The Roslyn News 9/27/23 edition is published weekly by Anton Media Group.

No Stopping Roslyn’s Youth

roslyn@antonmediagroup.com

Whether it is on the court or in the classroom, Roslyn students are advancing and succeeding at every turn.

National Merit Semifinalists

The following Roslyn High School students have been named as semifinalists in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program: Cole Goodman, Jacob T. Gross, Cayden Shen, Chloe Tseng, Lucas Weisser, Stephanie Yeh, Hanh Youn, Aasiya Zaidi, and Jacob Zwerling.

This distinction was earned by scoring among the highest in the state on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/ NMSQT). The students are among 16,000 nationwide to be named semifinalists, representing less than one percent of high school seniors in the United States and include the highest-scoring entrants in each state. These scholastically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,500 National Merit Scholarship awards. Finalists will be announced in February 2024, with the National Merit Scholars to be named later in the spring.

“Congratulations to our exceptional students for their remarkable achievement in reaching the semi-finals of the National Merit Scholarship competition,” said Roslyn High School Principal Dr. Scott Andrews. “Your dedication, hard work, and commitment to academic excellence exemplifies the limitless potential within each of you.”

Over 1.3 million juniors in about 21,000 high schools entered the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2022 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/ NMSQT), which served as an initial screen of program entrants.

The nationwide pool of semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state. The number of semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of graduating seniors.

To become a finalist, the semifinalist and a high school official must submit a detailed scholarship application, in which they provide information about the semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. A semifinalist must have an outstanding

academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT or ACT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.

Three types of National Merit Scholarships will be offered in the spring of 2024. Every finalist will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit Scholarships that will be awarded on a state-representational basis. About 840 corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards will be provided by approximately 160 corporations and business organizations for finalists who meet their specified criteria, such as children of the grantor’s employees or residents of communities where sponsor plants or offices are located. In addition, about 160 colleges and universities are expected to finance some 3,800 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards for Finalists who will attend the sponsor institution.

Lipari Hall of Fame Induction

This Thursday, Sept. 28, Roslyn native Emily Lipari will be inducted into the Nassau County High School Athletics Hall of Fame in a ceremony at the Crest Hollow County Club.

The Hall of Fame, according to officials, is organized “as a means of recognizing, preserving, and promoting the heritage of interscholastic sports in Nassau County. Many individuals have made extraordinary contributions and have had superb accomplishments in high school sports. The Nassau County High School Athletics Hall of Fame honors the contributions and accomplishments of these individuals who are worthy of countywide recognition.”

The Hall of Fame will recognize the runner who “dominated New York State and Long Island distance running at Roslyn. Won multiple county, state, and national titles. Set a slew of school, county, and state records. A once-in-a-lifetime

athlete. Ran for Villanova where she was 11-time All-American and two-time NCAA champion.”

The country club is at 8325 Jericho Turnpike. Call 516-362-2120. For more information and tickets, go to www. sectionviii.org.

Top 100 Honors For Roslyn Athletes

Roslyn High School students Ava Voynovich and Justin Sherman have both earned a spot on Newsday’s Top 100 soccer players for 2023. Voynovich, a junior goalkeeper, made 101 saves and was credited with three shutouts as a sophomore. Sherman, a senior centerback, had four goals and seven assists as a centerback and led a defense that gave up only 12 goals last season. Coach Juan Mejia called him “one of the best centerbacks” in Nassau and lauded his “outstanding passing range.” —Additional press releases submitted by the Roslyn School District

Ava Voynovich

Justin Sherman

The always trumphant Emily Lipari. (Photos courtesy of the Roslyn School District)

Small Business Virtual Workshops Second Annual Fiesta In The Park Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

The Viscardi Center, in collaboration with Hofstra University’s Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, is offering a series of five, virtual Small Business Workshops for Entrepreneurs with Disabilities. There is no cost to attend, but you must register. You can register for one or more of the workshops.

The workshops are open to participants with a broad range of disabilities, visible or nonvisible, looking to build or expand their businesses as The Viscardi Center believes business ownership as a viable employment pathway to financial independence.

The workshops will be held virtually from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The dates and topics are as follows:

• Tuesday, Oct. 10: Funding your Startup without Venture Capital

• Tuesday, Oct. 17: Marketing, the Good, and the Ugly: Putting together a results-oriented plan

• Tuesday, Oct. 24: Available Marketing Tools and How to Use Them Part 1Websites and SEO

• Tuesday, Nov. 7: Available Marketing Tools and How to Use Them Part 2 - Email and Social Media

• Tuesday, Nov. 14: Selling Online Participants who attend four of the five workshops will be eligible for one-on-one mentorship on any topics covered in the series. Space is limited. Register at: www.viscardicenter.org/ workshops.

In other news, join The Viscardi Center and JetBlue on Sunday, Oct. 22 at 10 a.m. as students show our pride while they walk from Madison Square Park to Union Square Park. The Parade formation time will begin at 9:30 a.m. also at Madison Square Park. Register to participate by Monday, Oct. 16. Attendees will be contacted several days prior to the event with details about where to line up for the parade. You must provide your own transportation to and from the parade. Dress for the weather and bring your own food/beverage. Contact Kate Weglikowski if you have any questions at kweglikowski@viscardicenter.org.

—Submitted by The Viscardi Center

Port Washington’s Second Annual Fiesta in the Park for Hispanic Heritage month is scheduled to take place on Oct. 1, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Blumenfeld Family Park (across the street from the Port Washington Public Library (PWPL).

This year’s performance lineup includes headlining band Los 9 Del Sabor; two PRC children’s classes dancing to popular Latin American music; Morenada Central, a Bolivian dance group, performing a traditional dance; Bach to Rock and a display of multinational native dresses, to name a few.

Activities for children will be offered by all participating non-profits and vendors. The PWPL will once again offer their Latin American passport experience for the children and this year they have added countries to their repertoire.

Port Washington’s own Abuelita’s Deserts by Isaac Santiago and Smusht by Steve Edelson is coming back to delight Fiesteros. They will be joined by the Churro Chick serving original flavor cookies and cream, Nutella and other delectable churro options. Food trucks and other main

course options serving Latin American cuisine will be available for purchase as well.

The organizers of Fiesta in the Park are thankful to this year’s business sponsors: Flatiron Pediatrics, Smusht, Marcie Zack and Jackie Campos of Laffey Real Estate in honor of Patrick Lamberti; Delgado Travel, Inc.; Bach to Rock, Transparent Justice Law Firm, P.C., Dutch Pro Soccer Academy. They are also thankful to the following families for their generous donations: the Madruga Family, the Delerme Family, Amanda Perez Leder and Jason Leder, the Agón-Diaferia Family, the Carillo Family; Diana Delgado Kollar and Christopher Kollar in honor of Efrain Estrella.

The Fiesta in the Park event is free admission for all. Free street parking is available, as well as additional parking in the Port Washington Public Library. In case of inclement weather the rain date is scheduled for Oct. 8. For real-time updates please follow the event Instagram page @hispanicheritagepw.

—Submitted by Hispanic Heritage Port Washington

Smart Estate Planning And The Home -Selling Journey

Schumer, Gillibrand Announce $2.1 Million In Forest Funding For LI

Tree canopies positively impact quality of life, wildlife habitat and ood resilience

US. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $2.1 million in federal funding for Long Island through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry grants program. Specifically, the Town of North Hempstead will conserve and increase equitable tree canopy as well as educate residents about their value and proactive maintenance –planting close to 5,000 trees over five years; the Town of Smithtown will implement tree inventory assessments, focus on public outreach & education, while also protecting and improving the existing tree canopy; and the City of Long Beach will plant trees throughout communities situated near its north shore to replace trees that died as a result of Super Storm Sandy and to expand the city’s overall tree canopy.

“I am proud to announce Long Island communities are amongst the first in the nation to tap the historic funding I secured in the Inflation Reduction Act to conserve and increase tree canopy, educate residents, and improve storm and flood resilience with new tree plantings. This $2.1 million federal investment means cleaner air, cooler communities, a better environment, and improved quality of life for Long Island,” said Senator Schumer. “I fought hard to plant this funding in the Inflation Reduction Act so that Long Island could have access to funding needed to breathe new life into its communities.”

“Expanding access to trees and green spaces on Long Island will give our communities a higher quality of life. I’m so proud to deliver this $2.1 million investment in

Inflation Reduction Act funding, which will help combat extreme heat and improve air quality,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This money will help bring new life to the island where families can enjoy a greener, healthier environment.”

The senators said that when a neighborhood lacks trees it can lead to a variety of problems, from increased air pollution, urban heat islands, to poor health outcomes, which are on top of negative economic impacts like decreased property values. Schumer and Gillibrand said that the Inflation Reduction Act, the largest investment in fighting climate change, which they led to passage, has finally created the robust funding needed to maximize access to urban forest in cities and towns across New York.

The Inflation Reduction Act included $1.5 billion over the next 10 years for the U.S. Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry program, more than five times the current level of funding. The increased funding for the Urban and Community Forestry Program was envisioned to benefit underserved communities where tree plantings can bring generational change with a tree’s many-decades life to help reverse economic and environmental injustice.

Urban and community forests cool neighborhoods, improve psychological wellbeing, keep electricity costs down, have positive impacts on property values, and help residents avoid the severe health impacts associated with heat waves, Schumer and Gillibrand explained.

—Submitted by the Office of Charles Schumer

Photo courtesy of Alex Nuñez

What’s our greatest asset at The Bristal Assisted Living communities? It’s the lifetime of interests and experiences you bring to it. After all, that’s what makes you special. A caring team that spends the time getting to know you so you can continue nurturing, sharing and exploring those interests? Well, that’s what makes us special, too.

See for yourself. Explore all of our locations in the tri-state area.

thebristal.com

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

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

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FRIDAY, SEPT. 22

Poetry in the Park

From 6 to 7:30 p.m. Join the library for an evening of Poetry in the Park. Bring original works or recite a poem by your favorite poet! This event will take place in the Gerry Park gazebo. Interested in reading? Contact: info@bryantlibrary.org. There are many spaces available.

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SATURDAY, SEPT. 23

Argentine Guitar Recital

From 2 to 3 p.m. Join the Bryant Library, 2 Paper Mill Road, for an Argentine Guitar Recital! Brooklyn based composer Carlos Pavan skillfully blends Argentine tango & folklore rhythms with classical and jazz concepts.

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TUESDAY, SEPT. 26

Hot Off The Press

At 1 p.m. Hot Off the Press

returns from summer vacation with an exciting new format. The Bryant Library staff will be hosting the discussion in person for the first time since 2020. We will also be sharing the discussion with those at home through Zoom. The book for discussion is The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese, the author of the 2009 best selling novel Cutting for Stone The library is at 2 Paper Mill Rd. Call 516-621-2240.

Stocks: The Nuts and Bolts

From 1 to 2 p.m. This program from the Bryant Library, 2 Paper Mill Rd, will take place in the Valentine House meeting room. Join licensed financial advisor Vincent Sama for an educational seminar. As you consider your long-term financial goals, how do stocks measure up? During this presentation, you’ll learn the differences between common and preferred stock, the importance of dividends, ways to craft your stock strategy, and different ways to own stock.

[Edward Jones, its employees

NORTHEAST MEDICAL PRACTICE

William A. Berger, MD Internal Medicine Board Certi ed

NEW MEDICAL PRACTICE NOW OPEN!

Accepting new patients for Primary Care, Weight Management, and Medical Aesthetics.

ABOUT US:

We aim to provide patients with a holistic form of care that prevents chronic disease before it starts and optimizes a patient and their external appearance as well. At NEMP, we strive to provide a health care experience like that of the family doctor of years ago who had time and authentically cared for his patients. Dr. Berger provides longer patient visits, allowing him to uncover the root cause of disease. He strives to not only achieve a longer lifespan for his patients, but also improve quality of life.

We are Great Neck residents and look forward to extending our services to our neighbors!

TO BOOK AN APPOINTMENT!

Call 516-604-3418 or Visit www.northeastmedicalpractice.com

17 Maple Drive, Suite 5, Great Neck, NY 11021 Parking behind the building

and financial advisors are not estate planners and cannot provide tax or legal advice. You should consult your estate-planning attorney or qualified tax advisor regarding your situation.]

Tech One-on-One for Adult From 11 to 11:30 a.m. Do you need help with setting up Kanopy, Hoopla or Libby, or do you have questions about Microsoft Office, PowerPoint, Google Drive or need help with basic computer questions? You can make an appointment with the Bryant Library’s tech staff. Each Tech One-on-One Session is for 30 minutes. To register, go to www.bryantlibrary.org and click on programs or call the

library reference desk at 516621-2240 ext. 241. The library is at 2 Paper Mill Rd.

Artist Series

From 6 to 7 p.m. Let’s be creative together at this two - part artist series. Bring your imagination and have fun. Grades K – 5. Wednesdays, Sept. 27 and Oct. 4. Online registration required. Register once for both dates. Contact: Children’s Services at 516-6212240 kids@bryantlibrary.org. The Bryant Library is at 2 Paper Mill Rd. Call 516-621-2240.

