🎓 Nassau County Schools Shine in National Rankings

Good news for Long Island students and parents! Our local colleges just got some great recognition in rankings. Schools like Hofstra University and Stony Brook University are still going strong, showing they really care about their students' success.

The rankings looked at almost 1,700 schools across the country, checking things like class sizes and graduation rates. What's cool is they also paid attention to stuff that really matters to families - like which schools give you the best value for your money and which ones help students from all backgrounds succeed.

This year, they changed how they score schools, looking more closely at student credit hours and how well different groups of students do. It's not just about bragging rights - these high rankings mean our local schools are doing their job right.

The Home Upgrade That Pays for Itself

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NEWSBites

🚗 Free Car Seat Checks Return to Hempstead

The Town of Hempstead is bringing back their free child car seat checks. Certified experts will help parents make sure their kids' car seats are installed correctly. This free service helps keep little ones safe on the road.

New Asian Fusion Spot Coming to Merrick 🍜

T.O.A. Asian Fusion is opening its sixth restaurant in Merrick, taking over the old George Martin Grillfire spot. The place will get a total makeover before opening in March. Their menu mixes Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Thai, Malaysian and Vietnamese food - perfect for families who can't agree on what to eat.

🚒 Virtual Firefighting Gets Real

Long Island's East Meadow Fire Department is now using VR to train its 200 volunteers. Firefighters wear special goggles and heat vests to practice in 60 different fire situations without real flames. This $65,000 setup lets them train more often than traditional methods, which only happen a few days each year.

7 Best Resources for Craft Fairs in Long Island (2025 Guide)

Discover the top craft fairs in Long Island with our 2025 guide. We cover the best resources for finding dates, venues, and unique local artisan events.

🌤️ WeatherWatch

☀️ Wednesday, October 1
High: 74°F | Low: 61°F
🌞 A crisp, sunny start to the month

🌤️ Thursday, October 2
High: 69°F | Low: 56°F
☀️ Mostly sunny and comfortable

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🎉 WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK IN
NASSAU COUNTY

🌦 Rain or shine, Nassau is full of things to do! From local fairs to live music and community events, there’s always something happening across the county. Grab your calendar — and maybe an umbrella — and see what’s coming up this week 👇

🎡Fair Days & Fun Ways

What’s Happening This Weekend in Nassau County

Saturday, October 4th

Seaford Farmers Market
Seaford Railroad Station 
7:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Seaford, NY

Franklin Square Street Fair 
📍 Franklin Square
10:00 AM | Franklin Square
🧸 Kid-Friendly

Grand Baldwin Festival
📍 Municipal Parking Lot behind Baldwin Public Library
12:00 PM | Baldwin
🧸 Kid-Friendly

Seaford Chamber Oktoberfest
📍 Seaford LIRR Station
10:00 AM | Seaford

Sunday, October 5th

Rockville Centre
Farmers Market
7:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Rockville Centre, NY

Bethpage Street Fair
📍 Bethpage Street Fair
10:00 AM | Bethpage
🧸 Kid-Friendly

Farmers Market
Farmingdale Village Green
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM | Farmingdale, NY

📣 Civic & Social Happenings

Wednesday, October 1st

DIY Halloween Wreath or Doormat 
📍 Pretty Toni's Cafe
6:30 PM | Valley Stream

Tough Guy Book Club – Long Island Chapter
 📍 Runyon's of Seaford
7:00 PM | Seaford

Long Island Regional Information Night 
📍 St. Anne’s School
7:00 PM | Garden City

Hustle Dance Lessons
📍 St. James Episcopal Church
7:00 PM | Long Beach

Saturday, October 4th

Marching For All
📍 Farmingdale High School
6:00 PM | Farmingdale

Give Our Regards to Broadway:
Anything Can Happen in the Theatre
📍 Madison Theatre at Molloy University
8:00 PM | Rockville Centre

Sunday, October 5th

Pancreatic Cancer Walk for Research – Long Island 
🚶 Jones Beach State Park, Field 5
10:00 AM | Wantagh
🧸 Kid-Friendly

Lighting the Path to a Golden Future – Diwali Celebration 
📍 Global Harmony House
2:30 PM | Great Neck

🏈 Sports Events 

Wednesday, October 1st

AL Wild Card:
New York Yankees vs. TBD – Game 2 (If Necessary)
Yankee Stadium
TBA | Bronx

NL Wild Card:
New York Mets vs. TBD – Game 2 (If Necessary)
Citi Field
TBA | Flushing

Thursday, October 2nd

NHL Preseason:
New York Rangers vs. New Jersey Devils
Madison Square Garden
7:00 PM | New York

Friday, October 3rd

Exhibition: Army West Point Black Knights vs. Long Island University Sharks
Tate Rink
5:00 PM | West Point

Saturday, October 4th

Sacred Heart Pioneers vs. Merrimack Warriors
Martire Family Arena
6:00 PM | Fairfield

New York Red Bulls vs. FC Cincinnati
Red Bull Arena
7:30 PM | Harrison

NBA Preseason:
Brooklyn Nets vs. Hapoel Jerusalem B.C.
Barclays Center
8:00 PM | Brooklyn

Sunday, October 5th

New York Jets vs. Dallas Cowboys
MetLife Stadium
1:00 PM | East Rutherford

NJ/NY Gotham FC vs. Seattle Reign FC
Red Bull Arena
4:00 PM | Harrison

Exhibition: Sacred Heart Pioneers vs. Simon Fraser Red Leafs
Martire Family Arena
4:00 PM | Fairfield

New York Red Bulls II vs. Toronto FC II
MSU Soccer Park
5:00 PM | Montclair

🎸 Live Music

Wednesday, October 1st

A Night of Light & Love
📍 Mulcahy’s, Wantagh
6:30 PM | Wantagh

Thursday, October 2nd

Tyler Rich: Leaving California Tour 
📍 Mulcahy’s, Wantagh
8:00 PM | Wantagh

Friday, October 3rd

Richie Furay
📍 Landmark on Main Street
8:00 PM | Port Washington

The Taylor Party
📍Mulcahy’s, Wantagh
9:00 PM | Wantagh

Saturday, October 4th

Long Beach Irish Day 2025 with The Amadáns, Shilelagh Law & more
📍The Cabana Mexican American Restaurant
1:00 PM | Long Beach

Anna Maria Villa – The Italian American Songbook
📍 Glen Cove Public Library
2:00 PM | Glen Cove

Roslyn Rocks for the Wounded Warriors
📍 Roslyn High School
7:00 PM | Roslyn

Twenty One Pilots – The Clancy Tour: Breach 2025 
📍 Northwell at Jones Beach Theater
8:00 PM | Wantagh

Don’t miss Twenty One Pilots live on their Clancy Tour: Breach 2025 for an unforgettable night of music.

Sunday, October 5th

Philip Edward Fisher, Piano 
📍 Adelphi University Performing Arts Center
3:00 PM | Garden City

The B-52s & Devo – Cosmic De-Evolution Tour
 📍 Northwell at Jones Beach Theater
7:00 PM | Wantagh

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!