A grass-roots effort is underway to reopen the Malverne Cinema & Art Center A monthslong effort to reopen the Malverne Cinema & Art Center is finally going public Organizers behind the push to reopen the much-loved theater will hold their first information session May 29 at Connolly Station, an Irish pub in Malverne, intended to solicit ideas from the community and sign up potential volunteers. Attendees are asked to register at malvernecinema.org "We’ve been working behind the scenes," said Nick Hudson a film-related not-for-profit spearheading the effort "The 5/29 event is a way to kick off the public announcement." got involved immediately and began floating the idea of turning the venue into a not-for-profit By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy That conversation led to talks with property owner Sonzone “It’s the heartbeat of the village,” Sonzone said of the cinema “I’m looking to enhance what was already there.” Hudson said E2AC — the name stands for Entertainment 2 Affect Change — has secured about 10% of the funding necessary to renovate and reopen the cinema He’s also partnering with Dente’s Dreamers a not-for-profit that stages ability-inclusive theatrical productions which could use the cinema as an event space or a headquarters "We’d like to tell people there’s a much bigger vision for it," Hudson said of the cinema "rather than just opening it back up and putting the lights back on." Whether the Stampfels will play a continuing role at the cinema remains to be seen because I know the community misses it," Anne Stampfel said "It’s been nonstop emails since we closed." The Newsday app makes it easier to access content without having to log in Unlimited Digital AccessOnly 25¢for 6 months This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Click here for Greater Long Island newsletters. Click here to download the iPhone app It’s time for Malverne Mel to hang up his shadow That’s what PETA and Humane Long Island are urging Malverne Mayor Timothy Sullivan to do this Groundhog Day asking him to rethink the community’s annual celebration featuring the furry forecaster and to replace Mel with a willing human “groundhog” in costume PETA has also rolled out an ad campaign across 10 area buses declaring the Malverne tradition outdated and stressing that Mel and all groundhogs belong in the wild At last year’s early morning event in Malverne Mel made a break for it and attempted to escape the spotlight squealed and struggled mightily to evade his handler while the mayor presided over the traditional spectacle “Groundhogs belong with their families in the forests and fields they call home not in a cage and certainly not being manhandled for a silly stunt,” said Humane Long Island Director John DiLeonardo “It’s time to end Malverne’s yearly tradition of tormenting Mel and switch to Groundhog Day festivities that everyone can enjoy.” Sullivan responded to PETA and Humane Long Island’s letter by emphasizing that the village’s Groundhog Day event has been a cherished tradition for generations held in partnership with the Long Island-based STAR Foundation which cares for injured and orphaned animals a copy of which was supplied by Sullivan to Greater Long Island the mayor made no mention of changing the event but did agree to meet with the organizations DiLeonardo noted that he is meeting with Sullivan next week DiLeonardo last February helped organize a Groundhog Day event in Babylon where a person in a groundhog costume debuted as Babylon Belle PETA has agreed to send Malverne a similar costume if the community buys in “Groundhogs like Mel can’t predict the weather but they do feel enormous stress when they’re paraded in front of noisy crowds for a photo op,” PETA President Ingrid Newkirk said “PETA is calling on Malverne to let Mel walk — as he clearly wants to do — and use only willing humans in future events.” Newkirk and DiLeonardo co-signed the letter to the mayor an animatronic groundhog with artificial intelligence They also raised concerns about potential zoonotic risks from handling groundhogs highlighting the possibility of disease transmission between animals and humans Sullivan noted in his reply that Mel the groundhog is exclusively handled by its caretaker and that the event includes an annual donation to support STAR’s wildlife protection efforts The mayor wrote further that the village holds “the ceremony at Crossroads Farm one of the last operating farms in Nassau County which provides an ideal backdrop for families to experience nature and conservation.” and other investments that we are making into our parks and preserves that we strive to educate our residents on the value of environmental conservatorship,” Sullivan wrote “which includes education about wildlife and the importance of protecting their habitats.” Top photo: Last year’s Groundhog Day event in Malverne (Facebook) Tap here to see what’s happening Hempstead Avenue is home to local staples like Malverne Pastry Shop and Malverne Deli discovered Malverne when he accidentally got off the wrong exit many years ago and felt as if he'd stepped back in time quaint little town "where everyone knows each other," said DeVito "When you drive through Malverne you immediately realize it's something different," he said beauty and unique spirit led him to move to Malverne 10 years ago including the ceremony to see if Malverne Mel sees his shadow on Groundhog Day an Easter Egg hunt and a Halloween candy crawl really harken back to the days of old when people had a real sense of community," said Malverne Mayor Tim Sullivan "We haven't lost that in Malverne and we cherish and appreciate these traditions that bring us all together." Hempstead Avenue houses Malverne's bustling downtown Malverne is home to Crossroads Farm at Grossmann's a thriving business district and its own police they allow Malverne to "continue to attract new buyers to the community and do a great job of preserving the village and making it attractive to families that have lived here generationally," Sullivan said Reese Veterans Memorial Park is a favorite for locals to enjoy the outdoors What began as a community of woods and streams called Norwood Malverne was cobbled together out of a group of farms sports columnist Walter "Red" Smith and Francis Purcell the housing stock consists mostly of Capes there were 63 home sales with a median sale price of $739,000 there were 70 home sales with a median sale price of $667,000 CONDOS AND CO-OPS There are no condos or co-ops on the market Sources: 2023 American Community Survey; OneKey MLS via InfoSparks by ShowingTime; LIRR This $849,000 Malverne home has four bedrooms This renovated 1,380-square-foot Colonial has four bedrooms and 2½ bathrooms a renovated kitchen with quartz counters and stainless steel appliances a finished basement and a new Navien tankless hot water system The 0.9-acre poperty includes an attached one-car garage This $779,000 Malverne home is 1,516 square feet this circa 1935 Tudor features four bedrooms Located in Malverne's Westwood section the 0.11-acre property includes a detached one-car garage This $699,000 Malverne home its on a 0.09-acre lot This 1,529-square-foot 1940 Tudor-style Cape has four bedrooms and 1½ baths a four-season room and a full unfinished basement the 0.09-acre fenced-in property has a back patio and an attached one-car garage 2025 at 11:40 