East Meadow Herald 04-03-2025

HERALD east meadow

Tim Baker/Herald

Can you ‘Name That Tune?’

The East Meadow community came out to take part in the Kiwanis Club of East Meadow’s ‘Name That Tune.’ Tony Capobianco, Jacob Valk, Martin Valk and Kevin Kamper, at front, with Mary Capobianco and Matt Kamper, at back, were among the many attendees. Story, more photos, Page 3.

Faith, resilience: E.M. pastor’s remarkable post-Covid journey

By JoRDAN VAlloNE jvallone@liherald.com

Benjamin Thomas, the senior pastor at the Queens Church of God and a longtime resident of East Meadow, nearly died while battling Covid-19 right at the start of the coronavirus pandemic in March of 2020. One of Long Island’s biggest miracle cases, Thomas was a patient at Mount Sinai Hospital on Long Island for over 100 days, 54 of which he spent on a ventilator.

“It was a rough journey,” he said, “and very few people survived. I believe it’s truly a miracle of God — God used the doctors to bring that miracle to me.”

Thomas, 60, who was born in India, has been a part of his church, located in Queens Village, for 39 years, and he’s served as the lead pastor for the last 21. He’s lived in East Meadow for 22 years with his wife, Sarah, and his 21-year-old daughter, Abigail. He fell ill in mid-March of 2020, and spiked a high temperature that was not improving with medication. After a few days of illness, Thomas, then 55, began to experience shortness of breath. News about coronavirus illness was just beginning to circulate, and doctors at first didn’t know Thomas had Covid-19. When his blood oxygen levels severely dipped, he was taken to a medical

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What to know about capital improvements

By JoRDAN VAlloNE jvallone@liherald.com

The East Meadow School District is continuing to make improvements inside and outside of the classroom, and thanks to collaborative efforts with students in the district, Superintendent Kenneth Rosner provided an overview of capital improvements that the district identified during March’s Board of Education meeting held at the Salisbury Center in Westbury.

a school district — and asked them what updates they’d like to see in their schools.

“We looked at each school, and the exercise was very interesting,” he said, adding that it really reflected the “student voices” aspect of the committee.

W e want to make it look desirable, but we also want to make sure that the children are safe.

Rosner told board members and the community that he meets monthly with a group of students in the PLEASE Committee — which stands for Positive Leaders Elicit All Student Voices in East Meadow. During a recent session, he talked to the students about capital projects — investments in physical assets, infrastructure and property aimed at creating or improving long-term value for an organization, like

JEssICA RICCo-sImEoNE President, Board of Education

The District Capital Improvement Plan that Rosner presented included four areas: buildings and infrastructure; health and safety; educational environment; and athletics. Rosner also showed the district’s current maintenance projects, which includes improvements in a myriad of areas, from water fountains to hallway televisions.

“You will see by school all of the things that they’re doing across the district,” he explained during the presentation. “Some of them are the non-glorious things, like boilers, that as a homeowner you really hate spending money on, and other things

Continued on page 9

Tax credit for local businesses gains momentum

By CASEY FERBER

Special to the Herald

A first-of-its-kind tax credit to give small businesses in East Meadow some much-needed financial support is gaining momentum in Albany.

Earlier this month, a large bipartisan group of New York State legislators joined business leaders and local news organizations in person at the State Capitol in support of the Lift Our Communities, Advertise Locally Act, or just simply the LOCAL Act, which would establish a new $10 million tax credit for small businesses advertising in local media outlets. Sponsored by State Senator Monica R. Martinez and Assemblywoman Jennifer Lunsford, the LOCAL Act aims to maximize the reach of small businesses’ advertising dollars, while supporting the work of the media outlets New Yorkers rely on every day for critical information.

“Communities are built on connections with neighbors, and the same is true for small businesses,” Martinez said at the March 11 event. “The LOCAL Act supports this relationship by encouraging these community-based businesses to advertise with the media outlets already trusted by the neighbors they are committed to serving.”

The Lift Our Communities, Advertise Locally Act, which would establish a new $10 million tax credit for small businesses advertising in local media outlets, is gaining momentum in the New York state legislature.

The LOCAL Act now has four cosponsors in the State Senate and seven in the Assembly, several of whom attended the rally. Ahead of the rally, nearly 20 major business groups across New York — including the National Federation of Independent Business, Upstate United and the Queens Chamber of Commerce — sent a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul and state leadership urging them to support the LOCAL Act.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, driving job creation and growth in communities across New York. However, they continue to face significant financial challenges,” the letter states. “This is pragmatic legislation that will help —and be tremendously appreciated by — the thousands of

small businesses that make New York the world’s preeminent place to start and operate a business.”

Championed by the Empire State Local News Coalition, the LOCAL Act also has the staunch support of the coalition’s more than 200 local newspapers across the state. More than two-anda-half U.S. newspapers disappear per week, and here in New York, several counties have only one local news outlet.

“The LOCAL Act is a win-win-win for local businesses, local news, and local communities,” Zachary Richner, founding member of the Empire State Local News Coalition, said. “These institutions are intricately connected and work together to create the vibrant communities that New Yorkers love.”

Under the LOCAL Act, a minority-, woman- or veteran-owned business, as well as any business with 10 employees or fewer, would be eligible to receive a refundable tax credit of 80% of its first $5,000 of local advertising for a maximum credit of $4,000 per year. The program would be capped at $10 million annually.

“The LOCAL Act is about more than just advertising — it’s about investing in the economic health of our local community and investing in the kind of local journalism that we need now more than ever,” Lunsford said.

The bill is expected to be voted on later this year.

Courtesy Empire State Local News Coalition

East Meadow plays ‘Name That Tune’

Name That Tune is a beloved East Meadow community event, and for the 16th year, crowds gathered last week at the East Meadow Fire Department Headquarters on East Meadow Avenue for another round of fun and music. The event is run annually by the Kiwanis Club of East Meadow.

Members of the club and East Meadow residents listened to songs — old and new — and they guessed what the title was in order to win prizes. There were also raffles, a 50/50 and an array of food and drinks for everyone to enjoy. The event was emceed by Alan Hodish, judged by Ross Schiller and the DJ was Harry Demiris.

On Facebook, the Kiwanis posted a message from club president, Melody Schiller.

“What a wonderful event at the Sweet 16th Annual Name That Tune Fundraiser,” she wrote. “It was a fun night spent with friends and family, all who love music.”

Schiller thanked the East Meadow Fire Department for use of the space and those who sponsored the event. She congratulated Team “Going for the Win,” who won this year’s event.

“To all our members,” she said, “the community and volunteers, you all made it a great night.”

All proceeds collected from ticket sales and donations will be used to support those in need in the community. For more on upcoming Kiwanis events, visit EastMeadowKiwanis.org.

–Jordan Vallone

Mary Ann Hazelton from East Williston was among the attendees.

Jim Skinner won raffle prizes during ‘Name That Tune.’

Lisa Vanderburg from Wantagh danced along to tunes at the March 28 event.

Claudia Alvarez of Elmont collected some prize winnings at the event.

Millie Santorelli wrote down a song title during the 1970s round.

Tim Baker/Herald photos

Alan Hodish, the events emcee, with Melody Schiller, president of Kiwanis, Ross Schiller, a judge for ‘Name That Tune’ and Harry Demiris, the event’s DJ.

Local nonprofit celebrates proactive parents

Your Time for Creative Empowerment holds anti-bullying conference, features comprehensive panel

By REI WOLFSOHN Correspondent

Local nonprofit Your Time for Creative Empowerment held an anti-bullying conference on March 29 at the Merrick Golf Course Clubhouse, a Town of Hempstead facility, to examine the correlations of — and proactive solutions to — bullying.

The conference covered mental and emotional correlations of bullies and those bullied. Local parents reflected on the problem.

“There are some words associated with bullying,” Ira Gerald, a longtime educator and an award-winning school administrator in New York state, said. “Let’s see if you recognize them in your adult life: intimidate, dominate, terrorize, frighten, coerce…If bullying were limited to children, they wouldn’t have harassment laws.”

One key takeaway was that adults should exemplify coping skills for difficulties in life.

“You don’t have to say, ‘How was your day,’ and then tell them, ‘Don’t do this, do that,’” Gerald said. “Tell them stories about your life, about your coping. In your mind you’re really borrowing a little piece from their life and adding to it, using it as a teaching moment.

Organizer Madona Cole-Lacy emphasized another view.

“When the child goes to school to interact with other children, what happens is that child wants to walk out of that group alive,” Cole-Lacy said. “So they tend to gravitate towards negativity. It’s almost like, ‘If I don’t join them, then I’m going to be a victim.’”

Panelists agreed on correlations between mental-emotional states and being a bully.

“Children that are aggressive, easily frustrated, have less parental involvement, have issues at home, think badly of others, have difficulty following rules, view violence in a positive way, have friends who bully others,” Gerald said. “Wanting to dominate others, improve their social status, having low self-esteem and wanting to feel better about themselves, having a lack of

remorse or failing to recognize their behavior as a problem, feeling angry, frustrated, jealous or struggling socially, being the victim of bullying themselves.”

This age-old problem plagues certain targets.

“Perceived as different from their peers, such as being overweight, under-

weight, wearing glasses, different clothing, brand new to a school, light skinned, dark skinned — unable to defend themselves, depressed, anxious, have low selfesteem — they normalize someone mistreating them,” Gerald added.

Clinical social worker and grief recovery specialist Marie Swiderski added perspective.

“It’s a loss of who they were, when things were in a better time for them,”

Swiderski said. “A child loses himself, loses his self-esteem. The world can become a very scary place for him. With the right support though, with people caring, it can get a lot better.”

“Bullying can really distort the way a child thinks about themselves, and operates and functions,” Jeanine Cook-Garard, a nurse practitioner who spent 30 years teaching at Nassau Community College, said. “So I think that children that come to their parents and give them stories about bullying, it is essential that they respond immediately and make sure that there are interventions that are put in place for not just their own child but for all children.”

“Volunteer in your child’s school,” Gerald said. “If I see you every day coming to the school, once a week coming to the school, I’m going to make sure your child is not injured at all.”

Cole-Lacy doesn’t just leave it up to parents. She emphasized involving mental health practitioners, and the organization promotes children standing up for themselves.

“If someone is trying to bully you and you draw your line,” Cole-Lacy said. “And you say, ‘This is who I am. This is who I’m gonna be. Not what this person tells me that I’m going to be.’”

Madona Cole-Lacey was among the presenting panelists at the event.

Ira Gerald, a longtime educator and an award-winning school administrator in New York state, opened the conference.

Local parents and professionals listened to information about bullying at the YTCE conference.

Rei Wolfsohn/Herald photos

HERALD SPORTS

Hofstra seeks to exceed expectations

By ANDREW COEN sports@liherald.com

Hofstra baseball kicked off the 2025 season on the biggest of stages on Valentine’s Day at defending national champion Tennessee. Fourth-year head coach Frank Catalanotto hopes the opening series weekend where the Pride had an opportunity to play before a crowd of more than 6,000 serves as an omen for another chance to compete in a big-game environment in the NCAA Tournament if the team can capture the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) title.

“It was a great experience going there and playing against the best of the best,” said Catalanotto, who guided Hofstra to the NCAA Tournament in his first season leading the program in 2022 after winning the CAA’s automatic bid. “It was nice playing in front of all those fans.”

Hofstra will have to prove the doubters wrong in order to reach just the school’s second Division NCAA tourney appearance with the Pride picked to fin-

ish ninth in the 12 team CAA) preseason rankings. The Pride began its quest to reach the six-team CAA Tournament to give itself a chance to earn an NCAA bid by taking two of three in a series at Monmouth from March 21-23.

The Pride returned 14 players to its 37-man roster from last year’s 24-33 team that received the sixth seed in the CAA tourney including last season’s leading hitter, junior second baseman Dylan Palmer. The reigning Second Team All-CAA selection hit. .383 as a sophomore and entered the final week of March as the team;s offensive leader again with a .388 average through the first 23 games.

“He’s the same guy day in and day out and very rarely goes into slumps,” said Catalanotto of Palmer. “He’s putting the ball in play and using his legs to get on base and stealing bases so it’s nice to have him there at the top of the lineup to get things going.”

Sophomore shortstop Michael Brown is also shining offensively and was second on the team in hitting with a .300

average in late March. Catalano is also getting offensive production early this season from freshman second baseman Tyler Castrataro, who is also hitting above. 300.

Redshirt junior Tyler Cox, who plays center field, has also emerged as a new lefthanded offensive threat in the lineup after transferring from West Virginia. The Clarke High School product was hitting in .279 as of March 28 and recorded two hits in Hofstra’s 5-2 loss to Fordham on March 19.

“He brings calmness to the team,” said Catalano of Cox, whose Mark Cox was a two-sport standout in football and lacrosse at Hofstra. ‘“He hasn’t even tapped into his potential yet.:”

The pitching staff suffered a blow when 2024 First-Team All-CAA honoree Carlos Martinez was lost for the season. The team regained Tristan Nemjo, a graduate student from Troy, N.Y. who missed last season and has assumed one of the starting pitching spots. The starting rotation for weekend conference games also includes 6-5 junior Jackson

Bauer and 6-1 junior Sean Hamilton.

The bullpen features 6-4 graduate student Danny Kelleher, a Rockville Centre native who has recorded 16 strikeouts in 19 innings of relief work so far. The former South Side High School standout earned the win in Hofstra’s 13-12 win at Monmouth on March 22 after allowing one hit in 2 ⅓ innings.

“He’s been showing a lot of toughness because he’s been hurt and is battling through it,” said Catalano of Kelleher. “I think he is going to help us down the stretch.”

Freshman Michael Heyman is another local bullpen arm who arrived at Hofstra after a stellar high career at Hewlett. He recorded three strikeouts in the late stages of Hofstra’s 16-3 loss at Kent State on March 14.

Hofstra will host its first CAA games of 2025 this weekend for a series against UNC-Wilmington starting Friday. The home conference slate also includes a series against Long Island rival Stony Brook from April 18-20, Elon from May 2-4 and Towson from May 9-11.

Tyler Cox, a Clarke High School grad, transferred to Hofstra from West Virginia and patrols center field.

Thursday, April 10, 2025

Nassau County hosts Israeli Elite hockey

By MICHELLE RABINOVICH sports@liherald.com

No fan bases are more divided than the Rangers, Islanders and Devils.

But on March 23, those bitter rivals, who have spent decades split by hatred and animosity, were bound together by blood, heritage and creed. United under the flag of Israel, draped around many like Superman’s cape, hundreds of spectators came together to watch the Jerusalem Capitals and HC Tel Aviv, the top teams in the Israeli Elite Hockey League (IEHL), as they participate in the USA Challenge Cup at UBS Arena.

“It’s a historic moment for Israeli hockey,” said Jerusalem assistant coach David Warsofsky. “The night in general was a huge success and I hope the fans enjoyed it as much as we did coaching it.”

The event started with IEHL cofounder and co-commissioner Marc Brunengraber greeted spectators with a welcome speech, with the league on the precipice of entering its fifth season later this year. Brunengraber said that the evening’s events were about more than just hockey, but about sharing love for the sport by growing it exponentially over the last five years, a sentence one of the star players harmonized with.

“Four years ago, we played four-onfour and look where we played now, in an NHL arena,” said Jerusalem forward Nikita Zitserman. “It’s just going to go

higher from here.”

“We’re showing everyone how great [Israeli hockey] is,” said Tel Aviv head coach Stuart Gourdji.

Gourdji pointed to the fact that this was an atmosphere unlike anything he’d ever experienced because of the unique mix of the Israeli background of the staff and players, and the same energy from the fans.

“This is a dream, coaching in front of eight thousand people,” he said. “The music and the Israeli flags, you see that a lot in soccer but it’s the first time I’ve ever seen something like that It wasn’t an NHL game as we’re used to it: the Israeli anthem was sung before the Star-Spangled Banner. The Islanders goal horn rang every time the puck found the back of the net, but it wasn’t

fans chanting “Islanders, Islanders, yes, yes, yes” when the home team scored. When Tel Aviv scored, the loud speakers played Tel Aviv by Omer Adam; when Jerusalem scored, the audience was serenaded with Naomi Shemer’s Yerushalayim shel Zahav.

Other than that, it was a typical NHL hockey game: three 20-minute periods and a pair of 20-minute intermissions in between them, junior hockey teams facing off during intermissions, trashtalking before a fight on the ice and penalty minutes in the Sin Bin. Ironically, after both players sat their penalty, they fist bumped each other on their way to the bench.

Nearly 120 combined shots on goal made for a nail-biting game, one that went to overtime until Jerusalem’s Denis Zaychik netted his one-timer in one of the biggest stages he’s ever played on. The Capitals won, 7-6, in overtime.

“Feeling amazing,” Zaychik said, adding the fact that he’s never played in an arena this large before. “Fans of Israel and fans of hockey and together it’s a very good mix.”

