HERALD AMITYvIlle
ReCORD
Also serving Amityville, North Amityville, Amity Harbor, Copiague, and East Massapequa
S.C. Leg. Kevin McCaffrey, and Joe Cardinale, representing Congressman Andrew Garbarino.
Safety comes first, Suffolk County DA tells Copiague Chamber of Commerce
By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com
Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney touted several successful initiatives his office has launched in a recent address to the Copiague Chamber of Commerce.
Since taking office in January 2022, Tierney said, he has established the Gang Bureau, adopted a “task force approach” to the Gilgo Beach serial killings investigation and successfully located and charged Massapequa Park resident Rex Heuermann for seven of those murders. Prosecutors allege that the killings occurred in Heuermann’s basement.
Additionally, Tierney’s office recently formed a task force to investigate human trafficking and is focusing on quality-of-life crimes.
“We are working to create many new initiatives,” Tierney told the group, adding that
he has developed a close working relationship with Babylon Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer. “We need to work together to make our communities safe, and we need to make our streets safe.”
Schaffer praised Tierney’s efforts, calling him “the best District Attorney Suffolk has ever seen.” Schaffer added, “He and his office have gone above and beyond what is required of them, enforcing the laws, engaging in community events, and ensuring that people who go through the system don’t return. He has exceeded the expectations of a DA.”
John Henry, a Chamber member and former bank manager, called the Gilgo Beach investigation “the most impressive investigation I have ever seen.” He also asked Tierney about efforts to address banking scams targeting residents, particularly seniors.
“We have a really great program with Suffolk County police detectives, and we work
Amityville’s Dan Kiernan advances to ‘Battles’ on NBC’s ‘The Voice’
By CHRISTIE LEIGH BABIRAD cbabirad@liherald.com
Dan Kiernan of Amityville is advancing to the Battles Rounds of NBC’s “The Voice,” joining country singer-songwriter Kelsea Ballerini’s team.
Kiernan earned the only “replay” available to contestants on Ballerini’s team for his performance of Panic! At The Disco’s “High Hopes.” The “replay” is a special opportunity given to contestants after a coach regrets not turning their chair in time to select them.
“You are amazing, and you have such an aura about you,” Ballerini said during the show’s Season 27 premiere on Monday, Feb. 2. “I made a mistake; I think you’re fantastic.”
Kiernan, 33, has been auditioning for “The Voice” on and off since 2013. He almost didn’t audition this time, as he was focused on producing his own music and gaining traction as a songwriter. However, he called the chance to appear on the TV hit “undeniable.”
“I’ve always loved the show,” Kiernan said. “I grew up on reality singing shows and learned how to sing and interpret music from watching.”
The Amityville native has been singing for as long as he can remember and has worked in theater and on cruise ships. Most recently, he has been a full-time singer and songwriter, performing as a wedding singer across
the tri-state area.
The judges for this season of “The Voice” include Michael Bublé, John Legend, Adam Levine, and Kelsea Ballerini. Bublé was the first to turn his chair, and Kiernan described that moment as “insane.”
“I thought, how wonderful that I get to stay in this Wizard of Oz dreamland,” Kiernan said. “I couldn’t go wrong with any of the coaches, but I chose Kelsea because of the energy and connection we made.”
Kiernan has been enjoying his time on the show and is grateful for the support from family and friends. “It has been overwhelming in such a great way,” he said. His mom, Helen, and cousin, Sa-
Carolyn James / Herald
Officials attending the event, left to right: NYS Assemblyman Kwani O’Pharrow, Babylon Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer, Chamber First Vice President Peter Buccino, Chamber President Donna Farina, District Attorney Ray Tierney;
Dan Kiernan
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27
•Town of Babylon Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting: 6 p.m., Town Board Room, Babylon Town Hall, 200 East Sunrise Highway, Lindenhurst. For more information, call (631) 957-3012.
•Amityville Rotary Club Meeting: 8 a.m., Brownstones Coffee, 55 Merrick Road, Amityville. For more information, call President Michele Camilleri at (631) 598-1700 or email amityvillerotaryclub@ gmail.com
• The Long Island Dahlia Society: 9 a.m., Bayard Cutting Arboretum, 440 Montauk Highway, Great River. All are welcome. Come and learn how to care for your dahlias. Tubers will be available for sale starting in April. For more information call (631) 972-8829 (leave message) or visit longislanddahlia.org
•Church Attic Thrift Shop: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 25 Broadway, Amityville. For information, call (631)-264-0152 or email amitychurch1792@gmail.com
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28
•Simpson United Methodist Church Thrift Shop: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 30 Locust Ave., Amityville. For more information, call (631) 789-2569
•St. Mary’s Thrift Shop: 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., 175 Broadway, Amityville, enter from rear parking lot. Lots of collectibles, glassware, clothing and other gently used items. For information, call (631) 464-4899.
SATURDAY, MARCH 1
•Amityville School District Board of Education Budget Session Meeting: 9 a.m., Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School, 140 Park Ave., Amityville. For more information, call (631) 565-6000
•Church Attic Thrift Shop: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 25 Broadway, Amityville. For information, call (631)-264-0152 or email amitychurch1792@gmail.com
•St. Mary’s Thrift Shop: 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., 175 Broadway, Amityville, enter from rear parking lot. Lots of collectibles, glassware, clothing and other gently used items. For information, call (631) 464-4899.
• The Long Island Dahlia Society: 9 a.m., Bayard Cutting Arboretum, 440 Montauk Highway, Great River. All are welcome. Come and learn how to care for your dahlias. For more information call (631)-972-8829 (leave message) or visit longislanddahlia.org.
SUNDAY, MARCH 2
•Simpson United Methodist Church Thrift Shop: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 30 Locust
Ave., Amityville. For more information, call (631) 789-2569
MONDAY, MARCH 3
•Copiague School District Board of Education Meeting: 7 p.m., Everett E. Newmann III Administrative Offices at Copiague Middle School, 2650 Great Neck Road, Copiague. For more information, call (631) 842-4015.
•Town of Babylon Planning Board Meeting: 7 p.m., Town Board Room, Babylon Town Hall, 200 East Sunrise Highway., Lindenhurst. For more information, call (631) 957-4434.
TUESDAY, MARCH 4
•Town of Babylon Accessory Apartment Review Board Meeting: 6 p.m., Town Board Room, Babylon Town Hall, 200 East Sunrise Highway, Lindenhurst. For more information, call (631) 957-7468.
•Emotional Health Recovery and Support Group: 7:30 to 9 p.m., Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9592, 55 Hickory Lane, Levittown. Free weekly, in-person meeting of Emotions Anonymous, a 12-step support group for anyone experiencing emotional difficulties. For more information, call Steve at (631)-332-0552 or Jill at (516)-2207808. All calls are confidential.
•Church Attic Thrift Shop: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 25 Broadway, Amityville. For information, call (631)-264-0152 or email amitychurch1792@gmail.com
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5
•Town of Babylon Rental Board Meeting: 6 p.m., Town Board Room, Babylon Town Hall, 200 East Sunrise Highway, Lindenhurst. For more information, call (631) 957-4434.
• Emotional Health Recovery and Support Group: 7:30 to 9 p.m. Free weekly, virtual meeting of Emotions Anonymous, a 12-step support group for anyone experiencing emotional difficulties. For more information, call Steve at (631)-332-0552 or Jill at (516)-220-7808. All calls are confidential.
• The Long Island Dahlia Society: 9 a.m., Bayard Cutting Arboretum, 440 Montauk Highway., Great River. All are welcome. Come and learn how to care for your dahlias. Tubers will be available for sale starting in April. For more information call (631)-972-8829 (leave message) or visit longislanddahlia.org
•Church Attic Thrift Shop: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 25 Broadway, Amityville. For information, call (631)-264-0152 or email amitychurch1792@gmail.com
Calendar items are printed for non-profit organizations, as space permits, or when an event, service or information is being sponsored by a profit-making organization without charge to readers. Submit items to us at Richner Communications, attn: Record Editor, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530; or email: dconsola@liherald.com at least two - three weeks prior to the publication date in which the item must appear. Sorry, but open-ended requests without the specific dates of the events are not acceptable. While we make every attempt to accommodate each request, we cannot guarantee publication of any items. For more information, call 516-569-4000.
WI Class of ‘75 holding reunion
The West Islip High School Class of 1975 is holding a class reunion July 19, 2025 at Captain Bill’s restaurant in Bay Shore.
For details, visit/join the organization’s Facebook page: West Islip High School Class of 1975 Or call 516-456-3207 and leave a message.
Amityville’s Devaneice Johnson, 8, stays well on track at finals for prestigious Colgate Women’s Games
By CHRISTIE LEIGH BABIRAD cbabirad@liherald.com
At just 8 years old, Devaneice Johnson of Amityville placed 6th in the Girls Elementary A 55-meter Finals at the Colgate Women’s Games this month, competing at the Armory in New York City.
Devaneice, described by her coach, Ella Williams at Metropolis Long Island Track Club as a “firecracker” with impressive discipline, earned her spot in the finals after a strong performance in the preliminary rounds.
Devaneice has her own take on her talent. “I love running because I’m fast and I’m strong,” she said.
The Colgate Women’s Games is the nation’s largest amateur track and field series. Participants compete in a series of preliminary events for a chance to qualify for the finals.
Devaneice is the daughter of David and Anastasha Johnson and is a third grader at Park Avenue Elementary School in Amityville, where she says math is her favorite subject. Her father said Devaneice looks up to past track stars and dreams of pursuing a career in track and field.
Williams, who typically trains high school athletes, praised Devaneice’s undeniable talent. “She can run with the best of them,” Williams said. “She did that in the finals while sick and didn’t complain at all.”
More than 2,000 athletes competed for a spot in the finals.
Williams is excited to continue training Devaneice and hopes to secure an indoor track facility for winter training in Suffolk County.
“She’s the youngest and fastest athlete I’ve ever had, and she’s so personable,” Williams said. “She’s going to be the next Long Island star.”
For more information on the Colgate Women’s Games, go online to: colgatewomensgames.com.
CRIME WATCH
The following incidents have been reported by the Suffolk County Police Department and other law enforcement agencies:
STORE THEFTS
West Islip: A man and a woman walked into the Stop & Shop supermarket on Union Boulevard Feb. 10, filled a cart with food and merchandise and left the store without paying for the items.
Deer Park: An individual walked into Famous Footwear in The Arches Feb. 12, took a pair of crocks off a shelf and left the store without paying for them. That incident was reported at 5:35 p.m.
Amityville: Two men walked into Walgreen’s pharmacy Feb. 11 shortly before 7 p.m. and stole over-the-counter medications.
GRAND LARCENY
Wyandanch: Someone rummaged through a vehicle parked on Brooklyn Avenue and stole credit cards on Feb. 12 at 6:43 a.m. It was later reported that several transactions had been made on the cards. Police are investigating.
North Babylon: An unidentified person called a resident of Phelps
Lane, North Babylon Feb. 10 making threats about outstanding bills and demanding payment. The victim sent the individual $3,000 only to realize later it was a scam. Police are investigating.
Copiague: A 2014 Toyota Prius parked in front of a home on Beachview Street was stolen. The theft was reported to police Feb. 8 at 8 p.m.
Lindenhurst: The owner of Good Day Distributions, a fence company, reported the theft of multiple picket fences and posts. The business is on Sunrise Highway.
ARRESTS
Driving While Intoxicated/Impaired: Scott Littman, 49, of 172 Columbus Ave., West Babylon; Victor Teel, 55, of 29 Locust Ave., Wheatley Heights; Jahmeer Mixon, 19, of 30 Hackmatac St., Central Islip; Christopher Parada, 22, of 141 W. Fulton Ave., Roosevelt; Denis Lopezlara, 37, of 53 Walnut Rd., Amityville; Latchman Singh, 36, of 67 Bedell St., Lindenhurst; Kevin Cerciello, 31, of 15 Muncy Ave., West Babylon.
Petit Larceny: Miasia Abner, 28, of 669 Commack Rd., Brentwood; Darryl McDonald, 48, of 287 Whittier Dr., Mastic Beach; Nicole Hagood, 23, of 77 Center Ave., Bay Shore; Marion Moran Castro, 49, of 18 Salem Pl., Copiague; Luz Rios-
subillaga, 44, of 21 Scott Ave., Deer Pari; Laura Ryan, 58, of 253 Trouville Rd., Copiague; Kleyber Roman Pena, 33, of 101 E. 2nd St., Huntington Station; Troy Haigood, 28, of 372 11 St., Lindenhurst; Michelle King, 54, of 161 Gainsborough Rd., Holbrook; Nastassja Graham, 36, of 819 Centre Ave., North Lindenhurst.
Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance: Tiffany Orellana, 38, of 50 Deauville Blvd., Copiague.
Grand Larceny: Lloyd Berger, 63, of 1653 Straight Path, Wyandanch; Joshue Campos, 21, of 27 Cherwal St., West Babylon; Angelo Toney, 52, of 33 Croyden Rd., North Amityville; Dennis Nunez, 28, of 129 Irving Ave., Deer Park.
