HERALD east meadow
NUMC, state leaders rally for critical funding
By JoRDAN VAlloNE
jvallone@liherald.com
Health care leaders and state officials rallied in Albany on Feb. 25, pushing for crucial state funding for the Nassau University Medical Center, the East Meadow-based hospital that is overseen by the Nassau Health Care Corporation.
During the rally, which took place in the Capitol Building, Megan Ryan, the corporation’s president, chief executive and chief legal officer, joined State Sen. Steve Rhoads and other legislators to press the State Legislature to include funding for the hospital in its 2025-26 budget.
“Nassau University Medical Center serves as a critical lifeline for the most vulnerable populations in Nassau County and is an irreplaceable part of Long Island’s healthcare network,” Rhoads, a Republican whose district includes NUMC, said at the rally. “Nearly 90 percent of their patients are Medicare, Medicaid CoNtiNUed oN pAge 10
Hempstead officials support feds pause on congestion pricing
By CHARlES SHAW cshaw@liherald.com
Town leaders and local officials are celebrating the move by President Donald Trump and the Federal Highway Administration to shut down New York City’s congestion pricing program.
During a Feb. 20 news conference at Sand Hill Road Park, Town of Hempstead Supervisor Don Clavin called the decision a “massive win” for working-class commuters and Long Island as a whole.
“It’s a great victory for people just going to do their jobs,” Clavin said. “We’re not talking
about the titans of industry. We are talking about first responders, nurses, teachers, people who serve you coffee in the city, deliverymen and women. This is a great victory for them.”
In November, Gov. Kathy Hochul re-launched congestion pricing, slapping a $9 daily toll on passenger vehicles traveling south of 60th Street in Manhattan — a 40 percent reduction from the original $15 fee. The plan had been paused in June after state officials raised concerns about its financial impact on commuters.
The revised plan, approved by the MTA board on Nov. 18, took effect Jan. 5. In response,
the Town of Hempstead filed a lawsuit against the MTA and the state in Nassau County Supreme Court on Nov. 21, arguing they bypassed public comment requirements. Backed by strong opposition from Long Island’s leaders, the plan’s opponents contended that the changes constituted a new law requiring further input.
On Feb. 19, the Trump administration ordered a halt to the program, and gave New York until March 21 to put a stop to it, according to a report from the Associated Press.
In addition, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced the federal govern -
ment had rescinded the plan’s approval, citing the Town of Hempstead’s lawsuit. In a termination letter, Duffy called congestion pricing “a slap in the face to working-class Americans and small business owners.”
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman noted his support for the federal government’s decision at a Feb. 19 news
conference in Mineola. Blakeman recalled President Trump’s pledge to end congestion pricing at a rally last October.
“President Trump is fulfilling a promise that he made at Madison Square Garden during (his) campaign,” Blakeman said. In a letter to Hochul from the federal transportation office,
Courtesy Office of State Sen. Steve Rhoads
Health care leaders and state officials rallied in Albany on Feb. 25, calling for the restoration of state funding for Nassau University Medical Center.
Stay Connected this Year:
How the federal budget bill could impact L.I.
More than 700 people attended a live budget briefing with Reps. Laura Gillen and Tom Suozzi at Hofstra University that focused on the potentially harmful effects of the partisan budget reconciliation bill passed by the House of Representatives on Feb. 25.
Suozzi opened the March 1 briefing with a detailed PowerPoint, explaining that Congress has yet to pass a full budget for fiscal year 2025 and is currently relying on temporary “Continuing Resolutions,” the latest of which expires on March 14.
He emphasized that the reconciliation bill, which sets the federal government’s spending and revenue for the next decade, would create massive deficits by cutting taxes for the wealthiest Americans while slashing critical programs.
“I support cutting waste, fraud, and abuse, but this bill will slash essential funding for hospitals, nursing homes, environmental projects, clean air and water initiatives, school lunches, and more,” Suozzi said in a news release after the event. “Let’s use a scalpel, not a chainsaw — pass a bipartisan budget and do it the right way.”
All Democratic members of Congress, including Suozzi and Gillen, voted against the bill, along with one Republican, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky.
“This briefing was a crucial opportunity for Long Islanders to learn more about the budget process and hear from local experts on how the proposed budget would impact our communities,” Gillen said in the release. “This budget would rip thousands of people from their healthcare, gut programs that my constituents rely on, and raise costs for working families. I’ll always work across the aisle when it means delivering results for Long Island, but I won’t support a bill that’s bad for Nassau County.”
The event also featured speakers such as Michael Dowling, CEO of Northwell Health, the largest employer in the state, Julie Tighe, president of the New York League of Conservation Voters, Randi Shubin Dresner, CEO of
Island Harvest, and Stanfort Perry, CEO of AHRC Nassau. Each highlighted the potential damage the proposed budget cuts could do to their sectors.
“I’ve been through budget battles before, and they’re tough. But budgets are not just about numbers; they’re about people’s lives,” Dowling said in the release. “Decency must be part of the process. You can make tough decisions, but when you combine bad numbers with indecency and a lack of humanity, it makes everything worse.”
Tighe noted the environmental risks posed by the budget.
“The proposed cuts threaten the progress we’ve made in cleaning up our air and water and advancing affordable clean energy,” she said in the release. Clean air and water should not be partisan issues. All Americans deserve access to stable, homegrown energy that isn’t subject to the volatile cost of fossil fuels.”
Shubin Dresner expressed concern about the impact on food security programs.
“Island Harvest has $2 million in funding currently frozen, putting 17 critical programs at risk,” she said in the release. “You can’t solve a budget crisis by cutting support for the most vulnerable.”
Perry emphasized the dangers of proposed cuts to Medicaid services for people with disabilities.
“We cannot endure these cuts,” he said in the release. “When agencies like AHRC Nassau can’t provide the care people with disabilities need, they end up in hospitals or nursing homes. This isn’t fiscal responsibility—it’s harming those who need help the most.”
“These issues matter to our community, and people are paying attention,” Suozzi stated in the release. “Over 700 Long Islanders came today to learn how Washington’s decisions affect their lives. I’m proud of my community, and I will continue to fight for the programs and services Long Island depends on.”
–Jeffrey Bessen
Herald file photos
The possible impacts of the federal bill passed last month was discussed by Reps. Laura Gillen and Tom Suozzi and several business and organization leaders at Hofstra University on March 1.
Art show features Gloria Glick and her students
Throughout the month of March, East Meadow community members will have an opportunity to view the work of not only one talented artist — but several. The Students of Gloria Glick, an art show at the East Meadow Public Library, officially opened with a reception on March 2, and features many of Glick’s pieces, as well as those of her students.
Glick is a longtime East Meadow resident and an established artist and teacher of art. A multi-award-winning artist, she excels as an instructor. The curated show at the library demonstrates her abilities as a teacher, clearly seen in the high-quality work that her students produce.
Many of Glick’s students, along with their families and friends were present at Sunday’s reception. A pamphlet walks viewers through each piece on display, and denotes if they are for sale or not. In total, 30 pieces are available for viewing.
Glick’s work and the work of her students will be available for viewing all moth long. Closing at the end of the month, East Meadow’s April art show will feature the work of Stephanie Jacobson. A versatile artist whose work includes floral, landscape, figure paintings and more, Jacobson’s show opens on April 6 at 1:30 p.m.
To view Glick’s exhibit and future shows, visit the library at 1886 Front Street, East Meadow. For more, visit EastMeadow.info.
–Jordan Vallone
Fran Harelick and her work on display at the East Meadow Public Library.
Carolyn Weissfeld showed off her paintings on display.
Holden Leeds/Herald photos
At Sunday’s reception were Sandra Gallof, Barbara Reichling, Patrice Gianaca, Carolyn Weissfeld, Linda Reynolds, Fran Harelick, Gloria Glick, Judy Aubin, Rose Mackin, Maria De Los Baez.
Sandra Gallof with her work.
Pat Gianaca, with her grandson, Easton, at an art reception showing off the work many students of Gloria Glick, and East Meadow artist and teacher.
Local leaders hail end of congestion pricing
Duffy justified rescinding approval by citing the federal Value Pricing Pilot Program, an initiative established to explore the potential of various pricing strategies in reducing traffic congestion. Managed by the Federal Highway Administration, the program allows state and local governments to implement pilot projects that test the effectiveness of tolls and other pricing mechanisms in managing roadway usage and alleviating congestion.
Joining Clavin at the Feb. 20 news conference were Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino, Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jen DeSena, and Town of Hempstead officials, including Council members Dennis Dunne Sr., Thomas Muscarella and Laura Ryder, and Town Clerk Kate Murray.
Sand Hill Road Park sits near the Southern State Parkway, a key route for thousands of commuters traveling to the city each day. Saladino expressed that reducing traffic congestion and promoting environmental sustainability are important goals, yet the tolling program placed an “undue strain” on working families facing high costs. He thanked the neighboring towns for their leadership in the initiative.
“It is an important victory in this fight for our residents,” Saladino said. “We stand with our residents. We stand with our commuters.”
However, according to the MTA, congestion pricing would improve quality of life by reducing traffic and improving air quality in the city. In addition, the program was expected to bring in “billions
What is Elder Law Estate Planning?
“Elder Law Estate Planning” is an area of law that combines features of both elder law (disability planning) and estate planning (death planning) and relates mostly to the needs of the middle class. Estate planning was formerly only for the wealthy, who wanted to shelter their assets from taxes and pass more on to their heirs. But today estate planning is also needed by the middle class who often have assets exceeding one million dollars, especially when you consider life insurance in the mix.
Estate planning with trusts became popular starting in 1991 when AARP published “A Consumer Report on Probate” concluding that probate should be avoided and trusts should be used to transfer assets to heirs without the expense and delay of probate, a court proceeding on death. Trusts are also widely used today to avoid guardianship proceedings on disability, protect privacy, and reduce the chance of a will contest in court.
As the population aged, life expectancies increased, and the cost of care skyrocketed, the field of elder law emerged in the late 1980’s to help people protect assets from the cost of long-term care by using Medicaid asset protection strategies.