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Overnight work is expected at several LIRR crossings in Malverne NY — Overnight road work is scheduled at three area railroad crossings in Malverne Drivers should be aware of the following road closures for the paving activity: MTA Police will be on-site to help manage traffic and ensure safety it's advised to plan on using alternate routes Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. also a former NYPD officer and son of the village's recently retired police chief faces menacing charges for allegedly pulling his service weapon out in the firehouse last year and walking toward two other firefighters The son of Malverne's recently retired police chief surrendered to authorities Tuesday over allegations he pulled his NYPD service gun on two village firefighters last year pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Tuesday in Nassau County District Court in Hempstead to three misdemeanor counts of menacing in the second degree Aresta was released on his own recognizance and ordered to stay away from the alleged victims He allegedly pulled his service weapon out in the Malverne firehouse locker room at midnight on Sept 22 and walked toward the two other volunteer firefighters while holding the gun Aresta pulled his gun out again and pointed it at one of the firefighters Follow the latest developments in the Gilgo Beach killings investigation The men reported the incident to Malverne Village police which was headed at the time by Chief John Aresta who served as the village chief of police for 18 years turned the case over to the Nassau County District Attorney’s office on Sept followed "an extensive and thorough investigation conducted by the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office," said Nicole Turso Nassau County prosecutor Heather Kalachman said that there are video recordings of the incidents that support the witnesses' claims "I think these charges are overblown," Gann said "I don’t think there was any attempt to menace anybody Aresta pulled his gun out to look at it for a second." He added: "No video depicts anyone with a gun." Gann said his client resigned from the NYPD where he'd worked for less than two years because he expected to be fired over the gun allegations "Whatever the beef was with my client it certainly cost him significantly," Gann said The elder Aresta retired from the police department on Dec unrelated to the incident involving his son Truncale said the former chief’s contract had expired in May and he stayed on until the end of the year The ex-chief remains a member of the village fire department Trump's influence on NY's future .. Get the latest news and more great videos at NewsdayTV Get more on these and other NewsdayTV stories 2025 at 9:20 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The MTA will close Hempstead Avenue this weekend for repairs to the LIRR train crossings NY — The Long Island Rail Road has work planned this weekend on Hempstead Avenue in Malverne April 7 to vehicular and foot traffic at the train crossings Drivers and pedestrians should use alternate routes to get around the construction The prognostication is in: Malverne Mel says six more weeks of winter About a hundred people huddled in the frigid temperatures Sunday morning by the Malverne train station just after sunrise to hear from the beloved groundhog teens groaned: There was no sign of spring pulled up in a Honda CR-V after a breakfast of sweet potato and broccoli A row of politicians towered above him in 6-inch black top hats and red scarves including Malverne Mayor Timothy Sullivan and Rep It’s Malverne Mel," said Victoria Gil Mel is at the center of a 29-year tradition in Malverne but he appeared confused on Sunday morning attempting with resolve to escape the plexiglass separating him from onlookers Mel oscillated between hiding in a cardboard box and making the rounds in his rectangular pen As rows of childen pressed their faces against the fence to catch a glimpse of Mel their parents remembered times less simple Staten Island Chuck bit former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg former mayor Bill de Blasio dropped the groundhog’s later iteration Mel himself broke out of his pen and made a run for it "Did he escape yet?" a teenage boy asked in a shout Sunday morning "On the second day of February in the year 2025 .. it surely could be seen," Sullivan said proudly holding an artificially aged scroll and looking into a largely disappointed crowd a three-person folk band began to play "Winter Wonderland" and Mel was loaded back into the compact SUV A Malverne Village employee dressed in a groundhog costume posed for photos beside children and adults said dressing up as a rodent isn’t exactly her calling This year's ceremony was not without controversy. Animal welfare activists pleaded with officials to call off Groundhog Day this year in Malverne and Holtsville arguing the ceremonies place undue stress on the woodchucks who are normally hibernating through February "I would hate for anyone to try to shut this down," said Cheryl Buccelli 66: "We all have an occasional annoyance in our life were among the fans who said they were relieved Groundhog Day fell on a weekend this year Sullivan said he spent ample time preparing for Sunday The plexiglass pen surrounding Mel helps serve as a sound barrier Asked about the significance of his outfit "It’s just a throwback," he said stopped short of making a public prognostication The Suffolk County District Attorney's Office is investigating Hal's home, the town-owned Holtsville Ecology Site and Animal Preserve, over allegations of animal neglect and "abysmal" enclosures, Newsday has reported. the town's highway superintendentwhose department operates the facility Staten Island Chuck sought to distinguish himself on Sunday But at Gobbler's Knob in western Pennsylvania leaving Chuck as the lone optimist in the esteemed group of four-legged forecasters 2025 at 11:24 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Animal rights groups want Malverne Mel to be retired from Groundhog Day festivities NY — If animal rights groups have their ways Malverne Mel won't see his shadow any longer on Groundhog Day PETA and Humane Long Island have not forgotten what happened at last year's event when Malverne Mel tried to escape The agencies have sent a letter to Malverne Mayor Timothy Sullivan urging Mel to be retired and have a costumed groundhog in his place for the festivities "Groundhogs like Mel can’t predict the weather but they do feel enormous stress when they’re paraded in front of noisy crowds for a photo op,” says PETA President Ingrid Newkirk “PETA is calling on Malverne to let Mel walk—as he clearly wants to do—and use only willing humans in future events." added: "Groundhogs belong with their families in the forests and fields they call home not in a cage and certainly not being manhandled for a silly stunt It’s time to end Malverne’s yearly tradition of tormenting Mel and switch to Groundhog Day festivities that everyone can enjoy." Aside from someone dressing up as a groundhog the letter suggests other "excellent ways" for Malverne to celebrate on Feb such as a "stuffed toy or an animatronic groundhog with artificial intelligence that could actually predict the weather or hold a contest for the best groundhog costume." PETA is also blitzing 10 area buses with