With women holding 93% of administrative roles Superintendent Tahira DuPree Chase’s New York district is bucking trends and seeing impressive results Tahira DuPree Chase is superintendent of Westbury Union Free School District In New York and a member of the Institute for Education Innovation Rising through the ranks to a school leadership role can be an arduous journey for even the most qualified female educators We often face challenges our male counterparts never experience Only 30% of superintendents in the U.S. are female, and less than 1.5% are Black women. Across the country, female school leaders are targeted by unwarranted criticism and receive less coaching and support than their male colleagues We’re also a powerful force to be reckoned with — fierce committed and experienced — and when united we are reshaping education to better fit our students’ diverse needs female leaders must find their own tribe of like-minded women who sit in a similar seat both in the education field and outside of it and local support systems composed of incredible individuals who understand one another’s struggles Here in Long Island’s Westbury Union Free School District that collective commitment on a local level is powering our schools forward Under the leadership of “The Women of Westbury,” otherwise known as “WOW,” the district’s graduation rate has skyrocketed to 90% in a district where nearly 70% of children qualify for free or reduced-price lunch We have implemented top-tier security measures to better protect our students and done it all while successfully managing our schools’ finances Building this team of professionals and helping them thrive hasn’t been without its challenges but by aligning our recruitment and retention strategies with three critical guidelines we’ve reached this incredible time in Westbury’s history we knew we needed to diversify our leadership but the goal did not dictate our hiring process and it just so happened that female applicants rose to the top The individuals we’ve hired are credentialed These aren’t so-called “DEI hires”; they are common-sense hires because they believe men have an advantage or assume they lack the experience to meet every vague qualification listed in the job announcement It has been disheartening to watch other women struggle with similar challenges and become disenchanted with the entire education system That’s why Westbury has strived to create a more equitable space where all individuals are encouraged to take the next step in their careers Superintendents are expected to shoulder a heavy load in their role, but for female leaders, the stress can feel overwhelming. Ninety-five percent of female administrators said they struggled to find a healthy work-life balance and were forced to make personal and professional sacrifices their male colleagues did not we stress the importance of self-care for all educators and administrators in the district by hosting wellness fairs and offering a mental health day focused solely on our team’s well-being A board-certified psychotherapist is on staff to provide social-emotional support on both a group and individual level we help school leaders develop their own professional support system that includes not just their fellow women but male allies who have their best interests at heart We have found that when we provide educators the space to find that self-care sweet spot our schools become centers of innovation where we are improving our students' academic experience we have an obligation to empower the next generation of women Becoming a mentor to future leaders and watching them thrive is one of the greatest honors we can experience in our leadership roles When someone trusts me to be their sounding board and values my insights to offer their expertise to female colleagues nationwide This professional community is incredibly powerful. Research has found that women who have a close inner circle of female colleagues are more likely to secure leadership positions there is no link for men’s success in terms of the gender composition of their networks the “Women of Westbury” have encountered their fair share of detours roadblocks and bumps to get to a place where their talents and expertise are celebrated we’re not just a support system for each other we are paving the way for the women coming up behind us to receive the roles they rightly deserve We recognized that diversifying our administration is one of the best things we can do for students ensuring they see themselves reflected in their leaders and understand there is no limit to what they can achieve in their future careers Get the free daily newsletter read by industry experts Illustration: Ivan Haidutski for Industry Dive These exemplary administrators are excelling on school culture we highlight firsthand accounts as well as best practices to shore up cyber defenses Subscribe to the K-12 Dive free daily newsletter The free newsletter covering the top industry headlines Nassau police on the scene of an overturned school bus at the intersection of Old Country Rd Nassau County police responded to a crash involving an empty school bus Friday afternoon in Westbury Police said they were called to the crash at Old Country Road and Carman Avenue at 1 p.m It involved a small school bus that overturned after colliding with another vehicle Police said the independently-run school bus did not have any students on board and both drivers were treated for minor injuries Get more on these and other NewsdayTV stories The Newsday app makes it easier to access content without having to log in Unlimited Digital AccessOnly 25¢for 6 months at his home with his loving family at his side and under the care of Agape Hospice. 