Rockville Centre Herald 09-18-2025

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Courtesy Steve Rakeman

When the Eureka Hook, Ladder and Bucket Company was formed in 1875, there were only 19 members. Today, the company has 59.

By KElSIE RADZISKI

kradziski@liherald.com

The Eureka Hook, Ladder and Bucket Company No. 1, the oldest fire company in Rockville Centre and one of the oldest on Long Island’s South Shore, is celebrating its 150th anniversary — a milestone that reflects a century and a half of neighbors helping neighbors.

In 1875, Rockville Centre was a quiet hamlet of about 1,000 people in Queens County, slowly shifting from farmland to commuter town after the railroad arrived in 1867, Steve Rakeman, Honorary Fire Chief, and longtime member of the Eureka company, said. With no local government, school or basic services, fires posed a growing threat, which became a reality in 1874 when a barn burnt down.

“A bunch of local tradesmen got together and said, ‘We’ve got to protect ourselves,’” Rakeman said.

On Sept. 25, 1875, 19 men met at Institute Hall to form

ConTinuEd on pagE 7

Riverside Elementary evacuated after bomb threat Eureka company marks 150 years Fire company celebrates decades of dedicated community service

Riverside Elementary was evacuated on Sept. 16 after receiving a phone call at 8:21 a.m. from an unknown individual claiming there was a bomb in the building. Emergency protocols were immediately implemented, and students present for before-school activities were safely evacuated to a secure location, Superintendent Matthew Gaven said in a statement. The Rockville Centre Police Department and the Nassau County Department of Homeland Security conducted a thorough sweep of the building and found no evidence of a threat, according to Rockville Centre police. The school was cleared

to reopen, and classes resumed at 10:30 a.m. with an increased police presence on-site, Gaven said.

“This news is unsettling for all,” Gaven said in the statement, “but our administrators, faculty, and staff will continue to provide a reassuring presence for our students.”

In a follow-up email to the district later in the day, Gaven emphasized the strong and professional response of school personnel and law enforcement: “While this morning’s incident at Riverside is understandably concerning for all of us, I want to emphasize that our faculty and staff responded

with the highest standards of professionalism to ensure the safety of our students. Their calm, clear, and caring actions reflected the depth of their commitment to our children and to our school community.”

He commended the response of multiple agencies, saying that Rockville Centre police and the Nassau County Police Department “visited our buildings nearly twenty separate times today to continue to ensure the safety of our students.”

Gaven stated that there is an ongoing police investigation into the origin of the threat and confirmed that the district

is fully cooperating.

“Violence and threats of violence are often intended to sow division,” Gaven wrote. “That was not the case today in Rockville Centre.”

Village police also issued a statement to the Herald, saying, “The safety of our students, staff, and community remains our highest priority. We take all

threats seriously and are actively investigating this incident in partnership with Nassau County Homeland Security.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Rockville Centre Police Department.

— Kelsie Radziski

RVC gathered to honor lives lost on Sept. 11

By KELSIE RADZISKI kradziski@liherald.com

Residents gathered at the Village Green for Rockville Centre’s annual Sept. 11 Memorial Ceremony, honoring the memory of the nearly 3,000 people who died on Sept. 11, 2001 — including 56 residents from the village — and the many more lost in the years since to related illnesses.

The ceremony included participation from the Rockville Centre Fire and Police Departments, the American Legion and Scouting troops. Judge William Croutier Jr. and the village’s Sept. 11 committee were recognized for organizing the event.

Rockville Centre, which suffered one of the largest per capita losses in Nassau County, continues to be marked by the deep wounds of that day. But speakers emphasized the community’s resilience in the aftermath.

Barton Slavin, whose brother, NYPD Lieutenant Zachary Slavin, died in 2022 from cancer linked to his work at Ground Zero, gave remarks at the ceremony.

Slavin described being invited to Ground Zero about a month after the attacks: “We turned the corner, and I stood at the far side of Church Street with dust and debris and the giant girders within feet and seeing the debris all the way down that road. We were at the foot of the pile. We were silent. My clothing became covered in grain dust, and the magnitude of witnessing this in person still weighs on me. My mind holds images of what had been the towers. The photographs you see do not give you the full impact of the magnitude of the destruction and of the work that it took to bring downtown Manhattan back to life.”

He reflected on his brother’s life, service and enduring legacy. “What a great smile he had, what a great spirit he had, despite having 63 chemo treatments to try to defeat the cancer that eventually took his life,” he said. “We shall never forget his bravery and others on

active duty and afterwards, and his bravery of fighting the cancer that claimed his life.”

After Slavin’s remarks, Claire Logler, who lost her daughter, Elizabeth Logler, in the attacks, lit the candles at the memorial, and the 56 Rockville Centre names were read in remembrance.

Guitarists Peter Garrity and Tom McNicholas closed the ceremony with “America the Beautiful,” while South Side High students Amalia Breen, Megan Chiara, Tatum Gallagher, and Reagan Zelles opened it with the national anthem. Father Michael Duffy of St. Agnes Cathedral and Rabbi David Lerner of Congregation B’nai Sholom–Beth David offered prayers, and American Legion Post Commander Frank Colón honored the fallen with “Taps.”

“May we never ever forget the memories of all the people that we’ve lost on 9/11,” trustee Emilio Grillo said in closing. “May they remain in our hearts and our prayers for infinity.”

Protecting Your Future

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Crime watCh

harassment

On Sept. 8, an employee of CVS reported that a customer became extremely irate and made threatening statements to the staff.

LarCeny

On Sept. 8, a Heyward Lane resident reported that his bicycle was stolen from the side of his residence.

maiL Fraud

On Sept. 11, a Merrick Road resident reported that he mailed a check at the post office that was used to fraudulently withdraw money from his account.

traFFiC enForCement

On Sept. 11, our Traffic Enforcement Unit conducted a targeted commercial

vehicle inspection detail in conjunction with inspectors from the New York State Department of Transportation. Each member of the Traffic Enforcement Unit is highly trained and skilled in all state laws and federal regulations pertaining to commercial motor vehicles. Throughout the year, professional development training courses provide each officer with the opportunity to receive updates on legal developments, and learn about new and changing laws, policies, criminal interdiction techniques and motor carrier safety regulations.

During this enforcement detail, eight trucks over the weight of 10,000 pounds each were inspected and a total of 60 traffic tickets were issued. Four of the vehicles inspected were taken out of service due to serious violations that made them dangerously unsafe to operate on the roadway.

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

September 7 – September 14

General Alarms – 10

Still Alarms – 5

Rescue – 4

Aided Cases (Ambulance) – 44

Mutual Aid Fire – 1

Mutual Aid Rescue – 0

Mutual Aid Ambulance – 0

Total – 64

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 – 331

Still Alarms – 209

Rescue – 123

Aided Cases (Ambulance) – 1683

Mutual Aid Fire – 57

Mutual Aid Rescue – 1

Mutual Aid Ambulance – 6

Total – 2410

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JAYDEN MOYA

MALVERNE Senior SOCCER

IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO tell Malverne/East Rockaway’s boys’ soccer team is coming off a winless 2024 campaign. To say the Rockin’ Mules have enjoyed an incredible start would be an understatement. Moya has been front and center of a club with four wins in its first five matches. He leads Nassau County in goals with 12 and has three or more games with at least a hat trick. He scored 5 times in wins over Valley Stream South and Clarke.

GAMES TO WATCH

Friday, Sept. 19

Girls Soccer: Manhasset at Carey 3 p.m.

Girls Soccer: Mepham at Calhoun 5 p.m.

Girls Soccer: South Side at Oceanside 5 p.m.

Football: Farmingdale at Oceanside 6 p.m.

Football: South Side at Division 6 p.m.

Football: New Hyde Park at East Meadow 6:30 p.m.

Girls Volleyball: Freeport at Baldwin 6:45 p.m.

Football: Long Beach at Glen Cove 7 p.m.

Football: Plainedge at C.S. Harbor 7 p.m.

Football: Lynbrook at Carle Place 7:15 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 20

Football: Floral Park at Carey 11:00 a.m.

Boys Soccer: Lynbrook at Plainedge 12 p.m.

Football: Wantagh at Elmont 12:30 p.m.

Football: V.S. North at Hewlett 1 p.m.

Football: Baldwin at Garden City 2 p.m.

Football: Roosevelt at Calhoun 2 p.m.

Football: Lawrence at East Rockaway 2 p.m.

Football: Roslyn at Kennedy

2 p.m.

Football: West Hempstead at Malverne 2 p.m.

Football: Sewanhaka at V.S. South 2 p.m.

Football: MacArthur at Mepham 3 p.m.

Football: Port Washington at Freeport 3 p.m.

Nominate a “Spotlight Athlete”

High School athletes to be featured on the Herald sports page must compete in a fall sport and have earned an AllConference award or higher last season. Please send the following information: Name, School, Grade, Sport and accomplishments to Sports@liherald.com.

SPORTS

High expectations for South Side

By DYLAN BUTLER sports@liherald.com

Judi Croutier knows not to sweat the small stuff, especially early in the season. That’s because the South Side girls’ soccer coach always has the big picture in mind.

