Merrick Herald 02-26-2026

Gotta catch ‘em all

North Merrick Public Library patrons celebrated the 30th anniversary of the popular card game, Pokémon, Story, additional photos, Page 10.

Blizzard blankets the South Shore

Schools closed Monday and Tuesday

By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com

Residents of Bellmore and Merrick spent Mondaay night and Tuesday digging out after a late-winter blizzard dropped more than a foot of snow across the South Shore, blanketing roads, forcing school closings and keeping municipal crews working around the clock.

TReports from local officials and weather observers placed snowfall totals between 15 and 17 inches in both communities, with higher drifts in open areas, driven by strong winds. Snow tapered off on Monday night, allowing highway and sanitation crews to shift from plowing to widening travel lanes and clearing intersections.

rates intensified and visibility dropped.

Major thoroughfares — including Merrick Road, Sunrise Highway and Bellmore Avenue — were among the first to be cleared, with neighborhood streets addressed as conditions improved. By Monday afternoon, most main roads were passable, though high snowbanks narrowed lanes and reduced available parking on residential blocks.

he roads looked rough early on, but the plows were out nonestop.

DAViD FiGuERoA Merrick

Nassau County officials issued travel advisories at the height of the storm, urging residents to stay off the roads so plows could operate safely. County Executive Bruce Blakeman described conditions as hazardous, particularly overnight on Sunday, as snowfall

Sanitation and highway crews continued salting operations Monday to prevent refreezing, as temperatures remained below freezing. Officials said that extended shifts would continue to address icy patches and clear catch basins ahead of a potential midweek melt.

Utility companies such as PSEG reported only scattered outages in the Bellmore-Merrick area, largely caused by snow-laden branches brushing power lines. Service was restored quickly in most cases, and no widespread disruptions

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mountsinai.org/southnassau

Celebrating and learning the Lunar New Year

By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com

Students at Chatterton School welcomed the Lunar New Year with music, movement and lessons on culture during a recent assembly organized by parent volunteers, transforming the school auditorium into a space for both celebration and learning.

The program introduced children to the traditions and symbolism of the holiday, which is observed across many Asian cultures and marks the start of the lunar calendar. Often associated with themes of renewal, family and good fortune, Lunar New Year has roots dating back more than 3,000 years to agrarian societies that celebrated the end of winter and the beginning of a new planting season. Over time, the observance blended seasonal rituals with folklore, including the legend of the monster Nian, which villagers drove away using loud noises, bright colors and lanterns — traditions that live on today through decorations, drumming and festive performances. Because it follows the lunar calendar, the holiday’s date shifts each year, typically falling between late January and mid-February, and similar celebrations are observed across Asia.

Against that historical backdrop, the Chatterton assembly aimed to bring those traditions to life for students in an age-appropriate way. Teacher Cinnamon Green said the program reinforced lessons already underway in the classroom while helping students see how cultural traditions connect communities.

“The event aligned closely with our kindergarten social studies curriculum, which focuses on understanding diverse traditions and how cultural celebrations help build a shared community identity,” Green said. “This collaborative effort among our kindergarten and third grade teams, alongside our families, created an engaging and inclusive learning experience that celebrated diversity, respect, and unity within our school.”

A highlight of the morning was an energetic lion dance performed by students from Townsend Harris High School. Accompanied by rhythmic drumming, the performers maneuvered the colorful costumes across the stage, captivating the audience and illustrating how the dance is traditionally used to bring luck and chase away negative energy. Afterward, younger students eagerly lined up for photos with the lions, extending the experience beyond the performance itself.

The celebration also included the distribution of red envelopes, a cherished custom symbolizing prosperity and wellwishes for the year ahead. For many students, the gesture offered a tangible connection to the traditions they had just

learned about.

“This experience extended beyond a classroom read-aloud and provided students with a meaningful opportunity to learn about cultural traditions through the lion dance, red envelopes, and presentations on symbolism and customs,” Green added.

Principal Dana Bermas said the event reflected the school’s commitment to inclusivity and community partnership. She thanked the Hom and Lin families for helping organize the program and sharing their traditions with students.

“Their efforts helped foster cultural understanding, inclusivity, and celebration within our school community,” Bermas said.

The Challah bake elevate the Conversation

YOU TASTE IT

4

4

4 Caramel Apple Tartlets (4 oz.)

1

8

oz.)

As expected in any parking lot — in any suburban temple in America on a snowy Sunday morning —there is a lineup of SUVs parked in a row, stickered with children’s camp and university logos. I pull up to a spot that is available, cut the engine and the lights, pull up the emergency break.

Armed with five pounds of flour and a kitchen apron, I exit my car and enter Temple B’nai Torah of Wantagh, New York’s community room (known as the “Kiddish Lounge”) where forty people will converge at tables with candy-colored mixing bowls as they get ready to make dough for Challah bread.

am instructed, keep on blending and kneading and punching the dough, grateful my hands, post-surgery, have no aches or complaints.

In short, though I’ve eaten it many times, I have only made Challah three times in my life, all within group settings established for a fundraiser or a few hours of bonding.

One time, given directions to freeze the extra dough before baking I tried this method to disastrous results. Another time, while learning the process we were gifted not just the food, but fresh white aprons from the leader’s daughter’s past Bat Mitzvah.

It is a whimsically presented morning event hosted by a young woman who not only had the ingredients at the ready, but the symbolic explanation for each one. I spark to the idea of yeast (rising to God) and water (life sustaining), recollect the importance of flour (sustenance) and eggs (life affirming), learn the significance of oil (“anoint” or “be blessed with oil”) and salt (critical vs. kindness) and get an easy answer when it came to the sugar (sweetness). We are treated to an understanding of the biblical importance and responsibility of baking Challah and then the participants get right to it – bubbling yeast and all.

There is bread envy in the room, people who relive the baking skills of grandmothers, mothers and daughtersin-law with the determination to mix up something amazing themselves out of respect and admiration. There is talk of raisins, chocolate chips, and cinnamon — reminiscent of Kosher bakeries gone by.

When others around our table talk of their cooking skills, I can listen but not contribute. I am not the cook in my home; in fact, it is my husband and son who handle the meals while I gratefully tackle the prep and clean up. So, I do as I

But what works here at this moment, is the kinship for creation, common interests and something homemade of our own hands and hearts.

I discover more is not less, but more is more when it comes to covering my braided raw dough with plastic wrap. I figure out a way to carry two trays, two aluminum pans, an empty bowl and my belongings in one trip to the trunk of my car. (Yeah, it’s a compact SUV.) But more than this, I appreciate that the moment is vastly different and immeasurably rewarding compared to scrolling social media and retrieving text messages.

Despite a few burnt offerings, the roughly four loaves of Challah (or their Challah roll equivalents) make it safely out of my oven, thanks to the generous assistance of the Lev gentlemen awaiting me at home. And the day’s bonus? Sharing some bread with our neighbors and yes, the house smelling incredible and inviting for days.

A contributing writer to the Herald since 2012, Lauren Lev is a direct marketing/ advertising executive who teaches marketing fundamentals as well as advertising and marketing communications courses at the Fashion Institute of Technology and SUNY Old Westbury.

two moms opened a spa. It had one big,

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.

*Incentives, grants, and savings will vary with every project.

Blizzard leaves upwards of 17 inches of snow

were reported.

School districts and libraries across the area closed Monday because of hazardous travel conditions. Late on Monday, after consultations with area school leaders, Blakeman announced that most schools in the county would remain closed on Tuesday, saying, “Putting students, parents and teachers in jeopardy would not be advisable.”

“Allowing additional time will enable plowing operations to continue

and provide families the opportunity to safely clear driveways, sidewalks, and bus stops,” Blakeman added in a news release.

Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency ahead of the storm, enabling state and local agencies to coordinate resources. Despite periods of blizzard conditions overnight on Sunday, however, the South Shore avoided the coastal flooding that often accompanies major winter storms.

For residents, the aftermath was equal parts routine and relief. “It’s a

gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency ahead of the storm.

lot of work, but the neighborhood really comes together after a storm like this,” said Bellmore homeowner Lisa Martinez, who spent Monday morning wanting to get a head start of the shoveling, shoveled her driveway with neighbors.

In Merrick, resident David Figueroa said the storm was disruptive but manageable. “The roads looked rough early on, but the plows were out nonstop,” he said of Monday’s conditions. “By the afternoon you could see things getting back to normal.”