“It was my dream since I was a kid,” Zitserman admitted. “I can only remember that I just wished to play in an NHL rink.”

Sports proved to be a unifier once again. Match 23 might have been the most Hebrew that the halls of UBS Arena heard. Sports proved to be a unifier in an increasingly divisive world.

Yonatan Resinger tended the goal for Jerusalem.

HC Tel Aviv’s Kirill Polozov’s blasted a slap shot.

Eric Dunetz/Herald photos

The Jerusalem Capitals beat HC Tel Aviv in overtime March 23 at UBS Arena in Elmont as the top teams in the Israeli Elite Hockey League were on display.

District, residents talk school improvements

that I think are very important, like water fountains.”

He pointed out that for some projects, East Meadow’s maintenance team can perform the work, instead of it being contracted out, which saves a tremendous amount of money. One project that is underway is the installment of new, solar-run parking lot lights at some district buildings.

Anthony Velasquez, the district’s director of facilities, said these lights had been installed at Meadowbrook Elementary School, with more on the way for other schools.

“There’s going to be no electricity whatsoever,” he said. “They’re all programmable — once we’re done with Meadowbrook, we’ll head over to Parkway (elementary).”

Any improvement, like LED lighting in classrooms, is more than just about the aesthetics of a classroom, Rosner said. “This is clean lighting — LED — saving money,” he said. “It’s easier on the children’s eyes, and it’s more conducive to a learning environment, which is exactly what we’re trying to do. So it’s not just, ‘Oh, it looks great.’ There’s more to it — all the research supports this as we do these different projects.”

Outside improvements detailed in the presentation included upgrades to playgrounds and athletic fields.

“Our academic programs are top of

the east meadow School district discussed capital improvement plans that would improve district buildings, inside and outside of the classroom. part of the discussion focused on science labs at W.t. Clarke High School, which could use upgrades to make them more 21st-century learning-compatible.

the line, our arts and things like that are top notch,” Rosner said. “Our graduation rates are high — scores are great. I think we need to upgrade (the athletic facilities) because we take pride in our athletics.”

Field and additional exterior upgrades aesthetically improve the look of district properties, while increasing safety too.

“The stuff that is making things look pretty, it’s not just about pretty,” Jessica

The Five Steps to an Elder Law Estate Plan

Elder law estate planning provides for (1) your care in the event you become disabled as you age, and who will be in charge of that care, and (2) the passing of your assets on death to whom you want, when you want, the way you want, with the least amount of taxes and legal fees possible. These are the five steps to creating an elder law estate plan.

Step One: Understanding the Family Dynamics. Clients often overlook the inestimable value of getting to know the family dynamic. We are firm believers that the social goes first and the legal should serve the social. Too often it is the other way around. Once we understand who’s who and everyone’s interpersonal relations with each other, we are far better able to craft a plan that will work socially as well as legally. The failure to address the social aspects has led to many a plan tearing the family apart.

Step Two: Reviewing the Client’s Assets. IRA’s and other “qualified” assets (i.e. tax deferred) are treated quite differently, on death or disability, from “non-qualified” assets. The determination of the amount and value of all assets, who owns them, and whether they have named beneficiaries are of the utmost importance in planning correctly,

including saving legal fees and taxes.

Step Three: Reviewing Existing Estate Planning Documents: Not having been prepared by an elder law estate planning attorney, clients’ documents rarely have adequate provisions to take advantage of the many benefits the law provides for our aging population. Wills instead of trusts have often been prepared either because the client was considerably younger and a trust was not needed or a trust was needed but the general practice lawyer was unfamiliar with the specifics of preparing a trust.

Step Four: Developing the Elder Law Estate Plan. We are now in a position to determine which persons are best suited to handle your legal, financial and medical affairs on disability or death, what type of plan should be used and how the estate should be distributed -- keeping in mind the preservation of harmony in the family.

Step Five: Executing and Maintaining the Plan. Legal documents are explained and executed, assets are retitled and beneficiaries on assets changed in keeping with planning objectives. The client is called in to the law firm every three years to ensure the plan meets the client’s current wishes and conforms with any law changes.

ETTINGER LAW FIRM

Ricco-Simeone, the board president, said. “We want to make our playgrounds look pretty, but we also don’t want our children playing on rust and cutting themselves. We want to make it look desirable, but we also want to make sure that the children are safe, so it kind of falls under both health and safety, where we’re focused on first, and then the bonus is it will look better.”

Additional classroom improvements that were discussed included upgrades

to technology and science labs in middle and high schools. David Spinnato, the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, singled out the lab spaces at W.T. Clarke High School, which, he said, are not ideal.

“The lab space is not adequate for the labs that the students need to do in order to accomplish what is necessary in AP, college level-like courses,” he said. “We did a walk-through this year to see what we can do to renovate that and update that to the standards of other classrooms.

“We need updates,” he added. “We need spaces for our students to be able to take these courses. They’re valuable life skills that students are learning. There needs to be spaces and zones for students to be able to work safely.”

Rosner said upgrades needed in district schools are about reimagining learning spaces, making them 21st century learning-compatible.

Each East Meadow board meeting scheduled from late-winter through early-spring featured a presentation about the proposed budget for the 2025-26 school year, broken down into different components. District taxpayers can view these presentations online at EMUFSD.us, and watch recordings of board meetings, along with Rosner’s capital improvement presentation, on the board’s YouTube page.

My mother may soon be applying for Medicaid. How does this affect funeral arrangements?

The latest Medicaid regulations now permit individuals to set aside a portion of their assets in an irrevocable trust account in order to have funds for future funeral expenses.

When an individual approaches the time when Medicaid coverage seems likely, social workers generally advise families to look into this funeral pre-funding option.

Here’s how we can help:

• The Family will make an appointment with us to discuss just what we are to do when the death occurs.

• We discuss options and record their wishes not just about preferred funeral home services but cemetery, church, monument inscription, newspaper notices, etc. We inform the family of exactly what the funeral home and third party costs are at the present time.

• Funds to cover those expenses can then deposited in our FDIC insured PRE - PLAN Trust. The Trust pays sufficient interest to allow us to guaranty those future funeral home costs into the future.

• While the funds remain in the name of the individual going on Medicaid, eligibility to receive Medicaid coverage is not affected.

Thomas L. Kearns

Herald file

At Mount Sinai, he underwent lung transplant

facility near his home and later transferred to Mount Sinai — while on a ventilator.

Months later, on July 2, 2020, Thomas was finally well enough to return home. However, it soon became clear that his lungs were heavily damaged. He continued to deal with fluid around his lungs and intense scarring and was unable to get off an oxygen tank. Eventually, doctors at Mount Sinai said he needed a transplant.

Ibelieve in God, and God gave me strength. That strength is with me, and that hope I have kept me going.

BenjamIn Thomas Pastor, East Meadow resident

“While he was better than when he got acutely ill,” Dr. Scott Scheinin, Thomas’s lung transplant surgeon said, “he clearly never got back to his baseline. What we found over time was that his acute lung injury tuned into chronic fibrosis, which is scarring of the lungs. Pulmonary fibrosis is the most common indication for a lung transplant in the United States. Usually, it’s due to a condition called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, which means we don’t really know why the patients get it. In his particular case, I think we were pretty safe calling it Covid-fibrosis, because that is what precipitated his initial illness.”

Thomas explained that he is physically smaller than other people, which meant that he needed a smaller lung, a setback in him receiving a transplant. Eventually, one became available, and in February 2023, he received a single-lung transplant.

Scheinin said following transplants, patients remain hospitalized for a couple of weeks.

“When they leave, they’re off oxygen, and part of the recovery is dependent on how sick and debilitated they are going into the transplant,” he explained. “(Thomas), in spite of the fact that he had sort of a weakened heart and all that from his chronic lung disease, did fine. He didn’t have significant complications after the transplant.”

Thomas said immediately after the transplant, his life quality drastically improved.

“I lost 54 pounds (from Covid-19), and the right side of my body was paralyzed,” he said. “Through therapy in Mount Sinai, I was able to walk, and I came back to life in that level. Still, a year-and-a-half, two-years later, I could not even open a bottle of water, I could not pick up one pound and walk. Oxygen was 24/7.”

During the acute phase of illness for some Covid-19 patients, Scheinin said, some medical centers completed transplants, but New York’s infection rates

were extremely high in 2020, and hospitals were inundated with patients. For some people, like Thomas, they recovered enough to go home, and the chronic lung illness became a prolonged progression.

Scheinin said it’s difficult to say if there’s been an increase in patients dealing with lung illnesses because of Covid-19

“The difficulty is so many people, at some point, tested positive for Covid,” he said. “So, is their lung disease only because of Covid, or do they just have garden variety pulmonary fibrosis, and just coincidentally, happened to have Covid as well at some point? Covid cer-

tainly didn’t help somebody who’s got some other kind of lung disease. Did it quicken or hasten the time to them need ing a transplant — sure, it’s possible.”

Over two-years post-transplant, Thomas said he is able to fulfill his assignment “on this Earth” — and that’s being a pastor and working with his congregation. He still faces limitations, gets tired easily, and can’t perform all tasks in the capacity which he previous ly did, but he is thankful for the care and support he’s received.

“I am a positive man,” he said. “I believe in God, and God gave me strength. That strength is with me, and that hope I have kept me going.”

Photos courtesy Mount Sinai Health System

Benjamin thomas received his care at mount Sinai South nassau, and his eventual lung transplant was performed at the hospital system’s location in manhattan. He developed ‘Covid-fibrosis,’ or scarring of his lungs likely caused by the coronavirus infection.

pastor Benjamin thomas with the Queens Church of god nearly died battling Covid19 in march of 2020. after a 100-day hospital stay, he lost 55-pounds, suffered from partial paralysis, and was on constant oxygen.

Benjamin thomas, with his wife Sarah and 21-year-old daughter, abigail. they’ve resided in east meadow for over 20 years.

Power Up Your Business: Energy Savings, Rebates & Expert Tips

Join us on April 23rd at 6pm for a dynamic webinar to learn how:

What is an Energy Assessment? – Learn about PSEG Long Island’s free energy assessment, what it includes, and how it can help identify energysaving opportunities tailored to your business.

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Maximizing Rebates & Incentives – Explore available rebates and incentives to make energy-efficient upgrades more affordable.

Live Q&A with Energy Experts – Ask questions and get real-time answers from PSEG Long Island specialists on how to optimize your energy efficiency efforts.

MAUREEN FITZGERALD Herald Community Newspapers

Michael Voltz, P.E. Director, Energy Efficiency and Renewables

WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

She’s all about improving people’s lives

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

Continuing a series of interviews with influential area women. Lisa Burch is president and chief executive of the EPIC Family of Human Service Agencies.

Herald: Tell me about yourself.

Burch: I have a master’s degree in public health education and have worked in the nonprofit space my entire career. I always knew I wanted to do something in the helping profession, so I started working to help women who were victims of domestic violence in college. Throughout my career, I’ve moved into different positions related to other types of helping fields — substance use, counseling, health education, criminal justice, mental health. I’ve always wanted to be in a position where I knew that the work I was doing was impacting and improving people’s lives.

Herald: As CEO, what you do?

Burch: My role is to make sure that the organization is stable and following guidelines and regulations. When I first started this position, not a lot of people had heard of EPIC Long Island despite it being around since 1953, so part of my job as the CEO was to get our name out there and the work that we do. There are always going to be individuals with

intellectual and developmental disabilities, individuals struggling with mental health and substance use, and individuals who have epilepsy. We provide group homes and day programs where people with developmental disabilities can come and socialize. We also provide important counseling, therapy, and treatment to help people deal with lifealtering substance and mental health issues.

Herald: What has challenged you in your career so far, and what keeps you going/inspires you?

Burch: In my current role, some challenges are with donor fatigue, people not knowing how to support organizations or how to spread their resources among various organizations. Donors are what help our organization grow. It doesn’t deter the work, because all I have to do is leave my office and go downstairs to our day program, where we have around 150 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities come every day who are just happy to be here and happy to see each other. It reminds me why I’m here and why I put up with some of the struggles that keep coming our way.

Herald: What have been the proudest moments in your life?

Burch: On a personal level, watching

my children grow up and develop as humans has been the greatest joy. Professionally, I’ve spent a lot of time mentoring young women, in particular, and trying to encourage them and help them grow personally and professionally in their careers. At EPIC Long Island, my goal is to bring vitality to our organization. People are happy to be here and are really enthusiastic about what we’re doing. I like to think that my presence has had some impact on that.

Herald: What advice do you have to offer? What work is left to be done?

Burch: I think that despite all of the progress we’ve made as women, and especially as women who work outside of the home, there’s still a level of criticism that you’re not doing enough if you aren’t home with your kids, or you’re not doing enough work if you do stay home. That “you can’t have it all” kind of mentality has caused a lot of stress and anxiety, and young women now are still trying to navigate that. I think you can, and it’s just learning how to balance it, and learning who your supporters are, how to rely on people, and giving people the flexibility to be able to do both.

My advice for young women is don’t wait for somebody to give you something. If there’s something you want, go

“Don’t be afraid to take chances”

advice to young women.

out and get it. Don’t be afraid to take chances. Your career is not going to be a stepladder up in one direction. It’s going to be a twisty, windy road, and you should take every single turn that comes at you and embrace it, learn from it, and then just move on to the next.

For more information on EPIC Long Island, go to epicli.org.

Defending the environment, for all of us

By WILL SHEELINE wsheeline@liherald.com

Adrienne Esposito is executive director and a cofounder of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, a nonprofit organization fighting for stronger environmental policies.

Herald: Tell me about yourself.

Esposito: I grew up in Copiague, and I literally grew up with one foot in the water and one foot on the land. As a kid, we went crabbing and fishing and to the beach, and my mom would bring us blueberry-picking in the Pine Barrens. And my dad was a really tremendous fisherman and outdoorsmen, so we grew up on the water. So I think that that really connects you to the natural world and impresses upon you the beauty of it and the need to protect it.

Herald: Why do you do what you do?

Esposito:Citizens Campaign is now a 40-year old environmental and publichealth-protection organization, and we do this because it’s necessary to do. Everybody drinks water, everybody breathes the air, and everybody has to be nurtured from the earth. So we feel that we fill a niche that puts a lot of pressure on government to clean up toxics and prevent contamination from

occurring in the future. Industry and polluters are all lobbying for their own corporate interests, and we counter that by lobbying for the public interest.

Herald: What has challenged you in your career so far, and what keeps you going/inspires you?

Esposito: One challenge was making sure the organization was financially viable. We started 40 years ago, so environmental groups were not as popular as they are today. We survived on $10 donations from the public. It was quite challenging, and we had to be very wise, frugal and efficient.

Also, many times — most times — I was the only woman in the room at meetings and advocating. I would walk into a room not only as a woman, but as a 5-foot-2 woman who was an environmentalist. In some cases there would be snickers and laughing, because they didn’t take me seriously. Luckily, being a little woman was God’s disguise, because I’m very smart, and those around me quickly learned there was nothing to laugh about. I look back at it now, and it makes me chuckle, because there was a lot of arrogance by older men, a lot of ignorance on their part that the world was changing.

Herald: What have been the proudest moments in your life?

Esposito: It’s been that we never give up. To me, there is a big amount of satisfaction knowing you’re representing the public, people who maybe don’t have a voice or are too timid to speak up. So such campaigns as stopping Broadwater, which was a Shell Oil and Trans Canada project — everyone told me I would never win. Everyone told me there was no way an environmental group would win against global fossil-fuel industries. And yet we organized in Connecticut and New York, and we empowered the public to speak up. I remember when we won, I opened my email and hundreds of people emailed me saying how excited they were, and how they cheered in their living room when they heard the news. This is how attached people got to that campaign.

Herald: What advice do you have to offer? What work is left to be done?

Esposito: When I started, the environmental movement was looked down upon as if it was just a bunch of hippies. Now surveys say 88 percent of the public considers themselves environmentalists. We’ve changed the perspective. So what I would say to the young is get off your phone and get out there. Gain skills that allow you to be able to talk to diverse groups of people and fight, fight, fight. Don’t worry about fail-

“Protecting the earth should always be a human health issue,”

ing or people who don’t agree with you. Protecting the earth should always be a human health issue. And do not fall into the trap where it becomes a Democratic or Republican issue. Remember, it’s everyone’s concern.

For more information about Citizens Campaign for the Environment, visit CitizensCampaign.org.

Courtesy Lisa Burch

is Lisa Burch’s

Courtesy Adrienne Esposito

Adrienne Esposito says.

News brief

Trump taps ex-rep to be labor inspector general

Former Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, a former NYPD detective and one-term congressman from New York, has been nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as inspector general for the Labor Department.

If confirmed by the Senate, D’Esposito would oversee investigations into wasteful or fraudulent spending within the department. He would replace Larry Turner, who was fired after Trump took office.

