Baldwin High School @ Shubert welcomed the One Flight Up Sound Studio to its campus on March 27 with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
Is this thing on?
Baldwin welcomes sound studio to Shubert School
By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com
Testing, one, two, three — Baldwin High School @ Shubert is unveiling its newest addition to its growing campus: the One Flight Up Sound Studio.
Shubert — a nontraditional secondary school focusing on career and technical education — introduced its state-of-the-art studio on March 27, designed to immerse students in practical, career-oriented learning experiences related to music and sound engineering. The new facility aims to offer students access to professional-grade, hands-on resources within the confines of the district.
“In Baldwin School District, we are dedicated to creating new opportunities for our students that immerse them in practical, career-oriented learning experiences, especially professions in music and sound engineering,” Superintendent Shari Camhi wrote in an email to the Herald. “This new space and curriculum at Baldwin High
School @ Shubert align with our commitment to ensuring every student graduates ‘future ready.’ By replicating professional studios found in the industry, ‘One Flight Up’ will enable our students to participate in authentic, hands-on educational experiences right within our district versus having to go off campus.”
The studio features a range of industrystandard resources, including a control room, soundproof recording room, vocal booth, and podcasting technology. Its design mirrors that of professional recording studios. School district officials said students are selected through career interest surveys and conversations with counselors. Six students are currently taking the course.
The addition to Shubert follows the campus’s launch of the Future Jewelers Academy. That hands-on program, created through a collaboration between the Natural Diamond Council and the Black in Jewelry Coalition, introduces them to the jewelry
Little league is for everyone
Kathy Kurz celebrated at black-tie dinner for volunteer service
By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com
Kathy Kurz wanted her daughter, Delaney, who has special needs, to be more involved in the community, so she attempted to enroll the 10 year old in Baldwin Little League in 2019.
However, at the time, the league lacked a division for Delaney and other children ages 4 to 14.
Determined to create opportunities for them, Kurz helped launch the league’s Challenger Division that year, which started out with just five participants. Today, that number has grown to 15 children.
A
sion is to end the stigma surrounding autism and foster greater understanding and acceptance within communities.
When Kurz, who has always been passionate about working with children, searched for extracurricular activities for Delaney, she found the league only offered a program geared toward older participants.
s long as I knew the basic, it was great.
KATHy KuRZ Baldwin
Kurz, a longtime Baldwin resident and former New York City elementary school teacher, was recently honored at a black-tie dinner for A Child Beyond for her dedication to children with special needs.
A Child Beyond is a nonprofit organization that creates a safe, inclusive environment for individuals with autism and their families. The group’s mis-
“It was not fitting for her,” Kurz said. “At the time, she was 10 years old, and these children were 15 or older.”
Without any prior softball or baseball experience, Kurz accepted the challenge of learning the game to create an opportunity for Delaney and other children in her age group.
“I didn’t have any softball or baseball experience except, you know, knowing the game,” she said. “As long as I knew the basics, it was great.”
Kurz said she understands the concerns parents of special needs’ children face when they are introduced to a sport. In the
COntinUed On page 17
Courtesy Baldwin school district
Mirroring a recording studio environment
industry.
Michael Autero from Baldwin High School and Olivia Lattore from MusicBreeds, a nonprofit organization based in Hempstead that helps mentor young musicians, will lead the program.
Looking ahead, the district envisions expanding the program’s offerings to reach even more students.
“With the high-quality equipment and the authenticity of the new space, there are numerous possibilities from an educational standpoint,” Camhi wrote. “We plan to expand the curricu -
lum connected to this resource and explore the possibility of inviting students from our other schools to utilize this space, not only for music but also for other subject areas, like English. For example, they could leverage the podcast technology for our high school’s New Media Academy or our middle school’s Spoken Word Pre-Academy. Although we are still in the initial stages of development, we definitely view this resource as a steppingstone to create more future-focused opportunities for students across the entire district. Stay tuned!”
Photos courtesy Baldwin school district
the one flight up Sound Studio boasts a range of high-quality, industry-standard resources
Baldwin, Uniondale students secure top honors in robotics
By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com
Students from Team 5 Gears Inc. — a collaboration between Baldwin and Uniondale schools — earned top honors at the FIRST Long Island Regional Championship at Hicksville High School last month. This marks their third consecutive year advancing to the championship.
The team consists of four students from Baldwin Middle School: Kelani Weekes, Chandler Dowdy, Aiden McKenzie, and Noah Whyte, as well as Julian Hoilett from Uniondale’s Academy Charter School. They competed in the FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Challenge division, which is designed for students ages 9 to 16. FLL introduces science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts through hands-on learning, where participants build and program LEGO robots to complete missions and develop solutions to realworld problems.
This year’s theme, “Submerged,” challenged teams to address issues related to ocean exploration. Team 5 Gears Inc. presented the EcoShieldGreen Crab Solution, a prototype of an automated crab cage designed to reduce the invasive European green crab population. Their design utilized blue LED lights to attract the crabs, combined with action cameras and motorized oneway doors to help restore affected marine areas.
“The team overcame many challenges,” Keenya Phillip-Weekes said, one of
the coaches. “Every year brings a new theme, a new project to research, and each one is more challenging than the last. Skills you’ve learned must be advanced to remain competitive.”
The team met weekly starting in August to strategize and develop their project. Phillip-Weekes, along with Kirk Weekes from the nonprofit STEM Mindset 4 Kids, coached the team.
“Coaching this team over the past three years has been tremendously rewarding,” Phillip-Weekes said. “To give these students access to robotics
and watch them thrive has been a wonderful experience.”
The team’s success is supported by mentors, families, and experts from the Jones Beach Energy Center and NYS Parks Long Island Environmental Education. Local businesses, including Cosmic Comics, Baldwin Dental Arts, Freeport Staples, Freeport Home Depot, Freeport Target, Baldwin Financial Services, Baldwin Applebee’s, Qzar, Beat the Bomb, Laser Bounce, Urban Air, and Hack Club Bank, also contributed to their achievements.
Looking forward, the team encourages other students to explore robotics and STEM fields. They plan to continue their journey by joining the FIRST robotics team at Baldwin High School, aspiring to pursue careers in engineering and computer science.
“Our goal is to make more parents and students aware of these amazing programs,” Phillip-Weekes said. “We want to encourage them to try forming a team and networking so they don’t feel intimidated.”
things to expect around baldwin
Upcoming events in the community
By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com
Across the Baldwin community, there is an excit -
Vendor applications open for BCA Arts and Craft festival
The highly anticipated Annual Arts and Crafts Festival will take place on May 18 at the Baldwin Community Garden. Vendor applications are now open!
For just $40, vendors can secure a space within the beautiful garden, or for $50, you can reserve a spot in front of the Baldwin Historical Society Museum. To register, simply make your payment via Zelle to Baldwincivic@gmail.com. Once payment is complete, please send a screenshot of your transaction BCAArtsandCraftsFestival@gmail. com to confirm your spot.
ing array of upcoming events for residents to participate in and look forward to. From the Baldwin Civic Association’s Food Truck Friday and the call for vendor applications for the annual arts and crafts festi-
Hangout One Happy Place Autism Walk
The Annual Hangout One Happy Place Autism Walk will take place at Baldwin Harbor Park on April 27, starting at 1 p.m. This event is held in support of Autism Awareness Month, promoting understanding and inclusion for individuals on the autism spectrum. The walk is organized by Baldwin resident Angela Lucas, founder of Hangout One Happy Place, a community initiative dedicated to raising awareness and providing support for families affected by autism.
val, to the upcoming Hangout One Happy Place Autism Walk, there’s something for everyone. The Herald takes a closer look at these events.
Food Truck Friday
The Baldwin Civic Association is welcoming the spring and summer seasons with its Food Truck Friday Fest. Every first Friday through September, Baldwin community members can visit the Baldwin Community Garden at 1980 Grand Ave. to enjoy fresh and delicious food.
Courtesy Keenya Phillip-Weekes
Team 5 Gears Inc. a collaboration between Baldwin and Uniondale schools, earned top honors at the FIRST Long Island Regional Championship last month.
Nothing Wounds the Heart More Deeply than the Loss of A Loved One…
Cecere Family Funeral Home is a family owned Funeral Home and for most, that’s simply a statement of fact. However, when your Family calls on us, when we are asked to bring your Loved One into Our Care, into Our Home, that is the moment when Your Family and Our Family become one. We are dedicated to supporting one another, giving each other strength and celebrating a life – together.
Cremations, Pre-Planning
Brookside Preserve to undergo restoration project
The Brookside Preserve, a 22-acre natural oasis straddling Baldwin and Freeport, will soon be the site of an ambitious ecological restoration project aimed at improving the environment and public health for generations to come.
Set for April 12, the initiative will introduce sustainable measures to help restore the preserve’s delicate ecosystem, reduce reliance on chemical pesticides, and enhance biodiversity.
At the heart of the project: bats.
Mosquito populations in the area have long posed a nuisance and health threat, with standing water from fluctuating creek levels creating ideal breeding conditions.
To combat this naturally, the project will install bat boxes throughout the preserve, providing shelter for these essential insect predators.
Bat-friendly plants will also be introduced to encourage habitation and attract a range of insects, including moths and butterflies, which form part of the bats’ diet.
The Young Family Estate Plan (YFEP)
Parents of young children often overlook the need to plan for death or disability. Many believe they don’t have enough assets yet or that anything they have will automatically go to their spouse. However, every young parent needs basic documents – a Will, Power of Attorney and Health Care Proxy –what we term a “Young Family Estate Plan” (YFEP), that formalize your wishes in a variety of unexpected circumstances. Without a YFEP, if one spouse dies, any assets that were in the husband’s or wife’s name alone will be subject to a court proceeding to name an “administrator” of the estate and New York law decides who gets which assets. The first $50,000 goes to the surviving spouse and the rest is divided 50% to the spouse and 50% to the children. The court will appoint a legal guardian to manage the money for them and then, ready or not, any remaining funds would be turned over at age 18.
If your spouse becomes disabled, and
you don’t have a Power of Attorney for them, you must petition the court to be appointed as your spouse’s legal guardian to handle their affairs (such as selling or refinancing the house or drawing funds from their accounts). The court may decide against you as legal guardian and appoint someone else.
