Goblins, ghouls, princesses, heroes and other scary and fun characters marched in the Community League of Garden City South’s annual Ragamuffin Parade Oct. 26.
Above, Jason DeVersa and at right, Massimo DeVersa, left, and Liam Antony. Story, more photos, Page 3.
By NIColE WAGNER nwagner@liherald.com
Sports can provide lifechanging opportunities for young athletes, opening doors for them that may otherwise be closed. The 43 Oak Foundation, a charity that helps develop underprivileged and minority youth through hockey, hosted its third annual 3 Keys Cup charity hockey tournament at Elmont’s UBS Arena last week to help support the organization’s mission.
T$171,000 for last year’s tournament. The 3 Keys Cup tournament is now the largest source of fundraising revenue for the organization.
Consistency in hosting hockey clinics for local youth is something Toskos believes makes UBS and the Islanders’ partnership with 43 Oak Foundation work best.
oday is a real testament to taking action.
SEAN GREVy Founder, 43 Oak Foundation
The tournament, on Oct. 24, raised more than $180,000 thanks to nine financial institutions that took part — UBS, BlackRock, PIMCO, JP Morgan Asset Management, Franklin Templeton, MFS Investments, and a joint team comprising Lord Abbett, PGIM and First Eagle.
“They were all excited to be asked back and play the tournament,” Greg Toskos, UBS’s head of national sales, said of the eight teams, put together by the financial institutions, which helped raise roughly
As head coach of the hockey team Don Bosco Preparatory High School in Ramsey, New Jersey, his alma mater, often finds himself rinkside. Whether he’s coaching, cheering on his kids or helping out with clinics, he said, athletes from other teams have recognized him from 43 Oak Foundation clinics no matter the location.
“That becomes more personal,” Toskos said. “So it’s special and it’s great that we’re raising money for the foundation. But it becomes even more of a personal touch when kids recognize some of the things that we’re doing in order to play at some of the facilities that we’re
Continued on page 11
Neighbors from throughout Franklin Square and West Hempstead gathered on Nassau Boulevard in West Hempstead to take part in the Community League of Garden City South Ragamuffin Parade.
The event was hosted by the Community League of Garden City South in partnership with the Garden City South/West Hempstead Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 325.
Children in sixth grade and younger were invited to put on their best Halloween costumes to march
in the annual parade festivities last weekend.
Volunteers passed out good bags to attendees, courtesy of TNT Liquidators. Kids also took home pumpkins to decorate or carve ahead of the spooky Thursday holiday.
For more information about upcoming events hosted by the Community League of Garden City South, contact clgcs1929@gmail.com.
–Nicole Wagner
By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com
From cows to skeletons, and everything in between, four-legged contestants at Barkfest were dressed to impress — or maybe just to fetch treats — at the East Meadow Stew Leonard’s on Oct. 19. Pups from near and far came dressed in their best outfits, and competed in front of a panel of judges, for a chance to win a gift basket valued at $100, with fresh dog treats made in-house at Stew Leonard’s.
There was no fee to participate in Barkfest, although shoppers were asked to bring a small bag or can of dog food, a new toy, or gently used blankets. The collected items were donated to Last Hope Animal Rescue, based in Wantagh.
Last Hope was established in 1981, and is a nonprofit organization, headquartered on Beltagh Avenue in Wantagh. It is committed to rescuing and rehabilitating rescue animals. The organization places over 600 cats and more than 100 dogs annually into carefully screened, loving homes. Through educational workshops, low-cost vaccination clinics, and financial assistance for veterinary care, Last Hope actively engages with the community to promote animal welfare and responsible pet ownership.
Over the years, Last Hope has evolved into a robust network of over 600 volunteers and supporters, all working towards reducing animal overpopulation
on Long Island and promoting responsible pet ownership.
This year’s winner was Oakly, from Deer Park, who came in a rodeo inspiredcow outfit. Stew Leonard’s most iconic character, synonymous with the grocery chain and known by many shoppers across the northeast, is “Wow the Cow.”
If you missed Barkfest, there’s plenty of Halloween Happenings coming up at Stew Leonard’s throughout the rest of the fall, including a Spooktacular Costume Breakfast on Oct. 26 and a Trick-orTreat with Stew Leonard’s Characters on Oct. 29.
As estate planning lawyers, we experience the lives — and deaths — of a great many of our clients. Being exposed to death on a regular basis prevents us from “sleepwalking” through life and fosters a keen awareness of our being alive.
“In our Western culture, although death has come out of the closet, it is still not openly experienced or discussed. Allowing dying to be so intensely present enriches both the preciousness of each moment and our detachment from it.”
— Ram Dass
“If we’re not reflecting on the impermanent nature of life, then there are a lot of unimportant things that seem important.”
— Allison Choying Zangmo
“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life.”
— Steve Jobs
“Think of yourself as dead. You have lived your life. Now, take what’s left and live it properly.”
— Marcus Aurelius
”We drift on a chartless, resistless sea. Let us sing while we can, and forget the rest.”
—
H. P. Lovecraft
“Death is not waiting for us at the end of a long road. Death is always with us, in the marrow of every passing moment. She is the secret teacher hiding in plain sight, helping us to discover what matters most.”
— Frank Ostaseski
“Never mind. Never mind. In this brief life, one cannot always be counting the cost.”
— Christopher Isherwood
Oddly enough, contemplating death may be one of the most life-affirming experiences one can have.
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This Saturday, children and families are invited to enjoy a buffet-style breakfast, hosted by Wow the Cow. Children will receive a goodie bag and Halloween craft at the end of the event to take home. Costumes are encouraged. The breakfast begins at 10 a.m., and will cost $14.99 for children ages 11 and younger, and $16.99 for children ages 12 and older.
And next week, just before Halloween, youngsters are invited to come collect candy from stations around the store on Oct. 29, beginning at 4 p.m. Costumers are once again encouraged, and the event is free to attend.
To register for either event, and to learn more, visit EventBrite.com, and search “Stew Leonard’s,” or visit StewLeonards.com. The store is at 1897 Front Street, East Meadow.
Whether in cowboy hats or capes, the pups at Barkfest showed off their Halloween spirit, leaving everyone with wagging tails and full hearts. With Hal-
loween festivities continuing at Stew Leonard’s, there are still plenty of chances to join the fun — costumes and candy bags in tow.
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By REI WOLFSOHN Correspondent
When Eddie Sessa, of Franklin Square, self-recorded “Just A Gigolo” on the Atlantic City boardwalk in the 1980s, he never thought he would be a famous singer 40 years later.
Sessa is known for singing Frank Sinatra songs at restaurants, private clubs and private events throughout New York and Florida. His new show, “Sinatra and My Impossible Dream,” brings his own story into the mix.
Sessa said he didn’t have confidence growing up. He was very shy and quiet. He didn’t have much support from his friends and family with his interest in music.
“I grew up in a very strict, dysfunctional Italian-American family,” Sessa said. “I was told all the time as a kid that kids should be seen and not heard.” He would listen to music all the time in his room.
“It was always in my heart,” Sessa said.
In high school, Sessa was Reserve Officers’ Training Corps and graduated with the rank of first lieutenant from La Salle Military Academy. He cares deeply about veterans and respects what they’ve done. So, he made sure that veterans from Veterans of Foreign Wars posts, Long Island Cares, Beacon House and the Long Island State Veterans Home
received free tickets to his new show.
Charles Kurtzke, who served in the Vietnam War and attended Sessa’s show Oct. 13 at Bay Way Arts Center in East Islip, believes music sometimes helps with the trauma of war.
The show was sponsored by Leonard’s Palazzo, The Dasco Group, All Island Transportation and Tri-State Integrated Solutions.
“I probably could have filled the whole place with vets, there were so many who wanted to sponsor them,” Sessa said.
Sessa’s career didn’t take off until he was in his 50s, and it really got going when he turned 60. In the 2000s he was at a restaurant in Florida with some friends who asked the owner to let him sing. The owner loved it, and offered him a slot one night a week — that turned into two nights per week.
Then, a manager from Diamond Resorts International offered him one, and then two, nights per week at their flagship resort.
In 2011, after moving back to New York, he landed a show at Eisenhower Park. He played a Sinatra tribute with a 20-piece band to 5,000 people. He considers it one of the proudest moments in his life.
“I always thought people were just saying nice things to me because they were friends,” Sessa said. “Then about six years ago, I ran into some people
who are big in the industry and they were praising me. I started saying maybe I’m better than I think.”
When he married his second wife he moved to Franklin Square.
“I like Franklin Square,” Sessa said. “There’s a lot of people I knew but I didn’t know were from Franklin Square and own businesses here. It’s a very family-oriented area.”
For the last few years, he’s played the Polo Lounge in Westbury on Thursdays and Fridays. He mixes his Sinatra-style music with oldies and Elvis songs.
Lawrence Zaino, who frequents the Polo Lounge on Fridays, praises Sessa.
“In between songs or when he’s taking a break he goes around and says hello to everybody,” Zaino said. “Sometimes when there’s a group, a special event, he goes over and asks them if they want a special song. He personalizes things.”
Sessa’s favorite songs to perform are “torch” songs. He doesn’t do them often because he doesn’t think it suits the audience.
“Songs that go in and rip your heart out,” Sessa said. “Sad songs, powerful songs.”
Sessa has also performed at shows in Florida to raise awareness for Alzheimer’s Disease.
“People who are totally out of it, unresponsive, respond to music,” Sessa said. “I used to love doing that — getting
people to respond to the music.”
His next goal is to bring the new show to Las Vegas, a lifelong dream. He’s been working on making the right connections to make it happen for the last few years.
Sessa’s favorite thing to do is sing at birthday parties for seniors in their 90s and 100s.
“What I like most about what I do is making people happy,” Sessa said. “I believe it is my calling. And it eventually happened for a reason.”
Seaford Senior Cross-country
MUNRO PLACED FIFTH in the Nassau County cross-country championships last fall and will look to top that performance at Bethpage State Park Nov. 2. He went on to earn All-State honors in 2023 as a Top 20 finisher in the state and posted a best 5k time of 15-minutes, 43-seconds. He’s three-time All-County in cross-country and as a junior competed in the state track and field championships in the 3200 and 1600 meter events.
Friday, Nov. 1
Football: Manhasset at Kennedy 2 p.m.
Football: Oceanside at Port Washington 5:30 p.m.
Football: Division at Hewlett 6 p.m.
Football: West Hempstead at East Rockaway 6:30 p.m.
Football: Locust Valley at Plainedge 6:30 p.m.
Football: Syosset at Massapequa 6:30 p.m.
Football: Lynbrook at Bethpage 7 p.m.
Football: V.S. South at Malverne 7 p.m.
Football: Wantagh at C.S. Harbor 7 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 2
Cross-Country: Nassau County Class I, II and III championships at Bethpage State Park 10 a.m.
Football: Calhoun at Carey 11 a.m.
Football: Jericho at Sewanhaka 11 a.m.
Football: Island Trees at Lawrence 11 a.m.
Football: MacArthur at Baldwin 2 p.m.
Football: Long Beach at Mepham 2 p.m.
Football: Seaford at North Shore 2 p.m.
Football: South Side at Floral Park 3 p.m.
Football: Elmont at Clarke 3 p.m.
Football: Mineola at V.S, North 3 p.m.
Football: Uniondale at Freepprt
3 p.m.
Football: Westbury at V.S. Central 3 p.m.
Nominate a “Spotlight Athlete”
High School athletes to be featured on the Herald sports page must compete in a fall sport and have earned an AllConference award or higher last season. Please send the following information: Name, School, Grade, Sport and accomplishments to Sports@liherald.com.
