HERALD Franklin square/elmont
divided world.
The enduring legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.
By RENEE DeloRENZo rdelorenzo@liherald.com
Almost six decades after Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated for challenging the systemic racism that pervades the United States, his words of unity and equality still inspire communities worldwide.
While better known for his famous “I Have a Dream” speech during the March on Washington in 1963, King’s message extended far beyond the racial disparities that separate the nation. King spoke of class exploitation, economic equality, police brutality and worker’s rights.
Many of these issues, according to attendees of Elmont Memorial High School’s MLK Day of Service, are still relevant today.
Pastor Curtis Thompson, from Church of the Harvest, delivered a speech during the Jan. 20 event at the school, emphasizing King’s message of freedom, equality and what it means to serve their community.
One of the problems standing in the way of solving racial disparity, he asserted, is that people live in isolation and do not care about their neighbors. This lack of communication between people of different backgrounds, he stressed, makes it difficult to
Continued on page 7
Parents reject Hochul’s ban on cellphones
By RENEE DeloRENZo rdelorenzo@liherald.com
At a news conference last week, Gov. Kathy Hochul unveiled plans to restrict the use of smartphones by students in public schools statewide. She would allocate $13.5 million of her $252 billion budget package for 2026 to help schools implement the initiative by the next school year.
pose a threat to student safety, parents say they are concerned about how a ban might impact their children’s ability to get help in an emergency.
I feel
If it is passed, any unsanctioned use of smartphones during the school day would be banned, and schools would be required to develop their own methods of storing, collecting and distributing students’ devices.
more
comfortable with my son having his cellphone
Emmanuelle Jeanlouis, who has a child at Covert Avenue School and another at Sewanhaka High School, said that the proposed ban is an attempt to conceal the state’s inability to provide children with other important resources, such as test prep and updated teaching technology.
in school.
ShINEllE hEwItt Elmont parent
While Hochul said the plan is intended to create a distraction-free environment in classrooms and improve students’ mental health, some Elmont parents say they don’t believe a ban would help solve the larger problems in the state’s educational system. And despite the governor’s claim that a smartphone restriction would not
“They might cover it up and make it look shiny from a certain angle,” Jeanlouis said of the State Education Department. “But who’s going to hold them accountable for not being able to give the children resources?”
Jeanlouis, who was a paraprofessional, a teacher and a guidance counselor in the Education Department from 2010 to 2023, said she was also worried that schools would see the ban as an opportunity to withhold information from parents
Continued on page 9
Renee DeLorenzo/Herald
pastor Curtis thompson reminds attendees of Martin Luther King Jr.’s powerful message of unity and equality, and why those words are still relevant in today’s
New state tax credit for small businesses
By MADELEINE ROSEN
Special to the Herald
Small businesses in Franklin Square and Elmont might soon be receiving some much-needed financial relief.
Earlier this month, State Senator Monica Martinez and Assemblywoman Jen Lunsford introduced the Lift Our Communities, Advertise Locally Act, which would establish a new $10 million annual tax credit for small businesses advertising in local media outlets. Small businesses could each receive up to $4,000 in tax credits for marketing in community media.
The act aims to support the marketing needs of small businesses especially those that are owned by minorities, women or veterans, or that have 10 employees or fewer while keeping investment in the media outlets that New Yorkers rely on everyday for critical information.
“This legislation fosters a cycle of growth, allowing small businesses to expand their reach while simultaneously supporting the media outlets that keep New Yorkers informed and engaged,” Martinez said.
The legislation has already garnered staunch support from the media and business community. Led by The Empire State Local News Coalition, which is composed of over 200 local newspapers across New York including
the Franklin Square/Elmont Herald the bill has received praise from business trade groups throughout the state, which view the proposal as a solution to increase investment in small businesses and sustain local news organizations.
“The LOCAL Act is a win-win-win for local businesses, local news, and local communities,” Zachary Richner, founding member of the Empire State Local News Coalition, said. “These institutions are intricately connected
the economic health of our local communities and investing in the kind of local journalism that we need now more than ever,” Lunsford said.
Under the act, businesses owned by minorities, women, or veterans, as well as any business with 10 employees or fewer, would be eligible to receive a refundable tax credit of 80 percent of its first $5,000 of local advertising for a maximum credit of $4,000 per year. The program would be capped at $10 million annually.
Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages said she and other legislators are working hard to support local businesses, as well as local journalism, and supporting this bill is a great opportunity strengthen the community.
and work together to create the vibrant communities that New Yorkers love.”
The bill comes as the 2025 Legislative Session kicks off and negotiations begin on the state’s next fiscal year budget, which must be passed by both the state’s senate and assembly, and signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul, by April 1. The tax credit would need to be included in the state’s final spending plan.
“The LOCAL Act is about more than just advertising it’s about investing in
“We know every dollar invested in a local community business or newspaper circulates several times,” Solages said. “It’s advantageous for us to not only support our local journalists, but our local businesses. It’s a common sense piece of legislation.”
“We are excited to support local businesses,” said Stuart Richner, president of Richner Communications Inc. “By making advertising more accessible and affordable, the LOCAL Act will empower Long Island’s small businesses to reach new customers while ensuring that our local media outlets continue to connect and inform our residents.”
Courtesy Belmont Park Village
Small businesses in Franklin Square and Elmont could see state funding and tax credits for advertising in local media outlets through the LOCAL Act, proposed by State Senator Monica R. Martinez and Assemblywoman Jen Lunsford for 2026.
History of the Franklin Square fire dept.
By RENEE DeLORENZO rdelorenzo@liherald.com
The history of the Franklin Square and Munson Fire Department began, perhaps predictably, with a series of fires.
Dating back to the end of the nineteenth century, Franklin Square was predominantly a rural farming town, with little to no protection against fires. Large pastures of grass surrounded buildings and homes made of wood, which were perfect conditions for fires to spread easily. According to the 2022 Franklin Square and Munson Fire Department Journal, fires were quite common during this time.
As Franklin Square swung into the twentieth century, no formal fire department had been established yet. Fires were particularly frequent during dry summers, the journal states, when even a small spark could trigger a grass fire. Some fires destroyed entire structures, unable to be salvaged from the blaze.
But, it wasn’t until 1901, when the Rath-Herman House, owned by prominent businessman Peter J. Herman, burst into flames that a campaign for better fire protection in Franklin Square began.
With Herman at the helm, a group of residents enlisted the help of local farmers in Elmont to form the Belmont Hook & Ladder Company in 1905. After a $2,500 investment from August Belmont Jr., an American financier who funded the Belmont Park racetrack, the fire company’s 40 new members suited up and began serving the Franklin Square community.
However, it soon became apparent this arrangement was not particularly effective. According to Pat Galaskas, a member and volunteer for the Franklin Square Historical Society Museum, the fire company was still using horses to transport their firefighters, along with all of their heavy equipment.
And, Galaskas explained, the process of calling for help took quite some time.
First, a resident would have to find the nearest fire alarm call box. These call boxes were positioned on several street corners so citizens could alert the fire company. Galaskas said it could be a trek to find the nearest call box, which already began tacking on minutes to the fire company’s response time.
Once notified, she continued, the company would have to summon firefighters. The firefighters would then prepare horses, and the horses would carry buckets of water all the way from the company’s location on Elmont Road to wherever in Franklin Square a fire was occurring.
This all contributed to a rather lengthy response time, Galaskas concluded.
Several more fires devastated the local area during the next two years, the journal states, and residents realized they were too far away to receive proper help.
In 1907, residents from Franklin Square and Munson, the latter of which is a nearby hamlet in the Town of Hempstead, petitioned the town to organize their own hook and ladder company. The town approved it after only three days, and the Franklin Hook and Ladder Company of Munson was officially established.
Of course, the journal continues, the company still had to use horse drawn vehicles. Members also bought a 500-gallon water tank, which was filled from local water sources in the area. So, beyond the convenience of closer proximity, there were huge improvements to their fire response, including a loud bell that rang to alert residents and responders of fires.
But, when the Kalb Hotel, which was located on the northeast corner of modern day New Hyde Park Road and Hempstead Turnpike, became engulfed in flames in January 1923, it became glaringly evident to residents that the lengthy response time had not been sufficiently addressed.
The night of the fire, Galaskas explained, a priest from Saint Catherine of Sienna, Father Conrad Lutz, was going to bed late. But, when he looked across the
A collection of Franklin Square and Munson Fire Department artifacts, which is available for viewing at the Franklin Square Historical Society Museum, shows the history and transformation of the department in the past 100 years.
A fireman’s jacket, which is withered and worn from years of exposure to fires, conveys the hazardous conditions firefighters in the department experience.
street, he noticed smoke emitting from the hotel. He quickly rang the church bell and ran over to wake up the family that owned the hotel, ensuring they got out alive. But, as for the fate of the hotel, it was not as lucky.
“Well,” Galaskas shrugged, “they couldn’t save the building.”
This proved to be a critical time for fire companies in Franklin Square due to the destructive breadth of the fire. According to the journal, “The Kalb Hotel burned to the ground, nearly taking the whole village with it. The disaster provided the community with a real incentive to improve the fire protection system.”
In May 1923, one hundred residents attended a meeting at the Monroe Street School, the historical journal stated, and went straight back to the drawing board.
About two months later, after a resolution to organize and raise money for a new fire company, the town granted a charter for a new fire company, the Franklin Square Hose and Chemical Company.
With the help of August Hoffman and Peter J. Herman, who were benefactors of the project, members began preparing materials for the new fire company. This included a hose reel and a 500-foot hose, which would be much more effective in supplying water to
flames enveloping large structures.
To improve efficiency for alerting the fire company of emergencies, a bell from a retired locomotive train in Queens was imported to Franklin Square and placed at the site of the defunct Kalb Hotel.
Fire officers were hired later in 1923, and two lots on Hempstead Turnpike had been acquired as a location for the firehouse by December. And, when 1924 rolled around, the fire company bought its first motorized truck, fire equipment and uniforms, which greatly improved their response time and firefighting capabilities.
Eventually, the Franklin Hook and Ladder Company of Munson and Franklin Square Hose and Chemical Company merged becoming what is now known today as the Franklin Square and Munson Fire Department.
Over the next 100 years, the fire department grew and transformed, adapting to the changing times and utilizing new, modern firefighting technology.
Today, the Franklin Square and Munson Fire Department has approximately 110 active volunteers, who, Galaskas added, built an esprit de corps as a way of instilling pride and loyalty among the group. The fire department also won Best of L.I. for best firehouse in 2025.