A YFEP also includes life insurance reviews and recommendations, so in the event your spouse dies you will have the financial resources to raise your children.
A YFEP (1) ensures that all of your spouse’s assets go to you and not half to your children if your spouse dies unexpectedly, (2) allows you to choose the legal guardian for your children, and at what age they will receive the unused assets, (3) avoids guardianship proceedings should your spouse have a disabling accident or illness, and (4) provides the financial wherewithal so that your children may continue to prosper and thrive.
Bats are known to play a vital role in controlling mosquito populations, offering a natural alternative to chemical pesticides.
Mosquitoes can carry more than 50 diseases, six of which are deadly.
While pesticides are commonly used to control outbreaks, experts warn they can harm waterways, native plants, and the insects and animals that support the local ecosystem.
In addition to boosting bat populations, the project includes the reintroduction of native plant species, supporting long-term habitat recovery for the preserve’s diverse woodland and freshwater environments.
The initiative is being led by the soonto-be chartered Eco Rotaract of Nassau County, Long Island—an environmentally focused chapter of Rotary International.
Rotary, founded in 1905, has more than 1.2 million members across 200 countries and is a non-religious, non-political organization known for its global humanitarian efforts.
Local environmental advocate Christopher McBride, who has long championed Brookside Preserve, began envisioning the eco-focused Rotary chapter in 2023. His vision becomes reality this June with the official chartering of the group.
Eco Rotaract of Nassau County aims to educate the public about ecological challenges and promote sustainable living through service and community engagement.
As part of its 2025 launch, the group is offering discounted membership rates to new members.
The April 12 restoration event will run from 9 a.m. until completion. Volunteers from the community are encouraged to participate in building bat boxes, planting, and other tasks.
The project is supported by partners including Hicks Nursery, Atlantic Nursery, and Freeport Public Schools.
For more information or to volunteer, contact the Eco Rotaract of Nassau County at ecorotaryncli@gmail.com.
— Mohammad Rafiq
Courtesy Christopher McBride Christopher McBride, right, started Rotaract Eco Club, pictured along with Michael Staton, at a previous clean up that the was held at the preserve.
JULIANA CERASI
Wantagh Senior Lacrosse
IT HAS BEEN A HISTORIC run for Cerasi since last spring when she and classmate Riley Forthofer and the Warriors defeated Manhasset for the Nassau Class C girls’ lacrosse title. The pair went on to win county championships in soccer and basketball, making for a rare backto-back-to back. Cerasi earned All-County and Second Team All-Long Island in lacrosse in 2024 when she totaled 34 goals with 11 assists. She’s headed to James Madison.
GAMES TO WATCH
Thursday, April 10
Baseball: Baldwin at Kennedy 5 p.m.
Baseball: Long Beach at Mepham
Baseball: Hewlett at Calhoun
Softball: West Hempstead at Hewlett
Boys Lacrosse: V.S. District at Freeport
Boys Lacrosse: Clarke at Baldwin
Girls Lacrosse: North Shore at Garden
Friday, April 11
Baseball: Oceanside at Massapequa
Baseball: V.S. North at Wantagh
Baseball: Clarke at V.S. South 5
Baseball: West Hempstead at Uniondale
Softball: Lawrence at V.S. Central
Softball: Long Beach at Freeport
Softball: East Rockaway at Elmont
Boys Lacrosse: Plainedge at Oceanside 5 p.m.
Boys Lacrosse: Farmingdale at Carey 5 p.m.
Boys Lacrosse: Calhoun at South Side 5 p.m.
Girls Lacrosse: Farmingdale at Massapequa 5 p.m.
Girls Lacrosse: Carey at Kennedy
5 p.m.
Girls Lacrosse: Clarke at Sewanhaka 5 p.m.
Girls Lacrosse: Wantagh at South Side 7 p.m.
Girls Lacrosse: Manhasset at Long Beach 7 p.m.
Nominate a “Spotlight Athlete”
High School athletes to be featured on the Herald sports page must compete in a spring sport and have earned an AllConference award or higher last season. Please send the following information: Name, School, Grade, Sport and accomplishments to Sports@liherald.com.
HERALD SPORTS
Baldwin relies on its worth ethic
By PATRICK MOQUIN sports@liherald.com
With a tight core of talented seniors returning, Baldwin softball could be on the rise in Nassau Class AAA. Coach Tom Llewelyn says that work ethic will set the Bruins apart as they prepare to make more noise in a packed conference.
“Regardless of what happens the day before, they come in with a good attitude,” Llewelyn said. “They try to learn the game and they’re excited to be there. As a coach, that’s the most that you can ask for.”
Most players on Baldwin’s roster were present for the 5-13 season in 2024, one in which the Bruins were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by Port Washington. The Vikings are not new rivals for Baldwin. The two schools have been competitive for at least a decade.
“We’ve probably played them more times in the last 10 years than any other team in the county,” Llewelyn said. “It’s always back and forth.”
Looking to improve, senior captains Jadyn Culbreath and Erin Timmes will be integral to a Bruins team that seems ready to win now. Through three games, Baldwin held a 2-1 record.
Culbreath, Baldwin’s shortstop, has twice received an honorable mention for All-County honors, while catcher/pitcher Timmes earned a spot last year. Llewelyn described them as the Bruins’ engine, leading the way on the field and off it to recapture a winning tradition.
“The two of them have been in the starting lineup every game since ninth grade,” Llewelyn said. “When they first came up, they were the only freshmen on a team full of upperclassmen. They got to learn from them, and now they’re leaving their legacy on the younger players they have.”
Timmes is capable on the mound, but she will likely play more behind the plate as a talented freshman steps up.
Pitcher Liv Pascual has been described as Baldwin’s next star, a talented player with excellent motion progressing quickly for her age. In her first start on March 28 against South Side, she struck
out six batters in a 12-6 Baldwin victory. She has pitched in all three of Baldwin’s games so far.
When Timmes pitches, Lilly Duet will likely fill in at catcher, serving a massive role that will require her to learn on the job. In her third game, the freshman slugger went 3-for-5 with two RBIs in a 13-8 victory over North Shore.
As the everyday shortstop, Culbreath is leading an infield that will often include younger players. Senior Samantha Prongay may split time with junior Kennedy Thompson at first base while sophomore Isabella Fleck assumes the starting role at second. Chloe Collado, another sophomore, is expected to handle most of the work at third.
Senior Averi Thomas is Baldwin’s three-year starting outfielder, rounding out a strong trio of senior leaders on the roster. She will primarily be joined by starting juniors Amanda Aguiluz and Akwia Bonsu. Llewelyn described Aguiluz as a rock on the team and recently moved her to center field. Bonsu forced her way into the starting lineup through exceptional power at the plate.
Michelle Ebel/Herald
The Bruins are looking to make noise in a strong conference after being limited to five victories last spring.
We don't do it for the attention. We don't do it for the recognition. We don't do it for the personal gain. And we certainly don't do it for the awards. We do it for you.
Catholic Health is the winner of Press Ganey’s 2025 HRO Foundation Award for exceptional reliability and patient safety.
At Catholic Health, we pursue the very best in health care for one reason only: you. Every single one of you that walks through our doors, every day. So, while we’re honored by this recognition, we also know there’s no finish line in health care. There’s always a new goal just over the horizon, and a new level of excellence for us to achieve for the health of Long Island.
Learn more at DedicatedtoBetter.org
Propel NY aims to update L.I. connectivity
By KEPHERD DANIEL kdaniel@liherald.com
The Propel NY Energy project is a $3.26 billion initiative aimed at modernizing Long Island’s aging electric transmission system.
Why the project Is needed
New York’s electric transmission infrastructure is largely outdated — roughly 80 percent of it was built before 1980, at a time when energy needs were vastly different. With electric vehicles, heat pumps, data centers, and advanced digital technologies there will be a projected 50 to 90 percent increase in electricity demand over the next 20 years. Long Island’s grid, currently connected to the statewide network through only two points, is vulnerable to congestion and outages.
The existing grid faces significant congestion, akin to a crowded highway, which leads to inefficiencies and increased costs. Propel NY Energy is designed to add new transmission pathways that facilitate bidirectional power flow, enhancing both the reliability and resilience of the grid. This project prepares the region for a more robust and future-ready energy infrastructure.
Project scope and technical details
At the heart of the project is the construction of 90 miles of new underground transmission lines, including 66 miles in Nassau County. Additional segments will extend into Suffolk County, the Bronx and Westchester. Unlike surface lines, these cables will be installed underground using conventional trenching methods — typically 5 to 7 feet deep. In logistically challenging areas, advanced trenchless technologies such as horizontal directional drilling will be used.
Propel NY Energy will add three new interconnec-
Courtesy Propel NY Energy
Propel NY Energy plans to spend billions of dollars to bury 90 miles of electrical transmission.
tion points. This enhancement will enable power to flow in multiple directions, relieving congestion and providing critical redundancy.
Propel NY Energy is exclusively focused on upgrading electric transmission infrastructure. It is not associated with battery storage systems or offshore wind projects, though the upgraded grid will support future renewable energy integration. Selected through a competitive solicitation process by the New York Independent System Operator from among 19 proposals by four developers, the project was chosen for its costeffectiveness and technical merits.
Environmental and community considerations
To reduce new environmental disruptions, most of
the project’s new lines will follow existing road corridors and disturbed areas. For segments crossing environmentally sensitive zones, such as the Long Island Sound, the team is applying sediment transport modeling and best management practices. When unavoidable impacts occur — particularly in wetlands — compensatory measures will be implemented by creating two to three acres of new wetlands for every acre affected.
The project is undergoing a review under New York’s Article Seven permitting process. This comprehensive environmental and socio-economic evaluation involves multiple state agencies. Anticipated approval is around July 2026.
Regular open houses and public meetings are planned to keep local communities informed and dispel misconceptions. The project prioritizes local union labor and contractors, ensuring that Nassau County and surrounding areas benefit from job opportunities. Any temporary disruptions will be addressed through detailed restoration plans.
Cost, funding and timeline
The total investment for Propel NY Energy is capped at $3.26 billion, and is funded by ratepayers across the state. For the average residential customer, the project is expected to add roughly 6 cents per day to utility bills. Projected costs are expected to be offset by long-term savings, with enhanced grid efficiency estimated to save nearly $3.3 billion in congestionrelated costs over time.
