Rockville Centre Herald 03-05-2026

HERALD ROCKVILLE CENTRE

Blue team reclaims crown in

Red and Blue meeting

By BRIAN KACHARABA & AlYSSA R. GRIFFIN of the Herald

For the fourth straight year, the title at South Side High School’s Red and Blue event changed hands.

Powered by victories in the skit, prop and dance categories, the Blue team reclaimed the crown last Saturday with a 70-52 win over the Red team before a raucous, standing-room-only crowd in the high school gym.

The Blue team has now won six of the last eight competitions and eight of the past 12 dating to 2015, taking a 52-46-11 advantage in the event’s 110-year history.

The three-day competition began on Feb. 26, when the teams performed their friend -

ship and march songs, and unveiled handmade posters featuring inspirational messages tied to the aerobics, jazz, disco and tap portions of their skits. Teams also presented an emblem artwork highlighting their cocaptains and their skit themes.

Results from those categories were announced toward the end of Saturday’s festivities, with the teams tying in the 5-point songs and posters categories, while judges awarded the Blue team 3 points for its emblem.

Both teams debuted their skits and gym tumbling routines on Friday night. The Red team performed a spoof of the 2015 Pixar film “Inside Out,” in which the lead characContinued on page 16

By AlYSSA R. GRIFFIN agriffin@liherald.com

South Side High School has announced its valedictorian and salutatorian for the class of 2026.

At the district’s Feb. 25 Board of Education meeting, Principal Patrick Walsh named Megan Chiara, 17, the senior class valedictorian and Abigail Gruner, also 17, salutatorian.

“It’s really such an enjoyable experience each and every time,” Walsh said. “Once the students get over the fear of being called down to the principal’s office and realize it’s a positive moment, it becomes one of the most enjoyable things I get to do.”

here tonight,” he said. “Thank you for your hard work, cooperation and partnership, because when we work together, we know we can do great things for the kids of this community.”

Walsh also addressed the parents in attendance. Gruner’s mother, Janet, is the Board of Education’s secretary.

“While we’re recognizing students who have done such a tremendous job, I also want to thank all the parents who are

Chiara said she was honored to be named valedictorian. “I’m really excited,” she said, “and I’m especially excited to share this journey with Abby, because we’re really good friends.”

Chiara is active in student government, musical theater and volunteer work with Backyard Players, and competes on the junior varsity crosscountry team.

She will portray Roxie in South Side High School’s upcoming production of “Chicago,” and mentors students with special needs, encouraging confidence and inclusion.

Her academic interests center on math and science, and she plans to major in computer engineering, with a focus on

Continued on page 24

Three officers promoted in village ceremony

By BRIAN KACHARABA bkacharaba@liherald.com

Three Rockville Centre police officers were promoted during the village’s Board of Trustees meeting at Village Hall, as family members, colleagues and village officials gathered to recognize their service and leadership within the department.

Matthew Vickery was promoted to inspector, filling the role previously held by retired Inspector Chris Romance. Noz Firoz was elevated to lieutenant, and Michael Farrell was promoted to sergeant. Police Commissioner A. Randy Dodd introduced each officer with a detailed overview of their careers before administering the oath of office.

“Tonight’s one of my favorite nights, because tonight we promote,” Dodd said during the March 2 meeting. “In our 56-officer department, promotions are rare. There’s no room to hide. There’s no easy ladder to climb. When you earn a stripe or a bar here, you fought for it. You proved yourself. You’ve outworked your peers and earned the trust of this agency.”

Vickery, a West Islip native, graduated from Clarke High School before earning a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Northeastern University. He began his law enforcement career with the New York Police Department in 2005, assigned to the 79th Precinct in

Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. He joined the Rockville Centre Police Department in 2008, serving alongside his father, Mike, a 40-year department veteran. Promoted to sergeant in 2015, Vickery supervised night tour patrol officers before advancing to lieutenant in 2021. He later served as commanding officer of patrol and then support services, overseeing the department’s training unit, before being named executive officer and now inspector.

Firoz began his policing career with the NYPD, serving from 1997 to 2002 in Queens Transit Patrol. He joined the Rockville Centre Police Department in 2002 and steadily rose through the ranks, earning promotion to sergeant in 2019.

As a night-shift patrol supervisor, he has been responsible for overseeing patrol operations and mentoring officers in the field while supporting daily public safety operations throughout the village.

Farrell graduated from PatchogueMedford High School and attended St. John’s University and Stony Brook University before joining the NYPD in 2005. After graduating from the police academy, he was assigned to the 109th Precinct in Queens and was promoted to sergeant in 2012, later serving in Brooklyn’s 67th Precinct.

Farrell joined the Rockville Centre Police Department in 2015, bringing supervisory experience and leadership developed during his tenure in New York City.

Dodd further emphasized the honor of being promoted

“Promotions are not rewards,” he told the officers. “They are responsibilities. And tonight, you are not being recognized for what you’ve done. You’re being entrusted with what must now be done. In our police department, one strong leader can elevate the entire organization.

“To our newly promoted leaders, wear the rank with humility. Lead from the front. And never ask your officers to do something that you yourself would not do.”

Dodd also thanked the families of the officers, noting their support and sacrifices throughout each officer’s career. Following the ceremony, the newly promoted officers were congratulated by trustees, fellow and former officers and attendees.

Purim carnival celebrates tradition, unity

Dozens of area residents filled Central Synagogue-Beth Emeth in Rockville Centre last Sunday for the congregation’s annual Purim carnival, a vibrant celebration of one of the most joyous holidays on the Jewish calendar.

Children and adults arrived in colorful costumes, reflecting the playful spirit of Purim, and spent the afternoon enjoying a wide array of activities, games, and traditional treats.

The carnival offered something for everyone, including a bouncy house, a variety of bean bag and ring tosses, tictac-toe, foosball, and billiards tables, a “Wheel of Fun,” station, and a photo booth. Guests also indulged in classic Purim treats such as hamantaschen, as well as popcorn, cotton candy, and other refreshments. The event was designed not only as a fun afternoon for families but also as a way to bring the community together in celebration of heritage and tradition.

Purim commemorates the story of Queen Esther, as told in the biblical Book of Esther. According to the tale, Esther courageously saved the Jewish people from Haman, a Persian official who plotted to destroy them. The holiday is traditionally marked with feasting, giving gifts of food, acts of charity, and festive gatherings. Costumes and playful celebrations have long been a central part of the holiday, symbolizing both the hidden identities in Esther’s story and the joy of surviving adversity.

At Central Synagogue - Beth Emeth’s Kahn Auditorium, the festive atmosphere was unmistakable, with laughter, games, and creativity filling the room. The annual Purim Carnival not only provided an opportunity for families to enjoy hands-on fun but also celebrated the enduring themes of courage, community, and generosity that make Purim a cherished holiday for generations.