Burglary: Qualeik Brewton, 23, of 11 Hazel St., Central Islip.
Criminal Possession of a Weapon: Christian Pagan, 32, of 11 Plymouth Dr., Massapequa.
People named in Crime Watch items as having been arrested and charged with violations or crimes are only suspected of committing those acts of which they are accused. They are all presumed to be innocent of those charges until and unless found guilty in a court of law.
Divine Beauty, a women’s spiritual retreat, scheduled in Amityville Saturday, March 15
Science of Spirituality will be hosting a Women’s Retreat on Saturday, March 15 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Learn how to face life’s challenges by finding your center of inner strength, peace and love through meditation. The program will include a complimentary vegetarian lunch. Come for discussion, sisterhood, meditation and friendship.
Featured workshops include Meditation, Beautify Your Life with Emo -
tional Wellness with Ekta Kohli Portillo, LCSW; Yoga for Health and Inner Harmony with Ferlaisa Gomez, ALM, RYT; and Vegan Bites for One or More with Rosanna Jimenez, CHHC. To register, email infotristate@sos. org . For more information, call (631) 8227979.
Science of Spirituality Meditation Center is located at 79 County Line Road, Amityville.
Photos Courtesy/Ella Williams
Devaneice takes a much-needed rest after her performance
Photo Courtesy/ Metropolis Long Island Track Club Devaneice Johnson shows off her trophy.
DA outlines safety initiatives at Copiague Chamber meet
with many banks to raise awareness and communicate with the public to tackle this issue,” Tierney responded.
To enhance public safety, Tierney discussed the “death by distribution” law, which increases penalties for drug dealers, particularly those selling fentanyl. Under the law, dealers can be charged with second-degree murder if someone overdoses on an illegal substance they sold. The law does not require proof of malice, and offenders can face up to 19 years for a first offense and up to 40 years for repeat offenses.
Chamber President Donna Farina thanked Tierney, Schaffer, and members of the Suffolk County Police Department’s 1st Precinct, who provided the group the latest crime statistics and shared tips on how people can protect themselves.
“We are very happy that they made the time to come to our meeting and to inform us about important issues,” she said.
For more information on the District Attorney’s office, visit suffolkdistrictattorney.com.
For more on the Copiague Chamber of Commerce, email dfarina@copiaguechamber.org.
Amityville’s Dan Kiernan advances to ‘Battles’ on NBC’s ‘The Voice’
CONTINUED
mantha, were with him for the turningpoint audition.
“I’ve genuinely dreamed of the chair turning and getting to the Blind Auditions is one of those bucket list dreams come true,” he said.
As he moves on to the highly competetive Battle Rounds, Kiernan is excited for the opportunity to represent his community and share his voice with the world. He also expressed gratitude for his close-
knit Long Island family.
“They’ve really kept me going,” he said. “They’re all enjoying the celebrations now.”
Kiernan attended the Long Island Lutheran School in Glen Head and the Long Island High School of Arts in Syosset.
“The Voice” airs on NBC on Mondays at 8/7C and streams on Peacock.To learn more about Dan Kiernan, follow him on Instagram, X, and TikTok @DanKiernanMusic.
■ WEB SITE: www.amityvillerecord.com / www.liherald.com/Amityville ■ E-MAIl: Letters and other submissions: cjames@liherald.com
EDITORIAl DEPARTMENT:
S.C. District Attorney Ray Tierney
Dan Kiernan
Photos by: Danny Ventrella/NBC Audition shots
Photo by:
Christine Bartolucci/NBC
WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH
Feldman leads a JCC that’s all about community
By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com
First in a month-long series of interviews with influential area women in honor of Women’s History Month. Stacey Feldman is the executive director of the Marion and Aaran Gural JCC.
Herald: Tell me about yourself.
Stacey Feldman: When I was in college, I studied advertising and marketing and after being on a trip to Israel I realized that I wanted to work for the Jewish community. I loved trying to understand what made people buy a brand or why a certain color was successful, product placement, all of that really interests me and then after being in Israel, I realized that the Jewish community needed me more. I wanted to sell being an active member of the Jewish community. I’m doing this since 1990, I started working part-time teaching Hebrew school and from there I moved to New York and became the Teen Director at the Mid-Island Y JCC, worked for Hadassah and Young Judea and then was blessed to have worked for UJA Federation. From UJA is how I ended up working in the Five Towns and ultimately becoming the Executive Director here
at the Gural JCC, in 2023. I love building the community and bringing them together, there are so many types of people and they all come together under one roof.
Herald: What do you do? Why?
Feldman: We have four sites that serve this wonderful community. Everyone knows that we’re the little blue house on Grove Avenue that helps people. In 2017, we purchased Temple Israel, Lawrence so that is what we refer to as the Harrison-Kerr Family Campus. That’s the site where we have the senior center and we operate the largest early childhood center in the community with about 350 kids and a staff of almost 90. In the summer of 2023, in partnership with the Leon Mayer Fund took over the operation of the Mark Ramer Chesed Center, in Hewlett. That is a 3,500 square foot facility of new goods so that a family in need can get linens, new clothing, new house wares and appliances. Our fourth site is the S.H.O.P, in Cedarhurst (Sustenance Hope Opportunities Place) and that is
where we operate the largest kosher food pantry on Long Island, serving over 800 families. We offer a variety of social work support services from that location sand the whole agency.
Herald: What has challenged you in your career so far, and what keeps you going and inspires you?
Feldman: What challenges me currently is never wanting to say no, but for financial reasons sometimes we have to say no. What I grapple with is wanting to serve more and more people on what is a non-profit budget. What keeps me going is the ability now to build a full-service Jewish community center in this area. We’ve been working out of the site on Grove for almost 42 years and it’s exciting to address all of the needs in the community for recreation, socialization, a pool and serving all members of the community.
Herald: What have been the proudest moments in your life?
Feldman: I’m very proud of my fami-
ly, and having a son who just graduated college a year ago, a daughter that just entered college and having a loving and supporting husband. My family gives me the support that I need to work long nights and hours, so without the support from them I wouldn’t be able to do this work. I think our proudest moment professionally is finally working in partnership with Nassau County to find a location so that we can really expand services. We are very excited to build a whole new center that the community can participate in.
Herald: What advice do you have for others? What work is left to be done?
Feldman: My advice to anybody is to follow your passion, work is not work is you are passionate about it. You will enjoy coming to work everyday is you enjoy the work. Whether it’s on a volunteer level, if you can’t do professionally what you’re passionate about then find time to give back and get involved in a non-profit you enjoy. There is always work to be done, as women we’re nurturing and we’re caring, empathetic, we don’t want to leave any stone unturned so we’re always looking for new opportunities.
Ellis leads the fight for LGBTQ representation
By ROKSANA AMID ramid@liherald.com
For over a decade, Long Island native Sarah Kate Ellis has led GLAAD, the world’s most influential LGBTQ media advocacy organization. Under her leadership, GLAAD has evolved from a media watchdog into a driving force for cultural change, shaping representation and acceptance of LGBTQ people in media, entertainment, and politics. In an interview, Ellis shares her journey, challenges, and vision for the future.
Herald: How did you get where you are?
Ellis began her career in media, working for major publishing houses like Condé Nast and Time Inc. She quickly discovered her passion for storytelling.
“I loved media instantly,” she said. “I loved telling stories and seeing the power of storytelling and how it can really bring people together.”
However, her family set her on the path toward advocacy.
“My wife and I got pregnant at the exact same time by accident, if that could be,” Ellis said. “It wasn’t planned. We were just trying to start a family. And I think that led more to my advocacy work.”
As digital media transformed the industry, Ellis sought a new challenge. When the opportunity arose to lead
GLAAD, she saw it as a way to combine her passion for media with her commitment to the LGBTQ community.
“I got to do what I love—media advocacy—but for my community,” she said.
“When I started at GLAAD, it was really to modernize the organization based on the changing media ecosystem.”
Now, after 11 years at the helm, Ellis remains committed to ensuring GLAAD continues to be a powerful voice for LGBTQ representation.
Herald: What are your daily responsibilities?
“The media ecosystem has yet again dramatically shifted,” she says. “The average American spends 12 hours a day consuming media. So we’ve never had a larger opportunity ahead of us.”
However, reaching audiences has become more complex.
Ellis: “I really do two key things at the organization,” she says. “One is drive the strategy on how we’re going to build acceptance in the United States and globally for LGBTQ people. The other significant part of my job is fundraising. To do all the work, you need funding.”
One of her key initiatives was establishing the GLAAD Media Institute, which serves as the organization’s think tank, advisory, and education arm. She also launched a rapid response team to address media coverage and public narratives around LGBTQ issues.
Ellis believes GLAAD’s work is more critical than ever as media consumption habits change.
“The biggest challenge is how do we reach people when it’s so delineated?” she asks. “That’s one of the challenges I’m facing now—how do I reach folks in a compelling way that touches them and moves them?”
Herald: What are your memorable achievements?
Over the years, Ellis has celebrated many victories, both personal and professional.
“From a personal perspective, it’s my family, my wife and our kids,” she says. “I’m so proud of my kids. They’re 16 now. They were 4 when I started at GLAAD, so that’s kind of mind-blowing.”
In her work, she is particularly proud of partnerships that have expanded LGBTQ inclusion.
“Here I am at the Super Bowl. We host an NFL-partnered Super Bowl event for the LGBTQ community,” Ellis says. “If you ever said to me 10 years ago that GLAAD and the NFL logo
would be together and working together, I would have never believed you. But here we are.”
She is also proud of GLAAD’s presence at the World Economic Forum, ensuring LGBTQ issues remain part of global discussions.
“If we’re not there speaking on behalf of LGBTQ people, we are left out of the conversation,” she says. “I was proud to be the first LGBTQ organization to get a white badge from the World Economic Forum.”
Herald: What advice can you offer the next generation?
Ellis: “I think my advice is to work hard and with your head up, because everybody says put your head down and work hard,” she said. “But I think you have to keep your head up, stay aware of what’s going on.”
She believes that in an increasingly virtual world, making personal connections is essential.
“I think we’ve become such an isolated society, and people think that we can do things on Zoom, but proximity to power and meeting people and engaging with people personally advances so much more at a rapid pace than meeting on Zoom.”
Both interviews, with Stacey Feldman and Sarah Kate Ellis, continue at liherald.com.
to DiPalma sisters for creating P.S. I Love You Day
By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com
“The
Home heating assistance opportunities for Suffolk’s veterans
The Suffolk County Veterans Emergency Assistance Commission is now accepting applications from veterans in need of home heating assistance. Consideration is given to all home heating options and minor home heating system repairs.
“With all the pressures facing our heroic veterans, staying warm at night should not be one of their concerns,” said Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine.
If you are interested in learning more and/or applying for the Veterans Emergency Home Heating Assistance Program, please contact the Suffolk County Veterans Service Agency at (631) 8538387 or email veteransinfo@suffolk-
countyny.gov
The application can be found at shorturl.at/N7MJM.
To meet the criteria, you must complete the application, DD Form 214 with Character of Discharge Honorable or General Under Honorable Conditions, household income (W-2, disability rating, social security etc.), Proof of heating expenses (oil, electricity, gas) or boiler/ plumbing estimate and a narrative letter describing your need for assistance.
All the above information must be submitted with the application to Keith O’Reilly, VSO, Suffolk County Veterans Service Agency, 100 Veterans Memorial Highway, P.O. Box 6100, Hauppauge, NY 11788-0099.
Historic book donation drive: 5,000 books collected by Babylon and Book Fairies
The Town of Babylon, in partnership with Book Fairies, has collected over 5,000 books for local students. This historic effort brought together residents, educators, and community partners to foster a love for reading and support literacy initiatives throughout the community. Town officials said the books will provide students with greater access to reading materials that encourage imagination, learning, and personal growth
This book donation effort also ties into the town’s celebration of P.S. I Love You Day, founded by sisters Jaimie and Brooke DiPalma. The day promotes love, kindness, and positive mental health awareness, said a town spokesman. Much like the themes of this special day, the book drive shows how small acts of generosity can make a lasting impact on the community and the future of its students.
Leg. Kevin McCaffrey, Lindenhurst Village Trustee RJ
Local officials work with county to bring Emergency Preparedness seminar
An emergency preparedness seminar was held recently in Babylon Town, sponsored by S.C. Leg. Kevin McCaffrey who partnered with Village of Lindenhurst Deputy Mayor RJ Renna. The presentation, held at the Lindenhurst Memorial Library, was conducted by Michael Clahane of the Suffolk County Office of Emergency Management, and included more than an hour of preparedness tips, safety information, and details on ways for residents to keep safe during myriad emergencies.
Dozens of attendees received an education on the role of the Office of Emergency Management and the Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services, as well as an abundance of safety tips, information, and insight on county resources for disaster preparedness and response at the seminar on Feb. 18.
“The most important job of local government is to keep our residents safe, and it is through classes like these that
we show the importance of being prepared,” said McCaffrey. “I thank the Suffolk County Office of Emergency Management for their efforts in keeping us safe.”
