Temple Am Echad
Israeli Day Parade Page 16
Also serving Bay Park
Rhame Avenue reads outside Page 10
Tim Baker/Herald East Rockaway residents Hannah and Henry Tyrrell, ages 9 and 11, and Alex Narizzano, 9, on the pirate ship ride at the Frolic.
By KAYl A DECHTER kdechter@liherald.com
One Saturday each June, East Rockaway’s Memorial Park is filled with children’s laughter, marching scouts, bagpipes and book sales. And behind the annual Huckleberry Frolic is a group of volunteers who start work months in advance to make it happen.
The tradition began in 1970 as a fundraiser for the Grist Mill Museum, one of the village’s oldest landmarks, and as a way to bring generations of residents together. The museum traces its roots to a tidal grist mill built in 1688, making it one of the area’s most significant historic structures.
The Frolic returned last Saturday, draw-
ing families from across the community for rides, games, food vendors, a petting zoo, performances and the annual parade through the park, which featured Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, members of Bethany Congregational Church, firefighters, village officials and community groups.
For Regina Cunningham, who chairs the event committee, watching the crowd arrive makes the months of work worthwhile.
“This Frolic, I was sitting on the stage and looking around, saying, ‘Look at all these people and what I did,’” Cunningham said. “You don’t realize how it affects them until the day.”
Cunningham has been involved with the event for five years, and has served as chair
By KAYl A DECHTER kdechter@liherald.com
As thousands of spectators descend on Shinnecock Hills Golf Club for the 2026 U.S. Open next week, one of the people helping make the championship possible has roots much closer to home.
John Ryan Celiberti, a Lynbrook native and the assistant director of the United States Golf Association’s championship team, has spent the past two years preparing for one of golf’s most prestigious events.
I
working with local agencies to ensure the tournament runs smoothly. The Open is expected to draw up to 40,000 spectators each day, and relies on thousands of volunteers, vendors and contractors.
For the past two years, Celiberti has been based on Long Island’s East End, working with Southampton town officials, emergency services, transportation agencies and community stakeholders as preparations intensified for the tournament.
’ve never known John Ryan to put his mind to something and not accomplish it.
For Celiberti, however, the assignment is more than just another stop in his career. It’s a chance to help stage a championship on a course he admired as a child.
RICHARD HAYEs
Former basketball coach
“It’s a full-circle moment,” Celiberti said.
Since joining the USGA in 2019, Celiberti, 29, has worked his way up from intern to a key member of the championship operations team. His responsibilities include transportation planning, parking operations, public safety coordination and
But long before he was helping to coordinate a U.S. Open, Celiberti was a young golfer growing up in Lynbrook. A graduate of St. Raymond School and Kellenberg High School, he spent much of his childhood playing sports, particularly basketball and golf. His developed a passion for golf on family outings at local courses, including Bay Park Golf Course, as well as annual trips to Sunny Hill Resort in Greenville, Upstate New York.
“My dad played golf with me growing up, and he’s the reason I CoNTiNuEd oN pAgE 5
By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com
Richard Kessel, chairman of the Nassau Interim Finance Authority, has been tapped by Gov. Kathy Hochul to be the next chairman of the Nassau Health Care Corporation, the public benefit corporation that oversees Nassau University Medical Center, in East Meadow, and the A. Holly Patterson Extended Care Facility, in Uniondale.
A regional leader for decades, Kessel, of Merrick, is known for his expertise on energy and consumer issues and has an extensive background in public service. He previously served as chairman of the Nassau County Industrial Development Agency and as chief executive officer of the New York Power Authority. Kessel, 76, has a bachelor’s degree from New York University and a master’s from Columbia University.
Long Island and ability to navigate challenging issues make him exceptionally well-suited to lead the board as NHCC continues its mission of providing highquality care to the communities we serve.”
Kessel’s appointment to the NHCC board means he will step down from NIFA. His position there will be filled by Moshin Meghji, a current NIFA board member.
The finance authority, another public benefit corporation, monitors and oversees Nassau County’s finances. It assumed direct financial oversight of NUMC in 2020, a move that was met with heavy opposition from previous hospital leadership. As part of the state’s takeover last year, it mandated that NHCC conduct a comprehensive study outlining the long-term viability of NUMC. The study is to be submitted to NIFA by Dec. 1.
■ New chairman: Gov. Kathy Hochul appointed Richard Kessel, chairman of the Nassau Interim Finance Authority, to lead the Nassau Health Care Corporation.
■ Leadership change: Kessel succeeds Stuart Rabinowitz, who stepped down in March after leading NHCC since June 2025.
Rabinowitz’s departure came during a turbulent period for NUMC. Following a public battle between the hospital’s former leadership and the state, New York assumed oversight of the hospital under provisions included in the 2025-26 state budget. The board was restructured to include 11 members, most of whom were appointed by Hochul.
Residents are invited to discover how the Revolutionary War unfolded right here in Lynbrook and East Rockaway during a special presentation on June 22 at 7 p.m. at the Lynbrook Public Library. The program will be led by Lynbrook Village Historian Art Mattson and East Rockaway Village Historian Frank Torre as part of the nation’s America 250 celebration.
“Richard Kessel brings decades of leadership experience in government, public policy and complex organizations,” Hochul said of Monday’sappointment in a statement emailed to the Herald. “His proven record of public service, commitment to
The NHCC chair’s position has been vacant since March, when former Chairman Stuart Rabinowitz stepped down. Rabinowitz had served in the role since June 2025, after being appointed by Hochul when state officials assumed leadership of the public hospital and its governing body.
When Rabinowitz stepped down, Hochul thanked him for his service, saying he “stepped up when Nassau University Medical Center desperately needed steady, serious leadership.” She added that “his focus on accountability and fiscal management has helped put this critical safety-net hospital on the road to recovery.”
Attendees will learn about local Patriots and Tories, Revolutionary Warera events that took place on Long Island, and the area’s connection to George Washington. The evening will also feature a performance by the West End School second-grade Patriotic Singers and samples of “Martha Washington’s Punch,” a colonial-era mocktail. The event is sponsored by the Historical Society of East Rockaway and Lynbrook and the Lynbrook Public Library.
— Kayla Dechter
for four. She began by helping a friend at the Grist Mill Museum, and her involvement grew into a passion for preserving the building.
“I have a big interest in history,” she said. “The museum is my gem. It has so much history.”
Though the event is intended to raise money to support the museum, Cunningham acknowledged that it often only breaks even as costs continue to rise. The building remains in need of repairs and maintenance, making community support more important than ever.
Beginning months before the Frolic, Cunningham books rides, food trucks and entertainment, secures sponsors and coordinates vendors. “It’s a fulltime job,” she said.
During the event, she especially enjoys watching the kids. “The children love the rides,” she said. “Seeing them run from one activity to the next makes me happy.”
Heather Massa, director of the East Rockaway Public Library, helped organize several family activities, including bracelet making, Lego car races and a pet photo contest that attracted dozens of entries. “We got, like, 40 kinds of pets,” Massa said. “Bearded dragons and Ember the hamster, dogs and cats, and a parakeet and a bunny.”
Massa said the Frolic succeeds because it offers something for everyone while bringing neighbors together. “This is why people come to a small town and go here,” she said. “You don’t have to worry about driving. It brings people together for a nice day outside.”
She also hopes more residents will get involved in helping organize future events. “Many years ago, it was, like, 30 people who each had a job, and now there’s less people involved,” Massa said. “It would be great if more community members volunteered.”