Schools were closed monday and tuesday due to the snowfall that started early monday morning.

News brief

Bellmore-merrick residents saw between 15 to 17 inches of snow.

Mystery readers boost love of reading at Camp Avenue School in North Merrick

Students at Camp Avenue Elementary School in the North Merrick School District were treated to a day of surprises and storytelling on Feb. 10 as mystery readers visited classrooms to celebrate PARP week and encourage a love of reading.

Excitement built throughout the morning as students in grades one through five received clues about the identities of their guest readers. Parents and loved ones waited just outside classroom doors before being revealed, prompting cheers and laughter as children discovered whether their

guesses were correct.

Each reader shared a favorite book with the class, creating an atmosphere that teachers said kept students attentive and eager to participate. The activity was designed to highlight the joy of reading while strengthening the connection between home and school.

The mystery reader visits were one of several activities held during PARP — Pick a Reading Partner — a statewide initiative that promotes daily reading habits and family involvement. Organizers said the program returns each

year to remind students of the importance of reading both in and out of the classroom.

Additional highlights of the week included a visit from children’s author Daryl Cobb, known for his “Pirates” series, as well as themed dress-up days that added to the festive atmosphere.

School officials said the combination of interactive events and community participation helped make PARP week memorable for students while reinforcing literacy as a shared priority.

— Hernesto Galdamez

Kennedy’s Mikedis wins county crown

By NICK MONGIOVI sports@liherald.com

Ever since sophomore Peter Mikedis got to the varsity level as a seventh- grade wrestler at Kennedy High School, he’s continued to get better every season, said coach Brian DeGaetano.

After beating third-seeded Henry Jervis of Manhasset by a pin at the 5:24 mark in the Nassau County Division I 165-pound title match on Feb. 15 at Hofstra University’s David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex, Mikedis punched his ticket to the state tournament for the second season in a row.

“It’s amazing,” said Mikedis, Kennedy’s first county champion since 2013. “It’s like an insane rush of dopamine. My adrenaline went from the bottom to the top.”

Mikedis entered the county tournament as the weight classes’ No. 1 seed. He faced off against Jervis in the Nassau County dual meet playoffs in the quarterfinals, winning 7-1. Though he’s been to states before,

this was his first county title.

“It was an excellent performance,” DeGaetano said. “The kid [Jervis] wrestled him really tough. Peter really wrestled a flawless match. The strategy going in was to get that first takedown, looking for turns and getting on the bottom. Peter got out right away and got back to his feet. He took him down and then put him right through his back.”

Mikedis proved why he earned the top seed by allowing just four points all weekend and scoring 45 points over the course of all four matches. In the second round, he beat Evan Vazquez of Plainedge, 15-0 tech fall. In the quarterfinals, he beat Jericho’s Brad Rosenberg, 20-2 tech fall.

In the semis, Mikedis pinned No. 4-seed Mathew Casey of Bethpage in 2:36, to advance to the county finals for a second consecutive season. A year ago, Mikedis was county runner-up at 152 pounds and won one match at states, but history has shown he’s gotten better each season.

“He’s [Mikedis] one of the best allaround wrestlers I’ve ever had and I’ve been here for 32 years,” DeGaetano said. “He has all the tools to be a state champion.”

Mikedis stands at 40-2 this season and 141-28 overall. DeGaetano believes he can make a run in Albany at the state tournament Feb. 27-28 based on the trajectory of his career, he said.

“I really believe he could beat most guys in the state,” DeGaetano said. “We expect him to place high. He’s taken big steps in his technique and his strength and conditioning. This year, we’re thinking he’s going to place high.”

Said Mikedis: “My goal this time is to go to the state finals.”

In addition to Mikedis, four other Cougars earned All-County (top six.) Junior Hendrick Capo was runnerup to Oceanside’s Chace Morris at 144 pounds. Junior Jared Eisenberg took third at 138, and junior Harlan Chugerman was third at 150. Sophomore Jason Brodack finished sixth at 118.

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Here’s where you can celebrate Purim

By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com

Families in the Bellmore-Merrick area will have more than one opportunity to celebrate Purim this year, as both Merrick Jewish Centre and Congregation Beth Ohr plan festive carnivals on March 1, each offering its own lineup of activities for children and families.

At the Merrick Jewish Centre, organizers say the annual carnival will begin at 10:15 a.m. and will feature a range of family-friendly attractions, including a bounce castle, carnival games with prizes, balloon animals, face painting and raffle baskets filled with donated items and local gift certificates. Snacks such as popcorn and cotton candy will also be available.

Holly Sugarman, a Merrick resident who has helped organize the carnival for about four years, said the celebration is designed to give families a fun and welcoming way to mark the holiday together.

“It brings not just congregation members together, but also the community to celebrate a holiday that is fun for children,” Sugarman said.

One of the event’s key features will be a sensory-friendly hour from 9 to 10 a.m., intended for children with special needs. During that time, organizers will reduce noise and other high-stimulation elements to create a more comfortable environment.

The initiative was introduced last year,

inspired in part by the congregation’s Sulam Hebrew school program for children with special needs and a broader effort among volunteers to make the carnival more inclusive, Sugarman said.

“We really felt like we should be more inclusive and offer this opportunity first for kids who need that quiet space but can still have a ton of fun,” she said. Sugarman, who has lived in Merrick

for more than a decade and serves as a leader in the religious school’s parentteacher organization, said the carnival also holds personal meaning. Her parents organized similar Purim celebrations when she was a child, a tradition she now enjoys continuing for the next generation.

“It’s a time for families to be together and to see the joy on the kids’ faces,” she

said.

At Congregation Beth Ohr in Bellmore, the annual Mel Polay Purim Carnival begins at 10:30 a.m. and continues a long-standing tradition founded by congregation member Evelyn Porlay after her husband, Mel, died over 20 years ago. The event typically features games, booths, vendors and costumes, creating a festive atmosphere for children and adults alike.

“It’s a great thing for the kids and the adults — they dress up, they play games, and it’s really a lot of fun,” said Laura Silver, the congregation’s office administrator.

Silver said the carnival has been a staple during her more than 10 years with the synagogue and remains an important way to bring families together while honoring the legacy behind the event.

For Silver, the holiday itself represents a broader spirit of joy and connection.

“Purim is all about celebration and food and enjoyment and spirit — just having a good time while remembering the history,” she said.

Purim commemorates the biblical story of Queen Esther and the saving of the Jewish people from persecution in ancient Persia and is traditionally celebrated with festive gatherings, costumes and acts of charity. Local organizers say the carnivals reflect those traditions while giving families multiple opportunities to connect with one another in a relaxed setting.

Happy Birthday, Pokémon!

A Pokémon-themed birthday celebration drew young fans and their families to the North Merrick Public Library on Feb. 20, where children enjoyed games, crafts and themed activities inspired by the long-running franchise.

Library staff led participants through a series of interactive stations, including trivia, card-trading opportunities and a scavenger hunt featuring familiar characters. The event was part of the library’s ongoing youth programming aimed at encouraging social

engagement and literacy through popculture themes.

First introduced in 1996 by Japanese game developer Nintendo, the Pokémon franchise began as a pair of Game Boy titles and quickly expanded into an animated television series, trading card game, movies and merchandise. It remains one of the highest-grossing media franchises in the world and continues to attract new generations of fans nearly three decades later.

— Hernesto Galdamez

State highlights workforce training on L.I.

By CHRISTIE LEIGH BABIRAD & CAROLYN JAMES of the Herald

As employers across Long Island struggle to fill open positions, State Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon visited Suffolk County Community College’s Michael J. Grant Campus in Brentwood on Feb. 17 to spotlight workforce training and emphasize child care access as a critical barrier to employment.

“There are many pathways leading to middle-class, family-sustaining jobs right now, and many of them lead through community college programs,” said Edward Bonahue, president of Suffolk County Community College. “An apprenticeship, an industry-recognized certification or license or a two-year degree. Eventually, many of them can also lead to bachelor’s degrees as well, and I appreciate Commissioner Reardon helping to shine a light on these opportunities.”

Reardon toured the college’s Advanced Manufacturing Training Center, met with students and educators and highlighted several workforce development and child care initiatives included in Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposed state budget.