CallingAllArtists

The Friends of Cedarmere’s 2023 PLEIN AIR ART CONTEST ONSITE, OUTDOOR PAINTING CONTEST

Saturday, Sunday, Monday

October 7th, 8th, & 9th - 9AM CEDARMERE PARK

225 Bryant Avenue, Roslyn Harbor

William Cullen Bryant’s 1862 Mill

RECEPTION

Sunday, November 5th, 3PM

Judge: Stephanie Jacobson, Art Professor St. John’s University & Instructor At Art Guild of Port Washington

Rules and Instructions: Friendsofcedarmere.org - Select Events Tab Questions: email Robertbsargent@aol.com Phone: 516.544.3944

Carlos Pavan (Courtesy of CarlosPavan.com)

The Scrap Over Solving Immigration Crises, Part III

Our county and region struggle on amid politicized waves of arrivals

JANET BURNS

jburns@antonmediagroup.com

Afew miles from where the Statue of Liberty, famed greeter of millions who immigrated here by ship in prior generations, still stands, some local electeds, politicos, protesters, and residents continue speaking out or trading rumors and jabs (or in some cases not saying much at all) on the arrival of tens of thousands of asylum seekers and other migrants in our area this year.

In the past few weeks, public responses to asylum seekers and migrants’ arrival in the New York City metropolitan region have increased, and in some cases escalated.

On Staten Island, for example, where frequent rally organizers Curtis Sliwa and Scott Lobaido have brought out critics of sheltering migrants, the New York Police Department (NYPD) recently arrested ten people who were attempting to block and banging on a bus transporting asylum seekers. The asylum seekers were headed to the former Island Shores Beach building, one of many disused buildings in NYC that have been converted for short-term shelter. According to the NYPD, ten people were arrested for disorderly conduct, and one person was additionally charged with assaulting a police officer during an arrest.

In the weeks prior to that, asylum seekers temporarily residing at another Staten Island shelter have had to face not only regular protests but also, as the Associated Press reported, “a message, recorded in six languages, [that] blares all day from a loudspeaker on Scott Herkert’s well-groomed front lawn on Staten Island, exhorting migrants to ‘go back’ to another part of the city because the community doesn’t want them.”

Meanwhile, Sliwa and others have continued to host rallies at Creedmoor and Floyd Bennett Field against providing publicly funded shelter for any homeless migrants, whether they’re the border-vetted asylum seekers arriving by bus at Humanitarian Emergency Relief and Response Centers (HERRCs), like the one at Creedmoor, or have otherwise walked or flown here to pursue another path toward legal residence. As an alternative, Sliwa has at times suggested that migrants could be housed on Rikers Island, home to a

notorious network of jails that is legally required to close by 2027; speaking this summer outside a Toys R’ Us in Brooklyn, Sliwa followed up that suggestion by stating that he himself has experienced pre-trial incarceration on Rikers, before bellowing, “I FEAR NO MAN! Or woman.”

In our area, State Assemblyman Ed Ra recently called for a special session “to address the intensifying migrant crisis that has seen more than 100,000 migrants arrive in our state over the past year,” according to a press release.

“Our urgent call for this special session is a consequence of inaction by our state leaders and passivity of the federal government,” Ra said. “My colleagues and I have introduced proposals that will alleviate

undue pressure on our education and court systems, housing industry and capabilities of community service providers. We have proposals that will address growing public safety concerns, as well as Mayor Adams’ inflating costs for migrant shelters and services, which he now estimates to reach $12 billion.”

“We have been asking and advocating for these actions for several months—it’s time to address the migrant issue head-on. An extraordinary session must be convened to compensate for the lack of action by Democratic leadership in Albany and Washington and take steps to implement long-delayed solutions.

In late August, State Senator Jack Martins also weighed in during a press conference outside the Long Island Rail Road station at Floral Park.

“The self-inflicted migrant crisis has been a disaster for communities across our state. Rather than address it, Democrats in Albany continue to insist on New York’s sanctuary status and won’t raise a finger to push sealing the border. They’d rather give away parks and schools to gatecrashers than protect our communities and enforce the law,” Martins said.

Ra, political hopeful Mike Sapraicone, and other Republicans also broadly roasted the suggestion made by Queens boro president Donovan Richards, perhaps rhetorically, that the Nassau Coliseum property could be used to shelter asylum seekers, too.

For his part, New York City Mayor Eric Adams has already imposed a 60-day limit

on city-provided shelter for single adult homeless asylum seekers, and as of this writing was considering adding a 30-day limit for persons who re-enter the shelter system, as well as some kind of time limit for families seeking asylum.

On both Long Island and Staten Island, religious coalitions have been among the loudest voices speaking up on behalf of sheltering asylum seekers, as well as other homeless migrants.

By mid-September, more than 165 faith leaders in Nassau and Suffolk had signed a letter to the Nassau and Suffolk County Executives and Legislatures, which some members of activist and religious communities have been taking on a tour of sorts at local town board meetings.

The letter, also addressed to supervisors and board members of the Towns of Hempstead, North Hempstead, Oyster Bay, Huntington, Babylon, Smithtown, Islip, Brookhaven, Riverhead, Southampton, Easthampton, Southold and Shelter Island reads as follows:

“You shall not deprive a resident alien or an orphan of justice...Remember that you were a slave in Egypt and the Lord your G-d redeemed you from there; therefore, I command you to do this.” [Deuteronomy 24:17-18]

“I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” [Matthew 25:35]

The Holy Qur’an repeatedly requires the

see CRISES on page 4A

NYPD officers stand together in the parking lot of a former Toys R’ Us in Brooklyn during a protest against sheltering asylum seekers

The back of a sign that fell to the ground, which had directed rally attendees at a Toys R’ Us in Brooklyn to park at the golf course across the street, reads, “What’s the plan?”

(Photos by Janet Burns)

John Riley loves comic books. For the last 30 years, he’s been sharing that love with readers young and old. And we’ve been with John every step of the way, helping plan improvements ranging from upgrading LED lighting to replacing a 50-year-old oil tank with a super-e cient heat pump. These upgrades save him money that he reinvests in—you guessed it—more comic books. As it should be.

See how we support small businesses on Long Island and in the Rockaways at psegliny.com/Business

“Every time I expected to encounter bureaucracy, I actually encountered a person.”

—John Riley, Grasshopper’s Comics, Williston Park

CRISES from page 2A

faithful to comply with agreements and treaties on the rights of refugees, praising those who go to the assistance of people in distress and requiring the faithful to protect them [9:100 and 117], including non-Muslims, by providing amam (safeguard).

We, the undersigned, are an interfaith community of clergy and lay leaders, and the mandates in our traditions could not be clearer. As people representing many faith traditions, we profess the full humanity and dignity of all people, all created in the Spirit of Life’s image. Our sacred texts mandate love, hospitality and a commitment to love our neighbor, with a strong emphasis — literally scores of scriptural mandates — on welcoming the stranger, sojourners from another land.

In recent years, 68 million people worldwide have fled their homes seeking safety. Children account for more than half of this total. Families requesting safety at our borders are fleeing economic exploitation, organized crime, political repression, war, and sexual violence, much of it rooted in disruptions caused by climate disasters and political destabilization. Recent reports indicate that current asylum seekers also include those who have fled Afghanistan after providing assistance to the United States, whose lives now would be in danger at home. Any of us would ask for refuge for our families if faced with the same threats.

Many U.S. towns and cities, including Nassau and Suffolk Counties—consistent

with our nation’s foundational ideal to be a place where people come for safety and freedom—have long been welcoming, housing, and employing our immigrant neighbors as they await their court asylum hearings. Houses of worship and non-profits provide care, critical support services, and community. Together as Long Islanders, we can continue (with essential government support and partnerships on the federal, state and local levels) to honor the core values of our diverse faiths and our nation by being a community of welcome.

Unfortunately, some Long Island officials have done just the opposite: inflaming tensions and fears by issuing irresponsible calls to bar asylum seekers from our towns

and counties, despite the fact that under both U.S. and International law these asylum seekers are guaranteed the right to seek asylum.

Such rhetoric is especially disheartening considering that during the height of the pandemic, lives were literally saved by essential workers, many of whom are immigrants. They cared for our elderly and disabled family members, planted, harvested and delivered our food, cleaned our public spaces, and much more. While some of us were locked down in our homes, immigrant workers were laboring to strengthen Long Island and our communities.

Our sacred scriptures insist that “neighbor” is never defined as proximity or

nationality.

Any rejection and resentment of the Spirit of Life’s children is a betrayal of our values, and a betrayal of the Spirit of Life.

We lament the crises of violence, environmental disaster, war, and poverty that cause families to leave their homes and lands in search of safety and asylum; we call for serious attention to fixing our broken immigration system; and we pray for just national and global policies and for the healing of a broken world — a prayer for Tikkun olam — so that all people might have the opportunity to find safety and welcoming in our country, our state, and in our Long Island communities. This is who we are as people of faith.

Asylum seekers walk from the Creedmoor HERRC toward a nearby mosque in late summer, passing barricades set up for a protest that evening.

A view of one paved portion of isolated Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, where state and federal approval for a HERRC has been given.

Over the years that people have come to me to share their moments of distress – wayward children, broken marriages, abusive relationships, gambling addictions, drug use, etc. – it strikes me that throughout most of these situations, someone other than me knew about these. But they said nothing.

We’ve been raised to “mind our own business” and not butt in other people’s lives, though we all know folks who are constantly inserting themselves into situations where they don’t belong. And we don’t want to be one of “those people.”

What if you know through your children that a friend’s child is engaged in dangerous behavior? Do you say something? What if a friend confides that he or she is becoming increasingly intimate with someone other than their spouse? Do you advise your friend to stop going in that direction because of the ongoing harm this will lead to? What if you know that a fellow team parent continually shows up at the games drunk or high? Do you express your concern or pretend you don’t know?

You could give it the “What if it

THE SPIRIT OF OUR TOWN

was MY kid?” test. In other words, would you want to know if your child was riding his bike in traffic or stealing from a local store or ingesting weed, or selling weed? What if you were the one headed for an inappropriate relationship? Would some cautionary words from a friend be welcomed? Would you be able to hear “care” if someone challenged your self-destructive behavior?

Of course we could actually pray about what to do. When we turn to God for direction we can find guidance in a variety of scripture. Saint Paul tells the people of Thessalonika “We hear that some

COLUMNS Butting In

of you are leading undisciplined lives and accomplishing nothing but being busybodies.” So naturally we want to avoid that.

However he also urges the Philippians: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

Sometimes there are things that concern us but they seem so small that we think they’re not worth the trouble to speak about. Before 9-11 few people would think to point out an unaccompanied backpack or suitcase at a subway station. But after the terrorist attack the “if you see something, say something” campaign urged us to notice and report even small things that could signal larger dangers.

I believe that if people shared a concern over small things with those they care for, some of the behaviors that might become more destructive could be avoided down the line. We can’t live other people’s lives or rescue folks from their bad decisions but sometimes silence isn’t golden. Speaking our concerns can make

a difference that can protect, heal, guide, and help those we are concerned about.

Consider the rudder of a ship. It’s one of the smallest parts of a boat yet it is essential to steering in the right direction. Even a small adjustment can make a big difference in where the ship is sailing.

So too, a small caring word has the potential of helping another person to make a mid-course (or mid-life) correction.

Reaching out with concern to another takes two things: courage and rehearsal. First pray for courage – it is the power to do the right thing no matter what the cost may be. And then rehearse what you plan to say so that you’re steering

clear from being judgmental and condemnatory. Better to say how you feel about the situation than telling someone what they ought to be doing.

“After my daughter told me that your daughter is cutting herself I’m feeling scared for her safety” works better than “Didn’t you know your daughter has been cutting herself? You’d better get her into counseling – and you should get some counselling yourself!”

If you’re the kind of person who naturally butts in all the time, you didn’t need to read this column. But if some concern has been weighing you down for some time, perhaps this is the day to say something.

Fr. Ralph Sommer

Photo credit Getty Images

Everyday Words With Naval Origins

The Navy has had a significant influence on everyday language. Many common words and phrases have their origins in naval terminology, reflecting the maritime history and traditions of the Navy. Here are 10 everyday words with naval origins:

Admiral: An admiral is a high-ranking naval officer responsible for commanding a fleet or a group of ships. The term “admiral” is derived from the Arabic word “amir,” which means commander. It was adopted into European languages and later into English.

Deck: In a naval context, the “deck” refers to a platform on a ship’s surface. This term has been adopted to describe any horizontal surface or platform, such as the “deck” of a house or a “deck” of playing cards.

Bunk: A “bunk” is a narrow bed often found in cramped quarters on naval vessels. The term is now used more broadly to describe any type of bed or sleeping arrangement.

Boatswain: The “boatswain” or “bosun” is a senior crew member responsible for the maintenance of a ship and its equipment. The term has been adapted to describe supervisors or overseers in various industries.

Maroon: To “maroon” originally referred to the act of leaving someone stranded on a deserted island, often as a form of punishment. The term “maroon” has since evolved to describe being abandoned or isolated in any context.