2001 at Summerville Medical Center he was a son of Stephen D Westbury and Tiffany Rohde Westbury. He was a 2020 graduate of Colleton County High School and had worked alongside his father and brothers at Carolina Air Care. He was very talented at woodworking dearly loved the outdoors and was a huge gun enthusiast. Tyler was an avid fisherman who enjoyed bow fishing and being on the lake. Family was an immense part of his life and being with those he loved was paramount in his life. Surviving in addition to his parents of Walterboro are: his wife and Helen Tyler Westbury; his mother-in-law Robin Neal of Walterboro; and two sisters-in-law Mikayla Brown and Kennedy Hughes; as well as a large and loving host of cousins. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents Funeral services will be conducted at 3 o’clock Thursday afternoon Walterboro. Pastor Bruce Fox officiating. Interment will follow in the churchyard. The family will receive friends prior to the funeral ceremony beginning at 1 o’clock that afternoon in the church sanctuary. HERNDON AND SONS FUNERAL HOMES AND CREMATORY 843.538.5408. Visit the registry online at: www.briceherndonfuneralhome.com We have the address for the funeral home & the family on file If you're not happy with your card we'll send a replacement or refund your money Westbury created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories Made with love by funeralOne Game Recap: Women's Lacrosse | 4/23/2025 11:08:00 PM Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here Thanks for visiting Executive Circle Awards The 40-year-old Natural Science Building at SUNY Old Westbury will be expanded and renovated SUNY Old Westbury embarks on $200M expansion project Sign up for your daily digest of Long Island Business News Listen to this article Long Island Business News has announced that it has chosen this year’s winn[...] The financial landscape of Long Island continues to evolve through the leadership of the remarkable [...] Long Island’s business landscape contains a remarkable tapestry of organizations that have stood t[...] Celebrate International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month by showcasing the extraordinary wo[...] Listen to this article Lorraine Gregory Communications will be holding a blood drive at its Edgewood[...] Long Island lost 3,100 construction jobs year-over-year in March ending a 12-month streak of gains,[...] Kids Empire and My Gym are opening at Mayfair Shopping Center in Commack Chick-fil-A opens its 12th Long Island location in East Meadow creating 80 jobs and supporting loca[...] Realty Three plans $120M South Village at Station Crossings with 273 rentals Amazon plans to purchase 26.7 acres of Massapequa’s Sunrise Mall site to build a new South Shore d[...] Our mission at Long Island Business News is to be the vital business news and advertising source to Long Island’s most influential readers Get our free LIBN e-alerts & breaking news notifications Subscribe for access to the latest digital and special editions A rendering of the Westbury apartment building that is slated to go up on Linden Avenue replacing a series of empty commercial buildings The Village of Westbury approved a $97 million 187-unit apartment building in its transit-oriented development zone — part of a push to remake a blighted industrial area feet from the Westbury Long Island Rail Road station is expected to begin by the end of the year or early the next Mayor Peter Cavallaro said in an interview The building will be part of a long-standing push to develop the zone, which is full of truck yards and stone yards. The Cornerstone Westbury a complex consisting of a pair of buildings on Railroad Avenue recently brought about 140 units of housing to the area Cavallaro said the developers built on an "underutilized underdeveloped and unattractive place." on Linden Avenue between Union Avenue and Scally Place will replace a series of empty commercial buildings "This is consistent with our long-term plan to have the 55 acres near the train station that we rezoned and valuable — from a tax-base standpoint — development," Cavallaro said "Bring more people into the village who can utilize our downtown." The project's developer, Alpine Residential, is also working on a mixed-use development near the Hicksville LIRR station said in an interview the developer is "actively looking" for more opportunities to build in the zone "It makes a lot more sense to