By GARRETT D. URIBE sports@liherald.com
The first and last things weren’t a problem; it was that middle part of the club’s three-word motto, “Breathe, Believe, Battle,” that was tricky –requiring more than sheer effort.
For Carey boys’ volleyball coach Keri Doyle, belief in her team’s competitive prowess wasn’t automatic (“Honestly, I had no idea what to expect this year,” she said) - but when it came, just two matches into the schedule, it came to stay, building and bearing out in a breakthrough season.
Making believers of many this autumn with wins against top-ranked teams – including a 3-1 downing Sept. 6 of eventual league champ Lynbrook –Carey can breathe easy, and in rarefied air, ahead of its remaining finale, having battled to a key league win against Manhasset last Saturday.
Led by captains Ewan Byrne and Jack Leimgruber – who had 25 assists and 11 kills, respectively – host Carey climbed to 9-7 overall, 8-7 in Nassau Conference 2D, with a 3-0 win against ‘Set on Oct. 26, ensuring the Seahawks’ first winning season in Doyle’s six-year tenure, while positioning Carey, which wraps its season this week at Academy Charter, to finish .500 or better in league for the first time in a decade.
“I had faith the boys would work hard, but didn’t know how well and how scrappy they’d play as a team,” Doyle said. “They had confidence in themselves, and that’s led to a winning season.”
Getting there, the Seahawks did not take the easy route – notching wins against 2D’s top two teams, Lynbrook and West Hempstead, and punching up at Conference 2C foes Sewanhaka (tied for first place in 2C) and Locust Valley for a pair of straight-sets victories.
Byrne, whose 65 aces rank No. 1 in Nassau, fired a season-high 11 service winners against Sewanhaka. The twotime All-Conference senior setter leads Carey with 367 assists (third in 2D), while Leimgruber – whose 137 kills lead the team – led all scorers with 13 kills in
the campaign with an overall record of 9-7.
the Seahawks’ win over Lynbrook, a match which cemented Doyle’s belief that this season could be special, she said.
“That was the first time, as a coach, I said, ‘Okay, we’re going to do it. We’re going to compete this year,’” Doyle said. “It showed we could compete with the top teams in the conference. It kind of lit a fire under everyone.”
Added Doyle: “There hasn’t been a game where we’ve looked outmatched. We keep battling. And that’s a good jumping-off point for next year.”
With the exception of Byrne and senior opposite hitter Juann Jennu (33
kills, 23 aces), Carey can expect its whole roster back next season, with libero Anbiy Aftab – team leader with 117 digs – and fellow junior Dylan Lotrean (74 kills) slated to return, along with top underclassmen Matt Bermudez (47 kills), Woitek Yahoves (41 kills) and Chris D’Angelo (27 digs).
“We have a core group that contributed, helping us possibly have our first winning season in division,” said Doyle, not looking past her team’s matchup with Academy. “Our next game means a lot. If we can get to nine wins (in league), it’ll make us want double digits next year.”
Some Democrats are too far left.Some Republicans are too far right.But some candidates just make COMMON SENSE.
The Common Sense Party looks at both Democrats and Republicans running for office. And then nominates the one who’s most reasonable, who thinks for themself. Who can compromise to get things done. In Nassau County, that’s Laura GIllen.
So this November, find the "Common Sense Party" on your ballot.
Party
Democratic
Republican
Conservative
Working Families
Common Sense
Presidential Electors for President (Vote for One)
Kamala Harris
Donald J. Trump
Donald J. Trump
Kamala Harris
Representative in Congress (4th District) (Vote for One)
Laura Gillen
Anthony D’Esposito
Anthony D’Esposito
Laura Gillen
Power outages are a reality, especially during a storm or other weather events. One of the most frustrating issues can be not knowing when power will be restored.
The good news is that, for PSEG Long Island customers, a power outage doesn’t have to leave you completely in the dark. That’s because the Long Island company created a free Outage Tracker, accessible from any smartphone or mobile-enabled device on our mobile app.
PSEG Long Island used customer feedback from J.D. Power surveys, research, and focus groups to help them design the app.
“Our intention is to reduce the stress and anxiety of an outage by enabling customers to closely track the progress of their restoration, all within the free, convenient PSEG Long Island mobile app,” says Larry Torres, Sr. Director, Emergency Preparedness and Logistics.
It’s as easy to use as it is to download. And once it’s installed on your device, if you have a power outage, you have access to report outages and track updates.
As PSEG Long Island begins the restoration process, you receive notifications on the Outage Tracker. These show everything from confirmation that your outage report was received, to damage assessments, to repair alerts and an estimate of when power will be restored.
“The sooner we know about specific outages, the quicker we can react and restore power,” says Michael Presti, Director, Customer Experience and Marketing.
The PSEG Long Island Outage Tracker provides customers with:
Accessibility: Even if someone loses power, they can access the Outage Tracker on their mobile device as long as they have cell service. However, they need to download it before an event to ensure they’re prepared.
Reporting capability: Customers can report partial or full power outages. In the case of downed lines, the app provides a phone number to call. This immediate reporting helps PSEG Long Island respond more efficiently to restore service.
Year-round reliability: Because outages can sometimes occur even when the weather is not a contributing factor, the Outage Tracker helps people stay connected and able to report issues at any time.
We live in a world where we have more information at our fingertips than ever before. It just follows that having some control and knowledge about power outages is critical to our peace of mind and ability to plan, be heard, and feel safe. So be prepared, and learn more about the free PSEG Long Island mobile app at psegliny.com/app.
A power outage doesn’t have to leave you feeling powerless. Be prepared. Download our free mobile app with Outage Tracker. You can report outages and track restoration progress. Because knowing is power.
Neighbors had fun browsing a variety of 35 local vendors’ tables at Franklin Square based-nonprofit Rescuing Families’ Halloween community marketplace on Oct. 19.
Attendees also had the chance to enter a 50/50 raffle and spin a wheel for prizes as part of the nonprofit’s event.
Vendors at the marketplace included Rescuing Families founder Gina Centauro’s very own Truly Unique Designs, Silent Stitches, Joe’s Wooden Creations and more.
Community members had fun playing games like plastic axe throw-
ing during the last community marketplace of the year.
Events like the community marketplace help Rescuing Families raise funds for its upcoming projects. Soon, the organization hopes to start renovations on a Valley Stream home to help retrofit the house for a disabled man.
Rescuing Families continues to raise money with upcoming events throughout the year. For more information about upcoming events, visit RescuingFamilies.org.
at.”
Bill Carroll, head of sales and development at UBS, coached Toskos at Don Bosco Prep from 1990 to 1994. It was always evident, Carroll said, that Toskos had an altruistic nature.
“I think he has translated that into giving back through the opportunities that UBS Arena gives him, certainly,” Carroll said. “But 43 Oak would not be anywhere near what it is without his leadership.”
Sean Grevy created the foundation in 2017, after coaching a 14-and-under hockey travel team from 2014 to 2016.
“Our goal … is to promote hockey within diverse communities and help underprivileged kids be able to play the sport at a tier-one level so that they can ultimately further their education through the sport of hockey,” Grevy said.
The foundation’s mission goes beyond the ice: It helps athletes through mentoring, resumé writing classes, leadership training, financial literacy training and more.
The organization grew from Grevy’s helping a handful of kids get to and from hockey practice in the South Bronx, to its work now, helping 170 families across the country participate in the sport.
“Fortunately, this partnership has allowed us years to get better,” Grevy
43 oak foundation’s founder, Sean grevy, and islanders alumni Bryan trottier, radek martinek, dennis Seidenberg, Benoit Hogue, arron asham, darius Kasparatis and robb Schremp helped out with a hockey clinic for local youth after the third annual 3 Keys Cup hockey tournament fundraiser at uBS arena on oct. 24.
said of the foundation’s relationship with the Islanders and UBS. “And we’re light-years ahead of when I started this.”
He is proud of the growth he has seen in the foundation’s ability to reach young athletes throughout the U.S.
“When I used to run my practices, not only did I know all of the kids, I knew them all incredibly personally,”
Grevy said. “Now I go out for these skates, and I love … that I get out there and there are kids that I don’t know. It’s a cool thing to get to a point where you have that many kids in your program.”
All of those kids, he said, have access to vital athletic and educational resources thanks to fundraising events like the 3 Keys Cup.
“When you see all of these people
who came out to support this mission, that was literally a dream for me 10 years ago — I didn’t think anybody was listening,” Grevy said. “And now I’m reminded every day that a lot of people are listening, and a lot of people are taking action. Today is a real testament to taking action.”
To learn more about 43 Oak Foundation, go to 43OakFoundation.org.
By JUAN LASSO jlasso@liherald.com
Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages has been a fixture in the Assembly for over a decade. At age 39, she is seeking her sixth term, and says she has the political courage and clout to tackle two of the hottest issues in this election season — the rising cost of living and increasing threats to Long Islanders’ quality of life.
“I’m a leading voice in making sure that we do right by New Yorkers,” Solages said, touting her track record of legislative wins this term.
“The price of health care is always going up,” she said. “I was able to pass legislation that creates a study on hospital pricing and how we can make it more affordable for the average New Yorker.”
The hospital pricing transparency bill, signed into law last year, mandates that the state create an annual report disclosing hospital prices and cost comparisons to keep those prices down.
Another one of Solages’s legislative efforts has centered on curbing the alarming number of infant deaths, especially among Black women who are new mothers.
Tim Baker/Herald
Michaelle Solages is running for her sixth term in Albany, emphasizing her legislative achievements in health care affordability, maternal health and climate resilience.
“The governor signed my bill about expanding donor breast milk for New York state, especially for low-income families,” she said, citing cases of powdered baby formula tainted with a rare, though often deadly, bacterial infection in hospitals.
The Elmont Democrat has also been credited with spearheading the first paid leave law for pregnant women in the country, allowing them to take paid time off for pregnancy care.
While the jury is no longer out on the ravages of climate change, Solages says that if Albany moves to roll back its climate goals, she will continue to “fight
for infrastructure and resiliency money” to shield the 22nd District from the worst effects of increased flooding.
When Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed cut the annual funding for clean water infrastructure to $250 million per year from $500 million, Solages and her allies were “able to get that fully restored in the budget.”
“Clean water infrastructure is
entwined with flooding prevention, and we need to protect and harden our systems,” she said.
She has also been a leading supporter of Long Island Cares’ emergency food pantry in the heart of Valley Stream’s business district. “That’s something that we’ve been working on for so long, and it came about during Covid, when people were just struggling financially,” she said.
A large part of the cost-of-living crisis on Long Island is the shortage of affordable housing, driven by restrictive zoning regulations, inadequate infrastructure and strong local opposition to development. Solages’s proposed solutions were neither sweeping nor new: She recommended that stakeholders sharpen their focus on expanding affordable housing options in downtowns, where they can best be accommodated. She endorses a carrot rather than a stick approach to increasing Long Island’s languishing housing stock, by emphasizing incentive-based programs.
“We should be focused on making sure that we talk to the community leaders who are in charge of zoning and building,” she said, “and make sure they have the money to build housing.”
By JUAN LASSO jlasso@liherald.com
Ian Bergström has a long history of answering the call to public service in ways big and small. The Nassau County deputy attorney, a lifelong Floral Park resident, has coached basketball for the Floral Park Indians Athletic Club, serves as an usher at Our Lady of Victory Roman Catholic Church, and is a proud member of the Knights of Columbus.