–Brian Kacharaba

How Giving Increases Wealth

Crime watCh

homiCide (natural)

On Feb. 26, a 97-year-old female was discovered deceased in her home on Cleveland Avenue.

id theft

On Feb. 26, a Morris Avenue resident reported he was the victim of a scam in which he was contacted by an individual claiming to be from Citibank. The complainant provided account information and personal identifying information to the caller and later discovered several thousand dollars were removed from his accounts.

leaving the sCene

On Feb. 25, a Thomaston, Connecticut, resident reported that he was involved in a motor vehicle accident on Merrick Road and the other vehicle fled the scene.

lost property

On Feb. 24, an East Rockaway resident reported that he lost his wallet and

ETTINGER LAW FIRM

its contents in the vicinity of Mesita restaurant on Merrick Road.

missing person

On Feb. 24, a counselor at a Merrick Road group home reported one of the residents had been missing for several days. The missing resident was subsequently located at a hospital in Atlantic City.

arrests

On Feb. 26, Corinne Saar, 47 of Rockville Centre, was arrested and charged with assault after cutting her landlord’s finger with an unknown object.

On Feb. 27, Ellen Cox, 24, was arrested and charged with two counts of assault and two counts of menacing after a disturbance on Merrick Road.

On Feb. 27, Wilian Fernandez-Loja, 35 of Central Islip, was arrested and charged with aggravated unlicensed operation and other traffic offenses after an investigation on Sunrise Highway.

People named in Crime Watch items as having been arrested and charged with violations or crimes are only suspected of committing those acts of which they are accused. They are all presumed to be innocent of those charges until and unless found guilty in a court of law.

fire watCh

The Rockville Centre Fire Department is always looking for help in serving our community. If you live here or in any one of the adjacent communities and are interested in joining or just

February 22 – March 1

General Alarms – 10

Still Alarms – 4

Rescue – 6

Aided Cases (Ambulance) – 54

Mutual Aid Fire – 1

have questions, please visit any firehouse on Sunday mornings and speak with one of the officers or call (516) 6789320. For emergencies dial 911 or (516) 766-0400.

Year To Date

General Alarms – 110

Still Alarms – 45

Rescue – 42

Aided Cases (Ambulance) – 408

Mutual Aid Fire – 21

Mutual Aid Rescue – 0

Mutual Aid Ambulance – 0

Total – 75

Mutual Aid Rescue – 0

Mutual Aid Ambulance – 1

Total – 627

■ WEB SITE: www.liherald.com/rockvillecentre ■ E-MAIl: Letters and other submissions: rvceditor@liherald.com ■ EDITORIAl DEPARTMENT: Ext. 205 E-mail: rvceditor@liherald.com

■ SUBSCRIPTIONS: Press ”7” E-mail: subscriptions@liherald.com Fax: (516) 569-4942 ■ ClASSIFIED ADVERTISING: Ext. 286 E-mail: ereynolds@liherald.com Fax: (516) 622-7460

■ DISPlAY ADVERTISING: Ext. 249 E-mail: rglickman@liherald.com Fax: (516) 569-4643

■ PUBlIC NOTICES: Ext. 232 E-mail:

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.”

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.

TIDES

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.”

Two schools swing with a groovy sound

By BRIAN KACHARABA bkacharaba@liherald.com

South Side High School and South Side Middle School joined forces for a special evening of music, presenting a combined jazz concert in the South Side Middle School auditorium.

The Feb. 11 program showcased performances by the high school’s Stage Band, directed by Anthony Pomponio, the jazz ensemble, under the direction of Barry Lebron, and the middle school jazz band led by Danny Pineyro. The concert highlighted a wide range of classic and contemporary jazz selections, featuring student soloists from both schools.

The Stage Band opened with selections including “Blues for You” by Mark Taylor, “Feels So Good” by Chuck Mangione, and Duke Ellington’s swing classic “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing).” The set also included “Groove Walk” by Carl Strommen, with multiple students stepping forward for instrumental solos on saxophone, trumpet, guitar, vibraphone and drums.

The jazz ensemble continued the evening with Sammy Nestico’s “The Heat’s On,” “Suerte De Los Tontos” by Johnny Richards, “Afternoon” by Pat Metheny, and Gordon Goodwin’s high-energy “Hit the Ground Running.” Featured soloists included performers on tenor and alto saxophone, trombone, trumpet, bass, guitar and drums.

The middle school jazz band demonstrated its growing musicianship with selections such as “Bad Attitude!” by Michael Sweeney, John Coltrane’s “Lazy Bird,” and Sonny Rollins’ “St. Thomas.” Student soloists were highlighted throughout the set, drawing enthusiastic applause from the audience.

The evening also included the presentation of the Stefan B. Lichter Memorial Scholarship Award to eight-grader trumpeter Nick Cuevas and the two schools collaborating on “Chameleon” to close the show.

Leela Donlon, on drums and auxiliary percussion, kept the middle school jazz band swinging all night long.

Rachel Dryden and Luke Bifulco brought the heat on alto sax — trading bold solos during

Restored Holocaust violins headline show

By ROKSANA AMID & BRIAN KACHARABA ramid@liherald.com

Symphony of Hope will bring restored Holo caust‑era violins, international soloists and local ensembles to Long Island for a concert that will trans form private histories of loss into public acts of remembrance and education.

On March 12 at 8p.m., Madison Theatre at Molloy University will host the collaborative program pre sented by Molloy University, the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, the Holocaust Memorial and Tol erance Center of Nassau County and the Long Island Concert Orchestra.

The centerpiece of the evening is the Violins of Hope collection — instruments once owned and played by Jewish musicians before and during the Holocaust that have been meticulously restored for performance. “It really brings to life the people who once owned them and played on them in real time,” said David Winkler, executive director and composer‑in‑residence of LICO. Winkler, who founded the orchestra in 2016, framed the event as both a memorial and a community effort: “I consider Symphony of Hope to be a celebra tion of the human spirit through music.”

Only a portion of the collection will be used in the Madison Theatre performance; roughly 70 instru ments are currently in performing condition, with many more awaiting restoration. Avshi Weinstein, who continues the restoration legacy begun by his father, master luthier Amnon Weinstein, will partici pate in the presentation, bringing the project’s craft and historical expertise to the stage.

Winkler emphasized why violins, in particular, carry such resonance: “Only the violins fall into this category. All other instruments were either discarded

or torn apart. Violins are relatively small instruments that can be taken, put into a knapsack, into a bag.” That portability, he said, allowed persecuted musi cians to carry cultural identity and, in some cases, a means of survival.

The program pairs local and international talent. The Long Island Concert Orchestra will be joined by the Long Island Choral Society, with rising guest con ductor Jeffrey Dokken on the podium and Simon Zhu. The repertoire blends historical resonance and con temporary voices, including Violin Concerto No. 7 by

Long Island composer Alexey Shor and work by Win kler titled Pacifica, which is “dedicated to peace.” Grammy‑nominated music director Enrico Fagone is listed as the orchestra’s artistic leader.

