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UNIONDALE _____________
HERALD BEACON
Remembering Alberto Ayala
Church to host community day
Coming together for a yard sale
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VOl. 76 NO. 33
AUGUST 13 - 19, 2026
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Curtain call is coming soon reached an emergency exit and seeped into the green room. “It was really a huge surprise,” Marin said. It has been over two years since groundwater “We didn’t have any rain in those days — before, flooded the Uniondale Public Library’s auditori- at that time, we had a dry period.” The flooding forced the library to remove carum, also known as the theater, forcing the space to close. Now the library board is taking another peting, sheetrock, the stage and other materials step toward restoring it, with a $32,787 Communi- damaged by water. The restoration service Servpro pumped water from the audity Revitalization Project grant torium around the clock for weeks secured by Nassau County Legislator before groundwater levels gradually Olena Nicks for new flooring and receded. seating. Although some equipment, curNicks, who represents Uniondale, tains and seating were salvaged, the served on the library’s board of trustauditorium remains stripped down ees for seven years before she was to its concrete floor while the library elected to the Legislature in 2025, sucprepares for the next phase of ceeding now State Sen. Siela Bynoe. repairs. “As a former Uniondale Library This month, programs returned to trustee, I know personally how the the basement. auditorium is a critical space for the Before beginning renovations, the library’s programs that serve our MARA MARIN library hired Walden Associates, a neighbors throughout the year, and it architectural consulting service is essential for this space to be opti- Director, Uniondale located in Oyster Bay, to conduct a mally equipped for our community,” Public Library yearlong study of groundwater conNicks said in a July 27 news release. The basement auditorium flooded in April ditions. The board didn’t want flooding to occur 2024, when groundwater rose high enough to again after the auditorium was restored. The firm reach the third row of seats, according to Library monitored water table elevations and determined Director Mara Marin. Water covered the stage,
By STACY DRIKS
sdriks@liherald.com
A
Stu Goldman/Herald photo
Another National Night Out The Uniondale Fire Department’s Van Ness Fire Station was filled with food, activities, community resources and first responders for National Night Out on Aug. 4. Hundreds of residents, including brothers Shamari and Shakyrie Roseborough, ages 10 and 6, attended, and had the chance to meet police officers and check out their equipment. Others gathered for a chance to meet Nassau County Legislator Olena Nicks. Story, more photos, Page 10.
fter the pandemic, everyone learned how to — we like to call it ‘pivot again.’
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Nassau County’s youngest entrepreneurs have some big ideas By STACY DRIKS sdriks@liherald.com
Young entrepreneurs from across Nassau County transformed the Uniondale Fire Department’s parking lot into a pop-up marketplace last Saturday, showcasing handmade products, baked goods and youth-managed services while learning firsthand what it takes to run a business. The even, co-organized by Lawrence Road Middle School PTA President Claudia Barnes and Judine Duquesney, of Uniondale, showcased 11 businesses owned by children and teenagers. Barnes opened the event to young entrepreneurs beyond Uniondale after seeing interest from families throughout the county. “I opened it up because my daughter and I participated in some other young-entrepreneur events,” Barnes said. “And then there were just kids from everywhere.” Three of the participating businesses were run by Lawrence Road students, including Barnes’s daugh-
ter, Jessica, owner of JusJess, a business that began with homemade lip gloss and has since expanded to include T-shirts and party favors. Barnes said on Saturday that she was impressed by the creativity and ambition on display. “Sometimes I am wowed,” she said. “At these events you see a lot of kids, and you’re just amazed at the ideas these kids come up with.” The showcase also featured businesses selling press-on nails, homemade lip gloss, custom phone cases, Pokémon and sports cards, handmade flowers and toys known as squishies, for sensory learning, giving visitors a glimpse into the creativity of Nassau County’s youngest entrepreneurs. Among the first-time vendors were sisters Londyn and Lauryn Lowe, 11 and 10, of Merrick, students at St. Agnes School. The pair brought cookies, bracelets and other items, and called their business R&C Boutique & Snacks. Londyn spent the morning baking homemade pretzels to sell and offer as samples. The sisters also make handmade beaded bracelets, and said they decided to participate after spotting a flier advertis-
ing the event. “I saw the flier in the [Uniondale] library and liked it, because there were bracelets on it,” Londyn said. For Lauryn, the event offered a lesson in customer service. “I learned that when people walk by you should welcome them,” she said, “because that’s good customer service.” Rheina Bailey, 14, of Uniondale, used the showcase to introduce Bailey Babysitting Service, a business inspired by years of watching her younger cousins. Although she had not yet secured her first client, given the fact that this was her first pop-up, Rheina said she wanted to demonstrate that she was prepared. She completed babysitting training and earned certifications in CPR, the use of an automated external defibrillator, or AED, and pediatric first aid. She also said she would Continued on page 8