Celebrating the presentation of a $2 million state grant for upgrades to the Hickey Field Complex are, from left, Rockville Centre Little League president peter Klugewicz; Rockville Centre Mayor Francis X. Murray; deputy Mayor Kathy Baxley; assemblywoman Judy griffin; Village trustee Katie Conlon; and assembly Speaker Carl Heastie.
By BRIAN KACHARABA bkacharaba@liherald.com
Rockville Centre Little League recently secured a second $2 million grant for renovations to the Hickey Field complex on Sunrise Highway, bringing the total funding obtained for the project to $4.55 million and moving the long-awaited overhaul of Hickey and Joyce fields significantly closer to construction.
Assemblywoman Judy Griffin and State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie presented the state grant to the Village of Rockville Centre during a July 22 Hickey Field ceremony attended by Little League players, fami-
lies, coaches, volunteers and village officials.
The latest grant comes on the heels of $2 million in federal Community Project Funding secured by Congresswoman Laura Gillen, which was announced during Rockville Centre Little League’s Opening Day ceremonies on April 18. The project also has received $550,000 in previously allocated state funding connected to construction work in the area, bringing the total secured funding to $4.55 million.
The entire project carries an estimated $7.2 million price tag and will be completed in phases. Phase 1 will focus on the renovation of Hickey and Joyce fields, including Continued on page 20
By BRIAN KACHARABA bkacharaba@liherald.com
Cindy Vaupel, a 27-year Rockville Centre resident and longtime community advocate who co-founded Raising Voices LI, later known as Raising Voices USA, died on July 19 after battling cancer for more than a year. She was 52. Whether advocating for gun violence prevention, supporting local schools or encouraging residents to become more civically engaged, Vaupel dedicated herself to improving the lives of others. Family members, friends and colleagues remembered her as a compassionate leader whose quiet determination and ability to bring people together left a lasting mark on Rockville Centre.
School in Newtown, Conn. Vaupel, who grew up in nearby Danbury and was the mother of two young daughters, said the shooting resonated deeply.
After the 2016 presidential election, Vaupel and fellow Rockville Centre resident Emma Travers co-founded Raising Voices LI. The two had met while volunteering for the Francis F. Wilson Elementary School PTA. After the election, they began talking with neighbors looking for a constructive way to get involved.
CINdY VAUpeL
“There were so many really upset women saying, ‘What are we going to do?’” Travers recalled. “We started by writing an email to some friends saying, ‘We don’t know what we’re going to do, but we should really try and do something.’”
Her path to activism began with a tragedy that struck close to home. On Dec. 14, 2012, 20 children and six educators were killed in the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary
One of Raising Voices LI’s first public meetings drew about 200 people to South Side High School. The organization encouraged civic engagement
Continued on page 2
through educational forums, voter registration drives, postcard-writing campaigns and community advocacy.
“It was very important to her that we were not political,” Travers said of Vaupel. “We wanted it all to come from values rather than politics. If you happened to find a politician who matched your values, then that was where you should put your energy.”
Travers said that Vaupel made sure every event inspired people to take meaningful action. “Every event, she wanted an action item to come out of it,” Travers said. “She wanted people to say, ‘You’ve learned all this tonight. Now go and do this.’”
Beyond Raising Voices LI, Vaupel devoted countless hours to the community. She served on the board of RVC Friends of MLK, helping expand educational and multicultural programming at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, and on the executive board of the Rockville Centre Education Foundation, which funds innovative classroom grants and educational opportunities throughout the school district.
Education Foundation Co-president Darren Raymar said Vaupel poured herself into everything she did.
family was at the heart of everything Cindy Vaupel did. above, from left, are Chris, elizabeth, Catherine and Cindy Vaupel.
“No matter what project Cindy took, whether it was PTA or Ed Foundation, she gave a thousand percent, had great ideas and was someone that everybody absolutely loved,” Raymar said. “Her smile — contagious.”
Audra Cerruto, an Education Foundation board member and associate professor in Molloy University’s School of Education and Human Services, described Vaupel as “a woman for others.”
“She was very interested in social justice and working toward the common good,” Cerruto said. “She always led with compassion, integrity and respect for the dignity of every person.”
Vaupel was a freelance marketing specialist and copywriter at Molloy, where she was also doing doctoral coursework focused on social justice. According to her LinkedIn profile, she earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from Adelphi University and studied English literature at the University of Oxford.
Her husband, Chris Vaupel, said that Cindy’s kindness extended far beyond the organizations where she volunteered. “I think the best way to describe her was she had this remarkable ability
to kind of pull people into her orbit and make them feel valued and cared for and important,” he said. “She knew how to connect with people. She was a doer.”
Chris said that her spirit never wavered after she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of stomach cancer that later spread to her liver.
“In the 16 months that she had cancer, she never complained,” he said. “She always showed up at Sloan Kettering with a smile on her face. You’d never know that Cindy had cancer, because she didn’t complain about it. She was a bright light.”
In the days after her death, Chris said, he gained an even deeper appreciation for the impact his wife had made. “I can’t tell you the number of people who came up to me [at her wake] and said, ‘Chris, you never met me, but let me tell you, your wife was so helpful to me,’” he recounted. “That’s how I started to realize how impactful of a life she led.”
Travers said that one of Vaupel’s greatest gifts was recognizing the strengths in others.
“She was very witty, incredibly thoughtful and saw people for who they are,” Travers said. “She was always a spotter of talent. She was very good at connecting people and helping them understand what they were good at before they might have even known themselves.”
In addition to her husband, Vaupel is survived by her daughters, Elizabeth, 21, and Catherine, 16, of Rockville Centre; and her parents, Maria and Jorge Oliveira, of Danbury, Conn. A funeral Mass was held last Saturday at St. Thomas More Church, at St. John’s University in Queens.
In lieu of flowers, the family requested donations to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center or the Vaupel Family Scholarship at St. John’s University.
The next great chess move may be happening every Monday night at the Rockville Centre Public Library, where young players are learning that the game is about more than just moving pieces across a board — it is about strategy, patience and thinking several steps ahead.
The Checkmate Chess Club brings together students entering grades 2 through 6 for weekly in-person sessions designed to introduce beginners to the iconic game while helping experienced players sharpen their abilities. Led by professional chess player and coach Jack Niculescu, the program gives participants the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of chess while exploring more advanced techniques.
Alongside the young chess players, the program also relies on teen volunteers who help create a supportive and encouraging environment for participants. Through the library’s Board Game Helpers program, students entering grades 7 through 12 volunteer their time to play games with younger children, offering guidance, encouragement and a friendly face as they learn new strategies and enjoy the experience.
Before the matches begin, Niculescu works with the group on different concepts, discussing tactics, positioning and ways players can improve their decision-making during a game. After the strategy lessons, the students put their knowledge into action as they pair up with opponents for friendly matches.
The club gives young chess enthusiasts the opportunity to challenge themselves, learn from their mistakes and build confidence with each turn they take.
Whether they are learning how each piece moves for the first time or looking to strengthen their competitive abilities, participants are encouraged to think critically and embrace the challenge of the game. The weekly sessions allow students to develop problem-solving skills while connecting with other chess enthusiasts in the community.
The weekly sessions run from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
–Brian Kacharaba
Courtesy Joseph Lanzetta Sr./Catholic Health
Mercy Hospital celebrated the graduation of the 64th class from its School of Radiography during a commencement ceremony at the DeMatteis Center, where 19 graduates joined a legacy of skilled imaging professionals trained through the program since its founding in 1961 by Dr. John J. Magovern and Sister Mary Constance. The graduates are the second consecutive class to include 19 students and will begin careers serving patients throughout Long Island.
The late Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom, wrote extensively on making the world a better place. In his book, “To Heal a Fractured World”, he writes, “I have spent much of my life thinking about life, observing people, reading books, searching for teachers and exemplars...I make no claim to wisdom, but this I have learned:”
“That what counts is not how much wealth we make but how much of what we have, we share.”
“That those who spend at least part of their lives in the service of others are the most fulfilled and happiest people I know.”
“That moral health is no less important to the quality of a life than physical health.”
“That the best do good without thought of reward, understanding that to help others is a privilege even more than it is an opportunity.”
“That self-interest is simply uninteresting.”
“That pain and loneliness are forms of energy that can be transformed if we turn them outward, using them to recognize and redeem someone else’s pain or loneliness.”
“That putting others down, we diminish ourselves; lifting others, we lift ourselves.”
“That nothing is gained by less-thanethical conduct. We may gain in the short term but we will lose in the long, and it is the long term that counts.”
“That the ability to give to others is itself a gift.”
“That the privilege of wealth lies not in what it allows us to do for ourselves, but what it enables us to do for others.”
“That the world is a book in which our life is a chapter, and the question is whether others, reading it, will be inspired.”
On two occasions on July 25, two female complainants were assaulted by several other females in the courtyard on Meehan Lane, suffering various injuries.