Institutional leaders framed the concert as both an artistic event and an educational mission. “Molloy University is honored to host The Symphony of Hope at our Madison Theatre,” s Molloy University Presi dent James Lentini, said. Jolanta Zamecka, vice chair of HMTC and a LICO board member, emphasized the event’s broader purpose: “The Symphony of Hope enables us to honor musicians whose lives ended far too soon and to inspire future generations to reject hatred and intolerance.” Michael Klinghoffer, presi dent of the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, added that the arts “have a power to transcend time and place and bring the world together with a healing presence.”

LICO traces its roots to the Sea Cliff Chamber Play ers, formed in 1971, evolving through various itera tions before Winkler established the Long Island Con cert Orchestra in 2016 after the Long Island Philhar monic ceased operations. Winkler described the orchestra’s mission as responding to Long Island’s “growing needs” with large‑scale special events and community‑oriented programming.

Each instrument in the Violins of Hope collection carries a distinct story of survival, loss or rescue — some were played in ghettos or camp orchestras, oth ers were hidden or carried by those who escaped per secution. Presenting these violins onstage seeks to give voice to those personal histories in a way organiz ers say can resonantly educate and move contempo rary audiences.

Ticket and sponsorship information for Symphony of Hope is available at madisontheatreny.org.

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

Luke Feeney/Herald

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.

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.

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

CAMP & SCHOOL – A guide to programs and activities

Think you know camp? Think again

Camp has become a staple of the summer season. Each year, millions of children, youth and adults head to the hills, lakes, valleys, and parks to participate in the time-honored tradition of camp. And, while most people easily conjure up images of campfires and canoes, there is a lot more to the camp experience. Here are some things you may not have known about the camp experience, courtesy of American Camp Association.

Camp is older than dirt, almost literally Started in 1861, the camp experience turned an impressive 150 years young in 2011. The secret behind the longevity? “Camps are adapting to meet the needs of today’s campers,” says Tom Rosenberg, formr president/CEO of the American Camp Association.“At the same time, the impact camp has on campers, the lifechanging experience, has remained after all these years.”

Camp is worth its weight in gold, and then some!

The camp experience is life-changing –developing friendships and memories that last well beyond the final campfire. And, there is a camp for literally every budget. Often camps offer special pricing or financial assistance, and some camp experiences qualify for tax credits or for payment with preGreen is “zen.”

Research shows that first-hand experience with nature, like those at camp, reduce stress in children and help them better handle stress in

the future. In addition to teaching children how to be good stewards of the environment, camps are teaching children how to enjoy the world around them and take a minute to breathe deep and feel the nature, which ultimately teaches them how to de-stress the natural way.

Mommies and Daddies do it too.

Camp is not just for children and youth. There are family camp experiences, and camps for single adults, senior adults, and any adult that wants to relax and enjoy all camp has to offer. Adults benefit from the same sense of community, authentic relationships, and selfdiscovery that children do. Camp is an excellent vacation option, allowing adults to try a variety of new activities in a safe and fun environment.

Try this on for size!

Camp is a great place to try new activities and hobbies. Afraid of rock walls? According to ACA research, 74 percent of campers reported that they tried new activities at camp that they were afraid to do at first. And, those activities often leave lasting impressions. In the same survey, 63 percent of parents reported that their child continued new activities from camp after returning home.

Manners matter, and often linger.

The camp experience teaches more than just archery or lanyard making. The entire experience is made of teachable moments, perhaps one of the biggest is how to live with a group of people. Campers learn to pick up after themselves, respect each other’s property, and to say

“Please” and “Thank You.”

Camp gets those neurons pumping Education reform debate and concern over summer learning loss have pushed academic achievement into the spotlight. Research shows that participation in intentional programs, like camp, during summer months helps stem summer learning loss. In addition, camp provides ample opportunity for developmental growth, which is a precursor to academic achievement. And, because of the “hands-on” nature of camp, often children who struggle in traditional edu-

cation settings do well at camp.

Camp builds leaders for the 21st century and beyond Independence, resiliency, teamwork, problem-solving skills, and the ability to relate to other people these are the skills that tomorrow’s leaders will need, and the skills camp has been adept at building for 150 years.

Photo: Long after the final campfire fades, the skills and friendships built at camp continue to shine.

The sound of success Unique ways music education supports academic achievement CAMP & SCHOOL – A guide to programs and activities

In today’s schools, science, technology, engineering and mathematics often dominate the academic spotlight. Yet educators and researchers continue to point to another powerful driver of student success: music education.

According to the Arts Education Data Project, an estimated 2.1 million American students lacked access to arts education including music as of 2022. That gap is concerning, as mounting research shows that music instruction strengthens performance across multiple academic areas.

Mathematical Thinking

Music and mathematics share more than a passing resemblance. Reading rhythms involves fractions and division. Recognizing musical patterns mirrors algebraic reasoning.

A 2019 study published by the American Psychological Association found that students who learned to play an instrument and continued in band or orchestra performed nearly one academic year ahead of their peers in several subjects, including math. The structured logic of music timing, sequencing and symbolic interpretation reinforces the same analytical skills students rely on in advanced mathematics.

Boost Literacy And Language Skills

Music education also enhances reading and writing development. Learning to interpret

notes on a page parallels decoding words in a book. Both require attention to symbols, comprehension of meaning and the ability to selfcorrect.

Singing lyrics and studying musical storytelling introduce students to new vocabulary and poetic structure, strengthening comprehension. Research in neuroscience suggests that musical training activates brain regions associated with language processing, giving young learners an added advantage in literacy.

Build Discipline And Study Habits

Mastering an instrument takes time, patience and consistent practice. Students quickly learn that improvement comes from repetition and focus lessons that translate directly to homework, long-term projects and exam preparation.

The resilience developed while tackling challenging passages or preparing for performances can foster greater academic persistence overall.

Enhance Cognitive And Emotional Well-Being

Music engages multiple areas of the brain simultaneously, supporting memory, concentration and problem-solving. At the same time, it offers a creative outlet that can reduce stress and build confidence. Students who feel emotionally supported and

creatively fulfilled are often better equipped to handle rigorous coursework and classroom demands.

Foster Collaboration And Communication

Participation in band, choir or orchestra teaches students to listen closely, follow direction and contribute to a shared goal. Ensemble performance requires cooperation and accountability skills that mirror group projects in science labs, history presentations and other academic settings.

