Nassau Herald 03-05-2026

Hewlett High robotics team takes L.I. title

By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com

Hewlett High School became the epicenter of innovation and competition when it hosted the Long Island Robotics Championships last weekend, welcoming 24 top student teams from across the region for a high-energy showcase of science, technology and teamwork.

The event highlighted not only the growing popularity of FIRST — For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology —robotics programs, but also the strength of Hewlett High’s teams, Bionica, Innovo and RoboBoogie, which had standout performances against some of Long Island’s top competitors.

“I remember the excitement Mr. Birkenstock had when he told the executive board that we were hosting this,” Robotics Club President Benjamin Zelikoff said, referring to Hewlett teacher Daniel Duffey-

Episcopal Health Services opens new cancer center

By AIDAN WARSHAVSKY awarshavsky@liherald.com

For over a decade, the Rockaway peninsula has been without direct access to radiation oncology services. Now residents can be cared for close by, at Episcopal Health Services’ new cancer center at the Walsh Ambulatory Pavilion.

Opened on Feb. 26, the center, spanning 50,000 square feet across five floors, is the first specialty service in the building. In addition to radiation oncology, the $18 million addition to the EHS network will continue to offer medical oncology services, while its neighbor

across the street, St. John’s Episcopal Hospital, will continue providing surgical oncology.

Donald Morrish, EHS’s president and chief executive officer, said in a news release that the cancer center’s opening marks a significant step forward in providing high-quality care for the community.

“By investing in advanced technology, new facilities, and expert physicians,” Morrish stated, “we are strengthening our ability to diagnose, treat and support patients through every phase of their cancer journey.”

The opening of the center, which will have the capability

of treating nearly 30 types of cancer, ends a 14-year absence of radiation oncology service in the Rockaways. The treatment was previously offered by the Peninsula Hospital Center, which closed in April 2012 after filing for bankruptcy. Its closure forced patients to seek care in Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and Nassau County.

The state Department of Health ranks cancer as New York’s second-leading cause of death, behind heart disease. Each year, nearly 115,000 New Yorkers are diagnosed with cancer, with 56 percent of cancer deaths related to tobacco use.

EHS’s interest in improving

care for the 200,000 residents of the Rockaways stems from findings published in its annual Community Health Needs Assessments. In 2024 they identified 14 types of cancer, including colorectal and pancreatic, that had higher rates locally than those in New York City. In its 2025 assessment, which surveyed more than 200 partici -

pants, EHS found that 22 percent of the respondents had to leave the peninsula for oncology care.

Patients at the center will also have access to immunotherapy, hormone therapy and clinical trials. It will offer supportive services such as cancer navigation, oncology social

Please join us for a special Shabbat March 13th - 14th with Scholar in Residence Rahel Musleah Namaste Means Shalom: The Heritage of

the Jews of India

Friday evening SERVICE & DINNER (Dinner is $45/personReservations required) Rahel will begin our Scholar-in-Residence Shabbat with a talk entitled Jewish Calcutta Through Music and Memory.

Shabbat morning SERVICE

Rahel’s devar Torah, Recreating Community through Prayer, will compare Ashkenazi and Sephardi prayer traditions, and explores the mysticism in the Sephardi siddur.

Shabbat afternoon following LUNCH

Rahel will give a talk: From Shipwrecks to Maharajas. This program includes the unusual Bene Israel Malida, a ritual of thanksgiving with food and song. The talk traces the saga of lost tribes, shipwrecks, and remote villages that comprise India’s oldest Jewish communities.

Please call or email the office to make dinner reservations 516-569-2700 • office@bethelcedarhurst.org

Rabbis and students of Yeshiva Ketana of Long Island celebrate the school’s

Purim Extravaganza in Inwood, on March 1.

Purim festivities at Yeshiva Ketana

Rabbis and students of Yeshiva Ketana of Long Island celebrate the school’s annual Purim Extravaganza in Inwood, on March 1.

This year’s event featured a golf theme, with a miniature golf course built specifically for the celebration.

The festive Jewish holiday, which began March 2, commemorates the saving of the Jewish people from a plot to annihilate them in the ancient Persian Empire.

Five Towns teens shine at annual CTeen International Summit

By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com

As thousands of Jewish teens from around the world gathered at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum for the 18th annual CTeen International Summit, 10 members of the Chabad of the Five Towns CTeen chapter were among those taking part in what organizers called the largest gathering of Jewish teens in the world.

The local teens joined more than 4,500 participants representing roughly 900 chapters across 60 countries for the summit, which culminated in the “Live the Life Event,” on Feb. 22. The program, broadcast globally, focused on encouraging teens to embrace and publicly express their Jewish identity at a time of rising antisemitism and social pressure.

“It ignites a sense of Jewish pride that stays with our teens way longer after this weekend ends,” said Hadassah Geisinsky, Chabad of the Five Towns CTeen director. “it gives them confidence to live their faith openly and happily in a world that challenges their values of being a teen.”

She said this experience taught the kids that they are part of something much larger than themselves or their Five Towns CTeen chapter.

“The goal is to ignite and love for that passion of being a Jew,” Geisinsky said. “It gives them the feeling that they are a leader and to bring all this to your community. It’s more than inspiring, it empowers the teens.”

For Five Towns participants, the experience offered both a sense of connection and empowerment, as they stood alongside peers facing similar challenges in schools and communities worldwide. The summit’s theme emphasized living Jewish values openly and confidently.

“Seeing everyone being Jewish and having a sense of pride for it was truly amazing to me,” said Olivia Rubin, leader of the Five Towns CTeen chapter.

Rubin, a junior at Hewlett High School, joined CTeen because she heard all of her friends talk about it and wanted

to be involved in a Jewish organization. She said her favorite part of the weekend was hearing first-hand stories from hostages held captive by Gaza in the Oct. 7, 2023 war.

“I had only heard a point of view from soldiers, never from a hostage,” she said. “I learned that if you have ambition to see the person you love, it gives you the courage to stay alive.”

The closing ceremony featured a range of speakers and performers, including UCLA student Eli Tsives, who has spoken out against campus antisemitism, and

Jewish content creators using social media to promote Jewish pride. Athletes, entrepreneurs and musician Nissim Black also appeared, highlighting expressions of Jewish identity across different fields.

“Standing in that arena, surrounded by the future, you feel the strength and the hope of this generation,” Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, chairman of Chabad’s global networks, wrote in a statement. “When thousands of diverse teens gather with this kind of clarity and pride, it creates energy that spreads to their communities across the globe.”

A delegation from Bondi Beach in Australia underscored the global nature of the movement, while one of the most anticipated moments included remarks from recently freed hostages, who shared messages of resilience and faith.

For teens from the Five Towns, the weekend was not just about attending a large-scale event close to home, but about bringing its message back to their own schools and communities — choosing, as organizers emphasized, not to respond to hate with retreat, but with visibility, pride and light.

“I feel like if you’re a very outgoing, talkative person like me then CTeen is for you,” Rubin added. “I didn’t see myself being different during the weekend and I loved that.”

To learn more about Chabad of the Five Towns’s CTeen chapter, contact Hadassah Geisinsky at (516) 458-3694.

Tensions flare over slow snow cleanup in Hewlett Woodmere

By AIDAN WARSHAVSKY awarshavsky@liherald.com

While most people have forgotten about last week’s blizzard that dumped two feet of snow, HewlettWoodmere’s district leaders are criticizing CVS Pharmacy after snow was piled several feet high along the sidewalk on Peninsula Boulevard leading to the Woodmere Middle School.

District Superintendent Dina Anzalone addressed the situation at the board of education meeting at Hewlett High School on Feb. 25 and said that CVS’ failure to clear the sidewalk threatened student safety.

“My students cannot be forced onto Peninsula Boulevard,” Anzalone said recalling a phone call with CVS’ corporate office the Tuesday morning following the storm. “You need to clear this.”

Town of Hempstead code requires business owners during winter to maintain their sidewalks during snowy and icy conditions. There is no timeframe listed in the code for how long sidewalks can remain uncleared.

The district made several attempts to rectify the issue, as middle school security spoke with store staff and attempted to contact their corporate office. During a phone call

between Anzalone and the Nassau County Police Department, she was told that it’s a town issue. It wasn’t until members of Hewlett-Woodmere’s facilities department went over and cleared a path that students could make it to school safely.

A similar situation happened dur -

ing the January storm, when a foot of snow and sub-freezing temperatures hit the region. While CVS plowed its parking lot, the sidewalk was left unshoveled, forcing students to walk on Peninsula Boulevard during rush hour, which drew wide criticism from parents.

“They just pushed the snow into a wall,” Board of Trustees President Debi Sheinin said. “CVS didn’t care at all when the district called them. Last storm too.”

Frustrations over the snow shifted to side streets in the community, as the district noted its dissatisfaction with the Town of Hempstead. Driving around the community last week, plows left mounds of snow along the curbs, which students would also have to climb over. “You should be reaching out for the poor job that they did cleaning the streets,” Anzalone said.

Before the storm began, Anzalone worked with the Hewlett Woodmere Business Association, ensuring that sidewalks outside of businesses such as Broadway were clear.

Many school facility workers slept in the district Sunday night before to the storm, to ensure they could be there on Monday to begin the cleanup process. Anzalone said she was pleased with their hard work and dedication to reopen the district and reminded students to thank them.

“They really moved their backs just to make sure that school was ready for you,” Anzalone said. “It was a huge effort to open up and make sure that your children were safe.”

How Giving Increases Wealth

HAFTR students join in ‘Letters of Light’

Eighth-grade students at the Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway Middle School took part in a handson service and arts initiative last week, using creativity to support Israeli soldiers through the “Letters of Light” program.

The program, facilitated by The 8 Project — an organization founded by former IDF officer and ZAKA volunteer Tomer Peretz — focuses on helping former soldiers cope with physical injuries and trauma by transforming their experiences into artistic expression.

During the workshop, led by facilitator Shahad, students painted and decorated repurposed military uniforms with messages and imagery centered on strength, gratitude, faith and hope. The activity encouraged students to express support and appreciation for Israeli soldiers in a tangible, personal way.

School officials said the project allowed students to translate feelings of

solidarity into action, while deepening their connection to soldiers who have remained in their thoughts and prayers. Participants worked collaboratively, carefully designing each piece to reflect themes of resilience and unity. The completed works will serve as symbolic gestures of encouragement for those who have served.

The initiative is part of HAFTR Middle School’s ongoing efforts to engage students in acts of service and community involvement. Educators noted that students have consistently supported Israel through prayer, creative projects and organized efforts over the past two years.

The “Letters of Light” program provided another opportunity for students to channel compassion and creativity while reinforcing a sense of shared responsibility and connection to the broader Jewish community.

— Melissa Berman

Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway High School

Sondheim’s “Into the Woods” to life next week for their spring musical.

HAFTR students venture “Into the Woods” for spring musical

By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com

Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway High School students are preparing to bring Stephen Sondheim’s “Into the Woods” to life next week, taking on a complex and layered production that highlights both their artistic growth and the strength of the school’s theater program.

“Into the Woods” blends classic fairy tales: “Cinderella”, “Little Red Riding Hood”, “Jack and the Beanstalk”, and “Rapunzel” into a story about a childless baker and his wife attempting to reverse a witch’s curse.

Performances are scheduled for March 12 from 7 to 9 p.m. and March 15 from 4 to 6 p.m. in the high school auditorium, marking the first show in the school’s new performance space.

Senior Lily Schlussel stars as the Narrator, a role that remains onstage throughout much of the production and helps guide the audience through the story while actively participating in it.

“The Narrator is visible throughout the show and plays an active role in advancing the story,” Schlussel said. “She guides the audience through the action but is also part of it.”

Schlussel said the role has allowed her to focus more deeply on acting and storytelling, rather than vocals alone.

“I like that this role isn’t focused mainly on singing,” she said. “It gives me the chance to really focus on storytelling and being present in each moment.”

Fellow senior Hailie Avigdor takes on the role of Cinderella, whom she described as a grounded and thoughtful presence in the story.

“Cinderella serves as the voice of reason in the show,” Avigdor said.

To prepare, Avigdor said she has spent significant time on vocal training to meet the demands of Sondheim’s intricate score.

“The music is challenging, so it requires a lot of work and commitment,” she added.

