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🏆 Nassau County Shines as Health Champion in USA

Great news for Nassau County residents! The area has been named one of America's healthiest counties in a fresh report. The study, done by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin, shows just how good life is getting here.

Bruce Blakeman shared some happy stats: Nassau ranked #1 in New York for community living conditions and landed in the top 3% nationwide for overall health. "We want everyone here to be healthy and happy," he said with pride.

Dr. Irina Gelman from the health department points out this didn't happen by chance. Local health groups worked together to make it possible. But there's still work to do, especially in making sure everyone has the same shot at good health.

This good news means more than just bragging rights. It shows that living in Nassau County might be a smart choice for families and businesses looking for a healthy place to settle down.

🔥Local Restaurants Rally for Fire Heroes

70 restaurants and bars on Long Island came together for a special fundraiser called "LI Wings It Forward." They wanted to say thanks to the brave men and women who fought the recent East End wildfires.

The restaurants pledged 20% of their wing sales to help 84 fire departments and 20 EMS units. Lisa Sarrapede from Lily's Babylon shared why this meant so much to them: "This one hit close to home. I know many people who live out east, so we wanted to show our gratitude."

The community set out to raise more than $10,000 in just one night. It's amazing to see local businesses stepping up to help those who keep us safe. These kinds of events bring everyone closer and show what makes Long Island special.

🌳North Hempstead Makes Tree Removal Faster to Keep People Safe

The North Hempstead Town Board has just made it much quicker to get rid of dangerous trees. They voted 6-1 to cut down the waiting time from seven days to just 24 hours for removing risky trees from public areas.

Under the new rules, the town's highway superintendent, Gerard Losquadro, can now make quick decisions about tree removal without waiting for an expert tree doctor to check first. This comes after people complained about trees falling on cars and causing safety issues.

Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena backs the change, saying it helps them respond faster when homeowners report dangerous trees. But not everyone agrees - Councilwoman Mariann Dalimonte thinks 24 hours isn't enough time to let people know about planned tree removals.

This new approach puts safety first, though some folks worry it might mean less input from the community. The change comes from complaints about non-local residents slowing down the process when trees needed to come down quickly.

🏆Little League Spirit Fills Nassau County Streets

Three Nassau County towns brought their community spirit to life this Saturday as they kicked off the Little League season with colorful parades. Kids, coaches, and families from Mineola, East Williston, and Williston Park marched through their streets wearing bright team uniforms and big smiles.

The morning was filled with excitement as each town showed off their local teams. Young players walked proudly while parents and neighbors cheered from the sidewalks. The parades ended with special ceremonies at the baseball fields, where teams got their moment in the spotlight.

"These parades show how much our community cares about youth sports," said Mineola's Mayor. The event brought more than just baseball - it created a fun day where neighbors could meet, kids could feel proud, and everyone could be part of something special.

Local news teams were there to catch all the fun, taking pictures and videos that quickly spread on social media. The three-town celebration proved that baseball still has the power to bring people together and make lasting memories.

NEWSBites

Garden Paradise Makes a Comeback 🌸

Floral Park's Centennial Gardens, a 13-acre natural wonderland, just opened its gates for the 2025 season. Open daily from noon to 5 PM, the park features Japanese and butterfly gardens perfect for walks and music shows. You can help local birds by dropping off seeds at the Recreation Center.

Nassau BOCES Adds New Career Programs 📚

Nassau BOCES is rolling out fresh career training options in cosmetology, healthcare, and tech. The move comes after local businesses asked for more job training choices. Students can now get hands-on experience and prepare for state licenses in their chosen fields.

Luxury Living Comes to Mineola 🏢

The new Modera Mineola apartments are now taking renters. The 275-unit complex sits just two blocks from the LIRR station and comes with sweet perks like a pool and fitness center. Mayor Scott Strauss calls it a big win for downtown's growth plans.

🍽️ New Restaurants To Try

Popular NYC Burger Chain Heads to Long Island 🍔

7th Street Burger is taking over the former The Rex spot in Mineola. Opening this summer, they'll serve affordable burgers ($6.50-$11.50) and fries daily until midnight. It's their first suburban location after success in NYC's boroughs.