On July 22, a village employee reported damage to the drinking fountain in Morgan Days Park.
On July 22, two females were involved in a physical altercation while in the waiting room at Mercy Hospital.
On July 20, a North Centre Avenue resident reported that his new license plates were stolen after being delivered to his house.
On July 22, a contractor working on a Whitehall Road residence reported that someone stole several thousand dollars’ worth of tools from the job
site overnight.
On July 25, a Royal Road resident reported that property was taken from his unlocked vehicle while it was parked in his driveway overnight.
On July 20, a Laurelton resident reported that her vehicle was struck and damaged while it was parked in Parking Field #3.
On July 24, a 16-year-old male was reported missing from his Old Mill Court residence. The missing juvenile was later located in Freeport and reunited with his family.
On July 21, Juan Valdez-Portillo, 21 and homeless, was arrested for attempted burglary after he was observed by the North Oceanside Road homeowner on a Ring camera trying to enter the residence through a side window.
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.
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
July 19 – July 26
General Alarms – 7
Still Alarms – 4
Rescue – 7
Aided Cases (Ambulance) – 48
Mutual Aid Fire – 0
Mutual Aid Rescue – 0
Mutual Aid Ambulance – 0
Total – 66
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.
General Alarms – 309
Still Alarms – 185
By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com
Kickoff for the Nassau high school football season is just over a month away.
On Aug. 17, all 51 public high school football programs in the county will begin preparations for the upcoming season, scheduled to open Thursday, Sept. 3 with a Conference IV battle between Island Trees and Oyster Bay. The vast majority of openers will take place the following Thursday.
The biggest news of the offseason came in the spring when East Rockaway and West Hempstead announced it would be joining forces. Longtime Rocks head coach Russ Pajer adds Dom Carre, who served as the head coach at West Hempstead since 2010, as defensive coordinator. Carre played for Pajer at East Rockaway in 1997 and ‘98.
“Our JV teams combined last year and it was a great experience,” said Pajer, who enters his 32nd season as head coach. “West Hempstead’s numbers are down to less than 20, so it was a no-brainer. It was a seamless process with both superintendents on board. It’s a good thing and we expect to have a strong team.”
East Rockaway/West Hempstead is seeded fifth in Conference IV and opens at Valley Stream North. Three of its home games will be played under the lights at East Rockaway beginning Sept. 18 against defending county champion Seaford. West Hempstead will be the site of the Week 3 crossover against Elmont, and the game will serve as Homecoming. A Homecoming will also take place in East Rockaway Oct. 9. In 2025, the Rocks went 2-6 while the Rams finished 4-4 and qualified for the playoffs.
“We expect to have between 30 and 35 kids on varsity,” Pajer said.
Crossover games add intrigue
Seaford, along with three-time defending Long Island champion Massapequa (Conference I), ninetime defending county champion Garden City (II) and South Side (III) are the No. 1 seeds in their respective conferences.
Massapequa and Garden City will clash in a muchanticipated crossover game Sept. 26 on the Chiefs’ home field at 1:30 p.m. The Trojans enter the season riding an amazing 66-game winning streak. The showdown, along with all the other crossovers between Conferences I and II, and III and IV, will carry a lesser power-ranking weight than the other seven games, Carey head coach Mike Stanley said.
Some of the other Week 3 matchups feature Carey at Oceanside, Long Beach at Farmingdale, South Side at Seaford, Plainedge at Lynbrook, and Freeport at Roosevelt (Thurs., Sept. 24 at 5 p.m.)
Seven teams switch conferences
Plainedge and Carey lead a group of six teams switching conferences for this season based on enrollment and size breakdown of each conference. Plainedge finished first in the regular season in Conference IV a year ago, going undefeated in the process, and bumps down to III. Carey was in III last fall but jumps up to II, essentially changing places with Glen Cove. East Meadow is no stranger to the top conference and heads there after a brief stay in II. Floral Park, Valley Stream North and Valley Stream South moved to IV from III.
Few coaching changes
Legendary Plainedge head coach Rob Shaver retired
Sept. 10 Long Beach at Carey
Sept. 10 Wantagh at Plainedge
Sept. 10 Lynbrook at Seaford
Sept. 19 Mepham at Calhoun
Sept. 26 Carey at Oceanside
Sept. 26 Garden City at Massapequa
Oct. 10 Oceanside at Massapequa
Oct. 17 Plainedge at South Side
Oct. 24 Massapequa at Farmingdale
Oct. 31 South Side at Wantagh
at the end of last season and the Red Devils are now led by former assistant Adam Hovorka. They’ll kick off at home versus defending Conference III champion Wantagh. And for the third time in four seasons, East Meadow has a new head coach with Matt Castaneda taking over. The Jets are seeded seventh in their return to Conference I and open at home against Hicksville. Former Elmont head coach Jay Hegi is the new head coach at Division.
By BRIAN KACHARABA bkacharaba@liherald.com
The Rockville Centre 10U softball team captured the District 30 championship last month, completing a dominant run through the tournament without allowing a run in three games.
Rockville Centre opened the tournament with a 19-0 victory over Hewlett before defeating Lynbrook, 4-0, and then returning to beat Lynbrook, 11-0, in the championship game on June 30 in Oceanside.
“It was incredible to watch these girls come out,” coach Mike Eckert said. “A lot of them have played together either on the Tigers travel program or at the Little League level, but this is the first time this roster was together as a single unit. To see them go through these games and outscore opponents 34-0 was just incredible to see.”
The roster included players from throughout the Rockville Centre School District.
“The camaraderie was there from day one,” Eckert said. “These girls come from every school in the district. St. Agnes, Watson, Wilson, Covert, Hewitt, Riverside even. They’re representing everything. And the friendship is there. They love each other. They play hard for each other. And it was just incredible to see.”
Pitcher Addison Miller started all
The Rockville Centre 10U softball team captured its second consecutive District 30 championship on June 30, outscoring their opponents 34-0 during the tournament behind strong pitching, defense and contributions throughout the lineup.
three games.
“She was just dominant,” Eckert said. “She stepped up and made pitches when she had to make pitches, didn’t get rattled by anything that didn’t go her way, and was everything you hoped a pitcher could be in that scenario.”
The team was also strong defensively as Rockville Centre did not commit an error during the tournament.
2026-2027 INTRAMURAL PROGRAM INFORMATION:
Intramurals: Munchkins through U-8
MUNCHKINS (08/01/2022 - 07/31/2023)
The Munchkin program is an entry level program which is focused on developing both familiarity with a soccer ball and encouraging interaction with other boys and girls in the program. Soccer related concepts are introduced in a fun and engaging way by our professional trainers.
(08/01/2021 - 07/31/2022)
The Pee Wee program builds upon the developmental concepts which are introduced through the Munchkin program. (Note, participation in the Munchkin program is not a prerequisite for enrollment in the Pee Wee program).
U-6 (08/01/2020 - 07/31/2021) & U-7 (08/01/2019 - 07/31/2020)
A further development of the basic soccer concepts of ball control, field positioning and team play will be led by our trainers. Game-style scrimmages that are supervised and coached by the training staff will help prepare our players for the “Developmental Soccer” program that lies ahead.
U-8 (08/01/2018 - 07/31/2019)
The last year of the “Intramural program”, involves one additional training session per week and continues to develop the abilities of the players in the program. First touch ball control, passing, movement on and off the ball and game awareness. For more info, and to register, please visit our website www.OUSC.com At Registration, Enter Promo Code HER26 for a free T-shirt.
girls played tough, and it was a game that went back and forth until we found a way to break it open, and we got what we needed to win the game.”
In the championship game against Lynbrook, Rockville Centre broke through in the bottom of the second inning when Emma Eckert hit a threerun home run. The team had six runs in the second inning overall and five more in the third to secure the title.
“It wasn’t just one person,” Coach Eckert said. “Everybody contributed, everybody got excited when someone else succeeded. It was really incredible to see.”
Mia Ruggiero also hit a home run during the tournament, while Russell added the key triple in the semifinal victory. Emma Eckert recorded five RBIs in the opening win over Hewlett and three RBIs in the championship game.
The closest game of the tournament came against Lynbrook in the second round. The teams were scoreless until the bottom of the fourth inning, when Sadie Russell delivered a two-run triple to give Rockville Centre the lead.
“Lynbrook was a tougher talent, for sure,” Eckert said. “Their pitcher was a step up in talent from what we had seen from Hewlett, but at the same time, the
The District 30 championship was the second straight for Rockville Centre’s 10U program. Eckert said the accomplishment came with a new group of players, as only one member of last year’s championship team, Stella DiLeo, returned.
Other members of the team included Mackenzie Carr, Seton Carrozzo, Frankie Flaherty, Leola Monaco, Sophie Monaco, Fiona Schaefer, Reese Vanaski and Riley Vasquez. The other coaches were Allie Vanaski, Dave Monaco, Nick DiLeo and Bill Schaefer.
