delimitado al oeste por la línea central de Long Beach Boulevard, al norte por el canal Reynolds, al este con la línea delimitante este de la ciudad de Long Beach y al sur por el océano Atlántico.

DISTRITO ELECTORAL ESCOLAR DE LIDO/ESCUELA MEDIA VESTÍBULO DEL AUDITORIO DE LA ESCUELA MEDIA LONG BEACH 239 LIDO BOULEVARD, LIDO BEACH, NUEVA YORK

Este distrito electoral abarca el territorio de la zona conocida como Lido Beach, delimitado al oeste por una línea que comienza justo al este de la ciudad de Long Beach, al norte por el canal Reynolds, al este por la línea límite este de Point Lookout y al sur por el océano Atlántico.

Y SE AVISA ADICIONALMENTE de que, de conformidad a la Sección 495 de la Ley del Impuesto sobre la Propiedad Inmobiliaria Real, el Distrito Escolar está obligado a adjuntar a su presupuesto propuesto un informe de exención. Dicho informe de exención, que también formará parte del presupuesto final, mostrará cómo el valor total determinado de la evaluación final será utilizado en el proceso presupuestario para la está exención de impuestos, listará todos los tipos de exención concedidas por la autoridad estatutaria y mostrará el impacto acumulativo de cada tipo de exención, la cantidad acumulada que se espera recibir como pagos en lugar de impuestos (PILOT) y el impacto acumulativo de todas las exenciones concedidas. Adicionalmente, dicha exención deberá publicarse en cualquier tablón de anuncios mantenido por el Distrito para los avisos públicos y en cualquier sitio de internet gestionado por el Distrito.

POR FAVOR, TOME NOTA ADICIONAL de que las peticiones que nominan candidatos para fideicomisarios de la Junta de Educación y de la Junta de la Biblioteca están disponibles por parte del Secretario de dicho distrito escolar en su oficina ubicada en el Edificio de Administración, 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, Nueva York, 11561. Las peticiones de nominación deben ser completadas ante el Secretario del Distrito Escolar a más tardar el 29 de Abril del 2026, entre las 9:00 A.M. y las 5:00 P.M., hora vigente. Las posiciones desocupadas tanto en la Junta de Educación como en la Junta de la Biblioteca no son consideradas oficinas separadas o específicas; los candidatos se nominan de manera general. Las peticiones de nominación para fideicomisario de la Junta de Educación deben dirigirse al Secretario del Distrito, deben ser firmadas como mínimo por 100 votantes calificados del Distrito; deben indicar el nombre y la residencia de cada firmante; y deben indicar el nombre y la residencia del candidato.

Una lista de las personas a quienes se emitan papeletas de voto anticipado por correo y por ausencia estará disponible para ser inspeccionada por votantes calificados del Distrito en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito a partir del Jueves 14 de Mayo del 2026, entre las 8:00 A.M. y a las 4:00 P.M., hora vigente, en cada día anterior al día fijado para la elección anual, excepto los Domingos, y el 19 de Mayo del 2026, el día fijado para la elección. Cualquier votante calificado que esté presente en el distrito electoral podrá objetar la votación de la papeleta en base apropiada, haciendo pública su impugnación y sus motivos al Inspector de la Elección antes del cierre de las urnas. No se puede impugnar una papeleta por correo porque el votante debería haber solicitado un voto anticipado por correo.

POR FAVOR, TOME NOTA ADICIONAL de que cualquier persona que no esté registrada bajo registro personal permanente a partir del 1 de Enero del 2018, o en los listados suplementarios de registro proporcionados por la Junta Electoral

POR FAVOR, TOME NOTA ADICIONAL de que las solicitudes de papeletas para votar anticipadamente por correo y votación en ausencia para las elecciones del distrito escolar deben completarse en un formulario pre-escrito por la Junta Electoral Estatal y pueden obtenerse visitando la página web del Departamento de Educación del Estado de Nueva York (http://www.counsel.ny sed.gov/common/couns el/files/absentee-ballotapplication-andinstructionsenglish.pdf; http://www.counsel.nys ed.gov/common/counse l/files/absentee-ballotapplication-andinstructionsspanish.pdf), o contactando con el Secretario del Distrito por correo electrónico o teléfono en el sfamiletti@lbeach.org ó 516-897-2108. Las aplicaciones completas deben ser recibidas por el Secretario del Distrito no antes del 20 de Abril del 2026 y al menos siete (7) días antes de la elección, el 12 de Mayo del 2026, si la papeleta debe ser enviada al votante por correo, o el día antes de la elección, el 18 de Mayo del 2026, si la papeleta debe ser entregada personalmente al votante. Las papeletas para votar por correo deben ser recibidas por el Secretario del Distrito a más tardar a las 5:00 P.M., hora vigente, del Martes 19 de Mayo del 2026.

