Baldwin Herald 10-31-2024

about Diwali

Trunk or Treat brings fun

In preparation for Halloween, Baldwin children dressed up in their costumes at this year’s Trunk or Treat at St. Christopher’s Church. Story, additional photos, Page 8.

Baldwin native is recognized for film ‘Everyday Hero’ receives selections from film festivals

By HERNESTo GAlDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com

Diane Baumann, of Baldwin, has been described as an innovative storyteller who has made her mark by writing nearly a dozen interactive children’s books, including a top 10 Amazon bestseller.

Baumann is also the founder of Kidz Entertainment, a toy company that has expanded to include animated adaptations of her tales.

“I began writing stories that plant the seeds of good character,” Baumann said. “They focus on doing your best, showing kindness, and making positive decisions.”

She first tested the waters of animation dur-

ing the Covid-19 pandemic with her first musical component, “Before It’s Time to Say Good Night,” a lullaby that teaches children to not be afraid of the dark.

Her latest creative endeavor is a short movie, titled “Everyday Hero,” which she wrote and produced, showcasing those “seeds” and more.

That short film has since been recognized for selections at the Wellington Film Festival and the San Diego International Kids Film Festival.

“Everyday Hero” won Best Animation for a Short Film at the Five Continents International Film Festival and Best Animated Film at the New York Long Island Film Festival.

The story follows Tyrion, a puppy, on his jour-

The Baldwin Herald is your local paper

There’s no place like Baldwin — but you don’t need us to tell you that. It is full of kind people, wonderful local spots to dine and shop, historical hideaways — and so many other gems — that it’s no wonder the community keeps on thriving. Baldwin residents come together in times of need, because they want the best not only for themselves, but also for the people around them — their children, their neighbors and their friends.

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you that you should be. Each week in these pages — and on our website — we cover the big issues, and you’ll find the local news that you can’t find anywhere else.

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If you’re not a Herald subscriber, we hope that a look at this week’s paper will persuade

If you’re already a Herald subscriber, thank you for your support. We hope you are pleased with our coverage.

If you’re new to the Baldwin Herald, then you must know that our mission is to cover all the news of your neighborhood — from the schools to local sports, from houses of worship to philanthropic organizations. Enjoy the paper, and thanks for reading!

Hernesto

Galdamez, Editor

Maureen Lennon/Herald

NY State Assemblyman - 21st A.D.

Brian Curran On November 5, Vote for

Diwali event draws diverse crowd in Baldwin

By HERNESTO GALDAMEZ hgaldamez@liherald.com

As the Hindu holiday of Diwali comes to a close, Subrina Singh of Baldwin reflects on her experience hosting “Let’s Learn About Diwali” at the Baldwin Public Library on Oct. 19, where a diverse crowd gathered to celebrate.

“It was very fulfilling for me,” she said, who is a member of the Baldwin Middle School PTA board. “(It was) extremely rewarding.”

Singh said roughly a dozen attended the event aimed at kindergarten to 3rd grade children.

Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is one of the most significant Hindu festivals celebrated by millions worldwide. This holiday symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. Typically observed in October or November, Diwali lasts up to five days and features various rituals and prayers. This year, the festivities began on Oct. 28 and will conclude on Nov. 2.

Families celebrate the holiday in various ways, including lighting diyas—tiny clay oil lamps that represent the victory of light over darkness. Other traditions include decorating homes, setting off fireworks, and exchanging gifts.

At the library, children celebrated Diwali with Indian snacks, fun interactive activities and a book reading. A favorite for the children was a Rangoli Mandala floor puzzle that they worked on throughout the event. A Rangoli is an ancient Hindu art from India derived from the Sanskrit word “Rangavalli.”

To explain Diwali’s message to the young audience, she read “Diwali: A Festival of Lights” by Anita Yasuda.

“I like when I’m reading that I do something interactive,” she said. “We had open-ended questions such as, “Has anyone ever heard of Diwali?’ or ‘Have you ever celebrated it?’

“So it really got the children to be interactive in conversation,” she added. “As we read the book, we took moments to discuss what we are seeing.”

A highlight for Singh was the diversity of the event, as families from all different backgrounds came to learn about her holiday.

“That was my number one goal, hoping that we have a diverse group coming to the event,” she said. “I think when you are hosting an event that is new to a community that introduces a new culture, new tradition or holiday, it’s a greater success when you have a diverse group of participants because that’s how we know we are breaking through barriers.”

Singh credits Martha Garvey, head of the children’s department at the Baldwin Public Library, for putting forward the event and Akeuri Barbaria for the activities.

Looking ahead, Singh intends to bring the event back next year.

Families of all backgrounds came together to learn about

Maureen Lennon/Herald photos

Subrina Singh brought her talents and passion to the Baldwin Public Library to create cultural awareness of the Diwali holiday.

Niam Singh, Athena, and Rabin Tika having a blast assembling a Rangoli puzzle together.

Diwali.

Lily and Sage Bell showcased their colorful crafts. Atendees were greeted with Indian snacks.

Protecting Your Future

Contemplations on Death

As estate planning lawyers, we experience the lives — and deaths — of a great many of our clients. Being exposed to death on a regular basis prevents us from “sleepwalking” through life and fosters a keen awareness of our being alive.

“In our Western culture, although death has come out of the closet, it is still not openly experienced or discussed. Allowing dying to be so intensely present enriches both the preciousness of each moment and our detachment from it.”

— Ram Dass

“If we’re not reflecting on the impermanent nature of life, then there are a lot of unimportant things that seem important.”

— Allison Choying Zangmo

“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life.”

— Steve Jobs

“Think of yourself as dead. You have lived your life. Now, take what’s left and live it properly.”

— Marcus Aurelius

”We drift on a chartless, resistless sea. Let us sing while we can, and forget the rest.”

— H. P. Lovecraft

“Death is not waiting for us at the end of a long road. Death is always with us, in the marrow of every passing moment. She is the secret teacher hiding in plain sight, helping us to discover what matters most.”

— Frank Ostaseski

“Never mind. Never mind. In this brief life, one cannot always be counting the cost.”

—

Christopher Isherwood

Oddly enough, contemplating death may be one of the most life-affirming experiences one can have.

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Baldwin High School students Rohan Khan, left, and Brandon Firth were named AllState Muscians by the State’s School Music Association.

Baldwin High School students earn music honors

pal of Baldwin High School, added. “Their ongoing achievements make us very proud, and this accolade underscores their exceptional musical talent.”

Baldwin High School students Brandon Firth and Rohan Khan have been named All-State Musicians by the New York State School Music Association, which recognizes the top junior and senior musicians in the state. This honor is considered the highest achievement for student musicians in New York.

André Poprilo, the district’s fine and performing arts director, expressed pride in a news release for the students’ remarkable talent and dedication.

“Our entire music staff rejoices when we hear the news of our students being recognized as All-State musicians,” he stated. “Our elementary, middle school, and high school music educators played a role in preparing these fine musicians, and we could not be any prouder of the outcome.”

“Congratulations to Brandon Firth and Rohan Khan for being recognized as All-State musicians,” Neil Testa, princi-

The All-State Musicians were selected from thousands of applicants statewide based on their performances during the NYSSMA solo and ensemble evaluations last spring. To qualify, students must be recommended by their music teachers and prepare a level VI All-State solo, which is assessed by a NYSSMA Certified All-State adjudicator.

Firth earned his spot for his skill on the euphonium, while Khan was selected for the French horn. Additionally, Firth was recognized as a Tenor 2 Alternate.

As All-State Musicians, both students are invited to perform in the Symphonic Band at the annual NYSSMA Winter Conference in December.

— Hernesto Galdamez

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Courtesy Baldwin School District

baldwin

Some Democrats are too far left.Some Republicans are too far right.But some candidates just make COMMON SENSE.

IN NASSAU COUNTY, THAT’S LAURA GILLEN FOR CONGRESS .

About Common Sense

The Common Sense Party looks at both Democrats and Republicans running for office. And then nominates the one who’s most reasonable, who thinks for themself. Who can compromise to get things done. In Nassau County, that’s Laura GIllen.

So this November, find the "Common Sense Party" on your ballot.

Party

Democratic

Republican

Conservative

Working Families

Common Sense

Presidential Electors for President (Vote for One)

Kamala Harris

Donald J. Trump

Donald J. Trump

Kamala Harris

Representative in Congress (4th District) (Vote for One)

Laura Gillen

Anthony D’Esposito

Anthony D’Esposito

Laura Gillen

MYLES MUNRO

Seaford Senior Cross-country

MUNRO PLACED FIFTH in the Nassau County cross-country championships last fall and will look to top that performance at Bethpage State Park Nov. 2. He went on to earn All-State honors in 2023 as a Top 20 finisher in the state and posted a best 5k time of 15-minutes, 43-seconds. He’s three-time All-County in cross-country and as a junior competed in the state track and field championships in the 3200 and 1600 meter events.

GAMES TO WATCH

Friday, Nov. 1

Football: Manhasset at Kennedy 2 p.m.

Football: Oceanside at Port Washington 5:30 p.m.

Football: Division at Hewlett 6 p.m.

Football: West Hempstead at East Rockaway 6:30 p.m.

Football: Locust Valley at Plainedge 6:30 p.m.

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

Football: Lynbrook at Bethpage 7 p.m.

Football: V.S. South at Malverne 7 p.m.

Football: Wantagh at C.S. Harbor 7 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 2

Cross-Country: Nassau County Class I, II and III championships at Bethpage State Park 10 a.m.

Football: Calhoun at Carey 11 a.m.

Football: Jericho at Sewanhaka 11 a.m.

Football: Island Trees at Lawrence 11 a.m.

Football: MacArthur at Baldwin 2 p.m.

Football: Long Beach at Mepham 2 p.m.

Football: Seaford at North Shore 2 p.m.

Football: South Side at Floral Park 3 p.m.

Football: Elmont at Clarke 3 p.m.

Football: Mineola at V.S, North 3 p.m.

Football: Uniondale at Freepprt 3 p.m.

Football: Westbury 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’s playoff streak snapped

By MARC BERMAN sports@liherald.com

The Baldwin girls’ soccer playoff streak is over at six years.

It had a chance to sneak into the postseason in its regular-season-finale against Roslyn and played to a 0-0 draw at halftime on Oct. 18 at home, But the second half went awry and the Bruins dropped a 2-0 decision, finishing the year at 3-7-2 in Conference AA/AAA3 (5-9-2 overall).

The conference was filled with parity, giving Baldwin a chance despite its sub500 record. It started winless in its first five games before a mid-to-late-season playoff push.

“It’s tough when you get that close,’’ Bruins coach Lee Rogers said. “It’s disappointing because we could’ve had a good chance in the playoffs.’’

There were still bright spots as freshman Maliah Robinson exploded for 10 goals. The netkeeper, junior Dee Ikechukwu, was named Conference Goalie of the Year after making 150 saves.

And there was strong play from striker, Elizabeth Hill, who added 2 goals and 3 assists as a sophomore.

Baldwin will lose 10 seniors to graduation, but the threesome of Robinson, Hill and Ikechukwu will return.

“I have a really high ceiling so I could’ve scored more,’’ said Robinson, who scored 6 goals as an eighth-grader in 2023. “But as a freshman, that’s not bad, scoring 10 goals. I felt I helped my team a lot because we needed scoring.’’

