The Roslyn News 5/24/23 edition is published weekly by Anton Media Group.

Roslyn News: Wooden sculpture exhibit at Bryant Library

(See page 4)

Roslyn student wins research award

(See page 9)

Westbury News: North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center luncheon a success

(See page 4)

Musical based on F. Scott Fitzgerald comes to Old Westbury Gardens

(See page 8)

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Parsa is undoubtedly the real estate agent you need to give you the guidance for your next move and to help you be the star in your own real estate success story.

Major Improvements Set For High School Field

JOSEPH SCOTCHIE

jscotchie@antonmediagroup.com

Spring is here and the Roslyn School District family is eagerly looking forward to wide-ranging improvements to the venerable track and field facility at Roslyn High School.

On Monday, May 22, work was scheduled to begin on what district officials claim will be “the installation of a new, world-class track and field facility at Roslyn High School.”

The renovation work is slated for completion by the beginning of the next school year and just in time for the football and soccer seasons.

“The project will include demolition, site preparation, and new engineering and construction of the current track and field,” district officials said. “The completed project will include a new running track, new multi-purpose turf field, a long jump/triple jump, a high jump, sand pits, a steeplechase, a pole vault, new perimeter fencing, a newly designed staircase/pathway to the press box, field lighting, and hi-resolution cameras.”

“Roslyn High School has a proud tradition of being very competitive in track and field,” said Director of Athletics Michael Brostowski. “This project will help give our students an edge, give a boost to our athletic program, and benefit all the residents who use the track during non-school hours.”

While the entire area is being renovated, it will be closed to the public. Community members can use the outdoor facility at Roslyn Middle School during the hours when school is not in session and no after-school events are scheduled. These guidelines will apply to the summer school program.”

“These upgrades are necessary to keep our outdoor facilities up to date and competitive,” added Superintendent Allison Brown. “This will benefit our physical education program and our extracurricular programs tremendously, and provide a fresh, new environment for our community members to enjoy.”

In addition to sporting events, the nationally recognized Roslyn High School Marching Band performs on the field during Homecoming ceremonies. The field, when completed, promises to be an inspiration for future generations of Roslyn students.

In other news, the Roslyn School District’s proposed 2023-2024 budget was adopted last month by the Board of Education. School district officials said the proposed property tax levy increase of 2.57 percent “is below the tax cap limit of 3 percent, with a spending increase of 4.36 percent.”

“The $127,474,805 budget supports the district’s tradition of academic excellence,

supports the music, art, athletic, and extra-curricular programs, and will provide for necessary capital improvements, while remaining well below the permissible tax levy limit,” district officials added. The district listed other improvements.

“Last year, the district launched a state-of-theart Bloomberg Terminal financial lab to extend students’ knowledge of the markets; incorporated an Anatomage Table into a multi-grade level science class and pre-med electives; increased security features; upgraded cyber-security monitoring; and completed in progress capital improvements in all school buildings. In the coming year, the proposed budget will provide for an expansion of the athletic program, add exciting new opportunities for elementary and secondary students, upgrade technology, provide apprenticeships, install a security booth at the high school, and sustain and improve infrastructure projects across the district,” the budget proposal maintained.

be raised by the levy of a tax upon the taxable real property in the Roslyn Union Free School District be and hereby are approved. Proposition 3 was a vote on transportation in which the Board of Education be authorized to

This project will help give our students an edge, give a boost to our athletic program, and benefit all the residents who use the track during non-school hours.

In addition to the school budget, several propositions were also on the ballot.

Proposition 2 was a vote on approval of the proposed budget of the Bryant Library in the amount of $5,064,369 as prepared by the Trustees of said Library for the 2023-2024 school year and that the amount of $5,064,369

(a) purchase various school buses and vans for use by the District, including related equipment and apparatus, and to expend therefor, including preliminary costs and costs incidental thereto and to the financing thereof, an amount not to exceed the estimated total cost of $560,000.00; (b) that a tax is hereby voted in the aggregate amount of not to exceed $560,000.00 to pay such cost, said tax to be levied and collected in installments in such years and in such amounts as shall be determined by said Board of Education; (c) that in anticipation of said tax, bonds of the District are hereby authorized to be issued in the principal amount of not to exceed $560,000.00 and a tax is hereby voted to pay the interest on said bonds as the same shall become due and payable, and (d) that, in lieu of bonds, the District is authorized to enter into one or more installment purchase contracts for the purchase of some or all of said buses and vans, for a term not to exceed five (5) years; and a tax is hereby voted to pay each installment on any such contract.

Finally, Proposition 4 was a vote on Capital Reserve Fund Expenditures where Board of Education be authorized to expend a sum not to exceed $8,000,000.00, from the 2017 Capital Reserve Fund established in May 2017 and the 2015 Capital Reserve Fund established in May 2015, including the use of accrued interest from the 2015 Capital Reserve for the purpose of performing the following projects: (1) Furnish and install seven High School tennis courts, with replacement and upgrade to court lighting (at 3 courts) and spectator pavilion seating, (2) replace perimeter fencing/backstop (with screen planting and gates), (3) replace discus and shot put play area, (4) furnish and install new walkways, stairs and retaining walls, (5) furnish and install baseball/multi-use synthetic turf field w/ dugouts/team areas, spectator pavilion seating and bullpen/ batting tunnel, (6) upgrade all field drainage, (7) furnish and install field lighting at the baseball/multi-use synthetic turf field, (8) High School classroom upgrades and all labor, materials, equipment, apparatus, and incidental costs associated therewith.

Board of Education trustees, Leigh Minsky and Meryl Waxman Ben-Levy, were also up for re-election.

Voting took place on Tuesday, May 16. Updated results will be listed in the May 31 edition of The Roslyn News. The budget and propositions are expected to be approved.

—Information by Cynthia Younker for the Roslyn School District

—Michael Brostowski, Director of Athletics

Roslyn High School athletic facility improvements, overall complex master plan created by BBS Architects, Landscape Architects & Engineers, P.C. (Rendering from Roslyn Public Schools Proposed Athletic Facility Improvements Plan)

Guidance Center Spring Luncheon Raises Over $100,000

On Thursday, April 28, 2023, a sellout crowd of over 250 participants came together for North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center’s Annual Spring Luncheon. This year’s event, which supports the Guidance Center’s mission to restore and strengthen the emotional well-being of children and their families, garnered a record-breaking $100,000 in donations.

The gathering at Glenn Head Country Club started with a morning session of Mahjong and Canasta accompanied by exclusive shopping experiences from several of Long Island’s most fashionable and philanthropic small businesses including: Ameliora, Chintz Giraffe, Daniella Erin NYC, Dash Accessories, DeCorr & More, Designs that Donate, Eye Candy, Freida Rothman Jewelry, Kostume Klassics, Meryl Roesch Sunglasses, Simply Splendid Accessories, Tall Order, and Transitions.

After an elegant buffet lunch, event cochair, Alexis Siegel, introduced the day’s speaker, Lisa Friedman Clark. The crowd was moved and enlivened by Ms. Clark’s inspirational story of overcoming considerable personal tragedy to become an advocate for mental health services and co-owner of the apparel company Tall Order.

“Lisa Friedman Clark’s story is remarkably moving,” said Alexis Siegel “Her continued

strength, motivation, and resilience in the face of so much adversity is inspirational. Hearing about how the Guidance Center’s dedicated team of professionals played such a critical role in her family’s healing process makes me proud to be a part of this organization.”

The luncheon wouldn’t have been such a triumph without the hard work of the cochairs, Jan Ashley, Amy Cantor and Alexis Siegel. “I am so grateful to everyone who participated in our Spring Luncheon event,” said Kathy Rivera Executive Director of the Guidance Center. “Together we are making our Long Island communities stronger by raising awareness and supporting our mission.”

The Guidance Center is also grateful for the support of its sponsors. They are: Americana Manhasset, Amy Cantor, Alexis Siegel, Joan Grant, Klipper Family Foundation, NYU Langone Hospital – Long Island, United Healthcare, Ruth Fortunoff Cooper, Nancy Lane, South Oaks Hospital and Zucker Hillside Hospital – Northwell Health, Marilyn Albanese, Janice Ashley, Stephanie Ginsberg, Janni and Associates, Andrea Leeds, Fara Copell, Stacy Hoffman, Debbie Klein, Cynthia Rubinberg, Janice Schlesinger, Joanne Silverman and Rachel Zuckerbrot.

—Submitted by the North Shore Guidance Center

Herschenhous Exhibit At Bryant Library

For the months of May and June, the lobby display case at the Bryant Library will be home to the beautiful wooden sculptures of Jeffrey Herschenhous.

The Roslyn area resident describes his creations thusly: “My sculptures reflect my appreciation of organic forms and a desire to reduce objects to their simplest formation. My goal in sculpting is to create very basic designs without ornamentation.

“Many of the sculptures have a sleekness that compliments their essence. The animal sculptures were inspired by my lifelong involvement in the field of biology as a teacher of that subject and, even more

importantly, by my love of these amazing creatures. The abstract works reflect my appreciation of flowing forms. The sculptures are carved out of various types of wood such as basswood, butternut, tupelo, oak, and pine. Each wood has its particular grain pattern which adds to the esthetic of the final work. In some cases, I have used other materials to enhance the piece. In addition, I have created bases for some of my more recent works that continue the theme of the sculpture. I am grateful for this opportunity to share my work with you.”

—Submitted by the Bryant Library

How would you like to cover school sports?