We have been practicing “elder law estate planning” together for over thirty-five years to address these needs:
• Getting your assets to your heirs, with the least amount of court costs, taxes and legal fees possible.
• Keeping your assets in the bloodline for your grandchildren and protecting those assets from your children’s divorces, lawsuits and creditors.
• Protecting your assets from the costs of long-term care and qualifying you for government benefits to pay for your home care or facility care.
• Avoiding guardianship proceedings if you become disabled and probate court proceedings on death.
ETTINGER LAW FIRM
ELDER LAW ESTATE PLANNING SINCE 1991 trustlaw.com
& Estates • Wills & Probate • Medicaid FREE CONSULTATION: 516-327-8880 x117 or email info@trustlaw.com 100 Merrick Rd., Rockville Centre • 3000 Marcus Ave., Lake Success Other offices in Huntington
of dollars in funding,” which the MTA stated could improve subways, buses and commuter railroads, on top of supporting around 23,000 jobs throughout the state.
In a Feb. 24 news release, the MTA reported that tolls from the program generated $48.6 million in its first month, putting it on track to meet the agency’s $500 million annual projection, which would support $15 billion in debt financing for mass transit improvements.
“With an initial performance in line with projections, we can confidently move forward with projects that rely on funds from the Congestion Relief Zone,” MTA Chief Financial Officer Kevin Willens stated in the news release. “We look forward to seeing similar results in the coming months.”
In response to the Trump administration’s decision, the MTA filed a lawsuit in the Manhattan federal court, arguing that the administration lacks legal authority to do away with the program.
Hochul argued that regardless of anyone’s stance on congestion pricing, the
decision is an attack on New York’s sovereignty as a state.
“New York hasn’t labored under a king in over 250 years, and we sure as hell won’t start now,” she said at a Feb. 19 news conference at Grand Central Terminal.
State Sen. Steve Rhoads joined members of the Senate Republican Conference on Feb. 24 to criticize the lawsuit against the federal government’s decision to halt congestion pricing. The conference highlighted legislation that would fully repeal the program and commission an independent audit of the MTA.
“New Yorkers are tired of being Albany’s endless ATM,” said Rhoads, who represents the Fifth Senate District, covering Wantagh, Seaford, Levittown, Bellmore, Merrick and East Meadow. “The governor’s decision to squander taxpayer dollars defending a failed congestion pricing scheme is both reckless and out of touch.”
Additional reporting by Jordan Vallone & Luke Feeney.
■ WEB SITE: www.liherald.com/eastmeadow
Courtesy Town of Hempstead
Joined by town leaders and local officials, town of Hempstead Supervisor don Clavin spoke at a feb. 20 news conference at Sand Hill road park, celebrating the federal decision to halt new York City’s congestion pricing program.
March Irish Specials
Celebrate all month long with a feast! Let us take care of the cooking while you enjoy the festivities.
March Irish Feast Special $199 ½ Tray Corned Beef & Cabbage
½ Tray Shepherd’s Pie ½ Tray Beef Stew
Individual trays also available! Please note, a minimum of 2 days notice is required.
Limited availability – Pre-order now!
Pietro’s of East Meadow
Call to Order: (516) 794-8820
Enjoy our festive Irish-inspired menu, available all month long:
Potato Leek Soup – Creamy potato and leek soup ($10.95)
Irish Nachos – Thick-cut fries with crispy bacon, Irish cheddar, and whiskey sauce ($14.95)
Shepherd’s Pie – Ground beef, carrots, onions, and peas in savory brown gravy, topped with broiled mashed potatoes ($18.95)
Fish & Chips – Fresh battered cod, served with steak fries and homemade tartar sauce ($21.95)
Corned Beef & Cabbage – Served with boiled potatoes, roasted carrots, and mustard cream sauce ($25.95)
Guinness Beef Stew – Slow-cooked beef with carrots, onions, celery, and mashed potatoes, topped with crispy parsnips ($26.95)
Baileys Bread Pudding – Warm bread pudding with vanilla custard and Baileys ice cream ($11.95)
Senior-led East Meadow beats Uniondale
By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com
Experience and chemistry are the two biggest reasons East Meadow’s boys’ basketball team is one win away from making program history.
The second-seeded Jets exploded to a 14-point lead late in the second quarter and never looked back on the way to knocking off No. 3 Uniondale, 55-42, in a Class AAA semifinal Sunday night at Farmingdale State College.
“We have eight seniors on this team and we’ve been playing together since elementary school at Barnum Woods,” said Isaiah Perkins, who scored a gamehigh 21 points as East Meadow won its 16th straight and advanced to face topseeded Port Washington in the county final Saturday at 8 p.m. at Farmingdale State. “We’ve been dreaming of a championship since we were freshmen. “That’s been our goal and we’re as close as ever attaining it,” he added.
East Meadow has never won a county title while Port Washington, which defeated No. 5 Farmingdale in the other semifinal, last captured a crown in the 1946-47 season.
“Uniondale is a great team but
they’re young and we brought a lot of energy,” said Perkins, who scored eight points in the second quarter to lead the Jets to a 29-18 halftime advantage.
Point guard Will Casseus added 14 points, Nick DeStefano 8 and Mazin Ibrahem 7 for the Jets, who improved to 19-3. Sophomore Dylan Hickman led the Knights (15-6) with 13 points. Freshman Mori Toney added 10 points and classmates Jayden Barrows and Jayden Oden chipped in 7 apiece.
“It was a phenomenal season for such a young team,” Uniondale head coach Jazz Styles said. “A lot of the mistakes we made tonight can be attributed to youth. Kudos to East Meadow. They’re all seniors and they executed well.”
The Jets, who squeaked past Syosset in the quarterfinals Feb. 20 despite a subpar shooting performance, led Uniondale 12-10 after the first quarter before exploding for 19 points in the second to lead by 11 at the half. Perkins (two), Casseus and Ibrahem all hit 3’s in the second.
“It was a complete effort,” East Meadow head coach Tom Rottkamp said. “The key is our defensive energy, contesting shots, disrupting passing
lanes and grabbing rebounds. All season long we’ve focused on having defensive energy to win games.”
East Meadow’s largest lead was 38-23 midway through the third. The Knights, behind Toney, got to within 40-32 by the end of the quarter but were never within single digits again after Perkins opened the fourth with a rare four-point play.
Izaiah Richards and Brendan Cronin
keyed the Jets’ effort on the boards against the 6-foot-7 Barrows and 6-4 Oden.
The last time East Meadow tasted defeat was Dec. 18 at home against Port Washington. The Jets won the rematch Jan. 28.
“They’re a very good team,” Rottkamp said. “They’re disciplined and don’t make many mistakes. It’s going to be a tough game but we’ll be prepared.”
Erik Lee/Herald photos
Will Casseus, above right, scored 14 points for the Jets in their 16 th consecutive win.
East Meadow’s Isaiah Perkins, left, and Uniondale’s Mori Toney vied for a loose ball during Sunday night’s Class AAA semifinal.
Honor a hometown hero in East Meadow
By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com
The East Meadow Fire Department and the community-based Friends for a Beautiful East Meadow have teamed up to launch a new initiative aimed at both honoring military service members and enhancing the local landscape.
The project, called Honor a Hometown Hero, is a community beautification effort that recognizes veterans and active-duty military personnel with banners displayed prominently throughout East Meadow.
The initiative provides families with the opportunity to pay tribute to their loved ones who have served or are currently serving in any branch of the United States Armed Forces. Through the program, residents can purchase a full-color, 4-foot-tall by 2-foot-wide banner that will be hung on utility poles along key roadways in East Meadow.
The banners, featuring a patriotic color scheme, will showcase the honoree’s name, branch of service, years of service, and a color or black-and-white photo of them in uniform.
These banners serve as a public expression of gratitude to those who have dedicated their lives to defending the country. Beyond personal recognition, organizers believe the project will instill a sense of unity within the community while simultaneously contribut-
ing to East Meadow’s beautification efforts.
“Beyond the uniform, our veterans are the embodiment of selfless service,” East Meadow Fire District Commissioner John Priest said. His family purchased a banner in memory of his father, who served in World War II.
“Often referred to as the Greatest Generation, their dedication safeguarded our freedom and deserves to be recognized.”
The program is structured so that the banners will be installed each spring ahead of the Memorial Day parade, a long-standing tradition in East Meadow that draws veterans, families, and local officials together to honor those who have made sacrifices for their country.
The banners will remain on display until around Veterans Day, when they will be removed to protect them from winter weather. The following spring, they will be reinstalled for another season of public recognition.
The first phase of the program will see banners placed along two of the busiest roads in East Meadow—East Meadow Avenue and Prospect Avenue—making them highly visible to both residents and visitors passing through the area. As interest in the initiative grows, Friends for a Beautiful East Meadow and the East Meadow Fire Department plan to expand the program by installing banners in additional locations throughout the community.
“At the heart of our military banner program lies a deep commitment to honoring our local heroes and a sincere hope that this program will also bring a sense of unity and pride to our community,” Edward Rosenthal, president of Friends for a Beautiful East Meadow, said.
The Honor a Hometown Hero initiative follows a growing trend of similar banner programs in towns and cities across the country. Many communities
The east Meadow Fire Department and Friends for a Beautiful East Meadow have partnered to launch a new initiative, Honor a Hometown Hero, a community beautification effort that recognizes veterans and activeduty military personnel with banners displayed prominently throughout East Meadow.
have adopted military banner projects to recognize their local service members while also fostering a sense of civic pride.
There is still time for families to participate in this year’s spring installation. Those interested in ordering a banner for a veteran or active-duty service member can reach out to Friends for a Beautiful East Meadow at (516) 595-3144 or via email at info@fabem.org for more details on how to apply.
Courtesy East Meadow Fire Department & Friends for a Beautiful East Meadow
WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH
Parrish-Brown removes stigma around trauma
By RENEE DeLORENZO rdelorenzo@liherald.com
Continuing a month-long series of interviews with influential area women in honor of Women’s History Month.
Shanell Parrish-Brown is an attorney, author, professor, consultant, speaker and thought leader.