Now the 32-year-old Republican says his Assembly district demands new leadership to keep his community safe and thriving. He knows his path to victory is difficult. But he says his decision to step off the sidelines and into the political arena against five-time incumbent Michaelle Solages is not “based on ego,” but instead rooted in restoring a lost concern by Albany lawmakers for middle-class families.
State government, Bergström argues, has “lost its way.” A fog of laws, policies and financial decisions, he says, have been passed in recent years that seem out of touch with the well-being of Long Island households.
After the approval of a historic $239 billion state budget, fiscal hawks project a possible $7.25 billion deficit in the next three years. Bergström says that he is determined, if elected, to clamp down on Albany’s “irresponsible” runaway spending.
“By limiting state spending, you ensure that residents have enough discretionary income to purchase what’s needed,” he said.
Bergström argues that out-of-control spending worsens the cost-of-living crisis by taking hard-earned
Tim Baker/Herald
Ian Bergström, a Nassau County deputy attorney and a longtime Floral Park community leader, is challenging Solages in Assembly District 22, pledging to tackle state spending, overhaul cashless bail and address local traffic issues.
money from taxpayers already burdened with high property taxes. While he has a general sense of the budget areas he would like to see cut — funding allocated to the migrant crisis is at the top of his list — he
declined to share a specific fiscal plan without first conducting “an in-depth evaluation.”
On cashless bail reform, Democrats have called out Republicans’ ongoing criticism of the law as a political boogeyman aimed at persuading voters that they are soft on crime. Despite several rounds of revisions to the 2019 law — including measures giving judges greater discretion in preventing low-income people from facing pretrial detention for minor offenses — Bergström maintains that those concerns remain high.
“An amendment to the cashless bail legislation is necessary. Unfortunately, the law allows hardened criminals to be released from jail,” Bergström said, adding that lawmakers should work with law enforcement to rewrite the law, but he did not offer additional details.
As an Islanders season ticketholder, he hopes to make progress on an issue close to his heart — the frequent congestion on Hempstead Turnpike and the traffic-snarled streets around Elmont’s UBS arena.
“The traffic has become outrageous throughout the local neighborhoods and the nearby Cross Island Parkway,” Bergström said. “I believe that a lot of the dead space surrounding the Cross Island Parkway can be developed to increase parking accessibility as well as handling the traffic situation.”
He claims that the increased traffic has spilled over to affect residents’ quality of life. “Elmont is a quiet suburban community, but we have people parking in front of residential houses” and blocking driveways, he said. “People are unable to leave their houses during game nights and events. It’s an obvious concern.”
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 20 • 6:00-9:00PM
The Heritage Club at Bethpage 99 Quaker Meeting House Road Farmingdale
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
MICHAEL J. DOWLING
PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER NORTHWELL HEALTH
ACCOUNTING:
JOHN FITZGERALD
Managing Partner
Citrin Cooperman
GURJIT SINGH
Chief Information Officer
Prager Metis CPAs
DIANE L. WALSH
Chief Marketing Officer
Prager Metis CPAs
BANKING & FINANCE:
STUART H. LUBOW
President & Chief Executive Officer
Dime Community Bank
DAVID A. PERLMUTTER
Managing Partner
Forest Hills Financial Group
MARK SANCHIONI
Senior Vice President & Chief Banking Officer
Ridgewood Savings Bank
JOSEPH TEDESCO
President & Chief Executive Officer
Ocean Financial Federal Credit
JOHN BURKE
Managing Director
Global Head of Business & Professional Services
Citi Commercial Bank
BIOPHARMA:
PATRICIA ECKERT, CPA
Chief Financial Officer
Enzo Biochem, Inc.
COMMUNICATIONS:
ANDREW RAINONE
Senior Vice President, Business Sales
Optimum Business
EDUCATION:
MARIA CONZATTI, EdD
Chief Administrative Officer Nassau Community College
TIMOTHY E. SAMS, Ph.D.
President
SUNY Old Westbury
ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION:
LOUIS BEKOFSKY
Principal, Managing Partner VHB
WILLIAM MAXWELL
Vice President The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company
BILLY HAUGLAND II Chief Executive Officer Haugland Group LLC
ANDREW J. SOLANO Managing Partner Emtec Consulting Engineers
CHRISTINA ARMENTANO
Chief Operating Officer & Executive Vice President
Paraco
JOHN RHODES
Chief Executive Officer
Long Island Power Authority (LIPA)
ROSS TURRINI
Chief Operating Officer
National Grid New York
ENERGY: JIM FLANNERY Chief Operating Officer National Grid Ventures, US Northeast
HEALTHCARE:
ALLISON BERGMANN
Chief Operating Officer
Solutions 4 Community Health
MARIANELA CASAS, MPA
Chief Operating Officer Association for Mental Health and Wellness
STACEY C. JACKSON HARLEY
Chief Operating Officer
Harmony Healthcare
ANDREW MINTZ
Chief Executive Officer
The Smilist
MICHAEL N. ROSENBLUT
President & Chief Executive Officer
Parker Jewish Institute For Healthcare and Rehabilitation
AMY SILVA-MAGALHAES
Chief Operating Officer
The Bristal Assisted Living
JOSEPH VERDIRAME
Chief Executive Officer
Alliance Homecare
AMIT SHAH, MD
Partner & Vascular Surgeon
PRINE Health
HOSPITALITY:
MICHAEL LESSING
Chief Executive Officer Lessing's Hospitality Group
NICOLE JOSEPH
Chief Operating Officer & Finance Director
CM Law PLLC
JULIE WYETZNER
Executive Director &
Chief Operating Officer
Cona Elder Law PLLC
MICHAEL H. SAHN
Managing Partner
Sahn Ward Braff Coschignano PLLC
HOWARD M. STEIN
Managing Partner & Co- Chair of the Real Estate Practice Group Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman, LLP
PHIL ANDREWS
President
Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce
MICHAEL K. BILLIA
Chief Executive Officer Life’s WORC
LISA BURCH, MPH
President and Chief Executive Officer EPIC Long Island, Inc.
RANDELL BYNUM
Chief Executive Officer
Girl Scouts of Nassau County
MATTHEW COHEN
President and Chief Executive Officer
Long Island Association, Inc.
ERIKA FLORESKA
President
Long Island Children's Museum
JEFFREY FRIEDMAN
Chief Executive Officer
CN Guidance and Counseling Services
DAN LLOYD
Chief Executive Officer and Founder Minority Millennials, Inc.
DIANE MANDERS
Interim Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director
Habitat for Humanity of LI
JOHN MCGUIGAN
Chief Executive Officer
AHRC Suffolk
JEFFREY L. REYNOLDS, PHD
President & Chief Executive Officer
Family and Children's Association
LUIS VAZQUEZ
President & Chief Executive Officer
Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
REAL ESTATE:
JOSEPH A. FARKAS
Chief Executive Officer & Founder Metropolitan Realty Associates LLC
RETAIL:
ROBERT KAY
Chief Executive Officer
Lifetime Brands, Inc.
SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT:
CHRIS R. VACCARO
President & Executive Officer
Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame
TECHNOLOGY:
AMY E. NEWMAN
Senior Vice President, Administration Canon U.S.A, Inc.
TRANSPORTATION:
ROBERT FREE
Acting President
Long Island Rail Road
MARLON TAYLOR
President New York and Atlantic Railway
COREY J. MUIRHEAD
Executive Vice President
Guardian Bus Company
MICHAEL D. TORNABE
Chief Operating Officer
Guardian Bus Company
*List still in formation
By DANIEL OFFNER doffner@liherald.com
U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito has his sights set on reelection in the 4th Congressional District, where he will face a familiar opponent amid unfamiliar scrutiny over his hiring practices.
A Republican and a former NYPD detective, D’Esposito won his seat in the 2022 midterms, flipping a district that had been in Democratic hands for 25 years. He defeated former Hempstead Town Supervisor Laura Gillen that year by a margin of roughly 10,000 votes with a campaign focused on crime, inflation and government spending. He hopes to do it again next week with a renewed focus on border security, crime and the cost of living on Long Island.
But D’Esposito’s re-election bid is under a cloud, with an ethics probe questioning whether he improperly hired his fiancée’s daughter and a woman he allegedly had a personal relationship with for taxpayer-funded positions in his office. During a Herald Roundtable on Oct. 10, D’Esposito made it clear that he views the allegations as baseless. “There is absolutely nothing that was violated ethically, and my personal life is my personal life,” he said, asserting that if there had been any ethical questions, he would not have made those hires.
In spite of the allegations, D’Esposito remains focused on issues central to residents of his district. He emphasized that he has been instrumental in securing millions in federal funding for local infrastructure projects ranging from water filtration systems to police training facilities. “In the last 18 months, I’ve been able to bring close to $40 million back to the district to help with infrastructure,” he said.
D’Esposito has also positioned himself as a strong supporter of Israel, and has been vocal in his support for sending more aid to Israel in light of renewed con-
Anthony D’Esposito discussed his re-election campaign in the 4th Congressional District amid controversy over his hiring practices at a
flicts with Iran and Lebanon following the attack by Hamas last Oct. 7.
“I think the United States of America needs to continue to provide every resource necessary to Israel to eradicate Hamas and any terrorist organization,” he said, criticizing the Biden administration for what he views as a lack of urgency.
Another key issue is the ongoing border crisis. “We have a border security problem,” D’Esposito said, emphasizing the need to shut down the southern border and implement a more stringent asylum process. He noted a Department of Homeland Security briefing where it was revealed that over 420,000 people who
crossed the border illegally had been convicted of crimes in their home countries, including over 13,000 convicted murderers. D’Esposito argued that the Biden administration’s handling of the border has been inadequate, claiming, “The Customs and Border Patrol agents don’t have the resources that they need.”
He remains critical of the administration’s economic and energy policies, and advocates for energy independence, saying, “We need to focus on being more energy independent and stop relying on foreign countries for power.” He also expressed concerns about the national deficit, arguing that it is unsustainable and could have long-term consequences for future generations.
D’Esposito has framed himself as a bipartisan problem solver, willing to work with both sides to achieve results for his district. But he is also aware of the tightrope he walks within his party, having been labeled both a MAGA extremist and a “Republican in Name Only” after calling for the removal of former U.S. Rep. George Santos. D’Esposito said he understands the balance between his own values and party expectations, and will do what he feels is right, regardless of how it may be perceived. “It seems to me I’m doing the right thing and playing the middle,” he said.
As the district becomes a focal point in the national battle for control of the House of Representatives, D’Esposito remains confident in his leadership and his track record of securing federal resources for Long Island.
By DANIEL OFFNER doffner@liherald.com
Laura Gillen, the Democratic candidate in New York’s 4th Congressional District, is running on a platform focused on tackling the rising cost of living on Long Island, reproductive rights and immigration reform.
“It’s really expensive to live here, and people want relief,” Gillen said during a Herald Roundtable on Oct. 7, adding that this concern came up in nearly every conversation she has had with voters in the district. She is particularly critical of her opponent, U.S. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito for not restoring the state and local tax deduction on income taxes, which was capped during the Trump administration. “My opponent said he was going to restore our SALT deduction. He’s been in the majority for almost two years and has completely failed to do that,” Gillen said, emphasizing that reinstating the deduction, a key issue for many homeowners in Nassau County, would be a top priority if she were elected.
Reproductive rights are also central to Gillen’s campaign, especially after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022 decision, ending nearly 50 years of constitutional protection for abortion rights. Gillen stresses the need to protect access to reproductive health care, including abortion, in vitro fertilization and contraception.
