Great Neck Record 3/13/24 edition is published weekly by Anton Media Group.

TOP STORY

Audit Of The Town Of North Hempstead’s Building Department Is Released

The Office of Nassau County Comptroller Elaine Phillips recently released its report on an audit of the Town of North Hempstead (TONH) Building Department.

The building department is responsible for administering the New York State and Town of North Hempstead Codes as they relate to property, buildings, and construction within the town’s unincorporated areas.

Anton Media Group reached out to Supervisor DeSena when the audit review was released to discuss the findings.

Supervisor DeSena originally called for the audit in July 2022. “There were many [issues] but for me, the most notable was oversight. As the Comptroller’s report mentioned, that was hindered here because of the situation created by the old town board. It undermined my authority to investigate and worse, allowed them to block my changes. Unfortunately, this also put our staff in an extremely uncomfortable position because as the report states, they simply didn’t know who they should be reporting to. That was what prompted me to request an independent, third-party audit. Thankfully, we have a new town board who’s ready to work on rebuilding together,” said Supervisor DeSena.

“Departmentally, one of the most notable issues we observed was the lack of accountability and responsiveness to the public,” said Supervisor DeSena. “The building department created barriers between themselves and the public. Many people routinely sought clarification on decisions but were left to guess on details which created untold delays and frustration. As with anything, performance is greatly improved through communication, so our main focus is on opening those channels up.”

The Nassau County Comptroller’s office began its review in August of 2022.

They assessed the department’s various functions and found that an area of high concern to constituents was the efficiency of the permitting process. The permitting process includes the intake of permit applications, maintenance of building/ permit-related documentation, issuance of permits, inspections of work performed, and issuance of permit close-out certificates.

The review covered the period from Jan. 1, 2020, to Dec. 31, 2023. According to the

The audit report details recommendations for the building department to implement to fix the issues causing inefficiency. Recommendations include:

• Leverage more capabilities of the Citizenserve Online Solutions software to enable constituents to view all data related to their property and track their permit applications within the MyToNH portal.

• Implement permit processing operational improvements.

• Improve communication with constituents.

• Standardize the process to request an expedited permit application review, with the request and approval process being completed within the MyToNH portal.

• Leverage Citizenserve and other software currently available to theBuilding Department to develop accurate and comprehensive reports.

Review of the TONH Building Department, “Since the inception of this review, there have been improvements at the Building Department, many of which were developed as a result of direct observations and recommendations made by my team during the review process.”

Comptroller Phillips’ office conducted an objective and detailed review of each phase of the permitting process. The team heard from residents, members of the town administration, commissioners, staff members of the department, and architects and design professionals.

According to a press release from the Office of Nassau County Comptroller Elaine Phillips, the following are among the major findings of the review:

• The implementation of a new online portal for Building Department permit applications in 2020 was fraught with significant problems, including failure to utilize key features of the software, CitizenServe Online Solutions, which resulted in frustration and dissatisfaction among both constituents and employees of the Building Department.

• Operational inefficiencies exist within the Department, largely due to lack of standardized procedures and operational oversight.

• Insufficient communication between the Building Department and permit applicants and a lack of transparency have

undermined constituent satisfaction with the Department and the Town’s portal, MyToNH.

• The bifurcation of the Town’s government during the audit period had a negative impact on the implementation of the portal.

• Procedures for requests to expedite permit applications lack standardization. The press release from the comptroller’s office shared that in addition to the issues detailed above, “reporting functionality of the new system was not fully established, impeding the Department’s ability to track permit activity and to identify and remediate process inefficiencies.”

“We found significant operational deficiencies and have provided detailed recommendations that can help the Building Department improve efficiency and increase transparency,” said Comptroller Phillips. “In addition, the audit revealed that a cultural shift toward prioritizing constituent service would benefit the town, its residents and business professionals.”

One of the most prevalent issue with the building department was found to be the implementation of the Citizenserve Online Portal, My ToNH, which was launched in June 2019. The audit review states that “the town launched an online permitting system, but the implementation of the portal and operational components resulted in frustration and dissatisfaction among constituents and employees of the Building Department.”

According to the press release from the Comptroller’s office, “Through Citizenserve, TONH has access to a comprehensive digital toolkit for modernizing the building permit process both internally and externally. The town is not fully leveraging the capabilities of the system to improve process flow, facilitate communication, and enable constituents to easily track their permit applications online. More effective use of the platform could improve constituent and employee satisfaction, increase efficiency and transparency, and help the Building Department to standardize processes and implement quality control.”

“The problems at the Building Department didn’t happen overnight so they’re not going to be fixed by band-aids and PR gimmicks. We have to get this right,” said Supervisor DeSena. “That means developing permanent, long-term solutions that address not only procedural deficiencies but speak to a workplace culture that lacked accountability. We’re working towards a unified set of best practices that are not only sensible but also serve to break that entrenched culture.”

“Ultimately, we have duty to the residents and professionals who work with the building department so we’ll be keeping the public informed about each of these efforts,” said Supervisor DeSena. “The building department is one of the most forward-facing services that the town has with the public. It impacts both homes, businesses and even public safety, so it affects every aspect of our quality of life.”

The full report is accessible in the Field Audit section of the Comptroller’s website, or directly at: https://www.nassaucountyny. gov/DocumentCenter/View/43931/Review-of-TONH-Building-Department-Permitting-Process.

—Original press release from the Nassau County Comptroller’s Office

The audit revealed that a cultural shift toward prioritizing constituent service would benefit the town, its residents and business professionals.

—Nassau County Comptroller Elaine Phillips

Supervisor Jen DeSena talks about the audit as Councilmember Mariann Dalimonte (left) and former Councilmember Veronica Lurvey look on, July 2022. (Photo from the Town of North Hempstead)

NEIGHBORS IN THE NEWS

Temple Isaiah To Honor Two Congregants

Temple Isaiah of Great Neck is pleased to announce that we will be honoring two of our longest-tenured congregants—Kathie Davis and Denise Miller—at a luncheon on Sunday, March 17 at the newly opened and renovated Paros Grille located in Great Neck. Together, their years of service to Temple Isaiah total more than 65 and they have both dutifully served our local Great Neck and the larger Long Island communities. Please allow us to introduce them.

Kathie has been a member of Temple Isaiah of Great Neck for over 30 years. She is currently the Financial Secretary, Chairperson of the Caring Committee and on the Executive Committee.

The Caring Committee has 10 members who work diligently to bring comfort and joy to Congregants and their families.

Kathie was Co-President of the Temple from 2014 to 2018 during which time the Temple underwent several changes including the unfortunate passing of Rabbi Tsuruoka. She was on the search committee to find a new Rabbi and also to find the site of a “home of our own.” She was involved in the appraisal of the temple’s antiquities and previously hosted summer services at her home.

Kathie had an adult Bat Mitzvah and was Confirmed at the Temple. Her daughter Jennifer also had an adult Bat Mitzvah and likes to attend Temple services and events. Kathie was President of the Great Neck Breast Cancer Coalition during which time she helped patients on their journey from illness to health. She has a master’s degree in Travel and is a retired travel agent, having worked in the industry for over 30 years. At times it was stressful but always totally enjoyable.

Kathie is very grateful to receive this honor and looks forward to her continued work for Temple Isaiah.

Denise is a retired attorney and has been a member of Temple Isaiah of Great Neck for more than 35 years. She joined initially in order to enroll her daughter, Alexandra, in religious school as preparation for Alexandra’s future Bat Mitzvah. It has been many years since that event, but Denise has stayed on as a member because of the friendship, fellowship and spirituality she enjoys there.

Denise celebrated her own adult Bat Mitzvah in 1998 and her second Confirmation a few years later. She continues to learn and grow through the synagogue’s adult education courses and weekly Torah study.

Denise serves on the Synagogue’s Board of Directors and has been the Chairperson of their Social Action Committee for many years. She is currently Co-Chairperson of

Temple Isaiah’s Fundraising Committee and is a member of the Executive Board. Through her work with Temple Isaiah and her commitment to social justice, she became involved with Hatzilu, the Jewish Rescue Organization, where she currently is a Board Member. She has organized food drives and fundraisers at the Synagogue to benefit that organization. Denise’s interest in helping others led to an on-going connection with Ladles of Hope, a soup kitchen on the south shore of Long Island. She organized Temple Isaiah members to work in the soup kitchen, preparing and serving meals and distributing clothing and other essentials to those in need.

Denise and her husband, Steve Fein, hope to continue their close connection to the Synagogue and their many friends there for many years to come.

—Submitted by Temple Isaiah of Great Neck

Climate Smart Communities Hits 400 Registrations

In December 2023, the Climate Smart Communities Program exceeded 400 registered communities across New York State. The program helps local governments take action to reduce harmful emissions and build resilience in the face of climate change. The Town of North Hempstead was certified at the bronze level in October of 2023, and the communities of Great Neck Estates, Great Neck Plaza and Flower Hill are registered with the program.

To date, there are 401 registered and 132 certified Climate Smart Communities (CSC) in New York. Registered communities have made a commitment to act by passing the Climate Smart Communities pledge. Certified communities are the leaders in the state that have gone beyond the pledge by completing and documenting a suite of actions that mitigate and adapt to climate change at the local level.

Certified Climate Smart Communities (CSCs) represent New York’s foremost leaders in local climate action. Local governments that are designated as Certified CSCs have undergone a rigorous review process to confirm their completion of a suite of concrete actions that mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Climate Smart Communities (CSC) is a New York State program that helps local governments take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to a changing climate. The program offers grants, rebates for electric vehicles, and free technical assistance.

Registered communities have made a commitment to act by passing the CSC pledge. Certified communities are the

foremost leaders in the state; they have gone beyond the CSC pledge by completing and documenting a suite of actions that mitigate and adapt to climate change at the local level.

The benefits of participating in the Climate Smart Communities (CSC) Certification program include the following:

• Better scores on grant applications for some state funding programs, like the DEC’s CSC Grants

• State-level recognition for each community’s leadership

• A robust framework to organize local climate action and highlight priorities

• Streamlined access to resources, training, tools and expert guidance

• Networking and sharing best practices with peers

By implementing certification actions, communities experience the following benefits:

• Cost savings through greater efficiency

• Greater energy independence and energy security

• Improved air quality from switching to clean energy

• Healthier, more walkable urban centers through smart growth

• Conservation of green spaces for recreation and biodiversity

• Reduction of future flood risk through climate change adaptation strategies

• Investment in an economy that supports sustainability and green businesses

• Greater engagement with residents who care about the future of their hometowns

—Compiled from the DEC by Amanda Olsen

Great Neck Library Celebrates Women’s History Month

Join us for this virtual lecture in honor of Women’s History Month. Carol Simon Levin portrays Lillian Moller Gilbreth, motion study pioneer and Cheaper by the Dozen mother of 12—then shares the stories of other overlooked women innovators, including many women of color. From Margaret Knight (the 19th century “Female Edison”) to Hollywood superstar Hedy Lamarr, these “Mothers of Invention” changed our lives, yet their accomplishments were all too often ignored, discounted or credited to others

Carol Simon Levin is a professional storyteller and independent historian who specializes in telling the stories of “fascinating women history forgot” through first person portrayals. She is a NJ Council for the Humanities Public Scholar presenting “Reclaiming Our Voice: NJ’s Role in the Fight for Woman Suffrage” which she also published as an article in March 2020 online issue of Garden State Legacy. She has also authored the book Remembering the Ladies: From Patriots in Petticoats to Presidential Candidates which profiles 69 women—wellknown and unknown—who worked tire-

lessly for women’s rights in America. Carol holds a BA focusing on women’s history and history of technology from Cornell University and a Master’s Degree in Library Services from the University of Arizona. She is also the founder of Telling Her Stories.

The lecture is on Wednesday, March 20 at 2:00 p.m. on Zoom. All are welcome. Visit greatnecklibrary.org for the Zoom information. For more information, please contact Great Neck Library at 516-466-8055 or email adultprogramming@greatnecklibrary.org

—Submitted by the Great Neck Library

Kathie Davis

Denise Miller (Contributed photos)

(Contributed photo)

CRIME & SAFETY

Councilmember Liu Congratulates Police On Thwarted Burglary

Town of North Hempstead Councilmember Christine Liu recently had the pleasure of meeting with and congratulating members of the Lake Success Police Department for their courageous efforts while responding to a burglary attempt on Meadow Woods Road in the Village of Lake Success. Officers were responding to the call when they were involved in a collision with the fleeing criminals’ vehicle, which resulted in a foot-chase and the eventual capture and arrest of three individuals. Lake Success Police Officers Christopher Bryan, Patrick Sheridan, Michael Palma, Antonio Maltempi, and Sergeant Thomas Fernandez were

the responding law enforcement officials responsible for the apprehension of the criminals. During their follow-up investigation, the officers discovered that the three individuals attempted to break-in to a residence on Fox Hunt Lane as well.