Herald: Tell me about yourself.
Shanell Parrish-Brown: I’m a child of domestic violence. My father was incarcerated for the early years of my life and came home with many issues that affected our family structure. But he gave me a gift. He would force me to read high-level texts, and it created my love of vocabulary.
I’ve always been a writer. So in 2017, I wrote a novel called “Gifts in Brown Paper Packages.” I didn’t set out initially to write a novel I would publish. In fact, what I set out to do, at the encouragement of my therapist, was process some childhood experiences that this therapist thought I should be talking about in our sessions. Those are things that certainly shaped me, but I didn’t want to be defined in that way. So my writing changed that.
Herald: What do you do? Why?
Parrish-Brown: I run a business where I publish literary work, and I provide programming and education consulting for all audiences. I’m a resilience builder. I teach a course at Fordham University about trauma and family violence, which features my novel as one of the reference materials.
My premise is that if we’re not interacting with our youth from a traumainformed place, we can recognize that kids who are acting out are likely responding to trauma. If we’re not interacting with children from that perspective, they get lost. Mental health challenges in children, like suicidal ideation, have only been exacerbated. We really should be addressing these issues on every single level.
get the press that it needs. I’m also running a business as an independent consultant, and working with government systems is difficult. But I keep going, and I stay in the work. I continue to put myself in spaces where I can meet people and share my work. I do calls with anyone who’s interested in hearing about the work I’m doing, even if they can’t hire me. It puts me in a place where I have opportunities to spread awareness.
Herald: What have been the proudest moments in your life?
Parrish-Brown: Some of my proudest moments come out of my classroom. It’s every single time I leave a class, and a student comes up to me asking if they can hug me.
nated with them. We have more similarities as a human race, and trauma doesn’t have a Zip code.
Herald: What advice would you offer? What work is left to be done?
Parrish-Brown: We need more trauma awareness. It’s a prerequisite to action. What we don’t know, or don’t seek to know, gives people the ability to keep their heads in the sand.
One of my goals is to open a resilience institute. It’s really about validating the need for us as a society to be promenading and dialoging around resilience, and that’s what I want to capture.
Herald: What has challenged you in your career so far, and what keeps you going/inspires you?
Parrish-Brown: The biggest challenge in my work is access. We have to normalize awareness of trauma, because it’s an area that doesn’t really
One of my proudest moments came from a two-hour resilience workshop I did in South Bronx. It was a Spanishspeaking audience, and I don’t speak Spanish, so I had an interpreter. These parents had tears in their eyes after leaving the session. They were fully engaged and telling me what I said reso-
Why are we not teaching about trauma? Many of my students say I’m the first person to inform them about it. Talking about it helps people realize their own experience with trauma. I’ll have students pouring out themselves in their papers, and I can sit down and ask them if they’re seeing someone about it. That’s why I want a platform and the ability to raise awareness around this work.
To learn more about Shanell ParrishBrown’s work, visit her website, SPBrownWrites.com.
Lauren Wagner leads Long Island Arts Alliance
By AINSLEY MARTINEZ amartinez@liherald.com
Herald: Tell me about yourself.
Wagner: I’m Lauren Wagner, an arts advocate, nonprofit leader and champion for the creative sector. I lead Long Island Arts Alliance, where I work to ensure the arts are recognized, supported and celebrated as essential to our communities. With a background in arts administration and museum studies, I’m passionate about connecting the arts with education, economic growth and community development.
Herald: What do you do? Why?
keeps you going/inspires you?
Wagner: One of the biggest challenges has been fighting the perception that the arts are expendable. Time and again, I’ve seen arts funding slashed, despite the undeniable impact of the creative sector. What keeps me going is knowing that when we equip organizations with the right tools — data, advocacy and visibility — they can thrive. Seeing the arts make a real difference in communities, in schools and in people’s lives fuels my passion.
Wagner: I lead Long Island Arts Alliance, a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening the arts through advocacy, education and resources. I do this work because I believe the arts are not just about creativity — they’re about economic prosperity, community identity and shaping the future. The arts are often overlooked when funding decisions are made, and I’m committed to changing that narrative.
Herald: What has challenged you in your career so far, and what
Herald: What have been the proudest moments in your life?
Wagner: Professionally, one of my proudest moments was leading Long Island’s first-ever economic impact study on the arts. Providing hard data that proves the arts are a powerful economic engine — and watching organizations use that data to secure funding — has been incredibly rewarding. Personally, my proudest moments are raising my two young sons and instilling in them a love for creativity and learning.
Herald: What advice would you offer? What work is left to be done?
arts are
Wagner: My advice? Advocate relentlessly. The arts need champions who won’t accept being sidelined. And never separate numbers from stories — data alone doesn’t inspire, and stories without facts don’t drive action.
There’s still so much work ahead. We need stronger arts education policies,
more equitable funding, and continued efforts to make the arts a priority in economic development. But I believe that with the right strategy, the right voices and the right advocacy, we can get there.
For more information, visit LongIslandArtsAlliance.org.
SHANELL PARRISH-BROwN
LAUREN wAGNER
Courtesy Long Island Arts Alliance
Lauren Wagner, executive director of the Long Island Arts Alliance, said she believes the
worth fighting for. She spoke to the Huntington Arts Coalition in 2023.
Blakeman makes his case for re-election
By CHRISTIE LEIGH BABIRAD cbabirad@liherald.com
Republican Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman announced his plans to run for a second four-year term at a campaign kickoff event on Feb. 24. His opponent will be County Legislator Seth Koslow, a Democrat.
Over the past three and a half years, Blakeman and his team have taken pride in protecting residents’ money by reversing tax hikes he said were implemented by the prior administration.
“We have an amazing team of very competent, caring people, and they’re smart and they have common sense,” Blakeman said.
Initiatives he has implemented include signing an executive order to ensure that Nassau does not become a sanctuary county, and doesn’t spend residents’ tax dollars on services for those coming to the U.S. illegally.
“We’re spending our resources, our money on Nassau County residents, on our parks, our highways, our schools, in the hiring of cops,” Blakeman said. “We’re not going to be the ones who take people in who haven’t been vetted. We see the criminal activity they’ve been engaged in, so it was the right decision to make.”
Blakeman has also banned the wearing of masks in public, except for those
There was a celebratory mood at Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s re-election kickoff rally at American Legion Post 1066 in Massapequa on Feb. 24.
who wear them for health or religious reasons. He said that this initiative was to cut down on crimes, including antisemitic crime.
Additionally, Blakeman signed an executive order to protect women and girls in sports by preventing biological males from competing on their teams and from being permitted in their lock-
er rooms.
Recalling his last campaign, he said that the one thing he wanted everyone to know was that he believed that when it comes to government, a new administration needed to return the county back to normalcy and common sense.
“And we did that,” he said. “We’ve gotten back to our American values
now. We’ve gotten back to the things our parents and our grandparents taught us, the values that have made this a great county and a great nation.”
North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena spoke about Blakeman’s unwavering support for her communities. “I have called him many times, and he has helped me without fail,” DeSena said. “When we had overwhelming floods hurting our neighbors in Manhasset, I called Bruce, and he and the Department of Public Works cleared the sump that gave our residents relief. When our Jewish brothers and sisters were scared after that Oct. 7 terrorist attack, I called Bruce, and he sent the police to protect them. Bruce loves Nassau County, and we are safer and better with him as Nassau County executive.”
Koslow, who has served as a county legislator for a little over a year, is a lifelong Nassau resident. He said that he was looking to bringing the transparency, honesty and responsiveness he is known for to the county executive’s office.
“I may be relatively new to politics compared to lifelong politician Bruce Blakeman,” Koslow said, “but I know one thing for sure, which is that putting politics over public safety is a disgrace, and it should disqualify anyone from leading a county of over 1.3 million people.”
Is there a fee charged for making funeral pre-arrangements?
There is absolutely no fee or other charge in New York State when you make “pre-arrangements”. Moreover when you pre-fund those arrangements through the Pre-Plan Trust there is no additional expense in establishing the trust account. A trust account that remains under your control and your funds are FDIC insured.
No commission, no set-up fees, no extra expenses. Just accurate, helpful information, and a plan that conforms to all New York State Regulations and SSI-Medicaid regulations as well. An enhanced rate of interest on the Pre-Plan Trust enables us to guarantee the funeral home costs when a complete funeral is arranged and paid for.
If you would like to discuss these issues, call us and we’ll arrange to have one of our licensed funeral director professionals meet with you and answer your questions.
You’ll receive clear answers, an itemized list of the costs, and some peace of mind.
Thomas L. Kearns
Christie Leigh Babirad/Herald
Nassau’s public hospital lacks state support
or have no ability to pay. As a result, it relies upon state funding to survive. However, since 2019, NUMC has been denied hundreds of millions of dollars of state funding received by safety net hospitals in other areas.”
WRhoads cited the hospital’s Level 1 trauma center, its burn center for local first responders and those injured in fire-related incidents, and its newly established cardiac catheterization lab as crucially important elements in Nassau County and Long Island’s health care system.
e’re asking to be treated fairly — that shouldn’t be a politically charged or partisan issue
Megan
Ryan
President, chief executive, chief legal officer
Nassau Health Care Corporation
“While hospitals in Westchester, Brooklyn and the Bronx have received funding, NUMC continues to be overlooked,” he added. “It is imperative that the governor and legislative leaders put politics aside, step up, and do the right thing for the people.”
The hospital said it applied for every state funding opportunity available in 2024 and 2025, but has received no state aid. Through a Medicare waiver, which the state was recently awarded, $2.2 billion will be distributed over the course of four years to public hospitals in New York City and Westchester County, but provides no support or funding to NUMC.
“We’re asking to be treated fairly — that shouldn’t be a politically charged or partisan issue,” Ryan said. “The state has a legal responsibility to provide NUMC with aid to fulfill its mission as a safety net hospital.”
Ryan called on leaders in the State Senate and Assembly to “come together” and include “unrestricted aid for NUMC in this year’s budget.”
“Anything less risks creating a health care crisis in Nassau County,” she said.