“Protecting a woman’s right to choose, protecting the right to access IVF and the right to contraception are things we never thought we’d even have to talk about before the Dobbs decision,” she said. Gillen also pointed to the broader implications of the decision, noting that Republicans are continuing to push for fed-
Tim Baker/Herald
Laura Gillen, the Democratic challenger in the 4th C.D., discussed the rising cost of living, reproductive rights, the country’s border problems, the mental health crisis, Israel and more with the Herald.
eral restrictions on reproductive rights.
Health care, particularly for mental health, is another key focus of Gillen’s campaign. She noted that the country is facing a growing mental health crisis, which affects people of all ages. “It’s affecting our young people, our seniors, our veterans and our law enforcement officers,” she said.
Gillen advocates increasing resources to make mental health services more accessible, reducing the long
wait times many patients face. “Families shouldn’t have to wait weeks to get an appointment for a loved one in crisis,” she said, calling for improvements in insurance coverage for mental health care and for expanding access to care.
Immigration reform is a pressing issue, Gillen said, criticizing Congress for its inaction on the border crisis. She said she is committed to passing comprehensive immigration reform that secures the border while facilitating citizenship for immigrants. “We’ve seen nothing get done to secure our border, to stop the flow of fentanyl, or to create a pathway for citizenship for people who want to come here legally,” she said. Her proposal includes deploying more border agents, using advanced technology like anti-tunneling systems, and improving the asylum process, which she described as “completely broken” due to the long delays in adjudicating claims.
Gillen has also taken a strong stance on national security, particularly in regard to Israel and the increase of antisemitism in this country. “We’ve seen an incredible rise of antisemitism, even before Oct. 7,” she said, referring to last October’s attacks on Israel by Hamas.
Her bipartisan approach to solving these issues grew out of her experience as the first Democratic Hempstead town supervisor in over 100 years. Despite facing a Republican-controlled Town Board, Gillen managed to implement sweeping reforms, including ethics legislation, cutting taxes and modernizing the town’s infrastructure.
“I got things done, and that’s what I plan to do in Congress,” Gillen said. “People want problem-solvers in Congress … We need to get things done and reduce the partisanship that’s holding us back.”
By Danielle Schwab & Tim Baker
Havana Munsuz
Age 9, Locust Valley
My mom (Lenia Matias). I think she would make equal rights for every person. She supports LGBTQ rights, and she’s also a woman. All the presidents are boys, and we should have a girl as a president. We read a book about the election together.
Nicholas Kemp
Age 5, East Rockaway
I want Aaron Judge to be president but I (also) don’t want him because he’s playing baseball and he won’t hit any more home runs. If he was president I think he would be so
Michael Lutz
Age 7, Rockville Centre
My dad (Eric Donohoe) because he’s basically like Donald Trump. Also, my mom (Shannon Donohoe) because she’s technically almost the same as my dad. She would get more jobs in America, put the prices down so if it was $3 it would be $2 and she would get more American-made products
Amelia Geraghty
Age 8, East Meadow
I think John F. Kennedy because if he ever did something wrong, his wife, Jacqueline Kennedy would have stood up for civil rights for women. I don’t think he would do anything wrong. And he was also young (when he was president). The older you are, the more you forget. I’ve read a lot of books about him and Jacqueline Kennedy.
Tasnim and Taha Laghroudi
Tasnim, age 8; Taha, age 10, Wantagh
My teacher Ms. Sanders (my third grade teacher) would make a good president because she’s really fun and she’s very serious so we do our work instead of just playing around the whole time. Teachers are hard working and they’ve been through a lot of lessons and teachings, and they’re responsible for people in their class.
This proposal would protect against unequal treatment based on ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, and sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity and pregnancy. It also protects against unequal treatment based on reproductive healthcare and autonomy.
A “YES” vote puts these protections in the New York State Constitution.
A “NO” vote leaves these protections out of the State Constitution.
Enmienda para Proteger Contra el Trato Desigual
Esta propuesta protegería contra el trato desigual basado en la etnicidad, el origen nacional, la edad, la discapacidad y el sexo, incluida la orientación sexual, la identidad de género y el embarazo. También protege contra el trato desigual basado en la salud y la autonomía reproductiva.
Un voto “SÍ” coloca estas protecciones en la Constitución del Estado de Nueva York. Un voto “NO” deja estas protecciones fuera de la Constitución del Estado.
Electores para Presidente y Vicepresidente
Kamala D. Harris (For President)
Tim Walz (For Vice President)
Electores para Presidente y Vicepresidente
Donald J. Trump (For President)
JD Vance (For Vice President)
Representante en el Congreso Distrito 4
Laura Gillen (D,CS)
Senador Estatal, Distrito
Kirsten E. Gillibrand (D, WF)
Diane Sare (L)
Vote for One (1)
Anthony D’Esposito (R,C)
Vote for One (1)
Michael D. Sapraicone (R,C)
James
Member
Miembro Sanjeev
Member
Miembro de Michaelle
Justice Juez de la James Gregg Deanna Terence
actual ballot, but a composite of several sample ballots so as to reflect all the districts within the communities covered Specific candidates for individual communities are identified in blue. Complete reporting on candidates running in districts covered by the LIHerald.com under the Elections ’24 tab. For election results after the polls close Tuesday night, go to LIHerald.com
Senator District 9
Estatal, Distrito 9
Vote for One (1)
James Lynch (D) Patricia CanzoneriFitzpatrick(R,C)
Member of Assembly District 19
de la Asamblea Distrito 19
Sanjeev Jindal (D) Ed Ra (R,C)
Member of Assembly District 22
de la Asamblea Distrito 22
Vote for One (1)
Juez del Tribunal del Condado
Jeffrey A. Goodstein(D,R,C)
Juez del
Lisa Daniels (D,R,C)
Chris J. Coschignano (D,R,C)
Vote for One (1)
Michaelle Solages (D) Ian Bergstrom (R,C)
Justice of the Supreme Court
la Corte Suprema (Vote for up to Eight) (8)
James F. Matthews, Jr. (D,R,C)
Gregg Roth (D,R,C)
Deanna D. Panico (D,R,C)
Terence P. Murphy (D,R,C)
Alfred C. Graf (D,R,C)
Paul E. Hennings (D,R,C)
Paul M. Hensley (D,R,C) Andrew A. Crecca (D,R,C)
Joseph Nocella, Jr. (D,R,C)
Juez del Tribunal de Distrito
Andrea C. Phoenix (D,R,C) Veronica Renta Irwin (D,R,C)
Ryan E. Cronin (D,R,C) Sean Wright (D,R,C)
By JENNA ZAZA & LORI SAXENA Special to the Herald
Project 2025’s agenda to restructure the government extends beyond the Fed and into education, proposing to completely eliminate the Department of Education. This is a contentious move that could have profound repercussions for public education on Long Island.
The DOE plays a significant role in supporting local education by providing funding to high-poverty schools and increasing programs designed to protect and serve vulnerable students, such as those with disabilities or in the LGBTQ+ community.
Eliminating the department means drastically reducing federal funding streams and eventually phasing out Title I, a federal program that provides financial assistance to schools with a high percentage of low-income students, according to a Chalkbeat report. Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news organization focused on education issues.
Title I aims to ensure all children, regardless of socio-economic status, meet state academic standards by funding programs like after-school tutoring and teacher development. Schools can operate schoolwide improvement initiatives if they meet certain thresholds of low-income students.
“When you eliminate funding, the things that get cut are teacher salaries, teachers get laid off, class sizes get bigger, and you have less counseling services, less paraprofessional services ... all of that is eliminated when you don’t have Title I funding,” Jillian Gaeta, co-founder of the organization Roots to Revolution and a New York City public school teacher, said.
Nearly half of Suffolk County’s total public school enrollment is economically disadvantaged students at 44 percent, in Nassau County it is 32 percent, according to the State Education Department. Districts such as Huntington, Central Islip and Brentwood 63 percent, 66 and 88, of the students are from low-income households, respectively, according to state statistics.
Project 2025 also proposes to reduce eligibility for federally funded meal programs.
Funding impact
The potential rollback of programs like the National School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program under Project 2025 could exacerbate the lack of access to food on Long Island. In recent years, the number of food-insecure individuals on the island has surged, increasing by 58.3 percent since 2021, with an estimated 65,000 children affected, according to a Long Island Cares report.
Over 60 percent of students in lower-income districts like Brentwood and Hempstead qualify for free lunch and breakfast, indicating a substantial reliance on federal aid programs, according to Meals Count data. Meanwhile, wealthier districts like Jericho and Great Neck in Nassau County, where less than 10 percent of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, would be less affected by federal cuts, according to state data.
“In the schools that I’ve worked in, 80 percent of students were receiving free and reduced lunch,” Gaeta said. “If you take away that ability, you now have 80 percent of your kids hungry. You can’t educate those kids; they’re struggling because all they’re focusing on is how their bellies aren’t full.”
Long Island is also seeing a surge in school lunch debt, according to a Healthy School Meals for All report. The Lindenhurst school district reported nearly $50,000 in unpaid school lunch fees and South Huntington said meal debt doubled from $20,000 after the pandemic. Wealthy districts often benefit from higher property tax revenues, which can be used to supplement educational programs. Low-income districts typically struggle with limited funding and resources, making it challenging to provide basic services, let alone additional support for meal programs.
But it’s not just lunch — early childhood education
A portion of Project 2025 aims to roll back progress made on programs and laws that are designed to protect and serve vulnerable people such as the LGBTQ community.
programs are also on the chopping block under Project 2025.
Whither Head Start?
Head Start is a federal initiative that promotes school readiness for young children from low-income families. It serves children aged 3 to 5, focusing on cognitive, social, and emotional development alongside health screenings and nutritious meals. The program is critical in preparing disadvantaged children for elementary school and fostering long-term academic success.
“Early education programs ... are foundational for a child’s ability to thrive in school, and also for their economic security, that they are able to read and write and develop those skills at an early age,” Gaeta said.
In Nassau County, the availability of Head Start programs is concentrated in districts with higher rates of low-income families. Out of eight Head Start locations, many are in areas with higher child poverty rates.
The Head Start programs in Hempstead, Freeport and Roosevelt illustrate this trend. Hempstead, with a child poverty rate of nearly 21 percent, and Roosevelt, where nearly 17 percent of children live in poverty, highlights communities that heavily rely on these educational resources. Freeport, with around 14 percent of children living in poverty, further emphasizes the critical need for support in these districts. The figures are based on Census Bureau data.
Child poverty rates in Westbury (14 percent), Lawrence (10 percent), and Long Beach (6 percent) demonstrate a varied landscape where families may still benefit from Head Start programs, although the urgency may differ.
More affluent districts like Garden City, Syosset, and East Williston, which report child poverty rates of less than 5 percent, do not have any Head Start locations. Wealthier families often have access to private preschools and other early childhood programs.
Another proposal of Project 2025 includes a rollback of Title IX, a federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any educational program or activity receiving federal financial assistance, including sports.
“Title IX, which allows girls to play sports and opens up opportunities for young girls, is also supported and protected by the federal government,” Gaeta said. “So if you eliminate the Federal Department of Education, you’re eliminating all those benefits that our kids need to have successful schools.”
Rolling back Title IX could also disproportionately
impact non-binary and transgender students as the project aims to “define ‘sex’ under Title IX to mean only biological sex.”
“Long Island is already seeing pieces of Project 2025 being enacted,” Kiana Abbady, board chair of Long Island Progressive Coalition, said. “[Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman] already passed a transban, where individuals cannot play sports if they identify as transgender.”