Scuttlebutt: In naval slang, the “scuttlebutt” is a drinking fountain or water cooler. Sailors would gather around

LONG ISLAND VETERANS

Christy

Hinko

the scuttlebutt to exchange rumors and gossip while getting a drink. Today, “scuttlebutt” is synonymous with casual conversation or hearsay. You might hear someone say, “What’s the scuttlebutt around the office?”

Brace: To “brace” in a naval context means to prepare for impact or turbulence by securing oneself or equipment. In everyday language, “brace” is used to convey readiness or preparation for a potentially challenging situation.

Sonar: “Sonar” is an acronym for “sound navigation and ranging.” It’s a technology developed for underwater navigation and communication. Today, sonar is used for various purposes, including underwater exploration and fishing.

Grog: “Grog” was a diluted rum ration provided to sailors in the British Navy. It has come to refer to any alcoholic beverage. It’s a slang term used to describe a drink, often in a casual or informal setting.

Mayday: “Mayday” is an internationally recognized distress signal used in emergencies, particularly at sea. It derives from the French phrase “m’aidez,” meaning “help me.” In everyday language, “mayday” is synonymous with a cry for help or a desperate plea.

These everyday words with naval origins serve as reminders of the Navy’s enduring impact on language and culture. The rich history and traditions of naval forces continue to influence our vocabulary, even in contexts far removed from the sea.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Wednesday, Sept. 27— Standup Comedy Class for veterans at 7 p.m. every Wednesday at Project9Line, Islip

Thursday, Sept. 28—The Wall That Heals at Flushing Meadow Park in Queens with 24-hour access through Oct. 1

Thursday, Sept. 28—Wine on the Harbor charity event to celebrate Pal-O-Mine from 6 to 9 p.m. at Harbor Club at Prime, Huntington

Saturday, Sept. 30, and Sunday, Oct. 1—Project Thank You letter writing campaign for active troops at St. Ignatius Loyola Parish Church, Hicksville

Thursday, Oct. 5, through Oct. 8—The Wall That Heals with 24-hour access at Tanner Park, Copiague

Friday, Oct. 6—1st Annual Heroes At Home Gala from 6 to 10 p.m. at Smithtown Landings Country Club, Smithtown

Saturday, Oct. 7—WWII Veteran Rich Gruber’s 100th Birthday Celebration at 4 p.m. at Miller’s Ale House, Commack

Sunday, Oct. 8—8th Annual PTSD Awareness Motorcycle Ride by Rolling Thunder NY Chapter 6 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Marine Corps League, Massapequa

Friday, Oct. 13— Coast Guard Chief Petty Officers Assoc. Scramble Golf Tournament from 7 a.m. at Cherry Creek Golf Links, Riverhead

Saturday, Oct. 14—Chili Cook-off and Fall Festival to benefit mental health and veteran care from noon to 4 p.m. at Association for Mental Health and Wellness, Ronkonkoma

Saturday, Oct. 14— Outdoor concert fundraiser to

support autism education from 2 to 6 p.m. at VFW Post 9592, Levittown

Saturday, Oct. 14—Roslyn Rocks for Wounded Warriors from 7 p.m. at Roslyn High School, Roslyn

Saturday, Oct. 21—Blue Star Mothers Garage Sale to benefit veterans from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Bethpage Railroad Station

Saturday, Oct. 21—23rd Annual VA Hospital Motorcycle Run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Marine Corps League, Massapequa

Saturday, Oct. 21—Legion Auxiliary fall crafting fundraiser at American Legion Post 1033, Elmont

Saturday, Oct. 28—Full Moon

Halloween Dance from 7 to 11 p.m. at VFW Post 414, Center Moriches

Thursday, Nov. 9—NY Helmets To Hardhats Service Luncheon at U.S.S. Intrepid, Manhattan

Saturday, Nov. 11—Family Festival and Car Show from noon to 5 p.m. at Samanea Mall, Westbury

Sunday, Nov. 12—Jimmy’s Run/Gold Star Memorial at 7 a.m. hosted by Ranger Lead the Way Fund, Manhasset

Tuesday, Nov. 14—Services For Those Who Served from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Centered Mind Body Spirit, Commack

Friday, Nov. 17, and Saturday, Nov. 18—Mike Del Guidice: A Concert Weekend for Veterans at The Paramount, Huntington

Saturday, Nov. 25—Veterans’ Comedy Showcase at 7 p.m. at Project9Line, Islip

–Christy Hinko, managing editor at Anton Media Group and U.S. Navy veteran

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

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COLUMNS

No Worms For The Early Birds

There is an old expression that the “early bird catches the worm.” That may apply to buying tickets for Taylor Swift or some other hot event. It doesn’t apply to politics because it is a subject riddled with uncertainties. That is especially so when it comes to handicapping the 2024 presidential race.

At this early stage in the 2024 race, we are being bombarded with polls and pundits, all seeking to tell us who is a potential winner in next year’s presidential horserace. These polls are just plain guesswork and there is no legitimate science behind the numbers or the forecasts. The pollsters tell us that their formulas are a sure thing, but don’t believe it. If 2020 tells us anything, they bombed more often than they were right.

In 2012, the pollsters found that Hillary Clinton was 20 points ahead of Barack Obama. By the time of the Democratic convention, Obama had a commanding lead and got the nomination. That same fluke took place when Ronald Reagan came from behind to beat Jimmy Carter.

Recently, New Hampshire Republican Governor Sununu predicted that neither Donald Trump nor Joe Biden will be the nominees of their respective parties. That may be a stretch but maybe Sununu has a crystal ball that is clearer than most of us. In addition, some conservative Republicans maintain that former President Trump will be barred from running under the 14th Amendment and they are planning a court challenge of the Trump candidacy.

I have spoken to a number of Democratic veterans who believe that President Biden will bow out at the party convention but they have been reluctant to predict who will get the party nomination. These same veterans refuse to name a possible replacement for the president, but there are numerous Democratic governors waiting

INSIDE POLITICS

in the wings for a chance to step up if called upon.

Republican candidates DeSantis, Pence and Haley think that they may be struck by political lightning, and hope that a convicted former president will be forced to step aside because of falling poll numbers. They believe that a convicted incumbent will lose ground in the pre-convention moments and fate will favor them.

During my many runs for re-election, it appeared that the Democratic presidential nominees were looking like a sure thing (e.g. Mondale and Dukakis.) So it is far too early to make any serious predictions about any of the candidates of either party. You can anticipate a blizzard of polls in the months to come but ignore them as too early and too soon. These early birds will not catch any worms.

Jerry Kremer

Photo credit Getty Images

2023 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Lavine Introduces Bill For Library Bill Of Rights

AMANDA OLSEN

aolsen@antonmediagroup.com

State Assembly member Charles Lavine recently introduced a bill that would require all libraries that accept public funds to adopt the American Library Association’s library Bill of Rights. This would create a standard across all libraries for the preservation of access to information and use of the library.

The bill states that “Every free association library, public library, hospital library, Indian library and library system which receives any portion of moneys appropriated by the state shall adopt the American Library Association’s library bill of rights that indicates materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval or, in the alternative, develop a written statement prohibiting the practice of banning books or other materials within the library or library system.”

information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.

OCT 15Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood

OCT 19+20 Lee Brice

OCT 21Monsters of Freestyle

OCT 28Parliament Funkadelic feat. George Clinton

OCT 29Aqui Esta La Salsa

NOV 1Rumours of Fleetwood

Mac

NOV 3 The Tenors: Now & Forever Tour

NOV 4Almost Queen - A Tribute to Queen

NOV 5John Oliver

NOV 10Masters of Illusion

NOV 11Paul Anka

NOV 12Celebrating David Bowie feat. Peter Murphy, Adriant

Belew,

Lavine is concerned with the recent national uptick in requests to limit or ban materials from libraries. “The incidents of this suppression of expression and free thought have increased dramatically over the course of the last several years, coinciding with the increase of hatred in general, antisemitism, anti-Asian hatred and anti LGBTQIA+. They go hand in hand,” the assemblyman said.

Lavine is hopeful that adopting the ALA’s Bill of Rights will help patrons better understand how the library makes its decisions. “While the bill that I introduced is not designed or intended to be a panacea, it is a step in the right direction; anything and everything we can do to focus the public’s attention on (restricting access to material), and this more organized, group activity which is designed to suppress free thought,” Lavine said.

Library Bill of Rights

The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide their services.

I. Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest,

II. Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.

III. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.

IV. Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas.

V. A person’s right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views.

VI. Libraries which make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms available to the public they serve should make such facilities available on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use.

VII. All people, regardless of origin, age, background, or views, possess a right to privacy and confidentiality in their library use. Libraries should advocate for, educate about, and protect people’s privacy, safeguarding all library use data, including personally identifiable information.

Charles D. Lavine NYS Assemblymember, 13th District, Nassau County.

(Photo by the Office of Charles Lavine)

60

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On an afternoon before their second Zac Brown Band concert at Jones Beach Amphitheater on Sept.17, John Driskell Hopkins, multi-instrumentalist and founding member, and Matt Mangano, bassist, took a boat out to the bay house of Paul Annunziato.

“Jones Beach is an incredibly unique venue,” Hopkins said. “Our New York crowds in general are the best crowds that we have.”

Annunziato is a longtime friend of Hopkins’, as well as a supporter of Hopkins’ foundation, Hop On A Cure, that helps to fund research to prevent, reverse, and cure ALS (Amyotrophic

Hop On A Cure

Zac Brown Band’s John Driskell Hopkins raises money for ALS through foundation

BY JENNIFER CORR jcorr@antonnews.com

Lateral Sclerosis). Hop on a Cure also aims to raise awareness, build a compassionate community, and unleash the healing power of hope.

Back in July, Annunziato, along with The Lavin and McMahon Families, banned together to hold a fundraiser, complete with a performance from the John Driskell Hopkins Band, in Lattingtown for Hop On A Cure. Attendees raised $55,000, and those who made the largest donations at the fundraiser were also invited to the bay house on Sept. 17 for a meet and greet with Hopkins and Mangano.

“The foundation, in essence, raises money to find a cure,” Annunziato said. “If you go to any Zac Brown Band concert, they mention it. People donate and John’s friends like me are constantly spreading the word.”

Hopkins said that Annunziato, who he called a dear friend, has been an incredible support system for Hop On A Cure.

The bay house, nestled in the South Oyster Bay, overlooks the amphitheater. With only water and marsh surrounding the bay house, it provided the perfect environment for skeet shooting, which

everyone took a turn at. Even Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman paid a visit.

“I always want to show off all of the attributes of Nassau County and certainly these bay houses and this beautiful waterway is something that we’re very proud of in Nassau County,” Blakeman said. “I told John Hopkins that next time he’s in Nassau County, we’re going to coordinate and do a fundraiser for Hop On A Cure.”

Hopkins was diagnosed with ALS in 2021, which inspired him to immediately create Hop On A Cure. ALS, according to the Hop On A Cure website, “is a neurological disease that affects the nerve cells that control voluntary muscle movement (the muscles we have conscious control over). The disease is progressive, meaning the symptoms get worse over time. Individuals affected lose their strength and the ability to control those voluntary muscle movements which include speaking, eating, mobility, and even breathing.”

The life expectancy for ALS after onset of symptoms is typically 3 to 5 years. However, 10 percent of people with ALS survive for 10 years or more. Hopkins, who lives in Atlanta with his family, said when he was diagnosed, he didn’t know what ALS was.

“We fully believe that this is a curable disease,” Hopkins said. “And we believe that it can be cured soon. We feel like we’re on the verge of discoveries that will lead to longevity and livable ALS

conditions. Several years ago HIV was a death sentence and now it’s not. We need to get ALS to that point where people who are diagnosed with the disease can stop progression and then we can work towards reversing it.”

Hopkins said that for so long, support around finding the cure to ALS was “hopeless.”

“You would get diagnosed and then the doctors would say get your affairs in order,” Hopkins said. “We want to change that mentality.”

Hopkins said that with his massive platform through the Zac Brown Band, he felt a responsibility to spread the word. “The band’s been behind me since day one,” Hopkins said. “They’re definitely my extended family.”

As far as balancing performing, recording and touring with managing ALS, Hopkins said he’s still “playing and singing.”

“That’s the bar,” Hopkins said. “Even if I’m playing and singing and have to sit down, I believe we’ll find a way for me to play and sing until I can’t. Hopefully we find some things in the coming years that will allow me to keep doing it.”

Mangano said that while it’s been hard watching his friend, Hopkins, fight ALS, it’s also been inspiring. “It’s inspiring to watch Hop’ and how he confronted this thing head on,” Mangano said. “I think that’s a testament to his tenacity and his internal willpower that he has to overcome challenges.”

John Driskell Hopkins, lead guitarist and founding member of Zac Brown Band, wearing a Nassau County Police Department cap at a bay house near Jones Beach.

(Photo by Jennifer Corr)

MEDICINE PROFILES

IN

UNDOCUMENTED FROM IMMIGRANT TEEN TO WORLDCLASS SURGEON

Advances in pediatric cancer treatment

Double neural transplant

Women’s Health Care of Garden City Committed to Personalized Care

By John L. Gomes, MD

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All tests are conveniently done on the premises and a dedicated, compassionate staff is on call 24/7.