The fire department’s archives, and some of their old equipment, are currently on display at the Franklin Square Historical Society Museum on Naple Avenue. To learn more about the museum, and find artifacts from the fire department’s 100-year history, visit FSHistoricalSociety.org.
A fire department helmet sits on display as a proud symbol of the 100-year history of the fire department.
Renee DeLorenzo/Herald photos
Suit settled, Nassau County is redistricted
By JEFFREY BESSEN jbessen@liherald.com
Heading into an election year for all 19 Nassau County legislative districts, the lines have been redrawn after a lawsuit that originated in 2023 was settled last Friday.
The agreed-on new districts are considered a victory for Democrats.
“This is a tremendous victory for Nassau County,” Jay Jacobs, the New York state and Nassau County Democratic Committee chairman, stated in a news release. “The illegal map sought to disenfranchise communities of color and undermine our democratic principles. This settlement reinforces the fundamental rights of all voters and sends a clear message that such tactics will not be tolerated.”
County Democrats, along with 21 plaintiffs from throughout the legislative districts, filed the lawsuit, alleging that before they were redrawn, the districts were racist, gerrymandered and gave an unfair advantage to Republicans, who hold majority control in the Legislature.
The suit also claimed that voters leaning in one direction were being packed into two districts, while the rest were spread out in other districts as a way to “dilute their voting strength.”
“Once again, the Republican majority in the Nassau County Legislature did
something that was unconstitutional by imposing legislative lines that were unconstitutional,” County Legislator Carrié Solages, who now represents a district similar to when he was first elected in 2011, said. “I am very thankful to the Democratic Party for assembling a team of attorneys, experts on maps and data from across the country, at a cost of well over half a million dollars, in order to fight for a fair, legal map in Nassau County.”
Under the terms of the settlement:
■ The illegal redistricting map is nullified, addressing violations of the New York Voting Rights Act and Municipal Home Rule Law.
■ A new, fairer legislative map is established, including six majority-minority districts and an Asian Influence District, a substantial increase from the prior four majority-minority districts.
■ The voices of Black, Latino and Asian communities are amplified, ensuring that communities of color can elect candidates who represent their interests.
“After long negotiations, Republican attempts to change venue and even disqualify the judge presiding over the case, the Democrats arrived at a map that is fair and creates the opportunity for historic six minority majority districts,” Solages said.
Keeping The Lights On
1. Flow. A sedentary life causes brain deterioration. Blood flow to the brain keeps oxygen in your brain cells which gives them life. Keep moving, walking and get some exercise.
2. Energize. Junk food clogs your arteries and lowers energy, causing a sedentary lifestyle. Healthy food gives energy to your body and brain. Refuel and brighten the lights.
3. Recharge. Lack of enough sleep causes deterioration of the brain. Your brain needs downtime to recharge. Give it enough recharging and keep the lights burning bright.
4. Relax. Constant high stress has damaging effects on the brain and can lead to destructive habits which add further damage. Learn to control stress and let the lights shine.
5. Engage. Like muscles your brain needs exercise. Too often people, after retirement, retire their brains also so they atrophy. Stay engaged, exercise your brain with reading, puzzles and other challenges to keep the lights going on strong.
6. Love. When people grow isolated their brains lack stimulation and they grow dull. Stay connected with family and friends to brighten the lights.
7. Adventure. Many older people lose their zest for new adventures. You don’t need to climb Everest just break out of dull routines. Any venture out to new places turns up the lights.
8. Purpose. People can lose interest in life after they have retired, feeling they have no purpose. Look for opportunities to volunteer. Helping others keeps the lights flaming.
The districts on the new map
District 1: Rockville Centre, Roosevelt, South Hempstead, and portions of Baldwin and Hempstead.
District 2: Carle Place, New Cassel, Westbury, and portions of Hempstead, Uniondale, Hicksville and Jericho.
District 3: Elmont, Lakeview, Bellerose, Bellerose Terrace, South Floral Park, Malverne Park Oaks, and portions of Malverne, Valley Stream, North Valley Stream, West Hempstead and Franklin Square.
District 4: Long Beach, Lido Beach, East Atlantic Beach, Island Park, Harbor Isle, Barnum Island, Point Lookout and portions of Oceanside.
District 5: Portions of Hempstead, Uniondale, West Hempstead and Franklin Square.
District 6: Freeport, and portions of Baldwin and Oceanside.
District 7: Atlantic Beach, Bay Park, Cedarhurst, East Rockaway, Hewlett, Hewlett Bay Park, Hewlett Harbor, Hewlett Neck, Inwood, Lawrence, Woodmere, Woodsburgh, and portions of Oceanside, South Valley Stream and Valley Stream.
District 8: Garden City, Garden City South, Stewart Manor, and portions of Floral Park, Franklin Square, New Hyde Park and North New Hyde Park.
District 9: Mineola, East Williston, Garden City Park, Herricks, Manhasset Hills, North Hills, and portions of Floral Park, New Hyde Park, North New Hyde Park, Searingtown and Williston Park.
District 10: Albertson, Flower Hill, Great Neck, Great Neck Estates, Great Neck Gardens, Great Neck Plaza, Harbor Hills, Kensington, Kings Point, Lake Success, Manhasset, Munsey
Park, Plandome, Plandome Heights, Plandome Manor, Roslyn Estates, Russell Gardens, Saddle Rock, Saddle Rock Estates, Thomaston, University Gardens, and portions of Roslyn Heights, Searingtown and Williston Park.
District 11: Baxter Estates, Glen Cove, Glenwood Landing, Manorhaven, Port Washington, Port Washington North, Roslyn Harbor, Sands Point, Sea Cliff, and portions of Glen Head.
District 12: Bellmore, Merrick, North Bellmore, North Merrick, and portions of Wantagh.
District 13: East Meadow, Salisbury, and portions of Levittown
District 14: Lynbrook, North Lynbrook, and portions of Valley Stream, North Valley Stream, Malverne and South Valley Stream.
District 15: North Wantagh, Seaford, and portions of Levittown and Wantagh.
District 16: Farmingdale, Old Bethpage, Plainview, and portions of Hicksville, Jericho, Syosset and Woodbury.
District 17: Bethpage, Plainedge, South Farmingdale, and portions of Hicksville and North Massapequa.
District 18: Bayville, Brookville, Centre Island, Cove Neck, East Hills, East Norwich, Greenvale, Lattingtown, Laurel Hollow, Locust Valley, Matinecock, Mill Neck, Muttontown, Old Brookville, Old Westbury, Oyster Bay, Oyster Bay Cove, and portions of Glen Head and Jericho.
District 19: East Massapequa, Massapequa, Massapequa Park, and portions of North Massapequa.
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Adapted from author Doug Armey, the following are keys to keeping your brain “lit” as you age.
BRADY DELVALLE
V.S. South Senior Basketball
IT WAS A HISTORIC night for DelValle Jan. 17 when Valley Stream South faced Wantagh. The two-time All-County guard reached the 1,000point career milestone in the Falcons’ hardfought defeat. He also assumed the top spot in Nassau County this season for 3-pointers made with 44. A captain, he is averaging 17.4 points per game, which ranks him in the Top 20 in Nassau, and scored in double figures in all but one of the Falcons’ first 14 games.
GAMES TO WATCH
Thursday, Jan. 30
Gymnastics: South Side at Oceanside 5 p.m.
Boys Basketball: Port Wash at Farmingdale 5 p.m.
Girls Basketball: Manhasset at Kennedy 5 p.m.
Wrestling: Oceanside at Freeport 6 p.m.
Gymnastics: Lynbrook at North Shore 7 p.m.
Girls Basketball: MacArthur at Baldwin 7 p.m.
Boys Basketball: Clarke at Hewlett 7 p.m.
Boys Basketball: Locust Valley at East Rockaway 7 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 31
Boys Basketball: Syosset at Uniondale 5 p.m.
Girls Basketball: Lawrence at Plainedge 5 p.m.
Boys Basketball: Oceanside at Massapequa 7 p.m.
Girls Basketball: Herricks at Mepham 7 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 1
Boys Basketball: Wantagh at Plainedge 12 p.m.
Boys Basketball: V.S. South at V.S. North 12 p.m.
Boys Basketball: Carle Place at West Hempstead 12 p.m.
Girls Basketball: V.S. North at V.S. South 12 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 3
Boys Basketball: Calhoun at Sewanhaka 5 p.m.
Wrestling: Long Beach at Calhoun 5:30 p.m.
Boys Basketball: Farmingdale at Massapequa 7 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.
Elmont steamrolling since opener
By GARRETT D. URIBE sports@liherald.com
After Elmont’s league opener at home Dec. 10, the Nassau Conference AA5 boys’ basketball pack may have sensed there was blood in the water.
In a rematch of last year’s county Class AA title game, the reigning statechamp Spartans – having lost four starters to graduation – emerged from a scrap against South Side with a stinging 10-point league loss.
It would be Elmont’s last, to date.
With a pair of comeback wins on the road to close the first half of January, Elmont, owner of AA5’s longest win streak – nine games, ongoing, at Herald press time – put to rest any lingering notions that this year its crowns (state, county and Long Island) were simply up for grabs.
The question of many at the outset had been: How could Elmont defend its titles in the wake of seemingly seismic departures – such as that of last year’s Class AA Final Four MVP Cassius Moore? The answer, according to head coach Ryan Straub – and borne out increasingly in stats: By committee.
“We faced some early hurdles but made necessary adjustments with a next-man-up mentality,” said Straub, whose club moved to 12-3 overall, 8-1 in AA5 with last week’s home league win against Kennedy, 78-34. “Every game it could be someone different stepping up.
Kayden Cyrus is a great example of that.”
A trio of timely three-point shots from junior reserve Cyrus helped Elmont erase Roslyn’s nine-point lead as the Spartans – who entered the night trailing their league-leading hosts by a game in the standings – stormed back late to win 59-54 on Jan. 13, nudging the Bulldogs aside to seize a share of first place AA5.
As an encore, Elmont – paced by center Ebubuenna Nwabudu’s 14 points and forward Nassir Edwards’ 11 – shrugged off a sluggish first half to outscore host South Side 25-12 in the third quarter en route to a 49-37 win Jan. 16, the Spartans
avenging their lone league loss and booting the Cyclones from a three-way tie atop AA5 in the process.