Scoring was a struggle as evidenced by getting shut out 2-0 in its final two games. Prior to the Roslyn loss, Baldwin lost, 2-0, to Carey, which captured the conference title.

‘We had opportunities, we just couldn’t finish them off,’’ Rogers said of ending the season with back-to-back goose eggs. “We played good at the midfield.’’

The Roslyn loss was a crusher because the first goal allowed was a fluke as the ball went through their star goalie’s mitts early in the second half, swinging the momentum.

“Just unfortunate,’ Rogers said. “I

Baldwin junior Dee Ikechukwu, who made 150 saves, earned Conference AA/AAA3 Goalkeeper of the Year honors

haven’t seen her do that ever. That’s the way it goes sometimes.’’

Baldwin was snakebitten from the outset as it was without Annabel Lopez, who missed her senior soccer season with an ACL tear. In addition, star defender Haiti Vann, its top defenseman, missed a few games with a foot injury. Vann came back for the finale and, as Rogers said, “made a big difference.’’

“It was a very good season, and if we didn’t have as many injuries like to Annabel and Haiti, we could’ve made it further,’’ Robinson said. “Due to all the injuries, I’m not upset the way we played. We did our

best but it didn’t turn out in our favor.’’ Senior Avery Thomas finished her career posting 3 goals and 3 assists. Another senior, midfielder Jordyn Farla, was a force.

Those two will be gone next season but Baldwin still could factor in the playoff race in 2025.

“I think we can if we all put in the work,’’ Robinson said of next season’s playoff possibilities. “Ten seniors is a lot (to lose) because a few of them were our key players. But me, Liz and Lee could really help the team and make it to the playoffs next year.’’

Derrick Dingle/Herald

Short film expected for release next year

ney to discover the profound impact of kindness and the importance of helping others, teaching children about the value of good deeds and how even small acts can make a significant difference in someone’s life.

Other characters in the film include a pig, bird, frog, bee and swan. “I wanted it to be diverse,” Baumann said. “The idea is we need to embrace each other, our similarities, differences, and learn from it.”

EThe idea for the story came to fruition last year, she said, adding that most of her animations are created using Maya software and typically require about 30 hours of rendering an image or animation into a viewable format.

domain just yet,” she explained. “It can be only done for private viewing.”

Baumann said she expects the film to be released early next year.

ven if you don’t win, if you just get selected, for me, that’s a win.

DianE

Baumann Baldwin

Baumann was named the “Best of Long Island Author” in both 2014 and 2015. Her website, KidzEntertainmentInc.com, features a range of merchandise, including backpacks, puzzles and plush toys inspired by her books. Among her standout products is the 3-in-1 Cuddly Run, a handbag that transforms into a plush animal, which has caught the eye of celebrities seen carrying it.

A trailer of the film is on her YouTube, “Diane Baumann,” but the film has not yet been released to the public.

“When you submit to film festivals, it can’t be in the public

“It’s wonderful … when you see your dreams come to life,” she said. “This recognition is what everybody in the artistic field strives for because you want your creations to be liked.

“It keeps me going,” she added. “It gives me confidence. Even if you don’t win, if you just get selected, for me, that’s a win.”

over the past few months, diane Baumann of Baldwin has gained recognition for her short film, ‘everyday Hero,’ at various film festivals. above, she is pictured at the new York Long island

festival award ceremony.

Courtesy Diane Baumann

f ilm

BALDWIN HERALD — October 31, 2024

824 members

Trunk or Treat’ marks ten years of family fun

The 10th annual Trunk or Treat brought family fun and costumes on Oct. 27th at St. Christopher’s Church in Baldwin.

Originating as a community-oriented alternative to traditional trick-or-treating, particularly in areas where safety concerns about children wandering alone at night were growing, the event typically involves families decorating the trunks of their cars and parking them in a designated area.

Participants then walk from car to car, collecting candy in a controlled, festive environment. The concept began gaining popularity in the 1990s and has since spread across the United States, with many variations including themed decorations and activities.

Hernesto Galdamez

Maureen Lennon/Herald photos

Xavier Grillchrist, far right, won the scariest costume contest as a swamp zombie.

Nicole Nembhard was very festive with her fall decorations.

Boyscout Troop

Raiyan Brahmi, James Neumann, Joaquin Santana, Christian Pemberton and Larry Vodopivec receive a Nassau County Citation from Assemblyman Brian Curran.

Eddie and Billy Florio, an iconic duo, dressed up as french fries and ketchup.

Annual ‘Run For Heroes’ 5K raises $25,000

By DANIEL OFFNER doffner@liherald.com

Nearly 200 people laced up their running shoes Saturday morning at Baldwin Park to support local veterans organizations during the annual “Run for Heroes” 5K, raising more than $25,000 for VFW and American Legion posts across Nassau County’s South Shore.

The event, hosted by Assemblyman Brian Curran, benefits veterans’ facilities in six communities: Rockville Centre, Malverne, Lynbrook, Baldwin, Freeport and East Rockaway.

“I am so grateful for everyone who came out to raise money for our veterans,” Curran said. “I take great pride in honoring those who protect our freedoms, and as an assemblyman, this is an event I look forward to every year, and I am always blown away by how successful it is. I know the funds raised will be put to good use to help serve our wonderful veterans.”

The fundraiser emerged amid a crisis in 2010, when three veterans’ buildings shuttered due to financial difficulties. After assuming office in 2011, Curran established the district-wide run to help veterans’ organizations cope with operational costs, including electricity, plumbing and maintenance.

The event pools all proceeds for distribution among participating communities, with allocations based on need rather than individual fundraising success. Each community typically receives between $5,000 and $10,000 for their local veteran groups.

Frank Colón, commander of the American Legion Post No. 303 in Rockville Centre, expressed his gratitude for the community’s support.

“It went really great,” Colón said about the annual ‘Run for Heroes’ 5K event on Saturday. “The kids all had a great time.”

David Putterman, 42, of Rockville Centre finishes the annual ‘Run for Heroes’ 5K in first place with a time of 18 minutes and 34 seconds.

The success of this year’s event relied heavily on the collaborative efforts across various posts, according to Colón, who acknowledged the contributions of several key organizers.

“It was a team effort,” he said. “All the American Legion posts and VFWs in the district worked together.”

Colón specifically recognized Post 303 Vice Commander Paul Casazza, Robert Kipp and Jim Keane for their work in securing donations.

This event has become a cornerstone within the Assembly district’s veteran community. Each year it brings together runners, walkers and supporters of all ages. Not only does it help raise crucial funds, it strengthens community bonds while honoring those who served.

Jameson Ferrick, 8, and James Kipp with the RVC Titans youth football organization participated in this year’s race.

Tim Baker/Herald photos

Nassau County American Legion Commander Kerry Englander, left, joins John Scotton, Peter Kaiser, Jim Keane, Frank Colón and Pat Alesia of American Legion Post 303 in Rockville Centre and Jesse Keane of the Village of Freeport Police Department at the 5k ‘Run for Heroes’ in Baldwin Park.

Bailey Lipatov, 10, Matty Lemley, 8, and Madeline Lee, 8, with the St. Agnes Cathedral track team participate in the annual 5k ‘Run for Heroes’ on Saturday.

Seeking federal money for road projects

By Carolyn James cjames@liherald.com

With partisan politics in high gear less than two weeks before Election Day, Long Island politicians — Republicans and Democrats — gathered in a bipartisan show of support for an effort to bring more federal funding for road and infrastructure projects to Nassau and Suffolk counties.

“This is not a Republican or a Democratic issue — it is a state and federal issue,” U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi said at a news conference on Oct. 23 at the Long Island Welcome Center on the Long Island Expressway in Dix Hills. “It is about government, labor, business and people and everyone, regardless of party. It is about coming together,” Suozzi added, with the roar of traffic along the expressway providing an appropriate backdrop.

The gathering of politicians, business and labor representatives

was to support a bill in the State Legislature, sponsored by Assemblyman Steve Stern and State Sen. Monica Martinez, that would create a mechanism for Long Island to apply directly for federal transportation dollars. As things stand now, the state must apply to the federal government for infrastructure funding through the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council, which includes not only Long Island, but also New York City as well as Westchester, Putnam and Rockland counties. Under the proposed legislation, Long Island would create its own Metropolitan Planning Organization to address its infrastructure needs specifically, officials said.

The need for this autonomy became abundantly clear to Long Island lawmakers several years ago. Under the current NYMTC guidelines, Long Island was slated to receive 23 percent of federal funding allocated to the state. That

figure dropped to 1 percent, or $300 million, this year. And according to officials, almost all of that will be spent on renovations to electric signs along local highways, and road repairs. It allows for practically nothing for expansive work or new projects.

Some of those projects were outlined by Marc Herbst, executive director of the Long Island Contractors Association. They include work to reconfigure the Oakdale merge, where Sunrise and Montauk highways converge; the intersection of the Meadowbrook and Southern State parkways; the expansion of Sagtikos Parkway to four lanes to make them safer; and work on the Southern State Parkway, which Herbst described as “blood alley.”

“How many more tragedies do we have to have along that roadway before we address those issues and others?” he said.

“This is more important than

party,” State Sen. Jack Martins said. “It is not about politics; it is about our communities, our homes, our residents — and fairness.”

“This is not an adversarial issue,” Herbst added, pointing to the need for Long Island to have an independent voice when vying for federal funding.

“Long Island is a place unlike any other, and with that distinction comes the reality that we have unique needs,” Martinez said. “Our infrastructure and transportation systems must be as bold and resilient as the people who call this region home in order to thrive in an ever-changing world.”

Adam Levine, executive director of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council, said that he and the council understand that “Long Island officials want to get every federal dollar they can,” and that it recognizes the impacts of bureaucracy.

LONG ISLAND’S FAMILIES FIGHTER FOR

Allocated

Be prepared: An app that lets you report and track power outages.

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It’s as easy to use as it is to download. And once it’s installed on your device, if you have a power outage, you have access to report outages and track updates.

As PSEG Long Island begins the restoration process, you receive notifications on the Outage Tracker. These show everything from confirmation that your outage report was received, to damage assessments, to repair alerts and an estimate of when power will be restored.

“The sooner we know about specific outages, the quicker we can react and restore power,” says Michael Presti, Director, Customer Experience and Marketing.

The PSEG Long Island Outage Tracker provides customers with:

Accessibility: Even if someone loses power, they can access the Outage Tracker on their mobile device as long as they have cell service. However, they need to download it before an event to ensure they’re prepared.

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We live in a world where we have more information at our fingertips than ever before. It just follows that having some control and knowledge about power outages is critical to our peace of mind and ability to plan, be heard, and feel safe. So be prepared, and learn more about the free PSEG Long Island mobile app at psegliny.com/app.

Photo by Tony Lopez.

Photo by Fotostorm via Getty Images.

A power outage doesn’t have to leave you feeling powerless. Be prepared. Download our free mobile app with Outage Tracker. You can report outages and track restoration progress. Because knowing is power.

D’Esposito balances controversy, re-election

By DANIEL OFFNER doffner@liherald.com

U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito has his sights set on reelection in the 4th Congressional District, where he will face a familiar opponent amid unfamiliar scrutiny over his hiring practices.