Amy Cantor, Kathy Rivera, Alexis Siegel, Lisa Friedman Clark. (photo by North Shore Family Guidance)

Jeffrey Herschenhous’s work is being shown at the Hillside Library. (Photo courtesy the Hillside Library)

Group

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

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

FRIDAY, MAY 26

Movie!

Join the Hillside Public Library at 1 p.m. for a showing of the Oscar-nominated movie Top Gun: Maverick. “After more than 30 years of service as one of the Navy’s top aviators, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell must confront the ghosts of his past and his deepest fears, culminating in a mission” Location: All-Purpose Room, 2nd Floor.

SUNDAY, JUNE 4

Art of Collecting: The Clarks: A Family That Collects Together

Show after show, Bruce and Michele Clark have generously loaned their treasures to us, adding invaluable depth to our Surrealist and Abstract Expressionist surveys. Together with their son Spencer, whose tastes run to the Contemporary, they have assembled an astonishing collection of twentieth-century (and later) works by such distinguished artists as Nevelson, Kline, Motherwell and Tanguy. They share their marvelous scholarship (great collectors are researchers) and strategies for building a legacy in art. The program begins at 3 p.m. Free for members, $20 non-members. Please register in advance. The museum is at One Museum Drive, 516-484-9338.

SUNDAY, JUNE 18

Director’s Talk- Oscar Wilde: The Critic and His Artists

The endlessly fascinating Oscar Wilde, author of The Picture of Dorian Gray, was connected to a glittering circle of artists including such friends as Toulouse-Lautrec (who painted his portrait on the eve of his legal demise), the Pre-Raphaelites including Burne-Jones, Morris and Millais, Whistler and Sargent

(his neighbors on Tite Street in London’s Chelsea), and the naughty prodigy Aubrey Beardsley. When he aimed his legendary wit at the painters he never missed: “Mr. Whistler always spelt art, and I believe still spells it, with a capital ‘I.’” Th event takes place at 3 p.m. Free for Members, $20 Non-members. The museum is at One Museum Drive, 516-4849338.

ONGOING EVENTS: Docent Exhibition Tours Are Back

From Tuesday to Sunday, at 2 p.m., the Nassau County Museum of Art (NCMA) is on an hour-long tour of NCMA’s current exhibitions with a museum – trained docents. Share a memorable afternoon with other art lovers as you learn about an array of artists, their inspiration, artistic process, and their place in the history of art. Public tours are free with museum admission, and do not require tickets or reservations. The museum is at One Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor. Call 516-484-9338

Family Saturdays

From now until June 24, Nassau County Museum of Art is hosting an artmaking program for the whole family. Converse, collaborate and create at Family Saturdays at the Museum. Get inspired by the art and objects in the galleries and then join us at the Manes Center to explore and discover different materials to create your own original artwork. Family Saturdays allow children and their adult partners to connect while talking about and making art together. A new project is featured every week. Suitable for children aged 2-14 and their adult companions. Everyone may participate in art making and each adult attending must purchase a spot. This is not a drop-off event. Children under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Admission is free for members and $10 for non-member child and $20 for non-member adults. For inquiries about this program, please email artclasses@nassaumuseum.org

Oscar Wilde, in classic pose. (Archived photo)

$23,000 a year in savings* from lighting upgrades means more of this for Long Island.

When the nonprofit Canine Companions requested a free energy assessment, we discovered that installing LED fixtures and other energy efficiency measures could save them nearly $2,000 a month. And with available PSEG Long Island rebates, the installation was affordable. Today, those changes have meant more funds for the mission of providing service dogs to Long Islanders with disabilities. And that means a better Long Island for us all.

Memorial Day: Remember The Fallen

AMANDA OLSEN

aolsen@antonmediagroup.com

On May 29, the United States will observe Memorial Day, which is a day set aside to remember the men and women who have died while serving in the US military. This observance began shortly after the civil war but was not made an official federal holiday until 1971. Originally known as Decoration Day, it is often celebrated with parades and services. Families also barbecue and gather, since it unofficially marks the beginning of summer.

The Origin of Decoration Day

Even before the Civil War ended, women’s groups across much of the South were gathering informally to decorate the graves of Confederate dead. In April 1886, the Ladies Memorial Association of Columbus, Georgia, resolved to commemorate the fallen once a year—a decision that seems to have influenced John Logan to follow suit. However, southern commemorations were rarely held on one standard day, with observations differing by state and spread out across much of the spring and early summer.

The Civil War killed more Americans than any other war in US history. When the war ended in 1865, the great number of dead soldiers required the establishment of national cemeteries. Within a matter of years, the survivors were visiting these sites for springtime remembrances, where they left flowers and recited prayers. One of these commemorations was organized in Charleston, South Carolina, by a group of formerly enslaved people immediately after the confederacy’s surrender. Despite this, according to the federal government, the

birthplace of Memorial Day is Waterloo, New York, where a large, annual community-wide event began May 5, 1866. The town closed businesses and gathered to place flowers and flags on the graves of fallen servicemen.

Shortly thereafter, on May 5, 1868, General John A. Logan, the leader of an organization of Civil War Veterans, began a campaign to declare May 30 a national day of remembrance. The date of Decoration Day, as he called it, was chosen because it wasn’t the anniversary of any particular battle. On the first Decoration Day, General James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, and 5,000 participants decorated the graves of the 20,000 Civil War soldiers buried there.

Within 22 years, every northern state had made Decoration Day an official state holiday. Southern states continued to mark their own observances until after World War 1.

The Holiday Evolves

Originally, the holiday only honored those killed in the Civil War. But after the United States became involved in other grave conflicts, the holiday evolved to honor the nation’s military personnel who died in all wars.

For decades, Memorial Day continued to be observed on May 30, the date General Logan had selected for the first Decoration Day. But in 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which established Memorial Day as the last Monday in May in order to create a three-day weekend for federal employees. The change went into effect in 1971. The same law also declared Memorial Day a federal holiday.

The move has not been without controversy, though. Veterans groups, concerned that more Americans associate the holiday with first long weekend of the summer and not its intended purpose to honor the nation’s war dead, continue to lobby for a return to the May 30 observances. For more than 20 years, their cause was championed by Hawaiian Senator—and decorated World

“In Flanders Fields”

by John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.

Flags mark the graves of fallen soldiers. (Photo by Robert Linder on Unsplash)

War II veteran—Daniel Inouye, who until his 2012 death reintroduced legislation in support of the change at the start of every Congressional term.

Memorial Day Traditions

Many towns and cities across the US celebrate Memorial Day with parades that feature veteran’s organizations and military personnel. Many people wear red poppies

Parades and Ceremonies

Manhasset American Legion

Memorial Day Parade

May 29. 10 a.m.

Plandome Road from Plandome Court to Memorial Place

The American Legion will place a wreath at the Gold Star Monument on Plandome Road.

concludes at Mary Jane Davies Green for Memorial Service

United Veterans Organization (UVO) Memorial Day Ceremony

May 28, 10 a.m.

Ceremony will also unveil the new Iraq/ Afghanistan Memorial and Statue.

Eisenhower Park, Veterans Memorial Plaza

Mineola Fire Department Memorial Day Parade

May 29, 11:00 a.m.

Annual parade followed by a ceremony at Mineola Memorial Park

Starts at the corner of Union Street and Westbury Avenue

West on Westbury Avenue to Roslyn Road

North on Roslyn Road to Jericho Turnpike

West on Jericho Turnpike to Marcellus Road

South on Marcellus Road to Memorial Park

The Carle Place American Legion Parade

May 29, 10:00 a.m.

At the corner of Jamaica Blvd. and Westbury Ave.

East on Westbury Ave. to Carle Road and Westbury Ave.

Carle Place Veterans Memorial Park Memorial Service at approximately 10:30am.

New Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce Parade

May 27

9:30 Assembly at Southbound lane of Hillside Blvd and Jericho Tpke

10:00 Parade Starts

10:30 Wreath Laying Ceremony at front lawn of NHP Village Hall

as a symbol of remembrance for those who fell in foreign wars, a tradition inspired by a poem from World War I called “In Flanders Fields.” There are also parties and barbecues to mark the unofficial start of the summer season. While there are sometimes fireworks displays, this is usually considered inappropriate because it may trigger PTSD.

—with information from History.com

11:00 Memorial Day Ceremony

Memorial Park

Garden City Parade

May 29, 10:00 a.m.

Address: Monuments at the Gazebo by the Library

Village of East Williston

Memorial Day Ceremony

May 29, 12:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m.

On the Village Green

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Parenting Tips For Summer

BY ERICA SCHIFANO

Summer vacation! This phrase can evoke both parental joy and trepidation. On one hand, it can be a relief to sleep in a bit, relax at home in the mornings and plan family time together. On the other hand, too much free time may lead to bored, restless kids.

Active Parenting Fosters Healthy Families

Hands on parenting plays an outsized role in fostering positive child/parents connections, benefitting family dynamics no matter what your family situation is like. Most of us do not have the ability of spending every summer day with our children but with a degree of planning, it’s relatively easy to come up with inexpensive, fun activities that will keep your family busy, create memorable moments, and foster the conversations and relationships that play an integral role in long-term communication with your children.

Get your kids involved in planning!

Hands-on parenting requires putting your devices away during an activity and asking your kids to do the same. Be sure to include your children in planning your days together- ask them what they want to do and explore some new interests with them. If they have a hand in the plan, they’ll be more interested and receptive to the activity. It

can be helpful to plan out the week’s program as a family on Sunday. Make a list of meals for the week or outdoor activities for nice weather enjoyment as well as indoor activities for the inevitable rainy day. Your local library is a fabulous resource for free, fun and educational opportunities and a wonderful place to meet other parents and children.

