Glen Cove-Oyster Bay Record Pilot 3/29/23 edition is published weekly by Anton Media Group.

Glen Cove St. Patrick’s Day Parade Is A Success

Sept. 11 First Responder was parade grand marshal JENNIFER CORR

jcorr@antonmediagroup.com

Though it was a frigid day on March 19, it was a beautiful, blue sky day and the sun provided just enough warmth for the Glen Cove St. Patrick’s Day Parade spectators and marchers.

The Sunday after St. Patrick’s Day has been celebrated with a parade in Glen Cove since 1989. It’s a longstanding tradition, but in 2020, it was canceled for a couple ofyears due to the pandemic. But the parade has been back and in full force, bringing out a huge turnout from Glen Cove and surrounding communities. The parade is organized by the Glen Cove St. Patrick’s Day Committee.

“It was the 35th year so obviously it was a big celebration,” said parade MC Roni Jenkins, adding that Bill Doherty was a parade founder. “One thing that was really special about it was our grand marshal of this year, 2023, is son of William “Bill” Doherty, who was our grand marshal in 2018. That was pretty special to have a father, son grand marshal.”

Ryan W. Doherty, the parade marshal, is a sergeant with the New York MTA Police. He served in the recovery effort at the World Trade Center after 9/11.

“I have been diagnosed with some certified illnesses due to my time down there, and I use my time now to advocate for others that are suffering similar certified illnesses,” Doherty said. “I just like to spread awareness to remind people never to forget. I am a police officer for the past 24 years. The MTA Police Department that

I work for celebrated their 25th anniversary and they have been involved in marching in our Glen Cove parade since 2001... Due to my involvement, the Ceremony Unit and the pipes and drums from the MTA Police Department were nice enough to lead this year’s parade.”

He was honored to be named as the parade marshal, following in his father’s footsteps. He added that the parade was a proud day for his family and a great day for Glen Cove.

“The weather was perfect, I thought it was a great day,” Doherty said. “Four or five months of planning all comes down to one day... And on the day of I was very proud and recalled so many happy memories from past parades because I’ve been involved in this parade since I was a teenager.”

And continuing the tradition of the parade marshal picking the charity the parade

supports, Doherty picked Winters Center for Autism.

“The Winters family was instrumental in helping Ryan’s parents emigrate to New York and get their start in Glen Cove,” Robert Lynch of the committee wrote on the parade website. “To honor the memory of his cousin, Joseph Winter, Ryan supports the Winters Center for Autism, a Long Island-based nonprofit organization that supports adults with autism through job creation, training, and placement while helping businesses employ people with autism.”

Fifty-five groups marched in the parade, including the Irish Wolfhounds and Nassau County Mounted Police, the MTA Color Guard, MTA pipes and drums, the Glen Cove Senior Center, McCabe Irish Dance, local chambers, civic associations and rotaries, and fire departments and emergency medical services from Glen Cove and

surrounding communities, among many others. Cove Animal Rescue also marched with dogs who are up for adoption.

“It’s a nice, special way to honor them and call out to the whole community what Glen Cove is really made out of,” Jenkins said. “We’re a melting pot community and you’ll see the diversity of the people marching.”

Even Jenkins’ father marched with the Glen Cove YMCA.

“Our chairwoman, Lisa Forgione, has been chairing that parade for six years, but she’s been a longtime committee member and prior to her, Andy Stafford was the parade chairperson for nine years,” Jenkins said. “Between the two of them, they got 15 years under their belt. It’s a pretty welloiled machine at this point.”

But there’s been some changes for this year’s parade. The parade route was shortened to half-a-mile long, making it more comfortable for the marchers, especially those holding bag pipes and other heavy instruments. Spectator parking was literally steps from the viewing area. Marchers could park a block away from the end of the parade, and shuttles were there to pick them up and drop them off at the staging area. And the Parade Reviewing Stand was at Village Square, at the climax point of the parade.

At the end of the parade, many of the marchers and spectators made their way to The Metropolitan Caterers for the after party, which sold out a week ahead the parade. “It was fun,” Jenkins said. “We had nonstop Irish music. We had the MTA Pipe Band come and perform at the after party. We had the McCabe Irish Dance company perform and it was so adorable to watch these young girls, which are probably 13 and under, doing Irish Step Dancing for us. And the community who all bought tickets to this event really showed their support.”

see more photos on page 4

Ryan W. Doherty was this year’s parade marshal.

(Photo by Jennifer Corr)

Installation Of Officers-Firemen’s Holy Name Society

The North Shore Firemen’s Holy Name Society held its 72nd Annual Communion Mass and Breakfast on March 5 at Glen Cove’s Church of St. Rocco. The event included the installation of 12 officers.

Local officers sworn in as part of the ceremony included Glen Cove Firefighter Pete Prudente, sworn in as President, Glen Cove Firefighter Tony Tripp, sworn in as secretary, and Glenwood Firefighter, Robert Ottaviano, sworn in as Vice Chairman Executive Board. Glen Cove Fire Chief Robert Retoske was Installing Officer for the ceremony. The other 2023 officers sworn in from across Nassau County included Aloysius Hoey (First Vice President), Andrew Mulchinski (Second Vice President), Joseph Goodrich (Third Vice President), Jeffrey Warner (Fourth Vice President), Thomas Delaporte (Financial Secretary), Jose DaRocha (Chairman Executive Board), George Wulforst (Chairman Emeritus), Father Kevin Smith (Chaplain),

and Deacon Jay Valdes (Chaplain). Sisters from the Dominican Sisters Mother of the Eucharist were invited to share a few words as guest speakers. The welcome was led by Pete Prudente, the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Jeff Warner, Invocation and Grace were shared by Father Daniel Stephen Nash - Can. Reg. Pastor of the Church of St. Rocco, and Toastmaster for the event was Jose DaRocha, who also introduced guests. With Pete Prudente named as President, the Glen Cove Fire Department hosted the annual mass and breakfast.

“It was a very moving service and, as always, the Nonas of St. Rocco’s Holy Name Society prepared a wonderful breakfast,” stated Glen Cove Fire Chief Retoske. “Congratulations to our Glen Cove Firefighters, Pete Prudente and Tony Tripp, and to all of the newly elected officers and the delegates. We were pleased that so many of the firefighters turned out for the event.”

—Submitted by GSM Communications

Photos From The 2023 Glen Cove St. Patrick’s Day Parade

(Continued from page 3)

Glen Cove Fire Chief Robert Retoske swears in officers of the North Shore Firemen’s Holy Name Society at their 72n Annual Communion Mass and Breakfast held at Glen Cove’s Church of St. Rocco. The Nassau County firefighters sworn in included two Glen Cove officers, Pete Prudente, sworn in as President, and Tony Tripp, sworn in as Secretary. Photo courtesy Glen Cove Volunteer Fire Department.

(Photo courtesy GSM Communications)

Nassau County Mounted Police. (Photos by Jennifer Corr)

Friends & Family of Dustin Hill, Motorcycles.

McCabe Irish Dance. Spine Time.

It was an interactive parade, where participants threw candy and green beaded necklaces to the crowd.

The Grinch made an appearance.

North Shore Hispanic Chamber of Commerce dancers.

RAISING HEALTH WITH AWARD-WINNING CARE

Glen Cove Hospital is among the nation's best for acute rehabilitation and we don't stop there. From achieving national recognition in nursing and patient experience to being named an Age - Friendly Center of Excellence, we're proud to offer our community a level of care that exceeds expectations.

Northwell.edu/GlenCoveBest

NOSH Delivers! Marks Third Anniversary

It was March 2020. Business was grounding to a halt for restaurants, travel, entertainment venues and hotels as people stayed home in fear of contracting COVID. Schools had closed, switching to remote learning which meant that a parent had to be at home, not at work.

In the face of this lockdown, it was clear that unemployment and resultant food insecurity would almost immediately become widespread. Courtney Callahan, director of outreach for St. John of Lattingtown Episcopal Church and a veteran of serving the hungry and homeless, reached out to friends and to representatives of community organizations such as the North Shore Soup Kitchen (NSSK), Glen Cove Senior Center, Glen Cove High School and others. Together, they formed the nucleus of an organization that would solicit and distribute groceries to those in need.

From the outset, the group realized that they would have to provide this food assistance by delivering directly to recipients’ homes rather than asking people to come to a pantry.

They chose the name NOSH as it is a word that is fondly associated with food. This nucleus of people that created NOSH then worked to spread word of the need for donations of food.

But lacking a budget to pay rent, they needed a free location to operate from, to receive food donations and to prepare distributions of food for home delivery. Allen Hudson, an administrator, now principal, of Glen Cove High School, thought that the school building might be able to provide a space adjacent to its own food pantry. He involved District Superintendent Dr. Maria L. Rianna. Together they created a first home for NOSH.

Then, with a place to operate from, Linda Eastman of Glen Cove designed NOSH’s systems to receive, organize, package and then deliver donated groceries to recipients in their homes.

She continues to serve as NOSH’S director of operations.

Callahan’s mentor, Estelle Moore of NSSK and the NSSK board, an organiza-

tion with more than 30 years of feeding the hungry, provided guidance to NOSH as well as the fledgling organization’s crucial not-for-profit status that would allow them to accept donations from individuals, supermarkets and the area’s major food banks such as Long Island Cares and Island Harvest. Soon outgrowing its home at the high school, NOSH moved to The Church of St. Rocco and then to the VFW Hall, both in Glen Cove.

Following a devastating fire at the VFW Hall, NOSH was again in need of a home base, a need that was generously met by The People’s Pantry of Oyster Bay, St. Hyacinth Church, The View Restaurant and Grill, and the Glen Cove Senior Center, each of which provided temporary work spaces until NOSH contracted for

Morgan Park Bathhouse Is Complete

After having been closed for years, the Morgan Park bathhouse has had a complete facelift – a new plumbing system installed (not just fixtures), a new roof-rafters/joists replaced along with Azek fascia and soffits, Hardie Board siding, a new epoxy system floor, new partitions installed and painted. Complete and ready for Spring and beyond.

—Submitted by the City of Glen Cove Office of the Mayor

its present home at 32 School Street (back entrance) in Glen Cove.

With NOSH increasingly becoming a larger, more complex organization, over 160 volunteers have since come forward to serve as manager/supervisors, fundraisers, clerical assistants, graphic designers, sorters and packers of donated groceries, slicers of donated bread and delivery drivers of NOSH Bags to recipients’ homes.

As NOSH, now known as NOSH Delivers!, reached its third anniversary this month, it notes that since the organization’s inception in 2020, groceries equaling nearly 500,000 meals have been delivered or otherwise provided to residents across the North Shore, primarily from Roslyn to Bayville. However,

Christine Rice, the chairwoman of NOSH’s board of directors, stresses that although the worst of the COVID epidemic has abated, instances of food insecurity have sharply increased due to inflationary food prices along with the end of the COVIDera expansion of SNAP benefits (the federal government’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). As a result, Rice says that NOSH Delivers! is now assisting a surging number of individuals and families to meet their food needs.

Having now obtained its own nonprofit status, NOSH Delivers! is a 501c3 not-forprofit organization; all contributions are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. To learn more or to donate, please visit www. noshdelivers.org.

—Submitted by NOSH DELIVERS!

NOSH Delivers! volunteers and city officials gather to celebrate NOSH’s new home at 32 School Street. (Photo by Tab Hauser courtesy NOSH Delivers!)

The Morgan Park Bathhouse is ready for the spring. (Photos courtesy the City of Glen Cove Office of the Mayor)

HOLY WEEK AND EASTER SCHEDULE

APRIL 2, 2023 - PALM SUNDAY

The Solemn Entry of Our Lord into Jerusalem

AT ST. PATRICK CHURCH

235 Glen Street, Glen Cove

516.676.0276

7:45 am Mass with Blessing of Palms

8:30 am Bendición de los Ramos (en frente del Gimnasio). Procesión, Misa (Romero Hall)

10:15 am Blessing of Palms (in front of the gym). Procession, Mass

11:45 am Mass with Blessing of Palms

5:00 pm Mass with Blessing of Palms

AT ST. ROCCO

18 Third Street, Glen Cove 516.676.2482

AT ST. HYACINTH

319 Cedar Swamp Road, Glen Head 516.674.3146

7:30 am

with Blessing of Palms

HOLY WEEK

9:00 am Mass with Blessing of Palms

11:15 am Mass in Polish with Blessing of Palms

APRIL 3, 2023 - MONDAY OF HOLY WEEK

9:00 am Mass followed by Confessions (ca. 9:30)

2-4 pm Confessions (in the Church)

6-9 pm Confessions/Confesiones (in the Church/en el Templo)

2-4 pm Confessions

6-9 pm Confessions (in Polish from 7 - 9 pm)

APRIL 4, 2023 - TUESDAY OF HOLY WEEK

9:00 am Mass, followed by Confessions (ca. 9:30)

8:15 am Mass

APRIL 5, 2023 - WEDNESDAY OF HOLY WEEK (SPY WEDNESDAY)

9:00 am Mass, followed by Confessions (ca. 9:30)

7:00 pm Low Mass, Confession (until 8:30)

8:15 am Mass

THE SACRED TRIDUUM of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

9:00 am Liturgy of the Hours (Lauds), followed by Confessions (ca. 9:30)

7:30 pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper/Misa de la Cena del Señor (Romero Hall). Eucharistic Procession to the Altar of Repose in the Church. Adoration in the Church until 10:00 pm

9:00 am Liturgy of the Hours (Lauds), followed by Confessions (ca. 9:30)

6:30 pm Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion (Romero Hall)

8:00 pm Via Crucis en Vivo (Romero Hall)

APRIL 6, 2023 - HOLY THURSDAY

of the Lord’s Supper. Eucharistic Procession to the Altar of Repose in the Madonna Room until Midnight

7:30 pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper. Eucharistic Procession to the Altar of Repose. Adoration until Midnight

APRIL 7, 2023 - GOOD FRIDAY

3:00 pm Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion

7:30 pm Stations of the Cross (Polish)

APRIL 8, 2023 - HOLY SATURDAY

9:00 am Liturgy of the Hours (Matins and Lauds), followed by Confessions (ca. 9:30)

There are no Confessions at 3:30 pm / No hay Confesiones a las 3:30 pm. There is no 4:30 pm Mass on Holy Saturday / No hay Misa a las 4:30 pm.