A Republican and a former NYPD detective, D’Esposito won his seat in the 2022 midterms, flipping a district that had been in Democratic hands for 25 years. He defeated former Hempstead Town Supervisor Laura Gillen that year by a margin of roughly 10,000 votes with a campaign focused on crime, inflation and government spending. He hopes to do it again next week with a renewed focus on border security, crime and the cost of living on Long Island.

But D’Esposito’s re-election bid is under a cloud, with an ethics probe questioning whether he improperly hired his fiancée’s daughter and a woman he allegedly had a personal relationship with for taxpayer-funded positions in his office. During a Herald Roundtable on Oct. 10, D’Esposito made it clear that he views the allegations as baseless. “There is absolutely nothing that was violated ethically, and my personal life is my personal life,” he said, asserting that if there had been any ethical questions, he would not have made those hires.

In spite of the allegations, D’Esposito remains focused on issues central to residents of his district. He emphasized that he has been instrumental in securing millions in federal funding for local infrastructure projects ranging from water filtration systems to police training facilities. “In the last 18 months, I’ve been able to bring close to $40 million back to the district to help with infrastructure,” he said.

D’Esposito has also positioned himself as a strong supporter of Israel, and has been vocal in his support for sending more aid to Israel in light of renewed con-

Juan Lasso/Herald

Anthony D’Esposito discussed his re-election campaign in the 4th Congressional District amid controversy over his hiring practices at a Herald Roundtable on Oct. 10.

flicts with Iran and Lebanon following the attack by Hamas last Oct. 7.

“I think the United States of America needs to continue to provide every resource necessary to Israel to eradicate Hamas and any terrorist organization,” he said, criticizing the Biden administration for what he views as a lack of urgency.

Another key issue is the ongoing border crisis. “We have a border security problem,” D’Esposito said, emphasizing the need to shut down the southern border and implement a more stringent asylum process. He noted a Department of Homeland Security briefing where it was revealed that over 420,000 people who

crossed the border illegally had been convicted of crimes in their home countries, including over 13,000 convicted murderers. D’Esposito argued that the Biden administration’s handling of the border has been inadequate, claiming, “The Customs and Border Patrol agents don’t have the resources that they need.”

He remains critical of the administration’s economic and energy policies, and advocates for energy independence, saying, “We need to focus on being more energy independent and stop relying on foreign countries for power.” He also expressed concerns about the national deficit, arguing that it is unsustainable and could have long-term consequences for future generations.

D’Esposito has framed himself as a bipartisan problem solver, willing to work with both sides to achieve results for his district. But he is also aware of the tightrope he walks within his party, having been labeled both a MAGA extremist and a “Republican in Name Only” after calling for the removal of former U.S. Rep. George Santos. D’Esposito said he understands the balance between his own values and party expectations, and will do what he feels is right, regardless of how it may be perceived. “It seems to me I’m doing the right thing and playing the middle,” he said.

As the district becomes a focal point in the national battle for control of the House of Representatives, D’Esposito remains confident in his leadership and his track record of securing federal resources for Long Island.

Laura Gillen prioritizes reproductive rights

By DANIEL OFFNER doffner@liherald.com

Laura Gillen, the Democratic candidate in New York’s 4th Congressional District, is running on a platform focused on tackling the rising cost of living on Long Island, reproductive rights and immigration reform.

“It’s really expensive to live here, and people want relief,” Gillen said during a Herald Roundtable on Oct. 7, adding that this concern came up in nearly every conversation she has had with voters in the district. She is particularly critical of her opponent, U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito for not restoring the state and local tax deduction on income taxes, which was capped during the Trump administration. “My opponent said he was going to restore our SALT deduction. He’s been in the majority for almost two years and has completely failed to do that,” Gillen said, emphasizing that reinstating the deduction, a key issue for many homeowners in Nassau County, would be a top priority if she were elected.

Reproductive rights are also central to Gillen’s campaign, especially after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022 decision, ending nearly 50 years of constitutional protection for abortion rights. Gillen stresses the need to protect access to reproductive health care, including abortion, in vitro fertilization and contraception.

“Protecting a woman’s right to choose, protecting the right to access IVF and the right to contraception are things we never thought we’d even have to talk about before the Dobbs decision,” she said. Gillen also pointed to the broader implications of the decision, noting that Republicans are continuing to push for fed-

Tim Baker/Herald

wait times many patients face. “Families shouldn’t have to wait weeks to get an appointment for a loved one in crisis,” she said, calling for improvements in insurance coverage for mental health care and for expanding access to care.

Immigration reform is a pressing issue, Gillen said, criticizing Congress for its inaction on the border crisis. She said she is committed to passing comprehensive immigration reform that secures the border while facilitating citizenship for immigrants. “We’ve seen nothing get done to secure our border, to stop the flow of fentanyl, or to create a pathway for citizenship for people who want to come here legally,” she said. Her proposal includes deploying more border agents, using advanced technology like anti-tunneling systems, and improving the asylum process, which she described as “completely broken” due to the long delays in adjudicating claims.

Gillen has also taken a strong stance on national security, particularly in regard to Israel and the increase of antisemitism in this country. “We’ve seen an incredible rise of antisemitism, even before Oct. 7,” she said, referring to last October’s attacks on Israel by Hamas.

eral restrictions on reproductive rights.

Health care, particularly for mental health, is another key focus of Gillen’s campaign. She noted that the country is facing a growing mental health crisis, which affects people of all ages. “It’s affecting our young people, our seniors, our veterans and our law enforcement officers,” she said.

Gillen advocates increasing resources to make mental health services more accessible, reducing the long

Her bipartisan approach to solving these issues grew out of her experience as the first Democratic Hempstead town supervisor in over 100 years. Despite facing a Republican-controlled Town Board, Gillen managed to implement sweeping reforms, including ethics legislation, cutting taxes and modernizing the town’s infrastructure.

“I got things done, and that’s what I plan to do in Congress,” Gillen said. “People want problem-solvers in Congress … We need to get things done and reduce the partisanship that’s holding us back.”

Laura Gillen, the Democratic challenger in the 4th C.D., discussed the rising cost of living, reproductive rights, the country’s border problems, the mental health crisis, Israel and more with the Herald.

L.I. schools threatened by Project 2025

By JENNA ZAZA & LORI SAXENA Special to the Herald

Project 2025’s agenda to restructure the government extends beyond the Fed and into education, proposing to completely eliminate the Department of Education. This is a contentious move that could have profound repercussions for public education on Long Island.

The DOE plays a significant role in supporting local education by providing funding to high-poverty schools and increasing programs designed to protect and serve vulnerable students, such as those with disabilities or in the LGBTQ+ community.

Eliminating the department means drastically reducing federal funding streams and eventually phasing out Title I, a federal program that provides financial assistance to schools with a high percentage of low-income students, according to a Chalkbeat report. Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news organization focused on education issues.

Title I aims to ensure all children, regardless of socio-economic status, meet state academic standards by funding programs like after-school tutoring and teacher development. Schools can operate schoolwide improvement initiatives if they meet certain thresholds of low-income students.

“When you eliminate funding, the things that get cut are teacher salaries, teachers get laid off, class sizes get bigger, and you have less counseling services, less paraprofessional services ... all of that is eliminated when you don’t have Title I funding,” Jillian Gaeta, co-founder of the organization Roots to Revolution and a New York City public school teacher, said.

Nearly half of Suffolk County’s total public school enrollment is economically disadvantaged students at 44 percent, in Nassau County it is 32 percent, according to the State Education Department. Districts such as Huntington, Central Islip and Brentwood 63 percent, 66 and 88, of the students are from low-income households, respectively, according to state statistics.

Project 2025 also proposes to reduce eligibility for federally funded meal programs.

Funding impact

The potential rollback of programs like the National School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program under Project 2025 could exacerbate the lack of access to food on Long Island. In recent years, the number of food-insecure individuals on the island has surged, increasing by 58.3 percent since 2021, with an estimated 65,000 children affected, according to a Long Island Cares report.

Over 60 percent of students in lower-income districts like Brentwood and Hempstead qualify for free lunch and breakfast, indicating a substantial reliance on federal aid programs, according to Meals Count data. Meanwhile, wealthier districts like Jericho and Great Neck in Nassau County, where less than 10 percent of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, would be less affected by federal cuts, according to state data.

“In the schools that I’ve worked in, 80 percent of students were receiving free and reduced lunch,” Gaeta said. “If you take away that ability, you now have 80 percent of your kids hungry. You can’t educate those kids; they’re struggling because all they’re focusing on is how their bellies aren’t full.”

Long Island is also seeing a surge in school lunch debt, according to a Healthy School Meals for All report. The Lindenhurst school district reported nearly $50,000 in unpaid school lunch fees and South Huntington said meal debt doubled from $20,000 after the pandemic. Wealthy districts often benefit from higher property tax revenues, which can be used to supplement educational programs. Low-income districts typically struggle with limited funding and resources, making it challenging to provide basic services, let alone additional support for meal programs.

But it’s not just lunch — early childhood education

programs are also on the chopping block under Project 2025.

Whither Head Start?

Head Start is a federal initiative that promotes school readiness for young children from low-income families. It serves children aged 3 to 5, focusing on cognitive, social, and emotional development alongside health screenings and nutritious meals. The program is critical in preparing disadvantaged children for elementary school and fostering long-term academic success.

“Early education programs ... are foundational for a child’s ability to thrive in school, and also for their economic security, that they are able to read and write and develop those skills at an early age,” Gaeta said.

In Nassau County, the availability of Head Start programs is concentrated in districts with higher rates of low-income families. Out of eight Head Start locations, many are in areas with higher child poverty rates.

The Head Start programs in Hempstead, Freeport and Roosevelt illustrate this trend. Hempstead, with a child poverty rate of nearly 21 percent, and Roosevelt, where nearly 17 percent of children live in poverty, highlights communities that heavily rely on these educational resources. Freeport, with around 14 percent of children living in poverty, further emphasizes the critical need for support in these districts. The figures are based on Census Bureau data.

Child poverty rates in Westbury (14 percent), Lawrence (10 percent), and Long Beach (6 percent) demonstrate a varied landscape where families may still benefit from Head Start programs, although the urgency may differ.

More affluent districts like Garden City, Syosset, and East Williston, which report child poverty rates of less than 5 percent, do not have any Head Start locations. Wealthier families often have access to private preschools and other early childhood programs.

Title IX fallout

Another proposal of Project 2025 includes a rollback of Title IX, a federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any educational program or activity receiving federal financial assistance, including sports.

“Title IX, which allows girls to play sports and opens up opportunities for young girls, is also supported and protected by the federal government,” Gaeta said. “So if you eliminate the Federal Department of Education, you’re eliminating all those benefits that our kids need to have successful schools.”

Rolling back Title IX could also disproportionately

impact non-binary and transgender students as the project aims to “define ‘sex’ under Title IX to mean only biological sex.”

“Long Island is already seeing pieces of Project 2025 being enacted,” Kiana Abbady, board chair of Long Island Progressive Coalition, said. “[Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman] already passed a transban, where individuals cannot play sports if they identify as transgender.”