She highlighted “Your Fault” as one of the most demanding numbers and “No

One Is Alone” as one of the most powerful moments in the show.

Director Ariana Wolfson said she selected “Into the Woods” for its rich storytelling and musical complexity, as well as its broad appeal.

“Sondheim’s writing and music are incredible,” Wolfson said. “The show is complex and layered, but still familyfriendly.”

Wolfson said the cast has developed a strong sense of unity throughout rehearsals.

“They support each other, have fun together, and truly feel like one big family,” she said.

For Wolfson, the most rewarding part of the process has been watching students grow into their roles.

“Seeing the vision come to life on stage is very special,” Wolfson said. “Watching the students grow into their characters is incredibly rewarding.”

Musical director Heather Kanner said the production has pushed students both vocally and emotionally, particularly given the difficulty of Sondheim’s score and the limited rehearsal time.

“The music throughout this show is extremely challenging, but the students have fully committed to it,” Kanner said.

She noted that songs like “Your Fault” requires precise timing and coordination, while others, including a late-show number centered on supporting one another, have taken on deeper emotional meaning for the cast especially for graduating seniors.

Kanner said the students have risen to the challenge by working collaboratively and building confidence.

“They’ve worked hard, supported one another, and stayed committed to the process,” she said.

Both directors emphasized that the production reflects months of effort behind the scenes, with students balancing complex harmonies, staging and storytelling.

“This is one of the most difficult shows a high school can attempt,” Kanner said. “The students have truly worked tirelessly to bring it all together.”

INGA FRUMAN

The physical therapist with a mission to serve

By HAILEY FULMER hfulmer@liherald.com

Emilian Emeagwali has built a life rooted in service, driven by a deep, generational commitment to uplifting and supporting the community around her.

Born and raised in Onitsha, Nigeria, Emeagwali, 60, emigrated to the United States in 1992, where she faced a dramatic change of lifestyle. In Nigeria, she had been surrounded by support, with help raising a baby girl and managing her daily responsibilities. “Everybody was helping with the baby,” she said. “I was like a queen.”

In America there was no such support system, leaving her to adjust to life with just her husband and their daughter, and to take on a variety of responsibilities herself, from child care to cooking and cleaning.

Determined to adapt, Emeagwali immersed herself in American culture. She spent time watching movies, listening to the news and reading books to better understand her new environment. Even everyday things like food and weather required adjustment.

After moving from Nigeria, Emeagwali received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Brooklyn College. In 2003 she enrolled at Stony Brook University, where she earned a doctorate degree in physical therapy. Balancing school and family life proved difficult, because she was commuting 50 miles from Elmont and now caring for two children.

Despite these challenges, Emeagwali remained focused on her goal of helping others. After finishing her degree, she was motivated to continue her education by a desire to make an impact.

Her psychology classes helped her understand how to approach and connect with people, but she ultimately felt she could make a greater difference through physical therapy. While working as a therapist’s assistant in hospital settings, she became dissatisfied with the fastpaced environment, in which she often treated multiple patients in a short period of time.

Wanting to provide more personalized care, Emeagwali decided to open her own practice. In 2007 she founded State of the Art PT OT, a clinic in Valley Stream that has now been serving patients for nearly two decades. Her approach centers on treating people with the same care and attention she would give her own family.

That philosophy, she said, stems from her upbringing. As a child, she watched her parents give money to people in need, ensuring that they had food to eat. That instilled in her a lasting commitment to helping others and giving back.

“That is how I was raised,” she said. “I think that was embedded in me when growing up.”

In 2009, Emeagwali expanded that mission by founding the nonprofit Giving Back to Community Corp., headquartered in Valley Stream. The organization, which is funded by fundraisers and donations, focuses

on providing food, educational resources and other support to underserved people in surrounding communities as well as in Nigeria.

Whether through her clinic or her nonprofit work, Emeagwali’s impact extends far beyond individual patients, strengthening entire communities and carrying forward the values that first inspired her to give back.

At South Nassau, a steady hand in cardiac care

By ABIGAIL GRIECO agrieco@liherald.com

As director of noninvasive cardiology at Mount Sinai South Nassau, Dr. Pilar Stevens-Haynes has built a career centered on precision, compassion and the belief that medicine can be both life-saving and lifechanging.

That sense of connection is what ultimately steered her toward cardiology. Born and raised in the Elmont/ Valley Stream area, Stevens-Haynes discovered her love of science in high school, drawn to biology and fascinated by a senior-year anatomy and physiology elective.

Though she once envisioned herself as a surgeon, clinical rotations changed her mind. “I thought I would just love surgery,” she said. “But I actually found I loved speaking to patients. In surgery, your patients are unconscious.”

Instead she chose a field that allows her to combine long-term patient relationships with moments of dramatic intervention. While many areas of internal medicine focus on managing chronic illness, StevensHaynes noted that cardiology allows physicians to intervene in acute, life-threatening situations — heart attacks, heart failure or dangerous arrhythmias — and dramatically improve outcomes.

“In cardiology, you can treat someone and sometimes give them back the life they had before,” she said. “I find true joy in taking care of people over time and watching them heal.”

A graduate of SUNY Geneseo, Stevens-Haynes completed her medical training in the Mount Sinai system before joining South Nassau over a decade ago. Her current role centers on cardiac imaging, from

electrocardiograms and echocardiograms to multiple forms of stress testing. Four days a week she oversees the lab, ensuring that the facility meets national accreditation standards.

“The lab has to do what it says it’s going to do,” Stevens-Haynes said. “We have to perform the studies accurately and meet the standards that are set.”

Patient care remains central to her. “I’ve got the best

of both worlds,” she said. “I get to practice medicine, but I also get to do a little bit of curative medicine.”

Throughout her career, she has also navigated the realities of being one of few women — and often the only woman of color — in the room. “You have to get very comfortable by being the one and only,” StevensHaynes said. Early on, she admitted, she was “very, very quiet and shy,” hesitant to draw attention to herself. Over time, however, she came to recognize the importance of representation.

“Patients will say how wonderful it is to see women physicians and to see people that look like them take care of them,” she said. “They trust me because I look like me.”

Mentorship has become one of the most meaningful aspects of Steven-Haynes’s work. She recalled sitting down with a tearful young physician who worried that starting a family would jeopardize her medical career. Stevens-Haynes encouraged her to do both. That physician is now a cardiology fellow.

“It’s important that women know they can have grand professional goals and personal goals — and achieve them,” she said.

Stevens-Haynes credits academic medicine with offering flexibility that has allowed her to balance professional growth with family life. She and her husband, Hector Luna, are raising four children in Baldwin. She remains driven by the passion that first led her into medicine, and by her belief that physicians can build meaningful careers without sacrificing the aspects of life that matter most.

“Even if it feels overwhelming or like an all-boys club, you can find your niche anywhere,” she said. “Chase your dreams. You don’t have to sacrifice.”

New ICE office in Woodbury sparks concerns

By ROKSANA AMID ramid@liherald.com

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is renting office space in Woodbury for what could be as many as 40 agency attorneys, Newsday has reported. The move is drawing concern from immigration advocates and prompting calls for transparency from local officials.

Last month, ICE began leasing offices in a four-story building at 88 Froehlich Farm Blvd., according to Craig J. Padover, president of the Hauppaugebased Aresco Management, which owns the property. The space, Padover said, is being used for legal offices, but he did not confirm the size or extent of the lease, nor could he verify how many ICE attorneys would ultimately work there.

He added that the space would not be used to house detained immigrants.

The expansion comes as controversy intensifies over President Trump’s deportation campaign. ICE received nearly $80 billion in funding through Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” passed last July, increasing the number of agents from roughly 10,000 to 22,000 this year, making it the largest-funded federal law enforcement agency.

ICE already maintains a presence at the federal courthouse in Central Islip and at the Nassau County Correctional Center in East Meadow, where detained

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is leasing office space at 88 Froehlich Farm Blvd. in Woodbury.

migrants are housed. Agents covering Long Island are based primarily in New York City offices.

“One of the most important things to remember is that the Department of Homeland Security and [Secretary] Kristi Noem has not been transparent about what’s going on,” Sylvia LivitsAyass, a partner at Livits Ayass Baskin PLLC and the immigration chair of the Nassau County Bar Association, said.

In Central Islip, marked and unmarked vans have been seen near district courts. Attorneys from ICE’s Office of the Principal Legal Advisor repre -

sent the Department of Homeland Security in immigration-removal proceedings, and can facilitate warrants and enforcement actions.

“My guess is that there will be a ramp-up in ICE presence in Nassau and Suffolk, and they’re probably going to try and facilitate these enforcement actions through warrants and by supporting these operations,” Livits-Ayass said, emphasizing that that remains speculation.

She explained that there are different types of warrants. An administrative warrant is not reviewed by a federal

judge, and is often signed by an ICE officer or agency official. A judicial warrant, by contrast, must be signed by a U.S. District Court judge and typically identifies the court, the name and birth date of the subject of the warrant, and the address to be searched.

“Just because they have a warrant doesn’t mean they can go wherever they want,” Livits-Ayass said.

Because immigration court for downstate New York is at Federal Plaza in Manhattan, she added, the Woodbury lease is surprising. She suggested that it could signal expanded enforcement operations, but also noted that it could simply be cost-effective for ICE to house its attorneys on Long Island. “The bottom line is we don’t know,” she said, “because they’re not telling anybody.”

In a letter to Noem, Rep. Tom Suozzi asked if the lease was accurate and how ICE has engaged with local governments.

In a statement to the Herald, Suozzi wrote, “Expanding deportation operations in safe communities creates fear and undermines trust in local enforcement, and would be a bad policy. Our focus should be on removing dangerous criminals while protecting families who contribute to our local economy and way of life.”

ICE offices in New York City did not respond to the Herald’s request for comment.

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Bots, brains and bragging rights for Hewlett

Birkenstock, the club’s adviser. “This is the first time we’ve ever hosted regionals, and we prepared really hard and were looking forward to this for a long time.”

Zelikoff, a senior and member of RoboBoogie, said his team met every day after school and over the President’s Day break to test-run their robot and fix anything that needed fixing.

“It’s been really nice to see how all our teams are collaborating, in terms of outreach and engineering,” he said. “Robotics has been a huge contributing factor to my time in high school.”

Leading the way was Team Innovo, which captured the competition’s highest honor, the Inspire Award, for excellence in engineering, design, outreach and overall team performance.

With the victory, Innovo earned a coveted spot at the FIRST Championship, set for April 29 to May 2 in Houston. The international competition will bring together elite robotics teams from around the world in what is considered the pinnacle of youth STEM achievement.

RoboBoogie gave an impressive performance as well, also earning the Inspire Award. Bionica, Hewlett High’s all-female team, was recognized with the Sustain Award, honoring the team’s consistency, resilience and long-term commitment to innovation and collaboration.

“It means the world for us to host this,” Zelikoff said. “We’re hoping for all our teams to do well, and it means so much to see everyone compete on our home turf.”

Beyond team accolades, Hewlett’s robotics program was also honored when Birkenstock, its adviser, was presented with the Compass Award, which recognizes mentors who provide outstanding guidance and leadership — reflecting Birkenstock’s impact on students’

growth and team success.

“I started advising robotics in December of 2024,” Birkenstock said, “and I never dreamed of the creativity and problem-solving or the gracious professionalism that I have experienced firsthand.”

No matter how a team places, he said, its members leave the competition full of lessons and new experiences.

“Today would not have been feasible without the support of the Hewlett-Woodmere Business Association, Hewlett-Woodmere Public School Endowment Fund and our generous sponsors,” he added. “Thank you to the home teams RoboBoogie, Innovo, Bionica and Nexus. I am so proud of you, and a special thankyou to our elected board.”

Other sponsors of the event included Sara Abizker, Ay! Caramba!, Bagel Boss of Hewlett, Chateau Coffee Shop, Friendlier Pizza, Heart & Soul Dance and Per-

forming Arts, Nicole Eliopoulos, NetCost Market, the Pizza Shop, Walls Bakery and Woodro Kosher Deli.

Throughout the competition, Hewlett students demonstrated not only technical expertise, but also the core values of FIRST — collaboration, problem-solving and gracious professionalism. From designing and programming complex robots to competing in fastpaced matches, students applied real-world engineering skills in a dynamic, team-driven environment.