a pointed message calling on the village to rid itself of the out-of-touch "tradition" and leave groundhogs in peace Animal-welfare activists with PETA and a Long Island group are asking officials to halt their annual Groundhog Day events with Malverne Mel and Holtsville Hal or People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals joined a letter written by Humane Long Island founder John Di Leonardo urging the Village of Malverne to retire the Feb is brought to the village for an annual prognostication of an early spring or six more weeks of winter Mel has been a tradition in the village for 29 years brought on to compete with the famous Punxsutawney Phil Holtsville Hal emerged three years later at the Brookhaven Wildlife and Ecology Center Malverne officials say there will be a live ceremony this year Hal's prediction will be posted online but there won't be a public gathering The activists said transporting the groundhogs and exposing them to crowds gathered for Groundhog Day causes stress to the animals outside their normal habitat are native to Long Island but are usually hibernating through February Di Leonardo also pointed to past groundhog mishaps such as Staten Island Chuck biting New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2009 — and then five years later when Chuck's stand-in was fatally fumbled by Mayor Bill de Blasio Mel tried to escape his pen during the Malverne event but was scooped up by his handler "It’s time to chuck the tired tradition of using live animals as props at events that completely disregard the interests of wildlife and so thoroughly disrespect them," PETA president Ingrid Newkirk and Di Leonardo wrote in a letter to Malverne Mayor Timothy Sullivan sensitive animals who actively avoid humans." They urged officials to switch to a live costumed performer which will return "Babylon Belle" to the village's event to avoid using live animals Sullivan replied to the letter and said he plans to meet with Di Leonardo this week to try to work out an amicable solution "Our intention is to still have a live groundhog," Sullivan said in an interview Friday Sullivan also plans to visit Mel in his habitat at the Save The Animals Rescue where Mel was first rescued from the wild as a parasite-infested pup with a possible head injury The village makes a $700 donation to the foundation to host the event "The STAR Foundation does everything right and the narrative being put together about the potential mistreatment of animals does not fit what we’re doing in the village," Sullivan said "We’re educating the community about nature and animals in general and doing it in a fun way." The STAR Foundation also hosts a library program in Quogue with the "groundhog Sam Champion," said Lori Ketcham She said the animals cannot be released to the wild and are only ever touched by their handler The foundation is licensed by New York State and the U.S Department of Agriculture to host educational animals The foundation is taking additional measures to protect Mel including bringing a plastic glass pen to the ceremony and would not allow dogs or a band playing nearby Ketcham said the foundation planned to honor the agreement with the village but would not participate if it became a spectacle "This is one event a year for education and we don’t let anyone handle him We work with animals so they feel comfortable," Ketcham said "I don’t know why they're making a big deal out of one day of the year Di Leonardo said there was no way to make the groundhogs comfortable He also asked the Town of Brookhaven to halt its program with Holtsville Hal But the groundhog is expected to make his forecast albeit without crowds because of "a number of factors staffing since the holiday falls on a weekend and adequate public safety during such a large scale event,” Kristen D’Andrea a spokeswoman for the Brookhaven Highway Department politics and crime stories in Nassau County Malverne Mel and Holtsville Hal have been fixtures at Long Island Groundhog Day ceremonies for more than two decades Animal-welfare activists are asking officials to halt the use of the animals at the ceremonies Officials indicate the ceremonies will go on with live groundhogs and defend the foundation that houses Mel The Shop in Malverne features a DIY charm bar a clothing and accessory boutique which opened in Malverne in October owner Diana Bucci wanted "a place that people will feel like they’re at home while shopping." The Shop's standout is a charm bar for DIY bracelets and necklaces and a press bar where people can choose patches for denim jackets Shoppers will also find seasonal items including holiday ornaments Among the more popular items are dish towels "The Real Housewives of Malverne" or other sayings for the neighboring towns of Lynbrook Get ready for the weekend with our picks on where to shop "It’s just all things that I love in one place," says Bucci The charm bar has been a big hit with moms and daughters you get a necklace or bracelet and you pick as many charms that you would like that kind of define who you are," Bucci says Bucci also hosts charm birthday parties at the shop where everyone gets a jean jacket and decorates it with an assortment of patches Bucci plans to host workshops on hand lettering Prices start at $3 for a pen and go up to $175 for a custom jacket The Shop, 287 Hempstead Ave., Malverne, 914-441-2440, theshopli.com 2025 at 10:56 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Long Island Bagel Café is expanding in Nassau County with a location in Franklin Square NY — Long Island Bagel Café is expanding in Nassau County with a location in Franklin Square The eatery will occupy 2,700 square feet of the former Rite Aid in the Franklin Plaza Shopping Center on Franklin Avenue Franklin Plaza includes Holiday Farms Supermarket Baskin Robbins and Olivetto Pizza & Restaurant There are currently 6 Long Island Bagel Café locations across Nassau and one shop in Suffolk County Long Island Bagel Café offers high quality and authentic old-fashioned New York bagels that are rolled Their menu also includes an abundance of breakfast sandwiches Another 7,620 square feet is currently available for lease at Franklin Plaza North Shore defeated Malverne in a Nassau girls basketball matchup on Monday Taylor Silvia of North Shore dribbles down court during a girls basketball game against Malverne on Monday Ty'Zanae Reed of Malverne moves down court during a girls basketball game against North Shore on Monday Ty'Zanae Reed of Malverne guards Erin Lily La Rosa of North Shore during a girls basketball game on Monday Ty'Zanae Reed of Malverne looks to pass during a girls basketball game against North Shore on Monday Dana Sobers of Malverne blocks the shot of Eleni Amigdalos of North Shore during a girls basketball game on Monday Autumn Williams of Malverne grabs the loose ball during a girls basketball game against North Shore on Monday Erin Lily La Rosa of North Shore drives through the Malverne defense during a girls basketball game on Monday Sophia Efstathiadis of North Shore dribbles down court during a girls basketball game against Malverne on Monday Erin Lily La Rosa of North Shore shots over the defense of Nevaeh Lopez Shigg of Malverne during a girls basketball game on Monday Eleni Amigdalos of North Shore guards Olivia Elleston of Malverne during a girls basketball game on Monday Hazel Whitfield of