In Nassau County 10 school districts — Island Park, Jericho, Lawrence, Locust Valley, Long Beach, Mineola, New Hyde Park, Oceanside, Oyster Bay and Port Washington — are set to lose funding, based on Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposed 2025 executive budget.

“If any parts of Project 2025 are enacted, we will see large swaths of Long Island’s communities, predominantly black and brown, predominantly working class, lose significant funding for public schools,” Abbady said. “We already see that. ”

Extracurricular activities, such as sports, are typically the first to be cut when schools experience dips in funding, and this could have adverse effects on students. Research indicates that participation in sports is linked to numerous benefits for both girls and transgender youth, including improved academic performance, higher self-esteem, and greater overall well-being.

In underfunded districts, girls often have 1.3 million fewer opportunities than boys to engage in athletic programs, according to the National Women’s Law Center. Exclusionary policies for trans youth like Nassau County’s Legislature and Project 2025 Title IX reforms could exacerbate rates of depression, school absenteeism and suicide in trans students, which are already significantly higher than for cis-gender students.

Without the federal enforcement of Title IX and adequate funding, the gap in opportunities between wellfunded and underfunded schools could widen, leaving many girls and LGBTQ youth without access to the necessary resources for their athletic and educational advancement.

Gaeta said this is ultimately the goal of Project 2025.

“It is designed to benefit wealthy, wealthy white men,” she said. “All of the projects, all the policies in Project 2025, will hurt low-income families, will hurt middle-class families, will hurt women and girls, will hurt LGBTQ families, will hurt people of color. It is designed that way.”

Jenna Zaza and Lori Saxena are reporters 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 George Giokas

A portion of Project 2025 aims to roll back progress made on programs and laws that are designed to protect and serve vulnerable people such as the LGBTQ community.

GENERAL ELECTION Candidates

Amendment to Protect Against Unequal Treatment

This proposal would protect against unequal treatment based on ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, and sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity and pregnancy. It also protects against unequal treatment based on reproductive healthcare and autonomy.

A “YES” vote puts these protections in the New York State Constitution.

A “NO” vote leaves these protections out of the State Constitution.

Enmienda para Proteger Contra el Trato Desigual

Esta propuesta protegería contra el trato desigual basado en la etnicidad, el origen nacional, la edad, la discapacidad y el sexo, incluida la orientación sexual, la identidad de género y el embarazo. También protege contra el trato desigual basado en la salud y la autonomía reproductiva.

Un voto “SÍ” coloca estas protecciones en la Constitución del Estado de Nueva York. Un voto “NO” deja estas protecciones fuera de la Constitución del Estado.

Democratic Electors

Electores para Presidente y Vicepresidente

Kamala D. Harris (For President)

Republican Electors

Tim Walz (For Vice President)

Electores para Presidente y Vicepresidente

Donald J. Trump (For President)

JD Vance (For Vice President)

Representative in Congress District 4

Representante en el Congreso Distrito 4

Laura Gillen (D,CS)

United States Senator

Senador Estatal, Distrito

Kirsten E. Gillibrand (D, WF)

Diane Sare (L)

Justice

Vote for One (1)

Anthony D’Esposito (R,C)

Deanna Terence

Vote for One (1)

Michael D. Sapraicone (R,C)

Senador

ELECTIon’24

actual ballot, but a composite of several sample ballots so as to reflect all the districts within the communities covered Specific candidates for individual communities are identified in blue. Complete reporting on candidates running in districts covered by the LIHerald.com under the Elections ’24 tab. For election results after the polls close Tuesday night, go to LIHerald.com

Senator District 6

Estatal, Distrito 6

Bynoe (D)

Vote for One (1)

Thomas Philip Montenfi nise (R,C)

Member of Assembly District 21

de la Asamblea Distrito 21 Vote for One (1)

Griffi n (D)

Brian Curran (R,C)

Justice of the Supreme Court

la Corte Suprema (Vote for up to Eight) (8)

F. Matthews, Jr. (D,R,C)

Roth (D,R,C)

Deanna D. Panico (D,R,C)

Terence P. Murphy (D,R,C)

County Court Judge

Tribunal del Condado

Jeffrey A. Goodstein(D,R,C)

Alfred C. Graf (D,R,C)

Paul E. Hennings (D,R,C)

Paul M. Hensley (D,R,C)

Andrew A. Crecca (D,R,C)

Family Court Judge

Lisa Daniels (D,R,C)

Chris J. Coschignano (D,R,C)

Joseph Nocella, Jr. (D,R,C)

District Court Judge District 2

Juez del Tribunal de Distrito

Andrea C. Phoenix (D,R,C)

Veronica Renta Irwin (D,R,C)

Vote for Four (4)

Ryan E. Cronin (D,R,C)

Sean Wright (D,R,C)

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Baldwin High recognized as one of the ‘Best High Schools’

Baldwin High School has been named one of the “Best High Schools” in America for the fifth consecutive year by U.S. News & World Report.

The high school reported a graduation rate of 99 percent. The district offers several futureoriented programs, including the Academic Academies, a partnership with Nassau Community College/SUNY Nassau, over 30 dualenrollment (college-credit) courses, and “Senior Experience,” an innovative senior internship course that combines the English Language Arts (ELA) and social studies curricula. Educational leaders and dignitaries from across the nation, including representatives from the U.S. Department of Education, have visited Baldwin schools to witness the initiatives and the instruction taking place.

The U.S. News “Best High Schools” rankings analyze data from over 24,000 public high schools across 50 states and the District of Columbia. Approximately 17,660 schools were ranked based on six key performance factors that assess their effectiveness in preparing students for college and their performance on state assessments. This evaluation includes traditional high schools as well as charter, magnet, and specialized STEM schools.

According to U.S. News, the rankings rely on state education data and six indicators of school quality, which include college readiness, proficiency in reading and math, performance of underserved students, college curriculum breadth, and graduation rates.

Among 1,279 ranked high schools in New York State, Baldwin High School achieved a ranking of #286.

Herald file photo

Baldwin High School was named one of the ‘Best High Schools’ in America by U.S. News & World Report.

BALDWIN HERALD

Se Habla Espanol

Proudly Serving The Baldwin Community For Over 80 Years

Proudly Serving The Church of St. Christopher

Students recognized this year

■ Abigail Forde

■ Asia Dowe

■ Blaine Harding

■ Skyler Blair

■ Chassity Collazo

■ David Kreutz

■ Diego Garcia

■ Emmanuelle TiongSmith

■ Ethan Questelles

■ Erinn Blanchard

■ Gabrielle Gourgue

■ ahzara Emeli

■ Jayden Whittaker

■ Jelani Williams

■ Joshua Adams

■ Jordyn Faria

■ Kailyn Ogaldez

■ Kylee Hopkins

■ Lance Williams II

■ Morgan Martin

■ Neena McKenzie

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

MICHAEL

ACCOUNTING:

JOHN FITZGERALD Managing Partner Citrin Cooperman

GURJIT SINGH

Chief Information Officer

Prager Metis CPAs

DIANE L. WALSH

Chief Marketing Officer

Prager Metis CPAs

BANKING & FINANCE:

STUART H. LUBOW

President & Chief Executive Officer

Dime Community Bank

DAVID A. PERLMUTTER

Managing Partner

Forest Hills Financial Group

MARK SANCHIONI

Senior Vice President & Chief Banking Officer

Ridgewood Savings Bank

JOSEPH TEDESCO

President & Chief Executive Officer Ocean Financial Federal Credit

JOHN BURKE

Managing Director

Global Head of Business

& Professional Services

Citi Commercial Bank

BIOPHARMA:

PATRICIA ECKERT, CPA Chief Financial Officer Enzo Biochem, Inc.

COMMUNICATIONS:

ANDREW RAINONE

Senior Vice President, Business Sales

EDUCATION:

MARIA CONZATTI, EdD

Chief Administrative Officer Nassau Community College

TIMOTHY E. SAMS, Ph.D.

■ Olivia Young

■ Rihanna Hodge

■ Safiya Allie

■ Samaya Lindo-Smellie

■ Semyrahh Mays

■ Sienna Bolasingh

■ Solomon Ruff

■ Solhaine Thera

■ Timothy Walton

■ Toni Smith

Baldwin students recognized in College Board National programs

Baldwin High School announced that 31 students have earned academic honors from the 2024 College Board National Recognition Programs, nearly doubling last year’s count. These awards celebrate students’ hard work and outstanding academic performance, allowing recipients to showcase their achievements in college applications.

“I am incredibly proud of our students for receiving recognition from the College Board, and I congratulate them on this

honor,” Neil Testa, principal of Baldwin High School stated in a news release. “These moments fill me with even more pride as the principal of Baldwin High School. This remarkable accomplishment reaffirms that our educators, staff, and students consistently strive for excellence.”

Students eligible for these honors must maintain a GPA of 3.5 or higher and excel on the PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10, or achieve a score of 3 or higher on two or more AP Exams. Eligible students can be African American or Black, Hispanic American or Latinx, attend school in a rural area or small town, and/or be firstgeneration college students.

News briefs

WILLIAM MAXWELL Vice President The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company

BILLY HAUGLAND II Chief Executive Officer Haugland Group LLC

ANDREW J. SOLANO Managing Partner Emtec Consulting Engineers

GAS/UTILITIES:

CHRISTINA ARMENTANO

Chief Operating Officer & Executive Vice President Paraco

JOHN RHODES

Chief Executive Officer Long Island Power Authority (LIPA)

ROSS TURRINI Chief Operating Officer National Grid New York

ENERGY: JIM FLANNERY Chief Operating Officer National Grid Ventures, US Northeast

HEALTHCARE:

ALLISON BERGMANN

Chief Operating Officer

Solutions 4 Community Health

MARIANELA CASAS, MPA

Chief Operating Officer Association for Mental Health and Wellness

STACEY C. JACKSON HARLEY

Chief Operating Officer Harmony Healthcare

ANDREW MINTZ

President SUNY Old Westbury ENGINEERING

Chief Executive Officer The Smilist

MICHAEL N. ROSENBLUT

President & Chief Executive Officer

Parker Jewish Institute For Healthcare and Rehabilitation

AMY SILVA-MAGALHAES

Chief Operating Officer The Bristal Assisted Living

JOSEPH VERDIRAME

Chief Executive Officer

Alliance Homecare

AMIT SHAH, MD

Partner & Vascular Surgeon PRINE Health

HOSPITALITY:

MICHAEL LESSING Chief Executive Officer Lessing's Hospitality Group

LEGAL:

NICOLE JOSEPH

Chief Operating Officer & Finance Director CM Law PLLC

JULIE WYETZNER

Executive Director & Chief Operating Officer Cona Elder Law PLLC

MICHAEL H. SAHN

Managing Partner Sahn Ward Braff Coschignano PLLC

HOWARD M. STEIN

Managing Partner & Co- Chair of the Real Estate Practice Group Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman, LLP

NOT-FOR-PROFIT:

PHIL ANDREWS

President

Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce

MICHAEL K. BILLIA

Chief Executive Officer Life’s WORC

LISA BURCH, MPH

President and Chief Executive Officer

EPIC Long Island, Inc.

RANDELL BYNUM

Chief Executive Officer

Girl Scouts of Nassau County

MATTHEW COHEN

President and Chief Executive Officer Long Island Association, Inc.