“Those two games were huge,” Straub said. “Especially South Side. I think our guys were hungry to get that one back.”
“Khalil Muhammad was big for us that game,” Straub said of his team’s assist leader (4.1 per game), who in fellow guard and co-captain Arlyn Brown’s absence due to injury took on the task of guarding opponents’ best players this past week. “He set the tone ramping up pressure defensively.”
While Elmont has seen offense pouring in from all corners of its roster –with Nwabudu leading the Spartans averaging 11.6 points per game, Brown
and Edwards each scoring 9.4 per game, guard Aiden Barnes averaging seven, and Muhammad, Jordan Cook and Aaron Kelly all averaging well over five – it has once again been defense that has set the Spartans apart. As was the case last season, Elmont ranks No. 1 in the conference (tied with South Side) allowing 46 points per game.
“This team gets better every day,” Straub said. “There was pressure this year. They haven’t shied away from it. We’re at a point now where everyone trusts each other. The winning streak shows that.”
“It’s definitely exciting for a coach,” Straub added. “Never knowing who’ll step up any given night.”
Paul Grassini/Herald
Junior Aiden Barnes and the Spartans have won eight straight conference games after dropping the AA5 opener to South Side.
Why MLK’s words still matter today
address problems within disadvantaged communities.
However, Thompson said, solving these issues begins with a conversation. He envisioned a collaboration of people with diverse experiences sitting down and acknowledging their similarities. “Our skin tones might be different, but there are struggles we share in common,” Thompson said. “It’s about putting yourself in another person’s shoes.”
According to King, the commonality of class struggle is a major uniting factor for communities of all races. King said many times, in speeches and his books, that he felt class played a huge role in the United States’ oppression of Black citizens.
“We must see now that the evils of racism, economic exploitation and militarism are all tied together,” King said in a 1967 report to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. “You can’t really get rid of one without getting rid of the others.”
Legislator Carrie Solages, who attended the MLK event and gave a speech, said King’s understanding of race and class distinctions, resulting in unjust determinations of how people are treated in the country, was a central point of King’s message.
Solages also brought up the circumstances of King’s assassination, which was fighting in solidarity for poor sanitation workers’ rights. “He understood that class divided us more,” he said. “What we see going on now, we realize the real issue is economics.”
Improving economic conditions, King said in his writing, is a necessary step in improving racial conditions for Black citizens. In his 1967 book, “Where
Do We Go From Here,” King even called for the outright abolition of poverty.
According to Sheryl Karp, the early childhood director of the Hewlett-East Rockaway Jewish Center, King represents communities working together for a united cause.
Like Thompson’s vision of solving racial disparity, Karp envisioned a place for children to coexist with seniors, people with disabilities and citizens of all different backgrounds in the community.
That is why, Karp continued, removing the stigma around policies like affordable housing could help break down barriers that separate the community. When people are close to one another, she said, it contributes to a sense of unity. “People need to live together and not look at affordable housing as a dangerous situation,” Karp asserted.
Oend of the day,” Ogunfowora said. Legislator Seth Koslow said King is a “champion of champions” and represents values the country should be working toward.
ur skin tones might be different, but there are struggles we share ... It’s about putting yourself in another person’s shoes.
Curtis thOmpsOn pastor, Church of the Harvest
Removing barriers is precisely what Ethan Ogunfowora, an Elmont senior and member of Key Club, said he imagined when he thinks of King and his message of peace. “To me,” Ogunfowora said, “Martin Luther King is a role model. He is a symbol of what we should be striving for.”
While Ogunfowora believes racism is still a prevailing issue, he believes it can be solved using King’s ideals. King’s words are an inspiration to Ogunfowora, who said he admires MLK’s ability to bring people together regardless of race, background or where they come from. “We’re all human beings at the
News brief
Free AARP tax assistance at the library
Need help filing your taxes this year? Come to the Franklin Square Public Library and file your 2024 taxes for free! Make your appointment today to go over your documents with AARP tax preparers, who will be available at the library on Mondays between 10 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. starting Feb. 3, and ending April 14.
Returns will be electronically filed, and you will receive a copy to take home. All are welcome to register for the program, including residents outside of Franklin Square.
To register, residents must visit the Franklin Square Public Library, in person, at 19 Lincoln Rd. in Franklin Square.
–Renee DeLorenzo
tax day is coming! register for franklin Square public Library’s aarp tax assistance and file your taxes for free!
However, Koslow said, he is concerned about the political divide within the nation, which has made it even more difficult for communities and politicians to work together. He said it’s easy to lose sight of other communities when people are so focused on their own.
But, he continued, bringing people together to talk about issues that face their communities, and sharing their common goals, can help bridge that gap. “It doesn’t have to be black or white,” Koslow said. These common goals, he explained, are safe neighborhoods, good education, children’s programs, and a bright future.
Thompson said he still believes communities across the country face racial disparity, whether it is written in an ordinance behind closed doors or blatantly communicated in public. The result, he continued, is separation among communities of different races and economic conditions,
where one community has an advantage over the other.
“It’s unfortunate,” Thompson said. “Even though King made strides, I think there’s still a long way to go.”
And, he said, this is something that needs to be addressed for the entire community, and not just one individual case at a time.
King emphasized that the union of white and black communities was a critical point in achieving equality, and that doing so would require a full commitment from all parties involved.
The methods in which these goals could be achieved would necessitate unashamed dedication and participation by privileged white communities, King pointed out. Otherwise, he continued, white communities would not see the inequality that exists between it and Black communities oppressed by social, racial, and economic circumstances.
In King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” he put in plain words exactly what this means. “Shallow understanding from people of goodwill is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will,” King wrote. “Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.”
Once everyone decides to fight for a united cause, King believed, and those who ignore conditions faced by their neighbors finally confront them head on, the world can achieve true equality.
Incredibly Great Rates & Personalized Service!
Court backs county transgender sports ban
By ANGELINA ZINGARIELLO azingariello@liherald.com
New York State Supreme Court Judge Bruce Cozzens last week denied a request by the Long Island Roller Rebels, a women’s recreational roller derby league, to temporarily block a Nassau County law that restricts sports teams from using county facilities based on biological sex.
The Roller Rebels argued that Local Law 121-24 discriminates against transgender women by preventing them from participating in women’s sports. The league sought a preliminary injunction to stop the law’s enforcement while its lawsuit challenging the law continues.
The Long Island Roller Rebels are members of the Women’s Flat Track Roller Derby Association, which “welcomes all transgender women, intersex women, and gender expansive women to participate in its member leagues. The sex assigned at birth of any and all WFTDA participants is considered confidential and private,” according to court documents.
“I’m very happy that … Cozzens ruled that Nassau County’s local law banning biological males from playing on female sports teams is constitutional and that we did abide by the law,” County Executive Bruce Blakeman said. “I’m gratified that we were the first in America to do it, and I think we set the tone for the rest of the nation.”
In a 12-6 vote along party lines, the County Legislature passed a bill on June 24 that bans individuals who were born male from taking part in women’s sports and on county-run facilities, regardless of their gender identity.
The county claimed the law was enacted to ensure fairness and safety in sports for biological women, and
argued that federal Title IX regulations protecting women’s sports support its position.
The court ruled that the Roller Rebels failed to prove that the law discriminates against transgender individuals under the state’s Human Rights Law or Civil Rights Law. Cozzens noted that the law does not ban transgender people from participating in sports, but requires leagues to designate teams as male, female or co-ed.
In his decision, he emphasized the safety concerns and physical differences between biological men and women, particularly in contact sports like roller derby. The judge also highlighted the county’s responsibility to use public facilities in ways that serve the majority of taxpayers.
“The power differential between adult individuals
who are born male and those born female is substantial and therefore may be more dangerous,” Cozzens’s decision read. “This would create additional risk to the individual and potential liability, creating costs to the municipality. The municipality is not obligated to provide a recreational setting for each and every individual residing within its confines.”
“As we’ve said all along, it’s just common sense,” Blakeman said. “Biological males should not play in female sports. They have a competitive advantage. It’s unfair, and it’s also unsafe.”
The ruling follows an executive order signed by President Trump on Jan. 20 that eliminated protections for transgender individuals, stating that the federal government would define sex strictly as male or female.
Elmont parents say kids need cell phones
about bullying, fights, emergencies and safety concerns. That’s why, she said, knowing her children have the ability to advocate for themselves with their phones makes her feel safer.
And, she added, with all the recent reports of school shootings and gun violence, she wants to know that students in a school building can call 911 if the school fails to respond properly.
Regardless of emergency protocols and drills at schools, Jeanlouis asserted, leaving school personnel solely responsible for contacting emergency responders puts children at risk. “If one person is watching 20 kids, and that one person goes into fight-or-flight,” she said, “those 20 kids are going to die.”
The proposed restriction would also require schools to give parents a means of communicating with their children during the school day. But according to Nakitta Clark, who sends her 10-year-old daughter to Dutch Broadway School with a smartphone, the school has already failed to share information between her and her daughter in a timely manner.
Clark’s daughter once forgot her lunch at home, so she texted her mother, who brought her lunch to the school shortly afterward and left it with security personnel at the building’s entrance. But 40 minutes later, her daughter texted her again, asking why she hadn’t brought her lunch yet. Clark found out that it was still at the security desk, and she wouldn’t have known her daughter never received it had they not been able to communicate via smartphone.
Clark added that she needs to communicate with her daughter about who will pick her up from school each day, or to let her know if she needs to take a bus to another family member’s home when no one can do so. She said she was worried this would be an ongoing
Courtesy Metro Creative Graphics
as part of her 2026 executive Budget, gov. Kathy Hochul announced a proposal to require students to disconnect from their phones during school hours, and for schools across the state to implement their own plan for collecting and storing phones for the school day.
problem if the school did not communicate that information to her daughter early enough, or at all.
Shinelle Hewitt said that her 10-year old son goes to Gotham Avenue School with a smartphone so she can communicate with him in case of an emergency. “I feel more comfortable with my son having his cellphone in school,” she said. “Students need to have contact with their families.”
Hewitt agreed that students should not be allowed
to use their devices in class, but added that she was worried about the possibility that school staff could confiscate the phones, or force students to lock them up.
And, she pointed out, the school does not always share important information, such as fire drills it is conducting or bullying that happens during the school day. “It could be the smallest thing,” Hewitt said. “But I want to know.”
Her son doesn’t use social media, she said, and taking his phone away would only impede her ability to contact him.
