Barnum Woods Elementary School honored local law enforcement through a special assembly with the Nassau County Police Department, marking the completion of their ‘Cards for Cops’ initiative where students donated 1,576 holiday cards. Beyond the Badge, founded by two law enforcement officers, works to support mental health in the first responder community. Above, Barnum Woods students lined up next to a police motorcycle, outside of the school during the ‘Thank You’ event. Right, Natalie Durso, Casey Hellberg, Tamia Pitts and Audrey Finazzo, with horses and police officers from the Mounted Unit. Story, more photos, Page 3.
A new era at NUMC
Megan Ryan, Dr. Grace Ting and Shannon Costello enter leadership roles
By JoRDAN VAlloNE jvallone@liherald.com
Nassau University Medical Center will begin 2025 with women holding its three top leadership positions.
The East Meadow-based hospital’s board of directors appointed Megan Ryan as president and chief executive, Dr. Grace Ting as chief medical officer and Shannon Costello as chief nursing officer during its Dec. 5 meeting. All three executives previously served in these roles on an interim basis and have extensive experience at NUMC.
Bar Association and the U.S. Supreme Court Association, began her career in health care as the chief compliance officer for the Nassau Queens Performing Provider System, before becoming general counsel at NUMC seven years ago.
think it’s still going to be a year of transition and growth.
MEg AN RYAN President and chief executive, Nassau University Medical Center
The leaders discussed their long-standing connections to the hospital, their career journeys at NUMC, and their visions for the institution as they formally step into their administrative roles.
Their backgrounds
Ryan, an accomplished attorney in the private sector, who is admitted to the New York State
Prior to working at NUMC, Ryan served as an inhouse corporate counsel for Liberty Mutual Insurance Company. She was named interim president and chief executive in January of 2024, a position she helped the hospital flourish in, until her appointment in December. Ryan will continue serving as general counsel.
Ting began her career at NUMC as an attending physician in the hospital’s emergency department, later becoming one of the associate directors for operations in the emergency department. Having served on various committees, Ting was named NUMC’s interim chief medical officer in 2022. Costello, both an executive
Continued on page 10
Holden Leeds/Herald photos
LEGAL
INNOVATION IN LEGAL TECHNOLOGY
Alexander Paykin, Esq.
Managing Director & Owner
The Law Office of Alexander Paykin, P.C.
Anthony Curcio, Esq.
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Member Curcio Law PLLC
Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director Nassau County IDA
EXCELLENCE IN RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY CITIZENSHIP
Christopher Capece
President
Heatherwood Luxury Rentals
BANKING & FINANCE
EXCELLENCE IN REAL ESTATE FINANCE
Vito Giannola
Executive Vice President & Chief Banking Officer Provident Bank
CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
RichnerLIVE’s fourth annual R.E.A.L. Awards will spotlight entrepreneurs, professionals, and visionaries in Long Island’s real estate and related industries who have achieved success in their respective roles while also being actively involved in community contributions and advocacy.
PIONEER IN RESTORATION & RECOVERY
Jeremy Longo
General Manager Belfor Property Restoration
TRANSPORTATION
TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY IMPACT
David Bloom
Owner Pine Aire Truck Service
RISING STAR
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Partner
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ENGINEERING TOP ENGINEER
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MORTGAGE BROKER OF THE YEAR
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President
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Barnum Woods says ‘Thank You’ to NCPD
Barnum Woods Elementary School showed its gratitude to local law enforcement with a special “Thank You” assembly hosted by the Nassau County Police Department on Dec. 17.
The assembly marked the culmination of a month-long effort by the school community, which successfully donated 1,576 holiday cards to Nassau County police officers through the nonprofit organization Beyond the Badge, who run the program “Cards for Cops.”
The initiative, led by Student council advisers Sara Goodson and Adriana Guglielmo, aimed to spread holiday cheer and support law enforcement officers during the busy season.
During the event, students had the opportunity to interact with members of several police units, including the K-9 unit, mounted unit, highway unit and special operations teams.
Beyond the Badge is a nonprofit organization that was created by two local law enforcement officers to address the mental health challenges faced by members of their community. It operates with the mission to reduce the growing epidemic of first responder suicides by breaking the stigma surrounding first responders coming forward for mental health treatment. It also provides support and resources for families of first responders who die by suicide.
Hundreds of students at Barnum Woods embraced the effort, crafting handmade holiday cards to show appreciation and lift the spirits of the officers who work tirelessly to protect Nassau County.
Beyond the Badge is dedicated to fostering understanding and support for law enforcement while promoting com-
munity engagement. The assembly not only recognized the dedication of police officers but also inspired a spirit of gratitude and togetherness within the East Meadow community.
–Jordan Vallone
8-year-old Julianna Diez was appropriately dressed during the event, and was all smiles with police officers Teana Grande and Lauren David.
Students at Barnum Woods handed members of law enforcement their cards during the event, as a sign of appreciation during a busy time of year.
Holden Leeds/Heral photos
Students and staff at Barnum Woods Elementary School in East Meadow had an opportunity to meet and thank Nassau County police officers at a special event on Dec. 17. A kindergarten class, above, met officers in the buerau of special operations.
Students in the school donated over 1,500 holiday cards to county police, thanks to an initiative called ‘Cards for Cops,’ which is run by the nonprofit organization Beyond the Badge.
Nassau County outlines its drone technology
By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com
Following reports that a large number of mysterious drones have been seen flying over parts of New Jersey and the East Coast, Nassau County officials showcased the county’s drone detection technology, that allows law enforcement to track drones anywhere within the county
County Executive Bruce Blakeman, at a news conference held at the David S. Mack Center for Training and Intelligence in Garden City on Dec. 19, told reporters that the county’s drone detection capabilities are “ahead of the curve.”
“I have been to other police departments throughout the United States to take a look at their intelligence and drone detection,” Blakeman said. “I can tell you that Nassau County is state-ofthe art. We’re on the cutting edge of drone detection.”
Reports of drones
According to a report by NBC, more than 5,000 drone sightings have been reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, mostly in New Jersey, although drones have been seen in New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Ohio.
The Federal Aviation Administration banned drone flights in 22 areas of New
Jersey, according to a report by AP News.
Patrick Ryder, commissioner of the Nassau County Police Department, said since Nov. 1, Nassau County has identified over 1,800 drone flights and 798 pilots.
What can Nassau County do?
Nassau County has the ability to track and identify drones that are in the
The New Corporate Transparency Act
The Corporate Transparency Act came into being this year as part of the AntiMoney Laundering Act. This act is designed to combat terrorism, tax fraud and moneylaundering. Under the act, corporations and LLC’s are required to report who their “beneficial owners” are in a Beneficial Ownership Information Report (BOI report) to the Financial Crimes Enforcement network (FinCEN) on an annual basis. The BOI report is due by January 13, 2025 for entities formed before 2024 and within 90 days of formation or registration for entities formed in 2024. For entities formed after 2025, the BOI report is required to be filed within 30 days.
The BOI report must contain the following information:
1. The entities’ full name (and any alternative names which it is doing business under)
2. Address
3. Where it was formed or registered
4. Its tax id number (EIN)
The BOI report must include the following information for each “beneficial owner” — defined as any individual who has “substantial control” over the entity or owns or controls at least 25%. “Substantial control” means serving as a senior officer, having authority to remove a senior officer or a majority of the board of directors, or in charge of or having substantial interest over major corporate decisions. The trustee of a trust may be a “beneficial owner” if the trust owns an interest in the entity.
The “beneficial owner” must report:
1. Full legal name
2. Date of birth
3. Home or business address
4. Identifying number from passport or driver’s license along with scanned copy of the document.
For help in reporting, search fincen.gov, call the helpline at 800-949-2732, or google “help with fincen reporting” to locate online services that will assist with the application for a fee.
county’s airspace, but is not allowed to mitigate their flying — only the federal government has that authority, Blakeman said.
“There’s detection and there’s mitigation,” he explained. “The mitigation is two types: One is the technology to jam it and have it return to its base, and the other one is to destroy it.”
Blakeman said they’d like the federal government to allow the police department to do a few things.
“We’d like the technology so we don’t have to shoot it down, because that creates a whole other set of problems,” Blakeman said. “But the technology is there to jam it and send it back to its home base, and we want that. We also want federal legislation that would allow us to issue a federal summons in the event that someone was violating the law.”
Blakeman said the county understands that drone flying is a hobby, and there are proper places where one can fly a drone.
