Baldwin Herald 09-19-2024

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A Baldwin win on the field and off

The Baldwin High School football team took home a win at homecoming. Additionally, school officials cut the ribbon to a brand new athletic complex.

Stories, additional photos, pages 6 and 10.

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Pitching for future of the Kellogg House

What future do you envision for the historic Kellogg House?

The Baldwin Civic Association, in collaboration with the Baldwin Historical Society, is asking community members to share their ideas on how to use the century-old landmark at 960 Merrick Road with Nassau County, which owns the home.

Built in 1899 and 1900, the Kellogg House exemplifies Queen Anne-style architecture in Baldwin.

It was once home to Civil War veteran George Sumner Kellogg, who acquired the lot and hired architect Walter I. Halliday to design the home as Baldwin’s first residential building surge began. Kellogg died in July 1918, and the house became an antique shop in the 1920s.

Several families owned the home until 1982, when the county purchased it for $1 million in 2011. County officials considered using the site to expand the nearby 1st Police Precinct, but community members opposed the idea, citing the home’s historical significance. In 2017 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, a designation granted

by then Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Despite the recognition it received from the state, however, the home has remained untouched for years, and has become something of an eyesore.

A Google survey created by Sara Hill, a volunteer at the civic association, asks participants for their thoughts on the future of the home. Suggestions include a multipurpose community center, a musical performance space, rentable offices, a gallery for local artists, a café or restaurant, or a youth and teen center.

“We’ve been getting some amazing ideas from the community,” Hill said. “We really want to bring the Baldwin community together.”

As of press time, there had been more than 80 responses, which will be submitted to Nassau County Legislator Debra Mulé.

The house’s wrap-around porch hosted a performance by 3 Old Dogs & A Pub at last month’s Baldwin Porchfest. Marguerite Keller, vice president of the civic association, who launched the Porchfest, told the Herald that it was important to highlight the

Continued on page 7

Tim Baker/Herald photos
Hablamos Español

Van Roten makes his Big Blue debut

Greg Van Roten returned to the Meadowlands on Saturday to play in the season opener for the New York Giants. The 10-year veteran guard joined Big Blue in the offseason after signing a one-year contract on July 31.

Van Roten, 34, found a passion for playing football at an early age. He started at age 11 playing youth football for the Baldwin Bombers, before eventually moving to Rockville Centre. There, he played quarterback for the South Side Middle School football team for two years, with aspirations to continue the position in high school. He attended Chaminade High School in Mineola from 2005 to 2008, earning All-State left tackle and All-Catholic High School Football League honors. In his senior year, he was captain of the team, after which he went on to play for the Penn Quakers at the University of Pennslyvania in Philadelphia.

In college, he studied at the Wharton School of Business, where he received a Bachelor’s in Economics and Marketing. He was also recognized as an Ivy League All-Conference tackle throughout all four years of his education.

The six-foot-three 305-pound guard signed a rookie deal with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2012. Van Roten would play only 10 games during his two years in Green Bay, before joining the Seattle Seahawks in 2014. After the team released him later that year, he traveled north of the border to play for the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League. In 2017, he signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars, before finding real opportunity with the Carolina Panthers in 2017.

During his first season with Carolina, he played only

10 games, primarily playing on special teams, and served as a backup center and guard. After signing a two-year extension with the Panthers in 2018, he started in all 16 games at left guard. He was the only Panthers player to play every offensive snap that year. The following season, he would play the first 11 games before a toe injury sent him to injured reserve with only five games remaining til the postseason.

Growing up on Long Island, Van Roten was a lifelong fan of the New York Jets, and after six years in the National Football League, his passion for the game had finally come full circle. In 2020, he signed a three-year contract with Gang Green. He played at right guard through the first 12 games of the season before he was placed on injured reserve. After two years with the Jets, he was released from his contract.

The Buffalo Bills picked up Van Roten during the offseason in 2022, where for the second time in his career would make two postseason game appearances. He was picked up by the Las Vegas Raiders in 2023, where he had a breakout season as the starting right guard for the team. He played in all 17 games with the Raiders, during which he allowed only five sacks, with zero penalties, according to Pro Football Focus. PFF also rated him seventh overall among all guards last season.

The New York Giants kicked off the 2024 season at MetLife Stadium on Saturday with its season opener against the Minnesota Vikings. The first game was a major flop for Big Blue, as they folded under the Vikings offense to lose 28-6. During the game, quarterback Daniel Jones threw a pair of interceptions, one of which resulted in a touchdown. He went 22-for-42 attempts with no touchdowns.

Even though the Giants looked to be having some trouble right out the gate, there are still 16 more weeks of football remaining until the playoffs.

Back to School

Courtesy New York Football Giants Greg Van Roten of Rockville Centre readies for the season opener with the New York Giants.

It’s a yearly traditional, the Cardboard Boat Race

The annual Cardboard Boat Race in Milburn Creek is a tradition that consistently attracts enthusiastic community participation. The event on Sept. 8th was no exception, as it brought together locals to compete and enjoy a day of fun on the water.

Participants in the race are tasked with creating and customizing their own boats using only cardboard, duct tape, and glue. These unique, hand-crafted vessels are tested for their design and durability as they navigate Milburn Creek, adding an extra layer of excitement and creativity to the event.

Maureen Lennon/Herald photos
Joseph Maray, Brian Ankner, Sean Sabel, business owner of The Irish Pub, and Oscar Rivera.
Maray, Ankner, Sabel and Rivera on their boat navigating the water.
The Twisted Tea crew consisted of Lillian Paley, Paige Siegler, Haile Siegler, and CJ Siegler.
James Battaglia and Jaymian Marin, both 13, were the only boaters in the kid’s section.

I

Hempstead man sues county police over incident in Baldwin

Tyrone Phifer of Hempstead is suing the Nassau County Police Department and Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder, claiming cops wrongfully arrested him days before Christmas in 2021.

According to a video shown at a press conference on Sept. 12 at civil rights lawyer Frederick Brewington’s office, police approached Phifer after he left his foot doctor’s office in Baldwin, claiming he matched the description of a man they were looking for named Leroy.

Phifer insisted to police that they had the wrong person and was eventually restrained, tackled, and handcuffed after Brewington said one police officer distracted him. At the same time, the other took his belongings, which eventually led to him being pulled down.

“This is not a joke; this is serious, and this happens over and over again,” Brewington said.

Phifer was charged with obstructing governmental administration, a charge he was acquitted. Diane Clarke of the Legal Aid Society is representing him.

“I was abused and accused of something that I didn’t do,” Phifer said. “I feared for my life. I didn’t reach in my

Planning For and Executing

Inheritances (Part Two)

Early on, we learned the estate planning phrase “There’s nothing so unequal as the equal treatment of unequals.” Who has children that are all the same?

Some children have received signifcant help from parents during their lifetimes while others haven’t. Many parents choose the “forgiveness provision” to address this situation at death, to either “equalize” any gifts made to some children during lifetime with those who did not or, in the alternative, to “forgive” any loans made to children and then make a gift in like amount to each of the other children by inheritance, before the estate is divvied up in equal shares. Lifetime gifts may also be ignored. Next up is the problem of children who are partially or wholly estranged. Many clients wish to leave them a token amount but there are pitfalls to consider. One who is left considerably less than their siblings will often be angry and upset. They may demand that their siblings disclose what they received and even to pony up their equal share. Not only that, but the burden of telling that estranged child they are getting

less and delivering the paltry amount is left to the children who you wish to favor!

In our view, it is sometimes better to leave an estranged child out altogether than to stir up all the issues surrounding an inheritance much smaller than equal.

There are many valid reasons, however, to treat children differently. Some may have alcohol or substance abuse issues, learning disabilities or special needs, they may be immature and irresponsible, poor at handling money or a “soft touch” and, fnally, they may have a spouse that dominates them and you do not want to see that controlling spouse get your money.

Sometimes parents leave more to the “needy” child, the old adage being that “the tongue always turns to the aching tooth”. If so, other children’s feelings may need to be addressed. A letter to be opened after your death, explaining what you did and why, may go a long way towards soothing hurt feelings and avoiding misunderstandings, what we term the “emotional legacy”.

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pocket because it was up under my jacket. And when he approached me, he kept calling me Leroy, and he had his hand on his gun.”

Phifer said police refused to take him to the police precinct and instead took him to Nassau County Medical Center.

“What’s important for you to know is that within 44 seconds of this video, they knew that he was not the person they were looking for,” Brewington said.

Nassau County Police did not comment.

Last month, a study from U.S. News and World Report ranked Nassau County as the safest county in the nation.

“When we talk about Nassau County being the safest county in the nation, who is it safe for?” Brewington said. “It’s not safe for individuals that look like Mr. Phifer.”

“I was unaware of the alleged incident that took place while my predecessor was county executive,” County Executive Bruce Blakeman wrote in a statement to the Herald. “My administration and police officers make determinations based on facts and evidence without any regard for race, religion, ethnicity or lifestyle.”

News briefs

Brian Curran awards Baldwin school district and library funding

Assemblyman Brian Curran, who represents Baldwin, has awarded the Baldwin Public Library $7,500 in bullet aid, a form of targeted financial support for schools and libraries.