Malverne attempts a shot past the defense of Sofia Della Ratta of North Shore during a girls basketball game on Monday Ty'Zanae Reed of Malverne drives down court during a girls basketball game against North Shore on Monday Olivia Elleston of Malverne passes down court over the defense of Erin Lily La Rosa of North Shore during a girls basketball game on Monday Hazel Whitfield of Malverne attempts a shot past Alexandra Basile of North Shore during a girls basketball game on Monday Erin Lily La Rosa of North Shore grabs the rebound during a girls basketball game against Malverne on Monday Nevaeh Lopez Shigg of Malverne moves past the defense of Annabella Misiti of North Shore during a girls basketball game on Monday 2025 at 12:22 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Malverne Mel predicts six more weeks of winter NY — The Groundhog Day tradition took place on Sunday in Malverne Malverne Mayor Tim Sullivan hosted the pomp and circumstance with Malverne Mel which means he is predicting six more weeks of winter on Long Island Congresswoman Laura Gillen (D-NY 04) was also on hand for the holiday spectacle is also predicting six more weeks of winter Ty'Zanae Reed  is averaging 9.3 and fellow senior Hazel Whitfield is averaging 8.9 points per game for Malverne girls basketball Ty'Zanae Reed remembers what it’s like to be an eighth and ninth grader on a varsity team the younger Malverne girls basketball players are proving they belong on the varsity And they’ve helped Malverne off to one of its best starts in many years this season and the Mules surpassed their win total from five of the last six seasons before even reaching the 2025 calendar year and a young core has been the main reason for a significant turnaround everyone is playing to get everyone else better and not just for themselves,” Reed said we’ve had great experiences for the most part but there’s times when people are playing for themselves and I feel like this year’s team is really a team.” Reed is averaging 9.3 and fellow senior Hazel Whitfield is averaging 8.9 points per game Eighth-grader Nevaeh Lopez is the leading scorer for Malverne witth 11.7 points per game Reed and the upperclassmen quickly recognized the younger players’ talents and wanted to welcome them as they remembered what it was like being in their positions “I feel like it’s hard for someone to have an opinion on something they’ve never been through before and to truly understand how a younger person might feel,” Reed said I feel it’s helped me overall because I’ve been in their position multiple times And Reed could see this team was different from the previous ones she played on “I could just tell from the tryouts with everyone pushing each other that it was different,” Reed said praised Reed and credited the team for quickly blending the young and older talent “They just have a different mindset and they had that mindset early,” Masson said “Some kids usually get a little more serious toward the middle of the season but from the day they walked in for tryouts you could just tell the younger athletes were prepared and then the older athletes were being a role model for them and showing them how we do things and how we can turn the program around.” The Bruins season ended without a county championship last year for just the second time since 2010 after falling to Syosset Baldwin dropped down to Class AA this year so although the Bruins won’t have a chance at redemption against Syosset they remain focused on continuing the program’s legacy “It’s definitely a unique season for us,” coach Tom Catapano said “We’re adapting and just trying to get better every day.” When asked if the team wishes they could have that potential rematch with Syosset Catapano just smiled and directed his answer back to what the team can control “We’ll play whoever’s on our schedule but we’re just trying to be the best versions of ourselves and we’re looking forward to the challenge There’s a lot of really good teams both in Nassau and Suffolk Owen O'Brien covers high school and college sports for Newsday He's also covered professional teams such as the Mets Jets and Giants since graduating from the University at Buffalo 2025 at 9:55 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A pair of Valley Stream students were arrested on Wednesday for bringing a BB gun into the school NY — Two teenagers were arrested for bringing a BB gun into Valley Stream North High School had pointed the black BB gun at two other students on Wednesday morning They were placed into custody without further incident The 14-year-old is being charged with unlawful possession of a weapon and was released on an appearance ticket He is due back in family court on April 16 The 17-year-old is charged with second-degree menacing fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon and unlawful possession of a weaponon school grounds Designer and store owner Grainne Hodgins poses with her daughter Kiera MacAneney at the Grainne Cashmere Shop in Malverne Grainne Cashmere Shop in Malverne is filled with supersoft lightweight wool shawls and sweaters that wrap you in a layer of luxury Designer and store owner Grainne Hodgins has specialized in cashmere items for two decades "I went to FIT in Manhattan and studied fashion design," says Hodgins who’s married with four kids ages 22 to 32 "I worked as a fashion designer for many years." Following staff jobs with Liz Claiborne and Pringle of Scotland she went freelance and launched her cashmere collection in 2005 Originally she sold to Long Island boutiques and at private parties "I developed a bit of a following," she says ‘the cashmere lady.’" Hodgins steadily expanded her line to include pullovers she opened her store in Malverne on a commercial strip buzzing In addition to customers shopping for themselves and gifts brides seeking shawls for members of their wedding parties are a vibrant source of business while sweaters are priced between $130 and $195 who works in marketing  and lives in Manhattan has helped expand the base of younger customers through Instagram and other social media platforms ‘I’m seeing everyone my age wearing these styles,'" says MacAneney whose input informs Hodgins’ design process It makes it easy to work with my mom," adds MacAneney "Seeing her bring a passion project to life encourages me to work hard in my full-time job." Hodgins wears her "cashmere lady" label with pride "I’m experimenting with lighter weights and finer qualities of yarn," she says "The colors are endless and they all look so rich." Grainne Cashmere Shop, 304 Hempstead Ave., Malverne, 516-568-7405, grainnecashmere.com 2024 at 1:59 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A trooper was shot on the Southern State Parkway on Wednesday night NY — A trooper was shot Wednesday night on the Southern State Parkway and the person fled The New York State Police is partnering with Suffolk County Crime Stoppers to offer a $5,000 reward for anyone who provides information that leads to an arrest and conviction of the person responsible "for this cowardly act," Major Stephen Udice said was on routine patrol just before midnight when a vehicle when he noticed a stopped vehicle by Exit 17 in West Hempstead that "appeared to need help," Udice said Mascia is listed in stable condition at Nassau University Medical Center Police Superintendent Steven James said the trooper's wounds