By BRIAN KACHARABA bkacharaba@liherald.com
Mercy Hospital in Rockville Centre has surpassed 3,000 robotic-assisted surgeries, marking a milestone for a program that hospital leaders say has become a key part of the facility’s transformation.
Since introducing robotic-assisted surgery in 2021, Mercy has expanded the program to include approximately 20 surgeons across eight specialties, including general surgery, bariatric surgery, urology, gynecology, gynecologic oncology, urogynecology and colorectal surgery.
Mercy President Joe Manopella described the milestone as part of a “renaissance” for the 100-year-old hospital, which opened in 1913 and has served Rockville Centre and surrounding communities.
“When you look at a hospital with such longevity, founded in this community, and all of the great work it has done over that period of time, the renaissance perspective was bringing back that sense of pride and community that people had when they thought of Mercy,” Manopella said.
Manopella said the hospital’s transformation has centered on investments in facilities, technology and staff while maintaining Mercy’s mission of providing care to the community.
“It was investing in the people. It was investing in the equipment,” he said. “It was getting out there and letting the community know what we’re all about.”
In May 2026, Mercy earned an “A” hospital safety grade from The Leapfrog Group and a Five-Star overall hospital quality rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Manopella said those achievements reflected a
broader effort to improve quality and patient experience.
Dr. Shan Ahmed, Mercy’s chief medical officer, said the robotic surgery program has helped the hospital provide advanced technology in a community setting.
“What’s special about this robotic platform is it really ignited our operative areas, our nurses, our doctors, every
member throughout the building in delivering world-class medicine at a community hospital,” he said.
Ahmed said reaching 3,000 procedures is significant because of the size and scope of Mercy’s program. Roboticassisted surgery allows surgeons to perform procedures with enhanced visualization and precision, with potential benefits including smaller incisions, less pain, reduced blood loss, shorter hospital stays and faster recovery times.
“The benefits are the precision, the ability to decrease complications,” Ahmed said. “The technology has brought us to a level that if you become an expert on it, it is only going to improve our skills and how we deliver medicine.”
The program required significant training and oversight before surgeons perform procedures independently. Physicians undergo proctoring with experienced robotic surgeons and must demonstrate competency before operating without supervision.
“It’s not about the speed at all,” Ahmed said. “It’s about executing safety first.”
Manopella said reaching 3,000 procedures represents the work of many people throughout the hospital.
“What the 3,000 means for me is really, it means it’s all about them,” he said. “It’s all about their hard work and their desire to do this with us.”
By BRIAN KACHARABA bkacharaba@liherald.com
For nearly three decades, Nancy Codispoti has been one of the people quietly shaping the experiences that make Rockville Centre’s Sandel Senior Center a vital part of the community.
Her journey with the village began in 1995, when she became a professional services contractor teaching fitness classes at the Recreation Center. After years of leading classes there, she began teaching at the Sandel Center in 2003 while raising her four sons in Rockville Centre.
In 2013, then-Sandel Center Director Chris O’Leary recognized Codispoti’s talents and offered her the opportunity to oversee the Center’s programming. She later became deputy director in 2016, serving in that role for seven years before being appointed director in 2023.
Today, Codispoti leads a center where residents find more than programs and activities. The Sandel Center provides opportunities for fitness, socialization, friendships and connection for residents ranging from their 60s through their 100s.
“I really feel in my department we service the whole community,” Codispoti said. “I get countless calls from family members asking for the seniors,
where are they, and telling me that they have a better life than them.”
For Codispoti, the most meaningful part of her work is not simply creating programs, but building relationships with the people who walk through the Center’s doors.
“It’s not necessarily the programs and all of that that we do behind the scenes, but actually sitting and listening and hearing them and knowing their stories and learning their stories,” she said.
The Sandel Center currently has 300 members and welcomes more than 100 visitors each day through exercise classes, special events, trips and other activities. Codispoti said rebuilding that sense of community after the coronavirus pandemic was one of the Center’s biggest challenges.
During that time, the Center created fitness programming through local television, developed a newsletter and later expanded programs and trips as members returned.
“I think that everyone really feels at home when they get here,” Codispoti said. “This is their home away from home.”
One resident who left a lasting impression on Codispoti was the late Lily Carroll, whose kindness and appreciation for the Center stayed with her.
“She came here with the biggest
smile on her face and enjoyed every program, every volunteering that she could possibly do,” Codispoti said. “She was the kindest and the happiest spirit and so grateful for this center to be in her life.”
Codispoti said her years working with residents have reinforced the importance of compassion.
“Patience and kindness is just the universal language,” she said. “I honestly just know how important it is to treat people with patience, kindness and dignity.”
Her connection to Rockville Centre extends beyond her work at the Sandel Center. Codispoti and her husband, Joseph, moved to the village in 2001 after years of commuting from Howard Beach while she worked in the community. They raised their four sons here, and she said the village’s multigenerational connections are what make it special.
“It’s an age-old saying where everybody knows your name, which is really amazing,” Codispoti said. “To see those multiple generations living in this community, I think it’s really special.”
After more than 30 years serving Rockville Centre residents, Codispoti remains motivated by the same thing that brought her to the Sandel Center years ago.
“I love it,” she said. “I love them.”
serving Rockville Centre
creating programs and connections
make the center a community
By BRIAN KACHARABA bkacharaba@liherald.com
The Summer ACE Program is giving Rockville Centre students an opportunity to stay active, explore new interests and develop new skills through a variety of enrichment classes at South Side Middle School.
The enrichment program, which runs Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon through Aug. 6, has attracted about 450 students from the Rockville Centre School District, along with about 50 additional students from outside the district. About 60 teachers lead the different courses, with assistance from approximately 20 high school students who help support the program.
Unlike a traditional camp focused on one activity, Summer ACE allows students to choose from a wide selection of classes based on their interests. Offerings include sports such as pickleball, basketball, flag football and soccer, as well as arts and crafts, robotics, theatre, coding and a ninja class for younger students. Students attend three classes each day, with each session lasting about 55 minutes.
Program director Keith Eckert said the goal of the program is to provide students with opportunities to try activities they may not have experienced before. Classes also include unique offerings such as Dungeons & Dragons, where students can engage in strategy and creativity, and technology-based courses where students design puzzles and use tools such as laser cutters.
“We’re pretty proud that we kind of hit on everything that you would want,” Eckert said. “This is a great way for the kids to come in and try to do something or explore their talents, find a new talent, and then still be home.”
For Eckert, one of the most rewarding parts of the program is seeing students enjoy themselves while stepping outside their comfort zones.
“Seeing the kids enjoying it, just the smiles every day, that they’re excited to come in,” he said. “It’s fun to see the kids trying new things that they’re not used to doing.”
AUGUST 13 • 10AM-12:30PM
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
Win raffles, prizes, and giveaways
Snack station for all
Hear from experts during a panel discussion with Q&A
*Boxed lunches for first 150 attendees
All designed to help you stay active, informed, and engaged at every stage of life.
8.04.2026 • 8:30AM - 3:30PM
EMCEE
KRISTIN THORNE Emmy-Award Winning Investigative Reporter
SUZETTE GORDON President & CEO SCO Family of Services
THERESA PORCARO Vice President, Growth & Marketing Pelvic Rehabilitation Medicine
LINDA MASHKABOVA, FNP Owner The Beauty Cellar NY
NATASHA ZAYTSEVA Founder & Executive Consultant CEO Lab
BEACH BAG SPONSOR
SPONSOR
MAE CAIME Co-Founder Diamonds & Pearls Alliance
HELEN HSIEH, MD, FACOG Founder & Medical Director, Vibrance 360
JESSICA RONDASH, MBA Director, Business Operations & Performance Holt Construction
PALMINA WHELAN Capital Program Director The New Terminal One
ELLY ROZENGURTEL, DPT Founder & CEO Ideal Body Med Spa
CATHERINE CANADEO CEO Health and Wellness Corp
TAMMY J. COHEN Founder & Messaging Strategist TC Brand Consulting
SUSAN GATTI Founder Disruptive Spark Group
CARLA ILIESCU Founder potential.
CHRISTINA M. ROSAS Member Bond Schoeneck & King PLLC
MEREDITH VANDEGRIFT, MD, FACS Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon Vandegrift Plastic Surgery
SHARON WYMAN, CDME President & CEO Discover Long Island
MICHELLE MOREIRA-JODICE Vice President Market Manager, Valley Bank
CARRIE SKOWRONSKI Founder & CEO Leadology
KERRI WINANS KALEY CSA The Bristal Assisted Living
ELISA DE JESUS Senior Vice President, Private Client Advisor Bank of America
LILLIAN PALEY Vice President, Business Development Silver Lining Homecare
CARINA TOM President NU World Connect Title, LLC
KRISTYN HODGDON
Co-Founder & Chief Creative Officer Rescripted
Molloy University has introduced a new Master of Science in Health Informatics, expanding its graduate offerings to prepare healthcare professionals for careers focused on healthcare data, information systems and technology.