8:00 pm The Easter Vigil/La Vigilia Pascual - Blessing of Fire and Paschal Candle (in front of the Gym)/ Bendición del Fuego y del Cirio Pascual (en frente del Gimnasio)

7:45 am Mass

8:30 am Misa en Español (Romero Hall)

10:30 am Mass

11:45 am Mass

There is no 5:00 pm Mass on Easter Sunday/No hay Misa a las 5:00 pm.

9:00 am Blessing of Easter Baskets

10:00 am Blessing of Easter Baskets

11:00 am Blessing of Easter Baskets

There are no Confessions at 4:00 pm. There is no 5:00 pm Mass on Holy Saturday.

7:30 pm The Easter Vigil. Blessing of Fire and Paschal Candle.

APRIL 9, 2023 - EASTER SUNDAY

6:00 am Resurrection Procession and Mass (Polish)

9:00 am Mass

11:15 am Mass (Polish)

ATTENTION: On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Easter Week (April 10, 11, and 12) there will be only one daily Mass, at St Patrick, the Territorial Parish, at 9:00 am. There will be no Low Mass/Adoration/Confession on Wednesday of Easter Week (April 12)

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

To place an item in this space, send information two weeks before the event to editors@ antonmediagroup.com.

SATURDAY, APRIL 1

Virtual Program: Irish Genealogy: An Introduction to Archives in Ireland and Their Websites

This session, brought to you by the Genealogy Collective and sponsored by the Glen Cove Public Library, will explore the websites of major repositories and principal archives on the island of Ireland. The presentation will also survey some secondary-level websites that enable researches to dig further into specific collections or geographical areas. The program will be presented via Zoom from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. To sign up, visit glencovelibrary. org.

SUNDAY, APRIL 2

Take Photos With The Easter Bunny

The Oyster Bay Fire Department invites your family to visit the firehouse from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 188 South St. in Oyster Bay and take photos with the Easter Bunny. Bring your own camera. This is a free event.

TUESDAY, APRIL 4

Budget Vote and Trustee Election

The Glen Cove Public Library, 4 Glen Cove Ave., will present its annual budget to the residents of Glen Cove for a vote from 9

a.m. to 9 p.m. The polls will be at the main floor. The public will also be asked to vote for one member of the five-member Library Board of Trustees for a five-year term.

THURSDAY, APRIL 6

Movie Showing: Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

The movie, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, showing at the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Public Library, 89 E Main St., in the Community Room from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. This is the summary: “When the affable host of an elegant Christmas party shoots a man to death, his friends discover secrets that make them less eager to help with his courtroom defense.”

FRIDAY, APRIL 7

Paint Late Adult Night

Open Studio for Adults select Friday nights each month from 6 to 10 p.m. at ClayNation, 38 Forest Avenue in Glen Cove in the back building. There is an $8 studio fee plus the cost of your project. There is

a variety of art projects to choose from Everything needed is provided to complete your art project. Feel free to BYO snacks, drinks and anything else you want to get those creative juices flowing.

SATURDAY, APRIL 8

Oh hoppy day! It’s almost time for the Glen Cove Chamber of Commerce’s 22nd Spring Egg Hunt at Morgan Park, 2-30 Germaine St. in Glen Cove that will begin promptly at 11 a.m. This event is for kids ages 3 to 10, and they will have 12,000 colorful eggs filled with delicious treats and surprises to search for. The Glen Cove Youth Bureau has some surprises in store as well.

SUNDAY, APRIL 9

Easter Buffet Brunch With Egg Hunt

Celebrate Easter at The Mansion at Glen Cove, 200 Dosoris Lane, Glen Cove. The buffet will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the egg hunt time running from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The price for adults is $59 and $30 for kids ages 3 to 10. Babies are free. For more information and to reserve

tickets, visit themansionatglencove.com.

MONDAY, APRIL 24

2023 Culinary Delights at Glen Cove

The Glen Cove Cham ber of Commerce will be holding its 25th Annual Culinary Delights in support of NOSH Delivers Inc. from 6 to 9 p.m. at The Mansion at Glen Cove, 200 Dosoris Lane in Glen Cove. This well attended event allows guests to savor samplings of the Gold Coast’s finest restaurants and is part of the chamber’s mission to promote businesses. For any questions, reach out to the chamber’s office at 516-676-6666 or email info@glencovechamber.org. To buy tickets, visit glencovechamber.org.

SATURDAY, APRIL 29

Live Terrarium Workshop

Come to the Hive Market and Makers Space, 100-102 Audrey Ave. at 1 p.m. to make your own mini environment. Create your own enclosed, miniature ecosystem with tiny foliage plants. Hive will supply terrarium glassware, sections of plants, selection of decorative stones, moss and soil specific to your terrarium’s needs. The class is $45. Sign up at hivemarketob.com.

There are plenty of opportunities to celebrate Easter with your family locally. (Getty Images)

Immigrant Stories: From Tokyo To Long Island, By Way Of Tattoo School

Personal perseverance pays off for one artist

actually discouraged her from going to art school. More and more, she knew she had to make a fresh start, and so she moved to New York in 2007.

aolsen@antonmediagroup.com

Growing up in Tokyo, Japan, Nasa

Tsuchiya always loved to draw. As a child she had a strong interest in anime and the art of video games and hoped to one day become a cartoonist. However, as so often happens, adolescence took her down a different path. She started spending more time just hanging with her friends and lost who she wanted to be. Fresh out of school she took a job at a hostess bar where she made decent money. She also partied with her friends, drinking and playing poker until all hours of the night. She was languishing. “One day I was thinking ‘I have to get out of this. All my friends are bad, and we play poker and drink and we don’t even know what day today is. We don’t even know how long we played poker.’ So I wanted to get out of that environment.”

Tsuchiya recalled.

This led to a pivotal moment for Tsuchiya. The man she was dating at the time had some tattoo magazines, and there was an ad in one of them for a tattoo school. “And I thought, ‘oh, If I pay, I can learn tattooing. That’s cool.’” When she saw the advertisement, it reminded her of her childhood love of drawing, and her ambition to be a cartoonist. Her passion for art reignited, and she was determined to become a tattoo artist.

Tattooing is still very taboo in Japan because of the criminal element. Tattoos are often associated with the Yakuza, a Japanese organized crime syndicate. “If you have a tattoo in Japan, you can’t even go to the gym. No pool, no sauna, you can’t even go to some beaches. It doesn’t matter if you are female or male, it’s taboo. If you have tattoo, you are bad person. That’s what people usually think.” Tsuchiya said.

Attending the tattoo school suited Tsuchiya, since she didn’t feel comfortable putting herself out there. “I’m pretty shy. So I can’t really be like ‘hey, I wanna be apprentice, can you teach me how to tattoo?’ I cannot be like this.” She started at the tattoo school before refining her drawing skills, which seems backwards to her in retrospect. “My drawing was terrible. So I learned to tattoo first. I know I have to draw learn drawing.” She wanted to improve her drawing, but her friends and acquaintances were not supportive. They

When Tsuchiya arrived, she didn’t speak English. She got her student visa through language school and began classes immediately. She also enrolled in art school at the same time. “In the morning I went to language school, and in the afternoon I went to art school, but I couldn’t understand what my teachers were talking about, you know.” But she stuck by her commitment to become a tattoo artist in the US. Still, there were times when it felt overwhelming and frustrating. “One day I came home and cried, I was so frustrated. I didn’t understand what people were talking about. I wanted to express myself, but I was always frustrated. I cried so much.” It took about two years for her to get a strong grasp of English, and then things started to improve. In 2010, she started seeking employment at some local tattoo shops, but her lack of a portfolio made this difficult. Finally, a shop took a chance on hiring her, and from there she was able to build a strong portfolio of work.

Tsuchiya has noticed an increase in the number of women working in the industry. When she first started in the U.S., it was rare to see another woman tattoo artist. “When I went to the first shop in the US, every single person is a male artist. No female. Maybe only the piercer, she is female. But everybody else was a guy.” These days, however, more and more shops are hiring women. In 2013 she even worked at an all-female shop in Queens.

And there have been other advances as well. Both Tsuchiya and her coworker were pregnant at the same time, and they worked through their pregnancies. The shop she works in offers maternity leave, and when she returned, they helped her breastfeed comfortably.

From a wild youth to solidly established in her chosen field, Tsuchiya’s story proves its possible to achieve your goals. She took her passion for drawing and turned it into a career through hard work and perseverance. Nasa Tsuchiya is currently working at Lark Tattoo in Westbury. To view her work, check out her Instagram at @nasatsuchiya.

The United States is a nation of immigrants. Their stories can inspire and amaze. Each one is a glimpse of another perspective, enriching and encouraging. Do you have an immigrant story to tell? Email aolsen@ antonnews.com with a brief biography and contact information. Your story could be featured in a future issue.

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Community College Faculty Continue To Ask For Fair Contract

The Nassau Community College Federation of Teachers (NCCFT) has called on the Nassau Community College Board of Trustees to agree to a fair contract for NCC’s educators and to reverse a devastating health care cost increase amid rising inflation rates.

NCC is an asset and an investment in the community. For every $1 invested in NCC, the community receives $6.80 over the course of a student’s working life, according to the American Association of Community Colleges. But according to the MIT Living Wage Calculator, many NCC educators are paid $30,000 less than a living wage despite this value.

Nassau Community College trustees gathered on Feb. 9 for the 7:00 public session of their monthly meeting The crowd of faculty and students that filled the room remained in good spirits, buoyed by spontaneous speeches of students while they waited. They were rallying for a fair contract for full-time faculty, who have been working without a contract since Sept 1, 2022. Faculty stated that at a time of high inflation, soaring housing and transportation costs, and after years of contracts with wage freezes or mere 1.1% wage increase, faculty wages have simply not kept up with the cost of living in Nassau County.

FRANK RIZZO

In the words of NCCFT President Faren Siminoff, “Faculty have sacrificed for the College for over a decade. It’s time the College acknowledges this, and it can start by giving us a fair contract.” Speakers emphasized the plight of “junior” faculty, those hired after 2014; their first-year salaries are below $60,000. Modest salaries are further reduced by mandatory 6% contributions into pensions, and 15% contributions into health insurance premiums — which,

if combined with a pay reduction to cover health insurance premium increases which the College announced to the union in January — would total about $10,000 for family coverage in the New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP) Empire Plan– and even more if the faculty member is enrolled in the Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance plan Faculty shared that these low starting salaries are leading to difficulty in

attracting qualified applicants. Biology Chair Christine Tuaillion stated that the full-time faculty union (NCCFT) had been willing to allow recent job applicants to start at a higher position in order to earn more, but the College refused; as a result, the applicant turned down NCC as coming here would have amounted to a $15,000 cut in earnings. One junior faculty member shared that she has educational loans from graduate school to repay and “our salary simply does not cover the bills.”

The Nassau Community College Federation of Teachers is a local of New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), a federation of more than 900 local unions representing more than 480,000 people who work in, or are retired from, New York’s schools, colleges, and healthcare facilities. NYSUT represents classroom teachers, college and university faculty and professional staff, school bus drivers, custodians, secretaries, cafeteria workers, teacher assistants and aides, nurses and healthcare technicians.

NYSUT is part of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the fastest growing union in the United States. We are also part of the AFL-CIO and Education International.

‘One Pill Can Kill: One And Done’

residents.

frizzo@antonmediagroup.com

Putting a face on the opioid crisis, Carole Trottere held up a photo of her son Alex Sutton, who died of a heroin fentanyl poisoning on April 8, 2018. The Suffolk County resident, who spent a career as a public relation professional for various Nassau County politicians, joined Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman at a press conference on March 20 at the Theodore Roosevelt Executive & Legislative Building in Mineola.

The county, as part of its multi-pronged effort to fight the overdose crisis, will place naloxone (Narcan) kits wherever there is a external defibrillator at one of its facilities. Sixty kits were donated by the Long Island Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence (LICADD), based in Westbury. Nalaxone counters an opioid-induced coma and is credited with saving many lives as its use has spread from emergency professionals to everyday

Trottere expressed her gratitude for the Narcan kits and stated, “I’m not the only grieving parent here today. I just want to point out, I have many fellow grieving parents. It’s like the club that no one wants to belong to. And I’m one of thousands of parents on Long Island. If you do the math with the stats of how many people have died of fentanyl poisonings, just multiply that by how many parents and other loved ones and families are affected.”

Trottere added, “You have to keep driving home the fact that these children live in a very dangerous world now, unfortunately. And if I had to say something to the young people...[it’s that] death is permanent. And you’re going to leave behind a family that is heartbroken for the rest of their life.”

Blakeman contemplated how the public would react if a commercial plane crashed every day, killing 300 people. That’s the daily toll across this country of overdoses, many caused by the powerful and widely available synthetic opiate fentanyl. The county’s medical examiner, Blakeman related, counted 270 overdose deaths in 2021, 190 of them from fentanyl. He said

the figures seemed to be trending lower in 2022, but final stats were not yet available.

“The fentanyl crisis is pervasive in every community, including ours,” Blakeman said. “And what we are trying to do here today is to save lives, especially the lives of our young people, to educate them and

—Submitted by NCCFT

to give them tools so that if they are in a situation where they are overdosing, they have the ability or someone else has the ability to rescue them and save their lives.”

Earlier this year, the county made a $2.4 million investment in treatment, education and prevention at its mental health ward at Nassau University Medical Center [NUMC].

“What we find out from a lot of parents that have children who have this kind of substance abuse is that they have some kind of psychological or psychiatric event, and there’s not enough places to treat them for that. So that’s one of the reasons why we put the money [at NUMC],” Blakeman said.

Blakeman noted that the county plans to spend $15 million in each of the next four years, its share of the money from a multi-billion settlement agreed to by opioid manufacturers and distributors.

“We want to make sure that the money gets to organizations that have a track record and that get things done,” said Blakeman, who added he will be guided by a committee of professionals on how to best disburse the funds.

Read a longer story at www.longislandweekly.com.

Faculty, staff and students gathered at the monthly NCC trustees meeting in February.

(Photo by nccft.org)

The county will place 60 of these Narcan kits wherever there is a external defibrillator at one of its facilities.