She’s keenly aware of her program’s culture, how it’s carried over from generation to generation, how her roster is always chock full of highly technical players who can play multiple positions.

So although the attack isn’t clicking yet, with two combined goals scored in the first three games, and the Cyclones having lost two straight games to Sacred Heart Academy and Massapequa since opening the season with a 1-0 win at MacArthur, Croutier isn’t concerned.

“We’re hoping that as we keep going, we start converting on our chances and we keep blending with our team,” Croutier said. “We’re still filling in some pieces of people who graduated last year and some injuries right now. Overall, I think we’re starting off where we expected to be starting.”

Of course, it helps to have seniors Brooke Doreste and Sophia Anisansel to build around.

Doreste is a Marist commit who is the general in the midfield, connecting lines as a calming presence. And Anisansel can play anywhere in the Cyclones’ spine — from defensive midfield to center forward — and has a high soccer IQ.

Junior Katori Martin, who assisted on Madalena Suarez’s winner against the Generals, has also impressed in the early season.

“Katori’s athleticism, her soccer skill, her aggressiveness, she can play anywhere on the field,” Croutier said. “She can go in as an offensive threat, as a defender, and just her ability to be so agile and able to switch on and off in a second just adds so much to us and the depth for us.”

Julie Veranda is more of a presence as a senior, with her size, speed, and skill up top. And senior Abby Gruner has been strong in the goal through three matches.

“She just keeps maturing and getting better each year,” Croutier said. “She’s had some good saves so far this season, and she’ll definitely be a leadership presence for us in the back.”

In addition to key pieces who graduated from last year’s run to the Class AA final, where the Cyclones fell to Garden City, 2-1, South Side is trying to fill a void left by junior captain Viv Haley, an anchor in the middle of the field who is out with a torn ACL.

But Croutier is encouraged by the chances created in the attacking third. With more time to jell together, the head coach thinks the goals are coming sooner rather than later. The season, she said, is split into thirds, and the Cyclones are still in the early stages of the first phase of facing each team for the first time.

“We’re creating lots of opportunities and lots of chances, and now it’s just getting the feel for each other in midfield and up top, and then just getting that last piece to fit,” Croutier said. “When it clicks, it’s gonna click because we’re there and the opportunities are there.”

Company led the Fourth Battalion parade

a fire company. Despite opposition, they raised $150, hired local wheelwrights Charles and H. Clay Losea to build a fire wagon and secured land from member W.E. Whitney. With a cry of “Eureka!” — “I have found it!” — the company was born.

Eureka’s first official meeting was held on Nov. 1, 1875, with strict foreman John Sprague at the helm, known for fining members for lateness or missed alarms, Rakeman said. The company’s first recorded fire call came on July 28, 1876, when members used buckets and axes to save a property.

With no water system, early firefighting relied on hook-and-ladder tactics and bucket brigades. Fires were rare but often devastating. The third, in 1879, destroyed the Golder Hotel and Store at Merrick and Long Beach Roads.

“Back before there were fire pumps and fire hydrants and fire hoses, they used to use buckets to get water to a fire,” Anthony Rugolo, chief of the Rockville Centre Fire Department, said, “and that’s why they’re the hook, ladder and bucket company.”

For years, Eureka was the only fire company on the South Shore between Freeport and Jamaica — established before the village, school district, or even national landmarks like the Statue of Liberty.

“These are all people who volunteer,” Rakeman said. “They do it for nothing, simply because it’s the right thing to do. And I think that’s a great thing in our cumulative heritage

Since that first fire alarm in 1876, when volunteers responded with axes and buckets to save property, the company has grown alongside the village. In 2024, Rakeman said Eureka responded to more than 900 alarms, a dramatic increase from the three fires it answered in its first five years.

the company’s 1958 american Lafrance truck was restored and led the annual fourth Battalion parade through rockville Centre on Sept. 13 in celebration of the company’s anniversary.

There are 59 current members of the Eureka Company, Rakeman said, and more than 500 volunteers have served with Eureka since 1875. Rakeman has been a part of it for 58 years. He recalled watching trucks roll out of the firehouse as a boy, later joining Eureka to face his fear of heights while climbing ladders.

“This is not something that you do, this is something of who you are,” he said. “You lift that hand and you take the oath, you are swearing that you learn, train and be ready to protect someone else’s life with yours.”

The company’s history includes moments of triumph and hardship. In 1896, a fire destroyed its original firehouse and equipment on Washington Street. Members rushed in to save what they could, and the

company rebuilt on the same site within months. Charred trophies from that fire still sit in the firehouse’s display case at its current address, 103 Maple Avenue.

Over time, more companies formed in Rockville Centre to meet growing demand. Live Oak in 1890, Defender and Alert in 1895, Reliance in 1908, Woodland in 1912 and finally Floodlight in 1942. Eureka members played founding roles in each. Five members of Eureka went on to become mayors or village presidents, including former mayor Eugene J. Murray, who served as mayor of the village from 1987 to 2007.

The company recently recovered and restored its original 1958 American LaFrance truck, which led the annual Fourth Battalion parade through Rockville Centre on Sept. 13 in celebration of the anniversary.

While the Eureka company has evolved, with updated gear and apparatus, what hasn’t changed is the dedication to protect and serve the community, keeping Rockville Centre safe.

To prevent harm from fires, Rakeman said bedroom doors should always be closed at night, with smoke alarms installed both inside and just outside the room. A flashlight should be kept by the bed so that if an alarm sounds, a person can slide out of bed and stay low to the ground, where it’s safest. For children on the second floor, Rakeman added, it’s important not to lock windows, as they may need to be opened quickly for air or rescue.

As Eureka celebrates 150 years of service, the company — and the department as a whole — could use more volunteers, Chief Rugolo said.

“We’ve always had big numbers as far as membership, but a lot of other towns are going down,” he said. “We’re always looking for new members, and we always welcome new members.”

First L.I. Heroes breakfast set for Oct. 22

Hosted by American Red Cross on Long Island at Farmingdale’s Heritage Club at Bethpage

By ALYSSA R. GRIFFIN agriffin@liherald.com

A celebration of Long Island heroes is back — with a twist. On Oct. 22, the annual event hosted by the American Red Cross on Long Island will take place in the morning: The inaugural two-hour breakfast will be held at the Heritage Club at Bethpage, in Farmingdale, at 8 a.m.

And after years of having three or so honorees, the Red Cross will honor six heroes in categories including Community Impact Hero, First Responder Hero, Global Citizenship Hero, Disaster Hero and Military Hero. “This was just brought to our attention by our wonderful board and volunteers saying, ‘There are a lot more people that deserve some recognition,’” the organization’s CEO, Jose Dominguez, said.

Luv Michael is the Community Impact Hero honoree this year. Founded in 2015, Luv Michael is a nonprofit created by Michael Kessaris and his parents, Dr. Dimitri Kessaris and Dr. Lisa Liberatore, which is dedicated to producing meaningful work and independent living opportunities for young adults on the autism spectrum.

This year’s First Responder Heroes are Officers Timothy Deegan and Matthew Walling. These graduates of the

Nassau County Police Academy demonstrated exceptional bravery on Jan. 5, when they responded to an off-duty crash involving a fellow officer, and swiftly provided lifesaving care while awaiting EMS.

Dr. Tochi Iroku-Malize is the Global Citizenship Hero being honored. The president of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the founding chair of the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Iroku-Malize dedicated her career

to expanding accessibility to family medicine and shaping a more inclusive future for health care.

The Disaster Hero of the year is Jennifer Keane. When a referee collapsed mid-game, Keane quickly prepared an automated external defibrillator and made a lifesaving intervention. As an athletic director and a certified athletic trainer, she had the ability to stay in control under pressure.

Mel Cohen is this year’s Military Hero honoree. A U.S. Air Force veteran

and a retired Suffolk County police officer, Cohen has spent his life serving the community in honor of his brother Gerald, who died in Vietnam. He supports veterans across New York state, as well as Gold Star families, while staying active in various organizations including Vietnam Veterans of America and Wreaths Across America.

Along with the six honorees, two teens will be honored as Youth Heroes. Charlie Dubofsky and Sydney Hassenbein founded the HERO Project, a peersupport group for grieving students, after both experienced personal losses. The group allows middle and high school students to experience and share their grief in a safe space.

Active on Long Island for over 100 years, the American Red Cross on Long Island continues to serve the area and recognize its local heroes. “The mission of the Red Cross is to alleviate human suffering in so many different categories,” Dominguez said. “It is possible through the generosity of our donors and the time of our volunteers.”

All proceeds raised during the fundraiser will allow the Red Cross to continue its mission of helping those affected by disasters like hurricanes, fires and other crises. For more information on the organization and on attending the event, visit RedCross.org/LIHeroes.

Change is in the making for Sacred Heart

By ALYSSA R. GRIFFIN agriffin@liherald.com

Kim Johnson, a Rockville Centre resident, has been appointed the new president of Sacred Heart Academy, in Hempstead. Johnson is not new to the Sacred Heart family: She is a parent of a current student and an alumna herself. She is ready to “lead with heart,” as the school community says.