Balanced Learning

As schools continue to prioritize STEM ini-

STEAM & SPECIALTY CAMPS

tiatives, many educators advocate for a broader STEAM approach that includes the arts. Music education does more than enrich school culture; it strengthens cognitive development, academic performance and social skills. By investing in music programs alongside core academic subjects, schools create wellrounded learning environments that prepare students not only for higher test scores, but for lifelong success.

tug-of-war,

and

Blue celebration caps three-day competition

ter, played by Co-captain Noelle Coyne, explored her memories and emotions while preparing for college. Fellow Cocaptain Madeline Woo portrayed the emotion Joy.

The Blue team’s performance took Co-captains Kiera Gunn and Charly Testerman to “Barbie Land,” led by Barbie herself. Lessons were learned and memories were made as they were introduced to iconic dolls dressed for different careers, such as hairdressers and police officers, showing that girls can be whoever they want to be, just like Barbie.

Judges announced Saturday that the Blue team had earned best skit, best props and four of the five dance categories, totaling 24 points. The Red team collected 6 points for best costumes and the tap dance portion of the routine, along with 5 additional points for the stronger tumbling performance.

Friday also marked the first head-tohead athletic competitions. The Red team won the fireman and concentration relays, worth 3 points each, before the Blue team responded with a victory in the scooter relay, also worth 3 points. The teams later tied in a scoreless floor hockey game, earning 3 points apiece and giving the Red team a 9-6 lead entering the final day.

“You always have faith in your team,” Woo said. “I obviously did. All of my girls were amazing. They worked their butts off. It was incredible.”

After repeating the skits and tumbling performances Saturday, the Red team extended its lead to 15-6 with wins in the superstar and basketball relays. The Blue team answered by cutting the deficit to 15-12 with victories in tug-ofwar and a 20-15 win in the volleyball

Blue team tops Red in fierce showdown

match.

“It feels so rewarding, just overall, all the work you put in is now rewarded,” Testerman said. “I’m so grateful for all the work everyone put in. We wouldn’t have gotten here without everyone else’s help.”

The teams also tied in attendance, meet decorum and sportsmanship. But the Blue team earned 5 points from the judges for organization, and was declared the overall champion when results from the first two days were announced by Patrick Maguire, the school’s director of physical education, interscholastic athletics and health.

“This is like a dream come true,” Gunn said. “I’ve wanted this since freshman year, and I’m doing this for my grandma. She’s my biggest inspiration. I’m so happy.”

Despite the loss, Red team members embraced one another and friends on both sides, displaying the event’s trademark sportsmanship and camaraderie.

“It was just a great month to hang out with your friends and my friends on the other side,” senior Red team member Brooke Doreste said. “It was still a good experience, and I’m so happy we won tumbling.”

HERALD SPORTS

Rally advances South Side to county finals

By PATRICK MOQUIN sports@liherald.com

South Side wore down Manhasset in the Nassau Class AA boys basketball semifinals on Monday evening, finding more in the late stages to pull away with a 55-45 victory. The game, held at Farmingdale State College, was one of attrition, and with relentless defense and a deeper bench, the top-seeded Cyclones proved overwhelming in a powerful second-half showing.

“This is a college floor, 10 feet longer and six feet wider,” South Side head coach Jerry D’Angelo said. “You’ve got to be in better shape. We have a deep rotation. We can play seven, eight, nine kids in rotation to give us some breathers, and I thought it definitely paid dividends.”

South Side advances to the Class AA county championship game against second-seeded Roslyn. The 19-3 rivals will play this Saturday at 5:30 p.m. back at Farmingdale State.

South Side’s semifinal victory was not as decisive as it appears, as Manhasset spent much of the first

half in control. After falling to the Cyclones 37-36 on Feb. 11, Manhasset came prepared for the postseason rematch and led 24-21 at halftime.

South Side senior John Pericalosi ended the night with 20 points and 12 rebounds, but his defensive efforts proved even more important. His early steals kept the Cyclones involved after a slow start, and his role in the fullcourt press eventually helped to exhaust Manhasset’s top-heavy roster.

“Just keeping pressure on the ball,” Pericolosi said. “I wanted to force them to make some turnovers, force them to make the play. That’s really it.”

The first six minutes of the second half proved to be the last gasp for Manhasset and senior Pete Mastando, who continued making tough shots to counter South Side’s surging attack. The lead changed five times in a flurry propelled by two dunks from Pericolosi and steady production from South Side senior Ryan Schmitt, who finished with 16 points and seven rebounds.

“We hyped ourselves back up, especially coming into the game that slow,”

Schmitt said. “Started the second half strong, played together as a team, got some fouls on them, and that’s how we won.”

Mastando scored 22 points in defeat, but the dam finally broke late with 2:12 remaining in the third, when South Side junior Trevor Walsh made a pair of free throws to kickstart a 12-0 run to end the quarter. The barrage was punctuated by two stylish baskets from sophomore Kiernan Vetter, who scored a season-high 8 points off the bench.

“When I went in, I had to rise to the occasion, and I did what I did,” Vetter said.

Comfortably ahead entering the fourth, Schmitt, Vetter, and Connor Erickson did the late work to lock down the 10-point win.

Pericolosi and Schmitt admitted that past postseason heartbreaks are fueling their final run. Upset in the championship game as sophomores and sent home early as juniors, the seniors hope the third time will pay for all as they extend their varsity careers one game at a time.

Romance retires after 29 years with police

By ALYSSA R. GRIFFIN agriffin@liherald.com

After nearly three decades of service to the community, Inspector Chris Romance has retired from the Rockville Centre Police Department and begun a new chapter as police chief in Hinesburg, Vermont.

“On behalf of the village, I want to express our deepest gratitude to Inspector Chris Romance for his extraordinary service and dedication to our community,” Mayor Francis X. Murray said in a statement. “We wish him a happy and well-earned retirement, knowing his impact on our community will be felt for years to come.”

Romance officially began his new role in early February and is awaiting permanent housing before relocating his wife and children to Vermont.

“I always vacationed in Vermont — I love Vermont,” he said. “My plan was to retire from the Rockville Centre Police Department after 29 years, then move to Vermont and continue doing something in the law enforcement profession.”

Romance joined the department in 1997 after completing the Nassau County police exam. He said his motivation from the beginning was simple.

“I wanted to get involved in the community, serve the community and provide assistance to those in need,” he said.

Over the years, Romance rose steadily through the ranks. He served as a patrol officer from 1997 to 2005 and became the department’s training officer in 2002, later joining the traffic enforcement unit. He was promoted to sergeant in June 2005 and to lieutenant in January 2010. In November 2021, he was promoted to inspector, becoming the department’s highest-ranking uniformed officer.

Police Commissioner A. Randy Dodd, who began his current position in 2023, praised Romance’s leadership and experience.

“He was just amazing,” Dodd said. “He was the best boss I had. To have him as my inspector — he ran the department’s day-to-day operations — was incredible. He’s probably the most trained cop that I know.”