Renna added, “Lindenhurst is no stranger to severe weather events, and from Sandy to snowfall we have seen it all. I commend the residents who took part in this training to better equip themselves in the event of an emergency and thank all those who answer the call to serve others when disaster strikes.”
Clahane and the S.C. Office of Emergency Management offered these tips: Start with making a “go bag” stocked with all the essentials —including food, water, flashlights, batteries, and extra blankets.
Stay ahead of dangerous weather by signing up for Suffolk Alerts to receive real-time emergency updates. Text “SuffolkAlerts” to 67283 to sign up.
Durso running pet food drive for LI Cares
NYS Assemblyman Michael Durso, in coordination with Long Island Cares, is inviting the community to participate in his annual Pet Food Drive to help families keep their pets out of shelters and remain at home where they belong.
Durso is asking residents, community organizations and pet lovers to donate unopened bags of dog and cat food, canned pet food and pet supplies. All items collected will be donated to Baxter’s Pet Pantry, operated by Long Island Cares, which provides free pet food and pet supplies to pet-owning families in need throughout Long Island.
Donations can be dropped off through April 4 at Durso’s district office at 512 Park Blvd. in Massapequa Park or at various other locations throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties including:
Petco 5500 Sunrise Hwy, Massapequa; Babylon Public Library 24 S Carll Ave, Babylon; North Babylon Public Library 815 Deer Park Ave, North Babylon; West Babylon Public Library 211 109, West Babylon or West Islip Public Library 3 Higbie Lane, West Islip.
In addition, students at the following schools can bring in donations: Massapequa High School, Massapequa; Bayview Elementary School, West Islip; Manetuck Elementary School, West Islip; Oquenock Elementary School, West Islip; Beach Street Middle School, West Islip Udall Road Middle School, West Islip; West Islip High School, West Islip and Paul J Bellow Elementary School, West Islip
For more information, call Durso’s district office at 516-541-4598.
Photos Courtesy/S.C. Leg. Kevin McCaffrey
S.C.
Renna and Michael Clahane of the S.C. Office of Emergency Management at the seminar
Dominic Sister Shamus Eileen Dwyer, teacher
at OLPH and St. Rose of Lima schools, dies at 92
Sister Shamus Eileen (Anne) Dwyer, OP, a member of the Order of the Sisters of St. Dominic in Amityville for 73 years, died Feb. 3, 2025, at the age of 92. She taught at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Lindenhurst, St. Rose of Lima in Massapequa, and several other Catholic schools.
Sister Shamus was born Dec. 16, 1932, to James and Helen (Gewert) Dwyer. She attended Good Shepherd School and St. Joseph’s Mountain School, where she was taught by the Dominican Sisters.
On Sept. 8, 1951, she entered the Sisters of St. Dominic of Amityville, receiving the Dominican habit on Aug. 4, 1952. She was given the name Sister Shamus Eileen and made her final vows on Aug. 7, 1956.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from Molloy College and a Master of Arts degree from Queens College. She also received certifications in Geriatric Health Care, Pastoral Care of the Sick, Spiritual Direction, Body, Mind, Spirit Healing, and Bereavement Counseling.
CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR JUDY MAISEL
The family of Judy Maisel of Amityville is holding a Celebration of Life March 1, 2 to 6 p.m., at Carney’s, 136 Broadway, Amityville. All are welcome.
GUMC hosting chef’s competition March 8
Lindenhurst is holding a chef’s competition on Sat., March 8. The event begins at 6 p.m. Tickets are $10.
Cook your favorite entree or dessert or just taste and cast your vote.
Grace United Methodist Church, is at 15 S. Wellwood Ave., Lindenhurst. For information call 631-226-8690 or email gumc.lindy@ gmail.com
Sister Shamus taught for 36 years and served as a Pastoral Care Associate for five years and a Pastoral Minister at Holy Spirit for 20 years.
A spokeswoman for the Order said, “Being of true Irish heritage, her favorite saint was St. Patrick, her favorite holiday was St. Patrick’s Day, and her favorite place to travel was Ireland. It is not known how many times she kissed the Blarney Stone!”
She enjoyed chocolate ice cream or candy year-round, regardless of the weather, and loved swimming, especially in the ocean. She was known for her sense of humor and shared a beloved prayer: “Give me a sense of humor, Lord. Give me the power to see a joke. To get some happiness out of life and pass it on to other folk.”
She was predeceased by her parents, James and Helen; her brother, Jimmy; and her sisters Helen (Sis) and Gloria. She is survived by her sister Audrey, many generations of nieces and nephews and will also be remembered by the Sisters of St. Dominic in Amityville.
Services were held Feb. 7, 2025, at Queen of the Rosary Motherhouse in St.
Albert Chapel. Interment followed at St. Dominic Cemetery on the Motherhouse grounds.
Sister Shamus Eileen Dwyer OP
Copiague HS musicians join Five Towns College music festival
Students from the Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School participated in the inaugural Five Towns College High School Honors Band Festival on Friday, Jan. 31 and Saturday, Feb. 1.
During the two-day event, students worked with the college’s music department faculty in masterclasses and rehearsals. The
festival concluded with a performance for friends and family. The following student-musicians participated: Brian Chacon, Rhianna Coleman, Annie De Oleo, Veronica Karwowska, Davi Malik, Josue Mendez, Alyson Tenebro, Daniel Zheng and Ethan Zheng.
Northeast Elementary School students shine in Black History Month concert
Amityville’s youngest learners at Northeast Elementary School held an exciting performance in front of their parents and teachers during the school’s annual Black History Month program on Feb. 14.
Directed by music teacher Megan Ashe, students and staff members performed a medley of songs in the school’s gymnasium, such as “This Little Light of Mine,” “Peace Like a River,” and “Scat Like That.” The gymnasium also featured a decorative art showcase that was organized by art teacher Nicole Pappas.
District administrators, including Superintendent of Schools Dr. Gina Talbert, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Mary Stephens, and Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Dr. Bridgette Waite were in attendance for this year’s program.
Northeast Elementary perform for the crowd
Photo courtesy of the Amityville chool District
Amityville’s youngest learners at
STEPPING OUT
c. 1970s, pencil and pastel on paper, is an open-ended composition, depicting race relations.
Above: If Der Be Angels Then Some Must Look Me, c. 2000s, wood and acrylic, examines spirituality by highlighting the divine beauty of the everyday..
Painting the bigger picture
Robert Graham Carter reflects: A life lived through art
By Danielle Schwab
Within the everyday experience, there’s a deeper story to be told. For visual artist Robert Graham Carter, his art unearths the stories of the African American experience through the individuals and environments he depicts, bringing larger narratives to the surface.
Now on display at the Heckscher Museum of Art, visitors can explore over 22 figurative paintings, sculptures and drawings that explore his reflections on childhood, spirituality, the black church, and societal inequities. The exhibition, “Robert Graham Carter: The Art of Reflection,” celebrates not only his talents but his involvement with Long Island’s art scene — particularly the Heckscher, where Carter made history in 1973 as the first African American artist to receive a solo show.
Born in Louisville, Ky. in 1938, Carter witnessed firsthand life during the Jim Crow South. Later, he went to the University of Louisville with many internationally known artists today such as Sam Gilliam, Bob Thompson and Kenneth Young.
“They actually formed an arts collective called the Gallery Enterprises when they were in college. This collective was important because the city was recently desegregated. There were socially not that many opportunities for artists to exhibit their work if they were artists of color,” guest curator Sarah Battle says. “The Gallery Enterprises created those spaces.”
• Now through May 25
• Open Thursday through Sunday, noon-5 p.m.
• Heckscher Museum of Art, 2 Prime Ave., Huntington
• Visit Heckscher.org or call (631) 380-3230 for information on related programming
Carter became known for his striking figurative art — often in mixed mediums —that depicted his life experience as an African American man while drawing inspiration from the people around him.
“He’s going to showcase a memory, or illustrate people — everyday people — in his life that he either wants people to be thinking about, to elevate, or just to offer another perspective on the topic at hand,” Battle, research curator at Louisville’s Speed Art Museum, explains.
Drawing influence from his upbringing, Carter’s works balance personal and universal truths, with a focus on topics that connect to the experiences of African Americans. His art addresses the joy and importance of family, the legacy of segregation, the charm of childhood, the spiritual and corporal force that is the Black church, and the impression of Blackface on American culture.
“Figures are the carriers of my thoughts, messages, or ideas, they are my stories,” Carter explained in an email. “For me, it’s the best way to tell the story or to give value or a sense of texture to a meeting or setting.”
In his untitled pencil and pastel drawing from the 1970s, Carter shows his mastery through his depiction of two children, one white child and one African American child with empty thought bubbles above their head as they gaze at each other.
“This piece inspired the education team at the Hecksher to create an activity for people to think about the sorts of conversations these two children could be thinking or saying to each
other, and what sorts of ways these conversations might have changed over time,” Battle says.
Carter also found a niche in using wood in his creations.
“It started with me being attracted to the brightness of the paint and the subdued quality of the wood,” Carter went on in his email. “I thought color placed against this kind of texture and tone would stand out. If you had a bright blue or bright red against a dull gray, the gray would make the color even stronger.”
His use of texture is on full display in his “If Der Be Angels, Den Sum Mus Look Like Me, 2000s,” where Carter postulates spiritual inclusivity within the religious narrative.
“This piece is of an angel. The wings of the angel are made up of these wood slits. They’re painted in bright colors that make it appear that the wings are very full and threedimensional,” Battle says.
“They’re just layers of these wood pieces that create such beautiful interiors or beautiful figures.”
Carter moved to Long Island in 1968 and joined Nassau Community College where he taught in the art department for over 50 years. Archival itemsl such as newspaper clippings and letters included in the exhibit show the impact of his identity as an educator and artist in the local art scene — and throughout the country.
“When I retired, a formal written notice was required. In my notice, I wrote an anecdote ‘I explained the problem, and no one understood it. I explained the problem again, and no one understood it. I explained it a third time, and I understood it.’ It’s a short gimmicky way of saying I am bettered for having taught others,” Carter further explained.
His legacy of creating and inspiring art here and beyond is a testament to his enduring craft.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for the local arts community if they don’t know his work already, to see a number of great examples, as well as draw more national attention to his living legacy,” Battle adds.
“This exhibition not only offers visitors a chance to see art made throughout Carter’s career, but it also makes space to honor his living legacy as an artist educator. This solo show highlights some of his early influences in Louisville, Kentucky as well as his impact on artists in Nassau County and beyond.”
Jim Messina
He has plenty of stories to tell — with more to come. An undisputed expert in the fine art of making hit music, Jim Messina’s legacy of musical genius spans five decades, three super groups, a vibrant solo career and scores of producing and engineering credits. a musician whose career has shaped the sound of multiple generations. From his start with Buffalo Springfield to defining the Country Rock genre with Poco and then forming the iconic duo Loggins & Messina, his influence on music is undeniable. With hits spanning over five decades, he’s a true craftsman of his art. Now touring with a talented band, Messina performs songs from every stage of his career: Buffalo Springfield, Poco, Loggins & Messina, and his solo projects. ouring the country and playing sold-out shows, Jim says that he’s enjoying discovering who he is, where he’s been and — most significantly — where he’s going.
Friday, Feb. 28, 8 p.m. $69, $59, $49. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. Tickets available at landmarkonmainstreet.org or (516) 767-6444.
Kevin James
You know him, you love him, and now you can catch Kevin James when his “Owls Don’t Walk” tour arrives here. As only Kevin can, he covers a range of topics from motivating children to put down their video games, to why he doesn’t trust technology, and how many tater tots he can fit in his mouth. James sure has come a long way since his early days on the local comedy scene. After being discovered at the 1996 Montreal Comedy Festival, he signed a development deal to create his own sitcom. “The King of Queens” premiered in 1998 and ran for nine seasons, earning him an Emmy nomination. From there, his acting career blew up — in film and TV.
Sunday, March 2, 7:30 p.m. $99.50, $79.50, $69.50, $49.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. (800) 745-3000 or Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY. com.
Images courtesy Robert Graham Carter Family Collection Untitled (Two Young Teens With Empty Chat Bubbles),
To the right: Proud Queen, Tribute To My Wife, 1995, wood and acrylic, underscores the versatility of his form.
THE Your Neighborhood
The Joni Project
The Joni Project visits the Tilles Center stage, Thursday, March 20, 7:30 p.m., to celebrate the iconic Joni Mitchell. The musically sophisticated band is fronted by Long Island’s remarkable multi-instrumentalist and singer Katie Pearlman, who impressively plays Joni’s songs in their original open guitar tunings, and also includes jazz and jam band mainstays Dave Berg (guitar), Dan Ehrlich (bass), Alan Lerner (drums), Mark Mancini (keyboards), Steve Finklestein (percussion), Premik Russell Tubbs (saxophone and flute) and Victoria Faiella (backing vocals). Collectively, they’ve performed with members of the Grateful Dead, The Band, The Doors, the Neville Brothers, and many others.