After serving in advisory roles in health marketing and communications for the all-girls Catholic high school, Johnson, 50, will begin this new chapter focusing on academic excellence, leadership and the empowerment of young women.

“I’ve always been very focused on purpose-driven leadership,” she said. “Even in the business world, I’ve sought companies and roles where I could have a positive impact on people, on communities, and ultimately on business.”

Johnson graduated from Sacred Heart in 1992, and then studied marketing and international business at Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts. “Sacred Heart has had a profound impact on my own life,” she said.

She built a career in marketing, communications and advertising for 28 years, working with over 500 companies, including Ogilvy, UWG Inc. and Pfizer. Although she has never overseen a school, Johnson said she is prepared to devote herself to Sacred Heart’s mission of giving its student an exceptional education.

“I’ve always been focused on doing things where I can contribute positively,” she said, “and for me right now, there’s no better sort of mission than to be focusing on Catholic education.”

Johnson and her husband, village Trustee Gregory P. Shaughnessy, are raising two children, Aidan, 19, and Keira, 15, currently a sophomore at Sacred Heart.

“I wanted my daughter to certainly make the decision and be a part of that decision for herself,” Johnson said. “But most importantly, as a parent, you want your child to be happy, and to be in an environment

that they see themselves in.”

She is already working on implementing positive changes at the school. “We’re looking at increasing technology in the classroom, and the role of AI at Sacred Heart Academy and in education today,” she said. “So the plan will include continuing to advance our educational and academic curriculum.”

Johnson will be installed as the school’s president at its September Communion Breakfast on Sunday. Current President Kristin Lynch Graham will be stepping down.

Sacred Heart students’ work is rooted in the mission of Jesus, and they are dedicated to lives full of love, unity, reconciliation, peace and justice.

“I wholeheartedly believe in the value of Catholic education and the relevancy of Catholic education today, and to have this opportunity to return to my

alma mater, Sacred Heart Academy,” Johnson said. “And at this point in the life of the school, to come and take on this role as president and chart the course for Sacred Heart Academy into the future is just the role of a lifetime.”

The school has been in existence for over 70 years, and more than 12,000 women having learned and grown academically, personally and spiritually during their high school years there. The academically rigorous environment also focuses on leadership, empowerment, self-confidence and curiosity.

A member of the National Catholic Educational Association, Sacred Heart was recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, the highest honor a school can achieve, in 1996. Many of its graduates have gone on to careers in the top echelons of business, government and academia.

‘Love, Nana’ book is officially launched

By ALYSSA R. GRIFFIN

agriffin@liherald.com

With books, games and heartfelt memories, the Front Porch Market was transformed into a celebration of community and compassion as Backyard Players and Friends hosted an all-day launch event for “Love, Nana” — a new book honoring the life and legacy of a woman who has turned everyday kindness into a lifelong mission.

The Sept. 13 event was broken up into two parts, which included a daytime reading session and evening roundtable with Cecilia Dowd of News 12. The daytime offered bundle makings, games, activities and refreshments while the evening offered appetizers that followed the roundtable while each attendee learned a little bit more about the “Nana” behind the book.

The Front Porch Market was decorated to celebrate the launch with the Love, Nana family with books, activities and pictures showcasing the author and illustrators biographies with examples of pages within the book.

“I’m so thankful to backyard players and friends for doing all of this, for preparing, getting the community involved,

hanging up the story walk,” Carver said. “They’ve really done an amazing job just to present this for what it is.”

Hyland expressed her gratitude for her work being recognized not only by her family, but by all to come and see.

“I’m totally honored to have my little face in that book,” she said. What took author Frances Carver and illustrator James Hyland IV years to complete is finally finished and in the hands of new readers. “It’s a little story

about my mom and how she took her purpose in life and turned it into something,” Carver said.

Hyland’s husband and Carver’s father, James Hyland II, who died in 2020, is shown within the book as well as a cardinal. “He’s always been my mom’s biggest cheerleader so he’s always like on her shoulder, cheering her on,” Carver said.

Devoting her life to helping others, the book shares Hyland’s journey as she helps a mother and baby in need. It references her shop, as well as the participants in Backyard Players and Friends. The Love, Nana shop is a nonprofit community program in Rockville Centre that donates baby clothes and other materials to families and groups in need.

“Everybody is capable of helping, and they don’t know a lot of times where to start,” Hyland said. “Right across the street or down the block, there’s somebody that needs something, and nobody really advertises that they need something. It’s very private, and you can’t blame them, you have to just be very careful that they feel that they are dignified enough to get something.”

To learn more about Love, Nana, visit BYPAndFriends.com/LoveNana.

News brief

Billy Donovan inducted into Hall of Fame

Billy Donovan, from Rockville Centre and current head coach of the Chicago Bulls, was officially inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. The enshrinement caps a decorated career that includes significant accomplishments at both the college and professional levels.

While currently coaching the Chicago Bulls, Donovan’s legacy was cemented during his 19 seasons at the University of Florida, where he led the Gators to back-to-back national championships in 2006 and 2007, four Final Fours, and six SEC titles. His 467 wins at Florida rank second in SEC history.

Though his NBA coaching record is solid, a 438-365, with stints in Oklahoma City and Chicago, Donovan has only advanced past the first round once, with Providence in 1987 under Rick Pitino, followed by a short stint in the NBA.

He began coaching at Kentucky under Pitino before taking his first head coaching job at Marshall in 1994. In 1996, at just 30 years old, he was hired by Florida to rebuild a program with little history of sustained success. His Hall of Fame credentials are rooted in building Florida into a basketball powerhouse, producing 18 NBA players and 14 NCAA Tournament appearances.

After initially turning down the NBA — famously backing out of a five-year

contract with the Orlando Magic in 2007 — Donovan eventually made the leap in 2015 with the Thunder. He led Oklahoma City to the playoffs in each of his five seasons there, before taking over the Bulls in 2020. Despite only one playoff appearance in Chicago so far, Donovan remains respected for his leadership and player development.

He now becomes the NBA’s only active head coach enshrined in the Hall of Fame as a coach, joining a 2025 class that also includes Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Sue Bird, Maya Moore, Sylvia Fowles, longtime NBA referee Danny Crawford and Miami Heat owner Micky Arison.

At the enshrinement ceremony on Sept. 6, Donovan stayed true to his understated nature, using his brief speech to acknowledge the mentors, players, and colleagues who shaped his career.

“You have to have great coaches alongside of you. You have to have great people alongside of you,” he said in his speech, “and you heard so many people talk about it’s not only about the talent of of people, but it’s the character, too.”

The induction is a fitting honor for a coach from Rockville Centre whose career has been defined not just by wins and titles, but by the relationships, integrity and quiet leadership that have left a lasting impact.

–Kelsie Radziski

Rabbi Caroline Sim • Cantorial Soloist Elana Bell President Alan Paskoff

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L'Shana Tova

Jamison’s bake sale returns for seventh year

By ALYSSA R. GRIFFIN agriffin@liherald.com

The seventh annual bake sale in memory of Jamison Novello returned to the streets of Rockville Centre this past weekend.

For what would have been Novello’s 22nd birthday, dozens of supporters poured into the driveway of mother Kim McGuigan for a sweet treat and to honor Novello’s legacy.

McGuigan showcased a wide variety of desserts including cupcakes, chocolate covered pretzels and more. She also had gluten free options and dog treats available.

“We try to just have a little bit of something for everyone and for every price point,” she said.

Rockville Centre residents and more come out each year in support and remembrance of Novello’s life.

“We look forward to it every year. Look forward to supporting and she has such an amazing spread.” Heather Teta, a friend of McGuigan said. “What she does is so inspiring.”

More than the average bake sale, several raffles were available at the Sept. 13 event, with prizes from several local businesses, including No Good Burger Joint, Let it Brie, That’s Hot Pilates By Pilates Absession and more.

“It’s gift cards for those businesses,

McGuigan, center, along with friends and family of

came together for another year of their annual bake sale on Sept. 13.

because they give to everybody for every fundraiser that they go in for,”

McGuigan said. “It’s just to give a little bit of something back.”

McGuigan also offered merchandise with the phrase “And you can” for sale in honor of Novello’s memory. Those words were the background of her phone screen, which McGuigan saw as

her daughter’s phone was returned to her after she died.

With the help of returning volunteers, the bake sale ran for five hours and raised a total of $14,820, with all proceeds going to The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the Jamison Novello Scholarship Fund at Broadway Dance Center. Although

McGuigan receives much help from friends and volunteers, she strictly sets up the bake sale each year herself. This gives her the chance to set up a birthday party for her daughter each year, and for a meaningful cause.

Amongst this year’s volunteers was Maddie Gamberg, Novello’s best friend. After recently graduating from college, Gamberg was able to attend for the first time in several years.

“It’s just so rewarding,” she said. “Everything that Kim has done these last few years and seeing the outcome every year, it’s kind of surreal.”