Hosting the championship added another layer of significance for Hewlett, as the school welcomed teams and families from across Long Island, turning the campus into a hub of creative activity.

“The amount of people organizing this is tremendous,” Al Bauer, Hewlett High’s interim principal, said. “… It really is a community event.”

“We have four teams that are super competitive, and it’s something the kids really love,” Bauer added. “This gives them something to do and bond with other communities that have the same kind of interest.”

The strong showing by the Hewlett teams underscores the district’s continued investment in STEM education, offering students opportunities to explore engineering, coding and design while building critical skills for future careers.

“They’re an amazing group of kids that found what they like to do,” Bauer said. “All of them offer something to the school, and we’re super proud of them.”

As Innovo prepares to represent Hewlett and Long Island on the international stage in Houston, it is evidence of a robotics program that continues to grow in both achievement and impact.

‘This type of event highlights that we are alive in our extracurricular activities and support it any way we can,” Bauer said. “It was a full team effort to get this off the ground, and it shows what Hewlett’s all about.”

HERALD SchoolS

Hewlett High School robotics coach Daniel Duffey-Birkenstock, left,

Principal Al

President David Friedman were all smiles at the FIRST Long Island Robotics Championship.

and Hewlett-Woodmere

HHS hosts Long Island Robotics

By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com

hewlett High School hosted the FIRST Long Island Robotics Championship where three of their teams: Bionica, Innovo and Roboboogie competed against 21 other schools, on March 1.

Team Innovo earned top honors, capturing the Inspire Award and serving as the Winning Alliance, 1st Team Selected. With this win, Innovo will advance to the FIRST Championship, held April 29 to May 2, in Houston, TX. The FIRST Championship, presented by BAE Systems, is the culminating international event for youth robotics programs and a premier celebration of STEM excellence.

RoboBoogie also had an outstanding showing, earning Inspire Award 2nd Place and the opportunity to select a Premier Event to attend. Bionica was recognized with the Sustain Award for demonstrating consistent commitment to innovation and teamwork.

Robotics coach Daniel Duffey-Birkenstock was honored with the Compass Award 2nd Place for his leadership and dedication to guiding students through a successful season.

“Hewlett’s robotics teams displayed exceptional collaboration and ingenuity, reinforcing the District’s commitment to STEM education and preparing students for future success in science and technology,” the district wrote in a statement.

Melissa Berman

Bionica members Valeria Paez, junior and senior Maree Drayling danced around after competing to the music piped into Hewlett’s gymnasium, on March 1.

The all female team Bionica was recognized with the Sustain Award for demonstrating consistent commitment to innovation and teamwork.

Team Roboboogie earned the Inspire Award 2nd Place and the opportunity to select a Premier Event to attend.

Members of team Innovo spent time in the practice room with their robot before they competed.

Years-long absence of specialty cancer care ends

work and pastoral support, as well as genetic counseling and testing, in which specialized counselors review personal and family medical histories before conducting tests. With inpatient physical rehabilitation, nutritional help and a pharmacy as well, the new facility will provide patients with physical, emotional and psychological help.

It boasts a new TrueBeam linear accelerator, an advanced radiotherapy system that targets tumors while minimizing the effects on healthy tissue. It also features a PET and CT scanner, as well as infusion therapy.

Dr. Mark Ashamalla, chief of radiation oncology at EHS, said the arrival of TrueBeam will provide an effective method of treatment without disturbing a patient’s daily life. “This expansion strengthens our ability to provide timely care and improves continuity throughout the treatment process,” he wrote in a statement.

Ashamalla, who assumed his role in October, joins Dr. Marc Warshawsky, EHS’s chief of hematology and oncology. Warshawsky completed his medical degree at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, and headed his own private practice for more than 15 years.

Also joining them is Dr. Sheldon Genack, chairman of EHS’s Department of Surgery. He specializes in treating diseases of the ears, nose, sinuses and throat, and completed his medical degree at SUNY Upstate Medical University.

that receiving a cancer diagnosis influences every part of a patient’s life, and added that the center would help support everyone in the community.

In the news release, Warshawsky said

“Having our medical, radiation and surgical oncology teams under one roof

significantly enhances patient care by fostering better communication, collaboration, and efficiency,” he wrote in a later email to the Herald. “We are able to meet frequently about our patients, share knowledge and coordinate seamless care more effectively.”

An invisible threat in Long Island’s waters

Researchers study acidification and its potential effects on the future of oysters and clams

By ABIGAIL GRIECO, WILL SHEELINE & JOSEPH D’ALESSANDRO of the Herald Community Newspapers

Third installment in a series about water.

For generations, the waters surrounding Long Island have defined its identity — from the wide-open waterfronts of the South Shore to the shellfish beds of the North Shore. But beneath the surface, a quieter transformation is underway.

Ocean acidification is often called climate change’s “evil twin,” and refers to the lowering of the water’s pH, the scale used to measure the concentration of hydrogen ions in the water. While global warming refers to rising temperatures, acidification describes a shift in seawater chemistry.

The science begins with carbon dioxide. As levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increase — predominantly from the burning of fossil fuels — the ocean absorbs roughly 25 to 30 percent of it. When carbon dioxide dissolves in seawater, it forms carbonic acid, making the water more acidic, and lowering its pH.

farmers — industries that have experienced both revival and setbacks in recent decades — these chemical changes aren’t just theoretical. They are measurable, seasonal and, increasingly, part of daily operations.

The ‘evil twin’ of climate change

Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, a nonprofit advocacy organization in New York and Connecticut, describes ocean acidification as a hidden but mounting crisis for Long Island’s waters — one intensified by warming temperatures, nitrogen pollution and poor circulation in local bays.

“It’s commonly understood that roughly a third of all carbon dioxide emissions released into the atmosphere are absorbed by the marine environment,” Esposito said. That absorption increases acidity levels in bays, estuaries and the open ocean.

The pH scale is logarithmic, meaning that even a small numerical drop represents a significant shift in chemistry. The ocean is naturally slightly alkaline, but since the Industrial Revolution, average ocean surface pH has dropped by about 0.1 units — roughly a 30 percent increase in acidity. That shift reduces the availability of carbonate ions, the building blocks shellfish such as oysters and clams need to form their calcium carbonate shells.

Ryan Wallace, assistant professor of environmental science at Adelphi University, explained that these acidity levels are not evenly distributed.

On Long Island, acidification is not driven by global carbon emissions alone. Local factors intensify the problem. Nitrogen discharged from wastewater, septic systems and fertilizer runoff flows into bays and harbors, fueling harmful algal blooms. When those blooms die and decompose, the process consumes oxygen and releases additional carbon dioxide in the water, further lowering pH.

The result is a compounding effect: global atmospheric carbon dioxide combined with local nitrogen pollution accelerates acidification in shallow, enclosed estuaries.

Warming waters add another layer of stress. As temperatures rise, marine organisms’ metabolic demands increase, but warmer water holds less dissolved oxygen. Together, warming and acidification can weaken shellfish during their most vulnerable larval stages, making it harder for them to survive and build shells.

For Long Island’s oyster and clam

Some bays and harbors on the North Shore are measured at 450 parts per million, close to the ideal level of roughly 300 ppm, while others, particularly in the western portion of Long Island Sound, measured as high as 2,000 ppm.

Wallace emphasized that while these may not sound like huge differences, even minor changes in CO2 levels can have a drastic impact.

“To put it into perspective, over the last 800,000 years or so, the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was only about 300” parts per million, Wallace explained. “Two thousand is a lot more than that, so when you get to concentrations that are that high, this can have implications for, you know, organisms that are living in these ecosystems.”

While the data reflect a global pattern, the consequences are being felt at the regional level as well. As Esposito noted, Long Island’s problems do not exist in isolation.

“It’s being exacerbated by an increase in temperature of the waterways and more nutrient runoff, such as nitrogen, going into waterways,” she said. “All of that causes unfortunate degradation to our water bodies.”

While algae is an important part of a healthy ecosystem, excess nitrogen can fuel algal blooms that, when they die off, consume oxygen and further stress marine life — compounding the chemical impacts of acidification with biological ones.

In the South Shore’s Western Bays, limited water circulation compounds the problem. Research by Stony Brook

University has shown that it can take up to 180 days for water to fully flush out through an inlet into the Atlantic Ocean. Instead, Esposito said, the water “sloshes back and forth” before eventually reaching the ocean, trapping heat and pollutants in the process.

Coastal areas such as the western portion of the Sound are especially vulnerable because of limited circulation. Wallace stressed that scientists differentiate between open-ocean acidification and coastal-ocean acidification because of the unique challenges those areas face.

In Hempstead Harbor, the issue of acidification has been a focus for local environmental organizations for decades. The Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor was formed in 1986 to address a range of environmental issues facing the area, including acidification.

Michelle Lapinel McAllister, the coalition’s programs director, explained that pH monitoring is one of the core services that the nonprofit provides for the harbor. Measuring occurs yearround, with particular emphasis from May to October, when the harbor, in

common with other waterways, sees annual spikes in nitrogen levels.

“Each season we will see periods of low dissolved oxygen, and whenever dissolved oxygen gets low, then we’ll see pH drop as well,” Lapinel McAllister said. “That will typically happen around the hottest part of the year.”

Another complication is the fact that enclosed waters respond more quickly to environmental stressors than the open ocean, meaning local ecosystems can feel the impacts sooner and more intensely.

“The more stagnant the water body is, the more these acidity levels build up,” Esposito said. “The more the temperature builds up, the more damage the increase in acidity levels can do.”

She described three primary consequences of ocean acidification: “reduced water quality, the impact on shellfish and finfish and the degradation of the overall habitat due to low oxygen.”

Shellfish such as oysters and clams struggle to build and maintain their shells in more acidic conditions, while

Rising acidity, rising stakes for coastal shellfish

Continued from PreViouS PAGe

finfish larvae have lower survival rates — threatening both the ecosystem and the region’s maritime economy.

“Acidification actually reduces the availability of carbonate ions that are needed for these organisms to build their shells, so that’s a major issue,” Wallace said. “Like shellfish aquaculture, it can impact fisheries, and then there’s this cascading effect that can influence things like recreational activities and tourism.”

This is especially relevant because shellfish play an important role in regulating nitrogen levels. An adult oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water per day, depending on size and environmental conditions, while a clam can filter roughly half that.

Across Long Island, and across the country, local environmental organizations and governments are throwing their support behind shellfish hatcheries and protection programs, including the towns of Hempstead, Oyster Bay and Babylon. Lapinel McAllister explained that while these efforts serve an important role in safeguarding healthy ecosystems, they can’t singlehandedly save marine ecosystems.

“On their own, shellfish can’t improve the water quality to healthy levels,” she said, “but having a good, healthy, strong population is going to be part of that overall puzzle of maintaining the stability of pH over long term.”

While local efforts to restore wetlands, upgrade sewage-treatment plants and rebuild shellfish populations are making progress, Esposito said the root cause remains global. “The main culprit of ocean acidification is the burning of fossil fuels,” she said. “The only thing we can do is support more renewable energy so that we’re not pouring more carbon dioxide into the waterways.”

The wet work of marine scientists

Across Long Island, scientists are working together to find ways to improve the quality of local waters. A leading solution is all-organic: Restoring local populations of filter-feeders could, with careful management, bear the brunt of decontamination efforts.

The Flax Pond Marine Laboratory, in Old Field, is nestled in the marshes of the North Shore, overlooking the Long Island Sound. This laboratory is a research hatchery, working toward “improving local coastal water quality and replenishing natural shellfish populations,” according to its shellfish restoration manager, Peter Martin.

The facility’s current focus is the Ribbed Mussel Bioextraction Project, in which staff test what growth strategies lead to the healthiest shellfish that could be reintroduced to coastal waters to rejuvenate them.

“There’s a lot of coastal communities and little inlets and even out-of-use small pockets of water that are just polluted and are in need of cleaner water,” Martin said. “Fundamentally … shellfish are natural filters. All they do is filter feed, so they’re cleaning the water as they grow.”’

“One of the big pollutants that we’re focused on is nitrogen removal,” hatchery Research Specialist Ashley Lopez said. “Shellfish take in the bad form of nitrogen, process it in their body, and they still expel some nitrogen, but it’s a safe and more bioavailable kind of nitrogen.”