Together, they bring fresh interpretation to Joni’s legendary tunes from their many eras and genres — particularly from the time of her stunning and dynamic collaboration with Jaco Pastorius, Pat Metheny and Michael Brecker. But The Joni Project celebrates it all — from Both Sides Now, Big Yellow Taxi, Chelsea Morning and Help Me, to Raised on Robbery and Free Man in Paris! LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville. Tickets available at tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100.
Prom Boutique Donation Drive
Help make prom a fun, fabulous and memorable experience for our Copiague teens. Drop off new and gently used formal wear, shoes, bags and jewelry to Copiague Memorial Library, any time during regular library hours from March 1 to April 12. For more information, call (631) 691-1111. 50 Deauville Blvd., Copiague.
Readers Rendezvous Book Club
Copiague Memorial Public Library’s book club gathers Tuesday, March 4, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Discus John Bateson’s book “The Education of a Coroner: Lessons in Investigating Death.” The author of this book will join in via Zoom from California for a Q & A period. Copies are available at the Circulation Desk or you may download a copy on Libby. To register for this event, visit copiague.librarycalendar. com/event/readers-rendezvousbook-club-48752. For more information, call (631) 691-1111. 50 Deauville Blvd., Copiague.
FAITH-BASED BREAKFAST
Book Signing
Former Babylon resident and author Tom McKeown visits Babylon Village Historical Society, Tuesday, March 18, 7 p.m. He relives the magical season of 1974 when the first Long Island Basketball Champion was crowned, through his book “This is Panther Country,” a memorial of youth, underdog spirit and basketball glory. 117 W. Main St., Babylon. For more information, call the Historical Society at 631-669-1756.
Women’s Health and Wellness Fair
Copiague Memorial Public Library hosts a Women’s Health and Wellness Fair, Saturday, March 1, 2-5p.m. Kick off Women’s History Month by meeting with a variety of organizations that provide resources for health and wellness. For more information, call (631) 691-1111. 50 Deauville Blvd., Copiague.
Color your winter blues away
Stop by Copiague Memorial Public Library, Wednesday, March 5, 4-5 p.m., for relaxation and de-stressing by taking some time to color. Coloring pages and pencils will be provided, but you are welcome to bring your own supplies. To register and for more, call (631) 691-1111. 50 Deauville Blvd., Copiague.
Technology assistance
Amityville Public Library invites residents to meet with their tech and have all technology related questions answered. Bring in your cell phone, laptop, iPhone, Android or any tech-related questions for help navigating this everchanging world of technology. Call (631) 264-0567 or visit the reference desk to schedule an appointment. Amityville Public Library,19 John St., Amityville.
On stage
Adelphi University Performing Arts students present the musical adaptation of “The Spitfire Grill,” now through Sunday, March 2. Based on the 1996 film by Lee David Zlotoff, this is a heartwarming and inspirational musical tale of redemption, perseverance and family. It follows a troubled
Mayor’s Spring Social
Enjoy an afternoon out with friends and neighbors with a beautiful view of the Great South Bay at the Unqua Corinthian Yacht Club, Sunday, March 2, 3-7 p.m. The event is sponsored by the Amityville Kiwanis Club and will have a credit card bar. No food will be served. It’s okay to bring light snacks for the table. With 50/50 raffle and Chinese Auction. $25 per person. For more information, tickets and table reservations, contact Kevin Smith at (516) 351-1270 or email afd1131@verizon.net. 31 Unqua Place, Amityville.
LIMEHOF Music Documentary Film Festival taking submissions
The inaugural Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame Music Documentary Film Festival is set to launch Aug. 8-10. LIMEHOF is currently open to submissions up until Thurs., May 1. To learn more about entering, visit shorturl.at/VqmkM or call (631) 689-5888.
Annual Art Contest
The Town of Babylon holds its annual art contest. Submissions are due by Friday, March 14, 4 p.m. This year’s theme is “Town Pride.” Participants must be Town of Babylon residents. All ages are welcome; only one submission per resident. Photographs, drawings and painting are all accepted mediums.To access the application, visit shorturl.at/ xSIEo. For more information, call (631) 893-2100.
Art Explorations
Converse, collaborate and create at Family Saturdays at Nassau County Museum of Art. The drop-in program continues, Saturday, March 1, noon-3 p.m. Kids and their adult partners talk about and make art together. While there, enjoy reading and play in the Reading Room, and contribute to The Lobby Project, a collaborative art installation.Registration required. 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. Visit nassaumuseum.org to register or call (516) 484-9337.
On exhibit
Suffolk County Community College presents the exhibition “Drone Beuys: Origins,” at the Sagtikos Art Gallery, through Friday, March 28. The collaborative project by artists Nick Bontrager and Adam Fung utiliz contemporary technology to reflect on the legacy of renowned artist Joseph Beuys. Through video projections, sculptures, and a large-scale inflatable structure, the exhibit transforms the gallery into a space of exploration, wonder, and experimentation. It features landscapes from various residency projects, including Iceland, West Texas, the Caribbean seas, Tasmania and Italy, along with animations and data points that traverse both real and imagined terrestrial layers. Visitors engage with the interactive works, contributing to the creation of a growing, collaborative origin story. Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. For more information, contact Sagtikos Art Gallery at (631) 851-6380. Sagtikos Arts and Science Building on the Michael J. Grant campus in Brentwood, 1001 Crooked Hill Road, Brentwood.
St. Martin of Tours religious education classes
St. Martin of Tours Church in Amityville offers religious education classes for grades 1-8. Classes meet once a week and sacrament preparation is offered for all ages, including high school level. Religious education begins in grade 1 and First Communion and First Reconciliation is a twoyear preparation. Sacraments are received at the end of the second year. All are welcome to register. Online forms can be found at stmartinamityville.com/religious-education/ 41 Union Avenue, Amityville. For information, call (631) 691-1617.
Experiencing the Soul
number. Submissions can be emailed to thescene@liherald.com.
The four essential practices of gratitude, contentment, compassion, and forgiveness are explored in an eight-part meditation workshop series at Science of Spirituality Meditation Center, continuing Tuesdays, Feb. 25; March 4, 11, 18, and 25, 7-9 p.m. Each class is a stand-alone workshop. No prior knowledge needed. Speaker Andrew Vidich discusses how gratitude, contentment, compassion, and forgiveness deepen our meditations and open our hearts to our authentic selves. For information and to register, call (631) 822-7979, (888) 666-1990, or go to sos.org/location/amityville. 79 County Line Road, Amityville.
Pets, Pets, Pets...
JOANNE ANDERSON
The Surprising histories of the Siamese, Persian and Himalayan cats
When it comes to “talking dogs,” breed names can be misleading. French Poodles are not French, and Great Danes are not Danish. Both breeds were developed in Germany. This confusion prompted me to investigate the origins of three popular cat breeds.
Siamese if You Please; Multiple accounts suggest the Siamese breed originated in Siam (now Thailand), though some trace its roots only to East Asia. The cats are mentioned in a 14th-century book of cat poems from Ayudhya, the former Siamese capital. Initially known as Royal Points, Siamese cats were reserved for the royal family, and stealing one was punishable by death.
Siamese cats held religious significance. When a royal family member died, the cat was entombed with them. Two versions of the cat’s fate exist: one says the burial chamber had a hole in the roof, allowing the cat to escape with the per
attended by monks and treated to the finest foods—so it could intercede on behalf of the deceased elite’s soul.
Legends from Siam also explain two distinctive features of the breed: kinked tails and crossed eyes. One tale involves a princess using her Siamese’s tail as a ring stand while bathing. Another tells of a mated pair of Siamese cats left to guard Buddha’s golden goblet while all the men of Siam went off to war. The female cat wrapped her tail around the goblet and kept a vigilant watch until she gave birth to kittens with kinked tails and crossed eyes, much like their anxious mother. Today, some Siamese kittens are born with kinked tails and crossed eyes, keeping the legend alive.
It’s believed that the first Siamese cat to enter the U.S. was a gift to First Lady Lucy Hayes from the American consul in Bangkok in 1879. She named the cat “Siam,” and he became a White House favorite.
The Mysterious Persian: The Persian cat’s roots are equally murky. Accounts suggest these laid-back, longhaired, pansyfaced cats originated in Persia (modern-day Iran) and arrived in Europe with caravans or Crusaders carrying spices, jewels, and Turkish Angora cats. Until the 1950s, the terms “Persian” and “Angora” were used interchangeably. Today, only the heavierboned, flat-faced cats are known as Per
B.C. suggesting a Persian presence further west, most experts believe the breed originated from the harsh terrain of southwest Asia, near present-day Iran. The long coats result from crossbreeding with European wild cats and the full-coated Steppe or Pallas’s cats of ancient times. Persians arrived in the U.S. around the same time as Siamese cats.
The All-American Himalayan:
The Himalayan cat was made in the USA. In 1930, a Harvard Medical School
scientist and a cat breeder collaborated, breeding Siamese and Persian cats until they created this hybrid breed with color points and long coats.
Despite hieroglyphic records from 1684
Binky is a Himalayan re-homed via Last Hope.
The name “Himalayan” was chosen because the breed’s color pattern resembles that of the goats and rabbits native to the Himalayan region. Though born white, Himalayans develop dark points on their ears, nose, feet, and tail as they grow. The darkening in these extremities is attributed to lower body temperatures in those areas. Could the cold climate in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where the breed was developed, have influenced this unique trait?
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Nikita- a Siamese mix kitten adopted via Last Hope. She looks like a purebred Sealpoint Siamese but can’t be because her littermate is solid black.
SUMMONS Supreme Court of New York, Suffolk County U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR RMTP TRUST, SERIES 2021 COTTAGE-TT-V, Plaintiff -against- RAFAEL ASTACIO, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF ELIZABETH ASTACIO; TIMOTHY G. ASTACIO, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF ELIZABETH ASTACIO; UNKNOWN HEIRS OF THE ESTATE OF ELIZABETH ASTACIO; U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT F/K/A SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (EASTERN DISTRICT) O/B/O INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE; SUFFOLK COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE; "JOHN DOE" AND "JANE DOE" said names being fictitious, it being the intention of Plaintiff to designate any and all occupants of premises being foreclosed herein, Defendants. Index No. 615011/2024. Mortgaged Premises: 255 Meucci Avenue Copiague, NY 11726 District: 0100 Section: 199.00 Block: 03.00 Lot: 046.000. To The Above Named Defendant(s): YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to
answer the Complaint in the above entitled action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the Plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days of the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after service of the same is complete where service is made in any manner other than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a Defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service. If you fail to appear or to answer within the aforementioned time frame, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECTIVE of the above captioned action is to foreclose on a Mortgage to secure $$383,330.00 and interest, recorded in the Suffolk County Clerk’s Office on August 13, 2012, in Liber Book M00022236, at Page 847, covering the premises known as 255 Meucci Avenue, Copiague, NY 11726. The relief sought herein is a final judgment directing sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the mortgage described above. Plaintiff designates Suffolk County as the place of trial. Venue is based upon the County in which the mortgaged premises is located. NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer
on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. FRIEDMAN VARTOLO, LLP 1325 Franklin Avenue, Suite 160 Garden City, New York 11530, Attorneys for Plaintiff. 25-224. 2/12, 19, 26, 3/5
Plaintiff designates SUFFOLK as the place of trial situs of the real property SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS
Mortgaged Premises: 823 VENETIAN BOULEVARD, LINDENHURST, NY 11757
District: 0100, Section: 228.00, Block: 01.00, Lot: 072.000, 073.006
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK INDEX NO. 620924/2024 COUNTY OF SUFFOLK SELECT PORTFOLIO SERVICING, INC. Plaintiff, vs. DANIEL P. CRONIN, if living, and if she/he be dead, any and all persons unknown to plain -
Public Notices
tiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or general or specific lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff; ADMINISTRATOR OF THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, AN AGENCY OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, “JOHN DOE #1” through “JOHN DOE #12,” the last twelve names being fictitious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the premises, described in the complaint, Defendants.
To the above named Defendants YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above entitled action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days of the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after service of the same is complete where service is made in any manner other than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service. Your failure to appear or to answer will result in a judgment against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. In the event that a deficiency balance remains from the sale proceeds, a judgment may be entered against you.
NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT
THE OBJECT of the above caption action is to foreclose a Consolidation, Extension, and Modification Agreement to secure the sum of $202,300.00 and interest, recorded on June 07, 2004, in Liber M00020765 at Page 029, of the Public Records of SUFFOLK County, New York., covering premises known as 823 VENETIAN BOULEVARD, LINDENHURST, NY 11757.
The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above.
SUFFOLK County is designated as the place of trial because the real property affected by this action is located in said county.
NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME
If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action.
YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.
Dated: February 5th, 2025 ROBERTSON, ANSCHUTZ, SCHNEID, CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC Attorney for Plaintiff Matthew Rothstein, Esq. 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310 Westbury, NY 11590
516-280-7675
25-231 2/19, 26, 3/5, 12
Notice of the Annual Meeting of Beth Moses Cemetery Corporation
The Annual Meeting of the Beth Moses Cemetery Corporation (“the Corpora-
tion”) for the election of Directors and for transactions of such other business as may properly come before this meeting, will be held in the office of Pryor Cashman LLP, 7 Times Square, New York, NY 10036 Borough of Manhattan, City of New York on the 4th day of March 2025 at 2:00 in the afternoon.