“I will always support our local libraries, as they are vital centers of learning and imagination for people of all ages,” he wrote in a news release. “I am thrilled to provide this funding to

the Baldwin Library and look forward to seeing how it enhances the experience for the Baldwin community.”

In addition, Curran awarded the Baldwin school district with $20,000.

“I know it will be put to good use for the students of Baldwin and I can’t wait to come back and see how they have used this money to improve the experiences for everyone,” he said.

Baldwin native transforms neighborhood roads

Jonathan Prevost, a North Baldwin native, has been working tirelessly over the past four years to fix neighborhood streets. He has completed four projects during this time across Baldwin, Uniondale and Hempstead.

He has worked with the Hempstead village , the Town of Hempstead, and Nassau County officials to address road issues. He has focused on the streets that he saw were the most ignored and neglected near where he lives, starting with the repaving of Coes Neck Road, from Milburn Avenue to Grand Avenue, in Baldwin. He also got Harold Avenue in Hempstead repaved.

Prevost then contacted the Baldwin Oaks Civic Association, which helped him improve school zones and traffic safety for drivers and pedestrians.

“I linked up with the Baldwin Oaks Civic Association, and we started doing community projects around school safety,” he said.

He focused on Uniondale’s Lawrence Road Middle School specifically because he noticed it was lacking important safety measures, and he worked with the association and the Town to get that rectified.

“There was a crosswalk and a stop sign, but nothing that said ‘20 miles per hour school zone’ painted on the actual street itself,” he said.

He has spent the past two years focusing on Uniondale, where he advocated for the repaving of Newport Road and Argyle Avenue.

Prevost graduated from Baruch College’s School of Public Affairs in 2016 with a master’s degree in public administration with the goal of going into policy work to make these kinds of changes, and it was during his time in graduate school that he really became motivated to look at his surrounding neighborhoods and find ways to improve them.

“I wanted to go into policy work to implement better change in the community,” he said.

He had open-heart surgery in 2020, which ignited his desire to become involved and motivated him to get started.

“I said to myself, after I got out of the hospital and recovered, (that) I really want to focus on giving back to my community,” he said.

After graduating, Prevost worked as the chief of staff for Nassau County Legislator Debra Mulè for two years.

“I was lucky enough to work in the Nassau County Legislature for a little bit, so I got that firsthand knowledge of how things are done on both sides,” he said. “I was able to use that in my personal life to advocate for the community.”

Because of Prevost’s advocacy and work, the Town of Hempstead recognized him in 2023 during Black History Month, where he received the Community Service Award. He was also featured in The City University of New York’s first ever “50 under 50” list of notable alumni for the work he has done in his community.

To become involved with Prevost’s civicminded efforts, email him at jdprevost1@gmail. com and to learn more his website is JohnPrevost.com.

Courtesy Jonathan Prevost Jonathan Prevost has spent the past four years working on improving the streets of Baldwin, Hempstead and Uniondale.
BALDWIN HERALD — September 19, 2024

LUKE VILLELLA

Oceanside Senior Football

A TWO-TIME ALL-COUNTY selection in baseball, Villella is looking to accomplish the same accolades this football season while leading the Sailors to a deep playoff run in Nasssau Conference I. He set the tone on opening night Sept. 6, rushing for a pair of touchdowns and throwing for a score in Oceanside’s 42-39 home victory over defending county and Long Island champion Massapequa. He threw for 189 yards, going 8-for-13 through the air.

GAMES TO WATCH

Thursday, Sept. 19

Girls Soccer: Lynbrook at Wantagh 5 p.m.

Girls Soccer: Oceanside at Garden City 5 p.m.

Boys Soccer: V.S. South at Seaford 6:30 p.m.

Girls Volleyball: Long Beach at Mepham 6:45 p.m.

Girls Volleyball: South Side at Massapequa 6:45 p.m.

Girls Volleyball: Farmingdale at East Meadow 6:45 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 20

Girls Soccer: Freeport at Uniondale 4:30 p.m.

Boys Soccer: East Meadow at V.S. Central 5 p.m.

Boys Soccer: Carey at Calhoun 5 p.m.

Boys Soccer: Kennedy at Elmont 5 p.m.

Football: Elmont at South Side 6 p.m.

Football: Wantagh at Locust Valley 6 p.m.

Football: Plainview at East Meadow 6:30 p.m.

Football: Oceanside at Syosset 6:30 p.m.

Football: New Hyde Park at MacArthur 7 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 21

Football: Carey at Long Beach 11 a.m.

Football: Plainedge at West Hempstead 1 p.m.

Football: V.S. South at North Shore 2 p.m.

Football: East Rockaway at Lawrence 2 p.m.

Football: Clarke at Hewlett 3 p.m.

Football: Freeport at V.S. Central 3 p.m.

Nominate a “Spotlight Athlete”

High School athletes to be featured on the Herald sports page must compete in a fall sport and have earned an AllConference award or higher last season. Please send the following information: Name, School, Grade, Sport and accomplishments to Sports@liherald.com.

Baldwin tops Sewanhaka on new turf

Micah Ellerbe Jr. was so amped for Baldwin’s first football game on its brand new turf field last Saturday, the senior defensive end/offensive tackle said he didn’t relax until the Bruins built a twoscore lead in the third quarter against visiting Sewanhaka.

“I was so nervous because this game was so important to us,” he said. “My stomach was turning before kickoff and my nerves didn’t go away until the second half. There was so much at stake with the new field, new coaching staff and Homecoming.”

Ellerbe Jr. and the Bruins delivered for new head coach Mike Robinson, a 1987 Baldwin graduate, holding off the newly named Ravens, 19-14, before a standingroom-only crowd in the Nassau Conference II opener for both teams.

“This was big for our program and our entire community,” Robinson said. “It was just an incredible atmosphere and what we were hoping for today. Our defense was lights-out and we had three solid scoring drives. We still have some things to clean up, but this is the start we were looking for.”

Seniors Jelani Williams, Prosper Prawl and Amir Hanson had touchdowns for Baldwin, which finished 1-7 in Conference I a year ago. Junior Michael Jordan had a passing score and an interception for a defense that thwarted Sewanhaka on several trips inside the red zone.

“We did some good things we can take into next week,” Sewanhaka head coach George Kasimatis said. “Our best drive of the day came late in the game and we just ran out of time. We had some other drives we couldn’t finish. We made some mistakes we need to correct, but we’ve got the guys who can correct them.”

The Bruins led 13-7 at halftime and opened the third quarter with a long 62-yard scoring drive, highlighted by Williams. He had a 6-yard run off a direct snap on fourth down from around midfield to keep the drive alive and later added an 18-yard reception over the middle on a dart from senior quarterback Vaughdrea John-

Baldwin’s Jelani Williams, center, celebrated his first-quarter touchdown with Micah Ellerbe Jr., and Amir Hanson in Saturday’s win over Sewanhaka.

son. Two plays later, Hanson scored from 2 yards out to make it 19-7. The drive consumed 7:50.

The score remained that way until the Ravens orchestrated a 70-yard scoring drive late in the fourth quarter, with senior quarterback Anthony Caliendo capping it with a 1-yard touchdown run. He connected with seniors Braylon Mettalus, Joe Gallardo and Joshua Hicks through the air to set up the score, which came with 2:18 remaining.

Baldwin returned the ensuing kickoff to its own 40 and needed just one first down to seal the outcome. The O-line consisting

of Matthew Feeney, Jayden Young, Andrew Parchment, Derek Coolbaugh, Ryan Healey and Ellerbe Jr. didn’t allow a sack.

Williams opened the scoring midway through the first quarter on a 27-yard touchdown run, set up by Prawl’s 40-yard catch. Sewanhaka answered with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Caliendo to senior Khai Harris and it was 7-7 after one. Prawl’s 5-yard touchdown grab from Jordan put the Bruins ahead for good.

“We showed up,” Ellerbe Jr. said. “We really wanted this win. We didn’t want to let the school and our fans down.”

Eric Dunetz/Herald

Roughly 80 responses from community

house during the event. She recalled visiting when she was young, when the house was a flea market, with her mother.

“I remember it being very beautiful inside,” she said. “A lot of woodwork.”

Hill highlighted the possibility of converting the home into a community or recreational center, given that the nearest community center is in Freeport.

“Although the home is certainly not

big enough for athletic activities, we could host many arts and cultural events — who knows? The sky is the limit,” she said. “That’s why the survey is so important.”

Kimberly Malone, the civic association’s president, reiterated that while they are collecting suggestions, the final decision is the county’s to make.

According to the county’s capital plan, $500,000 was allocated for the home’s upkeep, for the 2023 fiscal year.

A spokesman for the Nassau County Legislative Office said that $1 million is proposed for fiscal year 2025 following the failure to adopt a capital plan for the current year.

The home’s exterior was renovated in July 2023 to restore its original green and white color scheme, after a century of color changes that had included blue and yellow, and later red and purple.

“Having advocated to secure the capital resources for exterior renovations to the Kellogg House,” Mulé wrote in a statement to the Herald, “I fully support the creation of a usable public space that meets the public’s needs and preserves this historic treasure.