Public Notices

del Condado de Nassau, o que no haya votado en o intervenido en una elección de distrito escolar, debe presentarse personalmente para registrarse para poder votar 5 de Mayo del 2026 de 2:00 P.M. a 8:00 P.M.; en el vestíbulo del auditorio de la Escuela Media Long Beach, 239 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, Nueva York 11561.

POR FAVOR, TOME NOTA ADICIONAL de que cualquier persona que se haya trasladado de un distrito electoral escolar en el Distrito Escolar de la ciudad de Long Beach a otro, y que no se haya registrado en el nuevo distrito electoral escolar y quien siga registrado en el distrito del que se trasladó, podrá votar en el distrito electoral en el que está registrado. Dichas personas deben informar, en el momento de votar, a los inspectores electorales de su nueva dirección para que corrijan dicho registro.

POR FAVOR, TOME NOTA ADICIONAL de que solo aquellos votantes calificados cuyos nombres aparezcan en los registros preparados para dicha elección del distrito escolar tendrán derecho a votar el día de las elecciones. El registro se archivará en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito y estará abierto para inspección por cualquier votante calificado del distrito escolar de 8:00 A.M. a 4:00 P.M. los días laborables del 5 al 19 de Mayo del 2026, y el Sábado 9 de Mayo del 2026, cuando estará disponible de 9:00 A.M. a 12:00 P.M. solo con cita previa.

Y ADICIONALMENTE SE DA AVISO, de que los votantes militares quienes no esten inscritos actualmente pueden aplicar para registrarse como votante calificado en el distrito escolar. La solicitud de registro como votante militar puede solicitarse contactando con el Secretario del Distrito por teléfono (516) 897-2108, fax (516) 771-3944, correo electrónico sfamiletti@lbeach.org, correo a 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, NY, 11561, o en persona (durante el horario habitual de

oficina o entre las 8:15 A.M. y las 4:00 P.M.); la solicitud de registro debe recibirse en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito no más tarde de las 5:00 P.M. el 4 de Mayo del 2026. En la solicitud de registro, el votante militar puede designar su preferencia para recibir la solicitud de registro por correo, fax o correo electrónico.

POR FAVOR, TOME NOTA ADICIONAL de que los votantes militares que sean votantes calificados del distrito pueden presentar una solicitud para una papeleta militar solicitando un formulario de solicitud al Secretario del Distrito; para recibir una papeleta militar, la solicitud debe recibirse a más tardar a las 5:00 P.M. del 4 de Mayo del 2026. En la solicitud de una papeleta militar, el votante militar puede designar su preferencia para recibir la solicitud de una papeleta militar y la papeleta militar, por correo, transmisión por fax o correo electrónico. Todas las solicitudes de voto de votantes militares calificados y las papeletas militares deben ser devueltas por correo o en persona. Las papeletas para votantes militares se distribuirán a los votantes militares cualificados a más tardar el 5 de Mayo del 2026. Las papeletas militares deben ser recibidas por el Secretario del Distrito (1) antes del cierre de las urnas, el Martes 19 de Mayo del 2026, y deben mostrar una marca de cancelación del Servicio Postal de Estados Unidos o del Servicio Postal de un país extranjero, o deben mostrar un acuse de recibo fechado por otra Agencia del Gobierno de los Estados Unidos; o (2) no más tarde de las 5:00 P.M. del día de la elección y ser firmada y fechada por el votante militar y un testigo, con una fecha fijada que no sea posterior del día anterior de la elección.

