__________________ Merrick _________________
HERALD longtime civic member retires
Rhoads hosts resource fair
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Vol. 29 No. 33
AUGUST 13 - 19, 2026
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Public takeover of Liberty is urged by locals treatment for PFAS and PFOA contaminants, water main replacements and lead service Critics of Liberty Water are line replacements. The water authority was crecontinuing their push for the South Nassau Water Authority ated by the state in 2021 specifito acquire the private utility’s cally to acquire Liber ty’s Town of Hempstead operations, Hempstead operations. Water arguing that a public takeover authority officials said earlier should move forward before a this year that they were preproposed rate increase goes pared to begin negotiations into effect. with Liberty, with the process Members of the expected to take Merrick-based Long several months. Island Clean Air Claudia Borecky, Water & Soil rallied a co-director of LI outside Hempstead C AW S , s a i d t h e Town Hall on Aug. environmental 4, calling on town ClAUDIA BoRECky advocacy group’s officials to hold goal is to ensure Co-Director, their appointees to Liberty customers the water authority Long Island Clean Air are not left with the a c c o u n t a b l e a n d Water & Soil financial burden move quickly while negotiations toward a potential acquisition continue. of Liberty Utilities, which is One of the group’s requests headquartered in Merrick. is for the Town of Hempstead Liberty submitted a pro- to establish a special water disposed rate hike to the New York trict or dedicated fund that State Public Service Commis- would direct tax revenue genersion in May that calls for a 37 ated through Liberty custompercent increase for customers ers toward efforts benefiting in the Merrick district and a those customers, including a 29.7 percent increase for cus- potential acquisition. tomers in the Sea Cliff district. “What we’re asking for is Liberty officials have said instead of putting that into the the increases are necessary to town’s general fund ... set up a fund infrastructure improveContinued on page 9 ments, including iron removal,
By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ
hgaldamez@liherald.com
I
Stu Goldman/Herald
Community plants trees at Calhoun High Bellmore and Merrick community members came together on Aug. 4 to plant trees outside Calhoun High School before classes return for the new school year. Story, photos, Page 10.
Curé of Ars seeks century of memories By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com
As Curé of Ars Roman Catholic Church prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary this fall, the parish is asking current and former members of the community to help preserve its history by sharing photographs, memories and memorabilia by Sept. 1. The materials will help the church create a historical record of the parish as it prepares for its centennial celebration in October. Among the projects planned is a commemorative book modeled after one created for the parish’s 75th anniversary. “We will be doing a book, as we did for the 75th anniversary,” said the Rev. Frank Caldwell,
pastor of Curé of Ars. “To have a historical record of the foundation of the parish.” The church is seeking photographs, videos, newspaper articles, programs, memorabilia and personal stories. Parishioners are encouraged to share memories of sacraments, parish events, ministries, people who influenced their faith or other experiences connected to Curé of Ars. Digital submissions can be emailed to cureofars100@gmail.com. Original photographs can also be brought to the rectory to be scanned and returned. The church asks that submissions include the person’s name, event, date and phone number. For Caldwell, who joined Curé of Ars in 2016, the centennial preparations have offered an Continued on page 2
was satisfied with the rally.
Church to celebrate 100th anniversary
August 13, 2026 — MERRICK HERALD
Continued from page 1
Courtesy Cure of Ars
mass will be celebrated by current clergy and priests who have served the Cure of ars community, with Bishop John o. Barres of the diocese of rockville Centre expected to concelebrate in october.
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opportunity to reflect on what has allowed the parish to remain a fixture in the Merrick community for a century. He said one of the things that has stood out is the continuity among generations of parishioners. “The unity and the fraternity and the spirit of engagement of parishioners through the years,” Caldwell said. “There’s a great bonding from one generation to the next. The spirit of the parish has endured , and not only endured butendured but continues to thrive.” The parish draws members from throughout Merrick, including North and South Merrick. Caldwell said the church also has a long history of interacting with the broader community through its outreach and social ministries. That connection has helped Curé of Ars remain a community beyond weekly worship, he said. “The takeaway is the sense of faith and coming together as a community,” Caldwell said, describing a spirit that extends into parish social ministry and service to the community. For Anne Adragna, chairwoman of the centennial committee, that sense of community is something she has experienced firsthand. Adragna and her family have been members of Curé of Ars for 48 years, and her children grew up in the parish and received their sacraments there. “We are very, very blessed to have a parish community that is just amazing,” Adragna said. “They are the kindest, warmest, most welcoming people I know.” Adragna said the parish has numerous ministries and volunteers whose contributions may not always be visible to the broader community. The centennial committee is preparing photographs highlighting those ministries for the celebration. Greg Conklin, another longtime parishioner, has been part of Curé of Ars for 66 years. After his family moved to Merrick shortly after he was born, Conklin attended Curé of Ars School from kindergarten through eighth grade and remained involved in the par-
ish as an altar server, lector, Eucharistic minister, usher and CYO director. “I’ve been involved in the parish, and you know it’s kind of still like my second home,” Conklin said. Conklin recalled parish carnivals, casino nights, friendships and the church’s response during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Mass was held in the parking lot with a trailer serving as an altar. “We don’t let anything stop us,” he said. For Conklin, the memories gathered for the centennial ultimately telltell the story of a parish built around relationships. “The first thing that comes to my mind ... is it’s a family,” he said. “That’s what we are. We’re a parish family.” Caldwell said that sense of connection is particularly meaningful in a church that is physically smaller than some other Catholic churches in the area. “People feel close together, closer together geographically in the church, but also closer together in terms of bondedness and connectedness,” he said. The centennial celebration is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 10, and will include an anniversary Mass, dinner celebration, former clergy reunion, historical displays, parish memories and special raffles. Ministry groups, organizations and volunteers will also participate in special anniversary photographs following selected weekend Masses. The Mass will be concelebrated by current clergy and priests who have served the Curé of Ars community, with Bishop John O. Barres of the Diocese of Rockville Centre expected to concelebrate. But before the parish celebrates its century of faith and service, church leaders are encouraging the community to help document the people and moments that made up those 100 years. “I hope they realize that they’re a part of an unbelievable faith-filled community,” Adragna said, “that is so many people are still there after so many years and are willing to give so much of their time and talents.”
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MERRICK HERALD — August 13, 2026 Stu Goldman/Herald Photos
Dozens of people joined in to listen to the music
Splash bash makes a splash at Newbridge Road Park Friday night in Bellmore, the Town of Hempstead hosted an Evening Splash Bash at the Newbridge Road Park Pool. This free event included live music on the pool deck, night swimming & swim races, contests, games, and more. — Joseph D’Alessandro
Jonathan Waldman & daughter Maya 3 from Merrick.
Singer Jill Gioia performed with her band.
The event had a great turnout.
Cameron Marcy 4 and grandpa Lapan Levine from Bellmore.
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constantly reminded to feel pride (not f I understand correctly, food noise shame) as exemplified in a heavy rotais the unwanted active thinking tion of advertising for GLP-1 medicaabout food while we might not be tion. physically hungry but that distracts us during our work and daily Yet what about the other healthy/not activities. A myriad of inhibiting so healthy noises that never got a definithoughts such as: “When’s the next tion via Google or Harvard Health? meal? Will they be serving snacks? Aren’t these noises worthy of review? When are we food shopping and what For example, at minimum, I have meals will we be serving?” to “parenting” noise, “chores” suggest a few. noise and “writer” noise For an optimist, quieting always fighting for attention food noise, when dieting or in my head. This series of trying to maintain healthy noises are annoying but coneating habits, is a preoccupasiderate, each taking their tion that may not deserve to own turn in flaring up and be tampered with. Isn’t food exposing me to stress and noise exactly what diet plans anxiety. Ironically, unlike should rely on — conscious many people, I tend to lose efforts to stave off hunger my appetite during these and be self-aware when connoisier moments. It’s not auren ev suming food? So what if the deliberate and is a completenoise fades in and out of ly inappropriate approach to consciousness in inopporfood, built on my gut reactune times to keep the dieter on track? tion. And although that reaction is physWhat’s a little more distraction in modiological, ending the noise won’t ever ern lifestyles anchored in real time come from any food, but from a healthiannouncements and 24/7 text messages? er mindset. Besides food noise the world suffers from other food-related issues. It’s no A contributing writer to the Herald since longer fad dieting that gets all the atten2012, Lauren Lev is a direct marketing/ tion but food trends in food supplements advertising executive who teaches marto improve our intake. But can we really keting fundamentals as well as advertisbenefit from more added protein and ing and marketing communications fiber in boxed macaroni and cheese? courses at the Fashion Institute of TechAnd as for our body image, we are nology and SUNY Old Westbury.