“Ultimately, the decision

the Baldwin Civic association and Baldwin

Society are

community members about the future of the Kellogg House. residents’ suggestions will be collected and shared with nassau County, which own the building.

about future uses is not mine to make, and the public’s voice must be heard and incorporated,” she added. “I am working to bring the County’s Office of Real Estate, Planning and Development to a future meeting of the Baldwin Civic Association in the interest of ensuring the community has a comprehensive

understanding of the parameters governing how the Kellogg House can be used moving forward.”

The Google form can be found on the civic association’s Facebook page, Facebook.com/BaldwinCivicAssoc.

Tim Baker/Herald photos
Historical
seeking input from
the Baldwin landmark was added to the national registry of Historical places in 2017 by then gov. andrew Cuomo.
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Stony Brook hockey set to begin new era

Starting with the 2025-26 season, the Stony Brook hockey team will begin a new chapter of its story that may aid in expanding its recruiting reach across Nassau County.

Last month, the Seawolves announced that this upcoming season would be the team’s 14th and final year in the Eastern States Collegiate Hockey League. Beginning with the 2025-26 campaign, Stony Brook is set to join a brand-new conference — the Atlantic Coast Conference Hockey League.

The ACCHL will have North and South divisions. Stony Brook, Pittsburgh, Delaware, Syracuse and Oswego State in the North. The South will consist of Alabama, Louisville, North Carolina State and the University of North Carolina.

Due to the conference relocation, Stony Brook players from Nassau County are hoping that more players from their area will be inclined to join the program. Currently, there are just three Nassau County residents playing on the team.

After initially failing to get into the university, the Massapequa native attended Farmingdale State for a year to “take care of business on and off the ice” before transferring to Stony Brook prior to last season.

As someone who identified Stony Brook as the total package for both academics and athletics, Valenti hopes that joining the ACCHL can be a needle mover for other Nassau County residents.

“After playing junior hockey in Connecticut for two years, I realized that I had everything that I needed regarding academics and hockey at home,” Valenti said. The new conference, he added, “is definitely exciting . . . and people need to realize it’s a (State University of New York) school. We’re going to be in a very competitive league and you get what you pay for. Stony Brook is a very good school for everything, and hockey is just the icing on the cake.”

Forward Jake Gusavitch, a Massapequa native and first-year student, understands his peers’ reluctance to attend Stony Brook but hopes the name notoriety of the other schools in the conference, along with the opportunities they can bring, can help change that.

“If you just see the logo of Alabama or UNC, it acts as an attractor for players in Nassau County and really everywhere,” Gusavitch said. “We have schools like Syracuse and Delaware

joining us along with the schools down south, so I think that’s a great opportunity to get some looks from scouts who are coming for the bigger schools. All in all, there are a lot of positives.”

Bethpage native and forward Lucas Puccia echoed that sentiment.

“There’s a lot of talent down there in the south,” the sophomore student said. “I think playing those teams will be pretty cool and competitive. Stony Brook is one of the top programs and a really good option for anyone on Long Island.”

Gusavitch also emphasized the bonuses of a limited traveling schedule, as teams in the North will only compete against the South’s teams during the playoffs. Due to Stony Brook’s hyperfocus on academics, he raised the point that less travel on the weekends allows for more time to get schoolwork done, which can be enticing for new recruits who live farther away in Nassau County.

In defenseman Teddy Valenti’s case, Stony Brook was always at the top of his college wish list despite living just under an hour away from the school.

While the Seawolves are guaranteed to finish their tenure in the ESCHL with the most championship wins (five) and regular-season championships (four), the last two seasons have not been kind to them. They have posted a combined 25-28-8 record, missing the American Collegiate Hockey Association National Tournament during each campaign.

Choosing to concentrate on the new season, the Seawolves are putting the upcoming league change on the backburner, as they hope to capture their sixth ESCHL championship and their first national title.

“The mission is always the same,” Valenti said. “We had a very unsuccessful year last year. This year we’re playing in the same conference, and hopefully we can prove ourselves as a program. Then next year, when we move on to a different conference, those teams should fear us.”

Stony Brook will open its ESCHL farewell tour at The Rinx, where it will face off against the New York University Violets, on Oct. 4.

Anthony DiCocco is a reporter with the SBU Media Group, part of Stony Brook University’s School of Communication and Journalism’s Working Newsroom program for students and local media.

Courtesy Angelina Livigni
Stony Brook efenseman Teddy Valenti, right, covering Drexel forward Jimmy Jacobs.

Remembering all those who lost their lives

Community members gathered with local officials on the 23rd anniversary of Sept. 11 Wednesday. The beach at Town Park in Lido Beach was packed, and speakers, songs and moments of silence all added to the weight of the day.

Flags and flowers were placed across the sand and by the memorial, which states the names of those we’ve lost. People came to remember not only their loved ones, but also everyone who gave their lives. The memorial also features a 30-foot steel beam

from the towers.

Supervisor Don Clavin joined many from around the county; several fire departments, and many speakers, including Rev. Michael Duffy, of Rockville Centre, Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetzky, of Yeshiva of South Shore, and Rev. Dr. Eric Mallette, of Freeport. Dawn Kirchner, who lost her husband, Richard, in the attacks, also spoke.

Flags were proudly flown, filling the sky with red, white and blue. It may be 23 years since, but the impact will always be felt the same.

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People gathered on the beach, showing their respect for those who gave their lives on Sept. 11, including Diane Mistretta of Baldwin.
Tim Baker/Herald photos Supervisor Don Clavin, county officials, and hundreds of community members came out to ensure we never forget.
BALDWIN HERALD — September 19, 2024

Baldwin welcomes new athletic complex at homecoming

Baldwin High School celebrated its homecoming on Sept. 14 while unveiling a new era for its athletic programs with the grand opening of a state-of-the-art athletic complex.

The upgraded facility enhances the school’s athletic capabilities, featuring modern improvements designed to elevate both performance and experience. The track and field area has been transformed with new artificial turf, while guests can enjoy upgraded bleachers and a state-of-the-art scoreboard that keeps them engaged and informed. The football field displays the Bruins mascot at the 50-yard line.

In the day’s game, Baldwin High School emerged victorious, defeating Sewanhaka High School 19-14.

Tim Baker/Herald photos
Baldwin Bruins came out on top against Sewanhaka High School 19-14.
The Baldwin High School cheerleaders rallied support for the Bruins.
Lenox Elementary School, one of the seven schools in the district, brought its own cheerleaders to support the high school football team.
Cutting the ribbon on a new era: Baldwin school district officials and community members celebrate the grand opening of the state-of-the-art athletic complex on Sept. 14.

STEPPING OUT

a vision of the power of the YONIA FAIN’S JOURNEY —

HUMAN SPIRIT

An artist’s life can take many twists and turns. Certainly that is case of Yonia Fain. He reinvented himself repeatedly, yet his dedication to art remained unwavering throughout his 100 years.

Hofstra University Museum of Art welcomes fall with a look at the esteemed artist, poet, author and educator, through its new exhibit, “Yonia Fain (1913-2013): Tracing History.”

The museum’s assemblage of Fain’s art and personal ephemera offers a comprehensive view of his life and global influence, on view through Dec. 16. Fain was a member of Hofstra’s Fine Arts, Design and Art History faculty from 1971 until his retirement in 1985; he was named faculty emeritus on his 100th birthday.

Around 50 of his works — he bequeathed his archive to the museum — are on display, curated by Assistant Director of Exhibitions and Collections Kristen Dorata, including paintings, drawings, sketchbooks, and poetry.

• Now through Dec. 16

• All programs require advance registration; call (516) 463-5672 or visit events.hofstra.edu

to RSVP

• Emily Lowe Gallery, behind Emily Lowe Hall, Hofstra University’s South Campus, Hempstead

“This exhibition is focusing on his journey, offering a vision of the human spirit,” says Museum Director Sasha Giordano. “We wanted to emphasize the aspect of being a refugee, being a displaced person having to move from place to place. The works of art that were chosen are from the many different places he traveled.”

Born in Ukraine in 1913, Fain fled Bolshevik Russia with his family to Warsaw, Poland. After the Nazi invasion in 1939, he and his first wife fled on foot to Vladivostok, Russia. There he was conscripted into the Russian army as an artist.

Refusing to create propaganda art as demanded by the Nazis and Russian authorities, Fain, with his wife, obtained falsified documents, traveling from Siberia to Japan, eventually landing in the Shanghai Ghetto for the remainder of World War II.

Fain continued to use art as a form of expression, making a living painting portraits of Japanese soldiers and their families, also writing poetry.

“Firsthand experience is key to understanding Yonia Fain’s prolific artistic oeuvre, from his early drawings in prewar Warsaw to the many paintings in New York after 1953,” Jan Burzlaff, postdoctoral associate in Holocaust Studies at Cornell University, writes in the exhibit catalogue.

She continues: “To paint is to share the experience,” Fain reflected in a testimony given to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in June 1999. His work seeks to lend voice to all Jews who experienced Nazi rule, the vast majority of whom did not leave a trace. … The exhibition allows for precisely such a window into historical experience. In the process, because his creations do not fit neatly into the two dominant categories of abstract or realist representations, they also invite a much-needed reevaluation of Holocaust and postwar art.”