“We have no problem with that,” he added. “But when it gets out of hand, like we’ve seen in New Jersey, or if it’s potential form of some kind of organized crime gang or a foreign nation, we have a responsibility to be on top of
that.”
Are there credible threats?
The least worrisome threat, Blakeman said, is an invasion of privacy.
“Drones have been known to go into people’s backyards,” he said, “and hover over windows in their homes.”
Drones can pose threats to aircraft by interfering with planes, or they could crash into structures, causing property damage. Large drones, Blakeman said, have the ability to carry material, either biological, chemical or explosive, which is a major concern.
The data collected by the county, Ryder said, indicates that people flying drones are likely testing the system.
“It indicates that we’ve got 798 knuckleheads that keep putting their drones up at night, just to test the system,” he said. “We’ve seen this triple in size and reporting. What’s going to happen in Nassau County — we’re going to ask you to take the drone down.”
Nassau County’s technology
In order to fly a drone in restricted airspace, Ryder said one needs to be a licensed drone pilot. Nassau County has 27 pilots, he said, that have gone to school and learned how to fly drones. The county also has 30 snipers that can subdue threats — like a drone — from long distances, he said.
Inside the David. S Mack Center, Ryder and Blakeman showed reporters the technology from behind-the-scenes — massive screens that can pinpoint where drones are flying, and where they’re being flown from. If an unknown drone is detected, patrol cars can go to the location and ask for it to come down.
The county does not have the ability to take down a drone itself, but can make an arrest if someone is refusing to stop flying their drone.
“Right now, we need help from the federal government, especially because we’re a large department,” Blakeman said. “I can understand if they don’t want to make it available to every department in the United States, but with a department the size of Nassau County, we should have that mitigation technology.”
■ WEB SITE: www.liherald.com/eastmeadow
■ E-MAIl: Letters and other submissions: emeditor@liherald.com
Nassau County Bruce Blakeman spoke at a news conference on Dec. 19, detailing the county’s drone technology, in response to reports of drones being seen in states along the East Coast.
Flag football champs in E.M., Salisbury
The East Meadow/Salisbury Flag Football Awards were held last month at East Meadow High School. Attendees included Nassau County Legislator Tom McKevitt, New York State Assemblyman John Mikulin, and Hempstead Town Clerk Kate Murray.
Congrats to the newlyweds
East Meadow residents Pedro Cantor Chevez and Grace Fruscella were married last month at Hempstead Town Hall. The ceremony was officiated by Town Clerk Kate Murray. Residents interested in obtaining their marriage license or scheduling a wedding ceremony can contact the Town Clerk’s Office at (516) 812-3014 or visit HempsteadNY.gov/marriage.
Courtesy Town of Hempstead
Courtesy Town of Hempstead
ALLIE TWIBLE
East Meadow Senior Basketball
AFTER HELPING LEAD the Jets to a historic 2023-24 season that ended in the state semifinals, Twible got her senior campaign off to a roaring start by reaching the 1,000-career point milestone Dec. 10. She was named First Team All-Long Island as a junior and was a major part in East Meadow’s first-ever Nassau County and L.I. championship teams. Twible has averaged close to 20 points per game over the past two seasons.
GAMES TO WATCH
Thursday, Jan. 2
Wrestling: Plainedge at MacArthur 5 p.m.
Boys Basketball: Sewanhaka at Manhasset 7 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 3
Boys Basketball: Friends Aca. at Long Beach 12 p.m.
Wrestling: Kennedy at Hewlett 4 p.m.
Boys Basketball: Farmingdale at West Hemp 5 p.m.
Wrestling: Lawrence at North Shore 6 p.m.
Wrestling: Lynbrook at Clarke 6 p.m.
Wrestling: East Meadow at Long Beach 6 p.m.
Girls Basketball: Freeport at Seaford 6:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball: Hewlett at Oceanside 7 p.m.
Boys Basketball: Oceanside at South Side 7 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 4
Girls Basketball: Plainedge at Lynbrook 10 a.m.
Girls Basketball: Calhoun at Division 11 a.m.
Girls Basketball: Malverne at Mineola 11 a.m.
Boys Basketball: Plainedge at Clarke 12 p.m.
Girls Basketball: Jericho at Kennedy 1 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 6
Wrestling: North Shore at Wantagh 5 p.m.
Girls Basketball: Hewlett at Carey 5 p.m.
Nominate a “Spotlight Athlete”
High School athletes to be featured on the Herald sports page must compete in a winter 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.
Clarke impresses at early tourneys
By BRIAN KACHARABA sports@liherald.com
This season is one of anticipation for the Clarke wrestling team, who captured the Nassau Division II title last winter and returned much of its roster, including all three individual county titlists from a year ago. So far, the results have met expectations.
The Rams, who are back in Division I this season, have competed in two tournaments thus far with respectable results. They finished fourth at the Battle at the Beach Tournament at Long Beach on Dec. 7 and followed that up with a sixth place showing at the Sprig Gardner Tournament in Bellmore a week later.
Defending county champ Justin Gonzalez (160 pounds) and junior Sebastien Mejia (152) both went a combined 8-0 in winning the tourneys, with the former earning the Ken Hunte Most Outstanding Wrestler Award at Bellmore. Sophomore Victor Rosario (124) also won the Sprig Gardner with five pinfalls in a combined time of 8 minutes, 30 seconds, the fastest mark among all wrestlers.
“I think we did a really nice job,” Rams coach Mike Leonard Jr. said. “We had a couple of guys out sick, so we had to sit a couple of our good wrestlers this weekend. We only put 10 guys in the [Sprig Gardner] tournament. We ended up with five in the finals, three champs and the most outstanding wrestler and the most pins in the least amount of time. So, if we’re putting half of the guys in the finals, I think we’re doing a good job.”
Junior Richard King, another defending county champion, was in the sick bay after placing third in the 124-pound bracket at Long Beach. Sophomore Bryan Araujo, who Leonard dubbed “a big part of the team”, also missed the Sprig Gardner with an illness after advancing to the 170 semifinals at Long Beach en route to a fourth-place finish.
Junior 152-pounder Sebastien Mejia, top, won the Battle at the Beach and Spring Gardner tournaments on back-to-back weekends.
Gonzalez had three pinfalls and a 17-1 technical-fall win over Calhoun’s Robert Bello to seal the championship, while Mejia nearly mirrored him with three pins and a 11-1 major decision victory over Nathan Wachter of Massapequa in that final.
“Justin did an awesome job keeping the pressure on,” Leonard said. “He beat two kids that were All County last year on his way to getting the guy in the finals, who was also a returning All County guy. And Sebastien Mejia, he beat two All County kids from last year. We knew what Justin and Sebastien, specifically, were capable of. Now we’re finally seeing it.”
Junior Marcus Rosario advanced to the 190 final in both tournaments with all six wins coming by pinfall. Senior Anthony
Rivera had a tougher road to the 131 final with a two-point decision win and a tiebreaker victory in his first two matches before an 18-point major decision triumph.
Sophomore William Grassini, the third returning All-County titlist, had two pinfall victories and a 24-10 major decision win before taking two more matches in the consolation bracket to finish third. He was fifth at Long Beach.
Junior Jose Pacheco (170) finished fifth and senior Nicholas Barco (152) was sixth at Long Beach.
Paul Grassini/Herald
E.M. fire department wraps up the holidays
As 2024 draws to a close, the East Meadow Fire Department wrapped up one of its most extensive holiday outreach seasons, marking nearly three decades of community service during the winter months.
The department’s holiday initiatives began in November when volunteers partnered with Stew Leonard’s to distribute turkeys to families experiencing food insecurity. This effort involved members from all seven companies working in shifts to ensure broad community coverage.
The department’s seven companies executed a coordinated series of events throughout December. Engine Company 2 led their annual Santa sleigh run, while Engine 1, Engine 3, and Ladder 1 conducted their own Santa runs through residential neighborhoods. Meanwhile, Engine 1, Engine 4, Ladder 2, and Rescue 5 hosted community tree lighting ceremonies across East Meadow.
A cornerstone event on Dec. 19 saw firefighters, led by Ex-Chief James Darcey, visiting the Nassau University Medical Center’s pediatric ward. Department members transformed into holiday characters — including the Grinch, Buddy the Elf, a snowman, and Santa Claus — to deliver gifts through the Jimmy Martino Memorial Toy Drive, now in its 28th year. The program specifically targets children who must remain hospitalized during the holiday season.