Una lista de personas a quienes se emiten papeletas militares estará disponible para su inspección para los votantes calificados del Distrito en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito a partir del Jueves 14 de Mayo del 2026, entre las 8:00 A.M. y a las 4:00 P.M.,

hora vigente, en cada día anterior al día fijado para la elección anual, excepto el Domingo, y el 19 de Mayo del 2026, del día fijado para la elección. Cualquier votante calificado presente en el lugar de votación podrá oponerse a la votación de la papeleta por motivos apropiados, haciendo pública su impugnación y los motivos al Inspector de Elecciones antes del cierre de las urnas.

Y SE DA UN AVISO ADICIONAL de que, conforme a una norma adoptada por la de Educación de acuerdo con la Sección 2035 de la Ley de Educación, cualquier referendo o propuesta para enmendar el presupuesto, que sea sometida a votación en dicha elección, deberá ser presentada ante el Secretario de la Junta de Educación en la Oficina del Distrito, Edificio de Administración, 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, Nueva York 11561, con suficiente tiempo para permitir que la notificación de la propuesta se incluya con la Notificación de la Audiencia Pública, Votación de Presupuesto y Elección requerida por la Sección 2004 de la Ley de Educación o antes del 20 de Abril del 2026 a las 4:00 P.M., hora vigente; debe estar mecanografiada o impresa en el lenguaje Inglés; debe ser dirigida al Secretario del Distrito Escolar; debe estar firmada por como mínimo 25 votantes calificados del Distrito; y debe indicar legiblemente el nombre de cada firmante. Sin embargo, la Junta Escolar no aceptará ninguna petición para presentar ante los votantes ninguna propuesta cuyo propósito no esté dentro de las competencias de los votantes para determinar que sea ilegal, ni ninguna propuesta que no incluya una asignación específica cuando la propuesta requiera el gasto de fondos, o cuando exista otra razón válida para excluir la propuesta de la papeleta.

Fechado: Lido Beach, Nueva York, 10 de Marzo del 2026

Por orden de la JUNTA DE EDUCACION

DEL DISTRITO ESCOLAR DE LA CIUDAD DE LONG BEACH

Lido Beach, Nueva York

Susannah Familetti, Secretario del Distrito 159400

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING, BUDGET VOTE AND ELECTION OF THE LONG BEACH CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing on the proposed school district budget will be held on May 12, 2026 at 7:00 P.M. in the Lido Elementary Multipurpose Room, 237 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, New York, and can also be viewed remotely at tinyurl.com/proudtobeL B; for the transaction of business as authorized by the Education Law, including the following items:

1. To present to the voters a detailed statement of the amount of money which will be required for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.

2. To discuss all the items hereinafter set forth to be voted upon by voting machine at the Budget Vote and Election to be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.

3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting pursuant to Education Law of the State of New York and acts amendatory thereto.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that a copy of the statement of the amount of money required for the ensuing year for school purposes (school budget) exclusive of public monies may be obtained by any district resident beginning May 5, 2026, between the hours of 8:00AM and 4:00PM, prevailing time, except Saturday, Sunday or holidays at the Office of the District Clerk, 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, New York, at Long Beach Public Library, at 111 West Park Avenue, Long Beach, New York, and on the District’s internet website. A copy of the statement of the amount of money that will be required for the Library purposes exclusive of

public money will be available at the Long Beach Public Library and the Library’s district clerk’s office for the year beginning July 1, 2026.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that said Budget Vote and Election will be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at the school election districts indicated below, between the hours of 7:00AM and 9:00PM, prevailing time, at which time the polls will be opened to vote by voting machine upon the following items:

1. To adopt the annual budget of the School District for the fiscal year 2026-2027 and to authorize the requisite portion thereof to be raised by taxation on the taxable property of the District.

2. To elect two members of the Board of Education for a three (3) year term commencing July 1, 2026, and expiring on June 30, 2029, to fill the positions held by Dennis Ryan and Nora Bellsey, whose terms expire on June 30, 2026.

3. To elect one (1) trustee of the Long Beach Public Library for a five (5) year term commencing on July 1, 2026 and ending June 30, 2031.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that, per resolution of the Board of Education adopted on February 8, 2022, this vote and election will be held at the following school election districts (the accurate description of the boundaries is on file and may be inspected at the Office of the District Clerk, Administration Building, 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, New York 11561):

LINDELL SCHOOL

ELECTION DISTRICT

LINDELL SCHOOL

GYMNASIUM

601 LINDELL BOULEVARD, CITY OF LONG BEACH

This election district embraces the territory bounded on the West by a line parallel to and sixty (60) feet westerly from Malone Avenue, on the North by Reynolds Channel, on the East by the center line of Long Beach Boulevard and on the South by the Atlantic Ocean.

