_________________ WANTAGH ________________
HERALD Creating islands and landforms
Robust response to house fire
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Vol. 74 No. 6
FEBRUARY 5 - 11, 2026
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Suspect charged in crash that killed two teens earlier that night, according to News 12. Police arrested Labidi on A Far mingville man has Friday and charged him with been arrested and charged in two counts of second-degree connection to the car crash two manslaughter and two counts weeks ago that killed Lindsey o f s e c o n d - d e g re e a s s a u l t . Parke, 19, a volunteer firefight- Labidi was driving more than er with the Levittown Fire 80 mph, more than twice the Department, and another teen- posted speed limit, according to court documents, a g e p a s s e n g e r, when he lost conauthorities said. trol of his vehicle. Frank Labidi, 23, Labidi crossed into was behind the oncoming traffic, wh e e l o f a 2 0 2 6 spun out, and BMW when he lost slammed into a control of the vehitree and a building, cle while heading prosecutors said. west on Old CounHe was artry Road, near Sterraigned on the ling Place, in Hickscharges at First v i l l e, a t a r o u n d District Court in 11:30 p.m. on Jan. lEVittowN FiRE Hempstead the 2 3 , a c c o rd i n g t o same day. He pleadN a s s a u C o u n t y DEpARtmENt ed not guilty to all p o l i c e. T h e c a r Statement charges. The crash veered into oncomremains under ing traffic, struck a tree, and then slammed into a investigation and Labidi is due back in court on Tuesday, after building, police said. Parke and the other passen- the Herald went to press. His ger, Alexa Duryea, also 19 and bail is set at $500,000 cash or a from Levittown, were both pro- $1.25 million bond. Parke served as a volunteer nounced dead at the scene. Labidi was taken to a hospital firefighter and emergency medw i t h i n j u r i e s t h at p o l i c e ical technician with the Levitdescribed as non-life-threaten- town Fire Department. Her ing. Labidi and the teens had death has shaken the Levittown been hanging out at an arcade Continued on page 13
By lUKE FEENEY
lfeeney@liherald.com
Courtesy Office of Sen. Steve Rhoads
Honoring and thanking a community leader Margaret Silberger, center left, president of the Wantagh chapter of the Kiwanis, was presented with citations last month by Town of Hempstead Councilman Chris Schneider, far left, County Legislator Kayla Knight and State Sen. Steve Rhoads for her selection as the Wantagh Herald’s 2025 Person of the Year. Story, more photos, page 10.
Rhoads pushes back on Hochul’s plans Housing, taxes and safety are top Long Island concerns By lUKE FEENEY lfeeney@liherald.com
Gov. Kathy Hochul promised a broad slate of new policies aimed at affordability, child care, housing and public safety in her State of the State address last month. But State Sen. Steve Rhoads is pushing back, saying that many of those plans either don’t go far enough or fail to reflect the needs of Long Island communities. “The state of the state of New York is strong, and we’re just getting started,” Hochul declared in her Jan. 13 address, highlighting priorities like universal pre-K by 2028, crackdowns on gun violence and insurance fraud, and more than
$350 million in new investments in affordable and manufactured housing. But Rhoads, a Republican who represents Wantagh, Seaford, North Wantagh and other nearby communities, argued that the governor’s proposals often miss the mark — especially when it comes to public safety, affordability and housing. “She is now conditioning funding on municipalities being pro-housing communities,” Rhoads told the Herald, adding that this creates unfair burdens for local governments. “Unless the entire township agrees to loosen its zoning restrictions, it won’t qualify for state assistance Continued on page 11
H
er smile, laugh, and willingness to help anyone will be forever missed