The 30-credit program is offered fully online and can be completed in three semesters. Students complete more than 400 hours of practicum experience in a healthcare or informatics setting and finish the program with a capstone project addressing a real-world healthcare challenge.
Molloy University launched a new online Master of Science in Health Informatics program for professionals pursuing careers in healthcare data, information systems and technology.
Designed for working professionals, the program is open to nurses, healthcare administrators, information technology specialists and others interested in the growing field of health informatics. Coursework includes health information systems, clinical analytics, healthcare data management, leadership, project management and healthcare operations.
Health informatics combines healthcare, information technology and data analysis to support clinical and operational decision-making. Professionals in the field work with electronic health records, healthcare databases and digi -
tal systems used throughout hospitals, medical practices and other healthcare organizations.
The curriculum aligns with standards established by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, the American Medical Informatics Association and the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education.
–Brian Kacharaba
FRIDAY, AUGUST 7 7:00PM
By BRIAN KACHARABA bkacharaba@liherald.com
When Robert Burruano-Sebor began planning his Eagle Scout service project, he wanted to create something that would provide a lasting benefit to the community. That goal led him to Eager To Serve, a Freeport-based nonprofit women’s shelter, where he organized and led the construction of a storage shed with a concrete foundation.
The project became the culmination of Burruano-Sebor’s years with Rockville Centre Troop 163 and helped him earn Scouting’s highest honor, the rank of Eagle Scout. He was recognized during a Court of Honor ceremony held July 11 at the St. Agnes Parish Center.
After reaching out to local organizations, Burruano-Sebor learned Eager To Serve needed assistance after a shed at its shelter had been destroyed. The nonprofit supports children and families through homeless services, a food and clothing pantry and youth development programs.
“I figured this would be not only a good Eagle Scout project, but it would be something that would help people for who knows how many years if I built the shed correctly,” Burruano-Sebor said.
The Baldwin resident coordinated the project from start to finish, securing funding, gathering materials and organizing volunteers. He oversaw construction of the shed and foundation while making sure everyone involved had a role in completing the work.
and having to orchestrate everyone’s job in the project,” he said. “I learned how to effectively com municate with people.”
The experience allowed Burruano-Sebor to strengthen his leadership skills while working with volunteers toward a shared goal.
“He was the single driving force in making this happen,” said Scoutmaster Roberts. “He reached out to the organization. He coordinated all the installations. He was great with pulling together all of the different people that helped out and the labor and help that he involved. He literally championed the whole thing himself.”
Assistant Scoutmaster Steve Bo, who has known Burruano-Sebor for about five years, said the project reflected the qualities Burruano-Sebor developed throughout his Scouting career.
“He’s always loved Scouting,” Bo said. “He loved the camaraderie. Every camping trip, he’s there. Every time there’s an event, he always wants to help. He’s very calm and quiet, much more so than many of the kids. He’s just thoughtful.”
Burruano-Sebor said completing the project showed how much he had grown since joining Cub Scouts as a first-grader. After returning to Scouting following a pandemic-related break, he began focusing more on helping younger Scouts and taking on leadership responsibilities.
“It was a culmination of my entire work that I’ve done,” he said. “It kind of showed me how far I’ve come as a Boy Scout. I came from just being like a little kid who wasn’t really involved in much in the meeting to having my own project and being one of the kids that the younger kids look up to.”
Outside of Scouting, Burruano-Sebor is a junior at Chaminade High School, where he is a member of the National Honor Society, serves as a senior SAT tutor and hopes to pursue a degree in
Rockville Centre-based SIBSPlace received a $2,500 donation from Westbury Jeep to help support its summer camp, with the contribution funding supplies for opening-day activities during the nonprofit’s first day of camp on July 7.
The donation paid for materials used in a tie-dye activity as 35 children kicked off the summer program. Representatives from the dealership joined campers and staff for the celebration.
SIBSPlace provides free, prevention-based mental health services for Long Island children coping with a sibling or parent’s serious illness or the loss of a loved one. Its year-round programs include support groups, therapeutic services and a summer camp for siblings of children battling cancer or other lifethreatening illnesses, children whose parent has been diagnosed with cancer, and families coping with the loss of a loved one.
Courtesy Anthony Lambroia
A donation from Westbury Jeep helped provide supplies for SIBSPlace, helping campers like Maxwell Reichert, 10, create their own colorful shirts during the tie-dye activity.
proud to support the nonprofit’s mission.
“Donations like this one from Westbury Jeep directly fund the programs that make summer activities possible for our campers,” SIBSPlace Executive Director Joanna Formont said.
Westbury Jeep general manager Marie Rentz said the dealership was
“SIBSPlace creates opportunities for children to enjoy being kids while building friendships and finding support from others who understand what they are going through,” Rentz said. “Providing the materials for activities like the tie-dye project on the first day of camp helps children express their creativity, have fun, and become part of the camp experience.”
–Brian Kacharaba
By ALYSSA R. GRIFFIN agriffin@liherald.com
Nearly 50 teenage volunteer firefighters from across Long Island spent part of their summer learning advanced firefighting skills at Camp Fahrenheit 516, a weeklong training program designed to prepare the next generation of volunteer firefighters.
The camp, sponsored by the Firefighters Association of the State of New York, was held July 20-24 at the Nassau County Fire Service Academy in Old Bethpage. Forty-eight junior firefighters and explorers, ages 14 to 18, representing 25 fire departments in Nassau and Suffolk counties participated in five days of hands-on instruction.
“The camp is phenomenal,” Chief Paul Wilders said. “They get a little taste of everything that we put our regular firefighters through in firefighter one.”
Participants trained in a variety of firefighting and emergency response techniques, including search-and-rescue operations, forcible entry, emergency evacuation procedures, ground ladder operations, fire extinguisher drills, ropes and rescue skills, mask confidence exercises, two-minute drills and second-story bailouts. The program also included live-fire training involving propane, vehicle and warehouse fire simulations under the supervision of certified instructors.
Among those taking part was Rockville Centre’s Terrence Burke, 15, who said the week exposed participants to a wide range of firefighting skills.
“We’ve done tools, extraction, bailout and many other things, such as classroom activities,” Burke said.
The Nassau County Fire Service Academy and FASNY also hosted a media day during the camp, offering a firsthand look at the intensive training
junior firefighters receive and highlighting the role they play in preparing for future volunteer service.
“It’s important to volunteer at any level,” Jerry Presta, chairman of the Nassau County Junior Firefighter Association, said, “but anybody that wants to join and become a junior, they should contact their local fire department.”
Volunteer fire departments across New York continue to face recruitment
challenges as emergency call volumes increase. In addition to responding to structure fires, today’s volunteer firefighters regularly respond to medical emergencies such as motor vehicle accidents and downed power lines.
“By these youth programs, this gives young potential firefighters the experience and helps them decide if they really want to become a volunteer firefighter,” Steve Klein, past president of FASNY, said.
Malverne’s Justin Bohringer, 17, has been in the program for five years.
“It really helps out learning more about what you’re gonna do in your future career,” Bohringer said.
Fire service leaders said programs such as Camp Fahrenheit 516 help build the pipeline of future volunteers by giving teenagers interested in the fire service an opportunity to develop skills, gain experience and learn about the responsibilities of serving their communities before they are eligible to become active volunteer firefighters.
“We definitely need more people, and they have the drive to do it,” said Emily Brown, president of the Nassau County Junior Firefighter Association.
Camp Fahrenheit 516 was established in 2015 to provide junior firefighters and explorers with realistic, hands-on training while encouraging the next generation of volunteer firefighters on Long Island.
For Michelle Taplin, seen here at a spring showcase, theater is about more than performance. Through Tap Into Your Passion, she is helping young actors develop the confidence, resilience and skills to succeed both onstage and off.
By Iris Wiener
Michelle Taplin has spent much of her life immersed in the performing arts, but her greatest role may be helping the next generation discover their own voices. What began as a longtime dream has grown into Tap Into Your Passion, a thriving coaching and arts education company that, more than a year after its official launch, is already making a lasting impact on aspiring performers across the region.
As Tap Into Your Passion marks its first year and a half, Taplin celebrates the milestone with a special fundraising gala on Aug. 10 in The Green Room 42 in New York City that reflects the heart of her mission: making quality theater education accessible to everyone.
For Taplin, the journey started long before she opened her Rockville Centre-based business. Growing up in Oceanside, she balanced voice lessons, dance classes, gymnastics, and community theater while nurturing two lifelong ambitions: becoming a theater educator and one day opening her own company. Inspired by Oceanside High School theater teacher Laura Gallo, she pursued degrees in theater and business at Muhlenberg College before earning an MA in theater education from Adelphi University. Along the way, she gained experience as a performer, director, choreographer, stage manager, and arts administrator while also spending six years with the Sunrise Association, where she developed an inclusive teaching philosophy serving children with cancer and their siblings. Those experiences continue to shape every lesson she teaches today.