Dated February 2025 Anthony Biolsi Secretary 25-222. 2/12, 19, 26
NOTICE TO PROPOSERS:
The Board of Education of the Amityville Union Free School District, Towns of Babylon and Oyster Bay, Suffolk, and Nassau Counties of New York invites sealed proposals for Independent Auditing Services-External Auditor as specified in the contract documents. Proposals will be received until 2:00 PM, prevailing time on March 21, 2025, at the District Administrative Offices at 150 Park Avenue, Amityville, New York 11701. The Board of Education reserves the right to reject any proposals and waive any informality in any proposal. It shall, further, make awards in any way it deems advisable to the School District's best interest. Any proposals submitted will be binding for forty-five (45) days after the formal opening, and no proposal shall be withdrawn during that time, pending the decision of the Board of Education. Any firm wishing to receive a copy of the above proposal must call the District’s purchasing department at (631) 565-6039. 25-247. 2/26
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BY THE TOWN OF BABYLON ACCESSORY APARTMENT REVIEW BOARD
Pursuant to provisions of Local Law # 9 of the Babylon Town Code, notice is hereby given that the Town of Babylon Accessory Apartment Review Board will hold a public hearing in the Town Board Meeting Room in the East Wing of Town Hall, 200 East Sunrise Highway, Lindenhurst, New York on Tuesday eve, March 4th, 2025. Public hearings begin 6:00pm.
NEW APPLICATION:
.Marie Dolores FanFan
81 10th Ave West Babylon, NY 11704
SCTM#0100-1324-89
• Rolfis Paulino 32 Bedford Street Amityville, NY 11701
SCTM#0100-1693-79
Printing Instructions:
RENEWALS BY AFFIDAVIT APPLICANTS, ARE NOT REQUIRED TO APPEAR. ALL NEW CASES WILL BE HEARD IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY ARE ADVERTISED.
All interested persons should appear at the above time and place by order of Sandra Thomas, Chairperson, Accessory Apartment Review Board, Town of Babylon, North Lindenhurst, Suffolk County, New York.
Amityville Record: Wednesday, February 26th, 2025 25-241. 2/26
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT SUFFOLK COUNTY THE STATE OF NEW YORK MORTGAGE AGENCY, Plaintiff against MARTIN ROBINSON AKA MARTIN D. ROBINSON, IF LIVING, AND IF DEAD, THE RESPECTIVE HEIRS AT LAW, NEXT OF KIN, DISTRIBUTES, EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS, TRUSTEES, DEVISEES, LEGATEES, ASSIGNORS, LIENORS, CREDITORS AND SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST AND GENERALLY ALL PERSONS HAVING OR CLAIMING UNDER, BY OR THROUGH SAID DEFENDANT WHO MAY BE DECEASED, BY PURCHASE, INHERITANCE, LIEN OR OTHERWISE OF ANY RIGHT, TITLE OR INTEREST IN AND TO THE PREMISES DESCRIBED IN THE COMPLAINT HEREIN, AND THEIR RESPECTIVE HUSBANDS, WIVES, OR WIDOWS, IF ANY, AND EACH AND EVERY PERSON NOT SPECIFICALLY NAMED WHO MAY BE ENTITLED TO OR CLAIM TO HAVE ANY RIGHT, TITLE OR INTEREST IN THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED IN THE VERIFIED COMPLAINT; ALL OF WHOM AND WHOSE NAMES AND PLACES OF RESIDENCE UNKNOWN, AND CANNOT AFTER DILIGENT IN -
QUIRY BE ASCERTAINED BY THE PLAINTIFF, ARLICIA ROBINSON AKA ARLICIA S. ROBINSON A/K/A ARLICIA S. AGARD, et al Defendant(s) Attorney for Plaintiff(s) McMichael Taylor Gray, LLC, 28 Corporate Drive, Suite 104, Halfmoon, NY 12065.
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered January 5, 2024, I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at Babylon Townhall, 200 East Sunrise Highway, Lindenhurst, NY 11757 on March 26, 2025 at 9:00 AM. Premises known as 254 Albany Avenue, Amityville, NY 11701. District 0100 Sec 169.00 Block 02.00 Lot 032.000. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the Town of Babylon, North of the Village of Amityville, County of Suffolk and State of New York. Approximate Amount of Judgment is $578,901.22 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 615235/2018. The foreclosure sale will be conducted in accordance with 10th Judicial District's Covid-19 Policies and foreclosure auction rules. The Referee shall enforce any rules in place regarding facial coverings and social distancing.
Sabita HajareeRamsaran, Esq., Referee File # 21001073-01 25 -230 2/19, 26, 3/5, 12
SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF SUFFOLK MATRIX FINANCIAL SERVICES CORPORATION
Plaintiff, -againstBERSHELL HALL AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF FREDERICA COOLEY WHO WAS HEIR AND ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF LOIS COOLEY; KHADIJAH DUFF AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF FREDERICA COOLEY WHO WAS HEIR AND ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF LOIS COOLEY; BERNADINE COOLEY AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF FREDERICA COOLEY WHO WAS HEIR AND ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF LOIS COOLEY; CARL BOUCICAULT AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF FREDERICA COOLEY WHO WAS HEIR AND ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF LOIS COOLEY AND FREDERICA COOLEY’S unknown heirs at law, her next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, devisees, legatees, assignees, lienors, creditors, and successors in interest, and generally all persons having or claiming, under, by or through said defendant who may be deceased, by purchase, inheritance, lien or otherwise, any right title or interest in and to the premises described in the complaint herein; WIHELMINA COLLIER AS HEIR OF THE ESTATE OF LOIS COOLEY; TANZA COOLEY
Public Notices
AS HEIR OF THE ESTATE OF LOIS COOLEY; THOMAS COOLEY AS HEIR OF THE ESTATE OF LOIS COOLEY; TIMOTHY COOLEY AS HEIR OF THE ESTATE OF LOIS COOLEY; CLERK OF THE SUFFOLK COUNTY TRAFFIC & PARKING VIOLATIONS AGENCY; CITIFNANCIAL MORTGAGE CO., INC.; LANDMARK FINANCIAL SERVICES INC.; NORTH STAR CAPITAL ACQUISITIONS LLC; CLERK OF THE SUFFOLK COUNTY DISTRICT COURT; PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, UNITED STATES OF AMERICAINTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE, JOHN DOE (REFUSED NAME), Defendants. INDEX # 614591/2024 Original filed with Clerk June 13, 2024. Plaintiff Designates Suffolk County as the Place of Trial. The Basis of Venue is that the subject action is situated Suffolk County. Premises: 81 New Ave Wyandanch, NY 11798. TO THE ABOVENAMED DEFEN -
DANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the Complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a notice of appearance, on the Plaintiff’s Attorney(s) within 20 days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within 30 days after the service is complete if this Summons is not person-
ally delivered to you within the State of New York); the United States of America may appear or answer within 60 day of service hereof; and in case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT The OBJECT of the above captioned action is to foreclose a Mortgage in the amount of $129,000.00 plus interest, recorded in the office of the clerk of the County of SUFFOLK on February 4, 2017 in book 22786 page 357 covering premises known as 81 New Ave, Wyandanch, NY 11798. The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above. NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this Summons and Complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A
COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF MATRIX FINANCIAL SERVICES CORPORATION AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. Dated: Uniondale, New York, January 31, 2025 Respectfully submitted, Pincus Law Group, PLLC. By: /s/ Linda P. Manfredi, Esq., Attorneys for Plaintiff, 425 RXR Plaza Uniondale, NY 11556, 516-6998902
25-228. 2/12, 19, 26, 3/5
Notice of formation of ASK Health Care Service
Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 10/17/2024
Office location, County of Suffolk. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC United States Corporation Inc 7014 13th Ave Brooklyn NY 11218 suite 202 upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a process served to: The LLC, ASK Health Care Svc 737 Elmwood Rd., West Babylon NY 11704
Purpose: any lawful act.
25-229 2/19, 26, 3/5, 12, 19, 26
NOTICE is hereby given that the PLANNING BOARD of the Village of Amityville will hold a Public Hearing in the Court Room of Village Hall, 21 Ireland Place, Amityville, NY at 6:00 P.M. on THURSDAY, March 6, 2025, to consider the following applications: Application of Brandon Hamchuk, RA
on behalf of Matthew Friedrich. Applicant seeks architectural review and approval for the proposed construction of a 24’ x 32’ detached garage pursuant to Section 24-6 A. (1) (h) of the Village of Amityville Code. Premises located on the West side of Unqua Place approximately 277 feet South of Richmond Avenue in a “Residential B” District known as 15 Unqua Place a/k/a SCTM #101-13-145. Application of Universal Sign/Paula Ruiz on behalf of Extra Space Storage. Applicant seeks review and approval for the proposed installation of a new Extra Space Storage Branding Package pursuant to Section 24-6 A (1) (j) of the Village of Amityville Code. Premises located on the South side of Sterling Place approximately 110 feet West of Broadway (Rt 110), known as 24 Sterling Place a/k/a SCTM #1013-5-4.2. By Order of the Planning Board, Village of Amityville Catherine Murdock, Clerk/Treasurer 25-232. 2/19, 26
NOTICE OF PUBLIC AND/OR INFORMATIONAL HEARINGS BY THE TOWN OF BABYLON PLANNING BOARD
Pursuant to Chapter 186, Site Plan Review, and Chapter 213, Zoning, of the Babylon Town Code and Section 276 of the Town Law, notice is hereby given that the Town of Babylon Planning Board will hold public and/or informational hearings(s) at the Babylon Town Hall, Town Board Room, 200
East Sunrise Highway, Lindenhurst, New York, on the Monday, March 3, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. prevailing time or as soon thereafter as can be heard to consider the following application(s):
PUBLIC HEARING/SITE PLAN REVIEW/SUBDIVISION/CHANGE OF ZONE
JOB# 24-30ABE; Pinello Estates 109 LLC: SCTM# 0100156-03-019.003: Zone G Industry to G Industry and MRMultiple Residence: SEQRA – Unlisted Action, Uncoordinated Review: Applicant proposes to subdivide an 89,532sf lot into two lots. On proposed Lot 1, which is to be 6,882sf, the applicant will maintain an existing 2,062sf office building, along with associated site improvements. On proposed Lot 2, which is to be 82,650sf, the applicant proposes a change of zone from G-Industry to MR-Multiple Residence, in order to construct 7 buildings for a total of fourteen (14), three-bedroom condominium units, along with associated site improvements.: Property is located on the south side of NYS Route 109, 83.07’ east of East Drive, West Babylon, Suffolk County, Town of Babylon, New York
All interested persons should appear at the above time and place by order of Patrick Halpin, Chairperson of the Planning Board, Town of Babylon, North Lindenhurst, Suffolk County, New York PRINTING INSTRUCTIONS
Amityville Record: 2-26-25 25-246 2/26
PUBLIC NOTICE LEGAL NOTICE FOR TAXES DUE AND UNPAID TO THE VILLAGE OF AMITYVILLE FOR THE YEAR 2024 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT WHEREAS arrears of taxes levied in the year 2024 by the Village of Amityville, charged and imposed pursuant to law, remain due and unpaid on several tracts, plots, pieces, or parcels of land, situate, lying and being in the Village of Amityville, Town of Babylon, County of Suffolk and State of New York, and described in the following list indicating the names of those owners or occupants as the same upon the assessment roll for the said year and following said names are amounts, including tax fees, interest and charges against said properties for said year, to wit: (SEE ATTACHED LIST) AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT pursuant to the powers vested in me by law, I shall on the 14th day of March, 2025 at 10:00 AM and the succeeding days until the sale is completed, sell at public auction at ten o’clock in the forenoon in the 3rd Floor Court Room located in the Village Hall at No.21 Ireland Place in the Village Hall, Town of Babylon, County of Suffolk and State of New York, the above described tracts, plots, lots, pieces or parcels of land, until so much of each parcel shall be sold as will be sufficient to pay the tax for the year above specified, together with fees, interest and charges which may be due thereon at the time
of the sale; bids shall be for an amount sufficient to pay said tax, fees, interest and charges, and where no bid shall be of such amount, said premises shall be deemed to have been sold to and purchased by the Village. The purchasers at such sale shall pay the amount of their respective bids to the Village Clerk within ten days after the sale and upon such payment, the Clerk will give to the purchaser a certificate in writing describing the real estate purchased and the sum paid therefor. If any purchaser shall neglect or refuse to pay the amount of his bid or bids within the time prescribed, the Village Clerk may state an account such purchaser and may recover same together with costs from such purchaser, by an action brought in the name of the Village Clerk, or such Village Clerk may cancel so much of such sale to such purchaser and the parcel or parcels so sold shall be deemed to have been purchased by the Village. The owner, the occupant of, or any persons having an interest in any real estate sold for taxes to any party other than the Village itself, may redeem the same at any time prior to the filing of a Notice of Pendency of an action to foreclose the lien of such taxes or prior to the conveyance by the Village Clerk pursuant to the provisions of Section 1450 of the Real Property Tax Law, by paying to the Village Clerk for the use of the purchaser, his heirs or assigns, the sum mentioned in his certificate with the interest thereon at the rate of one per-
centum per month or fraction thereof, from the date of sale for which such certificate was given, together with the charges accrued at the time of such redemption, and the amount of any Village Taxes levied upon such real estate which have been paid by such purchaser subsequent to such a sale, with interest on such amount at the rate of one half of one percentum per month, or fraction thereof, from the date of payment, where such payment of taxes was made for the purpose of protecting the lien, of the said purchaser. If said real estate shall have been bid in by, or sold to the Village, the said owner, occupant or person interested in such real estate may redeem same at any time prior to the filing of Notice of Pendency of action to foreclose the tax lien, or prior to conveyance to the Village by the Village Clerk by paying the Village Clerk the amount of such certificate with such interest together with the expenses accrued at the time of such redemption, as if a certificate for such sale has been issued to an individual.