The holiday service program caps a year of emergency response and community engagement for the department’s all-volunteer force, who continue to serve the East Meadow community as they head into 2025.
–John J. O’Brien Sr.
Courtesy Jay Zinger
Firefighters in the East Meadow Fire Department visited Nassau University Medical Center’s pediatric ward to deliver gifts through the Jimmy Martino Memorial Toy Drive.
East Meadow celebrates students’ artwork
The East Meadow School District’s art department was pleased to host the opening reception of their annual District Art Show housed in the Salisbury School.
The exhibit featured 150 works from students in grades kindergarten through twelfthgrade, representing every school in the district. In addition, students from East Meadow High School’s Jazz Combo provided music for parents and guests during the reception.
The district commended all of its teachers, young artists and musicians on a job well done.
–Jordan Vallone
Students from East Meadow High School’s Jazz Combo provided music for parents and guests during the reception.
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 is looking for...
Photos courtesy East Meadow Union Free School District Students showcased their artwork during the East Meadow School District’s annual art show.
Hospital forges forward with new leaders
vice president and the chief nursing officer, started her professional career as a critical care nurse at NUMC in 2006. Through that position, she discovered a passion for teaching and education, she said, which led to her role as a critical care nurse educator in 2018, in which she oversaw multiple units at the hospital including the intensive care unit, special procedures unit and burn unit, among many others. Costello was named NUMC’s deputy nursing officer in January of last year and promoted to the interim chief nursing officer in May.
What working at NUMC meant to them
Before she was a registered nurse, Costello said she completed her clinical rotation at NUMC while still in nursing school.
“This is where I learned to love nursing,” she said, “and this is where I learned about the mission of the hospital and the values here. I got to experience the work firsthand and all the wonderful people that work here. And that’s what led me, after graduation, to seek an opportunity here.”
NUMC is Nassau County’s only public hospital, which serves as a safety net for medical care, providing services for the uninsured and vulnerable patients. The hospital provides care for all patients, regardless of their ability to pay.
“I was lucky enough to be one of the first student groups, first out of school, that they allowed to work in critical care,” Costello said. “And I had a wonderful experience in terms of being educated and being taught in that very specialized area of nursing.”
NUMC is a teaching hospital, Costello said, but it also provides services that you won’t see in other facilities. From a water birthing suite in the hospital’s maternity ward, to being a regional leader in hyperbaric medicine, Costello said NUMC is a vital institution.
“What drew me here was the mission of the hospital,” Ting said, “in serving our patients, the people that can’t afford to pay, as a doctor in the emergency department. That is a really integral part of what we do.”
There’s a camaraderie among NUMC’s staff, Ting added.
“We work really hard and we develop relationships,” she said. “You go home, and the next day you come in and you’re happy, and I was happy to come in.”
The appointments come at a crucial time for NUMC, which has faced years of financial instability and management challenges. Under Ryan’s interim leadership over the past year, the hospital has made significant strides in strengthening its financial position and quality of care. Over the last five years, the hospital has not received hundreds of millions of dollars in state funding that it needs to survive.
“Our reputation hasn’t been very good and it’s unfair,” Ting said. “We’re trying to change the culture — change our reputation. I think we’re doing that. Our scores are better, our quality is better. We have real leadership, and yet
At a glance: NUMC leadership
Megan Ryan
■ Named president and chief executive
■ First woman to lead Nassau Health Care Corporation
■ Served for nearly a decade as general counsel and interim president and chief executive since January
Dr. Grace Ting
■ Veteran NUMC physician named chief medical officer
■ Previously served in the role on interim basis
Shannon Costello
■ Appointed chief nursing officer
■ Experienced nurse leader who had been serving in position on an interim basis
we’re having so much trouble receiving funding from the state.”
Ryan said she took a “leap of faith” entering health care, but said her role really began to change at NUMC after the coronavirus pandemic. “I wasn’t the lawyer that was writing contracts or reviewing things or telling people no,” she said. “I was you know, doing the fundraising, and then I was going to all the different floors to see what they needed. I will be the first to say I’m not clini-
cal — I leave the clinical stuff to the clinicians — but it was nice to work together.”
Her leadership role at NUMC has cemented the belief that the hospital’s role in Nassau County is vital.
“I get frustrated when people are like ‘it’s a poor person’s hospital,’” she said. “As a Catholic, I love our mission. We treat everyone, regardless of their ability to pay — it is a saintly thing to do. It is a moral thing to do.”
The hospital’s administration, she said, is poised to help NUMC succeed.
“These are all people that have their hearts in this place,” Ryan said, “and they’re experts in their field.
NUMC’s future
Ryan said her goals have always been clear. She wants to work with New York state as a partner in healthcare. For the first time in years, NUMC’s staff rallied in Albany last March with local legislators, advocating for the funding it needs to thrive.
Ryan said she feels committed to the hospital’s 3,600 employees and the broader Long Island community. Looking ahead, hospital departments are working on sustainability plans, Ryan said, so the administration at NUMC can best assess needs across the board and roll out plans to help every part of the hospital succeed.
NUMC has named new department heads in different health care sectors> The hospital is getting its finances in order with its chief financial executive, Perry Sham, and is working on increasing its visibility and outreach in the communities it serves.
“I think it’s still going to be a year of transition and growth,” Ryan said of 2025. “There is a lot of work to be done.”
“The team that has been assembled by Megan over this last year — everyone is invested,” Costello said. “Everyone is dedicated to this facility and to the mission of the hospital. It’s all of us working together, and we all have the same goals in mind.”
Tim Baker/Herald
nassau university medical Center is kicking off the new Year with three women holding top leadership positions. from left, Shannon Costello, the chief nursing officer, dr. grace t ing, the chief medical officer, and megan r yan, the president and chief executive, were appointed to their positions at a dec. 5 board meeting.
NCC students, faculty protest course cuts
By CHARLES SHAW cshaw@liherald.com
Students and faculty at Nassau Community College are voicing their frustration over the lack of course offerings and departmental cuts.
Faculty packed the college’s multipurpose room to hear colleagues and students voice their concerns at the annual winter luncheon on Dec. 17.
The event was hosted by the Nassau Community College Federation of Teachers, a local union affiliated with New York State United Teachers. Frustrations over course cuts and departmental reductions were highlighted.
According to NCCFT president Faren Siminoff, the campus is not meeting its mission, which is to offer a “robust offering of courses” scheduled throughout the day for students.
Administrators have doubled since last year, she said, but the college has eliminated 21 departments, cut funding to student services and clubs, all while limiting its schedule of classes.
Jerry Kornbluth, the vice president for Community and Government Relations at Nassau Community College, said in a statement that the college aims to preserve and expand course offerings while retaining tenured professors despite a nationwide decline in college enrollment. He noted that the college has reduced its budget deficit from $14.8
million to $4.8 million, while boosting enrollment by 8% over the past year.
Department mergers, he said, were carefully planned in alignment with union agreements to improve efficiency.
In addition, Kornbluth stated that the theater and dance department will not be eliminated, and will continue to offer majors and seasonal productions, ensuring its ongoing presence on campus.
“Our priority remains preserving and enhancing the affordable, highquality education that Nassau Community College is known for,” Kornbluth said in a statement. “We look forward to continuing to be a place where students thrive, whether they are entering the workforce or transferring to a four-year institution.”
Siminoff claims that students have found it difficult to find courses that fit their busy schedule, especially for those who work. The college, she said, would reportedly cancel a course offering early, sometimes a week or two after registration opens, even though students register weeks later.
“If there’s nothing there for them, they’re not going to register,” Siminoff said. “This is totally counter to the rhythm and needs of the community that uses this college.”
Joining students and staff were County Legislators Thomas McKevitt and Siela Bynoe, who spoke of the
importance that community colleges provide for middle-class students. Bynoe was elected to state senate in November.
“The reality is that the private institutions have priced the middle class out of higher education,” McKevitt said, “which is why Nassau Community College is more important than it has ever been before.”
Richard Ginsburg, chairman of the theater and dance department at NCC, claimed administration planned to “deactivate” the program. Ginsburg had instructed and guided students for over 40 years throughout the department’s 61-year history, adding that the arts are essential to education, and the state owes it to itself to sustain and encourage such programs.
“We had survived and grew through a deadly pandemic,” Ginsburg said, “but we will not survive through this administration, as next fall, the theater department will go from historically nine, full-time teaching faculty to zero.”