The ribbed mussel program is exploring new methods of shellfish cultivation; according to Lopez, there is no consensus in the field about growing large amounts of these shellfish. In their nascence, ribbed mussels have delicate health — a larva is as small as a grain of sand. The Citizens Campaign for the Environment staff regularly sterilize equipment and filter externally sourced seawater to minimize diseases and infections from plankton and bacteria.

The researchers grow eight different varieties of algae to feed adult ribbed mussels, which are kept in temperature-stabilized basins. This conditioning pro-

nonprofits like the Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor play a vital role in the fight against acidification. Staff members such as michelle Lapinel mcAllister, right, programs director, and Carol diPaolo, water-monitoring coordinator, track pH levels and coordinate a shellfish restoration program to keep the harbor healthy.

Acidification, by the numbers

■ 30 percent of carbon dioxide that is released into the atmosphere is absorbed by the ocean.

■ From 2008 to 2017, fossil fuel burning and land use changes were responsible for 40 billion tons of emissions per year.

■ Surface waters are 30 percent more acidic than their pre-industrial levels.

■ While the ocean on average has seen a 0.06 decrease in pH units, meaning increasing acidity, since 1985, the Long Island Sound has seen a decrease of 0.04 per decade, according to UConn Marine Sciences.

■ In the past 25 years, the $6 billion clamming industry has seen a 93 percent reduction in harvests, according to the New York state Department of Environmental Conservation.

■ More than 12,000 acres of Long Island waterways have been closed to shellfishing due to algal blooms, according to the Suffolk County Health Department.

■ 76 percent of the nitrogen in the waters off Long Island — home to 40 percent of the state’s population — comes from faulty septic systems.

cess is meant to “ripen the gonads” of the mussels and help them reproduce as effectively as possible, according to Martin.

“What we’re doing is trying to find out the best way

to grow a lot of them from birth on and have them actually survive,” Lopez said. “And the starting point, we think, is the feeding regimens that we’re giving them. So that’s why we’re doing different diets — to see what kind of spawn they produce and see how the larvae survive after that.”

“This two-year project is Phase Two of a larger project,” Martin added. “Phase One was from ’23 to ’25. Each phase is getting further and further, doing more to figure out the best way to grow these things.”

In addition to ribbed mussel cultivation, CCE staff are involved with other restoration efforts, including a Community Aquaculture Restoration and Education program, in which scientists partner with community volunteers to sow “spat-on-shell” oysters into local estuaries, from which larvae will grow and mature into underwater custodians.

The Flax Pond hatchery works with groups ranging from the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County and Stony Brook University to the state Department of Environmental Conservation and the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission. It is one ecological collective of many working toward improving the quality of local waters from the east end of Long Island to the shores of Nassau County.

Setting course for a healthier future

Even as Long Island’s waterways face the threat of rising acidification, the experts emphasize that all is not lost. Thanks to the efforts of the Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor and other environmental groups, the region’s waters have bounced back from near-toxic levels of acidity, not to mention numerous pollutionrelated threats of the 1980s.

According to Wallace, the efforts of scientists and local volunteers, from the South Shore to coastal Connecticut, to monitor and address these issues have already made an impact.

“There’s been a lot of positives,” he said, “but we can’t stop there. There’s more work to be done.”

News brief

PSEG details financial assistance programs

PSEG Long Island marked National Energy Assistance Day on Feb. 2 by encouraging customers facing high winter heating costs to explore available financial assistance programs and energy-saving options.

The utility said its consumer advocacy team is assisting residents across Long Island and the Rockaways through phone and email support, community outreach events and webinars to help customers enroll in bill assistance and payment programs.

Among the available options is PSEG Long Island’s Household Assistance

Program, which provides qualifying customers with a monthly bill credit of at least $45 for up to 18 months. Customers may also qualify for state and federal programs, including New York’s Home Energy Assistance Program and Emergency HEAP, which help eligible households pay heating costs during the winter.

Customers seeking help can contact the consumer advocacy hotline at (631) 755-3407 on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. or email Consumeradvocacyli@ psegliny.com.

-Jordan Vallone

MARCH 13 • 10AM-12:30PM

EAST MEADOW BETH-EL JEWISH CENTER

1400 Prospect Ave, East Meadow

FREE community event focused on health, wellness, and lifestyle

Meet trusted local exhibitors and service providers

Take advantage of on-site health screenings

Enjoy lively entertainment, fitness demonstrations and interactive experiences

Hear from experts during a panel discussion with Q&A

Win raffles, prizes, and giveaways

Snack station for all

All designed to help you stay active, informed, and engaged at every stage of life.

& BEYOND

AGENDA: VISIT EXHIBITORS

10:00AM - 12:30PM

EXPERT PANEL + Q&A 11:30AM - 12:30PM

RAFFLE DRAWINGS*

*must be present to win

Register for this FREE event: RichnerLIVE.com/march.expo

STEP RIGHT UP

Ringling reinvents the Big Top

By Abbey Salvemini

Get ready to cheer, dance and gasp — the legendary Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is back, and it’s dazzling audiences in ways few could have imagined. The self-proclaimed “Greatest Show on Earth” has been boldly reimagined for a new generation, bringing a high-voltage spectacle to UBS Arena from March 6 through March 8.

This is not the circus of decades past. Gone are the traditional three rings and animal acts; in their place is a fast-paced, immersive experience that blends worldclass acrobatics, cutting-edge choreography, live music and vibrant storytelling. The arena transforms into a colorful celebration that feels as much like a concert and dance party as a circus performance.

The energy begins the moment everyone walks through the doors. An interactive pre-show sets the tone, introducing audiences to the dynamic Ringling Hype Crew — a lively cast of dancers and performers who invite everyone to move, clap and join in the fun. Before the first aerialist soars or the first stunt takes flight, the crowd is already part of the action.

At its heart are the performers.

• Friday March 6, 7 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, March 7-8, 11 a.m., 3 p.m., 7 p.m.

• Tickets start at $39.35, $20 kids tickets for all performances; available at ticketmaster.com

• UBS Arena, 2400 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont

The 65-person cast, representing 17 countries, is a truly international ensemble that fuses time-honored circus traditions with bold, contemporary feats. Among the most buzzed-about moments is the crisscross trapeze act, in which elite aerialists launch themselves along intersecting flight paths, slicing through the air in breathtaking near-misses that leave audiences holding their collective breath.

The stars of this new incarnation of circus include 33-year-old trapeze artist Miles Postlethwait. He grew up in Florida, attending Ringling shows (and Disney on Ice). Caught up in the spectacle, he in love with trapeze at age 10. A trapeze performer for 10 years (six professionally), he landed at Ringling in November.

Recalling his early circus memories: “I remember going to see Ringling Bros when I was very young. Honestly, what I remember most was the toys (specifically the dragon sword) and the cotton candy. But my mom tells me I was enamored with the acrobats.”

That fascination stuck, leading him to his tour “home” and what’s now billed as “The Greatest Party On Earth,” according to the Ringling mantra.

“Who wouldn’t want to be a part of The Greatest Show On Earth? I saw the previous tour multiple times and loved the show. It’s nonstop fun because you’re part of the show the whole time, interacting with other performers and the audience,” Postlethwait says.

The vibe is fueled by today’s cultural influences — reimagined through the lens of pop culture, concerts and festivals.

Back to the aforementioned trapeze stunt, he points out that the crisscross rig is unique and requires intense precision, but years of training make the nearmisses almost instinctive.

“It keeps me on my toes, and the crowd’s reaction

STEPPING OUT

courtesy Feld Entertainment

A 150-year tradition leaps into the future as the reimagined spectacle delivers fresh thrills, bold artistry and gravity-defying feats that redefine the modern circus.

is incredible.”

The thrills keep on coming. Other highlights include the Double Wheel of Destiny, in which four daredevils leap and jump rope on spinning wheels.

A Chinese acrobatic bicycle act, created exclusively for Ringling, features gravity-defying human pyramids and fearless athleticism, with one acrobat running across the backs of nine moving bike riders. Salsa Colombia, a fiery dance and acrobatics troupe, brings the energy of Latin rhythms to the arena floor. And audiences are fascinated by Cam, a content creator and unicycle rider, who stacks up to 25 wheels towering nearly 35 feet high. Also watch out for Bailey the Robo Pup, a high-tech canine character and PT (Party Time), Ringling’s first-ever hype character, who keeps the crowd engaged and amplifies the celebratory atmosphere.

Giant LED screens and cameras capture acrobats from impossible angles, giving every seat the feel of front-row access.

Music powers the show. A DJ spins everything from hip-hop to Latin beats, driving the action from start to finish, with beat drops, live drumming and dance battles.

Those in the audience are not just spectators — they’re all in. Kids are drawn into onstage interactions, while the LED screens highlight stunts from content creator Cam, adding an extra layer of excitement. From split-second trapeze timing to jaw-dropping acrobatics, the spectacle keeps everyone on the edge of their seats while leaving lasting memories for all involved. The result is a full-on celebration with a festival-style energy that transforms classic circus elements.

Postlethwait sums it up simply: “It’s a super fun, energetic party. Families come and say everybody had a blast. It’s a show where kids aren’t just watching — they’re a part of the action.”

Perhaps most importantly, according to Postlethwait, the spectacle inspires young audiences to dream big.

“I hope they see that anything is possible. Circus acts show that humans’ limits go so much further than we think.”

Whether you’re in it for the stunts, the music or the interactive fun, this version of “The Greatest Show On Earth” promises something for everyone. Experience firsthand why Ringling Bros. has thrilled audiences for generations — now with a fresh, modern twist that makes the circus feel entirely new.

Jessie’s Girl

Drag out that neon once again and give your hair its best ‘80s ‘do. Those crazy days are back — as only Jessie’s Girl can pull off, on the Paramount stage. The band of NYC’s top rock/pop musicians and singers gets everyone into that “Back To The Eighties” vibe with the latest edition of their popular concert experience. With a lineup including four pop-rock vocalists dressing and performing as 80s icons, backed by a dynamic band, this is the definitive ‘80s experience. Jessie’s Girl’s primary line-up includes a team of NYC’s top rock and pop vocalists: Jenna O’Gara, Jerome Bell-Bastien, and Mark Rinzel. They are backed by one of the tightest bands in the city comprised of 20+ year veterans of the NYC music scene, each with dozens of credits performing with authentic ‘80s icons who made the music famous to begin with! Their motto: There’s no decade like the Eighties and no party like Back To The Eighties with Jessie’s Girl.

Friday, March 6, 8 p.m. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.

South Shore Symphony welcomes Jane Monheit

With a voice radiating warmth, refinement and emotional depth, jazz vocalist Jane Monheit brings her celebrated interpretations of Great American Songbook classics to the Madison Theatre in a special collaboration with the South Shore Symphony Orchestra. Renowned for breathing fresh life into beloved standards, she headlines an unforgettable afternoon, blending the intimacy of jazz with the grandeur of full orchestral sound. Under the baton of Music Director Adam Glaser, the South Shore Symphony accompanies her in a series of orchestral arrangements that highlight both her vocal artistry and the timeless beauty of these enduring songs. The program also offers audiences a more intimate jazz club feel, with Monheit backed by a trio, including Glaser on piano, for several selections.

Sunday, March 8, 3 p.m. Molloy University campus, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. Tickets available at madisontheatreny.org or (516) 323-4444.

Your Neighborhood CALENDAR

Mar

‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’

Mar

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

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

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

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

Family theater

Long Island Children’s Museum stages “Pete the Cat,” the charming musical based on the book series by Kimberly and James Dean. Life is certainly an adventure for Pete, no matter where he winds up. So the minute the groovy blue cat meets The Biddles, he gets the whole family rocking. That is, except for young Jimmy Biddle, the most organized second grader on planet Earth. But when Jimmy draws a blank in art class during the last week of school, it turns out Pete is the perfect pal to help him out. Together, they set out on a mission to help Jimmy conquer second grade art, and along the way, they both learn a little something new about inspiration. $11 with museum admission ($9 members), $15 theater only.