For Toni Ventrello, volunteering at the Frolic has become a decades-long tradition. For nearly 30 years, she has
helped run the popular used-book table, where donated books are sold to raise funds.
“We have bags for kids to fill up with books for a dollar,” Ventrello said. “Everyone leaves with something.”
After moving to East Rockaway from Queens three decades ago, Ventrello fell in love with the event. “I didn’t know what a Frolic was,” she said. “I fell in love with the small-town, fun event that brings the community together.”
Each year, she said, she looks forward to reconnecting with neighbors she may not see the rest of the year. “You run into them every year at the Huckleberry Frolic,” Ventrello said. “You catch up and find out about their families.”
One of her favorite traditions is the parade. “The little Girl Scouts are so cute with their families,” she said. “It’s the epitome of small-town.”
For Cunningham, Ventrello, Massa and other volunteers, that sense of community is what makes the event special.
But with committee membership shrinking from about 20 years ago to just nine this year, organizers say the future of the Frolic depends on resi -
dents being willing to lend a hand.
“We need more volunteers,” Cunningham said. “Everyone is so happy when they’re there, and we want the community to be a part of that feeling.”
And that, organizers say, is what the Frolic has always been about: neighbors preserving a tradition that continues to bring village residents together more than five decades after it began.
Lynbrook Fire Department chiefs salute the memory of four Lynbrook volunteer firefighters who were killed during World War II during a Memorial Day service at the Firefighters Memorial on Sunrise Highway held under rainy skies. Pictured from left were Chief James DiGiambattista, First Assistant Chief Peter Festa, Second Assistant Chief Phil Tkacz and Third Assistant Chief Stephen Cribbin.
Despite rainy weather that led to the cancellation of Lynbrook’s official outdoor Memorial Day ceremony, members of the Lynbrook Fire Department and Tally-Ho Engine 3 still gathered Monday to honor local heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in military service.
At the Firefighters Memorial on Sunrise Highway, Lynbrook Fire Department chiefs saluted the memory of four Lynbrook volunteer firefighters who were killed during World War II during a Memorial Day service held under rainy skies.
Later in the day, members of Tally-Ho Engine 3 conducted their own wreath-laying ceremony honoring Ex-Captain Jeff Wiener, a Navy corpsman who was killed in Iraq on May 7, 2005 while serving on patrol with his Marine unit. Wiener’s memorial stone is located in front of the village’s Doughboy Monument. According to department officials, Wiener joined the Navy shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks.
play golf as much as I do,” Celiberti said. “Growing up, that’s how I got into it.”
Celiberti played golf at Kellenberg and later attended Butler University in Indiana, where he earned a marketing degree. He took on internships across the sports industry, including with the Metropolitan PGA and the Tiger Woods Foundation, seeking a way to combine his love of sports with a career.
“I knew I wanted to work in golf,” he said. “I was never good enough to play professionally, but I wanted to be around it.”
His former Catholic Youth Organization basketball coaches, Chris Campbell and Richard Hayes, said the qualities that led Celiberti to success today were visible years ago on the court. Campbell coached him for six years in the St. Raymond’s CYO program, and remembers his determination, dependability and commitment to his teammates.
“When he put his head to something, nobody got in his way,” Campbell recalled. “He was a great teammate. It wasn’t about him, but how they worked together.”
“This job was not given to him,” Campbell added. “He found this passion, and through his own determination, got to where he is today.”
Hayes, who has known Celiberti since he was a child, remembers seeing his love for golf develop at a young age. “He loved the game of golf as far back as I
can remember,” Hayes said. “I’ve never known John Ryan to put his mind to something and not accomplish it.”
During annual golf trips with their families, he watched Celiberti immerse himself in the game, not only playing but also developing an appreciation for its traditions and history.
As it happens, Hayes and Campbell will both volunteer at the Open. “Now John Ryan is my boss for the Shinnecock tournament,” Hayes said with a laugh.
Both men said the values Celiberti displays today — teamwork, accountability, integrity and respect — were evident throughout his childhood, and reflect the influence of his family and the close-knit community in which he was raised.
Celiberti said those roots remain important to him despite a career that has taken him across the country. Since joining the USGA, he has relocated several times, including assignments in California and North Carolina, before returning to Long Island. After the Open, he expects to begin preparing for future championships, including the 2028 U.S. Open in Mamaroneck.
But Lynbrook will always be his home. “The values of Lynbrook are still here and ingrained in me,” he said, “and it’s something I will always cherish.”
As championship week arrives, Celiberti’s family, friends and former coaches will be among those watching from the gallery — a reminder of how far a young golfer from Lynbrook has come.
A routine drive from Fire Headquarters turned into an animal rescue on May 31 when Lynbrook firefighters helped reunite a duckling with its family after it became trapped in a storm drain.
According to Lynbrook Fire Department Public Information Officer Steve Grogan, firefighter Vincent Lucchese of Rescue Hook, Ladder & Bucket Company No. 1 noticed a mother duck and several ducklings acting distressed near the intersection of Wright Avenue and Wood Street. After guiding the birds away from traffic, Lucchese discovered that one duckling had fallen through a storm drain grate and was trapped about three
Lynbrook firefighters work to remove a storm drain grate after discovering a duckling trapped inside the catch basin on May 31.
feet below.
Lucchese called for assistance from fellow members of the truck company, who arrived with tools to lift the heavy grate. Once the opening was secured, Lucchese carefully reached into the catch basin and rescued the unharmed duckling.
After the reunion, firefighters escorted the mother duck and her brood through a nearby gate onto adjacent water company property, away from traffic. The family was last seen safely together, bringing a happy ending to the unusual rescue.
— Kayla Dechter
After being rescued from the storm drain, the duckling rejoins its family as Lynbrook firefighters guide the mother duck and her brood to safety away from traffic.
At Mount Sinai South Nassau, patient safety isn’t just a priority— it’s a standard, one we work on every day. And the experts agree.
We’ve earned national recognition for patient safety, including an “A” Hospital Safety Grade from The Leapfrog Group and the Healthgrades Patient Safety Excellence Award.
That means better outcomes for our patients with lower risk of infections or hospital acquired conditions.
When it comes to your health, nothing matters more than knowing you’re in a place where patient safety matters most.
Learn more at mountsinai.org/southnassau
By JOSEPH D’ALESSANDRO jdalessandro@liherald.com
Herald Community Media and Reworld partnered to celebrate Long Island’s leading environmental advocates and innovators during the Herald Sustainability Awards of Long Island, held May 14 at the Heritage Club at Bethpage.
The event recognized individuals and organizations making significant contributions to environmental sustainability while also honoring student leaders working to protect Long Island’s natural resources.
“Nothing unites Long Islanders more than our natural environment, from beaches and bays to wetlands and parks — these treasures are our fountain of life, beauty and resources,” said Stuart Richner, CEO of Richner Communications. “Tonight, we gather to honor environmental champions who are working tirelessly to protect
Long Island’s natural ecosystem for future generations. Their efforts are challenging but vitally important and we thank them for their unwavering dedication.”
The ceremony, emceed by comedian Tom Kelley, also featured awards for four Student Champions for Sustainability and a total of $7,500 in student sustainability initiative prizes.
Adel Omrani, president of Reworld’s East Region, highlighted the company’s role in transforming waste into energy.