In Nassau County 10 school districts — Island Park, Jericho, Lawrence, Locust Valley, Long Beach, Mineola, New Hyde Park, Oceanside, Oyster Bay and Port Washington — are set to lose funding, based on Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposed 2025 executive budget.
“If any parts of Project 2025 are enacted, we will see large swaths of Long Island’s communities, predominantly black and brown, predominantly working class, lose significant funding for public schools,” Abbady said. “We already see that. ”
Extracurricular activities, such as sports, are typically the first to be cut when schools experience dips in funding, and this could have adverse effects on students. Research indicates that participation in sports is linked to numerous benefits for both girls and transgender youth, including improved academic performance, higher self-esteem, and greater overall well-being.
In underfunded districts, girls often have 1.3 million fewer opportunities than boys to engage in athletic programs, according to the National Women’s Law Center. Exclusionary policies for trans youth like Nassau County’s Legislature and Project 2025 Title IX reforms could exacerbate rates of depression, school absenteeism and suicide in trans students, which are already significantly higher than for cis-gender students.
Without the federal enforcement of Title IX and adequate funding, the gap in opportunities between wellfunded and underfunded schools could widen, leaving many girls and LGBTQ youth without access to the necessary resources for their athletic and educational advancement.
Gaeta said this is ultimately the goal of Project 2025.
“It is designed to benefit wealthy, wealthy white men,” she said. “All of the projects, all the policies in Project 2025, will hurt low-income families, will hurt middle-class families, will hurt women and girls, will hurt LGBTQ families, will hurt people of color. It is designed that way.”
Jenna Zaza and Lori Saxena are reporters with The SBU Media Group, part of Stony Brook University’s School of Communication and Journalism’s Working Newsroom program for students and local media.
By Carolyn James cjames@liherald.com
With partisan politics in high gear less than two weeks before Election Day, Long Island politicians — Republicans and Democrats — gathered in a bipartisan show of support for an effort to bring more federal funding for road and infrastructure projects to Nassau and Suffolk counties.
“This is not a Republican or a Democratic issue — it is a state and federal issue,” U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi said at a news conference on Oct. 23 at the Long Island Welcome Center on the Long Island Expressway in Dix Hills. “It is about government, labor, business and people and everyone, regardless of party. It is about coming together,” Suozzi added, with the roar of traffic along the expressway providing an appropriate backdrop.
The gathering of politicians, business and labor representatives
was to support a bill in the State Legislature, sponsored by Assemblyman Steve Stern and State Sen. Monica Martinez, that would create a mechanism for Long Island to apply directly for federal transportation dollars. As things stand now, the state must apply to the federal government for infrastructure funding through the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council, which includes not only Long Island, but also New York City as well as Westchester, Putnam and Rockland counties. Under the proposed legislation, Long Island would create its own Metropolitan Planning Organization to address its infrastructure needs specifically, officials said.
The need for this autonomy became abundantly clear to Long Island lawmakers several years ago. Under the current NYMTC guidelines, Long Island was slated to receive 23 percent of federal funding allocated to the state. That
figure dropped to 1 percent, or $300 million, this year. And according to officials, almost all of that will be spent on renovations to electric signs along local highways, and road repairs. It allows for practically nothing for expansive work or new projects.
Some of those projects were outlined by Marc Herbst, executive director of the Long Island Contractors Association. They include work to reconfigure the Oakdale merge, where Sunrise and Montauk highways converge; the intersection of the Meadowbrook and Southern State parkways; the expansion of Sagtikos Parkway to four lanes to make them safer; and work on the Southern State Parkway, which Herbst described as “blood alley.”
“How many more tragedies do we have to have along that roadway before we address those issues and others?” he said.
“This is more important than
party,” State Sen. Jack Martins said. “It is not about politics; it is about our communities, our homes, our residents — and fairness.”
“This is not an adversarial issue,” Herbst added, pointing to the need for Long Island to have an independent voice when vying for federal funding.
“Long Island is a place unlike any other, and with that distinction comes the reality that we have unique needs,” Martinez said. “Our infrastructure and transportation systems must be as bold and resilient as the people who call this region home in order to thrive in an ever-changing world.”
Adam Levine, executive director of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council, said that he and the council understand that “Long Island officials want to get every federal dollar they can,” and that it recognizes the impacts of bureaucracy.
By Danielle Schwab
A tradition since 2010, the popular Long Island Biennial at Hecksher Museum returns with “The Body Politic,” shining the spotlight on our diverse artistic talent throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties.
The latest edition of the juried exhibition — now on view through mid-January — offers an exciting look at what is happening artistically here in our area.
Out of 313 submissions, 79 were accepted from 60 artists, resulting in a vivid assortment of mediums, styles and focuses on exhibit. Curated by Meredith A. Brown, the museum’s consulting curator of Contemporary Art, each piece was reviewed by an expert jury team. The panel included Ian Alteveer, department chair of contemporary art at the Museum of Fine Arts; Patricia Cronin, artistic director of the LGBTQ+ VR Museum, art professor and sculptor; Grace Hong, assistant director of Galerie Lelong & Co.
The exhibit takes on a theme for the first time — examining contemporary social, cultural and political issues. It’s a snapshot of some of the major national, local and even international matters that compel artists in this important election year.
“Sixty countries — taken together, representing half the world’s population, including the United States — will have held major elections by the end of this year,” Brown says.
“It’s a crucial year. And we thought it would be interesting to see how the people, the artists in our communities, are thinking about these political, social, cultural issues — and representing them through art.”
The exhibit represents a remarkable variety of media, with styles spanning abstraction to hyperrealism, including sculpture, painting, photography, and collage. One pieceis even composed with cut plastic straws and lighters found on a beach.
“I’m always interested in the way artists can combine things that I wouldn’t have thought of, sometimes materials that are ‘non-art’ materials,” Brown adds.
East Meadow’s Karen Kirshner is among the artists featured. Her abstract acrylic painting “The Mission, 2022” employs a “direct painting” technique that enables her to use her emotions to paint onto the canvas.
“I never know what I’m going to paint. I paint in the moment, moment to moment, and then
and for the
review and evaluate and adapt and improve,” Kirshner explains.
She was influenced by the war in Ukraine, with so many trying to flee. Her movement of lines, shapes and vibrancy of colors expresses the Ukrainians’ frantic energy.
“I felt in my soul,” Kirshner says. “The mission is to get people out.”
Maria Spector, of Babylon, is represented with two paintings: “Candy Girls and Boys Under the Jellybean Tree, 2022 ” and “Candy Girls Under the Sugar-Plum Tree with Boy and the Artists that Painted Women 2020-22.”
In “Candy Girls and Boys Under the Jellybean Tree“ contemporary figures of children are mixed with images from art history, fine art and popular culture — all under a tree ‘ripe’ with various candies.
• Now through Jan. 19
• Open Thursday through Sunday, noon-5 p.m.
• Heckscher Museum of Art,
2 Prime Ave., Huntington
• Visit Heckscher.org for more information or call (631) 380-3230
“By incorporating pop culture, I explore issues of femininity and masculinity through both history and today. The work is meant to challenge our own biases and beliefs,” Spector says.
Another standout, Lynbrook’s Susan Kozodoy Silkowitz captures her vision through photography. “Pink Shoes, 2022” is a testament to freedom of expression without discrimination. The male in pink platform shoes was snapped outside of Fashion Institute of Technology.
“I’ve been photographing people for 50 years. It took me many years to be able to do what I do, which is approach and photograph people on the street,” Kozodoy Silkowitz says. “I think it’s a wonderful thing to see people who are unafraid to express who they are, although some people may disapprove.”
Visitors can contribute their own voice to what’s on view and how they relate to community and identity through a collage of messages on the response wall.
It’s all part of the museum’s effort to encourage artistic reflection through times of great change, inspiring us to engage with narratives in a new light.
As Brown puts it: “It helps the artists and it helps those of us who are not artists to think about the diversity of artists and viewpoints and opinions in these communities in which we live, and in that way, hopefully it can broaden people’s views of their communities, of where we are.”
As always, the exhibit experience is enhanced by related programming. The participating artists will be in the galleries on select Sundays throughout the exhibition period to engage with visitors, as well as taking part in upcoming museum and community events.
Mike DelGuidice, one of Long Island’s celebrated singersongwriters returns to The Paramount, with special guests. The band always gives it their all, especially when playing the iconic Billy Joel songs. DelGuidice leads his ensemble in a rousing concert that highlights the Piano Man’s decades of hits. Like his idol, DelGuidice grew up mastering several instruments including bass guitar, guitar, piano, and drums. He’s renowned for his encyclopedic knowledge of the Joel catalog, which caught the attention of Joel himself, who ultimately brought him on stage with him. DelGuidice and his band pack hit after charttopping hit in a high energy show that’s always a crowd pleaser. The concert delights audiences with renditions of classic rock favorites and his own eclectic originals.
Friday and Saturday, Nov. 1-2, 8 p.m. $60, $40, $25, $20. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com.
The perennial classic rock favorite is back on the road again as founding member Dewey Bunnell celebrates the band’s 54th anniversary, appearing on the Tilles Center stage. Billed as “Ride On Tour 2024, it draws on the band’s deep catalog of hits including signature song “A Horse With No Name,” a #1 hit on Billboard’s Hot 100 in 1972. Bunnell and America’s co-founder Gerry Beckley (along with former bandmate Dan Peek), who met in high school in London in the late 1960s, quickly harmonized their way to the top of the charts on the strength of that tune. Forty plus years later, these friends continue to make music together (although Beckley has now retired from touring) thrilling audiences with their timeless sound. Yet beyond their impressive catalog of hits, listeners discovered there was always much more to America than surface perceptions.
Saturday, Nov. 2, 8 p.m. Tickets start at $35. LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville. Tickets available at TillesCenter.org or (516) 299-3100.
Nov. 8
Ailey II, which bills itself as “the next generation of dance,” continues its 50th anniversary of bringing “off-the-charts energy” to the stage, with a performance at Tilles Center, Friday, Nov. 8 , at 8 p.m. Ailey II is universally renowned for merging the spirit and energy of the country’s finest early-career dance talent with the passion and creative vision of today’s outstanding and emerging choreographers.
The 2024-25 repertory features two world premieres by former Ailey II member Alia Kache and by Houston Thomas, as well as repertory favorites and beloved classics. Founded in 1974 as the Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble and led by Sylvia Waters for 38 seasons, Ailey II has advanced Alvin Ailey’s vision for more than five decades by giving early-career dancers a bridge from world-class training at The Ailey School to the professional stage. Led by Artistic Director Francesca Harper, Ailey II’s dancers bring their technical mastery and emotional depth to works by the most daring established and emerging choreographers. Just as Ailey envisioned, the company continues to develop the next generation of performers and dancemakers while expanding audiences through global touring and community-based performances.
‘The Birthday Party’
Looking for something to do this Halloween season that isn’t just for kids? Visit Sands Point Preserve for an exclusive, immersive theatrical production, “The Birthday Party,” held in a secluded, opulent mansion concludes Thursday and Friday, oct. 31-Nov. 1. For those who attended Archie’s last “Birthday Party,” rest assured, there are new surprises in store.
On stage
Join Adelphi University’s talented theater students who perform playwright
Caryl Churchill’s “Love and Information,” Thursday and Friday, oct. 31-Nov. 1, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 2, 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Nov. 3, 2 p.m.
