Congregation Beth Ohr celebrates Purim
By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com
Sunday was a great day for the Jewish community of Bellmore-Merrick to celebrate Purim, at the annual Mel Polay Purim Carnival. Founded by Evelyn Polay, a member of Congregation Beth Ohr in Bellmore, in honor of her late husband, Mel, the Purim celebration has been a fixture in the community for years.
Congregation Beth Ohr merged with Temple Israel of South Merrick. Temple Israel’s former location on Clubhouse Road is now Beth Ohr’s Merrick annex, and has served as the perfect spot for the carnival since the merger.
Purim celebrates the saving of the Jewish people from Haman, an official of the First Persian Empire, who was planning to have all of Persia’s Jewish subjects killed. Queen Esther, the Jewish wife of the Persian King Xerxes is credited as the heroine, alongside her cousin Mordecai, for saving the Jewish people. Today, the holiday is celebrated by reading the Book of Esther — or the Megillah — and by completing 5 mitzvot, or commandments.
These mitzvot include attending a Megillah reading during the evening on the day Purim begins, and attending a second reading the following morning.
Additional mitzvot include giving gifts to the poor, doing the same for friends and family members, and enjoying a traditional Purim feast.
During readings of the Megillah, which is a large scroll, and can take about a half hour to listen to in full, it’s tradition to try and “block out” the name “Haman,” every time it is read, which can make for a fun time for families and children.
Around the carnival, staple games such a ring toss and basketball throw were set up, with countless other activities. Children were able to win prizes, enjoy sweet treats and snap photos with their family members in a photo booth.
Polay, who was a congregant at Temple Israel before the merger with Beth Ohr, told the Herald that many years ago, after her husband died, the men’s club at the temple wanted to do something in his honor, and raised $20,000. The carnival has taken place every year since, in Mel’s name. Purim is often celebrated by dressing in costume, evident around the carnival.
Holden Leeds/Herald photos
Paula Wall with Brooke Holt, Charlotte Holt, 11-months, and William Holt, 3, at Congregation Beth Ohr’s Purim Carnival.
Ilene LeRea and Jamie Guggenheim rocked costumers from the movie, ‘Wicked.’
It was all fun and games at the carnibal. Shelby Shamir with Shai Shamir, 2, and Danielle Rosenweig with Ryder Rosenweigh, 2, had a blast at the ball toss.
Adam Adler, with Tammy, Maya, 7 and Layla, 4, had a blast at the photo booth.
Landon Tunnicliffe, 7, enjoyed a bagel at the carnival.
NUMC, state leaders rally for critical funding
Long Island’s ‘safety net’ hospital has lost millions in state monies
By JORDAN VALLONE
jvallone@liherald.com
Health care leaders and state officials rallied in Albany on Feb. 25, pushing for crucial state funding for the Nassau University Medical Center, the East Meadow-based hospital that is overseen by the Nassau Health Care Corporation.
During the rally, which took place in the Capitol Building, Megan Ryan, the corporation’s president, chief executive and chief legal officer, joined State Sen. Steve Rhoads and other legislators to press the State Legislature to include funding for the hospital in its 2025-26 budget.
We’re asking to be treated fairly — that shouldn’t be a politically charged or partisan issue.
MEgAN RyAN
President,
chief
executive,
chief legal officer Nassau Health Care Corporation
“Nassau University Medical Center serves as a critical lifeline for the most vulnerable populations in Nassau County and is an irreplaceable part of Long Island’s healthcare network,” Rhoads, a Republican whose district includes NUMC, said at the rally. “Nearly 90 percent of their patients are Medicare, Medicaid or have no ability to pay. As a result, it relies upon state funding to survive. However, since 2019, NUMC has been denied hundreds of millions of dollars of state funding received by safety net hospitals in other areas.”
Rhoads cited the hospital’s Level 1 trauma center, its burn center for local first responders and those injured in fire-related incidents, and its newly established cardiac catheterization lab as crucially important elements in Nassau County and Long Island’s health care system.
“While hospitals in Westchester, Brooklyn and the Bronx have received funding, NUMC continues to be overlooked,” he added. “It is imperative that the governor and legislative leaders put politics aside, step up, and do the right thing for the people.”
The hospital said it applied for every state funding opportunity available in 2024 and 2025, but has received no state aid. Through a Medicare waiver, which the state was recently awarded, $2.2 billion will be distributed over the course of four years to public hospitals in New York City and Westchester County, but provides no support or funding to NUMC.
“We’re asking to be treated fairly — that shouldn’t be a politically charged or partisan issue,” Ryan said. “The state has a legal responsibility to provide NUMC with aid to fulfill its mission as a safety net hospital.”