Create themed weeks or special days. A

Local Mineola business is looking for a PART TIME FACILITIES PERSON

Must be organized, dependable and able to handle some heavy items when needed.

Tuesday and Wednesday are necessary days and we can be exible with remaining hours. Clean driving record and the ability to pass a background check is a must.

Please send resume to: ipicone@antonmediagroup.com ne@antonmediagroup.com

schedule for “Animal Week” might include bird watching, hopping a fishing boat at Captree or walking the shore at north or south shore beaches. Visits early and later in the day yield greater rewards with wildlife viewing, not to mention technicolor sunsets. If it’s rainy, watch The Lion King, for example, or do an animal craft. The internet offers hundreds of inexpensive craft ideas-children also have a wonderful imagination!

The Great Indoors

Rainy days at home can be relaxing and fun, perfect for baking a special treat, cooking a meal together, working on a jigsaw puzzle, arts & crafts, playing a board game or even making up their own board game! These activities encourage conversation, skill development and bring a satisfying end result. Selecting a movie or two that the family can enjoy together is much less expensive than an outing to a movie theater. Check out your local library’s book collection and introduce one of your childhood favorites to your kids. It’s a great way to talk about your own childhood and how it is different or similar to your children’s experiences. Don’t forget to pop your own popcorn or create a special snack.

The Great Outdoors

Families from all over the world visit Long Island beaches, parks and spend a day in New York City. You should too!

The Long Island’s Children’s Museum, the

Nassau County Museum of Art’s sculpture garden, the Planting Fields Arboretum, Old Westbury Gardens and many other beautiful indoor and outdoor spaces are just a few of the places for inexpensive family fun. You may be able to reserve free passes at your local library.

Think back to your own childhood and what you enjoyed as a kid. Remember the fun you had riding your bike, rollerblades or scooter? Long Island has many parks and family friendly bike trails. A destination adds enjoyment and interest. How about a lemonade stand? The website Playworks www.playworks.org/ offers plenty of fun games and ideas for groups of all sizes.

When you want to stay closer to home, try water balloons, sprinklers, or a chalk art contest. Planting an easy to grow garden of flowers and vegetables can encourage a lifelong interest in gardening.

While there is no shortage of summer fun on Long Island, its important to remember to keep a regular bedtime for your kids. If kids stay up too late and sleep in every morning, the transition to school will be more difficult.

The summer days are precious. Start making your plans for a memorable summer.

FCA’s Family Support team provides vital services to children and families who are vulnerable and at risk. Our Lynn Vanderhall Nursery Co-Op program, Pregnant & Parenting Teen Support (PACT), and Family Support programs all utilize an active parenting, hands-on approach that benefits all families.

—Submitted by Family and Children’s Association

Kids and parents participating in an FCA program. (Photo by FCA)

Erica Schifano of FCA.

(Photo by FCA)

COLUMNS

Look at Me

Jason and Dawn have been together for two years. They often defuse any arguments they have with comforting touch, such as a pat on the back or light touch on the shoulder. They have discussed the importance of this as a way to communicate that they are there for one another and love one another, even when in the middle of an argument. They have recently begun to explore other ways that they can remain connected, even when experiencing conflict. While touch can be an important component of relationships, as it helps partners bond and soothe one another, eye contact is also essential.

The Research

In a famous study conducted by Joan Kellerman, James Lewis, and James Laird (1989), participants were paired with strangers and

LOVE LESSONS

Marisa T. Cohen, PhD

were instructed to either look at each other’s hands, look into their eyes, or look into their eyes and focus on how many times their partner was blinking. Those who were looking into one another’s eyes (mutual gaze) reported more affection than the pairs in other conditions.

The Application

The study discussed above was conducted in a laboratory setting, and it’s not that likely that you and your partner will sit down at a table and gaze into one another’s eyes in the middle of a heated discussion, debate, or quickly escalating conflict. However, there are ways to be mindful about the way in which you connect (using your eyes) when interacting with one another. Many people, when feeling embarrassed or ashamed will glance down and away from their partners. When angry, you may scrunch up your eyes to look more serious (or menacing). For many, our emotions are clearly displayed on our faces. Be cognizant of how you and your partner connect with one another in terms of your eye contact next time you engage. Attempt to keep eye contact with

What is the Festival of Shavuot?

As over three million people congregated at the foot of Mount Sinai, after forty years of trudging through the desert, the defining moment in Jewish history occurred. Through dust and clouds, The Creator’s voice emanated across the masses and transmitted the Ten Commandments. With great seriousness, each person who bore witness to this grand mass revelation accepted the responsibility of keeping them. Beginning Thursday evening, May 25th, we celebrate this monumental experience with the holiday of Shavuot.

The Hebrew word shavuot means “weeks” in English and represents the seven weeks between the exodus from Egypt and the receiving of the Torah. Following the second day of Passover, we count the 49 days of the Omer and then celebrate Shavuot on the 50th day. On this holiday, Jewish people attempt to merge their spiritual selves with the spirit of the Divine and fortify their souls by accepting the Torah anew. In essence, on Shavuot, Jews reaffirm the declaration they made to The Almighty upon receiving the commandments: “We will do, and we will listen.”

Because King Solomon described the Torah as “sweet as milk and honey under the tongue,” many reminiscent traditions are undertaken during the Shavuot festival. Some people study Torah from Thursday night until sunrise

RABBI MOSHE WEISBLUM

and on Friday, Jews around the world assemble, just as they did over three thousand years ago, to hear the recitation of the Ten Commandments. Furthermore, it is customary to eat a dairy meal and recite Yizkor, the prayer of remembrance, on Shabbat morning. During those same morning prayer services, the Book of Ruth is read, in homage to the fact that, just as Jews loyally accepted the Torah at Mount Sinai, Ruth, a convert, demonstrated her willingness to take upon the tenets of the Jewish religion. As she told her motherin-law, Naomi, “Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your G-d, my G-d.” Ruth was a young Moabite princess and her eventual conversion to Judaism earned her an important place in Jewish history. Generations later, the

your partner. This may be challenging at first, especially if this is something that you aren’t used to. Maintaining eye contact with one another not only communicates that you are engaged and interested in what your partner is saying, but as the research shows, can lead to feelings of affection. If this is too challenging to do when in the middle of a heated discussion, make sure that you end the conversation by having at least 30 seconds of uninterrupted eye contact, bonus points if you’re also holding one another’s hands.

Reference: Kellerman, J., Lewis, J., & Laird, J. D. (1989). Looking and loving: The effects of mutual gaze on feelings of romantic love. Journal of Research in Personality, 23(2), 145-161.

Karl V. Anton, Jr., Publisher, Anton Community Newspapers, 1984-2000

Publishers of Glen Cove/Oyster Bay Record Pilot

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The Roslyn News

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Angela Susan Anton

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union between the young Ruth and the 80-year-old Boaz would produce the brave King David, who is credited with building the first Temple. The Hebrew date upon which Shavuot falls also happens to be the day that King David, Ruth’s great-grandson, entered and exited the world. Samuel, the exulted biblical prophet, wrote the Book of Ruth as genealogical proof of his fine character.

My book, Ruth Talk: Questions and Answers on the Book of Ruth, is meant to be a companion to the Book of Ruth. Ruth Talk analyzes each segment of the four chapters in a way that brings the biblical characters to life and makes the story relevant to our time. My hope is that readers will come to see it as a powerful account of self-transformation, filled with elements of love, hope, fate and world reparation. Ruth Talk is written in an easy question-and-answer format that reveals timeless life lessons, nuanced meaning, and emotional depth, all found within the interpersonal challenges that our ancestors faced. I dearly wish people will pick up Ruth Talk

alongside the biblical Book of Ruth and have both an enriched reading experience and a soulful celebration of Shavuot festival because of it.

For this upcoming Festival of Shavuot, I’d like to give each person some encouragement: Each of us can figuratively ascend Mount Sinai. We may celebrate Shavuot once a year, but we experience Shavuot and reaffirm our allegiance to our Creator every time we take the Torah out of the ark, every time we listen to the reading of the Torah, and every time we engage in Torah study. This Shavuot, believe in your spiritual potential and make efforts to realize it. Find in your hearts the steadfast loyalty that Ruth possessed and watch yourselves become the recipients of untold spiritual reward. Perhaps your descendants will make priceless contributions to our future, as Ruth’s great-grandson, King David, did. Or perhaps you’ll find that just being a part of this journey, using our Torah as a blueprint and observing the commandments are all the fulfillment you need. Wishing all who celebrate a Happy Shavuot!

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All letters must include an address and daytime telephone number for verification. All material contributed to Anton Media Group in any form becomes the property of the newspapers to use, modify and distribute as the newspaper staff assigns or sees fit. Letters to the editor can be mailed to: editors@antonmediagroup.com

Additional copies of this and other issues are available for purchase by calling 516-403-5120.

Eye contact can have a powerful effect on your relationship.

Why Nassau Needs a Strong, Independent Inspector General’s Office

As a legislator who served during the height of corruption in Nassau County and witnessed the indictment of former Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano, I know firsthand how important it is to have mechanisms in place to protect taxpayer money from the pitfalls of waste and fraud.

During the past few years, I have worked closely with my Minority Caucus colleagues to strengthen the integrity of Nassau’s procurement system and make the process of awarding contracts as fair and secure as possible. We did so by increasing the rigor of our contract reviews; requiring vendors to submit the names of all principals and any political contributions they have made; and mandating the disclosure of any violations

an applicant may have been issued. Soon after, we created the Office of the Inspector General and appointed the County’s first Inspector General, Jodi Franzese – a proud moment in my legislative career.