Other parents acknowledged that social media and phone use are an important issue in schools, and they can understand why Hochul wants to restrict them. But they believe that giving schools the ability to confiscate phones is not the right way to do so.
According to Jeanlouis, the best way to keep children off social media would be for Hochul to dedicate more state funds to improving after-school programs. When kids are encouraged to play with one other and socialize in person, she said, they stop looking to get those needs met online.
Clark agreed, saying that children tend to rely on social media for entertainment when they’re bored. More after-school programs that encourage socialization and teach life skills, she said, could also help working parents who can’t easily control their children’s social media use.
For now, these parents said, Hochul should rethink the proposed plan and use their feedback to create ways to improve education. As for children’s social media use, they urged their peers to use existing tools — like the Screen Time app, which can be managed remotely from a parent’s phone — to monitor and restrict their children’s time online.
Rescuing Families has indoor garage sale
Rescuing Families Inc., a charity that helps families with disabilities renovate their homes to accommodate special needs, hosted a garage sale last Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at their headquarters in Franklin Square.
The charity’s founders, Gina and Vincent Centauro, enlisted the help of a few volunteers to sort through items donated by Franklin Square locals, which were sold during the event.
Items included clothing, shoes, toys, albums, jewelry, games, sports paraphernalia, collectibles, books and more, which were organized by the volunteer team on shelves for guests to shop and explore.
Guests of all different ages entered the showroom, discovering vintage trinkets and recycled goods to buy and take home.
Vincent said the funds raised from the garage sale, as well as funds raised from previous events they’ve hosted, are going to a family with disabilities in Valley Stream. The charity will be upgrading their home to accommodate a family member who is paralyzed from the neck down, and another member who has Parkinson’s disease.
As of now, he said, the project is slated to start in February. But, Gina and Vincent said they will be hosting more garage sales and charity events in the future to help fund their current project and any future projects.
For more information about the charity, and to find upcoming events, visit their website, RescuingFamilies.org.
–Renee DeLorenzo
A small stuffed bear wearing an NYPD police uniform sits high up on a shelf next to New York City memorabilia, such as photo albums and a small replica of the Statue of Liberty.
An album containing recorded speeches by John. F. Kennedy sits on display next to a vintage reel-to-reel analogue audio recorder in the Rescuing Families Headquarters.
Renee DeLorenzo/Herald photos
Shelves of trinkets, collectibles, toys, games and books, donated by Franklin Square locals, line the walls of the Rescuing Families Headquarters for guests to shop.
A sign welcomes visitors to the Rescuing Families Headquarters for their indoor garage sale last weekend.
Venetia Xenakis, left, and her husband, John Xenakis, spend some time at the Rescuing Families indoor garage sale finding unique items that have been donated by locals.
STEPPING OUT
madness takes over
By Danielle Schwab
When it comes to Monster Jam, go big or go home.
Those bigger-than-life behemoths gear up for a crushing competition
Witness the roar of eight monster trucks battle it out for the winning trophy at the fullthrottle competition with plenty of car-smashing, donut-wheeling and back-flipping action fans know and expect.
Monster Jam arrives at UBS Arena next weekend, Feb. 7-9, taking over Belmont Park for three days packed with high-flying action and jaw-dropping stunts. This isn’t just any event — it’s “As Big As It Gets.” where where every moment is unexpected, unscripted and unforgettable.
Both monster truck fanatics and first-time watchers will experience all the motorsport has to offer in a four-part competition ruled by these 12,000 pound mechanical beasts. Drivers bring out all the stunts for the competition to the delight of spectators.
“Who doesn’t love big trucks crushing stuff, mjumping high in the air, rolling over and doing all the crazy stuff we do?” says Matt Cody, the longtime driver of Grave Digger and 2024 Arena Series West Champion.
• Friday through Sunday, Feb. 7-9; times vary
• Tickets available at ticketmaster.com
• UBS Arena, 2400 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont
always my birthday present. I fell in love with it,” he says.
Starting at 13-years-old, Cody got involved with the event in every way possible — whether it was sweeping floors, cleaning trucks or driving the tractortrailers. His passion and hard work earned him a role as a mechanic for the show, eventually paving the way for him to become an official driver in 2012.
‘Easy come, easy go’ Queen-mania rocks on. Almost Queen returns to the Paramount stage with their homage to the beloved band. They don’t just pay tribute to the legendary band, Almost Queen transports you back in time to experience the magic and essence of Queen themselves. The band — featuring Joseph Russo as Freddie Mercury, Steve Leonard as Brian May, Randy Gregg as John Deacon, and John Cappadona as Roger Taylor — is “guaranteed to blow your mind” with iconic four-part harmonies and expertly executed musical interludes. dynamic live performance showcasing signature four-part harmonies and intricate musical interludes. The band’s authenticity shines through in their impeccable attention to detail and genuine costumes, while their live energy and precision captivates fans of all ages. Almost Queen’s concerts are a true testament to the band’s love for Queen’s music. We Are the Champions!” It’s no wonder fans keep coming back for more.
Saturday Feb. 1, 8 p.m. $79.50, $59.50, $49.50, $39.50, $34.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny. com.
“From the atmosphere to the production to the people, it’s a big family and it’s a big family sport, everybody’s there to just have fun,” he adds.
Ten years later, Cody started driving the infamous Grave Digger — a 43 year global legend among monster trucks, sporting massive 66-inch tires.
“It’s just a big, bad machine,” Cody says.
Watch as these powerful trucks race for the fastest time, showcase their jaw-dropping skills with epic stunts — some of which are only on two wheels — in competitions of speed and skill. Also see the drivers unleash their trucks’ wild, untamed power in a thrilling freestyle showdown.
And of course, there’ll be plenty of monster-sized donuts to get heads-spinning as well.
This epic ride sports tombstones on its side “for the competitors that we’ve beaten and buried,” he explains.
Going head-to-head against Grave Digger are newcomers Plane Krazy and Krazy Train as well as a new fan favorite, Sparkle Smash, a giant blue-and-purple unicorn that’s sure to kick some butt.
Other trucks returning to claim victory are the always-popular Megalodon, Zombie, El Toro Loco, and Terminal Velocity.
South Shore Symphony
right in the middle of the action, helping to
To make it even more exciting, the judges’ panel includes the entire audience. Fans are right in the middle of the action, helping to crown the event champion as they get to score the drivers in real time based on their skills, stunts, and saves. Everyone gets a say in which truck triumphs with glory and eventually moves on to July’s Monster Jam World Finals.
It’s truly an unforgettable family affair, involving generations of families since Monster Jam’s start in 1992.
“I met so many awesome fans from over the years, dedicated fans who’ll bring their grandfather, the dad, and now son, to an event. And the grandfather will be like, ‘Yeah, I remember bringing my son.’ Even though I’m not the driver that may have been [there] at that time, they’ll take a picture just to recreate that,” Cody says.
“It’s just an awesome experience among the families and the memories that they’re making.”
All of this from the best seat in UBS Arena, which is every seat according to Cody.
“I tell people that in an arena as compared to a stadium, stadiums are cool, but in an arena, there’s not a bad seat in the house.”
Start off the action early. Fans can get a closer look at the trucks and meet the drivers at the exclusive Monster Jam Pit Party — or get revved up prior to the show with sneak peaks, giveways and extra action at the Monster Jam Trackside Experience.
Before taking over the driver’s seat, Cody’s Monster Jam journey began sitting in the audience of Monster Jam events as a kid. Cody, from Williamsport, Md., began to follow the sport at age 8. As a lifelong fan, he knows the thrills it offers to both fan and participant.
Photos courtesy Feld Entertainment
Before taking over the driver’s seat, lifelong fan, he knows the thrills it offers to both
Top left - Sparkle Smash, among the newcomers, joins El Toro Loco and the other trucks in nailing vertical 2-wheel tricks, among other feats.
Music Director Adam Glaser’s South Shore Symphony Orchestra welcomes the New Year with a rousing concert, titled “Heritage and Memory, at its Madison Theatre home. The orchestra is joined by guitarist Tali Roth. Originally from Israel, now based in the New York City area, she’ll be playing the beloved Rodrigo’s Concieto de Aranjuez. The evening’s repertoire also includes Humperdinck’s Prelude to the opera Hansel and Gretel. The charming composition is known for its sweetness and nostalgia to this piece that catches you off guard. Another, Mary Watkins’ Soul of Remembrance is becoming a staple in the orchestra repertoire, and deservedly so, according to Glaser. The program’s second half is devoted to Jean Sibelius’ Symphony No. 2 in D major.
“Monster Jam used to come every year. It was
Top right - Monster trucks reach epic heights in the latest edition of Monster Jam. Grave Digger, with Matty Cody (bottom left) and other popular trucks thrill fans in their customized high-power vehicles.
Saturday, Feb. 1, 7:30 p.m. Madison Theatre, Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. Tickets available at madisontheatreny. org or (516) 323-4444.
Your Neighborhood
THE
Sheng Wang
With his signature laid-back style, as showcased in his Netflix special Sweet & Juicy produced and directed by Ali Wong, comedian, actor, and writer, Sheng Wang brings his hilarious standup to the Paramount stage, Saturday, Feb. 8, 7 p.m.
Long-time comedian
Sheng Wang is truly coming into his own. Two decades of performing has taken him from doing stand-up for touristy audiences in New York unwilling to give an Asian American comedian the time of day to a successful Netflix special, “Sweet and Juicy,” produced and directed by Ali Wong. Wang asks audiences to not only recognize the personhood of an Asian on stage but to find deep resonance with this person’s honest feelings. He mines comedy from the mundane, everyday parts of life — from the meditative ritual that is shopping at Costco to how to get maximum value from health insurance. Because he’s from Houston, Texas., Wang also speaks with a slight Southern drawl, giving a relaxed quality to his delivery. He likens himself to “A Clown with Words.” Among his other credits, Wang was a featured standup on HBO’s “2 Dope Queens” special and also wrote for the ABC show “Fresh Off the Boat.” Wang resides in L.A. and in his time off he enjoys exploring botanical gardens and discovering new ways to snack. $69.50, $59.50, $49.50, $39.50. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.
Long Island Choral Society auditions
Long Island Choral Society, under the Direction of Michael C. Haigler, holds auditions for new members for the final concert of their 96th Season. Auditions are by appointment only and will be held Mondays continuing Feb. 3 and 10, Garden City Community Church. The Berlioz Requiem is a piece known for its power and beauty that offers a rare musical performance opportunity while bringing the Choral Society’s 2425 concert season to an exciting close.