have housing near the train station," Schefler said "People could commute to work or go into the city and have fun and not even need a car." worked with the village to develop a zoning code for the area “We really like it when a plan is approved and the development that comes mirrors what was anticipated,” he said Alpine Residential is seeking tax breaks for the project from the Nassau County Industrial Development Agency an attorney for the Melville-based Weber Law Group representing Alpine said he hopes to secure a public hearing with the IDA soon "Now that we have full village approval we're very much focused on concluding the IDA process," Weber said Cavallaro said Westbury has about 4,600 units of housing could fit at least 1,000 units as a "max build." But Cavallaro said that's an unlikely number given the possibility of the creation of open spaces and public facilities Last year, New York named Westbury a "pro-housing" community Municipalities are eligible if they have demonstrated they've increased housing stock by 1% in the previous year or 3% over the previous three years The designation allows them to unlock discretionary state funds Joshua Needelman covers the Town of North Hempstead for Newsday A Long Island native and University of Maryland graduate his work has appeared in publications including The New York Times and The Washington Post Game Recap: Softball | 4/19/2025 3:32:00 PM Thanks for visiting NY — The Westbury School District has announced safety measures to bolster security with a series of upgrades to keep everyone safe Among the enhancements include installing a new camera system and an innovative alert method "Safety is always our highest priority in the Westbury School District comfortable learning environments that support our scholars' growth and success," said Robert Troiano the Westbury School District Board of Education President and a Town of North Hempstead Councilman The district has installed the Milestone XProtect video management software which is easy to navigate and provides clear views of the district’s facilities All district buildings are equipped with card readers along the outside perimeter and staff members must scan their ID badges to enter buildings Single-point entrances and exits are staffed with security and the district security operations center is newly renovated with six monitors that can view the entire district Westbury School District is also one of the first districts in New York State to implement the CENTEGIX Safety Platform using its CrisisAlert badges to provide dynamic mapping ease of use and initiation of crisis response within seconds of notification Each Westbury School District administrator teacher and staff member has a CrisisAlert badge behind their district ID The tracking system in the badge also leads responders directly to the location where they are needed "This technology empowers our administrators and staff in emergencies and enhances the safety of our scholars and everyone in our buildings," said Westbury School District Superintendent Dr Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. 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The pork soup dumplings at Nan Xiang in Westbury are some of the best on Long Island When you're talking soup dumplings in New York the critically acclaimed Chinese restaurant known for its supple dumplings with a generous amount of soup The xiao long bao purveyor has been one of the popular restaurants in downtown Flushing Michael Ma and a small group of partners took it over in 2019 The chain currently has locations across the tristate area and more are coming soon to Delaware and Maryland One of the first deals the chain inked was for a restaurant at the newly rebranded Samanea Mall in Westbury the restaurant finally opened this month in what was previously a part of the Fortunoff department store The Samanea Mall is becoming a destination for Chinese dumplings, with the recently opened Royal Dim Sum just a few doors down, as well as the phenomenal Shanghai You Garden kiosk in the 99 Ranch around the corner (Other concepts coming to the mall include Bonchon Korean fried chicken YiFang Taiwan Fruit Tea and Ichiddo Ramen.) Nan Xiang was buzzing during a recent lunch on opening week The high-ceilinged dining room has the sophisticated look of the original location which also bears many similarities to the Taiwanese sensation Din Tai Fung Nan Xiang features an open kitchen with a row of ladies in white aprons and hats crafting dumplings behind a window Part of the joy of these restaurants is watching the skill it takes to craft xiao long bao filling them with meat and crimping and twisting the fresh dough By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy "It’s a skill that takes years to get down and perfect," Ma said "One of the challenges of expanding is finding enough ladies and men also with the skill to wrap these dumplings in the fashion that’s acceptable to soup dumpling lovers." There's also a picture menu of Shanghainese delights Chinese breakfast items like a salty sticky rice roll lion's