Simran Gil, an international student and president of the Filipino Cultural Society, said at the beginning of this semester, her club allegedly received “zero dollars in funding” despite submitting all their paperwork on time.
Bynoe is a graduate at Nassau Community College, who worked full-time while attending courses in the evening. She described her experience as a foun-
Charles Shaw/Herald
Richard Ginsburg, NCC theater and dance department chair spoke at a luncheon held by the Nassau Community College Federation of Teachers.
dation that led her to a master’s in public administration at Long Island University and wants the college to be sustainable for current students and generations to come.
“We want to make sure that their children and their children’s children have an opportunity to have an affordable, quality education,” Bynoe said, “One that can allow them to springboard to other universities and go into vocations of their choice.”
up for monster truck mayhem
Hot Wheels Monster Truck Live Show is back at Nassau Coliseum for another year of car-smashing, ramp jumping, wheel-revving action
By Danielle Schwab
Get ready, everyone. Gather up the kids and shake up those January doldrums when the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow party lights up Nassau Coliseum once again. Witness the raw power of epic machines when the iconic Hot Wheels toy vehicles transform into unstoppable monster trucks for the “Glow-N-Fire” competition.
“Kids” of all ages can watch their favorite Hot Wheels trucks come to life when the action returns to Long Island, Jan. 18-19. As the arena darkens for this glow-in-the-dark party, each truck revs up with its unique LED lights. And, in true “It’s Not The Same Without The Flame” fashion, pyrotechnic effects light up the arena, adding even more intensity to the action.
• Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 18-19; times vary
• Tickets start at $63.85 adults, $35. 15 children (also “Me + 3” family discount option); available at ticketmaster.com and hotwheelsmonstertruckslive. com
• Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale
It’s an especially big day for one particular truck: The classic blue vintage-style pick-up Bigfoot turns 50. Everyone is invited to the birthday bash. Plus, have the chance to be celebrated alongside the iconic monster truck. Bigfoot would love to see everyone’s creativity — so fans are encouraged to bring homemade birthday cards to wish Bigfoot a happy birthday. And show off those homemade birthday signs at the show for a chance to win prizes during the bash.
“Bigfoot is known as the original monster truck because this monster truck is what started monster trucks in general,” says Caleb Janezich, Bigfoot’s driver since July.
Owner-operator Bob Chandler first began building Bigfoot in 1975, and a legend was born. The modified 1974 Ford F-250 started its career at local mud runs and truck and tractor pulls. It quickly launched a worldwide phenomenon and its legions of fans. Chandler continued to make improvements and modifications until it grew into the massive behemoth known and loved today by multiple generations of fans.
STEPPING OUT
“There are people that come up to us and the dad knows who Bigfoot is, and then maybe the kids are exposed to Bigfoot for the first time. Even the grandpas come up and they remember Bigfoot,” says Janezich, on Bigfoot’s popularity.
There’s surely no better way to commemorate the original monster truck than with incredible stunts performed by Bigfoot along with all his mechanical monster pals, including Mega Wrex, Tiger Shark, HW 5-Alarm, Boneshaker, and Gunkster.
Expect to see wheelies, donuts, and long jumps, along with a freestyle Motocross demonstration.
And of course, be prepared for plenty of good ol’ car crushing!
Also witness as the show unleashes its newest addition, Skelesauraus, a truck that takes the spine-chilling form of a giant skeleton head.
This is Janezich’s first time appearing at Nassau Coliseum, however he is no stranger to the Hot Wheels monster truck circuit. An avid collector of Hot Wheels since childhood, Janezich worked as a Bigfoot crewmember before taking up the driver’s seat.
“Bigfoot was always my favorite. I grew up around pickup trucks and four-wheel drives. My dad got me into it.” he says.
“It’s pretty humbling, and it’s really a dream come true. Honestly, they say, ‘if you do what you love, you never work a day in your life’ and that’s pretty much what I live by now.”
While the trucks may seem invincible, it take a dedicated team behind the scenes to keep them crushing to the max.
“The stuff that can be challenging is the unknown. You never know what these trucks are going to do sometimes, and the biggest challenge sometimes can just be just keeping them going and just making sure that we’re ready for the next show all the time, which we try to do very well,” Janezich adds.
Opportunities to go behind the action add to the spectacle. At the Pre-Show Party, held two-and-a-half hours prior to every performance, get up close and see the outrageous designs and epic size of the Hot Wheels behemoths on the arena floor. Meet favorite drivers and performers. Also check out the new VIP Backstage Experience. It’s a behind the scenes guided tour of what goes on before all the smashing and crashing.
Everyone becomes a kid at the show, which is geared to five to 10-year-olds.
“That’s the part that’s always cool because families are coming down and the parents get involved. When the parents are having fun, the kids are having fun, that’s what keeps them coming year after year,” Janezich says.
Courtesy Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Photos: Bigfoot, driven by Caleb Janezich, headlines the latest edition of the spectacle. The iconic truck is joined by many Hot Wheels favorites to thrill fans with exciting car-crunching feats, flying more than 35 feet in the air. Plus, the fiery Skelesaurus roars into the arena ready to “chomp.”
‘Cold Beer on a Friday Night’
Keep those winter doldrums at bay with Jimmy Kenny and the Pirate Beach Band. It may seem like we’ve got too long to wait ‘til we’re back on the beach, but Kenny comes to the rescue. Join in their “Ultimate Beach Party Tribute” to Kenny Chesney, Jimmy Buffett and Zac Brown Band. Parrotheads, No Shoes Nation and the Zamily. The Long Island-based band — guided by Paul C. Cuthbert (aka Jimmy Kenny) on lead vocals/ acoustic guitar, with Linn DeMilta (aka Lovely Linn), lead and backing vocals, Luis Rios, lead guitar/backing vocals, Frank Stainkamp, keyboard/ backing vocals, Dan Prine, bass, and drummer Mike Vecchione — gets everyone into the groove as only they can.
Friday, Jan. 3, 8 p.m. $35, $25, $20, $15. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny. com.
‘…Your voice is heard’ Broadway comes to Tilles Center. “Dear Evan Hanson,” the deeply personal and profoundly contemporary musical about life and the way we live it, has struck a remarkable chord with audiences and critics everywhere. If you’ve yet to see it, now’s your opportunity. Declared “one of the most remarkable shows in musical theater history” by the Washington Post, it’s the first musical to take a groundbreaking look — from the point of view of both the parents and young people — at our complex, interconnected, and social media-filled lives. It features an uplifting score, including some of the most iconic musical theatere songs from the last decade: “You Will Be Found,” “Waving Through A Window,” and “For Forever.”
Thursday, Jan. 9, 7 p.m. Tickets start at $35. LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville. Tickets available at tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100.
THE Your Neighborhood
Yacht Rock Revue
The kings of ‘70s tribute hit the road with an authentic throwback to the era, on the Paramount stage, Friday and Saturday, Jan. 10-11, at 8 p.m. Yacht Rock Revue, hailed by Rolling Stone as the “world’s premier soft-rock party band,” invites listeners on a nostalgic voyage through the sun-soaked melodies of the ‘70s and ‘80s. The dynamic Atlanta-based 10-piece ensemble blends impeccable musicianship with a deep reverence for the yacht rock genre. Their original album “Escape Artist” is a bold homage to this iconic sound. Each side of the album encapsulates the band’s ability to transport audiences to a simpler, more carefree time. Lead singles like “Tropical Illusion” and “Passengers” set the tone, evoking sunsets and salty breezes with their lush instrumentation and ethereal vocals.
Collaborations with yacht rock legends Elliot Lurie and Robbie Dupree underscore the band’s status as innovators within their genre. YRR continues to captivate audiences nationwide with their infectious energy and unabashedly joyous performances. Since their humble beginnings in 2007, YRR has emerged as a pivotal figure in revitalizing yacht rock, sharing stages with icons and garnering a devoted following of “Anchorheads.” Whether performing in intimate venues or rocking arenas, their concerts promise an immersive musical journey that celebrates the timeless allure of smooth grooves. $55, $40, $30, $25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com or ParamountNY.com. Jan. 10
Nassau BOCES GC Tech Open House
Nassau BOCES, Long Island’s state-of-the arts career and technical education high school, opens its doors to all students with a passion for hands-on careers, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 6-7:30 p.m. Nassau BOCES GC Tech prepares students for a future in the workforce by providing them with the skills, knowledge and professional qualities they will need to be successful in their chosen career fields. The school boasts a new spa where aspiring estheticians learn skin care and massage techniques. There is also a newly revamped auto shop.