If you love to sing consider auditioning to be part of this treasured Long Island tradition. Those interested can schedule an audition by calling (516) 652-6878 or via e-mail at audition.info@lics. org. 245 Stewart Ave., Garden City.
Organizational workshop
What stays and what goes? Join professional organizers Marie Limpert and Annmarie Brogan at Franklin Square Public Library, Monday, Feb. 3, 6-7 p.m., to learn how to make well thought-out decisions on what to keep in their spaces and what to let go. Learn why people have such a hard time “letting go” and how it can be liberating with the right mindset. A short question and answer session follows. Registration required. 19 Lincoln Road. Register online at FranklinSquarePL.org.
Winter in the woods
Explore Sands Point Preserve in winter, with environmental educator Hildur Palsdottir, Saturday, Feb. 1, 10-11:30 a.m. She will engage participants ill engage audiences in handson nature discovery activities encompassing the preserve’s unique physical features and wildlife.
Conservation issues are also discussed on the walk through the grounds of the former summer residence of Howard Gould and later Daniel and Florence Guggenheim. $15 ($10 members), $5 children. Sands Point Preserve, 127 Middle Neck Road. For information, visit SandsPointPreserveConservancy. org or call (516) 571-7901.
The Furry Forecaster
Visit Long Island Children’s Museum and share in some Groundhog Day fun, Saturday, Feb. 1, noon-2 p.m. Join in on the forecasting festivities and make a groundhog to take home, at the drop-in program. Will he emerge from his burrow and see his shadow or not? For ages 3 and up. Free with admission. Museum Row, Garden City. (516) 224-5800 or licm.org.
By Danielle Schwab & Tim Baker
Sean Cirillo Oceanside
My 2025 resolution is to replace all my local car trips with walking and biking. Replacing these short trips that are typically done with a car is healthier, saves me money, better connects me to the community and I’m never stuck in traffic on a bike.
What is your major goal for 2025?
Mike
Ahl Babylon
I would like to get stronger. I ride my bike in Babylon. My average is 45 minutes to do 10 miles, and I want to get it under 40 minutes. I have two little boys, I want to be healthy for them.
David Friedman Hewlett
Definitely need a nice relaxing vacation somewhere warm. I haven’t been to Atlantis in many years, or maybe Italy. There are too many things to do and I’m getting older, so I need a vacation.
Sharon Edwards Merrick
Time management is definitely my resolution for this year. Last year really went by quickly; it was over and done. I have everything on one to-do list. I have a family that I want to spend some time with and then I have my business. I’m trying to balance everything.
Cliff
Krauter Bayville
I would like to become more involved in the committees around the city (Glen Cove). I meet many people that do things out of their good nature. It’s something I highly respect and admire and I’d like to try to do more of.
Public Notices
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU
DEUTSCHE BANK
NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR NEW CENTURY HOME EQUITY LOAN TRUST, SERIES 2005-C, ASSET BACKED PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, Plaintiff, Against
JEAN PIERRE FORTURE, REBECCA FORTURE; ROSE FORTURE, Defendant(s)
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 05/08/2024, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 on 2/11/2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 54 Biltmore Avenue, Elmont, New York 11003, And Described As Follows:
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 0032 Block 00426-00 Lot 36, 37, 38 And 139. The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $437,474.19 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 602172/2020 If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the then Court Appointed Referee will cancel the Foreclosure Auction. This Auction will be held rain or shine.
Brian Davis, Esq., Referee. MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC, 10 MIDLAND AVENUE, SUITE 205, PORT CHESTER, NY 10573
Dated: 12/30/24 File Number: 19-302406 MB 150875
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT: NASSAU COUNTY. DBW TL HOLDCO LLC, Pltf. vs. PETER A. PHAGOO, et al, Defts. Index #609038/2019. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered February 4, 2021 and order to appoint substitute referee entered May 16, 2023, I will sell at public auction on the north side front steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on February 10, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., prem. k/a 178 Lincoln Street, Elmont, NY a/k/a District 16, Section 32, Block 477, Lot 54, Group Lot 54-55. Approx. amt. of judgment is
$54,408.20 plus costs and interest. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale. HEATHER D. CROSLEY, Referee. BRONSTER, LLP, Attys. for Pltf. 156 West 56th Street, Ste. 703, New York, NY. File No. 305409.449- #102035 150871
To place a notice here call us at 516-569-4000 x232 or send an email to: legalnotices@liherald.com
LEGAL NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE OF NASSAU COUNTY TREASURER’S SALE OF TAX LIENS ON REAL ESTATE
Notice is hereby given that commencing on February 18th, 2025, will sell at public on-line auction the tax liens on certain real estate, unless the owner, mortgagee, occupant of or any other party in interest in such real estate shall have paid to the County Treasurer by February 13th, 2025 the total amount of such unpaid taxes or assessments with the interest, penalties and other expenses and charges against the property.
Such tax liens will be sold at the lowest rate of interest, not exceeding 10 percent per six-month period, for which any person or persons shall offer to take the total amount of such unpaid taxes as defined in Section 5-37.0 of the Nassau County Administrative Code. Effective with the February 2019 lien sale Ordinance No. 175-2015 requires a $175.00 per day registration fee for each person who intends to bid at the tax lien sale. Ordinance No. 175-2015 also requires that upon the issuance of the Lien Certificate there is due from the lien buyer a Tax Certificate Issue Fee of $20.00 per lien purchased. Pursuant to the provisions of the Nassau County Administrative Code at the discretion of the Nassau County Treasurer the auction will be conducted online. Further information concerning the procedures for the auction is available at the website of the Nassau County Treasurer at: https://www.nassaucount yny.gov/526/CountyTreasurer
Should the Treasurer determine that an inperson auction shall be held, same will commence on the 18th day of February 2025 at the Office of The County Treasurer 1 West Street, Mineola or at some other location to be determined by the Treasurer.
A list of all real estate in Nassau County on which tax liens are to be sold is available at the website of the Nassau County Treasurer at: https://www.nassaucount yny.gov/527/Annual-TaxLien-Sale
A list of local properties upon which tax liens are to be sold will be advertised in this publication on or before February 06th, 2025. Nassau County does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission to or access to, or treatment or employment in, its services, programs, or activities. Upon request, accommodations such as those required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) will be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to participate in all services, programs, activities and public hearings and events conducted by the Treasurer’s Office. Upon request, information can be made available in Braille, large print, audiotape or other alternative formats. For additional information, please call (516) 571-2090 ext. 1-3715.
Dated: January 23, 2025 THE NASSAU COUNTY TREASURER Mineola, NewYork
TERMS OF SALE
Such tax liens shall be sold subject to any and all superior tax liens of sovereignties and other municipalities and to all claims of record which the County may have thereon and subject to the provisions of the Federal and State Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Acts.
However, such tax liens shall have priority over the County’s Differential Interest Lien, representing the excess, if any, of the interest and penalty borne at the maximum rate over the interest and penalty borne at the rate at which the lien is purchased.
The Purchaser acknowledges that the tax lien(s) sold pursuant to these Terms of Sale may be subject to pending bankruptcy proceedings and/or may become subject to such proceedings which may be commenced during the period in which a tax lien is held by a successful bidder or the assignee of same, which may modify a Purchaser’s rights with respect to the lien(s) and the property securing same. Such bankruptcy proceedings shall not affect the validity of the tax lien. In addition to being subject to pending bankruptcy proceedings and/or the Federal and State Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Acts, said purchaser’s right of foreclosure may be affected by the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act(FIRREA),12 U.S.C. ss 1811 et.seq., with regard to real property under Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation(FDIC) receivership.
The County Treasurer reserves the right, without further notice
and at any time, to withdraw from sale any of the parcels of land or premises herein listed. The Nassau County Treasurer reserves the right to intervene in any bankruptcy case/litigation where the property affected by the tax liens sold by the Treasurer is part of the bankruptcy estate. However, it is the sole responsibility of all tax lien purchasers to protect their legal interests in any bankruptcy case affecting their purchased tax lien, including but not limited to the filing of a proof of claim on their behalf, covering their investment in said tax lien. The Nassau County Treasurer and Nassau County and its agencies, assumes no responsibility for any legal representation of any tax lien purchaser in any legal proceeding including but not limited to a bankruptcy case where the purchased tax lien is at risk.
The rate of interest and penalty at which any person purchases the tax lien shall be established by his bid. Each purchaser, immediately after the sale thereof, shall pay to the County Treasurer ten per cent of the amount for which the tax liens have been sold and the remaining ninety per cent within thirty days after such sale. If the purchaser at the tax sale shall fail to pay the remaining ninety per cent within ten days after he has been notified by the County Treasurer that the certificates of sale are ready for delivery, then all amounts deposited with the County Treasurer including but not limited to the ten per cent theretofore paid by him shall, without further notice or demand, be irrevocably forfeited by the purchaser and shall be retained by the County Treasurer as liquidated damages and the agreement to purchase shall be of no further effect. Time is of the essence in this sale. This sale is held pursuant to the Nassau County Administrative Code and interested parties are referred to such Code for additional information as to terms of the sale, rights of purchasers, maximum rates of interest and other legal incidents of the sale. Furthermore, as to the bidding,
1. The bidder(s) agree that they will not work with any other bidder(s) to increase, maintain or stabilize interest rates or collaborate with any other bidder(s) to gain an unfair competitive advantage in the random number generator in the event of a tie bid(s) on a tax certificate. Bidder(s) further agree not to employ any bidding strategy designed to create an unfair competitive advantage in
the tiebreaking process in the upcoming tax sale nor work with any other bidder(s) to engage in any bidding strategy that will result in a rotational award of tax certificates.
2. The tax certificate(s) the Bidder will bid upon, and the interest rate(s) bid, will be arrived at independently and without direct or indirect consultation, communication or agreement with any other bidder and that the tax certificate(s) the Bidder will bid upon, and the interest rate(s) to be bid, have not been disclosed, directly or indirectly, to any other bidder, and will not be disclosed, directly or indirectly, to any other bidder prior to the close of bidding. No attempt has been made or will be made to, directly or indirectly, induce any other bidder to refrain from bidding on any tax certificate, to submit complementary bids, or to submit bids at specific interest rates.
3. The bids to be placed by the Bidder will be made in good faith and not pursuant to any direct or indirect, agreement or discussion with, or inducement from, any other bidder to submit a complementary or other noncompetitive bid.