ERIKA FLORESKA

President Long Island Children's Museum

JEFFREY FRIEDMAN

Chief Executive Officer CN Guidance and Counseling Services

LLOYD Chief Executive Officer and Founder Minority Millennials, Inc.

DIANE MANDERS Interim Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director Habitat for Humanity of LI

JOHN MCGUIGAN Chief Executive Officer AHRC Suffolk

JEFFREY L. REYNOLDS, PHD President & Chief Executive Officer Family and Children's Association LUIS VAZQUEZ President & Chief Executive Officer Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

REAL ESTATE:

JOSEPH A. FARKAS Chief Executive Officer & Founder Metropolitan Realty Associates LLC

RETAIL: ROBERT KAY Chief Executive Officer Lifetime Brands, Inc.

SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT:

CHRIS R. VACCARO President & Executive Officer Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame

TECHNOLOGY: AMY E. NEWMAN Senior Vice President, Administration Canon U.S.A, Inc.

TRANSPORTATION: ROBERT FREE Acting President Long Island Rail Road

MARLON TAYLOR President New York and Atlantic Railway

COREY J. MUIRHEAD Executive Vice President Guardian Bus Company

MICHAEL D. TORNABE Chief Operating Officer Guardian Bus Company *List still in formation

60 years of service in Baldwin

Nassau County Legislator Debra Mulé celebrated with the Baldwin Fire Department on Oct. 12 as firefighter Thomas FitzSimons celebrated 60 years of volunteer service to the Baldwin community.

“The selflessness and bravery that Thomas has demonstrated for more than six decades is an inspiration to us all and a shining example of how Long Island’s tradition of volunteer fire service has kept us safe for generations,” Mulé said. “It was a privilege to join a celebration of such a remarkable milestone and wish Thomas many more years of protecting and serving the people of Baldwin!”

Hernesto Galdamez

Office of Legislator Debra Mule

DAN

By Danielle Schwab & Tim Baker

Havana Munsuz

Age 9, Locust Valley

My mom (Lenia Matias). I think she would make equal rights for every person. She supports LGBTQ rights, and she’s also a woman. All the presidents are boys, and we should have a girl as a president. We read a book about the election together.

If you could choose anyone, who would make a good president? Why?

Nicholas Kemp

Age 5, East Rockaway

I want Aaron Judge to be president but I (also) don’t want him because he’s playing baseball and he won’t hit any more home runs. If he was president I think he would be so happy.

Michael Lutz

Age 7, Rockville Centre

My dad (Eric Donohoe) because he’s basically like Donald Trump. Also, my mom (Shannon Donohoe) because she’s technically almost the same as my dad. She would get more jobs in America, put the prices down so if it was $3 it would be $2 and she would get more American-made products

Amelia Geraghty

Age 8, East Meadow

I think John F. Kennedy because if he ever did something wrong, his wife, Jacqueline Kennedy would have stood up for civil rights for women. I don’t think he would do anything wrong. And he was also young (when he was president). The older you are, the more you forget. I’ve read a lot of books

Tasnim and Taha Laghroudi

Tasnim, age 8; Taha, age 10, Wantagh

My teacher Ms. Sanders (my third grade teacher) would make a good president because she’s really fun and she’s very serious so we do our work instead of just playing around the whole time. Teachers are hard working and they’ve been through a lot of lessons and teachings, and they’re responsible for people in their class.

SHOP WHAT'S NOW UNIQLO

BALDWIN HERALD — October 31, 2024

NUMC thinks pink, unveils new mammography van Hospital partners with Hair We Share to help patients obtain wigs

By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com

Nassau University Medical Center recently unveiled the design for a new, state-of-the-art mobile van that would screen for breast cancer — dubbed the “MammoVan” — in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The advanced mobile mammography unit will be hitting the road next May, providing life-saving early detection services to thousands of women across Nassau County while ensuring accessible healthcare for underserved communities.

“Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among females in New York state,” Meg Ryan, NUMC’s interim chief executive and pres ident, said.

Ryan added that 16,700 females are diagnosed with breast cancer in New York annually, and Nassau County has a breast cancer rate that’s 10 percent higher than the rest of New York.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and joining Ryan at the Oct. 23 unveiling were Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, more than 100 hospital employees and the medical center’s board members.

NUMC offers women’s health care clin ics with extended hours on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, and weekend clinics, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Satur days. More than 13,000 women have visit ed the clinics so far this year, and more than 20,000 are expected to use these ser vices by the end of 2024.

“Early detection is vital,” Ryan said. “Here at NUMC, we perform 6,500 mam mograms annually, both on site here and in the van. Our breast imaging clinic, our oncology center, our women’s health and our radiology services are vital to our community.”

NUMC’s mobile mammography van has been in use since 2002, and the new van will greatly increase the standard of care being offered to patients, Ryan said.

“It’s going to be the best of the best in our van,” she said. “We’re getting new technology — the gold standard of tech nology. Right now, the van goes out twice a week, and now this new van that’s going to be delivered here in May, it’s going to be going out into communities five to six days a week.

“We’re going to see an increase annual ly of 40 percent more patients,” Ryan added. “That’s 40 percent more people that we can get in the van, diagnose and treat early. So that’s very important for our community.”

NUMC will hold its first-ever Pink Gala at The Lannin in Eisenhower Park on Nov. 14, starting at 6 p.m. The new van will cost around $1 million, and while the hospital has some of the funding for it already, all proceeds from the gala will contribute to its purchase.

residents healthy,” he said. “Early detection is critical — getting mammograms and screenings can make all the difference in health outcomes. This new $1 million van is an incredible investment, and I couldn’t be more excited about what it will mean for our community.”

During the unveiling, Ryan also announced that the hospital has recently partnered with the nonprofit Hair We Share, which provides human hair wigs made from donated hair, free of charge, to people struggling with medical hair loss.

Hair We Share, based in Jericho and founded in 2014 by Suzanne Chimera and Dean Riskin, now has a “wig room” inside of NUMC’s oncology suite to help patients dealing with chemotherapy-related hair loss.

Chimera, a wig designer since 1994, said that human hair wigs are completely hand made, and each strand of hair is individually sewn. Wigs can cost upwards of $3,000.

Hair We Share was originally founded to help a young girl dealing with alopecia,

an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss. Her family could not afford the cost of a wig, so Chimera put a post out on social media urging people to donate their hair. In three days, she received more than 42 donations.

To learn more about Hair We Share and how to donate, visit HairWeShare. org.

Ryan said everything NUMC does is for the benefit of the community. The hospital serves all Nassau County residents, regardless of their ability to pay.

Blakeman, whose sister is a breast cancer survivor, said he was delighted to join the hospital for the unveiling.

“I also want to express my gratitude to the doctors, nurses and staff for the incredible work you do in keeping Nassau

STEPPING OUT

Looking outward

from an artistic perspective

Local talents on view at

Museum’s Long Island Biennial

By Danielle Schwab

A tradition since 2010, the popular Long Island Biennial at Hecksher Museum returns with “The Body Politic,” shining the spotlight on our diverse artistic talent throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties.

The latest edition of the juried exhibition — now on view through mid-January — offers an exciting look at what is happening artistically here in our area.

Out of 313 submissions, 79 were accepted from 60 artists, resulting in a vivid assortment of mediums, styles and focuses on exhibit. Curated by Meredith A. Brown, the museum’s consulting curator of Contemporary Art, each piece was reviewed by an expert jury team. The panel included Ian Alteveer, department chair of contemporary art at the Museum of Fine Arts; Patricia Cronin, artistic director of the LGBTQ+ VR Museum, art professor and sculptor; Grace Hong, assistant director of Galerie Lelong & Co.

The exhibit takes on a theme for the first time — examining contemporary social, cultural and political issues. It’s a snapshot of some of the major national, local and even international matters that compel artists in this important election year.

“Sixty countries — taken together, representing half the world’s population, including the United States — will have held major elections by the end of this year,” Brown says.

“It’s a crucial year. And we thought it would be interesting to see how the people, the artists in our communities, are thinking about these political, social, cultural issues — and representing them through art.”

The exhibit represents a remarkable variety of media, with styles spanning abstraction to hyperrealism, including sculpture, painting, photography, and collage. One pieceis even composed with cut plastic straws and lighters found on a beach.

“I’m always interested in the way artists can combine things that I wouldn’t have thought of, sometimes materials that are ‘non-art’ materials,” Brown adds.

East Meadow’s Karen Kirshner is among the artists featured. Her abstract acrylic painting “The Mission, 2022” employs a “direct painting” technique that enables her to use her emotions to paint onto the canvas.

“I never know what I’m going to paint. I paint in the moment, moment to moment, and then

and for the

review and evaluate and adapt and improve,” Kirshner explains.

She was influenced by the war in Ukraine, with so many trying to flee. Her movement of lines, shapes and vibrancy of colors expresses the Ukrainians’ frantic energy.

“I felt in my soul,” Kirshner says. “The mission is to get people out.”

Maria Spector, of Babylon, is represented with two paintings: “Candy Girls and Boys Under the Jellybean Tree, 2022 ” and “Candy Girls Under the Sugar-Plum Tree with Boy and the Artists that Painted Women 2020-22.”

In “Candy Girls and Boys Under the Jellybean Tree“ contemporary figures of children are mixed with images from art history, fine art and popular culture — all under a tree ‘ripe’ with various candies.

• Now through Jan. 19

• Open Thursday through Sunday, noon-5 p.m.

• Heckscher Museum of Art,

2 Prime Ave., Huntington

• Visit Heckscher.org for more information or call (631) 380-3230

“By incorporating pop culture, I explore issues of femininity and masculinity through both history and today. The work is meant to challenge our own biases and beliefs,” Spector says.

Another standout, Lynbrook’s Susan Kozodoy Silkowitz captures her vision through photography. “Pink Shoes, 2022” is a testament to freedom of expression without discrimination. The male in pink platform shoes was snapped outside of Fashion Institute of Technology.

“I’ve been photographing people for 50 years. It took me many years to be able to do what I do, which is approach and photograph people on the street,” Kozodoy Silkowitz says. “I think it’s a wonderful thing to see people who are unafraid to express who they are, although some people may disapprove.”

Visitors can contribute their own voice to what’s on view and how they relate to community and identity through a collage of messages on the response wall.

It’s all part of the museum’s effort to encourage artistic reflection through times of great change, inspiring us to engage with narratives in a new light.

As Brown puts it: “It helps the artists and it helps those of us who are not artists to think about the diversity of artists and viewpoints and opinions in these communities in which we live, and in that way, hopefully it can broaden people’s views of their communities, of where we are.”

As always, the exhibit experience is enhanced by related programming. The participating artists will be in the galleries on select Sundays throughout the exhibition period to engage with visitors, as well as taking part in upcoming museum and community events.

Mike DelGuidice’s Concert Weekend for Veterans

Mike DelGuidice, one of Long Island’s celebrated singersongwriters returns to The Paramount, with special guests. The band always gives it their all, especially when playing the iconic Billy Joel songs. DelGuidice leads his ensemble in a rousing concert that highlights the Piano Man’s decades of hits. Like his idol, DelGuidice grew up mastering several instruments including bass guitar, guitar, piano, and drums. He’s renowned for his encyclopedic knowledge of the Joel catalog, which caught the attention of Joel himself, who ultimately brought him on stage with him. DelGuidice and his band pack hit after charttopping hit in a high energy show that’s always a crowd pleaser. The concert delights audiences with renditions of classic rock favorites and his own eclectic originals.

