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Vol. 33 No. 23
JUNE 4 - 10, 2026
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Long Island Creative Arts raises funds thinking and problem-solving skills using music, art, film and other creative arts. Barry had Long Island Creative Arts created the Brandon scholarInc. hosted a scholarship fund ship in 2005, after Josh Branand musical instrument auc- don, his store manager at the tion at American Legion Post since closed Luna Music in 1087 in West Hempstead on West Hempstead died unexpectSunday. The event edly at age 50. raised money for “Josh was a posithe James and tive force in Luna Ethel Barry TownMusic becoming Gown Scholarship bigger than what it and The Joshua L. was,” Barry said. Brandon Memorial “Everyone loved Music Scholarship, Jo s h . We wo u l d both offered to West always have jam Hempstead high sessions at night school seniors. after work. When he The auction was died, it was a shock; c o - s p o n s o re d by it was a tragedy.” Post 1087 and Robin Barry, 48, a forPoirier Allstate of mer fourth-generaWest Hempstead. It tion resident of raised over $1,700, West Hempstead including a $500 who now lives in donation from Post E a s t R o c k aw a y, 1087 Commander BRiAN BARRy b e l i e ve s i n t h e Pe t e r Jo h a n s e n . Founder, va l u e o f h i g h e r About half of the education, and Long Island Creative 128 instruments on wants to give more Arts Inc. offer were sold. people access to it. Brian Barry, a “Being able to give former educator in the West money helps students further Hempstead school district and their education in a positive at Hofstra University, founded way,” he said. “Giving back to Long Island Creative Arts in the community I grew up in 2016, to promote the develop- and the school I taught at ment of children’s critical Continued on page 9
By NoAH PERETZ
nperetz@liherald.com
Courtesy Roseanne Dorfman
West Hempstead library hosts whale exhibit The West Hempstead Public Library’s summer reading program kicked off with an event featuring a life-sized inflatable whale that kids and families could explore inside. This event was in collaboration with the Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum, the first of its kind in a Nassau County school district.
Food Truck Rodeo comes to Crossroads Farm for summer By NoAH PERETZ nperetz@liherald.com
Crossroads Farm at Grossmann’s hosted the first Food Truck Rodeo of the summer season last Friday. The event will be every Friday this summer. Participating vendors included Mr. Flavors Ice Cream, J&J Taste, the Telia Truck and Monarch Foods. Rare Treats also had a table at the event, and Somerset Brewing Company, of West Hempstead, and Barrier Brewing Company, of Oceanside, took part as well. In addition, there was a bounce house and a face-painting booth for children, and live music. And the farm’s new chickens were out, which drew a crowd of children to the fence surrounding the coop.
Rare Treats, founded in Malverne in 2023 by Stephanie Fitzpatrick, serves dairy-, egg-, nutand gluten-free baked goods. Fitzpatrick’s son has a gastrointestinal condition, and she wanted to make enjoying sweets easier for him, which motivated her to learn to bake while conforming to his dietary restrictions. “I baked for him, then friends and family members, and eventually I started catering,” Fitzpatrick said, “which then turned into this business.” Rare Treats is a registered New York state home kitchen. Fitzpatrick is a board member of the village’s Chamber of Commerce, and chamber businesses have requested her baked goods to sell at their stores. “I built a lot of relationships in the community over these few years,” she said, “and now Continued on page 5
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iving back to the community I grew up in and the school I taught at makes me feel good. Giving back has to come from your heart.