were not life-threatening State police said he was alert and conscious on Thursday morning "It's too soon to determine what kind of recovery he will endure," James said what is believed to be a .22 caliber bullet in the right quadricep near his knee James said at the news conference on Thursday that the suspect is still on the loose "It is imperative that we remove this individual from the streets of our society," Major Stephen Udice said The New York State Troopers PBA said in a statement: "We are sickened by the actions of this cowardly individual who thought nothing of shooting a trooper who was simply doing his job This perpetrator must be brought to swift justice." The man fled in a black sedan with a temporary New Jersey tag 997636T The vehicle is also described as having custom matte gray dual exhaust tips "Someone who is willing to fire a gun at a law enforcement officer is most certainly a dangerous individual," James said James said there is no body camera footage of the shooting or the vehicle Anyone with information is asked to call state police at 631-756-3300 The New York State Police is partnering with Suffolk County Crime Stoppers to offer a $5,000 reward for anyone who provides information that leads to an arrest and conviction of the person responsible "for this cowardly act," Udice said Share-worthy stories from Long Island Patch sites to talk about tonight: 'Crime Family Soldier' On LI 'Tormented' Victim For Loan Debt: DOJ He demanded payments while facing charges for illegal collection of a debt and under court supervision — forcing a man to strip naked: DOJ AG's Office Investigating Fatal Crash Involving Off-Duty MTA Officer The man died at the scene 'Dog Whisperer With Cesar Millan' Star Endorses Long Island's Paws Of War Millan is asking people to help Paws of War bring home the dogs of two soldiers stationed overseas New Barnes & Noble On Long Island Sets Opening Date The shop will carry books games and gifts and features an updated B&N Café The store was initially to open in February Splish Splash Water Park Hiring 1,000 Team Members for 2025 Season Splish Splash will host several job fairs next month Police Investigating Hit-And-Run A 21-year-old student was struck on March 13 Patch PM shares some of the day's must-read items from our Long Island network. The Patch community platform serves more 50 towns and neighborhoods on the island. Learn how to post your own announcements and events on Patch 2025 at 4:02 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A man burglarized a Franklin Square location on Thursday NY — A man was arrested Thursday morning for a burglary in Franklin Square Officers responded for a "suspicious person" on New Hyde Park Road just before 6 a.m. The victim witnessed the man flee his business's yard on foot and called 911 with the person's description third-degree criminal mischief and posssessoin of burglar tools owners of the Malverne Cinema & Art Center When the Malverne Cinema & Art Center closed its doors for good Sunday night Long Island lost one of its longest-running and most beloved mom-and-pop cinemas through two maternity leaves," Anne Stampfel said a few hours before the last screenings The closing comes during one of the roughest periods for the movie business in modern memory streaming services began stealing audiences from movie theaters; then COVID-19 shuttered them entirely Coram’s Movieland and the Long Beach Cinemas The post-pandemic years have been touch-and-go for Hollywood which has yet to see ticket sales return to previous levels Last year’s strikes by the actors’ and writers’ guilds which halted film production for several months it wasn’t a lack of business that shuttered the Malverne but a dispute with a landlord At issue were the cost of a boiler and further extension of the cinema’s lease we needed more time on the lease to recoup our investment," she said "And he just couldn’t extend it." said: "Sunrise Management is saddened that a deal could not be reached to keep the Cinema operating in the heart of Malverne as it stood since 1947 The Stampfels did an excellent job as they explored every avenue to keep the doors open for as long as they did in an industry of uncertainty We are optimistic about signing a deal that will bring much joy to the community as The Malverne Cinema & Arts Center has done for decades." The big picture for the film industry may not be rosy Hollywood saw much rejoicing after last year’s summer hits "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" earned a combined $2.4 billion ultimately boosting the 2023 box-office to $8.9 billion (a 20% increase over the previous year) This year started slowly with low earners like "The Fall Guy" and "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga," but the summer once again picked up thanks to "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice," which opened with $111 million and "Inside Out 2," now the highest-grossing animated film of all time with $1.6 billion though fall-season titles like "Wicked" and "Mufasa: The Lion King" might help boost ticket sales it had begun running Hollywood titles as well; its final slate of films included the animated films "The Wild Robot" and "Transformers One," as well as the biopics "Reagan" and "Lee" (starring Kate Winslet as the war correspondent Lee Miller) The news of the Malverne’s closing brought a collective sigh of empathy from other independent theater owners who expressed concern over the rising costs of running their businesses "I don’t think of other theaters as competition anymore," said Phil Solomon owner of PJ Cinemas in Port Jefferson Station Solomon said costs are rising on multiple fronts which recently rose to $16 on Long Island and is scheduled for further increases a big-ticket item like a boiler can spell disaster "I can really sympathize with the Stampfels," he said "because it just takes one crisis in this era to do you in." has weathered the recent storms fairly well largely because it’s a not-for-profit with a base of members and donors "This really illustrates the challenges facing for-profit art-house movie theaters," Skolnick said "They’re solely dependent on ticket sales and concessions." there’s the cost of the building — "and buildings don’t fix themselves and they’re another complication related to running a movie theater." there are only a handful of independent theaters left on Long Island including the Sag Harbor Cinema (also a not-for-profit) Plaza Cinema in Patchogue and the Stampfels’ other Long Island venue Stampfel said the plan is to keep that theater running but also use it as venue for live music and private events Sunday night after the Malverne’s final screenings the marquee spelled out a simple message: "THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES." "We’re handing over the keys," Anne Stampfel said And if somebody wants to run it as a theater Nicea Jones of Malverne has the second-fastest time in the nation in 400 meters this year After trailing for the first 370 meters of a 400-meters race at The Armory Malverne senior Nicea Jones chased down Cohren Corbin Jones’ finish of 54.87 seconds marked a personal best for the event’s reigning state champion it was what Jones heard over the loudspeakers after the race that makes her Newsday’s Athlete of the Week Jones heard that her time was the second-fastest in the country this year “I was