______________
UNIONDALE _____________
HERALD BEACON
School debuts TED-Ed talks
Cosplays and fun at Cradle-con
Naval aviation legacy honored
Page 2
Page 5
Page 13
Vol. 76 No. 23
JUNE 4 - 10, 2026
$1.00
New Chamber officially serves the hamlet dent Mike Capillo, a veteran and the commander of Uniondale American Legion Post 1273, and As community leaders gath- Vice President Ronnie Williams, ered last Saturday to celebrate who is also president of the the grand opening of Special Uniondale Little League. WilTreasures Child Care Center, liams’s wife, Stacey Richardson, which shares a building with is president of the Uniondale Grace Cathedral International Empowerment Resource Center, on Jerusalem Avenue, the rib- and was among the community bon-cutting represented more leaders involved in discussions that led to the chamthan the arrival of a ber’s formation. new business in “What we’re Uniondale. doing is in hopes The event also that Uniondale gets marked one of the its own identity,” first public appearCapillo said. “Do you ances of the newly know how many peoformed Hamlet of ple have come to us Uniondale Chamber and said, ‘Gee, why of Commerce, whose don’t you join Hempfounders say they are stead?’ Because this working to support MIKE CApIllo local businesses, Hamlet of Uniondale isn’t Hempstead.” The Uniondale encourage economic Chamber of Chamber of Comgrowth and help Commerce merce was originally establish a stronger founded in 1955, and identity for the comlater dissolved before being remunity. With chamber representa- established under new bylaws in tives welcoming Special Trea- 1984. In recent years, however, sures’ owner, Linda Anderson, businesses have operated withof West Hempstead, as their first out an active chamber representmember businesses, organizers ing their interests, as the organisaid the event reflected the type zataion, run by Mariano Ugalde, of investment they hope to dissolved, Capillo said. “You’re not limited to just one encourage throughout the comchamber — you can have more,” munity. The chamber is led by PresiContinued on page 8
By STACY DRIKS
sdriks@liherald.com
W
Jason Thomas/Herald photo
Jumping into first place Coach Denisha Pierre, far left, and Melissa Taylor Bobb twirled the Double Dutch rope for Uniondale Police Activity League jumpers Isabella Taylor, 9, and Diana Pierre, 11. The local team of nearly 20 took first place in the second annual Nassau County PAL Double Dutch championship last Saturday, going up against squads from Elmont, Roosevelt and Westbury. Story, more photos, Page 3.
Middle school kids reaching for the sky By STACY DRIKS sdriks@liherald.com
For 50 students from Uniondale’s two middle schools, the dream of flight took shape this spring through Future Lab, a 10-week, after-school enrichment program at the Cradle of Aviation Museum. The partnership between the museum and the Uniondale School District introduced students to aviation and aerospace careers through hands-on STEM activities designed to make science, technology, engineering and math lessons more engaging. Cassandra Mehu, the district’s assistant grant
coordinator, said the program was viewed as an opportunity to expose students to careers they might not otherwise consider, particularly in aviation, engineering and aerospace. “It was great to be able to partner with the Cradle,” Mehu said, referring to the Uniondale museum. “This is such a great thing for our students to be able to have that access and know that they too can be a pilot, they too can be an engineer, and they too can design planes.” Future Lab also introduced students to P-TECH, a Vaughn College program that combines college coursework with career-focused studies in engineering and technology. At the end of the proContinued on page 8
hat we’re doing is in hopes that Uniondale gets its own identity.