Assemblyman Ed Ra, a Republican whose district includes parts of East Meadow, said, “This is truly a failure to prioritize the health-care needs of our region. Nassau residents contribute their tax dollars to New York state just like every other region, and it’s only right that those dollars are reinvested in their health care.”
Assemblyman John Mikulin, a Republican whose district also represents East Meadow, added, “Nassau County needs Nassau University Medical Center. NUMC must receive the state aid necessary to ensure families in need have access to the medical treatment and care they deserve.”
NUMC is Long Island’s largest safety net public hospital and serves all patients, regardless of their ability to
matthew Bruderman, chairman of the nassau Health Care Corporation board, implemented a financial recovery plan
which has allowed the hospital to make improvements. However, it still has not received adequate state funding.
nassau university medical Center boasts a Level 1 trauma center, and serves more than 270,000 patients a year, with 67,000 emergency room visits. about 90 percent of its patients are on medicaid or medicare.
pay for health care services.
The health care corporation also oversees the A. Holly Patterson Extended Care Facility in Uniondale.
NUMC boasts a Level 1 trauma center, and serves more than 270,000 patients a year, with 67,000 emergency room visits. More than 60 percent of the hospital’s patients are women, and 70 percent are racial minorities. The health care system relies on funding, and since 2017, the state has slashed its allocations from $190 million to zero dollars in 2024.
The health care corporation is currently suing the state for its alleged failure to comply with federal Medicare reimbursement laws, claiming the state orchestrated a ruse to withhold Medic -
aid Disproportionate Share Hospital payments that the hospital was entitled to.
Regarding the lawsuit, which was announced in late-2024, and accusations against the state, Gordon Tepper, a spokesman for Gov. Kathy Hochul, said: “We are continuing to work with Nassau County on an appropriate solution for the future of NUMC. Our concerns are the fiscal health of the hospital and patient care. Everything else is just noise.”
Despite the lack of state funding, the health care corporation’s financial sustainability plan, which was rolled out in late-2023, has allowed the hospital to make significant financial improve -
not received adequate state funding since 2017, which has put its sustainability in jeopardy.
Call to action
State officials, health care leaders rallied in Albany on Feb. 25 urging:
■ State Legislature to include NUMC funding in 2025-26 budget
■ Equal treatment with other regional safety net hospitals
■ Support for this ‘irreplaceable part of Long Island’s healthcare network’
ments.
Last year, NUMC reported an increase in its cash reserves, an uptick in revenue and a decrease in its operating expenses. NUMC has also expanded its clinical services, revamping a multitude of patient areas, and received the Gold Seal of Approval from the Joint Commission, a nonprofit organization that evaluates and accredits health care organizations and programs nationwide.
Herald file photo
Courtesy Office of State Sen. Steve Rhoads numC has
Jordan Vallone/Herald
in 2023,
Reworld Honors Long Island’s Champions At Herald Sustainability Awards Gala
STAFF REPORT
Last week Reworld™ celebrated several of Long Island’s sustainability leaders, educators, and community advocates as part of its ongoing efforts to empower community and environmental advocacy initiatives and to raise awareness of sustainability locally. The honors were presented during the recent Herald Sustainability Awards of Long Island powered by Reworld, held at the Heritage Club at Bethpage. The event provided a platform to recognize individuals and organizations making significant contributions to advancing sustainable policies, protecting natural resources, educating future generations, and implementing community-driven initiatives to improve the region’s environmental landscape. In addition to honoring established community programs, Reworld also awarded two local students with $2,500 in prizes for their inspirational efforts to enhance quality of life in the region and encourage sustainability for generations to come.
“Our work helps Long Island communities reduce environmental impact while creating new opportunities for sustainability,” said Dawn Harmon, Director, Long Island Market, Reworld.
“Through our Long Island facilities, we eliminate the need for additional landfill space and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We are so proud to support those leading the way in sustainability on Long Island and beyond.”
Among those honored were Don X. Clavin, Jr., Hempstead Town Supervisor, and Rich Schaffer, Babylon Town Supervisor, for their leadership in environmental policy. John D. Cameron, Jr., P.E., of IMEG, was recognized for his contributions as an environmental engineering leader. Randi Shubin Dresner of Island Harvest was acknowledged for her efforts in sustainable community leadership. Organizations such as the Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Seatuck Environmental Association, and Cornell
Cooperative Extension Nassau County were highlighted for their community impact in sustainability. Leaders like Eric Swenson of the Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee, Robert Weltner of Operation SPLASH, and the Rotary Environmental Action Coalition of Huntington (REACH) were also celebrated for their dedication to environmental preservation.
Additionally, educators Jennifer Lasher and Lissette Pellegrino from Barnum Woods Elementary School were honored as environmental stewards in education. Stony Brook
University’s Esther Poon was honored along with two younger student honorees who were recognized for their outstanding commitment to sustainability. Louisiana State University freshman and 11-year-old Joseph Petraro received the award for his dedication to a range of community empowerment programs through Joe’s Be Kind Campaign, such as Clean Wells for Humanity which addresses global water scarcity. Desiree Mohammadi, a student at South Woods Middle School who is 12 years old, was honored for developing Seeds of Hope, an initiative that donates thousands of seeds to be planted at community gardens across Long Island to combat food insecurity sustainably.
As the presenting sponsor, Reworld is committed to supporting those at the forefront of environmental progress. With four facilities in Westbury, West Babylon, East Northport, and Ronkonkoma, the company processes two-thirds of Long Island’s waste, recycling 60,000 tons of metals and generating enough electricity to power thousands of homes each year. Through its efforts, Reworld™ reduces the need for landfill expansion, cuts greenhouse gas emissions, and helps local communities adopt sustainable waste solutions.
Beyond this event, Reworld remains committed to fostering sustainability throughout Long Island with year-round programs that engage local schools, nonprofit organizations, and municipal partners.Through educational initiatives, community cleanups, and environmental awareness campaigns, Reworld continues to support the next generation of sustainability advocates while strengthening the region’s commitment to a cleaner, greener future.
For more information about Reworld and its initiatives that support various community empowerment and environmental programs fostering positive change locally and globally, please visit www.reworldwaste.com.
To view more pictures please visit www. richnerlive.com.
Holden Leeds/HERALD
Azeez Mohammed, CEO of Reworld delivers welcoming remarks.
Jason Thomas/HERALD
Reworld Lead Community Relations Specialist, Maureen Early (left), with honoree president and CEO Randi Shubin Dresner of Island Harvest (center) and Reworld Long Island Market Director, Dawn Harmon.
Holden Leeds/HERALD
Hempstead Town Supervisor Donald X. Clavin, Jr. addresses the audience after receiving his award.
NCPD wellness center focus is mental health
By CHARLES SHAW cshaw@liherald.com
The Nassau County Police Department unveiled a new wellness center at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Feb. 26. The center aims to support the mental health and well-being of law enforcement personnel and county employees by providing a place to relax, de-stress and connect with mental health resources.
Joining department members at police headquarters in Mineola for the ceremony were County Executive Bruce Blakeman, Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder, District Attorney Anne Donnelly, Police Benevolent Association President Tommy Shevlin, and county legislators John Ferretti and Thomas McKevitt.
The wellness center, according to Blakeman, will serve as a safe space in which law enforcement personnel and county employees can address mental health and wellness concerns. It connects members with resources such as the employee assistance program, peer support and police chaplains.
Blakeman acknowledged that while mental health struggles, particularly suicide, were once stigmatized, open discussions are now helping those in distress find the support and therapy they need.
“This center is going to focus on keeping everybody in law enforcement in Nassau County well and healthy,”
Charles Shaw/Herald
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman cut the ribbon, alongside law enforcement officials and local leaders, to mark the opening of the Nassau County Police Department’s new wellness center on Feb. 26.
Blakeman said. “And that’s what we want to do.”
The center will function as a resource hub where officers and county employees can seek guidance and support. While there will be no clinicians on-site, trained staff will be on hand to talk and connect members with wellness services. Ryder highlighted the
Presented by:
role of peer support, which offers immediate assistance to officers after traumatic incidents, such as the death of a child or a homicide scene.
“We always recognize the fallen,” Ryder said. “But there are a lot of people who get damaged along the way and don’t get recognized. Today we’re doing that.”
According to Ryder, the facility, a former museum, offers couches, massage chairs and televisions, and at atmosphere in which those feeling stressed can relax, have a cup of coffee and seek guidance.
Donnelly said it was a privilege to attend the center’s opening, and recognized its role in supporting those exposed to trauma. She noted its importance for law enforcement officers who must recount difficult experiences — and for assistant district attorneys who may need support after reviewing crime scene photos.
“The most important thing I believe we can do is care for those who care for us, and that’s the men and women of our Nassau County Police Department,” Donnelly said.
Detective Sgt. Michelle CliffordMarin will lead the center, a role that holds deep personal significance for her. Her brother, Nassau police officer Steven Clifford, died by suicide in 2017, at age 35, after serving in law enforcement for 12 years.
Clifford-Marin said that leading the project is an honor, and that it would be a privilege to help anyone who walks in to achieve a healthy mind, body and soul.
“We want everyone to be healthy,” she said, “and we want everyone to get the help they need, if they do need any help, to prevent additional tragedies like my brother.”
with Deals!
STEPPING OUT
Feasts, floats, festivities
Get ready for Carnival at Long Island Children’s Museum
By Danielle Schwab
Bring the family to join in the good times when the Children’s Museum opens its doors to Carnival this weekend.
As a globally cherished cultural celebration, Carnival honors the unique traditions and diverse identities of each community it touches. Especially significant to Caribbean and Latin American cultures, it’s a vibrant cultural showcase of creativity and self-expression. These themes are woven into every aspect of the museum’s festivities, with the support of New York Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, to make this occasion truly special.
“The holiday is a great entry point of learning for our community and for families. It’s so vibrant and colorful and just a happy event. So it’s fun to give opportunities for people to really celebrate,” Aimee Terzulli, the museum’s vice president for programs and visitor experience, says.