so shocked when they said that,” Jones said ‘What if,’ I’m just trying to keep getting the job done.” Jones is not stressing about attaining the nation’s top time in the 400 not stressing about things is what has helped Jones blossom into the star she became last year Jones joined Malverne’s girls varsity track and field team during the winter season as a promising freshman Jones’ speed caught the attention and praise of many Jones left the team at the start of the spring 2022 season She sat out the winter season in her sophomore year for the same reason before rejoining the team that spring Last year was the first time she ran both indoor and outdoor track in the same year She had a new outlook on the sport that led to her commitment “I kept taking the sport seriously but stopped thinking of it as a life or death situation,” Jones said ‘You’re doing what you’re supposed to be doing As the seventh child in an athletic family of 14 but she never really took it seriously,” Jones said both my parents told me to take it even more seriously After seeing what she has accomplished since gaining confidence Jones knows what her true biggest career milestone is "is probably my proudest accomplishment of my career.” 2024 at 4:09 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A Malverne teacher is getting recognized for her patience with students we're fortunate to have teachers like Nicole Coletta Patch has partnered with T-Mobile to recognize teachers and show them how much they’re valued and appreciated This submission comes from Rosanna Lobosco who nominated Nicole Coletta of Malverne 5th and 6th grade social studies and english Why do you believe the teacher should be recognized or honored Coletta should be recognized as a great teacher because her kindness patience creates a nurturing and supportive learning environment What's one thing you want everyone to know about the teacher One thing everyone should know is that she genuinely cares about each student’s individual growth and well-being and always goes above and beyond to ensure they succeed both academically and personally This content is brought to our community in partnership with T-Mobile Know an outstanding teacher who deserves a shout-out? Nominate them here. 2024 at 1:37 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Lorraine DiFiglia Director of Education & Learning at The Safe Center conducts an online safety training session for students at Malverne High School NY — Malverne High School joined with The Safe Center for a special Back to School program on Thursday the leading victim service organization on Long Island spoke to approximately 100 freshmen and new students This is the second year the Malverne School District has offered the program presenting a chance for kids and parents to gather information on entering high school for the first time "We know that students spend an enormous amount of time online and we think it’s important they understand the accountability of what they do and share there,” said Lorraine DiFiglia Director of Education and Learning for The Safe Center "Part of our role is to encourage students to seek our trusted adults when they feel vulnerable or unsafe online No one should feel ashamed asking for help." “We want to make sure they are exploring and coming into their own self and being safe at the same time,” said Kesha Bascomb This year Malverne High School has implemented a no cell phone policy for students during the school day Safe Center presenters shared ways teens can keep themselves safe in a variety of situations online including warnings about sharing too much information especially when texting or using apps like TikTok and YouTube “Part of our role is to encourage students to seek our trusted adults when they feel vulnerable or unsafe online No one should feel ashamed asking for help.” 2025 at 12:59 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Lynbrook middle school students are holding a fundraiser to assist victims of the California wildfires NY — Students at the Lynbrook North Middle School are doing their part to assist victims of last month's devastating California wildfires members of the student council are selling purple bracelets with messages of positivity The fundraising project is advised by co-chairs Jocelyn Roslewicz and Shannon Ticas The fundraiser will continue through Februrary 28 with bracelets available for purchase after school at Room 218 Former Malverne Fire Chief Richard Bopp appears at his sentencing in Nassau County Court in Mineola Tuesday A former Malverne volunteer fire chief was sentenced to 5 years' probation on Tuesday for embezzling $30,000 from the department’s budget to feed his gambling habit Richard Bopp who also served as the fire department treasurer reimbursed the stolen money two months ago He pleaded guilty after being charged and paid the money back as part of his plea deal “He knew he made a mistake,” Bopp’s lawyer “The only thing he wanted to do was make them whole because he knew he made a mistake.” Nassau County prosecutors charged Bopp in February with grand larceny corrupting the government and official misconduct for writing checks on the department account Bopp's gambling streak started on July 1 Bopp used the village’s debit card to withdraw money to gamble at casinos in Atlantic City and Las Vegas according to Nassau District Attorney Anne Donnelly He also forged signatures to at least five department checks in order to pocket the funds “The Malverne Fire Department depends on these resources to serve the surrounding community and respond in a crisis,” Donnelly said at the time of his arrest “This defendant’s alleged actions siphoned precious funds away from that essential objective.” Bopp served for five years in the fire department He was chief of the department from 2019 to 2021 when he became treasurer and started the theft Bopp’s pilfering became a legal matter after a village official contacted Nassau County police following a town audit that found the money missing from the fire department bank account Investigators found social media posts of Bopp traveling to out-of-state casinos where he withdrew $20,000 and spent $5,000 of the department’s money for his gambling spree Bopp forged the signatures of town officials to endorse checks for his gambling habit He resigned from the department after the allegations surfaced Malverne officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment a 16-year-old junior at Malverne High School sees Juneteenth as an important national holiday to celebrate because it represents a history that So Kaiden was excited to be involved in planning the Malverne school district's fourth annual Juneteenth Jubilee this Friday Juneteenth marks when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston 1865 — two months after the end of the Civil War and 2½ years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation — to tell formerly enslaved people they were free The name Juneteenth derives from combining the month with nineteenth Malverne High School Principal Kesha Bascombe and Davison Avenue Intermediate School Assistant Principal Stephen Benfante came together earlier this week to talk with Newsday about planning the jubilee bringing with it expanded educational opportunities along with a plethora of student artworks devoted to Juneteenth which became a national holiday in 2021 when President Joe Biden signed it into law "We were one of the first schools on Long Island to do this," Benfante said of the school district's initial Juneteenth celebration in 2021 planning for which he said began even before Juneteenth became a national holiday it's gotten larger and larger." Now "We have a Juneteenth expressions contest," where students "are encouraged to express what Juneteenth means to them," Benfante said "It's a way of getting students engaged in the content of Juneteenth." was getting high school students from the AP African American Studies group and some members of the High School Select Choir together with students at the Maurice W Downing Primary School to focus on Juneteenth some of whose members are also in the AP African American Studies group sang for the students "Lift Every Voice and Sing," commonly called the Black national anthem Its lyrics include the passages: "Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us / Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us / Facing the rising sun of our new day begun / Let us march on till victory is won."  "We went down to the elementary school to talk about Juneteenth and Black culture," Ulysse said [using] a couple of PowerPoints explaining the significance of the holiday why it's important to uphold the holidays that tell the story of our history."  The Malverne district faced racial controversy decades ago Supreme Court's 1954 unanimous decision in Brown v which said establishing racially segregated public schools was unconstitutional inspired Black leaders in Malverne to push the state to integrate its elementary schools Allen ordered an end to the racial imbalance in Malverne schools on June 17 Malverne High School students and a group of community members led the petition drive to get the Village of Malverne to rename Lindner Place — named for Paul Lindner a village founder as well as a grand cyclops of the Ku Klux Klan — after exposing Lindner’s history of cross burnings and KKK rallies on Long Island and Queens Lindner sold his farmland to develop downtown Malverne and also served on the Malverne school board The village renamed the street Acorn Way in September 2022 and unveiled a new sign in January 2023 an adjunct professor in the American Studies Department at SUNY Old Westbury said Juneteenth draws "attention to our progression." She said Biden noted the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution "didn't apply to everyone evenly." She added: "It's always a progression to move toward the ideals of the country As for the Malverne district's Juneteenth celebration Logan-Alston said: "I think it's great they're having these educational opportunities." Bascombe said of the jubilee: "It's almost like a culmination of our school year What's significant about it is we're a very diverse community."  According to the state Education Department the nearly 1,800-student district was 43% African American 1% Native American and 1% multiracial in 2022-23 "It's a wonderful time for us to celebrate and display African American culture," Bascombe said "A celebration of diversity is a wonderful thing that brings all four schools out." "is we want to create role models for all our students," from having high schoolers talk to elementary students to representatives from fraternities and sororities role modeling This year's jubilee is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m with a small parade that will travel from nearby Saint Paul AME Church on Pershing Boulevard in Rockville Centre to the high school a guest speaker — Laura Harding from ERASE Racism the Syosset-based civil rights group — and food trucks to provide a joyous atmosphere of jubilees "I loved being involved in upholding the holiday," Ulysse said Get the latest updates on how education is changing in your district a school board member who helped plan the Jubilee with Malverne High School junior Kaiden Ulysse and Davison Avenue Intermediate School Assistant Principal Stephen Benfante 2024 at 9:55 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The suspect who brandished a gun at a taco restaurant in Franklin Square NY — A man went into a restaurant Friday night in Franklin Square brandishing a gun at an employee The unknown man entered Tony's Tacos on Hempstead Turnpike just before 9 p.m. Police released a still shot from surveillance video at the eatery The suspect is seen at the counter wearing a black sweatshirt Anyone with information is asked to call Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS Owner Victoria Tiso with a Detroit-style pie at Tori T's in Malverne Louie & Ernie's Pizza has been a staple in the Bronx since 1959 and is considered not only one of NYC's oldest pizzerias The legendary spot inside an old brick house has a simple menu and a killer slice of sausage pie That old-school feeling is also present at the new Tori T's Pizzeria in Malverne no-nonsense vibe as she oversees a small staff of pizza-makers who purchased Louie & Ernie's with his brother Cosimo in 1987 Her father's retirement in January put her at a crossroads Rather than take over the iconic Bronx pizzeria she came to Long Island to strike out on her own but I always wanted to do something on my own,” she said “I wanted the ability to be as creative as I wanted with no limitations and then also have the simplicity that a New York classic cheese slice was still an option.”  Tiso was particularly interested in deep dish Detroit-style pizza which is gaining popularity in New York City and across the United States she spent two months working under World Pizza Champion John Gristina whose restaurant Pizza Fenice is “right now the top pizza place in Westchester County,” she said But Tiso is no pizza snob and delves into sillier fusion pizzas that are more common here is a Detroit pie topped with chicken cutlets Deep dish Detroit-style pizza at Tori T's in Malverne is made in rectangular trays Squares of classic Detroit red ($5.50) feature a springy focaccia-like dough capped by a fiercely brown crust from the rectangular pan The tomato sauce sits on top of a thin layer of mozzarella and parm but the main draw here may still be a classic New York pie paper-thin and beautifully greasy in the most nostalgic way Tori T's famed sausage pie ($3.75) lives up to expectations with supremely flavorful nubs of crumbly sausage from supplier S & D in the Bronx The tomato sauce is slightly sweet and the cheese is melty Another can't-miss item is the fried cheese calzone ($9) which has a texture much like an Italian zeppole doughnut and is loosely stuffed with fresh ricotta and mozzarella with a fresh dairy flavor from the cow's milk cheeses It's a perfect recipe that never needs to be tinkered with Tori T's Pizzeria, 360 Hempstead Ave., Malverne, 516-593-9712, toritspizzeria.com Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick was elected to represent the constituents of Senate District 9 in 2022 Patricia began her tenure in public service as a Trustee in the Village of Malverne in Nassau County She then went on to become Malverne’s Police Commissioner and Fire Commissioner working side-by-side with former Malverne Mayor Patti Ann McDonald Patricia also served as Malverne’s Deputy Mayor and Budget Director As a chief fiscal officer and trusted public official Patricia protected the character of Malverne’s suburban neighborhoods while controlling