D’Esposito represented New York’s 4th Congressional District, which includes Nassau County’s South Shore, before losing his seat to Rep. Laura Gillen. Before his time in Congress, he served as a Hempstead Town councilman.

His nomination comes amid controversy. A New York Times report during his re-election campaign alleged that he had an affair and placed both his mistress and his fiancée’s daughter on his taxpayer-funded payroll.

A vocal Trump supporter, D’Esposito appeared at the president’s rallies last year at Nassau Coliseum and Madison Square Garden. In Congress, he served on the Homeland Security, Administra-

tion, and Transportation and Infrastructure committees. He also gained attention as the first Republican to call for then-Rep. George Santos to resign or be expelled for falsifying his résumé and background.

–Hernesto Galdamez

The art of losing elevate the Conversation

but the process of losing weight has become so complex it’s as if you need a road map to find your way to the slim cure.

What once was one or two diet programs available to address better eating habits has now morphed into decades of fad diets, thousands of diet books, reality television programming, a cacophony of diet companies, a host of subscriber meal plans, and now, several choices of GLP-1 drugs.

The weight loss giants do not deny the changing industry but still seem as if they are lumbering along, with visions on how to stay nimble to attract potential customers.

I went down this path recently, looking to address a rising scale and a sudden inability to get rid of those pounds down with a few minor adjustments. But the small steady steps are, of course, too slow for me as I meander around baby carrots and the suggested 60 ounces of water daily.

So if the clothes aren’t fitting quite right and the sound of your footsteps seems a little stampede-like—accept the rice cakes along with the oatmeal and a single slice of pizza and make health happen.

And along the way, trust in the peo-

ple who are with you on this journey. If you need a decadent home-cooked meal with additions like Greek yogurt or chicken stock ask a person who is losing weight. They know.

If you feel as if you need a fast and easy way to earn or reduce points ask a person who is losing weight. They know.

And finally, if you lose momentum faster than you lose pounds ask a person who is losing weight for validation and encouragement. They know.

After all, according to WebMD, it’s how Jean Nidetch built the strategy and foundation for that hundred-million dollar business that is Weight Watchers, now WW. Based on a healthy diet from the New York City Board of Health, all she added was her living room and a chance to commiserate with others for support. Calories and griping. Try doing that with a diet book or injection.

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.

Tim Baker/Herald

Former Rep. Anthony D’Esposito has been selected by President Donald Trump to serve as the inspector general for the Department Labor.

Honoring Premier Business Women of L.I.

By Christie Leigh Babirad

An empowering evening of camaraderie, gratitude and celebration, the sixth annual Premier Business Women of Long Island Awards on March 19, at the Heritage Club at Bethpage, presented by RichnerLive, drew close to 400 attendees, and more than 50 women were honored for their accomplishments across a wide range of industries on Long Island.

The event was organized by Amy Amato, RichnerLive’s executive director of corporate relations and events, who said that it was a privilege to be there with such a talented and driven group of dynamic and fearless women.

“Your presence here displays the countless accomplishments that women have made and will continue to make,” Amato said, “and it’s a pleasure to welcome you all to the Richner family.”

Stuart Richner, CEO of Richner Communications Inc. and publisher of Herald Community Media, said that the night was intended to celebrate remarkable women by honoring what they have achieved in their careers as well as their communities.

“Looking around the room, I am truly humbled by the caliber of our award winners,” Richner said. “These extraordinary women represent diverse fields, from health care to finance to education and entrepreneurship, yet share common traits of vision, resilience and unwavering commitment to excellence.”

He added that his mother, Edith Richner, who founded Richner Communications with Stuart’s father nearly 60 years ago, would undoubtedly be proud of all the women leaders being honored at the event, because in her time, she was almost always the only woman at the table.

The keynote speaker, and the winner of the Trailblazer Award, was Linda Armyn, president and CEO of FourLeaf Federal Credit Union and the creator of the initiative Money Like a Woman, which she said was conceived to celebrate all of the values that women bring to the table. “We want to put them up on a pedestal and say, you know what, women have all these great talents that they use every day,” Armyn said, “to multitask, to be a mom, be a businesswoman, be an innovator, entrepreneur, and we don’t celebrate that enough. Money Like a Woman is all about celebrating those great traits and sharing them with the rest of the world.”

She added that the night was a wonderful way to celebrate women and all of their accomplishments, and that man of them are making a difference not only on Long Island, but well beyond.

Guests enjoyed drinks, appetizers and dinner at the event, as they mingled with award winners, family members and friends.

Honoree Laura D’Amato, Apple Bank’s first vice president and assistant marketing director said that it felt amazing to be honored as a Premier Business Woman of Long Island. “I’m totally humbled to be in the same room with so many amazing women,” D’Amato said.

PSEG Long Island’s manager of customer and community partnerships, Honoree Veronica Isaac, echoed those sentiments, and said that an event like this inspires her to keep doing what she’s doing.

Another honoree, Jennifer Baxmeyer, executive director of the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City, said that an award means a lot, but that you’re only as good as your team.

Celine M. Gazes, CFO at Suffolk Regional Off Track Betting Corp. Jake’s 58 Hotel and Casino, said that the award felt “validating.”

Susan Johnson, acting superintendent of Hempstead schools, said that she was truly humbled to be honored. “People believing you can do it and reaching out to you that you are making a difference, it means so much,” said Johnson.

“It’s so incredibly special, and such a unique oppor-

tunity, to see all the different industries helping to move women forward,” Mary Fu, chief advancement officer at People’s Arc of Suffolk, said.

And Susan Gatti, of Disruptive Spark Business Academy, wanted to thank RichnerLive for bringing together women of all different ages and industries. “It’s humbling, and such an opportunity to reflect, since you’re always so busy,” Gatti said. “It’s nice to know that you’re going in the right direction, and to celebrate with so many other amazing women.”

In keeping with RichnerLive’s commitment to giving back, a portion of the proceeds from the event were donated to Hair We Share, a nonprofit that offers wigs at no cost to those experiencing medical hair loss. Its mission to restore dignity and confidence aligns

with the spirit of the honorees. More information about its work can be found at hairweshare.org.

Event sponsors included FourLeaf Federal Credit Union, People’s ARC of Suffolk, Apple Bank, CSD Net, Reworld, Maidenbaum, Whisper Woods of Smithtown, Eclectic Psychotherapy, Mending Hearts Counseling, Premier HR Consulting, Farmingdale State College, Jake’s 58, Optimum Business, Disruptive Spark Academy, PSEG Long Island, Dime Community Bank, C Squared, Family Children’s Association, Certilman Balin, St. Joseph’s University, the Cradle of Aviation, Vandegrift Plastic Surgery, Suffolk Regional Off Track Betting Corp. and ConnectOne Bank.

For a complete list of honorees and photos, visit RichnerLive.com.

Tim Baker/Herald photos

Nearly 400 people attended the awards dinner.

Veronica Isaac, of PSEGLI, with Stuart Richner.

Keynote speaker and Trailblazer Award winner Linda Armyn, of FourLeaf Federal Credit Union.

Holden Leeds/Herald photos

Mary Fu, People’s Arc of Suffolk

Megan C. Ryan, Esq., Nassau University Medical Center

Stavroula Savelidis, Ph.D., Nassau County Medical Society Kristy Uvena, Optimum Business

Jennifer Baxmeyer, Cradle of Aviation Museum

Susan Johnson, Hempstead Union Free School District

Paige O’Brien, Family and Children’s Association

Susan Nielsen, Eclectic Psychotherapy Group of Nassau County

Carrie Adduci, Esq., Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman LLP

Maureen Early, Reworld

Monica LaCroix-Rubin, Dime Community Bank

Dawn Harmon, Reworld

Amy Madmon, Maidenbaum Property Tax Reduction Group, LLC Laura D’Amato, Apple Bank Terry Going, ConnectOne Bank

Desiree Krajnyak-Baker, Whisper Woods of Smithtown

Anne Petraro, Mending Hearts Counseling and Eclectic Psychotherapy

Susan Gatti, Disruptive Spark Business Academy

Laura Joseph, EdD, Farmingdale State College

Dr. Maria Fletcher, PhD, RN, CNE, St. Joseph’s University

L.I.’s representatives discuss the issues

There was laughter, there were opposing views and there were reflective answers to questions about major issues as Matt Cohen, president and CEO of the Long Island Association, moderated the organization’s fourth annual What’s New in Washington panel with Republican Reps. Andrew Garbarino and Nick LaLota and Democrats Laura Gillen and Tom Suozzi at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury last Friday.

Congressional District 1, which is represented by LaLota, stretches east from western Suffolk County to encompass both the North and South forks of Long Island. Garbarino represents the 2nd District, along the South Shore, which includes parts of Suffolk and a small portion of southeastern Nassau County.

Suozzi’s 3rd Congressional District includes a portion of Queens, expands along the North Shore of Nassau and extends to several communities in the middle of the eastern portion of the county. District 4, represented by Gillen, extends along the South Shore of Nassau, from the Queens border through several central communities to Seaford.

“Because of the times we live in, it’s almost impossible that the delegations are 50-50 Republicans and Democrats — that’s not the case here on Long Island,” Cohen said. “Our delegation didn’t hesitate to say yes when we invited them to this event.”

Cohen asked the panel several questions, ranging from bipartisanship efforts to House Speaker Mike Johnson, the state and local income tax deduction, commonly known as SALT, and President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.

Garbarino on bipartisanship:

“We try to work with everyone, and have broad conversations, with many different ideas,” Garbarino said. “There are a lot of egos, but we try to get everyone on the same page before we leave the room.”

Garbarino and LaLota bucked their party by supporting the SALT extension. “Our party is asking how we can support this when we’re growing the state budget by $13 billion,” Garbarino said. “It goes against our argument. We could use some help from Albany on this.”

Both have met with Trump at Mar-aLago, and said that Trump told them, “We are going to fix this.”

On offshore wind:

“We have to bring jobs back home, but one, we need power, and two, we need to generate as much power as possible,” Garbarino said. “That is good for keeping local energy costs down for Long Island and our constituents.”

On DOGE:

Garbarino, like LaLota, acknowledged that mistakes have been made, but expressed confidence that the Trump administration is committed to addressing them.

“I have called the White House and told them, ‘There’s a mistake here,’ and

“I think the American people are sick of hyperpartisanship in Washington,” Gillen said. “They just want us to do our jobs and get things done.”

every time I’ve called, they’ve responded by saying, ‘OK, we’ll have someone look into it,’” Garbarino said. “This is a better response than I’ve ever gotten under the Biden administration.

Gillen on working across the aisle:

“The best way to get things done is by reaching out to the other side,” she said.

“I’m the rookie here — the freshman — and during orientation, we had a lot of events where Democrats and Republicans did events together. I had plenty of time to get to know people on my side of the aisle and make the effort to meet my freshman colleagues who were Republicans and build relationships with them.

“I think the American people are sick of hyperpartisanship in Washington. They just want us to do our jobs and get things done,” she said, drawing applause from the audience.

On DOGE:

“I agree, we need to tighten governments’ belts,” she said. “There’s a ton of waste in government. But it’s a wrecking-ball approach. We should do it in an

organized, deliberative, thoughtful fashion. That’s how they should go forward.”

LaLota on SALT:

“As you can imagine,” LaLota said, “the president did 80, 90 percent of the talking, but heard us in our seriousness about how we need a higher SALT deduction.”

On DOGE:

“For 25 years, neither Republicans nor Democrats in Washington have balanced the budget,” LaLota said. “You have a president who’s a disruptor — a self-admitted disruptor. “He is doing what he promised to do, maybe in a manner that is disruptive to us. But let’s acknowledge the moment we’re in — 25 years, we haven’t balanced the budget.”

On tariffs:

“The president’s objective in much of it, especially in the reciprocal tariffs, is to create better competitive fairness for American manufacturers,” LaLota said. “The long-term objective is to reduce the trade deficits we have with a lot of our trading partners, especially in

China, where we have $200 billion trade deals. We’re sending way more to China than they’re sending back.”

Suozzi on SALT:

“Let me first say I want to give credit to Andrew and Nick, because they’re going against their party on this,” he said. “They stood up … and they’re saying that they’re not going to support this reconciliation package unless it’s resolved.”

On offshore wind:

“We have to figure out how can we protect our zeal to protect the environment, to address climate change, and do the stuff that we believe are important to do,” Suozzi said. “We’ve got to get stuff done, because we can’t get things done (in our country) because we’ve passed all these rules and regulations over the years. And people are fed up with the bureaucracy.”

On DOGE:

“I think it’s been reckless,” he said. “When they laid off people who were responsible for overseeing the nuclear stockpile and said, oh, that was a mistake. And then they had a hard time getting the people back because they had cut them off their emails. They fired the people responsible for overseeing avian flu.”

On tariffs:

“I think that tariffs against China I support, especially when they’re targeted,” Suozzi said. “I’m very concerned about the tariffs that have been proposed for Canada and Mexico and the effects it’s going to have right here on Long Island as well as the rest of the country. I think it’s sending a bad message that our two biggest trading partners are being stifled in this way.”

Roksana Amid, Jeffrey Bessen, Hernesto Galdamez, Carolyn James and Jordan Vallone reported this story.

Tim Baker/Herald photos

Long Island’s congressional delegation at the Long Island Association’s March 28 What’s New in Washington panel discussion. From left were Republican Reps. Nick LaLota and Andrew Garbarino, and Democrats Tom Suozzi and Laura Gillen.

STEPPING OUT

Rockin’ with Jason Scheff and Tommy DeCarlo

outdoors Thinking ‘green’

Get out there and prep to enjoy your personal

By Karen Bloom

Now that we’ve stepped forth into spring — and Earth Month — the moment has arrived to think about how you embrace the season — and months ahead of being fully present in our natural world. Specifically in your personal environment.

Give some thought to the way in which you want your yard to serve your family, pets and wildlife. Maybe you’re aiming to have the best yard on the block or expand your entertaining options. Perhaps your kids or pets could use a better play space.

Spring and backyarding — the act of bringing indoor activities such as dining, entertaining, even exercising, out into our backyards — surely go hand in hand.

A little planning and preparation now can mean colorful flowers, fresh crops and beautiful garden scenery later down the line. Good gardening starts long before you sow the first seed, so let’s get started!

“With the season’s first signs appearing, this is surely the time to get your garden ready for a great season,” garden design expert Fiona Jenkins says. She offers some common-sense advice on creating a low-maintenance garden full of beautiful, healthy plants all year round without taking your time away from the other things life throws at us.

Limit flowerbed size and plant variety

When considering the size of your flowerbeds, the smaller ones are better if you are looking for a low-maintenance solution, as larger ones will require a lot more initial planting and upkeep.

“Sticking to flower beds that are only one to two feet wide will make them much more manageable,” Jenkins says.

Once you have set the size, think about what plants you want to put in them. Jenkins suggests limiting the variety of your plants to around five different ones. This way, you will easily learn and memorize the requirements of each, and caring for them will be a lot simpler.

Simple, low-maintenance plants are ideal to start with, especially for those who have little spare time or don’t feel very confident in gardening. Hardy perennials such as geraniums and peonies, as well as evergreen shrubs, are great options as they can survive the winter frost and won’t need replanting every year.

“Once settled in, these plants can bring years of color and beauty to your garden,” Jenkins notes. “There are other factors to consider, such as how often a plant will need feeding, watering, and pruning — only purchase a plant when you are certain you can keep on top of its needs.”

Invest in good soil and mulch

Good quality, rich, organic soil allows plants to thrive with minimum need for frequent watering and fertilizing. Add organic matter such as compost to your soil yearly, which you can even make yourself.

“Mulching is a great way of protecting your soil and making it last longer by helping to maintain moisture levels and prevent weeds from growing,” she advises.

A layer of organic materials such as bark chips, dead leaves or compost will improve soil as it breaks down.

Invest in hard landscaping

Hard landscaping, such as decking or paving, elevates your outdoor space

and helps to define different areas of your garden. It forms the backbone of a well-designed yard, providing structure and aesthetic appeal.

One of the most popular choices for hard landscaping these days is omposite decking, which offers a sleek, modern look while being durable and low-maintenance. Unlike traditional wooden decking, composite boards resist fading, warping and moisture damage, meaning you won’t need to worry about sanding, staining, or sealing them over time. This makes them an excellent longterm investment to create an elegant yet practical outdoor area.

If you prefer paving, consider materials such as natural stone, concrete or even porcelain tiling, all of which provide a clean and sophisticated finish.

Beyond aesthetics, hard landscaping also contributes to functionality. Paved walkways make navigating your garden easier, while decking extends your living space outdoors. For an added touch of luxury, consider incorporating built-in lighting into your design, illuminating paths and seating areas for a cozy ambiance during the evenings.