The Attitude of Gratitude
track progress and understand trends (6) use streaks to build a habit (7) get creative with a variety of prompts, and (8) stay positive with daily affirmations. As to the latter, your writer has found reading daily affirmations to be an invaluable resource for maintaining a positive mindset. The great motivational speaker Zig Ziglar notably said that “People say that motivation doesn’t last. Neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily”. Daily positive affirmations may be found by googling “daily affirmations” and choosing one of the free services that appeals to you. An analysis of 38 gratitude studies concluded that “gratitude interventions can have positive benefits for people in terms of their well-being, happiness, life satisfaction, grateful mood, grateful disposition, and positive affect, and they can result in decreases in depressive symptoms”. “When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.” — Willie Nelson
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Gratitude has to do with appreciation. Appreciation means to add value to. Things that appreciate tend to grow, just as being grateful for something or someone raises its or their value in our estimation. Even though, at any given time, countless more things are going right than going wrong in most of our lives, too many of us focus more on what’s going wrong and take for granted what’s going right — our health, our loved ones, our resources. “Gratitude interventions” is the term used for cultivating the attitude of gratitude in our lives. The father of positive psychology, Martin E. P. Seligman, suggests an exercise called “Three Good Things” whereby at the end of the day you write down three good things that happened to you and why. The “why” is very important. An app called “Gratitude Plus” allows you to (1) share gratitude with your favorite people (2) easily reflect on the good in your life (3) create groups with friends and family (4) hear from people around the world (5)
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A Bellmore woman has been charged with stealing cash from a 95-year-old West Hempstead resident while working as the victim’s home health aide, according to Nassau County police. Police said the incident occurred on July 11 at about 6:39 p.m. Detectives said the 60-year-old home health aide was captured on home surveillance video removing a locked black box containing U.S. currency from the victim’s home. The victim’s son later reviewed the
surveillance footage, discovered the alleged theft and contacted the Nassau County Police Department. Following an investigation by the department’s Electronics Squad and Fraud & Forgery Section, detectives arrested Madeline Barranco, 60, of Bellmore. Barranco, of 130 Linden St., was charged with third-degree grand larceny. She was arraigned on July 23 at First District Court in Hempstead.
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After two decades of service, Salsberg retires hgaldamez@liherald.com
Courtesy Town of Hempstead
Hempstead Town Councilman Chris Schneider, second from right, congratulated Mark Salsberg upon his retirement from the Merrick Community Civic Association during a celebratory dinner at La Strada in Merrick on July 30, 2026. Also attending were Robin Salsberg, Nassau County Legislator Michael Giangregorio, and New York State Senator Steve Rhoads. neighbors, get to know the community, and be involved,” he said. Salsberg said one of the things he valued most was the association’s nonpolitical nature. Local elected officials from both parties have been invited to meetings over the years, giving residents an opportunity to raise concerns and hear directly from their representatives. The association has also provided a forum for residents to interact with police and town government officials. Sometimes, Salsberg said, the work was as sim-
ple as reporting a pothole. Other efforts involved improvements to Julian Lane Park and Winsome Park, as well as beautification projects such as planting flowers near the Merrick Post Office. The civic association also became involved in larger community issues, including a proposed housing development in Wallenack and concerns surrounding cell towers. While Merrick has changed over the years, Salsberg said many of the community’s quality-of-life concer ns have
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After roughly two decades of helping address quality-of-life issues and connect residents with local officials, Mark Salsberg is retiring from the Merrick Community Civic Association. Salsberg, 67, was recognized during a retirement celebration July 30 at La Strada in Merrick. Hempstead Town Councilman Chris Schneider, Nassau County Legislator Michael Giangregorio and state Sen. Steve Rhoads attended the celebration. Salsberg moved to Merrick from Suffolk County around 1985. Without children in the local school district, he said he initially found it difficult to become familiar with the community and what was happening around him. That changed when he saw a notice in the newspaper about a meeting for the revival of the civic association, led by Joe Baker. “I said, you know, it’s going to be a bunch of people just complaining, which I sort of didn’t like because you got to do more than just complain,” Salsberg recalled. After attending the meeting, Salsberg was impressed by Baker’s vision for an organization focused on the community and quality-of-life issues rather than politics. “I figured, you know, the civic — this sounds like a good way to get to know my
remained the same. “You want people to be safe,” he said. “You know, support the police, which we do.” Salsberg’s retirement comes as he prepares to leave Long Island. He is retiring from his law practice, where he worked in medical malpractice defense, and plans to move with his wife to Massachusetts. His retirement celebration came as something of a surprise. Salsberg said association president Berta Weinstein initially told him they simply wanted to take him out to dinner. He was surprised when local elected officials he had worked with over the years joined the celebration. Weinstein has known Salsberg since she joined the civic association nearly 20 years ago. She described him as helpful, kind and warm-hearted, and said he was always willing to show up and support community events and causes. “He was very helpful in the community; was always there and supportive,” Weinstein said. “He also became a very good friend of my family.” Weinstein said Salsberg’s lasting impact on the civic association can be seen in his willingness to participate and be present. “Just coming and being there, and showing the community that all you have to do is show up and be there, and it helps the community,” she said. “I didn’t do this for the glory,” Salsberg said. “I just did it because it was something to be involved in.”
MERRICK HERALD — August 13, 2026
By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ
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August 13, 2026 — MERRICK HERALD
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BRINGING LOCAL SPORTS HOME EVERY WEEK
HERALD SPORTS Nassau H.S. Athletics HOF class of 2026 By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com
The Nassau County High School Athletics Hall of Fame will hold its 2026 induction ceremony Oct. 7 at the Crest Hollow County Club. Here’s a list of some local honorees in alphabetical order. For more information, tickets and a full list of honorees, go to www.sectionviii.org/halloffame.
Tom Abruscato The list of Abruscato’s coaching achievements at Clarke is mind-boggling. During his 26 years at the helm, the Rams have won 531 baseball games with an .801 winning percentage and 23 conference championships. Clarke has captured eight Nassau titles, three Long Island crowns and two state championships during his tenure. He was named conference Coach of the Year 23 times, and Nassau Coach of the Year eight times.
Stan Bujacich Bujacich is second on Nassau girls basketball all-time victory list with 429, trailing only Farmingdale Hall of Famer Pete Cerrone (600.) A member of the New York State Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame, Bujacich’s Wantagh teams have captured three county crowns in 2005, 2006 and 2025 and reached the county finals three more times. The Warriors won the Long Island title in 2025. From 2011 to 2015, they won 34 straight conference games and went 43-3 overall.
Jeffrey Dingle Dingle possessed one athletic skill that can’t be taught: speed. In 1985 for West Hempstead football, he averaged an amazing 7.6 yards-per-carry for 1,045 yards. Good enough to be named firstteam All Long Island. That’s not all. He was a finalist for the Thorpe Award as Nassau’s top player. He was also a 300and 400-meter county track champion, and a 300-meter indoor and outdoor state finalist.
John Hamilton
Hamilton spent 18 years as a wrestling coach, 10 at East Meadow, five at Calhoun, two at Mepham and one at Oceanside. His teams won 193 dual meets and many team and individual championships. He coached soccer for 14 years, earning Nassau’s Coach of the Year honor in 1993. Hamilton was a superb grappler at Central Connecticut State. H’es a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
James Hegmann Hegmann was unlike most basketball players. For one thing, he was 6-foot-11 when he showed up at Carey in the 1960s. For another, had to work hard on
Photos courtesy Nassau County Athletics
Michael O’Neill was an offensive machine for Massapequa in the 1970s.
Katie Starsia was a standout defender on South Side’s four straight NYS girls soccer championship teams. his craft. Until he got to Carey, he hadn’t played organized basketball. He scored 11 points per game as a junior and pulled down 13 rebounds per game. The measure of his improvement was demonstrated the next season, when his scoring soared to 20 ppg and 16 rpg.
and led the Blue Jays to the NCAA championship in 1978. A four-year starter for Hopkins, he scored 237 career points with 138 goals and 99 assists. As a senior, he earned Division I Player of the Year honors.
Kristen Hoffman Hoffman was one of the most unique high school athletes in Nassau history, excelling in basketball and swimming at Long Beach. She swam on the varsity team for six years, competing in the 200 and 500 freestyle, the 400-yard freestyle relay, and the 200 medley relay. She was a state qualifier and a three-time AllCounty selection. She a two-time AllConference basketball player and averaged 17 ppg as a senior when was named All- County.
Sandberg is one of the finest softball players ever developed on Long Island. She earned All-County honors as a freshman, sophomore, junior and senior at West Hempstead. In 2008, she put together one of the greatest offensive seasons in Nassau history. She hit .784 with 11 home runs. Sandberg had a starstudded career at the University of Georgia, leading the Bulldogs to two College World Series appearances with a .355 batting average, 19 homers and 51 RBI as a senior.
Michael O’neill
Michael Stanley
O’Neill was a lacrosse scoring machine at Massapequa in the early 1970s. It would not have been a stretch to assert that he was the best high school attack in not only the county but the country. O’Neill was a scoring machine at the collegiate level at Johns Hopkins
Stanley took over an excellent Carey football program in 2007 and made it better. He’s guided the Seahawks to a pair of Rutgers Cups, awarded to the best team in the county, including in 2013 when they defeated Riverhead to win the first-ever Long Island title in program
Kristyn Sandberg
history. One year later, Carey repeated as Nassau’s Conference II champion and then rolled to an incredible 41-7 victory over East Islip, giving the team its second consecutive L.I. title. In 19 years, Stanley’s teams have totaled 138 wins.
Katie Starsia Starsia was a star defender on South Side’s amazing four straight state girls soccer championships in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. Her greatness as a soccer player did not diminish her outstanding skills in basketball and track. In track she earned All-County in the 800 meters as a senior, and was twice All-County in the 4x800 relay. Starsia played soccer at the University of Virginia but her athletic career didn’t end there as she completed marathons in New York, Boston, Chicago, London, Berlin, Sydney, Philadelphia and Orlando.
Bruce Stegner Coaching 18 years and winning 14 Nassau County titles. Many coaches go a lifetime without winning one. Only four times in 18 years has a Stegnercoached team not won a county title. His tenure at Massapequa has been beyond amazing. Aside from the 14 county crowns, he has guided the girls soccer team to eight Long Island championships and five state titles. He has been named the state’s Coach of the Year five times. His overall record is 260-46-35.