head meatballs (made from pork) It's hard to compete with Shanghai You Garden around the corner which has superior sheng jian bao fluffy pork buns But the highlight of the meal at Nan Xiang was definitely the xiao long bao which are some of the best soup dumplings on Long Island Nan Xiang offers 10 varieties of soup dumplings dyed different colors depending on their fillings you'll also find fillings of crabmeat a server brought over a wooden steamer basket filled with six pork xiao long bao The dumplings lay a little flat compared to other because there was quite a lot of soup in them We pierced the dumplings with our chopsticks and tucked in a little black vinegar The broth itself might have been the best part We'd put it up against Din Tai Fung any day Nan Xiang, 1500 Old Country Rd., Westbury, nanxiangxiaolongbao.com News 12 New York Download the App Where to Watch Taxing Long IslandPolice: Fire erupts at home in Westbury Police say it began around 1:45 a.m. on 6th Street.News 12 Staff Game Recap: Women's Basketball | 2/19/2025 8:03:00 PM Thanks for visiting Opportunity fuels discovery in Old Westbury a hub of technology and healthcare surrounded by the natural beauty of Long Island’s North Shore well-equipped research facilities offering hands-on experience Our Long Island campus is also home to a thriving diverse community of creative doers and makers Join your peers—and create lasting friendships—in a variety of student clubs and organizations Or meet up at one of the many events scheduled throughout the year countries represented on our Long Island campus and a third of domestic students come from outside New York Channel your passion among 100 career-focused programs and areas of study in architecture Extensive facilities complement your studies giving you the space to explore and create discover a rich variety of experiences across our campus’s 168 acres and varied dining options provide the context for friendship and growth within a supportive community Find a place to belong as you join others who share your interests From professional organizations to hobbies to intercultural and identity-based clubs Make an impact and develop your confidence as a leader Join the Leadership Development Program or an honor society Form lifelong friendships by joining one of seven national fraternities and sororities on campus enhancing your college experience through moral and social development and dine in our new residence hall located at 120 Jericho Turnpike or enjoy a farm-to-table omelet with your favorite ingredients We prepare you for future success from day one Our trained staff will help you identify and map out a career path and connect with internship and employment opportunities patient-centered care and leadership as a physician in settings ranging from hospitals to universities clinical experiences at leading healthcare providers and emphasis on research create graduates who move the profession forward Take any opportunity you get to join organizations and take on leadership positions because it will really help you feel involved on campus You may want to just go home after your classes but don’t Getting involved allowed me to make lifelong friendships and take in Old Westbury’s parklike environment Make the most of your time at New York Tech the College of Engineering and Computing Sciences hosted its fourth annual Ingenium Awards reception to honor luminaries in the engineering field Hundreds of students gathered to present their academic research at New York Tech’s 22nd Annual Symposium of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE) experts from New York Tech and top oncology providers shared promising cancer-fighting innovations with the local community assistant director of academic success and enrichment on the Long Island campus which recently received an impressive certification Under the Edward Guiliano Global Fellowship program broadening their perspectives and working on transformational research projects Exhibits at the Faculty Scholars Reception showcased faculty and staff’s scholarly and creative achievements during the previous calendar year Game Recap: Men's Basketball | 11/4/2024 8:52:00 PM | Stephen Gorchov Thanks for visiting It’s been a little more than a year since the Westbury mobile home park in Colchester became the Village of Westbury — the first new village established in Vermont in nearly a century tree-lined community with 250 mobile homes on the east edge of Colchester Residents say they love Westbury’s abundance of quiet and wildlife — one resident recently counted 43 wild turkeys on their property Marc Juneau is a teacher who has lived in Westbury for eight years He said he fell in love with Westbury the day his real estate agent brought him there “When I got out of the car to see the unit on Webley Street it was just a little slice of heaven,” Juneau said I couldn’t hear the traffic on Severance Road but you’re in the heart of Chittenden County.” Westbury residents almost lost their “little slice of heaven.” the mobile home park’s owner put the land up for sale Some