After the war ended, Fain set his sights on mural painting in Mexico, becoming friendly with fellow artists Diego Rivera and Rufino Tamayo. In 1953, he immigrated to the U.S.; his works featured in prominent museums. Fain also continued writing, authoring five books of Yiddish poetry and serving as the president of the Yiddish Pen Society.

“His journey speaks to those who are displaced and pushed to the margins and stripped of identity in society,” Giordano says.

Fain’s art mixes representational technique with elements of abstract expressionism, employing

broad brush strokes, diagonals and dark marks.

“He really can’t be put comfortably into one style of art,” Giordano adds.

One of Fain’s prominent pieces “Occupied City, 2008,” shows an abstract landscape with overlapping buildings drawn in the background.

“It gives a sense of people living on top of each other in an enclosed space, in a trapped space, which reflects his lived experience,” Giordano notes.

Fain also used color to invoke deeper reflection. “Despite the subject matter being very traumatic, he uses a lot of bright and soft pastel colors. It plays to this dichotomy that exists in his work. He’s showing you hope, but he’s showing you despair. He’s showing you betrayal, but he’s showing you empathy.

Museum visitors can also interact with biographical material, including a timeline of the artist’s life and a video recording in which he discusses life in the Shanghai Ghetto. Additionally, everyone is invited to read Fain’s poetry and then submit a poem in response to the exhibit experience.

Fain’s extraordinary conviction to art during a time of adversity shows the enduring strength of human resilience and beckons us to explore the past.

“We should revisit history. We should re-examine these stories. We should consider people whose stories may trace a similar path of hardship today,” says Giordano.

As always, related programming enhances the viewing experience, including an exhibit tour on Oct. 23.

1964 … The Tribute

‘The “British Invasion” returns anew, when “1964 The Tribute” takes its audience on a musical journey back to that unforgettable era in rock history. Since the early 1980s, this reincarnation of the Fab Four has been thrilling folks all over the globe with what Rolling Stone Magazine has called the “Best Beatles tribute on earth.” Choosing songs from the pre-Sgt. Pepper era, “1964” astonishingly recreates an early ‘60s live Beatles concert, with period instruments, clothing, hairstyles, and onstage banter. The band focuses on the quintessential moment in history, when The Beatles actually played before a live audience. Only a precious few got to experience when The Beatles toured the world in the early ‘60s. Who actually felt the “mania” that brought them to world acclaim. “1964” meticulously re-creates the “magic of those live performances with artful precision and unerring accuracy.

Friday, Sept. 20, 8 p.m. $65, $40, $30, $19.64. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com.

‘…

Rollin’ on the river’

Step into a virtual time machine and journey back to the glory days of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s with Commotion — the electrifying Creedence Clearwater Revival tribute band. The musicians pride themselves on their commitment to faithfully reproducing the iconic CCR sound. From the soulful voice of Steve McLain to the mesmerizing guitar solos of Jimmy Ryan, every riff, melody and rhythm comes to life with precision. McLain possesses a vocal prowess rivaling the one and only John Fogerty. With his husky timbre, emotive delivery and uncanny ability to recreate Fogerty’s raw energy, be transported back to when CCR ruled the airwaves. They are joined drummer Mark Ellis and bassist George Foster, who deliver those infectious beats that were CCRs trademark.

Friday, Sept. 20, 8 p.m. Tickets start at $45. Madison Theatre, Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. Tickets available at MadisonTheatreNY.org or (516) 323-4444.

Photos courtesy Hofstra University Museum of Art; Gift of the Estate of Yonia Fain Yonia Fain’s life is represented through his contemplative art, such as “Occupied City” (top left), “rouble Moving Into Harmony and Light,” (top right) and “Rage” (bottom right).

THE Your Neighborhood Sept. 25

Jessie’s Girl

Take out that neon once again and give your hair its best ‘80s ‘do. Those crazy days are back — as only Jessie’s Girl can pull off, on the Paramount stage, Saturday, Sept. 28, 8 p.m. The band of NYC’s top rock/pop musicians and singers gets everyone into that “Back To The Eighties” vibe with the latest edition of their popular concert experience. With a lineup including four pop-rock vocalists dressing and performing as ‘80s icons, backed by a dynamic band, this is the definitive 80s experience. Throw on top of that: a load of super-fun choreography, audience participation, props, costumes, and confetti — and you have a party that audiences don’t want to leave. Jessie’s Girl has mastered over-the-top renditions of the some of the most unforgettable songs, all while dressed up as the iconic characters of that decade.

Theater meets live music, covered in ‘80s glitz. There’s no decade like the ‘80s — and no one does that era quite like Jessie’s Girl Throw on your best neon, use extra hair spray and head to Back To The Eighties — because it’s time to party like it’s 1989. $45, $37.50, $25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.

Tribute concert

Plaza Theatricals’ tribute series continues, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2:30 p.m., with Shades of Buble. An exciting trio brings the swinging standards and pop hits of Michael Bublé to the stage in an unforgettable high-energy event. This act consistently wows audiences with their harmonies, smooth choreography and charming good looks.

Enjoy big-band standards from the jazz era, classic hits from the 1950 through ‘70s, as well as Billboard chart toppers from today in this high-energy show that generates standing ovations from sold-out crowds. See the show at 700 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont. $40, $35 seniors. Elmont. For tickets, call (516) 599-6870 or visit PlazaTheatrical.com.

Make Your Own Nachos

Students in grades 6-12 are invited to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by creating delicious nachos with guacamole, at Baldwin Public Library, Saturday, Sept. 21, noon-1 p.m. This event is presented by Chefs of d’Future. Baldwin Public Library, 2385 Grand Ave. Visit Baldwinpl.org for more information.

Afternoon tunes

Eisenhower Park’s Noontime Concert series concludes, Wednesday, Sept. 25, noon-2 p.m. Enjoy the classic oldies group The Tercels, reliving those great tunes of the ‘50s and ‘60s, plus more, at Field #1. Bring seating. For information, visit NassauCountyNY.gov.

Hempstead House tour

Sands Point Preserve is the backdrop to explore the elegant Gold Coast home that’s the centerpiece of the estate, Wednesday, Sept. 25, noon-1 p.m. Visit the grand rooms inside the massive 50,000-square-foot Tudorstyle 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.

Shed-The-Meds

Nassau County Legislator

Debra Mulé co-sponsors

Sanitary District No. 2’s autumn Operation Shed-The-Meds, document shredding, and E-cycling, Saturday, Sept. 21, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. This event is supported by the Town of Hempstead Employees Federal Credit Union, the Baldwin Council Against Drug Abuse, and other local offcials.

Sanitary District No. 2 Garage and Offce. 2080 Grand Ave.

National Library Card Sign-Up Month

Celebrate National Library Card

Sign-Up Month by taking a break to color a free bookmark at the Baldwin Public Library, through Sept. 30. The selfdirected activity encourages relaxation and stress relief through coloring, and offers a chance to explore the benefts of having a library card. Colored pencils are available on a frstcome, frst-served basis. Stop by the Adult Reference Desk to pick up your supplies and enjoy this soothing and creative experience. 2385 Grand Ave. Visit Baldwinpl.org for more information.

Fascinating Fungi

Bring the kids to make some discoveries about mushrooms at Long Island Children’s Museum’s dropin program, Sunday, Sept. 29, 1-3 p.m. Did you know that some mushrooms can glow in the dark? Learn about the 113 species of mushroom that are considered bioluminescent, due to a chemical reaction that attracts bugs to help spread mushroom spores. Stop by to learn about these amazing fungi and make a glowing mushroom craft to bring home. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or LICM.org.

Having an event?

Art explorations

Converse, collaborate and create at Family Saturdays at Nassau County Museum of Art. The drop-in program returns for a new season, Saturday, Sept. 21, 9, noon-3 p.m. Get inspired by the art and objects in the galleries and then join educators at the Manes Center to explore and discover different materials to create your own original artwork.

Kids and their adult partners connect while talking about and making art together. A new project is featured every week. $20 adult, $10 child. Registration required. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. Visit NassauMuseum.org for more information and to register or call (516) 484-9337.

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.

Hundreds attend FCA’s Senior H.O.P.E. Fair

Family & Children’s Association (FCA), one of Long Island’s largest nonprofit health and human services organizations, hosted a highly successful Senior H.O.P.E. Fair on Tuesday, Sept. 10, at the Samanea N.Y. Mall in Westbury. The free event, funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, drew a large crowd of seniors and their families, offering a wealth of information and services aimed at improving their quality of life.

H.O.P.E., which stands for Happiness, Opportunity, Positive, Energy, was specifically designed to provide older adults with resources and knowledge to enhance their well-being. More than 50 vendors participated, offering attendees valuable insights into a wide range of services, including Medicare, mental health support, scam prevention, and substance use awareness. The fair also featured four educational workshops, technology training for seniors, and opportunities for caregivers to learn about support options. Additionally My Three Sons Bagels provided a free boxed lunch for the first 300 attendees.