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HERALD — August 13, 2026
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Advocates call for a dedicated water fund separate fund so the money paid by Liberty ratepayers will go to Liberty ratepayers,” Borecky said. Borecky added that Liberty customers have faced different costs compared with residents served by municipal water systems, which do not operate under the same tax structure as private utilities. “We’re asking them to set up a separate fund so when it’s time for us to purchase Liberty, the money will be there,” she said. Borecky said the Aug. 4 rally was intended to bring attention to LI CAWS’s concerns and encourage town officials to act quickly. “I was satisfied with the rally,” she said. “I think we made our point.” She also criticized the proposed rate hike, saying the size of the increase highlights the need to move forward with a public takeover. “Thirty-seven percent is no joke,” Borecky said, referring to the increase Merrick district customers will potentially face. According to the Municipalization Stipulation contained in the Joint Proposal related to Liberty’s acquisition of New York American Water, a copy of which was provided to the Herald, the parties “shall negotiate terms” for acquisition of the relevant portion of the water system during Step 5 and “shall conduct such negotiations in good faith.” Borecky said she believes the water authority should continue pushing ahead with negotiations and that Liberty should provide a timely response to any purchase offer. “We are very close, I believe,” she said, adding that the water authority is expected to present Liberty with another purchase offer in the coming months. Liberty officials said they remain committed to
MERRICK HERALD — August 13, 2026
Continued from page 1
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Courtesy Claudia Borecky
members of Long island Clean air Water & Soil rally outside Hempstead town Hall on aug. 4, calling for the South nassau Water authority to expedite its efforts to acquire Liberty Water’s Hempstead operations. discussions with the water authority regarding a potential municipal takeover but declined to provide additional details because of confidentiality agreements. “As part of Liberty’s acquisition of American Water, we committed to, and are actively having,
good-faith negotiations around municipalization and will continue to do so,” Pamela Bellings, Liberty’s manager of regional communications, said. “All parties involved in the negotiations have signed a mutual confidentiality agreement, and therefore we are unable to provide any further information.”
August 13, 2026 — MERRICK HERALD
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Community members plant trees outside Calhoun Bellmore and Merrick community members came together Aug. 4 to plant trees outside Calhoun High School before classes return for the new school year. The planting was made possible through a partnership between Calhoun High School, local plant nurseries and Wild Ones, a national organization focused on restoring native plant communities and supporting environmentally friendly landscaping practices. Wild Ones formed its Long Island chapter a few years ago in response to an increase in tree removals across the region. Trees are often removed because of concerns about falling limbs, the accumulation of leaves or aesthetic preferences. Trees play several important roles in suburban communities. They can capture dust
and other airborne particles, reduce the impact of flooding by absorbing rainwater and provide shade for homes and roads during increasingly warm summers. Trees also provide habitat for native wildlife and birds, produce oxygen and contribute to the overall beauty of the community. The planting is intended to give current students an opportunity to learn about environmental stewardship while creating a lasting resource for students and community members who will come after them. The project reflects the broader goal of encouraging residents to take an active role in protecting and improving the local environment for future generations. —Joseph D’Alessandro
Calhoun students Sam Berger, 14, Liam Wiles, 14, Tyler Rebello, 14, Andrew Donohue, 14 as well as Bennett Meyjovich, 14 with Oliver Esmay, 14 from Chaminade High School.
Merrick Residents Gary and Jennifer Opas plant a tree.
Stu Goldman/Herald Photos
Wild Ones Merrick Chapter Officers Greg Fine & Andrea Martone with Planting Organizer Lou Paolillo helped organize the event.
Merrick Residents Christal and Artem Prober aided in the effort.
Freeport/Merrick Rotary Club Member Vanetta Harrison and Calhoun High School Student Taher Saife, 16, with their planed tree.
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MERRICK HERALD — August 13, 2026
AUGUST 13, 2026
Smart essentials
August 13, 2026 — MERRICK HERALD
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Getting kids ready for a new school year is about more than updating their wardrobe or organizing carpools with fellow parents. Reacclimating everyone in the family to the routine of school after a relaxing summer is a significant undertaking,
J
ust as your family hits its peak summer groove, the back-to-school countdown begins. It’s a seasonal shift that brings a familiar mix of relief and stress to parents and students alike. Even the most adaptable kids can find the leap from lazy, unscheduled days to rigid routines jarring. Rather than letting the September surge catch you off guard, start laying the groundwork now. A few intentional adjustments late in the season can turn an overwhelming transition into a calm, confident start.
Ease Into The Rhythm
Abrupt wake-up calls on day one rarely go well. Rather than forcing a sudden shock to the system, start tapering back late summer bedtimes two weeks before school begins. Shift sleep and wake times back by 15-minute increments every few days. Don’t forget mealtime timing: if summer snacking has derailed regular breakfast and lunch hours, gradually realign them with the school clock so morning bell appetites don’t catch kids off guard.
Build A Central Command Station
Cover Story
Trade the flip-flops for backpacks: Prep now to get everyone school-ready
As extracurriculars, club meetings, and weekend sports stack up, keeping track of family logistics becomes a fulltime job. Designate a high-traffic area — like the kitchen wall or entryway — as your family’s command center. Visual calendars: Hang a large dryerase or paper calendar where everyone can see it. Color-coding system: Assign each family member (or activity type, such as sports, academics, and chores) their own distinct marker color for instant readability. The daily landing zone: Create a designated drop spot with labeled bins or hooks for backpacks, lunchboxes, and sports gear to prevent morning scrambles.
Tame The Paper Trail
Lost permission slips, crumpled notices, and forgotten homework are classic early-year pain points. Stop the paper shuffle before it starts by establishing a clear intake process. Set up an “Inbox” tray near your
command station where kids deposit forms requiring signatures or teacher notes as soon as they walk through the door. Pair this with an inviting, well-lit homework station stocked with essential supplies—pencils, highlighters, paper, and calculators. Keeping this space free from screens and clutter trains the brain to lock into focus mode. A quick nightbefore check ensures signed papers and finished assignments make it safely back into the backpack.
Set Intentional Family Goals
Back-to-school season offers a fresh start for everyone, not just academically. Hold an informal family meeting over dinner to discuss individual and collective goals for the upcoming year. Encourage kids to set a mix of academic milestones (like mastering long division), personal growth targets (like trying a new club), and family contributions (like managing their morning routine independently). This practice reinforces core values, builds accountability, and gives kids a sense of ownership over the months ahead.
Beat The Rush On Supplies
Waiting until the final weekend to shop guarantees picked-over shelves, long checkout lines, and unnecessary anxiety. Take inventory of what you already have at home before buying new items. Spreading purchases across several weeks late in the summer lightens the strain on your budget and gives you time to track down specialized items or sales on bigger-ticket essentials like backpacks and durable lunch totes.
Readiness Checklist
3 Weeks Out: Inventory existing supplies. Avoid last minute store rushes and budget spikes. 2 Weeks Out: Begin shifting bedtimes and wake-up times by 15 minutes. Reset internal biological clocks gradually. 1 Week Out: Set up command station, inbox tray, and study area. Establish physical organization zones early. Days Before: Hold the family goalsetting chat and pack bags. Build mental readiness and excitement.
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Checking
MERRICK HERALD — August 13, 2026
out
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Navigating back-to-school spending
B
etween high-end tech requirements, athletic gear, and updating wardrobe staples, backto-school prep across Long Island, like elsewhere, continues to carry a significant price tag. Recent national retail data shows families with K-12 students plan to spend an average of $863.86 per household on back-to-school items this year, pushing total spending to a record $43.3 billion, a 9.8 percent increase over the previous year, according to the National Retail Federation. The average spending per household represents a modest increase of about $5 per family over last year. “Affordability is a concern for families and a top priority for retailers as we enter the back-to-school season,” said NRF Chief Economist and Executive Director of Research Mark Mathews. “Shoppers are keeping value front and center as they look for ways to make their dollars go further.” Economists and retail analysts note that the record total is being driven primarily by broader participation and higher prices on essential items rather than increased consumer confidence. Because inflation and supply costs have kept prices elevated, families are spending more total dollars even though many report buying fewer non-essential discretionary items. Here, where suburban living often means multischool commutes and competitive youth sports programs — the local cost of getting classroom-ready often scales even higher. Here’s how households are strategically managing their wallets this season.
‘Micro-Shopping’ Over Mall Runs
The era of the single, epic weekend shopping spree at the mall is shifting. Today, parents are adopting a “micro-shopping” strategy to soften the financial blow. National statistics show that over 62 percent of back-to-school shoppers began purchasing items as early as July. By spreading purchases across mid-summer promotional events and lateAugust store runs, parents can absorb costs over multiple paychecks rather than taking a heavy hit all at once. Furthermore, about 47 percent of families report buying only day-one essential supplies now, choosing to replenish notebooks and buy secondary fall clothing later in September once teachers finalize specific classroom requirements.
Secondhand Swaps And Local Groups
Hyper-local Facebook groups, neighborhood networks and community sports swaps are are seeing significant traffic. Outfitting a student for district sports or school band can add hundreds of dollars to a family’s bill. Trading outgrown soccer cleats, baseball bats, or band instruments with neighbors has quickly become standard practice for budget-conscious parents looking to stretch their dollars.
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Photo: Parents are rethinking the traditional back-to-school shopping spree, shopping smarter and more strategically.