“You don’t think of waste when you put it at the curb, and you usually don’t think about disposal, but there’s a lot of processes that goes into that,” he said. “We generate electricity out of that and recycle metals. Just for Long Island, for example, we power 100,000 homes just from processing this waste and using it as fuel.”
Omrani said collaboration among environmental leaders remains essential.
“It’s a very big part of what we do as a community,” he said.
Reworld Market Area Director James Regan stressed the importance of sustainable waste management on Long Island.
“For Long Island, an issue like sustainable waste management is extremely important given how populated it is and how limited resources are,” he said. “Reworld, for us, has a focus to continue to partner with all
these great champions of sustainability to ensure we have sustainable waste management for decades to come.”
New York State Senator Siela Bynoe spoke during the dinner portion of the event.
“I have really had the environment in mind as I’ve been in my various roles in government,” she said.
Bynoe’s life experiences motivated her to pursue environmental advocacy, witnessing increased cancer rates due to local contamination in the Caribbean and disproportionate harm done to marginalized communities during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I set off on a path to make sure that we can conserve water, make sure we have clean water, and make sure that we are doing what we can to ensure that we sustain this community, this county and this state (so) that we have a bright future,” she said.
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine, a longtime environmental advocate, discussed his commitment to protecting Long Island’s future.
“I’m very concerned about the direction we’re going as a state and as an island, and I’m looking to change that direction by doing a number of things,” he said.
Romaine cited efforts to improve municipal waste management, expand solar energy infrastructure and advance environmentally friendly policies.
“I could have retired long ago, but there are things that I want to accomplish,” he said. “We need to see change.”
Among the evening’s featured speakers was sports broadcaster and former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason, who reflected on his connection to the Great South Bay.
“When I was a kid, between the ages of 14 and 17, I spent a lot of my summers on the Great South Bay — I was a clammer,” he said. “It was great, but there were areas of the Great South Bay that we couldn’t clam in because it was considered polluted... It took many years for it to turn around and to start going back the other way, and it’s one of the things I’m most proud about.”
Esiason praised young environmental advocates being recognized at the event.
“I’m very, very proud of them, and very proud of what they’re trying to do for the beaches of the Great South Bay,” he said.
Girl Scouts Emma Klein and Zoe Lazarus, of Savyille High School, Roslyn High sophomore Charles Metzger and Hauppauge High se-
nior Matias Kalaitzis were all winners of the Student Champions for Sustainability Award. The four were recognized for their civic service, from cleanups to awareness efforts. National Grid Ventures, the main natural gas utility for over 600,000 residential and business customers in Nassau and Suffolk counties; Tritec, primarily known for mixeduse developments, transit-oriented communities and commercial property management across Long Island; and UBS Arena, the home of the New York Islanders, were all recognized with team awards.
As the presenting sponsor, Reworld continues to support environmental progress across Long Island. The company operates facilities in Westbury, West Babylon, East Northport and Ronkonkoma, processing two-thirds of Long Island’s waste, recycling thousands of tons of metals and generating electricity for local homes while helping reduce landfill use and greenhouse gas emissions.
For more information about Reworld and its initiatives that support various community empowerment and environmental programs fostering positive change locally and globally, visit ReworldWaste.com.
To view more pictures, visit RichnerLive.com.
P hotos by Tim Baker and Melissa Baptiste/Herald
Students at Rhame Avenue Elementary School took advantage of the warm weather on May 29 by bringing their books outside for a special reading activity as part of the school’s Pick A Reading Partner, or PARP, celebration.
Classes gathered on the front lawn, where students paired up to read together and enjoy time outdoors. The event was designed to reinforce the goals of PARP, a statewide program that encourages children to develop strong reading habits through shared reading experiences with family members, friends and mentors.
Founded in New York in 1978, PARP promotes daily reading and helps strengthen the connection between home and school while fostering a lifelong appreciation for books.
— Kayla Dechter
Fourth Battalion Chairman James Lang, third from left, presents a check for $18,400 to Burn Center Foundation Trustee Thomas Gaffney during the Fourth Battalion’s annual donation presentation. Joining them are fire service leaders and foundation trustees from East Rockaway, Lynbrook, Malverne and Rockville Centre.
The Fourth Battalion Fire District recently donated $18,400 to the Nassau County Firefighters Burn Center Foundation following its annual fundraising campaign. This year’s event was hosted by the East Rockaway Fire Department.
The Fourth Battalion includes the East Rockaway, Lakeview, Lynbrook, Malverne and Rockville Centre fire departments. Over the years, the battalion has contributed more than $250,000 to support the Nassau County Firefighters Burn Center at Nassau University Medical Center in Uniondale.
According to Burn Center Foundation Trustee Ex-Chief John Hennig, the foundation helps provide additional training, education and travel opportunities for burn center staff beyond what is supplied by the medical center. The burn center’s 12,000-square-foot facility can treat up to 10 burn patients at a time, with beds designated for both critical and acute care.
— Kayla Dechter
By JEFFREY BESSEN jbessen@liherald.com
Herald Community Media captured three awards at the annual Press Club of Long Island Media Awards and Long Island Journalism Hall of Fame induction dinner on June 4.
Oceanside/Island Park Herald reporter Abigail Grieco won the James Murphy Cub Reporter of the Year award, given to “emerging journalists who show strong early promise in the field.” Journalists who have worked full-time for fewer than 18 months are eligible. Grieco was an intern with the Herald in 2023, and began working full-time in October 2025.
Deputy Managing Editor Jordan Vallone and previous senior reporter Mohammad Fariq shared a second-place award in the transportation category for the story “Southern State: a road still stuck in the past,” which was part of the Herald’s 2025 series on the Southern State Parkway.
“A compelling and well-structured piece that effectively examines the longstanding dangers of the Southern State Parkway,” judges wrote. “The article succeeds in connecting historical design flaws with present-day traffic realities, clearly explaining how outdated infrastructure continues to contribute to accidents.
“Particularly strong is the integration of data, expert references, and concrete examples, such as low overpass collisions and hazardous curve segments,” the judges added. “The writing remains clear and accessible while addressing a complex safety issue. Overall, a thoughtful and informative investigation with clear public relevance and lasting value.”
Photographer Erik H. Lee earned a third-place award for a photo of the Wantagh High School baseball game.
“These awards reflect our commitment to strong local journalism and to telling the stories that matter most to Long Island communities,” Stuart Richner, CEO of Richner Communications, said. “We are especially proud to see our emerging reporters, experienced editors and talented photographers recognized for work that informs the public and has a lasting impact.”
Four veterans of Long Island journalism were inducted into the PCLI’s Hall of Fame: Photojournalist Michael DelGiudice, radio reporter Sophia Hall, former Newsday editor Anthony E. Insolia, and Shirley E. Perelman, who covered many major stories for Newsday, from the Long Island garbage barge to the trial of O.J. Simpson.
For more information on the press club, go to PCLI.org.
By AIDAN WARSHAVSKY awarshavsky@liherald.com
The 126th U.S. Open Championship, which begins next week, is being played at the Shinnecock Hills Golf Club — known as one of the “cathedrals” of golf — for the first time since 2018.
Eric Steimer, senior director of U.S. Championships at the United States Golf Association, said the USGA’s transportation strategy is intended to reduce congestion around the site while providing multiple travel options for fans attending the tournament.
The plan, developed in collaboration with the Long Island Rail Road, Suffolk County and New York state officials, will be in effect from June 15, three days before the tournament starts, until June 21, the day it ends.
