_________ Oceanside/island park ________
HERALD Pope Francis dies at 88
Cheer program on the rise
o’side kids show their knowledge
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VoL. 60 No. 17
APRIL 24 - 30, 2025
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Equinor shuts down work on wind projects Empire received notice from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), ordering of The Herald Empire to halt all activities on Oh, what a whirlwind it’s the outer continental shelf until BOEM has completed its been. For nearly three years, talk review. Empire is engaging of Equinor’s wind projects with relevant authorities to bringing turbines, cables and clarify this matter and is con‑ sidering its legal battery storage cen‑ remedies, including ters in and off the appealing the shore of Long order.” Beach has been met President Trump with seemingly con‑ had issued an exec‑ stant rallies and utive order on the protests. Now, it first day of his sec‑ seems the loud ond ter m that opposition may not paused all new wind be needed anymore. energy projects that E q u i n o r, t h e would use federal multinational ener‑ waterways. gy company head‑ “I am pleased quartered in Nor‑ way, announced on BRuCE BLAKEmAN with the result but am very troubled April 17 that it was Nassau County with the process in suspending all off‑ Executive which it was shore construction stopped,” Island for the Empire Park Civic Association member Wind projects. “In accordance with a halt Richard Schurin wrote in a work order issued by the US Facebook post. “It seems to be government, Empire Offshore totally without legal justifica‑ Wind LLC (Empire) will safely tion, and I am not comfortable halt the offshore construction with that at all.” Equinor originally planned in waters of the outer continen‑ tal shelf for the Empire Wind two projects, Empire Wind 1 project,” the company’s state‑ and 2, in which it would have ment read. “On April 16, Continued on page 8
By KEPHERD DANIEL & BRENDAN CARPENTER
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Courtesy Maureen Fitzgerald
Hoppin’ at the beach Double the joy, double the eggs! Lucy and Thomas Fitzgerald were all smiles with the Easter bunny at Island Park’s Easter Egg Hunt. Story, more photos, Page 3.
Betty Ahern set to be honored at St. Anthony’s funeral Mass By KEPHERD DANIEL kdaniel@liherald.com
Betty Ahern, a beloved Oceanside recreation department supervisor who died in Arizona on Christmas Day at age 96, will be remembered during a funeral Mass at St. Anthony’s Church, on Anchor Aveue, on May 2. Family, friends and generations of grateful residents will gather at the church at 9:45 a.m. to celebrate the life of Ahern, who transformed youth programming for generations, leaving behind a legacy of community dedication and service. The Mass will be followed by interment beside
Ahern’s late husband, Frank, at Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale. They were married for 41 years until he died in 1989. She is survived by four children — Diane, Danny, Frank Jr. and Barbara — 10 grandchildren and six great‑grandchildren; a daughter, Linda, prede‑ ceased her. From 1955 to 1985, Ahern was the driving force behind Oceanside’s recreational activities, developing programs that touched thousands of young lives. Her commitment to youth develop‑ ment was evident in the countless programs she developed and the generations of Oceanside resi‑ dents she influenced. Continued on page 4
hese wind turbines are killing birds and killing whales and create environmental hazards.