Quick bites: Healthy breakfasts to power busy school mornings By Chelle Cordero
T
he morning rush can make breakfast feel like an afterthought. Between packing lunches, finding backpacks and getting everyone out the door on time, it’s tempting to skip the meal altogether. But breakfast remains one of the most important ways to fuel a successful school day. After a night’s sleep, children’s bodies and brains need energy to recharge. A balanced breakfast helps replenish those energy stores, providing the nutrients needed for concentration, memory, physical activity and learning. Research consistently shows that students who eat breakfast perform better in school than those who skip it. Studies have found that children who start the day with a nutritious meal are more attentive in the classroom, have improved memory and problem-solving skills, and often experience fewer behavioral issues. A healthy breakfast also helps stabilize energy levels and is an opportunity to provide nutrients that growing bodies need every day. The good news? A healthy breakfast doesn’t have to be complicated. With a little planning, families can prepare
quick meals that are ready in minutes — even on the busiest school mornings. Try these ideas to boost school success. Yogurt packs a punch: Individually packaged yogurts make a healthy and quick meal for anyone in the family. A good source of protein and calcium, yogurt is also filled with helpful bacteria that promote digestive health. Focus on fruit: Keep a container of fresh fruit salad in the refrigerator. A bowl of mixed fruit is refreshing and healthy. Satisfying smoothies: Smoothies made from fruit and yogurt are fast and can be stored in portable cups to take in the car on the way to school. Excellent eggs: Whip up a fast egg sandwich. Saute egg whites in a frying pan and place between two slices of toasted whole wheat bread. Muffin mania: Make a batch of lowfat, high-fiber muffins over the weekend. Grabbing a muffin and a banana is an easy breakfast. Beyond the bread: Use a sandwich or panini maker to create homemade breakfast tarts. Fill bread or pitas with fresh fruit or peanut butter and use the cooker to seal them shut.
High School Football Preview is coming!
Start the day right and boost school success with breakfast that packs a punch.
Think grab-and-go
When time is of the essence and the morning seems to be overwhelming, it’s tempting to forgo breakfast despite our best intentions. Therapeutic dietitian Lena Beal, M.S., RD, LD, shares some of her favorite grab-and-go breakfast ideas: √ Blend one cup of almond milk, half of banana, and bag of frozen blueberries or strawberries for a delicious smoothie.
√ Spread two brown rice cakes with natural peanut butter and add a side of Greek yogurt. √ Scramble two eggs with low-fat mozzarella cheese. Add baby spinach and salsa and serve on two wholewheat tortillas. √ Grab a cup of plain low-fat yogurt and top with fresh raspberries and crunchy whole-grain cereal or granola. √ Make a bowl of plain oatmeal and add cinnamon, walnut halves and raisins.
Celebrating Our 72nd Year!
Get ready for an action-packed season with the 2026 High School 2025 Football Preview.
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School & Camp East Meadow
Your ultimate guide to the upcoming year in local high school football. This special section highlights the teams, standout players, key matchups, and expert analysis of what to expect under the Friday night lights.
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MERRICK HERALD — August 13, 2026
PREPARING TODAYʼS YOUTH TO BE TOMORROWʼS LEADERS Baldwin Bellmore Bethpage Carle Place East Meadow East Norwich Elmont Farmingdale Five Towns Floral Park Franklin Square Glen Head Great Neck Hicksville Inwood Island Park Jericho Levittown Manhasset Massapequa Merrick Mineola New Hyde Park Old Bethpage Oyster Bay Plainview Roosevelt Roslyn Sea Cliff Seaford So.Hempstead Syosset Uniondale Valley Stream Wantagh W.Hempstead Westbury Williston Park
NCPAL OFFERS A RANGE OF SPORTS AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES THAT PROMOTE TEAMWORK, LEADERSHIP, AND PHYSICAL FITNESS IN OVER 30 COMMUNITIES ACROSS NASSAU COUNTY
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News brief
BRUCE A. BLAKEMAN
Adelphi appoints four alumni to Board of Trustees
FREE SUMMER CONCERTS
Adelphi University has appointed four alumni to its Board of Trustees, adding leaders in business, law, higher education and real estate to the governing body. The new trustees are Kristopher Amplo, Class of 2000; LeeAnn Black, Class of 1983; Bruce A. Jones, Class of 1982; and Walter P. Schmidt, Class of 1984. “Each of these individuals brings with them a wealth of expertise, deep professional accomplishments, a personal connection to our community and a profound commitment to our university’s mission,” Adelphi President Michael Balboni said in a release. “As we work together to guide Adelphi into its next era of excellence, their diverse insights will be vital to our future growth and success.” Amplo is president and chief executive of J.C. Steel Erectors Corp., a commercial steel company that has worked on projects including UBS Arena, LaGuardia Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport and TSX Broadway. He also oversees real estate investments and is active in philanthropy through the Amplo Family Foundation and the DezyStrong Foundation. Black is chief operating officer of the global law firm Latham & Watkins, where she oversees business operations
with CAFFEINE ACADEMY
DJ DENNIS THE MENACE JUST JOE
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PLEASE CALL EARLY TO RESERVE YOUR LOBSTER SO YOU DON’T MISS OUT 516-379-2566
FREE ADMISSION | Clear Bags Only | No Chairs | Parking Field #6 Weather permitting, call 516-572-0200 for up-to-date information. PARKS ADMINISTRATION
516-572-0200
For more information:
nassaucountyny.gov/parks
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Baked Clams $12 Crab Stuffing $16 House Wine $10 glass
EISENHOWER PARK Before or after the show, stop by The Union in Eisenhower Park for great food, drinks, and a perfect summer night out.
and strategic planning. A certified public accountant, she previously served on Adelphi’s President’s Advisory Council, chairs the board of trustees at The Chapin School and is co-chair of Adelphi’s annual Women’s Leadership Conference. Jones is a professor of political science at Howard University. He previously served as the university’s senior vice president for research, helping Howard achieve its Research 1, or R1, classification. He has also held academic leadership positions at the University of Houston, the University of South Florida and the University of Missouri. Schmidt is a co-founder of Rockwood Capital and has more than four decades of experience in institutional real estate investment. He served as a senior managing partner until 2022 and now serves as a senior adviser following the formation of Harrison Street Asset Management. Schmidt previously served on Adelphi’s President’s Advisory Council and is involved with organizations supporting youth development in the United States and Central America. The university also welcomed back trustees Charles J. Fuschillo, Class of 1983; Dennis J. McDonagh, Class of 1978; and Michael J. Tiedemann, Class of 1989, after they stepped away from the board because of other commitments. — Allyson ferrari
Monday Lobster Night
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August 13, 2026 — MERRICK HERALD
NASSAU COUNTY EXECUTIVE
*While supplies last. Price excludes tax and gratuity. No substitutions or sharing please. Not valid with any other promotion or coupons.
STEPPING OUT
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Photos courtesy LICM
The industrious honey bee is buzzes into the spotlight to captivate museum visitors.
Busy as a bee
Inside the hive at Long Island Children’s Museum
By Karen Bloom
T
here’s a national day to celebrate just about everything, so it’s only fitting that one of nature’s most important — and often misunderstood — creatures has one of its own. That would be the honeybee. Long Island Children’s Museum invites families to take a closer look at the tiny pollinators that play an outsized role in our ecosystem, on Aug. 15, National Honey Bee Day. The museum has been home to over 20,000 honeybees year-round since 2012, when a hive was introduced to the Feast for Beasts exhibit, which opened in January of that year. Visitors were welcomed to the first “Honey Hoopla” thenso that everyone could experience the first harvesting of honey from that hive. More than a decade later, the event has become a popular annual tradition. • Saturday, Aug. 15, Today, the 11 a.m.-2 p.m. museum maintains • $20 museum admission, $18 four active hives, seniors 65 and older including an enclosed • View the LICM events calendar at licm.org for observation hive additional information or call inside the Feasts (516) 224-5800 for Beasts gallery. • Long Island Children’s Housed between Museum, 11 Davis Ave., large panes of Garden City plexiglass and connected to the outdoors through a protected tube, thousands of honeybees come and go through a portal that allows them to leave the building, forage in the museum’s pollinator garden and return to the hive, where they work together to sustain the colony.Visitors can safely watch honeybees build honeycomb, care for their queen and work together. Special red lighting helps families observe the hive with minimal disruption to the bees’ natural behavior. The fruit of their labor? Lots of honey, naturally. Families are welcome to taste many different varieties of honey during a tasting session, including, of course, from the museum’s honey harvest. Color, aroma and taste can change based on the nectar of the flower. Everyone can sample various honeys and try to match the flavor profile to the specific honey type. “A lot of people maybe don’t know that honey can taste different from different varieties of flowers or the location where it is. We’re going to be
offering honey varieties that the kids can taste test and try to match up,” Ashley Niver, the museum’s director of education, says. Bee-themed activities are designed to highlight the insects’ importance to the environment. Children can create a colorful Busy Bee Hat, while adults and kids alike can meet beekeeper Mark Rogan, one of the museum’s exhibit technicians. He shares insights into bee management, explains how honeybee colonies work and will help visitors spot the queen inside the observation hive. “He’ll be up in the hive showing how to find the queen and explaining what the care is like,” museum spokesperson Stephanie Siler says. “He’ll also talk about the observation hive and the three other hives on our roof, answering questions about the bees’ daily care and how we harvest the honey.” Everyone can even try on a life-size beekeeper suit, offering a hands-on glimpse into the world of beekeeping. The observation hive itself — an actual working hive — remains one of the museum’s most unique exhibits. Because the bees are free to travel outdoors and back into the hive throughout the day, through a portal, museum staff can never be certain exactly how many are in residence. ‘”We like to say that they’re the only animal in our collection that we don’t know how many we have because they’re always coming and going, and they’re the only animal that has free roam of the museum,” Siler says, jokingly. While this is all designed to be fun, the program also carries an important conservation message. Climate change, habitat loss and pesticide use continue to threaten honeybee populations, contributing to colony collapse disorder and declining numbers worldwide. Visitors will learn that honeybees are responsible for pollinating some of Long Island’s most abundant crops including melons, pumpkins, tree nuts and berries and that the population is in danger and decreasing rapidly. Without these pollinators, we would lose some of our favorite foods such as chocolate, grapes, apples and pears. To help support bee conservation, the museum continues its Name a Honey Bee Campaign. For a $10 donation, folks can symbolically name one of the museum’s bees, with both the bee’s new name and the donor recognized on a display. Beyond raising funds, museum leadership’s goal is to replace fear with fascination. “It’s very easy for people to feel fearful of bees because they don’t want to be stung, and maybe they assume that all bees are looking to sting and cause harm,” Niver adds. “But the reality is that the honey bees are very docile, and they are just looking to make their honey. They’re really our friends.” Siler understands those fears firsthand. “For me personally I was terrified of bees, growing up,” she says. “So I hope that every child gets to experience them up close and leaves with a new-found appreciation. Not just because they make honey, but because they’re essential to our gardens, our food.” Whether sampling fresh honey, searching for the queen bee or discovering how a bustling hive works, everyone will leave with a deeper appreciation for one of nature’s smallest yet most essential creatures. This is an opoprtuity to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards by showing that protecting pollinators begins with understanding them. In the process, families may find themselves buzzing away with a newfound respect for the tiny insects that help keep our gardens, farms and dinner tables thriving.