Steimer said that the 15-person team that planned transportation operations recognized early that travel logistics would be one of the event’s biggest challenges. “Any time we’re out here in eastern Long Island at Shinnecock Hills, transportation is a challenge,” Steimer said. “We’re doing a lot of different things to really try to mitigate that.”
As it did eight years ago, the LIRR’s Montauk Branch will provide transportation to and from the tournament. A temporary station will be constructed in Tuckahoe, across from Shinnecock Hills, on the south side of County Road
said. “Anyone that looks at Calverton on a map is going to see that it’s pretty far away from Shinnecock Hills, but at the same time it is very accessible for anyone that’s coming from points west or coming along the Long Island Expressway.”
For residents of Southampton, Sag Harbor, Easthampton and neighboring communities, Steimer recommended using a rideshare program operating from Stony Brook Southampton’s campus.
Hamton Jitney will operate shuttle service for spectators traveling from Montauk, Amagansett, Sag Harbor, Bridgehampton, Water Mill and Southampton. Pickups and drop-offs will be located near Admission Gate 2 on the Stony Brook campus.
39, adjacent to Stony Brook University’s Southampton campus. A temporary pedestrian bridge will span the roadway.
From June 15 to 17, the LIRR plans to operate 10 inbound trains and dozens of outbound trains, more than double the service it provided in 2018. During the championship rounds, June 18 to 21, 12 inbound trains and 13 outbound trains are scheduled to operate.
“The Long Island Rail Road is ready,” its president, Rob Free, stated in a news release. “Avoid the traffic and use our
exceptionally reliable service to and from Shinnecock Hills for all the golf action. Extra staff will also be on hand at Southampton to help customers throughout the championship for a great customer experience.”
Steimer explained that this year’s transportation differs from 2018 because satellite parking operations have moved from Gabreski Airport to Calverton Executive Airpark.
“We will have complimentary parking and complimentary shuttle buses to and from the championship,” Steimer
Fans traveling from New York City will have the option of using Blade helicopter service from June 18 to 21, with return flights scheduled each evening after play ends.
Steimer urged commuters not to arrange drop-offs on County Road 39, and said there would be increased police presence at intersections around the golf course.
“This is a plan that’s been carefully articulated with local experts to be able to implement this plan,” he said. “Now is the time to bring it to life.”
For more information on train service, go to MTA.INFO/document/209406.
‘Good times never seemed so good…’ Neil Diamond’s tunes are always in style
By Karen Bloom
For those who can’t get enough of Neil Diamond, perhaps the next best thing to seeing him perform, is when Robert Neary takes on legendary singer-songwriter’s persona.
The multi-hyphenate performer brings his acclaimed show, ”So Good! The Neil Diamond Experience,” to Tilles Center, on Sunday, featuring his band and a special “hometown” guest performance.
• Sunday, June 14, 3 p.m.
• Tickets available at tillescenter.org or ticketmaster.com or (516)
299-3100
retiring due to Parkinson’s, set out to create the best Neil Diamond tribute I could.”
And audiences certainly agree.
“We always hope that for the two hours they come to our show, they [audiences] are able to forget about the craziness going on in the world, and relive the happy moments with the Neil Diamond’s iconic music.
People relate to his music and so many favorites bring so many people back to those beautiful days,” Neary continues.
ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.
• Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville
Part of the show’s enduring appeal is Neary’s commitment to honoring Diamond’s catalog while keeping the performance dynamic and engaging for both new and returning audiences.
The East Meadow High School Chamber Choir concludes the concert with a six-song finale, under the direction of Chorus Director Samantha Schick. The collaboration is especially meaningful, as Neary is an alumnus of East Meadow High School, and the production’s trumpet player, Stephen Engle, formerly served as head of the music department at the school. The stage, TV and film star has created an acclaimed tribute experience. The show celebrates the timeless songs and storytelling of Neil Diamond, with the beloved hits from Diamond’s extensive catalogincluding “Sweet Caroline,” “Cracklin’ Rosie,” “America, ,” and many more. Known for his remarkable vocals, Neary has earned praise for delivering a heartfelt and high-energy tribute to one of America’s most iconic entertainers. The concert was also filmed as a documentary feature that is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video, where it continues to receive rave reviews from audiences nationwide.
With decades in the entertainment industry, Neary has starred in three Broadway lead roles and appeared in more than 60 major television and film guest-starring roles. He has also built a worldwide social media following of more than half a million fans. Neary created “So Good! The Neil Diamond Experience” in 2019 and, alongside New York-based band The Mystic, developed the show into the nationwide hit it is today. The production continues to sell out venues across the United States and is now set to expand internationally.
“I’ve always been a fan,” says Neary, of Diamond. “I even learned how to play the piano to Hello Again and knew could emulate his voice since high school. was an actor for 40 years, but in 2018, the business for me, started to slow down. After hearing he was
“I went right to his 50th anniversary hits album and compared each song to the success of each one and chart history. We now touch on 28 of them in a full show. We do various medleys that are able to incorporate more songs and with the fabulous multimedia, it really brings the songs to life. also go into the audience for Sweet Caroline and high five and hug on as many people as can,” Neary adds.
Over the years, the production has evolved into a full-scale theatrical concert experience.
“I set out to do exactly what it has become. So having it all continue to fall into place, has been all part of the plan. We continue to evolve in our production. Its started with eight members on stage and 22 songs. We now have amazing background singers, a violinist and a full multimedia presentation that is amazing. We also have included a full overture highlighting Neil’s career through the decades.”
His band, The Mystic, certainly adds to the experience.
“I am beyond blessed to have this amazing band,” Neary says, enthusiastically. “I met them playing at a huge Halloween party and asked if they would like to join me in this venture and they said, yes.
To have this band and the comradery that they possess, having been together for 30 years, is just icing on the cake. We have such a great time on stage as well as touring together and it shows. Countless accolades say how amazingly tight the band is and that we all look like we are having fun.”
One could say that that that this performance’s special closing is the icing on the cake for Neary.
“I’m incredibly proud to return home and share this experience with students from East Meadow High School. Music education played such an important role in my life, and having these talented young performers join us for the finale makes this performance especially meaningful. It’s going to be a really memorable afternoon,” he continues.
“I’ve always wanted to add a choir, and with this Tilles show, being as big as it is, I figured now’s the time to make it happen. My best friend from junior high Stephen Engle, suggested them and immediately said, “Of course!”
Neary, who now resides in Melville after leaving East Meadow all those years ago to pursue his dreams in L.A., is delighted to be back on his home turf, especially reconnecting with his high school.
“It feels wonderful. So humbling and so blessed to be back where was when my career was only a dream away. The first time we played Eisenhower Park, was very emotional and now to play the Tilles Center with the EMHS choir, on such a grander scale, is even more unbelievable.”
Robert Neary enthusiastically gets his audiences involved in this celebration of the singersongwriter’s
Conversations in art
Nassau County Museum of Art hosts an engaging conversation with curator and collections expert Lauren Brincat, whose work and expertise helped shape the current exhibition “250 Years of Art on Long Island.” Brincat, Chief Curator and Director of Collections at Preservation Long Island — a key lending partner to the exhibit — offers an in-depth exploration of the show’s themes, giving visitors a closer look at the wide-ranging artworks and historical objects on view. Her talk illuminates how the exhibit brings together painting and decorative arts to trace the evolution of Long Island’s artistic identity across the centuries. She also discusses the collaborative research and curatorial process behind the exhibition, highlighting how artists, collectors and communities have contributed to shaping and preserving the region’s visual legacy.