Construction is slated to begin in mid-2026 and will continue for up to four years, with project completion anticipated by mid-2030. During construction, crews are expected to progress between 50 and 150 feet per day per.
For more on Propel, go to PropelNyEnergy.com.
Trump taps ex-Rep. D’Esposito to be inspector general
By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com
Former Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, a one-term congressman from New York and former NYPD detective, has been nominated by former President Donald Trump to serve as inspector general for the U.S. Department of Labor.
The U.S. Department of Labor Inspector General plays a critical role in promoting the efficiency and effectiveness of the Department of Labor. The inspector general is responsible for conducting audits and investigations to identify waste, fraud, and abuse within the department’s programs and operations. This position ensures that taxpayer dollars are used properly and that the department adheres to laws and regulations designed to protect workers, employers, and the economy.
If confirmed by the Senate, D’Esposito would succeed Larry Turner, who was dismissed by Trump after he took office.
D’Esposito previously represented New York’s 4th Congressional District, which includes Nassau County’s South Shore, before losing his seat to Rep. Laura Gillen. Prior to his time in Congress, D’Esposito served as a councilman for Hempstead Town.
However, his nomination comes amid controversy. During his re-election campaign, The New York Times reported on allegations of an affair, as well as claims that he placed both his mistress and his fiancée’s daughter on his taxpayer-funded payroll.
Rep. Laura Gillen, a former town supervisor who ran against D’Esposito in both the 2022 and 2024 elections, criticized the nomination in a statement to the Herald.
“If the administration wants to cut waste, fraud, and abuse at the Department of Labor, it’s shocking they would nominate someone who has abused every single
position of power he’s ever held to oversee that process,” Gillen said.
D’Esposito, a vocal Trump supporter, appeared at rallies for the former president at Nassau Coliseum and Madison Square Garden. While in Congress, he served on the Homeland Security, Administration, and Transportation and Infrastructure committees. He also gained attention as the first Republican to call for the resignation or expulsion of then-Rep. George Santos over falsified claims about his résumé and background.
In Albany, D’Esposito’s nomination has gained the
support of State Senator Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, a Republican representing the 9th District.
“Anthony D’Esposito has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to public service, first as an NYPD detective and later as a dedicated representative for Long Island,” Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick wrote to the Herald. “His leadership and firsthand experience addressing issues that impact working families make him immensely qualified to be Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Labor. I have no doubt that he will bring the same dedication and work ethic to this role.”
Meadow Elementary celeberates Women’s History
Meadow Elementary School capped off a series of diversity-focused assemblies by celebrating Women’s History Month last month, highlighting the contributions of influential women and the talent within the school community.
Six students from Girl Scout Troop 2210 led the assembly, taking the audience on a historical journey that honored women who paved the way for future generations.
The event also featured a special guest, Dr. Aghogho Ajueyitsi, who read from her book, “My Occupational Therapist.” Her presentation provided students with insight into the role occupational therapists play in helping individuals develop and succeed.
The assembly was part of Meadow Elementary’s ongoing efforts to celebrate diversity and provide meaningful learning experiences. Earlier this year, the school hosted events for Lunar New Year, Black History Month, and P.S. I Love You Day.
“When all entities come together, amazing things happen,” Sophea Sainsurin, PTA co-president wrote in an email to the Herald. “This assembly was a true reflection of that spirit— teachers, students, families, and community members working together to create an enriching and inspiring experience.”
— Hernesto Galdamez
Tim Baker/Herald
Former Rep. Anthony D’Esposito has been selected by President Donald Trump to serve as the inspector general for the Department Labor
Courtesy Sophea Sainsurin
Meadow Elementary School celebrated Women’s History Month last month with an assembly highlighting influential women.
STEPPING OUT
Where the audience always comes first
Long Island Children’s Museum Theater Director
Jim Packard says goodbye to his role of a lifetime
By Danielle Schwab
There are 140 seats at the theater at Long Island Children’s Museum and Jim Packard has sat in almost every single one.
“There’s not a bad seat in the theater. Wherever you sit, you can see the whole stage, and you’re no more than five, six rows away from the stage, which is pretty special,” he says.
Packard has been instrumental in the growth of the museum’s theatrical programming from inception, since the theater’s construction in 2001. It all begin with a committee he didn’t know he was on, when he was asked to consult on the museum’s theater then in development.
Prior to joining the museum, Packard was involved with theater and event management in Manhattan, and has taught stage technology and design.
“I was asked by a friend on the LICM theater committee to look at the plans the architect had drawn up. Then that spring, they had listed me as ‘not present’ at a theater committee meeting,” Packard recalls.
“I said: ‘I didn’t know I was on this committee, but I’m happy to serve on it and to help out the museum in whatever way I can.’ They said: ‘That’s all right. The committee has dissolved at this point.’
“I asked: ‘Who’s watching out for the theater?’ And that’s when I got hired.”
From his first position — as Theater Coordinator to his final role as Director of Theater Programs — Packard has made his mark over these past 24 years.
His philosophy, in keeping with the museum’s mission, is to put the audience first.
“It always boils down to making sure that the audience is the one that you’re paying attention to, because there’s no point in doing theater without an audience,” he explains. The productions are carefully chosen with a strong focus on audience interaction, with many tying into exhibits and related events.
“Our dressing room door has a big sheet of brown paper on it, and every time the actors hear something fun or interesting coming from the audience, they will write it on that board, just to remind them to pay attention to what the audience is saying,” he adds.
There is sure to be plenty of audience response to the upcoming production of “Elephant and Piggie’s We are in a Play!” The beloved show, opening April 14, which involves the audience as a character in the story, is always popular with visitors. Adapted from Mo Willems’ best-selling children’s series, the hilarious duo of Elephant and Piggie gets tangled in all sorts of antics, learning the meaning of friendship along the way.
“Elephant and Piggie realize there’s an audience watching them, and then they talk and interact with the audience, invite them to sing along and be a part of the show,” Packard says.
With Packard’s retirement this month, the production
• Performances April 14-19, 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
• View the LICM events calendar at licm.org for additional information or call (516) 224-5800 for tickets
• Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City
acts as a passing of the baton to new hands. Taking on the assignment are not one but two folks: Lisa Rudin as artistic director and Austin Costello as technical director.
It’s a full circle moment for both Rudin and Costello, who appeared as Elephant and Piggie in previous stagings of the production.
Costello, a distinguished puppeteer in his own right, has worked with the museum’s theater since 2015.
His love of puppetry started back as a kid in ‘90s, when he visited the museum and saw a puppet on display. His career led him to roles in children’s theater, including Sesame Street.
“The little lessons that we find along the way in our shows are the major takeaways that we get to share with families and especially with kids who might be having problems. It’s such an important thing to me to bring children up in a good way, and to help them understand the world around them,” Costello says.
“It’s wonderful to be able to carry on the legacy of Jim, who’s worked so hard for so many people, and who has taken a lot of time to take me under his wing and train me,” he adds.
Rudin also has a personal history with the museum.
“The first time I came to the theater here was when I brought my children in 2019. I was like, ‘what a beautiful theater this is.’ This is just perfect,” she says.
She has worn many theatrical hats throughout her career, including as an actor on Sesame Street Live and an education director for a children’s theater school.
Rudin and Costello will surely continue the theater’s aim to connect with children through imaginative and creative storytelling,
”Children learn empathy from watching characters on stage. They understand content and what happens in the story more from seeing it live,” Rudin says.
While Packard may be waving goodbye as director, his legacy remains rooted to the museum’s very foundation.
Joan Osborne sings Dylan
The seven-time Grammy nominee brings her extraordinary voice and artistic depth to the timeless music of Bob Dylan.The recent biopic “A Complete Unknown” brings Dylan to the forefront once again. Meanwhile Osborne has spent over 25 years captivating audiences with her fearless exploration of genres ranging from rock and blues to soul, gospel and country. Her journey with Dylan’s catalog began in 2016 with a series of “Dylanology” concerts. Her critically-acclaimed 2018 album, “Songs of Bob Dylan,” and her live performances showcase her ability to reimagine Dylan’s iconic works, highlighting the emotional resonance and poetic brilliance of his music. Osborne turns back the clock with her soulful reinterpretations that exude passion, emotion and energy. .
Friday, April 11, 8 p.m. $59, $55, $48, also special VIP package. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. Tickets available at landmarkonmainstreet.org or (516) 767-6444.
Rick Wakeman
“When I was 19-years-old, walking
“When I was 19-years-old, walking across my college theater’s auditorium, I thought I could do this every day for the rest of my life — and I got that opportunity,” he shares.
“It’s been one of the more wonderful
“It’s been one of the more wonderful experiences in life, in terms of just getting to do so much that makes so many people happy.”
Photos courtesy LICM
Top photo: Outgoing Director Jim Packard, center, and cast and crew of “Interstellar Cinderella” gather at the final performance.
Bottom photo: Elephant (Finn MacDevitt) and Piggie (Anneka Shepherd ) return to the museum’s stage in a production helmed by new Artistic Director Lisa Rudin.
Experience the magic of progressive rock legend Rick Wakeman when he brings his “Final Solo Tour” to Long Island. Renowned for his keyboard wizardry and captivating stage presence, Wakeman invites you on a journey through iconic Yes classics, unforgettable solo compositions and personal favorites. With a career spanning over five decades and album sales exceeding 50 million, Rick’s extraordinary contributions to music have earned him accolades, including a CBE from Queen Elizabeth II. This tour is a heartfelt farewell to his legendary one-man shows in the U.S., but his music will continue to inspire fans worldwide. Rick’s career is a testament to his versatility and enduring artistry. His live performances seamlessly blend masterful musicianship with humor and storytelling, creating an intimate and unforgettable experience.
Wednesday, April 16, 8 p.m. $75, $65, $55, $45, $35, $29.50. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington.