Friday and Saturday, Nov. 1-2, 8 p.m. $60, $40, $25, $20. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.

America

The perennial classic rock favorite is back on the road again as founding member Dewey Bunnell celebrates the band’s 54th anniversary, appearing on the Tilles Center stage. Billed as “Ride On Tour 2024, it draws on the band’s deep catalog of hits including signature song “A Horse With No Name,” a #1 hit on Billboard’s Hot 100 in 1972. Bunnell and America’s co-founder Gerry Beckley (along with former bandmate Dan Peek), who met in high school in London in the late 1960s, quickly harmonized their way to the top of the charts on the strength of that tune. Forty plus years later, these friends continue to make music together (although Beckley has now retired from touring) thrilling audiences with their timeless sound. Yet beyond their impressive catalog of hits, listeners discovered there was always much more to America than surface perceptions.

Saturday, Nov. 2, 8 p.m.

Tickets start at $35. LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Tickets available at TillesCenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

Susan Kozodoy Silkowitz’s Pink Shoes gives a voice to personal expression.

Photos courtesy Heckscher Museum

Maria Spector’s collage “Candy Girls and Boys Under the Jellybean Tree,” is part of a series that explore issues of consumerism, sexuality, femininity, and masculinity — merging the ideas and works of the past with the present.

Karen Kirshner’s “The Mission” was inspired by the war in Ukraine. It conveys the frantic rush to safety by

Ukrainians.

THE Your Neighborhood

Ailey II

Ailey II, which bills itself as “the next generation of dance,” continues its 50th anniversary of bringing “off-the-charts energy” to the stage, with a performance at Tilles Center, Friday, Nov. 8 , at 8 p.m. Ailey II is universally renowned for merging the spirit and energy of the country’s finest early-career dance talent with the passion and creative vision of today’s outstanding and emerging choreographers.

The 2024-25 repertory features two world premieres by former Ailey II member Alia Kache and by Houston Thomas, as well as repertory favorites and beloved classics. Founded in 1974 as the Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble and led by Sylvia Waters for 38 seasons, Ailey II has advanced Alvin Ailey’s vision for more than five decades by giving early-career dancers a bridge from world-class training at The Ailey School to the professional stage. Led by Artistic Director Francesca Harper, Ailey II’s dancers bring their technical mastery and emotional depth to works by the most daring established and emerging choreographers. Just as Ailey envisioned, the company continues to develop the next generation of performers and dancemakers while expanding audiences through global touring and community-based performances.

‘The Birthday Party’

Looking for something to do this Halloween season that isn’t just for kids? Visit Sands Point Preserve for an exclusive, immersive theatrical production, “The Birthday Party,” held in a secluded opulent mansion concludes Thursday and Friday, oct. 31-Nov. 1. For those who attended Archie’s last “Birthday Party,” rest assured, there are new surprises in store.

Halloween Party

Auxiliary Unit of Baldwin Post

246 invites all to their spooktacular Halloween Party, Saturday, Nov. 2, 6:30-10:30 p.m. Enjoy a lively evening with music and treats. $35 for each person. To purchase tickets, call (516) 867-9873. 2754 Grand Ave., Baldwin.

Native American Pottery Workshop

Baldwin Public Library celebrates Native American Heritage Month, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 4-5 p.m. Paint designs on ceramic pots inspired by traditional Native American pottery patterns. 2385 Grand Ave. Visit Baldwinpl.org for more information or call (516) 223-6228, ext. 145.

The program includes Alvin Ailey’s Streams, an abstract exploration of bodies in space, danced to a percussion score by Miloslav Kabelac; Houston Thomas’ world premiere Down the Rabbit Hole, a continuation of the choreographer’s Follow the White Rabbit (2022) that expands on its themes, examining the relationship between humans and technology; also Francesca Harper’s Luminous, a work that pays homage to the 50th anniversary of Ailey II and the artists who paved the way for future generations. Tickets start at $35. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville. Tickets available at tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100.

Guests are blindfolded and escorted to a secret location on the proprerty, Villa Vanitas, to celebrate the enigmatic Lord Archibald Axel Von Finkelshorn Chatterton’s 30th birthday. He is a witless charmer on the cusp of a life-changing revelation, and everyone’s invited to witness his journey on a night that promises to be unforgettable and delightfully unpredictable. Cocktail attire preferred. $175 per person. Sands Point Preserve, 127 Middle Neck Road. For information, visit SandsPointPreserveConservancy. org or call (516) 571-7901.

Baldwin Board of Education meeting

Baldwin Board of Education next meets, Wednesday, Nov. 13, at Steele School. The meeting begins at 8 p.m. All are encouraged to attend and participate in discussions about important educational matters affecting the schools. 860 Church St.

BCA membership meeting

The Baldwin Civic Association holds a general membership meeting, Thursday, Nov. 14, at 7:30 p.m., in the Baldwin High School cafeteria, 841 Ethel T. Kloberg Drive.

On stage

Join Adelphi University’s talented theater students who perform playwright Caryl Churchill’s “Love and Information,” Thursday and Friday, Oct. 31-Nov. 1, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 2, 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 3, 2 p.m.

The fast-moving theatrical kaleidoscope explores more than 100 characters in over 50 short scenes as they try to make sense of what they know and what they find out. This is a play unlike any other that examines what it means to be human in a modern world and tackles the tension between the concepts of love and information.

Tickets start at $30, with discounts available to seniors, students, Adelphi alumni and employees. Adelphi University Performing Arts Center, Olmsted Theater, 1 South Ave., Garden City. (516) 877-4000 or Adelphi.edu/pac.

Sunday Music: Serenade Duo

The award-winning Serenade Duo, featuring flutist Michelle LaPorte and guitarist Gerry Saulter, performs at Baldwin Public Library, Sunday, Nov. 17, at 2 p.m. Their engaging stage presence and informative commentary captivates audiences, showcasing a rich repertoire of music of diverse composers around the world. Tickets required. Visit Baldwinpl. org for more information or call (516) 223-6228, ext. 145. 2385 Grand Ave.

Long Island Turkey Trot

Runners are invited to come out for the Long Island Turkey Trot in Eisenhower Park, Saturday, Nov. 2, in Parking Field 2. The walk/ run 5K event begins at 9 a.m. for more information and to register, visit Events.EliteFeats. com/24LITurkeyTrot.

Having an event?

Art explorations

Converse, collaborate and create at Family Saturdays at Nassau County Museum of Art. The drop-in program continues Saturday, Nov. 2, 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.

NEW YORK’S WRONGEST RUNNING COMEDY!

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.

Board games from days gone by

Enjoy an evening of learning and playing historic games at Old Westbury Gardens’ Westbury House, Friday, Nov. 8, 7-9:30 p.m. The Long Island Tabletop Gaming Expo takes visitors on journey through 5,000 years of board game history, from its roots in ancient times to more familiar examples from the time of the Phipps family. A brief lecture on board game history includes a presentation of each of the featured games. All are fully playable, and you can try them out yourself.

Games include: Senet, The Royal Game of Ur, Three Man’s Morris, Six Man’s Morris, Nine Man’s Morris, Twelve Man’s Morris, Mancala, Go, Chess, The Royal and Most Pleasant Game of The Goose, Backgammon. The Landlords Game (transition to the modern Monopoly). $15. 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information contact (516) 333-0048 or visit OldWestburyGardens.org.

Public Notices

LEGAL NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU

THE BANK OF NEW YORK

MELLON FKA THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE CERTIFICATEHOLDERS OF CWMBS, INC., CHL MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH TRUST 2005-04, MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH

CERTIFICATES, SERIES

2005-04, -againstVALERIE POWELL, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on February 9, 2016, wherein THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON FKA THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE CERTIFICATEHOLDERS OF CWMBS, INC., CHL MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH TRUST 2005-04, MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH

CERTIFICATES, SERIES

2005-04 is the Plaintiff and VALERIE POWELL, ET AL. are the Defendant(s).

I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on November 12, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 3386 BERTHA DRIVE, BALDWIN, NY 11510; and the following tax map identification: 54-551-54. 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 Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 007502/2008. Harold F. Damm, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social

distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 149392

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, vs. CARRINGTON D. BROCK A/K/A CARRINGTON BROCK, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee’s Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on March 28, 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 November 13, 2024 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 1109 Cramer Court, 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 36, Block 523 and Lot 0070. Approximate amount of judgment is $400,642.32 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #600506/2023. Cash will not be accepted.

Lisa S. Poczik, Esq., Referee Knuckles & Manfro, LLP, 120 White Plains Road, Suite 215, Tarrytown, New York 10591, Attorneys for Plaintiff 149384

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVICING, LLC, Plaintiff AGAINST JOSEPH A. ORTIZ AKA JOSEPH A ORTIZ, MARCUS G. MEIGHAN AKA MARCUS G MEIGHAN, JASMINE ORTIZ, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of

Foreclosure and Sale duly entered March 28, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on November 19, 2024 at 2:30PM, premises known as 1111 Cornwell Avenue, Baldwin, NY 11510. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in Baldwin, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 54 Block 372 Lot 267 formerly known as part of Lot 16 and Lot 233. Approximate amount of judgment $387,669.44 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #618334/2022. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID-19 mitigation protocols and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine”. Tara Mayerhofer, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 22-004088 82766 149466

LEGAL NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that the fiscal affairs of the Baldwin UFSD for the period beginning on July 1, 2023 and ending on June 30, 2024 have been examined by an independent public accounting firm. The management letter prepared in conjunction with the external audit by the independent public accounting firm has been filed in my office where it is available as a public record for inspection by all interested persons. Pursuant to §35 of the General Municipal Law,

the governing board of the Baldwin UFSD may prepare a written response to the management letter by the independent public accounting firm and file any such response in my office as a public record for inspection by all interested persons not later than January 17, 2025.

By: James P. Robinson, Ed.D. Assistant Superintendent for Business Baldwin UFSD 960 Hastings Street Baldwin, NY 11510 149706

Place a notice by phone at 516-569-4000 x232 or email: legalnotices@liherald.com

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, vs. LUTHER NICHOLAS A/K/A LUTHER

M. NICHOLAS, ET AL., Defendant(s).

Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee’s Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on January 31, 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 December 4, 2024 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 896 School Drive, North Baldwin a/k/a 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 36, Block 508 and Lot 15. Approximate amount of judgment is $281,125.47 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #612280/2022. Cash will not be accepted.

Melissa D. Mohan, Esq., Referee Knuckles & Manfro, LLP, 120 White Plains Road, Suite 215, Tarrytown, New York 10591, Attorneys for Plaintiff 149700

HERALD SchoolS

Baldwin High School will receive a $10,000 grant to produce ‘The Unsinkable Molly Brown’ next month by the Educational Theatre Foundation, Music Man Foundation and Music Theatre International. Above, a performance of ‘Newsies’ last year.