He is committed to excellence in patient communication, education and support as many patients come with anxiety associated with past experiences and future concerns.

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Women’s Health Care of Garden City is located at 1000 Franklin Avenue, Suite 200, Garden City. Call 516-222-8883 or visit online at DrGomes.com

Undocumented: From Violent Streets To A Cardiothoracic Surgeon

Harold Fernandez shares the path to his success

BY CHRISTY HINKO chinko@antonmediagroup.com

“There was a lot of violence,” Dr. Harold Fernandez, a Northwell thoracic surgeon said. “In the same streets where I played soccer every day, I saw friends and family members lose their lives.”

Fernandez recounted his days as a young boy, growing up in Medellín, historically one of the most violent cities in Colombia since the 1980s. Fernandez said, “The city was going through a lot of turmoil because of the war between the government and Pablo Escobar.” Fernandez said this is the reason that his mother, Angela, and his father, Alberto, initially came to America on temporary work visas, but overstayed. Angela supported her husband’s plan to temporarily go to the United States, acquire some new skills and earn some extra money, but she quickly fell in love with America. She could not hide her heartsickness from being separated from her sons, Harold and John Byron, who she left in their grandmothers’ care back in Medellín. “I was 13; my brother, John, was 11,” Fernandez said. “My mother imagined having her whole family join them one day, with the safety and all of the benefits that America had to offer.”

Angela cried every day, struggling with being apart from their sons. One day, a coworker mentioned that their daughter would be making the journey from Colombia to America by way of the Bahamas. The trip would take three days at most, perhaps she could chaperone Harold and John for their journey north? Angela was excited and full of hope, but Alberto was hesitant. After some discussion they decided to press forward with the trip. Fernandez and his brother began their journey on Friday, Oct. 13, 1978.

The travelers boarded a plane in Medellín headed to Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas. They then took a puddle-jumper for 130 miles from Nassau to Bimini, a small island just 50 miles due east of Miami. They landed in Bimini, but the sea conditions were treacherous, halting their passage by boat from Bimini to Miami. “We waited for two weeks in Bimini for the conditions to subside,” Fernandez said. “Communications in those days were difficult; you had to go to a payphone calling center; we could not tell our parents what was happening.”

The boys’ only option was to call back to Medellín to assure their grandmothers that they were safe and that all was still well. Their message would then be relayed to New Jersey to their presumably frantic parents. “We had to pretend to be reporting back about a vacation because we were afraid that the immigration authorities in the Bahamas would know what we were doing,” Fernandez said.

The boys feared they would be deported before they had a chance to touch American soil and get to the safety of Angela and Alberto. “We finally made our departure heading to Miami. It was at night, and by a small boat, so as to not be detected by the U.S. Coast Guard,” Fernandez said. “The ride to Miami was very rough; everyone on the boat was sure the boat would capsize.” Fernandez said what he remembers most about the boat ride to Miami was that everyone was crying and reciting the Lord’s Prayer.

The boat arrived safely at an abandoned dock in Miami. Fernandez and his brother made contact with family friends in Miami, who were in touch with their parents to give them the update. They stayed at the apartment of those friends before taking a taxi to the airport and boarding a flight from Miami to Newark. They were briefed ahead of their flight. “They told us, ‘when you see your parents, you have to make sure not to celebrate as to call attention to yourselves; this will surely alert immigration authorities,’” Fernandez remembered. “Remember, I had not seen my parents in many years now. We started running and crying and hugging each other; we were all thanking God that we were together again.”

Fernandez recalled his shock at the abundance. “Back in Colombia, an apple is a luxury. Our grandmother would buy an apple and cut it into little wedges; we all would get a little wedge,” Fernandez said. “My mom had whole apples on the table in a little basket. On the first night, me and my brother, John, we couldn’t sleep thinking about those apples. We went to my mother’s bedroom and woke her up and asked, ‘Mom, could we get one of the those apples?’”

The family was all together again, but with the years of separation, there was a lot of work to be done to rebuild.

“The first months were rough in America for me. If people knew me then, they would say I was a troubled teenager, similar to other kids they might see coming from other countries. I was smoking cigarettes and was trying to learn how to drink hard liquor, getting into fights at school.”

The school principal called Angela and said if her sons continued to fight in school they would be suspended.

“I saw my mother break down,” Fernandez said. “It was then that I realized I had to change my life around.”

He made the decision to get a job delivering newspapers for the Hudson Dispatch (now merged with The Jersey Journal). Fernandez wanted the glory of being called “The best delivery boy in America” to make his mother proud. He began getting up at 4:30 a.m. to do his route, whether it was

raining or snowing. He even remembers doing his route while he was sick. He started with 90 deliveries and worked his way up to 120 papers. Within a year, he had been named “Harold Fernandez: Newspaper Carrier of the Month”. It was printed in the newspaper, a clipping that Fernandez still has in his personal papers today. “I remember my mother cut it out and carried it with her in her purse and showed it to everyone, even people she did not know,” Fernandez said. “My father also put it on his locker at work.”

That wasn’t enough for him though. “I think that was the spark,” Fernenadez said. “I believe it’s what led me to get accepted to Princeton University and eventually to Harvard Medical School.”

There was a problem. “I did not have documents. I applied to Princeton with a fake social security card and a fake Green Card,” Fernandez remembered.

Within a year, Fernnadez received a letter from the dean of foreign students at Princeton. “She wanted to see my Green Card. I thought everything was going to come to an end,” Fernandez said. “I had an amazing professor of Spanish literature [at Princeton], Professor Arcadio DíazQuiñones. I remember going to ask if I could speak with him for some advice. He agreed to see me and before I could say a word, I just

started crying inconsolably.”

Díaz-Quiñones held counsel with the then-president of Princeton University, William G. Bowen, that evening and returned to Fernandez with a message from Bowen: “Tell Harold that everything is going to be OK, not to worry and to continue with his coursework.” The university allowed Fernandez to change his status from a fraudulent citizen student to a foreign-status student, so long as he agreed to provide the correct information and documentation as a citizen of Colombia. A testament to the quality of student that Fernandez was up until that point, Princeton awarded Fernandez a complete scholarship.

Bowen, a man well before his time, made many seemingly radical, but worthy and fair decisions toward the betterment of the institution. “He was a remarkable person; he was the first president at Princeton to accept women, African American and Jewish students, and obviously in my case, an undocumented student; I am grateful for him, for DíazQuiñones, for Princeton and America in general,” Fernandez said.

Fernandez takes every opportunity to tell immigrant students today that there are a lot of good people who really do want to help make their lives better. He encourages all students to look for opportunities and take chances.

Fernandez’s story is timely, with immigration conflicts and stories headlining the news for more than half a decade. “It is a complicated situation right now because we have not seen any leadership from republicans or democrats to deal with the problem,” Fernandez said. “There is definitely a need here for workers in America, but no one has come up with a way to do it the right way. It is important for the people who are here already [citizens] to know that their own jobs are protected. It is also important for Americans to know that the borders are secure, that criminals and terrorists are not coming in. It is important for those who are coming over to come in a responsible way. Yes, I came in undocumented at a very young age. My parents were already here waiting for us. Parents who send their kids ahead first are not being responsible. There is no substitute for kids being with their parents or families.”

Fernandez loves Colombia and returns often, but his family is here and the United States is his home.

He is the author of Undocumented: My Journey to Princeton and Harvard and Life as a Heart Surgeon, independently published in 2019.

Advances In Pediatric Cancer Treatment

BY ANTON MEDIA STAFF specialsections@antonmediagroup.com

As medical research and technology continue to advance, there have been significant developments in the field of pediatric cancer in recent years. These developments have improved our understanding of the disease, diagnostic capabilities, treatment options, and outcomes for young cancer patients. Here are some of the newest and most promising developments in pediatric cancer:

Precision Medicine and Targeted Therapies

Precision medicine has been a game-changer in pediatric oncology. Researchers are increasingly able to identify genetic mutations and alterations specific to a child’s cancer, allowing for the development of targeted therapies. These therapies are designed to attack the cancer cells while sparing healthy cells, reducing side effects and improving treatment effectiveness. Targeted therapies have shown promising results in clinical trials for various pediatric cancers, including neuroblastoma and certain types of leukemia.

Immunotherapy

Advancements

Immunotherapy has emerged as a groundbreaking treatment approach in pediatric cancer. CAR-T cell therapy, for

instance, involves modifying a patient’s own immune cells to target and destroy cancer cells. This therapy has shown remarkable success in treating pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and certain types of lymphoma. Ongoing research aims to expand the application of immunotherapies to other pediatric cancer types.

Liquid Biopsies

Liquid biopsies are non-invasive tests that can detect genetic alterations and biomarkers associated with cancer in a patient’s blood or other bodily fluids. This technology is particularly promising in pediatric oncology, as it offers a less invasive and more accessible method of monitoring disease progression, detecting relapses, and guiding treatment decisions. Liquid biopsies hold the potential to improve early diagnosis and reduce the need for painful tissue biopsies in children.

Advancements in Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy techniques have evolved to be more precise and less harmful to healthy tissues in pediatric patients. Proton therapy, for example, delivers radiation more precisely, minimizing damage to surrounding organs and tissues. This advancement is particularly beneficial for children, as it reduces the risk of long-term

side effects and improves the quality of life for survivors.

Genomic Profiling and Research Collaborations

Collaborative efforts among researchers and institutions worldwide have led to extensive genomic profiling of pediatric cancers. Large-scale projects, such as the Pediatric Cancer Genome Project, have identified numerous genetic mutations and drivers of pediatric cancer. This wealth of genetic data is invaluable in developing targeted therapies and improving treatment strategies for children with cancer.

Supportive Care and Survivorship Programs

There is a growing focus on improving the quality of life for pediatric cancer patients and survivors. Survivorship programs are expanding to address the unique medical and psychosocial needs of childhood cancer survivors. This includes addressing long-term side effects, monitoring for secondary cancers, and providing comprehensive support for survivors and their families.

Patient-Centered Research and Advocacy

Patient-centered research has gained prominence in pediatric oncology. Children and their families are

increasingly involved in the research process, contributing to study design, decision-making, and advocacy efforts. This approach ensures that research aligns with the needs and priorities of pediatric cancer patients and their families. Despite these significant developments, challenges remain in pediatric cancer research and treatment. These include the need for increased funding, access to cutting-edge therapies, and the development of therapies for rare and less well-studied pediatric cancers. The progress made in recent years provides hope for improved outcomes and a brighter future for children facing cancer. As research continues to advance, breakthroughs that will enhance the diagnosis, treatment, and overall care of pediatric cancer patients is always on the horizon.

(Getty Images)

Moo, MD Breast Surgical Oncologist MSK in Nassau & Commack

Double Neural Bypass: First Of Its Kind

Long Island man regains use of arm through implant, machine learning

BY AMANDA OLSEN aolsen@antonmediagroup.com

Aparalyzed man regains hope, and so much more, in a first-of-its-kind clinical trial that’s giving him the ability to move his hands/arms but also regain the sense of touch again, without being hooked up to the computer.

Keith Thomas became a quadriplegic in a diving accident off Montauk in July 2020, at the height of COVID. Thomas lost all sensation and movement below his chest, and in the time following the accident, Thomas says he wasn’t sure he’d live or if he wanted to.

Now, thanks to what researchers are calling a “double neural bypass” he’s determined to lead by example and become participant #1 in this groundbreaking clinical trial at The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research at Northwell Health.

Alone and isolated in the hospital for more than six months, Thomas found new hope by participating in Prof. Bouton’s clinical trial and is grateful to be a part of something so historic and larger than himself. “The only thing I want to do is to help others. That’s always been the thing I’m best at. If this can

help someone even more than it’s helped me somewhere down the line, it’s all worth it,” Thomas said.

Part of the trial included a grueling 15hour surgery—portions of which Keith was awake—during which researchers implanted

five electrodes into Keith’s brain. “Because we had Keith’s images and he was talking to us during parts of his surgery, we knew exactly where to place the brain implants,” said Dr. Ashesh Mehta, professor at the Feinstein Institutes’ Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine, director of Northwell’s Laboratory for Human Brain Mapping and the surgeon who performed the brain implant. “We inserted two chips in the area responsible for movement and three more in the part of the brain responsible for touch and feeling in the fingers.”

Now, through those implants, machine learning and novel stimulation technology, scientists can reconnect Thomas’s brain to his body to his spinal cord. This double neural bypass forms an electronic bridge that allows information to flow once again between the man’s paralyzed body and brain to restore movement and sensations in his hand with lasting gains in his arm and wrist outside of the laboratory.

Back in the lab, through two ports protruding from Thomas’s head, he connects to a computer that uses AI to read, interpret and translate his thoughts into action, known as

thought-driven therapy and the foundation of the double neural bypass approach.

Chad Bouton, professor in the Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine at the Feinstein Institutes, vice president of advanced engineering at Northwell Health, developer of the technology and principal investigator of the clinical trial, described the way the nervous system works in an uninjured person: “So normally, you’d have signals traveling from your brain, these are areas right above your ear on each side of your head. The motor strip, as it’s called, is this vertical kind of strip above your ear and then right behind that is the sensory area. So normally, your signals would travel from your brain and the motor and sensory areas. Say you want to open your hand. Well, that signal would travel down the brainstem and down to the spinal cord. Well, the problem when you have a spinal cord injury like Keith is that it blocks or dramatically reduces those signals.”