Ryan called on leaders in the State Senate and Assembly to “come together” and include “unrestricted aid for NUMC in this year’s budget.”
“Anything less risks creating a health care crisis in
Call to action
State officials, health care leaders rallied in Albany on Feb. 25 urging:
■ State Legislature to include NUMC funding in 2025-26 budget
■ Equal treatment with other regional safety net hospitals
■ Support for this ‘irreplaceable part of Long Island’s healthcare network’
NUMC has not received adequate state funding since 2017, which has put the critically important hospital’s sustainability in jeopardy.
Nassau County,” she said.
Assemblyman Ed Ra, a Republican whose district includes parts of East Meadow, said, “This is truly a failure to prioritize the health-care needs of our region. Nassau residents contribute their tax dollars to New York state just like every other region, and it’s only right that those dollars are reinvested in their health care.”
Assemblyman John Mikulin, a Republican whose district also represents East Meadow, added, “Nassau County needs Nassau University Medical Center. NUMC must receive the state aid necessary to ensure families in need have access to the medical treatment and care they deserve.”
NUMC is Long Island’s largest safety net public hospital and serves all patients, regardless of their ability to pay for health care services.
The health care corporation also oversees the A. Holly Patterson Extended Care Facility in Uniondale. NUMC boasts a Level 1 trauma center, and serves more than 270,000 patients a year, with 67,000 emergency room visits. More than 60 percent of the hospital’s patients are women, and 70 percent are racial minorities. The health care system relies on funding, and since 2017, the state has slashed its allocations from $190 million to zero dollars in 2024. The health care corporation is currently suing the state for its alleged failure to comply with federal Medicare reimbursement laws, claiming the state orchestrated a ruse to withhold Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital
Nassau University Medical Center boasts a Level 1 trauma center, and serves more than 270,000 patients a year, with 67,000 emergency room visits. About 90 percent of its patients are on Medicaid or Medicare.
payments that the hospital was entitled to.
A spokesperson from the Governor’s office said: “Governor Hochul is committed to supporting safetynet hospitals, but NUMC’s biggest obstacle to receiving state aid is its own leadership. Despite their false claims, NUMC has received significant financial support, including $117 million in Disproportionate Share Hospital payments in FY24 and $38 million to date in FY25 — only paused due to their own lawsuit against the State. Meanwhile, NUMC has failed to submit a viable financial transformation plan, a basic requirement for additional aid. Additionally, they have failed to make $400M of premium payments to maintain health insurance for its employees. The state provided $60 million to NUMC to help lessen their debt to NYSHIP in FY23. Instead of addressing critical issues, hospital leadership is still wasting resources on a misleading PR campaign. If these lawmakers are truly concerned about NUMC’s future, they should demand transparency and responsible management from its leadership.”
Photos courtesy Office of State Sen. Steve Rhoads
Health care leaders and state officials rallied in Albany on Feb. 25, calling for the restoration of state funding for Nassau University Medical Center.
Herald file photo
Leaders and advocates celebrate Sustainability
Local leaders push for greener, cleaner communities
By Kelsie Radziski
Visionaries, advocates and trailblazing leaders gathered at the Heritage Club in Bethpage on Feb. 26 to celebrate groundbreaking innovations and inspire bold action toward a sustainable future. From young students to influential policy-makers to community members making a difference, the Herald Sustainability Awards of Long Island, presented by Reworld, recognized those whose efforts are shaping a cleaner, greener tomorrow.
“It is an honor for us at the Herald and Reworld to showcase the achievements of these leaders,” Stuart Richner, president and publisher of Richner Communications Inc. and the Herald, said.
As Azeez Mohammed, CEO of Reworld, emphasized, the commitment to sustainability is not just about progress — it’s about making a lasting, positive impact.
“We are honoring those leaders and budding youngsters who demonstrated a commitment to sustainability, and that matters a lot to us,” Mohammed said. “Because with Reworld, our claim to fame is that we are the only company that manages waste in a sustainable manner.”
Reworld utilizes “infrastructure, technology and imagination to solve complex waste management challenges and help create a sustainable and more prosperous future for businesses and communities,” according to the company’s website.
Reworld was represented at the awards ceremony by Maureen Early, lead community relations specialist; Dawn Harmon, director of Long Island market; Adel Omrani, president of the East Region; and Lloyd Naideck, director of state government relations along with many other Reworld team members.
“We’re delighted to be able to honor all of these sustainability champions here tonight,” Early said. “So many of them have done so much in making Long Island a better place to live, work and play.”
Two young students were recognized for their sustainability efforts. Joseph Petraro, an 11-year-old who is a freshman at Louisiana State University, founded the Joe’s Be Kind Campaign, a nonprofit aimed at promoting positive social change, especially for vulnerable children. The initiative’s mission is to foster kindness, inclusivity and connections throughout communities, and to promote positive mental well-being.
