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UNIONDALE _____________
HERALD BEACON
Encouraging native planting
Softball Knights defy injury
Heralds take home 11 awards
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VOl. 76 NO. 18
APRIl 30 - MAY 6, 2026
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Library hopes to fix elevator that many need been on a constant ‘on-again, off-again’ cycle for the last two years,” Marin wrote in an After nearly seven weeks out email on April 23, adding that of service, the Uniondale Pub- the cost of repairing it is just lic Library elevator is operat- over $472,000. Although the elevator has ing again — but with only temporary repairs, as the board of returned to service, its longtrustees awaits word on federal term reliability remains uncertain. During a funding for a full recent visit, a Herreplacement. ald reporter Library Director watched as it Mara Marin said dipped noticeably the elevator was before continuing out of service from downward with Feb. 28 through p a s s e n g e r s April 15 after its aboard, underscormotor seized — the ing concerns latest disruption in about the tempowhat Marin rary nature of the described as a tworepairs. year cycle of interThe trustees mittent failures said that U.S. Rep. attributed to underLaura Gillen had ground water daminformed them age in the elevator MARA MARIN Director, Uniondale that the library’s shaft. application for a Though there is Public Library Community Proja staircase, the lift ect Fund grant to is essential for m a n y p a t r o n s u s i n g t h e replace the elevator had been library’s downstairs meeting submitted to the U.S. House room, classroom and gallery Appropriations Committee for space, all of which are difficult consideration. The library or impossible to reach for elder- expects to learn in June whethly visitors and those with limit- er the project will receive funded mobility when the elevator ing. “I’m fighting in Congress for is inoperable. “As a result, the elevator has
By ABBY GIBSON
Intern
W
Curtesy Kevin Corey
Kevin Corey, a Uniondale High School teacher, is a co-owner of Stall Mates, individually wrapped, flushable bathroom wipes. His company offers three non-scented varieties — aloe vera, feminine fresh and witch hazel, which are all U.S.-made and plant-based.
Not the typical business course
Uniondale High teacher’s ‘other job’ brings in $3.8M By STACY DRIKS sdriks@liherald.com
Students enrolled in Kevin Corey’s business courses at Uniondale High School aren’t just learning from a textbook — they’re receiving real-life lessons from a teacher who runs his own multi-million-dollar company. In addition to teaching, Corey, 41, is president and co-founder of Stall Mates founded in Islip — a U.S.-made, plant-based, individually wrapped flushable bathroom wipe brand that brought in $3.8 million in revenue in 2025. Corey and his longtime friend, Greg Schipf, started the company in 2013 after an unexpected moment sparked an idea, a year before he began teaching business classes in Uniondale. While trying to pay off undergraduate and
graduate school debt from St. Joseph’s College and Dowling College, Corey cleaned pools across Long Island with Schipf, who was also working to pay off college loans after attending Queens College. Because of the nature of the job, they often did not have access to bathrooms and would stop at places like McDonald’s to use public restrooms. During one such trip, Schipf used a bathroom that was out of toilet paper. “When he came back to the work van, I said to him, ‘How much would you pay for one baby wipe right now?” Corey recalled. “He said, ‘I’d pay five bucks,’ and that moment was like, ‘Wow.’” Corey now sells the product on Amazon and through online retailers like Walmart, ContinUed on page 10
e have to do our best to keep this building safe and operational for the public and staff alike as long as we are here.
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