He then went on to detail how the neural bypass works in both directions, hence making it a “double bypass”: “What we’ve done is put chips in the brain, first in the motor area to pick up the signals and then reroute

Feinstein Institutes AI Researchers Receive NIH Grant For Risk And Prevention Tools

Hospitalized adult patients whose medical conditions worsen after being admitted, requiring escalation of care, such as transfer to the intensive care unit (ICU) or intervention of a rapid response team, may benefit from monitoring by artificial intelligence (AI). Scientists at The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research were recently awarded $3.1 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to fund a new study that would harness AI and machine learning (ML) to help doctors and nurses monitor patients in busy medical and surgical wards to identify and prevent deterioration and ultimately improve patient outcomes.

The study team is led by Theodoros Zanos, PhD, associate professor at the Feinstein’s Institute of Health System Science and Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine, and includes Karina Davidson PhD, Michael Oppenheim MD, Alex Makhnevich MD, Beth Friedman RN, and others at the Feinstein Institutes and Northwell Health, New York’s largest health system. The group will develop and implement ML models with the goal of

improving the monitoring of patients once they are admitted in order to identify who might undergo a rapid decline to address it sooner.

“Some patients who are admitted for one condition are not explicitly showing symptoms of other concerns, which can lead to their health deteriorating and even dying,” said Dr. Zanos. “This research will leverage vast patient data, new continuous

monitoring technologies and AI to identify those often-unidentified risks and subtle early worrisome trends and enable life-saving interventions.”

Dr. Zanos and his team will turn to Northwell’s large, diverse clinical dataset using electronic health records (EHRs) from more than 2.4 million hospitalizations to generate ML predictive models. The clinical support tools will help clinicians and nurses identify in advance patients at risk of deterioration and clinical reasons to enable timely interventions. These tools also will identify those patients who are more stable. The study will collect and leverage patient data using a continuous monitoring (CM) device, the VitalConnect VitalPatch, that will be placed on patients upon admission to the hospital, to develop more accurate prediction models.

Dr. Zanos is a leader in health care AI. His research revolves around developing algorithms that will enable early diagnosis, disease severity assessment, personalization and adaptability of effective therapies. In 2020, he and his

lab developed a digital tool that predicts a hospitalized patient’s overnight stability and determines whether they could be left undisturbed overnight to sleep, recover and discharge faster. This vital sign monitoring tool, called “Let Sleeping Patients Lie,” used a vast body of clinical data from the patient visits, including respiratory rate, heart rate, systolic blood pressure, body temperature and age.

Last year, Dr. Zanos published in Nature Communications results of a two-and-ahalf-year-long study which used 35,000 COVID-19 diverse patients to develop a new digital clinical support tool that accurately predicts a patient’s outcomes and aids in clinical care decision-making.

The Feinstein Institutes continues to invest in the use of technology and artificial intelligence to help improve patient outcomes and bridge health disparities. Most recently, the Feinstein Institutes received a $10 million gift from Scott and Debby Rechler to create the Scott and Debby Rechler Center for Health Outcomes within the Institute of Health System Science.

—Submitted by Feinstein Institutes

Keith Thomas is able to feel his sister hold his hand for the first time since a diving accident in 2020 left him paralyzed from the chest down.

(Photo by Northwell Health)

Theodoros Zanos, PhD.

(Photo by Feinstein Institutes)

them from the brain around the spinal cord injury and go we go straight to the muscles, and so every time he thinks about moving, we reroute those signals and activate the muscles that he’s thinking about.

For sensation, we go the other direction. So we have tiny sensors on his fingertips that pick up pressure or the feeling of somebody’s hand, and the bypass reroutes them around the spinal cord injury.”

The bypass starts with Thomas’s intentions (e.g. he thinks about squeezing his hand), which sends electrical signals from his brain implant to a computer. The computer then sends signals to highly-flexible, non-invasive electrode patches that are placed over his spine and hand muscles located in his forearm to stimulate and promote function and recovery. Tiny sensors at his fingertips and palm send touch and pressure information back to the sensory

area of his brain to restore sensation. This two-arm electronic bridge forms the novel double neural bypass aimed at restoring both movement and the sense of touch.

“This is the first time the brain, body and spinal cord have been linked together electronically in a paralyzed human to restore lasting movement and sensation,” said Bouton. “When the study participant thinks about moving his arm or hand, we ‘supercharge’ his spinal cord and stimulate his brain and muscles to help rebuild connections, provide sensory feedback, and promote recovery. This type of thought-driven therapy is a game-changer. Our goal is to use this technology one day to give people living with paralysis the ability to live fuller, more independent lives.”

The goal of the trial is to restore lasting movement and sensation by reconnecting the brain/body and translating real-time thoughts into actions outside of the lab. This technology may one day help millions of others like Thomas who suffer from paralysis, stroke or other disorders.”

Thomas can now move his arm at will and feel his sister’s touch as she holds his hand in support. This is the first time he has felt anything in the three years since his accident.

Thomas said he hopes people read his story and it gives them hope. “People keep telling me I’m an inspiration in. So I hope that comes across. I’m just very hopeful. I’m thankful for the team and Northwell for giving me the opportunity to be the first person to do this.”

—with information from Northwell Health

Partnership To Lower Healthcare Costs

Catholic Health and Empire BlueCross BlueShield announced on Sept. 6 an agreement focused on new care delivery models designed to lower costs and increase value for people on Long Island. This latest multi-year agreement builds upon the longstanding relationship between the two organizations.

Through this innovative partnership, Catholic Health’s payment rates will be connected to improved health outcomes and quality-of-care indicators, reflecting Catholic Health’s ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality care.

“Value-based care is transforming the health care industry and Catholic Health is at the forefront of that transformation,” said Julie Kapoor, Senior Vice President, Revenue Management and Managed Care at Catholic Health. “Our partnership with Empire BlueCross BlueShield helps us to proactively identify opportunities to reduce the costs of care while improving patient health. The signing of this agreement will allow us to stay focused on the delivery of exceptional care while also improving access to affordable health services on Long Island.”

Aligning payment to quality outcomes like readmission rates, patient safety, and

patient satisfaction increases preventive care, improves chronic condition management, reduces hospital admissions, incentivizes whole health and ultimately lowers costs for Long Island healthcare consumers and their employers.

“Our continued partnership with Catholic Health will keep care affordable for Long Islanders by aligning payments with health outcomes instead of on the volume of care provided—a win-win for employers and consumers,” said Daniel Jorgenson, Vice President, Healthcare Networks at Empire BlueCross BlueShield. “At Empire, we are focused on our mission to improve the health of all New Yorkers. When we have an innovative partner like Catholic Health, who shares our openness to creative thinking, we are better able to make a real difference in the lives of our members. There is no health system that has made a more meaningful commitment to our value-based relationship, including being the first system in New York to join with us on the Epic Payer Platform to support communications between payers and providers. We look forward to continuing to grow this important partnership.”

—Catholic Health

Dr. Chad Bouton

(Photo by Northwell Health)

Backyarding On A Budget

Six money-saving hacks for fall

Fall is an opportune time to set up your backyard for year-round success. Work put into landscaping in the fall determines the quality of the space for all of your family’s backyarding activities, from family football games at Thanksgiving and Easter egg hunts in the spring, to taking your office to the back patio and meditation in a backyard hammock.

“Work in your yard, and it will work for you. That’s always been our motto, but it’s particularly important to follow this credo in the fall when we can make the most impact in our yards,” said Kris Kiser, president and CEO of the TurfMutt Foundation, which encourages people to care for and use the green space around them. “You don’t have to break the bank to create a backyard that will serve many purposes for your family year-round.”

Here are six money-saving hacks for creating the backyard of your dreams:

1Clean out ower beds and add mulch. Simply cleaning out your flower beds (use a leaf blower to make quick work of the task) and adding a fresh layer of mulch

Fall is an opportune time to set up your backyard for yearround success.

works wonders. New mulch not only holds weeds at bay, it also helps retain moisture around plants, trees and shrubs.

2Prune bushes and trees.

Trimming bushes, shrubs, and trees is another inexpensive way to make a big impact in your yard’s aesthetic. Use a chainsaw, trimmer or hedger to remove dead or dying branches and stems. This preserves the health of the main branch and improves the shape of the plant. Pruning also encourages plants to flower later.

3Keep grass mowed and weeded.

Regular lawn mowing helps your grass stay healthy and strong and improves the overall appearance of your yardscape without spending much money.

In the fall, cut your lawn shorter than during the rest of the growing season and continue to mow until your grass goes into hibernation for the winter.

4Pick perennials.

Perennials – those cold-hardy plant species that will return again in the spring—are a smart money choice because you only have to buy them once to enjoy them for years to come.

5Plant climate-appropriate species.

Native plants – those that occur naturally in your region—are a smart buy any time of the year. They are more likely to thrive in your micro-climate without much maintenance or watering. They are also better for local wildlife and pollinators and help preserve the balance of the natural ecosystem.

6Look for deals.

Many nurseries and home improvement stores offer endof-season sales on landscaping essentials from plants to outdoor power equipment (mowers, trimmers, leaf blowers, etc.) that make even big backyarding tasks easier.

—TurfMutt Foundation

TuffMutt Foundation

(Photo credit Getty Images)

KIDS CORNER!

Did you know that children have rights? In fact, the United Nations, an organization of most of the world’s countries, recently added the right to a clean environment to the list of children’s rights. Here are some of the ways they think governments need to respect the right to a clean environment:

•Best interests of the child

When making decisions about the environment and climate change, governments must consider how children will be impacted, and how they will support the wellbeing and development of children growing up today and in the future.

•Right to life, survival and development

Children should be able to live, grow up and develop in healthy, safe environments and have the support they need. Their lives should never be put at risk because of environmental harm like pollution or lead exposure.

•Right

to be heard

•Access to information

Governments should make sure that children have access to clear, accurate environmental and climate-related information, including information about plans and decisions being made, and about actions that children can take themselves. Information should be shared in different ways so that children of different ages and backgrounds can understand it.

•The right to freedom from all forms of violence

Environmental harm and climate change can lead to unstable situations, con icts and inequalities, leaving children at more risk of physical and psychological violence. Governments should make more effort to protect children by investing in services that are for children and by working to solve the root causes of violence.

•Right to health

Children’s physical and mental health should not be affected by climate change, pollution, unhealthy ecosystems, and loss of biodiversity. If a child experiences health issues, they must be able to access healthcare and support.

•Right to social security and decent standard of living

Children should be able to access safe food, clean water, decent housing and materials needed for them to live and grow. Governments need to make sure children are not living in poverty or unsafe conditions.

•Right to education

DidYou Know?

Children should be taken seriously by adults and have a say on issues related to the environment and climate change. Governments should involve children when making decisions about the environment and climate change, and make sure they give feedback to children about how their views were considered.

•Right to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly

Children often stand up for their environmental rights as human rights defenders. Many children also spend time with friends and groups where they exchange information and ideas. Governments should support children to express themselves by providing safe and empowering spaces for them to do so. Governments should adopt laws to protect child human rights defenders.

Children should be given environmental education that is accurate and in ways that they understand. Environmental education should support children to connect with, and respect, the environment. The places where children learn should be safe from environmental harm.

•The rights of Indigenous children and children of minority groups

Indigenous children and children of minority groups’ lives, survival and cultural practices are often very connected to their natural environment. Governments should make sure to protect their rights and involve children in all decisions being made about their environment.

•Right to rest and play

Children should be able to play and be active in clean, safe places and connect with our natural world. Governments need to consider where and how children can play and rest when they make plans for new neighborhoods or places where children may visit.

•Right

to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment

The Committee explains that children have the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. Children need a clean environment to enjoy all of their human rights. Children should have access to clean air and water, safe climates, healthy ecosystems and biodiversity, healthy food and non-polluted environments.

Duck Defenders On Duty Rescuing LI waterfowl in distress

Throughout the summer, clusters of fluffy white ducks in and around local ponds are almost ubiquitous. There may even be a few hybridized individuals, a cross between wild mallards and the domestic pekins. But there is a sinister side to this seemingly innocuous staple of park life: all these ducks are either abandoned themselves or are descended from abandoned pets.

While having ducks seems like it would be simple, domestic ducks are far from easy keepers. Many people who have experience with chickens think that ducks can live in the same space. However, ducks have very specific needs in order to stay happy and healthy. No one would be surprised to learn that ducks need water, but this water must be four to six inches deep so they can submerge their entire head to keep their eyes and nostrils clean. If they use a kiddie pool or tub for swimming, the water must be changed every single day. They need their own specialized food and won’t get the nutrition they need from chicken pellets. Males are aggressive during mating season and often hurt the females; if there is more than one male they will fight. Unlike chickens, ducks will frequently stay out all night if they are not rounded up at dusk and secured in their shelter. Additionally, ducks and chickens cannot be housed together, as chickens perch to sleep and ducks rest at ground level.