Operating as an independent official, the Inspector General and their team promote transparency and increase the accountability of County operations by reviewing each contract to detect and prevent waste, fraud, and the abuse of taxpayer money in Nassau County procurement.

Continued support for the Inspector General’s office is critical to further ensuring the integrity of our procurement system – one that encompasses hundreds of millions of dollars each year. However, it appears that

there are efforts being made to weaken this crucial County government watchdog.

After her four-year term expired at the end of 2022, the Inspector General worked for months without being reappointed by the Legislature, placing her and the entire office into an uncertain posture. Without the protection that being formally appointed by a bipartisan, 13-vote supermajority provides, the Inspector General’s ability to achieve its mission of serving as an independent watchdog is inherently weakened.

That is why the Minority Caucus introduced legislation in April to extend the Inspector General’s contract through 2026. Unfortunately, the Majority rejected our proposal, and the Inspector General recently

announced she will be leaving her position effective June 1.

Preserving and enhancing ethics safeguards like the Inspector General’s office will not only protect taxpayer money from waste, fraud, and abuse, it will also deter future bad actors and help to ensure that elected officials have all the information they need to reach informed decisions. The Minority Caucus will continue to fight tirelessly to dramatically improve the procurement process to make it more transparent, inclusive, and cost-effective – and it is essential for Nassau County to continue down this path.

Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, of Glen Cove, represents Nassau County’s 11th Legislative District.

PSEG Long Island Invites Students To Learn What It Takes To Be A Utility Worker

Whether it’s a blue-sky day or a stormy night, utility workers are on the job around the clock to keep the lights on. May was Electric Safety Month – an opportunity for PSEG Long Island to bring more than 50 students from Nassau BOCES to the PSEG Long Island Training Academy to teach them what it

SPRING EVENT

takes to be a utility worker. The students learned how PSEG Long Island provides safe, reliable power to the service area and how to be safe around electricity.

Students from Nassau BOCES toured the PSEG Long Island Training Academy with utility workers who will educate them about electricity, while touring the

five academies: substations, emergency services, underground and overhead lines, and meter maintenance. They also got a visual demonstration illustrating why it is important to stay away from downed power lines. The demonstration took place at the PSEG Long Island Training Academy in Hicksville, NY.

There was a climbing demonstration, visual demonstration on the dangers of working on and around high voltage wires, what to do if a power line falls on a car, home, or fence, and how wildlife can negatively interfere with power lines.

—Submitted by PSEG

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

Summertime Art: A list of upcoming exhibits at iconic museums

BY LONG ISLAND WEEKLY STAFF editors@antonnews.com

Museums are a great place to get out of the hot, summer air into air conditioning. They are also great places to see some amazing art. Here is a list of museums in Nassau, Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan that have exciting exhibits coming up this summer. What these museums have to offer is, of course, not limited to this list. Before visiting a museum, simply visit the websites listed below so that you know what exhibitions you’d like to focus your time on.

NASSAU COUNTY:

The Nassau County Museum of Art, One Museum Dr. in Roslyn Harbor. nassaumuseum.org.

Modigliani and the Modern Portrait (July 22 – Nov. 5, 2023): “Devoted to the way that Modigliani powerfully re-defined the art of portraiture, the show includes his masterworks along with paintings and drawings by his Parisian contemporaries (Picasso, van Dongen, Laurencin). Modigliani’s enduring influence on artists even in our own time is shown in a selection of Contemporary paintings by such important figures as David Hockney, Eric Fischl, Elizabeth Peyton and others. The exhibition is being curated by Dr. Kenneth Wayne, founder of The Modigliani Project which authenticates paintings and drawings.”

QUEENS:

MoMA PS1, 22-25 Jackson Ave. in Queens. momaps1.org.

Standing On The Corner: Seven

Prepared Pianos for the Seven African Powers (June 1 - Oct.9, 2023): “For their first durational museum presentation, the avant-garde musical ensemble

‘Standing on the Corner’ (American, est. 2016), led by Gio Escobar, will create a sonic, multimedia installation that brings together spiritual objects, modified instruments, and moving images. The centerpiece of the exhibition is a large-scale installation consisting of seven pianos distinctly presented and prepared, with symbolic objects inserted into their strings to create apparitional interventions. Forging connections between New York City, Puerto Rico, and Africa—reflecting Escobar’s own ancestral ties—the project imagines how spiritual and natural forces intersect with and bewitch our objects and environment. The installation makes

visible the inner workings of the pianos, as well as the artists’ intercession into the strings, through cameras installed inside of the instruments, with footage projected in real time. This work bridges Standing on the Corner’s interest in the urban modifications of ancient devotional practices of the Caribbean and Africa and proposes the destruction of Western musical traditions. The installation will be activated during concerts that harness the altered acoustics of each piano to summon the mysterious powers that possess them.”

BROOKLYN:

Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn. brooklynmuseum.org.

Africa Fashion (June 23 - Oct.22, 2023): “Making its North American debut in Brooklyn, ‘Africa Fashion’ is the largest-ever presentation of the subject: more than 180 works, including standout pieces from the museum’s collections. Organized thematically, this multisensory experience features immersive displays of haute couture and ready-to-wear apparel, as well as photographs, literature, sketches, music, film and catwalk footage, textiles, and jewelry. More than forty designers and artists from twenty African countries are represented, from the vanguards who first gained worldwide attention, such as Kofi Ansah (Ghana) and Shade Thomas-Fahm (Nigeria), to the newest generation of cutting-edge creatives, such as Thebe Magugu (South Africa) and Gouled Ahmed (Djibouti). Many of their works are on view for the first time in the United States.”

MANHATTAN:

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Ave. in New York. metmuseum.org.

Van Gogh’s Cypresses (May 22 - Aug.27, 2023): “Van Gogh’s Cypresses is the first exhibition to focus on the trees—among the most famous in the history of art—immortalized in signature images by Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890). Such iconic pictures as ‘Wheat Field with Cypresses’ and ‘The Starry Night’ take their place as the centerpiece in a presentation that affords an unprecedented perspective on a motif virtually synonymous with the Dutch artist’s fiercely original power of expression. Some 40 works illuminate the extent of his fascination with the region’s distinctive flamelike evergreens as they successively sparked, fueled, and stoked his imagination over the course of two years in the South of France: from his initial sightings of the “tall and dark” trees in Arles to realizing their full, evocative potential (“as I see them”) at the asylum in Saint-Rémy. Juxtaposing landmark paintings with precious drawings and illustrated letters—many rarely, if ever, lent or exhibited together—this tightly conceived thematic exhibition offers an extraordinary opportunity to appreciate anew some of Van Gogh’s most celebrated works in a context that reveals the backstory of their invention for the first time.”

New Museum, 235 Bowery in New York. newmuseum.org.

Pepón Osorio: My Beating Heart/ Mi Corazón Latiente (June 29 - Sept. 17, 2023): “Informed by his background in theater and performance as well as his experiences as a child services case worker and professor, Osorio’s richly textured sculptures and installations are deeply invested in political, social, and cultural issues affecting Latinx and working class communities in the United States. Installed in the New Museum’s Second Floor galleries, the exhibition will focus on the elaborate, large-scale, multimedia environments that Osorio has been creating since the early 1990s, often developed through long-term conversations and collaborations with individuals in the neighborhoods where they were first shown. This exhibition will provide an opportunity to experience Pepón Osorio’s new and most iconic projects together for the first time, and demonstrate the distinctive ways in which he creates encompassing environments that illustrate personal stories and reveal crucial societal concerns. Taken from an eponymous work, the title of the exhibition addresses themes that resonate throughout Osorio’s practice, including the simultaneous resilience and fragility of human life, the values and desires that propel humanity, and the fundamental urgency to better care for one another.”

‘Jeanne Hébuterne au Chapeau et collier’ by Amedeo Modigliani. (Public Domain photo)

‘Wheat Field with Cypresses’ by Vincent van Gogh. (Public domain photo)

HOMES

Recently Sold

This stylish and sought after “A” model in great location begins at the grand entry foyer which flows to a spacious living room and back deck access overlooking the lush green space. The unit, at 62 Windsor Gate Drive in Manhasset Hills, sold on May 2 for $933,000. It has 2,300 square feet of living space, including its lovely dining room and eat-in-kitchen with granite countertops. The laundry room is conveniently located on the main floor. The updated master ensuite has a new walk-in closet and an additional bedroom suite. There is an additional bedroom and office space upstairs. The home has three bathrooms in total and closets throughout. The home has an aboveground oil tank and a new furnace.

HOME & DESIGN

John Shopis Recognized For Service To Community

In recognition of National Volunteer Month recently, PSEG Long Island celebrates its employees who support their neighbors throughout the year through community service.

During the year and throughout the month of April, PSEG Long Island employees enjoy giving back to their communities. In April, they mobilized to assist the Red Cross in installing smoke detectors in homes in Hempstead; commemorated Earth Day and Arbor Day by providing Long Islanders with energy-saving trees in Hauppauge and East Meadow; and joined Island Harvest Food Bank in Greenlawn to pack and distribute food to members of the community.

“Throughout the year our employees show their commitment to their neighbors through community service in the towns and villages where they live and work,” said David Lyons, interim president and

COO of PSEG Long Island.

“National Volunteer Month provides the perfect backdrop to say thanks and recognize the people in our organization who do so much for so many.”

John Shopis of Seaford participated in the food distribution.

“It was great to be back out participating with fellow employees at this community service event,” said Shopis. “I met a nice group of people who are all dedicated to helping other Long Island families. Our customers were thankful for the food and supplies they received. This event shows the dedication and caring attitude of our employees, who are also neighbors. It’s great to work for a company that gives back and is appreciated by the customers we serve.”