Long Island faces ongoing shortages in skilled trades like electrical work, heating and air conditioning, plumbing and advanced manufacturing. Nassau and Suffolk community colleges offer workforce training in those areas, as well as in

health care. And the Long Island Educational Opportunity Center, sponsored by SUNY Farmingdale, offers regional residents tuition-free vocational training.

Officials said the programs help create a pipeline of locally trained workers who can remain in their communities.

Will Testa, owner of Will Testa Remodeling Inc., in Copiague, noted the shortage of workers. “There are not enough people coming in to the workforce who are trained properly,” he said. “The problem is, everyone forces their kids to go to college, which may be good for some, but

it’s not good for everyone, and trade schools are important — it’s the infrastructure of our society.”

What’s important, Testa added, is that this training is designed hard in hand with local employers.

While workforce-training programs are expanding, Reardon said, employment growth also depends on addressing Long Island’s child care shortage.

Reardon, who also co-chairs the state’s Child Care Task Force, said that increasing access to affordable care is essential to strengthening the labor force. The task

force, relaunched in 2023, is developing strategies aimed at universal, high-quality, affordable child care statewide.

“The governor has spoken a lot about this issue, and made it clear that she wants every New Yorker to be able to work at their fullest capacity and desire,” she said. “And that means that we have a responsibility to help them have accessible, affordable child care to do that.”

Child care costs on Long Island are among the highest in the country, second only to Massachusetts. Families typically spend between $15,000 and $24,000 annually per child for full-time, center-based care, according to the Health and Welfare Council of Long Island.

“When you couple that with the high costs of everything else — housing, food, utilities — child care is a tremendous stress on families,” Reardon noted.

Prachi Shah, owner of Kiddie Academy, in Hicksville, said that care providers also face financial pressures. “We are grateful for Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon’s visit to the Brentwood Campus and her attention to matters affecting our industry,” Shah said.

The Kiddie Academy of Hicksville and Bethpage are independently owned and operated franchise locations that serve 350 children and employ 75 early-childhood educators. “It is essential to keep this discussion going,” Shah said, “and highlight ways the state can better support providers on Long Island.”

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Jean-Pierre encourages civic engagement

By ABBY GIBSON & KUMBA JAGNE Interns

Hempstead native Karine Jean-Pierre, the former press secretary in President Joe Biden’s administration, was the latest guest in Hofstra University’s “Signature Speaker” series.

Jean-Pierre, who served in the White House from May 2022 to January 2025, made history as the first Black and first openly LGBTQ person to be press secretary.

She is a graduate of Kellenberg High, in Uniondale, and Columbia University, and her involvement with Hempstead has not diminished: She gave Hempstead High School’s commencement speech in 2022, and was given the keys to the village by Mayor Waylyn Hobbs Jr. in 2024.

“This is very much home for me,” Jean-Pierre said on Feb. 12. “This is not unfamiliar ground.”

Sister members of her honorary sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Hofstra students, community members and students from 18 area high schools attended the event.

Hempstead High senior Zeydi Guerra, 17, said that Jean-Pierre’s speech left her with more motivation to succeed in her own career. “She’s a Hempstead native,” Guerra said. “I feel like if she can make it, I can definitely do something as well.”

Speaking directly to the high school students, JeanPierre encouraged them to be curious, ambitious and passionate. A common thread through her speech, a panel discussion and an interview with student media was urging people to become involved in politics, even though the options may be imperfect.

“Your civic identity doesn’t begin at 18 — it begins when you start paying attention,” she said. “When you

Karine Jean-Pierre, a Hempstead native and former White House press secretary, spoke as part of Hofstra University’s Signature Speaker series.

notice what feels fair and what doesn’t, who gets heard and who has to jump higher just to be seen.”

Eleanor McKay, of Hempstead, president of the Long Island Cross County Chapter of the National Council of Negro Women, said she attended because she recognizes the importance of Jean-Pierre being a Black woman who held a high-profile government position.

“She talked about seeing someone touch President

Obama’s hair, a young [Black] boy, and realize that from the texture he was here and how real it is that he is just like us,” McKay said. “Sometimes it’s not really appreciated, or we don’t understand the magnitude of representation. It impacts us and the next generation.”

Hofstra University President Susan Poser introduced Camryn Bowden, a senior majoring in political science and journalism, who in turn introduced JeanPierre. Poser spoke so glowingly of Bowden’s resumé that Jean-Pierre said she would be working for Bowden one day.

“I had the opportunity to get her to sign my copy of her book ‘Independent,’” Bowden said. “She wrote in the book, ‘I’ll be watching you on the news someday.’ It was, again, just a surreal experience to hear someone who held such a high position of power in the White House say such sweet things.”

Jean-Pierre’s first book was “Moving Forward: A Story of Hope, Hard Work, and the Promise of America.” Her most recent, published last October, is “Independent: A Look Inside a Broken White House, Outside the Party Lines.”

She empathized with young people’s feelings of being disconnected from the two-party system. “The two-party system often feels rigid, outdated and unresponsive,” she said. “It forces false choices and limits imagination. Questioning that system is not a failure of citizenship.”

She expressed disdain for the current administration, saying, “This too shall pass.”

“We have to work as a people to make sure that there is people power in this time, that our voices are heard, that we hold powerful people accountable,” Jean-Pierre said. “We are celebrating 250 years of this country, and that is a young democracy. If we don’t fight for it every day, we will lose it.”

History comes alive at Merrick Library

By Rei Wolfsohn Correspondent

Diane M. Schwindt doesn’t drink alcohol and has never committed treason — but that didn’t stop her from teaching a lively lesson on “Taverns & Treason” as part of the Long Live Long Island series at the Merrick Library.

Schwindt, director of the Longwood Estate Manor and a historic cook at the Ketcham Inn, explained that many modern words and customs trace back to colonial-era taverns. Her path to becoming a Revolutionary-era interpreter, she said, was far from linear.

“Taverns were a place of political statements,” Schwindt said. “They would advertise to British soldiers so the barkeep could listen.”

She described how voting often took place in taverns using white and black marble balls for secrecy — giving rise to the term “blackballed.” Punch bowls sometimes revealed images or messages at the bottom once emptied, a practice she linked to the origin of the word “punchline.”

During the Revolutionary War, taverns functioned as community hubs where ballots were cast, mail was collected and early Masonic groups gathered.

“For this moment in time, taverns were such an important part of the Revolution,” Schwindt said. “It was the conduit of people talking to other people, information being transferred.”

Patrons also gathered to sing songs such as Yankee Doodle, originally a British tune meant to mock colonists but later reclaimed. Thick-bottomed “firing glasses” were used so drinkware would not shatter when banged on tables in unison.

Schwindt joked that she wasn’t surprised by the large number of men in attendance. “I don’t think I’ve seen so many men at one of my programs,” she said.

Her interest in the period deepened after meeting culinary historian Alice S. Ross, marking a shift from her earlier career teaching special education and horticulture. Despite the change, she said, the educator in her remains.

“I think the fascination for me is untangling whatever it is,” Schwindt said. “The next part is I get to share it. Because if I can’t share it, it just stays up there, and my head’s gonna explode.”

Audience members said they were especially intrigued by the culinary history.

“I’m interested to know that even today there are people interested in acquiring recipes that were done during George Washington’s time,” said Emma Crocenzi. “I never thought that after all these years you could actually follow these recipes.”

Schwindt said her curiosity about everyday life began in childhood, when family trips always included a lesson. She gravitated toward what happened behind the scenes — in kitchens and workrooms — rather than just the public narrative.

“People don’t talk about that part of

history, and that’s what I want to bring to them,” she said. “I want to bring the smells, what they were eating, how the soap was made.”

Taverns were typically spaced seven to 15 miles apart and served common meats such as mutton and pork. Shot glasses, she noted, were kept beside diners so they could discard buckshot found in their food. The farther east one traveled on Long Island, the simpler the fare became.

Sundays were reserved for Sabbath observance, meaning taverns were closed to locals, though travelers staying

overnight — often two or three to a bed — could still be served.

Audience member Connie Ventimiglia said she was grateful for modern hygiene. “Germs, sharing everything, that was kind of bad,” she said. “And the lack of cleanliness.”

For others, the talk underscored the relevance of studying history.

“I think the most important thing is that history sort of bridges times rather than stays in a particular time,” said attendee Sandy White. “We have a lot to learn about our past that helps us appreciate how we live today.”

Nominate a student under 18 for the Sustainability Champion Award to recognize their efforts in driving sustainable change.