FCA President and CEO Dr. Jeffrey L. Reynolds emphasized the importance of events like the Senior H.O.P.E. Fair, especially as Long Island’s population continues to age. "It’s no secret that Long Island’s population is aging. Every year, our senior division helps more than 10,000 seniors improve their quality of life. The H.O.P.E. Fair allowed us to share these resources, and many others, with the broader Long Island community,

Reynolds said.

Lisa Stern, FCA’s Assistant Vice President for Senior & Adult Services, expressed her gratitude to the event's partners and the diverse group of vendors who made the fair possible. “We’re thrilled to have brought the H.O.P.E. Fair to Long Island’s senior population and their families. We couldn’t do this without our valued community partners, and we were happy to have vendors from diverse backgrounds offering a multitude of services to the senior community,” she said.

For those unable to attend, FCA offers continuous support to Long Island’s senior population through its many programs, reaching over 10,000 seniors each year. For more information about FCA’s services or future events, visit www.fcali.org.

On exhibit

Nassau County Museum of Art ‘s latest exhibition “Seeing Red: Renoir to Warhol,” reveals the many meanings, connotations, and associations of this powerful color in art. Evoking strong emotion, red can represent the human condition. Its myriad variations have come to signify authority as well as love, energy and beauty. Red warns us of peril and commands us to stop, but it can also indicate purity and good fortune. Red boldly represents political movements and religious identities. From the advent of our appreciation for this color in antiquity to its continued prominence in artistic and popular culture, this exhibition spans various world cultures through a range of media.

It features more than 70 artists, both established and emerging, ranging from the classical to the contemporary. American portraitists such as Gilbert Stuart imbued red in their stately paintings of prominent individuals to conjure authority. Robert Motherwell, Ad Reinhardt, and other major abstract painters displayed a deep fascination with red in their commanding compositions that evoke a sense of chromatic power. And, of course, Andy Warhol is known for his bold and imposing silkscreened portrait of Vladimir Lenin saturated in bright red to his signature Campbell’s Soup Cans. On view through Jan. 5. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.

Art League of L.I. exhibit

Sept. 28

In support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Art League of Long Island presents “Retrospect - The Individual Art of Collaboration in Reconstructive Surgery.” The exhibit delves into the interplay between personal artistry and collaborative efforts in the context of breast reconstruction, showcasing how the healing process can transcend medicine to become an inspiring narrative of restoration and personal resilience. This unique exhibition explores the intersection of medicine and art through the lens of two accomplished breast reconstruction surgeons, Dr. Ron Israeli and Dr. Jonathan Bank, whose careers and artistic endeavors are deeply intertwined.

The works on display show the multifaceted nature of artistic expression in medicine and surgery. Their work emphasizes the importance of collaborative creativity in the healing process, offering viewers a unique perspective on the emotional and physical aspects of breast reconstruction. On view Sept. 28 through Oct. 18. Jeanie Tengelsen Gallery at Art League of Long Island, 107 East Deer Park Road, Dix Hills. Visit artleagueli.org for more information.

BALDWIN HERALD — September 19, 2024
(LEFT TO RIGHT) Paige O’Brien VP & Chief Development Officer and Kim Como, Marketing & Communications Director at FCA.
DR. JEFFREY L. REYNOLDS, CEO & President of FCA
GUESTS visiting the over 50 vendors to earn a wealth of new information.
Photos by Tim Baker
H.O.P.E. balloon arch greeting guests at the entrance.
FCA VAN outside the venue taught attendees about technology

Remembering those who perished on Sept. 11

Despite the 23 years that have passed since the Sept. 11 attacks, that claimed the lives on nearly 3,000 people, the East Meadow community still mourns — and vows to never forget.

Seven local residents died in the terrorist attacks — four who worked in the World Trade Center, two firefighters and a police officer. Other residents have since died of illnesses they contracted as a result of their work at ground zero in the aftermath of the attacks.

The East Meadow Fire Department hosted its annual remembrance ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park on Prospect Avenue on Monday. There, in 2014, the East Meadow Kiwanis erected a memorial in the southeast corner of the park, featuring a 1,800-pound marble slab, with an etching of the twin towers, and a steal beam from ground zero.

11

On the marble is a footstone that reads, “In the name of freedom/To those who lost their lives/September 11, 2001,” and bears the seven names: Ann McGovern, Carlos Dominguez, Stephen Mark Fogel, Stephen LeMantia, Claude “Dan” Richards, Daniel Brethel and Thomas

Each year, members

a

Patrick DeAngelis.
of the EMFD place
new wreath next to the memorial to honor them.
— Jordan Vallone
Holden Leeds/Herald photos
The East Meadow community gathered at its Sept.
memorial last week, which honors victims from East Meadow and Salisbury. The memorial stands at Veterans Memorial Park on Prospect Avenue.
Boy Scouts walked through with flags, which were on display during the remembrance ceremony.
First Assistant Chief Michael Wood and Second Assistant Chief Kurt Becker by a wreath laid in honor of Sept. 11 victims.

Town task force will combat antisemitism

The Town of Hempstead has unveiled an antisemitism task force that aims to investigate the rise of assaults on Jewish people across the town.

“I’m delighted to have so many people that are joining me to participate in what we find to be something that is needed, and warranted with what is transpiring in our society now,” Town Supervisor Don Clavin said at the Hebrew Academy of West Hempstead on Sept. 12.

The task force will comprise members appointed by Clavin, along with its co-chair, Congressman Anthony D’Esposito. D’Esposito is currently up for re-election and is running against Laura Gillen.

“The presence of everybody here should signify the importance of what today’s announcement really is,” Clavin said, “the unprecedented and definitely noticed rise of antisemitism throughout our country, and particularly here in the Town of Hempstead.”

According to Clavin, the Town of Hempstead has the second-largest Jewish population of any municpality, behind New York City.

As the one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel approaches, the creation of the task force comes at a time where communities have been facing a surge in acts of antisemitism.

“I feel strongly that this advisory council, with its role of not only indentifying antisemitism, (is) trying to determine where it’s festering from, how it’s getting in our communities, and how we educate people to recognize the hatred that is being fostered in our communities,” Clavin said.

Councilwoman Melissa Miller said she was thrilled that the town was taking on this initiative.

Town of Hempstead Supervisor Don Clavin, center, discussed the creation of an antisemitism task force alongside members of the town board, elected officials and religious leaders, on Sept. 12.

“It’s just unacceptable — if we replaced the population that is being targeting with any other population, there would be an uproar by government, law enforcement and the universities,” Miller said. “It is not acceptable — we should not be just sitting back and fearing what’s going to happen next. Continue to send this message, that we at the Town of Hempstead do not tolerate this and we will continue to fight back.”

Rabbi Ouriel Hazan, of the Hebrew Academy of West Hempstead, expressed his gratitude for the strong partnership between the county and community leaders.

“Today, we speak with one united voice against the veils of antisemitism, and the message is very clear:

We will not tolerate nor stand idly by, or remain silent in the face of hate speech or hateful actions against our community,” Hazan said. “The children deserve to be educated in peace and security.”

As the Jewish holidays approach, the antisemitism task force will be proactive in indentifying and combating signs of hate attacks. There will also be enhanced police patrols at temples and places of worship, according to Clavin.

“This panel has a big responsibility — we’re seeing it foster in our communities, zero tolerance,” Clavin said. “This advisory board has to get it done, be diligent and have the passion that they’re going to go out and get people educated.”

Melissa Berman/Herald

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT

COUNTY OF NASSAU

U.S. Bank Trust National Association, not in its individual capacity but solely as owner Trustee for VRMTG Asset Trust, Plaintiff AGAINST

Paul Meato a/k/a Paul Mateo, as CoAdministrator of the Estate of Carlos Almondovar, Jr.; et al., Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered July 18, 2024 I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on October 1, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 1900 Carleton Place, Baldwin, NY 11510-2231.

All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Baldwin, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of NY, Section 36 Block 419 Lot 0283. Approximate amount of judgment

$526,498.15 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of fled Judgment Index# 014315/2013. The auction will be conducted pursuant to the COVID-19 Policies Concerning Public Auctions of Foreclosed Property established by the 10th Judicial District. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”

Karl Seman, Esq., Referee LOGS Legal Group LLP f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC

Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792

Dated: August 6, 2024

For sale information, please visit www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832 148653

LEGAL NOTICE

REFEREE’S NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE

SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU

DLJ MORTGAGE CAPITAL, INC., Plaintiff - against -

RAY MICHAEL GEORGE

A/K/A RAYMOND M. GEORGE, et al

Defendant(s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on July 19, 2024. 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 “Rain or Shine” on the 1st day of October, 2024 at 2:00 PM. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and

being at Baldwin, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York.

Premises known as 1009

Centennial Avenue, North Baldwin, NY 11510.

(Section: 36, Block: 466, Lot: 7)

Approximate amount of lien $717,696.00 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of fled judgment and terms of sale.

Index No. 002593/2017. Michele Bencivinni, Esq., Referee.

McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLC

Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 840 New York, NY 10170 Tel. 347/286-7409

For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832

Dated: August 6, 2024

During the COVID-19 health emergency, bidders are required to comply with all governmental health requirements in effect at the time of sale including but not limited to, wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing (at least 6-feet apart) during the auction, while tendering deposit and at any subsequent closing. Bidders are also required to comply with the Foreclosure Auction Rules and COVID-19 Health Emergency Rules issued by the Supreme Court of this County in addition to the conditions set forth in the Terms of Sale. 148618

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BY THE BOARD OF APPEALS

Pursuant to New York State Town Law Article 16, New York State Public Offcers 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 09/25/2024 at 9:30 A.M. to consider the following applications and appeals:

THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 9:30 AM 612/24. BALDWINKathryn Gremse, Variance to maintain senior residence each separate dwelling area exceeding 800 sq. ft. in total foor space., N/s Bay Front Dr., 162’ E/o Eastern Dr., a/k/a 3293 Bay Front Dr. 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 Baldwin 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.gov/ 509/Board-of-Appeals

The internet address of the website streaming for this meeting is https://hempsteadny.gov/ 576/Live-Streaming-Video

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. 148994

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT NASSAU COUNTY MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC. AS NOMINEE FOR LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, TRUSTEE, Plaintiff against STANLEY SMITH, et al Defendant(s) Attorney for Plaintiff(s) Fein Such & Crane, LLP, 28 East Main Street, Suite 1800, Rochester, NY 14614.

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered September 20, 2006, I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on October 21, 2024 at 2:00 PM. Premises known as 5 Church Street, Baldwin, NY 11510. Sec 54 Block 481Lot 423. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being at Baldwin, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York. Approximate Amount of Judgment is $387,480.45 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of fled Judgment Index No 007909/2005. The foreclosure sale will be conducted in accordance with 10th Judicial District’s Covid-19 Policies and foreclosure auction rules. The Referee shall enforce any rules in place regarding facial coverings and social distancing. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the Court Appointed Referee shall cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”

Ellen Durst, Esq., Referee File # SPSJN209 149018

CURRAN, PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR OF NASSAU COUNTY, AS ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF KAREN RULAND A/K/A KAREN A. RULAND, DECEASED, ET AL., Defendant(s).

Pursuant to an Order Confrming Referee Report, Amend the Caption, and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on December 6, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on October 22, 2024 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 859 Jefferson Street, Baldwin, NY 11510. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 54, Block 536 and Lot 3082. Approximate amount of judgment is $523,970.87 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of fled Judgment Index #605221/2022.

Russell S. Burman, Esq., Referee

Greenspoon Marder, 1345 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 2200, New York, NY 10105, Attorneys for Plaintiff 149006

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, CHONDRITE ASSET

TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. 34 DRIVE CORP., ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confrming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on January 19, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on October 21, 2024 at 2:30 p.m., premises known as 3498 Bertha Drive, Baldwin, NY 11510. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Baldwin Harbor, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 54, Block 590 and Lot 6. Approximate amount of judgment is $883,031.27 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of fled Judgment Index #607423/2021.

David S. Dikman, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff Firm File No. 200539-1 149004

The AACN gold-level Beacon Award for Excellence recognizes that Mount Sinai South Nassau’s cardiac catheterization lab staff adheres to the highest standards for communication, collaboration, effective decision-making, staffing, meaningful recognition, and authentic leadership.

MSSN earns Beacon Award for Excellence

Mount Sinai South Nassau’s Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory has been honored with the American Association of Critical Care Nurses gold-level Beacon Award for Excellence, recognizing its outstanding patient care and commitment to maintaining a healthy work environment.

Mount Sinai South Nassau is the closest hospital for Baldwin residents.

The AACN Beacon Award is a highly regarded distinction, awarded to healthcare teams that meet rigorous standards in patient care and work environment practices. To earn the three-year, gold-level award, Mount Sinai South Nassau’s Cardiac Catheterization Lab demonstrated alignment with the AACN’s six Healthy Work Environment Standards: skilled communication, true collaboration, effective decision-making, appropriate staffing, meaningful recognition, and authentic leadership. These standards are consistent with the criteria used by the American Nurse Credentialing Center’s Magnet Recognition Program, the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, and the National Quality Healthcare Award.

“We are relentless in our pursuit to raise the standards for quality, safety, outcomes, and patient experience,” said Adhi Sharma, president of Mount Sinai South Nassau. “I commend our Cardiac Catheterization Lab’s nurses and the entire interdisciplinary team for this achievement.”

Stacey Conklin, chief nursing officer and senior vice president of patient care services, echoed Sharma’s sentiments, emphasizing the lab’s patient-centered approach.

“Communication, collaboration, and teamwork are hallmarks of quality patient care,” she said. “Our Cardiac Catheterization Lab team puts patients

first and uses evidence-based practices to improve patient and family outcomes. They are most deserving of this Beacon Gold Award.”

The lab earned the Beacon Award by excelling in several key areas, including leadership structures, staffing, effective communication, evidence-based practice, and outcome measurement.

This prestigious recognition is not the only accolade Mount Sinai South Nassau has received. The hospital was recently ranked “High Performing” in heart failure and heart attack by U.S. News & World Report. It also received the Healthgrades Excellence Award for Coronary Intervention and a Five-Star rating for Coronary Interventional Procedures, placing it among the top 10 percent in the nation for these procedures. Additionally, the hospital has been named a four-star achiever by the American College of Cardiology and has received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines–Heart Failure Gold-Plus Quality Achievement Award.

Mount Sinai South Nassau is the only Long Island location of the internationally acclaimed Mount Sinai Fuster Heart network. It provides patients with access to a network of board-certified cardiologists and cardiac surgeons who utilize the latest advancements in cardiac care to treat a range of cardiovascular conditions. For patients requiring advanced treatment, such as heart transplantation, Mount Sinai South Nassau ensures seamless care at The Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan.

With this latest achievement, Mount Sinai South Nassau continues to solidify its reputation as a leader in cardiac care, both on Long Island and beyond.

L et us K now

News Brief items including awards, honors, promotions and other tidbits about local residents are welcome. Photographs may be emailed as well. Deadline for submissions is noon Thursday, week prior to publication. Send to execeditor@liherald.com

Courtesy MSSN

Help Wanted

DRIVERS WANTED

Full Time and Part Time

Positions Available!

Busy Print Shop in Garden City is Hiring Immediately for Full Time and Part Time Drivers. Must Have a Clean License and BoxTruck Driving Experience. Hours Vary, Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $21 per hour

Night Availability is a Must.

Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239

DRIVING INSTRUCTOR

Company Car/ Bonuses. Clean Driving Record Required, Will Train. Retirees Welcome!

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Bell Auto School 516-365-5778

Email: info@bellautoschool.com

EDITOR/REPORTER

Part Time & Full Time. The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. Salary range is from $20K to $45K To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to mhinman@liherald.com

EMAIL MARKETING SPECIALIST

Herald Community Newspapers is seeking a motivated and knowledgeable Email Marketing Expert to join our team. If you have a passion for crafting effective email campaigns and a knack for data-driven decision-making, this role is for you!

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Set up and manage email campaigns from start to finish. Analyze data to identify target audiences and optimize email strategies. Craft compelling email content, including writing effective subject lines. Monitor and report on campaign performance.

REQUIREMENTS:

Degree in Marketing, Business, or related field. Strong understanding of data analysis and marketing principles. Experience with email marketing is preferred but not required.

POSITION DETAILS:

Flexible: Part-time or Full-time.

Salary range: $16,640 to $70,000, depending on experience and role.

Join our dynamic team and help us connect with our audience in meaningful ways! Apply today by sending your resume and a brief cover letter to lberger@liherald.com

Executive Assistant/Legal Secretary

Location: Rockville Centre, NY

Hours: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Salary Range: $65,000 - $85,000 commensurate with experience, benefits, 3 weeks PTO (combined sick/vacation)

Busy Landlord/Tenant Law Firm is looking for a team member to provide comprehensive administrative support, including reviewing and responding to emails and telephone calls.

The position also involves working along with a Senior Partner in the preparation/proofreading of documents, correspondence, notices and pleadings as well as managing the Senior Partner’s calendar, appointments and meetings.

The individual will also handle a variety of office tasks including physical filing of papers, to e-filing on NYSCEF, printing, copying and organizing records to manage case files, deadlines and to prepare for upcoming trials. If interested, please send your resume to Kathleen@rosenblumbianco.com ; telephone calls will not be accepted.

INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR

To Deliver Papers To Businesses in Massapequa, Amityville and Babylon 2 Days Per Week

Must Have Own Vehicle/Van

This is an independent contractor role for Richner Communications Compensation based on stops starting at $275/week If Interested contact Jim at jrotche@liherald.com or 516-569-4000 x211

MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP

Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges fromo $16 per hour to $20 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com

MULTI MEDIA

ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT

Inside Sales

Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $33,280 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286

OUTSIDE SALES

Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Earning potential ranges from $33,280 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses. Compensation is based on Full Time hours

Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off. Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com

A column went ‘clunk’

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TQ. We were sitting in our living room and heard a loud clunk. We went to investigate, thinking something spooky or structural had happened, maybe in our attic. It turned out that a steel post in our basement had just rusted out and fallen over, probably from saltwater during the hurricane flooding we had. Should we be concerned? The floor seems to be level, and not bouncy or anything. What should we do? Can we replace the column to save money?