• Where: 11 Davis Ave., Garden City

• Time: 10:15 a.m. and noon; also March 7, March 11-12

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

Mar

6 Professional Championship Bull Riders

Buckle up — ’cause you ain’t seen nothin’ like this before. The PCB has been a full-throttle tour de force: a mano-a-toro showdown where the toughest cowboys on the planet face off against the rankest bulls in the game. May the boldest rider win. And it’s not just the cowboys. Watch the cowgirls blaze through barrel racing, showcasing speed, agility and sheer determination in a race for the fastest times.

Celtic Woman

Mar

15

The Grammy-nominated global sensation returns to the stage with their highly anticipated new tour, Celtic Woman — A New Era. Featuring the mesmerizing talents of Mairéad Carlin, Muirgen O’Mahony, Ciara Ní Mhurchú, and the dynamic new addition Caitríona Sherlock, this production fuses the ensemble’s signature ethereal harmonies with innovative orchestrations, captivating stagecraft, and a contemporary energy that honors Ireland’s rich musical and cultural legacy while embracing Celtic Woman’s ongoing evolution. Audiences will be transported on a spellbinding journey through Irish music, from timeless classics to stirring original compositions. The evening promises breathtaking vocal performances, intricate instrumental mastery, and the rhythmic grace of traditional Irish dance. Accompanied by a full ensemble, the performers bring to life Celtic staples — including the bagpipe, bodhrán, tin whistles, and Uilleann pipes — creating a lush and immersive soundscape that resonates with both tradition and modernity. From evocative Irish ballads and contemporary favorites to classical masterpieces and fresh original songs, their tour celebrates the vibrancy of modern Ireland while paying tribute to centuries of musical heritage. It is a concert experience that blends elegance, passion, and cultural storytelling, offering audiences an unforgettable evening of artistry, energy and enchantment.

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

• Time: 8 p.m.

• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com

Larson Legacy Concert

11

An intimate chat with Valerie Bertinelli

Long Island LitFest hosts an appearance by the actress-turned-author on her book tour, at the Madison Theatre. Moderated by Paulina Porizkova, Bertinelli’s most vulnerable book yet, “Getting Naked,” offers wisdom hard-won through divorce, menopause and generational pain, with a powerful message of self-acceptance and embracing the past with compassion. Each ticket includes a signed copy.

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

• Time: 7 p.m.

• Contact: madisontheatreny.org or (516) 323-444

Mar

12

Symphony of Hope

Acclaimed composer and 2025 Jonathan Larson Grant recipient Dylan MarcAurele performs at Adelphi University Performing Arts Center continuing Adelphi’s tradition of showcasing emerging talents in musical theater. MarcAurele, recognized for his innovative contributions to the genre, performs selections from his current projects, including the critically acclaimed musical “Pop Off, Michelangelo!” that recently enjoyed a successful London run. His concert is a cabaret-style showcase of music from past and future productions (including his upcoming parody musical “Heated Rivalry” that sold out performances in a matter of hours). Joining him are Taylor Fagins, Mateo Chavez Lewis, and Yael Rizowy.

and learn ways both scientists and families can help protect it. These workshops are part of a scientific study surrounding climate education.

• Where: 11 Davis Ave., Garden City

• Time: 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30-2:30 p.m.

• Contact: licm.org or (516) 224-5800

Mar

Game Time

Visit Peninsula Public Library for Canasta, Mah Jongg, Scrabble and more. Seating is limited and is first come, first seated.

9

• Where: 280 Central Ave., Lawrence

• Time: Ongoing weekly, 2 p.m.

• Contact: peninsulapublic.org or (516) 967-5777

This special performance celebrates the power of music to unite people of all faiths and backgrounds. Paganini Competition winner Simon Zhu performs as principal soloist, with rising star Jeffrey Dokken conducting. The program also includes a major work by Long Island composer Alexey Shor, joined by a local choir for an evening of reflection, resilience and hope. Violins of Hope, a collection of restored instruments owned and played by Jewish musicians before and during the Holocaust — some performed in ghettos and concentration camps, others belonging to musicians who did not survive are featured. Proceeds support the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, Molloy University and Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County.

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

• Time: 8 p.m.

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

7 Mar

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

• Time: 3 p.m.

• Contact: adelphi.edu/pac or (516) 877-4000

Climate Change: How To Help Our Planet

• Where: Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale

• Time: 7 p.m.

• Contact: ticketmaster.com

Long Island Children’s Museum welcomes families with kids ages 6-10 to explore how climate change impacts our environment

Jane Monheit in concert

8

Internationally acclaimed jazz vocalist Jane Monheit joins the South Shore Symphony for their next concert. Monheit’s signature warm, expressive sound enhances the lush orchestral arrangements. Known for her elegant interpretations of jazz standards and contemporary classics, she brings her rich vocals to the symphonic stage for a performance that blends jazz sophistication with the power of a full orchestra.

• Where: 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre

• Time: 3 p.m.

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

Atlantic Beach Board of Trustees meet

Come voice your concerns and hear what’s going on at the monthly Village of Atlantic beach Board of Trustees Meeting.

• Where: 65 The Plaza, Atlantic Beach

• Time: 7:30 p.m.

• Contact: (516) 371-4600

Cedarhurst Board of Trustees meet

Come voice your concerns and hear what’s going on at the monthly Village of Cedarhurst Board of Trustees meeting.

• Where: 200 Cedarhurst Ave., Cedarhurst

• Time: 8 p.m.

• Contact: (516) 295-5770

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.

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, WHOISCAMERA, LLC, Plaintiff, vs. DAVID DIXON A/K/A DAVID A. DIXON, ET AL., Defendant(s).

Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on September 30, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on March 23, 2026 at 2:30 p.m., premises known as 435 Franklin Avenue, Hewlett, NY 11557. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 39, Block 536 and Lot 84. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #610165/2023. Keith Lavallee, Esq., Referee Berkman, Henoch, Peterson, & Peddy, P.C., 400 Garden City Plaza, Suite 320, Garden City, NY 11530, Attorneys for Plaintiff 158461

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE Supreme Court County of Nassau The Bank of New York Mellon fka The Bank of New York, as Trustee for the Certificateholders, CWALT, Inc., Alternative Loan Trust 2007-12T1 Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2007-12T1, Plaintiff AGAINST Sarwar H. Riaz, et al, Defendant Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on August 4, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, North sides of the steps, Mineola, NY 11501 on March 31, 2026 at 2:00 PM premises known as 721 Park Lane, Cedarhurst, NY 11516. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the County of Nassau, State of New York, SECTION: 39, BLOCK: 292, LOT: 116. Approximate amount

of judgment is $947,543.00 plus interests and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 000334/2016. For sale information, please v isit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832. Francesco Tini, Referee

FRENKEL LAMBERT

WEISMAN & GORDON

LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706 01-032194-F01 88857 158545

LEGAL NOTICE

INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF CEDARHURST

LEGAL NOTICE

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT the Board of Trustees of the Village of Cedarhurst will hold a public hearing on Monday, March 9, 2026, at 8:00 pm in Village Hall, 200 Cedarhurst Avenue, Cedarhurst, New York for the following purposes:

Amending Chapter 211. Signs § 5. Permitted Signs in Business Areas.

Amending Chapter 265. Zoning Article I. Terminology § 1. Definitions; Word Usage.

Amending Chapter 265. Zoning Article X. General Business Districts § 86. Permitted Uses. PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE THAT all interested persons will have an opportunity to be heard at said hearing.

Dated: Cedarhurst, New York

February 22, 2026

By Order of the Mayor, Benjamin Weinstock and Board of Trustees Jacob Plaut Village Administrator 158703

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE IS HEREBY

GIVEN, that the Board of Trustees of the Incorporated Village of Hewlett Harbor will hold a Public Hearing to consider the enactment of Village Code Chapter 131 to provide that the 2026 real property taxation may exceed the tax levy limit set forth in General Municipal Law §3-c; and under SEQRA Regulations, to determine whether the proposed code amendment would constitute a significant negative impact on the environment; said Public Hearing will be held at 7PM on March 12, 2026, at the Village Hall, 449 Pepperidge Road, Hewlett Harbor,

New York 11557.

All interested persons will be heard during the Public Hearing at the time and place aforementioned.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

LISA JAMES, VILLAGE CLERK

HEWLETT HARBOR, NEW YORK

DATED: February 27, 2026 158702

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE IS HEREBY

GIVEN, that the Board of Trustees of the Incorporated Village of Hewlett Harbor will hold a Public Hearing to consider the amendment of Section 137-8 (C) (Parking, stopping and standing regulations) which will add no parking to portions or all of of Seawane Road, Seawane Place, Wateredge Place and Golf Drive; and under SEQRA Regulations, to determine whether the proposed use would constitute a significant negative impact on the environment; said Public Hearing will be held at 7PM on March 12, 2026 at the Village Hall, 449 Pepperidge Road, Hewlett Harbor, New York.

All interested persons will be heard during the Public Hearing at the time and place aforementioned.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

LISA JAMES, VILLAGE CLERK

HEWLETT HARBOR, NEW YORK

DATED: FEBRUARY 27, 2026 158701

LEGAL NOTICE

Village of Lawrence Legal Notice

NOTICE IS HEREBY

GIVEN that the Board of Appeals of the Incorporated Village of Lawrence will hold a work session beginning at 6:45 P.M. followed by a public meeting on March 12, 2026 at Lawrence Yacht and Country Club, 101 Causeway, Lawrence, New York 11559 beginning at 7:30 P.M. to conduct the following Public Hearings and to attend to such other matters as may properly come before the Board:

“ Freund,77

Harborview W - Section 212-48.B of the Village Code states, in a Residence District B the minimum rear yard setback for pool is 20 ft.

“ Leifer, 1 Amberly Rd -Section

212-48.B of the Village Code states, in a Residence District C-1 the minimum rear yard setback for pool is 20 ft.

“ Ross, 3 Hawthorne Ln- Section 212-12.1 of Schedule Dimensional Regulations states, the maximum surface coverage for a lot size of 12,154 sq. ft. in area is 5,469 sq. ft. Section 212-48.B of the Village Code states, in a Residence District BB the minimum rear yard setback for pool is 20 ft.

“ Makowsky, 66 Auerbach LnSection 212-15.D (1) of the Village Code states, in a Residence District BB, the minimum front yard setback is 30 ft. Section 212-15.D (1) of the Village Code states, in a Residence District BB, the minimum side yard setback is 15 ft. Section 212-15.D (1) of the Village Code states, in a Residence District BB, the minimum aggregate setback is 35ft. Section 212-15D (1) of the Village Code states, in a Residence District BB, the minimum rear yard setback is 40 ft. Section 212-15.D (2)(a) of the Village Code states, in a Residence District BB, the maximum front yard height/setback ratio is 0.74. Section 212-15.D (2)(c) of the Village Code states, in a Residence District BB, the maximum side yard height/setback ratio is 1.5. Section 212-15.D (2)(b) of the Village Code states, in a Residence District BB, the maximum rear yard height/setback ratio is 0.55.

The order in which the listed applications are heard shall be determined the night of the meeting. The applications and accompanying exhibits are on file and may be inspected at the Village Office during normal business hours between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. If anyone needs special accommodations for a disability, such person should contact the Village Clerk at least 5 days before the hearing. All interested parties will have the opportunity to be heard By Order of the Board of Appeals

Lloyd Keilson Chairman Dated February 24, 2026 158706

LEGAL NOTICE INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF LAWRENCE NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING and PUBLIC HEARING

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that there will be a Regular Meeting of the Mayor and Board of Trustees of the Incorporated Village of Lawrence, at Lawrence Village Hall, 196 Central Avenue, Lawrence, New York 11559, on the 12th day of March, 2026, at 8:00 PM, Eastern Standard Time, and one (1) Public Hearing with respect to the following matter:

Public Hearing re: Proposed Local Law #6 of 2026

“ A Local Law to amend the Village Code regarding the Prohibition of Burning Certain Items on Private Property

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT copies of the proposed items described above are on file/available in the office of the Village Clerk of the Village of Lawrence, NY, where the same is available for public inspection during regular office hours.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER

NOTICE that all interested parties will be given an opportunity to be heard on all meeting matters at the place and time aforesaid. If anyone needs special accommodations for a disability, such person should contact the Village Clerk at least 5 days before the meeting.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to the requirements of the Open Meetings Law of the State of New York, that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Lawrence will convene in public meeting at the place and time aforesaid for the purpose of conducting a regular meeting where general business will be conducted.