Also consider adding a lower-maintenance rock garden. “This feature will look very visually appealing if done correctly and will pretty much take care of itself, “ according to Jenkins.

Achieving the look of a stunning rock garden is simple: plant some alpine plants and succulents and surround with a mix of larger rocks and smaller pebbles to cover the soil completely.

“This will bring interesting textures to your garden space,” Jenkins adds.

Make use of raised beds

Utilizing raised beds, whether on top of your existing soil or over hard landscaping, can give you more control over your plants.

“A raised flowerbed will stop them from spreading out of control and add a focal point of interest to your garden,” Jenkins says.

Embrace the wild

Another interesting option, which certainly cuts down on lawn maintenance, is to embrace what Jenkins describes as the “wild look.”

“This isn’t to say you should let it grow completely out of control, but your garden can look beautiful with the aesthetic of a grassy meadow rather than an urban space,” she says.

To enhance this effect, try

To enhance this effect, try sprinkling some wildflower seed mixes onto your grass. These flowers won’t need any maintenance, come in a range of beautiful colors, and are a real treat for our beloved garden friends, such as bees and butterflies.

Get set for backyard bliss. Refresh your backyard with vibrant blooms, cozy outdoor spaces and even a touch of nature’s wild charm.

Chicago frontman Jason Scheff is joined by Tommy DeCarlo, Boston’s former lead vocalist for their The Lead Singers of Classic Rock tour. They team up for a night of unforgettable classic rock spanning the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s. Their musical tribute features two great sets of classic hits with Chicago’s timeless ballads the guitar-driven rock of Boston. Over 15 million fans have attended a live concert of both bands over a 32-year span featuring either Jason or Tommy’s signature high-tenor lead vocals. Scheff joined Chicago in 1985 and went on to perform thousands of live concerts spanning four decades during a non-stop touring and recording career with the band. DeCarlo joined Boston in 2008 after the passing of Brad Delp was lead singer on every tour thereafter, These pair is backed by a top band of touring professionals.

Saturday, April 5, 8 p.m. Tickets available at tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100. LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville.

The Wallflowers

Grab those leather jackets, and rock on! The Wallflowers bring their sound to the Paramount stage, with special guest Jackson Melnick. For the past 30 years, the Jakob Dylanled act has stood as one of rock’s most dynamic and purposeful bands — continually honing a sound that meshes timeless songwriting and storytelling with a hard-hitting and decidedly modern musical attack. That signature style has been present through the decades. In recent years, Dylan — the Wallflowers’ founding singer, songwriter and guitarist — has repeatedly stepped outside of his band. Now the band has made its triumphant return, with “Exit Wounds,” their new studio offering. The much-anticipated record finds that signature sound — lean, potent and eminently entrancing — intact, even as Dylan surrounds himself with a fresh cast of musicians.

Sunday, April 6, 8 p.m., $75, $45, $35, $25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny. com.

Joan Osborne sings Dylan

April

11

The seven-time Grammy nominee brings her extraordinary voice and artistic depth to the timeless music of Bob Dylan, on the Landmark stage, Friday, April 11, 8 p.m. Best known for her multi-platinum hit “One of Us,” Osborne has spent over 25 years captivating audiences with her fearless exploration of genres ranging from rock and blues to soul, gospel and country. Her critically acclaimed 2018 album, “Songs of Bob Dylan,” and her live performances showcase her ability to reimagine Dylan’s iconic works, offering fresh interpretations that highlight the emotional resonance and poetic brilliance of his music. Osborne first began her journey with Dylan’s catalog in 2016 with a series of “Dylanology” concerts. These performances deepened her appreciation for his vast and varied repertoire and inspired her to put her own stamp on his songs. Her renditions are both reverent and inventive, blending her soulful delivery with the rich textures of her band to bring new life to classics like “Tangled Up in Blue” and “Highway 61 Revisited.”

With a voice hailed as one of the most powerful and versatile of her generation, Osborne invites audiences to rediscover Dylan’s masterpieces through her singular lens. Her take on the “Dynalogy” reflects her reverence for iconic musician who remains forever young in the hearts and minds of his fans and the music world. The recent biopic, “A Complete Unknown,” brings Dylan to the forefront once again. Osborne turns back the clock with her artistic and soulful reinterpretations exuding passion, emotion and energy. $59, $55, $48, also special VIP package. Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Port Washington. Tickets available at landmarkonmainstreet.org or (516) 767-6444.

Spring food drive

Kiwanis Club of East Meadow holds its annual spring food drive at ShopRite Uniondale, Saturday and Sunday, April 5-6, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. For more information, email KiwanisClubOfEastMeadow@ gmail.com. 1121 Jerusalem Ave., Uniondale.

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) 428-3693

Celebrate Holi

Long Island Children’s Museum invites families to experience Holi, the Festival of Colors, Sunday, April 6, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Originating in India, this Hindu festival marks the arrival of the colorful spring season. During this joyous celebration, families eat sweets, dance to folk music and throw colorful powder made from flowers called gulal.

Crafts, color throwing and dancing are part of this vibrant event. Participants are encouraged to wear clothes that they won’t mind getting messy. Museum Row, Garden City. Go to licm.org or call (516) 224-5800 for more information.

Tunes with Dancing Dream

Plaza Theatricals welcomes the ABBA tribute band, Sunday, April 6, 2:30 p.m. This act takes you back to the days when Swedish disco group ruled the airwaves with their great pop hits and memorable performances. Come experience the glitter of the ‘70s. $40, $35 seniors. Groove along at Plaza’s stage at Elmont Memorial Library, 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. Elmont. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit plazatheatrical.com.

Easter Bunny 5K

Hop into the Easter spirit with a run, Sunday, April 20, starting at 9 a.m. Race registration and kickoff in Eisenhower Park’s Field 2 in East Meadow. To sign up online, visit Eavents. EliteFeats.com/25LIRCCEaster.

Paint night at

Pinot’s

Palette

Pinot’s Palette hosts “A Purrfectly Starry Night,” a fun painting class where guests will create a cat-themed version of Starry Night, Tuesday, April 22 5:30-7:30 p.m. $49 per guest; food and drinks available for purchase (venue is not BYOB). 2557 Hempstead Turnpike, East Meadow. More details at pinotspalette.com.

Job Fair

The Town of Hempstead holds a job fair, Thursday, April 10, 10:30-3:30 p.m., at Freeport Recreation Center. Job seekers are encouraged to attend and meet with varied recruitment representatives from business, school district, local and state agencies and services, and more. Bring copies of your resume and prepare to make an impression. All veterans and individuals with disabilities are permitted to enter the job fair starting at 9:30 a.m.

Registration required. Time slot you select determines entry time. Upon entry, stay as long as necessary.130 E. Merrick Road, Freeport. Visit hempsteadworks.com for info and to register or call (516) 485-5000 ext. 1146.

Art Explorations

Converse, collaborate and create at Family Saturdays at Nassau County Museum of Art. The drop-in program continues, Saturday, April 5, noon-3 p.m. Kids and their adult partners talk about and making art together. While there, enjoy reading and play in the Reading Room, and contribute to The Lobby Project, a collaborative art installation. Registration required. 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. Visit nassaumuseum.org to register or call (516) 484-9337.

‘Listen to the Music’

Join L.I. Cabaret Theatre for their latest performance, Saturday, April 5, 2 p.m., at the Elmont Library Theatre stage. In this spirited show, the plotline follows the startup of a TV network and streaming service. A cast of 30 keeps the action moving along, with original choreography, and band accompaniment.

Singers and dancers perform current hits, oldies and tunes from the Broadway stage. Free admission. Elmont Memorial Library Theater, 700 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont. Visit elmontlibrary. org or call (516) 354-5280 for information.

Bingo at Beth-El

Spring

Dog Festival

Get ready to wag those tails, at Old Westbury Gardens with your pooch (leashed of course), Saturday and Sunday, April 12-13, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Bring your canine companions for a scenic stroll through grounds bursting spring’s first blooms. Browse a selection of local dog-friendly vendors offering unique products and services for your furry friends, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information contact (516) 333-0048 or visit oldwestburygardens.org.

Get your game on at a weekly bingo game at East Meadow Beth-El 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.

Having an event?

Items on The Scene page are listed free of charge. The Herald welcomes listings of upcoming events, community meetings and items of public interest. All submissions should include date, time and location of the event, cost, and a contact name and phone number. Submissions can be emailed to thescene@liherald.com.

On Exhibit

Nassau County Museum of Art’s latest exhibition, the original “Deco at 100” coincides with the 100th anniversary of the 1925 Paris International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts (Exposition internationale des arts décoratifs et industriels modernes) which publicly launched the movement. The direct followup to the well-received 2023 exhibit, “Our Gilded Age,” it comparably links the period’s signature innovation in the decorative arts, Art Deco, to the fine arts. The exhibit encompasses significant cultural advancements during Long Island’s Roaring Twenties/ Jazz Age movement, including votes, jobs, and the automobile for women, the beginnings of suburbia with commutation for work, and planned residential communities, which all defined the era, while the following decade brought economic reversals and the WPA program. Works by Louis Comfort Tiffany, Fernand Léger, Guy Pène du Bois, Gaston Lachaise, Elie Nadelman, and Reginald Marsh, among others, along with art deco stylists of poster art and graphics, and photography will convey the Art Deco spirit along with its furniture, decorative arts, and fashion.

Like “Our Gilded Age,” the social scene of Long Island’s Gold Coast, and its personalities — both upstairs and downstairs — will be portrayed, along with the ongoing relationship with the immediate urban context of New York with its skyscrapers and deco-styled architecture. On view through June 15. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Hempstead House tour

April 13

Sands Point Preserve is the backdrop to explore the elegant Gold Coast home that’s the centerpiece of the estate, Sunday, April 13, noon-1 p.m. and 2-3 p.m. Visit the grand rooms inside the massive 50,000-square-foot Tudor-style mansion, the former summer residence of Gilded Age financier Howard Gould and later Daniel and Florence Guggenheim. Tours are limited in size and tend to sell out. Arrive early to purchase tickets. $10. Sands Point Preserve, 127 Middle Neck Road. For information, visit SandsPointPreserveConservancy.org or call (516) 571-7901.

April 3, 2025 — EAST

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

Public Notices

SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS INDENTURE TRUSTEE FOR AMERICAN HOME MORTGAGE INVESTMENT TRUST 2005-2, Plaintiff, AGAINST ANTHONY RAZZANO, et al. Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a judgment of foreclosure and sale duly entered on November 21, 2024.

I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on April 14, 2025 at 2:00 PM premises known as 84 Lexington Ave, Westbury, NY 11590. Please take notice that this foreclosure auction shall be conducted in compliance with the Foreclosure Auction Rules for Nassau County, and the COVID 19 Health Emergency Rules, including proper use of masks and social distancing.

All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Village of Westbury, County of Nassau and State of New York. Section 10, Block 134 and Lot 143 & 144.

Approximate amount of judgment

$818,869.24 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment. Index #610647/2018.

Jane P. Shrenkel, Esq., Referee, Aldridge Pite, LLPAttorneys for Plaintiff40 Marcus Drive, Suite 200, Melville, NY 11747 152102

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCF 2 ACQUISITION TRUST, -againstROBIN CARINO, ET AL.

NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on January 22, 2025, wherein U.S.

BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCF 2 ACQUISITION TRUST is the Plaintiff and ROBIN CARINO, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on April 21, 2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 9 FRIENDS LANE, WESTBURY, NY 11590; and the following tax map identification: 45-403-12. ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED SITUATE LYING AND BEING AT WESTBURY, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 613951/2023.

Jerry Merola, Esq.Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 152307

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU RIDGEWOOD SAVINGS BANK

Plaintiff, Against LAURA L. PIERCE A/K/A LAURA PIERCE, et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 7/6/2023, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 on 4/24/2025 at

2:30PM, premises known as 24 Cedar Road, Westbury, New York 11590 and described as follows:

ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Westbury, Town of North Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York.

Section 0011 Block 00414 Lot 00027

The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $330,879.28 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 608239/2019

If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the then Court Appointed Referee will cancel the Foreclosure Auction. This Auction will be held rain or shine. Janine Lynam, Esq., Referee.

MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC, 10 Midland Avenue, Suite 205, Port Chester, NY 10573

Dated: 2/28/2025 File Number: 19-300909 CA 152305

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU INDEX NO: 616719/2024

D/O/F: 09/20/2024

SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS

Premises Address: 69 Anchor Lane, Levittown, New York 11756

Plaintiff designates Nassau County as the place of trial. Venue is based upon the County in which the property is situate.

U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, AS SUCCESSOR-ININTEREST TO U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, ON BEHALF OF THE HOLDERS OF THE GSAMP TRUST 2006-HE5 MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-HE5, Plaintiff, -againstUnknown heirs at law of LOUIS RUKAB, his next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, devisees, legatees, assignees,

lienors, creditors, and successors in interest, and generally all persons having or claiming, under, by or through said defendant who may be deceased, by purchase, inheritance, lien or otherwise, any right title or interest in and to the premises described in the complaint herein, all of whom and whose names and places of residence are unknown to the plaintiff and cannot after diligent inquiry be ascertained;

JENNIFER RUKAB AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE FOR THE ESTATE OF LOUIS RUKAB, JACK RUKAB AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE FOR THE ESTATE OF LOUIS RUKAB, CLAUDIA WORLEY AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE FOR THE ESTATE OF LOUIS RUKAB, MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC. AS NOMINEE FOR THE CIT GROUP/CONSUMER FINANCE, INC. (NY), NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION & FINANCE, CONNIE COLLURA DMD, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, NEW YORK CITY PARKING VIOLATIONS BUREAU, NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT

ADJUDICATION

BUREAU; “JOHN DOES” and “JANE DOES”, said names being fictitious, parties intended being possible tenants or occupants of premises, and corporations, other entities or persons who claim, or may claim, a lien against the premises, Defendant(s).

TO THE ABOVE-NAMED

DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in this action, and to serve a copy of your Answer, or, if the Complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a Notice of Appearance on the Plaintiff’s Attorneys within twenty (20) days after service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, where service is made by delivery upon you personally within the State, or within thirty (30) days after completion of service where service is made in any other manner, and in case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you

by default for the relief demanded in the complaint.

TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: The foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of the Hon. Christopher T. McGrath, a Justice of the Supreme Court, Nassau County, entered March 12, 2025 and filed with the complaint and other papers in the Nassau County Clerk’s Office. THE OBJECT OF THE ACTION is to foreclose a mortgage recorded in the Nassau County Clerk’s Office on June 7, 2006 in Liber 30583, Page 399, covering premises k/a 69 Anchor Lane, Levittown, NY 11756 a/k/a Section 51, Block 182, Lot 29.

NOTICE

YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME

If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. The following notice is intended only for the defendants who are owners of the premises sought to be foreclosed or who are liable upon the debt for which the mortgage stands as security.

YOU ARE HEREBY PUT ON NOTICE THAT WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT, AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.

PLEASE BE AWARE:

(1)that debt collectors, in accordance with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1692 et seq., are prohibited from engaging in abusive, deceptive, an unfair

debt collection efforts, including, but not limited to: i. the use or threat of violence; ii. the use of obscene or profane language; and iii. repeated phone calls made with the intent to annoy, abuse, or harass.

(2) If a creditor or debt collector receives a money judgment against you in court, state and federal laws may prevent the following types of income from being taken to pay the debt:

1.Supplemental security income, (SSI); 2.Social security; 3.Public assistance (welfare); 4.Spousal support, maintenance (alimony) or child support; 5.Unemployment benefits; 6.Disability benefits; 7.Workers’ compensation benefits; 8.Public or private pensions; 9.Veterans’ benefits; 10.Federal student loans, federal student grants, and federal work study funds; and 11.Ninety percent of your wages or salary earned in the last sixty days.

TO THE DEFENDANTS:

The Plaintiff makes no personal claim against you in this action.

TO THE DEFENDANTS:

If you have obtained an order of discharge from the Bankruptcy court, which includes this debt, and you have not reaffirmed your liability for this debt, this law firm is not alleging that you have any personal liability for this debt and does not seek a money judgment against you. Even if a discharge has been obtained, this lawsuit to foreclose the mortgage will continue and we will seek a judgment authorizing the sale of the mortgaged premises.

Dated:

Sandy J. Stolar, Esq. Margolin, Weinreb & Nierer, LLP

Attorneys for Plaintiff 575 Underhill Boulevard, Suite 224 Syosset, New York 11791

516-921-3838 #102199 152365

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BY THE BOARD OF APPEALS Pursuant to New York State Town Law Article 16, New York State Public Officers Law Article 7, and the Town of Hempstead Building Zone Ordinance, NOTICE is hereby given that the BOARD OF APPEALS of the Town of Hempstead will hold a public hearing in the Old Town Hall, 350 Front Street, Room 230, Second Floor, Hempstead, New York on 04/09/2025 at 9:30 A.M. to consider the following applications and appeals:

THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 9:30 A.M.