(Photo by Frank Rizzo)

County Adds $2 Million In State Funds To Septic Upgrade Program

The Nassau County Legislature voted unanimously on Monday, Feb. 27 to dedicate an additional $2,030,000 in New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) funding toward helping residents and small business owners upgrade and modernize their septic systems.

Nassau homeowners and small businesses that discharge less than 1,000 gallons a day of wastewater are eligible to receive up to $20,000 in grants toward the installation of nitrogen-reducing septic systems through Nassau County’s S.E.P.T.I.C. (Septic Environmental Program to Improve Cleanliness) program. The

initiative is funded by NYS EFC resources and matching funds from the County’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allotment; to date, Nassau County has allocated more than $7 million in ARPA funds toward this environmental initiative.

“These state resources will go a long way toward protecting the single-source aquifer and our precious drinking water from nitrogen pollution,” Nassau County Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton (D –Glen Cove) said. “Thanks to this grant program, it is more affordable than ever for eligible property owners to benefit from having a modern, environmentally

Prevent Fraud; Protect Your Medicare Card From Scammers

friendly septic system – and I encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity while funds are still available.”

This latest round of state support for the replacement of septic systems in Nassau County was part of approximately $225 million in grants for critical initiatives that protect freshwater quality, public health, and the environment.

“The Nassau County Soil and Water Conservation District (NCSWCD), which manages Nassau’s S.E.P.T.I.C. program, has worked diligently with County representatives, community members, and industry

professionals to streamline the application process and make it easier and faster for Nassau County homeowners, not for profits, and small businesses to access these critical program funds,” NCSWCD District Manager Derek Betts said.

Visit www.nassaucountyny.gov/591/ Nassau-Septic or call 516-364-5861 to learn if you are eligible for a S.E.P.T.I.C. program grant. Feel free to also contact Legislator DeRiggi-Whitton at 516-5716211 or dderiggiwhitton@nassaucountyny. gov.

—Submitted by the Office of Delia DeRiggi-Whitton

OPED COLUMN The Storage Unit

Many seniors receive phone calls from scammers who are posing as Medicare or Social Security personnel. These persuasive callers will offer any number of temptations to earn your trust and whet your appetite such as free merchandise including back braces, sweaters, and wheelchairs. They’ll say, “all I need is for your Medicare number.” If you’ve gotten this far, stop right there. NEVER give your Medicare or any other identifying information to anyone you don’t know, whether by phone call, text or email.

Please ignore these callers and hang up, whatever they are offering you. You should only get medical devices or treatments from your own doctor or health care provider. These scammers have no idea about your health conditions and what you may or may not need, but may lead you on to obtain your personal information.

If you do place an order with one of these random callers, oftentimes you will receive an off-the-shelf piece of equipment; a foam neck brace, for example, yet Medicare will be billed for a custom designed piece of equipment such as your doctor might recommend. In addition to potentially damaging your health, this transaction has the potential to damage your wallet. If Medicare has paid for an expensive item under false pretenses, and you need one down the road, Medicare will not pay again, an expensive potential risk.

Medicare sends a Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) to beneficiaries every three months. It is important to examine these

There are only so many places a man can put things. Some may call it “junk,” like my wife, but during a man’s life, he just accumulates things.

As a music lover, I’ve accumulated over 200 albums and duplicated many of them during the great CD migration of the late ‘80s. Who knew that 35 years later, music streaming services would make CDs obsolete? Although 2022 marked the first time since 1987 that vinyl record sales outpaced CDs, I’m not buying another copy of “The White Album” under any circumstances. I don’t even own a turntable anymore. Come to think of it; I don’t have a CD player either. But I have over 250 CDs sitting in a cabinet.

LONG ISLAND LIVING

Barry

Kiltsberg, Nassau County Medicare Counselor

notices to make sure that the services that Medicare has paid for were actually ordered and received by you. If you have any question about the services Medicare paid for, you can call Medicare at 1-800-Medicare and they can give you more details about the service and provider.

Medicare pays out about $60 billion a year due to fraud, abuse and waste. We all pay a price for Medicare fraud, either directly or indirectly. It is up to all of us to protect the Medicare program by being a careful consumer. A critical part of your role is to remember to always treat your health insurance card like a credit card and protect it.

Barry Klitsberg is an Assistant Health Insurance Information Counseling and Assistance (HIICAP) Coordinator at FCA in Garden City.

Although I donated most of my DVD collection to the Armed Forces a few years ago, I still possess three versions of Star Wars. I’ve kept my boxed sets of the Rocky films, Die Hard, and Back to the Future. To be honest, if the Blu-Ray player is hooked up to the TV, I’m not sure I know how to use it.

If I knew that someday you could watch virtually anything using your remote control, I might have saved money and been driving a Porsche today.

This past holiday season, the back room in our basement was packed with so much crap that it was a considerable effort to reach the decorations, much less drag them out of their hiding space. Large plastic tote containers holding the kid’s old schoolwork and Beanie Babies blocked empty suitcases waiting to go on vacation again. The floor was littered with boxes of things I hadn’t looked at in years.

Without the luxury of an attic or a garage, something had to give. We can’t live this

Paul DiSclafani pdisco23@aol.com

way. In another year or so, you might find us on an episode of Hoarders.

So, I broke down and rented a storage unit.

After doing some research, I found that many Long Islanders seem to need a storage unit outside their home. Some places had waiting lists, others just tiny rooms available. I finally secured a 5 x 10 unit that was so spacious and clean; I almost wept while signing the contract. This piece of real estate was now mine to do with what I pleased.

But how do I make decisions on what stays and what goes? It certainly doesn’t make any sense to haul junk from one place to another, right? Of course, therein lies the rub. The very definition of junk varies wildly between spouses. After almost 40 years of marriage, I’ve found that my wife considers

see DISCLAFANI on page 7A

SANTOS WATCH So Long, Farewell (For Now) Making time to turn away from the spectacle

JANET BURNS

jburns@antonmediagroup.com

As this column has explored for the past few months, Representative George Santos (NY-03) quickly became far more visible this year in national news than most of us likely expected, regardless of political party, when we visited voting booths last fall.

Here in his congressional district, like the rest of the country, the name “George Santos” has gone from being an explosive prompt at the water cooler to a punchline so familiar that it’s nearly lost all meaning (except as a wink to audiences, whether on rightwing blogs or in a subway poster for the musical Shucked).

Regardless of what awaits Santos in the ongoing congressional investigation or in the ballot box come 2024, his story has in many ways passed on from the realm of informative news into the world of entertainment — or perhaps that’s where it always was, and was intended to be. Few of us would likely deny that, overall, it’s often been a theatrical affair.

As Liz Skalka put it for the Huffington Post back on January 28, a mere six weeks into the scandal: “[I]t feels like we’ve learned too much about Santos and also nothing at all. Every twist of the Santos saga is like a new episode of a show you’re being forced to watch because everybody else is ... The product is a cartoonish rendering of an allegedly corrupt congressman, one who is apparently so money-obsessed that he’ll sell out your pet and lie about his own mother for clout ... That [notoriety] might be exactly what he wants.”

As such, while the Rep. Santos fires are being kept burning by major media outlets and various federal investigative bodies, Anton Media Group will be taking a needed break from Santos Watch, at least for a while — stepping out to Switzerland for our own well-being a la The Sound of Music, if you will, carrying along the knowledge that we can always return someday.

In the meantime, we’ll also be waiting to see if this dramatic saga ultimately plays out like The Producers, with its timeless message that those who mess around with financial malfeasance and/or white supremacy will probably end up in jail.

COLUMN

Spring Into New!

What does spring mean to you? For many of us, it means spring cleaning around our home - getting rid of the old and refreshing our spaces with something new. How about spring cleaning for our bodies? Consider your body as a special home that needs spring cleaning too!

During spring, our bodies want to shed toxicity and start anew. But how do we do that?

My patients are often occupied with a busy lifestyle. I can

recommend a 7-day detoxification plan but for some of us, it is not an option.

My solution to this common problem is a series of simple steps that are attainable for everyone.

Start your day with a glass of warm water and lemon. This magic drink will help your liver and kidneys cleanse themselves of toxins.

While shopping at the

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A screenshot from Mel Brooks’ The Producers, during the play-within-a-play musical number “Springtime for Hitler.”

A screenshot of the final scene from 20th Century Fox’s The Sound of Music.

A poster for the Broadway musical “Shucked” takes a jab at Rep. Santos.

Halloween In March

JENNIFER CORR

jcorr@antonmediagroup.com

Halloween was about five months ago, but I still love anything spooky or creepy no matter what time of year.

My name is Jennifer and I will be writing a weekly column about different activities you can do around Long Island, and beyond, that are affordable, do-able and will provide an easy way to add some excitement to your week. So you may be thinking, how could you possibly celebrate Halloween in March? Well, there are two local places where it’s Halloween year-round: Haunted House of Hamburgers in Farmingdale and Monster Mini Golf, which has locations in Deer Park and Garden City. Both locations are about a 20-minute drive away from Haunted House of Hamburgers, making it a perfect pairing to have a themed day trip or night out.

My friend Victoria had been telling me that she wanted to check out Haunted House of Hamburgers and Monster Mini Golf, and I said why not try both? So on Wednesday, we went to Haunted House of Hamburgers for dinner, and then to Monster Mini Golf in Deer Park.

If you are going to visit this Halloweenthemed restaurant, I recommend making reservations. Even on a Wednesday night, the place was packed and all but one table was filled. Since I made a reservation, we were seated pretty quickly, and we also got our drinks right away. There are an assortment of spooky-themed cocktails and mocktails, as well as just regular fountain drinks. Victoria ordered a cotton candy mocktail, and paid the extra $2 to add smoke to it. I just got water.

All the burgers, sandwiches, salads and entrees were also Halloween-themed. And there’s plenty of options and variety, which should make everybody at your table happy. I ordered the Tarantula Burger, but subbed in an Impossible Burger since I don’t eat meat. I also asked for them to hold the bacon. The burger came with a toasted brioche bun with the restaurant logo pressed onto it, pepper jack cheese, onion strings, lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles and garlic mayo. Victoria got the Growling Grilled Chicken which came with

grocery store, make a habit of reading labels and avoiding ingredients like artificial sweeteners and hydrogenated oils. They reintroduce toxins back into your body, so stay clear!

Make a habit of sweating too. That means heart-pumping exercise or short sessions in the sauna. These activities will promote cleansing of toxins.

Don’t forget to eat a diet fortified with organic vegetables, lean protein, healthy fats, nuts, and fruits. The nutrients from these healthy foods will aid the cleansing process.

grilled chicken breast, lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles and mayo on a brioche bun with the logo. We both got sides of sweet potato fries, and everything was absolutely delicious.

My only complaint about this restaurant was that there was about an hour wait time to get our food, though the dessert I got after, mint chocolate chip ice cream came pretty quickly. The two scoops were big enough to share between the both of us. Uniquely, we also got to witness what happens when a smoke alarm goes off in a restaurant. Local fire fighters came in to check to make sure we were safe, but the staff handled the situation excellently and continued serving all their guests.

The atmosphere of the restaurant was excellent. The dining room was lit by black light, and there was Halloween decorations everywhere you looked. A scary soundtrack played the entire time and overall we both had a wonderful time. For everything we got, including drinks, dinner and a dessert it came out to about $70 in total.

Afterwards, we made our way to Monster Mini Golf. Inside there’s a huge arcade, where you can win tickets that will get you your standard arcade prizes. In the back there’s the monster-themed mini golf. A game is $12, and you can choose if you want to keep score or not. We didn’t. The course does challenge you, but not too much making it ideal for children and people who are just playing for fun like me. My favorite parts of the course was where there were little obstacles.

Want more tips? Read below for Dellonutritionals-approved Spring Into Health tips that will help you feel refreshed this spring!

• Avoid processed and fast foods that contain chemical ingredients.

• Stick to organic whenever possible.

• Soak in some rays daily for your dose of vitamin D.

• Eat enzyme-rich foods, like yogurt, sauerkraut, kefir, and miso soup.

• Take probiotics.

• Eat natural foods with more color. They are typically enriched with

Overall, these two local attractions makes for a great day out with the family, on a date or with a friend. At both places, there were

adults, teenagers and families with children enjoying what there was to offer, making them appropriate for all ages.

everything located in the back room, without exception, junk.

Surely there must be room in our lives for the box of beer mugs I procured from the many different bars I’ve been to throughout my lifetime. Why would she insist I trash over 30 years of paperwork from my Fantasy Football league? Plenty of outdated electronics without power cords are taking up space down there, but I can’t bring myself to throw them out.

After a couple of trips to the new storage room, we are making progress. I can see the floor again, so that’s a start. You wouldn’t believe how much

antioxidants!

• Stick to whole, plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds.

• Practice deep breathing daily.

• Eliminate common allergens such as wheat, soy, dairy products, and peanuts.

• Choose organic, naturally raised, and pastured meats like free-range organic poultry.

• Eliminate refined sugars.

• Avoid caffeine and alcohol, which are dehydrating. Choose organic

you can cram into a 5 x 10 storage room. We still have a long way to go, but we’re taking this one day at a time. “Maybe,” my wife said, “If you spent time going through all that junk and threw most of it out, we wouldn’t need a storage room.”

Oh, the horror!

How dare she call my box full of old hockey jerseys I no longer fit into junk! Maybe someday I’ll need that calculus textbook with all the necessary items highlighted. What about all of her junk?

After thoroughly reviewing all the items taking up space in the basement, I can honestly report that none belonged to my wife.

green tea instead.

• Crack open some eggs. Protein helps repair cells that have suffered free radical damage. Eggs are a complete source of protein and they also contain biotin, an essential vitamin that protects against dry skin.

• Grow an herb garden. It’s easier than you think, and herbs like basil, rosemary, and parsley are loaded with antioxidants.

Wishing you a happy and healthy spring!

The course at Monster Mini Golf.

What I ordered from Haunted House of Hamburgers. (Photos by Jennifer Corr)

NUTRITION from page 6A

DISCLAFANI from page 5A

WE LOVE OUR PETS Got A Mystery Mutt? DNA Testing!

identification, as well as information on traits and risk assessment for genetic diseases.