Dated: February 27, 2026

By Order of the Board of Trustees Village of Lawrence, NY

Gerry Castro, Village Administrator 158705

GIVEN that sealed bids will be received by the Village Clerk-Treasurer of the Incorporated Village of Cedarhurst, 200 Cedarhurst Avenue, Cedarhurst, NY 11516, until March 20, 2026, at 3:00 p.m., for:

ANDREW J. PARISE PARK - PLAYGROUND RUBBER SURFACING REPLACEMENT

The project consists of the removal and replacement of approximately 2,200 square feet of existing poured-in-place rubber safety surfacing in two designated playground areas at Andrew J. Parise Park, including all labor, materials, equipment, disposal, sub-base inspection, preparation, and installation of a new poured-in-place rubber safety surfacing system meeting applicable ASTM, ADA, and CPSC standards. Bid documents may be obtained at Village Hall, online at cedarhurst.gov or via email at bids@cedarhurst.gov. All bids must be submitted in a sealed envelope clearly marked: “Bid - Andrew J. Parise Park Rubber Surfacing ReplacementPR-2026-001” Bids will be publicly opened and read aloud on March 20, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. at Village Hall.

A signed Statement of Non-Collusion and all other required documents must accompany each bid. This project is subject to New York State General Municipal Law §103 and New York State Labor Law Article 8 (Prevailing Wage). Performance and payment bonds will be required in the amounts specified in the bid documents. The Village reserves the right to reject any and all bids, waive informalities, and accept the bid deemed most favorable to the Village.

Dated: February 27, 2026

By Order of the Board of Trustees Jacob Plaut, Village Clerk-Treasurer 158704

LEGAL NOTICE INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF HEWLETT HARBOR

LEGAL NOTICE MONTHLY MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Board of

Trustees of the Village of Hewlett Harbor will meet in both public and via Zoom on March 12, 2026, at 7PM, Eastern Standard Time, for the purpose of holding the Village’s regular monthly meeting. All residents wishing to attend via Zoom can visit www.hewlettharbor.go v for instructions.

Dated: February 27, 2026 Hewlett Harbor BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGTE OF HEWLETT HARBOR LISA JAMES VILLAGE CLERK 158700

LEGAL NOTICE CASE NO.7179

RESOLUTION NO. 2502026

Adopted: February 24, 2026

Councilmember Goosby offered the following resolution and moved its adoption: RESOLUTION DETERMINING PARCELS BENEFITED BY CONSTRUCTION OR RECONSTRUCTION OF SIDEWALK AREA IN; BALDWIN, BELLMORE, BETHPAGE, EAST MEADOW, ELMONT, FRANKLIN SQUARE, INWOOD, ISLAND PARK, LEVITTOWN, MERRICK, NORTH BALDWIN, NORTH BELLMORE, OCEANSIDE, ROCKVILLE CENTRE, ROOSEVELT, SEAFORD, SOUTH HEMPSTEAD, UNIONDALE, WANTAGH, WEST HEMPSTEAD, WOODMERE IN THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, NASSAU COUNTY, NY, ADOPTING PROPOSED ASSESSMENT ROLL FOR THE COST THEREOF AND CALLING A PUBLIC HEARING THEREON. WHEREAS, pursuant to the following Resolutions adopted by the Town Board: TOWN BOARD

RESOLUTIONS DATE 7179 2/21/2017

267-2021 2/23/2021

693-2022 5/24/2022

508 4/25/2023

6365 4/9/2024

992-2024 9/17/2024

151-2025 2/25/2025 814-2025 8/5/2025

NOTICE WAS GIVEN TO ABUTTING PROPERTY OWNERS DIRECTING THEM TO CONSTRUCT OR RECONSTRUCT SIDEWALK AREA ON : AMBROSE CT, BABYLON TPKE, BALDWIN AVE, BARBARA ST, BAY FRONT DR, BONNIE DR, BROADWAY, CARNATION AVE, CHALADAY LN, CHESTNUT LN, CLEARMEADOW DR,

COLONY ST, COLUMBUS AVE, CONDOR RD, COOLIDGE AVE, COURT ST, COURTNEY LN, DALE PL, DAY ST, E ROOSEVELT AVE, EASTERN PKWY, EVELYN AVE, EVERS LN, FARM LN, FENWORTH BLVD, GRAND AVE, GUN LN, HAMILTON AVE, HAMPTON RD, HANCOCK ST, HENRY ST, HOPATCONG AVE, HOWARD PL, HUDSON AVE, IVANHOE DR, IVY CT W, JEFFERSON ST, KINGSTON AVE, LAKEVIEW RD, LAUREL AVE, LINCOLN BLVD, LINCOLN ST, LINKS DR W, LYDIA PL, MANOR PKWY, MARILYN DR, MARJORIE LN, MATTITUCK AVE, MCDONALD AVE, MEADOW LN, MEADOW RD, MERRICK AVE, MERRICK RD, MILBURN AVE, MONACO AVE, MONROE ST, N JERUSALEM RD, NORTHERN PKWY, ORIOLE AVE, OWL PL, PAMLICO AVE, PARK AVE, PARKER AVE, QUARRY LN, REMSEN ST, ROCKWOOD AVE, ROOSEVELT ST, ROYAL AVE, SCHREIBER PL, SKILLMAN AVE, SPRAGUE AVE, SPRUCEWOOD DR, STEPHEN ST, SUNSHINE AVE, SURREY LN, WADLEIGH AVE, WAUKENA AVE, WAVERLY AVE, WESTMINSTER RD, WILLIAM PL, WOLCOTT RD, WOLFSON DR, WOOD PARK DR WHEREAS, the owner(s) who were so notified had failed to construct or reconstruct sidewalk area as required by such Notice and the Town Board has caused said sidewalks to be constructed or reconstructed; and WHEREAS, such construction or reconstruction was completed by the Town at the Total cost of $148,883.11 and which sum includes appropriate administrative fees, which amount has been paid by the Town of Hempstead, pursuant to resolution adopted by the Town Board, subject to assessment against the property benefited thereby pursuant to Chapter 181 (Part 1) Code of the Town of Hempstead, NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the actual and completed cost of the construction and reconstruction of sidewalk area on the property hereinabove be assessed against the parcels benefited thereby pursuant to Chapter 181 (Part 1) Code of the Town of Hempstead, is hereby

Public Notices

determined to be $148,883.11 and, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the parcel(s) listed in the assessment roll be attached hereto and made a part hereof under the heading “PARCELS BENEFITED” are the lots and parcels especially benefited by the said improvements as they appear on the Nassau County Land and Tax Map; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the assessment roll attached hereto is hereby made a part hereof and shall constitute the completed assessment roll for such improvements under Chapter 181 (Part 1), Code of the Town of Hempstead and that the figures under the heading of “ASSESSMENT” on the same line with the said lot designations, is the amount assessed against said lots or parcels and that under the headline “PAID”, and the Receiver of Taxes shall indicate the parcels of land for which assessments shall not have been paid before the return thereof to the Supervisor and that such assessment roll be forthwith filed with the Town Clerk; and, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the assessment hereunder may be paid in one installment without penalty or interest, or at the option of the payer, in five (5) annual installments with interest thereon, if the benefit is in excess of $100.00; and, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town Board meet at the Town Board Room (Pavilion) of the Town Hall on March 10, 2026, at 10:30 o’clock in the forenoon of that day to hear and consider any objections which may be made to said assessment roll; and, BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, that the Town Clerk publish at least once not less than ten (10) or more than twenty (20) days before the time above specified, for said meeting in a newspaper published within the Town of Hempstead, a notice that said Assessment roll has been completed and that at the time and place above specified the Town Board will meet and hear to consider any objections which may be made thereto. The foregoing resolution was seconded by Councilmember Dunne,

Sr. And adopted upon roll call as follows:

AYES: SIX (6) NOES: NONE (0)

NOTICE OF COMPLETION OF ASSESSMENT ROLL FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OR RECONSTRUCTION OF SIDEWALK AREA ON: AMBROSE CT, BABYLON TPKE, BALDWIN AVE, BARBARA ST, BAY FRONT DR, BONNIE DR, BROADWAY, CARNATION AVE, CHALADAY LN, CHESTNUT LN, CLEARMEADOW DR, COLONY ST, COLUMBUS AVE, CONDOR RD, COOLIDGE AVE, COURT ST, COURTNEY LN, DALE PL, DAY ST, E ROOSEVELT AVE, EASTERN PKWY, EVELYN AVE, EVERS LN, FARM LN, FENWORTH BLVD, GRAND AVE, GUN LN, HAMILTON AVE, HAMPTON RD, HANCOCK ST, HENRY ST, HOPATCONG AVE, HOWARD PL, HUDSON AVE, IVANHOE DR, IVY CT W, JEFFERSON ST, KINGSTON AVE, LAKEVIEW RD, LAUREL AVE, LINCOLN BLVD, LINCOLN ST, LINKS DR W, LYDIA PL, MANOR PKWY, MARILYN DR, MARJORIE LN, MATTITUCK AVE, MCDONALD AVE, MEADOW LN, MEADOW RD, MERRICK AVE, MERRICK RD, MILBURN AVE, MONACO AVE, MONROE ST, N JERUSALEM RD, NORTHERN PKWY, ORIOLE AVE, OWL PL, PAMLICO AVE, PARK AVE, PARKER AVE, QUARRY LN, REMSEN ST, ROCKWOOD AVE, ROOSEVELT ST, ROYAL AVE, SCHREIBER PL, SKILLMAN AVE, SPRAGUE AVE, SPRUCEWOOD DR, STEPHEN ST, SUNSHINE AVE, SURREY LN, WADLEIGH AVE, WAUKENA AVE, WAVERLY AVE, WESTMINSTER RD, WILLIAM PL, WOLCOTT RD, WOLFSON DR, WOOD PARK DR In the TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK, and of meeting to hear and consider objections thereto.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 181 (Part 1) CODE OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead has prepared and filed with the Town Clerk of said Town, the completed assessment roll for the construction or reconstruction of sidewalk area on: AMBROSE CT, BABYLON

TPKE, BALDWIN AVE, BARBARA ST, BAY FRONT DR, BONNIE DR, BROADWAY, CARNATION AVE, CHALADAY LN, CHESTNUT LN, CLEARMEADOW DR, COLONY ST, COLUMBUS AVE, CONDOR RD, COOLIDGE AVE, COURT ST, COURTNEY LN, DALE PL, DAY ST, E ROOSEVELT AVE, EASTERN PKWY, EVELYN AVE, EVERS LN, FARM LN, FENWORTH BLVD, GRAND AVE, GUN LN, HAMILTON AVE, HAMPTON RD, HANCOCK ST, HENRY ST, HOPATCONG AVE, HOWARD PL, HUDSON AVE, IVANHOE DR, IVY CT W, JEFFERSON ST, KINGSTON AVE, LAKEVIEW RD, LAUREL AVE, LINCOLN BLVD, LINCOLN ST, LINKS DR W, LYDIA PL, MANOR PKWY, MARILYN DR, MARJORIE LN, MATTITUCK AVE, MCDONALD AVE, MEADOW LN, MEADOW RD, MERRICK AVE, MERRICK RD, MILBURN AVE, MONACO AVE, MONROE ST, N JERUSALEM RD, NORTHERN PKWY, ORIOLE AVE, OWL PL, PAMLICO AVE, PARK AVE, PARKER AVE, QUARRY LN, REMSEN ST, ROCKWOOD AVE, ROOSEVELT ST, ROYAL AVE, SCHREIBER PL, SKILLMAN AVE, SPRAGUE AVE, SPRUCEWOOD DR, STEPHEN ST, SUNSHINE AVE, SURREY LN, WADLEIGH AVE, WAUKENA AVE, WAVERLY AVE, WESTMINSTER RD, WILLIAM PL, WOLCOTT RD, WOLFSON DR, WOOD PARK DR OF HEMPSTEAD, NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK, and PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that on March 10, 2026, the Town Board will meet at the Board Room of the Town Hall Pavilion, Hempstead, New York at 10:30 o’clock to hear and consider any objections which may be made to said assessment roll.