“There’s not as much overlap as people think. They need a pond or some type of water to swim in, they need water

that will go past their nostrils when they drink, just much different than chickens. Chickens really don’t like that much water and they don’t really want to be splashed or pooped on,” said John Di Leonardo, executive director of Humane Long Island.

Humane Long Island runs multiple campaigns to help animals, from illegal exotic pets to abandoned companion animals. Di Leonardo is the leading expert in duck rescue for the tri-state area. “We work both with wild and domestic fowl from Manhattan to Montauk. We do most of the domestic fowl rescue including chickens, pea fowl, ducks, guinea fowl, etc. but ducks are the animal most abandoned on Long Island.”

Pekin ducks, which are the majority of ducks sold to pet owners, are related to wild mallards, but because of selective breeding their bodies are unsuited to life in the wild. They have large bodies and small wings, which usually means they cannot fly well even for short distances, let alone migrate. This larger body size also means they are constantly hungry. The weight puts pressure on their feet and legs, resulting in more frequent

proper treatments using antibiotics it can develop to osteomyelitis, which is a bone infection and can eat away the bone and cripple or kill the animal,” said Di Leonardo.

People may not be aware that domestic ducks cannot survive without human intervention. There is an assumption that because wild ducks live in a particular pond or canal it will also be habitable for pet ducks. Their cumbersome body shape and bright coloring makes them susceptible to predation. Di Leonardo warns, “A lot of people impulse buy these animals and think, ‘Oh, I live on the water. I feed the wild ducks. When these guys get too big, I can just let them go. They hope for the best. And I don’t think that that’s very realistic, because a lot of these animals die very, very quickly, even if you are feeding them. They can’t fly from predators. I’ve literally rescued ducks frozen into canals on the south shore. So, these animals are just not equipped, even if they’re being fed, even if someone’s watching them. You can’t watch them all the time. They’re just not equipped for ocean life or even pond life on Long Island.”

injuries and a propensity to develop arthritis and a condition called bumblefoot.

“Because these domestics are just so large, there’s so much weight on that injury and their immune systems are so weak from all the inbreeding, this infection really takes root. Without

There is also an environmental impact from abandoned ducks. “They have weakened immune systems when they’re abandoned. They often have diseases that may be communicable to wild ducks. They also overgraze substantially because they’re not getting enough calories. they’re just eating out the root structures alongside the waterways and doing significant damage there,” said Di Leonardo.

If you see domestic or hybrid ducks in local waterways, contact Humane Long Island at John@humanelongisland.org or 516-592-3722.

Athlete Of The Month: Keira McCaffrey

jburns@antonmediagroup.com

As the 2023-2024 school year kicks off in our area, Anton Media Group is proud to honor Mineola High School’s Keira McCaffrey as our Athlete of the Month for September.

As a senior at Mineola High School, Keira has consistently established herself as an accomplished athlete, scholar, and student body member.

Keira, a varsity volleyball middle blocker, previously received both All-County volleyball and Scholar-Athlete recognition from her district. Her additional school and extracurricular activities include being vice president of the school’s student organization, secretary of the National Honor Society, a member of the National Art Honor Society and Athletes Helping Athletes, and participation in the Student Service Center and P.E. Leadership programs. Outside of school, Keira enjoys traveling, going to the beach, and spending time with her family.

Keira McCaffrey

(Photos courtesy of Mineola School District)

Opening Salvos In Budget Debate

JOSEPH SCOTCHIE

jscotchie@antonmediagroup.com

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman has released his office’s proposed budget for the 2024 budget year.

The proposal amounts to $4.1 billion in spending, an increase of $180 million over last year’s budget. That increase also means that 50 new county jobs will be added under the proposed document. The new jobs, according to the budget proposal, will be police, social services, and health departments. Up to 20 new police officers would be hired under the budget. Salary increases will amount to 3.1 percent.

The budget does not contain a property tax levy increase. It also does not reduce taxes or fees. And that’s where the first skirmish has occurred.

Democratic legislators immediately criticized the budget for not containing “immediate” tax cuts.

“Despite Nassau County’s sizable surpluses, healthy fund balance and over $1 billion in reserves, County Executive Blakeman continues to break his promise to further

cut taxes beyond the relief that the previous administration delivered to residents in 2022,” Nassau County Legislature Minority Leader Kevan M. Abrahams (D – Freeport) said.

“As we scrutinize this proposal, the Minority Caucus will continue to fight for ‘immediate’ additional tax cuts that the County Executive first pledged two years ago but has thus far failed to deliver. Nassau County taxpayers deserve relief - and they deserve it right now,” Abrahams concluded.

On Wednesday, Sept. 13, Minority Caucus Legislators held a conference at the Theodore Roosevelt Executive & Legislative Building, demanding that a $128 million tax cut be included in the 2024 budget.

“During my tenure in the Legislature, I have had a front-row view to the harm caused by financial mismanagement and

the painstaking work it takes to recover from those mistakes,” Nassau County Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton (D – Glen Cove) said. “These experiences have engrained in me a cautious approach to overseeing taxpayer dollars, and I strongly believe that Nassau County is in an ideal position this year to responsibly deliver a significant tax cut that will help all of our constituents.”

Blakeman responded in his own statement, “As County Executive I have provided real tax relief to our residents without resorting to the reckless fiscal policies of the past. While the Curran administration had proposed a $150 million dollar tax increase for 2024, my administration has eliminated this tax increase in spite of the fact that inflation has soared to 3.2 percent nationally.”

Commenting on the proposal, Nassau

County Budget Director Andrew Persich praised Blakeman for placing monies in reserve in the event of “unforeseen expenses for revenue shortfalls.” In addition to new hires, the budget also has a reserve fund of $900 million.

Currently, the GOP holds a 12-7 majority in the county legislature. Once a budget is approved, it then goes to the Nassau Interim Finance Authority (NIFA), a state board that controls county finances, for final approval. NIFA came into being in 2000, as an oversight authority to control the county’s then-spending crisis.

NIFA is empowered to issue its bonds and notes for various Nassau County purposes, including the restructuring of a portion of the County’s outstanding debt. In addition, the Authority has certain powers under the Act to monitor and oversee the County’s finances, including Covered Organizations, and upon the declaration of a “control period,” additional oversight authority.

In the absence of a control period, the Authority is empowered, among other things, to review financial plans submitted to it; to make recommendations or, if necessary, adverse findings thereon; to monitor compliance; to make transitional State aid available as it determines; to comment on proposed borrowings by the County and Covered Organizations; and to impose a control period upon making one of the statutory findings.

Nassau Legislature building

(Photo by Alex Nuñez)

WORD FIND

HOROSCOPES

HOROSCOPES

HOROSCOPES By Holiday Mathis

By Holiday Mathis

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 22 letters left over. They spell out the alternative theme of the puzzle.

INTERNATIONAL WORD FIND INTERNATIONAL WORD FIND

INTERNATIONAL WORD FIND

Beneath the surface

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Novelist Kurt Vonnegut suggested, “We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.” is week, you’ll be terri c in a role you once only aspired to. Even so, you’ll be thinking about what to pretend next, feeling fully empowered to grow into any direction you choose.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). “Lots of people want to be the noun without doing the verb,” says creativity guru Austin Kleon. You’re the opposite this week, working diligently without a name. Are you an artist, or a teacher? A warrior, or a peacenik who just happens to be a key player in the battle? Whatever you call it, your role makes the scene play di erently.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You’re invested in someone’s battle because there’s an echo of this con ict in your own life. Keep heading toward agreement. What sort of justice would you be happy to get? Note that those who thrill to the adrenaline of con ict will not be in any rush to resolution. Steer clear of the ones who ght for the sake of ghting.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). e occasional odd feeling this week will have you wondering if your experience is normal. Were you to survey a small number of people, you’d be surprised that the “normal” range is a much broader range than you would have thought. And a larger sample size would reveal there is no “normal” at all.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). To be comfortable within yourself is to provide yourself with the best kind of company. As far as your relationships with others go, there’s no reason to weather tensions. If it feels strained, back o . Take a walk, shake o the weirdness, then return to see if you can nd a di erent way to get along.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You could teach people how to do a thing, but you’re better o showing them what needs doing and seeing what they come up with. People will surprise you with their inventiveness, then collaboration ensues. Something that helps you could be adapted to help many others.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). If you had to avoid those who would rather win the argument than think straight, you’d be avoiding most. When people are ghting for their side, thinking isn’t what they do best. You’ll have harmony because you avoid arguing altogether and focus solely on the shared goal. You’ll join forces with friend and foe alike to achieve a collective aim.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Your aim of leaving the world a better place than it was before you got here will take over your week with projects and events that wouldn’t happen if not for your proactive e orts. Friends will help out in any way you want, so long as you ask them to and show them speci cally how.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You are healing yourself, though unconsciously. You don’t have to work at it, but you do have to stay out of the way of the process unfolding. at means no worry, longing or rumination. Distract yourself with happy things, and let the natural wisdom of your body and mind weave magic.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). is week, you’ll fall in love with the mystery of an unresolved question. It bothers some not to know, but you savor the anticipation. It’s as though you saw an exciting trailer and are suspended in the excitement of wanting to see a movie that’s yet to be released.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). It will feel strange to accept assistance for something you thought was just about you. But what you think is a “you” problem is actually an issue a ecting all. Your biggest challenge isn’t solving the problem; it’s learning how to ask for help and from whom. is is how you’ll do much good in the world this week.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Style matters this week. e spin you put on something will make a di erence in how it’s received. Even so, you won’t need to get too convoluted with your approach. You already have substance, so all you will need is one or two embellishments to make it sing.

THIS WEEK’S BIRTHDAYS

Everyone loves what you bring to the party this year, which will never be hard for you to gure out. Your main advantage is that you actually see it as a party in the rst place. While others are seeing “workplace” or “obligation,” you’re seeing an opportunity for fun. Your social instinct and creativity will be rewarded many times over. More highlights: Signing dozens of papers before launching into a fantastic new chapter. Clearing the energy to invigorate a relationship. Hugs and kisses galore.

COPYRIGHT 2023 CREATORS.COM

Solution: 22 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 22 letters left over. They spell out the alternative theme of the puzzle.

Beneath the surface

Solution: 22 Letters

Abyss Algae

Angelfish

Barnacle Bass

Brittle star

Channel Clam

Conch

Coral Crab Curious

Dart Deep Depth Diatoms

Diving

Eels

Gull

Kelp

Killer whale

Limpet

Lobster Magic

Mako Mask

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

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

Solution: There are so many unknowns Date: 9/26/23

CONTRACT BRIDGE — BY STEVE BECKER

CONTRACT BRIDGE

• info@creators.com

FOR RELEASE WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2023

By Steve Becker

The art of wishful thinking

the third club, and the question is what you should do next.

Before attempting to answer this question, you first try to analyze what you already know about South’s hand based on the clues available thus far. You know from the play that declarer started with precisely three clubs, and you know from the bidding that he has four or five hearts.

Many players find defense a disagreeable chore that is not nearly as stimulating as being the declarer. Despite this, the fact remains that defending well is more important in the long run than good declarer play, for the simple reason that you are ordinarily a defender twice as often as you are a declarer.

Assume you’re East in today’s deal and partner leads the jack of clubs against four hearts. You don’t have to be an exceptional defender to overtake the jack with the queen and continue with the K-A of clubs. West discards a low spade on

You also know, or should know, that South has the A-K of spades, the ace of hearts and the king of diamonds, plus at least another jack! How do you know this? Because South opened one notrump (at least 15 points) and has to have all of those cards to have a proper notrump opening. Does this mean that you can’t beat four hearts, since you can see that the finesse in that suit will work for declarer whenever he attempts it? You can’t really answer that question at this point because it all depends on whether your partner has the eight of hearts!

And so, hoping for the best, you lead another club at trick four! This works out beautifully when your partner, bless him, ruffs with the eight of trump, forcing declarer to overruff with dummy’s ten. As a result, you become certain to score a trump trick no matter how declarer proceeds, and the contract goes down one.

Weekly Sudoku Puzzle

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

Answer to last issue’s Sudoku Puzzle

Answer to last issue’s Crossword Puzzle

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Equal Housing Opportunity

Federal, New York State and local laws prohibit discrimination because of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, familial status, age, marital status, sexual orientation or disability in connection with the rental, sale or nancing of real estate. Nassau also prohibits source of income discrimination. Anton Community Newspapers does not knowingly accept advertising in violation of these laws. When you suspect housing discrimination, call Long Island Housing Services’ Discrimination Complaint Line at 800-6606920. (Long Island Housing Services is the Fair Housing Agency of Nassau and Suffolk Counties.)

ROSLYN LEGAL NOTICE

PUBLIC HEARING OF THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS INCORPORATED

VILLAGE OF ROSLYN

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE

that the Zoning Board of Appeals for the Incorporated Village of Roslyn will hold a Public Meeting on

Monday October 2, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. at Village Hall, 1200 Old Northern Blvd., Roslyn, New York 11576

To consider the following:

1. Case No. 1714

Kevin Dursunyan

12 Roosevelt Avenue

Section 20, Block A, Lot 109, 110 Zone: R-C

Application is for the construction of a new 2 story

9,360 sf building consisting of three retail spaces at grade level and two (2) two bedroom apartments at the second level with on-site parking for 10 cars

Area Variances as per Section 470-5

Use Variance as per Section 470-114 B.(2)(a)

Parking Variances as per Section 470-22 A.