Sunday, June 14, 3 p.m. $20, $15 seniors, $10 students (members free). Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor. Register at nassaumuseum.org or call (516) 484-9337.
A monthly board meeting for board members, the village representative and invited guests. The evening includes appetizers, dinner and dessert. For people open to membership. Cost is $45 per person; cash bar available.
• Where: SaVino’s, 88 Atlantic Ave., Lynbrook
• Time: 6-8 p.m.
• Contact: Polly Talbott, (516) 317-2075
David Lerner Associates Police Appreciation Run Runners hit the pavement in Eisenhower Park, demonstrating appreciation for local police.
• Where: Field 2, Eisenhower Park
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Contact: Events.EliteFeats. com/26appreciation
Family theater
Long Island Children’s Museum stages
Jennie deliver an exceptional blend of female vocal groups and artists, spanning from the early Rock & Roll and Motown eras to Disco, R&B, 80’s/90’s pop and more. The Chiclettes are set to energize you as they celebrate the female artists who have graced the music scene from past to present.
• Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow
• Time: 6 p.m.
• Contact: (516) 572-0200
Students, families and community members are invited to celebrate prom night with a pre-prom parade in a safe, scenic setting for photos and send-offs. Participants are asked to line up on Dock Street prior to the event.
• Where: East Rockaway Waterfront (lineup on Dock Street)
• Time: 5:30 p.m. (participants line up by 5:15 p.m.)
• Contact: Village Hall at (516) 887-6300
“Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical!,” for its final weekend. With a script written by Mo Willems, the creator of the award-winning “Pigeon” picture books, and featuring music by Deborah Wicks La Puma (Elephant & Piggie’s We Are in a Play!), this show is even more fun than staying up late and having a hot dog party! It’s not easy being the Pigeon since you never get to do anything. But when the Bus Driver has a crisis that threatens to make her passengers (gasp!) late, maybe that wily bird can finally do something. Featuring an innovative mix of songs, and feathers, the show is sure to get everyone’s wings flapping. $11 with museum admission ($9 members), $15 theater only.
• Where: 11 Davis Ave., Garden City
• Time: 10:15 a.m. and noon.; also June 13-14
• Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800
12 Greis Park Concert Series
Lynbrook Recreation Department kicks off its summer concert series with The Project Band at Greis Park. “Rock Into Summer” with classic tunes. Food trucks, including J&J Taste and Mr. Flavors Ice Cream, are on site
Get ready for an evening of sharp observations and quick-fire punchlines that are Daniel Tosh’s signature irreverent style when he brings My First Farewell tour to The Paramount stage. Acclaimed for his quick wit and deadpan delivery, he’s built a devoted following through both stand-up and television. After graduating from the University of Central Florida with a degree in marketing, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue comedy full-time. His career gained national attention following a standout appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman in 2001, leading to appearances on programs including Comedy Central Presents, Premium Blend and The Tonight Show. Tosh became a household name as the creator and host of Tosh.0, the long-running Comedy Central hit that paired viral internet videos with his trademark commentary and satirical take on pop culture. The series became one of the network’s most successful and enduring comedy programs, helping cement Tosh’s reputation as one of stand-up’s most recognizable voices. Expect an energetic set filled with new material, unexpected twists and the unapologetic humor that has defined Tosh’s career.
with refresehments. Residents are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.
• Where: Greis Park, 55 Wilbur St., Lynbrook
• Time: 6-9 p.m.
• Contact: Lynbrook Recreation Department at (516) 599-8000
St. Raymond Grammar School class of 1965 and East Rockaway High School class of 1969 are having a joint reunion at Grandpa Tony’s. Don’t miss the opportunity to catchup and celebration of the lives of the alumni. Anyone in the surrounding years are also invited. Email any inquiries to Lorraine Keegan.
• Where: 101 Althouse Ave., East Rockaway
• Time: 5-9 p.m.
• Contact: LTK271982@yahoo.com
Rhythm, Roots and Art
Families can participate in African American Music Appreciation Month at Long Island Children’s Museum by exploring the powerful sounds and rhythms that have shaped music history. Together sample a variety of songs from influential African American artist and genres and turn the sounds into art at the
drop-in program. For ages 3+.
• Where: 11 Davis Ave., Garden City
• Time: Noon-2 p.m.
• Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800
18
Eisenhower Summer Concert Series continues with an Earth Wind & Fire Tribute by D’votion, a Gospel Choir and DRIFT featuring members of TAUK and MJT.
• Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Contact: (516) 572-0200
Join members of the Astronomical Society of Long Island for a nighttime skywatching session at Old Westbury Gardens. Gates open 30 minutes before observing begins. Free with admission.
• Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury
• Time: 8:15-10 p.m.
• Contact: oldwestburygardens. org or call (516) 333-0048
• Where: The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington
• Time: 7 and 9:30 p.m.
• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com
Celebrate local artists at Lynbrook Public Library’s Semiquincentennial Art Reception. All are invited to dress up, enjoy light refreshments and take a self-guided tour of artwork displayed throughout the library. The exhibit remains on view through July 18. Registration is not required.
• Where: 56 Eldert St., Lynbrook
• Time: 4-7 p.m.
• Contact: lynbrooklibrary.org or (516) 599-8630
FIFA World Cup Watch Party
Get in on the action at Eisenhower Park when USA takes on Australia.
• Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow
• Time: 3 p.m.
• Contact: (516) 572-0200
22
Tunes with The Chiclettes
Eisenhower Summer Concert Series welcomes The Chiclettes and Vinnie Medugno. Celebrate the remarkable women who reigned supreme on the charts! Gracie, Mikayla, and
Midsummer Jazz
Old Westbury Gardens hosts Monk for President, an ensemble that’s redefined the art of the jazz trio. Glafkos Kontemeniotis (piano), Fred Berman (bass) and Vince ‘Kazi’ McCoy (drums) deliver a high-wire act of musical conversation. From timeless standards to deep-cut favorites, and originals from Glafkos. Their improvisation has graced iconic stages like Bryant Park, Central Park Summer Stage and the Schomburg Center. Don’t miss this masterclass in intuitive jazz. Before, during, or after, stroll the gardens decorated with floral arrangements and illuminated with lanterns. Visitors are welcome to bring a picnic dinner. $40 (includes light season fair and beverages), with member discount. Additional wine, beer and prosecco may be purchased separately.
• Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury
• Time: Gates open at 6 p.m., concert 7-9 p.m.
• Contact: oldwestburygardens.org or call (516) 333-0048
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.
Lynbrook Ex-Chief Kevin Bien recently accepted a $1,000 donation on behalf of Nassau County Firefighters Operation Wounded Warrior during a meeting of the Malverne Village Board.
The contribution was presented by Malverne firefighter Gregory Waxman, known as “Patriot Man,” from proceeds raised during the Memorial Day Freedom 5K Run. Bien serves as chairman of the Lynbrook Fire Department’s annual September fundraiser benefiting wounded warriors.
Waxman earned his nickname during the COVID-19 pandemic when he was often seen running through Malverne carrying an American flag in tribute to first responders and veterans. In 2022, he and wheelchair racer Peter Hawkins completed a 50-mile run around the village to raise awareness for veterans and first responders.
The Memorial Day Freedom 5K, launched by Waxman last year, continues that mission while supporting Nassau County Firefighters Operation Wounded Warrior, a nonprofit organization that has assisted wounded veterans since 2004.