There are cover bands, and then there’s Mike DelGuidice. The multiinstrumentalist whose deep-cut knowledge of Billy Joel’s catalog earned him a spot touring alongside the legend himself, is back to his favorite stomping ground: The Paramount. His long-running residency is less of a concert and more of a victory lap. Alongside his hit-for-hit recreation of Joel’s legendary discography, DelGuidice puts his own songwriting chops on full display — weaving in original tracks from albums like “My Street” and “Mask Production.” From playing his own chart-topping tracks — including “Ordinary Guy,” the theme song for Kevin James’ Kevin Can Wait, to touring the world with his idol, DelGuidice is the real deal.
Friday, Aug. 14, 8 p.m. Tickets at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington.
The Midtown Men Broadway meets classic rock ’n’ roll as The Midtown Men return to Eisenhower Park for an unforgettable evening of music and nostalgia. Featuring four original stars of the Tony Award-winning musical Jersey Boys — Christian Hoff, Michael Longoria, Daniel Reichard and J. Robert Spencer — the acclaimed quartet brings the timeless sounds of the 1960s to life with soaring harmonies, dynamic performances and plenty of infectious energy. These Broadway veterans, with their powerhouse band, are realizing the dream they brought to life as the iconic Four Seasons. This is the next chapter for these accomplished entertainers,
Saturday, Aug. 15, 7 p.m. Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, Eisenhower Park, East Meadow. Contact nassaucountyny. gov for info and updates.
MERRICK HERALD — August 13, 2026
Mike DelGuidice
August 13, 2026 — MERRICK HERALD
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Your Neighborhood Aug Neil Diamond tribute
CALENDAR museum’s Milkweed Garden. By measuring plants, rainfall, and monarch eggs you will be collecting real data that scientists can analyze! Your data will help them understand butterfly migration and will help conserve this species. Each Wednesday, take a walk through this garden and see how the plants grow as habitat for visiting monarchs! To join, meet at the front desk. For ages 4+.
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Fans of Neil Diamond can relive the legendary singer-songwriter’s greatest hits when Robert Neary brings “So Good! The Neil Diamond Experience” to Eisenhower Park. The acclaimed concert experience features more than two hours of classics, complemented by stories, multimedia and a Broadwaystyle production that celebrates Diamond’s remarkable career. The Broadway, television and film veteran, who recently appeared at Tilles Center, has earned widespread praise for his uncanny vocals and stage presence, creating a concert experience that captures the energy and spirit of the original. • Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow • Time: 7 p.m. • Contact: nassaucountyny.gov or (516) 572-0200
Aug Summer swing
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Step back into the golden age of swing when the 20-piece Swingtime Big Band takes the stage at Eisenhower Park. Featuring rich brass, soaring vocals and faithful arrangements of classics from the Great American Songbook, the popular ensemble recreates the unmistakable sound of the Swing Era with energy and precision. Whether you’re reliving cherished favorites or discovering these timeless tunes for the first time, Swingtime Big Band delivers an evening of toe-tapping nostalgia. • Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow • Time: 7 p.m. • Contact: nassaucountyny.gov or (516) 572-0200
Step lively on the dance floor
Society Tempo welcomes all to an afternoon of dancing, ongoing every month. Participate in Big Band, classic ballroom, Latin and line dancing. Refreshments include bagels, pastries and beverages. Singles and couples welcome. Bring your friends or make new ones. $12 donation. Must reserve! • Where: Merrick Golf Course Clubhouse, 2550 Clubhouse Road, Merrick (9E off Meadowbrook Pkwy) • Time: 12:30-3:30 p.m.; also Aug. 26, 1:30-4:30 p.m. • Contact: (718) 332-7825 or email dance@aol.comDj to reserve
• Where: 11 Davis Ave., Garden City • Time: 2-3 p.m., also Aug. 26 • Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800
Aug Live After Five
Aug
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Chance the Rapper
Chance the Rapper‘s 2016 mixtape Coloring Book just turned 10, and he’s announced a tour to celebrate. The mixtape that changed everything is back as Chance takes a victory lap built around the project that won three Grammys in one night, broke streaming-only records, and turned him from a Chicago underground hero into a generational artist. The Coloring Book itself instantly reshaped what a hip-hop record could be. The mixtape became the first streaming-only project to win a Grammy, and it earned Chance Best New Artist, Best Rap Album, and Best Rap Performance in a single trip to the podium. Songs like “No Problem,” “Same Drugs,” “All Night,” “Blessings,” “Angels,” and “Summer Friends” turned into staples of a generation’s playlists — and fans have been waiting a decade to hear them performed live in full. The setlist on this tour is built to deliver that, plus cuts from the rest of his catalog and his long-awaited 2025 • Where: The Paramount, 370 release Star Line, his first full-length album in six years. Chance is famous New York Ave., Huntington for raising the energy in a room and turning shows into church-tent revivals, • Time: 8 p.m. especially when the gospel-leaning Coloring Book material lands. • Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com
Take Flight Aug Old Westbury Gardens
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welcomes all to Family Night. Discover the fascinating world of birds and bats during this special after-hours experience in the gardens. families are invited to explore Sean Kenney’s Nature Connects exhibit, from 5-8 p.m., the LEGO free-play area, followed by a Birds of Prey show. Participants will meet incredible birds of prey up close and learn what makes them so amazing, plus a Bat Walk, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Registration required. $34, $24 child • Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury • Time: 5 p.m.; Birds of Prey shows at 5:30 and 7 p.m. • Contact: oldwestburygardens. org or call (516) 333-0048
The Midtown Men
Broadway meets classic rock ‘n’ roll when The Midtown Men return to Eisenhower Park. Featuring four original stars of the Tony Award-winning musical Jersey Boys — Christian Hoff, Michael Longoria, Daniel Reichard and J. Robert Spencer — reunited as the Midtown Men celebrate the unforgettable sounds of the 1960s with powerhouse harmonies and infectious energy. Drawing on
more than 1,000 performances together on Broadway, the quartet captivates audiences with their harmonious blend of voices, charismatic stage presence, and a repertoire that seamlessly weaves together iconic hits delivering a nostalgic journey that transcends generations. • Where:Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow • Time: 7 p.m. • Contact: nassaucountyny.gov or (516) 572-0200
Aug George Lucas Memorial Classic
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The Long Island Knights take on the JFK Customs in a great matchup, supporting the Garrin Hagen Foundation.
• Where: Northwell Health Ice Center, 200 Merrick Ave. • Time: 2 p.m. • Contact: LIHockeyEvents.com
Aug NCPD Memorial Run
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The NCPD Memorial 5K steps off at Eisenhower Park.
• Where: Eisenhower Park, East Meadow • Time: 7 p.m.
• Contact: RunSignUp.com
Sen. Steve Aug Rhoads Mobile Office Hours
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State Sen. Rhoads visits Merrick Library. His mobile office hours provide an opportunity for residents to present community concerns and receive assistance with constituent services and related issues.
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Don’t miss out on Merrick’s Live After Five, back for another year. Merrick Community Civic Association hosts an evening dedicated to supporting local businesses. Participating restaurants and shops offer special promotions for the evening for all customers. Enjoy music at the Gazebo near the LIRR (weather permitting). • Where: Along Merrick Avenue, from LIRR to Loines Ave, and into the Merrick Mall • Time: Beginning at 5 p.m.
Long Island’s American Idols
Eisenhower Park’s summer concert series welcomes Constantine Maroulis, Kevin Covais and Robbie Rosen, with special guests. • Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow • Time: 7 p.m. • Contact: nassaucountyny.gov or (516) 572-0200
• Where: 2279 Merrick Ave. • Time: 5:45-7:45 p.m. • Contact: merricklibrary.org
Family movie night
Enjoy a movie under the stars at Eisenhower Park. See “How To Train Your Dragon,” the live-action remake of the 2010 animated film. • Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow • Time: Movie begins at dusk • Contact: nassaucountyny.gov
Citizen Science: Monarch Larva Monitoring Project
Long Island Children’s Museum welcomes families to be a citizen scientist and study monarch butterflies in the
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.