Everyone can get moving to the sounds of drums with Samba and Salsa music guided by the dancers of the Brazilian Sama Novo troupe. Towering “Jumbie” stilt walkers, rooted as a symbol of spirit guardians, bring the magic to life as an iconic part of the Carnival
Louisiana Calling
From the deep roots tag team of Cajun slide guitar phenom Sonny Landreth and legendary New Orleans Latin-Americana rockers the Iguanas comes a mind-blowing musical trip through the scenic soundscape of the bayou. Still wet from crawling out of the swamps, this cross-pollinated confection will be both savory and sweet. Louisiana’s calling — here’s your chance to answer. Landreth’s unique spin on guitar playing has made him legendary. This Louisiana based Blues guitar wizard’s slide playing is distinctive and unlike anything else you’ve ever heard. He simultaneously plays slide and fingers the fret board producing a sound that is often said to resemble many instruments playing at once. His music encompasses Mississippi Delta blues, zydeco and Southern rock. He’s joined by The Iguanas, a fixture of the New Orleans music scene for over two decades.
Saturday, March 8, 8 p.m. $79, $69, $59. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. Tickets available at landmarkonmainstreet.org or (516) 767-6444.
headpieces or even get their faces painted in elaborate designs to stand out in the crowd as they make their rounds through the museum.
“Costumes are often deep-rooted in cultural themes but are also a symbol of freedom and liberation, they often can mimic animals,” Terzulli says.
Guests can also create flags to show their cultural pride and represent the many countries that celebrate Carnival.
Before the parade kicks off, everyone will have a chance to decorate themed floats and even meet some very special party guests.
“We’ll have our animal specialists showing certain animals that are part of our collection and show them how some of these animals are connected to certain float themes, typically in the Caribbean or in Latin America,” Terzulli adds.
life celebration.
• Saturday and Sunday, March 8-9
• Performances at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m.
• $17 museum admission, $16 seniors 65 and older
True to Carnival’s festive spirit, a King and Queen will be crowned to lead the crowd with energy and flair. But don’t worry, there’s a role for everyone — both kids and adults — to involve everyone, according to Terzulli.
Colin Jost
Plus, a special performance from the fourth and fifth graders at Elmont’s Dutch Broadway School will get feet jumping to the beat.
• View the LICM events calendar at licm.org for additional information or call (516) 224-5800
• Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City
“It’s about communities really coming together and celebrating different talents and roles that they have.“ she says. “Families that can learn together have tremendous value when you come together to learn something new.”
Although the holiday is celebrated at various times during the year, hosting it in March provides the perfect opportunity to embrace the changing seasons.
“The students have created lessons in different dances that are involved like reggae and calypso, typical for Caribbean culture,” Terzulli explains. “Generation to generation learning is powerful. We want kids teaching other kids.”
“The students teaching other kids.”
Need some fuel after all that dancing? Delicious treats — both sweet and savory — will tempt visitors, including Haitian beignets, marinades, tropical juices, and cocoa bread. And naturally, no Carnival would be complete without a massive parade to ring in the holiday. Families can create wearable crafts such as beaded whistles and feathery
“In March, we’re still not quite in spring so it’s a great way to spend time with your family indoors in a very celebratory way,” Terzulli reminds everyone.
The event is part of a series of cultural festivals the museum is hosting to invite Long Island communities to learn and celebrate together.
“We want people to know about each other and celebrate all the great similarities and differences that make our cultures vibrant and alive here,” Terzulli says.
Live … from Long Island … it’s Colin Jost! From Saturday Night Live to standup to his appearances in film, other TV ventures and even authoring a memoir, Jost is seemingly everywhere. He is currently in the middle of his 11th season as SNL’s “Weekend Update” co-anchor, and his 20th as an SNL writer. His accolades are many: five Writers Guild Awards, two Peabody Awards and 15 Emmy nominations for his writing on “SNL.” Among other endeavors, Jost debuted “A Very Punchable Face” in 2020, His memoir is a series of essays that documents pivotal moments in Jost’s life, including growing up in Staten Island in a family of firefighters, commuting three hours a day to high school, attending Harvard while Facebook was created and more.
Thursday, March 13, 8 and 10 p.m.
Photo on bottom: Be sure to create a parade-worthy headdress and design a whistle to toot some
$129.50, $119.50, $89.50, $79.50, $69.50, $59.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. (800) 745-3000 or Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.
Photos courtesy LICM
Photo on top left: Towering stilt walkers, known as Jumbies, are an iconic Carnival element.
Photo on top right: Ron DeFrancesco, Sama Novo director, creates the beats.
Carnival spirit.
March 15
Anthony Rodia
Anthony Rodia is back with his “Laugh Til It Hurts” tour, on the Paramount stage, Friday, March 15, 7:30 and 10 p.m.; also Saturday, March 16, 7 and 9:30 p.m. His allnew routine is refreshingly genuine and quick witted! A first-generation Italian-American from Westchester, Rodia’s comedy pulls from his razorsharp observations on marriage, parenthood, road rage, and everything else worthy of a rant. He came out of the womb making people laugh. In his 20s he tried a few open mics, but ultimately took a different career path as a finance manager of a luxury car dealership. In 2019, Rodia returned to comedy and left his day job to become a full-time stand-up comic. He hit the ground running and performed 100 shows in just nine months, and within three years gained a massive fan base online and around the country. In a short time, Anthony gained over 900,000 social media followers and his YouTube videos have amassed over 22 million views.
Rodia’s comedy pulls from his real life and razor-sharp observations on marriage, parenthood, road rage, and everything else worthy of a rant. With the onset of quarantine, he made the most of a captive audience, delivering a staggering 86 weekly videos. “Road Rage Wednesday” became a fan favorite, but his Uncle Vinny and Zia Lucia characters transformed into a phenomenon. They are the crazy uncle and aunt you love but can’t be out in public with, who speak their minds (whether you asked for it or not). $89.50, $79.50, $69.50, $59.50, $49.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.
In concert
Long Island Blues Society presents the Duke Robillard Trio and Long Island’s BFS Trio at My Father’s Place, Saturday, March 8, 8-10 p.m. Duke Robillard, the founder of Roomful of Blues, brings his band back to Long Island for an exceptional night of blues. My Father’s Place at The Roslyn, 1221 Old Northern Blvd., Roslyn. For tickets/information, visit MyFathersPlace.com or call (516) 580-0887.
Bingo at Beth-El
Get your game on at a weekly bingo game at East Meadow BethEl Jewish Center, starting at 6 p.m. Prizes, progressive games, bell jar prizes and refreshments will be provided. Proof of vaccination is required. 1400 Prospect Ave., in East Meadow. For information, contact (516) 483-4205.
Multichamber
networking event
East Meadow Chamber of Commerce hosts a multi-chamber marketing evening at Nassau Coliseum, Friday, March 28, during a Long Island Nets game. Event kicks off at 7 p.m. For more information, visit EastMeadowChamber.org. 1255 Hempstead Turnpike.
Pot of Gold 3x2 Mile
Relay
Long Island Roadrunner Club holds its annual Pot of Gold mile relay event, Sunday, March 16, in Eisenhower Park in East Meadow. The race kicks off at parking field 2 at 8:30 a.m. With multiple runners slated to participate on teams, this event is sure to be filled with a lot of St. Patrick’s Day luck and spirit. For more, visit EliteFeats.com.
Tech Help
East Meadow Library’s popular technology assistance program is still going strong. Help is available in the lobby area Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2-4 p.m. Feel free to drop in with your tech questions. No appointment necessary. For more information, visit EastMeadow.info. 1886 Front St., East Meadow.
Mah Jongg
Enjoy an afternoon of Mah Jongg and canasta, every Wednesday, 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m., at East Meadow Beth El Jewish Center. $5 contribution per person. Snacks are provided. No outside food allowed due to dietary laws. Bring your own games and cards. Mah Jongg lessons available. 1400 Prospect Ave. For further information call (516) 4283693
Family theater
Long Island Children’s Museum welcomes families to its stage, Friday, March 7,-10:15 a.m. and noon; Saturday, March 8, 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; also Wednesday and Thursday, March 12-13,10:15 a.m. and noon. It is 3017 in this futuristic, usical retelling of “Cinderella.” She’s now a space engineer looking to revolutionize space travel. When the Prince holds a space parade, Cinderella saves it by helping fix the Prince’s spaceship.
But first, she’ll have to keep her evil stepmother from throwing a wrench in her plans! $11 with museum admission ($9 members), $15 theater only. Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or licm.org.
Dueling Pianos
Join Whiskey Reds for an unforgettable night of music and fun, as dueling pianos take to the stage, at Whiskey Reds, Thursday, March 6, 8 p.m. From classic hits to modern jams, the performers will bring the heat and nonstop entertainment. Drinks available for purchase. 2552 Hempstead Turnpike. Visit WhiskeyRedsLI.com for more.
Nassau BOCES GC Tech Open House
Nassau BOCES GC Tech, Long Island’s state-of-the arts career and technical education high school, is opening its doors to all students with a passion for a hands-on career. Come and get a “Taste of Tech” at an open house at the campus in Levittown, Wednesday, March 12, 6-7:30 p.m. Nassau BOCES GC Tech prepares students for a future in the workforce by providing them with the skills, knowledge and professional qualities they will need to be successful in their chosen career fields.
The school boasts a new spa where aspiring estheticians learn skin care and massage techniques. There is also a newly revamped auto shop. Prospective students and families from Nassau County are invited to tour the GC Tech campus at 150 Abbey Lane, and to meet with expert teachers, counselors and administrators. Register for an open house at nassauboces. org/gctech or call the school for more information at (516) 604-4200.
Having an event?
Best of Broadway: ‘Looking Forward, Looking Back’
Adelphi University
Performing Arts students celebrate the music that shaped Broadway during their semi-annual Best of Broadway concert, Sunday, March 9, 4 p.m. The talented students bring to life the magic of Broadway with music from classic and contemporary musicals. This edition includes selections from celebrated composers and lyricists, including Kander and Ebb, Alan Menken, Jason Robert Brown, and many more! This event will also be livestreamed for those unable to attend in person. Adelphi University
Performing Arts Center, 1 South Ave., Garden City. (516) 877-4000 or Adelphi. edu/pac.