Councilmember Liu presented each of the officers with a Proclamation of Recognition from the Town of North Hempstead as a token of her immense gratitude for their service to the residents of the Village of Lake Success and the greater North Hempstead community.

—Submitted by the Office of Councilmember Christine Liu

Robbery Of USPS Letter Carriers In Great

Neck And Manhasset

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is offering a reward of up to $150,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect(s) who robbed USPS letter carriers on January 27, 2024.

The first incident occurred at approximately 1:20 p.m. near 217 Thompson Shore Rd., Manhasset, NY 11030. The second incident occurred at approximately 2:00 p.m. near 25818 Kensington Pl., Great Neck, NY 11020.

Firefighter Earns His Black Shield

If you have any information about this incident, please contact the: U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 1-877-876-2455 (say “Law Enforcement”) Reference Case No. 4236760-ROBB/4236973-ROBB

All information will be kept strictly confidential.

Visit uspis.gov for more information.

—Information from the United States Postal Inspection Service

Town of North Hempstead Council Member Christine Liu presenting O cer Antonio Maltempi, O cer Christopher Bryan, O cer Patrick Sheridan, O cer Michael Palma, and Sergeant Thomas Fernandez with Proclamations of Recognition. (Photo by Town of North Hempstead)

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR

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

FRIDAY, MARCH 15

Free Hearing Screenings

10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (Great Neck Library, Station Branch Community Room) Adelphi University’s community outreach program consists of free hearing screenings for adults and children of all ages. Students and faculty from Adelphi University will perform the hearing screenings for those who suspect they have a hearing loss. Screening results are given immediately and appropriate recommendations are made by a licensed audiologist. No registration required, first come first served.

Senior Spring Fling

11 a.m.-2 p.m. (Charles J. Fuschillo Park, 200 Carle Rd., Carle Place) The Town of North Hempstead presents the Senior Spring Fling for senior residents. Includes lunch, coffee, dessert, dancing and games. Registration is required, call 311 to reserve a spot.

SATURDAY, MARCH 16

New York State Boater Safety Course

8 a.m.-4 p.m. (Michael J. Tully Park at 1801 Evergreen Ave., New Hyde Park) North Hempstead’s Public Safety Department has several Bay Constables who are certified under the New York State Parks Department to teach the New York State Boater Safety Course. The town is presenting this course free of charge to town residents. This is an excellent opportunity for residents who have not already taken a boater safety class to do so, in order to operate a motor boat or personal watercraft in New York State waters. Register at www.register-ed.com/

Rock Concert

8 p.m.-10 p.m. (Great Neck Library, Levels Teen Center) It’s an entirely improvised hardcore show by the teen anarcho-indie band Steady Urban Decay. For teens in seventh grade and up. No registration needed. Visit greatnecklibrary.org for more information.

SUNDAY, MARCH 17

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

Mad Science

3 p.m. (Great Neck House, 14 Arrandale Ave.) The Great Neck Park District is offering Winter and Spring events for kids and families. Pre-registration is required, visit gnparks. org to reserve a spot.

TUESDAY, MARCH 19

SMART Van

10 a.m.-2 p.m. (Fuschillo Park, Carle Place)The Town of North Hempstead presents the SMART Van (Senior Mobile

Access to Resources and Technology) for senior residents. The SMART Van will help with technological training, connection to resources and have informational counseling. Call 311 for more information.

Great Neck Library Board of Trustees Meeting

7 p.m. (Parkville Branch, 10 Campbell St.) The Great Neck Library Board of Trustees Meeting. Please refer to the library’s website at greatnecklibrary.org for any changes or updates before coming to the meeting.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20

Rockets into Roses

7 p.m. (Great Neck Library, Main Library Community Room) Great Neck Library is hosting a lecture title “Rockets into Roses presented by Yaron Bob”. Yaron Bob is an Israeli blacksmith who lives within a mile of the Gaza border. After close calls with rockets, he reacted to the terror by creating something meaningful out of the destruction of the Kassam. Works created out of these materials include roses, menorahs, and even a tuned harp. Visit greatnecklibrary.org to register.

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Preservation Long Island To Host Smithsonian Traveling Exhibit

Cold Spring Harbor museum explores democracy with a “small d”

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“Voices and Votes: Democracy in America” presented by the Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street, in cooperation with the Museum Association of New York (MANY), examines the nearly 250-year-old American experiment of a government “of, by and for the people,” and how each generation since continues to question how to form “a more perfect union.” Opening at the Preservation Long Island Exhibition Gallery in Cold Spring Harbor, New York on March 22, 2024, “Voices and Votes” will be on view through May 3, 2024.

Preservation Long Island, a regional not-forprofit organization headquartered in Cold Spring Harbor that maintains and interprets historic sites and collections pertaining to Long Island’s history, has been chosen by MANY to be the first venue in New York State to host the “Voices and Votes: Democracy in America” exhibition. This initiative is all part of the Museum on Main Street program—a partnership to bring exhibitions to small town and rural cultural organizations across America. The exhibition will tour twelve communities across New York from March 22, 2024 through January 2026.

“Preservation Long Island is excited to serve as the inaugural site for “Voices and Votes: Democracy in America,” said Alexandra Wolfe, Preservation Long Island Executive Director. “The exhibition’s focus on freedom, civic participation, and political engagement resonates strongly with our commitment to making the past relevant to the present.”

“Voices and Votes” explores what democracy demands as Americans continue to question how to shape American values. Wolfe explained that the exhibit is meant to both provoke a response and engage the public in an ongoing discussion of what democracy means and what role each individual plays in it. “What is this idea of democracy, a place that is run for and by and of the people? What is the mechanism that makes that work? It’s not always easy because you have to adapt and think about everybody’s interests. How do you synthesize all of that and make a community work? And then through a community working, how do you make the next level municipality work, how do you make a state work and how do you make a federal government work? It starts at the low level and works its way up.”

The exhibition will include art and artifacts drawn from Preservation Long Island and other local collections. Among the local highlights in the exhibition is an original essay by Jupiter Hammon (1711–ca. 1806), America’s first published African American poet, written while he was enslaved

Alison Turnbull Hopkins pickets the White House, 1917.

(Image courtesy of the National Woman’s Party at the Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument)

at Joseph Lloyd Manor in Lloyd Harbor shortly after the American Revolution, advocating for the citizenship of Black New Yorkers in the new nation. “One of our historic houses is directly connected to this individual, an enslaved person who is writing about these ideas of freedom while during the Revolutionary War. It’s this nexus of so many different things. He’s really thinking about it as someone who is very old, who is experiencing not just the big ideas, but their implementation. He actually hesitates to say that he would consider being emancipated himself, but he hoped for it for the future,” Wolfe said of the essay.

Other items include a bracelet and ring made from scrap sheet metal by women aircraft factory workers on Long Island as the United States fought to preserve democracy abroad during World War II, and the drawings and models for the national monument to African American civil rights leader and women’s rights activist, Mary MacLeod Bethune (1875–1855), created by Long Island artist Robert Berks (1922–2011) in 1974.

The series of local exhibition-related programming and free events include a community quilt project. Wolfe sees the quilt as a fantastic metaphor for democracy, where people of different backgrounds assemble small pieces into larger ones, which then becomes an object that can provide a service. “We’re featuring a quilt that was assembled by the Dutch Reformed Church in Manhasset during the Civil War. It’s called an 1860s piece quilt. The core of democracy is that you have to build community; you have to sort out your differences. If the governance is by consensus, you have to kind of create a community. People gather and they put together a quilt. You are creating a thing out of individual parts. And the thing about the 1860s quilt is that people signed their names on it. They gave their own identity to a little square of decorated fabric, that then got assembled into a larger fabric, that then covers a bed which is something that provides safety and security. We thought that a good way to relate an 1860s quilt is to do another quilt. The new one is based on the same design. It’s a whole different community that has come together around an idea.” Both quilts will be on display in the exhibit.

Designed for small-town museums, libraries, and cultural organizations, “Voices and Votes” will serve as a community meeting place for conversations about democracy, the freedoms, and responsibilities of citizens, participating in government, and more. “The Museum Association is helping small museums grow into better museums,” Wolfe said. “This exhibit looks back into history and explores all the ways that issues have been addressed, argued, resolved, and how it has evolved as well. So it’s interesting and compelling in the sense that this is a history of something that is never going to be finished.”

Signature pieced quilt, ca. 1862, Cotton. (Photos by Preservation Long Island)

Bracelet and Ring made of scrap metal from a WWII Aircraft, ca. 1945, Sheet metal

Voices and Votes Signature Pieced Community Quilt (2024) in process.

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D“It’s Breathtaking” Dune: Part Two Delivers

The multipart cinema experience continues to dazzle

COLE McDONNELL

une: Part Two has delivered and lived up to the hype that its predecessor bestowed upon it. The first Dune saw the downfall of House Atreides and spent most of the movie building to what was to come in the second movie. This movie felt monumental, it felt historic, it felt important to go to the theater and have this special experience. Denis Villeneuve has captured the essence of going to the theater and making it important.

“It’s breathtaking,” Paul Atreides, played by Timothee Chalamet, says sitting on the sand hills of Arrakis with Chani, played by Zendaya. Breathtaking is the perfect word to sum up this movie. The scenery and detail in each are just captivating. You find yourself constantly in awe of the desert planet. This movie relies on the sandy atmosphere whereas the first movie just scrapes the barrel of what’s to come. Villeneuve puts everything the Fremen have on display. The scenes where they hide in the sand and jump out to attack their enemies are beyond sensational. Each time I saw it I got fired up ready for the next attack. Fremen riding on sandworms with sand blasting in their face like they are surfing in the ocean was just another example of the amazing visuals in the film.

you are there. There is the sand blowing in the wind, the thumpers pounding to attract the sandworms, the explosions and shouting of war, the Fremen lunging out of the sand, and even the water being extracted from the dead. We hear it all. The IMAX experience is a necessity for Dune: Part Two. The ominous soundtrack, part of the fantastic score by world-renowned composer Hans Zimmer, accompanying Paul in many scenes is catchy yet also jarring.

Atreides goes through his own hero’s journey in this film where he must become a Fremen and also get them to believe in him as the Lisan al Gaib, a messiah. He helps them take down spice Harvesters and earns a Fremen name, becoming fully embraced by them. Throughout the film, Paul is haunted by visions and dreams of a holy war that begins when he moves south; he sees Chani burn alive and refuses to go south in hopes to avoid his dreams coming to fruition. Gurney Halleck, played by Josh Brolin, tries to explain to Paul that he must use his name and get the power

In contrast with the orange Arrakis, we visit Geidi Prime, home of the Harkonnens. Villeneuve uses the Black Sun to flip the colors of this environment and give us a dark world where the villains in the movie live. We are introduced to Feyd-Rautha, nephew to Baron Harkonnen. He is a sick and twisted individual who kills his servants and killed his mother. Feyd-Rautha is played by Austin Butler who gained mainstream fame starring as Elvis Presley in Elvis Butler gives a great performance as the psychotic Harkonnen prodigy. The emotion he portrays in his facial expressions drew me to him. I loved every scene he was in because of the unpredictability of his character.

Baron Harkonnen strips Rabban Harkonnen of his position, giving it to Feyd-Rautha who revels in it and immediately puts plans into motion to attack the Fremen of Arrakis.

Along with the beautiful visuals of Dune: Part Two, the sound adds just as much to the film. Every sound effect is enhanced to make you feel like

to take down the Harkonnen. He says to Paul that he sees the visions “because you lose control,” to which Paul responds, “because I gain it.”

Chalamet does a fantastic job selling this inner battle that Paul has, constantly fighting the pressures of his mother and the burden of losing his great house, not diving headfirst into all-out war. After a war council is called in the south and he gets a dream where he sees his sister telling him to drink the Water of Life, he decides to go south and do what he must. In a fantastic scene with Zendaya, he tells her “If I go south, I might lose you.” She assures him but also does some foreshadowing by saying “You will never lose me Paul Atreides, not as long as you stay who you are.”

Later having drunk the Water of Life his whole demeanor changes. He gains foresight and sees everything. In the war council, he uses his new powers to intimidate but also inspire the Fremen. He puts on a passionate display of power and confidence, promising a green paradise. Whether that is because it is what he sees

or it is something that he knows the Fremen want to hear to manipulate them is up to us as the viewers to interpret.