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STEPPING OUT

Rhythms, rituals and revelry

Carnival is back at Long Island Children’s Museum

By Abbey Salvemini

Let the good times roll when the museum opens its doors to Carnival on Saturday.

As a globally cherished cultural celebration, Carnival honors the unique traditions and diverse identities of the Caribbean and Latin American cultures it touches. Locally, Long Island Children’s Museum transforms into a vibrant street festival for its second annual Carnival — a vibrant showcase of creativity and self-expression — through a blend of music, dance, crafts and interactive programming.

Supported by New York State Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, the event highlights the museum’s commitment to creating shared cultural experiences for Long Island families.

“As a woman of Caribbean descent, I am proud to sponsor this event at the Long Island Children’s Museum, an institution that plays a vital role in educating and inspiring our young people,” Solages says. “Events like this remind us, and teach the next generation, that diversity is our strength and that honoring our roots can be both joyful and meaningful.”

American Chamber Ensemble in concert

Hofstra University’s renowned ensemble-in-residence celebrates the legacies of founding clarinetist Naomi Drucker and longtime violist Lois Martin at its upcoming concert. The program — a diverse selection of works by Mendelssohn, Hurlstone, Beach, Dimmler, and Steven Gerber — honors both who were instrumental in shaping ACE’s storied history. In a special tribute to Martin, the ensemble performs Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 6, a masterpiece known for its prominent viola scoring. Drucker, a revered educator and co-founder, is remembered with David Holsinger’s On a Hymnsong of Philip Bliss. In a testament to her impact, f Drucker’s former students, colleagues, and friends join the ensemble on stage for this moving tribute

• Saturday, Feb. 28, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

• Admission: $18, $16 65+

• View the LICM events calendar at licm.org for additional information or call (516) 224-5800

• 11 Davis Ave., Garden City

While the iconic celebrations in Rio de Janeiro and Portau-Prince often steal the spotlight, the museum’s festival dives deeper into the tapestry of the region — from the energetic parades of Barranquilla to the historic traditions of Oruro and Montevideo. They are expressions of heritage and identity, artistic creativity and community spirit that define the joy of marking the changing seasons and the region’s rich tapestry.

Visitors will get a taste of Carnival’s jubilant spirit of throughout the day’s programming.

“We were looking for a festival that embodies the diversity of Long Island,” Aimee Terzulli, the museum’s vice president of program and visitor experience shares. “These cultural festivals are invitations to the community.”

Throughout the day, families can expect a lively mix of music, movement and creative experiences, set against the backdrop of upbeat Caribbean rhythms that create a lively, tropical atmosphere.

The Brazilian Samba Novo troupe, a returning favorite, gets everyone moving to the sounds of Samba and salsa music. The lively dancers and energetic drummers once again entertain the crowd and teach kids some of the dance steps, adding an interactive element to their entertainment. Those towering “Jumbie” stilt walkers, rooted as a symbol of spirit guardians, are also back, bring the magic to life as an iconic part of the Carnival celebration.

“The performances resemble what Carnival would really be like,” Terzulli enthuses.

No Carnival is complete without a massive parade to ring in the holiday. Here everyone gets into the parade spirit during what she describes as “the fantastic float parade.”

Kids can help decorate miniature floats before pulling them through the parade, accompanied by dancers and stilt walkers. And, of course, there’s a Carnival King and Queen involved — chosen from

and celebrate

those in the “crowd” to reinforce the event’s playful, inclusive spirit.

Little faces, big imaginations! From butterflies to bold designs, creativity takes center stage as kids are transformed into works of art.

The museum’s animal ‘residents” even join in the fun, helping families understand how wildlife has historically inspired Carnival imagery and costume design. New craft offerings this year include maraca-making, ribbon stick design and face painting.

However, the day isn’t just about play — it’s about perspective.

“We want everyone to find an entry point,” Terzulli says.

While the event is undeniably festive, education remains a core focus. Museum staff and performers involve conversations about Carnival’s history and meaning throughout the day, helping visitors understand its cultural roots while enjoying it all. Through partnerships with authentic cultural contributors, the museum ensures the history of the experience remains front and center.

“We make sure that when they are making the crafts, there is an exchange of why they are making it,” Turzelli adds.

Of course, no festival is complete without flavor. Families can pause for a “pit stop” to sample sweet and savory treats inspired by various Latin American and Caribbean nations, providing a literal taste of the regions being celebrated.

At its heart, the aim is for families to leave with more than just memories of a fun day. Carnival also reflects the museum’s broader mission of serving as a community gathering place.

“I hope they walk away with a sense of joy about the holiday. I think it’s a beautiful, multicultural event,” Terzulli adds. “We want LICM to be a space where people come to learn about each other.”

Sunday, March 1, 3 p.m. $20, $15 seniors 65+ or students with ID; available at the door. Hofstra University, Monroe Lecture Center, California Ave., Hempstead. For information or reservations, call (631) 242-5684 or (516) 586-3433.

“Don’t stop believin’…

Voyage rocks on with another dynamic tribute to Journey. The popular band takes everyone back to the ‘80s when Journey’s timeless music ruled the airwaves. Hailed by fans and critics alike, the band performs the music with chilling accuracy. Voyage is celebrated for their uncanny ability to recreate the legendary sound, energy and passion of one of rock’s greatest bands. With their blistering guitar solos, lush keyboard arrangements, electrifying stage presence, and stunning harmonies, the band has earned a reputation as the ultimate homage to Journey’s timeless music. Fronted by vocalist Pedro Espada, whose range and tone is acclaimed as rivaling the iconic Steve Perry, he’s backed by a lineup of world-class musicians — Robby Hoffman, Greg Smith, Lance Millard, and Dana Spellman — who bring every note to life with precision and heart. Voyage doesn’t just perform Journey’s greatest hits — they transport audiences back to the height of arena rock glory.

Friday, Feb. 27, 8 p.m. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.

Your Neighborhood CALENDAR

Feb 27

Snowman and Cocoa fun

Kids are invited to make snowman crafts and enjoy a hot cocoa at Merrick Library.

• Where: 2279 Merrick Ave.

• Time: 10:30 a.m.-11:15 a.m.

• Contact: merricklibrary.org

Sõ Percussion in concert

The Grammy-winning percussionists return to the Adelphi University Performing Arts Center. For 25 years and counting, the quartet has redefined chamber music for the 21st century through an “exhilarating blend of precision and anarchy, rigor and bedlam” (The New Yorker). Their commitment to the creation and amplification of new work have made them a trusted partner for composers, allowing the writing of music that expands the style and capacity of brilliant voices of our time.

• Where: Adelphi University Performing Arts Center, 1 South Ave., Garden City

• Time: 7 p.m.

• Contact: adelphi.edu/pac or 9516) 877-4000

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: 10:15 a.m. and noon; also March 3-5

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

Read to a dog

Feb

28

Kids ages 4-12 can practice reading skills with your dog at Bellmore Memorial Library.

• Where: 2288 Bedford Ave.

• Time: 10-11 a.m.

• Contact: bellmorelibrary.org

Jessie’s Girl

mar

mar 6

‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ Molloy University’s CAP21 Musical Theatre students tackle Shakespeare. The bard’s beloved comedy is a magical tale that explores the irrationality of love, desire, friendship, jealousy and magic. When the mortal worlds of four young lovers and a bungling group of amateur actors collide with a feuding fairy kingdom in a mystical forest on a midsummer eve, romantic misadventures ensue, causing chaos that only a bit of fairy magic can sort out.

• Where: Madison Theatre, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre

• Time: 8 p.m.; also March 7, 2 and 8 p.m.; March 8, 3 p.m.

• Contact: madisontheatreny.org or (516) 323-4444

Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus

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

• Time: 8 p.m.