Novello was known for her bright personality and having a “light” to her which was said to be unique. She was a devoted dancer who commuted several days a week to the Broadway Dance Center at just 15. Her memory lives on each year with the help of her supporters and her mother.

“I don’t know where I myself would be if I didn’t have this to do for her, to let her light keep shining, to basically just kind of have this,” McGuigan said. “It’s as sad as it is to look forward to it, because she knows that this is being done for her.”

Novello, still after death, touches the hearts of many.

“I think everyone should be like Jamison.” Gamberg said. “She was super outgoing, super welcoming, everyone needs Jamison in their life.”

South Side seniors prepared for futures

By ALYSSA R. GRIFFIN agriffin@liherald.com

South Side High School seniors got a head start on their futures as the Rockville Centre school hosted its annual College Application Day. From FAFSA forms to scholarships, the high school was sure to hit all bases for their potential new college applicants.

Principal Patrick Walsh explained the importance of their College Application Day at South Side high school. “The Secondary Planning Day here at the high school is a great way for our seniors to get help and support on the college application process and post secondary planning,” he said. “They have access to our staff members and go through a variety of workshops that will help them prepare for their upcoming decisions as it relates to life after South Side.”

Broken up into five time slots, the high school had students attend an auditorium presentation, counselor sessions, lunch break and two separate workshops.

Gene Rogers, Senior Financial Aid Counselor of Molloy University, shared financial tips and tricks for upcoming college students during the presentation while giving background on Molloy’s new school year.

“We had a record setting freshman class of over 800 students starting this past week,” he told the students. “So a lot of exciting things, big majors, nursing education, theater arts program, a lot of clubs.”

He explained the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, to students who may not be familiar, and outlined what the process looks like to apply.

Counselors also explained to the students the importance of applying to scholarships, especially local ones that open on March 1, to get ahead of the game.

“There is a process that you have to go through in order to apply to them,” Kelly Ramsey, director of

Students had the opportunity to attend college workshops on Sept. 12 based on their individual needs.

counseling services said to students. “But as we all know, college is expensive, so every little bit helps.”

Following the presentation, each student broke off into different groups based on their counselor. From there, they discussed Common Application, procedure for admitting applications, recommendations, midyear grades and transcript release forms. These sessions lasted two hours and were followed by a lunch break where students were permitted to leave campus, but had to return on time for the first workshop.

Once returned, students branched out for the first workshop, which included information on the Self-

reported Transcript and Academic Record System, or STARS, developing college essays, student athlete services, college auditions and standardized testing. This workshop lasted an hour and was immediately followed by the second, which also had STARS and developing college essays. However this second workshop additionally had activity list and resume building, navigating art future, college searches and trade school research.

“We appreciate all the staff who have helped, and we encourage our students to take advantage of this great resource,” Walsh said.

Adam Glaser Music Director and Conductor

Blakeman captures police endorsments

By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com

The Nassau County Police Benevolent Association, joined by law enforcement unions from across New York state, endorsed Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman for re-election on Sept. 9.

Standing with supporters in Massapequa Park village, union leaders urged residents to re-elect the Republican incumbent in November, praising his public safety record and commitment to law enforcement.

“Many people say they ‘Back the Blue,’ but Bruce Blakeman doesn’t just say it — he acts upon it,” said Tommy Shevlin, president of the Nassau PBA, which represents 2,000 officers. “Bruce has done a great job balancing protecting police officers, recruitment and training, ensuring officers are well paid, while at the same time protecting taxpayers.”

Shevlin added that the union looks forward to another four years of working with Blakeman.

Blakeman has made public safety a central theme of his campaign. In 2024, U.S. News&World Report named Nassau County the safest community in the United States. The ranking considered crime and injury rates, along with public safety spending.

According to the report, Nassau spent $1,148 per capita on health and emergency services—nearly three times the national average of $440. The report also found that 1.39 percent of Nassau’s population works in public safety, compared to the national average of 0.8 percent.

OBITUARY

Carolyn Felder

Passed away in July of 2025 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was born in New York City in September 1948 and was 76 years old. She grew up in Rockville Centre, Long Island and spent her entire adult life as a resident of Manhattan.

Married to her devoted husband Louis S. Salamone whom she spent 25 great years.

Her parents were Gertrude and Kenneth Felder and she is survived by her sister Toby Schwefel.

She graduated from Harcum College in Pennsylvania.

She was a strong supporter and benefactor of political organizations, human rights campaigns, and the arts.

Her life’s passion was traveling. She didn’t visit the entire world but she tried.

On Sunday, September 14, 2025 at 2:00 PM, a service will be held for her at The Levy and Delany Funeral Home at 1879 Amsterdam Avenue at the corner of West 153rd Street. The service will be followed by a viewing of her crypt at The Trinity Cemetery and Mausoleum at 770 Riverside Drive at West 153rd Street.

ments — with maintaining regional safety.

Blakeman also highlighted his 2022 executive order declaring Nassau a nonsanctuary county, saying it was a step toward protecting public resources and ensuring community safety.

“We are not spending vital public resources on people who are not vetted, who overburden our schools, contribute to homelessness, and in many cases, engage in criminal activity,” he said.

“And we were the first county in the country to sign a cooperation agreement with ICE.”

Democrat Seth Koslow, a Nassau County legislator representing the 5th District, in the Nov. 4 general election, is challenging Blakeman. Early voting runs from Oct. 25 to Nov. 2.

“These numbers are not by accident,” Blakeman said. “They’re the result of a government management plan designed to protect our residents.”

He credited cooperation among multiple agencies — including Nassau and Suffolk County police, the NYPD, MTA police, state police and local depart -

“Bruce Blakeman doesn’t care about community safety — he cares about publicity stunts and whatever advances his political career,” Koslow said. He argued that Blakeman’s claims, along with those of Nassau PBA officials, that local law enforcement agencies are well trained and fully staffed are not true.

“Our law enforcement agencies are facing severe shortages, which Blakeman has failed to address,” Koslow said.

For more information on the election, visit NassauCountyny.gov/566/ Board-of-Elections.

mountsinai.org/southnassau

Wilson students honor heroes in ceremony

Wilson Elementary held a Sept. 11 remembrance ceremony on Thursday morning to honor the lives lost and to emphasize the values of service and unity. Mayor Francis X. Murray and Deputy Mayor Kathy Baxley attended the ceremony, along with Superintendent Matthew Gaven, Assistant Superintendent John DeTomasso, Lieutenant Nick DeLuca, and other members of the fire department and police department. This year, Karen Polito, Superintendent of Recreation, was honored for her outstanding dedication to the Wilson Recreation Center and its summer camp programs.

News brief

The Village of Rockville Centre honored volunteer EMTs Kenneth Albrecht, third from left, and Kimberly Martino, fifth from left, for their life-saving actions at the village board of trustees meeting on Sept. 8.

EMTs recognized for life-saving efforts

Two volunteer EMTs with the Rockville Centre Fire Department were honored at the Sept. 8 village meeting.

On July 23, Kenneth Albrecht and Kimberly Martino responded to a medical emergency initially reported as a seizure, which turned out to be a full cardiac arrest. The EMTs initiated CPR and delivered multiple defibrillation shocks on the scene. Martino continued

care in the ambulance to Mount Sinai South Nassau hospital. The patient arrived at the hospital in critical condition but was discharged a week later.

“This life-saving outcome of this incident was a result of outstanding teamwork, clinical care and dedication of EMT Albrecht and EMT Martino in coordination with Northwell EMS,” trustee Emilio Grillo said.

Rabbi Aviva Bass joins Central Synagogue

By KELSIE RADZISKI kradziski@liherald.com

Central Synagogue – Beth Emeth has named Rabbi Aviva Bass as its new rabbi and congregational leader, bringing what the synagogue describes as “renewed energy and connection” to its spiritual community.

Bass led her first Shabbat service at the Rockville Centre synagogue on Sept. 5, joined by Cantor Eryka Velazquez. A community celebration followed the service.

“Rabbi Bass, a seasoned pulpit rabbi and gifted cantorial soloist, will be bringing her wealth of experience and spirit to our community,” Arielle Kane, co-president of CSBE, said in a news release. “We look forward to Rabbi Bass’ warmth, vision, and leadership enriching our congregational family and strengthening its bonds.”

form connections with Jews through our tradition and to make an impact in people’s lives.”

Bass is known for her compassionate leadership and her ability to connect with people of all ages through worship, education and pastoral care. A classically trained soprano, she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Music and Judaic Studies from the University of Miami, graduating magna cum laude in 1992. She was ordained at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in 2000, where she also earned a master’s degree in Hebrew Letters. She holds a second master’s degree in Jewish Education from Gratz College and was recently awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity by RRC in recognition of her 25 years in the rabbinate.

I feel incredibly blessed to serve as the new rabbi of Central Synagogue Beth Emeth.

AvIvA BASS Rabbi

Originally from Coral Springs, Florida, Bass brings more than two decades of rabbinic experience to her new role. She has previously served congregations across the United States and abroad in Australia and New Zealand. Most recently, she was the spiritual leader of Temple Sinai of Palm Beach County in Delray Beach, Florida.