New Cuban Hotspot Spices Up Nassau County🌴

Willy's Azúcar in Massapequa Park is bringing real Cuban flavor to Long Island. This lively spot serves up classics like Ropa Vieja and Lechon Asado, plus tapas for sharing. With live music, outdoor seating, and community events, it's become the go-to place for an authentic taste of Cuba.

🌤️ WeatherWatch

☁️ April 14
High: 66°F | Low: 43°F
💧 0% chance — increasing cloudiness

Fair Days & Fun Ways 
Nassau County Week’s End Wonders

🌿 04/19 | 10:00 AM | Nature Festival | Center for Science Teaching and Learning | Rockville Centre
Celebrate spring with pond scooping, insect hikes, crafts, and live animals. Included with museum admission.

🛍️ 04/19 | 10:00 AM | Spring Arts & Craft Fair | Nook | Brooklyn
Outdoor fair featuring local artists and craftspeople selling handmade goods.

🧒 04/19 | 10:00 AM | Easter Bunny Parade & Egg Hunt | Argyle Park Playground | Babylon
Parade begins at 10 AM, followed by photos and an egg hunt from 1–3 PM. Free for all! BYO camera.

🛍️ 04/19 | 11:00 AM | Milleridge Village Pop-Up Vendor Market | The Milleridge Inn | Jericho
Explore handmade crafts, custom gifts, food, jewelry, and more. Free entry for all ages.

🛍️ 04/19 | 11:00 AM | Easter Eggstravaganza & Market | Samanea Mall | Westbury
Over 70 vendors, games, crafts, photos with Bunny, and egg hunts. Free entry!

🐰 04/19 | 11:00 AM | 6th Annual Egg Hunt | Veterans Memorial Park | East Meadow
Egg hunt with cupcake decorating and 501st Legion guests. Registration required, $5 per cupcake.

🐰 04/19 | 12:00 PM | Easter Bunny Parade | Bellmore Movies & The Showplace | Bellmore
Free Easter parade for kids up to 12 with eggs and photo ops. Bring your camera!

🧒 04/19 | 2:00 PM | Community Treasure Hunt | Winners' Academy Preschool | West Hempstead
Family-friendly treasure hunt with games, crafts, and fun surprises for kids.

🎉 04/20 | 12:00 PM | Boozy hip hop brunch | VFW Post 5199 | Oceanside
Brunch party with hip hop vibes—drinks, music, and fun all afternoon.

🎉 04/20 | 2:00 PM | Easter Explosion 4/20/25 | United Skates of America | Seaford
Celebrate Easter with skating, fun, and a possible Bunny visit—perfect for all ages and skill levels!

🐰 04/14 | 2:30 PM | Skate with the Easter Bunny | United Skates of America | Seaford
Skating, Easter egg hunt, character visits, giveaways, and photos with the Bunny.

📚 04/16 | 10:00 AM | Astronomy and Space Day 2025 | Cradle of Aviation Museum | Carle Place
Explore solar scopes and space science at this all-ages museum event.

🎭 04/16 | 7:00 PM | Crafting Spring: Wood Bead Wreath Workshop | North Merrick Library | Merrick
Create a spring wreath with beads in this hands-on, guided crafting workshop.

🎉 04/16 | 7:00 PM | Open / Guided Play at the Barrier Brewery | Barrier Brewing | Oceanside
Mahjong night with snacks, drinks, and a fun prize—open to all skill levels.

🧒 04/18 | 9:00 AM | Give Kids A Smile Event | Farmingdale State College | Melville
Free dental hygiene services for kids provided by Farmingdale dental students.

🧒 04/18 | 10:00 AM | Zumbini With Andrea | Create Dance Center | East Massapequa
Music, movement, and bonding time for little ones during spring break.

🏎️ 04/18 | 5:00 PM | Friday Night Car Show | Bellmore | Bellmore
Weekly car show runs every Friday night through October 31, weather permitting. Hosted by Bellmore Chamber of Commerce.

🎭 04/18 | 7:00 PM | Live Streaming EDH Playing 4 Packs | Da Basement at Collectors | Levittown
Play Magic: The Gathering live and win booster packs on stream every Friday night.

🎭 04/19 | 7:00 PM | Magic for Adults: Levittown, NY | Governor's Comedy Clubs | Levittown
Live magic show by Eric Eaton, star of Masters of Illusion.