149/25. LEVITTOWNLevittown Chamber of Commerce, Amusement Rides (Special Event) duration May 22, 2025 - May 26, 2025., N/E cor. Hempstead Tpke. & Division Ave., a/k/a Town of Hempstead Parking lot L-2. ALL PAPERS PERTAINING TO THE ABOVE HEARING ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT THE BOARD OF APPEALS, TOWN HALL, 1 WASHINGTON STREET, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550.

This notice is only for new cases in Levittown within Town of Hempstead jurisdiction. There are additional cases in different hamlets, towns and villages on the Board of Appeals calendar. The full calendar is available at https://hempsteadny.go v/509/Board-of-Appeals

The internet address of the website streaming for this meeting is https://hempsteadny.go v/576/Live-StreamingVideo

Interested parties may appear at the above time and place. At the call of the Chairman, the Board will consider decisions on the foregoing and those on the Reserve Decision calendar and such other matters as may properly come before it. 152617

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE TO BIDDERS NOTICE is hereby given that the WANTAGH FIRE DISTRICT will receive separate & independent bids for the following categories:

Contract No. 1 –General Construction and Related Work For the Training Tower Renovation to the WANTAGH FIRE DISTRICT STATION #6 located at 2995 Jerusalem Ave, Wantagh, NY 11793. A MANDATORY pre-bid conference walkthrough for potential Bidders and other interested parties will be held on Monday, April 21st, 2025 at 10:00 AM at the Wantagh Fire District Station #6 located at 2995 Jerusalem, Wantagh, NY 11793.

Separate & independent bids must be received on or before Monday, May 12th, 2025 @ 12:00 PM by the WANTAGH FIRE DISTRICT at the DISTRICT OFFICES located at 2045 Wantagh Avenue, Wantagh, New York 11793 at which time all bids received will publicly be opened and read aloud @12:00 PM in accordance with §103(2), of the General Municipal Law. No bids will be accepted thereafter.

Complete digital sets of Bidding Documents, drawings and specifications, may be obtained online as a download at www.revplans.com for a non-refundable fee of $100.00 (One Hundred Dollars) starting on Monday, April 14th, 2025. All bids must be accompanied by either a) a certified check payable to the “Wantagh Fire District” in the amount of 5% of the bid price, or b) a bond with sufficient sureties to be approved by the “Wantagh Fire District” in the amount of 5% of the bid price. If the bid is accepted, the bidder will enter into a contract in accordance with the bid and will furnish a suitable security bond in the sum of the amount of the contract, conditioned for the faithful and prompt completion of the work specified in the contract. If the bidder neglects or refuses to execute the contract and furnish the bonds, the deposit of 5% of the bid price shall be forfeited and retained by the Wantagh Fire District as liquidated damages or, in the case of a bid bond, the Wantagh Fire District shall enforce payment of the bond for its

Public Notices

benefit.

Performance, Labor and Material payment, and warranty bonds on the forms within the Specifications Book for the full amount of the contract are required and shall be included in the bid price.

Exclude from all bids New York State Sales Tax on materials or supplies purchased for this project.

Pursuant to §220 of the Labor Law, the contract will contain a provision that every mechanic, laborer and workman employed in or about the work contemplated by the contract shall be paid not less than the prevailing rate of wages and provided with not less than the prevailing supplement which are set forth in the Bidding Documents.

Bids are to be enclosed in a separate sealed envelope, which shall be clearly marked:

Wantagh Fire District Station #6 2995 Jerusalem Ave, Wantagh, NY 11793

Contract No. 1 –General Construction and Related Work.

The Wantagh Fire District reserves the right to waive any informalities in, to accept or reject any or all bids, to award the contract to other than the lowest bidder or to advertise anew if in the judgment of the Wantagh Fire District it is in their best interests to do so. No bidder shall withdraw his bid within 45 days after the formal opening thereof.

By Order of The Board of Fire Commissioners

Brendan J. Narell

Superintendent 152609

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU

SUPPLEMENTAL

SUMMONS

Index#603508/2024

Date Filed 03/26/2025

Plaintiff designates Nassau County as the Place of Trial Designation of Venue is based upon the situs of the Subject Property

HSBC Bank USA, N.A., as Indenture Trustee for the Registered

Noteholders of Renaissance Home Equity Loan Trust

2007-1

Plaintiff, -against-

Irlande Cherubin, if she be living or if she be dead, her spouses, heirs, devisees, distributes and successors in interest, all of whom and whose names and places of residence are unknown to Plaintiff; State of New York, “JOHN DOE#1” through “JOHN DOE #12”, the last twelve names being fictious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the Subject Property described in the Complaint, Defendants.

SUBJECT PROPERTY:

5 Greentree Circle, Westbury, NY 11590 TO THE ABOVENAMED DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the Complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a notice of appearance on the Plaintiff’s Attorney within twenty (20) days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within thirty (30) days after the service is complete if this Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York) in the event the United States of America is made a party defendant, the time to answer for the said United States of America shall not expire until sixty (60) days after service of the Summons; and in case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint.

TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: The foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of the Hon. Sarika Kapoor, a Justice of the Supreme Court, Nassau County, entered March 24, 2025 and filed with the complaint and other papers in the Nassau County Clerk’s Office.

NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECT of the above captioned action is to foreclose a Mortgage dated January 8, 2007 and recorded on February 5, 2007 in Liber M 31512 of Mortgages, Page

160, covering premises known as 5 Greentree Circle, Westbury, NY 11590 a/k/a Section 17, Block 2, Lot 35.

NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME

If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure auction. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.

Dated: October 8, 2024 Rochester, NY LOGS Legal Group LLP By: Frank M. Cassara, Esq.

Attorney for Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624

Telephone: (585)247-9000 File No. 23-095401#102212 152650

LEGAL NOTICE ANNUAL MEETING NOTICE OF ANNUAL SCHOOL AND LIBRARY MEETING AND ELECTION

EAST MEADOW UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, NASSAU COUNTY, NEW YORK

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the annual meeting, budget vote and election of the East Meadow Union Free School District will be held on May 20, 2025, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. in each of the school election districts heretofore established on the following separate matters:

1. Proposition 1 - The estimated expenditures for school purposes (school budget) for the ensuing

school year 2025-2026 and authorizing the levy and collection of the necessary taxes thereof.

2. Proposition 2 - The estimated expenditures for library purposes (library budget) for the ensuing school year 2025-2026 and authorizing the levy and collection of the necessary taxes thereof.

3. Any other questions or propositions as to matters or expenditures or authority to levy taxes that may be presented for a vote under the Education Law.

NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that voting upon the estimated expenses for school and library purposes for the school year and the election of members of the Board of Education and Library Board will be held on May 20, 2025, in each of the school election districts heretofore established.

VOTING will be by ballot on voting machines in the schoolhouses designated in each of the separate school election districts heretofore established and the polls will remain open for voting from 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m., and as much longer as may be necessary for all voters then present to cast their votes.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER

NOTICE that at said vote and election to be conducted on May 20, 2025, three (3) members are to be elected to the Board of Education and one (1) member is to be elected to the Library Board as follows:

(a) three members of the Board of Education for a full term of three (3) years, commencing July 1, 2025, and expiring on June 30, 2028.

(b) one member of the Library Board for a full term of five (5) years, commencing July 1, 2025 to succeed Ellen Matishek, incumbent, whose term of office expires on June 30, 2025.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER

NOTICE that the election shall be held in accordance with the Rules for the Conduct of Meetings and Elections adopted by the Board of Education and applicable law.

NOMINATIONS OF CANDIDATES

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER

NOTICE that candidates for the offices of member of the Board of Education and member of the Library Board shall be nominated by petition. Candidates for

member of the Board of Education run at large. Each candidate petition for the office of member of the Board of Education shall be directed to the Clerk of the School District, care of the Superintendent, shall be signed by at least seventy-four (74) qualified voters of the District, said number constituting 2% of the total number of voters who voted at the Annual Meeting of May 21, 2024, shall state the residence of each signer, and shall state the name and residence of the candidate.

Each vacancy to be filled for trustee of the Library Board shall be considered a separate specific office. A separate petition shall be required to nominate a candidate to each separate office. Each petition for candidate for the office of member of the Library Board shall be directed to the Clerk of the School District, care of the Superintendent, shall be signed by at least seventy-four (74) qualified voters of the District, shall state the residence of each signer, shall state the name and residence of the candidate, and shall describe the specific vacancy on the Library Board for which the candidate is nominated, which description shall include at least the length of the term of office and the name of the last incumbent.

Each petition shall be filed in the Office of the Clerk of the District, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. and not later than 5:00 p.m. on April 21, 2025.

SCHOOL ELECTION DISTRICTS

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER

NOTICE that the boundaries of the following School Election Districts shall be as heretofore determined and published by the Board of Education and the place in each election district for registration and voting shall be as follows:

SCHOOL ELECTION

DISTRICT NO. 1

The boundaries of School Election District No. 1 are as follows: Bounded on the North by Hempstead-Bethpage Turnpike; on the East by Wantagh State Parkway; on the South by North Jerusalem Road; on the West by East Meadow Avenue from the intersection of North Jerusalem Road to Lenox Avenue then northeast

to Eighth Avenue east to Newbridge Road, then north to Hempstead Turnpike.

The qualified voters of School Election District No. 1 will vote at the Parkway Elementary School located at 465 Bellmore Road in said District.

SCHOOL ELECTION DISTRICT NO. 2

The boundaries of School Election District No. 2 are as follows: Bounded on the North by the south side of Hempstead Turnpike from the intersection of Merrick Avenue running easterly to the intersection of Newbridge Road. Bounded on the East by the west side of Newbridge Road from the intersection of Hempstead Turnpike running south to the intersection of Eighth Avenue. Bounded on the South by the north side of Eighth Avenue; running southwest to the intersection of Lenox Avenue and East Meadow Avenue; running northwest on East Meadow Avenue to number 604; running westerly to Maitland Street; running south to the north side of Lenox Avenue continuing southwest to the southerly ends of Benito, Patterson, Adelphi, Coakley and Albert Streets and the westerly ends of Sidney Place, Powers Avenue and Kevin Place going west to the east side of Prospect Avenue at number 1530 and running northeast to the intersection of Chestnut Avenue, proceeding northwest on the northwest side of Chestnut Avenue to the intersection of Front Street, then running southwest on the north side of Front Street to the intersection of Merrick Avenue. Bounded on the West by the east side of Merrick Avenue from the intersection of Front Street, running north to the intersection of Hempstead Turnpike. The qualified voters of School Election District No. 2 will vote at the McVey Elementary School located at 2201 Devon Street in said District.

SCHOOL ELECTION

DISTRICT NO. 3

The boundaries of School Election District No. 3 are as follows: Bounded on the North by Hempstead Turnpike from Meadowbrook Parkway to Merrick Avenue, southerly to the point of intersection of the south side of

Front Street easterly to Chestnut Avenue. Bounded on the East by the west side of Merrick Avenue running south from Hempstead Turnpike to Front Street to the south side of Front Street running northeast from Merrick Avenue to the west side of Chestnut Avenue from Front Street to Prospect Avenue to number 1489; then south including Marian Court, Dieman Lane, Flower Lane, Sherwood Drive, Andrea Road, the north ends of Cynthia, Wenwood and Bruce Drives, the west end of Cynron and Meadow Lanes and Midland Drive and the south side of Lenox Avenue proceeding east to East Meadow Avenue; continuing east on the west side of East Meadow Avenue from Lenox Avenue to Irving Place, south from number 604 East Meadow Avenue running south to North Jerusalem Road. Bounded on the South by North Jerusalem Road to the point of intersection of Ennabrock Road, including Ennabrock Road to North Jerusalem Road; west to Meadowbrook Parkway. Bounded on the West by Meadowbrook Parkway from North Jerusalem Road running north to Hempstead Turnpike. The qualified voters of School Election District No. 3 will vote at Barnum Woods Elementary School located at 500 May Lane in said District.

SCHOOL ELECTION

DISTRICT NO. 4

The boundaries of School Election District No. 4 are as follows: Bounded on the North by Old Country Road to the point of intersection of the Wantagh State Parkway. Bounded on the East by the Wantagh State Parkway running south to the Oyster Bay Town Line and then east to Newbridge Road, running south on Newbridge Road to Twig Lane. Bounded on the South by Twig Lane, running west to the Wantagh State Parkway, then running south to the north side of Hearth Lane at Friends Lane proceeding west to the intersection of the west side of Carman Avenue, proceeding south to the north side of Salisbury Park Drive and continuing on the north side of Salisbury Park Drive in a northerly direction from Stewart Avenue to Old Country Road.

The qualified voters of School Election District No. 4 will vote at the Bowling Green Elementary School located at 2340 Stewart Avenue, Westbury, NY, in said District.

SCHOOL ELECTION

DISTRICT NO. 5

The boundaries of School Election District No. 5 are as follows: Bounded on the North from the south side of Hearth Lane at Carman Avenue easterly to Wantagh Parkway; north to the Oyster Bay Town Line; easterly to the south side of Levittown Parkway to the intersection of Newbridge Road. Bounded on the East by the west side of Newbridge Road running south to Wantagh Parkway; continuing south on Wantagh Parkway to the intersection of Hempstead Turnpike. Bounded on the South by Hempstead Turnpike from the intersection of Wantagh Parkway running west to the intersection of Bly Road. Bounded on the West by Bly Road running north and east to Ava Drive; running north and east to Erma Drive; running south to Nottingham Road; running east (including Florence and Jane Courts) to the east side of Carman Avenue running north to the intersection of Hearth Lane.

The qualified voters of School Election District No. 5 will vote at the Meadowbrook Elementary School located at 241 Old Westbury Road in said District.

PERSONAL REGISTRATION OF VOTERS

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that all qualified voters of the School District must be registered in the School District Registration Books and/ or in the Official List of Registered and Enrolled Voters for the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, issued by the Nassau County Board of Elections, in order to vote at the meeting and election on May 20, 2025.

The following persons shall be eligible to vote: All persons who shall have presented themselves personally for registration in accordance with section two thousand fourteen of the Education Law and all persons who shall have been previously registered hereunder for any annual or special

April 3, 2025 — EAST

Public Notices

meeting or election and who shall have voted at any annual or special meeting or election held or conducted during the four calendar years prior to 2025 (i.e., 2021-2024). In addition, all persons who are registered to vote pursuant to the provisions of section three hundred fifty-two of the Election Law of the State of New York shall be eligible to vote. Registration of voters not previously registered and eligible to vote shall take place from April 24 through May 12, 2025 inclusive, on the days when school is in session, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. in the office of the District Clerk at the Salisbury School, 718 The Plain Road, Westbury, New York. Evening registration will be held on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in the main corridor of the Salisbury School between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Registration of voters not previously registered and eligible to vote shall also take place on May 5, 2025, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., at each of the 5 election districts, locations as listed previously.

The Board of Registration shall meet to prepare the Register of the School District on the dates and times above specified and any person shall be entitled to have their name placed upon such Register provided that at such meeting of the Board of Registration, they are then or thereafter entitled to vote at the school meeting or election for which such register is prepared.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the Board of Registration shall also meet during the annual district election at each schoolhouse where voting shall take place for the purpose of preparing a register for district elections held subsequent thereto.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the Register of Voters so prepared as aforesaid shall be filed in the Office of the Clerk of the District upon its completion where it shall be open for inspection by any qualified voter of the District between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., on each of the five days prior and including the day set for the election except Sunday, and on Saturday

from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., by appointment only. Please contact Judy Kandel at 516-478-5735 if you wish to make an appointment.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the Official Budget Presentation on the adopted school budget will take place on May 7, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. at The Salisbury School, 718 The Plain Road, Westbury, NY. There will be a Public Hearing on the proposed Library Budget on May 14, 2025, at 7:00 p.m.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the proposed 2025/2026 school budget is available upon request to district residents commencing May 6, 2025, at the office of the District Clerk at the Salisbury School, 718 The Plain Road, Westbury, N.Y. The proposed 2025/2026 library budget is available upon request by any resident commencing May 6, 2025, on the library website.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that copies of the proposed 2025/2026 school budget and of the proposed 2025/2026 library budget may be obtained by any resident of the district, upon request, at each of the offices of the schoolhouses in the District, at the school district offices, listed below, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., on each day other than Saturday, Sunday or holidays during the 14day period preceding the annual meeting and election. The proposed 2025/2026 school budget will also be available on the school district website.