EAST SCHOOL

ELECTION DISTRICT EAST SCHOOL GYMNASIUM 456 NEPTUNE

BOULEVARD, CITY OF LONG BEACH

This election district embraces the territory bounded on the West by the center line of Long Beach Boulevard, on the North by Reynolds Channel, East to the easterly bounding line of the City of Long Beach, and on the South by the Atlantic Ocean.

LIDO/MS SCHOOL ELECTION DISTRICT LONG BEACH MIDDLE SCHOOL AUDITORIUM LOBBY 239 LIDO BOULEVARD, LIDO BEACH, NEW YORK

This election district embraces the territory of the area known as Lido Beach, bounded on the West by a line commencing due east of the City of Long Beach, on the North by Reynolds Channel, on the East by the easterly boundary line of Point Lookout and on the South by the Atlantic Ocean. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that pursuant to Section 495 of the Real Property Tax Law, the School District is required to attach to its proposed budget an exemption report. Said exemption report, which will also become part of the final budget, will show how the total assessed value of the final assessment roll used in the budgetary process is exempt from taxation, list every type of exemption granted by the statutory authority, and show the cumulative impact of each type of exemption, the cumulative amount expected to be received as payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) and the cumulative impact of all exemptions granted. In addition, said exemption report shall be posted on any bulletin board maintained by the District for public notices and on any website maintained by the District.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that petitions nominating candidates for Board of Education trustees and Library Board trustee are available from the Clerk of said School District at her office in the Administration Building, 235 Lido

Boulevard, Lido Beach, New York, 11561. Nominating petitions must be filed with the Clerk of the School District not later than April 29, 2026, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., prevailing time. Vacancies on both the Board of Education and the Library Board are not considered separate, specific offices; candidates run at large. Nominating petitions for Board of Education trustee must be directed to the District Clerk, must be signed by at least 100 qualified voters of the District; must state the name and residence of each signer; and must state the name and residence of the candidate.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that applications for early mail ballots and absentee ballots for the school district election are to be completed on a form prescribed by the state board of elections and may be obtained by visiting the New York State Education Department’s Website (http://www.counsel.ny sed.gov/common/couns el/files/absentee-ballotapplication-andinstructionsenglish.pdf; http://www.counsel.nys ed.gov/common/counse l/files/absentee-ballotapplication-andinstructionsspanish.pdf), or by contacting the District Clerk by email or phone at sfamiletti@lbeach.org or 516-897-2108. Completed applications must be received by the District Clerk no earlier than April 20, 2026, and at least seven (7) days before the election, May 12, 2026, if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the election, May 18, 2026, if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter. Absentee ballots must be received by the District Clerk not later than 5:00 p.m., prevailing time, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.

A list of persons to whom early mail ballots and absentee ballots are issued will be available for inspection to qualified voters of the District in the Office of the District Clerk on and after Thursday, May 14, 2026, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., prevailing

time, on each day prior to the day set for the annual election, except Sunday, and on May 19, 2026, the day set for the election. Any qualified voter then present in the polling place may object to the voting of the ballot upon appropriate grounds by making his or her challenge and the reasons therefore known to the Inspector of Election before the close of the polls. A challenge to an absentee ballot may not be made on the basis that the voter should have applied for an early mail ballot.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that any person who is not registered under permanent personal registration on or before January 1, 2018, or supplemental registration lists furnished by the Nassau County Board of Elections, or has not voted at an intervening school district election, must present himself or herself personally for registration in order to be entitled to vote on May 5, 2026 from 2:00pm to 8:00pm; at Long Beach Middle School Auditorium Lobby, 239 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, New York 11561. PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that any person who has moved from one school election district in the Long Beach City School District to another, and who has not registered in the new school election district, and who is still registered in the district from which he or she moved, may vote in the election district in which he or she registered. Such people must advise, at the time of voting, the election inspectors of his/her new address to correct such registration.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that only those qualified voters whose names appear on the registers prepared for said school district election will be entitled to vote on Election Day. The register will be filed in the District Clerk’s Office and open to inspection by any qualified voter of the school district from 8:00a.m. to 4:00p.m. on weekdays from May 5, 2026 to May 19, 2026, and Saturday May 9, 2026, when it will be available from 9 A.M. to 12 noon by appointment only.