Prospective students and families from Nassau County are invited to tour the GC Tech campus and to meet with expert teachers, counselors and administrators. Additional open house sessions are offered in February and March. Interested students and their families can register for an Open House at nassauboces.org/gctech or call the school for more information at (516) 604-4200. 150 Abbey Lane, Levittown. Jan. 8
Splish Splash…Animal Baths
Hang out with some Long Island Children’s Museum’s “residents,” Sunday, Jan. 5, 1:30-2 p.m., at the drop-in program. Join an animal educator in the Yellow Studio’s Feasts for Beasts Gallery to learn what goes into the care of LICM’s animal “residents.” Observe animal bath time. Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or licm.org.
BOE meets
The East Meadow Board of Education hosts its first meeting of the New Year, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 7 p.m., at the Salisbury School. The agenda and additional information can be found online at EMUFSD.us. A meeting link with the live stream can be found on YouTube. 718
The Plain Road, Westbury Jazzin’ in the New Year
Kick of the New Year with the Andrew Ahr Quartet, at East Meadow Public Library, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2 p.m. The jazz ensemble entertains in style. For more visit EastMeadow.info. 1886 Front St., East Meadow.
Let’s Skate
Get ready to enjoy all the thrills of the snowy season, while staying warm and cozy as Long Island Children’s Museum’s popular “Snowflake Sock Skating rink returns, through Jan. 7. Slip on “sock skates” and take a spin on the indoor rink, made from a high-tech synthetic polymer surface that lets kids slide around without blades.
Kids can stretch, twirl and glide. As visitors step off the “ice” they can jump into winter dramatic play in Snowflake Village. Become a baker in the holiday sweet shop, step inside a giant snowman and serve up some hot cocoa, take a turn in the rink “ticket booth” and “warm up” around a rink side “fire pit.” Long Island Children’s Museum, Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 2245800 or LICM.org.
In concert
Sands Point Preserve’s reserve’s historic mansions and waterfront grounds are the backdrop for the 2025 unique chamber music series, “Four Seasons in Music,” Sunday, Jan. 12, 3 p.m. The duoJalal ensemble-in-residence led by Kathryn Lockwood on viola, with percussionist Yousif Sheronick, violinists Deborah Buck and Emma Frucht and cellist Caroline Stinson presents a German flavored. Celebrating Germany’s rich history of extraordinary composers, including Bach, Mozart, Schubert and Brahms, to the less traditional, this concert will warm you up on a winter afternoon.
A reception follows. $56, $45 members. Sands Point Preserve, 127 Middle Neck Road. For tickets and information, visit sandspointpreserveconservancy.org or call (516) 571-7901.
Having an event?
Home for the Holidays Adoption
There’s no better time to adopt a new pet than during, “Home for the Holidays” at the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter. All fees are waived and include free spaying/ neutering, vaccinations, microchipping, now through Sunday, Jan. 5. Licensing feels still apply. Prospective adopters can browse photos and profiles at hempsteadny.gov/179/ animal-shelter and also on the shelter’s Facebook page. 3320 Beltagh Ave., Wantagh. For more information, call (516) 785-5220.
Mah Jongg
Enjoy an afternoon of Mah Jongg and canasta, every Wednesday, 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m., at East Meadow Beth El Jewish Center. $5 contribution per person. Snacks are provided. No outside food allowed due to dietary laws. Bring your own games and cards. Mah Jongg lessons available. 1400 Prospect Ave. For further information call (516) 4283693
Items on The Scene page are listed free of charge. The Herald welcomes listings of upcoming events, community meetings and items of public interest. All submissions should include date, time and location of the event, cost, and a contact name and phone number. Submissions can be emailed to thescene@liherald.com.
On exhibit
Nassau County Museum of Art ‘s latest exhibition
“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 will 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.
Bird walk
Jan. 5
The South Shore Audubon Society welcomes all to join its members for another in its series of bird walks, at Hempstead Lake State Park, Sunday, Jan. 5, starting at 9 a.m. Walk leaders, other birders and nature enthusiasts are happy to share their knowledge and experience with you. Bring binoculars. The group will meet The group will meet in parking lot #3, off Exit 18 of the Southern State Parkway. To register, text your name and contact information to (516) 467-9498. No walk if rain or snow. Text regarding questionable weather. For more information, visit ssaudubon.org.
Bingo at Beth-El
Get your game on at a weekly bingo game at East Meadow Beth-El Jewish Center, starting at 6 p.m. Prizes, progressive games, bell jar prizes and refreshments will be provided. Proof of vaccination is required. 1400 Prospect Ave., in East Meadow. For information, contact (516) 483-4205.
Public Notices
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BY THE BOARD OF APPEALS
Pursuant to New York State Town Law Article 16, New York State Public Officers Law Article 7, and the Town of Hempstead Building Zone Ordinance, NOTICE is hereby given that the BOARD OF APPEALS of the Town of Hempstead will hold a public hearing in the Old Town Hall, 350 Front Street, Room 230, Second Floor, Hempstead, New York on 01/08/2025 at 9:30 A.M. to consider the following applications and appeals:
THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 9:30 A.M.
5/25. LEVITTOWNNicholas F. & Carol M. Russo, Renewal of grant to maintain 6’ high stockade fence, 6’ high living fence forward of dwelling which may substantially obstruct line of sight & 3’ high chain link fence within the clear sight triangle., N/E cor. Blackbird La. & Widgeon La., a/k/a 17 Blackbird La.
18/25. - 20/25.
LEVITTOWN - Baljeet Khindri, Variance, side yards aggregate, construct 2nd floor addition attached to dwelling; Maintain accessory structure (shed) with less than required rear & side yard setbacks; Special exception to maintain 2nd accessory structure (gazebo) higher than permitted., E/s Albatross Rd., 455’ S/o Flamingo Rd., a/k/a 23 Albatross Rd. ALL PAPERS PERTAINING TO THE ABOVE HEARING ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT THE BOARD OF APPEALS, TOWN HALL, 1 WASHINGTON STREET, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550. This notice is only for new cases in Levittown within Town of Hempstead jurisdiction. There are additional cases in different hamlets, towns and villages on the Board of Appeals calendar. The full calendar is available a t https://hempsteadny.gov/ 509/Board-of-Appeals
The internet address of the website streaming for this meeting is https://hempsteadny.gov/ 576/Live-Streaming-Video Interested parties may appear at the above time and place. At the call of the Chairman, the Board will consider decisions on the foregoing and those on the Reserve Decision calendar and such other matters as may properly come before it. 150769
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S.
BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY
AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCF 2 ACQUISITION TRUST C/O U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, Plaintiff AGAINST JEAN LESLEY JEAN-LOUIS AKA JEAN LESLY JEAN-LOUIS, ET AL., Defendant(s)
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered July 12, 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 February 3, 2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 33 2nd Avenue, Westbury, NY 11590. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Westbury, Town of North Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 11 Block 109 Lot 137 and 376. Approximate amount of judgment $409,294.98 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #604695/2023. 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”. Lawrence S. Farbman, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 22-002694 83528 150743
LEGAL NOTICE
Notice of formation of JAY Quickfood LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 10/31/2024. Office location: Nassau County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to 22106 92nd Avenue, Queens Village, NY 11428. Purpose: Any lawful purpose. 150150
LEGAL NOTICE
STATE OF NEW YORK
SUPREME COURT: COUNTY OF NASSAU THE BANK OF NEW YORK
MELLON FKA THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS TRUSTEE (CWALT 2005-06CB), Plaintiff, v. GARY ROSENBERG A/K/A GARY S. ROSENBERG, ET AL, Defendants.
NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT In pursuance of a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the Office of the County Clerk of Nassau County on November 21, 2024, I, John G. Kennedy, Esq., the Referee named in said Judgment, will sell in one parcel at public auction on January 23, 2025 at North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Ct. Dr., Mineola, NY 11501, at 02:00 PM the premises described as follows: 24 Sugar Maple Rd Levittown, NY 11756
SBL. No.: 45-156-5
ALL THAT TRACT OR PARCEL OF LAND situate in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York.
The premises are sold subject to the provisions of the filed judgment, Index No. 000278/2017 in the amount of $630,371.21 plus interest and costs. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the Court System’s 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.
Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP Attorneys for Plaintiff 500 Bausch & Lomb Place Rochester, NY 14604 Tel.: 855-227-5072 150560
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU
MCLP ASSET COMPANY, INC., Plaintiff AGAINST RICHARD ORTIZ, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered April 16, 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 January 16, 2025 at 3:00PM, premises known as 7 Mockingbird Lane, Levittown, NY 11756. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Levittown, near Hicksville, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 45, Block 172, Lot 0048. Approximate amount of judgment $585,728.31 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #604115/2018. 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”. Ralph J. Madalena, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 19-001737 83368 150530
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, US BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR VRMTG ASSET TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. MICHELLE DEANGELIS, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee’s Report Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on June 5, 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 January 22, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 712 Morris Court, East Meadow, NY 11554. 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 50, Block 554 and Lot 20. Approximate amount of judgment is $496,728.97 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #617604/2022. Cash will not be accepted.
Jane P. Shrenkel, Esq., Referee Knuckles & Manfro, LLP, 120 White Plains Road, Suite 215, Tarrytown, New York 10591, Attorneys for Plaintiff 150538
LEGAL NOTICE STATE OF NEW YORK
SUPREME COURT: COUNTY OF NASSAU WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., Plaintiff,
v. DALE JUNGER A/K/A
DALE R. JUNGER, ET AL, Defendants.
NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT
In pursuance of a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the Office of the County Clerk of Nassau County on September 18, 2019, I, Judith Powell, Esq. the Referee named in said Judgment, will sell in one parcel at public auction on January 29, 2025 at North Side Steps of the
New Year Resolve elevate the Conversation
It’s pretty simple really. I’m in the camp of no need for Jan 1 resolutions as I’d like to hope change can be whenever, wherever personal growth is needed. Besides, I don’t like the self-imposing way to make it through the new year with promises that may just be too big, too broad, too ambitious to keep.
I’d like it better if there were not new year resolutions but new year resolve. Examples include:
New year resolution: I will exercise every day.
New year resolve: I will do what I can to take better care of myself physically, mentally and spiritually.
New year resolution: I will stop arguing with my family.
tistically break them. Resolutions seem like an unnecessary way to remind yourself what you can’t do, not what you can.
New year resolve: I will listen and think before I speak to give me time to understand (and breathe).
Resolutions seem rather materialistic. The idea of new year resolutions is easy prey for diet company commercials and direct mail soliciting customers for new credit cards. There’s nothing wrong with celebrating the turn of the year but it gets demanding. First you are told when to make resolutions since January second is too late. Then there are unwritten rules how to make resolutions: not too many, not too grand. Then the news reports on how fast people sta-
Besides, “resolve” has a firmer, serious tone. You don’t dare to play around with “resolve”. In some ways resolve feels reasonable yet meaningful. If it were a noun rather than a verb, “resolve” would have penned the line, “If there’s a will, there’s a way”. “Resolve” is a conclusion while “resolution” seems like work in perpetual progress. Remember, they named the stain cleaner “Resolve” not “Resolution” for good reason. So when the New Year rolls around – think of this joyous time with family and friends as just another great start for realistic change. And if you celebrate by watching the ball drop in Times Square, watch closely. Even that famous sphere seems resolute as it makes its way down to ring in 2025.
A contributing writer to the Herald since 2012, Lauren Lev is a direct marketing/advertising executive who teaches marketing fundamentals as well as advertising and marketing communications courses at the Fashion Institute of Technology and SUNY Old Westbury.
News brIef
EMHS raises funds for Tunnel to Towers
Members of East Meadow High School’s National Honor Society donated $500 to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation on Dec. 3.
Jack Nelson, an ambassador from Tunnel to Towers, was on hand to graciously accept their donation.
The honor society raised money for the foundation through their second annual Fall Festival on Oct. 11.
Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Ct. Dr., Mineola, NY 11501, at 02:00 PM the premises described as follows: 1611 N Jerusalem Road East Meadow, NY 11554
SBL No.: 50-388-54 ALL THAT TRACT OR PARCEL OF LAND situate in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York.
The premises are sold subject to the provisions of the filed judgment, Index No. 611231/2017 in the amount of $267,342.65 plus interest and costs. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the Court System’s COVID-19 mitigation protocols and as such all persons must comply with
Tunnel to Towers helps America’s heroes by providing mortgage free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families with young children and by building specially adapted smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders.
–Jordan Vallone
distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP Attorneys for Plaintiff 500 Bausch & Lomb Place Rochester, NY 14604 Tel.: 855-227-5072 150692
L auren L ev
MULTI MEDIA
EMPLOYMENT
Help Wanted
Amityville UFSD Food Service Workers PT/FT
Responsibilities- Food preparation & service, sanitation awareness, other duties as assigned by the District.
Qualifications- Knowledge and experience with cooking, inventory, cashiering, recordkeeping, customer service, computer skills **Suffolk County Food Manager's Certificate preferred. Salary range starting at $20,980. Email resume to: humanresources@amityvilleufsd.org or apply online at www.olasjobs.org/longisland
Qualifications: NYS Certification Salary: $150 per day
Application: Interested candidates please apply online at www.olasjobs.org/longisland
Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer
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 $16.50 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
EDITOR/REPORTER
Part Time & Full Time. The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. Salary range is from $20K to $45K
To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to jbessen@liherald.com
MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP
Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges fromo $16.50 per hour to $20 per hour.
Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com
Sales
Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $34,320 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286
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 $34,320 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses. Compensation is based on Full Time hours Eligible for Health
Our brick walls aren’t what we expected
A Waterfront Beauty
Welcome to an extraordinary waterfront home that masterfully blends contemporary design with unmatched resilience. Constructed on 42 pilings with steel-reinforced block concrete, this 5,600-square-foot residence is built for exceptional energy efficiency and minimal maintenance. Inside, you'll find 5 spacious bedrooms, 3.5 luxurious baths, and three expansive decks, two front-facing and one rear, complete with a gas hookup.
Q. After much research, we chose brick for our new house. It has been a nightmare getting satisfaction from the mason who did the work. We noticed after only a few months that there were white powder-like streaks across the brick walls in many places. We spoke with the brick manufacturer, who said it sounded like an installation problem or streaking from other materials around it. The mason came back and looked at it. He used acid and brushed one spot and it lightened up but didn’t go away. He seemed annoyed with us, and said he could “send someone” to brush and put more cleaner on, but the whiteness would remain and it would have to “weather” after that. We had a sample wall built to make sure the color was right, and really went to a lot of effort for our choices. We are upset that the mason acted like it was our fault for complaining. We selected brick for high durability, weather resistance and low to no maintenance, and now we have this problem. What could have caused it, and is there any other remedy?
A. Brick was a great choice for all the reasons you described, and will outlast generations of occupants if installed correctly. The whiteness may be caused in a few ways. You have to first know what caused it.
Trim materials, above and around brick, will streak from the wrong paint on roof-edge or topof-wall trim. If the paint used was interior latex water-soluble paint, it will separate and run. Prefinished metal, factory finished, will also start to chalk and run. If a highly pigmented paint with low-resin binder was used, then the same results occur. The brick will be somewhat cleanable, but will have to be exposed to many cycles of rain, heat, freezing, etc., also known as weathering.
Because the mason did not mention the runoff of paint from trim, I suspect that your problem is the worst-case scenario, and all the cleaning with muriatic acid and a steel brush will not solve the staining entirely. Wire brushing or high powerwashing actually harms brick, because that amazingly strong fired-finish on the brick, the reason brick is such a good resister of the elements, is now going to be broken down to a grainy finish that can harbor mildew.
Sadly, the issue was completely preventable, either by using trim that did not lose color or by the brick installation. Yes, the brick installation. It starts with not having the correct width of the foundation to carry the brick, so it is installed too close to or right against the exterior plywood. That airspace is supposed to be 2 inches, clear, behind the brick, so rain that gets sucked into the mortar joints can drop behind the brick and “weep” from weep holes at the bottom of the wall. If you do not have weeps, then the wall was installed incorrectly and the problem will continue. Good luck!
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opINIoNS
We need the Department of Education
The U.S. Department of Education was established as a cabinet-level agency in October 1979 by President Jimmy Carter, and officially began operations in May 1980. For nearly 45 years, the department has soldiered past many attempts to break it apart, or disband it altogether, most notably by conservative politicians who believe that the federal agency oversteps states’ rights.
