______________
UNIONDALE _____________ LOWER YOUR ENERGY BILLS
HERALD
At No Cost!
With Insulation & Air
Conditioning *
BEACON Provided By State an d *for qualifying househ
Long Island’s housing crisis
Page 3
Page 8 AUGUST 14 - 20, 2025
Programs
CALL NOW! 631-426-6672 $1.00
130 804 30 130 789
Night out at Byrne Center
Local Energy Rebate
olds
FREE
District stages ‘Saddle Up for the Arts’
in a full-scale production — inspired by Western pop culture and Beyoncé’s 2025 Grammy Kelvin Jenkins, Uniondale Award-winning album, “Cowboy School District’s director of fine Carter.” “It was very wise for us to and performing arts, kicked off the district’s “Saddle Up for the jump on that popular Western Arts” performance on Aug. 7 by theme that’s flooding the internet,” Jenkins said. bellowing, “Can I Jenkins, who typget a Yeehaw?” ically collaborates The performance with staff to choose was the culmination the program’s of a five-week Sumtheme, said this mer Arts Academy year’s idea — a program open to all focus on Western Uniondale students, sounds — came including Academy from Jaden O’Brien Charter schools, in former student of grades three the program, now through 10, beginworking with faculning on July 7. In ty. existence for about Songs included a two decades, the pro“Fiddler’s Hoegram offers instrucdown” melody; tion in music, dance, “Best of the West,” t h e a t e r , c h o r u s , KELvIN JENKINS arranged by Michael show choir and visu- Uniondale schools’ Story; “Boots on the al arts, all at a cost director of fine and Ground,” arranged of $100. performing arts by Orville; “Over “It’s a little intenthe Rainbow,” from sive, but the kids enjoy it because everybody’s suc- “The Wizard of Oz”; “I Wish” by cessful,” Jenkins, who’s in his Stevie Wonder; “Texas Hold 16th year leading the program, ‘Em” by Beyoncé, and more. Audience members who recsaid. With about 130 students par- ognized the music sang along, ticipating in various ensembles, and some even stood up to dance this year’s program culminated
By STACY DRIKS
sdriks@liherald.com
Tim Baker/Herald photos
Celebrating four decades of Nintendo Alex Valdes of Garden City arrived at the Long Island Retro Gaming Expo last Friday to celebrate 40 years since the launch of Nintendo and Super Mario Bros. Story, more photos, Page 10.
Energy hub braces for key upgrade
Propel NY project set to move forward after public hearing By KEPHERD DANIEL kdaniel@liherald.com
A public hearing in Mineola on July 23 marked another milestone for the Propel NY Energy transmission project as it advances through New York state’s permitting process. More than two dozen community members, elected officials, environmental advocates and business owners spoke before administrative law judges Ashley Moreno and Nicholas Planty at the Nassau County Legislature chambers, voicing both staunch support and fierce opposition. With a targeted construction start of mid-2026, the project team and regulators continue refining route details, planning environmental protections and fine-tuning outreach to address lingering misconceptions about the venture. The proposed transmission project comprises multiple sections, including the Barrett-to-Union-
dale Hub segment, which would extend 8.75 miles from a new Barrett substation, in Oceanside, to the existing Uniondale Hub. The segment’s preliminary route runs through Oceanside, primarily along Long Beach Road and North Long Beach Road, and then continues north. Propel NY Energy, a joint initiative of New York Transco and the New York Power Authority, proposes roughly 90 miles of new 345 kilovolt underground cables spanning Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk counties, as well as direct interconnections to nine substations from the Bronx through Westchester. Before construction can begin, the developers must secure a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need from the State Public Service Commission, which will issue a decision based on the full case record, including last month’s testimony. Continued on page 12
W
hen our students leave, someone will ask them, ‘Where did you learn that?’ and they’ll say, ‘From Uniondale School District.’
Continued on page 7