“I feel incredibly blessed to serve as the new rabbi of Central Synagogue Beth Emeth,” Bass said in a news release. “Being a rabbi is an honor and a blessing because it affords me the opportunity to

With a passion for music, education and creative expression, Bass integrates the arts into Jewish life and learning. She holds dual affiliation with the Central Conference of American Rabbis, a reform group, and the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association.

Outside the synagogue, she enjoys singing, dancing and spending time with her mother, Iris, her Havanese mix, Gidget, and her twin sons, Rafi and Angelo.

Central Synagogue – Beth Emeth is a Reform and Reconstructing Judaism congregation dedicated to fostering Jewish life through worship, learning and community engagement. For more information on the congregation and the latest updates, visit CSBELI.org.

News brief

Ryder Cup Youth Day is Sept. 25

The PGA of America will host Youth Day at the 2025 Ryder Cup on Sept. 25, at Bethpage Black, furthering its commitment to helping the game grow through PGA Jr. League and local youth initiatives.

PGA Jr. League players from the Metropolitan PGA Section and local high school students are invited to attend free of charge with a ticketed adult. Youth Day provides access to Ryder Cup practice rounds and the decisive Junior Ryder Cup singles matches, featuring the top 24 junior golfers from the U.S. and Europe.

Jeffrey Bessen/Herald Youth Day at the 2025 Ryder Cup is on Sept. 25. Above, volunteers Sara Blau and Andres Diez picked up their uniforms last month.

The Junior Ryder Cup, established in 1997, has launched the careers of some of golf’s biggest stars, including Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Scottie Scheffler, Lexi Thompson, Rose Zhang and Rory McIlroy.

A select group of participants will also take part in Beyond the Green, a career exploration program led by the PGA of America REACH Foundation. The event will feature New York-based sports organizations and brands, with youth representatives from groups such as First Tee of Metropolitan New York, The Bridge Golf Foundation and 100 Black Men of New York. Youth Day attendees will also be invited to the Ryder Cup opening ceremony that evening.

As part of the PGA’s mission to

increase inclusion and participation, juniors ages 15 and under receive free admission on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of Ryder Cup week with a ticketed adult (limit two juniors per adult). Tickets for juniors are available only at the Main Spectator Entrance on the day of play.

Additionally, PGA Jr. League Day at Ryder Cup Live will take place on Sept. 27, at Rockefeller Center. Players wearing their PGA Jr. League jerseys will enjoy a watch party, simulator competition, activities, prizes and raffles. For more, go to Bit.ly/3VaI8EN.

For more information, visit RyderCup.com.

–Jeffrey Bessen

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BRUCE A. BLAKEMAN

IA year of ‘returning’ holIday message

t’s that time of year again — the High Holidays are here, beginning next Tuesday and Wednesday with Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year. The extra chairs are being set up, the prayer books are being arranged, the choir is rehearsing, and yes, I’m still tweaking my sermons. (Don’t worry, they’ll be ready in time). But the real energy of this season isn’t in the logistics, it’s in the faces. People I haven’t seen in months wander back through the doors. Kids who used to be in Hebrew School are suddenly taller than me. It’s beautiful to see friends hug each other like no time has passed. There’s truly a hum of return in the air.

According to Jewish tradition, one of the central words of this season is teshuva. People usually translate it as “repentance,” but, as my congregants know, that’s never felt right to me. It literally means “return.” And I feel that this year, more than most, that is what so many of us are yearning for. A return to our truest selves. A return to family. A return to community.

es, and we’re all seeing it. Folks coming back. People who had drifted away but are now saying, “I need something steadier, something real.” And you know what? That gives me hope.

Because we all know that the world feels a little insane right now. Too much shouting, too much fear, and definitely too much bad news. If you try to make sense of it all on your own, it’s overwhelming. But when you walk into a sanctuary filled with neighbors, and you sing, or pray, or just sit quietly together, something happens. The noise fades a little and the heart steadies—it’s a time-tested truth. We remember that we’re not alone, and we remember what really matters.

You can feel it happening all around. After years of being so scattered and isolated, something is shifting. People are realizing that the screen can’t hug you or look you in the eye. Social media can’t sit with you when you’re grieving. The internet can’t show up with food when you are post-partem and just need some extra support. But your community can. Your church, your synagogue, your neighbors can. And I think people are remembering that.

It’s not just in synagogues—I’ve been talking with colleagues in local church-

So, while my sermon writing and logistical planning are still consuming my waking hours these days, my spirit is incredibly hopeful for this New Year, and here is my message for us all: return. However that may look for you. Get out there, touch grass, gather with people—laugh, cry, eat together. Rediscover not just who you are, but who we can be together. The world today seems to have lost its mind, and maybe our best antidote is to gather, to stay rooted, and to choose community again and again.

May this New Year bring a bit more blessing into our communities and into this world, and may we find strength in ourselves and in each other.

With affection and hope,

Rabbi David J. Lerner

David J. Lerner is the rabbi of Congregation B’nai Sholom - Beth David.

News brIef

Playing cards to fight

A Texas Hold’em tournament benefiting the Mary Ruchalski Foundation will be held Saturday, Sept. 20 at Odd Fellows Hall, located at 235 Merrick Road.

Doors open at 6 p.m., with cards shuffled at 7 p.m. The $150 entry fee includes food and drinks. Re-buys will be permitted throughout the night. A silent auction featuring vacation packages and sports memorabilia will also be held.

Proceeds will support the foundation’s mission to raise awareness and fund research for pediatric cancer.

Organizers are still seeking players and accepting donations. To RSVP, contact Colin Connelly at (516) 316-0828 or cpconnelly1019@yahoo.com. Payment can be made at the door or in advance

pediatric cancer

via Venmo at @ColinC1019.

The Mary Ruchalski Foundation was founded by Carol Ruchalski in honor of her daughter, Mary, who was diagnosed at age 11 with rhabdomyosarcoma. She died in 2018, a year after her diagnosis and a few days shy of her 13th birthday.

The Foundation holds and participates in fundraisers — including this one, run by Connelly — and collects donations to help further research on rhabdomyosarcoma and other pediatric cancer. September is Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month, and through the efforts of the Foundation, the Village Tree was lit up gold to raise awareness.

–Kelsie Radziski

STEPPING OUT

‘Love’ is all around us

Photos from the streets on view at Hofstra Museum

By Abbey Salvemini

Hofstra University Museum of Art opens its gallery to “Love Is The Message: Photography by Jamel Shabazz,” an inspiring exhibition honoring the decades-long creative output of the renowned street photographer. With his keen eye, Shabazz’s powerful images reflect pop culture, fashion and especially hip-hop, spanning the 1980s through today. The exhibit is on view in the Emily Lowe Gallery though Dec. 16.

Shabazzz’s striking black-and-white and color photography radiates joy and human connection, offering a deep sense of empathy and cultural pride. Alongside his photographs, visitors can also explore his personal collection of cameras, artwork and memorabilia.

“Jamel Shabazz is history, and it is a real gift that we are able to share this with our community,” Museum Director Sasha Giordano says.

As Giordano puts it, so thoroughly articulated in her forward in the exhibition catalogue: “Community is the heart of a museum.”

The exhibit was conceived with this spirit and curated by “Team Love,” a collective partnership composed of Shabazz; Robert Dupreme Eatman; Dr. Bilal Polson, principal of Northern Parkway School in Uniondale, Erik Sumner, art educator at Northern Parkway School; and the Hofstra University Museum of Art. Over two years, slowly and carefully, through meeting after meeting, the exhibition took shape from concept to fruition.

With Team Love’s valuable insights, “Love Is The Message”honors 50 years of Jamel Shabazz’s artistic achievement and is his first solo exhibition on Long Island — a fitting location as he is a longtime resident of Hempstead.

“Love Is the Message” explores how Shabazz’s work occupies a vital space at the intersection of art, activism and cultural storytelling. Deeply influenced by trailblazers like Gordon Parks, Shabazz embraces the camera not just as a creative tool, but as a means of witnessing everyday life within Black and Brown communities. Shabazz centers dignity, resilience, and beauty in his portraits by capturing not only how his subjects look, but how they live and love. His lens is one of empathy, inviting viewers not simply to observe but to feel and to witness the quiet strength of a

father holding his child, the joy in a group of friends dressed for a block party, or the pride in a young person striking a confident pose. In this way, Shabazz’s work does more than document; it cultivates understanding, mends division and illuminates the shared humanity that connects us all.

“Jamel wanted the team to put fourth an exhibition that showed love of community, friends, family and music,” Giordano explains.

As for Shabazz, he considers this retrospective a significant honor.

“When I look at the current situation of the country and the world, this exhibition is one of the most important shows of my life because we need love in the world right now,” he says. “I’m sharing my work to help inspire the next generation by using this universal global language of photography to create conversation.”

• Now through Dec. 16

• Programs require advance registration; call (516) 463-5672 to register

• Emily Lowe Gallery, behind Emily Lowe Hall, Hofstra University’s South Campus, Hempstead

Shabazz commutes to his day job daily but returns to his Hempstead studio, where he immerses himself in reflection and creativity.