PSEG Long Island is committed to giving back to the people and communities it serves.

—PSEG Long Island

This beautifully expanded cape at 113 Greenway West in Manhasset Hills sold on April 11 for $925,000. It has three updated bedrooms and three bathrooms. The kitchen has also been updated and has granite countertops and steel appliances. It has hardwood floors throughout, a formal dining room and a spacious living room with a fireplace. There is also a large family room in the back of the home. The backyard is fenced in. There is a large covered balcony above the garage and the home has a full, finished basement. The home is within the Herricks School District and is in close proximity to major highways, shopping and many other amenities and conveniences.

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.

PSEG Long Island employee, John Shopis of Seaford, helps pack food for a recent Island Harvest food distribution in Greenlawn.

SPONSORED BY ORLIN & COHEN

Mia Babino: Exceptional Field Hockey Player Heads To SUNY Cortland With Many Honors

BY JANET BURNS jburns@antonmediagroup.com

As high school varsity athletes from around the county are signing on with their almamaters-to-be, Carle Place senior Mia Babino is heading off to college with plenty of accolades under her belt.

As a varsity field hockey player, Babino has spent four years tearing up mid-field at Carle Place High School, which has a hearty (and trophy-laden) athletic tradition, including in its field hockey program.

Over her final year with the team, Babino has put together quite an impressive collection of awards herself. For one thing, Babino received AllConference, All-League, All-County Honorable Mention and All-Long Island 2nd Team honors. She also took part in the Nassau County Girls’ Field

Hockey Exceptional Senior game.

In addition to being a serious contender on the field, Babino has worked hard at her studies, and received an All-Scholar Athlete

award for her academic achievements in the classroom.

After an extended college search, Babino was ultimately the recipient of multiple

offers from Division 1, 2 and 3 schools. Babino said that keeping a balance between academics and sports was extremely important in her decision for where to begin her post-secondary career.

In the end, Mia chose to attend SUNY Cortland and is excited to become a Red Dragon next fall. In addition to bringing her stick skills to campus, Babino will be studying Elementary Education as an undergraduate.

Orlin & Cohen is proud to support our community’s best high school athletes, just as we support all athletes’ orthopedic needs.

Long Island’s premier orthopedic group, we provide sideline team physician coverage and athletic training services to more than 20 high school sports programs – and offer Walk-in Sunday Sports Medicine and Recovery Clinics for young athletes.

Mia Babino

Carle Place senior and varsity athlete

(Courtesy of Carle Place High School)

Even as a freshman, Mia Babino was tearing up the field for Carle Place. (Credit: Frank Rizzo)

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 (“PSC”) tari revisions to its Schedule for Gas Service, PSC No.1 – GAS, that are proposed to become e ective June 3, 2023.

The Company seeks to increase delivery revenues by approximately $228 million to modernize and improve the safety, reliability, and performance of our infrastructure, enhance the customer experience, reduce system emissions, and fund energy a ordability and e ciency programs. The Company’s ling is subject to approval by the PSC and the rates approved may be di erent from those proposed. The Company expects that the PSC will suspend the proposed rates for the maximum period permitted under the Public Service Law, which would mean an e ective date of revised rates of April 1, 2024.

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

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

S.C. No. 16, 5-16 – Year-Round Space

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

1BR, 5-1BR – Residential Heating Service

S.C. 17 – Baseload Distributed

5-1B-DG – Distributed Generation

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

2-A, 5-2A – Non-Residential Non-Heating Service

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

S.C. 18/19–Non-Firm Demand Response Sales Service – Tier 1

S.C. 18/19–Non-Firm Demand Response Sales Service – Tier 2

For more information, visit ngrid.com/li-rate ling or the PSC’s website (dps.ny.gov).

KEYSPAN GAS EAST CORPORATION d/b/a

2023 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Robert “Bob” Hemm

A Life of Exploration and Friendship

Robert “Bob” Hemm, a man who embraced life with a passion for adventure, friendship, and an unyielding thirst for exploration, has le an indelible legacy that continues to inspire others on their own extraordinary journeys.

JUNE 3

JUNE 10

Born into the challenging era of the Great Depression, Bob discovered solace and opportunity through a scholarship that propelled him into the vibrant tapestry of St. Bernard’s School. It was here that the seeds of his insatiable curiosity were sown, igniting a ame that would guide him through a life adorned with thrilling escapades.

From a young age, Bob understood that true growth lies beyond the familiar. He dared to step outside the con nes of comfort, believing that dancing with danger, if only eetingly, enlivens the spirit and nurtures personal transformation. With a rallying cry to embrace the world around us, he beckoned others to embark on their own grand adventures, where the uncharted territories of personal and professional lives intermingle and ignite.

JUNE 23

JUNE 24

Yet, it was through the tapestry of friendship that Bob found his greatest joy. Each chapter of his life was an invitation for kindred spirits to join him, weaving a symphony of camaraderie that ampli ed the beauty of shared experiences. As if co-written by cherished companions, his adventures transcended mere conquests, celebrating the unparalleled gi of connection that weaves us together. In the embrace of extraordinary friends, Bob discovered that the true essence of life lies in the shared laughter, tears, and boundless exploration that knows no bounds. Bob’s life was a testament to living each moment with unwavering passion, fearlessly traversing the world and collecting wisdom like precious jewels along the way. His thirst for knowledge knew no boundaries, and he tirelessly shared his tales, igniting the ames of possibility within others. rough the colorful tapestry of his adventures and experiences, people discovered the art of charting their own paths, transforming the stages of life into hand-drawn maps that led to unimagined horizons. He unlocked the realms of imagination, teaching us how to infuse our existence with love, ful llment, and an unwavering devotion to exploration.

JULY 16

JUL 22Johnny Mathis

AUG 5Air Supply

AUG 8Richard Marx

AUG 9The Concer t: A Tribute to Abba

AUG 18 Elvis Tribute Artist Spectacular

AUG 19The Fab Four: The Ultimate Tribute

SEP 9Lar Enterprises Presents: Oh What A Night of Rock & Roll

SEP 23Hermans Hermits starring Peter Noone

OCT 1The Price is Right

OCT 15Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood

JULY 18

OCT 19+20 Lee Brice

OCT 21Monsters of Freestyle

OCT 21Parliament Funkadelic feat. George Clinton

NOV 10Masters of Illusion

NOV 11Paul Anka

NOV 12Celebrating David Bowie featuring Peter Murphy, Adriant Belew, Scrote & more

NOV 19Howie Mandel

DEC 8Engelbert Humperdinck

DEC 9Daniel O’Donnell

DEC 12An Intimate Evening with David Foster & Katherine McPhee

Beyond the boundaries of earthly constraints, Bob’s love for ight soared to new heights. A master of the skies, he reveled in the symphony of engines, embracing the freedom that came with being a pilot. As a parachuter, he fearlessly de ed gravity, embracing the exhilaration of defying limits and embracing the unknown. His mastery extended beneath the surface, as a skilled diver who delved into the depths, uncovering the mysteries concealed by the oceans’ embrace.

Yet, his ventures were not limited to the realm of adventure alone. Bob’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to conquer the world of business, where he harnessed his resources to promote exploration and the wellbeing of others, a true pioneer of possibility.

Robert “Bob” Hemm’s spirit and unwavering dedication to discovery will forever illuminate our path. His legacy extends far beyond mere existence, intertwining with the fabric of life itself, urging us to live, love, and explore with boundless enthusiasm.

In the hearts of those who had the privilege of knowing him, Bob’s light will continue to shine, illuminating the extraordinary possibilities that await those who dare to chase their dreams. As we bid him farewell, let us celebrate his life by embracing the great adventure that awaits us all.

On behalf of everyone at Anton Media Group, we will miss Bob’s monthly visits & we send our thoughts and prayers to our Angela Anton.

State Senator Martinez Introduces Legislation To Increase Protections For Wild, Exotic Animals

Senator Monica R. Martinez has introduced bill S6211, which establishes a definition for exotic animals and expands the existing definition of wild animals. The bill further prohibits exotic animals from being harbored, traded, imported, sold or owned as pets in the same way as wild animals.

“Wild and exotic animals require specific conditions and environments to survive. The habitats in which these animals live in the wild are far from conditions that exist in New York. Any business operating with the intent of profiting by selling these exotic animals should be held accountable under the law for the unethical treatment of animals,” stated Senator Martinez.

The bill clearly defines a wild animal as an indigenous, non-domesticated animal native to the country in which they live, and an exotic animal as a wild animal with an origin of a different continent. The bill further lists all families and orders that would be protected, some of which include sloths, kangaroos, hyenas, elephants, wallabies and armadillos.

This bill has swiftly garnered support from a number of organizations. John Di Leonardo, Anthrozoologist and Executive Director of Humane Long Island said,

“Humane Long Island applauds Senator Martinez for introducing essential legislation to amend New York State’s prohibition on keeping wild animals to include exotic

animals such as sloths and kangaroos. Sloths are tree-dwelling, tropical animals with sharp teeth and four-inch claws. They are mostly deaf and nearly blind when exposed to bright light. Red kangaroos are the largest marsupial in the world, growing up to 6ft tall and weighing up to 200lbs. A pet Gray kangaroo, which is roughly half the size of a Red kangaroo, made international news last year after he killed his owner and blocked paramedics from reaching him before being shot dead by the police. Wild animals are not pets and treating them like dogs or cats endangers children and animals alike.”