residents were afraid the land would be bought by developers and they’d lose their homes grassroots effort to see if we can’t save this somehow,” Juneau said cut down all the trees and put up condos.” But buying the park came with new challenges The co-op was now responsible for the park’s maintenance and infrastructure needs Because working-class Westbury is technically a private community getting those services was complicated and expensive Gayle Pezzo is a longtime Westbury resident and community leader who was recently elected to the Vermont House of Representatives Pezzo and her neighbors — including Colchester resident and community leader Ralph Perkins — started researching They found that Westbury might be able to get better rates on utilities and other financial incentives like state grants if they became a public municipality — a village — in addition to being a co-op Ted Brady of the Vermont League of Cities and Towns said Westbury residents rallied to take control of their future The last new village in Vermont was established in 1933 Westbury also didn’t have money for lawyers or professional support for guidance including that they didn’t think becoming a village would help Westbury financially like the residents thought it would the majority of Westbury’s registered voters signed petitions to become an incorporated village of Colchester In August 2023, Pezzo presented the stack of more than 200 petitions at a Colchester Selectboard meeting She said it was her understanding that, under Vermont statute 24 VSA 1301 once the Colchester Selectboard received the petitions "the Selectboard shall create the village." A month later, the Colchester Selectboard wished the residents “goodwill in their endeavor,” and the village of Westbury became official Residents of the new village of Westbury are still also residents of Colchester They pay taxes to Colchester and use services like Colchester fire and police Westbury residents don’t pay any taxes to the village Westbury residents could propose and vote on a budget that includes a tax to pay for whatever they’re asking the village to accomplish many Westbury residents say they haven’t seen big changes Harris Quesnel is a Westbury resident and member of the Village Board He said they’re still working on getting the municipal utility rates they’ve wanted since the beginning “That’s the problem we’re having right now is being on par with all the other villages,” Quesnel said the Westbury Village Board is on the agenda at a Champlain Water District Board meeting They plan to ask for the same wholesale water rate other municipalities get Joe Duncan who leads the Champlain Water District said he understands and supports what Westbury is trying to do is to only offer their wholesale rate to water distributors that serve larger towns and cities while this work can be challenging and slow-moving and resilience — getting out and trying things in an effort to protect affordable housing “We’re not looking for a handout,” she said “We're looking for having control of our own lives and having the best possible place to live with integrity and pride.” The Westbury Village Board said they welcome more participation and input from Westbury residents as they enter their second year as a village This story comes from a collaboration between Vermont Public and the Community News Service The Community News Service is a program in which University of Vermont students work with professional editors to provide content for local news outlets at no cost Production support for this story by Kelsey Tolchin-Kupferer. Have questions, comments, or tips? Send us a message Enter your email to sign up for The Frequency See more newsletters Have questions, comments or tips? Send us a message Show Breaking News BarCloseLocal News Corley Peel Holly Galvan Posey Michael Horton A Westbury High School assistant principal has been arrested and charged after allegedly assaulting a 20-year-old former student Bryan Devon Tigner has been arrested and charged with sexual assault following the allegations Malachi Knight-Boyle, the 20-year-old victim in the alleged assault who chose to come forward, sat down with KPRC 2′s Corley Peel to discuss the situation Corley Peel: “Why is it so important for you to speak up?” Malachi Knight-Boyle: “I don’t want it to happen to anyone else I know that he works with a lot of other kids The documents allege that Tigner invited Knight-Boyle to his apartment Knight-Boyle said nothing seemed unusual about their activities that evening “I was just chillin’ on the couch,” Knight-Boyle said Knight-Boyle fell asleep on the couch but awoke around 4 a.m to find Tigner performing oral sex on him without his consent READ MORE: Man shoots neighbor who forced way inside, accused him of calling police The documents also state that Knight-Boyle struck Tigner in the face in self-defense before Tigner stopped the assault Tigner then ordered an Uber for the young man Knight-Boyle said Tigner attempted to stop him from leaving the victim later provided a statement to Houston police and underwent