The program includes Alvin Ailey’s Streams, an abstract exploration of bodies in space, danced to a percussion score by Miloslav Kabelac; Houston Thomas’ world premiere Down the Rabbit Hole, a continuation of the choreographer’s Follow the White Rabbit (2022) that expands on its themes, examining the relationship between humans and technology; also Francesca Harper’s Luminous, a work that pays homage to the 50th anniversary of Ailey II and the artists who paved the way for future generations. Tickets start at $35. Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, LIU Post campus, 720 Northern Boulevard, Brookville. Tickets available at tillescenter.org or (516) 299-3100.
Guests are blindfolded and escorted to a secret location on the property, Villa Vanitas, to celebrate the enigmatic Lord Archibald Axel Von Finkelshorn Chatterton’s 30th birthday. He is a witless charmer on the cusp of a life-changing revelation, and everyone’s invited to witness his journey on a night that promises to be unforgettable and delightfully unpredictable. Cocktail attire preferred. $175 per person. Sands Point Preserve, 127 Middle Neck Road. For information, visit SandsPointPreserveConservancy. org or call (516) 571-7901.
The fast-moving theatrical kaleidoscope explores more than 100 characters in over 50 short scenes as they try to make sense of what they know and what they find out. This is a play unlike any other that examines what it means to be human in a modern world and tackles the tension between the concepts of love and information.
Tickets start at $30, with discounts available to seniors, students, Adelphi alumni and employees. Adelphi University Performing Arts Center, Olmsted Theater, 1 South Ave., Garden City. (516) 877-4000 or Adelphi.edu/pac.
Bring some friends and make some new ones during game night at Elmont Memorial Library, Wednesdays, 1:304:30 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. There are tons of games to choose from! No registration required. First-come-first-seated. Elmont Memorial Library, 700 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont. For more information, visit elmontlibrary.org or call (516) 354-5280.
Converse, collaborate and create at Family Saturdays at Nassau County Museum of Art. The drop-in program continues Saturday, Nov. 2, noon-3 p.m. Get inspired by the art and objects in the galleries and then join educators at the Manes Center to explore and discover different materials to create your own original artwork.
Kids and their adult partners connect while talking about and making art together. A new project is featured every week. $20 adult, $10 child. Registration required. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. Visit NassauMuseum.org for more information and to register or call (516) 484-9337.
Visit the Franklin Square Historical Museum and travel back in time. Bring the whole family to see the history of the town, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2-4 p.m. Free admission. No reservations required. 861 Naple Ave., Franklin Square, For more information, call (516) 775-7260. Free skate at The Park at UBS
Looking to make some friends and play board games? Visit Franklin Square Public Library, the third Wednesday of every month, at 6 p.m., to socialize and have fun at this free program. Light refreshments will be served. No registration is required. 19 Lincoln Road. For more information, visit franklinsquarepl.org or call (516) 488-3444.
Grab friends and family and head to The Park at UBS Arena, Saturday, Nov. 2, 3 p.m., for Elmont Family Free Skate Day. Book a skating session at NewYorkIslanders. com/CommunitySkateDays.
Having an event?
Visit the Franklin Square Civic Association Community Yard Sale, Saturday, Nov. 2, at 10 a.m. More than 50 local sellers will be at the Rath Park Pool parking lot across from 861 Naple Ave., Franklin Square, to sell their wares. Free admission for shoppers. Food available to purchase from Prince Umbertos. For more information or seller spot info, email communitysale@fscivic.org. 861 Naple Ave., Franklin Square.
The Town of Hempstead offers Narcan training at Franklin Square Public Library, Thursday, Nov. 7, 6:30 p.m. Training includes how to identify an overdose victim, administer the Narcan kit and contact emergency officials. Attendees will obtain a Narcan certification and a Narcan kit. Register online for all dates at TOH311.net/Narcan-Signup. 19 Lincoln Road, Franklin Square.
Items on The Scene page are listed free of charge. The Herald welcomes listings of upcoming events, community meetings and items of public interest. All submissions should include date, time and location of the event, cost, and a contact name and phone number. Submissions can be emailed to thescene@liherald.com.
Nassau County Museum of Art ‘s latest exhibition
“Seeing Red: Renoir to Warhol,” reveals the many meanings, connotations, and associations of this powerful color in art. Evoking strong emotion, red can represent the human condition. Its myriad variations have come to signify authority as well as love, energy and beauty. Red warns us of peril and commands us to stop, but it can also indicate purity and good fortune. Red boldly represents political movements and religious identities. From the advent of our appreciation for this color in antiquity to its continued prominence in artistic and popular culture, this exhibition spans various world cultures through a range of media.
It features more than 70 artists, both established and emerging, ranging from the classical to the contemporary. American portraitists such as Gilbert Stuart imbued red in their stately paintings of prominent individuals to conjure authority. Robert Motherwell, Ad Reinhardt, and other major abstract painters displayed a deep fascination with red in their commanding compositions that evoke a sense of chromatic power. And, of course, Andy Warhol is known for his bold and imposing silkscreened portrait of Vladimir Lenin saturated in bright red to his signature Campbell’s Soup Cans. On view through Jan. 5. Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Dr., Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9337 or NassauMuseum.org.
Board games from days gone by
Enjoy an evening of learning and playing historic games at Old Westbury Gardens’ Westbury House, Friday, Nov. 8, 7-9:30 p.m. The Long Island Tabletop Gaming Expo takes visitors on journey through 5,000 years of board game history, from its roots in ancient times to more familiar examples from the time of the Phipps family. A brief lecture on board game history includes a presentation of each of the featured games. All are fully playable, and you can try them out yourself.
Games include: Senet, The Royal Game of Ur, Three Man’s Morris, Six Man’s Morris, Nine Man’s Morris, Twelve Man’s Morris, Mancala, Go, Chess, The Royal and Most Pleasant Game of The Goose, Backgammon. The Landlords Game (transition to the modern Monopoly). $15. 71 Old Westbury Rd., Old Westbury. For information contact (516) 333-0048 or visit OldWestburyGardens.org.
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT
NASSAU COUNTY
CHRISTIANA TRUST AS
CUSTODIAN FOR GSRANZ LLC, Plaintiff against SECURE YOUR HOME INC., et al Defendant(s) Attorney for Plaintiff(s) Hersko & Ehrenreich P.C., 555 Willow Avenue, Cedarhurst, NY 11516, (516) 942-4216. Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered August 7, 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 November 13, 2024 at 2:00 PM. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being, and identified on the land and tax map of the County of Nassau in the State of New York. Premises known as 333 Benson Ave., Elmont, NY 11003. Sec 32 Block 492 Lot 9 (Group Lot: 9-10). Approximate Amount of Judgment is $10,414.15 plus interest, fees, costs and attorney fees. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 604075/2023. 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.” Karl Seman, Esq., Referee File # 19-5387 149394
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU. CITIBANK, N.A., Plaintiffagainst- RICARDO CASTILLO A/K/A RICARDO
A. CASTILLO, et al
Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated July 18, 2024 and entered on July 26, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court “Rain or Shine” located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY on November 12, 2024 at 2:30 p.m. premises situate, lying and being at Elmont, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, bounded and described as follows: BEGINNING at a point on the westerly side of Stewart Street, distant 220 feet northerly from the corner formed by the intersection of the
westerly side of Stewart Street with the northerly side of Atherton Avenue; being a plot 100 feet by 40 feet by 100 feet by 40 feet. Section: 32 Block: 481 Lots 42 and 43. All bidders must wear a face mask/shield at all times and social distancing must be observed by all bidders at all times. Bidders who do not comply with the face mask and/or the social distancing mandate will be removed from the auction.
Said premises known as 108 STEWART STREET, ELMONT, NY 11003
Approximate amount of lien $214,001.69 plus interest & costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee or the Mortgagee’s attorney. Index Number 605713/2023.
HEATHER D. CROSLEY, ESQ., Referee
David A. Gallo & Associates LLP
Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 47 Hillside Avenue, 2nd Floor, Manhasset, NY 11030 File# 7777.248 {* Elmont Herald*} 149311
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST
COMPANY, N.A., F/K/A THE BANK OF NEW YORK
TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS TRUSTEE, IN TRUST FOR CHASEFLEX MULTICLASS MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-1
Plaintiff, Against
SUNG CHOI A/K/A
THOMAS CHOI A/K/A
THOMAS L. CHOI A/K/A
THOMAS R. CHOI A/K/A
TOMAS CHOI A/K/A
THOMAS LEE CHOI, ET AL.
Defendant(s)
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 11/01/2018, 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 11/19/2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 16 Park Place, Floral Park, NY 11001, 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 Incorporated Village Of Floral Park, In The Town Of Hempstead, County Of Nassau And State Of New York.
Section 32 Block 65 Lot 187 And 188. For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832. The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $742,622.44 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 606764/2017 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.
Scott H Siller, Esq., Referee.
SHELDON MAY & ASSOCIATES Attorneys at Law, 255 Merrick Road, Rockville Centre, NY 11570
Dated: 10/4/2024 File Number: 32674 CA 149527
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU PennyMac Loan Services, LLC, Plaintiff AGAINST Laksh Maggoo, Baljit Singh, et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered September 17, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on November 20, 2024 at 3:00PM, premises known as 742 Lenore Lane, Elmont, NY 11003. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Elmont, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section: 32, Block: 694, Lot: 29. Approximate amount of judgment $726,910.85 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #614396/2022. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the NASSAU County COVID-19 Protocols located on the Office of Court Administration (OCA) website (https://ww2.nycourts.gov /Admin/oca.shtml) and as such all persons must comply with social distancing, wearing masks and screening practices in effect at the time of this foreclosure sale. If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, then the court appointed referee will cancel the foreclosure auction. Foreclosure Auctions will be held “Rain or Shine”. For sale information, please visit Auction.com at
www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832. Ralph J. Madalena, Esq., Referee Frenkel Lambert Weiss Weisman & Gordon, LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706 01-096147-F00 82822 149473
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCF 2 ACQUISITION TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. SAMMY TORRES, ET AL., Defendant(s).
Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee’s Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on September 5, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on November 18, 2024 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 9436 241st Street, Floral Park, NY 11001. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Bellerose in the Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 32, Block 009 and Lot 132. Approximate amount of judgment is $495,482.82 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #604678/2023. Cash will not be accepted.
Adrienne Flipse Hausch, Esq., Referee Knuckles & Manfro, LLP, 120 White Plains Road, Suite 215, Tarrytown, New York 10591, Attorneys for Plaintiff 145922
LEGAL NOTICE
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, -againstMAHMOOD ALI, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on September 20, 2024, wherein U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION is the Plaintiff and MAHMOOD ALI, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on November 21, 2024 at 2:30PM, premises known as 276 BENSON AVENUE, ELMONT, NY 11003; and the following tax map identification: 32-493-81, 82 & 83.
ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 617170/2019. Ronald J. Ferraro, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 149608
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF ELMONT UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT PUBLIC HEARING PROPOSED ACTION CONCERNING EXEMPTION FROM REAL PROPERTY TAX FOR ELIGIBLE LOW-INCOME
SENIOR CITIZENS AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
DATE: NOVEMBER 12, 2024 TIME: 7:30 PM
LOCATION: COVERT AVENUE SCHOOL, 144 COVERT AVENUE, ELMONT, NY 11003
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Education of the Elmont Union Free School District will hold a public hearing on November 12, 2024, at 7:30 P.M. at Covert Avenue School, 144 Covert Avenue, Elmont, NY 11003. Said hearing is being held to hear all interested parties and residents regarding a proposed resolution to authorize an increase in exemption from school property taxes for qualified Low-Income Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities, pursuant to Sections 467 and 459-c of the Real Property Tax Law. 149708
LEGAL NOTICE ELMONT UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Notice is hereby given that the fiscal affairs of the Elmont Union Free School District for the period beginning on July 1, 2023 and ending on June 30, 2024, have been examined by an independent public accountant. The financial report and management letter prepared in conjunction with the external audit by the independent public accountant has been filed in the Office of the District Clerk at 135 Elmont Road, Elmont, NY 11003, where it is available as a public record for inspection by all interested persons. 149709
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR FIRST FRANKLIN MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2006-FF18, MORTGAGE LOAN ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, Plaintiff, vs. FRANK M. LUSCAVAGE A/K/A FRANK LUSCAVAGE, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on June 18, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on December 2, 2024 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 7 Donald Court, Elmont, NY 11003. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Elmont, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 37, Block 525 and Lot 32. Approximate amount of judgment is $943,103.29 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 013484/2008.
Judith Powell, Esq., Referee Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC, 10 Bank Street, Suite 700, White Plains, New York 10606, Attorneys for Plaintiff 149704 LEGAL NOTICE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCF 2 ACQUISITION TRUST, -againstVELDA CUTTING, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF LIONEL CUTTING, ET AL. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau on August 13, 2024, wherein U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCF 2 ACQUISITION TRUST is the Plaintiff and VELDA CUTTING, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF LIONEL CUTTING, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction RAIN OR SHINE at the NASSAU COUNTY SUPREME COURT, NORTH SIDE STEPS, 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, MINEOLA, NY 11501, on December 3, 2024 at 2:00PM, premises known as 2268 RENFREW AVENUE, ELMONT, NY 11003; and the following tax map identification: 32-723-21. ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT ELMONT, TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, COUNTY OF NASSAU AND STATE OF NEW YORK
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 613680/2021. Matin Emouna, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES. 149692
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU, U.S. BANK TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE OF THE BUNGALOW SERIES IV TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. LALCHAND LAKERAM, ET AL., Defendant(s). 498.Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on September 17, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction on the front steps on the north side of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on December 4, 2024 at 2:00 p.m., premises known as 82 Oakley Avenue, Elmont, NY 11003. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Elmont, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 32, Block 559 and Lot 324. Approximate amount of judgment is $862,181.16 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #610315/2019. Christine M. Grillo, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff
Firm File No.: 210491-1 149702
Full Time/Part Time
Richner Communications, publisher of Herald community newspapers has an excellent opportunity for a FT/PT Customer Service Clerk in our busy Circulation Department. Basic customer service and administrative responsibilities include: heavy computer work, answering phones, making phone calls, entering orders, faxing, filing, etc. STRONG knowledge of EXCEL a must! Knowledge of DATABASE maintenance or postal regulations a big plus. Qualified Candidates must be computer literate, able to multitask, dependable, reliable, organized, energetic, detail oriented and able to work well under deadlines.
Salary Range is $16 per hour to $23 per hour. For consideration, please send resume & salary requirements to: careers@liherald.com
Full Time and Part Time
Positions Available!
Busy Print Shop in Garden City is Hiring Immediately for Full Time and Part Time Drivers. Must Have a Clean License and BoxTruck Driving Experience. Hours Vary, Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $21 per hour Night Availability is a Must. Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239
DRIVING INSTRUCTOR
Company Car/ Bonuses. Clean Driving Record Required, Will Train. Retirees Welcome!
$20 - $25/ Hour Bell Auto School
516-365-5778
Email: info@bellautoschool.com
Part Time & Full Time. The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. Salary range is from $20K to $45K To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to jbessen@liherald.com
EMAIL MARKETING SPECIALIST Herald Community Newspapers is seeking a motivated and knowledgeable Email Marketing Expert to join our team. If you have a passion for crafting effective email campaigns and a knack for data-driven decision-making, this role is for you!
RESPONSIBILITIES: Set up and manage email campaigns from start to finish. Analyze data to identify target audiences and optimize email strategies. Craft compelling email content, including writing effective subject lines. Monitor and report on campaign performance.
REQUIREMENTS: Degree in Marketing, Business, or related field. Strong understanding of data analysis and marketing principles. Experience with email marketing is preferred but not required.
POSITION DETAILS: Flexible: Part-time or Full-time. Salary range: $16,640 to $70,000, depending on experience and role.
Join our dynamic team and help us connect with our audience in meaningful ways! Apply today by sending your resume and a brief cover letter to lberger@liherald.com
MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP
Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges fromo $16 per hour to $20 per hour.
Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com
ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT
Inside Sales
Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $33,280 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286
Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Earning potential ranges from $33,280 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses. Compensation is based on Full Time hours
Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off. Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X250
WE BUY HOUSES for Cash AS IS! No repairs. No fuss. Any condition. Easy three step process: Call, get cash offer and get paid. Get your fair cash offer today by calling Liz Buys Houses: 1-888-704-5670 WEST HEMPSTEAD: 1 LARGE BR, Fbth, EIK, Plenty Closets, Pantry, No Pets/ Smoking, Utilities Included. $1,900. 386-237-7090 BETH DAVID CEMETERY Elmont, Individual Cemetery Plot Available. For Information Call Leslie. 212-662-2650.
Welcome to 7 Granada Pl in Massapequa. This stunning Fort Lauderdale-style waterfront colonial, newly constructed in 2023, epitomizes luxurious living. Offering 4 spacious bedrooms and 2.5 elegantly designed baths, this property showcases top-tier upgrades throughout. Inside, you’ll find exquisite 6” white oak floors and a show stopping Calacatta quartz infinity island in a gourmet kitchen outfitted with Wolf and Miele appliances. The master suite includes a private Trex balcony, a steam shower, and radiant heated floors for your comfort. The outdoor space is an entertainer's
Q. I’m looking to sell my home, and I’m stunned by the cost of homes these days. My daughter’s family had to move out of the area, not because they needed better jobs, but because their jobs couldn’t pay enough to afford a home, and my wife and I could only help a little. Do you see any hope for housing to be made more affordable? Are there less costly ways to build that could help young people get a foothold on the American Dream? What do you think?
A. Yes, there are many ways to make homes more affordable, but the way to make it happen is very complicated, and I doubt that you’ll see it happen. Think of people, our economy, our system of living arrangements, our communities, separately or combined into large entities, as being like a large woven fabric. There are many threads in this fabric, many colors and textures and many ways the threads are woven, some over, some under and some straight through. Pull at one part of the fabric, poke at another, and the whole composition ruffles, wrinkles, even tears and starts to unravel. Now, think of how much each thread costs, how someone puts a price on that thread because of its location, its color, its finish within the fabric. That one thread is now thought of as more expensive, special and exclusive. Others see that thread and decide their threads are pretty darn special, too. Soon every thread goes up in value, and anyone trying to weave a new thread into the fabric, or trying to buy that thread, must be in compliance with the costs, rules and location.
Regulators who decide where different threads can be placed, how big or small those threads can be and what they can look like, are people. People are threads in the fabric. Your kids are threads who may or may not find a way to be woven into the fabric as other threads disintegrate or are pulled away. Government, financial institutions, property associations, neighbors and you have to all cooperate to make the fabric stay together.
It’s possible that when enough people refuse to buy a thread or be a thread, then the value of threads diminishes. The cost of making a thread — a home or a commercial building — keeps increasing, so the cost of the components has to be brought down. But the people who make those components have to get paid. Do we cut their salaries? It’s all connected, like a complicated woven fabric in which everything has to work together.
There’s currently a nationwide shortage of housing units and a limited inventory of homes for sale, possibly because it costs more for less, so people are reluctant to move. Prices, the cost of materials, the regulated size of homes, and profit margins for sellers and lenders all need to be reduced. Does anyone see that happening, or do we wait for the fabric to become brittle and start to come apart to respond? Good luck!
© 2024 Monte Leeper
Readers are encouraged to send questions to yourhousedr@aol.com, with “Herald question” in the subject line, or to Herald Homes, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530, Attn: Monte Leeper, architect.
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The candidates for our state offices, incumbents and challengers, have been out campaigning, regaling voters with claims that they are the right people for the jobs that need filling in Albany. They will take up the fight in the Capitol, they insist, to do the best job for us, their constituents. They cite their talent, experience and vision, and their ability to solve even the thorniest of problems.
But the sad irony is that the thorniest problems often remain unsolved. Take, for instance, the conundrum of property assessment in Nassau County. After the school districts establish their budgets, the state sees to additional school funding via foundation aid, the School Tax Relief program and the like. But it is the county that determines the value of real estate, and from that comes our school tax bills. In my case, and those of many other seniors trying to stay in their longtime homes, this process is daunting, confusing and sometimes heartbreaking. Succeeding elections bring us Demo-
Wcrats and Republicans. Each of these entities has demonstrated a philosophy of how to deal with assessments and taxes. One party hollers about fairness and equity, and claims that they will absolutely get it right — for the benefit of taxpayers, of course. In 2019, then County Executive Laura Curran gave us a Taxpayer Protection Plan, promising that elusive equity. My school taxes continued to climb.
NThen the other guys came in, claiming they were the true champions of the citizenry when it came to property taxes. Their particular talent seemed to be granting homeowners lots of assessment “relief.” My school taxes continue to climb.
panies are among the top contributors to our political office seekers? And their generosity is bipartisan, because it turns out that business is good no matter who is at the helm in Mineola.
o matter which party is in the majority, my school taxes continue to climb.
Neither party seems capable of actually solving this particularly thorny problem. And leavened into their mystifying blend of ideas is a category of businesses that, their advertisements promise, will help us grieve the injustices that the property tax formula creates. These companies tout their acumen and their results. How about the lady in Merrick who got a new kitchen with the money XYZ company saved her?
Is it just coincidence that these com-
While all of this is going on, seniors like me, frustrated and dejected, quietly hire real estate agents to deliver us from all of this “good” news as our ever-rising taxes leave us with no choice but to sell the homes we love. I’m 79, and the increases in school taxes have come like annual infestations of locusts — about $10,000 in additional taxes for schools alone in the past several years. I call everybody — state and county politicians, school district administrators, the property assessors — and they all say the same thing: “It’s not me.” None of them, it seems, is the problem.
The assessor tells me my house is valuable. I tell him I have made it so through 35 years of sweat, my own hard work. I remind him that it’s my home; it’s where I live. He is unmoved, seeming to say, without using the words, that if I can’t pay, they’ll get someone else in here who can.
At this point, 46 years after I began paying property taxes, I have come to
the conclusion that the assessment of property is no longer a viable method of funding our schools. If you’re a senior, you’re a target.
Several years ago, I tried to persuade my local state representative to use some of his vision in Albany to figure out an alternative way to fund the schools that doesn’t target senior property owners for residential extinction. He simply dismissed the idea, saying the current system was the best one.
The subject has come up time after time on area newspapers’ editorial pages, but gets no traction from the political class.
One day soon I will go see the assessor. I am not optimistic. In the meantime, our candidates, incumbents and challengers, will continue to tell us how they’re going to help us. And the grievance companies will continue to prosper. The impossible system of taxation by way of property assessment will continue.
And quietly, all over Nassau County, bewildered longtime residents will be forced from their homes, victims of all that political talent, experience and vision.
Philip Como, who is retired after a career in sales, is a former member of the Nassau County Planning Commission and is treasurer of the Fire Department in Sea Cliff, where he lives.
e did the stupid thing, and we survived.
We did not evacuate our home on a barrier island on the west coast of Florida when Hurricane Helene blasted through in the early-morning hours of Sept. 26.