“I used to get bullied when I was a lot younger,” Joseph said, “and I don’t want other people to feel that same way.”
He also started other initiatives, including the Clean Wells for Humanity program, which tackles global water scarcity, and the Adopt-a-Grandparent program, which fosters intergenerational bonds and promotes sustainable living practices. Joseph’s efforts to bring people together to help the environment made him a Student Champion for Sustainability Award winner.
Desiree Mohammadi, a 12-year-old student at South Woods Middle School, in Syosset, was honored for her initiative Seeds of Hope, which began when she saved the seeds from the vegetables in her family’s garden. Seeds of Hope has blossomed into a bigger movement, and Desiree has partnered with Island Harvest to plant seeds every spring at the nonprofit’s Healthy Harvest Farm in Brentwood.
“I think it’s a human right that people should be able to access fresh fruits and vegetables,” she said. Both student award winners were also presented with $2,500 to support their education or future sustainability projects.
Other honorees include Don Clavin, Town of Hempstead supervisor, and Rich Schaffer, Town of Babylon supervisor, who received Environmental Leader in Policy awards. They have each made efforts, working with Reworld, to improve sustainability and environmental efforts in their towns.
“It’s a great honor to be recognized by the Herald and by Reworld,” Schaffer said. “Reworld has been an excellent partner with the Town of Babylon, and it’s probably the main part of our solid waste infrastructure and how we deal with making sure the garbage leaves the curb and is dealt with correctly.”
Local community leaders were also recognized for their work. Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, works to protect natural resources and public health. She and her organization have taken on challenges such as upgrading failing sewage-treatment systems, protecting and filtering drinking and surface water and supporting large-scale renewable-energy projects in the interest of improving the environment.
“We really feel it’s our job to make sure Long Island is clean, safe and sustainable for now and in the future,” Esposito said.
Gregory Sandor, executive director of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County, was honored as well, for the strides the organization has made during his 12 years of leadership. The group has earned grant funding for a number of its specialized programs, including renewable energy, sustainable food systems, urban forestry and youth development. Cornell Cooperative is currently working with Reworld to build a Dynamic Learning Center in East Meadow, with the goal of educating the public about sustainability issues.
“We’re always looking at sustainability issues and how to be more resilient,” Sandor said. “So it’s exciting to be a part of that, and be a part of this different group of leaders that are being recognized.”
As attendees mingled and celebrated the honorees, vendors offered their donated products, among them Barrier Brewing Co., Garvies Point Craft Brewery, Farrm Wines, Borghese Vineyard, Del Vino Vineyards, Loughlin Vineyard and Twisted Cow Distillery.
The Herald Sustainability Awards were a testament to the collective impact when leaders and advocates unite with a shared purpose. The inaugural event showed that commitment to sustainability is about leaving a lasting, positive imprint on the world for generations to come.
Tim Baker/Herald
Maureen Early and Dawn Harmon pose with Gerry Compitello, Janina Martinez, Greg Maxilla, Jassi Anand, and Doug Jacob accept award for Babylon Town Supervisor, Rich Schaffer.
Holden Leeds/Herald photos
Joseph Petraro (center) poses with his 2,500 check, joined by Dawn Harmon, Maureen Early, and former NFL player Justin Tuck.
James Wylie, Lorne Brousseau, and Garrett Chelius get recognized for their work with REACH Rotary Club.
Holden Leeds/Herald photos
Gregory M Sandor, executive director of Cornell Cooperative Extention Nassau County.
Citizens Campaign for the Environment Executive Director Adrienne Esposito.
Hempstead Town Supervisor Donald X. Clavin gets his award for establishing the first hydrogen fueling station on Long Island.
Michael Fiorentino, Natural Resource Program Director at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County.
Seatuck Environmental Executive Director Enrico Nardone proudly poses with his award.
Desiree Mohammadi (center) proudly poses with her $2,500 check, joined by former NY Rangers Mike Richter, Maureen Early and Dawn Harmon.
Island Harvest CEO and president Randi Shubin Dresner proudly poses with her award.
Stony Brook University student Esther Poon with their award.
Reworld CEO Azeez Mohammed gives welcoming remarks.
Jason Thomas/Herald
REACH Rotary Club honoree James Wylie playfully points out the towering height of former NFL star Justin Tuck as they pose together for a photo.
Lissette Pellegrino, celebrating her award for Environmental Stewardship.
Garrett Chelius receives his award for his work with REACH.
Operation SPLASH president Robert Weltner.
Thomas Powell accepts an award on Eric Swenson’s behalf to recognize his exceptional contributions.