A. Sometimes things do go bump in the middle of the night. (People sometimes ask me if these questions are real. You actually called me about this, as a former client, and I was able to stop over and look at the problem.) You were right to be concerned, and to react quickly instead of waiting to see what could happen next.

I can report that your crawl space went through a significant amount of repair, but is in otherwise pristine condition after the flooding occurred. Unlike many people I meet with, you took pictures of the stripped bare structure, and could show me the ones you kept in a computer file. That was important in determining what to do next, because the main beam supporting the house is partially enclosed with marine plywood and has several adjustable columns, which I never recommend for permanently supporting loads, especially in a potential flood-prone crawl space under a home.

Now I have photos to prove what I have often said about adjustable columns, the ones with either pegs or adjustable screws or, like your columns, both pegs and a large adjustable screw at the top. I am in favor of full steel columns that aren’t lightweight, but rather have heavyweight sidewalls of ¼-inch-thick steel.

It isn’t that the adjustable columns aren’t strong enough. My concern is that they be installed correctly and how long they will last, especially in a corrosive environment. Almost every adjustable column I have ever seen is installed incorrectly, upside down. The manufacturer specifically instructs that the adjustment portion of the column should be at the bottom, not at the top. After installing a correctly calculated spread footing, the column is installed so that when the floor slab is poured in place, the concrete will enclose the screw adjustment section of the column.

In a flood zone, I always recommend that plastic be in place around the base of the column before the concrete pour is made, to keep saltwater from directly contacting the steel. Even though the steel must be coated with rust-preventive paint, concrete acts like a sponge, and the salt builds up and remains around the steel after each flooding episode. Even better, I recommend solid concrete block columns to support the beam in a flood hazardprone area. They will last a hundred years longer than the steel. You can do the work yourself and avoid things that go bump in the night. Good luck!

© 2024 Monte Leeper

Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.

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We badly need congestion pricing

Ibelieve congestion pricing is an absolute necessity, for several reasons. First of all, traffic in the metropolitan area is an absolute nightmare. You can’t get into New York City in a reasonable amount of time unless you leave at 5 a.m. or after 9 p.m. most days from any direction — Long Island, Westchester, Connecticut or New Jersey.

Once you get to Manhattan, traffic is so bad that you can walk faster than you can drive. I know, because I work on the Upper East Side and often walk to appointments and meetings. It’s faster than waiting endlessly in a taxi or Uber.

The rafts of Citi Bikes, bike lanes, bus-only lanes and outdoor restaurants built during and after the coronavirus pandemic make Manhattan more intolerable for driving than ever before.

According to a TomTom report, New York tops the list of cities with the worst traffic in America. The average commuter spent just under 25 minutes driving about six miles in 2023.

ISecondly, our mass transit system has been allowed to deteriorate over the decades, because politicians have always kicked the can down the road. The Second Avenue subway was originally proposed over 100 years ago. Today, three stations have been built, and the extension to Harlem has been put off, because congestion pricing, which was supposed to help pay for it, has been halted.

IThe 7 Subway line was to have had a stop in Hell’s Kitchen, the “10th Avenue station,” to alleviate passenger congestion on the West Side and serve the growing neighborhood, but that, too, was killed for lack of funds and political will.

regional train service and rehabilitating the century-old subway system. The more comfortable and convenient the train system, the more people will use it, and the more drivers will opt out of the maddening rush to get to the city.

f only we could come up with a way to charge people based on their net worth.

Much of the current subway system is antiquated, some of it was damaged by saltwater intrusion during Superstorm Sandy, and the signal system is a hazard unto itself, slowing the system down and causing accidents. So how do we resolve our urban traffic nightmare? There is no doubt that rail lines into Manhattan should be the No. 1 priority. They move the most people at the fastest speeds into and out of the city. Congestion pricing would be of enormous benefit in funding better

Now, there are valid reasons why congestion pricing is unfair. If I’m a millionaire, I don’t care about paying $15 to drive below 60th Street, but if I make $50,000 a year, it’s putting a huge dent in my wallet. Box trucks or moving vans would pay $24, large trucks $36, which would make goods and services cost more for New Yorkers.

It’s unfortunate that we can’t devise a methodology that could charge people based on their net worth. If a license tag could be connected to an IRS filing, we could charge wealthy people a different rate than those of more modest means.

Beyond a system like that, we must resurrect the congestion pricing program to start to reduce traffic into Manhattan, and use those funds to upgrade MTA trains, subways and buses. If we do nothing, we will have wasted $500 million installing the apparatus to track vehicular traffic into the city, while

doing nothing to reduce traffic and pollution and build a city for the future.

It is also unconscionable that fare evasion cost the MTA an estimated $690 million in 2022, including $315 million from buses and $285 million from subways — 10 percent of the MTA’s annual budget.

And beyond the dollars and cents, New York City now ranks as one of the most ozone-polluted cities in the world thanks to the millions of cars, trucks and buses in stop-and-go gridlock traffic, with drivers endlessly circling for parking spaces and taxis, Ubers and Lyfts driving nonstop, looking for their next fare.

So how to move the massive number of people in the metropolitan area from destination to destination? Make the best use of the advanced train system that enlightened people built 120 years ago, and that provided 2 billion rides in 2023, on over hundreds of miles of track, picking up and dropping off people at 472 stations. But you can’t build out and upgrade the system without money, and congestion pricing is the ticket.

Jim Paymar is a veteran New York television anchor and reporter who has worked at CNBC, WNBC and WABC. He anchors a podcast, “The Big Shift with Jim Paymar.”

When will we fnally say, ‘Enough’?

was a junior at Plainedge High School, in North Massapequa, in 2018, when 17 people died and 17 others were injured in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre in Parkland, Florida.

After the shooting, we wore orange to school — the color for protesting gun violence — and staged a walkout in solidarity with the school. We ran a fundraiser through the National Honor Society, from Plainedge to Parkland, to help a grieving community over a thousand miles away. And yet, it didn’t seem like enough. What words do you have to offer, thoughts you have to think, when something so senseless happens to people your age?

That year, everything changed. When we returned to classes in the fall of 2018, the front doors at Plainedge High had been changed to fortify the exterior. We weren’t permitted to enter or leave through any entrance except the main one, and we carried I.D. cards at all times.

But as demonstrated earlier this

month at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, sometimes no level of security is enough. It wasn’t enough at the Covenant School in Nashville last spring; it wasn’t enough in Uvalde, Texas, the year before. The list of schools and communities tarnished by acts of violence against children goes on and on, and at some point, I think we all can’t help but wonder: How many more?

Many will argue that guns aren’t the problem in America, and that instead we have a mental health crisis. I agree — we do. But the two are not mutually exclusive.

rus pandemic, 1 in 5 children had a diagnosed mental health disorder. After 2020, surveys showed that 71 percent of parents said the pandemic had taken a toll on their child’s mental health — and things haven’t gotten much better since.

E verything changed at Plainedge High in 2018 — but security isn’t enough.

Gun violence, and deaths related to it, have been on the rise. In 2020, gun violence claimed more lives than it had during any other year on record — more than 45,000. In 2022 it was the leading cause of death among U.S. children and teens between ages 1 and 19.

Guns are a problem. But so is mental health.

The “mental health crisis” has long been Republicans’ scapegoat — their explanation for school shootings — and yet the party has done almost nothing to address their supposed concerns.

According to the American Psychological Association, before the coronavi-

Despite the fact that the data supports what we already know, 193 House Republicans voted against the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which provided $2.35 billion to expand vital school mental health services; 210 voted against the American Rescue Plan Act, which provided $12 billion to address mental health needs arising from the pandemic; and 205 voted against the Mental Health Matters Act, which would provide grants for schools to hire more mental health experts and grow their mental health services.

America has a problem, and the longer we wait to address it, the more people will die. School shootings should have ended after Columbine, after Sandy Hook, after Oxford High School in Michigan. Students shouldn’t be afraid to go to school.

“Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” is written in our Declaration of Independence, codifying the unalienable rights of all Americans. But as it turns

out, the children who have been senselessly murdered while their government stood by didn’t have those rights. Because if they did, they’d still be alive. Right?

Colt Gray, the 14-year-old charged with four murders for the shooting in Georgia, shouldn’t have had access to a gun. He displayed serious mental health concerns and had made threats in the past, and yet he carried out an act of extreme violence, with a weapon his father purchased for him.

The problem isn’t isolated to Georgia. Two weeks ago, right here on Long Island, a Bayville man was arrested because his 11-year-old son wandered out of his house carrying his father’s shotgun.

We can no longer afford to sit on the sidelines and hope things will change. The time for thoughts and prayers has passed. What we need is decisive action — action that addresses both gun control and mental health, because either one without the other is no solution.

The safety of children, the preservation of their future, depends on our ability to enact meaningful reforms. The question is no longer how many more tragedies we can endure, but when we will finally say, “Enough.”

Jordan Vallone is a senior editor of the Herald Community Newspapers. Comments? jvallone@liherald.com.