“The Town of Hempstead offers me a space where I can get into deep thought and develop my ideas,” he says.

Among the many photographs and artifacts on view, Shabazz shares that a photograph of his mother holds especially deep meaning for him. Entitled “‘The Giver of Life,’ it’s the work of which he is most proud.

“I went out to Jones Beach with my mother and I caught an incredible photograph of her with bread in her hand as the seagull approaches her. She’s never experienced anything like that before.”

Beyond that moment, his eye offers his special perspective on the world around us.

“My objective was to contribute to the preservation of culture for this generation. It is my hope that the younger generations can look at my work and get a glimpse of the style and culture of back in the day. I want young people to understand the importance of love and see the power of photography,” he adds.

As always, related programming enhances the viewing experience. Upcoming on Oct. 1, 6-7:30 p.m., join Giordano for an exhibition tour. She’ll discuss the community collaboration that shaped the exhibit, offering insight into the artist’s creative process and the legacy of love reflected in the work.

Meet the man behind the camera at “Love Is the Message: A Conversation with Jamel Shabazz,” on Oct. 23, 10 a.m.-noon. He’ll talk about his creative process, personal influence and the impact of his work documenting everyday life in Black and urban communities. It’s followed by an audience Q&A session.

The events schedule also includes “Feel the Love – Experience the Photography of Jamel Shabazz with a Heart Meditation,” on Nov. 6. Denise Peterson, of Denise Peterson Yoga, brings mindfulness and meditation techniques to the art experience.

NYC Ska Orchestra

The NYC Ska Orchestra blends the exuberant musical layers of the jazz era with Jamaican roots music. The top-notch musicians, led by arranger-trumpeter-vocalist Kevin Batchelor, deliver a lively concert that surely will lead you to want to get up out of your seat and dance. This 20-piece big band features star turns from celebrated octogenarian percussionist/vocalist Larry McDonald and master drummer Carl Wright. Alongside a powerhouse collective of instrumental artists from the reggae recording scene, band members have performed with Peter Tosh, Bob Marley, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Toots & the Maytals. Together they play a non-stop selection of lush original compositions and arrangements of songs from the richly historic and culturally iconic Jamaican musical styles of 1950s and ’60s ska, mento, rocksteady and jazz.

Friday, Sept 26. 8 p.m. $42, $37 members. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. Tickets available at landmarkonmainstreet.org or (516) 767-6444.

Soulful notes with Vincent Ingala

Contemporary jazz saxophonist/ multi-instrumentalist Vincent Ingala and his electrifying band bring their funky grooves to the Madison Theatre. Declared by Jazziz Magazine as “one of the most exciting artists to emerge this past decade,” Ingala remains an unstoppable, creative force in urban contemporary jazz. His career includes10 #1 Billboard hits, 23 Top 10 singles, with more to come from his latest release and eighth album, “Escape With Me.” Ingala’s unique dual ability to electrify fans while connecting emotionally with them has made him one of the genre’s most popular talents on the scene today. He draws the audience in; becoming part of an exciting musical experience that bridges the gap between the music of his father’s R&B, funk and soul collection ( which he was heavily immersed in) and Ingala’s well executed horn lines.

Saturday, Sept. 20, 8 p.m. Tickets start at $45. Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. Tickets available at madisontheatreny. org or (516) 323-4444.

YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD CALENDAR

SEPT

On Exhibit

Nassau County Museum of Art’s latest exhibition, “At Play,” surveys artists’ perennial fascination with entertainment in all forms. Framing this topic between the nineteenth century Belle Époque and today, the exhibit includes works by Pablo Picasso, Reginald Marsh, Everett Shinn, and Max Beckmann among many others. The works are gathered to represent a wide range of expressions, from entertainment-related activities to the fascinating personalities involved. It encompasses dance, music, theater, movies, circus, boating, and beach scenes, along with horseracing and various sports, both active and passive Also featured are archival items from The Metropolitan Opera and the New York Philharmonic, including costumes by Marc Chagall for Die Zauberflöte, vintage fashion items by such designers as Alfred Shaheen, and iconic costumes from the Folies-Bergère in Paris. On view until Nov. 9.

• Where: 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor

• Time: Ongoing

• Contact: nassaumuseum.org or (516) 484-9337

SEPT

Parti-gras at the park

OCT 4

‘…We will rock you’

Get ready to sing along — Queen-mania is back on Long Island. Almost Queen, the acclaimed tribute band, is set to return to the Paramount stage, bringing with them the soaring vocals, electrifying guitar riffs, and theatrical flair that defined one of rock’s most legendary groups. Almost Queen isn’t just another cover band. Their performances are carefully crafted to honor the spirit of Freddie Mercury, Brian May, John Deacon, and Roger Taylor while delivering a concert experience that feels fresh and alive. The lineup features Joseph Russo as the dynamic and charismatic Mercury, Steve Leonard as guitar virtuoso May, Randy Gregg as bassist Deacon, and John Cappadona as drummer Taylor. Together, they recreate Queen’s iconic sound with impeccable four-part harmonies, precise musical interludes, and the kind of stage energy that pulls audiences to their feet. Attention to detail sets the band apart. From authentic costumes to faithful renditions of classic hits like “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “We Will Rock You,” and “Somebody to Love,” the band captures both the power and the playfulness of Queen’s original shows. Their devotion to accuracy — paired with undeniable chemistry on stage — has earned them a loyal following that grows with every tour. $108.75, $98.25, $76.25, $64.75, $54.25, $48.75.

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

• Time: 8 p.m.

• Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com

beauty. Ages 4-10 can enjoy an educational outdoor tour through the vibrant autumn gardens, filled with colorful leaves, exploration, and nature-themed activities. This guided experience is designed just for kids, sparking curiosity about the changing seasons while encouraging hands-on discovery in the great outdoors. Registration required. $18, $10 children.

• Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury

• Time: 11 a.m.-noon

• Contact: oldwestburygardens. org or call (516) 333-0048

SEPT 25

Hispanic Heritage month celebration

Join the Hispanic Brotherhood’s celebration with guest of honor, Margarita Grasing. Special entertainment by DJ Mac Lovin.

• Where: Hispanic Brotherhood, 59 Clinton Avenue, Rockville Centre

• Time: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

• Contact: (516) 766-6610

Little Learners Art Lab

Poison frontman Bret Michaels and former Eagles member Don Felder bring their spirited concert to Eisenhower Park. Rock on to fan favorite tunes.

• Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow

• Time: 7 p.m.

• Contact: nassaucountyny.gov

SEPT

20

19 Gatsby’s Swingin’ Scavenger Hunt Old Westbury Garden’s Gatsby Weekend celebration the 100th anniversary of “The Great Gatsby,” continues with a family adventure. The jazz artists are late for Gatsby’s big bash and lost in the gardens! Hunt for jazz players hidden in the landscape. Check off your findings then and return to Westbury House for a special prize.

• Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury

• Time: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

• Contact: oldwestburygardens. org or call (516) 333-0048

Gatsby in the Gardens: Art Deco Perspectives

Experience the glamour and bold design of the Roaring Twenties

through contemporary artwork inspired by the opulence of Long Island’s Gold Coast. This juried exhibition at Light Court Hallway celebrates the era’s iconic fashion, architectureand luxury in true Art Deco style.

• Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury

• Time: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

• Contact: oldwestburygardens. org or call (516) 333-0048

Long Island Promise Walk for Preeclampsia

A free family-friendly event to get moving for Preeclampsia support at South Side Middle School.

• Where: 67 Hillside Ave., Rockville Centre

• Where: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

• Contact: (516) 279-2229

Block Party With Imagination Playground

Get the kids ready to join in an oversized “block” party at Long Island Children’s Museum! Stack them, crawl through them or team up to make dream designs come true. Back by popular demand these giant, lightweight blocks turn playtime into extraordinary

adventures. Construct castles, mazes, fantastical creatures or secret hideaways in this incredible exhibit experience. Imagination Playground blue blocks provide a blank canvas for children to express their creativity and bring their ideas to life. Giant and lightweight, these blocks encourage hands-on exploration and problem-solving, collaboration and spatial awareness. Through Nov. 2.

• Where: Museum Row, Garden City

• Time: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

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

Junior

Architect: A Kid’s Tour of Westbury House

Families are invited to explore Old Westbury Gardens’ Gold Coast mansion through the lens of 1920s history and Art Deco design. Includes an interactive guided tour and an art activity where kids create their own art deco architecture. Registration required. $18, $13 child

• Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury

• Time: 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

• Contact: oldwestburygardens. org or call (516) 333-0048

SEPT 21

Blood Drive

Support the St. Agnes Knights of Columbus fall blood drive. Stop by to donate.

• Where: St. Agnes Parish Center, 29 Quealy Place, Rockville Centre

• Time: 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

• Contact: (516) 306-9127

Calling all singers

Each week in this engaging workshop, participants are introduced to hands-on materials, artmaking, and inspiration from artists and techniques. Young kids, ages 2-5, build critical thinking skills, expand vocabulary, and support imaginations as they play, create and explore. This week use blocks to stamp patterns for geometric art. $4 with museum admission.