Edita Birnkrant, Executive Director of NYCLASS said, “NYCLASS is thrilled that NY State Senator Martinez has introduced much-needed legislation to expand the definition of ‘wild’ animals prohibited from being imported, sold or owned in New York. This important bill will prevent thousands

of non-native animals from being exploited and endangered by wildlife traffickers recklessly selling these animals to New Yorkers who may not understand that animals such as sloths, kangaroos, ostriches, emus and many others should never be pets. NYCLASS strongly supports the passage of this bill and will work with the Senator to help enact it into law.”

“I look forward to working with my colleagues to garner additional support and pass this much needed legislation. It is inhumane and unethical for wild and exotic animals to be sold or kept as pets in New York State. These are not animals that should be closely interacting with people on a daily basis,” stated Senator Martinez. This bill would not apply to facilities, sanctuaries and other exclusions under current law.

—Submitted by the office of Senator Monica R. Martinez

A sloth, an animal native to Central and South America. (Photo by Meg Jerrard via Unsplash)

Raynham Hall Museum Delights Community With Love Re-Awakened Ball

Raynham Hall Museum has become known in the Gold Coast region of Long Island for its spectacularly fun and over-the-top fundraising events, and its recent party, the Love Re-Awakened Ball, was no exception.

The museum honored three outstanding local press outlets, including Anton Media Group. A group of renowned designers, including benefit co-chairs Jamie and Frantz Arty of Oyster Bay, and Tré & David LaVoúx-Ganci of Glen Cove, created individual tablescapes to transform the ballroom at The Muttontown Club in East Norwich. Gorgeous silent auction items, a robust live auction led by auctioneer extraordinaire Russell Koster, and a roulette wheel of wine bottles for a “Spinthe-Bottle” game completed the party. Live music, by the legendary Lester Lanin Orchestra, brought guests to their feet throughout the evening.

“These designers are all so immensely talented, and we love seeing all the beautiful but incredibly different looks they come up with,” said Harriet Gerard Clark, the museum’s executive director.

The annual event supports the nearly 300-year-old Townsend family home, bringing to life the history of Revolutionary War espionage, domestic life, and decorative arts. Contributions enable the museum to give back to Long Island school children with field trip scholarships, educational programs, and exhibits, as well as preservation of the house, its vast and intriguing collections, and other operational support.

For further information on past and upcoming events, contact Raynham Hall Museum, located at 30 West Main Street in Oyster Bay, at 516-922-6808 or check the website at www.raynhamhallmuseum.org.

—Submitted by Raynham Hall

Iris Picone, Vice President of Operations at Anton

Media Group, left, Harriet Gerard Clark, Harriet Gerard Clark, Executive Director of Raynham Hall, and John Canning, Commissioner of Human Resources for Town of Oyster Bay. (Contributed photo)

Northwell Teaches Lifesaving Training At School

Student Sydney Brewer led the effort for critical training at her school.

Northwell Health led Stop the Bleed training for hundreds of students at Bellmore-Merrick’s John F. Kennedy High School on May 12. The lifesaving training taught students how to staunch bleeding from trauma in the critical moments before paramedics arrive at the scene, which has shown to often be the difference between life and death.

The training was possible thanks to the effort of Sydney Brewer, a junior at the school. Sydney led a fundraising effort and purchased 60 Stop the Bleed kits for her school – and was instrumental in getting staff from North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset to come teach the students how to use them.

“I’m the same age as the kids in the Sandy Hook shooting, and I knew I had to do something about it,” said Sydney, who is 17. “It makes me so proud that my hard work has paid off and now I can help people help other people.”

Gun violence is on the rise across the country, which is what spurred Sydney on. There have already been more than 200 mass shootings this year, which are defined

as shootings in which four or more people are injured or killed, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Additionally, this May marks the fifth annual National Stop the Bleed Month, which highlights the importance of learning this critical skill.

Students were shown how to pack wounds to stop bleeding and apply tourniquets. They also learned that gun violence is not the only situation in which this training can be used. Critical wounds can occur during car crashes, falls and when doing

yard work. A person with a severe wound can bleed to death in about three minutes, which is often before paramedics or police can arrive on the scene. Knowing how to stop bleeding from an open wound can save lives.

“Learning how to stop bleeding is a vital skill that can save lives,” said Matthew Bank, MD, executive director of the Northwell Trauma Institute. “This type of grassroots event is exciting and very feasible. The Northwell Trauma Institute is happy to collaborate with anyone to set up Stop The Bleed training events.”

Northwell doctors, nurses and EMTs taught more than 500 students at JFK High School during the day-long session, and are teaching hundreds more on May 19. When they’re done, the entire student body will be trained in stopping bleeding.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our students,” said John F. Kennedy High School Principal Gerard Owenburg. “Getting the kits was one thing. But having the training and the students having the knowledge has really brought it to another level.”

—Submitted by Northwell Health

Northwell Health Dr. Matthew Bank, Stop the Bleed Trainer Catherine Dunckley and Bellmore JFK High School student Sydney Brewer.

(Photo by Northwell Health)

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 Crossword Puzzle

To Advertise here call 516-403-5170 • Email your ad to: mmallon@antonmediagroup.com

EMPLOYMENT

ANNOUNCEMENTS EMPLOYMENT

A nonpro t organization in North Shore Long Island is seeking sealed bids for sales and installation of security related enhancements. This is a New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services grant funded project. The project includes (i) installation of one or more: technology (such as CCTV, access control, alarms, sensors, X-ray machines, magnetometer), security lm, doors, locks, windows, bollards, planters, barriers, lighting, fencing, privacy fencing, gates, (ii) training programs, and (iii) security personnel. Bids will be accepted until 5:00 PM on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. Work is expected to commence by the week of May 29 and expected to be completed by May 31. All interested vendors will be required to demonstrate preliminary quali cations and licensing for this work, acknowledge receipt of the proposal documents, and provide company name, business address, telephone, fax and email address, and primary contact name. Selection criteria will be based on knowledge of surveillance and security, adherence to projected work schedule, prior experience, references, and cost. Speci cations and bid requirements can be obtained by contacting us at greatneckupgrades@outlook.com

The Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library Board plans to add a café.

If you are a licensed business owner with experience in traditional bakerycafé food, such as scones, mu ns and cupcakes, and are interested in partnering in this project, we invite you to pick up a “Request for Proposal” in the Business O ce of the Plainview-Old Bethpage Public Library between the hours of 9:30 am and 4:30 pm, June 1- June 15.

For further information, please contact the Project Manager, Gretchen Browne at gbrowne@poblib.org.

ADVERTISE HERE

CALL 516-403-5170

EMPLOYMENT

AUTO / MOTORCYCLE

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Wheels For Wishes benefiting MakeA-Wish® Northeast New York. Your Car Donations Matter NOW More Than Ever! Free Vehicle Pick Up ANYWHERE. We Accept Most Vehicles Running or Not. 100% Tax Deductible. Minimal To No Human Contact. Call: (877) 798-9474. Car Donation Foundation d/b/a Wheels For Wishes. www. wheelsforwishes.org.

Local Mineola business is looking for a PART TIME FACILITIES PERSON

Must be organized, dependable and able to handle some heavy items when needed. Tuesday and Wednesday are necessary days and we can be exible with remaining hours. Clean driving record and the ability to pass a background check is a must. Please send resume to: ipicone@antonmediagroup.com ne@antonmediagroup.com

DEBT

Growing agency seeks telephone debt collectors to join us in our Floral Park o ce. Experienced, or will train. Heavy phones. Workforce returnees/retirees welcome. Full-Time or Part-Time.

Salary plus commission.

Friendly team, 3 blocks from LIRR, free on-site parking.

Contact Tom at (855) 727-8939 X3925

Counselors for Bilingual Children/Youth Summer Program. June 28th to August 9th, Monday to Friday, 8 AM – 4:30 PM. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills,

TRAIN ONLINE TO DO MEDICAL BILLING!

Become a Medical Office Professional online at CTI! Get Trained, Certified & ready to work in months! Call 855-543-6440. (M-F 8am6pm ET). Computer with internet is required.

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ROSLYN LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK NA, SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE TO BANK OF AMERICA, NA, SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO LASALLE BANK NA, AS TRUSTEE, ON BEHALF OF THE HOLDERS OF THE WAMU MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007HY3, Plaintiff, vs. MIRIAM WARSHAW, ET AL., Defendant(s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on January 23, 2020, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on June 5, 2023 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 53 Tara Drive, Roslyn, NY 11576. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of East Hills, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 19, Block 37 and Lot 8. Approximate amount of judgment is $1,723,970.41 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index 613641/2017. This foreclosure sale will be held on the north side steps of the Courthouse, rain or shine. COVID-19 safety protocols will be followed at the foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the Court Appointed Referee will cancel the sale.

Ralph Madalena, Esq., Referee

Eckert Seamans Cherin Mellott, LLC, 10 Bank Street, Suite 700, White Plains, New York 10606, Attorneys for Plaintiff 5-24-17-10-3-2023-4T#240601-ROS

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT: NASSAU COUNTY. LOAN FUNDER LLC, SERIES 6646, Pltf. vs 635 BRYANT GROUP CORP., et al, Defts. Index #608672/20. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale dated March 9, 2022, I will sell at public auction on the north side fronts steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on June 6, 2023 at 2:30 p.m., prem. k/a 635 Bryant Avenue, Roslyn, NY a/k/a Section 20, Block 88, Lot 16. Approx. amt. of judgment is $1,153,203.74 plus costs and interest. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale. Foreclosure auction will be

held “rain or shine.” If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the auction.