April 19
‘Cold Beer on a Saturday Night’ Spring blooms with Jimmy Kenny and the Pirate Beach Band. Before you know back on the beach, but Jimmy Kenny and his band come to the rescue, on the Paramount stage, Saturday, April 19, 8 p.m. Join in their “Ultimate Beach Party Tribute” to Kenny Chesney, Jimmy Buffett and Zac Brown Band. Parrotheads, No Shoes Nation and the Zamily: it’s 5 o’clock somewhere so let’s ‘raise ‘em up and sing along.
The Long Island-based band — guided by Paul C. Cuthbert (aka Jimmy Kenny) on lead vocals/ acoustic guitar, with Linn DeMilta (aka Lovely Linn), lead and backing vocals, Luis Rios, lead guitar/ backing vocals, Frank Stainkamp, keyboard/backing vocals, Dan Prine, bass, and drummer Mike Vecchione, have been celebrating the beach country sounds of Buffett, Chesney and Zac Brown Band for over a decade, spreading their vibe up and down the Northeast. Everyone has a great time grooving to their lively mix of their popular sing-along hits and feel good, easy living flair. If you like your toes in the sand, wasting away with a margarita or a cold beer, then you’ll surely have a great time with the Jimmy Kenny Band. $35, $25, $20, $15. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.
Jazz it up
Jazz at Lincoln Center brings its Webop Family Jazz Party’s “Swingin’ Nursery Rhymes and Lullabies” to the Long Island Children’s Museum theater, Sunday, April 13, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Get ready to hear classic nursery rhymes and lullabies like “Old McDonald,” “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” and “Wheels on the Bus” with a jazzy twist! Led by talented musicians and educators, little ones will be introduced to the magic of jazz while singing, dancing, and joining in on the fun. This family-friendly performance is sure to inspire future jazz lovers, so be sure to bring the whole crew for a toe-tapping, finger-snapping good time! $5 with museum admission ($4 members), $10 theater only. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. Go to licm.org or call (516) 2245800 for more information.
Hangout One Happy Place Autism Walk
Participate in the annual autism awareness walk, Sunday, April 27, 1 p.m., at Baldwin Harbor Park. With entertainment, dancing, a raffle, and arts and crafts activities. 3232 Grand Ave. More information at HangoutOneHappyPlace.com.
Little Learners’ Earth Day
Planting Fields Little Learners series continues with an Earth Day celebration, Friday, April 18,10-11 a.m. Families will enjoy a heartwarming fun-filled experience, with a reading of “Gifts from the Garbage Truck” by Andrew Larsen. Together, explore the importance of reusing, reducing, and recycling in a way that’s perfect for young minds. With an Earth-inspired craft project. For ages 2-5. $15 per child. 1395 Planting Fields Road, Oyster Bay. Visit plantingfields. org or call (516) 922-9210 to register and for information.
Defensive Driving Class
Baldwin Public Library holds a Defensive Driving course, Saturday, April 26, 9:30 a.m.4:30 p.m. Improve driving skills and reduce your auto insurance and/or points. Fee is $35. For more information and to register, visit baldwinpl.org or call (516) 223-6228. 2385 Grand Ave.
Baldwin Board of Education Meeting
Parents are encouraged to attend and voice their concerns at the Baldwin Board of Education meeting, Wednesday, May 7, 7 p.m., at Baldwin High School, 841 Ethel T Kloberg Dr.
Shred unwanted documents
Russo Law Group hosts an Earth Day Shred event, Tuesday, April 22, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., at the firm’s offices in Garden City, Lido Beach. This is an opportunity to safely and securely dispose of sensitive documents while promoting environmental sustainability. All shredding is handled by Arrow Transfer & Storage, one of New York’s most trusted shredding companies known for security-conscious practices. Their process ensures the safe destruction of high security documents, protects against identity theft and financial breaches, and promotes sustainability by recycling all shredded materials.
Fraud awareness workshops are also offered at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Whether you’re decluttering old bills, outdated tax documents, or other sensitive paperwork, help positively impact the community and the environment. Free and open to all. For registration and more information, visit vjrussolaw. com. 100 Quentin Roosevelt Blvd #102, Garden City; 250 Lido Blvd, Lido Beach.
Dino Egg Hunt
Enjoy some spring fun at the Center for Science Teaching and Learning, Thursday through Saturday, April 17-19, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Search for dinosaur eggs filled with fun prizes and make a dino craft! Activities included with admission. For more information, visit cstl.org or call (516) 764-0045. 1450 Tanglewood Rd, Rockville Centre,
American Cancer
Society
Relay Meeting
The American Cancer Society crew returns for its monthly meeting to prepare for the annual relay event in Baldwin, June 4, 7-8 p.m., at Baldwin Public Library. 2385 Grand Ave.For more information, visit baldwinpl. org or call (516) 223-6228.
Seed Library re-opens
Spring Dog Festival
Get ready to wag those tails, at Old Westbury Gardens with your pooch (leashed of course), Saturday and Sunday, April 12-13, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Bring your canine companions for a scenic stroll through grounds bursting spring’s first blooms.
Browse a selection of dog-friendly vendors offering unique products and services, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information contact (516) 333-0048 or visit oldwestburygardens. org.
Baldwin Public Library re-opens their seed library to patrons for spring, Information about the seed library and available seeds will be at the reference desk. Patrons can pick up seeds until Sept. 15. For more information, visit baldwinpl.org or call (516) 223-6228. 2385 Grand Ave.
Having an event?
Items on The Scene page are listed free of charge. The Herald welcomes listings of upcoming events, community meetings and items of public interest. All submissions should include date, time and location of the event, cost, and a contact name and phone number. Submissions can be emailed to thescene@liherald.com.
On Exhibit
Nassau County Museum of Art’s latest exhibition, the original “Deco at 100” coincides with the 100th anniversary of the 1925 Paris International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts (Exposition internationale des arts décoratifs et industriels modernes) which publicly launched the movement. The direct followup to the well-received 2023 exhibit, “Our Gilded Age,” it comparably links the period’s signature innovation in the decorative arts, Art Deco, to the fine arts. The exhibit encompasses significant cultural advancements during Long Island’s Roaring Twenties/Jazz Age movement, including votes, jobs, and the automobile for women, the beginnings of suburbia with commutation for work, and planned residential communities, which all defined the era, while the following decade brought economic reversals and the WPA program. Works by Louis Comfort Tiffany, Fernand Léger, Guy Pène du Bois, Gaston Lachaise, Elie Nadelman, and Reginald Marsh, among others, along with art deco stylists of poster art and graphics, and photography will convey the Art Deco spirit along with its furniture, decorative arts, and fashion.
Like “Our Gilded Age,” the social scene of Long Island’s Gold Coast, and its personalities — both upstairs and downstairs — will be portrayed, along with the ongoing relationship with the immediate urban context of New York with its skyscrapers and deco-styled architecture. On view through June 15. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum. org.
Hempstead House tour
Sands Point Preserve is the backdrop to explore the elegant Gold Coast home that’s the centerpiece of the estate, Sunday, April 13, noon-1 p.m. and 2-3 p.m. Visit the grand rooms inside the massive 50,000-square-foot Tudor-style mansion, the former summer residence of Gilded Age financier Howard Gould and later Daniel and Florence Guggenheim. Tours are limited in size and tend to sell out. Arrive early to purchase tickets. $10. Sands Point Preserve, 127 Middle Neck Road. For information, visit SandsPointPreserveConservancy.org or call (516) 571-7901.
Steven Kent appointed LIA’s chief economist
By MADISON GUSLER mgusler@liherald.com
Steven Kent, an economist and financial expert with over 25 years of experience with Goldman Sachs, was recently named chief economist of the Long Island Association Research Institute.
The LIA is a nonprofit business organization advocating for the region’s economic vitality and overall business community. In his role, Kent will provide real-time economic insights that will allow business across Long Island to forecast for operational success and growth.
“Our mission will be enhanced with the addition of Dr. Steven Kent to the LIA team as the new Chief Economist of the LIA Research Institute,” Matt Cohen, president and CEO of the Long Island Association, stated in a press release. “The LIA will be well-served by his extensive private-sector experience and the valuable data and analyses he will provide to our members at this pivotal inflection point for the future of Long Island, and indeed the entire country, as we navigate uncertain economic conditions and the existential crisis of affordability.”
Kent is a lifelong Long Island resident, having grown up in Islip before
attending Stony Brook University, where he became fascinated with economics and received a B.A. in the subject.
“I walked into SUNY Stony Brook and took a class with one of the best professors on campus, intro to economics, and it basically changed my life,” said Kent. “I like the analytic part, the mathematical part, and the social science part.”
Kent joined Goldman Sachs as a junior analyst after graduating, before leaving for another firm and pursuing an MBA at NYU’s Stern School of Business. Then he returned to Goldman Sachs, where he researched and oversaw investments in the global hospitality and leisure sector before he retired as managing director in 2016. Kent was named “best stock picker” eight times by the Wall Street Journal.
“I learned you had to know the companies, you had to understand the stocks, but I started to look at what was going on in the broader economy,” he said.
After retiring, Kent wanted to share what he learned in the industry. “I always wanted to help the next generation of business leaders,” he said. “My whole career, both academic and business, I have had lots and lots of mentors
who guided me, focused me, and helped me out along the way. I wanted to do the same.”
Kent, a Baldwin resident, guest lectured at several universities before becoming a professor of economics and finance at Molloy University. He also received a Ph.D. in hospitality management.
Being named LIA’s chief economist was “a little bit of a surprise,” he said.
Kent will continue teaching at Molloy while serving the LIA. As chief economist, he will share data-informed insights and explanations of the Island’s economy, helping business owners make informed decisions about their businesses.
Kent will be releasing a newsletter broadly reporting on the U.S., New York, and Long Island economies. He will focus on specific topics and develop special projects to uplift the local economy.
According to Kent, Long Island’s current economy is vibrant. “Our unemployment rate is lower than the rest of the country. Our economic activity continues to expand,” he said. “One of the advantages Long Island has is where we’re located, so we have access to transportation and access to great universities, and that facilitates a lot of
growth.”
He said he wants to “help to allow the Long Island economy to continue its robust trajectory.”
Courtesy Steven Kent
Steven Kent grew up in Islip, earned an economics degree at Stony Brook, and then joined Goldman Sachs.
Dedicating time for special needs children
initial years of promoting the league, she encouraged parents to attend games to see the program in action before making a decision.