The shot of Chalamet standing tall over the Fremen army shouting “Long live the fighters” was an excellent example of how amazing this movie was put together. Paul and Feyd-Rautha come face-to-face in a duel to determine the next emperor and who will take Princess Irulan’s hand in marriage, the Emperor’s daughter. The final fight scene was done, in my opinion, perfectly. Drowning out any other sound besides some gasps from the crowd, Atreides and Feyd-Rautha fight with their blades and all we hear are their grunts and the blades hitting each other. Atreides gets stabbed twice and the deep breaths that Chalamet lets out make you feel how much pain he is in. He winds up taking a blade out of his body and kills Feyd-Rautha, becoming the next Emperor.

The movie ends with the news that the great houses will not accept Paul as the emperor and Chani riding off on a sandworm. The holy war that Paul wanted to avoid is what we will see in the third installment.

Scenes from Dune: Part Two. (images from IMDB)

Our Forests

Forests in New York cover 18.6 million acres of land, making the State 61 percent forested. Whether it’s hiking, hunting, camping, or birdwatching, these forest lands provide recreational opportunities for millions of residents and others visiting the state’s scenic regions. New York’s forests also provide employment and bolster the state’s economy through the production of timber. New York’s forests are made of a variety of forest types, mostly maple and other hardwoods, along with pine, oak, and eastern hemlock.

Forest Damage

Insects

Asian longhorned beetle (ALB)

New York State has been managing ALB since the insect was first found in Brooklyn in 1996. Since then, ALB has been eradicated from all five New York City boroughs. The single remaining quarantine area is in Central Long Island, covering 53 square miles. When ALB is found, infested trees are cut down and destroyed, while healthy nearby trees are sometimes treated to prevent future infestation.

Elm Zigzag Sawfly (EZS)

EZS was first detected in New York in 2022 in St. Lawrence County, the area with the

2023 New York Forest

highest density of elm in the state. Later in 2022, EZS was detected in an additional 22 counties via ground surveys and public reports. Even though this species appears to be widespread, damage detected so far has been minor. Research is ongoing to learn more about how this species may impact our ecosystem. This year, we learned that EZS had three generations in northern New York, and that green assassin bugs and exotic ladybugs

were the most predominant predators. We also learned that yellow sticky traps are the most effective way to capture the insect.

Hemlock wooly adelgid (HWA)

In 2023, DEC treated hemlocks with systemic insecticides at Five Rivers Environmental Education Center, Lake George Wild Forest, Glen Island Campground, Wilcox Lake Wild Forest, Hearthstone Campground, Peck Hill

State Forest, and Rockwood State Forest to protect sensitive hemlock ecosystems and high public-use areas. DEC supports the New York State Hemlock Initiative at Cornell University to conduct HWA biological control work across the state, which uses the natural predators of invasive species to reduce their populations. In 2023, predators of HWA were released at Hearthstone Point Campground, Five Rivers Environmental Education Center, Battle Island State Park, and Schenectady’s Plotterkill Preserve among other locations. Chemical treatments help to buy time for biological control to become established and effective across the landscape.

Southern Pine Beetle (SPB)

SPB continues to cause significant pine mortality on Long Island. To respond to this threat, in 2023 DEC thinned 175 acres of pine forest in Suffolk County to restore a healthy, naturally sparse pine barrens that are resistant to SPB outbreaks. Outside of Long Island, DEC traps for SPB throughout eastern NY to monitor potential spread of the beetle and to learn more about SPB’s behavior at the northern edge of its current distribution. We are learning how SPB is responding to warmer winters, and how their populations are impacted by our native, natural predators.

Forest Health sta Meaghan Schwartz and Tim Koski manually controlling

Health Highlights Summary

Spongy Moth

Spongy moth outbreaks occur every 7 to 10 years and cause severe defoliation of oaks and other hardwoods. When populations get exceptionally high, moths will also feed on conifers like white pine and hemlock. Hardwoods can often recover from 1-2 years of defoliation, but may succumb if they are defoliated for multiple years. Conifers do not rebound well, and may die after just 1-2 years of defoliation. The current outbreak began in 2020 in the Finger Lakes region and spread to many areas of the state, peaking in 2021. In 2023, the heaviest defoliation was observed throughout the Hudson Valley from Westchester County to Albany. DEC mapped approximately 188,291 acres of damage in the Hudson Valley during aerial surveys in July 2023. Outbreaks typically collapse after 3 to 5 years, and so we are hopefully nearing the end of this outbreak.

Pathogens

Beech leaf disease (BLD)

BLD was first found in New York in 2018. In 2023, there was significant rapid expansion of the disease. It was found in 12 new counties including Albany, Broome, Columbia, Delaware, Greene, New York, Onondaga, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Seneca, Ulster, and Warren. Currently, there is no known treatment for BLD. DEC, funded by the U.S.

Forest Service, is testing potential treatment strategies including canopy thinning and understory removal to see if the impacts of BLD can be mitigated by forest management. Trial treatments began in the winter of 2023, and are slated to continue into 2024.

Invasive Plants

Giant Hogweed

Giant hogweed plants have been managed since 2008 and are present in 52 counties,

with the largest and densest number of sites located in the western portion of New York State. At sites where giant hogweed plants are found, a mix of manual and/or chemical control methods are used. Sites that have previously been treated for giant hogweed continue to be monitored until no giant hogweed plants are found for a total of nine years, at which point they are considered eradicated. Information is available for landowners and the public through our giant

hogweed/invasive plant information line, outreach materials, and website. Because of our control efforts over 60 percent of historical giant hogweed sites in New York no longer have these invasive plants.

Kudzu

Kudzu plants have been managed since 2014 and are present in 14 southeastern counties. Because of our control efforts kudzu has been eradicated from over 30 percent of New York sites where it was historically present. Sites that have been successfully managed are monitored for nine years until no more kudzu plants are found, at which point the kudzu is considered eradicated.

Forest Health Diagnostic Lab

The DEC Forest Health Diagnostic Lab continues to provide insect and forest pathology diagnostic services to New Yorkers and promotes research and survey methods development within the various Forest Health programs. The lab responded to 641 diagnostic requests to date and conducted six public site visits in 2023. General insect identification remains the most frequently inquired subject across the state, while oak wilt inquiries had the most significant increase due to 2023’s late season frost causing oak decline symptoms.

—Submitted by NYS DEC

Forest Health sta members Allison McKenna and Bob Slocum thinning trees for pine barrens ecosystem health. (Photos by the New York State Department of Conservation)

This column is going to focus on great opportunities for amazing photographs right here at Jones Beach. I have many wonderful memories of plays performed at the Northwell Theatre (then called Jones Beach Marine Theater) with refreshments and live music after in gigantic tents throughout my childhood. Of course I also have beach memories of sunburns, walking on burning hot sand, dragging chairs and coolers etc. A few years ago, I decided to rediscover Jones Beach and I am really glad I did. From a photography perspective, it offers a plethora of opportunities for great pics.

The easiest and most obvious choice is sunset pics. The secret is that there has to be something other than just the sunset in the pic. If you go to the parking lot next to the Nature Center or park there and walk a little left, there is a path that leads to a building with benches where you can take great sunset photos with the dunes at the bottom. It’s super easy to get great shots of the tower with the sunset in the background. There are usually some ships far out in the water which look great with a sunset. Just make sure they are not too far out that they are unrecognizable. Everyone will say “Hey what is that?” and really bug you.

Nature photography is also fantastic at Jones. Starting at the Coast Guard Station there are gulls and assorted shore birds. The gulls perch for pics right on the pilings. Canada geese are always strolling around looking for food. There are different levels of walkway there and a cool trick is to take some photos at the geese’s eye level. In doing this, you automatically pick up more details of the bird and it makes for a better photo. Also, across from the Coast Guard parking lot is a multitude of twisted greenery. The wind at the beach has transformed the trees and bushes into cool shapes that look good alone or with some bird perched on them.

Do not discount going out on what would seem a bad photography day if you are in the mood.

Take advantage of the weather and you can get some really good looking special effects that would only be available on programs like Lightroom

Look Local, Look To Nature

or Photoshop. Any random shot taken with the shadowy background really pops. Having a blurred background is a very desirable effect and can require a good bit of effort to attain. Many times in photography competitions, a hazy background can actually raise your point scores. Many judges feel a blurry background enhances the photo by keeping your eye on the subject and not on background diversions. I once received a great score for a Canada goose picture taken on an exceptionally hazy day. The judge thought I had put gargantuan effort into an

small. Walk along the shore, find any interesting shells or wood or kelp etc. Get your camera real close and shoot. It is quite amazing the beautiful spirals and designs provided by Mother Nature. Whelk shells-everywhere at Jones- have unbelievable spirals and colors that transform into unusual abstract photos for your home. Not long ago, the Museum of Natural History in Manhattan had an entire Macro photography exhibit entitled “Extinct and Endangered” which showcased butterflies and bugs.

Potential works of art can come from anywhere. Again Jones Beach is full of photo ops. Each fall, thousands of monarch butterflies continue their southward journey through the park. Many people flock there with really expensive camera equipment for the migration but you can get really great pics in the area behind the basketball courts. There are a lot of shrubs that the butterflies like. It is fairly easy to get some great shots while still keeping a respectful distance. Many times I will take just random shots at the beach for one reason or another. Sometimes I snap photos of large groups of birds or piles of shells and blow them up on my laptop.

The most important thing to remember is to enjoy photography however you choose to do it. Some people really enjoy delving into a hobby full force with very expensive equipment and extensive editing programs; others like to use a cell phone. Whatever camera you use, just enjoy yourself and have some fun.

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

Publishers of

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effective background to highlight my subject. In actuality, it was a two-second photo where nature did all the work. I kept my secret to myself and took the great score.

Another way to get really interesting shots at the beach is macro photography. This type of photography is all about showcasing a subject larger than it is in real life- an extreme close-up of something

—Mary Borowski is a member of the Manhasset-Great Neck Camera Club

(Photos by Mary Borowski)

BY JENNIFER CORR jcorr@antonnews.com

At the beginning of the year, I decided to sharpen a tool I’ve acquired over the past couple of years: bartending.

JEN ABOUT TOWN

Taking A Bartending Certification Course

I’ve done some bartending on the side here and there. I really enjoy mixing cocktails, hearing people’s stories and watching people when they are letting loose and having fun, all of which bartending provides. I’ve learned how to make some drinks along the way, like Long Island Iced Teas and margaritas, but I’ve realized that there are a lot of drinks I don’t know, which made me want to take a bartending course.

I did some research and found 1800-Bartend, located in Farmingdale. I signed up for the two-week course, which took place Mondays through Thursdays. Wednesday classes took place at a bar in Coram, giving students a chance to go behind the bar and make drinks for guests under the guidance of the instructor and the bartender.

I walked in on my first day in late January, not really knowing what to expect. The room had a bar with several stations and bar seats. I noticed an assortment of liquor bottles behind the bar but quickly learned they were just water with food coloring inside them. There were already students behind the bar, practicing making “drinks.”

Over the two weeks, we learned the recipes

for mixed drinks, shots, shooters, rock drinks and martinis; how to pour count (translating seconds to ounces); what types of glasses to use for different drinks; about the various types of liquors and liqueurs; how to provide good customer service and most importantly, how to keep yourself and customers safe through the Alcohol Training Awareness Program.

We learned how to decline service to someone who we suspect to be under the age of 21 or someone who is intoxicated and that if someone is drunk, you’re partly responsible for making sure they get home safely, meaning you have to make a meaningful effort to arrange a safe ride home for them. Bartenders and establishments can get sued.

My favorite part of the course was practicing making drinks behind the bar. This ability to practice is quite unique because you don’t have to worry about wasting liquor if you make a mistake. The guest bartending night in Coram was a lot of fun as well. Two of my friends came out, and I was able to make drinks for them and get to know my classmates in a more social setting. At the end of the class, we all had to take a test. Our instructor would call out drinks, and we had to make them for him in a timely manner. I did well on the test and received my certificate. I felt very proud.

Overall, I recommend this class to anyone who wants to bartend.

The ‘classroom’ at 1800-Bartend. All the bottles are filled with water and food coloring, not alcohol. (Photo by Jennifer Corr)

Check Your Vehicles For Recalls

Safety recalls affected more than 34 million vehicles in 2023 according to new data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This included more than 4.7 million vehicles recalled with advisories urging drivers to park outside away from structures due to fire risk.

To mark Vehicle Safety Recalls Week, AAA Northeast is urging owners to check their vehicles and related equipment-tires and child car seats-for open recalls. Only 64.7 percent of vehicle recalls issued in 2022 have been completed, and in the last two weeks the latest NHTSA safety recalls affected more than 1.4 million vehicles.