— Kayla Dechter
Malverne firefighter Gregory Waxman, right, presents a $1,000 donation from the Memorial Day Freedom 5K Run to Lynbrook Ex-Chief Kevin Bien on behalf of Nassau County Firefighters Operation Wounded Warrior during a recent Malverne Village Board meeting
The East Rockaway Union Free School District introduced three new educators during the Board of Education meeting on May 27.
Superintendent James DeTommaso welcomed Katherine Parker, who will serve as a special education teacher at East Rockaway Junior/Senior High School, Jamie Maddaluno, a special education teacher at Rhame Avenue Elementary School, and Declan Griffin, who will join Rhame Avenue as a fourth-grade teacher.
During the meeting, district officials also announced that the original
bell from the school’s cupola has been returned by the local historical society. The bell, which had long been the subject of local stories claiming it was stolen years ago as part of a prank, is currently being cleaned and restored before being reinstalled and unveiled as part of ongoing renovation work.
In addition, the district’s proposed 2026-27 safety plan has been posted on the district website for a 30-day public comment period before formal adoption.
— Kayla Dechter
By KAYLA DECHTER kdechter@liherald.com
Members of Temple Am Echad in Lynbrook joined thousands of participants from across the region on May 31 for the annual Israel Day Parade along Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.
According to congregant and past temple president Ira Blumstein, the Manhattan Israel Day Parade is the largest Jewish solidarity march in the world. This year’s event brought together people of all ages and backgrounds to celebrate their shared heritage and support for the State of Israel.
“In these turbulent times where there is a significant decrease in public support for Israel and a marked rise in
public anti-Semitism, we marched down Fifth Avenue as proud Americans and proud Zionists,” Blumstein wrote in an email. “Young and old, traditional and secular, we joined together to celebrate our love for our heritage and for the state of Israel.”
Temple Am Echad members marched behind the congregation’s banner, carrying Israeli and American flags alongside fellow supporters. Blumstein described the event as a joyful and peaceful expression of solidarity and thanked the New York City Police Department for providing security throughout the day.
Temple Am Echad, located in Lynbrook, serves families throughout the South Shore and
regularly hosts religious, educational and community programs for members of all ages.
Members of Temple Am Echad join fellow marchers and supporters during the Israel Day Parade in Manhattan on May 31.
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF PUBLIC
HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY
GIVEN that the BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS will hold a PUBLIC HEARING and DECISIONS on Thursday, June 25h, 2026 at 5:30 P.M. in the Court Room at the Village Hall, One Columbus Drive, Lynbrook, NY 11563, on the following cases: HEARINGS: #1030Lynbrook Plaza LLC, Michael Jasgmohan418-420 Sunrise Highway, Lynbrook - § 252-54 Off-Street Parking Requirements. Existing bulk retail
requires:3.2 on-site parking spaces, Proposed Pilates health studio requires:9.73 on-site parking spaces, therefore a 7 on-site parking variance will be required. #1031Merrick SS Investors LLC, - 14 Merrick Road, Lynbrook - § 203-7 Signs permitted in Commercial, Light Manufacturing and Industrial Districts.
Permitted Height of Signage: 2 Stories - 26’, Proposed Height to Top of Signage: Sign # 5:42-0’, Permitted Number of Signs: 3 signs, Proposed Number of Signs: 5 signs, Permitted Rear
Sign: 24.0 square feet, Proposed Rear Sign: 130.8 square feet. All interested parties should appear at the Public Hearing and may view case files at the Building Department on Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:00AM and 3:00PM. BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS, Ginger Fuentes, Chair Person of the Board of Zoning Appeals, Brian Stanton, Superintendent, Department of Buildings Lynbrook Publish 1X 160700
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the RECREATION COMMISSION will hold a PUBLIC MEETING on Tuesday June 9, 2026 at 7:30 PM in the Board Room at the Village Hall, One Columbus Drive, Lynbrook, New York BY ORDER OF THE RECREATION COMMISSION
Antonia Marchese Recreation Supervisor Recreation Commission 160662
Full Time and Part Time Positions Available!
Busy Print Shop in Garden City is Hiring Immediately for Full Time and Part Time Drivers. Must Have a Clean License and BoxTruck Driving Experience.
Hours Vary, Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $21 per hour Night Availability is a Must.
Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239
Part Time & Full Time. The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. Salary range is from $20K to $45K To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to jbessen@liherald.com
MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP
Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $20 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com
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Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $35,360 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286
Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Earning potential ranges from $35,360 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses. Compensation is based on Full Time hours Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off. Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X250
PRINTING PRESS OPERATORS FT & PT. Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for Printing Press Operators in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Hours vary, so flexibility is key.
Q. We’re looking for a house, and have run into a pattern where every house we see has some real problems. We’re wondering, after our home inspector looked at a house recently and found major foundation cracks, how we can figure out what to negotiate for the repairs. The house is on a canal, and also has other additions that have no permits (we checked). How do we go about discussing this with facts, and try to resolve what it will really cost if we buy the house?
A. I have a sinking feeling about the house, as you described. Some of the homes I have seen in high water tables, next to canals, in what are known as flood plain areas, are expensive and require a lot of engineering work to repair. Unfortunately, time doesn’t heal all wounds, and many people looking in areas adjacent to water don’t realize what they’re looking at.
The history of these close-to-the-water neighborhoods is an interesting study in civil engineering. Most of the areas, especially along shorelines, were previously swampland that was “reclaimed.” This means that tall reeds were often plowed under and covered with sand, dredged to make the adjacent canals deeper and more navigable while shooting the sand with water cannons, in a process called hydro-fill, to stabilize and level out the land for construction of developments.
At the time, unfortunately, there wasn’t the same level of scrutiny in issuing permits, and testing from those eras is sometimes questionable. One of the most obvious test reports I have ever seen was one in which every soil boring taken on a single property was written on a chart so that every number on every line was the same. A trained professional would realize that is nearly impossible. I imagine the person just filling in each line with the same ditto information just so they could get past filing the required report.
It’s all too common to see record plans, taken from building departments, showing standard foundation walls with no spread footing, and therefore no piles. Piles are the large, long poles or large helical screws that are jammed down into the earth until they reach a point where they can’t be jammed any farther. If you really love the location, you should hire an experienced engineer or architect, who will need to investigate the old records on file and also look at the foundation conditions.
If it turns out the house has either no underground pile report or a certified pile log, which is not unusual, then the foundation cracking can be caused by the continued settling of the house into the less stable ground. Will the settling stop at some point? Not for a long time — several lifetimes, predictably. There are ways to insert pile supports around the foundation, utilizing brackets and angled piles, to stop the settling. At that point, you need a professional’s plan and a pile company estimate to negotiate. Good luck!
© 2026 Monte Leeper
Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question”
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sixty-four years ago, in the spring of 1962, I began working as a reporter on Long Island, and engaged immediately in my first big story — Robert Moses’ plan to build a four-lane highway on Fire Island. It would have devastated much of the exquisite nature of that barrier beach, along with its 17 very special communities. I was 20 years old. After two years of grassroots opposition and journalism, in which I played a significant part, the highway scheme was stopped. In September 1964, President Lyndon Johnson signed legislation establishing Fire Island National Seashore. In those two years I merged investigative reporting with environmental journalism, a combination that has been a journalistic and academic focus of mine for the past six decades. Life has its circles, and I was delighted that Alexcy Romero, superintendent of the national seashore and a 1990 graduate of SUNY Old Westbury, was a guest speaker at the school on Earth Day. As
a professor at the university for 47 years, I taught investigative reporting and environmental journalism.