4. If it is determined that the bidder(s) have violated any of these bid requirements then their bid shall be voided and if they were the successful bidder the lien and any deposits made in connection with said bid shall be forfeited.
Dated: January 23, 2025 THE NASSAU COUNTY TREASURER Mineola, New York 151098
PUBLIC AND LEGAL NOTICES…
Printed in this publication can be found online. To search by publication name, go to: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com TO PLACE AN AD CALL 516-569-4000 x 232
Search for notices online at: www.newyorkpublicnotices.com
LEGAL NOTICE STATE OF NEW YORK SUPREME COURT: COUNTY OF NASSAU THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, F/K/A THE BANK OF NEW YORK AS TRUSTEE FOR REGISTERED HOLDERS OF CWABS, INC., ASSETBACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2004-13, Plaintiff, v. VINCENT MCPHERSON, INDIVIDUALLY AND AS ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF LAVERN MCPHERSON A/K/A LAVERN VERONICA MCPHERSON A/K/A LAVERN DACOSTA A/K/A LAVERN DACOSTAMCPHERSON, 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 December 16, 2022, I, Mark S. Ricciardi, Esq., the Referee named in said Judgment, will sell in one parcel at public auction on February 25, 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: 168 Freeman Avenue Elmont, NY 11003 SBL No.: 37-371-285 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. 613803/2018 in the amount of $497,953.24 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 151108
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT NASSAU COUNTY U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR VELOCITY COMMERCIAL CAPITAL LOAN TRUST 2021-2, Plaintiff against MILLER COMMERCIAL CONSULTANTS CORP; RODOLPHO MILLER, et al Defendant (s) Attorney for Plaintiff(s) McMichael Taylor Gray, LLC, 28 Corporate Drive, Suite 104, Halfmoon, NY 12065. Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered December 24, 2024, I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at North Side Steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on February 25, 2025 at 2:00 PM. Premises known as 1717 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont, NY 11003. Sec 32 Block 453 Lot 9 and 10. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being at Elmont (not an incorporated Village), Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York. Approximate Amount of Judgment is $795,715.93 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 609476/2023.
The foreclosure sale will be conducted in accordance with 10th Judicial District’s Covid-19 Policies and foreclosure auction rules. The Referee shall enforce any rules in place regarding facial coverings and social distancing. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the Court Appointed Referee shall cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine.”
Oscar A. Prieto, Esq., Referee File # 23-001035-01 151106
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, in trust for registered holders of First Franklin Mortgage Loan Trust, Mortgage Loan AssetBacked Certificates, Series 2007-FF2, Plaintiff AGAINST Erslena J. Jacob, The Estate of James S. Keaton a/k/a James Keaton, et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered December 19, 2023, 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 25, 2025 at 3:00PM, premises known as 1371 North Street, Elmont, NY 11003. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Elmont, in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section: 32, Block: 549, Lot: 50-52 & 249. Approximate amount of judgment $711,244.77 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #613057/2017. Howard Colton, Esq., Referee Frenkel Lambert Weiss Weisman & Gordon, LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706 01-057763-F01 83905 151067
To Place A Notice Call 516-569-4000 x232
LEGAL NOTICE
CASE NO. 21527
RESOLUTION NO.61-2025
Adopted: January 21, 2025
Councilmember Miller offered the following resolution and moved its adoption: RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING AND SETTING ASIDE CERTAIN PARKING SPACES FOR MOTOR VEHICLES FOR THE SOLE USE OF HOLDERS OF SPECIAL PARKING PERMITS ISSUED BY THE COUNTY OF NASSAU TO PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED PERSONS. WHEREAS, pursuant to Resolution No. 54 -2025,
adopted January 7th, 2025, a public hearing was duly held on the day of January 21st, 2025, at the Town Meeting Pavilion, Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington Street, Hempstead, New York, on the proposed establishment and setting aside of a certain parking space for motor vehicles for the sole use of holders of special parking permits issued by the County of Nassau to physically handicapped persons, in accordance with Section 202-48 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, all as set forth in said resolution; and WHEREAS, after due consideration, this Town Board finds it to be in the public interest to establish and set aside a certain parking space for motor vehicles for the sole use of holders of special parking permits issued by the County of Nassau to physically handicapped persons; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that in accordance with Section 202-48 of the Code of the Town of Hempstead, the following parking spaces be and the same hereby is set aside for the sole use of holders of special parking permits issued by the County of Nassau to physically handicapped persons:
ELMONT
KIEFER AVENUE - south side, starting at a point 93 feet west of the west curbline of Keller Avenue, west for a distance of 20 feet.
(TH-565/24)
ROOSEVELT CARROLL STREET - south side, starting at a point 65 feet west of the west curbline of Andrews Avenue, west for a distance of 16 feet.
(TH-570/24)
EAST ROOSEVELT AVENUE - north side, starting at a point 250 feet east of the east curbline of Rose Avenue, east for a distance of 20 feet.
(TH-556/24) HOWARD AVENUEnorth side, starting at a point 284 feet west of the west curbline of John Place, west for a distance of 30 feet.
(TH-566/24) and on the repeal of the following locations previously set aside as parking spaces for physically handicapped persons:
ELMONT MADISON STREET - south side, starting at a point 32 feet west of the west curbline of Dauntless Parkway, west for a distance of 20 feet.
(TH-380/06 - 10/3/06) (TH-563/24) INWOOD WEST END AVENUEwest side, starting at a point 94 feet south of the south curbline of Pearl Street, south for a distance of 20 feet.
(TH-523/22 - 12/6/22) (TH-557/24)
FSCC hosts their annual installation dinner
By RENEE DeLORENZO rdelorenzo@liherald.com
The Franklin Square Chamber of Commerce kicked off the New Year with their annual installation dinner at Brasas Peru Bistro on Jan. 16.
About 40 FSCC members attended the event and watched their newly elected board members be sworn into office by three county officials Assemblyman Ed Ra, Legislator John Giuffre and Councilman Thomas Muscarella.
The restaurant, which is a new member of the FSCC, served a full dinner to guests that included steak, chicken, salads and dessert, along with beer and wine.
Public Notices
(NR)LYNBROOK
HUDSON COURT - east side, starting at a point 152 feet north of the north curbline of Whitehall Street, north for a distance of 20 feet.
(TH-105/20 - 08/4/20) (TH-568/24) ; and, BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that the Town Clerk shall enter this resolution in the minutes of the Town Board and shall publish a copy of this resolution once a newspaper having a general circulation in the Town of Hempstead and shall post a copy hereof on the signboard maintained by her, and file in her office affidavits of such publication and posting. The foregoing resolution was seconded by Councilmember Goosby and adopted upon roll call as follows:
AYES: SEVEN (7) NOES: NONE (0) 151261
LEGAL NOTICE TO THE TAXPAYERS OF THE ELMONT FIRE DISTRICT:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a resolution was duly adopted by the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Elmont Fire District, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau, State of New York, on the 22nd day of January, 2025, subject to permissive referendum as provided for by the General Municipal law. An extract of the resolution is as follows: THE ELMONT FIRE DISTRICT SHALL PURCHASE AND INSTALL A NEW ACCESS CONTROL AND LOCK/SECURITY SYSTEM AT BUILDINGS OPERATED BY THE ELMONT FIRE DISTRICT AND RELATED EQUIPMENT AT A COST, INCLUDING COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH SUCH TRANSACTION, NOT TO
EXCEED THREE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND ($350,000.00) DOLLARS WITH FUNDS FROM THE BUILDING AND GROUNDS CAPITAL RESERVE FUND. This resolution shall not take effect until thirty (30) days unless in the meanwhile a permissive referendum as provided for by the General Municipal Law is required to be held.
Dated: January 22, 2025 BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS ELMONT FIRE DISTRICT TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD ATTEST: FRANCES ANDINO Secretary 151266
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 02/05/2025 at 9:30 A.M. to consider the following applications and appeals:
THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 9:30 A.M. 76/25. ELMONT - Alex A Manhase & Sarena Jailall, Variances, lot area occupied, front yard average setback, construct 1-story addition, 2nd story addition, roofed over open porch & install 2 a/c units all attached to dwelling., N/s Lenore La., 619’ E/o Budd. St., a/k/a 642 Lenore La.
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 Elmont 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. 151253
LEGAL NOTICE
REFEREE’S NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, Plaintiffagainst - SHIRLEY GARTNER, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on March 1, 2024. I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, N.Y. 11501 on the 27th day of February, 2025 at 2:00 PM. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the
Incorporated Village of Floral Park, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York.
Premises known as 100 Geranium Avenue, Floral Park, NY 11001. (S/B/L#: 32./188/41 and 42)
Approximate amount of lien $782,990.97 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed judgment and terms of sale. Index No. 000151/2018.
Karen C. Grant, Esq., Referee. McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLC Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 840 New York, NY 10170 Tel. 347/286-7409 For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832
Dated: December 31, 2024
During the COVID-19 health emergency, bidders are required to comply with all governmental health requirements in effect at the time of sale including but not limited to, wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing (at least 6-feet apart) during the auction, while tendering deposit and at any subsequent closing. Bidders are also required to comply with the Foreclosure Auction Rules and COVID-19 Health Emergency Rules issued by the Supreme Court of this County in addition to the conditions set forth in the Terms of Sale. 151235
Domenico Ciaccio, the FSCC secretary, started the night off with a short introduction, welcoming new and existing members. Afterward, members were called up to the front of the restaurant in groups to be sworn into office. Giuffre swore in the officers, Muscarella swore in the directors, and then Ra swore in the president, Santino Sarrica.
Sarrica said the annual dinner is an opportunity for FSCC members to mingle, network and facilitate new business. As part of his speech, Sarrica recounted, he emphasized the importance of local businesses and announced plans to revitalize commerce in Franklin Square’s local market during his 2025 term.
The FSCC had already begun an overhaul of the chamber last year, Sarrica explained. “2024 was a year of transformation for the Franklin Square Chamber of Commerce,” he said. “We basically rebranded and brought the chamber into the 21st century.”
Among these changes were a rebranded logo, a new website and a dedicated CRM system that creates a hub for Franklin Square business owners and allows members to update their own information.
The FSCC currently has 170 members, but Sarrica said his goal is to
increase membership to 300 by the end of the year. There are over 1,100 businesses in Franklin Square, he pointed out, and he hopes to boost the chamber’s participation with new members in a community-wide collaboration.