Taplin continues to wear many hats. She teaches theater at both the middle and high school in Oceanside, and directs productions with the school district and community theaters, including Plaza Theatricals. She also advises student organizations and mentors countless young performers. Tap Into Your Passion has become a natural extension of everything she loves most about teaching.
“Tap Into Your Passion’s mission is to provide theater education without costing an arm and a leg,” Taplin says, explaining that she wanted to remove financial barriers for students pursuing careers in the performing arts. She offers three primary services: private coaching for performers ages nine and up; a comprehensive college audition program that guides students through every step of the competitive application process; and a monthly master class series featuring accomplished Broadway performers, choreographers, casting directors, and other industry professionals.
The response has been exceptional. Taplin credits much of Tap Into Your Passion’s early success to the generosity of the artists who have shared their time and expertise. Taplin explains that each workshop has
reinforced the lessons she teaches her students while helping to build a supportive network where young performers can learn directly from professionals working in the industry.
Rather than molding students into “cookie-cutter performers,” Taplin encourages them to embrace their individuality. She believes there is no single path to success in theater and exposing students to a wide variety of artistic voices helps them discover the techniques and perspectives that resonate most authentically.
That philosophy has attracted students from throughout Long Island and Manhattan. Students from Floral Park, Oceanside, Lynbrook, Sewanhaka, Elmont, Rockville Centre, East Rockaway, Garden City, and New York City, among other places, create a diverse community connected by a shared love of theater.
“Michelle always makes sure to put care and respect into all of her students’ work sessions,” says Kevin Kirley, a student from Rockville Centre who now attends New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. “She has also been so integral to my journey throughout the college audition process. Her teaching has been extremely influential to me as a working actor, and I will take what I have learned throughout my training into my artistry.”
For Taplin, arts education extends well beyond singing, dancing or acting. She advocates that theater teaches empathy, collaboration, resilience, confidence, communication, and determination — life skills that benefit students regardless of whether they ultimately pursue careers on stage.
“It’s what the process teaches you,” she says, emphasizing that the personal growth students experience is often more valuable than the performances themselves.
Those values will be front and center shortly when Tap Into Your Passion hosts its Broadway Gives Back gala. The evening will feature performances by many of the Broadway artists and teaching professionals who have led Taplin’s master classes, each sharing a song that inspired their own theatrical journey. Beyond celebrating the company’s growth, the fundraiser will support Taplin’s goal of keeping coaching and master classes affordable for aspiring performers while demonstrating to students the passion that fuels successful careers in the arts.
As Tap Into Your Passion enters its second year, Taplin aims to continue expanding its reach while maintaining the close-knit community that has become its hallmark. She envisions welcoming more students, introducing them to even more accomplished professionals, and reminding every young artist that there is room for their unique voice in the theater world. Looking back on Tap’s remarkable beginning and the theater community’s willingness to help, Taplin relates that the experience has reinforced one lesson above all others: “The answer will always be ‘no’ if you don’t ask.”
It is a philosophy that has helped transform a childhood dream into a flourishing business, and one that continues to inspire the students following in her footsteps.
Visit TheGreenRoom42.VenueTix.com for tickets or more information about Where It All Began: Broadway Gives Back.
Comprising a group of exceptionally talented musicians and die-hard Foreigner fans, Double Vision has perfected the art of bringing to life the unforgettable hits that have defined generations. From “I Want to Know What Love Is” to “Cold as Ice,” Their renditions are a harmonious blend of passion, precision, and nostalgic energy. Drawing inspiration from Foreigner’s unmistakable sound and stage presence, Double Vision delivers a performance that pays homage to the band’s legacy while infusing their own charisma and enthusiasm. Their commitment to authenticity is matched only by their unwavering dedication to creating an electrifying experience for their audiences.
Saturday, Aug. 1, 8 p.m. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington.
Brace yourself for a high-octane night with Bollywood’s most electrifying music duo – Vishal and Shekhar! VishalDadlani and Shekhar (formerly Shekhar) Ravjiani return to the states, following a completely sold-out U.S. run in 2025. Experience the energy and excitement of The Superhit Tour as acclaimed music duo Vishal and Sheykhar take the stage. Known for creating some of Bollywood’s biggest hits, the duo brings a powerhouse performance filled with fan-favorite songs, dynamic production and a concert atmosphere that will have the entire audience singing along. Expect a night packed with unforgettable music, stunning visuals, and the signature sound that has made them global sensations.
Sunday, Aug. 2, 7 p.m. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or tillescenter. org or (516) 299-3100. Tilles Center, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville.
The Village of Rockville Centre and the RVC Chamber of Commerce continue their Music on the Green summer concert series with The Basement performing on at the Village Green. The show marks the second concert in the three-part series. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets or chairs for an evening of live music, community and summer entertainment.
• Where: Village Green on Maple Avenue
• Time: 6 p.m.
• Contact: (516) 678-9212
Tom Petty tribute
The Breakers: Tribute to Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers takes the stage at Molloy University’s Madison Theatre. Widely regarded as one of the nation’s premier Tom Petty tribute bands, The Breakers recreate the sound, energy and spirit of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, delivering faithful performances of the late rock icon’s greatest hits for longtime fans and new listeners alike.
• Where: Madison Theatre, Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre
• Time: 8 p.m.
• Contact: madisontheatreny.org or (516) 323-4444
The Madison Theatre’s production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” brings the beloved Andrew Lloyd Webber musical to the stage, retelling the biblical story of Joseph, his colorful coat and his rise from slavery to Pharaoh’s trusted advisor. Told entirely through song, the familyfriendly production features memorable numbers including “Any Dream Will Do,” “Close Every Door” and “One More Angel in Heaven,” blending musical styles from calypso to country-western. Suitable for audiences of all ages, the show continues to be one of the world’s most frequently performed musicals.
• Where: Madison Theatre, Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre
• Time: Various times, through Aug. 2
• Contact: madisontheatreny. org or (516) 323-4444
Outlaws have continued to tour and record while honoring the band’s legacy with a revitalized lineup. Expect an energetic set blending timeless favorites with newer material, showcasing the musicianship and sound that helped define Southern rock.
• Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Contact: nassaucountyny.gov or (516) 572-0200
‘Hamilton’
The Scottish band brings their Greater Glasgow European Cultural Exchange Tour to the Paramount stage, in support of their latest album, “The Human Fear,” which dropped in January. Since emerging from Glasgow’s art-school scene — where the band famously staged illegal parties in abandoned buildings — Franz Ferdinand has built a reputation for bold sharp hooks, infectious riffs and a fearless approach to reinvention. The band’s sixth studio album explores the emotions that define the human experience, transforming fear from something to avoid into something that awakens us. From the vulnerability of new relationships to the courage required to embrace change, “The Human Fear” channels those moments of uncertainty into songs packed with energy, urgency and unmistakable Franz Ferdinand style. Following the retrospective collection “Hits To The Head,” their latest album marks a new chapter for the group — one that honors its signature sound while pushing forward. Expect a high-energy performance filled with the clever songwriting, driving rhythms and irresistible beats that have made Franz Ferdinand one of the most influential bands of its generation. At this point in their career, Franz Ferdinand definitely know who they are, and are relishing the vigor that comes with accepting that
Summer sounds Eisenhower Park’s Summer Concert Series welcomes Grateful Dead tribute band Half Step. The Long Island-based band are dedicated fans and “students” of the Grateful Dead, capturing the spirit, improvisation, sound and complexity of Grateful Dead music. Half Step has been mastering their craft since 2004 while winning over crowds of veteran Deadheads, newcomers and non-Dead fans alike. Like the Grateful Dead themselves, the band is constantly pushing the envelope, growing together as musicians and performers.
• Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Contact: nassaucountyny.gov or (516) 572-0200
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‘Salute to Veterans’ Eisenhower Park’s Summer Concert Series continues with the annual Salute to Veterans show. Desert Highway performs an Eagles tribute. American Bombshell also appears.
• Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Contact: nassaucountyny.gov or (516) 572-0200
Summer tunes
Eisenhower Park’s Summer Concert Series continues with Lovesong’s ‘80s New Wave tribute. The band offers a unique concert experience with electrifying performances of legendary music by Duran Duran, INXS, The Cure, Tears for Fears, Depeche Mode, Erasure, New Order and more.
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• Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow
• Time: 7 p.m.
• Contact: nassaucountyny.gov or (516) 572-0200
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Village meeting
The Village of Rockville Centre Board of Trustees holds their next meeting.
• Where: Village Hall, 1 College Place
• Time: 9 a.m.
• Contact: RVCNY.gov
• Where: The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington
• Time: 8 p.m.
• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com
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Enjoy a movie under the stars at Eisenhower Park. See Disney’s “Zootopia 2,’” the animated buddy cop comedy sequel. Brave rabbit cop Judy Hopps and her friend, the fox Nick Wilde, team up again to crack a new case, the most perilous and intricate of their careers.
• Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow
• Time: Movie begins at dusk
• Contact: nassaucountyny.gov
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Summer rocks on Eisenhower Park’s Summer Concert Series continues with The Outlaws. The southern rock legends bring more than five decades of guitar-driven classics to fans here. Formed in Tampa in 1972, the band became known for its signature tripleguitar attack, soaring three-part harmonies and enduring hits including “There Goes Another Love Song” and the epic “Green Grass & High Tides.” Led by founding singer, songwriter and guitarist Henry Paul, The
Experience the awardwinning Broadway phenomenon “Hamilton” as part of Rockville Centre Public Library’s Friday Flicks series. Filmed live at the Richard Rodgers Theatre with the original Broadway cast, the PG-13 musical tells the story of Alexander Hamilton, one of America’s Founding Fathers and the nation’s first secretary of the Treasury, through a groundbreaking blend of hip-hop, jazz, R&B and traditional musical theater. Adults are invited to enjoy this acclaimed production in the library’s Helen Kraus Room.
• Where: 221 N. Village Ave., Rockville Centre
• Time: 2 p.m.
• Contact: rvclibrary.org or (516) 766-6257
Dog Days
It really is the dog days of summer! Celebrate the season with your fourlegged best friend during the popular Summer Dog Days Weekend at Old Westbury Gardens. Leashed dogs are welcome to join you for a stroll through the beautiful gardens and grounds at Old Westbury Gardens. It’s the perfect excuse to get outside and enjoy summer together.
• Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury
• Time: 10 a.m.-6 p.m., also Aug. 9
• Contact: oldwestburygardens. org or call (516) 333-0048
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.
July 30, 2026 —
the installation of synthetic turf on both playing surfaces, replacement of the facility’s lighting system, and accessibility improvements.
The completed complex is expected to include upgraded dugouts, expanded spectator seating, a press box, concession and picnic areas, and a player development space.
Phase 2 of the project will include construction of a new tee-ball field, additional batting cages, a playground, pedestrian park lighting and landscaping improvements.
According to Andrea Wilkins, Griffin’s chief of staff, the current funding package will support the completion of Phase 1 but will not fully cover Phase 2 of the project. While reviewing renderings of the complex with Peter Klugewicz, president of the Rockville Centre Little League, and Griffin during the July 22 announcement, Heastie learned that additional funding will be needed for the tee-ball field, batting cages and playground.
a rendering illustrates the planned transformation of the Hickey-Joyce athletic Complex, featuring new synthetic turf fields, upgraded amenities and expanded recreational space for rockville Centre Little League families.
Wilkins said organizers expressed hope that continued Little League fundraising efforts, combined with addition-
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF FORMATION of Rooted Motherhood LLC. Arts of Org filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 4/23/2026. Office location: Nassau County. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process may be served and shall mail copy of process against LLC to 147 Cleveland Avenue, Rockville Centre NY 11570. Purpose: any lawful act. 161115
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU. AJAX MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2021-E, MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES, SERIES 2021-E, BY U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS INDENTURE TRUSTEE, Plaintiff -againstPAUL ARCHIBALD
MCGREGOR AS HEIR
TO THE ESTATE OF IRENE GREEN, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated February 2, 2026 and entered on February 11, 2026, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court “Rain or Shine” located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on August 25, 2026 at
2:00 p.m. premises situate, lying and being at Lakeview, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, known and designated as Section 38 Block: 130 and Lot: 1 and 2.
Said premises known as 1357 LANGDON BOULEVARD, ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY 11570
Approximate amount of lien $256,676.43 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 619329/2023.
BRIAN DAVIS, ESQ., Referee
Pincus & Tarab
Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 425 RXR Plaza, Uniondale, NY 11556 {* ROCK CEN H*} 161288
LEGAL NOTICE
Notice of Public Hearing Village of Rockville Centre Nassau County, New York
Meeting Date: August 3rd, 2026
Pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 330 Rockville Centre Village Code NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Exterior Design Review Board of the Village of Rockville Centre will have a Public
Hearing at the Eugene J. Murray Village Hall, 1 College Place, Rockville Centre
LEGAL NOTICE August 3rd, 2026 at 9:00 AM Case No. 08-2026
Amanda Havas 20 Roosevelt Place Rockville Centre, NY 11570
Description: Two-story rear addition and new front entry. Premises known as: 20 Roosevelt Place The Exterior Design Review Board OF THE VILLAGE OF ROCKVILLE CENTRE
Eugene Murray Village Hall, Rockville Centre, New York
George Bella, Chairperson of the consultants to The Exterior Design Review Board
Thomas Domanico, Secretary to The Consultants Information and records for Exterior Design Review cases are available the Office of the Secretary, 110 Maple Avenue, RVC 161436
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT
COUNTY OF NASSAU
U.S. Bank Trust National Association, not in its Individual Capacity but Solely as Owner Trustee For RCF 2 Acquisition Trust, Plaintiff AGAINST Lester I. Crockett,
Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered April 24, 2026, 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 September 2, 2026 at 2:00 PM, premises known as 1214 Woodfield Road, Rockville Centre, NY 11570. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in Rockville Centre, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 38 Block 109 Lot 414. Approximate amount of judgment $699,394.34 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #606850/2025. Only Bank or Certified check payable to the Referee will be accepted for the downpayment. No third party check or cash will be accepted. Jonathan C. Juliano, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 25-000593 90400 161385
Place a notice by phone at 516-569-4000 x232 or email: legalnotices@liherald.com
al state funding in 2027, will provide the remaining money needed to complete the project.
Klugewicz said construction on Phase 1 could begin within the next year, with the entire project expected to take about two years once work begins.
Rockville Centre Mayor Francis X. Murray, who grew up playing at Hickey Field, called the recent announcement one of the biggest moments of his tenure.
“Today is one of the most exciting days I’ve experienced in my 15 years as mayor,” Murray said. “We owe it to our Assemblywoman Judy Griffin and the speaker who came down to make sure this money was spent right on this field. It’s going to make such a difference for our players and our families.”
The announcement comes less than two months after 17 young softball players attended the June 1 village board meeting to call for improvements to Joyce Field, the softball field adjacent to Hickey Field. Four of the softball players — Finley McLoone, Cass Rakeman, Phoebe Philbin and Zara Ali — strongly urged village officials to improve the aging facility.
Cass, 8, said she never envisioned that the girls’ appearance before the Village Board would help generate millions of dollars for the project.
“I’m really surprised that me and the other girls that spoke persuaded [others] to get Joyce to upgrade,” Cass said. “Because it’s not that good, and kids climb the fence because there’s nowhere to sit sometimes. And it’s not that safe for children.”
She added that she’s thrilled about the planned improvements.
“I’m excited that Joyce will get another set of bleachers and that it’s going to be a turf,” she said.
Finley was the first player to speak during the June meeting. After overcoming her nerves, Finley said she felt proud of what the players have been able to accomplish.
“I was really happy that we made an
improvement at Joyce Field,” she said.
Finley’s mother, Kyle McLoone, a Rockville Centre Little League softball coach who helped organize the girls’ village board appearance, said the players simply wanted a field worthy of the program.
“The girls wanted their voices to be heard,” McLoone said. “They’re really just looking for a field that they can be proud to call home.”
She said improved lighting remains one of the program’s greatest needs because limited field availability restricts practices and games.
“The only other softball field that’s available to us is Klein Field over at the Rockville Centre Sports Complex on Peninsula (Boulevard), which is a wonderful field, but it’s [Molloy University’s] field,” McLoone said. “This is such an example of the community coming together.”
Klugewicz said the vision for rebuilding the complex first began about three years ago after seeing facilities throughout Nassau County receiving upgrades.
“You go to Williamsport games and travel games all over Nassau County, it just seems that everything else in Nassau County is turfed and beautiful,” he said. “This field needs some love.”
He said the $7.2 million price tag initially seemed out of reach.
“When we heard the project was $7.2 million, we almost gave up because it seemed like an impossible dream,” he said. “We saw the need for it, we sat down with the village, and again, they gave us the property to redevelop, but we had to raise the money.”
The renovated complex will benefit all players, including members of the Challenger League, an adaptive baseball program designed for children and young adults with physical and intellectual challenges.
“With our Challenger League, we have kids with different challenges that can come, and the fields will be safer for them and encourage more kids to play,” Griffin said.