“Every vehicle recall involves a safety-related issue, which means it’s critical to get the repair done as soon as possible,” said Robert Sinclair, Jr. of AAA Northeast. “Vehicle owners can help protect themselves and others on the roads by checking for recalls at least twice a year and taking advantage of free repairs on all recalls.”

AAA offers the following guidance for vehicle owners:

• Check for open recalls today: Take advantage of tools like NHTSA’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Look-Up Tool and the SaferCar app to check your vehicles and automotive equipment for open recalls. All you’ll need is your vehicle’s VIN, which can be found on the lower portion of the vehicle’s windshield on the driver’s side, and on your registration.

• Repair quickly: Millions of recalls go unrepaired every year, putting drivers, passengers, pedestrians and others on the road at risk. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, visit a local dealership immediately for free repairs.

• Report safety-related defects: believe your vehicle may have a safety-related defect that is not included in a current recall, contact NHTSA online at NHTSA. gov or by calling the agency’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236.

—AAA Northeast

This Baxter Estates home at 54 Hillview Ave. sold on Feb. 16 for $1,730,000. It is a luxurious 3,500 squarefoot Colonial nestled in the heart of Port Washington. This charming home is truly a dream home. From the spacious open floor plan to the gleaming quartz counters in the kitchen, every aspect of this home speaks of comfort and style. It’s the perfect canvas for culinary escapades, complete with stainless steel appliances that add a sleek, modern appeal. A welcoming den beckons with its cozy fireplace, creating the ideal ambiance for relaxation or hosting gatherings. The generous natural light filtering through the home illuminates the tasteful interiors. And convenience is never an issue with a well-situated second-floor laundry room. All four bedrooms are generously sized, but the crown jewel is the primary bedroom. Here, you’ll find two large closets and an en suite bath creating a spa-like retreat for ultimate relaxation. This home extends its luxury beyond interior aesthetics. A fully finished basement, armed with a complete bath, offers extra living space or potential for a recreational room. Outdoors, enjoy the privacy of a completely fenced-in yard and a detached one-car garage, enhancing security and comfort. Living here means enjoying all the perks of being centrally located in a sought-after area. With just a short distance to Main Street, shopping destinations, and the train station, convenience is at the doorstep.

This beautifully renovated colonial home at 7 Virginia Ave. in the Baxter Estates section of Port Washington sold on Nov. 3 for $1,160,000. It has tasteful and elegant finishes. This lovely home is spacious and has four bedrooms and four bathrooms. The bedroom on the first floor could be used as an office and has access to a full bathroom with a shower. This home has a large open concept design that includes the living room, dining area, and the kitchen. The den is conveniently located right off the kitchen as well. The basement is a full legally finished basement and has an open floor plan, a laundry room, a large storage area, a utility room, a full bathroom, and an exit to the garage.

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.

An entirely new way to see this legendary period.

The multidisciplinary exhibition brings the era to life through works by John Singer Sargent, William Merritt Chase, Mary Cassatt, Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, Louis Comfort Tiffany, Alfred Stieglitz, among others, plus fashion, sculpture, photographs, furnishings, memorabilia and decorative objects.

The Museum mansion, itself, provides the authentic backdrop as it was both the opulent home of the wealthy Bryce and Frick families - and the livelihood for the work force needed to sustain it. The Mansion

See It Now

Purchase exhibition tickets at the museum or online NassauMuseum.org/exhibitions

Experience

More as a Museum Member

at the museum or online NassauMuseum.org/membership

Crafting Literary Havens

Unveiling the art and trends of designing a home library sanctuary

BY ANTON MEDIA GROUP specialsections@antonmediagroup.com

Designing a home library is a dream for many book lovers, o ering a personal sanctuary that houses their favorite reads and provides a comfortable space for hours of uninterrupted reading. However, creating the perfect home library involves more than just assembling bookshelves and stacking books. It requires thoughtful consideration of design elements, functionality, and current trends to ensure the space is both beautiful and practical. Here are key factors and trending ideas to consider when designing your home library.

Space and Location

The first consideration is the allocation of space within your home. A home library doesn’t necessarily require a large, separate room; it can be integrated into smaller spaces or dual-purpose rooms, such as a home office or a reading nook in your living room or bedroom. The location should ideally be quiet, well-lit, and somewhat secluded to provide a peaceful retreat for readers.

Shelving and Storage

Bookshelves are the heart of any library, and there’s a wide range of options to choose from. Floor-to-ceiling shelves make a dramatic statement and maximize storage space, while built-in shelves can offer a seamless look that integrates well with the room’s architecture. Modular shelving systems provide flexibility, allowing you to rearrange or expand your collection over time. Consider incorporating shelves of

different heights to accommodate books of various sizes, as well as cabinets or drawers for storing rare or valuable items that need protection from dust.

Seating

Comfortable seating is crucial in a home library, as it invites you to linger and lose yourself in a book. A plush armchair or a sofa with soft, deep cushions is ideal. For a more dynamic setup, include a variety of seating options, such as a reading nook with a window seat, a cozy loveseat, or even a chaise lounge. Position seating to take advantage of natural light during the day, complemented by warm, artificial lighting for evening reading sessions.

Lighting

Good lighting is essential in a home library to prevent eye strain and create a warm, inviting atmosphere. Aim for a mix of ambient, task, and accent lighting. Floor

lamps and table lamps provide focused light for reading, while track lighting or picture lights can highlight artwork or specific sections of your book collection. Trending now are smart lighting systems that allow you to adjust the brightness and color temperature to match the time of day or your mood.

Decor and Personal Touches

A home library is a reflection of your personality and interests, so incorporate elements that make the space uniquely yours. Artwork, photographs, and memorabilia can add character and warmth to the room. Trending in home library design is the inclusion of bold, statement pieces such as a striking piece of art or a unique piece of furniture that adds a pop of color or texture to the room.

Versatile Design

With the rise of digital media, today’s home libraries often serve multiple purposes. Many are designed to accommodate not just books but also media equipment, offering a place to enjoy films, music, and digital reading. Including a small desk or a comfortable chair with a swivel table can also transform part of your library into a workspace or a study area, making it a versatile addition to your home.

Trending Themes

In terms of design themes, there’s a move towards creating spaces that feel personal and collected over time. This includes mixing vintage or antique furniture with modern pieces, displaying collections of objects alongside books, and incorporating plants or natural elements for a touch of greenery. Themed libraries, such as those dedicated to a particular genre of literature or period of history, are also gaining popularity, offering a tailored escape into the worlds contained within your books.

Sustainability is another key trend, with a focus on using eco-friendly materials and lighting, as well as sourcing furniture and decor from ethical and sustainable sources. This reflects a growing awareness of environmental issues and a desire to create spaces that are not only beautiful but also kind to the planet.

Designing a home library is a deeply personal project that combines aesthetics, functionality, and a love of books. By considering space, storage, seating, lighting, and personal touches, you can create a haven that not only houses your book collection but also reflects your personality and reading habits. With the current trends towards versatility, sustainability, and personalized design, there’s never been a better time to create a home library that you’ll cherish for years to come.

(Getty Images)

Designing Your Home Entertainment Room

BY ANTON MEDIA STAFF specialsections@antonmediagroup.com

Designing a home entertainment room has evolved from the traditional setup of a television and a couch to a multifaceted space that caters to a wide array of digital entertainment needs. As technology advances and consumer preferences shift, the trends in designing these spaces have become more sophisticated, focusing on immersive experiences, multifunctionality, and personalization. Here are some of the key trends shaping the design of home entertainment rooms today.

Immersive Technology Integration

One of the most significant trends is the integration of immersive technologies to enhance the viewing and gaming experience. This includes the adoption of large, ultra-high-definition TVs and projectors that offer 4K and 8K resolutions, providing crystal-clear images that bring movies and games to life. Surround sound systems and advanced audio setups, such as Dolby Atmos, create a 3D sound environment, enveloping the room in high-quality audio that matches the visual fidelity. Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) setups are also becoming more common, offering a completely immersive experience that transforms the way we interact with digital content.

Smart Home Connectivity

The modern home entertainment room is increasingly connected to the broader smart home ecosystem. Voice-controlled assistants and IoT (Internet of Things) devices allow users to control lighting, sound, and visual components with simple voice commands or through a centralized app. This connectivity enhances the ease of use and allows for the creation of preset entertainment modes, adjusting the environment to the perfect settings for movies, gaming, or listening to music with a single command.

Aesthetic Integration

The design of home entertainment rooms is also seeing a trend towards aesthetic integration within the overall home decor. Gone are the days when these rooms were

relegated to basements or spare rooms with little thought to design. Today, homeowners are incorporating their entertainment spaces into their living areas, with a focus on sleek, minimalist designs that blend seamlessly with the rest of the home. Hidden storage solutions, in-wall speakers, and concealed wiring help maintain a clean and uncluttered look, while customizable LED lighting adds a touch of sophistication and ambiance.

Personalized Themes and Luxury Comforts

Personalization is key in the design of home entertainment spaces, with individuals seeking to reflect their personalities and preferences in the decor. This can include

themed rooms based on favorite movies, sports teams, or video games, offering a unique and engaging environment that enhances the entertainment experience. Additionally, luxury comforts such as high-end recliners, adjustable lighting, and temperature control, along with snack and beverage stations, ensure that these rooms offer the ultimate in comfort and convenience.

The trends in designing home entertainment rooms reflect a broader shift towards more immersive, flexible, and personalized living spaces. With a focus on quality, connectivity, and personal expression, the home entertainment room of the future promises to be a central hub of digital leisure and enjoyment.

Popular DIY Trends

Home DIY decorating trends have taken a vibrant turn, reflecting a mix of comfort, sustainability, and personal expression. The rise of social media platforms and the desire for customized living spaces have fueled these trends, making home decor more accessible and imaginative. Here are 10 popular DIY decorating trends that have captured the imagination of homeowners worldwide:

Upcycling Furniture: T his sustainable trend involves repurposing old furniture into something new and exciting, adding a unique touch to any room without breaking the bank.

Statement Walls: Whether it’s through bold paint colors, wallpaper, or intricate murals, statement walls serve as focal points, injecting personality into spaces.

Indoor Plants: Bringing the outdoors in, a variety of indoor plants not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of a home but also improve air quality, contributing to a healthier living environment.

Floating Shelves: They offer a minimalist and practical solution for displaying decor, books, and plants, maximizing space in smaller rooms.

Vintage Accents: The charm of vintage decor lies in its ability to add character and timelessness to modern interiors, making thrifted items highly sought after.

Handmade Pottery: Items like vases, pots, and decorative pieces, crafted by hand, introduce a layer of artisanal beauty and authenticity.

Textured Fabrics: Incorporating textured fabrics through throw pillows, curtains, and rugs adds depth and warmth, inviting a cozy atmosphere.

Smart Lighting: Adjustable and smart lighting systems allow homeowners to customize ambiance settings for different times of the day or specific activities, enhancing both functionality and mood.

Eco-friendly Materials: The shift towards sustainability has made eco-friendly materials like bamboo, cork, and recycled goods popular choices for both construction and decoration, reflecting a growing consciousness about environmental impact.

DIY Home Office Spaces: With remote work becoming more prevalent, creating a personalized and efficient home office space has become a priority for many.

These trends highlight a collective move towards more personalized, sustainable, and functional living spaces, allowing individuals to express their styles while being mindful of the environment.

—Anton Media Staff

Maximizing Comfort And Style

Take a look at some of the most purchased home décor items this year

BY ANTON MEDIA STAFF specialsections@antonmediagroup.com

e landscape of home décor continually evolves, re ecting broader trends in design, technology, and societal values. is year, certain items have surged in popularity, driven by a blend of aesthetic appeal, functionality, and the ongoing in uence of global events on our living spaces. From creating cozy, multipurpose areas to integrating nature within our walls, here’s a look at the most purchased home décor items this year and the trends they represent.

With many people continuing to work from home, there’s been an uptick in the demand for multifunctional furniture. Pieces that can serve multiple purposes, such as sofa beds, extendable tables, and desks with built-in storage, are particularly popular.

with modern décor, offering sleek designs that complement rather than detract from the aesthetic of a room.

metals are not only trendy but also align with the values of eco-conscious consumers. This shift towards sustainability reflects a broader desire to reduce one’s carbon footprint and support ethical manufacturing practices.