Drag out that neon once again and give your hair its best ‘80s ‘do. Those crazy days are back — as only Jessie’s Girl can pull off, on the Paramount stage. The band of NYC’s top rock/pop musicians and singers gets everyone into that “Back To The Eighties” vibe with the latest edition of their popular concert experience. With a lineup including four pop-rock vocalists dressing and performing as 80s icons, backed by a dynamic band, this is the definitive ‘80s experience. Jessie’s Girl’s primary line-up includes a team of NYC’s top rock and pop vocalists: Jenna O’Gara, Jerome Bell-Bastien, and Mark Rinzel. They are backed by one of the tightest bands in the city comprised of 20+ year veterans of the NYC music scene: Eric Presti on guitar, Drew Mortali on bass, Michael Maenza on drums, and Karlee Bloom on Keys and the Keytar. Each with dozens of credits performing with authentic ‘80s icons who made the music famous to begin with! From the synth-pop glitz of the early MTV era to the power ballads of stadium rock, the band captures the specific magic that defined a generation. Throw on top of that: a load of super-fun choreography, audience participation, props, costumes bubbles, and confetti — and you have a party that audiences don’t want to leave. Their motto: There’s no decade like the Eighties and no party like Back To The Eighties with Jessie’s Girl. Whether you lived through the ‘80s the first time or are just a fan of the timeless anthems, you’ll want to join in the fun.l.

• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com

mar

1Congregation

Beth Ohr Mel Polay Purim Carnival

Beth Ohr Mel Polay welcomes to enjoy games, prizes, snacks, tattoos, bagels with a schmear and more at the annual Purim Carnival.

• Where: CBO Merrick Annex, 2655 Clubhouse Road, Merrick

• Time: 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

• Contact: (516) 781-3072

Purim Carnival

Join the Merrick Jewish Centre for its annual Purim Carnival.

• Where: Merrick Jewish Centre, 225 Fox Blvd., Merrick

• Time: 10:15 a.m.-1:15 p.m.

• Contact: (516) 379-8650

Art Perspectives

Nassau County Museum of Art welcomes acclaimed artist Adam Straus for engaging conversation with noted art critic-writerfilmmaker Amei Wallach. Together, Straus and Wallach discuss his artistic process, share insights from his current and past work, and present images that illuminate the evolution of his practice. Their dialogue offers a unique window into the artist’s creative journey and the broader

role of art in reflecting and responding to our contemporary world. $20, $15 seniors, $10 students (members free). Limited seating, register in advance.

• Where: 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor

• Time: 3 p.m.

• Contact: nassaumuseum.org or (516) 484-9337

Town E-Cycle Program

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

• Where: 2600 Newbridge Road, Bellmore

• Time: 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

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

Metropolitan Klezmer

Long Island Children’s Museum welcomes families to dress up and celebrate Purim — costumes encouraged and fun guaranteed! Enjoy a performance by Metropolitan Klezmer on the museum stage. The band brings

eclectic exuberance to Yiddish musical genres from all over the map. Performing vibrant versions of lesser-known gems from wedding dance, trance, folk, swing and tango styles, as well as soundtrack material from vintage Yiddish films, they re-invent tradition with both irreverence and respect. Sing and dance along with us at this interactive family concert! Also make a grogger, the traditional noisemaker used during the telling of the Purim story at a drop-in program, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

$5 with museum admission ($4 members), $10 theater only

• Where: 11 Davis. Ave., Garden City

• Time: 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

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

mar

In-person Zumba

5

Get in shape at North Bellmore Library at in-person Zumba with Desiree Durand. $43.75. Registration required.

• Where: 1551 Newbridge Road

• Time: 10-11 a.m., also March 12 and March 26, April 2, April 9, April 16, April 23

• Contact: northbellmorelibrary. org

The all-new circus tour is a nonstop celebration of jaw-dropping acts, world-class performances and memory-making moments. Dance, cheer and celebrate from your seat.

• Where: 2400 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont

• Time: Various, through March 8

• Contact: ticketmaster.com or ringling.com/circus

7

St. Raphael Parish Saint Patrick’s Day Celebration

St. Raphael Parish hosts a Saint Patrick’s Day celebration. Ticket includes dinner, dessert, beer and wine, and entertainment.

• Where: 2341 Washington Ave., Bellmore

• Time: 7 to 11 p.m.

• Contact: Learn more at StRaphaelParish.org mar

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.

Town of Hempstead cracks down on backyard breeders

By ABBEY SALVEMINI asalvemini@liherald.com

Sweeping new legislation aimed at cracking down on unlicensed backyard breeders was introduced at the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter in Wantagh as Supervisor John Ferretti said the goal is simple: “protect animals and prevent suffering before it starts.”

Ferretti outlined a proposed local law that would require all dog and cat litters born in the town to be registered within 30 days. Pet owners would need to report the breed or species, the name of the veterinarian who treated the animals and where they are being housed.

The measure is largely complaint-driven; allowing residents to report suspected illegal breeding to the town, which would then dispatch animal control.

Tthe proposed legislation and its focus on preventing overpopulation before it reaches local shelters.

“Cracking down on what’s best for the community and the animals is something we are fully in support of,” Behrens added.

Under the proposal, violations would start at $250 and increase to $500 for repeat offenders. However, fines could be dismissed if the animals are sterilized or surrendered to a licensed shelter within 16 weeks. Ferretti stressed that the legislation is about accountability — not revenue.

his legislation is about action, it’s not about money.

“We need the community to help us out and report people who are breeding or selling out of their backyards,” he said. “We will send an animal control officer or a building department inspector out to investigate.”

JohN FErrETTI Town supervisor

Town officials say unregulated breeding operations often lead to overpopulation, inbreeding and unsafe living conditions. Puppies and kittens are frequently separated from their mothers too early, resulting in long-term health and behavioral issues. Many end up sick, abandoned or surrendered to shelters when they are no longer considered profitable.

“If we didn’t have backyard breeding, we probably wouldn’t have as many animals in any shelter around the country as we do daily,” said Animal Shelter Director Ashley Behrens, voicing her support for

“This legislation is about action, it’s not about money,” he said. “We’re not here to collect a penny. We want what’s best for the animals.”

Ferretti pointed to a recent case involving a golden retriever that arrived at the shelter still lactating after having given birth. He said the dog appeared to have been abandoned once she was no longer useful for breeding. The retriever was quickly adopted, but the case underscored the broader issue.

“When their owners are done with them, they throw them in the streets,” Behrens said. “We see this day in and day out.”

Ferretti emphasized that while he is proud that the town’s animal shelter operates a no-kill facility with long-term care management, prevention is key.

Town officials did not say when the new regulations would be discussed at a town board meeting.

Have an opinion on the town’s new animaloriented laws? Send letter to jbessen@liherald.com.

News brief

Bus transportation deadlines for N. Bellmore

The North Bellmore Union Free School District is reminding families of transportation eligibility requirements and application deadlines for the upcoming school year.

The district provides bus transportation for resident students in kindergarten through third grade who live more than a half mile and up to 15 miles from their assigned schools. Students in grades four through six are eligible if they live more than one mile and up to 15 miles from their schools. Transportation to a day care provider within the district may be available in certain circumstances.

Parents and guardians with questions are encouraged to contact the district’s Business Office or Transportation Department before April 1, 2026, at 516-992-3000, ext. 3017.

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU. WILMINGTON

DRUCKMAN LAW GROUP PLLC

To be eligible, parents or guardians must register with the district and submit a written request for transportation by April 1 each year. The district said the deadline allows officials to budget funds for transportation services in September.

A transportation application for nonpublic school students is available on the district’s website at northbellmoreschools.org. Requests should be sent to the Business Office/Transportation Department at 2616 Martin Ave., Bellmore, NY 11710.

Applications for students entering middle school in grades seven and eight or high school in grades nine through 12 are available through the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District website or by calling 516-992-1024.

SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, D/B/A CHRISTIANA TRUST, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE ON BEHALF OF CSMC TRUST 2015-2, Plaintiff -against- WAFA ABBOUD, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated October 25, 2018, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court “Rain or Shine” located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on Tuesday, March 16, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. premises ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York, known and designated as Section 63 Block 146 Lot 34. Said premises known as 2739 MERRICK AVENUE, MERRICK, NY 11566

Approximate amount of lien $1,216,154.12 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 003460/2017.

LAWRENCE FARBMAN, ESQ., Referee

Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 242 Drexel Avenue, Westbury, NY 11590 For sale information, please visit www.Auction.com or call (800) 280 2832. DLG# 37135 {* Merrick Life*} 158273

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON F/K/A THE BANK OF NEW YORK AS SUCCESSOR TO JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NOT INDIVIDUALLY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR THE HOLDERS OF THE BEAR STEARNS ALT-A TRUST 2004-10, MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2004-10, Plaintiff, Against LUIS A. QUIJANO, et al, Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 03/22/2023, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 on 3/26/2026 at 2:00PM, premises known as 174 Babylon Turnpike, Merrick, New York 11566, and described as follows: ALL that certain plot

piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in Merrick, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York. Section 55 Block 166 Lot 158

The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $1,154,373.34 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 005630/2015 If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the then Court Appointed Referee will cancel the Foreclosure Auction. This Auction will be held rain or shine.

