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UNIONDALE _____________
HERALD BEACON
Beautification takes a new hit
Juneteenth unites district
Student wins scholarship
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JUNE 19 - 25, 2025
State begins taking control of NUMC sight, including the ability to approve hospital contracts exceeding $1 million. The hospiof the East Meadow Herald tal’s public benefit corporation, New York state has begun the the Nassau Health Care Corpotransition in leadership at Nas- ration, is also required to consau University Medical Center, duct a study on strengthening following the approval last NUMC by Dec. 1, 2026. A newly restructured NUMC month of a $254 billion budget package for fiscal year 2026 that board will see six members appointed by the included several governor — includprovisions affecting one recoming NUMC, includmended by the state ing a “takeover” of Assembly speaker Long Island’s largand state Senate est public hospital president — two system. appointed by the State lawmakers Nassau County approved the executive, two by changes on May 7, the county Legislashiftin g control ture’s majority, and from Nassau Counone by its minority. ty Executive Bruce On May 31, Blakeman to Gov. Hochul announced Kathy Hochul and her appointments, state Democrats. GORDON TEppER including Stuar t T h e ch a n g e s — Gov. Hochul’s Long Rabinowitz, former which took effect Island press secretary president of HofsJune 1 — seeks to tra University in enhance state oversight and set a path toward Hempstead, designating him financial improvement and chair of the 11-member board. Rabinowitz, a longtime leadoperational stability at the East Meadow hospital and its extend- er in higher education and public policy, now serves as senior ed care facility in Uniondale. In addition, the state has counsel at Meltzer, Lippe, Goldgranted the Nassau Interim stein & Breitstone in Mineola. Finance Authority, a public ben- He described the hospital as a efit corporation, expanded overContinued on pAge 4
By JORDAN VALLONE and LUKE FEENEY
Photos courtesy Long Island Children Museum
A dollhouse with ramps and other accessible features showed visitors how real-world design can accommodate people with disabilities.
Interactive disability exhibit opens at children’s museum By STACY DRIKS sdriks@liherald.com
A new summer exhibit at the Long Island Children’s Museum encourages kids to explore disability inclusion through interactive tools, toys and stories. The museum held a grand opening for the “Visibility of Disability” exhibit on June 6. It will be on display in the Artists Corner of the Uniondale facility until Aug. 26, according to Beth Ann Balalaos, the museum’s access and inclusion program director, who curated the exhibit. “Visibility of Disability” is a preview of a permanent exhibit to be housed at the Viscardi Center in Albertson, which specializes in programs and services for those with disabilities, beginning in October. The exhibit offers hands-on experiences
that highlight the many ways in which people with disabilities navigate and shape the world around them. “My mom would take me here at least twice a week — it was my favorite thing in the entire world, and it’s actually insane that I’m in the museum right now — like I’m literally in it,” said Anastasia Pagonis, a gold medalist in swimming in the Paralympic Games in 2020 and one of the trailblazers profiled in the exhibit, who lost most of her vision to a rare autoimmune condition. Pagonis, 21, has become a passionate advocate for disability awareness and inclusion, inspiring others with the story of her athletic achievements. “It’s hard enough being a girl and being in your teenage years, and especially growing up with a vision loss and a disability — it’s Continued on pAge 2
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he board’s restructuring is unequivocally the best possible news for anyone who relies on NUMC.