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
March 9
Sands Point Preserve is the backdrop to explore the elegant Gold Coast home that’s the centerpiece of the estate, Sunday, March 9, 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.
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT
COUNTY OF NASSAU, US BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE FOR CABANA SERIES V TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. ROBERT WINKLER, ET AL., Defendant(s).
Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on June 11, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on March 18, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 524 Pontiac Road, East Meadow, NY 11554. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at North Bellmore, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 51, Block 479 and Lot 12. Approximate amount of judgment is $719,717.83 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #616227/2022.
Matin Emouna, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 222115-1 151559
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, PEAK GARDEN WESTBURY TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. DEIJH, INC., ET AL., Defendant(s).
Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on January 7, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on March 25, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 195 Garden Street, Westbury, NY 11590. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of North Hempstead,
County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 11, Block 503 and Lot 25. Approximate amount of judgment is $627,379.58 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #607687/2023.
Brian Carmody, Esq., Referee Vallely Law PLLC, 6851 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 165, Syosset, New York 11791, Attorneys for Plaintiff 151727
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT
Public Notices Public
Getting it done elevate the Conversation
COUNTY OF Nassau, U.S. Bank Trust National Association, not in its individual capacity but solely as Owner Trustee for RCAF AcquISITION TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. Edward Marinelli, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee’s Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on January 14, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on March 25, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 1 Windmill Lane, Levittown, NY 11756. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Levittown, near Hicksville, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 46, Block 390 and Lot 32. Approximate amount of judgment is $421,609.99 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #610259/2023.
Peter H. Levy, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No: 230803-1 151725
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 RCF 2 ACQUISITION TRUST, Plaintiff AGAINST
RAYMOND D. VIOLA, ET AL., Defendant(s)
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered October 8, 2024, 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 March 24, 2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 26 Gleaner Lane, Levittown, NY 11756. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Levittown, near Hicksville, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 46, Block 438, Lot 9. Approximate amount of judgment $717,579.13 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #613616/2022. Jon Michael Probstein, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 20-000361 84399 151653
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLEY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCAF ACQUISITION TRUST, Plaintiff AGAINST CURTIS DAVIS, CHINEEKA DAVIS, ET AL., Defendant(s)
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered January 7, 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 March 27, 2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 897 Niagara Street, Elmont, NY 11003. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Elmont, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 37 Block 655 Lot 12. Approximate amount of judgment $688,916.17 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of
filed Judgment Index #609788/2023. Scott H. Siller, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 23-001403 84354 151800
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT
NASSAU COUNTY LB BLUEBIRD, LLC
SBMUNI CUST FOR, Plaintiff against MARY A. COLEMAN, et al Defendant(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff(s) Hersko & Ehrenreich P.C., 555 Willow Avenue, Cedarhurst, NY 11516, (516) 942-4216.
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered January 16, 2025, I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on April 4, 2025 at 2:00 PM.
All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being, and identified on the land and tax map of the County of Nassau in the State of New York. Premises known as 80 Polaris Dr., Levittown, NY 11756. Sec 46 Block 400 Lot 10.
Approximate Amount of Judgment is $18,579.48 plus interest, fees, and costs and Attorney fees. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 602846/2023. The foreclosure sale will be conducted in accordance with 10th Judicial District’s Covid-19 Policies and foreclosure auction rules. The Referee shall enforce any rules in place regarding facial coverings and social distancing. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the Court Appointed Referee shall cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”
Christine M. Grillo, Esq., Referee File # 19-6180 152009
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a resolution was duly adopted by the Board of Fire Commissioners of the WANTAGH FIRE
Iwas recently drawn to a LinkedIn post showing a brief video clip interview with former President Barack Obama. Whether or not it was a legitimate clip or a deep fake I could not say, but I was compelled to watch (a rarity for me) for the idea behind this message.
In under a minute, President Obama explains that the person he believes makes the difference is the person who makes themselves useful and vital to always get things done. They may not get the plum assignment but they are always someone to rely on. The one who makes problems go away. The video was accompanied by some guy’s extensive written tirade but that didn’t matter. Bottom line: Be the person who gets stuff done.
to finish. That is, what would the goal setting be like if I focused on what it would feel like during the procedure (the game) and not the achievement (the get) at the end.
Given my rising agitation, I dismissed her verbally after fifteen minutes and she called me out for once again moving on to the next goal — getting her off the phone and getting on with my life. Well yeah.
Perfect timing as a few weeks earlier I was offered a free 30-minute phone consult with a “goals” coach to see how I set and achieve my goals.
As requested, I came with a specific objective in mind, but the conversation went off the rails inside of a few minutes after she dissected my candid selfprofessed process. I usually get a job done quickly while looking for some approval from others before, during or after for my efforts. Most importantly, like a shark that never stops swimming, I always move on quickly to the next goal.
She made this seem heinous, made me feel unsure (not a good look) and asked me to consider what it might be like to make the goal all mine from start
Ultimately this freebie consult bothered me from the minute I hung up. I had a lot to consider to be willing to see it from another vantage point, yet it was still thirty minutes I could never get back. To get stuff done. So who do you want to be? The person who gets stuff done? And does it really matter if the methodology best for achieving goals is steeped in pure survival instinct? Or those successful past goal-attaining experiences that reinforce a repeated approach?
If you can’t agree more with the adage, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” then come along with me. We have so much to do and get done without any time to waste, and without fixating on the (goal) game for now.
A contributing writer to the Herald since 2012, Lauren Lev is a direct marketing/ advertising executive who teaches marketing fundamentals as well as advertising and marketing communications courses at the Fashion Institute of Technology and SUNY Old Westbury.
DISTRICT, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York, on the 27th day of January 2025, subject to permissive referendum as provided for by the General Municipal law. An extract of the resolution is as follows: The Wantagh Fire District has by appropriate resolution established and maintains a certain capital reserve fund, established pursuant to Section 6(g) of the General Municipal Law, in an account for deposit of said Capital Reserve Fund entitled,
“The Wantagh Fire District, Section 6(g) General Municipal “Firematic Equipment and Apparatus Capital Reserve Fund “ in local banks; in which account is sufficient funds to accomplish the purposes herein after set forth, namely, the Fire Prevention Trailer Replacement Project (labor, material, inspection and delivery), including incidental expenses, advertising, and attorney’s fees, in order to maintain the efficiency of the Wantagh Fire District in the discharge of their
duties in preserving the lives and property of the residents of the Community and the said project is deemed in the best interest of the residents of the Wantagh Fire District. The resolution further provides that there be transferred from the present Firematic Equipment and Apparatus Capital Reserve Fund of the Wantagh Fire District a sum not to exceed One Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand ($125,000.00) dollars and the District
Treasurer is authorized to effect such transfer
from time to time as necessary for the project. This resolution is subject to a permissive resolution and shall not take effect until thirty (30) days, as provided by the General Municipal Law.
Dated: February 24th 2025
By order of The Board of Fire Commissioner Brendan J. Narell Superintendent 151961
L auren L ev
Help Wanted
DRIVERS WANTED
Full Time and Part Time
Positions Available!
Busy Print Shop in Garden City is Hiring Immediately for Full Time and Part Time Drivers. Must Have a Clean License and BoxTruck Driving Experience.
Hours Vary, Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $21 per hour
Night Availability is a Must.
Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239
DRIVING INSTRUCTOR
Company Car/ Bonuses. Clean Driving Record Required, Will Train. Retirees Welcome!
$22 - $27/ Hour
Bell Auto School 516-365-5778
Email: info@bellautoschool.com
EDITOR/REPORTER
Part Time & Full Time. The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. Salary range is from $20K to $45K
To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to jbessen@liherald.com
MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP
Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges fromo $16.50 per hour to $20 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com
MULTI
MEDIA ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT
Inside Sales
Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $34,320 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286
A Hamptons Delight
TYes, keep those pipes warm
Q. We just got over a lot of repairs from a burst pipe under our kitchen sink. The pipes under the sink are back in the outside wall, with insulation around them, but I’m wondering why they said it was still a good idea to let the water drip, even run a little when it gets cold out. It seems wasteful, and I wasn’t sure why they told me that. Is it because they’re not confident in the repairs, or does everybody have to run their water in the winter when pipes could freeze?
A. The work was not repaired correctly and should be redone before it gets too late to get anybody to return to the “scene of the crime.”
Water freezes, and supplyline water that’s buried in outside walls and not kept warm will turn to ice.
Several years ago, a client, who had work done in the summer, called the following winter to say he had no running water in his bathroom sink. The sink was on an exterior wall, but the rationale the installers used for where they put the insulation was that a roof from below came up to meet the outside wall behind the sink. They told the owner that the roof protected the pipe because of how far the sink was set in from the walls below, set back the way it was designed. They cut open the back of the finished sink cabinet and exposed the pipe, telling the owner that he just needed to let the water trickle and keep the cabinet doors open all the time in the winter. I was called after they told the owner that was a bad design. He was very frustrated by the time we spoke, because the plumber and contractor had already returned several times and this was their final answer.
The simple solution, which worked for him and will work for you, is that supply pipes need to be to the warm side of insulation. I saw that the coldand hot-water supply pipes were completely enclosed with insulation. I removed the insulation from the warm side and only kept the full thickness of insulation on the cold side. The roof cavity behind the wall, in drawings that are called building sections, showed that the roof was to be insulated directly behind the wall to create a full barrier of insulation. Because there was now a gaping hole at the back of the cabinet, sloppily cut, I was able to peer in with a mirror and see that there was no insulation in the roof space where it met the wall behind the sinks. None. Once the water supply lines were moved into the cabinet, under the sink, by the plumber, who fortunately did stand behind their work and did return, there was never a problem again.
Locate pipes neatly in the back of the sink cabinet, to the warm side of a fully insulated wall and there should be no more problems. Good luck!
SAVE ON YOUR TRAVEL PLANS!