Barnum Woods Elementary School

500 May Lane East Meadow, N.Y. 11554

Bowling Green Elementary School

2340 Stewart Avenue Westbury, N.Y. 11590

McVey Elementary School

2201 Devon Street East Meadow, N.Y. 11554

Meadowbrook Elementary School

241 Old Westbury Road East Meadow, N.Y. 11554

Parkway Elementary School

465 Bellmore Road

East Meadow, N.Y. 11554

Woodland Middle School

690 Wenwood Drive East Meadow, N.Y.

11554

W. Tresper Clarke Middle School

740 Edgewood Drive Westbury, N.Y. 11590

W. Tresper Clarke High School

740 Edgewood Drive Westbury, N.Y. 11590 East Meadow High School

101 Carman Avenue East Meadow, N.Y. 11554

Salisbury School 718 The Plain Road Westbury, N.Y. 11590

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE, pursuant to Real Property Tax Section 495, an exemption report detailing exemptions from real property taxation shall be available and appended to any tentative, preliminary or final budget.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that copies of the proposed 2025/2026 school budget and of the proposed 2025/2026 library budget may be obtained by any resident at the East Meadow Public Library located at 1886 Front Street, East Meadow, N.Y., on each day other than Sunday or holidays between the hours of 10:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. during the 14-day period preceding the annual meeting and election. The proposed 2025/2026 library budget will also be available on the East Meadow Public Library website.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that an application for an absentee or early mail ballot may be made at the Office of the District Clerk, Salisbury School, 718 The Plain Road, Westbury, NY 11590 no earlier than thirty (30) days before the vote. Completed applications must be received by the District Clerk at least seven (7) days before the election if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter and one (1) day before the election if the ballot is to be personally delivered to the voter or his/her designated agent. Upon receiving a timely request for an absentee or early mail ballot, the District Clerk will mail the ballot to the address set forth in the application by no later than six (6) days before the vote. Absentee and early mail ballots must be received by the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on May 20, 2025. A list of all persons to whom absentee and early mail ballots shall have been issued will be available in said Office of the

Clerk on each of the five days prior to the day of the election between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., on each of the five days prior and including the day set for the election except Sunday, and on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., by appointment only. Please contact Judy Kandel at 516-478-5735 if you wish to make an appointment.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that military voters who are not currently registered may apply to register as a qualified voter of the school district. Military voters who are qualified voters of the school district may submit an application for a military ballot. Military voters may designate a preference to receive a military voter registration, military ballot application or military ballot by mail, facsimile transmission or electronic mail in their request for such registration, ballot application or ballot. Military voter registration and military ballot application forms must be received in the Office of the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 24, 2025. No military ballot will be canvassed unless it is returned by mail or in person and received by the office of the District Clerk by no later than 5:00 p.m. on election day.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that any proposition or questions to be placed upon the voting machines shall be submitted in writing by petition subscribed by at least five hundred (500) qualified voters of the District and filed in the office of the District Clerk at least thirty (30) days prior to the annual meeting, except for petitions relating to a proposition which must be included in the notice of the annual meeting. Petitions relating to a proposition which must be included in the notice of the annual meeting must be submitted sixty (60) days in advance of the annual meeting. Any proposition may be rejected by the Trustees or Board of Education if the purpose of the proposition is not within the power of the voters, or where the expenditure of monies is required by the proposition, if the proposition fails to include the necessary specific appropriation.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR VOTING:

1. A person shall be a citizen of the United States.

2. Eighteen or more years of age.

3. A resident of the District for a period of thirty days or more next preceding the election at which he or she offers to vote.

4. Must be registered to vote.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that this Board shall convene a special meeting thereof within twenty-four hours after the filing with the District Clerk of a written report of the results of the ballot for the purpose of examining and tabulating said reports of the results of the ballot and declaring the result of the ballot. The Board hereby designates itself to be a set of poll clerks to cast and canvass ballots pursuant to Education Law Section 2019-a, subdivision 2b at said special meeting of the Board.

Dated: MARCH 19, 2025 BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION EAST MEADOW UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD COUNTY OF NASSAU, NEW YORK

Judy E. Kandel District Clerk 152652

LEGAL NOTICE REUNIÓN ANUAL AVISO DE ELECCIÓN Y REUNIÓN ANUAL DE LA ESCUELA Y LA BIBLIOTECA DISTRITO ESCOLAR EAST MEADOW UNION FREE CIUDAD DE HEMPSTEAD, CONDADO DE NASSAU, NUEVA YORK

POR EL PRESENTE, SE NOTIFICA que la reunión anual, la votación del presupuesto y la elección del Distrito Escolar East Meadow Union Free se realizarán el 20 de mayo de 2025 entre las 7:00 a.m. y las 9:00 p.m. en cada uno de los distritos electorales escolares hasta ahora establecidos sobre los siguientes asuntos independientes:

1. Proposición

1 - Los gastos estimados para propósitos escolares (presupuesto escolar) para el siguiente año escolar, 20252026, y la autorización del gravamen y la recaudación de los impuestos necesarios de este gravamen.

2. Proposición

2 - Los gastos estimados para los propósitos de la biblioteca (presupuesto de la biblioteca)

para el siguiente año escolar, 2025-2026, y la autorización del gravamen y la recaudación de los impuestos necesarios de este gravamen.

3. Cualquier otra cuestión o propuesta relacionada con los asuntos, los gastos o la autoridad para recaudar impuestos que se pueda presentar para una votación según la Ley de Educación.

POR EL PRESENTE, SE NOTIFICA que la votación sobre los gastos estimados para los propósitos de la escuela y la biblioteca para el año escolar, y la elección de los miembros de la Junta de Educación y la Junta de la Biblioteca se llevarán a cabo el 20 de mayo de 2025 en cada uno de los distritos electorales escolares hasta ahora establecidos. La VOTACIÓN será mediante boleta electoral en máquinas de votación en las sedes escolares designadas en cada uno de los distritos electorales escolares independientes hasta ahora establecidos, y las urnas estarán habilitadas para votar de 7:00 a.m. a 9:00 p.m. y durante el tiempo que sea necesario para que los votantes presentes puedan emitir su voto.

ASIMISMO, SE NOTIFICA que, en esta votación y elección a realizarse el 20 de mayo de 2025, se elegirán tres (3) miembros para la Junta de Educación y un (1) miembro para la Junta de la Biblioteca como se indica a continuación: (a) Tres miembros de la Junta de Educación para un período completo de tres (3) años, desde el 1 de julio de 2025 hasta el 30 de junio de 2028. (b) Un miembro de la Junta de la Biblioteca para un período completo de cinco (5) años, desde el 1 de julio de 2025 hasta el 30 de junio de 2030, para reemplazar a Ellen Matishek, titular del último mandato.

ASIMISMO, SE NOTIFICA también que la elección se llevará a cabo de acuerdo con las Normas para la Organización de Reuniones y Elecciones adoptadas por la Junta de Educación y la ley vigente. NOMINACIONES DE CANDIDATOS ASIMISMO, SE NOTIFICA que los candidatos para los cargos de miembros de la Junta de Educación y de la Junta de la Biblioteca se nominarán mediante solicitud. Los candidatos a

miembro en la Junta de Educación se presentan en general. Cada solicitud de candidato para el cargo de miembro de la Junta de Educación se enviará a la secretaría del Distrito Escolar, a la atención del superintendente, y deberá estar firmada por al menos setenta y cuatro (74) votantes calificados del Distrito. Este número representa el 2% del número total de personas que votaron en la reunión anual del 20 de mayo de 2024. Incluirá la residencia de cada firmante, y también el nombre y la residencia del candidato. Cada vacante para ser fideicomisario de la Junta de la Biblioteca se debe considerar una vacante específica e independiente. Se necesita una solicitud por separado para nominar a un candidato para cada cargo en particular. Cada solicitud de candidato para el cargo de miembro de la Junta de la Biblioteca se enviará a la secretaría del Distrito Escolar, a la atención del superintendente, y deberá estar firmada por al menos setenta y cuatro (74) votantes calificados del Distrito. Incluirá la residencia de cada firmante, el nombre y la residencia del candidato, e indicará la vacante específica en la Junta de la Biblioteca para la que el candidato está nominado. Esta descripción incluirá, por lo menos, la duración del mandato en el cargo y el nombre del último titular.

Cada solicitud se presentará en la oficina de la secretaría del Distrito entre las 9:00 a. m. y las 4:30 p. m., y antes de las 5:00 p. m. del 21 de abril de 2025.

DISTRITOS

ELECTORALES

ESCOLARES

ASIMISMO, SE NOTIFICA que la Junta de Educación determinará y publicará, como hasta aquí se establece, los límites de los siguientes distritos electorales escolares, y el lugar de cada distrito electoral para el registro y la votación será el siguiente:

DISTRITO ELECTORAL ESCOLAR N.º 1

Los límites del Distrito Electoral Escolar n.º 1 son los siguientes: Limita al norte con Hempstead-Bethpage Turnpike, al este con Wantagh State Parkway, al sur con North Jerusalem Road, al oeste con East

Meadow Avenue desde la intersección de North Jerusalem Road hasta Lenox Avenue, al noreste hasta Eighth Avenue, al este hasta Newbridge Road, al norte hasta Hempstead Turnpike.

Los votantes calificados del Distrito Electoral Escolar n.º 1 votarán en Parkway Elementary School ubicada en 465 Bellmore Road, en este Distrito.

DISTRITO ELECTORAL ESCOLAR N.º 2

Los límites del Distrito Electoral Escolar n.º 2 son los siguientes: Limita al norte con el lado sur de Hempstead Turnpike desde la intersección de Merrick Avenue hacia el este hasta la intersección de Newbridge Road. Limita al este con el lado oeste de Newbridge Road desde la intersección de Hempstead Turnpike, y continúa hacia el sur hasta la intersección de Eighth Avenue. Limita al sur con el lado norte de Eighth Avenue; continúa hacia el sudoeste hasta la intersección de Lenox Avenue y East Meadow Avenue; sigue hacia el noroeste en East Meadow Avenue hasta la numeración 604; prosigue hacia el oeste hasta Maitland Street; continúa hacia el sur hasta el lado norte de Lenox Avenue y hacia el sudoeste hasta el final sur de Benito, Patterson, Adelphi, Coakley y Albert Streets, y hasta el final oeste de Sidney Place, Powers Avenue y Kevin Place. Sigue al oeste hasta el lado este de Prospect Avenue, numeración 1530, y continúa hacia el noreste hasta la intersección de Chestnut Avenue; prosigue hacia el noroeste en el lado noroeste de Chestnut Avenue hasta la intersección de Front Street. Luego, sigue hacia el suroeste en el lado norte de Front Street hasta la intersección de Merrick Avenue. Limita al oeste con el lado este de Merrick Avenue desde la intersección de Front Street, y continúa hacia el norte hasta la intersección de Hempstead Turnpike. Los votantes calificados del Distrito Electoral Escolar n.º 2 votarán en McVey Elementary School ubicada en 2201 Devon Street, en este Distrito.

DISTRITO ELECTORAL ESCOLAR N.º 3 Los límites del Distrito Electoral Escolar n.º 3 son los siguientes: Limita al norte con

Public Notices

Hempstead Turnpike desde Meadowbrook Parkway hasta Merrick Avenue, al sur hasta el punto de intersección del lado sur de Front Street y hacia el este hasta Chestnut Avenue.

Limita al este con el lado oeste de Merrick Avenue. Sigue hacia el sur desde Hempstead Turnpike a Front Street hasta el lado sur de Front Street. Continúa hacia el noreste desde Merrick Avenue hasta el lado oeste de Chestnut Avenue, desde Front Street hasta Prospect Avenue, numeración 1489. Luego, en el sur incluye Marian Court, Dieman Lane, Flower Lane, Sherwood Drive, Andrea Road, el final norte de Cynthia, Wenwood y Bruce Drives, el final oeste de Cynron y Meadow Lanes y Midland Drive, y el lado sur de Lenox Avenue.

Sigue por el este hasta East Meadow Avenue; continúa por el este en el lado oeste de East Meadow Avenue desde Lenox Avenue hasta Irving Place, al sur desde East Meadow Avenue, numeración 604, sigue hacia el sur hasta North Jerusalem Road. Limita al sur con North Jerusalem Road hasta el punto de intersección de Ennabrock Road, incluida Ennabrock Road hasta North Jerusalem Road; al oeste hasta Meadowbrook Parkway. Limita al oeste con Meadowbrook Parkway desde North Jerusalem Road hacia el norte hasta Hempstead Turnpike. Los votantes calificados del Distrito Electoral Escolar n.º 3 votarán en Barnum Woods Elementary School ubicada en 500 May Lane, en este Distrito. DISTRITO ELECTORAL ESCOLAR N.º 4

Los límites del Distrito Electoral Escolar n.º 4 son los siguientes: Limita al norte con Old Country Road hasta el punto de intersección de Wantagh State Parkway. Limita al este con Wantagh State Parkway y continúa hacia el sur hasta Oyster Bay Town Line, y luego al este hasta Newbridge Road.

Continúa hacia el sur por Newbridge Road hasta Twig Lane. Limita al sur con Twig Lane; continúa al oeste hasta Wantagh State Parkway; luego, sigue hacia el sur hasta el lado norte de Hearth Lane en Friends Lane.

Continúa hacia el oeste hasta la intersección del lado oeste de Carman Avenue; sigue hacia el sur hasta el lado norte

de Salisbury Park Drive, y prosigue por el lado norte de Salisbury Park Drive en dirección norte desde Stewart Avenue hasta Old Country Road. Los votantes calificados del Distrito Electoral Escolar n.º 4 votarán en Bowling Green Elementary School ubicada en 2340 Stewart Avenue, Westbury, Nueva York, en este Distrito.

DISTRITO ELECTORAL

ESCOLAR N.º 5

Los límites del Distrito Electoral Escolar n.º 5 son los siguientes:

Limita al norte desde el lado sur de Hearth Lane hasta Carman Avenue, al este hasta Wantagh Parkway, al norte hasta Oyster Bay Town Line, al este hasta el lado sur de Levittown Parkway hasta la intersección de Newbridge Road. Limita al este con el lado oeste de Newbridge Road, y sigue hacia el sur hasta Wantagh Parkway; continúa hacia el sur por Wantagh Parkway hasta la intersección de Hempstead Turnpike. Limita al sur con Hempstead Turnpike desde la intersección de Wantagh Parkway hacia el oeste hasta la intersección de Bly Road. Limita al oeste con Bly Road, y continúa hacia el norte y el este hasta Ava Drive; sigue hacia el norte y el este hasta Erma Drive, hacia el sur hasta Nottingham Road, hacia el este (incluso los tribunales en Florence y Jane) hasta el lado este de Carman Avenue; continúa hacia el norte hasta la intersección de Hearth Lane.

Los votantes calificados del Distrito Electoral Escolar n.º 5 votarán en Meadowbrook Elementary School ubicada en 241 Old Westbury Road, en este Distrito.

REGISTRO PERSONAL DE VOTANTES

ASIMISMO, SE NOTIFICA que, para votar en la reunión y la elección del 20 de mayo de 2025, todos los votantes calificados del Distrito Escolar deben estar registrados en los libros de registro del Distrito Escolar o en la lista oficial de votantes registrados e inscritos para la ciudad de Hempstead, condado de Nassau, emitido por la Junta Electoral del condado de Nassau.

Las siguientes personas serán elegibles para votar: todas las personas que se hayan presentado personalmente para registrarse según la sección 2014 de la Ley

de Educación, y todas las personas que se hayan registrado previamente en virtud del presente para cualquier reunión o elección anual o extraordinaria y que hayan votado en cualquier reunión o elección anual o extraordinaria organizada o realizada durante los cuatro años calendario previos al 2025 (es decir, 20212024). Además, todas las personas que estén registradas para votar de conformidad con las disposiciones de la sección 352 de la Ley de Elecciones del estado de Nueva York serán elegibles para votar. El registro de votantes que no se hayan registrado previamente y que sean elegibles para votar se hará desde el 24 de abril hasta el 12 de mayo de 2025 inclusive, los días en los que la escuela esté abierta, entre las 9:00 a. m. y las 4:00 p. m. en la oficina de la secretaría del Distrito en el Salisbury School, 718 The Plain Road, Westbury, Nueva York. El registro vespertino se realizará el miércoles 7 de mayo de 2025, en el vestíbulo principal del Salisbury School entre las 7:00 p. m. y las 8:00 p. m. El registro de votantes que no se hayan registrado previamente y que sean elegibles para votar también se hará el 5 de mayo de 2025, entre las 8:30 a. m. y las 12:30 p. m. en cada uno de los cinco distritos electorales, en los lugares indicados anteriormente.

La Junta de Registro se reunirá para preparar el registro del Distrito Escolar durante los horarios y las fechas que se especifican arriba, y cualquier persona tendrá derecho a que su nombre se incluya en este registro, siempre y cuando, en esa reunión de la Junta de Registro, tenga derecho a votar, en ese momento o en lo sucesivo, en la reunión o elección escolar para la cual se prepara ese registro.