• Where: Museum Row, Garden City

• Time: 11:30 a.m.-noon

• Contact: licm.org or (516) 224-5800

A new season and a new name. Join the Long Island Community Chorus, Inc. (formally the Rockville Centre Choral Society) for auditions and rehearsals, Wednesdays. All voices are welcome. Members are from Queens, Nassau and Suffolk counties and are expanding ever year since 1984.

• Where: St. James UMC, 11 St. James Place, Lynbrook

• Time: 7:30 p.m.

• Contact: licchorus@gmail.com or call (516) 599-5705 SEPT

Seasonal Sprouts

Bring the family to Old Westbury Gardens for fun, fresh air and fall

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.

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Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU BANK OF NEW YORK

MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A. AS TRUSTEE FOR MORTGAGE ASSETS

MANAGEMENT SERIES

18,

I TRUST, -againstLIONEL O.

LIVINGSTON, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF ESTELLA L. MITCHELL, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on June 27, 2025, wherein BANK OF NEW YORK

MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A. AS TRUSTEE FOR MORTGAGE ASSETS

MANAGEMENT SERIES

I TRUST is the Plaintiff and LIONEL O.

LIVINGSTON, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF ESTELLA L. MITCHELL, ET AL., are the Defendants. I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on October 6, 2025 at 2:30PM, the premises known as 65 LAKESIDE DRIVE, ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY 11570; tax map identification 35-88-22 & 23; and description: ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF ROCKVILLE CENTRE, IN THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK . Premises will be sold subject to provisions of

filed Judgment Index No.: 601445/2022. Oscar A. Prieto, Esq., as Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 155538

LEGAL NOTICE

Public Notice to Bidders

Sealed Bids will be received by the Purchasing Department of the Village of Rockville Centre, One College Place, Rockville Centre, New York for the matter stated below until 11:00 am prevailing time on OCTOBER 9, 2025 at which time they will be publicly opened and read aloud. The contract will be awarded as soon thereafter as practicable for: REPLACEMENT OF ROOF AND BILCO DOORS MANHOLE 17B

Bid No. 2509E2(1166) The contract documents and specifications can be examined on the Village’s website at www.rvcny.gov. Follow the link to the Purchasing Department. Each bid must be accompanied by a certified check, bank check or bid bond payable to the Incorporated Village of Rockville Centre in the amount of five (5%) percent of the gross amount of the bid.

Please contact Stephen Blom at sblom@rvcny.us to confirm your

attendance at recommended site walk through on September 25, 2025. All questions should be directed to the Purchasing Department. Please contact Lisa Strazzeri via email only at Lstrazzeri@rvcny.us.

Questions must be submitted no later than October 2, 2025.

All contractors and subcontractors submitting bids or performing construction work on public work projects or private projects covered by Article 8 of the Labor Law are required to register with the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) under Labor Law Section 220i and must include a copy of the registration with their bid response. Award of Contract will be made to the lowest responsible bidder in accordance with applicable provisions of the law. The Village reserves the right to reject all bids or make such determination as in the best interests of the Village, as provided by law.

Purchasing Department Lisa Strazzeri Purchasing Agent 516-678-9213 155794

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS TOWING OF VEHICLES

October 2, 2025September 30, 2026 (with two possible one year renewals) FOR INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF ROCKVILLE CENTRE NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK Notice is hereby given that the Incorporated Village of Rockville Centre, New York (“Village”) will receive sealed proposals for “TOWING OF VEHICLES - October 2, 2025 to September

30,2026”, with an option to the Village to extend the said contract for up to two additional years. Proposals will be received until 11:00 am on October 2, 2025 in the office of the Purchasing Agent at Village Hall, One College Place, Rockville Centre, New York 11570, at which time and place all proposals will be opened publicly and read aloud in the Village Hall Conference Room. Proposals must include proposals for each included year. Specifications, proposal information and forms, and proposed contracts may be examined on the Village’s website at www.rvcny.gov Follow the link to the Purchasing Department.

Each proposal must be submitted on the proposal form issued by the Village, and accompanied by a deposit of $5,000.00 which must be in the form of a certified check and made payable to the Incorporated Village of Rockville Centre. Failure to include the deposit with the Proposal may be cause for rejection.

The Village reserves the right to reject any or all proposal proposals received and subject to this reservation, shall award the contract(s) in the best interests of the Village.

In submitting a proposal, proposers agree not to withdraw their proposal during the sixty (60) days following the opening thereof, and agree, if their proposal is accepted, to execute the contract with the Village within ten (10) days after such notification.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES 155789

Novack honored with Chamber’s Angel Award

By KELSIE RADZISKI kradziski@liherald.com

Longtime Rockville Centre resident and Chamber of Commerce board member Jeff Novack was recently honored with the Angel Award, a recognition presented by the chamber to those who go above and beyond in service to others.

“It was very sweet,” Novack said. “I was not aware that I was going to get an award, and it was very nice.”

Novack has lived in Rockville Centre his entire life and has been a member of the Chamber for roughly 40 years. He played a key role in organizing the group’s monthly meetings, which allowed him to get familiar with the restaurants in the village.

“He was a long time board member of the chamber,” Ed Asip, president of the Chamber of Commerce, said, “always set up all of our meetings for many years.”

READ THEM

recipient of the award he created.

“Jeff created the concept of the Angel Award,” Asip, president of the Rockville Centre Chamber of Commerce. “So it’s kind of a full circle moment.”

Although not given annually, the award is reserved for those who embody a spirit of generosity and community care, and Asip said Novack absolutely deserved it.

H e’s probably the nicest person you would ever meet.

ED

ASIp President, Rockville Centre Chamber of Commerce

Novack received the same award he helped originate just last year, which was originally given to Jeff Blasko of CrossFit Seize the Day. Asip explained that Blasko had been helping Novack with his health, which led to them forming a strong friendship through the CrossFit gym.

The first Angel Award was given to Blasko last March, and then it was given to the Children’s Athletic Training School in October. Novack was the third

“He’s always been the most supportive person,” he said about Novack. “He’s probably the nicest person you would ever meet. Sweetheart of a man, and always contributing.”

Novack was also presented with a citation from the village by Deputy Mayor Kathy Baxley for his hard work and commitment to the Chamber and to the village.

Now preparing for a move to Scottsdale, Arizona, to live closer to family, Novack said he is both excited and sentimental about leaving the place he’s always called home.

“I am going to miss Rockville Centre because I’m very comfortable here, and have a lot of friends here, and I’m sort of sad about leaving,” he said, “but I’m open to something new.”

As Novack prepares to say goodbye to Rockville Centre, the village sends him off with the very award he helped create — a fitting tribute for someone whose quiet kindness has left a lasting mark on the community.

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A reader offers a correction on P.T. boats

A reader from Bellmore, Steven Vella, wrote to question my recent column in which I addressed bomb shelters and the related specific construction of P.T. boats (“In today’s world, bomb shelters are part of the conversation,” July 24-30).

TI stated that gunite concrete has some of the highest construction strength, at over 6,000 pounds per square inch, and that swimming pools and “P.T. boats are as strong as steel, and when all of the layers of steel reinforcement rods are contoured into the shape of a boat hull, the ships prove capable, as they did in World War II, of catching exploding torpedoes and absorbing the impact.” P.T. stands for patrol torpedo, and P.T. boats were meant to be lighter, swifter craft for short-range reconnaissance and rapid deployment of torpedoes to attack enemy ships. Vella, a World War II buff, pointed out that he was only aware, through a relative who worked for the Elco Boat Company, in Bayonne, New Jersey — a major builder of P.T. boats for the U.S. Navy — that “the keel is a 70-foot-long piece of 6 x 6 Alaskan spruce. The stem is of American oak. The frames (ribs) are of African mahogany. Sides and bottom of the hull are double-planked mahogany with canvas laid in marine glue in between the diagonally spaced planking.” I misstated that the steel-rod-reinforced construction was used for P.T. boats, when it was actually used for slower-moving landing craft, such as the type used at the beach landing at Normandy, and for barges shipping supplies. The slower-moving craft needed to be heavily reinforced because they were, presumably, easier targets.

Unlike today, where we can instantly find information on almost any topic using our cellphones, I sat in my Methods and Materials classes in architecture school, 50 years ago, and listened to professors explain the physical and chemical properties as well as the applied uses of materials in construction, without the ability to research or fact-check. I never forgot the story related to us about the strength of the concrete, the application to Navy vessels and the story of torpedoes being trapped without exploding, in the sides of some boat hulls. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to confirm the type of concrete used, or that the boats in which the cement and steel reinforcement were applied weren’t P.T. boats, back then.

The concrete type was still steel-reinforced, but it was fero-cement, and not gunite. Gunite is cement that is sprayed using a high-pressure gun, often referred to as a cannon, and the mix is semi-dry cement and sand. The actual concrete hulls that the Navy engineers came up with were made of handapplied cement over steel reinforcing rods. Concrete and steel are used together in many different configurations, because concrete is extraordinarily strong in compression and highly resistant to crushing, and steel is highly tensile or flexible. When applied together, the combination provides great resistance to impacts, such as bombs. So thank you, Steven, for your noteworthy question.