In his talk, Romero said, “I did not know how I was going to apply my environmental science degree.” He found a highly positive application for it for more than three decades now at the National Park Service.
on my first day at the Babylon Town Leader, my bosses had a story for me.
Romero has been the superintendent at Fire Island since 2018. “Everything we do is about protecting resources and providing a good, memorable visitor experience,” he said. The title of his presentation was “Cities and Seashores,” and its focus was “Long Island seashore conservation and working in public service.”
Romero is originally from New York City, and when he was appointed superintendent, he said, “As a native New Yorker, I have spent many days enjoying the Great South Bay by boat, strolling the beaches of Fire Island, and have experienced some breathtaking sunsets that only Fire Island National Seashore has to offer. I look forward to working with all the communities, partners and talented staff managing this beautiful resource that many people have come to treasure.”
In 1962 I had never been to Fire Island. But even though I was also from New York City, I became an Eagle Scout, relished nature, and my family camped in the summers at Wildwood State Park, in Wading River. I got the reporter’s job at the Babylon Town Leader, and when I arrived on my first day of work, the newspaper’s publisher, James Cooper, and editor, John Maher, told me that Moses had just announced his highway plan for Fire Island, and they wanted me to go there that weekend and put together a story.
As Robert Caro wrote in his Pulitzer Prize-winning 1974 book, “The Power Broker:Robert Moses and the Fall of New York,” Moses had the New York media in his pocket. But that wasn’t the case with the Town Leader. Moses had a home in Babylon, and through the years the newspaper took on Moses and his various projects.
I lucked out by connecting with Fire Islanders including TV journalist Charles Collingwood, playwright Reginald Rose, author Theodore H. White and some regular folks, who articulately explained how the island’s nature and communities would be impacted by
the proposed highway. A walk in Sunken Forest made the environmental importance of Fire Island clear to me.
I wrote a story, the first of many. We discovered that the four-lane highway Moses built to the west, along Jones Beach, instead of being an “anchor” of the beach — as Moses insisted a highway on Fire Island would be — regularly needed to be bolstered with sand pushed along its edges by bulldozers working at night.
The first call I received the morning after my first story ran was from Murray Barbash, an environmentally committed builder from Brightwaters. Barbash and his brother-in-law, Babylon attorney Irving Like, co-author of the state’s Conservation Bill of Rights, then organized a Citizens Committee for a Fire Island National Seashore. Their view was that Moses couldn’t be stopped on the state level because of the enormous power he wielded in New York. If Fire Island were to be saved, it would have to be through the federal government. Also, a national seashore offered a positive goal, they felt. And happily, that’s what came about.
Karl Grossman has been an investigative reporter in a variety of media for more than 50 years. He is a professor of journalism at the State University of New York at Old Westbury.
The three-day Long Island Rail Road strike last month did more than disrupt commutes. It highlighted just how interconnected New York City and Long Island truly are. For 72 hours, the effects rippled across the entire metropolitan region. State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli estimated that the work stoppage cost as much as $61 million per day in lost economic activity.
The losses weren’t confined to any one county or borough. They were shared by all of us, because our regional economy functions as one interconnected system.
I heard from employers immediately concerned about staffing shortages, delayed deliveries and declining foot traffic. The reason was simple: The workforce connection between Long Island and New York City is enormous. According to Census data, around 240,000 Long Island residents commute into New York City for work, while roughly 310,000 New York City residents work in Nassau and Suffolk counties. Queens alone sends around 95,000 work-
ers into Nassau County and another 28,000 into Suffolk County every day.
Queens residents are among the largest workforce pipelines for Long Island employers, particularly in health care, construction, retail, transportation and professional services.
When that flow stops, even briefly, the economic consequences are immediate.
Too often, some elected officials and commentators have tried to frame Long Island and New York City as competitors, as though economic success on one side of the city line somehow comes at the expense of the other side.
It doesn’t.
L ong Island’s economy is deeply dependent on New York City’s, and vice versa.
We saw this dynamic emerge during the pandemic, when some suburban leaders openly encouraged businesses to leave New York City and relocate to Long Island. More recently, some politicians have continued to take rhetorical swipes at the city’s struggles as a way to score political points.
But the LIRR strike demonstrated exactly why that mindset misses the bigger picture.
Long Island’s economy is deeply dependent on New York City’s economic strength, just as the city depends on
Long Island. Roughly 150,000 Suffolk County residents work in New York City’s five boroughs, with many commuting into Manhattan and Queens every day. Nassau County’s economic ties are even deeper. Meanwhile, businesses throughout the city rely heavily on Long Island residents as customers, employees and business partners.
Queens and suburban Long Island, in particular, share extraordinarily close economic ties. Queens is home to Kennedy and LaGuardia airports, major health care institutions, construction projects and entertainment destinations that employ thousands of Long Islanders. Long Islanders help staff schools, hospitals, financial firms and transportation systems throughout the city. At the same time, Queens residents support Long Island’s retail centers, restaurants, beaches and small businesses. That’s why the true competition facing our region isn’t between Queens and Nassau or between Manhattan and Suffolk. It is coming from states aggressively attracting residents and employers away from New York altogether. Florida. Texas. The Carolinas.
When families leave the metropolitan area because housing costs become unsustainable, Long Island and New York City both lose. When businesses relocate operations out of state, the economic pain is shared throughout the downstate region.
Instead of trying to outcompete one another for headlines or short-term political advantage, regional leaders should be working together to address the challenges we all face: affordability, transportation reliability, housing shortages and public safety.
The LIRR strike also reinforced another important truth: Infrastructure matters. Reliable transportation is the backbone of the downstate economy. Millions of people depend on the seamless movement of workers and consumers throughout the region every day. When that system breaks down, even temporarily, it reminds us how fragile — and how interconnected — our economy really is.
In the future Long, Island and New York City will succeed or fail, rise or fall, together. That isn’t political rhetoric. It is an economic reality.
Tom Grech is president and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce and acting chair of the Town of Hempstead Industrial Development Agency and Local Development Corporation.
When communities confront homelessness, the conversation often becomes trapped between competing concerns: public safety, housing costs, mental health, addiction and strained social services. But programs that make a real difference recognize a simple truth: Homelessness is both a humanitarian crisis and a public health crisis.
Addressing it requires more than temporary shelter or emergency interventions. It requires meeting people where they are — literally and figuratively. That is what makes street medicine and community outreach programs such powerful and innovative models.
Instead of waiting for vulnerable people to navigate a complicated health care system, outreach teams bring services directly to them. They visit train stations, commuter lots, wooded encampments, shelters and other places where homeless individuals live and gather.
The approach acknowledges a reality often overlooked in policy discussions: People struggling to survive day to day rarely have the ability to prioritize medical appointments, transportation, paperwork or insurance requirements. For many, simply getting through the next 24 hours is challenge enough.
Long Island’s most recent Point-InTime Count found more than 4,500 unhoused adults and children in Nassau and Suffolk counties, the highest total recorded since 2007.