As Romance departs, the village has promoted Lt. Matthew Vickery to inspector. A Westbury resident, he lives with his wife, Kerri, and their four children.

“The village is proud to welcome Lieutenant Vickery as our new inspector,” Murray said. “With deep roots in the community and a proven track record of excellence, we are confident he will continue to lead the department with integrity and vision.”

Vickery joined the Rockville Centre Police Department in January 2008 after serving with the New York Police Department. A graduate of Northeastern University with a degree in criminal justice, he said becoming a Rockville Centre officer had long been a goal.

Following in his father Mike Vickery’s footsteps, he worked alongside him until his father retired in 2017 after 40 years with the department.

“He was a cop before I was born, so he was well into his career by then,” Vickery said. “Going to the picnics they used to have and the kids’ Christmas parties — I was always immersed in it.”

Reflecting on his career so far, Vickery said the relationships he has built stand out most.

“What I’ve treasured most are the relationships I’ve built with the guys I’ve worked with — guys I’ve supervised and guys who have long since retired,” he said.

Vickery was officially sworn in as inspector during the March 2 village board meeting.

Clocks spring forward as debate over practice continues

By BRIAN KACHARABA

Daylight saving time returns during the early morning hours of March 8, when clocks across most of the United States move forward one

The seasonal shift, designed to extend evening daylight, signals the unofficial start of longer spring days, while also renewing debate about its history, purpose and whether the practice should continue.

How a wartime measure became a yearly tradition

Daylight saving was first widely adopted during World War I as a way to conserve fuel and energy by making better use of natural daylight. Germany introduced the concept in 1916, and the United States soon followed. The practice ended after the war but returned during World War II before becoming standardized nationwide under the Uniform Time Act of 1966. Observance was not uniform, and for decades most of Indiana opted out, creating a confusing patchwork of time rules within the state until statewide adoption in 2006. Over time, the practice shifted from an energy-saving strategy into a widely observed lifestyle tradition, influencing commerce, recreation, daily routines, and cultural events, becoming an ingrained part of modern life.

Springing forward can leave you a little sleep deprived

The spring transition to daylight saving time is often associated with sleep disruption and temporary fatigue, as people effectively lose one hour of rest overnight. Studies have linked the change to short-term increases in workplace accidents, traffic incidents and difficulty concentrating during the following days. However, supporters argue that extended evening daylight encourages outdoor activity, shopping and community events, benefiting local economies and public well-being. Schools, businesses and transportation systems must also adjust schedules twice each year, requiring coordination nationwide. Many health experts recommend gradually adjusting sleep routines before the change to reduce its impact on both children and adults alike.

Should

daylight saving time become permanent?

In recent years, lawmakers at both the state and federal levels have debated whether daylight saving time should become permanent or be eliminated altogether. Supporters of permanent daylight saving time argue that later sunsets improve quality of life, reduce crime and boost economic activity. Critics counter that darker winter mornings can create safety concerns for students and commuters. Several states have passed legislation supporting year-round daylight saving time, but federal approval is required before changes can take effect nationwide. Public opinion remains divided, and despite repeated proposals in Congress, Americans continue to adjust their clocks twice a year while the debate remains unresolved.

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

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

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 6

Designer bag bingo

FOSSI presents “Designer Bag Bingo Night” at the Sandel Senior Center. With chances to win luxury handbags from top designers including Longchamp, Valentino, Chloe, and Tory Burch. Enjoy an evening of bingo, raffles, food, and fun, with drinks available for purchase. $50 per ticket, and includes 10 bingo games. Proper ID is required. Guests must be 21 or older to be served alcohol. Seating is limited.

• Where: 50 S. Park Ave., Rockville Centre

• Time: 7 p.m.

• Contact: (516) 678-9350

‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’

Molloy University’s CAP21

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

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

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

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

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

Celtic Woman

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

appearance by the actress-turnedauthor 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) 323-4444

Tax help

Mar

12

Get free in-person tax help for seniors and low-income families (under $73,000) at Rockville Centre Public Library. Bring last year’s return, W-2s, investment info, Social Security cards, ID, and a blank check for direct deposit. Friendly experts will guide you through your taxes, helping you get your refund safely and with confidence. Appointments only, no walk-ins.

• Where: 221 N .Village Ave.

• Time: 9:15 a.m.-2:15 p.m.

• Contact: rvclibrary.org or (516) 766-6257

BOE meets

Mar 7

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.

• Where: Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale

• Time: 7 p.m.

• Contact: ticketmaster.com

Larson Legacy Concert

Acclaimed composer and 2025 Jonathan Larson Grant recipient Dylan MarcAurele performs at Adelphi University Performing Arts Center continuing Adelphi’s tradition of showcasing emerging musical theater talents. 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.

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

• Time: 3 p.m.

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

Super Smash Bros. tournament

Rockville Centre Public Library hosts its annual Super Smash Bros. tournament for students in grades 6-12. Participants compete for prizes, with pizza served during the event. Registration is required. Non–library cardholders are welcome.

• Where: 221 N. Village Ave.

• Time: 1-4 p.m.

• Contact: rvclibrary.org or (516) 766-6257

Mar

8

Jane Monheit in concert 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

Mar

11

Molloy career fair

Molloy University hosts a career fair at the Public Square. Students and alumni are invited to connect with employers, explore career opportunities and take the next step in their professional journey.

• Where: 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre

• Time: Noon–3 p.m.

• Contact: (516) 323-3470 or CareerCenter@Molloy.edu

An intimate chat with Valerie Bertinelli Long Island LitFest hosts an

Join the Rockville Centre Board of Education for their next regular meeting in the South Side High School Commons Room. This is a crucial opportunity for parents, students, and community members to stay informed about key updates in local education, including upcoming initiatives and district-wide plans. Public participation is encouraged, with time allocated for community members to address the Board.

• Where: 140 Shepherd St., Rockville Centre

• Time: 7 p.m.

• Contact: (516) 255-8957 or social@rvcschools.org

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 Citizens Bank, N.A. s/b/m to Investors Bank, Plaintiff AGAINST Michael Brooks a/k/a Michael Ossam, Juliet Brooks a/k/a Juliet Ossam, et al, Defendant Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on January 15, 2026, 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 18, 2026 at 2:00 PM premises known as 20 Woods Place, Rockville Centre, NY 11570. 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: 38, BLOCK: 396, LOT: 56. Approximate amount of judgment is $995,576.20 plus interests and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 002813/2017. Brian James Carmody, Referee FRENKEL LAMBERT WEISMAN & GORDON LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706 01-084276 -F00 88882 158317

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, D/B/A CHRISTIANA TRUST, NOT INDIVIDUALLY BUT AS TRUSTEE FOR PRETIUM MORTGAGE ACQUISITION TRUST, Plaintiff AGAINST ARTHUR EDWARDS, ELIZABETH EDWARDS AKA ELIZABETH MC ARDLE, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered December 16, 2022, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on March 17, 2026 at 2:00 PM, premises known as 259 Lincoln Avenue, Rockville Centre, NY 11570. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of

Rockville Centre, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 38, Block 347, Lot (s) 380 & 381.