Baldwin High School awarded $10,000 grant

Baldwin High School made history as the only New York school to receive the Unsinkable Molly Brown Grant of $10,000 to produce Dick Scanlan’s revival of Meredith Willson’s musical “The Unsinkable Molly Brown.”

Through a collaboration between the Educational Theatre Foundation (ETF), The Music Man Foundation (TMMF) and Music Theatre International (MTI), aimed at empowering theatre programs across the country to engage educators, students, and their communities, the grant will fund various aspects of Baldwin High School Playhouse’s fall musical, including set and costume designs and script rights.

Stage director Tricia Wilder, along with Gabriella Franza, the assistant director of instructional programs for the Baldwin school district, spearheaded the application process.

“We are tremendously proud to be among the winners of the Unsinkable Molly Brown Grant, a national recognition made possible by the hard work and dedication of Tricia Wilder, Dr. Gabriella Franza and André Poprilo,” Shari Camhi, superintendent of schools for Baldwin wrote in a news release. “This is an incredible opportunity for our theater students to showcase the exceptional talent behind Baldwin’s Fine & Performing Arts Department. Receiving

this highly selective accolade not only brings prestige to our district but also accentuates the talent, dedication, and unique learning opportunities in the Baldwin School District.”

“This recognition highlights what I have always known—that our theater students are incredibly talented, and now the world will get to see that, too,” Wilder stated.

Originally debuting on Broadway in 1960, “The Unsinkable Molly Brown” tells the rags-to-riches story of Margaret “Molly” Brown, a Titanic survivor and advocate for women’s rights, labor rights and immigration reform.

“This opportunity allows us to step outside our comfort zone and take on a show that challenges us in new and exciting ways,” Wilder noted. “With little precedent to follow, we have the unique chance to make this production entirely our own, setting the bar for schools that follow. I couldn’t have asked for a more dedicated and talented group of students to embark on this journey with, and I know they will rise to the occasion.”

Performances of “The Unsinkable Molly Brown” are scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 21 at 4 PM; Friday, Nov. 22 at 7 PM; and Saturday, Nov. 23 at 2 PM and 7 PM at Baldwin High School. Tickets go on sale Nov. 1st.

Herald file photo

CIRCULATION ASSOCIATE

Full Time/Part Time

Richner Communications, publisher of Herald community newspapers has an excellent opportunity for a FT/PT Customer Service Clerk in our busy Circulation Department. Basic customer service and administrative responsibilities include: heavy computer work, answering phones, making phone calls, entering orders, faxing, filing, etc.

STRONG knowledge of EXCEL a must! Knowledge of DATABASE maintenance or postal regulations a big plus. Qualified Candidates must be computer literate, able to multitask, dependable, reliable, organized, energetic, detail oriented and able to work well under deadlines. Salary Range is $16 per hour to $23 per hour. For consideration, please send resume & salary requirements to: careers@liherald.com

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!

$20 - $25/ Hour Bell Auto School 516-365-5778

Email: info@bellautoschool.com

your ad to: 516-622-7460

EDITOR/REPORTER

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

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

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 or Call 516-569-4000 X250

PRINTING PRESS OPERATORS FT & PT. Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for Printing Press Operators in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop.

CRUZ SERAG Caregivers Provide The Best Male/ Female Caregivers In America. Certified HHA's, Professional.

Will housing ever be more affordable?

A Buyers Dream Home

WE BUY HOUSES for Cash AS IS! No repairs. No fuss. Any condition. Easy three step process: Call, get cash offer and get paid. Get your fair cash offer today by calling Liz Buys Houses: 1-888-704-5670

Welcome to 7 Granada Pl in Massapequa. This stunning Fort Lauderdale-style waterfront colonial, newly constructed in 2023, epitomizes luxurious living. Offering 4 spacious bedrooms and 2.5 elegantly designed baths, this property showcases top-tier upgrades throughout. Inside, you’ll find exquisite 6” white oak floors and a show stopping Calacatta quartz infinity island in a gourmet kitchen outfitted with Wolf and Miele appliances. The master suite includes a private Trex balcony, a steam shower, and radiant heated floors for your comfort. The outdoor space is an entertainer's dream, featuring a waterfront view, saltwater heated pool, a serene bluestone fountain, and a brand-new Trex dock equipped with

CEDARHURST NO FEE Private Entrance, Modern 1BR, 2BR, 3BR, CAC, W/D, Storage, Wall To Wall Carpeting, Indoor Parking Space. Starting At $1450 For One Bedroom When Available. (516)860-6889/ (516)852-5135/ (516)582-9978 BETH DAVID CEMETERY Elmont, Individual Cemetery Plot Available. For Information Call Leslie. 212-662-2650.

Q. I’m looking to sell my home, and I’m stunned by the cost of homes these days. My daughter’s family had to move out of the area, not because they needed better jobs, but because their jobs couldn’t pay enough to afford a home, and my wife and I could only help a little. Do you see any hope for housing to be made more affordable? Are there less costly ways to build that could help young people get a foothold on the American Dream? What do you think?

A. Yes, there are many ways to make homes more affordable, but the way to make it happen is very complicated, and I doubt that you’ll see it happen. Think of people, our economy, our system of living arrangements, our communities, separately or combined into large entities, as being like a large woven fabric. There are many threads in this fabric, many colors and textures and many ways the threads are woven, some over, some under and some straight through. Pull at one part of the fabric, poke at another, and the whole composition ruffles, wrinkles, even tears and starts to unravel.

Now, think of how much each thread costs, how someone puts a price on that thread because of its location, its color, its finish within the fabric. That one thread is now thought of as more expensive, special and exclusive. Others see that thread and decide their threads are pretty darn special, too. Soon every thread goes up in value, and anyone trying to weave a new thread into the fabric, or trying to buy that thread, must be in compliance with the costs, rules and location.

Regulators who decide where different threads can be placed, how big or small those threads can be and what they can look like, are people. People are threads in the fabric. Your kids are threads who may or may not find a way to be woven into the fabric as other threads disintegrate or are pulled away. Government, financial institutions, property associations, neighbors and you have to all cooperate to make the fabric stay together.

It’s possible that when enough people refuse to buy a thread or be a thread, then the value of threads diminishes. The cost of making a thread — a home or a commercial building — keeps increasing, so the cost of the components has to be brought down. But the people who make those components have to get paid. Do we cut their salaries? It’s all connected, like a complicated woven fabric in which everything has to work together.

There’s currently a nationwide shortage of housing units and a limited inventory of homes for sale, possibly because it costs more for less, so people are reluctant to move. Prices, the cost of materials, the regulated size of homes, and profit margins for sellers and lenders all need to be reduced. Does anyone see that happening, or do we wait for the fabric to become brittle and start to come apart to respond? 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.

Ask The Architect

Monte

Registration for the free Statewide UPK lottery at the Jewish Early Learning Center of Merrick is scheduled for Friday, 11/1 from 9:00am to 10:00am at 2174 Hewlett Avenue, Suite 100 in Merrick, N.Y. Please bring 2 proofs of residence and your child's original birth certificate. Please also bring a copy of each proof of residence and the birth certificate. Eligible children must reside in Freeport and turn 4 by 12/1/25 to qualify. SAVE

We Buy Antiques, Fine Art, Coins & Jewelry Same Day Service, Free In-Home Evaluations, 45 Year Family Business. Licensed and Bonded, Immediate Cash Paid. SYL-LEE ANTIQUES www.syl-leeantiques.com 516-671-6464

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Vote this year — and every year — to fulfill our civic duty

Next week, the residents of Nassau County will join Americans in every corner of the nation — as well as citizens living abroad and the men and women of our armed forces — in casting their ballots in the pivotal 2024 elections.

Yes, the federal elections — for president, U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives — have captured many of the headlines and much of our attention. But we must not lose sight of this year’s crucial elections for the State Senate and Assembly, as well as a special Town Council election in the 5th Councilmanic District and Proposition 1 on the back of the ballot.

The outcomes of these races will impact our lives and the issues that matter most to us, and because of recent changes in state law, it’s easier than ever to be an active participant in

our democracy.

At 27 sites across Nassau County, early voting continues through Sunday. Go to nassauvotes.com or call (516) 571VOTE (8683) to get the full list of early-voting sites and hours of operations. If you prefer to vote on Election Day, cast your ballot at your normal polling place, which you can confirm at voterlookup.elections.ny.gov.

Your vote is your voice in the process that will chart the course of our future.

An active and informed electorate is the backbone of representative government — and your vote is your voice in the process that will chart the course of our future. With Election Day fast approaching, I know that the intensity of this campaign has been exhausting. But there are ways we can break it down and filter it all, one step at a time.

I encourage you to do all you can to cut through the noise on social media, campaign advertisements and partisan media outlets so that you can get a real picture of who is running to represent your community. News outlets like the Herald are excellent resources for learn-

ing about candidates’ platforms, and I encourage you to read multiple outlets to gain a fuller perspective. It’s also helpful to look closely at the endorsements and financial support that each candidate has received so that you can match that up against your values and priorities. Nonpartisan organizations like the League of Women Voters are also excellent resources for straightforward presentations on where the candidates stand.

As you might have suspected, I am passionate about voting, and I believe that forgoing this right would be an abdication of our civic duty and a disservice to all who fought so tirelessly to expand that right to all American citizens. Remember, women were not granted suffrage until the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution in 1920. And it wasn’t until 1964 that poll taxes — a common tool for disenfranchising Black Americans in the Jim Crow South — were banned. A year later, in 1965, Black Americans were

fully enfranchised through the passage of the Voting Rights Act.

These actions were major triumphs in the push to realize the promise of freedom and equality that are at the core of the post-Civil War 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments, and the road to that day was marked by tremendous battles that continue to this day.

The advocates who courageously raised their voices and stood firm to bend the arc of history toward justice sacrificed far too much for us to take what they did for granted. They often faced violence and terrorism at the hands of the Ku Klux Klan and other hate-mongering foes of equality, and shed their blood and tears as they fearlessly waged this battle. Far too many of these heroic leaders lost their lives in the pursuit of a greater and more perfect union.

We must never forget what they gave of themselves to secure the right that we are about to exercise — and may each of us honor their legacy by casting our ballot in an election that will shape our collective future.

Debra Mulé represents Nassau County’s 6th Legislative District.

Hurricanes shred lives and property

We did the stupid thing, and we survived.

We did not evacuate our home on a barrier island on the west coast of Florida when Hurricane Helene blasted through in the early-morning hours of Sept. 26.

The first alerts about Helene seemed exaggerated and alarmist: A disorganized low-pressure system, percolating quietly near the Yucatan Peninsula, would gather fearsome energy over the Gulf of Mexico and slam into Florida’s Gulf coast, as a Cat 4 or 5 killer. It was an unusual setup for hurricane in these parts. My part-time residence was long said to be safe by the indigenous people who lived here, protected geographically because of a twist in the coastline. Maybe the ancients are exacting revenge for our careless guardianship of their land.

We are on the eighth floor of a building on the beach, and we have metal wind shutters. So, considering the laborious process of gathering our belong-

ings and food and driving to a safe haven, we decided to stay. Besides, once a storm is on its way, not much time remains before landfall, and it isn’t clear which way to run. Hurricanes often wobble or weaken or, in the case of Helene, turn left over Georgia and North Carolina, destroying everything in their path.