Parking Variances as per Sections 470-22 D. (1); (5); (6)

2. Case No. 1716

Anna Dimov

80 Hillside Ave.

Section 7, Block F, Lot 721

Zone: R-4

This application is for the installation of a new PVC fence along their rear and side property lines. Applicant provided a proposal from Family Fence company along with a survey dated 2/6/2023 prepared by A. Agujo Surveying, Inc.

Section 470-30 C. (1) states “Constructed fences shall not exceed a height of more than four feet, with the exception of an open-wire constructed fence of an approved type, which shall not exceed six feet in height”. Applicant will also need to show compliance with the balance of the Chapter.

A variance application will be required from the Zoning Board of Appeals.

3. Case No. 1703

Leonard Gross

1 Tower Pl.

Section 7, Block B, Lot 561

On September 21, 2020 the Board of Appeals granted an extension of variances for the construction of a 3 story and basement mixed use commercial building comprised of retail at the basement and first level and offices on the second and third level.

On October 20, 2020 the Board of Trustees approved the special use permit pursuant to Sec 470-13 and 47053 for the above mentioned uses.

The applicant has submitted a revised application to the Village requesting the

conversion of the granted uses to a mixed-use residential building comprised of a 2-bedroom residential unit at the basement level; a retail use at the first level (no change) and a 2-bedroom residential unit at the second level and a 1-bedroom residential unit at the third level. They have not submitted any requests to alter the exterior or floor area of the prior approved building. Previous Board approvals have since expired which has prompted the Applicant to return in order to receive current approvals.

Proposed Program:

Basement Level (1) 2-Bedroom residential unit (1,493 gsf +/-)

First Floor Retail Use –1,257 gsf

Second Level (1) 2-Bedroom residential unit (1,493 gsf +/-)

Third Level (attic) (1)

1-Bedroom residential unit (935.5 gsf +/-)

The total gross buildable area is 5,178.5 sf (no change).

4. Case No. 1709 KEVIN DURSUNYAN

1431 Old Northern Boulevard

Section 20, Block A, Lot 503

The applicant is requesting to convert and expand the existing restaurant building into a mixed-use building with residential units and retail space. Section 470-18.B.(2)

(a) permits a gross density no greater than 12 residential units per acre. The existing lot is comprised of .279 acres allowing an as-of-right density of 3.35 residential units. The Applicant is proposing a total of residential units. Further, Section 470-18.B.(2) permits residential units above the first floor level in conjunction with ground floor retail or office use. The applicant is proposing residential units below, on the same level and above the retail use.

Seeking variance from: Section 470-18.B.(2)(a) and Section 470-18.B.(2). At the aforesaid time and place, all interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard.

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

Dated: October 2, 2023 9-27-2023-1T-#242768-ROS

LEGAL NOTICE

Notice of formation of The Thinking Patient LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 8/29/2023. Office location: Nassau County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process may be served and shall mail copy of process against LLC to: 106 Westwood Circle, Roslyn Heights, NY 11577. Purpose: any lawful act.

11-1; 10-25-18-11-4; 9-272023-6T-#242779-ROS

LEGAL NOTICE

Notice of formation of Limited Liability Company. Name:

LEGAL NOTICES

Ogden Portfolio GP LLC (“LLC”). Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of the State of New York (“SSNY”) on August 25, 2023. NY office location: Nassau County. The SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The SSNY shall mail a copy of any process to The Limited Liability Company, 1044 Northern Boulevard, Flr 2, Roslyn, NY 11576. Purpose/ character of LLC is to engage in any lawful act or activity.

11-1; 10-25-18-11-4; 9-272023-6T-#242769-ROS

LEGAL NOTICE

Notice of formation of Limited Liability Company. Name: Ogden Portfolio Investors LLC (“LLC”). Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of the State of New York (“SSNY”) on August 25, 2023. NY office location: Nassau County. The SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The SSNY shall mail a copy of any process to The Limited Liability Company, 1044 Northern Boulevard, Flr 2, Roslyn, NY 11576. Purpose/character of LLC is to engage in any lawful act or activity.

11-1; 10-25-18-11-4; 9-272023-6T-#242770-ROS

LEGAL NOTICE

Notice of formation of Limited Partnership. Name: Ogden Portfolio Limited Partnership (“LP”). Certificate of Limited Partnership filed with the Secretary of State of the State of New York (“SSNY”) on August 29, 2023. NY office location: Nassau County. The SSNY has been designated as agent of the LP upon whom process against it may be served. The SSNY shall mail a copy of any process to 1044 Northern Boulevard, Flr 2, Roslyn, NY 11576. The latest date upon which the LP shall dissolve is 12/31/2199 unless sooner dissolved mutual consent of the partners or operation of the law.

Name/address of each general partner available from SSNY.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

11-1; 10-25-18-11-4; 9-272023-6T-#242771-ROS

LEGAL NOTICE

VILLAGE OF ROSLYN

HARBOR BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS

PUBLIC NOTICE

A public hearing and meeting will be held before and the Board of Zoning Appeals of the Incorporated Village of Roslyn Harbor, Nassau County, New York, at the Village Hall 500 Motts Cove Road South in the Village, on October 11, 2023 at 7:00 P.M.

The hearing will be on the appeal of Craig Padover, owner of a parcel of land located at 385 Bryant Avenue in the Village, designated as Section 20, Block A, Lot 72 on the Nassau County Land

and Tax Map.

The Appellant seeks a variance to construct an elevated catwalk with seasonal ramp and float dock. The proposed elevated catwalk with seasonal ramp and float dock requires the following one (1) variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals:

1. proposed dock extends 214.1 feet beyond the high tide line, while the maximum permitted length is 50 feet.

The above appeal is on file at the office of the Village Clerk where it may be seen Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. until the time of the hearing.

If any individual requires special assistance to attend, please notify the Village Clerk at least 48 hours in advance of the hearing.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF APPEALS

Marla Wolfson

Village Clerk - Treasurer 9-27-2023-1T-#242837-ROS

LEGAL NOTICE

Notice of Meeting

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE

THAT on October 10, 2023 at 7:30 PM the Architectural Review Board of the Inc. Village of East Hills will hold a regular meeting at the Village Hall, 209 Harbor Hill Road, East Hills, NY to consider the following applications regarding construction and/or tree removal: 12 Beechwood Road (Na Gao, Section 7, Block 195, Lot 5), 5 Spruce Drive (Syed Shah, Section 7, Block 261, Lot 9), 85 Hemlock Drive (Aaron Gail Aranoff, Section 7, Block 274, Lot 19), and 30 Fern Drive (Andrey Yashchenko, Section 7, Block 289, Lot 29).

Written comments on the applications may be submitted no later than 12:00 PM on the day of the meeting email to evaidya@villageofeasthills.org. Maps and plans regarding this application are available for inspection on the Village’s website at www.villageofeasthills.org/meetings

BY ORDER OF THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD

INC. VILLAGE OF EAST HILLS

Spencer Kanis, Chairman Dated: September 27, 2023

9-27-2023-1T-#242839-ROS

LEGAL NOTICE

VILLAGE OF ROSLYN HARBOR BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS

PUBLIC NOTICE

A public hearing and meeting will be held before and the Board of Zoning Appeals of the Incorporated Village of Roslyn Harbor, Nassau County, New York, at the Village Hall 500 Motts Cove Road South in the Village, on October 11, 2023 at 7:00 P.M.

The hearing will be on the appeal of Theodore Pappas, owner of a parcel of land located at 4 Engineers Road in the Village, designated as

Section 20, Block 88, Lot 2 on the Nassau County Land and Tax Map.

The Appellant seeks a variance to construct a Pool House with heating and air conditioning system. The proposed Pool House with heating and air conditioning system requires the following one (1) variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals.

1. Heating and air conditioning system is proposed to be installed in the cabana, while the code prohibits air conditioning or heating installations in cabanas.

The above appeal is on file at the office of the Village Clerk where it may be seen Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. until the time of the hearing.

If any individual requires special assistance to attend, please notify the Village Clerk at least 48 hours in advance of the hearing.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF APPEALS

Marla Wolfson

Village Clerk - Treasurer 9-27-2023-1T-#242858-ROS

LEGAL NOTICE VILLAGE OF ROSLYN HARBOR BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS

PUBLIC NOTICE

A public hearing and meeting will be held before and the Board of Zoning Appeals of the Incorporated Village of Roslyn Harbor, Nassau County, New York, at the Village Hall 500 Motts Cove Road South in the Village, on October 11, 2023 at 7:00 P.M. The hearing will be on the appeal of David Nassim, owner of a parcel of land located at 60 Harbor Lane in the Village, designated as Section 20, Block 96, Lot 10 on the Nassau County Land and Tax Map. The Appellant seeks variances to construct a Cabana,

Pool, and Patio. The proposed Cabana, Pool, and Patio requires the following three (3) variances from the Zoning Board of Appeals.

1. Pursuant to Section 275, Attachment 2. Table 2: Schedule of Dimensional Regulations

a) Proposed lot coverage is 31.56%, while maximum lot coverage is 25%.

Proposed rear yard coverage of 23.65%, while maximum rear yard coverage is 20%.

c) Proposed floor area is .1416 or 7,047 S.F. while maximum floor area ratio is .1378 or 6,856 S.F.

The above appeal is on file at the office of the Village Clerk where it may be seen Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. until the time of the hearing.

If any individual requires special assistance to attend, please notify the Village Clerk at least 48 hours in advance of the hearing.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF APPEALS

Marla Wolfson

Village Clerk - Treasurer 9-27-2023-1T-#242859-ROS

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Town of North HempsteadBoard of Zoning Appeals

Pursuant to the provisions of the Code of the Town of North Hempstead, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Zoning Appeals of said Town will meet at Town Hall, 220 Plandome Road, Manhasset, New York, on Wednesday, October 11, 2023 to consider any matters that may properly be heard by said Board, and will hold a public hearing on said date to consider applications and appeals.

The following cases will be

called at said public hearing starting at 10:00am.

APPEAL #21450 - Dominick and April Kortkamp; 31 Hill Lane, Roslyn Heights; Section 7, Block 164, Lot 11; Zoned: Residence AA

Variances from §§22-4, 70102.C(2)(5), 70-21.A, 70100.2(I), 70-100.1A and 70102.5(a) to construct a pool that is too close to the rear property line, to locate pool equipment in a side yard and too close to the side property line, and to construct a fire bowl and fire pit that will generate an open fire that is too close to structures on the property.

APPEAL #21456 - Asmit Rajbhandani; 123 Gilmar Lane, Roslyn Heights; Section 7, Block 257, Lot 12; Zoned: Residence-B Variances from §§70-41.A and 70-42 to construct a wood deck that is too close to the side and rear property lines.

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

Additionally, the public may view the live stream of this meeting at https:// northhempsteadny.gov/ townboardlive.

Any member of the public is able to attend and participate in a BZA hearing appearing on the scheduled date and time. Comments are limited to 3 minutes per speaker. Written comments are accepted email to 60 minutes prior to the hearing. Timely comment submissions will be made part of the record.

DAVID MAMMINA, R.A., Chairman; Board of Zoning Appeals 9-27-2023-1T-#242843-ROS

Festival sponsor the Town of North Hempstead. Additional 2023 sponsors include Nassau County Industrial

and view ticket availability. —Submitted by the Gold

Measures To Deter Wrong-way Driving And Bridge Strikes

New signs and pavement markings enhance safety along some of Long Island’s busiest highways

Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced a series of new safety enhancements along several Long Island highways to deter wrong-way driving and help prevent trucks and other over-height vehicles from striking parkway overpasses. Thousands of new, highly reflective signs and pavement markings have been installed at more than 700 select locations to improve driver awareness and enhance safety on some of the busiest highways in Nassau and Suffolk counties. The new measures meet or exceed all state and federal highway standards for safety.

“Wrong-way drivers and over-height vehicles pose obvious safety hazards that can cause unspeakable tragedies and lead to unnecessary delays and hardships for motorists,” Governor Hochul said. “With these new signs and pavement markings, we are providing hard-to-ignore warnings that will help deter wrong-way drivers and

over-height trucks to protect the safety of their fellow motorists.”

The new safety enhancements include more than 3,600 new “Wrong Way” and “Do Not Enter” signs that have been installed at 422 parkway, expressway, and highway ramps to discourage wrong-way drivers from entering high speed highways, expressways, and parkways on Long Island. Facing against normal traffic flow will be one “Do Not Enter” sign followed by four “Wrong Way” signs. The signposts all have red reflective strips to increase their visibility. Additional pavement markings and reflectors in the pavement have also been installed on the ramps to alert wayward drivers.

To thwart bridge hits, new highly reflective advance warning signs and signs have been installed at 282 locations on the Southern, Northern, Meadowbrook, Wantagh, Bethpage, Heckscher, Sagtikos,

and Sunken Meadow State Parkways and the Robert Moses Causeway. They display each bridge’s height and feature reflectors on the signposts. The new signs are approximately 75 percent larger than previous signs and provide ample warning to help truckers avoid colliding with the overpass.