Approximate amount of judgment

$723,702.12 plus interest and costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Ind ex #609188/2019. Karen C. Grant, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 18-009233 88614 158313

LEGAL NOTICE

Village of Rockville Centre Nassau County, New York

Notice of Board of Zoning Appeals Hearing Date: March 4, 2026

Pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 340 Rockville Centre Village Code NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Appeals of the Village of Rockville Centre will hold a Zoning Appeals Hearing at the Eugene J. Murray Village Hall 1 College Place, Rockville Centre at 7:00 p.m.

LEGAL NOTICE

March 4, 2026 at 7:00

PM

Case # 07-2026James Muldoon & Jennifer Coghlan

To construct one-story rear and side additions with a proposed lot coverage of 34.1% where 30.0% is the maximum allowable, impervious surface coverage of 50% where 45.0% is the maximum allowable, a side yard setback of 5.8 feet where 8.0 feet is the minimum required within a Residence A district.

Premises known as 83 Muirfield Road

Case # 09-2026Thomas & Christine Lapadula

To construct a 17’ x 15’ open pavilion in the rear yard with a proposed lot coverage of 34.0% where 30.0% is the maximum allowable, and an impervious lot coverage of 63.0% where 45.0% is the maximum allowable within a Residence A district.

Premises known as 7 McGann Drive

Case # 10-2026 - Taco Bell of America, LLC

Renewal of an expired parking variance (Case # 35-2019, October 23, 2019) for a period of three (3) years.

Premises known as 570

Sunrise Highway Public Work Session: Case # 15-2025 - Bolla EM Realty LLC

Extension of time request to obtain permits and certificates.

Premises known as 345 Sunrise Highway Vote on declaration of Lead Agency

Premises known as 150 Sunrise Highway Dated: February 18, 2026

BOARD OF APPEALS OF THE VILLAGE OF ROCKVILLE CENTRE, Rockville Centre, New York

J. Robert Schenone, Chairman Patrick D. O’Brien, Secretary Information and records for appeals cases are available at the Office of the Secretary of the Board of Appeals, 110 Maple Avenue, RVC, NY 158697

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 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

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE UNDER SECURITIZATION SERVICING AGREEMENT DATED AS OF AUGUST 1, 2005 STRUCTURED ASSET SECURITIES CORPORATION, STRUCTURED ASSET INVESTMENT LOAN TRUST MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2005-HE3, Plaintiff, Against FOLAREMI ABIOLA; et al, Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 02/01/2018, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 on 4/7/2026 at 2:00PM, premises known as 1288 Dekoven Street, Rockville Centre, New York 11570, and described as follows: ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Rockville Centre, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York.

Section 38 Block 114 Lot 905, 906 and 907. The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $557,690.22 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 15-010953 If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the then Court Appointed Referee will cancel the Foreclosure Auction. This Auction will be held rain or shine.

Janine Lynam, Esq., Referee. MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC, 10 Midland Avenue, Suite 205, Port Chester, NY 10573

Dated: 1/29/2026 File Number: 15-315268 CA 158717

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT. NASSAU COUNTY. L&L ASSOCIATES HOLDING CORP., Pltf. vs. RUSSELL S. HARRIS, JR., et al, Defts. Index #609180/2022. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered Jan. 12, 2023, I will sell at public auction on the North

Chiara, Gruner excel in academics, community

improving assistive technology.

“I’m really passionate about AAC devices,” Chiara told the Herald. “They’re used for alternative and augmentative communication by people who are nonverbal and have special needs, and I really want to work on devices like that in the future.”

Walsh commended her academic record and character.

“Her academic success is not solely reflected in her exceptional grades, but in her ability to find enjoyment and a love of learning,” he said of Chiara. “She has excelled as a full IB diploma candidate across all disciplines. She is an exceptional young woman with boundless potential, and her humble spirit is something I truly admire.”

Gruner told the Herald that her experience at South Side High School helped shape her success. “I’ve been lucky enough to have some really amazing teachers who made it possible for me to achieve what I did in my classes,” she said, “and I think that was a big part of what got me here.”

Gruner maintains a demanding academic schedule, and earned distinction in several honor societies while also

serving as captain and goaltender of the Nassau County champion varsity soccer team. During that county championship match against Garden City on Nov. 2, Gruner not only made two dynamic penalty-kick saves, but also scored during the extra session to help the Cyclones capture their third county title in the past five seasons.

As a community volunteer, she works as a classroom assistant, youth coach and mentor to children with disabilities. She also co-leads Bethany’s Buddies, an organization supporting women and families in need, and founded Cards to Fight Cancer, a fundraising effort benefiting Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Gruner is still deciding where she will attend college, but is considering studying cognitive science and math, inspired by an essay she wrote. “I wrote about treatments for depression and how they compare and work, especially on a chemical and psychological level, and I find that really interesting,” she said.

Walsh praised her achievements. “Whether in the classroom, on the field or in our community, she consistently demonstrates leadership, empathy and a

Dingle/Herald abigail gruner made two penalty kick saves and also scored during the extra session to help the girls’ varsity soccer team win another county title on nov. 2.

drive to make a meaningful impact,” he said. “She has worked so hard to achieve so very much here at South Side High School. We are extremely proud of her.”

Making South Side history, the school is preparing to send off Chiara and Gruner as they begin a new journey, carrying with them all they have learned along the way.

“We are extremely proud of both Megan and Abigail,” Walsh wrote in an email to the Herald. “They have demonstrated a consistent level of excellence that is truly commendable. We know they are both on their way to great

Valedictorian vs. Salutatorian: What’s the difference?

Each year, high schools recognize their top academic achievers by naming a valedictorian and salutatorian, two of the highest honors awarded to graduating seniors.

Valedictorian

The valedictorian is the student with the highest academic average in the graduating class, typically determined by cumulative grade point average. The title comes from the Latin phrase meaning “to say farewell.” Valedictorians traditionally deliver the farewell address at graduation, reflecting on the class’s shared experiences and future goals.

Salutatorian

The salutatorian ranks second academically in the graduating class. Derived from the Latin word for “greeting,” the salutatorian usually gives the opening speech at commencement, welcoming guests and classmates to the ceremony.

futures. Congratulations to them and their families.”

The high school declined to release Chiara’s and Gruner’s grade-point averages.

EMPLOYMENT

Help Wanted

CIRCULATION ASSOCIATE

Full Time/Part Time

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

DRIVERS WANTED

Full Time and Part Time

Positions Available!