State finalizes social media safeguards for minors jvallone@liherald.com
New York is taking another step to address growing concerns about the impact of social media on children’s mental health, with new regulations that will require platforms to limit addictive features for users under 18. State officials on July 29 released final rules implementing the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation, or SAFE, for Kids Act, which requires social media companies to restrict algorithmically personalized feeds and over night notifications for minors unless they obtain parental consent. Research has linked these features to increased risks of depression, anxiety, eating disorders and sleep disruption among children and teenagers. “When I came into office, our children were in the throes of a full-blown mental health crisis, and as New York’s first mom governor, I felt a moral imperative to act,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said in announcing the regulations. “Today, we’re sending a clear message: our kids’ mental health isn’t for sale.” Under the rules, users young-
er than 18 will no longer receive endless streams of recommended content generated by algorithms unless a parent provides consent. Instead, minors will see posts from accounts they choose to follow in a set order, such as chronological order. Platforms also will be prohibited from sending notifications between midnight and 6 a.m. without parental approval. Attor ney General Letitia James said the regulations establish standards for age verification and parental consent while requiring companies to protect users’ personal information. “The SAFE for Kids Act leads the nation in keeping our children safe online and protecting youth from the devastating effects of unchecked social media,” James said. “Young people are particularly vulnerable to addictive social media features, and my office is committed to protecting all New Yorkers from potentially harmful technologies and companies that try to take advantage of them.” The regulations require companies to verify whether a user is an adult before enabling algorithmically personalized feeds or nighttime notifications. Plat-
MERRICK HERALD — August 13, 2026
By JORDAN VALLONE
Don Pollard/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul
New York Attorney General Letitia James, left, and Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the final regulations implementing the SAFE for Kids Act on July 29. The rules require social media companies to restrict algorithmically personalized feeds and overnight notifications for users under 18 unless they have parental consent. forms may use methods such as uploaded photos or videos, or verify email addresses or phone numbers, but must provide at least one option that does not require a government-issued identification. Any data collect-
ed for age verification must be deleted or de-identified after it is used. The SAFE for Kids Act, signed into law in June 2024, will take effect Jan. 25, 2027, 180 days after the regulations are pub-
lished in the State Register. Companies that violate the law could face civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation, among other enforcement actions by the attorney general’s office.
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August 13, 2026 — MERRICK HERALD
20
Rhoads hosts resource fair to help seniors By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com
More than 300 seniors gathered at Levittown Hall on Aug. 1 for State Sen. Steve Rhoads’ second annual Senior Health Expo & Resource Fair, spending the day connecting with health providers, community organizations and n e i g h b o r s wh i l e l e a r n i n g ab o u t resources designed to help them age safely and independently. Rhoads, who represents East Meadow, Bellmore, Merrick, Wantagh, Seaford and surrounding communities in the Fifth Senate District, hosted the event as a one-stop resource fair featuring more than 40 organizations offering infor mation on veterans’ services, Medicare assistance, home care, wellness programs, grant opportunities and other support available to older adults. Attendees also received free blood pressure screenings, visited a technology help table staffed by Rhoads’ office inter ns for assistance with smartphones and tablets, and enjoyed live music, bingo, trivia, cornhole, giant Jenga, crossword puzzles and refreshments throughout the afternoon. The program also featured an interactive tai chi demonstration highlight-
ing the exercise’s health benefits and an estate planning seminar that provided practical guidance for future planning. “Our seniors have spent a lifetime building our communities, and they deserve every opportunity to age with dignity, independence, and confidence,” Rhoads said. “This Expo was designed to be a one-stop shop where seniors could access important health screenings, connect with resources and services, learn about programs available to them, receive technology assistance, and enjoy a day of fun and fellowship with friends and neighbors.” Rhoads said seeing more than 300 seniors participate in the event reinforced the importance of ensuring older adults have access to the services and information they need. He thanked the dozens of community organizations, health care providers, nonprofit partners and volunteers who helped make the event possible. The Senior Health Expo & Resource Fair is part of Rhoads’ ongoing efforts to support older adults through educational workshops, community partnerships and programs aimed at improving quality of life throughout the Fifth Senate District.
NYU Langone met with seniors during the event.
Public Notices
Photos courtesy Office of State Sen. Steve Rhoads
The office of State Sen. Steve Rhoads hosted its second annual Senior Health Expo & Resource Fair.
300 seniors packed into Levittown Hall to meet with health provides, community organizations and neighbors.
LMER1 0813
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS AS INDENTURE TRUSTEE FOR THE REGISTERED HOLDERS OF SAXON ASSET SECURITIES TRUST 2005-3 MORTGAGE LOAN ASSET BACKED NOTES, SERIES 2005-3 Plaintiff, Against JODI DASHOSH A/K/A JODIE DASHOSH, et al Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment
of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 01/15/2026, 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 8/26/2026 at 3:30PM, premises known as 2110 Vine Drive, Merrick, NY 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 at Merrick in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York. Section 63 Block 321 Lot 13 The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $895,863.35 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 618070/2024 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. Gerard DeGregoris Jr, Esq., Referee. MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC, 10 Midland Avenue, Suite 205, Port Chester, NY 10573 Dated: 6/26/2026 File Number: 20-302849 CA 161339 To Place A Notice Call 516-569-4000 x232
Catholic Health discussed services and resources with those in attendance.
21
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Employment
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Fax your ad to: 516-622-7460 E-mail your ad to: ereynolds@liherald.com E-mail Finds Under $100 to: sales@liherald.com DEADLINE: Monday, 11:00 am for all classified ads.
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ROOSEVELT
CHILDREN’S ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL Established 2000
Roosevelt Children’s Academy Charter School was the first charter school to be established in Long Island, New York. We are always looking for NYS Certified energetic Teachers, RTI/ELA Teachers. Response To Intervention/English Language Arts Teachers. Special Education (Special Ed) Teacher, and Substitute Teachers to join our organization.
SCOPE EDUCATION SERVICES
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STARTING SALARIES • Teacher • RTI/ELA TEACHERS • Special Ed
BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL CHILD CARE PROGRAMS
• Substitute Teachers - $40K
For The Before & After School Child Care Programs That Will Be Opening For The 2026 - 2027 School Year In Nassau and Suffolk County Elementary Schools
Bachelor Cert $54,308.70K Master Cert $59,847.63K
rdillehay@rcacs.org
Main Location 111 Pleasant Avenue, Roosevelt, New York 11575 516-867-6202 • www.rcacs.org EMPLOYMENT Help Wanted
Bookkeeper/Gal/Guy Friday
AR/AP; Bank Recs, General Office Duties, Maintain Monthly Reports, Review Monthly Mgmnt Reports. HS Diploma Required. Word, Excel and Quick Books. Salary Range $26 - $30/Hr. Email Resume: rita@13associatesllc.com
Building Maintenance Assistant and Porter
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DENTAL ASSISTANT
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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
$17.00
SCOPE IS HIRING
1357167
IF YOU THINK YOU CAN ADD TO THE FOCUS OF RCACS PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR COVER LETTER AND RESUME TO
$35,360
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. H i s t o r i c a l l y, r e p o r t e r s w h o h ave 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
MEDICAL SECRETARY
P/T - F/T F/T: 9-12 Saturdays A Must Pediatrician's Office Flexible Days Office Experience Preferred But Not Necessary $17-$20 Per Hour 516-680-5771
(Salary is $17.00 per hour)
Hiring Directors, Assistants, Group Leaders and Substitutes. Up to a $500 Signing Bonuses, Scholarships and Employee Referrals Questions call: 631-360-0800 ext. 149 or send a resume to: cc@scopeonline.us SCOPE Education is an equal opportunity Employer 1356440
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
PHARMACY CLERK/ CASHIER Afternoon Shifts & Saturdays Gelo's Point Pharmacy Located At 62 Lido Blvd, Point Lookout. Please Send Your Resume To: gelospharmacy@gmail.com or Call The Pharmacy At 516-889-3444 Ask For Kathleen 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
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HERALD — August 13, 2026
HERALD
August 13, 2026 — HERALD
22
E2 08/13
Homes
HERALD
To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5
HOME Of tHE WEEK
• To place an ad call 516-569-4000 press 5
Seaford
Stunning New Construction
Planning an extra-large doorway
Q. I want to remove some walls on the first floor of my building to enlarge from one store to the other. I’ve gotten a few estimates, and each one includes different beams for the doorway header. The opening will be 10 feet wide. How do I know whether I should use wood, steel, or something called a fish beam? A. The whole thing sounds fishy to me. It sounds like you’re hiring cathedral builders. That’s my nickname for contrac‑ tors who save you money by using “rule of thumb” methods. You see, in medieval Europe, when cathedrals were being built, as many as 100 people would die if the stone walls collapsed in an under‑structured build‑ onte eeper ing. Not having our technol‑ ogy and engineering knowl‑ edge, they simply beefed up the structure and started over (stopping long enough for large funerals, of course). Having untrained contractors render the most important opinion about your business, or your life, is a foolhardy endeavor. It’s penny‑wise and ton‑foolish. Many factors are involved in this decision. First of all, depending on the type of construction and “fire limits” set by the fire commissioner and your local code, your new doorway — 10 feet sounds awfully large to call a doorway — may need fire protectives, such as a sprinkler system, automatic closure devices, such as rolling shutters, or special fire‑retardant materials. Next, the type of construction, and the use of upper floors or roofs, must be determined, and calcu‑ lated by a series of code‑ and engineering‑related equations. Imagine forgetting about that 2,000‑pound air conditioning unit overhead, or the fact that the accountant upstairs has file cabinets filled with paper‑ work (at 100 pounds per square foot!) or that a column comes down right above your new door opening. Hire an architect or engineer, even on a consulta‑ tion. As far as “fish plates” are concerned, the word is “flitch” plate, and just the pronunciation mistake is enough signal to me that somebody knows just enough to get you into trouble, but maybe not enough to get you out. A flitch plate is a steel plate that can range from an eighth of an inch thick up to an inch or more. The height and width are determined by calcu‑ lating several factors. The steel plate is bolted between wood joists of the same height. There are more calculations for this “sandwich” beam, as it’s also known, than for other types of simple beams, because the characteristics of the steel, the wood and the bolts all require separate calculations. As Evel Knievel used to say, “Kids, don’t try this at home.” Even if your trusty steel supplier comes up with the calculations, you should be careful. I recently looked at a beam that was “sized” at the steel yard. I called them after calculating that the beam was undersized, and asked how they figured out what beam to sell. The man replied that he “used the info provided by the contractor.” Enough said. Your insurance company won’t settle if everything wasn’t done to code, in case of a failure of the beam, fire, accident or lack of building permits. Be smart. Be careful.