Additionally, pavement markings warning of “Low Bridge Clearance” are also being installed at 17 targeted parkway locations to further increase awareness.

All too often, trucks and other overheight vehicles—unaware of the state parkway height restrictions – have entered the parkways and struck the overpasses, causing traffic backups and damage to highway infrastructure.

The new signs and pavement markings complement 16 over height vehicle detectors in place selected at ramps where trucks have been known to frequently enter parkways. This technology triggers

a warning sign to notify the truck’s driver and alerts the State Department of Transportation’s regional traffic management center.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said, “The important safety enhancements announced by Governor Hochul today will help make our highways safer for the hundreds of thousands of Nassau County Motorists who use them every day.”

For up-to-date travel information, call 511, visit www.511NY.org or download the free 511NY mobile app.

Motorists are urged to plan accordingly and drive responsibly in work zones. Fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone. Convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone could result in the suspension of an individual’s driver license.

—Submittd by the Office of Governor Kathy Hochul

Roslyn HS Launches Roslyn TV

Roslyn High School has added two new class offerings to the curriculum this year: Media Broadcasting Production and Podcasting. The classes are being held in a newly renovated state of the art studio space that was completed over the summer—providing a real-world learning environment for students to engage in the art of storytelling and broadcasting on a whole new level.

The Power of the Podcast: The Art of Modern Storytelling, taught by Matthew Vogt, will instruct students on how to analyze modern stories and use the podcast forum to share their own storytelling. “There are so many different ways to tell a story and audio is one of those forms,” said Mr. Vogt. “Everything is going to be hands-on and collaborative, while ensuring that our narratives sound great and engaging. I’m so looking forward to teaching this content in this amazing setting with so many dedicated students.”

Media Broadcast Production is being offered to juniors and seniors interested in exploring the world of television/video production and broadcast journalism. Students will research topics, write news scripts, and produce a weekly news show that will be broadcast to the high school.

Teachers Jennifer Di Pietro and

Magdaleeni Milonakis participated in extensive training over the summer in preparation for the launch of Roslyn Television (RTV).

“It is wonderful to see how excited the students are to be a part of the first year of RTV,” said Ms. Di Pietro. “This platform will help us spread school spirit and shine a light

Roslyn High School students are enjoying the two new classes, Media Broadcasting Production and Podcasting. (Photos courtesy Roslyn Public Schools)

on various activities, events, and clubs within the school.”

“We’re so excited about the fun year ahead of us!” said Ms. Milonakis. “The space is amazing and we know that the RTV staff will make Roslyn High School proud with their professionalism and creativity.”

“Students will have the

ability to hone their communication skills, express creativity, embrace critical thinking, and ultimately develop foundational skills that can be applied to countless career paths,” said Roslyn High School Assistant Principal Carol Murphy.

—Submitted by Roslyn Public Schools

NEIGHBORS IN THE NEWS

Crocker Lecture On Peter Cushing

On Wednesday, Sept. 27, from 1 to 2:30 p.m., the Bryant Library will present a lecture by Keith Crocker on Peter Cushing, the English actor who was a leading member of the Hammer Studios family, bringing an unparalleled dramatic skill to his roles as Sherlock Holmes, Dr Van Helsing, Baron Frankenstein and more.

According to biographers, Cushing gained worldwide fame for his appearances in twenty-two horror films from the Hammer studio, particularly for his role as Baron Frankenstein in Frankenstein films and Doctor Van Helsing in five Dracula films. Cushing often appeared alongside actor Christopher Lee, who became one of his closest friends, and occasionally with the American horror star Vincent Price. Cushing appeared in several other Hammer films, including The Mummy and The Hound of the Baskervilles (both 1959), the last of which marked the first of the several occasions he portrayed the detective Sherlock Holmes. Cushing continued to perform in a variety of roles, although he was often typecast as a horror film actor. He

played Dr. Who in Dr. Who and the Daleks (1965) and Daleks’ Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. (1966) and became even better known through his part in the original Star Wars film. Cushing continued acting into the early to mid-1990s and wrote two autobiographies. Cushing appeared in a wide variety of other Hammer productions. He appeared in the horror film The Abominable Snowman (1957), a Hammer adaptation of a BBC Nigel Kneale television play The Creature (1955) which Cushing had also starred in.

In 1959, he portrayed the detective Sherlock Holmes in the Hammer production of The Hound of the Baskervilles, an adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s novel of the same name. He once again co-starred opposite Lee, who portrayed the aristocratic Sir Henry Baskerville.

A fan of Sherlock Holmes, Cushing was anxious to play the character. A biographer states that: “Cushing prepared extensively for the role, studying the novel and taking notes in his script. He scrutinized the costumes and screenwriter Peter Bryan’s script,

often altering words or phrases. Lee later claimed to be awestruck by Cushing’s ability to incorporate many different props and actions into his performance simultaneously, whether reading, smoking a pipe, drinking whiskey, filing through papers or other things while portraying Holmes. In later years, Cushing considered his Holmes performance one of the finest accomplishments of his career. The Hound of the Baskervilles was originally conceived as the first in a series of Sherlock Holmes films, but eventually no sequels were made.” Cushing died in 1994. In 2008, fourteen years after his death, Cushing’s image was used in a set of stamps issued by the Royal Mail honoring Hammer Studios films on the fiftieth anniversary of the release of Dracula. In 2013, Cushing was honored by the Royal Mail as one of ten people selected for their “Great Britons” commemorative postage stamp issue. This event is online only. Go to https://us06web.zoom. us/j/96773858897.

—Submitted by the Bryant Library with information by Wikipedia

Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee (Photos courtesy of Wikipedia)

A Cushing plaque in London.

Peter Cushing

Bryant After Dark: The Great Give Back 2023

The mission of The Great Give Back is to provide a day of opportunities for the patrons of the Public Libraries of New York State to participate in meaningful, service-oriented experiences.

As part of The Great Give Back initiative, Bryant After Dark is a unique event that blends fun and community engagement in a building-wide celebration with activities for all ages. Try your luck with bingo, paint a birdhouse with your family, get creative with paint & sip, or join in on another activity! Enjoy pizza & refreshments and groove to the DJ’s beats! Come see your library after dark!

Admission: Two non-perishable food items per person. A raffle ticket will be given for every additional two items per person.

All non-perishable food items to be donated to the JCC Community Needs Bank.

Register for this event at bryantlibrary.org.

—Submitted by The Bryant Library

Artists To Be Exhibited At NYSSBA

Five student artists from The Wheatley School will represent the East Williston School District at this year’s New York State School Boards Association Exhibit. The NYSATA sponsored New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA) Exhibit is an annual art exhibition that allows other school board members to recognize a district’s student artists.

Images of artwork submitted will be used to create a virtual exhibit representing the state’s ten regions. School board members attending the 2023 NYSSBA Convention will be able to view student artwork during the convention Oct. 26-28 in Buffalo. Attendees and the public will continue to have access to the virtual art exhibit through Dec. 31, 2023.

—Submitted by the East Williston School District

Poetry In The Park

“Poetry in the Park” is presented by the Bryant Library on Fri., Sept. 22, 6 p.m. at the Gerry Park Gazebo.

Bring original works, or read a poem by your favorite poet. Speakers will be allotted 3 to 5 minutes on a first come, first serve basis. It is recommend bringing chairs and/or blankets for seating. In the case of bad weather, the event will be relocated to the Helen Glannon Room at the library.

Those interested in reading should contact info@bryantlibrary.org.

—Submitted by the Roslyn Landmark Society

PORT WASHINGTON’S 2ND ANNUAL

Sunday, October 1, 2:00 - 6:00 p.m.

at Blumenfeld Park - Across from PWPL

Free Admission • Open to All

Rain Date: October 8 #HispanicHeritagePW

PROUDLY PRESENTED BY

From left: senior Breanna Landau, junior Janet Tokhie, junior Dayanna SincheBarzallo, senior Sofia Ramos and junior Ritika Kaur who are pictured with their work. (Contributed photo)

The Gerry Park Gazebo. (Photo courtesy the Roslyn Landmark Society)

(Flier courtesy The Bryant Library)

North Hempstead Town Board Launches Transparency Portal

The North Hempstead Town Board unanimously approved the launch of a groundbreaking Transparency Portal on the Town’s official website. The resolution, passed with a unanimous vote of 7-0 during the September 5 Town Board meeting, represents a significant step towards fostering openness, accountability, and greater public engagement in local government.

Councilmember Veronica Lurvey, who introduced and championed the legislation, stated, “By mandating that important Town information be made easily accessible to the public, we are aiming to foster openness and accountability within our Town government. This local law will dramatically improve our residents’ ability to

easily access information with one click.”

The newly enacted law mandates that specific documents and information must be published on the Town’s website. These materials will be organized and searchable, allowing residents to easily find important records, documents, and information related to Town affairs. This initiative is a testament to the Town Board’s commitment to transparency and community engagement.

Councilmember Mariann Dalimonte highlighted the portal’s features, stating, “The Transparency Portal will be prominently placed on the Town’s website, providing easy access to a wide range of information, and it will be regularly updated by relevant departments to ensure the

Free Rabies Clinic

North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena and the Town Board are proud to announce that the Town’s Animal Shelter will be hosting a free rabies vaccination clinic in conjunction with the Nassau County Department of Health. The clinic will be held at the Town of North Hempstead Animal Shelter in Port Washington on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Rabies vaccines will be available to dogs and cats, as well as ferrets. You do not have to be a resident of North Hempstead for your pet to receive a free rabies vaccine.

North Hempstead officials will also offer on-the-spot dog licensing applications and renewals to North Hempstead residents.

Owners must bring their dogs on leashes and their cats and ferrets in carriers. Registration is required. The North Hempstead Animal Shelter is located at 75 Marino Ave. in Port Washington.

To make a reservation, or if you have any questions, please call 311 or 516-869-6311.

—Submitted by the Town of North Hempstead

information remains current. Residents will also be able to access various reports, such as statistics related to code enforcement and parking tickets, fostering an understanding of Town operations and priorities.”

One of the cornerstones of this legislation is financial transparency. The law requires the publication of executed contracts, financial audits, annual budgets, and capital improvement plans. This level of financial disclosure enhances accountability and builds trust with residents, ensuring that they can track the allocation of public resources.

Councilmember Peter Zuckerman affirmed the Town Board’s commitment to an accountable, engaged, and well-informed community, saying, “By supporting this

‘Governmental Transparency’ local law, we’re demonstrating our commitment to an accountable, engaged, and well-informed community. This law is a crucial step towards a more transparent and participatory local government.”

With the launch of the Transparency Portal, the Town of North Hempstead takes a bold stride toward a more open and responsive government, providing residents with the tools they need to actively participate in shaping their community’s future. For more information and to access the Transparency Portal, please visit northhempsteadny.gov.

—Submitted by the Town of North Hempstead

Free Catalytic Converter Serial Number Kit Event

Town of North Hempstead Councilmembers Veronica Lurvey and Peter Zuckerman are proud to announce that they will be hosting an event to distribute FREE catalytic converter serial number kits to residents on Saturday, Oct. 14 at Clinton G. Martin Park starting at 8 a.m. One hundred kits will be provided to the Town by the New York Anti-Car Theft and Insurance Fraud Association.

“We have seen a frightening uptick in catalytic converter thefts here on Long Island over the past year, and I believe it is incumbent upon us as elected officials to do all that we can to protect the property of our residents,” said Councilmember Lurvey. “These catalytic converter serial number kits are an invaluable tool to combat these criminals. I highly encourage residents to take advantage of this program.”

“I would like to assure my constituents that this is an issue of the utmost impor-

tance to me and my colleagues in Town government,” said Councilmember Zuckerman. “I am extraordinarily grateful to the New York Anti-Car Theft and Insurance Fraud Association for providing the Town with the catalytic converter serial number kits. It is important that we all remain proactive, so please stop by the event on October 14 to receive a kit.”

All kits will be registered to the national catalytic converter database and linked to residents’ vehicles. Once residents have obtained a kit, they will need to be taken to a mechanic to have the number etched onto their vehicle’s catalytic converter. Attendees must also bring their license and registration to receive a kit.

All kits must be reserved in advance. For more information or to reserve your kit today, please call 311 or 516-869-6311.

—Submitted by the Town of North Hempstead

(Contributed graphic)

Kensington Tudor

Amy Liu

Lic. Assoc. R. E. Broker

O 516.627.2800

M 917.224.1866

amy.liu@elliman.com

elliman.com

Great Neck | 74 Beverly Road | $2,589,000 | Web# 3502904

Situated on luscious grounds in Kensington, this completely renovated true brick and stone Tudor exudes stunning architectural design and charm throughout its approx. 6,000sf premise! Upon entrance, be immediately greeted by the center hall’s seamless layout. This well-appointed home presents 6 spacious bedrooms with 4 full bathrooms along with 3 half bathrooms. The eat-in-kitchen is a chef’s dream and is fully equipped with custom luxury appliances. A sun-drenched breakfast niche overlooks the beautifully-landscaped backyard with patio—just perfect for entertaining.