DATE : February 24, 2026

Hempstead, New York

John Ferretti Supervisor Town of Hempstead 158651

LEGAL NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

Episcopal Health Services, Inc. hereby provides notice of the planned relocation of the following clinical services:

“Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) currently located at 521

Beach 20th Street, Far Rockaway, NY 11691

“Endocrinology and OB/ GYN, currently located at 19-09 Plainview Avenue, Far Rockaway, NY 11691

“Wellness and Recovery Center (WRC) currently located at 19-08 Brookhaven Avenue, Far Rockaway, NY 11691

“Endoscopy, currently located at 327 Beach 19th Street, Far Rockaway, NY 11691

“Oncology, currently located at 275 Rockaway Turnpike, Lawrence, NY 11559

“Family Medicine and Internal Medicine, currently located at 495 Beach 20th Street, Far Rockaway, NY 11691

These services are relocating to the Walsh Ambulatory Pavilion at 19-20 Brookhaven Avenue, Far Rockaway, NY 11691 in Spring 2026.

This relocation supports Episcopal Health Services’ continued commitment to enhance access to care and supporting the long-term health and well-being of the communities we serve.

Issued by:

Episcopal Health Services, Inc. 327 Beach 19th Street Far Rockaway, NY 11691 158645

Place a notice by phone at 516-569-4000 x232 or email: legalnotices@liherald.com

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD

LOCAL LAW NO. 212026

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that, pursuant to Article 9 of the New York State Constitution, the provisions of the Town Law and the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, both as amended, a public hearing was duly called and held on the 24th day of February 2026, by the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead, on the proposed adoption of Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 21-2026, and following the close of the hearing the Town Board duly adopted Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 21-2026, to amend Section 202-1 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, to include and repeal “PARKING OR STANDING PROHIBITIONS” at various locations.

Dated: February 24, 2026

Hempstead, New York BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD JOHN FERRETTI Supervisor

News brief

The Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway marked its 47th annual dinner on Feb. 22 honoring Dani and Lori Lasky.

HAFTR honors Lasky’s at annual dinner

The Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway marked its 47th annual dinner on Feb. 22, bringing together parents, alumni, faculty and community members for an evening celebrating the school’s shared values and future.

Dani and Lori Lasky were honored as guests of honor for their leadership and

KATE MURRAY

Town Clerk 158648

LEGAL NOTICE

dedication to the school community. Dani Lasky was recognized for his ongoing support and involvement, while Lori Lasky, a HAFTR alumna and parent, was noted for her continued commitment to the school’s values across generations.

Public Notices

NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD

LOCAL LAW NO. 232026

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to the N.Y. Constitution Article 9, N.Y. Town Law, and N.Y. Municipal Home Rule Law, as amended, the Hempstead Town Board called and held a public hearing on the 24th day of February, 2026, regarding the proposed adoption of Town of Hempstead Local Law No. 23-2026, and following the close of the hearing the Town Board duly adopted Local Law No. 23 -2026, to enact Chapter 153 of the Hempstead Town Code to be entitled “Cat and Dog Litter Registry”.

Dated: Hempstead, New York

February 24, 2026 BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD

JOHN R. FERRETTI

Supervisor

KATE MURRAY

Town Clerk 158562

Rule Law, as amended, the Hempstead Town Board will hold a public hearing at Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on March 10, 2026 at 10:30 A.M., to consider enacting Chapter 10F of the Hempstead Town Code to be entitled “Taxation: Partial Exemption for Surviving Spouses of Fallen Police Officers” regarding a real property tax exemption for surviving spouses of police officers killed in the line of duty pursuant to N.Y. Real Property Tax Law §471. The proposed local law is available at hempsteadny.gov, on the bulletin board at Town Hall as of the publication of this notice, and on file in the Office of the Town Clerk of the Town of Hempstead, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, where the same may be inspected during office hours.

ALL PERSONS INTERESTED shall have an opportunity to be heard on said proposal at the time and place aforesaid.

Dated: Hempstead, New York

February 24, 2026 BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, NEW YORK.

KATE MURRAY Town Clerk

Supervisor 158674

LEGAL NOTICE

Village of Lawrence Legal Notice NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Building Design of the Incorporated Village of Lawrence will hold a work session beginning at 6:30 P.M. followed by a public meeting on March 9th, 2026 at the Lawrence Village Hall 196 Central Ave Lawrence, New York 11559 beginning at 7:00 P.M. to conduct the following Public Hearings and to attend to such other matters as may properly come before the Board: “ Schwartz-45 Harborview W- Proposed New Driveway. “ Singer-21 4 Sealy Ct Proposed New House Design

Building Design

Barry Pomerantz

Chairman

Dated: March 3rd, 2026 158707

To place a notice here call us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com

LEGAL NOTICE INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF HEWLETT HARBOR

PUBLIC NOTICE TO BIDDERS

NOTICE is hereby given that the Incorporated Village of Hewlett Harbor will be accepting sealed bids for new Construction Bid #26-1 HHV 2026. Constructions of an addition to existing building and remodeling existing building located at 449 Pepperidge Road, Hewlett Harbor, NY 11557.

Bid documents will be available on March 13, 2026, and may be obtained in person at the Hewlett Harbor Village Hall, 449 Pepperidge Road, Hewlett Harbor, NY 11557 during the business hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. A $50 check made payable to the Village of Hewlett Harbor is required to obtain this bid proposal.

Dated: March 2, 2026 Hewlett Harbor, New York By Order of the Village Clerk of the Incorporated Village of Hewlett Harbor Lisa James 158698 LEGAL

JOHN R. FERRETTI, JR.

The order in which the listed applications are heard shall be determined the night of the meeting. The applications and accompanying exhibits are on file and may be inspected at the Village Office during normal business hours between 8:00a.m. and 4:00p.m. If anyone needs special accommodations for a disability, such person should contact the Village Clerk at least 5 days before the hearing. All interested parties will have the opportunity to be heard By Order of the Board of

EMPLOYMENT

Help Wanted

CIRCULATION ASSOCIATE

Full Time/Part Time

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

DRIVERS WANTED

Full Time and Part Time

Positions Available!

Busy Print Shop in Garden City

is Hiring Immediately for Full Time and Part Time Drivers. Must Have a Clean License and BoxTruck Driving Experience. Hours Vary, Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $21 per hour Night Availability is a Must. Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239

DRIVING INSTRUCTOR

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$22 - $27/ Hour

Bell Auto School

516-365-5778

Email: info@bellautoschool.com

EDITOR/REPORTER

Part Time & Full Time. The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. Salary range is from $20K to $45K To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to jbessen@liherald.com

F/T CHAIR SIDE DENTAL

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MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP

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OUTSIDE SALES

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PRINTING PRESS OPERATORS FT & PT. Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for Printing

Hudson Steals the Show

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Taking a contractor to court

Q. We are suing our contractor and need some advice. A year ago, we finished our second-floor addon and first-floor kitchen and rear family room remodel by opening up walls to join them. Everything seemed fine until it rained the first time. The windows began to leak at the bottom, and then around the tops and sides. Our new sliding glass door did the same. The basement flooded, and we are not in a flood area. Then the air-conditioning company said somebody disconnected the ducts, and when we opened the ceilings, more water poured down. The house is now filled with mold, which we clean with bleach where we can get to it, but we couldn’t move out and have two small children under age 4.

Although we have many questions and hired an attorney, we’re wondering whether we should hire an architect to go over all the problems and identify them, with remedies, or hire one of the contractors who said they could fix the problems, or wait until the lawsuit is finished to make it possible for a jury to see the damage. The job architect, whom we never met, has now had their license revoked for the next two years, but we wouldn’t go to them, anyway.

A. Ugh! This is more common than you would think. It starts with not having the architect working for you and instead working for the contractor. I can guess that the contractor was contacted first, and you hired them to get their architect and provide plans. That was your first mistake.

Next, people are lazy, expecting that anyone they hire knows all the best techniques to build and knows all the rules, codes and laws. That was mistake number two. Even though you hire people, you should have gone over critical details, especially about waterproofing and structural techniques on the plans, to make sure that the building owner looks for those steps to be carried out. You, the building owner, I always say, are the “eyes and ears” on the job, since the architect often isn’t there at critical times, when waterproofing membranes and materials are joined.

Mistake number three was not doing a water test with a garden hose when the finish siding, windows roofing, etc., had been applied. Simulating rain by pointing a hose skyward so that the water cascades down — not a direct fire-hose hit — tells you right away if something is failing.

You’re going to need a licensed expert — an architect or an engineer — to work with your attorney. Document everything with videos during simulated or storm events to show the water coming in and whatever other failures, such as leaking and disconnected air ducts, and hire people who can do the job correctly as soon as you can. You need to have a healthy home for your family, and a lawsuit could take years while you possibly get sick from the mold and the chlorine you’re breathing. Good luck!

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The Town of Hempstead needs a checkup

Like members of many families in the Town of Hempstead, I sit at my kitchen table and look at the same numbers you do. Mortgage. Property taxes. Utilities. Groceries. Gas. Insurance.

Everything costs more than it did a year ago. When you’re stretching every dollar just to keep up, the least you should expect from your local government is straight answers about where your tax money is going.

That’s why I formally requested that the New York state comptroller conduct an independent audit of the Town of Hempstead’s finances.

The comptroller’s office exists to provide independent, professional oversight of municipal finances. That kind of objective review strengthens public confidence and protects taxpayers. When questions arise, independent verification reassures everyone.

The last publicly available audit on the town’s website is from 2019. Since then, leadership has changed. Budgets have shifted. Taxes have gone up. Financial decisions have been made that directly affect residents across the town.

nYet updated, audited financial statements are not readily accessible to the public.

Earlier this year, the town acknowledged in a public filing that its audited financial statements for fiscal year 2024 weren’t submitted on time. Officials said that a third-party firm had missed the deadline. But accountability ultimately rests with the town.

iAn audit isn’t just a stack of paperwork; it’s the public’s window into how their government manages their money. It tells taxpayers whether finances are stable, whether spending is sustainable, and whether today’s decisions will become tomorrow’s tax increases. Without clear, timely audits, residents are left guessing, and guesswork is no substitute for accountability.

account. Reserve funds are meant to provide stability during true emergencies or unexpected downturns. Just like a family’s savings, that money is there for when something goes wrong.

When that savings account is tapped, residents deserve to understand why, how much was spent, and what the long-term plan is to replenish it. If savings aren’t rebuilt, the pressure often shows up later as higher taxes, layoffs, or reduced services.

’ve requested that the state conduct an independent audit of the town’s finances.

Last year the town approved a 12 percent tax increase. By the end of the year, officials boasted that they would deliver an 18 percent reduction. But many residents say they didn’t feel meaningful relief. Some homeowners, particularly those outside incorporated villages, are reporting higher 2026 town tax bills. When the government says one thing but families experience another, confidence erodes.

The town has also drawn from its reserve funds — essentially its savings

That’s why transparency matters now, not years from now.

I’ve spoken with neighbors who attended budget hearings, hoping for straightforward answers, only to leave more confused than when they arrived. I’ve heard from residents who submitted Freedom of Information requests and received extension after extension, delaying answers they’re still waiting for. I’ve watched financial questions at Town Board meetings get redirected instead of answered directly.

Taken together, these concerns point to a simple conclusion: the need for clarity. An audit isn’t an attack. It’s a checkup. If everything is being managed properly, an independent audit will confirm that. If adjustments are needed, better to identify them now, before small con-

cerns become larger financial burdens for families already feeling squeezed.

I’m a Marine combat veteran. I later served as an NYPD officer and as a prosecutor. In each of those roles, accountability wasn’t optional; it was the foundation of trust. You follow the rules, meet deadlines, answer for your decisions. Government should operate by those same principles.

The same applies to the town animal shelter, a taxpayer-funded service that recently closed. Residents deserve clear explanations about decisions that affect services and tax dollars alike.

Families are working hard to stay in the Town of Hempstead. Seniors are trying to remain in the homes they’ve owned for decades. Young couples are wondering if they can afford to own a home and raise a family.

I know what matters to my family. Stability. Honesty. Affordability. Like you, we sit at the kitchen table and plan for the future. We count every dollar. We shouldn’t have to worry about surprises from Town Hall, because when every dollar matters at home, it should matter in government.