The integration of technology into our living spaces continues to be a major trend, with smart home devices becoming a staple in home décor shopping lists. Smart lighting systems, voice-activated assistants, and innovative climate control devices offer both convenience and energy efficiency. These gadgets are designed to blend seamlessly

Bringing the outdoors in has been a persistent theme this year, with a significant rise in the purchase of indoor plants and stylish planters. Greenery has become a must-have in home décor. This trend is not only about aesthetics; it’s also tied to well-being, as plants are known to boost mood, improve air quality, and connect us to nature. As awareness of environmental issues grows, so does the demand for sustainable home décor. Items made from recycled, upcycled, or sustainably sourced materials have become highly sought after. Bamboo furniture, jute rugs, and décor items featuring recycled glass and

Embracing Imperfection

The charm of used and mismatched china sets captivates home decor enthusiasts

BY ANTON MEDIA STAFF specialsections@antonmediagroup.com

In recent years, a fascinating trend has emerged in the world of home décor and dining aesthetics: the embrace of used and mismatched china sets. is movement, steeped in nostalgia and a desire for sustainability, re ects a broader cultural shift away from the pristine and uniform towards a more eclectic and personalized approach to table setting. e trend not only champions the unique beauty found in imperfection but also embodies a conscious e ort to reduce waste and promote recycling. Here’s a deeper look into the charm and rise of used and mismatched china sets.

The allure of mismatched china lies in its inherent uniqueness and the stories each piece can tell. Unlike uniform sets that offer a seamless aesthetic, mismatched collections bring together a tapestry of designs, eras, and histories, creating a table setting that’s rich in character and warmth. This imperfection is celebrated, as it reflects real life’s diversity and complexity, making dining experiences more personal and engaging.

A significant driver behind the popularity of used and mismatched china is

the growing awareness and concern for environmental sustainability. By choosing used items, consumers actively reduce the demand for new products and the resources required to produce them, decreasing their environmental footprint. This trend aligns with the broader movement towards thrift shopping and the circular economy, where the focus is on reusing and repurposing rather than discarding and buying new.

Opting for used and mismatched china also offers economic benefits.

There’s been a growing appreciation for craftsmanship and uniqueness in home décor, with consumers gravitating towards artisanal and handmade items. These purchases often support small businesses and craftspeople, adding a story and a touch of authenticity to the home. Handwoven textiles, handmade pottery, and unique art pieces allow homeowners to personalize their spaces in a way that mass-produced items cannot. To add personality and warmth to interiors, shoppers are turning to soft furnishings featuring bold patterns, vibrant colors, and rich textures. Throw pillows, area rugs, and blankets in eye-catching designs can

High-quality, new china sets can be prohibitively expensive, but by collecting individual pieces over time, consumers can curate their unique sets at a fraction of the cost. Thrift stores, estate sales, and online marketplaces have become treasure troves for those looking to expand their collections without breaking the bank, making beautiful tableware accessible to a wider audience.

Each mismatched set tells a story, reflecting the personal taste and creativity of its collector. People take pride in hunting for pieces that catch their eye, whether it’s a floral-patterned plate from the 1950s or a fine bone china teacup adorned with intricate artwork. This process of selection allows individuals to express themselves through their table settings, turning every meal into an opportunity for storytelling and aesthetic exploration.

transform a room, making it feel cozy and inviting. This trend also allows for easy and affordable seasonal updates to a home’s décor without committing to major changes.

Lighting plays a crucial role in setting the mood of a space, and this year, minimalist lighting fixtures have been in high demand. Sleek, simple designs that focus on functionality and clean lines fit well with the modern, clutter-free aesthetic that many consumers are striving for. LED lights with adjustable brightness and color temperatures allow for customization of ambiance, enhancing the overall feel of a home.

The trend also taps into a broader desire for connection and authenticity in a digitized world. In an age where social interactions are often mediated by screens, a thoughtfully set table with mismatched china serves as a reminder of the value of personal touch and the beauty of shared experiences. It encourages conversations about the origins of each piece, the memories they evoke, and the personal significance they hold, enriching the communal dining experience.

While the trend of used and mismatched china sets is largely positive, it does come with its challenges. Ensuring the cleanliness and safety of used items, particularly with older pieces that may contain lead or other harmful substances, is crucial. While the eclectic look is part of the charm, creating a cohesive yet diverse collection requires a discerning eye and a bit of patience.

The trend of used and mismatched china sets is more than a passing fad; it’s a reflection of changing attitudes towards consumption, sustainability, and beauty. It champions the idea that perfection is overrated and that there’s value and joy to be found in the eclectic and the environmentally conscious. As this trend continues to grow, it encourages us to rethink not only our aesthetic choices but also our impact on the planet, one beautifully mismatched plate at a time.

(Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

(Photo by Cathy Bongiorno)

(Photo by Cathy Bongiorno)

HEALTH & FITNESS

Experience Makes The Difference With Award-Winning Celebrity Plastic Surgeon

As a renowned, award-winning plastic surgeon, Stephen T. Greenberg, M.D., F.A.C.S. is continually expanding the aesthetic arena by combining the use of cutting-edge surgical techniques with the latest technology.

“As a cosmetic plastic surgeon, I work both on the inside and the outside of a patient’s skin every day. I understand patients’ needs and the best method for achieving superior results,” said Dr. Greenberg.

An Ivy-League trained double board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Greenberg takes great pride in restoring patient confidence by actively working with each patient to set realistic expectations and create bespoke treatment packages to provide the most natural outcomes possible for his patients.

I am part surgeon and part artist, and I appreciate the opportunity to play an important role in the lives of my patients.

—Dr. Steven T. Greenberg

“Over the years I have enjoyed treating thousands of women and men with a personal and individualized approach,” said Dr. Greenberg. “I am part surgeon and part artist, and I appreciate the opportunity to play an important role in the lives of my patients.”

Offering everything from injectables and fillers to laser treatments, breast augmentation, liposuction, facelifts and nose jobs, Dr. Greenberg’s offices are perfect locations to accomplish a lunchtime mini-lift or a more extensive, life-altering transformation to the face or body.

With his vast expertise and

unique methods, Dr. Greenberg pioneered his Rapid Recovery programs in order to have his patients enjoying their new look within a matter of days. Dr. Greenberg’s perfected Rapid Recovery Breast Augmentation System utilizes sophisticated mini-incision techniques to provide patients with a true 24-hour experience. Using 3-D computer imaging, Stephen T. Greenberg, M.D., F.A.C.S. helps each patient select the appropriate implant size for their unique physique. Patients experience minimal pain, swelling, and bruising, coupled with a notably decreased recovery time. Dr. Greenberg is proud to offer this ultra-modern approach to breast augmentation surgery at his state-ofthe-art Manhattan and Woodbury surgical centers which have both met the stringent criteria for AAAASF accreditation.

Dr. Greenberg is frequently recognized for his remarkable work and is continually voted one of the best plastic surgeons in New York. Dr. Greenberg takes great pride in his doctor-patient relationships and sees this connection as key to providing the best patient experience.

“After 30 years in practice, I still receive great satisfaction from helping my patients reach their aesthetic goals,” said Dr. Greenberg. “Once they are happy with how they look, their entire demeanor changes. It is amazing how important these improvements can be to a patient’s state of mind.”

CONTINUES ON NEXT PAGE

Dr. Greenberg is currently writing his second book, as a follow up to A Little Nip, A Little Tuck . His radio show Nip Tuck Today with Dr. Stephen T. Greenberg garners thousands of listeners on Sundays at 10 a.m. on 710WOR, listen live at 710WOR. iHeart.com. Dr. Greenberg collaborates with the latest anti-aging and skincare procurement companies to produce premium products that elevate results.

His Plastic Surgeon’s Ultimate Scar Gel is clinically proven to reduce the appearance and discoloration of old and new scars as well as stretch marks. His scar gel, along with his anti-aging skincare system Cosmetic Surgeon in a Jar, is formulated to redefine daily routines. He calls it Beauty Made Simple and has curated his collection to enhance skin’s natural radiance.

Dr. Greenberg is in high demand from media outlets for his plastic surgery expertise. He has recently been featured on Good Day New York , WABC, The New York Post and has appeared on CBS, Fox News, NBC and News12 Long Island. He has also appeared in national magazines such as Harper’s Bazaar, Cosmopolitan , More, Elle , as well as in The New York Times and Newsday

When asked what his most common procedure requests are, he said, “Most patients opt for my Rapid Recovery procedures. My unique approach to face and body procedures ensures that my patients have reduced downtime coupled

with minimal pain and bruising. I provide my patients with customizable programs that specifically match their anatomy. My plasma liposuction technique allows for increased fat removal, better skin retraction, and a very quick recovery. Combining surgical procedure with amazing new technologies provides more dramatic results. These days I also see guys seeking liposuction of the abdomen, love handles and male chest. Facelifts, mini-facelifts, eyelid lifts and hair restoration are very

Dr. Stephen T. Greenberg Neil Tandy

Dr. Greenberg’s Woodbury office

popular for both men and women. Of course, cosmetic injectables are more popular than ever before.”

At the apex of his craft, Dr. Greenberg is something of a legend. Because he has performed literally thousands of procedures, he has evolved them to achieve specialized results, often with uncommon downtimes. Said Dr. Greenberg, “It’s not magic—it’s science, talent and skill that can give you a magical result.”

Join Dr. Greenberg for your complimentary consultation at his Woodbury, Southampton, Manhattan, Scarsdale, Smithtown or Boca Raton locations. Visit greenbergcosmeticsurgery.com or call 516-364-4200.

—Submitted

by Greenberg Cosmetic Surgery

Blakeman Files Suit Ahead Of Attorney General’s Deadline

ANTON MEDIA GROUP STAFF

editors@antonmediagroup.com

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman has filed suit aiming to protect his February executive order stating that trans women and girls cannot participate in women’s and girls’ sports leagues and events.

Early last week, ahead of a Friday deadline to rescind his order issued by New York State Attorney General Letitia James, Blakeman filed a 12-page suit in the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of New York seeking a declaratory judgment on the matter.

As Gothamist reported, Blakeman’s lawsuit cites Title 9 of the U.S. Constitution, which protects people from discrimination based on their sex in education programs that get federal monies, as well as the 14th Amendment, which establishes that no U.S. state shall “deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”

Attorney General James previously called Blakeman’s order “blatantly illegal” and “transphobic and discriminatory.”

Responding to the lawsuit in a statement, a spokeperson for James’ office said that the matter is “not up for debate,” adding that the executive order “is illegal, and [will] not stand in New York.”

Days earlier, after James’ office instructed Blakeman to rescind the order, Blakeman held a press conference where he said he believed the order to be lawful and hinted that the issue was headed to court.

More than 100 sports facilities are potentially impacted by Blakeman’s February 22 exectuive order, which went into effect immediately, leading to widespread criticism from LGBTQ+ and human rights

advocates.

On Thursday, February 22, Blakeman held a small rally, with the stated intent to “protect girls’ sports,” before unveiling the executive order.

According to the order, “any sports, leagues, organizations, teams, programs, or sports entities must expressly designate [male, female, or co-ed] based on the biological sex at birth of the team members/ participants when applying for a use and occupancy permit to utilize Nassau County Parks property for the purposes of organization a sporting event or competition.” It goes on to state that the Nassau County Department of Parts, Recreation and Museums “shall not issue any permits for the use and occupancy of Nassau County Park’s property for the purposes of organizing a sporting event or competition that allows athletic teams or sports designated for females, women, or girls to include biological males … [but] may issue permits … that allow athletic teams or sports for males, men, or boys to include biological females.”

Blakeman’s order went on to state that an athlete’s birth certificate would be acceptable proof for establishing their gender for the purposes of playing sports in Nassau (specifically making reference to the sex designated therein), and noted that a birth certificate issued at or soon after a person’s birth would be accepted.

In response to Blakeman’s order, one local high school teacher who spoke to Anton Media Group in February expressed concern about not only the order’s impact on trans students but also the entire student body of local schools, not that “policing this [matter] requires sometimes intrinsic questions and inspections and things like that, because sometimes it isn’t immediately clear who is, or who isn’t, trans.” She added, “This really affects the privacy of all students.”

County Executive Bruce Blakeman poses with his executive order and some local residents on February 22, 2024 at the county seat. (Credit: Anton Media Group)

Environmental Scholarships Offered

The South Shore Audubon Society is offering two $1,000 scholarships for College juniors, seniors, or graduate students earning a degree in the areas of biological or environmental science. This includes wildlife management, forestry, animal behavior, ecology, marine biology, oceanography, mammalogy, ornithology or the field of sustainable and renewable energy. Previous winners have used their scholarships to help purchase books, to pay for travel expenses to field sites, for specialized equipment or other educational needs.

To be eligible for the Scholarships, applicants must be residents of one of the areas listed at www.ssaudubon.org/areaswe-serve.asp and/or attend a college in

Nassau or Suffolk County. One scholarship is funded by Evelyn Bishop and her family, and one is funded by Jay Koolpix.