Ask The Architect
M
S
tunning 4-bedroom, 2.5 bath Colonial located in the heart of Seaford Manor. This 3100 square foot home to be built has everything, a spacious living room, formal dining room, family room with a gas fireplace. Get out your recipe book because you are going to want to cook in this stunning eat-inkitchen with quartz island, countertops and stainless-steel appliances. It also has gleaming hardwood floors and recessed lighting throughout the house. The master bedroom suite has full bath with a soaking, double sinks plus a walk-in closet with hi tray ceilings and a chandelier. The house has central air along with central vacuum and laundry room on the second floor. It also has wainscotting, crown molding on first floor, 9-foot ceilings on main floor and 8-foot ceilings on the upstairs levels. Enjoy a full finished basement with an outside entrance, multi-car garage and black-top driveway. It is definitely a must see. Asking price $1,399,000.
REAL ESTATE Real Estate WE BUY HOUSES for Cash AS IS! No repairs. No fuss. Any condition. Easy three step process: Call, get cash offer and get paid. Get your fair cash offer today by calling Liz Buys Houses: 1-888-704-5670
Apartments For Rent MERRICK: 1 BR, 2nd Floor, No Pets. $1,400/ Monthly. 2 Months Security Plus Electric. By Owner. 516-486-6139
Rooms For Rent ROCKVILLE CENTRE: SUNNY Private Entrance, Walking Distance South Nassau Hospital, Share Bath, Negotiable. 516-913-0804.
Cemetery Plots TWO BURIAL PLOTS FOR SALE. New Montifiore Cemetery. Desirable location. $5,000 per grave (below current pricing). Please email or call: Nechul333@gmail.com 516-316-0497
Rent Your Apartment through the Herald and PrimeTime Classified section. Call us for our great *specials. 516-569-4000, press 5 for Classified Dept. *(private party only)
LAURA DUPKIN MEMISHA Licensed Broker Associate laura@therealtyadvisors.com Cell: 516.984.0343 Office: 516.826.1111 Realty Advisors 3341 Park Ave. Wantagh NY 11793
Helping you find a HOME or sell a HOME … a place to call your own. Suburb or country, house, condo, townhouse or apartment, our Classifieds can help you find a HOME that fits your style, your budget and Real Estate needs... it’s a MUST SEE!
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© 2026 Monte Leeper Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.
23
E3 08/13
Market Place • •
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MERRICK HERALD — August 13, 2026
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August 13, 2026 — MERRICK HERALD
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Answers to todAy’s puzzle
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opinions
wo weeks ago, the Mets honored their 1986 team on the 40th anniversary of its World Series championship season. That was the last time the Mets won it all, and unfortunately, it looks like it will be a while before they reach that pinnacle again. That 1986 team was one for the ages, replete with stars, superstars and gritty players who never quit. It was also a team known for what might have been. No Mets squad before or since has had a better season, or such a complete unit with so much talent, ego, disparate personalities and a manager who could fit all the pieces together and make them work so remarkably close to perfection. The team won 108 regular-season games, the ninth-highest in history, and finished 21½ games ahead of their closest NL East rival, the Phillies. The most spectacular superstar was Dwight Gooden, a boy wonder who at 21 had more pitching achievements than anyone ever at his age. Similarly, Darryl
Strawberry, a young slugger with limitless ability, seemed to be headed to the Hall of Fame. Gary Carter was baseball’s leading catcher, and a clutch power hitter who did have a Hall of Fame career. Team leader Keith Hernandez was a fierce competitor, and generally acknowledged to be the best defensive first basemen ever. Other players, though not quite superstars, were top-flight talent who knew how to win: pitchers Ron Darling, Bobby Ojeda and Jesse Orosco and fielders Ray Knight, Howard Johnson, Mookie Wilson, Kevin Mitchell, Tim Teufel and Lee Mazzilli. There were also brawlers like Wally Backman and Lenny Dykstra, who would do virtually anything to win. The ringmaster of this assemblage was Manager Davey Johnson, who was not only one of the first managers to use a computer, but also relied on gut instinct. Johnson was a unique oldschool/analytics composite. The playoff series against the Astros, highlighted by a sixth-game, 16-inning come-from-behind win, put the Mets in the Series against the Red Sox, which proved to be a classic. The
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Mets were one out away from losing the sixth game, and the Series, when they staged a miracle comeback to win, and then took Game Seven as well. They were on top of the baseball world, and looking like a dynasty for years to come. But it wasn’t to be. The first sign of what was to come went largely unnoticed at the time. Gooden was missing from the ticker-tape parade up Fifth Avenue. Fans were told he had overslept after too much celebration, but the reality, as would become known the following year, was that Gooden was a drug addict and had missed the parade because he was on a cocaine binge. While he would have several more good seasons, he was never the same. Strawberry had troubles of his own, and left the Mets for the Dodgers after the 1990 season. Like Gooden, Strawberry had serious drug problems, and never played again as a regular after 1991. Several other key players in the ’86 soon left the Mets. After a contract squabble, Knight left for Baltimore. Mitchell was traded because he was considered a disruptive influence, and
rom boy wonders to brawlers to a future Hall of Famer, they were a unique squad.
Dykstra was always a self-destructive wild man. He was traded to the Phillies in ’89. After he retired, Dykstra served in prison for crimes including bankruptcy fraud, money laundering, grand theft and making terrorist threats. For a host of reasons, the Mets never again had the cohesion they had in 1986. I should add that Strawberry went on to overcome his drug problems, and cancer, and is now a true model citizen. I’ve met him a number of times and seen him interact with young kids. You couldn’t ask for a nicer guy. Gooden has had his ups and downs but is also, by all accounts, a good guy. Certainly he has been that way whenever I’ve seen him at events. I’ve also had the chance to meet other 1986 Mets, including Hernandez, Darling, Teufel and Wilson, and they’re all a credit to the game. Gooden, Strawberry, Hernandez and Howard Johnson were elected to the Mets Hall of Fame, and Carter was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Most of all, to Mets fans, the ’86 team will always bring back great memories. Let’s go, Mets! Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.
On progressive Democrats, misbehavers and oldsters
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s the midsummer mark came and went, the nation was dealing with two types of heat waves. One has scorched communities throughout the country with conditions that were never anticipated by any weather forecaster. The other is occurring in Washington, D.C., and around the country, in the form of political scandals and party upheavals whose results will play out in November. It’s difficult to choose one event as the most dramatic, but it’s worth recounting them one by one. The Michigan Democratic primary produced an unexpected victory by progressive candidate Dr. Abdul El-Sayed. President Trump won the state of Michigan in three elections, but with his popularity at an all-time low, a far-left candidate who won on the issue of affordability shouldn’t be counted out. And New York City residents shouldn’t be surprised by the Michigan result, considering that there’s a socialist mayor in City Hall. Republicans of every color of the
political spectrum are jumping for joy over the Michigan results, but the socialist-aligned El-Sayed could well upset the apple cart thanks to a very unpopular president, who is losing support nationally from independents and some Republicans. A Trump-endorsed candidate might not be as popular in November as party officials think. Back in the nation’s capital, Republicans are facing numerous headwinds. Two members of Congress have been accused of conduct that is disqualifying in the current climate. Rep. Chuck Edwards, of North Carolina, dropped his re-election bid after the House Ethics Committee released a report finding that he engaged in inappropriate conduct with congressional staff members. And as of this writing, Rep. Max Miller, of Ohio, was vowing to continue campaigning for re-election despite growing calls for him to drop out amid reports of alleged spousal abuse. Ordinarily, the missteps of two House members would be of no consequence, but House Republicans have a very small majority, and the potential loss of two seats is a big deal in what promises to be a difficult election year. On top of
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that, Republicans are dealing with the problem of rapidly aging Senate members, who are no longer reliable votes when they’re needed. Former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, of Kentucky, has been hospitalized for weeks, and his potential to return to work is questionable. Like the House, the Senate is a big headache for Republicans. There the average age is 64, compared with the average age of 57 for the House. Sen. Charles Grassley, of Iowa, is 92, and he has many oldtimers to keep him company on the Senate floor. While Sen. Bernie Sanders, the Vermont independent, is 84, and Angus King, the independent from Maine, is 82, the Democrats aren’t in trouble if either of them is sidelined. Contrast these old guys with Senators Jon Ossoff, of Georgia, and Andy Kim, of New Jersey, who are 39 and 44, respectively. Not everyone is sitting still when it comes to the large number of aging elected officials. Nick Tomboulides, the head of U.S. Term Limits, a nonpartisan group, is seeking to limit the number of terms that federal officials can serve in office to three terms, or six years, in the
emocrats are dealing with the S word, and Republicans are facing strong headwinds.