The first alerts about Helene seemed exaggerated and alarmist: A disorganized low-pressure system, percolating quietly near the Yucatan Peninsula, would gather fearsome energy over the Gulf of Mexico and slam into Florida’s Gulf coast, as a Cat 4 or 5 killer. It was an unusual setup for hurricane in these parts. My part-time residence was long said to be safe by the indigenous people who lived here, protected geographically because of a twist in the coastline. Maybe the ancients are exacting revenge for our careless guardianship of their land.
We are on the eighth floor of a building on the beach, and we have metal wind shutters. So, considering the laborious process of gathering our belong-
ings and food and driving to a safe haven, we decided to stay. Besides, once a storm is on its way, not much time remains before landfall, and it isn’t clear which way to run. Hurricanes often wobble or weaken or, in the case of Helene, turn left over Georgia and North Carolina, destroying everything in their path.
We had water for a week, and food that didn’t need to be refrigerated or heated. We had each other and Lillybee the dog, who had been skulking in our shadows for days. We also felt somewhat jaded by overhyped weather alarms in the past. Epic snowfalls, tornadoes sprouting everywhere, on-again-off-again water spout watches. We would probably be OK.
tioned. Then I walked up. Then I did the same walk, down and up eight flights, for five days, until power was restored. Both of our cars, parked “safely” in the garage, were engulfed by the tidal surge and totaled.
W e were scared straight by Helene, and will never try to ride one out again.
Sometime after midnight on the 26th, the rain and wind came on like a freight train, hammering the shutters against our windows. Within an hour we had no electricity and no internet. Officials on the mainland turned off all water service to the island. The bridge to the rest of the world was closed.
The dog needed to go out, so I grabbed a flashlight and walked down eight dark flights of stairs to get outside. Building generators malfunc-
But we were lucky. We lived through the storm without a medical crisis and with replaceable losses.
We vowed never to stay when the authorities tell us to evacuate. What if one of us got sick during the hurricane? What if the windows blew in, even with the shutters?
Less than two weeks later, we had another shot at hurricane survival. Hurricane Milton developed on the east coast of Mexico, and got himself together in record speed, exploding from Category 1 to Category 5 in one day and taking direct aim at our island as he charged up the west coast of Florida.
This time we obeyed the evacuation orders and moved to a hotel on the mainland with Lillybee. One day later, the hotel was evacuated, sending us on a drive across the state, with thousands of other people. We took refuge with family on the East Coast. And we waited and waited for the hurricane to hit and
do its work so we could begin to build back. Like waiting for surgery.
Milton made landfall on Oct. 9 on the tiny barrier island south of us, wiping it clean of all the charming old Florida cottages that have survived for so long on a spit of land. Cars floated out into the Gulf. A man was rescued clinging to a large cooler from his sunken boat. We came back to our condo four days later. The property was a mess, but we had power and internet. We were on a boilwater advisory, stores were closed, and piles of household belongings and soaked furnishings are piled up along the roads.
We love it here, but it’s crazy to build on barrier islands. Nature always reclaims her own. We were scared straight by the first hurricane, and will never try to ride one out again. We look around at neighbors who have lost everything they own. And we know we are part of a bigger, more frightening human-made disaster called climate change.
Who will gather the will and willingness to stop the rising tides and temperatures? Who will stop the awful gathering storm of wind, rain and fire that sweep across our nation in every season?
Copyright 2024 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.
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n recent days, two of the most prominent national newspapers, The Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post, announced that they would not endorse a presidential candidate in Tuesday’s election, breaking from decades of precedent. Many have speculated on the reasons behind these decisions, suggesting that the newspapers favored Kamala Harris but ultimately chose not to upset Donald Trump for fear of retribution if the former president returns to the Oval Office.
For those of us in the news business, these decisions raise questions about the role of newspapers in a charged political climate. We at the Long Island Herald, a proud local newspaper company family-owned for three generations, see this as an opportunity to reaffirm our mission to serve the people of Long Island.
Unlike many national publications, the Herald does not make endorsements of candidates seeking political office, and our reasons are simple yet vital. Our focus is not on swaying voters toward a particular candidate, but on delivering comprehensive and unbiased information about the issues that matter most to Long Islanders. We are not here to tell our readers how to vote for political candidates; rather, we are here to arm readers with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions at the
‘Harris shouldn’t even be on the ticket’
To the Editor:
ballot box. For us, the true measure of success is when readers feel empowered to draw their own conclusions based on facts, insights and perspectives they can trust.
Our mission is grounded in the local stories that directly impact your day-today lives — stories about Long Island schools, roads, parks, businesses and community events. It’s easy for national headlines to overshadow these essential local matters, especially in a polarized political landscape. Yet we firmly believe that our responsibility is to stay rooted in the issues affecting our neighborhoods and families. From zoning changes and public safety to neighborhood events and high school sports, we are here to cover what is relevant and timely for our readers.
The one place where you might see opinions about local and national political candidates, however, is in columns on our editorial pages, like those written by Randi Kreiss and Peter King. These essays are distinguished from Herald news content by featuring photos of the authors, making it clear that they reflect the writers’ perspectives and not the views of the Herald. We strive to showcase a diverse array of local voices across the ideological spectrum in these opinion pieces.
In a world saturated with news from national outlets, social media platforms and pundits, local newspapers play a
I couldn’t disagree more with Jerry’s Kremer’s viewpoint in his column last week, “Why I’m voting for Kamala Harris.” Harris shouldn’t even be on the ticket. If the Democrats had held an open primary after President Biden was pushed aside, she wouldn’t even have been considered.
Her word-salad responses to questions are baffling and her knowledge of the issues is inept. The only thing that rings in her favor is the Roe v. Wade debate. Harris is clueless on the economy, the border, which is a travesty, and her ability to engage with world leaders. Donald Trump is far from perfect, but he’ll put America first, and Kamala, in my opinion, will not.
KEnnY CULLEn Franklin Square
To the Editor:
In “Why I’m voting for Kamala Harris,” Jerry Kremer forgot to mention what our open south -
unique and irreplaceable role. Our newspaper is here to highlight the concerns and successes of Long Island, to act as a mirror to our community, and to bring a sense of belonging and understanding that no national publication can provide. But to achieve this, we need to hear from you, our readers. What are the topics you care about? What issues are not getting the coverage they deserve? Are there people in our community doing extraordinary things whom we should feature? We encourage you to share your thoughts, ideas and feedback with us. Let us know what you’re curious about, what you feel needs to be addressed, and where you think we can improve. Your voices are essential to shaping a Herald that genuinely reflects and serves your community.
Reach out to us at jbessen@liherald. com, and let us know what matters to you!
As the election approaches, we understand the intense focus on national races, but our mission remains to illuminate the issues closest to home. We will continue to be your trusted source for local news, not by endorsing political candidates but by informing, listening, and responding to the needs of Long Island.
Together, let’s keep our community well-informed, engaged and vibrant — one local story at a time.
ispent a lot of my childhood, and now, consequently, a lot of my adulthood, at my uncle’s lake house in Pennsylvania.
Some of my fondest memories revolve around being there — whether I was fishing with my grandfather, exploring the outdoors with my cousins or curled up with a good book on the beach, taking in my surroundings.
As I’ve gotten older, I find that I love the area for different reasons.
I still like to fish and spend time outside with my family and my dogs. But I also love exploring the Poconos communities around the house, which, in many ways, feel like a second home to me.
Readers of the Bellmore, Merrick and East Meadow Heralds have likely seen my name pop up on their community Facebook pages throughout the almost three and a half years that I’ve been working here. I like to stay involved with community forums,
because they’re not only a great source of information, but also a great place for me to network, and meet the people in the communities that I cover and love.
So just as I do here at home and when I’m working, I’ve joined a few community social media pages in the Pennsylvania region I travel to. Again, I find that it’s a great way to stay in the loop, find new spots to visit, and again, receive a variety of information that I might not know otherwise.
t he world often feels overwhelmingly negative, but we don’t have to make it worse.
A few weeks ago, I was scrolling through a page that I check frequently, and came across a post from a page contributor that read: “NY Trash Destroyed The Poconos.”
It took me a moment to really wrap my head around what I was reading, because for one, the region is economically very reliant on tourism from places like New York, and because I couldn’t believe that people actually felt that way. I’d imagine that everyone has had their own experiences with “outsiders,” but I’d venture to guess that the vast majority of the people who’ve found second
ern border has done to our country. Maybe that’s because Harris was in charge of the border.
FRANk VENIS East Rockaway
To the Editor:
Vice presidents are very limited in what they can do in that job. Their job is to support the president’s policies. Think of former Vice President Mike Pence.
Vice President Harris is her own strong person, and she will take what she perceives to be the best aspects of President Biden’s policies, but no vice president is ever a carbon copy of their predecessor. In terms of the southern border, Harris says that she supports having both parties in Congress work together and compromise on solutions, as was recently done with the strict border bill that both parties agreed on. However, Trump intervened and told Republicans to back out.
Trump and his MAGA Republicans prefer a dictatorial approach to solving our country’s problems. They tell us that we are a failing nation that only one man can fix. Beware. That is not democracy.
Concerning our economy, economists
homes in Pennsylvania are just like me and my family — kind, courteous and respectful. Fellow commenters on the thread confirmed my beliefs. Whatever reasons he had to make that post didn’t matter in the long run. In the grand scheme of things, it was just another blip on the social media timeline. It didn’t make any waves, and it certainly didn’t stop “outsiders” from visiting the area, or going to homes that they own.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve thought a lot about that post, not because I took insult in his words, but because I can’t imagine ever going out of my way to post such a ridiculous, negative thing — on any platform, for any reason.
It’s like the age-old saying: “If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all.”
It doesn’t matter that the post came from a place other than Long Island, because I’m sure we can all think of similar ones. Comments become vicious and people start attacking one another, while ignoring the actual problem: We,
as a society, can be extraordinarily unkind.
There’s a lot going on these days. Things are polarized, and I feel it — the agitation, the stress about the way things are. The world we live in today isn’t perfect, but was it ever?
The point I’m trying to make is, if you have to go out of your way to say something completely unnecessary, take a moment and ask yourself: Is it worth it?
The world today may not be perfect, and often it feels overwhelmingly negative. We don’t have to make it worse. When things feel harsh and disconnected, kindness is a quiet strength, as is thinking about the things we say, or write, before we say them.
We can choose to be mindful of what we say, understanding that our words have consequences. The world may not be perfect, but each of us can make it a little better by simply pausing, reflecting, and opting for kindness whenever we can, because in a time when so much feels out of our control, this is one thing that isn’t.
Jordan Vallone is a senior editor who writes for the Bellmore, Merrick and East Meadow Heralds. Comments? jvallone@ liherald.com.
report that it is doing well. Gas prices are down, unemployment is down and the stock market is flourishing.
One would expect that food and housing costs would continue to improve under Harris. Economists say that Trump’s tariffs would backfire and increase the cost of goods. Also, it seems that most people agree with the Harris plan to have large corporations pay their fair share of taxes, but she will need a Democratic Congress to achieve this.
ELAINE RAuCH Lynbrook
To the Editor:
Beware of all the promises of goodies — or, as I call them, Halloween tricks and treats — promised by candidates running for public office. There is no such thing as a free lunch, or, in this case, free government programs offering benefits to you. Taxpayers always end up picking up the tab.
That’s a good reason why politicians should be changed often, like diapers, because most are full of you know what! Remember this next Tuesday before you vote.
LARRY PENNER Great Neck
