_______ Malverne/West HeMpstead ______
HERALD Also serving Lakeview
$34,000 grant to peace garden
Resident runs local Marathon
Page 3
Page 23
Vol. 32 No. 20
MAY 15 - 21, 2025
$1.00
Plea deal falls through for Mascia plea deal would also have included an order of protection issued against Mascia from an Thomas Mascia, of West unnamed individual. The plea ag reement fell Hempstead, the former state trooper charged with falsely apart when Judge Bogle asked reporting that an assailant shot Mascia if he was in good menhim in the leg while on patrol tal health, and he responded “no.” After a brief on the Souther n discussion with his State Parkway in l aw y e r, J e f f r e y October, returned Lichtman, Mascia to court on May 7 changed his answer and was expected and explained he to acce pt a plea was “currently agreement. r e c e iv i n g t r e a t The Nassau ment” for his menCounty District tal health. Attor ney’s of fice Mascia also had offered Mascia, incorrectly signed a 27, a plea deal, but document “Trooper it fell through when Mascia,” instead of he told Judge RobT homas Mascia, ert Bogle of the StEVEN G. JAMES which was a New York Supreme Superintendent, requirement to Court that he was New York State Police e n t e r t h e p l e a not in good mental agreement. For the health. In addition, he incorrectly signed a docu- document to be valid, it must be ment required for him to enter signed by all parties, including the judge, the prosecution, the a plea agreement. Under the guilty plea, Mas- defense and the defendant. While the judge said he cia would have been sentenced to six months in jail and five understands court can cause years probation, and he would anxiety for many and that Mashave been required to receive cia may have mistakenly signed mental health treatment, and the document as a former state ordered to pay restitution in trooper, Bogle stated he was not the amount of $289,511.32. The Continued on page 4
By MADISoN GUSlER
mgusler@liherald.com
Madison Gusler/Herald
Malverne Cinema has announced that it will reopen, after closing last September.
Malverne Cinema & Art Center announces reopening By MADISoN GUSlER mgusler@liherald.com
As local theaters across Long Island close down because of economic pressures and competition from chain theaters and streaming services, Malverne will once again become a bright light for movie lovers. Malverne Cinema, which closed last September, has announced plans to reopen as a nonprofit. The Malverne Cinema and Art Center opened at 350 Hempstead Ave. in 1947, and has been operated by Anne and Henry Stampfel since 1990. The original cinema had a single 700-seat theater, but the Stamp-
fels altered the layout to eventually include five theaters. After a series of temporary closures, due mainly due to the coronavirus pandemic and the theater’s high operating expenses, it hosted a final screening before it closed last fall. “It’s a major part of our community,” Malverne resident Nick Hudson said. “Having not just a movie theater, but a place where your kids’ memories are made, I think, is really important.” Shortly after the theater closed, Hudson, the executive director of Entertainment 2 Affect Change, a New York based nonprofit Continued on page 9 MAY 15, 2025
Great Homes the Ultimate Local Home showcase
o
ur investigation determined that Mascia deliberately shot himself, and he lied about it.