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VOL. 71 NO. 2
GSH opens new health-care pavilion
Obituary: Famed musician Naomi Drucker
Page 3
Page 12 JANUARY 14-20, 2026
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MFD among eight departments to battle late-night blaze By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com
Photo Courtesy Town of Oyster Bay
Shown at swearing in are Councilmen Andrew Monteleone, Tom Hand, and Louis Imbroto; Supervisor Joseph Saladino; Councilwomen Vicki Walsh and Laura Maier; Councilman Steve Labriola and Tax Receiver Jeff Pravato.
Oyster Bay officials sworn in at 2026 inauguration By MIKE POLANSKY Senior Correspondent
The Town of Oyster Bay hosted its 2026 inauguration ceremony Jan. 8 at South Woods Middle School, where Supervisor Joseph Saladino, Councilmen Lou Imbroto and Tom Hand, and newly elected Councilman Andrew Monteleone were sworn in for new terms. Roughly 200 people attended the ceremony, which featured remarks from Nassau County Republican Chairman Joseph Cairo Jr., who praised Saladino’s leadership style. “He treats the bank president and the bank janitor exactly the same way — with dignity and respect,” Cairo said. Councilman Monteleone was sworn in by Nassau County Family Court Judge Chris Coschignano, a former town councilman. Hand was sworn in by former Supervisor Angelo Delligatti, who also served as master of ceremonies. Imbroto was sworn in by Nassau District Court Judge Michele Johnson, who
previously served alongside him on the Town Board. The final swearing-in of the evening was that of Supervisor Saladino, who was sworn in by his brother, Nassau County Court Judge James Saladino. In his speech after being sworn in, Saladino thanked all the people who work for the Town of Oyster Bay, emphasizing their “hard work, patience and loyalty,” and noting that “we’re a team in Oyster Bay, and that teamwork pays off.” He also thanked his wife, Helena. “Your strength guides me, your encouragement fuels me, your patience to deal with my intensity is amazing, but most of all your love and belief in me carries me each and every day,” he said. Saladino has served as supervisor since 2017 and is the town’s 70th to hold the office. Town Clerk Rich LaMarca, who was reelected, did not attend due to shoulder surgery and will be sworn in at a later date. CONTINUED ON PAGE9
Two North Amityville firefighters are recovering from minor injuries after battling a commercial building fire late New Year’s Day, fire officials said. Firefighters were called around 10:30 p.m. Jan. 1 to reports of smoke and a working fire at a large warehouse on Albany Avenue. Crews arriving on scene immediately searched for occupants and stretched two hose lines into the building, according to John Heidrich, North Amityville Fire Department’s District Supervisor. Firefighters were forced to retreat due to heavy fire and smoke conditions and concerns about a possible roof collapse. Once outside, crews set up tower ladders and began attacking the fire from above.
“They were able to contain the fire to the center of the building, which has several tenants,” said Heidrich. As conditions improved, firefighters reentered the building and extinguished the fire with assistance from multiple neighboring departments, including Farmingdale, North Lindenhurst, Lindenhurst, West Babylon, Amityville, Massapequa and Copiague. The Melville Fire Department responded with a drone unit, officials said. The Wyandanch-Wheatley Heights Ambulance Corps treated the two injured firefighters and one civilian, all of whom sustained minor injuries. “In all, we probably had about 100 firefighters at the scene,” Heidrich said. First Assistant Chief Devon Rhodan was in charge at the scene.
Courtesy Paul Mazza/Zone2 Photos
Volunteers from the Massapequa Fire Department rushed to assist at the scene of fire in North Amityville New Year’s night.