While calls to do away with the agency have persisted through the early 21st century, the effort has never been successful, and here’s why: Many educators, parents, advocacy groups and politicians on both sides of the aisle support a federal role in education to ensure equity and civil rights enforcement.
I’m not an educator or a politician, but I can tell you this: Education, and at the very least a high school diploma, is imperative to one’s success in life. What’s even more important is that the Department of Education has played a vital role in making access to education possible for countless people, ensuring that opportunities for learning and growth are within reach for all.
GThe DOE oversees and coordinates national education policies, but it also works closely with state and local governments to assess needs on a state-bystate basis.
There are many avenues on which I could diverge to highlight some of the department’s key components, but I’ll focus on just a few things, the first being Title I — the largest federal education program, which is aimed at improving the academic achievement of disadvantaged students. It provides financial assistance to schools and districts with high percentages of children from low-income families.
Sprovides them with specific protections and resources, like individualized education plans, mandating that schools develop tailored plans for these students, outlining their unique needs and goals and the services required to meet those goals.
hutting it down would have profound consequences for students all over the nation.
Over the years, Title I has garnered bipartisan support, because both Democrats and Republicans recognize the need to address education inequities. Debates have arisen over funding distribution and outcome measurement, but Title I remains a central component of federal education policy because of its critical role in supporting vulnerable students.
The DOE also oversaw the implementation of the landmark Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, signed into law by President George H.W. Bush in 1990. In simplest terms, the act guarantees free, appropriate public education for students with disabilities, and also
The act stretches beyond primary and secondary education, also requiring schools to help students transition from high school to postsecondary education, employment or independent living — ensuring that no one’s future is negatively impacted by a learning or physical disability.
I’m detailing all of this because I, like many others, find it extremely alarming that President-elect Donald Trump has once again vowed to shut down the Department of Education.
He first proposed to do so during his 2016 presidential campaign, but even his own secretary of education during his first term, Betsy DeVos, didn’t see that idea through.
The DOE has faced its share of woes over the course of seven presidencies, and yet it steadfastly continues its work. Shutting it down isn’t just a matter of politics — it’s a decision that would have profound consequences for students across the nation.
If Trump succeeds in dismantling the department in his second term, experts in the field have indicated that its programs could survive or operate under other federal or state agencies, but the transition would likely cause massive disruptions in services, negatively impacting students.
Ninety percent of all K-12 students in the U.S. are publicly educated, due to education’s accessibility and widespread availability, and who would we be, as a nation, if we took that accessibility away?
I’ve said this many times, and I’ll say it again: If you voted for Trump because you believe in his vision for America, that’s fine, and it’s your right as an American.
Putting that aside, however, I now ask you to think about students — perhaps even your children — and what the shutdown of a massively important department could mean.
The Department of Education exists to ensure that education is not a privilege for few, but rather a right for everyone, and to close it down would risk reversing decades of progress. Rather than dismantle it, we should be focused on strengthening it for generations to come, prioritizing children, their futures, and the promise of opportunity for all.
Jordan Vallone is a senior editor of the Herald Community Newspapers. Comments? Jvallone@liherald.com.
Hochul must sign horseshoe crab act into law
ov. Kathy Hochul has been presented with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to save one of our planet’s greatest unsung heroes, the horseshoe crab. Early in 2024, the State Senate and Assembly passed a bill that would prohibit taking horseshoe crabs from New York waters for bait or for biomedical use.
CHRISTINE SUTER
Hochul has until the end of the month to sign the bill into law, and time is running out for us to persuade her to do so.
Horseshoe crabs have existed relatively unchanged for roughly 450 million years — 200 million years longer than dinosaurs — and they have survived five mass extinctions. They are a keystone species, which means that if their populations were to dwindle to numbers that are unsustainable, the repercussions for other species would be devastating. Every year, numerous species of migratory shorebirds rely on horseshoe crab eggs for food on their long journey to
their breeding grounds in the Arctic. For half a century, humans have depended on horseshoe crabs for our survival, because they have played a major role in modern medicine. Their unique copper-based blue blood contains a clotting agent that immediately forms a clot when it comes into contact with bacteria. Because of this, horseshoe crab blood has been used for decades by the biomedical industry to test for infection-causing bacteria in injectable drugs, intravenous solutions, vaccines and medical implants. Their blood was also used to develop the Covid-19 vaccines that have saved millions of lives. Luckily, a synthetic alternative to horseshoe crab blood has been developed and approved for biomedical use, but the changeover in the industry has been slow.
This keystone species helped scientists develop the Covid vaccines.
sive animals, grazing across the seafloor like ancient vacuum cleaners, looking for the small aquatic insects, mollusks and detritus on which they feed. There are four species of horseshoe crabs, and the Atlantic coast is the only place in the Western Hemisphere that is home to one of those species, the Atlantic horseshoe crab, or Limulus polyphemus
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s benchmark stock assessment of horseshoe crabs in 2019, and the recently updated stock assessment in 2024, both show the crabs’ stock status in New York as poor. Of all the states on the Atlantic coast, New York is the only one where that is the case, and there is no evidence that the population is rebounding.
the crabs, which puts even more pressure on the New York stock and puts them at a higher risk of poaching by outof-state fishermen. Bait alternatives exist, but fishermen won’t be compelled to use them unless a ban is enacted.
Entrusting the state Department of Environmental Conservation to regulate the harvesting of horseshoe crabs is a mistake. Regulation depends on enforcement, and with only 30 to 40 environmental conservation officers patrolling the entire Long Island coastline, there is ample opportunity for overharvesting and poaching to take place.
Although there are misconceptions that they are poisonous or that they use their tails as weapons, horseshoe crabs are completely harmless. The tail serves a very important purpose: to flip a crab over if it gets turned upside down. That’s why you should never pick one up by its tail. They are completely pas-
Horseshoe crabs cannot legally be harvested for biomedical use in New York state. Their dwindling population here is due mostly to their harvesting for use as bait in the eel and conch fisheries as well as the loss of their spawning grounds due to sea level rise and shoreline hardening. New Jersey and Connecticut have both banned the harvest of
Friends of the Bay is asking you to urge Governor Hochul to sign the Horseshoe Crab Protection Act into law Friends of the Bay is an environmental conservation and advocacy organization headquartered in Oyster Bay. Our mission is to preserve, protect and restore the ecological integrity and productivity of the Oyster Bay/Cold Spring Harbor Estuary and the surrounding watershed. Please visit friendsofthebay.org/ horseshoe-crab-protection-act to learn how you can help, and to get a copy of a sample letter that you can sign and mail, or email, to the governor.
Christine Suter is executive director of Friends of the Bay.
JoRDAN VALLoNE
Stepping into a new year with hope and resolve
anew year always arrives freighted with emotion. It carries the accumulated hopes, frustrations and lessons of the previous 12 months, paired with the tantalizing possibility of transformation.
This year, as we look ahead, we find ourselves grappling with familiar challenges while daring to believe in the promise of better days.
One challenge we must confront is the growing fragmentation of our shared experiences. Increasingly, the global and local spheres seem to exist in parallel universes. A catastrophe halfway across the world — whether a climate disaster, political upheaval or humanitarian crisis — has the power to shape economies and policies closer to home, yet often feels distant, reduced to a fleeting headline.
Meanwhile, our more local and personal concerns — the cost of living, caring for family and doing well at work — demand urgent attention but risk being overshadowed by the constant churn of global issues. Bridging this gap requires a recalibration of priorities. The new year demands both outward-looking empathy and a renewed focus on strengthening the foundations of our own communities.
Economically, the year ahead will likely test the resilience of all levels of
letters
She’ll miss ‘Blue Bloods,’ too
To the Editor:
our government. Trust in institutions has eroded, but there are also glimmers of progress worth celebrating: advancements in green technology, a renewed emphasis on workers’ rights, and shifting societal attitudes toward mental health and well-being. These trends suggest that positive change, while slow, is possible.
We need to be optimistic, but that demands resolve. The climate crisis, for instance, is no longer a future threat but an immediate reality, underscored by the fires, floods and record-breaking temperatures of recent years. The urgency to act cannot be overstated, and yet real solutions remain politically fraught and logistically complex. We face the challenge of balancing personal responsibility with the recognition that systemic change requires collective action.