At the end of the day, this is about whether the people who built this community can afford to stay in it. That’s what I care about, and that’s what I’m fighting for.

Joseph Scianablo is the Democratic candidate for Town of Hempstead supervisor.

Powering New York shouldn’t break the bank

ew Yorkers don’t need another study to tell them their energy bills are too high. They see it every month when the statement arrives. As affordability remains at the forefront of the conversation in Albany, families are still waiting for real answers about one of the biggest drivers of their financial strain: soaring utility costs. As of November 2025, residential electricity prices in New York are 49 percent higher than the national average.

I support building a cleaner, more reliable energy grid for future generations. Responsible environmental stewardship and long-term sustainability are important goals, but the state’s current approach risks creating a system that our children and grandchildren simply won’t be able to afford. Instead of keeping families here and strengthening our communities, we may be pricing them out of the state. Mandates such as the All-Electric

Buildings Act are accelerating costly transitions before many New Yorkers are financially prepared to absorb them. While well intentioned, these policies often shift significant costs onto homeowners, renters and small businesses. The result is higher construction costs, rents and home prices, adding fuel to an affordability crisis that is already out of control.

My colleagues in the Senate Republican conference and I have consistently raised concerns that current energy policies are driving costs up rather than bringing them down.

Wstruggling to pay their bills today.

e’re making costly transitions before many of us can afford them.

With our Save New York legislative package, we have put forward a broad array of concrete proposals that would lower utility bills, improve oversight and restore affordability for working families.

The 2025 Financial Plan released by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority shows more than $2 billion in unspent ratepayer funds.

During the Joint Budget Hearing on Energy and Environmental Conservation, NYSERDA leadership indicated that it plans to reserve those funds for future use. But New York families are

Senate Bill S.8461, which I am proud to cosponsor, would require that any excess funds be returned to ratepayers as credits on their utility bills. This would put money back into residents’ pockets now, when they need relief the most. Additionally, just as the Senate Republican conference led the successful charge to bring a gas tax holiday to New York in 2022, when prices at the pump were soaring out of control, we are championing a similar holiday on utility bill and green energy taxes and surcharges. These are simple steps the state can take to deliver an immediate financial lifeline to New Yorkers.

Accountability must accompany policy. We must not only ensure that excess funds are returned to our residents, but also demand full transparency about what is driving monthly utility costs. As the sponsor of legislation requiring utilities to itemize how much of each bill is tied to mandates from the Climate Action Council scoping plan, I believe ratepayers deserve to see exactly where their money is going. If Albany is going to impose or propose sweeping energy

policies, it should be upfront about the price so New Yorkers can decide which initiatives are worth it.

I am also proud to cosponsor another piece of legislation to prevent costs from spiraling further out of control. The AllElectric Buildings Act would drive up the cost of building new housing, and would jeopardize grid reliability by shifting the state to a winter peaking system as homes are forced to rely on electricity, rather than natural gas, for heat. While New York’s gas and electric prices have historically been higher than the national average, electric prices in particular have risen further above the national average since 2019, whereas natural gas prices are more closely aligned with the nation. That’s why I cosponsor legislation to repeal the All-Electric Buildings Act so that New Yorkers have the option to utilize cheaper natural gas.

Taken together, these proposals reflect a clear conclusion: New York’s current energy policies are driving costs higher, and require meaningful reform. The solutions are already on the table. It’s time to act. For too long, residents have carried the burden, and their calls for fairness, transparency and affordability must be heard.

Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick represents the 9th State Senate District.

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Phone: (516) 569-4000

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Sunshine week keeps democracy in the light

eHERALD

very March we observe Sunshine Week, a national initiative dedicated to one of democracy’s most powerful disinfectants: light. This year, Sunshine Week will be celebrated March 15 to 21, anchored by Freedom of Information Day on March 16, the birthday of James Madison. The timing is symbolic and significant. Sunshine Week reminds us that open government is not a luxury. It is a necessity.

Launched in 2005 and rooted in the pioneering 1972 Colorado Sunshine Act, Sunshine Week was created to raise awareness of the public’s right to know. At its core is a simple but profound idea: Democracy works best when the people can see what their government is doing. Transparency is not about satisfying curiosity, it’s about accountability, trust and ensuring that power remains where it belongs: with the citizens.

Sunshine Week’s foundation is the principle that government records and proceedings belong to the public. Taxpayer dollars fund government operations; therefore, the public has both a legal and moral right to understand how decisions are made and how money is spent.

Freedom of Information laws at the federal and state levels give citizens access to public documents, from village board minutes to federal agency communications. But these laws are only as strong as the public’s willingness to use them. Like muscles, transparency laws weaken without exercise. When citizens

stop requesting records, attending meetings and asking questions, secrecy grows stronger.

Open meetings and public records are not bureaucratic technicalities; they are the mechanisms that keep democracy breathing. Transparency reveals how taxpayers’ money is spent, how contracts are awarded and how policies are shaped. It enables watchdog groups, journalists and everyday citizens to trace decisions from proposal to outcome.

Without openness, the risk of waste, fraud and abuse increases. History repeatedly shows that secrecy breeds complacency and, at times, corruption. Open government, by contrast, ensures that decisions must withstand scrutiny. It does not weaken institutions — it strengthens them. Sunshine Week underscores a critical truth: When the public can see the process, officials are more likely to act responsibly.

In times of crisis — economic downturns, national security challenges or public health emergencies — secrecy often expands. Officials may argue that swift action requires less oversight. While emergencies can justify temporary discretion, they must never become permanent excuses for opacity.

Democracy demands vigilance. Sunshine Week serves as an annual reminder that transparency must be defended, especially when it feels inconvenient. Freedom of information cannot be indefinitely sidelined without eroding public trust.

Supporting Sunshine Week means protecting democracy itself. Openness prevents the concentration of unchecked power and ensures that elected officials remain responsive to citizens rather than to special interests.

Transparency helps parents question school board policies, residents examine zoning proposals and taxpayers track infrastructure spending. It provides communities with the tools to advocate for fair and effective governance.

It also allows us, as journalists, to do our jobs. We rely on open-records laws to uncover stories about misuse of funds, conflicts of interest and public safety failures. It’s why studies show that the presence of a local newspaper in a community mitigates waste, fraud and abuse.

Public trust in government is fragile. One of the most effective ways to build and sustain that trust is through transparency. When agencies proactively release information and conduct business in public view, suspicion diminishes.

Transparency does not guarantee agreement. Citizens, and government officials, may still debate policies and priorities. But openness fosters understanding, and understanding is the bedrock of trust.

So this Sunshine Week, take a moment to reflect on the importance of open meetings and public records. And vow to step up whenever someone tries to turn off the light of transparency.

It’s ‘the power of the state against the people of the nation’

To the Editor:

Re Peter King’s column, “There are better ways to resolve the immigration crisis,” in the Feb. 12-18 issue: Immigration is a problem, but Immigration and Customs Enforcement exemplifies the real, much larger crisis. Immigration is a longstanding issue, and many “better ways” have been proposed over the past 30 years, as Mr. King knows. In fact, one such proposal was on track for bipartisan approval last year until President Trump and his allies killed it. ICE has operated for decades with little notice. Violence was seldom used, citizens were not arrested, and habeas corpus was observed — until Trump. The Border Patrol previously confined its racist brutality close to the Mexican border, until Republicans expanded the “border” to a 100-mile-wide

opinions Protecting those that can’t protect themselves

in the Town of Hempstead, we believe in putting compassion before convenience and responsibility before profit. That belief guides our approach to public safety, quality of life and, increasingly, animal welfare. Today it compels us to confront a growing problem in communities across the nation: unlicensed backyard breeding of cats and dogs. Let me be clear — this is not about responsible, licensed breeders who follow the law and treat animals humanely. This is about unregulated, profit-driven operations that put money over the well-being of animals. It’s about puppies and kittens born into overcrowded, unsanitary conditions. It’s about animals separated from their mothers too early. It’s about preventable suffering.

Protecting animals is not a fringe issue. It is a reflection of who we are as a community.

When breeding is left unchecked, the consequences ripple far beyond a single household. Overpopulation strains local shelters. Inbreeding leads to serious, lifelong health problems. Animals raised without proper veterinary care

Letters

or humane conditions often become sick or behaviorally distressed. Too many are ultimately abandoned or surrendered when medical bills mount or behavioral challenges become overwhelming.

At the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter, we see the results firsthand. Our dedicated staff works tirelessly to rehabilitate, treat and rehome animals that deserved better from the start. I’m proud to say that our shelter is a no-kill facility, committed to longterm case management, specialized rehabilitation, behavior training and strong partnerships with rescue groups and sanctuaries. But even the best shelter can’t solve a problem that begins with irresponsible breeding practices.

waccountability where, too often, there has been none.

e’re cracking down on the unlicensed breeding of cats and dogs.

Additionally, the legislation limits female cats and dogs to no more than one litter in a 12-month period. This will help prevent overbreeding, which can be physically taxing and dangerous for animals. The law will also prohibit the transfer or adoption of puppies or kittens before they are 8 weeks old, unless a veterinarian determines it is medically necessary. Those first weeks are critical to an animal’s development. Separating them too early can lead to long-term health and behavioral issues.

on proper medical care. They rely entirely on us. When breeding becomes a backyard business driven by quick cash, animals pay the price — with their health, their safety and sometimes their lives.

This legislation is about prevention. It targets a root cause of shelter overcrowding and animal suffering. By requiring registration, limiting excessive litters and ensuring that basic standards are met, we can reduce the number of animals that end up abandoned, neglected or surrendered in the first place.

That’s why we are passing legislation to crack down on unlicensed backyard breeders and establish meaningful oversight.

Under our proposal, any litter of puppies or kittens born in the Town of Hempstead must be registered with the town within 30 days. The registry — operated through the animal shelter — will document the approximate birth date, species and breed, the address where the animals are housed and the veterinarian providing care. This simple step will introduce transparency and

zone. Even then, cities were not invaded — not even El Paso or Brownsville, much less Portland or Milwaukee — until Trump.

The Department of Homeland Security pursued its intended mission: defending against 9/11 or Beirutand Benghazi-style attacks by foreign terrorists, seldom making the news. Then Trump decided that the homeland itself — Chicago, Los Angeles, Springfield, Ill. — was the “enemy within,” rife with “domestic terrorists” like Alex Pretti, who must be prevented from voting. Meanwhile, Trump allied himself with Saudi Arabian interests, the major sources of the 9/11 and other “homeland” assaults. Remember Jamal Khashoggi.

The FBI, formerly our premier law enforcement agency, is now Trumpified, refusing to investigate homicides by federal agents, interfering with state ballots, arresting journalists and charging members of Congress with sedition. In earlier times, Peter King himself might have been among those in such felonious jeopardy. The depth, breadth and pervasiveness of corruption in all of this is obvious, with beneficiaries openly paying well for more of this new form of republican government — modeled on ancient Rome’s republic of patricians and plebes, paterfamilias all. Our government is using the power of the state against the people of the nation. That is the crisis. Currently, the best — and perhaps only — way to resolve both the crisis and the problem is to end MAGA’s abuse of government, from Blakeman and Garbarino to Vance and Trump.

BRIAn KELLy Rockville Centre

Violations would carry fines starting at $250 and increasing to $500 for repeat offenses. But our goal is compliance, not punishment. Enforcement will largely be complaint-driven, empowering residents to report suspected illegal breeding in their neighborhoods. Our Building Department and the animal shelter will work together to investigate and enforce the law.

Some may ask: Why focus on this? Why make it a priority?

Because the way we treat animals speaks volumes about our values.

Animals cannot advocate for themselves. They cannot report abuse, demand clean living conditions or insist

Framework by Tim Baker

Communities across the country are grappling with the consequences of backyard breeding. Here in the Town of Hempstead, we intend to lead. We have long been at the forefront of animal welfare initiatives, and we will continue to make animal safety a priority of this administration.

Protecting animals is not only the right thing to do — it strengthens our entire community. Fewer animals in crisis means fewer strained resources, safer neighborhoods and more successful adoptions. Most important, it means fewer animals suffering in silence.

In the Town of Hempstead, we are proud to say: paws before profits. And we will continue working every day to protect those who cannot protect themselves.

John Ferretti is the Town of Hempstead supervisor.