🎭 04/19 | 7:00 PM | Mystic at Platt – April show! | Plattduetsche Park | Franklin Square
Monthly variety show with live music, food, drinks, and great vibes at a German biergarten.

🏆 04/19 | 7:00 PM | WrestleMania Watch Party Weekend | Dave & Buster's | Carle Place
Watch WrestleMania with buffet, drinks, and arcade games all weekend long.

🎉 04/19 | 7:45 PM | Canvas N Cocktails | Pinot's Palette | East Meadow
Paint-and-sip night with guided art, cocktails, and community fun.

🏆 04/14 | 7:00 PM | New York Islanders vs. Washington Capitals | UBS Arena | Elmont
NHL showdown at UBS Arena—Islanders face the Capitals in an electrifying evening of hockey.

🏆 04/14 | All Day | Boston College Men's Golf vs Shark Invitational | Brookville Country Club | Glen Head
College golf tournament featuring Boston College at the Shark Invitational.

🏆 04/19 | 9:30 AM | US Coffee 4 Mile Run/Walk for LLS | Allegria Hotel | Long Beach
Run or walk the Long Beach boardwalk to support cancer research. Kids’ run at 9 AM.

🏆 04/19 | 9:00 PM | Bowlage Easter Eve 6-Game Sweeper | Bowlero | East Meadow
Late-night bowling tournament hosted by Bowlage.com at Bowlero East Meadow.

🏆 04/20 | 8:30 AM | Easter Bunny 5K Run/Walk & Kid’s Fun Run | Eisenhower Memorial Park | East Meadow
Family-friendly 5K and fun run hosted by LIRRC with prizes and Easter fun.

🎸 04/16 | 7:00 PM | Ed Ryan at Bunker Hill American Taproom | Bunker Hill American Taproom | Wantagh
Enjoy live tunes by Ed Ryan at this cozy neighborhood taproom.

🎸 04/17 | 8:00 PM | Jay Aston’s Gene Loves Jezebel / Belouis Some | My Father's Place | Roslyn
Live alt-rock and new wave music from two iconic acts at an intimate Roslyn venue.

🎸 04/18 | 5:00 PM | Ed Ryan at Paddy Power | Paddy Power Bar | Merrick
Live music with Ed Ryan at this local bar known for fun Friday night vibes.

🎸 04/18 | 6:00 PM | The Donovan Project | Johnny McGorey's Pub | Massapequa Park
Solo acoustic performance by Tom Donovan at this cozy neighborhood pub.

🎸 04/18 | 6:00 PM | Perfect Pitch Project | Roosevelt Public Library | Roosevelt
Live jazz for all ages at this special Jazz Appreciation Month performance.

🎸 04/18 | 7:30 PM | Evan & James Live | Prost Grill & Garten | Garden City
Live music at this German-American biergarten with Evan & James Band.

🎸 04/18 | 8:00 PM | Big-O Acoustic | Park Place Restaurant & Bar | Floral Park
Acoustic tunes perfect for date night, a celebration, or friends catching up.

🎸 04/18 | 8:00 PM | Fellow Project / Your Pest Band / Adult Magic / Lewd Vibe | Nostalgia | Bethpage
Live punk and indie sets at Nostalgia, hosted by Dead Broke Rekerds and friends.

🎸 04/19 | 8:00 PM | A Witch's Brew at Sonny's Canal House | Sonny's Canal House | Baldwin
Harbor Live performance by A Witch’s Brew at this waterfront bar and grill.

🎸 04/19 | 8:00 PM | Jones Crusher & more | Mr. Beery's | Plainedge
Live sets from Jones Crusher, the frenzy of tongs, Bad Mary, and Crisis Crayons.

🎸 04/19 | 3:00 PM | Live Band Karaoke | DOX | Barnum Island
Sing with a live band using songbooks packed with pop and rock hits.

🎸 04/19 | 9:30 PM | DJ Theo – Spring Classics | Mulcahy’s Long Island | Wantagh
Live DJ set with VIP bottle service available. Ages 21+, $20–$30 admission.

🎸 04/20 | 7:00 PM | Tyler Hilton | My Father's Place | Roslyn
Live performance by singer-songwriter Tyler Hilton at a classic Long Island venue.

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