• 516 Update
  • Posts
  • 🌊 Check out this new restaurant opening, plus Rivian Lands In Nassau County and Major Hospital Upgrade!

🌊 Check out this new restaurant opening, plus Rivian Lands In Nassau County and Major Hospital Upgrade!

From Rivian’s new EV service center in Woodbury to Valley Stream Hospital’s massive emergency department upgrade, we’ve got updates on local schools, sustainability efforts, and community events.

Welcome to this week’s edition of 516 Update—your go-to guide for everything happening across Nassau County.

From community highlights to weekend plans, we’ve rounded up what’s new, what’s fun, and what’s worth checking out around town.

Scroll down for local events, live music, family-friendly fairs, and more.

Quick favor - please forward this to a friend or family member if you’ve been liking us so far, it would really help us out!

— Janine, Sue, Mo, and Nick

Today’s Edition
šŸš— Rivian's First EV Service Center Coming to Long Island
šŸ„ Valley Stream Hospital's Emergency Department Gets Bigger and Better
🌱 North Bellmore Library Leads Green Change in Nassau Count
šŸ« Long Beach Schools Set $158.5M Budget with Tech and Staff Focus
🪩 Upcoming Events and Things To Do!
🐾 Paws & Whiskers Spotlight

šŸš— Rivian's First EV Service Center Coming to Long Island

Good news for electric car owners in Nassau County! Rivian is opening its first service center in Woodbury, making life easier for local EV enthusiasts. The new spot will be at the Crossways Logistics Center.

Photo by: Rockefeller Group

This is big for Long Island residents who own or are thinking about getting a Rivian. No more long trips for maintenance or repairs—everything will be right in the neighborhood. "We want to give our customers the best service possible," a Rivian spokesperson said about the new location.

People in Nassau County have already spotted signs for the upcoming center. It's a clear sign that EVs are becoming more common in our area.

This new center does more than just fix cars. It shows how our community is moving toward cleaner transportation. It might even help more people feel confident about buying an electric vehicle.

In Partnership With
Chhatpar Family Dentistry

Located in the heart of Massapequa, Chhatpar Family Dentistry offers compassionate, expert care for the whole family. Whether it’s a routine cleaning, whitening, or more advanced treatment, Dr. Chhatpars and team are here to keep your smile healthy and confident.

šŸ“ 1096 N Broadway, Massapequa, NY 11758
šŸ“ž Call today: 516-249-5525

New patients welcome — book your appointment now and experience dentistry that feels like family!

🦷 Healthy smiles start here! 

If you’d like to sponsor 516 Update, please reach out at [email protected]

šŸ„ Valley Stream Hospital's Emergency Department Gets Bigger and Better

Good news for Nassau County residents! The Long Island Jewish Valley Stream Hospital has just finished a huge $31.3 million makeover of its emergency department. The space has grown from 9,600 to 16,168 square feet, giving locals better access to emergency care when they need it most.

This bigger emergency department means shorter waiting times and better care for patients. The hospital team and local officials got together to celebrate this big moment for the community. ā€œThis new emergency department reflects Northwell’s deep commitment to Nassau County and Queens residents and our belief that everyone deserves access to exceptional health care that’s close to home,ā€ Michael Dowling, president and CEO of Northwell, said in a news release about the new emergency department.

You might have spotted new signs around the hospital and some fun community events marking this special occasion. It's particularly great timing since more and more people are moving to the area.

🌱 North Bellmore Library Leads Green Change in Nassau County

North Bellmore Public Library just hit a major milestone. They're now the first library in Nassau County to get certified through the Sustainable Libraries Certification Program, showing they really mean business when it comes to going green.

It's a big win for everyone in North Bellmore. The library is now a local leader in showing how buildings can be more earth-friendly. They've brought in new signs and started running events to teach people about taking care of our environment.

The library director put it best: "I am thankful to our dedicated Board of Trustees for their ongoing support of our vision and commitment to achieving certification and reinforcing ourselves as a leader in Nassau County."

šŸ« Long Beach Schools Set $158.5M Budget with Tech and Staff Focus

The Long Beach School District has just approved a big change for local kids and families. They're planning to spend $158.5 million in the 2025-26 school year, focusing on bringing in more teachers and better classroom tech.

The money's going to some good places. They're cutting back on supply costs while adding new staff members. It's all about giving students better tools to learn and grow.

The final yes-or-no vote is coming up on May 20. Parents and teachers have been showing up at meetings to talk about what this means for their kids. You might have seen those flyers going around local schools about it.

In Partnership with
Reviews To The Top

Helping local businesses (including service industries) in Nassau County grow fast and get more customers with 5-star reviews, seamless engagement, and stronger online visibility—all in one simple platform. Learn more at ReviewsToTheTop.com / email at [email protected] 

Subscriber Bonus: Mention 516 Update when you reach out and get a free trial with Reviews To The Top!

NEWSBites

Nassau Fights Hate

Nassau DA and HMTC team up to tackle rising antisemitism with new public service announcements. The campaign aims to build unity as New York sees record-high antisemitic incidents. These PSAs will soon be visible throughout Nassau County.

Baldwin 5K Returns for Health

The Baldwin 5K AIDS & Cancer Run/Walk is back at Baldwin Park on June 1. This community event, now in its 18th year, raises money for health causes both near and far. Put on your running shoes and be part of something good!