ASIMISMO, SE NOTIFICA que la Junta de Registro también se reunirá durante la elección anual distrital en cada sede escolar donde se realizará la votación con el fin de preparar un registro para las elecciones distritales que se hagan con posterioridad.

ASIMISMO, SE NOTIFICA que el registro de votantes preparado según lo mencionado

anteriormente se presentará en la oficina de la secretaría del Distrito una vez finalizado. Allí, estará disponible para la inspección de cualquier votante calificado del Distrito, entre las 9:00 a. m. y las 4:00 p. m., durante los cinco días anteriores a la fecha establecida para la elección, e incluso durante este día, a excepción del domingo, y también estará disponible para su inspección el sábado solo de 9:00 a. m. a 11:00 a. m., solo por cita. Llame al 516-4785735 para programar una cita.

ASIMISMO, SE NOTIFICA que la presentación oficial del presupuesto sobre el presupuesto escolar adoptado se realizará el 7 de mayo de 2025 a las 7:00 p. m. en el Salisbury School, 718 The Plain Road, Westbury, Nueva York. El 14 de mayo de 2025 a las 7:00 p. m., se realizará una audiencia pública de forma remota sobre el presupuesto propuesto para la biblioteca.

ASIMISMO, SE NOTIFICA que el presupuesto escolar propuesto para 2025/2026 se encuentra disponible para los residentes del Distrito, si lo solicitan, a partir del 6 de may de 2025 en la oficina de la secretaría del Distrito en el Salisbury School, 718 The Plain Road, Westbury, Nueva York. El presupuesto para la biblioteca propuesto para 2025/2026 se encuentra disponible para cualquier residente, si lo solicita, a partir del 6 de mayo de 2025 en el sitio web de la biblioteca.

ASIMISMO, SE NOTIFICA que cualquier residente del distrito puede conseguir las copias del presupuesto escolar propuesto para 2025/2026 y el presupuesto para la biblioteca propuesto para 2025/2026, si los solicita, en cada una de las oficinas de las sedes escolares del Distrito, en las oficinas del distrito escolar, mencionadas a continuación, entre las 9:00 a. m. y las 4:00 p. m., todos los días salvo los sábados, domingos o feriados, durante los 14 días previos a la elección y reunión anual. El presupuesto escolar propuesto para 2025/2026 también estará disponible en el sitio web del Distrito Escolar. Barnum Woods

Elementary School

500 May Lane

East Meadow, N.Y. 11554

Bowling Green

Elementary School

2340 Stewart Avenue Westbury, N.Y. 11590

McVey Elementary School

2201 Devon Street

East Meadow, N.Y. 11554

Meadowbrook

Elementary School

241 Old Westbury Road East Meadow, N.Y. 11554

Parkway Elementary School

465 Bellmore Road East Meadow, N.Y. 11554

Woodland Middle School

690 Wenwood Drive East Meadow, N.Y. 11554

W. Tresper Clarke Middle School

740 Edgewood Drive Westbury, N.Y. 11590

W. Tresper Clarke High School

740 Edgewood Drive Westbury, N.Y. 11590 East Meadow High School

101 Carman Avenue

East Meadow, N.Y. 11554

Salisbury School

718 The Plain Road Westbury, N.Y. 11590

ASIMISMO, SE NOTIFICA que, de acuerdo con la Sección 495 de la Ley de Impuestos sobre los Bienes Inmuebles, un informe de exención en el que se detallen las exenciones del impuesto sobre los bienes inmuebles estará disponible y se adjuntará a cualquier presupuesto provisional, preliminar o definitivo.

ASIMISMO, SE NOTIFICA que, previa solicitud, cualquier residente puede conseguir las copias del presupuesto escolar propuesto para 2025/2026 y el presupuesto para la biblioteca propuesto para 2025/2026 en una oficina de la biblioteca pública de East Meadow ubicada a 1886 Front St, East Meadow, NY,

todos los días, salvo los domingos o feriados entre las 10:30 a. m. y las 4:00 p. m., durante los 14 días previos a la elección y reunión anual. El presupuesto para la biblioteca propuesto para 2025/2026 también estará disponible en el sitio web de la biblioteca pública de East Meadow.

ASIMISMO, SE NOTIFICA que la solicitud para una boleta electoral por ausencia o por el correo temprano se puede realizar en la oficina de la secretaría del Distrito, Salisbury School, 718 The Plain Road, Westbury, Nueva York 11590, a partir de los treinta (30) días previos a la votación. La secretaría del Distrito debe recibir las solicitudes completas por lo menos siete (7) días antes de la elección si la boleta electoral debe enviarse al votante por correo y un (1) día antes de la elección si la boleta electoral debe entregarse en persona al votante o a la persona designada por este. Al recibir una solicitud oportuna para una boleta electoral por ausencia o por el correo temprano, la secretaría del Distrito enviará por correo esta boleta a la dirección indicada en la solicitud a más tardar seis (6) días antes de la votación. La secretaría del Distrito debe recibir las boletas electorales por ausencia o por el correo temprano antes de las 5:00 p. m. del 20 de mayo de 2025. Habrá una lista disponible de las personas para las que se emitieron las boletas electorales por ausencia o por el correo temprano en la oficina de la secretaría del Distrito durante los cinco días previos al día de la elección, excepto el domingo, entre las 9:00 a. m. y las 4:00 p. m., y los sábados entre las 9:00 a. m. y las 11:00 a. m. solo por cita.

Llame al 516-478-5735 para hacer una cita. ASIMISMO, SE NOTIFICA que los votantes militares que no estén registrados actualmente pueden solicitar registrarse como votantes calificados del Distrito Escolar. Los votantes militares que sean votantes calificados del Distrito Escolar podrán solicitar una boleta electoral militar. Los votantes militares pueden indicar su preferencia de recibir una solicitud de registro de votantes militares, una solicitud de boleta electoral militar o una boleta electoral militar por correo postal, fax o correo electrónico en dicho pedido de solicitud de registro, solicitud de boleta o boleta. Los formularios de registro de votantes militares y los formularios de solicitud de boleta electoral militar deben recibirse en la oficina de la secretaría del Distrito antes de las 5:00 p. m. del 24 de abril de 2025. No se escrutarán las boletas electorales militares a menos que se entreguen nuevamente por correo postal o en persona en la oficina de la secretaría del Distrito a más tardar a las 5:00 p. m. el día de la elección. ASIMISMO, SE NOTIFICA que cualquier propuesta o consulta a colocarse en las máquinas de votación se presentará por escrito mediante solicitud firmada por al menos quinientos (500) votantes calificados del Distrito en la oficina de la secretaría del Distrito a más tardar treinta (30) días antes de la reunión anual, con excepción de las solicitudes relacionadas con una propuesta que se deba incluir en el aviso de la reunión anual. Las solicitudes relacionadas con una propuesta que se debe incluir en el aviso de la reunión anual se deben entregar

sesenta (60) días antes de esta reunión. Los fideicomisarios o la Junta de Educación pueden rechazar cualquier propuesta si su propósito no se encuentra dentro de las competencias de los votantes, o si se requieren gastos para la propuesta, en caso de que esta no incluya la asignación específica necesaria.

REQUISITOS PARA VOTAR:

1. Ser ciudadano de los Estados Unidos.

2. Tener 18 años o más.

3. Ser residente del Distrito durante un período de 30 días o más inmediatamente antes de la elección en la que desea votar.

4. Estar registrado para votar.

ASIMISMO, SE NOTIFICA que esta Junta convocará a una reunión especial en un plazo de 24 horas después de la presentación ante la secretaría del Distrito de un informe por escrito de los resultados de la votación con el fin de analizar y tabular estos informes de los resultados de la votación y declarar dicho resultado. Por el presente, y de acuerdo con la sección 2019a, subdivisión 2b de la Ley de Educación, la Junta se designa a sí misma como un grupo de secretarios de mesa para emitir y escrutar los votos durante esta reunión especial de la Junta.

Fechado: 19 DE MARZO DE 2025 POR ORDEN DE LA JUNTA DE EDUCACIÓN DISTRITO ESCOLAR EAST MEADOW UNION FREE

CIUDAD DE HEMPSTEAD CONDADO DE NASSAU, NUEVA YORK

Judy E. Kandel Secretaria del Distrito 152654

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A. Officially, it matters. Correct descriptions are important for legal reasons, and there should be no confusion when it comes to legal descriptions, because it affects whether you will have a problem with having to file for something over again in the future, or even your taxes and insurance. For example, let’s say that your old survey describes the screen room as a patio. Some surveyors, many years ago, would refer to a screened room as a patio because that was a common sales term. Unfortunately, it implies a hard ground surface material and not an actual building, causing some homeowners to spend money reapplying for a permit for an already approved screened room because the records didn’t reflect what was actually there.

Building Department records are sometimes very sketchy, literally, since it used to be a much less formal process, and simple sketches were accepted. They probably thought they were doing homeowners a favor, but in recent years the whole informal attitude changed, and now, with the strictness of officials, there is little or no proof of the structure, and the descriptive word doesn’t match what’s there, even though that screened room may always have been there.

The same is possible for a “double dormer,” or just “dormer.” People often call to request to “dormer” their house. Architects, in the interest of understanding what the caller really wants, have to then ask whether the person wants an outcropping room, extending sideways through their roof, or a new second-floor addition with a higher, newly constructed structure. Even on something like a half second floor, often referred to as a Cape Cod, where only the center of the second floor is tall enough to stand in, the roof and walls are going to be removed and the “dormer” is really a second floor.

I interpret that the misnaming is really intended to make the whole scope of work sound simpler and, hence, cheaper to build. Of course, it isn’t cheaper to build, and the misleading oversimplification can set the homeowner up for disappointment or stress when the construction cost comes in for the seemingly simpler-sounding dormer.

So, for many reasons, the description matters. Insurance companies charge more when they finally realize what they’re insuring, as well. In modern times, you may be trapped into doing something all over again that was already approved. Decks aren’t porches (and cellars aren’t basements, either). Good luck!

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In a toxic D.C., bipartisanship is the only way forward

Acore part of my mission in Congress is bipartisanship. That may sound quaint these days, but I believe it’s what the people I represent — and, more broadly, the American people — want and deserve. It’s also getting harder to achieve. The current climate in Washington is more toxic and polarized than I’ve ever seen. As the Democratic co-chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus — which is evenly split between Democrats and Republicans — I work every day to find common ground. But I can’t pretend it’s easy in an environment where performative politics too often replaces problem-solving. Nonetheless, I’ll continue to work across party lines, and when I must, buck my own party, if it means getting things done for my constituents.

Why? Because those constituents tell me to. They’re sick and tired of the partisan bickering and political point-scoring. They want results, and that’s what I’m here to do. My philosophy is as it has always been: I’ll work with anyone, regardless of party, who’s serious about delivering for the American people, but

TI’ll never sacrifice my core values.

And let me be clear: there are some things this administration is doing that I cannot support, and that require relentless pushback.

The reckless budget cuts proposed by the Department of Government Efficiency are putting everything from national security to public health at risk. They not only haphazardly fired officials in charge of overseeing our nuclear stockpiles, but they’ve proposed slashing funding for pandemic preparedness, and fired those in charge of monitoring measles and avian flu, just as we face outbreaks of both. Once they realized this was a major mistake, they had a difficult time rehiring these people because they didn’t have their emails. This episode put on full display the cavalier approach DOGE is taking.

Even members of the far-right Freedom Caucus are saying enough is enough.

Problem Solvers colleague, Rep. Don Bacon, has called for targeted spending reforms, not reckless, across-the-board cuts. Another Republican, Mario DiazBalart, stresses congressional oversight, asserting that “Congress still has the power of the purse, and I zealously protect it.” And Republican Rep. Troy Balderson said President Trump’s executive orders are “getting out of control.”

Even members of the far-right Freedom Caucus are saying enough is enough. Rep. Gary Palmer argued that dismantling the Department of Education “can’t be done by executive order.” Sen. Lisa Murkowski put it simply: “That’s outside the bounds of the executive.”

back, standing up to DOGE on behalf of our 9/11 first responders.

When it comes to the state and local tax deduction, all four members of the Long Island delegation sit on the Congressional SALT Caucus, with Garbarino and I serving as co-chairs. And I commend my Republican colleagues for holding their party’s feet to the fire on this crucial Long Island issue; they have made clear to Speaker Mike Johnson that they won’t vote for legislation that doesn’t include raising the SALT deduction.

Internationally, Republican leaders like Sen. Roger Wicker and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick have shown courage by continuing to support Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression. They understand that peace doesn’t come from appeasement — it comes from strength and unity.

Opposing these efforts isn’t about partisanship; it’s about protecting our country. And many Republicans agree.

Two weeks ago, Republican Sen. Susan Collins joined Democratic Sen. Patty Murray in calling out the administration’s attempt to block emergency spending authorized by Congress. They reminded us all: “We must follow the law as it is written, not as we would like it to be.”

Across the Capitol, Republicans are standing up for our institutions. My

The national security implications are just as alarming. Reports that top officials were discussing war plans over Signal, a commercial messaging app, triggered bipartisan outrage. Republican Senators John Thune and Lindsey Graham both sounded the alarm about the serious risks posed by these lapses in judgment.

On Long Island, there have been positive examples of bipartisan cooperation to stand up for what’s right. When DOGE tried to make drastic cuts to the World Trade Center Health Program, Rep. Andrew Garbarino publicly pushed

These Republicans aren’t breaking with their party for political gain. They’re doing it because they know what’s at stake.

We need to encourage other Republicans to speak out — to find the courage to stand up not only for their constituents, but also for the country. We need more courage, more cooperation, more commitment to doing what’s right. I will keep fighting for results alongside my colleagues, no matter their party.

We have to work together. The stakes are too high for either party to go it alone.

Tom Suozzi represents the 3rd Congressional District.

No more excuses on county opioid funding

hree years into Nassau County Executive Bruce A. Blakeman’s administration, nearly $100 million in opioid settlement funds sits mostly untouched. Meanwhile, lives are being lost. The money is stuck in limbo — apparently with no urgency, no transparency and no plan emerging from his administration.

This is unacceptable. While families mourn and communities struggle, Blakeman’s inaction has left these critical funds collecting dust. It’s time for outside experts to step in and fix this mess.

The county’s opioid settlement funds came from lawsuits initiated by former County Executive Laura Curran against the distributors, manufacturers and retailers of addictive drugs. The funds were intended to support agencies providing treatment, prevention and recovery services on the front lines of this crisis. The most recent funds accepted by the County Legislature — $1.185 million in total — came

from settlements with ShopRite supermarkets, Target and Henry Schein Inc.

Yet out of nearly $100 million, only $4.8 million has been spent. That is a shocking failure.

While Blakeman and his administration claim that $36 million is “encumbered” to various agencies, that’s just a fancy way of saying they’ve promised the money but haven’t delivered it. Worse yet, they blame the service providers for failing to submit reimbursement claims quickly enough.

W e need pros to get these resources to where they belong.

That’s an insult to families fighting to save loved ones in the grip of addiction. “Help is on the way” means nothing when that help never arrives.

Under intense questioning by Legislator Scott Davis and me during the Feb. 24 meeting of the Legislature, Department of Human Services officials finally admitted that only $4.8 million has been spent to date — even though we had selected many of the intended recipients because of the county’s familiarity with their programs and trust in their leadership.

Their testimony and lack of results

to date made it clear that DHS doesn’t have the ability to handle the distribution of these funds under its current leadership — and that agencies entrusted with distributing these funds should at least be consulting with experts in the field as they formulate a strategy.

After years of delays, the Legislature in February created a method for providers to submit applications, and authorized a maximum allocation of $1 million to bring in an outside firm to fix this disaster.

I joined my fellow legislators in supporting the measure because we need professionals to cut through the confusion and get these lifesaving resources to where they belong. Had we known of the level of disorganization three years ago, we could have acted much sooner — but the administration would not admit that it was unable to adequately manage this critical task. Its failure to come clean — a recurring problem with the administration — will have real-life consequences.

I have attended far too many funerals for young overdose victims, and know the heartbreak this crisis inflicts. Addic-

tion doesn’t discriminate — it devastates families of all backgrounds, regardless of age, race, religion, sex or economic status. The catastrophic danger posed by the increasing presence of deadly fentanyl makes the stakes higher than ever before.

I regularly hear from families pleading for help, desperate for action. While we cannot undo the pain already inflicted, we can demand accountability. Nassau’s opioid settlement funds must reach those in need without further delay, and it is my hope that hiring a qualified firm will help us fulfill this mandate.

Every life we lose to opioid addiction is one too many. I will continue to meet my responsibility as a fiduciary of the county by continuing to closely monitor the distribution of these funds, which are intended to be used in an efficient, impactful and serious manner. In memory of everyone we have lost and with the hope of reaching our neighbors who are struggling right now, I am committed to doing everything in my power to ensure that we maximize the positive impact of these resources as expeditiously as possible.