1pm): $20.60 per hour
• Substitute Teacher Aide: $20.60 per hour Address letter of interest and resume to: humanresources@vs30.org 516-434-3600 ext 5223 valleystream30.com
Fax
Elementary Schools
Hiring Directors, Assistants, Group Leaders and Substitutes. Up to a $500 Signing Bonuses, Scholarships and Employee Referrals Questions call: 631-360-0800 ext. 149 or send a resume to: cc@scopeonline.us SCOPE Education is an equal opportunity Employer
Part Time & Full Time. The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. Salary range is from $20K to $45K To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to jbessen@liherald.com
MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $20 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com
MULTI MEDIA ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT
Inside Sales
Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $35,360 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286
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
Real Estate
WE BUY HOUSES for Cash AS IS! No repairs. No fuss. Any condition. Easy three step process: Call, get cash offer and get paid. Get your fair cash offer today by calling Liz Buys Houses: 1-888-704-5670
EAST ROCKAWAY: 2ND Floor, Heat/ Water Included, Suitable Two, No Smoking/ Pets, Parking, $3,000. 516-643-3227
TWO BURIAL PLOTS FOR SALE. New Montifiore Cemetery. Desirable location. $5,500 per grave (below current pricing). Please email or call: Nechul333@gmail.com 516-316-0497
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Do we have to submit complete house plans just for a garage?
Q. We were recently told that our permit plans, to be approved, were going to have to include plans of the entire house, not just the garage area we are bumping out on the side. We were wondering if you have heard of this or whether we are being singled out. Our architect said that it may be because we have to go to the zoning board. Is this the reason, or did we say something wrong and are being punished? We asked, several times, for an update, because things are moving very slowly and we get the impression the building department just wants us to go away. They work for us and I think we deserve better service, frankly.
A. Trust but verify is now a common expression, and with good reason. What I have noticed over the years is that complete information is more often required, showing unrelated areas of the home, because many people have not been truthful about building changes or about how much work they have done, without permits, in other parts of the home. Because of this issue, many plans examiners ask for the big picture, not just the area you are interested in. It is obvious, when looking at file records in building departments and then comparing them to the actual dwelling during a walkthrough.
Your dilemma is due to the lack of trust between the authorities and the public. If the building inspector notices that the plans and the home don’t exactly compare, they can ask for “revised” plans to be submitted. It is frustrating, right at the end of a project, when people are ready to move on with their lives, to find out that the “simple, little changes” and side work they did require revised plans to be submitted to their building department. It is much worse to learn about changes or not following plans many years later.
Contractors and owners may get away with not communicating in the short term, but it does not pay, in the long run, to hide information. When someone realizes they bought a house with inherited, hidden issues which they are now responsible for, they feel taken advantage of. Worse than that are the costly corrections that have to be made because something that has existed for years may not be code-compliant. It happens all too often that unrelated portions of the building become a stumbling block to getting approvals for what you are really looking to do.
You are probably not being singled out, but you have been put in this position by previous workers and owners who did not take the record-updating seriously. People have told me, with a grin, that “By the time anyone notices, we’ll all be long gone.” I just came from a jobsite where work was done 16 years prior, the plans were not followed, and a structural failure is occurring that is going to be expensive to fix. The whole picture, not just part, is, therefore, important. Good luck!
© 2026 Monte Leeper
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Recently I saw a screening of the documentary about the late NYPD detective Steven McDonald, “Saint of the City.” McDonald was a true hero. In 1986, as a young police officer, he was shot and permanently paralyzed by 15-year-old Shavod Jones, whom he was questioning about a series of bicycle thefts in Central Park. Jones shot McDonald three times, the third time while he was lying on the ground, shattering his spine and leaving him a quadriplegic, needing a ventilator to breathe.
McDonald not only survived, but forgave Jones and went on to live more than 30 heroic years of dedicated service, without complaint or self-pity, until his death in 2017.
Steven and his wife, Patti Ann, lived in Malverne during that time with their son, Conor, who was born just months after his father was shot. Patti Ann went on to serve two terms as Malverne’s mayor. “Saint of the City” was written by veteran Emmy-award winning WPIX-TV reporter Mary Murphy
and produced by Erin Mulvey, a former DEA agent. Filled with facts, emotion and perspective, the film captures the essence of McDonald as an outstanding human being who inspired so many.
I met with him over the years at various police events, at his home in Malverne and in Congress. Those meetings made vividly clear to me just how devastating his injuries were. He was not only confined to a wheelchair, but incapable of moving any party of his body except his head, and he had no sense of feeling anywhere.
The NYPD detective forgave the teen who shot him, leaving him a quadriplegic.
Once when he gave me a book he had written, he inscribed it for me with a Sharpie he held between his teeth.
His breathing was labored, and required a ventilator. At any time he could be struck with severe spasms lasting 30 seconds to a minute. These were difficult to observe, never mind having to endure them.
As the film depicts, McDonald persevered through all of this. He regularly spoke at high schools and to young cops.
He was also an articulate voice for peace and justice in Northern Ireland, not just attending events in New York, but traveling to Northern Ireland to
My husband, Donnie Kreiss, died on July 12, at home, just days after our 58th anniversary. He was 80, and had been living with pancreatic cancer since it was diagnosed in 2023.
Donnie did not go gently. As Dylan Thomas wrote, he raged against the dying of the light, from the moment he knew he had this relentless cancer until two Sundays ago, when he drew a quiet breath and then no more. Our son and daughter were with him. My sister, Meryl Greenbaum, was with us. The loving good wishes of everyone he knew were with us.
He had been drifting away for the previous 10 days, suffering the side effects of three years of treatment. Still, in early June he was walking laps in our building, and in April the family had gathered for his birthday dinner. He pushed his athlete’s body beyond anyone’s expectation, and the night he died,
urge those on all sides — Catholics and Protestants, pro-British and pro-Irish — to resolve their differences and pursue the path to peace. McDonald’s efforts were particularly beneficial in the months following the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, when radicals attempted to shatter the peace accord with a horrific bombing attack in Omagh, Northern Ireland, that killed 29 civilians and injured more than 200. His presence at such a critical time delivered a strong message about the necessity of maintaining peace and allowing the agreement to be implemented.
I remember when Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern addressed a joint session of Congress and singled out McDonald, who was seated in the House gallery. At a reception later that day, Sen. Ted Kennedy asked me to introduce Ahern to McDonald.
The film also highlights how McDonald was sustained by his Catholic faith, and particularly by the advice and consolation he received from Father Mychal Judge, the chaplain of the FDNY who died at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, and Cardinal John O’Connor, who McDonald told me would visit him at his Malverne home
to help him through tough moments. McDonald also organized prayer groups that met regularly.
The “Saint of the City” screening took place at the Marymount School, in Manhattan. Among those in attendance were former NYPD Commissioners Ray Kelly and Keechant Sewell, former Detective Bo Dietl and many high-ranking police officials and officers who worked with McDonald or got to know him over the years. Magee Hickey of WPIX, WINS reporter Juliet Papa and Daily News columnist Michael Daly were also there.
From the sports world there was Mets all-time great relief pitcher Jesse Orosco, who, after pitching the final innings of the Mets’ final 1986 World Series game against the Red Sox, had thrown his glove high in the air. Days later, Orosco gave the glove to McDonald, a longtime Mets fan.
Most notable among the attendees, of course, were Steven’s widow, Patti Ann, and their son, Conor, who is now a captain in the NYPD. Both personify and carry on the inspirational legacy of Steven McDonald, who was truly a saint among us. Once it is distributed, be sure to see “Saint of the City.”
Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.
‘I carry your heart with me’
we rang the bell for him, because every single day he lived since 2023 was a tribute to his courage.
triumph over adversity.
HDonnie never felt sorry for himself. In his last days on earth he was reaching out to friends who had heartache, relationship woes, business setbacks or medical problems. He preached a gospel of positivity, insisting on finding threads of hope. He left a legacy of goodness and generosity, changing the lives of so many people along the way.
e always found the best in others because, truly, that was all he saw.
Donnie was a native Lawrencian. He was born in 1946 at Brooklyn Jewish Hospital to Lillian and Jack Kreiss, who lived at 16 Muriel Ave. in Lawrence. When he was 2, he contracted bacterial meningitis, which was usually fatal in those days. He was in isolation at St Joseph’s Hospital, in Far Rockaway, for two months. That was the first of his medical miracle recoveries, which included a fractured skull when he was 10, heart attacks at 40 and 50, bypass surgery, congestive heart failure and cervical spine surgery. He recited his near-misses enthusiastically, as if they were a resume, not of suffering but of
Donnie was a gifted athlete who ran track and played varsity football, basketball and golf. He was a beautiful man, and we fell hard in love as teenagers. We graduated together in 1964 from Lawrence High. When we married and settled in Woodmere, his second home was the Lawrence Golf Club, where his father was president and then, 50 years later, he was president. In recent years his home course was on Longboat Key, Fla., where last year he was named Most Inspirational Golfer of the Year, an award they created for him.
Don started his own business in 1969, selling slippers and bras and panties. He loved selling, and he was the best salesman because he could out-wait, out-talk and outlast any buyer he encountered.
He always found the best in others because, truly, that was all he saw. He drew on a deep well of generosity and kindness.