Ronald J. Ferraro, Esq., Referee. MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC, 10 Midland Avenue, Suite 205, Port Chester, NY 10573

Dated: 1/20/2026 File Number: 17-300295 CA 158468

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE TO PARENTS OF NON-PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District parents are reminded that New York State Law requires a written transportation request annually by April 1st

from parents or guardians of students (Grades 7-12) who plan to attend private or parochial schools. Requests must be submitted prior to April 1, 2026 for the school year beginning September 2026. Transportation application forms for the 2026-2027 school year are available at the Brookside School Security Desk, located at 1260 Meadowbrook Road, North Merrick, New York 11566 or at the District website under District/Transportation: www.bellmoremerrick.k12.ny.us All students requesting non-public school transportation who did not previously attend one of our component elementary districts: Bellmore, Merrick, North Bellmore or North Merrick Union Free School Districts or one of the Bellmore Merrick Central High School District’s (BMCHSD) schools, must register with the BMCHSD. On Line Registration information can be found at https://www.bellmoremerrick.k12.ny.us/regis tration 158592

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

EMPLOYMENT

Help Wanted

CIRCULATION ASSOCIATE

Full Time/Part Time

Richner Communications, publisher of Herald community newspapers has an excellent opportunity for a FT/PT Customer Service Clerk in our busy Circulation Department. Basic customer service and administrative responsibilities include: heavy computer work, answering phones, making phone calls, entering orders, faxing, filing, etc. STRONG knowledge of EXCEL a must! Knowledge of DATABASE maintenance or postal regulations a big plus. Qualified Candidates must be computer literate, able to multi-task, dependable, reliable, organized, energetic, detail oriented and able to work well under deadlines. Salary Range is $17 per hour to $20 per hour. For consideration, please send resume & salary requirements to: circulationassociate@liherald.com

DRIVERS WANTED

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

DRIVING INSTRUCTOR

Company Car/ Bonuses. Clean Driving Record Required, Will Train. Retirees Welcome!

$22 - $27/ Hour

Bell Auto School

516-365-5778

Email: info@bellautoschool.com

EDITOR/REPORTER

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

MULTI MEDIA ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT

Inside Sales 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

OUTSIDE SALES

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. Salary Ranges from $20 per hour to $30 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com

RECEPTIONIST F/T

Valley Stream Subaru Monday-Friday, 9AM-5PM Answer Phones, Light Clerical $17.00/Hour, Benefits, 401K Call Therese 516-825-8700

Homes

To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5 •

A Place to Call Home

What makes a basement a basement?‘finished’

Q. I have a basement with a bathroom and nothing else except a washer and dryer, back to back, with the sink and toilet on the other side of the wall. Everything else is unfinished, and I bought it this way. I was recently told that I need to have a permit for a finished basement or I have to remove the bathroom. I don’t want either of those options, but I’m being told I will be issued a violation, because the building department sent me a notice about this. I consulted an architect, who started to explain all the rules, but I need a second opinion. What should I do if I just want the bathroom and don’t want to finish everything else?

A. Sorry to disappoint you, but your building department has interpreted that your bathroom in a basement is leading to habitable use, meaning that the basement is more than just a place to store boxes and other household items. The same is true of basements that have a fireplace or a mattress-and-night-table setup. Even occasional use by a houseguest puts you in the category of a “finished” basement.

What the consultant architect may have told you is that you’ll either have to remove the bathroom, with a permit for the demolition (since your building department knows about the condition) and a separate plumbing permit to have the capping of pipes inspected, or you’ll need a lot of other items, at greater expense. Your spaces will need to meet the ceiling height requirement of 80 inches from floor to finished ceiling, or anything constricting someone from walking around, such as a steam pipe or built soffit. If you don’t have 80 inches (6 feet 8 inches), then the rest of what you do will also be important to evaluate, since your plans and application paperwork will be on hold until the requirement is appealed through a separate codeappeal process, and more paperwork will need to be submitted to the state for a code compliance variance. This means you will have to request to vary or be allowed an exception after evaluation by a review board at the state level.

Either way, a finished basement will require a second means to escape in an emergency. This can be accomplished with a larger window, with an opening no higher than 44 inches from the floor and at least 5.7 square feet of clear opening, a minimum of 24 inches in height and 20 inches in width. A window that is only 20 inches by 24 inches would not meet the requirement, however. Those are just minimums for each dimension.

The escape well has to be a minimum of 9 square feet of outside floor area, and must at least have a ladder for climbing up and away. You could also have a door and stairwell, with proper drainage, at even greater expense. There’s more, so wait until next week.

are encouraged to send questions to

with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.

Handyman

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Plumbing

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Telephone Services

CONSUMER CELLULAR - the same reliable, nationwide coverage as the largest carriers. No long-term contract, no hidden fees and activation is free. All plans feature unlimited talk and text, starting at just $20/month. For more information, call 1-844-919-1682

Satellite/TV Equipment

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OpiniOns Stephen Miller’s politics of sabotage

Every administration has its ideologues. Every president has advisers who translate impulse into policy. But once in a while, a single figure emerges whose real work is not governance but sabotage — the deliberate narrowing of civic life.

In Donald Trump’s White House, that figure is Stephen Miller.

Miller is often described as the architect of Trump’s immigration agenda.

That may be true, but it’s incomplete. Immigration is simply the most visible stage on which Miller operates. The deeper project is broader and more corrosive: a politics designed to make Americans afraid — not only of immigrants, but of one another, and of acting freely in public life.

Miller’s real architecture isn’t just about who gets in. It’s about what kind of country we become.

The through-line is intimidation. The point isn’t merely enforcement but atmosphere: to show that the state can reach into your life suddenly, harshly,

without apology. To make people think twice before speaking, gathering, helping or dissenting. To shrink civic space until citizenship itself begins to feel conditional. In such a climate, obedience becomes the safest form of participation, and democracy begins to feel like a risk.

That’s why Miller matters. He isn’t simply a policy adviser. He is both symptom and accelerant — a product of a political sickness and one of its most effective carriers. The sickness is the belief that democracy is too messy, pluralism too dangerous, compassion too soft. Miller gives that belief bureaucratic form.

idone profound damage. And once that atmosphere is established, the most vulnerable are always the first to suffer the worst of it.

n a Millershaped America, protest would be treated as menace.

Miller’s defenders characterize him as “tough.” But toughness isn’t the same as callousness. A serious country can enforce laws without turning the machinery of government into an engine of humiliation. Miller’s politics depend on a story: that America is perpetually under siege, that outsiders are threats, that pluralism is weakness, that empathy is naïveté.

tions would be staffed by loyalty, not expertise; protest would be treated as menace; law would be less a shield than a club; and citizenship would be a conditional permit, not a shared inheritance. It’s tempting, and comforting, to say, “The Constitution will save us.” It won’t. Constitutions don’t rescue republics by themselves. They are frameworks, not force fields. They depend on officials who honor them, courts that enforce them, legislators who defend their authority, and citizens who refuse to be intimidated into silence.

It’s not a secret that his fingerprints are on some of the harshest immigration measures of the last decade, including family separation at the southern border — a policy widely condemned because it treats children not as human beings, but as instruments of deterrence. Whatever you believe about border control, using suffering as a message is a show of cruelty, not strength. But the deeper lesson is about power. A government that can make ordinary people afraid — afraid to speak, gather, help or dissent — has already

Civil rights organizations have raised alarms for years about Miller’s proximity to white nationalist rhetoric. The Southern Poverty Law Center took the extraordinary step of listing him in its extremist files. That is not a marginal controversy; it goes to the moral and ideological foundations of the policies he designs. Whether you accept every charge or not, the pattern is difficult to miss: Miller’s governing worldview is built on suspicion — of difference, of openness, of the very idea of a shared civic “we.”

In a Miller-shaped America, the safest posture would be silence; institu-

The danger of Stephen Miller’s politics is that they treat laws not as a restraint but as an instrument — something to stretch, weaponize and exhaust until rights feel theoretical and the public stops believing that resistance matters.

So the question isn’t whether the Constitution can save us. The question is whether Americans will still insist on the constitutional order itself: limits on power, equal citizenship, lawful process, and a public life in which fear isn’t the organizing principle.