IMPORTANT....
THE NAME OF THE OWNERS SHOWN ON THIS LIST MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE THE NAMES OF THE PERSONS OWNING THE PROPERTY AT THE TIME OF THIS ADVERTISEMENT. SUCH NAMES HAVE BEEN TAKEN FROM THE ASSESSMENT ROLLS PREPARED AS OF APRIL 1, 2024 AND FREQUENTLY DIFFER FROM THE NAMES OF THE
Public Notices
OWNERS AT THE TIME OF PUBLICATION OF THE NOTICE. IT MAY ALSO BE THAT SUCH OWNERS ARE NOMINAL ONLY AND ANOTHER PERSON IS ACTUALLY THE BENEFICIAL OWNER.
DATED the 13th day of February 2025, Amityville, New York.
Catherine Murdock, Village Clerk/Treasurer, Amityville, New York TAX SALE- March 14th, 2025 25-238. 220, 26, 3/5
Supplemental Summons and Notice of Object of Action SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF SUFFOLK ACTION TO FORECLOSE A MORTGAGE INDEX #: 622699/2024 MORTGAGE ASSETS MANAGEMENT, LLC Plaintiff, vs KEVIN GRIFFIN AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF LOUISE GRIFFIN, KERWIN GRIFFIN AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF LOUISE GRIFFIN, KEITH GRIFFIN AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF LOUISE GRIFFIN, KERRY GRIFFIN AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF LOUISE GRIFFIN, UNKNOWN HEIRS OF LOUISE GRIFFIN IF LIVING, AND IF HE/SHE BE DEAD, ANY AND ALL PERSONS UNKNOWN TO PLAINTIFF, CLAIMING, OR WHO MAY CLAIM TO HAVE AN INTEREST IN, OR GENERAL OR SPECIFIC LIEN UPON THE REAL PROPERTY DESCRIBED IN THIS ACTION; SUCH UNKNOWN PERSONS BEING HEREIN GENERALLY DESCRIBED AND INTENDED TO BE INCLUDED
IN WIFE, WIDOW, HUSBAND, WIDOWER, HEIRS AT LAW, NEXT OF KIN, DESCENDANTS, EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS, DEVISEES, LEGATEES, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES, COMMITTEES, LIENORS, AND ASSIGNEES OF SUCH DECEASED, ANY AND ALL PERSONS DERIVING INTEREST IN OR LIEN UPON, OR TITLE TO SAID REAL PROPERTY BY, THROUGH OR UNDER THEM, OR EITHER OF THEM, AND THEIR RESPECTIVE WIVES, WIDOWS, HUSBANDS, WIDOWERS, HEIRS AT LAW, NEXT OF KIN, DESCENDANTS, EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS, DEVISEES, LEGATEES, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES, COMMITTEES, LIENORS, AND ASSIGNS, ALL OF WHOM AND WHOSE NAMES, EXCEPT AS STATED, ARE UNKNOWN TO PLAINTIFF, PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ON BEHALF OF THE IRS, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ON BEHALF OF THE SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, CLERK OF THE SUFFOLK COUNTY COURT, SLOMINS INC “JOHN DOE #1” through “JOHN DOE #12,” the last twelve names being fictitious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the Subject Property described
in the Complaint, Defendant(s). MORTGAGED
PREMISES: 22 Lupidia Street Amityville, NY 11701 To the Above named Defendant: You are hereby summoned to answer the Complaint in this action, and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the Complaint is not served with this Supplemental Summons, to serve a notice of appearance, on the Plaintiff(s) attorney(s) within twenty days after the service of this Supplemental Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within 30 days after the service is complete if this Supplemental Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York). In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. The Attorney for Plaintiff has an office for business in the County of Erie. Trial to be held in the County of Suffolk. The basis of the venue designated above is the location of the Mortgaged Premises. TO Unknown Heirs of Louise Griffin Defendant In this Action. The foregoing Supplemental Summons is served upon you by publication, pursuant to an order of HON. Susan Betsy Heckman Torres of the Supreme Court Of The State Of New York, dated the Tenth day of February, 2025 and filed with the Complaint in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Suffolk, in the City of Riverhead. The object of this action is to foreclosure a mortgage upon the premises described below, executed by
Louise Griffin (who died on March 14, 2024, a resident of the county of Suffolk, State of New York) dated the October 26, 2011, to secure the sum of $450,000.00 and recorded at Book M00022148, Page 396 in the Office of the Suffolk County Clerk on December 14, 2011. The Reverse Mortgage (Home Equity Conversion) was subsequently assigned by an assignment executed July 30, 2012 and recorded on December 18, 2012, in the Office of the Suffolk County Clerk at Book M00022284, Page 464. The Reverse Mortgage (Home Equity Conversion) was subsequently assigned by an assignment executed February 17, 2022 and recorded on March 24, 2022, in the Office of the Suffolk County Clerk at Book M00023396, Page 427. The property in question is described as follows: 22 Lupidia Street, Amityville, NY 11701 NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this Foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERV-
ING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. DATED: February 17, 2025 Gross Polowy LLC Attorney(s) For Plaintiff(s) 1775 Wehrle Drive, Suite 100 Williamsville, NY 14221 The law firm of Gross Polowy LLC and the attorneys whom it employs are debt collectors who are attempting to collect a debt. Any information obtained by them will be used for that purpose. 84676 25-240 2/26, 3/5, 12, 19
notices are posted online and are available to the public at no cost. Go to amityville record. com to access all legal notices.
LEGAL NOTICE TO THE TAXPAYERS OF THE COPIAGUE FIRE DISTRICT:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that a resolution was duly adopted by the Board of Fire Commissioners of the COPIAGUE FIRE DISTRICT, Town of Babylon, County of Suffolk, State of New York, on the 12th day of February, 2025, subject to a permissive referendum as provided for by Section 6(g) of the General Municipal Law.
An extract of the resolution is as follows:
The COPIAGUE FIRE DISTRICT maintains a Firefighting and Rescue Equipment Reserve Fund under Section 6(g) of the General Municipal Law in which account there is sufficient funds to accomplish the purposes hereinafter set forth; namely the purchase of turnout gear and boots and it is proposed to contract for such equipment, in order to maintain the high standards of the
COPIAGUE FIRE DEPARTMENT in the discharge of its duties in preserving the lives and property of the residents of the community and said purchase is deemed in the best interests of the residents of the
COPIAGUE FIRE DISTRICT. The resolution further provides that there be transferred from the present Firefighting and Rescue Equipment Reserve Fund of the COPIAGUE FIRE DISTRICT a sum not to exceed One Hundred Seventy Five Thousand ($175,000.00) Dollars for said purchase, and the District Treasurer is
authorized to effect such transfer from time to time to effect such purchase. This resolution shall not take effect until thirty (30) days unless in the meanwhile a mandatory referendum as provided for in Section 6(g) of the General Municipal Law is required to be held.
Dated: February 12, 2025
BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS
COPIAGUE FIRE DISTRICT
TOWN OF BABYLON ATTEST: DONNA MARANO
District Secretary 25-243 2/26
LEGAL NOTICE TO THE TAXPAYERS OF THE COPIAGUE FIRE DISTRICT:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that a resolution was duly adopted by the Board of Fire Commissioners of the COPIAGUE FIRE DISTRICT, Town of Babylon, County of Suffolk, State of New York, on the 12th day of February, 2025, subject to a permissive referendum as provided for by Section 6(g) of the General Municipal Law.
An extract of the resolution is as follows:
The COPIAGUE FIRE DISTRICT maintains an Apparatus Reserve Fund under Section 6(g) of the General Municipal Law in which account there is sufficient funds to accomplish the purpose hereinafter set forth; namely the 3M wrapping and lettering of two pumpers and it is proposed to complete said work, in order to maintain the high standards of the COPIAGUE FIRE DEPARTMENT in the discharge of its
Public Notices
duties in preserving the lives and property of the residents of the community and said work is deemed in the best interests of the residents of the COPIAGUE FIRE DISTRICT. The resolution further provides that there be transferred from the present Apparatus Reserve Fund of the COPIAGUE FIRE DISTRICT a sum not to exceed Twenty Five Thousand ($25,000.00)
Dollars and the District Treasurer is authorized to effect such transfer from time to time to effect such work.
This resolution shall not take effect until thirty (30) days unless in the meanwhile a mandatory referendum as provided for by the General Municipal Law is required to be held.
Dated: February 12, 2025
BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS COPIAGUE FIRE DISTRICT TOWN OF BABYLON ATTEST: Donna Marano District Secretary 25-244 2/26
LEGAL NOTICE TO THE TAXPAYERS OF THE COPIAGUE FIRE DISTRICT: NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that a resolution was duly adopted by the Board of Fire Commissioners of the COPIAGUE FIRE DISTRICT, Town of Babylon, County of Suffolk, State of New York, on the 12th day of February, 2025, subject to a permissive referendum as provided for by Section 6(g) of the General Municipal Law.
An extract of the resolution is as follows: The COPIAGUE
FIRE DISTRICT maintains a Firefighting and Rescue Equipment Reserve Fund under Section 6(g) of the General Municipal Law in which account there is sufficient funds to accomplish the purposes hereinafter set forth; namely the purchase of APX 8000 All Band Radios and associated equipment and it is proposed to contract for such equipment, in order to maintain the high standards of the COPIAGUE FIRE DEPARTMENT in the discharge of its duties in preserving the lives and property of the residents of the community and said purchase is deemed in the best interests of the residents of the COPIAGUE FIRE DISTRICT. The resolution further provides that there be transferred from the present Firefighting and Rescue Equipment Reserve Fund of the COPIAGUE FIRE DISTRICT a sum not to exceed Three Hundred Fifty Thousand ($350,000.00) Dollars for said purchase, and the District Treasurer is authorized to effect such transfer from time to time to effect such purchase. This resolution shall not take effect until thirty (30) days unless in the meanwhile a mandatory referendum as provided for in Section 6(g) of the General Municipal Law is required to be held.
Dated: February 12, 2025 BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS COPIAGUE FIRE DISTRICT TOWN OF BABYLON ATTEST: DONNA MARANO District Secretary 25-245 2/26
The Town of Babylon Rental Review Board will hold a Public Hearing at The Town of Babylon, 200 East Sunrise Highway, Lindenhurst, New York (East Wing Board Room) on Wednesday, March 5, 2025 at 6:00pm NEW APPLICATION
1. Pablo Bruno & Christine Malinauskas
59 Commack Rd. North Babylon NY 11703
SCTM NO: 0100117-2-47
2. Mahindra Totaram
506 DeWitt Ave. North Babylon NY 11703
SCTM NO: 0100-113-1-16
3. 27 Church St. LLC
82 Lincoln Ave. E. Farmingdale NY 11735
SCTM NO: 0100122-1-40
4. 471 Oak St. LLC
477 Oak St. Copiague NY 11726
SCTM NO: 0100178-1-47
5. Miquel Sandoval 102A Claremont Ave. North Babylon NY 11703
SCTM # 0100-1413-15 RENEWALS
1. Maria Elena Sanchez
618 Grand Blvd. Deer Park NY 11729
SCTM NO: 0100-66-1-22
2. Wyandanch Homes & Property 89 S. 31st St. Wyandanch NY 11798
SCTM NO: 0100-53-2-39
3. Wyandanch Homes & Property
65 S. 32nd St. Wyandanch NY 11798
SCTM NO: 010054-2-5
4. Sylvia Barber 22 Dean St.
North Babylon NY 11703
SCTM NO: 0100-147-3-75.004 Legal 2 Family by CO
5. Robert Donahue 38 Wall St. E. Farmingdale NY 11735
SCTM NO: 010047-1-55
3 Family Dwelling 25-242. 2/26 When someone stops advertising, someone stops selling. When someone stops selling, someone stops buying. Whe n someone stops buying, someone stops making. When someone stops making, someone stops working. When someone stops working someone stops earning When someone stops earnng everything stops.