My family has always rescued dogs. From the time I was little, I can recall the click-clack of paws on our tile floors, floating tufts of various colored hair, and the early morning barking which disturbed me from slumber. Rescuing dogs has been one of the greatest things my family has done, for the dogs sure, but especially for us. We are proud that we are able to bring these troubled animals to a home where they will be safe and loved. However, perhaps the biggest disappointment when it comes to rescuing is that we rarely - if ever - truly know our dogs.

I do not mean in a personality aspect. Anyone who has a pet knows that they often make their likes and dislikes - and quirks - very clear. What I mean is rescue animals rarely come with a detailed, full genetic report. There have been times where we are lucky to even guess at their age or place of origin. My mother, who prides herself on being a dog encyclopedia, very often can determine to some extent what breed or breeds a dog might be. This is the method we have used thus far in our pet owning journey, but we were all stumped when we recently adopted our newest dog.

This is Red! We rescued him from a group called A New Chance Animal Rescue, a foster home rescue based in Bedford Hills. We know he hails from Louisiana, was one of a litter of seven, and has come a long way from being cripplingly shy and contact-avoidant to the mushy, attention lover he is today. When we first saw him, we had guesses as to what he could potentially be. Breeds such as Lab, Shepherd, even Chow Chow were options. My mother’s skills were truly put to the test as we stared into his golden brown eyes. However, for as much as we felt certain about his personality, we were completely stumped on what breed or breeds he could be. He was truly our first

mystery mutt.

For as helpful and experienced as the rescue agency is, they - like most facilities - cannot offer genetic screening for their animals. While shelters and rescue agencies do their best to provide as much information as possible, oftentimes a lack of resources and support mean that they are just as limited as the typical homeowner might be in cracking down on what breed a dog is. Priority is given to ensuring the health, welfare, and well-being of potential adoptees. This is a noble task, but leaves little room for the in-depth exploration of a dog’s history that one might receive from other sources such as a breeder.

This is not to promote breeding over rescuing. I firmly believe in the healing power

of animal rescue and will always promote it first and foremost. And thankfully, many companies have made it possible for adopters to determine for themselves what exactly their dog is made of. For our family, we turned to the DNA test kit Wisdom Panel. DNA test kits have gained a lot of popularity in recent years as we all look for answers to where we come from. Pet DNA kits are no different, and have boomed as a market to allow pet owners to discover much more about their animals. Red being the first dog we could not really identify sparked our interest in pursuing a more scientific approach. I was able to order a Wisdom Panel kit online. The company offers a variety of tests – including one for cats – depending on what information you are looking for. Because we had never done a DNA test before, we opted for their Essential Kit, which included dog breed

We were sent two swabs in the mail, as well as packaging to store them in and a box and return label. In order to gather DNA from Red, we needed to swab the inside of his cheek for several seconds. While he is a very good boy, this was not exactly his favorite part of the process, so I do recommend having a second person available to help distract your pet while collecting a swab. (It is not a painful process, but your pet might be a little confused and squirmish!) We waited for the swabs to fully dry and then repacked them in the box to return to Wisdom Panel’s labs. When the results came in, we were all shocked.

According to the results, Red consisted of eight breeds - far more than we had anticipated! He also had some surprising DNA. We had been right that he consisted of breeds like Chow Chow and Lab but were also surprised to learn he was 1/5 Border Collie, a breed which had not even crossed our minds. There were also some unexpected breeds which turned up, such as a McNab, which none of us had heard of before. The test was able to provide a type breakdown as well, indicating that his breeds consist of mostly “herding” dogs, as well as “Asian and Oceanian” and a little bit of “sporting”. We were relieved to learn that he did not test positive for a variety of potential health complications. We even learned a few interesting facts about his traits, including what genes contributed to his brownish-red color, why he has a certain number of toes, and where some of his behaviors likely stem from.

We were blown away by just how much we were able to learn from this experience. Mixed bag or purebred, a lot can be gained from understanding your pet’s background, including how to be an even better pet owner in the future. For our family, doing a pet DNA test offered a lot of answers, and we can confidently say he is no longer a “Mystery” mutt!

Red on his way to our house after adoption. (Contributed photo)

Some of Red’s breed results surprised our family. (Photo courtesy of Wisdom Panel website)

Red was screened for several genetic complications. (Photo courtesy of Wisdom Panel website)

Recently Sold HOMES

This two-story brick and stone Tudor home at 72 Jayson Ave. in the University Gardens section of Great Neck sold on Feb. 2 for $855,000. It has a large living room with a fireplace, a formal dining room and stained glass windows. It has a large eat-in-kitchen with gas cooking. Two of the bedrooms with a full bathroom are located on the main level, while the third bedroom and second full bathroom is located on the second level. The one-car garage is detached. This home is conveniently located near Northern Boulevard, parks, shopping, buses, railroad and major highways. It is in the Great Neck School District and zoned for Great Neck South middle and high schools. Great Neck residents enjoy park district amenities such as the Olympic-sized pools, a lazy river, ice skating rink, sports courts and the waterfront at Steppingstone Park.

This recently upgraded, charming, sundrenched four bedroom brick Cape at 65 Jayson Ave. in the University Gardens section of Great Neck sold on March 3 for $1,200,000. The first floor features a bright living room with a fireplace, dining room, a large sunroom, cathedral ceilings, two bedrooms and one full bathroom. The second floor has two oversized bedrooms with large closets and built-in drawers, a full bathroom and cathedral ceilings. Recent updates to the home include a newly renovated open kitchen with stainless steel appliances, a new Forti range hood, new air conditioning, new washer and dryer, a new furnace and water heater and a newly renovated sunroom. The large, tiled backyard offers flat grassy area that are perfect for outdoor activities and summer barbecues. The long driveway can accommodate up to five parking spaces and includes a one-car detached garage. This home is within walking distance to the railroad, bus stop, parks, grocery, elementary school and more.

New York’s volunteer firefighters, which respond to emergency calls in a majority of the state, save not only lives and property, but also billions in taxpayer dollars. According to an economic impact study released by the Firefighters Association of the State of New York (FASNY), these dedicated volunteers help New York taxpayers save $4.7 billion annually through their services.

The report emphasizes the critical role of volunteer firefighters in safeguarding New York’s communities and helping to save lives. The 80,000 volunteer firefighters in the state provide vital protection and services during emergencies and contribute significantly to their communities through continuous training, outreach, and fire safety education. They also play a critical role in the statewide response plans to major emergencies and natural disasters.

Prepared by Resolution Economics (ResEcon), the “Economic Study of The Tax Savings Generated by New York’s Volunteer Fire Service” is the second study in the past decade to examine the economic impact of New York’s volunteer firefighters. Volunteer firefighters keep local taxes and expenses low by eliminating the need to pay career firefighters wages, benefits and related costs. New York relies heavily on volunteer

fire departments, and a conversion to paid departments would cause a severe economic burden and require a massive increase in property taxes.

“Without the dedication and service of the brave volunteers throughout the state, local taxpayers would face a significant financial burden to fund the type of emergency response they are accustomed to,” said FASNY President Edward Tase, Jr.

Among the report findings:

• Fully paid career departments would cost taxpayers $4.7 billion annually in pay, benefits, operating, maintenance, and capital costs.

• 31,058 full-time paid firefighters would need to be hired.

• Of the state’s 1,640 fire departments, 93.2 percent are all-volunteer or mostly volunteer.

• If New York switched to an all-paid fire service: local government property taxes would rise an average of 28.4 percent absent volunteer firefighters (taxes would increase between 5.8 percent and 133.8 percent depending on the county) and there would be a one-time cost of $8.17 billion to acquire existing structures, vehicles and equipment.

Founded in 1872, FASNY represents the interests of approximately 80,000 volunteer firefighters and emergency medical personnel in the state. Visit www. fasny.com for more details.

—FASNY

Homes shown here represent closed sales, sold by a variety of agencies and are selected for their interest to readers by the Anton Media Group editor. Except where noted, data and photos are provided courtesy of Multiple Listing Service of Long Island, Inc. and Zillow.

& LIFESTYLE

Cult-Classic The Room Celebrates 20 Years

Star of film hosts screening at Cinema Art Centre in Huntington

The Room is known as the worse movie ever made, but many consider it the best

The plot follows a successful bank executive named Johny, who is happily engaged with Lisa, until she seduces his best friend Mark. From there, nothing is ever the same again. There are also many sub-plots in this film, including Denny, a young man Johny practically adopted, having a run in with some trouble when he’s unable to pay back drug money, Lisa’s mother mentioning she was diagnosed with breast cancer once and the house of Johny and Lisa basically having an open door policy where any of their friends can walk in at any time.

The plot may not seem that wild to anyone who hasn’t seen the movie, but what makes it so special is the movie’s director, writer and star, Tommy Wiseau. He certainly stands out with his long black hair, sunglasses and European accent. Yet nobody knows where he’s from, how old he is and how he became rich. If you ask him where he’s from, he’ll likely say “New Orleans.”

The dialogue in the movie is what also makes it famous. Some compare the script to what artificial intelligence or aliens would come up with if they were trying to write a script about humans.

Though the movie, with a $6 million budget, only made $1,916 with its initial Hollywood release in 2003, it has since earned its title of cult-classic. Greg Sestero, the film’s co-star and a close friend of Wiseau (they met at an acting class in San Francisco in 1998), wrote a book about the making of the movie called The Disaster Artist in 2013. And in 2017, James Franco directed a film adaption of the book. James Franco played Wiseau, Dave Franco played Sestero and Seth Rogen plays the script supervisor. Many other famous comedians and actors also took part in the film.

On March 17, in celebration of The Room’s 20th anniversary, Sestero made a stop at the Cinema Art Centre in Huntington as part of a screening tour of the movie. There, he hosted a meet and greet and held a Q&A with fans. Two screenings were held at the

and the 7:30 p.m. showing was sold out. There were only a few seats open for the 8:30 p.m. screening.

Watching The Room with an audience is a much different experience than watching it alone. Similar to watching live screenings of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, there’s a ritual to watching The Room.

There’s a framed photo of a spoon in the set’s living room that finds itself in the background of many scenes. Whenever the crowd spots this photo, someone will scream “spoon!” and audience members will throw plastic spoons at the screen. When a character appears on screen with little explanation of who are they and how they know the main characters, people will scream “who are you?” During long stock footage of the Golden Gate Bridge, the audience will yell “Go! Go! Go!” until the car crossing the bridge finishes its journey. Some clap to the R&B music that plays during the uncomfortably long sex scenes. These are just some of the things fans do when watching this movie.

Ahead of the screening at the Cinema Art Centre, Long Island Weekly had the chance to ask Sestero some questions about the making of the movie, what he’s up to now and about his friend Wiseau.

Long Island Weekly: Have you ever been to New York?

Sestero: It was in New York I went to a screening at Ziegfeld Theatre that I got the idea to write the book Disaster Artist. It was the seventh anniversary when I realized

people love this movie, and the story behind this movie is even more crazy. New York always brings about good vibes.

Long Island Weekly: Could you imagine that these screenings of The Room would still be showing 20 years later? And what’s your favorite part about doing these screenings?

Sestero: Back in the day, I didn’t think anyone would see it. There’s a lot of big studio films, a lot of big movies that just come and go. Especially for me back then, I just thought it would be something that would never come out. What are the odds of ever putting out a totally independent film? It’s just one of those things I’ve come to embrace, because clearly there’s something about this movie people really like. I’ve attended weddings of people that are now married and have families because of this movie. And that’s what you set out to make films for, is to connect people. And that’s what this movie’s done. I think this year is about celebrating the connections and joy this crazy movie has brought people. And for myself, I always wanted to get into writing and film making, so I was able to write The Disaster Artist because of The Room and I’m now making a UFO abduction movie, and without The Room I know that stuff would never be possible.

Long Island Weekly: What was the process of writing The Disaster Artist?

Sestero: I wrote a sequel to Home Alone, called “Home Alone, Lost in Disney World,” when I was 12, so I always wanted to make

movies and tell series... And then when The Room amassed a cult following and people were asking questions, I thought the making of The Room would make a great movie in itself... And so, it was really about trying to tell a story about much more than the making of that movie. It was about two friends following their dreams, two friends who were polar opposites. Really, I wanted the Disaster Artist to be a book anybody could pick up.

Long Island Weekly: Did the bad reviews of The Room bother you at first?

Sestero: I was always fascinated by the character of Tommy because I met him in an acting class and I watched him perform and I thought ‘does anybody see how entertaining this is? What would people think if they saw this guy in front of a crowd?” I got the comedy early on, nobody else did. So when we made The Room and it started showing, I thought, ‘what are people going to think?’ Because I was a passenger of this crazy journey, I was always intrigued by the response.

Long Island Weekly: What does your friendship with Wiseau look like now?

Sestero: We still talk pretty frequently. This year it will be 25 years since we met in an acting class. It’s just one of those things where after a certain point you’re connected forever. I enjoy the wacky places that he can push you to go. I think at times we get comfortable in life and it’s cool to try new things, and when you’re put in peculiar situations it helps you grow.

Greg Sestero and Tommy Wiseau in The Room. (Still courtesy of Wiseau-Films)

LEGAL NOTICES

KEYSPAN GAS EAST CORPORATION d/b/a NATIONAL GRID

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by KeySpan Gas East Corporation d/b/a National Grid (“Company”) that it has led with the New York State Public Service Commission (“Commission”) proposed tari revisions to its Schedule for Gas Service, PSC No.1 – GAS, to become e ective, on a temporary basis, April 1, 2023.

These revisions have been led in compliance with the Commission’s Order issued August 12, 2021 in Case 19-G-0310. The table below compares the Company’s current rates (prior to April 1, 2023) to rates e ective April 1, 2023 by service classi cation. E ective April 1, 2023, $2.5 million has been removed from base delivery rates to be collected through the ‘Rate Adjustment Clause’. The Rate Adjustment Clause is a separate surcharge that will be included in the Delivery Rate Adjustment line on customers’ bills.