Miller’s project runs in the other direction. And if it succeeds, no piece of parchment will protect us.

Michael Blitz is professor emeritus of interdisciplinary studies at the City University of New York’s John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

The challenge of celebrating Black History Month

On Feb. 5, not long after Black History Month began, President Trump’s Truth Social account posted a video depicting former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama as apes. In response to criticism from Republicans, the video was removed the next day, but with no apology from the president.

That’s the immediate context in which Black History Month takes place, but it’s been an entire year since the last celebration of this month, during which the Trump administration has advanced white supremacy and moved aggressively to undermine America’s longstanding commitment to diversity.

The administration’s support for white supremacy isn’t new. In November 2019, in Trump’s first term, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights called for the firing of Trump adviser Stephen Miller, stating, “Stephen Miller represents white supremacy, violent extremism, and hate — all ideologies that are antithetical to

the fundamental values that guide our democracy. Allowing him to remain a White House advisor is a betrayal of our national ideals of justice, inclusion, and fairness.”

Yet in the second Trump administration, Miller has even more power. As Ashley Parker, of the Atlantic, told NPR recently, “He’s incredibly powerful. Steve Bannon and other people jokingly call him the prime minister.”

Miller is perhaps best known, as NPR reports, as “a chief architect of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.”

The Trump government has undermined our country’s commitment to diversity.

That crackdown has generated intense public opposition due to the killings in Minneapolis of two American citizens with no criminal records by ICE officers. Because ICE is part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, it ironically shares the department’s mission to “safeguard the American people.” That irony is not lost on Americans, and the public response to those two deaths has echoed the outcry after the 2020 killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers.

The irony of the administration continues, as the White House acts to ensure that America’s schools instill, in the words of Executive Order 14190, “a

patriotic admiration for our incredible Nation and the values for which we stand” — while detaining children through ICE crackdowns at accelerating rates. As MS NOW reports, “Recent independent analysis by the Marshall Project shows that the number of children held by Immigration and Customs Enforcement has skyrocketed in Trump’s second term — from an average of about 25 children detained per day during the final 16 months of Biden’s presidency to about 170 children per day under Trump.” On some days, the analysis found, “ICE held 400 children or more.”

What values, exactly, are those detained children learning at the hands of the administration? What values are all children learning as they witness detentions of other children, day care workers and young parents? These are actions of cruelty, not respect for human life and liberty. They are acts of lawlessness, not patriotism.

Now the administration proposes to change the way we vote in America. As The New York Times reports, “President Trump has repeatedly suggested that he wants the Republican-led federal government to ‘nationalize,’ or ‘take over,’

the running of elections.” His allies in Congress are simultaneously advancing legislation — the Make Elections Great Again, or MEGA, Act — that would make voting more difficult. These proposals completely ignore the fact that elections in the United States are free and fair.

As the Brennan Center for Justice writes, “In 2025, a new threat to free and fair elections emerged: the federal government. Since day one of his second term, the Trump administration has attempted to rewrite election rules to burden voters and usurp control of election systems, targeted and threatened election officials and others who keep elections free and fair, supported people who undermine election administration, and retreated from the federal government’s role of protecting voters and the electoral process.”

Nationalizing state elections is blatantly unconstitutional, and the legislative actions would make voting more difficult. That is exactly what this White House and its allies want to achieve.

As Black History Month continues, and in the months and years ahead, ERASE Racism will be championing inclusiveness, fairness and justice for all.

Elaine Gross is founder and president emerita of ERASE Racism, a regional civil rights organization based on Long Island.

opinions Another baseball season full of hope

The arrival of spring training, and the anticipation of another baseball season, brings back great memories. My earliest baseball memories date back to the early 1950s and the Brooklyn Dodgers, the famed “Boys of Summer,” in what is now regarded as the sport’s Golden Age. Baseball was the unquestioned national pastime, and New York’s Yankees, Dodgers and Giants were the dominant teams. From 1947 to 1956, the Yankees won eight league pennants, the Dodgers six and the Giants two.

For nine of those 10 seasons, at least one World Series teams was from New York, and for eight years, both teams were. That was a true monopoly of excellence.

The Dodgers teams of my youth included such Hall of Famer players as Jackie Robinson, Pee Wee Reese, Roy Campanella, Duke Snider and Gil Hodges. There was nothing better than sitting in the stands at Ebbets Field, watching these stars excel. (Tickets for bleacher seats cost 75 cents!) As mighty as the

Dodgers were, however, the Yankees, led by legendary stars like Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra and Whitey Ford, prevailed in five of the teams’ six World Series encounters.

And then, in 1957, Dodgers owner Walter O’Malley announced the unthinkable: He would move the Dodgers from Brooklyn to Los Angeles the following year, and the Giants would go to San Francisco. My childhood had come to a crashing halt. National League baseball would be gone from New York.

JMy final goodbye to the Dodgers would come on Sept. 22, 1957, when I went to their final home day game at Ebbets Field. Brooklyn beat the Phillies, 7-3, and Duke Snider hit two home runs, but that was small consolation. Dodgers baseball in New York, and my years of sports innocence, were behind me. National League baseball didn’t return to New York until the Mets arrived in 1962. They were an expansion team, which meant they were composed of players others teams didn’t want. There were some rough, lean years, but to Mets fans, it didn’t matter. They rallied behind the team, and after seven seasons, and many losses, the 1969 Mira-

cle Mets, led by their manager, Dodgers legend Gil Hodges, won the World Series in a never-to-be-forgotten triumph over the heavily favored Baltimore Orioles.

ust one example: thousands of area kids looking forward to Little League.

The Mets captured the Series again in 1986, defeating the Red Sox in a memorable seven-game struggle. There have been several good runs since then that fell just short, including a World Series defeat to Kansas City in 2015 and, most recently, a League Championship Series loss to the Dodgers in 2024. Now the Mets face the 2026 season having decided to go forward without their all-time leading home run hitter, Pete Alonso, and star relief pitcher Edwin Diaz, as well as proven veterans Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil. Their core four are gone. For Mets fans, spring training will be filled with questions and unknown answers.

I know that baseball has changed dramatically since years ago. There are almost twice as many teams now as there were then; players move from team to team, season to season; and teams regularly play inter-league games. As well, the Super Bowl has surpassed the World Series in public attention, and sports such as hockey and bas-

ketball crowd the calendar, playing well into the baseball season.

But still, that sense of anticipation remains. There is something about the fresh spring air and the crack of the bat that brings our attention back to the baseball diamond. The distances from the pitcher’s mound to home plate, and between the bases, remain the same, as do ball and strike counts. And, especially on Long Island, many thousands of kids are looking forward to playing Little League baseball in a new season, when, as always, their parents and grandparents will be in the stands, cheering them on. They’ll create new memories that, in years to come, they’ll pass on to their children and grandchildren.

No matter the rule changes or league realignments, baseball will remain unchanged as an essential component of the American fabric. Almost 75 years ago, the renowned cultural historian Jacques Barzun famously proclaimed, “Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball.” That is as true today as it was then, and I believe it will be true for generations to come.

Play ball!

Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.

Ed Ra’s new post is good for Long Island

Having spent 23 years of my life in the State Assembly, I keep close contact with members and monitor the progress of significant legislation. I make it a point to call individual members to encourage them to take action on proposals that are good for Long Island. Which is why I was thrilled that Republican Assemblyman Ed Ra was chosen as minority leader earlier this month, in a unanimous vote.

Living as a bipartisan person, I have been supportive of Ra in his many roles as an elected official. During his 10 years in office he has been a proactive legislator, proposing laws focusing affordability, antisemitism, workforce development and controlling state costs. I was especially pleased when he became the ranking minority member of the Ways and Means Committee.

I had the good fortune to chair that

committee for 10-plus years, and have great respect for committee members who pay attention to pending laws and ask questions. Ra has been a diligent member of the committee, and he has kept the majority members on their toes. Ways and Means is the most important committee in the Assembly, and it desperately needs members who keep an eye on the 7,000plus bills that are sent to it each year.

He’s worked hard to become the Assembly’s Republican minority leader.

Ra is the third Assembly member from Long Island in my career who has held the title of minority leader. The late Assembly members Perry B. Duryea and Jack Kingston also held that job. Duryea eventually became the speaker, and holding the minority post was a springboard to the top job. I know for a fact that Ra didn’t get the leadership job without a lot of preparation, forging coalitions to win the support of the minority caucus.