Applications are available at the South Shore Audubon website, www.ssaudubon. org or by contacting Professor Betsy Gulotta at 516-546-8841, Betsy.Gulotta@ ncc.edu . Applications are due by April 30, 2024, and should be emailed to either Betsy Gulotta, or Betty Borowsky, bborow@ optonline.net, or sent by regular mail to Betsy Gulotta, 2 Anding Ave, Merrick, NY 11566.

For more information and for assistance with application forms, do not hesitate to contact Betsy Gulotta or Betty Borowsky at the email addresses above.

—Submitted by South Shore Audubon Society

Rabbi Honored By Jewish War Veterans

“Elder Law Estate Planning” is an area of law that combines features of both elder law (disability planning) and estate planning (death planning) and relates mostly to the needs of the middle class. Estate planning was formerly only for the wealthy, who wanted to shelter their assets from taxes and pass more on to their heirs. But today estate planning is also needed by the middle class who may have assets exceeding one million dollars, especially when you consider life insurance in the mix.

Estate planning with trusts became popular starting in 1991 when AARP published “ A Consumer Report on Probate ” concluding that probate should be avoided and trusts should be used to transfer assets to heirs without the expense and delay of probate, a court proceeding on death. Trusts are also widely used today to avoid guardianship proceedings on disability, protect privacy, and reduce the chance of a will contest in court.

As the population aged, life expectancies increased, and the cost of care skyrocketed, the field of elder law emerged in the late 1980’s to help people protect assets from the cost of long-term care by using Medicaid asset protection strategies.

We have been practicing “elder law estate planning” together for over thirty years to address these needs:

• Getting your assets to your heirs, with the least amount of court costs, taxes and legal fees possible.

• Keeping your assets in the bloodline for your grandchildren and protecting those assets from your children’s divorces, lawsuits and creditors.

• Protecting your assets from the costs of long-term care and qualifying you for government benefits to pay for your home care or facility care.

• Avoiding guardianship proceedings if you become disabled and probate court proceedings on death.

World War II, the Korean conflict and Vietnam. Rabbi Vernon knew one of the Jewish Chaplains killed during the Vietnam War. The plaque is part of a legacy that goes with holding the office of President of LIBOR. The plaque will be passed on to each succeeding President of LIBOR.

—Submitted by Jewish War Veterans Post 652

Commander Gary Glick and Ed Freeberg of the Jewish War Veterans Post 652 (Merrick) presented a plaque to Rabbi Art Vernon during his inauguration as President of the Long Island Board of Rabbis. The presentation took place at Congregation Shaaray Shalom in West Hempstead. The original plaque is at Arlington National Cemetery. The plaque honors Jewish Chaplains (Rabbis) who were killed during

Rabbi Art Vernon, Edward Freeberg, and Commander Gary Glick.

(Photo by Edward Freeberg)

Photo Getty Images

HOROSCOPES By Holiday Mathis

This is a theme puzzle with the subject stated below. Find the listed words in the grid. (They may run in any direction always in a straight line. Some letters are used more than once.) Ring each word as you find it and when you have pleted the puzzle, there will be 27 letters left over. They spell out the alternative theme of the puzzle.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). e early stage of a relationship is steeped in projection and fantasy. You imagine who the other person is, and they do the same with you. e ideas here are usually based in wishes and fears. Reality corrects the fallacies and educates willing pupils as to everyone’s true essence, and expectations can be set accordingly.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). If the e orts are strong but the plan is weak, the results will fail. If the e orts are weak but the plan is strong, there won’t be much result to speak of. You’ll be the pro who checks things from many angles. Knowing what you don’t know and being humble enough to ask is half the battle. You’ll gather opinions, insights and observations, and get it right.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Gather more in uences. It’s good to have a few inspirational examples to model your work after. Twelve examples will make you more of an expert, with a body of research to show for it. Twenty examples give you a sophisticated eye. And when you have 50 examples, you’ll earn the discerning perspective of a professional.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). You are sensitive to the subtleties of human bonding. You know what emotional and spiritual connection feels like. You can tell when it’s strong and when it’s barely there at all, and most of all, you can sense when it’s broken. You’ll give yourself over to its healing this week, which is a process that takes tenderness and time. It can’t be rushed.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). From where you stand, you can see the tools and resources a orded to others, but it’s unnecessary to turn an envious gaze that direction. You have everything you need. If you had more, it would only complicate things and steal from the wonderfully unique work you’re doing. Rest assured, you can achieve greatly using nothing more than what you already have.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). is week, the education you seek will be particularly relevant to the action, and it will all seem to click in at once. Said the great acting teacher Uta Hagen: “ e knowledge that every day there is something more to learn, something higher to reach for, something new to make for others, makes each day in nitely precious. And I am grateful.”

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). In the movies, courage is tested in the face of obvious danger. Real life features tests of courage that come pretty much on the daily in the form of extending oneself socially, pitching and presenting work, taking a chance by sharing real feelings and truths, and putting your heart on the line. e uncertainties of life will bend to your bravery.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You’ll let go of the need to impress someone or manage how they think of you. You’ll move forward with the intent to be fully yourself and experience the moment as only you can. And though you do not aim to change anyone’s mind or opinion, your pleasure and joy in simply being alive has more impact than you might expect.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You approach your work with two distinct parts of yourself. One is like a lm director with a big vision for the scenes of your life. e other is an emotional and impulsive actor who won’t learn the lines and keeps playing it loose and wild. e tension between these two aspects of your personality makes your life a work of art.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Emotional communication is tricky, as we are each wired a little di erently in this regard. What one person thinks is a reasonable interaction can be a confusing code to someone else. Feel your way through. Listen with your whole self, not just to the words spoken but to the needs that ring through, and echo in their surrounding silence.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). e positive energy propelling your relationships will culminate in arrangements that really serve you well. e universe is conspiring to make the nancial aspects of a deal much easier for you. So, when people o er to pay you, treat you or handle the bill, all you have to do is let them. is will happen more than once this week.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). It only takes seven ri es to completely shu e a deck of cards, but cutting the deck even once is enough to wholly alter the game. Relatedly, whether it seems like it or not, your impact is real this week. You’ll make your moves and, in the best way possible, because of those choices, nothing will be the same.

THIS WEEK’S BIRTHDAYS

: It’s a year of ight. Once you learn to trust your “wings,” you can take o from any perch, and so you will. You’ll launch from the ground or from the treetop and get to the elevation that feels best to you. e surge of health and vitality you feel will attract fun friends and interesting work. You’ll be paid very well to solve a problem. You’ll excel among equal but di erent talents. Associations with air signs (Gemini, Libra and Aquarius) will launch a certain ebullient luck in the realm of relationships and leisure.

INTERNATIONAL WORD FIND WORD FIND

Darling Downs

Solution: 27 Letters

WORD FIND

This is a theme puzzle with the subject stated below. Find the listed words in the grid. (They may run in any direction but always in a straight line. Some letters are used more than once.) Ring each word as you find it and when you have completed the puzzle, there will be 27 letters left over. They spell out the alternative theme of the puzzle.

Darling Downs

Solution: 27 Letters

© 2024 Australian Word Games Dist. by Creators Syndicate Inc.

Airport Allora Boonah

Bull

Bushfire

Cecil Plains

Coal

Cunningham

Dalby Drought Ewes

Farm

Feedlots

Fertile Field Flowers Forest Fruit

Gatton Herd

© 2024 Australian Word Games Dist. by Creators Syndicate Inc.

Museum

Holiday Lambs

Maranoa Meat Megafauna Milk

Airport Allora Boonah Bull Bushfire Cecil Plains Coal Cunningham Dalby Drought Ewes Farm Feedlots

Fertile Field Flowers Forest Fruit Gatton Herd Holiday Lambs Maranoa Meat Megafauna Milk

Nanango Nobby Notice Oakey Rams Rich Ripe Sheep Sorghum Sown Warwick

Museum Nanango Nobby Notice Oakey Rams Rich Ripe Sheep Sorghum Sown Warwick

Solution: South East Queensland foodbowl

Solution: South East Queensland foodbowl

Creators Syndicate

Creators Syndicate

737 3rd Street Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 310-337-7003 info@creators.com

737 3rd Street Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 310-337-7003 info@creators.com

Date: 3/13/24

Date: 3/13/24

Luck

not the only factor

When the success of a contract appears to depend upon a finesse — essentially a 50-50 proposition — your first obligation is to look for another method of play that will raise your chances to perhaps 60%, 70% or even 100%.

If you study the present case carefully, it becomes apparent that you can improve your prospects to well beyond 50% by allowing for the possibility that West originally held only one or two trumps.

Accordingly, after taking the diamond ace at trick four, you lead a trump to your king and play the queen of hearts. As it happens, West has no more trumps, which allows you to discard a club from dummy.

The rest of the play is easy enough. You cash the ace of clubs, ruff a club in dummy, ruff a diamond and then ruff your last club in dummy to bring home the contract.

up with the ace and must take the rest of the tricks. At this point, it might seem that the outcome depends entirely on a successful club finesse. However, there is a good rule to follow in situations of this sort.

Note that if, when you lead the queen of hearts, West produces a trump — having been dealt three or more of them — you can overruff in dummy and still have the club finesse to fall back on. It doesn’t cost anything at all to play the hand this way.

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

Answer to last issue’s Sudoku Puzzle

ANNOUNCEMENTS

EMPLOYMENT

ATTORNEY

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On Tuesday, March 19, villages across Great Neck will hold elections for various office positions. Below is a list of the elections and voting locations.

Note: If there is only one candidate listed, they are running unopposed. Villages not listed are not having elections this March.

The Village of Great Neck Estates

The official polling site will be Village Hall, located at 4 Gateway Dr., and the polling site will open at noon and will close at 9:00 p.m. Call the village hall at 516-482-8283 for more information.

The following offices will be filled at the 2024 election:

Trustee (Two-year term)

Nominee: Incumbent Michael J. Smiley

Nominee: Lila Shemesh

Upcoming Village Elections

The Village of Great Neck Plaza

The official polling site will be Village Hall, located at 2 Gussack Plaza, and the polling site will open at noon and will close at 9:00 p.m. Call the village hall at 516-4824500 for more information.

The following offices will be filled at the 2024 election:

Mayor (Five-year term)

Nominee: Incumbent Mayor Ted Rosen

Trustee (Five-year term)

Nominee: Incumbent Pamela Marksheid

Trustee (Five-year term)

Nominee: Incumbent Michael DeLuccia

The Village of Kensington

The official polling site will be Village Hall, located at 2 Nassau Dr., and the polling

site will open at noon and will close at 9:00 p.m. Call the village hall at 516-482-4409 for more information.

The position for mayor and two trustees will be filled at the 2024 election.

Note: The Village of Kensington did not respond to the Great Neck Record with candidate names by press time.

The Village of Saddle Rock

The official polling site will be Village Hall, located at 18 Masefield Way., and the polling site will open at noon and will close at 9:00 p.m. Call the village hall at 516-4829400 for more information.

The following offices will be filled at the 2024 election:

Trustee

Nominee: Incumbent Kamran Barelli Trustee

Nominee: Incumbent Ronen Ben-Josef

The Village of Thomaston

The official polling site will be Village Hall, located at 100 East Shore Rd., and the polling site will open at noon and will close at 9:00 p.m. Call the village hall at 516-482-3110 for more information.

The following offices will be filled at the 2024 election:

Trustee

Nominee: Incumbent Jay Chagrin

Trustee

Nominee: Incumbent Aaron Halpern

—Information compiled by Julie Prisco

Lunar New Year Celebration

On Sunday, Feb. 25, the Great Neck Park District and the Great Neck Chinese Association hosted a Lunar New Year Celebration at the Great Neck Park District’s Andrew Stergiopoulos Ice Rink. The event included skating performances, off-ice performances, activities, crafts, food and giveaways. Visit gnparks.org to learn more about the Great Neck Park District.

Great Neck Park District Superintendent

Jason Marra and Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena

Diabolo performance

Lunar New Year crafts

Lunar New Year performance

2024 is the Year of the Dragon (Photos from the Great Neck Park District)

—Information compiled by Julie Prisco

From the left: Park District commissioner Frank Cilluffo, Lunar New Year performer, Park District Superintendent Jason Marra and Park District commissioner Tina Stellato

Ice-skating performance

SCHOOL NEWS

Registration For Community Ed Spring 2024 Session

Great Neck Community Ed is looking forward to warmer weather with the release of its Spring 2024 catalog. Registration for the Spring session will open on Feb. 28 for Great Neck residents, and Feb. 29 for the general public.

Course offerings for the Spring 2024 session include a full array of classes in the areas of creative arts and crafts, fitness and movement, world languages, literature and writing, history and our world, hobbies and technology, performing arts and entertainment, and personal growth. In-person classes take place at 30 Cumberland Ave. in Great Neck, and online classes are available via Zoom.