Oyster Bay's Night of Fun

The Life Enrichment Center of Oyster Bay threw a great party! About 100 people came out for the Tres Cabaret Spring Fundraiser on April 26, enjoying music, food, and dancing while supporting local programs.

šŸŒ¤ļø WeatherWatch

ā˜ļø May 12
High: 75°F | Low: 57°F ā˜ļø Overcast skies all day

ā˜ļø May 13
High: 73°F | Low: 61°F ā›… Mostly overcast with light breeze

šŸŒ§ļø May 14
High: 79°F | Low: 63°F šŸ’§ 71% chance — rain showers and heavy clouds

Please follow us on Instagram here! @516Update

šŸ“Featured Restaurant - Now Serving Nassau: La Plage Bistro

A fresh breeze of French cuisine has hit Bellport with the opening of La Plage Bistro in May 2025. Chef Wayne Waddington brings his magic from the North Shore, setting up a cozy spot that feels both welcoming and stylish.

The menu is a real treat. Their duck confit served on risotto makes you feel like you're dining in a small French town. The green apple salad with blue cheese and walnuts adds a perfect mix of sweet and tangy flavors that'll make you want to come back for more.

The restaurant's new look catches your eye right away. With warm globe lighting and comfortable seating, it's the kind of place where you can relax with family or catch up with friends over good food and drinks.

La Plage is opening soon — sign up at laplagebellport.com to be the first to get all the delicious details.

šŸŽ‰ WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK IN
NASSAU COUNTY

Looking for something fun, affordable, and local? From live music to family-friendly festivals, here’s what’s popping up around town this weekšŸ‘‡

Fair Days & Fun Ways 
What’s Happening This Weekend in Nassau County

Mineola Foodie Festival
Saturday & Sunday, May 17th –18th 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Wilson Park, Mineola

Fifth Annual Garden Days
Saturday–Sunday, May 17th –18th 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Old Westbury Gardens, Old Westbury

Wantagh Spring Festival
Saturday, May 17th 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wantagh Station, Wantagh

Scroll up and tap ā€œExplore the full list of eventsā€ to see all weekend fairs with more information.

🧠 Join the Conversation on Alzheimer’s
šŸ“ May 15 | 1–2 PM
Life Enrichment Center, 45 E Main St, Oyster Bay, NY
šŸ“ž Call 800.272.3900 to register.
Light refreshments provided.

šŸ—³ļø Quick Poll: We’d Love Your Feedback!

How did you like today’s 516 Update?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

 Monday, May 12th

Meet the Scouts & Support Pack 77
ā° 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
šŸ“ 16 Handles, Port Washington

Girls Night Out Long Island
ā° 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
šŸ“ ITA Kitchen, Garden City

Tuesday, May 13th

Spring 2025 Daisy Parent Info Night
ā° 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
šŸ“ Baldwin Public Library, Baldwin

Wednesday, May 14th

3rd Annual Long Island Hospitality Association "Sip & Savor"
ā° 5:30 PM
šŸ“ The Fox Hollow, Woodbury

Go Big 2025
šŸ“… Wednesday, May 14 5:15 PM – Thursday, May 15 2:30 PM
šŸ“ Long Island Marriott, Uniondale

Scroll up and tap ā€œExplore the full list of eventsā€ to see all Civic and Social Happenings with more information.

Monday, May 12th

Mercy First ā€˜Fore the Kids’ Golf and Pickleball Tournament
ā° 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
šŸ“ Brookville Country Club, Old Brookville

30th Annual Maurer Foundation Golf Classic
ā° 10:30 AM – 6:00 PM
šŸ“ The Mill River Club, Upper Brookville

Tuesday, May 13th

Long Beach Recreation Season Restart
ā° 6:45 PM – 9:00 PM
šŸ“ Long Beach Recreation Center, Long Beach

Scroll up and tap ā€œExplore the full list of eventsā€ to see all Sports Events with more information.

In Partnership
Two Bands - LIVE at Bayway Art Center

Feel the Magic of Queen & Journey – Live!
One night. Two unforgettable tribute performances.
Step into a night of pure rock nostalgia on May 16 at 7:30pm at the Bayway Arts Center.

Xtreme Queen delivers Freddie Mercury’s electric stage energy with immersive visuals and anthems like ā€œBohemian Rhapsody.ā€
Any Way You Want It revives Journey’s golden era, with pitch-perfect vocals and timeless classics like ā€œOpen Arms.ā€

šŸŽŸ Don’t miss out—tickets are moving fast.

Wednesday, May 14th

Ed Ryan at Bunker Hill American Taproom
ā° 7:00 PM
šŸ“ Bunker Hill American Taproom, Wantagh

Scroll up and tap ā€œExplore the full list of eventsā€ to see all Live Music Events with more information.

Forgotten Friends of Long Island  

Forgotten Friends of Long Island, a volunteer rescue group in Plainview, works hard to find homes for pets that others might pass by. They just had a great adoption day where several pets found new families. If you want to help, you can adopt, foster, or donate to give these animals a second chance.

Thanks for reading this week’s 516 Update! We hope you found something to enjoy, explore, or share. Please share this with a friend or family member-we would really appreciate it!