a sexual assault examination at a local hospital Detectives conducted an investigation and obtained a voluntary statement from Tigner inconsistencies were found in Tigner’s account Investigators noted that Tigner initially claimed the bruising under his eye came from a school fight the day before the alleged assault detectives found no evidence of injury in videos of the school fight from that day who serves as a mentor to teen boys through a program at Westbury High School confirmed that he had known the victim for several months and had invited him over that night The victim said that he was never mentored by Tigner while attending the school The two had become friends after Tigner reached out to him on Instagram READ MORE: Police responding to reported gunshots, find man shot dead in bushes in E. Houston The former student told police that he and Tigner had no prior romantic relationship and had only been friends occasionally drinking and smoking together He expressed his willingness to speak about the incident publicly as the case moves forward Tigner was taken into custody and has been charged with felony sexual assault with detectives continuing to gather evidence other people are going to be watching this What would you encourage they do if they’re in a situation like you’ve been in?” Malachi Knight-Boyle: “There’s always going to be someone you can talk to Houston ISD released the following statement regarding the incident: “HISD cannot comment on the status of any specific personnel issue or investigation the District is aware of the incident and is cooperating with law enforcement It is standard practice for any employee accused of a criminal offense to be removed from campus pending the outcome of the investigation.” HPD says they don’t have any information on whether or not there could be other victims but they’re asking anyone who has information to contact the Special Victims Division at 713-308-1180 More Stories Like This In Our Email Newsletter Copyright 2024 by KPRC Click2Houston - All rights reserved Corley Peel is a Texas native and Texas Tech graduate who covered big stories in Joplin Florida before returning to the Lone Star State Holly joined the KPRC 2 digital team in March 2024 leveraging her eight years of expertise in blogging and digital content to share her passion for Houston she enjoys exploring the city's vibrant scenes all while balancing her roles as a wife and mother to two toddlers TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us Meet the Team Careers at KPRC Closed Captioning / Audio Description Public File Current EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications Copyright © 2025 Click2Houston.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group 2025 | Contact: Hannah Hirst; Assistant Athletic Communication Director Thanks for visiting The West Bend Friends of Parks and Recreation donated $50,000 for the Westbury Bank Aquapark Recreation and Forestry Department Mike Jentsch West Bend Recreation Supervisor Ryan Schmidt The West Bend Sunrise Rotary donated $20,000 for the Westbury Bank Aquapark From left: Rotary Club President John Knoll and Rotarian and Alderman Mary Beth Seiser WEST BEND — Both the West Bend Friends of Parks and Recreation (WBFPR) and the West Bend Sunrise Rotary recently donated a total of $70,000 for the new Westbury Bank Aquapark in Regner Park According to Rotarian and WBFPR member Lori Yahr the WBFPR donated $50,000 to the aquapark and the Sunrise Rotary donated $20,000 to the aquapark The Westbury Bank Aquapark, which will include over 50 inflatable features, such as slides, obstacles and platforms, and a 27-foot swing, opens for the summer swim season on June 6. Both season and individual session tickets are available at preseason pricing online, at tinyurl.com/4nz9r39s 10 things to know this week from the WOW counties (Waukesha Ozaukee and Washington) sent on Sundays Get the latest Washington County news delivered every day so you don't miss out on updates Have Washington County breaking news alerts sent to your inbox as they happen Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Game Recap: Men's Basketball | 1/11/2025 4:22:00 PM Thanks for visiting It’s been a few decades since I started drinking coffee and yet until I visited Qahwah House earlier this month The Westbury store is the first Long Island location of a Michigan-based chain that already operates shops in Manhattan bustling cafe you can kick back with an iced caramel macchiato and an individual strawberry cheesecake .. or you can savor a slice of honey-drizzled khaliat al nahl Yemeni coffee here is made in the traditional fashion: Beans are ground and blended with spices — cardamom for the mofowar and Sana’ani medium roasts; cardamom cinnamon and coffee husks for the Jubani light roast — and then added to a small pot of water and continuously stirred over gentle heat to extract all the nuanced flavors The finished coffee is carefully decanted (so as to hold back the grounds) into a glass teapot that will perch atop a small votive candle that keeps it warm warmed