Delia DeRiggi-Whitton represents Nassau County’s 11th Legislative District and is the Legislature’s Democratic minority leader.

ToM sUoZZi

Just

when you thought we were hopelessly divided . . .

At a time when extreme political partisanship threatens to divide our nation, it is reassuring to realize that there are those who can engage people across the political aisle without sacrificing or surrendering their principles. The classic example of working to find solutions to serious issues while disagreeing amicably was the storied relationship between President Ronald Reagan and House Speaker Tip O’Neill in the 1980s.

Reagan was the most staunchly conservative president of the past 80 years, and O’Neill as liberal as any speaker ever. I use the term “relationship” rather than “friendship” because people who worked for O’Neill didn’t share the genuinely warm feelings Reagan had for him. But that didn’t prevent these two larger-than-life, strong-minded leaders of their respective political parties from respecting the office the other held and accepting their joint responsibility to find ways to get things done. Probably the best-known example of this cooperation was their agreement on Social Security, the “third rail” of poli-

Itics, which saved the system and strengthened it for another 40 years.

Though not as cordial, President Bill Clinton and House Speaker Newt Gingrich found ways to work together in the mid-1990s, achieving successes for the country on such critical issues as welfare reform and the only balanced budget in a half-century. But that didn’t come easily. For the first two years of Gingrich’s speakership, after leading Republicans in 1994 to their first control of Congress in 40 years, he and Clinton were bitter, partisan rivals.

calmly about politics and serious issues, including the direction of the country.

A t King Umberto’s in Elmont, diners show a highprofile Democrat some love.

Then, when Clinton stalemated Gingrich by being re-elected in 1996, both realized that it made more governmental, and political, sense to find common ground. And they did.

It wasn’t anywhere near the same magnitude, but a similar bipartisan spirit prevailed last week, when my wife, Rosemary, and I had dinner with former Gov. David Paterson and his wife, Mary, at King Umberto’s in Elmont. Paterson is a lifelong Democrat whose father was a well-known state senator and Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor. Despite our party differences, David and I have been friends over the years, and can talk

At King Umberto’s the conversation and the food were great, and, adding to the bipartisanship, Nassau County Republican Chairman Joe Cairo came by to say hello and exchange words of friendship and respect with Paterson. So here you had Cairo, the most successful political chairman in the country, having led the Republicans to more victories throughout Nassau than at any time since 1971, and Paterson, a former Democratic governor, displaying friendship and respect to each other in full view of a restaurant full of diners.

As we got up to leave, I was stopped by a number of customers who said hello and wished me well. I appreciated their kind words but wasn’t that surprised — not because I’m universally acclaimed, but because they were Republicans, and I’d been in elective office for 45 years. In fact, all told me they had voted for President Trump. What did surprise me were the universal expressions of friendship and support for Paterson:

“We need more Democrats like you.”

“Is there any way you could run for mayor this year?”

“I always respected you as governor.”

That’s how it went, from table to table, as we made our way to the door. I realize that was only a snapshot in time, and not a scientific survey. But as a political practitioner for all these years, I was pleasantly surprised that in these extraordinarily partisan times, a lifelong Democrat would receive such a warm response from a strong Republican crowd.

It could well have been that Paterson reminded them of a time that was more civil, that he was never known to be an extreme partisan or maybe just that he seemed so comfortable spending an evening with Republicans. Whatever the reasons, it was a signal to me that there’s still a place for bipartisanship. Nassau is in many ways the ultimate politically competitive county. There are 100,000 more registered Democrats here, but Trump carried Nassau by 30,000 votes, and Republicans hold every county office and control all three towns and two cities. At the same time, Democrats hold the majority of the state legislative districts. But with all the political infighting and the close balance of power, Joe Cairo and I are proud to show our friendship with and respect for a prominent Democrat like Paterson. Could be a good model for the country.

Peter King is a former congressman, and a former chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Comments? pking@ liherald.com.

The Voice of America has been silenced

love old war movies. The battle scenes that have been colorized help bring old films back to life. I enjoy spy movies that feature brave private citizens using makeshift radio transmitters to relay the enemy’s battle plans. Many of the heroes are eventually captured and put to death, but their valor is praised and monuments are created in their memory. These old memories came alive when I learned that the U.S. Agency for Global Media was defunding Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty. These two agencies reach an average of 47.4 million people a week in locations around the world. Their staff of 1,700 has programs that communicate in 27 languages to 23 countries. Their voice is heard in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the Caucasus and the Middle East. They were founded in 1950, with the blessing of President Dwight Eisenhower. If you live in Levittown or Long Beach, your initial reaction might be, why should anyone care about broadcast-

ing to countries that are controlled by dictators? No one in our region wants us to be engaged in another war, but if we can spread truthful information around the globe, words can be more important than bullets. China, Russia and Iran spend billions of dollars telling people what a bad country America is.

We get our daily news from traditional media, podcasts and outlets like Facebook, X and Instagram. People who live in the Ukraine or Iran have found ways to make contact with Radio Free Europe, their only source of real news. Without it and Radio Liberty, they are inundated with propaganda telling them about the “Evil Americans” who will desert them if there is any conflict. Up to a month ago, the two networks were working 24 hours a day to tell the world about America’s technological successes and our many new business achievements. They were also working to help free independent journalists from countries controlled by our political enemies. In fact, it was the Trump administration that helped free the journalist Andrey Kuznechyk from captivity in Belarus, a victory for the West.

F or dictators, there’s great news about Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty.

Dictators around the world want to see Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty go out of business because they get in the way of their propaganda machines. In 1981, a terrorist bomb exploded at the Munich headquarters of the two groups, injuring six and causing over $1 million in damage to the building.

After that episode, many Europeans thought maybe it was time to shut down their operations. When it looked like the groups would cave in and shut down for good, the Russians ramped up their efforts to downgrade America, and support for the networks strengthened again.

During the failed Soviet overthrow of some of its neighbors, then President Boris Yeltsin decided that the two companies provided helpful information for his country, and they received official accreditation. For a short time the networks operated offices in Moscow. When it was suggested that the Moscow offices be closed, they relocated to Prague, Czechoslovakia, with the blessings of then President Vaclav Havel. History will show that changing events kept the two groups alive.

Following the violent breakup of Yugoslavia, RFE/RL began broadcasting in Serbian, Croatian and Bosnian so they could be of service to the people in that region. A bureau was established in North Macedonia, for Albanians and Macedonian, in 2001. Once again there was pressure for a shutdown, but a series of armed aggressions by Russia brought about an increase in the networks’ operations.

With this history, it’s hard to understand why our new Department of Government Efficiency, run by billionaire Elon Musk, decided that the funding for these nonprofits should be eliminated. Clearly Musk knows nothing about theses two operations, their successes and the role they have played in fighting for democracy around the globe.

The good news is that the Czech government has stepped forward to provide funding for them. This short-term solution will help send the message of the West to the East and Far East. But the failure of America to step up is a sign of an administration that is truly out of touch with reality.

Jerry Kremer was a state assemblyman for 23 years, and chaired the Assembly’s Ways and Means Committee for 12 years. Comments about this column? jkremer@ liherald.com.

Celebrating the vitality of our libraries

the 54 public libraries in Nassau County and the 53 in Suffolk have long been pillars of knowledge and civic engagement.

More than just buildings filled with books, they are hubs of learning and connection. As we celebrate the 67th annual National Library Week — April 6 to 10 — it is important to recognize the invaluable role libraries play in our society, providing resources, fostering literacy, and hosting a range of community events.

Each day of National Library Week highlights a different aspect of their significance, underscoring their multifaceted contributions to their towns. While reading remains at the core of their mission, 21st-century libraries offer a vast array of services that cater to diverse community needs. From digital literacy programs to job-search assistance, they help people of all ages navigate an increasingly digital world. Free access to computers, and with them internet and research databases, empowers those who might otherwise lack these essential tools.

Libraries also serve as community centers, offering classes in everything from new languages to financial literacy. Programs for children, such as story time and summer reading challenges, foster a love of books and learning from an early age.

Most libraries also offer services for senior citizens, including technology training and social gatherings that keep them from becoming isolated. The inclu-

sivity of those services ensures that everyone, regardless of age, education or socioeconomic status, has the opportunity to learn and grow.

In a time when access to information is more important than ever, libraries remain steadfast in their commitment to education and community. They provide safe spaces for learning as well as opportunities for career advancement. Every day next week emphasizes a different facet of their importance:

Monday, April 7: Right to Read Day. The freedom to read is fundamental to democracy, yet book bans and attempts at censorship continue to threaten access to diverse perspectives. Right to Read Day serves as a rallying call for readers and library lovers and advocates to defend intellectual freedom.

The American Library Association marks the occasion by releasing its annual State of America’s Libraries report. By promoting open access to information, libraries empower their patrons to explore new ideas and think critically about the world around them.

Tuesday, April 8: National Library Workers Day. Every library has a team of dedicated professionals who make its services possible. This day is an opportunity to recognize and appreciate the efforts of librarians, archivists and support staff, who not only manage collections but also offer patrons guidance, research assistance and technological support. Their work ensures that libraries remain welcoming spaces for learn-

ing and discovery.

Wednesday, April 9: National Library Outreach Day

Libraries are not confined to physical buildings; they extend their services to underserved populations through outreach programs. Whether it’s bookmobiles bringing literature to rural areas, mobile internet access for remote communities or library partnerships with schools and shelters, outreach initiatives ensure that no one is excluded from the benefits of library resources. National Library Outreach Day celebrates these efforts and the professionals dedicated to meeting patrons where they are.

Thursday, April 10: Take Action for Libraries Day

Libraries depend on advocacy and support to continue their mission. On this day, their patrons are encouraged to speak up for policies and funding that sustain library programs.

From securing government funding to rallying local support, Take Action day reminds us of the power of collective action in protecting and expanding library services. Whether creating petitions, attending town hall meetings or simply spreading awareness, everyone can play a role in strengthening libraries for future generations.

This year’s Library Week theme is “Drawn to the Library,” with the goal of bringing more people from the community into libraries. If you haven’t been to your library recently, stop by. You can check out a book — and so much more.

It’s up to us to minimize the damage to history

To the Editor:

Re last week’s editorial, “History should not be a political casualty”: History, as history teaches, is inseparable from politics, and thus constantly in opinions’ crossfire, sometimes becoming a specific issue. As history also reveals, efforts to suppress or over-write reality mostly fail.

The musketeers in the Trump administration who are assigned to sniff out any aromas of diversity, equity and inclusion are one line of attack in MAGA’s self-described “culture war.” The current social, economic, political and religious hierarchies are to be reconstructed, which requires construction sites to be created and cleared. That demolition is underway, and will damage the fabric of American history.

In war, as Winston Churchill noted, truth is often the first casualty, and that is what uprooting DEI is all about. But because

opinions Republicans, too, are backing clean energy

Long island stands at a crossroads: it can continue along its traditional energy path, or embrace a transformative opportunity to lead in clean energy innovation. With an increasing number of projects focused on clean hydrogen production, battery manufacturing and renewable energy, the region has the potential to create new economic opportunities while addressing environmental challenges.

These investments aren’t just about going green; they reflect core conservative values — economic growth, energy independence and responsible environmental stewardship.

Conservatives have long understood that economic growth and environmental protection can go hand in hand. Former Gov. George Pataki, a republican, supported the Clean air environmental Bond act, which funded environmental projects across new york, preserving natural resources while also creating jobs and fostering economic activity. it clearly demonstrated that environmental protection can boost the economy, a principle that resonates with conserva-

tives nationwide.

Today, this bipartisan approach continues on long island, where members of Congress are advancing policies that embrace market-driven, clean-energy solutions. republican rep. andrew Garbarino has been an advocate of preserving local natural treasures like the Great South Bay, while rep. nick lalota has championed sustainable transportation investments.

tlong island leaders are also making strides in promoting clean energy. The Suffolk County legislature’s presiding officer, Kevin McCaffrey, supports public-private partnerships in renewable-energy projects, which have brought significant investment to the county. Conservatives are increasingly advocating market-based solutions to the energy transition.

pro-business policies can align with environmental goals.

hey understand that growth and environmental protection can go hand in hand.

The economic benefits of clean energy investments extend beyond the environmental sector. Projects like the South Fork Wind Farm, expected to generate thousands of jobs, will help boost long island’s economy. and the growing battery-manufacturing industry presents an opportunity to create skilled labor jobs while improving grid reliability. These investments in clean-energy solutions will not only boost employment, but also help reduce energy costs, making energy more affordable while promoting regional energy independence.

should encourage competition and innovation, empowering the private sector to lead. Federal and state policies should be designed to incentivize the development of new technologies without stifling businesses with unnecessary red tape. long island should focus on integrating clean energy with traditional energy sources to create a more resilient, diverse energy grid.

investment in grid modernization and battery storage will be essential to ensuring that long islanders continue to enjoy stable, affordable power. Combining renewable energy with traditional energy sources will provide the flexibility needed to meet energy demand.

Garbarino and 21 fellow republican lawmakers have led an effort to promote clean-energy technologies such as hydrogen production, nuclear energy and carbon capture, which are expected to generate jobs, reduce emissions and contribute to energy independence — all without the need for top-down mandates that could stifle innovation and economic growth. Garbarino and his colleagues are showing that pro-growth,

Letters

“casualty” does not always mean “fatality,” it is up to us to minimize the damage, end the assault and repair the fabric. That task is also underway. Join in.

Brian Kelly Rockville Centre

Trump’s EPA can’t ignore reality of greenhouse gases

To the editor:

i am a concerned citizen calling for urgent action regarding President Trump’s stance on global warming and the environment. The administration’s proposal to reconsider the environmental Protection agency’s endangerment finding is reckless, anti-science, and a huge step backward for climate action. This decision isn’t just about politics — it puts our health, environment and future on the line.

The endangerment finding, established in 2009, is based on clear scientific evidence that greenhouse gases harm public health and the planet. it’s been the legal backbone for policies that reduce emissions from cars, power plants and industry. Without it, we lose a key tool for fighting climate change — and that’s exactly what polluters want. The reality is, climate change isn’t

some distant threat. it’s here. We’re seeing record-breaking heat, wildfires, floods and hurricanes that devastate communities. Our state is not immune to these catastrophes, and the administration’s actions would reverse progress. Gutting this policy ignores science and common sense at a time when we need stronger action, not more rollbacks.

This also sends a terrible message to the rest of the world. While other countries are working toward clean energy solutions, the U.S. risks becoming a climate laggard instead of a leader.

We can’t let this happen. We need to push back against this dangerous move and demand real climate solutions. The health of our planet — and future generations — depends on it. The e Pa should scrap its plan to undo this regulation and maintain the rules that are protecting all of us, and the air and water we rely on.

Kaili DeSanTiS Oyster Bay

‘We must make our voices heard’ on Social Security

To the editor:

Social Security isn’t a handout — it’s a promise that millions of us older

environmental improvements are another key benefit of investing in clean energy. long island has long struggled with the consequences of poor environmental practices, from air pollution to coastal erosion exacerbated by climate change. By embracing clean, americanmade energy, we can improve air quality, protect public health and preserve our natural landscapes — while maintaining a robust economy.

Conservatives have long supported market-driven incentives over burdensome regulations. rather than imposing top-down mandates, energy policies

republicans across the country have a valuable opportunity to embrace the clean-energy future that is emerging on long island. By supporting investments in clean energy, conservatives can show that their approach to energy policy works: it creates jobs, drives economic growth and enhances environmental protection. now is the time for republicans to champion a forward-thinking energy strategy that strengthens the economy, supports american innovation and secures a healthier, more sustainable future for all.

Brett Patrick is a branch leader of the American Conservation Coalition and a political science student at Binghamton University, where he is a member of the onors program.

a mericans have paid into with every paycheck. This administration is dismantling an essential program, closing offices, cutting hotlines, and spreading misinformation to justify these attacks. We elders deserve dignity, not broken promises.

We must stand together and make our voices heard. We cannot allow our american way of life to be decimated, and all the promises we believed in to be broken.

Framework by Tim Baker

Two members of the Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve welcoming committee — Merrick

DOnna PaOlinO Bellmore

Brett patriCk

Mount Sinai South Nassau is Improving Health Care on the South Shore

The new Fennessy Family Emergency Department at Mount Sinai South Nassau doubles the size of our previous emergency department, o ering 54 private exam rooms with clear lines of sight for physicians, nurses, and support sta . Our new emergency department also o ers a separate triage area, dedicated areas for children and behavioral health patients, and has been designed to reduce wait times and improve patient outcomes.

The Fennessy Family Emergency Department is located within the new Feil Family Pavilion, opening later this year, which will have 40 new critical care suites and nine new operating rooms, designed to support the most complex surgeries on the South Shore.

To learn more visit www.mountsinai.org/feilpavilion