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ing, 3-month-old lab mix. “He’s not scared. He just really wants to play.” The story, “Max Talks to Me” A small rescue puppy and a children’s book about caring for by author Claire Buchwald and these animals helped teach more illustrator Karen Ritz, follows a boy and his dog as than a dozen kids big they communicate lessons about kindwithout words. As ness at the Long Maher turned the Island Children’s pages, children Museum in Unionchimed in with how dale. dogs express feelThe Jan. 16 visit ings — tail wags, was part of the cuddles, sniffing on museum’s partnerwalks, or curling up ship with North when their humans Shore Animal are sad. League America’s “He’s just like Mutt-i-grees educaMax,” Maher said tion team, which of the lab mix pup, uses animals and which didn’t yet books to teach chilhave a name, only dren empathy, an adoption numresponsibility and ber. kindness. During the “His forever famprogram, children ily gets to name listened to a read- KACEY MAhER him — that’s a big aloud, met the rescue Manager of Education bonding moment,” pup, and created and Youth Programs, Maher added. “paw-pledge” badges Some children at promising to treat North Shore Animal League the museum suganimals with care. gested names like “Today, we’re going to read a story about a dog Blacky, because of his dark fur, named Max — and meet a real and Cooper from Maher’s previrescue dog, too,” Kacey Maher, ous visits, while others drew an educator with the Mutt-i- inspiration from dogs they knew grees curriculum, said as she at home or in their neighborcradled a squirming and whin-
By STACY DRIKS
By JORDAN VALLONE
sdriks@liherald.com
jvallone@liherald.com
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A small puppy and a large tale at the museum
NUMC receives nearly $110 million from state leadership Nassau University Medical Center has received $109.6 million in funding from New York state, an investment announced by Gov. Kathy Hochul in a Jan. 15 release. The release states the funding reflects the state’s “recognition of the hospital’s progress under new leadership and its commitment to stabilizing operations while preserving access to essential health care services for Long Island resi dents.” It’s been a turbulent year at NU M C , Lo n g Island’s only public hospital. It provides health care to all residents, including the undocumented and uninsured — regardless of their ability to pay. Due to provisions that passed in the state’s budget in 2025, the restructured board at the Nassau Health Care Corporation was implemented at NUMC, shifting control of the hospital from Nassau County leadership to Hochul and state Democrats. In addition, the state also granted the Nassau Interim Finance Authority, a public benefit corporation, expanded over-
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Stephanie Siler, communications coordinator at the Long Island Children’s Museum; Jean Mansfield, director of special projects and community initiatives; and Jasmin Alvarado, floor educator, helped transform a room in the museum to a small gallery of history. As Mansfield held one of the handmade freedom bells crafted by children, her colleagues held civil rights-era images.
Ringing in on MLK legacy On King Day, Children add to their knowledge of the civil rights icon By STACY DRIKS sdriks@liherald.com
Children didn’t just learn about the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the Long Island Children’s Museum on Monday — they got to know his legacy in an annual program, “AdvoKids: Let Freedom Ring with MLK!” Families gathered at the museum for a program that helped young visitors explore equality, freedom and kindness through discussion, the viewing of historic images and hands-on
activities. The program focused on why the United States celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Day, why King gave his “I have a dream” speech, and what his dream was all about. To keep 15 children ages 5 and up engaged during a history-heavy lesson, Jean Mansfield, the museum’s director of special projects and community initiatives, began by asking what they already knew about Dr. King. Hands shot up, and kids ContInued on pAge 10
f an animal seems overwhelmed, we step back. The shelter always chooses animals with the right temperament for visits like this.
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