Notable Lenten traditions
Easter is a significant day on the Christian calendar. Billions of Christians look forward to Easter Sunday each year, and that anticipation is amplified by Lent. Lent is a 40-day period preceding Easter that begins each year on Ash Wednesday. According to Campus Crusade for Christ International, also known as Cru, Lent is a time of preparation during which Christians reflect on their relationship with God and ready their hearts and minds for Good Friday and Easter.
Tradition features prominently throughout the Lenten season, and the following are some of the more notable customs during this significant period preceding Easter Sunday.
• Wearing of ashes on the forehead: Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, occurring 46 days prior to Easter Sunday (Sundays are not counted among the 40 days of the Lenten season). The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops traces the tradition of wearing ashes on the forehead to the Old Testament, which depicted wearing ashes as a sign of repentance for one’s sins and a sign of one’s humility before God. Ashes are most often distributed as part of Ash Wednesday Mass, and adherents to the faith wear them throughout the day.
• Avoiding meat on Fridays: Many Christians do not eat meat on Fridays during Lent. The Archdiocese of Saint Paul & Minneapolis notes that canon law calls for abstinence from eating meat on all Fridays of the year, but bishops throughout the United States allow the faithful to eat meat on Fridays outside of Lent so long as they substitute another penance that is particularly meaningful to them. Avoiding meat, which all Catholics 14 and older are urged to do on Fridays throughout Lent, is to honor Jesus Christ, who the faithful believed sacrificed his flesh on Good Friday. To honor that sacrifice, Catholics do not eat flesh meat, which includes beef, pork, chicken, and turkey. Fish are not considered flesh meat, and many Catholics consume fish on Fridays throughout Lent.
• Almsgiving: Lent is often seen as a season of sacrifice, but it’s also a time for giving. Many Christians engage in almsgiving throughout Lent, and some tie it into the sacrifices they make in the name of Jesus Christ. When Christians sacrifice something during Lent, some donate the value of what they forego to the Catholic Church or a charity that gives money, food or other items to the poor. Almsgiving is a wonderful means of combining the many traditions that make the season of Lent such a special time of year for Christians across the globe. Lent is a unique tradition and special time of year for Christians, adding to the anticipation billions have for Easter Sunday.
101-1-1-7
101-1-1-23
Sambuca Holdings LLC.
Mario and Lucia Della Vedova
Gisele Fils-Aime Irrev. Trust
101-2-1-6 Lawrence J. Krumenacker
Jose B. and Inocencia Pena
101-3-3-53 Keith R. Staples
101-3-4-1.3
Gertrude Follett
Jose G. Ortez and Santos Perez
101-4-1-62 Paul and Mary Brantmeyer
101-4-3-2 Altagracia Madera and Carolyn Madera 19 Railroad Ave.
101-5-5-63 Peter Adams and Virginia Gallagher
101-5-5-74 153 Oldfield Ave LLC.
101-5-7-19 St. Pauls Evangelical Church
101-5-7-20 St. Pauls Evangelical Church
101-5-7-22 Michael Kahoud 155 Park Ave.
101-5-8-17 Katherine Grechen
101-5-9-1 Art-of-Form Architects, P.C.
101-7-1-19 Paul and Debra Mcquillian 46 Ketcham Ave. $1,688.60
101-7-4-1 Michael Zaffetti 59 Park Ave. $1,540.03
101-7-4-24.12 Park Ave. Owners Assoc. Common Area (Windsor) $1,521.21
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7 activities to commemorate the upcoming spring equinox
The beginning of spring is cause for celebration. In many areas of the world, the start of spring marks the end of cold temperatures and hours spent indoors, a shift in conditions that is welcomed by millions each year.
Spring is a time of rebirth when flowers and trees bloom anew and animals bear new young. Spring is an exciting and busy time, and one that people can commemorate in many unique ways. Here are seven ideas to usher in spring this March.
1. Fill a home or business with flowers. Collect some early tulip or daffodil blooms and place them around the house. Offer bouquets of dandelions to children or weave them into flower crowns.
2. Spend time in nature. It’s time to get outside, and there is no better time to do so than the beginning of spring. Soak up the sun and temperate climate, which can be good for your physical and mental wellbeing.
3. Visit a loved one. Bring some sunshine to an elderly relative by visiting with him or her. Take a stroll outside or sit on a bench and enjoy a picnic.
4. Prepare the garden by cleaning out weeds and tilling the soil. Some early spring preparation ensures everything will be ready when planting time arrives.
5. Prepare an outdoor feast. Whether it’s a picnic or a barbecue, serve up a warmweather feast with salads, sandwiches and other dishes that are normally served outdoors.
6. Sow some seeds. Encourage each member of your household to pick a favorite plant or flower and sow it in celebration of the first day of spring. It’s possible to make a special spring garden with perennials that will bloom each year.
7. Make spring-related crafts. Colorful wreaths, centerpieces and garlands can bring some of the natural wonders of spring indoors.
The first day of spring is an opportunity to enjoy what makes the season so special. Celebrate the new season with plenty of creative ideas
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Spring planting pointers
Many people view spring as a season of rejuvenation. That renewal may be somewhat metaphorical for human beings, but it’s literal for lawns and gardens that begin to grow anew as temperatures rise and hours of daylight increase in spring.
Each spring presents an opportunity for homeowners to get back outside and tend to their gardens. As the temperatures rise, homeowners can consider these spring planning pointers to ensure their landscapes look lush and full in the months ahead.
• Start with the soil. Soil can serve as the starting point each spring. Winter can take its toll on a garden and even overwhelm the area with debris over the colder months. Clear rocks and other debris from the area before loosening the soil. The Farmer’s Almanac recommends loosening soil to a depth of at least eight inches if planting a new garden. An existing garden may only need to be loosened to a depth of around six inches, after which homeowners can mix compost into the soil in early spring. Compost is organic matter that provides nutrients and helps to build strong plant roots.
• Consider a raised garden in colder cli-
mates. The Farmer’s Almanac notes raised gardens can help homeowners in colder climates dry out and warm up wet, cold soils more quickly. Homeowners in such regions also can cover their beds with black plastic or cardboard prior to planting. Doing so can protect the beds from late-season snow and spring rains and also helps to overcome erosion.
• Take soil temperatures. Unpredictable weather is among the noticeable effects of climate change in recent years. That lack of predictability can make spring planting a little more tricky than it once was. Experts note that soil temperatures around 50 F are best for cool-season crops, while soil should be 60 F or warmer when planting warm-weather plants such as tomatoes.
• Work with a garden center to identify what to plant. The right plants for one region may not be ideal for another, so homeowners are urged to work with a local landscaper or garden center before planting. Such a consultation can be especially useful for homeowners planting a new garden. Landscapers and garden center professionals will know which plants work in the local climate.
• Consider planting vegetables in the spring. Various garden experts note that spring is an ideal time to plant a vegetable garden. If planted at the right time, a vegetable garden can save homeowners money on their grocery bills and provide a season’s worth of fresh veggies. Lettuce and spinach are sunand shade-friendly vegetables, which can
make them good options for a spring garden. Cool-season root vegetables, which include beets, carrots and swiss chard, are some other notable veggies that can thrive in early spring. Spring is a season of rejuvenation for gardens. That’s even more true when homeowners consider some conventional planting wisdom in early spring.
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Is this a good time to build?
Q. We have been planning a large renovation of our home but have put off construction for the past two years due to family circumstances. Now, as we’re ready to move forward, we’re wondering, with everything going on right now, is this a good time to build?
A. It is a good time to build. There are obviously many factors involved in choosing when to start, including costs, permits, the right fit for a contractor relationship, the logistics of where to go while work is being done, where to store things — it’s a long list. But there are many reasons not to hesitate, assuming you have all the necessary plans, approvals and money.
The labor force has been shrinking for many years — especially skilled labor and the workers that skilled laborers need to do a job. Associated Builders and Contractors, a nationally recognized industry trade association, began reporting in January 2024 that an additional 504,000 workers would be needed just to complete current construction in the United States. This year, the association is reporting that 454,000 more workers will be needed. Where will they come from, considering that there are fewer people going into constructionrelated fields?
The Federal Reserve’s Beige Book, which (at least for now) compiles reports on local economics, stated last October that “it remains difficult to find workers with certain skills in some industries such as technology, manufacturing and construction.” As I meet on construction sites, I talk with contractors who are all voicing their frustration that they need trained and skilled workers. Since that problem is getting worse, you may use it as the biggest reason to move ahead sooner than later.
Material prices are predicted to rise as well. One contractor blamed the cost of copper for the higher price of bathroom construction. We compared the cost, seven years ago, of rough plumbing going up, then, from $3,500 to $4,500 dollars. Last week we discussed the cost for the same work, just for supply and installation of the piping, without the fixtures, at $9,500 on average. Lumber from our neighbors to the north and steel from overseas are going up. Typically, by the end of January each year, material prices increase slightly. This year those increases were noticeably greater.
Holding off on your construction job probably isn’t a good idea, based on history. When the economy is booming, prices rise because of supply and demand. When things slow down, manufacturers and trades may have to charge even more just to keep the workforce they gave raises to when things were better or even just to stay in business, to cover their expenses to meet overhead costs. This answer isn’t intended to cause panic, but the statistics are right in front of you, on your smartphone, to follow trends and realize that nobody is going to work for less, and it may be hard to find materials or labor at the prices you hoped for. Good luck!
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Our push for a state spending cap gets Albany sponsors
i’m happy to report that a bill has been submitted in Albany that follows through on the suggestion of the Center for Cost Effective Government that a spending cap be imposed on the state budget.
In 2023, the center published a white paper on how spending caps have been successful in limiting spending and taxes in various states, counties and schools. We exposed, as well, that the State Legislature was being hypocritical in imposing tax and spending caps on schools and local governments while exempting itself from these controls.
We noted that had the state been forced to comply with the same spending cap placed on other jurisdictions, the state budget would be $80 billion smaller than the massive $252 billion behemoth proposed by Gov. Kathy Hochul this year. Our white paper prompted Long Island State Sen. Mario Mattera to cosponsor a bill to cap spending, and to
write an op-ed that was published in Newsday earlier this month.
Our analysis stressed that prior to the spending cap, school district taxes were increasing at a clip of 6 percent a year, while after the 2012 cap was implemented, that figure dropped precipitously, to roughly 2 percent. According to Newsday, the 2 percent property tax cap changed long-term trends and saved New Yorkers nearly $25 billion. On Long Island alone, it saved taxpayers $8.7 billion, with a typical Nassau taxpayer saving $7,611 and a typical Suffolk taxpayer saving $6,284.
only the most essential and effective programs would make the cut.
lanche of aid during the coronavirus pandemic. Had a cap been in place during the Covid years, state spending would not have increased by an astonishing 30 percent from 2020 to 2024. The oneshot grants that came flowing in from the federal government were spent eagerly by the State Legislature, which it thereupon incorporated into the base. That higher spending became the new normal.
range of benefits is the most generous in the nation. But its oversight and fiscal controls are among the worst. Immense infusions of additional state education aid over the past decade have done little to nothing to improve students’ scores. Our spending of $36,000 per student is the highest in the nation and double the national average, yet our test scores languish in the middle of the pack.
Spending caps work because they force prioritization. Just about every special-interest group can make the case that their state funding is worthy. Without a cap, they can all find their way into the budget. With a cap, only the most essential, proven and effective programs would make the cut this year. Others can try again in the future.
The lack of a cap gives a false sense of security to budget-makers when revenues are flowing in from other sources, such as the federal government’s ava-
Even before Covid, however, spending by the Legislature was out of control. While inflation was rising well under 2 percent a year from 2014 to 2018, state spending surged by 19.1 percent during that period.
Roughly 30 states have some form of spending or tax cap in place. High-spending states underperform low-spending states in key growth and productivity metrics. Lower taxes lead to greater economic growth, which relieves pressure to raise taxes.
As of 2018, New York was spending about the same on Medicaid as Florida and Texas combined. New York’s Medicaid spending rate per enrollee is 30 percent above the national average, and its
New York’s taxation of its highest earners is among the highest in the nation. But when it comes to spending, New York was near or at the bottom of the list in almost every category, according to the Tax Foundation’s State Business Tax Climate Index.
We noted that Florida, which has 4 million more people than New York and no state income tax, is able to deliver better services and produce higher test scores than New York with a budget that’s half that of the Empire State. If that’s not reason enough for a spending cap, we don’t know what is.
Steve Levy is executive director of the Center for Cost Effective Government, a fiscally conservative think tank. He has served as Suffolk County executive, as a state assemblyman and as host of “The Steve Levy Radio Show.”