“I was definitely nervous for my daughter when she was younger — running the bases, hitting the ball,” she said. “It’s not like that. I invite parents to check out a game, give them my number, and have a conversation with me beforehand to address their concerns.”
Getting her message across became easier after she was named president of the Baldwin Special Education Parent Teacher Association, or SEPTA, in 2023. The role allowed her to build connections within the school community and further promote the Little League program.
This season, the league has the highest number of participants to date.
Looking ahead, Kurz hopes to see the program grow into a more competitive environment, with nearby leagues competing against Baldwin. She recalled that in the program’s first year, Baldwin played against Long Beach’s Challenger team, which has since folded.
Still, her focus remains on her original purpose — providing a fun, inclusive experience for children with special needs.
“The main thing really is to have fun,” she said. “Everyone is different, and whatever level they’re at, we’ll meet them there.”
Courtesy Kathy Kurz
Kathy Kurz of Baldwin was recognized by a Child Beyond, a nonprofit dedicated to create a safe, inclusive environment for individuals with autism and their families at their black-tie dinner.
Lindenhurst’s Pat Benatar rocks and writes
By CHRISTIE LEIGH BABIRAD cbabirad@liherald.com
Singing and writing for over four decades, Pat Benatar has been inspiring her fans with hits including “We Belong “and “Love Is a Battlefield,” and new songs as well, performing alongside her husband and partner, Neil Giraldo. A multi-platinum artist who has had 15 U.S. Billboard Top 40 singles and a fourtime Grammy Award winner, Benatar is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as well as the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, and even received the Key to Babylon from then Town Supervisor Steve Bellone. Benatar spoke with the Herald about what Lindenhurst still means to her, what continues to inspire her, and some exciting news.
Herald: What are your thoughts on having been inducted into the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame?
Benatar: It’s great. I’m still very attached to Lindenhurst. I’m still close friends with all of the girls I went to elementary school, junior high and high school with. We still see each other all the time. Every time we go back, I always try to go to Patsy’s to get a cannoli cookie and Italian Ice. I’m still attached to where I grew up. It was such a wonderful childhood, so being inducted into the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame was important and sweet.
Herald: You are not only a singer but a songwriter as well. What has inspired your writing over the years?
Benatar: It’s pretty organic. We don’t begin songs together, my husband and I. He’ll come up with a line or a melody and I’ll come up with a poem. I write all day, that’s all I do. So I’ll come up with a poem, which will become a chorus. Once we do begin the songs, we come together and write the songs together. Inspiration comes from everywhere, which is so fascinating to me, and probably the most seductive thing about what we do. Everything is still interesting, a mystery and exciting, because the world is just an amazing place — crazy and beautiful.
Herald: What has given you strength over the years to truly give your all at your live shows?
Benatar: I just love it. It has never changed for Neil or me. Live performance is still my favorite thing to do. The joy of actually being in a shared experience of performing is still the thing I love the most, that keeps me going, and it’s never old.
Herald: I’m sure you’ve had many career highlights. Are there a couple of moments that have stood out?
Benatar: There are so many moments. Sometimes they’re very small
— a little child will come up to the front of the stage and they hand you a flower. You’re always in awe of being blessed with something like this. I feel like my only job is to be a good steward of what I have.
The thing that stopped me in my tracks, though, I would have to say, was 9/11. We had to perform that night. The promoter begged us to perform. We begged him to please cancel the concert. We were just as distraught as everyone
else. The promoter said that people wanted to come, they wanted to be together. So we went out there and I just said to the audience that before we do this, I need to talk to you all first, because I don’t know how I’m going to do this and I may have to stop songs. The audience was sobbing. It was amazing. It was awful. They had bed sheets with God Bless America on them. This was one of the moments where you understand how important it is what you’re giving to each other in a performance. What they gave to me and what I hope I gave back to them at that moment is healing, it’s an embrace. That’s what it felt like. I felt like they were embracing us and we were embracing them. And songs like “Invincible,” were so powerful that night, it became like a rallying cry. I sang that song a billion times, but that night it was different.
Herald: Do you have any advice regarding resilience, overcoming odds and pursuing a dream, that you would like to share with our women readers in particular?
Benatar: Much has changed, and then much hasn’t changed, and someone is always ready to take it all back away from us. Everyone will push that limit, and you have to stand there like a warrior. Don’t think that you’re safe and everything is going to be OK, because every single day there’s someone challenging the position, trying to take away any strides we have made. I have two daughters, two granddaughters, and my whole thing is, you are unique and at the same time you are part of a collective, you are part of every female that went before you and every female that will go after you. Make it count!
Herald: And what do you have coming up in regard to new music, touring and projects?
Benatar: We’re going out on a spring tour and hitting all the places we didn’t hit last year. We’re looking forward to it. We’ll be pulling out a lot of new songs that haven’t been recorded yet. Neil and I also have a children’s book coming out, “My Grandma and Grandpa Rock.” It’s such unbelievable fun.
The one thing about art is it has so many forms. We have these three darling grandbabies. They are very precocious, and have seen us perform a few times, and they ask us all kinds of questions, so we thought it would be really fun to write them a book about why we do what we do and that people do all different kinds of things for jobs — some people are teachers and doctors, and these are people’s grandpas and grandmas too. It was joyous and fun, and it’s a very inclusive book. I really believe diversity is a superpower.
To learn more about “My Grandma and Grandpa Rock” or to pre-order a copy, visit read.sourcebooks.com/my-grandmaand-grandpa-rock-by-pat-benatar-andneil-giraldo. To find out more about Benatar and her upcoming tour, visit benatargiraldo.com.
Travis Shinn
Pat Benatar with her husband and creative partner, Neil Giraldo.
Public Notices
LEGAL NOTICE
Notice of Sale
Supreme Court: Nassau County T11 Funding v Michael Ellinas et al. Defts Index 608455/2020. Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale filed and entered January 26, 2023. I will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Dr. Mineola NY 11501 on April 17, 2025 at 3:00 PM premises known as School District 10, Section 54, Block 435 Lot 29 Group Lots 29-33, Lot 34, Group Lots 34-38 Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York Sold subject to the terms of sale and filed judgment of foreclosure. Bank Checks Only, must be payable to the Referee for 10% of Bid Price, No Cash Accepted. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.” Covid-19 safety protocols will be followed at the foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health and safety concerns, then the Court Appointed Referee shall cancel the foreclosure auction.
Ronald S. Zimmer, Esq., Referee 152256
LEGAL NOTICE
SURROGATE’S COURT, NASSAU COUNTY CITATION
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, By the Grace of God Free and Independent TO: New York State Office of the Attorney General, Grassi & Co., Jasper Surety, Islandwide Surgical, P.C., Audrey Dick, Michael Mueller, Estate of Theresa Murphy, Michael Maguire, Peter Maquire, Gerald Maquire, Diane Scala, MaryAnn Geed, Luke Eichner, Jane Tintle, Adrienne Wooduck, Charles Eichner, William Eichner, Joseph Eichner, James Eichner, John Eichner, Lynn Rossi, Thomas Eichner, Kenneth Bird, Walter Eichner, Patricia Eichner, Nancy Cestare, Thomas Haudberg, Virginia Arbisi, Estate of Andrew Eichner, Christine Ruhl, Susan Dipierno,
Barbara Hayman, Lawrence Eichner, Douglas Eichner, Paul Bluff, Joseph Mitola, and any and all unknown persons whose names or parts of whose names and whose place or places of residence are unknown and cannot after diligent inquiry be ascertained, distributees, heirs-atlaw and next-of-kin of the said Paul Curran, deceased, and if any of the said distributees named specifically or as a class be dead, their legal representatives, their husbands or wives, if any, distributees and successors in interest whose names and/or places of residence and post office addresses are unknown and cannot after diligent inquiry be ascertained
A petition having been duly filed by Nassau County Public Administrator, who is domiciled at 240 Old Country Road, Mineola, New York 11501.
YOU ARE HEREBY CITED TO SHOW CAUSE before the Surrogate’s Court, Nassau County, at 262 Old Country Road, Mineola, New York, on May 7, 2025, at 9:30 o’clock in the forenoon of that day, why the account of Nassau County Public Administrator, a summary of which has been served herewith, as Administrator of the estate of Paul Curran, should not be judicially settled.
[X] Further relief sought (if any):
1. Releasing and discharging the Petitioner from all liability, responsibility, and accountability as to all matters set forth in the account of proceedings;
2. Allowing the commissions of the Petitioner in the amount of $ 150,820.29 pursuant to SCPA 2307(1) and the reasonable and necessary expenses of the office in the amount of $ 58,440.30 pursuant to SCPA 1207(4);
3. Fixing and determining the attorney’s fees and disbursements of Mahon, Mahon, Kerins & O’Brien, LLC attorney for petitioner in the amount of $ 210,972.66 as and for legal fees and disbursements, of which $ 30,972.66 has been paid and $ 180,000.00 is unpaid;
4. Fixing and
determining the accounting fees of Grassi & Co, CPA’s, PC in the amount of $17,229.67 of which $ 11,229.67 has been paid and $ 6,000.00 is unpaid;
5. Releasing and discharging the surety;
6. Rejecting and denying the claim of Islandwide Surgical, P.C. in the amount of $ 1,066,000.00;
7. Directing each of you claiming to be a distributee of the Decedent to establish proof of your kinship, and show cause why the balance of said funds should not be paid to said alleged distributees upon proof of kinship or deposited with the New York State Comptroller on account for the unknown next of kin of Paul Curran, decedent, should said alleged distributees default herein or fail to establish proof of kinship; And further directing the share determined to be payable to Estate of Theresa Murphy, if any, be deposited with the New York State Comptroller on account for the estate of Theresa Murphy, post deceased alleged distributee, should an estate fiduciary not be appointed and said distributees of Theresa Murphy default herein or fail to establish proof of kinship; And further directing that the share determined to be payable to Estate of Andrew Eichner, if any, be deposited with the New York State Comptroller on account for the estate of Andrew Eichner, post deceased alleged distributee, should an estate fiduciary not be appointed and said distributees of Andrew Eichner default herein or fail to establish proof of kinship;
8. Granting such other and further relief as to the Court is just and proper.
Dated, Attested, and Sealed, March13, 2025 (Seal)
HON. HON.