Up to 75% More than 500 AIRLINES and 300,000 HOTELS across the world. Let us do the research for you for FREE! Call: 877 988 7277
MERCHANDISE MART
Antiques/Collectibles
We Buy Antiques, Fine Art, Coins & Jewelry
Same Day Service, Free In-Home Evaluations, 45 Year Family Business. Licensed and Bonded, Immediate Cash Paid. SYL-LEE ANTIQUES www.syl-leeantiques.com 516-671-6464
Wanted To Buy
FREON WANTED
Certified buyer looking for R12, R22 & more! Call Peter at 312-500-4275
SERVICES
Brick/Block/Concrete/Masonry
***MASONRY & CONSTRUCTION*** EARLY BIRD DISCOUNTS! GIUSEPPE MUCCIACCIARO
We Do Pavers, Cultured Stone, Concrete, Bluestone, Blacktop, Fireplace, Patio, Waterproofing, Walkways, Pool Work. Lic#H2204320000 Family Operation Over 40Years. 516-238-6287
Cable/TV/Wiring
Get DISH Satellite TV + Internet! Free Install, Free HD-DVR Upgrade, 80,000 OnDemand Movies, Plus Limited Time Up To $600 In Gift Cards. Call Today! 1-866-782-4069
Electricians
E-Z ELECTRIC SERVICES, INC. All Types Residential/Commercial Wiring, Generators, Telephone/Data, Home Entertainment, Service Upgrades, Pools, Spas. Services/Repairs. Violations Removed. Free Estimates Low Rates. 516-785-0646 Lic/Ins.
Exterminating
PEST CONTROL: PROTECT YOUR HOME from pests safely and affordably. Roaches, Bed Bugs, Rodent, Termite, Spiders and other pests. Locally owned and affordable. Call for service or an inspection today! 1-866-448-8311 Have zip code of property ready when calling!
Handyman
PAINTING & HANDYMAN
SERVICE
Tired of calling a contractor & they don't call back? I will call you back the same day!
917-822-0225 Ricky Specializing in carpentry, bathrooms, kitchens, sheetrock, flooring, electric, plumbing. Over 25 yrs exp.Lic/Ins H3805150000
Home Improvement
BEAUTIFUL BATH UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Superior quality bath and shower systems at AFFORDABLE PRICES! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Call Now! 1-855-399-2076
CARPENTRY & PAINTING: Residential/ Commercial. All Phases. Licensed/Insured. FREE ESTIMATES! Anthony & J Home Improvements 516-678-6641
DO YOU KNOW what's in your water? Leaf Home Water Solutions offers FREE water testing and whole home water treatment systems that can be installed in as little one day. 15% off your entire purchase. Plus 10% senior & military discounts. Restrictions apply. Schedule your FREE test today. Call 1-866-247-5728
PREPARE FOR POWER outages with Briggs & Stratton® PowerProtect(TM) standby generators - the most powerful home standby generators available. Industry-leading comprehensive warranty - 7 years ($849 value.) Proudly made in the U.S.A. Call Briggs & Stratton 1-888-605-1496
Beautiful & Bushy! Order now to reserve for early Spring delivery. LowCostTrees.com 518-536-1367
Satellite/TV Equipment
DIRECTV- All your entertainment. Nothing on your roof! Sign up for Direct and get your first three months of Max, Paramount+, Showtime, Starz, MGM+ and Cinemax included. Choice package $84.99/mo. Some restrictions apply. Call DIRECTV 1-888-534-6918
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Health & Fitness
ATTENTION OXYGEN THERAPY USERS! Discover Oxygen Therapy That Moves with You with Inogen Portable Oxygen Concentrators. FREE information kit. Call 1-855-399-2719
Attention: VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS! A cheaper alternative to high drugstore prices! 50 Pill Special - Only $99! 100% guaranteed. CALL NOW: 1-855-399-2582
HEARING AIDS!! HIGH-QUALITY rechargeable, powerful Audien hearing aids priced 90% less than competitors. Tiny and NEARLY INVISIBLE! 45-day money back guarantee! 855-819-7060
Legal
Services
INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT? Don't Accept the insurance company's first offer. Many injured parties are entitled to major cash settlements. Get a free evaluation to see what your case is really worth. 100% Free Evaluation. Call Now: 1-888-454-4717. Be ready with your zip code to connect with the closest provider
Telecommunications
AFFORDABLE TV & INTERNET. If you are overpaying for your service, call now for a free quote and see how much you can save! 1-855-399-2803
opinions
Yankees? Mets? Might they meet up in October?
spring training has begun. Another baseball season is on the way. The French-born cultural historian Jacques Barzun said that “Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball.”
That was certainly true for my generation. The golden age of baseball in New York, from 1947 to 1956, saw New York’s teams — the Yankees, Dodgers and Giants — win nine World Series and seven pennants among them during that 10-year span. The other 13 major league teams combined for one World Series and three pennants during those years. A subway series, with both World Series teams being from New York, became the expected norm. It was almost taken for granted. During the offseason months of mid-
Everybody has a wish list. I’d like to win the lottery, or take some exotic trip that’s on my bucket list. There are jobs that I would love to have, and there are jobs I wouldn’t touch with a 10-foot pole. The worst job I can imagine, the one I would dread having, is being in the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. At the beginning of any Congress member’s career, there is the battle to get your party’s nomination, and then feeling the honor of being the party’s choice. You battle through the drudgery of a campaign and, if you’re lucky, you have the joy of being elected or re-elected. You celebrate with your friends and family, and then, on Jan. 1, you arrive in Washington, preparing for the challenge of being a member of the House.
In today’s Congress, being a majority member is anything but fun. You may have all kinds of ideas about how to help the people back home, but if
October through late February in those years, there would be hot stove league discussions of how our teams would do in the upcoming season, and arguments over whose players were better: Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays or Duke Snider; Roy Campanella or Yogi Berra; Pee Wee Reese or Phil Rizzuto.
is a rivalry missed not just in the five boroughs, but on Long Island, with its plethora of Mets and Yankees fans.
W
Much of that interest lessened when the Dodgers and Giants were hijacked to California after the 1957 season. While there was a rebirth of excitement when the Mets arrived for the 1962 season, it has never been quite the same as during the glory years. Sure, the Mets had their World Series wins in 1969 and 1986, as did the Yankees in 1977 and 1978, and again during the Joe Torre years, at the turn of the century, and under Joe Girardi, in 2009, but except for the 2000 World Series — which the Yankees won — the Yankees and Mets have not faced one another in the World Series. That intraNew York rivalry has not been there. It
e Mets fans, so used to having our hearts
broken, believe this is our year.
All that could change with both teams now filled with superstars, led by Aaron Judge of the Yankees, who is accumulating home run titles and Most Valuable Player awards, and the Mets making their own run for superstar glory. This winter they hired Juan Soto, perhaps baseball’s most explosive hitter, away from the Yankees with a $750 million contract over the next 15 years.
The Mets already had Francisco Lindor, who finished second in the voting for National League MVP last season, and slugger Pete Alonso, who is second only to Judge in total home runs over the past six seasons, and is poised to become the Mets’ all-time home run leader.
Last year the Yankees won the American League pennant before falling short against the Dodgers in the World
Series. Before the season, there were low expectations for the Mets. Then, after playing mediocre baseball for most of the regular season, they had an unexpected late-season surge, and actually made it to the National League Championship Series, which they lost to the Dodgers.
This preseason, things are looking very different. Both teams are considered strong contenders to win their league championships. The debates over the teams’ players have already begun, but instead of Mantle vs. Snider or Mays, it’s Judge vs. Soto.
We Mets fans, so used to having our hearts broken over the years, now genuinely believe this is our year to supplant the Yankees as New York’s No. 1 team and win it all in the World Series — and that New York’s baseball rivalry is back. Barring the unexpected, 2025 should be a season for metropolitan-area baseball fans to enjoy and remember.
Play ball!
Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.
Here’s a job I’d turn down
your wish list doesn’t coincide with the priorities of your party leader, you can forget about your plan. It’s hard enough being away from your family for weeks at a time, but being told to fall in line and follow party dictates, or else, is a bitter pill to swallow.
Let’s talk about the Washington scene as it currently exists. An unelected multi-billionaire named Elon Musk is ignoring the duly elected officials whose job it is to create the budgets that fund our federal agencies. The Constitution says that the Congress is a separate body from the Executive, but in this case an appointee of the Executive is calling all the shots.
Being a member of the House majority sounds great. Believe me, it’s not.
As a representative of scores or even hundreds of thousands of constituents, you’re the one they turn to when they have a federal problem. For example, a decorated military veteran comes seeking your help after being fired from a federal job he held for 10 years. You can hold his hand, but you can’t get him back his paycheck to feed his family and pay his mortgage.
As a well-informed public official, you follow the media to find out what
they know that you don’t know. The latest reports say that your party leadership has proposed making $800 billion in Medicaid cuts to help pay for a tax cut for the rich. Those cuts will decimate the safety net that your constituents rely on to survive, and will affect more than 90 million people nationwide. You can threaten to vote against the package, but there are more nightmares coming.
You may be able to join a handful of other members to get some changes made to the Medicaid cuts, but there are more crazy slashes being proposed. The far-right members have suggested that every person with a student loan pay an additional $200 per month. That mean-spirited idea would affect 45 million Americans. How do you stop that?
Do you remember the state-andlocal-tax proposal that hit suburban homeowners hard when it was included in President Trump’s 2017 budget? Despite his support for eliminating the SALT cap, there has been very little discussion about that benefit in recent weeks. You want a complete repeal of the cap, but it’s out of your hands.
As we enter the final stages of the budget debate, I can’t help recalling the story of the late Assemblyman Lou Wolfe, of upstate Plattsburgh. Wolfe was part of a narrow majority. He enjoyed both Democratic and Conservative Party support. He was asked to vote on a multi-billion-dollar social program. His party leaders promised him financial support in the general election, and assured him he would be “protected.” Came November, Lou lost because of his “bad” vote.
It’s possible that by the time you read this, all of the budget misgivings of the few conscience-driven members will be satisfied. All they have to do at that point is to go home and explain the mass layoffs, the tax cuts for the rich and the hidden program cuts that were buried in the spending plan they voted for. But remember, they had the promise from the leaders that they had nothing to worry about. Oh, the joy of being in the majority.