MARK RICCIARDI, Referee. DEUTSCH SCHNEIDER, LLP, Attys. for Pltf. 79-37 Myrtle Avenue, Glendale, NY. File No. LF-175#100301 5-24-17-10-3-2023-4T#240603-ROS

LEGAL NOTICE

Notice of formation of Limited Liability Company. Name: Vermont GP LLC (“LLC”). Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of the State of New York (“SSNY”) on January 19, 2021. NY office location: Nassau County. The SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The SSNY shall mail a copy of any process to Vermont GP LLC, 1044 Northern Boulevard, 2nd F, Roslyn, NY 11576. Purpose/character of LLC is to engage in any lawful act or activity.

6-7; 5-31-24-17-10-3-20236T-#240668-ROS

LEGAL NOTICE

Notice of formation of CDRR TECHNOLOGY LLC. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York SSNY on 05/02/2023.

Office located in NASSUA. SSNY has been designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process served against LLC 63 Dogwood Road, Albertson, NY 11507. Purpose: any lawful purpose.

6-14-7; 5-31-24-17-10-20236T-#240827-ROS

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Treasurer of the Inc. Village of East Hills has received a Warrant for the levy and collection of real property taxes for the Fiscal Year of 2023/24. Property taxes in the amounts listed on the Tax Roll are due and payable beginning June 1, 2023 through to and including the 1st day of July. Taxes are receivable at the office of the Village Treasurer, Village Hall, 209 Harbor Hill Road, East Hills, NY 11576 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, excepting Sats, Suns, and holidays.

To all taxes remaining unpaid after July 1, 2023, five per centum (5%) shall be added for the first month, and an additional amount of interest determined pursuant to Section 1432 and 924-a of the Real Property Tax Law for each month thereafter until paid.

Donna

Village

LEGAL NOTICES

VILLAGE OF ROSLYN

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Zoning Board of Appeals for the Incorporated Village of Roslyn will hold a Public Meeting on June 5, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. at Village Hall, 1200 Old Northern Blvd., Roslyn, New York 11576

To consider the following:

Case No. 1713

Evangelo Zissis

19 Bryant Ave. Section 20, Block A, Lot 42, 140

The applicant is seeking to modify the prior decision #3575 dated April 7, 1992.

The requested application is for the partial use of a nonconforming property (as established by Zoning Board of Appeals case #3575, dated June 8, 1992) as a full-service retail pharmacy. The current uses at the property are business offices, doctor offices, and a design/fabric space.

Paragraph #1 of the Zoning Board of Appeals resolution for case #3575 states “The entire building’s use shall be restricted to one tenancy and to office use of said tenant and no retail use shall be made of these business premises and the C/O to be issued hereunder shall so provide.” In addition, the applicant received a 15-car temporary parking waiver under Zoning Board of Appeals case #3575, dated June 8, 1992, and requests alternate parking relief for an additional 14 cars pursuant to 470-22(B) if required.

At the aforesaid time and place, all interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard.

By order of the Zoning Board of Appeals Inc. Village of Roslyn

Dated: May 17, 2023

5-24-2023-1T-#241049-ROS

LEGAL NOTICE

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE

Gooch

Clerk-Treasurer

Inc. Village of East Hills 5-24-17-2023-2T-#240896ROS

that pursuant to Section 1428 of the Real Property Tax Law of the State of New York, I the undersigned Village Treasurer and Collector of Taxes of the Village of Flower Hill, New York have received the Tax Roll and Warrant for the current year for collection of taxes levied therein, and I will receive taxes at the Village Office, 1 Bonnie Heights Rd., Flower Hill, from June 1, 2023 to and including August 1, 2023 from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, and for that said period of time, taxes assessed upon such roll may be paid to me without additional charge. With respect to all such taxes remaining unpaid after August 1, 2023, five (5%) percent will be added for the first month or fraction thereof, and additional interest as provided for pursuant to Section 1432 of the Real Property Tax Law shall be added for each additional month or fraction thereof, thereafter, until paid.

BY

ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Randall

Rosenbaum, Mayor Suzanne Tangredi, Village Treasurer- Collector of Taxes

Dated: May 24, 2023

May 31, 2023

Village of Flower Hill 5-31-24-2023-2T-#241062ROS

LEGAL NOTICE

INC. VILLAGE OF FLOWER HILL

PUBLIC HEARING OF BOARD OF TRUSTEES

DESIGNATION OF LANDMARK STATUS

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE

that the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) of the Inc. Village of Flower Hill has identified certain properties within the Village to be considered for designation as landmarks. The Board of Trustees will hold a Public Hearing regarding the approval of Landmark designation of the following properties at Village Hall located at 1 Bonnie Heights Road, Manhasset, New York 11030 in said Village on June 5, 2023, at 7:30 PM: FHLPC 4/22: The Frederick M. Eastman Carriage House, West Shore Road, Roslyn, NY 11576, S-6, B-076, L-50.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER

NOTICE that this meeting will be open to the public. Persons who may suffer from a disability which would prevent them from participating in said hearing should notify Ronnie Shatzkamer, Village Clerk, at (516) 627-5000 in sufficient time to permit such arrangements to be made to enable such persons to participate in said hearing.

RONNIE SHATZKAMER

Village Administrator, Inc. Village of Flower Hill Dated: May 31, 2023 Manhasset, New York.

5-24-2023-1T-#241059-ROS

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Town of North HempsteadBoard of Zoning Appeals Pursuant to the provisions of the Code of the Town of North Hempstead, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Zoning Appeals of said Town will meet at Town Hall, 220 Plandome Road, Manhasset, New York, on Wednesday, June 7, 2023 to consider any matters that may properly be heard by said Board, and will hold a public hearing on said date to consider applications and appeals.

The following cases will be called at said public hearing starting at 10:00am.

APPEAL #21398 Cove Realty, LLC; 54 Glen Cove Rd., Greenvale, Section 20, Block J06, Lot 102; Zoned Business-A/Residence-C Variance from 70-103(A) (1) to construct interior alterations to a commercial building with not enough parking.

Plans are available for pub-

lic viewing at https://northhempsteadny.gov/bzs.Persons interested in viewing the full file may do so by any time before the scheduled hearing by contacting the BZA department via e-mail at BZAdept@northhempsteadny.gov.

Additionally, the public may view the live stream of this meeting at https:// northhempsteadny.gov/ townboardlive. Any member of the public is able to attend and participate in a BZA hearing by appearing on the scheduled date and time. Comments are limited to 3 minutes per speaker. Written comments are accepted by email up to 60 minutes prior to the hearing. Timely comment submissions will be made part of the record.

DAVID MAMMINA, R.A., Chairman; Board of Zoning Appeals

5-24-2023-1T-#241088-ROS

LEGAL NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

INCORPORATED

VILLAGE OF ROSLYN HARBOR TREASURER’S NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that I, Marla Wolfson, Treasurer of the Incorporated Village of Roslyn Harbor, Nassau County, New York, have received the 2022/2023 tax roll of the Incorporated Village of Roslyn Harbor for the collection

of the Village real estate taxes therein levied. I designate the Village office at 500 Motts Cove Road South in the Village, where I will receive taxes from June 1, 2023 through and including July 1, 2023 in the following manner:

U.S. MAIL

Marla Wolfson

Village Clerk/Treasurer Inc. Village of Roslyn Harbor 500 Motts Cove Road South Roslyn Harbor, NY 11576

PERSONAL DELIVERY

Between the hours of:

8 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Mon. thru Fri.

ONLINE: Taxes can be paid by electronic ACH check or credit card for an additional service fee. Go to the Village website to pay www. roslynharbor.org. New York law mandates that the Village receives no portion of the service fee. This fee is retained by the payment processor

Taxes may be paid to me during said period without additional charge. All taxes for which payment has not been received by me and remain unpaid after July 1, 2023 shall have added an additional five percent (5%) interest for the month of July, and for each month and fraction thereafter, an additional interest payment, which shall be computed at the maximum percentage rate permitted, pursuant to the Real Property Tax Law,

until said taxes and accrued interest are paid in full.

Marla Wolfson Village Clerk/Treasurer

Inc. Village of Roslyn Harbor

Dated: May 24, 2023

May 31, 2023

5-31-24-2023-2T-#241096ROS

Envisioning Beauty And Damnation

Local playwright-composer brings musical based on F. Scott Fitzgerald to Old Westbury Gardens

JANET BURNS & HANNAH DEVLIN

editors@antonmediagroup.com

While many of us have gotten to know F. Scott Fitzgerald’s most famous novel, The Great Gatsby, in written or film versions, fewer are familiar with the work he published immediately beforehand, The Beautiful and Damned, which closely mirrors many of the challenges that Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda encountered in their life.

This June, Nassau County residents will get a unique opportunity to experience this work in the form of a stage adaptation written, choreographed, and starring Oyster Bay resident Brooke Di Spirito, who’s bringing The Beautiful and Damned to Old Westbury Gardens.

The show had its Long Island debut in Port Washington last summer at the Landmark’s Jeanne Rimsky Theater, then had a brief stint at 54 Below in New York City this winter before heading back to Nassau County.

On June 9, Di Spirito and her castmates will perform the work in the music room of the Westbury House at Old Westbury Gardens, a local gilded-era jewel that Di Spirito would visit often as a child (and

which evokes the very kind of old-money majesty that Fitzgerald featured in his New York-based novels).

“I’ve been to Old Westbury many times, and it’s so beautiful, and always what I had dreamed would be a perfect background for the show.”

The “vast majority” of the people working on the show are also from Long Island, she noted, making it a highly local affair.

“The orchestra is entirely from Long Island, and has been with the show since at least last summer. Most of the crew and the cast are as well, including Sarah Anne Fernandez, a very, very talented singer, a powerhouse, who joined us coming off of the Wicked tour.