MARGARET C. REILLY
Surrogate
s/ Debra Keller
Leimbach Chief Clerk
Signature of Attorney
Richard T. Kerins, Esq.
Print Name of Attorney Mahon, Mahon, Kerins & O’Brien, LLC Firm Name
(516) 538-1111
Telephone 254 Nassau Boulevard South, Garden City South, New York 11530
Address rkerins@mmkolaw.com Email (optional)
NOTE: This citation is served upon you as required by law. You are not required to appear. If you fail to appear it will be assumed that you do not object to the relief requested. You have a right to have an attorney appear for you, and you or your attorney may request a copy of the full account from the petitioner or petitioner’s attorney 152409
EASTER LETTER
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Happy Easter to you and your families in this Jubilee Year of Hope! Our celebration of Easter rekindles our hope each year.
The Tomb is empty! Jesus is Risen!
A wealthy man and a member of the Sanhedrin, St. Joseph of Arimathea is one of those Gospel characters with a very brief but very important role.
In John 19:38-42, we see that after Jesus’ Crucifixion, Joseph of Arimathea asks Pilate for permission to take away Our Lord’s Body. This was a bold and courageous act of faith from a man “seeking the Kingdom of God.”
(Mark 15:43)
Joseph and Nicodemus together place our Lord’s Body reverently in linen cloths prepared with myrth, aloes and spices: “Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden a new tomb where no one had ever been laid. So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, as the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.”
In his commentary on the Gospel of Matthew, Fr. Simeon Leiva-Merikakis gives tribute to Joseph of Arimathea.
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR SLC 2018-1 TRUST, Plaintiff AGAINST RONDA ESI RICKETTS AS ADMINISTRATOR TO THE ESTATE OF ESME RICKETTS, RAQUEL KOOS AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF ESME RICKETTS, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered February 18, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on April 24, 2025 at 2:30PM, premises known as 726 Dean Drive, Baldwin, NY 11510. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Baldwin, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 36 Block 511 and Lot 4. Approximate amount of judgment $36,853.03 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #605157/2023.
Christine M. Grillo, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 22-002836 84854 152387
He writes: “And how can we fail to do homage to Joseph of Arimathea? In performing a very humane corporal work of mercy by seeking out and burying the corpse of his beloved Teacher, Joseph becomes for all time a living icon of the eternal Father himself, stooping with compassion to enfold within his throbbing breast the mangled body of his beloved, Son, whom he himself handed over to sinners out of love for mankind.
At long last, the Son of God on earth has fallen into the hands, not of a sinner, but of a just and compassionate man! Joseph of Arimathea enacts the justice and love of God himself.”
As we celebrate Easter Sunday, the Easter Octave, Divine Mercy Sunday and the Easter Season, let us remember and ask the intercession of the great Joseph of Arimathea who prepared the Tomb of Christ and the Body of Christ with such sensitive care and compassion, such faith, courage and reverence. The Tomb is Empty! He is Risen!
SINCERELY IN CHRIST, Most Reverend John O. Barres
Public Notices
LEGAL NOTICE ASSESSOR’S NOTICE OF COMPLETION OF THE FINAL ASSESSMENT ROLL THE ASSESSOR OF THE COUNTY OF NASSAU HEREBY GIVES NOTICE that he has completed the 2025/2026 final assessment roll, which will be used for the 2026 levy of Town and County Taxes in the Towns of Hempstead, North Hempstead and Oyster Bay, and the City of Glen Cove and the City of Long Beach, and for the 2025/2026 levy of school taxes in such Towns and in the City of Long Beach. A certified electronic copy of the roll was filed with the Department of Assessment on April 1, 2024. The electronic roll may be examined on public terminals located in the offices of:
DEPARTMENT OF ASSESSMENT
NASSAU COUNTY OFFICE BUILDING
240 OLD COUNTRY ROAD, FOURTH FLOOR MINEOLA, NY 11501 where the same will remain open for public inspection for fifteen days.
Dated this 1st day of April 2025.
JOSEHA A. ADAMO Assessor, Nassau County 152810
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE OF STARWOOD MORTGAGE RESIDENTIAL TRUST 2019-INV1, Plaintiff, vs. SILVIA PANTON, Defendant. Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on July 19, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on May 13, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 746 Allwyn Street, Baldwin, NY 11510. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Baldwin, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 54, Block 575 and Lot 14. Approximate amount of judgment is $570,725.71 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 604010/2022.
Mary Ellen Divone, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff Firm File No.: 234326-1 152822
LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR GSAA HOME EQUITY TRUST 2006-8, ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-8, -againstGLORIA C. FORTE A/K/A GLORIA DEROCHE FORTE, ET AL.
NOTICE OF SALE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on February 18, 2025, wherein DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR GSAA HOME EQUITY TRUST 2006-8, ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-8 is the Plaintiff and GLORIA C. FORTE A/K/A GLORIA DEROCHE FORTE, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE
at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on May 13, 2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 2316 HARRISON AVENUE, BALDWIN, NY 11510; and the following tax map identification: 54-101-48. ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN BALDWIN, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 606489/2023. Brian J. Carmody, Esq.Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 152812
Waterfront Beauty
Is my neighbor’s menagerie legal?
Q. My neighbor loves animals, so much that they have constructed little houses for feral cats and stray dogs. Although I haven’t said anything because we have a tall fence, and I don’t have to look at the menagerie of wildlife — including many ducks, squirrels and raccoons that also eat the food scraps my neighbor puts out — I wonder if this is allowed, and now that they’re starting to build very large bird “hotels” that I can see, I’m thinking this is really getting to be too much. Do they need approval to attract all of these animals, a permit or something?
A. There are restrictions, such as section 152-8 of Town of Hempstead code, prohibiting dogs at large. You can check your municipality code regulations, online, by typing in the name of your municipality followed by “ecode360.” Many communities restrict the number of pets and the containment of pets, and have a restriction that pets can’t be constrained for more than two hours to a stationary object, like a post.
Stray dogs and cats are prohibited, even though many people take care of them. I wrote about this 25 years ago, and received hate mail for my insensitivity to these cats and dogs, even though I was quoting the ordinances, in addition to writing about how to keep strays from wandering into your yard. If the strays become a problem for you, there are regulations that your neighbor may be subject to.
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Birdhouses seem fairly innocent, and unless they’re built to an abundant size, like the “hotel” you describe, there are no limits. When there are a number of birdhouses, or they become large enough to fall under the regulation of treehouses and sheds, the regulations become relevant, and the construction of these “accessory structures” falls under the zoning codes. I’ve seen birdhouses with 25 units in them, which is large enough to make it necessary to regulate. It brings new meaning to Airbnb. I’m not sure if the local governments that placed prohibitions on renting out homes to transients also included the bird population, since most birds have no place to carry cash or a credit card, but it may be worth looking into in your spare time.
A call to either your local building inspector or to animal and wildlife control centers can confirm the handling of the animals, and whether your neighbor is creating a nuisance. The biggest concern may be health considerations, since some species may carry diseases that can be harmful to other species or to you. For example, raccoons, cats and squirrels are known to carry rabies, and an even more dangerous disease called toxoplasmosis. They endanger dogs in particularly, since these diseases cause ailments that can cripple or destroy their immune systems. Cats are also in danger, and the droppings from each of these animals may also cause sickness in humans, but to a lesser degree. You are not wrong to be concerned. Good luck!
© 2025 Monte Leeper Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte
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opinions Democrats put Nassau at risk by not passing Capital Plan
nassau County has enjoyed a lot of success during my time as county executive. Our residents have benefited from a notax-increase budget for three years straight, and I plan to deliver them a fourth. My administration cut $150 million in taxes planned by the previous administration. I hired over 300 new police and correctional officers to protect our streets. And the county was named the most desirable place to live in all of New York state by Niche magazine.
But our county now faces a crisis that threatens to halt our growth and impede our progress. I am deeply disappointed and frustrated that the 2025 Capital Plan was not passed by the County Legislature. The plan, which is vital for the continued development and safety of all of Nassau, has been blocked by Democratic legislators who have refused to give it their bipartisan support. It is disturbing to witness such a politically motivated decision when it directly jeopardizes the welfare of our residents.
The implications of not passing the Capital Plan extend far beyond politics. I am very concerned about delaying funding for important public-safety ini-
tiatives. I am proud to say that Nassau County holds the title as the safest county in America, but we risk throwing that away and undermining the systems designed to protect our families and neighborhoods without the funding and resources guaranteed by the plan.
Under the negotiated proposal blocked by Democratic legislators, the plan would provide tens of millions of dollars in funding to secure essential tools for police officers who put their lives on the line to protect us. Those investments include:
■ $1.14 million for bulletproof vests
■ $1.1 million for tasers
■ $105,000 for upgraded firearms
Fals vehicle.
We also negotiated a six-figure investment in the Fire Service Academy Master Plan so that our volunteer firefighters get the best training available. Setting back that training by not passing the Capital Plan would be an egregious mistake by our Democratic legislators.
ailing to secure
funding
will
this
hurt communities across the county.
■ $1.5 million for body cameras.
Support for our firefighters and emergency responders is also jeopardized while the Capital Plan stalls in the Legislature. For 2025 alone, we have millions of dollars budgeted for key items that include:
■ $3 million for new ambulances
■ $550,000 for new firefighting equipment and high-axle vehicles to save residents during floods
■ $500,000 to upgrade fire department communications system
■ $600,000 for a new hazardous-materi-
iOn top of spending on public safety, the Capital Plan also includes important initiatives aimed at improving the county’s infrastructure, including improvements that will improve traffic flow and pedestrian safety. The hamlet of Elmont, for example, was scheduled to receive $2.7 million in traffic and pedestrian safety improvements that are now being blocked.
Another $1.5 million in similar improvements was slated for the Village of Lynbrook, at the five-way intersection at Hempstead Avenue.
Blocked.
We planned to spend $250,000 on traffic safety and pedestrian improvements for Merrick Road in Freeport.
Blocked.
You can see just how quickly the money adds up. Failing to secure this funding will hurt communities across the county if we don’t act now. We cannot afford indecision or crass political posturing when our taxpayers are relying on us. I am calling on our Democrat-
ic legislators to put aside politics and prioritize the well-being of Nassau County residents by passing the Capital Plan. It is time to focus on what truly matters — the safety and quality of life of our citizens.