AND FURTHER NOTICE

Understanding the value of self-advocacy

how to craft an argument using a “three-legged stool.” Stein said he had to focus on sound reasoning to support his argument — why strawberry is the superior ice cream. He debated a friend, Max Casap, a fellow Spectrum Designs part-timer, of East Rockaway.

“We needed to make sure our arguments had a literal and metaphorical leg to stand on,” Stein said. “It helped us fine-tune our arguments to circumvent the opposition while making sure we stay on point and stand up to scrutiny.”

Ava Lefkowitz, a longtime volunteer at Spectrum Designs and a student debater at Paul D. Schreiber High School, in Port Washington, created exercises to help those on the spectrum — particularly those who have aged out of school — strengthen their ability to express themselves and advocate for their needs as they move into adulthood.

Lefkowitz said she hoped to continue working with the neurodiverse community, which she described as one of the most rewarding aspects of her work.

“Self-advocacy is an important life skill for anyone,” she wrote in email to the Herald. “The ability to be heard and understood is especially important for

Public Notices

IS HEREBY GIVEN, that military voters who are not currently registered may apply to register as a qualified voter of the school district. An application for registration as a military voter can be requested by contacting the District Clerk by telephone (516) 897-2108, facsimile (516) 771-3944, email sfamiletti@lbeach.org, mail to 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, NY, 11561, or in person (during regular office hours or between the hours of 8:15 AM to 4:00 PM); the application for registration must be received in the office of the District Clerk no later than 5:00 pm on May 4, 2026. In the request for an application for registration, the military voter is permitted to designate his/her preference for receiving the application for registration by mail, facsimile transmission or electronic mail.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER

NOTICE that military voters who are qualified voters of the district may submit an application for a military ballot by requesting an application form from the District Clerk; in order to receive a military ballot, the

military ballot application must be received no later than 5:00 pm on May 4, 2026. In the request for an application for a military ballot, the military voter is permitted to designate his/her preference for receiving the application for a military ballot, and the military ballot, by mail, facsimile transmission or electronic mail. All qualified military voters’ ballot applications and military ballots must be returned by mail or in person. Ballots for military voters shall be distributed to qualified military voters no later than May 5, 2026. Military ballots must be received by the District Clerk (1) before the close of the polls, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, and must show a cancellation mark of the United States postal service or a foreign country’s postal service, or must show a dated endorsement of receipt by another agency of the United States Government; or (2) not later than 5:00 pm on the day of the election and be signed and dated by the military voter and one witness, with a date ascertained to be not later than the day before the election.

A list of persons to whom military ballots

are issued will be available for inspection to qualified voters of the District in the Office of the District Clerk on and after Thursday, May 14, 2026, between the hours of 8:00a.m. and 4:00p.m., prevailing time, on each day prior to the day set for the annual election, except Sunday, and on May 19, 2026, the day set for the election. Any qualified voter then present in the polling place may object to the voting of the ballot upon appropriate grounds by making his or her challenge and the reasons therefore known to the Inspector of Election before the close of the polls. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that pursuant to a rule adopted by the Board of Education in accordance with Section 2035 of the Education Law, any referenda or propositions to amend the budget, or otherwise to be submitted for voting at said election, must be filed with the Clerk of the Board of Education at the District Office, Administration Building, 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, New York 11561, in sufficient time to permit notice of the proposition to be included with the Notice of the Public

Hearing, Budget Vote and Election required by Section 2004 of the Education Law or on or before April 20, 2026 at 4:00 p.m., prevailing time; must be typed or printed in the English language; must be directed to the Clerk of the School District; must be signed by at least 25 qualified voters of the District; and must legibly state the name of each signer. However, the School Board will not entertain any petition to place before the voters any proposition the purpose of which is not within the powers of the voters to determine, which is unlawful, or any proposition which fails to include a specific appropriation where the expenditure of monies is required by the proposition, or where other valid reason exists for excluding the proposition from the ballot.

Dated: Lido Beach, New York, March 10, 2026

By Order of the BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE LONG BEACH CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT Lido Beach, New York Susannah Familetti, District Clerk 159398

members of the autism community.”