so that top gets crisp and the cheese starts to ooze and the sabaya buttery bread that is also warmed and anointed with honey are worthy accompaniments to the qahwah ("coffee" in Arabic) Khaliat al nahl (Yemeni cheese-filled honeycomb bread) at Qahwah House in Westbury While the wild coffee plant probably originated in Africa it was in Yemen that the tree was first cultivated seeds) first roasted and turned into a drink that both stimulated and delighted roasted beans had found their way throughout the Ottoman Empire and into Europe where fashionable coffee houses sprung up to brew them Roasted coffee beans left Yemen through the port of Mokha — the source of the English term "mocha" — but the Yemenis would not allow un-roasted "green" beans out of the country the green beans were smuggled out of the country The Dutch planted them in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) on the island of Java — the source of the English term "java." And then it was off to the races with coffee beans finding hospitable conditions in the "bean belt" that includes Brazil One whole wall at Qahwah House is devoted to an immense wooden map that depicts coffee's journey from Yemen to the rest of the world Yemen now produces only about 9,000 metric tons annually — compared with Brazil’s more than 3 million But imported Yemeni beans are the only ones you’ll find at Qahwah House They are roasted a few times a week in a machine right in the dining room most likely by Marwan Assaedi or Aymen Alsaidi partners in this location who trained in the New York City stores that the most popular drink in Westbury is made with tea: Adeni chai it consists of black tea leaves steeped with cardamom and nutmeg and then blended with milk Pots of Qahwah’s traditional coffees and teas are priced at $10 (serves 1-2) You’ll also find a roster of contemporary creations from espresso and cappuccino to caramel macchiato and nitro cold brew ($5 to $7) Qahwah House, 595 Old Country Rd., Westbury, qahwahhouse.com Copyright ©2025 Newsday. All rights reserved. The chores are unending on the farm owned and operated by Duncan J Hayes. Article contentHe’s up before the crack of dawn to milk the cows, collect eggs, fill the water trough, the million little tasks that make up farm living. At night, he patiently shuts down the homestead, counting down the moments until he can pull out his radio and send a message to the world: “My name is Duncan J Hayes. I live in Yonker on the Alphabet Line. Is anyone out there?” Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Since this is rural Saskatchewan in the 1940s this is the only way that Duncan (Zachary Parsons-Lozinski) can communicate, especially as a not particularly closeted queer man living in the countryside. Surrounded by his livestock, he doesn’t necessarily feel alone, but he is lonely out near the end of the railway line that his dad worked on. It’s a distinction that he makes when he finally connects with someone else over the radio waves, a grad student by the name of Nicholas. Contrasting Duncan’s satisfaction with doing his farm tasks well disdainful of household chores on the farm and longing for the books and the opportunity for anonymity in the big city It seems like a friendship that can’t possibly grow with both Duncan and Nicholas taking umbrage when each thoughtlessly insults the other’s upbringing But something stops them from writing the other off You could say that it’s their secret shared queerness it’s the loneliness that at least initially connects them and the kindness that they express towards each other as they build their relationship through conversation By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc The next issue of Headline News will soon be in your inbox Interested in more newsletters? moving with slow rhythms towards a conclusion that you can probably guess at what makes the play so interesting isn’t the plot so much as the way it upends stereotypes Duncan might feel excluded at times from his community but he still draws strength from it and takes pride in what he contributes to the world He readily acknowledges both his queerness and his loneliness when both are presented to him For all the difficulties of keeping a farm afloat he’s proud of what he’s accomplished and would have it no other way His disdain for rural life melts before Duncan’s plainspoken retorts when he realizes that he both doesn’t want to lose the connection Duncan reveals a passion for his life and his land that Nicholas might not understand but clearly knows is better than his personal situation There are no grand statements being made in Alphabet Line and no dramatic fireworks beyond the thunder and lightning of a prairie storm that moves in at one point you get the patient reveal of tentative friendship moving into a deepening love not unlike the slow rhythms of farm life through the seasons Starring: Zachary Parsons-Lozinski and Sam Free transmission or republication strictly prohibited This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy You can manage saved articles in your account Thanks