Jerry Kremer was an assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. He now heads Empire Government Strategies, a business development and legislative strategy firm. Comments about this column? jkremer@liherald.com.
Long Island loses a civil rights pioneer
the death of Hazel Dukes, at age 92, last weekend marks the end of an extraordinary chapter in civil rights leadership, with special significance for Long Island. While Dukes will be remembered nationally for her tenure as president of the NAACP from 1990 to 1992, and for her remarkable 48-year leadership of the NAACP New York State Conference from 1977 until her death, her deep connections to Long Island communities deserve particular attention.
Born in Montgomery, Alabama, where she was a neighbor of Rosa Parks, Dukes moved to New York in 1955. She lived in Roslyn Heights for decades, building a life and career that influenced civil rights efforts across the state and the nation.
Named president of the NAACP’s Great Neck, Port Washington, Manhasset and Roslyn branch in 1969, Dukes quickly emerged as a powerful voice opposing housing discrimination on Long Island. She was instrumental in bringing landmark housing discrimination lawsuits that challenged the entrenched patterns of segregation in Nassau County’s suburbs. These legal actions targeted discriminatory practic-
letters
es that kept minority families out of certain neighborhoods, even after the Fair Housing Act of 1968 had made such discrimination illegal.
On Long Island, she worked for the federal Head Start program and became one of the first Black employees in the Nassau County attorney’s office. She also served with the county’s Economic Opportunity Commission, addressing poverty and inequality from within the system. She was the first Black vice chairwoman of the Nassau County Democratic Committee, which gave her a platform to advocate for integrated housing throughout Nassau County. She also served on the Democratic National Committee from 1976 to 1982.
Dukes’ own educational journey illustrates her belief in education as a path to opportunity. She studied at Nassau Community College before earning a degree in business administration from Adelphi University in Garden City in 1978. Her local educational experience strengthened her advocacy for quality education for all communities.
What makes Dukes’ Long Island connection so significant is that she addressed civil rights not as an abstract
Advice from PSEG L.I.: beware of scammers
To the Editor:
National Consumer Protection Week, observed through March 8, offers an important reminder for consumers to stay alert against fraudulent schemes that prey on our vulnerability. Recent guidance from PSEG Long Island has shed light on the alarming tactics employed by scammers, and we believe it is essential that our community take note of these warnings.
Scammers are using increasingly sophisticated methods to trick unsuspecting customers. They frequently impersonate reputable companies, such as PSEG L.I., using advanced phone spoofing technology that displays familiar numbers on caller ID. In many cases, these fraudsters call with an urgent demand for immediate payment, falsely claiming that failure to comply will result in an immediate power shutoff. This tactic is designed to induce panic and force quick decisions without proper verification.
It is crucial for consumers to know that PSEG Long Island never requests payments through external web-based electronic services, prepaid debit cards or even Bitcoin. The only approved payment methods are those offered through our secure channels, such as My Account, the mobile app, or text messaging. Additionally, any request for a deposit in relation to priority meter installations is fraudulent, because we do not require a deposit for such services.
If anyone receives an unexpected call or email threatening an imminent power shutoff while demanding payment, it is imperative to pause, take a
concept, but rather as lived reality in suburban America. While much of the civil rights movement focused on urban centers or the South, she recognized that segregation and opportunity gaps were just as widespread — if sometimes less visible — in prosperous suburban communities like those across Long Island.
Her nearly five decades leading the NAACP’s New York State Conference allowed her to maintain consistent focus on issues affecting communities like ours. That persistence brought meaningful change to institutional practices and policies that had limited opportunities for minority residents.
As we look at Long Island today, we see both the progress Dukes helped achieve and the challenges we continue to face in creating truly equal opportunity. The diversity of our communities has increased, but disparities in housing, education and economic opportunity persist.
In the years ahead, let’s be sure to honor Dukes’ legacy by making Long Island — and the entire country — a place where discrimination is not tolerated, and where everyone has an equal shot at prosperity.
step back, and verify the authenticity of the communication. Instead of responding immediately, customers should contact PSEG Long Island using the phone number found on their billing statement, (800) 490-0025. This simple step can prevent a great deal of financial loss and stress.
As we have honored National Consumer Protection Week, we have urged
all community members to share this important information with friends, family and neighbors. Together, by remaining vigilant and verifying every unexpected request for payment, we can safeguard our community from falling victim to these scams. Staying informed and cautious not only protects our finances, but also strengthens community trust. Every
ICE partnership targets criminals to keep Nassau safe
when violence and criminality threaten public safety, local governments must step up and do their part to keep their communities secure. As Nassau County executive, I believe that our recent partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is essential to combating dangerous threats to county residents. Under our new program, 10 Nassau county detectives have been appointed for cross-designation and embedding with ICE. These officers will work hand in hand with our federal partners to target and pursue illegal migrants who are engaged in criminal activities in our neighborhoods. The county is also making jail cells available to ICE to detain these criminals for up to 72 hours, after which they will be relocated out of the county or deported.
My decision to implement this program is a necessary response to the serious public safety concerns we all face. Nassau County isn’t a sanctuary county,
but our residents have repeatedly been targeted by violent acts by illegal migrants.
There have been many examples in just the past couple of years. On Oct. 16, 2024, an illegal migrant from Honduras allegedly raped a 5-year-old girl, a Nassau County resident. Not even a month later, six illegal migrants from Chile and Venezuela burglarized a local jewelry store using saws and advanced technology. A county judge was forced to release five of the criminals because of bail reform, and they escaped accountability by fleeing the county.
ito wipe out the entire population of Long Island.
The crimes being committed by illegal migrants are completely unacceptable to me and my administration. We need to bring law and order to our streets, and our partnership with ICE is just one crucial step toward achieving that goal.
t will mirror similar ones nationwide that target terrorism, gang violence and illegal drugs.
Last February, an illegal migrant stole a pro-Israel flag from a porch in Hewlett and brutally assaulted the homeowner who confronted him.
In January 2023, eight illegal migrants who were part of a South American drug ring were arrested in connection with a string of burglaries and larcenies that targeted high-end homes and businesses across the county. Later that year, another illegal migrant was arrested on the North Shore for carrying three kilograms of pure fentanyl, which authorities say would be enough
Letters
action contributes to defeating these scams and preserving our service reliability.
PSEG LONG ISLANd
Trump disrespects Teddy Roosevelt
To the Editor:
Will Sheeline was absolutely correct in his column last week, “ d estroying Roosevelt’s legacy.” President Trump’s promised “golden age” is intended to re-create Mark Twain’s: golden for those having the gold, the gilt-edge securities, gold mines and gold $Trump crypto-coin.
Today’s golden children feel their glory has been stolen, and want it back, with interest, and with punishment for the thieves. But the demands go far beyond T.R.’s trust-busting and conservation crimes to include F d R’s New d eal “larceny.” Taft-Hartley, Social Security, and the rest of those alphabet agencies are being undone because they’re seen as obstacles to the promised land of corporate “free markets and personal responsibility,” as The Washington Post’s Jeff Bezos puts it.
Trump’s last-term hero was the genocidal, court-defying Andrew Jackson. This time it’s the empire-building colonialist William McKinley. This last is unfair to McKinley, but is how the ignorant Trump sees him.
BRIAN KELLy Rockville Centre
Public safety has been, and always will be, one of my top priorities. I am proud to say that I have hired nearly 300 new police officers during my time in office. That effort has helped us maintain our standing as the safest county in the United States, an honor bestowed on us by U.S. News & World Report.
The county’s partnership with ICE will further bolster public safety by mirroring similar partnerships that are implemented nationwide to tackle issues like terrorism, gang violence and illegal drugs. In Nassau County’s case, I believe that working with federal officials to stop dangerous criminals is the best thing we can do to protect our streets.
I want to reassure our residents that this program will only target criminals
Chainsaws aren’t toys, Elon
To the Editor:
How will we calculate the number of lives Elon Musk will take with his comical “chainsaw massacre”?
What will the death count be in the United States, and around the world, from the withholding of food, drinking water, medical supplies and treatment, vaccinations, and emergency services for natural and manmade disasters? From the removal of the guardians of public safety from food, drugs, diseases, fire, air pollution and workplace dangers?
From the debasement of services to our military veterans and the politicization of the military? From the disabling of the alliances and treaties that have kept a troubled world from World War III since 1945?
From the abatement of research in health, climate, defense, agriculture and countless other areas of vast public interest? From the defunding of early child care and education at every level, up through university and graduate studies — the very keys to hope and advancement that mitigate against social class ossifying into a caste system in which crime is the only outlet for deprivation?
Perhaps the cost will be incalculable, but it is the responsibility of our remaining nonMAGA media to report these casualties and not to relate what’s going on simply as a streamlining of government costs against the whining of a few disgruntled former sucklers at the public teat.
GENE J. MANN Bayville
who are illegal migrants. It is not designed to target law-abiding waiters, busboys, landscapers, service station workers and others who are not criminals, even if they may not be in the U.S. legally. Individuals will only be scrutinized if they are suspected of committing crimes that are separate and apart from their immigration status.
Cruel rumors have been spread about this program targeting and detaining immigrant children. I want to state emphatically that these are false and deceitful lies. Our partnership with ICE will not target children or include raids on schools, churches or communities. Victims and witnesses who report crimes or call 911 for emergency services will not be asked about their immigration status.
As we move forward, it is vital to acknowledge that Nassau County takes pride in its rich cultural diversity. Lawabiding residents should not be concerned about this program. Its primary goal is to safeguard our communities and ensure that those who break the law are held accountable and eliminated as threats. We are committed to a safe and secure county for all its residents, and this program is a critical step in that ongoing mission.
Bruce Blakeman is Nassau County executive.
Framework by Tim Baker
In the biographical notes accompanying U.S. Rep. Laura Gillen’s column, “Government must be efficient, coherent and transparent,” in
last week’s issue, the congresswoman was mistakenly identified as Laura Curran. The Herald regrets the error.
An avian get-together in Brady Park — Massapequa Park
BrUCe BLakeman
Learn