Lefkowitz said that bringing the workshop to Spectrum Designs was especially meaningful. “I have always believed Spectrum to be the gold standard in inclusive employment,” she said.

Leaders of the organization said the workshop aligns closely with its mission of supporting both employment and personal growth. Marissa Borzykowski, chief of staff of the Spectrum Designs Foundation, said that programs like Lefkowitz’s are essential in helping autistic people develop lifetime skills and empowering them to communicate effectively in the workplace.

Patrick Bardsley, Spectrum Designs’ chief executive officer, emphasized the importance of helping employees find their voices. “Self-advocacy is something we all must learn, and it can be especially challenging for those on the autism spectrum,” Bardsley wrote in an email. “This innovative workshop engaged and empowered our employees to find their own voices — a life skill that will help them tremendously both inside and outside of work.”

Find Your Voice Debate Workshop

The program series begins with an introduction to a fun concept, like ice cream. It concludes with the writing of a skit using all the concepts participants have learned.

“Lights Out” listening

Mood regulation

“Mirror” technique

Reflecting and acknowledging another speaker’s point of view

Building an argument: The ThreeLegged Stool

Emphasizes finding reasons to support a position or demand

Rebuttal Repetition as strength: The Power of Three

Helps people with autism utilize an effective debate skill to reinforce their argument

Stein said he believes many people view those with mental disabilities as “created incorrectly” or “malfunctioning.” He noted that communication can be difficult at times, which is something everyone needs to understand. “More people need to try to accommodate that,” he said. “We are people too, just trying to live our lives alongside everybody else.”

News brief

Fatal hit and run accident in Atlantic Beach

According to police, a Long Beach woman was arrested after she allegedly struck a bicyclist and fled the scene in Atlantic Beach on March 24 at 7:46 a.m.

Police report that Erin M. Henry, 67, of West Broadway in Long Beach, was driving a 2019 Honda HR-V eastbound on Beech Street near Scott Drive when she struck Tony Thomas, 59, of Far Rockaway on his bike. Police said Henry continued eastbound without stopping.

The bicyclist was pronounced dead at the scene by the Long Beach Fire

Department.

Following an investigation, Nassau County police, in coordination with Long Beach police, located the vehicle and took Henry into custody without incident, police said.

Henry is charged with leaving the scene of an incident resulting in death. She was arraigned at First District Court in Hempstead, on March 25. The investigation is ongoing.

–Melissa Berman

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Can we use a local architect for work

on a home in Boston?

Q. We own a home in Boston that needs a lot of work, and were wondering what to do about hiring an architect. We want to hire one who is familiar with the area, the codes and the building department, because we understand they are very strict there. We have a local friend who’s an architect, and he has gotten his “reciprocal” license in Massachusetts. How do you think we should handle this? Should we work with our friend, Zoom with a local architect or have them try to work together?

A. This is not an uncommon problem, but it’s all based on communication, as is most of what we deal with in our daily lives. It’s best to weigh the issues of how the communication will work, including the making of the plans, which are also the basis for your project and the most important communication tool.

Over the years I’ve seen where clients didn’t take the planning process seriously, thinking, and even saying, that they just want to get the permit to start the work. That approach generally leads to failure, with either the owner not getting what they want or causing problems along the way. For example, many people assume that the plans are a suggestion, a kind of open guide to the approximate outcome, and that they will just handle changes for what they really wanted during construction.

One recent client, who didn’t last very long, was in another city and, being in the medical field, said we could do Zoom meetings like they do in tele-health. Conversations fell apart immediately, because the building has major structural deterioration, and on my first walk-through, I had to order column supports to be installed immediately where collapse was imminent. The owner was told this, and that, at the very least, building plans would be absolutely necessary, detailing the exact remedy. But in order to prepare the structural plans, measuring of the building areas contributing loads and further investigation were necessary. The owner got very upset, because his contractor was ready to go and just needed to know what to do.