To the Editor:
In a pair of opinion pieces in the May 28-June 3 issue of the Herald, Assemblyman Ari Brown (“New York’s radical mobs are testing America’s spine”) and State Sen. Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick (“Our state must do more to combat antisemitism”) deplored the rise in antisemitism locally, nationally and globally. The two legislators called for stronger measures to protect Jews from harassment and the threat, or actuality, of violence. No New Yorker of goodwill would oppose such protective efforts or deny that hatred of Jews is growing and spreading. It must also be acknowledged that Hamas is a terrorist organization that committed unspeakable atrocities in murdering 1,200 Israelis on Oct. 7, 2023.
But neither Brown nor CanzoneriFitzpatrick offers the slightest criticism
Behind every statistic is a person facing enormous barriers to proper health and stability. Chronic illnesses often go untreated. Mental health conditions worsen without care. Substance-use disorders become more dangerous. Small medical problems can become lifethreatening emergencies.
Traditional systems are often not designed to reach people living in these circumstances. Outreach programs are. What makes these efforts especially effective is their emphasis on trust. Team members may spend significant time with one person, providing medical evaluations, wellness education, supplies, referrals and, perhaps most important, human connection. People who often feel ignored, judged or invisible are treated with dignity and respect.
That trust-building is not a “soft” benefit. It is the foundation of successful intervention. People who trust service providers are more likely to seek treatment, follow medical advice, complete paperwork and engage with housing services. Those relationships can become the bridge that leads someone from instability to recovery and ultimately to permanent housing.
The results of street medicine programs across Long Island and the nation demonstrate the value of this approach. People have been connected to urgent medical care, chronic conditions have been managed before they became emergencies, and individuals have been guid-
ed into stable housing. While the numbers may seem modest compared with the scale of the crisis, they represent something larger: individualized, community-based care that works.
Housing itself is a public health issue. Stable housing improves physical health, mental well-being, medication compliance and overall quality of life. Yet obtaining housing often requires medical evaluations and documentation that many homeless people struggle to access. Outreach teams help bridge that gap.
These programs also serve as a reminder that homelessness can happen to anyone. Job loss, illness, family breakdown, disability or financial hardship can push an individual into crisis. People do not choose homelessness, yet they are often judged as though they did. Compassion alone will not solve homelessness. Neither will enforcement alone. Communities need practical, scalable solutions that combine health care, housing support and human connection. Street medicine and communitybased outreach programs are proving that such solutions exist. As homelessness continues to rise, communities should look closely at these models and invest in expanding them. If society wants to help people move off the streets, it cannot wait for them to come through the door. Sometimes the most effective solution is to bring the door to them.
Most Long Islanders have a pretty good feel for the local economy, with housing demand up, unemployment down and new businesses replacing older ones. What many people don’t see is how all of those activities are connected.
thing much larger than many residents realize. Nassau and Suffolk counties together generate approximately $256 billion in economic activity annually. If Long Island were a state, its economy would rank roughly 23rd in the nation.
While those numbers are impressive, the more interesting story is how that economic activity is created.
A new apartment building isn’t just a construction project. A restaurant isn’t simply a place to grab dinner. A law firm does more than provide legal advice. Each of these businesses creates economic activity that extends well beyond its front door, generating jobs, income and spending throughout the region.
Economists call this the multiplier effect, and it impacts Long Islanders every day.
Our economy is often discussed in terms of individual industries — health care, education, construction, technology, hospitality, retail, professional services. Yet one of the reasons the economy has remained resilient through economic cycles is that no single industry dominates it. Instead, thousands of businesses of varying sizes create a diverse and interconnected economic ecosystem. That diversity helps explain why Long Island’s economy has grown into some-
our economy is powered by thousands of interconnected decisions we make every day.
Consider a neighborhood bagel shop. When a customer purchases breakfast, the economic impact doesn’t stop at the cash register. The bakery purchases flour, cream cheese, utilities, equipment, insurance, accounting services and transportation. Employees spend their wages at local stores, restaurants and service providers. The original dollars continue to circulate through the economy, creating value long after the first transaction takes place.
This process happens every day, in every corner of Long Island.
Over the past year, the LIA Research Institute has been examining these relationships through input-output analysis, a methodology used to measure the direct, indirect and induced impacts of businesses and institutions. The findings reinforce something many business owners already know from experience: local spending creates local prosperity.
Take a hypothetical Long Island law firm generating $1 million in annual
of the Israeli government’s military response to Hamas’s barbarism. And silence on this score is used by bigots to assert — falsely — that all Jews are complicit in the slaughter of Muslims.
Reputable sources, including the Israel Defense Forces, confirm that Israel has killed over 70,000 Palestinians in Gaza in the past two and a half years. That toll is known to include several thousand children and hundreds of humanitarian workers.
In addition, Israel has killed more than 3,000 civilians in Lebanon in the past few months in retaliation for Hezbollah terrorist attacks that have taken the lives of about 100 Israelis.
The relentless, merciless and disproportionate response on Israel’s part has caused support for the Jewish state to plummet in the U.S. and worldwide. Only 37 percent of Americans now view Israel favorably, according to a Pew Research Center poll. Sympathy for Palestinians has risen correspondingly.
Anti-Israel sentiments do sometimes take the form of antisemitism. But most U.S. activists, including the many Jews who denounce the actions of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, cannot be fairly accused of religious or ethnic bigotry.
Influential figures like Brown and Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick are not helping shield Jews by ignoring the causes of Israel’s isolation. They also ought to be pointing out that Israel’s security will not be enhanced through endless warfare that gives rise to new generations of Palestinian militants.
The cycle of hate, death and destruction is certain to continue until Israelis and Palestinians work cooperatively toward a twostate solution.
KEvIN J. KELLEY Atlantic Beach
Editors’ note: Ari Brown’s and Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick’s op-eds did not appear in all print editions of the Herald, but can be found at liherald.com.
revenue. The direct activity supports attorneys, staff and business operations. But the firm’s impact extends to office suppliers, maintenance providers, technology vendors and numerous other businesses. When those secondary effects are included, the original $1 million generates roughly $1.6 million in total economic output throughout the region.
The multiplier effect becomes even more visible with large-scale investments. Consider the construction of a multifamily housing development. Before a single family moves in, the project generates significant economic activity through construction workers, architects, engineers, legal professionals, material suppliers, trucking companies, and dozens of supporting industries.
Our analysis of a hypothetical $100 million apartment development found that the project could support more than 600 jobs and create roughly $166 million in total economic output. This is in addition to the benefit of adding to our region’s housing stock to address the high demand and low inventory, which pushes up prices.
That’s why discussions of economic development should never focus solely on the initial investment. The broader impact often tells a much larger story. For example, the LIA Research Institute
estimated that the 2025 Ryder Cup generated roughly $160 million in economic activity, not simply because spectators attended the tournament, but because visitors stayed in hotels, dined in restaurants and utilized transportation services. The ripple effects spread through our communities, strengthening the broader economy.
Long Island’s economy is powered by thousands of interconnected decisions made every day by entrepreneurs, workers, consumers, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions and investors. From a neighborhood bagel shop to new construction, from a local law firm to an international sporting event, economic activity rarely stops where it starts. Every transaction creates additional opportunities that ripple across our region.
The next time you buy a bagel, hire an attorney, dine at a local restaurant or drive past a construction site, remember that you are seeing the multiplier effect in action.
On Long Island, dollars we spend at local businesses become wages for workers, revenue for suppliers and opportunities for families across our region. That’s how $1 becomes $1.60 — and why the strength of our economy depends on the success of the businesses and institutions that keep that cycle moving forward.
Steven Kent is chief economist of the Long Island Association and an associate professor of economics and finance at Molloy University in Rockville Centre.