Busy Print Shop in Garden City

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

DRIVING INSTRUCTOR

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

$22 - $27/ Hour

Bell Auto School

516-365-5778

Email: info@bellautoschool.com

EDITOR/REPORTER

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

HOUSE AIDE: Light Housekeeping, Laundry, Some Doctor's Visits. Car Required. Rockville Centre. 3 Hours/ Day, 2 Times/ Week. $17-$25/ Hour. Letter Of Experience To: peterhr@optimum.net

MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $20 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com

MULTI MEDIA ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT

Inside Sales

Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $35,360 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286

OUTSIDE SALES

Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Earning potential ranges from $35,360 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses. Compensation is based on Full Time hours Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off. Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X250

PRINTING PRESS OPERATORS FT & PT. Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for Printing Press Operators in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges from $20 per hour to $30 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com

RECEPTIONIST F/T

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

Hudson Steals the Show

Estate WE BUY HOUSES for Cash AS IS! No repairs. No fuss. Any condition. Easy three step process: Call, get cash offer and get paid. Get your fair cash offer today by calling Liz Buys Houses: 1-888-704-5670

Brand-new 5-bedroom, 3-bath

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.

Apartments For Rent

CEDARHURST NO FEE Private Entrance, Modern 1BR, 2BR, 3BR, CAC, W/D, Storage, Wall To Wall Carpeting, Indoor Parking Space. Starting At $1450 For One Bedroom When Available. (516)860-6889/ (516)852-5135/ (516)582-9978

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!

© 2026 Monte Leeper Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.

Call Today! 1-866-782-4069

Cleaning Services

WENDY'S CLEANING SERVICES INC. Commercial/Residential. We Specialize In Houses, Apartments, Offices, Airbnb & More. Good References. Free Estimates. Call/Text Wendy 516-406-5375 Or Email wencruzpa@gmail.com

Electricians

E-Z ELECTRIC SERVICES, INC. All Types Residential/Commercial Wiring, Generators, Telephone/Data, Home Entertainment, Service Upgrades, Pools, Spas. Services/Repairs. Violations Removed. Free Estimates Low Rates. 516-785-0646 Lic/Ins.

Home Improvement

BEAUTIFUL BATH UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Superior quality bath and shower systems at AFFORDABLE PRICES! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Call Now! 1-833-807-0159

CARPENTRY & PAINTING: Residential/ Commercial. All Phases. Licensed/Insured. FREE ESTIMATES! Anthony & J Home Improvements 516-678-6641

Home Improvement

DO YOU KNOW what's in your water? Leaf Home Water Solutions offers FREE water testing and whole home water treatment systems that can be installed in as little one day. 15% off your entire purchase. Plus 10% senior & military discounts. Restrictions apply. Schedule your FREE test today. Call 1-866-247-5728

PREPARE FOR POWER outages today with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 5-Year warranty with qualifying purchase. Call 1-877-516-1160 today to schedule a free quote. It's not just a generator. It's a power move.

PREPARE FOR POWER outages with Briggs & Stratton® PowerProtect(TM) standby generators - the most powerful home standby generators available. Industry-leading comprehensive warranty - 7 years ($849 value.) Proudly made in the U.S.A. Call Briggs & Stratton 1-888-605-1496

SAFE STEP. NORTH America's #1 WalkIn Tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-the-line installation and service. Now featuring our FREE shower package and $1600 Off for a limited time! Call today! Financing available. Call Safe Step 1-855-916-5473

Miscellaneous

GET BOOST INFINITE! Unlimited Talk, Text and Data For Just $25/mo! The Power Of 3 5G Networks, One Low Price! Call Today and Get The Latest iPhone Every Year On Us! 844-329-9391

Services

AGING ROOF? NEW HOMEOWNER?

STORM DAMAGE? You need a local expert provider that proudly stands behind their work. Fast, free estimate. Financing available. Call 1-833-880-7679

INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT? Don't Accept the insurance company's first offer. Many injured parties are entitled to major cash settlements. Get a free evaluation to see what your case is really worth. 100% Free Evaluation. Call Now: 1-833-323-0318. Be ready with your zip code to connect with the closest provider.

PEST CONTROL: PROTECT YOUR HOME from pests safely and affordably. Roaches, Bed Bugs, Rodent, Termite, Spiders and other pests. Locally owned and affordable. Call for service or an inspection today! 1-833-549-0598 Have zip code of property ready when calling!

Telephone Services

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

Satellite/TV Equipment

DIRECTV- All your entertainment. Nothing on your roof! Sign up for Directv and get your first three months of Max, Paramount+, Showtime, Starz, MGM+ and Cinemax included. Choice package $84.99/mo. Some restrictions apply. Call DIRECTV 1-888-534-6918

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Health & Fitness

ATTENTION OXYGEN THERAPY USERS! Discover Oxygen Therapy That Moves with You with Inogen Portable Oxygen Concentrators. FREE information kit. Call 1-833-661-4172

ATTENTION: VIAGRA AND CIALIS US-

ERS! A cheaper alternative to high drugstore prices! 50 Pill Special - Only $99! 100% guaranteed. CALL NOW: 1-833-641-6397

Ca$h Paid$. All Years/ Conditions! WE VISIT YOU! Or Donate, Tax Deduct + Ca$h. DMV ID#1303199. Call LUKE 516-VAN-CARS. 516-297-2277

DONATE YOUR CAR today, running or not. Support Patriotic Hearts for our Veterans and their Families! Free fast pickup. Max tax deduction. Se habla Español. Call now: 844-415-1229

GET A BREAK on your taxes! Donate your car, truck, or SUV to assist the blind and visually impaired. Arrange a swift, nocost vehicle pickup and secure a generous tax credit for 2025. Call Heritage for the Blind Today at 1-855-484-3467 today! WE BUY 8,000 cars a week. Sell your old, busted or junk car with no hoops, haggles or headaches. Sell your car to Peddle. Easy three step process. Instant offer. Free pickup. Fast payment. Call 1-855-403-3374

Cars Wanted

opInIons Service in winter, spirit in spring

This winter has placed extraordinary demands on our community, testing our resilience and our sense of shared responsibility. With frigid temperatures and significant snowfalls, this season has required patience, perseverance and above all, cooperation.

Through each storm, one constant has been the extraordinary dedication of our Department of Public Works. While we watch the snow from the warmth of our homes, the men and women of the DPW are at work, often through the night, ensuring that the village remains safe and accessible.

They plow 53 miles of roads and 30 parking fields, and clear all village-owned sidewalks. That’s an immense responsibility. Dozens of pieces of equipment are deployed in every storm, including plows, dump trucks and pay loaders. Crews also utilize small plows and snowblowers for sidewalks and accessible ramps. Their coordinated effort ensures that our roadways are cleared efficiently and that pedestrians can move about safely. Preparation plays a critical role in

this work. Our recently constructed salt storage facility, at DPW headquarters on Sunrise Highway, supports roughly 1,600 tons of rock salt, helping the Highway Department maintain our roads, parking fields and sidewalks throughout the winter months. This important infrastructure project was partially funded by American Rescue Plan Act funds, reflecting a thoughtful investment in the long-term needs of our community.