Having made medical appointments over the years to get one test in a particular hospital, and then shuttling to another site for another test, I realized this client just didn’t get it. His profession required all kinds of very specific testing, and his perception was that mine did not. Buildings are custom. They’re not kits. There are many ways that buildings, even homes, can fail, and we always want to prevent leaking, movement and subsequent damage, in addition to wanting to make the spaces function and be attractive. I would recommend working with your friend, and having him develop an agreement and relationship with the local professional who knows the area best, if possible. Otherwise I would work with the local professional, but arrange for in-person meetings. With issues and questions that happen during construction, you want a good team of people you can trust. Good luck!

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offiCiAl

HERALD

Smart housing reform needs local trust

New York’s housing crisis is undeniable. Rents are high, supply is tight and too many families are struggling to find a place to call home.

In response, Albany is advancing proposals like the REVIVE Act alongside Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Let Them Build agenda — efforts designed to cut red tape and accelerate development.

The goal is right. The challenge is getting the approach right, too. At the heart of the debate is a familiar tension: how to build faster without sacrificing thoughtful planning and public trust.

It’s not just about process; it’s about trust. Residents are more likely to support new housing when they believe their voices are heard. Developers are more likely to invest when rules are consistent. And elected officials are more effective when they can balance urgency with accountability.

Supporters of reform make a compelling case. New York’s development process is notoriously slow and expensive. Reviews under the State Environmental Quality Review Act can stretch timelines by years, even for projects that ultimately pose little or no environmental risk.

According to state data, projects can take up to 56 percent longer to start compared with other states, and cost up to $45,000 per unit on Long Island. Those costs are usually passed on to renters and buyers. In a state where affordability is already a crisis, those inefficiencies matter.

The REVIVE Act seeks to address this by targeting underused commercial properties — shopping centers, office

letters

Keeping things in numerical perspective in the Middle East

To the Editor:

parks and large parking lots — and encouraging their conversion into housing. In concept, this is smart policy. Repurposing dormant or declining properties into vibrant residential communities can ease the housing shortage while revitalizing local economies.

But the concerns raised by local officials and residents are just as valid. Critics argue that the legislation could sideline local zoning authority, limit public hearings and reduce meaningful community input.

The inclusion of a “deemed approved” provision — allowing projects to move forward automatically if municipalities fail to act within an expedited timeline — is a flashpoint.

One side says projects would move forward without public hearings or meaningful community input. That might overstate the case, but it isn’t entirely off base. The proposal appears to compress timelines and shift leverage away from local governments. If those timelines are too tight, or if municipalities lack the resources to review complex proposals quickly, the result could be approvals by default rather than by design.

And what about the timeline itself? That remains a critical detail. Without clear and reasonable deadlines, “expedited” can quickly become “unworkable.” Municipal boards might need additional support to operate on stateimposed clocks. If they are rushed, oversight suffers. If they miss deadlines, community members may feel that decisions are being made for them, not with them.

Yet it would be a mistake to dismiss

With all the rhetoric being bandied about over the war in the Middle East, I would like to add something that rarely seems to enter into the discussion. That is the size of the various sides. My source is the 2025 World Almanac.

Israel has an area of approximately 8,470 square miles, which is about the size of the state of New Jersey. The West Bank and Gaza have a combined area of about 2,402 square miles, which is about the size of the city of Detroit and the state of Delaware.

The area of Israel’s near neighbors — Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon — is just over 1.3 million square miles, or about one-third the size of the United States.

The population of Israel is just over 9.4 million. The population of the West Bank and Gaza is just

the need for reform altogether. Doing nothing is not an option. The current system is too slow, too costly and too unpredictable. Developers face uncertainty and communities can miss opportunities.

The answer lies not in choosing sides, but in combining the best ideas from both. New York should streamline environmental review for projects that consistently demonstrate minimal impact, particularly those on previously developed sites. It should set clear, enforceable timelines for decisions.

Those timelines, however, must be realistic, and paired with resources, training and technical assistance for local governments. The state’s proposal to modernize permitting and create a “permitting academy” is a step in the right direction.

At the same time, local decision-making must be preserved. Communities deserve a voice in shaping their neighborhoods, especially when it comes to density, infrastructure and quality of life. Public hearings should not be eliminated, but they can be made more efficient and focused.

If “deemed approved” provisions are included, they must come with safeguards: flexibility for municipalities acting in good faith, transparency in the review process and mechanisms to ensure that projects meet clear standards before moving forward.

New York doesn’t need a rushed solution. It needs a smart one. Albany has an opportunity to get this right. By blending efficiency with oversight, and speed with community input, lawmakers can craft a housing policy that works for all.