I also urge county residents to make their voices heard. Contact your legislators, express your concerns, and advocate for the passage of the Capital Plan. Here is the contact information for the Democratic legislators who blocked the plan and put you at risk.
Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton
Phone: (516) 571-6211
Email: dderiggiwhitton@nassaucountyny.gov
Legislator Scott Davis
Phone: (516) 571-6201
Email: SDavis@nassaucountyny.gov
Legislator Olena Nicks
Phone: (516) 571-6202
Email: onicks@nassaucountyny.gov
Legislator Carrie Solages
Phone: (516) 571-6203
Email: csolages@nassaucountyny.gov
Legislator Seth Koslow Phone: (516) 571-6205
Email: skoslow@nassaucountyny.gov
Legislator Debra Mulé Phone: (516) 571-6206
Email: dmule@nassaucountyny.gov
Legislator Arnold Drucker Phone: (516) 571-6216
Email: adrucker@nassaucountyny.gov
Bruce Blakeman is Nassau County executive.
Why I still cheer like a kid for my teams
am 64 years old. I have lived a full life, raised a family, built a career and seen the world change in ways I never imagined. But when one of my favorite sports teams takes the field, I’m still a 12-year-old boy, heart pounding, stomach twisting, living and dying with every play or atbat.
A great touchdown catch or a clutch base hit still sends me into wild fist pumping. A botched play or a baffling coaching decision has me pacing the room, muttering in disbelief.
The baseball season just started, and I moaned about the Mets’ slow start in a sports text thread. One of my friends texted, “They’ve faced strong pitching.” I responded, “Aren’t they supposed to have a strong lineup and that Soto guy?” The same friend wrote: “It’s one week, calm down.”
When you’re a fan, calm isn’t your default state of mind. This isn’t a hobby — it’s a lifelong relationship. And like any deep, long-term commitment, it started early.
I still remember my first baseball game. I was 7, holding my father’s hand as we made our way through the crowded concourse of Yankee Stadium. Though I was a Mets fan, we went with family friends. The air smelled of hot dogs, beer and cigars.
s ports are a connection — to my childhood, to my dad, to my friends.
Two years later, I went to my first football game, also in Yankee Stadium. I’m a Giants fan, and on that October Sunday my dad and I watched Big Blue defeat the then St. Louis Cardinals. Sitting around us were football fans who held transistor radios to their ears so they’d know what penalty had been called and exactly where the ball was on the field. At the time, no planet-sized TV screen showed the previous play seconds after it ended.
Sports fandom isn’t just about watching games — it’s about the rituals, the
superstitions, the little things we do that make us feel like we’re part of something bigger. For me, it started with where I sat to watch at home. Every time my team was in the playoffs, I had to be in the same spot on the couch. Not just the same couch — the same spot on that couch.
Before the most recent two Super Bowls that the Giants played in (and won), I had to watch the movie “Friday Night Lights” two hours before game time. Was there any logical reason to believe that watching a film about high school football would influence the outcome of a Super Bowl? Of course not. But did I dare test my illogical theory by not watching it? Absolutely not. If you ask any true sports fan why they put themselves through the emotional rollercoaster of fandom, they’ll tell you the highs are worth the lows. And it’s true — when my team wins, when they pull off an improbable comeback or dominate their opponent, it’s
pure joy. The kind of joy that makes you jump up and down like a kid on his birthday.
But the lows? Oh, the lows hurt. A blown lead, a boneheaded play that costs the game, a gut-wrenching loss — they stay with you. You replay them in your head and commiserate about them with friends.
People who don’t follow sports don’t get it. They ask why I let a game played by people I’ve never met affect me so deeply. Or they ask whether I have a big bet on the game.
But it’s not just a game. It’s a connection — to my childhood, to my father, who took me to those first games, to my friends who have shared in the victories and defeats. It’s a constant in a world that constantly changes.
At 64, I’m not the same person I was at 12. But when my team takes the field, that kid inside me comes roaring back across the decades, full of hope, excitement and the unshakable belief that this time, maybe this time, we’ll win it all.
Jeffrey Bessen is the managing editor of Herald Community Media.
JEFFREY BEssEn
opinions
We must address Long Island’s road safety crisis
The sudden rise in deadly accidents on Long Island’s streets and highways is deeply alarming, and demands actions. Every seven minutes, a crash causing death, injury or significant property damage occurs on our roads. And our region currently leads the state in traffic fatalities: One in five deaths resulting from car crashes in New York happens on Long Island. The failure to secure our roads has led to thousands of lives being cut short, families tragically ripped apart and a terrible void left in too many of our communities.
I wrote to U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, calling for immediate action to keep Long Islanders safe. In addition to a federal investigation into the surge of fatal crashes, I urged Duffy and the Department of Transportation to issue specific recommendations to
Congress on additional funding or authority that the department needs to improve our roadways and increase safety for drivers and pedestrians.
I’m fighting for a comprehensive roadway safety strategy to encourage safer driving and create safer roads. This means giving our law enforcement agencies the tools and resources to police aggressive and unsafe driving, investing in infrastructure that puts safety first and keeping impaired drivers off our roads.
We’ve lost far too many community members to fatal traffic accidents.
Unsafe driving has devastating consequences that we can and must prevent. Every day, our nation’s law enforcement officers work to prevent serious accidents on our roads. But strained budgets and workforce reductions have harmed their ability to conduct traffic stops and other forms of high-visibility traffic enforcement. Studies show that increasing high-visibility enforcement deters drivers from making reckless decisions that endanger others and makes our streets safer for all. Additionally, I’m calling for infra-
structure investments that prioritize safety, not speed. Area residents have long voiced safety concerns about the Southern State Parkway, Sunrise Highway and other routes, which account for a disproportionate share of roadway injuries and fatalities on Long Island. We should use proven safety countermeasures to keep pedestrians and cyclists safe on our roads, prevent roadway departures, and make intersections less deadly.
I’ll continue to advocate for these common-sense improvements. In Congress, I’m drafting legislation that incentivizes states and localities to build roundabouts, which make intersections safer. By introducing these measures into our infrastructure planning, we can significantly reduce roadway fatalities and injuries.
We must also take action to keep impaired drivers off the roads. Many road safety groups have endorsed lowering our drunken-driving limit to a blood alcohol content of .05 percent. There’s strong evidence that lowering this limit
reduces the number of crashes and saves lives: After Utah lowered its drunken-driving limit to .05 percent in 2018, fatal car crashes dropped by nearly 20 percent over the next calendar year. I support the push at the state level to bring this limit to New York, and I’m exploring federal options to make this the law of the land across the U.S.
We’ve lost far too many community members to fatal traffic accidents. It’s time for local, state and federal authorities to come together to improve our roadways and increase safety for drivers and pedestrians.
I’m proud to represent Long Island on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which has authority over the nation’s highways and bridges. As Congress considers a new surface transit reauthorization bill this year, the committee will be a key player in negotiating this bill. I’ll continue to use my seat on T&I to advocate for our communities, make smart infrastructure investments and push for policies that keep drivers, passengers and pedestrians safe.
Laura A. Gillen represents the 4th Congressional District.
A holiday homily: the family that ate its pets
Thus it came to pass, in the Land of Brooklyn, that Morris Brownstein knew Anna Brownstein, his second cousin, and they begat Hilda, Murray, Pearl and Zelda. Pearl, third in the family order, was my mother, and the only one who seemed to have entirely escaped the questionable legacy of having parents who were also blood relatives.
In the warm bosom of my mother’s nuclear family, accent on nuclear, Passover was a sacred time. Sacred not in a religious way, but in a culinary way. Grandma Annie and Grandpa Morris spared no effort in bringing to their four children an authentic holiday experience.
Perhaps the most cherished Brownstein family tradition was dining on homemade gefilte fish for the holiday. Let me digress. Gefilte fish (from the Yiddish word for “stuffed”) is an acquired taste. A cement-colored composite of various scaled fish, such as carp and pike and whitefish, mixed with
ground vegetables and matzo meal, it tastes like a fishy matzo ball. People eat it cold, with mouth-scorching horseradish to kill the taste.
When I say it is an acquired taste, I mean you had to be there at the beginning. Let’s see, it’s 5785 on the Hebrew calendar, so if you started eating gefilte fish two or three thousand years ago, you probably look forward to having it on the Seder table this year. You can’t just munch gefilte with no prior experience.
himself too thin.
Anyway, keeping the carp in the tub wasn’t without consequences for the Family Brownstein. First, since the carp was in the tub for some time, and there was only one bathtub, well, draw your own conclusions.
M y mother always wanted a kitten or a puppy, but learned to bond with carp.
For her gefilte fish, Grandma Annie believed in going to the source, so she would buy a large, live carp and keep it in the bathtub for a week or two until it was time to ease it from its comfortable aquatic home into a grinder.
This was fish farming in its most primitive form. The business possibilities were not lost on young Murray, who was blessed with an entrepreneurial spirit. When he was 19, he considered buying up tens of thousands of bathtubs to raise carp. Unfortunately, at the time all his funds were tied up in a machine that made shoes out of sweet potatoes, and he didn’t want to spread
The second consequence of growing their own, so to speak, was that my mother, the most tenderhearted of the lot, immediately bonded with the carp. She had always longed for a kitten or a puppy, but her parents weren’t about to indulge her, so once a year she had what you might call a transitory experience in nurturing an animal. Granted, a carp isn’t much of a pet, but young Pearl had little else to call her own.
This was not what you would call a psychologically enlightened family. Since “Sesame Street” had not yet been created, Grandma would entertain her kids by taking them to the Canarsie slaughterhouse, where they would watch the chickens being killed. You can see why they didn’t worry much about young Pearl playing with the carp in the tub.
When the day came, a few days before Passover, Grandma was the designated
executioner. This was an interesting division of labor, since Grandpa Morris displayed distinct homicidal potential, having once chased a woman around a butcher shop with a knife after she insulted President Roosevelt. He was also enlisted in a civilian patrol, looking for submarines in Brooklyn, when he fell into a sidewalk hole and wasn’t found for days. But that’s another story.