for visiting Greater Babylon coverage is funded in part by The Argyle Theatre, where Broadway comes to Babylon. Click here for ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ tickets Joann is closing more than half of its U.S as part of the retail chain’s second bankruptcy filing in less than a year the company first filed for bankruptcy last March As part of its ongoing Chapter 11 process, Joann filed a motion this week seeking court authority to begin closing more than 500 of its 850 stores across the nation “This was a very difficult decision to make given the major impact we know it will have on our team members our customers and all of the communities we serve,” the company said in a prepared statement “A careful analysis of store performance and future strategic fit for the company determined which stores should remainoperating as usual at this time “Right-sizing our store footprint is a critical part of our efforts to ensure the best path forward for JOANN,” the statement continued The West Babylon store is located in the Great South Bay Shopping Center Joann in Westbury is at 580 Old Country Road An employee at the West Babylon location said workers haven’t been informed about a date when the store will close In 2023, Joann closed stores in Holbrook and Centereach, before opening its Bohemia location Top image: Facebook/Joann Tap here to see what’s happening The facility is the sixth Bristal locally to offer affordable apartments The Bristal Assisted Living facility in Westbury will designate 20% of its apartments as affordable in return for receiving an additional 15 years of tax breaks from Nassau County which recently purchased 100% of the facility said 28 of the 140 units will be affordable They will be reserved for senior citizens with yearly income of not more than $95,440 which is 80% of the county’s area median income based on data from the mortgage provider Fannie Mae a real estate attorney for the Jericho-based development company said "standard monthly charges for new residents" of the Westbury Bristal start at $4,500 Rent represents about 30% of the charge and is discounted by 5% or more for the affordable units is the sixth Bristal locally — out of 16 — to offer affordable apartments Curry said the affordable units will remain so for 15 years to coincide with the duration of the property tax breaks awarded by the county’s Industrial Development Agency in a unanimous decision in November The property tax savings would total about $1 million over the period according to a report from the research firm Camoin Associates that was obtained under the Freedom of Information Act Curry said he agreed with Camoin’s estimate IDA board members praised the addition of affordable apartments B2K hopes to raise the Westbury Bristal’s occupancy rate which plummeted to around 50% during the COVID-19 pandemic a founding partner of the development company which used to be called the Engel Burman Group B2K plans to make $600,000 in interior improvements to the 120,200-square-foot building said B2K was forced to scale back its plan for $3.3 million in renovations and raise the income restriction on the affordable units because state officials declined to approve the issuing of $44 million in taxable and tax-exempt bonds for the building improvements and property purchase "The state wanted the bonds to be used for a new construction project rather than a renovation project," he said in an interview In return for the property tax savings plus a sales-tax exemption of up to $35,000 and a mortgage-recording tax reduction of up to $225,000 B2K has promised to maintain the Westbury Bristal’s 75 jobs according to the application for IDA assistance The Westbury Bristal was constructed in 2001 with tax aid and bond financing from the IDA B2K’s predecessor sought 10 additional years of tax breaks in 2012 The IDA declined to vote on the request after nearly 100 people turned out for a November 2012 public hearing where the Westbury Union Free School District and Westbury Mayor Peter Cavallaro opposed the extra tax breaks neither the school board nor the village opposed the additional tax aid said the district now receives nearly $200,000 less in annual tax revenue than it did in 2022 because of B2K's successful challenges of the Westbury Bristal’s property assessment "The agreement with the IDA provides a contractual guarantee that the district’s revenue will increase over the next 15-year period" because B2K has pledged to not challenge the assessed value of the property Troiano also said the district has had discussions with B2K about offering scholarships internships and employment opportunities for students of all ages Cavallaro did not return voicemail messages seeking comment Shrenkel told Newsday earlier this month that "The Nassau County IDA believes it has a responsibility to support assisted living facilities to ensure our aging residents have quality places to live while still calling Nassau County their home." retail and all things business across Long Island SUNY Old Westbury to launch MS in healthcare management