House and two terms, or 12 years, in the Senate. Tomboulides says that “incumbency is the problem for elected officials who can easily be re-elected and view their positions as a lifetime job.” What compels public officials to stay in office long after their shelf life seems to have expired? Some simply love the job and enjoy the prestige that comes with it. They have no problem getting restaurant reservations, and love being catered to by the airlines. Others actually focus on getting things done, and their experience is of great value when it comes to government problem-solving. But today there are many much younger people who are ready, willing and able to take on the challenge of public life. To date, Congress has been largely unwilling to discipline its members when they engage in unprofessional conduct. Many members know about colleagues who break the rules but are afraid to blow the whistle on them. And as for the aging senators, it’s up to the voters to give them a hard look, and not just vote for the most familiar faces. 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.
MERRICK HERALD — August 13, 2026
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That unforgettable Mets team of 40 years ago
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Herald editorial
Merrick
August 13, 2026 — MERRICK HERALD
HERALD and Merrick Herald News Established 1994
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Vote on issues, not the scoreboard
very election season follows a familiar script. News reports dissect the latest polls. Campaigns celebrate statistical bump as if they’ve won a championship. Political commentators debate momentum, speculate about strategy and spend countless hours analyzing who’s ahead and who’s falling behind. Somewhere along the way, the issues that will shape our neighborhoods often become secondary. Elections aren’t sporting events, and voters shouldn’t approach them as if they’re rooting for a favorite team. Polls may provide a snapshot of public opinion at a specific moment, but they are not ballots and do not evaluate policies. The danger of treating elections like horse races is that the conversation shifts away from substance. Instead of asking how candidates plan to solve problems, voters are encouraged to ask who appears more likely to win. Instead of examining competing visions for the future, too many people focus on campaign tactics, fundraising totals and social media trends. Who has the best ideas for addressing housing costs, improving public safety, strengthening schools and the many other challenges ahead must not be forgotten. Our communities need voters who are informed, engaged and motivated to familiarize themselves with the choices
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letters Time to stop Liberty Water rate increases To the Editor: Merrick and Bellmore residents face an outrageous 37 percent water bill increase requested by Liberty Utilities. Coupled with annual hikes of 13 percent to 17 percent between 2024 and 2026, our water costs will have nearly doubled since Liberty took control in 2022. Forcing neighbors to absorb another massive increase for a basic necessity is unacceptable when a solution already exists to lower our water bills. In November 2021, New York state created the South Nassau Water Authority to transition our water system into a public, taxexempt entity. Because public authorities operate without corporate profits or special tax burdens, this transition would immediately lower our water bills. Yet nearly five years later, the SNWA board has made no tangible
before them. Every election, from town boards and county legislatures to statewide offices, affects the quality of life in our neighborhoods. Decisions made by those officials influence taxes, zoning, infrastructure, emergency services, transportation, parks and economic development. Polling has a legitimate place in politics. It can reveal public concerns and identify emerging issues. But it also has limitations. It reflects opinions only at the time respondents are surveyed, and history has shown that polls can miss late shifts in public sentiment. More important, polls do not tell voters which candidate has the best ideas or values. That requires looking beyond campaign commercials, viral video clips and carefully crafted slogans. Voters should compare candidates’ positions on the issues that matter most. How would they address property taxes? What are their plans for housing, public safety and education? How would they manage taxpayer dollars? What are their priorities for infrastructure and economic growth? Fortunately, the information is available. Attend candidate debates and forums. Read policy proposals and campaign websites. Learn about incumbents’ records instead of relying solely on their promises. Ask candidates thoughtful questions when they appear
before civic groups and community organizations. Read the Herald, which follows local government throughout the year, not just during campaign season. The closer elections become, the more intense the horse-race coverage usually gets. Headlines focus on who gained two percentage points or whose campaign appears to have more energy. Yet when the votes are counted and the campaign signs come down, those numbers quickly fade into history. When Election Day arrives, the latest polls will no longer matter. The decisions made by those who are elected will. Budgets will be adopted, services funded, roads repaired, development approved and taxes set. Those choices affect residents long after campaign momentum has faded. An informed vote is one of the most powerful tools any citizen possesses. It should be based not on who appears to be winning, but on who has earned the public’s confidence with his or her ideas, experience and clear vision for the future. This election season, ignore the scoreboard. Study the issues. Evaluate the candidates. Ask difficult questions. Then cast your ballot based on informed judgment. That is how democracy works best, and how our communities will be best served.
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opinions
hether I’m at a community event, meeting with constituents or talking with neighbors, I often hear the same concern: it is increasingly harder to afford living on Long Island. Families are feeling squeezed by rising utility bills and higher auto insurance premiums, housing, health care and child care costs, all combined with the economic instability of our global markets, which drives everyday expenses up. In Albany, I prioritized feasible legislative solutions that ease this financial burden so families can continue to work, raise their children and revitalize our local economy. Affordability isn’t a single policy, but it’s an issue that shapes nearly every decision made in your household. I believe the government has a responsibility to ease people’s financial burden by lowering overall costs where possible, holding corporations accountable, and investing in our state’s services and workforce. This legislative session reflects that commitment through practical investments, reforms and measures designed to lower costs and prop-
Letters progress. There is no timeline for the transition, no contract for sale, and no negotiations on sale price. Meanwhile, the Republican-controlled Town of Hempstead, under Supervisor John Ferretti, and the Nassau County Legislature, under Executive Bruce Blakeman, who appointed the SNWA board, remain silent. They refuse to pressure the board to act or replace them for their inaction. The longer our elected officials fail to act, the more residents will see unnecessary increases in the cost of basic necessities. Residents must stop accepting this broken status quo. We must show up, speak out, and demand that our officials deliver the public water system promised years ago.
erty taxes for working families and small businesses. One of the biggest concerns is the rising cost of utilities. For too long, Long Islanders have wondered whether they can absorb another increase in their electric or gas bill. This year’s stjhate budget, which I supported, increases oversight of utility companies by strengthening scrutiny of executive compensation, rates of return, and costs passed on to consumers. Simply put, the budget favors ratepayers over utilities when they seek rate increases, increasing transparency and accountability in a rate-setting process that all too often excludes the most important voices, ratepayers. The budget also established the Protecting Our Wallets Energy Rebates program, providing energy rebate checks for eligible households. Joint filers with incomes under $150,000 will receive a $200 check, those between $150,000 and $300,000 will receive a $150 check, and single filers under $150,000 will receive a $100 check. This initiative will helps alleviate the financial pressures people are facing. Keeping costs down also means making informed decisions about our energy future. That’s why I supported a responsible pause on large-scale data center
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expansion while our state agencies evaluate their long-term impact on utility costs and on the resources of local municipalities. While these projects create temporary construction jobs, they also place enormous demands on our electric grid that drive up costs that shouldn’t be passed on to ratepayers. Studying the long-term effects of data centers helps ensure that economic development doesn’t come at the expense of higher utility bills or our quality of life. Auto insurance is another growing burden for many families. Too often, people with clean driving records find themselves paying more because of fraud, costly litigation or outdated rating practices. I’m proud to have advanced reforms that limit excessive insurance profits and require those profits to be returned to policyholders. Just as important, insurers are no longer permitted to base rates on factors such as ZIP code, education level, occupation or homeownership status, ensuring fairness and equitable rate-setting practices across the board for prospective or current policyholders. Affordability also means making it possible for parents to remain in the workforce. This year’s budget includes a $3 billion investment in child care subsidies, along with a restored $116 million
ffordability isn’t a single policy, but it shapes nearly every decision in your household.
for after-school programs and community-based child care services, helping more families balance work and raising children. Finally, we must ensure that Long Island remains economically viable for our seniors, who are facing a 62 percent increase in poverty driven by soaring utility bills and health care costs, alongside young families building their futures. I advocated for $250 million for affordable housing development in the state budget, creating more opportunities for residents to remain in the communities they call home. When our teachers, first responders, health care workers, skilled tradespeople, small business owners, seniors and young professionals can afford to live here, we all reap the benefits. The financial challenges facing New Yorkers didn’t appear overnight, and they won’t disappear overnight. But by lowering utility costs, reforming auto insurance, expanding access to child care, investing in housing and providing direct financial relief, I remain fully committed to delivering on pragmatic policies that lower costs and ensure that Long Island remains a place where families can thrive. While no single program can solve the entirety of the affordability crisis we are facing, these initiatives are a good start, while recognizing that there is still much work to be done. Judy Griffin represents the 21st Assembly District.
FrAmeWork by Tim Baker
MICHAEL VANuNu Merrick Editors’ note: In June, Town of Hempstead Supervisor John Ferretti called on state regulators to reject Liberty New York Water’s proposed rate increases, arguing that the hikes would place an undue burden on Long Island residents already struggling with rising costs.
And now, the swimming portion of the competition at the 50th-anniversary canoe races in Cow Meadow Park — Freeport
MERRICK HERALD — August 13, 2026
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Combating escalating costs on Long Island
The Experts at U.S. News Agree: Mount Sinai South Nassau is High Performing
mountsinai.org/southnassau 1358581
August 13, 2026 — MERRICK HERALD
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