property taxes and improving services With four children under the age of 12 to raise as a single mother Patricia had the strength to face adversity raise her young family and serve her community as a Malverne Village Trustee Patricia is honored to be elected to the State Senate so she can tackle rising crime As an active member of the Malverne Chamber of Commerce and other committees Patricia has participated and organized countless community events and strives for the betterment of her local town and villages Thomas the Apostle School Board and the Nassau County Sewer and Storm Water Finance Authority and continues to be the President of the Steven McDonald Memorial Corporation which plans to provide young people with academic scholarships The first bill Patricia sponsored was to address judicial discretion related to setting bail since increasing crime has plagued our local communities She continues to be a strong voice against defunding the police and will continue to fight for legislation to support the police to ensure that law enforcement has the proper resources necessary to keep us safe John’s University School of Law and College of Business Administration Patricia also has her Master of Laws from New York University School of Law Her successful career at Deloitte and Touché LLP & Morgan Lewis and Bockius LLP has given her the skills necessary to be an effective Senator bringing a private-sector mindset to government Patricia is a lifelong resident of Malverne where she currently lives with her husband Kevin and her four children History News Network puts current events into historical perspective Subscribe to our newsletter for new perspectives on the ways history continues to resonate in the present Explore our archive of thousands of original op-eds and curated stories from around the web Alan Singer is the director of social studies education at Hofstra University and the author of New York and Slavery: Time to Teach the Truth (SUNY, 2008). Follow him on twitter @AlanJSinger1  Local residents protest the proposed integration of Malverne High School Photo courtesy Malverne Historical and Preservation Society There are moments in time when the twists and turns of history open up new possibilities The 1960s struggle for a more racially integrated society in the United States and in Malverne was one of those moments Today we live with the political and social consequences of our failure to achieve a more just society sixty years ago The demographics of the Malverne school district and of Nassau and Suffolk Counties on Long Island made Malverne one of the few areas where a model school integration plan could be implemented Long Island’s two suburban counties are a checkerboard of 124 small and economically segregated school districts Part of the problem was the way the New York metropolitan area suburbs sprouted up after World War II and part of the problem was intentional segregation most of Long Island was farmland with a scattering of small towns and some vacation estates for the wealthy Essentially rural school district boundaries corresponded to local communities With the mushrooming of suburban development on Long Island neighboring towns that had been separate now ran into each other but the old school boundary lines remained Meanwhile home values often depended on school performance and demographics while local taxes based on home values funded schools all factors that contributed to school segregation and inequality But a big factor was redlining veterans were entitled to government insurance for home mortgages but the mortgages had to be issued by local banks Banks and real estate brokers conspired to keep neighborhoods and schools racially segregated Black families could move into communities which banks and realtors already considered devalued (and sometimes marked in red on maps) but they were not shown homes or issued mortgages in other locales The town of Malverne is still divided between two school districts with areas of Malverne south of Franklin Avenue or west of Cornwell Avenue feeding into neighboring Franklin Square schools including grades 7-12 at Valley Stream North High School Cross-district school integration on Long island has always faced too much parental and political opposition but the Malverne school district was in a unique position on Long island because it included two different neighboring communities Lakeview was an area to which Black families were largely consigned by redlining and other restrictive practices after World War II so the community’s school age children were largely African American Today the population of Lakeview remains about 85% African American The campaign to racially integrate Malverne school district schools began in earnest in September 1963 Pro-integration families boycotted the Malverne public schools and temporary "Freedom Schools" schools were set up in community churches and at the Jewish Center White parents opposed to a school integration plan secured support from State Senator Norman Lent who unsuccessfully introduced two bills in the state legislature outlawing the busing of students to achieve racial balance and the assignment of pupils to schools based of race When initial efforts were made to reassign students to racially integrated elementary schools in 1965 a large group of white families demanding the maintenance of “neighborhood schools” boycotted the district’s schools and set up their own independent classes for their children in August 1967 the Malverne School Board and the State Education Department finally agreed on a new “4-4-4" plan Students were divided between two kindergarten through 4th grade schools and then assigned to a district-wide middle school and high school the final plan to racially integrate Malverne schools was doomed from the start Intense white opposition to school integration plans led to white flight from the Malverne public schools and the gradual resegregation we see today a nearby all-boys Roman Catholic high school is 90% white In an era when school reform and budget savings are championed by representatives of both major political parties or culturally afford to maintain small racially segregated school districts Malverne schools and schools in surrounding communities do not have to be racially segregated and Rockville Centre were combined into one school district If we think even more broadly and Malverne and East Rockaway were consolidated into a manageably sized district with under eleven thousand students Long Island’s diversity is one of region’s greatest resources It is long past time to racially integrate its schools 2024 at 11:25 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Nicki Minaj will hit the UBS Arena stage in October for to conclude her Pink Friday 2 World Tour NY — Nicki Minaj is adding a second leg to her record-breaking concert tour One stop of The Pink Friday 2 World Tour will include UBS Arena on Oct The Queens-native will wrap her worldwide performances adjacent to Belmont Park Tickets are open to the general public starting on Friday, May 31 at 9 a.m at NickiMinajOfficial.com The rap star has such fan-favorite classics as "Anaconda," "Super Bass," "Starships" and "Chun-Li." Fans can also expect her to perform hits "FTCU," "Everybody" and the platinum-certified lead single "Super Freaky Girl," which hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100