SCWA crews are prepared for water main problems
As winter continues, the Suffolk County Water Authority is once again hard at work, responding to one of the most challenging aspects of delivering highquality water during the colder months: water main breaks. With over 6,000 miles of water mains stretching from Melville to Montauk, and even across Fire Island and Shelter Island, our infrastructure is vast — enough to reach all the way to Siberia. This expansive network delivers water to more than 1.2 million residents. Keeping it functioning during the winter is no small task. During the winter months, fluctuating temperatures cause the ground to freeze and thaw repeatedly. This constant shifting puts stress on the pipes below, especially older cast-iron pipes, which are more brittle and susceptible to cracking under pressure. This year has proven to be particularly challenging for SCWA crews. In January, our teams responded to 224 main breaks — more than double the 101
we repaired during the same period last year. In fact, this is the highest number of breaks we’ve seen in a single month since January 2018, when 268 breaks were recorded.
The Town of Babylon, particularly the southwest sewer district, is where we see the most main breaks. When sewer pipes were installed there in the 1970s, they were placed beneath existing water mains, compromising the structural integrity of the ground. This makes breaks more likely in this area, compared with other parts of our system.
T hey do exhausting and demanding work to ensure reliable water service.
When a water main breaks, it can flood the street and disrupt service to nearby homes and businesses. In addition to the immediate inconvenience, main breaks can stir up sediment in the water system, leading to discolored water. While this discoloration may be concerning, it doesn’t affect the quality of the water, which remains safe to drink. Customers can help clear the discoloration by running cold water from a tap for several minutes. SCWA also regularly flushes the system to clear out sediment and maintain water quality.
Our response to main breaks is swift and precise. Once a leak is reported, our customer service technicians use advanced technology to pinpoint its exact location, ensuring that we only dig where necessary. This minimizes disruption, and allows our crews to address the issue as quickly as possible.
The next step is handled by our construction/maintenance team. They set up traffic-control measures to keep the area safe, and isolate the leak to reduce the number of affected customers. Once the area is excavated and the damaged section of pipe is exposed, they drain the water and begin repairs.
This process isn’t easy, especially in the dead of winter. Our crews work tirelessly, often in the middle of the night, facing brutally cold temperatures and wet conditions. It is exhausting and demanding work, but they do it to ensure that our customers have reliable water service. While residents may be familiar with emergency crews responding to downed power lines or fallen trees after a major storm, our crews are out there all winter long, often without the attention or recognition that comes with
more visible emergencies. They are the unsung heroes of our winter operations. Most of SCWA’s water system consists of cast-iron pipes, a legacy material that is prone to breaking during freeze-thaw cycles. To address this, the authority is proactively replacing 20 to 30 miles of water main each year with cement-lined, ductile iron pipes. This modern material is more flexible, and better suited to withstanding the stresses caused by temperature changes. While there is still much work to be done, we remain committed to upgrading our infrastructure to ensure reliability for years to come.
If you notice pooling water on the street without an obvious source, it could be a sign of a water main break. Please call our customer service line, at (631) 698-9500, so we can investigate and respond promptly.
At SCWA, we take pride in delivering high-quality water to our customers, no matter the season. Our crews are working around the clock to keep your water flowing, even in the harshest conditions. As we continue to invest in our infrastructure and improve our response capabilities, we thank our customers for their support.
Jeff Szabo is chief executive officer of the Suffolk County Water Authority.
sTEVE LEVY
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There should never be a legal excuse for rape
imagine going to a party with friends, or attending your high school reunion or a wedding. You see a lot of familiar faces, and some new ones. Everyone is having a good time sharing memories, and you drink into the night.
By the end, you realize you’ve had too much to drink. Walking doesn’t come as easy, and your words are a bit slurred. No worries. It’s nothing that others haven’t done before. You take precautions, don’t drive. Surely you’ll get home safe.
Except you don’t.
Instead, you are sexually assaulted or raped. The evening before is a blur and you can’t quite put the pieces together, but you know something went horribly wrong. You go to the police to file a report, but suddenly you’re the one being interrogated. Officers start asking you if you had any alcohol or drugs last night, and they may even give you a Breathalyzer test. But that shouldn’t matter, right? Someone committed a crime — full stop.
In New York state, however, there is no law in place that protects survivors of sexual assault if they were voluntarily intoxicated during the crime.
It seems absurd that this is not already law in a state as progressive as New York, especially when compared with conservative states like Alabama and South Carolina, which have laws in place protecting sexual assault survivors who are voluntarily intoxicated.
The bill before the New York State Assembly (A.101), sponsored by dozens
letters
Whither civil discourse?
To the Editor:
of elected officials, aims to amend the law “to allow sex crimes charges to be brought in cases where the victim had become voluntarily intoxicated if a reasonable person in the defendant’s position should have known that the victim was incapable of giving consent due to intoxication.” It has languished in the Assembly since a similar bill was introduced in the State Senate by then Sen. Alessandra Biaggi in 2020, and passed two years later.
“Voluntarily” is the crucial word.
Those who oppose the law are afraid the language will allow for false accusations involving voluntary intoxication among consenting adults, specifically if someone regrets the decisions they made the night before and claims they were not in their normal mental state to give consent.
But advocates argue that those extreme and uncommon situations diminish the seriousness of sexual assault and rape, no matter the situation, and have presented cases to support their cause. We agree with those advocates. There is never an excuse for rape or sexual assault — nor for victim blaming or victim shaming.
In 2017, choreographer Bijan Williams, who worked with high-profile entertainers Beyonce and Jay-Z, was arrested on charges of rape and false imprisonment when a 17-year-old girl called 911 and accused him of raping her in a Manhattan hotel room. Williams was 34 old at the time, and both were under the influence of alcohol. Williams pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor of sup-
Re last week’s editorial, “In civil discourse, everyone deserves respect”: Those of us who agree must realize that this is a contested proposition, currently facing open challenge by those who declare it an invalid premise. To many, “respect” is a virtue only when it is a synonym for obedience, when “persuasion” may include violence, and “disagreement” is a tool useful for exposing enemies, not for discussion but for vicious doxxing.
Various history months face official obliteration, propaganda terms like Gulf of America, “gender ideology” and “patriotic history” are being devised, their use enforced by lawsuit.
Coerced conformity to stereotype attempts to erase individual expression. Our president claims kingship, uses the royal “we,” disparages diversity. Few such bigots are convertible, so our resolve must be keep them from power through our majority of votes.
James Russell Lowell, in 1873, described our situation: “I have always been of the mind that in a
plying a minor with alcohol, and the rest of the case was dropped.
In 2021, The Washington Post published, “A Minnesota man can’t be charged with felony rape because the woman chose to drink beforehand, court rules.” The headline stemmed from a 2017 case in which a woman consumed several shots of alcohol and a prescription pill before accompanying an unknown man who invited her to a party. She was raped, but because she was intoxicated voluntarily, and the state law only protected those who were mentally incapacitated due to intoxication administered by someone without a person’s consent, the man was not charged.
Victim blaming is all too common for survivors of sexual assault and rape, and while the scars may be invisible, they run deep.
Survivors of sexual assault are 10 times more likely to attempt suicide, according to 2020 research by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center. Others are plagued by a lifetime of psychological and emotional issues that interfere with their ability to handle everyday activities like holding a steady job.
While criminals walk away with a relative slap on the wrist, survivors continue to suffer from the crimes perpetrated against them, and in many cases they are relegated to carrying the shame heaped on them by society.
Our elected leaders in Albany must pass A.101 now, and close the voluntary intoxication loophole.
Like any resident of Oyster Bay, I’ve always had a fascination with our hometown president, Theodore Roosevelt. He seemed like such a larger-than-life character, a writer who was a soldier, a hunter who was a politician, and a statesman who truly cared for, and understood the needs of, the common man.
opinions Destroying Roosevelt’s legacy
the executive branch to keep moneyed interests out of politics, despite pushback from members of his own cabinet and party.
been exhausted. TR’s embrace of “soft” power, and its importance in foreign relations, was a hallmark of U.S. foreign policy for much of the last century.
Which is why it is so disappointing that the new presidential administration seems so invested in tearing down everything that Roosevelt achieved. And no, that’s not hyperbole. President Trump has said numerous times that America was richest during the Gilded Age, from about 1870 to the 1890s, and that he hopes to bring us back to that level of prosperity.
Except that prosperity was a lie, built on the backs of working-class employees who slaved away for limited wages and had no protections, while that generation’s top 1 percent got richer and richer. Roosevelt saw the damage this corrupt system was doing to the country, and earned the nickname “Trustbuster” for his fearlessness in breaking up the early monopolies. He used the power of
Contrast that with Trump, who, rather than regulating big businesses, has invited them into his cabinet, and even more terrifying, into the country’s inner record system. Elon Musk, the J.P. Morgan of the 21st century, has been given the keys to the castle and is currently ransacking our public records, from Social Security to Medicaid and more.
president Trump seems hell-bent on tearing down everything T.R. achieved.
Furthermore, Trump has signed one executive order after another weakening regulatory agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission — which was created in response to the Roosevelt administration’s lawsuit against Morgan’s monopoly. Rather than working to make big business more civic-minded and protect regular Americans from its excesses, Trump is enabling the worst aspects of capitalism in this country, enriching the few at the expense of the many.
Roosevelt was also famous as a diplomat, with his best known-quote describing his approach to foreign policy, to “speak softly and carry a big stick.” That meant maintaining a strong military presence, but only using it as a threat once other methods of diplomacy had
Trump, on the other hand, appears to be more easily herded than any previous president, let alone Roosevelt. His administration’s shameful about-face on Ukraine shows his inability to see the benefit of supporting a free, democratic nation unjustly invaded by Russia’s oligarchic president, Vladimir Putin. That, and Trump’s apparent sycophancy toward Putin, Xi Jinping, Kim Jong-un and other autocrats, contrasts sadly with Roosevelt’s ability to play the autocrats of his age against one another without forsaking American honor and dignity.
Trump’s attempted destruction of USAID and similar agencies shows a further lack of understanding of soft power, and the limitations businessmen can have when switching to public service. Not everything needs to be profitable to be useful, despite what Trump and Musk may say. USAID not only saves lives, but also reaffirms the fundamental belief among Americans, our allies and even our enemies that we are a country of fundamentally good people. The goodwill we earn internationally from this and similar organizations is a
fundamental aspect of our soft power, which offers another, often more elegant, solution to global threats than simply sending in our military.
But what would really break Roosevelt’s heart is Trump’s apparent disregard for our nation’s natural beauty and the extraordinary people who steward it. Roosevelt was known as a conservationist, and protected roughly 230 million acres of public land during his presidency, including 150 national forests and more than 40 federal bird sanctuaries.
Trump, meanwhile, has gutted our National Park Service and the United States Forest Service — founded by Roosevelt — and has repeated made clear his desire to open public land to oil drilling while deregulating environmental restrictions that big businesses face. His refusal to acknowledge the role humans play in climate change and his unwillingness to hold oil, coal and similar industries accountable would, I have no doubt, make the Bull Moose apoplectic.
I’ve spent countless hours poring over biographies, watching documentaries and listening to podcasts about Roosevelt. While I obviously never met him, and have never met Trump, I can say with certainty that Trump is no Teddy Roosevelt.
Will Sheeline is an editor covering Glen Head, Locust Valley, Oyster Bay and Sea Cliff. Comments? WSheeline@liherald.com.
Framework by Tim Baker
democracy, manners are the only effective weapon against the Bowie knife.” Resolute in manners, wary, registered to vote.
BRIAN KElly Rockville Centre
Which of these presidents doesn’t belong?
To the Editor:
Re Peter King’s column last week, “Recalling the presidents I’ve met”: Former Congressman King continues his attempt to gaslight Herald readers by including the current occupier of the White House on his list of former U.S. presidents he’s collaborated with over the last several decades. As if Donald Trump’s attack on U.S. democracy and scorched-earth approach is comparable to the political ideology of any former president, Republican or Democrat. King attempts to gloss over Trump’s abhorrent behavior by reminiscing about an invitation King’s grandchildren received to visit the White House. Why is King trying to normalize the first 30 days of this chaotic presidency by recalling mundane details about
Trump — and including him on a list of former presidents who, by contrast, had a very clear and unwavering love for this republic? Why omit mention of Trump’s flurry of nonsensical executive orders, blanket pardons of the criminals who attacked our Capitol, mass firings of federal employees, attempted eviscerations of the CIA and the FBI, elimination of the Department of Education, and countless threats of retribution against perceived enemies?
Because normalization of outrageous tactics is a tool of MAGA’s propaganda machine — much like the Third Reich systematically rationalized its attacks on the free press and takeover of the military as necessary evils in order to take control of an ailing and dysfunctional government. MAGA’s use of this tactic is deceptive and dangerous, and King seems to be a willing cog in the wheel.
At the very least, in the interest of standing up for his former constituents, King should question Trump’s blatant surrender of our government systems — which include our personal and private information — to Elon Musk, under the guise of DOGE, and acknowledge that it is (at the very least) an overstep by an administration that is suddenly in the hands of an unsanctioned group of non-elected private citizens.
Not even Trump’s supporters voted for Elon Musk.
Congressman, it’s never too late to say, “I misjudged him.” It’s never too late to say, “I was wrong.” And it’s
never too late to hold someone accountable.
The indie and R&B cover band Salvee performing at Sparkle on Stage — Freeport
ElIzABETH MURPHy Franklin Square