S.C. No. 1A, 5-1A – Residential Non-Heating Service

S.C. No. 1AR, 5-1AR – Residential Non-Heating Service

S.C No. 15, 5-15 – High Load Factor Service

S.C. No. 16, 5-16 – Year-Round Space Conditioning Service

S.C. 17 – Baseload Distributed Generation – Rate 1 –Less than 1MW

S.C. 17 – Baseload Distributed Generation – Rate 2 –Equal to or greater than 1 MW but less than 5 MW

5-3 – Multi-Family Service

S.C. 9, 5-9 – Uncompressed Natural Gas Vehicle Service

S.C. 17 – Baseload Distributed Generation – Rate 3 –Equal to or greater than 5 MW but less than 50 MW

No change for the delivery rates for S.C. No. 1B-DG, 5-1B-DG – Distributed Generation & S.C. 18 / 19 – Non-Firm Demand Response Sales and Transportation Service.

These revisions have been led in compliance with the Commission’s Order issued August 12, 2021 in Case 19-G-0310. Copies of the proposed revisions are available for public inspection and can be obtained on the Company’s website at https://www.nationalgridus.com/Long-Island-NY-Home/Bills-Meters-and-Rates/ or the PSC’s website (dps.ny.gov).

KEYSPAN GAS EAST CORPORATION d/b/a

Art League’s ‘Cynthia Pascal: A Retrospective’ Opens April 15

The Art League of Long Island announces the retrospective exhibit of Cynthia Pascal in the Jeanne Tengelsen Gallery. The opening reception takes place on Saturday, April 15, from 6 to 8:00p.m. A celebratory remembrance introduction will be held from 6:00 – 6:30, followed by light refreshments and the opportunity to enjoy the exhibition in the Gallery. The exhibition is on view through April 28.

Cynthia Pascal was an American artist born and raised in New York. She achieved her Bachelor of Arts, MSW, and PHD in Social Work and managed a practice as a psychotherapist for over 40 years. Ms. Pascal studied painting with Arthur Sternberg in Old Westbury College and at the New School for Social Research in New York City. Her formal training provided a beginning structure that she soon broke from to create her own unique statement. She does not start out with a preconceived narrative when she paints and is always open to discover meaning in the process.

Her work includes abstract, expressionistic, and impressionistic styles, all of which explore the depth and complexity of human emotion using women as her primary subjects. Acrylics are her primary medium,

along with oils, pastels, and clay.

Ms. Pascal’s earlier work was comprised of hard-edged expressionistic paintings which made strong statements about the female in crisis: often fearful, resigned, tremulous, but always teeming with life. Her later works depict women in control, passionate, assured and living with conviction and joy. Almost all of her paintings portray women who appear to have a reservoir of personal experience within.

Many of Ms. Pascal’s works hang in private collections. She has exhibited at

The Blue Door Gallery, The Whitman Art Gallery, The Eclectic Gallery, The North Shore County Gallery, The Universalist Church Gallery in Manhasset, and at The Bleeker and Terra Galleries.

Ms. Pascal continued to work and produce fine art which celebrated the human spirit until 2022, at the age of 92.

Established in 1955, the Art League is not-for-profit visual arts center whose mission is to provide a forum and showcase for artists of all ages and ability levels, whether through art education in the

studios, open studio time, or exhibition opportunities in the gallery and art fairs. Artwork on display in the gallery may be available for purchase. The Jeanie Tengelsen Gallery is open free of charge Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The Art League is located at 107 East Deer Park Road, in Dix Hills. For more information visit www.artleagueli.org or call (631) 462-5400.

—Submitted by Art League of Long Island

Cynthia Pascal, Abstract of Women in Pink and Blue

(Photos by Art League of Long Island)

Cynthia Pascal, Two Girls Sitting.

Cynthia Pascal, Dance Siesta.

North Shore Animal League America rescues and cares for thousands of animals each year.

By leaving a gift as part of your will or trust, you ensure your love of pets lives on.

Photos by Ellen Dunn

More affordable housing? Sign me up. OPED

In her recent State of the State Address, Governor Kathy Hochul announced her plan to build 800,000 new homes in New York state over the next decade to combat New York’s crisis of expensive homes and outrageous rents.

The plan has come under fire here in Nassau. But honestly?

Affordable housing would be fantastic, and people should give it a second thought. We have in our hands an opportunity to fix every problem that is plaguing our County.

Concerned about crime? Homes closer to each other make it easier for the police to reach you. Worried for the homeless? Cheaper housing means fewer homeless individuals. Anxious that young people are fleeing Nassau? Those young people will stay if the housing was cheaper. Care about the environment?

Excellent, because higher-density housing is more energy-efficient than single-family homes, which also means lower utility bills.

Most importantly, it will drive down the cost of living. Purchasing a home or renting in Nassau is almost impossible in this economy, but more housing supply will

PRO HOUSING

finally put some pressure on prices to go down.

Not to mention, almost 70% of Long Islanders say we need more affordable housing. So now’s our chance to do it.

Obviously, it’s not all sunshine and vodka. More affordable housing may mean a decrease in property value, for example. But even that may be beneficial: as property value goes down, so too go down property taxes, the bane of all Long Islanders.

There are concerns about

whether infrastructure can keep up with the growth in population. After all, no one wants schools to suffer or roads to become congested. But the case is severely overstated.

Hochul’s plan calls for 7,170 to 14,340 new units to be built, an increase of just 1.5 to 3 percent in housing stock. The actual population increase—spread out across Nassau County and over 3 years—will be, in the most extreme case, a 5% increase over the current population.

In addition, the plan would include $270 million to assist municipalities in reaching their targets. The new housing would also swell the tax base and provide new jobs for Nassau businesses struggling to find employment, making any needed infrastructure investment completely doable. Benefits of affordable housing notwithstanding, the biggest reason given by politicians and residents for opposing this plan is that it would disrupt the “suburban way of life.”

To which I respond: Thank God! Soulless neighborhoods with no sign of activity or sense

of community; people tensed up around one another; disgusting malls, parking lots, and other hostile and alienating architecture; and having to spend gas and drive to run the smallest errand because everything essential to living is spaced out.

This is the “suburban way of life” you so dearly want to protect? Sounds to me like the suburban way of death. It’s no coincidence that the suicide rate is higher in suburbs than it is in urban areas across the country.

And let’s not pretend that good schools, lawns, or privacy belong exclusively to the suburbs. The best school in Nassau, Jericho High School, is beaten by 32 other schools nationally, the majority of which are in cities. Lawns and community gardens are still possible with denser housing, and with

all the private surveillance going up, I wouldn’t vouch for the privacy of the suburbs.

Taken all together, the governor’s housing plan is a good one, and not out of loyalty to the governor. If anything, I think it doesn’t go far enough. I would have liked to see even more housing built, in various different areas so that people of different races and incomes could be integrated.

But the perfect will not be the enemy of the good. The positives of this plan definitely outweigh the negatives, and it is my hope that the proposal is passed so that we may move towards a more moral, affordable, and vibrant Nassau County.

— Matthew Adarichev is a Hofstra University sophomore studying public policy and a student journalist from Westbury.

Matthew Adarichev

National Eating Disorders Association Presents The Annual Long Island NEDA Walk

The National Eating Disorders Association(NEDA) organizes the annual Long Island NEDA Walk on April 23 at Sunken Meadow State Park. NEDA Walks spread awareness about the realities of eating disorders and build supportive, local communities of hope, strength, and recovery.

In the United States alone, 30 million individuals will suffer from a clinically significant eating disorder at some point in their life, such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. Money raised from the walk will help fund the NEDA Helpline and other vital programs focused on prevention, cures and access to quality care.

“NEDA has seen the volume of calls, texts, and chats skyrocket up to 58% over the previous period. This unprecedented need for support inspires all of us in the community to come together, in unity, to ensure that no one faces these complex and pervasive disorders alone,” says Liz Thompson, CEO of NEDA. “We are so thankful for our active, engaged, dynamic community. Over the course of 2023, we will be activating in more than 50 communities across the United States, building community through programs and initiatives, ensuring that everyone has access to the support they deserve. When we connect, we thrive. Join us as we come one step closer to a world without eating disorders!”

Learn how you can join tens of thousands of passionate walkers, participating in person or virtually, across the country to make a difference in the fight against eating disorders!

To pre-register, visit https://nedawalk. org/longisland2023.

About the National Eating Disorders Association

The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) is the largest nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting individuals and families affected by eating disorders. NEDA supports individuals and families affected by eating disorders,

and serves as a catalyst for prevention, cures, and access to quality care. Through our programs and services, NEDA raises awareness, builds communities of support and recovery, funds research and puts essential resources into the hands of those in need. For more information, visit www. nationaleatingdisorders.org.

For more information about NEDA Walks, please visit www.nedawalk.org or contact the National Walks Team at walks@ nationaleatingdisorders.org.

—Submitted by the National Eating Disorders Association

Bringing It All Back Home Review of Bob

JOSEPH SCOTCHIE

jscotchie@antonmediagroup.com

Can rock stars write good books? I don’t mean ghost written efforts. There was Dylan’s own Chronicles, a two-volume book that lurched from one drab sentence to another. Add to that George Harrison’s I, Me, Mine, another tome badly in need of a blue pencil and Bruce Springsteen’s Born To Run, colorful but overwrought in the man’s belief that rock music remains a temple his fans come to worship in. (They just want to hear “Rosalita.”)

These books generally announce to the world that Dylan, Harrison, and Springsteen were great songwriters.

This one is different. Bob Dylan spent 10 years on The Philosophy of Modern Song. It works, in part because Dylan knows these tunes front and back. Plus, he took his time writing its chapters. Dylan lets his imagination run free, but controls it in short, succinct essays. The music is transcendental. The entire song is, like poetry, an experience, rather than a puzzle. Consider his analysis of Bobby Darin’s “Beyond The Sea.”

Soon the fair winds blow you into the harbor and you see the port lights. Soon you’ll be approaching and coming up. You’ll hit town and weigh anchor, and she’s sanding on the shores of everlasting gold. Soon you’ll be shut off from the world, linked up everlasting. On top of each other, you’ll kiss and embrace, every day from now, a jolly holiday. Wonderfully brilliant and true to form. You see everything from the proper angle, you’ve returned to where you came

Dylan’s ‘The Philosophy of Modern Song’

from. No more casting off into a distant galaxy. No more cruising off into supernatural darkness. Never again you’ll go sailing, you lay it all down and pull the shade. You quit while you’re ahead.

No collection of American music would be complete without Hank Williams, Sr. Dylan celebrates his mournful classic, “Your Cheatin’ Heart.”

Soon you’ll be marching on the same side of the road as what I’m on, we’ll see how you handle that. You were prejudiced, stupid and hypocritical, and now your cheatin’ heart is making its presence felt. You didn’t want me to live an honest life, you bamboozled me and ripped me off, and now there’ll be no more sleep for you. Not this night, not any night. You thought you could do anything, thought you’d live forever, and you gave it all you had. You just didn’t have the right character to pull it off. It’s a hell of a thing, isn’t it.

The title of this review is lifted from Dylan’s fifth album, a 1965 effort that was one side acoustic, the other side rock n’ roll. As a youngster growing up in Hibbing, MN, Dylan (back then, his real name Robert Zimmerman), spent his nights listening to music stations

from across the land. The Fifties, contrary to being a dull decade of conformity, was in fact a highly creative and eclectic period. Dylan soaked it all in: country, folk, rock, jazz, blues, swing, big band. As with every other brash Fifties kid, Dylan was a young Elvis. By the early 1960s, rock’s initial phase had petered out. Folk music was in vogue, especially on college campuses. Dylan had a new idol, Woody Guthrie. The later had a house in Queens County. Dylan made the pilgrimage. More important, he took on and conquered the Greenwich Village folk scene.

This volume is really Bob Dylan’s Great American Songbook. The man clearly reveres his masters and mentors. These men are not entertainers, they are teachers. Dylan’s own status, plus his reverence puts him on a first name basis with “Frank,” “Dino,” “Tony,” “Bobby,” “Dion,” “Rickey,” “Willie,” “Hank,” “Ella,” “Billie,” and especially “Johnny.” If Dylan had a soulmate in contemporary music, it would have to be Johnny Cash. When Dylan made the plunge from folkie to rocker, Cash stood with him all the way. “Shut up and let him sing!” the Man in Black declared. Johnny Cash was just

the friend Dylan needed at that point in his career.

As with any collection, there are omissions: Songs by The Who and The Clash, but no Lennon and McCartney, Springsteen, or Neil Young ballads. The reader will discover and delight in the greatness of American music in all its variegated forms. The authenticity of these tunes, some famous, others forgotten, shines through on every page.

The book opens with a photo of the young Elvis Presley, decked out in white shoes (don’t step on them!), followed by a scene in an Anywhere, U.S.A. record store to finally, a photo of the immortal Johnny Ray belting out a tearjerker. Johnny? Yes, Cash, but Mr. Ray, too. Can’t forget him.

Albany Needs to Support State Senate Plan to Properly Invest in Fixing Local Roads and Bridges

A newly released letter, signed by more than three dozen business, labor, minority and women-owned business and local government leaders, calls on Governor Hochul and Speaker Heastie to adopt the State Senate’s budget proposal as the blueprint to ensure statewide and local infrastructure halts the decline of its conditions and moves to good repair.

Approving the Senate plan will counter

record high inflation which caused the cost of highway construction material to skyrocket and reduced the NYSDOT’s core program to its lowest levels since 2015—while also decimating local road and bridge maintenance and construction programs.

Time is of the essence to invest in local infrastructure. In more than half of NYSDOT regions across the state, both

New York’s pavements and bridges have rapidly deteriorated.

Thankfully, the State Senate Majority’s budget proposal, under Leader StewartCousins and Transportation Committee Chairman Kennedy, meets system needs and calls for $2 billion more per year for the DOT Capital Program—$8 billion in additional investment in total over the remaining four years of the program. The

Senate’s plan also proposes investing an additional $360 million for the state’s local road system.

As stated in the letter: “we strongly urge you to consider accepting the Senate’s one house proposal which includes significant and necessary increases to the NYSDOT core and local highway capital budgets.”

—Submitted by RebuildNY

DiNapoli: Thousands Of Young Children With Disabilities Not Receiving Services

Audit Finds More Than Half Did Not Receive Services; Black and Hispanic Children Faced Greater Barriers

Therapeutic and support services available through New York’s Early Intervention (EI) Program are vital for infants and toddlers with disabilities, but an audit released by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli found many young children did not receive services or faced delays in care. The audit recommended the New York State Department of Health (DOH) improve its management of the EI program and eliminate barriers to care.

