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🎃 HALLOWEEN WEEK IN NASSAU
Good morning, Nassau.
Shareholders of Jericho-based Nathan’s Famous have approved the roughly $450 million deal with Smithfield Foods. We also have Nassau’s new school rankings, September home prices and Halloween plans for the week.
In today’s edition:
📰 Jericho-based Nathan’s shareholders approve the roughly $450M Smithfield deal
📍 20 Nassau schools make U.S. News’ New York top 100
✨ Nassau’s September home-sale median falls to $860K
🎃 Westbury today, teen-party registration and Friday’s Ghost Walk
Janine, Mo and Nick
💰 Jericho-Based Nathan’s Shareholders Approve $450M Smithfield Deal
Logo: Nathan’s Famous.
Shareholders of Jericho-based Nathan’s Famous approved its sale to Smithfield Foods at an October 23 meeting. The cash terms are $102 per share, moving the familiar hot-dog company toward a change in ownership.
The deal was announced in January with an enterprise value of about $450 million. Smithfield has licensed the Nathan’s brand for packaged-meat products since 2014; the acquisition would give it ownership of the brand.
The deal is tentatively scheduled to close on October 26 before the stock market opens. Shareholders have approved the sale, but completion has not yet been confirmed. Nathan’s principal executive offices are at One Jericho Plaza.
Sources: Nasdaq Trader; Smithfield Foods.
Access note: Free official sources; no account required to read.
Around Nassau
20 Nassau Schools Make U.S. News’ New York Top 100
Ten Nassau elementary schools and ten middle schools appear in their respective New York top 100 lists in U.S. News & World Report’s 2027 rankings, released October 20. Lakeville Elementary in Great Neck ranks No. 35 statewide; Manhasset Middle School ranks No. 39.
Syosset has five schools across the two lists. The rankings use math and reading results while considering student backgrounds. U.S. News updated its methodology, so year-to-year rank changes need context.
Source: Greater Long Island.
Access note: Free article; newsletter signup is optional.
☀️ WeatherWatchNassau County, NY
Sunny and warm during the day, followed by a clear night. Source: News 12 Weather, Nassau County selection.
On News 12, choose “Nassau County, NY” if another location appears. |
LOCAL SPOTLIGHT A Free STEM Weekend in Garden City | |
 Image: Cradle of Aviation Museum | |
STEM-X Festival brings hands-on activities and live demonstrations to the Cradle of Aviation Museum on October 31 and November 1, 10 AM–3 PM. Admission is free; advance registration is required. Tickets are not issued through the museum.
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County Updates & Community Resources
Help Stock Holiday Meal Boxes for Local Families
Long Island Cares’ Gather & Give drive is collecting ingredients for holiday meals for Nassau and Suffolk families. Its wish list includes rice, pasta, canned vegetables and fruit, beans and shelf-stable milk; donors are asked to avoid glass containers. You can organize a collection, check meal-box packing opportunities or give online. Nassau donation sites include Bethpage and Freeport. Use the drop-off finder and confirm donation hours before bringing a collection.
Source: Long Island Cares. Official campaign page.
Access note: Free campaign and drop-off information; no account required to read.
🏠 Nassau’s September Home-Sale Median Falls to $860K
Nassau County’s median sale price for single-family homes was $860,000 in September, down from $911,000 in August. That is a $51,000 monthly decline, while the median remained 2.1% above September 2025.
These figures describe completed single-family home sales. The countywide median can shift with the mix of properties that sold, so it is only one measure of the market.
Sources: News 12 Long Island; OneKey MLS (September 2026 report).
Access note: The article text and data PDF are free to read.
Blu Dot surpasses 2,000% ROAS with self-serve CTV ads
Home furniture brand Blu Dot blew up on CTV with help from Roku Ads Manager. Here’s how:
After a test campaign reached 211,000 households and achieved 1,010% ROAS, the brand went all in to promote its annual sales event. It removed age and income constraints to expand reach and shifted budget to custom audiences and retargeting, where intent was strongest.
The results speak for themselves. As Blu Dot increased their investment by 10x, ROAS jumped to 2,308% and more page-view conversions surpassed 50,000.
“For CTV campaigns, Roku has been a top performer,” said Claire Folkestad, Paid Media Strategist, Blu Dot. “Comping to our other platforms, we have seen really strong ROAS… and highly efficient CPMs, lower than any other CTV partner we've worked with.”
Using Roku Ads Manager, the campaign moved from a pilot to a permanent performance engine for the brand.
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What’s Happening in Nassau
October 26–November 1 • Halloween week: three local picks for the days ahead.
FEATURED HALLOWEEN EVENT Halloween Parade & PartyMonday, October 26 | |
4–5 PM | Westbury Memorial Public Library, Adult Library Meeting Room Families with children through grade 6 can dress up for library trick-or-treating and dancing. The parade starts promptly at 4 PM. Registration required.
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More Halloween Plans
- Teen Halloween Party | Wednesday, October 28
6–8 PM | Massapequa Public Library, Bar Harbour, 40 Harbor Lane, Massapequa Park
Halloween snacks, music and a craft for grades 6–12. Register by tomorrow, Tuesday, October 27, at 5 PM. Register for the teen party → - Oyster Bay Ghost Walk & Dance Party | Friday, October 30
6–8:30 PM | Starts at Oyster Bay High School, 150 East Main Street, Oyster Bay
Wear costumes and bring lanterns for a parade ending with music and dancing at the Derby-Hall bandstand in Townsend Park. Pets are welcome; food and drinks are sold. Check the Ghost Walk route →
More plans for October 26–November 1
Explore the full 516 Update weekly guide for more Nassau festivals, live music, comedy, sports and family outings.
| See the full weekly events guide → |
All times are Eastern. Check organizer pages for ticket availability, fees, registration and schedule or weather updates.
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