Our children, Jason, Rochelle, Jocelyn and Josh, were, as Auden said, his north, south, east and west. His grandchildren, Sabrina, Jacob, Elijah and
Emi, brought light and delight into his life. “Did you talk to the kids today?” was his mantra.
Despite his lifelong medical issues, Don was a rough and ready traveler, up for any adventure. We spent five summers exploring Montana when the kids were teenagers, and then for decades we traveled the world, from Komodo Island, in Indonesia, to the Alaska wilderness, from Bali to Singapore to Tasmania and New Zealand. Nothing stopped him.
Obituaries are the last public words written about someone. I never expected to write Donnie’s obituary, which I hope is more like telling the story of his life. Which is also the story of my life. As Cummings wrote, I carry his heart in my heart.
He trusted me to shepherd him through these last years, to get to the right doctors, to hold hands as we heard the diagnoses that limited his days. He wanted time, he said over and over again. I did my best, but time was not in my hands. I believe he would have wanted me to write this, the last words about him, from a place of love and longing, happy remembrance, and sadness that he did not have more days to grace our lives.
Copyright 2026 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.
there’s a particular quality to the light when the smoke arrives. It goes flat and white, the sun turns into a coin you can look at directly, and the air smells faintly like someone three houses down is burning leaves. It has happened enough times now that Long Islanders recognize it.
The fires are in Canada. Ontario mostly, sometimes the prairie provinces — a thousand miles and more from here, far enough that the smoke spends days in transit before it reaches us. And it reaches us anyway. It settles over Rockville Centre and Garden City and Long Beach. It gets into the lungs of kids at day camp in Merrick who have never heard the phrase “boreal forest.”
There is something clarifying about that, if you let it be.
We are accustomed to thinking of our lives as local, and with good reason. This newspaper exists because the things that shape a day here — the school calendar, the traffic on Sunrise Highway, whether the field will be playable Saturday morning — are decided close to home by people you might run into at the deli. That proximity is the texture of life in a place like ours. The distance between a thing and its cause is usually short enough to walk.
To the Editor:
Barely a day goes by that I don’t receive at least one mailing from John Ferretti expounding on all of his successes as Town of Hempstead supervisor. He claims that he is hard at work for the people of the town. He claims to have lowered town taxes, that he is working to ensure that our water is safe to drink, and is working with Nassau County to protect religious institutions. Just because he makes these claims doesn’t mean they aren’t just alternative facts.
The truth is that since he became supervisor — with the questionable means by which he was made the incumbent for his election — town taxes have increased 12 percent, our
Smoke from a forest a thousand miles away is a different phenomenon. It did not come from anything anyone here did or failed to do. And at the end of that very long chain sits your daughter’s soccer practice.
Why more of it, and why now? Because the climate is warming and the northern forest is drying out as a result. Spring snowpack melts earlier than it used to. Summers run longer and hotter, and the peat and duff beneath the trees turn into something that holds fire the way a sponge holds water — slowly, deep down and for a very long time.
Fires that once burned themselves out now smolder underground through the winter and surface again in spring. More fire, more smoke. And the same atmospheric machinery that has always carried Canadian cold fronts down to the Northeast now carries the smoke with them.
The smoke isn’t doing anything unusual. It is riding the same currents that have brought us our weather since before there was a Long Island to bring it to — the northwest flow behind a front, the same air that gives us a crisp October morning and the frigid air of January. We have always been downwind of Canada. We simply had no occa-
sion to notice.
That’s what makes this worth sitting with. Not the fires themselves, but what they reveal about connection. Something we didn’t do, in a place most of us have never been, is now a feature of summer on Long Island.
And what we do continues downwind. The exhaust from the Meadowbrook, the fertilizer that leaves a lawn in Wantagh and ends up in the bay, the plume from a stack in Island Park — none of that stays put, either. Our runoff is someone else’s smoke.
There is a version of this line of thinking that curdles into helplessness, and we would steer away from it. Being connected to a place you cannot influence isn’t the same as being powerless. It is mostly an invitation to pay attention — to the bay, to the air, to the small local things that are, somewhere downwind, someone else’s inherited condition.
The sky has cleared — but it will haze over again. If not this summer, then next. And each time it does, it is worth taking a moment to notice the strangeness: that we are downwind of a forest we will likely never see, and that somewhere, someone we will never meet is downwind of us.
Before we know it, a new school year will be underway. Along with the change of seasons comes increased pedestrian and vehicular traffic. Our thoughts should shift toward being extra vigilant when driving, especially during the commute to and from work, when negotiating busy intersections and areas crowded with pedestrians. School zones and commercial districts are prime examples.
Many Nassau County residents rely on their vehicles to get to work or school and for other daily activities. Unfortunately, they travel on roads that have become increasingly hazardous. In its “Dangerous Roads” series, Newsday found that traffic fatalities in Nassau increased from 67 in 2024 to at least 78 in 2025. Tragically, the danger has continued into 2026, with 70 traffic fatalities already recorded across Long Island as of this writing.
Just weeks ago, a 24-year-old pedestrian was critically injured after being struck by a vehicle in a busy intersection in Rockville Centre, and on July 11, a 37-year-old man crashed into a utility pole in Roosevelt. The driver was killed,
water rates are up 33 percent, and our energy rates continue to climb. Due to the lack of transparency, we have no idea where our hard-earned tax dollars are going or to whom.
I met Ferretti’s opponent, Joe Scianablo, for the first time when he attended a parlor meeting at my home. I was impressed not only with his background, but also his sincerity and his desire to continue serving the public. Scianablo has spent his entire adult life as a public servant. He served multiple deployments in the Marines in East Timor, Eritrea, and Iraq, then was a New York City police officer, focusing on domestic violence cases, in which helped victims find safety and justice. He is a former prosecutor in the Queens district attorney’s office, where he advocated for survivors of domestic violence.
I believed Scianablo when he said his focus would be to ensure that our tax dollars and resources benefit all the people in the Town of Hempstead, not just the favored ones. He isn’t a career politician, but will be a politician who has made a career of service. I encourage anyone who has the opportunity to meet him to do so. I think you will come away as impressed as I was.
and three passengers were hospitalized with serious injuries. These incidents are often the result of distracted or aggressive driving, speeding, and outdated or poorly maintained roads. Unsafe pedestrian behavior, including disregarding crossing signals, walking in the roadway and failing to pay attention to traffic, also play a part.
There are ways to make streets safer in every community, and we must focus on both long-term investments in our infrastructure and taking immediate actions that can begin reversing this troubling trend.
being conducted on Greenwich Street. In Roosevelt, major projects to improve Babylon Turnpike and Nassau Road are in the design phase, and a traffic study is forthcoming for a project focused on Lakeview Avenue in Rockville Centre.
n assau County residents travel on increasing hazardous roadways.
The communities of Legislative District 1 — Baldwin, Hempstead, Rockville Centre, Roosevelt, and South Hempstead — are home to major county roadways that need significant modernization. The county’s capital infrastructure plan is the vehicle for funding these upgrades. Tens of millions of dollars in bond authorizations are already in place, and I will continue fighting for additional resources that will keep these projects on time and on track for completion.
In the Village of Hempstead, design phases for traffic safety projects focused on Peninsula Boulevard and Franklin, Clinton and Washington avenues are already underway. A traffic study is also
As we pursue long-term infrastructure improvements, we must also continue working toward more immediate remedies. Chief among them is an increased partnership with the Nassau County Police Department’s 1st Precinct and the Hempstead and Rockville Centre police departments, which serve the communities of District 1. I am in continuous communication with precinct-level leadership to secure enhanced enforcement and traffic-calming resources for high-risk areas in our communities. I invite residents to contact my office at (516) 5716201, or at sdavis@nassaucountyny.gov, to share specific areas of concern.
An immediate response, however, must also come from each of us. When we’re behind the wheel, it is imperative to focus all of our attention on the road and surroundings at all times — which means putting the phone down, and keeping both hands on the wheel and eyes focused on the road ahead. Safe driving also means staying calm when faced with aggressive drivers, traffic
jams, double parking and other familiar frustrations we encounter on our roadways.
For those on foot, scooters, bikes, and particularly those using electric-powered transportation, obeying the law and awareness are equally important. Each of us would be well served by always using crosswalks, stopping at red lights and stop signs, keeping our heads up and away from our phones, making sure we’re visible by wearing light colors and reflective gear (especially in low-light conditions) and keeping earbuds out or at a reasonable volume so we know what’s coming our way and can react quickly if necessary.
Improving Nassau County’s road safety will require continued investment, cooperation and a shared commitment from everyone who uses our roads. Through infrastructure improvements, enhanced enforcement and greater awareness, we can make meaningful progress toward safer communities.
As we begin a new school year, I encourage every resident to do their part and make road safety an everyday priority. By recommitting ourselves to the rules of the road and adopting a mindset of full awareness while driving, we can make a real difference and save lives.
Scott M. Davis, of Rockville Centre, represents Nassau County’s 1st Legislative District.
Framework
by Tim Baker