In addition to more than 150 courses, Community Ed is also pleased to offer bus trips to New

York City for Broadway shows, museums, and more. These popular trips, which include transportation and admission, are advertised via email and social media.

Registration may be completed by phone at (516) 441-4949, via email at gncontinuinged@greatneck.k12.ny.us, or by using the links in the digital catalog on the Community Ed website at www. greatneck.k12.ny.us/ce.

For a complete list of spring classes, view the catalog online at www.greatneck.k12.ny.us/ce or call 516-441-4949. Be sure to follow Great Neck Community Ed on Facebook for the latest news and updates. We hope you and your family will join us this spring!

—Submitted by the Great Neck Public School District

GNPS/TV Current Programs

Programs currently airing on Great Neck Public Schools Television (GNPS/TV) are South High Cultural Heritage Night, North High Winter Concert II, South High Winter Concert II, and Focus on Education.

GNPS/TV programs are available on demand, 24/7, on the school district website, www.greatneck.k12.ny.us/tv. Programs can also be viewed in the incorporated villages of Great Neck on Optimum Channel 75 and on Verizon Fios Channel 32. Airing times in program descriptions below are for Optimum and Verizon viewing.

South High Cultural Heritage Night

South High School’s annual Cultural Heritage Night showcases the community’s many diverse cultures through song and dance. Tune in to GNPS/TV to watch the celebration and enjoy performances choreographed by South High students.

South High Cultural Heritage Night airs at 6 a.m., and 12 and 6 p.m.

North High Winter Concert II

North High School’s Winter Concert II on Dec. 21 featured performances by the A Cappella and Select Singers, under the direction of Dr. Pamela Levy, vocal music teacher/fine and performing arts department chair; Concert and Symphonic Bands, under the direction of Jacqueline Tomlet, instrumental music teacher; and Concert and Symphonic Orchestras, under the direction of Dr. Esther Noh, instrumental music teacher. North High Winter Concert II airs at 7:30 a.m., and 1:30 and 7:30 p.m.

South High Winter Concert II

South High School’s Winter Concert II on Dec. 14 featured performances by the Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Mark Boschen, instrumental music teacher; A Cappella and Chamber Singers, under the direction of Dr. Janine Robinson, vocal music teacher; and Jazz Ensemble, Chamber String Orchestra, “Pops” Orchestra, and Symphony Orchestra, under the

direction of Michael Schwartz, instrumental music teacher/performing arts department head. South High Winter Concert II airs at 9 a.m., and 3 and 9 p.m.

Focus on Education

Focus on Education is an ongoing series hosted by Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth R. Bossert, highlighting what’s new and interesting in the district. This episode features a conversation with Diana Haanraadts, Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education. Focus on Education airs at 11 a.m., and 5 and 11 p.m.

GNPS/TV programming reflects the offerings of the Great Neck Public Schools and the achievements of its students and staff. Programs are student-produced. For more information, contact Robert Zahn, director of educational television and broadcast media, at rzahn@greatneck.k12.ny.us.

—Submitted by the Great Neck Public School District

E.M. Baker School Celebrates Cultural Heritage Week

Each year, E.M. Baker School celebrates its cultural and ethnic diversity with a host of activities during Cultural Heritage Week. This week-long celebration from Feb. 12–16 included daily announcements, guest performances, international music, and book read-alouds with the theme, “We All Smile in the Same Language.”

Cultural Heritage Week kicked off during Monday morning arrival as a group of Baker parent volunteers greeted faculty and students with a Dragon Dance in celebration of Lunar New Year. Each classroom received a copy of the books My Papi Has a Motorcycle by Isabel Quintero and Words to Make a Friend by Donna Jo Napoli, which were read aloud during the week and then added to classroom libraries.

On Thursday, the Baker fourthgrade chorus presented a Cultural Heritage Concert under the direction of vocal music teacher Cynthia Gorney, featuring folk songs representing Albania, China, England, France, Puerto Rico, the Republic of Congo, and more. Students were also treated to a World’s Fair in the gymnasium, hosted by the Baker PTO, where they visited tables representing over a dozen countries around the world. On Friday, all classes enjoyed a live production of Cuentos del Arbol by the Pushcart Players.

To support the home-school connection, students worked with their families to decorate a 3-D box designed to look like a “boom box” stereo with images and items that represent their culture. The projects were displayed in hallways to show the diversity of the Baker School community.

Cultural Heritage Week at Baker School is an annual celebration organized by a committee led by ENL teacher Ellen Siegel.

—Submitted by the Great Neck Public School District

Parents at the World’s Fair (Contributed photos)

Students with their ‘passports’

World’s Fair

Great Neck United JV Hockey Team Goes To Semifinals

In a thrilling display of skill and determination, the Great Neck United JV Hockey Team clinched first place in the league standings after a resounding victory in their latest match. With their eyes set firmly on the championship, the team geared up for a crucial upcoming game on Sunday, March 10.

Facing off against formidable opponents, the Great Neck United JV Hockey Team showcased their prowess on the ice, delivering a masterful performance that left over 200 spectators, including Board of Ed Trustee, Steven Chen, GN Park District Board of Commissioners Frank Cilluffo, Tina Stellato and Vanessa Tamari, GN Park District Superintendent, Jason Marra and Ass’t Superintendent Anthony DiDomenico and Hockey Director Dan Marsella, in absolute awe. From the drop of the puck to the final buzzer, the team exhibited seamless coordination, swift skating, and impeccable teamwork, overwhelming their adversaries with a relentless offensive onslaught and impenetrable defense.

Led by their seasoned coach, Joe Calandra, and fueled by the steadfast support of their loyal fans, the players of Great Neck United displayed unwavering determination and a hunger for victory that propelled them to the summit of the league standings. Each member of the team contributed to the success, demonstrating their commitment to excellence and their firm resolve to succeed.

The Great Neck Park District’s dream of creating a hockey team, together with Great Neck’s Middle and High Schools, began three years ago. This is the first Park District sponsored community hockey team supported by the Great Neck Public Schools. It is comprised of students from both North and South districts, thus the name “Great Neck United.” Once the Park District was granted special permission for a home game, they set up a plan for a Middle School based hockey team made up of seasoned travel hockey players.

As they bask in the glory of their hardearned achievement, the players of Great Neck United know that their journey is far from over.

The team understood the importance of maintaining their focus and intensity as they prepared to face their next challenge on Sunday, March 10.

After the Great Neck United JV Hockey Team’s home win they secured the 1 seed and a first round bye to advance to

the semifinals where, unfortunately, they lost to Rockville Center 2-1 in overtime.

—Written by Anthony DiDomenico and Michele Siegel

Great Neck United JV Hockey Team (Contributed photos)

LEGALGREAT NECK

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF NASSAU.

EMIGRANT BANK (FORMERLY KNOWN AS EMIGRANT SAVINGS BANK AND NEW YORK PRIVATE BANK TRUST), Plaintiff -against- BETH CRAMES SITZER, et al Defendant(s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on December 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court “Rain or Shine” located at Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on March 2024 at 2:30p.m.

ALL that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Lake Success, Town of North Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York; known and designated as Section Block 282-7andLot

All bidders must wear a face mask/shield at all times and social distancing must be observed by all bidders at all times. Bidders who do not comply with the face mask and/or the social distancing mandate will be removed fromthe auction.

Said premises known as WEST WOODS ROAD, LAKE SUCCESS,NY 11020

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale.

IndexNumber14192/2012.

DONAL M. MAHONEY, ESQ.,Referee

Terenzi Confusione P.C.

Attorney(s) forPlaintiff Franklin Avenue, Suite GardenCity,NY 11530 3-13-6; 2-28-21-2024-4T#245639-GN

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

COUNTY OF NASSAU INDEX #600770/2023

FILED 2/15/2024

SUPPLEMENTAL

SUMMONS

GITSIT SOLUTIONS, LLC

(FKA KONDAUR CAPITAL, LLC), Plaintiff, UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES OF FREIDA O. BEAN a/k/a FREIDA O. JOHNSON; BE THEY LIVING, AND IF THEY BE DEAD, UPON THEIR RESPECTIVE HEIRS AT LAW, NEXT OF KIN, DISTRIBUTEES, EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS, TRUSTEES, DEVISEES, LEGATEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS AND SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST, AND GENERALLY ALL PERSONS HAVING OR CLAIMING UNDER, BY OR THROUGH DEFENDANTS

UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES OF FREIDA O. BEAN a/k/a FREIDA O. JOHNSON WHO MAY BE DECEASED, BY PUR-

CHASE, INHERITANCE, LIEN OR OTHERWISE, ANY RIGHT, TITLE OR INTEREST IN AND TO THE PREMISES DESCRIBED IN THE COMPLAINT, JACQUELINE BROWN, JUDY BROWN-MULIGANO, SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. Defendants. You are hereby summoned and required to serve upon Plaintiff’s attorneys, an answer to the Complaint in this action within twenty (20) days after service of this Summons, exclusive of the date of service, or within thirty (30) days after service is complete if this Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York. In case of your failure to answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. The basis of the venue designated is that a judgment in this action would affect the title to, or the possession, use or enjoyment of real property situated in the County of Nassau. NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME

If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action.

YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. The following notice is intended only for those defendants who are the owners of the premises sought to be foreclosed or who are liable upon the debt for which the mortgage stands as security. YOU ARE HEREBY PUT ON NOTICE THAT THIS SUMMONS IS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT DEBT, AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE. The amount of the debt is $558,431.74, consisting of principal balance of $549,480.49, plus interest of $4,097.25, plus other fee charges of $4,854.00. There will be additional amounts due for title searches, attorneys’ fees, and miscellaneous charges. Because of interest and other charges that may vary from day to day, the amount due on the day you may pay may be greater. Hence if you pay the amount shown above, adjustment may be necessary after we receive the check, in which event we will inform you. The name

LEGAL NOTICES

of the creditor to whom the debt is owed: GITSIT SOLUTIONS, LLC (FKA Kondaur Capital, LLC). Unless you dispute the validity of the debt, or any portion thereof, within thirty (30) days after your receipt hereof that the debt, or any portion thereof is disputed, we will obtain verification of the debt or a copy of any judgment against you representing the debt and a copy of such verification or judgment will be mailed to you by the herein debt collector. Upon your written request within days after receipt of this notice, the herein debt collector will provide you with the name and address of the original creditor if different from the current creditor. Note: Your time to respond to the Summons Complaint differs from your time to dispute the validity of the debt or to request the name and address of the original creditor. Although you have as few as days to respond to the Summons Complaint, depending on the manner of service, you still have days from receipt of this Summons to dispute the validity of the debt and to request the name and address of the original creditor. TO THE DEFENDANTS, the Plaintiff makes no personal claim against you in this action. LAWRENCE

and WALSH, P.C., Hilton Avenue, Hempstead, NY 11550. (516) 538-2400. File# 600770/2023

3-20-13-6; 2-28-2024-4T#245937-GN

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF NASSAU

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Plaintiff

AGAINST

Mehdi Gabyzadeh a/k/a Mehdi Gabayzadeh; et al., Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered June I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on April at 2:00PM, premises known as Pheasant Run, Kings Point, NY 11024. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Kings Point, New York, in the Town of North Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York, Section Block Lot 48. Approximate amount of judgment $2,848,401.13 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 003161/2007. The auction will be conducted pursuant to the COVID-19 Policies Concerning Public Auctions of Foreclosed Property established by the Tenth Judicial District. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”

Malachy Lyons, Jr., Esq.,

Referee

LOGS Legal Group LLP f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro Barak, LLC

Attorney(s) forthe Plaintiff Mile CrossingBoulevard Rochester,New York (877) 430-4792

Dated: February 4-3; 3-27-20-13-2024-4T#246553-GN

LEGAL NOTICE

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE

that the Village of Great Neck Plaza will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, March at 7:00 PM at the Village Hall, Two Gussack Plaza, Great Neck, New York to consider a Conditional Use Permit for Wei Oing Dong to operate a Facialandbody massage shop to be known as Hair Mode located at 5Great NeckRoad.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER

NOTICE that all persons interested in this matter will be given an opportunity to be heardat the publicmeeting. BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

VILLAGE OF GREAT NECK PLAZA

TedRosen,Mayor PatriciaO’Byrne, Clerk-Treasurer 3-13-2024-1T-#246640-GN

LEGAL NOTICE

Invitation to Bidders BOARD OF EDUCATION

Great Neck Union Free School District

Nassau County Directors School Facilities Purchasing Consortium

July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025

The Board of Education of the Great Neck Union Free School District (hereinafter “the School District”) and the school districts listed below, in accordance with Section of Article 5-A of the General Municipal Law, hereby invite reputable and qualified bidders to submit sealed bids for the provision of supplies, materials, and services for the following:

Custodial Supplies

Green Products (Bid 2024-25-1)

Baldwin Union Free School District, Bellmore Union Free School District, Bellmore-Merrick Union Free School District, Bethpage Union Free School District, Carle Place Union Free School District, East Meadow Union Free School District, East Rockaway Union Free School District, East Williston Union Free School District, Floral Park-Bellerose Union Free School District, Freeport Union Free School District, Garden City Union Free School District, Glen Cove Union Free School District, Great Neck Union Free School District, Hempstead Union Free School District, Herricks Union Free School District, Hewlett-Woodmere Union Free School District, Hicksville Union Free School District, Island Trees Union Free School District,

Jericho Union Free School District, Levittown Union Free School District, Locust Valley Union Free School District, Long Beach Union Free School District, Lynbrook Union Free School District, Manhasset Union Free School District, Massapequa Union Free School District, Merrick Union Free School District, Mineola Union Free School District, New Hyde Park-Garden City Park Union Free School District, North Bellmore Union Free School District, North Merrick Union Free School District, North Shore Central School District, Oceanside Union Free School District, Plainedge Union Free School District, Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School District, Port Washington Union Free School District, Rockville Centre Union Free School District, Roosevelt Union Free School District, Seaford Union Free School District, Syosset Central School District, Uniondale Union Free School District, Valley Stream Union Free School District Valley Stream Union Free School District Valley Stream Union Free School District

Wantagh Union Free School District, West Hempstead UnionFree SchoolDistrict. Bid specifications may be obtained from the School District’s Purchasing Office, which is located in the Phipps Administration Building, Lakeville Road, Great Neck, New York, 11020, Monday through Friday, excluding school holidays, between the hours of a.m. and p.m., or by contacting the purchasing agent via email (jmartin@greatneck.k12.ny.us) or phone (516-441-4070). Bid submissions will be received by the School District, at the same address, until 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 2024 at which time and place they will be publicly opened and read aloud.

There will be no discussion at the time of bid opening. Bids submitted after this time and date will not be considered. Incomplete bids may not be considered.

The School District reserves the right to waive any informalities in the bids, reject any or all bids, and/or make a full or partial award. The School District further reserves the right to consider experience, service, and reputation in connection with the services to be rendered. In addition, the School District reserves the right to consider the financial responsibility and specific qualifications of the prospective bidders, as set forth in the bid specifications, in its evaluation of the bids and awardof the contracts.

3-13-2024-1T-#246667-GN

LEGAL NOTICE

Invitation to Bidders

BOARD OF EDUCATION

Great Neck Union Free School District

The Board of Education of the Great Neck Union Free School District (hereinafter “the School District”), in accordance with Section of Article 5-A of the General Municipal Law, hereby invites reputable and qualified bidders to submit sealed bids for the provision of supplies, materials, and services for the following:

Fire Sprinkler System

Fire Hydrant Inspections

Repairs (Bid 2024-25-2)

Bid specifications may be obtained from the School District’s Purchasing Office, which is located in the Phipps Administration Building, Lakeville Road, Great Neck, New York, 11020, Monday through Friday, excluding school holidays, between the hours of a.m. and p.m., or by contacting the purchasing agent via email (jmartin@greatneck.k12.ny.us) or phone (516-441-4070).

Bid submissions will be re-

ceived by the School District, at the same address, until 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, April 2024 at which time and place they will be opened and read aloud. There will be no discussion at the time of bid opening. Bids submitted after this time and date will not be considered. Incomplete bids maynot be considered. The School District reserves the right to waive any informalities in the bids, reject any or all bids, and/or make a full or partial award. The School District further reserves the right to consider experience, service, and reputation in connection with the services to be rendered. In addition, the School District reserves the right to consider the financial responsibility and specific qualifications of the prospective bidders, as set forth in the bid specifications, in its evaluation of the bids andawardof the contracts.

3-13-2024-1T-#246668-GN

LEGAL NOTICE

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE

THAT the Board of Commissioners of the Belgrave Water Pollution Control District at a meeting of the Board held on March duly ratified and re-adopted a previously adopted resolution appropriating the sum not to exceed $2.4 million dollars from the District’s Land, Buildings and Infrastructure Capital Reserve Fund, to be applied to upgrades to the primary digester, and site paving at the District’s facilities at 34-01 255th Street, Little Neck, New York 11363, which resolution is subject to permissive referendum pursuant to the provisions of General Municipal Law Section6-c.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

BrianLevings,Chairman March 3-13-2024-1T-#246679-GN

Town Giving Workshop Focused On Sustainable Landscaping For People With Wildlife In Mind

North Hempstead Town Supervisor

Jennifer DeSena and the Town Board are pleased to announce that the Town will host a workshop entitled “Landscaping for People and Wildlife” on March 20 at 7 p.m.

The workshop will educate community members on how to provide the basic needs of wildlife like food, water, shelter, and places to raise young, while also creating a beautiful and low-maintenance landscape. Topics covered will include native plants, composting, conserving and protecting water resources, the importance of pollinators and other beneficial insects, storm water management and more.

“Local wildlife species are critical to the health of our ecosystems, and they have lost much of their habitat to development,” said Supervisor DeSena. “We have the opportunity to use our home landscapes to give these species the resources they need while simultaneously promoting beauty and relaxation for our residents in their own backyards.”

This workshop will be held virtually on Zoom and is free for all, including non-residents, but registration is required.

For more information and to register, visit NorthHempsteadNY.gov/Sustainability or call 311.

—Submitted by the Town of North Hempstead

North Hempstead To Partner With United Way Of Long Island For Project Warmth

North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena and the Town Board are proud to announce that the Town of North Hempstead will partner with United Way of Long Island to host the Project Warmth Emergency Fuel Fund for town residents. Project Warmth provides one-time grants to individuals and families who are unable to pay their heating bill. The event will take place on Friday, March 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the “Yes We Can” Community Center, 141 Garden St., Westbury.

(Contributed graphic)

I am immensely grateful to United Way of Long Island for bringing this program to North Hempstead, and I encourage neighbors who are struggling to pay their heating bill to please stop by on March 15.”

(Contributed photos)

North Hempstead’s Project Independence To Partner With St. Francis Hospital

North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena and the North Hempstead Town Board are proud to announce that Project Independence, the Town’s innovative agingin-place initiative, is once again partnering with St. Francis Hospital’s Community Outreach Program to provide residents with free health screenings.

The screenings, which will be offered at the St. Francis Outreach Bus, will include a brief cardiac history, a blood pressure screening, a blood test for cholesterol and diabetes with appropriate patient education, and referrals as needed for clients above the age of 18. Appointments are not required.

Screenings will be held on:

• Friday, March 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Clinton G. Martin Park, 1601 Marcus Ave., New Hyde Park

• Monday, May 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Port Washington Adult Activities Center, 80 Manorhaven Blvd., Port Washington

• Tuesday, May 7 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Fuschillo Park, Carle Road at Broadmoor Lane, Carle Place

• Tuesday, May 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Great Neck Social Center, 80 Grace Ave., Great Neck

• Wednesday, June 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Magnolia Gardens, 899 Broadway, Westbury

• Thursday, June 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Manhasset Valley Residence, 155 East Shore Rd., Manhasset Dates and protocols are subject to change. Please call 311 or 516-869-6311 before going to a location.

—Submitted by the Town of North Hempstead

“As the Supervisor of the Town of North Hempstead, it is incumbent upon me and my colleagues in government to do all that we can to help our most vulnerable residents,” said Supervisor DeSena. “Many families and individuals are unfortunately dealing with substantial challenges, and this program is designed to provide valuable, practical relief to those who need it most.

Applications are open to residents of the Town of North Hempstead only. Residents must bring their electricity and gas bill on the day of the event.

For questions or more information, please reach out to Fidelia Tobar at ftobar@ unitedwayli.org or at 631-940-3740.

—Submitted by the Town of North Hempstead

North Hempstead To Partner With AARP To Host Defensive Driving Classes In 2024

North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena and the North Hempstead Town Board are proud to announce that the Town is again partnering with AARP to offer residents Defensive Driving classes throughout the year at Clinton G. Martin Park.

The classes will be held on the following dates at Clinton G. Martin Park from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.:

• Saturday, April 13

• Saturday, May 11

• Saturday, June 1

• Saturday, June 22

• Saturday, Sept. 14

• Saturday, Oct. 19

• Saturday, Nov. 16

• Saturday, Dec. 14

The cost is $25 for AARP members and $30 for non-members. Those interested in attending should bring a check payable

to

their

license and a bagged lunch, and AARP members should also bring their AARP cards.

To register or for more information, please call 311 or 516-869-6311.

—Submitted by the Town of North Hempstead

Goldfinch eating purple coneflower seeds.

Black swallowtail butterfly on butterfly milkweed.

Outrageous And Legendary Andrew Dice Clay at The Paramount on June 9

BY CHRISTY HINKO chinko@antonmediagroup.com

Andrew Dice Clay is coming to The Paramount on Sunday, June 9, for a special one-night performance. Recently, I had a chance to speak with the Diceman. He was chatting from his cellphone while in Columbus Circle, probably filming some of his current social media shorts that have earned him some impressive viewership stats. They don’t call him the “Undisputed Heavyweight King of Comedy” for nothing. Here’s what he had to say.

CH: What can you say about your success?

DICE: The New York Times used to write about me. It was at a time when no one would even let me be on the same block as Carnegie Hall [Dice performed at Carnegie Hall last month on Feb. 15]. I think the headline back then said, “The Demise of Western Civilization” or something like that. Last year was a game-changer for me. Now, everything I’ve been doing, A Star Is Born, working with Scorsese; it is unreal. Now the headlines say I am this great performance artist.

CH: What is the secret to staying relevant?

DICE: Believe in yourself and what you do. Achievement and accomplishment are very possible with hard work. You know, people always say, “You’re really lucky,” and I say yeah, I guess, if you want to call hard work “lucky.” I have strived and bridged a lot of generations to finally have the career that I have always wanted.

CH: Did you believe that you were funny, then?

DICE:I couldn’t care less back then; I did not care about stand-up comedy. I just cared about being a performer. Why go to acting school once a week when I could get up and perform seven nights a week. My comedy chops grew. Now I really love it. I understand it. I have grown with the times. I am not doing the material I did 45 years ago, except the Mother Goose poems, because that’s the signature piece. It’s iconic. It’s memorable and the whole audience still does it with me. Other than that, I do not want to do material from 1980 in

2024. It was unheard of for a comedian to sell out arenas. I am the only comic to ever open for Guns N’ Roses; I opened with “Little Miss Muffet...” and they went berserk.

CH: How has your content changed?

DICE: I am still edgy, but the material has changed. I am older; I have learned things: I have seen things. My comedy, I’d say, is more self-deprecating now; it’s relatable. I watch clips of a 25-year-old Dice and it was so cartoony and robotic, even the way I talked back then; I never broke character. Don’t get me wrong, it was a lot of fun, but now, I put more of myself into my material.

CH: Why do we collectively need comedy?

DICE:I don’t get into politics, but you see what goes on around the world, everybody fighting everybody. I had a very smart mother. She said three things. Never talk politics. Never talk religion. And never bad-mouth Frank Sinatra. I did meet Sinatra in Vegas; I think we were shooting The Adventures of Ford Fairlane. He told me what it was like for him to be a grassroots phenomenon. He told me to never back down and keep moving forward. He said no matter what gets in my way, there will always be deterrence, but to do whatever it takes, go around it, go under it, go over it. He told me, “A guy like you is going to survive it.” I could not believe the things he told me. To this day, it is still surreal.

Recently I went to see my friend Bill Burr perform. The minute I walked into his dressing room, he said, “Dice, you’re going to do some time up there tonight, right?” My stomach dropped and initially I said, “No, I didn’t come here tonight to do that.” He said, “You got to do something; you gotta go up.” That lit the switch for me again. If you call yourself the “Undisputed Heavyweight King of Comedy” when you get on stage, you got to prove it. I’ll never retire; I’ll never be out there playing pickleball. Fans can get tickets to the Sunday, June 9, show at The Paramount (www.paramountny.com). Visit www.andrewdiceclay.com for more.

WHERE THE STARS ARE STALLERCENTER

WHERE THE STARS ARE STALLERCENTER

Andrew Dice Clay Troy Conrad Photography

Patti LuPone/Broadway Wynton Marsalis/Jazz Itzhak Perlman/Classical Vic Dibitetto/Comedy Leslie Odom, Jr./Broadway

Patti LuPone/Broadway Wynton Marsalis/Jazz Itzhak Perlman/Classical Vic Dibitetto/Comedy Leslie Odom, Jr./Broadway