WWe had water for a week, and food that didn’t need to be refrigerated or heated. We had each other and Lillybee the dog, who had been skulking in our shadows for days. We also felt somewhat jaded by overhyped weather alarms in the past. Epic snowfalls, tornadoes sprouting everywhere, on-again-off-again water spout watches. We would probably be OK.

tioned. Then I walked up. Then I did the same walk, down and up eight flights, for five days, until power was restored. Both of our cars, parked “safely” in the garage, were engulfed by the tidal surge and totaled.

e were scared straight by Helene, and will never try to ride one out again.

Sometime after midnight on the 26th, the rain and wind came on like a freight train, hammering the shutters against our windows. Within an hour we had no electricity and no internet. Officials on the mainland turned off all water service to the island. The bridge to the rest of the world was closed.

The dog needed to go out, so I grabbed a flashlight and walked down eight dark flights of stairs to get outside. Building generators malfunc-

But we were lucky. We lived through the storm without a medical crisis and with replaceable losses.

We vowed never to stay when the authorities tell us to evacuate. What if one of us got sick during the hurricane? What if the windows blew in, even with the shutters?

Less than two weeks later, we had another shot at hurricane survival. Hurricane Milton developed on the east coast of Mexico, and got himself together in record speed, exploding from Category 1 to Category 5 in one day and taking direct aim at our island as he charged up the west coast of Florida.

This time we obeyed the evacuation orders and moved to a hotel on the mainland with Lillybee. One day later, the hotel was evacuated, sending us on a drive across the state, with thousands of other people. We took refuge with family on the East Coast. And we waited and waited for the hurricane to hit and

do its work so we could begin to build back. Like waiting for surgery.

Milton made landfall on Oct. 9 on the tiny barrier island south of us, wiping it clean of all the charming old Florida cottages that have survived for so long on a spit of land. Cars floated out into the Gulf. A man was rescued clinging to a large cooler from his sunken boat. We came back to our condo four days later. The property was a mess, but we had power and internet. We were on a boilwater advisory, stores were closed, and piles of household belongings and soaked furnishings are piled up along the roads.

We love it here, but it’s crazy to build on barrier islands. Nature always reclaims her own. We were scared straight by the first hurricane, and will never try to ride one out again. We look around at neighbors who have lost everything they own. And we know we are part of a bigger, more frightening human-made disaster called climate change.

Who will gather the will and willingness to stop the rising tides and temperatures? Who will stop the awful gathering storm of wind, rain and fire that sweep across our nation in every season?

Copyright 2024 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.

DEBRA MULÉ

RANDi KREiss

Phone: (516) 569-4000

Fax: (516) 569-4942

Web: www.liherald.com

E-mail: baldwineditor@liherald.com

Copyright

HERALD

iHerald editorial

The Herald’s pact with you

n recent days, two of the most prominent national newspapers, The Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post, announced that they would not endorse a presidential candidate in Tuesday’s election, breaking from decades of precedent. Many have speculated on the reasons behind these decisions, suggesting that the newspapers favored Kamala Harris but ultimately chose not to upset Donald Trump for fear of retribution if the former president returns to the Oval Office.

For those of us in the news business, these decisions raise questions about the role of newspapers in a charged political climate. We at the Long Island Herald, a proud local newspaper company family-owned for three generations, see this as an opportunity to reaffirm our mission to serve the people of Long Island.

Unlike many national publications, the Herald does not make endorsements of candidates seeking political office, and our reasons are simple yet vital. Our focus is not on swaying voters toward a particular candidate, but on delivering comprehensive and unbiased information about the issues that matter most to Long Islanders. We are not here to tell our readers how to vote for political candidates; rather, we are here to arm readers with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions at the

letters

‘Harris shouldn’t even be on the ticket’

To the Editor:

ballot box. For us, the true measure of success is when readers feel empowered to draw their own conclusions based on facts, insights and perspectives they can trust.

Our mission is grounded in the local stories that directly impact your day-today lives — stories about Long Island schools, roads, parks, businesses and community events. It’s easy for national headlines to overshadow these essential local matters, especially in a polarized political landscape. Yet we firmly believe that our responsibility is to stay rooted in the issues affecting our neighborhoods and families. From zoning changes and public safety to neighborhood events and high school sports, we are here to cover what is relevant and timely for our readers.

The one place where you might see opinions about local and national political candidates, however, is in columns on our editorial pages, like those written by Randi Kreiss and Peter King. These essays are distinguished from Herald news content by featuring photos of the authors, making it clear that they reflect the writers’ perspectives and not the views of the Herald. We strive to showcase a diverse array of local voices across the ideological spectrum in these opinion pieces.

In a world saturated with news from national outlets, social media platforms and pundits, local newspapers play a

I couldn’t disagree more with Jerry’s Kremer’s viewpoint in his column last week, “Why I’m voting for Kamala Harris.” Harris shouldn’t even be on the ticket. If the Democrats had held an open primary after President Biden was pushed aside, she wouldn’t even have been considered. Her word-salad responses to questions are baffling and her knowledge of the issues is inept. The only thing that rings in her favor is the Roe v. Wade debate. Harris is clueless on the economy, the border, which is a travesty, and her ability to engage with world leaders. Donald Trump is far from perfect, but he’ll put America first, and Kamala, in my opinion, will not.

KEnnY CULLEn Franklin Square

And Jerry left something out

To the Editor:

In “Why I’m voting for Kamala Harris,” Jerry Kremer forgot to mention what our open south -

unique and irreplaceable role. Our newspaper is here to highlight the concerns and successes of Long Island, to act as a mirror to our community, and to bring a sense of belonging and understanding that no national publication can provide. But to achieve this, we need to hear from you, our readers. What are the topics you care about? What issues are not getting the coverage they deserve? Are there people in our community doing extraordinary things whom we should feature? We encourage you to share your thoughts, ideas and feedback with us. Let us know what you’re curious about, what you feel needs to be addressed, and where you think we can improve. Your voices are essential to shaping a Herald that genuinely reflects and serves your community.

Reach out to us at execeditor@liherald.com, and let us know what matters to you!

As the election approaches, we understand the intense focus on national races, but our mission remains to illuminate the issues closest to home. We will continue to be your trusted source for local news, not by endorsing political candidates but by informing, listening, and responding to the needs of Long Island.

Together, let’s keep our community well-informed, engaged and vibrant — one local story at a time.

opinions

When did we become so unkind?

ispent a lot of my childhood, and now, consequently, a lot of my adulthood, at my uncle’s lake house in Pennsylvania.

Some of my fondest memories revolve around being there — whether I was fishing with my grandfather, exploring the outdoors with my cousins or curled up with a good book on the beach, taking in my surroundings.

As I’ve gotten older, I find that I love the area for different reasons. I still like to fish and spend time outside with my family and my dogs. But I also love exploring the Poconos communities around the house, which, in many ways, feel like a second home to me.

Readers of the Bellmore, Merrick and East Meadow Heralds have likely seen my name pop up on their community Facebook pages throughout the almost three and a half years that I’ve been working here. I like to stay involved with community forums,

because they’re not only a great source of information, but also a great place for me to network, and meet the people in the communities that I cover and love.

So just as I do here at home and when I’m working, I’ve joined a few community social media pages in the Pennsylvania region I travel to. Again, I find that it’s a great way to stay in the loop, find new spots to visit, and again, receive a variety of information that I might not know otherwise.

the world often feels overwhelmingly negative, but we don’t have to make it worse.

A few weeks ago, I was scrolling through a page that I check frequently, and came across a post from a page contributor that read: “NY Trash Destroyed The Poconos.”

It took me a moment to really wrap my head around what I was reading, because for one, the region is economically very reliant on tourism from places like New York, and because I couldn’t believe that people actually felt that way. I’d imagine that everyone has had their own experiences with “outsiders,” but I’d venture to guess that the vast majority of the people who’ve found second

Letters

ern border has done to our country. Maybe that’s because Harris was in charge of the border.

FRANk VENIS East Rockaway

Harris looks like the smart choice

To the Editor:

Vice presidents are very limited in what they can do in that job. Their job is to support the president’s policies. Think of former Vice President Mike Pence.

Vice President Harris is her own strong person, and she will take what she perceives to be the best aspects of President Biden’s policies, but no vice president is ever a carbon copy of their predecessor. In terms of the southern border, Harris says that she supports having both parties in Congress work together and compromise on solutions, as was recently done with the strict border bill that both parties agreed on. However, Trump intervened and told Republicans to back out.

Trump and his MAGA Republicans prefer a dictatorial approach to solving our country’s problems. They tell us that we are a failing nation that only one man can fix. Beware. That is not democracy.

Concerning our economy, economists

homes in Pennsylvania are just like me and my family — kind, courteous and respectful. Fellow commenters on the thread confirmed my beliefs. Whatever reasons he had to make that post didn’t matter in the long run. In the grand scheme of things, it was just another blip on the social media timeline. It didn’t make any waves, and it certainly didn’t stop “outsiders” from visiting the area, or going to homes that they own.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve thought a lot about that post, not because I took insult in his words, but because I can’t imagine ever going out of my way to post such a ridiculous, negative thing — on any platform, for any reason.

It’s like the age-old saying: “If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all.”

It doesn’t matter that the post came from a place other than Long Island, because I’m sure we can all think of similar ones. Comments become vicious and people start attacking one another, while ignoring the actual problem: We, as a society, can be extraordinarily unkind.

There’s a lot going on these days. Things are polarized, and I feel it — the agitation, the stress about the way things are. The world we live in today isn’t perfect, but was it ever?

The point I’m trying to make is, if you have to go out of your way to say something completely unnecessary, take a moment and ask yourself: Is it worth it?

The world today may not be perfect, and often it feels overwhelmingly negative. We don’t have to make it worse. When things feel harsh and disconnected, kindness is a quiet strength, as is thinking about the things we say, or write, before we say them.

We can choose to be mindful of what we say, understanding that our words have consequences. The world may not be perfect, but each of us can make it a little better by simply pausing, reflecting, and opting for kindness whenever we can, because in a time when so much feels out of our control, this is one thing that isn’t.

Jordan Vallone is a senior editor who writes for the Bellmore, Merrick and East Meadow Heralds. Comments? jvallone@ liherald.com.

Framework by Tim Baker

report that it is doing well. Gas prices are down, unemployment is down and the stock market is flourishing.

One would expect that food and housing costs would continue to improve under Harris. Economists say that Trump’s tariffs would backfire and increase the cost of goods. Also, it seems that most people agree with the Harris plan to have large corporations pay their fair share of taxes, but she will need a Democratic Congress to achieve this.

ELAINE RAuCH Lynbrook

On Election Day, keep it all in perspective

To the Editor:

Beware of all the promises of goodies — or, as I call them, Halloween tricks and treats — promised by candidates running for public office. There is no such thing as a free lunch, or, in this case, free government programs offering benefits to you. Taxpayers always end up picking up the tab.

That’s a good reason why politicians should be changed often, like diapers, because most are full of you know what! Remember this next Tuesday before you vote.

LARRY PENNER Great Neck

At Falcon’s Halloween Yard Haunt — Pierce Avenue, North Bellmore

JorDan VaLLone