Di Spirito explained that she first started the project while an undergraduate student at Northeastern University, where she read Fitzgerald’s second novel and felt it was “screaming out” to be a musical due to its intense characters and emotions.

Like the novel, the musical follows the lives of a young couple as their romance fades and the consequences of their actions unfold. “When I was reading The Beautiful and Damned, on every single page there is something that is the perfect moment where someone is so moved that they could go into song or dance,” Di Spirito said.

In college, Di Spirito majored in English, and said she felt as if writing the script and

lyrics for an adaptation would serve as the perfect bridge between her passion for theater and language.

After experiencing the performing arts in an administrative position, Di Spirito decided to begin her first project transforming a book into a stage musical with The Beautiful and Damned.

By 2019, the script was complete, and by 2020 it was ready to debut at Northeastern University as a jukebox musical, using music from preexisting shows. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the performance before its run, Di Spirito became inspired to compose original music for it. After workshopping the musical virtually, and two more cancellations in 2021, the production first debuted last summer.

In regard to her first draft of the musical, written during lockdown, Di Spirito said: “I decided I would learn to compose and write. I’m not a professional by any means, I’m just self taught. I had no idea what it was going to take to do that.”

With her first draft of the musical, Di Spirito was accepted into a program with the New York Youth Symphony, where she was able to learn more about composition and rework her existing pieces. After receiving direction from professionals, Di Spirito explains that this program changed “how [she] looked at theater.”

Di Spirito also has a long history in ballet, and after growing up dancing, she decided to begin choreographing during her time at Northeastern.

Throughout the production process she

has served as the show’s principal writer, lyricist, and choreographer, and also composed the show’s musical themes.

Di Spirito used the ballet style as the foundation for much of her choreography, exhibited by the numbers performed on pointe. Other dance styles that were popular in the 1920s, like several forms of jazz, are incorporated into the musical as well. Given her own theatrical experience, Di Spirito wanted to root the show in ballet, while also taking on new influences.

“It’s been really awesome to watch this production grow over the past three or four years, and it’s extra special to have the production on Long Island, with professional singers and musicians.”

After years of work, it seems her and her team’s efforts are paying off. After humbly prefacing with “I don’t know if this is relevant,” Di Spirito noted, “Because of this project, I was invited to speak at the international F. Scott Fitzgerald conference in Sweden, and we’ll be presenting the show there at the end of this month.”

“That was an amazing honor, and I cannot believe that this little project is actually going anywhere.”

And while Fitzgerald apparently didn’t like the 1922 film adaptation of his novel (now a lost film), it seems likely that Di Spirito has tapped into the young-and-old soul of the story, as it were.

Toward the end of his life, Fitzgerald once wrote in a letter to his wife, “I wish The Beautiful and Damned had been a maturely written book because it was all true. We ruined ourselves—I have never honestly thought that we ruined each other.”

Brooke Di Spirito. (Submitted photo)

A promotional poster for The Beautiful and Damned musical.

Lau Earns Gold Medal For Writing

Herricks High School senior Carolyn Lau has earned a Gold Medal for her personal essay/memoir “As It Was” in the 2023 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards Nationals. This award is presented by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers to recognize students with exceptional artistic and literary

Roslyn High School Student Wins Research Award

Roslyn High School Student Maxx Yung is one of the winners of the 2023 American Academy of Neurology Scientific Research Awards. The award is designed to encourage high school students to explore the world of the brain and nervous system through research, identify and reward those students whose scientific skill and talent indicate potential for scientific contributions in the field of neuroscience, and recognize the efforts of science teachers who have demonstrated support for students interested in neuroscience.

Maxx was chosen for his vested interest and impressive work involving AD pathogenesis and exploring mu receptor involve-

ment to discover a treatment option, and for his deep biomedical knowledge and commitment to the time required for such a project.

“I am incredibly honored to be selected as a recipient of the 2023 Neuroscience Research Prize and grateful to the American Academy of Neurology for the opportunity to present my research at this year’s AAN Annual Meeting and meet the leading researchers in my field,” said Maxx. “I am deeply grateful to my mentor, Dr. Wei Zhu, and my research teacher, Dr. Allyson Weseley, for their guidance, support, and inspiration.”

—Submitted by the Roslyn School District

•

talent. It is the highest level of recognition an entrant can achieve in this prestigious celebration of exceptional student writing. Lau will be honored later in June at Carnegie Hall with other honorees.

Student Places Second At International Conference

Roslyn High School’s Shayla Zheng won second place in the Financial Consulting category at DECA’s International Career Development Conference in Orlando, FL. “Students from the United States, Canada, China, Japan, Germany, Spain, and Costa Rica come together each year to compete in over sixty business categories. Very few walk away with a trophy,” said faculty advisor Sallykaye Kaufman. “Shayla worked hard all year developing her winning presentation and practiced between class periods, after school, and on weekends, which is what it takes to win at DECA’s ICDC.” Pictured here is Sallykaye Kaufman with winning student Shayla Zheng.

(Photo courtesy Cynthia Younker for the Roslyn School District)

Photo courtesy of Herricks Public Schools)

Historical Society Wants Stewardship Withdrawn From North Hempstead After Town Fails To Get Permits For Lighthouse Dock

The Great Neck Historical Society has voted that stewardship of the Steppingstone Lighthouse should be withdrawn from the Town of North Hempstead and that another means be found for its restoration.

After 15 years and 3 administrations, with no substantive progress, it is clear that the town has neither the will nor the ability to complete this project. The continued contention along party lines by members of the town board only makes the situation more toxic.

No action toward completing the dock has happened in 2023.

In 2008, the Town of North Hempstead was awarded stewardship of the Steppingstone Lighthouse by the National Park Service. Conditions of that award include restoration and maintenance of the structure along with public access and education.

In 2012, after no progress had been made, the Great Neck Historical Society agreed to enter a public/private partnership with the town to assist them. It was agreed that the Historical Society would help with fund raising and would create public awareness. Both were achieved. The Society attended street fairs, sold shirts, conducted boat tours, held 5K races, reached out to school children and much more. For ten years it has offered several suggestions for ways to create access and to begin restoration.

The town has refused to accept any suggestions and has only communicated through occasional meetings. They have constantly raised obstacles, and they have insisted that no restoration can take place until a permanent dock is built. They have continually pointed out that they are in charge and have prohibited any work to be done by volunteers.

The public/private partnership expected by the National Park Service has never been accomplished. In 2017, the Historical Society funded a contract with Modern Ruins, an architectural firm which specializes in historical restoration and has experience with lighthouses; they conducted a feasibility study and reported that Steppingstone Lighthouse is restorable. In 2022 rumors surfaced from within the town that the lighthouse was falling down. The Historical Society again hired Modern Ruins to provide an update. They reported that while it needs extensive work, the lighthouse is not falling down, and it remains restorable.

Just prior to the pandemic, the town awarded a contract for construction of a dock. However, the contractor was not

equipped or able to complete the work and was fired. In spring of 2022, the town advertised for bids to complete the dock. Although the lowest bidder was qualified, the town never awarded the contract.

At the April, 2023, town board meeting, it was reported that the North Hempstead Department of Public Works had never obtained permits from federal and state agencies required to build the dock. As a result the town has been ordered to return public grant monies used to fund the partial construction. The project is now stopped.

In 2012, the Great Neck Historical Society was Invited to form a public/ private partnership with the Town of North Hempstead for restoration of the Steppingstone Lighthouse. The Society’s role was to assist with fund raising and to provide education. The Great Neck Park District also agreed to be a partner by providing facility support where it can, but not funding. Both organizations have lived up to their part of the agreement. The Historical Society has raised funds and done educational programs. The Park District has allowed access to engineers, contractors and use of dock for

fundraising, boat trips and 5K races.

After 15 years and 3 administrations, the Town of North Hempstead has accomplished nothing substantive.

It has never lived up to its obligations for stewardship, which includes restoration, maintenance, and both public access and education. It has continually insisted that no restoration can be started until a dock is built. Alternatives for access proposed by outside experts have consistently been rejected.

It has never accepted any suggestions from their “partners”. It has prohibited the Historical Society from doing any restoration with volunteers. The town hired an incompetent contractor to build the dock, then did not award an advertised bid in 2022 to a competent contractor to finish dock. They did not receive required permits for the dock which are required by federal and state agencies. This has required return of grant money. All of this has allowed the project to become a politically fueled battlefield.

The present administration has clearly and repeatedly demonstrated opposition to the restoration project.

They shared no information, including

permit issues with the Historical Society. This has effectively and unilaterally killed restoration of the Steppingstone Lighthouse. This has also allowed promotion of an anti-Great Neck atmosphere within the Town. The administration fails to appreciate the benefit to future generations and has missed an opportunity to preserve a valuable piece of history and its legend.

There has never been a genuine public/ private partnership. The Impact of this inaction is nothing substantive has been accomplished, and future fundraising and grants are stymied without progress after 15 years.

The Town of North Hempstead clearly has demonstrated that it has neither the will nor the ability to restore the Steppingstone Lighthouse, Therefore, the executive board of the Great Neck Historical Society has voted unanimously that stewardship of the Steppingstone Lighthouse should be removed from the Town of North Hempstead and that another means to achieve restoration be found.

—Robert Lincoln, Chair of the Society’s Lighthouse Restoration Committee

The Stepping Stones Lighthouse.

(Photo from Bob Muller)

Current conditions of the lighthouse.

(Photo from Bob Muller)

Upclose image of lighthouse conditions.

(Photo from steppingstoneslight.com)