© 2025 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.

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tOur disagreements must stop at debate

he United States has long prided itself on being a nation in which political differences are aired by way of ballots, not bullets. In recent years, however, violence has too often invaded our public square, shattering lives, feeding a general atmosphere of fear and distrust, and undermining the democratic ideals we claim to cherish.

As we count down to Election Day on Nov. 4, we must recommit to the principle that civil political discourse — not intimidation, assault or bloodshed — is the only legitimate path forward.

Consider the troubling list of recent events. On Jan. 6, 2021, rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol, brutally attacking police officers in an effort to halt the peaceful transfer of power to then President-elect Joseph Biden, a Democrat. Five people died in the rioting. Since then, President Trump, a Republican, has survived two assassination attempts.

In 2022, Paul Pelosi, the husband of former Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, was bludgeoned with a hammer in the Pelosis’ home in San Francisco. In April of this year, a man attempted to burn down the residence of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a fellow Democrat.

In June, Minnesota State Rep. Melissa Hortman, a Democrat, was killed in a targeted attack at her home, along with

letters

Blakeman has a narrow definition of ‘safe’

To the Editor:

Re County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s op-ed last week, “Protecting our kids and keeping Nassau County safe”: Blakeman’s myopia ought not be ours. Though the Nassau County Police Department is top-notch in both competence and compensation, “safety” is a far broader sentiment than armed personnel.

With the most foreclosures in the metropolitan region, Nassau is not a safe place for those who can’t keep up with the Joneses. Our growing population of residents dependent on food bank services, absentee landlords and gig work surely appreciate our police, but don’t feel safe from economic predation. And neither drivers nor pedestrians are especially safe in Nassau, and the roadways themselves would win no awards.

Our famed police are no comfort to anyone viewed through ICE-eyes as dusky, dusty or dawdling. We are not yet saved from Nassau’s dual-action dysfunctional property-tax regime, its failed bus patrol tax, its Nassau University Medical Center mess nor wasteful

her husband, Mark Hortman. In a separate incident, Minnesota State Sen. John Hoffman, also a Democrat, and his wife were wounded, allegedly by the same gunman.

On Sept. 10, one day before our national commemoration of the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil, the assassination of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk shook the nation.

All of these acts, though politically motivated in different ways, shared a tragic theme: a rejection of reasoned debate in favor of violence. The perpetrators’ actions defied both justice and ethics. Political leaders, regardless of party, must unequivocally denounce violence not only when it is directed at their allies, but also when it strikes their adversaries.

The answers to bitter disagreements can be found instead in the very foundation of American law: our Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech, association and petition. These rights were spelled out so that individuals and groups could argue, persuade and organize without fear of reprisal.

Violence, by contrast, seeks to silence opponents permanently. It is not an expression of political conviction but rather a repudiation of it — an attempt to destroy debate rather than contribute to it. That is why every civilized society criminalizes assault, murder and terrorism. To resort to such methods is not

only to break the law but also to tear at the moral fabric that holds communities together.

Violence corrodes democracy itself. When citizens and leaders live under constant threat, they retreat from public engagement. Ordinary people withdraw from activism. Elected officials alter decisions out of fear for their families’ safety. Journalists censor themselves to avoid becoming targets. These chilling effects shrink the civic space, and create an atmosphere of suspicion and anger.

The way forward requires a cultural shift that emphasizes respect, empathy and resilience even in the face of profound disagreements. Everyone from students to business executives to politicians to the media should refuse to share disinformation, avoid demonizing those with whom we have differing opinions and welcome calm, reasoned argument that can change minds more effectively than threats ever could.

Passionate debate is fine. Disagreement is natural in a diverse society, and progress often emerges from that vigorous discussion. In stark contrast, every time a political leader is targeted, every time a citizen is attacked for his or her beliefs, the American experiment itself is weakened.

At this point in our country’s history, the stakes could not be higher. We must choose civility over cruelty, and persuasion over violence.

opinions Affordability can’t just be a talking point

as most Long Islanders know, affordability, at its heart, is about what families experience every day. It’s a child starting the school day with a full stomach, a parent relieved of crushing child care costs, a college student able to pursue a career without sinking into debt. This is the kind of state New Yorkers deserve, one where families can live with dignity and plan with confidence.

That’s why I have worked to put affordability at the center of my priorities. As the academic year begins, I’m reminded of the past, when parents couldn’t afford to provide lunch or give their children lunch money each day. No parent should have to carry that stress, and no child should sit in class hungry. Alongside my colleagues in the Senate, I fought to secure $340 million in the state budget to make breakfast and lunch free for every student in New York, regardless of their family’s income, so all

young scholars can eat with dignity.

Affordability also means giving young children the strongest possible start without risking the family’s financial security. That’s why I voted in favor of $1.2 billion in universal pre-kindergarten funding to continue our efforts to prepare children for their education and nurture their social, emotional and academic skills. I also collaborated with my fellow senators for the allocation of $112 million for afterschool programs, which bolster academic programming and offer enrichment opportunities. This saves families thousands on child care costs, while building the foundation children need to thrive.

even preparing children for the return to school can be a source of major worry.

In that same vein, I fought for new and increased aid to school districts across Senate District 6 totaling $53.2 million, minimizing the need to raise residents’ property taxes. These funds help cover academic activities, transportation, supportive services and more, making sure that all students have the tools they need to succeed.

Worries about affordability also show up in everyday moments like getting

Letters

BLAKEMAN signage. Nassau’s water safety is in question. Discoveries of buried chemical toxins and depleted shorelines threaten real estate, and the police cannot arrest viruses. Nassau has enough police, but not enough security.

BRIAN KELLY Rockville Centre

Honoring veterans through service and support

To the Editor:

On Sept. 12, the day after 9/11, the National Day of Service and Remembrance, PSEG Long Island, National Grid and the nonprofit General Needs came together to host the first-ever Veteran Warm Up event, serving more than 100 local veterans. At this drive-through event, veterans received bedding, pillows, heaters, LED light bulbs and information about financial and energy-efficiency programs designed to help them keep warm when the weather gets colder.

Why would PSEG Long Island step into this role? The answer is simple: because veterans are our neighbors, and many are among the most vulnerable members of our communities. Long Island is home to one of the

children ready for the return to school. This summer I worked with a variety of community partners and stakeholders to offer backpack giveaway events throughout the district. At one such event, in partnership with Nassau County Legislator Olena Nicks and North Hempstead Councilman Robert Troiano, along with the Nassau County Police Benevolent Association, we gave away more than 800 backpacks filled with school supplies to students from the district.

These initiatives, aimed at easing the financial burden on parents as the academic year begins, do more than help families prepare. They also send a message that members of our community are willing to extend a helping hand to one another.

The need for affordable education doesn’t end in childhood, which is why my fellow senators and I invested $47 million statewide to make community college free for students ages 25 to 55 who are pursuing high-demand careers such as teaching, engineering and nursing.

Affordability and sustainability can and should go hand in hand. The rising

cost of water and its finite existence led me to sponsor Senate Bill S.4988, and secure $150,000 in the state budget to launch a rebate program in Nassau and Suffolk counties for families who install smart-irrigation devices. These systems save water, reduce bills and help protect the environment that we’ll pass on to the next generation.

When it comes to health care, the high cost of prescription drugs has put necessary medications out of reach for too many New Yorkers. To address this concern, the Senate passed the New York Affordable Drug Manufacturing Act, offering a practical solution by empowering the state to partner in the production of generic drugs specifically to drive down prices. This bill targets highcost and at-risk medications like insulin, ensuring affordability and availability.

Affordability can’t simply be a talking point. It must be embodied in legislation and budget allocations. Whether it’s fighting for free meals, expanding pre-K, making college accessible or supporting families with basic school supplies, I will continue to advocate for programming and policies that make life more affordable for everyone.

Siela Bynoe represents the 6th State Senate District.

Framework by Tim Baker

largest populations of veterans in the country, and too many of them face challenges related to housing, health and employment. At PSEG Long Island, we believe our responsibility goes beyond keeping the lights on — we have a duty to support the wellbeing of the communities we serve.

That’s why, year after year, our employee-volunteers give their time, energy and compassion at events that provide direct aid to veterans and other neighbors in need. Collaborating with organizations like General Needs amplifies that impact, ensuring that resources reach those who need them most.

This commitment to community is an extension of our mission: to provide safe, reliable energy while also strengthening the fabric of the neighborhoods we call home. By supporting veterans, we honor their service and sacrifices while building a culture of understanding and respect that benefits us all.

The Veteran Warm Up event is just one example of how PSEG Long Island strives to live out its values of safety, security and service. We do this because it’s the right thing to do — for our veterans and for our communities.

DAVID LYONS Interim president and chief operating officer, PSEG Long Island

At the Town of Hempstead sunrise Sept. 11 memorial service — Town Park Point Lookout