The snow is finally melting, and in two weeks we’ll be all about green.

On behalf of the entire village, I extend sincere appreciation to the dedicated professionals of the DPW. Their long hours in difficult conditions do not go unnoticed. They rise to the occasion with professionalism and commitment every time.

Winter operations, however, are a shared responsibility. Each of us plays a part in ensuring that snow-removal efforts are safe and effective. I ask all residents to be good neighbors during and after winter storms. Please don’t park on the street during snow events. Vehicles left on roadways interfere with plowing and snow removal operations, delay progress and create hazardous conditions. Basketball hoops must be removed from the curb strip or laid flat. Residents are reminded not to shovel or blow snow into the roadway.

Property owners are responsible for clearing snow and ice from fire hydrants, and maintaining adequate clearance to ensure access for firefighters in an emergency. Sidewalks in front of and adjacent to your property must be cleared of snow and ice, including street corners and crosswalk aprons. These actions protect pedestrians, assist first responders — and reflect the pride we share in our village.

As we anticipate the arrival of spring and warmer weather, we are reminded that this season also brings one of our most cherished traditions, the annual Rockville Centre St. Patrick’s Parade.

Now in its 29th year, “the Parade that Cares and Shares” will step off at noon on March 21, beginning at Maple Avenue and Long Beach Road and proceeding to the reviewing stand in front of St. Agnes Cathedral. What began as a celebration of Irish heritage has grown into one of the most successful and wellattended Saint Patrick’s Day parades in New York state.

The parade is much more than a festive afternoon. It is an incorporated nonprofit organization, and each year it supports three deserving charities with national, Irish and local missions. Since its inception in 1997, the parade has dis-

tributed more than $1.8 million to 78 charities. That remarkable achievement speaks to the generosity and civic spirit of our residents and sponsors.

I congratulate the 2026 grand marshal, Bill Hogan. A respected technology executive and community leader, Bill and his wife, Kate, have raised five children in Rockville Centre. He has been deeply involved in youth sports, parish life and numerous charitable initiatives. His philanthropic leadership includes more than two decades with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, early support of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, and board service with several educational and faith-based organizations. He embodies the spirit of service and generosity that this parade represents.

This year’s parade will raise funds for Rescuing Families, Nassau County Firefighters Operation Wounded Warrior, and Run for Mary. These worthy causes reflect the parade’s continued commitment to compassion and community.

As the snowbanks disappear and we prepare to welcome spring, we are reminded that brighter days are ahead. Soon our streets will be filled not with snowplows, but with families, friends and familiar faces celebrating side by side. I look forward to seeing everyone in two weeks for a day that truly captures the heart of our village.

Francis

X. Murray is the mayor of Rockville Centre.

Shielding savings New Yorkers work a lifetime to build

If you’re a first-time homebuyer making a down payment, a seller waiting on the proceeds from a home sale or a family expecting settlement funds, you trust your attorney to safeguard your money in an escrow account. For many New Yorkers, that money represents years of savings — funds meant for a home, a fresh start or long-term security — not for misuse.

Yet far too often, clients become victims of theft when attorneys misappropriate funds from escrow accounts — special trust accounts in which lawyers are required to safeguard their clients’ money, most commonly during real estate transactions. Just last year, a former real estate attorney was sentenced to up to 10½ years in prison for stealing nearly $1.8 million from 32 clients over a three-year period. He did so by withholding sale proceeds and down payments that rightfully belonged to them.

The case was far from isolated. Since

New York established the Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection in 1982 — which reimburses clients who lose money or property due to a lawyer’s dishonest conduct — more than $112 million in stolen real estate escrow funds has been returned to victims. Clients deserve to make life-changing financial decisions without worrying about whether their money is safe.

ing every firm — regardless of size — an equal chance of review. Entities would be randomly selected for audits, but this wouldn’t preclude an audit for suspicious activity.

We’re in need of a statewide Random Audit Compliance Program.

That’s why I introduced legislation with Assemblyman Charles Lavine to establish a statewide Random Audit Compliance Program that would conduct periodic audits of law firms managing real estate escrow trust accounts. The bill, S9129, is designed to strengthen protections for New Yorkers’ hardearned funds, ensuring that client money is properly safeguarded and kept separate from attorneys’ personal or business finances.

The legislation would direct the chief administrator of the courts to establish the program within the Office of the Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection. The chief administrator would also oversee the development of a software system to randomly select law firms for audit, giv-

The bill also specifies which records would have to be produced, who would conduct the reviews, who could represent a firm, and the standards auditors would have to follow to ensure fairness and consistency. It would authorize the Lawyers’ Fund’s board of trustees to hire qualified auditors with appropriate credentials, while retaining flexibility to update those requirements as needed.

We cannot ignore the growing number of trust violations in New York. A 2025 report by the New York City Bar found that the Lawyers’ Fund paid 94 awards totaling $11.6 million in 2024 — a 31 percent increase in awards and a 90 percent increase in payouts from the previous year. The report further noted that real property escrow losses accounted for $9.9 million in awards, while theft of settlement proceeds accounted for an additional $415,000plus. This growing pattern demands action to protect client funds before

more damage is done.

This wouldn’t be the first randomaudit program of its kind in the country. New Jersey has conducted random audits of attorney trust and business accounts since 1981 to ensure compliance with its recordkeeping rules. Despite having about one-fifth as many attorneys as New York, New Jersey paid just $1.1 million in client protection awards in 2024–25. Since the program began, the state has completed more than 18,000 audits, and only 4.5 percent have resulted in disciplinary action.

Several other states have adopted similar programs. In Connecticut, compliance improved dramatically, with the percentage of audits requiring no corrective action rising from 14 percent in 2017 to 30 percent in 2024. These programs show that random audits work, and it’s time for New York to do the same. If implemented, this program would strengthen the fiduciary duty attorneys owe their clients, protecting the savings families work a lifetime to build. I am committed to fighting for its passage and working with my colleagues to get it done, so New Yorkers can have peace of mind that their hard-earned savings are protected.

Siela Bynoe represents the 6th State Senate District.

HERALD

Sunshine week keeps democracy in the light

every 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.

Buyers who have been waiting through the winter are preparing to act. Those seeking more space, dedicated home offices, refined outdoor living, or simply a lifestyle change are ready to make their move.

Others are planning long-anticipated transitions, whether that means downsizing, relocating, or embracing a new climate and pace. When the snow melts, motivation rises, and inventory moves fast.

If you’ve been thinking about making a move, now is the time to prepare. The strongest spring strategies start before the first flowers bloom.