At the same time, the new year also offers a chance to reimagine what progress means. Growth, long equated with economic expansion, is being reconsidered in light of its environmental and social costs. These ideas challenge deeply entrenched narratives about success and prosperity, but they also open up the possibility of more inclusive, equitable futures.
Many of us also enter 2025 grappling with uncertainty. The relentless pace of
I agree with everything that Peter King wrote in “Like many other devotees, I’ll miss ‘Blue Bloods’ dearly” (Dec. 19-25). Though I never had the chance to meet the cast of “Blue Bloods,” they did feel like family. There has to be a show for people like us — born in Queens, my grandfather was with the Manhattan mounted police in the late 1920s, my cousins were with the Port Authority Police during the Colin Ferguson bloodbath on the LIRR and on Sept. 11.
We love the Police Department and everything they stand for. They are our angels on earth in these crazy times. I appreciated grace before meals as a practicing Catholic. So there are many people who loved “Blue Bloods,” but I’m sure the network needed to try to make even more money! No one cares about the audience, just the dollar sign.
NANCY ALBERTELLI
East Meadow
Yes, but the show was clearly fiction
To the Editor:
My father, like Mr. King’s, wore NYPD’s blue. Like Mr. King, I consider ‘Blue Bloods’ more nuanced than many cop shows. But his speculations about imagined oppo-
technological change, the aftershocks of a pandemic and the simple unpredictability of life can feel overwhelming. Yet amid this turbulence, we find moments of connection and meaning. A neighbor’s kindness, a shared laugh, the rediscovery of an old passion — these small, often overlooked moments remind us why we persevere.
How do we handle the bad while making room for the good? We need to balance action with rest and contemplation, and ambition with gratitude. This requires recognizing that while we cannot solve every problem, we can contribute to their solutions.
As we step into the new year, we should resolve to move beyond empty platitudes. Instead of vague aspirations for “better days,” let’s strive for tangible progress: a stronger sense of community, a commitment to justice, and a willingness to adapt to changing realities. We should allow ourselves moments of joy, not just as a distraction from life’s difficulties, but also as a reminder of its possibilities.
It isn’t easy. There are always setbacks and frustrations, but there are also breakthroughs, large and small, that remind us of our capacity to endure, to grow and to create a better future. The new year’s gift gives us the opportunity to begin anew.
nents of the show, and his “unanswered questions,” are dubious. No doubt, the cast members are all outstanding people and first-class actors, but they were performers acting out dramatic scripts. It’s all fiction, and we can enjoy “as if” for the hour, but to extend the imaginary past the credits is delusional.
Americans generally tend to romanticize both our lawmen and our criminals, clouding our view of reality. Our fiction is out of sync with our nonfiction, and we get confused. If real police were “Blue Bloods” police, we would not have had a Bernie Kerik as commissioner; there would be no need for civilian complaint review
opinions Helping Ukraine fight for justice
as the season of giving comes to a close, it’s important to reflect on not just all we have to be thankful for, but on those who still need our support. While there are certainly plenty of domestic issues, and Americans in need, we cannot forget the people of Ukraine, who are nearing the end of their third year of war with Russia. The conflict, which has cost the lives of roughly 43,000 Ukrainian soldiers and over 11,000 civilians, has put on display the very real threat authoritarianism is posing to democracies all around the world today. And the people of Ukraine, who spent decades under Soviet rule and centuries under czarist rule before that, know how important their right to self-determination is, because they know what it means to live under a regime without rights. Here in America, where we’ve had the luck and privilege to live under a democratic government for our entire history, it can be easy to brush aside these kinds of conflicts by claiming that certain areas or certain cultures
are used to conflict. We hear it about the Middle East all the time: so-called “experts” who assert that the region has “always been at war,” and that one ethnic group or another “doesn’t understand democracy.”
I don’t buy it.
As our Founding Fathers knew too well, human beings are born with an innate desire, and a right, to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. While we may think of these words as uniquely American, I’ve always believed that they were written not just with our country’s population in mind, but as a fundamental fact of the human condition.
wmyr Zelensky chose to stay in Kyiv in 2022, when the capital city refused to fall, and every day since, his people have had one message for Putin and the world: We will not go quietly.
e can’t turn our backs on a country that is fighting for its sovereignty.
When our nation was in its infancy and fighting for its existence, we relied heavily on the support not only of foreign nations like France and Spain, but on the extraordinary efforts of individuals from around the world who recognized that our fight for independence wasn’t just a local conflict, but a global one, that of freedom vs. tyranny.
There are hundreds of international charitable groups that are on the ground in Ukraine providing humanitarian aid, from UNICEF to the Red Cross. Other organizations, such as United Help Ukraine, Nova Ukraine and Razom for Ukraine, provide medical aid to tens of thousands of people and soldiers across the country.
And the people of Ukraine have shown their desire for these universal rights with a determination and tenacity that has allowed this country of only 37 million to face down, and frequently defeat, a richer and larger nation with nearly five times its population. And Ukrainians are fighting not just for their own rights and sovereignty. They are the first line of defense against the deranged, ahistorical and plutocratic worldview that Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian oligarchs are so desperate to spread.
When Ukrainian President Volody-
Letters
boards, body cameras and millions spent on misconduct settlements; and less turnover in the top brass. “Courtesy cards” would be in museums, not wallets.
Distractions from reality allow speculations like Mr. King’s suggestion that scriptwriters were pressured “to portray cops in a negative light,” as if any producers care at all about what viewers see between the commercials. There are other shows for that. Equally dangerous is his question about the series’ cancellation. Instead of noting the fact that the noble cast accepted a 25 percent pay cut to subsidize season 14, Mr. King conjures the demon of “woke” from nothing.
It’s true that the show’s fans will always have the memories, but we must hope our nostalgia doesn’t distract from the realities of 21st century law and its enforcement.
BRIAN KELLY Rockville Centre
The MTA should rethink its spending priorities
To the Editor:
Long Island Rail Road commuters should be concerned about insufficient funds being earmarked to bring bridges,
viaducts, tunnels and other basic infrastructure that are in poor or marginal condition up to a state of good repair in the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s proposed $68 billion 2025-2029 Five Year Capital Plan. This also applies to Metro-North Railroad and New York City Transit.
It’s questionable whether $600 million is sufficient funding for LIRR critical infrastructure projects under the proposed plan. Can this eliminate the growing backlog of critical infrastructure repair? Too many critical capital assets remain in daily service beyond their anticipated useful life. There is still a $33 billion shortfall to fully fund the plan.
Safety, state of good repair, and reliable, on-time performance with a minimum of service disruptions at a fair price should be higher priorities than system expansion projects. The $7.7 billion Second Avenue Subway Phase 2, the $5.5 billion Brooklyn-Queens light-rail Interborough Express and the $3.1 billion Metro North Bronx East Penn Station Access projects all need to be put on hold. Funding for all three would be better spent on critical infrastructure projects benefiting over 4 million NYC Transit subway, 200,000-plus LIRR and 200,000plus Metro North daily commuters. MTA Chairman Janno Lieber and board members have a fiduciary responsibility to
The analogy isn’t perfect. Ukraine isn’t fighting to win its independence from its mother country, but is fighting instead to maintain its sovereignty in the face of foreign aggression. But the fact remains that its people, who have seen family members’, friends’ and loved ones’ lives destroyed by the aggression of a brutish dictator, deserve not only our respect and admiration, but our help.
You may think, “But I’m only one person — what could I possibly do?” And obviously, no one person can end this conflict overnight (except maybe Rocky Balboa). But there are plenty of ways for us to do our part.
There are also nearly 300,000 Ukrainian refugees now living in the United States, part of a diaspora of nearly 4 million Ukrainians, predominantly women, children and seniors, who have been forced to flee their homes in the face of ruthless Russian aggression. While many of these people have been kindly fostered by Americans, Europeans and people everywhere, there are always more people in need.
To learn more about how to host Ukrainian refugees, visit SupportUkraineNow.org.
Ukrainians are fighting not just for their own right to exist, but for the rights of people around the world struggling against conquest and the threat of extermination. As the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. famously declared, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” — and we can all do more to help Ukrainians restore peace in the country they love.
Will Sheeline is an editor covering Glen Head, Locust Valley, Oyster Bay and Sea Cliff. Comments? WSheeline@liherald.com.
Framework by Tim Baker
protect the interests of riders and taxpayers.
LARRY PENNER
Great Neck
Larry Penner is a transportation advo-
cate, historian and writer who previously served as a director of the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 New York Office of Operations and Program Management.