“The biggest success of the chamber is the rejuvenation of the board,” Sarrica said. “We have a lot of new members who have a sense of pride and fulfillment. We wanna make the chamber the best we possibly could. That’s really the goal.”
Sarrica said the funds raised through their $200 annual membership fee go toward festivals and beautifying initiatives in Franklin Square.
Last spring, he explained, the FSCC sponsored a free festival in Rath Park that included rides, games, bouncy houses, food trucks, dancing, music and a local comedian, Anthony Rodia, who ran a joke contest for children.
The FSCC also organized a “Light Up the Square” project this past holiday season in which 35 light-up snowflakes were secured onto poles along Franklin Square’s stretch of Hempstead Tpke.
In return for a business owner’s membership fee, Sarrica said the chamber helps businesses secure grants through PSEG and the Town of Hempstead to improve things like their business facades and sidewalks.
Sarrica said the chamber does a lot of advertising on social media, such as Facebook and Instagram, which is also a huge benefit to businesses in the community. And, with the new CRM system, there is also an online platform for businesses to see other members of the chamber and network for more business opportunities.
The chamber also does monthly general meetings where they discuss updates and current events that members can collaborate on to help boost each other’s businesses.
Business owners can apply for membership on the chamber’s website, FranklinSquareChamber.com.
Photos courtesy Franklin Square Chamber of Commerce
Members of the Franklin Square Chamber of Commerce, Domenico Ciaccio, left, Jaime Parra, Joseph Romeo, Erik Wortmann and Councilman Thomas Muscarella, at the installation dinner on Jan. 16 at Brasas Peru Bistro.
Assemblyman Ed Ra, left, swears in Santino Sarrica, president of the Franklin Square Chamber of Commerce, during the installation dinner on Jan. 16.
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DHow hard is converting from oil to gas?
Q. We want a new boiler and to convert to gas, because oil costs keep rising. How safe are a gas boiler, water heater and stove? We are told it could be very expensive to run a gas line to our home if there isn’t one on the street. We have spoken to a plumber who is looking into this for us, but is this really going to be economical, since we’re retired and just trying to find ways to reduce living costs?
A. Gas is generally safe when the lines are left alone where installed, and not tampered with. We only read or hear news about a gas explosion when something out of the ordinary happens. Years ago, a gas explosion on Long Island turned out to have been caused by thieves who ripped the gas stove out of an empty home, leaving the open gas line spewing gas to the whole house until a spark from the boiler ignited the gas and blew the home up. This is rare, and was caused by ignorance.
You can avoid this by being cautious, and hiring professionals to handle gas appliances. With several steps to convert from oil to gas, you, or your plumber, must verify that gas lines are available on your street. I remember converting to gas, contacting the gas company and, after a week, calling them back and learning that there was no gas, and that the closest location was a block away, on the other side of a busy county road. I was also told that I would have to go door to door to speak to neighbors about converting to gas so that it would be worth it for the gas company to extend the street line into our neighborhood. In other words, the gas company wanted me to market their product if I wanted it for myself.
I did manage to find others around me who were interested in converting. Then we all waited, and wouldn’t you know it, the neighbors started calling me to find out when the gas lines were going to be installed. That prompted me to do what you may also have to do: keep calling. There were issues with getting approvals for the road opening of a county road, which takes months, permits for the gas conversion by the plumber, location of other utilities, oil and tank removal after gas was in.
Plan for summer installation, when the boiler is least needed. As for the expense, it doesn’t pay to buy a less expensive boiler if it’s less efficient, because its operating cost — usually based on how much heat is derived per unit of fuel consumed — will be much more than the money saved at the outset. Incidentally, oil fuel is slightly more efficient than gas, but the cost increases are based on a less stable spot market. Although gas tends to remain more price-stable, for some unknown reason, it tends to increase in cost concurrent with oil increases. Good luck!
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Tackling the tough issues: what New York needs in 2025
As we embark on the 2025 legislative session, the challenges facing New York have never been more evident. Across the state, families are grappling with the rising cost of living, businesses are struggling under the weight of strict regulations, and public safety concerns remain at the forefront of many New Yorkers’ minds. Additionally, illegal immigration continues to place a significant fiscal burden on our communities, straining resources and compounding these challenges. In this pivotal moment, it is imperative that we seize the opportunity to chart a course toward meaningful reform and lasting prosperity.
Recently, Gov. Kathy Hochul outlined her agenda in her State of the State address, as well as in her proposed $252 billion budget. While I commend her for acknowledging issues like affordable child care, youth mental health and free school meals — issues I have helped champion since taking office — I remain concerned about the increased level of spending and the direction of the governor’s proposals. They must be more than
italking points; they require strategic investments and implementation to yield tangible results for our communities.
For example, addressing youth mental health is an area in which bipartisan consensus is possible. I have introduced legislation to provide funding for schools to hire mental health service professionals, which would ensure that students could more easily access these services, thereby increasing the likelihood that they would seek help when they need it. Likewise, making sure that children receive free school meals isn’t just a moral imperative, but a practical one, because hunger directly impacts educational outcomes. I will work to ensure that these vital initiatives are not overlooked in the upcoming budget negotiations.
Congestion pricing remains a glaring example of misplaced priorities.
Hochul’s agenda is more notable for what it omits. It has been nearly a decade since the Senate Republican conference passed the 2016 middle class tax cuts, which provided much-needed relief to millions of New Yorkers, and I commend the governor for proposing to build on those tax cuts. But while cutting taxes and sending out refund checks is great, those efforts are negated when other proposals increase people’s expenses.
Congestion pricing, in particular, remains a glaring example of misplaced
priorities. It unfairly targets hardworking New Yorkers like first responders and teachers who rely on their vehicles to commute to work and contribute to our economy. While Hochul may frame short-term delays or reductions in toll rates as “savings,” they do nothing to mitigate the long-term financial burden this policy will impose. Instead of imposing new taxes on struggling families, we should focus on cutting costs and empowering local communities to make decisions about their own futures.
New Yorkers have endured enough of the chaos caused by cashless bail laws that handcuff judges and empower criminals. Blaming the judiciary for the consequences of these policies only serves as a distraction from Albany’s failures. True reform starts with restoring judicial discretion and allowing judges to consider the danger posed by defendants when setting bail, which my bill, S.236, would accomplish.
Short-term solutions, like increased police presence on subways, may offer some temporary relief, but fail to address the long-term issues of public safety to prevent crimes from occurring. We need to prioritize lasting reforms that protect families, neighborhoods and commuters
across the state.
One of the most pressing challenges New York faces is the ongoing influx of illegal migrants and the significant fiscal burden it puts on the state. With taxpayer dollars stretched thin, the financial strain of providing housing, health care and education to migrants diverts critical resources away from hardworking New Yorkers, the ones who are covering these additional costs.
Local communities, particularly here on Long Island, are bearing the brunt of this crisis, as their municipal budgets are overwhelmed and their essential services are jeopardized. Schools, for example, are facing increased costs to meet higher demand for English as a New Language services. Albany must prioritize the needs of its residents by addressing these issues head-on and advocating for federal accountability to secure our borders and reduce the financial impact on our state.
As a member of the State Senate, my mission is clear: to fight for policies that make life more affordable, ensure public safety, and foster economic growth for Long Island and all of New York. I will continue to advocate for initiatives that prioritize the well-being of our residents, hold Albany accountable, and work toward a stronger, more prosperous future for our state.
Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick represents the 9th State Senate District.
When was the last time you read a book?
am a minority in so many ways that I never realized I’m part of a shrinking population of people who read books for fun. We read because we want to. We read because, for some of us, there’s no better way to spend our time. We read because there’s no other human experience that can transport us to another time and place, completely immersing us in the joys and tribulations of people who are the invention of a writer’s mind.
I’ve known for some time that young people aren’t choosing to read books when the competition is TV or social media. I don’t need studies to tell me that, head to head, when it’s reading vs. streaming, reading loses with most teens most of the time.
The Atlantic recently ran a piece by Rose Horowitch revealing that at some of the country’s “elite” colleges, many students are neither willing nor able to read the books they’re assigned for classes. They say they just can’t do it — can’t concentrate for so long, can’t stay with a narrative. Classes that once required some 10
books for the year now assign “excerpts.”
The students aren’t failing to perform. We have failed in preparing them to read properly.
When Horowitch investigated further, she discovered that the problem begins in high school. In recent years, with the ascendance of social media and smartphones, there has been a parallel decline in reading. More disturbing, many teachers are accommodating the change by dumbing down the curriculum, assigning summaries or chapters instead of whole books.
Damn good is the answer. Plot summary, excellent. Discussion of themes, better than I could do. Analysis of language, good enough.
A re parents of young kids reading to them, or are they, too,distracted by phones?
Last week I began teaching a book group for adults. We do a book a week for eight weeks; they’ve had the syllabus since May, so there has been ample time to prepare. These folks are in the class for the pure joy and intellectual stretch of abandoning themselves to a narrative imagined by someone else.
I realize that high school and college kids can probably get by with ChatGPT to find summaries and analyses of the books they’re assigned in class. So, after I had reread the first book for my class and completed my notes, I went to ChatGPT to see what AI could do with the assignment.
But what is missing entirely is any discussion of the emotional component of reading. The summaries can inform you, but they can’t make you feel. I’m remembering reading “Sophie’s Choice” in 1982, my heart twisted around the character as she chose which of her children would live. I’m talking about reading “Beloved” as a teen and perceiving racism in a profoundly new way. When I discovered “Lonesome Dove,” I disappeared for days into the Old West, way past the clichés of cowboys and cattle drives.
This isn’t just a woe-is-me essay. There’s an answer to the problem, and it is to limit or ban smartphone use and social media for children and young teenagers. We limited cigarette smoking and we demanded seat belts. Enlightened and committed leaders can do this. Informed parents can do this.
Kids read before they could Google. They picked up books before they could stream. Living in a world where high
school and college students don’t or can’t find the intellectual bandwidth to read a book is tragic for them personally and for our country. I wonder if parents of young children are regularly reading to them and introducing books, or if they, too, are distracted by phones.
Children who don’t read books grow up to be adults who don’t read, and never learn the subtleties of language and the possibilities of lives and worlds other than their own.
As we begin a new year, here are the books that I’m teaching. Maybe you’ll read one or two. If you do, write to me and we can share our impressions.