“Failure to provide babies and toddlers with early intervention services misses a critical window of opportunity and increases the risk of significant developmental and learning delays, and the need for more special education services in the future,” DiNapoli said. “The Department of Health needs to address the underlying reasons why children are not receiving the services they are entitled to, why services are often delayed and how access can be improved.”

DOH is tasked with developing a system that ensures children are identified, located and referred to the EI program. The department oversees 57 counties and New York City, which operate the program at the local level. Services are available for children under 3 years of age who have a confirmed disability or established developmental delay, and could include speech pathology or audiology, occupational or physical therapy, psychological services or support services for children and families. Under the law, children must be evaluated for services within 45 days after being referred to the program, receive an individualized plan for services, and begin receiving those services within 30 days, upon parental consent.

From July 2018 through February 2022, approximately 189,000 children with a suspected or confirmed disability were referred to the program. However, records showed that 27,000 (14%) never received an evaluation and 10,000 (5%) were still pending. Of the nearly 152,000 children who were evaluated, 98,000 or 64% were determined eligible to receive services, but about 2,000 (2%) of eligible children never received an individualized plan and another 1,000 were pending. Of the 95,000 children who did receive an individualized plan:

• Nearly 51% or about 48,000 children did not receive all types of the therapeutic services to which they were entitled.

• About 28% or 27,000 children did not receive authorized services within 30 days.

• About 3% or 3,000 children did not receive

any of their authorized therapeutic services.

DOH pointed to the absence of parental consent as the cause of many instances of denied or delayed services. Since DOH does not require explanations, case files rarely identified why consent was not given, why a parent withdrew their child from the program, why some children were referred to the program but were not evaluated or why they faced delays in care. Officials in 10 municipalities told auditors that sometimes they were not able to reach a parent or there was a lack of service providers. In some cases, parents couldn’t attend meetings or get to a provider during the day. If DOH required this information to be recorded, it could be used to help reduce disparities and improve outreach efforts.

DiNapoli’s audit also found that delays in evaluations and delivery of services were major issues. If DOH accounted for these delays, then its performance metrics would be significantly worse. For example, if delays attributable to “exceptional family circumstances” were included when calculating timeliness of services in DOH’s 2020 annual report, then just 66%, instead of the reported 90%, of children received services on time.

According to a report from DOH, from July 2017 to June 2020, Black and Hispanic children were less likely to be referred to and evaluated for the EI program compared to white children. Black children were also less likely than white children to receive therapeutic services within 30 days. In addition, auditors identified disparities across the state in the availability of providers and access to services. In Broome County, for example, there were less than three providers for every 100 eligible children, while in Putnam County there were nine. The audit determined DOH must do more to identify and address barriers to equitable access to the program.

The COVID-19 pandemic also created problems for families in accessing services. Some families were not able to use telehealth or found it to be less effective than in-person treatment. Overall, there were significant drops in referral rates (-20%), evaluations (-24%), and eligibility

determinations (-19%) from 2019 to 2020.

Officials in 10 counties also cited issues with DOH’s web-based system to manage the EI program. They said reports did not correctly show the number of children being served in their area. Nine municipalities indicated that they developed their own internal systems for administering and managing the program locally due to problems with DOH’s New York State Early Intervention System (NYEIS).

Additionally, local officials said the provider directory was not kept up to date on the NYEIS. As a result, some parents were turned away by providers who no longer were offering services or taking on new clients. The audit found 23% of the about 7,800 service providers listed on NYEIS did not give any services during the audit period.

DiNapoli’s audit recommends DOH:

• Identify why some children are not receiving services or are facing delays in care

and develop and implement strategies to improve participation and timely delivery of services.

• Include specific goals, tasks, and objectives on municipal workplans for improving public awareness and outreach.

• Take steps to understand disparities in accessing EI program services and develop an action plan to better deliver equitable access.

• Regularly verify the provider directory is accurate and up to date to ensure it is useful to families.

• Expedite a new web-based system to manage the EI program, which has been delayed multiple times, and ensure that municipalities are prepared to use it. In response to the audit, DOH indicated that EI is a voluntary program that requires parental consent and relies heavily on municipalities to administer. The department acknowledged COVID-19 created challenges and that provider capacity is a significant factor that affects the timeliness of services. It outlined its current activities to better address disparities and outreach at the local level.

—Submitted by the Office of Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli

Registrations will begin on 1 April – please share the link with any young people that may be motivated to participate. They will also be recruiting adult volunteers to help at various locations. www.rewildlongisland.org/summerprogram.

—Submitted by ReWild Long Island

The Summer Program To Fight Hunger and Climate 2023 is organized in the CowNeck Peninsula by a team of adults and youth activists looking to create opportunities for high school students and adult volunteers to further biodiversity, climate resilience, and food security.

“Failure to provide babies and toddlers with early intervention services misses a critical window of opportunity and increases the risk of significant developmental and learning delays...”

—Thomas DiNapoli Comptroller.

Free Inclusive Program To Launch Great Ideas Now Open To New York Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneur Ready, an organization that makes entrepreneurship and ownership more accessible for women, minorities, and first-time business owners, is looking for 300 participants across New York City and throughout the state to join its Spring 2023 cohort. The launch of the statewide initiative begins April 3 for underrepresented entrepreneurs.

Supported by JPMorgan Chase, the organization’s How To Start Something Accelerator is a self-paced entrepreneurship program that will enable 300 under-represented entrepreneurs and those who have previously lacked access to comprehensive, early-stage entrepreneurship

training with the opportunity to start, pivot or restart their ideas and ventures.

Entrepreneurs in the free program gain access to an immersive learning accelerator with an online platform, a step-by-step learning framework, and personalized feedback from entrepreneur coaches.

In addition, the program provides participants with access to weekly live workshops, online office hours, and a community forum where entrepreneurs build traction and connections. As a result, each participant who completes the program will have de-risked a venture model. The free self-paced entrepreneurship

program is open to all New York State residents with any level of education, any idea, and any background. They must be at least 18 years old and able to commit approximately 8 hours a week for six to nine months. Learn more and register at https://howtostartsomething.com.

“I was just a personal trainer working in corporate fitness centers. After the program, I ended up in a 3,000 sq ft private training facility in a prime location off a busy street. It became profitable within 1 month with a whole slew of clients that we could barely keep up with demand and had to start hiring a team,” said Jake Allyne, an entrepreneur from Hartsdale, in

his 30s.

“I started to look at myself differently. I went from being an employee since I was 12 years old to now I am the boss, and I’m comfortable being the boss,” said Joyce Cole, an entrepreneur from the Village of Ossining in her 40s.

Entrepreneur Ready has been working since 2008 to not only make entrepreneurship and ownership more accessible but also to produce equivalent outcomes and achievements for women, minorities, and first-time business owners. The How To Start Something Accelerator has proven results in communities of opportunity.

—Submitted by J.P. Morgan Chase

Raise Up NY In Uniondale To Rally To Raise The Minimum Wage

On March 10, impacted workers, labor unions, small business owners, lawmakers, and advocates held a press conference on Long Island to urge Governor Kathy Hochul and the state Legislature to first raise New York’s minimum wage to at least $21.25 by 2027, and thereafter adjust it automatically each year to keep pace with rising cost of living and gains in worker productivity. In order to address

the current cost-of-living crisis, Raise Up NY is advocating for a $21.25 minimum wage. The coalition supports including the Raise the Wage Act (S1978A/A2204A) in this year’s state budget, which would benefit 2.9 million New Yorkers and over 500,000 people on Long Island and in Westchester. The Act would put an average annual raise of $3,300 in their pockets, or an additional $63/week. In

comparison, Governor Hochul’s budget proposal would only index New York’s minimum wage starting at $15, increasing

worker pay by only $13/week for only 900,000 workers.

—Submitted by Raise Up NY

Jessica Kravitz Participates In Live-Fire Quals Aboard Arleigh Burke

Operations Specialist 3rd Class Jessica Kravitz, of Long Island, shoots an M9 service pistol aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer U.S.S. Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) during the live-fire handgun qualification course on Feb. 14 while in the Baltic Sea. The Arleigh Burke is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., allied and partner interests.

U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Almagissel Schuring

Raise Up NY at their “Raise the Wage” rally in Uniondale. (Photo by Katie Shane via Twitter)

HUD Announces Funding For Native Communities, Affordable Housing, Community Development, And Homeless Assistance

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced more than $794 million in Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) formula funding for eligible Native American Tribes, Alaska Native Villages, and Tribally Designated Housing Entities (TDHEs) to carry out affordable housing activities in Tribal communities. In New York, HUD awarded $6,305,517 to Federally recognized Tribes in the state. Locally, the Shinnecock nation received $90,246.

“HUD is committed to supporting our Tribal communities by providing resources that will help persons living in those neighborhoods thrive,” said HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge. “We know that these grants will not only be used to create affordable housing, but they will also provide much needed wrap-around services and solutions to complex issues.”

“HUD funding to Tribal communities provides resources so that all households have a decent, safe place to live,” said Alicka Ampry-Samuel, HUD Regional Administrator for New York and New Jersey. “Permanent homes and services not only support residents, but they also improve their communities and the lives of families that need it most.”

The IHBG program is a formula grant that provides a range of affordable housing activities on reservations and related areas. Eligible activities include housing development, operation and modernization of existing housing, housing services to eligible families and individuals, crime prevention and safety, and model activities that provide creative approaches to solving affordable housing challenges.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) also announced $5.6 billion in funding to States, urban counties, insular areas, DC, Puerto Rico, and local organizations across the country. These annual formula grants provide critical funding for a wide range of activities including affordable housing, community development, and homeless assistance.

“Viable communities must promote integrated approaches to develop decent housing, suitable living environments, and expand economic opportunities to the most vulnerable,” said HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge. “These funds allow communities to address their unique needs by prioritizing what matters most to their residents and letting them own their investments in community development through these important federal resources.”

“State and local governments and

organizations depend on HUD’s community development funding to address the needs of their residents,” said Alicka Ampry-Samuel, HUD Regional Administrator for New York and New Jersey. “These valuable stakeholders serve communities in need. HUD provides this federal funding to support a wide array of services that assist underserved residents and improve low-income families’ quality of life.”

The grants announced for New York today are provided through the following HUD programs:

• $318 million in Community Development Block Grants to 58 localities to build stronger communities to 1239 states and localities to build stronger communities— The Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) provides annual grants on a formula basis to states, cities, counties, and insular areas to develop stronger, more resilient communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment, and by expanding economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income people. In 2022 the program helped over 60,000 families nationwide through housing activities, 46,000 individuals through job creation or retention, 83,500 people experiencing homelessness through improvements to homelessness facilities, over 5.3 million people through public services, and over 39 million people through public improvements.

• $140 million in Home Investments Partnerships Program (HOME) grants to produce affordable housing — The HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) is the primary Federal tool of States and local governments to produce affordable rental and owner-occupied housing for low-income families. HOME funds a wide range of activities including building, buying, and/or rehabilitating affordable housing for rent or homeownership or providing direct rental assistance to low-income people. HOME projects leverage non-federal funds including, in many cases, tax credits for affordable rental housing. In 2022 the program helped create over 15,000 units of housing and nearly 17,000 households were assisted with tenant-based rental assistance through the HOME program.

• $55 million in Housing Opportunities

for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) grants to connect people with HIV/AIDS to housing and support — The Housing Opportunities for Persons With HIV/ AIDS (HOPWA) program provides stable and permanent housing assistance and supportive services to low-income people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Over 100,000 households across the nation receive HOPWA housing assistance and/or supportive services annually.

• $27.7 million in Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) to address homelessness — Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) provides funds for homeless shelters, assists in the operation of local shelters, and funds related to social service and homeless prevention programs. Recipients enable

people to quickly regain stability in permanent housing after experiencing a housing crisis and/or homelessness. ESG funds may be used for street outreach, emergency shelter, homelessness prevention, and rapid re-housing assistance. Annually, ESG connects over 350,000 people nationally to emergency shelters as they transition to permanent housing

“This funding allows communities to address their most pressing local needs, providing flexible resources to build homes, support renters and homeowners, provide life-saving assistance to people experiencing homelessness, and improve public facilities, community resilience, and local economies,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development Marion McFadden. “HUD’s annual formula block grants allow states and localities to invest in the success of neighborhoods and allow people of modest means to thrive.”

—Submitted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

The Holocaust Memorial And Tolerance Center Presents Friedlander Upstander Awards

The Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County (HMTC) annually honors middle and high school students on Long Island who confront intolerance, prejudice, or other forms of social injustice with the Friedlander Upstander Award. Winners receive a $5,000 scholarship. The 13th Annual Friedlander Upstander Awards will be presented at HMTC’s 2023 Upstander Awards Event on Monday, May 15, at Westbury Manor, 1100 Jericho Turnpike, Westbury, NY.

Due to the rise of antisemitism, hate speech, hate crimes, and bullying on Long Island and nationally, those who make a difference in their schools and communities by acting as upstanders are more important than ever. HMTC defines an upstander as a person who stands up for others and does not allow bigotry, hatred, or intolerance to happen without intercession. Every year we honor middle and high school students from across Long Island who have demonstrated the actions of an upstander. The student’s action could be one of intervention or prevention,

big or small.

Those who apply must be enrolled in a middle or high school on Long Island, need a brief nomination letter from a teacher, guidance counselor, or another adult who is not a family member. They also must write a five-hundred-word essay on what actions they have taken that make them upstanders. Applications for the Friedlander Upstander Awards are due March 27, 2023.

For the past thirteen years, the Friedlander Upstander Awards have been generously provided by the Claire Friedlander Family Foundation in partnership with the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County. The Claire Friedlander Family Foundation was established by Claire Friedlander, a Holocaust Survivor from Poland. The foundation supports local education, performing arts, healthcare, and environmental nonprofits.

For more information, contact Gayle Peck at gaylepeck@hmtcli.org.

—Submitted by Holocaust Memorial And Tolerance Center

“Permanent homes and services not only support residents, but they also improve their communities and the lives of families that need it most.”