I doubt that even the Republican leaders on Long Island fully understand what it took for Ra to get his new job. Over the years he has taken on all of the

thankless jobs that most members do not covet. He has been involved in reviewing all of the bills that affect the Island, and for a few years he acted as the Republican floor leader, organizing debates on bills advanced by the majority. It’s the job of minority members to craft credible arguments opposing majority legislation.

There’s a separate issue that most of the Albany establishment doesn’t understand. The Assembly’s Republican membership is dominated by upstate legislators. They tend to be anti-downstate, and want all of the key jobs for their delegation. If you talk to an upstate Republican member, don’t be surprised if he or she is anti-Long Island. They are jealous of the attention Long Island gets, and many think negatively about the downstate region in general.

When the previous minority leader, Will Barclay, an upstater, announced that he wouldn’t seek re-election this year, the upstaters immediately began to caucus to support one of their own to

keep the job in their region. At the same time, Ra had to move quickly to win a majority of the conference. That backroom stuff happens in any type of legislative body, and it takes political smarts to pull it off.

Why make a fuss about the election of an assemblyman who’s in the minority party? We’re a very big island, with multiple needs and demands. We need all the voices we can get to speak out for the bi-county area. New York City legislators have a strong voice on a variety of issues, and the Island has to fight for recognition when the dollars are being disbursed and laws are passing that help other areas of the state.

Last year I wrote a column singling out Democratic Assemblywoman Mickey Solages and Ra for their hard work in Albany. I was pleased then and now that Ra has advanced in his party leadership. Solages is a rising star in the Democratic Party, and I’m happy that Ra is now a part of the four-way leadership.

Jerry Kremer was a state assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. He currently chairs the Capitol Insight Group, a government relations firm. Comments? jkremer@liherald.com.

Long Island students need news literacy

on Long Island, where school boards debate curriculum priorities and districts navigate tight budgets, one subject can no longer be treated as optional: media literacy.

Across Nassau and Suffolk counties, students scroll through a relentless stream of headlines, commentary and viral content, frequently without formal instruction on how to tell the difference between verified reporting and misinformation.

In an era when misinformation travels faster than facts and algorithms reward outrage over accuracy, the future of journalism and civic trust hinges on what young people understand about news.

A November 2025 study from the News Literacy Project makes the stakes unmistakably clear: Teenagers are not rejecting journalism outright, but they are struggling to distinguish it from everything else crowding their feeds.

The nationwide study builds on a troubling News Literacy Project 2024 finding that 45 percent of teens believed journalists harmed democracy. But the new research goes further, examining not just skepticism but the roots of distrust — and the confusion at its core.

Teens often lump professional reporting, partisan commentary and outright online misinformation into a single category: “news.” When everything looks the same, nothing earns trust.

However, there is a mandate for action. An overwhelming 94 percent of teens said news or media literacy should

be part of their education. They are not tuning out because they don’t care. They are asking for help.

The problem is access. Only 39 percent of students reported receiving any media literacy instruction during the prior school year. More than six in 10 teens are left to decode a complex information ecosystem by themselves. They scroll through algorithm-driven headlines, influencer commentary masquerading as reporting and viral misinformation engineered for emotional impact — often without being taught how to verify a claim or evaluate a source.

That gap isn’t just an educational oversight. It is a civic vulnerability.

According to Donnell Probst, executive director of the National Association for Media Literacy Education, the most effective time to teach these skills is early, before beliefs harden and misinformation calcifies into identity.

Encouragingly, instruction works. Students who had lessons in media literacy were more likely to seek out news, and reported higher levels of trust in journalists. This is measurable impact backed by research.

Long Island school districts should take note.

Across Nassau and Suffolk counties, some schools offer journalism electives or student newspapers. Others offer none. According to a 2022 survey by Baruch College, 73 percent of New York City public schools lacked student newspapers — with access concentrated in private and selective schools. The same inequities often surface on Long Island,

where opportunities vary widely by district.

The decline of school newspapers and journalism classes compounds the media literacy crisis. These programs teach students what real journalism requires: cultivating sources, verifying facts, and asking tough follow-up questions.

If we want a generation that values journalism, we must first ensure that it understands journalism. This isn’t a “kids these days” problem. It is a larger one — and it is also a business imperative for local news organizations across Long Island. If the next generation cannot differentiate between a reported investigation and a viral conspiracy thread, it will not subscribe to, support or defend professional journalism.

Doubling down on media literacy in school curriculums is no longer optional. It should be embedded across grade levels, integrated into English and social studies classes and reinforced through experiential learning like student newsrooms. Policymakers should treat media literacy as foundational civic infrastructure, not a niche elective.

News organizations on Long Island must also step forward and partner with schools, open newsrooms, support media literacy initiatives and provide mentorship and transparency about how reporting is done.

The answer isn’t louder defenses of journalism, but deeper public understanding — teaching media literacy so people can recognize misinformation and think critically for themselves.

When public education becomes a business

If you turn on a local radio station, chances are you’ll hear a commercial for a new and upcoming charter school in the area. These schools are being promoted as a new and improved alternative to our current public schools. As they continue to spread across Long Island, we, the taxpaying community members, need to ask these questions: Why the sudden influx?

And who is benefiting financially from these charter schools?

While public schools across the Island are currently facing tight budgets, staffing shortages and increasing numbers of students with greater needs, how can we take money slated for these students and schools to line someone else’s pocket? It’s time for the community to question where the tax dollars that we voted to send to our public schools are actually going. Don’t we deserve transparency and accountability for every one of those dollars?

Charter schools promote themselves

as public schools, since they’re funded by taxpayers and families don’t pay outof-pocket tuition. But unlike public schools, these institutions aren’t watched over by elected boards of education. Who approves a charter school budget? In public schools, budgets are presented to the community over the course of several board meetings. Community members then have an opportunity to question the spending plans and ultimately vote to accept or reject them.

As charter schools continue to spread, taxpayers should be asking questions.

On the other hand, charter schools receive money directly from public schools. They are able to spend money without being accountable to the community that provides them with these funds. Their budgets are never presented to their communities, and the local school districts are unable to see where the money is going. Their spending isn’t approved by voters, and communities can’t monitor how their tax money is being spent. This lack of transparency allows public money to be spent without any accountability or oversight.

Many of the charter schools that are popping up across Long Island are run

by private management companies, real estate firms and vendors who profit from public funds. These companies often aren’t even local. They don’t have any vested interest in the community. They look at the school as a business where they don’t educate all children, but rather essentially hand-pick the students they want.

Students with special needs, or for whom English is a second language, or who have behavioral problems or learning difficulties, are often sent out of charter schools and back to public schools — which open their doors to them and welcome them. They educate every student who walks through those doors, regardless of their need. Public schools also absorb the full cost of educating them. When funding is redirected from public schools to charter schools, districts are often forced to cut programs, increase class sizes and delay crucial building repairs.

And when it comes to buildings, have you noticed how structures at charter schools can seem to be constructed overnight? This doesn’t happen because charter school administrations are more efficient. It happens because while

public schools are required to disclose contractors’ bids on capital projects, charter schools can erect a building, add an extension or do major renovations with no bidding, no approval and, once again, no community oversight. If these are publicly funded improvements using taxpayers’ dollars, shouldn’t we all be held to the same standards? This raises more questions about transparency, accountability and equality.

This isn’t about opposing school choice. It’s about making sure that public education doesn’t become a moneymaker for big business rather than an organization to educate our students. The message here is about fiscal and educational transparency. If charter schools really claim to serve the public, then shouldn’t we see how our tax dollars are being spent?

When school budgets are created, we, the taxpayers, should have a voice in the process. That money we provide should go toward educational programs for classrooms, and books and resources for children. The budgets we approve should support learning. Our tax dollars belong with the children, not in a corporation’s pocket.

Alison Chaplar, of Massapequa, is a longtime public school educator, a mother and a community advocate.

Your opinion Matters

Your opinion Matters

Your opinion Matters

The strength of our community comes from open dialogue.

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.

We invite residents to submit letters to the editor on issues affecting our neighborhoods, schools, businesses and local government.

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

Letters must include your name and contact information for verification. Send lettters to execeditor@liherald.com

Letters must include your name and contact information for verification. Send lettters to execeditor@liherald.com

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