Why I sued the state over youth mental health

For years, my son cody and I were known in court papers only by our initials. Today I am using my full name — as a Long Island mother, a family peer advocate and one of the formerly anonymous plaintiffs in c.K. v. McDonald. I joined this class action lawsuit to challenge new york state’s widespread failure to provide mental health services to children on Medicaid.

In January, a federal judge approved a settlement, and the state agreed to dramatically improve access to these services. It’s a measure of justice, but it is incomplete without investments in the struggling nonprofit providers who deliver this vital care to kids like cody.

cody needed help almost from the moment he entered this world. I worked as an early childhood educator, and I recognized the signs. By age 3, he was diagnosed with ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder and severe social anxiety; at 4 he was psychiatrically hospitalized. He struggled to function in school. From ages 10 to 12 he was in a residential treatment center, where he finally

Letters

under 5.4 million. The population of Israel’s near neighbors is 188.2 million. As a reference, the population of the United States is nearly 342 million.

There are rights and wrongs on both sides, but the constant drive to destroy Israel is not the correct solution to these issues.

LAwrence Levy Rockville Centre

Your opinion Matters

The strength of our community comes from open dialogue. We invite residents to submit letters to the editor on issues affecting our neighborhoods, schools, businesses and local government.

Letters must include your name and contact information for verification. Send lettters to execeditor@liherald.com Be heard. Be part of the conversation.

began to thrive. In 2019 cody was discharged and came home. He was supposed to receive home- and community-based mental health services to give him the tools to re-integrate. He was entitled to at-home therapy to manage his emotions, as well as crisis respite services — an alternative to hospitalization to provide stability during crises.

He received care through Medicaid, its access guaranteed by federal law. But the reality was different: Providers changed constantly, programs had waitlists and services disappeared without explanation.

wcate, I saw the chronic understaffing, the underfunding, and the burnout.

e can’t afford to continue neglecting the services our children need.

without consistent, medically necessary services, cody couldn’t handle the transition to home, and while lingering on waitlists, he had his first suicide attempt.

All the while, I was working inside the system. I took a job with wellLife network, a nonprofit mental health provider, as a supervisor of communitybased services and a family peer advocate. These advocates are an indispensable component of our behavioral health system. we provide care as parents of children with mental health issues. As such, we are trusted messengers when offering services like skill development. But working as an advo-

I knew that the system was failing, even as my family lived it personally. And we aren’t alone. Across the state, three in four Medicaid-eligible children who need outpatient behavioral health services are not receiving them. The disparities are similar on Long Island, and grow worse the closer you look. eighty-five percent of Medicaid-eligible children in our area are not receiving the outpatient clinical services they need, and nearly 500 more practitioners are needed to fill the gap.

without an investment for providers to expand services, children will lose out on programs that stabilize them before a crisis lands them in the hospital, or in handcuffs. we cannot afford to continue neglecting these services. Medicaid reimbursement rates for them have stagnated, even as costs have risen. nonprofit providers can’t pay competitive wages. Staff leave, caseloads grow, and some programs stop offering Medicaid services altogether.

I joined that lawsuit because I was fed up with a broken system. Alongside three other families, we charged that new york was violating Medicaid law by failing to provide required communi-

Framework by Tim Baker

ty-based services. As part of the settlement, new york must review long-inadequate Medicaid reimbursement rates to improve services. But the settlement gives the state a yearslong runway, and families can’t wait for reform.

If new york is serious about meeting both its legal and moral responsibilities, lawmakers must act this budget season. Providers across the state are calling for a $200 million investment to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for children’s behavioral health services.

Unfortunately, the governor’s and the State Senate’s proposed budgets do not include new resources. The Assembly did include $20 million to improve reimbursement rates, but that is far short of the support that is needed.

without investment, the promises in the settlement risk becoming hollow. It may be too late to give my son back the years he lost, but it doesn’t have to be too late for others.

every child on Long Island and across the state deserves timely mental health care in their home and community. The settlement made clear that new york falls short. now our lawmakers must make the investment necessary to turn that legal victory into real change for families like mine.

Christina Hauptman is a family peer advocate and a New York state peer specialist on the Intensive and Sustained Engagement Team at Hands Across Long Island.

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