— Marcia L. Fudge, HUD Secretary

Boris Chartan, Founder Of The Holocaust Memorial And Tolerance Center And Holocaust Survivor, 96

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Holocaust survivor

Boris Chartan. He was the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County’s (HMTC) founder and first chairman. He was 96 years old.

Boris, along with other survivors, clergy, and politicians, founded The Holocaust Memorial and Educational Center in 1992 to remember Holocaust victims, educate future generations, and to be a second home for survivors who settled on Long Island and rebuilt their lives here -- after losing everything to the hands of the Nazis.

“This is an insurmountable loss for the HMTC and the survivor community,” said HMTC board chair Alan Mindel. “Boris was the driving force in creating a sacred space for our cherished survivors. If it weren’t for him, the Center would not exist. It is because of Boris’ vision that we now educate thousands of students, law enforcement, nurses, and the general community across Long Island and beyond about the horrors of the Holocaust and how to be upstanders and speak out to prevent future genocides from happening.”

Carol Ragione, who worked closely with Boris and has known him for more than two decades recalls, “As one of the original employees of HMTC, it was an honor to work for Boris Chartan, a

Holocaust survivor, whose vision was to bring an educational center and museum to Long Island and to teach the lessons of the Holocaust to children and adults alike. It’s a sad day with his passing. May he rest in peace.”

Boris was born in 1926 in Podkamien, Poland. He was an only child but part of a large extended family. As a child,

he recalled that the Jewish people were blamed for everything that went wrong -- they had no power and were often singled out and attacked, and the Nazis burned down synagogues. He witnessed the murders of his aunts, grandmother, and others, which happened right in front of him.

Boris and his father were taken to a

work camp where they were forced to mine rocks. A Polish couple his father was friends with hid Boris’ mother in a hayloft on a farm. They made sure Boris and his father had food and they traveled long distances by horse and wagon to the work camp to deliver it. Boris and his father managed to escape from the camp and joined Boris’ mother in the hayloft. They were liberated by the Russians and taken to Germany to live in a displaced persons camp. With the help of his uncles, Boris came to New York in 1946. Boris credits this kind Polish couple for saving his life and for being upstanders.

In an interview with a high school student in 2005, Boris shared, “We are here to tell the story to make the young people aware of what hate and intolerance can do to us. Be on guard all the time. When you see intolerance or injustice, speak out and do not keep silent. Silence leads to the destruction of people.”

In Boris’ memory, and in honor of all Holocaust survivors on this earth and in our hearts -- we promise to continue doing all we can to teach future generations to fight antisemitism and hate. May Boris’ memory forever be a blessing.

—Submitted by the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County

Three Long Island Visual Arts Non-Profits Come Together To Host Mental Health Awareness Events

The Art League of Long Island is excited to participate in “Art Soothes the Mindful Soul” and announces a free event during Mental Health Awareness Month. This art and meditation event will be held on May 25, from 6pm to 7:30 pm in our Jeanne Tengelsen Gallery. The event is open to all members of the community and no prior experience is necessary. It is an opportunity for individuals to come together and learn about the importance of mental health and the benefits of meditation and art therapy. We hope to offer a unique experience that will be both educational and therapeutic for all participants.

Elizabeth Castelli, a meditation instructor and life coach, will lead the group through a guided meditation

session that will begin with a relaxation/body scan. She will help participants tap into their Inner Heart Wisdom, the place of Creative Power, and imagine what they are being called to create. Posing inquiry to our heart center to envision what is lying latent within.

Rachel Woelfel, a Masters candidate in Art Therapy at Pratt Institute, will then lead the participants in expressing their emotions through color and mixed media art materials. This workshop is in the spirit of the Art League’s motto, “Be the Artist You Want to Be.”

Elizabeth Castelli is a ACC (ICF), Certified Professional Coach (CPC) and Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner (ELI-MP) through the Institute for Professional Excellence in

Coaching (iPEC), an ICF (International Coaching Federation) accredited program. She upholds the ICF professional and ethical standards of practice in her coaching. Elizabeth is also a Registered Nurse and traditional Reiki Master.

Rachel Woelfel is a Graduate Student at Pratt Institute’s Art Therapy and Creativity Development program. Born in Huntington, New York, Rachel received her Bachelor’s degree in Studio Art and Art History from Stony Brook University, with minor studies in Media Arts and Gender Studies.

The event will be held in the Art League of Long Island’s Jeanne Tengelsen Gallery, located at 107 East Deer Park Road, in Dix Hills, NY.

Established in 1955, the Art League is a not-for-profit visual arts center whose

mission is to provide a forum and showcase for artists of all ages and ability levels, whether through art education in the studios or exhibition opportunities in the gallery and art fairs. Artwork on display in the gallery may be available for purchase.

The Jeanie Tengelsen Gallery is open free of charge. For more information visit www.artleagueli.org or call (631) 462-5400. Pre-registration is required due to limited space, and interested participants can register online at the Art League’s website: www. artleagueli.org. Contact the Art League of Long Island’s Marketing Coordinator, Amy Tischler, at atischler@artleagueli. org or (631)462-5400 x22.

—Submitted by the Art League of Long Island

WORD FIND

HOROSCOPES By Holiday Mathis

HOROSCOPES

This is a theme puzzle with the subject stated below. Find the listed words in the grid. (They may run in any direction always in a straight line. Some letters are used more than once.) Ring each word as you find it and when you have pleted the puzzle, there will be 19 letters left over. They spell out the alternative theme of the puzzle.

Holiday Mathis

INTERNATIONAL WORD FIND

INTERNATIONAL WORD FIND INTERNATIONAL WORD FIND HOROSCOPES By

By Holiday Mathis

ARIES (March 21-April 19). You’ll make thoughtful and well-informed decisions. You’ll throw your mind ahead and plan for di erent outcomes. Much of what you do in the name of others goes unacknowledged, as is the case with people who are consistent and excellent leaders. Know that what you’re doing matters quite a lot.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You know what you intend to do, but you’re better o writing it in a diary than telling people now. ere are people who will take your ideas and run with them, or worse, try to in uence your pure vision. Flesh things out on your own for a while.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You’ve deferred to others, paid your dues and humbled yourself to the process. Now, believe in yourself. It’s warranted. Don’t imagine you can do anything -- that would be silly given human limitation and other circumstantial constraints. But believe in yourself -- a being as worthy as any of seizing this gift of light, of breath and moments.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). ough you’re known for having good style, it’s the content that matters this week. e most alluring thing you’ll do today will have little to do with what you own or what you look like. Attractiveness has more to do with having a positive attitude, being kind and compassionate and cultivating healthy relationships.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). is week sees you at your busy best. People need you, which incentivizes you to be the best at what you do. You take pride in your work and you do what it takes to keep your skills sharp. You’re constantly seeking to improve your craft and develop your unique style.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Success can take many forms for you. Would you rather have recognition or money? Or would you rather have a profound sense of knowing that you’ve reached higher or deeper levels of mastery? is week’s success is proven in the smiles of those who are joyfully moved by what you do.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Fortuitous conversations will erupt between strangers this week. Real life will be more interesting than digital life and will teach you things you couldn’t possibly learn from a glowing screen lled with information. We’re all in this together, so you may as well get to know the person standing next to you.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). To imagine the bliss inside a wonderful relationship between you and the object of your a ection brings on a dopamine high -- an altered reality lled with hope and possibility. ere is nothing inherently wrong with this if you can accept it for the entertainment value of what it is instead of mistaking it for anything to do with the realities of human connection.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You love someone and want to x their problem, which you will -- by giving them plenty of room to make their own mistakes. It’s hard to watch someone fall. Maybe it’s worse than going through it yourself. But you cherish the lessons you’ve learned, and you will give loved ones a similar experience.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). It’s a wonderful week for getting your point across if you have one, but if you don’t, this is a week to come up with one. Mercury is busy, purposeful and on your side now. By the end of the week, you may nd a very di erent meaning to things than you had at the start of it all.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). None are winners or losers because of the number of mistakes they make. Everyone makes mistakes. It’s the reaction to mistakes that de nes people. is week presents situations that give you a chance to shine. A solid core of character and a spiritual grace will extend to your community.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). What you come up with on your own will be your favorite idea, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best idea on the table. Compromise is the friend of business and the enemy of art. When you’re working on something creative, make it all about you and ful lling your vision. For anything else, pay close attention to the needs and wants of others.

THIS WEEK’S BIRTHDAYS

Your role will bring you honor. You’re the neutral person who helps a group get along, but you’re also the problem-solver and motivator who helps everyone function at a high level. e main events of next season will have you feeling younger and lighter. You’ll bond anew with family. You’ll be paid for work you enjoy.

Go for a gallop

Solution: 19 Letters

WORD FIND

This is a theme puzzle with the subject stated below. Find the listed words in the grid. (They may run in any direction but always in a straight line. Some letters are used more than once.) Ring each word as you find it and when you have completed the puzzle, there will be 19 letters left over. They spell out the alternative theme of the puzzle.

Go

FROM KING FEATURES SYNDICATE, 300 W. 57th STREET, 41st FLOOR, NEW YORK, NY 10019

CUSTOMER SERVICE: (800) 708-7311 EXT. 236

CONTRACT BRIDGE — BY STEVE BECKER

FOR RELEASE SUNDAY, APRIL 2, 2023

CONTRACT BRIDGE

By Steve Becker

Structural visualization

spade, South cashed the A-K of trump, hoping the missing clubs were divided 2-2.

When East showed out on the second trump, declarer tried the K-Q-A of hearts in hopes that the opposing hearts were divided 3-3, or that West, who had the third club, had the heart length. Unfortunately, West ruffed the third heart for down one.

Solution:

Opening lead — two of spades.

Assume you’re declarer at five clubs. West leads a spade, and you ruff the spade continuation. How would you play the hand?

Aside from the ace of diamonds, the only other potential loser is your fourth heart. But if West has the diamond ace, a parking place for the heart can be developed by leading twice toward dummy’s diamond honors.

The actual declarer therefore led a diamond to the king at trick three, but when East produced the ace and returned a spade, another plan was needed. So after ruffing the

Tomorrow:

Though declarer gave himself several chances to get home safely, he overlooked an approach that didn’t require a favorable break in either hearts or the trump suit. After the diamond ace proves to be offside and declarer trumps the spade return, he should cash the A-K of trump, lead a diamond to the queen and ruff a diamond. A heart to the queen is followed by another diamond ruff.

At this point, declarer has the A-8-6 of hearts while dummy has the jack of clubs and K-4 of hearts. A low heart is led to dummy, and the jack of clubs is played, extracting West’s last trump as South discards his heart loser. Declarer then takes the last trick with the ace of hearts.

In this way, declarer nullifies the location of the diamond ace and the uneven divisions in clubs and hearts. In all, he scores three club tricks, four ruffs in his hand, three hearts and a diamond for a total of 11 tricks.

Weekly Sudoku Puzzle

Enter digits from 1 to 9 into the blank spaces. Every row must contain one of each digit. So must every column, as must every 3x3 square.

Answer to last issue’s Sudoku Puzzle

Answer to last issue’s Crossword Puzzle

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Sea Cliff Resident Receives New Heart Surgery

St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center®, New York State’s only specialty designated cardiac center, has performed the world’s first heart valve procedure using the new TELLTALE electrosurgical guidewire system to assist in the placement of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR).

The history-making first in-human procedure was performed at St. Francis Hospital by Jaffar Khan, MD, innovator of the BASILICA procedure, with George Petrossian, MD, and Newell

Robinson, MD, co-chairs of St. Francis Hospital’s structural heart program.

“Using the TELLTALE device, we were able to successfully treat a patient who was at high risk of TAVR-induced coronary obstruction,” commented Dr. Khan. “We were able to cut the diseased valve leaflet out of the way within minutes, allowing for safe and effective implantation of the TAVR valve. Bringing this therapy to Long Island reflects a very positive collaborative effort between the

physicians here at St. Francis, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), MedStar Washington Hospital Center and Emory University Hospital. Ultimately, it’s our patients who will reap the benefits.”

This particular patient, Maria Stieglitz, age 77 of Sea Cliff, New York, says the entire experience could not have gone better. “There was no pain of any kind. And the doctors and nurses of St. Francis Hospital are fantastic. They took the time to carefully explain the procedure and answer all my

questions. Everyone has been so supportive and caring. I felt like I was staying at a first-class hotel!” Stieglitz was the first to be enrolled in an Investigative Device Exemption (IDE) Pivotal Trial sponsored by The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the NIH. She was back to taking walks with her dog Mollie and tending to her garden within days of the procedure.

—Submitted by St. Francis Hospital and Heart Center

Raynham Hall Reflects On Women’s History Month, St. Patrick’s Day

A happy St. Patrick’s Day and Women’s History Month to you and all history lovers.

Raynham Hall intern, Olivia Hagan, has been conducting research on paid servants who worked for the Townsend family around 1870, and who were mainly Irish immigrants. Knowledge that Olivia gains on this topic will be integrated with our guided tours by this fall, helping us to better describe those who used the sleeping quarters viewable at the very rear of the

historic house.

Olivia has uncovered that many immigrants were working in Oyster Bay at the end of the 19th century. Women who came over from Ireland were willing to work in domestic labor positions, where young, white American-born women in the workforce typically preferred jobs in shops and mills, even though domestic labor jobs were relatively high-paying. Irish social structure didn’t have a patriarchal hierarchy seen among other immigrant

groups, so many young Irish women likely emigrated as unmarried women, allowing them to work independently in others’ homes.

Olivia’s ancestors came over from Ireland as teenagers, looking for work, and stayed primarily on the east coast of the United States, which was usual for other Irish immigrants. Her research can be compared to working on a puzzle starting from the edges, understanding broader stories of immigration, and moving to the center of knowl-

edge we can share at Raynham Hall.

We appreciate Olivia and her Irish heritage, her passion for history, and her interest in working alongside us! Sláinte (Gaelic word meaning “health”).

—Submitted by Raynham Hall

Young single Irish women dominated domestic service in many American cities.

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Maria Stieglitz and Dr. Jaffar Khan.