Anyway, Grandma Annie, ignoring all pleas for clemency for the fish, would drain the tub and dispatch the carp with her cleaver. A day later, they set a beautiful table, and after a few prayers, devoured the fish, which lived on in its new incarnation — homemade gefilte fish swimming in its own aspic.
For dessert, Grandma made what came to be known as the Cake of Affliction, a 12-egg, foot-high sponge cake that, year after year, stuck to the pan, fell like a pancake instead of rising like a soufflé and broke our hearts.
Times pass, and so do people. Rituals change. This Passover, my husband is the only one at the table who will eat gefilte fish. The Cake of Affliction isn’t on the menu. At today’s egg prices, the family sponge cake has become a highrisk investment.
Copyright © 2025 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.
Laura a . GiLLen
ranDi Kreiss
Spring into the new season by volunteering
as the winter chill fades and the warmth of spring sets in, April presents us with the perfect opportunity to step out of our homes and into our communities. It is National Volunteer Month, a time to recognize the vital contributions of volunteers and encourage others to take part in acts of service. With the season’s longer days, there’s no better moment to embrace the spirit of giving, and making a difference.
Volunteering is more than just a noble act — it’s a powerful way to foster change, make personal connections and enhance our well-being. Whether you’re helping clean up a local park, mentoring a young student or lending a hand at a food bank, your contributions have a lasting impact. This month, let’s not only celebrate those who dedicate their time to service, but also join them in strengthening our communities.
National Volunteer Month highlights the invaluable role that volunteers play in shaping society. The best, most selfless volunteering isn’t confined to a single day or week; it’s an ongoing effort that promotes social responsibility, empathy and collective progress.
It also benefits the volunteer. Studies show that devoting time to helping others can reduce stress, combat loneliness and engender a sense of purpose. It helps people acquire new skills and build professional as well as social networks, and often opens doors to new career opportunities.
One of the best aspects of volunteering is its flexibility — there’s something for everyone. Whether you have a few hours to spare each month or can commit to a regular schedule, there are countless ways to contribute. Here are just a few examples:
■ Community cleanups: Help beautify
Thanks
for a
letters
young woman’s perspective
To the Editor:
Great places to lend a hand
American Red Cross, Long Island Chapter
195 Willis Ave. Mineola (516) 747-3500
RedCross.org/local/new-york
Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center
100 Crescent Beach Road, Glen Cove (516) 571-8040 hmtcli.org
Island Harvest 126 Spagnoli Road, Melville (516) 294-8528 (631) 873-4775
IslandHarvest.org
Last Hope Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation 3300 Beltagh Ave., Wantagh (631) 425-1884
LastHopeAnimalRescue.org
Long Island Cares 10 Davids Drive, Hauppauge (631) 582-3663 LiCares.org
United Way of Long Island 819 Grand Blvd., Deer Park (631) 940-3700 UnitedWayLi.org
your local parks, streets and other community spaces by picking up litter, powerwashing sidewalks or planting flowers.
■ Animal welfare: Volunteer at an animal shelter or foster a rescue pet. The need for volunteers at these facilities has
I very much appreciated Jordan Vallone’s recent op-ed, “Some thoughts on books, privilege and girlhood.” As a lifelong reader, I think life is so much more enjoyable having a good book to read. Books are, in many ways, our teachers. Vallone’s emphasis on the importance of books for young women dealing with this complex and stressful world is so relevant. As I look back on my teaching career, I think we should have had more literature from a woman’s point of view, focusing on the situations and problems they had to face.
And thanks to Jordan for her book suggestions. I feel I should read some literature from the perspective of young
never been greater.
■ Educational support: Tutor a student, chaperone a school field trip or help out in your local library.
■ Food assistance: Work at a food pantry or take part in a meal delivery program. Lots of community members lend a hand during the holiday season, but here, too, volunteers can find plenty to do all year round.
■ Health care and support services: Visit a nursing home, assist hospital staff, or support a mental health initiative.
■ Environmental advocacy: Take part in a tree-planting effort, a recycling program or a sustainability project.
April is also Global Volunteer Month, celebrating the many ways people and organizations support their neighbors and strengthen their communities around the world. Volunteer Recognition Day, April 20, will kick off National Volunteer Week, April 20-26, a weeklong celebration of the efforts of volunteers. There are numerous opportunities this month to take part in events, campaigns and initiatives that need and will welcome your help. It’s a time to take action, and inspire others to do the same. And by getting children and young adults involved, we can help instill a lifelong commitment to service and civic responsibility. Whether through school programs or community projects, we can encourage the next generation to embrace the values of kindness, empathy, and community involvement.
If you’ve been looking for a way to give back, let the month that symbolizes renewal and growth be the time you take that first step. Whether you join a oneday event or dedicate a few hours a week, your contribution matters. Step outside, lend a hand and experience the joy of making a difference.
opinions Standing up for our first responders
nassau County’s fiscal year 2025 capital infrastructure plan is being held up by County Executive Bruce A. Blakeman’s refusal to negotiate with the Democratic minority on grants for important community projects and funding for first responders in the communities we represent.
Since the beginning of 2024, Blakeman and his administration have inexplicably blocked more than $1 million in funding for first responders in Democratic districts — essential, life-saving resources for our firefighters, EMS and local police. These grant requests include essential items such as turnout gear to protect firefighters from flames; oxygen tanks to help first responders breathe in dangerous conditions; upgrades to communication equipment for small village police departments; and CPR devices that improve survival rates for heart attack victims. The list goes on — and within Legislative District 6, this includes nearly $170,000 for the Baldwin Fire Department to apply toward the
purchase of a new bucket truck.
Meanwhile, during the same time period, the county executive has signed off on 32 projects and over $2.5 million for Republican-backed projects, which include proposals similar to the ones Democrats have put forward for their first responders and communities. Thirty-two projects for Republicans, none for Democrats.
On March 24, the Democratic minority drew a line in the sand.
Last month, the Legislature’s Democratic minority drew a line in the sand.
That day, the Blakeman administration came to the Legislature seeking authorization to borrow another $428 million to finance capital projects — even though the administration still has $2.1 billion in untapped bond authorization at its fingertips, as confirmed in the official statement the county filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Under the County Charter, bond authorizations require a 13-vote supermajority to pass, and the administration needs Democratic support to achieve that threshold. Last September, in good faith, the seven Democratic legislators agreed to bond $131 million for countywide capital projects and public safety initiatives. Since then, Blakeman
Letters
people growing up in 2025.
More power to her pride in being a woman, her seeing the importance of literature for young women and her having the talent to bring attention to women’s stories that deserve to be told and heard.
JIM HAwkINS Baldwin
Why so much opposition to the president?
To the Editor:
Spreading propaganda is an evil tool used to create anger, hysteria, rage and jealousy among unthinking people. This method was successfully used in Nazi Germany in the 1930s. It encouraged book burning and k ristallnacht. It appears very similar to Tesla burning and mob protesting against Jewish students at Columbia University. w hen children are young, they are taught to obey their parents, because they are the adults. In a mob mentality, people behave very similar to children, because they are also told what to do, and encouraged to engage in destructive, harmful, irrational behavior. w hen those who attack our American citizens are released and defended by judges, whose civil rights are violated? Can judges overrule the president of the United States?
has still not processed a single community grant requested by a Democratic member for our first responders. This outcome, and the clear political bias that he and his administration are demonstrating through their handling of first responder grants, show us that we cannot trust him to uphold his commitments to Democratic districts and deliver resources to the communities of Nassau’s 19 legislative districts fairly — even if we authorize him to borrow funds.
Before providing our support for another $428 million in borrowing, we asked Blakeman — at his suggestion — to take the unprecedented step of drafting an agreement that would facilitate the release of the $1 million-plus in withheld first responder funding within three months, and to provide regular, transparent updates tracking capital project progress in all 19 districts. He refused, and rather than meeting with our caucus to finalize the capital plan, he has chosen to lash out, and attack us for standing up for our first responders — even dismissing our pursuit of potentially life-saving resources for our firefighters, EMS and local police as “pet projects.”
Sir, were these same proposals pet projects when you signed off on them in districts represented by our Republican colleagues?
Moreover, Blakeman is continuing to claim falsely that, by strategically using the leverage afforded us under the County Charter to demand fairness for our first responders, we are somehow jeopardizing access to resources for a wide swath of essential county services. At a time when the county executive has over $2.1 billion in untapped bond authorizations to utilize, it is clear that he would rather mislead the public to score political points than do his job.
Let me be clear: My colleagues in the Democratic minority and I are ready to vote for capital plan borrowing — but Blakeman must come to the table. He must quantify the need for more bonding; agree in writing to advance our projects in a timely manner; and expeditiously release the more than $1 million in first responder grants he has held up for more than a year.
Until there is an agreement that ensures fairness, transparency and results for every community, we have no choice but to use this form of leverage to force the county executive to act.
Debra Mulé represents Nassau County’s 6th Legislative District and is the Legislature’s alternate deputy minority leader.
we need strong leadership to prevent civil disobedience and violence, and more credit must be given to President Trump, who was given this arduous task by a clear majority. w hy is there so much opposition?
PAT kING Merrick
The Senate should not confirm D’Esposito
To the Editor:
Just how much confidence can we have in a failed congressman, Anthony D’Esposito, whose brief tenure was marked by slavish obeisance to the grossly unqualified President Trump (before he returned to office), and who now, ironically, Trump has appointed inspector general for the Labor Department, which the administration is eviscerating, after Trump has dismissed independent inspectors-general in more than a dozen such agencies?
The answer is a resounding, Not a scintilla of trust!
More likely, like the multi-failed kari Lake in Arizona, who lost races for both governor and senator but became Trump’s nemesis of the hugely successful Voice of America, D’Esposito is keeping a political profile for a return run for
elective office.
They, along with the current administration, belong not to a (Pete) Hegseth “meritocracy,” but together form the gang that couldn’t shoot straight: incompetent, ignorant, intol-
erant and dangerous to our liberal democratic republic. D’Esposito should be denied Senate confirmation.
ASHER MATATHIAS Woodmere
Framework by Tim Baker
At Culinary Delights at the Mansion — Glen Cove
DeBra mULÉ
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