“Migrations,” by Charlotte McConaughy; “A Portrait of Dorian Grey,” by Oscar Wilde; “Something I’ve Been Meaning to Tell You,” by Alice Munro; “The Matrix,” by Lauren Groff; “Slow Horses,” by Mick Herron; “The Wren, the Wren,” by Anne Enright; “A Day in the Life of Abed Salama,” by Nathan Thrall; “Of Mice and Men,” by John Steinbeck. We worry about the rise of book banning in today’s America. Remember the horrific dystopia of “1984”? The irony is that book banning and book burning aren’t necessary in a culture that doesn’t read books.
Copyright 2025 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.
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Cliff Richner
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Robert Richner
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Act would help main streets, local newsrooms
Small businesses are the heartbeat of our communities. They are the corner stores, familyowned restaurants, and local service providers that fuel our neighborhoods, create jobs, and drive economic growth. Yet these vital businesses often face significant challenges in reaching new customers and growing their operations in an increasingly competitive economy.
With the official introduction in the New York State Legislature of the Lift Our Communities, Advertise Locally, or LOCAL, Act, small businesses across the state might gain a powerful new tool next year to help sustain their success and maximize the reach of their marketing dollars. Sponsored by State Sen. Monica Martinez and Assemblywoman Jen Lunsford, the legislation would establish a tax credit for small businesses that advertise in local media outlets — from print and digital to television and radio. By making advertising more affordable, the LOCAL Act would empower small businesses to reach their target audiences while also supporting the essential work of the same media outlets that provide our communities with local journalism.
The LOCAL Act focuses on supporting minority-, woman- and veteranowned businesses, as well as any businesses with 10 or fewer employees. For
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Blakeman takes the credit, but how safe is the county?
To the Editor:
many of these entrepreneurs, the ability to advertise affordably in trusted, community-driven platforms like local newspapers would be a game-changer. Local media outlets are well positioned to connect businesses with their neighbors — customers who are eager to shop locally and uplift their communities.
This legislation couldn’t come at a better time. Small businesses are still navigating the economic aftershocks of the pandemic, inflationary pressures, and competition from large corporations with massive marketing budgets. The LOCAL Act would help level the playing field, giving your favorite momand-pop store a way to increase visibility without sacrificing their scarce financial resources.
When our small businesses thrive, so do our communities. Small businesses employ your neighbors, sponsor your kids’ Little League team, and offer a convenient destination for a night out with your spouse. These businesses are not only economic drivers, but also cornerstones of community identity.
The benefits of the LOCAL Act would extend beyond businesses. Local media outlets, too, are vital to communities, because they produce the journalism that keeps people informed about school board meetings, neighborhood crime, church bake sales and the
most recent newlyweds — and everything in between. Unfortunately, declining advertising revenues have jeopardized the financial sustainability of many of these media outlets, and small newsrooms have been shuttering across the state. By encouraging small businesses to advertise locally, the LOCAL Act would helps these outlets continue their essential work of championing their communities.
This dual benefit — supporting both small businesses and local journalism — has already garnered strong support from business groups, community leaders, and the 200-plus local newspapers comprising the Empire State Local News Coalition — including the Heralds. It’s a win-win solution that strengthens the backbone of our local economy while fostering a unified, informed citizenry.
The LOCAL Act marks a bold step forward in tackling the interconnected challenges our communities are facing today. By working together to implement and embrace this program, we can build stronger businesses, sustain vital journalism, and ensure the prosperity of communities across New York for years to come.
We support this smart legislation. Tell your elected leaders in Albany to include the LOCAL Act in the final fiscal year 2026 state budget.
County Executive Bruce Blakeman boasts in his Jan. 16-22 Herald op-ed, “Safety and affordability must be Nassau’s priorities,” that he has made Nassau County the safest county in the nation. But Blakeman neglects to acknowledge that the same top ranking in a U.S. News & World Report annual survey was also attained in two consecutive years during the tenure of his predecessor, Democrat Laura Curran.
The Republican county executive attributes the comparatively high degree of security to “our investments in public safety.” Blakeman notes that he has sworn in 291 new police officers since taking office in 2022.
While the additional cops may be helping keep violent-crime rates at the low level achieved under Curran, an expanded Nassau County Police Department has done little to make the county’s roads safer. Blakeman says nothing, and has done nothing, about the traffic violence that resulted in nearly 150 deaths in the county during his first two years in office. Killings by armed assailants claimed fewer than 10 lives in the same period.
The NCPD, and Blakeman, appear uninterested in acting to reduce this carnage. County police issued about 20 percent fewer tickets to drivers in 2022 than in
2019, according to the most recent data available from state sources. Stricter enforcement would likely bring about a drop in fatal crashes related to speeding
opinions Conspiracy has no place after tragedy
Like so many others, I have watched the California wildfires unfold with a mix of horror and awe.
For those unfamiliar with the scale of destruction, the fires that began igniting near Los Angeles in early January have scorched over 40,000 acres, claimed at least 27 lives, injured more than 20 people and destroyed over 15,000 structures.
As I followed news reports, watched television coverage and scrolled through social media during the first week of the fires, one message stood out: Nearly everyone had California and its residents in their thoughts and prayers. Relief efforts and fundraisers quickly sprang into action as people rallied to help and offer support wherever it was needed. It is in our nature as humans to want to help. Yet to my dismay, almost as soon as the relief efforts began, conspiracies started surfacing. And not to be punny, but they spread like, well, wildfire. On my social media feeds, I occasionally come across videos from a popular
account called “Gubba Homestead.” The account owner, a farmer, often starts her videos with the tagline, “I’m a conspiracy theorist . . .” From there she dives into various claims, many of which can be debunked by science. The videos are clickbait-like in their nature, designed to provoke reactions or outrage in the comments — an approach that boosts views and amplifies the videos’ spread.
tIt’s a fascinating, albeit troubling, method of online content creation, and I wasn’t surprised when, about a week after the fires began, she appeared on my feed once again, starting with the familiar line, “Call me a conspiracy theorist, but . . .”
atures in 2024 were dubbed “abnormally hot” by scientists at the University of California — which should surprise no one. And it’s not just the West Coast that has been affected by fires. Think about what occurred just a few months ago in upstate New York.
heories started surfacing almost as soon as the relief efforts began in L.A.
She went on to claim that there was no way the L.A. wildfires could have been caused by climate change, offering harmful commentary that did nothing to help anyone during a time of tragedy. Without diving too deep, I’ll tell you this: Climate scientists have indicated that the likelihood of fire events has increased by 31 to 66 percent since 1950, due to intense periods of strong rainfall, which create more vegetation, followed by periods of extreme drought, which dries out that vegetation. Global temper-
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and driving under the influence — the two leading causes of road deaths. Blakeman seeks to project a toughguy image when it comes to crime. That accounts for his unilateral move to create a force of 75 armed “special deputies” to be activated whenever he chooses. This new unit, criticized as a private militia, will be mobilized in cases of “emergency,” the county executive maintains. But the carnage on the county’s roads does not, in his estimation, qualify as a topic worth addressing — let alone as an “emergency.”
KevIN J KeLLeY Atlantic Beach
It’s time for New York to embrace nuclear power
To the editor:
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s recent state budget proposal fails to adequately address New York’s energy infrastructure. The proposal does not mention nuclear power, even though it is the state’s best energy opportunity. equally troubling is the omission of the empire State Wind project, a once-central component of New York’s energy goal of generating net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. If the governor rec-
ognizes that wind energy faces significant public opposition, especially on Long Island, then it’s time to focus on funding nuclear energy projects instead.
Nuclear power is the most efficient form of renewable energy, generating massive amounts of electricity with a much smaller land footprint than wind or solar. This is best demonstrated by the Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant, which never went online. The plant’s site now houses wind turbines that produce 1/35,000th of the energy the nuclear plant would have generated. While there were justifiable concerns about building a reactor downstate, Hochul should now look to fund nuclear reactors upstate that would create electricity for downstate communities.
The closure of the Indian Point energy Center in 2021 underscores the urgency of building a better energy grid for New York. This move forced downstate New York to increase its reliance on fossil fuels, driving up emissions and worsening air pollution. Communities already struggling with environmental and health inequities continue to bear the brunt of these decisions.
Nuclear power is resurging across the country. Tech companies such as Microsoft and Meta are restarting nuclear reactors because they recog -
Climate change is real, and it’s here. People can ignore the truth, but there’s no place in this conversation for conspiracies.
At the core of American values lies the principle of free speech. Thoughtful questioning and theorizing have driven breakthroughs once deemed impossible. Scientific discoveries have emerged, and transformative social change has been achieved, thanks to people who challenged the status quo — doing so with ethical integrity and moral purpose.
What’s unfolding across social media, as Californians work to rebuild their lives, is neither ethical nor moral. Those whose lives have been upended don’t need “influencers” spreading baseless claims or (again, sorry) fanning the flames of conspiracy.
This behavior exploits tragedy for attention, shifting the focus away from the victims and the real issues at hand. It undermines efforts to address the underlying causes, like climate change
and inadequate infrastructure, and distracts from the stories of resilience and heroism that deserve to be heard.
The conspiracy phenomenon isn’t unique to the California fires. From hurricanes to pandemics to mass shootings, misinformation and conspiracy theories seem to surface in the wake of nearly every major tragedy. Under the guise of seeking the “truth,” sensationalized theories simply capitalize on fear, confusion and distrust, and accomplish nothing.
To complicate things, Meta, the company that owns Facebook and Instagram, announced a few weeks ago that it was scrapping its fact-checking program, which flagged possible misinformation — a move that will just keep conspiracies burning, spreading and infiltrating the minds of many.
I’m not suggesting that we stop questioning or trying to make sense of the world around us, but as always, we must remain mindful. Consider the weight of your words and actions, and the harm that conspiracies can inflict. There’s a time and place for questions, based on the truth. That’s how we rebuild and move forward. But in the aftermath of tragedy, we can’t afford to make room for ignorance.
Jordan Vallone is a senior editor of the Herald Community Newspapers. Comments? Jvallone@liherald.com.
nize that they are the most effective way to fuel their operations sustainably. It’s time for New York to follow suit. Governor Hochul should take bold action to fund nuclear energy projects, ensuring that downstate residents have access to renewable power.
Framework by Tim Baker
Miss Long Island 2025, Kristen Rosario, left, and Miss Long Island Teen, Adriana Lane, were crowned at Molloy University’s Madison Theatre — Rockville Centre
JorDan VaLLone
MICHAeL SINGeR Long Beach
Michael Singer is a student at New York University’s Stern School of Business.