(Photo courtesy St. Francis Hospital and Heart Center)

(Photo courtesy Mayo County Library)

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Town Of Oyster Bay Announces Free Musical Performances At Local Libraries For April,

May Enjoy the sounds of Tom Petty, The Beatles, Billie Holiday and more

Oyster Bay Town Councilwoman Laura Maier announced that the Town Distinguished Artists Concert Series will continue through May 2023 with free performances at local libraries throughout the Town.

“The Distinguished Artists Concert Series provides free musical and dance programs for the enjoyment of our residents,” said Councilwoman Maier. “I encourage residents to take advantage of these wonderful performances offered by the town for free at local libraries.”

Scheduled performances for April and May include:

• Diane Hoffman & Her Trio on Sunday, April 2 at 2 p.m. at the Bethpage Public Library – Powerful Jazz vocalist performing songs from the American Songbook.

•Breakdown on Sunday, April 16 at 2 p.m. at the Jericho Public Library –Performing the music of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. All welcome/ free tickets required, tickets avail-

able at library on February call Jericho Public Library 516-935-6790.

the Hicksville Public Library – Performing “Music is Universal”.

•Matt Zale on Sunday, April 30 at 2:30 p.m. at the Farmingdale Public Library – Songs from The Beatles, Dave Clark Five, Roy Orbison, Herman’s Hermits, and more!

•Gino DiNapoli on Sunday, May 7 at 2:30 p.m. at the Farmingdale Public Library –Performing Italian and American songs.

•The Chamlins on Sunday, May 21 at 2 p.m. at the Hicksville Public Library –Performing “Fine and Dandy: The Ladies of Tin Pan Alley”.

The Distinguished Artists Concert Series is sponsored by the Cultural and Performing Arts (CAPA) Division of the Town of Oyster Bay’s Department of Community & Youth Services. For the full concert schedule and further information, please call 516-797-7925 or visit www.oysterbaytown.com/CAPA.

—Submitted by the Town of Oyster Bay

Enjoy the sounds of The Beatles, among other artists.

(Public domain photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons)

Glen Cove Public Library Budget To Go Up For Vote April 4

“It’s a great library,” Maher said. “We never get bad reports. Always moving ahead and forward.”

It’s budget time for the Glen Cove Public Library.

On Tuesday, April 4 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., polls will be open at the library to vote on the budget. Additionally, Glen Covers will be able to re-elect Michael Maher as the president of the Glen Cove Public Library Board of Trustees.

He’s been serving the board for 30-years, staying around because it’s a great job where he gets to work with good people.

The 2023 through 2024 budget is balanced at approximately $3.4 million, less than last year’s. The Glen Cove Public Library will not be asking residents to pay more taxes.

The reason for a decrease in expenses can be explained by personnel changes, as well as savings with miscellaneous expenses.

Similar to all school districts who are currently planning their budgets, the Glen Cove Public Library is seeing an increase in benefits costs. But at the same time, their costs balanced out due to previous retirees passing away. And inflation has also impacted the budget.

But even with these increased expenses, the library is able to deliver a budget that doesn’t raise taxes, which should be helpful as everyone is reeling from the increased costs to due inflation.

The budget will not invest in anything new, but it will continue to provide the

programs and resources that Glen Covers utilize and enjoy, such as museum passes, clubs, free tax assistance, social workers, library delivery service, crafts for children and teens and much more.

To view the budget, visit www.glencovelibrary.org/about-us/library-budget/.

To see what the library has to offer, visit glencovelibrary.org.

The Glen Cove Public Library will present its 2023 through 2024 budget for vote on April 4. (Photo by Jennifer Corr)

Bunnies, Ducklings, And Chicks: Resist The Temptation

Just buy chocolate instead

Rabbits

AMANDA OLSEN JENNIFER CORR

editors@antonmediagroup.com

It’s spring, a time when many people consider adding some soft, fluffy friends to their home. Chicks, ducks, and rabbits are pets that are traditionally gifted around Easter. Associating these animals with renewal and rebirth extends well before Christianity.

It’s often told that these symbols of the season have their roots in pagan celebrations, but the Folklore Center at the Library of Congress found no historical evidence of this before the writings of Venerable Bede, who lived from 672 to 735. He mentions the Anglo-Saxon goddess Eostre as the origin for the month of April and the name given to the now Christian holiday of Easter. Though this is often connected to stories about a German goddess of similar name, sometimes written as Ostara, none of these accounts are older than Jacob Grimm’s original publication of the story in 1835. It’s more likely that these animals are associated with spring because of observations about eggs, rabbits and hares, and their habits and behaviors at this time.

Regardless of where the tradition springs from, it can be very tempting to gift one of these adorable animals, especially when they are young and small. It’s important to note what keeping rabbits, ducks, or chickens involves, however, and making sure both you and your home are up to the task.

Rabbits are the most common animal associated with the Easter holiday. While a recent law makes it illegal to sell rabbits from pet stores in New York State, that law does not take effect until 2024, making this the last Easter they can be purchased this way. Rabbits can weigh anywhere from 4 to 20 pounds depending on their breed, live up to 12 years, and need daily exercise. They can be litter trained and taught to come when called. They should live inside, in either a large pen or rabbit-proofed area, due to the danger of wild animals and weather conditions. Rabbits are social animals and do best with a companion, usually another rabbit.

Ducks

It’s not hard to see why people find tottering, fuzzy ducklings appealing. Ducklings quickly grow up into ducks, which can be up to 26 inches tall and weigh between 1.5 to 3.5 pounds. They have quite a demanding set of requirements in order to thrive. In order to clean their eyes and nostrils, domestic ducks need a water source that is deep enough for them to submerge their heads. Surprisingly, ducks don’t need a pond for swimming; a kiddie pool that is kept fresh works well enough. This means changing the water every day, since ducks wet their food in the water and also poop in it. Since domestic ducks can’t fly, it’s important that their living space is secure from wild animals. Ducks also do better with companions of the same species, although they will live with chickens.

Chickens

The sound of tiny chicks peeping from

the corner of the local feed store can be irresistible, but just like ducklings, they don’t stay small for long. Chickens range in size up to a few pounds and can live ten years. For the first eight weeks, they need to be kept inside, under heat lamps, until their adult feathers come in. Then they need to be kept outdoors, in a coop, with space enough to keep them from becoming stressed.

Once the cuteness wears off and the commitment kicks in, Easter pet owners often feel the sharp pang of buyer’s remorse. Shelters and rescues often see an uptick in surrenders in the weeks after Easter, when people begin to realize how much work is involved in keeping these animals.

When it comes to rabbits, Lori Ketcham of Save the Animal Rescue Foundation emphasizes the special attention required. “They’re wonderful pets, but they require daily cleaning, fresh food and water every day. They need attention. They need space. If you don’t pay attention to them, they get bored and start chewing on things. Boys spray urine on the wall. There’s a lot of things people should research before saying ‘it’s cute,’ and bringing it home from the pet shop.”

Worse yet, these living creatures are frequently abandoned in parks and wooded areas.

“Domestic ducks are thinking, feeling individuals, not school science experiments, Easter photo props or objects to be discarded like trash when you don’t want them anymore. Abandoning domestic fowl is as cruel and illegal as abandoning a dog or a cat. Domestic ducks have tiny wings, large bodies and generally no camouflage. They typically cannot fly, and they can never migrate — literally sitting ducks for predators and cruel

people when abandoned to the wild,” said John Di Leonardo, Executive Director of Humane Long Island. “Domestic ducks also lack the survival instincts of wild birds; many were raised in incubators and never learned even limited skills from their mother. When abandoned on ponds, they don’t know how to forage for naturally occurring food and often starve to death. They are routinely attacked and killed by predators, including raccoons, foxes, snapping turtles, and cruel humans.”

Bringing any animal into your life should be a careful, deliberate decision, not an impulse. Because of the serious commitment required, pets should not be given as gifts. It should be done with a great deal of thought and discussion, and with as little fanfare and excitement as possible to avoid stressing the animal.

“Taking any animal into your house if a lifetime commitment to that animal, so it’s not to be done for entertainment values and for things like looking cute; having a couple chicks running around at Easter, or a little baby bunny. Taking that into your home has to be carefully thought out on how you’re going to take care of it. Abandoning animals is a crime,” said Gary Rogers of the Nassau SPCA. He did have some encouraging news, however. “We’ve seen [the issue of Easter pets being abandoned], but we don’t see it as much anymore. But every once in a while, somebody thinks it’s cute to get theirs so now we’re dealing with the aftermath two to three months from now.”

Glen Cove Downtown Business Improvement District Honors Volunteers

Three longtime teen volunteers were honored for their years of service at the Glen Cove Downtown Business Improvement District’s annual meeting on March 9. Lauren Babich, Kate Houghton and Ava Solange have been devoted volunteers at various events over the past five years, and their commitment has been especially vital to the operation of Downtown Sounds. The three teens are graduating this spring and are therefore passing the reins on to the next group of volunteers.

As a nonprofit organization that produces special events for the Glen Cove community, the Downtown BID relies upon its volunteers to make all events run smoothly. They help with set up and break down of all events, plus put up the feather flags at every Downtown Sounds concert; work the game stations at the Halloween Parade and Festival; and serve the hot cocoa and treats at the Holiday Festival, among other duties.

“These girls have been invaluable,” said Patricia Holman, executive director of the BID. “It has been such a pleasure working with them and a joy to watch them grow and mature. But most importantly, I’ve been able to count on them to be there, to work hard and to act professional at our events over the past five years. They will all be greatly missed, but I know they will do well as they move on to college.”

During the meeting the three teens were presented with gifts from the Downtown BID and citations from the offices of Leg. Delia DeRiggi-Whitton,

Assemblyman

Charles Lavine and Mayor Pamela Panzenbeck, all of whom thanked them for their service to the community.

Lauren Babich began volunteering for the Downtown BID as an eighth-grader and though a busy student athlete, she has made time to help out at all three events over the years – and always with a smile on her face.

Kate Houghton began volunteering as a high school freshman and has proven to be extremely valuable. She is one of the hardest workers, always ready to lend a hand and never backing down from a challenge.

Ava Solange has proven her commitment to the BID in numerous ways, from showing up at nearly every event to organizing the other volunteers to handling social media. Ava has not only volunteered her time by being at events, but also her creativity, through the creation of videos, TikTok and Instagram posts used to promote the BID and BID events. Her commitment to the BID began in eighth grade, and by ninth grade she had formed the Compassion to Action volunteers by assembling a group of reliable teens that can work hard with little direction.

Oyster Bay Students Present Bye Bye Birdie

Oyster Bay-East Norwich students from Oyster Bay High School shined on stage from March 10 to 12 during their production of Bye Bye Birdie. The production was directed and choreographed by Teriann Chiappardi and took place in the Oyster Bay Performing Arts Center at the high school.

The talented cast took audiences back in time to the late 1950s as they told the story of Kim MacAfee, played by OBHS student Brooklyn Matt, her family and her small Ohio town that gets rocked when teen idol Conrad Birdie, played by OBHS student Marco L. Vlacich, comes to town. Birdie is about to be drafted into the Army and arrives to town for a farewell television performance where he will kiss MacAfee, one of his biggest fans. The students kept audiences laughing and fully entertained with high energy musical numbers and interesting characters.

Oyster Bay High School’s own student-musicians provided the music under the direction of Matthew Sisia, and members of the school’s Baymen Backstage Club, led by teacher Alexander Dollin, provided the lighting and sound design. In addition, the production’s cast and crew built and painted the show’s set from

scratch and did a wonderful job incorporating it into the story.

The Oyster Bay-East Norwich Central School District congratulates the entire cast, crew and pit on a spectacular production!

—Submitted by the Oyster BayEast Norwich Central School District

“I didn’t know what I was getting myself into – it was a big job and the job was all the little things behind the scenes that look like they just happen from the outside,” Ava shared. “I truly started because my mom needed volunteers, but it turned into one of the best decisions I’ve made. Along the way I learned leadership, persistence, communication, hard work, and most of all people skills. I would not be the same person that I am without having the opportunity to volunteer and lead volunteers.”

Taking over as lead volunteer for the Downtown Sounds 2023 concert season is Elena DeAngelis, currently a high school junior, who volunteered for the 2022 season. She has also proven herself to be reliable and committed, and also has a positive attitude that will make for a good leader.

“I wish Elena DeAngelis the best of luck in taking over as a volunteer leader,” Ava said. “After seeing her volunteer this past summer, I know that she will take on the responsibility with determination and spirit.

“It’s bittersweet to sign off my responsibilities,” Ava continued. “I will not miss the five hours on my feet (in the heat), and the unpredictable situations that come along the way. However, I will always miss and be thankful for the people it has brought into my life like my fellow volunteers, the regulars at the events, the opportunities, lessons, and the nights of dancing with my friends after a day of hard work.”

—Submitted by the Glen Cove Downtown Business Improvement District

BID Executive Director Patricia Holman, Kate Houghton, Ava Solange, Mayor Pamela Panzenbeck and Lauren Babich. (Photos courtesy Gill Associates Photography)

Conrad Birdie’s agent Albert Peterson, played by Jaiya Chetram (middle), performed the song “Put on A Happy Face.”

Kim MacAfee, played by Brooklyn Matt (left), and her boyfriend Hugo Peabody, played by Ian Lubin, performed a song together. (Photos courtesy the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Central School District)

HOLY WEEK & EASTER SUNDAY WORSHIP SCHEDULE CHRIST CHURCH OYSTER BAY

PALM SUNDAY, APRIL 2

Holy Eucharist – 8:00 am (Spoken)

Holy Eucharist – 10:00 am (Choir)

(The 10:00 am service begins with a procession with palms, and includes a dramatic reading of the Passion of Christ)

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5

Holy Eucharist– 12:00 pm (Spoken) Stations of the Cross – 6:00 pm

MAUNDY THURSDAY, APRIL 6

Commemorating Christ’s Institution of the Eucharist – 8:00 pm (Choir)

GOOD FRIDAY, APRIL 7

Quiet services remembering Christ’s crucifixion - 12:00 pm & 7:00 pm

HOLY SATURDAY, APRIL 8

Great Vigil and First Eucharist of Easter - 8:00 pm (Choir)

EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 9

Holy Eucharist – 8:00 am (Spoken)

Holy Eucharist – 10:00 am (Choir)

Easter Egg Hunt for Children after 10 am service