HeraLd editoriaL

History is passed down in our fre departments

History is often perceived as something static — a collection of events consigned to textbooks, memorialized in museums, or commemorated on anniversaries. It can feel as though history lives on dusty bookshelves, far removed from our daily lives.

But history isn’t merely a record of the past, frozen in time. Rather, it is a living, breathing thing, continuously shaping the present and influencing the future.

History evolves as it is interpreted, re-examined and passed down through generations. One way to understand its dynamic nature is by noting how institutions like fire departments are now hiring young people who were born after Sept. 11, 2001 — a day that still feels so recent and vivid to many of us.

This milestone is a potent reminder that history is an ever-evolving force that defines generational perspectives, values and narratives.

Many of us remember where we were and what we were doing on 9/11, as do members of older generations who remember where they were when they heard that President John F. Kennedy had been shot, or that Pearl Harbor had been attacked.

For firefighters — and especially those who serve in New York City and on Long Island — no date holds deeper meaning than Sept. 11. The bravery of the many first responders who ran

Letters

The latest on New York’s push for state and federal ERA

To the Editor:

toward the hellish chaos at the World Trade Center, intending to save lives, has become emblematic of the courage and sacrifice inherent in their profession.

That fire departments are now hiring people who were not alive when the towers fell highlights the inevitability of generational change and the idea that history is always moving forward, even when it feels as if time has stood still.

These young recruits are entering a world shaped by the consequences of 9/11, yet they engage with it in a different way. For them, Sept. 11 is, yes, history, but not a memory — a chapter learned in school rather than a harrowing, indelible life experience.

This generational shift forces us to confront the duality of history: it is at once deeply personal and profoundly collective. For those of us who lived through 9/11 — and particularly the millions who could see the smoking wreckage from their homes or offices, with no need of a television screen — the event has become part of the fabric of our lives. For those born afterward, it is something learned about and appreciated through second-hand accounts.

Nonetheless, their presence in firefighting gear yet to be soiled signals that history is alive, breathing new life into the institutions that helped shape it. Eerily similar to the refrain repeated by Jewish people immersed in their

own living history since the Holocaust, “Never again,” fire departments across the United States, as far removed from New York as Alaska, echo the phrase, “Never forget.”

There, the Kenai Fire Department — more than 4,500 miles from ground zero — commemorates 9/11 every year as if its members, too, were just a truck ride from where the planes hit.

“The greatest thing we can do to honor the lives lost on 9/11 is to strive to be the people we were on Sept. 12, when we all came together, we all felt like one nation, one people,” Jay Teague, chief of the Kenai department, said at its Sept. 11 ceremony last week, as reported by KDLL public radio. “We get lost in the daily strife, the daily frustrations, and we lose that sometimes, but I think that’s probably the best sentiment we can end on, is that we should strive to be the people we were on Sept. 12.”

As young recruits join firehouses in New York City, on Long Island and across the country, they bring with them a new understanding of public service, informed not only by the legacy of 9/11, but the challenges they have faced in the post-9/11 world, marked by heightened security, shifting global politics, a pandemic and a divided country.

This generational handoff underscores the vitality of history. It is not static; it does not belong solely to the past. Rather, it lives on through the people who reinterpret it and shape it anew.

As election season heats up, the League of Women Voters of Central Nassau and partners such as New Yorkers for Equal Rights and the New York Civil Liberties Union continue to advocate for and educate about Proposal 1, appearing on state ballots in the upcoming election, through postcarding, phonebanking, canvassing and public appearances. We remind New York voters to “flip their ballot” on Nov. 5 and vote on Prop 1, which expands on the current state Equal Rights Amendment to include protections against discrimination for all New Yorkers.

Moreover, LWVCN recently joined the Sign4ERA.org team — which advocates for the long-overdue certification and publication of the federal ERA — when the organization’s chair, former New York Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, and her colleagues visited Garden City on Sept. 1 to ask U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito for his support. D’Esposito, who represents the 4th Congressional District, is one of a few

A new season of optimism and opportunities

the old refrain, “Summer went too fast,” never does get old — and that’s because so many of us have been repeating it in recent days.

But even as the season’s end brings a tinge of sadness, it also brings a new autumnal momentum to our lives: a new school year for our children, the transition of our recent high school graduates to higher education in colleges and universities around the country, and people entering the job market or changing careers. Our local small businesses geared up for back-to-school sales, and families are now preparing for fall events and religious holidays, most notably the Jewish New Year and the High Holy Days.

As we have each year since 2016, my office will host a number of events coinciding with this change in seasons, to help constituents and their families prepare for the months ahead.

On Sept. 24, we will host our twice-annual Shed the Meds event at Syosset Library, from 5 to 7:30 p.m., in partnership with the Nassau County Police Department’s 2nd Precinct. This event is crucially important, because it provides a safe and effective way for our friends and neighbors to dispose of unused, unfinished or expired medications, thereby safeguarding against having those medications end up in the wrong hands or damaging our environment through improper disposal.

s hedding meds, tax workshops, the Mammovan and more as we move into fall.

Village Restoration, in partnership with the county Department of Assessment. Homeowners and seniors will receive individualized assistance with applying for and receiving all of the tax exemptions they are entitled to. We will repeat that workshop less than two weeks later, on Oct. 22, at the Jericho Public Library. Both workshops are from 1 to 3 p.m., and anyone needing help should arrive no later than 2:30.

As we approach the colder months and contend with the inevitable flu season and an increase in Covid cases, I encourage everyone to protect themselves and their families by taking full advantage of the vaccines that are available to keep us safe and healthy. And with school now back in session and our children, parents and families sharing and embracing this new season, I remind all drivers to exercise an abundance of caution as they traverse the streets of our communities.

On Oct. 10, we will bring the Homeowner Exemption Liaison Program, or HELP, property tax exemption workshop series to The Barn at Old Bethpage

Letters

remaining members of Congress needed to sign a House discharge petition that would bring HJ Resolution 25 — removing the deadline for the ratification of the ERA — to the House floor for a vote.

Since Virginia was the 38th state to ratify the ERA in 2020, we have the threefourths majority of states needed to affirm it as the 28th Amendment to the Constitution. As of Sept. 1, the discharge petition had been signed by 214 House members, and needed 218 signatures to move to a floor vote. So if you live in District 4 — which includes Atlantic Beach, Baldwin, Carle Place, East Meadow, Elmont, the Five Towns, Floral Park, Franklin Square, Freeport, Garden City, Garden City Park, Hempstead, Long Beach, Lynbrook, Malverne, Merrick, New Hyde Park, Oceanside, Rockville Centre, Roosevelt, Seaford, Uniondale, Valley Stream, Wantagh, West Hempstead and Westbury — and you support the ERA, contact D’Esposito’s office, at desposito.house.gov, as soon as possible, and ask him to sign Discharge Petition No. 6. This federal equal rights legislation is long overdue, and we are close to making history by seeing it finally published in the Constitution, where, arguably, it always should have been.

On Tuesday, which, auspiciously, was both Constitution Day and National Voter Registration Day, representatives of the LWVCN, the National Council of Jewish Women and the New York chapter of the National Organization for Women were scheduled to visit D’Esposito’s office to discuss the urgency and significance of the federal ERA, not only for New Yorkers but for all Americans.

Last but certainly not least, on Nov. 7, we will team up with Nassau University Medical Center to bring the Mammovan back to our community. This potentially life-saving initiative gives women an opportunity to expeditiously screen for breast cancer — and those without insurance may be able to do so at no cost. Please stay tuned, and contact my office closer to the event date for more details.

Funding from Washington and Albany is crucial to LIRR’s operations

To the Editor:

The Long Island Rail Road still needs to reach a state of good repair for its existing fleet, stations, elevators, escalators, signals, interlockings, track, power, yards and shops. That also includes more stations reaching compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act. Maintenance programs for all operating assets also need to be fully funded, and completed on time, to ensure riders safe, uninterrupted, reliable service.

Since its creation in 1964, the Urban Mass Transit Administration — which since 1991 has been known as the Federal Transit Administration — has provided billions of dollars to pay for many of these capital improvements. The LIRR’s share of the FTA’s annual grants to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority averages 15 percent. In 2024, this should total $270 million of $1.8 billion in federal grant funding.

The state Department of Transportation also provides Statewide Transportation Operating Assistance on an annual basis to the MTA and the LIRR. Let’s give thanks to both Washington and Albany for continued financial support for our LIRR, the nation’s largest commuter railroad.

Larry Penner is a transportation advocate, historian and writer who previously served as a director of the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 New York Office of Operations and Program Management.

My office is always available to anyone and everyone for any questions or needs. It continues to be my utmost honor and privilege to serve as a legislator, and as we support the Syosset Chamber of Commerce’s 20th anniversary Street Fair on Jackson Avenue on Sept. 29, I hope you can take a break from the fun, festivities and vendors to stop by and say hello to my staff and me.

Arnold W. Drucker represents Nassau County’s 16th Legislative District, and is the Legislature’s deputy minority leader.

Framework by Tim Baker

Pride sculpted in sand — Town Park Point Lookout
arnoLD w. DrUCker

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